A/N—Faster update eh? Please read and review!

Before I start, I'd like to address my reviewers. Thank you for taking your time to review--it really motivates me to write and many of you have given good suggestions.

Shanesnest--That's quite a long review you gave me, and I really appreciate it. When I started writing this fic, I had seen only two or three episodes of Kim Possible. Now, I've seen no more than ten, but I'm getting the gist of it all. The thing I like about the show is that you don't have to see every episode to understand the fan fiction.

My early chapters were my first few chapters on and I was very inexperienced back then. Granted, I'm not really a good writer now, but I was pretty bad back then and spent virtually no time on my work. Thus, I was rather disappointed with the early chapters too.

The Kim and Josh thing--I really wish I knew about this "Eric" guy before writing their relationship so deep. However, Josh is nonetheless the typical charming guy.

Even though sex is so rampant among us teens in real life, cartoons like this are meant to…transcend that I guess. I try to tone the sex down but fail sometimes.

Yes, pressure to write used to be an issue for me. Now I write for the love of writing rather than for accumulating reviews or getting a high SAT score. Anyway, thanks for your lengthy and helpful review.

Mysterios--Thanks for the compliment, but I'm really not even close to that level

KPWannaB--I definitely apologize for the long wait, but with varsity basketball and track and tons of schoolwork--well, I just couldn't find the time

Who Cares what my name is?--Glad you like it.

Natasel--I appreciate your honestly and criticism and, granted, you are correct. Personally, I do think I've gotten better, but that's just my opinion. However, I understand that my dialogue is weird at times and very melodramatic. Sounds like a bad soap opera script? Well, in essence it is a bad soap opera. I took AP Composition this year for training, but that's all essay and literature analysis rather than fictional story writing. Anyway, thanks for the constructive criticism--it's a lot more effective than a "YOUR STORY SUCKSq!#$#" kind of deal.

Jawelik--Yes, I do remember you--you're a registered user right? As to everyone else, I apologize for the long wait

DarkCloud--Thanks.

Seras--Thanks.

BrattyBrina--Well, here's a new chapter

qtpie--Glad to see you checking out one of my works after I checked out yours

ron-sama--Well, I'm glad to see you've been a fan since the beginning. Thanks.

Ron Stop--This update has been faster.

gargoylesama--Yes, as writers it just isn't easy, is it? Just remember, write for the sake of writing.

Brimmstone--Thanks.

Well, that's about a page of thank-you's and apologies for my updating. By the way, from now on I can't address every review because that's very time consuming.

Enjoy!

Chapter 22

Two months ago, Bonnie Rockwaller found solace where she least expected. Not only did it save her life, but it gave her so many reasons to go on. Ron had been her savior, and in doing so he had found his own inner peace.

Two months ago, she was on the verge of suicide—popular but friendless, beautiful but empty, admired but unloved. The event that finally pushed her to her limits was when Kim Possible got her kicked off the Cheer squad. It had been the worst day of her life, but in retrospect she understood that it was her best. When she had stood over the bathroom sink with pills in her hand, Ron had saved her. What drove him to follow her and be so sure of himself in that moment—well, she didn't understand it. It just seemed like destiny.

What she still didn't understand was that he needed her, too. At first, it was to take his mind off of Kim, but now it was for her. He too wondered how the impossible became not only possible, but reality. Wasn't that Kim's specialty?

X.X

Destiny. Sensei believed strongly in free will and the strength of the human spirit. He saw destiny as more of a guide rather than an ultimatum, but destiny or not he didn't like where he was headed. Things had become so ambiguous that, for perhaps the first time in his life, he felt lost. Something had happened in the past month, but he wasn't sure what. Which is why this time he personally came to the states with Hirotaka.

X.X

Night saw Kim still wondering about Ron--all the times she had gone wrong and how to make it up. She really did love him, but there was no way to articulate that--even if he did talk to her, she couldn't just go out and say it.

'Of all people, though, why Bonnie?'

'Bonnie never gave Ron a break.'

'She always laughed at him, demeaned him.'

But like a pendulum, everything changed. She resolved to do her best to make things swing back.

Beep! Beep! For the first time in what seemed like ages, the Kimmunicator beeped its familiar tone. Wade's face popped up on the screen.

"Kim, trouble in Japan. Monkey Fist is at a standoff with a Japanese ninja school on Mount Yamanouchi."

"Can you give me a ride?" He jokingly gave her an insulted look.

"Come on, Kim. After all you've done, I've practically got a line of people begging to give you a ride."

"Thanks Wade. You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," he said with a grin. "I'll page Ron now. Later." Ron.

"Wait, Wade!"

"Yea?"

"Um, nothing."

X.X

Ron was busily typing a report on his computer when he heard a familiar beeping sound. Reaching in his bottom drawer under his clothes, he pulled out the familiar looking communications device he hadn't used in ages.

"Hey, Wade. Long time, no see."

"Hey, Ron. I have a mission for you."

"For me or…Kim?"

"Both of you."

"Together?"

"Obviously." Wade answered with a confused look on his face. Why's Ron asking these questions? "Is there a problem?"

"Yes. I'm not talking to…her anymore. Besides, she has a new partner."

Wade sighed. "I thought Kim was acting a bit weird. Listen, I don't know what happened to you two, but there are bigger things going on than you and Kim right now. You two have been proven to be good, and now lives depend on you. If you don't help, Monkey Fist could slaughter many students at a ninja school in…"

"Japan…on Mount Yamanouchi," Ron finished, more to himself than Wade. For some reason, he just had a feeling there was trouble there before Wade even called. "I'll be there. Hook me up with a ride?"

"Kim's house."

"But…"

"You have a responsibility. Whatever you two are going through--it needs to be put on hiatus."

"Okay." Ron sighed in defeat and shut off his communicator. It was time for him to go on a mission again…with Kim.

X.X

Ding Dong! Mrs. Possible assumed Kim's ride was here and called for her to come downstairs.

"In a minute, mom!" She was still frantically equipping herself with her gadgets.

"Alright, Kim." She set down the dishes she was doing and washed her hands before proceeding to the door.

"Thank you so much for the ride, Mr.--" She went silent when she found herself face to face with Ron Stoppable. "R, Ron?" she yelled in surprise.

"Ron!" came two voices from behind her as the tweebs scrambled to the door from the television.

"Ron! It's been--" Jim started.

"Too long." Tim finished.

"Are you and our sis--"

"--friends again?" He gave a small smile, but the look in his eyes said it all. They both cast their eyes downwards before Tim brightened up.

"You know, you can always come visit us--"

"--without seeing our sis because--" Dr. Mrs. Possible gave her children a death glare that prompted them to shut up immediately.

"Don't you boys have a movie to finish watching?"

"Yea, but--" Jim started before Tim pulled him away, well aware of how much trouble they'd get in if they stayed.

"So, Ron, you're going on this mission, huh?"

"Yea."

"First one in a long time. What's it been? A few months?"

"Yea, around that."

"Sorry I'm late! This is my first mission in some time, and I had to get--" Kim immediately stopped talking when she saw who was standing at her doorway. "R, Ron?"

"Well, I'm going to go check on Jim and Tim." Mrs. Possible quickly excused herself to leave the former best friends alone.

"You left your grappling hook in my room." 'Well, that was a great way to start a conversation.' She was relieved to find that Ron just silently followed her without giving her some lecture on the emptiness of their former friendship. 'At least that's a start.'

"So…how've things been going lately?"

"Just fine," he said coldly.

"Here's your grappling hook." She reached into her closet and pulled out a box marked "Ron's stuff." She took the grappling hook out of it and handed it to him.

"Thanks." No hatred. No emotion in his voice either. Inside, he felt like a furnace, still burning with past flames controlled by his present restraints. Kim didn't say anything more, thinking that Ron would talk when he felt ready to. However, she was still burning with curiosity about what happened to Ron with the Brikk fight and the whole Bonnie fiasco.

'Now just isn't the time.' Ron just took his grappling hook and nonchalantly walked out of the house and took a seat on the front porch. It was still a cold winter's night, but he didn't mind too much. A few minutes later, his mind started wandering.

'I haven't seem Jim or Tim, or Dr. Mrs. Possible or Dr. Possible in ages. I've known them all nearly my whole life. They're practically family. Is it fair to them for me to just erase them from my life?'

'Was it fair to you for their precious daughter to do what she did?'

'It's not their fault.'

'No, it isn't.'

The deafening sound of the incoming jet jerked Ron from his thoughts. The white plane smoothly landed on Kim's lawn, and the door slid open. From behind him, Ron heard the door swing open and saw Kim walk past him without a word. He silently followed her into the plane, and the pilot took off.

X.X

"Sensei, we are five minutes away from Stoppable-san's house."

"Thank you, Hirotaka." Sensei sat up in the front seat of their rented car. He had been meditating while Hirotaka drove to Ron's house and had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Nevertheless, he needed to take Ron back to Yamanouchi with him as soon as possible. Not just that, but he needed to warn Ron.

"Sensei, we are here." Hirotaka got out of the driver's seat and opened the car door for Sensei. Sensei briskly hurried to the front door and rang the doorbell, as Hirotaka trailed closely behind. A middle-aged, blond woman opened the door and kindly greeted them.

"May I help you?"

"Are you Stoppable-san's mother?"

"Ron's? Yes, why?"

"We need to talk to him." Sensei's voice was urgent, uncharacteristic of his usual calm self.

"Ron's not here right now, can I take a--" Sensei stiffened.

"Where is he?"

"He just left on a mission--to Japan or somewhere. I can take a message if you want."

"No, that'll be fine. Thank you for your time," Sensei said flatly as Mrs. Stoppable gave a small smile and closed the door.

"What now, Sensei? Ron-san is in Japan. Is it possible that…"

"I don't know. We cannot take any risks. We have to wait for him to return."

"I'll get a hotel room then, Sensei." Sensei just silently walked back to the car.

X.X

"Thanks for the ride, Eva," Kim said to the beautiful brunette.

"Oh, no problem. It's the least I can do after you single-handedly saved me from a mob of ninja warriors."

"No big. They weren't very trained anyway." Eva nodded before glancing at Ron.

"And who are you again?" Ron glared at her before answering.

"Ron."

"Yes, that's right. Anyway, what's the mission this time Kim?"

'That's right. She still gets all the credit.'

'No one cares about the fact that I'm risking my life too.'

"We're going to have to stop Monkey Fist from hostilely taking over a Japanese ninja school." Ron just sat there, virtually invisible to the other two people in the plane. Rufus was sound asleep in his pocket and was oblivious to everything around him.

"Are you going to kick ass again?"

"Hopefully. You know, I haven't been on a mission in some time."

"I was wondering why I haven't seen you on the news lately. Girl, you're still keeping your sleek figure."

"Coming from you…wow, thanks."

"I bet the boys are practically fighting over you. You got a boyfriend?" Ron slightly twitched at the question. Kim caught the motion and mentally slapped herself.

'Why didn't you just go to sleep like anyone else would on a twelve hour plane ride?'

"Um, yea."

"Wait, was it that guy on saw on the news with you around Christmas time?"

"Yea." Kim did not like where this was headed, and Ron just struggled to keep his composure.

"What's his name…Josh Mankey right?"

'Wow, she remembers his name after seeing him once on TV and can't remember mine after I helped save her.' Ron bitterly thought to himself.

"Yea." Kim was now desperately trying to kill the conversation by keeping her lines as short as possible.

'Hopefully, she'll get the hint or just pass the subject,' Kim hoped to herself.

"Good catch. He's really hot. Could be a keeper, Kim. Speaking of, I thought he was your partner now."

'Could this get any worse? Doesn't she see Ron RIGHT there?'

'Then again, he's always been invisible hasn't he?'

'No.'

'No?' She mentally sighed in resignation.

'Yes.'

'And you're just beginning to understand that firsthand. Can you blame him for resenting you?'

"No, not really." 'Move on to a different topic' Kim mentally begged her.

"Well, he just seems like a better…fit. I mean, that is why he's your boyfriend right?"

'I'm not even sure if I like him anymore.' The admittance shocked her. For too long, she had only seen the "perfect" Josh Mankey. Now, she saw the tarnish on the gold.

"Well…"

"Honestly, Kim. Him or him," Eva said condescendingly, motioning to Ron, who promptly jumped out of his seat. He was angry--a lifetime of condescension does that--at Eva's tone but didn't show it.

"You said you had a private booth for us?" The brunette barely glanced over before answering.

"Second door on your right." Her eyes were immediately back on Kim.

"Well?" Kim was startled at what had just transpired. She talked as if Ron wasn't even there, like he was invisible or just insignificant.

"If Ron is willing to still come with me on missions, then I'd definitely prefer him," she said honestly, much to Eva's surprise. "Now may I be excused to my booth? It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

X.X

Monkey Fist was rather enjoying his more developed mystical monkey power as he and his monkey companions stopped another attempt at breaking his siege. Something--he wasn't sure what--had amplified it. He just woke up one morning and there it was. However, he knew that it was inextricably tied to Ron Stoppable, and their meeting was inevitable. He could barely wait.

A/N--I hoped you liked it. Please drop a review if you can!