Natsumi!?

He was fairly certain his heart stopped for a second there, but his mind ran like a bullet train. What the hell was she doing outside his tent?! Did she hear him?! God forbid, see him!?

He forced his bothersome crying to cease, almost immediately sitting up and rubbing vigorously at his eyes to dry them. Of all people... She was the very LAST person on that long list he'd want seeing him so… Pathetic!

He noted the mess of flower on the floor, but had only partially committed to getting rid of it. Carelessly pushing the petals away with his foot, when he walked shaking a little, to go confront the woman waiting outside for him. God, he didn't want to talk to her. He didn't want to even see her at all for the first time in his life ever!

But, here she was!

WHY?!

And why now, of all times!?

He creeped up to the flap, he was scared to see her. How much did she figure out just from being outside his tent, for god knows how long? Was she really that concerned for him? He would've been tremendously flattered, if he wasn't so petrified of even facing her. He was so afraid to even use his voice.

He knew for a fact that'd it come out so raspy and ruined, from all the choking on flower garbage he'd been doing for about 3 days now! But, what other option does he have? Pretend to still be asleep, and hope she goes away?

Yeah, like that'll happen...

Natsumi was a stubborn creature, much like him. And would probably just be more incentivised to keep pushing until he did respond. Or just grow impatient and barge in… And see the blood and petals that sprinkled the floor...

He didn't want to chance how polite she was feeling toward Alien invaders tonight… 'Yeah, might as well get this over with…'

He reluctantly... Slowly, lifted the flap to greet the Pekoponian female. She was sitting on her knees, eye-level with the Corporal, which caught him off guard. She winced at his sickly appearance. He had definitely gotten worse.

And in such a short amount of time too…

His eyes were puffy and blood-shot, probably from the lack of sleep, non-stop coughing… And crying. His normally blood red skin had even degraded to be a tinge gray, as if he were dehydrated. Giroro even appeared to have lost a bit of weight too. 'How long has it been since he's eaten? Does he even know?'

Giroro noted her horrified expression and shrunk a bit. He figured that he did look a little worse for wear. Enough to a point where even Natsumi would be alarmed at his appearance, to a point where she hasn't even said anything yet!

"N-Natsumi…?"

Her expression only grew worse at his voice. It was so croaky and ragged, almost unrecognizable to the deep, mature voice she had grown familiar with. She wanted to say something, but just seeing and hearing him... Her friend, like this… It was just painful!

"Giroro… What's wrong with you…?" She finally muttered after what felt like hours, just staring at this husk of what should be her partner. Sounding almost heartbroken.

Her voice was trembling too. She didn't like it... It made her feel weak, but she couldn't help it! This was such a far cry from the Giroro she had grown to… To like! He looked so weak and rundown, and he sounded like he was in agony.

He didn't know what to do, all Giroro could do was just stare back at her. His mind screaming, demanding that he banish himself back into the confines of the tent, all the while begging her to just go away!

But, his body just stood rooted there, frozen in place. Forcing him to take part in this painful confrontation, afraid.

They were both just so afraid of what to say to the other.

"I...I…" Giroro couldn't even make out a sentence. What could he say? How could he fib his way out of this one? Can he? He tried clearing his throat to speak more clearly. It was a mistake. It burned badly, and probably just made it worse…

"Go away… Please." He managed to force out his strangled plea.

He knew he couldn't lie and say he was fine, they both could see he was quite clearly not. But, he just wanted her gone at this point. He didn't want to explain any of this, he didn't want her to know anything. Just to leave him to his misery, it was his own fault anyway! He didn't want her to feel at all responsible for his own spinelessness...

She looked shocked at his weak request. And Giroro briefly thought for a second, that she was actually going to listen and do what he asked. Of course, that was stupid of him to even consider the possibility. As her eyes began to narrow.

And her shock switched to anger.

"That wasn't a question Giroro…" She growled, her tone low and warning. He swore he felt a shiver run up his spine. "...That was an order." She finished, her tone low with quiet rage. She wanted answers, and she was going to get them tonight.

Just the look in her eyes and her venomous tone alone, sent the Soldier's heart racing. He wasn't entirely sure if it was out of fear, or arousal. Because even in his sorry state, he still couldn't help finding Natsumi's violent traits even a little attractive. God, he loved her.

God, he's so dead.

He stammered a bit, briefly snapping back to his senses. Trying to find any valid excuse. ANYTHING at this point! "I… Told you, Natsumi… It's just an annoying cough. Nothing mo-"

He didn't even get to finish, but it wasn't the petty cough that had interrupted Giroro this time. Oh no. He was swiftly yanked by the belt hard, and pulled considerably close to the fiery red-head. Promptly setting his face ablaze. Only praying she doesn't notice him starting to gain some color back...

"Don't you dare lie to me again! I'm not as stupid as you like to think I am!" She spat, raising her voice just to emphasize that she wasn't leaving without the truth, and nothing but the truth! Just angry that he was so intent on keeping whatever was wrong a secret. It was so obvious he was hiding something! Yet here he was, still being stubborn!

Why was he beings o reckless?! So Adamant! So secretive… What was he so afraid of?

"'An annoying cough, nothing more'? No! No it's not! Look at you! Listen to yourself! And then tell me with a straight face, that any of this is normal." She chastised him, like a mother disciplining her child. Giroro couldn't find his destroyed voice to respond. It didn't help that he was still so close to her face, that he could practically smell her breath. Still minty fresh from when she brushed her teeth for bed.

So he admittedly had to fight with himself to not pass out.

"Well!?" She shouted. Apparently not caring if she woke up the whole house anymore. Giroro's mind buzzed with a million thoughts. All the while trying to focus on one, without her close proximity distracting him.

One part screaming at him to just spill it, and tell the truth! Confess to her and just have his answer already! He was dying, so what did he have to lose? Another saying to just let this pitiful circus show continue, that ignorance is bliss! And that even if she said 'I don't', that he'd still refuse to get that blasted treatment!

No matter how much it meant to this mission, or if it was just stupid and pointless to die thinking or feeling unloved. He still couldn't imagine doing it. He was too stubborn, too pathetic to give up on it.

He choked, gagging in her face. And quickly, she let go of him. Caught off guard at another session of that ugly coughing. However, this one was… Different… It wasn't so much coughing, and more puking. It was lumpy coming up, and it just felt… excruciating. Like his throat was tearing into bits with every exacerbated heave.

Giroro couldn't take it anymore! He fell to his hands and knees, retching up whatever had clogged his lungs. And Natsumi could only watch… Horrified.

Finally, he spilled out large pink masses, that fell blood-soaked onto the grass. Giroro immediately gulped down large amounts of dearly missed oxygen. Tears running down his face, likely due to just the sharp pain of it all. Spit oozing from the Corporal's mouth as he panted, dripping down from his chin.

She could even see the blood following the wet trail.

Natsumi's eyes caught the bright pink and looked down to see what looked like torn, reddish-pink flowers. Flowers that she swore she recognized, but couldn't place where. Then it hit her.

Was this another weird space virus that she just hadn't heard about yet? She looked back at Giroro, who was still heaving.

Giroro's been throwing up flowers this entire time?

Whatever this weird cough was, it was clearly hurting him. Badly. And the blood-tattered plants had Natsumi guessing it could've been… Deadly.

Just the thought made her heart sink. Was this slowly killing him? Is it gonna kill him? She couldn't let that happen to Giroro, after all he's done for her in the past. After all they've been through together. All the time they've spent.

No. She wouldn't let that happen to him, not for a second. She cared about him too much.

She scooted closer to him, to reach him better. So she could place her hand firmly, but comforting, on his shoulder. It got his attention, as Natsumi noted him jumping slightly at her touch. Before slowly and meekly raising his head up to see her tense features.

Whether she was more worried or angry, was difficult to gauge for Giroro.

"I don't care what reasons you have for hiding this from me for days. Or why you haven't been treated yet. And I know you haven't been treated yet, because I sure as hell have never seen you leave your tent once at all during the past few days." She quietly and methodically scolded. Once more earning another shiver from the sick Keronian.

"But, I've said before that 'there's a difference between tough and cool, and recklessly stupid'. And you have just passed that line. And I'm taking you to the stupid frog, so he can have Pururu or Kururu make you an antidote for whatever this is!" She finished, and firmly grabbed Giroro by the arm to pull him up.

But, he fought with her. Shaking and just refusing to budge from his post, this of course was no real surprise to Natsumi. Only that he still had some notable strength still left in him. "C'mon you stubborn mule! I am not having you die on me!" She yelled, continuing to try and yank him from the ground.

What did surprise her, is that Giroro started to plead with her.

"N-No! Please Natsumi! I'm not getting that surgery! You can't make me! Just please!" It was a genuine fear that plagued his damaged cords. To a point where it even made Natsumi freeze in position, and her vice grip loosen.

"W-what?" She questioned. It was very unlike him to… Beg like that. And with so much blind horror and phobic fear, it honestly startled her! And Giroro seized this opportunity to free himself from her hold and backing away from her. Looking almost as shocked by his roaring pleads as she was.

She looked at him, and Giroro's face quickly became unreadable. Facing away from her, electing instead to look down at the grass. Just to avoid her piercing gaze. The woman's fear grew slightly as she continued to stare the Soldier down, hoping to get a repeat of his… Unexpected bout of fright.

"What did you say…? Giroro…?" Natsumi kept lightly probing the small Alien, as he continued to refuse acknowledging she was even there at all. His words repeated non-stop in her mind, and his refusal to answer her now was driving her crazy.

"What surgery?" She asked, trying to regain being austere with him. But, her shaky voice was making it difficult. Giroro stiffened, wincing at the word. Surgery. As if it burned his ears just hearing it spoken.

He said too much, and he knew there was no way in hell she was leaving now. He should've known that as soon as she came to check on him in the middle of the night, purely out of concern. But, part of him didn't want to believe it. Almost couldn't believe it...

He thought for a moment. He's gonna die anyway so...

He sighed heavily. 'Might as well…' He thought bitterly, mentally prepping himself for the oncoming onslaught of even more questions his answer would inevitably bring, as he tried to word it.

"... It's called Hanahaki." He said with a grumble. Natsumi was only a little startled at his submission, but her face twisted into that of confusion at the disease's name. Absentmindedly repeating it, just to make sure she heard him right. Giroro nodded slightly, looking up at her in the corner of his eye.

"It's an extremely rare galactic disease, that usually occurs when-" His confidence died, catching in his throat, and he mentally cursed himself for it. But, Giroro's thoughts quickly became clouded as he spoke. Fixated with doubtful thoughts and concerning possibilities about her reaction if he continued to describe it.

He really didn't want to talk about it. Especially the whole cause aspect! But, he couldn't talk about it without bringing up the concept of love! But, he knew he had too… She'll find out one way or another… So he resumed, putting on false confidence as he fumbled with his voice.

"...I-it occurs when a victim believes that their… T-their crush… Will never... recuperate their feelings…" Giroro finished, mumbling clumsily here and there. Still trying to hide as much info as possible while simultaneously sharing it.

Natsumi stared at the Soldier, dumbstruck. It made his hesitancy all the more stark, just peeking at her surprised reaction over his shoulder. It only grew worse when she finally responded after what felt like a century with:

"...You have a crush on somebody…?"

God, that's when he wished that the disease would just kill him already… This was just painful. He slapped his hand against his face to hide the feverous blushing that was literally fuming off him. And Natsumi immediately reacted.

"NYAHGG! Well y-you can't blame me for thinking that! Your just so stoic and grumpy about nearly everything! It's really a surprise h-hearing s-s-someone like you admit tha-at you've g-got a soft side you know!" She rambled loudly, without much thought into what she was saying.

Her outburst caught Giroro by surprise. And he didn't know why... But, he kinda found her embarrassment cute. He figured that maybe it was because of some kind of table turning thing after all these years of him being visibly embarrassed around her! Giroro could even see her own vicious blushing! He sorta had to fight a smile despite himself.

It made him feel a little better at least…

The Soldier rolled his eyes. "Yes, big surprise… The big and tough Corporal's got a soft side…" He said, sarcasm dripping from every word. It helped Natsumi snap out of her small babble of bashfulness and swiftly switched to glare at the sickly frog. Who could help but smirk now.

She thought for a bit, her glare faltering slightly thinking about his information now that she had it. She huffed a bit as she spoke. "So, who's the lucky girl huh?" She retaliated. Though she was legitimately curious...

'Ah crap.' Giroro froze, reminded of the situation he was in currently. He knew she would ask that… But, he really didn't want to answer… So he'd lie! "Just some chick I guess…" He mumbled half-heartedly. Natsumi raised an eyebrow at him, a hint of doubt fading into her features as she tried to persist being tough with him.

"Some chick to do this to you." She replied darkly. He still wasn't being fully honest with her, still trying to hide any bit of info he could slip past her! It only further aggravated her. "Well, whoever this chick is; she isn't worth possibly dying over!"

A sharp pang went through the Corporal's chest when he heard those words. 'I'm not worth it.' She may not have been aware what those words meant to him, but it still hurt to hear Natsumi say such a thing.

Giroro chose his next words, VERY carefully… "She is to me." He uttered slowly, quietly. Looking her dead in the face, an enraged glare staring her down intensely. Natsumi felt her own shiver at his serious, albeit ragged tone. He elected to continue, before she could say anything else.

"Hanahaki can be cured in two ways. Either the patient's… Crush can show that they return the feelings, or the patient gets surgery to remove the plant along with the feelings altogether. And I refuse to do that." Giroro finished. His expression and tone, unchanging.

While she faltered slightly, Natsumi quickly regained composure and glared back at him with equal intensity. Wondering about how this mystery girl could possibly affect someone like Giroro, and in such a weird way!

She felt a sliver of jealousy forming in her stomach. But, quickly shoved it away before it could fully form. 'This is not the time for that!' She mentally scolded. Reminding herself of the current situation at hand. And that given the circumstances, it was the LAST thing Giroro needed!

What he needed now was support. "Then why don't you tell her then?" Natsumi asked simply. The Soldier stiffened at the mere suggestion, his eyes widening slightly. As if she just asked Giroro to do something unthinkable, like toss his belt out or something.

She glared at him, waiting impatiently for his response. She was rewarded with a quiet mumble from Giroro. "I… She clearly doesn't feel the same way… What would be the point other than make it worse?"

God, he felt sad, and just plain weak. Just standing in front of her with such a pathetic voice, as he spoke about his stupid feelings and insecurities with her. Completely shattering what he preferred to uphold as being a tough and dependable Soldier.

With anyone else it would've been embarrassing. But, with Natsumi? It was just painful. His face heated up uncomfortably. He had half a mind to just bolt it out of the scene entirely, not really caring where he would end up in the world. Just as long as it was as far away from her as possible!

Then her voice broke through his clouded mind. "Then it's clearly not worth it, Giroro! If you're so sure that she doesn't like you, then she's not worth it!" She was fuming. How dare this girl do this to him! He was dying, yet he refuses to get any help! All because he didn't want to lose feelings for this dumb broad!

God, he's a stubborn idiot!

And again! That sharp pang came back! How dare she say that! How dare she repeat that foul claim! He snapped, and his mouth moved before his mind could.

"HOW DARE YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT!?" Giroro screamed. And almost immediately, he regretted it. And not just because he admitted his feelings to her, loud enough that he might as well have broadcasted it live to the whole planet! But, it also had stung his burning throat like a bitch.

He only realized his mistake when Natsumi's face fell in utter shock, and his words echoed across the yard, happy to tauntingly repeat it back to him, over and over again.

'OH FUCK!' Was all he could think!

And Natsumi just stood there, dumbstruck. Staring at him, visibly taken aback at his newest outburst and its context. "You… I'mWHAT!?" She yelled back.

'Oh, dear God… Just let this disease kill me already, please…' But, it didn't. And he was having trouble figuring out if that was a good thing.