"So what brings you back?"
"Hm? What...you don't want to see me now?" Jiayi closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall, listening to the rain outside. The air was colder than before, but hardly bothered the immortal as she yawned and stretched. "Kimiko. What do you do for fun?"
The girl shrugged, but then realized that with her eyes closed, Jiayi was unable to see this. "I don't know. I have some video games and I talk to my friend on the phone sometimes."
Amber eyes half-opened and fixed upon the girl. She was sitting across the very small room from Jiayi and still seemed confused as to why the immortal had come to visit. Truthfully, Jiayi had wanted to visit so she could find some way to atone for what had happened the previous week. Her last visit had ended with her turning into a large, monstrous cat. I'm surprised they let me in, she thought as she rubbed her exposed upper arms.
"So what are those tattoos? I recognize a few symbols, but what do they mean?" Kimiko had tried to be careful about staring, but the markings were intriguing. They were dark and bold. Hard to look away from, especially when she was sitting so close to the other girl.
"The tattoos…hm. They mean to keep away. That I'm evil…not to be trusted…" Jiayi raised an eyebrow. So what now? Are you going to run and tell the others? Are you going to glare at me until I get up and walk away? You saw me come in with Jack. You heard what Guan said about me. So why are you still sitting there, staring at me like this?
Kimiko shrugged again and pulled out her cellphone. "You're reformed. Those don't really apply anymore, right?"
"Is that really what you think? Or are you just putting up a brave front?" Jiayi winced when the phone's camera flashed. It did this a few times and she grimaced at the other girl. "What are you doing?"
"Taking pictures of the symbols. Can you raise your arms a little so I can see the ones on your forearms? And tug down the neck of your shirt. You have markings on your chest, right? How far down do they go?"
Dark hair fell over half of Jiayi's face and she blushed. "…not showing you the ones on my chest…" she muttered.
"So how did you get these? Was it after you met Master Monk Guan?"
"…before…" Jiayi bit her thumbnail as Kimiko typed something into her phone. "I got them before I met him…but not intentionally. They just…sort of…appeared. After I drank the soup." She winced again when Kimiko grabbed her wrist and turned it to get a better picture. "…you should be more careful, you know…"
"You wouldn't really hurt anyone. I know you wouldn't. Clay told us what you said, when you were up on the roof. You don't want to be evil. And you're not."
"I'm with Jack."
"So? That doesn't automatically make you evil."
Jiayi wanted desperately to believe her. She wanted to believe that there was no evil present in her. But I know it isn't true. I feel it sometimes. Wicked impulses. She stood and left the very small room, but knew that Kimiko would follow. The Japanese girl was still cataloging all of Jiayi's markings.
"What about your scars? Are they from that fight?"
She gave the girl a sad glance over her shoulder. "The scars…were self-inflicted. I tried to tear myself apart when I realized that my plan had failed. Never sacrifice too much for love." Jiayi found the male monks sitting on a veranda, watching the rain. She sat as far from them as possible and stared out at the downpour with a sigh.
"What's up?" Raimundo asked, directing the question at Kimiko.
"We were just talking. Girl talk. You wouldn't understand." She sat beside Jiayi, who flinched away a little. "You should visit more often. I mean, when it's not raining like this."
"Hm. Maybe."
"So what brings you back? You took off with Kimiko as soon as you got here," Clay spoke up. He was still wary of her, not quite able to forget the way she had eyed him like prey from the rooftop.
"I just…I was bored. No other reason." Jiayi tucked her hair behind her ear and frowned. "Where's Jack?"
"I reckon he went off to do whatever he does. He better not go near the shen-gon-wu."
"If he did, we'll just have to throw him out," Raimundo agreed. "So what's up with you and Jack? Are you guys dating or-?"
"No." She drew her knees to her chest, trying to ignore the way the others stared at her. "…dating…it wouldn't be fair to either of us…"
"Because you're on different sides?"
"Master Monk Guan said that you were a great warrior," Omi interrupted. Tired of their boring topics, he was determined to find something interesting. "Jiayi, I challenge you!"
She half-smirked at this and stood, stretching her arms over her head. "Very well. I accept your challenge, but only if it's sparring."
He nodded, grinning at the chance to even spar with someone that Guan had deemed a 'great warrior'. "Yes! I hope you do not mind the rain, Jiayi!"
Shift P.O.V
She truly was a sight to behold. Even in the rain, on slick grass and damp earth, she moved swiftly and struck with accuracy. Of course, it was obvious that she was being careful with Omi. When she sensed that he would not be able to dodge a hit, she swiftly changed its direction so that he could. Her long, dark blue hair clung wetly to her back and neck. Her amber eyes shone like burning coals in her pale face, gleaming with determination and excitement.
He frowned and leaned back against the wall. The rain also made her shirt cling to her chest and it was starting to make this awkward. He started to feel weird about watching their sparring match. Of course, now that he was looking closely, he recognized her shirt. It was Jack's. He was sure that he had seen Jack wear it before. A glance over showed that the boy in question was standing in the rain and cheering for her, just a few feet ahead of the veranda.
Kimiko was recording the match on her cellphone, every so often calling out words of encouragement. Clay was silently observing and when he started to feel weird about watching, he tipped his hat over his eyes. "Maybe they oughta come in out of the rain."
"Maybe someone should pull Jack in out of the rain," Kimiko remarked. As she said this, the redhead sneezed loudly. "Hey, Jack! Your eyeliner is going to run!"
Raimundo crossed his arms and glanced from Jack to Jiayi. The boy in black actually looked their way briefly and, sure enough, his eyeliner was running down his pale cheeks. If she's not evil, why is she Jack's partner? She isn't like Wuya. Even when she's evil, she's probably different. She seems more mischievous than anything. He closed his eyes and imagined what she might have looked like when she tried to take over Europe and Asia. Guan had told them the whole story; she had fallen in love and gained immortality so she could carry out a plan to get the man's attention. Who she had fallen in love with remained a mystery to the young monks and they were not about to ask her, for fear of depressing her. He now imagined her standing on a stormy horizon with her long, dark violet hair blowing fiercely in the wind. An evil look in her eyes and lightning flashing across the sky behind her. A wonderful, seductive grin on her face. It made him think of evil things. It made him want to be evil.
Shaking his head, he looked at her again. The sparring match had come to an abrupt halt due to interference from a familiar villain. Omi was standing between Jiayi and Chase Young, a threatening look on his face. The female immortal took a few steps back, glaring at the man. Words were spoken, but the monks were too far to hear what was being said. In the next instant, Jiayi had grabbed Omi's arm and they were standing on the veranda.
Shift P.O.V
"I need to go…I'm sorry." Jiayi glanced back at Chase. He was still there, standing in the rain and observing them. I can't bring Jack with me. He won't be able to keep up. I just need to be faster than Chase and I should be able to get away. I just had the soup last week so I should be fast enough. Her eyes went to Jack and she offered a half-smile of reassurance. "Jack…I'll be back for you, alright? Stay here." She turned toward the others now. "Keep him safe…and I'll reward you. Understand?" They nodded their agreement, albeit with reluctance.
"Just lose him and come back here," Raimundo suggested.
"It's…going to take some time." She turned toward the rainy outdoors and frowned. As much as she loved the rain in her human shape, she hated to get the fur of her beast form wet. It feels gross. Not the least bit refreshing, she thought as she changed shape. As always, it made her bones initially ache to shift into a large cat body. A quick bit of stretching always cleared this up and soon Jiayi was racing toward Chase through the rain.
He smirked and followed suit, changing forms as she lunged at him with her fangs bared. The two rolled over the wet earth and grass, the girl ending up on top of him and snarling once before racing off into the forest. She could hear him behind her. Feel him behind her. Even as she gained speed, he seemed to be keeping pace rather well. It irritated her. Turning swiftly, she hurled herself at the large reptilian beast. Her body shifted forms once more, the girl settling on top of him and glaring down with her hand on his throat. "Just…what do you want? Why are you here? Did you follow me?" she demanded in a low tone.
"Do you think this is the first time?" he taunted. "Why did you come here today? Do you think it's where you belong? Do you think you're one of them? That they will accept you?"
"They're my friends!" Jiayi roared, pressing harder on his throat.
"Do you really believe that? Do you know what they really think of you?"
She leaned down, bringing her face within inches of his. "If you believe…that I'm anything like you…you are mistaken!" Her sharp nails sank into his skin shallowly. A hand gripped the back of her neck and sharply yanked her body closer against his.
Chase wore a mocking sort of expression as he stared up at her. The young woman's face was quickly changing from pale to pink at their close proximity. "We belong together. I think you're aware of it. I think you're just afraid of what might happen if you embrace your true evil potential." He gave another sharp tug and brought her mouth against his.
Jiayi struggled in his grip, but could not break free. She parted her lips and sank her teeth into his bottom lip as hard as she could. He released her and a drop of his blood fell onto his cheek from her lips. "How…dare you?!" She pressed harder on his throat, but it had no real impact. He chuckled beneath her and she growled lowly. "If I wanted to end you-!"
"You couldn't." A hand lifted, fingers running through her damp hair briefly before he wrapped both arms around her and turned them so that he was on top. Her amber eyes went wide and she snarled once more when his grip went to her wrist, pinning her down with his body. "Even if you could, why would you want to?" Chase's long, dark hair brushed her shoulders when he leaned down to her face. "How many others are there? Others like us. Others that will stay live forever. Did you intend to spend forever with that insect Jack? Spend the rest of eternity with his bones after watching him die?"
"I never said-!" She grunted in discomfort, both of her wrists suddenly being held down over her head. Jiayi gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to snap at his face. He was watching her, amusement clear in his gaze. "I…would rather spend eternity alone…than with someone like you." The girl flipped them over once more, but he kept a tight hold on her wrists. Sitting on his waist, she glared down at him with the ferocity of a thousand lions. "Chase Young…the arrogant…the fool…the self-entitled sociopath…" To her further irritation, he smirked at this description. "You…really have no sense of integrity, do you? For what purpose did you join the Heylin side?"
"The same reason as you. We both craved power." He pulled her wrists down, forcing her hands onto the chest piece of his armor. "Admit it. We belong together. You know that this is true. Just imagine the beautiful evil that we could inflict upon this world. With you ruling at my side, it could be magnificent."
"I'm not evil." Jiayi tugged at her wrists, but knew it was futile at this point. He was holding tightly and would not let go until he wished to. "You do realize…even if I was evil…even if I did…give in to such urges…I have no obligation to you." She bit the inside of her cheek, the taste of her own blood mingling with the lingering taste of his as he leaned up to her neck. What is he doing?! Why is he doing this? It's Guan's fault for drawing attention to me!
"I beg to differ." Chase drew closer and then froze. He pulled away with a look of disgust. "You smell like that insect Jack. Just how close are you with him?"
Her heart was already racing and now she smirked up at him. "Oh…you couldn't guess on your own…? Jack and I…are partners. More than partners, almost." Jiayi felt his grip on her wrists loosen and she pulled back enough to sit on the damp ground. Rain still fell around them, soaking the man's hair. "These clothes…Jack loaned them to me…" She stood as he did and crossed her arms over her chest. "So…? What now? Do I disgust you?"
"What makes you think that I would be deterred by something so insignificant?" He gripped her upper arm and tugged her toward him. "You do realize what will happen to him now? What will happen to him if he gets closer to you?" His voice was low, threatening.
Jiayi tilted her head and smirked as he did. "What makes you…think that I will let you near him? Jack pledged his loyalty to me. Do you know what the means? He belongs to me. Jack Spicer…is my human. If you harm him…in any way at all…I will make you wish that you had never even looked in my direction." She could feel her internal evil spiking with these words, her hips swaying subconsciously as she watched Chase.
"You think that his loyalty will remain? If I asked for him to betray you, he would do it without a second thought. You seem to forget that he idolizes me. While you question your true evil nature, Jack knows what side he belongs on." He pulled her closer now and his smirk grew. "He knows who his master is. Now if you could just learn, then perhaps things would go easier for you. Jiayi." The man released her and stepped back. "I dare you to question his loyalty. Listen to his lies. In time, I promise you that you will embrace your true nature and abandon any ambition to be 'good'."
She took several steps back, her eyes not leaving him as rage filled her. "Jack would never betray me. This I can promise you."