Dark Hero Rising
Chapter 10
"Ugh" Was all Ron could get out.
He had just arrived home after that little brawl with five zoanoids on the mountain range. Honest to say he was a little tired.
"I can't be buggered cooking" His voice echoed through the garage as he opened the door that led into the living room.
A scent wafted through the air.
"Ahh, cherry blossoms" Ron sighed, letting the familiar scent sooth his tired muscles "Nothing better for relaxation".
"Oh, I can think of a few other things" A voice said from behind him.
"What the?" Ron whipped around and was instantly greeted with a hug and a peck on the nose.
"Greetings Ron-san" The oriental girl grinned as she looked up at her lover.
"Yori" Was all Ron said as he embraced her tightly "You have no idea how good you are to me".
"Oh Stoppable-san" She smiled coyly as she snapped open one of her fans and began fanning herself "You do flatter me".
"I've got a lot more planned than flattery" Ron grinned smugly.
As the two were about to pull into a kiss, the chime of the doorbell could be heard. He tried to ignore it, but the bell chimed once again, this time joined with the loud banging of the door.
"To be continued" Ron sighed.
Making his way to the front door. Ron looked through the spyglass.
"Barkin?"
"Listen up little piggy" The former marine, threatened, "I'm going to count to three, and if you don't open that door I'm going to blow that house of yours down"
"But… Mr. B… I" Ron began to stutter.
"One" He lifted up his finger.
"You can't be serious" Ron said, though not totally convinced he couldn't if he tried.
"Two" He held a second finger up and breath in deeply.
"Alright, alright" Ron said with a sigh of defeat, opening the door.
"Very good Stoppable" Barkin smiled as he walked in "I probably would have just rammed the door down".
"Why are you here Mr. B?" Ron asked, slightly miffed about what he was missing.
"I came to-" The older man turned with Ron to watch the young kunoichi enter the room.
"Ah" She exclaimed "A visitor, well there is plenty of food for another. If you would be so kind to join us in the garden.
"You/I have a garden?" The two males said in unison.
Following the dark haired ninja's lead, both student and teacher were led into a very Japanese styled garden. Looking around, Ron spotted Yori placing a third set of cutlery and plates onto the low table with tatami mats at the sides.
"Would you like chopsticks Barkin-san?" The Yamanuchi pupil asked "Or perhaps you are more accustom to knives and forks?"
"Chopsticks will be fine my dear" Barkin replied as he kneeled down, his gaze not leaving the food "You are an excellent cook, I can tell by the look alone".
"You honour me Barkin-san" Yori bowed quickly before setting herself down "But it is Ron-san who taught me".
"I'm no stranger to Stoppable's cooking" Barkin smiled, remembering that very delectable piece of chocolate cake "Forgive me, but I do not know the name of person who cooked this wonderful meal".
"I am known as Yori, Barkin-san" She smiled sweetly.
The chopsticks in Barkin's hands broke in half.
Yori gasped and Ron looked like he'd rather be fighting an army of zoanoids. The stone expression on Barkin's face subsided though, showing the relaxed expression from before.
"Oh thank god," Ron thought to himself as he lifted the saucer of sake to his lips.
"Stoppable"
The sake in Ron's mouth either geysered through the air or choked the blond boy.
"Y.y.yes?" The terrified boy turned to his teacher.
"You're drinking alcohol" Mr. Barkin replied "Since when are you of legal age?".
"I'm not" Ron began, pouring himself another saucer "But I've been drinking this stuff since I got to Japan, they say that getting accustomed to alcohol is required of a shinobi".
"In case the enemy you befriend for information is a drinker, in which case it's better to join him and wait for him to reveal information, and you are still sober enough to remember it" The senior ninja finished "Ninja lesson #37".
"You know of our ways very well Barkin-san" Yori said, her eyes focus on dishing a small bowl of rice for herself "You must be aware of our studies and our trainings".
"I studied with master sensei a few year back" Barkin replied.
The conversation turned to matters of ninja events and current news about the school, then to old legends and other trivial talk. When they finished, Yori volunteered to do the dishes, but was silence when Ron said that she cooked.
And so father and daughter, though unknown to the daughter, sat by the pond while Ron went inside doing the dishes.
"Tell me Yori" Mr. Barkin began "What do you know of your parents?"
"My parents?" Yori repeated, gazing into the rippling water of the pond "My mother raised me till I was 4, then I was told she fell ill and died of a heart condition".
Neither could meet each other's gaze.
"And what of your father?" The man said with caution.
"Master sensei says that he struggled with my mother's death" She replied.
The older man's eyes fell as the hope faded away.
"I was told he died an noble death trying to protect the school, his spirit was said to remain there, I have always felt comfort knowing he was there to guide me" She finished, smiling as she watched the fish in the pond swim around.
"I knew both your mother and father," Barkin said as placed a hand on the girl's shoulder "They were strong, they were noble, and they could not be prouder to see how you turned out".
"You knew my parent's Barkin-san?" Yori's eyes became filled with youthful fascination "Can you tell me what they were like?".
"Another time my dear" The unknown father said as he stood up, his hand not leaving his daughter's shoulder "Can you wait until another time, I'm really sorry".
"I can wait" Yori said, "You must be wanting to return home".
Night had fallen and the stars were now glittering like diamonds on deep blue velvet.
"I wish I could stay, but unfortunately I have other business to attend to" The old ninja replied.
"I understand" Yori responded, "Have a safe journey back, I will stay out here a little longer".
"Goodnight my dear" And with that, Barkin went inside.
Meanwhile, Ron was humming contently to himself as he dried the few remaining dishes left. Upon hearing the door to the garden open, he opened his eyes to see who it was.
"Mr. B, I-" Ron began, but was cut off.
"Relax Stoppable" The boy's teacher said "I'm not going to kill you for going out with my daughter, not yet anyway".
"Phew" The teen released a sigh "For a second there, I thought you were going to drown me in that pond".
"It crossed my mind" The brown haired man replied.
"Anyway" Ron said, hoping to turn the conversation around from ways to end his life "Did you tell her who you really are out there".
The ex-marine looked out the window to his daughter, sitting contently by the pond.
"No" He sighed "She doesn't need that burden in her life, she thinks that her father died with honour to protect the academy, not ran away in shame".
"Mr. Barkin, it-" Ron tried so hard to get the words out.
"Save it Stoppable, I don't want to discuss it" Mr. Barkin said sternly, before letting out a sigh "Take good care of her will you, I trust you will do a better job than I did".
And with that, the man was gone. The faint sound of an engine starting could be heard in the distance.
- - - - - - - -
"Who would have thought Wade managed to hook us up with a house complete with a bath house" Ron sighed in comfort as Yori massaged the oils and hot water into his tense back.
The two had discovered the separated room while taking a stroll around the garden. Stripping off their clothes, the two jumped in without hesitation.
"A hot spring is of a rare find in this area" Yori stated, "Your friend must be a master of negotiating".
"That he is" Ron said as the tenseness of battle just washed away "Turn around, your turn".
Doing as her boyfriend instructed, Yori faced the other way and leaned back into her lover's chest. Pouring a dollop of shampoo into his hand, Ron began to lather his girlfriend's hair.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" The oriental girl asked with a smile.
"Why not, it's much easier than doing it yourself" Ron replied, releasing the water in his cupped hands and washing away the shampoo in the dark locks of his girlfriends hair "Conditioner?"
"Please" She said as she tilted her head backwards and kissed his nose.
"So what were you and Mr. Barkin talking about?" Ron asked as he gently massaged the product into the dark hair.
"We were talking about my parents" She said, letting out a sigh of relaxation "He asked me about them, I told him what I knew, and he promised to tell me what he knew of them next time we meet".
"That's Mr. B for you" Ron smiled "He always keeps his promises".
The two sat in silence for a few minutes as Ron washed out the conditioner. Ron let out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Yori turned around and sat in her boyfriend's lap, wrapping her legs around his stomach "Is something bothering you?"
"No" Ron smiled "I'm just so glad I was lucky enough to have someone like you in my life".
"You're sweet" Yori wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't forget ruggedly handsome" Ron said with a smirk.
"That to, my sweet, ruggedly handsome warrior" She laughed.
"Oh, that just sent me over the edge" Ron smirked.
"Really, and what do you intend to do with me?" Yori giggled.
Without another word, Ron placed his hands on the slippery girl's back and drew her in for a long and passionate kiss.
- - - - - - - -
"So do tell us Drakken" Monkey Fist began "Why did you vacate us from our premises' and transported us to this dingy laboratory?"
"This 'dingy' laboratory as you put it is your chance at ultimate power" The blue skinned man retaliated.
"Aye, but I still dunna know why ye only chose the four of us" The crazed golfer Duff Killigan said.
"It's five when we include me," Shego said as she arrived out of the shadows.
"Whoa, the scary hottie, seriously" Motor Ed said, earning a glare from Shego and an annoyed look from everyone else "Wait a minute cuz, I seriously thought she, y'know, bit the bullet".
"I did, you simpleton, I'm a clone" Shego growled "One which I specifically gave permission not to be".
"It's clone or dead Shego" Drakken growled back "Your choice".
This silenced the green toned woman.
"As I have told you, it has been not Kim Possible who is our biggest threat, but that dopey sidekick of hers" The doctor said.
"Dweeb" The mutated teen Gill seethed "I'll enjoy ripping out his eyes"
"At your current levels, you are not ready to receive my gifts" Dr. Drakken continued "So you will be staying here and training till the time comes when you will be, but right now I have something to distract the buffoon until you are ready".
"I say Drakken" Monty Fiske began "This all seems rather well thought out and carefully planned, unlike your usual style".
"Call it an awakening of some sort" Drakken smirked "Now follow me, we shall begin your training".
See, I told you this chapter would be out sooner than the last one. Anyway, I know this wasn't the most action-based chapter around, but it's necessary to show the emotional sides of the characters, otherwise it gets old really fast. Keep those reviews coming (By the way, does anyone know a good site to get guyver manga scanlations from?) – Wolvie.