Kish and Ichigo continued a pillow fight for a litle while longer. Ichigo was finally thinking of something else other than work, school or Masaya. And she was finally having fun.
" Take this Ichigo!" Kish said and he whacked her with the pillow he found in his cupboard. Ichigo decided it was time to finish up and just fell like a feather, landing on her pillow.
" Yo, what's wrong? Did that hurt the little Mew Mew?"
" No, I'm tired…" Ichigo yawned. It was probably past midnight now, and she was tired.
" I'll get you some blankets."
" Where am I going to sleep?" She inquired, hoping it wasn't in another room. Truth be told, she enjoyed Kish's company, but the real reason she was here was because Pai had kidnapped her. She was scared he'd get to her before Kish could help her.
" Do you mind the floor? Maybe you should sleep on the bed…" He trailed off, a perverted smirk covering his face.
" It's ok, the floor's fine. Thanks again Kish." He blushed again. Never had he enjoyed himself that much. And he realised that this was really the first time ever that Ichigo had thanked him for anything. Today was full of firsts.
" It's ok. I might go to sleep too. It's late."
" 'Night, Kish."
" Goodnight…Koneko-Chan."
---
Kish was awoken in the middle of the night by talking. He sat up and looked down at Ichigo. She was shaking in her sleep and sobbing.
" Masaya… Zakuro… Mint… don't go…" He frowned, wiping away her tears. She stopped sobbing and all was quiet for a while.
" Kish… how come… it alright… be with you…" She whispered, not shaking nor crying anymore. Kish smiled, wishing he knew what she was dreaming.
Kish woke up before Ichigo and just sat there, watching her. Pai came in and asked for her, but Kish told him that she was asleep and when she was awake he could come back. Ichigo awoke soon after.
" What the hell? Where am I?" She asked, a bit disorientated.
" Don't you remember? Ichigo it's alright." Kish said, kneeling next to her.
Suddenly she remembered. " Sorry! I forgot. I had a weird dream last night." Kish was relieved she remembered. It might have been difficult to convince her that he wasn't going to hurt her.
" Oh really?" He smirked, knowing that some of it had to do with him.
" Yeh, but I don't really remember."
" Oh."
" Do you dream?" Kish didn't answer for a little while. He was thinking about it. Do alien's usually dream? He surely did. Mainly about Ichigo. But it probably wasn't the best to mention that right now.
" Yeh. But I don't remember them either."
" Ok then. So… what next?" Ichigo hated the awkward silences. They were so quiet and now Kish wasn't the enemy, she had begun to like him as if he were a friend. It was scary. She had kissed him before… but was it just a sympathy kiss? Or was it more…
" Well Pai wants to do tests on you… so… should we get that done with? I mean, if we do it now, we know he's not going to steal you to do tests… I know he won't hurt you."
" Will you be there?" She asked, concerned. Kish's face brightened. He loved it when she wanted him there.
" Yeh I will, Koneko-Chan."
---
" I never noticed how fascinating human blood is." Pai stated, looking at a sample he had taken from Ichigo. During the whole ordeal of trying to get Ichigo to have her needle, Kish stayed right there with her.
" It seems you have two cells, unlike us, with only one…hm…"
" Ichigo, don't worry about it now. He's ranting. He won't stop. Let's go." Ichigo went but she turned around to look at Pai's nose, which was bandaged up. She felt her own nose, knowing it wasn't good to get on Kish's bad side.
" Don't worry Ichigo, I won't break your nose." Kish laughed, noticing what she was doing.
" Good!"
" So do you want anything?"
" Uh… do you have any water?" Ichigo felt so weird asking Kish for hospitality, it wasn't normal.
" Yeh. Wait here." And he walked off. Ichigo didn't do as he said, instead she decided to snoop around.
' Perhaps I'll find a way out… just in case Kish isnt with me next time Pai tries to test me. I might even find the bathroom. I need to wash my face!' She thought.
So she headed in the opposite direction to the kitchen (or wherever Kish went to get her water) and found a few doors. Most of them looked like rooms, so she didn't bother going into them. But she eventually found a door that was bigger than the others. It took a bit of strength but Ichigo finally opened the door.
As soon as she did, she realised they were floating in the air! She screamed as she lost her balance and fell down… down… down…
' They say curiosity killed the cat, but I'm not a cat anymore!'
" Aiiii!" She screamed. " I can't land, I'm not a cat!" she screamed.
' Arigatou Kish for making me smile. I hope that you're happy wherever you are Masaya. Mum, Dad, I'm sorry for ever being a nuisence. Miwa, Moe, thankyou for being my best friends! Zakuro, Mint, Lettuce, Pudding, Ryou, Keiichirou, Thankyou for the best time I've ever had.' Ichigo prayed.
She closed her eyes, expecting a thud any second. She felt a thud, but it wasn't what she was expecting. She felt herself rise up…up…
" Am I dead?" She thought aloud.
" No, you're not." A voice answered.
" Kish!!"
" What are you trying to do, escape!?"
" No! I was… looking for you!"
" Are you sure you wernt trying to escape?" Kish asked with a hint of sadness in his voice. Ichigo gasped.
" No! Kish I wouldn't leave."
" If you want to go home…" He loosened his grip on her. " I'll let you go." And that's what he did.
" NO!" Ichigo grabbed onto Kish and nearly chocked him. She was holding him so tightly that her grip was crushing him.
" Ichigo, let go."
" NO!"
" Ichigo!"
" NO!"
" Koneko-Chan…" Somehow, Ichigo looked up at Kish to see that he was smiling kindly. She felt his arms around her and she loosened her grip. Kish flew no higher, instead he teleported to his room.
5. ConfessionEven when Kish had landed them both on the ground of his room, Ichigo didn't let go. She was shaking in fear. She was scared that Kish nearly let her go.
" What were you thinking!? Would you really let me go! I could have died!" Ichigo screamed when she finally let go. Kish put his hand up to quieten her down again, but she slapped it away.
" I thought you had changed. You said you cared! You were so nice and now… now… Kish!" She stood there fuming.
' She really thought I would let her fall.' Kish frowned and took a step towards her. She backed away but fell onto the bed. Kish kept walking and calmly lay ontop of her. He stroked her face gently and whispered in her ear.
" Ichigo, I wouldn't ever hurt you. I did before, but that was my mission. My mission this time around was to make you smile. But instead I made you sad. Then angry. I'm sorry." He stood up and stared at her. She still lay on the bed, her heart beating faster still.
" Kish…"
" I'm sorry Ichigo. I didn't mean to scare you." He started walking towards the door slowly, but Ichigo grabbed his hand and stopped him.
" Why… why do you call me your Koneko-chan, and then Ichigo?" She asked, still holding his hand.
" Ichigo is your name isnt it? Koneko… is just a name I have for you sometimes."
" What are those times?" Kish couldn't explain it. How could he tell her it was when he held her near, when he knew that she was feeling friendly, and only when he felt happy? He decided he would explain it as he felt it.
" When I feel close to you." Kish blushed and held Ichigo's hand properly.
" Well, I can understand. When you do, it makes me feel safe. I can trust you when you say that. And when do you think I'd ever hate you for it?" Ichigo was smiling. In her heart she realised that she had definitely fallen for this alien. She knew there was no more use in denying it. It was a bit creepy, and unusual considering the past they had, but she didn't care.
" Kish…" She gulped. He made it seem so easy to tell her he felt all the time.
" Anou… I… I think I…" He stood there, his heart doing flips as she tried to explain herself to him. She didn't say anything else, she just kept holding his hand and smiled.
' What was she trying to say? No way… I don't think…?' Kish was semi-grateful to hear his name called from Pai. Ichigo frowned at him.
" Ichigo, I'll be back. I promise. You relax." And he disappeared.
---
" Koneko-Chan?" Kish walked into the room where he left Ichigo. He was talking to Pai and Tart and left her to relax. She had snuck under the black covers and fallen asleep.
' His bed is so soft…' She thought as she dozed off.
" Ichigo…" Kish whispered. He smiled. Her hair was spread over the pillow and she was breathing softly. Kish walked over to her and stroked her hair out of the way. He wasn't about to sleep on the floor. He pulled half the covers back and lay in bed next to Ichigo.
" Goodnight Ichigo, Koneko-Chan!" He whispered. If she was angry he was sleeping next to him, he'd deal with it in the morning.
Once again, Ichigo had an uneasy sleep. She didn't talk this time, but she kept moaning and shaking. Kish grabbed her hand and stroked it until she calmed down.
' It's like stroking a cat until it falls asleep.' He thought, moving a bit closer to her. The double bed was a bit lonely usually, and he wasn't sure Ichigo would sleep with him in the same bed again. So he enjoyed the company the most he could.
6. StrawberryKish could feel Ichigo stir as she began to wake up. He had slept great and Ichigo didn't wake up again after the first time. He stroked her face to wake her up slowly, but she woke up quickly as he had startled her.
" What the hell!? Kish!" She sat up and shook him. " What the hell?!"
" Ichigo, Ohayo!" He said as happy as possible. " What do you mean, 'what the hell?'. Don't you remember?" Ichigo's face dropped with fear. Kish laughed.
" Just tricking. Nah, you fell asleep last night here and I decided id keep you company. You've been moaning in your sleep, I wanted to make sure you're ok…" Ichigo lay down again, relieved that she remembered everything properly.
" Ok then…" She said, tugging the sheets up. She yawned and closed her eyes. " Night."
" What? You can't go back to sleep!" Kish said, sitting up this time.
" And why not?"
" Because! I'm up! What am I supposed to do?"
" Oh I dunno." She said, rolling over. Just then her stomach rumbled.
" What the heck was that?!" Kish yelled, startled. He floated above Ichigo and crossed his legs. She was blushing. " Ah I see, you want to go back to sleep because it will take your mind off food! Ah. Ok. You can go back to sleep, I'll be back!"
" Kish don't leave-" He disappeared. "-me."
---
Ichigo did nod off for a short while, but she was interupted by someone poking her arm.
" Wow, human flesh is softer than I thought!" Tart was standing there at her bed side. Is it softer on your belly?" He floated over the top of her.
" Tart!" It wasn't exactly the best wake up call for someone to want to poke your stomach.
" What? Pai wants me to get a sample from your stomach, because apparently you're hungry." He had his hands on her stomach now and it growled.
" WHAT THE!?" He nearly hit his head on the roof in shock. " What was that!?"
" I'm hungry! So my stomach growls."
" Sounds like you ate one of our old Chimera Animals!" He sat down on Kish's desk and stared at her. " So why are you on Kish's bed anyway?"
" Huh?"
" He usually kills us if we even try touch his linen or his pillows to wash them. He does it all by himself. So why can you just sleep there and he not care? Or doesn't he know?"
" He knows, and he doesn't care. I fell asleep here, and he didn't want to move me!"
" Aah I see. So it's different for girls he likes to fall asleep there, but when I'm sick and waiting for him I get in the bad books for lying on his bed. Great to know. Anyway, I'll come back for that sample later. I think Kish's back." And he disappeared.
" Tart!" Ichigo growled.
" Ichigo!" Kish appeared beside her. " Where is he? Is he giving you trouble?" He sounded so defensive and caring, she decided to keep him away from Tart. He reminded her of Pudding Fong, and besides, he had just talked to her, he didn't harrass her.
" It's ok. He wasn't annoying me much." She smiled.
" … Ok. Oh! For you, Koneko-Chan." Kish placed a bowl with three pancakes doused in maple syrup and five strawberries on her lap. She squealed in delight!
" Kish! How did you know?" She grabbed one strawberry and bit into it. " Yum!"
" Well, when you're constatnly watching someone, you figure it out pretty quickly." He smiled. " It took a while to find everything, I think I caused a bit of a scare in the restraunt I got those… cake… things… from." Ichigo chocked on her strawberry.
" You--stole--these?"
" Ichigo! Don't choke! I'm not good with things like this!" She swallowed the strawberry and took a few deep breaths.
" How could you steal these? I mean… hang on… you went back to Earth twice now haven't you! To get me and to get food…"
" Well, it's four times really. To get you, but that failed, I came to talk to you but Pai knocked you out, I sort of went back to catch you from falling and now these yeh." He stroked her neck.
" It's ok, I'm not chocking anymore. But… how come you went back to Earth?"
" Well, we don't really have food for humans here." He laughed sheepishly. "We are aliens remember?"
" I know… hey you want some?" She offered him a strawberry and a pancake.
" You'll like it!" She smiled. Kish took the strawberry and looked at it.
" It's so weird… whats the seeds on the outside? What is it like?"
" It's sweet and wonderful. And those seeds arnt really that noticable when you bite it."
" Ok then Ichigo…" He took a bite into it. The flavor exploded in his mouth and he closed his eyes. He didn't like it at first but eventually he got used to it.
" Mmm! It's delicious!"
" I told you! Sweet and wonderful! That's why I love them!" Ichigo smiled and bit into another strawberry. Kish smiled.
---
" Thankyou so much for breakfast Kish!" Ichigo smiled. She had finished the meal slowly as she kept offering some to Kish. He enjoyed it but he loved the strawberrys best. To him, kissing Ichigo had the same taste as eating a strawberry, but he prefered kissing Ichigo. He got up out off bed and stretched. Kish turned around and it was then Ichigo noticed bruises all over Kish's neck and arms. When he faced her side on, she saw the bruises on his cheeks.
" Kish!!" She cried.
" Ichigo what's wrong?" He ran over to her and she stepped back.
" Kish, your neck, your cheeks, your arms! They're bruised! Did I?" He hid his arms behind his back and shrugged his shoulders.
" I didn't notice them." He lied. The bruises all over his neck and arms were from Ichigo squeezing him when he had 'dropped' her. And she had slapped him a few times in the past few days, so his cheeks were red and blue.
" Liar! Kish why didn't you tell me?" Ichigo stepped forward but stepped back. " I don't want to hurt you again!"
" Koneko-chan…don't worry about it. I don't mind, it's fine."
" Kish…"
" Well if you won't hug me, I'll just hug you!" He put down the plate and grabbed her. He ran his fingers up and down her neck and back and could have sworn he felt the shivers running down them. 7. ExplosionIchigo sat down at Kish's desk while he was out. She didn't know why he kept disappearing, but she didn't mind being alone, knowing he was still there somewhere. She started reading the notes on his desk, and figured out some of them were ripped out diary enteries, and some were research. Tites such as " Aliens on Earth" and " DNA Change" were on those pages. And in the diary entries, they all spoke of Ichigo.
'I wish I could return to Earth. I know Ichigo and Aoyama are probably together, but I could become her friend. I want to make her smile. I want her to smile at me. Just one more time.'
-----
'I've decided to return to Earth, but not to complete my mission set by the council. Pai and Tart are coming. Apparetnly Tart wants to see someone named 'Pudding' (wasn't that one of the Mews?) and Pai wants to collect some comparison data… whatever. I just want to see Ichigo. I think it's time I saw her again. If I don't see her, I'll probably explode. I love her. Even though I know we'll never be together- as soon as we return- I'll be exicuted.'
Ichigo gasped. She didn't understand somethings in the entry, but one thing was clear.
' Kish has wanted to see me for so long, even after we defeated the aliens and sent them home. He's loved me for years…' Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder.
" You know, I might not want you reading my personal journal." Kish said. Ichigo stood up quickly and stuttered.
" I-I, anou, well I didn't mean to- that is I didn't know that uh well-" Kish put his finger on her lips again. It always seemed to work. She always was quiet and listened.
" Alright. It's OK I guess. I saw you looking at the papers. I know you wernt purposly looking for my journal." He smiled slightly, but somehow he couldn't.
" Ichigo… when do you have to go?" He asked sadly. Ichigo gasped again. She had completely forgotten that she had to go to work on Monday. It was lucky that school was over and her parents wernt in town.
" I uh… soon… I think…" She frowned and looked at the ground. " I don't want to go." She hugged him and suddenly she felt herself disappear from the room.
---
The next thing she saw was a pretty little forest area. Kish smiled at her delighted face.
" I thought it'd be nice for you to come home… but I'm selfish, I want to spend more time with you." Ichigo blushed. She looked at him and smiled.
Ichigo found a nice shady tree where she and Kish could hang out. It was nice having him around on Earth again. She knew that she wouldn't fall out any doors or have anyone prod her here.
" Here Kish!" She called. He appeared right beside her and grabbed her around the waist.
" Cool. That's my little Koneko-Chan. Beautiful spot."
" Oh, so now I'm your Koneko again huh!" She giggled. " Either way you're still Kish!"
" I know" He smirked. " Hey Ichigo, have you realised how much I've had to control myself these past few days?"
" No… what do you mean?" She thought she knew what he meant, but she thought it'd be better to let Kish explain… just incase.
" I've had you so close to me for a while now and it's all been voluntary. When you lay on my bed asleep, I really thought I couldn't control myself. You were lying there hopeless and I… well…" He took a deep breath and spoke again.
" When I let you go before, the truth is, I didn't really want you to fall. I was going to catch you again, but when you held onto me, you can imagine what I wanted to do. I havnt really changed much, but I learnt it would be better if I tried to respect you." Ichigo stood there, her eyes wide open at his confession.
" Wow Kish. Thankyou." She stepped closer to him and placed her arms around him.
" I really like it when you're nice." She was so close to him. Her breath was blowing on his ear. Her heart was beating in time with his.
' Damn it! I've controlled myself so far, Ichigo, sorry!'
He gripped her in embrace and kissed her. She didn't know what to do. She didn't mind him touching her, holding her, kissing her but she was scared of him. He had reacted so suddenly…
Just like two years ago. It was exactly the same
Kish stopped kissing her and pushed her to the ground, his legs straddled to her hips. The impact had hurt ichigo, but before she could say anything, he was ontop of her and kissing her again.
" Kish!" She broke away from him. " Kish, stop it!" He replied by kissing her, but this time he was gentle and stroked her face at the same time. She really started to panic now. He wasn't listening. He just kept attacking her.
" KISH!" She screamed. She started crying again as she felt his weight shift. She felt his face move from hers and it sat on her shoulder. Ichigo stopped crying as she realised Kish wasn't moving. Well, not like he was before. She propped herself up onto her elbows and stedied herself against a tree.
Kish didn't move. She couldn't see his face, which was lying on her shoulder still, but she could imagine what was going on. He was probably trying to control himself again.
She couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief as she realised that he wasn't going to attack her like that again. She could understand how he had kept all those feelings inside and he exploded. She didn't know why, and she didn't know how, but she understood. She placed her arm on his back and ran it up and down along his spine.
" Ichigo?" His voice wobbled slightly. He sniffed as he tried his hardest to regain his normal control. " I'm" His voice cracked again. " I'm sorry!" And he broke down. Ichigo was shocked at him. He was crying.
" Kish." Ichigo grabbed his chin and stroked his tears away. He pulled away slightly but she grabbed him again. " Don't cry. I forgive you." He pulled away again and stared at her.
" How? How could you just forgive me so easily. I mean I just…" He looked away.
" Lost control?" Ichigo piped in.
" Yeh." Kish still didn't look at her and he hugged his knees. Ichigo did the same but instead she was staring at him. " Ichigo how can you forgive me at all?"
" Because, I can. It was three kisses. You didn't mean it, I know." Kish blushed and his ears went pink. Ichigo smiled.
" Maybe you did. But you know what?" Kish looked at her and realised how close her face was to his.
" It's ok. Now you've got this off your chest, so you shouldn't do it again."
8. Home
" How do you know for sure?" Kish asked sadly. " I don't even know."
" Because Kish." She took a deep breath. " I know you can be kind. I know you can control yourself. I know." Kish wasn't sure which one of them had moved, but their noses were touching. His forehead was pounding but Ichigo's forehead calmed him down.
" Ichigo. Why?" He whispered. He could feel all the emotion in his stomach bubble up again, just like he had felt when he pounced on his precious new friend. Somehow he kept it locked up for a bit longer. There wasn't a chance he was going to hurt her again. He would rather be killed than hurt her again.
" I…"
This was it.
' Ichigo, time to sink or swim!!!'
" Kish I…"
She moved closer to him and her lips brushed his.
" …love you."
Ichigo blushed as her lips met his properly. Kish was surprised, but he didn't move. This time, he wasn't forcing her to kiss him. It was all her. And his insides were squirming. He had confessed before about liking her and now… now she answered him. He was so happy right this moment. Thankgod he didn't pounce on her like he had wanted to.
" Koneko…" He whispered when they broke away. Ichigo was red with embarrasment. Kish was stunned at the recent turn of events. It was a dream come true.
" Don't move." He said, his eyes closed. " I'm going to wake up soon. I just know it. I want to make this last… even a few moments longer will do…"
Ichigo watched him take in the moment. A light breeze brushed his hair out of his face and he was smiling in content.
" I love this dream." He said, as he opened his eyes. He looked at Ichigo sadly as he waited for everything to fade to black. Ichigo blushed and looked away from him, only to lean onto his shoulder. She looked up at his face, which was staring at the distance.
" Kish… you are awake." He snapped his face to face her and saw her chocolate eyes staring at him happily. Ichigo could see the confusion and happiness in his golden eyes.
She just smiled at him again, reassuring him that he wasn't dreaming.
He removed her head from his shoulder and held it in his arms. She didn't stop gazing at him, knowing he was probably going to kiss her.
But he didn't.
Instead he just hugged her tightly, breathing heavily onto her neck. She leaned back a little, to try and find the tree again to lean upon, but instead she missed and fell to the floor.
Kish still held her in his arms, not wanting to let go. Ichigo didn't know whether to lay there like his, hug him or make him get off her. Would he think it would be an invite for him to grope her again? He wasn't moving, just laying there, enjoying the fact Ichigo had finally understood him. Understood his emotions.
" You know, I'm not going to attack you. You can hug me." Kish whispered, sensing Ichigo's hesitations.
She smiled and did as he said, now fully enjoying the moment aswell. The scenery was perfect- a bright spring afternoon under the shade of a sakura tree. Now it was Ichigo who didn't want to wake up.
---
Eventually both Kish and Ichigo let go, looking into eachothers eyes and they realised just how awkward it was.
Kish, an alien, who had used Ichigo as a toy two years ago, had confessed that he never meant to hurt her and he loved her.
Ichigo, the ex-Mew Mew, had understood everything and on top of that forgiven him, not to mention she had answered his feelings and discovered her own.
" Kish?" She asked, not shifting from his gaze.
" Mmm?"
" Take me home please."
Hi again!
Well finally she confessed! FINALLY! Happy Dance! I could imagine it happening this way too… sorry I made Kish go all nuts and stuff…Really, he's being himself, perverted and all, but without much self control.
Well, I'll keep updating, so there is probably another chapter for you to read! Enjoy! Please Review!
Moonlit-Kris
Nyan!
