Cuxie: Wa-HOO!! Ok ok! Gotta get this chapter down! I'm running on coffee! Who knows how long that'll last?!

Ryou: Then I suggest you just get on with it.

Ichigo: Like now.

Cuxie: Grrr! I bite ya know!

Ryou: You don't look all that threatening, really.

Cuxie:(chomps Ryou's arm)

Ryou: Ow! WTH?!

Ichigo: You provoked her.

Cuxie: I AM CUXIE!! HEAR ME RAWR!!

Ryou: She's lost it!

Ichigo: Lets get outta here!

(-both flee for their lives-)

Cuxie: RAAAWR!!!


"Wow! I can't believe we're actually flying!" Ichigo exclaimed, staring fixated out the window as the ground disappeared under them. "This is so cool! We're on our way to America!" She was bouncing up and down in her seat, overflowing with excitement.

As expected of someone as rich as Ryou, he had them on a first-class flight to the wonderful U.S. of A. He sat next to Ichigo after graciously allowing her to have the window seat on the grounds that it might keep her distracted when she started to whine. (And she would eventually start to whine about something.)

"For heaven's sakes, have some class Ichigo," Mint chided airily. She sat next to Zakuro, both girls looking completely comfortable and relaxed in their plush seats. Trips like this were no novelty for them. "You act as though you've never flown first-class before."

"I haven't."

"Well, pretend you have. It's embarrassing."

Ichigo simply rolled her eyes. "Can you believe them?"

Ryou chuckled. "You are acting a little childish. It's cute though."

"Ugh, you rich people are all alike. Someof us are trying to enjoy a first-time experience here. Right, guys?" She turned to Lettuce who had an aisle seat next to Cherry. Both girls were seated behind Ichigo. Across from them sat Pai and Kish, behind Mint and Zakuro. Pudding and Tart sat with Keichiiro. They were both small enough to share the seat next to him. It was a little snug, but not uncomfortable.

"I agree with Ichigo," Lettuce said.(Suck up!XP) "It's not everyday we get to travel overseas like this." I just hope I don't get airsick.

"Yeah!" Pudding cheered. "This is the coolest! Thanks Boss Man!"

Ichigo smiled triumphantly and settled back in her seat. "See? I'm not the only one. This is so awesome!"

About 5 minutes later:

"This is so not good," Ichigo groaned, placing her face into her hands and sliding down in her seat.

In a matter of minutes, Pudding The Great had managed to rope the overhead luggage carriers and use them as tightropes, occasionally falling into the unsuspecting arms of innocent passengers. The stewardesses had tried and failed to catch her and her "fabulous assistant"(Tart).

"Oh, Pudding! Please, that's not--Oh, I apologize for her, Miss. She's just excit--Pudding!" Lettuce tried miserably to settle Pudding back into her seat while also attempting to apologize to every one of the passengers Pudding had unknowingly disturbed.

"Can you do this Tar-Tar, na no da?" Pudding executed a series of somersaults across the tops of the seats.

Lettuce sank, exhausted and utterly defeated, back into her seat. Cherry, too absorbed in texting her new, ahem, friend, didn't notice. But Pai, having been observing silently, watched her. Curious. "Why do you do that?"

She blinked. "Do what?"

"Stress over her. You do know you're not responsible for her actions." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Lettuce looked down shyly. "W-Well, in a way I feel I am. I suppose I've come to think of Pudding as a little sister, so I real somewhat responsible for the way she acts. And, after all, she's just a child." She risked a glance at Pai, expecting him to merely dismiss her ridiculousness. He was watching her, slightly interested. "Don't you feel that way about Tart?"

Pai looked around and spotted Tart jumping across the tops of the seats, attempting to keep up with Pudding. He didn't even blink when his young alien friend slipped and fell face-first into the lap of a rich old woman who shrieked, appalled. Kish, on the other hand, pointed and laughed until he couldn't breathe.

"Kish and I take turns feeling that way," he explained.

Lettuce nodded, somewhat confused but reluctant to admit it. She turned away from him.

So whose turn is it now?

Somewhere deep in the cargo hold...:

"I can't believe they stuck me in this stupid thing!" Kako shrieked, clawing furiously at the bars on her, um, carrier(cage). "Oooh! When I get out of here--!"

"Save your breath, kitten." In the cage next to her, licking her long thin paws, was an elegant Siamese cat. Judging by her jewel-studded collar, Kako decided that she must be the pet of one of the rich snobs in Ryou and Ichigo's compartment. "Those little things won't be busting you out anytime soon. Trust me," she meowed.

Kako bristled. By "those little things" she could only assume she had been referring to her claws. "Hmph! I don't care! I'm getting out of here, one way or another." But maybe I should save my claws...for Ichigo's face, she thought menacingly.

"Don't count on it. We'll be in here for hours. Days maybe."

"DAYS?!"

The Siamese cat did something that resembled a shrug. "It's so hard to tell when they leave you in here for so long. The least they could do is put in a clock."

Kako cocked her head. "Are you in these things often?"

"Often enough. My owner travels a lot."

The kitten, her rage forgotten, nodded sympathetically. "This is my first time."

"Hmm..." The Siamese cat resumed grooming herself and Kako decided that must mean the conversation was over. So, no one to distract her, she examined her surroundings.

The hold was depressingly dark. A weak light filtered in from some corner past several other cages, so she assumed there must be at least one window. Not that she would even dream of jumping out, given the opportunity. She didn't know much about planes, but from the weird vibration her tummy had gotten when they first took off, she had enough common sense to know that they weren't exactly on solid ground.

From what she could see, the cages surrounding her certainly were not organized by species. Dogs, cats, the occasional hamster and guinea pig were all scattered and placed on top of one another. Several colorful birds squawked whenever the cages slid. Directly across from her, eyeing her as though she were about to be served on a silver platter with a side of gravy, was a large Doberman.

Kako shivered and turned away from it. Well, if she couldn't get out of her cage then he certainly couldn't get out of his, and for that one thing she was grateful.

"There must be some way out..." she muttered. She glared at the latch on her cage. Twice she had tried to open it with her tail and failed. What the heck...third time's the charm. Her tail twitched erratically as she attempted to get a decent grip on the latch.

The Siamese cat laughed. "If I had a diamond for every time I saw someone try that! Oh, wait. I do!" She pointed at her bejeweled collar and laughed again.

Kako growled, irritated and embarrassed. "Well, do you have any better ideas, Miss--er..."

"Laniellese Cartertallski."

"Fancy," Kako said sarcastically. "I have two names too! Kako Shirogane."

"Well, Kako Shirogane, you are wasting your time. These latches are tail-proof, I can guarantee you."

Kako paced, completely unnerved. "There must be some way out of here!"

Without warning, the cage next to her erupted with a series of howls. The entire cage rattled as hairy hands reached out and shook the bars.

Kako sighed. "Any clue what the monkey's saying now?" That was the third time within the hour he had tried to "communicate".

Laniellese shook her head. "I don't speak Chimp."

Kako's own languages were limited to that of all cats, most dogs, several birds, and, of course, humans. If Laniellese, or any of the other animals for that matter, had realized she was speaking English, they didn't comment or seemed surprised. It was more likely that they couldn't tell since chances were they understood most cats and humans all the same.

"Pudding would be able to understand him."

"Right," Laniellese said, condescendingly. "Because all apes can communicate with gelatinous desserts."

"No, Pudding's this girl--Oh, nevermind! You wouldn't understand. I just wish we knew what he was saying." The cage containing the mysterious chimpanzee shook and rattled until it began to completely jump up and down, gradually moving towards Kako's cage. This new development seemed to please the monkey. "H-Hey! What are you doing?" Kako asked frantically as he grew closer. "Stay away! Shoo!"

The chimp ignored her and continued to jump it's cage towards her until it's cage was close enough that he could reach one long hairy arm through the bars of his cage and touch hers.

"AH!! Keep him away!" Kako had backed into a corner and curled into a terrified ball, covering her eyes with her paws. "W-What's he think he's doing?!"

"Hmm...he could be attempting to attack you," Laniellese mused.

"Oh, shut-up, Lani!"

"Lani?"

Finally, the chimp had a firm grasp on the her cage. He pulled her cage towards her and she whimpered. Oh, man! What's he doing? Why me?! I never bothered him! The chimp gave one hard tug...

...and the latch on her cage fell open.

Kako heard Lani gasp and peeked her eyes open. "Wha...Hey! I'M FREE!!"


Cuxie: Teehee. Donerz!

Ichigo: Uh-oh. Kako's loose on the plane?!

Ryou: Dear God, save us all...

Kako: YOU!!

Ichigo: WAAAH!! KEEP HER AWAY!! (currently being chased by her cat)

Cuxie: Yah, have fun with that. Gosh, it's late. Gots ta go! Laterz ppl! REVIEW PLZ!!