Caboose smiled happily as he walked back with Kii from her old forest. While her new home in the forest inside Blue Base was most acceptable, there had been a few plants in her old forest she'd been particularly fond of. As such, Caboose had made the trip with her to transplant them into the Blue Base forest. They were currently carrying them back towards Blue Base, with Freckle balancing those the pair lacked the hands to hold. "This all you want to bring, Kii?" Caboose asked curiously.

"It is all," Kii responded readily. "The forest is tending to itself, and your actions have ensured that others will not mistreat it." This was true, as Tio had helped them put up a massive sign that read 'This Forest Protected By Ambassador Caboose, Pollute At Your Own Risk' with an image of what happened to the facility that had been polluting it. "These plants are especially fond of me, and I of them, so if I am to leave they will come with me. My duty now is to tend to your plants...and to your children." A deep blush suffused her cheeks as she said that.

"I'm glad you're adapting well to the family," Caboose spoke up warmly. "Do you think Lala will adapt well, too?"

Kii hesitated. While she had nothing against Lala personally, Dryads were guardians of life. To share an abode with an emissary of death was unnatural for her, and left her very uncomfortable...especially when her stated goal was to collect Caboose's soul when he died. Kii did not want Caboose to die, and the Dullahan's presence was a constant reminder of his mortality. However, Caboose had made her welcome, and Kii would not disappoint her betrothed when he had rescued her from loneliness, and from herself. "I believe she will have no trouble adjusting," she offered finally. "One such as her can likely manage anywhere, as long as they have purpose. However…" She hesitated, not wanting to say anymore.

"It's like when Rachnera moved in," Caboose concluded. "She rubs some of the girls the wrong way, so it's going to take time for everyone to adjust. But once we're all used to her, everything's going to be okay. Right?"

Kii blinked in surprise. She knew Caboose had the strength of a mighty oak within him - or a whole forest of oak, for that matter - but had not realized he could be so perceptive, or wise. "Yes," she replied firmly. "I...admit I may take longer to adjust than the others. I am of Life, she is of Death…"

"And I'm a soldier, which means I am balanced between life and death always," Caboose offered warmly. "At least, that's what Carolina and Wash says it means to be a soldier. Does that mean I'm the bridge to you two getting along?"

Kii managed a smile. "Perhaps it does. I shall not let my instinctive reaction to her color my perception of her personally...as long as she doesn't enter the forest."

"Be sure to let her know," Caboose offered warmly as he approached the Blue Base. As he entered, he heard a commotion. "Kii, maybe you should take the plants up and finish transplanting. I think I'm needed."

Nodding, Kii made her way up to the forest while Caboose made his way to the commotion. He found Rachnera wearing a professional looking white button down blouse and black skirt, along with the others who lived their full time standing around looking somewhat distressed. Across from the group was a young girl dressed in gothic lolita fashion. "Do we have a guest?" he asked curiously.

"Papa!" Suu called out in upset. She pointed towards the strange girl. "She wants to take Rach-nee away!"

Caboose blinked as three 'immediate response reactions' in his head clashed, blocking his ability to make an instantaneous decision as he could sometimes since arriving on New Japan. First, Suu was upset, which made him want to instantly respond with rage. Second, someone was trying to take one of his girls away, which fed the rage. Third, however, the target of the rage was a young girl, which in his mind did not seem a valid target. Added to that, Rachnera's completely relaxed pose cooled his rage on her behalf, leaving him uncertain. "Hi, I'm Caboose," he offered to the girl. "Who are you?"

"I'm Kunanzuki Ren," the girl introduced herself, her voice very intense. "I was part of Rachnera's original host family-"

"So you're one of the ones who sold her to the con man who took advantage of her?" Caboose interrupted incisively, his voice hardening.

Ren flinched back, obviously intimidated by the surprising harshness. "I-It was my fault that happened," Ren spoke up defensively. "I got too close to Rachnera and wound up scratched...and my parents thought that meant we couldn't live together. When that agent showed up-"

"Why are you here?" Caboose demanded calmly.

Ren blinked, caught off guard by the continued interruptions. "...I am a stronger person now," she continued, "ready to deal with the hurdles of living with an extraspecies. We will not make the same mistakes, and want to try again hosting Rachnera-"

"Did you ask her if she wants to try again?" Caboose asked, his voice suddenly dark and angry.

"E-eh?" Ren gasped in confusion.

"Did. You. Ask. Her?" Caboose enunciated clearly. "And I'm the dumb one. Did you ask her if she wanted to try living with your family again? Or did you just send a letter to the Agency saying you wanted your rights back and show up here when they set up a meeting, leaving Rachnera thinking she didn't have a choice just like always when she's being shuttled back and forth?"

"I...I…" Ren began worriedly, now shrinking back from Caboose. "But...she signed-"

"I didn't think so," Caboose interrupted darkly, slowly walking towards her. "You come in here talking about the 'trials' of living with an extraspecies, like she's some training session to make you a better person...get out of my Base! If you or your family ever cross my borders again, all automated units have a Kill On Sight order. If you approach Rachnera without her explicit permission, you will regret it. I've fought soulless killers who think it fun to play games with an entire planet for profit, and governments that play games with souls...but it's your attitude that makes me sick!"

Unable to handle the intensity, Ren turned and fled with a wail of, "I'm sorry!"

"Ren, your clothes!" Mero called out, holding up what looked like a school uniform. "My clothes!"

[Correcting,] Mero's Freckle announced as the uniform was teleported onto Ren's body, the gothic lolita outfit ending up in Mero's hands.

"They can do that?" Miia gasped in shock.

"Are you okay, Rachnera?" Caboose asked her softly, walking up to her.

Without warning, Rachnera pulled Caboose off his feet into a tight embrace. "Where have you been all my life?" she whispered throatily. She then put a finger to his helmet's speech grille. "Don't answer that. Just shut up and kiss me." She then pushed his helmet up enough to expose her lips before lunging in to lock lips with him in a kiss he happily returned.

"Hey!" Miia snarled out angrily. "How dare you kiss my Darling before me!"

"Well it looks like I walked in at just the right moment," Agent Smith called out as she entered the room, Polt and the girls of MON at her side.

"Oh, Kuku!" Caboose greeted as the kiss broke and his helmet slipped back down, Rachnera staggering back as though dazed. Polt gave her a knowing look before Caboose spoke up again. "What brings you here?"

"Well, I've managed to complete some paperwork at Doppel's request," Smith replied readily, "and I need to tell you all about the result." Taking out some documents, she cleared her throat. "While upgrading all your Exchange IDs to Interspecies VISAs isn't something I can do, applying the 'marriage clause' to the Exchange IDs so that you won't get in trouble if you engage in...intimate behavior...with Caboose can be done...for most of you."

"It can?" Miia gasped out excitedly.

"Only most?" Rachnera inquired.

"Yes, for those of you who filled out your exchange paperwork as a self-representative," Smith continued. "Tio, Manako, Doppel, Rachnera, Kii, and Lala all fall under this category...though Lala as yet has not shown any interest in this, though I'll keep her paperwork on hand just in case she changes her mind."

"Why aren't I on the list?" Miia demanded in shock. "I was here first!"

"Because you, Papi, Cerea, and Mero all had your paperwork filled out by your families," Smith explained calmly. "As such, in order to apply this to your situations, I will need the approval of your parents or guardians." She sighed as she noticed the sudden looks of absolute dread on Miia, Papi, and Cerea's faces, and the look of worry on Mero's. "Which means if you want to be officially listed as 'engaged' to Caboose and thus not have intimacy restrictions...he needs to meet your mothers. Miia, Papi, Cerea, yours have already confirmed they will be coming to visit."

"Yay!" Caboose called out happily. "More family!"

Polt shook her head ruefully. "I'm glad I'm not in that boat…" she murmured in relief.

"Actually, you are," Smith corrected. "As part of the new arrangement being applied, those Extraspecies who aren't part of such an engagement agreement aren't allowed to involve themselves in that way with those who are for fear of causing an inter-tribe incident, and by the traditions of your tribe you will need the approval of your parents and higher authority for an engagement to Caboose to be recognized...so your family is coming, too."

Polt's ears went flat against her skull. "...if anyone needs me, I'll be building myself a doghouse to hide in…"