Neko Chapter 2:

Apologies

As soon as her dad closed the door, Ichigo sighed. Then she came over to Kisshu, and sat down next to him. To his surprise, she picked him up and put him in her lap, then started brushing him. Kisshu liked the sensation, and to both of their surprise, started purring. "You like that?" Ichigo asked him.

"Yeah… it feels nice…" Kisshu said. "I guess I didn't realize that being a cat wouldn't be all that bad."

"How did you turn into one in the first place?" Ichigo asked.

Kisshu sighed. "I think licking the blood off your cheek earlier gave me cat genes," he said. "I'm glad you're the one who found me, though."

Ichigo sighed too, and stopped brushing him. "You're all clean," she said. "I guess Dad's right, I should take better care of my room."

"My room's ten times worse," Kisshu said.

Ichigo smiled sadly. "Are you trying to make me feel better?" she asked. "I'm not sure I'll ever feel better, now that I've basically admitted to you that my heart's broken. I guess I really shouldn't share my feelings. It's not good for me."

"Why can't cats cry?" Kisshu asked.

"I'm not sure, maybe it's a human thing," Ichigo said. "Do aliens cry?"

"Pai? Never. Me? All the time," Kisshu said sadly. "Not that it's really helpful, but I wish it worked in cat form too."

"Why do you cry?" Ichigo asked. "And why do you want to cry now?"

"I didn't realize the toy comments were hurting you that much!" Kisshu wailed. "If I had known that, I would never have called you that! I thought it made you angry, and you're cute when you're angry. I didn't mean to hurt you that much!"

Ichigo was wide-eyed in shock, but before she could say anything, Kisshu said, "I'll just leave now… I don't deserve your love after what I did."

Before he could get out the window, however, Ichigo closed it, and locked it. Then, to his utter shock, she picked him up and hugged him. "Please don't leave," she said softly. "I need you. I can't live without you, Kish."

Kisshu was totally shocked. Even after everything he'd done, she still loved him? Then it occurred to him that he was the same way. The rejections hurt, but he still kept trying. But Ichigo had to hold it all inside, unable to tell anyone. "I'm so sorry, Koneko-chan," Kisshu said sadly.

Ichigo looked at him. "As long as you love me, and keep calling me 'Koneko-chan', I'm happy, Kish. Just promise you won't leave. Please?"

"I promise," Kisshu said. "I'll never leave you, whether I'm a cat or a Cyniclon."

Ichigo smiled happily. "Thanks, Kish," she said. "I guess I have two announcements for tomorrow, then."

"What are they?" Kisshu asked.

"I'm going to break up with Aoyama, and I'm going to quit working for Ryou," Ichigo said. "I know he'll have a fit, but I hate him, so he can tough it out. You have to stay here, though, k? I can't bring you to school with me."

"Aww…" Kisshu said.

Ichigo giggled. "I guess you can come to the Café, though. That is, if you want to."

"Do I get to scratch Blondie?" Kisshu asked eagerly. "I have claws now."

"Only if he does something nasty," Ichigo said. "I think you need a reason for clawing someone."

"Oh, fine," Kisshu said sulkily. Ichigo giggled. "I'm going to tell them your name is Wish, so they don't get suspicious," she said.

"Okay," Kisshu said.

Suddenly they both heard, "Ichigo! Dinner!"

"Come on, Kish," Ichigo said happily. "I bet Mom has food for you too." She picked him up and went downstairs.

Her parents were waiting, and Shintaro said, "Was the insane kitten helpful?"

"Kish was very helpful," Ichigo said. "Do you have food for him?"

"Yep," Sakura said. "I got tuna." She pointed to a small bowl, and Kisshu went over and sniffed it. "There's some milk there, too," Sakura said as Kisshu started eating. Ichigo sat down with her parents to eat as well.

Kisshu was finished well before Ichigo and her parents were, and decided to sit on Ichigo's lap for a while. It looked comfy. So he jumped onto her lap, and curled up happily. Ichigo giggled.

"Just don't give him our food, it's probably not good for him," Sakura said.

"Okay," Ichigo said.

"I set up the litterbox I got, do you want it in your room?" Shintaro asked.

"Yes please," Ichigo said. "Oh, I decided I'm going to quit working for my evil boss, so I should have more time to do homework."

"What brought this on?" Sakura asked.

"I don't like being bullied to the point of wanting to kill someone," Ichigo said. "And I don't get paid much, since Ryou keeps docking my paycheck to enjoy how angry I get. And I think he's a pervert, he keeps looking at me weird."

"HE'S GOING DOWN!" Shintaro shouted.

"So you want to come with me when I quit?" Ichigo asked.

"No, your father will NOT be going, since he'll get arrested," Sakura said firmly. "I know perfectly well that he's going to dig the sword out of the basement and try to kill Ryou, so he will be staying here, even if I have to tie him up."

"Grr…." Shintaro said.

"Kish is coming, and he's got claws," Ichigo said.

"Why are you bringing your kitten to Café Mew Mew?" Sakura asked.

"Just for fun," Ichigo said. "Oh, and I decided to break up with Aoyama."

"Why?" Sakura asked.

"He's BORING," Ichigo said. "His idea of a fun date is cleaning up a river, and while it's nice that he cares about the environment so much, he's just not exactly my type."

"So what is your type?" Shintaro asked.

"Fun and playful," Ichigo said. "I'd like someone I can have fun with."

"Not too much fun," Shintaro said.

"I know, Dad, I'll keep it G-rated," Ichigo said.

Shintaro just sighed.

The next day, at school: "Hi Ichigo," Aoyuck said.

"Hi Aoyama, I've got something to tell you," Ichigo said.

"You know you can tell me anything," Aoyuck said.

"I think we should break up," Ichigo said. "I don't think it's working, and I've actually fallen for someone else anyways."

"It's the alien, right?" Aoyuck sighed.

"Yep," Ichigo said cheerfully. "I'm sure you understand."

Aoyuck just sighed and walked off. Ichigo's two friends, Moe and Miwa came up and said, "What just happened?"

"I broke up with him, it really wasn't working out, at least for me," Ichigo said.

Moe and Miwa were stunned. Ichigo giggled at the looks on their faces and said, "Come on, it's time for class!"

"Anything else we should know?" Moe sighed.

"Yep, we can have more time together, because I'm sick of working at Café Mew Mew," Ichigo said cheerfully. "Now we can hang out more often."

Moe and Miwa cheered up at that, and they all went to the next class.

After school: "I'm home!" Ichigo called cheerfully. "And Aoyama is a thing of the past!"

"Good for you," Sakura said. "I tied your father up, so go get Kish and head over to the Café before he gets free."

Ichigo giggled and ran upstairs. She put her bag away, and saw Kish curled up on her pillow. "Kish, time to go to the Café," she said.

Kisshu sleepily opened one eye, then stretched. Ichigo picked him up and asked, "Do you want to sit on my shoulder?"

"Yay!" Kisshu said. Ichigo put him on her shoulder, and said, "Okay, let's go."

At Café Mew Mew: Ichigo walked in on time for once, and Ryou looked up. "Baka strawberry, you're early," he said. "And why did you bring a cat?"

"He wanted to come," Ichigo said. "And I've got news for you, Blondie."

"My name is NOT Blondie, and what's your news?" Ryou said disgruntledly.

"I'm quitting because I hate working for you, and I hate you," Ichigo said perkily. Ryou's jaw hit the floor as Ichigo continued, "Oh, and don't come to my house, my dad has a sword in the basement and a flamethrower in the garage. And now that he knows you're a pervert, you'd better watch out."

Ryou was speechless. Ichigo giggled and said, "Bye, Blondie!"

"Hey, get back here!" Ryou said as Ichigo walked away. Ichigo just stuck her tongue out and continued walking.

I just had the time of my life writing this. I hope you liked it too! Review!