Chapter Six
"So, where to now?" asked Kabale. She had called shotgun and was in the front seat with Kim as they left the fast food place.
"Back to the house," Kim answered, "Got a friend coming over soon."
"Tara, right?" asked Raf, "I remember from last week you had planned to get together."
Kabale briefly acted like she was gagging. Kim saw it, but chose not to react, guessing correctly it was more provoking from the devil.
"Yeah," said Kim, "We got paired to write an essay for English, and she's coming over for a brainstorming session." She glanced at the devil-girl sitting by her. "But maybe I should cancel."
"Nah, it's fine," said Kabale with a grin. "We're off duty."
"We'll stay out of the way, Kim," said Raf, "Don't worry about us."
Raf saw her rival's grin get bigger, and contacted her mentally. "Kabale, you'd better not be thinking..."
"I GET IT, RAF! We can't reveal what we are to anyone else!" she thought back, "I'm not going to be responsible for destroying everything both sides have worked for!" She glanced over her shoulder. "And stop doing that! Having an ANGEL in my head is disgusting!"
Raf rolled her eyes and withdrew. Just then Rufus came up to her and got her attention. The mole rat squeaked, and Raf smiled. "Sure, Rufus!" She picked him up and they rubbed cheeks briefly, then he settled into her lap, going to sleep with a contented sigh.
"Well," said Kim at last, "Since I kinda feel responsible for you two being here, you're invited to stay with me for the duration."
"Thanks, I accept," said Kabale.
"Thank you," said Raf, "We don't have anywhere else to go while we're like this."
"But we're going to have to figure out what to tell others," added Kim.
They talked about it all the way home, deciding on a story just as they got there.
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
About an hour later, the doorbell rang, and Kim answered it.
"Hi, Kim!" said Tara with a smile. She was blond and blue-eyed, soft spoken, and gentle by nature. She was a good cheerleader, but not a 'take-charge' type. She was best friends with Bonnie Rockwaller, another cheerleader who was Kim's school rival.
"Hey, Tara, come in!" Kim moved aside.
"Thanks!" she answered. She was carrying a binder and their English textbook.
"We'll go up to my room," said Kim, closing the door. "But we have to be quiet; Rufus is probably asleep."
"I've got an idea for the essay..." Tara said, then trailed off. She got a peculiar look on her face.
"Tara? Something wrong?" asked Kim.
"I..." she walked briskly to the living room door, where Raf and Kabale were sitting and arguing over the TV remote. They stopped and looked over at the arrival.
"Hi!" they said in unison, and stood up.
"You must be Tara," said Kabale, "This is Raf."
"And she's Kabale," added the angel.
"Wow, love the costumes!" said Tara, smiling, "Those are great! How did you do the halo?"
By her reaction, it was clear Raf wasn't expecting that question.
"Yes, Raf, how DID you do the halo?" asked Kabale with a grin.
"It's done with holograms," said Kim quickly.
Raf flashed her a smile of relief and thanks.
Tara nodded, accepting the explanation. "Wonderful!" She looked at the other visitor. "Uh, Kabale, was it? You're supposed to be a devil, right? Where's your tail and pitchfork?"
And in her turn Kabale was at a loss for an answer.
Being an angel, Raf didn't take advantage and make Kabale's embarrassment worse, but she smiled to herself, curious about how she would answer.
Thinking quickly, the devil-girl finally said, "I couldn't get the tail to move right, and pitchforks are SO last century."
Tara giggled. "Yeah, I guess so."
"We need to get that essay started," interjected Kim.
"Okay, nice to have met you! And great costumes!" Tara turned and headed for the stairs.
Kim gave them a 'thumbs up' and followed her fellow cheerleader.
"Did you feel that?" Kabale asked Raf, turning to her, "She was giving off a wave of... of..." she shuddered, "Goodness... like I've never felt from a human. Thought I was going to raf."
"Yes, I did," nodded Raf, "Have to remember to research her when we get back to the school." Suddenly what Kabale had just said hit her, and she glared at her rival.
Kabale smirked. "Told you I was going to remember that."
Raf shook her head as the pair sat down and returned to their argument.
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
"That was a close one!" said Urie, exhaling.
"Nah, I knew Kabale could handle it," said Cabiria, "She's pretty good with making up a lie on the spot."
"Pitchforks and tails," scoffed Sulfus, "Those humans have some weird ideas about us."
"Professor, do you think it means something that they are in their normal forms and human, and still have their powers?" asked Miki.
"Good question!" said Arkan.
"But too early to know the answer, yet," added Temptel. "My guess is yes."
"I agree," said the white-haired angel, adjusting his glasses. "This may be a test for both Raf and Kabale, as well as Kim Possible."
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"So, who are they?" asked Tara as they arrived in Kim's room.
"We met on a mission, and they dropped in unexpectedly," she answered.
"I see... I was getting a weird vibe from them. But since you have company, should we postpone?" asked the blond cheerleader.
"No, it's okay, they understand. Besides, this might be the only chance we get to do this," said Kim.
The friends sat down and Tara explained her idea. Kim agreed and they got to work.
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
Several hours later Tara was gone and Mrs. Dr. Possible had come home, followed by Mr. Dr. Possible, Jim and Tim. Meeting Raf and Kabale, they all accepted the explanation that Kim had met them on a mission, and were in town for a Hallowe'en party. They got compliments on their costumes, and no objections when Kim explained their hotel reservations had gotten mixed up, and asked if they could stay with her.
All through dinner (pizza) Kabale kept giving Jim and Tim ideas about sister-tweaking in a low voice, and looking all innocent when caught.
Later in Kim's room, Rufus was in his habitat, Kim in her bed, and Raf and Kabale in bedrolls. The lights were off, and the late October full moon shone in. Raf's halo added to the light, the two blending into a beautiful shade of pale blue.
Kim was asleep, and Raf nearing that state when she heard a faint, odd noise. She listened, and finally decided it was Kabale. She rolled over and looked, but the devil-girl had her back to Raf, and was still. The noise had stopped.
She lay quietly, unmoving for several minutes, then the sound started up again. It was... crying? She saw Kabale's shoulders shaking.
"Kabale?" Raf asked in a whisper.
"I'm fine," came the immediate reply, and the movement stopped.
A beat, then Raf said, "Okay. Night." She knew not to push.
After a few moments, Kabale turned over, and in the moonlight Raf could see her eyes were still moist. Crying was forbidden for devils, so she knew her rival was really upset.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Raf, don't you get it?" hissed Kabale in a low voice.
"What?" asked the angel, shaking her head.
"We've been abandoned!" said Kabale. "We've been here for hours now, and nobody has shown up to check on us!"
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Raf asked, propping up on one elbow and tilting her head a bit.
"Well, you explain it, then! We somehow became human, and can't change back, so we're useless as Guardians!" said the devil, flipping her hair. "Why would they want us back?"
"Maybe we can't see them now," said Raf.
"Oh, come on, you know better than that!" said Kabale, slightly louder. "We've always been able to see others in spirit form while human; we still have powers, so that wouldn't have changed!"
Raf made a gesture to lower her voice, and Kabale, chagrined, nodded. They both glanced in Kim's direction, but the human's breathing pattern hadn't changed.
"Let's not give up hope just yet," said Raf,
"I'm not a creature of hope," answered Kabale.
"Maybe we haven't been gone long enough, then," amended Raf. "I've heard about some angels staying with their humans for days at a time during times of trouble."
Kabale looked unhappy, but didn't answer.
"We're speculating in a vacuum here," said Raf, "So let's just take it as it comes, okay? We'll stick together, at least until we know, then decide what to do after."
Kabale sighed. "Some devil I am. This makes the fourth or fifth time I've worked with an angel, instead of against one. Outside of our guardian duties, that is."
"It'll be our secret," said Raf, and held out her hand.
A moment's hesitation and Kabale took it, giving a weak smile. She would never admit it, but the contact was comforting.
This exchange went unheard in the Golden School's Challenge Room. As it was dark and silent. When the trio started getting ready for bed, the two professors dismissed the students, telling them to be back in the morning. They also warned them that alarms were set that would prevent them from leaving the school, and the punishment would be heavy if they did so anyway.