The next day (8 days till the contest):

Dojo flew the monks the short distance from the Pedrosa home to a spot on the beach that boarded the city of Rio de Janeiro the next morning. Franciscka had called and told them where to meet her and Reinaldo so they could all go sight-seeing together.

Franciscka and Renny arrived in a car a few minutes later. After waving her aunt's driver away and Rai quickly introducing the other monks to Renny, the group of young adults started their little tour.

"So you guys have been all over the world?" Renny asked the monks as he wheeled himself down the sidewalk beside his girlfriend.

"Just about," Clay answered.

"That's awesome. I've gone with Franciscka when she travels for different dance competitions around the world," he said, looked back up at Franciscka, sharing a smile quick. "But I bet we've only been to like half the amount of places you've been to." The group was quiet as they crossed the road from the sidewalk along the beach to the sidewalk outside buildings on the other side. After they were all safely across, Renny looked up to Kimiko. "So Kimiko, Franciscka told me a lot about you." Kimiko looked down to reply to Renny.

"Oh really, like what?"

"Just that when she isn't practicing with Rai, you and her are shopping online or doing each other's hair and nails," he answered. Kimiko shrugged, thinking that sounded true enough. "And according to Rai, you hit hard," he added, earning chuckles from everyone in the group, including Rai.

"And I've got the bruises to prove it," Rai joked, pulling up his white, hoody sleeve half-heartedly. The others laughed again as Rai put his sleeve back and they all paused in their walk.

"She also mentioned you're a pretty good dancer too," Renny said added after the laughter died down. Everyone was quiet after hearing that. All the other boys in their group looked at Kimiko curiously.

Kimiko remembered a few nights ago, Franciscka was having trouble with a move for her and Rai's dance routine, so she helped her out by showing her a little while they were hanging out in her room. Franciscka complemented her highly from the little that she did, but the fact that she told Renny must mean she was really impressed. That was the first time she had danced in front of someone in years. Then again, her fighting is pretty graceful, which is almost like dancing, and her friends have seen her fight plenty of times.

"Yeah, I guess I have soon moves," she admitted with a shrug.

"Of course she does," Rai cut in, drawing all eyes back to him. "She is the Dragon of Fire after all. If she can't move, all fire would be still," he said honestly as he looked Kimiko in the eye from the other side of their group. The two shared a smile together, Kimiko's was grateful and flattered, while Rai's was just happy to see Kimiko smile.

And then they were interrupted again.

"Rai?" a bewildered voice asked from behind the Dragon of the Wind. Raimundo turned to the source of the voice, everyone turned there as well to see a boy about their age, with a darker skin tone and black hair, wearing a red jersey, followed by another, but in blue and with blonde hair and a lighter skin tone, behind him, also looking at them. "Rai, e realmente voce?"

"Danny?" Rai ask, unbelievingly to the boy that called to him, a smile blooming on his face. Then Rai looked at the second boy. "Marcos!" he exclaimed, running up to the two.

The two boys, Danny and Marcos, ran to Rai as well, giving hand smacks and quick hugs while laughing, happy to see each other.

"Raimundo! O que se passa velho amigo?" the one in blue, Marcos asked.

"Nos nao te vi em idades," the one in red, Danny said.

"E tao bom ver que eles novamente," Rai said, very happy to see these boys like he was reuniting with his family the day before.

"Ola rapazes," Franciscka hollered. The two boys smiled, happy to see both her and the boy in the wheelchair next to her.

"Franciscka, menina, tao bom ver voce," Danny cheered, running up to the Brazilian girl, picking her up in a friendly hug.

"Renny, voce olhar bem," Marcos greeting the other Brazilian boy, offering him a hand.

"Bom te ver tambem Marcos," Renny replied with a smile as the two smacked hands.

As soon as Danny stopped hugging Franciscka, his eyes fell on the other three people among them that he did not recognize, then they finally settled on Kimiko. "E voce e, minha senhora?" Danny said smoothly, walking up to the foreign girl. Kimiko just stared at the new boy uncertainly, not understanding his language. Kimiko looked passed the boy over to Raimundo, giving him a look that said it all.

Rai mentally slapped himself. "Uh guys, my new friends don't speak Portuguese so could you…" he switched back to his second language.

"Oh, sorry," Danny apologized, also switching to English. "I was asking who you might be," he said just as smoothly to Kimiko again. But Rai beat her to answering.

"They're my friends from that special school I moved to a few years ago."

"Oh yeah, that special school in China," Marcos said. All their families knew what they were being sent to China for, and it was okay for Franciscka and Renny to know the extent of what they did there, but from the look Rai sent Kimiko and the others, he decided not to elaborate on it to these two. At least for now.

Meanwhile, Danny continued to look at Kimiko with interest. "Is she from China? Does she know English?" he wondered out loud, noticing her Asian appearance and that she hadn't spoken yet.

"I'm from Japan, and yes I speak English," Kimiko corrected, a little annoyed. Danny made a face, showing he knew he was saying the wrong things for a good first impression. Kimiko sighed with a roll of her eyes. She knew boys could act stupid sometimes but they were still good people. And if he was a friend of Raimundo, he must be. Kimiko reluctantly stuck her hand out in front of her. "I'm Kimiko," she said, offering a friendly smile. Danny smiled back and shook it.

"I'm from America," Clay cut in after the hand shake ending. Danny took the larger teens hand next. "Names' Clay," the cowboy said kindly.

"Omi," the smaller, bald boy cut in rather quickly, also shaking Danny's hand. "And I was born and raised in China."

"Well I'm Daniel. But just call me Danny," Danny said.

"And I'm Marcos," the other boy said, stepping in from behind, quickly shaking all their hands himself.

"So Rai," Danny said, turning back to his old friend. "We wanted to ask you what brings you back home."

"But," Marcos cut in. "now we'd much rather ask you what brings you back home, with not only your new friends from your foreign school, but these two," he said, gesturing to the two from Sao Paulo. Franciscka was about to answer, but after taking a good look at her, his mind connected the dots he neglected to a minute ago. "Wait, if Franciscka is here, does that mean…?" he said, turning back to Rai to confirm.

"Yup." Rai smiled big. "We're doing the contest next week!" Danny and Marcos cheered, along with the others.

"And we're gonna win!" Franciscka interjected confidently, encouraging another cheer from the group of friends.

"And we're gonna dance on top of a Carnavale float!" Raimundo added proudly, getting another cheer from his friends.

"Hey, speaking of dancing, you guys wanna go to Paraiso?" Marcos asked.

"Oh God, yes!" Rai replied, excited. Franciscka and Renny also agreed.

"Paraiso?" Kimiko asked as they started walking again. Raimundo hung back to walk beside her in the back of the group, letting Marcos and Danny lead the way.

"It's a dance club for teenagers," Rai explained. "It's a very popular hang-out, especially around this time of year." Kimiko nodded in understanding, now intrigued to go to this place. It must be one of Rai's favorite places in the city.

"As long as they got decent grub, I'm in," Clay said from in front of the two.

Danny and Marcos lead Raimundo and the others into their favorite hang-out. The room was packed with teens around their age and younger. The lighting was colorful but dimmed, there was a food and drink counter to their left, a big dance floor with round tables up to the walls, and most of the customers on the dance floor, moving to the music from the speakers.

The group proceeded to an empty table off to the side. Renny parked himself up against the wall beside their table while everyone else sat down. A waitress came over and took everyone's drink orders. She came back within minutes with their drinks and a basket of small, yellow, crispy bits.

"What are these?" Kimiko asked, pointing to the basket.

"Deep-fried cassava," Marcos answered, taking one and eating it. The non-Brazilian monks looked to their leader to be more specific.

"They're sorta like French fries," Rai said, taking a few and popping them in his mouth.

The other monks shrugged to each other and tried one. Kimiko and Omi seemed to like them alright, but neither commented and took another. Clay did as well, but did say something. "Not bad. But do they have anything a bit more… filling," he asked.

"I gotcha," Rai said knowingly before waving to their waitress. "Garconete," he said after getting her attention. "Salgado, por favor," he asked. The waitress nodded before walking into the kitchen door next to the bar counter.

Franciscka was on the dance floor after just one sip of her drink, wanting to go dance immediately. The waitress came back a few minutes later with a platter of what looked like deep-fried calzones, and placed them on their table. Clay, intrigued, immediately took one and bit in, dragging a stringy trail of cheese from his mouth to the salgado. Clay moaned, loving the deep-fried, meaty, cheesiness of the new food.

Seeing his friend was satisfied, Raimundo redirected his attention back to the dance floor and watched Franciscka do what she loves most. She danced alongside some random girls and a few boys, but she never let them touch her. She knew Renny was watching and she hated nothing more than making him think he was being left out because he couldn't go and join her like the other around them, so she made sure to look over and stare back at him every couple of seconds.

Raimundo watched her as well, but with less of an adoring look. Even so, Kimiko couldn't help but feel left out herself.

Although she and Franciscka were friends now and she knew she wasn't trying to make Rai look at her, she wanted Rai to look at her. She knew she was a good dancer, and according to Franciscka, she was really good. So she should be out there. As the song ended and before another one started, Kimiko stood and made her way onto the dance floor.

Franciscka looked to Kimiko as she approached her, both happy that she had someone to dance with now, and that Kimiko was finally making a move to get Raimundo's attention. She knew Kimiko hadn't danced in front of anyone in years, accept for that one short time back in the girl's room at the temple, so she was also proud Kimiko had her confidence up to be out there with her.

Raimundo noticed Kimiko up from the table as soon as she reached Franciscak on the dance floor. Raimundo stared at her, surprised but very happy to see her out there, as the music started up again. And as soon as it did, Franciscak and Kimiko started to dance in sync with each other; but Rai was only looking at Kimiko.

Days like this I want to drive away

Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade

You chewed me up and spit me out like I was poison in your mouth

You took my life, you drained me down

But that was then, and this is now

Now look at me!

Everyone on the dance floor with the two girl, stopped dancing to watch and also moved back a bit to give them more room.

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows,

But you're not gonna break my soul.

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Raimundo watched, his eyes transfixed on Kimiko as she danced. Kimiko's moves were graceful and strong. Just like when she was training or fighting the Heylin. Kimiko tapped her way over to a table on the other side of room from her party's. With the help of two boys holding onto her arms, Kimiko stepped onto the table, then snapping herself around to stare back at Raimundo. Franciscka did the same, but on a table across from Kimiko, right next to Renny. Renny turned his full attention to his left, looking directly up at his girlfriend, her eyes locked on his as she danced for him.

And Kimiko was doing the same for Rai.

Raimundo couldn't take his eyes off her. She looked so beautiful in her short purple skirt with black legging, and dark red blouse.

Now look at me, I'm sparkling

A firework, a dancing flame

You won't ever put me out again, I'm glowing, oh-oh whoa oh

Kimiko jumped down from the table, continuing her dance, not taking her eyes from Raimundo, and neither was he.

So you can keep the diamond ring. It don't mean nothing anyway

In fact you can keep everything, yeah, yeah

Except for me!

Francsicka jumped down from her table, dancing over back to Kimiko.

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows,

But you're not gonna break my soul.

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

This is the part of me (Away for me)

This is the part of me, (me, me, me)

Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows,

But you're not gonna break my soul.

This is the part of me, that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

After the song was over, the whole club burst into applause, happy to see Franciscka again and impressed by the new girl who defiantly knew how to move. Both girls smiled and waved, flattered. Franciscka gave Kimiko a look before walking away back to their table, leaving Kimiko in the middle of the dance floor alone.

With everyone looking at her, Kimiko started to feel uncomfortable. But before she could follow Franciscka, a boy came over and started talking to her, then another, and then a third.

Raimundo saw all of this and was displeased. And he could tell Kimiko was too. He knew some of those guys and he knew they were rude, playboy, flirts. Danny was a flirt, but he was a nice guy and a good friend. As was he. But he'd never make the girls uncomfortable like Kimiko looked.

Another song would start playing any second and those boys weren't letting Kimiko move more than two steps. If she didn't get a little help, those guys were gonna be asking her to dance with them. Ramundo would rather give Jack Spicer a foot massage then watch that.

Raimundo stood up, walking over to them, determined to get Kimiko out of that. As soon as Rai left the table, Franciscka turned to Danny and Marcos, whispering something to them. After she finished, they nodded and stood as well, walking over to the DJ's stage.

"Mind if I cut in," Raimundo said sarcastically, quickly cutting past the boys, taking Kimiko's hand. Kimiko let Raimundo pull her away to another part of the dance floor, grateful she was out of that. Once they were farther up the dance floor, Raimundo stopped, looking back at Kimiko

"Thanks Rai," Kimiko said with a grateful smile. Rai smiled back at her, before looking down to see they were still holding hands. Rai quickly let go with a blush. Kimiko blushed too.

"No problem," Rai said bashfully, rubbing the back of his head. "That was, uh, pretty impressive," he said honestly to her. Kimiko's blush brightened, as did her smile.

"It's like you said, fire needs to dance," Kimiko said, biting her lip.

"As does the wind," Rai added, earning another smile from Kimiko. The two were silent as they stared at each other for a moment or two, before the speakers spoke up with the DJ's voice.

"Alright everybody, for this next song, I'm passing the mics over to my boys, Danny and Marcos!" the DJ said, raising the crowd to cheers. Odiously, these two were very liked on the mic in this club. Raimundo and Kimiko looked over to the DJ's table and sure enough, there Danny and Marcos were, up on the small stage the DJ's set-up was, mics in their hands.

"What's up everybody!" Danny hollered into his mic, earning a big cheer from the crowd. "This is for Raimundo and his friends from out of town. So show them some love," he said, pointing to Raimundo and Kimiko, who were still on the dance floor. Like with during the last song, with Franciscka and Kimiko, all eyes were on them as they applauded. Raimundo was very well know and liked at this club too, so they were all happy to see him back.

"Party in the Ipanema, baby," Marcos said smoothly as the DJ started a beat for them.

Raimundo didn't exactly know what to do, but what he felt like he should do was dance. And with Kimiko right there with him, it felt even more so.

Marcos:

I wanna party, I wanna samba,

I wanna party, I wanna samba,

Rai took Kimiko's hands and started to move his feet slowly, hoping Kimiko would catch on and not pull away and go back to the table. And sure enough, Kimiko smiled and started moving with him.

I wanna party, and live my life Danny: (my life)

I wanna party Danny: (party)

And fly!

Hey!

Imma fly, fly just like a bird Danny: (just a bird?)

Not high enough, so let me fly just like a rocket then Danny: (Okay!)

Fly so high where I need to come down for oxygen Danny: (Hey!)

Cause once we started, baby, ain't no aint no stoppin' then. Danny: (Hey!)

Rai started to pick up their pace, moving his feet faster and putting more of his body into their dance. Kimiko followed sooth, moving faster and getting more into it.

Cause I just wanna live my life and party Danny: (Hey!)

All I want is to be free and rock my body Danny: (Okay!)

Been around the world, and I wanna live my life,

In Rio, cause in Rio, in Rio, I realive…

Rai pulled Kimiko, flush against him, by the waist. Kimiko was a bit shocked by the sudden move, but almost instantly got into it. And the next thing the two monks know, they were performing a full-on samba.

Marcos & Danny:

I wanna party, (party)

I wanna samba, (party)

I wanna party, (party)

And fly!

Danny:

I'm that samba, samba master master master master master master

Push out sound from my ghetto blaster blaster blaster blaster blaster

You dance fast, but I dance faster faster faster faster faster

You too slow, you need to catch up, you can dance and dance but…

Marcos:

I wanna party, (party)

I wanna samba, (party)

I wanna party, (party)

I wanna samba, (party)

I wanna party, (party)

And live my life (my life)

I wanna party (party) and fly!

Raimundo spun Kimiko around, prompting her to spin away from him and back over to the table she stood on in her last dance. Raimundo followed her, and as they got to the table, Raimundo picks Kimiko up bridal style, with a no difficulty or protest, and spins her around an additional time before lifting her to stand on the table once again.

Danny runs off the stage, heading for the two dancers as he keeps singing.

Marcos & Danny: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Danny quickly tosses his mic up to Kimiko on the table. Caught in the moment, Kimiko catches the mic with ease and starts to sing her own little melody.

Kimiko:

Laya-laya-laya-laya!

Raimundo stares up at Kimiko, entranced. The golden lights of the club hitting her just right, her head thrown back as she sings the most beautiful thing his ears have ever absorbed.

Laya-laya-laya-laya-laya-laya-laya-laya

Kimiko hoped off the table, staring into Raimundo's eyes, and him staring back into hers', completely mesmerized, and feeling ridiculous for not seeing how amazing this girl, who he had been close to for years, was until that moment.

They were snapped out of their moment of staring as Danny took his mic back from Kimiko's hand and started back for the stage, repeating the chorus of the song again with Marcos.

Raimundo looked back to Kimiko, offering her his hands, silently asking if she wanted to keep dancing. Kimiko complied, wanting more then anything in that moment then to live in that song with Raimundo for just a little while longer. So the Dragon of Fire took the offered hands of the Dragon of the Wind and the two continued their dance.

Everyone back at their table watched their whole dance, but not as focused as Franciscka watched them. She did not just watch them, she studied them. She had seen some amazing dancers in her life, but never before had she seen two dancers move so in sync, so complementing of the other.

So passionate.

Franciscka didn't know too much about how their elemental powers worked, but she saw fire when Kimiko danced. And while she danced with Ramundo, that fire just got bigger, brighter, and more beautiful.

So beautiful, it would be cruel to shield this fire from the wind that brings it to life.

So beautiful, it could be the winning dance, to light up Carnavale.

I do not own either of the songs I used here. 'Part of Me' by Katy Perry, and 'Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)' performed by Jamie Foxx & will . i . am (I had to change just one or two lines from their song because they are not birds)

And if u didn't notice, I titled this story from a lyric from 'Part of Me'. That's why I felt I should use the song somewhere in my story. And it felt right for this scene.

Cassava- a woody shrub native to South America of the spurge family. Edible starchy tuberous root; major carbohydrates.

Salgado- a Brazilian finger-food; usually consisting of dough wrapped around chopped meat, chicken, ham and/or cheese and then deep-fried.

Portuguese - English

Rai, e realmete voce? – Rai, is that really you?

O que se passa velho amigo? – What's up old friend?

Nos nao te vi em idades – We haven't seen you in ages

E tao bom ver que eles novamente – It's so great to see you guys again

Ola rapazes – Hello boys

Franciscka, menina, tao bom ver voce – Franciscka, girl, so good to see you

Renny, voce olhar bem – Renny, you look good

Bom t ever tambem Marcos – Nice to see you too Marcos

E voce e, minha senhora? – And you are, my dear lady?

Paraiso – Paradise

Garconete – Waitress

Por favor – Please