The Temple

(A/N) Words cannot describe how sorry I am for how long it took me to write this up...

Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown or any of the characters.

"I don't like this one bit!"

"And you think I do?"

Dojo let out a yelp as a shower of robes rained down on him. After a bit of muffled struggling, he managed to claw his way out from under the heap of fabrics, only to be rewarded with a mass of entangled coloured sashes smacking him in the face. Kimiko remained oblivious to Dojo's struggles, continuing to rummage through the closet, pulling out various articles of clothing and sizing them up.

"Maybe this one will do," Kimiko mumbled to herself, holding up a set of dark orange robes. "Hmmm, no, that'll drown him."

Though drowning the man wasn't such an unbearable thought as it should be. She flung the robes overhead, digging deeper into the stacks of clothes that had been left behind by the previous monks who had lived in the temple. There wasn't much to work with, Kimiko having previously cut most of them up, refashioning them into clothes for herself. Quality fabrics were hard to come by these days.

"Why would he agree to help us anyway? I thought Chase wanted to take over the world, not save it," Dojo asked.

"He isn't helping us save the world; he's helping us defeat Wuya and Hannibal," Kimiko corrected. She let out a groan as she strained to pull free a long shirt trapped under some heavy boxes. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend after all. At least for the time being."

She would only team up with the Prince of Darkness till the gruesome twosome had been defeated. With them gone two of the major threats would be eliminated, leaving only Chase to be dealt with. She had a far greater chance taking on only one super villain. The odds of her victory if she faced off against all three of them were against her.

Dojo murmured something, barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry Dojo, you'll have to speak up," Kimiko muttered as she shoved aside some old boxes. "What did you say?"

"NO!"

Kimiko paused, startled by Dojo's aggressive outburst. Still on her knees, she turned to face him, surprised to find him staring at her with a fierce glare, what looked like tears lining his eyes. His claws were clenched at his side, his lips quivering.

"No! No! No! This is exactly what happened before!"

"Dojo what are you talking about?" Kimiko blinked, completely bewildered. "Look I know teaming up with Chase isn't the safest route, but I've run out of options. I need to do this."

There was no backing out now. The moment she had freed Chase she had thrown herself into the lion's den, the entrance caving in behind her. She was tired of feeling useless, knowing people were out there suffering. She was sick of feeling constantly on edge, waiting for the day when the Heylin finally found her. No more. No more running. No more hiding behind the pretence that she was still training herself. She knew she had much still to learn, but she didn't have the luxury to obtain any more knowledge and skills than she had already gained. It was now or never. Save the world... or perish trying.

"That's what Omi said too and look what happened!"

Kimiko felt her heart clench, realisation dawning on her.

"He got all chummy with Chase, formed a good and evil alliance and then the next thing we know he's standing side by side with Chase Young on the Heylin side!"

"Oh, Dojo," Kimiko sighed, making her way over to the little dragon and kneeling beside him. "I'm not going to join the Heylin. How could you ever think that of me?"

"No one ever thought Omi would join the Heylin side, yet look what happened!" Dojo snapped, rubbing away the tears threatening to spill. "This is how it all starts! Chase slithers his way into your head and starts messing with it! The next thing you know your dining alongside him as he gulps down Dojo Dragon Stew!"

"Dojo, that wasn't Omi's fault," Kimiko said quietly, thinking back to the horrible time when Omi had been on the Heylin side. "It was an accident. He didn't know about the consequences of using the Ying and Yang yoyo separately. That's why he joined Chase. He was already evil because he'd lost his good Chi."

"But he still trusted Chase," Dojo cut in gravely. "Just because he turned evil doesn't mean he'd automatically join Chase. He trusted him! That's why Omi went with him! That was his choice! Don't you see! How do you know Omi wouldn't have eventually joined Chase anyway?"

Silence fell between them. Kimiko wanted to say 'because I have faith in him' but she couldn't bring herself to say it. Deep down, even she wondered sometimes about the strange relationship Chase and Omi had shared, one forged on respect and trust for their love of martial arts and honour.

"If Chase was able to effect Omi, how do you know that he won't be able to do the same to you?"

Kimiko moved her hand to rest against the little dragons face and gently guided him to look at her. She couldn't speak truthfully on the matter regarding Omi, but what she could speak honestly about was herself.

"Dojo, Chase Young has taken everything that is precious from me. I will never forgive him for that. Chase Young will fall and it will by my hand. Remember, I'm not Omi."

She wasn't as forgiving or so desperate to see the good in everyone that she was willing to turn a blind eye to all their ill deeds, only allowing herself to see the parts of them that fitted her desired perception of them. No, she wasn't like that. Not at all. She would hold Chase accountable for everything he had done. She would not let him get off so easy. When everything was all done and said Chase Young would pay for what he had done. Dragons of Fire were not known for their mercy or forgiveness.

"Lady Kimiko!"

Dojo and Kimiko broke away, turning to see Nicholas gliding into the room. He perched himself on the edge of a pile of boxes, respectfully bowing his head in greeting.

"Well well well, look what the cat dragged in," Dojo muttered, crossing his arms.

With a sigh, Kimiko rose to her feet and slowly approached the bird. She placed her hands firmly on her hips.

"You have a lot of explaining to do."

Nicholas at least had the decency to look ashamed. He lowered his head, looking at the dusty floors instead of the young women before him.

"You-" Kimiko chided, poking the crow in the stomach with her index finger. "-Lied."

"I dinnea lie. I with held the truth. There's a difference," Nicholas dared to point out, earning him a glower that sent him cowering.

Kimiko wanted to let loose her anger, to tell him off for all his offences. He had hidden the truth of who he was, used them to free his master, the very master who had played a role in destroying everything good in the world! She felt like such an idiot having been so naive to believe the wretched creatures claims. It had all been too good to be true. But what good would it do to scream and curse at him for those things? He had no doubt been under orders from Chase.

"Ever heard of lying through omission?" Dojo remarked.

Nicholas was about to respond before Kimiko leapt in. There was one question she needed an answer to.

"You said that your acquaintance could help me in the battle against Wuya, Hannibal and Chase. Care to explain how Chase is going to be my ally against himself?"

The bird gave her a shrewd look, ruffling his feathers. "Aren't we all our own greatest enemies?"

Kimiko rolled her eyes and leant against the wall, crossing her arms. "You're worse than Master Fung was - always speaking in riddles."

The crow sighed, hoping closer to her.

"Chase Young is my master, I cannot betray him, even if I wanted to. My loyalty is bound tae him. I can say nae mere. Take it as food fir thought."

Whatever, Kimiko thought with a scowl.

"What are you doing here anyway, Nicholas? I suppose there's something you want?"

"Another Heylin you need us to free?" Dojo replied dryly.

"My master," Nicholas said quietly, keeping his stare firmly on the walls. "He... he hasn't woken up yet and it's been nearly a full day. I was hoping ye may be able tae check on him. In his current disposition, he isn't able tae grant me a human form so there is little I can dae fir him."

Kimiko felt her stomach churn, a bitter bile rising in her throat. She had to go check on Chase Young? Offer that monster help? After everything he had done? No wonder Nicholas couldn't look her in the eye as he asked her, he himself knew how unfair and twisted it was to ask her of all people to help Chase, in any manner.

"Um Kimiko, you've um... set the robes on fire!"

Startled, Kimiko glanced down to the robes in her hand which were now burning to a crisp. Dojo and Nicholas had wisely backed away several feet to a safe distance. With as much self-control that she could muster, Kimiko snuffed out the flames.

"Fine," she snapped, more forcefully than she meant.

She stomped off, the door to the room banging shut behind her.

Dojo and Nicholas turned to each other warily, already knowing the upcoming encounter would not end well for either of their masters.

Kimiko would never admit to being afraid, but she would certainly own up to being nervous, wary even. She would be a fool not to be. This would be the first time she had saw Chase conscious since finding him locked away in the dungeon and the first time in years being with him without the safety of him being restrained. They would be on even footing. Two warriors on opposing sides, begrudgingly allied.

She knew he would keep his word, that they would be teammates. But that didn't mean she was completely safe around him. He'd probably already have concocted a dozen different ways for her demise, and he would certainly be on the look out for weakness to exploit against her in their inevitable battle to ensure that this time, his plans were successful. She had to keep her guard up.

Kimiko steeled herself and headed into the room she had dumped him in.

Let the games begin.

The room was pitch black and filled with an eerie silence. Cautiously, she made her way in, summoning her flames to her right hand. Long shadows shifted across the walls as the amber glow fell upon them. Vaguely, she could hear the sound of struggled breaths, though it sounded inhuman, monstrous even.

Movement, to her right, caught her eye. She was startled to see a large, breathing mass of shadows lying on the futon. She took in a deep breath, walking forward, using the light to expose the mass to be Chase. Much to her discomfort, he was in his dragon form.

He probably hasn't drunk his soup in a while.

The thought brought with it questions she had been pushing to the back of her mind since she had brought Chase to her sanctuary. The warrior's unique diet was going to cause quite a bit of conflict within the temple. She certainly wasn't going to go out dragon hunting for him. She wondered if there were even any left in the world now.

The dragon, curled in on itself before. her shifted, bringing her attention back to the matter at hand. Thoughts on 'dinner' aside, Kimiko moved until she was a few feet away from the Heylin warrior. She nudged his tail with her foot.

"Chase, it's time to wake up! We have two bad guys well overdue for some major pay back."

When she received no reply she let out a huff.

"Chase! Time. To. Wake. Up!"

Kimiko let out a groan, moving closer. She really didn't want to have to shake him awake. The thought of having to get that close, especially in that form, unnerved her.

Lazy lizard, Kimiko thought with a sneer.

She moved around to where his face was, startled when she saw all the wounds adorning his face, belly and arms. Oh, she'd completely forgotten about his injuries. Guilt washed over her, but she viciously shoved it aside. It wasn't her fault she'd forgotten about them. She had been too caught up in the magnitude of her deal with Chase to recall. Besides, they were the least he deserved.

With a sigh, she went and retrieved medical supplies before setting to work on treating his injuries. She examined the most obvious injuries first, opting the best thing she could do right now was clean them. It would be best to wait until Chase was awake and could revert back to his human form, seeing as she wasn't all too familiar with dragon autonomy. What's more she didn't want to spend hours stitching him up, only for a shift in his form to undo all her hard work.

After about twenty minutes Chase began to stir. Kimiko didn't flinch as his eyelids snapped open, revealing a pair of golden eyes.

"Rise and shine Sleeping Beauty," Kimiko said with false brightness, not looking up from her task.

Chase narrowed his eyes before shifting his form. Kimiko crossed her arms, watching as he pulled himself up into a seated position. His movement looks pained, his face scrunching up and a hiss escaping his lips. Kimiko turned away, busying herself with cleaning away her medical supplies.

"Nicholas couldn't wake you up so he sent me to tend to your wounds. Most of them will need to be disinfected and you'll need a lot of stitches. I don't know if you have any internal injuries but it felt like you had a few broken ribs."

"It's fine," Chase grunted. "They'll heal within a few days. It'll just take a bit more time than usual."

Good. That meant she didn't have to tend anymore of his wounds.

"Well, once your wounds are healed we can get started on our plans to deal with Wuya and Hannibal." Kimiko stood to leave but was stopped with a hand wrapping around her wrist. "What?"

Chase hesitated, seeming bitterly reluctant to speak. He let go of her wrist, clearing his throat.

"You're assistance would be... appreciated, however."

"With what?" Kimiko asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I believe there may be some splinters lodged in my back, courtesy of Wuya." Chase let out a snarl, moving to expose his back to Kimiko. "If the wound heals without them being removed then it will cause me quite a bit of... discomfort."

Kimiko winced, seeing a crusted, blooded gap slicing across his top left shoulder and down to his lower back. She could make out several slithers of wood jutting out here and there. Painful looking was an understatement. Wuya and Hannibal had clearly shown no restraint in their vengeance.

Ew. Gross.

She knew the Heylin held little mercy in them, but this was sick.

And I have to... I have to get those out of him? Kimiko swallowed back the bile rising in her throat. This was not something she wanted to deal with. What's more, she couldn't let Chase know how much this all discomforted her. She straightened up, trying to put on the best nonchalant act she could muster. Though just not being sick would be more than enough for her. Right, deep breaths.

She picked up a pair of tweezers, sterilising them before moving to kneel behind Chase. Carefully, she began plucking out the splinters one by one, placing them on tissues on the bedside table. The silence was only disturbed by the occasional pained growl or hiss from Chase.

"So," Kimiko began, trying to fill in the void of quiet. "How did you end up locked in your own dungeon and the honoured guest of Wuya and Hannibal?"

"A miscalculation on my part," Chase grunted. His voice took on a darker edge, a clear warning to her. "It will not happen again."

Keep your secrets then, Kimiko thought with a roll of her eyes. She didn't think he would have revealed his fall to her anyway. Coward.

"And how about you, Dragon of Fire? How did you survive all this time?"

"A girl has to keep her secrets too, Chase."

"Well you certainly have proven yourself to be well adept at running away from danger," Chase remarked.

Kimiko didn't need to see his face to know he was smirking. It took all her restraint not to set him on fire here and now. Instead, out of sheer pettiness, she let her grip on the tweezers 'slip', jabbing them right into his wound and earning her a howl of pain from Chase.

"Oops, clumsy me."

Chase gave her a murderous look over his shoulder.

"Besides, you're one to talk about running away. Our scrolls at the tem-" Kimiko cleared her throat, ignoring the way her heart tightened at the thought of her former home. "Our scrolls said you simply disappeared fifteen hundred years ago after the Xiaolin defeated you. What were you doing all that time?"

Kimiko was well brushed up on her enemies histories, more so than she had been before the fall of the Xiaolin. If she wanted to defeat her enemies she had to know everything there was about them.

Naturally, given what had happened, she had started with Chase. She knew how he had betrayed the Xiaolin after Hannibal had convinced him to drink the forbidden soup, how he'd betrayed the Xiaolin monks and destroyed the temple he had once studied and lived in. She also knew that his ambitions for world domination had been put on hold, for fifteen hundred years, after he had been defeated at the hands by non-other than his former best friend, Master Monk Guan. What had he been doing all those centuries since then? Exactly what she had been doing now.

"So is that what you've been doing these past few years?" Chase said, raising an eyebrow. "Not running, but training yourself."

Kimiko remained silent, continuing to pluck out the splinters from his back.

"And how have your studies progressed in the absence of your Master?" Chase asked lightly.

Despite the casual, conversational way he spoke to her, there was no hiding the slyness in his voice. He was trying to taunt her. And loath to admit it as she was, she knew it was working. Her hands trembled, eyes narrowed, and her breaths became harsher as she tried to control the fire crackling to life inside her.

"None of your business," Kimiko practically hissed.

"Actually, I think you'll find that it is my business. If we are to work together then I need to know how much training you will require before we can take on Hannibal and Wuya."

"How much training I require? Are you trying to say you want to train me?" Kimiko asked, taken aback.

"Of course," Chase said as if it should have been obvious. "If you are to have any chance of surviving the upcoming battle then the sooner I can gauge what level you are at the sooner we can begin your training and correct whatever foolish lessons you have taught yourself these past five years."

Kimiko clenched her hands into fists. Arrogant swine.

"First of, I don't need you to train me," Kimiko snapped. "Second, why do you care if I survive the battle? I can assure you I will, but why?"

"Our deal." When Kimiko didn't reply he continued. "You need to be alive for us to have our showdown. It was premature of me to ask for such a thing, given now that I've had time to dwell on it I highly doubt you'll survive the battle with Hannibal and Wuya. However, I gave you my word that we would have such a showdown, and therefore I am honour bound to ensure your survival till then."

You have got to be kidding me.

"I would rather set fire to all my clothes than let you be my teacher." Kimiko yanked out the last splinter with more force than necessary. "Besides, you don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to apprentices. It was always a new one every other week, wasn't it?"

Chase shot to his feet, towering over her with a glare. She wasted no time rising to her feet as well, staring up at him with fire in her eyes.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" Kimiko asked innocently. "Where's the lie?"

She had lost count of how many apprentices he had had over the years. Omi, Spicer, Katnappe, Jermaine. They were lucky to stay in the position for more than a week!

"Be careful, Young Dragon. Just because our deal assures your survival, for the time being, do not think that I will tolerate your disrespect."

"I'm quaking in my sandals," Kimiko scoffed, not backing down.

Both warriors were two consumed by their stare down that neither heard the timid knock on the door, nor the squeak as it opened. Two small heads peeked in, eyeing their counterparts anxiously.

"Kimiko."

"Master Chase."

"What!" Both Kimiko and Chase snapped at the same time, turning to face the new arrivals.

Both Dojo and Nicholas flinched, ducking down.

"Just eh, came to make sure you hadn't killed each other," Dojo said nervously.

"But seeing as ye are both well we shall take our leave," Nicholas added quickly. "Shall met ye in the kitchen fir dinner."

The crow and dragon made a hasty retreat.

Kimiko glanced over to the window, noticing how dark it was. She let out a puff of air. She'd have to start preparing dinner for her and Dojo, seeing as it was her turn. She would not be making her new guests anything. She'd show them where the kitchen and food where but making something would be up to them. Tomorrow she would lay down the house rules, and then they could start taking turns on dinner duty, as well as assign chores. If they were living here they would play by her rules. She was technically the elder monk of the temple, meaning she was in charge.

With a sigh she made her way over to the door and snatched up the robes she had left outside, hiding them behind her back. She made sure Chase saw the way her eyes looked him up and down, taking in his still dishevelled form disapprovingly. It was rather satisfying seeing the usually pristine and well-clothed warrior looking like he'd been dragged through hell and back.

"Well, I'm away to go get something to eat. Foods in the kitchen which is down through the main hall, in the East corridor, second door on your right. Food is in the cupboards. I'm sure you're capable of making your own meal. Oh, and before I forget, here's some clothes."

Kimiko flung the robes at him, turned on her heels, and left.

"I must say, you really do have quite the sense of humour."

At the sound of the dark voice, laced with a hint of anger, Kimiko looked up her task of chopping vegetables. Dojo and Nicholas, who had been busying themselves with their own food prep, felt their jaws hit the floor at the sight of the Heylin warrior, leaning against the kitchen's door way.

"Those robes looks exactly like..." Dojo trailed off, wincing.

"The ones I use to wear as a Xiaolin warrior," Chase finished, narrowing his eyes at Kimiko, who looked back with a coy smile.

"Really?" Kimiko gasped. "I had no idea."

Returning to her task she began humming away to herself. She had to admit, she was rather proud of her little stunt. It was a shame Chase couldn't see the funny side.

She scooped up all her cut up vegetables and other ingredients and began tossing them into a pot of boiling water. Making some soup would save her and Dojo doing any major cooking for the next few days, giving them time to concentrate on other tasks.

"I'm sure you didn't," Chase muttered, watching her with a scowl. "They're a little bit more scorched than the ones I had, though."

"They were all I could find that looked like they would fit. Afraid we don't have any rusted, antique armour."

She made her way over to the cupboard, mumbling under breath when she noticed how low on supplies they were. She would have to go out scavenging for more food soon. Either that or hope they had enough to do them over till the weekly market opened at the near by village. Though with two more mouths two feed scavenging would probably be the better option, seeing as the market wasn't exactly the cheapest place.

"I need to go out scavenging for food and other essentials soon," Kimiko said to Dojo. "We're running low on supplies."

"What of all these supplies in the closet over there," Nicholas commented, gesturing with one elegant wing towards the open doored room at the end of the hall. Inside were cans of non-perishables stacked high, carts full of clothes and blankets, and several other resources.

"Those are for the people at the Kyoto village. Recently a band of Wuya's rock minions went on a rampage there. They need the supplies more than we do. I'm going to try and deliver them tomorrow."

If she could fix the cart. Another item on her long to-do list.

"Very noble of you."

Kimiko ignored Chase, brushing past him to get back to making dinner.

"Speaking of food," Chase drawled casually, a dark smirk forming on his lips. Kimiko's stomach knotted, knowing instantly what he was going to mention. "There is something you and I have to discuss. Menu wise."

Dojo's ears perked up at that, his head snapping around to look up at the Heylin warrior fearfully. He shot off towards Kimiko, hiding behind her leg, trembling.

The crow tried to hide its snigger, ducking its head under its wing.

"If said menu involves dragon, then I'm afraid we're fresh out," Kimiko smiled mirthlessly, giving Chase a nasty glare.

"She is right, Master," Nicholas smiled. "Unless you're willing to try a spinless gecko as a substitute for a dragon."

"Why you-" Dojo growled.

"Can you two take this outside, I'd like to have a word with Chase."

Nicholas and Dojo looked at each of their respective masters, each receiving a glower that sent them high tailing it out of the kitchen, the door slamming shut behind them. There was a flurry of scales and feathers as they fought for the best spot to place their ears against the door to listen in on the conversation occurring on the other end.

"You are not eating, Dojo!" Kimiko growled, banging her hand down on the counter top.

"For now," Chase smirked, crossing his arms and leaning back against the counter. "He's only safe guarded until after I take my rightful place as ruler of this world once more."

Kimiko scoffed in disbelief. "You really think I'm going to let you? You're going down, just like Wuya and Hannibal when this is over. Make no mistake about that."

Chase clicked his tongue, that irksome smirk still in place. "Do you truly think you can beat me when the time comes, little mouse?"

"Little mouse?" Kimiko spluttered indignantly.

Who was he calling Little Mouse? This so-called 'little mouse' had once taken on both him and Hannibal Roy Bean, and won, without using her martial arts skills or her elemental powers! But then again, he didn't know that. She knew without a doubt that he suspected Spicer had had assistance from the Xiaolin warriors to ensure his victory that day, but she didn't think he knew it was she who had beaten both him and his mortal enemy.

"My name is Kimiko!" The Dragon of Fire gritted out, glaring fiercely. "And I will never let you eat, Dojo."

Or any other dragon if I have my way.

"Well isn't a good thing that I have prepared Lao Mang Lone Soup in advance."

Kimiko frowned. "Where?"

Chase hesitated. Whatever he was about to say she knew she wasn't going to like the answer. If he thought she was going to back to his palace just to retrieve his canned soup he had another thing coming! His absence would have been noticed by now, and getting back in there would be near impossible. It wasn't worth the risk.

"The temple," Chase said after a moment.

"The temple?" Kimiko repeated quietly. "As in my temple? The one you destroyed?"

"The vault was still intact."

It infuriated Kimiko to know he had used a part of her home to harbour such a wretched brew. It was almost sacrilegious. The temple had been a place of peace, a sacred place and a home and sanctuary to dragons for centuries. And here he was, hiding dragon soup there like it was nothing!

From his perspective, though, she could understand why he hid it there. The vault was underground, made of stone, and had been built to protect precious goods. Chase would have known the combination to get into it, seeing as it hadn't changed in the last fifteen hundred years. It was the ideal place for Chase to hide things there, especially seeing as no one would have though that he of all people would hide something there.

"Go get yourself then," Kimiko bit out, busying herself with her cooking.

Chase titled his head.

"You don't know, do you?"

Kimiko let out an exasperated sigh and turned to him, crossing her arms. "What?"

"What this temple is?" He let out a chuckle. "No, of course, you don't. I'm surprized that lazy reptile of yours didn't know either."

"What are you talking about?" Kimiko sighed, feeling beyond confused.

"Come with me."

Chase led her into the main hall. With a flick of her wrist, the lanterns flared to life, alighting the painted walls, pillars and marble floors with its flickering glow. Chase's footsteps echoed off the floors as he made his way to the centre of the room. Kimiko stayed by the door, watching him warily.

"How did you find this temple?" Chase asked, his eyes trailing across the faded artworks.

"Luck. We found it by accident, not long after you took over," Kimiko admitted, taking a few tentative steps into the hall. "You and your fellow Heylin seemed to miss this one on your destructive crusade."

"Indeed we did, but do you know why?"

Kimiko shook her head. She had always wondered how such a temple could go amiss. They had destroyed every other one, from the most majestic temples tucked away in mountain ranges to withered, temple ruins that had lain forgotten in remote forests for centuries.

"It was not from a lack of trying to locate it, I can assure you. This particular temple was one of the first on my, hit list if you will. It holds a great significance to the Xiaolin, in particular to you."

What? Kimiko glanced around the main hall, trying to figure out why it would have been so important, and why such a supposedly significant building was allowed to fall into such decay. And what does he mean by it being important to me?

"And why it that?"

"This is the Temple of the Dragon of Fire."

Once the words left Chase's lips a chilling wind rushed through the main hall, causing the candles to flicker and shadows to dance across the walls.

"As you can imagine, destroying such a sacred temple was of great interest to me. It didn't take long to find the other temples, however, this one alluded me. Legend said that the Dragon of Fire's Temple would only reveal itself to Dragons of Fires, others only be permitted entrance should the reigning Fire Dragon or temple itself allow it. Hence why I couldn't find it."

Kimiko found herself walking over to the near by pillar, one decorated with a soaring phoenix, surrounded by spiralling flames. She ran her hand along it tenderly.

"Legend also said the temple was a reflection of its owner," Chase said as he leant against one of the pillars. He glanced around, taking in the sorry state of the place. "It's current condition speaks volumes about you."

Kimiko kept her eyes firmly on the image of the phoenix, looking at its flecked paint and faded features. The temple had always been a chaotic shambles. Not matter how much she and Dojo repaired, everything always seemed to break. Paint would fade and chip, furniture would break and cobwebs and dust would gather faster than they could clean. She'd always thought the place was cursed. But if it was a reflection of herself, what did that say? That the reason everything was so... broken.,, was because she felt that way. After everything she had been through, was it really such a shock?

Straightening herself up, Kimiko turned to face the smirking warrior.

"What does this have to do with you going out to get your damned soup!" Kimiko snarled.

"This temple and its grounds are on another plane of existence if I leave, and that is if I can even leave, I will be unable to find my way back. Therefore, you must accompany while I retrieve my Lao Mang Long Soup."

"Well looks like you'll just have to live without your soup."

"I need to drink the soup in order retain this form," Chase said pointedly. "Without it, my powers are also greatly diminished. If we are to defeat anyone I will need it."

Truthfully, she'd much rather deal with Chase in his human form that the dragon creature. It wasn't exactly the most welcoming or endearing sight. She would also need him to be at his best if they wanted to stand a chance in their future battle.

"Fine," Kimiko sighed, folding her arm. "I'll go tell Dojo and Nicholas where we're going."

This night just kept getting better and better, didn't it?

Little did she know, it was getting to get much worse before it got better.

It didn't take them long to get to the temple.

Dojo and Nicholas crept alongside Chase, as they entered the ground, Kimiko falling behind the small group. Seeing the temple after all these years was like a punch to the gut. All that remained were the scorched foundation's stones were the buildings had once stood, ashes, burned bricks and wood scattered everywhere. Kimiko felt her heart clench as she walked through what felt like a valley of memories, each one like a ghostly echo, taunting her.

She could hear their voices, her friends, her teacher and so many others who she had shared happier times with. To her left, she saw the foundation of the first section of the temple she had been in, where she had first met her fellow dragons. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw herself and the others, standing there as they were all introduced for the first time.

"Omi, I'd like you to met Raimundo, Kimiko, and Clay," Master Fung's calm and gentle voice had said.

"Master, where are the new students?"

"Right in front of you Omi."

"They are not what I expected."

"The best things in life rarely are."

Tears began to fill her eyes, and Kimiko had to wipe them away with her sleeve. When she looked back up the vision was gone. Oh, how innocent and care free they had all once been, not knowing what they were truly getting themselves into. Absently she wondered, if she could go back and make a different decision, would she have agreed to join the temple?

"Dragon of Fire, are you coming?"

Kimiko looked up. Chase was regarding her quietly, gesturing for her to hurry up. She caught up with him, taking the lead towards where she knew the vault was. It took everything she had to ignore the memories that threatened to swarm and consume her.

Omi's poor attempts at slang.

Clays ridiculous analogies.

Raimundo's flirting with her and teasing of Omi.

Master Fung wise words of wisdom.

Don't think about them, concentrate, she told herself.

It didn't take long to find the vault, partially re-buried under some heavy debris. Kimiko entered the fault first, wanting to explore it while Chase retrieved a bags worth his soup, enough to last him at least a week. Nicholas, much to his dismay, was going to be forced to carry the bag. Dojo, naturally, refusing to carry them. Kimiko was not about to ask him to do so either.

Slowly, Kimiko walked down the spiral staircase, her hand trailing along the many drawers that had once held the Shen Gong Wu in them. Every drawer had been left open, revealing their empty contents that the Heylin had plundered. As she passed them, she closed each and every one. When she had nearly reached the bottom of the staircase she paused. One of the drawers was still shut. Curiously, she approached it.

Was it possible they had left behind a Shen Gong Wu?

She reached out, cracking the drawer open a fraction.

"Kimiko! Wuya's rock minions are headed this way!" Dojo's panicked voice grabbed her attention.

The drawer forgotten, Kimiko bolted up the stairs, tripping when she had nearly reached the exit. It took her a few moments to recover, and in that time she failed to notice something crawl into her scavaging satchel.

"It seems speed and agility are two aspects that are greatly in need of improvement, Dragon of Fire," Chase's voice called out, causing her to let out a grumble as she rose to her feet.

She really was going to throttle him!

"I'm coming!" Kimiko shouted.

She quickly existed the vault, shutting it closed before leaping onto Dojo. Off in the distance, she could see a group of rock minions marching their way.

"Have they seen us?"

"Not yet," Chase whispered.

"I think it's time we got out of here," Dojo muttered, shooting up into the air.

As they flew off back towards the Temple of Fire, no one noticed a pair of crimson eyes peeking out from Kimiko's satchel, nor did they hear the muffled laughter of an all to familiar voice.

Sibini was back.

(A/N) The mischevious trouble maker Sibini is gonna join our story! I'm sure Kimiko will be thrilled!

Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think! xx