Hello, everyone, I am finally back after an almost two-year hiatus. First, I want to thank everyone for being patient with me and to apologize for taking so long to update. It took a while to get this chapter to how I would like it. It might not be the best I've written, but I hope you enjoy it all the same. Now, I think I've kept you all waiting long enough. Let's get on with the adventure! Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OCs.
The Xiaolin Dragon King: Third Arc
Chapter Five: Celebration (Part One)
Kimiko rummaged through the closet of the room she was occupying in the lair of Chase Young. Next to her was a pile of clothes she had tossed aside in her search for the perfect outfit to wear. It would have gone much easier if the one who was supposed to be her critic was doing his job.
"Okay, what do you think about this one?" the female monk held up a light green summer dress with short sleeves, pressed it against her body, and turned around.
"It looks great, Kimi." Raimundo told her from where he sat on the bed, giving a thumbs-up.
"Rai, that's what you said about every single one." she sighed, disheartened, and let the dress join the rest on the floor. "You need to give me some more criticism."
"Hey, it isn't my fault you look fantastic in anything you wear." he gave her a wink and grin, only getting a blank in return. "Not in the mood, huh?"
"I'm serious, Raimundo." Kimiko said, walking closer to him. "I have to find the best clothes to wear next week. And let's not forget shoes, accessories, hair, make-up, and-"
"Kimi, you gotta calm down a little. We're just going to be celebrating my birthday, we've done that before."
"Except, this time, we're going to your hometown and visiting your family. I've never met them before and I need to ensure they like me, especially your mother. Relationships are almost always bound to have problems if the parents don't approve. And I do not want to be one of those girls who can't get along with their boyfriend's mother."
"Hey, you've got nothing to worry about." the Brazilian reassured her. "I've been telling my family about you since the day we met, and all they've heard are good things."
"Yeah?" she said hopefully.
"Well… I might have mentioned you do have a bit of a temper." he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Rai!"
"But I told them you've been improving on that lately." Raimundo quickly told her before she could burst into flames. "I also made sure to add that you're smart, funny, strong, and all of your other endless good qualities."
Kimiko scowled at him silently for a moment before sighing, cooling down. "I'm sorry." she sat down next to him. "I know I shouldn't be freaking out this much, but I'm just so nervous. I really want to make a good impression and have things go well."
"You don't need to apologize, I totally get it." he took one of her hands into his, giving it a light squeeze. "I might have played it off like the cool guy I am, but my nerves were all haywire when I met your dad."
"They were?"
"Absolutely. I thought he would take one look at me and ultimately decide I was nowhere near good enough for you. Heck, my family is probably gonna think the same thing. Compared to you, I'm just some poor kid."
"No, you're not, Rai." Kimiko squeezed his hand back. "I've seen firsthand how hard you've worked to get where you are now. Me and everyone else are proud of you, just like I know your family is."
"Thanks, Kimi." he smiled at her. "But I know everyone is going to love you. Since you won me over, it's pretty obvious it'll be the same for them."
"I sure hope so." she said. "I still wanna look my best, though."
"If it means that much to you, I can put my years of experience as a fashion critic to my sisters to good use." Raimundo kissed her head before standing up and walking to the clothes pile. "You have good taste, so I'm sure we can find something for you."
"I appreciate that, Rai." the female monk said as he knelt and shifted through the rejected shorts, shirts, dresses, and more.
"Well, what kind of boyfriend would I let my girlfriend run herself ragged on trying to find which clothes looked best together? Definitely don't want you looking like a crazy person when you meet my mother." he teased.
"Ha-ha, very funny. And what would you suggest, Mister Expert?"
"For starters, you obviously can't show up looking like you're dressed for the runway. So we'll discard anything that looks overly fancy. How about something casual but with a hint of class?"
"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good approach." she agreed.
"What kind of colors would you like to wear? We should try avoiding ones that would be considered loud."
Kimiko watched as her boyfriend looked between a red shirt and a pink one, a serious expression on his face. She smiled to herself and got off the bed, walking up behind him and wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"Kimi?"
"It's nothing. I just… really love you, Raimundo."
Raimundo blinked once but his lips formed into a smile. "I love you, too." he leaned back to be closer to her.
For a while, the couple just stayed in their position in content silence.
"So…" the female monk slowly pulled back, getting down on her knees next to him. "What do you think would be best so far?"
"Well, I know red is your main color scheme, but I think it might be a good idea to switch it up this time. Maybe something a little softer, like pink or green."
Kimiko nodded her head, paying close attention to his ideas.
The couple spent almost ten minutes going back and forth with their opinions, eventually reaching a decision. After discussing hair, make-up, and accessories, they went over the upcoming trip and tried to soothe the female monk's nerves.
(One week later)
"Tell me again why I also have to go through the trouble of dressing up?"
"Because, Chase, we're finally going to meet Raimundo's family." Juno told him, buttoning the second to last button on his long-sleeved, black shirt. "And, since we want to make a good first impression, I doubt your usual armor would be very acceptable."
The redhead was dressed in a small black jacket, a white tank top, and dark blue pants tucked into small-heeled brown boots. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, where her jade dragon pin was settled.
"My armor makes for a very good first impression, I'll have you know." Chase crossed his arms.
"Again, we're trying to go for a friendly vibe, not one that belongs to a dark overlord."
"I am most excited to be visiting Raimundo's place of birth." Omi said, straightening out the sleeves of his robes.
"I have read much about Brazilian culture." Ping-Pong added. "But seeing it first-hand will be a marvelous experience."
"Not to mention the local cuisine." Clay spoke up. "That's what Dojo and I can't wait for."
"You guys are gonna love Rio de Janeiro." Raimundo said. "Most beautiful city in the whole world."
"I certainly can't wait." Juno told him. "Not to mention, I'm super excited about seeing your family after all this time."
"At least someone is. Kimiko's been a nervous wreck ever since we heard we'll be spending my birthday there."
"I wouldn't say I've been a total wreck…" the Japanese girl mumbled to herself. She smoothed out the front of her light pink, long-sleeved blouse, checking to make sure there were no stains on her dark blue jeans and black flats. Her hair was done in a stylish bun and a simple silver chain hung around her neck.
"I know it was kinda out of nowhere, but my mom insisted we all come down. She's been nagging me about introducing my friends for a while. I think she just wants to tell embarrassing stories from my childhood." Raimundo sighed.
"Oh, in that case, I can swap some of the ones I have of you since we first met." Juno smiled. "And you just know how many times you've humiliated yourself over the years."
"Hey!"
"By the way, Kimiko, you look extra lovely today." the redhead complimented.
"Thanks, Rai really helped me out on what to wear. But I know that's not gonna be enough to impress his family."
"They're going to adore you, sweetie. Why, just like me, it's impossible for anyone to not like you."
"What about Wuya?" Raimundo questioned.
"And Shadow." Clay added.
"The Sapphire Dragon." Dojo commented.
"And most certainly do not forget Hannibal Roy Bean." Omi interjected.
"Those are people who have absolutely no good taste." the female warrior waved her hand dismissively. "Now, I think we should get going, we still have to pick up Dashi, Guan, and Chucky."
"Still don't see how that scheming reptile was invited." Chase remarked as they headed for the entrance. "Perhaps Guan doesn't trust him enough to be left to his own devices."
"I think he's actually gotten better since we last saw him."
"I'll believe it when I see it with my own two eyes."
Juno smiled as the doorway to the lair lowered and they stepped outside. When they got to the ledge's edge, Dojo shifted into his larger form and flew in front of the group. They all climbed onto his back, except one.
"Kimiko?" Raimundo, who had Kaze perched on his shoulder, looked at his girlfriend. She stood still, staring at her shoes while holding a wrapped gift to her chest. "Are you ready?"
The Japanese girl turned her gaze to him, seeing him smile kindly while holding his hand out to her. The way he looked at her with his warm green eyes made some of her anxiety melt away. As scared as she was of finally meeting his family for the first time, she knew things would be okay if he was with her through it all.
"Honestly, not really." Kimiko said but gave a smile in return. She placed her hand in his outstretched one.
"Yeah, me neither." he replied, helping her onto the dragon's back to sit in front of him. "But at least we're doing it together."
"Mmhm." she nodded once, leaning against his chest. "That makes it better."
"Alright, Dojo, let's ride." Juno instructed.
"Aye, aye, captain!" Dojo responded before taking off into the sky.
(Later, in Brazil)
After picking up the rest of their party, the group arrived at their destination.
"Gang, welcome to Rio de Janeiro!" Raimundo spread out his arm to the massive city they stood just outside of.
"Ooh, most spectacular." Omi marveled, craning his head back as far as it would go. He almost fell over, but was caught by Dashi and set back on his feet.
"It truly is more marvelous when you see it in person rather than in books." Ping-Pong bounced his heels, excited to see all the sights.
"I know how much you want to, Ping-Pong, but don't go running off on your own." Juno told him. "The last thing we need is for you to get lost."
"Knowing him, he'll probably go all over the city before we're halfway down the street." Chase remarked.
"Told you you should have packed a leash." Dashi remarked.
"Don't be ridiculous. Sure, Ping-Pong is the definition of hyperactive, but he's also very level-headed. Right, Ping-Pong?" the redhead looked down, noticing the youngest monk was no longer standing with them. Turning her gaze upward, she saw he was already rushing towards the large city. "Clay."
The cowboy pulled out his lasso and twirled it over his head. A moment later, he let it fly, aimed right at Ping-Pong. It got around his midsection, falling face-first to the ground when the rope went taut.
"Hold on to him until we're sure we don't have to worry about putting up a missing child's poster."
"Yes, ma'am." Clay responded to the female warrior, pulling Ping-Pong back to the group.
"Forgive me, I could not help myself." Ping-Pong apologized sheepishly, straightening his glasses.
"Since this is your hometown, Raimundo, we'll be following your lead." Juno said.
"There's loads to see on the way to my place." he told them, guiding them into the city and down the many streets. "But we're gonna have to be quick, don't wanna keep Mom and the others waiting."
"You mind if we make a few stops for snacks along the way?" Dojo asked from Dashi's shoulder.
"No ruining your appetite before we get there, Dojo." the Grand Master told him.
"Oh, check it out, dudes." Raimundo pointed across the street at a large, three-story, neoclassical building. "That there is the famous Palacio de Catete."
"It's absolutely gorgeous." Juno marveled.
"If there's one thing Rio de Janeiro can take pride in, it's the buildings.
"Oooh, I must go and look inside!" Ping-Pong ran to cross the street, but the lasso held by Clay kept him in place.
"We'll have to take the tour some other time, Ping-Pong." Juno told him. "We're on a schedule, remember?"
Crossing his arms, the shortest monk was dragged by the lasso, sitting gloomily. There was all this amazing culture and architecture he had only read about in books and he had the perfect opportunity to see it all up close. As much as he understood why they were in a hurry, it still felt like a waste.
As they walked through the city, Raimundo pointed to all the sights and sounds around them. Naturally, being a native, he answered every question the others had. Eventually, they made their way to the farther side of the great city, up the side of a large hill cluttered with houses of various shapes and sizes. This was Rocinha, the largest hill favela in Rio de Janeiro. While it was difficult to move among the crowds of people everywhere, they followed the Brazilian's lead to avoid bumping into too many of them. Occasionally, he greeted familiar faces he hadn't seen since leaving for China.
"Everyone stay close, we don't need anyone getting lost." Juno said. "And make sure you keep a good hold on Ping-Pong, Clay."
"Don't worry, my grip is tighter than when I competed in the junior rodeo." the cowboy replied.
"Pardon my complaining, but I find this situation rather unfair." Ping-Pong harrumped, walking on his feet with the lasso still around his waist.
"We're here for celebrating, not exploring today, Ping-Pong." Dashi reminded him.
"Why cannot it not be both?"
"I promise, when the chance comes up, we'll explore as much of it as you want." Juno told him. "But today is Raimundo's day, not everyone turns eighteen years old."
"You are considered an adult now in your country, are you not, Raimundo?" Guan asked.
"Yeah, legally." he replied. "My family makes a big deal every time one of us gets to that age. Though, it's nothing compared to how my mom is when we finally leave the house."
"Doesn't want her baby birds leaving the nest, huh?" Juno remarked.
"Something like that. Imagine how hard it was for me to convince her to let me travel to China of all places. We were all surprised when these monk dudes showed up at the house one day, saying all this stuff that I was destined to be a Dragon Warrior."
"Yeah, that's how it was when I got the memo." Clay spoke up. "Although, my folks were excited that I got a chance to do something so huge with my life."
"Papa was pretty happy for me, too." Kimiko added. "But I would be lying if I said I didn't have some reservations about leaving home."
"Same here." Raimundo said. "Back then, I never thought I would live anywhere except Rio de Janeiro. I was reluctant to just up and move, even if my mom was okay with it in the end."
"What is it that made you change your mind, Raimundo?" Ping-Pong asked.
"Well, to tell you the truth… I agreed to go if my family could be taken care of. If I was going to be someone who ended up saving the world and risking his life, I wanted to at least make sure they could be provided for. Especially if anything happened to me." he rubbed the back of his neck. "That doesn't sound too honorable, does it?'
"I disagree, there is nothing wrong with wanting those you love to be able to live more easily." Guan told him.
"Guan's right." Juno said. "It's pretty clear to me your mother raised a good, caring son." she smiled at him.
"Thanks." the Brazilian returned the gesture.
"Will your entire family be attending your birthday party, Raimundo?" Omi inquired.
"It's hard to say, most of them get a little busy with work and family stuff. You can definitely count on my mom and youngest sister being there, though."
"I am most looking forward to meeting them."
"Just keep in mind that some of my family can be… a lot."
"With all the world-ending situations we've been in, I think we can manage your family." Juno said confidently.
"Speak for yourself…" Kimiko mumbled, clutching the gift she held close to her chest.
"It's all gonna be okay." Raimundo told her. "I'll be right there with you the whole time." he grabbed her free hand with his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he smiled at her.
The female monk looked at him and gave a small smile in return. "Thanks, Rai…"
"Are we almost there, Raimundo?" Clay asked.
"Yeah, it's just right around here." he said as they turned a street corner. After walking a few houses down, he stopped and turned to the others. "Welcome to Casa de Pedrosa."
The house before them was two stories tall. Some parts of the tilted roof were missing, and the light yellow paint was peeling in a few areas, but it looked well-maintained for the most part. It certainly gave off a homey feeling.
"Not too shabby, huh?" Raimundo said, walking up to the front door and ringing the doorbell. Before the soft melody even finished, the door flew open and he found himself on his back. "Oof!"
"Tio Raimundo!"
Getting up on his elbows, he looked down and was met with the wide, excited eyes of two little faces. "Well, if it isn't my favorite niece and nephew!" he gathered the two dark-haired children into his arms and stood up, spinning in a circle and making them laugh. "I can't believe how huge you kids got while I was away. Not to mention heavy, geez. Just what is your old man feeding you?" when he came to a stop, he faced the others. "Guys, say hello to the next generation of the Pedrosa family. This one is Julia…" he held up the girl. "And this little tyke is Luis." he raised the boy next. "They're my brother's twins, and they just turned seven."
"Eight!" they corrected.
"You're kidding." Raimundo feigned shock. "There's no way, I distinctly remember you kids being seven the last time I saw you. You trying to pull one over on me, you little sneaks?"
"No, we turned eight months ago!" Julia insisted.
"You sent us presents, remember?" Luis added.
"Did I? Hmm, let me see if I can recall." the Brazilian pretended to think. "Nope, doesn't ring a bell."
"Tio!" they both complained as he chuckled.
"Your uncle's just having some fun with you, criancas." someone spoke from the doorway.
"Papai!" the two kids greeted.
"Ricardo!" Raimundo exclaimed when he saw an older man walk outside. Like him, he had a tan complexion, green eyes, and brown hair. His, though, was a bit longer and more styled. "Oh, man, it's so good to see!" he sent the twins down and hugged him tightly.
"It's been forever, baby brother." he grinned. "Although, you're not a baby anymore, are you!" he suddenly put him in a headlock and started to run his hand wildly through his hair. "Looks who's all grown-up now!"
"Hey! Stop it! Stop it!" the birthday boy laughed, pretending to struggle within his grip. "Come on, not in front of my friends!"
"What kind of brother would I be if I didn't embarrass you just a little bit?" Ricardo soon let him go.
"Still such a jerk." Raimundo said good-naturedly, trying to set his hair back in order as he looked towards his friends. "Guys, this here is my oldest brother, Ricardo. The first one of us to leave the nest."
"Lot of good that did me, seeing as I got calls from Mom every hour a day for almost a year when I got my own place. And I found myself coming back every weekend."
"Like you're gonna complain about not having to cook for yourself." the younger Pedrosa joked. "Anyway, let me introduce you to everyone." he lead him over to the group.
"It's so nice to meet you, Ricardo." Juno spoke up, holding out her hand to the taller man. "I'm-"
"You don't have to tell me, I already know who you are." he cut her off, taking her hand into his.
"You do?"
"But, of course. You're Raimundo's girlfriend, Kimiko, right?"
"Pardon?" the redhead blinked once.
"It only makes sense, you're exactly what he looks for in a woman." Ricardo looked her up and down. "Though, if I'm being honest, you're far out of his league."
"Actually, I-"
"Wow, you're as pretty as Tio Raimundo said." Julia remarked, looking at Juno with wide, shiny eyes.
"Are you going to be our new tia?" Luis asked excitedly.
Kimiko felt a twitch in her right eyebrow, unable to help the slight irritation filling her stomach. She nudged Raimundo with her elbow and gave him a look that made it clear he should set things right before it got too out of hand.
"R-Ricardo, she's not actually-"
"But I gotta say, my little brother knows how to pick'em." Ricardo said with a charming smile as he raised the back of Juno's hand to his face.
However, before his mouth could touch her skin, a hand grabbed his wrist and shoved him back. Chase stood next to Juno, shoulders touching as he glowered at the other man.
"Chase." the redhead said in a warning tone.
"Raimundo." the Heylin warrior looked at the monk.
"I think this guy is trying to make a move on your girl, little bro." Ricardo remarked.
"Okay, everyone just calm down." Raimundo got between the couple and his brother. "Ricardo, this is not Kimiko. This is Juno, the mentor I've told you all about. And the guy who looks like he wants to rip your hand off and shove it where the sun doesn't shine is Chase Young, her husband." he emphasized.
"Oh. Oh." realization came onto the older Brazilian's face. "I am so sorry." he told the female warrior. "I really thought you were the girlfriend he always talks about." he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it, no harm was done. Thankfully." she said.
"It's just that you do look like Raimundo's type. I remember he once went on about how mature and hot you are. I'm happy to see he wasn't exaggerating."
"Watch it." Chase warned, narrowing his eyes.
Raimundo looked over and flinched at the blank, yet clearly unhappy, stare Kimiko was giving him. "That was back when we first met Juno, before we got together." he tried to defend himself, but her expression didn't change. "A-Anyway…" he coughed uncomfortably. "Ricardo, this here is Kimiko, my girlfriend and love of my life?"
The female monk's features did soften at that, much to his relief. She turned to look at his older brother.
"Hello, it's great to be meeting you." she smiled politely, bowing at the waist. "I'm Kimiko Tohomiko."
"I'm sorry about all that just now." Ricardo apologized. "I was thrown for a loop since… you don't exactly look like the kind of girl Raimundo goes for."
"Excuse me?" Kimiko straightened up, frown returning as a deadly spark entered her eyes.
"My brother doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut." Raimundo quickly told her. "Shouldn't your wife be here to beat some sense into you?" he asked the older man.
"She got stuck at the hospital, I'm afraid." he sighed. "Doctors never catch a break, ya know. Still, she sends her love and best wishes."
"I'll be sure to thank her next time. Anyway, do you think you can behave properly when she's not around?"
"I'm offended you even need to ask, I can be a perfect gentleman. Watch." he turned to a still-scowling Kimiko and cleared his throat once. "Apologies, I didn't mean any insult, Senorita Kimiko. It's easy to see how someone as lovely and, clearly fashionable, as you could catch my brother's eye. I do hope you can forgive me."
"Laying on a bit thick, aren't you?" Raimundo remarked as his brother gave an alluring grin.
Kimiko stared at the older man, unimpressed. After a moment, though, she allowed a small smile to make its way onto her face. "I can see where Raimundo gets it from."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"We Pedrosa men are known for our wit and charm." Ricardo took her hand and kissed the back of it. "But I truly am sorry for the misunderstanding."
"Well, it's alright." the female monk told him. "I honestly can't blame you, Juno's just too eye-catching."
"Is being obviously attractive a bad thing now?" Juno asked Dashi, who just shrugged.
"It's so grand to finally be meeting the girl who's captured this little troublemaker's heart." the older Brazilian said, releasing her hand. "Whenever we call, Raimundo always finds a way to talk or brag about you. He even wrote a letter that was only about you for almost three pages."
"No kidding?" Kimiko looked mildly surprised.
"And that was before he told us you got together. Now that you're official, I think it's gotten worse. Would you like to see what he wrote?"
"Yes, please."
"I think we're good on that, actually!" Raimundo interrupted. "Shouldn't we be getting inside now, I'm sure people are waiting."
"Oh, right, of course. Mom and some others are working in the kitchen, everyone else is out in the backyard. They're all just bursting to see you after so long. Come on, kids."
"Sim, Papai!" Luis and Julia went into the house with their father.
"So…" Kimiko started to say to her boyfriend as she and the others followed them. "Three pages, huh?"
"It was two and a half." he defended, a light blush on his face.
Everyone entered the house, filing into the fairly spacious living room with soothing light blue wallpaper. There was a white door that, when Ricardo opened, revealed to lead directly into the kitchen. Inside were a small group of women working on making food for the party.
"Mae!" the Brazilian called, poking his head in. "Guess who finally showed up!" he stepped back and leaned against the wall, looking at his younger brother knowingly and holding up three fingers. "Three… Two.. One…"
The door swung open and a woman all but charged into the living room. A bit on the petite side, it was easy to tell she was once the beauty of her hometown. While no longer in the fittest shape of her life, as a result of multiple childbirths, she still had a sense of loveliness and charm around her. Her brown hair was thrown into a careless loose bun with some strands striking this way and that. Though a few wrinkles were noticeable on her face, they didn't draw attention away from the warmth of her hazel eyes, which filled with so much emotion at the sight of Raimundo.
"Meu bebezinho (My baby boy)!" she quickly rushed over, wrapping her arms around him in a surprisingly short amount of time.
"Mae!" the Brazilian immediately hugged her back, eloped in the feeling of warmth only she and her tanned skin could provide. It had been his constant memory since he was a child, there was no way he could ever forget it.
"Oh, let me get a look at you!" the older woman leaned back and took his face in both hands. "I can't believe it, you're all grown up." unshed tears shone in her eyes. "Why, I still remember clearly the day I first held you in my arms eighteen years ago."
"I know, Mom." Raimundo smiled softly. "Hey, at least you still got Izzy to smother."
"I'll let that slide since it's your birthday. Speaking of which…" she turned to Ricardo. "Querido, go upstairs and tell Isabella Raimundo is here."
"You got it, Mae."
"I am so so so happy you could make it." the Brazilian woman looked back at her youngest son as the oldest walked up a flight of stairs to the second floor.
"And miss one of your famous birthday feasts? Not a chance." Raimundo grinned at her. "I wanna introduce you to everyone." he gestured to the others, hand on her shoulder. "Guys, it's my greatest pleasure for you all to meet, Sofia Pedrosa. This amazing lady is the one who raised the fine young man you see before you now."
"Always playing the charm card." the older woman giggled.
"Starting off, we have the one and only Juno. Who, I want to quickly make clear, is my mentor."
"It is so wonderful to be meeting you, Mrs. Pedrosa." the redhead shook hands with her. "Having your son with us has been a great experience, he's come so far since I met him."
"You can't know how much I appreciate you looking after him." Sofia smiled. "He can be a handful, as I'm sure you're aware."
"Hey, I am a delight." Raimundo defended. "Anyway, the big guy here is Clay."
"Ma'am." the cowboy took off his hat. "Thank ya kindly for having us over."
"The little dudes are Omi and his… cousin Ping-Pong."
"A true honor to be meeting you, Madam Pedrosa." Omi bowed respectfully along with his relative. "I am most proud to say how much of a fine warrior Raimundo has become."
"Merci pour votre hospitalité (Thank you for your hospitality)." the shortest monk said as they straightened out.
"You were right." Sofia whispered to her son. "Their heads do look like balls of cheese."
Raimundo chuckled for a moment. "Yeah, I know." he whispered back with a wink, clearing his throat soon after. "Moving on, these here are Dojo and Chucky. I know how you feel about reptiles, but they're tamed."
"A pleasure, your mothership~." Dojo gave a bow with a flourish of his hand.
"Not a bad place you got here, sweetcheeks." Chucky spoke up. "Quick, unimportant question, will you be using your good silverware for the festivities?"
"Chucky." Guan said scoldingly.
"Heh, sorry, old habits." the lighter-skinned dragon shrugged.
"Nearing the end, we've got Guan and Dashi."
"Greetings, Mrs. Pedrosa." the Master Monk gave a bow along with the Grand Master.
"We thank you for the invitation." Dashi added.
"And this is Chase Young, Juno's husband." Raimundo introduced the Heylin warrior. "Don't worry, he's not as scary as he looks. At least, not anymore. He's also our other teacher."
Chase gave a nod of his head, putting his fist into the palm of his other hand, and bowed deeply to the Brazilian woman. "Mrs. Pedrosa, it's an honor."
"Raimundo has talked about you quite a lot." Sofia said. "Thank you for looking after him, in more ways than one." she smiled as the Heylin warrior stood straight.
Kaze squawked from Raimundo's shoulder, flapping his wings. He didn't want to be left out.
"Don't worry, bud, I didn't forget you." the Brazilian smiled. "Mom, this here is Kaze."
"What a darling little bird." Sofia scratched at his plumage, making him chirp contently. "And so pretty."
"Saving the best for last..." Raimundo went over to Kimiko, who had gone rigid since the older woman walked in. "Mom, this is Kimiko. My girlfriend."
"Oh, I've been dying to meet you most of all, dear! I feel as if I know everything about you from my son."
The Japanese girl snapped out of her state and cleared her throat nervously. "It-It's really great to have the chance to meet you in person, Mrs. Pedrosa. I am Kimiko Tohomiko, Raimundo's girlfriend."
"I think she missed that part." Dashi mumbled to Juno, who nodded.
"Thank you for inviting me into your home, please accept this gift!" Kimiko bowed at the waist and held out the wrapped present she carried.
"How sweet. There was no need for you to go out of your way for that."
"I insist, it's the least I could do."
"You should take it, otherwise I don't think she's ever gonna stand straight again." Raimundo told his mother.
"Thank you so much, Kimiko." Sofia took the gift from her. "I look forward to getting to know you personally. Please do make yourself at home, all of you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me."
"Need an extra hand in the kitchen, Mom?" the Brazilian asked.
"Absolutely not, it's your special day. You just focus on having fun and catching up with everyone."
"Raimundo?"
Hearing his name, the monk turned his head towards the staircase. Halfway down the steps, a young girl was holding onto the banister. She had long brown hair a shade darker than his, almost black, and his mother's hazel eyes.
"Izzy!" he exclaimed, rushing over to the front of the stairs.
"Iramo!" she jumped the rest of the way down, landing in his outstretched arms and laughing as he spun her around a few times.
"Oh, man, let me get a look at you!" the Brazilian easily held her out at arm-length. "I can't believe it, I remember you were still just a baby when I left."
"I was not." the girl insisted as he set her on her feet. "But, since you're here, does that mean you're going to be coming home?"
"Well, actually, I…" he tried to think of how to respond, getting tongue-tied when nothing came to mind.
"Isabella, why don't you say hello to your brother's friends?" Sofia cut in, much to Raimundo's relief.
"Yeah, you've got to meet everyone." he turned her to the others. "Guys, this is my little sis, and baby of the family, Isabella. But we mostly call her Izzy. She should be thirteen now, isn't that right?"
"Mmhmm." she nodded, looking at the group with uncertain eyes as she all but hid behind her brother.
"So nice to meet you, Isabella." Juno spoke first, giving her usual pleasant smile. "You really do look just like your big brother."
"Like I said, attractiveness is our family's best quality." Raimundo said with a grin.
"Are you… my brother's girlfriend?" Isabella asked the redhead.
"Yeah, we're not going through that again." he answered. "This is my teacher, Juno. My girlfriend is right there. Say hi to Kimiko."
"Hello." Kimiko stepped forward, her posture still nervous but more relaxed than when she spoke to the Pedrosa matriarch. "Your brother told me a lot about you, Isabella. Is it okay if I call you Izzy, too?"
"Mmmh." the young teen just moved closer to Raimundo, looking at the taller girl with an expression that was a mix of distrust and something else she couldn't decipher.
'She doesn't look impressed at all.' the Japanese girl thought.
"Hey, don't be rude." Raimundo scolded. "You know how to greet people."
"Nice to meet you…" Isabella said softly, though she didn't look very sincere.
"Sorry, Kimi, Izzy's a bit shy with new people."
"No, no, it's okay." Kimiko reassured him. "I'm sure we'll have time to get to know one another."
"The food will be ready soon enough." Sofia informed. "Why don't you all go out into the backyard and Raimundo can introduce you to everyone else?"
"That's a good idea." he agreed. "Just follow me, but prepare yourselves." he led them into the bright kitchen, his sister still clinging to his shirt.
They walked out another door that took them to the backyard, a tall wooden fence surrounding the area. Everyone blinked at the sight of over two dozen people, practically all of them looking similar to Raimundo in some way. Multiple eyes landed on him and there was a brief moment of silence. Then an eruption of cheers and excited clamoring sounded out as they all surrounded him in the blink of an eye, Kaze flying off his shoulder in surprise.
"Well, look who finally decided to show his face!"
"Raimundo, my boy, good to see you!"
"When did you get here? It's been way too long."
"Wow, and I thought I had a big clan." Clay remarked, standing off to the side with the others.
"Raimundo is quite the family man, huh?" Juno said as the Brazilian was tossed back and forth between relatives, answering as many questions as he could. "Good thing to know for the future, huh, Kimiko?" she nudged the shorter girl playfully with a knowing expression.
"Now is not the time, Juno." the female monk replied, a light blush spreading on her cheeks.
"Okay, okay, everyone, single file!" Raimundo couldn't help but laugh a little, it was good to see his family after so long. They've called, texted, wrote, and Facetimed, but none of that compared to talking to them in the flesh. "I didn't come here alone, actually. I brought my friends, too." he gestured to the other warriors. "And also my girlfriend."
Now that really got the large group exclaiming.
"Your girlfriend?! So you finally brought her over, did you?"
"Which one is she, the redhead or short girl?"
"You're not gonna say it's both of them, are you, ya sly dog?"
Raimundo looked over to Kimiko and waved her over. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she came to stand beside him, opposite Isabella. He put his hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze, and faced his family.
"Everyone, I'm excited to introduce you all to Kimiko Tohomiko." he grinned brightly.
"Hello." the Japanese girl gave a shy wave. "It's so nice to be meeting Raimundo's family." she gave a small bow to them. "I look forward to getting to know you all." she smiled politely.
"Wow! You got yourself a cutie, Raimundo."
"And she's so respectful, too."
"Looks like you're a hit already." Raimundo said, leaning closer to the female monk so she could hear him over the crowd.
"You think so?" Kimiko asked, hopeful.
"Of course. By the end of the day, they're all gonna be in love with you, too. Hey, wait, that's actually kinda bad. Think you can make them dislike you instead? Just be totally unappealing."
"Raimundo!" the female monk laughed as she nudged him.
"Anyway, say hello to the rest of the gang." the Brazilian told his family.
"That's our cue to mingle." Juno remarked. "Think you can handle it?" she asked her husband.
"Despite your doubts, I can be civil." Chase responded.
"Good to hear. Maybe you can throw in a smile or two."
"Now you're asking for the impossible, darling."
The female warriors chuckled before taking his arm and leading him over to the crowd, the others following.
(Meanwhile, miles away)
A large jeep was parked on top of a hill within a riparian forest. Far down before, a long river was flowing. The sunroof was open, letting the bright sunlight shine down on the person in the driver's seat.
They were leaning back, pilant as a small book covered their face. Small snores came from underneath the pages. Then the passenger door opened and someone else climbed in and slammed it shut, jolting the driver awake and knocking the book off their face.
"Ah! Wha…"
"Don't tell me you've just been sleeping this whole time while I was out in the jungle." said a tall, muscular man, shoulder-length blond hair tied back at the base of his neck. His hazel eyes narrowed as the other yawned.
"Of course not…" replied the other, slightly shorter man. His hair was black and longer, tied back in a wide, plait braid that reached the middle of his back. In comparison, his body was more toned. He stretched his arms out as best he could in the cramped space. "I've been keeping watch. By the way, this is a riparian forest, not a jungle."
"I don't see much difference." the man tossed the large duffel bag he'd been carrying into the back seat. "Does it even matter?"
"Of course, it does." the long-haired male picked up his fallen book, a guide on Brazilian wildlife. "What we're looking for is more native to these parts, so there's a higher chance of us finding it here than in the Amazon. It's just a matter of tracking."
"I'm more accustomed to following people's footprints, not those of an animal."
"Ah, but this is a very special animal, don't forget."
"I know, I know." the blond sighed. "It's just, how do we know if it's even active? What if it's already been found?"
"Trust me, it's all okay." he patted the other's shoulder. "My instincts have never led us astray so far."
"No, I guess not." he leaned back against the seat.
"Hey, when we're done, do you wanna go and see the Iguazu Falls? I hear they're quite a sight."
"You know we don't do sightseeing when we're on the job."
"That's when we're being paid to do something. Remember, this little mission is for ourselves. It would be a waste if we didn't see at least one of Brazil's attractions while we're here. I also heard it's pretty romantic." he nudged him playfully.
"Now you're just being ridiculous." the blond shoved his arm away, but a small smile did make its way to his face. "I suppose, depending on when we finish, we can take maybe an hour or two to see some stuff."
"And?"
"And try out the local cuisine, too."
"Oh, I knew you loved me!" the black-haired male leaned over, wrapping his arms around the taller's shoulders. "You're the best partner ever!" he planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Okay, okay, knock it off, you weirdo!" he put a hand against the other's face and pushed him back over to his side. "Before that, though, can we please focus on our objective?"
"Aye, aye, sir." he saluted.
"Thank you. By the way, we'll need to look into finding another job to take up. Our funds are gonna run out before we know it."
"That's true." the Chinese man pulled his arms behind his head and leaned back in his seat, looking up at the blue sky through the sunroof. A small group of birds came across his vision and he felt a wave of nostalgia. As a child, he loved watching them soar through the air without a care in the world. He admired, and envied, that freedom until he was old enough to obtain it for himself.
"Xiang."
"Yeah, Felix?"
"Considering what we're after, do you think we might run into that person?" the blond asked.
"Hmm, it's likely." the black-haired man hummed thoughtfully.
"You're not gonna try something if that happens, are you?"
"Aw, worried about me?"
"Will it change anything if I say yes?"
"This time, I think I'll just observe." Xiang told him. "I've only heard stories, so I want to see her in action for myself before making a move." he reached down to his side and pulled out a sleek, silver handgun. Quickly checking on the full magazine, he pulled back the slide and rolled down the window. "After all, the more you know about your opponent…" he pointed the barrel outside, finger on the trigger. "The more likely you are to survive against them." without turning his head, he squeezed.
A loud gunshot rang through the forest, scaring off the birds perching on trees nearby. A few feet away from the truck something falling was heard from the bushes. It was a single jaguar, jaw opened in a frozen snarl as a trail of blood leaked from the hole in the middle of its forehead.
Xiang tucked his weapon away and replaced it with a half-empty pack of cigarettes. He took one into his mouth, retrieving a lighter from his pocket.
"Can you not?" Felix's nose wrinkled in disgust as his partner lit the cylinder of tobacco. "I thought we agreed you stop with unhealthy life choices?"
"This is my very last one, I promise." the black-haired man spoke with the cigarette between his lips, elbow resting on the still-open window.
"We should have a jar for you to put money in every time you say 'I promise'." the blond crossed his arms in a huff. "Our funds could be more secure, then."
"Speaking of…" Xiang took the tobacco out of his mouth, turning his head to blow a puff of smoke outside. "How much do you think we can get for that?" he gestured to the fallen predator.
To be continued…
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I was going to post a longer update, but the chapter as a whole is over 30,000 words. So, I thought it would be better to split it into parts. Please share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you all again for waiting, and I will see you for the next chapter. It's great to be back, take care!