Escape Part 4: Recovery
By the time they finished breakfast, Kisshu was feeling much happier, and that relieved the others. "It's nice to see you smile, Kisshu," Ichigo said.
"Thanks," Kisshu said. "Can I see what the rest of your house looks like? I've only been in your room."
Ichigo looked at Pai, who said, "Fine, but if you start getting tired, let us know."
Kisshu just sighed and got up, then looked like he had remembered something. "Sakura, don't let Pai in your kitchen; he'll blow it up," Kisshu said. "He's a kitchen disaster."
"O-okay," Sakura said.
"How did you guys eat while you were on Earth?" Ichigo asked.
"I can cook," Kisshu said, sounding kind of embarrassed.
"That's really cool, Kisshu," Ichigo said.
"You think so?" Kisshu asked.
"Yep," Ichigo said, smiling. "Do you want me to show you the rest of the house?"
"Yeah," Kisshu said.
Ichigo gently took his hand and pulled him to the living room, watching as he looked around. "You have a TV?" he asked.
"Yeah, most people have either a TV or a computer- or both," Ichigo said.
"Lucky…." Kisshu said. "Humans have it nice."
"I suppose, but not everyone's lucky enough to have a high-paying job like my dad does," Ichigo said. "Some people are living on the streets, and others may not be on the streets, but they can barely afford food. I'm very lucky."
"Wow…." Kisshu said. "I'm getting kind of tired, can we go back upstairs?"
"Let me get Pai, he said no stairs," Ichigo said. "Why don't you sit down? You look kind of shaky."
Kisshu carefully sat down on the sofa, and Ichigo went to find Pai. She found him trying to wake Taruto up- with very little success. "Pai, Kisshu's getting tired again," Ichigo said. "Can you come get him?"
"Sure, but after that, Taruto will be doomed," Pai said.
"Simply for not waking up?" Ichigo asked, hearing a small squeak from under the blankets.
"No, for ignoring me," Pai said. "I'll go get Kisshu; are you calling Ryou today?"
"Yeah," Ichigo said. "I'll do it soon."
Pai nodded and teleported out as Ichigo headed back to her room, and got her cell phone. Pai teleported in with Kisshu, who looked sleepy. He helped Kisshu sit on the bed, and Kisshu laid back, pulling the covers up. "Koneko-chan, can you stay?" he asked sleepily.
"I have to make a phone call, but I'll be back," Ichigo said. "Can Pai stay with you till I get back?"
"You promise you'll come back?" Kisshu asked.
"Of course, I'm just going downstairs," Ichigo said. "Get some rest, I'll be back soon."
Kisshu sighed and settled back, falling asleep pretty quickly. Ichigo looked at Pai, who nodded. Then she went downstairs with her cell phone, and dialed the Café's number.
Two rings later, she heard, "What's up, Ichigo?"
"I made my decision," Ichigo said.
"And?" Ryou asked.
"I'm not coming back," Ichigo said, and waited for the explosion.
Sure enough, Ryou shouted, "WHAT!? WHY!?"
"I would think you'd know why," Ichigo said. "I need to be here for Kisshu. That's my priority right now, and I'm not going to change it."
"Did they do something to you?" Ryou asked.
"You're insane," Ichigo said dryly. "Why would they do anything to me? I'm doing this because Kisshu needs me, not because I was forced into it. Kisshu needs help, and Pai says I'm the only one who can really help him. Besides, there's no real reason for me to work there anymore; the attacks are over."
There was a click, and Ichigo knew Ryou had hung up. Sighing, she snapped her phone shut, and went back upstairs.
Pai looked up as she came in and asked softly, "How'd it go?"
"NOT well," Ichigo sighed. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have company soon."
"Can I give you the ability to use telepathy?" Pai asked. "I think it's a good idea."
Ichigo's face lit up, and she said, "I'd love that!"
"K, stay quiet," Pai said. He put a finger on her forehead, and after a moment, she felt something like a spark in her head. "Focus on me and think what you want to say," Pai said.
Ichigo concentrated, and said telepathically, Can you hear me?
Yep, Pai said. You're all set.
Thanks, Ichigo said.
So what happened with Ryou? Pai asked.
He's not happy that I quit, and asked if you had done something to me. I told him he was insane, Ichigo said.
I hope he doesn't send the others to attack, Pai said.
I hope not too, Ichigo sighed.
Suddenly the doorbell rang, waking Kisshu up and putting Pai and Ichigo on edge. They heard the front door open, and then Sakura called, "Ichigo, your friend Zakuro is here!"
"Coming!" Ichigo called back, and said, "You two stay here." Pai and Kisshu nodded, and Ichigo ran downstairs.
She found Zakuro in the front hall with Sakura, and said, "Hi Zakuro, what's up?"
"Ryou sent me," Zakuro said. "He's convinced you were brainwashed by Kisshu. I wasn't so sure about that, but I said I'd come. Where is Kisshu?"
"My room," Ichigo said. "And he didn't brainwash me; he's still too weak to use his powers."
Zakuro looked a bit startled, and asked, "What happened?"
"Kisshu was put in jail for helping us when he got back to his planet," Ichigo said. "A little over a week ago, he escaped and managed to teleport here, but because he was so beat up and he hadn't eaten in two weeks, he collapsed as soon as he landed in my room. He's still recovering from that, and I don't think he's able to use his powers yet. He's also got a pretty severe case of PTSD."
Zakuro looked worried, and asked, "He has PTSD?"
"Yeah," Ichigo said. "So far the only thing that's made him smile is my mom's blueberry muffins. He and Pai are currently in my room; Pai and Taruto are sharing our guest room, but Pai's looking after Kisshu right now."
"Is it okay if I come up?" Zakuro asked.
"Sure, but please be gentle with Kisshu; he's still pretty jumpy at times," Ichigo said. "My mom said she was going to whack my dad, and that scared Kisshu. And I think the doorbell startled him too."
"Alright," Zakuro said. "Where's Taruto?"
"Last I checked, still sleeping, I guess he likes sleeping in," Ichigo said. She led Zakuro upstairs, and knocked on the closed door of her room. "Ichigo?" Pai's voice asked.
"Hai, Zakuro's here, can we come in?" Ichigo asked.
"Hai," Pai said. Ichigo opened the door, and went in, followed by Zakuro. She went to sit with Kisshu, noticing he seemed nervous, and said softly, "It's okay, she's just here to talk."
"Zakuro, does this have something to do with Ichigo's resignation?" Pai asked.
"Ryou is convinced one of you brainwashed her," Zakuro sighed. "I didn't really believe him, but he's more likely to listen to me than one of you if I tell him Ichigo's not brainwashed."
"Koneko-chan, you quit?" Kisshu asked.
"That was the phone call I was making," Ichigo said. "I don't particularly like working there, and I feel like spending time with you is more important than serving cake to people."
"Thanks," Kisshu said, sounding happy again.
Zakuro sighed and said, "I'm going to go tell Ryou that Ichigo is not brainwashed. Ichigo, contact me if he does anything, k?"
"K, thanks Zakuro," Ichigo said.
Zakuro smiled slightly and left, passing Taruto on her way out.
"So, finally decided to get up, huh Taruto?" Pai asked dryly.
"You were snoring; I didn't get any sleep last night!" Taruto said defensively.
Kisshu snickered, and asked, "Did he sound like a chainsaw again?"
"A LOUD chainsaw," Taruto grumbled.
Ichigo giggled. "Chainsaws are generally loud," she said. "Thanks, Taruto."
"Why?" Taruto asked.
"You made Kisshu snicker," Ichigo said. "He hasn't even smiled since he got here. It's nice to see him a bit happier."
Taruto looked happy, and Kisshu smiled. "Can I go downstairs for a while?" Kisshu asked.
"What do you want to do downstairs?" Pai asked.
"Watch a movie," Kisshu said. "And besides, I'm hungry again."
Pai put a hand on Kisshu's stomach and after a minute, said, "You should be able to eat something heavier than soup today, and I think dairy products are fine."
"Does that mean I can have grilled cheese?" Kisshu asked.
"Sure," Pai said. "Just don't eat too fast, or you'll get sick. You need to put on some weight; you're about twenty pounds lighter than you should be right now."
"Kisshu, you look like a stick," Taruto said.
Pai immediately whacked him as Kisshu's eyes went sad. Ichigo gently hugged Kisshu, feeling him bury his face in her shoulder as she said telepathically, Pai, I'll handle Kisshu, you should scold Taruto elsewhere.
Understood, Pai said. He roughly grabbed Taruto's arm and teleported off.
Ichigo felt Kisshu's shoulders shaking, and tightened her grip as she started stroking his hair. "It's hard hearing things like that, isn't it?" she asked softly.
"Mmhm…" Kisshu mumbled into Ichigo's shoulder. He hugged her back, and Ichigo felt his tears soaking into her shirt.
"Do you still want to go downstairs?" Ichigo asked gently.
"I want to hide under the bed and never come out," Kisshu said sadly.
"It's pretty dusty down there, I don't think you really want to do that," Ichigo said.
"Can I hide under the blankets?" Kisshu asked.
"You'll suffocate," Ichigo said.
"Can we clean under the bed and then I can hide there?" Kisshu asked.
"Why do you want to hide?" Ichigo asked.
"It makes me feel safe," Kisshu said. "And if I'm hiding under the bed, I won't have to see Taruto."
Ichigo sighed. "I'll go get a broom, and inform Pai that you don't want Taruto in here," she said. She gently let Kisshu go, and got up, then left. As she got out a broom and dustpan, she called telepathically, Pai, don't let Taruto back in my room; Kisshu's not interested in seeing him.
Understood, Pai said.
Ichigo took the broom and dustpan back to her room, and told Kisshu, "Stay on the bed, I'll sweep under it." Kisshu nodded, and Ichigo started sweeping the dust out from under her bed. Soon she had a pretty large pile, and she swept it into the dustpan.
"Jeez, when was the last time you cleaned?" Kisshu asked.
"Beats me; I don't usually go under my bed," Ichigo said. "Are you sure you want to hide under the bed?"
"Yes," Kisshu said. He got off the bed and climbed under it, and Ichigo sighed. She put the dust in her wastebasket, and sat on her bed.
There was a knock on her door, and Ichigo called, "Come in!"
Pai opened the door, and looked startled. "Where's Kisshu?" he asked.
"Under the bed," Ichigo sighed. "He says it makes him feel safe, and this way he won't have to see Taruto."
Pai looked worried, and asked, "Kisshu, isn't it dusty down there?"
"No, Koneko-chan cleaned," Kisshu said. "Now I have a place for the next time you say the T word."
"So why are you down there now?" Pai asked. "You're perfectly safe here; no one's going to hurt you or lock you up."
"Taruto thinks I look like a stick…." Kisshu said sadly.
"Taruto is wrong; you're just really thin," Pai said. "Don't listen to him, he's an immature 11-year-old."
"Mmph," Kisshu said.
Pai sighed. "Kisshu, get out from under the bed," he said. "You can't eat down there, you know."
"I don't really feel like eating…." Kisshu said.
"Are you not feeling well?" Pai asked.
"Except for the fact that my younger brother thinks I'm a stick, I'm feeling fine," Kisshu said.
"Kisshu, I know it's hard to hear things like that, but try not to dwell on it," Ichigo said. "It'll only make you feel worse. Can you come out? I'll make some grilled cheese. You really need to eat something."
She heard a sigh, and Kisshu crawled out from under the bed. "Grilled cheese?" he asked a bit hopefully.
Ichigo giggled and said, "Let's go downstairs, and I'll make some for you." She took his hand, and he followed her downstairs.
Two days later, Kisshu was pretty much back to full strength, but he still got tired out occasionally. He was also still very underweight, and still got depressed and anxious frequently.
Sakura had called the school and asked if they could start sending work for Kisshu to her. The school agreed, and Sakura had also told them Ichigo would be back on Monday. It was currently Friday afternoon, and Ichigo was teaching Kisshu how to play Connect Four.
"Do you have to go back to school?" Kisshu asked.
"Yes, but you'll have Mom, Pai, and Taruto for company, and I'll be back in the afternoon," Ichigo said. "I'm thinking of inviting Moe and Miwa over; is that okay?"
"It's fine with me; I would think you'd be asking your mom that question," Kisshu said.
"I just didn't want to startle you by bringing them over unexpectedly," Ichigo said.
"I'll be fine," Kisshu said.
"K," Ichigo said. "Then they can come over on Monday."
Well, there's another chapter. In answer to a review from AterUmbra, while I appreciate the advice, I think I'll stick with just the depression and anxiety, because I'm not that good at writing Kisshu as really angry or psychotic.
Sorry I didn't get this out yesterday, but please review!