Trailing Tears
Ichigo walked down the stairs as silently as she could manage without looking like she was trying to be quiet. She into the kitchen where she found Kish poking about in the cupboards. He pulled out a bag of ho-ho's and peered at them, trying to figure out what they were. Then Ichigo watched as he look out the other doorway, apparently watching for Ryou, then quickly opened the bag, took one out and stuffed the bag back in the cupboard. He took a small nibble of it. Footsteps echoed in the hallway and he quickly shoved it all in his mouth. Ichigo supressed the urge to giggle and took a bannana from the bowl on the center of the round table. She peeled it and began doing some poking of her own, searching for a cup. Kish noticed the sound of the cupboard shutting and turned around to face Ichigo. "Ichigo?" He asked. She turned around. She swallowed her bite of bannana and said, "Who else?" "But you're supposed to be up there, in bed!" Kish argued. Ichigo smirked at him. "Minto gave me some medicine and I'll be healed soon. She said I could come downstairs," Ichigo said and turned back to the cup search. Kish walked up behind her, watching her. "What're you looking for?" He asked as Ichigo crouched to search the lower shelves. "A cup," She answered. Kish bent over her, looking at the shelves also. About then Ryou entered. He glared at Kish. "What did you do to my lab!" He demanded. Ichigo stood. "You did something to his lab?" She asked. "Ichigo! What're you doing down here? You're supposed to be in bed!" Ryou exclaimed, upon noticing her. "Kish said something like that too," Ichigo said thoughtfully, then walked over to the other side of the kitchen, looking through those cupboards. "Why are you going through my kitchen?" Ryou asked, after watching her for a few seconds. "I'm looking for a cup," Ichigo replied, and took another bite off her bannana. Ryou walked over to a cupboard not far from Ichigo and pulled out a glass. "Here," He said, handing it to her. Ichigo blushed slightly and took it.
She opened up the freezer and fridge, now searching for ice and water. Both were somewhat empty. "Ryou, are you planning on going shopping anytime soon?" Ichigo asked. "Yes, I was going to once you were asleep again," Ryou replied. Ichigo nodded and pulled out a pitcher of water from the fridge and filled her glass half full. She pulled a few ice cubes from the freezer and they clinked against her the glass sides of her cup. Both boys were being strangely silent. She glanced back at them and found they were glaring at each other, like what Syaoran and Sakura's brother always did in CCS. Only Kish was hovering, thus towering over Ryou. It's hard to seem formidable when you're the short one, Ichigo thought as she turned shut the freezer and fridge. She sipped her water and took another bite of her bannana. "Ryou, can I watch some TV?" She asked. Ryou and Kish stopped the stare down and looked at her. "Of course you can, the remote's on the couch," Ryou responded. Ichigo walked out of the kitchen and toward the TV. Kish quickly caught up to her and Ryou followed, with the intention of making sure Kish didn't do anything to Ichigo. Ichigo sat down on a fluffy red couch across from the tv. Kish flung his arm across the top of the couch behind her. Ryou sat down on the other side of Ichigo, flicking Kish's arm away and leaning against the arm rest. Ichigo looked around for the remote, and upon not seeing it in plain sight, turned to Ryou. "Where the remote?" She asked. Ryou got up and walked over to the tv. He looked behind it and on the sides and finally looked underneath the plasma screen. "Here," He said and tossed it her. Ichigo caught it with ease and flipped the tv on as soon as Ryou was out of the way. She flipped mindlessly through the billions of channels. Shirogane has 500 channels, but nothing to watch . . . Ichigo thought and finally decided on an Inuyasha re-run.
Ichigo began to feel thirsty and looked around for her cup of water. "What are you looking for?" Ryou asked as he noticed Ichigo looking around, and then looking slightly grumpy because she had not found what is was she was looking for. "I'm thirsty and I can't find my water," Ichigo replied. Ryou rose from the couch saying, "I'll get you a new one." Kish looked over and said, "Nah, it's okay Shirogane, I'll get it." Ryou looked at him skeptically. "I don't trust you in my kitchen," Ryou responded and left. Kish teleported out and there was immediatly a large crash from the kitchen. And then Ryou's voice yelling, "KISH!" Then Kish quickly floated back into the living room with his arms behind his head. He glanced back at the kitchen and sat down beside Ichigo. "I've been banned from the kitchen," He commented. Kish and Ichigo turned their eyes to the tv, where Inuyasha and Kouga were fighting over Kagome. Ichigo felt Ryou sit down beside her and she turned to him. He handed her a glass of ice water. "Here's your water," He said. Ichigo blushed lightly and took it. "Arigatou, Ryou," she thanked him. She took a sip of the cold water and kept the glass in her hands. Kish closed his eyes and pretended he was asleep. Ichigo glanced at him and was surprised to find him asleep. She poked his side. The alien boy smiled slightly, but it quickly vanished. Ichigo got a mischevous idea in her head and smiled evilly to herself. Ichigo tickled his sides and Kish burst out laughing. "Stop, Ichigo please!" He pleaded with her. Ichigo kept on for a few more seconds, then stopped. She chuckled to herself and to Kish it sounded positively evil. Ryou, not knowing quite what to do, said, "I'm going to go food shopping now." Ichigo rose.
"Bye, Ryou. Come back safely!" She called. Ryou looked back from the front door. He smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be back," He reassured her. Ichigo smiled and sat back down, turning to the tv. She heard the door shut behind Ryou and sighed. Kish looked at her. "What?" She asked. He took her chin in the crook of his finger and brought her face near his. "I love you Ichigo, more than you know," He quietly said. Ichigo's eyes widened and she prepared to strike him for surely he would kiss her. But. . . nothing happened. Ichigo pulled her head away from his hand and looked at him. He watched her and finally put his arms behind his head and feigned sleep. Ichigo stayed silent for a moment then poked Kish. A smile twitched on his face and slightly opened his eyes. He poked her back and Ichigo poked him again. Then he closed his eyes and poked her. Ichigo growled and suddenly remembered Kish's weakness. She quietly scooted a little closer to the alien and tickled him. She just couldn't resist. Kish burst out in laughter and tickled her back. Ichigo's laugh was like silver bells to his ears. Ichigo tickled him back, knocking him onto his back. The laughing alien reached out and tickled her with a sudden lunge, putting himself on top of her. He tickled her unmercifully and she laughed harder, with tears streaming down her face. Kish finally listened to Ichigo's pleas for him to stop and he relented. Ichigo, still giggling, gasped for air.
When she had caught her breath a realization hit her. Kish was on top of her. She looked up at his face and into his eyes. He smiled in a boyish way, his golden eyes sparkling in the floursecent lighting. Ichigo blushed and looked away. "What is it, koneko-chan?" Kish asked, concerned. "Nothing," Ichigo replied and started to sit up. Kish got off her and sat up, not in the least embarassed by what had just taken place. Ichigo sat rigidly then stood and walked over to the window. She looked out on the drizzling landscape, listening to the pitter-patter of rain on the window. Kish stood quietly behind her. She was reminded of her vow. Not to fall in love. Ichigo smiled sadly to herself, that just might not be possible. She stood there watching the rain for a while, with Kish standing behind her.
Her ears pricked up as she sensed Kish move back to the couch. She yawned and walked out. Time for a cat-nap. Ichigo pushed the power button on the television remote and left it on the arm of the couch. Kish watched her with his golden eyes. "Where're you going, Koneko-chan?" Kish asked teleporting in front of her. "I need a nap," Ichigo said and yawned again. "oh," Kish said. Ichigo placed her hand on the banister, but Kish wrapped his arms around her waist and teleported. Ichigo felt as though she was moving through a mist. Then they landed in Shirogane's room (which Ichigo was using), Ichigo found that her face was a deep shade of crimson. She tried to pull away from Kish, but the alien spun her around and kept her in his arms. He pulled her closer, closing the space between them. He looked into her amber eyes and she, if unwillingly, gazed into his golden ones. Kish leaned in toward her and was about to do something when the door opened and slammed shut. "KISH YOU BETTER NOT BE IN MY LAB!" was the first thing the couple upstairs heard. "Ichigo, I'm back!" came Ryou's less angry shout. "I'm up here!" Ichigo shouted back. Kish held her a little closer as Ryou's steps pounded up the stairs. Kish let go of Ichigo as Ryou's steps approached the doorway. Ichigo stumbled back and tripped over her suitcase and fell backward onto the bed. Then Ryou came in. "Kish . . . what are you doing?" Ryou asked. "Nothing I don't normally do, Shirogane," Kish answered and teleported out.
Ryou walked over to Ichigo. "Are you all right?" He asked. Ichigo nodded. "I'm fine, just a little rattled," She replied. Ryou sighed and nodded. He sat down beside her. There was a moment of silence and Ichigo was acutely aware of how close he was sitting to her. "Ichigo, what do you feel about Kish?" Ryou finally asked. Ichigo covered her mouth and sneezed. Ryou handed her a tissue. She blew her nose and threw the tissue away. She sat down on the bed and sighed before answering. "I'm not sure how I feel about Kish. It's just been really . . . confusing and I don't know," Ichigo said. Ryou turned her face toward his. "Please, tell me," He asked her. Ichigo looked into his electric blue eyes and saw something she rarely ever saw there: concern. Concern for herself, for Ichigo. But not as a weapon or anything else. As a girl. Ichigo blushed. "Kish wants to take you away once you're well," Ryou said. Ichigo gasped. "He said that?" She asked. Ryou looked at the wall and then down at the floor. "No. He has not voiced his opinion, but I can see it in his eyes, Ichigo. He wants to whisk you away and if you feel you love him, then I won't stop him," Ryou answered Ichigo's hanging question. Ichigo was rather shocked to say the least, but not as much as she was sleepy. "Are you sure?" She asked. "Watch him the next time he's with you. Look him in the eyes and find it. It's there for you to see," Ryou responded. Then he stood and ruffled Ichigo's magenta hair. "But not right now. You should take a nap," He advised and walked out of the room. Ichigo laid down with her head on the pillow and fell into a troubled sleep.