Rating: T (Teen)

Notes: Kim Possible and her cohorts belong to Disney. All other characters are mine. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .


Chapter 1 [Middleton HS—Two days following the events in “Iguana Issues”]

Ron wheeled Kim down the halls of their high school fresh off of another check on her broken right leg. While he was psyched about Sensei’s satisfaction over how the iguana situation ended and their new friends in western Kansas, he knew that Kim sulked over the injury. Even if he was with Yori now, she was still his BF.

…And then there was his sitch with Yori too. Over the past two years, he’d drifted closer and closer to the beautiful Japanese ninja. They’d shared dinners in their rooms and worked out together. They’d reveled in sharing of their hearts. Since she rescued him from a lonely night on the previous year, he’d known his heart’s choice.

Aw man! Why does it have to be so freakin’ complicated? He sulked, knowing that he’d have to tell Kim at some point of his intentions with Yori. Then again, his redheaded BF had a boyfriend of her own.

Kim, for her part, frowned over her injury. In trying to save her classmates from the enhanced iguana ninjas, she fell wrong on her right leg, breaking it and her chances to go out on top in the Regional Cheer Competition. Besides she was concerned about Ron’s moodiness since their return as well. Can things get any worse? And for this to happen two weeks before graduation!

“Hey, KP, it’s gonna be all good! Just wait!” he cheered, trying to make everything seem rosy.

She giggled, recognizing the old Ron from before the junior-senior Prom. “Oh really? Do tell!”

“Graduation’s in two weeks! Hey, we’ll be done with this place! No more Barkin or Bonnie!” he bragged.

“YEAH!” Rufus cheered.

However, his statement only deepened her misery. For it brought back up the other hidden sitch. Before the museum standoff, the two couples had gone over their college plans, realizing that the split between them would be longer than they had hoped. GJ would send Kim and Rick to their International Center for Preparedness outside of Amsterdam for two years. Meantime, Ron and Yori would finish their own studies at Yamanuchi.

He rubbed her shoulder. “We’ll always be BFs, KP.”

She looked back into the soft brown eyes; those that were watering like her emerald ones. “Thanks, Ron.”

“Hey, no big, right?” he supposed even as he felt more anxious than ever. “Can I…umm…get some advice later on like…girl stuff?”

“Girl stuff?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

Now what? She looked at him again. He’s really sweating over this! I need a 411 on this pronto! “Sure.”

He wheeled her into the video classroom and to the place cleared for her. As they went, he could see the eyes turning to look at them. “Hey, hey! We’re back! We made it!”

Rick smiled at his partner’s effort before turning to her. “You okay?”

“I am now,” she admitted, wiping a happy tear from her eye. “Thanks, guys.”

“Do not worry, Kim. It will be all right,” Yori assured her from two seats over.

Kim nodded while getting her notebook out of her bag.

“Hey, too bad about the leg, K. Guess I’m going to have to run the routine now, huh?” Bonnie supposed from the side of the room.

“Yeah too bad that you were hiding with the rest of us while my girl and the others were duking it out with the bad boys, huh?” Monique groused. “Stick it, Bonnie.”

“Whatever!” Bonnie scoffed.

Rick normally would’ve kept quiet except that he’d had enough over the past week’s near misses. “No. Not whatever. We all could’ve died in there, Bonnie. Those creeps had us dead to rights. I’m glad that we had the back up that we had. For us to get out with Kim’s leg and my arm was a miracle.”

Barkin marched into the room at that moment seeming more perturbed than ever (if that was possible). “All right, People! Enough with the arguing! We do have a class to get on with here!”  He squinted about the room, taking in Team Possible. “Glad to see the four of you made it back here in one piece. Care to explain what happened back there?”

“You’ve had the briefing from Agents Petersen and Singleton, sir,” Rick indicated.

Barkin slammed his fist on the desk. “I’ve had my fill of those two! Now I’m asking you, Trouseau!”

Rick eyed his three teammates before assuming his ‘government agent’ role. “Just as they told you, we ran into a situation that has since been resolved. The group’s been taken into custody. The leader trailed us to Kansas and was taken care of there. That’s it. Sir.”

Even as trained and steeled as they were, Kim and Yori shuddered at the steel cold in Rick’s voice.

For a minute, Barkin locked glares with Rick before the former finally realized he wasn’t going to get anywhere. “And what about you, Stoppable?”

“Me? What about me?” Ron gulped, feeling the principal’s shark eyes focusing on him next.

“The cheesy light show and you fighting those lizard guys. Do share,” Barkin demanded. “And don’t hold back.”

Ron winced, knowing he was really under the gun. “Yeah…that.” He grinned nervously, covering for his feelings.

In an effort to save her boyfriend and preserve Yamanuchi’s secret, Yori jumped in, “You all saw how the meteor made him sick? It affected Ron San. Should we question that it helped him to fight?”

“Can’t believe Stoppable can fight,” one of the kids scoffed.

Yori glared at the critic indignantly. “Ron San would fight for and die for any one of us. You dismiss his heart.” She squeezed his hand in hers protectively. “I do not. In Japan, we know that the Kiroshi Iguana empowers the good in a person as well as the evil. It tapped into his potential. Would you not say so, Kim?”

“Definitely,” Kim concurred. “Ron’s always had our backs.”

“As Mr. Sensei would say, a rose which blossoms in the fiercest of storms will stand strong,” Yori continued. “That, Barkin Sama, is how Ron San is. And it is why I care for him.”

Not caring about the brewing PDA moment, Ron let his eyes linger into his GF’s.

But Barkin did care. “All right, you two, break it up or you’re in detention! Fine but I’ll be watching you both!”

“Please feel free, Barkin Sama,” Yori affirmed calmly yet respectfully.

[<”Well done, Yori. Well done indeed,”>] Sensei praised telepathically.

[<”Domo. It was my honor, Master Sensei,”>] she replied as she saw him and her classmates on the TV screen.

Yet another crisis had been weathered, it seemed.

 

Chapter 2 [Later that afternoon]
[Stoppable Household]

Yori sat in the guest room meditating in silence. As part of her daily ritual, she spent an hour by herself while away from Yamanuchi. In this time, she would cleanse herself of strife and any issues.

As with Ron though, she secretly reveled in her feelings for him. His exchange visit two years earlier had been the turning point in her life. Before that, it had been her training and discipline. It had been her duty to Sensei and the school.

Ron had changed that.

<Can I continue to balance these extremes? Duty with honor? Discipline with irrationality?> She sighed, allowing herself to smile.

[<”That’s better,”>] a familiar voice announced telepathically.

Yori opened her eyes to see Miranda’s psychic image floating in front of her. <”Miri Chan!”>

“Hai. Just checking on you, my sister. As I tell people here, love is not a bad thing. Nor is commitment,” Miranda indicated. <“Remember, be a woman not a machine.”>

<”How can I love both school and Ron San?”> Yori wondered.

<”You do now. Just do so with honor, Yori Chan,”> Miranda affirmed. <”Sensei will understand as long as you do so with honor.”> She looked at her watch. <”Sorry. Got to get back to the café. Remember that, Yori.”> With another smile, she was gone.

<I hope I can do so!> Yori worried about her ability in that regard.


****


[Possible Household]

Ron sat on the living room couch waiting for Rick to bring Kim home. That afternoon, he and Rufus had browsed through the highs (Raymond’s) and the lows (Smarty Mart) at engagement rings. He was still dealing with the sticker shock. Aw man! Why does a ring have to cost an arm and a leg?

“Ronald, sorry, Kimmie’s not going to be home for a few minutes,” Mr. Dr. P. apologized while coming into the room with a couple of glasses.

“That’s cool. Thanks, Dr. P,” Ron accepted. “I’m just thinkin’.”

“Thinking?” The rocket scientist quirked a brow while studying the teenager. “Thinking about what? You seem almost too serious, Ronald. Are you all right? This doesn’t have anything to do with Kim, does it?”

“Nah. She and Rick are really tight. So are Yori and me. It’s actually about Yori,” Ron clarified.

“I see.” Dr. Possible knew that something was really eating him. “You haven’t done anything that we need to….well?”

“No!” Ron almost snapped. “I’d never…” Then he collected himself, reasserting control of himself. “We have an agreement with Mr. Sensei on that. Everything’s good as long as we don’t…you know.”

The older man nodded, feeling relieved that Ron hadn’t breached that frontier just yet. “So what’s on your mind then?”

“It’s…complicated. I mean, okay, when you asked the Question to Mrs. Dr. P., how did you know when to do it?” Ron inquired.

“When to? Oh, I see.” Dr. P. knew things were going well between Yori and Ron but he had figured they’d take longer to get to this point. “And how does she feel? About you both?”

“She’s good with it,” Ron assumed.

“I’m sure she is but how good is she?” Dr. P pursued. “Is she ready for that kind of a commitment? I’m not saying she doesn’t love you, Ronald. I’ve seen you two together. All I’m saying is be sure things have developed to that point. If they have, then ask. If not, give them more time.” Seeing Rick open the door and wheel Kim into the house. “Maybe you should talk to them. Just think on what I said, okay?” He walked over to the other teens. “Hi, Kimmie, how was your day, Sweetheart?”

“Great, Dad,” she replied as they hugged.

“Ronald’s waiting to talk with you. I think I’d best leave you all to it,” Dr. P. noted before leaving the room.

She exchanged looks with her boyfriend. As in the classroom, she could sense Ron’s uncharacteristic intensity about what was eating him. She knew though her BF needed to get it off of his chest. “Hey, Ron, sorry we’re late. Hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

“Nah. I’m cool. Your Dad and I talked. Hey, Rick, want to join us?” Ron invited.

“I was actually going to BN to get some stuff…give you and Kim your space. Want some nacos?” Rick offered.

Ron rolled his eyes. “Hey, we’re all good, right?” He motioned with his eyes toward the empty spot on the couch.

Even though he was Kim’s boyfriend, Rick appreciated the ground Ron had granted him over the previous year in that regard. As part of Team Possible, they all worked closely together. Just as Kim and Yori had learned to deal, so he and Ron had too. “I really appreciate that.” He took a seat beside her.

“So what’s the sitch, Ron?” she wondered.

“Is Yori okay?” Rick asked.

Ron nodded. “Yeah she’s cool especially since she and Miranda talk about things. Everything’s good in the hood, you know.”

“Seems so,” Kim agreed. “So you haven’t said what it is. Do tell.”

“You know you can tell us anything,” Rick emphasized.

Ron sighed. “Yeah I know. Thanks, guys.” He got up and paced back and forth.

Rufus popped his head out of Ron’s pocket and gazed up worried at his human.

Ron continued, “The last year’s been so awesome, you know? Being at Yamanuchi. Training again. Not feeling like a klutz. Yori’s really neat to be with. It’s great to be more than the Buffoon.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, feeling a bit of regret over that aspect of their partnership.

“Don’t stress, KP. I’m okay,” Ron reassured her. “I just wanna go further with Yori. I don’t wanna lose her.” He squirmed. “This tanks!”

“What does? Ron, what is going on?” she insisted.

Rick scratched his head. “Why are you so worked up?” Then he remembered a conversation with a fellow GJ agent from the previous week along those lines. In that, the other man was working up to propose to his GF. He stared at Ron. “Are you serious?”

“Is he serious about what? GUYS, WHAT IS THE SITCH ALREADY?” she demanded.

“He’s going to propose to her,” Rick deduced.

“Excuse me?” Now it was Kim’s turn to stare at her best friend. “Ron?”

Ron nodded. “He’s right, KP.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Why not? There are two girls that have noticed me, KP! Two ladies who like me like me! You and Yori! That’s it! Hell yeah, I thought about it. Hell yeah, I’m serious!” Ron retorted with an intensity that even she’d rarely seen in their friendship.

“Agreed,” she conceded. “But we aren’t even out of high school yet. Give it time! Who knows?”

“No, KP, not this time.” Ron bowed his head. “I figured that I’d let you know before Sensei and I talked.”

“Thanks, Ron. Just don’t scare her off. She’s the best with you.” She hugged him as best she could.

“I won’t, KP. And remember, you’re still my BF.”

She smiled at the sentiment. “Always. Just be careful, kay?”

“Yeah. Well, I’m gonna get ready to pack. Yori and I fly back tomorrow right after school. See ya. Behave yourselves,” Ron admonished playfully before leaving.

“He’ll think better of this in the morning,” Rick hoped.

She shook her head. “You don’t know Ron like I do, Rick. He has that ‘I’m going to do it even if it kills me’ look.” She frowned. “I just hope he doesn’t scare her off in the process.”


 

Chapter 3 [Next Day]
[Middleton HS—Gym]

Kim sat in the corner watching the cheer squad working through their routines. While it burned her to see Bonnie leading them, she knew that the leg injury had ended her tenure with the squad. I’d kick butt if I were out there.

“You don’t have to do this,” Rick noted.

“Team unity, Rick. Gotta support the group,” she reminded him. “You could be seeing Ron and Yori off.”

“Got to support the GF,” he quipped back while rubbing her shoulder.

“Stop!” She blushed even as the others finished their practice.

The other cheerleaders congregated around them.

“Hey, Kim. Thanks for coming by,” Angelique, the tall and willowy one, expressed.

“Means a lot,” Celina added.

“Hope you’re there next week,” Tara added. “Wish that Ron and Yori could be.”

“Tough part about being an exchange student, I guess,” Rick supposed. “He’s pulling for you all.”

“We don’t need the LOSER to do that,” Bonnie scoffed. “Hey, K, it must really suck to be on the sidelines.”

“I’m dealing, Bonnie,” Kim declared. “At least I make a difference.”

“You keep telling yourself, K. Meantime, that trophy’s going to be mine tomorrow,” Bonnie bragged before strutting away.

“Don’t worry, Kim. We know who our real captain is,” Angelique whispered to her before she and the others left.

“Listen to her, Kim,” Rick emphasized. “This isn’t your fault.”

“I know. I just hate letting Bonnie do it. Grrr,” she retorted; her eyes narrowing.


****


[25,000 feet over the Pacific]

Even as Kim put up with Bonnie’s bragging, Ron stared out the window at the clouds speeding past and the water far below. After leaving the Possibles’ house during the previous night, he returned to Smarty Mart and bought the ring.

“Suwe?” Rufus asked.

“Not you too!” Ron whined. “Yeah I’m sure.” He took the little box out of his pocket. Looking around to make sure she wasn’t in the area, he opened it to consider the engagement ring again. While he wasn’t sure how he’d be able to afford it, the owner still owed him and Kim from several years earlier and only charged him half price.

The ring—although a simple gold with a single diamond setting in its center—symbolized his hope in the future. This has gotta work! It’s gotta! He recalled how he felt while waiting for Kim to realize he was there. It was empty and cold to him. While she was his best friend, that unrequited love ate at him.

How she looked at Rick that night in the moonlight….

How he wished on that night she would’ve looked at him like that….

And how dark and cold the Abyss was….

It wasn’t until two weeks later that he realized that Yori had lingered in that same icy blackness since their first meeting during his exchange. While Kim had told him that Yori had “liked him liked him” during the “Gorilla Fist” mission, he hadn’t understood what that had meant.

That is—until she reached out to him that night at Bueno Nacho.

Her hand grasping his.

Together, the hands generating an intense light and glow, washing away the forbidding ebon.

He couldn’t lose that.

Rufus nodded, getting some concept about what was going on in his human’s head. “Okay.”

He snapped the box shut and slipped it back in his pocket. He and Sensei would need to talk in earnest. Granted he was dreading that too. He’ll kill me. Terrific.

“Ron San, what is it?” Yori wondered while sitting down beside him. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah I’m cool,” he assured her while giving her a smile.

“You seem so sad. Have I done anything?” she worried.

He looked at her incredulously. “You? Are you kidding? Nah. You’re fine. Just got a lot on my mind. Worried about KP. She was bumming over her leg and missing that cheer off. I just wish there was something we could do.”

“I could have broken Rockwaller San’s leg. That would deal with the problem,” she suggested.

“Yeah well…KP wouldn’t like that,” he pointed out. “Thanks for letting me worry about her.”

“She is our friend, Ron San. I know you love me.”

“Darn straight,” he affirmed while kissing her.

“You and your American style initiative,” she giggled playfully while leaning against him.

He hugged her shoulders with his left arm, savoring her softness.

She felt herself relaxing. <This is what Miri Chan meant.>

For the rest of the trip save for their meal and trips to the rest room, they stayed just like that.




Chapter 4 [That evening]

Kim sulked in her bedroom, hugging Pandaroo closely against herself. She felt cheated by the leg injury. While she was glad that the cheer squad was going to be in the finals, she wished that she could do the routine.

Bonnie’s smirk and attitude from that afternoon burned at her.

How I wish I could do it. She sighed. She knew that college and GJ training would be coming soon enough. Maybe Ron has it right. We’re going to be adults. Time to act like it.

Even adults need dreams, Kimberly Anne Possible.

“What? Who?” She sat up in shock, wondering where the mysterious female voice had come from. “Come out!” She saw the mists forming in the corner.

“Hello, Kim,” Deirdre noted while stepping into the room in her emerald robes. “The voice you hear is that of our goddess.” She bowed to the far corner of the room.

In it, a slender long haired woman surrounded in radiant brilliance appeared. Indeed, Deirdre. My thanks. And to you, Kimberly, for sacrificing so much for your friends. I am impressed by your commitment. Even if this realm is not mine, I can repay the debt. Hold still. Her eyes glowed.

The light washed over the teen heroine. She felt her leg burning and twitching. “What’s this?”

The healing. Hold still.

For almost a minute, the process continued before ceasing in a final brilliant flash of light. There. We’re finished.

Kim stared at her leg. The cast was gone. “What’s the sitch?”

“Try standing on it,” Deirdre directed.

Kim gingerly got up and put pressure on the leg. To her surprise, it didn’t buckle. It felt fine. “What? How?”

I told you. I healed you. Thank you, Kimberly Possible, for your assistance. With that, the light lady vanished from the area.

“Seems you can do that cheer off now, huh?” Deirdre supposed.

“How did you get her to come here?” Kim asked.

“A few prayers and your service to our cause. Sorry but I have to get going. Can’t let your parents find me here. We’re watching you and Ron,” the priestess noted before disappearing in a poof of mist again.

A minute later, Kim’s parents stuck their head in the door.

“Kimmie Cub, what? How?” her father demanded.

“I’m healed, Dad. It’s a miracle,” Kim declared.

Her mother walked over and inspected the place where the break had been. “She’s right, Jim. It’s as good as new. Walk for us, Kimmie.”

Kim walked out the door and down the stairs. Then she retraced her steps adding a cartwheel at the end.

“This has got to have something to do with that weird statue,” Jim supposed.

“Maybe. For now though, you’d best be getting your sleep, Young Lady. You’ve got a competition tomorrow,” Anne directed before they left.

Yes! I’m back! Kim pumped her fists in delight. Look out, Bonnie, because here I come!