Our Place in the Food Chain: Part XXXVI

The final week of Ron's second stay at Yamanuchi turned out to be some of the best fun he had since being in Japan. So many things that had once seemed impossible for him now came naturally. Of course, no mere three weeks of training, Mystical Monkey power notwithstanding, would make him the equal to even most of the novices there, but at least he wasn't making an utter and complete fool of himself any more either.

Bonnie, on the other hand, was a blast to watch her first full day there.

Sensei and Yori greeted them at the gates. Both were openly dismayed at Hayata's attack on Ron, though it seemed to grieve Sensei especially so. His betrayal hit the old man very hard since he had openly trusted the boy's professions he was not going to foolishly follow in his older brother's footsteps. With nothing else he could do at this juncture, he ordered the boy cared for until he recovered, then he would be banished from the school forever.

Ron understood that was all they could do to him, save some permanent means none had any wish to employ. They certainly couldn't turn him over to the region's authorities. That sort of this just was not done by secret schools.

That matter handled, they turned their attention to their new guest. "Rockwaller-san. Welcome to the Yamanuchi school. I trust Stoppable-san has enlightened you to the true purpose of the school?"

"You mean he really wasn't kidding about this being a ninja school? You people are really training to be some kind of super-sneaky assassins and such? Funny, I don't see anyone sneaking around in black tights." She said, her hands on her hips, which where thrust forward and slightly to one side, making her look like she was standing with a slight slouch.

"That is son, Rockwaller-san. We train students in the ancient arts of Ninjitsu, which does indeed involve being 'super-sneaky.'" He nodded toward both teens. "I would be pleased if the two of you would join me for dinner tonight."

"I, sure, super, soon as I can get out of these nasty clothes and…"

"We would be most honored to accept." Ron said, cutting her off, executing a slight bow.

Sensei nodded and walked away. Yori gave Ron a warm smile herself before excusing herself.

"What was that about? You going native or something?" Bonnie said, her hands on her hips.

"These people like formalities. It's just being polite." He said, picking up her suitcases once more.

"Fine. All I want right now is a nice hot bath and some clean clothes." She griped, trudging along after Ron in the ruin of her designer shoes. Somebody was getting that taken out of their hide. They were Doña Coronas for goodness sake! Elsa Kleeg, the style maven herself wore them!

Ron led her down the corridor that led to the student rooms. He led her to the sliding door right next door to his. "This is it, Chez Bonnie for the next six nights!" He said, nodding toward the shoji.

"Um, where?" she shrugged. "All I see is more wall."

He rolled his eyes and set one of the suitcases down so he could open the door for her.

"Alright, so that's my closet. Where's my room?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"That is your room, Bon-bon."

"Where's the bed? Where's the dresser?" She gripped the front of his sweatshirt. "Where is the shower?"

"Oh, didn't you know? The bath house is the small building right out the end of the corridor right there. Better hurry, cause most of the novice level classes are going to dismiss soon and you'll have a hard time getting a spot." He grinned, knowing she didn't have a clue to what was awaiting her.

"Grrrrr. Fine. Just, don't think us going to dinner with the headmaster is any kind of date or anything. He invited both of us so it's just the two of us going…separately." She added.

"Oh, I wouldn't think of it. Besides, I've already got a date."

"You what? Oh, never mind, I'm never going to understand you. Just don't let me be late or anything, okay?"

"I wouldn't dream of it Bonnie. If you need me, I'll be right next door." He pointed over his shoulder at his cell.

She looked at him, then at the room, then back to him. She touched the wall gently, prodding the paper glued to the thin lath-work. "You mean to tell me I've got to spend the next week sleeping with only a paper wall separating the two of us?" She asked icily.

"Yeah, though I know it's just sick and wrong."

"You got that right."

"I mean, I remember how Kim described your snoring at the last cheer camp."

"I…don't…snore…Ron." She growled back at him.

"We'll see. Guess we'll also see if this paper wall is enough for you to resist this much man." He teased as he shut his own door.

He listened to her for a while as he started laying out what he would need that evening. The proper attire would still be a fresh white training gi. Other students would attend to Bonnie's needs that way.

With a grin he grabbed a pair of board shorts out of his pack and quickly changed into them before heading off to the bath house to quickly wash away his own trail-grime.

This should be fun!

Bonnie was not happy. Not in the least. She had gone into the bath house expecting it to be just like the ones at Camp Gottagrin and here at least she wouldn't have Kim beating her there to take all the hot water.

Instead she found a chamber with a vat of water, several buckets and a number of scrubbing items. Also there waiting for her was the girl who had been waiting for them at the gate with the headmaster.

"Good evening, Rockwaller-san. I have brought you the clothing you are to wear tonight."

"Um, thanks. Aren't you the girl who Ron ran off with last spring?"

"Stoppable-san assisted me in rescuing Sensei. He is a great warrior-hero." She said reverently.

"Ron? We're talking Ron Stoppable?" She stood there a moment in utter disbelief. "You people are so weird." She said finally. "So, where are the showers?"

"I am sorry, Rockwaller-san, but we do not have showers here. Do you have questions about a Japanese bath?"

After getting the girl to explain the process to her twice (she didn't have any trouble understanding the girl since her English was flawless, she just couldn't believe what she was hearing)she eventually got the nerve to strip out of her robe and scrubbed herself down. By the time she doused herself twice with the lukewarm water she was shivering cold. It was actually far colder here than it was at home and Colorado did tend to have some cold winters.

Weirdness aside, the thought of a nice hot soak in a big deep tub would feel good. Too bad it didn't have any water jets like the Jacuzzi tub in her bathroom at home. Six nights of this, she told herself, then it was back home to the relatively normal life she led there.

A wave of steam hit her in the face as she went through the screen. Closing her eyes she breathed it in, letting it clear her head. Mindful of Ron's warning that other students would soon be here to use the communal bath, she knew she would not have long, but it was going to be so relaxing. She set her robe down on the bench and turned back toward the large tub.

That's when she noticed the blonde-haired mop of hair there hanging over the edge. Ron had his arms stretched out to each side and his head was way back, his eyes shut.

"Come on it, Bonnie, the water's nice and hot. I promise, I'll keep my eyes shut the…"

"I…am…not…getting…in…there…with…you!" Bonnie shrieked. "I don't care if you're blindfolded and your hands are tied behind your back. Now get out of here so I can finish my bath!" She pointed at the door with a perfectly manicured nail.

"Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie. This is Japan, this is how they do thing here." He chided, still not moving from his spot. "Besides, I had to climb the same trail you did and I needed a bath too."

Suddenly aware she was standing right out in the open without a stitch on Bonnie grabbed at her robe, holding it in front of her body. "Ron, I'm not Japanese and neither are you, now if you know what's good for you you'll get out of that water right now or I'll show you just how much Karate I do know, so help me God!"

"Okay, okay. Guess there's too much Ron-man for you to handle." He pulled his arms in and stood up suddenly, turning toward her to collect a towel.

Bonnie shrieked again, as she had been facing him directly. Then she noticed the blue swimming trunks he had on. Her eyes went wide.

He knew he would beat her in there!

"I'm telling Kim about all this when we get home." She snarled. "And I'm telling her about this 'date' thing too."

"Good." He said, putting down the towel and slipping his sandals back on. "It'll be nice to have somebody get my back when I tell her everything that went on here." He made an exaggerated attempt to check her out as he went by, causing her free hand to dart around to cover anything that was visible that she didn't want to be.

"Dang, Bon-bon. No tan lines, I'm impressed." He laughed as he left.

The next morning the fun began all over again. Ron was really appreciating the humor the other students has seen in his predicament before. At least when the morning gong went off, she didn't come ripping through the wall, forgetting it was even there.

No, Ron had to actually go in there and shake her just a little bit. That didn't seem to help. She just kept sawing logs right there on the mat, her eyes covered in a sleeping mask. Kim certainly had been right about her nocturnal vocalizations.

Finally he thought of something along the lines of how the Tweebs would wake him up. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Kate Spade half off at Saks, today only."

Bonnie sat bolt upright in her bed. He had to admit she looked so cute in her flannel pajamas, with little kittens printed all over them.

She was in considerably better shape than he had been the first time but she was far from prepared for what they put her through. They started with a traditional run on the Dragon course. Ron and Yori hung back to keep an eye on the new student, both of them exchanging smiles at the stream of choice invective coming from the heavily tanned brunette.

Later, when she realized just how much of her was visible in a sweat-soaked white gi, she became utterly and totally mortified. At least until Ron pointed out that nobody seemed to care. Well, that wasn't entirely true. The outfit did tend to hug her curves more than any other woman there and almost the entire male student body was jockeying for a chance to get a glimpse of her.

At weapons training she almost knocked herself out with a pair of nunchuks.

Her grasp of a ninja's ability to disappear, to literally hide in plain sight was very similar to Ron's his first time out. At least she didn't try hiding behind a potted plant, she just stood there wondering just where everybody else had gone.

He made certain to be right behind her in line for lunch that first day. His smile nearly split his head in two as he watched her trying to snatch a morsel from Nooni. Then he watched her astonishment as he caught a choice piece (with tasty, smoky eel!) on the first pass.

When it came to martial arts practice, though, that's where she very definitely outshone Ron. Where he had only succeeded before by accidentally calling on the Monkey Power, she already had the skill to break boards with her bare hands, so splitting logs was not so difficult when she was shown the proper technique.

As much fun as it had been watching her discomfort at first, something odd started happening as the week progressed. Her barbs at him became fewer and fewer and she actually spent some time talking to him. He didn't quite understand why, but she was certainly far more pleasant to be around.

Bonnie also found a friend, surprisingly in Yori. The two ended up speaking for hours on end, though about what, he didn't have a clue. (What little conversation he did catch didn't make a lick of sense to him – it may have been technically in English, but they were speaking 'girl-eze')

The last night, however, was the biggest surprise of them all.

They spent it together, sitting side by side on the stone bench in the courtyard, looking at the night sky, talking about school, about what they were going to do with their lives in a few months when school was over. Ron knew to steer clear of talking about Kim too much. Bonnie was turning out to be a very lonely person he knew that kind of thing might be like salt in the wound.

"You know, the moment our plane lands Tuesday it's all going back to normal." She said, still staring at the stars.

"I kinda figured that. Guess you've got to keep up appearances." Ron replied, looking down at Bonnie for a change.

She met his gaze. "Yeah. Something like that. Maybe it shouldn't be, but I don't know how to do that."

"Do what?"

"Be your friend. I never really noticed how cool a guy you are."

"Uh…thanks." He said, more than a little surprised at hearing the 'f' word coming from her lips. "You sure you haven't been checking up on my trust fund or something?"

Her eyes narrowed at him. "No. It's just…wait, you've got a trust fund?"

"Yeah. It's nothing like that first Naco check, especially considering how much of the company Drakken blew away, but last time I looked…well, if I turned twenty-one today then I could probably buy you another ruby belt buckle." He looked back up at the stars.

"Wow. I called you a friend and I thought you were still poor." Her eyes narrowed again. "Okay, what have these people done to me? This isn't me! Tell me, Ron, just what did they do?"

He sat down on the ground, putting his hands behind his head and leaned back against the bench. Bonnie had a sudden wild urge to play with the little tuft of hair sticking up on the back of his head.

"Maybe it's just spending a week getting a full-strength dose of the Ron-shine." He said. "Or maybe it's just spending some time away from all your posse and just being yourself. I don't know, Bonnie. It does make me kinda happy and it doesn't really have end when we go back. Don't know how Kim would take it."

She shook her head, actually catching her fingers mere inches from his cowlick. She was starting to get some inkling of what Kim saw and that actually frightened her. "No, I don't think that will work. When we get back, I'll be right back with my old peeps and you'll be joined at the hip with Kim again. Even if we tried, we'd still just go back to our old habits."

"You're probably right." He said sadly. "Hey, it's getting pretty close to the morning gong. We've got a little packing to do. Well, you might. All my stuff's already crammed into my pack."

"I am so not looking forward to hiking down that mountain." She whined.

"At least it will go quicker." He shrugged, getting up.

Bonnie stood as well, suddenly grabbing him for a tight hug that lasted many minutes.

"Listen. All this stuff, can it be our little secret?" she pleaded quietly, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"I already made a promise to KP that I'd tell her when romantic-like stuff happened. I break that promise to make another."

"I understand, but this isn't romantic or anything. I mean us coming to an understanding like this, let's leave it here, okay."

"Okay, I'll promise you that, but if she asks me, I'll tell her you hugged me."

"Fair enough." She said, letting go of his shoulder.

He watched he go back to the dorms. Yes, he would definitely have to tell Kim about the hug, especially since being hugged by a woman who looked like Bon-bon had certain involuntary effects on a healthy male body.

"Perhaps now you may have an idea of why she is here, Stoppable-san." Sensei said.

Ron wasn't even startled, though he had not heard the old master approach. "So you brought her here so we could be friends? That's kind of odd." He said, scratching his head.

"Is it? The best way to defeat one's enemy is to make them your friend." He said, clasping his hands together inside the sleeves of his robes.

"Bonnie a friend. A week ago I would never have believed it. It's almost like KP and Shego becoming buds and going shopping together on the weekend."

"Indeed, would that not be a wonder. Stoppable-san, I must ask your permission to do something."

"What's that, Sensei?"

"The power you now control can be a dangerous thing. It can also serve as a magnet for great danger as well."

"I thought it was important that I knew how to control it and all."

"Yes, it was and we have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams, but the time of your destiny is not yet at hand. Until that time you must remain as you have been and grow slowly into the man you are supposed to be."

Ron was confused. "What are you saying, that I need to have the power taken away or something? I thought you couldn't do that."

"In a manner of speaking, yes, that is indeed what I wish to do, with your permission, of course. I cannot take the power away, but I can make you forget how to use it until the time comes when your need is greatest. You would believe that it 'comes and goes' as you have said before, but when the time of your fate arrives, you will remember all you have learned here."

"But you're saying it's important right now that I forget? I don't know, it's been so cool being able to use it when I wanted to."

"I know this and I will understand if you refuse. I will not manipulate you again as I had to before. I am still deeply ashamed for it."

"Okay. I'll let you make me forget or whatever it is you want to do. Just one thing before you do your mystically delete thingy…what's the real reason Bonnie's here? It can't just be so I could make nice with her and I don't see her being here just because she's good at Karate."

"She is here because Hirotaka-san asked me to bring her here. Have you not seen the time the two of them spend together?"

"Uh, actually, I've only seen her around Yori and me."

"They have been discreet." He said sagely.

"Yeah, sure. So, if there's something else going on that you can't tell me, you won't tell me because it's something big I can't understand or something."

His expression remained as impassive as ever.

"Right. Well, let's get this over with. I've got a plane to catch and the world's most bon-diggity girlfriend to go see."

Kim Possible and all related characters © Disney