Mon Mon Nepu Nepu 8

Compa and I had finally gotten out of the depths of the forest and started looking for IF and Uni.  I can't thank them enough for saving us from...Red...ugh, just thinking about her makes my skin crawl.  I shake the thought from my mind and try to focus on other things, like tending to Compa.  "You don't look so-"  I cut myself short as I realize that would be a really insensitive thing to say considering she's always looked like this.  My eyes water just looking at the small openings in her clothes...

"What's wrong Ge-Ge?"

"Hm?  N-no I was just-"

"Don't worry about me, I just need to wait for Iffy to come back before we can leave."  She sat down next to a nearby tree and breathed a sigh of relief, and motioned for me to sit next to her.  "You're hiding something from us Ge-Ge."  My body tensed as I sat down, her voice taking a serious tone suddenly.  I want to tell her everything, but I'm afraid of what would happen if they found out I'm not the monster girl they think I am.

Maybe I'll learn something new if I start learning what it takes to be a monster girl.  "I'm not going to pry though.  When you're ready to talk to us, your sister, or Uni...we'll be here for you."  I let out a sigh of relief as I reach over to hug Compa, relieved that hear that she truly is herself.  She carefully hugged me back and comforted me...until one of my fingers got caught in one of her rips and grazed her skin.  "Ge-Ge no!~"  She pushed me back in surprise and began shivering as she held herself.  I tried to get closer to help her, but she shook her head and scooted away a little.  "H-have you f-forgotten h-how sensitive my skin is t-to others, especially after using my Waku?"  She struggled as she stood up to take several steps away from me to lean on a nearby tree.

"Goodness Compa, I'm sorry!  What do I do now?"

"You stop right where you are, Nepgear."  I froze in place as I heard a very stern voice come from behind me.  "What did you do to my Compa?"  I turned to see an angry looking IF standing before me with folded arms, with a frightened Uni standing behind her.

"I touched her...a little?"  I don't think I worded that all too well as IF's tail flickered about in my direction as she stormed passed me.  She carefully picked Compa up and joined hands with her, ignoring her pleas and cries for her to stop.

"There there Compa, I've got you now..."  The pair began hovering just barely off the ground as Compa grew silent.  I silently watch with Uni as IF began to glow with a strange aura that seemed to flow into Compa.  As this happened her clothes began to move about as bandages started forming and replacing the ones she lost from her earlier attack.  The glow faded as they gently landed back on the ground...it was as if they performed something...special and we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this.

"Nepgear.  Uni.  Front and center."  IF had turned directly back at us with a mixed look on her face, snapping me out of my awestruck state.  Uni limped beside me and stood at attention as IF came at us, looking a little calmer than before.  "You both did a good job on clearing out the Dogoo Pack.  That much I can say I'm proud of, however..."  She paused as she traded looks between us.  "...you both went into the depths. I'm aware that you may have had a good reason to, but that leads into the next issue.  You nearly got captured by that maniac, even though a certain were-sheep should've been able to knocked her out and..."  She looked directly at me with a piercing gaze.  "...you touched my Compa."

She's really serious about me accidentally touching her, but how was I supposed to know any better...  "But IF-"

"'But' nothing.  Your punishment begins now.  You'll be carrying Uni on your back because she's just been grounded."  I had second thoughts about protesting that, but after thinking about had I not lost control before we probably wouldn't have gotten in this mess in the first place.  "That and she's still recovering from the paralytic rope she was tied up in.  This is why you avoid that woman at all costs, no telling how far she'll go to get what she wants.  Got that?"

"Mhm."

She smiled as I answered quietly and backed up to get Uni on my back.  "Good good, now let's get back home before night falls."  She and Compa went ahead, slowing down occasionally to wait for me to catch up.

"Hey Uni...are you doing any better?"  She moves around a bit before resting her head on shoulders.

"Of course...it'll take more than parapuh...para...rope to stop me..."  Her voice trailed off as she buried her face in my hair, mumbling to herself as I secured my grip on her legs.  I couldn't help but grin slyly as she squirmed and begged me to stop.  "G-Gear please!  M-my legs are tender...s-stupid..." Despite saying that her arms wrapped tighter around me...I wonder how far I can go before she seriously wants me to stop.  I felt a smile creep along my face as I gave her legs a little squeeze.

"Geea-!"  I wiped the playful smile off my smile as Uni's squeal drew the attention of the pair ahead of us.  IF seemed to have cooled off a lot by now and just shrugged, but Compa smiled and gave me a little wink...it's almost as if I can't hide anything from her.  They turn their attention back forward, leaving me to deal with a distraught Uni.  "S-stop ruffling my feathers Gear, this isn't fair!"  Her grip tightened even more, her voice quivering trying to hide her enjoyment.  I couldn't help but play with her a bit, but I should reassure her that I'm keeping an eye out for her.

"I can't help it...I just..."

"Hm?"

"...I just want you to know that I won't let anything like this ever happen again."  I could feel her heart beating furiously through her chest as I continued making my promise to her.  "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

I could feel tears start running down my shoulder as Uni started sobbing quietly.  Before I could ask her why she was crying, she shushed me and began whispering into my ear.  "Why are you saying these things to me Gear?"

"Because you're my special friend as well, and I refuse to let anything bad happen to you again."  She didn't say anything else and just rested on my back as we marched on, but there was one more thing I needed to take care of.

"Um...Uni?  It's getting hard to breathe, can you let up a little?"

"Hmph!  This is part of your punishment so you'll have to deal with it.  A-and there's more in store for you too..."  We giggled as I readjusted her...I'm going to keep my promise to Uni, and I'll find out what happened to me earlier.  I'm going to try my hardest to become stronger...for Uni...for everyone.  "You stupid...stupid...gi..."  She fell asleep trying to keep up her cute act...I guess I'll have to ask IF or Compa.

"Ummm, IF?"  I try to get her attention as I slowly catch up with them.  She turns her head slightly and waits for me to go on.  "You mentioned something about knocking that cra-um, Red out.  What if I said I forgot how to do that?"  I don't mean to lie about forgetting something like this, but hopefully IF will explain it to me a little, she's always in a good mood when Compa is with her.

"I can't say that this is the first time you've forgotten something important like this.  Although you may be growing out of that, this is the longest you've been out with us."  I used to be forgetful and I hardly went out with people?  I don't remember being like that at all so this may be the monster in me, but I really didn't want to leave the bed today and that nap earlier was one of the best I've ever had.  "Anyway, we all have unique abilities and yours mainly involves your wool, which is where most of your magic comes from by the way.  It contains mainly sleep magic, and if used properly can put almost anything you want to sleep.  Well, that depends on how weak they are, you'll have to exert more power to put tougher things to sleep but you shouldn't get that close if they're that strong to begin with."

So I could've saved Uni after all had I stopped Red myself.  I sigh as I take a mental note of that, but there's no point in regretting what's already happened.  "Um, what if I don't have enough power?  Even though I barely remember what happened afterwards, my stomach was aching horribly and then I apparently...ate some Dogoos according to Uni."  I tried not to sound too disgusted about that but...it did leave a nice fruity taste in my mouth.

"Of course you ate Dogoos, we thrive on lesser monsters like them.  We can get away with eating almost any other lesser creature, but the slime family especially are chock-full of energy and are almost found in all environments.  That and there's hardly any mess to clean up."  Uni's snoring and shifting about drew IF's attention as she finished explaining the importance of eating like...monster.  "Oh, in case you were wondering there's more to us than meets the eye.  It's up to you find out what else you're capable of, you won't learn otherwise if I tell you everything."

"Where would the fun in that be?"  Compa added cheerfully, flustering IF again as they went back to whispering amongst themselves.  Planeptune was slowly coming into view as the sun almost fully set...with Uni sleeping peacefully on my back.