(Well, that's a bit of a shocker isn't it? Now that Ryu and Kirby are separated from Petro, Rena, and Miko [?], a chapter will be focused on either Ryu and Kirby, or Petro and Rena. I'm going to start with Petro and Rena. Then the next chapter will focus on Ryu and Kirby. Then Petro and Rena in the next. See the pattern? Well, anyways, this will keep going until they reunite again. Chapters focusing on Rena and Petro will probably won't get through the story with Kirby, and this is a Kirby story. I dunno, improvise for once.)

Chapter 8: A Bitter Loss . . . But All Is Not Lost!

"RYU!"
Rena knelt down, hid her face and broke into tears after the also shocked Petro released her. Petro walked slowly past Rena and approached the empty space that once had his friend and his little friend. The enemy of his enemy was his friend. His state of shock caused him to drop his staff to the grassy plains, he was about to cry too . . .
Miko witnessed the whole thing but somehow didn't feel as empathetic as Rena and Petro. He looked both ways to see if anybody was watching him, and slowly ran away from the place where they fought.
"I can't be seen like this!" Miko thought.
Petro heard the footsteps of Miko and quickly looked at Miko's direction, he was trying to sneak away! "What are you doing?"
Miko stopped. "Huh? Oh me? Uh . . . "
"Ryu's your best friend, right? Shouldn't you be remorseful?"
"Oh, yeah. Of course!"
Petro raised an eyebrow. Something's fishy about him . . . Rena finally took her hands away from her face. Her face was drenched as the result of her sorrow. She sees Petro looking at Ryu's friend she didn't know. She took her integrity with her when she stood up and stared at Miko.
"Damn! That chick just doesn't get any better than this!" Miko thought to himself.
She went closer to him while holding her hands together. Miko felt nervous now. Other than Sakura, Rena is just a sparkplug!
"Who are you?" Rena began.
"!?" Miko didn't say a word.
Petro walked and approached Rena's side. "Yeah, Miko, who are you?"
"Well, I-" Miko started to say.
"Are you hiding something?" Petro asked.
"What? Don't be silly! Um..." Miko felt the adrenaline rushing through his body. He can't be caught like this! So he turned around and made the run for it. Petro lifted his staff up and chanted, "Viho Rcesb!" His staff's tip caught on fire and it grew larger and larger. Petro pointed at Miko and the flames started to rush toward him! When it reached him, the flames hit the ground instead, Miko sighed of relief. Petro then waved his hands horizontally and a huge wall of flame surrounded Miko. He was trapped. Rena approached Miko again, this time showing anger.
"Who are you!?"
"Errrr . . . "
Miko started to groan. His fists started to pulse out of control. It felt as if though it affected him like a disease. Then his chest started to grow abnormally. Disgusted, Rena hid her face and closed her eyes. Miko was laying down face up and shrieking as if he were fatally shot. This chest starts to grow abnormally bigger and bigger . . .
Petro almost wanted to vomit.
Then a huge explosion engulfed Miko and the explosion caused Rena to fall backwards. She collided with Petro and he lost balance and they fell at the same time. Gaining consciousness, Petro sat up and saw what was left of Miko. Nothing. Miko was just another bite in the dust. Petro also saw something else, it was something he had imagined for a long time. Rena was on him, knocked-out. Her face was in a sleeping phase. She was tired, she was hurt, she is hot! Petro wanted to do what he so desired do to her, french kiss her. But he doesn't want her to think it was him that kissed her. What can he do!? He's alone, with a girl, in a large plain field that used to have Gormatron corpses all around after they defeated them. What harm is it causing? Just a kiss and nobody will notice. Rena IS unconscious. But Rena likes Ryu. How can he show love to Rena if all she loves is . . .
"Ryu!"
Petro thought of a wonderful idea. He put the unconscious Rena down to the grassy earth and summoned his staff. He closed his eyes and jammed his staff to the grass, causing his armband to glow. He waved his hands apart and chanted a phase. Winds started to build and it grew stronger and stronger. It was so strong that it formed into a small tornado a tall as Petro. The tornado engulfed Petro and he can feel as if he's falling. After a while it stopped.
Petro opened his eyes and everything is pitch black. Then a flash appeared in the middle of the dark and the flash grew to create a crescent moon. Something came out of the shape. It was a beautiful woman with purple drapes. Her presence brings a purple color in the atmosphere. The woman doesn't appear to be happy, "You left me without a trace, Petro."
"Wha-" Petro suddenly realized why and quickly stammered. "Oh uh, I'm sorry, something broke my concentration."
"Oh," The woman answered. "nature called."
"Ohanami-sama! You don't understand! It was a -"
"I don't want any of your excuses. I just want to know why are you here."
Petro bowed so low that he formed a 120-degree angle. "I ask for your forgiveness!" (I just realized something about Ohanami. Her name does NOT mean "Moon watching." It actually means "Flower watching." "hana" means flower. Darn! Feel like changing her name, but hey, it's her name. Probably won't make her happy if I did . . . )
Ohanami stood there, feeling sorry for Petro's humbleness. She walked toward him and softly patted his head. Petro looked up and saw Ohanami showing a friendly nod. Petro quickly got out of the bow.
"What is it that you want, Petro?"
"Oh, ok, uh . . . " How is Petro going to explain this?
"...or is something troubling you?
"Well, it's just . . . there is this girl, and I really like her. But she really likes my friend and I've really done some stupid things in front of her. So I . . . "
Petro went closer to Ohanami.
"...would you mind if you can transfigure me to my friend?"
Ohanami just smiled and stood at Petro for a moment. Petro started to sweat, he didn't like that look! Would it mean a "yes," or a "NO!"? Instead Ohanami disappeared and everything turned pitch black again.
"Ohanami-sama! Ohanami-sama!"
Petro could feel winds building up and he feels as if he's falling again. Then after a moment, he opened his eyes in reality again.
He looked around and everything didn't change. Rena was still there, they were still in the plains, no one in a million miles could see them . . .
Petro reached for his staff, but when he gripped it, he felt something sharp and a red line of blood appeared on his hand! He realized that he wasn't holding his staff anymore . . .
He was holding a sword.
Petro couldn't believe it. He had two red armbands on his wrists. He wasn't wearing pants anymore. He felt something heavy on his back. His forehead had a red long piece of cloth. He has brown hair . . .
Petro was now Ryu!
He looked all over himself and started to laugh. "Thank you, Ohanami- sama! Thank you!" But it wasn't his voice, his voice was deeper and more masculine.
"Hey! I sound like Ryu!"
Petro experienced his voice.
"Shut up, Petro!"
"I don't trust you. We should depart."
"Eat this sword!"
"Patience, we're almost there . . . "
"Rena is the love of my life!"
"I'm the best of the best!"
"Muahahahahahahahahaha!"
Rena finally woke up from her trance and groaned in pain. That explosion was no memory to her. Then when she looked around, she saw someone that was holding a sword and hopping around . . .
"Ryu!"
"Huh?"
Petro looked around and saw the beautiful Rena run to him. Petro made a smirk.
"Oh I thought I lost you!" She hugged him. He could almost melt . . .
"Oh, uh, yeah!"
"How did you get out? Where's Kirby? And . . . " she looked around still in Petro's arms. "...where's that Petro?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong, Ryu?"
"Oh! Nothing! Nothing's the matter! We're alone now!"
"Yes . . . you're right . . . "
Petro could feel the suspense. His heart is beating ever so fast!
"Ryu?" She caressed Petro's shirt.
"Yes, my dove?"
"...I love you."
"Score!" Petro made a smile that infatuated Rena the first time.
"What?"
"Oh, I mean, 'Sure!"
"Oh, Ryu . . . " She wrapped her arms around Petro and kissed him in the mouth. Petro could feel her tongue rolling around his as if she were forcing it. Petro slowly closed his eyes and kissed back, playing with Rena's tongue. Petro's wish has finally come true! After about thirty seconds, their lips separated. Both Petro and Rena blushed. Rena placed her hand on Petro's face, then she said, "Petro . . . "
"Huh?"
"Petro, Petro, Petro, Petro, Petro, Petro . . .

"Wha-what's goin' on!?"
"Petro, Petro, Petro . . . " Every time Rena said his name, it sounded dimmer and dimmer and dimmer. Then it became louder and louder and LOUDER!
"PETRO!"
"AHHHH!!!!" Petro opened his eyes and found himself on the ground. He sees Rena in front of him, trying to shove him.
"Oh you're awake, thought you were dead." She said with no emotion.
"Huh?" Petro quickly stood up and felt himself. Black hair, purple shirt, no gash on his hand. He was Petro again! But something wasn't right . . .
"Rena?"
"What?"
"I, uh . . . " Petro felt his lips. He could still taste Rena's mouth. Tasted like . . . vanilla.
"I love you!" Petro yelled.
"What!?" Rena slapped Petro hard on the back of his head. "Snap out of it!"
Petro now realized that he just experienced a dream, but Ohanami made it so that the feelings were real. Petro gave her his unconditional thanks.
He looked and smiled at Rena. Rena raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with you?"
Petro smugged, "Nuthin'."