Disclaimer: Nope, don't own any of the KP characters from the series. They belong to Disney. A few of the bit players are mine. This epic, along with the rest of my writing career is, unfortunately, a non-profit operation.
Chapter 4 - Questions and Answers
The plane now landing began its journey nearly 12 hours earlier at a private airport in northern Japan. A few hours prior to takeoff, the Sensei of Yamanouchi School summoned his chosen successor to his quarters. When she arrived, he began, "Yori-chan, earlier today the Lotus Blade disappeared for a short time, then returned. I believe the Chosen One called it and I believe this is the sign we have awaited.
Go to him, find how the blade came to him and what use he made of it. Possible-san is with him. You must speak with her as well, earn her trust, and find out what she knows of the battle. I know this may be difficult for you, but it must happen if we are to help Stoppable-san achieve his destiny."
"I have accepted the truth of his destiny and mine. What you wish will be done, Sensei," Yori replied. "It shall be my honor." The young ninja bowed to her mentor, and then hurried to her quarters to pack for the trip. As she packed, memories of the not too distant past crept unbidden into her mind.
Monkey Fist had disappeared over the bridge, followed by DNAmy. Yori struggled to maintain her composure. Why did SHE have to come? This was supposed to be her chance to convince the Chosen One to return to Yamanouchi. But SHE had to spoil it all.
"So what's the deal with you and Stoppable-san?" her red haired rival asked.
"A bond of honor," she replied. She gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek when part of her yearned for much more. Then she followed Sensei up the ladder to the helicopter that would take them back to Japan.
Looking down as the helicopter departed, she watched Kim put her arm around Ron's shoulder as they began their trek across the bridge. She tried to choke back her tears, but could not. "Why, Grandfather?" she asked Sensei. "She can not be the one of the prophecy. She does not see him as a warrior. She treats him as a fool. She is not worthy of him. Why can he not see?"
"But he does see, Yori-kun," Sensei replied. "He is her strength much as you wish to be his. She, in turn is his inspiration. This is something I did not realize until I saw them together. There is a bond between them, which I believe began when they were very young. I must consult the ancient texts when we return to Yamanouchi. I believe my reading of the prophecy may have been incorrect. I am most sorry because my error has caused you pain."
Yori forced the memory from her consciousness. It was a great disappointment when after weeks of research Sensei told her what he now believed to be the true meaning of the prophecy heralding the return of the Chosen One. Such was destiny, and one must accept destiny.
Once she had everything ready for her trip, she told Sensei she was leaving then took the back way out, down the elevator to where a car waited to take her to the airfield.
KPKPKPKPKPKPKP
Yori descended from the plane wearing a formal kimono, something neither teen had seen during their previous encounters. As Ron approached, she bowed more deeply than normal. "Greetings, Stoppable-sama. I have been given the honor of escorting you and Possible-san back to Middleton."
"Hey, Yori, good to see you. Sensei sent you? Ron asked.
"Hai. Sensei wishes to know the details of your recent battle," she replied. "You, I and Possible-san will discuss that and other things during the flight to Middleton."
"Four goons is hardly a battle," Ron laughed.
"But you called the Lotus Blade. Sensei wishes to know what happened," Yori responded.
Despite several missions together, Kim still felt uncomfortable with the attention Ron paid Yori. 'I am so not jealous,' she told herself, as she interrupted saying, "Excuse me, but I could use a little help getting on the plane." Ron turned to her and smiled, then picked her up and carried her up the steps to the plane. Yori followed. The three sat at one of the tables sharing lunch while the plane was prepared for takeoff. They had just finished eating when the pilots return and began their preflight checks. Moments later they were on the way to Middleton.
Once the jet was in the air, Yori took a seat opposite Ron and asked about his actions and the use of the blade. "Honestly, I have no idea how the blade got there," he replied. "We were outnumbered and couldn't escape. We had nothing but our wits and skills to defend ourselves from Dementor's men. Part of me knew we were going down, but I had to protect Kim and the fusion generator. There was a weird feeling of power, just like the first time I held the blade, and then it was in my hand." Ron went on to detail everything he remembered until he woke in the hospital.
Yori asked a few questions. When they finished, Ron leaned his seat back and was soon sound asleep. Kim realized she had not taken her eyes off the two during the entire conversation. Despite Yori proving herself a valuable ally on several occasions, she was not pleased that the young ninja girl would be with them all the way to Middleton. 'Strange,' she thought to herself. 'I trust this girl with my life, why not around my boyfriend.'
Moving to the seat next to Kim Yori began, "Possible-san, there are things I must tell you and things I must learn from you."
"Whatever," Kim responded, bowing to the inevitable.
Sensing Kim's discomfort, Yori spoke, "You and I travel different roads, but our paths will cross many times. It would be better if we could meet as friends. My presence makes you uncomfortable, but it should not. You have your destiny, I have mine"
"So where do you fit in all this? And why is Ron now Stoppable-sama?" Kim asked, relaxing a little.
"To answer your second question first, he is the Chosen One. By calling the Lotus Blade to serve him in battle he has become first among the Yamanouchi ninja. When speaking of him one must show proper respect. To the second question, it is the destiny of our clan to serve and support him so that the prophecy may be fulfilled. Beyond that he and I share the bond of honor that exists between all Yamanouchi ninjas. And he is a friend."
"Which prophecy? There seem to be so many," Kim inquired with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"This prophecy speaks of the one who shall again command the mystical monkey power. When Sensei first learned of Stoppable-sama's exposure to the power he was skeptical. The exchange program was arranged to bring him to Yamanouchi to determine if he was indeed the one mentioned in the prophecy. When the Lotus Blade responded to him, Sensei knew at least part of the prophecy was true."
"Go on," Kim interjected.
"At the time the mystical monkey power was captured in the four statues, it was written, "Only when the world faces grave danger shall the statues surrender their power. In a time of great peril a Child of the Dragon and the Heir of Toshimiru together shall wield the power of light in a great battle against darkness." Stoppable-sama was born in 1988, the year of the Dragon. Sensei and I are among the few known descendants of Toshimiru."
"So the prophecy puts you and Ron together?" Kim asked, trying to remain calm.
Despite herself, Yori found she was enjoying how the idea tweaked Kim. A small frown crossed her lips as she continued, "so Sensei first believed. After seeing the two of you together, he began to have doubts. Following the unfortunate affair with Monkey Fist and DNAmy, Sensei went deeper into the history of our family. He discovered that a young woman of our line married a Dutch merchant in Nagasaki during the early days of the isolation. They had a son and a daughter together. When it became necessary for the merchant to return home, his wife could not bear to leave Japan. She told her husband show their son the world of his fathers. She would wait in Nagasaki with their daughter for their return.
On the voyage home the father was taken ill and died. When the ship reached Holland, the son found himself alone and an outcast because of his mixed blood. He stayed in Rotterdam long enough to settle his father's affairs then set out for New Amsterdam to seek his fortune. He became a successful merchant like his father, married and raised a family. Eventually one of his descendants met and married Stoppable-sama's father."
"So that makes Ron an heir of Toshimiru. But it doesn't take you out of the picture. All three of us were born in 1988."
"Hai, but I was born in early January, in the year of the Hare. Possible-san, you are the Child of the Dragon mentioned in the prophecy. The one who will become the consort of the Chosen One. It is your destiny."
"And if I don't believe in destiny?" Kim asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You could always refuse. There may be others willing to accept the honor," Yori replied. As Kim glared at her a small smile crossed her lips as she added, "Hirotaka has spoken of one named Bonnie…."
"So not going to happen. He's mine, thank you very much."
Yori shook her head, continuing, "When I first told you of Stoppable-sama's great service to the Yamanouchi School you were skeptical. He appears to fear many things, but fear does not keep him from the battle. Until now although he possesses mystical monkey power he has made little use of it. When asked, he will laugh and tell you 'it comes and goes,' but it is always there, waiting until he needs it. The Lotus Blade amplifies and focuses the power of its' master but it is only a tool. The Chosen One first carried the blade to defeat Monkey Fist and return the blade to Yamanouchi, where it laid waiting until yesterday when he claimed its power. I am here because Sensei wishes to know exactly what happened up on that mountain. Please tell me everything you remember from yesterday."
Kim described the entire ordeal, ending with the arrival of the rescue team, including the ways Ron and Rufus used the blade. "This is the weird part," she continued. "I woke up on the ledge and it was like I could hear Ron telling me he was coming and everything would be OK. And I caught hints of what he was doing along the way. Then, at the shelter, it was like he came into my head and told me what to do. When it was over and he collapsed, something was suddenly missing. I felt completely alone."
"This has happened before?" Yori asked.
"Not that I noticed," Kim replied. "But now that I think about it, sometimes on a mission, when Ron and I are separated, it's like I know what he's doing, even when I can't see him. And when we work together, sometimes I know what he's going to do before he does it. I figured that was no big, just part of working together so long. But there's one really weird thing. He calls it his 'Kim sense.' If we are anywhere close to each other, he says he can feel my presence. One Saturday I blindfolded Ron and he sat in my living room. I moved around the house and the yard. Whenever I stopped, Wade signaled him. Every time he knew exactly where I was and what I was doing. There have also been shared dreams."
"Sensei can tell you more than I. Legends speak of a special bond between warriors," Yori told her. "It happens on rare occasions between warriors who together face great dangers. When they share a common cause, there is a joining of their chi force, making them together greater than each could be alone."
"Another part of my destiny?" Kim asked.
"Perhaps. Legend says that once formed, the bond will be broken only by death, unless one of the warriors renounces the ideals for which they fight," Yori replied. Then, rising, she said, "Please excuse me, I must contact Sensei," then went to the front of the plane.
Kim moved to the seat next to Ron. Turning toward him, she watched as he slept. Idly, she let her fingers wander over his body. She found her conversation with Yori unnerving and yet at the same time exciting. Kim had yet to think of her life beyond college, but forces beyond her control had seemingly already done so. Her ego bristled, but a nagging little voice in the back of her brain kept saying "told you so." Save it for later, she told herself as she raised the armrest that kept them apart, resting her head on his chest. He stirred and shifted slightly, placing an arm around her, and then his breathing resumed the slow rhythm of sleep. She too fell asleep.
After contacting Sensei, Yori returned to the cabin and paused, looking at Kim and Ron. A feeling pushed to the back of her mind came forward and she sighed, wishing she were the one seated next to Ron. She silently asked her ancestors to help Kim realize the strength and courage of the man who had pledged himself to her.
The three passengers slept most of the way to Middleton, waking as the plane passed over the Mississippi River. They gathered around the table again for a snack while Yori told her companions of Sensei's message.
"Sensei asks that both of you come to Yamanouchi after your school year ends. He also asked me to remain in Middleton to prepare you for your time at the school. He will send the necessary equipment for your training next week."
"Where will you stay?" Kim asked.
"Mom and Dad won't mind if she stays in our guest room," Ron began, then looking at Kim's darkening glare continued, "or not."
Kim picked up the on board phone, and after a brief conversation with her mother told Yori, "you can stay with me. Think of it as one big girl's night out. Besides, Ron and I usually train in our garage or in the yard."
Yori smiled at the interaction between the two teens and quickly accepted Kim's offer.
The word of Kim's injury spread quickly through the villain community. Even as the three young warriors planned their training regimen others planned to disrupt it.
A/N: Asian Zodiac references are based on the premise that Kim and Ron were 14 in 2002 when the series first aired.