Kim Possible: Cupid Struck Stupid

(A/N: Welcome to the figurative 'Season Two' of Kim Possible Aftermath. No guarantee of daily updates, as I've only just started to write this story, but I have an outline. This one will be mainly humor, though I'll touch a little on 'Boys Nightmare Out' in this chapter and once in a while throughout, but nothing too dark. Through Monique I also poke fun at how I sometimes feel, albeit exaggerated.)

Spring is in the Air

"Spring is in the air, KP," Ron said, gesturing around them as he and Kim walked hand in hand through the park. She looked at the various couples walking around. There wasn't a single lone person as far as she could see.

"Wow, tell me about it," Kim said.

"The Spring Lovers Barn Dance is going to be badical!" Ron exclaimed excitedly. "I actually have you."

She smiled softly at him and suggested, "Let's head to Bueno Nacho."

KP

The couple sat in the fast food restaurant, grinning and laughing. "Hey guys," Monique glumly said, coming up to the table.

"Monique, hey, what's wrong?" Kim asked, gesturing for Monique to sit.

"Okay, I know it's stupid, but it's the Spring Lovers Barn Dance and again, I'm dateless and alone. Ugh, this is just like that one Valentine's Day," Monique complained, discouraged as she rested her cheeks in her hands.

"Oh Monique, you're not the only one," Kim said reassuringly.

"No? Let's review," she said. Holding up her hand she tallied the couples, saying as she went, "Josh and Tara, Bonnie and Junior, you two, Zita and Felix, Larry and Charlotte, Hirotaka and Amelia are hooking up for the dance, Yori has her pick, heck, even Ned is partnering up. With Justine Flanner, Kim, Justine Flanner. I'm just the loser."

"Oh, uh, I'm sure you'll find someone," Kim reassured.

"Yeah, right," Monique doubtfully replied. "I'll catch you later," she said in a depressed tone.

"Monique…" Kim began, but Monique was already gone.

"Man, I feel sorry for her," Ron remarked.

"She'll find someone," Kim confidently stated.

KP

Monique walked through Middleton, head held low. She heard giggling and looked up. A couple was there, laughing together. She looked around. She couldn't see a single, well, single, around. Some couples were looking at her curiously. She groaned and searched for a refuge. She spotted a sushi place and quickly entered it.

She looked around. Couples were everywhere. She sighed despondently. A waiter came up, saying in a Japanese accent, "Table for two?"

She cringed. "Um…" she began.

"Your date is coming later, I see," he declared.

"No, no date. Just… just me," she said.

The waiter blinked blankly at her. "Just you?" he asked, unsure he'd heard correctly.

"That's what I said! Problem with that?!" she testily shot.

"Of course not, ma'am. Follow me," he assured, beckoning for her to follow. He led her to a table in a private corner. It was, of course, for two, but there were no single tables at all in the restaurant. Or in most restaurants. He left her with a menu. She opened it up and began looking through. She didn't understand what half of it was, but she didn't really care.

"Waiting for your guy, huh?" a waitress said, arriving at her table. Monique blinked then burst into tears. The waitress, alarmed, quickly backed away. "Um, I'll come back," she awkwardly said.

KP

Monique sat there crying, head buried in her arms and wallowing in self-pity. All at once a familiar voice said, "Such tears, tigress. Why so miserable?"

She gasped and looked up. "Fukushima!" she exclaimed in shock. She wiped her eyes and said, "I-I'm not crying. Why do you care anyway? What you doing here, traitor?"

"I very much missed sushi," he answered, smirking. He slipped into the seat across from her.

"Did I say you could join me?" she asked sharply. Her tears were dry suddenly, she realized. She wondered why she immediately felt better.

"I did not expect an invitation," he replied.

"Being alone would be better than being with you," she said bitingly.

"So that is what your tears were for," he remarked, amused. "You were saddened because you were alone."

"Nuh uh!" she argued. "Back off boy, you don't know anything."

"You are no longer alone, Monique," he said.

"Did you not hear me? I would rather be alone than with you!" she yelled. He just laughed at her. "I'm serious!" she insisted.

"The nigiri is very good," he suggested.

"Did you just make a pass at me?" she asked. He smirked then pointed at her menu. She blinked then blushed deeply. "Oh," she said. "Um, you never heard that." He grinned almost wickedly, eyes mischievous. "S-so, you know what all this stuff is?" she asked.

"Hai, that is yes," he replied, nodding.

"Well, I guess it's okay if you stay. I think. You know, just to help me with the raw fish thing," she awkwardly stammered, blushing.

"Not because you want a date?" he mock pouted.

"Don't push it, boy," she warned.

"It would be my honor," he said, bowing to her.

"Right, honor," she said, smiling and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

KP

The man who had seated her here in the first place came over. She felt slightly bad. She must have really spooked the waitress. "Kon'niciwa," Fukushima greeted, bowing. The man started then beamed, excitedly and quickly starting to speak in the same tongue. Fukushima carried on a conversation for a while—she was pretty sure it involved her, as she'd heard her name—then ordered food for both of them. The man bowed to him and he bowed back. The waiter swiftly left.

"What did you tell him?" she wondered.

"I asked if he would apologize to the waitress you frightened," he answered.

"You saw that?" she asked, blushing.

"As I came in," he answered. "It was not difficult to deduce."

"My bad," she said, innocently grinning and shrugging. He laughed.

KP

The food came and Monique looked at the odd spread. "When I think of sushi I think rolls," she declared. "What is half this stuff?"

"This is real traditional sushi," he answered, handing her a pair of chopsticks. She took them.

"I honestly don't know how to use these," she said, looking around. Suddenly she wasn't feeling so out of place. This wasn't a date, but at least she was with someone. Of the opposite gender. And best of all, judging by some of the looks they were given, some were envious of her and him.

"I will show you," he said. He took her hand and adjusted the positions of her fingers, explaining as he went. After some demonstrations, and a lot of mess ups, she was finally able to use them functionally, albeit not well.

"It takes practice," he remarked, easily picking up a piece and holding it out to her. She grinned, eyes narrowing slightly seductively, and took what he offered.

"Not the smoothest line, but it works," she remarked. He grinned proudly and conspiratorially. The two finished eating in comfortable silence, some conversation here and there but not much. Monique determined that she liked watching him eat; mainly the way and skill with which he wielded the chopsticks. "Boy, you could turn those into a weapon," she said.

"I have before," he answered, smiling at her. "Did you enjoy?" he asked, pointing at her empty tray.

"You know, I actually did," she replied. "What's that on your plate? It wasn't on mine," she added, gesturing to the sushi that he was currently in the process of finishing off.

"In a term you know, sea urchin," he replied. "It is an acquired taste."

"Can I try?" she asked.

"You are brave," he replied, offering her a small piece.

She took it and begun chewing. She cringed and swallowed. "Not a fan of the texture; and the taste is so weird," she said.

He rolled his eyes affectionately, finishing it off. "Come tigress, let us go see a movie," he said.

"Didn't I tell you this wasn't a date?" she asked. "But I have been wanting to catch that new action flick."

"Fair enough," he said. They rose to leave. "Allow me the honor of paying for our food," he said.

"Uh, thanks," she said, grinning at him.

KP

The two approached the theatre. "I'll pay for the tickets," she offered, feeling slightly bad about him paying for the meal. It hadn't been cheap, and that was an understatement.

"Monique, of course it will be my honor to pay for the theatre," he said.

"Fukushima, you've spent lots on me already," she said.

"I am not 'hard up,' as you say, for money. I have much saved. At Yamanouchi we had little opportunity to go down to the nearby village or the town to spend it," he assured.

"You don't have a job either," she argued.

"Do not fear, Tigress. If you wish, next time you may have the honor of paying," he stated.

"What makes you think there'll be a next time?" she asked challengingly, raising an eyebrow. He just chuckled. Ooh, that boy burned her to no end. She almost wished that the serial killer… She shuddered at the memory, eyes filling with distress. Never mind. Oh gods, she never wanted to think about that again. She wanted to pretend it had never happened. She looked up at him, eyes sad. He certainly was pretending. She subconsciously drew closer to him. He looked curiously down at her but decided to just enjoy it.

He handed over the money and the teller handed over the tickets. "Hi Monique," the girl said."

"Zita, s'up girl?" Monique asked.

"Nothing much. Hello Fukushima," she greeted.

"Kon'nichiwa, Zita," he greeted.

"So, are you two an item?" Zita asked.

"What? Who? Us? No!" Monique insisted, put out by the insinuation. Fukushima rolled his eyes, affectionately smirking.

"She's in denial, Zita, ignore her," a female voice said from behind. The couple turned and Zita looked up.

"Hirotaka, Amelia, Kon'nichiwa," Fukushima greeted.

"Kon'nichiwa," Hirotaka replied, bowing.

"We are not a couple!" Monique insisted. "Besides, look who's talkin'."

"We are a couple until the dance," Hirotaka said. "We do not deny that."

"You have been a couple since the start, my brother," Fukushima teased. Hirotaka blushed. Amelia smirked seductively up at the ninja whose hand she held.

KP

The two couples sat together watching the movie. Hirotaka and Fukushima were beginning to look more and more uncomfortable by the second. Monique and Amelia sensed this and exchanged worried looks. They hadn't expected this movie to be quite this… close to home. "Hey, are you okay?" Amelia asked Hirotaka.

"Fine," he abruptly answered.

"If you want, we can leave," she offered.

"I am fine," he repeated, but his eyes were fixed on the screen where currently a scene was playing out. Pimps, a captive, drugging, violation, sex trade, and more. He scoffed disdainfully and rose, quickly walking away. Amelia worriedly looked after him and followed. Monique looked uncertainly after them and turned to Fukushima. She was concerned. He appeared frightened and weak, eyes nervously watching the screen.

"Fukushima?" she asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. He jumped at the contact and looked quickly over at her. He seemed to almost always jump at unexpected contact these days. He blinked then offered her a reassuring, but nervous, smile.

KP

Amelia hurried after Hirotaka. "Hirotaka!" she called. He preferred his full name, she knew. He'd told her that. He tolerated Hiro or Taka, but they weren't his preferred ones. She was glad. She liked 'Hirotaka' as well. He looked back at her as he reached the railing. She paused as he punched it viciously. He disgustedly pulled away from it and began pacing agitatedly.

"They have no right to glorify the sex trade!" he shot angrily.

"They aren't glorifying it," she said.

"Using it as entertainment is no better," he argued.

She bit her lower lip worriedly then approached him. He was looking out over the balcony. She slipped her hands under his arms and brought them up to his shoulders as she leaned against his back. He tensed, shivered, then relaxed, deeply sighing. "It's okay. We don't have to go back," she whispered against his neck. Again he shivered. He reached up, covering her hands with his.

"All right," he said. There was silence a long moment. Finally he said, "I fear for Fukushima. How will he react when scenes of torture come on?"

"There aren't many, they aren't explicit," she replied.

"It may only take one," Hirotaka stated. Amelia cringed and looked down.

KP

Fukushima gaped at the screen feeling sick. He was pale. "Fukushima? Fukushima! Monique desperately and sharply said, seeing him shutting down. Was it shock, memories, both? He suddenly gasped and scrambled up, quickly leaving the theatre as he felt tears burning his eyes. "Fukushima!" she called, rising and going after him.

He raced out. She followed quickly, catching up to the young man in the parking lot. She grabbed his arm and roughly spun him around, drawing him close to her in a tight embrace. He sobbed, burying his face in her hair and shaking his head desperately, trying to block out the rush of memories crashing down around him. "Oh gods, I want to die," he sobbed.

"Shh, baby, shh," she cooed protectively, stroking the back of his head. She never ever thought she would wish Monkey Fist was here, but now you'd better believe she was longing for it. Fukushima needed a father figure, now more than he had for a long time.

"Fukushima!" she heard an urgent voice call. Hirotaka. Perhaps a big brother figure and best friend would work just as well. She hoped so. Hirotaka and Amelia must have spotted Fukushima's mad dash for the parking lot. They were hurrying towards him. Fukushima looked forlornly up and pulled away from Monique's embrace. Hirotaka hugged his friend tightly.

"Big brother complex?" Amelia asked Monique, trying to make this less painful for them to watch.

"Definitely," Monique agreed, smiling tightly as well. Neither of the girls could keep up the front, tired smirks falling as they watched the two ninjas.