Life wasn't a fairy-tale.

Life also wasn't one of the romance novels that she had read. Nor was it the other literature, in which the characters did a great deal of what the characters in the romance novels did, but by jumping towards certain activities while skipping a few steps and not worrying about what came afterwards.

If life was a romance novel, she would be cuddled up with her lover, snug and comfortable. Instead, it was too warm and humid to cuddle. Yesterday had been long and strenuous even before reaching the resort. As a result, she was bruised, hungry and smelled like an open sewer. She was also very happy. It hadn't been a life changing event, but it had been enjoyable to the point that she was more than interested in repeating it...after she had showered and eaten.

Yori was somewhat grateful to Camille Leon for taking the time to give Stoppable a little instruction during the mission in Middleton. She resolved to think a little less harshly of the spoiled and narcissistic shape-shifter...but only a little.

The only reason that she hadn't utilized the shower yet was that Ron...and she could think of him as Ron now...was still asleep. When Leon had performed her job in Middleton, she had left him asleep on the couch. Waking up alone, he had assumed that it had all been a dream. He wasn't going to have that happen again. When he woke up, she was going to be there. In the meantime, she found it enjoyable to watch him at rest.

There was a bit of coyness, a bit of pride, at the fact that she had worked him very hard last night but was already awake while he was still asleep. She realized that it was false pride; not only had he exerted himself a great deal more than she had last night, the jet-lag he was experiencing was more severe then hers. Still, lying here, feeling lazily content, there was no problem with indulging in a little semi-false pride. She was about to gently rouse him when he stretched, yawned, and opened his eyes.

"Good morning, Ron," she told him, emphasizing the fact that she was using his first name and no honorific.

"Good morning," he offered in return, smiling and leaning rising up towards her.

She gladly shared in the kiss, despite the fact that his breath and body odor were as horrid as hers. He broke it off suddenly, his eyes wild.

"Ron, what is wrong?" She asked, while he looked around the room in a panic, then tried to pull blankets free.

"Nothing," he gasped. Then, having no luck with the blanket, jumped up and streaked to the bathroom.

She couldn't help but giggle, grateful that the bathroom lights were connected to an exhaust fan that drowned out any sounds. Now that her attention was free to wander the suite, she noted that Rufus was watching from the living room's couch, where he had made a nest out of hand towels. After a short time, the bathroom door cracked open.

"Uh, Rufus? Ron implored his little friend. "A little help here?"

The mole rat shook his head, giggling at his human.

"In that case, Yori, could you close your eyes for a moment?" His voice sounded very nervous.

"Ron, you realize what we did last night, don't you?" She struggled to keep from laughing.

"Yeah, but...still..."

"I will grant you your privacy," she looked away from him and closed her eyes. Her sharp hearing tracked him as he left the bathroom and opened his backpack, letting Rufus know what he thought about his failure to assist him.

"Okay," he said. She looked at him to see that he was clad in boxers and pulling on his pants. When she let the sheets fall from her while she pulled on her own undergarments, he averted his eyes. She could only smile at that. While the reality of having a lover didn't match the graceful romance of literature, it seemed to more than make up for it in entertainment value.

With both of them covered somewhat, he seemed to regain his composure. His nose wrinkled upon catching his own scent, and his stomach gurgled...much like hers had been doing. Rufus grumbled something about being hungry.

"I think that a shower and breakfast are in order," Ron suggested. "Then, we can figure out what to do for three days."

She realized that despite his somewhat buffoonish ways, he was an experienced adventurer. Dealing with immediate needs had become second nature to him.

"I will shower first," she told him. "Perhaps you can look into what is available for visitors to do." Getting up, she put in an effort to sway her hips as she walked into the bathroom. She couldn't help but smile at the way his eyes were drawn to her. It felt nice to be able to see his attraction to her.

As a daughter of Yamanouchi, she did not take long to shower and put on one of the robes provided for guests. She could have taken a longer, more leisurely shower but she knew the Ron would want to clean up and she was very hungry. Stepping out of the bathroom, she again took pleasure in the way his eyes went wide upon seeing her in the short robe.

"There's a nice cafe about three blocks away," Ron told her. "I've come up with a couple of ideas, as well. Why don't we talk about them over breakfast, after I take a shower?"

"That sounds reasonable to me," she assured him, then watched, bemused, as he carefully made a blanket nest for the bag of flour he was carrying...for some reason...before he took his turn in the shower.

Once alone, except for Rufus, Yori checked the closet. As she knew there would be, there were a couple of sets of clothing waiting for her. Ron's mission gear would allow him to blend in reasonably well. This was fortunate, as there was no clothing for him. Yamanouchi's network most likely didn't have anything of the appropriate size for him. On the other hand, her own mission garb would draw too much attention. She selected some shorts and a blouse and put them on. After that, Rufus took the television remote control and was showing her the ideas that he and Ron had come up with when Ron emerged from the shower.

She decided that they would have to prioritize getting some proper clothing for him. While his mission gear was sturdy and utilitarian, it wasn't the sort of attire most would wear in a tropical resort city. In addition, it had taken a few tears from the previous day's struggles. Still, it would be good enough to see them through breakfast. Much to her confusion, he insisted on bringing his sack of flour...which he had never explained to her why he had it in the first place...with them to breakfast.

"Whoa," Ron exclaimed, as they walked to the cafe. "Check out the beach!"

Yori had to admit that the sand and the water looked very inviting.

"I was going to suggest that we rent some bikes and go on a tour," he told her. "But that beach..."

Yori needed no further convincing. Over breakfast, the two reviewed the money that Yamanouchi had put at Yori's disposal and realized that it was very generous. She also got an explanation as to why he was carrying a sack of flour with him. She was torn between rolling her eyes or laughing out loud. He noted her struggle.

"Laugh it up all you want," he told her. "But it confused Monty to no end."

He used his wrist communication unit to find a reasonably priced shop nearby and the two were soon shopping for clothing and beach accessories. Finished, they returned to their suite and changed into their beachwear. Then they were off to the beach, after she firmly demanded that he leave the flour behind.

She had heard of days like this; days that were so enjoyable that the memory could sustain you for months of hardship and privations. The two of them swam in the warm sea or lounged in the shade of a beach umbrella. Rufus was content to spend most of his time napping in the shade, but he occasionally joined them as they they played beach volleyball and threw a Frisbee with other young people. They were young, fit, and reveled in their energy. The hours flew by and when the sun lowered in the west, she realized that they had skipped lunch and were famished.

Even while they sated their hunger in a restaurant, she felt another hunger growing and looking at him, she could see that he shared in it. They somehow managed to walk sedately to their suite but once the door was closed behind them...

She woke up first the next morning, as well. This time, she wasn't famished or foul smelling and was even more content to lie back and watch her lover awaken. She looked around the room a bit, noting that Rufus was again sleeping in a hand-towel nest and that between their leaving the previous morning and returning in the evening, the housekeeping staff had placed Ron's bag of flour on top of one of the dressers. She smiled, wondering if the flour had confused the housekeeper as much as it had confused Fiske.

He woke earlier this morning than the past one, but much the same; the stretching, the stirring, then the open eyes and smile upon seeing her. Again, there was the gentle kiss, followed by a mad scramble for the bathroom. This morning was different; since he had suggested a bicycle tour the previous day, only for the stunning beach to have altered their plans, she suggested that they indulge in the previous day's plan. Of course, there was a delay. She had eaten well the previous day and didn't have the hunger that had marred the tranquility of the previous morning. Because of this, she was free to indulge in another primal need, one that he shared, and they could satiate for each other.

Was the bicycle tour really more fun than the beach had been, or was the variety of doing something else responsible for why she enjoyed it even more? She decided that it didn't matter, she was enjoying herself to the point that it was another of the days that she would long remember. Often, Rufus would ride on Ron's head, pointing the direction they should go to their next destination. Again, they were young and fit, relishing in the sights and sounds, enjoying their ability to go for hours through this city. Again, the hours flew past and before long, it was evening again.

This time, after their meal, they attended a concert on one of the beaches. She would never know if the toughs had targeted her as a pretty girl, the both of them as an obviously foreign couple, or some other reason. It didn't matter; as the two walked back to their suite, they found themselves surrounded by young men looking for trouble.

Yori did her best to not underestimate her opponents; they could easily be Yakuza agents or criminals out for revenge for one of the many plots that Ron had helped to prevent. Yet, it quickly became clear that while these young men were tough among themselves, they were no match for a daughter of Yamanouchi, or one who had become used to facing villains intent upon taking over the world. The toughs were armed with knives and clubs but it was still no contest. She and Ron sent several sprawling, and the rest fleeing. It should have been an end to their evening but somehow, the fight had primed their adrenaline. The lovemaking that night had an energy that the previous two nights had lacked.

For the third, and final day, Ron suggested a scuba diving tour. This would keep them away from the city...and members of the gang potentially looking for revenge. It was clear that he feared the gang members no more than she did; but she agreed that conflict avoided was often better than conflict won. They were at the dock just as the sun was rising.

While Ron had been scuba diving many times, he had never done so for leisure. While she was a strong swimmer, she had never gone scuba diving. Unfortunately, there was no time to make provisions for Rufus being underwater, but the faithful rat was content to stay on the surface, ostensibly to keep an eye on their belongings but in reality, napping. She enjoyed this experience immensely but the adventure only lasted for so long. All too soon, the boat was heading back to the dock. Once back, they agreed that spending more time on the beach would be fine.

The toughs didn't show up again and the two decided to spend more time lounging than being active in the water. This was fine, as it gave them more time to talk. Ron seemed a little nervous, working his way up to bringing up a subject he dreaded. Finally, he gathered his courage and proceeded.

"Yori," he finally asked. "Where does this leave us?"

"I do not understand the question," she admitted.

"I mean, what are we to each other?" He clarified. "These last two days have been great, and it's not just what we've been doing..." he broke off, making sure that there was nobody close enough to overhear them. "Not just what we've been doing in the room," he continued. "Does this mean that we're an item? Does this mean that we're together now?"

"What would you like?" She asked him, and tried to ignore how her heart was in her throat in waiting for his response.

"I want us to be an item," he told her. "But I don't know how it works out with you in Japan and me in America."

"That makes it difficult," she admitted, happy that he wanted something permanent, even if it wasn't possible. "As does the fact that I am a ninja. Each mission I face may be my last, as is every mission you face. We must seize every moment of happiness we can, for each opportunity may be our last."

"Was that what this was?" He looked crestfallen. "Grabbing what joy you could, with someone who was available?"

"Of course not!" She was offended by what he had implied. "I do not do this with just anyone! I have never done this before! I wanted to share this with someone dear to me and although I wish it could be something permanent, I have to admit that it most likely will not be so. We may see each other in a few weeks, months, years, or never."

"So, what about us?" He persisted.

"We do not know when, or if, we will see each other again," she reminded him. She felt very sad about the turn the conversation had taken; as well as the reality it reflected. "I will eagerly await any correspondence we can have while we are separated, and will even more eagerly look forward to the next time we can meet. However, should you find someone else, someone who can be with you, I ask that you be honest with me."

"You really think I'm going to drop you?" He looked honestly shocked.

"Neither of us know what the future will hold," she pointed out. "I desire you and I know that you desire me. Will that be enough? Should it mean that you cannot be with someone who wants you, and who has the ability to be with you?"

"That's not happening," Ron told her. "Even if there was a girl who thought of me in that way, there's no way I'm choosing anyone over you."

"A good answer," Yori smiled at him. "But promise that you will be honest with me, should someone else seek to claim your affection."

"No problem," he assured her. "But I want you to do the same thing. A pretty girl like you is going to draw a lot of attention. Let me know when I'm about to be replaced."

"You flatter me," she told him, but she couldn't help but smile when he called her pretty. "But rather than exchanging concerns about the future, let's make some more memories. On your feet!"

She jumped to her feet, caught his arm and dragged him to his, then towards the water. He caught on and ran with her, tackling her as they jumped into the sea. It was her first underwater kiss, with the two of them twirling about each other until the need for air brought them back to the surface. After that, it was more frolicking and playing. Eventually, Rufus joined them, gaining the intense interest of several children nearby.

Before long, and despite the fact that most of the children were not fluent in each others' language, they had hit upon a game in which Ron would swim, just below the surface, with Rufus sitting on his head. The rat would hum the iconic theme from a 1970's American film about a shark. The two would swim about a few feet from the shore, while the children grew bolder and bolder, wading out towards them, until Ron would suddenly rush at them, and pinch the toes of any he could catch. It was a silly game, the children enjoyed it immensely and it was heartwarming to watch.

As it must, the sun lowered in the west again, signaling the end of another day. The teens and the rat said their farewells to the children; and the grateful parents who's exhausted children would fall asleep early this night. Yori knew what the two would be doing upon reaching the suite and looked forward to it. Ron was aware, as well and was just as eager. By the time they reached their suite, the were moving at a quick, marching pace. Once they reached the room...

They needed a shower after being in the ocean. She learned that while there was a certain, enjoyable novelty to sharing a shower, certain activities were rather clumsy. They soon took their passion to the bed, which they soaked as in their haste, they failed to dry off from the shower. Unconcerned, once finished, they dressed and went out to dinner.

This would be their last meal together until they met again, and neither could say when that would be. They ate a proper meal and Ron impressed her by showing proper table manners when he chose to do so. Rufus was also on his best behavior. Yori didn't know if the staff considered him a service animal, an emotional support animal, or they were simply amused at the rat's behavior. It did not matter, their server took great delight is serving the little fellow, and Rufus was very polite to the person who brought him food. Finished, they took their time walking back to their lodging.

It was a nearly full moon, so they set their path along the beach. The warm night air felt wonderful, with a breeze coming off of the ocean. The sound of the surf and the silvery light made it seem magical, even though several other people, many of them couples like themselves, were about. Yori didn't care, to her, it was just the two of them. Eventually, they wound their way back to the suite.

The bed was soaked and most uncomfortable so they utilized the fold out couch. Their needs had been satisfied earlier, so they were content to simply lie close to one another with Rufus between them, whispering their affection until they eventually drifted off to sleep.

She had never understood the need to display affection publicly before this mission. While most of her missions had been in her native Japan, and the Japanese tended to be more reserved about such things, she had seen her share of such displays. She had always considered them to be base examples of people having no control of their emotions. Now, she knew differently. His transportation, a commercial plane, left before hers did. As a passenger on an international flight, he had to be checked in early and she couldn't accompany him beyond the security point. Before he got to that point, she pulled him in for one, last kiss. Was this why those couples she had seen previously demonstrated such a base desire in public? Was it the need to feel his mouth on hers, the need to feel his body pressed against hers one last time, to sear the sensation into her memory so that it would stay with her when he was not? She didn't care that others were looking at them, with expressions ranging from disapproval, to amusement, to fondness. This was her moment, to make a memory and make sure that he remembered her.

She took great satisfaction in the way he stumbled towards the security check, dazed as if he had taken a beating from Lord Fiske. For her part, she firmly turned and walked out of the airport, less than graceful herself.

She had been tempted to tell him the truth about "their" encounter after the Middleton Days Festival, but chose not to. Hana was being raised as his sister, which was close enough for familial affection. As for Leon; she contented herself with petty theft and espionage, not the sort of offenses that caught the attention of Kim Possible, so what were the odds that Ron would encounter her again?

It had been a wonderful interlude but the fairy-tale had come to an end and it was time to once again become a daughter of Yamanouchi.

This was far from the first time he had looked back at his recent past and mentally kicked himself for what he had done.

It wasn't that he had regrets over what he and Yori had done; he had regrets that he had let it take over every waking moment of the past three days. Everything had been so wonderful, the fun during the days, the passion at night, even the fight against the young toughs had been fun in its own way. The only problem was that for all that time, his homework assignments had been building up and he hadn't done anything about them. Now, sitting on a commercial plane with his wrist communicator in his hand, Wade was making sure he understood just how much he would have to work to catch up.

He surprised himself by caring about it.

It didn't hurt that Wade was more than happy to act as a tutor and that Rufus was more than willing to make sure that he kept working on the matter at hand. It was a very, very long trip to get back home, so something to keep his mind occupied was actually welcome. It didn't explain why he suddenly started to care about his grades. Finishing an English assignment, he asked Rufus for a few minutes break, then thought about things.

He always had been concerned a little bit about his grades; mainly to keep his folks off of his neck and to keep the teachers from yelling at him. Last school year, it had finally started to sink in that lousy grades would mean fewer options for him after graduation but now he was actually concerned about his grades because he wanted to do well.

Did a few days with Yori actually make that much of a difference? Why hadn't it made a difference back during the Middleton Days Festival? Ron admitted that he wasn't one for being able to analyze a situation very well, but he thought that this was important. Maybe it wasn't what they had done at night, as great as it was, but what they had done during the days. Just having someone like Yori; smart, beautiful and capable actually wanting to be with him, actually wanting him, was what was doing this for him.

Even if there was something off about the whole sitch that he just couldn't quite figure out.

Was this what motivation was like?

Well, if this was motivation, he liked it.

Rufus didn't have to prompt him, he plunged into Trigonometry. After that was Civics. He was on such a roll that the flight attendant had to interrupt him and tell him it was time for the meal. Finished with his food, he plunged into Physics. Done with his homework, Wade scared up some footage of Eastside High's football games from last year and Ron went over it, figuring out where he would have to be and what he would have to do for each play.

This motivation stuff was really great; for the first time since he could remember, he really had a plan that didn't involve following Kim around. Thinking further, he realized that this was nobody's fault but his own. It had become such second nature to him to wait for her to do something and then follow her lead that he hadn't really done anything for himself, all through high school. Even taking up football had been a way to quit thinking about her. Well, here he was now, he was going to knuckle down and make something of himself.

If Yori thought he was worth the effort, who was he to say no?

Another painful, humiliating loss to the pretender. To the buffoon. To the joke.

Where his back wasn't bruised, it was lacerated...except for those spots that were both bruised and lacerated. Looking back at his latest struggle, he was forced to admit that he had been losing to Stoppable, even with his monkeys' help, before the ninja wench showed up and slammed him into the rough mountainside. He was a master of Monkey Kung-fu, eliminating Stoppable should have been easy, even if the dolt had brought a bag of flour to the fight.

Admittedly, he didn't understand how that had motivated the teen, but he was determined to find out.

As an archaeologist, he was used to being thorough; and being injured, he had plenty of time to think. So, he applied his intellect to the issue that he faced with Ron Stoppable by going over the interactions he had suffered with the boy. It was clear that the boy's mastery of the Mystical Monkey Power was tenuous at best...in fact, if there was someone nearby to fight for him he barely exhibited any skill at all. Yet, in preventing him from gaining the last key...and he had been so close...the boy had proven highly capable.

One of his monkeys chattered at him, asking him to look at a screen.

"I don't know why I let you talk me into recording this mission," he told the small primate. "Reviewing success is pleasant but reviewing failure is hardly enjoyable."

The monkey chattered at him some more.

"Perhaps you're right," Fiske admitted. "Reviewing may not be pleasant, but may be educational. Show me what you are so excited about."

The monkey's paws were very dexterous, flicking the screen through several photos of the action at the yellow temple.

"So, it would appear that Stoppable is exhibiting some monkey characteristics," Fiske noted. "This isn't one of the Mystical Monkey Power's effects, so where did they come from. I cannot believe that a monkey-phobic boy would embrace such change willingly."

More chitters, and now some photos of the boy on a beach with the same Yamanouchi wench that he had partnered with to prevent Fiske from gaining the keys.

"So they seem to be enjoying each other," Fiske sneered at his monkey. "That's hardly the sort of information I was hoping for when you volunteered to trail him after the debacle at the red temple."

The monkey answered with an offended squeak, then pointed forcefully at a portion of the screen before expanding it.

"Ah, the boy wears a sort of wading shoe when at the beach," Fiske noted. "And all of the photos you took of him show him wearing some sort of footwear that cover up this transformation. Very good, my small friend, you picked up on something I missed."

He was still in pain, still incapable of action for several weeks, at least. However, the fact that Stoppable was experiencing a transformation, and was trying to conceal it, allowed the chance for a bit of petty revenge

A/N: Yet again, my thanks to Joe Stoppinghem for his beta reading.

Additionally, I've not had any luck getting ff to send alerts to my email account. I don't know what I did...if anything...but since I started on this story, I'm not getting alerts about reviews, my followed or fav'd stories being updated, or PMs. I'm still working on it but the point of this little rant is to let you know that if I don't reply to a review of this or another tale of mine, that's why.

Until next time, as always, best wishes to all.

daccu65