Once again, two chapters. Because you are worth it... (that and nine is so extremely short it's practically embarrassing...)

Chapter 9

Fresh forest, right after the rain. It was faint but it was there and it soothed him as it held him. He wasn't sure where he was anymore but the buzzing was gone and the voice... That awful voice was silent and he was thankful for that. He took a deep, shuddering breath and enjoyed the smell that filled his senses before he paused. Was that... was that rosemary, jasmine, and... and orange? But that... that was a scent that Nova had picked out for...

"Chiro?"

Sprx opened his eyes as he felt a jerking movement and realized that Chiro was carrying him on his back. They were...

"No..." he moaned, shaking his head back and forth as he realized where they were and Chiro turned to look at him. "No, no, no!"

"Sprx!" Chiro was putting him down, holding him steady. "It's okay, you're you again," the boy exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "It's okay, really!" Sprx shuddered, shaking his head before looking at the teen, pain in his eyes.

"Chiro," he chocked out. "I'm so... I'm so sorry Chiro. I tried to fight it, I even..." He shuddered again, hands covering his face. "I was... with Antauri and it jerked me away and I... Oh Chiro I'm so sorry..."

"With Antauri," Chiro asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"The Power Primate. He, he used it to contact me because I was closest to him and..." Sprx shook his head suddenly, ashamed. "It's no excuse. I should have fought harder! I shouldn't have..." He turned suddenly with a loud and angry yell, punching the wall hard enough that it cracked. Chiro, out of reflex, jumped back. His eyes were wide with fear and when Sprx turned and saw this he froze.

"Ch-Chiro..." The teen closed his eyes and shook his head.

"No. It's okay," he claimed, sounding a lot calmer than he looked. "Let's go find the others and get out of here." With that he picked up Sprx without hesitation and began walking away. Sprx was startled for a moment before he allowed himself to rest in his boys embrace. Chiro's scent calmed him and he mumbled;

"I'm sorry kid." There was silence for a long moment before he thought he heard Chiro say;

"It's okay Sprx. I already forgave you." He was content to leave it at that.

Chapter 10

She wasn't sure what she was doing really, pacing back and forth. She wanted to stop, make her fists stop pounding against each other and make her anger go away but... The voice was taunting her and it made her angry as she fought against the red force that bound her. The angrier she got in her prison, the harder her body fought and the more damage...

She struggled in her bonds, desperately wishing for freedom only to gasp as a familiar form turned the corner and paused in surprise. She felt her mouth turn up in a grin, her body getting into an attack position and she 'screamed' while fighting the red power that held her.

"NO! CHIRO!"

He was startled to find not only a dead end, but a yellow monkey in front of him. He had paused, Sprx grunting , as Nova grinned at him and bent down to attack.

"Nova?" The teens voice was quiet but enough to cause Sprx to look up and tense.

"Chiro... run," the red monkey exclaimed before suddenly launching himself over the teens shoulder and meeting Nova halfway as she launched herself at Chiro. The two collided in mid-air with a sickening thud, Chiro staring in shock as Nova screeched and clawed Sprx's eyes causing the red monkey to cry out in pain and kick her feet out from under her. Nova's fist came up at him before he could react and with a single punch he was slammed into a wall and knocked unconscious. He fell limply to the ground, Chiro shaking as he stared, as Nova turned to the boy with hatred in her eyes.

"Nova," the teen whispered. "Why are you doing this?" The yellow monkey screamed at him, breaking into a run and leaping into attack. Chiro dodged as she came down and slid to a stop in front of Sprx, giving the red monkey a worried glance. "Sprx! Wake up! I need you!" A groan answered him, but Sprx did not wake and Nova hissed as she turned to attack. She raced at Chiro, fists raised, only to find both of them caught in the boys hands and held.

"Nova stop! You have to fight this! You HAVE to," Chiro cried, struggling as Nova kicked out at his head. He dodged and called upon the Power Primate to aid him. He was startled when Nova calmed at this, her red eyes widening before slowly turning to a warm pink. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched the change before he grinned out right. "I can save you," he exclaimed suddenly before closing his eyes and pushing out with the power primate. Inside the yellow monkeys mind he met a familiar red resistance that slammed at him angrily, only to be whipped back by another force. The horrible power was hurled away and he felt Nova's warmth before weariness jerked him out of her mind and back to reality.

They fell to the dirty floor together, Nova shivering and whimpering until Chiro took her into his arms and she curled into his chest.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered after a long while. Chiro didn't answer for a moment, reaching out again and she turned to see that he was reaching for Sprx. With a chocked sob she leapt at the fallen monkey, holding him close as she sobbed aloud and was dragged back into Chiro's arms with him. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I couldn't stop myself! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry Chiro... Sprx..." She howled, throwing her head into Sprx's limp shoulder and shaking as she sobbed aloud. She heard Chiro sniffle before he put one hand on her head.

"It's okay Nova," he managed to say. "We know. It's okay, we forgive you." She calmed somewhat at this, allowing herself to rest in the teens embrace as she felt Sprx's even breathing against the side of her face.

They lay there for a long while, Chiro watching the two monkeys before glancing up and around. They weren't safe, and there was no way he was going to allow them to be caught off guard. He nudged Nova, his strength returning, and she looked up at him still blinking away tears.

"We have to get out of here," he told her. "Can you manage?" She smiled at him weakly before nodding.

"I can try," she whispered. He grunted at her reply before sitting up, and with a deep breath he stood up with both monkeys in his arms. Nova stared at him in shock and he smiled at her lovingly.

"You think I'd make you walk? After all you've been through?" She opened her mouth to say something back at him, but from the peaceful smile he gave her she could only sigh and lay her head on his shoulder instead. He left the dead end and made a turn to the left, as he had come from the right, and continued in silence for a long while until Nova spoke again.

"Chiro, you smell good," she said quietly. She paused and he blushed at her before she spoke again, a smile in her voice. "And you used the shampoo I bought you." Chiro snickered with a grin.

"Yeah, only the best Nova," he told her. She smiled but said nothing, wrapping one arm around his neck and the other around Sprx as she buried her head in the teens chest and let out a contented sigh. She was safe for now, and that was enough.

TBC