They ran and they ran, not pausing for breath until everyone was out of the mine, as it quaked and rocks began falling down around them. In the distance, Kim could see Ron and Rufus outside, looking out for them. The two girls jumped out at the same time, just as the earth shook greatly underneath their feet and a rock slide occurred, sealing the mine shut behind them.

"KP! Yori!" Ron said in relief, limping over to them with a huge smile on his face. Kim looked at him with a smile which quickly changed to a look of horror when she saw his legs: through his pants, she could flesh mauled terribly just above his knees to the point where she swore she could see a bit of bone.

"Ron! We have to get you to a hospital now!" she said as Yori pulled off her ninja mask, took out the PDA that Kim had given her earlier and made a call to Wade.

"Oh this...it's nothing...I'll be fine...okay fine, it's hurts like crazy but I'm just glad that you two are alright for the most part," he tried to say dismissively.

She peeled off the night vision goggles and moved to his side, running a finger on the symbol on his chest, which wasn't glowing right now. "Well...I'm glad that you're back with me now," she murmured softly and leaned up to kiss him.

Their kiss was a much shorter one than she wanted: she felt pain shoot through her face and she broke it off, holding her nose. "Owwww...by dose..." she complained, holding her nose with one hand.

Ron petted her head comfortingly and just hugged her instead. This was just as good too, she thought.

"Stoppable-san..." she heard Yori say softly, followed by Ron breaking the hug as he went over to her and hugged her too.

"Thanks, Yori...for rescuing me too," he said.

"It...it is good to see you safe and sound," she said, her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment before she returned the hug. Kim simply smiled and let them be for now.

"Hey! What about me?" Rufus protested as he climbed up Ron's leg and punched his face.

"Course not! How could I forget my main man?" he said and held up his hand to Rufus who slapped it with his paw.

"Ron," Wade's voice came from the PDA that Yori was still holding on to.

"Hey, Wade. Good to hear your voice again," Ron said, looking at the Kimmunicator.

"Right back at you. You should be getting an emergency helicopter arriving in ten minutes," he said with a grin.

"Hey, what about me?" Darnia's face shoved Wade out of the Kimmunicator screen. "Don't I get to say welcome back to...what's his name again?"

"Do I even know you?" Ron stared at her, causing Kim to burst out laughing and even Yori to hide a smile on her lips. It really was good to have him back with them, Kim thought as she leaned her head on his back and closed her eyes. The mission was done and now all they had to do was look forward to their time in GCU together.

PB

"Really now? Kim, I've seen a lot of things but I still find some of the things that you've seen and accomplish hard to believe," a middle-aged woman dressed in a paramilitary uniform and an eye-patch said to Kim as they stood in the lobby of a hospital.

"Believe it, Dr Director. You should check out the mine. I think you'll be able to find the cave-in that I mentioned as well as the ruined device that those ants were building," Kim said to her, an icepack on her face muffling her voice. A doctor had already taken a look at her nose and declared it a minor fracture though really her main concern was Ron who was rushed off to intensive care as soon as they had arrived. It had been several hours and the sun had already risen; she had contacted Global Justice on the matter to inform them about what had happened.

"Agent Du has already been sent there to confirm your words. Still, if what you say is true, this is quite troubling. I'll have the rest of GJ on this Antropy's tail if your story checks out to be true and if he survived the cave-in. In the meantime, get some rest and don't worry about your boyfriend. Our medical facilities are the best in the world and for someone of your stature, free of charge," Dr Director smiled warmly at Kim.

"Thanks," she smiled at her and Dr Director turned to leave. Kim turned as well, heading to the intensive care ward, where Yori was, sitting on a bench. Her head was drooping ever so often; it was clear that she was just as exhausted as Kim was feeling right now.

She stopped by at the coffee machine and got two cups of coffee before she went back to Yori. "Hey. Not sure if you like your coffee black but I thought you could use this," she said as she handed her one of the cups, taking a seat next to her.

"Domo," Yori smiled gratefully to her, accepting the cup and took a sip of it.

"So...you're going to go back to Japan after this is over?" Kim asked before she took a sip from her cup of coffee.

"I will. Why do you ask?" she took another sip of her coffee.

"Just...wondering about a few things like...what do ninjas do when they graduate from ninja school?"

"We do whatever it is that we want to do with our lives. For instance, I wish to become a teacher in Yamanouchi, to guide others along the path of ninjutsu and honor."

"That's great Yori. I think you'd make a great teacher."

"Thank you. And what about you, Possible-san? What do you wish to do?" she asked.

"Me? I'm going to keep doing what I always do best: save the world until I'm too old and cranky to move," she said with a grin on her face.

"A fair decision. You never struck me as the person who would be satisfied with the more normal things of life. I admire you."

"Thanks...hey, could you humor me on one thing?"

Yori tilted her head curiously, waiting for Kim to ask her question.

"Could you teach me that move where I turn my head and you're not there anymore?"

She laughed softly and nodded. "It will take more time than we will have together but yes, I can teach you the basics if you like."

An hour later, a doctor emerged out of the room that Ron was staying in and looked around for Kim and Yori, who weren't around. "Er..."

"Oh hey doc. What's the sitch?" Kim asked as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Aah! Oh...Ms Possible. This is about your friend...er Mr Stoppable," he said, looking somewhat flustered.

"Is there something wrong with Ron?" she asked quickly as the two girls stepped up close, their faces filled with concern.

" Oh no. In fact, he's..." he was interrupted by Ron stepping out of the room, dressed in a hospital gown. He looked perfectly fine; even the wounds on his legs had knitted and was nothing more than scarred flesh.

"Hey, doc. You got anything good to eat? The food here is terrible. I swear that goo was mystery meat," he made a face.

"Well, I'd give him a clean bill of health but we'd want to keep him in here for an observation, just in case. I've never seen anyone heal like this before," he said with a curious look at Ron.

"Well, Shego survived an electrocution, the collapse of a radio tower and a fifty foot fall and she only had singed skin and hair after that."

"Hmmm...that is interesting too. Maybe I can extract some sort of..." the doctor mumbled as he walked away. He stopped and turned to them. "Well, since he's well, you may spend some time with him," he said before he resumed walking away.

"Thanks doc. We'll do just that," she said, smiling at Ron as she walked into his room with him, Yori suddenly appearing out of the shadows and slipping into the room too.

The next day arrived quickly enough and Ron was discharged from the medical facility with a clean bill of health. Kim and Yori were both waiting for him, both dressed casually for the first time in days. He gave them a wave and walked up to them, grinning from ear to ear. "What's up, ladies?" he said, waving at Yori before he leaned in to give Kim a kiss.

"Stoppable-san, it is good to see that you are well once more," Yori said, bowing at him, her eyes closed and a smile on her lips.

"Same here," Kim said as she broke away from their kiss. "We're starting classes tomorrow and I'm glad you don't have to miss out on it."

"Oh right...classes..." he made a face. "You know, why don't we just become full-time heroes? That way we don't have to do all the studying and what not and we can just hang all day long while waiting for our next mission," he suggested.

Yori laughed softly. "Stoppable-san, your American sense of humor is only matched by your American lack of misunderstanding the situation," she said.

"What's that suppose to mean?" he asked her curiously.

"She means there is no way I'm going to be a slacker and neither are you," Kim said sternly.

"Awww man."

She shook her head in mock despair and turn to look at Yori. "So...you're heading back to Japan soon?" she asked her.

"Yes. I have tasks that I need to perform. Perhaps we will meet again soon," she said, just as a helicopter appeared out of nowhere and a rope ladder was unfurled, allowing her to climb up.

"Bye Yori. It was great working with you," Kim said, reaching out with her hand.

"Likewise, Kim Possible. I look forward to working with you again, hopefully on a less stressful mission," she replied, taking her hand and shaking it firmly before she took a hold of the ladder and the helicopter took off while she was still climbing it.

Kim and Ron waved goodbye to her and she waved back to them until the helicopter was a speck in the horizon. She turned to him with a wistful smile on her face. "She's actually pretty fun to hang around with. I think I'm going to miss her more than I thought," she said.

"Yeah...she's one heck of a girl...but you're even better, of course," he said hastily, when his girlfriend gave him a cool stare.

"And don't you forget it. Now, we'd better get back to GCU. We've got a lot of things to do tomorrow and I don't want us to be lagging behind..." she said, as the two of them walked towards her car, Ron nodding in agreement as he slipped his hand around her waist.

No more surprises, she smiled, getting into her car. It's going to be a great year ahead.

Okay, maybe just one surprise, Kim thought as she stared at Yori, who was sitting on a chair, reading a book quietly when she and Ron entered their class. From the look of Ron's face, he was equally as surprised as she was.

"Yori..." she said as she went over to her and took a seat next to her. The other girl looked at her and gave her a demure look.

"Possible-san. What a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to see you so soon," she said smoothly. "Stoppable-san," she stood up and extended her hand to him. He took it and they shook hands, though Kim did detect the faintest of blushes on her face.

"What are you doing here? I thought you said you were going back to Japan to perform some tasks and stuff," Kim asked, peering hard at her.

"And I have already performed them. This is my latest task," she replied, taking her seat once more as Ron took an empty one next to Kim. Rufus climbed out of his pocket at this point and upon seeing Yori, climbed out and went to her. "Yori!" he squeaked.

"Rufus-san, it is good to see you again," she smiled and petted his head.

"Latest task? Meaning?" It was Ron's turn to ask.

"I am here to obtain a college degree," she replied simply as Darnia entered the room.

"Oh! Hi there, nin..." Yori affixed a stare at her, which promptly made her close her mouth. "Hi there," she said, a little more subdued and then she turned to Kim and Ron. "So...where have I seen you before?"

"The photo frame on my drawer?" Kim supplied helpfully. "Also you just spoke to him the other day on the Kimmunicator?"

"Oooh...you're her boyfriend? Nice to finally meet you in person," she grinned broadly and extended her hand to him. "I'm Darnia. Kim's room-mate."

"Ron. Kim mentioned that you gave us some help earlier. Much appreciated," he took her hand and shook it.

As Darnia, Ron and Yori started talking amongst themselves, Kim simply leaned back in her seat and smiled. Yup, definitely a great year ahead of her.