WARNING: This chapter will contain a fair amount of violence and gore. Hence the high rating. You have been warned so that if you do not wish to read it, you don't have to and if you do read on it is at your own peril. Anyone later complaining will be ignored.

However, hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

The rage Master Fung was in was immeasurable. He glared and lectured Kimiko for a full hour and a half before she could apologise. Raimundo, as promised, stood by her side for the rant, but even as he held her hand, she could feel the anger in him. He wasn't going to forget this lightly.

As Master Fung dismissed her, she let go of Raimundo's hand and walked from the room in an even worse mood than when she had entered. She swore and kicked the wall. She was angry at herself more than anything. She should've moved faster, shouldn't have left a trace of what she was doing. Now everyone was on her back.

'Kim, what were you thinking?' Raimundo asked, shaking his head at her.

'I just wanted to see that damn thing is all!' She snapped.

'You could've gotten yourself killed!' He shouted at her.

'I've just had one rant Raimundo, I don't need another one!'

Raimundo stopped glaring and sighed, looking at her sadly as she turned her back on him.

'I was worried Kimiko, I love you too damn much is my problem.' He said, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

She shrugged him off and walked away. She kept walking until she was out of the temple and in the mountains near by. The anger building in her was unlike anything she had ever felt before. How dare they question her like this? She just wanted to see the ring, she hadn't done anything wrong! She hadn't joined forces with evil or even touched the stupid ring!

Her anger ripped from her in a scream unlike anything she had ever felt. As the cry pulled out of her lungs, she felt a strange sensation in her hand. The mountains directly in front of her rippled and cracked. Large boulders fell to the earth with the force of the energy she was releasing. As she stopped screaming after what felt like hours, but must have only been a few seconds in reality. She stared at the chaos she had created.

Her hand was still tingling strangely. She glanced down and saw the skin of one of her fingers was stained black in the shape of a ring. She stared at it and then touched it with her other hand. There was nothing there, just the black mark. No ... it couldn't be. She had fallen and passed out ... but had she touched it before then? She couldn't have...

She put her hand to her mouth in horror as the truth dawned on her. Bu she was controlling it? It hadn't taken her over or anything. Maybe chase Young had been wrong. Either way, no one could know about this. She wouldn't let them find out.

Returning to the temple, she made sure to keep her hand in her pocket, trying to look casual as she made her way to her room. She slipped on a pair of gloves that matched her outfit. She did this sort of thing a lot so no one would probably notice that she had changed anything.

The door slid open and Raimundo poked his head in the room.

'You okay?' He asked casually.

'Fine,' she said, not looking at him. She was supposed to be angry at him after all.

'Kimiko ... you know we're just worried about you, right?' He said, 'You've never acted like this before and when we realised you had gone looking for it ... we just thought the worst might have happened.'

'Thought I had turned to the Heylin side?' She said, an evil thought coming to her head, 'isn't that more your thing?'

He stared at her in amazement. Had she really just said that? Her hand went to her mouth. He turned away from her.

'Raimundo! I'm sorry!' She called out as he walked away. She couldn't cry, she couldn't let them see her cry.

Slowly she drifted off into sleep. All her dreams seemed to revolve around Chase Young. He was handing her the rose ... no, she was taking it herself, with him whispering her ear ... he was holding her, comforting her. Nothing mattered, he was there for her. He would look after her, never mind Raimundo. Nobody mattered but her.

She awoke in a cold sweat and rolled over. Raimundo wasn't asleep next to her. He hadn't come back to the room. She looked at the clock. It was three in the morning. Where was he? He couldn't be out at this time of night.

Maybe he just needed time to think. She had said some awful things ... done some awful things. Her hand went to the ring on her finger. She couldn't feel it, it was just a mark after all, but she prayed she would find a way to get rid of it before anyone realised. Maybe she should do it now before it was too late.

She got up and got dressed. She wandered through the dark corridors until she got to the library, packed full of scrolls. She lit a lamp and closed the door, settling down for a long night of painful reading. Already she was tired, but she had to find the solution.

'They won't tell you how to get it off in here.' Said that cold voice with the hint of amusement she would know anywhere.

She spun around and glared at him.

'You shouldn't be here.' She said.

'Neither should you.'

'Leave now before I sound he alarm.'

'You won't.'

She continued to glare at him, trying to figure out what his game was. She couldn't play into his hands.

'What do you want?' She asked.

'I want to see this masterpiece unfold.' He said, smiling.

'I don't understand.' She said.

'The ring, Kimiko, it is on your finger.' He said and her hand instinctively went to her finger again, 'It will slowly eat away at you. I can help you control it, but you must come to me.'

'I won't join the Heylin side,' She said.

'No, they will come to you.'

'Leave me alone!' She said, losing patience.

He walked slowly, circling her. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, and the dream came to mind. That caring figure that was holding her, it wasn't possible that this was the same person. And yet, there was something there. A genuine, caring that she could feel. Of course that was just to lull her into a false sense of security. And crap, she was letting it.

He was suddenly in front of her. She raised a hand to push him away, but as it settled on his chest, she lost all strength and found herself staring into the golden eyes of Chase Young.

'You fight when you should accept what has happened. It is destiny that has led us to this point. You will realise this soon enough.' He said, a hand stroking her cheek.

'Don't ...' She said, her voice little more than a whisper. What was happening to her? It wasn't her, it was the ring! She had to get it off, but she couldn't pull away from him. His hand lifted her chin up and for the briefest moment, his lips brushed hers.

She pulled away and stepped back, horrified. He was still watching her.

'What are you playing at?' She snapped.

'I am playing no game. I am here for very obvious reasons that you will be able to identify yourself soon enough. The power you currently hold with tear you into pieces. You might call it self destructive. For now at least, your powers will need to be released.' He lifted a hand. If he finished this, she would be destroyed!

'No!' She cried.

'You wanted this. That is why you came for the ring!' He snapped, his hand still raised.

'I never wanted this!' She cried.

'Nevertheless, this is what you have.'

His fingers closed and for a moment there was nothing. Then, intense pain. The power was ripping from her in any way necessary. She screamed and dropped her knees. The pain was boiling in her. She looked up, she could feel it, just below her skin, preparing to rip its way though.

'Help ... me.' She sobbed.

Chase Young looked down at her, almost sadly.

'I will, but for now, I will leave you with the promise that I will return.'

He walked from the room and she rolled onto her back.

She screamed as the felt the power explode from within her. Her entire being was on fire, and so was the temple around her. She couldn't stop it, she was watching from behind the eyes, but she wasn't in control, something else was.

The power was so intense that as she rose to her feet, it exploded again and an angry gash ripped through her arm. Blood poured down, dripping off the end of her fingertips as she gripped her upper arm. She staggered through the door, leaning against the frame and another angry gash ripped across her waist, another on her arm, one on her thigh and one on her cheek. She was covered in blood, but she kept walking. Not through her own will, it was purely the power of the ring that kept her moving.

The entire temple was burning around her. She could hear the screams of people around her. She wasn't sure who was screaming. She didn't care. More gashes, more fire, more power, Chase Young. All of this controlled her mind. She had no room for anything else.

'Kimiko!' Came a cry from not far away. Her head turned, a juddering turn to see Raimundo staring at her. 'Oh my God!' He cried, 'what happened?'

She stared at him, not even recognising him, but knowing him at the same time. Everything around her was exploding or bursting into flame. A gash slid across her forehead, blood pouring down her face.

'Kimiko you're bleeding! You're ... you're doing this.' He said, staring at the blankness of her eyes.

'The power... it's so much ...' She whispered.

'Control it Kimiko! Control it!' He cried at her.

'But I can do so much.' He staggered to the main hall. The roof collapsed in, but she stood as it fell around her in burning timbers. 'I can rid us of our enemies.'

She waved a hand and suddenly out of nowhere Wuya and Jack were stood there. They turned in amazement as they realised what was happening around them. But that is as far it got. Kimiko waved a hand, and their bodies ripped apart. Blood splattered her and she smiled slightly.

'Kimiko ... stop!' Spluttered Raimundo. He was stood a fair way away, blocked by burning beams.

Clay came rushing into the room. She recognised him, but felt nothing. She didn't care anymore. He ran towards her, perhaps to help, perhaps to hinder. She didn't know. A hand fell on her shoulder. She glanced behind her. Chase Young. He had come for her. A strange happiness filled her.

'Finish it Kimiko.' He whispered, 'Finish it.'

As Clay drew level, her fingers snapped to his throat. He scratched at her hand as she dug her fingernails in, blood trickling, warm, along her arm. She focused on him and his breathing stopped. His blank eyes stared out at her, life gone. She was strangely unemotional about this.

Now Omi was there. He was running towards her to help Clay as she dropped him to the ground. She stopped him before he had even reached. Suddenly her hands were thick with blood and not all off it was hers. Everyone was gone, everyone but Raimundo. She looked up at him and focused the power again...

'NO!' she screamed, snapping out of the trance. Pain washed over her. The horror of what she was seeing around her. What had happened?

She looked around at the burning ruins of the temple and looked up. Through the flames she could see the stars. She looked down at her hands. Blood dripped from the ends of her fingertips. Some of it hers, some of it not … all around her, people on the ground. The monks, her friends, Wuya, Jack … only Raimundo and Chase Young were still standing. Chase Young was stood behind her, a hand on her shoulder. Raimundo was calling to her, but she couldn't hear him through the roaring flames. As she breathed in the smoke, her head spun and she felt sick. She stared up dazedly at Chase Young. He was smiling at her. Why? What had she done? Why couldn't she remember? Except she could this time! She had seen it!

"Well done Kimiko," He said, "Now go to him. I'll be back for you."

"What have I done?" She asked.

"No remorse Kimiko." Said Chase Young.

"No! I need to know! What have I done?" She asked.

He was walking away...

She was still screaming as she realised that she was back in her room, in her bed, with Chase Young's finger pressed to her forehead. She pushed him away and fell from the edge of the bed, falling to the floor, tears streaming down her face. Her repaired face! That was the reason she needed it. She had killed them and nearly herself and Raimundo too.

She sobbed on her knees, her shorts and top damp with tears. Her arms, still scarred, but she hadn't bothered covering them. Her legs were mostly untouched, except on her thigh. Those horrible scars! Why wouldn't they go? Erase time, go back and make things right.

Chase Young leant down and slowly lifted her up. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong. He pulled her back and sat her down to face him.

'This is what you were made for Kimiko.' He said, 'You do not even realise your own wonder.'

She had stopped crying, but barely had time to breath before his mouth was on hers.

(A/N) I warned you about the high rating. Longer chapter than usual this time. Hoping you come back to read this, but of course, I understand if you don't. Feel free to nag me by email, msn, MySpace, whatever to get these chapters up.

Lots of love for returning.

Bex.

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