Kim stood there, transfixed at the sight before her, a sight that she never would have thought possible until she saw it with her own eyes. Her best friend was standing before her, in a private grotto at a secret school half way around the world. And he was alive! How it had happened, the redhead couldn't have cared less; all she knew was that she had the most important thing in her life back.

For a moment, all she could do was wrap herself in the feelings of wonder and excitement and joy. But as the seconds passed, the spell that had weaved itself around her broke and the redhead was able to think again. Kim was about to call out his name and rush over to him when he finally opened his eyes and she gasped. Instead of the chocolate globes that she so desperately wanted to see, they were replaced by the blue energy that had encircled her earlier. His eyes flowed over his surroundings until they came to rest on her, and she felt a tingle run up her spine that she had felt only once before, when Josh Mankey had kissed her after their one and only date.

She wasn't sure what to do, as he continued to stare at her with the same impassive features that he had held these last two weeks, when a look of absolute elation came over him. She was unsure if he would be able to see it, but she returned the look with equal enthusiasm, a joy from her heart that she never knew existed. Fortunately, the next move was once again made for her as her blond friend began running towards her.

Expecting to be swept up in an enormous embrace, Kim held out her arms as Ron did the same. She was a little concerned that he was still holding the Lotus Blade, but all fears were allayed when she felt his arms wrap around her. She began to lean into her friend to tighten her grip on him when she felt herself being lowered slightly. Unsure of just what was going on, she turned to look at Ron when the last thing she expected happened. He kissed her.

And it wasn't the type of kiss that was shared between two friends who haven't seen each other in a long time and had missed each other. This was a kiss of a denied passion, of a longing that had been repressed until the moment when it could be released. It was a kiss between two lovers.

Unfortunately, Kim was unaware of any such deep-seeded longing, unlike the blond who had captured her in his arms. But, she was certain of one thing; the force that Ron was putting behind it was enough to easily make it the most amazing kiss she had ever experienced. Initially concerned that she was engaging in an intimate act with her best friend, she eventually allowed herself to become lost in the wonderfulness of the moment.

Seconds stretched into lifetimes for the redhead, but eventually she felt Ron take his lips from hers and pull back slightly. She was still leaning over in his arms when she opened her eyes, all thoughts gone except the eager anticipation of another kiss. What she saw sped up her heart just a touch as she was greeted by a sight that she had been longing to see since the incident at the nuclear power plant. His brown eyes. Only this time, the chocolate orbs once again held the sparkle that they had lost.

In that moment, when she was staring into his eyes with his face alight with unbridled happiness, Kim felt an emotion stir from deep within her. She wasn't sure if it was some sort of base attraction brought on by a rush of hormones or a deep longing that had been fulfilled at seeing her friend once again or maybe it was the beginnings of something much deeper. Two weeks ago, the thought that she would have fallen in love with her best friend would have seemed absurd, but after experiencing the effect of the Lotus Blade and seeing it resurrect Ron, she silently decided that the little cliché just might be true, that anything might be possible for her.

But the moment passed, the fleeting emotion returned to the ether, and she was brought back to reality as the once elated face of the blond that was holding her turned to one of utter confusion. Gone was the surety of his actions, the belief in what he was doing, and it was replaced by a million questions, almost as if he had just woken up from a deep slumber. The redhead heard him say her name, almost as if it was a question, and then he went completely limp in her arms.

Kim was not expecting this. She was in an awkward position, having placed all of her weight in his hands and suddenly the support that he was providing gave out. Thankfully, years of training and experience kicked in and she was able to deftly shift her body from underneath the blond to the side of him so that she was now in a position to carry both her body weight and his, preventing him from crashing to the ground. She was unable to sustain the pose that she was in, however, as the pain that was steadily growing in her back attested to. So she spun Ron so that his back was now parallel to the floor and, slipping one hand behind his head to pillow its decent, she gently lowered him to the ground and knelt next to him.

Shock soon gave way to a rising panic as Kim began to fear that her joy at seeing her friend once more among the living was premature. What if the effect of the Lotus Blade was only temporary? Or if the magic that was used to bring him back had somehow been done improperly? The redhead quickly pawed at his neck in a desperate attempt to feel for a pulse while a small part of her registered the fact that she was calling out for help. At first, as her fingers sunk into the soft flesh of his neck, she was unable to find the slow, steady rhythm that she was looking for, for in her haste and panic she didn't let her fingers linger long enough to find his jugular. The all consuming despair, the black hole that had engulfed her heart in those moments after Ron had died, was reforming itself and she knew that she was not going to be able to survive another round with it when two things happened. She felt Yori's arms grab her from behind in a comforting hug and her fingers were able to find the pulsing of his veins, telling her that her blond was, in fact, still alive.

Grief vanished as relief closed around her like a warm blanket and what little emotional control she had left departed her. Kim grabbed both of the blond's shoulders and lowered her face to his chest, sobbing uncontrollably as the pain and the joy of the emotional roller coaster that she had been on came pouring out. And as the moments passed and her crying ceased, the redhead continued to hold onto her friend as she simply enjoyed the gentle up-and-down motion of his chest.

Eventually, Kim once again felt Yori's grasp around her shoulders gently prying her away from her friend and the redhead found that she was too weak, both physically and emotionally, to resist. Lifting her head from Ron's chest, she turned to look at Yori and saw the smiling girl through her tear blurred eyes. She returned the smile and, on pure impulse, gave the Asian girl a gentle hug. It was an action of relief but also of gratitude for the teen heroine was beginning to realize that Ron had returned to her in no small part thanks to Yori.

The embrace, while genuine, was brief and when Kim once more looked around the courtyard she was surprised to see that she, Yori, and Ron were alone. Normally, the former cheerleader would have wanted to know exactly what was coming next, but for the moment she was content to simply relax and let others be in charge for once. She turned to gaze once more at her...well, Kim wasn't sure anymore. Friend? Lover? Soul-mate? One thing she was sure about was that he was her Ron, and for right now, that was good enough.

She was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of Master Sensei returning with reinforcements, six other students all dressed in white gis. They moved with confidence, as if they had been preparing for this situation for a long time. Their faces were set with determination and, although they moved quickly, they showed no sign of urgentness or panic. It was only when they had taken up positions next to Ron, three on a side, that Kim noticed that, for a brief second, a look of awe crossed their faces before it was replaced by the stoic expressions that they held when they had first entered.

When the Master of Yamanuchi took a place standing just in front of the blond's head, the six students turned to face him and bowed, but Kim got the sneaking suspicion that they were bowing to Ron and not Master Sensei. At this point, Yori gently but insistently brought Kim to her feet and led her out of the way. Then, the students, almost as if they were acting as of one mind, knelt down and lifted Ron to shoulder height. They looked at their elderly master for a moment before they followed him through the stone archway and out of sight.

Kim had watched the entire scene unfold silently, making a huge leap of faith that she was placing her trust and Ron's well being in the hands of the right people. Now, the redhead turned to the only other person who was with her in the grotto with an expectant look on her face.

"Where are they taking him?"

"They are taking him to administer to the needs of his body, Kim-dono. Remember that his heart has not beaten nor have his lungs breathed in over two weeks. The process of resurrection is an extremely stressful one, and right now Stoppable-san needs rest. Do not worry. He is with the only people in the world who are trained in helping people after they have been brought back to life," she consoled with a small smile.

Even Kim had to smile at that last bit. After all, resurrection was not exactly a specialty that they taught at Colorado State Medical School, or any medical school for that matter. And she understood that Ron needed to rest, but all she wanted to do was simply be near him, even if he was asleep.

"Can I go and see him?"

Yori's smile took on sympathetic note. "I am sorry, but Master Sensei has given strict instructions that Stoppable-san is not to be disturbed until he gives his permission. I know that you are very worried about your friend, but you need to let him be for a little while. Besides, he is not the only one who needs rest, Kim-dono."

As soon as Yori pointed this out to her, the redhead felt the exhaustion that had come with the day's events finally catch up with her. Her adrenaline rush had run out and the energy that she had acquired from the Lotus Blade had only postponed the inevitable crash that was awaiting her. Kim gave off a considerable yawn, as if to punctuate her tiredness, and when she was done, the former cheerleader gave Yori a smile conceding the point to the Asian girl.

"Come, this way. I will show you to a room that we have setup for you so that you can rest. Master Sensei will want to talk to you tomorrow when you are fully rested," Yori informed Kim with a gesture towards the stone archway. The redhead, who was in no condition to argue, followed the other girl out and into the courtyard. She gave a quick look around to see if she could catch a glimpse of Ron but wasn't surprised when she found that she and Yori were alone.

The heroine did pause when her gaze found the statues of Toshimu and Suiko. They were somehow different now. Since Kim had last seen them, the stone had not shifted from the shape that it had been carved into hundreds of years ago and she assumed that it was rather something inside of her that had changed as she focused her attention on the face of Suiko. "Strange," she thought. "It's like looking into a mirror one day and seeing a different image staring back at you."

She shook her head. It was a lot like waking up one day and fining out that, oops, we were wrong, the world really is flat. It was an utterly unbelievable concept until one is presented with the irrefutable evidence. In her case, that evidence came in the form of one very much alive blond whom she loved.

Loved? Did she love him? Or was it the ghost of Suiko in love with the memory of Toshimu?

But as difficult as sorting out her feelings for Ron was, there was another idea that disturbed Kim even more. One that had shaken her entire belief system to its very core, to the point where she wasn't sure of almost anything anymore. And it was a question that she was going to have to answer, hopefully soon, so that she could get at least some peace of mind.

Where did Kim Possible end and Suiko begin?

Or even more frightening, was there even a Kim Possible? Had there even been one? Or was she just an illusion, the dream of another person, who once they woke up, the dream would disappear and all that would be left was the dreamer?

In the end, all she ended up doing was to give herself a fantastic headache. She tried to rub her temples in an effort to get rid of the Middleton High Marching Band that had taken up residence in her head but to no avail. It was then that Yori came and put a comforting arm around her shoulders and began guiding the redhead once again towards the room that had been set up for her. Kim gave the Asian girl a grateful smile, which was returned, before she was content to focus on getting rid of her headache and giving Yori control.

It had gotten quite late in the day when Kim entered one of the red and green topped pagodas that formed the boundaries of the central courtyard. A few twists and turns later and the redhead found herself in front of a sliding paper door that led to a simple room that contained only a thin pad to serve as a mattress and a blue cotton blanket. Kim took one look at the makeshift bed and instantly curled up on it. She was so tired that she had fallen asleep before she even had the chance to pull the blanket over.

Yori stood at the doorway for a few minutes to ensure that Kim was comfortable before she entered her guest's room and spread the blue material over her. The redhead, who was now oblivious to the world, unconsciously snuggled into the comforter and returned to her peaceful, dreamless sleep. The only remaining occupant of the room who was awake then quietly made her way to the doorway where she silently closed it, leaving Kim to her rest.

Tuesday

It was a gentle scraping sound that caught her attention. Her eyes were closed but the soft sound had awakened her. The less rational part of her mind told her that she couldn't have been asleep for more than five minutes as her body was still suffering from the effects of the exhaustion form the day before but she knew that it had been much longer than that. Although whether it had been two hours or twenty, she was unsure.

Her peaceful sleep had cleared away the pounding in her head but she was still reluctant to get up. It seemed, however, that her body was giving her little choice in the matter. Her back suddenly made its presence known as it protested having to spend the night on a thin mat over a hard floor. This was followed by her stomach notifying her that it was not happy with being empty as a large gurgle erupted from her abdomen. This made her smile. It was something that Ron was supposed to do, not her, and the combination of embarrassment over the noise and the thought of Ron only served to increase her grin.

Ron. Suddenly the events of yesterday came crashing back to her and Kim snapped her eyes open, sitting up with a speed that caused a light-headed sensation to overcome her. The redhead quickly put a hand to her forehead, as much to steady herself as to help ward off a return of her monster headache from the day before. Her initial enthusiasm gave way to pragmatic reality as she surveyed her room, hoping to find something or someone who could tell her about Ron's condition.

Kim found nothing and, despite the fact that she really didn't expect to find anything, she gave off a disappointed sigh as she slouched her shoulders and leaned her head back. Her quick survey of her modest surroundings did bring two things to her attention, however. First, someone had brought her bag to her and second, breakfast had been provided. It was a simple meal of a bowl of rice and some tea, but to the ravenous Kim it looked like a feast. Ignoring her disheveled look, the former cheerleader threw back her blanket and dove into her food, dimly realizing that the scraping sound that had awoken her was someone closing the door to her room after bringing her her meal.

It took her but a few scant moments to devour the entire contents of the rice bowl and, having appeased her stomach for the time being, she turned to some hygienic matters. The possibility of a shower seemed remote but at least she had her toiletry kit that she had packed with her. Ten minutes later, a more presentable Kim who, no matter what she did still felt a little grimy without a shower, was doing her best to bring her long ginger locks under control when a quiet knock came from her door.

The redhead silently rose, still running her brush through her hair, and slid the thin paper door back to reveal almost the last person she was expecting. Her features broke out into a confused grin as she took a step back to give the new arrival a quizzical look.

"Hirotaka? What are you doing here?"

The handsome Asian man allowed one of his enigmatic smiles to cross his face. The past few years had been good to the former exchange student. He still had the same hair style and the same quiet demeanor about him, but he had grown several inches since Kim had last seen him and was clearly a little bit broader in the shoulders. In another time and place, the teen realized that her crush on him would have come rushing back to her in a heartbeat.

But Kim's emotions were in enough turmoil without adding the complications of a romantic involvement. Pushing all thoughts about Hiro and his noticeable physique out of her mind, she watched as he bowed to her deeply, all the while with what Kim thought was a slight trace of reverence in his eyes. And when he spoke, it was with the tone of someone who was talking to an elder not a peer.

"Kimberly, it is good to see you again. I trust you are well after a good night's rest?"

The redhead nodded, still a little surprised at seeing him here of all places. "Then again, I did meet him when Ron came here so it stands to reason that he would be a student at Yamanuchi," she thought. "And besides, after all that's gone on since I met Yori, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Shego was now the new high priestess of Ti Shing Peck Quar!"

Hirotaka seemed pleased but also a little relieved that she was feeling like her old self again. Unbeknownst to Kim, when he had spent his week in Middleton, he had become quite smitten with the redheaded beauty. The fact that he had chosen to spend his time involved in a tryst with Bonnie had little to do with the other cheerleader's charm or beauty. Rather, he had decided not to begin an affair with Kim simply because he knew that he could not devote the time that he wanted to to such a relationship in the short time that he had. So, he decided to make the most of his time in America and sample some of the easier, yet no less delicious, local cuisine.

When he had returned to Japan, he made sure to keep tabs on the fiery redhead from across the ocean. It turned out to be easier than he thought because the reincarnation of Toshimu just happened to be her best friend. Thus, under the guise of checking in on Ron-san, he could also see what Kim was up to. Unfortunately, when the truth was discovered about the heroine that had captured his heart, he was quite depressed, knowing that she could never be his. But, the heart is a fickle thing, and it chooses who it wants without regards to its owner and Hiro still harbored a secret desire for Kim.

Yet, regardless of his fancies, he was a student of Yamanuchi and he had a duty to perform, one that he was honored to be chosen to do. His sense of purpose restored, he gestured out of Kim's room and towards the hallway. "Master Sensei wishes to see you this morning, Kim-dono. I am to escort you to him. Please, follow me."

The Asian student waited while the redhead turned to drop the brush that she had been using back into her bag and then stepped out of her room ahead of him. Hiro allowed himself a quick smile before it returned to nothingness, his face once more 'Mona Lisa-esque' as he stepped in front of his charge and began walking down the hallway.

It did not take him long to lead the two of them out of the pagoda and back into the central courtyard of the school. Kim was forced to squint in the morning light, as the sunlight that was cascading over the peaks of Mount Yamanuchi was particularly bright that morning. The heroine tried to figure out what time it was exactly as she silently followed her latest guide, but gave up in her attempt as the combination of jet lag, lack of sleep, and recent events had caused her internal clock to become completely useless.

Soon she found that Hirotaka was leading her towards the end of the rectangular courtyard that was farthest from the entrance to the school. There, almost directly across from where she had first entered, stood the largest of all the structures of Yamanuchi. It was done in the same style as the rest of the school, but it was clearly more ornate. Whereas the other pagodas had simple wooden carvings, this one had golden accents. The other pagodas were made entirely of stone, whereas this one made use of three different types of marble and jade. And none of the other structures had two armed students standing outside of them acting as sentries.

The whole effect of the extra touches was enough to put Kim off a little and she hesitated, even as Hiro calmly walked past the guards. He climbed two of the steps leading into the building before he noticed that he was alone and turned back, giving Kim a confused look. "Be not afraid, Kim-dono. They are here as much for your protection as the protection of what is inside."

The redhead gave a nervous glance at the stoic warrior on her right then moved her gaze to the one of her left. Still uncertain of what was going on, she took a deep breath and, reminding herself that no one at Yamanuchi had so far done anything to hurt her, she continued after Hirotaka. She didn't get very far, however, for as she passed by the two warriors, they turned and bowed deeply to her. Their motions where quick, yet reverent, and when they were done they returned to their original positions.

For her part, Kim was unsure of just what had happened. She had gotten somewhat used to the fame that came with the job, but somehow the actions of these two sentries were different. Her brow furrowed as she contemplated just what it was that was troubling her about their show of esteem as she began walking past them again. When she had caught up with her guide, he noticed her look and correctly guessed at what she was thinking about.

"Word has traveled fast, Kimberly. Every student at Yamanuchi knows that you are the next reincarnation of our founder's love, Suiko. That is why they show you such great respect."

As Hiro's insight into what was going on sank in, a realization began to dawn on Kim. The part of her that was Suiko was greatly loved and admired by those who choose to study Ti Shing Peck Quar here. And it was more than admiration for what she might have done in a previous life. It was almost as if she were approaching the status of a national hero, someone who had risked life and limb to save everything they held dear. Which, Kim slowly realized, Suiko had.

Her thoughts had carried her into the entrance of the pagoda where she noticed that it wasn't just the adornments that set this particular building apart. The first thing that caught her attention was that there was an open space in the middle of the pagoda that allowed the sunlight to come streaming in from the top of the building. Kim counted seven different stories altogether as walkways lined the walls at each level, giving access to the rooms of the structure.

But the one feature that was the most impressive was the shrine in the middle of the first floor. There was no other illumination in the pagoda except for the light coming in from the roof, thus casting the edges of the chamber into shadows while drawing attention to the center where there was a raised pedestal. The pedestal appeared to be made of solid jade upon which sat something made of wood.

Kim, who had been staring at the sight before her in silence for several minutes, began to move closer towards the dais as Hirotaka remained where he was, allowing the redhead a personal view of the shrine. As the heroine got closer to the pedestal, she noticed that the wooden structure was made of the same material as the case that held the Lotus Blade. Then it dawned on her; the object she was looking at was designed to hold a sword, presumably the very sword that had started her on the journey that she was now on.

The redhead then became aware of Hirotaka's presence next to her as he joined her on the dais. He stood to her left and just slightly behind her and out of the corner of her eye, Kim though that he looked like he was paying his respects to this shrine. It only took a moment, and when he was done, he explained to Kim where she was.

"This is the shrine of the Lotus Blade. It was the first building that was constructed for the school and when the weapon is not in use, it remains here. It is open to all students, and many, if not most, come at least once a day to be in its presence. Some even choose to meditate here, claiming that they feel more connected to Ti Shing mysticism when in its presence."

Kim nodded, taking in what she had been told. She took a step closer to the wooden holder and ran her hand across its smooth, polished surface. She knew that she had never been in this room before this moment and yet she couldn't deny the feeling that she had spent a considerable amount of time here. As she stood there, taking comfort in the feel of the wood and the sense of familiarity that the space engendered, a memory came floating to the surface of her mind. It was short and fragmented, but what she was able to remember was crystal clear.

"There is a student here by the name of Yoshi Hidonori," the heroine stated as much to herself as to Hirotaka. "He is about seventeen years old and everyday at around sunset, he comes here to meditate. He always sits in the northwest corner and stays for about an hour."

She spoke as if she was stating a fact instead of one who is asking a question. Her guide, who knew who she was and the role she played in the legend, was nonetheless caught off guard by her pronouncements. She was, of course, completely correct, and the Asian male was sure that she had gained such insight from her experience yesterday with the Lotus Blade. But it was one thing to know such a thing was possible in the abstract; it was quite another to actually see it happen before your very eyes.

After several minutes spent lost in thought, Kim turned around to look at her guide. She looked at him for a moment and, when she was sure she had his attention, asked him about something that was bothering her.

"It's not here. The Lotus Blade. You said that when it was not in use, it remained here. So, if it's not in its resting place, where is it?"

Hirotaka smiled slightly as he gestured towards a corner of the pagoda. "Come, I will show you," and he headed off in the direction that he indicated. Kim followed behind him closely and as they neared the darkened corner, she noticed that there was a flight of stairs that led up into the building. Her guide led her up to the very top of the pagoda and down the walkway of the seventh story until they came to the only door on that level.

Hiro entered first and was followed by Kim, who immediately had to adjust her eyes to her new darkened surroundings. The entire room was small, maybe no more than twelve feet square, and was illuminated only by the multiple candles that were lit around the edge of the space. There were no windows to allow any light in, and the walls and floor were completely bare of any decoration. And standing in front of her, blocking her from seeing farther into the room was Yori and the Master of Yamanuchi.

Hirotaka bowed to his master and turned, leaving the three alone in the Spartan room. The elder waited until he was sure his other student had departed before he addressed the redhead in front of him.

"Come, Kimberly, we have much to discuss."

As he began talking, he stepped to the side so that he allowed Kim a view of the entire room. There, in the center of the chamber, were three stone tables, lined up side by side, that were very similar to the one that she had seen in the grotto yesterday. Two were large enough to accommodate a person lying down on them while the one in the middle was smaller and positioned towards the end of the other tables.

But all of that barely registered on her as she focused all her attention on the blond figure that was lying atop one of the larger tables. She brushed past Yori and Master Sensei and was at his side in a heartbeat. With a trembling hand, she gently reached over and touched his cheek and felt a flood of relief wash over her at the warmth of his skin. She looked at his face, hoping to catch a glimpse of his chocolate eyes, but it appeared that he was asleep at the moment.

"Is he alright?" she asked, never taking her eyes off of his still form.

There was a pause as Yori walked over to stand next to her guest. The two women locked eyes for a brief moment before they both turned their gaze down towards the next heir of the Lotus Blade. "His body is fine, Kim-dono. It is strong and full of youth, and it will make a complete recovery." The Asian girl then sighed, bracing herself as she dropped the other shoe. "It is his mind that we are concerned about."

Kim, who had been more focused on her best friend than on what Yori was saying, felt her initial happiness at hearing that Ron was okay change to one of worry upon hearing the last part of what Yori had said.

"What exactly do you mean, you're concerned about his mind?"

"Kimberly, you must understand that he has suffered a tremendous psychological trauma. You forget that he was dead for two weeks, a non-corporeal spirit without form or substance, that was forced to wait in a state of limbo until he was either reincarnated or resurrected. And now that he has been resurrected, the realty of who he is came crashing down upon him. Remember how much you refused to believe your true position in the universe? Imagine if no one had told you but you had discovered it for yourself, with no one to tell you what was going on or to guide you through the process. That is what is happening to Ron-san."

As Yori talked, Kim reached down and grabbed Ron's hand, intertwining her fingers with his. A single tear formed in the corner of her eye as she was too emotionally tired to produce more of them. She gave his hand a small squeeze and felt her heart drop when he didn't return it. Resigned, she sighed and turned her full attention back to Yori.

"Is he in any pain?"

Yori shook her head. "No, we do not believe he is in pain. He is, however, very confused and is lost within the confines of his own mind. He is struggling with his reality, with that which he knows to be true but is not sure that he wants to accept. He needs you help, Kim-dono."

Kim, eager to do whatever she could to help her blond friend, jumped at the chance to do something. "I'll do whatever you need me do to. All you have to do is name it."

Yori took a deep breath. "Right now, Ronald is trapped in his own mind. He cannot find his own way out and back to us, so we must go in and help him find his way. The only person who can do that is you, Kimberly."

"How?"

"We will place you in a trance. Once you are in a deep meditative state, you will touch the Lotus Blade, as will Stoppable-san. This will create a connection between the two of you and your consciousness will be able to move into Ron-san's mind. It will be your job to guide him back from whatever corner of his mind that he has lost himself in."

The redhead turned to look at Ron's face for another moment before she gave his hand a determined squeeze and let it go, placing it back on the table next to his side. Gone was the concerned, slightly scared expression that she had worn and in its place there was now one of resiliency and strength. Whatever she had to do to help her best friend, she would do it, come hell or high water. Finally, she turned to face Yori, her body language informing those around her that she was a woman on a mission and it was not a good idea to get in her way just then.

"Alright, then, let's get started."

The Asian girl gave Kim a genuine smile as she motioned to the other large table that was next to Ron. As she moved past Yori and Master Sensei, she noticed that in her haste to go to Ron's side she had failed to notice that the Lotus Blade was resting on the smaller table that was in between the larger two. The heroine lifted herself up onto the table and remained in a sitting position, with her legs dangling over the side.

While she was doing this, Yori moved to a corner of the room where a small table held a container of liquid and a glass. She poured an amount of the clear substance into the glass and brought it over to Kim. She handed it over to her and told her to drink the entire contents. Kim took the glass, gave Yori a skeptical look, and the downed the liquid in one gulp. She had been expecting some sort of vile taste and had been prepared to fight her gag reflex, but she was pleasantly surprised when she discovered that it tasted a little bit like strawberries.

Yori picked up on Kim's body language and guessed at what she was thinking. "Over the years, we have been able to improve upon the flavor of the elixir. Legend has it that the first batches were almost impossible to swallow," she informed her guest with a smirk.

The heroine tried to return the smile but found that she had become quite light headed, causing her to lie down on the table. She felt waves of drowsiness overcome her and suddenly all she could think about was going back to sleep. A small part of her mind, one that was less rational than the rest, began to worry that she was in danger and it took control just long enough to force Kim to give Yori a concerned look.

The other girl took a step closer to the redhead and leaned over her. "Do not worry, Kim-dono. The elixir that I have given you will place you in the deep meditative state that you need to achieve in order to reach Ron-san. I must caution you that no one is sure what you can expect once you are in his mind, but there is one person who might be able to help you. Once inside, it is very probable that you will be able to interact with the core portion of your soul, which will most likely present itself as a vision of Suiko. Since you have been through this before, I suggest you seek her out first before moving into Ron-san's mind."

Kim, who was growing more tired with each passing moment, took in everything that Yori was telling her but it took all her concentration. She was able to remain in the waking world for a few seconds longer before the blackness of unconsciousness overtook her and she slipped into her trance.

Once she was sure that the redhead was out, the Asian girl moved to the other side of Kim where the other table was standing. She silently reached out and grabbed Ron's left hand and brought it over to rest on the hilt of the Lotus Blade. As soon as his skin touched the cool metal of the weapon, his hand clamped down upon it with such strength that no man in the mortal world could have broken it and a faint blue aura surrounded his body.

She then turned to Kim and took her right hand, bringing it over towards the sacred sword of Yamanuchi. For a moment, she hesitated with Kim's hand hovering a few scant inches over its shining blue surface before she murmured a short, but heartfelt, prayer for Kim's' success and Ron's safe recovery. Then, she allowed the redhead's hand to decent onto the blade to begin her mission.

And as she watched Kim's hand grab part of the Lotus Blade and part of her friend's hand with the same grip that Ron had and the same blue aura settle over her, she leaned in and whispered in the redhead's ear, "Good luck, Kim-dono. May the gods guide you to him," knowing that the connection between the two had been made and the heroine was off to bring back her love.

Author's Notes: Well, sorry this took so long to get out. Between a case of writer's block and a case of laziness, things took a little longer than anticipated. Hopefully, this longer than average chapter will make up for the delay.

And, for you fan's of this story, you can forget about it ended around five chapters. The original story has blossomed into something much larger, so I'm going to take it in another, hopefully better direction.

Preventer Squall, I have plans for the so-called Monkey Master in my story and he will play an integral role. See if you can guess what it is. Anyway, Chapter 6 beings Kimmie's journey into Ron's mind, where we find out what happens when you cross the mind of a naco-loving wrestling fan with that of a centuries old Japanese warrior.

Until next time, enjoy Chapter 5.