Disclaimer: I own many things; SRMTHG is not one of them.

Author Notes: Yes, I know this chapter is short, but I'm going out of the country in a few days so I decided to stop here for now. Just to clear something up that last chapter may have you worried about; unless I receive overwhelming support of the idea (which I highly doubt), any romance involving the team besides Sprx/Nova and Chiro/Jinmay, will remain strictly one-sided if it exists at all.

Rating: NC-17 (nah it's really T)

Warnings: Violence, language, and possible death (only OC's though)

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Chapter 4

Aotearoa

TIME: approx.12 Days following Chapter 3, 5:00 AM

LOCATION: Wellington, New Zealand

At a small port on the outskirts of Wellington, New Zealand, Chiro and Antauri descended down the side of an otherwise insignificant cargo ship.

"We would have made it here perfectly safe and much faster," said Antauri.

Chiro jumped off from the side of the ship and glanced around to check that they were unseen. "Well Antauri, how do you suggest we would have snuck you onto an airplane? Secondly, how would I have been able to get a ticket? And finally, even assuming we did all that, I was not about to get on one of those metal death traps."

Antauri jumped down from the side of the boat to join Chiro. For all the fears a boy willing to face the terrors of the universe is to have, Chiro's is of Earthly technology. He smirked at the irony. It was understandable. The planet was much less technologically advanced than Shuggazzom and much more dangerous if you ignored the entire Skeleton King situation that plagued their home.

Ultimately, this phobia Chiro had developed led them to decide upon stashing aboard a cargo ship, a technology Chiro was much more familiar with. Unfortunately, both of them discovered that there are very few ships that traveled between South Korea and New Zealand, which they had been able to determine, was their next destination.

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

The morning after finding Antauri was not turning out pleasant for the two. For one, with Antauri back to his original state they had to stay away from all the main roads to avoid being seen. Secondly it was raining. Hard.

In one of the many back alleys Chiro and Antauri were huddled under a tarp that hung off the side of a building, trying to escape the relentless downpour. The tarp wasn't doing a very good job though and the two were still getting wet. In frustration, Chiro began to bang his head against the side of the building.

"I hate this planet!"

Antauri glanced over at Chiro with a look that said both 'stop that' and 'hey, I've lived on this planet for the last two months' simultaneously.

Chiro smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

Antauri smiled in return. "I understand what you mean. In my time living here, I don't remember it ever raining quite this hard, although there was this one time…"

Chiro's grin became genuine as he listened to Antauri, he had been lonely for the last two months and it was great to have someone to be with again. But he soon lost his grin as he remembered something that had been bugging him. It was making him feel guilty and he really needed to ask Antauri.

"Hey Antauri?" Antauri snapped out of his recollection.

"Yes Chiro?"

Chiro began to nervously drum his fingers together. "Did you um… How was it, ya know…"

Antauri rose a non-existent eyebrow "How was what Chiro?"

"I mean, how was it, having it back?"

Antauri sighed and smiled "I take it you mean having an organic body again?"

"Yeah…"

"It was pleasant I suppose, although with my lack of memories I couldn't really appreciate the state. Why do you ask?"

Chiro glanced away "I just feel really guilty; I mean you've lost that twice now. And this time it's my fault."

"Chiro listen to me."

Chiro looked at Antauri.

"First of all, you and the team matter much more to me than having an organic body. And secondly, even if I did care that much, my ability to fight the Skeleton King comes before my own wants, and I think we can both agree that this body is much better suited to that task."

Chiro brightened up and laughed a little. "Yeah, couldn't have you fainting on us at every fight could we?"

Antauri closed his eyes and smiled "Hmm, yes...Well it sounds like the rain is lightening up."

Chiro lifted the flap up to see that the rain had slowed to a drizzle.

Antauri glanced out towards the street and noticed something. "I know where we are."

Chiro looked at Antauri in curiosity "You do?"

"Yes, I couldn't tell before in the heavy rain, but now I know where we are. Hyun Jae took me here once to go shopping for school supplies."

Chiro held back a laugh. Antauri in school! I'd pay to see that.

"Chiro, I think I have an idea on how to find the rest of the team."

Chiro stared at Antauri in puzzlement. "Huh?"

Antauri pointed out of the alley, across the street "You see the store right there?"

"Yeah, that's the one you said you visited before, right?"

"Yes. Do you have any money with you?"

Chiro fished through his pockets and pulled out some bills. "Yeah, I have two of these ones left." He handed the red bills to Antauri.

"₩5000 bills; that should be enough."

"Enough for what?"

"I want you to go in that store and buy a map of the entire planet. If I'm right, we'll be able to find the rest of the team much easier this way."

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Sure enough, Antauri was right. By focusing on the map, together the two of them had been able to roughly pinpoint where their closest teammate was.

And of course, that would be in New Zealand. Antauri thought as they snuck off the pier. It makes me worry about how far we could actually be spread out. We need to get the team back together as fast as possible.

Also unfortunate was the fact that they had no idea which of the remaining monkeys was here. Nova, Sprx, Otto, Gibson; it could be anyone.

This is not going to be easy.

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

A young man with hazel eyes walked down the street in the suburbs of Wellington towards a small shop. He was unusually tall, about six-and-a-half feet and was well built, making him an imposing figure. Wearing a baseball cap that covered his bald head, he made his way over to the shop's metallic garage door.

There was a series of harsh thumps. "Otto! Open up! I'm back with lunch!"

The young man heard a small ruckus of crashing objects as someone made their way to the door. That kid is such a slob, one day there's going to be an accident.

"Coming Jeff!" The garage door slid up revealing a young face, underneath a mop of messy brown hair.

Jeff grinned "About time Otto." He glanced behind the teen, into the garage to find an atrocious mess. "Otto! I leave for two hours and you manage to wreck the place!"

Otto grinned and rubbed the back of his head. "Uhm, yeah, sorry about that. I accidentally knocked over that pile of spare tires you had and they kinda crashed into everything."

Jeff could only sigh and face palm.

God, the kid's a freaking prodigy with machines; but if I leave him alone for too long he'd probably end up setting the place on fire. Not that Jeff could entirely blame Otto. Although he was of average height, Otto was very gangly; he was very prone to stumbling or dropping things. It's like he was made for a shorter frame.

"So um...what'd ya get for lunch?"

Jeff set the brown paper bag he had been holding down on the table and began to empty the contents. "I went to the dairy down the street. For you I got ham and Swiss on whole wheat, and a bottle of Coke; while I got the turkey and cheddar, with a frosty one on the side."

Otto's eyes widened "But it's barely past noon!"

Jeff chuckled "Relax, I'm saving it for later. I'm 22, Otto; I've had four years of experience now. Well, technically five, but don't tell my mom that!"

The two laughed and sat down to lunch.

Just as Jeff was about to take his first bite though, he realized something. Where's...

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Crap I'm late!

A 13-year-old girl rushed down the street, her strawberry blond hair flying behind her.

Dammit this is the second time this week, he'll be so pissed!

She barged through the front door of the shop and vaulted into the garage.

"Sorry I'm late!" The two boys were sitting at the small table they had set up in the shop, eating.

"That's the second time this week, sis."

"And the third this month." Otto added

"Thanks, Otto." She grumbled sarcastically

"No prob', Ally."

Alice could only roll her eyes; she just couldn't stay pissed at the older boy. Ever since her brother had hired him two months ago she had had a crush on the emerald-eyed boy.

Why couldn't he have been my age?! Wait, if he was my age, Jeff wouldn't have hired him. Ugh, whatever, I just hope I get over this stupid crush soon.

She didn't delude herself; she knew all she had was a crush, he was three years her senior after all. But Otto was very fun to be around, and she liked the pure green of his eyes so much, she suggested he dye his hair the same color. Sure enough, Otto had green hair for the next two weeks. After that, Jeff said she wasn't allowed to give him fashion tips anymore.

"So boys, how's things at our humble panel banger today?"

Jeff finished off his sandwich, "Not bad, Otto was able to fix that mess that Ms. O'Neil dragged in last night."

"Really? Wow, great job Otto!" Although she knew next to nothing about cars, even Alice had been able to tell that the cars engine was in horrid shape.

Otto blushed "Thanks, but it wasn't that messed up."

That was another thing she really appreciated about Otto, he wasn't always bragging like the boys at school.

"Well, sis," Jeff tossed her a clipboard "you have inventory work to do."

"Ugh." She liked manning the cashier much more, but that wasn't needed very much. Ever since their dad left them about five years ago, they had been running the shop to help support the family.

"Quit moaning and get to work."

"Yes, master."

Jeff rolled his eyes and Otto snickered.

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

End Chapter 4

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Aotearoa- native Maori name for New Zealand, lit. "Land of the Long White Cloud"

₩- symbol for the South Korean won, the exchange rate for the won currently hovers between about 1,200 to 1,400 won per US dollar

Dairy- New Zealand slang for delicatessen

Drinking age- In New Zealand, the drinking age is 18

Panel banger- New Zealand slang for auto repair shop