"This is the perfect opportunity to put my new medicine skills to use!" Omi declared as he examined her wound.
Jiayi winced when he poked at the hole in her shoulder. "I mean…you know I heal fast, right? I'm immortal." His shoulders drooped slightly with disappointment. "I guess maybe it would be okay. Just don't go to too much trouble, alright?" She watched him run off toward the forest and sighed. Slouching on the veranda, the young woman let her eyes slide closed. Even from this distance, she could feel eyes on her. Of course. Why would Chase Young leave now that I'm wounded like this? I wouldn't put it past him to attack again.
Raimundo approached her hesitantly, still feeling guilty about her shoulder wound. "So what's up? It's going to heal soon, right?"
"Just what do you think I am?" She heard him move closer and soon felt him sitting beside her. When she sensed his hand close to her chest, she quickly grabbed his wrist. "Don't."
"I just wanted to get a better look."
"A better look? At what? A wound that could have easily killed you? What were you thinking when you got that close to him?" Jiayi met his curious gaze with a stern one. "You weren't thinking at all. That much is evident. And you call yourself their leader?"
He frowned and pulled his hand away. "I couldn't think about what would happen. I wanted to protect you."
She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. Settling back against the wall, she closed her eyes again. "I've told you before…I don't need your protection." There was a short silence between them as Jiayi listened to the others speak. Dojo was asking Kimiko and Clay what had happened and seemed completely unsurprised by the fact that Chase Young had attacked her. "…it's really warm today…"
"Yeah. Makes me wish this temple had air-conditioning." Raimundo grinned when she gave a small laugh. "What?"
Jiayi snorted. "Putting such a thing in a place like this." Shaking her head, she felt another yawn approaching. It's too hot to be outside. I should go back to Jack's after Omi tends to my wounds. Of course…there's still Chase. I would need to outrun him. With Guan missing, I can't rely on him to ambush Chase again. She could hear Kimiko talking now. Discussing what they should do. Everyone seemed worried about Jiayi's wounds no matter how many times she reassured them that she would heal.
"I didn't think she could be hurt like that. When we found out that she's immortal, I just thought…like that she was invincible to stuff like that."
"I didn't think a shen-gon-wu could be used that way," Clay spoke up.
"A sword's a sword. The Sword of the Storm is just like any other blade if you aren't using its magic," Dojo explained. "Most people wouldn't be stupid enough to put themselves in its way like she did. So what's wrong with Raimundo?"
There was a pause. "I think he just really wants her to pay attention to him. I don't know when it started, but I can tell by looking at him. Even now. He's sitting with her, but he looks like he wants something." Kimiko's voice carried almost a despairing tone. "I don't like seeing him that way."
"I don't think anyone does," Clay agreed. "He oughta just forget about her."
"It's not easy to forget about someone."
"He's just lucky she doesn't have a crush on him! You should've seen the way she stalked Dashi when she had a crush on him! She followed us everywhere! And then she turned evil to try to get his attention! I don't know what she thought would happen; he couldn't stand her!" The small dragon yelped when a pebble was thrown at his head.
"Dojo…don't you think that's enough insolence for one day?" Jiayi asked, opening one eye. He was watching her with a narrowed gaze. "What?"
"You're starting to sound like a villain again."
"Oh…you're so funny." She beamed when Omi approached her with a mortar, pestle, bandages, a cup of water, and a handful of roots. "So? What do you do for wounds like these?"
He squinted at her exposed shoulder, ignoring the dark markings and scars that riddled her upper half. "The shoulder wound is clean. The chest wounds are jagged. The skin is torn."
"Which means?"
"Goldenrod to keep it from infection. Calendula to heal fast. Gotu kola to keep it from leaving a scar." He smiled at her look of surprise. "Is that correct?"
"Yes…you're right. That's very good." She tried to smile back, but she was perplexed as to how he knew about the scar reducing herb. I don't think I taught him that one. Did he look it up somewhere? Maybe they have a medicinal scroll that I should look at. The immortal watched him grind the herbs to a powder and then add water little by little until it became a paste. She let him apply it to the shoulder wound and wrap it, though she knew the wound would be healed by the end of the day. When he wanted to tend to her chest, she refused and took the medicine with her to privately apply it.
Once it was wrapped, she rejoined everyone outside and sat on the veranda beside Kimiko. The others were talking about going somewhere to swim, but she said nothing. As much fun as it might be, I don't want to leave Jack alone for too long. Especially not after that chaos with Chase. She could still feel eyes on her. It made goose bumps raise on her bare arms.
Without a word to the others, Jiayi stood and stretched her arms over her head. Curious looks were directed at her as she walked down the steps leading up to the veranda. "Hm? Oh. I need to be going. If I don't leave soon, who knows what might happen to Jack?" Seeing Dojo open his mouth to make a remark, she shot him a glare. "You seem to forget what it is that I need to eat to stay youthful, Dojo. If I was in your position, I think I would consider that a little more before I speak."
Jiayi was only marginally surprised by what awaited her when she left the temple grounds. Jungle cats were prowling in the forest and she knew immediately why they were there. When she tried to shift forms, she found her wounds inhibiting her ability to full change. The skin is stretching and it's tearing the wounds more. Too risky. He must have known. Gritting her teeth, she changed back to her human form and glanced around. "You know…obsessive men are so unattractive," she started. There was no answer. Jiayi knew that he was still close, but was unable to see him in the forest around her.
Fearless, she walked straight up to a tiger and crouched in front of it. All of these cats were once human, right? I bet it hurts them to see someone who can shift back to human so easily. She held out a hand and when the tiger failed to react, she stroked the side of their face and wondered what sort of person they had been. The tiger's eyes half-closed and they moved closer, rubbing their face against the side of her neck. Unsure of whether or not she should be embarrassed, she patted their back. "…I know it hurts…" she murmured. The other cats were drawing closer now, not appearing predatory. Their eyes reflected curiosity instead and they came to sit around the young woman.
"Do you want to join them? They seem so fond of you suddenly." There was spite in the man's voice as he appeared at the edge of the feline group. He crossed his arms and studied the blue-haired woman as she reached to stroke the mane of a lion. Even if they were cats now, he knew that they were once human. They still possessed the minds and souls of human warriors. This knowledge, coupled with the way she caressed the lion's face, ignited a jealousy in the villain. When the lion nuzzled their forehead against her chest, she half-smiled and rubbed the creature's ears. "Even if they had their free will back and could become human, they wouldn't know what to do with their lives."
"Hm…it's still a cruel fate to endure." The lion had lifted its head and was meeting her amber eyes with deep green ones. She pressed her forehead against the cat's and felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. They were once human warriors with families and friends. Lives that they had to abandon. Lovers they will they never see again. So many goodbyes left unsaid and apologies left undelivered. Promises broken. Loves lost. Her fingers ran through the cat's mane and she sighed, pulling her face away. "I don't suppose you feel remorse."
Chase smirked at her from across the group of cats. "Never."
She stood and adjusted her sword strap. "Look. I don't want to fight. For one, I don't feel like it. Two, it's too hot to anything like that. And three, you're giving me the creeps."
"I didn't intend to fight you today."
"So what do you want then?" Jiayi felt the tiger from before move to sit beside her, rubbing the top of its head against her left hand. She stroked its fur absently, her eyes on Chase Young as he slowly advanced through the crowd of jungle cats.
"How many times do I need to repeat myself before you do as I ask?" He stopped right in front of her, watching the muscles in her jaw clench in anger. With a malevolent smile, he leaned down to her eye level and gripped her chin. "I want you to love me." She wrinkled her nose in response. "I will make you love me."
"You can't make a person love you!" Jiayi snarled. "I don't know what ridiculous thought process you went through to reach such a conclusion, but it's not possible! And if you really think that I could love you…that I would leave Jack for you…well that's just too funny!" A cruel smile grew on her lips as he scowled. "I don't even know what you see in me. Why would you still be after me when you have an obedient fan girl like Wuya waiting for you? Didn't she stay behind so she could take care of you? You know…when Raimundo and I beat you into the floor of your lair…?"
He easily lifted the young woman by the front of her shirt and threw her. Jiayi rolled over the grass and into the road, quickly shifting into a crouched position. "We were meant to be together."
Her hand went to the hilt of her sword, eyes sweeping the crowd of cats as Chase started toward her again. To her utter surprise, the tiger she had petted was skirting around the group to come up beside her. Alright so I have one ally. Er…two, she thought as the lion joined them. Two allies against Chase Young and a bunch of…okay, the others seem to be sitting this out. That works! She unsheathed the Blade of Renshu, prepared to fight to protect her new allies.
"Your father's blade?" Recognition flashed in his eyes briefly. "Your father. What do you think he would say if he knew what you became? If he hadn't burned in that fire, Renshu would have been disgusted."
"Don't talk about my father," she growled lowly. "Either fight me or get the hell out of my way!"
Chase smirked once more and took a step toward her. "We were meant to be together," he repeated. "You were meant to be at my side. Perhaps you just need more persuading."
She took a step back as he moved closer. "Stay back! If I need to, I will hurt you much worse than you hurt me today!" In the blink of an eye, he was behind her and gripping her wounded shoulder tightly. It sent a sharp pain through her nerves, but she remained standing and turned quickly to slash at him.
He backed away swiftly to evade her attack and then closed the distance once more to grip her throat. Her back slammed against a tree, the man's armored body pressing close to hers. Jiayi's pale face was inches from his, her amber eyes wide with fear. It filled him with satisfaction, but he wanted more. The immortal man's mouth covered hers in a rough kiss. In the days after her escape, his hunger for her had only grown stronger. Plans had formed in his mind, but none seemed quite right for recapturing the immortal woman. She was on the same level as him. That alone was reason enough to keep her close. Coupling that with her fierce personality and beauty made him determined to have her at his side.
Jiayi's eyes closed against the pain of her wrist being knocked hard against the tree trunk. Her sword fell to the ground and he soon had her hands pinned over her head with one hand. No! I won't let this happen! Not again! I can't do that to Jack! She turned her face to the side, scowling. "If you don't let go of me-!"
"What can you do? Anything you can do, I can do," he taunted. His lips moved along the side of her neck, pausing to bite at the area between her neck and shoulder. "We're the same. How can you hope to be happy with someone that's so weak? Someone that will die before you?"
The corner of her mouth drew up, forming a smirk. Even though her face was bright pink with a blush, it still looked menacing. "Funny. Are you…trying to insinuate that I would happy if I were to join you? I mean…why do you think that? Since the day I met you, all you seem to think about is what will make you happy. Besides…love doesn't work the way you seem to think it works. I know from experience. You're going about it completely wrong. Before you try to make someone love you, you need to love them first."
He chuckled and nuzzled his face against the crook of her neck. "What makes you think I don't? If it needs to be said then you are more naïve than I ever could have imagined."
"Hm." She slipped a hand free from his grip and wove her fingers into his long, dark hair. Jiayi blushed red when she felt his hips grind into hers as a pleased growl left him. Her smirk grew, knowing that she still had some power over him. "So…? You have something to say? Or are you feeling too weak from my touch?"
Her words struck a nerve within him, but he refused to react how she would expect. It would only make her think that she had even more power over him. She tugged at his hair and a grunt of pleasure escaped him, making him angrier. After a few seconds of composing himself, he pulled her chin so she was forced to look at him as he said, "I love you. And you will be mine." Their lips met again and he felt her teeth close on his bottom lip.
Jiayi bit down harder until she tasted blood, but soon realized that it was having no impact. Sinking her nails into his scalp seemed to only make matters worse. She could feel desperation in the kiss. Possessiveness. Hunger. Lust. A shiver ran through her and, after thrashing frantically, she managed to escape. She changed to her tiger form, ignoring the way her wounds tore open further, and raced through the forest at super speed. When she reached Jack's house, she made it to the living room before collapsing on the floor in a ball of pain and humiliation. Her wounds were bleeding and her body was shaking when Jack found her. Covering his mouth at the sight of the blood, he fell to his knees beside her and began to panic.