Our Place in the Food Chain: Part XXII

"So who do you think it's going to be?" Kim asked as they walked into school Friday morning.

"Well, I'm hoping she's a major hottie." He said, adjusting his backpack on one shoulder, his other hand wrapped around Kim's.

"Would that 'major hottie' happen to have red hair and green eyes?" She asked, grinning slyly at him.

"Maybe. Then again she could have platinum blonde hair, or raven black with deep brown eyes. Ooooh, maybe she could even have wavy black hair and dark brown eyes and cocoa colored skin. Yeah, that would be cool."

"You're assuming it's going to be a girl. For all you know it could be that big guy with the all the comics in Japanese who thought he was a lock two years ago."

"Nah, he graduated last year. I think he's running a comic book shop downtown."

"Well, if it's not a guy, this girl better either be really plain or be a redhead."

"Oh, so it's going to be Marjorie Bennett? I dunno, she's still got braces."

"Humph. So you're noticing who is kissable now, are you?" She teased. "Or do I take it that you actually do want me to share you with Hope, Tara and Monique."

"Nah! That'd be way too dangerous."

"You got that right, buster."

"Felix would snap me in two with the cyber-thingies in his chair if I ever kissed Mon again."

Kim stopped in her tracks and let go of his hand. "What do you mean 'again'?" Her free hand snapped to her hip.

"I, uh, mean if I ever kissed Monique. Yeah, ever kissed her." He started as if to tug at his collar, but he was wearing his bowling shirt so he made do rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, you said you kiss her again, as in you've kissed her before. So which is it? Have you kissed Monique, yes or no?"

"I, uh, well, she kinda kissed me. It was an ambush kiss, I wasn't expecting it. She was just, uh, wanting to know what was so special about it and all, it didn't mean anything." He forced himself to look in her eyes. It was the truth, at least as far as he was concerned but he still was embarrassed about it.

"I thought we didn't have any secrets between us. Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"Because she made me promise not to. She knew how you'd get and she didn't mean anything by it. What was I supposed to do? Break a promise to…aw man, now I have."

"When did this happen? Is that what Monique was teasing you so hard about at lunch yesterday?"

"Yeah. It was back last summer. Remember the time you were supposed to be cooking me dinner? She took me home to get dressed and she kinda laid one on me. I'm sorry, I promised her I wouldn't talk about it."

Her expression softened a little, though not completely. "So, how was it?"

"She's not bad. I guess she doesn't have the practice you do…and she tasted funny."

"Tasted funny?"

"Uh, not bad or anything, just different. I'm used to kissing you. I like the way you taste when we kiss." He did his best to emulate her puppy dog pout, knowing it really wasn't effective on her.

"Okay, bottom line it for me Ronnie. Who else have you kissed since we've been going together?" Her glare hardened once more. "Who else made you promise not to tell the girlfriend you love oh so much?"

"Not a soul, I swear. Tara gave me a little peck on the cheek, but she does that to all her male friends."

"Well, I guess that's all right, though I may need to have a little chat with our resident suicide blonde." Ron reached for her hand, but she pulled back. "Uh, uh. You're in the doghouse, mister. For future reference, if anybody lays an 'ambush kiss' on you, you're going to tell them right up front you don't make promises to keep that from me. You know how important that is to me. It's just like cheating."

They resumed walking, though slightly further apart than usual. "See, Monique knew you'd be mad, that's why she made me promise."

"I'm not so much mad as I'm disappointed. Well, I'm a little mad, at both of you. Ron, it's good that you try to keep secrets when you're supposed to, but that's not the kind of thing you should promise. It's almost as bad as if you'd done…it and promised not to tell me just because I'd be mad."

"Yeah, but if I did that, it'd take a lot more participation on my part. It's a lot easier to get out of that than just a kiss."

"You mean you didn't kiss her back?"

"Well, not like I do with you."

"Then you did." She said flatly.

"It wouldn't have been polite not to…uh…it's kind or a reflex like, remember the first time you kissed me?"

"You enjoyed that though, even if I was freaking you out. You didn't wrap your arms around her like that, did you?"

"No."

"Okay, then I forgive you. This time." She grinned slightly, remembering that kiss. She'd ambushed him herself when she was under the influence of the Moodulator. Sure enough, even though Ron was going bananas trying to figure out why she was suddenly so interested in him, his arms had gone around her back, embracing her as they kissed. If he hadn't passed out with a silly grin on his face the probably would have been kissing for some time. It felt that good.

"Ron, there's one way you can get back in my good graces."

"What's that? Sneak off behind the gym before the assembly?"

"Uh, no. I'm not going to chance Barkin or Principal Director catching us, nice as that sounds. No, I want to know, once and for all where you learned to kiss. I want you to tell me, no matter how embarrassing it is." Kim leaned against her locker, her eyebrows up, waiting for a response.

"It's not as bad as you think, not like I'd practiced on a pillow or something soft or anything." He paused and let out a breath. "Do you remember that old movie, the one about the nerds going to college?"

"I think so. The one with that guy who went on to be on the emergency room show?"

"Yeah, that's it. Do you remember what one of the main nerds told the cheerleader when they, uh, did it?"

"No."

"Well, he said something to the effect that the guys she normally fooled around with were jocks and all they thought about were sports, but all he thought about was…" he looked around and whispered, "…sex."

"So you go around thinking about sex all the time?" Kim's eyebrows really went up.

"No. Not all the time at least."

"Uh huh."

"It's just, I think about kissing you. A lot. For a long time. So I thought about it so much for so long I just kinda naturally knew how to. I just did what felt right and it sort of works. Did that make sense."

"Yeah, it did. Actually I'm kind of relieved it wasn't something weird." She said, opening her locker to put away most of her books. "So why the big secret about it?"

"Oh, just having some fun with you. You always made such an issue about it I just wanted to torture you, just a little."

"Very funny." She reached out and gripped his hand, giving it a good squeeze while pursing her lips at him.

Ron glanced around and quickly leaned in to give her a real peck.

They both looked up as they heard the tell-tale click that the intercom had come on. "Attention students. Listen up." Kim rolled her eyes. Barkin always said that, even if it was redundant after asking for their attention. "There will be an assembly today in the gym at the start of second period. It won't take long, so don't think you're getting out of class. That is all."

"Darn, I was hoping it'd be first period. Now I'm going to be wondering all first period who it's going to be." Ron said, shouldering his pack.

"Still hoping it's me?"

"Who else would it be? You're the only other person here who knows the real score over there. It'd be just like Sensei to pull some string to get you over there. Maybe he wants to see the two of us in action again."

"You're just hoping for a little Japanese style action." She put a finger lightly on his chest. "I know about those baths."

"KP, those things aren't all they're cracked up to be. Most of the students over there are guys, you know."

"Oh, now there's another reason for me to want to go." She purred.

"KP!"

"Look, no touch." She said. She checked to see if the coast was clear and opened her locker once more and pulled Ron in for another kiss, this time way more than just a peck. "See, you I get to touch. When I look at pretty boys it just makes me think of kissing you."

"Oh, I see. Should I take you to one of those women's bar places tonight?"

"Not on your life, but I like the way you think. See you in an hour."

"Wouldn't miss it."

He watched her go, his eyes lingering where the end of her long hair seemed to point. She could even make sweat pants look good, so he really appreciated the view, especially since she wore them a little on the tight side. Her hair was getting longer too and he liked that. It no longer ended between her shoulders but was almost halfway down her back, still tapering to a little, flippy point.

I am so going to miss that while I'm over there. At least for three weeks. In his mind Kim was the only logical choice. He had finally been allowed to share his secret with her and she already was an expert in so many styles of marshal arts. Adding a little Ninjitsu wouldn't hurt a bit.

He wandered into class, having visions of Kim wearing a short little silk kimono…and nothing else and maybe, just maybe getting her to take a nice, long soak with him in one of those big hot tubs after lathering each other up. She'd never dream of doing anything like that here in the States but 'when in Rome…"

"Hey, Ron." Zita stood in the classroom door, her books still slung under her arm as if she was waiting for him.

"Morning, Zita. How's it?"

"I'm okay. I heard you're going to Japan in the exchange program this year."

"Yeah, it's badical

"You're going to be careful and all, aren't you?" She asked, a hint of worry in her eyes.

"Yeah. I went a couple years ago and there wasn't anything I couldn't handle."

"Just be careful. You're such a sweet, nice guy and I don't want to see anything happen to my friends."

"Sure, Zita. I'll be okay. You know, me and Kim are getting into scrapes all the time and we come out okay." His expression tightened as he realized how she was looking at him. When she had first returned her eyes had lit up, at least until she found out that he was already in a relationship. Now there was a hint of fear in her eyes that he just couldn't fathom.

"Is there something you're not telling me? Do you know something I don't?"

"No, Ron. I just remember that you're kind of lost without your friends around." She looked over his shoulder, as if she was expecting to see somebody or was making sure someone didn't see them. "Possible won't be around to 'have your back' as the two of you say."

"I'll be okay, Z, I promise. Hey, let's get our seats before Barkin gets here."

"Sure." She said, glancing back at him as they entered.

"…and the student going to Norway is Rachael Vinson. That trip is being sponsored by Ogehs investments." Barkin read from his list, the utter disdain he felt for the program itself obvious in his voice.

Ron shuddered slightly, though he really didn't know why. It wasn't the fact his mother actually worked for the US subsidiary of that company, there was just something about that nation that gave him the spilly willies.

"You still don't like Norway, do you." Kim said, her arm wrapped around his as they listened to who was selected for the various exchange programs. Last year four students had been selected where two years ago it had just been Ron. Several multi-national companies had gotten on board, hoping to glean some community involvement credit in the eyes of the public.

"You know what they eat there? Meat cakes. I don't even know what that is, but it just sounds gross."

"Ron, you like meat."

"Yeah, inside a tortilla shell. Meat and cake just don't sound right together. They even eat something else called lamb and cabbage stew. Just thinking about that makes me want to hurl."

Kim rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly.

"You think your Mom and Dad are going to be cool with both of us spending a week together in Japan?" He asked her.

"I don't see why not. It's not like we're going there just to shack up or something. Even if we did have the time, we wouldn't do anything we couldn't talk to them about. Well, almost."

"I am so stoked about this. Finally we can share that part of my life." He wrapped his hand around hers, already jumping ahead to the final week of his stay in his mind.

"Don't count your chickens and all. They haven't announced my name yet."

"Who else could it be? They know we're a team, what better way to train for it than in Ninja High?"

"Shhhh, I think this is it." She gripped his hand tighter.

"This year there is a special program in Yamanuchi, Japan." Barkin started. "Nakasumi Toys has come on board as the sponsor and this year the school has selected two student. One will spend an entire month in the program and I've already discussed this with him. Once again, Ron Stoppable will represent Middleton High School and the United States as an ambassador of friendship. As I said, this is a special program for him, so there will be no counterpart attending in his place while he is gone."

"Aw, an here I was hoping Hirotaka would come back again." Kim cooed, teasing Ron about him. As embarrassing as the whole thing was, with all the fighting she had done with Monique over him, it was Ron who later reminded Kim how her eyes lit up when he walked through the door at the airport.

Barkin continued. "For the last week of the program in Japan, we will have the usual exchange. They are sending a student by the name of Hayata, who will arrive as our second exchange student leaves for the land of Sushi and Ramen noodles.

Here is comes, both teens thought, gripping each other's hands so tight they were cutting off circulation to their fingers.

"The Middleton High School student selected by our sister school in Yamanuchi, Japan is…"

He paused, looking right into Kim's eyes. She started grinning from ear to ear.

Then his eyes shifted to another section of the bleachers.

"… Miss Bonnie Rockwaller."

A/N - I've completed the cover art for this fic and it's on display at DevArt, which can be accessed through my profile. There are also a number of other pieces related to this and other fics, including cover art for It Finally Happened.

Kim Possible and all related characters © Disney