Warning: This chapter contains strong language and suggestive dialog.
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Chapter 15
-Awase Za Shin-
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The loud hum of electronic equipment and air recycling system filled the small confined space of the long semi-dark shaft. A figure dressed in a white and silver space suit move along the shaft, stopping to check various banks of flashing lights and electrical equipment from which tangled power lines ran.
They continued their search until the reached a desk made of dark metal and a set of controls that seemed to be a combination of a dj's mixer and a computer system. They studied the softly glowing monitor and then quickly hurried on, marking a mark on the white maker board to show that they had preformed their check.
The small figure heaved against the large hatch revealing a long square hallway, walking along the hallway heavy metal boots clicking against the metallic floor. The mysterious figure paused checking each sealed refrigerator door before moving on, their breath hanging in the air from the near zero temperature.
Finally, the came to yet another sealed hatch and quickly typed in a code into a keypad. There was a hiss and then a click as the seal was broken, heaving yet again the figure climbed through the hatch and into the main area of research lab.
It was a medium size room, with shiny metal tables filled with tubes of chemicals and walls filled with banks of highly complicated computer systems. Against the far wall was a desk upon which a softly glowing flat screen monitor and a keyboard sat, to the right of the desk was a blank flat wall monitor next to a shatterproof window that had a view of the Earth.
The figure ignored the beeps of the various systems, taking a seat before the terminal, and began typing on the keyboard, the space station's email system coming to life. With a single mindedness, the figure continued typing the email, the empty space quickly filling with words.
Suddenly the gloved hands froze over the keyboard, a new sound catching their attention. They turned in the seat towards the blank monitor, which showed the symbol for the Middleton Space Center. The figure was momentarily distracted by the unsettling view of the space's cold depths and the large blue-green marble.
The astronaut's attention returned once more to the screen as the symbol of Middleton Space Center faded out and was replaced with the image of an older man with brown hair and rather kind looking face.
"This is Middleton Space Center, Dr. Possible, do you read us?"
The figure typed quickly on their sleeve nodding "Yes," answered the mechanical yet musical voice answered.
"Are all system still within optimal levels?"
"Yes," the same voice said "But the bananas are running low."
Dr. Possible nodded smiling good-naturedly "Well, you won't be there much longer Fredrick. You're ride's being fueled up as we speak."
"Fredrick return home soon?"
The man on the screen nodded smiling "Yes, you've done a wonderful job." He watched as the chimp jumped up and down in excitement and then began typing something on his arm.
"Fredrick see Ron?"
"I think so," Dr. Possible paused looking a little dejected "You know he's dating my Kimmie Cub now?"
Fredrick typed something and then smiled wide "Fredrick thought they were already dating."
Dr. Possible laughed good-naturedly nodding "Yes, I think a lot of people did. Anyway, send your status report and prepare for the return trip home. Middleton Space Center out."
The chimp excitedly turned back to the terminal and began typing their email once more before launching it into the electronic ether. That done the figure rose and checked a few readouts before returning to the terminal and finishing off a half finished report.
Once it was finished and sent Fredrick left the terminal heading for the window. He stared out at the planet he called home; he could remember the feel of the cool, clear water he use to drink and the taste of sweet fruit.
He could still remember the warmth that the sun used to give his fur and how comfortable the grass used to feel, and even the kindness of his only human friend. As he remembered Ron and then the fact that he would be going home soon he jumped slightly in excitement and turned heading out of the research area.
The smell of lemon filled the air of the medium sized kitchen, the wraparound counter held all the modern appliances needed to feed a family. It was decorated in a light yellow so that it appeared to be brighter than it really was.
Seated at the old wood table in the center of the kitchen were two young women, one with perfectly groomed red hair with a light tan while the other had raven black hair and a chocolate complexion. Before either of them sat two glasses of cold milk and in front of the black headed girl a plate of slightly burnt toast.
"So, what's up?" the raven-haired girl asked, resting her chin in her hand.
The red head looked at her friend, worry evident in her emerald gaze "Just worried about Ron, he's been missing all day."
The other girl smiled and took a sip of her milk "I wouldn't worry about him Kim; he's got a major streak of luck on his side. Besides, just ask Wade to find him, I mean the boy is tagged."
"Wade says that he can't track him cause his equipment's down for maintenance, besides Mon, no one saw him at Bueno Nacho for lunch. Not even Ned."
"What's so strange about that?" Monique asked as she picked up a piece of toast and then dropped it back to the plate "Maybe he wanted something other than Bueno Nacho? I mean he might be the iron gut, but even he has to get tired of Mexican food."
"Mon, you know that Ron always, always, wants Bueno Nacho and today was two cent taco day."
Monique blinked "Well...err...any ideas why he would disappear or where he would go?"
Kim shook her head and took a sip of her own milk "I don't really know where he'd go. Checking Smarty Mart after I leave, but I think he disappeared cause I wanted to, ya know, sleep with him."
Monique blinked several times and then reached up pinching herself before continuing this decidedly strange conversation "Wait, let me get this straight, your boyfriend just drops off the face of the earth because you wanted to play 'hide the salami' with him?" When Kim nodded, Monique blinked once more "Are you sure he's not gay?"
"Yes I'm sure!"
Monique lifted her hands motioning for the girl to calm down "Chill girlfriend, I was just joking." she shook her head and chuckled "You'll have to walk me through why you think he'd take off if you wanted to have sex with him. Most guys I know don't exactly disappear cause of that kind offer."
"Well...After the dance..."
"Hold up," Monique said and then rose hurriedly checking outside the kitchen before closing the door and rushed back to her seat, looking like the gossip queen that she was "So, how was it?"
"How was what?"
"You know, it. Do you feel different? I bet you do, you always feel different after the first time. So is it true that he's, ya know, well endowed?"
Kim blinked slowly leaning forward slightly "Monique, I'm still a virgin and I'm not going to tell you how well my boyfriends hung."
Monique snorted, "Oh please, everyone at the dance knows you two got it in on in the parking lot when you left."
"Mon, we did nothing."
"Ok, so you two waited till you were back at you're house."
Kim buried her face in her hands; speaking in a muffled voice "We did nothing at my house", she paused and sighed, "I chickened out." When she received only silence, she lifted her head to look up and found Monique staring at her in disbelief.
"You chickened out? Nothing?"
Kim nodded feeling embarrassed.
"You're joking right? You two must have done something...I mean nothing?"
"Yes Mon, we did absolutely nothing. Nodda, zip, zilch, zero, big goose egg."
"He's gay. Face it. Time to find a new boyfriend." Monique said in disbelief, and then when she saw her temper rise she quickly motioned with her hands to calm down "Chill, you know I'm playin. So is that all that happened?"
Kim shook her head "No, when I went over to his house and spent the night I offered to sleep with him again and he just said something like 'when I was ready we'd make love'."
Monique opened her mouth to say something then paused tilting her head ever so slightly "Well, now that is strange. But then he is Ron so, maybe its not."
Kim chewed her bottom lip and then took a sip of her milk "So see why I'm worried. I mean what if the thought of sleeping with me is so terrible he's run away."
Monique laughed, "Kim, trust me, the thought of sleeping with you would be the last thing to make anyone run away. Face it; you've just got a boyfriend that's probably scared stiff." The girl giggled, "He's just scared, nothing to worry about."
Kim sighed and Monique began tapping her finger on the tabletop "Unless he ran into Josh. I mean that boy has been trying to get back at Ron for a long time, he might've tried to jump the boy."
Kim stared at her best fiend suddenly, her face going slightly pale "J-Josh?" She lowered her gaze back to the table and sat there silently for a moment, her eyes dancing as she began thinking. With a curt nod, she sighed looking back up at her friend "Then I guess I'll just have to have a 'talk' with Josh."
The two story sidewalk café was doing rather brisk business, several attractive waitress hurried among the umbrella tables, each carrying a tray of drinks and light meals.
One especially attractive, though seemingly harried waitress delivered a cup of choco latté to a single attractive man at a table. She lingered long enough for a quick flirt and then was of, sure that the man was watching her hips.
Smiling the young spiky haired man picked up his drink and sipped at it, dragging his eyes away from the waitress and returned to his book. He scanned the page for a moment before setting it and his drink down, this was the life. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze that swept over him and rustled his hair.
He opened his eyes finally and felt the smile on his face fade when he saw the last person in the world he had expected, the one he least wanted to see. "Well, hello there Kim. What do I owe for this visit?"
His red headed ex adjusted in her seat across from him, folding her light jacket over an arm and crossing her legs. She studied that boy and then frowning spoke up "Ron."
"Oh, so you dumped the loser?" he said as he took a sip of his hot drink.
"No, he's missing. You're holding a grudge, two and two make four Josh. What'd you do with him?"
"Moi? I wouldn't dirty my hands with boy. I'm in a good place now; I have absolutely no reason to bother with him or you." He gave her a charming smile, though it had no real effect "Besides, I haven't seen the loser. I've been here all day."
"Don't call him that." She said.
"What a loser? I'm sorry, but he is. Heck you even called him that once, remember?" the teenage heartthrob smirked "Back when we were still dating, he brought down all those dance decorations."
"I never called him that,"
Josh took another sip of his drink and nodded "Oh of course not, sorry." His smile turned a tad condescending "Suppose I just imagined you saying he was a loser. But I guess you really can't call him that anymore, I mean since you're giving it up to him now."
Kim's hand smashed onto the table, causing his cup to rock as well as drawing several other people's attention. "It's none of your damn business if I'm 'giving it up to him' and I said he was clumsy not a loser!"
Josh blinked "Just calm down alright? Don't make a scene..." he looked around a little nervous and then back at her "Come on, take it easy."
Kim stood slowly leaning forward against the table "I will make a scene if I want to! Now tell me where the hell Ron is and what you did to him."
The blond pointed at her chair "Will you just sit down already? Or go dunk you're head and cool off KP, cause I have no clue where he's at."
Whatever else the boy was going to say was cut off as the sound of an open palm struck his cheek, toppling him out of the chair to sprawl on the concrete sidewalk. He looked up at her, eyes crossed as he stared up at his ex who was staring at him with a look that could twist steel.
"Don't you ever, EVER! Call me that. Only Ron can call me that!" She stood there a moment longer and then on impulse scooped up his drink and poured it out on his book then setting it to the side turned and stormed off.
Josh laid there staring after her and then slowly got back up; the waitress he'd been flirting with all day who made a great deal of fuss over him quickly joined him.
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Kim stepped off the curb and started across the street towards the shiny black limo, where a black clad driver stood waiting patiently for her. Sighing she pulled out her slim blue PDA-type device speaking to the boy genius "So, was he telling the truth?"
"Yea," he paused sipping at his cola through a straw "thermal readings were in the normal variations for the situation. Besides I've been checking local video feeds, the boy's been there since the place opened at ten."
Kim frowned "Well, thanks. Any luck with tracking Ron?" When the genius shook his head Kim continued, "Thanks Wade," she turned off the communicator and then nodding at the chauffeur climbed into the plush backseat.
The backseat was made up of white and black leather, at the far side of the limo sat a thin man with wire frame glasses staring a small TV and holding a glass of scotch.
"So Miss Possible, find out what you needed to know?" The man asked looking away from his TV while his driver climbed in.
"Yes, Thanks for the lift Mr. Bates."
The thin man pushed his glasses up smiling "No thanks needed Miss Possible. After the way you helped me stop that hostile take over of my software company and kept my ex-wife from killing me it's the least I could do."
"No big Mr. Bates, anyone could have uncovered that insider or found those bullets."
The older man nodded "If you say so. Is there anything else I can do for you today?"
"I guess take me back to my house, I've taken up enough of your time." The older man waved a hand dismissing her statement but she ignored it and stared out the window dejectedly while the software giant told his diver where to take them.
"So, can I inquire about who that rather unfortunate boy was?"
Kim looked back at him sighing "A mistake, a very stupid mistake."
Bates chuckled "Ahhh an ex that would explain the violence."
Kim nodded frowning "Yea, now all I have left is Smarty Mart."
"Might I suggest, Miss Possible that you talk with others that have been close to this Ron Stoppable." The man said looking back at the TV before laughing, "God, I love this cartoon."
"Uh, can I ask what it is you're watching exactly?"
"Well, actually it's an anime. About this girl who's a government assassin and her former best friend who's just a hired killer."
Kim blinked then slumped back in her seat "Well, as nice as that sounds, I suppose I'll take your advice and go see Ron's ex." The red head rubbed the bridge of her nose "I doubt she's going to be too happy to see me."
Bates tilted his head looking at her "Why not?"
"Cause, I'm his new girlfriend. I guess this means we need to change directions. Can you drop me off at seven hundred and five East First Street please Mr. Bates?"
"Of course and please call me Will." the man said smiling in a friendly fashion.
Kim nodded "Of course and please call me Kim." When the man turned to tell the drive to change directions Kim couldn't help but wonder about why she had to deal with Ron's ex-girlfriend. She crossed her legs and began bouncing a foot, swearing that when she saw the boy she was going to beat him black and blue.
A slightly nervous hand rapt on the heavy wooden door of the brownstone, the owner of the hand pausing only to listen for a response. Arms crossed they stared at the door for a moment, silently hoping that no one was home.
Snorting the figure, a young red headed woman knocked on the door once more stopping only when she caught the sound muffled footsteps.
"Hello? Can I come in?"
There was a moment of silence and then the door opened an inch "Who is it?"
The red head leaned towards the narrow crack in the door "It's Kim, Kim Possible. Is Zita home?" The door suddenly slammed causing Kim to jump in surprise, wondering if maybe she shouldn't have said her name.
A moment later, just as the red head was considering leaving, the opened all the way to reveal one Zita Flores who was dressed in a low cut blue tank top and a pair of blue jeans.
"Hi, can I come in?" Kim asked her voice a little tight.
Zita placed a hand on her hip, seeming to consider the girl for a moment and then nodded "Sure, why not." The attractive Hispanic girl stepped to the side allowing Kim inside.
The teenage hero paused looking around at the inside of the house; it looked different than either hers or Monique's. It was smaller than she was used to and it seemed dimmer than normal. However, over all it was an interesting house and it wasn't so bad.
Zita passed Kim starting down a hallway talking "So, what brings you by?" The girl turned her head smiling "Turning gamer?"
Kim shook her head following her host "No, um, who answered the door?"
Zita shrugged "That was my mom," she opened the door to her room "Well, come on in. Pardon the mess." Once Kim stepped across the threshold, it was apparent that Zita was as sloppy as Ron. Clothes were scattered across the floor and her bed looked unmade.
"Sorry, been lounging most of the week. Didn't expect company." Kim turned to say something but found Zita already heading for her computer where a stack of CDs rested "So what did bring you by? Wanna borrow the latest Final Fantasy?"
Kim cautiously took a seat on the girl's bed, glancing around the room once more, shocked at how much it reminded her of her cousin Larry's. Where boy bands should have been there were just video game poster and the shelves were dolls or other possessions should be, sat unopened action figure boxes.
What truly shocked her was when she finally caught sight of Zita's computer monitor. The screen as blank for a moment before a picture came into being showing Ron and Zita, hugging and holding hands at a video game convention.
"You know you actually remind me a little of Tifa,"
Kim blinked looking around at the girl caught of guard "Tifa?"
Zita smiled sitting down across from the girl on the bed "Yea, you know from Final Fantasy Seven."
Kim glanced nervously at the computer screen then back at Zita "Oh, right. Ron told be about that game once."
"So how is he doing? Is he dating anyone?"
Kim noted that Zita's smile seemed a little forced now, but she shrugged it off "Yes, actually he is. It's funny you ask about him, I'm actually here to ask if, um, did he ever tell you where he'd go if he just wanted to disappear?"
"Maybe you should ask his girlfriend." Was Zita's immediate response, then before Kim could responded the girl add, "What's the matter, is he not wrapped around your lil finger anymore ?" she sounded quite happy about that thought.
"Yea, his girlfriend's probably got him locked away in her bedroom. He wouldn't mind, I should know."
"What do you mean you should know?" Kim said and then shook her head "Look his girlfriend doesn't have a clue about where he's at."
"Maybe she's just telling you that so you'll leave the boy alone."
"Be kind of hard for me not to know the truth." Kim responded.
"Oh yes, you still think your a world famous detective or something. I'm sure she couldn't hide it from you."
"Zita," Kim stood slowly "She can't hide it from me since I am her."
"¿Opinión qué? Ningún porqué usted podría ser el suyo-" Zita said eyes wide staring up at Kim.
"I'm his girlfriend; there it's in the open. Now then I have no clue where he's at and I'm wondering if he every said anything to you about where he'd go." When Zita remained silent, Kim crossed her arms "Well? You didn't kidnap him and lock him up in your closet did you?"
The Hispanic girl stood, eyes narrowing as she glared at the red head "I never had to kidnap him, he always enjoyed being in my room. Maybe he got tired of a domineering red headed bitch telling him what to do."
Kim narrowed her own eyes in response to what Zita had said "Zita, maybe in fantasy land where you're some twentieth degree warrior princess you have guys drooling all over you. But out here in the real world your nothing but a snot-nosed girl that wastes her time playing video games!"
Zita looked as if she'd been slapped but it didn't keep her from lashing out verbally "Listen up concha, you might be his new amante or whatever, but I fucked him first so you ain't shit." She paused seeing Kim's stunned expression and snorted, "Yea, he probably got tired of your gatito."
Kim closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated on her breathing before looking at the girl once more "Just because you're mad doesn't mean you get to lie. I know you never slept with him, he'd have told me if you did."
"Awww gringa perra thinks she's special. Listen up muchacha, I fucked him good and he's probably tired of your pathetic gatito. Face it; you'll never be as good as me."
There was a moment of silence before Kim spoke up "Don't. Say. Another. Word." When Zita opened her mouth to say something Kim jabbed a finger into the girls face "DON'T!"
They stood there staring at one another, a tense silence filling the air before Kim finally said anything "Now choose your words carefully, cause I swear piss me off anymore and I will break every bone in your body. You entiéndame perra?" when Zita nodded she continued, "Now, do you know of any place Ron would go?"
Zita shook her head, crossing her arms and Kim lowered her hand, talking in a tense voice "Fine," she took a deep calming breath "I'll show myself out."
Kim turned and flung Zita's door open and stormed out of the girl's room, her face set into a mask of anger. An older woman, holding a plate of cookies blinked seeing the red head storming away. "Um, is everything alright?"
Kim paused and turned towards Zita's mom forcing herself to smile "Yes ma'am, everything's fine. The mission I'm on got a big update and I have to jet."
"Oh, before you go?" Zita's mom smiled and offered her the tray.
Kim nodded and took a couple of the cookies "Thanks Mrs. Flores, you have a nice home."
"Why thank you, it's so hard to keep this place clean. Are you a friend of Zita's?" Kim hesitated and then nodded slowly, which caused her mother smile brightly "Oh good, a nice friend. I was so worried when she and Ronald broke up; he was such a nice young man. She's had very few good people in her life."
Kim sighed, "I see," the red head looked back at the girl's room and then back at Zita's mother "Well, I really gotta jet. Maybe I'll see you later."
"Oh, of course dear. I understand good luck."
Kim waved, the cookies still held in hand and turned continuing out of the house. Once the front door was closed Kim leaned against it, wanting to either cry or go back in and beat Zita senseless. Since neither would really make her feel all that much better, she did neither and returned to the waiting limo.
A dejected Kim entered her house; her shoulders slumped as she closed the front door and started up the stairs. She was so distracted by her thoughts that she ignored even her tweeb brothers, who admittedly were trying extremely hard to annoy her.
She quickly walked up the stairs to her room and then stopped to stare at her room, at the organization and neatness of it. It suddenly struck her just how different her and Ron really were, it also made her realize that Zita and Ron were almost the exact same. For one brief moment, she wondered if maybe she had messed up things for Ron, but she quickly shook that off.
Sighing she slowly walked to her bed and collapsed, curling up in a ball as she clutched one of her pillows tight to her chest. She wanted to cry, just break down and cry, as she'd wanted to do since Zita's house.
It wasn't just the fact that Ron had slept with Zita, it was the fact that he had never told her. Best friends shared that kind of earth shattering information, so did couples.
Kim managed to keep her emotions under control, if only barely, reminding herself that there was the possibility that the girl had been lying. She closed her eyes, trying to coax herself to sleep, thinking that even if they did sleep together it didn't mean anything. It was just a mistake; he was entitled to a mistake.
It wasn't long before she rolled over, unable to sleep and produced the thin blue PDA-like device, talking to the genius that appeared on the screen when she turned it on. "Hey Wade, find anything?"
"No Kim, sorry" He paused in his typing and looked up at her "You want that info about Yori that I tried to give you yesterday?"
Kim chewed her bottom lip and then nodded sitting up crossed legged in her bed "Sure Wade, it'll take my mind off things."
The boy nodded and with a few deft keystrokes filled screen scrolling pictures of Yori, including one in which she was sunbathing topless on the Rivera "Her full name is Yori Aiemi, she's from Japan, somewhere in the Tokyo providence."
"She's had private schooling at Yamanochi for the last fifteen years. Her parents are deceased, no records exist with their names. Her father was an English lord and her mother was the daughter of some Japanese corporate big shot."
"Wade, that's pretty much everything you've already told me." Kim said sounding slightly annoyed.
The boy genius shrugged "Ahhh, but now comes the good stuff." He held up a finger and then split the screen to show her text as he talked "Her father had a plane, registered to a Hiro Baites, his alias. The guy's been dead for fiffteen or so years but now suddenly he's making a lot of trips."
Kim raised an eyebrow and Wade shrugged "Most recently his private jet took off from an airport in Upperton. The same day that Ron saw Monkey Fist fleeing that park."
Kim felt her mind racing down an obvious tract "So, Yori Aiemi is the daughter of some dead guy that's making a lot world trips? I don't buy it, do you think it could be Monkey Fist?"
Wade shrugged, the screen going back to normal size "Not really sure, but it is an interesting coincidence." The boy genius paused and took a long sip of his soda "In addition, there have been reports of monkeys disappearing from nature preserves and from zoos, each of which were visited by 'Hiro Baite'. Could be that Monkey Fist is just using her dad's plane as a cover..."
"Or..." Kim trailed off, then shook her head "I guess I'll have to talk to her. Which is a good idea anyway; she might know where Ron is."
"Yea, Kim about Ron, maybe he's got a good reason for just disappearing,"
"Thanks for the info wade, but I got to go talk to someone about something." Kim responded shutting off the device before the boy could say anything.
With a slight groan, she stood and slipping the device into her pocket descended the stairs of her room and down into the main part of the house looking for the one person she could talk to about serious relationship issues.
Kim found her target in the kitchen, looking haggard from a hard day at work. It was obvious by the way; the older female leaned against the counter rinsing out a set of glasses. Kim watched her mother for a moment and then approached drawing her mom's attention.
"Hi Kimmie, how you are doing?"
"Not to good actually."
"Why not dear?" The older female looked at her daughter sipping at her now filled glass of water.
"It's about Ron." Kim sighed looking at her now worried parent "Mom, ca-can I talk to you about something? About me and Ron?"
Her mother nodded setting her glass of water down on the counter motioning for her daughter to continue. A look of anxiousness on her face.
"Mom, I kn-know you and dad think I slept with him, but we didn't do anything honest. I mean I was going to, but-" She sighed leaning against the counter "I chickened out."
Her mother raised an eyebrow, looking a little relieved "And now you think that because you did Ron's out with someone else?
Kim shook her head violently "NO! That's not it, he understands. Heck he even turned me down when I offered to sleep with him when I was over at his house. Said we'd do it when I was ready."
"Err...honey; I don't see what's wrong then. I mean, look mothers aren't fond of hearing about their daughters talking about sex with boyfriends, but at least you got one that's letting you go at your own pace."
Kim looked down at the ground "Mom, he slept with someone before me." The red head lifted her head to look up at her mom "At least the girl said he did and now I feel all these emotions and none of them really make sense. I mean he slept with her way before we even thought about getting together, and yet-"
"Yet you feel hurt and upset? You're wondering why he'd sleep with her and not with you? That maybe you don't know him as well as you thought you did?" When Kim stared at her mother in disbelief the older Possible shook her head a weird half frown, half smile on her face "Kimmie, you're not the first girl to get startled by something like that."
"Mom, I don't want to know, but I gotta ask," Kim stopped and then taking a breath plowed on with her question "Did you and dad sleep with anyone else before you got with each other? Or was it just Dad?"
There was a moment of silence and then her mother sighed, "Actually, your dad was a virgin when we finally did anything. I wasn't quite so smart however."
Kim opened her mouth to say something when her mother continued, "It was a very stupid mistake I made when I was younger, it was about two years before I met your father." Kim looked as if she had the wind knocked out of her, but her mother continued, "It was just sex though, the guy I was with took advantage of me when I was vulnerable. I never saw the guy after that, but that was my idea not his."
"But what about love? I mean sex is supposed to be with someone you love right?" Kim asked sounding rather anxious and confused.
Kim's mother gave a genuine smile at that "Honey, sex is just physical, no real emotions involved. When you're in love its something more, it's special. Its not just physical, its iunno, spiritual? I can't really describe it, but it's different."
Kim's mother seemed to read her daughters face and crossed the distance between them giving the girl a much needed hug "If you and Ron really love each other, then when it does happen, you'll know what I mean. Don't worry about a mistake he made, if he's holding back with you that means he really cares about you."
The younger Possible returned the embrace; eyes closed not saying a word. Processing everything, her mother had told her; unable to believe this was happening to her. After several minutes Kim pulled away from her mom "I guess your right, umm...about what we talked about? Do you think we can keep dad out of this?"
Kim's mother laughed retrieving her drink "Kimmie, do you honestly think I'd tell him that his 'Kimmie Cub' was talking about sleeping with her boyfriend? Good lord I love him, I don't wanna give him a heart attack."
Kim chuckled with her mother, stopping only when her mom looked back at her from the door "Tell Ronald that I'm sorry about earlier. I should have known better."
Kim nodded and then watched her mother disappear out of kitchen. Once she was gone, the red head turned and left her house through the back door. She could call Wade and get a ride but she had a perfectly good bike sitting next to the garage.
Muttering about needing her own car, she retrieved her bike and walked it around to the front of the house. Straddling the bike, she placed the white helmet on her head, frowning, wishing she had a car. Sighing she pushed off and started peddling heading towards Smarty Mart.
The large brick building looked neglected on the bright sunny day, but then this was to be expected. It was an older synagogue, the front having three small windows close to the roof and a series of columns that ran the full length of the building. Its small door was covered by a pavilion made of timber.
On the side that faced the rising sun were three staggered columns with a row of windows running up and down between them. The columns ultimately came to a flush stop against a marble wall that had a metal and glass Star of David at the top of it and a series of colored windows along the bottom.
Kim breathing a little heavy from all the peddling she'd been doing parked her bike in the empty parking lot and climbed off. She stared up at the large building setting her helmet on the seat and started towards its steps, pausing only when she noticed that a thin man she recognized as Rabbi Katz seated on the top stair staring out into the distance.
She smiled and continued walking until she came to a stop at the foot of the steps "Rabbi Katz, just the man I wanted to see."
The bearded man looked down at her giving her a friendly smile "Ahhh, Kimberly, lovely day isn't it?"
Kim nodded starting up and taking a seat next to the older man "Yes it is," she stared out for a moment and then back at him "Ummm...you wouldn't have by any chance seen Ron today have you?"
"Ronald? He came by here earlier, he had some tough questions."
Kim looked at the Rabbi curiously "What kind of questions?"
He shrugged slightly "He was asking about love and death. It's actually quite normal for most Jewish men his age to begin thinking about such things."
"What'd you tell him? I mean about love."
"I told him the truth, it's a precious gift and one should never take it for granted." he glanced at her "Why do you ask?"
Kim waved a hand, giving a nervous chuckle "No reason. Did he happen to mention where he was going after he left here?"
The Rabbi scratched his chin, looking thoughtful then shook his head "No, I don't believe he did. I wouldn't worry about it my dear; he'll probably turn up soon. He seemed like he had a lot to think about."
Kim stood shaking the man's hand "Thanks," She started down the stairs but paused when Rabbi Katz spoke up.
"Kimberly, do you need to talk about anything?"
"No, I'm good." Kim lied, feeling a little ashamed.
The older man gave her a piercing look and then nodded "Alright, have a good day Kimberly."
"Thanks and you have one to." Kim responded giving a wave before she hurried down the stairs and across the concrete lot. She put her helmet back on and climbed on her bike, wanting to get back to hunting for Ron before she was struck by lightening. She turned back to look at Rabbi Katz and waved before she took off, wondering about where Ron could be and why he was thinking about death.
Smarty Mart, the retail store that was giving the retail giant Wall-to-Wall Mart a run for its money, was super busy. From children hunting for toys, to teens that didn't have enough money to shop at Club Banana, to adults that were stocking up on food.
It was hard to believe that so many people would willingly shop at such a place, especially in Middleton but it was true. With so many people in the store, finding a blond male that happened to be your boyfriend would be impossible.
That is of course, if you weren't a Possible, because for them anything was possible. Except, it seemed, being ignored the one time that you wanted to be.
Kim had timed it just perfectly, she'd slipped in among a large group of people entering the discount store, had her head down blending in perfectly. That is of course until she heard the familiar bubbly voice of a fellow cheerleader.
"Hi, welcome to Smarty Mart, where smart shoppers shop smart!"
Kim snapped her head up, eyes growing wide as she saw the familiar form of Tara, clad in the standard red smock of the Smarty Mart store and handing out sales papers.
The blond cheerleader was smiling brightly the entire time, as if she truly enjoyed her job. The red head hero tried to break from the pack but found herself trapped, unable to avoid her friend.
"Hi, welcome to Smarty Mart, where-OhMYGOD- Kim, I didn't know you shopped here."
The red head winced as she was spotted, then seeing this as an opportunity managed to separate herself from the group and remain with her friend "I don't shop here. I try not to even think about this place."
The blond nodded handing out more sales papers, talking her squad captain "So what are you doing here?"
"Looking for Ron. You wouldn't happen to know if he's been in today do would you?"
Tara giggled looking away from a boy that had started to flirt with her "No, he hasn't been in all day."
"Are you sure? There's so many people, you might have missed him."
The blond smiled sweetly "I've been working this door all day, he hasn't come in. Besides, all Smarty Mart employees are required to call in a seven six six if they see him."
Kim blinked, unable to her stop herself "A seven six six?"
Tara nodded handing out the last of her sales papers "Yea, Seven equals R, six equals O and six equals N. Ron."
"Err...any particular reason why you have a code for him?" Kim asked a little nervous.
The blonde turned her full attention to the captain of the cheer squad "Yea, so we know to expect the unexpected. He's a wild card in such a well organized setup."
"I see."
Tara nodded smiling "So see, he hasn't been here all day otherwise someone would have called it in."
Kim sighed and chewing her bottom lip crossed her arms "Well then, I'm not sure where else he'd be. I've looked just about everywhere."
The blond nodded and patted her friend on the arm "Hey, you'll find him. It's not like he's run off with Bonnie or anything." When she saw the flash of anger in the teen hero's eyes, she continued "Hey, calm down. This is Ron were talking about, loyal to a fault."
Kim nodded and sighed, "Yea, well I better get back out there and track him down." She took a step and then turned to face the other girl "Ummm...this is probably personal, but you know after the Camp Wannaweep incident, did you and Ron...sleep together?"
Tara blinked shaking her head "No, I think we kissed a couple of times, but I was the one that started that." she sighed wistfully "He was just too innocent." The blond came back to herself and gave her friend a bubbly smile "Later Kim, have a Smarty Mart day and remember Smart shoppers shop Smarty Mart!"
Kim gave her friend a quick wave and slipped back out the front door, actually relieved that he had just slept with Zita. She could deal with kissing, after all she and Josh and done that it was a mistake she could understand. She started out of the parking lot on her bike, thankful that she was through running into his ex's.
The Los Air neighborhood was a rather clean area, where the more well off families lived. They each had lush gardens and large swimming pools. Many of the houses, if sold, could pay for every Middleton senior's college education. Its people were a friendly lot, in the way that only rich people could be. However, even here, behind the gates and fences they would wave and call out the name 'Kim Possible'.
The girl in question was peddling heavily up the slight incline of the road, wishing that she had a car by now. It really wasn't fair that Ron had one and she didn't, it was downright un-American. Still she supposed riding her bike still helped her to keep in shape for cheerleading and crime fighting.
She finally came to a stop in front of a more medium sized home. It was obvious the owners had money, but not the kind of money one would need to buy their own plane. Kim walked her bike up the driveway and propped up the kickstand. Sighing she stared up the front stairs heading for the door.
She had no sooner reached the door than it opened and the object of her quest appeared. The tanned and shapely brunette stood there, arms crossed and dressed to the T. She smiled eyes flashing with teasing mirth "Kim, how nice to see you."
"Bonnie," was the only thing the teen hero could manage.
"So, what brings you by? Want to drop off the team to become a full time loser, like your boyfriend?" The redhead bit her lip as Bonnie continued "Or, maybe, just maybe your here looking for him."
Kim blinked in surprise and Bonnie smiled wider "News gets around fast in Middleton girl. I'm surprised you didn't show up here first though, I'm the mhmmm, obvious choice if he's went missing on you."
Kim snorted crossing her arms, ignoring the girl as she arched her back slightly "Yea, right Bonnie, look just tell me if you've seen Ron at all today."
"Of course I did," Bonnie said
"Did he say where he was going?"
The brunette shook her head "Nope...but then, we were to busy to say much more than 'faster and harder'."
Kim growled low, eyes narrowing "Bonnie, don't push me..."
"I'm not pushing you, but he sure did push me," The girl leaned against the wall of her front porch smiling teasingly "Right up against this...mhmmm...he was a wild man, so big...and soooo good."
Kim wanted to lash out and beat the girl senseless but restrained herself "You're…you're..." She paused taking several deep breaths.
"I'm the one Ron's been boinking on the side. Just like Josh was..."
Kim narrowed her eyes, reaching out and roughly poked the other girl in the chest "Listen up and listen good, you're pushing me and I'm not far from snapping. So just tell me what I want to know."
The brunette temptress smiled mockingly "Oh, Saint Possible's getting upset. Heaven help me. She can't deal with the fact that I'm screwing her bo-" whatever else she was going to say was cut off as Kim's open palm smashed into the girl's cheek toppling her to the ground, a loud smacking noise echoing in the air.
The girl laid there, eyes crossed and unable to think clearly for several long minutes, cheek throbbing painfully. Finally Bonnie began to push herself back up, unable to believe the force of that slap, she glared up at her attacker, hoping to scare the girl but paused seeing the red head popping her knuckles.
"Oh please, do get up and continue." Kim said, her emerald eyes showing absolutely no fear.
Bonnie couldn't help but gulp, she lowered herself back down unwilling to be slapped again. Even she knew when to back off, she'd pushed Kim farther than she had meant to, so it was time to back off.
Kim stood there a moment longer, then turned and stormed off, at once upset that she let Bonnie goad her like that and happy that she had let her. She retrieved her bike and took off down the expensive and well cared for street, anxious to get far away from the other girl.
With a slow, almost unnaturally so, movement the loosely clothed female moved her left arm back and forth in front of her as if it was trapped in an unseen tide. Then with maddening slowness she moved her other arm so that it matched her other one. It was as if she was lost in her own world, she acknowledged neither the birds, nor the sun or any watching her.
The woman slowly turned, extending her right leg out slowly so that it came to rest on its ball, then slowly lowered her heel, her right arm extending out wrist bent while her left moved slowly upwards in a wide circular motion as if blocking something. She slowly lifted her hands upwards, bent at the wrists before lowering them once more bent the opposite way.
It seemed to any watching as if these slow, wide, calm movements had been in motion forever but it had only been two hours. Yet the female seemed to show no signs of fatigue, she just continued, eyes closed and breathing so shallowly that one wasn't sure if she was breathing at all. Yet still she continued to move her arms and legs as if performing some type of dance that none, save her, knew.
Slowly she curled her arms in as if scooping up something large and then slowly pushed them back out, palms outwards. As her arms extended she slowly spread them wide and lengthen her stance slowly moved her left arm upwards and her right down on either side of her. Finally the woman took a deep breath and slowly brought her legs back in close and repeated the slow actions with the other side.
It was with a deep, yet clear sounding breath that she brought her left foot in and placing her hands together bowed deeply at the open sky she had chosen as her front. Righting herself she allowed a satisfied smile cross her face and opened her eyes "Ohayo Kim-dono,"
Kim jumped having been taken by surprise "Um...hi...er...how'd you know I was here."
The Japanese girl turned "My soul is centered, my breathing even. Yours is not."
"My soul or my breathing?"
The blacked haired beauty smiled "Exactly."
Kim allowed annoyance to flicker into her features, but she quickly put it aside "Yori, what do you know about your father?"
Yori half shrugged looking up at the sky "He was a man, he loved me and my mother, other than that I need know nothing else."
"What about his name?"
Yori looked back at the red head "His name is no more important than my mother's."
"But, don't you want to know anything about them? I mean they were your parents."
Yori shook her head "They are dead, ancestors should best be left in peace save when we pray. Thoughts of them disrupt their peace."
Kim sighed shaking her head "But I think that Monk-"
"How is Ron-san?"
"Wha?"
Yori stared at the other girl intently "How is he? I may not see him again before I leave," When the cheerleader made a soft noise of surprise Yori expanded "I am returning to Japan tomorrow."
"But you'll see Ron before then, you can see how he's doing for yourself." Kim said
"Kim-dono, how might I see him if you can not find him?" Yori paused "Yes, I can see by you're face that he is missing. Why else would you come here to see me?"
"B-but, how can, look, I came to see if you knew where he was and to talk about your father."
"But we've discussed my father, that leaves only him." Yori replied calmly "Your mind is unfocused Kim-dono, become still, become silent. Let all things fall away and your path will open, you will find what you seek."
"Oh for the love of," Kim huffed and crossed her arms "I've heard there since I started to master martial arts 'Your mind is unfocused.' or 'Your soul is not balanced' I've mastered sixteen different styles for the love of god."
"You've only mastered the physical, without the spiritual there is no balance and thus no mastery."
"Look, let's get off my spirit, if you don't want to talk about your dad fine. At least tell me if you've seen Ron."
Yori nodded slightly and approached the other girl "I saw him earlier, his soul was in turmoil. He is seeking his solace alone." the ninja paused to stare at Kim "You should look skyward, it improves one's view." with that she began to walk past the other girl.
Kim grabbed the ninja's sleeve "Hold on a min-" whatever else Kim had to say was cut off as she released the girl and flipped backwards twice to avoid the palm heel that had been launched at her face. When she landed she found Yori standing in the same spot perfectly calm as if she hadn't moved an inch.
"I have told you all you sought from me."
Kim snorted "All you've told me is 'Your dad's not important' and 'Ron is in turmoil' not exactly the answers I need."
Yori sighed softly "You see, but are blind." There was a moments silence and Yori lifted a hand "If you must, then we will, come."
"Huh?"
Yori shrugged slightly "Attack me if you wish. You're anger must be burned away if you are to see."
"Listen, I'm not going to attack you. I just want answers I can understand. Plain answers." Kim said crossing her arms.
"I have given you the answers you seek, I can not help it if you are allowing your mind to be clouded."
"Yori."
"I thought you would be good for Ron-san, he is impulsive, but you are blinded by pride and jealousy." Yori shook her head "I give you answers you ignore, you stand here talking about plain answers when you first were looking for Ron-san. I wonder if maybe he chose the wrong one to be his girlfriend."
"Wha?" Kim stated her hands falling back to her sides "Just who do you think would be better for him? Bonnie?"
Yori shook her head "No, she is petty, but he spoke once of a Zita-dono. Perhaps she would be better for him."
"ZITA?"
The Japanese beauty nodded "He did not speak in great detail of her, but I have heard his thoughts on you...he is blinded by love so he can not see the truth." When Kim just continued to stare at her Yori continued "The truth that the Kim-dono he knew is a dream and that Zita-dono was real. Truth over the dream will always be chosen."
"What exactly do you mean 'the Kim he knew was a dream?' " Kim said in a slow, tightly controlled voice.
"Kim-dono, what he told me of you was kindness, of trust and understanding." Yori tilted her head "The Kim-dono he knew was someone patient and thoughtful, calm and collected. Someone that knew him better than any. But all I have seen is a girl that is jealous, that is mean, untrusting and cannot understand anything other than her own petty wants and desires."
"Stop."
"The Kim-dono that I know is temperamental, irrational and thoughtless. How could the Kim-dono I know possibly know Ron-san better than any." Yori shook her head "Zita-dono, for her few faults that I know, would be better for Ron-san than you."
There was a moment of silence and then Kim slowly started towards the other girl, pulling off her light jacket tossing it to the ground as she did. The red head came to a stop nose to nose with Yori and spoke slowly "I've met Zita, I've met Bonnie...today I have been led on a wild goose chase looking for Ron....So I will be damned if I will stand here in some backyard and be told I don't know my own boyfriend."
"Kim-dono, you do not know him. You never have."
Kim didn't respond verbally settling for an attempt to slap the girl. However she found instead found herself laying on the ground, her chest alive with pain from where Yori's palm heel had struck. Kim stood quickly slipping into fighting stance from Taekwondo, then blinked in surprise as Yori mirrored her exactly.
A moment of silence passed between the two, then Yori and Kim charged quickly closing the small distance between them. Kim attacked first throwing a round kick which she followed up with a butterfly kick. No sooner had she landed from the first than she launched herself into another, driving Yori back.
As Kim landed after her latest butterfly kick Yori suddenly attacked throwing a round kick, which Kim blocked, followed by a jump reverse sidekick catching Kim in the ribs, sending her stumbling back. No sooner had Kim regained her balance than she found Yori throwing an ax kick.
Kim nimbly skipped to the side and threw a quick reverse punch but was denied as Yori preformed a C-block followed with her own punch. Kim, surprised, caught the punch with her own C-block settling them into a stand off. "You're pretty good Yori," Kim said with a confident smile.
Yori however remained silent catching Kim by surprise with a twist kick to the ribs followed by a sidekick forcing Kim to release her grip and fall backwards holding her stomach.
Kim quickly forgot about her stomach as Yori began trying to land ax kicks, the red head rolled to the side avoiding the first and then back the other way catching the second with her hands. Using her hips Kim swung her legs up and around her opponent's leg, then applied downward pressure forcing her opponent to fall backwards onto the ground.
Kim quickly rolled away and regained her feet breathing heavily as she slipped into a kenpo stance.
With little effort Yori once more regained her balance sliding into her own kenpo stance. The two girls stared at each other before Yori charged in seeking to land a punch. Kim, timing it just right, caught one of Yori's hands and stepped to the side pulling the girls arm with her. The red head applied pressure and threw a sidekick to her opponent's thigh sending her to one knee.
The Japanese beauty fell to her side, managing to perform a flip on Kim. The red head landed heavily but was up in an instant panting heavily and staring at her opponent who was once more standing and perfectly calm.
Kim knew this was wrong, she was breathing as if she'd been running a marathon and Yori didn't look the least bit winded. It was impossible, there should be no way that the girl should be so freaking calm. 'Focus Possible, focus. She's just trying psyche you out.' Kim thought to herself.
Yori remained in her own defensive position, watching her opponent carefully. The raven haired woman spoke up in an even tone "Kim-dono, are we done?"
Kim charged quickly slipping into a free style fighting stance, she led with a hook kick followed by a round and then a sidekick. Each movement so fast that Shego would have a hard time following let alone blocking.
But Yori, who had mirrored Kim once more, bated her kicks away like they were annoying gnats and respond with her own kicks. However this time it seemed that both were evenly matched since neither could slip past the other's defenses. It wasn't long before Kim noticed and with a renewed confidence pumped her leg to fake Yori into a block and then slide in with the actually round kick she wanted to land.
Yori, seeming to realize the situation moved her head back just in time so that the kick sailed harmlessly through the air. Kim realizing that she was exposed jumped back and away putting a healthy amount of distance between them.
Yori quickly moved in closing the gap once more, her breathing unchanged and her gaze seemingly placid as if this was the most boring thing in the world. Kim attempted to beat her to the punch throwing several punches and hand strikes. Yori it seemed was just as comfortable blocking as she was with attacking.
She used circular, sweeping motions to deflect the girl's attacks, until she had the opening to latch onto Kim's wrist in an iron grasp and step to the side yanking so that Kim fell forward. The red head went with her momentum and preformed a shoulder roll allowing herself to stand once her feet were once more under her. She'd barely regained her feet when she spun performing a crescent kick backing Yori off.
Kim narrowed her eyes and attacked once more, but had each attack ducked by the ninja, Yori stood suddenly and tripped the off balance hero so that she collapsed forward once more to the ground.
Kim however had different plans, she preformed a cartwheel and twisted around to throw a sidekick to Yori's back. The Japanese girl rolled forward from the attack and turned as she rose, seemingly unfazed by the attack.
'This is pointless,' Kim thought as the two girls stared at each other. Besides it was quickly becoming obvious to the teen hero that she was outmatched. 'So why am I still here?'
Kim shrugged her thoughts off and moved in throwing a left round kick, but Yori blocked it and then blocked Kim's follow up punch. Before Kim could retaliate Yori threw a knife hand strike to her floating ribs sending Kim stumbling sideways, pain racing through her body.
Yori seeing her opponent on the ropes presses her advantage throwing a round kick at Kim's face, but had it blocked by Kim with an outer forearm block. It was what Yori wanted, which was obvious from the smirk on the girl's lips. Kim learned that immediately as Yori thrust a ridge hand into Kim's taut stomach, making the girl gasp for air.
Kim collapsed to her hands and knees gasping for air, this being the first time she'd ever had this done to her and the sensation was awful. A severe burning sensation raced through her lungs as she tried desperately to take a breath but was unable to. She coughed as tears formed in the corners of her eyes, still despite the pain she felt she could feel the other girl's presence.
"Are we finished warming up?" Yori asked.
With a growl Kim forced her way through the pain and preformed a leg sweep dropping the other girl. Yori hit the ground heavily, and had only a moment before she found an ax kick dropping towards her head. The ninja caught the foot and shoved it away from her, then rolled to the side and sprang up.
Kim, still trying to catch her breath, backed off a little more talking in a hoarse voice "You're cocky and you're good."
"What is cocky?" Yori asked politely.
Kim slipped from a loose fighting stance into a kung fu stance "Overly Confident," she watched as Yori slipped into her own kung fu stance, it looked mildly familiar but she couldn't put a finger on it. It didn't matter as Yori covered the distance between them in the blink of an eye, a punch aimed at Kim's face.
The red head twisted her body and bending her arm as if to throw an elbow strike blocked the blow with her forearm. It didn't faze Yori who spun throwing her other arm out to push on Kim's back sending her forward while at the same time performing a reverse leg sweep knocking the girl face first towards the ground.
Kim had only seconds but she only need one, her hands hit first and she preformed a front handspring so that she was on her feet once more. She turned in time to catch a punch from Yori and yank it down as she thrust a palm heel into the other girl's face knocking her to the ground.
Yori rolled backwards, standing almost instantly and slipping back into her kung fu stance. Kim charged quickly trying to keep the girl off balance, however she only managed to throw a punch. Yori grasped the wrist and twisted the arm applying pressure to the hero's elbow.
Kim dropped her body forward to the ground, forcing Yori to follow, only working because of the surprise factor. However Kim followed up the drop with a leg sweep, forcing the girl to release Kim's arm. As soon as her arm was free Kim regained her balance and rubbed at her shoulder wincing at the slowly fading pain.
Kim could feel the blood beating in her ears, the fight having dragged on longer than it should have. She knew Yori was toying with her, but it wouldn't last, soon it would escalate. So she could let it continue or she could resume her hunt for Ron, which admittedly was far more important than letting her anger force her into a fight.
Yori however, didn't seem willing to let her think about that. She had regained her feet and moved in exchanging punches with Kim, each girl would block the other's attacks, so that they were once more in a stalemate of sorts.
Kim in a desperate move brought her hand up and then dropped it like a hammer fist, aiming right for the top of Yori's head. Yori however saw it coming and shot her right arm up and blocked the strike, she stepped to the side and placing her left hand on Kim's neck slid around forcing Kim towards the ground.
Kim winced in pain, before blinking in surpise once her direction changed suddenly and she smashed to the ground heavily with her back. A small yelp of pain escaped her but when Yori yanked Kim's arm straight and placed a leg over her throat applying an arm bar the yelp changed into a full fledge scream.
It felt as if Yori was trying to both yank her arm out of socket and break the elbow at the same time. "Kim-dono, quit and we will stop." Kim could barely hear the girl through her pain addled mind. Still she struggled futilely trying to bend her arm and break free of the hold.
Each time she did, the pain increased and she quickly realized that she was beaten. It had taken a long time, so many of her styles had been left unused, but she'd used the seven best she was at and now here she was beaten.
The humiliation of that thought burned her anger and pain away, she could feel the heat in her cheeks, but still she refused to say the words to get free. She refused to give her opponent the satisfaction of saying the obvious.
It wasn't until she felt the leg Yori had placed over her throat press downward that she realized that maybe she wasn't beaten. Yori seemed unwilling to let her arm go, but Kim had on last chance to get free and she was going to take it.
With hazy memoriesof the pressure points she learned she located the one she wanted in her mind the tibial nerve and then launched her attack. Her hand found the location easily and she applied pressure at the same time that Yori began to release her grip seeming to know what Kim was attempting.
It was too late and Yori's leg went numb allowing Kim to shove it off her throat and then roll away cradling her arm. Kim rose slowly, breathing far heavier than she had ever had before and stared at the other girl who stood stiff legged across from her.
Silence passed between the two, it had been obvious that Kim had been beaten, but Kim felt no humiliation she'd freed herself and she'd managed to keep from giving. Still, if they stood there much longer the fight would resume, now was her chance to leave.
The red head stared hard at the other girl then taking one last deep breath Kim started past the other girl and retrieved her light jacket. She turned back to stare at the ninja and then pulled on her jacket not saying a word. Finally she spoke up "I have to find Ron, I'll make sure to tell him goodbye for you."
Kim turned away and still feeling the throbbing pain from various parts of her body and left the yard. Yori stood there feeling having already returned to her leg, watching as the girl disappeared around the house.
She took a deep breath and then brushed her hair off her forehead starting towards the house. She had to finish her packing, she refused to let the family she was staying with pack for her.
She paused at the open door and glanced at the spot where had disappeared speaking softly "Kim-dono, you are good for him." That said Yori turned back and entered the house closing the door.
Kim crouched down looking at her flat tire and snorted, this day was just getting better and better. She stood and sighed beginning to walk it beside her down the road, lost in thought and unable to believe that she freaked like that with Yori. Why did she have to pick a fight with the girl? It was stupid and pointless, but she had been so freaking tweaked.
Kim sighed coming to stop, she had known better after all the girl had only annoyed her not attacked her, but what she had said about Ron just caused her to have a lapse in judgment. She considered everything Yori had said, wondering if maybe she was right. Heck Kim didn't even have a clue where Ron was, how could she really know him?
She wasn't sure when she had started to walk again, but she came to a stop in front of Middleton's water tower a few minutes later. She leaned against the sun warmed metal leg, letting her bike topple onto its side. Yori had to be right, there was no was nothing else to it. She hadn't known he'd slept with Zita, she couldn't even find the boy without Wade. She used to be able to find the boy no matter where he was at, as if she had a sixth sense about him.
The red head closed her eyes and smashed her hand on the water tower in frustration. Where was he, why was he hiding from her? She pushed off the water tower and then paused, looking up at it a half-forgotten memory flashing through her mind.
He had climbed up this same tower years ago when he had thought his parents were splitting up, it hadn't been true, but he had believed it. Kim could still remember her amazement when she found him up there, he had been afraid of climbing into their tree house and the water tower was at least a hundred feet higher.
Suddenly she felt something, it was a gut instinct, he was up there. She didn't know how she knew she just knew she did. Thankful that whatever sixth sense she had concerning Ron had returned, she quickly found the metal ladder and started up. Halfway up she began to grumble slightly, her eyes staring at the catwalk that circled the top of the tower.
It seemed like forever before she finally reached the catwalk, her shoes echoing off the metal as she ran a hand along the handrail of the catwalk. She spotted Ron on the far side of the tower, seated with his legs hanging off the side and hands resting on the catwalk beside him.
"About time I found you."
She saw Ron jump slightly and for a moment worried that he would fall, but the blond didn't. Instead he looked over at her and smiled "Hey KP,"
Kim returned his smile and had a seat next to her boyfriend entwining her arm around one of the handrail poles "You know I've spent half the day hunting you down. I was going to give you a piece of my mind, but now I can't think of anything to say."
"Well, if you want you can shove me off the tower."
Kim looked at him and snorted "With your hard head it'd probably hurt the ground more than it would you."
"Hey, I don't have that hard a head!" Ron retorted then chuckled.
"Ron, I-I talked to Zita today..." Kim suddenly said glancing at the horizon "She said that you and her, ya know,"
"Had sex?" When Kim nodded, he sighed, "I won't lie KP, we did. It was my fault; she sweet-talked me into it. We only did it once." He looked over at her "I'm sorry,"
Kim didn't look at him, nor did she say anything for several moments and then finally she heaved a sigh "You know, I wish you had told me." she looked back at him "I doubt she had to talk very hard."
Ron chuckled "Actually, it took her two months and three days."
"So what happened?"
"Weeell, remember after that mission where I seriously screwed up and we were arguing? I was down in the dump and one thing led to another and wham, I woke up the next morning naked and in her bed."
Kim shook her head "So, why didn't you wanna do it with her?"
"Cause," the blond said, as he looked back out to the horizon "I was saving it for someone else."
"Oh," was all Kim could manage. They sat there for a few minutes in silence before Kim finally decided to start the conversation again "So why'd you disappear today? And to here of all places?"
"I had some things to think about, I should have told you sorry."
Kim gave his shoulder a light shove "Don't say that any more, you've got an all is forgiven pass. So what did you have to think about?"
"Kim, if someone killed someone else is that wrong?"
Kim nodded, glancing at her boyfriend "Yes, of course it's wrong. It's murder."
"Even if the person they kill is truly evil?" Ron asked staring out at the horizon.
"It's wrong matter what the reason, murdering someone is evil." Kim answered "Why Ron?"
He looked at her and then back at the horizon "I was just wondering KP,"
"I know I talked to your Rabbi. You were asking about love and death."
Ron actually laughed, "I already know about love, I was more worried about death."
"Why death? Were both to young to be worrying about that."
"No reason Kim, just something I had to think about. It's nothing to worry about, not like I'm going to dye myself blue and try to take over the world." He smiled at her amused by his own joke.
Kim however arched an eyebrow "Well if you do dye yourself blue don't expect me to go green. It's not my color." She smiled "But, I suppose you being bad wouldn't be so bad...give me an excuse to keep you in cuffs."
Ron chuckled "Like you need a reason," he sighed and looked down at the ground "So, how'd you find me?"
"I have my ways, after all I'm your girlfriend. You can't hide from me."
Laughing Ron scooted back and then stood, holding onto the handrail the entire time. Kim rose as well, smiling brightly, happy to be back with Ron "So, wanna go get some nachos?"
"A-boo-yah! I haven't had any snackage all day." The blond said excitedly grabbing her hand and darting along the catwalk heading for the ladder. Kim couldn't help but laugh even harder, though he did stop and let her go first, but he didn't let her get to far before he was climbing down after her.
Kim nimbly jumped off the last few rungs of the ladder and out of his way. Ron it seemed was in a hurry, he climbed down every step and then once his feet made contact with solid ground he turned smiling at her "So how'd you get here?"
Kim righted her bicycle smiling "Good old fashion peddling," she paused and looked at her tire "But I'm going to have to get a new tire."
Ron nodded and walked over taking her bike by the handles and started towards a nearby parking lot, which of course had his car. "You should just buy a car KP, be easier to get around."
Kim snorted keeping pace with the boy "Pullzee I can't afford a car, besides all that bicycling keeps me in shape." smiling she helped him wrangle her bicycle into the trunk and then walked around to her door and climbed in.
Ron slid in next to her turning the keys "You don't need cycling to keep in shape," he smiled whipping the car around and out onto the road "Your babelicous."
"Ok, Ron, never say that again." Kim said unable to keep from laughing. Ron shrugged, seemingly happy go lucky once more.
"So, we get some nachos to go, maybe some tacos and then back to my house?" Kim suggested as he began to pick up speed.
"Hmmm, my favorite snackage combined with my girlfriend? Sounds like a plan to me." Ron said adding a little speed breaking the speed limit.
Kim opened her mouth to say something when suddenly the familiar musical notes filled the car. Kim frowning pulled the slim blue device out and found Wade staring at her "What's the sitch?"
The computer genius wore a serious expression on his face as he started talking "Someone's attacking the Middleton Space Center." Within minutes, the screen was showing the grainy security feed showing several monkey ninjas and what appeared to be a human sized ninja. They had most of the technicians gathered together and seated against a fall wall.
Kim watched for several moments and then spoke up to Wade "What about security?"
The genius appeared on Kim's side of the car windshield causing Kim to jump, but it barely affected Ron who was busy trying to find his way onto the highway. "It's tighter than ever, they wrote whole new security programs. Sealed up the backdoors, redesigned top level protocols." he looked up from his keyboard smiling "I'll have complete control by the time your there. You're dads on the way and I've notified the space center security officers that you're on the way."
"Thanks Wade," she smiled and the genius winked off the screen of both the windshield and her communicator. Kim slipped the communicator back into her pocket and looked over at Ron "So, feel like kicking some monkey butt?"
Ron finally eased onto the highway, weaving among cars headed for the space center, causing several people to squeal tires and curse him "I'd rather have nachos." was all the boy muttered.
AR:
continental-line: I'm glad your enjoying the story. Hey, Mankey's just too perfect. Anyway, I think it's about time Monkey Fist lived up to his potential. Shego wasn't really short changed, she's just been up against some magically imbued warriors. As for my problem with contraction use, guilty as charged.
G$: Well now, his mom is just a tad hard nosed when it comes to Ron and if she thinks that Shego's a good girl for her son then she's going to try and hook them up.
ainominako: A mutant penguin is something you don't wanna see.
The verse is from Proverbs 25: 21-22. Thought it is quoted in the new testament.
Glad it was funny when Shego's ear was pulled (I hope) Hey, like you say she's not normally shown nice in the show.
So far no ones found those photos. I didn't even notice that line, but oh well. Like I said Broccoli is the devils food.
warprince2000: Thx
Mr. Elliot: I'm glad the last one was THE best chapter yet, how does this one compare?
I'm glad the drama and the comedy was flawless blended (though really, was that line that funny?) Called you liked the Shego bit.
Hey, Monkey Fist is almost my perfect villain.
As for that dream sequence and the final scene, I hope the craving they gave you didn't get wasted on this chapter.
yay! Awesomenevity is mine.
Spice Of Life: Glad ya liked it
ss3dj: You ain't seen nothing yet.
John Steppenwolf: Glad ya approve of the chapter. You'll learn, as all my fans have, you may think some of the characters are pointless but there not. Well, that's what Ron's mom claims. Doubting Ron? Have faith. Kim is learning...but slowly.
Well, not really she like Shego, was doing it to bug Kim beyond belief. (But hey, older women with younger men isn't that bad...especially if they look like Shego)
That's cool, and your right we don't wanna upset the monkees.
I'm actually fond of 'Nights in White Satin'
Yamal: Glad the last chapter was such a roller coaster. How was this one? You know that dream sequence was actually harder to write the second time around. I'm glad Kim's feelings came across and that Ron's mom over protectiveness was clear. I will make no mention of Shego and Ron has been doing a lot of thinking this chapter. Maybe I won't solve anything about Yori's revelation.
AN:
Fourteen days. Three hundred and thirty six hours. Two Weeks. Half a month. Useless facts? No my friends, that is the time it took me to write this rather massive chapter (nearly thirty pages) I promised a quick update and by Jiminy I delivered.
I'm not going to be able to do much for a bit so please don't expect an update soon.
Now then, if your interested in what the different styles the fight used here is the list: Taekwondo, Kung fu, Karate, Kenpo, Freestyle (American), Aikido and pressure point.
I hope its not overly long or boring, also please note that this was orginally suppose to be the first part to a two part chapter. (Obviously that's changed)
I wish to thank Ron Stoppable, a good friend of mine, for reading through this and catching a lot of my mistakes. Please leave a review so I know how good this chapter is, or how badly I messed up.
Next Chapter: Kim and Ron Vs an army of Monkey Ninjas. Place your bets.