Chapter 8

Jenny lay in bed, hands behind her head. She'd gotten no sleep at all, wrestling with a problem. She stared at the ceiling, going over the possibilities again and again.

"We leave for Japan day after tomorrow... what am I going to do...?" she thought. Suddenly she sat bolt-upright. "What am I doing? There's really only one thing I CAN do."

She looked at the clock, to find it was after two A.M.. She got up and booted up her computer. Starting the video conferencing program, she typed in an address. After three or four seconds, the video screen lit up to reveal Yori still at monitor duty. The ninja girl looked surprised.

"Konnichiwa, Jen-chan," said Yori, ducking her head, "It is nice to see you. How may I assist?"

"Yori, I have a problem here, and... as much as I hate to do it, I can't come to Yamanouchi," said Jenny.

Yori's eyes grew wide. "May I ask the nature of the problem? Is it something I can help you with?"

"No, it's about my friend Tara," said Jenny, closing her eyes. "I told you about her breakdown. Well, I've been spending a lot of time with her since we got back from South America, and she's just beginning to recover. She's still having trouble believing I'm real."

The girl's pink cat-slitted eyes watered. "I'm responsible for her condition, and I can't leave her now. If I left for a year at this point, I think she'd go completely insane. I have to stay, for her sake."

"I see that you have continued to grow as a hero," responded Yori, with a smile, "You are putting your friend ahead of yourself."

"Oh, I've wrestled with this decision, believe me," responded Jenny, "My 'villain instincts' tell me to go, and let her take care of herself. But that urge isn't nearly as strong as it used to be. And now I see it for what it is, the exact opposite of what I need to do."

Jenny straightened herself up, and gave a small smile. "And it won't be a total loss, I can start college now."

"You show much wisdom and compassion, Jen-chan. I will inform Sensei," said Yori. "Sayonara." The ninja girl ducked her head and broke the connection.

Jenny went back to bed, much relieved, and fell asleep shortly thereafter.

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Jenny broke the news to her family the next morning at breakfast.

"But Jen, we really need you to go with us!" said Kim, "You know why, to improve our teamwork and skills."

"I'm sorry, Kim, I can't abandon Tara. Subject closed," said Jenny.

Kim made to protest, but stopped at her mom's expression.

"Maybe you can postpone going, until Tara's better," said Mrs. Possible.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll call Ron and see what he thinks," Kim replied.

Just then Jenny's Jennunicator gave its familiar four-tone alert. She pulled it out and keyed it open. To her surprise,
Yori was in the screen.

"Konnichiwa, Jen-chan," said the ninja, ducking her head. "I have some news of interest. After some investigating into your friend Tara-san's condition, Sensei has decided that you may bring her with you. We offer some meditative and self-
help instruction that may be of use to her."

Jenny's face split into a wide grin. "Thank you! I would never expect that kind of consideration. I will tell Tara's mom as soon as possible!"

"Very good," said Yori, "We all look forward to seeing you in a few days."

The screen blanked.

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"You sure you're okay with her going with us for a year?" asked Jenny, two days later.

Mrs. Matthews nodded. "It's a wonderful opportunity for her, and you can help her get better at the same time."

"I'll do my best, believe me," answered Jenny, and they hugged.

She and Tara, along with Kim, Ron, Rufus and their parents, were in the lobby of Middleton International Airport, waiting to be taken to the jet for their private flight to Japan.

Just then a ninja appeared out of nowhere, handed Kim the Secret Ninja Tickets, and vanished again. "I guess that's our flight," said Kim.

The five of them gave final hugs and farewells, grabbed the small bags they were taking (everything they would need would be supplied at the school, so just a couple changes of clothes were packed) and headed for the appropriate gate.

The flight to Japan was uneventful. Kim and Ron did some snuggling, while Jenny watched a movie with Rufus and Tara. They all got some sleep on the long flight.

kpkpkp

The Tokyo Airport was bustling and confusing, but following the written directions given with the tickets, they caught the correct bus to Yamanouchi.

It was a ride of over an hour, but they were let out at the gate to the school. There was no one to meet them.

"So, where is this famous secret school?" asked Jenny, looking around at the wilderness.

Kim looked at Jenny. "Famous secret school? How can it be both?"

Jenny grinned. "Just like HIVE Academy. It was famous as a school for super villians, but it was secret too."

Kim just shook her head.

"Anyway, where is it?" asked Jenny, "Hidden with holograms?"

"No, we aren't there yet," answered Ron, who drew himself up, "It will be our honor to walk."

Kim and Jenny looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Tara said nothing, as she appeared to be lost in her thoughts,
but followed the others. They followed Ron, who remembered the way with help from Rufus. They finally got to the box canyon with the waterfall at the end. They sat and caught their breath for a few minutes. They had been going up steadily,
so the air was growing thinner.

They all took a drink from the stream, which was clear, cold, and refreshing.

"Looks like a dead end," said Kim, "You must have misremembered which fork to take."

"Uh uh," argued Rufus, glaring at Kim.

"No, this is right. Trust me," said Ron, grinning. He went over to the waterfall, and an astonished Kim, Tara and Jenny watched as he walked through it without hesitation, Rufus on his shoulder.

"Come on in, the water's fine!" they heard him call over the noise of the waterfall. They looked at each other, and made the plunge. Tara took Jenny's hand as she did.

Inside they found the cave to be only some twenty feet deep, ending abruptly in a chasm spanned by a rope and plank bridge. The other side was higher, and there sat the Yamanouchi School. The main gate at the other end of the bridge was open, but nobody was visible.

Arriving at the gate panting a bit, they still saw no one.

"That's some view," said Jenny, looking down at the tops of trees a thousand feet below. The other four turned and looked as well.

"Welcome to Yamanouchi," said a male voice behind them. They turned, and Kim saw an old friend.

"Hirotaka!" she exclaimed, "You're still here?"

"Indeed, Kim Possible," he answered, "And I greet you, along with the Chosen One, Rufus-san, Matthews-san and..." his voice trailed off as he got a good look at Jenny, but recovered quickly, "Wheeler-san."

He bowed to Jenny. "I apologize for my rudeness."

"Don't worry about it, handsome," smirked Jenny, "Happens all the time."

For the very first time, Kim saw Hirotaka lose his 'coolness'. He blushed at Jenny's comment, and stammered, "Uh, i-if you will follow me, Sensei is waiting to greet you." He quickly turned and led the way inside.

Jenny couldn't help but snicker behind her hand, and Kim gave her a sharp nudge. "Behave."

In return, Kim got a wide-eyed "Who? Me?" look.

It was going to be a long year, Kim groaned to herself.