The creature lay dead off to the side, and the parents of two of the Keroro platoon's members were on their knees, heaving heavy breaths, their weapons lagging down on their sides.

They shot glances at each other when the other wasn't looking, often gazing away awkwardly when the other person saw them.

"…Well," Ponono said, regaining her quiet composure. "No one's… too hurt… right?"

Guzozo waved her off, his gun dissolving into the humid air. Thank frog it got warmer and wetter, fueling their bodies up and forcing them to attack. He stood up. "C'mon, sweetheart. I can still hear the river, and-" He gazed up at the sky, "-it's getting dark. We should try and set up camp now, and build a fire-"

"….Ah!"

Guzozo turned his attention toward her, and was startled when he noticed her kneeling, her hands wrapped around her leg.

"I sprained an ankle," Ponono whimpered.

Guzozo stared at her in idle response.

"…I'm sorry."

Guzozo rolled his eyes. He greatly doubted that this apology had anything to do with their prior argument and was more about the fact that she hurt herself and was currently immobile. He shook his head to himself, placing his hand on the dirty bandana on his head.

Ponono looked down. "Just leave me here. I'll be okay."

"Pfft. Don't be dramatic." Guzozo walked in front of her and squatted, his back toward her. "Now climb on."

Ponono blinked at him. "H-huh?"

"Climb. On. Really, it shouldn't be that hard; not even for you, sweetheart."

"…I-it's… it's fine-"

"Not an option. Climb. On."

Ponono timidly leaned toward him and wrapped her arms around his nonexistent neck.

"Good." Guzozo paused, and then continued awkwardly, "Um… I'm going to grab your legs now, okay?"

"All right."

"Wrap them around my back; it'll make things easier for me to carry you."

Ponono nodded absently.

With a forced grunt, Guzozo rose and headed toward their destination.

"You know," He said carefully after a while, "You could rest your head on my back if you're tired."

"Okay," The tiny voice behind him said. Only, she didn't do so; she remained as still and far, despite the fact that she was touching him. It was as if his contact was radioactive and she didn't want to get sick.

Guzozo sighed. "Fine." A few more steps and he suddenly jerked forward. "Y'OW!"

"What? What happened?!"

"I don't know," Guzozo said, balancing himself to look at his foot. "I think something bit me."

"Mm."

"It just came out of nowhere," Guzozo mumbled, embarrassed. He shook his head and lowered his foot. "…Okay. I think I heard the creek even louder now. We're almost there."

Guzozo was originally planning on shooting the S.O.S. signal, find a comfortable place to rest Ponono, look around the area for something to eat, and having himself leave briefly to search for some firewood.

But instead, he gently put Ponono down, and then collapsed.

Ponono started. She waited for him to get up, wondering if this was some sort of cruel joke for the argument earlier. But he didn't. When she peered closer, her face turned pale in the realization that he was shivering and sweating profusely.

Confused, she looked around urgently for what might have caused this, when her eyes settled on his foot.

The bug bite.

"Oh no," Ponono whispered. She looked down at him. "Guzozo, can you hear me?"

He didn't respond, and she could feel herself growing cold.

"G-Guzozo!" She snapped, shaking his shoulder. "Guzozo!"

"W-what." Guzozo retorted, opening an eye.

"You're alive," Ponono sighed in relief.

"W-wish I wasn't, though," Guzozo mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his teeth. "G-geez. Wh-what happened?"

"Something bit you," Ponono weakly pulled her body over to him despite the fact that her ankle still hurt. "I think it was the bug."

"N-never felt anything that hurt this bad before…" Guzozo licked his lips. "…You… aren't you going to do something like suck the poison out?"

Ponono felt herself smiling wryly. "You don't do that. The bacteria could infect the wound and make it even worse."

"Y-you're the doctor."

Ponono sighed and ran her fingers through her messy white hair.

To think that this had all started on a vacation that she was actually beginning to look forward to…

"P-Ponono…"

"Yes?"

"S-signal for us, will ya?"

"What?"

Guzozo's fingers twitched as he materialized a gun. "Take it. S-signal for us so they'll at least know where to find us."

Ponono shook her head, afraid. "I've never handled firearms before."

"J-just find a place where you could see the sky, point up, and squeeze the t-trigger. Really, it ain't all that hard, sweetheart."

Ponono gingerly took the weapon and gazed up at the sky, where she could see the star-shaped clouds and the bright blue color deepen into the night. She pulled it up, ducked her head, closed her eyes, and pulled it.

The green and red firework-like bullets shrilled as they soared above the mass of trees, popping loudly when they finally touched the sky.

S.O.S.

Ponono bit her lower lip, dubious that anyone even knew they were gone.

"G-good job," Guzozo reached for his gun, dispersing its matter when his fingers came into contact with it.

Ponono ripped a piece of her dress and crawled over to the creek, trying to clean it as best she could before she squeezed the cool water out and crawling back to Guzozo to place it on his forehead.

"You're going to be okay," Ponono said softly, using another clean strip of cloth to wipe up his face.

"I-I'm going to die, aren't I?"

Ponono didn't answer right away as she moved over to wrap the cloth around his ankle where he was bit. "…I'm afraid that I can't tell you anything, Guzozo."

Ponono forced herself onto her feet with a limp as she tried to at least gather some sticks for firewood. Guzozo warned her against it, but she ignore him and did it anyway.

Guzozo grinned in admiration. Stubborn little thing.

He helped her set the twigs and moss aflame with a pistol, careful not to hurt or burn her as he did so. At least now they had a fire, although Ponono might have to go back and forth to keep it alive even though she still had a little bit left over.

Guzozo sighed, miserable. Why and when did everything go so wrong?

"Guzozo."

"Mm?"

Ponono fed another twig to the flame.

"…Thank you for carrying me," Ponono managed, staring down at her ripped skirt. She hugged herself. "I-if you hadn't have done so… we wouldn't have been in this situation-"

"Don't think about that; I would've still been bitten, either way," Guzozo assured her. He grit his teeth at the pain, but refused to let out a weak moan or groan. "O-or you would've… and we can't have that…"

"I would've preferred getting bitten," Ponono murmured.

Guzozo smirked dryly. "No you wouldn't, sweetheart. No you wouldn't."

The two settled in silence for a moment, listening to the crackle of the fire. To their surprise, Ponono was the one who decided to break it, clearing her throat.

"I want you to lie on my lap."

Guzozo gazed at her in bewilderment. "What?"

"I want you to lie on my lap." She smoothed the bottom of her dress and slid toward him. "I want you to be comfortable."

Guzozo looked around hesitantly. "…You sure?"

"Yes." Ponono sat a small space before his head. "Just rest it up here, please."

He grunted as he did so, sighing in sweet relief. "Thanks. Appreciate it."

"Don't mention it," Ponono said, looking away.

"…Hey, sweetheart?"

"…Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

Ponono stared down at him. "What?"

"I'm… I'm sorry about… e-earlier. I-I started it. I sh-shouldn't have been so inconsiderate…"

"…D-don't think about that now-"

"I have to, sweetheart," Guzozo mumbled. "You said I might not be okay, right?"

At this, she chose to not say anything. This bug bite was the most severe she had ever seen, and she greatly doubted it was a little thing that would go away in the morning. It needed medical attention. She massaged her forehead. She wished that she brought her kit with her…

"I'm sorry. I did it again. Being inconsiderate a-and all… I'm sorry." Guzozo's lips suddenly lifted to a grin. "N-now wait a second. I'm starting t-to sound like you." He let out a weak laugh.

Ponono was surprised to find herself smiling despite everything. For once she didn't mind his loud, amused chortles; rather, she found them comforting.

"How's your ankle?"

"It's fine," Ponono lied, gazing down worriedly at her covered up leg. She was just glad that she had a dress to hide the real injury. She didn't want to worry him after all…

She looked off to the trees and sighed, rubbing her arm. "…I'm… I apologize too. About earlier." She gazed down. "That was… I don't… I was mean. I'm sorry. All I wanted to do was hurt you for saying that-" She could feel herself at the verge of tears at the prospect that Guzozo might not make it, and all she could do was berate herself into thinking it had all started with that stupid little argument.

"Don't worry about it," Guzozo said. He reached his hand up and patted around his shoulder where he felt her hand, and gently touched it. "I'll be alright."

Still, he felt warm, wet drops fall against his hand.

"It's my fault…" Tears ran down her face. She embarrassedly wiped them away with her free arm. "It's all my fault…"

"Hey, hey," Guzozo said quickly, squeezing her hand. "I-if it's anyone's fault, it's m-mine."

"No…" Ponono whimpered. "I was the one who started it all. I'm so, so, so sorry."

Guzozo shook his head and made himself turn his head upward to see her face. "Listen, sweetheart. D-don't beat yourself up about this. It's f-fine. Th-things happen." He stared at her face when she decided to look back down at him. Under the pale glow of the moonshine, he could see the warm light envelope her and soften her features… her pale blue eyes the most slightly shimmering through her tears. He couldn't stop staring at those… eyes… "Y-you know, you… y-you have these real pretty eyes…"

Ponono blinked at him, and then quickly looked away. "…Thanks."

"Looks better when you smile, though."

"How would you know?" Ponono asked gently, her question more curious than sarcastic. "…I wear this mask all the time-"

"But I-I can see your smile through your eyes," Guzozo reminded her with a small grin. "Th-they turn upwards and just… I d'know. They shine." He closed his own and put his unoccupied hand on his belly. "I used to l-love making your kid laugh because of th-that. Had a r-real cute smile, like h-his mom."

His lips stretched more. "There it is. Th-there's that's s-smile." Ponono turned her head away, aghast to feel something warm spread across her cheeks.

I'm not getting a fever, am I? She thought worriedly. But then, why did I look away like I was nervous he'd see it?

They lay down/sat in silence for an awkward while again, unsure of what else to say.

Finally Ponono broke it again. "Why did you divorce your wife?"

Guzozo looked back at her in shock. "What?"

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking," Ponono stammered, the heat returning to her face. "I'm sorry, ignore what I was saying. I'm sorry."

Guzozo let go of her hand and put his own on his belly. Ponono pulled her hand back, for some reason beginning to miss the affectionate gesture.

Guzozo lowered his eyes to the trees in front of him. "Sh-she was a perfectionist," he began. "I-I found it admirable at first. R-real work ethical, y-you know?" He paused briefly, as if he was thinking about it himself. "She had d-dreams that always seemed to be t-too far to reach… one of w-which included our sons.

"She wanted them t-to be high ranking officers, w-wealthy, w-well known. That's none too surprising; I-I found myself reaching for those s-similar goals." Guzozo took a deep, shuddering breath. "U-unfortunately, she was willing t-to even… sacrifice… you can say, some things to g-get them. Scratch that… willing to s-sacrifice everything, and anything." He made a bitter smile. "Sh-she would come up with these training exercises and m-make our boys use them. Gave them requirements in order to pass… g-gave them 'punishments' if they didn't meet their quota."

"Punishments?" Ponono repeated, slowly.

"Oh yes," Guzozo shook his head. "I-I knew nothing about it, until one day… s-something came on… and a picture of a s-sea urchin came on the screen." He closed his eyes as if to shield himself to the memory. "Giroro- G-Giroro cried. He b-begged me to turn it off, grabbing on to me and crying. W-when I asked Garuru what it was about, h-he wouldn't tell me anything. So when I confronted… when I confronted her… we got in a fight."

Ponono remembered days before she heard of the divorce she had seen him with a black eye and multiple injuries. Sweet, innocent Giroro had told her when she asked that 'he had fallen down the stairs'.

"…Oh," Ponono murmured, bringing a hand to her covered mouth. "Oh. I.. I'm so sorry…"

"D-don't think too much about it, Sweetheart." Guzozo said.

Those words didn't ease a moment of her heavy thoughts.

All this time, she had assumed it was him, but it wasn't. He just was taking the blame for his wife's behavior without realizing it.

In fact, thinking about it, it all made sense now. That faraway, almost broken look he made when someone mentioned his ex-wife or his post-marital status, his children's attitudes, his missing wife. It all fit together perfectly, and yet she had just outright assumed that that was the case.

At least he had something of a reasonable excuse to point out that the others thought that she was marrying her husband for her money; heck, she's even heard it before among other people, and yet she didn't get as mad as she did.

Ponono's heart tightened when she remembered that hours prior, all Guzozo wanted to do was talk and find out why she had distanced herself from him. Had they talked earlier, everything would have settled, but… she didn't want to.

Ponono ran her fingers through her hair again, this time further loosening the bun and disentangling down to her shoulders. All this time she thought that she had finally gained some social skills, but apparently she still had a lot more to learn.

Guzozo snored slightly, turning his face to the right as he slept.

Ponono gazed down at him and smiled.

He isn't such a bad guy after all.

The next morning, he got worse.

Guzozo's face paled, and there were bouts of instants where he would struggle just to breathe.

Ponono watched in worry, patting his forehead with a wet cloth or feeding him an occasional bug she would recognize (and not tell him).

"Why d-don't I just die already?" Guzozo muttered.

"Don't say that," Ponono said worriedly.

Guzozo turned to the side. "It's t-true, though. It hurts too much."

"I thought you were a solider," Ponono reminded him.

"I never had to go through s-something like this."

Ponono had bind her ankle with two slats of wood that she had managed to find along with another ripped piece of cloth from her dress. Granted, she knew it wasn't going to heal right away, but at least it could begin with the healing process.

When Guzozo got thirsty, she would take off her medical mask for a moment, lean down the creek, suck the water into her mouth, and the come back and put it in his. Neither of them thought nothing of it; it was just a simple act of kindness.

But there were still times when the thought of an indirect kiss would cross both their minds.

And they shrugged it off.

"Hey, Ponono?" Guzozo glanced at the pale blue Keronian, who was slipping back on her mask.

"Yes?"

"…D-do you think we would've e-ever got together if we d-didn't fall out the plane?"

Ponono stared at him, and then gazed down at the ground.

"…I greatly doubt it. I'm sorry."

Guzozo waved her off with a lazy hand. "Don't be. I-I understand." He was quiet for an time, before he continued, "I-If I make it out of this alive, b-both of us, would you g-give me a chance?" Awfully blunt, Ponono thought, her face suddenly feeling warm again. She quickly brought her hands together and laced her fingers in between each other.

"…Never mind," Guzozo said dismissively when she didn't answer. "F-forget I said anything."

"I probably would."

Guzozo jumped slightly. "Wh-what?"

"If we do," Ponono said quietly. "Maybe. I might."

Guzozo relaxed. "I see."

"…Please, just… try to get better," Ponono bowed slightly. "I'll help you the best I can, but… but please try to motivate your body to get better."

Guzozo nodded, closing his eyes. "I will." He smirked a little. "I-I'm going to keep you to y-your word. You understand, r-right?"

"Yes," Ponono replied timidly. "I know."

"It's my fault, isn't it?"

Guzozo cringed. He wasn't exactly expecting anyone to be up, much less the little one.

"Well?"

"...I don't... know what you're talking about."

"Garuru said it's called a 'divorce'," Giroro said softly, pointing at the envelope in his father's hands. He gazed up with him with his slanted, gray-blue eyes... his mother's eyes. "I'm not stupid, dad."

Guzozo bit his lower lip and scratched the back of his own head. He finally sighed. "...It's complicated, Giroro."

"S-so I'm right," Giroro stammered, taking a tiny step back. "It is my fault."

"It's not your fault," Guzozo assured him.

"It's mine."

Giroro and Guzozo turned to see Garuru there at the door, arms folded in, his stature firm but uncomfortable. He walked over and placed a hand on Giroro's head. "It's not your fault. If it's anyone's, it's mine."

"It's not your fault either," Guzozo said, feeling a scowl come to his face. "Don't talk like that! Things... things like this happen. They don't work out." He sighed. "Don't blame each other, okay? I'm not blaming me, and I'm not blaming..." He paused, and then looked at them carefully, kneeling down to face them. "Mom was hurting you, okay? ...That was not good. That was not okay."

"Mom wanted us to be stronger," Garuru said, voice drifting slightly. "But I guess we weren't strong enough."

"You can still be strong without having to face that kind of abuse," Guzozo said, irritated. "What she was doing to you guys was not right. Do you understand?"

Giroro and Garuru remind quiet, and Guzozo rubbed his forehead.

"We don't," Garuru said finally, bluntly.

"Garuru," Guzozo turned to him. The older brother looked down. "...Do you want mom hurting Giroro?"

Garuru immediately raised his eyes to him. "No, of course not!"

"Mom was hurting Giroro. Is that alright?"

Realization softened his features. "...No."

"Giroro. Was it okay for mom to hurt Garuru?"

Giroro shook his head.

"What she was doing wasn't right," Guzozo told them, "And I have to do this to protect you. Okay?"

"Okay," The two brothers said softly in unison.

"Good. Now don't worry about it." Guzozo reached out and rubbed the tops of their heads, an affectionate gesture that he didn't do often, but mentally noted to do it more. "Now get back to sleep. It's late."

"...Dad?"

"Yes?"

Giroro looked up at him. "Promise me you won't leave us?"

Guzozo's eyes flickered over to the purple Keronian who was watching for his response as well.

"...Promise."

Guzozo woke up, darkness misting around him, Ponono's sleeping shape just a little ways off. He sighed, thinking vaguely about his kids. Now he knew he had to get better.

Of all the stupid planes, why did ours have to be the one that was dysfunctional?

Keriri was tapping his fingers against the table, staring at the telephone while his wife left to make him some tea.

When it was revealed that two of the passengers had accidentally been thrown off the plane, and the singled pair next to them magically disappeared, it didn't take long to put two and two together.

Keriri rested his forehead against the palm of his hand and crossed his legs.

Rescue helicopters and volunteers alike were searching the vast jungle for any sign of the passengers. Thus far, they had no luck.

He knew he could have faith in them to survive; Ponono being a skilled assassin and Guzozo a fierce soldier.

Just something in his gut bothered him, and he couldn't put his finger on it.

Keriri sighed as Terere placed a cup of tea beside him.

"We'll find them," Terere said gently. "Don't worry too much about it; it isn't a good look for you."

Keriri gave her a wry smile and picked up his mug. "Thank you, hon."

Ponono woke up to the smell of eggs.

Eggs? I didn't leave food overnight… much less eggs…

Ponono looked to the side, and saw Guzozo casually heating four small eggs with a stick pierced through them, turning them in the fire.

"Guzozo?!"

"Morning, sweetheart."

"Wh-what are you doing?!" Ponono began to get up but winced when she felt the pain weighing on her injured ankle. "A-aren't you sick?"

"Not anymore, apparently."

It had been two days since that awkward conversation, and since then, it honestly seemed that his body was forcing itself to heal, much to the doctor's amazement. His recovery was incredible; she wondered what could have possibly changed to dramatically improve the red Keronian's health.

But then she remembered a certain medical article... couldn't exactly put her finger which one... put it stated that if a patient had the strongest of motivations to get better, their body would. It was all a matter of psyche, something that had fascinated her.

But just what motivated him to heal so quickly?

Perhaps the thought that her promise to him would do that, but she wasn't so egotistical; it had to be either a coincidence, or at most, simply a factor. Or something. Still... even if the prospect of, what he dubbed "getting together" was a factor...

She felt her face grow warm again. Ugh.

"Eat your breakfast, or I'll eat it for you."

"R-right," Ponono murmured, hastily seating in front of him while taking care to put less pressure on her foot. "I'm sorry. Th-thank you." She squeaked and bounced the hot fresh-from-the-fire egg between her two hands before eventually landing it on her lap. She blew on her fingers, whimpering about them being burnt.

Guzozo gave her an odd look. "…Okay…"

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing, and I'll forgive you."

Ponono buttoned her lips and returned her attention to the now cooled egg, flicking it on the side to crack it before peeling the outer layer to get to the inside.

"Now if only we had some salt," Guzozo muttered, looking at his own egg carefully.

"It's food," Ponono reminded him. "We should try and build up our strength."

"True," Guzozo said, smacking his egg on a rock. "Beats eating bugs, that's for sure."

Ponono's eyes widened, and she lowered her head in embarrassment as she uttered several more "I'm sorry's".

The soldier laughed. "It's fine. Didn't mind the taste. Sort of."

Ponono bit into the soft white flesh, her face flushing at the prospect that she was eating real food, a privilege she had not been given for days.

"Good, isn't it?" Guzozo asked her, perking an eyebrow.

"Yes," Ponono said with a small giggle. "Thank you again for the food."

"Don't mention it." He eyed her briefly. It was strange seeing so much of her skin. Not in a perverted sense, of course, but she had ripped nearly the entire bottom of her dress, using it for what he knew as cloth for basic needs. He felt bad she had to ruin it, but then again, that was the same dress he saw her in every time he met her. Either she really loved that dress and wore it often, or had plenty of other exact copies of it and wore it everyday because she could.

"Done?" Guzozo stood up and clapped his hands together.

"Yes." Ponono sat back, calmer than he had seen her as of recent. "Now what do we do?"

"We wait," Guzozo explained, finger pointing up at the sky. "I'll shoot another signal. Hopefully someone's actually looking for us."

"And until then?"

"We… wait."

"O-oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Guzozo felt that this exact conversation was going to happen often. "You're fine."

"Shouldn't someone be finding food, or firewood, though?" Ponono inquired. "Should I do that?"

"Watch the fire," Guzozo instructed. "I'll deal with it."

"No, you just got better-"

"Hey, Sweetheart?" Guzozo shot her a strict look. "You took care of me, now it's my turn to return the favor." He saluted with two fingers. "I'll be back shortly." He materialized a gun and ran off into the brush, his figure disappearing all too quickly.

Ponono felt like she wanted to hit him; not in a mean way, but just for being so stubborn. She sighed and leaned back against a tree, taking off the stilts of her ankle to rub it. She winced.

It was swollen, blue and slightly black due to all the strenuous exercise that she was not supposed to be doing.

It still hurt, no doubt about that.

Usually it takes about a week for something like this to heal,

Ponono thought, nervous about the fact. Possibly more, with my condition. I hope someone comes to get us soon…

"I found the wood!"

Ponono gazed up at him in surprise. It normally took her quite awhile to find anything; then again, he didn't have a sprained ankle…

Guzozo dropped the pieces of wood on the floor beside the fireplace, squatting down briefly to throw some in there and make the flame just a little bigger. Ponono watched him, seeing the fire flicker in his crimson eyes. It was mesmerizing, like looking into the eyes of a tiger…

"You're staring."

"O-oh. I-I'm sorry." Ponono quickly looked down.

"I don't mind," Guzozo said with a grin. He stood up and put his hands on his hips. "Now…" He blinked at foot and frowned. "You told me you were okay."

"I-I am fine!" Ponono stammered, hastily reassembling the stilt against her ankle. "R-really. It's n-no big deal!"

He walked toward her. "Let me see."

"G-Guzozo. I'm the doctor. It's fine-"

Guzozo let out a yelp as he tripped on a rock and stumbled forward, catching himself just above her.

"Who put that rock there?" He muttered, embarrassed at such a clumsy display.

And then he realized that he was face to face with Ponono, literally just short of an inch away.

Ponono's pale blue face adopted a dark red color as she ducked her head down. "U-um.."
An unusual hot feeling spread across his cheeks, and he quickly pushed himself off of her. "I-I didn't mean-"

"I-I understand. I-It's okay."

The two sat in extremely awkward silence for a moment.

"…S-so…" Guzozo stuttered, returning his attention to her. "Let me see your foot."

"Guzozo, it's fi-" She squeaked in pain, cringing as he carefully unwrapped it to take a look at it. He gave a similar look, biting his lower lip at her predicament.

"I didn't know you hurt yourself so bad," Guzozo said quietly. "And you were still taking care of me."

"You… y-you were possibly dying," Ponono murmured, her eyes drifting away to the ground. "b-but you aren't anymore… so… s-so it was worth it."

Guzozo gazed back up at her, but she still wouldn't look back at him.

It was so embarrassing now. Why?

She suddenly felt something rub her leg, and she felt her face flush again. She shot her head to Guzozo, who was gently massaging her foot, not quite touching the swollen area. "W-what are you doing?"

"When my wife was gravid, her feet would swell," Guzozo explained calmly. "I would do this often to soothe it."

As much as she hated to admit it, she actually felt really relaxed.

Ponono let out a tiny sigh and leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes. "…Thank you."

"Don't mention it, sweetheart."

"We found an S.O.S. signal somewhere around here," A Keronian confirmed to his superior, the Demon Sergeant.

Keriri pressed his walkie-talkie down and spoke through it, "Good. See if you can get more people around that area."

A distant shout that sounded like a distinct, "Hey!" stopped him from ending the call.

Another voice immediately took over the first one despite the previous Keronian's protests. "We have someone else contradicting his statement, sir."

Keriri held in a groan. "What do you mean?"

"I mean someone else had issued another signal, and it's in a completely different area."

"Send… send people to both, then," Keriri said, his voice slightly faltering. "Just see if you could find them, okay?"

"Roger."

Night had fallen again, staining the pale blue sky with inky darkness, sprinkling scattered stars in the shape of constellations. Guzozo and Ponono were lying down and watching them, pointing out what picture they saw and playfully arguing about which one was actually the more distinct one. So far they had wrestled the images of what looked like a space cyborg, a Pekoponian, Dororo's little brother, and yellow jelly beans.

They had finally given up after a while and just lay content with gazing at the beauty of the twinkling stars.

"…Hey, Ponono?"

"Mm?"

"If you could have anything right now, what would it be?"

"I just want to go home."

"Hey, that doesn't count."

Ponono giggled. "Honestly, that's all I really want."

"Oh right… you're rich. You can have everything you want."

Ponono shook her head mildly, smiling. "You would think that, but…" Her eyes flitted from the sky to his face briefly, quickly turning back to the stars when he noticed and turned to look at her. She laughed nervously. "Let's just say money can't buy everything you want."

"I never had the luxury of experiencing that, though," Guzozo pointed out, feeling a little awkward that he had assumed that she was staring at him. "So I want lots of things."

"Like what?"

Guzozo shuffled slightly in place. "Err, well…" He smirked. "That's something for me to keep to myself."

"Hm."

The two were quiet for a still moment, the only sound around them the soft chatter of the night animals and the crackle of the flame near their feet.

Ponono glanced to the side again, where she saw Guzozo hastily look away. She smiled. "…Were you staring at me?"

"Hmph," Guzozo felt the warm sticky feeling against his cheeks again. He made a sly grin. "Like you want me staring at you."

"Like you want me to want you to be staring at me," Ponono repeated, her tone a bit mischievous.

"Do you?"

"Depends on your answer."

"You may be easy on the eyes, bu…" Guzozo's voice drifted, and he widened his eyes. He shot a look at Ponono, who was watching him in bewilderment. "…Were we just flirting with each other?"

Ponono's face took on a full blush as she turned her whole body away. "G-good night!"

Dumbfounded, Guzozo simply let it go, probably for once in his life deciding to stay stupidly quiet besides the raging emotions and thoughts that slammed through his head mercilessly.

….Huh.

He woke up to her sleeping face toward him. She looked so small, so peaceful, like that day on the plane, when she was right next to him, her head drooping on his shoulder. Her arm was bent upward, her hand between them.

Guzozo timidly reached out and rested his own hand on top of hers, fingers lacing through each other.

"I see you."

He flinched, twitching his hand above hers. He warily gazed up into her eyes, and was startled to see her smiling.

"It's okay." Ponono whispered, gently taking his hand in hers. She closed her eyes again and began to fall asleep again, her breaths slow and soft and even.

"Hey, Ponono?"

"Mmhm?"

"…Um… are you cold?

"What?"

"…Are you cold? Like, is the fire…?" His voice drifted, as if he was too embarrassed to continue.

Ponono gazed back up at him, understanding what he said. "A tad."

Guzozo scratched his neck. "…Would you like me to… I d'no… like, hug you, or something…?"

I wouldn't mind," Ponono said mildly. Before he could say anything else, she slid toward him, right under his belly, and allowed him to wrap his arms around her.

They're amphibious; they didn't really feel any real warmth radiating from each other as they held each other close. But that wasn't what going through their minds right now.

Loud sounds woke them up at the same time. Guzozo quickly summoned several guns, and she a few butcher knives. They stood by each other in a battle stance, completely prepared.

Or, at least, they had thought so.

"What…?" Ponono murmured, wincing under the blinding light.

Guzozo had to disintegrate his weapons to matter in order to cover his ears from the loud, hovering choppers above them.

"What's going on?!" The two Keronians screamed to each other, but all in vain.

Keronians from all over quickly surrounded them, shining their lights over them and chattering in an almost foreign, hasty language. Several were yelling excitedly on walkie-talkies, a few were quickly throwing blankets over the blue and red Keronians, some were asking them questions with words that spun too fast, and a green in particular was running up to them in sweet relief, a tired look in his eyes and a calmed smile.

It wasn't until this green Keronian wrapped two arms around them when they realized that they were now given the one thing that they have been absolutely craving for the past couple of days in the wild, crazy jungle: they were finally going home.

The two, being fairly prominent in their own positions, refused the idea of being questioned by newscasters and journalists alike, instead seeking refuge in Ponono's large private mansion.

The four friends cheered their good fortunes, clacking wine glasses against each other, the transparent liquid sloshing slightly in the air.

"I still can't believe we found you!" Terere said, her eyes on the brink of tears. She sniffed and quickly wiped them with her apron. "I honestly thought we never were going to!"

"And she was the one who told me not to give up hope," Keriri said, chuckling at the irony. "But in all honesty, I also have to agree with her… I knew you two were strong- no, seriously- but I sincerely thought that you two weren't going to make it, all alone like that." He leaned forward and gestured to Ponono's ankle. "Especially with wounds like that."

"That was nothing," Ponono said, hiding her foot under her dress, "Guzozo got bitten a poisonous insect, and…" She paused and then blushed, a sudden thought coming to mind. She looked down, not knowing what else to say.

Guzozo caught this and casually looked the other way, coughing into a closed palm. "I got better," he said nonchalantly, flicking an invisible mosquito off his shoulder.

"…Okay," Terere said, gently putting down her wine glass. "Let's face the music, shall we?" She gazed at the light blue and dark red frogs, her hands on her hips. "Be honest with me now; do you two feel that your relationship has gotten stronger through this experience?"

Guzozo and Ponono shared knowing glances.

"…I suppose you could say that," Ponono said softly, a smile coming to her face.

Guzozo nodded. "Agreed."

Terere gazed at her husband with womanly wisdom, and all he could do was shake his head at her sad attempts to play matchmaker.

One thing he knew, and that he always knew, and that he always will know; the most their relationship was going to go was that strong, friendly bond, and that was all. Two different frogs with absolutely nothing in common, that was what he was sure of. There was absolutely no way that this casual friendship was going to evolve into something romantic. It would be too silly, something out of a romantic fan fiction of some sort. No. He was sure of it. There was absolutely no way those two were going to get together. It just wasn't possible.

"How does it feel?"

"Mm?"

Terere and Keriri had to go home; he got drunk again and she had to drag him back to their house before they got caught by the police again. Guzozo managed the abstain from drinking more than he had to in order to keep a stable mind. He wanted to talk to her again since their time in the jungle.

"To be back home," Guzozo explained, picking up the emptied glasses and putting them in the sink. He switched on the faucet, only to be gently pushed to the side by Ponono, who had rolled up her sleeves and began washing the dishes.

"Great," Ponono answered warmly. "It feels wonderful."

"No kidding," Guzozo grinned. "The first thing I personally want to do is send my sons a training course through the use of chocolate boxes. It works every time."

Ponono giggled. "I suppose you know what's best for your boys…" She paused in consideration. "I should really visit my own, you know. I haven't seen them in a while, what since Dororo became a Pekoponian protector and his brother a space pirate." She consented in letting him help when he insisted and took the glasses from her to dry them.

"We should both do that," Guzozo agreed, setting the cups to the side. "…Hey, sweetheart."

The nickname made her heart pound, for some reason. Strange, considering that very nickname wanted to make her grab at the words and twist them into unrecognizable words. "Yes?"

"It's about time you tell me, you know."

"What?"

"That last night, we were telling each other what we wanted most."

"…Oh, that's right." She looked at her reflection through one of the glasses. "…What about it?"

"I know you know what you want. You can tell me, you know."

Ponono gave him a side glance before she sighed. "…I want my husband back."

Guzozo was quiet for a moment, finishing the last of the dishes.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Ponono laughed gently, glad that she wasn't the one apologizing for once. She looked out her window. "…That's just something that I personally wish for. It's a shame that, you know…" Her shoulders drooped slightly, "…that's just not one of the things you can buy with money."

Guzozo reached out and gently gave her a squeeze. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad with that, by the way."

"I know." His touch felt much more natural now, and less forced and more… comforting. She actually wanted his hold to last longer than it did. "…And… what about you?"

Guzozo slapped the towel against his hand. "Secret."

Ponono smirked at him. "What?"

"It's a secret," Guzozo mirrored her expression. "It's something that I'd rather not say."

"And why not? Is it too embarrassing?"

"Nah. It's something I already have."

They gently teased each other, Ponono trying to pry the information out of his mind, while he stayed stubbornly shut, taunting her with his unattainable thoughts. It lasted up until it grew late enough that Guzozo had to leave, and Ponono was getting tired. They followed each other out the door into the dark starry night, watching each other and bidding each other good night.

Ponono perked a brow at him. "I'll figure it out some day. Watch."

Guzozo's mischievous smile softened. "Yeah, I know you will, sweetheart. You'll figure it out soon enough."

Ponono made something of a face.

Guzozo frowned. "What?"

"There's just… something in your eye."

"What? No kidding?"

"No kidding. I think Terere might have had something to do with it."

Guzozo rubbed his eye irritably, muttering about how the prank-loving Keronian was going to get it when her own guard was down.

"Do you need help?" Ponono asked, stepping out from her house.

"Yeah, I would appreciate it," Guzozo muttered.

"Come here, then."

One footstep closer, and he felt warm lips press against his.

He was so glad it was dark.

Because his entire face lit up like a firecracker.

"Good night," Ponono giggled, closing the door.

Guzozo stared at it in absolute bewilderment, before something of a small grin stretched against his lips. He bowed gratefully, despite the fact that she wasn't there, and left, the wish that he had made lingering wonderfully in his mind, and thanking whoever was watching over him that it was able to come true...

Your love's a gathered storm

I chased across the sky

A moment in your arms

Became the reason why,

You alone are my light,

I would give anything to feel,

You in my arms tonight.

About one year later, Dororo and Giroro learned upon receiving intricate wedding invitations to their absolute horror that they were going to be step brothers whether they wanted to be or not.

So. I'm done. I'M. DONE. WOOT. And this is my first, what, legitimate romance story? Woot….

If I am ever going to do a sequel (which I highly doubt) it will be comedic. Oh my frog. The wedding and Dororo's and Giroro's reactions XDDD But I doubt I'm going to write it because if I do decide to do that, it'll end up being probably more intricate than this one, highlighting some other factors that this story didn't get to go through.

And also... sorry if if seemed a bit rushed in the end. Please don't be too harsh... *wince*

Also! The quote at the end isn't mine. I think it's the Goo Goo Dolls, but I'm not too sure.

OH WELL. I hope you enjoyed. Yaaaay. *cheer*