Stone Monkey and the Moon Rabbit

By: Bubbajack

Co-authors/Editors: Icysnowsage, First Hassan

Note: Special Thanks goes out to my Super Patrons Apostle_of_Darkness, Ben Wanless, Bobby Glass, CrazymanDK, Jac, and Jareth Norris.

Ch.2:

Ron woke up reflexively at 4:30 am. His eyes snapped open due to his internal clock. As he sat up. He found the fox-eyed doctor standing at the foot of his bed. A look of surprise crossed Akisame's face when he noticed he was already sitting up in bed. "You're already awake?! This is good, Ron-san, I thought I might need to come wake you,"

The American shook his head, "Nah, Yamanoichi is on top of a mountain. Rufus and I had get up early up there, this is unfortunately, now normal for me,"

The doctor nodded and hummed in thought, "Well you know what they say, the early bird gets the worm."

"And the early Ron is hungry. What's for breakfast?" He asked. He rubbed his eyes before throwing off his sheets and reaching for his gi the left folded up across the room. Paying Akisame no mind since they were both men here.

"Miu usually wakes up at five before she starts cooking," The acupuncturist replied.

Repressing a yawn, Ron said, "Then I'll get started on it for her, give her a morning off."

Akisame looked surprised, "You know how to cook Ron-san?"

"You know it man, my folks were constantly busy so it was either learning to cook or constantly mooching off my BFF, which, while I'm sure they didn't mind, felt kinda scummy after awhile. Know what I mean?"

The Aikido master nodded, "I do," He replied as he followed the boy into the kitchen, asking, "What will we be having today then?"

"I dunno, maybe a frittata? I'm feeling adventurous," he paused and asked, "Since you guys are all martial artists, how much can you pack away? Like, what's the baseline here?"

"You'll need at least six eggs," Akisame said.

Ron didn't believe it, "That's it?"

"Each," He finished with a subtle smirk.

Ron raised and pointed a finger, "Now that, I believe. Right one, Frittata Super Special coming up! Does anyone here not like spicy food, Sensei?" Ron asked as he rooted around in the fridge.

"I don't think so, why?" Akisame replied.

"I'm thinking of throwing together a chorizo frittata, so I thought I'd ask," Ron replied as he came out of the fridge carrying several dozen eggs, some pork, and he looked around for a pan, spices, and an onion.

Akisame hummed in thought, "Sounds lovely, I'm not the greatest chef, but I can at least show you where everything is,"

"'Preciate it sensei. Can you do me one more huge solid though?" Ron asked.

"Yes?" Akisame replied.

Ron called over his shoulder, "Go turn off Furenji's alarm clock and let her sleep in a little bit ok?"

'Finally a challenge,' Akisame thought to himself as he walked down the hall. Gently cracking open the door to Miyu's room, he eyed his opponent. The sleeping Miu's alarm clock. 'Our battle begins now,' He thought as he darted into the room with speed befitting that of a master of his skill, hit the alarm, and darted back out before the blonde girl could be aware of his presence. The Aikido master was glad he'd accomplished his goal without waking her. Miu did more than enough around the dojo, she deserved to take it easy. So thinking he made his way back out to the dining area intent and eager to watch his new student ply his craft.

(...)

Soon enough Ron had everything together and was cooking up a storm. The chorizo was coming along nicely, and he was just about ready to add it to the eggs, when he felt something squishy and warm press into his back at the same time, two arms wrapped around him from behind.

"M-Morning Shigure-sensei!" Ron said nervously.

Resting her chin on his shoulder from behind she said, "Morning Ron… What're you cooking?"

"Mexican Frittata?" Ron's nervous tone rose even more as her grip tightened on him and she felt him up through his gi, subsequently increasing the pressure of her mounds on his back.

"You can cook… fight… have a sense… of honor and… humor," Ron could feel her breath on his ear as she spoke, "The more I… learn… the more I… want to… keep you… for myself,"

"I'm flattered sensei, but I'm here on a foreign exchange, remember?" Ron reminded her, "I head back to America in like, a month and a half,"

Resting her head against his Shigure replied, "I have a… passport. Can come to… America with you," She all but purred in his ear.

Ron shook his head, "I can't ask you to do that, Shigure. You have a life, friends, and a family here," Ron told her honestly. "Do you honestly want to leave them behind because of some puppy love?"

"Not puppy love!" Shigure said with a bit of force. "I watched you take down a monster… save a maiden… chastise an ignorant child… and give another woman… a chance to continue her life here… at no gain to yourself," She sighed, "You are quite… a catch… and you don't… even realize. So I'm gonna reel you in… before someone else does."

"You are very blunt… and direct… and forward sensei. I'm flattered, really, but if you don't let me go soon, I'm gonna burn breakfast. I'd like to make a good first impression on the other masters please."

"... Fine," Shigure sighed, finally letting him go, and giving him the need for a long, cold shower. But Shigure wasn't done, "But I'm not… giving up. I will follow you… back to America… if I have to… Ron."

Glancing behind him, he saw that she had suddenly vanished. He didn't know how she did that. 'Maybe it's something I can get her to teach me. That is, if I can keep her outta my pants long enough,' Ron thought to himself as he finished putting breakfast together before he placed it in the oven to bake.

"WAAH!" A sudden feminine wail of distress was heard and moments later, miu Furenji came sliding into the kitchen, her hair slightly disheveled and her cheeks flushed. "I overslept! I need to get started on… breakfast?" She finished surprised to see the new arrival already up and in the kitchen, seemingly having made the morning meal in her stead. "Ron-san? You know how to cook?"

"Heck yeah I do, the Ron man knows his way around the kitchen!" He said preening a bit. "I'm used to getting up at about 4:30 in the morning, so since I was up, I got started on breakfast and let you sleep in a bit."

"You turned off my alarm?" Miu was surprised he managed to sneak into her room without waking her. Her senses normally would have warned her if something like that happened. Yet the cute American shook his head, his smile made his freckles stand out more on his expressive face.

'Wait, did I just think Ron-san was cute? Bad Miu bad! He's only going to be here for a little bit then he's leaving! You shouldn't… get attached.' She told herself firmly, 'Even though it was very sweet of him to make breakfast and let me sleep in. He didn't have to do that,'

"No, not me, Akisame-sensei did on my request. He seemed to take it as some kind of personal challenge doing it. Dude looked fired up as he was leaving the kitchen," Ron commented.

"Have I offended you in some way, my new disciple?" Akisame asked as he folded his newspaper.

Ron looked at him confused, "No, why?"

"Why are you selling me out to the blonde terror then?" Akisame asked.

Ron glanced at Miu to see her glaring daggers at the Aikido Master. "It wasn't intentional, but this is impromptu revenge for not doing something earlier about Shigure-sensei."

The blonde girl whipped her head around towards him, "What did Shigure-sensei do?"

Ron briskly shook his head, "Nothing I feel comfortable talking about."

"Ohoho? You would think a young man like yourself would enjoy an older lady's affections, no?" The Master of Chinese Kenpo, Kensei Ma, chortled as he came and sat down at the table.

"Affections? Ron-san?" Miu asked uncertainly looking back and forth between him and Sensei Ma.

Giving Ma a flat look Ron replied, "I don't not enjoy her affections… I'm just not used to that I guess? I mean I'm not exactly considered a catch back home. I'm a nerd and an outcast. Not the guy the cheerleaders go for, or any girl for that matter."

"That was a double negative," Akisame said, correcting his grammar before he continued, "As for women not appreciating you. Perhaps you just haven't met the right woman yet. Different cultures have different views on what is prime material in a man. In Japan for example, someone who is devoted, family oriented, and willing to put in a lot of effort towards their goals is considered a prime catch here."

'Is he explaining why I'm a good catch or giving me a pep talk?' Ron wondered before deciding in the end it didn't matter. "Right, well, I'd better check on breakfast. Furenji go sit down and I'll bring it to the table,"

"Let me set the table at least?" Miu pouted, hoping he'd give in if she used the look.

Only for the boy to smile warmly and inform her, "Sorry but a girl since Pre-K was my BFF, I've grown an immunity to the Puppy Dog Pout," He then smiled and said, "Besides as you know, presentation is half the battle when it comes to cooking. So just let me handle it okay?"

Miu knew when she was beaten. So she nodded and said, "Okay, but I'm making dinner!"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Furinji-san," Ron replied smiling.

The glasses wearing girl corrected him, "We're going to be living together for a bit r-right? So wouldn't it be more appropriate for you to call me by my first name?"

Ron rubbed the back of his head. While he's enjoyed his time in Japan so far, he hasn't learned all of its customs yet. "Yeah I guess so. So Miu-san then, is fine by you?"

She beamed, "Yes! I… really would like to call you a friend, Ron-san," The blonde girl said with earnest shyness.

"You can never have too many of those," Ron agreed, "And the more the merrier right Rufus?"

The naked mole rat who had been dueling a ninja mouse of all things using toothpicks as weapons nodded as he disarmed his foe. "Yeah! Friends! En garde!" He said as he launched himself at the ninja mouse again.

"Oh wow, is he yours?" Miu asked. As he watched Rufus spar successfully at that with Tōchūmaru, Shigure's own pet.

"That's Rufus, whose pet is that?" Ron asked as he opened the oven door potholders on his hands.

"Shigure-san's. Tōchūmaru has been with her… a very long time," Miu replied, having just now realized he was probably the longest lived rodent she knew of.

"Ohoho! So you are our new student then?" Ron found himself being greeted by a giant of a blonde man, his flowing golden hair seemed to come from everywhere, his hair, beard, even his eyebrows. He had to duck to get into the kitchen. He was so tall, and he was wearing a green robe and sandals as his attire. He offered him a hand and said "Pleasure to meet you, I am Hayato Furenji, though I am commonly known as the Elder of Ryuzanpaku,"

"Stoppable Ron… I gotta ask, just what the heck did you eat to get that big?" The teen questioned, a little dumbfounded at the sheer size of the man.

The Elder just chuckled, "A balanced diet I assure you,"

"Of elephants, you hunted down yourself or?" Ron couldn't stop his mouth at this point.

The Elder clapped Ron on the shoulder, "Oh goodness no, though I suppose I can't blame you for the assumption. It's nice to see someone getting along so well with my grandaughter,"

Ron did a double take, "Granddaughter?! I thought you were her dad?! You don't look a day past thirty!"

"No," The Elder said solemnly, "Though I have been her legal guardian for the majority of her life, I am not Miu-chan's father."

Knowing a landmine when he stepped on one, Ron quickly changed the subject. "Right, well breakfast is ready sir, so why don't you go sit down?"

"FOOD!" A giant burly man wearing a tee shirt, shorts, and gauze around his arms and legs cried out as he ran into the room.

"Apachai, calm down ya big lummox," Sasaki the Karate master grumbled, following in after the giant.

"Apa?" the bronze giant of a man said, his silver hair sticking up every which way. Locking eyes with Ron, he said, "Apachai is hungry!"

"Then go sit at the table, or you're going to go without breakfast," Ron said, refusing to be intimidated by the mass of muscles. If a supervillainess with plasma melting fists couldn't scare him, this guy couldn't either.

"Apachai will be good!" The man said before he went and sat at the table.

The rest of the masters looked at Apachai, then looked at Ron and finally Sasaki said what they were all thinking, "What kinda bullshit westerner sorcery is this?!"

"What?" Ron asked as he took the meal out of the oven.

"You… you tamed Apachai? I didn't know it was possible?" Kensei Ma said, in impressed tones, as he tried angling his camera up Shigure's skirt.

"Anything possible for… someone with enough grit I suppose," Ron said, feeling dumb for almost quoting his pseudo-families catchphrase. "Anyway, breakfast is served, and split into equal parts everyone!" Ron warned giving them a look when he saw them about to descend on the dish like a pack of rabid wolves as he headed off to the bathroom real quick.

"Kids got guts ordering us around," Sasaki grunted as he took his portion without complaint. "Second time in as many day's he's done it,"

"Hoho? Do tell," The Elder asked clearly intrigued.

"Carried a girl here with a busted arm the other day, Akisame fixed her up easily enough. But he got in between me and Shigure when she got frisky, Ga!" He grunted when the quiet woman hit him in between the eyes with one of her chopsticks making him fall backwards in surprise.

"Not frisky… for you… drunk," Shigure said brusquely as she moved to get a new pair from the drawer.

Ron came back into the kitchen and noticed Sasaki rubbing his forehead. "Everything okay?"

"Everything is just fine," The man growled, glaring daggers at the sword mistress.

Shigure patted at a spot between herself and Miyu. "I saved you a seat Ron-san,"

"And I saved you a portion," Miu said, sending a glare at Apachai and Ma, who had the decency to look bashful.

Ron grinned, "Thanks ladies, you're baddical," Ron said before he sat down to eat.

(...)

After breakfast Miu got ready for school, which for some reason involved doing her hair in two braids and wearing glasses Ron was pretty sure she didn't actually need. 'Is she trying to blend in more? Look harmless? What's with the sexy nerd look?' Ron wondered. He paused and went over what he just thought. 'Nope, no, I did not just think that. I'm not allowed to think that about her! She, much like KP, is totes out of my league! Besides, her Grandpa would bench press my spine and make what Bane did to Bats in the comics look commercial by comparison,' Ron reasoned to himself. His own insecurities made him doubt his chances with the girl. 'It's bad enough that someone as amazing as Shigure-sensei is making passes at me. No need to add fuel to the fire.'

"Ron-san," The Elder said, breaking him out of his reverie.

"Gah! Elder Dude, don't scare me like that, not cool man," Ron said, punching the man in his forearm.

"My apologies, I thought you'd sensed me," The Elder said, "But I have a favor to ask of you, if I may?"

"Shoot Elder Dude, your roof, your rules," Ron said.

The Elder nodded, "Miu usually takes a bento to school for lunch but she likely forgot today because you made breakfast. Would you be so kind as to bring one to her?"

Ron saluted, feeling bad he'd interrupted the girl's routine to the point she forgot to make her lunch, "I'm on it kemosabe, where does she go to school?"

"A little place called Koryou High school," The Elder replied, "She's only just started there recently so I doubt she knows anyone well enough to ask to share their lunch with."

Ron listened as he took leftovers out from the would-be party for himself last night and portioned some out into a bento box for Miu. "Don't worry Elder Dude, I got this handled."

"Good, good," The Elder beamed, "Also Ron-san it means so much to me that you're willing to befriend Miu. I took her around the world with me as she was growing up, you see. As I'm rather… infamous in martial arts circles and if I stayed in one place too long Miu could've been in danger," The Elder sighed, "While I've raised her to be strong, the constant travel did not let her make any real bonds with others. You would be the first person her age to offer your hand to her in friendship."

"Dude… heavy," Ron said after a moment. "Not that I don't appreciate the heads up, but why are you telling me all this?"

"I'm telling you because I am under no delusions about what could happen between a young man and young woman under the same roof. I wasn't always so old…" He chuckled wistfully.

'Dude, you look like a thirty year old bodybuilder, just how old are you?' Ron thought to himself.

"That being said, if you do something untoward to my granddaughter I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth, and proceed to break every bone in your body, then have Kensei and Akisame continually fix you until you beg for forgiveness," The Elder's tone didn't change but Ron could feel his killing intent. It, just like Shigure's before him, felt hollow. He had no true murderous impulse or intention towards him, even now.

Still Ron nodded, "Message received. However, you don't get to kill me if she's the one who starts something."

"I've raised her to make her own decisions," The Elder said in agreement before countering with, "But she also knows full well that should any man seek her hand, they must defeat me first,"

"Understood Elder Dude. Now I do have one more question?" Ron asked, as he put the box on the bento.

Hayato Furinji stroked his beard, "Yes?"

Ron asked, "Can you give me directions to her school?"

"But of course!" The man wrote concise directions down on a piece of paper in English and sent the boy on his way. Only after he was gone did he let the arm Ron had struck earlier spasm and shake. Whether through providence or divine will, Ron had hit a nerve in his arm that made it spasm uncontrollably, and it was only through his masterful control of his own body that he didn't show weakness in front of the young man. 'I need to go and see Kensei at his clinic. Maybe he can sort this out for me,'

(...)

Ron soon found himself outside of Koryou High school. It was all cement and glass with a glass tunnel connecting to another building on an upper level and a fence on both buildings roofs. "I feel like I just walked into a manga," Ron muttered to himself. "Rufus, if a creepy girl tries to propose to me, get me outta here got it? I've played School Days, I know how that shit goes down,"

"Aye aye!" Rufus saluted from his pocket.

So thinking, Ron made his way into the school proper, swapping out his tennis shoes for slippers as he made his way to the front desk. The receptionist, a pretty woman in her late twenties with a messy bob cut and green eyes framed by square glasses greeted him kindly. "Can I help you, young man?" she asked in accented English.

"Yes, I was asked to deliver a bento to Furinji Miu at her grandfather's request ma'am?"

"Oh that's kind of you, you must be her big brother?" She noted,

"No ma'am, I'm actually a live-in apprentice at her grandfather's dojo," Ron replied, "I'm learning various things: philosophy, art, chinese medicine, it's… insightful."

The woman covered her mouth, "Oh my, well I'm her homeroom teacher I'm just filling in for the normal secretary today, Ono Kyoko. Nice to meet you," She said bowing.

Ron returned the bow, "Stoppable Ron, pleasure is mine."

"Ah! I thought you looked familiar! You are Kim Possible's partner!"

Ron nodded humbly, "Yes, ma'am that's me I'm here on the foreign exchange program,"

"I imagine this is quite boring for you, what with being able to travel all over the world whenever you want," Kyoko pondered aloud.

Ron shook his head, "Not at all, we usually don't stick around an area long enough to enjoy the culture. We go in, stop the bad guy or disaster, and then leave. So being able to just soak it all in for a while is… a nice change of pace if I'm being honest."

The woman nodded, "I see. Such a shame, to be able to go anywhere in the world, but not immerse yourself in other cultures."

Ron couldn't help but agree with her, "So true," He held up the bento box. "Where can I drop this off at?"

"Class 1-E, down the hall take a left and all the way at the end," She said, giving him directions and a hall pass, with a smile, "So you don't get in trouble." She said with a smile.

"Thanks, if you're not too busy I'll stop by after I'm done so we can talk a bit more if that's okay?" He asked.

She nodded, "I'd like that Stoppable-san, in fact, I take my lunch at the same time as the students so if you'd like we could have a meet up with Furinji-san,"

'She's still a kid at heart,' Ron thought amused. "Sure if she's okay with that,"

"Yatta!" She said switching back to her native tongue.

"Ono-sensei!" The principal's voice rang out from his office, "Get back to work!"

"Yes, yes, sorry principal sensei!" She called back. She waved him off with a smile, "Off you go Stoppable-san, and do mention to Furinji-san if she'd be okay having lunch between the three of us would you?"

"Yeah will do," Ron was walking down the hallway when he realized he had understood the conversation between the principal and Ono-sensei. "Booya! I'm getting better at this Japanese stuff Rufus!"

"Bilingual Achievement unlocked!" Rufus replied, giving him a thumbs-up as his owner knocked on the door to the classroom before entering.

When he saw the teacher he did a double take, because he looked like an asian . 'Oh my Jehova, he's multiplying via fission!' Ron thought to himself in abject horror.

"Who you?! What you want?! Why you in my classroom?!" He barked out in a drill sergeant manner.

"Uh, me Stoppable Ron, want to deliver bento to Furinji Miu, who is in classroom?" Ron replied.

"Oh, you think you funny huh? Me fail you for life! Now you dishonor whole family! Laugh now, funny guy!" Asian-Barkin said.

Ron rolled his eyes, "Oh no! Me go commit unalive in forest ha cha!"

"You get out! You get out of classroom! You fail at life!" The man demanded.

"Umm Hoeru-sensei?" Miu said, raising her hand, "I think he's here for me?"

"Then you go with him, not allowed in classroom!" Hoeru said.

Miu smiled nervously and nodded, "Yes sensei,"

(...)

As they stood out in the hallway Ron said, "Sorry Miu I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

The blonde girl shook her head, "It's not your fault, you were just bringing me lunch."

"No talking in hallway!" Hoeru called.

Having enough of his shit, Ron shot back, "Eat me!" Ron called back, "I'm not even a student here!"

"Ron-san, you can't say that to a teacher!" Miu said fretting.

"You want me to fail you so hard you fail into the next life too?" Hoeru threatened.

"Sir, I am part of an ethnic minority that was killed in the millions by the Germans, and experimented on by the hundreds of thousands by your own people. Even if you somehow, someway, managed to fail me into the next life, I highly, highly doubt it would be as bad as my ancestors had it. So go ahead, do your worst!"

"Ron-san," Miu felt genuinely sad for him.

He waved her off, it didn't really matter all that much to him, it was ancient history sort of, but he really just wanted Barkin Concentrate to shut up. Ever since he'd left Yamanouchi he'd felt more… easily irritated. That wasn't like him, but his temper was more easily being triggered of late. He needed to get this under control. He took a breath and let it out, flexing his hands as he did so.

"Ron-san are you alright?" Miu asked concernedly.

Ron nodded, "I'm fine, sorry. I've just been dealing with some things lately, Miu. Again, sorry to get you in trouble."

She smiled and again waved off his apology, "I told you already, your fine Ron-san," She didn't mention she briefly saw his eyes flicker the same shade of blue as her own. She wondered about it, but it wasn't her place to ask. Not here, not now.

"That reminds me, Ono-sensei wanted to know if you wanted to have lunch with her. Apparently, I'm invited,"

Miu nodded, "That's fine, I like Ono-sensei,"

"Cool, so what's with the high school down the street and just across the road?" Ron asked.

Miu was quick to explain, "Furinkan High School is across the street, and just down the road is Juban Public Middle School,"

"Cool," Ron said, "So when's lunch?"

"After this class… it's a double period…" She said sheepishly.

Ron bit back a curse, "Sorry,"

Miu just smiled, "Stop apologizing Ron,"

(...)

The trio ended up meeting on the roof, as it was nice out. The only problem was Ron had no lunch. Despite his insistence he could go without, or just go back to Ryozanpaku, both Miu and Ono-sensei insisted on sharing their meals with him.

"You really don't have to," He assured them, only for Miu to shove a sausage into his mouth with Ono-sensei following it up with an omelet.

"Don't be silly, Ron-san," Miu said, "You need to keep your strength up if you're going to be training… living with my family," Miu corrected. "They can be rambunctious as you know,"

"Ron-san said you live at a dojo Furinji-san and your Grandfather is a martial artist?" Ono-sensei asked.

Miu sighed, she had hoped to keep this part of her life a secret, "Yes sensei. He lives there with other masters of martial arts and other skills. Each one is a master of a separate martial art while some, like Ma Kensei and Akisame Koetsuji have supplementary skills in Chinese medicine, and Orthopedics respectively,"

"Well as long as your grades don't suffer, I don't see the problem," Ono-sensei said cheerfully. "You're a good student which is the important part,"

The blonde smiled, "Thank you sensei,"

Kyoko smiled, "Mmhm, and Ron-san is staying with you under a foreign exchange program?"

Miu nodded, "Yes sensei, that's fine right?"

"Certainly," She replied, "As long as he attends school like a boy his age should be doing."

"It's a trap!" Ron said, quoting Admiral Akkbar.

Ono flushed, "I can assure you Ron-san, I'm not a bifauxnen," She pushed her chest forward. "Would you like to check for authenticity?"

Now it was Ron's turn to flush, "No, I… I'll take your word for it. When I said it's a trap, I meant you setting up this meeting. It was to make sure I was going to school,"

"Fufufu, so you figured me out," Kyoko chuckled, "But education is important you know?"

Ron sighed, "Yeah I suppose,"

Stuffing some rice into his mouth so she didn't have to hear that kind of talk, Kyoko continued, "Education is important. So I want you to attend class with Miu-san starting tomorrow! I'll personally see that you get caught up to speed within your time here."

Swallowing the rice, Ron said, "You really don't have to go that far for me you know? I'm only gonna be here another six weeks, then I'm no longer your problem."

Fixing him with an intense gaze that came off as slightly adorable, Kyoko replied with, "Be that as it may, as long as you're here, seeing to your education is my responsibility. Understood?"

Ron raised his hands in surrender, "I got it I got it! I learned a long time ago not to argue with a woman, it's pointless."

"Someone has trained you well," Kyoko noted smiling.

"Has me whipped more like it," Ron muttered under his breath, though he smiled all the same, 'Maybe I should give KP a call at some point, see how she's doing back in Middleton. At the very least I could call Wade. Now that I'm not stuck on a mystical mountaintop full of ninjas,'

"So I can expect you in class tomorrow then?" Ono-sensei asked for confirmation.

"I don't have a school uniform or books but sure, why not?" Ron replied, not one to sweat the small stuff.

"Yay!" She hugged the boy. "I promise I won't let you down Ron-san you'll see!"

"No problem! So what's up with the other schools?" Ron asked, trying to deflect attention from himself so he could get his blush under control.

"Well," Miu began, "I considered applying to Furinkan High School, but it has a very large male to female ratio there so I decided against it, and Juban just didn't appeal to me, though I've heard they have a great home ec program."

"I'm good at home ec, and I get about average grades in everything else," Ron admitted.

'Lackluster grades?' Miu thought disbelievingly. She hadn't known him long but he didn't come off as dumb to her. So she commented, "Is Ron-san just not applying himself enough?"

Her fellow blonde gave a mirthless laugh, "Yeah probably, but what's the point of getting good grades for parents who're never around anyway?" he said in a whisper more to himself than anyone else.

But Kyoko and Miu were sitting close enough to hear anyway, and the teacher asked, "Ron-san what do you mean by that?"

"Um, well, my dad is an actuary, he does threat assessment and insurance adjustment, and my mom… I don't know what she does but neither one of them are hardly ever home. Never have been since I was like twelve. And even before then they would really ask me for my opinion on things, they would tell me it was happening either on the day it was going to happen or after the fact. After a while I kinda just stopped caring about school because well, who was there to tell me I did a good job if I even tried in the first place and secondly even if I was struggling wouldn't take what I had to say into account? He added quickly. "I love my folks don't get me wrong, they just kinda, don't seem to get me, and that's fine." He continues, "I apply myself perfectly fine in things that interest me. I like manga so I learned how to read how to read hiragana and katakana since I didn't want to wait for the scanlations,"

"Wow, who taught you to read kanji?" Kyoko asked.

Ron shook his head, "No one, I taught myself,"

Both women looked shocked, "You taught yourself how to read a foreign language? How old were you?"

"I was eight but, well there were For Dummies books involved along with an English to Japanese dictionary but yeah, I managed. The only thing I'm still working on is speaking it.

"You're doing a great job so far," Kyoko noted.

The blonde sidekick nodded, "It's passable," Ron admitted.

To which miu deadpans, "Ron-san, you've only been in the country for six weeks and can almost carry on casual conversations. I'd say you're more than passable."

"That's amazing! Ron-san, there are people in a lot of the classes I teach that struggle with English and even have a little trouble with some of their japanese. You are quite a fast learner. I would even dare to say a prodigy," Kyoko commented.

"Thank you Ono-sensei," Ron replied a bit bashful from the praise. "But it's nothing really. I was bored one summer when KP got sent off to cheerleading camp and had nothing better to do,"

"You learned… how to read Japanese… in three months?" Kyoko was in a state of shock. "That's you…" She just sighed, "I'm beginning to see why the American Education System is looked down upon if they can't even tell a diamond from coal,"

Meanwhile, Miu thought to herself, 'Sounds like Ron-san just needs proper motivation… I need to think of some way to motivate him to try his best, but how?' Miu was no fool; she knew she was attractive. So when ecchi ideas flowed into her head of using her body to tempt him into focusing on his school work she flushed, 'I-I no Bad Miu! Bad! He's a good person! He wouldn't be receptive to that… right?' She glanced at Ron who was giving her a glance of concern.

'You ok?' His chocolate brown eyes asked full of concern for her at the moment.

'I'm fine,' She confirmed with a wave before he went back to defending the American Education System from Ono sensei. 'Yes, Ron-san would think I was weird if I did that,' Yet for reasons she couldn't understand Miu was mildly disappointed at the thought.

Ron was also a little distracted by the meet up he had earlier in the day before he got to the school.

(...)

Earlier in the Day Satome-Tendo Residence

Ranma Saotome woke up after a pleasant evening and had come to a decision. Since there was no conceivable way he could ever see himself defeating Yujirou Hanma, and he didn't feel like dying at the ripe old age of fifteen, either, so there was only one option left to him. 'Well, this means I get to take hot showers again,' He thought as he went to the bathroom, towel in hand. Shutting the door behind him he saluted his crotch. "Goodbye penis, you have served me well, but if I have to choose between keeping you or death, well… honestly maybe I should rethink this… No, no being a woman is preferable to death," He decided firmly. Sighing, as he turned the shower on he said to himself, "Now I've just got to figure out how to deal with Tatewaki,"

Testing the water caused him to transform into a woman and stepping under the showerhead, Ramna continued to think, 'Maybe I can just tell him I already have a boyfriend? That would work right? Except I don't know anyone who would be willing to play the part if I asked.' Rama sighed as she started to wash her hair. She did wonder why her hair turned red when she transformed. Was it due to the curse or something a little extra? She didn't dislike the color whatsoever; it was just an idle thought she had from time to time. Rinsing off and wiping down her body she hummed in thought, "Well, there is one person I could ask to help me out, i just hope he's willing," Rama shrugged as she toweled off, "He helped out Shampoo, uh Xǐ fàshuǐ maybe he'd be willing to do me a solid too." So thinking Ranma made to get dressed for the day in her usual red quipo that she preferred.

(...)

Akane did a double take when Ranma came down to breakfast in his female form. "Ranma what the heck?! You're a girl right now you know that right?"

"Yes Akane, it's kinda hard not for me to notice with these things attached to the front, they're a bit heavy," Ranma replied. Motioning to her boobs. "And before you go into a fit, no, I wasn't making fun of you. Like seriously, these things are heavy. How do you women stand it?"

"We wear bras Ranma-san," Kasumi replied, with a giggle before she realized, "Wait, have you been going around without one this whole time?"

Ranma nodded, crossing her arms under her chest making them seem even bigger than before, "Well yeah, I can't exactly plan when to turn into a girl Kasumi-chan,"

"You still didn't answer my question Ranma, why're you a girl right now?" Akane asked.

"If I have to choose between fighting Yujirou Hanma and dying, committing seppuku, or being a girl for the rest of my life and living, I know what I'm picking," The cursed martial artist replied easily.

Akane's mouth dropped open a bit, "You're… you're giving up? But… Your Ranma! You don't just give up!"

The redhead shook her head causing her plait to sway behind her, "I'm not giving up Akane, I'm choosing not to throw my life away in a fight I can't win. Fighting Yujiro Hanma is like… trying to fight a typhoon with your fists. He's less a person and more a force of nature, not something you defeat, and more something you survive and hope doesn't notice you as it passes through."

Akane just stared at Ranma for a long moment, "You're genuinely afraid of this Hanma guy aren't you Ranma?"

The girl laughed, "I'd like to think anyone with common sense is afraid of him, Akane. So yes, I'm terrified of the very thought of having to fight him!"

"This isn't the Ranma I know at all," Akane pouted.

Ranma smiled, "You can think of Ranma you knew having died an ego death last night, if it helps. This Ranma… Ranko maybe?" She shook her head, "Anyway I'd much prefer living to two different types of suicide one of which is assisted, thank you very much."

The panda that was her father came into the room took one look at his cursed progeny and held up a sign saying, "So this is the decision you've come to, is it?"

Ranma nodded, sending her father a fierce glare, "Yes, I choose to live as a woman rather than die a martyr. I hope me basically gelding myself is sufficient compensation?"

Genma grimaced as best a panda bear could before he said, "Do as you like,"

"Thanks, I will!" Getting up, Ranma snatched a piece of toast and said, "C'mon Akane we'd better hurry. We'll be late if we don't wanna fight our way through all your suitors. Like every other day."

Akane scoffed, "You think they're only going to be gunning for me from now on with you looking like that? Fat chance. But before we go, can someone please explain just what's so bad about this Yujiro Hanma guy?!"

You could practically hear the record scratch as everything seemed to pause. Her father, who had just come out of his room with fresh tear stains on his cheeks, said solemnly, "Akane, honey, do you know all those negative views you have on men?"

She nodded, "Yes?"

"This one man embodies all those negative traits, and is strong enough to fight armed men in Vietnam with no weapons… at all. He is the worst part of martial arts personified, and will do and take what he wants when he wants. Money, women, things. Nothing and no one can get in his way. He is a savage animal in human form and I in no way hold it against Ranma-san for making the choice she did,"

"He's that bad huh?"

"Worse, I hear he forces himself on strong women hoping to get kids out of it… or that's the rumor anyway," Ranma muttered.

Akane shuttered in revulsion, "He's a creep!"

"Rumor has it he can kill a rampaging bull elephant in a single kick too then ate it," Genma said holding up a sign.

'What the heck was Genma thinking? Promising Ranma's mom he'd beat this monster?!' Akane thought to herself.

"Which is why, I'm gonna avoid him like the plague, now are you coming or not?" Ranma asked.

"R-Right behind you… but what're we gonna tell people when they ask what happened to the other you?"

Ranma sighed, "We'll tell em… we'll tell em Ranma left on a journey alone and his sister Ranko showed up in town."

To which Akane deadpanned, "Ranko really?"

"Any better ideas or names or suggestions? Cause I'd love to hear them if so," the now named Ranko shot back over her shoulder as the two headed for the door.

The two continued to bicker even as they left the Tendo dojo, no different from any other morning.

(...)

Ranma had to admit it felt pretty good not having to dodge every instance of hot water to risk changing into a girl. She did wonder how this plays out later concerning her engagement to Akane as the engagement was to bring an heir and if Ranma stayed a girl … there might be complications on that front. 'I mean she doesn't seem interested in me or anyone for that matter so maybe we can just annul it and go our separate ways?' she thought with a schmeckle of hope. Seeing a head of purple hair on the horizon Ranma thought, 'Speaking of annulment,' The martial artist slowed down and walked alongside his former fiancee Shampoo or Xi Fashui as she apparently preferred to be called, "Morning Xi-san,"

She beamed at her former fiance's female form, "Ah, good morning Ranma-chan! You are good this morning, yes?"

"Call me Ranko while I'm like this and yes I'm good… I just wanted to clear the air with you before we're at school. You and I, we're good right? There are no hard feelings I'm assuming?"

The Amazon shook her head. "There are none no, I did soul searching and realized Ranko and I did not know each other very well. Ranko is strong, but… there is more to a soul mate than that," She said with surety, "One must have more than strength of body, but also strength of character. Ron-Lǎogōng showed both last night. He didn't beat me to prove his strength or because he wanted my body, he did so so I could continue living my life as it is now. It was a selfless act on his part especially since he knew this was purely for my benefit,"

"I guess that's what one could expect from a hero," Ranko mused as she munched on her toast a bit.

"Indeed… Do you know what I find bothersome though? When the redhead shook her head she continued, "I was looking up Kim Possible's exploits last night and rarely if ever is Lǎogōng mentioned,"

Ranko blinked, "But he's her partner right?"

Xi nodded, "I thought so as well, yet she seems to be taking all the credit, fame, and honor for both of their deeds," She clenched her fists, "There is no honor in such an action! It is disgraceful!"

In all the time he'd known her, Ranma had never seen the Amazon this fired up before. Not that he could blame her. The way Ron told it, he pulled just as much if not more weight on Team Possible yet he received no recognition for his deeds. Hell even the team's name was geared towards the fiery redhead. "Something stinks and it's not your grandma's tofu," Ranma said at last.

Xi slapped her on the arm. "Stinky Tofu is supposed to smell like that! How many times must I tell you?"

"Doesn't mean I wanna eat it!" Ranma grumbled. "But seriously, something is up Xi-chan,"

The amazonian nodded, "Agreed…" She looked at her fellow martial artist and asked, "Do you think we should question Ron about this after school today? It is odd, yes? Not just me, right?"

Ranko shook her head, "No it's not just you and asking him about it couldn't hurt, we'll do that," The two turned the corner and once again Ranko felt like she'd bumped into a brick wall. For the second time in as many days, the wall caught her. Looking up at the person who caught her she found it was the very boy she and Shampoo were just discussing. "Ron?"

"Oh hey Ranma, Fashui, sup?" The blonde said in way of greeting. "What's with going gal Ranma?" he asked placing Ranma on her feet.

Clearing her throat, Ranma elaborated, "I kinda decided if I have to choose between dying to Yujiro Hanma, committing seppuku, or living as a woman, I'd choose to stay a woman,"

"Well, okay then," Ron said after a moment,

"That's it?" Ranko said after a moment, "Not gonna berate me for giving up or tell me to train hard and take on Yujiro?"

Ron shook his head, "No, if this Yujiro guy can survive Nam with no weapons and his dad was nuke worthy, then their whole family line sounds like ten thousand miles of bad road. If this is what you feel you need to do, then it's not my place to judge you. You do you Ranma."

Ranma didn't know why, but hearing Ron say that made him feel relieved. "Thanks Ron, it's Ranko when I'm like this by the way," Seeing the look on his face the redhead asked, "What? Is the name really no good? Hearing Akane said it is one thing but if you think so too then maybe she's onto something,"

"Of course I'm onto something!" Akane sniped, finally catching up to the other girl who decided to rush ahead. "It's obvious and kinda lame, idiot!"

"Or," Ron said swiftly, before a fight could break out, "It just makes his parents look unimaginative when it comes to thinking up baby names? Heck the world heavyweight champion boxer George Foreman named all of his kids a variation of George and he has eight kids!" Ron countered before continuing, "But if you wanted to be more original, why not Sita? The wife of the hero Ranma in the Indian epic Ramayana?"

"My name is Indian in origin?" Ranko asked, pointing at herself. "I thought is always meant stallion,"

Ron shrugged, "It probably does, but you can make people believe you were named for something else entirely. It's just a clever little bit of misdirection. Give people a story, enough to let them fill in the blanks on their own and it'll take on a life of its own,"

Bouncing on the balls of her feet for a moment, in thought, the redhead nodded, "Sita Satome huh? That does have a nice ring to it."

Crossing her arms Akane said under her breath, "Better than Ranko at any rate,"

"Ignoring the peanut gallery, I think I'll be going with your suggestion Ron thanks… What're you doing out this early anyway?"

Ron held up a bento box, "Delivering a lunch, Furinji Miu Granddaughter of the Elder of Ryozanpaku goes to a school nearby and asked me to bring her this,"

Upon hearing this, the amazoness perked up, "Ah is that so? Lǎogōng please inform the residents of Ryozanpaku that they will be having guests for dinner tonight in the form of myself, Sita-chan, and the residents of the Tendo-dojo."

Akane, and the now named Sita blinked, "We will be? Why?"

"You'll see," She said cryptically, before she smiled at her betrothed, "Do let them know won't you Lǎogōng?"

Ron nodded confusedly, "Sure? No problem,"

Xi Fashui nodded, "Good, now we go before late, come Sita-chan, Akane-chan,"

'Why do I feel like this is a trap of some kind?' Ron thought to himself as he continued on his way to Koryu High School.

(...)

"And that's what's happening," Ron informed Miu of what happened this morning as they finished lunch on the roof. Leaving out the bits about magic shapeshifting martial artists for the sake of Ono-sensei's sanity. "I apologize in advance and for the inconvenience," Ron said bowing to Miu.

The blonde girl waved him off, "It's not your fault Ron-san!" She bit her thumb worriedly, "Though I do wonder how we're going to pay for all this? We get by but it's on a month to month basis and with just the six of us…"

"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Ron told her calmly.

Miu flushed in embarrassment, "Ron-san you're a guest! I can't ask you to do that!"

He just shook his head, "It's fine don't worry, I have money to burn. Japan has taught me the value of hard work and helping others. So this is no big," He assured her.

'But you help other people all the time,' Miu thought, 'You're part of a hero team,'

"We'll go to the market after school and stock up on everything alright?" Ron told her with an easy smile on his face.

Miu bowed to him at the waist, "Thank you Ron-san,"

He laughed awkwardly and shook his head, "I don't think it's right to thank the guy who increased the food bill to begin with, but ok."

Ono-sensei pipped up, "So a bunch of martial artists from opposing schools are going to meet? Is there going to be a competition of blazing youth and passion?!" She asked, getting a bit fired up herself.

"Maybe?" Ron replied, "Fashui didn't say why they were coming over, after all," seeing her looking so excited Ron asked, "Would you like to come and watch sensei?" only to receive a nudge in the arm and a look that said, 'What're you doing?!'

'What's one more mouth to feed?' Ron replied with a shrug.

Kyoko beamed, "Could I? I have an interest in other countries so being able to see some martial arts from other countries would be so interesting?!"

"Sure?"

"I don't feel bad about Ron-san paying for groceries anymore," Miu pouted, crossing her arms and refusing to look in her fellow blonde's direction while releasing a bit of ki.

'Well she's upset with me,' Ron thought, 'I'll make it up to her when I take her shopping later,' He vowed to himself.

(...)

Miu Furinji didn't know what to expect when Ron Stoppable took her to the market. To be honest, she fully expected him to balk at seeing the normal expenses that Ryuzanpaku spent on food every month, and then politely back out of buying everything. Yet he did not. He just smiled and said, "Let's get going,"

He carried the pack Miu usually carried on these monthly expeditions without complaint. Not even when Shigure attached chain balls to both of his legs and called it training. Miu knew it was just that of course, but she'd expected some kind of outburst. Ron just seemed amused and took it all with a polite smile. He broke out into a sweat by the time they arrived at the market proper, but he didn't complain other than wiping away the sweat with one arm, he didn't complain. Instead he asked, "If someone were to serve some high class food, what would they buy?"

"Chicken or beef," Miu replied easily. "Since we're an island nation it isn't exactly in high supply and we import what we do have."

"Right then come on," Ron said as he made his way into a butcher shop.

"Ron-san?" She asked, confused but following out of curiosity.

Fresh meat was laid out on ice and Ron was already in discussion with the butcher by the time she made her way inside.

"Fifty pounds of wagyu, one fourth ground, one fourth cubed, and half in eight ounce steaks, another fifty pounds of chicken, and… the shark fins, squid, and lobster."

"R-R-Ron-san?!" Miu was in front of him tugging on his arm, "You can't afford all of that! Do you have any idea how much all of that costs?!"

"The steaks would be a few thousand USD alone right?" He asked the butcher who nodded, and Ron pulled a black Visa out of his wallet. "This should cover it all my man,"

The man took the card reverently with both hands bowing with respect towards Ron as he did so, "Very good honored customer, will there be anything else?"

Ron nodded, "Yes, I'd like to set up a tab for the Ryozanpaku dojo for up to a hundred thousand USD that'll be paid off every year,"

Pulling him away from the counter Miu hissed at him, "What are you doing Ron-san?! You don't have that kind of money… Do you?"

The blonde boy smiled sheepishly, "Well… I have done rather well for myself actually,"

Miu blinked then asked, "What?"

"I get royalty checks from a restaurant called Bueno Nacho for creating a popular menu item," Ron admitted.

Miu couldn't stop herself from asking, "How well?"

"Well enough that I could buy out this entire store and it would put only a small dent in my finances," Ron told her honestly before he continued, "Besides your my friend Miu, I want to spoil you a bit,"

She looked at the floor, twiddling her thumbs a bit and blushing, "Well, if Ron-san insists, then I really can't stop him can I?"

"Nope," Ron replied easily, "Now, was there anything else you wanted to try?"

… tea," She muttered.

"I'm sorry?" Ron asked, unable to hear her.

"Gyokuro tea," Miu repeated. "I got to try it once with grandfather from a grateful person we saved when I was younger and it was the best thing I've ever had, I found out later it costs six-hundred fifty dollars a kilogram."

'Miu-chan doesn't even realize she has expensive tastes,' Looking into those baby blues of hers though, he knew he couldn't deny her.

"You got it," He promised her.

She hugged him tightly, and that made it all worth it. 'Booya made Miu smile, mission accomplished.'

(...)

They didn't stop there. Ron also bought A5 Kobe beef, nice Ramen noodles, fresh vegetables, and of course, seafood so fresh a majority of it was still wriggling a little bit even as they put it in the bag. He also picked up some sweets as well. Peach mochi for himself, a couple boxes of pocky for Miu, some rice crackers for Masters Ma and Akisame, some matcha green tea ice cream for Apachai, and he got something special for Shigure, as well as something special for all of them and the guests tonight. They had in fact bought so much food that Miu was also carrying an armful of bags. "You sure you don't want me to carry those?" Ron offered even though he was getting a stitch in his side.

"I've got it, are you okay Ron-san? You don't look so good?" She asked, giving him a concerned look out of the corner of her eye.

"This," He grunted in pain, "Is nothing compared to what I usually do during missions. It's no big, I'm fine,"

"It's not a good idea to lie, you know?" A voice Ron thought felt vaguely familiar piped up. Looking over he saw a young girl, with her long blonde hair in odangos looking at him in concern, "If you're hurt it's okay to ask for help right?"

"Usagi," A redhead with her hair in a ponytail said, "You can't just say things like that to random people,"

"But Makoto," The blonde said all but wilting under her chastisement, "He's obviously not looking too good,"

Ron did his best to smile, "Trust me, I've been worse,"

A raven-haired traditional japanese beauty piped up, "Be that as it may, and despite my friend being perhaps a bit too friendly, you do look like you could use a break," 'Besides,' Rei thought to herself, 'I sense an insanely strong aura from this man. It's not hostile, but it's stronger than anything I've ever felt before,'

The last of this quartet, had dark blue hair (dyed maybe?) cut in a bob cut bowed, "Excuse me and my friends. I'm Mizuno Ami. Do you need any help?"

"Stoppable Ron," He replied, "And I'm just getting the shopping home, for my friend Miu here,"

"Furinji Miu, nice to meet you," She introduced herself.

The redhead, Makoto, pointed at Ron and said, "Wait, I know you! Your Kim Possible's partner! You were on tv saving that toy company that one time."

"Eh it wasn't that big of a deal, and I didn't do much," Ron denied, humble as always. "I spent most of the time running around, screaming, and trying not to die really."

"Yeah, but you ran towards the danger, not away from it like everyone else was," Makoto pointed out, "You know what that makes you?"

"Stupid? Insane? Suicidal?" Ron guessed.

"Courageous!" Makoto corrected him.

"Brave!" Miu continued.

"A hero," Usagi finished for him, continuing, "I've recently been learning that it isn't the lack of fear that makes a hero… it's being afraid, sometimes deathly afraid, and doing the right thing anyway." She smiled at him, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really look up to you Stoppable-san, so it's nice to finally meet you in person." She then bopped herself on the head, "Gah! I went and said all that and didn't introduce myself did I? I'm Tsukiuno Usagi. I guess you could say I'm your biggest fan."

Ron blinked, "Fans? I have fans?"

The blonde nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, you mean you don't you know? You and Kim Possible have entire fan clubs? You've had them ever since the Flamingoat incident."

"Seriously? I've never seen a thing," The blonde said earnestly.

Usagi nodded, and pulled out her smartphone before scooting in, "Yeah here let me show you…" She then paused and said, "But first I think you should sit down, you really don't look well," She pointed to a nearby bench. "Why don't you go have a seat over there for a bit?"

Ron glanced at Miu "Will the stuff keep?"

His fellow blonde nodded, "I think we can take a break for a few minutes, Ron-san,"

(...)

Ron sat down on a nearby bench and he suddenly realized he was surrounded by a gaggle of pretty girls. 'Just be cool Ron,' He thought to himself, 'You've done well so far, just don't let it go to your head… either one of them,' He focused on Usugi and asked, "You said something about fansites?"

"Oh right hold on…" She said getting her phone out and sitting close to him leaning in so he could see. Ron noted her hair smelled like peaches and wondered if it was the shampoo she used.

'No bad Ron!' He thought to himself. He really needed to stop thinking these things about so many women in Japan. He really had played a raw import of School Days. So he knew the harem route led only to a miserable death. Still he felt an odd pull towards this girl for reasons he couldn't understand. His gaze fixed on her smartphone screen as she pulled up a website called the Team Possible Fansite and he was surprised to find a picture of his face surrounded by a yellow ring, Kim's in red, Wade's in blue, and even Rufus in green.

Usagi then proceeded to explain, "This is the main fansite for Team Possible. Each one of you has your own fan portal and has your own amount of fans. Kim being the leader has the most totalling over ten million,"

'Figures KP would have a lot of fans,' Ron thought to himself, happy for his FBFF, 'She does the lions share of the work after all and all the crazy stunts and the fighting, it just makes sense,'

"But you're not far behind her having nine point five million yourself," She continued in her upbeat but soft tone of hers.

"Ron has how many now?!" He asked, peering closer at the phone in disbelief. Yet it was true, he was trailing just behind Kim in numbers of fans by about six-hundred thousand… and he had no idea how or why that could be. 'I'm just the bumbling sidekick! Why do I have any fans at all? I don't do anything but run around screaming and occasionally hitting the self-destruct button! Heck most of the villains can't even be bothered to remember my name!' But it was right there, a number counter right under his name. "I don't get it," He said at last, "Why do I have fans? I mean, KP and Wade I can understand… even Rufus, 'cause he's cute', but me?" He seemed confuzzled "I just don't see it,"

Reaching into her purse, Usagi pulled out some yen and handed it to Makoto saying, "Makoto-chan, I think that there is a shaved ice vendor just around the corner. Why don't you and Furinji-san go get some for everyone? My treat." She said brightly.

"Sure Usagi, You don't mind helping me carry them, do you Furinji-san?" The rambunctious red haired girl asked the other blonde.

"Of course not, let's go," Miu replied, before asking, "Any flavor you like Ron-san?"

"Lemon if they've got it I guess?" He replied, unsure. Never having shaved ice before.

Once the two were gone, Usagi turned to Ron and asked, "So, why don't you think you deserve fans, Ron-san? Can I call you Ron-san?"

"Go ahead, as for why, well I'm just the sidekick. Kim is the actual hero who goes and saves the day. I just 'have her back' so to speak."

Taking one of his hands in both of hers, Usagi retorted, "But you do just as much if not more than she does! You're constantly blowing up the lairs or doomsday devices right?"

Ron blinked, "How did you know that?"

Usagi clicked on his portrait and then went to a section labeled videos. "Someone had begun uploading videos of your confrontations with villains and it showed that most of the time it was you who defeated the villains plans while Kim fought off the villain's henchman. You were scared, terrified even and you goofed up, a lot, but you still got the job done! And… I always found that to be… inspirational!" Usagi's cheeks were a bit flushed by the time she was done, whether it was by the passion she was putting into the speech or embarrassment he wasn't sure. But he appreciated it all the same.

Smiling at her, Ron said, "Thanks Usagi, I appreciate that," He looked at the title of the uploader, Green_Snake. He had no idea who this person was, but from the looks of things they were ripping camera footage directly off of the villains' lairs. A majority but not all the videos they posted were from Drakken's schemes. Not that that meant anything. He was Team Possible's Arch Nemesis more or less. 'So this is basically a dead end unless I ask Wade… which begs the question, did KP and Wade know about this site and intentionally not tell me?'

"I've answered your question," Ron said calmly, "Now maybe you'd humor me by answering one of mine?"

"Of course," Usagi said brightly, "What would you like to know?" She figured he might ask directions to a karaoke bar or a nice place to take Miu for a date, being a foreigner and all.

"Why were you girls running around the other day dressed up like Sailor Fuku wearing Super Sentai?"

Off in the distance, Ron suddenly heard glass shatter, 'Well somebody just got seven years bad luck,' He thought as he continued to look at the flabbergasted girls waiting for them to speak. After a moment he cleared his throat, shocking them back into the present.

"W-What makes you say such a silly thing Ron-san?" Usagi asked, her voice trembling a bit.

Ron deadpanned, "You're a terrible liar Usagi, and I thought I was bad. I mean none of you were even wearing masks! I saw you clear as day the other day… in the name of the moon, I'll punish you, right?" He mimicked her catchphrase even doing the dumb pose.

Usagi crumpled in on herself as if she'd just been punched in the gut, "Guh… Oh…Okay. You've got me. But how did you manage to see through our disguises? They're supposed to magically obscure our identities!"

Ron shrugged, "I dunno, to me, you girls just looked like a bunch of cosplayers,"

Their collective pride as Sailor Senchi took a hit with that remark. Rei piped up, "You are too honest, Ron-san,"

The freckled sidekick shrugged, "Sorry? I was just telling you what I saw compared to everyone else," He stretched his arms above his head feeling a satisfying pop before he continued, "In any case if you don't mind some professional advice from someone who's been into the whole 'saving people business' for a while now?" Ron continued.

Pulling out a pen and notepad, Usagi said, "Yes please,"

"I think this is the first time I've seen Usagi take notes," Ami noted with a chuckle.

"You may be right," Rei added sadly.

"Hey, quit picking on me you two!" The blonde fired back before she joined in the laughter.

'Well she seems eager… Oh right, she's my fan… man I'm not used to that,' Ron thought ruefully "Right well firstly ditch the whole quips and posing thing at the start of a fight. Yesterday, people got hurt because of that. I mean if you wanna banter during the fight that's fine, but if people are already in danger? Forget about it."

Usagi nodded. She figured that would be the first point. It agonized her for others to get hurt, but also for her personal hero to tell her off like that. His words made sense though.

"Secondly," he said after a moment, "Don't let the gig take over your whole life. Remember you have family, friends, an entire life, and hobbies outside of the gig that you can't just ignore or forget about. In the end it's all about balance." He gave a rueful laugh as he added, "I have trouble with this one the most but somehow KP can balance being cheer team captain, a straight A student, and can save the world even on weeknights. Me? I get average grades and they take a dip if I was up till 2am last night saving Istanbul or something. Try to not let the same happen to you girls,"

The Senshi nodded seriously. They understood where he was coming from. There were times when it felt like being Sailor Senshi was taking over their entire lives, and then times like today happened when they could just relax and remind themselves that yes, they were normal teenage girls.

"Thirdly, and you might not like this one. When fighting villains, do not hesitate to reply with the appropriate amount of force to keep yourselves alive,"

"Appropriate amount of force?" Usagi asked, curious about his wording.

Rei answered for her, "He means not to hold back against someone who's truly trying to kill us. Right Ron-san?"

"Yes, Rei right?" When she nodded, he continued, "It's believed that heroes don't kill and for the most part, that's correct. We don't. Kim and I just foil the villains but our villains are kinda… hammy? I mean one of our common villains is a Scottish Golfer whose gimmick is exploding golf balls. They aren't exactly the cream of the crop of evil. They don't break any of the unspoken rules."

Ami questioned, "Unspoken Rules?"

"Setting traps for us through requests on the website, attacking us at our homes or in public, attacking our families, that sort of deal. Now if an enemy started doing that? The gloves would come off in a heartbeat and I'd go lethal on the first idiot that would try such a thing," Ron took a breath to calm himself before he continued, "Anyway if your lives are ever truly in danger you need to put your own lives above your enemies and do what is necessary to stay alive."

"I don't like violence, it's scary and I don't like the idea of hurting people…" Usagi said, before she continued, "But I dislike the idea of losing my friends because of my inaction even more. So while I hate the idea of going into combat and hurting people, if it means protecting my friends, I guess I'll do what I have to do. But I won't like it."

Her friends smiled at her softly, "Usagi," They knew behind her soft exterior was a firm inner strength. One that allowed both herself and them to fight on when things got tough.

Ron just encouraged her, "I'm not asking you to like it, if you began to like hurting others, you'd become some kind of monster, but no. What I'm asking you to do is to be prepared to survive, by whatever means necessary," Clearing his throat and hoping Miu and Makoto came back soon with the shaved ice, Ron finished, "Lastly and most importantly, trust each other. Trust in your teammates to both have your back, and get the job done. It's how KP and I have been so successful all this time, or so I'd like to think… and that's it really."

Usagi bowed to him, "Thanks Ron-san I appreciate you sharing your wisdom,"

"You don't need to bow to me, this isn't anything you wouldn't have figured out without time and experience anyway." He said waving her off.

"I have a question if I may?" Ami asked.

"Shoot?"

"Why are you wearing weights?" The brains of the Sailor Senshi asked.

"Ah, the old ball and chain. Well, you see Miu likes me a whole lot and she's not gonna let me get away that easily," Ron joked.

Usagi covered her mouth with both hands, "That's an American euphemism for marriage! Are Ron-san and Miu-san involved?"

'The joke went right over her head, sweet summer child that she is,' Ron thought to himself. Not that he had any right to judge, he wasn't exactly Einstein himself. "Not exactly," Ron replied.

"Ron-san," Miu's voice came to him in a cheerfully dangerous timber. "What exactly have you been telling these girls while I was away?" She marched up to him, her face cherry red, and the smile on her face was dangerously jagged.

"Nothing just a joke is all," He replied, "Besides we both know it's really Shigure-sensei who really doesn't want me getting away, don't we Miu?"

'He's dating Miu-san? No wait, he's dating his teacher?!' The Sailor Senshi were doing mental gymnastics as their gaze flicked from the male blonde to the female one.

Pouting a little, Miu mumbled, "I don't want you going away either," She then huffed and shoving his shaved ice into his hands said, "Should you be making such jokes when you have a fiancee Ron-san?"

'Fiancee?!' The Sailor Senshi felt like an afternoon soap was unfolding before their eyes.

"We Fashui and I don't know each other that well yet, so we might not even stay engaged. I entered the engagement for her sake not for any desire on my part,"

Miu frowned and questioned, "So Ron-san doesn't like her at all? Isn't that a bit cold?"

He shook his head, "It's not like that, it's just like I said. We've only known each other maybe two days and don't know each other all that well. I don't hate her, but I didn't want her going back to China and being punished by her village for her failure to find a man,"

"E-Excuse me!" Usagi asked, "I'm sorry, I know it's rude and none of my business, but what are you two talking about?"

"Oh right," Ron said, "Well, it goes a little something like this," After he explained the situation, Usagi had tears in her eyes.

"You really beat her in a fight and got engaged to her just so she could keep living her happy life in Tokyo Ron-san?"

"Well yeah it'd be uncool for her to be punished just because she thought Ranma wanted to be with her right? That's not kosher."

"I knew you were a hero!" Usagi cheered as she hopped up and down in joy. "I just knew it! And you said otherwise," She looked at him sideways as she sent him a smirk.

Ron downed the last of his shaved ice as he replied, "I didn't do anything, just what i thought was right, that's all," Hefting the heavy pack on his shoulders, he said, "It was great talking to you girls but Miu and I should get going before the food spoils."

Usagi shared a look with her friends, "It would only be polite to help, don't you think girls?"

The others nodded, "Definitely," Makoto replied.

"To not help such a kind soul would be shameful and bring bad karma," Rei replied.

"If we work together it'll get done faster, it's a fact," Ami added.

"There you have it, we'll help you get this to your place Miu-san, Ron-san," Usagi declared.

Ron tried to stop them, but, as any man with experience with women will tell you, stopping a group of women who've already set their mind to something was like herding cats. Pretty soon all the girls were carrying at least two bags each, and Makoto took it upon herself to carry four. It lightened the load somewhat but not to the point it was easy for him. The Sailor Senshi walked behind Ron like ducklings behind their mother as they followed him back to Ryozanpaku. Chatting happily with each other all the while.

(...)

When they arrived the girls stopped, stared, and marveled at the gate.

"It's huge," Makoto said to the group.

"Yeah, I get that a lot, just don't stare at it okay? You'll embarrass me," Ron said to them as he headed on inside.

The Scouts and Miu flushed when they understood what Ron said.

"RON-SAN!" They all yelled as he slipped inside the dojo.

"OHoho!" Kensei Ma said, his camera in hand as he suddenly appeared and said, "Did I hear the cry of many a young maiden?"

"Back off you old pervert, or I'll put you in the hospital with permanent erectile dysfunction," Ron respected Sensei Ma as a master of his martial art and medicinal practice but when it came to his… proclivities towards women, he really wanted to knock his block off. It probably had something to do with his best and only human friend since Pre-K was a girl, but he still wanted to slug the man half the time.

"Ma, ma, so serious Ron-chan. I'm not that bad. I look, I admire. I don't force, I don't touch."

"Still wrong M-sensei, it's still sick and wrong, it's wrong sick!" Ron replied as he headed inside.

"What is wrong sick?" The Elder asked coming out from the dojo.

"Hey Elder Dude, we're back," Ron greeted with a wave. "And I was talking about Ma-sensei's treatment of women. We have guests and are having more later on tonight by the way. I'll be cooking dinner,"

"That's not fair Ron-san!" Miu complained running up to him, "I'm supposed to cook the dinners!"

Ron nodded, "This is probably gonna take both of us Miu, you got my back right?"

She smiled at him, "Of course!"

"Something… going on?" Shigure asked, appearing out of nowhere. Seeing the extra tagalongs, she asked, "More girls… Ron?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" The sidekick asked.

Shigure just shook her head, "Nevermind," Turning to the stunned girls she asked, "Friends of Rons?"

"Yes, and that was so cool how you came out of nowhere like that neechan…oh, I'm Tsukino Usagi! Nice to meet you," the blonde girl with Odangos greeted.

"You as well," Shigure replied, turning back to her disciple she asked, "Staying for dinner?"

"If they want? We're making more than enough food so it's no problem if they do. Plus it'll let them see the difference between violence and martial arts."

"Ohh?" Akisame appeared stroking his mustache, "So you wish to know the difference between violence and martial arts do you?" He circled around the girls gauging their potential. Before he stopped in front of Usagi and said, "You don't want to harm anyone, in fact, you abhor violence, it scares you, doesn't it?"

Usagi noded, "Y-Yes sir,"

"Interesting," Akisame said, "You would do well to learn Jujitsu under me, Usagi was it?"

"Jujitsu isn't that a form of martial arts?" She questioned.

The kitsune-eye man nodded, "Yes and it is the least violent martial art in existence, consisting of throws, holds, and armlocks, and primarily turning the opponent's strength against them. In essence the point of Jujitsu is to make the opponent defeat themselves,"

"That doesn't sound so bad," She said after a moment.

Akisame nodded, "It is just an offer, one you can think on…"

APPA!" A familiar voice yelled before landing in front of the group with a loud thud.

"Apachai, no! No!" Ron yelled.

"Apa?" The mountain of a man said, "Guests? Hello my name is Apachai Hopachai."

Makoto got in front of Usagi, her fists raised, upon seeing this the Death God of Muay Thai cocked his head to the side and said, "APA! Your stance is all wrong, roll your shoulders, tuck your chin down, and bend your knees more," he told Makoto. "You can't protect anyone with a stance that sloppy."

Makoto dropped her arms and blinked in surprise, before she did as he said, "Like this?"

"Appa, good, good! You've fought before?"

"Bullies and stuff," Makoto grumbled. They liked to pick on her because of her hair and height.

"Boxing?" Apachai asked.

"Street brawling really," She replied.

Suddenly Apachai threw a punch and it flew right past her guard and behind her, 'That was fast!...Usagi?' Makoto thought, glancing behind her. The blonde was fine, she just looked confused.

"What was that sudden breeze just now?" Usagi asked.

Look back at the bronze mountain of muscle Apachai was smiling, "Wanna learn Muay Thai?"

"That's like boxing but hitting with your knees, legs, and elbows right?" Makoto asked.

Apachai nodded, "Yes but also no, there is more to it than that, Apachai will teach you if you want to learn,"

'I couldn't even see his punch and he's a normal person, not a monster. So how can I protect my friends if I can't even stop him, let alone things coming from the Dark Empire?' Makoto asked herself. "Sure if your willing to teach,"

"Apapapapa! Appa has a student!" He cheered.

'He's like a little kid,' She thought, grinning a bit.

"What's with all the little ladies?" As he took a swig of his sake, Sakata asked, "Did Miu bring friends home from school or something?"

"Um no sir, we were helping her and Ron with the shopping," Ami replied kindly.

He smiled at her, "Your a good bunch aren't you,"

"We try sir… it seems everyone here is a master of a martial art, can I ask what your specialty is, besides drinking?" Ami asked with an angelic smile on her face.

"Keh, you're a smart one aren't you? Sakata grunted.

"I do go to a school for the gifted, yes," She replied, still smiling.

Crossing his arms, the hundred Dan master replied, "Karate,"

"Ah, a simple application of physics and rotation of the body, though I suppose all martial arts boils down to that doesn't it?" Ami asked.

"No, martial arts is hard work. You've gotta sweat, bleed, and push yourself to get good at martial arts. It can't just be broken down into a science."

"Are you sure about that sir?" Ami asked doubtfully. "I mean we've figured out how a black hole works even though we've never seen one. Martial arts by comparison is rather simple. Karate especially as its moves are rather basic,"

Sasaki held up one finger, "One month, I'll train you for one month and then we'll see if you still think karate is simple girlie."

"Alright, I'll be in your care then," Ami said smiling. "It'll be different, exercising the rest of my body as much as I do my brain, but I'm sure I'll manage."

"I bet," The karate master sat down and was about to crack open another bottle when he stopped, 'Wait, I don't take on students! What just happened?' He asked himself.

"I'm really excited! I've never done anything like this before! I'm looking forward to this. I suppose I should call you Sensei from now shouldn't I?"

'Oh, she's good,' Sasaki admitted. 'All cheer and rainbows while using reverse psychology to get what she wants,'

Rei glared at Ma and he smiled back. "Hello young lady. You wouldn't be interested in learning the ways of tachiquan would you?"

"You're just like my grandfather aren't you," Rei said in exasperation.

"Aww that's sweet of you to say," He said smiling.

"A total pervert," Rei continued.

'Gah, she's seen right through my sweet old man charade!' He coughed, "Young lady I have no idea what you mean," He began only for Rei to cut him off, by slashing her arm through the air.

"Save it! My sixth sense is never wrong! You're a total pervert I can tell. I can feel it, in your aura."

"Keen senses… that girl," Shigure commented.

"Quiet you!" Kensei shouted at his fellow master, "I don't see any of these girls coming to you for instruction!"

But Shigure shook her head, "Don't need anymore disciples… Already have Ron… That is… Enough… For me."

Ron suddenly called out the window, "Everyone! Our other guests should be arriving soon so go wash up and behave yourselves!"

Everyone headed inside, the Senshi to make calls home, to inform their parents they were out with friends, and the masters to prepare to host a friendly if small rival school. The night was young, the moon just starting to rise in the sky as the sun sunk in the west, and the fun? The fun was just beginning.

(...)

Word Count: 13,817 Number of Pages: 32 Date Completed: 5/11/2023

(...)

AN: Welcome everyone to the second chapter and official release of Stone Monkey and Moon Rabbit from the idea Vault! I enjoyed writing this once I got into it. I really did. I'm sorry for the wait but I got really inspired working on some Worm projects… So yeah that's it. That's all that happened. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it and here is Snowy and Hassan to round out the Author's Note.

Snowy: This story is meant to inspire and show the difference one person can make on the world. Watch and see how the story will change and how characters will prosper. The world is changing and Ron is at the center of it. Let us see how the humble monkey moves forward on his path.

First Hassan: Oui monsieur! You, my dear friend deserve to write something else once in a while!….. Hello everyone, your favorite assassin king is here and today! We are bringing you a chapter that deserves its own story! Now like what our beloved author has said, he has other projects he wants to work on instead of mostly mainly focusing on our favorite story! The butchered tech, he almost forgot about this story due to his inspiration of butchered tech I mean come on! John fucking Wick! Who doesn't want to see more of this assassins action? Anyway I hope you understand our beloved authors reason. Thank you guys for reading our story, if you want more or want to be a chapter ahead, head to Bubba' account where it hasn't been edited by yours truly. I'll see you guys later! (Turning around while blue flames surround Hassan before disappearing)

Thanks to everyone for reading! Remember to pay the review tax afterwards. It keeps the fires of inspiration burning for this story! Till next time, this has been an Inkblot Bros Production! Peace!