The waves by the shore swished and swayed and "Shhhh"-ed, touching the sand only to quickly run back down to the ocean. A few multi-colored crabs climbed atop rocks, bathing in the bright white sun. Seashells, fish, and starfish twinkled and shook under shallow water, scattering as soon as Chiro threw a thin, satiny black rock in attempt to make it skip.

"Aw, man," Chiro muttered, watching it plop and sink below the depths of the sea.

"Hmm...." Sprx picked up another slender pebble. It was pale in color and had the feel of chalk. He clasped it in his hand, ready to fling it when he saw the concern in Chiro's face deepen. "What's up, kid?" He asked, pausing and taking a seat next to him.

"It's nothing," Chiro mumbled, closing his eyes slowly .

Sprx frowned in irritation. "C'mon, kid, tell me what's wrong."

Chiro took a deep breath, and then let it out. "It's nothing, really. It's just... the adults in Shuggazoom... they... treat me like a little kid." Chiro chuckled a little bit. "You'd think that saving their town a million times would earn you a little respect."

Sprx tilted his head, fascinated. "Now when did this happen?"

Chiro kicked a sleeping crab off a small boulder near his foot into the water. He sat up uncomfortably and noticed that Sprx was still waiting for the answer. He sighed.

"Okay... A few days ago, after that one battle with the Skeleton Kings' minions at the fairground...?"

"Yeah. I remember. Go on."

Chiro looked the other way. "A couple from a near by store told me I was too young to meddle with super hero business. They... they asked me to live with them."

Sprx jumped and stood up, a few furs from his tail sticking up. "What? What did you say?!"

Sprx's unnerved state made Chiro laugh, despite his uncomfortable situation. "Don't worry. I said no."

The red monkey relaxed and slowly sat back down. "Oh, okay... good." He rubbed his forehead and grinned at Chiro. "Don't scare me like that, got it, kid?" He elbowed him. "You're sticking with us, whether you like it or not."

"Yeah, but that still doesn't solve my problem," Chiro picked up another rock and hurled it into the water. "I am just a kid." It plunked with a big splash.

Sprx gazed at the boy, blinking with interest. He then reverted his gaze toward the sky and smiled. "You are just a kid."

Chiro blushed with embarrassment and refused the urge to look annoyed.

"Look, kid," Sprx grasped Chiro's shoulder, making him turn toward him. Sprx held out the rock. "See this? It's ugly. You have to admit it."

Chiro cocked his eyebrow, wondering where the heck he was going with this. "Yeah...?"

Sprx twirled it around in his finger. He then stopped it and captured it in his palm. "But it's perfect to throw in the ocean... am I right?"

"Yeah...?"

"So you see," Sprx swiftly dislodged the pebble to the sea. "It isn't the appearance that counts." The rock skipped six times before it finally sank. "It's about how far you can go."

Chiro stared at Sprx in amazement. After about two minutes of solemn silence, Chiro suddenly burst out laughing. Sprx widened his eyes and then narrowed them with vex. "What's so funny?!"

"You..." Chiro kept right on laughing. "...You sound like Antauri."

Sprx's expression softened greatly and he then went on and joined him in his flurry of laughter.

"You're right," Sprx said, wiping a small teardrop in his eye. "I have to stop hanging out with that guy."

"Not that it's a bad thing," Chiro said briskly.

"Yeah..." Sprx agreed.

Chiro stood up and hit his pants, causing a cloud of dust to fly off. He smiled at the golden fading sun as it set below the purple and pink ocean.

"I'm not a big fan of water," Chiro heard Sprx say breathlessly. "But the beach is sure nice to be at when the sun goes down."