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The Element Of Surprise

Hirotaka, Kim, Ron, and Yori stood in the quiet courtyard sparring silently, the assembly playing on repeat in their heads. Yori hadn't spoken a word since. Hirotaka glanced over at her woefully. What could he possibly say to help her feel better? He was no more eager to go through with this than any of them, but without question he was the most willing. This was what he had been trained for his entire life. He was shinobi, a born and bred assassin. That was the way of the ninja. To spy and to eliminate, if need be, the enemies of state or side. It was something that many forgot in their years of training here, for that was how Sensei had designed it. He did not truly wish for any of them to become ninjas in the traditional sense. He trained them up almost more in the way of the samurai, honor and mercy emphasized above all else. He trained saviors, not murderers. Hirotaka, though, had not forgotten...

Those who did not forget were those to whom Sensei delegated the most unsavory of tasks. Dragon Class. Only rarely did anyone under the age of twenty gain permission to enter it unless they proved themselves particularly mature, and never was anyone under the age of eighteen even considered. It ran hand-in-hand with Lotus Class. The difference was that Lotus Class shunned assassination and stuck instead to espionage and sabotage; missions where if they were forced to kill someone they would, but not missions where their sole purpose was to end a life. Not unless it was for the greater good. Yori was Lotus. He was Dragon. His sister's hands were clean of blood. His had been stained in it since younger than he cared to admit...

"Hirotaka?" he heard Kim say, breaking him from his troubled thoughts. He blinked a couple of times and turned to her curiously. "Maybe you should go to her," Kim continued sympathetically. He stared a moment then turned to Yori once more, who was still sparring with Stoppable-san.

"Hai," he agreed quietly.

"Hai?" Kim asked.

"It means yes," Hirotaka said with a sigh, rubbing the inner corners of his eyes.

Kim nodded. "Are you okay?" she asked in concern.

"More so than you, Stoppable-san, or Yori," he confirmed. "My distress is for your sakes, not for my own or Monkey Fist's." Kim frowned curiously, tilting her head, but didn't pry. Hirotaka bowed to her and she bowed back. Turning, he went towards his sister and Stoppable-san.

KP

Ron was the first to see Hirotaka coming. When he did, he stopped curiously. Yori, noticing the change, followed his gaze. Her heart sank. Her brother...

"Stoppable-san," Hirotaka greeted with a slightly forced smile, bowing.

"Dude-san," Ron replied, bowing back.

"I would switch partners with you for a moment," Hirotaka said.

"Uh, sure?" Ron replied in some confusion. Nonetheless he turned to Yori, bowing to her. She bowed back with a smile, and Ron departed, going towards Kim. Yori waited until the two were engaged in a spar of their own before looking woefully up at her brother.

"Talk to me," he said simply.

Yori shifted uncomfortably before hanging her head. "This is not honor," she finally said, for the first time since the assembly breaking her silence. "This is not the way to solve this."

"Then what is?" he asked. She was silent. She didn't know... Hirotaka sighed. "Do not think that I am convinced this is the correct course of action. Do not think that I am pleased with Sensei's orders; but it is an order nonetheless, and there is no other solution in sight," he said.

"We have not looked for one!" she argued.

"Is there one to find?" he asked. She bit her lower lip and turned away. Gently he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let it go, sister. Kim and Ron are no more eager to do this than you, yet even they have agreed to the terms set. To some degree at least. Why is it that you cannot?"

"I will not betray my honor," she meekly said.

"Have Kim and Ron betrayed theirs?" he answered.

"No. They are willing to track him, as are we all, but they are not prepared to kill," she said.

"Nor are you," he replied. "So track him with us and leave the rest to those more willing to do what must be done."

"I do not know if I can accept that," she said.

"You must," he said. "It is him or us. That is your only choice now."

"No!" she protested.

"Yori, there is no escape for Lord Fiske. As soon as he is caught, he will meet the fate that was already supposed to be his. As Sensei said, we must throw honor to the wind in order to be rid of one who has none. Fight fire with fire. Is that not how the saying goes?" Hirotaka asked.

"But how often has that actually worked?" Yori asked.

"In a literal sense, more often than you would think," Hirotaka answered with a smirk. "Metaphorically I am not so sure."

She was quiet, head bowed once more. She had no choice, she knew. The command had been given, and no matter how she felt about it, it had to be followed through. "Very well," she quietly said.

Hirotaka ruffled her hair affectionately, a fond smile on his lips. She frowned at him, batting the hand away. He chuckled. "Oh Yori. Of strong mind as always. Goodnight little sister," he said. Bowing to her, he walked away. She watched mournfully after him.

KP

Morning broke over the school. The ninjas in Lotus and Dragon Class were lined up straight, ready for whatever order was given them. "Today is the day Monkey Fist's reign ends," Sensei began, heart heavy. "Find him. Hunt him until there is nowhere left for him to run, and capture him. May the one who delivers the fatal blow be honored," Sensei declared. Yori winced, not looking up. She felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced over. Kim. Kim smiled weakly at her, eyes filled with understanding. Yori smiled sadly back. At least she was not the only one who was torn. "Strength be with you my students. I will accompany you for as long as is needed. Now go forth! Yori, you shall have the honor of guiding us down the right path."

Yori tensed up at her teacher's words, but she was the only one of them who had even a remote idea of where Monkey Fist might be. That task could fall to no one else. "As you say, Sensei," she replied, bowing. Turning, she led the way into the jungle and followed the route over which she had pursued the monkey lord. Sensei stayed close to her side. When he could sense Monkey Fist's presence, he would take the lead. Until then, though, it was up to her. She didn't want it to be...

She considered leading them astray, but deceiving Sensei was almost impossible. All it would do was delay the inevitable. But maybe delaying it would give the Monkey Lord just enough time to escape! If he did, though, he would go after the Lotus Blade once more. Or Yamanouchi... She winced at the thought. She could not allow that to happen. She glanced over at Master Sensei. He met her eyes apologetically and reached out, reassuringly squeezing her shoulder. She offered him a forced but grateful smile.

KP

It wasn't long before they reached the stream where she had witnessed Monkey Fist battle the tiger. The stream where she had seen that some small part of him buried deep within was still human... She paused for a moment before at last looking in the direction he had fled upon hearing her. Letting out a shaky breath, she pointed and bowed her head. "That is the direction in which he fled," she said.

Sensei nodded then closed his eyes a moment. Soon they opened once more. "We are close," he declared. "Follow my lead."

He strode nobly forth, the students dutifully following. Yori didn't move. At least not at first. Desperately she tried to call to mind all the wrongs he had done. She thought about the crimes he had committed and the dishonor he had shown. She though about him having Fukushima almost drop her and Ron in lava. She thought about his animalistic monkey shrieks, his simian hands and feet, his sharpened canines, and the disproportionate features of his face when he became enraged. She thought about the insanity in his eyes and his demeanor. She thought about his spoiled, narcissistic, egocentric personality, and she remembered the mad laughter that sounded so eerily like a monkey's she had once wondered if he himself was not truly half monkey... With those memories, though, came recollections of the times he had seemed almost sane... It was frightening, and while the memories helped her to feel more confident in her course, she still couldn't shake the sense of unease welling inside her.

All of a sudden a voice broke through her thoughts. "Just try not to think about it. It helps," it said. She turned. Ron-san. The Lotus Blade was strapped to him in ninja fashion, ready to be used or protected. She nodded and offered a tiny smile. She saw the conflict in his eyes, and surely if Monkey Fist's arch bumbler - as the monkey man had dubbed him - could feel guilty about this and even be reluctant to see it through, there was no shame in her feeling it as well...

Two Nights Ago

Monkey Fist, upon returning to his hideaway, went immediately to check on the monkey he had rescued. He found the creature lain comfortably on of a bed of blankets the monkey ninjas had set up, eyes shut. He went up to it, checking if it was still alive. It was. Gently he lifted the monkey up and said to his ninjas, "Bring me my medical kit." Immediately one of them bounded away and returned within seconds, presenting the item to him. Monkey Fist opened it with a hand and foot, taking out some dressings and salves. Carefully he unbound the injuries and applied the medicines, re-binding them with the proper equipment. This monkey had shown promising talent in its fight for its life. With the proper application of training, it would take no time at all to turn the creature into one worthy of the title of ninja.

The wounded monkey meekly whimpered and woke up, staring at the monkey man in confusion. It looked around and took in the other monkeys in this strange hut it found itself in. They surrounded it curiously, chattering and poking. It shrieked at them, batting away the hand of one who'd poked a little too roughly. "Gently please, Chippy," Monkey Fist said, rolling his eyes. The new monkey rose curiously, looking around. It looked up at Monkey Fist and made some curious chattering. "Of course most of you are male! The last thing I need is a bunch of little monkey babies running around," Monkey Fist replied. Some of the ninjas stuck out their tongues or hooted and shrieked at him in displeasure. "Don't take that tone with me!" Monkey Fist snapped. Turning back to the injured monkey, he said, "Rest a bit longer my little friend. When you're ready, we will start with your training." Noticing the new addition's confusion, the other monkeys leapt into ninja stances and made ninja sounds...

KP

It was around midnight the next night when the monkey regained enough strength to move with ease. It was around ten PM the night after, that the creature was clad in a gi and picking up the moves it was being taught quite easily. At least easily enough to not slow them down if they were suddenly attacked. That was all that mattered to Monkey Fist. The monkey ninjas had insisted he name the new addition George. He knew he shouldn't have read those children's books to them. Oh well, a name was a name. George hadn't seemed to mind. At last Monkey Fist dismissed the ninjas to bed and lay down himself, exhausted. He'd had precious little sleep since the day he'd rescued George. Most of his time had been devoted to ensuring the monkey survived and thrived. Now that he at last had time, he couldn't manage to drift off. Something was making him nervous, tugging at the back of his mind like a warning. It was those Yamanouchi ninjas that were getting to him. It had been a close call with Yori. Too close. No matter what, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen very soon. He'd been here for too long. The sooner they got out the better.

It was twilight when a bird cry pierced the jungle. The signal. They had found the hideout, and Yori's stomach dropped. There was no going back now. Tonight, when they were certain the monkey lord was asleep, they would strike. She let out a shaky breath.

Monkey Fist growled to himself in annoyance and rose. Silently he exited the hut and climbed onto the roof, looking around. The ever-looming threat of the Yono catching up to him wasn't helping his paranoia. He strained to hear anything that sounded out of place. Nothing. He scowled in annoyance then went back inside. He probably wouldn't get to sleep any time soon. He sighed and closed his eyes. Time to center. He got into a meditation pose, tuning out everything. Perhaps that had been a bigger mistake than sleeping...

Present

The crash echoed out around one in the morning. The nobleman snapped out of his meditation upon hearing the monkeys shrieking in alarm. "Monkey Fist, you need to run!" the all too familiar voice of Kim Possible called. He gasped, spinning around in alarm as he leapt to his feet and got in a battle stance.

"Kim Possible?!" he said in disbelief. Before he could even fully process her words, an onslaught of Yamanouchi ninjas came pouring into his hideaway after her! "Oh and Yamanouchi. How smashing," Monkey Fist said, scowling. "Can't any of you simply mind your own business for once?! Monkey ninjas attack!" Immediately the monkey ninjas and their new addition leapt forth, meeting the Yamanouchi students in combat.

Monkey Fist focused his attention on Possible, Stoppable, Yori, and Yori's brother. They came right at him. Stoppable had the Lotus Blade, he saw, and his eyes widened a bit before he grinned wickedly. "Well this should be quite amusing," he said, embracing the challenge. With a monkey shriek he attacked them. Rather, he attacked Stoppable, knocking him away from the other three. He was the one who held the one thing Monkey Fist wanted, after all.

Ron cried out in alarm and fought desperately back, trying to keep Monkey Fists hands, paws, whichever, away from the blade. "Ron!" Kim exclaimed, racing to help.

Monkey Fist heard the girl approaching and rolled off Ron last second as Kim pounced. She landed on top of her buffoon boyfriend with a grunt of pain. Monkey Fist looked quickly around and spotted Yori and her brother, Hirotaka if he recalled correctly, coming at him. He knew he and his ninjas stood no chance. The students were too numerous and too good. The monkeys were flying all over the place, and this skirmish was already lost. With the element of surprise in Yamanouchi's pocket, he and his ninjas didn't have a hope in a hot place of turning the tides. He cursed them all. How could they have found him so quickly? His eyes fell upon Yori, just to his right, and in that moment he knew. It was written in her expression and posture, and revealed in her reluctance to attack despite his being in easy reach of her. She was the one who had led them here. Or at least lead them close enough that Sensei would be able to sense his general whereabouts. He scowled viciously at her and quickly removed himself from the battle.

"Monkey Ninjas retreat!" he ordered. Immediately the simians obeyed, shrieking and breaking free of their opponents. They understood the seriousness of the situation the moment those words left their master's mouth. Never did Monkey Fist order a retreat unless it was painfully obvious he stood no chance, and that in and of itself was rare, to say the least. They darted passed him obediently. He looked hatefully back one last time at the attacking ninjas, then followed his monkeys swiftly.

"He's getting away!" Ron exclaimed.

"Then we will go after him," Hirotaka replied. Immediately the ninjas scattered, leaping through the trees in pursuit of their common enemy.

KP

Monkey Fist had never been more grateful to have a plan of escape than he was now. He saw the mountain in the distance quickly coming up. He would be there in mere moments. He looked back to see the progress of the ninjas. Unfortunately, they were right behind him. He scowled and sped up, pressing on until he could no longer see them. He heard them though. They were close, but perhaps he had put just enough distance between himself and them that it would save his life. He sprang from the trees and ran to the foot of the mountain. The monkey ninjas were already heading up it. Considering his monkey hands and feet, the ascent would be no trouble for him. It was so steep, though, that no one but a monkey could make the climb without the proper gear. Ninja or not. Quickly he began to scramble up.

"Monkey Fist, stop this senseless flight. You know you will not escape!" an old voice suddenly called. He looked back with a scowl. Sensei.

"You're all bark and no bite old man!" he called defiantly back, continuing to climb. He was hoping, at least, that the man was all talk. Last he'd checked, Sensei wished no harm on anyone unless his precious school was at risk. Which it was, Monkey Fist supposed. He chuckled somewhat bitterly to himself. He continued to be the author of his own misfortune it seemed. His ninjas had reached the top of the cliff and were currently scrambling over the ledge onto solid ground. He was only seconds behind them. He paused, looking back to check on the progress of his pursuers. They were gathered at the bottom, searching for a way up. He growled in annoyance and continued. He was just about to pull himself onto solid ground when a sudden pain ripped through his side. He cried out in agony, almost slipping off the edge! Barely in the nick of time he managed to recover and grasp a rock, his right hand going to his side as he grimaced in pain. He opened his eyes to check what had hit him. An arrow he saw, and what he'd at first hoped had been a glancing blow was clearly far, far worse. He whispered a curse under his breath, gripping the arrow and pulling it out in one piece. He tossed it away and heaved himself onto solid ground before putting pressure on the wound once more, damning whatever ninja had shot him a hundred times over. Oh how he wished he knew which one it had been so he could return the favour in full. The monkey ninjas shrieked in alarm when they saw his injury, pointing at it.

"Of course it hurts! Get moving!" Monkey Fist ordered. They obeyed, but slower than usual. Clearly they were reluctant to leave their master behind in his current state. Where had that loyalty been when he'd been traipsing through this miserable jungle with Drakken and Killigan, he wryly asked himself? He huffed at the thought of his two companions and staggered quickly after his ninjas, keeping pressure on the wound.

KP

Sensei turned to the ninjas at his back. This ascent was not possible for anyone without Monkey Fist's unique features to make without the proper gear. "You must split up and find your own way up the cliff. Do not go alone. Alone you will fail." Quickly the ninjas bowed and separated. Sensei looked up the cliff once more, a melancholic expression on his face. "Forgive me, Lord Fiske, for the price I have put upon your head," he murmured. For one to face death while still in the prime of their life... It made his heart ache. Once more he had to remind himself that this was for the sake of not only Yamanouchi, but the whole world. How he wished it had not been though...