I don't own 'em.  Quit askin'.

The Lazarus Factor

Chapter 6 - A Slight Complication

"The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there." - Robert M. Pirsig

            Kim wasn't sure why she trusted the old man, but she waited till the next day anyway, walking to the address written on the scrap of paper.  It turned out to be an old herbal shop that sold and mixed natural medicines as well as selling incense and other such relaxers.  She wasn't sure what to say to the clerk, she didn't want to just go up and ask if an old man and a group of mysterious foreigners happened to be in the backroom.  As it turned out, however, she didn't have to ask anything.

            "Ah, Miss Possible I presume," the clerk greeted Kim as she entered.  She was a small Japanese woman of around 30, with dark hair braided down her back.  "You are expected.  Please, follow me," bowing to Kim, she turned and led her to the back of the store and motioned to a curtained doorway.  Stepping through, Kim found a rather large room with a cushioned mat on the floor.  The room was lined with many training and fighting devices such as punching bags, wooden swords, and similar equipment.  The group of people from the funeral were there, sparing and exercising.  Upon Kim's entrance all activity seemed to stop as they turned to look at her.  She was beginning to feel rather nervous, when someone finally stepped forward to greet her.

            "Kim Possible, I am honored to welcome you," Kim recognized the girl as the one who stuck the sword in Ron's grave and who Kim had slammed into a tree.  "Please forgive our lack of hospitality," the girl continued, noticing Kim's nervousness at all the staring faces, "it has been quite some time since an outsider has been invited into our midst."

            "Uh, no problem," Kim replied, looking around, "thanks for.... uh..... having... me."  Boy, THAT sounded lame, she thought.  The girl bowed and motioned behind her.

            "Sensei is awaiting you in the tea room.  This way."  She turned and led Kim across the room.

            "So, who are you, and why were you at Ron's funeral," Kim asked, not being able to wait any longer.

            "I'm afraid I can only answer one of your questions.  My name is Yori.  I am a student at our school in Japan.  I cannot answer your second question.  Sensei will decide what you must be told of that."  She suddenly paused at another curtained doorway, "I CAN tell you, however," she said softly, half turning to Kim, "that I knew Ron Stoppable.  You were very lucky to have him as a friend."  Not saying more, she pushed aside the curtain, walking into the room and bowing to the person inside.  "Kim Possible has arrived, sensei."

            "So I see," it was the same old man from yesterday, his beard a snowy white, wearing ancient-looking robes, "please join us Yori.  After all, much of this story involves you."  Yori bowed and sat cross-legged on one of the straw mats that surrounded a low table in the center of the room.  A pot and small ceramic cups set on a tray in the center of the table.  Incense burned on a small altar on the far side of the room.  Kim noticed that there were no weapons in this room.  "Please, join me for some tea, " the sensei gestured to one of the mats.  She didn't really feel like having tea, she wanted answers, immediately if not sooner.  However, she didn't want to offend the old man since, by the reaction of the others in his group, he seemed to be breaking quite a few rules by offering to talk to her.  Sitting down, she smiled and accepted a glass of the warm green tea.

            "Now, I am sure you are anxious for an explanation to our actions of yesterday," the sensei began, sipping at his tea.  "To really explain it, we must first begin with Lord Monkey Fist.  I trust you remember when he used the monkey totems to empower him?"  Kim nodded.

            "Yeah, Ron had to use them too in order to stop him," she still remembered seeing him flipping and jumping around.  It was amazing.

            "Yes," the sensei nodded, "but what neither of them knew at the time was that the totems were part of a ceremony used to choose the next bearer of the sacred Lotus Blade."

            "Lotus Blade?"  Kim's mind snapped back to the sword buried in Ron's grave.

            "Our order has guarded the Lotus Blade for centuries, keeping it safe until the next bearer would claim it.  Stoppable-san soon came to our school and had to, again, face Monkey Fist for the right to bear the sword."

            "Ron was never in Japan, he..." Kim trailed off, a memory suddenly flashing into her mind.  "The exchange program."

            "Indeed," the sensei nodded, "please do not blame him for not telling you of his adventure.  Our order has been a closely guarded secret for centuries and we asked him to swear to tell no one of us, and Stoppable-san was a man of honor."

            "But if he defeated Monkey Fist in Japan, why didn't he bring this Lotus Blade back with him, " Kim asked, "If he's the 'bearer' why did he leave it in Japan?"

            "Stoppable-san did not know he was to inherit the blade," Yori spoke up, "he only knew that he was able to wield its power."

            "Precisely," the sensei said, "The contest between Monkey Fist and the bearer occurred because both of them had been exposed to the monkey totems.  This complicated the process since there were now two possible bearers.  They had to face each other, and in winning, Stoppable-san claimed both Monkey Fists' totem power and the mantle of the bearer.  However, the Passing, the time when the Lotus Blade joins with its new bearer, had not yet come.  The Blade, therefore, returned to its resting place and the new bearer returned to his homeland without any knowledge of his future destiny."

            "So why are you here now?" Kim asked, desperately trying to take all this in.  The sensei frowned, looking worried.

            "The time of the Passing has come, but something has gone wrong.  Yori witnessed an omen of this."  He looked over at the girl.

            "The Lotus Blade broke from its case, stabbing into the floor of the resting place."  The sensei nodded solemnly at Yori's words.

            "This is an indication that something has gone out of place in the universe.  Something has happened that should not have and now we know not what will come next."  The old man paused, sipping his tea before continuing, "We brought the Blade to America because a new bearer must be chosen.  The Passing signals the beginning darkness, and a bearer must wield the sword against that darkness.  Unfortunately, the monkey idols are no more and we have yet to prepare others.  In this situation the former bearer's energy must initiate the transfer.  That is why we planted the sword in Stoppable-san's grave, the new chosen one should be drawn to the sword and through it should absorb the energy needed."

            "Should?" Kim was pretty sure she was understanding all this, but the last statement had sounded unsure, and it worried her for some reason.  The sensei shrugged his shoulders.

            "This has never happened before and the path ahead is not clear.  We know only that the sword must be brought to the former bearer, but something is changing.  We cannot see what will come in the days ahead, or what the new bearer will bring with him.  The Lotus Blade is an instrument of justice and peace, but it is still a weapon, and all weapons long for battle.  It is possible that the bearer and the Blade will be forever changed by these events, and there is no way of telling if he brings protection or ruin."  The sensei's words sent a shiver down Kim's spine.  He did not strike her as a man to worry easily, so anything that made him uneasy must be pretty serious.  That seemed to conclude his story and Kim had been bombarded with so much new and unbelievable information that she couldn't think of anything else to ask him.  Promising to keep what she had heard to herself, she followed Yori out of the room.

            "Hey, sorry about going after you at the cemetery," Kim apologized, "I feel really bad about it."

            "Do not trouble yourself," Yori waved off the apology, "you were upset and acted in defense of your friend."  Kim smiled, liking the girl and finding herself wondering about how she knew Ron.

            "He rescued me from Monkey Fist," Yori explained in answer to Kim's question, "I was impressed at his bravery even though he was not that skilled he faced the villain and defeated him."

            "Yeah, that's Ron." Kim laughed, "He always seemed to come out on top, though I never knew how."

            "His humor also surprised me.  Even in the direst situation he seemed to keep his optimistic views intact, never despairing in the face of defeat.  Though," Yori paused, looking down, "I seemed to sense a deeper part of him that he kept hidden.  A side of him that seemed hurt, hateful, and sometimes even a frightening darkness."  An image of Ron staring at his bleeding hand flashed through Kim's mind.  "He never let anyone see it.  He might not have even known it was there himself, but in moments of shame or thoughtfulness, I could see it flash through his eyes.  I wish I could have helped him in some way.  He seemed to hurt so; I hope he has found peace in the afterlife.  None deserve it more."

            Kim was intrigued by Yori's tone of voice.  She was sure there was some deeper feeling in those words, but couldn't quite be certain.  Could Ron have caught the affections of the Japanese girl?  Kim smiled inwardly at the thought.  She had always felt bad for Ron, even the girls who seemed to like him, like Tara or Zita, didn't seem to hang around for long.  Kim had never had any trouble attracting guys and this often led to Ron being left out.  He had never blamed her though and she always hoped he would find someone who would stick with him.  Contrary to what her parents and some of her friends thought, there were never any romantic feelings between Ron and Kim.  She had known him for so long it would have been like dating her brother.  No, their friendship had gone beyond romantic attachments long ago.  Now it seemed that he might have attracted the attentions of Yori.  Too bad it's too late to act on it, she thought, tears coming to her eyes.

            Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as a man came running into the room, almost knocking over two people sparring.

            "I have news," the man gasped, out of breath.  "Sensei," he called, as the old man emerged from the tea room,  "I have news from the grave site!"  Kim flinched at the mention of the grave.  "Quickly, you must come."

            "Very well," the sensei motioned to several people in the room, "Hiro, Naka, Suki; please come with me.  Yori and Miss Possible, would you accompany us?"  Kim didn't need to be asked.  The group hurried to a white van and were soon pulling into the cemetery.  As they ran toward Ron's grave, Kim's breath caught in her throat.  The grave was destroyed.  Dirt was thrown everywhere, the headstone had fallen to the side, and the sword and scabbard were gone.  Kim ran straight to the edge of the hole, Yori and the rest right behind her.  Looking down, she saw the casket, smashed open and empty.

            "They took the body," Yori whispered beside Kim.

            "Why?" Kim could feel a lump rising in her throat.

            "The energy needed to wield the Lotus Blade was still trapped inside Ron.  They must have needed the body in order to absorb the energy.  But this isn't the natural way." Yori sounded very upset, "Something is wrong."

            Kim stared down into the empty grave.  Once again, her world was being torn apart around her.  Anger and grief warred for dominance within her.  Yori had said that this taking of Ron's body was not the natural way to transfer the power.  She said something had gone wrong and Kim couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dread at what this would all lead to.  As they stood there it began to rain, a light but steady downpour.  The old sensei stood behind the group.  Gazing down at the defiled grave he spoke softly, but with a conviction that none of those gathered could miss.

            "It has begun."

Next:  The Passing has arrived and the bearer announces his presence in a big way.