Chiro waited with his friends anxiously. The team had been talking for over an hour, and he still didn't know what their ultimate decision would be. He supposed he could use the power primate to find out, but he hadn't used it in so long, he wouldn't know what to do.
So he waited, eyes dark and misty, for his families decision. He had an iron grip on the pendant around his neck, the only evidence he had that he ever had a father. He didn't know what to do.
His only real family had passed out from sadness and exhaustion. She needed it though, for all the stress she had been going through. It wasn't fair to her. His best friends from childhood had disappeared. Ailis was either dead, of she was faking it. He had absolutely no idea where Chip had gone, and all for the better.
If Chip had been there, Chiro didn't know if he could've held himself back. Chip had hurt his friends and his sister. Chiro wouldn't forgive him if he could help it.
He heard a metallic clang, and his head raised itself slowly. He was afraid, but he had nowhere to run. Not this time.
The monkeys walked into the room, their faces tired and uncertain. Antauri walked forward, the locket he had recently been given again around his neck.
He let Chiro look at it for a second, something in him thinking that is he did, he would change his mind. He didn't. So Antauri started talking.
"We've come to a conclusion." Chiro winced, "We, the monkey team and I, will abide by your requests." Chiro didn't know if he had heard correctly. His head snapped up all the way. "Mandarin and the team will leave with the robot once all of you, and Suggazume are healed. We will come back routinely to check that everything is alright, and will call often as we can."
He took a breath, "Chiro, you will stay with the children, and help then get a new life. The citizens need an explanation as well, and that is something, we can not give them. You must."
Chiro nodded, happy and disappointed. He had wanted this, but now…he didn't want his family to go.
"If I…if I want…need you to come back…" He trailed off, and Otto smiled.
"We'll come back for good whenever your ready Chiro. You were right. We all need a bit of a break."
Sprx grinned, "And, since vacation isn't an option,"
"We'll just have to get away from each other." Nova finished with a sad smile. "We'll miss you when we go Chiro."
Chiro nodded, "I'll miss you all too."
Mandarin whined, "Oh enough with the goodbyes! Were not leaving for another month or two anyways! Skeleton King gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" He fell on his back whining, making several of the kids snicker.
Alyss put a hand on Chiro's shoulder, "Chiro, this is our fault isn't it? We tore you from your family didn't we?"
Chiro shook his head. "You didn't take me from anyone. You just gave me a place to go when I left."
There will either be one more chapter, and an epilogue, or just one more chapter. Probably just one. I'll put an extra chapter up explaining my plans for the sequel/side story when this is done. Stay posted and patient please! I will make that damned sequel!