Hello everyone! I started this simply as a challenge for myself, I want to be better at writing crack pairings and simply to get Mint's character right for my other fanfic, and I of course have a liking for Mint X Kish. So I would appreciate any suggestions for making this better. I think I didn't make her character too OOC but if I did I would appreciate it if you tell me. If you like it comment and I'll post the rest!

Chapter 1: The Garden

Mint sighed leaning back against the pile of the finest pillows she had stacked behind her. She allowed a small smile to rest on her face and her eyes to slip closed as she sipped from her porcelien teacup. It had been yet another horribly long day at that wretched café that she had been forced to "work" at since she was a crime-fighting-thirteen-year-old. Now she's a beautiful young lady, not too tall but not too short, thick black hair, perfect skin that could rival her porclien, her sixteenth birthday is nearing quickly, she will be performing in front of some of the greatest men and women of Tokyo, no, the WORLD in only a week, and she couldn't be more pleased.

It has almost been three years since her and her teammates defeated the stubborn aliens, a little over two years since they defeated the annoying Saint Rose Crusaders, and one year since those stubborn aliens returned. They hadn't came for another fight, they hadn't came for more Mew Aqua, no, they simply came because they MISSED them. Yes, their terrifying ex-opponents MISSED them.

More specifically Kish missed Ichigo and Tart missed Pudding and they needed someone to drive the ship. That's where Pai came in. But she had suspected from the beginning he had something with Lettuce and it, of course, turned out he did. Lettuce had happily accepted him, Pudding had practically attacked Tart, but Ichigo… Ichigo didn't want anything to do with Kish.

She brushed a stray hair from her face regretting taking her hair down but she was far too comfortable to bother with it. She didn't like to think about these things. It felt wrong to feel BAD for Kish. But she couldn't help it.

He showed Ichigo so much LOVE… If someone showed her love like that she would happily take them in… Alien or Human. She was lonely still, more lonely than before. Her house seemed twice as empty, her friendships with her co-workers twice as strained, her communications with her brother twice as scarce. And seeing Ichigo… with all that attention, all that love, all that power, it made her jealous. How could someone so foolish, so childish, so… common, be so special…? Didn't she deserve some of that? Didn't she deserve to be noticed, to be in the spotlight even when she wasn't on the stage?

All these things add up, she's grown to despise her leader even more than before. She had considered going to Kish whenever he left the café on the verge of tears, which seemed to always happen too often, but lately he hadn't been coming back to the café. Maybe he finally realized it was pointless running after Ichigo like a lost puppy… Who could blame him? She sighed again climbing out of bed and pulling on a light wrap over her pajamas that consisted of a thin dress and a pair of shorts beneath.

She needed to clear her head, she always took a small walk in her magnificent gardens when she needed to clear her head. She walked gracefully down the stairs of the quiet home, tea in hand, and slipped out into the large garden that was full of the smell of roses and other beautiful blooms. She once again allowed herself to smile, enjoying the smell that the cool breeze carried and the slight warmth that the setting sun still provided.

"Daaanggg, Minty… This certainly is something…"

Mint whipped around, dark eyes wide, to find Kish standing only inches away admiring the garden with his bright golden eyes. "Kisshu!" She cried out in alarm. "What are you doing here?" She demanded.

"Heh, no need to be so loud Minty-Chan…" He teased smirking. "I just was bored and decided to stop by. That ok with you Minty?" He asked and Mint easily caught the desperation in his eyes.

She sighed knowing something was wrong. "Kish, do you need someone to talk to?"

His golden eyes lit up with surprise. "Huh?"

"Did Ichigo pull some of her crap again?" Mint demanded, not even trying to contain her anger. When Kish just continued to stare at her stunned she decided to continue. "Nobody thinks its right," she told him although she didn't know that for a fact. "What she does to you. You deserve better you know."

Before she knew what was happening she found herself locked in a tight hug, her teacup skidded across the ground. She looked up at Kish confused but he had his face pressed against her head so she couldn't see his face. He didn't want her to see him cry. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his ever-exposed waist and tried not to blush when her hands came to rest on his smooth skin. He was warm and smelt of the earth, of fresh rain, it was nice in a way.

"Thank you…" Kish said hoping she didn't notice the crack in his voice. But she had.

She was embarrassed by how he was acting but she wasn't surprised. This was Kish. Always too emotional, always too close. But for some reason she didn't mind this time. She didn't even mind him calling her "Minty". "Just try and forget her Kish…" Mint murmured pulling back a little so she could finally look him in the eyes.

Kish smirked, tears forgotten. "I think your helping with that…" He teased leaning in to nip the girl's ear.

She gasped in surprise, tearing herself from the safety of his strong arms. Her face was now a thick red and she had a manicured hand clamped over her mouth in utter disbelief. "Kish! You… you… brute! What in- stop laughing!" She cried glaring at the boy who was now doubled over laughing at the younger girl's reaction. "It's not funny you pervert!"

"Aw, but Kotori-Chan!" Kish chuckled, grinning at the red-faced girl, pleased with the results of his teasing, and to think he hadn't even started! She was in for a long night… "You're just too cute! Cute enough to pull my thoughts from Koneko-Chan, and that is a true feat." He said tapping her nose.

Mint smacked his hand away with a huff. "I'm not a toy Kisshu! I'm a human being and I will be respected as such! I'm not like your little 'Koneko-Chan', I wont just let you do as you please but I certainly wont go around clawing at you. So if you want my company you better stay in line." She snapped, glaring up at the boy with her hands on her hips.

Kish blinked down at the girl with surprised golden eyes. "And I thought Koneko-Chan was feisty…" He mumbled to himself but Mint heard of course and it earned him a well deserved smack upside the head. "Ow! Kotori-Chan!"

"No, my name is Mint, you will not give me a pet name!" She snapped.

"Ok Minty…"

She growled but let the slight alteration slide. "Now, Kish, will you be staying here for a while or are you going to run off and do whatever it is you aliens do?"

He blinked at her surprised. "Koneko-Chan never asks me like this…"

"Will you stop comparing me to that wretch!" Mint cried angrily. She hates Ichigo, as stated before, and if Kish planned on continuing his little comparisons she was going to smack him again.

Kish frowned slightly, puzzled by the heated outburst. "Sorry Minty… you… you really don't like Koneko-Chan, do you?"

Mint crossed her arms over her chest and looked the boy over. "No… I don't."

Kish blinked, slightly puzzled by this. He knew Mint liked to give Ichigo a hard time but he figured it was just a game to her, that she liked to get Ichigo riled up, he certainly did. Never once had he questioned the Mews' loyalty to their leader, they loved her, all of them, shy Lettuce, hyper Pudding, cold Zakuro, snobby Mint, and even sweet Berry. They had never questioned her, at least not in front of him, they always respected her, well, when she wasn't being ditzy. Could that really all be an act?

"Why not?" He asked finally. He saw nothing wrong with his Kitten, well… he used to not… he seemed to have had a bit of a realization over the time he had spent locked in his room over the past week or so.

Mint rolled her eyes. "Like you care to hear…" She grumbled, going over to pick up her chipped teacup from the path.

Kish's frown only grew. "I just thought you all think of her as perfect…"

"And you don't?" Mint scoffed, glancing at him over her shoulder.

"No, actually I don't. If anyone should know about her flaws it would be me." He snapped. "So stop mocking me. It's not like you would understand love." Kish heard a loud crack and after a moment he realized just what had happened. Adding up the sound, the sudden smell hitting his nose, and how rigid the girl had grown, he knew he had crossed a line not meant to be crossed. "Mint…?"

She spun on him in a flash and let out a strangled cry, chucking the broken, blood stained, tea cup in his direction but he easily avoided it. "Leave!" She screeched like a hurt bird, tears welling up in her eyes. She was starting to understand Ichigo a little better now, this boy knows just how to push your buttons without even realizing it.

"Mint…?" He breathed, trying to understand why she was so angry. "I-I didn't mean it, I-"

"Leave!" She cried stumbling forward to shove at his chest. "Leave!" Her fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt as her knees began to give out on her. Kish realized what was happening and quickly steadied her by gripping her elbows. "Leave…" She said weakly hitting at his chest, but she was starting to not mean it. When was the last time she had had a shoulder to cry on? And Kisshu's shoulder did seem inviting…

Kish was slowly starting to realize what was going on… to some extent. "Minty…" He murmured, taking the girl into his arms, supporting most of her weight and allowing her to bury her face in his shirt so it soaked up her tears. "Don't cry… I didn't mean it…" He murmured, stroking her head tenderly and hoping it would cause her some comfort. He often longed for someone to hold him like this while he cried… so he could only hope it would be enough to please the girl too.

"She-she has… everything…" Mint sobbed clinging to him like a lifeline. "She has… Masaya, Ryou, you, she's the leader, Onee-Sama even listens to her, everyone loves her… she… she's perfect!" She sobbed. "And… I don't have anyone… They all hate me…"

Kish bit his lip, brow furrowed. "H-hey, we could always hang out, nobody wants me either… I'm sure you know…"

Mint sniffed, looking up at him with watery, red, eyes. "Would you like some tea?"

Kish gave her a lopsided grin. "Your funny Kotori-Chan, real funny. I will have some of this 'tea' you speak of."

"Shut up you ruffian." She huffed, releasing his now blood and tear stained shirt and turning to head back into the house. Kish was quick to follow. "Now there are some rules though, as long as your in my house you cant just be teleporting wherever you please, you have to act like you have some manners, and you have to know that I am the queen of this house."

Kish grinned to himself but didn't let himself forget that the girl's hand was bleeding. "Kotori-Chan, let me see your hand."

"It's fine," she snapped, wiping roughly at her eyes with the back of her hand, and continued down the long hall in the direction of the kitchen.

Kish sighed, grabbing her shoulder so she was forced to stop. "Minty, let me help you." He said gently, turning her so he could get a better look at her hand. The cut wasn't deep and it wasn't too bad at all but Kish still took her hand in his, closing his eyes for a moment to focus his powers. When he pulled his hands away her own was as good as new. "See? All better." He said smiling brightly at her.

She blinked at her hand before looking up at Kish. "How did you do that?"

He grinned at her, tapping her on the nose. "It's a secret Little Bird. Now, lets go get this tea stuff." He took her hand in his, pulling her down the hall.