Disclaimer: rawr baby
A/N: sorry there was no continuation to my last story! But I really REALLY couldn't think of anything to follow it which wouldn't be repeating what I'd done. If anyone wants to write chapters for it then you can and I'll put them in with your pen name so people can send reviews to you.
Thanks to reviewers for my last story:
Dark-Tailz: Thanks for the idea! Sorry I won't be continuing. You can write a chapter if you like, I'll send all kudos to you.
Blackrose: Thanks for the list too and the OC, Nami, as well as an idea to go in the story! Uber-cool!
Z: Merci beaucoup mon ami! waves a french flag
Xiaolin Monkey: Yay another victim I mean volunteer, whom I shall take good care of... yeah... very good care (laughs evilly) and I think Zak should meet Zakuro.
TheOneToRuleThemAll: (gasp) please do not eat me, Mother. I will try hard for you TT
Fairy Whisperings: Lol indeed there probably would be!
4Evermonkeyfan: Thank you very much! Can you send me an e-mail when your latest fic is ready? isn't letting me use many functions in my account, i.e. favouriting authors.
Twister91: Yes you do Onyx, I know you do. I have my sources which tell me so!
The team had all decided it was time for some off-planet training and so had opted to use the Stripe Team's home world, whose wild and freakish weather would definitely challenge them as individuals and a team.
Rightly enough, some of the team members were worried about whether the weather would be too tough for them.
A small white, pink and blue winged monkey sat twisting her tail gently with nerves as they travelled in the large Super Robot they called home,
"A-are you really sure this will be safe?" she asked nervously, watching as they got further and further from their home world, Shugazoom. A yellow monkey with pink eyes patted her shoulder comfortingly,
"Don't worry, Ichi! You'll be fine! We'll all be there to protect you, and besides, Antauri said all non-offensive members can stay at the camp in case any first aid is needed" reasoned Nova, smiling at the much shorter monkey who seemed visibly relieved at this information.
Both girls, however, tensed and turned when they heard a snort from a corner. They looked over and saw another yellow monkey there; only this one had white stripes and orange eyes. Nova scowled at him and put her hands on her hips,
"What was that snort for?" she asked, well demanded was more like it but by Nova's standards this was asking. The yellow monkey looked undeterred and leant slowly off the wall and stretched leisurely before turning to the two females and smirking at them,
"Simple, it was to show how ridiculous I think you two are being over a little bad weather" his eyes looked at Nova mockingly and made her grit her teeth in frustration. Ichigo, however, didn't seem as bothered by this arrogance and sighed,
"Citrine..." she started softly, "we're not used to your weather" she looked at him steadily and saw him looked slightly put off and the smirk slipped a little.
"I know that!" he snapped, "but it's not like you're being taken to a death camp. You CAN leave at any time if you want!" he pointed out, scowling slightly. Nova put a protective arm in front of Ichigo and glared at Citrine,
"Don't yell at her! She's just telling the truth!" and this resulted in another teeth-grindingly arrogant snort and Citrine walked off with a mumbled 'I'm outta here'.
Nova sighed,
"That guy can be such a jerk!" she fumed quietly and Ichigo smiled at her.
"Maybe, but I think it was merely his way of trying to show there was no need to be afraid of the weather" she pointed out and Nova had to reluctantly admit that maybe it was but she still thought he was a jerk. Ichigo smiled and shook her head as Nova left, quietly muttering swear words to herself and somehow, it reminded Ichigo of Citrine.
A small rumble of turbulence announced to all those aboard that they'd arrived and soon various coloured monkeys were pouring from the Robot onot the planet's surface, which was lush green jungle today. A dark blue monkey smiled,
"Well, see? That wasn't too difficult now was it? And the weather seems to be perfect as well!" and, as if Fate had been waiting for Gibson to say that, the heavens opened and a monsoon started. The monkeys all stood in dumb silence for a moment before a black and white striped monkey glared at Gibson,
"Just had to say it didn't you?" Jet scowled and they all dashed inside again out of the rain.
A human boy with black hair and blue eyes stared out into the rain and sighed lightly,
"Looks like we'll be taking a late shower guys" he said, with a smile playing on his lips, and with that everyone started getting the things they'd need to survive a week on the planet ready.
Ichigo looked at the large bag she'd packed containing her tent and all the medical supplies they'd need and she felt the sweat accumulate on the back of her head when she realised the bag was bigger than herself. Sighing softly, she grabbed the straps and began making her wings back-pedal to try and move the large bag. Minutes later, Ichigo floated down exhausted and stared in shock when she saw she hadn't even moved the bag at all. She sighed heavily,
"Oh dear" she said softly.
"Need a hand?" asked a deep voice, making Ichigo jump and swivel around. She looked and saw a tall black and white striped monkey standing in the doorway, already heavily laden with other equipment. She blushed slightly as Onyx walked up to her and she looked down out of embarrassment,
"Uh... t-that's ok! I-I'll be alright, you already have lots to carry!" but even as she said this, the black and white monkey walked over casually and tossed the bag over his shoulder with his tail without looking at all fazed or even like he was carrying close to 600lb of equipment. Ichigo gazed in astonishment,
"Wow... uh, I-I mean are you sure it's ok? It's not too heavy is it? L-let me take something else for you" she hovered in front of Onyx, who silently picked up a rope and handed it to her and watched as Ichigo fell like a rock onto the floor.
"That's a titanium enforced rope and the lightest thing I'm carrying" he said in a flat voice, looking down at the little white monkey just picking herself up off the floor and trying to pick up the coil of rope. She stopped trying and felt more sweat accumulate on the back of her head,
"O-oh. I see..." she watched as Onyx picked it up and hooked it on his arm before walking past her. She blinked then followed quickly, hovering at normal monkey height. "U-uh... t-thank you for taking it for... me..." she watched sadly as the monkey walked around the corner without any acknowledgment that he'd heard her. Ichigo sighed slightly and floated off to help the other team members. However, had she seen Onyx's face at that time, she would've seen him blushing deeply and smiling.
Soon, the team had gathered all their equipment and was making their way out onto the planet's surface, which had now turned into a desert and they found the robot was buried up to it's knees in sand. As they all put their stuff down on the sand, some complaining about how heavy it was and how much their backs hurt, a black monkey with green/yellow eyes and a purple and white striped monkey with deeper purple eyes walked out in front of the complaining team.
Antuari coughed loudly to get everyone's attention and when the team had quieted down he looked at them steadily.
"Amethyst and I... have agreed that staying in one single large group would be dangerous for this exercise, and so have decided that the team will be split into pairs. Also, non-offensive members will have to partake in this exercise as well, accompanied by an offensive member" his eyes lingered slightly on Ichigo for a second. Everyone stared at him in silence, waiting for him to continue and they saw a slight blush on his face. "And so... at Emerald's request" his eyes narrowed slightly at a green and white striped monkey bouncing hyperly nearby, "we've decided to pick names out of a hat" Many groaned loudly at this prospect and some even voiced their 'opinions' on Emerald's request, none of which were very kind, but Antauri quieted these voices when he raised his hands. "I know it seems... unorthodox, but this method is fair and just so when I call your name go to the person who's name I next call, that will be your partner."
Within the group, a red monkey winked at Nova, and she rolled her eyes, looking sickened, causing the red monkey to pout. Citrine punched the red monkey on the shoulder lightly and laughed,
"Better luck next time eh, Sparky?" he teased loudly, making Sprx blush and growl.
"DON'T call me that!" he retorted, pulling away from the smirking yellow monkey and they listened into the names that Antauri called out.
"Emerald... and Citrine" Antauri read out, causing a cheerful squeal and a loud groan. He ignored this and continued, reaching in and rustling around in the hat they'd borrowed from Chiro. He pulled out another couple of slips of paper and read them quickly.
"Ichigo... and Sprx" he called, looking uneasy about his wife being with the team pervert.
"Yes! Alright!" cheered Sprx but was suddenly punched into the ground by a fuming Onyx,
"HELL no!" he hollered at Antauri, "there is no way Ichigo is going with that pervert!" he ordered and Antauri raised an eyebrow.
"Would you care to give a good reason why she shouldn't go with Sprx?" he asked, following the rules of such an engagement, despite not liking the pairing himself. He felt Onyx growl low,
"It's Sprx, that enough reason?" he snapped, causing others to nod and mutter in agreement and a hurt scowl from Sprx, who had got up, spitting sand out and rubbing a large dent on his head. Antauri sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose,
"Very well, Onyx, if you feel that strongly then perhaps you should go with Ichigo?" he suggested.
Onyx spluttered, looking shocked as he hadn't expected this reply then looked down,
"Well uh... yeah ok. I mean, I know how useless Ichigo would be on her own! Guess she'd be safer with me than anyone else!" he said confidently, trying to act casual so as to mask his shock of earlier.
"Mm hmm" was all Antauri said, as he didn't trust himself to say anything else. They didn't need a fight before they even began this exercise.
"Very well, then let's continue" he rummaged and brought out two more slips of paper. "Chiro... and Caitlyn" he heard a gulp and a squawk of protest, as Chiro looked over fearfully at the lilac haired Scottish human girl who scowled back before grabbing her equipment in a single angry swipe and stomping over to join the frightened team leader.
Soon, all had been paired, and they began to share out rations of food, water, survival equipment and medical supplies. They all agreed to meet back at the Robot in a week, after they had managed to trek to the Alorta mountains and return with a peacocyx feather as proof that they'd gone at all.
And so, with the land before them now a steaming jungle, full of strange noises and shadows, the pairs all set off on their exercise, some more reluctantly than others and all wondering if this was a good idea.
Well? What do you all think? Good? Bad? Ugly? Review and tell me! Also, some of those OCS who never managed to put in my last story might be cropping up along the way for our team to find!