As some of you know I have picked up a new project titled Enslave My Heart - Giroro's Lima Syndrome, I do still plan to work on my other stories so don't think I've abandoned anything. I hope you all have a good day and enjoy the extra long chapter. :3
As the group of frogs gathered and migrated their way to the doors of the pool room, Keroro began humming a little tune. Fuyuki and the others became excited and marched to the beat of the green one's music. With a simple gesture of his hand, Keroro opened the large doors allowing everyone to see the adjusted scenery.
The pool was still in the center with a couple of diving boards along one side. The only difference was a selection of odd slides against the back wall that lead straight into the pool. The ceiling was soft blue with simulated star shaped clouds floating across the top. The walls were given holographic panels to give the appearance of some sort of beach, but it didn't look normal as the sand was shaded pinker than the sand on earth. A few spiraling tropical blue trees sprouted along the background which led around the room to one wall that simulated a horizon with a calm green ocean. A single white sun positioned itself just above the ocean line creating a cream colored glow that bled into the blue.
"Yay! Kururu finally installed the slides and scenery I requested." Keroro danced into the room followed by Tamama as they went straight to the water slides. The rest of the group took their time to soak in the scenery. It was new to them and left them gaping at its wonder.
"Are there beaches and oceans on Keron?" Fuyuki asked.
"There are and they cover about two thirds of our planet." Dororo responded glad to give some informational input towards teaching others about their culture and habitat.
"I thought you guys couldn't stand salt water though?" Fuyuki was temporarily confused until Giroro quickly corrected his thinking with another fact.
"Unlike Pekopon, Keron's water is mostly fresh. It's rare to find salt on our planet."
"It's beautiful." Natsumi cooed her opinion of the colorful scenery. Her eyes were wide as they looked upon each feature. Giroro was happy to see her reaction to his home.
"Except for Dororo's garden this is as close to feeling at home as we're gonna get." Giroro sighed.
"Well then show me what Giroro the soldier buff would do at the beach on his home planet." Natsumi giggled dragging him towards the pool. His face flushed with a pink brighter than the sand as he tried to object but gave in and let her bring him to the water.
Dororo and Koyuki dashed across the water and flipped in the air twice before submerging down below. Fuyuki and Momoka strolled along the walls admiring the wildlife Kururu was able to recreate and simulate. Keroro and Spencer played more around the pool than in it, re-enacting an episode for one of the many gundam anime they had seen and enjoyed. Tamama was allowed to play the part of a young woman in danger that Keroro's character had to rescue. Saburo sat on the edge of the pool finding peace that his friends were there and they could just hangout.
"I'm sure you've had fun at a beach before haven't you?" Natsumi asked from the waters towards the red frog that had yet to join her.
"I did have a few drills in sand and the ocean if that counts."
"Well it doesn't, now get in here and have a freakin' childhood." Natsumi paddled in the water swaying back and forth.
"I'm an adult. What point is there to have a childhood now?" Giroro asked lost in her statement.
"It's never too late to have any fun, Giroro." Dororo floated in a sitting position across the water.
"If it makes it easier on you I'll race you?" Natsumi suggested.
"Now a challenge I can accept." He became slightly excited; this was something he could easily do. It wasn't as abnormal as splashing about in the water like a fool.
"Then get in here already." Natsumi was slightly aggravated at having to argue an adult to get in a pool and swim with her. She positioned herself at one end of the pool. Giroro set his belt aside in a dry corner and professionally dived into the pool, swimming to the designated starting position.
"On your mark!" Koyuki stood behind them giving the count down. "Get set! GO!"
Giroro and Natsumi bolted down through the water. Natsumi kept her eyes closed so she wouldn't be tempted to see where her opponent was. She knew they could swim amazingly well and would not allow herself to get distracted. After softly bouncing her back against the wall, she swam towards the other end. It didn't take long for her to swim the length of the pool twice, but to her surprise Giroro was already at the end waiting for her.
"What?! How did you get here so fast?" Natsumi asked panting slightly.
"I'm trained to swim faster than the average Keronian anyway, so there wasn't any real challenge." Giroro smirked before having a small wave of water crash in his face.
"You could have at least let me win." Natsumi giggled letting it grow into a full laughter.
"Where's the fun in that?" Giroro replied with sarcasm.
"So you can have fun. Well that's a relief." Natsumi smiled wider as she leaned to float on her back, kicking slightly to drift on the water.
"If it's any consolation you swim better than Keroro."
"I knew I would." Natsumi responded calmly.
"You're not getting egotistical on us are you?" Giroro smiled and chuckled lightly.
"I like to call it being confident." Natsumi straightened up to laugh alongside Giroro. She then nudged his arm. "See? You can have fun. I knew you weren't just a giant stick in the mud."
"It's not his fault really." Dororo spoke joining the conversation. "Ever since he was able to walk and speak his father and brother trained him. Preventing him from going out and discovering the world like the others."
"We don't need to bring up my life story." Giroro blushed and became frantic.
"Oh are we talking about Giroro's traumatic childhood again?" Keroro couldn't help but join the conversation.
"It wasn't traumatic!" Giroro yelled.
"A childhood is always traumatic when you don't get to play as much as the other kids. Its way too sad to be cooped up in your house learning drills."
"I was just more responsible than you; now why don't you go back to playing gundam or something?!" Giroro shoved Keroro out of the circle, excluding him from the rest of the conversation.
"Well then let's teach you!" Natsumi smiled as her voice chirped with a hint of giggles. "Let's play something simple like tag; and Giroro has to be it."
Natsumi dove under the water followed by Dororo and Koyuki.
"Wait, what? What are the rules? How do you win?" Giroro was flustered and over all confused.
"There is no winning; you just have to tag someone else to make them it. Then they have to tag someone else; and don't you dare start using your battle tactics or I'll kick your butt." Natsumi called from the middle of the pool. "You just have to relax."
Giroro swam through the water unsure of what exactly they expected him to do. He saw the others swimming away from him. So I'm the attacker, and they're the targets? I just have to catch one right? Giroro then locked his sights upon the one he was always interested in capturing. He began moving swiftly through the water towards his peach colored victim.
Natsumi could see him coming at her. She giggled as he approached and seemingly got into the game. After a few close encounters Giroro was able to finally grab hold of her. The two resurfaced to find that Giroro had grabbed her tail. His face burned pink. He then quickly released her tail and waved his hands in front of him defensively.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"It's fine Giroro. It's not like you hurt me or anything." Natsumi was surprised by his reaction.
"Kukuku, he's right to freak out like that. Grabbing a tadpole's tail can be seen as a big 'no no' on our planet. He could get into a lot of trouble if you were a real keronian." Kururu's voice echoed around the room originating from a collection of speakers around the room. "It's a newly discovered form of child molestation. Kuuuu~"
"Giroro, its fine. I won't get you in trouble." Natsumi tried her best to calm him knowing that even though it wasn't a big deal to her, it was to him.
"Anyways you should get out of the pool as soon as possible." Kururu spoke once again.
"Why should we?" Natsumi asked.
"Because the combined humidity in that room is enough to become bait. Ku~ We're currently at code white."
"Oh no." Giroro looked at Dororo who nodded in return. They each grabbed the hand of their partner as they leapt out of the waters. "Everyone out of the pool!"
"What's going on?!" Natsumi asked trying not to trip over her feet as they left the room. She failed to keep her balance and slipped. "Ow!"
"Code white means there is a high chance of attracting Nyororo!" Giroro huffed as he paused to pick her up and carry her on his back. He checked the room to see Momoka running out with Fuyuki. Keroro and Tamama dashed out knowing exactly what was going to happen. Behind them was Spencer who was completely lost in what was happening. Saburo ran beside to make sure he made it out.
When he was sure everyone made it out, Giroro left the pool room. Dororo shut the doors as soon as he cleared past the doorway. The soldier made a headcount and found that they were all fine.
"We should go dry off as soon as possible. I'm sure Aki has enough towels and blankets upstairs." Giroro began heading up to the main floor, still holding Natsumi on his back.
"Thanks Giroro." Natsumi smiled glad that she had someone who looked out for her.
"Are you alright Natsumi?" Koyuki asked looking at her friend with worry.
"I'm fine. I just slipped and landed on my ankle. I think it might be sprained or something because it's slightly throbbing now." After her statement there was a loud crash in the pool room they had evacuated. "I'm really glad I had Giroro around to pick me up. Otherwise I'd still be back there getting sucked dry. Again thanks."
"It's no problem. Just something any soldier would do." Giroro blushed slightly trying to stay calm, although inside his mind he was celebrating. OH MY FROG~ I'm carrying her and she feels so warm. My sweet princess I will always be there to help you.
"So, Fridiot. Who's going to fix the holes in our house and dispose of the Nyororo?" Natsumi looked at Keroro trading her smile for a threatening glare.
"I'll have Kururu get right on that Miss Natsumi." Keroro rubbed the back of his head and smiled as worried sweat ran down his face.
"Dear Fellow Keronians, We're sorry we failed in invading Pekopon. Turns out our leader is a failure and can't hold his own against a teenage girl. We'd love to come home and give you a proper apology but our leader is busy building Gundam and doing chores for the Pekoponians." Giroro sighed feeling the hope of ever invading slipping further away.
"I can still invade!" Keroro fumed.
"Prove it!" Giroro's words struck back.
"Yeah let's just see you try." Natsumi smiled at the green frog, challenging him.
"Why are you guys always yelling at me?! Why don't you fight each other for once?!" Keroro pointed to them.
"Because neither of us would win. We would end up fighting each other until it became an awkward staring contest and that alone could carry on for days before we pass out simultaneously. It's just easier and more effective to fight with you." Natsumi shrugged her shoulders obviously having thought about it.
"Exactly." Giroro agreed.
"You make it sound like you guys have done this before." Spencer stated slightly curious.
"Well we have seen how each other fights and learned each other's weaknesses so we're just kind of equal. There really is no need to try it. Besides, everything just goes along easier when we're on good terms." Natsumi replied.
"Alright, everyone single file through the vortex." Giroro changed the subject casually as they approached the exit of the base. After each had found their way through into Keroro's room, Giroro set Natsumi down in Keroro's lounge chair.
"Why did you set me here?" Natsumi asked confused.
"Well I don't see any safe way of getting you up the ladder. So you're gonna have to stay down here for the night until your ankle is better." Giroro stated confidently.
"What? But this is my room?" Keroro didn't feel comfortable in having the woman who can kick his ass at a moment's notice sleep in his room.
"Don't think I'm so thrilled about it either Fridiot, but Giroro has a point." Natsumi crossed her arms and huffed an air of rebellious nature even though she would comply.
"I'm gonna go get mom. I'll get some ice too." Fuyuki stated trying to be useful. He then left the room.
"Why don't we all sleep down here?" Momoka thought aloud.
"Yeah! Like a giant sleep over!" Koyuki was excited by the idea.
"I'll even set up some music." Saburo chipped in his favorite activity.
"Alright but girls are on one side and boys on the other. We should also get more bedding down here." Natsumi liked the idea knowing that this way she wouldn't be left in the basement either completely alone or alone with Keroro.
