Kryptonite

Chapter five – Running

A firm yet human scream echoed in the forest along side with some light sobs as a shadow dragged itself through the dense trees. The raven haired girl has been wandering through the thick woods for hours trying to get back to the large ancient Xiaolin Temple. The girl trembled lightly as she continued walking. She was tired and desperate. The poor girl had lost her best friend earlier that day, even if she knew that he really needed to do so. She begun wondering if she walked the right way to the temple but she needed to follow her instincts, or how Omi would name them, Tiger Instincts. She needed to get back to the temple and take the team so she could save Raimundo from Chase. She needed him…

Kimiko stopped in her tracks with a pained sigh and stepped closer to the tall tree nearby. She leaned on it her body slowly dropping on the ground and closed her eyes as they begun to swim in her grief and sorrow. She felt her azure eyes filling with tears and she glanced around with her vision blurred by the thick streaks running down her cheeks.

'What if I will get to him to late ?' thought the raven haired girl, her body beginning to quiver as she let out loud sobs. They were louder and louder as she thought about Raimundo and how easy she let him leave. 'What if Chase made Rai drink the Lao Mang Long soup ?' Kimiko shook her head as if shaking off the bad thoughts and her cries started to get quieter the more she cleared her mind. She needed to dissolve the fog covering her rational mind, to erase everything from it. But she couldn't. She still thought of Raimundo.

"The Young mark ? Kim, are you sure ?" echoed Raimundo's voice in Kimiko's mind. Why did I do this…

"I-I'm sorry…I should have been there to help you…"

The girl let out a loud sob hiding her face in her soft cold palms. She let out a sight and leaned her back on the tree still crying with her eyes wide open starring at the little clouds on the sky.

"Then… there is no hope for me." She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh air from the forest and exhaled slowly as she gazed at the swirling leaves above her.

"Raimundo, don't! Please!" Kimiko held her fist tightly as the amount of tears coming from her eyes multiplied. Why didn't I stopped him ?

"It's too late for me." She closed her eyes once again and let her head fall on her palms as the girl sobbed without stopping, her body moving roughly.

After ten minutes, the raven haired girl got her head up and watch the surroundings as she placed a hand on the tree to help her maintain balance as she stood up. Her sapphire eyes lost the sadness from before, everything being released by the cries of pain and disappointment and were now filled with determination leaving the rage consumed her body. She placed her hands forward as she concentrated and a big amount of fire shot from her hands. She looked at the damage she caused and ran as fast as she could.

After two hours or so, the sun was setting leaving behind a half full moon. It shone on the now starry twilight sky slowly darkening the set. The wind was dead, no gentle breeze blowing through the foliage of the forest, fact that Kimiko found quit disturbing in that moment.

The Japanese girl finally arrived at the temple. She was awaited by a tall strong blond boy who was pacing the garden up and down and by a little boy who was practicing his fighting skills on the fighting mannequins. She sighed and ran towards them shouting their names.

"Kimiko ?" said the blonde cowboy with a mixture of worry and surprise on his face. "Are ya' ok ? Did he hurt cha? Where is he ?" continued the boy as he and his friend reached her.

"Kimiko, you have returned !" shouted an excite little monk with a giant smug on his face. "We were mostly worried for you. How are you feeling?"

"Guys, I am ok." Said the girl while the tall boy shot her a suspicious glare. "I have something to tell you." She continued with tears in her eyes.

Then, the Dragon of Fire explained to her friends exactly what Raimundo told her too.. She conveniently forgot to mention about Aiden and the real reason Rai left because she felt it would be better that way. Less things to be worried about not to point out that she was sure Aiden himself had something to hide.

"Raimundo is evil now ?" muttered a disappointed Omi at which Kimiko felt a pang of guilt stabbing in her chest.

"I am sorry Omi but he is. He is Chase Young's apprentice." Let out Kimiko on a sad broken voice as Clay placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are ya alright ?" whispered Clay as he leaned closer to her.

"Yes." Whispered back Kimiko. "Look, we need to get to Rai and bring him back. Even if he wants this or not. We must do it…he is our friend a-and we can't abandon him!"

"Kimiko is right. We must get him back before he tells Chase everything about the temple or where are we keeping the Wu's." said Omi thoughtful. Again Kimiko felt the same pain in her chest, this time though being something akin to anger and annoyance.

"Fine with me. But first, I gotta talk to ya' alone, Kim." Spoke the cowboy as Omi bowed and left them be.

The silence between them was emphasized by the numbness of the nature surrounding them. Kimiko looked a second at Clay and then she swiftly ran to him embracing him and crying on his robe as he putted his arms around the petite girl.

"Oh Clay…" murmured the girl still crying on his shoulder which already started to get wet from her tears. Her quiet voice touched a chord in the cowboy that he believed would remain intact. Never has he seen the strong headed girl so frail and broken and the sight angered him to no end.

"Shh, calm down." Whispered the boy rubbing her back as she sobbed harder. After two minutes, Kimiko finally gathered herself and slowly slid from Clay's embrace and sat on the grass. Clay sat next to her putting an arm around her shoulders.

"What happened ?" Finally asked Clay.

"He loves me…He told me that he loved me." Started Kimiko while tears continued to pour from her eyes. "He told me that he loved me from the start but he was to afraid to tell me. Then … he left me in the forest." Lied the girl.

Even if the information could make a hole in her lies she still wanted someone to know about it. She thought it could be enough to ease the burden hanging over her heart and all her being.

"He left ya' alone ? That doesn't sound like 'im at all." Murmured Clay glancing suspiciously at her.

"Clay, he broke my heart. I can't believe he did that neither but he did. And he hurt me deeply." Said Kimiko looking at Clay with pleading eyes.

"I'm sorry he did that." Said Clay as Omi came back outside in front of them.

"Kimiko, are you sure that you are feeling well ?" asked an worried Omi.

Kimiko quickly tried her best to wipe out the fresh tears and even her voice although it still cracked when she answered. "Yes, I'm sure. So, it is settled then. We will attack Chase first thing in the morning."

The girl sniffed and got up glancing at her remaining teammates with such a determination it hurt. They both nodded and the three walked back in the temple without a word, everyone too busy with their own thoughts concerning the next day.