Author's Note: Okay, so I'm putting a warning here that this chapter mentions an old Japanese urban legend that ends violently, just in case anyone wants to skip past the end of that part. It is based on the Legend of Kuchisake-Onna, but I changed the circumstances of it to fit my KP universe. Also, does anyone know the band whose lyrics I've been using for the story title and chapter titles?

It was just a typical day; nothing special. Shego sighed at the thought of what her life has become. It seemed to be the same routine constantly now that she was living without the villainy. She didn't regret turning back to the side of do-gooders, but she didn't particularly care for the humdrum of what constitutes a 'normal life.' She loved adventure, and while Drakken had adjusted too easily to such a life, Shego hoped he'd be up for switching things up a bit. It was just a boring, uneventful day up until she stepped inside the old lair.

Boxes. Were. Everywhere. The lair was so barren with all of their belongings packed away. For what reason, Shego hadn't the slightest idea. Most of the furniture seemed to be gone too.

"Uh, Doctor D?" she called out, but no reply came forward. Her fingers skimmed the flaps of a box labeled Shego's CDs. "Drew?" She raised her voice slightly.

"Hmm? Shego! You're back!" he approached her, a little too enthusiastically, those ridiculous pink-lensed goggles strapped to his face. They always made his eyes comically large. She'd never say, but it never failed to make her laugh after a particularly grueling day.

"What's with all the boxes?" Shego asked him impatiently.

"Oh"—he paused a moment—"we're moving."

"Say what, now?" This wasn't the adventure Shego was looking for. They were perfectly fine living where they always have been.

"You didn't expect us to live out the rest of our days in this dump of a lair did you?" Drakken asked, mulling over which things he should throw out or pack.

"Please tell me we're not living in Go Tower." Shego was still getting used to being part of the team again. Living with her brothers would be the last straw that sends her over the edge into insanity.

"Not a chance," Drakken replied, tossing out an old ratty t-shirt. "I found us an apartment in Go City. It's quite spacious, and surprisingly affordable." Shego had to admit, she was impressed. He really seemed to have thought this all through. The only thing that annoyed her is that he did it all without even consulting her. After all, they'll be living together like they have been for the last six, almost seven, years.

"As much as I appreciate your thoroughness of this whole idea, don't you think you should've talked to me about this first? It's not just your life you uprooted; it's mine too." Shego shook away the annoying voice in her head that told her to pick her battles, but she refused to listen. Drakken was partially in the wrong here, and it needed to be pointed out. Though she couldn't understand why she was so upset over it. No, he didn't consult her on this major decision, but he was still doing the right thing in her eyes.

"It was supposed to be a surprise; I can't even begin to list the countless times you complained about not having a real place to live, so I took initiative," Drakken explained. "Now I see that was probably the wrong way to go about it. I'll consult you from now on. Scout's honor." He held up his fingers.

"Why do I have a hard time believing you were ever a boy scout?" Shego folded her arms, a look of amusement on her face.

"Because," Drakken turned to her, "you're a smart woman."

And that was all it took. Shego felt warmth spread throughout her, her face flushed for the first time since she had turned her back on being good. She was blushing. The moment she realized it, she turned away so he couldn't see, but the small smile on his face was enough to let her know he already had.

"I've got you in my sights now," Kim muttered to herself. She waited for the perfect moment to strike. This took precision from her position. Ready, aim, fire. Kim launched the water balloon at Ron from where she sat among the tree branches, laughing so hard at his reaction, an embarrassing snort came from her nose.

"Oh I see how it's gonna be," Ron shouted up to her, fighting the smile that was so plainly on his face. Kim hooked her legs over the branch, swinging herself upside down to face him.

"So, what cha gonna do about it?" She smirked, ignoring the blood rushing to her head. He brushed his lips against hers, both caught up in the reverse Spiderman moment. "Truce?" Kim asked between kisses. A cold splash of water spread over her black tank top, and she opened her eyes to see Ron's smug expression. Sitting right-side up on the branch once more, she hopped down effortlessly from the tree, facing her opponent. "You're lucky you're cute," she told Ron, tugging him closer by the belt loop on his jeans.

"I think I'm luckier for other things," he replied, tucking Kim's copper hair behind her ear.

Kim's face softened at his words. "That's so sweet, Ron."

"Oh," he began, "you thought I was talking about you? I obviously meant it for all these homemade nacos." He gestured toward the picnic table.

"Shut up," Kim told him playfully, giggling as if they were in the honeymoon stage of their relationship once more.

"Kids! Burgers are done!" Mrs. Stoppable called out to them, a bright smile on her face. Just like Ann Possible, Andrea Stoppable had always hoped Kim and Ron would end up together. She even remembered a time that she joked with Ann about refusing to approve of any girl Ron brought home for her and her husband to meet, unless it was Kim, and they already knew her. He had dated Zita Flores for a short while, but they were never serious enough for that step. Seeing the two of them together always made her happy. They've been through a lot together to get where they are now. Call it mother's intuition, but she had a feeling, deep inside, that the worst had yet to come.

He had watched and learned his surroundings in Middleton for a week now. The daily routine of the Stoppable family was a fairly simple one. Three-year old Hana would be an easy target. He needed her to begin his plan…and to complete it. Tonight will be the night he takes the girl under his wing. Little did he know, someone was watching from the trees in the Stoppables' backyard. Fukushima leapt onto the roof, making his way to the girl's room. Upon approaching it, the figure in the trees sprang into action, blocking his path.

"Ha! Yori," he laughed. "I should have known you'd be here."

"I won't let you take little Han. To get to her, you'll have to go through me," she challenged him. He made the first move, attempting to knock her legs out from under her. Yori lunged at him, gripping his gi to try and swing him off the roof. They fought stealthily in the night, evenly matched in every way. Just when she thought she had the upper hand, Fukushima revealed the Lotus Blade. Though he was unable to command it, he used the hilt to hit Yori on the back of her head, knocking her out cold with a loud thump.

The sound must have been heard, because he saw a light from the house next door turn on. The face that appeared in the now-open window was that of Kim Possible.

"Hey!" Kim shouted up at him, grabbing her grappling hook. She hooked it around the Stoppables' chimney, launching herself up to the roof, slamming her feet into his chest. The Lotus Blade slid off the tiles and onto the ground. Fukushima flipped onto his feet, fighting Kim so close to the edge of the roof, she slid, hanging by one arm grasping the gutter. He took this time to rush into the bedroom window of Hana Stoppable, emerging from the front door victoriously.

Dropping down onto the ground carefully, Kim attempted to carefully get Hana out of his arms. Neither wanted the girl to be hurt, making it nearly impossible to fight one another. Kim saw an opening, and took it. Hana was nearly in her reach when Fukushima blew a strange crackling powder onto her, rendering her immobile. She felt herself going into stasis, unable to even blink.

"Until next time, Possible," he waved her off, escaping with Hana Stoppable. Ron's little sister.

"KP!" Ron shouted, running out the door in only his pajama pants. Fukushima had taken Hana, and now Kim wasn't moving. Having brought his kimmunicator with him, he contacted Wade, who appeared on screen looking extremely sleepy. Upon seeing the panic on Ron's face, he became wide awake all at once.

"Ron, what happened?"

"Kim's not moving, or speaking," Ron told him. She's still breathing and her eyes are open, but that's it."

"Scan her with the kimmunicator so I can take a look at what may have caused this," Wade spoke calmly. He analyzed the strange powdery substance that stuck to Kim's clothes, but seemed to seep into her skin. Ron stroked Kim's hair while waiting for the results. "It's strange."

"What? What is it?" Ron asked frantically. This had Fukushima written all over it. Just as the thought crossed his mind, Yori landed beside him, having finally come to.

"It's like nothing I've ever seen before," Wade told him. "It walks the line between mad science and magic. I'll contact you if I find anything." Just like that, the screen went black.

"It's a mixture born of science and old magic," Yori explained. "I've only ever heard of such a weapon used in the War of Darkness."

"The what now?" Ron questioned, lifting Kim up in his arms.

"Centuries after founding Yamanouchi, in the Heian period, Toshimiru, found himself on the battlefield once again, facing his one true enemy, Yakunan. The name itself means evil and misfortune." Yori paused to give Ron a chance to bring Kim inside his house, laying her on the sofa.

"Centuries? How was he still alive?" Ron kept a hold of Kim's hand as he and Yori settled on the floor.

"For all the good deeds he had done, Toshimiru, being the very first Monkey Master, was granted a sort of immortality. He would not live forever, but he would live for a thousand years. Yakunan wanted to take over the world, and there was a woman he wanted by his side while he did it. She trained at Yamanouchi, and was in love with Toshimiru, who thought her as the most beautiful woman in the village."

Ron was captivated by the story, wondering how it all fit together. "I take it this woman was an important part of the war?"

"She was," Yori confirmed. "You see, though the two warriors had been battling on and off throughout the years, it didn't turn into a war until the woman, Kuchisake-Onna, came into their lives. Originally, she had been kidnapped by Yakunan to be his bride, but was rescued by Toshimiru, and was brought to Yamanouchi to train alongside him. They fell in love, which angered Yakunan enough to sneak into the school, and effectively slit her mouth so that she'd no longer be beautiful."

"That's…dark. What does this have to do with the weird magical powder?" he asked.

"Yakunan used the powder to put her in stasis. It is because of that event that the War of Darkness began. The quest to take over the world was thwarted by Toshimiru, but he could not save his love, for he had no antidote. She remains in stasis, even now, buried deep within a temple. It's only temporary as long as you have an antidote for it, but I do not have the means to make one. We would need the help of a mad scientist."

"I happen to know just the mad scientist to help us," Ron told her. "Stay with Kim; there's a certain doctor I need to visit."

Author's Note: Hmmm, wonder who that mad scientist could be? :p