Disclaimer:Kim Possible and all related characters are owned by Disney.

Shikabane Hime originally owned by Gagan Comics, anime by Feel and Gainax.

No profit (and definite loss of time) accrued.

1

Kim slowly and comfortably came to her senses. She found her head resting against something softer than she had expected Ron to be. Her mind started paying attention to her sense of hearing next, carrying Yori's voice already in what she could only assume to be a lullaby from Japan: "Even if only for a moment hold me, heart and all, in your arms/ So I can feel the warmth of happiness/". When the girl finally opened her eyes, she was strangely curious why the sight didn't send her into a rage.

Kim found herself lying against Yori's naked breast. Her boyfriend was still asleep yet instinctively suckling at Yori. The shikabane had apparently rearranged herself between the two while they slept and now cradled the two living.

Yori noticed Kim's alert state. "I have no heat of my own and felt you both would be more comfortable once I...how do you say, equalized(?) with you. Besides, Ron loves you even as he sleeps."

Yori applied just a small enough force to lift Ron from her nipple. Ron's face flickered momentarily before stuttering out, "mm, Kim...huh where?"

Yori let the sleeping boy return before she continued. "It is too cute, is it not?"

Kim smiled adoringly at her boyfriend and rubbed his shoulder.

"Is Rufus attempting to communicate something to me?", the corpse asked Kim.

Kim raised up to Yori's vantage point. Rufus danced at the door, squeaking and chirping.

"Oh no!", Kim warned. "Dad's coming."

Ron hopped from the bed, landed in a stance and a half-dreaming mentality. "Hwa-aaa...", he growled.

"Save it for the movies, Ron.", Kim commanded. "We've got about ten seconds before Dad puts us all in a probe to Saturn."

Ron instantly shook off the sleep induced incompetency and tried to keep up with Yori's undead speed. Kim could only point at the answers to unasked questions that resulted in actions that were beyond her ability.

Yori had ripped off the synthodrone stained bedding. Upon seeing Kim begin to point at her closet, the ninja finished pulling out a new sheet, comforter and pillows before the girl fully extended her arm. Yori tossed the linen over the middle of the bed. Ron somersaulted over the bed, catching them all in mid air and had sorted out the sheet before Yori vaulted across the room. When the corspe landed she caught the other side of the sheet that Ron still held. The two proceeded to dress the bed with beyond military precision.

One of Kim's ten seconds had passed.

Kim unzipped her mission pants and flipped out of the slacks. Ron swept the comforter over the bed. Yori nearly became a black and tan blur as two pillows and their pillow cases floated in mid air before her, arms stuffing some inside others. The bed was done even as Kim started flinging clothes out of her closet.

Two of Kim's ten seconds had passed.

Yori caught an incoming blue wrap skirt and whipped it back at Kim. Kim was absolutely shocked when it wrapped around her hips. Yori dove to recover Ron's green sleeved, white t-shirt while the boy took her hakamas like the wrapping from a popsicle. The corpse cartwheeled over hurling the shirt into the air. Ron stepped in behind her as Kim was throwing an old light green tank top at Yori. The two flowed into the garments.

The third of Kim's deadline had been exhausted.

Ron round-offed over the bed to Kim's old locker computer. Yori snatched an old pair of three quarter length jeans past Kim and hopped down them while the other girl pulled a sleeveless white and blue hoody from the closet. Dressed but barefoot, Yori stood in back of the living girl and pulled the hoody from her hands above her head. With Kim's arms outstretched upward, Yori pulled the shirt over her with clearly inhuman speed.

Ron stomped all over Wade's greeting with the question, "Did you happen to get a chance to put any enhancements in my monk's robes yet?"

By the time Mr. Dr. P actually walked up the hatchway to Kim's room he was met by the deceptively innocent sight. Ron and Kim held hands out of Wade's view, seated directly in front of the communication computer. Yori stood at ease just behind Ron in an outfit he had not seen on Kim in a year or two, when she seemed to wear it all the time. The man tried not to notice how the girl's long legs made the pants seem short, or how small the tank top must be.

Kim's father cleared his throat. All four faced him. "uh, Kimmie-cub? Your mother's back and dinner's gonna be ready in a few. Come on down as soon as you're done, okay?"

"Sure dad.", the girl replied.

Once the man had walked back down into the house, the living let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad that's over with.", Wade began. "Now onto the robe. Man, have I got the covalent bond weave that you need! A synthetic polymer reintegra/"

"Thanks. You rock, Wade.", Kim cut him off.

Wade's hands came up from his keyboard as if questioning just before his face blinked off the unpowered monitor.

"Are you sure you want to wear that down stairs, Yori?", Kim asked. Yori had always been more top heavy than Kim, so Kim's out grown tank top strained on her. Despite the corpse' higher waist (and therefore, longer legs), it still revealed the same amount of mid-riff.

Yori stretched and bent, testing the material. "Hai, Possible-sama. There is no need for further generosity."

Kim and Ron raised eyebrows at each other.

2

The three teens walked into the kitchen. Dr. Possible, the rocket scientist, guided the twins in so they wouldn't rush in as normal. Dr. Possible, the brain surgeon, set the table.

"James, what do you think you're doing?", the woman asked.

The man brushed it off. "Just checking the scores dear."

Anne turned to the teens. "You'd think that he'd just watch the game he recorded without spoiling it, but nooo/"

The woman dropped a plate as she heard what the television told her.

"Kimberly Anne Possible has finally shown the world the murderer she has always been!", Dr. Drakken was quoted.

Everyone's heads turned to the television. The image of the shikabane receded into a floating square to the right of the reporter.

The reporter explained, "Today, Drew Theodore P. Lipsky turned the U.N.'s planning session for the memorial of fallen superhero, Hego, into chaos. Ceded the first speech by the memorial's executor, the newly pardoned Shelia Go, Mr. Lipsky went into a tirade that blamed the teen hero for a string of human rights violations. Unlawful invasion and murder being the least."

"I've walked a path that has taken some amazing things for the world to forgive.", Shego began. "But what did my brother ever do? All he did was help people. He protected us...all of us. Why did Kim Posssible murder him? Why did she desecrate his remains?"

The reporter continued. "Ms. Go's emotional appeal wasn't the most surprising development today."

The newscast switched back to the podium at the U.N. Struggling with his mundane wheel chair, Felix Renton rolled to the microphone and adjusted it to his seated height. "I knew Kim Possible to be many things: intelligent, competitive, athletic, passionate...but even jealous. I didn't think I had any reason to fear her, to not invite her into our home. Now, my home...now that she murdered my mother."

"The U.N.'s secretary general had this to say.", the reporter dispassionately droned.

"We must remember where these accusations are coming from.", the diplomat stated to a herd of reporters. "These people were the notorious Dr. Drakken and Shego before being recently pardoned. While their...how do you say, "noses have been kept clean" since this council arranged two of very very few world-wide pardons for them, we must understand that forgiving is not forgetting. It was a matter of policy to pardon anyone that saves the world single-handed; to promote the continuation of such and understanding that the world would give certain leeway to the defenders of all nations. But that leeway is not infinite.

"However. That limitation is also to the privileges that Miss Possible enjoys. There is a large difference between crossing borders without a visa to enforce sanctions upon an abhorrent military regime and cold-hearted murder."

"In summary, I am certain member countries will offer the investigation these accusations merit."

The reporter appeared back on screen. "No security council member has commented on any of these charges.

"Today in sports: The New/"

Mr. Dr. P turned off the television. The kitchen grew very quiet.

"We need to respond to this situation before it develops, Possible-sama.", Yori reminded.

Kim sat down heavily. "And how do I do that? 'Don't worry world, I'm just monster hunting with my boyfriend.'"

Mrs. Dr. Possible tried to support her daughter. "This is just another one of his schemes, dear. You always foil them."

"No.", Kim told her. "This is because he's undead and so is she...go. We tried to return them and they got away."

Her parents backed away from her. Her father asked her, "Did you kill Dr. Renton, Kimmie-cub?"

"I did.", Yori told him. "I discovered that it was an undead monster responsible for a number of murders who only served a single, selfish obsession. And I set the world right by removing it.

"Your daughter knew nothing until the act was complete."

The two elders tried to assess the impassive shikabane hime. Yori met their stares with a willful dispassion.

"How many have you've...um, taken, Yori?", the woman asked.

"Dr. Renton was the first. Hector Go was the second. My master and god-father was the third. My attempt on the corpses known as Drakken and Shego is my only failure.", Yori replied.

Ron spoke up at that point. "Look, Mr. and Mrs. Dr.s P. I know this seems sick and wrong. But Yori's right to do this. These things obsess and no matter how cute or great you think these obsessions are, they take lives. Unchecked, they are just death unchecked. We have to stop them."

"Then what about your friend, Ronald?", the rocket scientist asked.

Yori nodded. She crossed the kitchen and knelt before Jim and Tim. "I want you both to understand that I would never hurt you. No matter what. But can I ask you to go behind your mother while I answer Dr. Possible-san?"

The twins nodded and moved to the woman. Yori moved between the sitting Kim and the standing Ron. "I am one of these monsters. But I am bound to Stoppable-san. The Kougon sect bound me to him and that allows me a path to heaven: saving the world from 108 of these threats, whomever they may pretend to be."

"But what about your obsession?", he continued.

"I was stripped of it in the ceremonies that prepared me for the binding.", Yori told him. "I gave it up along with the curse I would have inflicted upon people at their temple."

The doctors nodded. In the resulting silence, the living took their seats. Yori remained behind Ron's chair.

"So what are we going to do?", Anne asked.

"Mom.", Kim started. "This isn't your fight."

"It isn't yours either, but you're involved.", her father told her. "Now, if you're in trouble young-lady, that happens. But if you expect your family to do nothing about it, then you're wrong.

"Why is Ronald shaking is head?"

Ron looked up abruptly. Everyone was staring at him. "uh, no reason?"

"Don't worry, Ron.", Kim assured. "If you have an idea, there's no harm it saying it. Sure, you might be in a room full of geniuses. But when have my parents been anything but supportive?"

"It's not that, KP.", Ron replied. "Alright, here goes. What if we...take the team in different paths?"

The boy winced as his girl friend lit up the room with her smile.

"That's brilliant!", Kim declared. "You know how you never seem to be remembered? This is what it must have been for. I'll call in favors and get some of our more famous rides to vouch for us in the public eye, squashing this quick. You can take Yori away while I do that. Anyone who actually investigates anything Drakken has to say will find security footage that I didn't do anything to Hego. And I can talk to Felix and find out if Drakken brain-shampooed or brain-drained him or something.

"Here, take the Sloth."

Ron looked at the keys that Kim offered. "Are you sure? You're not going to blame anyone for putting distance between us or anything?"

"Why would I do that?", Kim asked. "Drakken and Shego are the jerks here."

"Monsters.", Yori corrected.

"Thanks Yori.", Kim continued. "See, even Yori knows that. And besides, the sooner those monsters are in the ground and don't have the U.N.'s ear, the sooner this whole thing will be over."

Ron nodded numbly. He accepted the keys and stood, holding and kissing Kim's forehead.

Kim giggled. "Who are you, my father?"

With that his girl friend laid a big smacker on his lips.

Kim's father coughed purposefully, even before Ron and Yori made their exit.

3

Ron and Yori were in the Sloth and freshly laundered 'business' outfits. Ron had been silent for nearly the entire process of washing and drying his mission clothes and Yori's black gi, listening to the twins sound off on new modifications and the entire flight.

Yori moved to speak but Ron hastily cut her off. "I know where I'm going!"

Yori frowned, then placed her hand on his shoulder. "I was going to say that you miss Possible-sama, even though it's only been a few fleeting moments."

Ron tried to laugh but fell woefully short. "Heh, heh...er no. Don't be rediculous, Yori. How could I miss KP already?"

"I am bonded to you, Master Stoppable.", Yori reminded.

Ron's eyes narrowed. Yori continued, "I feel that I miss Possible-sama as well. I feel what you feel, to some extent."

Fortunately, there was nothing around the flying roadster but clear skies. A startled boy asked, "You can read my mind?!"

Yori smiled comfortingly. "No. But I can offer you empathy. Would you like to talk about it, Ron-kun?"

Once telepathy was denied, Ron seemed to settle. "No, I would not like to talk about it, Yori. Not now, not ever. Okay?"

"Of course, as you will, Master Stoppable.", Yori stated demurely.

The two rode in silence for many minutes more. It took Ron unconsciously shrugging for Yori to take her hand away.

"We're here.", Ron said. The car's display mapped out a far flung island in the Canaries.

"How do you know the two shikabane we seek are here, Master Stoppable?", Yori wondered.

Ron shook his head. "Don't let the expensive, super-villain lair defenses fool you. They aren't. Or at least I hope they aren't. Or maybe I do, but that would be too easy and too easy really never is. You know, they should stop calling it 'too easy' and start calling it something like, I don't know...'surprisingly difficult'.

"We're here because we need answers and probably a lot of them. I have an idea on how to get them but it's going to take some doing."

4

"Are the intruder alerting systems not performing as I should be expecting?", Señor Senior Jr. wondered.

Ron in full mission gear, shrouded in a blue monk's robe walked across the room with impunity.

"Do the stopping there!", Jr. commanded.

Next to him, Bonnie Rockwaller scoffed. "He's just the loser, come to ruin my free time. Besides, he's dating the murderer. Just, I don't know, like, do something super-villainy to him or something."

Junior shrugged. He had asked for a bossy girl friend. Junior stepped into Ron's path and pointed at him, taking a breath to speak. He never uttered a word as Ron grasped the finger and jerked. A sudden shudder flowed through the man's body. Ron walked on while Junior stayed in the same exact position, if the occasional twitch.

Bonnie ran to her boyfriend and then turned on Ron. "Oh, no you didn't loser. You did not just paralyze my hottie with some of that monkey mojo!"

Yori chose that moment to reveal herself. The black hooded ninja rose from Bonnie's own shadow. She removed the hood and brushed it across Bonnie, startling the girl into turning around. The shikabane hime grasped Bonnie's hand with a frighteningly strong, spooky cold grip and laid it on her neck's pulse point. Bonnie at first appeared offended then confused. The girl's fingers reached for a moment and confirmed the lack of a pulse. Bonnie was standing in front of a corpse.

"May I eat her heart, Master Stoppable?", Yori whispered to Bonnie. "I've desired the taste of evil's spite for so long. Let me consume this sinner in a plume of gore."

"We got more important things to do.", Ron replied.

Yori frowned. "Thank Master Stoppable for considering you worthless, my tasty treat."

Bonnie nodded as best she could. "Thank you, Ron. Sir."

Yori stepped away even though her grasp lingered. Eventually, Ron and Yori exited the room.

Out of sight, Ron turned to Yori. Both struggled to stifle their laughs. "Oh, man. Did you see the look on her face?", Ron asked.

Yori giggled behind her arm. Her smile was the warmest one he had seen of her.

Then it clicked. Yori was physically taken back by how fast Ron's emotions shifted from jovial to scared. Ron told her, "I don't want you eating anyone."

"It was a joke, Stoppable-san.", Yori assured.

Ron's serious face was well in place. "No more jokes like that. Don't even think about it."

Yori bowed before him. "Of course, Master Stoppable."

Ron touched her gently on the arm to bring her out of the bow. "Let's go talk to the big man, alright."

His shikabane hime nodded.

The pair continued on. They came to a huge room that was too large to even attempt a name. At a table that belonged at a beach side restaurant, sat an elderly, Spanish gentleman. "Ah, Mr. Stoppable. I can only assume you are here to stop whatever plan my son is attempting. Please, explain how my son is attempting to better himself and introduce your pretty friend, yes?"

Ron started. "Oh, right! Junior!"

The boy snapped his fingers. Loud breathing sounds came from the door the two had entered.

Señor Senior Sr. poured out three glasses from the same pitcher. "Can I interest you and your lady friend in a glass of Sorbete de Cava y Limón?"

Ron and Yori glanced to each other, then joined the man at his table. "Sorry, I'm not twenty-one, yet.", Ron replied.

"Oh, my dear boy.", began the European. "We have no such illusions in the Old World. Come, indulge."

Yori glared at the man. "It is not as if the alcohol can affect me, Master Stoppable."

With that, Yori downed her entire glass of frozen treat. Yori whispered softly enough it would take a ninja to hear and in Japanese, "There is no poison, Ron-kun."

"I am glad I have not botched the recipe then.", Señor Senior Sr. stated in perfect Japanese. Taking into account the surprised looks, he went on in Japanese. "I have many guests from around the world. An old man would like to believe he is at least, how do you say...accommodating. But please, I only know the formal language of the empire. Let us relax in the much more...casual...English, no?"

Yori nodded.

"Alright.", Ron conceded. "Actually, we're here because of your guests."

"Has Junior attempted to kidnap them again?", Sr. asked. "A pity. But then again, the boy was never the most imaginative."

"We're not here because of Junior.", Ron replied. "We're here because you have something I need. I think I can offer an exchange."

"Ho ho, a threat from a great warrior!", Sr. exclaimed. "The day looks more exciting already."

Ron shook his head. "NO! No...no, no, no. I mean, a deal, a bargain. I give you something, you give me something."

The man looked confused. "Hm, I do not follow. This doesn't seem to be in the hero-villain dynamic."

Ron laid his head in his hands. "Alright, let me try again.

"Once upon a time, a young Señor Senior Sr. was born in Spain just before World War II. With the demands of the war and Spain not under fire from either side, it was easy for a young man to rack up a fortune in laundering British bribes to Spanish generals and trading in tongue-sten (?), tungsten ore to German factories and diamonds to German government officers that wanted out of Hitler's craziness. In no time at all, you were so filthy rich that you never imagined you would ever spend it."

"In fact, you were bored. But it was then it was the last hay day of the daredevils. Men who got the greatest thrill out of life. Men who you watched growing up."

Sr. objected. "Do not forget the always charming Ms. Helen Gibson. But pray, continue."

Ron nodded. "So you took up that. That started the legend of the Triple-S. I was totally blown away by your MSX moves, by the way."

The man lifted his cane in his shrug. "Ah, the age is over. These allegedly 'extreme' sports you young people play at...they are neither very sporting or extreme. It has been some time since walking on the wings of a plane or barreling head first through a brick wall only stopping when the car under you could no longer endure has been done anywhere outside of a computer system. It is another reason I have admired you and your Ms. Possible so very much."

The boy went on. "Eventually, what happens to all the greats happened to you. You aged. You convinced yourself that family life and enjoying your money were the things a man of your age should do. You grew not only bored but resentful of it. No wonder you grasped at villainy. But it's not like you've done anything in that regard lately.

"But I can offer you what your money can't buy. Excitement."

"Ho ho.", Señor Senior Sr. exclaimed. "And how does the great Ronald Stoppable claim to offer to excite me again. It is not as if your Naco fortune compares to that of my own, even if your classmates would consider your hundreds of millions to designate you upper middle class. And the most entertainment you have ever offered me is in the midst of executing a scheme of villainy: Will it work? Will the heroes prevail? So how can you offer me this 'excitement' in a deal? What can raise up my weary heart?"

"Hunting the undead.", was Ron's simple answer.

The man's face fell into complete seriousness. Both his hands clung to his cane. The only indicator of any emotion was the man's eyes, lighting up with hope.

"It is very dangerous to lie so openly to your host, boy.", he half-threatened.

Ron turned to Yori. Yori nodded.

The shikabane tugged more neckline from her gi. She took up the ice pick from the Sorbete. Walking around the table, she offered the ice pick to Señor Senior Sr. "Have you ever impaled a young girl's heart?", she asked him.

The man looked to Ronald. The boy shrugged. He returned his gaze to Yori. The girl knelt before him, reminding him of a timid geisha.

"Perhaps you have prepared this trick in advance.", he told them. "So I will instead aim for a lung."

Sr. stabbed Yori to the hilt of the ice pick in her chest, just above her wrappings. The man met the girl's gaze and waited for a sign of discomfort. Yori smiled as a conspirator.

"I am sorry. I should have asked a younger man to wound me mortally.", the ninja managed to flirtily tease.

He yanked out the ice pick and felt the hole. It was indeed an untreated wound in chilled flesh. With a breath, Yori whistled to him without opening her lips.

"What do you need of me?", Señor Senior Sr. asked Ron.

"You know I have money.", Ron asked. "But I'm young. I need connects. Hook ups. The kind you must have mad."

"All of my contacts are most congenial.", Sr. objected. "Will that be a problem? Will it prevent me from taking part of this most grand adventure?"

"Depends.", Ron told him. "What does 'congenial' mean? I mean, you might want to explain to Yori 'cause English is her second language."

Yori giggled. "Oh, Stoppable-san. You and your American style ignorance."

"Oh!", Yori gasped. Ron had touch his palm to her back. Sr. witnessed the wound he inflicted close.

"The associates I keep are many and various.", the man explained...to Yori. "They are simply friendly once...how do you say, their palms have been greased appropriately."

Yori corrected her gi. "Thank you for informing.", she replied.

"It is a gentleman's honor.", Sr. assured.

"It will be our honor to accept your aid in our quest.", Yori told him. "Provided Master Stoppable approves."

Ron waved his hand. "Sure, sure. Honor all around. How soon can we get some info?"

The man rested his chin on his cane, while considering "Hm. A task of this importance may require the best money has to buy. I take it you are looking for every lead you can acquire, not someone to follow up on leads of your own pursuit?"

The two nodded.

"I have a man in mind. It will be some time before I can arrange a meeting. Perhaps you and your lovely lady friend would partake of my hospitality in the interim?", Sr. offered.

"Later.", Ron replied. "We actually have an else where to be."

The man nodded and rose. "Then until I have the opportunity to penetrate you with something not quite as hard, my unnamed dear."

Yori rose with Ron. "Oh you.", she replied while flirtily batting a hand at him.

The man barely caught himself on his can and the table before he was slapped to the floor.

Yori turned expressionless. "And I am Yori. Master Stoppable's Shikabane Hime."

5

Once the Sloth had retaken the air, Ron turned to Yori. "What would you have done had he gone for your brain with that ice pick?"

"Broken every bone in his arm.", Yori replied instantly. "Unless you commanded me to die. Then I would do so with all the grace and thankfulness I could muster."

Ron shook his head in disbelief. "That was a pretty big hole he put in you. Are you ready to fight by my side?"

"Always, Ron-kun.", Yori told him.

6

The Sloth blew away dust of the ancients as it touched down, blowing it around statues of creatures. Each seemed to be of one beast, but another as well.

Ron double checked himself. Ron could have sworn he expected Yori to take her own precautions instead of posing in front of him for him to double check her.

After that, Ron walked up to a brass handle and pulled. It instantly leaped from his hand as a giant stone temple rose from the ground. On every story, another one of the bi-special beasts was locked into a stone form. Once its rise was complete, a monkey in purple clothes walked out.

The monkey brought his full height to Ron's waist. "Who dares disturb Yono the Destroyer?!"

"It is I. er, Ron Stoppable, the Monkey Master.", Ron cried out while waving his arms dramatically.

"Ultimate.", Yori stage whispered.

Ron nodded. "That too."

The Yono looked at the pair. Then he laughed. He continued to do so until he was rolling on the ground.

"Look guy.", Ron began. "I just need Monkey Fist back and then we can be on our way. No need to just laugh at me when I haven't even lost my pants."

The monkey stopped laughing. "Why?", the Yono and Yori chorused.

"Uh, that's spooky.", Ron informed, as if the two didn't know about their monstrous voices. "And as for why, you know, I think that's my business. So I'll thank you to A B C your nose out of it."

"If you dislike my nose, then what of my eyes?", the creature asked.

Its eyes began to glow just before a stone inducing beam flew at Ron. Ron turned to the Yono's side and punted it into the risen temple. The stone of the building cracked as the monkey rolled back toward Ron in recoil from the impact. Ron stomped on the monkey once it rolled face down.

Ron proceeded to yell his question, accentuating each word with a ferocious stomp. "I. Said. 'Where' 'Is' 'Fist'?"

Then the boy knelt into the creatures back while pulling the Yono's legs from behind. Yori laid next to the monkey and hugged both arms behind its back with her left arm and held its gaze away from her and Ron with her right.

"It will be your honor to answer the Ultimate Monkey Master's questions.", Yori informed.

"This whelp cannot be he.", the monster informed.

Yori held tight. "Master Stoppable is ascended, I assure you."

The Yono laughed again, if uncomfortably. "Then you have no idea who I am!

"I am the one from the jungle continent. I am the first who truly mastered Tai Sheng Pek Kwar. I spread my teachings far and wide. I am the one who brought Monkey Kung Fu to the land of the rising sun. I will spread it with all the passion in my undying heart.

"My students saw me hunched in frailty. Rather than watch me descend into senility and weakness, they constructed a temple to me and laid me within. It sank into the depths of the stone mountain once I was inside. And when I left this mortal coil, I was invigorated with the strength of the surrounding stone itself.

"So do not tell me who is the Monkey Master. I, alone, know that true answer. Immortal as stone, flowing as water...only I command the dark side of Mystical Monkey Power!"

Yori and Ron reached the same conclusion at the same time.

"The tribesman.", Ron realized.

"Master Umbtubu.", Yori lamented.

This was the first's shikabane. He had lived a life consumed by only one passion, the spread of his discovery. His curse was of his death: a command of stone. Hence, the temple was no longer visited and the map to it was torn in two. It was plain to see once one looked.

"I don't care.", Ron declared. "Give me Monkey Fist."

The Yono had used the time to raise its tail silently behind Ron. Just before it struck, Ron's blue ring popped out of existence leaving the Lotus Blade. Ron swung it under handed, straight through the tail even though it stopped before his monk's robe. Ron stabbed the katana through the leg he let go and into the solid rock.

"Give me Monkey Fist!", Ron yelled over the Yono's screams of rage.

"I will destroy both you and the pig, imposter!", the shikabane roared.

"Pig?", Yori wondered.

"Short, round, fat, pink, snub nose, beady eyes...", Ron considered. "Would want Monkey Fist. DNAmy! That's what the statues are about. You turned them to stone while she ducked out with Monkey Fist."

"Is there anything else you wish to know from this thing, Master Stoppable?", Yori asked.

"Stop calling him that!", the Yono wailed.

"No.", Ron agreed.

Yori tightened her hold on the shikabane's head. "Then I may honor Master Umbtubu's life by destroying his corrupted corpse?"

Ron nodded solemnly. "The Lotus Blade will do what you need."

Yori seemed to hesitate. The corpse took a deep breath. With blinding speed, Yori let the Yono's arms go. Ron wrapped the arm he had been holding the Yono's trapped leg in around the arms. The ninja then pulled the Lotus Blade from the mountain like it was Excaliber in the anvil and stone. It fell in a crystal blue blur through the Yono's brain pan.

Ron jumped away as the Master Umbtubu's shikabane dissipated. Yori rolled into a kneeling position.

The shiikabane hime revered the blade. Yori touched her head to the mountain and used her flexibility to raise the blade above her head, offering it back to Ron.

"You have honored me, Master Stoppable.", Yori told him. "And I deserve none of it. I have killed two masters in one day. All my power, all your gifts...I have traveled further today through a marvel designed by children than any student of Yamanouchi had in a week. And all of this, why? To kill my sensei and my ancestor? I do not deserve to use your Lotus Blade. If you will command the blade to take the form of a whip, I will lay over any stone you command."

Ron kneeled beside her. "Remember what Sensei said, Yori? These creatures can't help themselves. Remember what the Yono did the last time it was let out? I'm not going to pretend to know what it's like for you. But I am going to remind you that we are fighting the good fight. We're saving the world.

"Kim would be proud of you."

Yori looked up at him. "That means the world to you."

Ron gained an expression of confusion but then admitted it. He smiled and nodded.

"Then there is no greater compliment. I return the Lotus Blade to your hand, Ron-kun. Reshape it how you see fit."