Just like one or two chapters left guys!

/Z

Ichigo felt a sob tear itself from her throat. She held on tight to Kisshu's arm where it lay across her shoulder, grateful for Pai on his other side. She could smell the blood on Kisshu and feel the weakness in him.

"This way," Pai said, leading them towards a rock where they could set Kisshu down. "He needs to rest. He can do nothing this way."

"Will he be okay?" She didn't want to ask, but she had to. She had to know. They hadn't come this far just for him to die! They'd defeated the chimeras, hadn't they? They'd worked together! It couldn't all be for nothing.

Pai helped her lower Kisshu gently to the ground. The others were crowding around them now, and Taruto was right next to her. His little face was creased with worry.

"I do not know," Pai said at last, his dark unreadable eyes focused on his friend. "It is hard to say at this point."

"What do you mean at this point?" Ichigo demanded, her hands tightening into fists at her sides.

"Easy Ichigo," Retasu said, grabbing hold of her hand. "It will be okay."

Ichigo pulled free of Retasu's grasp and knelt next to Kisshu. Gently, she turned his face towards her. He was paler than normal and his lashes looked unnaturally dark against his skin.

"Kisshu," she whispered, leaning her forehead against his. "Kisshu you can't leave me. Not now."

How could she convey all the things she was feeling? They had been through so much the last few days. He'd shown her a new way to look at the world, but she didn't think she could continue doing it without him. She didn't want to.

"What about all the places we haven't seen yet?" she asked him, forgetting that everyone else was standing around them. "What about the mountains? We haven't been to any mountains yet. The waterfall doesn't count. And I want to see the oceans again, but not without you. I can't do this without you Kisshu."

She felt her throat going tight and held onto him tighter.

"You've changed everything, you know that? You changed me, you made me see things differently. And now you want to leave me? You can't do that, I won't let you!" Ichigo took a deep breath, trying not to cry. "You asked me if I wanted you to stay, and I told you. I told you to stay with me. But it looks like you're trying to leave me anyways."

He stirred beneath her fingertips. She backed up a little, her eyes blurry from the tears she refused to let fall. His face was screwed up with pain, but he blinked his eyes as though trying to focus on her. Ichigo held her breath.

Kisshu coughed and shuddered, his muscles contracting. Ichigo hovered there, unsure how to help. What would she do if something happened to him? What would she do if she now had to go on without him?

"Ichigo," he said. His voice was hoarse, like he'd been yelling, but she heard him just fine. "Are you trying to tell me something kitty cat?"

"I'm trying to tell you I don't want you to die!" she exclaimed as one of the tears she'd been holding back spilled over.

He reached up a hand and caught it. She watched as his mouth curled into a smile.

"You're sad over me?"

"How can I not be?" she asked softly, her hand playing with his soft hair by one of his ears. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

"Do you love me Ichigo?" he asked, his hand now cupping her face and his eyes searching hers. For all the pain that made his garnet eyes bright, they held her in their intensity.

"Yes," she whispered.

"I can't hear you kitten," he teased, although he was whispering as well.

Up above them, Pai cleared his throat. Ichigo jumped back, suddenly remembering that they were amid a crowd of people. Some of the Mews looks stunned, telling her that they'd heard everything. Elliot looked livid. The only one who seemed happy at the pronouncement was Pudding.

"Brother," Kisshu said, "help me stand."

"Kisshu, you aren't strong enough-"

"I'm more than strong enough for this," he said firmly. "Now help me stand. Please."

Ichigo stood as well, surprised to hear Kisshu call Pai brother. He'd never mentioned it before. With Pai's strong arms, Kisshu stood on his feet. He winced, but he seemed to be getting better by the minute. She moved so that he could lean on her, just in case.

Even though she knew how she felt about Kisshu, what would the others say? Would she lose her friends because they couldn't accept that she could befriend – could love – the enemy? After tonight, wouldn't they understand that Kisshu wasn't the enemy? It had taken her awhile to see it, but she knew. She understood. As she stared back at her circle of friends, meeting Mint's hard gaze and Zakura's frown, she wondered if they would be able to see it the same way she did. Her arms tightened around Kisshu as she waited to see what they would say.