Edited August 23, 2006

Tell me, what is love?

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything to do with Xiaolin showdown. Only the television I watch it on and this computer…

Summary: Chase Young has conquered the world! There’s only one problem…he’s bored out of his mind. But a small rebellion from the Xiaolin warriors, minus Omi, has captured his interest, and unbeknownst to him, so will a certain girl.

Prologue of prior events: Omi, being the chosen one who accidentally swore his loyalty to Chase Young, has helped him take over the world…covering it in darkness, and making it’s inhabitants mindless zombies with the help of the Heylin witch Wuya. Master Fung and the other masters of the Xiaolin temple have been killed in their attempt to allow the dragons in training to escape and save what was left of the ravaged world. Clay, Kimiko, Raymundo, and Dojo are now in hiding, to Chase’s frustration; as long as they are alive the world has hope. Wuya was sent out to find the Xiaolin dragons in training, and was granted back just enough of her powers to annihilate them when she does. However, when she did find them, the three warriors after the five years of hiding have reached full dragon status, and easily escape from her clutches. So, how is Chase going to take this?

Chapter 1

Chase Young sat on his throne bored out of his mind, but he guessed that’s what happened to all superior beings who dwelled on the vicinity of the earth and had already accomplished world domination. So, now that he ruled the world, and the governments had submitted to him with just reason, he had nothing really to do. Wuya kept everything in line, quelling any rebellions, and his power was rarely even needed. He sighed shifting to a different position as he took in his ever-familiar surroundings. Maybe he should redecorate? Change the room to fit his mood. Maybe instead of the blue hues make it completely black with stars in the sky that shifted and changed? God! he thought irritably standing up so suddenly his warriors that guarded him stepped back in fear, I’m so bored I’m thinking like a woman! I need to train. Where’s Omi when I need him? “Get me Omi!” he announced to his men, and watched as one dressed in Roman soldier looking garb ran off to do his bidding. They were all so obedient it was pathetic! Why couldn’t anyone defy him for once?

He descended the steps of his pedestal and rushed pass his men who bowed lowly to him as he walked by them. Fed up with them too, he turned around, and grounded out harshly, “turn back into cats. I’m sick of seeing you human.”

Chase could feel the energy of immense disappointment radiating from the men whom he had submitted to his power. They enjoyed every moment of being human again, and he had taken that away from them with a single command. Too bad! The idiots will get over it! He marched out of the throne room, and down the hallway only to run into the previous warrior and the little yellow monk. A small smile of relief couldn’t help forming at the corner of his mouth as he stared at the innocent face that bowed to him.

“You called for me majesty?” he asked with his head bowed low and Chase felt like stomping on him.

“Don’t be so formal,” he replied moodily, “I’m sick of it. Let’s spar. I need something to do.”

“Yes excellency,” said Omi again and Chase snapped his fingers to turn him into the tiny yellow mountain lion.

“I think I like you better as a cat,” he explained icily as he turned away disgusted. Without a second glance he continued on through the maze of hallways to the room especially designated for sparing. His sense of direction was almost instinctive as he wove his way to his destination.The complicated pathways could leave anyone inexperienced in a state of hopelessly lost confusion. Omi had no choice but to submissively follow dejectedly behind him.

--XS

Wuya tried to keep her composure as she approached the throne room to tell her master of a most unfortunate mistake. Unfortunate for her anyway because she was going to get her hide kicked. Okay, how do I say this? Hi Chase, am... I accidentally screwed up and…ah, didn’t totally brainwash the Xiaolin warriors so now we have a rebellion. Hope you don’t mind? No! He’d kill me! She felt her skin crawl as she thought of all the torture he’d inflict on her when she informed him of everything. God, why don’t I just go jump off a building now? She slowly approached the bend with certain dread filling her heart. Her palms were sweaty and clammy and she could feel the perspiration from the heat of her nervousness beading at her brow. Her steps became more unsteady as she walked through the entrance of the great hall and it took all she could to stand in one place as she shakily bowed; promising herself for the sake of her wellbeing never to look into his mind numbingly cold eyes. She quickly broke her vow when seconds went by and she did not hear his trademark easy yet cold drawl. She peaked an eye open and to her shock and immense relief Chase Young was not there. The nervous build up seemed to drop like a dead weight upon her and she fell to her knees in utter relief combined with fearful dread. She was going to have to face him some time.

She looked at the other “men” who were now in their jungle animal form and hoped they hadn’t noticed the moment of anguish on her face. She smiled at them and said conversationally, “doing patrol just took a lot out of me, so I just needed to sitdown. Anywhere. Hehe, and it just happened to be here.” They raised their eyebrows disbelievingly. She got up, clearing her throat as she straightened her dress and murmured, “I’ll just be going then.” Damn, she thought in self-depreciation, now rumors are going to spread of how weak the great Heylin Witch Wuya is becoming, and how scared she is of Chase Young... which is NOT TRUE. I-I was just a little nervous, that’s all. I’m not afraid of that sexy bastard. She stalked out of the room angry that she’d given a reason for the “animals” to talk and speculate about her behavior, but as she drifted down the hallway her thoughts began to wonder. He’s not even hot, he’s… he’s… just an ugly dragon hidden underneath the body of a guy with long shiny ebony hair… and exotic hypnotizing catlike eyes... and a body that could kill...mmm hmm... She shook that thought from her head immediately as a slight blush grazed her cheeks.

But he’s an UGLY dragon inside so he’s NOT attractive at all! But... I wouldn’t mind being his queen or anything...

But the pompous jerk refuses to do “something so low.” Wuya stewed over this insult for a bit before the next thought plagued her mind.What’s wrong with me being queen anyway? I’m evil, I’d make a good lover wouldn’t I? And I’ve accomplished taking over the world waaaaay before he did. She broke away from her thoughts as she realized where she’d unconsciously drifted to— Chase’s sparing room. He was with Omi, as usual, since the young monk was the only one who could give him a fight worth fighting; though she could too if he’d give her full control of her powers.

But Wuya could not help observing that for once the uptight mighty Chase Young was armor less, and that she had front row seats in checking out nicely defined muscles in his shoulders and his arms.

She found herself concentrating on the movement of his muscular body, the wind catching in his hair as he fought Omi with all he had. Omi had gotten better and to her it was dangerous to have such a powerful Xiaolin monk in the palace, but Chase seemed pleased with the improvement. He saw Omi as a weapon to be used against the other three. As long as Omi was with him, whatever the circumstance, they would never fully attack Chase with the possibility of hurting their friend. It was all part of Chase’s ingenious plan, and Wuya had to admit, the dragon was a pretty smart evil lord who deserved his title of “The Prince of Darkness.” She took in his elegant yet powerful grace and felt her heart flutter when she caught sight of the concentration in his face. He’d be brutal in bed, she thought with a wince as Omi was slammed against the wall, dammnit, why do I keep going back to that? I’m 1,528 years old!...but so is he...okay maybe 3 years younger than I am, but who's counting?

As if he felt her presence his eyes immediately gravitated to hers, with a stern ‘what-do-you-want’ look on his face. Her heart gave a strong spasm again and her face flushed with heat at the embarrassment of being caught oogling his perfect body. But the glow immediately faded and she paled as she remembered why she was even in the palace again in the first place. In seconds he was in front of her.

“Did you find them?” came his low commanding voice. Her body began trembling like a leaf again.

“...Yes.”

“Where are they then?”

“They….” she swallowed hard as her eyes darted toward everything in the room but his face. It was as if she were looking for something to inspire her with the right words that would delay her inevitable demise, but deep down she knew there were no right words. “They…” her voice was inaudible now, almost nonexistent, and she felt his hand go to her chin and jerk it up so violently, she briefly saw stars. Their eyes met, and she knew hers displayed her fear.

“Escaped.” She nodded slightly and felt his grip tightening painfully on her jaw. She whimpered and she felt him loosen his hold, but he did not let go. “Why didn’t you follow them?” he asked coldly, and she felt her eyes begin to water at her excuse she knew he’d think was pathetic.

“They, overpowered me, Chase and there was nothing I could do. They have become much stronger.” She watched with great hurt as the disgust he obviously felt toward her creased his handsome face. He let her go, and turned his back to her, clenching his fists as if he were counting to ten to maintain a calm demeanor.

“There was no point in reviving you,” he mumbled coldly, “you can’t even catch 3 lousy eighteen year olds and a pathetic dragon that can’t even breathe fire. It should have been too easy.”

She was suddenly indignant and angry at the arrogant asshole. “Well maybe if I had all of my powers I could have kicked their scrawny hides! But you refuse to allow me even that liberty!” She felt a painful lightning fast impact hit her across her cheek, and the force sent her flying against the wall. She connected with the solid concrete with a painful thud and was sure a bone had broken somewhere. She felt the blood pooling into her mouth where her teeth had bitten down and spat it out glaring at her lord and master with much discontent. His hand was still in a fist, and his chest heaved with suppressed anger that if it were ever fully unleashed would allow him to become the dragon they all feared. She had gone too far.

“If you were truly any good, you could defeat them even without your powers,” he said through gritted teeth, and after examining her and deeming her unworthy of his time and concern, he turned and walked away.

Wuya watched his retreating figure as he exasperatedly ran his hand through his long ebony hair and turned a corner. She smiled as he left thinking, Sexy, yet so deadly. My kind of guy.

--XS

Raimundo sat at the edge of the cliff, legs dangling freely, as he leaned back on the heel of his palms and gazed at the dark sky. It was always dark nowadays, and for the life of him he couldn’t remember a time when it wasn’t anymore. There was no distinction between night or day and he and his friends took it upon themselves to sleep and eat whenever they felt the urge to—but the depressing atmosphere led more to sleep than eating. It was what people who defied the evil lord Chase Young did.

He closed his eyes remembering the shock of seeing Wuya again, and furrowed his brow at the thought. How had she found them? He thought they had been discreet in covering their tracks. Perhaps since they’d all gotten stronger, there energies as Xiaolin dragons also grew, and the witch could trail them from it. A possibility...

The feel of the slight wind tugging at his hair calmed him down—the force of nature urging him to forget and just feel. He couldn’t help but admire that even in the face of adversity, something good in nature could still exist.

Small firm arms slid around his shoulders, tightening around his chest, and Rai smiled knowing from the feel of the petite yet firm arms around him that it was Kimiko. “What you thinking about?” she whispered as she softly kissed his cheek, and rested her chin on his shoulder. Wanting to pull her closer he removed her hands from around his neck, and indicated for her to sit beside him. She did so cautiously (they were at the edge of a cliff afterall), and after a moments pause began to relax as his arm slid around her shoulders and his chin rested atop her crown.

“Just about Wuya finding us," he finally answered her question, pulling away so that he could look into her face. "How do you think she did it?”

Kimiko cocked her head in thought and Raimundo watched in fascination as her face creased with a small frown of thought. He could never get bored just staring at her.

“I’m not sure...but if Wuya knows where we are I'm sure Chase does too and he won't give up until he finds us." She smiled then as she sarcastically reminded him, "he's not like Jack Spicer you know." Rai smiled in response to this as he too momentarily pictured the spiky red-haired "boy genius" screaming like a girl about wanting to go home. Some genious...

Kimiko's voice brought him back as she continued, "We may not be in the same place as when Wuya found us, but he’s smart enough to know we couldn’t have gotten too far since we don’t have more than three of the Shen-Gong-Wu. None of the ones we have gives good transportation.”

“My sword of the storm does. Now that I can manipulate the wind it makes for good transportation.”

Slightly annoyed by his cocky matter-of-fact interruption ,she ignored him and continued, "He may even send out his jungle cats to..."

“Don't worry about it," he waved his hand dismissively interrupting her again. "We'll make stew out of those hairballs..."

"But Rai..."

"I know, I know, you're scared that he'll find us and kill us and blady blady blah...But you forget something very important."

"And what's that?" she said through clenched teeth, annoyed by his causal dismissal of their safety.

"I'll protect you," he said in a very low voice, that though she would never admit it, thrilled her.

She crossed her arms, pretending offense as she countered, "I can protect myself, thank you very much."

He smirked.

Raimundo SMIRKED!

Oh NO he DIDN'T! He was NOT stupid enough to question her fighting abilities. Noooo...he couldn't have coveted death so soon...

"What was that Raimundo?" she asked,through gritted teeth, trying to control her twitching anger.

"Without me you'd all be dirt under Chase’s boot right now.”

“Excuse me?" she asked clenching her fists irritably. But Raimundo (being the charming ol' chap that he is) only smiled; a mischeivious twinkle in his eyes reflected by the moonlight that suggested that he was enjoying her ire. Which only succeeded in adding fuel to the fire.

"Listen Rai, if there wasn't any wind in the air you wouldn’t have been able to manipulate it with the sword in the first place, and therefore you'd have been useless!"

He shrugged, "details, details..."

"And if I hadn’t toasted Wuya with my Star of Hanabi she would have followed us and we wouldn’t have escaped.”

“That’s bull," he commented casually and before she could protest added, "Clay did all the asskicking with the Lasso Boa Boa, and then after he did aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallll," he paused in the mist of this, tapped his chin in mock thought and countined again, "aaaallllllllllll that work ...you set Wuya’s butt on fire.”

“Not true!”

“It is and you know it," he said in a bored voice, and then smirking added, "But hey, it was pretty funny to see the old fart running around screaming about her ass. I’ve got to give you credit for that.”

Kimiko hated being viewed as weak just because she happened to be born female. She worked hard to make herself equal to any Xiaolin master, and felt that she had earned her position rightfully. So naturally, though a part of her knew that her boyfriend was teasing and that she was being irrational, she punched Raimundo powerfully in the arm.

"Hey!" he protested, "I need that." His ever present smirk was going to drive her crazy.

“Go jump off a cliff Raimundo!"she yelled, frustrated.

“Okay,” he said smugly smiling at her taken aback look. She didn’t expect him to agree, and she sure wasn’t expecting him to really jump off the cliff. I mean, what mentally sound person would agree to jump off a cliff just like that?

...So... he did.

“RAI! NO!” she screamed frantically as his body disappeared into the seemingly endless depths below. “GET BACK HERE YOU IDOT! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU TOOK ME SERIOUSLY! GET BACK HERE AND STOP MAKING ME WORRY! RAI!” She stared for a long time at the bottomless pit, and felt anxiety build up in her heart. What if he really did get hurt? What if his practical joke caused her to never see him again? “Rai?” she called out tentatively, but received no answer. “Rai?” she called again more frantically this time, and a lump formed in her throat. “Come on Rai this isn’t funny.” With no answer from the loser she angrily got up and stomped away. She was not about to let him make her worry for nothing. “Fine, stay down there like an idiot. See if I care.”

A light wind began to whip her deep brown hair around her gently at first and then more violently, till she could barely see with the wind tossing her hair so frantically about her. "I just brushed this you jerk!" she yelled knowing full well where the freak wind was coming from. Of course, the wind only seemed to persist, and by the time Kimiko was able to move her mane away from her enough to see around her, she realised her feet were no longer touching the ground. In fact, not only was she in the air, but the Rai's wind was lifting her higher and higher...and higher.“What the heck!" she squealed helplessly, "Put me down! Raimundo stop!”

But her boyfriend was feeling umerciful at the moment and he continued to increase her altitude with his elemental powers until...he was tired of her abundant curses. So he granted her the wish she was practically screaming to the world. He...for lack of a better word...stopped.

“AAAAAHHHHHH!” she screamed for her life, clawing at the air to grab hold of anything in her panic though she knew there would be nothing there. Her clothes roughly rippled against her as gravity's pull caused the world to rush by her with an astonishing speed. She closed her eyes in fear and with her vision eliminated, became aware of the unbearable pressure on her ears. Kimiko screamed her throat raw.

She felt certain she would die until strong familiar arms suddenly grabbed her, and she felt the weight of the gravitational pull of the earth ease up on her body. She opened her eyes as tears brimmed at the corners and clung to him as if for dear life—her body trembling now from the unexpected experience. She fisted his shirt in her hands and sobbed into the clean black robe, causing Raimundo to regret his joshing, and pull her closer to his body. Her crying was really starting to get to him, so he whispered a heartfelt, “I’m sorry... I got carried away..."

He kissed her temple when the sobs wouldn't abate, "I didn't mean to scare you so badly Kim...forgive me?” She didn't answer, but began to quiet as he floated leisurely to solid ground.

His feet touched the rocky terrain below them, and Rai sat with her form still safely cradled within his embrace. Seeing that she still was not going to talk to him, he soothingly traced her bangs away from her forhead, hoping to calm her. Jeez, I really messed up big time...he thought when she would not face him. But when she finally looked into his eyes, his breath caught when he saw her shimmering blue gaze directed toward him. Even upset she was beautiful.

"I'm sorry..." he explained sincerely again, "I didn't mean to scare you Kimiko...I thought it would be fun...I'd never purposely hurt you ...not like this...I'm begging you to forgive me."

"You idiot," she ground out, a spark of anger yet tenderness lingering in her gaze,"I was worried about you...the thought of losing you..."

Raimundo tried to hide the shock he felt rippling through him when he realized the whole time she'd been crying for his well-being, and not the scare. A wave of emotion bubbled up in him and burying his face in the crook of her shoulder he whispered again the words he meant from the bottom of his heart, "I'm sorry. I promise I'll never do something like that again." Kimiko buried her hand in his thick unruly locks, and answered, "You better not."

They pulled away and laughed, as the tension between them eased. It was always like this between them, no matter how difficult the argument or disagrement, they always forgave each other in the end.

Kimiko took in her surroundings for the first time, and noticed that they were surrounded by sheets of jaggedy stone wall, indicating that their earlier position atop the cliff had relocated to the bottom . Quiet laughter, returned her attention to a certain cocky Dragon of the Wind, and as she stared at him strangely for a moment his countenance became a mask of seriousness; as if he was trying to suppress his smile.

"What's so funny?" she wondered aloud.

“You should have seen the look on your face when you were falling,” he said smugly and then released a peal of merry laughter. Kimiko was too through with him, and got up in a huff, deciding that she'd rather climb the cliffs to hell than stay one more infuriating second with her boyfriend. But before she could storm away in a huff, he grabbed her arm and returned her to his lap, pressing his lips firmly to her own.

She gasped in surprise, giving him better access, but didn't protest. Instead she melted into him, feeling like a dupe for allowing him to have such power over her body with just his lips alone. But she had a sense that this kiss was different from every other kiss they'd shared. This one was so gentle yet so fueled with feeling she feared her chest would burst with the surging emotions, and her body would overheat. By the time they broke a part, they were both breathing heavily, but Raimundo didn't look like his usual carefree and take-it-as-it-comes self. He seemed troubled.

He traced her jawline tentatively and she shivered reactively to his touch. “Kimiko," he said breaking the spell, "it’s obvious that now is the time to fight Chase Young and get Omi back. He’s hot on our trail and he will kill us if we give him the chance. We can't afford to give him that chance. What's left of the known world is depending on us." He kissed her nose lingeringly, "But before we run and play hero into what might be our last battle, I wanted to tell you something." He stared into her eyes for a moment, as if he was trying to figure out the right words to say. He looked torn and undecided, as if he was trying to find the resolve and the strength to continue what he had began in her eyes. He must have found what he was looking for, for his green eyes alighted with an intense fire as he he uttered an almost inaudible, "I love you Kimiko.”

Kimiko was shocked to silence....Did he just say...what I think he just said? she wondered, still trying to figure out if her mind was playing tricks on her again. Maybe she was in the dream world, or even the victim of a Shen Gong Wu?

Mistaking her silence for rejection, Rai stood up and set Kimiko gently on her feet. "Well," he said trying to recapture their previously playful mood as he dusted off his pants seat, a small smirk gracing his lips, "Clay and Dojo must be worried sick about us, with Wuya's appearance having set them on edge and all."

"We should probably..."

"Wait," she called out and he stopped in his tracks.

"Stay with me Rai? Just a little bit longer?" He turned back to her, knowing that she was flustered by his soft declaration, which had probably just registered in her mind.

"Why?" he asked indifferently, his tone sounding empty, even to his own ears. He stuffed his hands in his pocket, and looked away from her, his heart beating wildly in apprehension as he awaited her answer. Say you want me too Kimiko...he silently prayed. He felt, rather than heard her walk towards him, and then turned to her when she wrapped her tiny arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.

"Because..." she whispered, "I may never see you again." They molded into a hug, and Rai ran his fingers through her long brown hair.

"Do you?" he asked after a while, and though she knew what he was talking about she pretended not to.

"Do I what?"

He laughed at the irony of the sitaution. He was never one to bare his heart to anyone, and now that he had, it was obvious the person did not feel the same way. "I'll wait until you're ready to tell me of your own free will Kim," he assured her and broke their embrace, only to be pulled back roughly into a passionate kiss. When they could both breathe again she explained the spontaneous lip lock. "I do."

He smiled then. She did not have to explain what she meant. He knew.

--XS--
Lale: Hey guys, this is my first Xiaolin Showdown fanfiction and I hope you people who read it out there enjoyed it.. Yes, I had posted a Pocahontas fanfic before, but took it down for editing. But anyways, it’s only fair that if you did read this you review it—good or bad. Tell me what you think. I like to know what needs improving and what I should keep, so please review :) No complaints about age difference cause in my fic, Chase has been 25 for 1,500 years.