Okay wow, I didn't realize how much time actually passed since the last time I posted a chapter. Sorry about the wait people! I had to deal with a lot of stuff lately.

A Monster Inside

Jack thrust his arms out, his hands outstretched towards Kimiko. A dark power burst forth from his palms. Before Kimiko had any time to react she was sent flying into the rocks of the cliff wall. She crumpled to the ground.

"Kim! Jack what in the hell is-"A swift, strong punch to the face threw Raimundo in the same direction. He sailed several feet until a boot clad foot kicked him in the ribs. His back made contact of the tree. Raimundo hissed in pain.

What The hell? When did Jack become so fast? It was almost as if-

A pale hand grabbed him by the throat, which brought him back to reality. He was slammed against the tree. The hand on his throat was holding him in place. Raimundo glared up at Jack to demand just what the hell his problem was; when he got a good look of the red headed genius he froze.

At some point Jack's hair had fallen out of its usually spikey look. Now his hair hung down close to touching his shoulders. The red locks that fell in the front over shadowed his eyes, blocking them from Raimundo's view. His goggles were also missing. Raimundo figured that they must have flown off at one point when Jack kicked the shit out of him. Yet, what surprised the Shoku warrior the most was the dark aura he felt being emitted from within Jack. Raimundo never felt this type of evil power before, let alone from Jack!

For once in his life, Raimundo was honestly afraid of Jack.

"Come on Raimundo, surely you can do better than this? To think you're the so called Shoku Warrior. How do you think your little band of misfits will feel if they were to see you so weak and helpless?" Jack said in a deep, ominous voice. Raimundo grit his teeth in frustration. Jack has become really courageous all of a sudden yet the tone of his voice sent a little red flag up in Raimundo's head. He pushed his unease to the back of his mind.

No, I will not let this brat get the better of me! I can't believe I almost felt sorry for him. He is just flat out mocking me after Kim and I tried to help him out!

"W-weak?" Raimundo inwardly cursed himself for stuttering, "Just who the hell do you think you are? Spicer, whatever it is you are up to you better knock it off. We were just trying to help you but you turn right around and attack us!? That's such a cowardly move."

Jack remained silent, as if he was contemplating on what Raimundo said. Finally, Jack let out a chuckle; it was the sort of chuckle that made the monk's skin crawl. He cocked his head to the left slightly.

"Ha! You really believe I am a coward? I'm glad you think so! To think you have all believed in that ploy for all these years." Jack moved his head so that his mouth was right next Raimundo's ear. He pulled his unoccupied arm back, his hand open with the tips of his fingers pointed towards Raimundo's chest.

"I will let you in on a little secret Pedrosa. The Jack Spicer you know is nothing but a poor fool who believes he can control his own destiny by means of controlling his curse. To think the one he believed to be his 'anchor' in this world would be the reason he succumbs to what he was meant to be. This world will fall by our hands and none of you can stop us. You will do well to remember that young dragon as you enter the spiritual plain." Raimundo's eyes grew wide. H-he wouldn't…

Kimiko groaned as she pushed herself up off the ground. She shook her head to clear her mind. When she looked up she gasped in shock. Jack had Raimundo pinned to a tree! Kimiko watched in horror as Jack prepared to stab Raimundo through the chest with just his hand. Even though it looked like Jack was going to be an idiot and hurt his hand something told her she needed to move! Now!

Without a moments hesitation she sped towards the two. She gathered her power within her palms and shot a fireball right at Jack. Just before he could hit the other boy Kimiko's flames caught him on his arm. Jack screeched in pain as his wrist burned. He suddenly dropped Raimundo in favor of putting out the fire with his other hand. He hissed and he glared at Kimiko. Using this distraction as an advantage, Raimundo quickly sent his knee into the red head's stomach.

As Jack doubled over from the wind being knocked out of him Raimundo delivered a kick to his head. Jack flew onto his back. The dragon of wind shifted away from the other and ran towards the other monk. Kimiko stopped once Raimundo reached her.

"Rai, are you okay!?" She asked checking him over for any wounds.

"Don't worry about it Kimiko. Right now we need to go find the others. Let's go." Raimundo grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards the tree line. She looked back at Jack who was still sprawled out on the ground. Even though she just witnessed Jack attack Raimundo she did not want to leave him like that.

"Rai, we can't just leave-"

"Kimiko don't you dear finish that sentence! I know you still want to help him after what that wu did to him but he doesn't deserve our help now." Kimiko stared at her friend in disbelief. How could he say such a thing? Jack did fight with them almost on a daily bases but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve help when it is needed! She snatched her arm away from him. He glared back at her.

"Raimundo, I don't know what was going on just a few moments ago but I am not going to walk off! We can't just-"A movement behind the Brazilian boy caught her attention. His shadow on the ground was acting… shadow wasn't acting a shadow would nor did it look like a natural shadow. It was rippling like that of a surface of water when a rock or something landed in it. She watched in stunned silence as the shadow's hands lifted from the ground. She tried to direct Raimundo's attention to the shadow when she was seized from behind.

Raimundo could not believe his eyes. One second Kimiko had fallen silent after trying to chew him out about something she didn't even understand when the next Jack had appeared behind her. Jack placed his burnt hand over her mouth while he wrapped his other arm around her middle, trapping her to his chest. No way dude! He should have been knocked out cold from that kick to the head! When did he get up!?

Raimundo was about ready to beat the hell out of Jack when he felt a pair of hands grab his shoulders. The hands pulled him to the ground. Several arms shot out of his shadow and wrapped themselves around his mid-section as well as his legs. All of a sudden he felt himself growing weaker, it was almost as if the shadow was draining his strength. He tried to break free but he found it to be completely useless. Raimundo was trapped.

"It appears that I have forgotten you were here as well Kimiko. That was completely rude of me. I will make sure to never do such a thing again." The smell of burnt skin caused Kimiko to cringe. She sent him a silent apology as she, once again, began to summon her power when a dark aura surrounded her body. Kimiko felt as if she was slowly being submersed inside a tub of ice cold water. Her strength was being sapped away from her body, leaving her completely numb and helpless. She hated it!

"Damnit Jack! You better get away from her!" Raimundo shouted as he fought his restrains with a new found strength. While he continued to curse and struggle he was ignored by the other boy. Another set of shadow hands covered his mouth.

"It must be dreadful knowing that you are now at my mercy without your Xiaolin power or you little boyfriend to help you. Without the rest of your teammates you really are nothing but a weak little girl." He spun her around so that they were face-to-face. Jack held her to his chest once again. He grasped her chin none too gently and forced her to look into his eyes. She was not seeing a pair of deep crimson orbs. Instead Kimiko was gazing into a set of piercing, almost manic, silver eyes. His mouth twisted into a sinister grin. She trembled.

"What's the matter Kimiko? Are you afraid? You don't have to be scared. After all, I'm only the pathetic Heylin loser known as Jack Spicer." Kimiko felt her blood begin to boil.

"You are nothing like Jack!" She broke away from his grasp, stepping into a fighting position. She saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. However, that surprise was quickly followed by a sadistic glee.

"Ha ha ha! There is that fighting spirit I wanted to see! I can now understand why he has these feelings for you." Kimiko was a bit puzzled by this claim. 'Feelings'? Whose feelings? Could it be…? Without even realizing it she had completely let her guard down.

As she was left distracted by his words, Jack flew at the girl. He clenched her slender neck and pinned her on the ground. He chuckled as she clawed at his hand. He began applying more pressure. Her eyes opened wide. She couldn't breathe! Raimundo felt rage course through his veins. Like Kimiko, he found himself not able summon his power over the wind. All he could do is watch in helplessness as his friend was being choked to death by the person she felt sorry for just moments ago.

Jack you son of a bitch! I will kill you!

"I find it will be quite traumatic really. The one he cares about the most will parish by his own hand. I could almost start to cry at the irony in our situation, don't you agree?" Jack whispered to female monk, watching in glee as tears fell from her cerulean eyes. She kicked and punched at him. He didn't budge. The edges of her vision faded into black.

"J…Jack please….st…op." She pleaded in desperation. Kimiko knew that it was futile but she still had to try. Kimiko knew that this person was not Jack. Jack was just a harmless idiot. He would never harm anyone…would he? She stared up at Jack, her vision blurred. Was it her imagination or did his eyes suddenly flash into their red color? Where those tears that fell from his eyes? Very dimly she felt the hand against her throat shook. Jack spoke but his words were too muted for Kimiko to understand.

"Kimiko…Kimiko… I'm sorry."

Review please. Love it? Hate it? Tell me what you think! Also, on a side note I will try to get the next chapter up either today or tomorrow.