Chapter 4 [Yori's Dorm Room

While Ron held his own against Hirotaka, Yori read a book in her room and occasionally glanced over at Rufus who ate from his bowl of tortilla chips. While she was glad that Ron took challenges head on, she worried about how he'd come out of this sparring match. She glanced at her watch. It's 8:30. Where is he? She wanted to make sure he got enough rest.

Just then, her communicator went off.

She took it out of her purse and considered it for a minute. It felt strange to have it given how Kim had felt about her until recently and Sensei's usual attitude toward such things. However, both had relented to her role on the newly expanded Team Possible. Since then, it was nice to have a way to stay in touch with Rick and Kim not to mention buzz the BF when she wanted to get a hold of him.

Pressing the button, she saw Kim appear on the screen. "Hello, Kim Possible! Ron San is training with Hirotaka. Is there an emergency?"

"No big, Yori. Rick and I were called away from our date to deal with Drakken and Shego. Sorry that we didn't let you both know," Kim apologized.

"Nuts!" Rufus groused tersely.

"Sorry," Kim apologized. "For what it's worth, Rick said as much while we were on the mission."

Yori sighed, knowing how badly Ron felt about not being able to be on every mission with them. But dragging that point out would only make things worse, so she changed the subject. "Ron San's training is going very well. He is progressing quickly."

"So we've noticed," Kim concurred. "You all are doing great things with him." Then she showed concern. "Ron's really going at it with Hirotaka?"

"Hai. Hiro will take it easy on Ron San or he will answer to me," Yori affirmed while hearing Ron's footsteps coming down the hall. "He has just returned. Give us a minute." She headed across the hall and knocked on the door. "Ron San?"

"Hey. Come in," he agreed while letting her in. "It was some workout." He collapsed on the bed. "UGH!"

"I am sorry to have to ask this but would you mind coming with me? Kim Possible is waiting on my communicator," she indicated.

"Hey, that's cool," he agreed while forcing himself back up and plodding across the hall. Seeing Rufus eating there, he asked, "How are the chips?"

"Wan' some?" the mole rat offered.

"Thanks," Ron accepted while grabbing a handful and putting them on a tissue. Given how meticulous she was about things, he didn't dare leave so much as a crumb on the floor.

Seeing the duo sharing the chips (and using the tissue in the process), she allowed them a pleased smile before picking up the communicator. "My apologies for the wait, Kim Possible. Ron San is here along with Rufus San."

"This is for you to see as well, Yori," Kim indicated. "Hey, Ron, couldn't wait for the chips, could you?"

"Laugh it up, KP. Not a naco within a hundred miles of this place. The things a guy has to go through," he replied frankly.

"As Sensei says, sacrifice fortifies the soul, Ron San," Yori reminded him.

Kim winced, imagining the withdrawal that he must have been going through. "And you're okay?"

"Yeah well. Nooni's cooking's awesome…and I've volunteered to cook for the school at the end of the week. So it's no big really. How's everything with Rick?" he inquired.

She smiled and blushed. "Awesome. And you both?"

"BOO YEAH!" he cheered.

"Yeah. I think that about says it all," Kim laughed, feeling better in hearing his unique cheer. "How did the sparring match go?"

"That? No big! Hiro and I were fooling around. He taught me a few things. I got a few shots in," Ron bragged.

The two girls quirked a brow in unison at him. While they enjoyed his confidence, they also knew that Hirotaka was quite capable of kicking his ass. Still the fact that Ron could deal with Hirotaka even at half speed spoke well of his developing abilities.

"Shego might want a demo some time, Ron. She was asking about you. Oh and Drakken's latest super weapon was inspired by you too," Kim reported.

"Hey! They can deal with my Mad-Fu skills any time they want!" he insisted. Then he mulled over the last part of her summarization. "Inspired?"

"Yeah." She chuckled. "It was a corrosive goop that ate through metal, clothes or whatever. You need to see this. Rick decided to follow your sitch on this." Kim hit the playback button.

As they witnessed the goop destroying the lab, the two ninja students had a good laugh over that.

Seeing Drakken in his boxers made them laugh even louder.

"They follow in your footsteps all right, Ron San," Yori giggled.

"Hey, I haven't done that since Nakasumi. It's bondiggity awesome watching someone else lose their pants instead of me," he told them both.

"I'll bet it is. Hey, I need to get to sleep so I can be ready for work at CB tomorrow. Give my best to Sensei," Kim wished.

"Say howdy to Monique and my folks," he insisted.

"Sure. Hey, you take care. By the way, any chance that Rick and I could come by and work on our skills?" Kim wondered.

"I am sure Sensei would say yes. Let us ask him tomorrow," Yori noted.

"Hey, KP, it's awesome hearing from you. Hang in there and thanks for the update," he told her.

"It's great to talk with you too, Ron. Thanks," Kim concluded before signing off.

Ron sat in his favorite corner chair and considered his girlfriend who sat on her bed. "Domo."

"No problem, Ron San. One should never apologize for having good friends," she assured him while eyeing his posture. "He beat on you, didn't he?"

"Yori," he muttered.

Even through his gi, she could feel how tight his muscles were. "I think you need some special treatment."

Knowing what she was thinking, he took his top off and laid down on his stomach.

She worked her fingers along his back, easing the tight muscles there. "How does that feel?"

"Bondiggity awesome!" he expressed. "Domo."

"It is my pleasure, Ron San. As long as we keep it to just American style massages, I am sure Sensei will not mind."

As his muscles loosened, he allowed himself to smile. Maybe he didn't have his nacos whenever he wanted them but he had everything else.

And that wasn't half bad either……