Why? Chapter 6:
Meeting the Parents
Kisshu and Ichigo went back to the alley after saying goodbye to Moe and Miwa, and Kisshu teleported home. They landed in Ichigo's room, and jumped as Ichigo's cell phone rang. "It's my mom," she told Kisshu. "Hi Mom, what's up?"
"The cruise ship's engine died, so we're going to be home tomorrow afternoon instead," Sakura said. "How's it going?"
"I have something to discuss when you get back," Ichigo said.
"Okay, see you soon," Sakura said.
"Bye," Ichigo replied, and hung up. Then she looked at Kisshu. "They're coming home tomorrow afternoon," she told him. "I think we should just tell the truth, since it's not going to be easy to explain your ears to them. And I won't let my dad challenge you to a kendo match, k?"
"K," Kisshu said. "I don't know much about it anyways. Sword fighting on my planet is different."
"You use swords?" Ichigo asked.
"I have two," Kisshu said. "I'm better at fighting with two at once."
"Wow," Ichigo said. "What do they look like?"
Kisshu summoned his Dragon Swords, and showed them to Ichigo. "These are really cool," she said. "My dad has a sword, but these are cooler."
"Why does your dad have a sword?" Kisshu asked, making the swords disappear.
"Apparently he wanted to protect me with it, but then my mom told him it's illegal to carry a real sword around, so he had to put it in the basement," Ichigo explained.
"Does that mean I can't use my swords?" Kisshu asked.
"Yeah," Ichigo said. "It's illegal to attack people with weapons. People do it anyways, but they usually end up in jail. I don't want that to happen to you."
"Okay," Kisshu said. "I guess I won't really need them anyways."
"Probably," Ichigo said. "What should we have for dinner? We can have more lasagna, or something else."
"I don't mind more lasagna; it was good," Kisshu said.
"Then let's go heat some up," Ichigo said. She took Kisshu's hand, and pulled him downstairs. He curled his fingers around hers, and she smiled at him. He smiled back as they went to the kitchen.
After heating up the lasagna, they sat down together. "So Kish, what do you like to do for fun?" Ichigo asked.
"Spend time with you," Kisshu replied. "I like to draw, too, but my favorite thing since I came to Earth the first time has been spending time with you."
"You're so sweet," Ichigo said happily. "I love spending time with you too. What did you do for fun before you met me?"
"Well, I've always liked drawing," Kisshu said. "But I liked learning how to use my swords, too. I like practicing sword work. What do you like to do for fun?"
"I like shopping, and hanging out with Moe and Miwa, but I also like drawing," Ichigo said. "I don't know that I'm very good, but I like it. Hey, maybe I should do that picture of Pai being a zombie after dinner."
"Sounds good to me, we can both draw," Kisshu said. "Maybe I'll draw Taruto as a monkey."
Ichigo giggled. "We should do the dishes first, though," she said.
They did the dishes, then went upstairs. Ichigo got out some pencils and paper, then said, "Do you want colored pencils or markers?"
"Can I have colored pencils?" Kisshu asked.
"Sure," Ichigo said, and got a box of them out of her desk. "I think I'll use markers. Should we do this at the kitchen table? There's not much room up here."
"K," Kisshu said, following her downstairs. Ichigo cleared off the kitchen table, and sat down with her markers, pencils and paper. Kisshu did the same, and they both started drawing.
About half an hour later, Kisshu had an immaculate drawing of Taruto with monkey ears and a tail- kissing Pudding in Mew form. He noticed Ichigo was still drawing, but soon after, she said, "I'm finished, what about you?"
"Yup," Kisshu said. "How'd it come out?"
Ichigo held up a perfectly detailed picture of Pai in a graveyard, with his arms stretched out in front of him and a demented look in his eyes. Kisshu burst out laughing as he said, "That's amazing!"
"You think so?" Ichigo asked. "Thanks. Let's see yours."
Kisshu held up the drawing of Taruto and Pudding kissing. "That's great!" Ichigo said. "Hey, maybe you should show Pudding!"
"Call her and see where she is, we can go together," Kisshu said. "And then we can bring your picture to Lettuce."
"Good idea!" Ichigo said. She ran upstairs, got her cell phone, and ran back down, then dialed Pudding's number.
After three rings, she heard, "Ichigo-oneechan na no da?"
"Hi Pudding, where are you?" Ichigo asked.
"Home, why?" Pudding asked.
"Kish has something to show you, can we come over?" Ichigo asked.
"K! Pudding hasn't seen you in ages, na no da," Pudding said. "See you soon!" she hung up, and Ichigo said to Kisshu, "Let's get going."
"K," Kisshu said. "Am I teleporting you?"
"Do you know where it is?" Ichigo asked.
"Yup, Taruto goes there a lot," Kisshu said.
"K, let's get our shoes on," Ichigo said.
She and Kisshu went to get their shoes- or in Kisshu's case, boots- and grabbed the pictures. Kisshu took Ichigo's hand and teleported to Pudding's house. Pudding came into the front hall, hearing the teleportation, and said, "Hi Ichigo-oneechan, hi Kisshu-oniichan! So what did you have to show Pudding?"
Kisshu showed her the picture of her and Taruto kissing. "That's so cute, na no da!" Pudding said.
"Do you want it?" Kisshu asked. "Just don't let Taruto rip it up."
"Pudding will go frame it, then Taru-Taru can't rip it up," Pudding said happily. "Thank you, Kisshu-oniichan!"
"Sure," Kisshu said. "Ichigo made a picture of Pai as a zombie, wanna see?"
"That sounds cool, na no da!" Pudding said.
Ichigo showed her the picture, and she burst out laughing. "You have to show Lettuce-oneechan!" Pudding said.
"That reminds me, I need to call her," Ichigo said.
"How about I call Pai, and he brings Lettuce to our place?" Kisshu suggested.
"Okay!" Ichigo said. "Pudding-chan, it was nice to see you."
"You too Ichigo-oneechan," Pudding said.
Kisshu had called Pai telepathically, and he said, "Pai's going to be there soon, let's go."
"K," Ichigo said. Kisshu waved to Pudding, took Ichigo's hand, and teleported to the living room.
Pai teleported in with Lettuce a few minutes later, and said, "So what did you have to show us?"
"I made a pretty picture," Ichigo said cheerfully. "Lettuce gets to look first."
Lettuce came over and took the picture, then squeaked. "Ichigo-san, what is this?" she asked as Pai came over.
"Pai, as a zombie," Ichigo said, giggling. "I got the idea when Kish said he wouldn't be surprised if Pai likes wandering around graveyards at midnight with his arms stretched out in front of him. You don't like it, do you?"
"Well, the artwork itself is really good, it's the subject I'm not too keen on," Lettuce said. "Sorry."
Pai looked over her shoulder- and turned dark red. "Ichigo, you're going down!" he shouted.
"Touch her and I get my swords out," Kisshu snarled. "Didn't you listen when she told you to get a sense of humor?"
"Or when I said to work on anger management?" Ichigo said. "It's a good thing you've got Lettuce, she's nice and calm. Try to learn from that, k?"
"Mmph," Pai grumbled. "Here's your picture back."
Ichigo took the picture, and said, "Kish, let's show Taruto!"
"K," Kisshu said. "I'll see where he is." Kisshu closed his eyes, concentrating, then snickered. "He's in the shrine," he said.
"Um… shrine?" Ichigo asked.
"He made a shrine to Pudding," Kisshu said. "Let's go!" He took Ichigo's hand and teleported.
They landed in a room wallpapered in pictures of Pudding, and Taruto looked up, then shrieked, "KISSHU! You're going DOWN!"
"Before you take me down, wanna see the picture of Zombie Pai that Ichigo did?" Kisshu asked.
Taruto sighed, and Ichigo handed him the picture. He immediately started laughing. "This is great! Did you show him?"
"Yeah, and he said he was going to take me down," Ichigo said. "He needs a sense of humor."
"And help with anger management," Kisshu added.
"Can I keep this?" Taruto asked.
"Sure, I can always make more," Ichigo said.
"Thanks!" Taruto said, and teleported out.
Kisshu teleported Ichigo back to the living room, and Ichigo sighed. "I'm tired," she said. "And I have to do chores tomorrow."
"Let's just go to bed, then," Kisshu said. "Can we sleep together again?"
"Sure, but we have to keep it a secret, or my dad will kill us," Ichigo said.
"K," Kisshu said.
They went upstairs, and got ready for bed, then cuddled up together and fell asleep.
The next morning they got up and started doing the chores after breakfast. By about 12:30, they had finished, and went to the living room to wait for Sakura and Shintaro to come back.
They were on their third round of Twenty Questions when the front door opened, and Sakura called, "Ichigo, we're home!"
"Coming," Ichigo called back. "Come on, Kish."
Kisshu got up and followed her out to the front hall. Sakura and Shintaro were waiting, and as soon as he saw Kisshu, Shintaro got the usual death aura. "Ichigo, what happened to my 'no boys' rule?" he asked warningly.
"It's idiotic," Ichigo said. "I'm fourteen years old, not two. I want you to get it through your head that I can make my own decisions, and I'd appreciate it if you'd trust my judgment. I don't think it's going to stick, because you never listen to me, but I just thought, since you asked, I'd let you know how I feel."
Shintaro was speechless, and Sakura sighed. "Ichigo, what did you have to discuss?" she asked.
"I probably should have told you sooner, but I'm actually Mew Ichigo," Ichigo said. Her parents' jaws dropped, and Ichigo continued, "As I'm sure you're aware, the alien attacks stopped a year ago. The Mews and aliens formed a truce, and the aliens went back to their own planet to save it."
"So who's your friend?" Sakura asked.
"This is Kisshu, he came to Earth first," Ichigo said. "And now he's my boyfriend."
"Anything else?" Sakura asked.
"Yes," Ichigo said. "I wanted to ask if Kish could live here, since he doesn't have a home of his own. And he's really sweet. He helped me with the long list of chores you left for me, and he's been really nice company. Besides, no one ever uses the guest room anyways."
"I guess it's fine, but what about school?" Sakura asked.
"You can sign him up to be in all of my classes, and get a uniform," Ichigo said.
"And I have a bunch of pills that will change my ears," Kisshu added.
"I don't see any problem, then," Sakura said.
"Why are you agreeing this quickly?" Shintaro asked sulkily.
"Because Kisshu needs a place to live, and since he and Ichigo are so close, and we have a spare room, I can't see any reason not to let him live here," Sakura said. "Ichigo's right, you should trust her judgment. You never listen to her when she tells you she doesn't like being treated like a baby, and she's right, the 'no boys' rule is idiotic. She's responsible, and you should get that. And I'm sure Kisshu will be responsible too- right?"
"Hai," Kisshu said. "I should let you know, I'm severely allergic to bananas, and I can't be near them. I hope you don't mind."
"Yay!" Sakura said. "Now I'll never have to make banana bread or banana cream pie again. This is great!"
"No it's not," Shintaro said.
"Go find another obsession, Dad," Ichigo sighed. "Mom and I have put up with it long enough, it's time for something new. Kish, do you like fruit?"
"Yeah, I love apples," Kisshu said.
"Then let's have apple desserts for a while," Sakura said happily. "Kisshu, do you have other foods you like?"
"I'm not picky," Kisshu said. "I like lasagna, Ichigo gave me some. But I'll eat anything except bananas, carrots, and raisins. I HATE raisins and carrots."
"So does Ichigo, that's not too bad," Sakura said. "Just out of curiosity, how'd you and Ichigo get together?"
"I've been in love with Ichigo since I met her, but I guess she didn't start to love me back until I died trying to save her," Kisshu said. "Although neither of is really sure about that. Ichigo used to reject me a lot, and while part of that was probably my fault, I think she felt really bad about it after I left. According to my brother, Ichigo somehow erased all the memories she had of me, and he and I think it's probably because she didn't want to live with the guilt of hurting me, so she decided to erase all her memories of me using one of Ryou's inventions."
"I met up with Kish when he came back, and I took him here, because he apparently went into shock when I told him I didn't know who he was," Ichigo said. "So he's been living here for about four days. I think he's the reason I broke up with Aoyama, too, but I'm not positive, because I can't remember."
Sakura looked shocked, and asked, "You gave yourself partial amnesia?"
"I guess," Ichigo said. "I don't remember doing that, though. All I know for sure is that I don't remember Kish for some reason."
"And Pai says it's better if you don't, because if you get your memory back too fast, it could damage your mind," Kisshu said.
"Well, so far I haven't remembered anything, so maybe we don't have to worry," Ichigo said.
"That would be good," Sakura said. "You two have fun, your father and I will be unpacking while I lecture him about good behavior."
"Can I skip unpacking?" Shintaro asked.
"No. Now let's take the bags upstairs," Sakura said.
Followed by a morose Shintaro, she went upstairs as Ichigo and Kisshu started snickering.
Nice long chapter there. I won't be updating till tomorrow, on anything, so in the meantime, please review!