Disclaimer: I do not own any Klonoa characters… The others are mine, though.

Chapter 5: Adapting

Nikki stared at the door down the hall from across the room. The two boys were still arguing on whether Nikki was trustworthy or not. "Shh!" She suddenly snapped at them. They silenced, staring at her in surprise, as if having forgotten that she was there.

Reluctantly, Nikki got up and walked to her door. She stood by it for a moment until the doorbell rang again. Slowly, she undid the lock on the doorknob but kept an extra chain lock higher up locked. She opened the door a crack and looked through. The sight almost made her groan out aloud.

"Hey, Nick, what's up?" asked a young man probably about her age. Nikki put a hand to her head exasperatingly. Of all times… why him? "Chris, please… not now… I'm—"

"Busy. I know, I know… But, well, I was just wondering if maybe, you know, you could find room somewhere to go out somewhere, or something," Chris replied hopefully. "Chris, I already told you. I'm… I can't fit in any kind of… relationship right now. With work, and my dad, and…" Nikki's voice trailed off with a quiet sigh.

There was no hiding Chris' disappointment. "Right, of course… So it's… for now? Maybe someday…" Nikki frowned. "I just—I just don't know, okay? It's… Now's a very stressful time for me."

"Maybe I can help?"

"No!"

Chris blinked at Nikki's sudden yell. Nikki mentally hit herself over the head. "I mean… I think it's better if I did this alone—" She was cut off by the sound of something falling somewhere behind her. It sounded like a pan on her tiled kitchen floor. It was followed by a quiet, incomprehensible yell. "Is… Is someone else in there?" Chris asked slowly.

"What? Of course not! Why would someone be here?" Nikki replied quickly, smiling nervously. "Well, it'd explain why you're peaking through the door as if I were some stranger," Chris replied. Nikki had no response for that. She peaked over her shoulder quickly as she heard footsteps behind her.

"What's this do?" She heard Guntz asked from the living room. "Guntz, don't touch Nikki's stuff," Klonoa whispered. With a faint beep, the TV suddenly turned on. The two made a quick yell of surprise.

"All right, now I know someone's in there," Chris said, opening the door as far as the chain lock would let it and looking through. "No, Chris! No one's here!" Nikki quickly defended, trying to hold the door back. Chris stopped pushing and lowered his voice. "Why are you lying to me? Is there someone is there I shouldn't meet? Is that why you keep rejecting me?"

Now Nikki felt bad at how hurt Chris' voice sounded. "No, it's nothing like that… And I'm not 'rejecting' you, I'm just…" Nikki looked down. "Then why can't you tell me who's in there?" Chris asked. "Because… you wouldn't believe me," Nikki hesitated slowly.

"C'mon, I'll believe anything as long as it's not what I'm believing right now," Chris insisted. Nikki gave him a long took as he smiled, trying to prove that he was trustworthy. Finally, she sighed in defeat and undid the chain lock. "All right—but!" Nikki stopped Chris as he began walking through the door.

"You have to promise that you won't tell anyone. Not a soul! Got it?"

"Aw, c'mon, Nick. I've always been a good promise-keeper, ever since Junior High."

"Yeah, right! And then you'd come over to me after I despairingly asked you why everyone knew my secret and you'd say, 'I keep promises with conditions.'"

"What's the point of keeping a secret if no one knows it?"

"That's the whole point!"

Chris smiled sheepishly, scratching his head through his black hair as Nikki caught her breath. "Well…" he began. "Promise?" Nikki asked. "I promise," Chris replied. "No conditions?" Nikki asked suspiciously. "No conditions," Chris swore. Nikki stuck out her ring finger and Chris sighed.

"Aw, c'mon. Not the finger thing."

"Do it."

Reluctantly, Chris held out his hand and locked his ring finger with Nikki's. Together, with different tones of voice, they chanted: "Promises are kept together, never will they break forever."

"That's such a kid thing," Chris moaned. "I never make promises with anyone who doesn't know it," Nikki replied simply. She opened the door all the way and walked to the end of the hall. "Don't scream," she said unenthusiastically, stopping to let him pass.

Chris made a phfft sound with his lips, as of not believing her. He froze when he saw the two odd creatures in the living room. Nikki was a little surprised, too. The two were fighting over the remote like little kids.

"Give it to me, Guntz, you're gonna make it worse!"

"No! This thing turned it on, so it'll turn it off."

Nikki walked past Chris, who just stood there gaping. Guntz was holding the remote high, out of Klonoa's reach. Nikki easily snatched it away. The two silenced and looked at her. With a simple click, the TV was off. She then dropped the remote on the soft couch.

It was then that the boys noticed Chris. Guntz started growling again, but Klonoa just stared curiously. Nikki back up slightly, partly to get near Chris again, partly to get away from Guntz' dangerous fangs. "This is my friend, Chris," she introduced. Chris looked at her, as if the simple title "friend" wasn't enough.

Guntz stopped growling and sat back on the couch, as if bored. Klonoa eventually walked over to them. There was a resisted limp in every unsteady step he took and Guntz seemed to notice this. Upon reaching them, Klonoa smiled brightly.

"Hi, I'm Klonoa," he greeted, reaching out a hand. "Um… hi," Chris hesitated, shaking the hand slowly. Nikki chuckled slightly at how cute Klonoa looked, as if he were her own. He looked over his shoulder. "And that's Guntz."

Guntz looked toward the TV, as if its black screen was more interesting than what was happening behind him. Klonoa turned and limped back to the couch. Chris gave Nikki a baffled look, speechless. "I'll explain in the kitchen. I should start making something," Nikki responded.

Klonoa and Guntz gave her a glance at that and it was enough to tell her that they were hungry. Chris followed her as she left the room.

"She really is a nice person," Klonoa was saying as clinking dishes began sounding from the kitchen. Guntz absently looked at the TV remote in his hand. "Whatever," he mumbled, sounding bored. "You should be nicer to her. She's helping us, you know," Klonoa said. Guntz ignored him and began clicking a few buttons.

"You're gonna break it," Klonoa warned. "Shut up," Guntz replied distractedly. "If you break it, Nikki will get mad and stop helping us." Klonoa got closer and tried to take the remote away from him. Guntz held it up. "Cut it out," he said, annoyed, pushing Klonoa back roughly.

Klonoa lost his balance and fell on his left side. Guntz didn't take any notice until Klonoa didn't get back up after a while. "Hey… you okay?" he asked slowly, a hint of concern in his voice. Nikki then walked into the room, apparently about to ask the two a question before noticing Klonoa. "You guys—oh, not again!" She rushed to his side and helped him sit up.

Klonoa was wincing, a hand to his left side. Nikki lifted his shirt, revealing the reddening bandages. "At this rate it'll never heal," she sighed. Guntz stared, not saying a word. Nikki sighed silently. Those two really were like brothers; playing rough until someone got hurt. At least, that's what she predicted they had been doing.

Chris, probably wondering where Nikki was, walked into the room. "Chris, get me some bandages," Nikki immediately ordered. Chris blinked in surprise, but obeyed. "You're running out," he said once he returned and handed over the roll of bandages. "Just great…" Nikki grumbled sarcastically.

When she finished dressing the wound and the pain in Klonoa's side seemed to die down a bit, Guntz finally asked, "What happened?" Nikki was about to answer, but Klonoa did first. "I got hit by a… 'car,'" he said. "What the hell's a 'car?'" Guntz asked. Nikki stood up as the two were talking. No hard feelings between them, apparently, she thought.

She looked at Chris, who was still staring at the two creatures with a baffled gaze. "Anyway, as I was saying…" Nikki began, "these guys apparently came from a different planet… I still need to ask them about the details, though… and if they're more of them." Chris blinked. "More weird creatures like them? You'd think… Oh! You know what… I remember something weird on the news yesterday," he said thoughtfully.

Nikki stared at him expectantly. "There was this big armadillo-looking thing—" He was interrupted. "I remember that now!" Nikki yelled so suddenly the Guntz and Klonoa looked at her. She spun around to face them. "Do you guys know an armadillo?" The two didn't seem to understand, blinking. "Um… big, round, orange… pangolin," Nikki tried to explain.

"Pango!" Klonoa suddenly said. "You know it?" Nikki asked. "Pango's not an 'it.' Can't you tell a guy from a girl?" Guntz sounded quite insulting. Well I'm sure it's easy for you guys! Nikki growled silently. "Where is he?" Klonoa asked, standing up slowly. Nikki looked at Chris, who shrugged helplessly.

"Well… I don't know. But, he's a big guy, right? I'm sure he'll show up eventually," she replied finally, trying to choose her words more carefully this time. "Good. Then we can figure out what the hell is going on," Guntz said, leaning back on the couch. Klonoa stared down at the large ring he was always holding thoughtfully.

"Oh, yeah, Nikki," Chris suddenly began just as Nikki was starting to wonder how she'd fit a giant pangolin in her little apartment. "I actually came here about this." He took out a pamphlet. "The circus is in town and I was wondering if you wanted to come." Nikki took the small booklet. "I already told you, I have no time. Especially…" her voice trailed off as she read the cover. Her eyes suddenly widened.

"That's it! Chris, you're a genius!" Guntz and Klonoa stared as she suddenly hugged Chris. Chris scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly. "Well, that's nice to know… but why?" Nikki let go of him and took a step back. "It says 'new and unusual attractions.' Maybe—"

"Pango wouldn't go that low, even for cover," Guntz interrupted. "What's a circus?" Klonoa asked, but no one answered him. "Still, it's our only lead. Patrolling the city isn't going to help, especially since those guys are looking for you," Nikki said. "About that," Guntz began with hinted annoyance.

"What the hell's up with your people and their bullets that make you sleep?" He asked. "They're not my people. We're all different," Nikki replied. "I don't care! I didn't do shit, and they go hunting me down like I'm a wild animal," Guntz growled. To them you are a wild animal, Nikki replied silently.

"Well… I'm only one person in a big city. I don't know why a lot of things happen here," she said. "Then maybe you should—" Klonoa interrupted quickly. "Leave her alone, Guntz! We're lucky she's even helping us at all. Don't make her change her mind." Nikki frowned. "I'm not going to change my mind," she said sternly. Guntz didn't reply, looking slightly surprised. He only sighed and leaned back on the couch again.

Klonoa sat down next to the couch, as if tired. His wound probably still hurt. Guntz twitched an ear and reached a hand into his jacket. He plopped a blue object onto Klonoa's head. "Found your hat," he said in a normal tone, as if it wasn't of any importance.

"Oh! Thanks. I guess I lost it after that big vehicle hit me. It's kinda wet, though," Klonoa said, smiling as he felt the hat on his head. He looked even more like a child with it on, Nikki thought. "Don't complain, or I'll take it back," Guntz warned. Klonoa held the hat protectively on his head. He then twitched an ear and looked up.

"What's that smell?" he asked. Before Nikki could even think about it, a loud, repetitive beeping sounded. Both Klonoa and Guntz jumped in surprise. Nikki did nothing for a moment, trying to remember what that sound meant. "It's the smoke alarm," Chris said simply.

"Smoke—The food! It's burning!" Nikki yelled. She ran into the kitchen, where the smoking that was slowly creeping into the living room was coming from. A few seconds later, the beeping stopped. "Sorry, guys," Nikki began gloomily, wiping her dirty hands together. "The food's going to have to take a bit longer."

Guntz and Klonoa only stared at her wide-eyed, their fur on end. Nikki made a small smile. It was like having pets that weren't used to being in a house.

But they're not pets, Nikki, so stop acting like they are.

Meh. This one took a while 'cause of me spending all my free time writing First Love. Now I'm behind and chapter 6 might not be uploaded for a while, either. Oh well. Stay tuned for it anyway!