Episode 9

**

Nino with his eyes still shut, stepped out of his room and slowly made his way to the bathroom. Suddenly stopping, he backtracked a few steps and turned his head to the side. Mao’s door was open and she was nowhere in sight in her messy room. He then belatedly heard the sizzling of a pan and smelled something. Something burning. Gar. He immediately ran towards the kitchen and almost halted when he saw Mao; wearing a bright yellow sundress, looking soft and feminine. Is he seeing things?

The burning.

He quickly stepped beside her. She had her tongue stuck out in concentration but it was already too late to save the hotdogs.

“Haven’t you burned them enough?” he said as he reached out to help.

“I can do it!” She pulled away. And then paused, cleared her throat, and then in a soft tone, “It’s okay. I can handle this.”

Nino stared blankly at her as she smiled sweetly at him. What was that? She then yelped as she got scalded by the hot oil. Nino clicked his tongue, grabbed her hand and pulled her to the sink.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked, carefully placing her hand under the running water.

Mao, pouting, gave a nod and looked at him. He then gently held her hand up to see if it was okay.

“You know you’re not used to this,” he then said as he examined it.

“I just wanted to surprise you with breakfast,” she said quietly, the pout still on her lips.

The burnt breakfast will really surprise him. She continued to look softly up at him, her hand still in his. He felt the ‘dokis’ were gonna surface soon and he quickly put her hand down.

“What did you do?” he asked suspiciously. “Did you use up the new Darth Vader shampoo? Or did you break another Yoda mug?”

He was just babbling, trying to forget what he thought about the ‘dokis’ and watched as a scowl appeared on her face.

“Can’t I just want to cook breakfast?” she huffed and then stopped herself.

This was really hard. Damn that Tomato. If he hadn’t told her those things yesterday…. Now she was trying to be more- more like Aoi. Feminine, soft… Sithspit. She’s really got it bad… and it was impossible. Who was she kidding? She’ll never be like her…

The cellphone on the coffee table rang.

“I heated up a glass of milk for you,” she muttered and trudged towards the living room, suddenly feeling down. She had picked up the call and headed towards her room while Nino could just wonder what was really up with her. His eyes fell on the glass of milk.

**

Mao stared absently at the TV, bopping her battered frog doll. The phone call from Toma making her mood plummet more. Her father was losing his patience and wants her to go back right now. Toma had tried talking to him again but her father had bit his head off. He’s had enough of Toma covering for her.

If he really wanted her to go back, why not come get her himself? But no… anything to do with her he’d never put any effort himself.

“We could ask Auntie and Mirai for help,” Toma had suggested in a careful tone.

“No, they don’t need to be in this,” she refused. “Dad didn’t want them to know. He’ll have your ass if they find out.”

“What do you propose to do then?”

“Same as before. Stall. That’s all we can really do now.”

She bopped the frog absently again. Nino glanced at her, his arms hugging the throw pillow. Ever since she came out of her room, she hadn’t said a word, looking really melancholy. She had changed into her normal ‘clothes’. She looked really pretty in the sundress. But he still liked it better when she was just herself. He gave another glance.

“Did something happen?” he asked quietly.

It looked like she wanted to say something but then shook her head slowly. Still concerned, his eyes fell on the battered frog in her hand. Now he knows why she’s still keeping that thing. It had been the one who had been at her side for the most parts. Almost like her security blanket… But it looked so battered and worn he feels sorry for the poor creature. He regarded the doll a moment and then an idea was beamed down to him.

“There’s somewhere I would like to take you,” he then said.

**

Mao blinked at her surroundings as she followed Nino to a table. It was full of kids and their mothers squealing happily as cotton stuffing filled the tables and floors. Nino sat down and patted the seat beside him.

“What’s this about?” she asked, lowering herself down.

“Your frog looks like it needs to hibernate for a while-“

“Do frogs hibernate?”

“Point is,” he continued firmly. “I just thought you would like a new doll.”

“Stuff your own doll, huh?” Mao said, a smile in her voice as she looked around.

“Yeah, I thought you’d have more fun with this. You know, you could pretend to be a mad scientist bent on creating a new creature to do your every bidding (which I hope you really can so I’ll be free!),” Nino shrugged. “It does suit you.”

“Yeah and you suit the role of my very own Igor,” she slanted her eyes at him.

Nino made a grudging pout as Mao laughed. They then went to pick what evil creature she wanted. Of course, she wanted it to be a frog. She happily took it down and headed back for their table. Nino’s eyes fell on a panda.

“I would have thought you’d pick a panda,” he said casually to her back. Thinking back to Yamashita Panda who still had his arms around Frog Mao and Kazu.

“Silly. I like frogs better.”

Holy Cosmic Egg. Why’d that make him feel happy? He shook himself mentally (paranormal waves must be present) as he watched Mao happily laid out cotton on their table.

“Muahahahahaha!” Mao said after a while, getting into character. “At long last, he will rise and do what he does best! Bringing all the cinnamon rolls in the world to me!”

“Yesss, Massssterrrrr,” Nino wheezed beside her.

Muahahahahahaha! Imagining lightning striking overhead. Mao put the stuffing into her frog. And more. And some more. A Chewbacca-sized cotton.

“He’s not going to hold if you continue that,” Nino said as he pulled some out.

“I want him to have a really round belly!”

“And look at his arms! The left one’s bigger!”

“It’s my frog,” Mao said as she pulled it away from Nino’s clutched.

“He’s going to be all funny-looking!”

“I like funny-looking things!”

“Okay, you looked at me again when you said ‘funny-looking’!” Nino complained, resenting that. He’s not funny-looking! (Right?)

Mao suddenly took a few cotton and stuffed it into his mouth. Nino froze and just stared at her as she laughed her head off. She then started putting cotton into his ears, when he was still silently glaring at her. More laughter. He growled and spat out the cotton. Mao’s face already red from laughing. He continued to sputter; some cotton still left in his mouth. Mao sighed contentedly, shaking her head as she still continued to stuff her already bulging frog. Nino grumbled under his breath but seeing that her mood had lifted…

“Feeling all better? He said quietly as he reached out to help her poor frog.

Mao’s eyes glanced at him and then gave a nod, feeling her heart thumping faster and faster. Kazu… She really really liked this feeling… being with him…

“If you need someone to talk to… you know I’ll be here,” his eyes on the frog.

Mao bit her lip fiddling with her frog’s legs. She didn’t want to tell him… Because telling him would mean it was all true… She didn’t want it to be real… She wanted to stay… And telling him… means saying good-bye…

“Kazu…”

Nino’s head turned to her. And he felt something soft.

Not really liking the taste and feel of the cotton inside his mouth. Mao tried to stifle her laughter and snorts as she pointed a finger at the way he looked. He spat it out angrily while she happily continued stuffing.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!!

“Wookiees…,” she giggled.

He hung his head.

Kvark!

**

Nino turned to the sleeping girl at his side, holding on to her new stuffed frog, as the bus swayed; Her head lolling gently to the window. He grimaced at Kazupi in her hands.

Yes. She had named him Kazupi. Dedicated to him, she had said.

“Instead of Kerropi, it’s Kazupi!” she had cheered, quite proud of her naming skills.

“He reminds me of you,” she added, matter-of-factly.

Kazupi had a big belly, stitches on his side, a left arm that was bigger than his right arm (He works out! Mao had defended.) and a comical blank smile staring up at him. Gar.

“At least in the future, when you’re not there anymore, I can take him out and just one look at him will cheer me up!” she then teased.

“What do you mean when I’m not there?”

“Well, I am going at the end of summer, aren’t I?” she said quietly, her smile wavering slightly.

Sweet Sookie… He had forgotten about that… Somehow it had felt natural that she’d always be his housemate… Somehow he had thought things will always be this way already… He suddenly felt slightly sad then… Just slightly. Just slightly, really.

“Uh… yeah. Yeah, you’re right,” he then stammered.

His gaze went to her again. Her head leaning against the window. He stared at her for a moment, having this crazy urge. And then feeling his heart thumping uncontrollably, he slowly reached out, gently cupping the side of her face, pulled her to him, placing her head on his shoulder. She stirred a bit and then slept on. His lips curled into a small soft smile, as his eyes went to her.

‘Well, I am going at the end of summer, aren’t I?’ Maybe when that time comes… he can offer to let her stay as his housemate for as long as she likes… For as long as she likes…

**

Nino pulled open the door to see Aiba and Jun standing there. Their eyes widened as they fell upon his face.

“Oh God! Nino’s turning back to his alien form! Help! Doomsday is upon us all!” Aiba then started yelling as he tried to cling to Jun, looking panicked.

With Aiba still clinging to him, Jun in a bored tone said,” Stop overreacting, you doofus!”

Nino gave him an exasperated look. It was just a mudpack.

“Oh, you guys are here!” Mao, with the same mudpack on her face, greeted cheerfully beside Nino.

“Oh God! Mao’s turning back to her Moo fo-“ Aiba started when Jun smacked him behind his head and pushed him off. Aiba pouting and whimpering.

“Why’d you invite us over?” Jun asked Mao. Not that he’s complaining.

Minutes later, Jun and Aiba sat on the couch, both just staring at each other as Ricky Martin’s ‘She Bangs’ played in the background. Mudpacks on their faces. Nino plopped down on the floor in front of them, wiping his face with a towel.

“Do you usually spend your afternoons like this?” Jun asked, unable to talk clearly as the mudpack might crack.

“She insisted on putting it on me once,” Nino said pointedly to Mao, whose face was behind her towel. “But it wasn’t so bad. It does lock in moisture.”

“Hey! I can feel it!” Aiba.

‘I Will Survive’ came on next in the background.

“I somehow feel that I need to be shooting something right now,” Jun then said as he felt his libido almost decreasing from the pampering. Not to mention the music.

Mao chuckled as she plopped down beside Nino.

“Speaking of shooting… There’s this new laser tag place that just opened. I knew Kazu would like that very much so I thought we could all go!” Mao grinned up at Nino, whose face was now as shiny as Darth Vader’s helmet.

He’s always the one cheering her up, doing things for her… This time it’s her turn. She looked at him happily.

“What’s the point of putting this on us then?” Jun frowned.

“We can’t let it go to waste,” Mao shrugged. “Amoeba’s liking it!”

“Touch my face, Jun. Come on. I think it’s really softer now.” Aiba.

“Laser tag…,” Nino’s awed voice came out as Jun looked at the three of them like they just sprouted extra heads.

**

INOUE MAO
High Priestess

Had an imaginary bunny friend named “Francis ChocoRabbit”
Had once went in search of her own Doraemon
Best Villain: Plankton
Favorite Movie Quote: In my world everyone is a pony, and they all eat rainbows, and poop butterflies

NINOMIYA KAZUNARI
Jedi Knight

Once believed he was a cyborg
Greatest Dream: To be abducted by aliens
Owns three sets of Star Wars bed sheets
Wants to be cloned

MATSUMOTO JUN
Captain Playboy

Dislikes Pikachu
Imagines himself to be Bruce Wayne
Had once almost gotten an ‘I Heart Mama’ tattoo when he was drunk
Knows the whole lyrics to ‘Hotel California’ when he’s drunk

MASAKI AIBA
General Skittles

Wants a BatMobile
Favorite Movie Quote: Fish are friends, not food
Favorite Animal: My Little Pony
Should be banned from cloning

“Will you stop that and let’s just get started with the shooting!” Aiba complained; his trigger happy self surfacing.

They were standing inside, all geared up, lasers in hand, ready for some zapping. When Nino…

“There has to be character descriptions for us!” Nino then said as if it was the most normal and obvious thing in the world.

“That has to be the worst character descriptions of all character descriptions,” Mao chirped.

“If you guys haven’t been giving me random facts, it wouldn’t be!”

“This isn’t one of your online games,” Jun rolled his eyes at him.

“LOL.” Mao.

They stared at her as she snickered.

“OMG!” Aiba then said. “Let’s just start! Should we do pairs?”

“No, we should battle it all out,” Nino shook his head, as if addressing a platoon.

“Kazu,” Mao suddenly stepped forward. “You missed a spot,” she then said, as she reached out and started rubbing the trace of the mudpack near his jaw.

“Oh,” Nino said, naturally leaning down; Mao continued to rub it off for him.

Jun observed the exchange between the two with a slight frown, observing the soft look in Mao’s eyes. He felt a restlessness. Aiba did too. But it was because he wanted to start the game already.

“Prepare to be annihilated,” Mao said after a while, pointing her laser gun at the three of them.

“No cheating!” Nino looked straight at Mao.

“I’m hurt you would think of me that way!” Mao pouted.

Nino gave her one last warning look.

Let the games begin.

**

Mao crouched down low behind her cover and peeked out. There was no one in sight. Where was Kazu? He had gotten her a lot of times already. He was really good at this. She narrowed her eyes; wanting to get back at him. She wasn’t able to zap him as many times as she would have wanted.

Hmm… Wonder where Amoeba and Jun are? They should gang up on Kazu and-

“Hey.”

She jumped and turned around. Jun. Ah, just the person she needs. She grinned and squatted down at his side, pulling him to form an alliance.

“You and I are a team now, okay?” she whispered, oblivious to the way Jun was looking at her. “’Operation: Crush Kazu’ is now in progress.”

“I can’t wait to see his face,” she then added, grinning giddily as she made to turn around and start looking for the Geekus.

She was suddenly pulled back by Jun. His face indescribable.

“What? Come one. We need to find Kazu and incinerate his choobies,” she then laughed.

“Mao, I like you,” Jun suddenly said. Her eyes snapped to him. “Really like you…”

She stared wide-eyed at him, unable to move. Her mind a blank. Wait, what was he saying? He likes her? But not likes her likes her, right? Yeah. It was nothing. Jun just suddenly felt like sharing his happiness they were friends!

Nirak. (Fool.) Heh? Where did that come from? That Kazu and his Geekipedia!

Her heart thumped, slightly panicking as she felt Jun’s hand close tighter on her arm. His eyes growing darker. Or it could be just from the ambience of this war zone!

“I like you too!”

Jun’s eyes widened a bit, taken aback. Why?! Why did she blurt that out?! Say ‘I like you too! Duh! We’re friends!’ She opened her mouth again when-

“Gotchaaaaaaaa- hahaha!” Aiba’s voice came, startling Mao and Jun. They both carefully stood up and saw Aiba still happily zapping Nino, who was sort of frozen; even his facial expression. He looked like he had the surprise of his life. (I got the Jedi! I got the Jedi!)

Mao quickly stepped away from Jun and followed Aiba’s lead, zapping away at Nino, who still looked quite lost. Hoping against hope that Jun will just drop whatever that was… He should! He better… Jun’s eyes went to Mao for a second, who seemed like she didn’t just hear him confess his feelings to her, before he aimed his laser at Nino too. Nino could only blink at the three that looked like they were having loads of fun… He had never lost so badly in his life…

‘I like you too’ came back to him.

**

Nino coughed slightly at the amount of smoke in the air and was startled at the glass that was pushed into his hands. Aiba grinned at him (Or at least he thinks he did. He really can’t see much, what with the flashing lights.) as he took a swig of his own drink. His ears were pounding, feeling like they could shatter any moment; they were too close to the DJ.

How did he get himself into this situation?

They were taking the shortcut on their way home; Aiba still happily pointing out how he got the least points, oblivious to the subdued air that hang over the rest of them. He could feel Jun glancing at Mao occasionally while she tried hard to avoid his eyes, walking slightly ahead in front of them. Why? Was she suddenly feeling all shy around him? After she answered his confession with one of her own? Honestly, he never saw that coming… And why would he? It had nothing to do with him!

Jun had quickly stepped beside Mao, who sorta flinched and made to move away. He felt the sudden impulse to quicken his steps to catch up with them too. He watched as Jun whispered something to her. She stopped, looked up at him for a moment and then nodded. They then turned around. Jun opened his mouth to say something-

“Why don’t we hang out for a while more, eh?” Nino suddenly blurted out, somehow feeling that they had decided to go off on their own. So why shouldn’t they? Hm… WHY shouldn’t they?

Mao glanced at Jun.

“We thought of going to have a few drinks at the bar though,” Jun gave out a lame excuse. “I don’t think that would be your kind of scene.”

“W-Who says so?” he suddenly blurted out, as three pairs of eyes widened at him. “I don’t see anything wrong with trying it out.”

Frackness!

And so here they were. What was worse was that Mao had bumped into her two old friends. (Shin! Ryu! Mao had said.) So they had decided to ‘hang’ with them. Though now, Mao and Jun weren’t with them. He took a tentative sniff of his drink and then looked around. Where are they though? He wondered, as they finally moved away from the blaring music. He then spotted them, standing at the end of the bar, talking. It didn’t look like it was going smoothly…

“I thought you said you like me too,” Jun frowned.

“Yeah. I did. As a friend. Weren’t you saying that to me as a friend too?” Mao countered.

“That was really my intention, yeah,” Jun said sarcastically, giving her a look.

“Okay, fine,” she sighed. “I just didn’t know what to react. You should have given me a heads-up or something.”

“How do you give a heads-up when confessing?” he asked, incredulous as Mao set her lips in a thin line.

“Besides,” Jun continued. “It wasn’t really planned. I just felt the impulse when…”

Mao looked at him. “When what?”

“You seem to be really fond of Nino…”

Mao was glad it was dark so he wouldn’t see the color that for sure tinged her face.

“H-He’s fun to play with,” she shrugged in a casual tone.

Jun regarded her for a moment.

“So… about what you said…”

“I know when I’m being rejected,” he cut her off. “Don’t worry. I’m not the type to bother you profusely about it.”

She looked like she was suppressing the urge to give a loud cheer right now.

“I would have thought the opposite,” she grinned. “You obviously have a stubborn streak.”

“Well, I can change my mind anytime,” he joked, his turn to grin as she narrowed her eyes. “If you don’t tell me the real reason you’re rejecting me.”

“That stuff is just not on my mind right now!”

Jun gave a smirk. “Really? Or just not with me?”

He gave a laugh as Mao turned a bit flustered.

**

They looked like they were having a swell time now, Nino observed their body language. It looked like they were teasing and joking around comfortably as he watched Mao try to hit Jun’s head. He felt something threaten to surface again and unconsciously downed his whole drink. Aiba looked at him, impressed and ordered him another.

Well, he had no idea how many drinks he’s had now as he downed another glass and then giggled for no reason. Why would he suddenly feel this urge to giggle like crazy at the most mundane things or even at nothing?

Mao had gone to dance with Shin and Ryu. She’s been dancing with all of the guys the whole night, just really being so cool and close with them. So he’s been drinking like a fish. Does that make sense? Do fish even drink? He turned his head to Aiba’s tipsy laugh, frowning at the Frogman that had suddenly appeared earlier. Should be the Frogman. Or is that Jun? He peered at them, looking almost cross-eyed.

Who invited him anyway?

Must be the Sith!

Take down the Sith! Take her down!

His narrowed eyes snapped to the dance floor. She was dancing, laughing and chatting with those two again. They’ve all danced with her. He should too. He knows some pretty good moves.

“Hey, where’s Nino going?” Jun asked. He takes his eyes off him for a minute and this...

“I believe he is going to attempt to dance,” Aiba answered in a voice full of awe; his eyes following Nino’s back as he went up to where Mao was.

“Not a good idea…,” Jun shook his head.

Jun, Aiba and Yamashita stared, mouths agape (as well as Mao, Shin and Ryu) as Nino busted a move in front of them.

“What was that?”

“I don’t even want to know.”

“It’s like the Tentacles of Doom.”

“Can we not let on to anyone we’re with him?”

“He’s going to take someone’s eye out!”

“Yeah. His own.”

“Ow!” they winced for Nino.

**

“She’s Darth Mao! Darth Mao!” Nino exclaimed cheerily, pointing at Mao who was following exhaustedly behind Jun and Aiba. “Darth Maul. Darth Mao. Isn’t that funny? Aheeheeheehee!”

Jun and Aiba hauled his drunken butt into the front door. It took a while to pry him off the dance floor. They had to go before the bar permanently bans them from ever going back. Though Nino did provide some entertainment… But they can’t risk it. Their way home had been a bit of a struggle as Nino was NOT shutting up. Just going on and on and on…

“You’re my Arch Nemesis! I will find a way to destroy you!”
“Not if I push you off the taxi right now.” Mao.

“Dwarfnut! Kiss my asteroid.”
“Do you want me to bash your teeth in?” Jun.

“Rot in Boboqueequee, Slagchucker!”
“I think I should be insulted at that, right?” Aiba.

“Yadaj dakl, ignot!”
“Seriously, can we throw him out? While the taxi’s still moving?”

Jun and Aiba carried him to the room (“By the seven moons of Skärtis, I will annihilate the Moos!”) and finally pushed him into his bed. Mao helped him take off his shoes as he continued to mutter gibberish and then suddenly regarded her quietly for a moment.

“You look like an Ewok!” he then laughed as he pointed at her.

Ewok?! Mao narrowed his eyes at him as she bopped his head hard with a pillow; Jun and Aiba shook their heads. They shall never let him drink ever again. They watched as Nino laughed some more, laid back down and slowly closed his eyes.

Ewok.

Giggle.

But he likes Ewoks… Yeah… Ewoks are cute…

Allay loo tu nuv. (Celebrate the love.)

Kush jeeks?

===
Got most of the Kazu ramblings here.
http://blogs.starwars.com/abelgpena/5

xD

Ewokese: Allay loo tu nuv. (Celebrate the love.); Kush jeeks? (What's that?)