Chapter Twenty-One: The Morning After
Hello my dears. I am back and continuing with this lovely story. I hope you enjoyed my Halloween Special but I'm sure you all were much more excited about this story coming back... So I'll wrap this up so you can enjoy this brand new chapter of "Forever and More"!
Ichigo looked at her reflection in the long mirror. The weekend was over and she was wearing her clean uniform, preparing to depart for a new week of education. Ichigo pulled her red bow tightly on her collar, being sure to smooth out wrinkles and wipe off any dust speckles.
Though she seemed calm and ready to go to her morning classes, inside her head it was a different story...
Ichigo couldn't get last night out of her head. Kisshu's confession in the rain seemed like something out of a movie. Every detail of that night remained clear in the redhead's mind. It was something she could never forget...
Ichigo's eyes widened as she felt her heart stop. It was still raining outside and she had just heard Kisshu confess his love.
Kisshu had his hands on her shoulders now and he was looking straight into her eyes as if looking into her soul. By now the two were soaking wet and their clothes weighted down onto their bodies. The cold rain kept pouring onto them but they simply ignored it as they looked at eachother under their dripping hair.
"Y-You love m-me?" the redhead asked shakily. Kisshu leaned in closer to her, "I do, Ichigo. I really do..." he cooed as he brought his arms up and he wrapped her in a surprisingly-warm embrace. "You're so pure and beautiful, I can't help myself..." he whispered in her ear as he tightened his grip.
Ichigo blushed as he held her, her hands wedged between their chests. "Kisshu..." she murmured, her pale lips shaking as she uttered his name.
"Ichigo, I love you so much. Tell me you feel the same! I know I may seem crazy but I care about you too much to have you stay away. So please..."
He looked back at her with his forehead pressed gently against hers. His eyes were shining despite the darkness surrounding them. "Tell me you like me back..."
Ichigo swallowed uncomfortably as she bit her lip. She remembered the way her mind fell blank when he stared at her and how her heart raced against her rib cage every time he held her. All the times he kissed her or hugged her...
The time he ran into her on the first day.
When he picked her up and ran of with her to the maze of roses.
The time he pulled her into the tree and embraced her.
When he played the violin for her in secret...
It was all so adorable and romantic. The redhead licked her lips as she tried to find out what to say. She knew her feelings towards him were more than a friends after all they had done together. But, she felt as if her feelings were not as strong as Kisshu's was for her. Ichigo felt her heart beat steadily as she continued her mental conflict.
Kisshu swallowed hardly as he noticed Ichigo's silence and stiffness. A fear for what she may say caused an unfamiliar feeling fill his heart as he felt something bubble in his eyes. His grip remained strong but he began to shake in fear as the thought of the redhead pushing him away entered his head.
P-Please Ichigo... Don't make me hurt anymore... Please...
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Ichigo pushing away from his chest to look at him in the eye. Ichigo immediately noticed some tears beginning to bubble up in his eyes. Much to her surprise, she had never seen Kisshu crying before. It seemed so... strange...
Placing her hand on his jaw, she used her thumb to wipe away the tears. "Why are you crying...?"
Kisshu let out a small chuckle, "I-It's nothing." he mumbled. He used his other hand to wipe at his eyes. Ichigo looked at him with concern, rubbing his face slowly. "Are you sure...?"
"Yes Ichigo. It's fine. I just-"
"I do like you, Kisshu!" Ichigo cried out. Immediately she blushed hard and her limbs froze up.
W-Why did I just...
Ichigo shook her head lightly as she looked up to see how Kisshu would react.
His expression was that of a kid who just received what he had really wanted for Christmas... His eye were wide and his jaw had dropped a little. Ichigo blushed as she looked away.
I knew I shouldn't have said that... I feel stupid!
Kisshu ten squeezed Ichigo closer, his eyes sparkling as a happy grin appeared on his face. The redhead squealed as he pulled her off the ground and hugged her tightly. "Oh! I'm so happy! My strawberry lobes me back!" he eagerly cried out like a happy child. Ichigo couldn't help but giggle, he was so happy. She ha never seen him smile like that...
Placing her hands against his chest, she caught his attention. She smiled up at him, "Look, I do like you but..."
She then noticed the sad look in his eyes and how his grip loosened. Not wanting to see him freak out, she finishe her statement. "I don't know if I have as strong feelings. I really like you and I do want to spend more time with you..."
Kisshu's eyes perked up at the sound of that as he hugged her again. "Oh, Ichigo... Me too, me too. I wanna spend more time with my sweetheart!" he cried.
Ichigo smiled at the energy he had as he squeezed her against his chest. Despite the cold rain surrounding them, his chest was warm and the redhead could feel the tender heartbeat through his clothing.
The couple stood embracing in the rain as if it was the last thing they could do together. The water kept pouring on them yet they stayed. It was only when a strike of lightening and a boom of thunder made the boy realize that they were still outside.
Looking Ichigo in the eyes, he smiled tenderly. "I would love to spend more time with you right here, right now... But we should probably get out of the rain..."
Ichigo gasped as she understood what he meant, they were both soaking wet and were bound to get sick if they stayed out longer... Kisshu smirked as he grabbed her wrist and began to run with her by his side. "Let's go!" he hissed as they rushed out of the maze and back towards the courtyard.
"Ichigo-chan!"
The redhead's thoughts were cut off as Yuka rushed into the bedroom with her uniform on and a black brush in her hand. "Ichigo-chan! Are you almost ready...?" she asked as she began to brush her air hair. Ichigo nodded.
After Ichigo returned to her dorm after her little session with Kisshu in the maze, Yuka jumped on her and hugged her tightly. She was crying loudly about how she missed the redhead and how she had hoped everything had gone okay and that Kisshu didn't do anything to harm Ichigo. The redhead comforted her and they ended up merely speaking about how nothing horrible had happened and they went to bed.
Ichigo watched as Yuka grabbed her bag and made her way to the front door, ready for their walk to the school. Ichigo quickly fixed her hair into pigtails and grabbed her own bag. But as soon as she got out of the bedroom, her head began to pound.
W-What...?
Ichigo placed her hand on her temple, in a futile attempt to stop the aching throbbing.
"Ichigo-chan? Are you okay...?" Yuka called as she looked to see her roommate clutching her head. "Ichigo-chan?" The redhead shook her head and stood straight, the painful throbbing subsiding.
"I-It's nothing... I-I'm fine." she mumbled as she moved to the front door and slipped on her heeled Mary Janes. Yuka fell silent as she examined the redhead for a second. But watched as her roommate opened the door, turning she said, "Let's go, we'll be late." Yuka nodded as she followed her out the door.
Soon the two were walking down the cobblestone path towards the entrance of St. Soclaire. Ichigo lightly lagging behind as she thought over what had happened after she and Kisshu had gotten out of the rain.
She remembered him kissing her cheek and telling her he'd come see her again soon. Before they departed, Kisshu had stolen a quick kiss and she had blushed heatedly again.
Suddenly, her head started throbbing again but this time it was harder and more painful. Ichigo gasped as she clutched her head again, her feet staggering. Yuka turned at the sound and her eyes widened at her friend. The redhead was about two yards behind her and her whole body was shaking. "Ichigo-chan!" she cried as she rushed over to her side. Ichigo's cheeks were lightly red and she was panting. Her eyes were halfway shut and she was shaking like a leaf. "Ichigo-chan, what's wrong with you?! Are you okay?" she cried as she steadied Ichigo. Her skin was hot and she was still shaking. "Ichigo-chan?!"
The redhead moaned as she held her head, her bag dripping from her other hand. "My... head is hurting... I... don't... feel... so good..."
No other words left her lips as she shut her eyes and fell forward, her body limp.
"Ichigo-chan!"
The girl fell onto the path, her skin still flushed and she kept panting heavily.
"Ichigo-chan?" Yuka called as she shook the unconcious girl. The redhead did not budge and Yuka felt her heart stop.
"Ichigo-chan!"
Ooooohh! Cliffhanger!
I hope you all like this chapter and I hope you're happy that "Forever and More" is back!
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Bye Bye!