A/N: this might be my last update for a few weeks - I have exams in the way until the end of July and a couple of other fics to update, so my spare time will be limited. I hope it won't take me TOO much to get back to this, though.
As for this chapter, I had a great time writing it, which is probably the reason why it got a lot longer than it should have been. I had been looking forward to get to the part of the story set in Yamanouchi for a while, and I couldn't wait to get Yori back in the picture. I SO wish I could get writing the next chapter right away. Too bad real life has a thing for getting in the way of fun.
:P


"A secret ninja school," Monty repeated for the millionth time, still sounding just as incredulous as when he had first said that. Ron had to wonder how could he have enough breath to keep saying it, considering that they had been climbing up the narrow path that led to the peak of Mount Yamanouchi for well past two hours – how could he and Kim manage to walk upright and speak while Ron was panting and close to crawling himself?

"Yeah, that's exactly what Yamanouchi is," Kim replied before stopping yet again to allow Ron to catch his breath.

"But it's impossible! I never heard of a such thing!"

Kim smirked. "First off, impossible? Rule out that word as long as you're sticking with us. Besides, it's no wonder you never heard of it. That's the point of it being a secret school, isn't it?"

"Well, you'll find out what and where it is at some point. Later on. Okay, so now you know about it, but before this I guess it's normal you didn't know of it. Yet. I think," Ron rubbed his temples "man, time travels are a mess."

Monty frowned a little. "Does that mean he knows the location of the school?" he asked, his posture stiffening and his fists clenching. Kim and Ron exchanged a quick look.

"Well, yes. But even if he does think about looking for you here, there's going to be plenty of trained ninjas to make sure he can't even approach the school, let alone you."

"What if he uses the Tempus Simia to get inside the school directly?"

Ron shrugged. "Wade thought about that and asked Sensei when we contacted him. Sensei said he's sure that can't be done because of some… don't know, some mystical mumbo jumbo surrounding the mountain. No chances for Monkey Fist to just appear and drag you into some portal with him. Besides, as soon as we get a chance we'll make sure to make him think we hid you somewhere in some other time: he doesn't know we can't travel in times other than the ones he visited himself. If he falls for it, he'll have so many places and times to go looking for you that he can grow old trying. And we'll always be after him."

Monty breathed a little more easily. "That's good to know," he said, relief clearly showing in his voice before he frowned again.

"What is it?" Kim asked, gesturing for Ron to get moving again.

"Is there anything I should know? Namely, about whatever… happened between these Yamanouchi ninjas and Monkey Fist?" Monty asked a little hesitantly, and it was clear he feared the answer. Not having really given that much thought about the fact the Yamanouchi students could easily place the blame of anything Monkey Fist did on him, Kim bit her lower lip – now that Monty brought it up, it was a valid point. And if he was their enemy before, after Hirotaka's death…

She sighed. "Well, they helped us trying to stop Monkey Fist from getting the Time Monkey, but we still didn't manage to stop him," she said, avoiding any mention of Hirotaka's fate and hoping the Yamanouchi ninjas would spare him that as well; it would only make things worse for him "but they had met before that already. I don't really know the details yet," Kim added, glancing sideways at Ron, who grinned a little sheepishly "but the first time Monkey Fist showed up here, he stole some artefact from them and-"

"Do you mean he managed to sneak inside and steal from them?" Monty asked with a worried frown, holding back a question over what kind of artefact she was referring to.

"Hey, cut them some slack. They weren't expecting it – they'll know better this time," Ron said almost defensively "besides, that time he managed to sneak in because one of the students betrayed them and let him in while he was on patrol. He was kicked out of the school for that, and for helping him kidna… with some other stuff. I really don't think that will happen again."

Monty nodded. "I see," he said, but the news was less than encouraging. He had gathered that those people were not precisely in good terms with Monkey Fist, and the possibility they could take his presence less than well didn't seem exactly unlikely.

"Don't worry too much about it. Sensei is a cool guy, and… uh… well, Sensei is a cool guy. And he wants to help you out," Ron said optimistically, apparently guessing what he was thinking – how oddly perceptive of him, Monty thought with a smirk. His smirk, however, melted in a confused frown as they stopped in front of a dead end – a waterfall. "What is it? Did we get lost?"

Kim shook her head. "No, we're pretty much there. This way," she gestured for Monty to follow before walking past the waterfall. She was once again greeted by the magnificent sight the Yamanouchi school was even from that side of the bridge, surrounded by mist and peaks.

"Monty, meet the Yamanouchi school," Ron said, giving Monty a pat on the back.

No answer.

Kim turned, and she couldn't hold back a laugh as she saw Monty staring at the school with his mouth hanging open, eyes wide. He tried to say something, but nothing intelligible left his mouth.

"Hey, dude, are you okay?" Ron asked, waving a hand in front of his eyes. Monty gave no sign of having even noticed.

"You can close your mouth now, you know," Kim pointed out, still chuckling.

"I… this is… this…" Monty seemed unable to speak for a few moments, then his brain caught up and he suddenly began asking so many questions at once and so quickly that Kim could barely even register what he was saying.

"Is this actually the school you told me about? The ninja school?" he asked excitedly, apparently having forgotten he had already been told so "what kind of martial forms do they teach here? Could I take part to the lessons? How many students are there? What century was the school built? It looks ancient, maybe… sometime between 400 and 300 AD, I daresay? But how was it built? It looks like it's part of the mountain – why choose a location like this? Was it meant to ensure secrecy?" he turned to glance back "but of course, there is no way to see it from the outside! How often have there been contacts with the outside word? If they've been scarce, there is a strong chance for many aspects of tradition the outside world has forgotten to have survived here…! Do you have any idea-?"

"Whoa, whoa, hold on a minute!" Ron cut him off "we… don't really know that much. Why don't you ask Master Sensei? I'm sure he'll fill you in if you ask," he said. There was something unsettling in how overly excited he was, as if he had completely forgotten everything that was going on in his life now… and it suddenly reminded Ron of how carried away Monkey Fist got when talking of Mystical Monkey Power, how anything else lost its importance in comparison. But at least that was only the academic kind of interest, nothing to do with mad quests for power, so… it was okay, right?

Monty frowned a little, suddenly looking sceptical. "What makes you think he will want to share their secrets with me? They must be extremely secretive over anything," he muttered, his gaze still fixed on the school as they approached.

"Well, they are, and he does shy away from questions and stuff, but… again, he's a cool guy. I bet he'll tell you what he can," Ron said, though Kim couldn't help but wonder if he'd really be that willing to tell much of anything to someone who was, after all, the same person as Monkey Fist.

"Are you certain?" Monty seemed both hopeful and doubtful "I'm already surprised that they even agreed to let an outsider stay."

"Hey, it's going to be okay, really. I mean, they let me stay," Ron said "besides, it's better for them if you don't turn out to be Monkey Fist."

Something in what he said caused Monty to suddenly frown. In his enthusiasm upon seeing that place, for a few minutes he had completely forgotten what he had been told about the previous encounters between Monkey Fist and they Yamanouchi ninjas… but now the thought was even more worrying. What if they decided to have Monkey Fist fading from existence by…?

"Stoppable-san, Kim Possible – it is my honour to greet you back in Yamanouchi," a feminine voice snapped him from his thoughts. He glanced ahead to realize that they were reaching the end of the bridge and that a Japanese girl who had to be around his own age clad in a gi was standing in front of the entrance. Her eyes lingered in him for just a moment, and there was no mistaking the scowl that crossed her features for that brief instant before she turned her attention back to Kim and Ron, giving no tangible sign of having even acknowledged his presence, and Monty suddenly got the distinct feeling his stay there might no be pleasant after all.

"Hi, Yori," Ron waved at her "sorry it took us a while, but… well, you know we had to walk."

"And it was our honour," Kim added with a small smirk. It had to be some inside joke Monty didn't get, because the ninja's serious expression softened and melted in a smile for a few moments.

"Sensei has been waiting for you. Do follow me."

It didn't take Monty more than two seconds to realize that no, he most certainly was not as welcomed there as Ron had thought. As they walked in all the students who had been training paused and turned to look at them – more specifically, at him – and they were doing nothing to conceal the scowls on their faces… a detail that made Monty's enthusiasm drop another notch or two, and not even his curiosity about that place and its traditions could help. Ron seemed to busy chatting with Yori to notice it, but Kim reached to grab his forearm.

"They'll calm down once Sensei speaks to them," she said quietly "and… you won't have to stay here for long, I promise. But we needed you to be safe, and this is the only place we could think of."

"It's alright. Just do your best to catch him, I don't think I'll die without a fan club. Just make sure there won't be assassination attempts while I sleep," he tried to smirk a little, and Kim chuckled as well before letting go of his arm.

"Don't worry, they wouldn't," she said as they stopped in front of a door that apparently led to Sensei's dojo. Yori pushed the door open and bowed at them – at Kim and Ron, most likely – in a clear invitation to get in. Monty found himself holding his breath as he stepped into the dojo. It was made of old wood, with some carvings on the walls, and in the middle of the room, surrounded by candles giving the room an eerie dim glow, was sitting an old man. He looked old, so very old, but nothing in him made Monty think of frailness. He smiled as they approached.

"Kim Possible, Stoppable-san, it is my honour to see you here again. Do not leave yet, Yori," he added, glancing past them "close the door and walk closer. I have a duty for you."

As Yori did as instructed, the old man turned his gaze to Monty for the first time. For a moment he just stared at him with a serene expression the young man simply couldn't decipher, then he gave him a nod. "And you must be Montgomery Fiske, of course. It is our honour to have you here."

Oh, is it?

Monty had to bite the inside of his cheek to not utter the sarcastic remark; that man was clearly the Sensei after all, and he seemed to mean well as far as he was concerned. Annoying him would be a rather foolish move on his part. "It is, uh… my honour to be here," he said instead.

Sensei chuckled. "You are such a good liar already," he said "but there is no need to lie to me. You have been through so much these days, and you must be wary of everything. Not to mention that, while I'm certain none of the students has dared to disrespect you, I rather doubt any of them showed much… enthusiasm upon seeing you."

"That's a polite way to put it," Monty said dryly, then he winced as Kim stomped on his foot not exactly by accident "I mean… it's understandable, I suppose," he corrected himself, pretending to be unaware of the fact the old man was still chuckling "this is a rather… peculiar situation."

"Understatement of the century, dude," Ron pointed out behind him.

"Why, thank you for pointing that out. I might have really thought I simply found myself in a slightly unusual situation," Monty gave him an annoyed glance. What was he supposed to say anyway?

"That someone could use the Tempus Simia to alter the events... it is something that probably never happened," Sensei spoke up, silencing Ron before he could protest and thus ending the argument before it even began "and if it did happen, we will never know. Time should never be altered, but since this time the normal time stream has been altered already and I can see no way we could undo a such thing… perhaps we can at least hope to make things change for the best. Of course, we can put our best efforts in this, but ultimately, it depends on you," he stared straight in Monty's eyes "it is your life, and how this will turn out is your choice. And even though it would be for the best for many people if things don't turn out the same way once more, it would be deeply unfair of us trying to force your hand. Not to mention we would be unsuccessful, for there are things that cannot be dictated."

Monty scowled. "Don't think even for a minute that I could ever willingly choose to become that kind of man," he said, a little more coldly than it was necessary.

"But you did once, didn't you?" an equally cold voice came from behind him. Monty blinked and turned to see Yori scowling at him – maybe hearing him speaking like that to Sensei had been the last straw. "Who says you wouldn't turn out the same?"

"I won't," Monty snapped, clenching his fists tightly. He hated him, hated that twisted version of himself more than he had ever hated anything else, and the mere thought she could even suggest he'd ever want to become Monkey Fist was infuriating and downright hurtful – but he could think of much he could actually say to back up his claim, for he didn't yet know how could he possible come to turn into… into that.

"You will forgive me if I have some trouble believing you," she retorted "you're the same person. What would be different this time?"

"Enough, Yori," Sensei spoke up before Monty would retort, some sternness in his voice "I already discussed this with all of you. If he doesn't, it will have been our honour helping him along the way. If he does, indeed, grow up to be Monkey Fist… then he does. We'd have no way to change it. But mistrust is not going to help him in any way."

Yori seemed about to say something, then she just nodded and turned back to him. "My apologies," she said with a bow that didn't seem just a little too stiff "I meant no offence."

"None taken," he said briefly, faintly wondering what could Monkey Fist have ever done to her before turning his attention back to Sensei. "In any case, you have my word – I'd die before turning out that way," he said quietly.

"I certainly hope you won't have to go that far," the old man replied with a serene smile that worried Monty just a little – how could Kim and Ron be that sure they wouldn't go as far as eliminating him to keep Monkey Fist from existing? Of course, Sensei didn't seem inclined to do so, but what about the others? Monty was about to voice his thoughts, but Sensei spoke again. "We'll speak more of this when you won't be as tired as you are now; you went through a long journey to arrive here. We have a room ready for you, where you can rest. We'll let you have a gi by this evening, and tomorrow morning you'll join the lessons."

Monty's gaze brightened just a little, and in his enthusiasm at the thought of getting to train in a real ninja school with real masters he didn't stop to think how other students might make the lessons less than pleasant for him. "May I?"

"But of course. Keeping you secluded is not our intention, and it certainly would serve no purpose. How far are you in your training?"

"Well… I've been training for a couple of years or so, but I'm completely self-learned and… I'm afraid I never actually had an opponent to fight," he admitted.

"Then I'm sure your time here could be most useful to your training," Sensei said encouragingly "and do tell me, what martial art are you practicing?"

Monty gave a wry smile. "Do I even have to tell you?"

Sensei didn't seem surprised. "Tai Shing Pek Kwar, of course," he muttered "may I ask which variation?"

"The Stone Monkey."

"In that case, you might learn some interesting moves and stances that relate to your chosen fighting stile during your stay, if you'll have the patience to start learning from others."

Monty's smile was a little more honest this time. "It would be my honour."

"Very well. Rest assure, you're safe here – and I trust Kim Possible and Stoppable-san to be more than capable to take down Monkey Fist when the time comes. There are many things you might need to know about the school, but I am old and such information tends to slip off my mind," he gave a brief chuckle "Yori will be your guide for during your stay here."

It took Monty a few moments to process what he had just said. "…what?" he asked, his shoulders dropping a little – out of all students in that school, did he have to pick someone who apparently liked him just as much as he liked his older self? Fine, no one in that school was likely to actually love having him around, still…!

Yori seemed to share his thoughts. "What?" blurted out, looking almost shocked. Master Sensei couldn't be possibly asking her to look after him! How could she do so while every time she looked at him she saw Monkey Fist's face just beneath the surface – Monkey Fist laughing as he brandished the Lotus Blade, grinning as Fukushima began lowering her and Stoppable-san in the lava of the volcano… and grinning just as much as he probably had when he had killed Hirotaka, breaking his neck with one twist before disrobing him to take his place and fool them all. Not to mention that laughter when he had taunted them before disappearing with the Tempus Simia, that insane, horrible laughter…!

"Yori…" Sensei began a little patronizingly, but Yori spoke up, interrupting him for the first time.

"Master Sensei, I… I ask you to reconsider," she said, bowing her head "there must be other students who-"

"Enough, Yori," the old man sounded a little sterner now "I'm asking you to do this because I'm well aware of how tense the situation is, and I know that you are far less inclined than many other students are to give in to your anger. As much as it pains me to say so, Monkey Fist may not be the only one he will need protection for. It his my hope none of the students will dishonour all of us like this, but we are to be his guardians now and his safety is our priority, and we can take no risks."

Yori stayed silent for a moment, then she bowed again. "My apologies, Sensei. I didn't mean to disrespect you," she said, then she turned to Monty. "It will be my honour to be your guide."

"Yes, I can just see how honoured you feel," he said dryly, with the result of having Ron elbowing his side lightly.

"Hey, don't take it so badly, okay?" he said, his voice low "she's had… a lot of trouble with this whole thing lately. Don't make it harder for her."

A lot of trouble? Her? But of course, he was the one who had been dragged in another time to find out that he would grow up to become an insane monkey man and murderer, he was the one who now found himself stuck in a school filled with trained ninjas that apparently hated him as much as they hated his older self – how could he not be sensitive enough to realize that she, a person who clearly despised him just as much or maybe even more then the others did, was having a hard time?

"I'll try, but I can't promise anything," he muttered, not really caring if anyone else heard him.

"It is settled, then," Sensei gave a nod and rose, glancing at Kim and Ron "would you like to stay with us for a while? It would be a honour to us."

Kim shook her head. "No, thanks. We'd like to, but in case some mission comes up or Monkey Fist shows up again we've got to be in a place we can get a quick lift from, and you sure don't want jets or helicopters too close to the school. And if this 'no openings in time and space continuum' rule counts for technology, too, we won't be able to even follow him back and forth in time from here."

"You do have a point. Very well, then – allow me to walk you to the bridge," he said "Yori, do show our guest his room and tell everything he needs to know about classes."

"Yes, master Sensei."

Ron walked up to Monty and patted his shoulder. "Good luck with these guys. Try not eating too much rice and let us know how it's going," he said, pressing something against Monty's hand, and it took Monty a moment to realize that it was a device very similar to the one Kim used to speak with that friend of theirs – Wayne? Wade? He didn't remember. Even though he had no idea how he would make that thing work, he still took it and smiled back at Ron.

"I'll be fine, no need to worry. But thanks."

"See you soon," Kim said with a brief nod before both her and Ron followed Sensei to the door and left the dojo. Monty sighed before turning to Yori.

"Aren't you supposed to be showing me my room?" he asked coldly.

"Yes," she replied just as coldly, gesturing for him to follow her "this way."

There were a few moments of silence as they made their way outside the dojo, into another building and then through corridors that looked everything like old painting he had seen of ancient Japanese buildings meant to train warriors. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're not at all fond on me," Monty finally spoke up, more to break the unnerving silence than because he really had any intention to speak to her of anything.

"That shouldn't surprise you after what you did to this school and its students," she said stiffly.

"I rest my case," he said dryly "but in case you didn't notice, I never set foot in this school before. Not me. I refuse to refer of myself as the same person as Monkey Fist, and I'm not going to accept any blame for what he did," Monty pointed out, his scowl deepening. If he had to stay there, it would be for the best if they began to get that through their skulls.

"You could find yourself unable to simply shake off any blame if you knew what you did."

"What Monkey Fist did. In any case, what Bates told me was enough. I don't really look forward to know anything more," he said a little bitterly, trying to chase the thought of Bates out of his mind "but I will never take the blame for anything he did."

"You're delusional if you really think you can view him and yourself as two separate people," Yori muttered through gritted teeth.

"Stoppable-san doesn't seem to agree," he retorted, and he allowed himself to smirk at the sudden stiffness of her shoulders – one point for him, apparently "he's the one who told me not to think of him and myself as one and the same."

There was a moment of silence before Yori spoke again. "Stoppable-san is a noble soul. He wants to see the best in everybody even when there is no good to be found."

Monty's smirk turned into a frown, the short-lived triumph souring. "If that is what you and the others think, may I inquire why did you decide to keep me here rather than letting Monkey Fist find me, then? If you think I'm bound to turn out that way, what difference does it make-" he trailed off as Yori abruptly stopped walking and turned to face him.

"Master Sensei certainly has his own reasons to keep you here, and he doesn't have to share them with us. We trust him. He told me to look after you, and I will. Closely," she added, her eyes narrowing a little "it shouldn't be a problem to you if I keep an eye on you since you're not up to anything, isn't that right?"

Monty stared at her for a few moments, taken aback, then he snorted. "Not at all," he said icily "now, would you mind doing what your precious Sensei asked you to do and just show me my room? Verbal communication shall not be needed."

"As you wish," Yori said, ignoring his last remark before she turned to her left and pulled a door open "this is your room. It's isolated from the others to avoid any risk for the other students – or for you."

"Afraid someone might decide to make me pay for something I haven't even done?"

"It's unlikely, but a possibility. I can't honestly say it's something you wouldn't deserve it."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you would like to see that happen," he said sarcastically.

Yori gave no real reply to that. "Sensei said you should be kept safe, and you will. The closest room to yours is mine. You have to step in front of it any time you get out, and I can grant you that I will hear you if you try to sneak out at night."

Monty faintly wondered just how paranoid she could get. "What makes you think I'd have any need to sneak outside at night?"

"There are priceless item in this school – items that it is our honour to guard. It wouldn't be the first time you tried to steal from Yamanouchi's grounds."

"I never stole anything from this blasted place!" Monty finally snapped. There was a limit to his patience, and she had just crossed it. Couldn't she get it through her brain that he hadn't done anything to her or her precious school? "I refuse to take blame-"

"If not you, then who do you think is to blame?" she asked sharply.

He narrowed his eyes. "Monkey Fist is."

"That is exactly the point. And you are Monkey Fist," she said icily "nothing you say if going to change that."

Monty gritted his teeth, but he chose not to repeat how he refused to accept being blamed for Monkey Fist's actions; it was clear she wouldn't accept that argument. "Nothing I say, maybe. How about what I do?" he asked "that could change a lot. That could change everything."

She seemed to consider his words for a few moments before replying. "In that case it will be your actions to do the speaking for you," was all she said before nodding toward his room "I'll bring you your dinner later; for today it's better for you to dine here while Sensei speaks to the other students. Lessons will start at four in the morning," she added before turning her back to him and walking away, leaving him alone in front of the open door.

Monty stared at her retreating back for a few moments, anger burning in his chest, but he could think of nothing he could retort and last thing he felt like doing was starting a shouting contest. Besides, he was tired. He sighed and walked in the small room, sliding the door shut behind himself before sitting cross-legged on the mattress, wondering if that was the kind of attitude everyone in that place was going to have toward him – at least Kim and Ron had been friendly.

He scowled and shook his head as if to chase away the thought. Why should he care what those people thought of him? He wasn't going to be there for long, only enough time for Kim and Ron to take the Tempus Simia from Monkey Fist – after that he would be back in his own time, and he'd take his life back… making sure Monkey Fist would never come to be. No, what the students of a secret ninja school would think of him was none of his concern.

What did concern him, on the other hand, was the lesson he was supposed to attend to with them in the morning.


The ungodly hour the gong woke him up the next morning would have been less of an issue had he been able to sleep at least a couple of hours that night – instead he hadn't been able to sleep more than a few minutes, and even then he had been more snoozing than actually sleeping: the rest of the night had been spent lying on his back and staring at the blackness above him, his ears straining to catch the slightest sound, only focused in the attempt to stop thinking. He feared that if he allowed himself to do so, his own thought would have made sleep an even more impossible achievement.

So when it was time for him to wear the gi Yori had silently brought him along with his dinner the previous evening – he was relieved it fit him, since he wouldn't have put above her giving him a poor fit on purpose – and headed to the yard where the lesson would take place, he felt even more pessimistic than he probably should have been. Sure, he was still thrilled by a certain degree by the chance of taking part to actual lessons of martial arts with real teachers and people to train with, but the sensation he wasn't up for a pleasant experience was stronger than it had been even the previous evening and it made his insides clench.

He wasn't wrong about that: the first thing he noticed as he took his place among them, right beside a rather icy Yori, was the fact most of the other students were turned to look at him – and none of them looked friendly in the slightest. They all looked rather hostile, really, and even the few who seemed to be mildly curious were staring at him with their fists clenched.

Oh joy.

"I suppose you are Montgomery Fiske," a voice snapped him from his thought, and he glanced ahead – like everyone else – to see a woman he supposed was the teacher staring at him with narrowed eyes. She didn't look any friendlier than the students, and his insides seemed to knot even tighter. If even the teachers were out to get him, he was in a worse situation then he had thought.

Monty briefly glanced at his right to see that Yori was staring ahead with a stony expression on her face – so, no help would come from her part. Oh well, not that he had expected it. No matter, though: he could handle that. He could handle all of them. He drew in a deep breath and clenched his jaw, determinated not to let them intimidate. "Yes. It is my honour to meet you, I suppose."

"The honour is all yours," she said stiffly, and Monty had to grit his teeth not to snap – he knew better than doing so. He faintly wondered if there could be anything Monkey Fist had done against that school other than what he had been told: there had to be something past some stealing and a kidnapping to fuel that much hatred. He was suddenly reminded of something Kim had mentioned in his presence – something about a Yamanouchi ninja having died while they struggled to stop Monkey Fist from acquiring the Tempus Simia. The thought made him feel as though he had swallowed ice: if they viewed that death as Monkey Fist's doing and they did consider him one and the same as their enemy, then it was no wonder they hated his guts.

He didn't like the direction that was taking. It didn't like it at all.

"This is your first lesson in this school, isn't it?" the teacher was speaking to him again "and tell me, in which school have you studied up to this point?"

"I attended no school of martial arts, if that's what you mean. I'm completely self-learned," Monty replied, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible in hopes to hide both the worry gnawing at him and the anger boiling in his chest at the thought he was being held responsible for something he had never done, treated like a criminal because of that mockery of a man Monkey Fist was.

"I see. And I trust it's not ninjutsu you trained yourself into, is it?" she asked coldly, but it was no real question. Everyone there had to be aware of what his – Monkey Fist's – chosen martial art was.

"No. I trained myself in Tai Shing Pek Kwar for the past two years," he said through gritted teeth, trying to keep his gaze focused on the teacher's face and to ignore the slight snorts and murmurs coming from the students – were they usually that noisy and disrespectful of other learners? Monty doubted so, as he doubted the teacher would have let it pass had anyone else been in his shoes. He had to make an effort to keep the scowl off his face, his anger turning into something close to hatred against everyone surrounding him.

Perhaps hiding there hadn't been such a good idea.

"In that case, I think it would be fit seeing what kind of fighting stile you have and how far in your training you are," the teacher went on, snapping him from his furious thoughts "and the best way is seeing you fighting. Step forward – you too, Toshio."

Monty tried to ignore the fact he felt as though his insides had twisted once more and did as he had been told, glancing at Yori just for a moment: she was still staring ahead with a stony expression on her face. Still no hope to see any help coming from her. Just wonderful.

It doesn't matter, I don't need her help. I don't need anyone's help. I'll show them I'm not so easy to-

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as he saw his opponent walking up to him. He had to be about his age, and from the fluid grace of his movements it wasn't hard to tell he had to be much more experienced than he was; no wonder, since everyone in there had been training every day for years with proper masters while he had simply been teaching himself the moves and stances for the past couple of years in his spare time. He was in clear disadvantage, and he was going to have to do his best.

Still, what worried him the most was the expression on his opponent's face: not only it showed contempt, but its owner was doing nothing to conceal it. It was clear he wasn't going to go easy at all on him, and still he had been picked by the teacher to fight him – and not only that, but the one who was supposed to look after him had said nothing about it. Monty was starting to fear he wouldn't make it through that day's lessons unscathed.

So be it. But I won't go down without a fight.

No, he wouldn't. Never. Monty clenched his jaw as he exchanged the custom bow with his opponent before they both took a fighting stance and circled each other for a few moments, looking for an opening and trying to determinate the other's weak points. Monty noticed that the student leant a lot on his left side, and perhaps if he acted quickly he could make him take an unbalanced stance and-

A second later there was no time to think any further, for Toshio swiftly attacked and Monty found himself having to use all his concentration to block his blows, or to dodge them. After a few moments' confusion he finally regained some control and began to counter attack. He sidestepped a blow and grabbed his opponent's arm to fling him over his shoulder and on the ground, but he immediately bounced back on his feet and used the momentum to attack him once more.

Monty managed to mostly block his blows, but didn't try to return any – for now he simply had to stay on the defence and try to determinate a pattern in his opponent's fighting style. Besides, if he let him think he was in complete advantage there would be a chance for him to grow careless.

Finally, Monty saw Toshio taking a step back with his left foot, his right fist pulling low before springing up in what would have been a vicious blow to his stomach. Monty and immediately stepped on his left to avoid the blow – still, the peculiar way his opponent had shifted his weight by bringing back his left foot and the fact he had just used his right hand while until that moment everything seemed to suggest he was left-handed had let him know he had to be planning something more than just one strike. And he wasn't wrong: the moment he dodged the first blow Toshio swung his left arm in a wide arc that would have hit the side of his head hadn't Monty smelled the trap and dropped in a crouch.

Unable to stop, his opponent was draggen in a half-turn by the momentum, and Monty sprang on his feet. His left arm latched itself around Toshio's neck, his other hand grabbing his own forearm to hold him in a chokehold, and he was about to turn so that he could use his own body as a fulcrum to throw his opponent backwards and off balance, but Toshio was quicker: he didn't try to break free from the chokehold and grabbed Monty's arm, then he bent forward instead, so sharply and suddenly that Monty was thrown over his back and on the ground before he even had time to realize what was going on.

He ignored the pain on his shoulder and he rolled back on his feet in an instant, but Toshio was on him again and his blows were much quicker and more vicious, and with his shoulder hurting Monty found himself suddenly unable to use his right arm as well as he would have liked, and he knew that it he was fighting a lost battle, that he was going to hurt as hell if he didn't find a way to somehow make it end quickly – but the only way to do so was surrendering, and he wouldn't do that. Never. They could have the satisfaction of beating him, but never that of seeing him begging for mercy.

He just hoped there was an infirmary in that place.


To his luck it turned out that there was, indeed, a well-furnished infirmary in that school. While the woman he had found there when he had limped inside had offered to tend his bruises as it was her duty to do, Monty had declined her offer: the look on her face was more than enough to tell him she would consider it a very unpleasant task at most, and he wasn't looking forward to put himself in the tender care of any Yamanouchi ninja anytime soon.

So there he was, sitting in the middle of the infirmary and struggling to get some salve on his bruises, some of which where in places that were rather hard to reach. Monty had to grit his teeth to ignore the pain on his side when he twisted in the attempt to put some salve on the back of his shoulder. He could feel exactly where the bruise was, and it was just out of reach. Someone was going to pay for that, he thought with a scowl, anger and humiliation mixing into what felt like a burning fire consuming his insides. As soon as he could fight back decently enough, he would get them back. Someone would pay. He would-

"Do you wish some help?"

Monty turned to see Sensei standing in the doorway, looking at him with a serene expression on his face. It was the friendliest face he had seen since the previous day, but he felt still too angry and humiliated to really take notice of that. "No. I'm doing fine," he said coldly, still twisting in the attempt to reach the sore spot.

"Are you? To me it looks like you're not able to reach some of the bruises on your back, and they look bothersome. Let me help you," he said, walking inside and sitting beside him. Monty was about to protest, then it occurred to him that angering Sensei while he had every other human being in that blasted place against him already wouldn't be wise, nor useful.

"You might want to reconsider. I'm not good luck to those who try to help me lately," he said dryly, but he let him take the salve from his hand.

Sensei didn't seem to mind his coldness. "I suppose you have someone in particular in mind to make that remark," he said quietly, smearing some salve on the bruise behind Monty's left shoulder. The tenseness in Monty's back diminished as he realized the old man wouldn't try to make it sting like most others in there probably would have. "But Stoppable-san and Kim Possible were perfectly fine, and they did help you. They still are helping you."

"Having one's living room destroyed by the Stone Guardian of Satsuma seems unlucky enough to me," was Monty's reply "besides, there was… someone else who paid a high price for helping me," he added, and his voice wavered just a little as he thought back of the trusting gaze Bates had given him when they had shaken hands only a few days earlier, when he had promised him he wouldn't let Monkey Fist come to be – had that monster at least shown some mercy by giving him a quick death? God, he prayed he had.

"I don't suppose you'd want to talk about it?"

Monty shook his head. "There is nothing to talk about. He helped me, or tried to, and Monkey Fist decided he should pay with his life. I have nothing else to add."

Tried to. That was the part Monty felt the worst about: by asking Bates for help he had sentenced him to death, and it had been an useless death. Had he been able to give him any clue of how Monkey Fist could come to be he could have least thought there had been a meaning to it – but nothing of what Bates had told him had served for him to understand what had happened in his mind for him to happen.

Monkey Fist had murdered him, but he had been the one who had sentenced him to death – and all for nothing. He had promised Bates he wouldn't disappoint him after having signed his death sentence already.

"That's hardly your fault," Sensei was pointing out, putting some salve on another bruise on his upper back – the students certainly hadn't gone easy on him, nor the old man had expected them to. He was going to have to speak to the teachers at least, though: while he was himself of the idea learning something about humility would do that boy some good, harming him that much was pointless and unnecessary. "If he chose to help you, it must have been because he believed it was the right thing to do – and because he believed in you in the first place. It honours him."

"It was an useless death."

"If you succeed in stopping Monkey Fist from coming to be, if his death made him more determinated in doing so, it won't have been useless. Actually, if you succeed his death will have never happened," Sensei said encouragingly "nothing is lost yet. Not even the lives Monkey Fist claimed."

Monty nodded, but he was too distracted by the thought of Bates' end to even notice Sensei had spoken of more than one life Monkey Fist had claimed. "You ninjas don't seem to think too highly of me. What makes you think I'll succeed in the first place? You don't even know what happened for Monkey Fist to… to even exist. I don't know it either. I have no idea what happened."

"My ninjas only knew Monkey Fist, like myself; wisdom comes with experience, and many of them have very little of it – I cannot blame them for not being inclined to trust you, and I'm sorry this is making things harder for you. But on the other hand, the man you speak of knew both Monkey Fist and you. And if he believed you put an end to this, I see no reason why his judgement shouldn't be trusted," he paused at the questioning look Monty gave him over his shoulder "Stoppable-san told me about what happened, and who that man was. My condolences."

Monty just turned away. "I'm fine. I'll put a remedy to what happened."

A brief silence followed. "I was observing you during the lessons," Sensei finally spoke again.

"Did you?" Monty asked in a disinterested tone, unable to even bring himself caring about the fact he had to look incredibly stupid to him, a weakling who could not defeat any of the students.

"Yes. Sometimes you learn to know more of a person by observing them while put on a test than by speaking to them for years. And what I saw is both worrying and promising."

That made Monty scowl in annoyance – not only he had been through one of his worst days yet, but he had also been observed like a guinea pig put through some kind of test. Of course he had expected he would be carefully observed, but… it was still bothersome, and somewhat humiliating. "And the verdict is…?" he asked dryly.

Sensei chuckled. "There is no verdict to be given, my boy – you're here to be kept safe, not to be judged."

"Isn't it exactly what you're doing? Why observe me otherwise?" Monty asked with a frown.

The old man didn't seem to mind his attitude. "I don't think I can be blamed for trying to imagine what the most likely outcome of this situation could be," he said quietly "and as I said, I saw a lot of things in you. Traits that worried me, and others that gave me hope."

"Oh, really? And may I inquire what kind of traits are you referring to?" Monty asked, but underneath the annoyance there was a pang of eagerness mixed with fear – he was ready to cling to anything that could possibly resemble an explanation for the terrible change he had gone through at some point in his life, but at the same time he feared any answer he might get.

Sensei put the salve aside and gestured for him to turn to face him fully. "First of all, while less exasperated, I saw exactly the same flaws in your character I saw in Monkey Fist; the flaws that I'm inclined to believe are mostly to blame for your his – downfall."

Monty gritted his teeth. "You're wrong," he said "I have nothing in common with him!"

"Nothing in common, you say?" Sensei raised an eyebrow "but you and him are the same individual. You have every right to refuse to take blame for anything you haven't yet done, but the fact you're two sides of the very same coin is not a notion you can simply ignore. No, let me speak," he went on, lifting a hand before Monty could interrupt him "you share many traits with him, and there's no denying that. You're too arrogant for your own good, too easy to anger. You won't listen to advice, and you let your pride blind you: you're too focused on yourself and your goals to reach out for other people and see beyond their words and actions. Even now you're probably thinking I'm just an old man speaking nonsense, aren't you?"

"That's all you are," Monty snapped at him, forgetting all caution "why are you here speaking nonsense to me while it's your own ninjas you should be reprimanding? The way they treated me! You were there, you saw it! Those idiots! If only I were better at martial arts, I'd-"

"Make them pay? Is that what you'd do?" Sensei finished before chuckling "vengeful, aren't we? But of course. As I said, you're proud, easy too anger, unable to give heed to any advice if you don't like what you're hearing. Didn't you prove my point just now?" he asked with a hint of amusement, and Monty shut his mouth with a scowl. He turned away from sense with a huff, but he didn't retort and simply kept quiet.

"If there isn't anything else you'd like to tell me, I'll be in my room," he said coldly, getting up and putting the upper part of his gi back on "considering how lovely everyone has been to me up to this point, I'd appreciate it if I could dine in there this evening as well. Do tell my charming guardian not to bother getting inside: she can as well leave the bowl in front of the door, knock and get lost so that we're both spared the annoyance of seeing each other more than it's strictly necessary."

Sensei shook his head, standing up as well. "Actually, there is something more."

Monty stopped at the door to glance at him over his shoulder. "And what is it?"

"I believe I already mentioned seeing something in you that gave me hope that the current situation will turn out for the best," the old man said calmly.

Oh, right. Monty had completely forgotten about it. "You just finished letting me know I'm everything like Monkey Fist. May I inquire I could there possibly be anything you deemed as positive in me then?"

"Oh, but there is something. More than you might think," Sensei said gently "you're determinated, skilled, and hard-working. You'll do anything you can at the best of your abilities to achieve what you want. These are even more traits you share with Monkey Fist, yes – but they can be used for good just as much as they can be used for evil. You are determinated to make sure Monkey Fist will never come to be, aren't you?"

Monty clenched his jaw. "That much should be obvious by now, shouldn't it?"

"Yes. And that is exactly why I'm willing to believe you could turn out so much better, and achieve so much more than Monkey Fist ever could by becoming the great man you have the potential to be. But that won't happen unless you abandon your anger and take a good, hard look at yourself," Sensei said before stepping past him and in the hallway. "I'll let Yori know you'd rather dine in your room every evening from now on. Also, I think it will be wise having her being your only partner in training for the rest of your stay," he added a moment before disappearing around a corner.

Monty was taken aback, but he didn't call after him for explanations, nor he tried to go after him to point out that Yori individual hadn't exactly done much to help him out and that he wouldn't expect her to do it anytime soon: he just stared at the corner around which Sensei had disappeared for a long while, saying nothing.