Ohayō friends! If this chappie is online then I've had at least 50 views and I thank you so much for that. On with this chapter ^•^

Ichigo

It was early in the morning when she woke up; she had a huge bruise at the crook of her right elbow which was holding the perfusion due to moving too much in her sleep. She groaned when she felt the throbbing pain at that sensitive part of her arm.

She turned to her right and saw Kisshu studying papers and focusing hard on the information that they held.

"Morning." she said trying to calm the pain.

"Morning, Koneko-Chan. Don't worry I'll call Rin for your arm." he said.

"Why not Rirī?" Ichigo asked.

"Rin's personal gift is to heal minor wounds like cuts and bruises." Kisshu said.

"Well I wonder why she didn't go for healing." Ichigo said.

"She loves fighting more than any of her siblings… Speaking of which, did you tell the Mews about er… About what I told you before it all went down?" Kish asked looking up at her.

"No, I didn't." she said simply.

"Why didn't you?" he asked.

"I wasn't in the mood and I'd like it very much if you dropped the topic." Ichigo said growing irritated.

"Fine." he said giving up.

"Thanks." she said before taking a deep breath "Look, I'm sorry Kish but these past few years haven't been easy on me. I happen to hate to think about them and they only started to fade when I got here… I wouldn't like to think about the worst part of my life now that I'm feeling better." she said.

He was watching her, shock easily written on his face "I-I uh…"

He was saved by breakfast being brought to them and the still sleeping other patients. She ate hers quickly and went to feed him while two patients were staring instead of eating. One of the patients fell back asleep while the second was preparing to leave the infirmary. Once again, Kisshu and Ichigo were alone.

She was taking a small bunch of rice on his chopsticks when she felt his gaze, her actions stopped but she still didn't face him. When she did look up, she found that look. That look he had before they had their first love kiss. His eyes were full of pain, tenderness and utter love. She was about to say something but she gave up; leaving her jaw dropped a bit while he reached her cheek with his left hand. She felt her throat tighten and tears coming up her eyes.

He sat up right and leaned in, their lips were about to touch when she closed her eyes and felt his soft lips brush against her right cheek. Her left hand went loose and the chopsticks fell on the plate. He looked deep into her now opened eyes, she blinked several times trying to keep her tears in but she failed. Her lips were shaking so she just left his plate on the tray that was on his bedside table and left, she had taken off her perfusion before having breakfast.

She ran away bumping into people at times, she didn't bother to apologize she just needed to take a bath. A purple and blue bath could very well ease her sadness and stress. She burst into her room, went by the closet to get a fresh outfit and ran towards the bathroom as fast as she could. She did all of those actions while crying, her bath was getting ready when she sat at the chair in her bathroom. She touched her now wet cheek with the tips of her fingers, right where Kisshu's lips were only minutes ago. She half smiled at herself; it was more of a dark smile.

The very last time that he ever touches you, Ichigo. She thought to herself. Let's say it was a goodbye kiss… But I don't think that I can stay friends with him, it hurts too much.

She stopped complaining to get into her bath. She tried to relax but the herbs in her soaps didn't work, her emotions were just too strong for the bath to work. She put on white high waist shorts that stopped at the top of her thighs with a tight short sleeved red cropped top that had a little pocket at the same level as her heart in which she put her pendant. She used it to call Gohan who still wore his ear set and he took her to the gymnasium where everybody else already was.

She looked around herself, Lettuce was training with Rin, Mint was hanging out with Rirī and Yuri, Pudding was taught new attacks with Rōzu who seemed to be an expert, Zakuro was training with Orenjinohana who used a whip as well, Ryou was with Gohan and some other of his friends battling. Ichigo looked for someone else she might know until her eyes met Risa, Taruto, Kēkki and Sugā. Tart was playing with Sugā, most likely taking a break, Kēkki was sitting beside them and Risa was in her Head Healer's uniform which consisted in a long plain grey dress and a large red horizontal stripe on both her arms, right between shoulders and elbows. However, she had a quiver hanging around her waist thanks to a black leather belt and her bow was a shiny white. It was amazing how despite her late forties, the woman still looked so athletic.

She's probably always training, it doesn't even seem like she had five pregnancies. Ichigo thought to herself before walking towards them.

Kēkki went to greet her "Ohayō Koneko-Chan."

"Ohayō Imouto." Ichigo said her voice croaky.

"What happened to your voice?" Tart asked looking up at her.

"I haven't talked in a long time so that must be it… I need to find Rin; I have a bruise at the needle's spot it hurts way too much to ignore." Ichigo said.

Tart suddenly blew a whistle using two fingers of each hand; Rin turned to him fuming "Come down here, Onee-San!" he called.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?!" she practically yelled at him.

"As many times as you like but I know that it'll always grab your attention, Ichigo needs to talk to you." he said smirking.

"Hey er… Kisshu told me that you could take care of this." Ichigo said showing a blue-ish purple bruise that had a scarlet droplet at the center.

"That's a pretty bad bruise, how did you manage to do that?" Rin asked frowning.

"I move a lot when I sleep and I had to spend a night with a perfusion that Rirī said to be necessary for my well-being so I think it did it." Ichigo said "Will you be able to heal it?"

"Of course but I can't guarantee that it won't leave a mark." the elder Cyniclon girl said.

"It's okay as long as I can fight without trouble." Ichigo grinned.

"Well then let's heal this wound." Rin said smirking.

She put four of her fingers as to hide the bruise and focused until a purple light shone between Ichigo's skin and Rin's fingers. Tart was grinning at the scene, Kēkki watched in amazement and Risa had a smile that only a mother could wear, it was a mix of affection and pride.

"It's a thing I'll never get tired of watching over and over again." Tart said before standing up.

"I've only seen it about five times and she healed one or two of my scratches." Kēkki added.

"Ichigo, do you have anyone to train with?" Risa asked.

"I was thinking about Taruto if he isn't so busy." Ichigo said a bit shyly.

"Well if you'd like I want to test you." Risa said.

"Do you… You know, uh, use Dragon Swords?" Ichigo asked.

"There is no need." Risa smiled "You're not classified by the type of weapon you bear in a battle; you have to deal with whatever comes at you."

"Oh…" Ichigo realized "Right."

"And this training will be weapon-free. You need to know how to fight hand-to-hand perfectly until you learn how to use your swords just as well." Risa explained.

"I still have a lot to learn, I guess." Ichigo said "Well…"

"Mew Mew Strawberry. Metamorpho-sis!"

Kēkki blinked several times "Sugoi!" she squealed.

"I've been missing this fuzzy tail of yours." Tart said.

"Last time you've seen it was in the spaceship, what are you talking about?" she asked her eyebrows furrowing.

"Well yeah, whatever…" he said brushing it off.

Risa made her weapon disappear before saying "Let's start it out hand-to-hand and bring out your weapon whenever you think it's necessary for your survival."

"S-Survival?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I forgot to mention that Mama-San fights better than Pai and I together. She'd knock us out after a two minute fight." Taruto said with pride "I suggest you lift a hand up in the air when you think you can't handle any more of the fight."

Ichigo gulped hard before looking at Risa who wore an innocent smile "Don't worry, dear. I'll go easy on you at first."

"At first?" Ichigo asked blinking several times.

"As hard as I fight, there are still some warriors out there that can beat me." she said.

"Just start it out already!" Rōzu cheered as she landed on a bench.

Ichigo took one look around to notice that every single person who was training had stopped their occupation to watch the two women fight. Pai had even appeared for the occasion and Tart started out bets on how long Ichigo would last. She gulped hard once again and started shaking slightly. She stood a yard away from Risa and they bowed to each other before Risa teleported behind Ichigo doing the very same attack than Tart the day he assigned her weapon to her. Ichigo didn't touch Risa's arm which was around her neck and attacked the older woman's abdomen. However she started floating still while holding Ichigo, the cat girl then decided to throw the woman before her which she was able to do but once again the Cyniclon woman teleported away. Ichigo looked all around her but couldn't find Risa. Ichigo silently summoned one of her swords and she didn't even realize that she was jumping when she felt Risa's presence and her arrow flying towards her. Ichigo landed on her feet and her free hand she looked up at her elder who was readying her bow again and Ichigo realized that it was a serious fight going on. She summoned her second sword and crossed their tips focusing on giving part of her energy into the attack, she didn't want to harm her in case she'd throw the attack the right way.

"Ribbon Strawberry Check!"

Not two seconds later, one corner of the gymnasium was fuming but there was no Risa. Ichigo suddenly felt a bow between her chin and her throat making her head jerk back. They kept on fighting for an hour until Ichigo raised her hand to stop the fight. She was out of breath and on her knees by then, her swords away she looked up at Risa who looked like she didn't fight at all.

Risa

"Could you just remind me who trained you?" Ichigo asked gasping for breath.

"My father trained me and Holy-Kukkī-Chan. I remember that we were stunned to see Curry-Kun and Holy-Kinkai-Kun fight, they looked so brilliant and whatever they did they didn't hurt one another the slightest bit." Risa said dematerializing her bow and her quiver, she smirked slightly before adding "It's how we first met, all of us."

"Excuse my boldness but who are those people?" Mint asked.

Risa looked at her slightly shocked "Y-You don't know, do you?"

"I er… I didn't have time to tell them, and before I was aware of it I was on Earth it was a bit complicated to bring that up…" Ichigo said uneasily.

Risa smiled at her comprehensively "Perfectly understandable, well sit around me."

"Story time!" Kēkki squealed happily.

"Which story is it going to be?" Rōzu asked looking up at her mother.

"Holy-Kukkī-Chan and Holy-Kinkai-Kun's" Risa said.

"Ohh I love this story!" Tart cheered.

"It is one I'll never get tired of hearing." Pai admitted holding Lettuce in his muscular arms.

"Who are they?" Ryou asked sitting cross-legged next to Rirī and Yuri.

Risa sat on a bench, her back against the wall with her kids and their friends in half a circle. To her right was Kēkki balled up against her aunt, next to the nine year old girl was Rōzu sitting cross-legged on the floor next to who was Taruto with Sugā on his lap, to his right was Pudding who was hugging her knees. Next to her was Zakuro sitting next to Orenjinohana and Rin was facing her mother. Rirī was leaning against her elder sister, she had Ryou next to her and Yuri sitting to his right was holding hands with Mint. Gohan was next to Pai who had Lettuce in his arms and Ichigo was sitting on the bench on Risa's left ready to hear how Kisshu's parents had met.

"It all started the day Kukkī-Chan and I were heading to the Healer's Ward for our weekly lesson with Holy-Obaa-San. We passed through the underground gymnasium and witnessed a purple haired man and another crimson haired man battling. We stopped and watched for until they bowed to each other." she said "I remember that I couldn't get my eyes off the purple haired one, he smirked at me while they both walked towards us. I was standing still while Kukkī-Chan had a winning half-smile."

"Why did she?" Lettuce asked.

"I think that it's because she knew what they wanted." Risa answered simply.

"What did they want?" Rōzu asked.

"They wanted to duel us." Risa said "The man that was then facing Kukkī only inches away from her face had dark red hair and honey golden eyes. The man that intimidated me had violet hair and caramel eyes. I couldn't keep my gaze for more than two seconds straight. He held out a hand for me to grab and right when I did he pulled me in and stuck our torsos, Kukkī's eyes widened and the red haired man blinked several times at the sight." she sighed before saying "And that's how I got my first kiss from the love of my life."

"Gross!" Kēkki squeaked.

"Just let her continue her story, it's so romantic." Mint said.

"I was shocked and pushed him away; he smirked at me and said 'My name is Curry.' I yelled at him for kissing me and he said 'take it as my greeting for today.' before he struck me to the floor. And then our battle began, but as he had taken me by surprise at his first hit he didn't expect me to be a good fighter. He was shocked when I gave him a black eye and made him pass out for about five minutes." she chuckled.

"Wait" Rirī said "So that means that Papa can't fight you?" she asked in disbelief.

"We both evolved into two killing machines but if we had to fight hand-to-hand I think that I'd most likely win." Risa said.

"What happened between Holy-Kukkī-San and Holy-Kinkai-San meanwhile?" Rōzu asked.

"Well while watching us I think that they weren't exactly thinking of what they were doing but they somehow ended up cuddling in one corner of the gymnasium, we found them whispering to one another. Kinkai-Kun was complementing her about her hair and her eyes struck him down. I was about to call her for our Healing session but Curry held me by my arm, I was about to free myself but he put one finger in front of his lips as to make me stop speaking. I was going to question him about that when he grabbed my face gently by my jaw, I was paralyzed when I felt his breath against mine—"

"Mama, look I love you and I love Papa but this is just plain disgusting could you please go to the point?" Rirī pleaded.

Risa chuckled before saying "Let's just say that their relationship was much tenderer than mine and Curry's. They were all about hugs and kisses while Curry and I started out as fighters. We were all seventeen except Curry, who was eighteen when we met, and on my twenty-third birthday we were all together and he tried to knock me down. I was taken aback and found myself on the ground with him on top of me; he had a tender smile and asked me to marry him. I accepted of course and two years later I learned that I was pregnant." she smiled tenderly at her twins who blinked in disbelief.

"What about my parents?" Kēkki asked making the Mews, Orenjinohana, Gohan and Yuri gasp in surprise.

"What do you mean 'your parents'?" Mint asked.

"Well the main story is Kinkai and Kukkī's." Risa explained "They married a year after Curry and I did and a year and a half after they did, Kukkī knew she was three months pregnant after a training session with me. She started having violent belly aches and had to teleport to somewhere she could vomit."

"I hope it wasn't too hard on her." Ichigo said, speaking for the first time.

"Sadly it was very hard; Kukkī was thin, too thin for a Cyniclon woman." Risa explained "Pregnancies usually last twelve months here, however hers only lasted ten months. She had a hard time in labor and the herbs I had given her for the pain just seemed to be useless. Kinkai didn't leave her side for the two days that the labor lasted, he never let go of her hand and was very protective. He was a Head Healer himself and made sure that every security measure was taken so that neither his wife nor his unborn child would be harmed…"

"So that child was Kēkki-Chan?" Mint asked.

Zakuro shook her head and mumbled "Can't be, Kēkki-Chan's too young."

"After two days, the second night was when she was finally giving birth." Risa said before taking a deep shaky breath "Kukkī nearly died that night but when her child was born, she just smiled at him and Kinkai kissed her forehead before I, myself, laid her baby on her heart. She cleaned his forehead with her bare hand and kissed him. She and Kinkai-Kun exchanged a glance before breaking into a smile while a tear rolled down her cheek…"

"I love the way you tell stories, Mama-San." Lettuce commented earning a smile from her elder and a groan from her friends who wanted to hear the rest of the story.

"Curry was waiting anxiously outside the Operating Room when Kinkai went to see him, Kukkī was sleeping by then and I was taking care of the baby." Risa said "Later that night, I learned from my husband that his brother and my sister of heart had decided of their baby's name telepathically." she paused for a moment and glanced at Ichigo.

"What did they name their baby?" Orenjinohana asked.

"Their baby's name was Ikisatashi Kisshu." Risa announced.

Pudding and Lettuce weren't surprised to hear that, which slightly confused Ichigo but when she saw them with their boyfriends she understood that Pai and Tart had already told them about Kisshu and Kēkki's adoption. As for Mint, Zakuro, Orenjinohana, Yuri, Ryou and Gohan; their jaws dropped at once as they were all blinking in disbelief.

"You mean to say…" Mint started.

"… that Kisshu is only your nephew?" Yuri finished off still not able to think straight.

"Yes, however it is not necessary to mention it in front of him. He happens to hate to think about that period of his life." Risa explained stroking Kēkki's hot pink hair.

"Is there a story for Kēkki-Chan's birth too?" Pudding asked, for Tart had only told her that Kisshu was their cousin.

"There is a story for everyone, Pudding" Risa said with a half-smile "And Kēkki's birth was harder on Kukkī than Kisshu's. She had had a way shorter pregnancy than Kisshu's that one lasted nine months."

"Just like women on Earth." Lettuce said, suddenly becoming interested in the story she'd never heard.

"Yes but as our skeletons are much denser than humans' we need three more months for them to develop in the right way." Pai explained.

"Since when do you know things about pregnancies?" Ichigo asked giggling.

"I happen to like reading and when I'm out of history, geology, and politics I read biology." Pai said his face blank and slightly blushing.

"Oh well…" Ichigo said shrugging.

"Anyhow, what was so special with Kēkki-Chan's birth?" Ryou asked.

"Well she already had pink eyes when she was born which is unusual" Risa said "As you should know, we Cyniclons are born like a blank canvas, but when Kappukēkki was born she already had a dominant color which is pink."

"I can't wait to have her wear crimson red hair." Rōzu said making Kēkki blush.

"She already looks like her Mama when she was eight, for Kukkī was no premie and had a normal development while Kēkki and Kisshu will always look younger than what they really are. I think that their hair won't become like mine at the normal age of forty but some time later." Risa said "Kēkki's birth was hard on Kukkī, as I said, and to my disappointment and worry they both had to stay at the Healer's Ward for months after that. Cupcake was three months old when one day Kisshu was home with my kids studying, Holy-Raisu-Kun who is Kinkai-Kun and Curry-Kun's elder brother, appeared right where we were. He was holding Kēkki but looked weak, I had just enough time to snatch her from him when he fell to the ground, face first. I gave my baby niece to Rin and teleported Raisu-Kun to my infirmary just as soon. He could only stutter that some rebels had taken over the Healer's Ward destroying it and killing every single person there." she stroked Kēkki's hair before mumbling "She's extremely lucky to be alive, she's our little miracle."

Risa took a look around, her kids were grim faced, their friends were either shocked or sad and one look at Ichigo told her how she felt about that. Risa suddenly realized that the poor girl was missing her parents and thinking about the day they died. The mother kissed the top of the crimson haired orphan before looking up again where she saw Kisshu standing at the other end of the gymnasium. Her Healer-mode went on right away.

"You ought to be in bed at the moment, Kisshu." she said making everyone turn to look at him.

Kisshu

He looked at her, Ichigo and then Kēkki with the very same expression of sadness before starting to walk out, not a single sound escaping from him. He had heard the entire story from outside the gymnasium doors before entering at the very end. He was going to push open the doors when he felt a feminine hand on his right shoulder; he turned to see Rirī grinning at him slightly.

"I'll walk you there, Onii-Chan." she said comfortingly.

He half-smiled "Thanks Imouto, but—"

She cut in sharp "Healer's orders." she said trying to sound professional but failing.

He chuckled slightly before saying "Well then, can't refuse such an offer."

They started walking towards the castle's halls "What happened, this morning?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he said, his brow furrowing.

"I saw Ichigo looking depressed; did you have anything to do with that?" Rirī asked again looking up at his grim.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't." he said looking away.

"Kisshu!" she hissed keeping herself from hitting him.

"You do know how I feel towards her, don't you Puppy?" he asked gently putting his arm on her shoulders.

"Don't do that, your stitches will loosen" she warned as he flung his arm back alongside his body "And I do know that you love her like crazy. But why don't you tell her? You know that she loves you and you've been ignoring her for all those years just because Reijin hurt your pride."

"What do you want me to do, huh?" he asked starting to get a bit annoyed "Maybe I should forget it and brush it off?" he asked sarcastically "Rirī-Chan, he kissed her and she let him!"

"Well, she wasn't expecting it and as I heard Zakuro-Chan say, she pushed him back almost as soon as he started that kiss." Rirī said with confidence.

"That still doesn't explain why she was dancing with him in such a way in the first place." Kisshu objected clenching his jaw and fists at once.

"Kisshu Onii-Chan!" Rirī shouted outraged.

"What's with you, suddenly?!" he asked, startled.

"Do I seriously need to remind you how you were behaving with the poor girl back on Earth when she didn't love you yet?!" she shouted again making the staff turn to see who she was shouting at, it didn't last long when they saw the General hang his head low in shame.

"It-It was different back then, I loved her and—"

"Don't you, now?" she asked gently.

He looked at her with surprise written on his face "I d— I do." he mumbled.

"Do you seriously want to see her suffer that much?" Rirī asked in an attempt to convince her brother to stop the fighting.

He glared at her with hard eyes before his expression changed "I kissed her on the cheek this morning." he said changing the subject.

"Baka." she said simply while pushing the doors to the infirmary "You'll need to find someone who feeds you for dinner, Kish. Because I'm not planning on feeding such a hypocrite tonight, not until he stops acting so damn stubborn!" she snapped.

"Who are you calling a hypocrite?!" he shouted "I'm not the one who needs to get my mind straight on whom I love and who I don't!" it took him two seconds to realize that Rirī had teleported away.

"General-Sama you're in an infirmary, most people are here to recover and not to get a headache from your shouts!" an Assistant Healer hissed at him.

"Ohh shut up." he mumbled under his breath.

"I heard that." she pressed.

"Sure you did." he said before slipping back into his bed.

Ohhh bad boy Kisshu is back! *drooooooooooools* did I mention that he goes around the castle with just a band aid for his stitches? Which means that he's shirtless apart from that…

So this chapter is very much of a story-teller and an argument between Rirī and Kisshu. Who do you think he was referring to when he shouted the last sentence at her? As usual no one is going to submit suggestions but I'm asking anyway, so er three to five reviews before the next chapter's on. Toodles! Xx