I love my Readers! I really forgot how inspirational good reviews can be. One reason I love good fanfiction is that we all can connect and help each other improve our writing, not to mention do some laughing (I really love laughing and tormenting characters, kukuku).
Runwithscissors let me in on the back story to this little episode and I found it pretty awesome.
I am going to do my best to include a bit of the fairytale into my story. Just wiki The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and be amazed. I don't want to give away any surprises, but the incorporation is going to be mighty fun!
So thanks to you RunwithscissorsXXXbattlescars, Rainbowkittyblossomwings, ZanyAnimeGirl, joyfullyme16, Kikyoremura, and all the others who have been kind enough to drop a review on my little tale…
This story is dedicated to our Favorite Red Corporals Birthday! Which just happens to be today 7/23…which means this chappie is pretty fluffy. So on with the tale!
Narrator
Thoughts
Speech
Giroro and Natsumi present: Flaming Fire Mouse Morbidity!
It would have been like any other Friday at the Hinata Home, if they didn't have 3 frog aliens bent on taking over the world and another alien bent on obliterating it living with them. Natsumi would probably have been ready for school. As it is, she's trying desperately to get things under control in the wake of last night's dilemma. It's a blindingly painful situation…
"Giroro!"
The red keronian poked his head out of the tent, just as Natsumi poked hers out of the open patio door.
Holy! Blood, violence, death, kill…
She was so adorable.
Her fluffy pink hair was floofed out, her eyes droopy with sleep, looking completely disorientated and vulnerable. His heart squeezed with the familiar sensation he associated with her appearance and he fought to calm the rising heat with words that soothed the flames of passion, bringing his business profession to the forefront.
Blood, violence, death, kill…
(They also keep his cheeks from bursting into flame and his head from exploding.)
"I'm sorry to bug you this early…but could you help me?"
He didn't need to ask why. He could now hear the tearful moaning inside the house quite clearly.
"How will I read my COMICS!"
"Sis, I can't find my pants!"
"This is WORSE than eating sugar-free candy!"
"Uncle, I still can't see anything. Are you sure the lights are turned on?"
(You can probably guess who said what.)
"It sounds like Hell in there."
Giroro's comment brought a half-smile to her face, "Yeah…I didn't know about the abilities of my cosmic Horai ball thing before I let Keroro borrow it. Can you help?"
"As if I'd say no…You're in this mess because I didn't share useful intelligence with you."
She shrugged, "I never asked about it before, so it's 50/50 on the blame."
He sighed, "To bad Keroro doesn't have any useful intelligence or there wouldn't have been a mess in the first place. Kululu knows about the same cosmic crap as I do, why didn't he tell that idiot about the Horide trees special ability?"
"He went with Saburo on their family vacation this week. They won't be back until next Monday."
Her words seemed sad and Giroro knew why, but at least that explained the absence of the yellow creep.
"Well…let's see if we can restore some order to this mess."
He popped out of his tent and followed her to the scene of chaos indoors. Keroro, Tamama, Mois, and Fuyuki were draped over various pieces of furniture in the living room. To the casual glance they seemed normal.
(As normal as aliens and a prepubescent boy can be anyway.)
However, Giroro immediately noticed that none of them realized his and Natsumi's presence until she spoke up.
"Alright guys, listen up. I'm going to help you all into the kitchen for some breakfast. If you need to use the restroom Giroro or I will help you get to it. Fuyuki, Mois, don't worry about changing clothes. You two can't go anywhere without your eyesight anyway, so I'll phone our school and let them know Fuyuki's sick and staying home."
She looked down at her stalwart red partner, "Giroro…can you contact Dororo and have him ask Koyuki to pick up our homework?"
"Sure, it shouldn't be too hard. He's always showing up for meetings. How does Kululu contact him Keroro?"
"Ke-kero," the poor sergeant sounded rather despondent, "The blue transponder in the main base should do the trick."
Giroro turned and made for the stairs to the basement hideout and Natsumi herded the group of eyesight depraved individuals into the kitchen and seated them at the table.
"Natsumi…can we eat breakfast now?" Tamama twiddled his digits anxiously, "Cause the last time I ate was hours ago and my tummy has a rumble."
His stomach growled in affirmation.
Natsumi couldn't help, but grin at him. Everyone had been so panicked last night that sleep had been slow in coming for all of them. Her mom had managed to successfully calm everyone down and get them into bed. But because of deadlines at work she was unable to stay home. So, it fell to Natsumi and now Giroro to take care of the eye stricken individuals.
"Sure thing Tamama, I'll make us all some breakfast."
Natsumi wasn't exactly sure what would be the best breakfast for blind people, but she supposed anything that involved a fork was out. Cereal seemed pretty easy, so she busied herself with setting out bowls and digging cereal boxes out of the pantry.
"Kerokerokero…"
The green ones sudden laughter seemed to put Natsumi into instant bad mood.
"What are you laughing about Fridiot?"
Keroro continued to chuckle deviously, "Well Natsumi, usually I'm the one taking care of all the chores…but since you blinded us with your stupid branch ball, you now have to take on all the chores alone."
"Watch what you say stupid frog or it won't just be your eyes that are broken!"
"You'd better be nice Keroro, she sounds pretty unhappy."
The green keronian was undeterred by Fuyuki's warning, "Poor Natsumi and today was laundry day! You'll have to wash, dry, hang, and fold all by your poor lonesome self, poor poor Nat…"
That was as far as he got…a blue transponder biffed him smack on his round green face, knocking him out of his chair and onto the floor.
"OW! Natsumi you'd dare hurt an invalid?"
"Tsk…she wouldn't, but I'm not so picky."
Giroro stood in the doorway holding the second half of the transponder he had just thrown.
"It's your own fault for not researching the Horai ball before using it…Natsumi shouldn't be the one paying for what you did to yourself."
"Well Corporal…those clothes aren't going to wash themselves. Why don't you help Natsumi, goodness knows your relations…"
The other half of the transponder knocked him out cold.
" ?"
"Keroro?"
"Uncle?"
Natsumi grinned at Giroro, who was nonchalantly retrieving the battered equipment and the battered sergeant.
"Uh…He's fine guys, I think all the excitement last night made him too sleepy for breakfast.
She watched as her red defender dragged his commanding officer back into the living room. He may have inflicted the bodily harm, but at least he was making sure Keroro would wake up comfortably.
(Though with multiple head wounds and a mild concussion.)
Natsumi turned back to the task at hand. After all, everyone else deserved breakfast even if Keroro didn't. She poured cereal and milk into bowls for the three remaining friends. Marshmallow munchies for sugar happy Tamama, UFOs (Unique fruit ovals) for Fuyuki, and Sweet Saps for Mois.
Giroro returned from the living room, dusting his hands together in a businesslike manner.
"Right, now that everyone's situated I'll get the laundry going."
"Wait Giroro! Don't you want some breakfast too?"
"Grmphsnachglp…yeah, these marshmallow munchies are even good soggy!"
"Tamama, don't eat with your face!That spoon I handed you wasn't for decoration!" Natsumi fumed. The little tadpole had marshmallows stuck to his nose.
"But it's fun!"
Fuyuki and Mois both started laughing and despite herself Natsumi grinned.
"It's probably easier than using a spoon, sis."
"Huh…well as long as he doesn't get it everywhere I suppose it's okay," she turned her eyes to the only one in the room that could meet them, "but seriously Giroro, you don't want anything to eat?"
The red warrior shrugged, "Breakfast isn't necessary, I usually only have a cup of coffee or tea in the morning."
"Well, I'll start some tea for us then."
Before he could object, she was up and putting the water on to boil.
"That's really not necessary."
"Yes it is…you need something in your belly if you want to start the day right."
"But Natsumi…"
"No buts, Giroro."
Mois leaned over to Fuyuki, "They sound like an old married couple."
They both chuckled and earned a glare from the red corporal and his partner.
Giroro huffed, Natsumi looked plain indignant, and both were feverishly glad of the blind predicament of the other occupants of the Hinata house.
(That's because they're both blushing really badly.)
"Uh…anyway," Natsumi managed to stammer, "Once you guys finish up with breakfast we'll get you back to the living room. I've got some books on tape and music you guys can listen to that should help the boredom level some."
This suggestion was greeted with enthusiasm and the rest of breakfast was eaten mostly in silence, with only an occasional gurgle-slurp from Tamama.
Natsumi cleared the table and finished making the tea, while Giroro escorted each of the blind individuals back out into the living room. The trio then began a heated discussion over what they would listen to first.
Giroro returned to the kitchen to find a steaming mug of hot tea waiting for him on the table. He sat down and took a sip of the steaming fragrant liquid. Unsweetened…she had remembered his skepticism of sugary sweets.
"Well, thanks for the tea. Its delicious and I suppose you might possibly be right about starting the day with something in your stomach."
"I'm glad you admit I'm right about breakfast…and that you like the tea."
He looked happily down into his cup and swished it thoughtfully.
"Well…choosing what to listen to should take them awhile. Do you need help with the dishes?"
She pulled up a chair and set her own mug next to his, "We can do those later…I really wanted to ask you a question."
Giroro's heart sped up considerably…
"Were you able to contact Dororo?" she smirked, "before you broke the communicator over that stupid toads head."
He sighed internally. No romantic confession there…
"Yeah…he said he'd contact Koyuki immediately. She'll probably swing by this evening with your homework, I also told him to have her tell your teachers that you were both feeling unwell. Not too far from the truth I think."
Natsumi smiled softly at him, "Thanks Red, I totally forgot about calling in."
How he loved it when she called him that. Her eyes on him were so soft and gentle…blood, violence, death, kill.
Giroro closed his eyes and squelched his desire to close the distance between them, but he couldn't suppress the crinkling corners of his eyes.
"Heheh…It was no big deal, I figured you had enough going on as is."
She sighed, "Yeah, I hope they all get their eyesight back soon…I swear I'm gonna make Keroro do all my chores for the next month!"
"Well, I can at least help you with them while he's out of action."
She reached over and squeezed his hand.
Blood, violence, death, kill, blood violence, death, kill…
"Thanks again in advance, chores can be a beast and I have others to finish besides the laundry."
She removed her hand much to his equal relief and chagrin.
"Your face is a little red; Giroro…is the tea too hot?"
The very red corporal took a hasty swig from his mug.
"Ah…it's a little warm, yeah."
She put a cool hand on his cheek.
"Well, as long as it's just the tea. I can't have my partner getting sick on me."
Blood, violence, death, kill…I am so froggin lovesick.
She removed her cool digits from his warm cheek and cupped her tea mug in both hands.
And teatime was then finished in a silence Natsumi felt was comfortable.
(For Giroro it was more comfortable when his face stopped burning.)
He helped Natsumi to clean the dishes and the two of them scrubbed, rinsed, and dried in the same quiet camaraderie. Once the dishes were finished and put away they started on the laundry loading the washing machine in relative silence. The blind folks had finally decided on a listening number and were for the moment content.
Giroro tossed the last few items in, as Natsumi poured the detergent and he measured out the fabric softener. Their hands brushed and Giroro was worried it would be like the tea incident all over again.
I wish I could tell her what I truly think of her, what the purpose of all those presents really was, but I'm a soldier…not a lover. I'm here to take over her planet, not become a defender of it. I can't let myself go native like Dororo, command would only swoop in like a hawk and destroy everything I…
He opened his eyes to find Natsumi staring at him curiously.
"Uh…Giroro, I think the clothes will be soft enough."
The fabric softener was definitely overflowing, rolling over his hand into the washer in a noisy torrent. He stopped pouring and dumped the rest of the liquid back into the container.
Natsumi chuckled and fished a washcloth out of the swirling water for him.
"Here let me wipe your hand off."
He practically snatched the rag from her outstretched hand.
"Uhno…it was my fault, I'll clean myself up."
She shrugged, "Okay tough guy…actually, I've been wondering if I could ask you another question."
He swiped his hand clean and tossed the rag back into the water.
"Sure."
Natsumi sat down on the ground and leaned back against the cool, rumbling machine.
"Will you tell me about the second gift you got me…the cosmic fire mouse pelt?"
Giroro considered sitting on the ground, but opted instead to settle on the stool next to her. Their faces were more or less even at this level and he'd rather look straight at her than up.
"I suppose I could."
Natsumi smiled, "Can it do anything that could potentially harm someone?"
He shrugged, "Not after its dead, no."
She looked over at him and quite suddenly remembered that one of his hands had been burned.
"Was it actually on fire when you caught it?"
"Shot it," he corrected, "and yes it was."
"Oh."
He closed his eyes in memory, "The pesky little beast gave me an awful fight; they behave more like galactic rats when you corner them. The fire mice are known for their ferocity and their fur. Their pelt retains incredible warmth even after the mouse has died. It has something to do with the fire of their soul being trapped in the hair before death, or some other nonsense."
Natsumi looked at the closed eye corporal questioningly, "Are they rare?"
Giroro shrugged, "Not really, just hard to kill. The fire they emit can burn through most conventional methods of weaponry. Kululu made me a special bullet to take care of the one I shot."
"I see, why did you want to catch it for me?"
"For warmth of course, you pekoponians love curling up under warm things in the winter and I thought it would make a perfect scarf or hand warmer or whatever…"
(He may never tell her it's to keep her warm in a way he cannot.)
BEEP!
Giroro was so engrossed in his storytelling that the resounding shriek of the washer finishing its cycle startled him off his stool.
He fell with a thump.
Right into Natsumi's lap.
(What will happen now? Will Giroro get slapped silly? Will Natsumi realize his love for her? Will this Narrators voice ever be heard? And is the Author ever going to remember the disclaimer? Tune in next time for Giroro and Natsumi present: Black hole Begging pot Blues.)
So…What do you all think?
Mean, huh…kukuku.
I am actually going to do the disclaimer right now. I do not own the magic that is Sgt. Frog. If I did Giroro and Natsumi would be canon shipping.
I wanted to post this fluffy chapter for Giroro's birthday, it would have been longer…but I needed sleep. ZzZzZz…I wrote 9 pages in a day…I think it's a new record for me.
Any flames will be read, laughed at, maliciously torn asunder, thrown into the air, and then vacuumed up by Keroro.
Y'all are going to have to wait to find out what happens.
However...Reviews (which are the very lifeblood and motivation of fanfiction authors everywhere!) will result in another chapter in a ridiculously short period of time so…
If it pleases you, Review!