On the Kimjet the next morning, Tara sat next to Yori.
When she saw everyone else was distracted, she leaned over to the ninja. "I didn't mean to overhear while we were saying goodbye, but I wanted to tell you I liked that pet name Adrena called you, her 'perfect treasure'."
"Your pardon, Tara-chan, but she said 'golden treasure'," answered Yori.
"I know. But when used as slang, 'golden' means 'perfect'," she replied.
Yori smiled slightly. "I was unaware of that, thank you. But I do know she meant it in a different sense."
"Oh?" asked Tara.
Yori blushed. "It is in reference to the color of my skin."
Tara blinked. "Your skin color?"
Yori nodded. "Hai. A-chan finds my Asian features to be a... switch flip?"
Tara thought for a moment. "Oh, 'turn-on' is what you mean."
Yori ducked her head. "Hai, that is it."
"If it's not too personal, how do you feel about her Caucasian features?" Tara asked.
Yori shrugged. "I have never been one to notice such things. In combat, one must observe the outside of the opponent, to gauge the threat. But in other matters, in accordance with both the teachings of Yamanouchi and my personal feelings, I am attracted to the inside, who the person is, rather than what they look like."
Tara giggled. "You two are so different..."
Yori looked at her. "Not so different as you might think. In our jobs I walk in the shadows and she in the light. We are of different races, and are from different nations and cultures, but we have still found much in common in our interests, what foods we like, music, and so on.
"You and Bonnie-chan are very different, yet you are close friends," she added.
"True," agreed Tara. "In high school, I knew some kids who were of Asian ancestry, but you're the first person I've met who is actually FROM Japan," said Tara.
Yori nodded, smiling. "I hope I can serve as a worthy ambassador, then."
"I'll have to get you to tell me about it sometime, since I haven't been there yet," said Tara.
"It would be my honor," said Yori.
There was silence for a few minutes, then Tara looked at Yori.
"You're usually so reserved around everyone. I'm surprised you're talking to me about such personal things," she said.
"We have been teammates for some time now, Tara-chan, and yet we have seldom had a chance to sit and learn about each other. I thought this might be a good opportunity to do so," answered Yori.
Tara smiled and nodded, then fell into silence again.
Curiosity finally overwhelmed her politeness, but she hesitated before asking, "What do you see?"
Yori looked at her. "Your pardon?"
"When you look inside others. What do you see in them?" Tara clarified, sweeping her arm around the cabin.
Yori smiled and blushed a bit. "I will tell you the truth, Tara-chan.
When I look at Kim-chan, I see strength, leadership, confidence, and a strong moral sense.
Ron-kun is afraid of many things, but he does not let his fear rule him, especially when it concerns Kim-chan. Because of his training, he has gained much needed confidence, and will only do better as he achieves his destiny. His buffoonery can make even the greatest danger comical. That is a rare gift, and perfect for a Monkey Master."
"What about..." said Tara, pointing discreetly.
Bonnie was sitting across the cabin by the window, reading a romance novel. As she turned pages, she would sometimes frown, as though upset by what was going on in the book. She was unaware of being the topic of conversation.
"There is still much darkness within her, and it is near the surface. She does not know it, but she battles it every waking moment. But there is also love and caring. When she finds the right mate, that person will be very lucky," said Yori.
"Tara-chan..." said Yori, her blush deepening as she looked up at her.
Tara blushed in her turn and looked down. "I wasn't really asking about myself..."
"Tara-chan, there is a light that shines in you, and all can see it. Any darkness you have is a withered husk from that light. You have faced evil, and are no longer so innocent as you were. But experience has tempered that innocence into wisdom. You still believe in the basic goodness of people, and your desire to help is strong. Your mate too will be very lucky."
Tara turned red to the roots of her blonde hair. "At least you didn't say I was a 'dumb blonde'."
It was Yori's turn to blink and be confused. "What is 'dumb blonde'?"
"There's a stereotyped idea that girls who are blonde and blue eyed are stupid," said Tara.
Yori stared at her. "I would never say, or even think, such a thing!" she said. "If you were stupid, you would not be part of Team Possible."
Tara giggled. "I know. It's a cultural thing."
Yori shook her head. "You Americans, with your strange ideas."
"It's mostly used for jokes. Nobody really takes it seriously. I hope," she added.
"If I may ask without offense, do you know any such jokes? This is a part of your culture I did not know of," said Yori.
"Sure, I've heard them all. Did you hear about the blonde who got a headache staring at a carton of orange juice?" she asked.
Yori sat and thought, brow wrinkling in confusion. "No," she finally answered.
"That's because it said 'concentrate' on the carton," said Tara, grinning.
Yori smiled slightly. "I understand the joke, but not why it has to be a blonde."
"I guess it could be any particular group, but happened to be blondes," she answered.
"I see. I will have to consider this," said Yori, and lapsed into silence.
"Try thinking of it using a different set of people who have a common trait," said Tara.
Yori nodded, but didn't say anything else.
In the seats ahead, Ron and Kim sat together. Rufus lay curled up asleep in an empty seat across the aisle. He had learned to give them space occasionally.
Ron was watching Kim as she lit one finger, and was practicing with the plasma, careful not to let it get very far from her.
"That is SO cool, KP!" said Ron.
"It is, isn't it?" she answered. "I can see why Shego enjoyed using it so much."
"Are you going to keep it, once this mission is over?" he asked.
She looked at him, confused. "What?"
"It gave her cancer, remember. I don't want you to get it," he answered.
"Oh, that's because she used it for evil. That's what she told me during that visit," Kim answered.
"So... as long as you don't turn evil, you're safe?" he asked.
"Yeah, I guess so..." she said, extinguishing the finger. It probably wasn't wise to use it in a jet. "And I probably don't have any choice about keeping it. Changes were made in me so I could use it."
He leaned over and kissed her, which she returned.
"I love you, Kim. Weird superpowers and all. I love you," he said with a grin.
"And I love you, Ron. Weird monkey powers and all. I love you," she replied.
He grinned. "You've got me there!"
"No, I've got you here!" she said, and grabbed him and kissed him again.
The robot pilot turned its head around, and addressed the passengers. "Ladies and gentleman, and naked mole rat, if you will look out the windows on the left side of the plane, you will see your destination."
Just as in the satellite picture, below them were seemingly endless numbers of CeCes, tightly packed around the entrance to the mountain lair. They didn't seem to be paying the jet any attention, as it was still high above them.
Some ten miles away, they parachuted to the ground.
"When we get there, I'll start clearing a path to the door. The four of you follow me, and take care of any that attack from behind," said Kim.
"Gotcha, KP," said Ron. Rufus had closed his special pouch on Ron's battle suit, ready to sleep out the fight. He would be pretty useless against the CeCes, since the tiny speed shoes he had worn had never been fixed.
"Everybody ready? Then let's go, and stay safe!" said Kim, and they all activated the speed boots.
Shortly they were just over a rise from the CeCes. Yori turned on her stealth mode, crept to the top of the rise, and took a look.
"The entrance is about two kilometers away," she reported, "I cannot say how many of them there are between us and our destination."
"We'll just have to find out, then," said Bonnie.
They walked to the top of the rise, in full view of the CeCes. The robots turned their heads toward the intruders, and paused, studying them.
"Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable must die," they said in unison, and turned towards them.