OMG Before we start, I AM SO SORRY EVERYONE!! I had to take a big break because of school and I had a ugly writer's block. I have NO idea who is still waiting but I AM SO SORRY!!! Now Please enjoy!

Chapter 18

Misgivings

Three of the Xiaolin Monks sat down to breakfast. Instead of filling up the small table Master Fung moved them too like they usually do, there was a empty spot between Omi and Clay. Kimiko started to eat without noticing the empty spot, Clay didn't start chowing down like he usually did. He looked as if he felt uncomfortable sitting there. He slowly started to eat, while the little yellow monk next to him looked sadly at his food.

After staring at it for a while, and listening to his friends eat, he spoke up softly.

"This isn't right…we are supposed to be eating together. We should wait."

Kimiko waved her fork at him. "Omi, hello? Why should we wait? It's not like he ever waited for us."

The little monk threw his arms out in explanation. "But don't you see Kimiko? This is wrong! Weeks ago, Master Fung brought us together to work as a team! He once told me before, teams don't always get along in the beginning. One member's pain, is the team's pain. One member's problem is the team's problem! When Raimundo pulled those tricks as mean as they were, we started to dislike Raimundo for what he did! Instead of fixing the problem together as a team, we made it worse! One team member cannot solve the problem by himself, learning to accept and forgive are some of the steps of becoming a Xiaolin Monk…and I am dumped in the downs myself because…. I did not do that either… I did not forgive when I should have. We must learn to live together… or we will part alone."

Clay looked down guiltily and shoved his food away. Kimiko held a look of uncertainty upon her face, torn between the decisions that brought upon all of them. She was naturally not a forgiving person…maybe it was time to forgive and let live. The Dragon of Earth looked at Kimiko.

"Y'know Kimi, the little fella' has a point. All this time, instead of patching the team back together… we tore it more apart. Maybe we over exaggerated, it WAS a few pranks… unnecessary pranks, but pranks is what Raimundo does in his spare time. Maybe we took out of context?"

She huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, maybe he should find a new pastime."

Clay shot her a dirty look.

Kimiko retorted. "What?! He does!"

"That is enough, my young monks."

All of them reacted the same way. "Master Fung!"

The Dragon of Water left his seat to walk in front of his Master, and bow. He lifted his head to face him.

"Master Fung, what brings you here?"

"I came here to talk about your teamwork."

Kimiko mentally sighed a breath of relief. 'Phew. I was worried that he was going to say Raimundo. Thank goodness.'

"And of course, I cannot talk about teamwork with out all the team members. Please sit, Raimundo."

The Dragon of Wind came out from behind the pillar nest to the stairs leading to the training grounds. His face was positioned downward and his left arm was grabbing his right arm behind his back. His voice was meek.

"Hey guys."

Raimundo walked over to the table and sat down. The monks turned their attention to Master Fung.

"It has been several weeks from when I first gathered you all together. Four different people, from four different places. It is instinct for people who suddenly meet different people to act indifferent against one another. From the start, they will not act united. But as time passes, their bond becomes closer, and they act as one. They are a team. One person is never singled out. If one member has a problem, it is the team's problem. They must solve it together. One must never do anything by himself. I assume you had already heard this from Omi, correct?"

Two of the Dragons in-Training nodded.

"I advise every single one of you to follow this. And also, in the past, it may have seemed that I favored Raimundo when he told about those jokes that you, Kimiko, Omi and Clay, put on each other. I knew all along that Raimundo was the one who pulled all those 'pranks' as you call them."

Once again, Omi, Kimiko and Clay had the same reaction. Mouths wide open and speechless.

Master Fung continued. "I had hoped, that If I let Raimundo continue his ways, he would understand that it hurt the team, and notice your feelings. But sadly he didn't. When he should have stopped, and accepted the responsibility, and told who the culprit really was, instead of blaming it on his friends. But, this is not all Raimundo's fault. The Dragon of Wind pulled immature jokes yes, but it was you three who made it much worse than it actually was. Like I mentioned, teammates never get along at first, but you all must learn to solve problems together, or there will be no team. Understood?"

All the monks replied. "Yes, Master Fung."

"Raimundo, you will be punished with all the duties I made your teammates do before. Now, you all will go outside and participate in a group session. I expect that all of you will leave the past behind and work together. You may go now."

The monks bowed respectively, and ran outside. As they grabbed selective Shen Gong Wu, they all felt the same thing.

All of them were not willing to work together as a team.