Chapter 10

Time passed, and Team Possible continued to train together, becoming closer as friends and family, and more effective in their chosen path. The "sixth sense" Kim and Ron shared about each other slowly incorporated Jenny with greater familiarity between them.

Jenny's non-style of fighting that incorporated gymnastics moves was a puzzle to the Masters, but they did agree it was effective as-is, and seemed to compliment Kim's multiple styles and Ron's Monkey Kung Fu.

The antidepressants finally out of her system, Tara began a regimen of meditation and exercise that she admitted was helping. Other therapies Tara took were acupressure and acupuncture, and more esoteric ones designed to help her balance her energies and come to grips with her depression.

As the weeks went by, Tara and Jenny were separated for longer and longer times (with Jenny's knowledge) to help evaluate Tara's progress. Finally Tara could go several days without seeing Jenny, as long as her days were kept full with other friends and tasks she took on herself.

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On the second morning of a three-day trip to Tokyo by Yori, Kim, Ron, Rufus, and Tara, Jenny came out of her room and watched some young students who were having trouble with stances, and were talking and trying to understand what the instructor meant. The teacher was taking a break and the older students ignored them, and they couldn't agree on what was right.

So Jenny went over and offered to help. This earned her several wide-eyed looks, and a few took a step backward from her. They had all seen her, of course, but they had heard rumors that she was a bad-luck demon waiting to find the right students to hex, which made them nervous.

Ignoring the looks, Jenny took a stance and showed how to do it. A few followed while the rest watched, but as the class went on more joined in. By the end of the class all but two students were making moves with her, and were relaxing. The two who didn't participate left as soon as they could politely do so.

The teacher stood in the shadows of a dojo and watched with a smile. She was reaching them better than he was. Sensei stood beside the teacher and watched for a while. Then turned and left without comment.

Class over, Jenny sat down and was surrounded by the young students, but they were silent, unable to broach the questions they were all thinking. So Jenny did it for them, telling them about herself, and allowing them to touch her gray skin and pink hair.

Curiosity satisfied they bowed deeply to her, and said they hoped she would instruct them again sometime. She watched them go, smiling to herself. That had been fun.

"Would you care to continue to teach that class?" asked a voice behind her. She turned and saw the teacher standing there.

"Oh, uh, Master, I- I'm sorry, I just saw they were having trouble and..." said Jenny.

"And you were able to reach them and make them understand where I couldn't. From what I observe, you have a gift for teaching, and it should not be wasted. I ask again, would you like to continue as teacher?"

"Yes... yes, I would, thank you," said Jenny, bowing.

"Then come with me, and I will explain what they are to learn," said the teacher, turning back to the building. "You are doing me a great favor. Now I can catch up with other matters."

When Kim and the others returned from Tokyo, they were surprised to find Jenny teaching a morning class of young students. Asked about it, Jenny explained, then grinned and said she was having a blast.

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Six more months passed, and life went on at the secret ninja school.

Finally over her depression and anxiety, Tara and Jenny still spent a lot of time together, strengthening the bond they had developed. Kim and Ron could occasionally be found together in a quiet corner deeply engrossed in a kiss. Rufus just rolled his eyes and looked elsewhere.

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Sensei declared that Team Possible was ready for a major challenge. It took place in the school's arena. Kim, Ron, Rufus and Jenny were in the center of the sandy floor. The less-advanced students watching from the bleachers, while the team was attacked by every advanced student at the school, led by Yori. The students were armed with every martial arts weapon imaginable, while Team Possible had only their standard equipment.

As with GJ, the rule was 'this is a test, but take it seriously'.

Yori sent the first wave of students, only to have it break like water against a stone. Weapons were caught and either turned against their wielders, or deflected against another attacker. Kim, Ron, and Jenny threw punches and kicks at lightning speed, and the first round was over. It had taken less than five minutes.

As the first attackers were helped off the field, everyone noticed that no one on Team Possible was breathing hard yet, nor had Jenny used her hexes.

Yori had purposely sent the least skilled of the advanced students first, to let the rest of her 'army' evaluate their opponents, and to wear them down. This strategy made no difference in the end. Two more waves of students attacked, and two more waves of students found themselves defeated. And never once did Jenny use her magic.

Sensei called a halt to the test. Team Possible had taken some hits, but few serious because of the almost telepathic bond they had. They could watch each other's backs almost without paying attention.

Team Possible was declared to be approaching the peak of their effectiveness as a team, and little more in the way of fighting instruction would be of any use.

The party that night was quite something.

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One day Kim, Ron, Rufus, and Jenny were spending the morning with Sensei, listening to the scrolls of prophecy about the Chosen One, and discussing them, trying to get an idea of what they meant. Yori and Tara were going to the hot springs to relax and soak, and the others promised to join them later.

A few hours later, Kim, Ron, Rufus, and Jenny arrived at the hot springs. There was still snow on the ground, but the air was comfortably cool. The pools were of various sizes, and hardy trees stood here and there. No one was there at the moment.

"Let's see..." said Ron, "If I remember, Yori usually goes to one hidden behind some trees..."

"And tell me just how YOU would know which hot spring Yori uses?" asked Kim. She was giving her boyfriend a hard look,
but was really teasing. This was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.

"Well, once I..." started Ron, then looked at Kim. "OH! Uh... I mean... uh... she told me."

"And WHY would she tell you which hot spring she uses?" said Kim in a dangerously even tone, while doing her best not to break her "jellin'" character and start laughing. She crossed her arms and glared at Ron.

Jenny decided it was safest to stay out of arm's reach and be silent. Rufus closed the flap of the pocket he was riding in.

Ron started sweating bullets, even in the cool air. "I... OH, LOOK! There's the path!" he said, pointing, and ran off in that direction.

Kim relaxed and snickered.

"What was that about?" asked Jenny, stepping up beside Kim.

"Hey, gotta keep him on his toes! Can't have him looking at other girls now, can I?" said Kim, grinning.

Jenny just shook her head and followed Ron's path through the snow.

They found him standing at the edge of the pool, the steam rising slowly from it. He was looking around with a concerned expression.

"Something's wrong," he said, not turning to look at them.

"What makes you say that?" asked Kim.

"Look-- Yori and Tara's robes and shoes are over there, and Yori's fans too. But where are they?" he pointed at the discarded clothes. The pool was still and clear enough to see the bottom, so they knew the girls weren't hiding from them under the water.

Jenny's sharp cat-eyes saw another clue. "Over there, the snow's been disturbed!" She took a couple of steps forward and jumped, grabbing a branch overhanging the pool. She did a gymnastics flip over the branch, and launched herself to the other side of the pool. Kim and Ron joined her a few seconds later having run around the pool, keeping an eye out for other clues.

"There was obviously a struggle, but I can't tell anything else," said Jenny.

Rufus jumped out of Ron's pocket and sniffed around the exposed grass and dirt. He looked up at his family. "Monkey!"