Short chapter but I'm preparing for the long awaited scene!
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Ch.09
Shego's mind and emotions were in chaos at what Ron was doing. 'Why? Why are you doing this, Ron?' Shego asked herself and still, no understanding magically appeared. So, Shego kept her eyes locked on Ron's, while struggling to hold onto her anger. She could see the pain hidden behind his calm expression and underneath that, guilt, shame and regret. 'He's really just trying to apologize!' Shego realized and her anger started easing at a visible rate since the temperature was dropping.
Yori, who didn't realize she had started crying at some point in her pleading, thanked Shego. "Thank you, Shego-san!"
Shego still looked into Ron's eyes and finally spoke. "Apology accepted, Stoppable. Now, don't keep being an idiot and heal your arm."
Ron remained silent staring at her and with the Lotus Blade as a dagger, brought the blade to his flesh and began meticulously cutting.
"What the hell, Stoppable?! I told you to heal yourself! Not self mutilate!!!" Shego yelled.
"Stoppable-san!" Yori also said in surprise but quickly remembered something and sighed in relief.
"Just removing the dead tissue so there are no complications later." Ron explained.
Shego wasn't sure if to believe him until she noticed that Yori seemed much calmer now. 'I guess he's telling the truth.'
When practically all that was left of Ron's arm was bone, Shego and Yori, both watched the flesh, blood, veins and muscle from above his elbow begin to visibly heal along the rest of Ron's arm. They both failed to notice Ron's contemplating gaze as he looked at his arm. Within a few minutes of tense silence, Ron's arm once again looked good as new.
Yori, upon seeing Ron healed and Shego calmer spoke up. "Shego-san, have you decided on what to do?"
"Yori, right?" Shego asked and upon seeing her nod, grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the side and away from Ron. "Why don't you just step up and save Stoppable yourself? It's obvious to me you have feelings for the guy so why do you keep pushing me to do it?!"
Yori blushed but at the same time couldn't help sigh. "I would love it if my Yin Qi was enough to stabilize Stoppable-san Yang Qi but it wouldn't suffice. I simply lack enough Yin Qi to be suitable." 'No matter how much I wish to be!' Yori thought.
"... I see." Shego said as she could clearly see what Yori had left unsaid. "Is this really the only way to help both Stoppable and me?" Shego asked again.
"Yes!" Yori confirmed, though she looked like she wish to say otherwise.
"Damn it" Shego muttered.
"What is wrong, Shego-san?" Yori asked, thinking that Shego found Ron as an unappealing partner. "Although Stoppable-san may seem average, his potential outstrips any other by far. You've seen for yourself what he is like. Loyal, kind, selfless and strong! Can you really ask for anything else?"
Seeing the slightly peeved look on Yori's face, Shego bit her lip and knew that Yori had misunderstood the conflict going on within her as disliking her choice in partner, but that had yet to cross Shego's mind at all. "You don't understand!" Shego finally said.
"Then help me understand, Shego-san!" Yori pleaded for she knew time was running out for both of them.
"I promised on my parents grave that only one man shall ever be with me as a woman! If I do this with Stoppable, I will never allow another man to touch me." Shego admitted. "I'll likely spend the rest of my life alone!! I also know for a fact that as much as you like Stoppable, he likes princess, Kim Possible!!!" Shego added.
"I... I... I understand, Shego-san." Yori finally said. 'I can't save Stoppable-san by convincing Shego-san to make an exception that I myself wouldn't make!' Yori looked dejected, accepting that the Ron she fell in love with would soon be gone forever. Dejected, Yori went to where Ron was sitting with Wade to the side.
~~~
When Shego pulled Yori aside to talk, Ron brought Wade to the livingroom of the Possible house construct and lays him on the couch, then sits down to think and reflect of the changes he was undergoing. 'My energy levels are seeing a near vertical increase. My processing, understanding and manipulation of said energy are also similarly increasing. My memory recollection and retention has increased exponentially, to the point that I can remember things from when I was one year old and earlier. I can perfectly manipulate my body as an extention of my mind, almost to the point of reconstruction but I'm losing touch with who I am.' Ron ascertained. 'But would who I am be worth ignoring my feelings for KP? Can I physically share my body with someone I don't love? Do I have the strength to take on the responsibility that preserving who I am requires?' Ron pondered.
Then, Ron thought of Mrs Dr P, the woman he couldn't help view as his mother. 'What should I do, Mrs Dr P? Why couldn't you be here so that I could ask?' With that line of thought, Ron couldn't help remembering all his moments with Ann Possible and Kim. Every memory was dissected to the smallest detail for the lessons Ann had thought him. Little by little, Ron processed everything he learned from Ann, all his memories of Kim and who he was as a person and made his decision. 'Thanks, Mrs Dr P!' All of this was done in the time it took Yori to talk with Shego and enter the livingroom.
Ron noted her expression and concluded that her talk with Shego had not gone as planned. In a corner of his mind he felt both relieved and disappointed. 'Disappointed, why?' Ron asked himself and remembered how Shego grew to trust him at her lowest and most vulnerable. He could remember it plain as day. Shego who was always guarded from everyone, trusted him with her life! 'But will she trust me with her heart? Can I be trusted with her heart?'
As Ron observed Yori struggle on how to break the news to him, while thinking over it himself, he reaffirmed his decision. 'If Shego herself decides to go through with it, I'll make her my wife!'
No sooner than that thought formed, Shego entered the room. She seemed conflicted and had her arms wrapped protectively around herself. "I'll do it." Shego said.
"Shego-san!" Yori gasped in shock, then bowed deeply to Shego. She was greatful to Shego for what she'd chosen. 'You'll survive, Stoppable-san, even if it is by embracing another!'
Ron looked at Shego and could tell from her expression that she was conflicted with Yori's bow. Then Ron focused his attention on Yori and couldn't help but notice an expression he himself had hidden from Kim, every time she was dating someone. 'Yori has feelings for me!' The realization left him awestruck and cracked his calm expression. 'Why do things keep getting more complicated!'
Sighing, Ron turned his attention back to Shego. "Are you absolutely certain, Shego?"
Shego looked Ron in the eye and answered. "Yes."
~~~
Shego was both nervous and conflicted. Conflicted because as much as she was accepting Ron as the only man she'd be with, Shego was also going to be joined to the man Yori clearly loved and not far from her to boot. As for her nervousness, what could she say, it was going to be her first and likely, only time embracing a man. 'Should I hope the experience is memorable or not, so that I won't be tortured by it for the rest of my life?' Shego asked herself.
Shaking free of her thoughts, Shego looked at Ron and spoke. "Let's do this, Stoppable, before it becomes to late for either of us."