Previously on Ttakepa: Ron, Shego, and Katarin spend a day shopping. Shego gets an idea of how strong Ron is and that Katarin is trying to be her little sister.

Chapter 10

Shego came down the stairs to a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and biscuits. At least, that's what it looked like. "Eat up," her host told her. "I figured we'd start with the broadsword."

The young woman sat down at the table. "Whatever." She looked over the plates of armor strapped across his body, leaving only his upper arms and head unprotected. "So, what am I going to be wearing?"

"Glad you asked," the blond smiled, as he walked out of the room. When he returned, the young man held up three sets of her old outfit. "I had these made for you to train in. There were some modifications to improve the material and whatnot, but I think he did a good job what with only having the shreds of your old uniform."

Her eyes ran across the clothes. "Where'd my pouch go?" Shego asked.

"It wasn't damaged, so he made it securable to the thigh," the young man answered. "It can be switched to whichever one you wear."

The raven-haired beauty noticed him trying to peek into the pouch. "I keep feminine products in it," she lied.

"I was just making sure the zipper worked," he exclaimed.

"Right," she replied skeptically, rolling her eyes. "Not to change the subject, or that I really care; but where's the kid?"

"Oh, I kicked her out before you got up," Ron told her. "She should be having breakfast with her folks right now."

"And they won't be concerned about where she was last night?" she inquired.

"Nah, they knew she was here," he said, waving off her concern.

"How did you tell them?" Shego asked, confused.
"I have spies all over the place; they relayed the message," Ron replied offhandedly as he walked out.

The brunette went cold; she hadn't noticed anyone was watching at all. The young woman has lost her appetite, but she forced herself to eat so she would have energy for the training waiting for her. She needed to be ready for anything.

---

Shego wore her long hair in a braid as she practiced her strikes and parries beside her host, focused on not tripping over her scabbard. After a week of day long training, she was able to get through the sessions without nearly hitting him with her dull practice sword. As often. He had replied that she wasn't who he was afraid of getting hit when she had asked why she didn't have to wear armor as well. The young woman had been confused until the reason became painfully clear. Ron would use his sword to block some of her errant swings from connecting with his head and torso. And in a few cases, her leg and the top of her head.

Ron called a halt to their training and walked towards an elderly man that had arrived. The way his kung fu style uniform fit, she could tell the man had an impressive physique for his age, and he wore his hair as long as his beard. They each bowed to one another and walked back to where the raven-haired woman was standing with sword resting on her shoulder. "Shego, this is Ryujin-sennin, the Dragon God Hermit. He will be helping you to improve and strengthen your powers."

The old man bowed to the young woman. "A pleasure to meet you, Shego-dono," he greeted in a strong accent. "If you have half as much potential as beauty, then Stoppable-sennin has been most humble with his words."

The brunette sheathed her sword and bowed back, "I bet you say that to all the girls."

The older man smiled. "I have been saving that one for the most beautiful woman in all the lands. Now that I have traveled them all, I have finally found that woman before me."

"Well, aren't you just the smooth talker," she giggled.

"Right, moving on," Ron interrupted. "Did you want to start today or tomorrow?"

The hermit looked around the area. "This will do for today. Your academy was most helpful in finding a suitable location for my purposes. Please thank them."

"Ok," the blond said. "You guys have a good session; I've got some paperwork that doesn't have my name on it yet."

As Ron left, the old man lead the pale woman to a shaded area. "I will be training you in the lessons of my clan as well as some of the techniques Stoppable-sennin brought with him to our lands.""Look, I've had these powers for about ten years," the young woman said, following the man. "What can there possibly be left for me to learn?"

He helped her to take a seat. "What could there be that you have not learned in ten years that my clan has not known for hundreds," the hermit pondered. "In your training, I would begin with the basics; and your progress depends on how fast you learn. But I will show you some of what you will be taught."

Shego watched as the man formed flames on the tips of his fingers before extinguishing and reigniting them one after the other. Fire erupted from each of his hands to create rods that he began to swing about in twin swords techniques. After doing this for a few moments, he closed his fists to snuff out the weapons and opened them to reveal orbs of fire that he started to juggle.

"Ok, now you're just showing off," the woman smirked.

Ryujin laughed, sitting down. "Another time I will show you why I am called the Dragon God. It is...badical...as Stoppable-sennin would say."

"You keep calling him sennin. And he called you that, too," Shego said curiously.

"Correct," he answered. "It is hermit. His power is not like that of others, and he is a wanderer that may travel the roads as he wishes."

The brunette smiled sweetly. "You've known him a long time, right? I mean, you had to have learned English from him."

"Yes," the hermit replied. "For many years. Learning his language was fortunate for secret talks during some of our journeys together."

"So, how strong would you say he is?" she inquired.

The old man scratched his beard in thought. "Stoppable-sennin is said to be one of the strongest in the land, but none truly know what he can do. Though it is his mind, as well as his power, that make him a formidable warrior. He has many hidden secrets and shrouds his heart, even from those he cares for."

"Huh. Well, OK then," she thanked him, somewhat disappointed.

"Let us begin the first lesson," Ryujin began. "Meditation is the most important skill, for the body and energy must be one to gain strength. Close your eyes and focus on energy flowing within. Follow it as it flows through you."

It took Shego a while, but she was able to get a vague sense. More like imagining a brook when you can only hear it; you don't know much about it, but you get an idea from what you can hear. The sensation was a different feeling than what she had become familiar with, but it was exciting to be finding new things about what she could do.

---

Shego tiredly trudged up to the house she currently called home. The young woman had never realized how draining it was to meditate like that; she guessed she must have been doing it wrong before. As the woman walked up, she saw Katarin jump up from sitting on the porch and run up to greet her with a big smile. Returning the greeting with a tired smile of her own and rubbed the top of the girl's head as she opened the door.

Entering the house, she found it deserted except for a note on the table. "Had to step out," she mumbled as she read, "started the bath for you. Hit the left button to start the whirlpool and clean water will cycle." The pale woman looked down at the princess. "Smart man, he knows how to take care of a lady. Try to find a nice guy that makes you feel special like that, kiddo. Now, if you don't mind, there's a hot bath with my name on it."

Shego dropped off her sword and training uniform in Ron's office before heading half naked to her room to get a change of clothes. When she entered the bathroom, she found the young redhead in the process of disrobing. "Oh, I don't think so," the brunette frowned. "Where I come from, we take baths alone and definitely not with someone else's kid."

The little girl looked at the woman blankly before slowly continuing to remove her clothes. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm saying," the older woman admonished while pointing a finger. "I know you can understand everything I say. You can wait until I'm done to take your own bath."

Katarin's face scrunched up as she tried not to cry. Reluctantly, she took her time dressing again. The villainess rolled her eyes. "I must be tired if I'm being this soft," she sighed. "Fine, you can take a bath with me, but I'm tossing you out if you get annoying. And I mean that literally."

The princess giggled happily as she quickly stripped. Shego helped the little girl into the waiting tub, and each began the task of bathing. Grudgingly, the older woman helped wash the redhead's hair and made sure she scrubbed her face and clean her fingers and toes. She even let herself be mollified by kisses on the cheek. Once the pale beauty was satisfied with their cleanliness, she pressed the button to start the whirlpool and watched as all the dirty water was removed and new hot water jetted out to replace it. As the water struck her body, all her aches and pains slipped away. Relaxing, she allowed Katarin to start combing her hair. She didn't even mind that girl was prattling on; it was still less annoying than Drakken droning on about his latest invention or plan.

---

When the two girls had dried off and changed to clean clothes, they walked back to the living room and found the home's owner snoring in a chair. Grinning mischievously, Shego squatted down beside the young girl. "Wanna play a trick on your big brother?" she whispered.

Receiving an enthusiastic head nodding, the villainess whispered her plan into the princess' ear. When the girl giggled her understanding, the two descended upon their slumbering target.

---

Shego lounged on the patio couch, reading one of the books from Ron's collection. The young man had spent a great amount of time translating the fiction works from the palace library. Sitting on the floor beside the end of the couch was her younger companion, combing and braiding the brunette's hair. Both looked up as the large form of their host filled the doorway. He pointed at how his mustache and beard had been braided together. "I think something happened," he mumbled. "Did you do this, Katarin?"

The two girls burst into fits of giggling. "She was with me the entire time," Shego defended her accomplice.

Ron glared at her, letting the young woman know he saw right through that line. "You think you're so cute," he said, pointing at the little redhead, "but you're not." Turning around, the blond looked for a mirror so that he could untangle his facial hair. He could still hear the two girls laughing outside. He was glad the two were getting along, even if it meant a few pranks being played on him. The young man knew how much it meant to Katarin, and he couldn't bear to disappoint the girl. And it didn't hurt that Shego was creating emotional attachments; it could be something useful later.

A/N

Another chapter done. I appreciate the reviews I received from the last chapter. Not much to say. I was going to continue this chapter to a different point, but that would make it two or three times as long. And this was a pretty good stopping point. Well, you've read; time to review. Having some internet problems, so it might be a while before I can receive reviews and respond. But they will be greatly appreciated.