Disney owns, I don't. Nuff said! And Sensei makes 3! At least I had him put up a good fight! You know what, I'm enjoying this so much, I'm going to up the number of fatalities to at least 6! BWAHAHA! Also, quick shout out to LLSmoothJ, and his story "Cold". Awesome story, a little dark, but if you're enjoying this, I don't think you'd have a problem with his!
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Redemption – End Game Approaches
For Ron, it was his second funeral in as many days, and he was sick of it. It was markedly different from the one he had attended earlier though. No one was crying during the ceremony, which seemed strange to him, but was carried out in a very solemn manner. Hirotaka informed him that it was very unusual to hold the ceremony so quickly, that there was usually a time of grieving and preparation, but it had been Sensei's wish to proceed as such. Now Ron and the others stood together, the scent of the garden and incense almost overwhelming, despite the light breeze that blew through the air.
The sun had just begun to rise when the ceremony had begun, and despite the less than eight hours notice, Ron found many people had made it for the ceremony. Nakasumi had been a surprise, he had never expected the toy maker might have been a student here, but hadn't felt comfortable approaching the man to ask, simply bowing to each other in greeting.
Bonnie stood beside him, sharing the same solemn look he had. Shego and Mego were behind them, looking decidedly uncomfortable. He had informed them that they didn't have to attend, but they decided that they should, no matter how much it might open fresh wounds that were barely closing.
He had wanted to help, to do something, but Yori had told him it wouldn't be proper. With a slight smile, that faded almost immediately, she said it was her honour to handle the preparations. He hadn't seen her for hours that night, and when he did, she looked very haggard. Hirotaka stood by her side the entire ceremony, placing a hand on her shoulder every now and then when it looked like she was going to falter. It was a short ceremony, and then Sensei was buried in the garden that he loved.
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The ceremony was over, yet Hirotaka's heart still felt heavy. He had already talked with Stoppable-san about joining in their quest, and he had left Yori to her preparations. Unable to do anything to help her, he had sought solace in his meditations, on the roof of the dormitory, but could not find his center. He hadn't been there ten minutes when the wild scrambling on the rooftop behind him aroused his curiosity. He smiled as he saw Bonnie, having great difficulty making her way on the precarious rooftop. He allowed her to navigate slowly, amused at her determination.
"How did you find me, Bonnie-chan?"
Bonnie smiled, knowing the suffix he used indicated how close they had become as friends, despite the distance. "We spent years trading mail back and forth. I do remember what we talked about. I just wanted to talk, to see how you were doing." She tried to make herself comfortable as she sat down beside him, but settled for keeping her balance. "So, I hear you already talked to Ron about coming with us."
"Yes, Yori seeks to join the fight, to avenge her Grandfather, and I wish to as well! I hope that does not pose a problem?"
Bonnie just shook her head. "You know I would never have a problem with that. And I know you are doing it to honour Sensei. But what's your main reason for going?"
"What do you mean?"
Bonnie just smiled up at him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder, which was as much as she dared on her perch. "You haven't told Yori how you feel about her, have you?"
Hirotaka looked up in surprise. "But… I… I never told you…"
"Just call it women's intuition. I knew when you kissed me the first time that you had were in love with someone else. Your letters just confirmed it, the way you described her. She was the only one I could really picture based on how you described her, and I could just tell how you felt about her."
Hirotaka just lowered his eyes. "I guess I haven't been that successful in keeping my intentions guarded. Sensei told me he knew as well, just before he sent us off."
"I think you kept them hidden well enough, especially if your closest friend can't tell how you feel about her. Frankly, I'm beginning to wonder if women aren't even more blind then men at times, despite what everyone says! After all, Kim never realized how Ron felt for the longest time, and Yori seems to be just as blind." Bonnie paused, breathing in the morning air. "The only way you're going to get through to her is to tell her how you feel!"
Hirotaka sighed, feeling the cool breeze on his back. "I just don't know if I have the courage. We have been friends for so long, and to jeopardize that friendship…"
"Oh blah, blah, blah! I have so heard this before. I swear, it was all Ron would go on about for months to himself. And you know what? He told her, told her how he felt, and they were happy! And when Kim wakes up, they'll be happy again! And if the relationship doesn't work, your friendship is strong enough to survive!"
Hirotaka and Bonnie sat there for a few minutes in silence, the breeze the only sound to disturb them. Then Hirotaka turned and smiled at Bonnie, and she could see his decision in his eyes.
"Thank you, Bonnie-chan. I will tell her how I feel, but not just yet. The time would not be… appropriate. When our task is complete, then I shall tell her."
Bonnie smiled. "Good! Now, can we get off this damn roof?"
Hirotaka just laughed.
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Ron stood outside the door to Yori's room, but he hesitated. She had sent for him, but he did not really want to disturb her, especially so soon after the funeral. But the message had sounded insistent, so after a moment more, he knocked.
"Please enter, Ron-san."
Ron slid open the door, and saw Yori sitting cross legged on the mat, eyes closed. In her lap sat a sword, and Ron had a feeling he knew what sword it was. He sat down in front of her, taking the same position.
Yori raised the sword off her lap, holding it in both hands. "Sensei told me that you would return, and that when you did, it would be to claim the Lotus Blade as your right for the fight ahead. I now give this to you, to fulfill your destiny!" And with that she stretched out her arms, waiting for him to claim it.
"Yori, I don't know if I deserve…"
"Ron-san, it was Sensei's decision to give this to you at this time. Do not dishonour his memory by denying one of his last wishes."
The look in her eyes said there would be no argument on this issue, and he frankly didn't want to anyways. "I accept this honour that has been bestowed upon me, and hope to honour those who guarded this before me." Ron felt a small surge of power run through his body as he grasped the sword in his hands.
Yori smiled as he took the sword from her, placing it in his lap. "Now that that has been resolved, we should get to work following the trail of Monkey Fist, and stopping him."
Ron cast his eyes downward. "We're not sure how, but he's blocking all our attempts to find him. We have a way to track him when he uses the powers he has taken, but by then we are usually too late."
Yori rose to her feet, and Ron followed suit. "Sensei was having the same difficulties, but there is one more thing that can be attempted. Rockwaller-san can scan for him."
"We've tried that. I think whatever Monkey Fist has, it's blocking any premonitions she's having. We found a few blank visions that we think might relate to him, but there is no way to be sure, and she hasn't seen anything on Fist since this started."
Yori just nodded. "That is because she does not yet fully grasp the full nature of her abilities. She can do so much more than just see random images of the future; she can actively scan for particular objects and people, if she sets her mind to it, seeing the past, present, and future. With her power levels, I believe she has enough, if she opens herself to the possibilities, to circumvent the protections Monkey Fist has arrayed around himself."
"Circum… what?"
Yori just sighed. "She should be able to get past the protections and find Monkey Fist."
"Why didn't you say so? The Ron-man doesn't always understand the big words!" Ron let loose with the goofiest grin he could, and Yori couldn't help but laugh a little, before her expression returned to it's past countenance. "Well, at least I managed to make you laugh, even if it was only a little bit."
"This is not a time to be laughing."
"There's always time for laughter Yori. If you can't laugh, then what do you have left but the misery, and that's no way to live."
Yori just smiled lightly up at him. "When did you become so wise, Ron-san?"
"I think it was seventh grade, I smacked my head on something or other!"
Yori couldn't help but laugh a little bit more.
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"You want me to what?"
Bonnie just looked shocked, as did Shego and Mego, who were standing there as well. Ron just brought his hand up to his face and sighed.
Yori didn't look perturbed at all. "You have within you the ability to scan for people, rather than just receiving random flashes. If you seek out Monkey Fist, your powers should guide you past his protections and find our target."
"Oh great, just tell the bloody world what I can do, why don't you!"
Now Yori looked confused. "Have you not told your companions what you can do? I had assumed you had done so."
Ron took Yori by the arm, and led her a little bit away. "Bonnie is still a little… sensitive about who she tells, especially with what happened with Monkey Fist. And Shego there is not exactly on the side of the angels, if you catch my drift."
Yori just looked shocked at this revelation. "Rockwaller-san, my humblest apologies. I did not realize."
Bonnie still didn't look happy, and when she saw Shego looking at her strangely, she snapped. "What the hell are you looking at, bitch?"
"I knew there was no way Possible just always conveniently showed up at all our locations. This explains so much!"
"For your information, she didn't know about what I could do till a few months ago. She always found you guys because you were too stupid to stay hidden!"
"Watch your tone, cheerleader, before I rip that pretty little tongue from your mouth!"
"Just bring it, she-bitch!"
It took the three guys to hold them back, Ron and Mego on Shego while Hirotaka held Bonnie.
Ron struggled to keep a hold of Shego. "Umm… Yori, could you grab the sword, so we can take Shego to cool off?" Yori obliged, the two young men dragged the determined woman away. When she was out of sight, Bonnie calmed down.
"I am most sorry for revealing your secret. I had falsely assumed because they were traveling with you that they were friends."
Bonnie just glared, before her eyes softened. "No, it's not your fault, I should have told you not to mention it. I just hope this doesn't come back to bite me." Bonnie sat down on the bench, feeling the adrenaline leave her system. "So, you think I can do this?"
"I know you can, if you open yourself to the power!"
"All right, let's get started!"
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"Shego, you didn't have to antagonize her like that!"
"The cheerleader started it!"
Ron just looked down, shaking his head. "Do you seriously hear how that sounds? You sound like a five year old, and this is coming from the master of immature behavior!"
"Fine!" Shego sat down on the ground, knees up to her chest. "Can she really do what that… Yuri… Yori… says she can?"
"I don't know. I mean, I know she can see the future, that's why Monkey Fist grabbed her in the first place. But actually scanning for someone, I don't know. But if Yori thinks she can, hopefully she can."
"Well, she better! Cause when I finally get my hands of the fucking guys neck, I'm gonna pop his bloody head like a zit!"
Both Shego and Ron looked up surprised at Mego. He had been so quiet since all this started, it was surprising to see such vehemence in his voice. When he turned to look at them, they saw the fire in his eyes, the determination.
"Oh don't look at me like that! I know for a fact that you both will be fighting for the chance to do the exact same thing to the bastard! He killed Will and Wendell, Henry's in a hospital, he hurt this Drakken guy my sister hangs out with, and now he's killed this… Sensei. My opinion, a quick death is too damn nice for this prick!"
Ron just looked shocked. "You're right, I'd like to, but killing him isn't the answer! Please, let's try to find another way!"
Shego just looked up at him as he pleaded with her brother. "I agree with my brother, probably for the first time. The bastard dies when we get the chance. And I'm thinking Yori and her boyfriend feel the same way, or they wouldn't be coming along on our little jaunt." Shego rose to her feet, staring Ron in the eye. "I told you as much days ago, you're just too naïve to see it."
"Shego, what about what we talked about, the darkness?"
"Different circumstances kid. I know you don't want to consider it as an option, but you better start, because I don't think Monkey Fist is going to give you that option!" With that, Shego and her brother walked away, leaving Ron to his thoughts.
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Bonnie had sat with the sword in her hands for some time now, without getting anywhere, and she was starting to get frustrated. "Look, nothings happening! Are you sure I can do this?"
Yori just sat in front of her, keep her tone low and soothing. "The power lies within you, you just need to access it. Feel the sword, the power that it radiates. Open yourself to it! Now, let your mind seek out similar sources of power. Feel them as if you could see them before you."
Bonnie eyes scrunched as she tried to focus, but nothing happened. "Look, I don't think…"
SMACK!
The sound echoed, and Bonnie's eyes flew open, feeling the sting on her cheek. Hirotaka moved forward, but was stopped by a gesture from Yori.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Anger focuses the mind, makes it sharper. Look again, find the one whose signature matches the sword."
Bonnie glared at the girl in front of her, but closed her eyes again. A few more minutes passed, and still nothing.
"Look, I…"
SMACK!
Bonnie was almost knocked onto her back by the force of the blow, and she instantly jumped to her feet.
"Look, I'm trying to be very nice here, considering what you've been through, but if you so much as look at me funny again, let alone touch me, I'm going to jam this sword somewhere you really won't enjoy!"
Yori just looked up at her, her expression never changing, her tone the same. "Good, now you are angry. Try again!"
Bonnie so wanted to smack the girl back, her temper flaring, but she kept in check, sitting back down and concentrating. This time though, after about thirty seconds, she began to see something.
"I… I think I see something. I see… Ron!"
"Good, you are opening yourself to the power. Now, try to locate Monkey Fist. Focus your thoughts on locating him."
Bonnie pushed herself, knowing now that she could do this. Five minutes passed, and then ten. Ron had returned, as had Shego and Mego, all standing around waiting. Finally, with a gasp, her eyes opened.
"I saw him, I know where he is! But we're running out of time! He just got the final piece, and he's headed out to finish his plan!"
Ron bent down, placing a hand on Bonnie's shoulder. "Where is he? Where is he going?"
"He's headed for a cave, said to have mystical properties, located on the slope of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania! And we don't have much time!
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Author's Notes – Sorry for the delay, the story just wouldn't come. I knew what I wanted to write, but my fingers just wouldn't respond, and it was driving me crazy (Well, more crazy than usual anyways)! Hopefully, that's over with, all thanks to campy's fic suggestion a little more than a week ago. Check out "Tara Strikes Back", the story that helped break the logjam in my head.
I'd like to thank the following for their reviews;
Matri – Nope, the scientist and his family do not count. When I say fatalities, I mean characters known from the show. I thought the twist was good too, no one would expect that!
Kpultimatefan – I was just remembering the "Gorilla Fist" episode, when Yori moved to embrace Sensei when they found him. Not exactly a student/teacher thing, especially in Japan. That left two things it could be. First, Yori is in love with Sensei, and that is just sick and wrong! Second, Sensei is family to her, which makes a lot more sense! As for Tara, she might just have to join up, depending on who else bites the big one! If both Ron and Bonnie survive though, she just might help out a little bit. All depends on what happens… after all, my kill count keeps increasing every couple of chapters!
MrDrP – Yup, Sensei was a bit manipulative, but he did have the best of intentions, at least for the bigger picture. As for the reaction, it's actually understandable. After all, Shego's attack was unprovoked and brutal, while Sensei had warning and a chance (not from me, but that's another thing altogether). It doesn't have that same visceral quality. And don't panic, I'm not offing the Possibles. The next story is nowhere near as dark, but it will be a struggle, and Kim will need her family by her side for it.
I'd also like to thank mattb3671, The Halfa Wannabe, Worker72, and campy.
As well as thanks to mattb3671 (no, it happened, just didn't work), GargoyleSama, and campy (who inspired this work) for reviewing Tara Strikes Back!
