Here it is everyone. The chapter that took…well…a few months to get done, but I still got it done. I hope y'all will enjoy it!
For those of you who've haven't seen this story in a while, yeah I finally came up with a better name for this series. That's right, I'm going to say series. I'm already past the 20-Chapter mark and I've still got a lot to go.
Chapter 19: A Wonderful Dinner
Ron was in shock.
He could've expected a lot of things in the past. Getting beat up by jocks and bullies. Being ignored by girls. Being designated as the distraction on missions with his former best friend. Also, he could've expected himself to do a good job on the rare occasions he had to "step up." But this was one of the last things he could never ever expect.
Here he was, in his room. His small room as he saw what was before him. It was a pot of what appeared to be a mixture of macaroni noodles, spaghetti sauce and beef and on a plate it appeared to be a mountain of strawberries. Besides Mexican food, he really did love eating strawberries, and with whipped cream? Gotta love 'em! There's no way to go wrong with it. And there was a teapot filled with Herbal Tea. How could you go wrong with something as delicious as the meal ahead of him? Of course the herbal tea was expected, and maybe the strawberries. But since when did Yori manage to get a hold of whip cream? How in the world did she learn how to make something so good?
"Are you surprised?"
Ron snapped out of his trance as he looked at the cook of this appeasing meal. She wasn't looking too shabby herself! Actually she looked sexy, too sexy! She was dressed in only white stockings and lace panties, save for an apron that covered everything that needed to be covered. He didn't think that she'd own something like this, much less dress like this for him. 'What if Sensei found out that she had something like this in her room?' He figured that he wouldn't be too please that she owned something as sexy as this. But for now, all he could only do at this moment, was respond, "You look beautiful!"
"I am honored that you believe so." She said. "Please, sit down…"
Ron nodded as he carefully sat down, now taking his time to decide which he was going to eat first. Was he going to eat the pasta or was he going to have the strawberries first with or without the whipped crea-
Ron was snapped out of his thoughts as he felt an arm being hooked into Yori's. When he felt her head lean to his shoulders, he began to sweat. Sure, he liked her, but how much did he really like her? Nevertheless, he couldn't say that he didn't like the feeling. 'I could get used to this…'
"Are you going to eat?" She asked, her head against his shoulders.
Ron shook his head, now remembering the food she had prepared as he went to grab a small wooden bowl that was next to the steel pot before picking up a wooden spoon to get some of the mixture of beef, tomato sauce, and noodles into his bowl. Next, he grabbed a plastic fork. Again, he wondered if Sensei even knew that she had forks, pots, everything he was seeing in front of him? "I just have one question…" He started. "How did you-"
"Manage to get all of this?" She finished for him.
"Yeah…"
"At the store, where else?" She smiled as a loud "Duh" came to his mind. It's not like she would "borrow" a few pots and pans from the school. Then again, Ron thought about Yori tricking him during their little duel by pretending to be hurt. "But are you going to eat?"
With his fork, he gathered a small amount of food as he went to place it in his mouth. As he began to chew, he closed his eyes as he began to taste the contents that were now in his mouth.
Yori looked on, worry clearly shown on her face. This was the first time she had ever made an "American-Style" meal…well, for anyone else. In the past she had made meals for herself and tried them in private. The first time when making steak, it didn't turn out so well as she placed a bit too much seasoning and made it unbearable for eating. Next, she had tried baking a cake, but not only did the cake fell apart, but when she tried it, or what was left of it rather… let's just say that it gave the word "bittersweet" new meaning. And now…
"Tasty, cooked just right, a bit spicy…" Ron critiqued before giving a smile. "I am one satisfied customer!"
Yori let out a giggle. He liked it! "So I guess I'm a good cook?"
"You're pretty good!" He let out a smile before asking. "Can you make anything else?"
This caused Yori to blush with embarrassment, as it brought back memories of her failed dishes. "I…"
"Don't worry. I'll help!" He offered. "I mean you basically saved me during my first time here it's only right I do the same for you!" He grinned. "But first we'll start small. We'll start by making cold cuts!"
Yori playfully punched him. "I'm not that bad!"
"We'll see about that. After all, an ocean was like a stream! So we start small, then we move on to the big leagues…if you're good enough."
After a few moments of pouting, she grinned. "Very well… but you will keep your word. I will see to that!"
"Don't worry…I will." Ron assured as the two proceeded to eat, each grabbing one strawberry before dipping it into the whipped cream. As Ron went to eat the now-covered bit of fruit, he took at glance at Yori, more particularly how she ate her strawberry. Instead of just pealing off the stem and place it in her mouth, she just place the tip onto the tip of her tongue. As her tongue scooped up the cream off of the fruit, it appeared that Yori wasn't eating it. Either this was the way she usually eat them, albeit weird, or she was doing this on purpose, just to tease him. Ron's suspicions were further confirmed to be the latter when she began to move her tongue rapidly on the strawberry, as he saw her eyes roll towards him. It was official: Yori was now teasing him. Ron did do the only thing he could do…
He froze… became perfectly stiff as he face turned beet red…Ron went into Hormone Overload…
On the PlaneA sigh came from the cerulean-eyed girl as she clutched the armrests near her chair. Tara had never fly in first class before. In fact, she never even took a plane as a means of travel, as she was afraid of them. It was all because of a movie she saw when she was only six. The first time she ever saw an airplane was when it was being shown plummeting down to the ground. She couldn't remember what the title of the movie was but at the time she didn't even care. She never wanted to see an airplane again, much less the movie that showed that horrifying sight. Cue her fear of airplanes. The tragic event on 9/11 didn't exactly make a good impression about airplanes on her either. At that point, she swore off anything and everything that remotely had anything to do with airplanes. Too bad she never gave Bonnie or Felix the memo, let alone before today.
Tara was thankful that the cheer squad, and her family for that matter, never decided on going on trips that required an airplane as a means of travel. But when anyone even remotely considers flying, it was excuse time. "Don't you think that it'd be cheaper if we took the train?" "Airplanes are a high source of air pollution, ya know!" "Y'know, I always wanted to go on a cruise." Just to name a few. But now she was forced to take the only option available to them if they were going to make it in time to warn Ron about Monkey Fist, even if she was scared to death of them. Bonnie and Felix already had a hard time just getting her on the plane.
Back at the Airport, 45 minutes ago…Tara was seated on a blue bench, legs crossed and a carryon bag in another hand. Worry and fear were evident on her face as she looked to her friends. Bonnie, of course wasn't worried. After all, she did mention that she used to ride first class all the time… or so she said. Felix wasn't as worried as well, neither was Rufus for that matter. As Bonnie and Felix were, more or less, cuddling trying to keep it under PG level (Especially for Felix's sake), Rufus was seated on her lap as he looked up to the worried blonde.
"We're just about to leave for Tokyo, y'know…" She said to the hairless rodent.
"Uh-huh, Uh-huh!" He replied with a smile.
"We're just about to go on the airplane, y'know…"
"Uh-huh, Uh-huh!"
"Well…did you know that we're going to be over a million feet in the air?" She asked, fear being more evident in her voice than before.
"Yep! Sky-high!" He chirps.
Tara sighed before looking towards the young couple. "Bonnie, Felix, don't you think that Ron can handle himself? I mean, I wanna get to him before that Monkey guy does. But I don't think that he's in that much of a hurry."
The brunette girl raised an eyebrow. "Tara, we know that we can't just stall. Every second we waste, every second Ron's closer to his death."
"Bon's gotta point. Knowing how Ron-man's like with monkeys, he's really gonna need all the help he can get." Felix added.
"But…couldn't Wade have gotten us a train, or a boat? A nice, luxurious, safe, cruise boat!" Tara suggested as the brunettes began to notice what should've been obvious from the start: Tara was afraid, scared out of her mind.
"Tara, don't tell me that you're afraid of heights!" Bonnie said sternly. "You've been on so many pyramids that I lost count, and I doubt that you could've done all of that while being afraid to be off the ground."
"It's not that I'm afraid of heights!" She said defiantly to both of them before whimpering. "Just airplanes…"
"What? And you're telling us this now?" Bonnie nearly snapped as Felix sighed. They were only a few minutes away from boarding and now they find out that Tara King had a phobia for airplanes? Seriously, what the hell? "What, you think the plane's going to crash or something?"
"Look Tara, the plane's not going to crash! These days, they're a whole lot safer than the old ones!" Felix explained as Tara shook her head.
"No!"
"I promise ya, we're not going to have any problems. The most we'll have to deal with is turbulence!"
"First it starts with turbulence! Then engine failure! Then the hard plummet down to our doom!" Tara said.
"Tara, the plane's not going to crash!" Felix assured as Rufus nodded in agreement.
"Yeah! No crash, no crash!"
"We are now boarding flight 138, non-stop to Tokyo! At this time, we request that only the passengers seated in First Class please report to aisle D14 at this time! I repeat, will the passengers seated in First Class please report to aisle D14 at this time!"
"That's us…" Bonnie sighed as she looked towards her best friend. "Look Tara, getting these tickets wasn't easy at all, let alone those that let us sit in first class. And I am not going to let you ruin it for the rest of us!"
"Bon, are you being a bit-"
She cut Felix off. "We're ready to go and Tara tells us this at the last minute? THE LAST FUCKING MINUTE?" She screamed as Tara whimpered again. Bonnie just sighed. "Look, just go on the plane and I'll make it up to you."
"No!" The blonde said harshly.
"Look, remember that outfit you liked so much at the mall. I promise I'll get it fo-"
"No!"
Felix gave a try at negotiating with the blonde. "Okay Tara, go on the plane and I promise I'll-"
"No!"
"Damn it Tara, what is it that you want?" Bonnie was just about to get a migraine from Tara's attitude. They were just called up to board and Tara was slowing them down.
Tears began to fall from her eyes as Tara looked desperately at the two before curling herself into a ball. "…Pleasedontmakemegoontheplane…" They just had to understand how she felt. Maybe Ron, as worried as she was about him, would be okay. And it's not as if Wade would have trouble getting them a ride on a boat to Japan! After all, her two friends weren't cruel to make Tara suffer. Well…Bonnie at times could be cruel, but she wasn't that cruel to the extreme of making her live out her worst fears, right? …Right?
Bonnie and Felix were at a crossroads. On one hand, they basically had only one means of transportation, let alone one that was basically a one-time deal and Tara was basically holding them up, and more importantly throwing away a sure chance of making it to Japan on time before it was too late. On the other hand, Tara was afraid of planes, for one reason or another, and to force her to go on would be cruel… What would they decide to do?
…
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" Tara screamed as she broke from the clutches of her so-called friends as she quickly made a run for it from the walkway. There was no way in hell she was going to get on that plane!
"Damn it, Tara…" Bonnie, rubbing the hand Tara, much to their shock, bit to break her hold, ran after her as Felix rolled behind. "You're really starting to piss me off!"
"We're going to get left behind…" Felix reminded.
"Okay then Felix, you have that Cyber-robotic technology! Use it!"
'I hate to do this, Tara. But it's for your own good!' Felix said as the two tentacles shot from his chair.
The scared blonde took a sigh of relief as she saw that freedom was only a few steps away in the form of the door that led back to the lobby. If she made it, she wouldn't have to get on that damn airplane, and stay nice and safe on the ground. However, before her white sneaker could even be five inches away from the hinge of the door, two cyber-robotic tentacles grabbed her arms as they then lifted it up as she screamed.
"You led me to this, Tara." Felix said as he rolled towards the plain, with Bonnie following him. After Tara bit her, she felt absolutely no remorse for what they're putting her through. Basically, with all of her kicking and screaming, she was basically embarrassing her, Felix, and herself. All three of them! Well…four of them if you counted Ron's rodent. Speaking of kicking and screaming…
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" Tara screamed as her legs flailed in her desperate, yet futile attempt to escape. Since she was wearing a jean skirt, if anyone was behind them, they could get a brief glance of her pink panties as Tara desperately tried to break the robotic arms off. Bonnie and Felix just sighed. It was best to let Tara wear herself out from the little tantrum she was giving right now so it'll be at least easier to get her to stay in her seat and put her seatbelt on.
Back on the PlaneTara still felt guilty over biting Bonnie, but hopefully she'd understand. After all, wouldn't you do whatever you could to prevent your worst fears from being realized? Speaking of worst fears being realized, her thoughts went to Ron and his new life. The main problem, personally, wasn't what Ron was doing, but what who was he doing thing with? But why should she feel worried at all? After all, the only girl that Ron could possibly be with is another girl who's somewhat like Kim, right? On second thought, after all that has happened lately, Kim was the last person Ron probably wanted to think about, let alone have a relationship with. But that still didn't eliminate the fact that he could have some Japanese hussy following around him. One with long, flowing black hair, dark eyes, wearing one of those sailor uniforms she constantly sees in modern Japanese stereotypes, or even one of those Idol outfits Hope probably brought during her trip. She was probably sweeter than the sweetest of candy in the world and has a heart of pure gold. She may've appeared to be sweet, naïve, and innocent, but she was probably some fake, gold-digging skank who's probably after "gaijin gold."
Tara stopped her thoughts as another came to mind. Why was she thinking this way? Why was she basically judging a girl who, as much as she knew or not, depending on how you look at it, probably didn't exist? After all, it wasn't as if she, herself, wasn't cute, pretty, or most importantly desirable. She was one of the most sought-after girls in Middleton High. But then again, that was probably because of her "virgin cheerleader" status. A trivial race to see who can be the first one to "break her in," as they say. She tensed at the thought of being nothing more than a trophy, a conquest, an accomplishment for the pop and jocks at the school! She was more than just a piece of ass to the boys. Did they even think about getting to know each other? Such as what was her favorite color? What was her favorite past time? What were her dreams, her goals! Even ask her how her day was! It's no use talking to them either they wouldn't listen. They're probably too occupied in their own world planning their next move to see what was going on. It was guys like them that made her sometimes wish she were a lesbian. If only they were more caring, understanding, and at least listen to what she was saying. If only they cared about her, instead of her body. If only they were a little like…Ron….
"Penny for your thoughts?" Bonnie asked her, sitting from her left. Since there were only two seats on each side per row, Bonnie decided that Tara needed some girl talk on the way. And Felix? He didn't mind as he found a young man who turned out to frequent some robot rumble event as before she knew it, they were talking as if they were life-long friends. She'd be lying if she said that it didn't hurt her a little that he'd spend the entire flight thinking about and playing his Nintendo DS with his new friend then wanting to do other things…like spend some time in the lavatory together.
"I'm just thinking about when we get there." Tara admitted. "After this whole Monkey Fist deal is dealt with, what's going to happen between us and Ron?"
"Tara, you're being paranoid – again!" Bonnie sighed. "Look, if anyone, I should be the one who's nervous in seeing Ron. After all, I wasn't exactly his friend for the last few years. At least you and Felix are at least on good terms with him."
"But what if…" Tara couldn't say it. The words were there, but they wouldn't come out. It was as if it would crush her if they left her lips. "What if he doesn't want to go back to his old life? What if he doesn't…want to come back to Middleton?" She asked as a tear began to come out of her eyes. A tanned hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I promise you, within every breath in me, I'll make sure that Ron Stoppable thinks twice before even considering to think about what he'd be missing out on if he doesn't come back to Middleton. After all…" A grin formed on her face. "We still have that makeover to do."
Tara nodded. There was still the makeover she had to go through, but she was worried about how much her appearance will change. She wanted to add a bit of sex appeal to her, but she didn't want to change into something that she was clearly not either. Tara would just have to wait and see if the makeover she would soon get would be the one for her.
Back in JapanTotal silence…
That would be the most perfect thing to describe this situation right now, as a certain blonde ninja was frozen, not physically but mentally. His hormones have gotten the better of him. It was rough enough that he was actually that close to her. Now she was tempting him. Trying to make him aroused! This was very new to him indeed. Ron didn't know what to do! This closeness with a girl, this romantic evening, everything was so new to him. And why the hell did his neck feel so cold all of a sudden?
He turned around as he saw his current "date" for the evening. One hand on his thigh, while another was on a cube of ice that was now on the back of his neck!
"Are you alright?" She asked him.
He shook his head. "It's nothing…it's…" He sighed. "This is still something to get used to."
"Do you not enjoy it?"
"Of course I enjoy it. This makes me feel… relaxed…wanted… I don't ever want to lose this feeling."
"And you'll never will." She said as she moved behind him. Placing her hands on his shoulders. As she massaged them, he let out a soft moan. "Do you enjoy this?" She asked.
With a nod, he replied. "It's an interesting thing. For a long time, I've always been looked down on. Being treated like dirt, nobody ever giving you any respect. Even my best…well…former best friend, at times, appeared to not think much of me. Soon after, I began to believe that myself… Even when it appeared that I could finally do something excellent, something that gave me the respect I've been craving for, it all fell apart. After I found out about her betrayal, it made me realize that I could do something well. That I could do something that'll get me the respect of my peers. And now that I'm here, people see me as someone who can become a success. Someone who can become great one day! That emptiness I've been feeling all those years ago deep down, that part of me has finally been filled."
A tear came out from Ron eyes as he sighed before looking at the object of his affections. "Deep down, I always knew that I could do it. I could become good at something. Somehow I've forgotten that. I've realized this now. And I have you to think, Yori."
Yori let out a small smile. But she was still unsure. She had feelings for Ron and she was ready to act out upon them. But the problem was did he feel the same way about her? She could feel a bond between them. It wasn't as if he rejected her feelings towards him, but she knew how oblivious he could be, and if she made her move, he would be in shock, fear, and even, Kami forbid, distance himself from her.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked her, as he noticed tears coming out from her eyes. He took a finger and placed it on the sparkling drop before tasting it. "Even your tears are sweet." This comment didn't do him any good, as it just made the tears come out even more.
"I'm fine…it's just…" Yori sighed. "I'm afraid…"
"Afraid of what?" Ron asked. Something was wrong with Yori. This was supposed to be a nice night between the two of them, and now Yori was…crying?"
"I'm afraid that what I'm about to do will… will dishonor you."
"What could you possibly do that'll make me-" Ron's lips was stopped as another pair were placed on his. After a few moments, Ron eyes were wide as Yori turned around.
"I… I'm sorry. It just that… I like you, okay?" She said, not showing her face towards him. She was too ashamed to do so after kissing him like that. "I have always had feelings for you, but I've always felt…"
"Afraid that I'd turn you down and break your heart?" He finished for her, completely understanding where she was coming from. Rejection was never a good thing, no matter how sugar-coated it may seem. With a nod from her, it was then replied. "Yori… I like you too…"
This made her eyes widen a bit at hearing this response. While it was true that she knew that he showed somewhat of an interest in her, Yori also suggested that Ron, despite all that has happened, still had feelings for Kim. After all, it wasn't simple to just forget about someone who you've been with for nearly a decade, no matter what has happened. "You do?"
He nodded. "I do. Before then, I thought that I wouldn't be able to like…no… love anyone else. There was one person that I'd consider those feelings, but the damage had already been done. She probably wouldn't want me anyway after what I've done, and who could blame her? She basically begged me to stay and I had to screw it up. But I've moved on now. And I've found someone who I'd like to spend the rest of my life with… And that person is you, Yori." Ron suddenly felt Yori on him with a hug as she buried her face into his chest. He could hear her cries in Japanese, but they were filled with happiness and joy, rather than sadness and regret. It was then when she finally said to him…
"Ron-San…"
"Yeah Yori?" He asked.
"Will you… Make love to me?"
Ron nodded, knowing exactly where this would lead. Honestly, he had never even had a girlfriend before, let alone made it this far. He might have not been cool enough to experience it, but it doesn't mean that he didn't know what went down. He'd seen it in movies and magazines, so he already has some idea. The truth is that it wasn't something that could be learned from a video or magazine. It was something that took experience. "Okay…" He said as their open lips became closer before joining together once more.
As the two kissed, their tongues rubbed together as their hands were placed at each other's waist. Ron's hands went to the tie of Yori's apron as with a pull of the two strands, the knot was undone. Yori was gently placed on her back as Ron crawled towards her. "Of course you know if we do this, this changes everything."
Yori nodded. "I know, and I will have no regrets." She said as she kissed him again, leaving Ron to pull up the apron overhead, leaving her in her stockings and socks.
Ron took this time to look at her near-nude form, this time in a more favorable circumstance than last time. She really did look beautiful. Her body was shaped nicely with toned muscles, and her legs were pretty long, as well. The only thing he could hope right now was that there wouldn't be that much, if any, screaming tonight. The last thing they needed was to draw an audience. True, he wasn't sure on Yamanouchi's policy on PDA, but he wasn't in any mood to find out the hard way. Nevertheless, Ron, now on top of Yori, bend down and gave her another passionate kiss as a leg was wrapped around his waist…
Back on the Plane
Tara moaned in agony, almost to the point of crying as her head was buried into her arms, which were placed on the foldable tray as Bonnie just sighed.
"Don't worry Tara, Ron's not going anywhere!" Bonnie sighed. "We'll be there before you know it!"
Whew… I thought I'd never get this chapter done, but I did. Next chapter, it's the next day as the gang finally arrives in Japan.
