Why? Chapter 4:

Meeting the Friends

Ichigo took out a loaf of rye bread, and put four pieces in the toaster. While waiting for them to toast, she took out the butter and strawberry jam, and two plates. When the toast was done, she put on the butter and jam, and took the two plates up to her room.

Kisshu was waiting, still sitting on the bed. "Your cell phone buzzed," he told her.

"Thanks, someone probably texted me," Ichigo said. "Here's the toast."

"Thanks, Koneko-chan," Kisshu said. He took the plate as Ichigo went to her desk to get her cell phone. She looked at the text message, and winced. "What's wrong?" Kisshu asked.

"I forgot I was supposed to meet my friends Moe and Miwa today," Ichigo said.

"Do they know about you being Mew Ichigo?" Kisshu asked.

"No, I couldn't tell them at school," Ichigo said. "Do you think I should tell them?"

"Might be a good idea, if you want me to live here," Kisshu said. "But do you trust them not to reveal your secret?"

"Yeah, we've know each other since we were three," Ichigo said. "I should tell them, and my parents, too."

"Okay," Kisshu said.

Ichigo dialed Moe's number, and waited. Finally she heard, "Ichigo? Where are you?"

"I'm home, sorry I forgot," Ichigo said. "I was wondering, can you and Miwa come over? I need to tell you something, and over the phone isn't a good way to do it."

"Okay, I'll let Miwa know," Moe said. "We'll be there soon."

"Thanks," Ichigo said, and hung up. Kisshu looked at her, and she said, "They'll be here soon."

"What am I supposed to do? I still feel shaky," Kisshu said.

"I'll just tell them downstairs, and then bring them up here," Ichigo said. "This is usually where we hang out anyways."

"O-okay," Kisshu said.

The doorbell rang, and Ichigo said, "How'd they get here that fast?" Without waiting for an answer, she ran downstairs and opened the front door- only to see Ryou and Mint, not Moe and Miwa. "Hi, what's up?" she asked.

"Mint and I bought a bunch of human clothes for the aliens, we're dropping them off," Ryou said.

"Oh, thanks," Ichigo said. "And I should let you know, I'm going to tell my friends and my parents about me."

"Your parents are one thing, but why your friends?" Mint asked.

"Because they should know, and they'll beat up anyone who reveals my secret," Ichigo said. "They're good at protecting me."

"Glad you think so," Miwa said from behind Ryou. "So what's Blondie and his girlfriend doing here?"

Before Ichigo could respond, Ryou yelled, "WHY does everyone call me Blondie!? First Kisshu, then Ichigo, and NOW Ichigo's friends!"

"It's because you're blonde," Miwa said. "At least you don't get called 'Butterhead'. Your hair looks kind of like butter. Except a bit more neon."

Moe, Mint and Ichigo burst out laughing. "AAAARRGH!" Ryou screamed. "I'm leaving! Have fun talking about my neon yellow hair!" He threw a few bags at Ichigo's feet, and stormed off, followed by Mint, who was still giggling.

"That went well," Moe said, snickering. "So what did you have to tell us? And what's in the bags?"

Ichigo picked up the bags, and said, "Come in." Moe and Miwa followed her, closing the door behind them. Ichigo sighed, and said, "I've been meaning to tell you this for a while, but I guess now's a good time. I'm actually Mew Ichigo."

"Why now?" Miwa whispered.

"Because we're not at school," Ichigo said. "I guess I really should have told you after the aliens left, but I was kind of busy. And at school was too dangerous. If too many people find out, I'm in danger. So you can't tell your families, k?"

"We won't," Moe said. "And you know we'll always protect you. But did all this have something to do with you breaking up with Aoyama?"

"I think so," Ichigo said. "But before we get into that, do you want to meet my new boyfriend?"

"You have a new boyfriend? And he's here?" Miwa asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Ichigo said. "His older brother tried to strangle him last night, and he's still a bit shaky, so I told him to take it easy and I'd bring the two of you up to my room."

"Why is he in your room?" Miwa asked as she and Moe followed Ichigo upstairs.

"That's where he almost got strangled," Ichigo said. "I didn't really feel like taking him back to his room, so I just slept with him. It was comfy."

They had reached Ichigo's room, and Ichigo went in. Kisshu was still sitting on the bed, and he looked up as they came in. "Hi, I'm Kisshu," he said.

"H-hi, I'm Moe, and this is Miwa," Moe said.

"It's nice to meet you," Kisshu said. "I suppose Ichigo told you that she's Mew Ichigo?"

"Yup," Moe said. "And you're an alien, right?"

"Yeah," Kisshu said.

Miwa asked, "Are you the reason Ichigo broke up with Aoyama?"

"I'm not sure, and neither is she, but maybe," Kisshu said.

"After the final battle with the aliens' evil leader, Kisshu apparently left," Ichigo said. "A week later, I broke up with Aoyama, but I don't exactly remember why. I think it's because I realized I loved Kish."

"Why don't you know?" Moe asked.

"I apparently used one of Ryou's inventions to erase all my memories of Kish," Ichigo said. "I don't remember anything about him. His brother Pai thinks it's because I used to reject him a lot, and I didn't want to live with that guilt, since I guess I thought Kish was never going to come back. He's really sweet, though, so don't attack him, k?"

"If he doesn't hurt you, we won't attack him," Moe said.

"I won't hurt Ichigo," Kisshu said. "I love her."

"Good," Moe said. "Ichigo, do your parents know?"

"No, I'm going to tell them when they get back," Ichigo said. "They're on another cruise."

"I guess that's good, since Kisshu is living here," Moe said. "Your dad is still against boys, right?"

"Pretty much, but I'm sure we'll work it out," Ichigo said. "Mom has Dad wrapped around her fingers."

"That's true," Miwa said. "So Kisshu, were you always in love with Ichigo?"

"Yup," Kisshu said. "It wasn't exactly easy, because we were enemies and she hated me, but I knew from the moment I met her I'd never find anyone else."

"So how'd you meet?" Moe asked.

"You know that clock tower down the street?" Kisshu asked.

"Yeah…" Moe said.

"I jumped off it and kissed her," Kisshu said. "And then I said, "My name is Kisshu, thanks for the kiss." And that's how we met. She wasn't too happy with me, though."

"Why?" Ichigo asked. "That's so cute!"

"Probably had something to do with the fact that you were going on a date with the treehugger that day," Kisshu sighed. "And it probably didn't help that we were supposed to be enemies."

"Um… treehugger?" Miwa asked.

"That's my name for Aoyama," Kisshu said. "Or at least, one of them. The others were stuff like, 'stupid tree-screwing bastard' or 'walking puppet'."

"So in other words, you didn't like him?" Miwa asked mildly.

"I HATED him," Kisshu said. "And it turned out he wasn't even human; he was my evil leader, who Ichigo killed, then somehow managed to save the treehugger anyways. I think now he's human, though."

"Wow…" Moe and Miwa said.

"You realize you have to be civil to him when Mom gets you into my school, right?" Ichigo asked.

Kisshu groaned. "Can't I just kill him before school starts?" he asked plaintively.

"That's illegal," Ichigo said. "Relax, you've got me, so you don't have to worry about him. And Moe and Miwa will be your friends too- right guys?"

"Yup," Miwa said. "Does Aoyama hate you too, Kisshu?"

"Maybe, I don't know," Kisshu said.

"Well, if he does anything, we'll take him down," Miwa said. "It sure would be fun to see the school's kendo star screaming for mercy. He's too perfect."

"He's actually kind of creepy," Moe said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he was screwing trees…"

Kisshu burst out laughing.

"I think we'll all get along well," Ichigo said.

"Me too," Miwa said.

Suddenly teleportation sounded in the room, and Pai appeared. "Hi Pai," Ichigo said.

"Hi," Pai said. "How's Kisshu?"

"He can't stand up for some reason; he tried and said his legs felt funny," Ichigo said.

"I guess trying to strangle him was not one of my better ideas…" Pai sighed as he went over to Kisshu.

Kisshu was still laughing a bit, and Pai said, "Kisshu, if you want me to try to fix the fact that you can't stand, you're going to have to calm down."

Kisshu took a few deep breaths, and said, "I'm calm."

"Lie back down, and the rest of you, stay quiet," Pai said.

The girls nodded as Kisshu laid back down, and Pai put a hand on his chest. This time Pai spread his fingers out, and his hand began to glow. Kisshu fell asleep a few minutes later. About five minutes after he fell asleep, Pai's hand stopped glowing, and he said softly, "That should do it, but he needs to sleep off the healing. You can stay with him, but you have to be quiet."

"Okay," Ichigo said quietly. "I have to go wash his new clothes anyways, how long do you think he'll be sleeping?"

"Two hours at most," Pai said. "I'm going to get going, can you handle things here?"

"Sure, and I'll call if anything happens," Ichigo said.

Pai nodded and teleported out. Ichigo motioned to Moe and Miwa, and they followed her downstairs. "Well, unless you want to help me do laundry, maybe we should try to go shopping another day," Ichigo said. "I probably shouldn't bring Kish, though…"

"Why?" Miwa asked.

"He'd hate shopping, he's a boy," Ichigo said. "Oh, and I should let you know that he's severely allergic to bananas, so no more bananas while we're together, k?"

"That's fine," Miwa said. "Can we go shopping at noon this Wednesday?"

"Sure, maybe we could also get milkshakes?" Ichigo said.

"Sounds good, see you then," Moe said. She and Miwa waved, then left. Ichigo went back to her room, grabbed the bags of clothing, and went to the laundry room in the basement.

Next chapter will be the shopping trip. Review plz!