(Later the next day, after the entire platoon was given a beating…)

Natsumi finished adjusting the bandages over Giroro's hand. He had reopened the cracked skin on his burned hand summoning his blaster.

The silence was a little awkward. Natsumi wasn't sure how to process the new emotions concerning her partner.

He loves me…and I certainly didn't hate that kiss…and he's one of my best friends…but how on earth could anything like a relationship work between us?

She needed a little more time to think.

"Giroro…what is this swallow shell for?"

Her partner blinked and touched the shell gently with his unburned hand.

It glowed and almost hummed.

"The trans-dimensional swallow shells are a wonderful and rare thing. They can shift between dimensions and exist in the space between the worlds."

He looked at Natsumi, "weapons specialists treasure them for their ability to become substantial armories…they are extremely difficult to find."

Natsumi smiled him, "How'd you find mine?"

He smiled at her with his one good eye.

"That's a secret I will never share."

Natsumi poked him in pretended offense and the two of them fell silent.

With his burning emotions satiated with the knowledge that she knew how he felt for her, Giroro was calm. However, he could sense Natsumi's internal confusion. There was one more thing he needed to tell her.

"Natsumi."

She looked up at him.

"Please don't feel like you need to claim love for me."

Her eyes widened, "But, I don't kno.."

Giroro cut her off, his voice gruff, "We are very different physically and it's true that such a thing could lead to problems for us later on. My heart will not change because of that difference. Regardless of who you wish to share your life with, I only ask that you allow me to protect you for the rest of mine."

Natsumi scooped him into her arms and buried her face into his shoulder. Giroro sighed as he felt her warm tears splashing on his cool skin.

"You know…you can be really sweet Red. You didn't even give me a chance to answer you. I don't know what the future holds for us, I don't know if we will be together forever, I don't know how we will handle the problems we encounter, but I do know one thing for sure…"

Giroro's heart sang with joy, as the one person he loved more than anything whispered softly into his ear.

"I will always love you, Giroro,"

She kissed his cheek and laughed.

"but you need to stop blushing every time I hold you."

Her keronian lover didn't hear her; he had passed out in her arms.

(Well, we have reached the end of this little tale. The author invites you to preview her 2 latest story ideas and vote on which one she will do first.)

Fin (For now)

I would like to take a moment to thank all my reviewers, Ashinka, crazywarriorgirl, Silver-skylight, Rainbowkittyblossomwings, Zany-Anime-Girl, RunwithscissorsXXXbattlescar s, joyfullyme16, Kikyoremura, giroroxnatsumi, Scanty-kneesocks, Mattie-Scary, TMNTLittleTomboy, Heinous966, Nessa the Otaku, Maned Wolf Godess, and the sweet unnamed guests, many of you left me multiple reviews and I enjoyed each of them!

Thank you for all the love! Let me know which story you'd like to read first.

Here are the stories:

Story 1:

A warrior princess burdened with the fate of earth, Natsumi is the only living being able to create the Bastion field. Little does she know that earth has already been invaded. What secret is her bodyguard, Red Gocho hiding? Alternate Universe (AU) setting.

This one has its prologue finished. =D I couldn't stop typing once I got the idea. It will probably be an extended story as it has a lot of potential.

Story 2:

While bumbling around the local arcade, Kululu "accidentally" creates a trans-dimesional field that pulls Natsumi and Giroro into the game Zombie Apocalypse. The only way they can escape is to defeat the brainless zombies, monsters, and traps, winning the game.

A shortish story, set within the anime.

Anyway, those are them! What do you all think and do y'all have any story requests or ideas you would like to see happen for our favorite characters. COntemplated a lemon...but I don't think I could bring myself to write one. Let me know your ideas!

So…one last time.

If it pleases you, Review!