The next morning was nerve racking as Giroro waited in the living room with Natsumi, her family and his platoon in anticipation of the Generals' arrival. His eyes kept darting to the clock, he was silent through the whole conversation that was happening around him. He visually jumped at the sound of the doorbell, the noise after it had stopped repeated in his head over and over as they walked to the door. The platoon all lined up in a row as their leader opened the door.
All saluted before their superior, an older looking grey keronian who walked in and followed a salute back. "Good morning men!" he greeted.
"General welcome, how was your flight? Please come in and sit down, while my men bring out refreshments" Keroro said to him leading him to the living room. Keroro was always quite skilled when it came to hospitality.
"It was fine" the elder said sitting on the comfortable couch "My they weren't kidding about Pekoponian's size, these chairs are huge" he looked at the pink haired woman and red keronian that sat across from him, they sat uncomfortably straight and had a nervousness to them. "The size difference is defiantly going to make things awkward in the bedroom" he said with a laugh.
Both their faces reddened at the comment. "If your not careful, she'll crush you in your sleep Corporal" he clarified. "So let's go over the paper work shall we" he pulled out a briefcase.
"Your coffee General and some biscuits, it's a pekoponian tradition, to offer beverages and small dessert foods" Dororo said cheerfully.
"Ah very good, I have heard good things about Pekoponian hospitality" he took a sip "ah it's hot!" he shouted shaking his head.
His reaction was nerve racking could a hot coffee have messed the whole operation up?
"I apologise General, I should of warned you" Dororo said in a calm panic.
"It's fine, now let's see" he looked over all the paper work "it seems you have a lot of support behind you, lots of signatures, from both Keron and Pekopon. Which isn't a surprise the higher ups have grown a bit of a soft spot for you miss Hinata" he stated.
"They do? They know who I am?" she asked confused.
"Yeah we've seen a few videos of you, you've certainly had an affect on the higher ups" he said with a laugh a light blush on his cheeks.
"What videos?" Natsumi asked sceptically. Giroro wasn't sure what he was talking about either, till he heard that familiar laugh.
"Kukukuku military secret" Kururu teased "Here is the Prime minster of Japan's signature General"
Natsumi was put off by the fact that apparently Kururu had something to do with it. While Giroro just blushed and hid his face. He had a feeling what was on that video, after all he was the one that accidentally received the actual invasion report while Keron got some revealing stuff about Natsumi. He swears if the general wasn't here he'd kill Kururu. Regardless of whether or not the videos helped Natsumi win over the armies favour.
"It seems like everything is in order, paper work wise. But before I sign off I have some questions" to asked as he took another sip down "Why should we do this Treaty?, how does it benefit Keron?" he asked seriously.
Natsumi put her finger on her cheek as she thought of a response to that while Giroro looked straight ahead at his superior "Pekopon strength comes from it's people, they are rich in culture and ideas which would greatly benefit our planet. To exterminate it's people would be to leave the potential of this planet to a empty husk. Pekoponians are strong and fierce allies on the battlefield that could add to our firepower but they also have a beautiful culture and many traditions that most of the universe admires. Pekopon would make Keron a fortune in vacations alone.
With Keronians' resources the pekoponians' can reach even greater heights, least I remind you of Sargent major Kiko Katoyama who worked as a mech designer for the Keron Army" he stated his case, as he had a long time to think about it.
"A good reason indeed, what about you Miss Hinata?" he turned to the human woman.
"Well, I agree with Giroro, but mostly I think our planets can live in peace, Keronians and Pekoponians don't have to be opposites they can be compliments to one another and live in harmony, fighting together and eating together in a union both sides benefit from" she said not entirely sure if it'd help her case.
"some good arguments" the general gave a soft smile "What about this marriage, are you happy to do it? Knowing you won't get another chance, because this will be death till you part" he spoke with emphasis, hammering the idea into their heads.
"I will do it, anything for my planet and to help unite our planets" Natsumi said determined.
"I will do what ever it takes as well. My hand in marriage is but a small price to pay and one I will be more then willing to make for the two planets." Giroro replied.
"It sounds like your Sargent made the correct decision" he held his pen preparing to sign the document "Thank you both for your service to your planets" he saluted "we'll send a ship in a few days to pick you up for Keron, so maybe start gathering your guests, we suspect it'll be a big advent with the whole planet watching" he said cheekily.
That day had finally arrived well, well not that day. It was the ship loading day where they would all set out to Keron to wed the two. Everyone was in the ship and ready the Hinatas, the Keroro platoon, all the friends they made along the way. It was a bit cramped, Keroro was in charge of the guest list.
"Man it feels like forever since we've all gone back to Keron together" Keroro mused looking out the window at the planet he called home for the last 6 years slowly shrink in view as they got further away. "Ooooh Keron~" he started to sing, a tune known well to Keronian ears.
"You can't be serious" Kururu scoffed in annoyance but a small smile curled on his lips under his hand.
"~We're coming home~" Tamama joined in in the tune.
"~To the planet, we hail from~" Dororo sung as well.
"~Back to the creeks we rose from~" Giroro continued the verse.
"~To the land we ruled on!~" Keroro boomed in a giddy tone.
"~Back to Keron~" Tamama cheered.
"~the place we fight for~" Dororo sung softer.
"~the place we'd die for~" Giroro followed trying his best to keep in pitch.
"~So we salute to her beauty, to the land we hold dear~"
"~To Keron may our voices be loud and clear~"
"~As we resonate to our home!~"
"~ the land to which we roam!~" they all sung the rest in unison
"Gerogerogerogero"
"Tamatamatamatama"
"Girogirogirogirogiro"
"Kurukurukurukuru"
"Dorodorodorodoro"
"Wow is that like your national anthem or something?" Fuyuki asked after the song was over.
"More like an old famous war ballad, soldiers sing after wars" Kururu explained "It's been pasted down a few generations, so noone's even sure who made it up"
"Well I think it sounds cool!" Fuyuki beamed.
"Oh I can't wait to show you the sights Fuyuki!" Keroro expressed. "we'll have to go to all the stops!"
"I can't wait!" he replied.
"What about you Giroro? Excited to be home again?" Natsumi asked.
"I will admit I have missed Keron a bit" no point hiding it.
"Any place there your excited to see again?" she asked.
"Ha knowing Giroro he'd want to go to the intergalactic train museum again" Keroro joked and Giroro gave him a death stare while blushing.
"Huh? Why a train museum?" Natsumi asked.
"You don't know? Giroro loves trains, he dragged me to that boring museum once when we were kids" Keroro explained.
"Without me" Dororo sobbed.
"You love trains?" she giggled "I'm sorry but that's adorable" she couldn't contain her laughter the tough man loved trains it was just so unexpected.
"Why the hell did you tell her that?!" Giroro shook Keroro violently.
"It's okay you don't need to be embarrassed, I think it's cute." Natsumi said trying to contain her giggles "it's just I never expected it, it's a hobby I didn't expect of you"
"Well we all have silly interests when we were kids" he tried to defend as the blush never left his cheeks.
"That is true, I know I had my fair share"
It was getting late so everyone decided to go to bed. Giroro and Natsumi walked to their room, as it was expected for them to share a room. But Natsumi was a bit shocked at the fact only one bed existed. "Oh they only have one bed" she remarked. "I guess it was expected since we are technically getting married"
"No matter, I'll set up my tent" Giroro replied not wanting to make things harder for her.
"You brought your tent to a wedding?" she asked dumbfounded.
"You've got to always be prepared" he stated.
"I'd feel guilty for making you sleep on the floor though, you can sleep on the bed with me if you want?" she offered.
His heat beat faster at that "y-you sure you won't mind? I can sleep on the floor it's no problem" he tried to reason, he didn't want to make things weird.
"I don't mind, it'll be like sleeping with a plushie... that's alive" she climbed into bed and he followed nervously.
Never in a million years did he think he'd share a bed with Natsumi. He laid next to her, as far way from her as he could, he could still feel the heat radiate off of her body. "I can't wait to see your home, it'll be fun to be the freeloader for a change" she joked "Hope you don't make me sleep in a tent in your backyard"
"ha ha very funny" he teased back.
After a minute of silence Natsumi spoke up again "Do you ever regret going to war?" it was a soft and unsure question.
"what brought that up?" he asked confused at the sudden and randomness of it.
"I was thinking back to the Ferris wheel, when you thought there was a explosive going off and then I remembered you've always been kind of jumpy like your always expecting an attack. I can't imagine it'd be easy to live like that" she confessed.
"I-I just take things seriously, it's Keroro I worry about, it's like he's regressed back into the person he was before we were soilders, like everything never happened. It's like he's gotten off easy." while he, he can't forget.
"It seems like the stupid frog just adapts to peace and change better. But that doesn't answer my question. Do you regret it?" she doesn't know what sort of answer she expects but she feels the question nagging her to get out.
"No I don't. Because if I was never a solider I wouldn't be the same person I am now, I take pride in my accomplishments, in my honour and if I never enlisted in the army I never would of met you. What about you? Do you ever regret taking us in and putting up with us?" he asked seriously worried about what her answer would be.
"Never, not in a thousand years, you guys are basically family now. I might have a few scars, some memories I wish I didn't have but after everything I'm been through I think I would trade them away for anything". It was genuine, what she felt for them was a familiar bond, years ago she didn't think she was capable of.
"Scars add character, proof of hardship one has faced. And trust me you don't want to tamper with your memories. Another reason I don't regret it is because the army also taught me to fight for what I love, to protect. Make it feel like I can do something instead of watching helplessly from the side lines" he explained.
"Kind of like how I'm Pekopon's last defence." she mused.
"Exactly, it takes guts to fight for what you want to protect" he said softly, the warm bed making them both sleepier.
"Well I'm tired night Giroro" she said cheerfully slowly dozing off.
Giroro just laid there for a few minutes till he knew for sure she was asleep before he started to doze off himself, but his sleep was interrupted as her arms pulled him close cuddling him like a stuffed animal. He wonders if he should wake her but decides against it as she feels so warm and her heart beat soothes him, in her arms he finds himself in the most peaceful sleep he thinks he's ever had.