Girl Talk II

Kim blinked at the mass of bags they had accumulated. In all her days of saving the world…Kim had never really just shopped at any place other than Middleton. Never really simply taken in the sights. Shego had laughed at that.

"That's the best part of the game!" She said. Kim followed her, and surprisingly found that she was a bit timid—there were so many people, and the looming buildings sometimes seemed to box her in. On the other hand, when she saw the credit balance on the card…well that went a long way to eliminating her case of nerves.

That led to them sitting at an open air food court on the top of a shopping center, finishing a meal, a pile of bags by them.

"Do you think Ron will like this?" Kim asked. Shego blinked.

"He'll like it, because it's from you, Kimmie…but please, men and clothes? When was the last time you saw Ron understand clothes?"

"Um…ah….right."

"Besides, I'd think you'd want to see him out of clothes. Or if not, I could always peek…" Shego said, and smiled as again, Kim turned pink.

"Shego!"

"Hey, I'm a villain, remember?" Kim stopped and took a drink from her coke…then looked at Shego.

"What?"

"I was just wondering…" Kim said, "What about Drakken?" Kim slumped, "It seems like most of the people I dealt with…aren't around right now." Shego laughed.

"They're around…but truthfully…" She paused.

"Yes?"

"Well, Dr. D kinda had a crisis of conscience with you…" Shego paused. "The guy who…you know, was doing it to make a rep so he could join Drakken's group." Kim didn't flinch, Shego noted with approval.

"So? We were always fighting." Kim said.

"Yeah… but it was open, fair… and this bugged, Dr. D." She shrugged, "I'm sure he'll be back to normal any month now."

"Normal?"

"For Dr. D, at least." Shego said. Kim blinked.

"Shego…are you concerned?"

"Hey! He pays the bills."

"Shego has a boyfriend…" Kim said in a light voice. Shego glared.

"Let's not end this nice outing with a big fight, Kimmie." She paused, "It's just business."

Kim raised one eyebrow.

"I saw that!"

"What?"

"The eyebrow!" Shego looked at Kim's elaborately honest face, and sighed. "Anyway, of the others, DNAmy locked herself in her room and wouldn't come out for three weeks."

"She was that upset?"

"Duh—the women collects cuddlebunnies and reads romance novels."

"I read romance novels." Kim said, then reddened. "Some of the time…when there isn't a mission…or if…"

"Uh-huh," Shego supplied, "But anyway, she can't understand why anyone would do that to someone as nice as you—or for that matter why anyone objects to her turning the planet into a reserve for genetically engineered plush toys."

"Ron told me about Motor Ed's card." Kim said. She dimly remembered it in fact, a card with greasy thumbprints and the words, "Red, Get well soon. Seriously." Shego shook her head.

"Yeah, well you know Ed—he'll probably name a wrench after you. Duff Killigan… Well, he said you didn't deserve what happened to you, but he won't be sorry if you never get into the business again."

"What about Monkey fist?"

"Don't know." And if Ron hasn't told you, I'm not gonna be the one. Shego continued and then ended with her surprise.

"Of course, you've inspired Señor Senior, Jr. to become a super hero. After what happened to his 'beloved blue fox', he said he had to do it."

"What!?" Shego laughed at the expression on Kim's face.

"Oh, it gets better." Shego said, "I was running security for them-"

"And training him again?"

"Nope—dad got jealous last time, and there was a 'no-training' clause in my contract this time around." Shego paused, "But anyway, get this—Junior decides to pattern himself after…. Robin Hood!" Kim blinked and then, she couldn't help it, squealed.

"You can't be serious!"

"I am—he had a complete duplicate of the old Errol Flynn costume with bow and arrow." She smiled and suddenly leaned back and in an acceptable impression of Señor Senior, Sr.'s voice, "Junior…Robin Hood used a bow and arrow only because it was the most advanced weapon of his day…today he would use a gun.'" Kim was shaking, trying to keep from bursting out into hysterics in a food court.

"How is he doing?"

"Well, see, because he wants to make all these stupid trick arrows, like a shotgun arrow. Right now he only has this completely stupid arrow with a little boxing glove on the tip. He burned through all his allowance, so he's…. well… stealing." Kim blinked.

"But he wants to be a hero…"

"Only part time. He told me that's why he has the uniform, so people can know when he's being a hero." Kim shook her head.

"Even for…well…anyone, he lives in a different world, doesn't he?" Kim asked.

"Yep—you can say that again." Shego got a look on her face, "But he's harmless, you know that."

"Uh-huh." Kim agreed. "What about Senior?"

"Oh, he's waiting for you to come back…to fight in the proper way, with style. That's why he isn't doing anything right now." Shego didn't bother to mention that Juniors' father had been rather surprised that Kim had so effectively destroyed herself. It wasn't the sort of thing likely to keep the mood light.

"So…ready to head back?" Shego asked, "Between you and me, we've got enough packages to stuff the car." Kim looked around at the now dark sky, the lights of Tokyo illuminating the underside of the odd cloud. The air had grown slightly chilly, and she looked around, noticing that how many teenage girls were out with their boyfriends. Abruptly, Kim felt lonely for Ron. She could come out again, next time with him.

"Yeah… Let's go." Kim said, as she and Shego picked up the packages and made their way back to the parking structure. The drive back was quiet. Kim was honestly a little wasted…or maybe it was information overload. Here she was, in the passenger seat of a car being driven by her… what? Enemy, friend?

"Say bye to Ron, for me, Kimmie." Shego said.

"You're leaving?"

"Damn right—I've spent a little too much time in one place for safety's sake…and now that you two are doing fine, it's time for me to bounce around a little—maybe find if there's any trouble I can get into."

"Already?"

"Time—and INTERPOL, waits for no one, Kimmie."

And I had your wanted poster on my locker—along with every post office on the planet. Kim thought about that.

Finally, in the dark, Shego stopped the car at the base of the mountain and gave Kim a devilish look.

"Well, Kimmie—my villain gene just kicked in—you get to figure out how to carry all this crap up the mountain. Bye!"

"Shego-" Kim said, and Shego paused, "Thanks for keeping Ron from getting Shot."

"No problem, Kimmie—he's fun to work with." And with that, Shego drove down the road with a cheery wave. Kim looked at the packages, trying to figure out how to get them all up, when she heard the sound of someone walking down the path. She recognized those light footfalls.

"Yori?"

"Kyoko told me when Shego-san was coming back." Kim shook her head.

"How did the day go, Kim-san?"

"Weird…"

"Ah. You are prepared for your scolding?"

"My scolding?"

"Ron-san has much to say to you." Ron-san certainly did. Ron hadn't eaten, and had been vacillating between getting on his bike and going into a city of 20 million to find two people, calling up Wade, or melting down on the spot. When Kim appeared, he rushed to her.

"Kim! You're alright!" Then, without missing a beat. "Kim, where did you go!" Ron said, "Kyoko said it was with Shego but not where you had gone!"

"Ah… I had to talk to some people…and then we went out on the town for a while."

"With Shego?"

"Yes, Ron, with Shego. What were you afraid of, that she was going to ambush me."

"Yes-no, well maybe, ye-umm…." Ron looked very flustered. Kim smiled at him .

"So you're alright with what Shego and I did?" Ron asked. Then it was time for Kim to lose her smile.

"I ah…"

"So," Ron finished. "Is she a villain, a hero, or what, KP?" Kim thought about it. Shego had helped them…but she sure wasn't a hero—by her own admission, in fact.

"I don't know, Ron…" Kim said. "Maybe…our friend?" Pause, "she certainly went out of her way to help us." Then Kim sighed, and suddenly realized that if missing someone meant they equaled friend, then Shego did count.

"Ron…Shego told me to say goodbye…she has to leave for a while."

"Leave, why?" Kim looked a little depressed. "She said that she'd been in one place a little too long." Kim thought about that, about always moving…and found herself shivering. Suddenly, Ron was by her side, arms around her.

"Hey KP… Let's get you warmed up—it is kinda cold out." He said, deliberately misreading what she was shivering about. Kim smiled at him.

"OK…" And then the smile became very big. "And look what I bought you!" She said, pulling out boxes.

"Naco's! Hey Rufus we've got Naco's and…. Game's….oh no." Ron said, "Not clothes."

"Yep—time to get stylish, ninja boy." Kim said as she and Yori, both giggling, started pushing Ron back to the room.

When Kim and Ron awoke the next day, they found Sensei, Hirotaka and Yori waiting for them.

"Ron-san." Sensei said, "You have exceeded all expectations."

"Thank you Sensei."

"As have you Kim-san." Kim looked embarrassed.

"I'm not really back…"

"Not yet, but close, and consider where you have come from…and now the time has come for you two to work together, with Yori and Hirotaka."

"Work together?" Ron asked.

"Yes. You are now to the point where you two will learn from them—and they from you." Sensei smiled, "And, assist some of our younger students—while you do not have all the academic knowledge of the art, your base skills will assist the younger students…and you have something of a notoriety among them."

"We do, Sensei?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Yes…" Yori, supplied, giggling. "One of the students brought this…" She said, pulling out a book, and tossing it to Ron. The teen snagged it out of the air, and blinked.

"Wow…" Ron said.

"What is it, Ron?" Kim asked.

"A manga," Yori supplied happily.

"A comic book?"

"No, KP…Manga." Ron said with the air of a French wine taster who was just informed that wine was like a six-pack of bud.

"So what's the…" Kim blinked, looking at the cover. There was Ron…well, Ron if he was about 6'6, standing, a woman huddled at his feet, while he dueled with what looked like half the U.S. army, a sword in one hand, and a gun that looked like it could swallow a whale in the other—which apparently accounted for the dozens of wrecked choppers.

"Burning…Fire's Passion." Ron said.

"Who are you rescuing?"

"I think that's you, KP—see the cheerleader outfit?"

"No way! I've never had hair that long, and look at those boobs…I couldn't walk straight."

"It is, ah, for young, teenaged boys." Yori supplied. Ron stuck the book in his pocket.

"If you don't mind, Yori…I'd like to borrow this."

"Of course, Ron-san." Ron suddenly realized that the Sensei was still standing.

"Oops… Sorry Sensei."

"You both are bound together." Sensei said, "And as such, it is only for the best that you train together." He bowed, "I look forward to seeing the heights you both shall rise to."

With that, Ron, Yori, Kim and Hirotaka started the day, with some surprises. Yori went to a cabinet and appeared with a pair of escrima sticks.

"Kim," The beautiful martial artist said, "It is a part of our art that all students train with weapons—I believe these will suit you…and prepare you."

"For what?"

"It will be my honor…to surprise you." She said, with a smile. With that, they started drilling. Pretty soon, there was an audience. Ron and Hirotaka dueled—and while Hirotaka was still the more skilled, the day was past when he could simply beat Ron, just as the day was past when Yori had to hold back at all times.

Now, the issue was fine tuning—aiding Kim to regain her timing and endurance, and teaching Ron the fine points of the art, be it with hand, sword, or staff. This fighting was not designed for exhibition, but combat, and it was a sign of the skill of all involved that only a few bruises acquired. Kim and Yori dropped out first, as the teen still had to improve her endurance, but they took the time to watch Ron and Hirotaka spar.

"I never thought I'd see him so fast." Kim said. "It's stupid of me."

"Ron-san felt the need to play the clown." Yori said. "Why, I do not know."

To protect me, Yori.

"But now he does not." Yori said. "He is truly a worthy friend… or enemy." Kim nodded.

"So…how does this training go?" Kim asked. Yori smiled,

"To begin with—basic Kata's with the beginning students." Yori smiled. "Then, in the afternoon, we will work together, us and the most advanced students. Congratulations, Kim-san. Sensei has decided and I agree, that you are no longer my student, but colleague."

"Thanks, Yori… I couldn't have done it without…well everyone. Did I say I was sorry for biting you?" Yori giggled.

"I know you were—especially when I held your nose and poured the tea down your throat." The two teens laughed, as Ron and Hirotaka finished their match. Then, rest over, they got up to rejoin the other two.

That night, Kim and Ron's room was the source of stifled giggles, and occasional outright explosions of laughter.

"No Kim…this is important." Ron said, reading the Manga aloud "I have to learn Japanese in every setting…so." He cleared his throat. "No. My path is clear, My burning love shall blaze throu-th-" He really tried to keep from laughing, but then…"The sticky strands of fate li-BWA-HAHAHA!" He started shaking with laughter. "OK, I'm out." He said, tears coming down his face. "Your turn, KP."

"Do I have to?" Kim said. "besides…I'm unconscious again in this chapter."

"You are?"

"Remember? I hit my head when you hijacked the American Attack sub to make our escape from the secret base in Lake Eerie."

"Oh right—I'm sorry, remember I was kinda rushed, what with the robot tank they sent after us."

"Right…" Kim paused, "Wait a minute—here's a…side story?"

"It's a story that takes place in the same world, but with different characters." Ron supplied.

"OK…" Kim said, and then turned the page, "No-WAY!"

"What?"

"Isn't that Mr. Barkin…and Shego?"

"I don't think Mr. B ever had a bike with a machine gun and rocket launcher…"

"Bike nothing, he never had a beard, eyepatch, or jug of whiskey… and why does Shego have horns and a tail?"

"I don't know…where are they going?"

"Mmmm….To save New York from a monster, it says here… lets' see…because we're gone, they have to take on the load…and now…" Ron started reading Barkin's speech….but he did it in a passable imitation of the real Mr. Barkin.

"Those who crawl in the night think they can escape my righteous vengeance, the power of my gun and of my sword! Honor drives me on to victory, even at the cost of Shego, whose love is a burning ember in my hear-" Ron fell over on his side, and Kim, giggling, grabbed the book and started reading Shego's part.

"Father, forgive me, though you command me to prepare this world for invasion, I cannot, for I have found light in this dark place, a light that I will return to our nether realm. My love for Barkin-sa-sah---" Kim lost it, laughing so hard tears came down her face, as Ron tried to stifle his helpless laughter in the pillow. It took the two minutes before they could talk to each other without exploding in giggles. Then, after the laughter subsided. Kim found herself in Ron's arms.

"So…KP…ready for tomorrow?"

"Oh yeah…" She giggled, "What can anyone do against our 'Burning Fire's Passion."

"Don't get me started on that…"

"I shouldn't—you let that giant robot tank knock me unconscious…"

To be continued.