…Why haven't I updated?

…

Blame Hamtaro's addicting GBA games.

And Harvest Moon. *dies*

The moon was huge and yellow against the violet sky, the stars pleasantly dotting around it.

At least it wasn't bad, like the night before- he was actually pretty surprised that most of the clouds were gone. Sure the ground was still wet, but at least some of the play sets were dry.

Giroro was on top of one of them, the one that was tall, the one that you would climb to the top and feel like you're overlooking the whole world when you were a kid. He was lying on it, watching the sky sleepily. So I'm sleeping at the park tonight.

Shouldn't bug him too much; he'd endured worse.

Ugh. If only his brother was as easy to brush off.

"Hey."
Giroro glanced down, below his shoulder. His mouth formed into a tight snarl. "Why do you keep following me?"

Saburo smiled apologetically. "I-I'm sorry?"

Giroro turned back upwards, to seeing the sky. "Leave me alone."

There was a still silence, and for the moment he believed the metallic blonde had left. But then he heard quiet breathing get just a little closer, and feet against metal get just a little louder.

"Hey," Saburo greeted him, his head popping out from below. He heaved himself up to where Giroro was and seated himself comfortably next to him.

Giroro groaned openly and sat up, irritated.

"Wow, the view's great up here!"

He didn't respond.

"So… what are you doing here, alone again?" Saburo asked, turning toward him. His blue eyes shone against the moon's silver light, and Giroro cringed with jealousy.

"I don't have to answer to you."

"True," Saburo ducked his head. "Sorry if I sound nosy."

"You do."

"Hm."

The two sat there, silently, watching the clouds slowly slick past the moon, and stretch across the purple sky…

"You dating Natsumi?"

The question came out of nowhere. Giroro almost fell off the play set.

"Wh-what?"

"Whoa, relax, dude," Saburo said, grinning slightly. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Giroro shrugged off the other boy's hand from his arm and scowled irritably. "I'm fine."

"You don't have to answer me if-"

"Yeah, I am."

The corporal felt the heat on his face as he looked off to the swing set. Not that I need your permission.

"I see."

Giroro concentrated on those two simple words; were they laced with disappointment? Grief? Similar spite? Finally he glanced at him, and to his surprise, Saburo looked perfectly fine, like his answer didn't bother him.

"Well," Saburo continued, returning his gaze. "Natsumi's a cute girl, mm? She's also really nice. Smart, too. I'm sure you'll be very happy together."

The muscles that were so tight with anger began to relax- though not by much.

"But I'm going to have to warn you," He added with a slight, gentle laugh, "If you're going to go after Natsumi, you'll have to watch out for the little red frog. The one with the scar. He's a bit protective over her. Did you already see him? He looks kinda like-"

"Yeah, I know who you're talking about," Giroro muttered, bringing his knees closer to his chest.

"His name's Giroro," Saburo mused. "I haven't seen him lately, though. That's who I was looking for when I found you."

Giroro shuffled uncomfortably, not sure how to reply to that. When he didn't, Saburo stretched, and began his way down the play set.

"Well, it's time to go home," Saburo said cheerfully. "C'mon."

"What?"

"You heard me."

Before Giroro could voice out any complaints, Saburo had slid down to the blue glass, his form fading from the weak light the moon provided. With a final sigh, Giroro followed after him.

Might as well go, Giroro argued as he landed beside the artist. Kururu might have figured how to turn me back, anyway…

Dororo closed his eyes and released any negative emotions and thoughts. When those disappeared, he loosened the positive memories, the positive feelings. His allowed his mind to go totally blank, like an undisturbed body of water; it was clear and steady, without ripples or dust floating on the surface.

He let out a sigh, feeling himself ease.

Water. Cool, flowing water, rushing peacefully down the stream… unbroken…

Meditation required more than concentration. It took more than commitment or patience; it was the release of a tender soul, to let the mind cleanse itself, to go entirely clear…

He could feel his session coming to an end. He allowed his mind to delve back in, slowly, slowly.

Just as a runner cannot simply stop running, but decelerate his pace, one deep in mediation must be patient as all his thoughts came back to him, leisurely, carefully. If not, the purpose of this cleansing would simply be in utter, useless vain…

Dororo opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. He heard the waterfall gushing, roaring. He smelled the sweet fresh air of the forest. He felt the coolness the trees around him released, the safe, secure rock he sat on. He had started early just to get here; all he wanted was one day to himself, to regain his senses.

To rid himself of those disturbing… yet unusually pleasant… feelings he was harboring.

Dororo massaged his head. Good. The only thoughts that seemed to wander in his mind were the ones he had always had before; admiration, a strong, brotherly bond, a natural affection toward the female ninja.

None of those… romantic emotions.

That only proved the point Kururu had made- that those unnerving feelings he had for Koyuki were all side effects, or possibly, as Giroro had put it, "all in his head".

Relief flooded his body.

…But why did he also have this…somewhat painful… sense of disappointment?

"Good morning, Princey-poo~!"

Giroro yelped in shock and sat up, holding up a defensive pose with the pillow he had been resting on earlier. "Kururu?!"

"Ku-ku-ku-ku~ Don't even try."

Giroro looked around him, wearily, still holding the pillow midway in the air. "Where am I…?"

"Saburo's house. Remember? Or is your tiny brain on the fritz again?"
Giroro dropped the pillow, groaned and stretched, holding his arms out and making a small grunting noise. "Ugh. I remember. I was just hoping it was all a dream."

He reached for his head, where his fingers came into contact with soft, blond hair. He tugged on the golden strands and pointed at them while he glared at Kururu.

"So do you have any idea how to fix this?"
"You mean your obsessive-compulsive disorder with hair brushes? Ku. I'm afraid not."

Giroro's entire face reddened, much to Kururu's pleasure. "No- I mean, I don't- how did you-? Uh. I-I meant my entire Pekoponian situation!"

"Ku. Unfortunately I haven't found much of a solution for that either," Kururu shook his head and gave him a what-can-you-do? shrug.

Giroro growled at his incompetence. "My brother said he won't leave if I stay like this!"

"Then it seems he'll be stay here for a pretty long time, mm? Ku-ku-ku-ku~" Kururu quieted for a second, and then suddenly reverted a slightly more serious expression, scaring Giroro a little. "All joking aside… I'm afraid you are in a bit of a fix, Giroro. This has never happened before."

The corporal's heart sunk. Kururu admitting the complication of his condition…

"But this state isn't permanent."

"No?"

"Ku. It seems you will be switching off and on. But if you were to use the gun maybe one or two times, then you really will remain in that form with no chance of turning back into a Keronian."

Giroro found his fingers feeling for the temples on his forehead. "Okay. So I'm not permanent now. That's a plus… so right now, I can still turn back?"

"That's right. As for the how,that is an entirely different question."

Giroro stood up and began picking at the clothes that Saburo had left on top of the dresser, right next to the Gundam Models that were rearranged to face him again.

"Speaking of different questions," He said, deciding to change the subject, "why are you even here?"

"

Oh. The captain wanted me to wake you up. He and the Lieutenant are having a meeting concerning the Operation. Ku-ku-ku-ku~"

"Really," Giroro mumbled, pulling off his shirt (much to Kururu's unbearable delight, and Giroro's absolute disgust at that reaction, forgetting about the yellow Keronian) and hastily jerking the new shirt on. "When is it, anyway?"

"About 10:30 am."

Giroro glanced at the clock, and screamed in horror.

"They never exactly specified what time they wanted me to wake you up. Ku-ku-ku-ku~!"

"Ugh, and how the frog do they expect me to get there?!" Giroro growled, ignoring Kururu to slip on a new pair of jeans. So many clothes. UGH. "I can't just walk into the house like I did before!" He ran out the room, slipped, slammed his face into the wall, and rushed to the front door to get his shoes. Kururu followed him, absolutely amused.

Wall: 3-0

"Well," Kururu said slyly, holding a device with a single blue (not red) button. "That is another reason why they sent me to come and get you. Watch. Clicky."

And with that, the two were instantly transported in the Meeting Room, Kururu safely at his seat, and Giroro following splat on the middle of the table. Giroro looked at Kururu and glared nastily.

"What the heck was that for?!"

"Whoops. Was that me? Ku-ku-ku-ku~"

"Good morning, little brother."

Giroro gazed over his shoulder. He mumbled a kill me now prayer before he slipped off the table and onto the empty seat next to Keroro. He then realized the seat was too small for him now, so he remained standing, shifting his feet awkwardly.

Keroro pointed at the lopsided table. "You're going to have to pay for that-!"

"So as for what we were saying before we were so rudely interrupted," Garuru continued, giving his brother a stern side glance, "Is your personal mission with the warrior princess. Am I correct?"

"Personal… mission?"

"The field trip?"

"…What? How the frog did-" Realization smacked him like a frying pan. "The choker."

"Yup!" Keroro grinned, immediately forgetting the incident with the table. "Isn't that dandy?"

Giroro released a throaty growl, but stopped when he remembered Garuru was listening intently.

"And while you're working on that," Keroro added, casting a self-conscious gaze at Garuru, "we'll be working on the real mission. We already have the energy source."

Giroro perked up a brow. "Energy source?"

"I've seen it myself," Garuru said, leaning against the table, his elbows on the surface. "It is quite impressive; it holds much power…"

"Just enough to conquer the planet!" Keroro stated unnecessarily, feeling the need to acquire that somewhat compulsory approval from Giroro's elder brother.

"Kururu has been working on that~"

"And only that?" Garuru's eyes flashed.

"A-a-a-and of c-c-c-course, the remedy to Giroro's situation." Keroro laughed nervously, sinking into his seat bashfully.

"Good," Garuru nodded, and then, finally, turned to the corporal. "And what is your input in this?"

"My only role in this Operation is to provide the… ahem… distraction." Giroro turned away while his cheeks burned a rapid red color.

"Do you feel like you are accomplishing your objective?"

"..Y-yes."

"Good. Meeting dismissed." Garuru slapped his hands on the table, jumped off the seat, and began to walk away.

"Th-that's it?" Keroro spluttered, flabbergasted. "But-"

"Sh!" Tamama and Giroro hissed to him.

"Ah. There you are."

Giroro recognized the voice immediately and held in the moan that so desperately wanted to be released. He didn't even have to care to display the decency to turn around. "What do you want?"

Garuru looked at him blankly. Giroro was just sitting there, on the swing, rocking himself back and forth aimlessly.

"What?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm waiting."

"Waiting?"

Giroro muttered something about courage and something similar but not close to war-like activities to better explain his situation, but all Garuru did was watch on with a confused expression. Giroro promptly gave up and went back to restlessly swinging himself.

"How did you get here?"

"Kururu's stupid invention teleported me to the park."

"I see."

The only sounds that were heard were the squeaking of the rusty swings and the faint laughter of children running around. Giroro sucked in a breath.

"So."

Garuru shot his attention toward his younger brother, to which the latter winced slightly, but went on, "Are you really going to stay until Kururu finds a way to turn me back?"

The purple Keronian frowned. "I thought we already went over this."

"So that's a yes," Giroro grunted, disheartened.

"Frankly, I don't… trust that leader of yours."

Giroro snorted. "Isn't that a surprise."

"I just want to make sure you're back to normal," Garuru walked in front of Giroro so that they could actually look at each other eye-to-eye. "Do you understand my concern?"

"Yeah, yeah," Giroro sighed. He looked at the kids who were actually enjoying their day, with no indication of worry etched on their carefree faces. One of them was rocking on a fish-shaped plaything, the kind that would pull you back and forth like a rodeo bull. "Garuru?"

"Mm?"

"Why don't we ever do things normal brothers d-" Giroro stopped himself about two seconds too late. Frog it. The honesty option is on.

I suppose the Armpit Platoon didn't want to miss the chance of a touching renewal between the bond of two brothers.

(Keroro rubbed his neck. "Uh. Sure. Let's go with that.)

Or he mistook it for the TV remote.

The two brothers remained noiseless. As in, Garuru just dully stared and Giroro had stopped swinging.

Maybe he didn't hear me, Giroro thought hopefully. Or maybe he's going to ignore my-

"What did you have in mind?" Garuru asked suddenly.

The now-boyish Keronian was startled. "Wh-what?"

"What did you have in mind?" Garuru repeated, planting his hands on his hips. "Tell me what your idea what 'normal brothers do'."

Giroro cringed in embarrassment. Next time, don't even THINK. Be about as brainless as a fish-

"Fishing."

The word just popped out. He was frozen with unjust humiliation, and he was absolutely terrified of the response his brother would give.

Garuru stared at him, his facial expression half hidden by the yellow visor he wore over his hat.

"…Alright."

"…What?"

"Alright." Garuru folded his arms. "Next time I come to Pekopon, we'll fish."

Giroro opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a sharp, piercing staticy sound coming from his choker.

"Giroro! Where's your cell phone?!"

Giroro answered it without regarding his brother. "I think it's back at my tent-"

"Then go get it! Natsumi's been trying to call you! If she goes to the backyard-"

Giroro cursed under his breath. "Yeah, I got it. I'll go and get it." He cut the transmission before Keroro could panic even more. It was hurting his ears.

"Was that the Sergeant?"

"Yeah, he wants me to get something."

"Will you need assistance in retrieving it-?"

"No, I'll be fine." Giroro said, waving him off. "Just go back with Keroro and I'll take care of it."

Garuru nodded solemnly, letting his brother go on his way.

"Hi!" Koyuki cried out, welcoming the light blue space frog. "Did you have fun?"

"It was very relaxing," Dororo said. "It was… just what I needed."

Koyuki smiled sweetly at him, but then stopped to examine his face. Her lips drew into a concerned frown. "D? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"What? No," Dororo put on a simple, peaceful façade, hiding the conflicting thoughts that have been fighting in his head all morning. "I just had something that I really need to… get settled." And still do, unfortunately…

"D?" She bent down to face level. "You know you can tell me, right?"

"Of course," Dororo murmured. "U-uh… this is um… this is something that only I can figure out though…. It's something that I personally need to solve."

Koyuki was just a little hurt at the prospect that Dororo was hiding something for her, but she rubbed off the negative emotion. "Okay, D. But remember that you can always come to me when you need to talk, alright?"

"Of course," Dororo said again, though his mind seemed like it was elsewhere. "I'm going to go meditate."

"I wonder why Rio isn't picking up…" Natsumi said to no one in particular, fidgeting on her sofa. "What if he's mad at me…?"

"I don't think he should be though, sis," Fuyuki told her offhandedly, looking up from his book. "I don't think you did anything wrong." He smiled reassuringly. "You're just worrying over nothing."

"Yeah, but still…" Her eyes slipped over to Giroro's tent, and…

Was that movement?

She squinted her eyes and craned her neck forward to inspect.

It was!

"Giroro's back!" Natsumi cried out joyfully.

Fuyuki jumped. "He is?"

"Let's go see him!" Natsumi put down her phone and ran toward the door, sliding it open with full force and energy. "Giroro!" I'm gonna strangle that frog for giving me such a heart attack...! But after I give him a hug. "Giroro!"

The little moving bump in the tent twitched uncertainly.

"Giro...?"

Natsumi's eyes widened as the figure came out, slowly and hesitantly, but surely and reluctantly.

"...Rio... what were you doing in Giroro's tent...?"

Commercial Break~

Author's Note: I needed a cliff hanger. Sue me.