The Monkey King and the Strawberry
This was something I typed up a long time ago hoping to publish. But it got buried under some things. Now I'm going to upload and finish it while I work on some other things. Hope you enjoy. Please feel free to favorite, comment, and follow.
Summary: Ichigo is an animal behaviorist that is sent to China to help find out what is keeping construction workers from clearing the land and delaying their project and why. They believe that it is some sort of large animal and want to relocate it somewhere safer so they can continue with their work. He agrees to help with the capture all while trying to stop Aizen ,an infamous poacher, who would like nothing more than to have another rare animal hide mounted on his wall. But the forest and mountain have a powerful ally who would stop at nothing to protect his turf and win over our lovely strawberry.
Chapter 1
Ichigo sighed and looked out of the plane window. Despite it being a beautifully clear and sunny day, he couldn't help but be a little depressed. "I hope Shiro's okay." I murmured. A hard pat on the shoulder brought me out of my thoughts and back to reality. "Cheer up Ichigo! We're going to China, so stop being so gloomy!" I turned to glare up at my friend and colleague Rukia. The petite raven haired girl stood behind me with a broad smile on her face and her arms crossed over her chappy the bunny t-shirt. "Stop worrying about that dumb old cat." "That 'dumb old cat' as you put it is a three hundred pound man eating tiger." I seethed. She shrugged and sat down in the aisle seat next to me. "Cat. Tiger, same thing according to all that animal mumbo jumbo you go on about."
Sitting in the cargo hold on the plane was my pet albino Bengal tiger, Shiro. I got him a few years back in India after poachers killed his mother. He kind of grew attached to me so I had no choice but to bring him back. We've been together ever since. "First of all, it's not mumbo jumbo. You're a biologist to so you should know the difference. Secondly, you know why I'm worried. Remember the last time I left Shiro behind to go on a job." The first time I ever left Shiro behind was two years ago. I had to go take a census of the species and population of penguins in Antarctica for a project. I left Shiro in the care of some friends at an animal sanctuary, hoping that things would go smoothly. Boy, was that a disaster. We were halfway to our destination when I got a rather disturbing call.
As it turns out right after I left, Shiro threw a big tantrum and began to trash the place. He would growl and swipe at anyone who came near him. In the end I had to turn back and go get him. When he saw me he pounced on me and would not let me out of his sight for days. So now I bring him with me on most of my jobs. Rukia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say." She propped up her boot clad feet on the seat in front of us and laid back. "Do you know who else is coming with us?" I scratched the back of my head as I thought back to the preflight briefing. "Umm…There's Urahara…" He was leading this expedition. "…Yourichi…" Our medic. "… and Kenpachi and Ikkaku." They were our protection and the main guys that trapped the animals we needed. No sooner than I had spoken did the rest of the team come in.
The first one in was Yourichi, all decked out in her usual tan shorts and white button down shirt. She looked up from digging through her carry on bag to give us a quick smile before taking a seat in front of us. Next came Ikkaku in all of his bald glory. He spotted me sitting near the back and waved. I nodded my head in his direction as he took a seat near the front. Then in ran in a small girl with bright pink hair. She ran up and down the aisles laughing happily before jumping in the row two seats away from us. She stood up in the chair and looked back at us a huge smile on her face. "Hi Ichigo!" she called out. "Hello Yachiru." I said with a small smile. "We're going to China!" she said happily. "I know, exciting isn't it? She nodded vigorously. "Yeah! When we get there Ken-chan said he would teach me how to catch snakes."
I barely suppressed a laugh. It would be just like Kenpachi to teach his daughter how to handle dangerous animals. "Where is Kenpachi?" She points at the door. Coming in after Yachiru was a large monster of a man. He was wearing a tight black undershirt that was stretched tight across his muscular frame and a pair of large faded camouflage pants. He was so large he had to duck to get into the plane. His single dark eye panning over the few occupants before settling on Yachiru then me. Rukia elbowed me in the ribs and gave me a sly smile. I ignored both looks and continued to stare out the window. It's not like I didn't like Kenpachi, it's just that he was a little too persistent with trying to make me his boyfriend.
Seriously, just one little fight and he was hooked on me. Last but not least came in Urahara, striped hat on and fan in hand. He closes the door and turns to address us. "Okay guys just a quick reminder before we take off. When we land we have to meet our driver who will take us to the construction site. From there the supervisor will fill us in on the more current details of their situation." With that he takes a seat near the front and the planes engine starts before lurching forward. Rukia and I buckle up as the plane begins to take off. "Next stop China." She whoops happily. "My third continent." I smile and look out of the window, watching as the clouds rolled by underneath us ready for a new adventure and another discovery.
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When we touched down in China the first thing I did was grab my luggage, which was a full backpack and a slightly overstuffed canvas duffel bag. The second thing I did was go down to the cargo hold to check on Shiro. I hopped of the plane and calmly made my way to the back where Ikkaku and Kenpachi were sliding Shiro's cage down the ramp. Inside the cage Shiro paced back and forth excitedly, happy that the ride was over. "Hey Shiro, how was the ride?" I reached into the cage to pet him on his white stripped head. He purred happily and licked at my hand with his rough pink tongue. He padded up to the door and pawed at the lock. "Sorry boy I can't let you out yet. Not until we get to where we're going." I laughed when he growled and laid back down on the cage floor.
We were now near Xinzhou, China in the Shanxi province. When the supervisor Urahara mentioned got here he would drive us the rest of the way to our destination, the forest around the base of the Taihang mountains where there was a small camp set up. A construction crew wanted to clear some of the forest there to add in some building for a new tourist attraction. The mountain itself was already a tourist attraction with its natural caves and pathways plus the forest was a beautiful place to relax. I didn't agree with them cutting down the trees and disrupting the animals and this place's natural beauty but I could understand why they would want to build something there. (I did my research : p).
Kenpachi came down the ramp and joined me and the others with Yachiru riding on his shoulders, holding onto his ponytail for support. "Ichi, can I play with Shiro?" she asked with wide expectant eyes. "Not now kiddo. Maybe later." She pouts and climbs down from Kenpachi's broad sholders go bug Yourichi who had a soft spot for the small girl. Kenpachi smirks at me, a feral grin on his face as he leered over my body. "You better watch out Ichigo, Kenpachi looks like he'll pounce on you at any moment." Rukia whispered as she walked up next to me. I snorted and looked over in the direction that Urahara was standing talking with a short young looking man with long black hair tied back in a waist long braid. He was dressed in a red t-shirt and light blue jeans.
When they finished talking the walked over to where we were, everyone stopping their conversations to listen. "Everyone. This," He motions to the man with his fan. "Is He-ping, the one who called us to help with his problem." "Hello everyone. I'm glad to see that you all made it here safely." He spoke perfect Japanese with only a slight accent. "I'm the supervisor of the crew that you will be working beside." He gave us a bright smile, his gaze panning over us before landing on the cage next to me. "Woah!" He turned to Urahara. "So that's why you wanted me to bring the extra truck." Urahara barely hid a smile behind his open fan. "That's the pet of our main animal expert, Ichigo." He moitions towards me. He-ping stares at me with unsuppressed amazement.
"You have a pet tiger." he said incredulously. I shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "It's a long story." "One we don't have time for." anounced Urahara. "Grab your stuff and get in the van. We have another long ride ahead of us before we reach the site." Everyone picks up their things and head around the plane to the twelve passenger van on the other side. Behind the van was a large white flatbed truck presumably for Shiro's cage. Ikkaku and Kenpachi take the cage over to the truck and begin to put it into the back. "Hey Ichigo, I'll ride with you so you won't be all lonely." After a great deal of inner struggle I relent and let her ride with me. Another two hours of riding with Rukia in addition to the four on the plane. Oh joy. I hop in the drivers side and start up the engine. I pull up behind the van and follow it as it starts down the cracked paved road.
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After a couple hours of driving, passing a few small villages and then nothing but forest we turn down a dirt road. Thirty minutes later we pull into a large clearing. We park next to a couple large pieces of machinery and make our way out. I get out and stretch my stiff legs, rubbing them to get some blood circulating again. "I never want to sit in another car ever again." I declare. With stiff shaky legs I walk around the back to let Shiro out. He's bound to be all stir-crazy since he's been in that cage for a long time. As soon as I came into view Shiro began to pace back and forth at the anticipation of freedom. "Hold your horses. You'll be out in a second." I pull out a small silver key and began to work on the locks on the cage door unaware of the many pairs of eyes staring at me.
When I unlocked the last of the three locks Shiro didn't wait for me to even attempt to open the door before he lept down onto the ground. He pawed at the grass and stretched arching his back, letting out a small yawn. "Better?" By way of a response he began to rub against my legs while purring like an overgrown house cat. Shiro was as tall as my waist on all fours and even taller than me on two but he was careful not to be too rough. As I stretched one last time and grabbed my bags I was aware of all the workers staring at Shiro and me. Occasionally they would whisper to each other in Chinese and make hand gestures. "Why do they look so amazed?" I asked Rukia.
Every time I brought Shiro anywhere I got looks and stares but I have longed since gotten used to it but this felt different. "Tigers, especially white ones, are a very important part of our culture. To see one brings good luck." I jumped when He-ping's voice came out of nowhere to provide that explanation. "They think that you are a deity of some sort to bring them good fortune and that that tiger is your servant." He-ping was standing a ways away from us while the others from our party were on the other side of the clearing setting up camp near the workers. "Really?" asked Rukia giving me a smirk. He nodds. "They feel as if you will bring about a great change." "I hope so."
Rukia and I make our way over to the others so we could set up our tents and prepare for our search. After that was done I took out all the cases with the huting cameras, sensors, and trackers to set up our perimeter. Ikkaku and Kenpachi went out to set up the camera with Rukia going along to help while Yourichi helped me set up the monitors for our ground zero that I would be in charge of. Yachiru was playing in a patch of flowers and Urahara was speaking to the workers with He-ping acting as the translator to get more information about the thing we were looking for. When Rukia, Ikkaku, and Kenpachi got back Urahara gave us a quick rundown. "From what these guys are telling me the animal we're looking for is large and fast. So due to that they have never gotten a good clear look at it, but from what they have seen they can tell that it has reddish brown fur and it usually spends it's time in the trees. They don't think it's any animal they've ever seen in this region before, so lets try to proceed with caution."
At that last part everyone looked at Rukia and me. "Oh come on! That was one time." I argue. "So," Says Urahara continuing on. "we will all be scouting in groups of two. Yourichi and me, Ichigo and Rukia, and Kenpachi and Ikkaku. We will keep in contact with the walkie-talkies and Ichigo will be monitoring the cameras and our locations. Everyone got that?" We all muttered our yeses. "Then lets get started. Kenpachi and Ikkaku grab your gear and start heading west we'll go to the east." We all went our separate ways with me and Rukia watching the moniters for the hunting cameras and everyone else's personal camera. "So Rukia," I say as I leaned back on Shiro who was laying down behind me. "how are you going to cause trouble this time?" Rukia cocked her head to the side as if in thought. "Nothing this time. I decided to take a break and relax from my usual routine. Besides if I cause any more trouble big brother might keep me from going on any trips." I laugh, looking over the monitors as everyone made their way deeper into the forest.
"Ichigo!" I let out a small 'oof' as Yachiru jumped into my lap a bundle of flowers in both of her hands. "I made you and Rukia-chan something." She reached up and placed a flower wreath on my head and then went over to put one on Rukia's. I fought to keep the scowl off my face as Rukia laughed and hugged the small girl. "They're so pretty." cooed Rukia. "Why don't you go make some for the others. I'm sure they would love one too." She beamed and ran over to the patch of flowers to make more. "What's wrong Ichigo? Don't you want to look pretty?" giggled Rukia as I took of the wreath. "Hell no." I growled. Both scientists went back and forth with each other unaware of the pair of eyes secretly watching them from above.
A few boring minutes later the walkie-talkie came to life as Urahara came on to check in. "Ichigo. Rukia. How are things on the other cameras?" I picked up the small device and press the button on the side to send out a reply. "Nothing so far. How are things on your end?" The line was silent for a while, his monitor showing him and Yourichi walking along the edge of a small stream into a closely packed cluster of trees. "Nothing much here too. We have seen some animals but nothing like what the workers here are describing. Though we have heard some unusual noises." The camera shook a little as he stepped over something out of the lenses line of sight. He stopped while Yourichi continued ahead, disappearing around a large rock. "Unusual how?" I asked a little intrigued. "Unusual like…well…like they could be animal but they could be something else."
I ponder this for a bit before speaking again. "Something else?" "I know it sounds weird but I-" A loud cracking sound broke out over the walkie-talkie followed by an angry sounding yell. Urahara's camera jerks as he turns in the direction of where the sounds were coming from, which happened to be the direction that Yourichi went. "Urahara! What was that!?" He doesn't answer. He runs towards the large rock the camera shaking like crazy. I caught a glimpse of something white and blurry before both the camera and walkie-talkie burst into static. "Urahara!" No reply. "Urahara, report! Now!" Still no reply. "Damn it!" I slammed down the useless device ready to smash it to pieces when Rukia, who was silent during this whole exchange put a hand on my shoulder. "Don't. You need to calm down. We can't help them if they really are in serious trouble. Call in the others so we can organize a search." I nod slightly. I call back Kenpachi and Ikkaku to meet us back at base.
About thirty minutes later they were back. After a short while of explaining the situation we grab our gear and begin heading in the direction that Urahara and Yourichi disappeared in. As we neared the edge of the clearing I heard a faint rustling sound. Before I could focus in on the sound Yourichi came stumbling out of the foliage. "Yourichi!" I caught her as she stumbled over to us. Her clothes were messy and dirty like she had recently gotten into a fight and her hair was out of its usual pony tail and hung down around her face in limp disheveled strands. "Yourichi, are you ok?" asked Rukia as she moved next to me to look the poor woman over. "I-I'm fine. Just a little caught off guard." Caught off guard? I knew for a fact that Yourichi was a world class martial artist. There is no way that anything human or animal could surprise her. There was another loud rustle from the same spot and another person stepped into the clearing across from us. The first thing I saw was bright electric blue hair.