Sup people I'm back! To start, I will be deleting the note that was recently posted.

And now, I'm sorry for being so late with the chapter. My inspiration comes whenever I have to go somewheres or go to bed. And, I admit, I slacked off on Tumblr the first few days… So I've decided to screw timeframes because I never meet up to them. I'll just post whenever I can, though I won't take more than a month to do it, that I do promise.

To make up for being so late (and another part of the reason that's so), I have a hugely long chapter for you readers…

In other words, who's heard of the new show coming out next year? The (Miraculous) Ladybug. Originally supposed to be an anime but now a CG animation. It still looks awesome though. Check it out.

Now for some quick review replies:

Guest: It's okay, you don't have to get an account if you don't want to. The least I ask is that you use some number or letters or something in your username when you review so I can properly point out who I'm speaking to.

Guest769: As you can see, I'm way later than when you asked me to update. My deepest apologies. Though the chapter is up now, and I hope you're pleased. *smiley face*

123ABC: Thanks for reviewing (I talk to this person on a daily basis, hence why I don't say more).

Guest50: I hadn't expected to hear that anyone liked my story so much as to be checking it daily for a new chapter, so I was both thrilled and ashamed at your review. Ashamed because I'm sorry to have made you wait, but thank you for your reviews.

I'm proud to see the last chapter got nine instead of just five reviews. It may seem like a small thing, but every review counts to me. As promised, I have to tell one fact about Bananu or her mom, Benara.

The first fact issss... she was originally meant to be Kururu's daughter. Hence why her colors are yellow and green and her symbol has two of his swirls. But then I changed her story and looks and made her into Garuru's daughter instead.

I had also considered somehow making her related to both Garuru and Kururu (like perhaps Kururu's mom had hooked up with Garuru's dad for a night). Then she would be Kururu's half sister and Garuru/Giroro's half sister. But I tossed the idea (for whatever reason. Now that I think of it, that would've been really interesting). Maybe one of you guys (reviewers) could do something with that idea, I wouldn't mind.

This dream, I had had this dream before. Back when I was younger and my mom was alive. I was using my powers to help me fly.

It was more like ice-skating actually. In reality it would be an incredible strain on my mind, but this was a dream, and everything was okay. I simply willed myself forward, my feet gliding against the air and helping to propel me ahead. It was like ice-skating against butter, smooth and graceful.

I looked over to my side and saw something different, new, to the dream. Garuru was there, his small body skating beside mine. He smirked, his fang showing, as it always does, and seemed to push himself harder, moving ahead of me. I silently accepted the challenge with a smile and moved faster, beginning to grin.

We moved with the wind, at surprising speed, and I laughed joyously. I heard him chuckle, but it seemed faint. Swept away by the wind, I guessed. We swirled around each other, not having a care in the world about anything.

I grinned and spun forward, no longer skating and using only my mind to hold me in the air. I envisioned myself with imaginary wings, and moved my arms in a sort of swimming or flapping motion, from my head down to my sides. I shot up, grinning, and looked down to tell Garuru to do it too, but he was gone.

I paused in midair, high up in the sky, and looked around. The sky was clear, save for clouds and a few birds off in the distance. It was like he'd never been here, "Uhm, Garuru?"

I turned in a full circle, eye's scanning the clouds. Where had he gone? What if he got lost in the sky somewheres?

My dreamself had a moment of panic - had he fallen?

My voice was frantic, "Garuru?!"

It seemed like I searched for hours, zipping back and forth, up and down along the sky as I called for him. Finally, I landed and spent the rest of the time running around.

Had he left me? No, he would never do that! He'd never leave me alone like that, he cared for me! I was his daughter, he wouldn't abandon me!

The mix of worry and fear, the anxiety, got me to crying, "GARURU, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

The setting, buildings, streets, seasons, seemed to change every time I turned one way or another. How would I find him in this large world?

What if he wasn't even on this world?

Hours turned into days, and days into weeks. I didn't want to, but finally just plopped down on the ground, knowing the search must be futile by now.

He was gone.

"Bananu!"

I shot up, "Garuru?!" He sounded close! And so the search began again.

I'd heard him, I was sure of it. I wouldn't give up, this time I would find him!

"Bananu, it's okay..." I could hear his calm voice, as if it were right beside me, but when I turned to look there was nothing, no one, there.

"No, it's not okay, I can't find you!" I screamed, "Where are you? Please! I don't want to be alone again!"

I shot up, gasping and panting with a frantic feeling in my chest as my heart beat rapidly. Fear weighed heavily on me and I hugged my shaking self, as if hoping it'd give me some sense of comfort in the lonely room.

I looked around and ran my clammy hands along my hat flaps, my closest equivalent to running hands through my hair, as I tried to calm myself. I closed my eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath.

It was just a dream. Though it'd felt so real, so vivid.

I still felt worry, like Garuru was really gone and I'd gotten myself lost in my own desperate attempt to find him. It was an awful feeling, especially because I knew it wasn't real. I felt something drip onto my hands and touched my moist face. I'd been crying in my sleep.

I wiped my eyes dry as I looked over at the clock and sighed. It hadn't been long at all. It was ten until eleven o'clock. Somewhat reluctantly, I threw the covers back and swung my legs off the bed, thinking.

It wasn't real. I knew that. It would be completely stupid to leave the house, especially this late, and Garuru was probably fine. But… I needed to know that he was okay. I needed to be completely sure, just to reassure myself.

I really didn't want to get in trouble for sneaking out. It was just a quick outing anyways. But I would have to be silent if I didn't want to wake anyone, especially since the other two living in the house were ninjas.

I took a slow, full, deep breath, and closed my eyes. I could do this, it was just like the dream. I moved to my feet, although shakily, and looked down. It was like an invisible disk under my feet, helping me to hover above the ground. I'd seen it in my mind, and it had come to reality.

I walked unsteadily at first, but then more surely, walking around my room and never touching the ground. I moved to my closet once I felt I'd gotten the hang of it and grabbed a cloak, remembering how it'd been cool earlier. It was Pekoponian sized, so it dragged behind me on the floor silently. Not wanting it to get caught on something, I balled it up some and put a rubber band around it like a pony tail so it was shorter.

I slowly, quietly slid my door open and looked around the dark hallway before walking down it. As I passed Dororo's room I noted to myself to be back before midnight. I held my breath as I made my way to the exit of the house, as if expecting to be caught at any moment. I waited, waited to see if anyone would come running to stop me or not. No one did. I couldn't help my grin. I'd made it out, into the night. The beautiful, wonderful, night, where only the moon lit up the world.

I looked around before beginning to walk, then breaking into a run. I loved the cool air, and how everything looked in the dark. With wind whipping past my face, I wondered if this was as close as I would ever get to flying. Yes, I could move above the ground, but I never had the strength to go very high. My heart was beating like a drum, and I wished I had some music to play.

I could almost feel my worries beginning to ebb away already. But that didn't change what I was doing, wanting to do. I couldn't get the dream off my mind. I mean, I'd been having nightmares, but this was the first time in a dream where Garuru had seemed… accepting of me. It was the first dream where he didn't mistreat me or anything. But then he'd been gone. It was such a different dream than the others I'd had, where he shot me down or given me to Keron or something of the sort.

I moved out of the woods and to the rooftops. I yawned some, and stopped to pull the rubber band off the cloak, letting it slide along the ground. I continued along my way, moving from roof to roof until I finally came upon the Hinata's.
I looked at the large, concealed ship in their backyard and reimagined the disk from earlier I'd used to move down the hallway. I took a deep breath and walked out onto the air. I was more used to controlling other objects, so to be controlling myself, where I move to and so on, wasn't easy. I moved towards the ship, trying to stay as high as I could without getting too tired out.

I moved around the ship, looking for any windows. I could see some, but they were higher up on the ship, and I wouldn't have the strength mentally to get to them. I considered going inside, if I could find a door and a way to get it open, but what would I do? For one, I probably shouldn't be on there, since I was not part of the Garuru platoon. It'd just lead to a lot of questioning. The reason I had to enter wasn't worth getting in trouble for, either. I imagined trying to explain to someone that I'd impulsively snuck on their ship because of a bad dream. If anything was wrong with Garuru his platoon would be there for him.

It made me wonder... Who was there for me?

I could feel a dull, impending headache forming due to straining my mind and moved to land on the ground with a soft sigh. I just shouldn't have come here. It was stupid. I sat down in the grass, my head falling back to hit the ship with a startlingthwam! noise that didn't help ease my headache at all.

I closed my eyes, just relaxing there for a moment. It'd been nice to get out at least. My reason to come here was stupid. Not even just here, to see Garuru, but to actually come to the Hinata's house at all. I could've just gone to some other town, tried to make a life. Why did I even come here if I don't plan on telling Garuru he was my father? It was stupid. I was stupid. I frowned down at the grass, muttering, "Stupid stupidness..."

"What's stupid?"

I jumped with a squeal at the sudden, gruff voice that replied and looked beside me at Zoruru.

"When did you-? How did you-? What? Nothing!" He was so quiet… I mean, I should expect that from a ninja, but I hadn't even felt he was beside me. Had he seen me using my power?

He crossed his arms, "What are you doing here? It's late."

I blinked, "I… It doesn't matter. What're you doing here? I'd think you would be asleep by now."

Zoruru leaned back against the ship, "I sensed someone outside here."

"Pretty keen senses," I mumbled, and then gasped when he was suddenly standing over me.

His red eye was narrowed distrustfully as he looked down at me, and when he spoke his voice was low, deep and gruff, "I don't like liars, Bananu, especially when they've been participating in military affairs. And all you seem to be doing is lying and dragging attention away from the Pekopon invasion. So I would like to know," he leaned close, "What game are you playing at?"

He quieted, waiting for an answer, and I scowled at him, standing, "Frog off, Zoruru."

Our fixated gazes became fixated glares, and I said, "I really don't want to fight with you, Zoruru…"

He said, "I wouldn't fight someone so helpless. Besides, I don't fight. I kill."

I blinked and looked up thoughtfully as my mind went off track, "Oh yeah, you're an assassin, not a ninja. I thought they were kind of the same."

Zoruru snorted, "You probably associate peace and gardening with the word 'ninja,' don't you? You would, always being around that fool, Dororo. I would never stoop as low as he has."

"Uhm, excuse me? Since when is Dororo a fool? You're the one picking a fight you can't win."

Zoruru's red eye was almost a pinprick in the black, "You don't think I can defeat you?"

I felt a whoosh of air and blinked in surprise. It seemed almost like he hadn't moved at all, except there was a long blade sticking out of his metal hand going up along the length of his arm.

I felt something run down my left cheek and put my hand to it. Looking down at it, I could see the blood smeared across my hand.

I looked up at Zoruru, who said, "If I can cut you, I can defeat you."

I blinked at him owlishly, and then broke into a large grin. I was sure I could defeat him. That is, if he knew about my telepathy. Which I could use, though I would have to be very discreet if I wanted to avoid questioning.

There was one other thing I could use.

I put my arms in a 'V' shape and materialized a slender, sleek black gun with a silencer on it. Wouldn't want to wake anyone else, now would I?

Zoruru moved back several steps, putting some space between us, and gave me an interesting look, "I'll give you one chance to back out. This is it."

I smirked, showing a fang, "Don't bet on it."

There was a long, silent moment. The wind blew, shifting my hat flaps and his veil thing. We held each other's eyes, not trying to communicate or understand anything, just watching the other…

Then he jumped forward, swinging his blade, but I dashed to the side. He was already on me again, and moved forward, slashing his blade to one side and the other as I avoided it the best I could.

I hadn't realized how fast he was.

I flipped backward a few times, trying to get away for the slightest second to think of what to do, but this was a fight. There was no stopping, and I had to think fast. So my mind ran. I knew I could materialize guns, but that wouldn't help me in such a close-range fight. At least, it wasn't the best option.

Zoruru was on me in a moment, and I tried to dodge his attacks, ignoring it whenever he did cut me. 'Think, Bananu! He's a ninja, how do you fight a ninja?'

Well, people didn't really fight ninjas, and ninjas didn't really fight people. Ninjas killed and then disappeared, or whatever. I changed my line of thought, 'What can kill a ninja then?' I considered this a moment, 'Another ninja… So, I have to fight back like a ninja too!'

All those thoughts flew through my mind in a moment, for a moment was all I had. I threw the gun aside, imagining a new weapon, and blocked his next attack with it.

He paused, only slightly surprised, and then rose his eye ridge, asking, "Fans?"

"They were the first thing that came to mind." They almost looked like normal, japanese fans with red and black designs on them. But if you looked closer you could see they had a light steel base and rim along the edge of the fabric, making them sturdy and sharp.

He pressed into me and I grit my teeth before pressing all my weight into him and forcing his blade back. I whipped the fans through the air, trying to cut him, but he disappeared from underneath me.

It was only a moment later when I felt him move through the air beside me, leaving a long, diagonal cut going down my side.

It stung, all the cuts stung, but this one was a bit deeper than the others, and I hissed in pain. Upon pressing a hand to my side to stop the bleeding it only hurt worse.

He flew past me again, cutting my arm, this time lighter. I had to focus, I was in the middle of a fight.

Zoruru spoke from somewheres in the darkness, "Don't ever pause in the middle of a fight."

Then I realized something. He could've killed me by now. He could have completely ended the fight by now. I was just standing here like an idiot, after all, and he had years of training, I'm sure.

I looked around, "You're toying with me…"

"I'm trying to decide if I should actually kill you or not." His voice came from a new direction, though when I spun to face that direction I couldn't see anything.

I smirked some, "My father probably wouldn't like that." Or he could not care at all, whatever.

I heard Zoruru scoff, turning to where I heard him this time, "And why would I care what your father thinks?"

I grinned to myself, wanting to say, "Because he's your boss," but I knew better. And I wouldn't tell Zoruru, of all people, because I didn't trust him.

Pressing my hand harder against my bleeding side, you could guess why.

I closed my eyes, tapping into my other senses as Dororo had taught me during a meditation session. I took a deep breath, clearing my mind as I shifted my position into a more proper one for fighting with fans.

The world was silent, as if sensing my concentration, and heard a soft, near-silent movement on the grass. I opened my eyes and locked them right where I had heard Zoruru. When he attacked me this time, I was ready for it. I blocked most of his attacks, at one point blocking his blade and swiping my own weapon across his chest. It only got a bit of his actual skin before scratching over the metal half of his chest.

I wouldn't last long. I was quickly tiring, with help of the fact that I'd gotten up in the middle of the night just to end up fighting. Zoruru seemed to notice this, and I wondered if this had been his intention all along.

I flipped back a few times, landing on my knees with a hand on the ground while I panted and mentally readied myself to continue the fight.

And it seemed to happen all at once, all in one short moment. I began to get up, hearing Zoruru moving in with his unrealistic speed. I rose the fans to block his impending attack. But then the pain hit. It hit hard and sudden, like it'd been trying to hold back but just couldn't, and I gasped as I fell back to my knees, holding my stomach. Zoruru jumped towards me, with his arm across his side, blade towards me. For a moment, it actually seemed I was going to die. I hadn't thought Zoruru would actually kill me, or that I would ever die because of someone (except possibly Garuru), but this was it. This was my last moment, and these were my last seconds. My last thoughts were blue.

Blue, for regret, for never telling Garuru. Blue because if there would have been a chance he'd let me be his child, that chance was gone now. Blue, because of how I would get to go to heaven (yes, I believed there could be a God), and see my mother and her light blue hair again. My last thought was of Blue.

Then I saw Blue.

And Zoruru's final strike never came.

There was a clashing of metal and I looked up to see my favorite color and favorite ninja. He stood over me, katana drawn and stopping Zoruru's blade. I gave a meak grin as my stomach seemed to twist and change painfully. I looked at myself and could see the yellow spreading, lightening into a light tan.

"This is done," Dororo's voice was stern and hard. With that, he sheathed his sword and promptly picked me up before leaving.

He moved almost as fast as Zoruru, inexplicably fast, and we were home within the minute. Which was good too, because, as he set me on my bed, I finished the change. I sighed softly as the pain disappeared, and looked at Dororo.

His expression was deep and tense. Even if I couldn't see all of his face, I could tell just by his large eyes, with the ridges furrowed as he seemed to be looking me over. It made me blush some, and then further darken when he asked me to raise my shirt some, "I'm sorry, why…?"

He said, "I want to see the cut on your side." His blush showed, even if faintly, through his mask.

I hesitated but raised my shirt, holding one arm across my chest so he didn't see anything he shouldn't, and showed him the cut. It was long, starting from just underneath my armpit and going down, across my side, to the back of my waist. Dororo murmured, "It's fairly deep… I'll have to bandage it." I nodded and he got up, his feet squeaking adorably as he walked off to get the first aid kit.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair as I looked at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened. I murmured as Dororo came back, "I'm sorry…"

He poured some alcohol into a rag, saying, "Not all ninja's are the same… While I prefer to be peaceful Zoruru is more aggressive. You shouldn't provoke him, and you should never, ever fight him."

"He started it," I grumbled somewhat childishly, wincing when Dororo dabbed the alcohol along my cut, cleaning it.

He only nodded, "Although I wouldn't be surprised if he did, it doesn't matter who started it. If he starts something, then you stop it."

I sighed softly, knowing he was right. I asked as he rubbed some sort of medicine on my side and the other cuts, "You're not going to lecture me?"

He replied, "I think the cuts Zoruru left are reason enough to let you know not to mess with him."

"Well yeah, but, I mean, what about going out late?" I watched him, becoming curious. He didn't seem angry or upset at all, only worried.

"I would be a hypocrite to tell you not to go out at night, since I occasionally do it myself. I don't know what's been upsetting you lately, but I do understand what it's like to need some time alone."

I blinked, and realized he'd never, not once, asked about my nightmares. I grinned, ignoring how it made the cut on my cheek sting, "Thank you…"

He nodded, "Who am I to tell you what you can and can't do? Sit up and raise your arms," I did as he said, but when I noticed he had trouble wrapping me with his short, froggy arms I used an arm to help pass the bandages from one of his hands to the other. "Though, I do prefer you wouldn't go out… Considering how it's not safe to be out alone and how you change at midnight."

I nodded, murmuring, "Yeah, I can understand that…"

"But when you do go out, please leave a note. I was worried…" Looking at me now, I suppose he had right to have been worried.

I felt guilt set on my shoulders, murmuring again, "I'm sorry, Dororo…" I wanted to say more, but what more was there to say? It'd already happened, and I very well couldn't change it...

"It's alright, it's all behind us now. Just heal, sleep, and move on." He tied off the bandage and asked, "Is that okay? Is it too loose or too tight?"

I smiled, "It's perfectly fine." I picked him up gently and set him in my lap. He blushed faintly and smiled up at me.

I laid my head against his gently, smiling back at him. His large blue eyes dilated as I moved close, and then they met my green ones. I closed my eyes, relaxing with a soft sigh. There was just something about being close to him that I loved.

I felt his hands lightly set on my shoulders, "B-Bananu…"

I opened my eyes to look at him, and noticed he was blushing darkly. I tilted my head, "What?"

He stared at me a moment, and I could almost see him thinking, with confusing thoughts rolling around in his mind. He murmured quietly, "Nothing… Uhm, do you want me to stay in here tonight?"

I grinned, "As always, I wouldn't mind. But you're not obligated to either."

He just nodded, taking his sword off and setting it beside the bed before moving up beside me. I laid down, curling my arm around him and closing my eyes. I murmured, "You're like a blue, little teddy bear."

Dororo chuckled softly, "That's how I feel sometimes when I wake up at night and you're all nuzzling me."

Now I flushed deep red, now looking at him, "I-I don't do that…" Do I?

He smiled, "Whatever you say." When I looked away, he reassured, "It's okay. I think it's cute…"

This only deepened my blush, shutting my eyes tightly, "L-Let's just go to sleep."

"Alright. Goodnight, Bananu." I pulled the covers up with one hand and murmured my goodnight. The rest of my dreams that night were completely peaceful.

I woke slowly, smiling. I'd slept well for the first time in a long time. I felt something warm and nuzzled my face deeper into it, my arms around it squeezing it closer. I heard a soft chuckle but didn't really register it yet, my mind groggy. I felt something move through my hair and heard a gentle voice beckoning me awake. I let off a long hum, sighing before opening my eyes.

I blinked, confused at how everything was blurry and white. I felt a hand move across my cheek, brushing hair away. I tried to look around without moving, comfortable with my current position. When I looked up I saw Dororo looking down at me.

He chuckled at my confused look and murmured, "Good morning."

I groaned softly, mumbling, "More sleep," and burying my face in the pillow I was holding. It sure was a warm pillow.

Dororo was quiet, seeming to allow the chance for me to fall back into dreamland, but it didn't happen. So we just rested a long moment, with him moving a hand through my hair and playing with it. He brushed it up over the top of my head, down over my cheeks, then up and tucked it behind my ear. He was normally awake by the time I woke up, so we'd never had a chance to just relax with each other like this. It was nice, and I smiled.

It was a good moment.

I nuzzled the pillow some, brushing my nose against the softness. I'd have to use this pillow more often.

Dororo asked softly, "...Are you comfortable?"

I mumbled back, "This is my new favorite pillow…"

…"What do you like about it?"

I hummed softly before murmuring, "It's soft… and cushiony."

I could hear the smile in his voice, "Okay." Then gentler, he seemed to speak closer to my ear, "You need to get up…"

"Ugggghhh…" I buried my face deeper into the pillow, "I don't wanna…"

"Bananu…"

"Dororo." I looked up at him, pouting. He was grinning for some reason, like something was funny. I blinked, "What?"

It took me a long moment for my mind to begin to work. The haze was lifting slowly, and I looked down his body. It was him I was holding close and, oh, I'd been nuzzling his chest.

I'd been nuzzling his chest?

Wait.

I'd been nuzzling his chest!

My eyes widened and I flailed, pushing him away and wincing when I fell off the edge of the bed in my effort to put some space between us. Dororo laughed as I blushed darkly. My legs were awkwardly caught in the covers, and I huffed at the blue ninja.

He smiled, "I wanted to show you for yourself."

I wanted to be upset, but looking at him and how his eyes shone with his unseen smile, I couldn't be. I freed myself from the blankets and threw them back on the bed, over Dororo's head.

I moved to sit on the bed, still red-cheeked. He threw the covers back, and we grinned at each other. I lay back down beside him, an arm propping my head up, teasing, "I'm going to get you back for that."

He laughed some, playing with a corner of the blanket, "Good luck getting a ninja back."

I nodded, "Thank you, I accept this good luck you offer to me."

"What an odd way to reply," he tilted his head some, and I just shrugged some, not really sure what else to say for a while.

"So, what's the plan for today, oh teacher of mine?" I lay my head down against the pillows, looking at him.

"Eat, sleep, change, and then go to the Hinata's house."

I furrowed my brows in confusion, "But what about your class?"

"I let you sleep instead, you needed the extra rest." He gestured to my side, and I placed my hand there, remembering how I got it, "How's it feel?"

I gave a slight shrug, "It's not too bad… Stings whenever I stretch it or move around too much, but otherwise I'm fine."

Dororo nodded some, "I'll have to check on it later… For now go eat lunch."

Zoruru's P.O.V.

Zoruru wasn't in the best of moods.

He'd gone mostly unscathed from the previous night's quarrel, save for one or two small cuts. When Tororo had teased at breakfast, "What happened, scraps? Fall in the wrong heap of metal?" Zoruru had reacted with irritated hostility, letting a shuriken thud into the table right beside his arm.

Tororo backed off after that.

He'd been surprised Bananu had been able to land any marks on him at all. She was a terrible fighter, slow and unskilled, but she was smart. He'd give her that much. She was smart enough to realize he was too fast for any bullet to hit.

He usually didn't give a care in the world about secretive people. He'd leave them alone and respect their space, unless they didn't respect his own space. But Bananu was dabbling in invasion plans and such, and lying to everyone about her background. He was surprised no one else noticed how much she fidgeted and looked away when she lied. Though, it seemed to be only him who saw through Bananu's words, and so it could only be him who did something about it.

Zoruru sighed and moved to sit down on a log aside from Giroro. Garuru was already there, as he'd called the small meeting of three. He started simply, "I've gotten an email from Headquarters, and I trust you two to not say anything to anyone else about it. They have been having trouble locating Bananu's parents. They're requesting we find out who and where they are, and a visual of Bananu."

Giroro asked, "And you want us to find out who they are."

Garuru nodded, "I would like your help, that is. Giroro, as you're one of her main teachers and fairly close acquaintance, I believe she may confide in you more than anyone. Keep an eye out for anything out of place. As my brother, I trust you'll also not tell anyone about this and report back to me any information you obtain."

Giroro nodded, unsure whether to reply formally or not for a moment, "Y-Yes sir…" Being formal can't hurt.

Garuru turned to Zoruru, "Lance Corporal, as an assassin I'm sure it wouldn't be too much trouble to catch a picture of Bananu and send it to me via phone. And, similar to what I told Giroro, I trust that as my friend you will not tell anyone about this. If it leaks that we're wanting information from Bananu, I'm sure she would find out from someone and then she would keep to herself further."

Zoruru nodded, "Keeping silent is one of the things I do best, sir."

"Any questions?" Garuru looked between the two, and when they both shook their heads he continued, "Good. Now, with that in order, Lance Corporal Dororo enlightened me with news that Bananu had gotten slightly wounded in a fight last night."

With this, the leader crossed his arms and looked at Zoruru.

Zoruru clenched his metal hand into a fist, eye narrowing hatefully as he thought, 'Zeroro…'

"She had been sneaking around the ship, sir. When questioned, she refused to answer, and-."

"I don't care what happened. She's young. She will say stupid things, it's just apart of her age (he's not trying to offend her, it's just true for her age). If she's trying to start something, I expect you to be the one to lay down your sword."

"I use my arm to fight…" He flexed his clawed hand pointedly.

Garuru frowned, "You know what I mean. I do not want to hear of any more fights between you two, understood?"

He knew better than to argue back, even if he felt his reasoning was valid, "Understood, Lieutenant."

Bananu's P.O.V.

'Perfect timing,' I hid behind the arch of the rough, looking down at group of three and kicking my legs as I smiled. I'd just arrived to hear Garuru scold Zoruru for the fight.

I watched Zoruru disappear go inside the Hinata house to go do who-knows-what, and decided to wait a moment before going down. I'd let the two brothers talk some more and set things up. So I rolled over with my back against the shingles, looking up at the sky. I was early, actually, but that probably wouldn't happen again anytime soon.

I wondered if Garuru would chew me out for the fight too. I wouldn't blame him. He was almost dead-on about how I sometimes said stupid stuff. He just forgot to add that I do stupid stuff too. Like, oh, say, going out at night alone and then kind of provoking Zoruru when he found me poking around the ship.

My hand drifted to my side, running down the length of where the cut was and I sighed softly. It really wasn't Zoruru's fault… I mean, in all truth, he had started it with the cut on my cheek, but I provoked him, at least helping to start it. So I couldn't blame him for lashing out like he had. Dororo and Garuru were both right about one thing, that made the fight both of our faults in a way. Either one of us could've stopped the fight, but neither of us did.

I supposed it didn't really matter how it started, or who started it. Fact is that it happened, and all I can do is learn from the mistakes that were made. Dororo had said something like that earlier when I tried talking to him about the fight.

I would consider apologizing to Zoruru if I wasn't afraid of him.

Even if I didn't apologize to him though, there was still one person I needed to say something to about it.

I huffed softly and got up, sliding down the other side of the roof and landing a bit hard in the grassy yard.

I shifted to stand at attention, "Sirs!" My eyes moved over Garuru, remembering last night's dream, and I took in how he was present and fine.

Giroro smiled slightly, "At ease, soldier."

I wasn't really a soldier for Keron, but I loved how he called me that. I gave a big, somewhat proud grin.

Garuru moved a little close, surprising me when his voice was gentle, "Are you okay? How's your side?"

He was a bit too close, but I really wasn't nervous. Though, I would admit, I kind of wanted another hug. I shook the thought out of my mind with a faint blush.

I smiled, "I'm fine. A little battered up, but it's worth it." At Garuru's look, I quickly continued, "I mean, I know it's not funny or okay to fight but it was kind of fun. I've never been in a fight before. Hey, did you see that I got Zoruru?"

Garuru seemed amused by how I was going about it, so thrilled by the fight instead of shameful or freaked out, "Yes, yes, we've seen." The marks I'd landed on him were small and ineffective, but I was proud to have gotten him at all. He looked at my side, slightly gesturing to it, "I can check it for you after training if you want."

I pressed my lips together as I thought about it. Dororo said he'd do it when I got home, but he'd already done it the night before… Why be more of a burden? Plus, I could talk with Garuru a bit more. I nodded some, "Sure, why not."

He nodded and went over to Giroro's side, murmuring, "Maybe go a bit easy on her today, due to her wound and all."

I rolled my eyes, "I'm wounded, not dead. It'll be no fun if I'm winning because he's going easy on me while I'm kicking his butt. Besides, soldiers get hurt worse than me and they still fight. So I think I can fight Giroro with just a few small cuts."

Well, one of them wasn't small but I blatantly ignored that fact.

Giroro chuckled some, delighted at how well he's taught me, "Alright then, lets begin."

I didn't know what we were beginning, but I said, "Actually, first I, um, want to say something, please."

Garuru looked at me curiously but nodded, "Go on then."

I wrung my hands some, fidgeting, "I know it doesn't really matter now, and it doesn't matter either way, but don't be upset at Zoruru for the fight. I was kind of asking for it, I mean… I-I provoked him, argued. He gave me a chance to back out of the fight but I didn't. Er, what I'm trying to say is that it's really my fault, not his…"

I waited for criticism, looking away with slightly slumped shoulders. Then I felt someone pat my head and looked up at, much to my surprise, Giroro. His big, grey eyes were kind, and still held their pride, "It takes a big man to admit his wrongs… It's okay."

I grinned and, not giving a crap what he thought, hugged him, "I'm a girl, but thank you." Giroro hugged me back after a moment and I pulled away, looking at him. I laughed when I saw he was blushing some.

I looked over at Garuru to see that he was smiling slightly. I relaxed some at the calm reactions to my admission, and I was glad to have gotten it off my chest.

"Alright then!" I clapped my hands together and held them close as I grinned, "So what're we doing today?"

Giroro gave a fangy smirk, "Fighting. Figured that since you're so eager to fight other people, we could start some simple close-range combat."

The thought of another fight enthused me, and my eyes grew larger with my eagerness, "Yessss, yes, yes, yes…" I bounced up and down some, ignoring how Garuru chuckled at me, "And any weapons are allowed?"

Giroro nodded, "Anything's allowed. Just no real bullets."

I nodded my okay and looked at his brother, "Are you going to do it too?"

Garuru said, "I think I'll just watch this time."

"Alright." I looked at Giroro, who was moving back to put some space between us, "How do we start?"

Giroro grinned, "However. Ladies first."

I felt my excitement dull down some as I realized I had absolutely no idea how to begin. With blades, both people just attacked. With guns it was more of a standoff, at least it was when you began.

I decided to start simple and materialized a small pistol, lifting it up and firing it at Giroro once.

I missed, as he easily darted out of the way of aim.

He moved with surprising speed. He wasn't as fast as Zoruru, of course, but still. He formed a machine gun, firing plastic pellets at me as he moved behind me. I yelped, running aside.

Garuru said, "Dropping and rolling is quicker and more fluent than running."

"Don't really know how to roll without breaking my neck in half!" I felt silly, running around to avoid being hit. I traded the pistol for the same gun as Giroro's, a machine gun, and returned fire quickly. Of course, though, I never hit him.

This fight was turning out to be more like shoot, run, shoot, run. Nothing like the fight with Zoruru had been. Garuru and Giroro would occasionally yell helpful advice that I found hard to follow, and I began to get frustrated.
I loved the guns. The way they looked and were made was fascinating to me. I'd even taken an interest to the same habit as the two gunners in my family, dismantling and then reassembling guns. I loved looking at all the small and large parts, and how they fit together to make one, large, dangerous weapon.

But it was a weapon I couldn't fight with.

They were too heavy and chunky, and just didn't feel comfortable for me. You had to know where to aim, where to shoot, what to shoot with… I was finding it somewhat aggravating to handle. Imagine it like someone giving Tororo a large gun for christmas, Pururu a laptop, Garuru a sword, and Zoruru a giant needle. It just wasn't right.

I'd never really been into using the guns… Honestly, I had tried to only because I knew Garuru and Giroro were very into them. Maybe I just wasn't ready for them yet or something, but at the moment, I couldn't work with them.

Finally, I switched the weapon I was using from the gun to the large, Japanese fans, twirling them in my hands and deflecting the bullets shot at me. I liked the fans. They had more flow to them, more grace.

Giroro looked at Garuru, "Is that allowed?"

Garuru shrugged, "You did say anything."

I grinned, "Sorry, but I'm changing my approach." I ran at Giroro with my torso almost horizontal to the ground, both arms behind my back as I gained speed. Giroro was taken by surprise, not expecting me to move so fast or ninja-like. He moved back, trying to decide how to shoot, where to aim, but I hopped in the air and spun as I moved down, swiping the edges of the fan over him.

I landed standing over him, he must've moved to the ground in fear I'd actually cut him. I smiled and moved a fan in front of him, making him flinch some. I showed that there was a sort of safety guard going over the usually sharp rim. It'd keep it from actually cutting him.

Now that I looked at him, Giroro looked a little freaked out. I laughed some, "Are you okay?"

He sat there, pale a moment before he shouted, "Of course, I'm okay! You just surprised me!" He stood, hands fisted as he continued, "This was supposed to be a gun fight!"

I grinned when he yelled it at me. His wide eyed look and heavy sweating were obvious signs he'd been scared out of his mind. "I'm sorry, but I've realized guns aren't my thing. They're too bulky for me to use."

"Next time stop the fight and say that!"

"You'd die if you stopped in a fight, what're you talking about?!" Baka.

Our shouting match was interrupted by Garuru chuckling softly, "You two are just alike."

As if to further prove his point, Giroro seemed to blush with me. Only he denied Garuru's words, while I knew they were probably true.

I said, "I'm sorry. I just… Don't understand guns yet. The fans, the ninja way of fighting and all… It has more flow." I held up a fan, looking the intricate designs and then opened and closed the fan some. It just seemed easier to use.

Garuru nodded, "That's quite alright. What I'm intrigued by, though, is how you can form ninja weapons..."

"Oh... Uhm, is that not normal?" I tugged on my hat flaps a bit nervously. I really just wanted to seem completely normal to him... I didn't want to be some freak or anything. At least, not anymore than I already was.

Garuru said, "Not usually. I've heard of some Keronians who can do that, but not many." He tilted his head a bit, thinking about it.

I shrugged some, "Whatever." I changed the subject, "Anyways, I doubt that either of you really know much about ninja weaponry and such."

Giroro shook his head, "No... You can ask Dororo or, er, well, probably not Zoruru."

I laughed some, "Yeah, I'll ask him because that would turn out completely fine..."

I saw Garuru's thoughtful look. I didn't like it. When I realized what he was thinking, I said, "...No."

"Maybe it could help you two to get along some more..." His head was tilted slightly upwards as he considered it.

"Or we would fight more. I can talk to Dororo, besides he's already teaching me. I don't think I can fit another class in, along with the invasion plans and meetings and all... Please, no..." I gave an almost-puppy face as I begged.

"Yes." He smirked slightly, amused.

I pouted, "But daaaaaa-uuuuuhhhhh..." 'Idiot.'

Garuru rose an eye ridge, skeptical, "What?"

And now the anxiety kicked in, "Dat ain't right. You know that's how some Pekoponians speak? Th-thats what they say," I let off a nervous, quick laugh, "So, so I was saying. Dat ain't right. Like, uh, that you'll have Zoruru teaching me after we fought and all when Dororo can. Dat ain't right."

He was giving me an odd look and I let off another small laugh, "U-Uhm, anyways, I think that Dororo wouldn't mind teaching me…"

Garuru seemed kind of perplexed by the whole thing and just said, "Alright…" He seemed to shrug off my odd behavior, much to my relief, and said to Giroro, "Is it alright if I teach Bananu tomorrow?"

Giroro nodded, "Of course. I'll just be on the sidelines."

Garuru nodded, and my puzzlement must've shown on my face because he said, "I'm going to help you appreciate guns more. Though, I think we're done for today, too much talk took away our time. For now, how about I check on your cut?"

I smiled, "Sure." And he took my hand, leading me inside.

I felt a vague sense of déjà vu as we weaved our way to the bathroom and I sat in there. Garuru looked around for the right materials and realized the bandages were too high. Unsure how to get to them, he paused slightly. I got up, climbing onto the ledge of the bathtub and then moving to step up onto one of the shelfs. I reached up and grabbed them, quickly hopping down.

Garuru took them, mumbling, "Good job."

I grinned, closing the bathroom door, "Just don't tell Natsumi I did that. She would probably complain or something." I sat on the ledge of the bathtub, lifting an arm some so Garuru could untie the bandages.

"I've no reason to tell Natsumi, so no worries." Dororo had fixed the bandages some when I'd changed forms, tightening them and cutting off the extra. But now Garuru completely undid and trashed them.

"Has he apologized to you at all?" He got some medicine stuff and rubbed it on the cut.

No doubt he was talking about Zoruru, and I shook my head, "No, and I don't really expect him to. But it's okay. I could be completely wrong," and I probably was, "But I don't think he meant to do that cut. At least, I don't think he meant it to be real bad like it is. Most all of the cuts were really light except that one."

Garuru just gave a slight nod, and I looked at him. He was quiet, thinking, and I remembered how Giroro's eyes were greyish. "Hey, Garuru?"

"Yes?" By the way he tilted his head up, I guessed he was looking at me.

"Are your eyes grey?"

He blinked, and then gave a slight smirk, "No."

"Ugghh…" I rolled my head back with my annoyance, "Purple?" Pururu's eyes were purple, and almost everything about Garuru was purple.

His smirk grew, "No. Good guess though."

I sighed and asked, "What are those yellow things anyways? Because there's no rim between your eyes, so they can't be glasses. Are they like, what, contacts?"

Garuru said, "I prefer to think of them like a visor. They can attach to my hat."

I grinned, "Can I see?"

He gave me a look, like 'duh,' "No."

I laughed softly, "Yeah, I know. ...Was worth a try."

He shook his head slightly, beginning to smile again, "Lift your arms."

I did so as he began to wrap me with new bandages. I cleared my throat some, "Uhm, so about last night…"

He paused the slightest before continuing to wrap me, "Yes…?"

I smiled, "Is that hug thing going to happen often…?" I couldn't help the bit of hope I felt, even though I was pretty sure about what the answer was.

Garuru cleared his throat some, "No. Please don't mention it to anyone…"

I grinned, "Aww, is Gawuwu shy~?"

He frowned up at me, "Don't call me that."

He didn't deny it. He was shy. "Why Gawuwu?"

"Stop it." He seemed annoyed, but I noticed ever, ever, ever-so faintly a hint of pink on his cheeks.

I laid my head on top of his, looking down at him, "Does Gawuwu not think it's cute?"

He gently pushed me off him, "No, Garuru does not."

I pressed into him a bit, getting an idea, "Even Gawuwu needs hugs sometimes…"

He paused, eyes widening slightly, "No."

"Yes," I smirked slightly.

His widened eyes narrowed as he glared at me. His tone was filled with warning, "Bananu…"

I was enjoying myself with this, and suddenly hugged him, "Aww, Gawuwu wants a hug…"

He didn't move for a moment, and I looked up at him, my head on his chest. He had a look of total irritation, but it melted away after a moment and he huffed as he hugged me back. "You're insufferable."

I smiled, closing my eyes and saying in my normal voice, "I know."

So we hugged again. I liked his hugs, I decided. They were warm, and his arms were strong, holding me somewhat protectively.

"...So you think this can happen more often?" I opened my eyes to look at him.

He sighed slightly, though I saw his small smile as he set his head on top of mine, "Don't push it."

I laughed softly, pretty sure that meant yes, and said, "You act all big and tough, but you're really sweet."

"Okay, be quiet." I was grinning when he pulled away, "You need to go see Sergeant Major now."

I smiled, "Yes, sir." I took the bandages from him, tying them off and then putting them away. I hesitated and looked back at him, "Everyone needs a hug sometimes." I gave a grin before running off.

I didn't get to see the recognition that flashed through his eyes, or the big smile he gave a moment after I'd left.

I walked into Kururu's lab with a confident stride, happy. It'd been a good day so far, I doubted even Kururu could ruin it.

He turned in his swivel chair, laughing, "So, how was your night?"

I grinned, "I'm sure you already know, it was really interesting."

He sniggered some, "You're pretty stupid to fight Zoruru."

"And you're pretty cocky for someone who just sits down here all day." I moved over and leaned against the desk next to him. I wasn't very good at comebacks, but I tried anyways.

"Ku, ku, ku. I saw that you got Zoruru a bit? You're lucky Dororo got there, otherwise Scraps would've hacked you apart."

I rolled my eyes as he laughed more, "And you find it so funny for whatever reason."

Kururu said, turning to type away on his computer for a moment, "You got guts, kid. Just don't let Zoruru spill them all over the place."

I smiled at what I think was a compliment and said, "I won't. ...So, what're we doing today?"

Kururu pulled something off the desk from beside him, a dark blue laptop, and handed it to me, "To begin, I got a new computer so I'm giving you my old one."

I blinked, and when he complained about how his arm was getting tired from holding it, I grinned and took it, "Thanks." I'd never had my own computer, I'd never needed one. But now I could look up tons of random crap and waste life away. How exciting.

"Kuuu, ku, ku, ku… Now take it apart."

I looked at him, dismayed, "Huh?"

Now Kururu grinned, "Take it apart and put it back together."

I looked at the laptop in my hands and gave a quiet sigh before giving a nod. I looked around and moved to a table, sitting and gently pushing some stuff over to make room. I looked the computer over, flipping and turning it in my hands. After a few minutes, I asked, "Do you have any tools?"

Kururu nodded, "In the box behind you."

I grabbed the box, squeaking slightly when I realized it was heavier than it looked, and set it on my desk. I searched through it until I found a mini screwdriver and pushed the box aside.

Pressing my lips together, I stared at the computer. I'd never taken a computer apart before, but to start, you probably had to take off the outside to get to the inside. So I started unscrewing the tiny, tiny screws.

I worked on it for the rest of the class, carefully pulling pieces apart and studying them as I did continued.

I shocked myself once or twice, earning some laughs from Kururu, but otherwise I found it to be fairly easy. It was a matter of focusing on one part at a time.

It didn't seem to be long before Kururu said it was time for lunch. "What, really?"

"Yup." He looked over at me.

I hesitated and said, "Can I stay here?"

He rose his eye ridges in slight surprise and then laughed, "Sure. Just don't screw anything up or else you'll regret it." His glasses flashed and I knew he meant it.

I watched him leave, and waited until the door closed behind him. I grinned and pushed the computer away from me, lifting it into the air with my mind. I slowly but easily pulled the whole thing apart, much quicker than it would've been by hand, and looked at the pieces floating around. I plucked one out of the air, a small, green microchip, and studied it before setting all the pieces down. I looked at each part for a while, then began setting the computer back up.

Yeah, this was pretty boring.

"Uhm, hey, would you want to come roast a sweet potato?"

I jumped slightly and turned to looked Giroro, who seemed fairly bashful due to his offer. I gave a grin, "Sure." I'd finish the laptop later.

Running over to his side, we began walking down the base hallways. I hated small talk, but attempted anyway so it wouldn't seem awkward between us, "So, how're you?"

He gave a slight shrug, "Eh. It'd be nice to actually invade the planet for a change but, ya know, whatever."

I was slightly surprised by this, "You want to invade the planet the girl you love inhabits? Won't she kind of hate you for that?"

With this, he seemed to freeze up, paling and going wide eyed, 'Natsumi... Hate me...? She would hate me if we invaded her planet, it'd only make sense... But it's my job to invade, that's the whole reason we've come here!... But Natsumi.….. But invading!... But NATSUMI!'

"GIRORO!"

He jumped, "Wha-huh? Iwasntdaydreaming!"

I gave him an odd look, "Are you okay? You were unresponsive for a moment..."

"I-I'm fine!" His deep voice wavered slightly, as he looked at me with large eyes.

He seemed pretty freaked out so I just nodded my head slowly, "Ooookaay..."

The rest of the walk was an awkward silence as we both spiraled down into our own deep thought. Giroro was probably thinking about Natsumi, big surprise, and I had my mind on the invasion. How could I stop the platoons' plans? How could I do it without getting caught, that is. I'd have to keep an eye out for Zoruru, he seemed pretty aware of how I acted. I wondered if he'd been watching or stalking me...

We made our way to his tent, and I sat down on one of the logs by the firepit. I asked, as he threw some wood in there, "Isn't it a bit odd to have a fire going during the daytime?"

He looked at me like I was on crack, "We're making sweet potatoes."

I murmured, "Okay, okay..." He really liked sweet potatoes, it seemed. I did too, to a certain extent. I was more crazy about apples, though. They made your teeth whiter.

He got the fire going and I watched the flames with interest. I remember reading about how fires worked with my mom. The particles shook so hard they made heat, flames. I tilted my head, maybe I should get some books sometime soon.

"Here." I looked at Giroro, my vision darker than usual from staring at the flames too long, and blinked hard. I saw he was holding a metal thingy with a sweet potato stuck on the end, and I smiled.

I took it with a thanks and held it over the fire, "...Do you always have sweet potatoes for lunch?"

"I have them more often for dinner than lunch." He held his own over the fire.

I looked at him, wanting to ask if they had sweet potatoes on Keron. It'd make sense if they didn't, I think, because that'd explain why he would want to eat them so often.

I looked down and he asked, "Are you alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah, just thinking."

He gave a slight nod as well, "Yeah, you seem to be a pretty quiet person. You never talk much in the invasion meetings."

I shrugged, "I don't really like being in large groups of people… I mean, yeah, a few is okay. But when it's like ten, then I tend to kind of keep to myself. Especially with Keroro and the younger ones around. One wrong thing, and they get off track or go kind of crazy about something."

Giroro looked away with a small smile, "Heh. You couldn't be more right about that."

I looked at him and got an odd feeling, like I wanted to move closer. I guess with all the hugs and such that's been going around lately, I'd developed a bit of a need for touch, comfort. Especially since my mom hadn't been around to give that for a while…

I didn't move closer, though, because that would be a bit awkward since he didn't know I was his niece and all.

"Do you like sweet potatoes?"

I blinked, and smiled, "I love them. I mean, I love apples, especially green ones, way more. But I like sweet potatoes too. My mom, she'd make them on thanksgiving with marshmallows and brown sugar."

He looked at me, "...What?"

I grinned, "I know it sounds a bit weird, but it's good. It makes them taste sweeter."

He tilted his head, looking at his sweet potato, "I think you're thinking of yams, but that does sound… interesting. I've always just eaten them without any seasoning or anything."

I frowned slightly, "Aren't yams and sweet potatoes the same?"

"Yams are more mushy and a bit more sweeter, and have a darker skin than sweet potatoes." He spoke this as if he had repeated it many times.

"I see…" I looked at my sweet potato, holding it just at the tops of the flames.

Another quiet moment began to settle in and Giroro asked, "What was your mom like?"

I hesitated, knowing I'd have to be a bit careful with my words, "My mom… She was very patient. She was kind and patient."

"What about your dad?"

I froze up, stopped breathing, and let off a shaky laugh before sighing. I looked down, maybe it was time to give this whole thing up. Garuru and I seemed to be getting along fairly well. Except what if me telling him ruined our forming relationship? Then another thought passed through my mind, how would Giroro react? What if he didn't want a niece, or a semi-Pekoponian in the family? What if that influenced Garuru to get rid of me or something?

"You don't have to be afraid."

I fidgeted some, not really afraid of Garuru, just his reaction. I was afraid of everyone's reactions. I hated fear, it screwed everything up in life. The worst part is it was the fear itself that kept you from overcoming it, from brushing it off.

"Bananu?"

I looked at Giroro, "My dad, uhm…" What to say? "H-He… My dad travels a lot. I've never really gotten to know him…" I rolled my shoulders back, trying to seem more confident than I felt. "Though, when I have been around him he seems, he seems pretty cool…"

Giroro said, "That's cool. Why's he travel?"

I squeaked out, "His job." I cleared my throat, "I mean, his job. It has him travel a lot. Because of work."

Giroro nodded, looking at me curiously, "What's his job?"

"He's a… a travel writer… He goes to different planets with platoons sometimes and writes about them." Did they have those on Keron?

Giroro smiled slightly, "I see. What's he look like? Maybe I've met him."

'Oh, I bet you have.' "Uhm… Y-You probably wouldn't know who he is… And I haven't seen him in a long time… S-Since I was, like, little…"

Giroro frowned slightly, "But if your mom is gone, and your dad isn't around, how do you get by?"

The question startled me, and I thought about it a moment. My mom worked at home, making computer programs and websites which she sold online, but that was it. Surely she didn't get enough money to pay bills and take care of a child alone from just that. "The… military. She was once in the military. They'd send money."

Now things were getting touchy, and I had to better watch my words. Though Giroro tilted his head up slightly, eyes shining with interest, "Really?"

"Yeah." I was pretty sure Keron military sent money to retired soldiers, I think I remember, although faintly, seeing the mail from them. But was that right? Had they really sent enough for us to live on, or was I missing something here?

"What'd she do, what was her rank?" He took his sweet potato out of the fire, blowing on it to cool it off.

I looked at him, he was asking a lot of questions. Though, he seemed to only be curious. "I don't remember." I remembered full-well what she had been.

Giroro said, "She must've been pretty young when she joined… For her to have already been retired and all."

I bit my lip, actually trying to remember this time, "She was, I think."

Giroro asked, "That's really interesting. There's not many young women on platoons."

I thought of why my mom had quit her platoon, and could only wonder why.

"What about you, Giroro? What's your family like?"

He was open to talk, "Our dad stayed home and took care of us most of the time. He was apart of the military. But sometimes he would leave and Garuru would watch over the household."

I nodded, "That's cool… Uhm, what about your mom?"

He was quiet a moment, "She passed away when I was younger."

I looked down, "I'm sorry." Guess it ran in the family…

Giroro smiled, "It's okay. Our dad said she was a great woman... Your sweet potato is on fire."

I blinked and looked at it. I yelped, nearly dropping it, and pulled the flaming ball of potato out of the flames, "I didn't even notice!" I blew it hard trying to make the fire go out.

Giroro laughed as I willed the fire to die away. The potato was blackened all over, and I looked it over, "I think I killed it."

He said, "If take off the skin I'm sure it'll taste fine."

"Alright, but I'm going to let it cool a bit first." Poor sweet potato.

"So you're liking the ninja stuff, huh?" Giroro looked at me, continuing to speak when I nodded, "They can be very honorable and worthy opponents to fight, like Dororo."

I grinned, "Yeah… I haven't seen him fight yet… I mean, he stopped Zoruru last night, but he didn't really fight or anything… Is he good?"

Giroro seemed to puff his chest out with pride for his friend, "He's Keron's best ninja. He used to be the greatest in all the army." He turned away slightly, "But then he came to Pekopon and he turned soft. He rarely fights… But when he does, it's great."

I dazed off slightly, imagining Dororo in battle, "He sounds awesome…"

Giroro looked at me, stared, and then smirked slightly, "...You like him."

I looked back up at him, "What? No, I don't." A blush spread over my cheeks at the thought of me and Dororo together.

Giroro's smirk grew, "Yes, you do, you're blushing!"

My voice grew squeaky, similar to how Giroro's turned slightly higher-pitched when he dreamed of Natsumi, "No, I don't, we're just friends!"

Giroro smirked at me and my blushed deeper. I didn't like Dororo, not like that. We were just close friends. He probably knew me better than anyone else I'd met, due to us living together. In an appropriate way, of course. Koyuki was just allowing me to stay at her house with Dororo. That's it.

"...You like him."

I squeaked, "We're just friends, shut up!" I frowned at him.

Giroro turned away, still smirking, "Heh. Whatever."

I huffed, crossing my arms, "We're just friends, you can ask him yourself." Dororo didn't even like me.

Did he?

A certain blue ninja sneezed as he watered the flowers outside Koyuki's house. He sniffled, wondering if someone was talking about him.

He'd been worried about Bananu ever since she left, wondering if she was okay at the Hinata's house with Zoruru. He wondered if her wound was bothering her. Had Giroro gone real rough on her during her gun training today? Had Kururu bothered her at all about the fight?

These were the thoughts that had been almost repeatedly crossing his mind throughout the afternoon. But then he would remind himself that there were other people around to protect Bananu in case anything happened with Zoruru, there were bandages and such at the Hinata's house. He'd told Garuru about the fight, and he probably made Giroro aware about the injury, and Bananu often didn't mind Kururu's teasing.

He yelped, realizing he was over-watering his red hibiscus, and quickly moved on to the next plant.

A blush spread over his masked cheeks as he remembered how close Bananu had gotten last night. He could have sworn she'd been going to kiss him, but that was just the ninja's imagination.

Though, it had gotten him thinking.

Did he want her to kiss him? How would he have reacted if she had? Did he even like her like that?

He had to admit, she was beautiful, be it Keronian or Pekoponian. She seemed to like learning, and was especially interested in the ninja way. Despite her involvement in the invasion plans, he doubted she actually wanted her planet to be taken over. He'd come to guess that she just didn't want to be left out.

Which meant she wanted peace, just like he did.

Aside from morals and beauty, she had good qualities. She was pretty smart, mature, and fairly cocky at times.

Now came the debate, what about her changing forms? The fact that she was partially Pekoponian gave her an understanding for Earth, one that he had but not as much as other Pekoponians. And, due to her Keronian half, she could understand better understand Keronians than most other Pekoponians. Though, someday when they did invade Pekopon (it was bound to happen at some point), which planet, which species, would she side on?

He paused, going back inside to refill his watering can a bit. His mind mulled over it all, and he decided that the future, what might happen someday, is something to worry about for when that day comes.

For now he was only sure of one thing. One thing that made him blush bright pink. Something that made him wonder if he was alone in his feelings, and then wonder if his feelings were just some puppy-dog love crush or if they went much more deeper than that.

Silly crush or not, he was sure of one thing for at least right now.

He liked Bananu. Really liked her.

He blushed deeply at the admission, and looked at the ceiling, "I need to talk to someone…"

Hmm… Kind of liking this chapter…

Slowly but surely getting closer to the main event… If you don't know what I'm talking about, guess. If you really do have absolutely no idea, then you'll find out within time.

But these past few chapters make me hate the rest of them. I think I may rewrite the first six or seven chapters. I wouldn't change anything major, maybe just how I wrote them (I wrote them in the wrong POV) and fix a few small things.

Now, five more reviews on this chapter and I'll say another fun fact. Though, you could go to my Tumblr account, SouthernKittyGal (Ask Keronians),and ask anything you want to me, my characters, or the ARMPIT/Garuru platoons and I'll reply. Anything. I post art as well, so your welcome to look at that too.

As you review, could you maybe post some heart-pumping songs to help with inspiration? I'm open to anything except metal and country.