WOW, I never thought I'd get so many reviews this quickly! Thanks for the support, you guys! O.o.
"Ichigo, wanna tell me WHY he was cuddled up to you like that?!" Kish ranted, grabbing Ichigo's wrist tightly.
"OUCH, let go, Kish!" she whimpered, trying, in vain, to pull away from him.
"You still won't answer my question." he seethed, glaring into her deep brown eyes, only to watch as they flooded with tears.
"WHY, why didn't you just stay away from me? I finally got good friends, a safe place to live…then you came, and the fight started. Someone could've gotten hurt, very severely!" she yelled, finally managing to pull her arm away.
"Fine, but I didn't want YOU getting hurt! I thought YOU were in danger. I saw that boy leaning down, touching you like he's known you forever, and I got mad. I thought he'd hurt you, or rape you. Yet, in the end…I only ended up hurting you more than that…I guess I'll go away then." he sniffed, lowering his head, then finally disappearing.
"Kish, I forgive you." she muttered, shaking her head as she lay back onto her bed.
"Hey, he left, huh? Sorry, Ichigo." as she gazed up, she met eyes with Akai, who'd just now walked in, holding some breakfast. "Oh, I brought you your food, and your books. Can I stay and talk with you, so you don't get lonely?"
With a nod of her head, Ichigo patted the side of her bed, letting Akai sit beside her. Gently, he placed the tray on the bed.
"Thanks, Akai. This means a lot to me." she giggled, despite the pain, and reached for her tea.
"Here, allow me…" he whispered, tilting her head as he let the teacup's contents poor past her soft lips, onto her tongue. Surprisingly, the tea wasn't, at all, hot.
"Yummy! Thanks, Akai." now, instead of giggling, she was blushing.
"Aw, is that blush for me?!" he purred, leaning over to lick her lips, that were still sweet with tea.
"Wh-why'd you do that?!" she stuttered, backing away from him, enough to look him in the eyes.
"Because, aren't Neckos supposed to show their love to the ONE they love?" he questioned, curling up, so that his upper body was resting on her lap, as he reached up and started to scratch her ears.
"P-please, don't." she begged, trying to sit up.
"Ichigo, don't act so stupid! You KNOW you love the feeling of someone scratching your ears! Every Necko does. Besides, those people who abandoned you, they're gone now. So, why can't you see that we mean it when we say that we'll protect you?!"
"A-Akai!-" abruptly, she stopped, giving into purring. It was true, instinct had gotten the best of her.
Now, Akai had moved up to rest his head beside hers on the pillow. "So, you DO like it. don't you feel safer now? Not just because of the scratching, but because of the fact that you know we're here for you." chuckling to himself, he pulled her into his arms, and kissed her on the top of the head.
"Nya!" as she curled up with him though, her stomach began to growl.
"Silly kitty. Guess you like the scratching so much, you forget about your appetite." chuckling again, he reluctantly forced himself to sit up, untangling his arms from Ichigo's small body. Once he was sitting up, he stretched, reaching over to take hold of her fork as she went to grab it.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Ichigo, you don't feel good, so I'm gonna feed you! That's what Necko couples do for each other, right?!" with this, he lifted a forkful of strawberry waffles to her lips, making the ah sound to signal her to open her mouth.
"Akai, I really don't want to be in a relationship right now. Sorry." she stated, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"But, Ichigo-Chan, don't you feel the same way?" tears welled in the corners of his eyes, hurt and depressed, as he stared at her.
"That's not what I meant, Akai-Chan. What I meant was, I just don't want a boyfriend. I really DO like you though!" she urged, knowing she felt a strong connection to the boy in front of her.
"Works for me." with this, he shrugged and lifted the fork back to her lips. "Now, open wide!" he commanded lightly, setting the fork, full of strawberry wonder, into her mouth.
"NYA! It's delicious!" she stated, instantly brightening her features/
"I knew my Necko would like it!" he cooed, his tail wagging and swaying in delight.
"HEY, Akai, the twins wanna know when it's their turn to visit Ichigo. I'd hurry, they're about to tare down the place-what the?!" as he looked up from the face of the innocent Necko girl, he and Yami locked eyes.
"Yami, I'm fine, honest. Akai kept urging me to try the pancakes, and finally I gave in." she semi-lied, waving her hands in front of her to prove her point.
"Fine, I guess. Anyways, Aru's just holding onto his brother. I must say, Iru is quite a fierce fighter. Aru had to tie him down." Yami explained, following Akai out the door.
"Bye, Yami, Akai." waving, she watched as the two walked out. Although, she was surprised to look at Yami and see the lust in his eyes.
"See yah later, Ichigo-Chan." he stated, waving as he walked from the room, letting the twins through. After they were gone and the door closed, the twins turned and pounced her.
"OH, we missed you!" Aru purred, nuzzling Ichigo's neck.
"Don't you DARE scare us like that, ever again!" Iru growled, wrapping her to his chest, held by his arms.
"So, should we get some homework done, or are we just gonna take things slow today?" Aru questioned, holding up some books.
OK, next chappie will deal with the twins and Ichigo doing homework, joking and cuddling, and the twins try to kiss her?! Yeah, pretty eventful, huh?
