Episode 4

Mao yawned widely, pulled open the door and stood there stretching. Thoughts of last night entered her mind and a small smile appeared on her lips. The three of them had ganged up on Nino (Thanks to her powers of persuasion.). He fought a good fight but he was theirs in the end. He was no match against her Kamekameha although he had adamantly refused to be ‘wounded’ because of that. (It’s considered cheating! He had said.) But Jun and Aiba had sided with her (always did) to his chagrin. And in the end he had to walk the plank. (We’re not pirates!)

She thought back endearingly to the three goofballs. Boys will be boys. They probably looked ridiculous; grown people playing like kids. But it has been a while she had this kind of innocent fun. Somehow Kazu seems to make her remember the kid in her. She didn’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing though… From the corner of her eye, she saw him step out of his door and also stood their stretching and yawning. He seemed to have noticed her. They then smiled sleepily at each other as Mao held up the alien greeting sign. But then they suddenly paused; eyes snapping to the bathroom.

Their gazes locked again and then- Mao hurriedly started towards it but Nino was one step ahead of her as he covered her face with his hands and pulled her back. She yelped as Nino quickly sprinted away and slammed the bathroom door shut. Mao cried out exaggeratedly, pretending to have gotten hurt in the process.

“That’s not going to work this time!” he yelled at her. She had already fooled him twice (She sounded really hurt those times!) But this time, no Milky Way. Heh? What was he saying now?

Mao growled at the door. He was getting smart. Her eyes then caught something.

Nino smirked smugly inside the bathroom. Ten points to the Jedi Team! He went towards the sink when his eyes fell on something. They widened in shock. He grabbed the bottle and flung open the bathroom door, glaring. She wasn’t in her room. Where- *Woklings! He ran towards his room and found her standing there, looking around, mouth slightly agape.

Mao could only blink at his sort of shrine to Star Wars. Everything was there from action figures, action figures still in boxes, mugs, caps, masks, stickers,lunchboxes, candy dispensers, dolls, toy blasters, C3PO costume, Princess Leia slave poster (Naughty Kazu!)… She stopped when she got to the cereal boxes and the fan club patches.

“Geek,” she softly breathed out.

“Girls shouldn’t just barge into a guy’s room!” he said as he tried to pull her out.

Mao made a face at him.

“You’re from outer space, Kazu. Not the prehistoric times. I just want to look around. It’s like a mini-museum,” she said as she walked towards the table, reaching out for a still boxed Darth Vader toy. (Complete with hologram card!)

Before she could grab it, Nino had snatched it away and in the process had bumped his computer’s mouse and his desktop blinked on. Mao narrowed her eyes at his wallpaper (that looked suspiciously like a photoshopped picture of him and Princess Leia) as Kazu quickly shut off the monitor. He needed to distract her.

He held out the almost empty bottle he was holding and glared at her. “Why are you using my Star Wars shampoo? I was planning on using it slowly! (Stay away from the shower gel!)”

“It smells good,” Mao shrugged. “You really didn’t notice I’ve been using that this whole time?”

“That’s coz I don’t go about smelling you or something!” he scowled.

“Well, maybe you should next time,” she batted her eyelashes, teasing him.

“Can you stop throwing around comments like that?” Nino chided. Guys might think they can take advantage of her. She should be more careful.

Mao waved that away as she grabbed a stormtrooper mask off his cabinet and then just noticed something. She then turned towards him with an accusing stare.

“You have an air conditioner here in your room? I’ve been sweating being miserable and you didn’t tell me? How come my room doesn’t have one?”

“We have to save on electricity! It doesn’t come cheap!’

Mao narrowed her eyes at him. She shrugged it off. She’s going to use it whenever she feels like it whether he likes it or not. Nino made a mental note to always lock his room now. Her eyes swept the room again.

“This is some dedication. Are you going to have the same dedication… with Aoi…?”

Slight pause for both of them. What the hell? Why is she suddenly bringing up Aoi? And why does she care anyway? No, she doesn’t. His bedroom must be some kind of portal to a wacked dimension, making her think weird thoughts. She then put on the stormtrooper mask and turned to Nino.

“To infinity and beyond!” she shouted, raising her arm up. Who’s the geek now, really?

Nino blinked at her. “That’s not from Star Wars.”

“Really? They should have thought of that. It’s pretty catchy.”

“Aren’t you a little short to be a stormtrooper?” Nino quipped. Hmm… Wait a minute…

“It’s a line from the movie, huh?” Mao smirked as she took off the mask. Nino feigned innocence.

She chuckled at him. Too cute. And then stopped that thought. Feeling restless, she then grabbed a boxed Luke Skywalker as Nino winced.

“What will happen if I open this one?” she asked innocently.

“No,” he choked out as he reached out his hand. He’s trying to maintain it in mint condition, having the idea that these will someday make him rich. A guy could dream.

“I’m just going to kidnap him for a while,” Mao said, grinning as she inched towards the door. “You can have him back after I take my shower.”

“Don’t take him to the bathroom! Something might happen to him!”

Mao faked an evil laugh while Nino could only stand there. “Oh, and I’ll have that shampoo back now.”

Cancel that ten points for him. He watched dejectedly as Mao left the room. Growling, he opened his monitor; He was going to change his wallpaper to avoid any unnecessary questions in the future. An MSN message popped up. He’s won the Ewoks plush dolls!

“Woo-hoo! In your face DarthVaderRox!” he yelled out loud as he did a little victory dance. Who in the world would want a username like that anyway? Sounds like a loser. (Trivia: His username is HaNdsomeSoLo.)

“Geeeeeeeeek,” he heard someone say behind him and saw Mao standing at the door watching him with amusement in her eyes as he froze in place.

**

Mao searched the shelves for her favourite Bubble Yum watermelon flavoured gum as she happily sipped her Slurpee while Aiba went to get one too. A guy bumped into her. She looked up and was staring into a pair of attractive eyes. The guy blew past her as if she didn’t exist. She made a face at his back and stuck her tongue out. Grabbing the gum, she then walked towards the counter as Aiba waved at her from the Slurpee machine, waiting for the light to go off.

Her eyes then went to the entrance that welcomed the new customers. She froze, dropped the gum, eyes widening. She then quickly ducked, rushing towards the back and then made her way near the door and ran out, hoping no one noticed. Finding a parked motorcycle, she hid behind it hoping it will serve as a good cover. She took the helmet and put it on just in case.

“I can’t wait for your sweet sixteen party,” she then heard one of the girls that came out.

The other girl chuckled somewhat awkwardly. “Yeah… But I wish-“

Mao tuned out their conversation, breathing a sigh of relief when they were gone. She stood up and an annoyed voice greeted her.

“Take that off.” It was the guy who bumped into her.

She slowly took it off and regarded him silently. Her eyes went to the packet of cigarettes in his hand, some candy and… Mao stared he was holding a soft frog coin purse/wallet thing. It looked a bit battered but still useable. And almost familiar. And somehow it didn’t suit him. The guy frowned at her, took a step and snatched the helmet off her hand, startling her. Mao watched as he got on his motorcycle and turned on the ignition.

“Hey Frogman, what’s your name?” she asked, stepping beside him.

Frogman ignored her, put on his helmet and prepared to drive off. His motorcycle lurched forward as she made to kick it behind him. He sped away as she stared after him disdainfully. She would have liked him coz he liked frogs. Assuming he really did and he doesn’t carry that around just for the heck of it. Bah. Her mood took a nosedive as thoughts of earlier crept into her mind. For some weird reason, she wanted to see Kazu right now.

“Are you picking up other guys while you’re with me?” Aiba said, clicking his tongue, holding his Slurpee as he stepped out.

“Of course not, my little Amoeba!” (Can’t you come up with a cuter nickname for me?)

“I’ll take you to some place interesting. How about that?” she added, grinning up at him as Amoeba smiled.

**

Nino wiped a plate dry, feeling a bit frustrated. He had been late that morning because someone took her precious time in the bathroom but thank Obi Wan Luke was okay when she got out. Despite what happened, it was a wonder how the thought of wanting her to move out as soon as possible didn’t cross his mind. He hadn’t thought about it that much today. Just once. Twice. Thrice… Wookiees! Is she growing on him?

Jun had noticed his slightly dark mood and commented on it. he thought it was best to let his frustrations and thoughts out.

“You know what my theory is?”

“No, I don’t want to hear it.”

Nino ignored him. “My theory is Inoue is part of an alien species called- erm-“

What would be the best witty remark for that?

“Moo.”

Jun stared at him.

“Yeah. She’s part of this alien species called Moo from the Planet Glog (Great Leechers of the Galaxy!) whose sole purpose is to come down to Earth to find people and suck the life out of them. Exhibit A. Me. There’s no other explanation how that girl can be so impossible and aggravating!”

Nino scowled as Jun just stared at him silently. “Don’t you ever wonder how she found me so conveniently?”

“You should ask them to beam your brain back. Seriously.”

“I really should get rid of her and you guys aren’t helping me!”

Jun grinned at him. “At least she’s added a bit of color in your life.”

Nino pouted, not wanting to admit that. He had been happy with his life before. Gar.

“Besides, haven’t you always wanted to experience an alien encounter? You just got your wish. Hey… Aiba isn’t here?”

Nino shook his head and explained it was his day-off distractedly. Alien encounter, huh? He’s always imagined they would take him to their spaceship and he’d be in the middle of an intergalactic war as their hero. Heh.

Jun narrowed his eyes. “I bet he’s with Mao right now.”

Nino rolled his eyes. “You two are really willing to let her string you along? Who knows how many guys she has?”

“She’s cute and exciting. Besides, it’s not anything serious. It’s an unspoken understanding.”

“I somehow don’t believe that. With Aiba, maybe. But you should have become bored of her by now.”

Jun scoffed. “That’s because it’s not everyday I meet a ‘Moo’.”

“Hmm…. Why do I get the feeling you’re being sarcastic?”

“That’s coz I am.”

Jun had left before Nino could go into more of his theories, leaving him to sulk on his own. His eyes caught the cinnamon rolls. Hm, he should put one aside now for Inoue before they run out, not really realizing his own thoughts and actions as he carefully picked one out (He made sure it was the biggest one.).

“This place isn’t interesting! It’s where I work!” he heard Aiba’s voice. He whirled around and was startled to see Inoue and Aiba coming in to the back.

“Kazu-ki!” Mao greeted Nino as she walked towards him, Aiba pouting behind her. “Can you come out now?”

“Why are you inviting him to come with us?”

“My dear Amoeba, you’re the one not coming with us! You are going to substitute for Kazu today!”

“Heh?” Nino and Aiba. (This is my day-off! And what did I say about my nickname? Aiba.)

“I promise not to see Jun for two days,” Mao batted her eyelashes at him.

The Moo species have an ability to brainwash and hypnotize people to do as they command.

“A week.”

“Done! Absence makes the heart grow fonder is what I feel when it comes to you,” Mao smiled sweetly at him.

“She wants me,” Aiba nudged Nino.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Come on Kazu-ki!” she said as she blew a kiss at Aiba.

The Moo species also has the ability to render a person immobile and make them follow them blindly.

**

“What do you really want?” Nino grumbled. They were now walking home through the shortcut. Mao had jumped up on the narrow ledge on the side and was balancing herself as she walked, arms stretched out at her sides. Nino looked at her with a frown. He knows it’s summer but she could at least not show too much skin.

“Can’t you just be happy I got you off work?” Mao replied.

He shifted the bag of cinnamon roll in his hand. “I would be much happier at work.”

“I knew that. So I purposely want to irk you and make you spend time with me,” she laughed. Nino growled as he watched her play around.

“Get down from there. You might fall.”

She gave a smile at his words. “I just needed the calming effect you have,” she then supplied an explanation.

Nino frowned at that. Calming effect huh? But he was always on pins and needles when she’s around. “What for?”

Mao didn’t answer as she had her tongue out, concentrating on balancing herself. What’s the use? He thought, grimacing.

“So you got me off work for nothing? You just have nothing better to do huh?”

“I have more fun with you,” she suddenly chirped.

Nino looked at her. No one has ever said that to him. Maybe just his online buddies. “By fun, you mean I’m the one that you can get to do anything you want the easiest, right?”

“Yep! Besides, this might also be a good time to take your C3PO costume to the dry cleaners,” she then teased, laughing.

Nino scowled at her. “I now wish you’d fall off so I can leave you for dead.”

“Ha! I bet you don’t have the guts.”

“Of course I have!”

“Really now?” she challenged and then pretended to lose her balance. Nino yelped and quickly ran near her as she laughed wickedly. But then she really lost her balance and landed in his arms.

“Oof!” he huffed as he caught her, breaking her fall.

She laughed up at him and at her blunder, leaning against him.

“I don’t know what you do to me,” he groaned as he shook his head.

Mao’s laugh slowly trailed off as she looked at him. He really is a nice guy… Such a dork and geek. Geerk! Heh? But still… he was someone you really want to depend on… Why is that? Her heart skipped a beat. She froze and then pushed Nino away hard.

Nino yelped. “Oi! What’s the big deal?” he asked frowning, rubbing his chest.

Mao’s eyes darted left and right. Her heart shouldn’t be skipping around right now! It’s just Kazu! Silly, geeky Kazu!

“Why are you scowling? I didn’t do anything!”

“Nino? Mao?” a voice called behind.

They turned around and found Aoi smiling at them. Mao’s eyes snapped to Nino and she rolled her eyes at his expression.

**

“You and Mao seem really close,” Aoi said as she watched Nino tinker with the radio. She had asked him if he could come fix it for her and he answered after Mao had kicked him in the shin for just staring.

Nino’s head snapped to her and he gave a forced laugh. Close? Yeah, coz she’s tied a noose around his neck. His eyes narrowed at the image of Mao in his mind. And his shin was still smarting! Trying to help, huh? He grumbled at what Mao’s reason for kicking him awake. She could try a gentler way!

“Your relationship looked to be kinda special aside from the father’s cousin’s mother’s nephew’s niece part,” Aoi chuckled softly.

His thoughts went back to Aoi. He loves hearing her laugh. His heart pounded.

“Still, I can’t wait for summer to be over and she goes away,” he said wistfully. Hoping silently that truly is the case or he’ll make her!

“Why is that?”

Nino cleared his throat. He knew it sounded bad. “Well, nothing against her. I’m just the type who likes peace and quiet.”

Aoi smiled at that. “Ah, I’m like that too.”

And suddenly realizing what she said was weird because of her supposed meaning behind it, she then put her hand on Nino’s. “Would you like a rootbeer?”

Nino looked down at her hand. Aoi, laughing embarrassedly, then pulled away and quickly went to the kitchen. He swallowed hard.

**

Mao lay spread-eagled on the back porch frowning at nothing on the ceiling. She got up, glanced back at the door and laid down again, huffing. She did this repeatedly till she saw the front door slowly opening and then quickly lay still on her back. She heard him come out and sat down beside her.

“What are you doing?” she asked, frowning. He was looking at his right hand almost in awe.

“Aoi touched my hand…”

Mao scoffed and then pulling the KeroKeroppi throw pillow from under her head and threw it at him. It bounced off his head.

“You’re making me gag. If Aoi could see you right now, she’d be packing her bags to get away from the weirdo that is you,” she said as Nino glared at her.

“You won’t understand anyway,” he then said and lay down, still staring up at his right hand.

“What? Someone like Aoi touching you makes you feel you aren’t worthy?” Mao rolled her eyes.

Nino ignored her.

“She won’t ask you to go over to her house if she thinks that,” she told him, sounding a bit frustrated.

She felt Nino perk up, almost hopeful. It made her more restless. Although she had somehow wanted him to feel good about himself... It must be the heat!

“Let’s go to your room and open the air conditioner,” she then said, getting up.

“Heh? That’s not necessary. It’s not even that hot!”

Mao regarded him silently. Nino looked at her warily. He then yelped as she lunged for him and his keys.

“Y-You can’t touch that there!” he cried.

**

Chaos was everywhere! People and children were running around screaming. Wanting to get to safety. The monster was destroying everything in its path as it gave a blood-curling roar. It snatched up a handful of people and tossed them away. A Porsche was flattened under its clawed feet. Its tail smashed into a McDonald’s-

“Wait! Wait! Wait!” Nino called.

“What? We were just getting to the fun part!”

“There’s no McDonald’s in the Galactic Republic!” Nino protested. They were in his room, the air conditioner open (Yes, he was weak.), playing with his many Star Wars action figures (Those previously out of their boxes.)

“There can be! McDonald’s is everywhere!”

“And no way ‘Godzilla’ could exist there! Or in this case ‘Frogzilla,” he pointed at Mao’s stuffed frog. One of its eyeballs popping out.

“I say it can so it can!”

“It doesn’t even look scary. Well, maybe that eyeball thing…”

Mao made a face at him. “The Galactic Republic needs to have some changes.”

“It looks kind of funny,” Nino continued, bopping it on the head. “Why do you still keep that thing?”

“I like funny-looking things!” she said as she hugged it.

“Why did you look at me when you said ‘funny-looking’?” Nino said defensively.

She didn’t realize that she had. She paused. What the hell is she doing? That didn’t just happen.

“Anyway,” she said loudly, her face growing a bit hot. “’Frogzilla’ exists!”

“Fine! Then Luke is the wizard who’s going to stop him by turning him into a stuffed frog!”

**

Mao slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on her side on the bed. Her eyes went to Nino who was leaning against it, asleep, mouth slightly open. She stifled a laugh at the way he looked.

They had fallen asleep after destroying the whole Galactic Republic much to Nino’s dismay. Mao gazed at his profile for a moment, a feeling of content surfacing. She then hesitantly reached out and started playing with his hair gently. He never stirred.

With just him and a little imagination into a different world, her frustrations were forgotten. He was like this big toy she can always play with, she thought amused, as she looked at him. With him protesting all the way, for sure. Her eyes drooped and they slowly closed, a smile still playing on her lips.

**

Mao opened the fridge and frowned as she stared at what was inside. All the items had post-its stuck to them with ‘Nino’ on them. From the milk, the cheese, cherry tomatoes… Even the lone pickle that didn’t look edible. She shrugged and still took out the milk carton.

“That isn’t yours,” she heard Nino say as she was about to pour it into a mug.

“So?”

Nino snatched the milk away. “You’ve been eating all my food this whole while. Go buy your own!”

“Why are you even still here?” Mao grumbled.

“I’m going to the grocery to restock. Someone’s been pigging out,” he glared pointedly.

“I’ll just give you money then. Go buy my share,” she rolled her eyes at him as she headed to her room while Nino yelled she should be coming with.

She entered her room and went to her drawer, shaking her head at how stingy he is. Grabbing her wallet, she opened it. Heh? She searched her drawer thoroughly. After a while… Uh-oh.

**

Mao’s dark scowl was evident she wasn’t successful in getting money from her ATM. Nino watched her warily as she pulled on her shirt, frustrated. Or his shirt to be exact. He had insisted she not wear the usual things she has. Mao had stared at him and then protested. There was nothing wrong with what she wears! It’s too hot to be all covered up anyway.

“Don’t forget I am still the landlord. And I have put up the rules,” he had said to her.

Mao narrowed her eyes at him. “You really enjoy calling yourself landlord huh? You like being called (land)Lord Kazu, right?” she teased.

Nino shushed her and went to retrieve a proper shirt for her. His ‘I Heart Darth’ shirt.

“I thought you didn’t like Darth?”

“He has his moments, okay?”

Mao gave an amused smile. “Sounds like someone I know,” she said flippantly as he frowned.

But she did look quite cute in it, he thought almost grudgingly. Something he thought that would never come across his mind. Nino watched as she gave a frustrated growl. Her furious eyes then snapped to him. Automatically, he held his hands up. It was better to be safe. She didn’t look too happy. Did her family cut her off?

“There’s no other choice,” she gritted then took out her cellphone.

**

Nino was still staring up at the house, Mao’s house to be exact, his mouth slightly agape. She had left him outside the gate and went in. (Stay here and don’t ask questions.) It appears her family was well-off. What is really up with her? He heard the door open with Mao quickly stepping out, walking briskly towards him and then hurriedly pulling him.

“Nee-chan!” someone called behind them.

Nino turned his head back and saw a young girl standing there, brow furrowed with concern.

“I told you not to call me that!” Mao’s voice snapped with a finality.

Nino looked at her startled and something in her eyes warned him not to say, ask or do anything. They quickly distanced themselves as the girl behind could only stare after them.

**

Nino glanced at Mao beside him. They were now sitting on the bus headed for the mall. She had announced she was hungry so they should eat first and then do the grocery. He hadn’t asked anything or brought up what happened earlier though it still nagged at him. The way she had looked and sounded… He glanced at her again and then shook his head. Right now though, she had fallen sound asleep like nothing weird had happened earlier. Her head swayed and it fell on his shoulder.

He looked at her grimacing, and gently lifted her head off with a finger but Mao was dead weight now. He slowly inched away. No use; She was still leaning against him. He inched forward in his seat. Mao slid off his shoulder and fell on his back. Nino winced as she jerked up, her eyes unfocused.

She had looked at him a while as he feigned innocence and then narrowed her eyes. So he doesn’t like that huh? She then linked her arms with his and pulled him close, putting her head on his shoulder, intending to sleep again. Nino sighed and pouted. But his eyes would involuntarily go to her from time to time, questions burning in his mind.

**

“I’m so hungry!” Mao exclaimed perkily, stretching her arms.

“Do you have money?” Nino asked, as they stood in line.

“Of course, Scrooge!”

“You got it from your sister?” he then asked carefully. He had been wanting to find a way to somehow talk about it.

“Should I get a Happy Meal?” she mused, pretending not to have heard him.

Nino regarded her silently for a moment. He sighed inwardly then turned his attention to the orders. Mao glanced at him. She knows he was concerned and – A conversation from a nearby table distracted her.

“Dude, look at that! How come she’s with a loser like him?” a guy said.

“I doubt they’re together. She would know better,” his friend guffawed. “He looks more like a distant relative. Really distant.”

“Like her father’s cousin’s mother’s nephew’s nephew?” Guffaws.

“Maybe we can go save her from that disaster eh?”

Mao’s eyes narrowed at what she was hearing, somehow feeling indignant for Kazu. She looked at him. His hair had that cowlick she finds adorable, he had on his ‘Star Wars Nut’ shirt he was quite proud of. He pulled out his money from his pocket. A coin fell out and rolled away as he tried to catch it. More guffaws. More insults. Oblivious, Nino came walking back with the coin as he blew on it and stopped beside her.

“Kazu-ki!”

Nino turned to her. And then he felt something soft on his lips. Mao’s lips. They stayed there as he looked at her, frozen.

He had always wondered what hurtling through space, walking on the moon, watching a supernova, being in a lightsaber battle with Darth Vader, (and other things he somehow was having a hard time recollecting…) would feel like… Somehow, he had the feeling this right now... what he was experiencing right now should be something close to those… And maybe much more…

*Holy Mother of Meteors...

===
Wokling- a term for a baby Ewok.
Holy Mother of Meteors - used by Han Solo.