"Oh Kululu, it's wonderful!" Aki said clasping her hands and running a few feet ahead of the Keronian. Giggling with glee she trotted back to Kululu and hooked her arm in his. "This dinner is going to be just what I needed. I'm sure of it! Thank you so much Kululu!"

Kululu laughed uncomfortably and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh course Aki, besides it's useful for us both if everyone comes to terms with their feelings."

Aki's face pursed. "And you're sure my little Natsumi's safe with Giroro? I'll kill him if he takes advantage of her."

Kululu patted her arm and pulled her after the waiter. "It's Giroro I'm more worried about. Despite his love of violence, he's easily wounded by those he cares for." With a practiced ease he pulled out her chair and waited patiently to slide it back into the table before sitting himself.

"Giroro, easily hurt? I find that hard to believe." Aki said, delicately picking up her menu and looking at Kululu over the top of it.

"Oh I assure you it's true." Kululu chuckled as he sat. "He once locked himself away for two weeks when Kiroro made fun of his lack of alcohol tolerance." He chuckled again, this time more softly and sighed. "I love them all dearly but they're all thick in the head. I've been trying to get Kiroro to understand how Tamama feels about him for years and Giroro hasn't been any better at coming to terms with his feeling for Natsumi. Hopefully this'll all sort itself out over this weekend."

Aki blushed as she watched him, realizing that his eyes sparkled as he spoke about his companions. The lights around them dimmed and the pair of them sat up with a start.

"My apologies, the chef insists on mood lighting for dinner hours." Their waiter had returned without either of them noticing. "Can I get anything for you?"

Aki stammered and Kululu laughed good naturedly, reaching across the table and grabbing the menu from her. "We'll start with a bottle of your finest red. She'll have the strawberry walnut salad, I'll have the almond pear. I believe she wanted the filet, medium rare and I will have the gaeng paa." He closed the menu with a snap and handed it over to the man who bowed and moved quickly and silently away from the table. Across the table Aki watched Kululu with half lowered eye lids, feeling a heat begin to build in her chest. The waiter returned within moments and set the wine back down on the table before disappearing again.

"I'm impressed that you remembered what I wanted. I was so flustered by all the fancy décor and just how formal this restaurant was that my mind went blank." She eyed him and smirked, watching him flush in return. With an elegant twist of her wrist she grasped the stem of her wine glass and raised it so she could look over its lip. "So tell me, what exactly were you hoping would happen when you gave Giroro and the others human bodies?

Kululu, having just taken a sip, swallowed it quickly while trying not to cough from embarrassment. "I… I just…" He swallowed hard and closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself again. "Pekoponians are more prone to given into their baser instincts. Love, rage, passion… lust." His eyes raised and he met hers, holding firm there. "I'm hoping that he wants to stay. Conquering this planet would be wonderful, but if we could conquer it without having to resort to violence. If we can get people to love us then we'll have won without having to spend precious resources here. It's why I'm helping you with your manga after all. Well," He smirked at her. "One of the reasons anyway. Keroro already loves this planet, the food, the customs, the gundams. I even think he's come to love you and your family. Leaving for him at this point would be nearly impossible, there's too much of Pekopon in him. Tamama won't ever leave the Sergeants side so that means he's staying here too. I certainly don't mind staying here, you Pekoponians are a lot easier to manipulate than Keronians and besides I don't want to have to break in a new team." He set his wine glass back down and gave a thoughtful glance to across the table.

"That just leaves Giroro and Dororo." With a self-satisfied smirk he turned and looked out the window. "Dororo… despite how the others forget him he'd follow them anywhere, but Giroro… he needs something to hold him here. And Natsumi might just be the answer to that." He turned his head and looked back at Aki. "Does it surprise you, what I am using them for?"

"Not particularly." Aki sat back in her chair as the waiter placed the salads in front of them. "It's not as though any of you have ever been particularly sneaky about what you were hoping to do here on earth, and frankly given the other possible methods of taking over the planet this one is certainly the most preferable." She gave him a quick smile before taking the first bite of her salad. "That being said-" Aki carefully covered her mouth until she was done chewing. "I'm not sure you're being honest with yourself for your reason for staying, at least partially."

Kululu blushed and looked down again, glasses gleaming in the light and obscuring his eyes. "I suppose you're right. It's not something I want to admit, not even to myself really. But part of the reason I'm pushing this plan so hard is because I'd like to get to know you better." He straightened his back and smiled slyly. "You're probably the most dangerous person on earth and that makes you fascinating to me."

"Fascinating huh?" What exactly did you want to know?" Aki felt her body flush again, her nails digging into the palms of her hands as she struggled not to giggle like a school girl.

"Everything."

. . .

Aki smiled and raised her head from the table. Dinner had flown by in a whir and after her third glass of wine things started to run together a bit. She remembered holding on to Kululu's arm as he guided her back into the waiting limousine. The feel of his breath, hot against her neck… She blushed, her hands had been all over him, that poor driver! Still, it sent a shiver of excitement down her spine and a fire that had been lost since Haru had gone adventuring around the world.

She bit her lip, she didn't think he'd mind. Not really. It wasn't like the Keronians and them were actually bio compatible.

"You may have to create a new manga just to cover the things that just happened." Kululu's voice behind her made her jump and she sat up, taking the cup of coffee from his hands.

"Rated adults only." Aki laughed and took a long sip of the bitter drink. Sighing happily she rested her head on Kululu's shoulder, occasionally flicking her eyes up towards him. "…Think you're good to go again?"

"Oh Hell yes."

The drinks fell, forgotten, spilling across the floor as Kululu rushed to claim her mouth with his and with a patient, scheming smile Aki welcomed him into her arms.