Chapter 25:
Keroro Shotai: Old Versus New! Keroro Shotai Versus Romama Shotai!
Part 3

Aya poked her head out of her bedroom that morning, and could see her mother already awake, watching television. Her mother excitedly looked over her shoulder to Aya.

"You know all of those strange commercials? It was for a new movie coming out next year! Do you believe it? ….I'm willing to bet they spent more on advertising than this entire apartment complex makes in a lifetime… So sad."

"A… Movie?" Aya repeated, puzzled.

" Can you imagine how upset everyone must be!?"

"…Mama, I'm going to go out for some fresh air."

"Hrm? All right. Stay safe. Who knows who's out there… After something like this, I'm sure every lunatic who believes in aliens is still out in the middle of the streets shouting."

Aya giggled, and stepped out of her apartment. It was sunny, and a little warmer than yesterday. She placed her hands in her pockets, and was about to walk down the flights of stairs to the street, when a glint of red caught her eye from the story above her. It looked like a piece of cloth, with a bizarre emblem on it, in the shape of a wagon wheel.

She quickened her pace up the steps, as she saw a small trail of blood leading up the stairs. She stopped where the trail did, in front of an ajar door. There was a small ball of a creature in front of it, the bandanna half-covering his head. Aya fixed the bandanna on his head, then hurried into the apartment with him, not looking at him that well, and shutting and locking the door behind her.

When she laid him down in the bedroom she was able to get a better look at him. Tiny, blue-no, teal-colored, with a white tail and half-white face.

There was a purple symbol on his chest she was unfamiliar with, and scratches and cuts all over his body, like he had taken a hard fall. There were also remains of something like a gold necklace around his neck; she pulled off these, and tossed them aside onto the nightstand.

She went into the bathroom, which was pristinely clean (like the rest of the apartment), and returned with a warm, damp towel, which she used to wipe off the blood. He opened his eyes a crack and stirred, but Aya did not flinch, continuing to wipe the blood and dirt away. When she had finished, she pulled up the sheets around him and stood, getting a better look at the apartment for the first time. She saw on the ground a tiny set of shoes, and she lifted one up to examine it; it was unmistakably a men's ballet slipper.

She walked into the kitchen, and opened the refrigerator. She was taken aback at all of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. There were also containers marked in a language she thought was Russian. All of the notes, too, were written in Russian. And there were a few photographs on the refrigerator… It looked as though he wasn't the only creature like that.

There was a green one, a blue one… It took Aya aback how many different ones there were.

She found a can of soup in one of the cabinets, heated this, and left it at the bedside of the tiny creature. And by the time he awoke to find it still warm at his bedside, Aya was gone.

"….Suzuyama!" Giroro called to Haruki, and the mechanic jolted to attention. Kirere was still wrapped around his neck, although the little girl clung to him in fear now, fear of the large ship. "I… Want you to watch after Kirere. Keron isn't the place for her!"

"What!?" Kirere yelped.

"She… You can't be found by them, Kirere. Not yet," Giroro shook his head.

"I won't say anything, then!" Kirere yelped. "I-I promise!"

"Hurry, out of here," Giroro whispered. His voice was breaking, and he grit his teeth. Kirere looked over to Kururu, and as soon as they made eye contact, Kururu looked away from her.

"But… But… No!" she yelled out. "When are you coming back!? When?!"

"I don't know. We'll come back for you, I promise! Now, go!" Giroro demanded, and Haruki nodded, hopping back onto his bike with Kirere.

Mahihi gulped, hard, then looked over his shoulder, "You get him out of here, I don't want him found, either. You, Time Bender-"

"I'll see them home safely," Botan nodded. "As I will the Martins."

"Thank you, love," Fujuju said with a nod. "And take Ri-"

"No," Rita snapped. "I'm going with you. I did this, so… I'm going to answer for it. It's what Mum would've done. I'm staying with you, and there's nothing that's going to change my mind about it."

"I-Very well," Fujuju sighed with defeat. He looked up to Botan, and she nodded; he quickly pushed Rita towards the Time Bender, and she grabbed onto her, disappearing with Frannie, Oliver, Maggie, and Waikiki as well, and Kirere looked over Haruki's shoulder to her parents. She watched until she could no longer see them, and then she began to cry.

"Prison's…. Not so bad, really," Fujuju reassured everyone gently. They sat in either side of a large holding cell, on benches, handcuffed. Both the Keroro Platoon and Romama platoon, as well as Mois, had been taken onboard. The Pekoponians, Mora, Karara, and Botan had all been spared. But the Keronians and lone Angol were less fortunate, sitting in the ship's brig.

A few guards peered in, and Rokiki shot his head toward them as they saw they were staring at him. He gave a growl, baring his teeth, and both bumped into one another as they backed away from the cell.

"Well, at least everything's back to normal for everyone else…." Mahihi sighed. "I really hope I get my one phone call, but I know the long distance bill will be insane…."

"…How's your shoulder?" Lupapa asked Dororo quietly, and the ninja, who sat next to her, lifted it up a bit in its sling.

"It will heal, Lupapa-dono," Dororo reassured her.

"…So this is the last we'll see of one another, huh?" Tamama said quietly. "…I hate to admit it, but I'll even miss Kiichi…."

"…Could you say, falling into the bowels of depression?" Mois murmured.

"I'm a celebrity. They'll make my bail, I'll give a few apologies, and I'll be fine. Happens all the time," Chunini shrugged this off coolly. "Koda-chan's the only one here I like, anyway, and that rule doesn't apply to families…. Right?..."

"Kuku…." Kururu chuckled, and glanced over to the still-glaring Rokiki. "You don't happen to have that information about your tribe's land on you, do you, kuku?"

"Eh? Why?"

"Do you?"

"Yes, but… I don't see what good it would do…. It's not as if I can prove who I am, or that it's even mine…. I don't even have the money to start something like that."

"Sankaku Keronians were known to have a special gene only Keronians in that tribe carried, kukuku! Yours would be extremely strong…. It's the reason you're as short as you are, Rokiki Tai, kuku!"

"I'm the only Sankaku Keronian left, so I don't even want to know how you got a sample of DNA to know that."

"Well, she's not short because of someone on my side of the family, kuku!"
Rokiki shot his head over to Kururu, "Wait, what?"

"Keroro Gunso?" the bars opened, and there were several dark-blue guard Keronians. "And we'll need whoever is in charge of this other platoon, as well."

"That'd be you, Roki-kun," Mahihi nodded, and Rokiki uneasily stood, and followed the shuffling Keroro out of the cell. There was a feeling of certain dread in the air.

Fuyuki gave another sigh and rolled back in his chair. He'd been researching the alien that they'd faced off against with one of the many texts on aliens he had.

"Fuyuki?" Natsumi quietly opened up the door to his bedroom, and he startled to attention, "You're on dishes tonight, all right?"

"..Okay, Nee-chan."

"What's this?" she walked over to her brother's desk, and saw the illustration in the page; it was of a misty black nothingness, with a pair of wide eyes in the center.

"It's the alien that was posing as Kezanstav-san…. It's a type of parasite alien… There isn't all that much information them, but they were sort of… Space traders."

"So all of that just because he wanted some more things to trade? Unbelievable."

"They're known for taking out whole planets, Nee-chan. They're usually unstoppable once they start…."

"And having the technology to turn into anything doesn't help, either… He probably remembered Stupid Frog's uncle from years ago, heard about what happened with Kezanstav-san, and started making a plan…" Natsumi sighed. "…At least it's all over with."

"…Yeah," Fuyuki muttered, and rolled back around in his chair.

"I… I'm making our favorite dinner tonight. It'll be great! And Kirere's going to come over…. That idiot bill-dodger's taking her to Hawaii for a little while, but she's going to visit as much as she can before then!"

"…All right," Fuyuki gave a nod.

"…It'll be all right. Stupid Frog's done things like this before and pulled through," Natsumi smiled and reassured her brother. "It's just for a little while."

The hours Fuyuki awaited for Keroro and the Platoon to return home turned into days, and then a full two weeks had passed without any word from Keroro, any of the platoon members, or any of the Romama Platoon.

And slowly life in the Hinata residence fell back into the new-old normal, with both of the siblings taking over chores again. The door Keroro's room never opened, finally closing when Kirere had moved the last of her things out. The little girl was quiet for most of the move, promising to visit often, and then leaving with Haruki to live with the mechanic.

The meetings of the Occult Club were usually quiet affairs. There wasn't the same spirit as before. It was turning to spring, but everything seemed grayer.

Natsumi was out folding laundry, Neko sitting by the laundry pole, watching the redhead and sulking at the loss of her alien friend still. Natsumi, too, seemed sullen, and she looked over to the abandoned red tent in the backyard.

"….I know I should probably take it down, but… I really can't bring myself to… Plus it'd only upset Fuyuki if I did…" she sighed.

"Ah, the laundry's going to smell wonderful, Natsumi!" Aki smiled and stretched after walking in from the street through to the yard.

"Eh? Mama? You're home early! And… What's that, cake?" Natsumi glanced down at the plastic bag in her mother's hand, and Aki held it up, confused.

"The power shut down, so we weren't able to finish anything at work. Most of the artists were out the door before I could get them to sit still to go over their ideas! And I thought you said to bring home a cake anyway…"

"I hope this is enough!" Chandi stumbled in through the open gate, a pot in her hand. Mora followed behind her, floating, a large plastic container in her arms.

"We have both spicy and sweet bonda, and vindaloo, just like you asked. I never knew you had such an interest in Indian cooking, Natsumi-san!" Mora chirped.

"Vinda…? I… What's going on?" Natsumi blinked.

"Fuyuki-kun!" Momoka burst through, Paul following close behind her, both with arms full of gold-trimmed boxes. "I hope I'm not late! I brought sweets!"

"Natsumi-san!" Koyuki panted, and landed atop of the Hinatas' white fence, per usual. "I brought just what you asked!"

"Nishizawa-san!" Fuyuki exclaimed. "Azumaya-san!"

"Are we… What's this all about? Eh?! S-Saburo Senpai!" Natsumi squeaked as Saburo walked into the backyard, holding up a few white bags in one hand.

"I'm not much of a cook, I hope you don't mind me bringing chips," he admitted with a small chuckle.

"Just what-" she stopped, then, at the noise of the front door clicking shut. She and Fuyuki both cautiously crept into the living room, and began to search it. Nothing was out of place, it seemed. Fuyuki cautiously walked over to Keroro's room, took a deep gulp, and slowly opened the door to the alien's room.

It was dark. There was nothing here, either.

"…It was nice thinking that it was possible, at least…" he said quietly, and shut the door behind him.

"Gero gero ge…. Prepare to surrender, Pekoponian," Fuyuki shot up his head at this familiar scratchy voice, and a wide smile came across his face. He turned around, and there was Keroro, a grin across his face and the Kero ball in one hand.

"Gunso!" Fuyuki gasped, bending down and embracing the green invader tightly.

"S-Stupid Frog?!" Natsumi gasped. "…Does that mean, then….?"

"Kuku! …I suppose we're more difficult to get rid of than even you think."
Natsumi turned around, and jumped. Not only the Keroro platoon (minus Kirere), but the Romama Platoon (minus Romama). And with them, Rita, Daisy, Lee, Botan, and Marco.

"…It'd seem as though everything is back to normal with the forests," Lupapa said with a calm smile.

"She had to check on our way here," Chunini rolled her eyes.

"Could you say, a happy reunion?" Mois chimed in.

"We… Stopped and picked up a few people on our way home. I hope you don't mind," Fujuju grinned.

"I…" Natsumi couldn't say anything else, she couldn't even choke out the words. She only grinned widely, and wiped her eyes. Giroro looked away from this scene, flushing. He'd missed her as well.

"Going to cry, old man? Kukuku!" Kururu chuckled, noting Giroro overcome with emotions.

"Sh-Shut up!" Giroro snapped.

The other Pekoponians walked in now, and could see that it was a reality; the Keroro platoon was really in front of them once more.

And while this happened, further down the street, Haruo Suzuyama sat across from Kirere and Haruki in the back of a long white limousine, Rocky the Shiba Inu pup at his side.

"Now I don't want you to be sad, Kirere-chan! And Haru, you quit looking like you're at a funeral, too! It's depressing!" Haruo said cheerfully, scratching the top of the dog's head. "You'll like it, a good, old-fashioned springtime family vacation! A nice sendoff before heading back to Hawaii!"

"…It'll be fun, kiddo," Haruki reassured Kirere, patting the little girl on the head. She only grumbled and scooted away from him. This had been her attitude during the entire two weeks.

Haruki looked out the window, and did a double-take, seeing he was in a familiar neighborhood. Haruo made a motion for Haruki to remain quiet, and Haruki nodded, although he could barely contain the smile that grew across his face.

"Well, we're here!" Haruo exclaimed as the cab came a halt, and the old man laughed a bit. "You two go on ahead… I'm going to go take Rocky down for a walk, I think."

"All right… C'mon, you'll like it!" Haruki gave a wide smile to Kirere, and she forced a smile of her own, and allowed him to lift her up out of the car. Haruki then covered her eyes, and Kirere frowned.

"Haruki! I can't see anything!"

"That'd be the point," Haruki chuckled, and continued to walk up towards the house. He found the door unlocked, and walked in. Kirere could hear voices, but there were too many to distinguish… Although… There were a few that... Sounded somewhat familiar…

Haruki set her down, then pulled away his hand from her eyes. Kirere squinted at first with the new light, then gasped in delight at the sight of her family in front of her. She immediately tackled Giroro in an embrace, laughing, then went for Kururu, stopping just short as he held out a hand to her. Giroro pulled a gun, and pressed it against Kururu's cheek. Kururu gave an annoyed sigh, and patted the girl atop the head.

"I thought I'd never see either of you again!" she sniffed, and clutched on to Giroro again.

"Stupid Frog… How did you make it back? And what were you doing there?" Natsumi wondered, turning to Keroro.

"That's right! Gunso, time goes faster on Keron, doesn't it? So how long were you actually gone for?"

"Oh, I'd say about a month…. There was a great deal of paperwork… And begging… And more paperwork… And then some more begging…" Keroro trailed off at this point, staring blankly ahead.

"Plus they were interested about us, too," Mahihi sighed.

"Who wouldn't be?" Chunini chuckled.

"They were quite curious about how Kero-chan knew everyone… And how we existed. They were quite intent on keeping us on Keron for a bit!" Fujuju admitted.

"Rokiki-san saved us!" Tamama chimed in.

"Eh? Rokiki-kun?" Mora turned her head to the red Keronian, and he only gave a shrug.

"It wasn't anything I wasn't going to use, anyway," Rokiki answered.

"Kuku! The contract that was given to his tribe was good for as long as the tribe survived. Apparently they didn't think they would be around long," Kururu chuckled. "…It was just a bit of swampland, but they were to inherit one acre more every year."

"It's been so long, that much land would have been huge!" Tamama exclaimed.

"And it didn't help that on that now is the capitol," Giroro smirked.
Rokiki continued, "I promised to void the contract if they let us continue our lives as we had…"

"Hey, you're missing my favorite part, about how we were never declared dead and still on payroll!" Mahihi laughed. "…We agreed to void that part, too…"

"That's really something that helped save us," Keroro admitted.

Daisy placed a hand warningly atop Mahihi's skull, "You should have asked for something! We're barely making it by on our salaries as it is!"

"Ehehehe… D-Don't worry, Daisy, I'll think of something!" Mahihi chuckled weakly.

"…When I look at them, I can't help but see the future of someone else…." Keroro muttered, looking over to Giroro. The red Corporal jumped.

"W-What?! What are you looking at!?" Giroro demanded.

"Ha ha! I wish we could stay more, but I have to get home to the kids!" Mahihi laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Plus Daisy's work is in full-force this time of the year!"

"Well, we have to get ready for the summer season," she answered.

"Oh? And what does Daisy-dono do?" Keroro asked politely.

"Eh, voice-acting, mainly," Mahihi replied coolly. "They're just starting this new series and she got the part as the lead."

"Gero? Series?"

"…Some TV show about an Admiral… Geroro?" Daisy looked to Mahihi questioningly.

"It doesn't matter, what's important is I'm back. And I'm not going anywhere for a long, long time, I promise," Mahihi smiled.

"A-Admiral Geroro? S-She's… The voice actor…?"

"For some of the English dubs," Daisy answered.

"Take me with you," Keroro said flatly. "Please."

"Oh, no you don't. You've got a whole month of chores to make up for, Stupid Frog!" Natsumi snapped, lifting Keroro up by the head. "And don't think I won't be taking that stupid Kero ball from you later, too! You're not trustworthy at all when it comes to that thing!"

"Hehehe! Well, I'd love to stay, but I have to get back to my family," Kodada said with an apologetic smile. "I have a lot of explaining to do to my family, and it'll be a lot easier now that I can change back into a Pekoponian again…. Nee-chan, do you want to come?"

"Eh?! Me?" Chunini's eyes went wide, and the cold pop singer's hard exterior melted for a moment.

"Mm-hm! I… I want them to meet you," Kodada tilted her head to a side and smiled, and Chunini glanced at Lee, then slowly walked over to Kodada, a childlike, excited look upon her face. "Miss Lee?" Lee turned her head to Kodada. "You're welcome to come, too. You're my Nee-chan's family, so that makes you mine, too!"

"I… I would like that very much…" Lee flushed a bit, and followed the two out.

"Fujuju, are you going to back to Maggie and Oliver?" Natsumi asked, and the scientist's smile fell a bit. "…Say, why aren't they here?"

"Well… I'm… Not their tutor, anymore, at their sister's request," he said quietly. "But… That's all right. They learned all they needed to from me. Now just… To focus on a wedding…" he looked up at Botan a bit, and she smiled back down at him. "…We weren't planning on one originally, but I had a change of heart."

"Chunini and I threatened to beat the crap out of him if he didn't propose," Lupapa answered, and Fujuju flinched. The purple Keronian looked up to Marco, and gave a relaxed smile. "It'll be nice getting home for more than just a visit… I can only imagine how things went without me."

"Actually, we were able to fight off some loggers on our own!" Marco said, a wide grin on his face. Lupapa was stunned by this. "I guess you not being there sort of reminded us that you won't always be there, Auntie."

Lupapa was stunned, but her frown turned into a smile, "That's right. You're growing up. Well, for now you're not getting rid of me! Let's go home, I'm cold…"

"Auntie's always cold," Marco chuckled.

"I'll see you out, Lupapa-dono," Dororo raised his hand, the good one, to signify this. The other was still wrapped in a sling from the blow he had suffered. The ninja followed the purple Keronian and her nephew out, and Fujuju and Botan followed them.

"Rita?" Fujuju turned back to the young woman, who had stood quietly throughout this entire exchange. "Would you care to come back with us? From what I understand, you've been a great help to Botan during this time, and… We wouldn't mind if you stayed with us a bit longer."

"With you?" Rita asked, and Fujuju nodded. "I… Well, all right…." she gave a weak smile, and he patted the girl on the head as they walked out of the house.

"Are we getting to the party now, Gunso-san?" Tamama asked hopefully, his eyes on the sweets.

"…After one more thing, Tamama-chan," Keroro replied.

Keroro wore a black band over his arm, as did the other platoon members. Instead of her normal green wristband, Mois wore a black one with a yellow star on it. And Rokiki watched this from the sidelines with Mora and the other Pekoponians. All stood atop the hill behind Romama's apartment building, Keroro in front of them, Romama's helmet in his hands.

"….What a nice thing to do for his uncle…" Karara said with awe.

Rokiki nodded, "Yes, it-Eh?! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Shh, Rokiki-kun! Karara-chan's been staying with us!" Mora whispered.

"Sensei's been teaching me all about matchmaking!" Karara replied.

"Sensei? Oh, great," Rokiki grumbled and gave a roll of the eyes. Mora only nudged Rokiki in the ribs, and the tattooed Keronian looked straight ahead, stone-faced.

"Ojiisama, was…. A difficult soul to get along with… But he was still my Ojiisama. He… He liked yelling at me a lot. And hitting me. But I think that that was his way of getting lessons across to me," Keroro said quietly. "He… He'll always have a place in our hearts…"

Keroro's speech went on, and as it did, the sound of a clumping noise became more and more prevalent, finally stopping beside Kirere.

"…What's he doing? And when did everyone get back?" Romama asked her quietly.

"Oh! Well-W-W-WAHHHHH!" she gave a scream at the sight of Romama, and went tumbling back into Tamama. Both went tumbling down the hill, landing with a crash noise.

"….You're not going to check that out at all, are you?" Giroro asked plainly. Kururu only laughed, and the red Keronian grumbled, and began to make the trip downhill, stopping halfway. His eyes met with Romama's, and Giroro took a few steps back, before giving his own yell of horror at the sight of the "ghost", then tripping over his own feet and tumbling down the hill, landing atop Kirere and Tamama.

"Ojiisama….? O-Ojiisama?" Keroro's eyes filled with tears, and Romama sneered with disgust, backing away as best as he could in the crutches. The Keronian Major's right leg was in a full cast, and he balanced on two tiny crutches. Keroro didn't see this, however. He only saw the confused Romama. Keroro lifted up Romama into a tight embrace, sending the crutches flying, and Romama began to yell and curse as Keroro began to spin him around.

"So I heard everyone was taken, and I kept my distance… When I saw everyone out behind my apartment, I figured it was safe again," Romama finished sipping his tea, and Keroro took a sip of his own. Both sat out in the doorway, Romama's cast propped up now, and baring signatures from many of the Keronians and Pekoponians. The sight of the heart stickers Kirere had placed around her signature made him wince a bit every time he saw them, but he said nothing to the little girl.

"I… I'm just so glad Ojiisama's all right!" Keroro said cheerfully.

"What happened to that ring? And that alien?" Romama shot his head up. "You aren't going to use them, are you?"

"Gero, no. That'd be taking the easy way out, and if it's one thing I learned from Ojiisama, it's to work for something! …They're going to be put away somewhere safe. Oh! And it's been decided-Once we conquer, Pekopon will be a friendly place for both Aliens and Pekoponians! It's…. A little promise to Rita-chan."

"Well, it's a good one…" Romama looked away, and Keroro gave a hopeful grin. Romama shot his head to the Keronian, "If you're fishing for compliments on being selfless, you're out of luck."

"Gero…. S-So cold, Ojiisama, even in death…. But I suppose it's to be expected."

"I'm not dead, you idiot!"

"Well, here's your stop!" Mahihi called out to Fujuju and Botan, and the Time Bender rose, hitting her head on the roof of the ship in the process. She shut her eyes to quell her annoyance, and gave a deep sigh, rubbing her head. She was growing more and more used to this happening.
The ship hovered over the familiar telephone booth, and Fujuju was the first to walk out, followed by Botan. Rita was about to exit with them with Mahihi called out to her.

"…If you wouldn't mind…. I know my son will have a lot of questions while he grows up," Mahihi said to her. "Would you mind if you talked to him, if he has any questions about being half-Pekoponian?"

"I… Why, I'd love to," Rita's grin grew, and she hopped out of the ship. The ship, was soon gone, without anyone at all paying notice to it. It was back to having its invisibility shields. It quickly zoomed off, and they walked into Fujuju's home, one by one.

Rita took a seat in the recliner in the living room, and yawned. Fujuju smiled and shook his head.

"…It's amazing how much you remind me of your mother," he said as he walked over to her. Her eyes were already shutting.

"….I'm so sorry… About everything…" she yawned. "…And even after all of it, you saved me…"

"Of course, why wouldn't it?" he replied. "I'm just sorry I didn't get to know you sooner, Rita."

"It's all right, Dad. Eh? What's that?" she only noted now the black band around one of Fujuju's ankles.

"Planet arrest," he shrugged. "It's only for a month or two. Then a year of parole… Apparently I made a few violations I was unaware of. I really can't stay out of trouble, it seems!" he said with an embarrassed grin.

"That makes two of us…" she muttered.

It didn't take long for Rita to fall asleep in the large recliner, and Fujuju left her to this, disappearing into one of the back rooms. Botan passed by her and smiled, and placed a blanket over the young woman. She then went in search of Fujuju. She found him in their room, some photo albums spread out on the bed. He jumped, and immediately went to shut one, only to be stopped by Botan, who took the album from him and silently began to flip through it. Pictures of him, Maggie, and Oliver, and later on, herself.

"…I wish she would have let me say goodbye. Well… Can't always have what we want, am I right?" he said quietly. "Plus, there's Rita, now… And the baby…"

"…Get your coat," Botan shut the photo album, and Fujuju frowned with confusion.

A little while later, when dinnertime was creeping up in the London neighborhood, a redheaded man in a fedora, brown suit and red and yellow scarf walked down the street beside a tall, pale woman, dressed in a light lavender summer dress. They stopped in front of a small house, and both could see through parted curtains the Martin twins at the dining room table, working quietly on their schoolwork. A smile came across Fujuju's face as he saw this. Frannie walked up to them, leaning over and looking at their work.

"So… She said I was dangerous to them?"

"Yes. I… I am sorry," Botan said, her voice falling. "I tried to make a good case for you."

"It's… It's all right. You did your best, and they're fine," he nodded, and continued down the sidewalk with Botan at his side.

They heard the door open, and Frannie call out to them, "I-Mr. Grant? That… That's your name, right?" She had seen them out of the corner of her eye out the window, and had rushed to catch them.

Fujuju turned around, and Frannie quietly shut the door, and walked down the steps of the home to meet them, "I just wanted to… I just… I don't… Always understand things. I'm not nearly as smart as they are, and… I know that. Things have been going well recently, very well. I just found out that… I'm going to be doing work designing the stages for your friend, that pop singer."

"Ah, wonderful, dear," Fujuju nodded, feigning a smile but otherwise doing a poor job at keeping the look of sadness off of his face.

"I'm going to be really busy, and… The things you taught them in the past year I couldn't even begin to teach them! I just can't keep up with them anymore thanks to you, it seems!" she chuckled.

"Get to your point," Botan demanded, and Fujuju gave his fiancé a quick glance. "My apologies. I'm learning empathy. Get to your point… Now."

"We're working on it," Fujuju explained.

"I'd love for you to keep tutoring Maggie and Oliver," said Frannie. "I just wish there was a way there was some way I wouldn't keep worried."

"I can take care of that, if you wish," Botan placed a hand on the side of Frannie's head, and she grabbed hold of the young woman as she fainted, nearly falling to the ground. "….I did something wrong…?" Botan asked, noting the displeased look on Fujuju's face.

"You… You're supposed to ask, first… N-Nevermind, I'll, just…" he attempted to lift Frannie up, and struggled his way to the door, losing more and more face with Botan as he struggled up the stairs with Frannie in his arms. He lost his footing just when he'd made it to the door, and fell through the doorway.

Maggie and Oliver both bolted up from their seats at the sound of the noise. Fujuju looked up from his place on the floor, the fainted Frannie atop him, at both wide-eyed children.

"Oh my God, you killed her?!" Maggie gasped.

"N-No! She's… She's just sleeping. I promise," Fujuju chuckled, and propped up the fainted woman. Frannie gave a small groan, and Oliver and Maggie helped carry her to the couch.

"Fujuju…. What are you doing here? I thought, well…" Maggie's eyes went to the sleeping Frannie, then back to Botan and Fujuju. Fujuju gave a bit of a grin.

"Well, your sister, she…."

"Her memory of an alien encounter has been erased," Botan explained.
"She wished for it."

"She did?" Maggie gasped. "But, why?..."

"So she wouldn't worry when we went off on our adventures," Fujuju answered, his smile growing. Both the Martin twins stared, stunned, and Maggie was the first one to embrace Fujuju, nearly knocking him off of his feet. Oliver stared at the ground a moment, unsure, then leapt forward and joined his sister and tutor. "Hehe! I'm glad to see you both, too!"

"So… Where are we going first?" Maggie asked in a laugh.

"Anywhere. Anywhere you want! That's… On Pekopon. And I have to be back on Tuesdays to check with my officer. For a while, at least."

"Officer?" Oliver repeated. "Are you on parole or somethin'?"

"Eh?... Bloody… That's the best nap I've had in ages!" Frannie yawned and sat up. "Eh?! Who… Who're-"

"Oh? Pleasure to meet you, Miss!" Fujuju smiled and tipped his fedora to Frannie. "I am Elijah Grant-The children's tutor! This is my fiancé."
Frannie looked over Botan and smiled, "Oh, how wonderful, another set of twins, am I right?"

Fujuju's smile immediately fell, and he snapped his head to Botan. Her eyes were wide, but she said nothing.

"C-C'mon, now, Fran, you have to get back to work…" Maggie stuttered, helping her sister up and toward the back of the house.

"Work? What…. Am I doing something for some singer?"

"Yes, you went to Japan last month to discuss it with her."

"Japan?! Why did I-"

"It's a long story," and then the sound of the door closing. Oliver nodded, content with this, then his eyes fell back on Fujuju and Botan. Fujuju went to kiss Botan, but he stopped halfway as he noticed Oliver's presence in the room.

"I'm… Going to get on my homework. Don't mind me any," Oliver chuckled, and went back to his work.

"Twins…" Fujuju repeated with a shake of the head, and laughed a bit.
He had gone from having absolutely no family… To a larger one than he could have ever imagined.

Rokiki watched the party from the outside. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the party, well into the nighttime hours. Kirere had finally passed out from the excitement of it all, and had fallen asleep on the couch. He watched as Giroro quietly lifted up the little girl and took her into her room, away from the noise, and Rokiki quietly touched the triangle tattoo on his forehead.

"Rokiki-kun?" Mora's voice was quiet, but surprising enough to him to make Rokiki jump. "Are…. You all right?

"Y-Yes, why?"

"You don't seem yourself tonight, is all…." Mora replied, the concern evident in her voice.

"Mora, I…" Rokiki turned to her, and shut his eyes. "I can't marry you. I'm sorry."

"I know," she nodded. "I rushed into it…. So… Don't worry about it. We'll just take our time."

She smiled and took hold of his hand, and Rokiki gave a sharp intake of air, "I… I have a lot of questions I need answers to…. Things that can't be answered here. So… I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"Go?" Mora repeated, and Rokiki pulled his hand away from hers. "Rokiki-kun…. Did you… Meet someone while you were on Keron?"

"No," he answered. "I promise you there isn't anyone. I just… It's difficult to explain."

"I understand," Mora said quietly. "…How long are you going to be gone for? Or are you going to come back at all?"

Rokiki was quiet for this, and his eyes fell to the ground, "Until I get my answers. If I ever do. I… I do know I want to be better for you. And I can't be like that until I find what I need."

"I'll wait for you," Rokiki was stunned at these words. Mora smiled, although there were tears in her eyes, "I waited this long for prince, what's a little while longer? ….I know Rokiki-kun will come back when the time is right."

Rokiki flushed, then walked away from the house, only turning back once to Mora, "Eh… Kuani e omap ash… I'm rusty in my old language, but… I think I said that right…."

"I know what you meant," Mora said with a soft, sad smile. She then allowed Rokiki to go, and she rejoined the party. She would talk to Chandi about this and cry later… For now, though, she would celebrate the return of everyone else.