Giroro stared at it in bewilderment. The tiny shells that they had worked so hard on finding- not to mention making the bracelet…

It was all for him?

He slipped it on his wrist, baffled by how accurately it fit. The dark red shell with the yellow bordering around it was the center. He poked at it empty-mindedly.

"Giroro!"

The corporal snapped out of it and turned to Dororo.

"R-right!" Giroro glanced around the large room. "I think they're twelve left!"

"Then we're more than good," Dororo called out to him, his voice trying to expand over the crashing rocks.

Koyuki was still there too, refusing to leave just because Natsumi was. Besides, she had pointed out, they needed all the help they could get.

"You, over here! No, your left…. Your other left."

The boys were so dumb. It was no wonder they were the only ones to manage actually completing the challenges…

"Okay, five more to go."

Some were smarter than others, thankfully.

Others were…

Well, not so smart. Stupid, even.

Three left.

One of them was very successfully convincing Giroro to use his gun again.

He even pulled it out threateningly while the boy screamed his head off like a panic-stricken chicken.

"Let me try, Giroro," Koyuki said. She hopped over to him, and gently patted his shoulder.

Koyuki used charm.

It's super effective!

The boy went in the bubble without any further complaints. Giroro glanced at his ninja friend, and then perked a brow, surprised and a bit amused.

"Dororo, are you blushing-?"

"I am not!"

Two more.

One more.

It didn't exactly help that this one claimed that he was black-a-bubble-phobic, whatever the frog that was, so Giroro promptly picked him up and tossed him into the bubble as the boy shrieked like a kindergartner.

Two empty, little sea urchins/dogs were left waiting, rolling around in anticipation of the leftover company.

"Good," Giroro said, nodding toward them. "You and Koyuki could go on that one, and I could…"

…What?

"Giroro, are you alright-?"

"Good," Giroro said tightly. His eyes were gray and dimmed and crazy, as they stared hard at the ground. He clutched at his belt, right over his chest, where his heart hammered away like it had no choice. It was hard to breathe; the air was cold, it was hot…

"Ms. Koyuki, go. I'm going to go with Giroro."

Koyuki opened her mouth, perhaps to object, when the ground began to rumble. More water spurt from the ceiling, gushing incredible amounts of sea water at their feet. It went up to their knees.

"Koyuki, please."

"Alright, D," Koyuki said. "Be careful."

She timidly went to one of the remaining black bubbles and entered it. It rolled away with her inside it, taking her away, hopefully to home.

"C'mon, Giroro," Dororo said, pulling Giroro's arm over his neck. "Let's get out of here."

The water was rushing almost dangerously now; Dororo had to swim with Giroro clinging on to him, both panting heavily.

"We're almost there," Dororo muttered, more to himself than his friend. The sea dog must have realized that its last escort involved the two frogs, because it began toward them, shortening the distance between them.

It was an odd sensation, going inside the dog. It enveloped you, swallowed you, absorbed you, into a cool, almost moist place inside the bubble. Inside, it was rubbery and smooth, and just slightly greasy, like the soapsuds that frothed and expanded when you washed the dishes.

The sea urchin jerked a little, almost as if it was testing the weight or making sure that both its riders were inside safely, and then it spun off.

Dororo was a bit surprised, not to mention relieved, when he realized that while the bubble on the outside revolved, it didn't affect them from the inside at all. They were assured a comfortable journey home.

Anxiously, the ninja gazed at his companion.

Giroro was still breathing heavily- wheezing even- and he wasn't sure what to do. This was actually the first time he had ever reacted this way… did the queen put some kind of curse on him?

Giroro let out a pained scream as he clutched at his own arms. He was pale. Sweat ran down his skin like he had been lurched out of the water, which was the case a couple of minutes ago, but by then Dororo was already dry. Giroro also shivered and complained of the coldness- the temperature was just fine.

This isn't good…

"Giroro-?"

"Shut up," Giroro snarled. Whatever was hurting him forced him to demand a need for silence. "Just shut up. Please."

Dororo watched him nervously as Giroro struggled with any internal grips of agony that was so stubbornly lodged within him.

And now, he began to glow.

…Wait, what-?

Giroro flashed a bright, blinding, recognizable white light, just for an split instant, and when it dimmed, Dororo saw, to his shock, Rio, sighing with utter relief as the obvious discomfort was beginning to fade from his expression.

"Koyuki, I'm glad you're okay!"

She smiled at her pink-haired, sweet-smelling friend and hugged her back as soon as she was pulled out of the black bubble, out of the water.

After a moment, Natsumi gently pushed away and stared at her anxiously. "Where's Giroro and Dororo…?"

"Ah…"

Before Koyuki could explain the situation, one of the black sea urchins erratically popped out of the water.

Natsumi's heart fluttered. "Rio!"

Dororo and Giroro coughed as they dragged themselves out of the rubbery sea-dog, accidentally swallowing the salty water in the process.

"Thank you," Dororo said politely as the bubble shrunk to it's tiny, sea urchin size and slinked back into the ocean.

"Natsumi- erk!"

She was squeezing him so hard. He shivered a bit, intoxicated by her affection.

"I'm glad you're okay…" Natsumi murmured. She buried her face into the wet fabric of the Montsuki that he still currently wore, even if it wasn't exactly complete.

She paused at a sober thought and turned to Dororo urgently. "Where's Giroro?"

Dororo and Giroro twitched, mildly taken aback at the suddenness of the question.

The ninja wasn't sure where to start, much less explain, when Giroro placed the seashell bracelet on Natsumi's hand.

"He's okay," Giroro said, calmly. "He told me to give this to you, to let you know that he's okay and that he's headed off somewhere to finish ah… an examination."

Natsumi gently closed her fingers around it. She smiled, relieved. "Thank you."

"F-for what?"

Natsumi simply hugged him again.

Dororo glanced at Koyuki.

"Um… Ms. Koyuki? Question."

"What's up, D?"

"…Did anyone… um… even remember to ask about Devon…?"

"I wonder if that one guy made it out okay."

"Eh, I wouldn't worry too much about him."

The jar that contained that mysterious orb was sitting in Keroro's bag. He was just simply memorized by this jewel-like wonder.

"Now all we have to do is build it, right, Sarge-?"

"Hm? Kururu, can I see the blueprints for it?"

"Ku-ku-ku-ku~ of course."

Keroro reluctantly forced himself to break away from the marvelous energy source to gaze at their plans for the invasion. He frowned.

"Do it over."

"Ku-ku-ku-ku…. Excuse me?"

"Look, Kururu," Keroro said, waving at the containment unit. "The machine needs to be… perfect. I mean, look at this thing! The machine needs to fit it! Don't you get it?"

"…No, sergeant, I don't get it. Ku."

"Well, I think this needs some major modifications."

"I think that you're letting the orb get to you."

"It probably is! But I want it to be perfect. So fix it Kururu!"

Kururu cast a disdainful, but almost, slightly, just barely, admirable glance at Keroro before turning away with a white pen and a new blueprint in hand.

While Aki fussed over Fuyuki's, Natsumi's, Koyuki's, and eventually Momoka's (who had returned briefly after they had come back, due to her studious examination of her FuyukiTracker) well-being, Giroro stared at his hands, horrified and terribly confused.

What the heck just happened…?

This was not supposed to happen- it never happened before. He never turned back before without the gun. The only other reason that this may have occurred is… that he was turning into a human.

…Pekoponian.

He felt himself shudder.

No, this can't… I don't…

"Rio," A hand reached across to feel his face. Giroro blushed slightly as he looked up at Natsumi. She was frowning. "Something wrong? You look sick."

"Ah-ah… just, um, probably the sea urchin thing," Giroro said, shrugging it off. The choker still worked. As much as he hated it, it was useful when he wanted to lie.

He poked at it semi-consciously while considering the troubling effects the Animal Animalizer gun was having on him.

"…Okay…" Natsumi said slowly. She still gave him a cautious look, even though he implied that he didn't want to talk about it. "So… this vacation is pretty much ruined, huh? I'm sorry."

Giroro waved his hands in a motion that seemed determined to remain enthusiastic. "No, I think this trip has been very… interesting."

"…You mean 'weird', don't you?"

"No, of course not, I mean, it's was…"

"I can't seem to have one normal day of my life," Natsumi sighed. "I'm sorry, I guess that as long as you hang out with me it'll rub off on you."

Giroro grinned wryly. She had no idea how ironic that was, warning him of the weirdness that followed Keroro's gang despite the fact he had been enduring it for years. He decided not to comment, instead grinning lopsidedly and turning to examine the real setting sun (or, at least, he assumed it was real).

"So I'm assuming you met Giroro?"

"Wh-what?"

Natsumi was gazing at him intently. Almost like she was… examining him?

"Wh-what about him?" Control the frogging stutter, you moron! You don't want her to suspect anything!

"You met him, right?" Natsumi repeated.

"Y-yeah, I did," Giroro said under his breath. He awkwardly penciled some marking on the sand with his finger, not sure how to continue.

"I'm glad he found you. I was, um." She stopped mid-sentence, like she also didn't want to continue.

"You were worried about me," Giroro said with a quiet smile. His arm shook slightly as he did this, but he forced himself to wrap an arm around her. She seemed to appreciate this, leaning against his side, happy for he comfort. "Thanks."

"U-um. No problem."

They were silent under the changing sky that mixed the clouds so fantastically against the setting golden sun as it dipped into the ocean. Natsumi was watching the remainder of sunset, but Giroro couldn't keep his eyes off his own hands…

"Koyuki, I don't want to use that gun."

She had gotten her hands on it again.

"Why not? If everyone notices you're gone-" Koyuki began, but Dororo cut her off, as courteously as he could muster without sounding rude.

"It's just… I think it might have a very negative effect with Keronians," Dororo said slowly. "I noticed Giroro."

"That's right." Realization dawned on her face. "…He changed into Rio. Did you guys have the gun?"

"No, that's the point," Dororo told her. "Listen: he had used the gun before me. When I turned back, he was still 'Rio' for a while. That's very strange, considering the circumstances. And then he just… turned back to Rio, and Koyuki." He closed his eyes, almost as if he wanted to shun the picture of Giroro suffering in front of him while he helplessly watched on away from his thoughts. "He was in pain. I need Kururu to confirm this, but I think after a while, Keronians begin to accept the body change of the gun, slowly rejecting its Keronian blood."

"…So… basically…"

"Giroro's turning into a Pekoponian," Dororo concluded. "Probably permanently. That's why I don't think it's safe to use that gun."

Koyuki's eyes filled with a sudden disappointment, although she smiled respectively at his decision. Dororo was startled. He found his cheeks warming, just slightly, but he dismissed it as a simple heat stroke, or maybe a possible sunburn.

Do frogs even get sunburned?

"Um… I guess…" He found himself saying, although he was unsure exactly why, "…Being 'Devon' one more time wouldn't hurt."

Koyuki's eyes lit up, just for an instant, but she controlled herself enough to sound genuinely concerned about him. "Are you sure?"

"I suppose so. I mean, I've only used the gun three times. Giroro… probably twenty times already. I mean…" Dororo wasn't sure how accurate his logic was.

"Only if you want to…"

"One more time. And it should last us to the morning when we get back, too…" Dororo's voice trailed off.

So awkward.

"Okay…" Koyuki said, smiling just a little. She pointed the gun toward him and the bright light that he had seen on Giroro concealed him too, flashing just for a second. Koyuki had to hide her eyes against one of her arms. When it had died down, she had turned and found herself face to face with 'Devon'.

"Thanks, D," Koyuki swung the gun behind her, still holding it. "I'm going to put this back now. Go back with the others, 'kay?"

"O-okay," Dororo mumbled. He thought for a single perplexed moment, and then turned to Koyuki. "Ms. Koyuki, wait-!"

He grabbed her wrist, surprising her. She was just starting a power sprint toward the base, but when Dororo pulled her, off-guard, she rebounded by the sudden force and found herself sliding back to the sand, backwards, knocking his legs and piling him on top of her. They both fell to the ground with a very ungraceful thud.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't…" He had managed to at least hold his chest above her own. He didn't want to squish her.

"It's fine, D," Koyuki giggled.

What a pretty laugh... Dororo was staring more than he was supposed to. Again.

GAHH WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.

He quickly pushed himself away from her, sitting down and hugging his legs. No no no NO this cannot be happening I do not have a crush on Koyuki that is just insane I'm probably way too old for her what if she doesn't like me back I have a fever I HAVE A FEVER THAT MUST BE IT.

Dororo felt his cheek with one hand. E-yup, it's warm. Fever it is.

Fevers also made your heart beat hard, right? And made your skin shiver? And maybe even sweat a little?

Yeah. Definitely a fever.

Sure, whatever you want to believe, lover boy.

I do not like Koyuki! At least not like… that.

"D?" Koyuki sat down next to him. "Are you okay?"

"More than okay," Dororo said, a little too quickly. "Didn't meant to surprise you I'm sorry I won't do it again."

"D?" Koyuki repeated. She tried to look at him, but Dororo couldn't bear to look at her in the eye. Why? She blinked, confused, as she leaned back, trying to figure out the puzzle that started when it involved "Devon".

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.

"I'm f-fine, Ms. Koyuki," Dororo said. Great. I'm stammering now. Must still be the fever.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" Koyuki asked innocently. She wiped it absentmindedly. Cutely.

…Please still be the fever.

"The sunset was beautiful," Dororo blurted.

"Oh? Oh, yeah, it was!" Koyuki agreed. "Yeah." She paused and stared at his face. He was still turning away nervously. "…I think I know what's up, D."

"D-do y-you?"

"You have heat stroke!"

His heart drummed. From relief. Right? "Yeah. Y-yeah, I think I do. Or I'm just… you know… tired."

"I think you're tired," Koyuki said with an equally relieved smile. "Get some rest, D. I don't want you to get sick! That would be awful!"

Dororo nodded, biting his lip behind his mask, still refusing to see Koyuki even after she dashed off to put away the gun.

Although it's probably a bit too late for that, isn't it, Dororo?

"So."

"So."

So. Awkward.

"Um. Should we try again?"

Natsumi jumped slightly, staring at him with wide eyes. "Huh?"

Giroro could just hear Keroro and the others laughing behind the trees. He blushed intensely. "Ignore what I said."

"Try again with what?" Natsumi asked daringly, perking up an eyebrow. She grinned mildly, like she understood exactly what he was talking about but wanted to hear it from his own mouth.

"N-never mind, really! Uh…"

"Sure," Natsumi continued that playful smirk. "Why not?"

"N-no, really, I don't even know why I said that, I mean…"

Natsumi tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear, and took a timid step toward him, her face completely red. "Um… you sure?"

It was already dark, though he was sure that the rest of the Armpit Platoon was watching him, probably even making fun of him. They probably couldn't see him, but were sure of his very… uncomfortable predicament.

He told himself to punch everyone of them later.

"Uh… no," Giroro said gingerly. "Um. Okay." He neared her too, until they were only a few inches apart, just one short breath away.

Just when they could almost feel the sweet carress of each other's lips… Giroro's stomach growled.

Loudly.

"Um!" The corporal hopped away, his face exploding with that dreaded crimson color.

Natsumi burst out laughing, as did the Keroro gang, who at this point now needed an oxygen tank just to get them to remember how to breathe.

"Uh…" Giroro grabbed at his stomach with his arms. "I think I'm hungry." Couldn't even remember the last thing he ate, if he ate anything.

"Let's-" She gasped, giggling. "Let's just go get something to eat, alright?"

The writer just loves to torture his readers, don't you, Mr. Writer? Actually, if I were you, I'd get a few bodyguards...

After a well-deserving meal, everyone proclaimed their exhaustiveness and retreated to the little camps they had set up earlier for a well-deserving sleep.

Giroro and Dororo shared a tent. After what they had been through, Giroro didn't mind sharing as much as he did before.

"I think I'm catching something," Dororo muttered. His face was red, and he looked like there were some thoughts that he'd rather not consider.

"So you're turning in?"

"To what?"

Giroro was bewildered by the reply, but 'Devon' had already lain down and begun to drift away to slumber. Deciding not to think too much about it, or at least try and resolve that… odd déjà vu in the morning, he went to his own sleeping bag, switched off the small lantern, and closed his eyes…

That night Corporal Giroro dreamt he was in a box. It was a box that was sealed tightly, locked in place.

No matter how hard he pushed, no matter how hard he kicked, and no matter how hard he struggled, the walls would not give in. They were strong, impossible to escape.

And worst of all, he was dying inside, growing weaker and weaker with each panicked thrust. Finally, he was falling to his knees, his hands sliding down the glass wall, falling… dying…

And Rio was smiling from the outside.

Giroro woke up screaming.

Commercial Break~