Kim Possible: This Is Not Honor
(A/N: Second up today, and I will post one more as well.)
The Element Of Surprise
The ninjas all left until only Sensei, Hirotaka, Yori, Kim, and Ron remained. After a moment, Ron rose and reached down for an obviously distressed Kim. She looked at his hand then took it, smiling weakly, allowing him to help her rise. Hirotaka was already up, looking out the window troubled. He spotted Yori still sitting. He sighed deeply then went to her and knelt down, taking her arms and gently raising her up. She looked into his eyes, then held him tightly, burying her face in his chest. He held her closely, protectively.
"Um, are they an item?" Ron questioned Sensei curiously.
Sensei chuckled softly, answering, "They are brother and sister. A bond such as theirs I have never seen before between siblings."
"Oh, see, that explains a lot," Ron stated.
"Oh yeah," Rufus agreed.
"It is best you retire to your chambers now, students. Things will be busy for the next while," Sensei suggested gently to them all, sensing their disturbance.
"Right, rooms," Kim replied distractedly. She leaned against Ron.
KP
Ron held her gently. It was tearing her apart, he knew. He sensed it. They had seen Monkey Fist destroyed once before. It had hurt her, badly. More than she had cared to admit. During her missions, people didn't die. They weren't supposed to die. She had never wished death on anyone. They had both known Monkey Fist's demise hadn't been their faults, directly, but just to play a part in it… They had been guilt stricken. It had torn her up to know there was nothing she could have done, villain or not. He himself, and he hated to admit it, had cursed his part in it every day since.
When his powers had come to light in the battle against Warmonga and Warhok; when the monkey figures had raced through the wind and over the aura wiping out their enemies, that was all that was on their minds; both he and Kim. Besides each other, all they saw was Monkey Fist's image in their thoughts amongst the simian apparitions, and in that moment he had accepted beyond a doubt that Monkey Fist had certainly been more worthy of the title of Ultimate Monkey Master. He had to be. Monkey Fist had been superior to him regarding these powers in every way, regarding the knowledge surrounding them, the history, the use. Seriously, he didn't even see the difference between an ape and a monkey. As far as he was concerned, they were one and the same. Of course, Monkey Fist could never be allowed to bring his own powers to light, no way, but fact was fact. I was fact, wasn't it?
Now they had been called here and informed that Monkey Fist was alive. Moments later they were told he had to be killed, and that they would play a very direct role in it. Killing was not something they wanted to do, but the Sensei was right. Why should the school, the world, suffer and die just to spare one man? Kim straightened up. Ron smirked. Apparently she'd come to the same conclusion. They would help. They wouldn't like it, but they would help. Neither would be the ones to deliver the death blow though, that was for sure.
KP
Hirotaka and Yori silently walked through the hallways of Yamanouchi. Yori hadn't spoken a word since the meeting. She had hardly looked up from the ground. Hirotaka looked pityingly at her. What could he possibly say? He looked sadly down once more. He was no more eager than anyone else to go through with Sensei's orders. All at once she spoke for the first time, quietly saying, "This is not honor. This is not the way to solve the problem."
Hirotaka paused. She stopped as well, looking up at him curiously. After a moment, he replied, "Do not think, little sister, that I am convinced it is the solution. Do not think that I am pleased with Sensei's orders; but it is an order no less, and there is no other solution in sight."
"Brother, we have not yet looked for one," she protested.
"Will we find one if we do?" he questioned. She bit her lip and looked away. He sighed deeply, then placed a hand on her shoulder, saying, "Let it go, sister. Kim and Stoppable-san feel no more eager than you, yet they have agreed to the terms set. Why is it that you cannot?"
"How can I turn upon all of my principles?" she meekly questioned.
"That is what you must find for yourself. To me this is a test, nothing more, and I will comply with its rules, despite my own feelings on the matter. Sensei knows what is best. You know he does," he answered her. "As soon as he is caught, he must die. We must throw all our honor to the wind in order to get rid of one who has none, just as Sensei said. It is as your American friends say, fight fire with fire."
"And how often has that worked?" Yori questioned. She knew all too well, however, that she had no choice. The commands were laid out, and no matter how she felt, they had to be followed through.
Hirotaka ruffled her hair affectionately, saying, "Yori, of strong mind as always. Goodnight little sister." She frowned at him, batting the hand away. He chuckled then walked away, casually waving. She looked mournfully after him.
KP
Morning broke over the school. The ninjas were lined up straight, ready for whatever order came their way. "Students, today is the day Monkey Fist's reign will end. We shall find him and hunt him down until he has nowhere left to run. You know your orders. May honor and praise be showered upon you, if you are the one to deliver the final blow," Sensei declared. It hurt him to hold such a bribe above their heads, they were so young, but he knew, he sensed, that unless such an incentive was given, there were those of them who would not complete their objective. Yori cringed, never looking up. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked over. Kim smiled weakly at her, eyes understanding. Yori smiled back. At least she was not the only one who felt so torn. "Strength be with you, my students. Now we go forth. Yori, you, of course, shall have the honor of steering us on the right path towards his hideout."
Yori tensed up, but she knew she was the only one to even have a remote idea of where he might be, and so she would obey. "As you wish Sensei." Instantly she led the way into the forest, along the very path over which she had pursued the monkey man the night before. Sensei stayed by her side. Until he had an idea of where the noble could be, he would not take over the lead with his senses. He met her eyes understandingly, and patted her shoulder.
They reached the stream where she had witnessed Monkey Fist fight away the tiger, the stream where she had seen he still had a human side, and she paused. She looked in the direction he had fled on hearing her, then sighed. "Is this it, Yori?" Sensei gently asked.
She answered, pointing, "It is in that direction."
Sensei nodded then closed his eyes a moment. Soon they opened, and he declared, "We are close. Follow my lead."
He strode nobly forth, the students dutifully following. Yori, at first, didn't move to follow. She tried to call to mind all the wrongs he had done. She tried to call to mind the crimes he had committed, the dishonor he had shown. She recalled him nearly dunking her and Ron-san in lava. She recalled his monkey shrieks, his hands and feet, that of a simian. She called to mind the spoiled, narcissistic, egocentric, personality, and she remembered the insane laughter that sounded so eerily like a monkey's she had once wondered if he himself was not biologically part monkey. She remembered the insanity in his eyes, in his demeanor. With that, though, came the remnants of the times he had seemed perfectly sane. It was frightening. These bad memories helped her to feel more confident, but she couldn't shake the unease welling inside of her.
All of a sudden a voice broke into her thoughts, saying, "Just try not to think about it, it helps." She turned. Ron-san. The Lotus Blade was strapped to him in a ninja fashion, ready to be used or protected. She nodded and smiled meekly. She saw the conflict in his own eyes, and surely, if Monkey Fist's arch bumbler-as the monkey man had dubbed him-could feel guilty about this, even reluctant to go through with it, then there was no shame in her feeling it. All at once they heard the sound of a bird cry. The signal. They'd found the hideout, and Yori's stomach dropped. No going back now.
KP
Monkey Fist, upon returning the night before, had gone immediately to check on the monkey he had rescued. He found the creature lain comfortably on of a bed of blankets the monkey ninjas had set up, eyes shut. Monkey Fist went up to it, checking if it were still alive. It was. Gently he lifted the monkey up and said to the ninjas, "Bring me my medical kit." Instantly one of them bounded away and returned within seconds, presenting the item Monkey Fist had called for. Monkey Fist opened it with a hand and foot, taking out some dressings and salves. Carefully he unbound the injuries and applied the medicines, re-binding them with the proper equipment. This monkey had shown promising talent against the tiger, managing to almost escape once and dodging a swipe a second time. With the proper application of training, it would take no time at all to turn the creature into one worthy of the title ninja.
The creature meekly whimpered and woke up, staring at the monkey man in confusion. It looked around and took in the other monkeys in this strange hut it had found itself in. They surrounded their comrade curiously, chattering and poking. He shrieked at them, batting away the hand of a monkey who'd poked a little too roughly. "Gently, please, Chippy," Monkey Fist said, rolling his eyes. The new monkey rose curiously, looking around. It looked up at Monkey Fist and made curious and uncertain chattering. "Of course you're all male. The last thing I need are a bunch of little monkey babies running around," Monkey Fist defended. Some of the ninjas stuck out their tongues or shrieked at him in displeasure. "Don't take that tone with me!" Monkey Fist ordered them. Turning back to the injured monkey, he said, "Rest a bit longer my little friend. When you are ready, we will start with your training." In response to the new addition's confusion, the other monkey's leapt into ninja stances making ninja sounds.
It had been around midnight that the monkey had regained enough strength to actually move around with ease. It was now about three, and the creature was clad in a gi itself and picking up the moves quite easily; at least easily enough to not slow them down if they were suddenly attacked. That was all that mattered to Monkey Fist. The monkey ninjas had insisted he name the new addition George. He knew he shouldn't have read those children's books to them. Oh well, a name was a name. George hadn't seemed to mind. He dismissed the ninjas then lay down himself, tired. He couldn't go to sleep, though. Something was making him nervous, tugging on the back of his mind like a warning. It was those Yamanouchi ninja's that were getting to him. It had been a close call. Too close. No matter what, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen.
He growled to himself in annoyance and rose. Silently he exited the hut and climbed onto the roof, looking around. The ever looming threat of the Yono finally catching him again wasn't helping his worry. He listened, strained, to hear any sound. Nothing. He scowled in annoyance then went back inside. He probably wouldn't get to sleep any time soon. He sighed and closed his eyes. Time to center. He went into a meditation pose, tuning out everything. Perhaps that had been a bigger mistake than sleeping.
KP
All at once there was the sound of a crash. He started out of the position on hearing the monkeys shrieking in alarm, and hearing the all too familiar voice of Kim Possible saying, "There he is!" He whirled in alarm, leaping up in a battle stance, ready to fight back. He wasn't expecting, though, the sudden onslaught of Yamanouchi ninjas that came pouring in after her.
He gasped in alarm and cried, "Kim Possible! Oh, and Yamanouchi. How smashing. Can't you all simply mind your own business for once! Monkey ninjas, attack!" Instantly the monkey ninjas, new addition included on seeing what the others were doing, leapt ahead, meeting the Yamanouchi students. Monkey Fist saw Possible, Stoppable, and their two ninja friends who had stood in his way protecting the Lotus Blade, coming right at him. He grinned wickedly. "Oh this should be quite amusing," he stated, embracing the challenge. With a monkey shriek he attacked them. Rather, he attacked Stoppable, knocking him away from the other two. You see, he'd taken a very sudden notice of a certain Lotus Blade strapped onto the boy, its defender.
Ron cried out in alarm and fought desperately back, trying to keep Monkey Fists hands, paws, whichever, away from the blade. "Ron!" Kim exclaimed, racing to help. Monkey Fist heard the advance and rolled off of Ron at the last second as Kim pounced. She landed on top of the buffoon with a grunt of pain. He spotted Yori and that boy, Hirotaka he thought the name was, coming at him, and he knew he and his ninjas stood no chance. The students were too many and too good. The monkeys were flying all over the place. This had gone on quite far enough.
He scrambled away from the battle, still in a mild state of shock, still taken by surprise from the sneak attack. His ninjas shrieked furiously. He couldn't believe this. Yamanouchi and its two teenage allies had found him; but how! He fully understood he couldn't win this skirmish. Not with the element of surprise in their pocket. He scowled viciously and leapt away from the battle as Kim Possible leapt at him again, her friend's right behind. He turned quickly and yelled, "Monkey Ninjas, retreat!" Instantly the large group obeyed, shrieking and pulling free or out of the range of the ninja students, forgetting their attacks.
They knew the seriousness of the situation the moment those words left their master's mouth. Never did Monkey Fist order a retreat unless even he himself realized he stood no chance; which was rare, bordering on once in a blue moon. They darted passed Monkey Fist obediently. He paused for only a moment before going after them, looking back hatefully at the coming ninjas. How had they found him? His eyes fell upon the friend of Stoppable's, that girl Yori, just to his right; and he knew. He knew from her expression, her posture, her reluctance to pounce though he was in easy reach of her, that she had been the one to lead them to him. He scowled viciously at her then leapt away, fleeing the scene.
"He's getting away!" Ron exclaimed.
"After him!" Hirotaka ordered the other ninjas. Instantly they scattered, leaping through the trees, over the ground, all pursuing their common bounty.