Ichigo's Illness Chapter 10:

Explanations

By the time Ichigo's parents walked in the door of Café Mew Mew, everyone was ready to explain, although they were all still pretty nervous. At Ichigo's request, the other Mews had transformed, while Ichigo stayed the same with her pendant ready. And, of course, the Cyniclons were themselves.

Naturally, Sakura and Shintaro stopped dead when they saw everyone. "I-Ichigo? What's going on?" Sakura asked.

"Well," began Ichigo, "I don't really know how to say this gently, so I'll just be blunt. I'm actually Mew Ichigo, the leader of Tokyo Mew Mew. All my Café friends are Mews as well. Ryou turned us all into Mews to fight off the aliens."

Sakura and Shintaro had their jaws on the floor. "But why don't you look like Mew Ichigo, if all these others are your friends?" Shintaro asked.

Instead of answering, Ichigo took out her pendant, kissed it, and shouted, "MEW MEW STRAWBERRY! METAMORPHO-SIS!" Soon after, she was fully transformed.

Her parents were in shock. "But why now?" Sakura finally asked.

"Because we formed a truce with the aliens," Ichigo said. "That, and Ryou has disappeared."

"Ryou disappeared?" Shintaro asked. "Why?"

"Because we formed a truce," Ichigo said. "Ryou hates the aliens, and when I told him my plan for a truce, he attacked all of us. Lettuce and Pai defeated him."

"Pai?" Shintaro asked.

Pai said, "That's me. And these are my brothers, Kisshu, and Taruto."

"Wait, aren't you the aliens who were attacking Tokyo?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, but thanks to Ichigo, we've decided that cooperation is better," Pai said. "We were attacking in order to create a place where our people could live, but to be honest, it might not have worked out anyways; this planet is pretty polluted."

"So when did you decide to start cooperating?" Shintaro asked.

"Dad, remember I was sick when you left?" Ichigo asked.

"Um… yeah…" Shintaro said.

"Well, Kisshu found out I was sick, and took care of me," Ichigo said. "Then he got sick, and while I was taking care of him, I suggested that we set up peace talks, in order to stop the fighting, which wasn't really going anywhere. He thought that was a good idea, and when he got better, we went and talked to Pai and Taruto, who also agreed. In fact, the only one who didn't agree was Ryou. Ryou started yelling at us, and then Kisshu said that if he wanted to fight, he could fight him, and the rest of us could watch."

"But if Kisshu was the one fighting, why did Pai and Lettuce defeat him?" Shintaro asked.

"Ryou managed to throw me headfirst onto the floor, and I got knocked out," Kisshu explained.

Ichigo continued, "I kicked Ryou…. Um… where it hurts, but he pulled out a knife. Then Lettuce grabbed the sword I gave her when I went to protect Kisshu, and managed to send the knife flying, and then Pai knocked Ryou out, and Keiichiro tied him up."

"So how did he escape?" Sakura asked.

"Well, Keiichiro might know, since I was on the Cyniclon's ship, taking care of Kisshu, who had a concussion from being thrown on the floor," Ichigo said.

"I actually don't know how he escaped, but he left a note saying he was coming back to kill the Cyniclons," Keiichiro said.

"Is there anything else we should know?" Sakura asked.

"Yes, actually," Pai said. "We've got a problem. Ever since Kisshu got that concussion, he's been having nightmares, that we think might be more like premonitions. In the dream, he sees Ichigo being killed by the Blue Knight. We're getting worried, because it happens every time he sleeps. Today, he actually went into a trance for some reason, and judging by what he was screaming, he was having the dream again. If this keeps up, it could affect his health."

"And what does this have to do with us?" Shintaro asked.

"The only times he can sleep without having the nightmare is when I sleep with him," Ichigo said.

Shintaro started getting a death aura, which, strangely, didn't intimidate Ichigo. Then Shintaro said in a dangerous voice, "You've been sleeping with him?"

"Yes," Ichigo said. "Jeez, don't you trust me at all? I wouldn't have sex with him or anything like that! We were just sleeping."

Shintaro started sputtering, until Sakura put a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Ichigo's old enough to make decisions," she said firmly. "You should have more faith in her. We both raised her to make the right decisions, and to think for herself. If you baby her forever, how will she learn about the real world? If this is the only way to help Kisshu, then so be it. I will support Ichigo in her decision to help him. Now the question is: Will you?"

Shintaro was now speechless. Finally he got his voice back, and said, "I guess you're right…." in a very defeated tone of voice.

Ichigo felt like jumping for joy, but instead, she said, "Thanks for supporting me, Mom, Dad."

"Of course, sweetie, we're your parents," Sakura said with a smile.

Ichigo smiled back.

Bad chapter ending, I know. Please Review. Next chapter coming tomorrow!