Ron survived another Friday as school, he was run down. No sleep thanks to Thursday night ritual. He drove Monique to work at Club Banana. She could tell something was wrong; he had an aloofness about him.

Monique rubbed his leg in the car, "You ok?" She asked while keeping an eye on him for his reactions.

Ron shook his head, "Yea…tired, no sleep last night…I'm glad I'm off tonight…I'll feel better after I sleep." He told her in a tired weary voice.

Monique nodded, "You need to take it easy Ron, now come here and give me a kiss." She told him holding out her arms.

Ron kissed her and told her how beautiful she looked today and then he waived goodbye as she climbed out of the car and went inside the store. Ron sat in the parking lot for long minutes after she left, "It's starting again, I can feel it…Just when things are starting to click again…I feel like I climb out of a hole only to be drug back in." He thought wearily to himself.

Ron's cell phone rang, he looked at the number. In his mood he didn't want to deal with Josh Mankey today. He breathed a sigh of relief, it was Kim. He answered the phone, "Hey KP, what's the sitch?" He smiled as he said it, hoping it would make Kim feel good.

He heard Kim giggle on the other end, "I got good news today, that's the sitch." She informed him happily.

Ron smiled, "At least she's happy today." He thought to himself.

Ron shifted in his seat, "Ok, what's the good news?" he asked curious to know.

Ron could feel that Kim was excited, "Ron they are dropping all the charges against me for last Sunday. I only have to pay for damages." Kim said excitedly.

Ron smiled, "See I told you it would blow over, how much is damages?" he inquired for his own curiosity.

Kim was still excited, "Ohhhhhh it's only $38,000 dollars give or take a few hundred, but that's not the big news."

Ron swallowed hard, "ONLY $38,000 dollars? I could buy a lot of Nacos with that kind of jack." He thought shaking his head.

Ron shook his head, "Ok so what's the big news?" he asked half expecting to hear that she was going to go to work at Club Banana.

Kim squealed on the other end of the phone, "You never going to believe who called me last night?" She asked excitedly.

Ron closed his eyes and tried not to laugh, "Shego?" He said in a puzzled voice.

Kim laughed, "As if…Josh Mankey, he wanted your phone number but I know he just really wanted to talk to me because he's kind of shy." She told Ron in a giddy voice.

Ron told Kim to hold on for a minute as he got out of his car and collapsed on ground in the parking spot next to him. Waves of laughter coursed thru Ron's body as he beat his fist on the blacktop surface next to his car.

Ron got up off the ground and brushed himself off, he slid back behind the driver's seat and picked up the phone, "That's great news Kim, I'm happy for you…really." He told her happily.

He could hear the excitement in her voice, it made him feel good to hear her happy again, "That's great Kim, you and Josh have so much in common." He told her trying not to laugh.

Ron grinned and evil grin, "Kim's crushing on Josh, He's crushing on me, I'm crushing on Monique…This just don't get any better." He thought trying not to laugh.

Kim was relieved that Ron wasn't upset about Josh, "He's always so obsessed about him." She thought to herself

Ron could hear a little hesitation from Kim, "So…you're ok with this…right?" She asked Ron nervously.

Ron chuckled, "Believe me Kim there's no one I'd rather you date now than Josh." He told her trying to sound sincere.

Kim was relieved, she was afraid Ron would take it badly, "Ron, I'm so happy, Josh is soooooo beautiful…I can't believe it." She told him excitedly.

Ron winced at the beautiful remark, "I wish I was good looking…I was just never lucky like that." He thought sadly.

Ron smiled a tired, sad smile, "Yea, you guys can go shopping for hair care products and stuff." He told her bitterly.

Kim was quiet for a moment, "Ron, what's wrong?" she asked knowing her friend too well.

Ron looked at the phone, even over the phone she could tell he had something going on, "Nothing KP, tired…still not sleeping…I'm just kind of down today." He told her sadly.

Kim shook her head, "Are you having Monique problems?" she asked hoping that he was having second thoughts.

Ron smiled, "No KP, she's great…I just wish I could get my head straight." He said sadly.

Kim nodded her head, "Didn't you start taking those pills the doctor gave you?"

Ron was quiet, "No"

She was puzzled, why did Ron go to the doctor and get pills if he wasn't going to take them?

Kim decided to dig a little deeper, "Ron, why didn't you take the pills?" she asked in stern voice.

Ron was getting uncomfortable thinking about the pills, "Hey KP, just out of curiosity…Where you going to come up with $38,000 for the damages?" he asked her to try and change the subject.

Kim shook her head, "he's trying to change the subject…he doesn't want to talk about the pills." She shifted in her chair at home, "Dad is picking it up for me…Says it's tapped out my college money. I'll be getting scholarships and grants anyway so I'll still be able to go to school…Now why didn't you take the pills?" she asked in a more demanding voice.

Ron looked around the parking lot nervously, "I didn't take them because Rufus hide the bottles." He told her hoping that would be enough of a reason.

Kim smiled and shook her head, "He's still avoiding the issue." She wanted to get to the point, she did not like seeing Ron tired all the time, "Ron…Why would Rufus hide the pills?" Kim asked trying again.

Ron closed his eyes, "Because I told him too." He said quietly.

There was a long silence on the phone, Kim was getting nervous about what Ron was trying to avoid, "Ron…now be honest with me…why did you tell Rufus to hide the pills?" She bit her lower lip hoping for some logical reason.

Ron stared into space, he didn't want to say the words and he didn't want to lie to Kim and he didn't want to have people think he was crazy, he didn't want to scare Monique, Ron remained quiet trying to think of a reason that Kim would by and he just couldn't do it.

Kim was getting really nervous now, "RON…is you there." She asked in a nervous voice.

Ron finally answered, "I'm here…Kim…The reason I told Rufus to hide the pills was…you have to remember this was a while back…I feel better now." He said trying to avoid the issue still.

Kim was scared, she figured out what Ron was trying not to say, "RON TELL ME." She yelled into the phone.

Ron was starting to tear up, "Kim…I…I love you and all…I just didn't …" he couldn't go on talking and hung up the phone.

Kim had her hand over her mouth as she hit redialed Ron's phone, the phone rang and rang and then went to voice mail.

"You have reached the most badical person I know, Me, Ron Stoppable. If you'd like to leave me a message or give me money start talking at the beep."

Kim waited for the beep, "Ron call me…Ron call me NOW." She yelled in a panicked voice then she hung up and tried to dial again.

Ron sat in the car as Kim tried and tried again to reach him, on the third try Ron finally answered, "Kim, I don't want to talk about it…ok" He told her curtly

Kim was standing in front of her window now looking up towards Ron's house, "Ron, talk to me Ron…This isn't because of Josh is it?" she asked trying to get a conversation started.

Ron slumped in his seat, "It'll always be Josh…or someone else with you…You think I'll always be there if the boyfriends don't work out…At least with Monique, I know I'm the main show, and if a Josh Mankey came along for a Monique, I know that I'd at least get treated fairly…Monique's a good woman and you are still just a girl…I love you to death but I'll never be the main show for you Kim." He thought to himself sadly.

"RON, TALK TO ME!" Kim screamed into the phone.

Ron shook his head, "Look Kim…I'm just really tired and I just want to go home now…Goodbye Kim?" he told her as he hung up the phone.

Ron turned off his cell phone and started the car and started the drive home, "So Kim's hot to trot for Josh again…Good for her, now she'll leave me and Monique alone for a while. Well, I hope she'll be happy for a while, I'm happy with Monique, Josh would be happy with me…Now that's a scary thought…I have enough trouble trying to figure girls out, I couldn't imagine having to figure out another guy…Josh will meet that nice young gay airline pilot someday and then he'll be happy…Everybody should be happy, I guess…I just wish my head would work right again." He thought to himself as he drove home.

Ron pulled the car over and turned around and drove off towards Smarty Mart, then he passed Smarty Mart, Ron was headed to Quarry Lake. The late November sun was low in the sky, darkness was fast approaching. Ron wasn't quite sure why he was doing this, he just didn't feel like going home and serving time in his own little padded cell called a bed room.

Ron drove into Quarry Lake and parked his car in the parking lot. He got out of his car and walked over to one of the picnic benches and sat down. There was a stiff breeze and it was Ron looked up and could see clouds moving in from the west, "Snow tonight…Thanksgiving is next Thursday…I can't talk about my problems to Monique, it frightens her…I guess it's that stigma of mental illness…am I mentally ill? Kim on the other hand wants to do nothing but talk to me about it…I must be fascinating to her because I'm like a real life "Agony County" TV show." He thought sadly to himself.

Ron stood up and walked around the edge of the lake, he looked at the calm cold black water. In November the lakes water is cold the kind of cold that young lovers that park in the lot could never imagine. Ron looked out on the water; he had finally reached the breaking point, "I'M TIRED OF LIVING LIKE THIS…I'm tired of living…I'm tired of pretending there's nothing wrong…when there is." He said out loud as he started to cry.

Ron took his coat off, "The lakes water is cold, I will walk the water and I will start to freeze and after a while…I will sleep." Ron thoughts of a final rest were starting to appeal to him as he kicked off his shoes.

Ron's attention was diverted by a car that passed by the entrance to the lake, Ron wiped at his eyes and then turned to walk into the lake, when he turned to face the lake he came face to face with Yori. Ron screamed and stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground.

Yori came closer to Ron and into the light of the few street lights that illuminated the parking lot, "Stoppable San it is far too cold for swimming.' She told him as she covered her mouth while she giggled.

Ron scrambled back to his feet, "Yea…yea…that's…I was just checking…the water is cold…hey…what are you doing here?" He finally asked the pretty young ninja.

Yori closed her distance to Ron to where she stood toe to toe with him, "You much return to Yamanouchi so that we may make you well again." She told Ron motioning towards the parking lot.

Ron started to back up, "I don't know if I will ever feel better, Yori." He said in strained voice.

Yori stepped forward and took his hand, "You must trust me Stoppable San." She told him as she walked him away from the lake.

A black SUV pulled up and a door opened, Ron climbed into the vehicle and looked up in the front seat. He noticed the vehicle was being driven by ninjas. He took a seat close to the window and looked out at his car in the parking lot and then turned to look at Yori as she took the seat next to him.

Ron started to say something and then just looked down at the floor board of the vehicle, Yori smiled, "It is my honor to escort you back to the Yamanouchi School, Stoppable San…Now you must rest and regain your energy." She told him as she touched his forhead.

Once Yori touched Ron's forhead he went limp and fell into a deep dreamless sleep, and when he awakens Ron Stoppable will be on the other side of the globe prepairing for his future.

The Yamanouchi School for Ninjitsu is a secret school situated high on mount Yamanouchi in what is known as the Ou mountain range far to the north on Honshu Island. Honshu Island is the largest of the four main islands that make up mainland Japan; it is a mountainous and volcanic region that is prone to earth quakes.

The southern part of Honshu Island holds the majority of the Japanese population, in such large cities as Tokoyo, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Yokahama large industrialized modern cities.

In stark contrast is the northeastern part of Honshu Island in the mountainous and hilly Tōhoku region is traditionally regaurded as the grainery of Japan, as the region provides twenty percent of Japan's rice and other agricultural needs. The regions climate is harsh only allowing for one crop a year from the rice paddy farmers.

The harsh climate is due to the fact that the Tōhoku region faces out to the northern pacific ocean where winter squals and snowstorms have been known to wreak havoc. The Ou mountain range and mount Yamanouchi are especially trecherous in the winter time.

The rural and lowlands part of Japan still practice the old ways, the rural farmers still live and work the land as their ancestors before them dating back to when Japan was a feudle nation ruled by warlords.

Old ways are also practiced by the mountain people; high in the mountains away from the prying eyes of civilazation the ancient skills of Ninjitsu are still taught. Ninjitsu originated here some 800 years ago the word meaning "Stealers-In" in English. The primary purpose of the ninja is espionage and assassinatin by any means possible. Their noteriety and skills came to the attention of the Samurai Warrior Class who learned to fear them.

The practices of Ninjitsu were deemed by the ruling class as antigovernment was outlawed in Japan, but laws on books do not stop those from coming to the Yamanouchi School of Ninjitsu.

In the modern era the Yamanouchi School of Ninjitsu only accepts specially selected students that possess unique qualities and above all high moral standards. The graduates of the school fill the ranks of the the Japanese Secret Service as well as the Japanese Defense Force.

Ronald Stoppable would never have been selected as a "gaijin "or in English a forienger, but Ronald Stoppable possessed one thing that no other student or teacher possessed. Through a trick of fate Ron Stoppable was exposed to "Mystical Monkey Power." This transformed Ron into a master of Tai Kwon Pec Quaw, thus making him the only person on the planets who can wield the Lotus Blade in combat.

He had been called upon by the school to defend the Lotus Blade from Lord Monte Fisk, or Monkey Fist. He went through a base elementry introduction to the arts of ninjitsu, but to Ron's great disappointment he was unable to master any of the skills.

Nonetheless when the chips were down Ron answered the call, and defeated Monkey Fist, rescued Yori and secured the Lotus Blade within the buddist temple at Yamanouchi School of Ninjitsu.

Ron opened his eyes and the first thing he could see was Yori kneeling beside him on a straw mat, "Welcome to Yamanouchi, Stoppable Sann. I take it you slept well? It has been nearly three days since we left Middleton." She informed Ron graciously.

Ron was still struggling to wake up, "T..t..three days…Yori…I'm s…s..sooooo cold…" Ron told her as he sivered benieth his blanket.

Yori bowed, "It is winter her in the mountains Stoppable San, and it will be my honor to help you find warmth, Stoppable San." She informed him as she slipped underneith the blanket with him.

He smiled weakly as she slid beside him on the floor and pulled him into an embrace, she rubbed his back and held his head to her shoulders and it was working. Ron smiled then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Kim had been worried sick about Ron, she had not seen him in three days, no one had seen Ron in three days. The Stoppable's and then the police had been by wanting to know if Kim had any idea of what had happened to Ron. She had told them about the last phone conversation she had with him, in which he said he was headed home.

Kim was running it all back in her mind, she had talked to him Friday night, he had dropped Monique off at work. Then she had called him, he was feeling tired and depressed. He told her he was going home and that was the last anyone had heard from him.

Kim didn't see the car at home on Saturday and Sunday but that was normal for Ron, he worked those days, he wasn't at school on Monday and she knew Monique was worried about him as well.

Kim had spread the word to anyone that would listen to call her if anyone had heard anything from Ron. She went and found her mother, "Mom…I need to talk to you…alone." She told her.

They went back upstairs to Kim's room, "No word on Ron yet?" her mother asked

Kim shook her head, "I have to talk to you about that last call I had with Ron on Friday night…He was still complaining of not sleeping…I asked him about if his pills were working that the doctor gave him. He told me he hadn't taken them and that he had Rufus hide the bottles…He wouldn't tell me why though, but he became really upset…and he ended the call by saying goodbye…he never says goodbye, mom." She told her mother as she began to cry.

Mrs. Dr. P. took in what her daughter had told her, "You mean he hasn't done anything since he was over here last?" she asked in an exasperated voice.

Kim shook her head, "I don't think so."

Mrs. Dr. P. shook her head, "Did you tell anybody else about this?" she asked.

Kim shook her head, "No…I didn't want Ron to get in any trouble." She told her fearfully.

The familiar jingle of the Kimmunicator sounded and Kim answered it, "What's the sitch Wade." She said while wiping her eyes.

Wade came on the screen, "Kim…They found Ron's car out at Quarry Lake…They also found his coat and his shoes…No Ron." He told her sadly.

Kim shook her head, "Why did Ron go there?" She was puzzled.

Wade shook his head, "Kim…The police think Ron committed suicide." He told her uneasily, because he knew it would scare Kim.

Kim stared at the screen taking in what Wade had just told her, then she exploded, "NO WADE…RON WOULD NOT DO THAT…NOT RON…not Ron." She started to cry and Mrs. Dr. P. took her into her arms.

Mrs. Dr. P. was also upset and she also believed that Ron wouldn't do such a thing, "Honey…you need to tell the police just what you told me…ok."

Kim nodded her head, "Ok…I…" She couldn't finish her thoughts, the pain was too overwhelming, so she just continued to cling to her mother.

Mrs. Dr. P. drove Kim to the police station and she was led into a meeting room where Monique was already seated.

Kim stopped then entered the room, "Monique" she said coldly.

Monique nodded, "Kim" she replied just as coldly.

The police sergeant asked Kim to tell him exactly what Ron had told her on the phone. Kim told him what Ron had said and about the pills and made a special point of telling the officer in front of Monique that Ron told her he loved her before he ended his call.

Monique shook her head, "Shame it wasn't returned." She said in an icy voice.

Kim looked at Monique, "It was a mutual feeling on my part…one doesn't have to spread their legs to prove their love." Kim said in a superior tone.

Monique smiled, "Who's wearing Ron's jacket and who rejected his love to begin with? Hmmmmm let's try and remember who that was." She told her in a bitter tone.

The sergeant interrupted the two girls in their bickering, "Do you have any knowledge of scars or markings that we can use to help identify him when we find him?" he asked in a stern voice.

Kim looked at the sergeant, "No"

Monique laughed, "Yes"

Kim looked at Monique, "NO"

Monique smiled, "Yes"

Kim looked uneasy, "no"

Monique smiled, "Well looks like I know more about Ron than you do." She said in a smug voice.

The sergeant put down his pen, "Is it yes or no?" he asked them in a no stern voice.

Monique looked at the sergeant, "Ron has a birthmark." She told him as she lifted an eyebrow at Kim.

Kim squirmed uneasily in her chair, "He does not." She said in an unsure voice.

Monique smiled, "He has a birthmark just to the back of he left ear…you just have to know where to look." She told the sergeant.

After the interview as over the two girls left the room, Monique looked at Kim, "Look Kim…for what it's worth…I still think Ron's alive…If you hear anything…let me know and if I hear anything…I'll call you ok."

Kim could tell by the tone of Monique's voice that she was on the level, Kim nodded, "Ok…I can do that…I'm sorry about all that happened Monique…Does Ron really have a birthmark?" She asked her former friend in a weak voice.

Monique nodded, "It's faint but it's there…and as far as what happened…Don't worry about it" She told her with a shrug.

The two girls went their separate ways, each fearing what tomorrow might bring as the police and volunteers continue to hunt for the missing Ron Stoppable at Quarry Lake State Park.