Chapter One: Uncertainty

Blood and Bondage

By sweetpixiesmile

Disclaimer: Kim Possible and all related characters are the property of Disney. I don't own any of that and I'm using them without permission. I do own a couple of characters so far, but that's it. This is also a non-profit venture; if you take anything from it, just slap my name on it.

A/N: My very first chappie and publicly posted writing! I'm looking forward to the reviews!

Interlude

My life has just taken a turn for -Weirdsville-.

There I was with Dr. D in the lair; he was spouting off as usual after I heisted a CD when out of the corner of my eye, I see... damnit I can't even believe what I saw today. I can't believe that bitch Director. Is she soooo hard up that she has to send a fuckin' -kid- to stop me and Dr. D? In cargos and a black mid-riff tee? What, she'd kill me with cuteness? Not too bright though... just one flip of a switch and they were shark bait... well, ok, I mean, she did have some moves, since she got out of the shark pool and we had to get away after she caused the lair to chain react. Kim Possible, teen dork and chum.

You know, what I wanna know is why the fuck does all Drakken's lair's have chain reaction kablooies?

Turns out the girlie is a fuckin' -cheerleader-. Gawd I -hate- cheerleaders.

The upshot of the whole deal was we got a soaker and nothing to show for it. Well, I did get to test my jailbreak skills again.

I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for this kid.

This day was -so- the drama.

Wade called, saying we got a hit on the site about something getting stolen from Professor Akari. We took a ride down the Amazon; beautiful, warm and green. When Wade ran the video, and I saw a shadow crush the camera, it was like lightning shot down my spine. I asked Wade to rewind and pause...

How could I know that this day would bring something I thought I'd buried a million years ago back to the light of day? I knew who she was. I knew that face. But I had never told anyone about... that. Not Wade. Not Mom and Dad. Not even Ron. My mind was totally OH. MY. GAWD... I pretended I didn't know her, because of my little secret. But it was -her-. My hero. My Judas.

No mistake. Like someone else has green skin and plasma?

When I saw her in the shark pit, I couldn't believe she was hanging around this blue guy who was just so full of himself. And although I knew we needed to take her in, I was ... sort of glad we didn't. After getting out of the lair and getting Professor Akari's disk back, I made the place go up like one of Jim and Tim's homemade fireworks, and she grabbed the blue guy and took off while we made a high dive into the water below.

They came after us later. Ron got their explosive nanotick off my face, but it was just so cool when she and I tangled in Bueno Nacho. And we won! I heard she broke out again in no time afterwards though...

This, it just felt great. I'd been training for this even before I got into cheerleading. Deep sea diving, world travel, meeting new people... This is so totally my thing.

But I never thought I'd ever say her name again.

-Shego-.

Chapter One: Uncertainty

She sat in the high mountains of her birth, waiting for a sign. She was not sure what that sign might be, or if it would soothe the tumult that plagued her since that fateful day. She sat in the lotus position, meditating on a pedestal of smooth boulders, the fall of a high mountain stream striking her shoulders and back. The spray sparkled in the crisp thin air as she sought a solace that had departed from her so long ago. The water spread in a pool beneath her perch before skipping down a long scarp of boulders and schist. And as she meditated, time seemed to slow, turning into a molasses of moments. Her senses sharpened, her awareness expanding to encompass the dragon fly that buzzed lazily in an eddy down stream, the flap of a hawk's wings high in the sky as she searched for prey, the fall of stealthy footsteps on the path from the school.

A short, skinny girl dressed in a midnight blue keikogi (1) was working her way up the steep pebble strewn path, a scowl on her young face. She stopped and shielded her eyes with a slim hand under short cropped black hair at the tiny figure underneath the falls of enlightenment. She snorted with disgust at the distance she had yet to travel. Why did Yori-sempai (2) visit the Pool of Purification so often since her last trip to America so many years ago? She did not fail missions, and Dai Sensei (3) had elevated her to master status, giving her the only crimson shinobi shozoku (4) to be awarded since Dai Sensei received his. This made her scowl again at Dai Sensei's instruction not to use any ninjutsu (5) or kuji-in (6) in her ascent to the pool.

She was sure it was because of the prank she had pulled on Shiro earlier, but how had Dai Sensei known that she was behind the birds nest in the futon? She was sure she had removed any telltale signs and Shiro had just laughed when he discovered the hatchlings and the distraught parents.

By the time she reached the shelf of boulders under the falls, she was red faced and panting. She wondered at her conditioning as she gulped for breath, her hands on her knees. A sudden shadow caused her to look up beyond Yori to see a large tree trunk was just starting to slide down the falls. She opened her mouth to call a warning.

"Do not trouble yourself, Keiko," a soft voice spoke by her ear. Keiko stiffened as her mouth snapped shut. She was glad that her face was already red from exertion. She turned as the trunk shattered upon the meditation rock to see Yori lean back, her hair dark as midnight dripping in rich wet ringlets, and her tanned toned skin under a clinging half open white kimono (7)...

"Y-yori-sempai!" was the strangled exclamation. Keiko spun about, her face a bright red.

"At least, I have an affect on some," Yori muttered, too low for Keiko to hear, as she retied her kimono, and then louder, "please give me the message."

"D-dai Sensei has sent for you," Keiko replied as she risked a peek. Seeing Yori's gi back in place, she turned as bowed, attempting to focus her eyes on Yori's face, noting how the kimono clung to her sempai and was almost wetly transparent. She gulped. "He has not told me why," she said with a slight tremble in her voice.

Yori nodded. "And he told you to walk up here?" Keiko nodded as she straightened. Yori sighed. What were they going to do with the two pranksters? "You should know by now that any pranks will only draw attention to you two. Especially since the Autumn Festival." Yori still had trouble figuring out how the two had altered the fireworks to create such embarrassing images. If they only applied their brilliance to their training. "Did Dai Sensei give any further instruction?"

"No, sempai."

"Then you may fast step back and let Dai Sensei know I will see him as soon as I am able."

"Yes, sempai!" With a quick bow and a rustle of leaves, Keiko jumped into the trees and was gone.

Perhaps this would be her sign, but her heart did not feel any better.

By the time Yori had changed into her shozoku and knelt before Dai Sensei's shoji, the afternoon mealtime gong had sounded. Most of the students had retired to duel with cook-san for their meal and the grounds of the Yamanouchi were once again tranquil.

"Enter," came the deep and kindly voice of Dai Sensei.

Yori slid the shoji (8) open and entered turning and kneeling to shut the shoji before continuing further. The 12 tatami-jō (9) washitsu (10) was separated by another set of shoji, which was open. A low table sat before a low walled window overlooking the school grounds. A top the table, a dark clay teapot sat on a brazier, with two ceramic cups on a tray. Across from the entrance and beyond the inner shoji was an elevated platform and Dai Sensei.

Dai Sensei dressed in his habitual black trimmed yellow kamishimo (11) and black hakama (12), floated a foot above the ground in a seated lotus position. Yori could feel his aura wash over her like a warm embrace, knowing few others could perceive it as minutely, such as the young blond boy that plagued her still... She once again took strict hold of her thoughts and put it aside in its place, and settled into seiza (13) near the Master of the Yamanouchi Ninja School and waited. As the teapot began to steam, Dai Sensei lowered to the ground and his aura faded.

"Yori," he said as his eyes opened. His fond smile could not be hidden by his long full mustache.

"I have come at your summons, Dai Sensei," she said formally, bowing slightly. At that Dai Sensei and Yori stood and embraced.

"It is good to see you, ojiisan (14)," Yori said squeezing the old man once more. She carefully hid her shock from her face. Had Dai Sensei always been this thin?

"And you, my little tessen (15)," as he leaned back, holding her upper arms to look at her. "You have grown into a fine ninja warrior and a young woman too." Yori gave a small smile and bowed again.

"Thank you, ojiisan."

"Please, I would be honored if my granddaughter would pour me some tea," he said as he gestured towards his balcony that overlooked the Yamanouchi grounds. Yori smiled.

"It would be my honor to do so."

After pouring tea for Dai Sensei and herself, they sat at the low table for several minutes, listening to the mountain air and the call of the swallows. As the time inched by, Yori wrestled fiercely with her curiosity and remained impassive and calm. Students returned from their afternoon meal; she could tell that some were still not quick enough for Master Cook-san. But this thought only brought her more turmoil, and she pushed aside memories that she wished to forget.

"You have progressed very far, my granddaughter," Dai Sensei spoke as the sound of training resumed again in the courtyard below. "You have mastered every technique of the Tai Sheng Pek Kwar has held, since the founder began our school, the Monkey Claw and the 6 forms. You have even attained the crimson shozoku, something that none has done since I achieved mine." He paused, his eyes searching the sky. Yori waited patiently.

"Yamanouchi has stood over a thousand years and a thousand wars as a bringer of light and hope. We have avoided all the petty squabbles of feudal societies, the crushing desolation of imperialist dogma and the slow leeching of globalization." Dai Sensei stopped there to consider his next words.

"Ojiisan," Yori ventured. "You are speaking of the future of Yamanouchi and not the past."

"Ah, my little tessen," he smiled. "You have always been clever as you have been wise. The future is now very uncertain for us. You are the only descendant of the founder, Toshimiru to take up the mantle and burden of guarding the Lotus Blade and Tai Sheng Pek Kwar. Of all the students and heirs of other clans, you have excelled far beyond my expectations. However, I am getting old, very old. It is near time that the mantle be received by the new Dai Sensei." Yori remained silent. It seemed that a day that she prayed that would not come had arrived, and her heart prevented her from speaking, even as she performed a quick breathing exercise to calm the spirit to preserve her wa (16). She waited for her fate to be decided by the man she loved as her grandfather.

"You know as well as I that some traditions must be upheld. As a recognized master of Tai Sheng Pek Kwar and a direct descendant of Toshimiru, it is your duty to take the mantle of Dai Sensei, or to find a replacement. You also know that if you find a replacement, he must first be worthy of the school and you must marry him." Then Dai Sensei scratched his head for a moment. "Yet there is a ripple in this otherwise tranquil pond." Yori sat back to consider.

"You speak of the Mystical Monkey Power."

"Yes. Traditionally, you would have chosen a worthy member of another society in the martial word, but in this moment, there are very few who can attain the perfection of Monkey Kung Fu and all it's forms. Not only that, we must continue to guard the lotus blade and defend against Yono the Destroyer." Yori knew where this was leading, and bit her lip in an uncharacteristic show of emotion.

"Ojiisan..." she started, and then cleared her throat. "Monkey Fist is a statue and Rufus is not human." Dai Sensei said nothing as she avoided speaking about a certain blonde American and turned toward her.

"You may have tonight to think on your decision, but you must tell me before the sun rises as I am expecting a very important visitor." Yori knew her answer, but Dai Sensei held up his hand before she could speak. "Yori, you are as dependable as your name. But in this I will not use tradition, status or affection to sway your decision. Speak to me before the sun rises, but not before tonight's supper."

"Yes, Dai Sensei." She withdrew as silently as she came. As she shut the shoji behind her, Dai Sensei sighed. It was days like this that made him feel older than his years.

Yori wandered the Yamanouchi grounds as her mind and heart raced. Her body was telling her to run, to take to the tress and become nukenin (17). Her mind was coming up with all sorts of strange scenarios, from going to find Ron Stoppable before her fated marriage and despoiling him, to committing suicide, to carrying on torrid affairs behind her new husband's back. And her heart... her heart lay in ashes.

Eventually, she found herself standing in the rock garden nestled in a small courtyard behind the main building. She hopped lightly onto the central stone and began to meditate, to rebuild her wa and to ponder the future.

"Keiko, why are we following Yori-sempai?" A bronze haired boy whispered to the raven haired girl. They lay against the ceramic tiles that covered the back of the main building, watching a small figure meditating in the center of a rock garden. The smaller ninja waved at him for quiet.

Keiko had seen Yori leave Dai Sensei's quarters and knew instinctively that something had greatly upset the woman. Fear of punishment had never stood a chance against curiousity; Keiko's fierce attachment to her sempai alternately amused and annoyed Shiro. And their sempai had led them a merry chase, seemingly wandering aimlessly until stopping at the only place on the grounds that prevented them from getting close before being seen.

Shiro sighed quietly as Keiko fixed the distant ninja with an intense gaze.

"Yori-sempai was summoned by Dai Sensei, and when she left, she was very upset."

"Hmm, it would take something extreme to unsettle her… especially with all the time she spends meditating." Shiro turned and stared up into the sky as he rubbed his chin. "But I thought that perhaps it was because of the crimson shozoku that she received. Ah!" Shiro turned again, his eyes alight with realization. "Perhaps Dai Sensei has talked to her about taking his place!" Keiko was silent.

Shiro turned to look at her as she shook her head.

"I do not believe that would disturb her…. Wait! Remember what Hitoshi-sensei was saying yesterday about being the Master of Yamanouchi in history class?"

"Eh?" Shiro's brow furrowed. "You mean how they get tea flown in from China?" He grinned as he blocked Keiko's annoyed slap to his head.

"No, baka! They have to be married!" Their shocked expressions mirrored each other and they slowly turned to look at the still figure in the distance. "For Yori-sempai, it doesn't matter either way. She's the only crimson shozoku in 3 generations and she's also directly descended from the Founder! Even if she declines the mantle, she must still marry the new Master!"

"Ok, yeah, that would do it I guess," Shiro muttered in a low voice. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. "But who would be worthy of her? And who would know enough martial arts to master Tai Sheng Pek Kwar?" Keiko hissed at Shiro suddenly, holding a finger to his lips. He remained quiet as she took her hand away, knowing that between them, Keiko had the better awareness of auras. He turned to look at their sempai.

Yori's breathing was slow and steady as she meditated, her thoughts calm. And then she spoke.

"How are you, Hirotaka-kun?"

In a moment, a laugh sounded behind her and a tall well built Asian in a black leather jacket, blue jeans and dark red t-shirt slowly coalesced into visibility, pulling off a black motorcycle helmet. His handsome face wore his familiar smug expression, and he stood with a confidence that was at once dangerous and alluring. He balanced easily on two stones that ringed a small bonsai near her.

"I could never sneak up on you, Yori-chan," he said, chuckling. Yori leapt down and embrace him. In the distance, a muffled yelp sounded and Hirotaka gave a knowing smile. "I see you still inspire kohais (18) to mischief."

"You smell like dust and gasoline," she said, slapping his arm playfully. "When did you arrive?"

"Just a few minutes ago." He looked around. "This place still looks the same. But some things change for the better," Hirotaka looked at Yori. She laughed again.

"And some still think they can talk themselves out of anything…. Or into anything as in your case." Yori turned slightly, her mind churning furiously. Hirotaka, one of the most accomplished of the school, returned from his world travels. Yori did not believe in coincidences such as this.

"Well, some things still call to you even if you leave them behind," he quipped, tucking his helmet under his arm. "Walk with me? I'm on my way to wash up." He jerked his thumb at the main building.

"I suppose someone must defend your honour from all the fangirls," Yori gave a big sigh as they started off. "Still, it has been too long since I have seen you. What have you been up to?"

"Oh you know, training in the Shaolin styles, this year. Before that I was in West Africa with some capoeira (19) experts; it's great for clubbing, but as an art…?" Hirotaka shrugged his muscular shoulders. "Not quite my style."

"Who knew you would have such a wanderlust? Have you been to see your family?" Yori asked as they entered the Main Hall. Hirotaka shrugged.

"I have not seen them in 4 years, but once I finish my business here, I will spend some time at home." Yori was silent for a moment. It was during his first trip out of the country that sparked this interest in global adventuring in Hirotaka, 2 weeks in a little place called Middleton. A special place. Shifting his helmet, Hirotaka gave Yori a sidelong glance.

"I ran into you Stoppable-san and Possible-san recently. They assisted us in saving a village that was threatened by the winter rains near the temple I was at." Although Yori's expression or demeanor did not change, the leather clad ninja felt the spike in her toushi (20), her spiritual aura, as if someone had quickly opened a colossal door to a blast furnace, then slammed it shut an instant later. "Possible-san has such gadgets! She used her hairdryer to prevent the mud from liquidating and washing the people away."

"They are great warriors, with great honour and compassion," was her reply as her heart seemed to seize in her chest. They paused outside the men's change room.

"How long will you stay? It would be very pleasing for us to speak, after such a long parting."

"I am here at Dai Sensei's summons," he began, his dark eyes on hers. "He has asked me to attend him during supper at his office. Afterwards?" He shrugged, his old road armor creaking slightly. "Who knows how long." With a nod and a smile, he entered the locker room.

Yori stood still for a moment, her thoughts whirling. Dai Sensei speaking to her about the mantle, subtly asking for an answer by dinner time. Hirotaka, at Dai Sensei's summons appears the same day. Could it be…? She blinked and turned, seeing a small cluster of giggling students at the end of the corridor rush off. She sighed and headed out of the main hall. Hirotaka always had this affect wherever he went. Girls flocked to his side, regardless of who his companion was. She had never felt any feelings for her handsome childhood friend.

She left the building and wandered the grounds, thinking.

Hirotaka was an accomplished fighter, well traveled and well seasoned. He had great fighting sense and intuition. He was courteous and level-headed, and although his manner was welcoming, he was better than anyone at keeping secrets. Could Dai Sensei think that he might be worthy of the mantle, should Yori decline it? Could she see herself married to him, while her heart…. was caught by another? She was sure that Hirotaka knew of her affections, and also that he would keep her secret and not hold it against her. Would that sour his affection to bitterness? No, Yori did not think so. She knew that she was well and able in training, but to lead with wisdom and foresight…. That was not for her. In the distance, the dinner gong sounded.

With a nod, Yori turned and headed to Dai Sensei's quarters to deliver her answer.

Keiko suddenly stood up from behind the bonsai bushes that she and Shiro crouched behind as Yori walked away. Shiro rubbed the back of his head.

"What is it?" Shiro looked up at his diminutive friend, her short cropped hair glimmering in the light of the setting sun.

"She's decided… Yori-sempai has decided! Will she take the mantle? Or will she step down? Either way she will get married… she can't! " Keiko looked frantic, her eyes wide as she babbled. Shiro stood and held up his hands.

"Why not? It's her choice. Besides, she looks pretty chummy with that guy," Shiro shrugged. It was none of their business as far as he could tell. Keiko's head snapped up and Shiro backed a step from the intensity of her glare.

"Shut up! And who IS that guy anyway? How dare he get a hug from Yori-sempai!" Keiko stamped her foot as she turned back to watch Yori disappear.

"Oookaaay," Shiro backed another step. "Now you're really starting to scare me, Chouko (21)." He hoped using her nickname might bring her back to the land of the sane. Keiko whirled, tears in her eyes and Shiro realized with a sinking feeling that he'd said the wrong thing.

"You don't understand anything!" She screamed at him and ran off sobbing.

With a sigh, Shiro followed her.

Hirotaka arrived at Dai Sensei's to find Yori waiting outside the shoji. He settled into his own seiza beside her. Her eyes were closed in meditation, but her aura seemed to pulse fiercely, belying her calm appearance. He wondered what had happened to this self-possessed young woman over the years for her aura to fluctuate so wildly. Ron Stoppable had only been at the school for a few weeks, yet at the mere mention of his name, Yori's wa seemed to shatter. How could he affect his childhood friend so? Even he could not normally affect her inner being to such an extent. He also knew that Dai Sensei would not have summoned him after so long if there were not dire things afoot. He began to build his own wa, grain by grain, pebble by pebble as he had been taught as a child.

Yori's mind was still a whirl of emotions. Although Sensei had always taught that one must not fight fate and the whims of destiny, but to embrace it, she realized that she simply could not accept what seemed like her own. She knew that with such a spirit, hers would only sicken and die, or worse, allow evil into her heart. This she must lay bare before Sensei; it would be shameful, yes, but to lie to both herself and others would be worse. It was settled. She would speak the truth of her secret, one that she had harboured for so many seasons and let the kamikaze take from her what it would. She opened her eyes as the shoji opened.

Dai Sensei stood there for a moment.

"Ah, my two best and brightest students are here, Possible-san!" Yori's eyes did not betray her surprise, but of a sudden, her heart began to hammer. If Possible-san was here…. HE would be at her side. Sensei stepped aside, saying, "you may enter and greet Possible-san."

Yori's eyes stared fixedly at Hirotaka's back as they entered, then when they turned she nearly gasped. Before them, sitting at the table that Yori earlier had sat drinking tea, was an elderly lady with rectangular spectacles, wearing a sweater and a long skirt. She and Hirotaka bowed deeply as befitting a good friend of Dai Sensei.

"It is an honour to meet you, Possible-san," she said. "I am Yori."

"And I am Hirotaka," said her childhood friend.

As they straightened, Yori thought she detected an amused glint in the old woman's eyes. Then she gave a slight bow.

"As I am honoured to meet the students of Ichi-kun." Sensei laughed. Hirotaka's eyes widened. This was the first time he had EVER heard Dai Sensei's birth name! His mind reeled. What could this old gaikokujin (22) be, to be so familiar to him? "Although I dare say, you were expecting a different person."

"You do not need to be so formal, Carolyn-chan." Dai Sensei sat back down across from his guest. He gestured for them to sit at the end of the table facing the grounds. Yori noticed that the inner shoji had been closed.

"It has been too many years, Ichi-kun," she said, giving Dai Sensei a small smile. "I just wanted to kick your butt one more time before I got too old to travel." Yori and Hirotaka could not believe their ears.

"Ah!" Dai Sensei chuckled. "You are still sore that I chose the school over you."

"You were always so hotheaded and obstinate! I wonder if that has rubbed off on your students?"

"Some of them may need it, but I know your granddaughter has fully inherited yours!"

And then they both laughed. LAUGHED! Hirotaka's mouth was slightly open as he listened to the banter. What was really going on?

"I had better get some rest you old monkey," she finally said. "I may not be old, but the jet lag is still hard."

"Hirotaka," Dai Sensei said, wiping away a tear. "Please escort Carolyn-san to the Lotus Room. She will be staying here for some time. Please address her as Carolyn-sama."

"Hai, Dai Sensei." Hirotaka bowed and moved to the shoji, awaiting the old lady, who stood with Dai Sensei and gave him a kiss on his wizened cheek.

"Tomorrow, Ichi-kun." With that, she left with Hirotaka and the shoji shut with a soft clack.

"Did you change your gear 'cause, Master Sensei, I can't remember how to tie this thing," came a voice that caused Yori to freeze, her heart beating like a rabbit caught in a hunters snare. A corner of the inner shoji burst with a hand sticking through it. "Aw, man!" The hand turned and shoved the shoji open.

"Sorry, Master Sensei," said an abashed Ron Stoppable. He was once again dressed in the black shozoku that he wore on his previous visit, but with legging loose and the ties in his hand.

Yori stumbled drunkenly to her feet. "St-stoppable-s-san?" He stopped and looked up. A grin came to his silly, wonderful, freckled American face.

"Heeey! Yori! Long time no see!"

For the first time in her life, Yori, the sole heir of the Great Founder of Yamanouchi, the sole holder of the crimson shozoku in three generations and unsurpassed ninja, fainted dead away.

Footnotes:

(1) Keikogi - Japanese martial arts training uniform

(2) Sempai – an honorific used for upperclass students that can also be used as a title. Other honourifics like –sama (for a leader or much higher ranked person) or –san (formal address) or –kun and –chan (informal) are also used.

(3) Dai Sensei – For schools with more than one Sensei, and to separate the use of "grandmaster" Dai Sensei literally is Great Teacher or Master Teacher.

(4) Shozoku – The traditional full covering ninja clothing.

(5) Ninjutsu – The art of stealth.

(6) Kuji-In – One branch of ninja-magic, sometimes termed ninpo.

(7) Kimono – a thin short robe that falls to the mid thigh, usually worn as an undergarment.

(8) Shoji – a traditional Japanese paper door

(9) tatami-jō – How rooms are traditional measured in Japan. Tatami's or bamboo mats are a standardized size.

(10) Washitsu – A traditional Japanese room.

(11) Kamishimo – Worn by samurai and court men, the outfit included a formal kimono, hakama, and a sleeveless jacket with exaggerated shoulders called a kataginu

(12) Hakama – A Traditional pleated skirt.

(13) Seiza – A formal sitting position where one kneels and tucks their legs under the thighs, with the buttocks resting on the feet whose tops are flat against the ground, usually used when on tatamis.

(14) Ojiisan – "Grandfather". Can be a term of endearment or a true relationship.

(15) Tessen - Japanese war fan.

(16) Wa – A zen teaching of "harmony" or "peace". A personal discipline of meditation.

(17) Nukenin – Rogue ninja, just as ronin means masterless samurai.

(18) Kohai – same as Sempai but for underclassmen.

(19) Capoeira – A form of martial art that originated in Brazil created by African slaves. It was treated as a game to throw off the slave masters and is characterized by fluid acrobatics and extensive ground work, kicks and sweeps.

(20) Toushi – Fighting spirit, or spiritual aura.

(21) Chouko – Butterfly.

(22) Gaikokujin – Japanese for person from a foreign land.