Disclaimer: Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese

Thanks to:

Lmann: Thanks!

Moonlit Sea: Ichigo: Pony! sees OceanWave is gone Where'd she go? looks sad and eyes go all puppy dog like and cute

Crazy fangirl: nearly squeezes Ichigo to death you're so cute!

Ichigo: Ok, I won't hug OceanWave anymore! Just get her off!

WF: Hehe, waves wand and the nutter disappears thanks MS!

Twister91: WF: Mwahaha I'm so cruel to Malachite!

Zakuro: filming Malachite banging his head against the wall this'll be gweat!

Lazzynewtt: WF: Is he? grins widely and glomps him then drags him into the box again

more screams are heard

Beastfire: Ryou: sweat drops yeah that happens to most girls who find out! is suddenly glomped by Nova and sighs But some are still persistent!

Blossom268703: WF: Thanks!

4Evermonkeyfan: Ichigo and Ryou: Aaaw! hug Adriana Thanks honey!

WF: Stop doing that creepy twin thing!

Ichigo and Ryou: No!

Astral Firefly: Ryou: sighs for the last time, I did not kidnap her!

Ichigo: Yeah, does this look like the face of a kidnapper? Points at Ryou who's doing big innocent puppy dog eyes

Ryou: gets glomped by Violet Gah, help!

Childish Minds

Zakuro looked around; she was in a big scary place that was full of nasty people and no night lights. She couldn't understand it, one minute she was with Malachite and Petalite and the next she was grabbed and thrown in here. A chuckle behind her caught her attention and she turned to see a giant skeleton leering down at her, Zakuro didn't like the look of this skeleton man so she decided to call for help.

Skeleton King clutched his head in agony as the little monkey started to bawl loudly, he grabbed some Formless goo and shoved it in his ears to block the noise then he turned to Zakuro, he grabbed her and held her up in one hand. Zakuro sniffled,

"Whewe's my mummy and daddy?" she asked, trying to look determined and brave. Skeleton King laughed at her act and brought her closer,

"Not here! But don't fret, I'll take care of you" he grinned in what he thought was a convincing way, Zakuro shuddered, Skeleton King frowned and suddenly his eyes glowed. "Your parents abandoned you long ago; I found you and have nursed you since then, you would do anything for me"
"Anything…for you" repeated Zakuro as the hypnotism took effect, her eyes hazed over and she hugged him. Skeleton King grinned at how easily she succumbed to his power and patted her head,

"Call me Dad" he said.

"Are we there yet?" asked Malachite for the millionth time, Antauri felt his eye twitch.

"No" he said through gritted teeth, squeezing the controls hard. Beside him, Ichigo gazed out looking worried, Antauri sighed and reached over with his tail, "Honey, don't worry, we'll save her. Try and rest, you'll need your strength" he wrapped his tail around Ichigo's waist and brought her closer,

"I'm scared, Antauri" she whispered as she looked up at him, "I'm scared for her. What if Skeleton King decides to get rid of her? Oh…I can't bear to think of living without our little girl"
Malachite felt guilt creep through him as he heard Ichigo's distraught voice, to think he had been glad Zakuro was gone; Petalite placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him encouragingly. Malachite smiled back and looked out at the large white ship ahead, the Citadel of Bone.

"Well, we're in. Now what?" asked Sprx as they quietly crept along the corridors,

"We find Zakuro, duh" replied Malachite, Sprx glared at him before creeping ahead.

"I can sense her mind further down the corridor, come on!" said Antauri and they sped down silently to the doors.

"This is probably a trap, y'know" Sprx commented, Nova turned back to him,

"Hey, we've gotta check. Besides, we've broken out of all of Bone Bag's traps before" she said and they pushed open the door.

There, on the floor of the throne room, sat Zakuro. She looked over at them in surprise and Ichigo rushed in and to her,

"Oh Zaki! I was so scared that something bad had happened to you!" she sobbed and the others rushed up.

"See Sprx, nothing to be worried-"Nova was cut off as bars shot up through the floor and Zakuro teleported out of Ichigo's arms. The monkey team watched as the young monkey reappeared in Skeleton King's lap and smiled at him fondly.

"No…" whispered Ichigo then rage seemed to take over her, "let go of my daughter now, you scummy bag of bones!" she hit the bars but they didn't move vibrate, this cage had been made just for them.

Skeleton King chuckled at their efforts and patted Zakuro's head,

"She can go anytime she wants" he leant over and Zakuro looked up at him. "Do you want to go?" he asked and Zakuro shook her head vigorously, Skeleton King leant back and smirked at the horrified monkeys "there you are, she doesn't want to leave!"

Antauri snarled at the skeleton warlord,

"Release your control on my daughter, NOW!" he roared and Skeleton King laughed at his anger. He soon stopped and signalled to Mandarin, who took the monkeys and knocked them out.

Malachite woke up in a cell, his hands had been cuffed behind him and his feet were chained together. He groaned as he collected his thoughts and looked around, there were energy bars over the mouth of the cell and two Formless guards. He pulled on the chains but they too seemed to be made especially for the team, Malachite sighed and let his head loll forwards. Just then he felt a rush of air and he looked up to see Zakuro sitting in front of him, she seemed confused,

"Why you come here?" she asked abruptly,

'Demanded more like' thought Malachite then he looked up at her,

"What's it to you?" he asked back. Zakuro glared with such evil that it sent shivers down Malachite's back but he did his best not to show his discomfort, "And since when could you teleport?"

"Since she became my apprentice" came the reply, but it wasn't from Zakuro. Malachite looked around and saw Shadow in a corner (hope you don't mind that I nicked him, Twister!) Malachite growled and felt his lip curl up in a snarl, Shadow stepped forward completely unfazed by Malachite's reaction and picked up Zakuro.

"She makes quite a good pupil" he continued, "Fast learner and open-minded, with my help she'll be great!"

"With your 'help'" spat Malachite, "she'll be warped and twisted by your evil!" Shadow chuckled and looked Malachite in the eye,

"I hope so" he stated and placed Zakuro back on the floor. His laughter rang through the cell as he teleported away. Zakuro watched him disappear and waited a few moments before turning to Malachite again,

"Why you here?" she asked again, this time looking more determined to not let interruptions stop him from answering. Malachite looked up into her eyes and could only see the haze of Skeleton King's hypnosis; he felt his hope plummet when he saw it.

"To rescue you" he replied simply, yet this seemed enough to shock the baby monkey. She was stunned for a moment then she glared at him, she grabbed his chest and pulled him closer.

"Why?" she barked, had it not been so depressing Malachite might've laughed at the thought of an evil toddler, but right now he only felt sadness and guilt and even slightly afraid when he looked at her. He lowered his eyes before he answered,

"Because we love you" he said. Zakuro threw him back against the hard stone wall and stood up; she'd inherited Ichigo's shortness and didn't even reach Malachite's shoulder even when he was on his knees. Yet this didn't deter the feeling of impending doom in Malachite's stomach, if she attacked him then he would be defenceless because…because…he couldn't hurt her. Simple as that. She might be evil now but inside she was still the same Zakuro that had been hitting him with a spoon this morning. The same Zakuro who he constantly yelled at to leave him alone and would wreck his room when he left it unlocked and the same Zakuro that he missed despite that. Life wouldn't be better without her, in fact it would be much worse, he realised. He'd grown used to having her around and he had to admit he liked playing big brother to her. He looked at her with sadness in his eyes and he saw a flicker of life come back, for a split second Malachite saw the real Zakuro in them and she was scared.

"Zakuro…" he started, and she flinched at the tone he used, "please, we want you back. We miss you and we need you, I need you" Zakuro stared at him and the hypnosis seemed to be fading. Malachite smiled as he thought that he'd done it but then Shadow appeared behind her and took her away.

"No…" he whispered then he lashed around furiously, "no!" he'd been so close. So close, yet…they still managed to take her. But he wasn't about to give up, not now, not ever!

"Here she is, my lord" said Shadow as he appeared in the throne room with Zakuro in his arms, she lashed about furiously trying to escape and Skeleton King raised an eyebrow at her.

"What's wrong with her?" he demanded and Shadow struggled with the wild tot until he was forced to put her on the ground,

"I believe the monkeys had a bad effect on her" replied Shadow when he got his breath back. Skeleton King growled low in his throat and balled one hand into a fist,

"Blast those filthy primates!" he hissed, "bring them here! It's time I got rid of them once and for all!"

Soon, the Monkey Team was brought out and was kneeling in front of him. Ryou was also dragged out and Shadow grinned at him sadistically, he ran a claw along Ryou's neck and Ryou whimpered in fright.

Skeleton King stood up and looked at them all,

"It is time I removed you nuisances from my way! You have blocked my destiny for too long already and now I will finish you and your precious planet! Then I shall rule the universe!" he laughed madly before composing himself. Malachite looked behind him and saw Zakuro sitting on the steps up to the throne looking uncertain. He pleaded with his eyes and Zakuro looked at him then at Skeleton King. Her mind seemed to be struggling with what to do and Malachite understood how hard it must be. She was two and she was being forced through more than most adults had. Malachite heard Ryou whimper again and saw Zakuro's eyes move and look at him, she looked at the human who was her uncle and something to click. She glared at Shadow,

"Leave him alone!" she yelled, startling everyone. Shadow turned to her and looked stunned,

"What?" he hissed, looking rather frightening. But Zakuro stood her ground,

"I said leave the human alone!" she glared down at him and Shadow was about to move in to teach her a lesson when Skeleton King glared at him too. He shrunk back and moved away from the albino, muttering darkly.

Skeleton King turned back to the monkeys and smirked triumphantly,

"Goodbye, Monkey Team!" he lifted his sceptre and it transformed into a spear. He held it high above Malachite's head, ready to bring it down upon the monkey. Everyone closed their eyes and cried silently and Zakuro watched on with mixed feelings causing turmoil in her mind.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I finally updated! It only took forever! Sorry for taking so long, I don't really have an excuse. Review people!