Disclaimer: All Kim Possible characters are the copyright of Walt Disney Corporation. I'm just borrowing them to write up a story with no intention of making any money. This is for fun. All other characters in my stories, that Disney doesn't own, are mine. :)
A grand-size Naco Meal goes to campy for again providing wonderful beta/proofreading! (big grin)
Big thanks goes to all who read and left reviews for Chapter 5: AtomicFire, continental-line, GargoyleSama, Evolved, SassMasterGeneral, romantic-cancer, juanchi, ZK Chromedragozoid, Thorius Maximus, Etherelemental, Goinghome, Zaratan, and Warbird.
And thanks go to all who read Chapter 5. :)
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A Bond of Honor
Chapter 6 – Fitting In
By JuPMod (aka JPMod)
Entering the school through the front doors, Kim was thoughtful. From what she heard late Monday afternoon, Yori was going to be a student observer for three days of the week, and Ron, her best friend since pre-k, was going to be her school guide. She had a hunch that the Japanese girl would start on Wednesday, and it had been confirmed yesterday when she'd asked Ron.
Approaching her locker, the redheaded teen, wearing her long-sleeved red shirt and tan cargos, wondered what exactly would Yori do as an observer for three days a week. It was not like she needed to be here for the rest of the school year. Maybe a week or two, six days max, would be sufficient to know the in's and out's of Middleton High.
Speaking of best friends, as she opened her locker, her mind questioned where was Ron. He didn't show up at her house for breakfast as sometimes he did, making her worry a bit.
Mentally shaking her head, Kim tossed aside such thoughts. "Ron doesn't always walk to school with you, Possible. It's not like he has to be by your side always."
Sorting through her books and notebooks, her green eyes spotted her sandy-haired friend, with his typical backpack on his back, coming around the corner toward her. His goofy smile made her smile in return. "See, Kim girl, nothing to be concerned about."
"Top to the morning to ya, KP," Ron greeted, and Rufus poked his head out of Ron's pants pocket to say hello as well.
"Morning, Ron," Kim returned the greeting. "So…" She returned to sorting through her stuff. "When is Yori going to be here?"
Still grinning, Ron shrugged. "She said she would be here. It's not like she could get lost. She's been here three times already, and knowing her profession, I doubt she could get lost finding this place."
Kim snorted. She couldn't disagree with him on that. Being a ninja, Yori did have the ability to take care of herself and find her way around town once she knew where certain places were. "Of course, it would be fun to imagine she can get lost. Say she ends up on Antarctica being a frozen popsicle," she mentally smirked with glee.
Just then a familiar voice to both announced itself to them. "Good morning, Ron-kun, Possible-san."
"Speaking of the ninja," Kim mentally groaned before turning around to see Yori standing beside Ron. The pretty Japanese was wearing the outfit Kim saw her wear at Club Banana on Saturday – red, silk, short-sleeved blouse; blue khakis; and black slipper shoes.
"Morning to you, Yori," Ron smiled fondly at his girlfriend.
"Morning, Yori," Kim politely replied with a grin that she didn't really feel like giving.
Ron reached over and took Yori's hand, and smiling back at him, she squeezed his hand in return. Kim saw this and momentarily clenched her fist. A reaction she didn't know she'd had, nor was it spotted by her best friend and his girlfriend. Yet a pink mole rat saw it and quietly gulped.
It was then Ron saw the object in Yori's other hand. "What's with the notebook, Yori? You're an observer. You don't have to do homework and such." He smirked. "It's not like I'm going to quiz you on say where are all the girls' bathrooms in the school."
Yori giggled. "True, I don't think you will be giving pop quizzes, Ron-kun. Yet I brought a notebook just in case I needed to take notes on important things, especially in regards to your classes. If I'm going to help tutor you, it is best I know what you are studying."
Kim blinked, for what she heard was new to her. "Tutor?" she gazed at Yori before eying Ron. "Ron, you didn't say anything she was going to tutor you."
He chuckled a bit nervously. "KP, I didn't know until last night. I called Yori before going to bed and she told me that she forgotten to tell me on Monday that she could tutor me if I want the help."
"Hai," Yori grinned, "given my level in academics, I can help Ron-kun with his studies, if he desires it. Barkin-sama even approved."
Flabbergasted, Kim blurted the first thought out of her mouth. "But Ron, I always help tutor you at times."
Ron smiled and placed his free hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Believe me, Kim, I appreciate what ya done for me. If it weren't for you, I might still be retaking my freshman year's classes, and you know how much I hated some of the classes that year." Kim chuckled at that as her friend let go of her shoulder and gave a tiny shrug. "It's just that you're busy too with homework and studies and stuff. I know you, KP, and you occasionally ask to study and do your work alone. It's not like you have all the time to help me, ya know."
"True," Kim sagely admitted. To maintain her honor roll status, she had to keep a 3.5 grade point average or better, and to do so meant studying and working far more than Ron ever did. It still amazed her that the blonde boy was content in getting C's and few B's when he had the potential to be better. By far, the only solid A+ Ron ever achieved was in Home Ec due to his above-average cooking skills.
"Yori has the time at least to help tutor me," Ron continued as he turned to smile warmly at the girl, who grinned. "She doesn't have to do homework and such and is more free to tutor." He teasingly smirked. "That is if you're not so busy at home."
The almond-eyed girl knew what he was referring to and matched his expression. "Hai, I will have much work at home, Ron-kun, but not so much to not help you be able to do the best in your classes." Her hand, which held her notebook, rose to point a finger at him. "I will help you understand the work, but I will not do your work for you."
Kim grinned lopsidedly. "Good for you, Yori. Ron has the tendency to try to copy my work at times."
"Ron-kun, you didn't!" Yori exclaimed with wide eyes at her boyfriend.
Rufus bobbed his head. "He did! He did!"
Feeling really nervous, Ron began rubbing the back his head. "Aw, come on, ladies! I needed at times the help, ya know." His eyes flicked back and forth between Kim, who shook her head, and Yori, who looked disappointed.
"Ron-kuuuun," Yori said in a tone that brooked no arguments.
"Okay, okay," he relented with his free hand up in surrender. "I'll not copy anyone's work."
Nodding her head in satisfaction, Yori dropped her stern look. "It's not honorable to cheat, Ron-kun. You know that. I have faith in you that you can do great things, if you put your best effort toward them." She squeezed his hand to convey her feelings.
Looking into those two dark, soulful eyes, Ron felt like a cad. She trusted him and had confidence in him and to even think of cheating made him feel bad now, knowing how much Yori wanted him to succeed on his own. With a reassuring smile at her, he made a decision. "I'll do the best I can, Yori. Maybe I can do better with your help." Her smile to his words warmed his heart.
Kim saw the look on Ron's face, and knew he would keep his word to do the best he could. She sighed that Yori was able to get him to do something she for years tried to weed out.
Closing her locker, Kim began to walk away. "Come on," she called over her shoulder, "we need to get to homeroom before the bell rings."
"Homeroom?" Yori asked bewildered as Ron dragged her along by their clasped hands. "You do not go to your first class?"
"No, Yori," Ron explained. "We go to homeroom first. The teachers count heads to make sure all the students are here."
She was even more confused. "Count heads?"
"They take attendance, Yori," Kim clarified. "They want to make sure all students are here and accounted for. A student should be in school unless they have a valid reason not to be in school, like being sick, for example."
"Oh," Yori said, finally catching on, "that makes sense."
Kim at first thought of asking whether they have homerooms in Japanese schools but immediately held her tongue, remembering that Yamanouchi perhaps didn't have homerooms, given everyone lived in the school anyway. It was no wonder Yori was baffled.
After entering the homeroom, all three took their seats with Ron instructing his girlfriend to sit next to him. There was an additional student desk in the room, so it seemed Barkin had gotten the extra desk installed for Yori's sake.
Once the bell rang and the homeroom teacher took attendance, the 30-something woman, a nice, pretty, married blonde, approached Yori with a kind grin. "I have no doubt you must be Yori Takana." Her words drew the attention of every student in the room.
"Hai, I am," Yori kindly replied with a nod.
"Vice Principal Barkin told me, as well as all the other teachers of Ron's classes, regarding you being an observer under Ron's guidance." She handed over two sheets of paper. "This is a map of the school, and the other paper contains the room numbers and times for all of Ron's classes. In case you are separated from him between classes, at least you can get to his next class on your own."
The Japanese teen placed her hands together and bowed slightly. "Thank you. They will assist me greatly." The homeroom teacher grinned at the courtesy before returning to her desk.
A few minutes later, the bell rang again, and every teenager left the room to head toward their first class. Many took note that Ron and Yori were holding hands as they left. Given the rumors yesterday regarding Ron Stoppable having a beautiful Japanese girl for a girlfriend, many just couldn't believe it, regardless that the words came from the members of the cheer squad. Yet here was Stoppable holding a hand of a pretty Far Eastern girl, confirming the rumors, and those in homeroom soon spread the news to other students. It wasn't long until the Middleton High gossip mill had the whole school acquainted with the information.
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Piling into the gym, girls and boys for the period's PE class went separately to their locker rooms to change. As usual, the two gym teachers, a man and a woman, were watching over them as they entered the changing rooms. Yet, the lady teacher, a 40-something brunette, spotted the two individuals she needed to talk upon seeing the pair come into the gym.
"Stoppable!" she called out, and Ron came forward with Yori by his side. The gym teacher eyed the newcomer. "I presume you must be Yori Takana."
"Hai, I am," Yori acknowledged.
"I'm Mrs. Donna Landry," she began. "I understand you're an observer, Miss Takana, but in this class, there is no writing or studying. It's a physical education class, and that means the students participate in sports and other physical activities to stay in shape." She handed over a folded white t-shirt and red gym shorts. "These are your gym uniform. When you're here, I think it's best you participate in the activities rather than sitting on the sidelines watching."
Yori nodded. "That makes sense. If I participate, I will have a better understanding."
The PE teacher looked down at the girl's feet. "You're not wearing sneakers. Did you bring with you a pair of sneakers?" Seeing Yori shake her head, the instructor gave a small grin. "Okay, for today, you can sit on the sidelines and watch, but I expect you to bring a pair of sneakers on Friday so you can start partaking in the activities." She handed over a piece of paper. "This is your number and combination for the locker assigned to you in the girls' locker room to store your uniform." Mrs. Landry gave a sly grin. "Just remember, young lady, that you are responsible for washing and maintaining your uniform. It will do you and others no good if they start to smell. You understand?"
A small chuckle came out of Yori's mouth. "I understand."
Nodding in approval, Mrs. Landry gestured to the locker rooms. "Okay, get going you two." And that was what they did. Ron went into the boys' room and Yori into the girls' room.
With Rufus on his shoulder, Ron emerged a few minutes later, but he frowned upon not seeing his girlfriend. He knew she only needed to store her uniform in the locker, nothing more. Yet his unspoken question, regarding where was Yori, was answered when the Japanese came out surrounded by some girls, all of them chatting like girls do. Some of them happened to be members of the cheer squad.
Grinning and shaking his head, the blond boy could see Yori was chatting and enjoying herself as she sat on the first row of a bleacher with her audience following suit around her. It was like this in almost every period since homeroom with students interested in getting to know the Japanese newcomer. He wondered how long it would be until the curiosity over Yori would die down.
One girl, a short, pretty, brown-haired one, eyed Ron, and then leaned down and asked Yori something. Yori giggled and eyed her boyfriend for a moment before returning to the girl to answer her question. The girl frowned and grinned; yet the others, giggling, eyed Ron as well.
There was no doubt they were talking about him, yet he, with a grin, boldly took the risk as he walked over to them. "Enjoying yourself, Yori?"
Yori grinned. "Hai, that we are, Ron-kun."
"Anything interesting you ladies are talking about?" Ron inquired in a teasing fashion.
Monique huffed a chuckle while the others giggled. "Ron… You already know we are talking about girl stuff. It's not like we were talking about you."
"Really?" Ron's lips curled into a smirk. "If that's so, why were you all looking at me?"
"Simple," Yori grinned. "We were discussing about your traits."
"Traits?" his eyebrow rose in interest. Even Rufus matched his expression.
"Yeah," Liz, the redheaded cheerleader, spoke out. "Like how good a lip smacker you are."
The girls and Rufus laughed as Ron, with a grin, felt his cheeks blush. "Really, ladies, if anyone wants to know, why not just come to the Ronman and find out."
With a mock shock face, Jessica pointed to him. "Are you saying you're going to two-time your girlfriend, Ron?"
"Not at all," Ron grandly retorted, still grinning. "I'll refuse you all, and say I'm a one-woman man. I currently have one girlfriend." He raised a finger. "No one else."
"Oh?" Yori played along with pretended interest. "And who is your current girlfriend, Ron-kun?"
Brown eyes holding steady with dark ones, he smiled. "She's a beautiful babe from Japan who is pretty smart. She's not afraid of bullies and can toss bad guys over her shoulder like a rag doll. She's going to help tutor me with my homework, and I have no doubt she will achieve it."
"Oooooo," the girls said as they looked at Yori, grinning.
Feeling her cheeks heating up, Yori slyly grinned at her suitor. "Ron-kun, you really are a romantic poet."
"Yeah," Monique smirked. "You should see him being romantic with a grande sized chimerrito combo!"
Once again, the girls and even Rufus laughed, making Ron blush. Yori giggled behind a hand, for she was enjoying seeing him being flustered. Ron only smiled and took the teasing outright.
Nearby, Kim watched the entire exchange and shook her head with an amused grin. Ron certainly just couldn't handle girls, although he certainly looked like he didn't mind be ribbed for Yori and the other girls' amusement. That was one of the best things about him. He didn't mind joking and being the clown to make other people laugh. Another factor on why he made a great mascot.
Looking at the Japanese girl, the redheaded member of Team Possible had to admit that Yori seemed to be fitting in quite swimmingly. Of course, today happened to be her first time attending Middleton High fully, so it was too soon yet to know how much Yori could fit in.
Hearing the whistles of the PE teachers, everyone gathered onto the basketball court, except Yori, who didn't mind looking over Rufus for Ron. Soon teams were formed and the dribbling of basketballs and pounding of feet could be heard throughout the gym. The boys played on one side of the court, while the girls played on the other.
Sitting and watching, Yori observed the games, for this was the first time she had ever seen this sport played. She took note that the object of the game was to shoot the ball into the hoop on the board. Teamwork was used to pass the ball from player to player to outwit the defenders. Once a team shot the ball into the hoop, it was passed to the opposing team who had a turn in scoring.
After many minutes, Ron took a break and sat besides Yori. He goofily grinned at her. "Have to take a break, Yori. It's not like I can run around for a long time."
"Of course," Yori agreed. "There is only so much strain the human body can take."
"Yeah," Ron said, "but least I can hold my own longer than most of the boys in Middleton High. They didn't go around the world helping a best friend fight villains and stuff."
Yori chuckled at that. "Hai. Your missions with Possible-san give you training in endurance."
Ron simply shrugged, but he proudly grinned at her praise. "Yep. I might not be better than KP, but least I have my own mad fu skills to show off occasionally." The Japanese girl smiled at that.
Looking back toward the games being played, Yori pointed to the game the girls were playing right in front of her. "I understand the basic concept of this sport, Ron-kun, but I do not understand one thing." Ron blinked at her. "Why do some of the students try to shoot the ball into the hoop from afar? Would it be wiser to try to shoot it closer to the hoop?"
Grinning, Ron pointed to the floor and the lines surrounding an area in front of the hoop board. "See those lines?" Yori nodded. "Well, those lines indicate how many points a team gets if a player shoots a ball outside or inside those lines. Two points are given if you get the ball in the hoop inside the line. Three points are given if you shoot the ball into the hoop outside the line."
Suddenly the ball the girls were using bounced out of bounds toward Ron and Yori, who caught it.
"Ron is right, Yori," Kim said as she approached them. "That's how the game is played. You can shoot the ball into the hoop from anywhere within the boundary line of the court." She tapped her foot on the court line. The other girls playing were watching and waiting to get the ball back to them.
"I see," Yori understood as she rose with the ball at hand and took a few steps to stand just inside the court's boundary line but outside the 2-point area. From where she stood, the hoop was at a 45-degree angle
Raising the ball up, she looked at the hoop and threw the ball. Ron, Kim, Rufus, and all the girls watched as the ball flew into the hoop. Kim and the other girls turned to look at Yori with amazement, while Ron grinned and pumped a fist into the air.
"Booyah!" he cried with glee. "Three-point shot!"
"Yeah!" Rufus imitated his owner.
"Oh, come on!" Bonnie waved a hand in dismissal as she stood with the other girls on the court. "She was just lucky!" Her commotion made everyone in the gym take notice.
"Maybe, Rockwaller," Mrs. Landry mentioned as she came forward with the ball. She tossed the ball to Yori, who caught it. "Can you do that again, Takana?"
Again, eying the hoop, Yori threw the ball, and as before, it went in easily. Everyone was stunned, except Ron, who was grinning widely.
Mrs. Landry turned to face Bonnie with a smirk. "Twice in a row I wouldn't call luck, Rockwaller." She returned to face the Japanese teenager. "Takana, you might have a spot in the school's girl's basketball team next year if you can shoot 3-pointers like that. I'd like to see how you would really play on Friday." With that said, she strolled away and blew her whistle. "All right, show's over! Let's get back to your playing!" Everyone complied.
Kim however couldn't believe it as she faced Yori. "How could you shoot so easily if you didn't play basketball before, Yori?"
Yori shrugged in bafflement herself. "To be honest, Possible-san, I simply threw the ball after judging the distance." She walked back to sit on the bleacher besides a thrilled Ron.
"Way to go, Yori!" Ron beamed, making her grin. "If you join the girls' basketball team next year, you might lead us to the state championship."
Smiling, she shook her head, her short hair waving a bit. "That's up to me whether I want to join or not, Ron-kun."
"Nevertheless," Ron pointed at her, "if you can shoot 3-pointers like that, you easily beat everyone in the school by a mile." He reached over to take her hand, and she, feeling her cheeks flushing from the praise, squeezed his hand back and broadened her smile.
Eyes for each other at the moment, the young couple didn't notice Kim narrow her eyes at them, particularly Yori, and almost in a huff, turn and walk back to the others.
Sitting on the bleachers on the other side of the gym from Ron and Yori, Monique saw the expression on Kim's face and grew worried. "Oh, boy. How much greener can Kim girl get? If she keeps jealing like that, she'll eventually make the atomic bomb look like a tiny firecracker."
Monique was not the only one to observe Possible's brief lapse of jealously, for the teal eyes of a curvy brown-haired cheerleader saw it as well and smirked. "Sooooo… K is jealous of that Japanese wench. This is quite an interesting development." Bonnie focused back on the game before reminding herself to think later how to use this bit of knowledge to her advantage.
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At lunchtime, the cafeteria was busy as usual. Students ate, talked, did schoolwork, and other things. Yet today, for a time, there was some unusual activity. Namely ten or more students surrounding a round table, for they all had wanted to meet the newcomer. That was until Mr. Barkin broke it up and told them, in his typical gruff voice, to stop loitering around. Many went away a bit peeved, but for the occupants of the table, they were relieved.
"Man," Ron puffed out, "I didn't think you'd be this popular, Yori." He took a sip of soda as he eyed her to his left. Rufus, already having eaten, was content to just sleep in the middle of the table.
Across the table from Yori, Monique shook her head. "I think it's more like satisfying their curiosity than popularity, Ron, although," she focused on Yori, "she did some things that are already putting her in the good graces of many in the school."
"Yeah," Felix agreed as Monique forked some lunch in her mouth, "like talking down Bonnie of all people, not to mention shooting 3-pointers in basketball."
Giving a worried grin, Yori shook her head. "I did not ask for this, Felix-san. I understand many are curious, but this kind of attention is…" She sighed with a frown. "Uncomfortable to me."
Kim, sitting between Yori and Monique, raised an eyebrow at the pretty ninja. "Surely, you have popular students at Yamanouchi, Yori." Her mind thought of a Japanese teen boy she met last year as a prime example.
Catching her meaning, Yori gave a sheepish grin. "We do, Possible-san. Just not at the level as we've seen a few moments ago. At Yamanouchi, we respect individual's privacy and do not ask questions that are too private."
"Yori girl," Monique pointed to her, "what some of those jerks of boys asked are not what most people in America would even think of asking in public." She huffed in indignation. "They are not worth your or anyone's time."
"I assure you, Monique-san," Yori's face matched the African-American's, "I will not bother with those bakas. They seemed to have no honor." Her lips frowned as she shook her head. "Some of them didn't accept that Ron-kun and I are close."
"Yori," Kim sighed with a sad frown. "Not every boy in Middleton High is honorable and respectful like Ron, Felix, and others. They think just because you're a pretty girl, you would go for a pretty face."
Yori snorted, her eyes blazing. "Then they really are true bakas. It is the heart and soul that matter most to me, not what is seen on the outside." Her head turn to Ron, and her anger melted away into a grateful grin. "I have chosen Ron-kun, and I will not be swayed."
Ron grinned warmly in response. "And the Ronman will be there for you."
Felix chuckled. "Yo, Ronman, when have you become Mr. Romantic?" Yori giggled and Kim smirked.
Snickering, Monique eyed Felix but pointed to Ron. "Since he started dating Yori girl here." She trained a mirthful face at the grinning blond boy as she lowered her hand.
"I don't mind," Yori grinned as her twinkling eyes again rest upon her boyfriend. "It makes him… cute." As Ron blushed, Monique and Felix laughed, while Kim gently snickered.
Raising a fork, Yori took a bite of some rice and immediately grimaced. After dropping the fork onto her tray, she pushed it away. "I think I'll bring my own food from now on. I just can't stomach this."
"Not all the cafeteria food is bad as this, Yori," Monique grinned sympathetically.
"The pizza is quite good actually," Ron added, grinning.
Hearing one of his favorite foods, Rufus popped open his eyes and stood up in a shot. "Cheese!" Yori giggled, while the other four merely grinned.
"The burgers are not half bad," Felix pointed out.
"The fries," Ron inserted.
"The cake," Felix smiled.
"The pudding." Ron licked his lips.
While the boys were going back-and-forth in exchanging what cafeteria foods were good, the girls and one mole rat were watching them, their faces went back-and-forth between the two guys like watching the ball in a tennis match.
Finally, Monique put a stop to the exchange. "Guys!" Both boys looked at her. "Do you boys always think of greasy food?"
Ron smirked slyly at her. "Says the girl who loves Bueno Nacho as much as I?" Felix snickered.
Monique smirked but was not deterred. "I don't eat Bueno Nacho all the time, Ron."
Kim shook her head with an amused disdained look at Ron. "As you know, I avoid fried foods."
Yori took a sip of her bottled water. "I too do not eat much fatty foods, Possible-san. I don't mind occasionally to indulge myself, but I have to watch what I eat in order to stay in shape." Her dark eyes came to rest on chocolate ones of the blond boy next to her. "Come to think about it, I am amazed at how much you can eat, Ron-kun, without gaining any weight."
Felix chortled and took a sip of his soda before replying. "I think it has something to do with his exercise routine of going all over the world with Kim."
"That and he must have a black hole in his stomach," Monique teased. Everyone laughed, while Yori placed a hand over her mouth in mirth. Ron took the ribbing in stride.
"So, Ronman," Felix began after calming down, "what are you doing after school today? Hanging out at the BN again?"
Ron grinned as he shook his head. "I'm going to just relax at home and do some studying. Yori is going to tutor me in subjects I'm having problems with."
"Say again?" Felix blinked in surprise.
Even Monique was floored as she eyed Middleton High's newest student. "This is news! You're going to help with his homework, Yori girl?"
"Hai," Yori grinned. "I'm going to help him any way I can." Her lips curled into a wry grin as she turned to face a self-righteous Ron. "However, as I told him, I'm not going to do his work for him."
While Felix guffawed, Monique half laughed and scoffed. "Ha! Good luck, Yori girl! If you can get him to improve himself, it'll be a miracle! I know first hand how much a procrastinator he is!"
Yori, still eying Ron, smirked in challenge. "It'll be a challenge."
Ron grinned on the outside, but he mentally gulped on the inside. He wondered how much of a grilling he would be getting from his girlfriend. Oh well, he knew he made a promise, and he intended to keep it.
Looking at Yori, Kim knew the other girl meant her words. She sighed internally and wondered whether she was no longer needed to help Ron with his schoolwork now that he had Yori.
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TBC (End of Chapter 6)
A/N: Just to let everyone know that I'm going to finish writing up "Entwined Spirits" first before starting the next chapter of "ABoH". Once "Entwined Spirits" is done, I'll be focusing on "ABoH" from that point forward. That is unless my mind comes up with another story idea I want to write and place "ABoH" on the backburner. ;)