Title: Feeling the Rio Heat

Chapter Title: Burning Question

Word Count: 1,765

Disclaimer: I do not own Xiolin Showdown.

Summary: Raimundo has been invited to his sister's wedding and gets to bring a plus one. What could possibly go wrong during a weekend in Rio with Kimiko after he botched asking her and stressed that they were going "just as friends"? RaixKim fluff.

When Raimundo first started at the temple he could never have imagined the life he was gaining, instead of a simple life of solitude and endless training, he instead found it to be a never ending, near death battle for shengong wu with a bonus of endless training. He also never imagined the initial proximity crush he'd had on Kimiko (since she was the only girl for hundreds of miles and he was a normal teenage guy at his core) would turn into an actual deep connection with the fiery elementalist. While he hadn't done much to move their relationship status as a respect for the unique temple life structure (or so he told himself because it was easier than admitting he was chicken about asking her out and potentially making things weird between them if something went wrong), he also wasn't oblivious to some of Kimiko's subtle or not-so-subtle anymore hints. Now armed with an invitation to his sister's upcoming wedding, he knew it would be a chance to get some time with her outside of the temple. The only thing currently standing in his way was Master Fung.

"Master Fung, I wanted to know if I would be able to take Kimiko as my plus one to my sister's wedding?" The brunette monk inquired nervously.

"I do not think that would be a very wise idea young monk" Master Fung replied calmly.

"It'd just be as friends. I just don't want to have to go alone" Raimundo pleaded.

"Fine, you may ask her, but I do hope you're mindful that relationships among teammates are still against the temple rules" Master Fung sighed.

"Thanks Fung-Man" Raimundo hollered as he raced off to find Kimiko.

"What have I done" Master Fung mused aloud while shaking his head.

Across the temple grounds Kimiko was doing her laundry with a scrubbing board at the river's edge. She was dressed in a tank top and some workout shorts and absentmindedly washed her robes as she pondered whether Raimundo had been noticing her flirtatious advances and ignoring it or if he truly was that dense. For a normally confident person it gave her some level of anxiety that she was uncomfortable dealing with. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice the dragon of wind sit down next to her.

"Hey Kimi" Raimundo said with a lopsided grin.

Startled she jumped at his intrusion.

"Shit, Rai, don't scare me like that" She fumed.

"Sorry" he shrugged, "I just had an important question for you that couldn't wait."

"Well what's up?" Kimiko asked curiously. 'Could he finally be asking me out?' she mused.

"You are my favorite monk aren't you?" He grinned childishly teasing her.

"Is that the question?" She playfully retorted.

"Wha-? No." He grumbled. "I was just wondering if my favorite monk would like to accompany me to a party of sorts?"

"A party?" She queried with raised eyebrow. Knowing Raimundo, he was definitely leaving some details out.

"Yeah. A party in Rio...tomorrow...for an event…" He vaguely stammered. 'Keep it cool Pedrosa!' he mentally chided.

"That depends...What's the event?" She asked feigning disinterest. 'It couldn't be Carnival, his favorite holiday, could it?' She mentally asked herself before remembering that Carnival usually happens in February and it was now June.

"It's not a big deal," He shrugged pausing momentarily, "My older sister is getting married"

"So you want me to go as your….date?" Kimiko teased with an ear to ear grin. "I figured you'd want to go stag and hit on all the bridesmaids?"

"Well as friends, if you're up for it" He emphasized, "besides, I don't need to get turned down by all my sister's bridesmaid friends again" He joked earning an exasperated eyeroll from Kimiko.

"So I'm meeting your entire family, but as friends?" She teased hiding a bit of her dejection.

"So you'll go?" He whooped picking her up and spinning her around in his arms.

"Yeah, it's been ages since I've been to a real party, plus it would be kind of cool to see how Brazilian wedding's are different that Japanese weddings" She mused aloud, feeling small pangs of heartbreak at his ignorance to her clear indication of wanting their relationship to be more than just friends.

"Well pack shoes you can dance in" He laughed. "No one sits down at a Brazilian wedding."

"So no heels even though you're a ridiculous giant?" She pouted as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Unless you can walk and dance in them all night, probably not" He said with a smirk.

"So when do I have to be ready to leave?" She asked curiously.

"In an hour" Raimundo replied enjoying the panicked look that spread across Kimiko's face.

"You expect me to be packed and ready for a wedding in an hour? I don't even know what I'm supposed to wear!" She fumed with anxiety.

"Already got you a dress" He laughed.

"What?" She eyed him curiously.

"I helped Maria with some errands a while back, convinced her I needed a plus one to the wedding, and may have gotten you a dress with her help so you know it's bride approved" He shrugged nonchalantly hiding his nervousness.

"So what were you going to do if I said no to being your plus one?" Kimiko challenged.

"Pretend none of that ever happened" He replied with mock dramatic hurt.

"Well let's see if you have any taste, Pedrosa" She teased.

"Hey, my sister helped so if you're saying Maria is tasteless I might not be able to bring you to this wedding after all" He grumbled.

Kimiko hung up her wash and followed Raimundo back to the temple grounds. 'Guess I'll have to ask Clay to grab my robes in a few hours if we'll already be in Rio' Kimiko mentally noted knowing she couldn't trust Omi to respect her personal boundaries when it came to items in her room.

Inside Raimundo's room (which he'd been awarded upon his promotion to leader), he pulled a simple box from his shelf. Kimiko had noticed the box before with its pink and white ribbon, but hadn't thought to ask what it contained. Raimundo handed her the box with a bit of hesitance.

"I'll step outside," he said with a small nod, "You can try it on and let me know what you think"

Kimiko wordlessly opened the box as Raimundo left the room and shut the door. Inside the box was a pale blue chiffon floor length dress with a high slit up the skirt. The top was a simple deep v-cut with a chiffon ruched belt running along the midline. It was plain, but she could tell Raimundo put great effort into making sure it was sized correctly for her. Mentally she wondered how he was able to get a dress with a near perfect fit. She stepped out of the room to find all three boys standing in the hallway.

"Ahem," She called for their attention "How do I look?" She twirled in her dress and the airiness of the fabric made it dance like leaves in the wind.

"Why, you look lovely, little lady" Clay earnestly quipped.

"Why are you dressed so nicely Kimiko" Omi puzzled, "Is there an occasion I am unaware of?"

"I'm going to a wedding, Omi" Kimiko laughed.

Raimundo stood wordlessly staring at Kimiko. She stole a curious glance his way and he snapped out of his silence.

"You look really nice" Raimundo added sheepishly avoiding eye-contact with her.

"Who is getting married Kimiko, and why was I not invited?" Omi queried with piqued interest.

"Well I was only invited as Rai's plus one, it's his sister getting married" Kimiko replied with a small shrug.

"Raimundo, am I not your faaavorite monk? Why have you not chosen me to attend your sister's wedding?" Omi trilled with puppy-dog eyes.

"Sorry Omi, Kim's easier to take places" Raimundo laughed in reply brushing the youngest monk off, "Anyway, we've got to get moving. We'll be back Monday or sooner if you all can't keep the world from being destroyed"

"The world is most safe with Clay and I!" Omi professed proudly scurrying off to train.

"Well have fun" Clay grinned at Raimundo and Kimiko. He paused briefly next to Raimundo and clapped a hand to his shoulder whispering "Good luck partner" before sauntering off.

"What was that about?" Kimiko asked.

"Oh nothing really" Raimundo lied casually. "Just reminding me to be a gentleman"

Kimiko eyed Raimundo curiously, she could always hear a half-truth in his voice, but she didn't know if it was worth pressing him on something that was probably minor anyway. In the end she figured she could bug Clay about it at the end of the weekend if this weekend didn't go her way.

"So any other weekend events I should be aware of when packing?" Kimiko queried.

"Uh, not really. Tonight I figured we'd go to the beach after getting settled in, but you don't swim or surf at dusk so just normal clothes would be best. Saturday's the wedding and Sunday is a family barbecue – casual, just getting everyone back together while they're all in town" He shrugged.

Mentally Kimiko wondered what kind of torture it is that she'd be going and meeting his whole family, spending an entire weekend with them, but having him clearly state that they were "just friends." This was either going to be a very good weekend or it would completely suck, but she knew she had to take the chance.

"We'll meet back here in 45 minutes?" He asked.

"Got it" Kimiko called as she raced off to her room to pack.

50 minutes later Raimundo tapped his foot outside the cubicle that served as Kimiko's room.

"Are you ready yet" He sighed asking her for the third time.

"Almost. You sprung an invite on me with an hour to prepare for a whole weekend's worth of outfits, what did you think would happen?" She retorted with snark.

Raimundo sighed heavily in response.

"Women" He muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?" Kimiko grumbled popping out of her room with suitcase in hand. She had her hair in a beachy braid with an off shoulder thin sweatshirt over a colorful sports bra and some jean shorts on.

"I said you are an incredible woman" Raimundo dramatically teased.

"That's what I thought." Kimiko retorted, "Now lets go!"

"You got it princess," Raimundo fake bowed. "Golden tiger claws!"

Hand in hand, with bags in tow, they stepped into the portal together.

Chapter 2 coming soon! Not sure anyone actually reads these anymore, but I sure enjoy writing them so I'm continuing this for my own enjoyment.

Chapter 2 Sneak Peek:

"Who is she" Kimiko nervously asked as Raimundo shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away.

"Adriana" He replied curtly offering no follow up.

"Do you know her?" Kimiko queried staring at the busty tan blonde on the other side of the beach. 'No wonder he's not interested in me, she's absolutely gorgeous' Kimiko thought sadly.

"I used to" He answered vaguely.

Kimiko studied his face for a moment in an effort to find some hidden truth, but Raimundo kept his gaze blank. Eventually she sighed and garnered the courage to ask what was on her mind.

"Did you date her?"

"Something like that. It's a long story" Raimundo sighed.

"Well I have time" Kimiko dejectedly responded.

- FreeWritinginFreeTime