"Ugh! How did it get this hot today?! It was supposed to be cloudy!" Kimiko flopped onto her back in the grass beside the others, sighing in annoyance. "Omi, how can you stand wearing the robes in this heat?"
Raimundo listened to them talk back and forth about the heat, not quite sure why he had left his room. True, it had been stiflingly warm. Though he had enjoyed the solitude. The young man was sitting in the grass with his friends, but his mind was a million miles away.
Kimiko had noticed, of course. She was just glad that he had finally left his room. He was still sulking. Reflecting on the past events, she was fairly certain that Jiayi was the cause. The moping had begun shortly after he went to help her. It was almost as if he was disappointed. As if he had expected something to happen.
He tugged at the collar of his shirt, wondering if it would have been better to stay in his room. The air outside felt warmer. Painfully warm. He let himself fall back in the grass and crossed his arms behind his head, eyes closing. "We should go somewhere cool."
The others perked up, all turning in his direction with interest. "Where should we go?" Kimiko asked. "Is there anywhere in particular you want to go? Like a beach or-?"
"I reckon we could go to a pool somewhere," Clay chimed in.
"Or a river! We could catch fish and-!" Omi cut himself off, beaming.
"Hm…? What's this? You're going somewhere?" Jiayi asked.
Raimundo's eyes snapped open and he realized that she was standing over him, wearing a mischievous half-grin. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh…don't look so excited to see me," she teased. "I was just hoping that there was a sword master here that I could spar with."
He pushed himself to sit up, looking her up and down. Her long, dark blue hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she was wearing black shorts and a black tank top. To his embarrassment, he felt his face heating faintly with a blush. "What do you need to spar for? I thought you just used your claws."
Jiayi tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Oh…? So you're not up to it, hm? Such a shame, really." The young woman's hips swayed side to side, her grin growing when Raimundo stood. "So…what do you say, Rai? Spar with me?"
Shift P.O.V
"Fine." The young man got to his feet, standing taller than her and smirking down at her. "Let's make it interesting."
"What's more interesting than fighting with swords?"
"No using the sword's power. Just natural sword skills." He saw her nod and he crossed his arms. "The first one to fall to the ground loses."
She absently toyed with her sword strap and felt her look of satisfaction begin to falter. "And? What does the winner get?"
"One thing of their choosing." Raimundo saw the reluctance in her pale face and his smirk grew. "What? Are you too afraid to spar with me now?"
Jiayi gritted her teeth and shook her head. "No way. Do I look like a chicken to you?"
"You look more like a scared cat."
She snickered and held up a steady hand. "Oh yes…would you look at that trembling? Do you think you can scare me? Let's take this to the forest's edge." He went to get a sword and left her alone with Clay, Omi, and Kimiko.
"Will you really spar with him?" Omi asked before the others could.
"It does seem kind of dangerous. You know the mood he's been in lately," Kimiko pointed out. "Hey, where's Jack today?"
"Prob'ly thought it was too hot outside," Clay remarked.
"Well…you know he only wears black. I insisted on him staying behind. Besides…this is sort of my responsibility." She saw their curious looks and shook her head. "I don't think now is the time to discuss this. Let's suffice it to say, I know that he wants something from me. What it is, I don't know."
There was a short, awkward pause as the four glanced toward the temple. Raimundo was already on his way back to them. "Can I see the Blade of Renshu?" Omi gave her a look so full of hope that it made her stomach hurt.
She glanced from the sheathed blade to the young monk and raised an eyebrow. "Omi…aren't you the dragon of water?" He nodded eagerly. "Right so…an ice sword would be kind of your thing, wouldn't it?"
"I just want to see it!" he protested.
"I know…I'm just thinking out loud." After she let him examine the blade, she walked with Raimundo to the edge of the forest. "Alright. Time for the rules. No involving the others." He nodded once. "No using the swords' powers." Another nod.
His eyes narrowed, quickly glancing at their surroundings. "Okay, but what if someone interferes?" She stared at him, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "I mean him! What if he interrupts?!"
Her hips started to sway in anticipation of their sparring match. "I suppose…you can do what you think is right. If that happens. But it won't. Are you ready?"
When the match began, she was surprised by his speed. He immediately rushed her and began to strike. Jiayi blocked each potential hit, eyes widening. Raimundo really goes all out for sparring, huh? That's fine. I'll take it easy on him for now. After all…this is to collect information. If we spar, I can learn his fight patterns. I have the upper hand though; he might learn how I fight in this form, but my tiger form is much less predictable. Jiayi carefully blocked a strike aimed at her chest and managed to rush him.
Raimundo was alarmed by how she was suddenly right in front of him, her face inches from his. She smirked and planted the sole of her boot against his chest before sending him skidding backwards over the grass. His balance was good so he stayed upright, but he knew that any normal person would have toppled and would have sprained something. "You're holding back!" he growled.
"Well I sort of need to. This is a sparring match."
"You know I'm strong enough to take it!" The young man rushed forward, striking fiercely. Jiayi moved back again and again, dodging attacks and finally giving his side a tap with her blade before spinning away from him. "You think I can't handle it?! You saw me fight Chase Young!"
"That wasn't you! Not the real you!" she argued. Jiayi was nearly thrown off by his sudden appearance in front of her. Wait! No, how did he-?! She felt a strong rush of air from him and scowled. How did I not realize? Fine! If he's going to cheat, then I will, too! The girl let her claws emerge on her left hand and swiped, making him retreat a few steps.
On the sidelines, everyone knew that this was no longer sword-only fight. Raimundo was subtly using multiple shen-gon-wu and Jiayi was attacking with a clawed left hand, threatening to actually hurt him if he got too close. He dodged a swipe aimed at his head, meant to drive him back further, and darted forward. Her clawed hand was pushed aside, his forearm driving against her chest and pushing her back a few steps. He kept pace with her, applying more pressure until she finally twisted out of his reach. Watching her move, he was reminded of a cat and wondered if she would shift forms if he pushed her further. "You think it wasn't the real me? Who do you think it was then, Jiayi? It was me! I did what I had to so I could rescue you!"
She snarled and sprinted forward, dodging a swing of his blade and planting a hand on his chest. With as much strength as she could manage, she forced him back and against a tree trunk. "Did it look like I needed to be rescue?! I am incorruptible!"
Raimundo's sword clashed against hers and his eyes narrowed. "I wasn't worried about you being corrupted! Or hadn't you noticed?!"
"What, then? If you weren't there to try to stop me from relapsing-!"
"You think I care if you go back to the Heylin side?! That's what I wanted to see!" His voice was low, keeping his words quiet enough that the others would not hear. "I just wanted to stop him before he touched you."
Her face turned red and she jumped back, watching him carefully. He was adjusting his stance, preparing to attack again. "I didn't need your help!"
"If I hadn't helped you, you would still be there! With him!"
The others watched them run at each other again and again, continuously blocking and striking back and forth. Few words were exchanged after a while. It was becoming obvious that neither intended to lose the sparring match. The sparring match was quickly becoming an all-out battle.
She parted from the young man and stood a good distance from him, watching. He was becoming tired. She knew he was. After all, he was only mortal. If I let him win, there's no telling what ridiculous thing he might want as a reward. And what was that about him wanting to see me return to the Heylin side? Jiayi moved to quickly block an attack and leaned in close so her face was near his. "Raimundo…have you been corrupted?" She felt a sharp jolt of electricity run up and along her arm as his hand grasped hers. Jiayi could feel it in his palm, pressing against her flesh and rendering her unable to move her hand to let go of him. "I-it's the…" Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall.
"Eye of Dashi." He smirked, leaning in closer to her. "What? Is that all it takes? Just hearing his name makes you all teary?"
"Sh-shut up! Let go of my hand!" The electricity faded, but his hand continued to grip hers. She knew that she could tear her hand free if she really wanted to, but would risk injuring him in the process.
"I wanted to help you," he hissed. "All I wanted to do was help you."
"I never wanted your help!" She kept her voice low as well, not wanting to frighten the others. They were watching. If she did accidentally injure him, it could be very bad. "Listen-!"
"Why can't you just let me help you?!"
"Help me do what? Just what do you think I need help with now? Do you see Chase Young anywhere? No! Because you-!" She bit her lip, feeling the electricity start again. Tears rolled down her cheeks and soon she could taste blood.
He let the current die and released her hand. "Don't look at me like I'm some kind of monster! I did it for you!"
Jiayi bit down harder on her bottom lip, taking several steps back. He won't let it end easily, will he? He knows that I can't use my immortal abilities against him. I can't actually hurt him. Her hips swayed side to side for a moment, a scowl growing on her blood-slickened lips. With a quiet growl, the immortal dropped to her knees on the ground. "…I concede defeat…"
"What?! This isn't over! Get up!"
"I said that I concede defeat. An immortal does not always lose with such dignity. Please allow me this." She met his gaze with a firm look of her own.
Raimundo stepped closer to her. "Get up! I didn't want to win this way!"
"…what did you want to ask for…?" Strands of her long, dark blue hair had come free of her ponytail and were hanging in her face. If it's something outrageous, I'll refuse and demand that he chooses something else. That's just how it needs to be. She saw him open his mouth to reply, but then he tensed and narrowed his eyes on something behind Jiayi. A hand gripped the back of her neck and she snarled lowly.
"What's this? I give you time to yourself and find you fighting, and losing, to like this monk?" His every word dripped venom, his hold on the back of her neck tightening painfully for a moment. When she was released, he moved his hand to the front of her neck. Covered fingertips traced along her throat before gripping her jaw and forcing her head back so their eyes met. Her bright amber eyes were sparkling with tears that rolled down her pale cheeks even as he stared back at her. "What sort of trick did he use to make you submit so quickly?" he taunted.
"Step away from me or I will destroy you," she growled. Jiayi pulled her face free and was soon standing near Raimundo, trying to put herself between him and Chase Young. The others need to get to the temple. As long as they…Okay so I'm too late. They already have weapons. That won't do us much good anyway, considering our opponent. Brandishing the Blade of Renshu, she fixed her gaze upon the male immortal. "So…you finally gained up the courage to leave your lair…?" she taunted.
The young man behind her frowned. "Let me handle this."
"Raimundo, I'm not letting you do that! And after this, we're having a serious talk about-!" Jiayi was shoved aside, nearly losing her balance, and watched him run at the villain. "What did I just say?!" Despite herself, she moved to the three monks and signaled for them to go back to the temple.
"Let me do this for you!" he shouted over his shoulder. The fight had already begun and he was swinging his blade at Chase Young. The immortal was easily dodging each hit and countering with ones of his own. Raimundo was quickly gaining bruises.
Once the monks were fleeing, she tensed her muscles and prepared to attack. "Look...if you think you're doing this alone, think again!"
He smirked when she joined him, fighting at his side and driving Chase back from the temple grounds. This was what he had wanted; to have her at his side. To fight together. Though he also wanted more. He could feel it growing within him. Since the day he met Jiayi, he could feel evil steadily growing in his heart and mind. It did not govern his actions or thoughts so much as his need to make her notice him. Watching her fight beside him, attacking Chase Young again and again, he felt a sort of satisfaction.
She frowned and met Chase's gaze, trying not to think about how vicious Raimundo's expression was becoming. The immortal man was watching her as well, his eyes glinting with a predatory desire. Jiayi pushed Raimundo behind her at the worst, yet best, possible moment. The Sword of the Storm ran through the back of her shoulder, the tip piercing through to the front and dripping red. Chase's claws raked her upper chest, tearing through her flesh and shirt. The blood was warm and sticky, mingling with her sweat. She looked over her shoulder at Raimundo, who gaped at her and trembled. Her head turned to look at Chase and she felt a hand on her shoulder. The young woman was forced forward, freeing the sword and letting her blood flow freely down her back. Falling to her knees, she coughed crimson droplets onto the grass beneath her.