Chapter 4. Yeah. Review please~! And enjoy. In case you don't know, the ***** thing is a time lapse.

All characters (c) Mine Yoshizaki.

Giroro quietly lay in the grass of the Hinata's backyard, watching the clouds drift lazily by. To much surprise, he showed little interest in polishing his guns and other weapons. A small smile spread across his face as he continued to observe the clouds. Huh..they all look like Dororo.. He observed, blushing. Ever since his first visit with Dororo, the two have been meeting together for almost a week now, taking trips to several locations, from forests, cities, oceans, mountains, and so on. They had a lot of time on their hands, due to the fact that the sergeant showed no interest in invading any time soon. He thought back to his first visit...

*****

The two had decided to take a walk in the forest where Dororo's house lay. They chatted endlessly about a number of subjects, always finding something of common interest. The once heavy atmosphere had dispersed and it suddenly felt like old times, nothing but laughs and a strong friendship. Together, they observed the natural beauty that the forest had to offer, always stopping to look at some sort of spectacle. They ventured deep into the woods, to places even Dororo hadn't been yet. The sun was already dipping over the horizon and still the two ventured on. Soon, they came across something rather strange to find so deep in the forest. Both were quite perplexed when they found a swing, hanging from a large tree. Its ropes which suspended it were faded and tattered with age. The wooden seat was in no better condition. But still, it was stable. Giroro nudged his friend, urging him to try it out.

"Get on, Dororo. I'll push you."Giroro had said with a smile, a blush running across his face.

"A-alright."Dororo complied with a quick nod. He was actually quite excited to go on the swing. And to have Giroro push him... The ninja made his way towards the swing, Giroro following close behind. Seating himself on the wooden plank, he waited for Giroro to get behind him. The plank was large enough to seat one Pekoponian, and barely big enough to seat two Keronians. Dororo gripped the ropes, one in each hand. "Ready?" Giroro had asked. The lance corporal had looked back at him, eyes dancing. "Ready."He had replied. And with that they started. Giroro placed his hands on Dororo's back, giving him a firm push, and he was off. With each push, he ascended higher and higher in the air, his ear flaps flowing wildly in the wind. The sky looks so big... Dororo had thought peacefully. He could feel laughter rumbling within him, and soon he was laughing so hard he could have fallen off his seat. Giroro joined in, too, and then it really did feel like old times. Only when the moon was high in the sky did Dororo finally return to the ground. Hopping off the swing on wobbly legs, he stretched his stiff limbs. He looked at the old swing admiringly.

"I wonder if we're the only people to know of this place."The ninja said in a hushed voice.

"I think so. Since its this far in the woods. Not to mention it looks like no one has used it in a while." He gestured to the beaten up swing.

Then it was silent, and both fixed their gaze on the mess of stars up above.

"Hey, Giroro..."Dororo said, turning to his superior. "How about we make this our own little place? We're the only two who know about it after all..."He bit his lip. Ugh..why did I ask such a stupid question? I probably just ruined the whole evening. He must think I'm so desperate... His fist tightened in frustration as he waited, again, for rejection. But it never came, only the corporal's hoarse laugh. Dororo looked at him, a bit confused.

"That's a great idea, Dororo." Giroro replied in a reassuring voice. Putting a hand on the light blue keron's shoulder, he smiled. "Come on, Dororo, let's head back." Dororo returned the smile, hoping Giroro could tell that he was.

"Yes, let's. And, Giroro..." Their eyes met and for a moment neither dared to utter a word. "Thank you..." The lance corporal finally said. Giroro blushed, and dropped his eyes down to the ground.

"Wha-what for? I haven't done anything." He asked in a shaky voice, glancing up at Dororo.

"For coming to see me today. I really appreciate it. And to tell you the truth, I was about to come see you, too. I missed you..."The ninja said with a feeble smile, which was known only to him. He could feel the tears coming, and hurriedly blinked them back. No! I won't cry..not here. He yelled in his head.

Giroro looked at him, wide eyed. His heart leaped into his throat and he blushed madly. Had Dororo really had the same thoughts he had? He smiled at the ninja, slowly reaching for his hand, taking it in his own. "I missed you too, Dororo. Very much so. I felt that we were growing apart, and I wanted to stop that. I didn't want to lose your friendship..." He thought back to when they were just tadpoles, all the adventures they had together, all the memories.

Dororo laughed whole heartedly, swallowing the lump in his throat. He squeezed Giroro's hand. "Well, that's all in the past now, Giroro-kun. We'll always be friends, no matter what." Giroro smiled shyly at him before letting go of the ninja's hand. But would close friends be the extent of their relationship? Both frogs pondered on the same thought before returning home....

*****

Giroro shook his head furiously, sitting up from his previous position. "I can't be really feeling this for Dororo..can I? I-I love Natsumi..." The corporal whispered to himself, looking down at his belt. But, as much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, he did have feelings for the ninja. He always enjoyed the time they spent together, he couldn't deny that. Maybe there was something more behind the friendship...something pure.