Disclaimer: I own nothing.

O.O.O.O

She loved him more at that moment then she ever did in her life. There she was—literally inches from death—her black hair coming out of her up do in perfect ringlets, the sleeves of her kimono spread out like the wings of an angel, and the relieved expression on her face when he had grabbed her hand and stopped her from toppling into the roaring volcano.

When she got back up onto the ledge, she seemed as determined as ever to stop him from taking the Golden Tiger Claws. Her eyes scanned the area, before she found him ready to take the shen gong wu from them.

How she hated him…

She sprung into action, leaping from the ledge, and challenging him to a showdown. Her friends watch with interest from the safety of that spot. None of them believe that she can actually beat him. The interest they had is fleeting, as none of them care whether or not she wins, but rather how much money that they can make off of her defeat.

Except for one of them…

He was the one that saved her from falling into the fiery depths of the volcano. He was the one that she needed, that she craved at the end of the day. He was the one that she loved, and she was the one that he loved. The two of them shared a bond so strong, that not even he could break it.

That was why he watched earnestly, hoping that she was okay. After all, she had been beaten before, and he hated, more than anything in the world, to see her upset.

It wasn't too long into the showdown that she collapsed. Crying out from fear, he nearly jumped below to see if she was alright, held back by his friends.

They both believed that she would be okay; after all, it was her.

Maybe they had had a point, but either way, he was still worried about his beloved, and wanted to help her.

He knew that he could not interfere, but he wished, wished with all his might that she would win the showdown, unscathed, and with the shen gong wu.

And, it worked.

She had defeated him, and when they were safely outside, she gave him a kiss, to thank him for the fact that he had helped, not necessarily physically, but in spirit, and that she was grateful that he had believed in her all along.

And that was all he ever wished for her, safety, security, and happiness.

O.O.O.O

"Didn't you make that up?"

Raimundo turned around to stare at Clay in disbelief that he had asked such a question.

"Well, I was the only one that believed she could win?"

"Yes," Omi piped up, jumping from his stool, to pace around Raimundo, "but she won the showdown, and you didn't do anything."

The two of them were now bracing themselves for what the twitching Dragon of Fire would have to say.

"YOU IDIOT!" roared Kimiko, "I won that showdown by myself!"

"Now—I—" Raimundo stammered.

It took only a few seconds for Kimiko to go from arguing with Raimundo to attacking him. Both Omi and Clay stayed glued to their spots, watching them attack each other.

Well, Kimiko attack Raimundo at least.

The air was heavy with smoke for the next half and hour, and by that time, both Omi and Clay had gone off to train, leaving Kimiko and Raimundo to continue their fight.

…If you call a make out session on the lawn fighting.

But, it was by far the best and only reason to lie to Kimiko

Honestly.