Kim Possible: This Is Not Honor

(A/N: Last chapter, third up today.)

Are You Redeemable?

Yori sat by her brother's side, meekly resting her forehead against her balled hands. He wasn't waking up. Two days and he hadn't woken up. She sniffed and looked sadly once more at him. "Hirotaka? Brother, please wake up. Do not leave me," she pled yet again. She'd lost count of how many times she'd begged him to respond. No answer. For the first time since the incident, she sobbed, covering her mouth. He would never get up again. She shivered at the thought, weeping, hoping she were wrong.

"He will awaken, Yori," an old voice suddenly said from behind.

She turned meekly. Kim and Ron were behind him, looking tiredly down at the injured ninja. Finally she replied, "Sensei, how can you be so sure?"

"Because you and your brother share a bond no one will ever break, unless you yourselves wish its end. It is more powerful than any I have seen before. You are tied to each other closely, and as long as you keep your will alive, he will not pass on; just as you will not die as long as he wills, given that the wound gives you the slightest chance for life," Sensei answered.

"Oh, I get it. Like Yin and Yang, right?" Ron questioned.

"Ron, Chinese myth, not Japanese," Kim informed. "Besides, it's just an analogy. He's not serious. One person's life can't be bound to another's."

"Can't it, Kimberly? People have died of broken hearts before," Sensei remarked. Kim started and shared an uneasy glance with Ron. Automatically their hands reached out for each other, wrapping together.

KP

Just then there was a groan! The group swiftly looked down with gasps. "Hirotaka!" Yori exclaimed, seizing her brother's hand fearfully. Kim bit her lower lip, Ron bit his nails, and slowly the boy's eyes began to flicker, then finally weakly open.

"Yori, what has happened?" he questioned.

"You're alive!" she exclaimed, enveloping him in a tight hug. She didn't care about tradition, about rules, about discipline, or anything like that. He was alive! Now he remembered. He scowled a moment as he held her back, but all at once the scowl fell to a shocked expression, then uncertainty, then confusion.

"Hirotaka, what is it?" Kim questioned, noticing these changes. Yori pulled back slowly, curious as to what Kim meant. She too saw the confusion.

"We are most pleased you have survived, child. I can assure you, Monkey Fist will pay for his attempted murder," Sensei stated; but something in his eyes told Hirotaka that the old man knew far more about these changes than he let on. It was only talk, meant to draw him out. Fine, he'd take the bait.

Hirotaka answered in a surprised tone, "Attempted murder? No Sensei, you are wrong."

"Wrong? Wrong! How can he be wrong! You just got run through by Monty Freak!" Ron exclaimed in shock. "Dude, he was so ready to kill."

It was then that Hirotaka stated something that took them all completely by surprise. "If he had wanted me dead, I would be dead," the boy declared. The others gasped.

KP

"Wait, wait, wait, are you saying Monkey Fist…" Kim began. "No way... He's not afraid to get his hands dirty."

"Perhaps not, but I tell you honestly that in my fury with him, I forgot myself and all of my training. As I went in for the kill, everything, every vital organ, was open and easily accessible, yet he missed. Have you even known him to miss such a broad target?" Hirotaka replied.

"Well no, but seriously?" Kim asked, still shocked. Yori looked pale, and Ron's jaw was dropped along with Rufus'.

"He meant to miss, Kim. He meant to miss," Hirotaka confirmed.

"Then perhaps now is a good time to present you with this, Yori," Sensei declared, drawing a slip of paper from his robes. Yori looked startled as he handed it to her. Nervously she looked at it, not daring to open the object quite yet. "It was delivered to me just recently by a monkey. A ninja monkey which appeared to have been hurt recently, but apparently cared for," Sensei declared. Yori swallowed. She instantly knew which Monkey Ninja it had been. She looked at the paper nervously, then slowly she opened it, reading aloud these words:

Yori,

I am not an honorable man. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Honor is for the weak. Honor is pointless. However, I am capable of it. Look, your brother; alive and well. Now my debt of honor has been paid. Do not expect the same mercy the next time our paths cross.

Endurably, Lord Montgomery Fiske (Alias: Monkey Fist)

The group exchanged all around glances, Sensei the only one who seemed unfazed. "Okay, this is just weird," Ron stated.

"Oh yeah," Kim stated, looking worried.

"Uh huh," Rufus agreed. The three ninjas remained silent. Yori never looked away from the message, reading it over and over.

KP

The ninja girl sat on the roof of the school, still holding the message, looking out over the horizon solemnly. "Um, should we do something?" Ron questioned Sensei.

"What do you think, Stoppable-San?" Sensei inquired.

"Oh come on Sensei, not now. She looks really bugged," Ron begged. "Just tell me what to do."

"I'll go talk to her Ron," Kim assured, putting a hand on his shoulder. She sighed then added, "But if Hirotaka had the strength I'd suggest he go."

"It would be better for her, yes, but Hirotaka is in no condition to discuss matters with his sister," Sensei declared, refocusing his attention on the injured boy. Kim nodded and headed out. Ron stayed behind, however, watching after her. It was then that Sensei questioned, "Stoppable-San, I am surprise you did not go as well. Is there something you wish to talk about?"

"Aw Sensei, why do you have to ask questions you know the answer to?" Ron complained, though he moved to sit on the chair next to Hirotaka's bed in order to speak.

KP

"Yori, what's up?" Kim questioned, coming up to the ninja girl and sitting next to her on the roof.

Startled, Yori looked up at her, confused. She caught up to the happenings, though, and relaxed, greeting, "Kim, I apologize for my behavior. I am worried for Hirotaka."

"Is that all?" Kim gently prompted.

Yori was silent a moment, then finally answered, "No." She looked at the message again, then questioned, "Do you think he is redeemable?"

Kim cringed. Oh this was so a Sensei discussion, not her. After a moment she answered, "I believe everyone is redeemable."

"Even one as consumed with power as Lord Monkey Fist?" Yori asked.

Kim was silent a moment. Finally she said, "Yes. I didn't want him to die. I never wanted that. It was power that got him there. We can only hope he gets a clue and gives it up. He can't win, and if he doesn't stop I doubt he'll live a long life. Yori, I wish I could be more help, but you know me. This kind of discussion isn't my bag."

"On the contrary Kim, I believe such an ability is hidden deep within you," Yori assured. "You just have not brought it out yet."

KP

"All right Sensei, lay it on me. What's the big lesson?" Ron questioned, sitting cross legged in front of the man and going into a meditation pose.

"Lesson," Rufus agreed, clambering out and sitting cross legged as well.

"How can I give you a lesson, young Stoppable-San, when I do not even know of your questions?" Sensei inquired.

Ron blinked at him then grinned innocently, shrugging. He looked down again and asked, "Sensei, do you ever feel like something's wrong when it's right, or you know, something like that?"

"I do not understand you Stoppable-San," Sensei replied.

As if. Ron knew he understood perfectly. "Is Monkey Fist worth sparing!" Ron finally burst out.

"Do you feel that he is?" Sensei questioned.

"Well I don't know. Aside from the fact he's the only villain who remembers my name on a regular basis, he's bad road. I mean really bad road," Ron stated.

"Yet you ask me this question. Do you see something redeemable in him Stoppable-San?" Sensei questioned.

Ron cringed, then answered, "Well it's not like I want anyone to die. The last thing I want to do is actually kill the guy, monkey obsessed freak or not. I mean he likes monkeys. Ew, monkey's here. They hold stuff with their feet."

"So you do not see him as redeemable, yet you cannot picture him deserving of death either," Sensei summarized.

"Okay, why didn't you go talk to Yori about this?" Ron demanded, eyes narrowing in a pout. He knew full well those were probably her very concerns.

"Because, young Stoppable-San, you and Monkey Fist are bound together by a long dead power. I sense there is a greater turmoil inside of you. Please, tell me what it is," Sensei declared.

KP

Ron shifted uneasily, then looked down, saying, "I don't know, Sensei. I guess it's just a little uncertainty. I mean, with me being the Ultimate Mystical Monkey Master and all. I mean, I didn't even know the difference between and chimp, a gorilla, and a monkey. As far as I'm concerned, they're all one and the same. I was never really that great at all the cool kung pow moves Kim pulls off. Not until I got the powers, that is. Well, I guess I had some ability before, but even then it was usually Kim that dealt with the hand to hand combat against Monty Freak."

"You feel inadequate, Stoppable-San?" Sensei questioned, though he knew the answer very well.

"Okay, look Sensei, Monkey Fist was the one who spent his whole life researching these powers. Monkey Fist was the one that gathered scroll after scroll, who went for relic after relic collecting them from the farthest corners of the globe. He was the one who trained for weeks on end deep in the jungle. He was the one who banded together an army of butt kicking Monkey Ninjas. He was the one they returned to even after learning I was the true Ultimate Mystical Monkey Master. He's the one who loves them, loves them Sensei, where I don't even like them. In what universe am I deserving of the title of Mystical Monkey Master! He did all the work, he threw himself into it blood, sweat, tears, and all. I would have been content with my normal life! Well, normal considering, you know, the whole saving the world thing. Heck, I've found myself referring to him as the Ultimate Mystical Monkey Master! He's so much more deserving of it than me it's not even funny."

Sensei listened patiently. When Ron was done his rant, he said, "Do you really believe that he is more deserving of it than you?"

"Well, yeah," Ron replied.

"I see… Ah Stoppable-San, you have much to learn. You two and Rufus-San are the only ones left upon this Earth who possess Mystical Monkey Powers. Once you are all gone, they will fade from the surface of the world forever. Yes, he has done everything and anything to take on the title of Mystical Monkey Master. Yes, in that sense he does deserve it more than you. But that is not the sense that counts," Sensei proclaimed.

Ron looked up curiously, asking, "Um, run that by me again?"

Sensei smirked, then continued, "You see, Stoppable-San, like a raging fire, your abilities can be used for either good or evil, and they can serve to either save the world, or destroy it. He wants the power for simply that, the sake of power; the chance to take over the world; for no other reason except to simply possess it. He has become consumed by his passion. As for you, you have used these powers for good. You have saved the world with them. The moment they came to fruition you proved yourself worthy of their possession and the title with them. More worthy than he will ever be. Perhaps, if he had chosen a different path, destiny would have taken another course, and you, young man, would not have been put into this position you find yourself in. It is two different motives you both have, and with the passing of the evil the good will prevail, and this world will not risk having to suffer. It is why I chose to end Monkey Fist's reign, against my conscience. If you feel, however, that you will be able to keep him at bay when and if his stolen powers, his stolen destiny, truly do come to fruition-as yours already have-or if he decides again to usurp you, then I will forget this endeavor and leave Lord Fiske to his fate, wherever his path of power may lead him to."

KP

"Yeah… Yeah, I understand! All right. Rufus, give me some!" Ron whooped, standing up excitedly and clenching his fist.

"Oh yeah!" Rufus chimed, clambering up and giving Sensei a high five.

"Then you feel as if you will be able to handle him, when the time comes?" Sensei questioned.

"You mean if," Ron corrected. "Totally dude!"

"I mean when," Sensei gravely stated. Ron's smile fell. After a moment he looked uncertainly at the roof, where Yori and Kim were laughing, then back. He swallowed then nodded seriously. "Then I will call Yamanouchi together and lift the price from Lord Montgomery Fiske's head. You and Kim, though, will still have to deal with him as you always have."

"No problemo Sensei. And thanks," Ron gratefully said.

"It is no trouble Stoppable-San. I suppose I must explain as much to Yori, as well," Sensei declared. They looked back. Kim and Yori were walking towards them across the roof.

KP

They entered, seeing Sensei's grave expression, and their giggling stopped. Gently, slowly, Sensei explained once again. Yori grinned widely, excitedly, gratefully. Honor would remain intact after all! Kim, however, wasn't so eager. Sensei had said to kill Monkey Fist was Yori's destiny. How, then, could this possibly work? She met Sensei's eyes, so full of deep wisdom and understanding that she didn't dare think on the possibilities.

Only time would tell, she supposed, but she feared for her friend. And her lover. She wanted to trust Ron could do it. He had before, but as Ron himself acknowledged, compared to Monkey Fist he knew nothing about his powers at all. He didn't understand them, he hadn't researched them in minute detail. When the time came, could Ron really hope to hold his own? Finally she determined he had to. He just had to. He couldn't loose, because if he lost, then she'd lose him.