Chapter 9:
Jack was left alone for quite some time while Kai dealt with Raimundo. He prayed that Rai would be alright and alive and not hurt because of his cousin-
Hold on, why do I keep thinking these things? Like I care what happens to him! He thought as he got up and went back to working on his Jack-bots. That’s when a sad realization came. He didn’t know why he was sad when he thought it, but he just was. Besides, he likes Jackie, not me.
That brought him to another string of facts. In a way...I wish I could actually live like Jackie can. She doesn’t have to worry about fighting, or evil, or trying to keep up with the Xaolin warriors. All she worries about is school, her cousin, and when she’ll see Rai again. Nothing else. Man, I wish I had her life.
Contemplating Jackie’s life got him to the point where he began questioning his own life and his morals. Perhaps... evil wasn’t right for him. He never did well anyways. Not that that stopped him. But still, didn’t Omi once say that Jack could succeed on the side of good? Back then, Jack just laughed at him and said that he would always be evil; that would never change.
But had it?
Ever since Kai moved in bringing with her several schemes, plans, and most importantly, her idea that Jack was gay; he had begun doubting aspects of his life. Before she came, he thought his parents didn’t care about him and only hosted fancy parties for them, but in truth, they were supposed to be for him so he could mingle with some family friends and get more social. He also thought that being evil was the only way he could do anything right. But through Kai, she showed him how he could use his talents to help others, like the time Kai’s school computers were down. She had called him in, and in no time at all, the entire system was back up and running. Kai congratulated him saying that he finally did something right. "Right" didn’t mean that he didn’t mess up; it meant that he did something good. Even Wuya seemed to notice, and had left him for a long time to join sides with Chase Young. He didn’t even realize she was gone until Chase had called him (he was unusually non-ecstatic about it) explaining that she was getting annoying.
Was he becoming less evil the more he stayed with Kai and Raimundo?
They had shown him another side of life, and to tell you the truth, he was beginning to enjoy it. For all he cared, he could throw away all the Shen Gon Woo, abandon his lofty title as Evil Boy Genius, and just become normal.
Wouldn’t that be strange though. He pondered, setting his tools down again. If I suddenly said I wanted to give my stuff to the Xaolin Warriors? He shook his head. I’m going crazy. I’m not even calling them the Xaolin Losers anymore! Maybe...I am becoming different.
"Yo, Jackie~!" Kai jumped back into the hallway after seeing Jack’s dark and serious expression. "Whoa, what did I miss?"
"Nothing." He lied, cleaning up. "What happened with Rai?"
"Obrigada for mentioning that!" She clapped her hands together and changed into (now Portuguese-speaking) Cheshire Cat Kai. "I have some very good news for you."
"What good news?"
"Guess who got us three tickets to Rio for the next five days starting tomorrow?"
"Rio? As in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio?"
"If you mean the birthplace and hometown of your boyfriend, that Rio, then yes." She toyed even more, twirling around some of her hair. Jack could almost see a cat tail bobbing up and down.
"Seriously?!" Jumping up in excitement, he cheered on the inside. "How did you manage to do that?!"
"A combination of good grades, extra money and a healthy relationship with my father who lives right outside of Rio."
"No way!" Excitement bubbled up in Jack's chest as he fought to contain the uncharacteristic feminine scream that sought to explode.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, JACK." Kai held her hand up and tried to settle him down.
"What???"
"There's one more thing I forgot to mention."
"What?"
"Guess who's coming with us?" A dark, mischievous smirk played on Kai's lips as she toyed with his excitement just a little bit longer. Hell, she even held a dramatic pause just to see what the Boy Genius would do before she had enough and finally told him who their companion was. "I'll give you one hint. His first name begins with R and his last name begins with P."
Jack inwardly cursed as he flushed cherry red.
