Episode 41: Ratoniik: Ratoniik's Secret

Earth Eleven had finally reached the villiage, thanks to Banda's guide.

"No need to thank me. I just really wanted to meet people from another planet so badly... I'm so glad I was able to help!" Banda smiled as he leaped happily.

Tenma was about to say something when he heard rhythmic sound of a soccer ball being dribbled. He looked over the branch they were on and sure enough, there was a group of Ratoniiks doing soccer practice.

"That's our team, Ratoniik Eleven." Banda grinned, "Want to join?"

"W-we can?"

"Of course!"

"Then, we'd love to...!"

"I'm going to pass." Zephyr grunted. He started to walk inside the building Earth Eleven would be staying at, but ran into multiple things on the way.

"...Zephyr..."

"I'm going to pass too." Tsurugi said, but Tenma grabbed his arm before he could leave.

"Tsurugi, are you alright? You don't seem like yourself?"

"I-I'm fine..."

"Then let's practice!"

Seeing no way out, Tsurugi agreed.

"Is it really alright to keep quiet..." Komori mumbled.

Alsius shook her head, "Do as you're instructed to. That's all we have to do." Clenching her fists, Alsius followed the rest of the team towards the field.

"It'll be a pleasure to train with you." The coach of Ratoniik smiled.

Taking turns, the members of each team started a practice game against each other. Like expected, the Ratoniik player's movements were quick and strong. Even as the time went by, they never seemed to be out of breath.

"Uh... why can they still run...!" Sakura gasped.

"Bugs are really amazing..."! Konoha huffed.

Alsius went to block a Ratoniik player.

"Tith, watch carefully," he nodded. Conjuring large mushrooms beneath his feet, he leaped around his opponent, "Mushroom Hop!" The mushrooms bursted behind the Ratoniik.

"Arrgh...!"

"Your turn!" He passed the ball to another Ratoniik.

Tenma stood in front of her.

"Mushroom Hop!" She used the same hissatsu, "I-I did it...!"

The Ratoniik nodded in approval. However, suddenly his running stopped and he just fell to the ground.

"What...?" The members of Earth Eleven gasped.

"Hmm, looks like his lifespan ended." Banda commented casually.

"Life... You mean he just died!?" Kusaka gasped.

"Yup."

"Huh!?"

Tetsukado's mouth dropped, "He was just playing soccer...!?"

"But his lifespan ended. Nothing unusual."

"Yeah... But..."

Alsius sighed, "You guys don't know? Ratoniik are people evolved from bugs, because of this their lifespans are an average month long."

"I understand why you're making a big deal about it." Banda frowned.

"H-he just died!"

"Yeah, we know. Every life ends eventually."

"But... now? And only for about a month?"

Banda tilted his head, "hmm... I guess our sense of time's different from you guys... But a shorter life means we can pass down our knowledge that much faster."

"..."

"Anyways, back to practice!"

"...that was such a strange practice..." Ibuki mumbled as he finished drinking his water. The team sat around a large table in the hotel they were staying at.

Han sighed, "Its normal for things like that to happen. No point worrying about it."

"But..."

"There are many different races in space." Manabe said, "Some race may think, 'Huh? Only live for 80 years? So short!'"

"I... Guess..."

"They're going to be tough opponents regardless."

Kusaka was wandering around the village. He wanted time to think, alone.

"Soul... I was unable to beat my own weakness. Nozaki and Manabe were able to get their souls, but I wasn't..." He mumbled. "Do I even have one? Was I really supposed tp be part of the team...?"

"Kusaka-kun~" Banda leaped down from a nearby tree to greet the earthling.

"..." Kusaka just sighed.

"Hmm? What's the matter?"

"Just frustrated with myself..."

Banda scratched his cheek, "I see."

"... Hey Banda... I was wondering..." Kusaka started, "How long is your lifespan...?"

Banda grinned, "A month, it ends tomorrow."

Kusaka gasped, "Wai-what...!? Tomorrow!? But isn't that the day of the game!?"

"Yup! My very first and last game." Banda then noticed the earthling's shocked look, "Why are you looking so worried."

"Banda, you're going to die, tomorrow!" Kusaka yelled.

"My lifespan's ending, it's how it's like in Ratoniik. I'm just glad I get a chance to shine in an important game like tomorrow."

"Banda..."

"Promise tomorrow will be a great game!"

Kusaka forced a smile and nodded, "yeah, promise!" He put a fist out which Banda looked at questiongly, "Put yours against it."

Banda did as instructed.

"Promise between friends!"

The Ratoniik lit up, "Friends! Yeah!"

"Are we there yet..."

"What? Do you think I got us lost again?"

"N-no... That's not it... That's not it... but..."

"Gandales, you have nothing to worry. Nii-chan knows exactly where we are headed." A white haired Faram announced.

"Really!? Wow, Ryugel-nii, you're amazing! Super amazing, Ryugel-nii!"

"Don't say anymore, Gandales; don't say anymore."

Gandales then noticed someone, "hey..."

Ryugel looked there as well. A person, obviously not a Ratoniik, stood on top of a tree. It was Zephyr.

"Maybe he can show us...!?" The younger brother started, but stopped when he saw Ryugel's frown.

"..." However, the older brother started to head towards the stranger's direction. "Hey, you! Up there!"

Zephyr looked down towards the voice and sniffed the air, "Not a Ratoniik. Who may you be...?"

"Doesn't matter! Tell me where the village is!"

Not liking the stranger's attitude, Zephyr ignored his question.

"He's not listening Ryugel-nii!? What do we do!?" Gandales gasped.

Ryugel clenched his teeth angrily and kicked the tree Zephyr stood on.

Zephyr didn't realize how powerful the white haired alien was as the tree shook violently. Instinctively the Melfen leaped off.

"What are you doing!?" Zephyr growled as he luckily landed an a large mushroom head cushion.

"You need to tell us where the village is!" Ryugel demanded.

"Uh..." Zephyr grinned.

"Wow, Ryugel-nii, you got him to listen! So cool Ryugel-nii."

Zephyr gasped at the voice, "Kaen...maru...?" He sniffed the air and realized his mistake, "S-sorry, you sounded like my friend..."

The brothers exchanged frowns.

"Are you going to show us to the village or not?" Ryugel finally spoke.

"R-Ryugel-nii...!? He's... He's crying..!?" Gandales gasped.

Zephyr realized this and quickly tried to hide it.

The brothers panicked not knowing what to do or say. Ryugel then gasped, "Hot milk! Hot milk should calm him...!"

"Wow Ryugel-nii, you're smart! But where do we get hot milk?"

"I'm okay... Sorry again..." Zephyr finally calmed down. "Ratoniik village, right? Follow me." Sniffing the air, he started to lead the alien brothers.

"...You still haven't found Lalaya?" Xerxes asked as he lazily lay on the throne.

Back in Faram Obieus...

"Our deepest apologies... Sir..." The Faram Soldiers knelt.

"Hm...!" Xerxes seemed to notice something, forming a malacious smile, "Looks like Konan came..."

"You power's really creepy... transforming into anyone." Rodan frowned.

Konan took the appearance of a light blue haired Faram boy. He held a small satchel containing the green stone from Ratoniik, carefully. "I get that alot."

Rodan put his hands behind his head, "So... what next...?"

Konan nodded, "We have to make sure Ozlock won't get this..."

"Hm...?" The short Shitennou squinted, "Is that Lalaya with an Earth Eleven player...?"

Konan frowned "No idea. Like I'd remember everyone... There's one way to check..." Konan swiped his own face transforming into Tetsukado.

"Hey!"

Konan stood there for sec, "He seems to be Tsurugi Kyousuke, the ace striker for the team. Tetsukado admires him very much... But what is he doing here?"

Rodan sighed, "Why not just ask?"

Konan had already approached the Earth player, "Hey, Tsurugi!"

"T-Tetsukado!? What are you doing here?" Tsurugi gasped.

Lalaya was shocked, "Earth shouldn't be here yet...!?"

"And what's the queen doing out of the castle?" Rodan walked up.

"Rodan!? You're safe?"

"Huh?"

"Must be Xerxes..." Konan bit his lip, "Shit, this is bad."

As Konan gasped, someone leaped down from the air knocking everyone away from each other. A young man stood there. He lifted the eye mask he wore onto his forehead.

"Ah... What a drag..."

"Hilbert!?" Konan gasped.

The man looked around and saw Lalaya, "This is where you were... Queen..."

"Lalaya stay back!" Tsurugi quickly stood in between.

"I'll take all of you..." Hilbert summoned humanoid doll-like figures from the shadows. They captured all four of them.

"Shit..." Konan cursed as he reverted back to his original form.

"Tsurugi...!" Lalaya screamed.

The feelings of longing, longing to meet someone. The pain of knowing it is an impossible dream. Will Zephyr be able to beat these emotions? The match against Ratoniik Eleven begin. Earth Eleven struggle against the speedy bug-people. Episode 42: Ratoniik: VS Ratoniik Eleven Part 1.