Ditto.
I'm ba-ack! Miss me? Sorry this took so long. I was stuck in Arkansas for three days when the car broke down. Now serving flan pie, tart pudding, and strawberry quiche. On a personal note, Mew Galaxy has broken my record for longest story! More than 83 pages! I hope you like the "Kish's dream" passage in this chapter, since it's one of my favorite parts.
Thank you, my great reviewers! You know who you are. Cooking Spray- you're right. I was getting kind of wrapped up in my "aliens' world" plot and forgot to include any flashes back to the other Mew Mews and Earth. There is a small "update" in this chapter, but it's not much. Thank you, because you gave me some great ideas for chapter 10! Oh, I saw your art of Mew Peach! I really liked it, even the prototype! Thank you so much! By the way, I'm EternalFluffy, not EndlessFluffy, but that's okay, it's similar.
Chapter 8: The Palace of Mercury Ball
The day was greeted not by bells tolling, birds singing, dogs barking, or even a bugle blaring. The signal of a new day was the slight magnetic buzz of hovering platforms, driven by Mercurian doctors' assistants.
Kish gazed down at the plate of sterilized paste before him that they liked to call "food". His face turned slightly green and he finally sank back into bed, unable to look at it anymore. It felt like his head was going to split open at any second. He buried his face in the starched covers and tried to think of something good, but the hospital fumes only made him feel sicker. "Ichigo," he mumbled. Just saying her name seemed to take some of the pain away. Kish concentrated hard and tried to imagine the smell of wild strawberries that Ichigo always seemed to emit. It seemed to be working, and he could almost smell the strawberries wafting through the room at that very minute…when a terrible shriek-and a terrible memory-shattered his fantasy.
"Noooooo! Nooooo, I'm not through yet!!!"
It couldn't be…no, it was impossible…but the sick feelings returned as Kish thought, but what if it is? Slowly he lifted his head from his pillow to see what was beyond that door.
"No! No! I'll take all of them! I'll take all of them with me!!!"
Yes…it was. Kish froze in place. A group of assistants surrounded a floating platform out in the hall, trying to restrain one of the patients. She screamed, her messed golden hair flying around her. But there was no mistaking her. Cookie. Kish watched in horror as the manic Mercurian woman threw herself on top of the nearest male assistant. Another one picked up a pocket communicator and pressed a button, calling the security officials.
"Send us some reinforcements…a straightjacket, something! This lady is off the wall!"
Kish didn't want to see this…he just wanted to forget all about it, but somehow he couldn't take his eyes off the scene, as arms and legs and gowns went flying by his window.
At last, Cookie's head popped back up, looking straight into the room…and at him. She looked much different from when he had last seen her, her face practically a skull, her curly and messy golden locks flopping on either side of it. Her saggy arm thrust out, pointing at him, and his eyes grew wide, this time afraid for his life. "Yeah, you!" she yelled, her voice a scratchy garble that reminded him very much of witches in Halloween movies. "You know how it is now! You asked for it! If only the others were all like you!"
At last, the reinforcements came, grabbing her off the assistant and bolting her to the platform with ropes. Even her rage wasn't enough to break them, and the assistants carted the screaming Cookie off down the hall.
Kish stared for a few more minutes. Cookie had been a figure in his life for so long…so he figured he could trust her, when he had really been sleeping with the enemy. Cookie was dying…and trying to bring as many guys down with her as she could. Kish plunged back into the covers again and tried to think of strawberries, but it was no use now. He was just a victim…walking into his grave, and there was nothing he could do about it now, because Cookie was pushing him the rest of the way.
---
Ichigo stood in the long meeting hall, staring at the group of Mercurian officials lining the walls.
"So…" King Jubala began, staring at an official-looking Mercurian wearing a tidy business suit. "What's the word on our refreshments?"
The man nodded. "We've received a report from the new branch in the Sandstack district. A case of the Tabala Blue products had been produced for unveiling at the ball…"
"Excellent," King Jubala replied with a smile. He glanced over at Ichigo. "And…my dear daughter, Princess Ichigo… Yes, what about a new dress for her?"
"Why do I need a new dress?" Ichigo cut in. "Why can't I just wear the one I've got on now? Or the one I came in?! How about that one? Is it not good enough for you?"
King Jubala sighed and brushed his long, dark blue hair behind his shoulder. "Of course it's good enough for me, honey. I'm only worried about your publicity."
"So I'm just for publicity, huh?" Ichigo cried, losing her temper. She'd had to put up with this planning ever since she'd returned from Pie's apartment yesterday. Being a princess was not fun at all these days. "So I'm just this little subservient doll that you can dress up to make you look like a good king?"
"Ichigo, please!" King Jubala cried. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I was only suggesting that you get a new dress for the special occasion. It is the annual Palace of Mercury ball, after all…"
Ichigo grumbled to herself and backed off. She was so sick of hearing that. So what if it was the annual Palace of Mercury ball? Part of her just didn't even want to go. What was the use of going to a dance, if you didn't get to dance with anyone? Ichigo also had a feeling that this would be more like the party on Ryou's ship- refined and boring. Sure, she wanted to slow dance with someone, but Masaya and Ryou were on another planet, and Kish was too sick to even go to the ball. Kish? She realized she'd already danced with Ryou and with Masaya before, but never with Kish. She blushed, imagining it, and wondered if he was a good dancer.
"Ichigo…" someone seemed to be calling her from the other side of the room, but it was only a faint echo as her mind continued to dance with Kish…
"Ichigo!!!"
Pop! Ichigo landed back in the meeting room, looking at her concerned "father".
"Well, there you are," he said, slightly chuckling. "I just wanted to know…if I was to have a new dress made, which color should it be?"
Ichigo thought for a while. "Um…pink, I guess. Or red. Or black."
"Ah, yes," he replied with a smile. "The color would go lovely with your hair…" "Okay!" the king replied after a while, turning back to his subjects. "That is all."
Ichigo watched as the officials began gathering up their papers and shuffling out the door. A little flutter began inside of her. Maybe she would go to the ball anyway. Maybe she could talk to Flan and Pudding, or dance with Pie…just for fun. Yeah, she decided, right then. I think I'll go. Why don't I spread the news? So when King Jubala wasn't looking, she hurried out the door, towards the apartments.
---
Not long after, Ichigo was happily knocking on Flan's apartment door. Flan came to the door, he pale pink hair pulled up and smiling brightly. "Hello!" she called. "Oh, Ichigo! Didn't expect to see you."
"Well, you look happy," Ichigo commented. "So, did you hear about the annual Palace of Mercury ball? Everyone that lives in the palace is invited, so…"
"I know," Flan replied, her face flushing as she smiled wider. "…Pie asked me to go with him!"
"That's great!" Ichigo cried, returning her smile. "I'm really happy for you guys."
"What about you?" Flan asked. "Are you going with anybody?"
Ichigo looked down at the green fuzzy carpet in Flan's apartment. "Well…Kish would probably ask me if he weren't…you know…"
Flan frowned and nodded. "Well, don't worry. You'll have fun anyway. I've been to the ball before and it's not one where you're going to fall asleep if you don't have a dance partner."
"Okay," Ichigo replied. "I'll take your word for it." She scanned the interior of Flan's apartment but saw no blond streaks of lightning. "Hey, where's Pudding?"
"She's over there again." Flan sighed and pointed across the hallway.
Ichigo looked over. "Visiting Tart again? I'm surprised there haven't been any breakouts of arguments. How long has she been over there?"
"A few minutes," Flan replied. She slipped back into her parlor. "I'm not worried about it, so don't you worry about it either. I'll see you soon, Ichigo!"
"Yeah, see ya," Ichigo replied as she closed the door, and she set off walking down the hall again.
---
Pudding sat on the end of the parlor bed, worriedly gazing down at Tart. The smallest Mercurian representative was just lying on the platform, much in the way Kish had, staring at the ceiling. "So…" she was saying. "In one of these nightmares…I was dead. The first one you mentioned is most likely when you decided to take charge by yourself and attack the people at the Tokyo Dome. Then, it's probably when you said you were going to kill me back in that underground makeshift cell thing…and when you said you were hanging and then stabbed to death…"
Tart shivered, wishing she would just shut up and not remind him of this again. It was…too painful. His eyes were now so black from lack of sleep that he looked like he had been beat up. Part of him wanted everything to just go back to normal, while another part wished it wouldn't…that he could go back in time…
"…That was when you were going to stab Ryou to death. Ichigo told me all about that. It sounded horrible and I was mad at you." Pudding paused and stared down as she felt the platform covers shaking.
Tart was holding it in, trying not to cry in front of Pudding, but not being very successful. "I…I feel so bad."
"Well it's good," Pudding said. "It's kind of good that you feel bad. It proves that you have a conscience."
"I…didn't really know…" Tart tried to continue. He tried to cut a hole in the ceiling with his nonexistent laser vision. It wasn't working. "I didn't know…the results. What…it felt like." He closed his eyes and tried to blot out the memories…the feelings, but they wouldn't stop coming. "I don't want to…hurt people any more."
"That's good," Pudding replied. She leaned forward, until her lips connected, and she kissed away all of his tears.
Tart blinked, staring up at her, and slowly smiled. "Pudding…" he began to say. "…that time before…up in the tree…why did you try to kiss me like that?"
Pudding grinned. "Well, I always thought that…that's what you're supposed to do…to a boy you like."
Tart's cheeks turned a rosy shade. "Well…thanks. Um…there's a…ball…coming up and…um, so I figured…um…well, it's the annual Palace of Mercury ball, and, so…would you, um…go with…me?"
Pudding's face lit up. "Yay!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. "Of course! Yes, I'll go to the ball with you!"
Tart felt like he was going to burst. He put his arms around Pudding in return. He couldn't believe that after all that, she still liked him. It was hard to get the words out, but he knew that he had to push them out somehow. "I…like you…too."
They stayed, sitting on the parlor bed for a few minutes, just hugging, until Pie came walking in the door. He looked over at them and smiled. Tart lifted his head and noticed him, but for once didn't make a move to remove Pudding from his grasp.
At last, Pudding let go by herself and slipped off the edge of the bed. "Okay," she said, very casually. "You're my boyfriend now! This is my first one…"
Tart was a little embarrassed hearing her say that while Pie was still standing there, but tried to ignore the comment. "Oh, alright…I guess I'll see you then." They waved to each other and Pudding slipped out of the room, happily skipping off to Flan's apartment.
Pie stepped up closer to the bed and sat next to Tart, smiling the whole time.
Tart crossed his arms. "What are you grinning about, smiley? So I've…got a girlfriend. I've got a girlfriend! Ha! Now I can go around flaunting it."
Pie reached over and gave him a friendly tousle on the head.
"Aaaah!" Tart cried as his red hair puffed out like a clown. "What was that for?" he complained.
Pie gazed down at him, continuing to smile. "You know, you're still a little kid, but I thought when you were having those nightmares that you were starting to mature a little more." He gazed out towards the door. "Kish would be proud."
Tart finally cut his annoying little kid act and hugged Pie's arm, since he seemed to be in a hugging mood. "Thanks, Pie."
Pie got back up after Tart released him. "So…" he said. "You think you can sleep tonight? You've got to try to get rid of those black eyes before the ball."
"Yeah," Tart replied, rubbing his eyes, noticing them now that Pie had mentioned them. "I feel better. I think it's all made up for now." He slowly curled into a ball sideways on the bed, and Pie walked away, relived that at least one of his problems was now solved.
---
Finally, finally the day had arrived. For two days straight, Ichigo had been forced to sit around and advise the decorating committee, who didn't need advising. They lit all the grainy candles in the chandeliers, brought out the classy ironwork benches, set the tables according to the highest banquet arrangers, shooed away a frantic Mercurian scientist who didn't want his precious "gooshog" roasted, and generally laid out the red carpet for the annual Palace of Mercury ball.
Ichigo twirled around and glanced at her new dress in the mirror. It was kind of pretty- pink, with red ribbons winding around certain parts, like icing on a cake. Her long streamers were also red, although they seemed to be made of lead, just like the last ones. Ichigo looked down at her red high-heels, and clicked them together, pretending she was Dorothy. She didn't really want to go home, but getting away from these darned royal chambers would be nice. She wanted to go visit Kish, or even Flan and Pudding…
When she looked up again, she noticed the looming presence of King Jubala behind her. He smiled at her. "So, you like the dress?"
"Well…it's pretty," Ichigo replied, turning to the side, and trying to ignore him. "When is the ball starting?"
"In a few minutes," the king replied. He began to exit her room, sweeping the floor as he went. "You be ready, because at exactly 4:00, we must start the procession…"
"Yeah, I know…" Ichigo said. She was tired of him telling her everything three times over. What did he think she was? A six-year-old?
---
Pie picked at his collar and stared at the nameplate. Maybe this was a bad idea. Ichigo had convinced him to do this, and Flan seemed to be okay with it, but it seemed a little awkward to him. They had been at the ball before…for the last two years, but never…
"I'm ready!" Flan cried. She quickly burst from her apartment, locking the door behind her. Her face flushed as she smiled. She wore a more elaborate version of her everyday clothing, the skirt a little longer and the sleeves and shoes a little more fancy. Flan felt a little underdressed as she looked over at Pie, who was wearing an unusual suit. It was grayish-purple with large pointed shoulders and long gloves. "Um…new suit?"
"Well, it's not really mine," Pie explained. "I borrowed it from an old roommate of mine. Of course, he made me give him his fan back, but then again, I was only holding it hostage…"
Flan giggled a bit. "You held his fan hostage? You're talking about the kind you wave to cool off, right?"
Pie nodded and began to tell her all about it as they walked together down to the royal ballroom.
---
At last the strains and wails of the band from outside picked up, and Ichigo turned away from the mirror, away from the fantasies playing themselves out in her mind and scooted to the entrance to the ballroom. A few high-and-mighty nobles stared down at her as she pushed her way to the front of the procession.
King Jubala sighed with relief as his "daughter" flew up next to him. "Thank God. I was wondering where you were. The ball is starting!"
"Sorry," Ichigo whispered back to him. "I was…thinking, and I kind of forgot…" Maybe she did need the little ten-minute reminders after all.
King Jubala smiled. "Yes, I know. Your mother was the same way."
Ichigo looked away from him, once again wondering how she would brush off the king after all this was over. She would hate to have to break his heart.
"Presenting His Majesty, ruler of all Mercury, King Jubala Blue!" The king stepped beyond the red curtain that was the entrance to the ballroom, and she could hear the clattering of shoes and beads as the roomful of guests got down on their knees. King Jubala…Blue?! Ichigo thought to herself. Blue is his last name??? Maybe he really is Deep Blue! She shivered to herself. So, if I really am his daughter…
"And now…after 12 long years, we have discovered a missing member of the royal family, and she is with us today…" Ichigo gulped. The announcer was talking about her. "…Presenting, at long last, the heiress to the throne of Mercury…Princess Ichigo Blue!" Ichigo waltzed out into the ballroom floor, just as she had been taught to do in the many rehearsals they'd had. The room erupted in gasps and applause. Then, a few of the guests began to bow, and then the whole room was bowing before her. It's not right, Ichigo thought. I might not even be the real princess. She just pushed disturbing thoughts like that out of her mind and moved aside from the carpet as lords and ladies paraded behind her.
She sighed, and looked around for anyone who looked familiar. Looking over, she saw Pudding running over to her, oddly enough wearing her little puffy Snow White dress, complete with little crown. Ichigo chuckled a bit as she thought to herself, gee, Pudding looks more like a princess than I do.
"Hi, Ichigo!" she called. "I thought you might be bored. Since there's really nothing for you to do…"
The room of Mercurians gazed, shocked that this twit of a human girl knew the Princess of Mercury. They began whispering among themselves.
"Please!" King Jubala cried, banging a staff against the floor. The room went silent. "I mean to advise you that my daughter has spent considerable time among the human race, and may have picked up many of their customs and adaptations, so to ease her into our world, I allowed her one friend from Earth to come live here in the palace apartments. This shall not cause…disagreement among you." Then, there wasn't a word said about it for the rest of the day.
Ichigo resumed her conversation with Pudding. "So Pudding, what are you doing?"
Pudding scratched her frilly collar and glanced around. "Well, I'm waiting for my boyfriend, but he hasn't shown up yet…"
"Your boyfriend?!" Ichigo cried. Pudding was only nine, and she already had a boyfriend?
"Yeah," Pudding replied, looking up. "Tart agreed to go to the ball with me…so where is he?! That creep, he better not have chickened out!"
Ichigo looked up from her little friend, as she noticed a pair of familiar faces walking into the ballroom on the other side. "Hey!" she called, waving. She scuffled up to Flan and Pie who had just entered.
"Oh, Ichigo!" Flan cried, surprised. She hadn't expected a greeting like that, since she was considered the princess and much above her. Once again, she felt like a street rat wearing her slightly revamped everyday clothes.
Ichigo looked up at Pie, a little confused. "Um…when did you get that suit?"
"It's Gato's," Pie answered. "Since I don't have anything that fancy, he let me borrow it."
"Well I'm glad you two came, even though you're a little late," Ichigo said. "I don't know about this, Flan. It's been kind of boring for me."
Flan laughed. "Oh, it'll get better. They're going to serve roast gooshog, right?"
Pie laughed with her. "Yeah, that's right. If you're looking for a dangerous adventure, try the banquet!"
Ichigo could only imagine. Already she couldn't stand Mercurian food, even being royalty and getting the best products. She stepped back towards the head of the ballroom with Pudding and Flan and Pie stepped into the middle with the other guests.
A few minutes later, Ichigo looked down in confusion as a small Mercurain boy approached them. "H-Hello," he hesitantly said, approaching Pudding.
"Excuse me…" Pudding started. "Do I know you?"
"Pudding!" he cried, almost laughing. "It's me, Tart!"
"…Tart?" Pudding said. "You look so different!"
Ichigo had to agree with her, that she hadn't recognized Tart either. Although he still had the same red hair and large yellow eyes, he was wearing a small suit similar to the one Pie was wearing, with black shoes. It was probably the first time he'd ever worn shoes, because he seemed to be walking awkwardly. Also, he'd gathered up his hair to make a short ponytail in the back, instead of the horn-like ones that usually protruded from his head.
"Really?" Tart said. "All I did was dress up and put my hair back instead of up in pigtails."
"Well, you look so…older."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
There was an uneasy silence for a few minutes as the two stared at each other.
"So…it…make me look better, right?" Tart finally spoke.
"Of course it does!" Pudding cried. "Are you going to just stand there all day, or are we going to dance?"
Tart shook himself. "Oh…dancing…right. Well, I've never danced before…"
"Neither have I!" Pudding cried. She grabbed his hands. "Well, come on, let's get out there!"
Ichigo smiled at the young couple as Pudding dragged Tart out into the middle of the dance floor. It was so cute she wished she could take a picture. Suddenly, as she stood there, watching Pie and Flan dancing at one end, while Pudding and Tart sort-of danced on the other, she felt lonesome and wished someone would dance with her. Ichigo turned her head away from the crowd. She knew this was going to happen. She just knew it in her the bottom of her heart…so why had she come?
As Ichigo stood, staring at the opulent carpet, someone stepped in front of her. Looking up, she saw King Jubala standing before her. Not him again. "What's the matter?" he asked. "Haven't found a sweetheart yet?"
Ichigo looked up at him. "Yes. I have one. I have…a few, actually. None of them can be here."
The king held out his hands. "Well, how about I teach you a few of our dances, and maybe you can do them with him someday."
When they bring a Mew Aqua, Ichigo thought. Because they will bring a Mew Aqua. She smiled to herself, imagining again. "Okay."
So Ichigo followed her "father" out into the dance floor. They twirled, and swerved around. This was what he said was called the "Storm". Next was a slower dance that Ichigo didn't happen to catch the name of. After, she wanted to try one more round of the Storm again, since it was a pretty difficult dance with several different moves. Halfway through, something happened to catch her eye, and she bumped against King Jubala, not paying attention to what she was doing. That couldn't have just been…no, it was impossible.
The king pushed her back a little. "Come on dear, concentrate. That's the second time you've messed up that twirl…"
Ichigo shook her head. "I…I can't concentrate anymore. I'm sorry." She pulled away from him. "I'll see you later, um…Dad."
Even though Ichigo rushed away from him, he stood there for a few minutes, grinning. "She called me Dad."
Ichigo flew as fast as she could through the crowd without slamming into anybody or looking suspicious. That flash of green and yellow on the sidelines…it couldn't be…but maybe it was. Her curiosity overcame any doubts in her mind. She wove through the crowd and finally emerged at the marble sides of the palace ballroom. Sure enough, it was him, beaming up at her from his twisted wheelchair.
"Kish?!" she cried. That was one sight she had not counted on at the ball. He had even stuck his hair down with a bit of gel so it wouldn't look so scraggly and put some decent clothes on. "But…but you're very sick…" Ichigo continued. "You shouldn't be…"
"I know," Kish interrupted her. "But how can I miss the ball? This is my last Palace of Mercury Ball, so how can I miss it?"
Ichigo frowned. "Please don't talk like that, Kish."
Kish smiled. "I'm disappointed that I can't dance, but it's good enough, just to see you dancing, in your dress…you really are the princess."
Ichigo's heart throbbed. She couldn't stand it anymore. "Oh, Kish," she said as she reached down and hugged him.
He raised his arms to hug her back, but ended up just resting them on her shoulders. "Ichigo…" he said, slowly. "I needed to see you again. It's…the only thing that keeps me alive." He leaned forward, against her. "I love you."
"Oh," Ichigo said, almost to herself. "For a moment, I thought you were going to kiss me. I'm surprised you didn't."
"Why?" Kish asked. "I know I guess you…come to expect it now, but…"
"You kissed me five times!" Ichigo suddenly cried. "And attempted it six other times. Don't think I wasn't keeping track."
Kish seemed to blush a bit. "Well…that was then. I…saw her a couple of days ago. Cookie. She's a murderer. But I let her murder me. I asked for her to murder me." He sighed, deeply. "Ichigo, I still feel bad…"
Ichigo hugged him a little tighter, remembering how little time he had left. If he was on phase two…phase three couldn't be far behind. "If you were only well…" she said, thinking aloud. "If you were well again, I'd dance with you."
Kish smiled. "Id try it, but I don't want you to have to carry me…even though I do weigh less now."
"I don't want you to be just sitting here," Ichigo replied, slowly releasing him and standing up again. "I know what it feels like to have nothing to do while everyone else is having fun…"
"It's okay," Kish said. "I also came here for the food! Yeah, the banquet isn't that great, but it's better than that glue they feed us at the hospital. I think they're trying to kill me…"
Ichigo laughed. "Yeah, hospital food is terrible. I guess some things never change, even on another planet."
Kish chuckled. "I'd rather eat Pie's sandcakes for a week than that hospital gunk."
Ichigo smiled. "Well I'll see you later," she said, beginning to walk back into the crowd. Kish waved slightly as she disappeared into the shapeless blob of ritzy guests.
---
It was later in the day, about an hour into the ball. Pudding and Tart stood on the sidelines, worn out. They had been dancing ever since they'd met and Pudding always pushed Tart around the room, energetically, even to slow songs.
Tart looked up as the band played a soft, slow love song and Pie happened to glide by, holding Flan to his shoulder. The two of them swayed gently to the music, happily in each other's arms. Tart flushed red as he imagined dancing like that with Pudding. "See?" he said to her, pointing to the couple just before they disappeared into the crowd again. "That's how you're supposed to dance to a slow song."
Pudding grinned a little. "Well I knew that, I just didn't think you'd want to dance like that…with me."
Tart looked down at the marble ground, trying to find something to say, when he spotted something on a table nearby and jumped up. "Hey, look!" he cried.
"What? What?" Pudding asked, quickly glancing around. "I don't see anything."
Tart pointed at a small table piled with little round blue things. "It's my brand!"
"Huh?" Pudding was still confused as Tart pulled her over to the table. She read the folded sign in front of the pile. "The newest product from Palace Merchandizing- Tabala Blue. First unveiling." She looked over at the little blue balls. "Hey, these are just candy drops!"
"Yup," Tart said, looking them over. "I gave a few to the king and he had them manufactured. Hey, at least I get the first two letters of my name in the brand name. Here, try one." He eagerly handed Pudding one, looking proud of himself.
Pudding unwrapped the candy and tasted it. "Hmm," she mumbled. "Ish more shower den da ones dey have at home."
"Really?" Tart asked, putting another one into his mouth. "Eah. I gesh you're right."
The two of them stood there a while longer, eating candy together until another faster song started up again. They rushed out onto the floor, energized from the sugar substitute.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dance floor, Flan and Pie were having a blast. Flan was forgetting her troubles and now she didn't even care what kind of dress she was wearing. Pie spun her around and she landed happily back in his arms. This has to be heaven, she thought. I must be the one that died.
Pie looked down at her and felt like he was flying, although he was still solidly on the ground. Even when he was flying, he'd never really felt that light, soaring feeling that had settled around him now. It was as if everything that mattered didn't seem to matter anymore, and his head had been taken out of a bubble. He felt a bit dizzy and lightheaded from the release of all this pressure, but it still felt better than ever before. It was…something he hadn't felt in a long time…
---
Ichigo was trying her best to cheer up and enjoy herself. She danced with a few other nobles, and once Flan sat out one song, and let her dance with Pie.
Not long after, the servers brought out the roasted gooshog and the banquet began, much to one of the guest's dismay. The animal was a cross between a pig and a goose, looking very much like a flying pig. Ichigo tried a bit of it and found it to be very tough and dry. In fact, Kish seemed to be the only one genuinely enjoying it. He amassed such a pile from the ones that wouldn't eat it, that he said he'd have to smuggle some of it back to the hospital with him.
Afterwards, just when Pie was going to get up to continue dancing, he noticed Kish on the sidelines and went frantic, the pressure falling back onto his head like a ton of bricks. "Kish!" he cried, running from the table. He barreled up to the sickly Mercurian in his wheelchair. "What are you doing out of your bed? You need to rest or…"
"I'll never get better," Kish coldly interrupted. "Whether I rest or not. Let's not hide the fact."
"Wh…why did you come here? You can't dance with us…"
"I came to watch," Kish replied. "And now I'm glad I came." He smiled a bit. "I was watching you just now. You looked so…happy."
Pie looked a bit embarrassed…even ashamed. "Kish, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize…"
"No, it's okay," Kish interrupted again. "When you were dancing just now, you were smiling and suddenly so cheerful…I've never seen you that way before." Now, Kish was smiling at Pie. "It makes me feel good that I know my friends are going to be okay."
Pie just felt worse, realizing that he should have found the cure by now, or he should be working on it now, instead of partying and enjoying himself while one of his best friends was dying.
"Geez, Pie!" Kish suddenly cried, catching his attention. "Don't feel guilty about being happy. I've been happy all my life, but this is the first time I've seen you happy." Pie stared at him for a long moment. "Go on," Kish replied. "Go get your girl and have a good time."
At last, Pie got up when Flan approached from the side, but still continued staring at him in wonder even as they began to dance again.
---
Finally, a couple of hours later, the leader of the Mercurian band stood and announced the last song of the evening "in honor of our newfound family", meaning Ichigo, of course.
Ichigo was so sick of being stared at and talked about for the entire ball. So she was relieved when everyone was too tired to turn around and stare at her. She watched in sadness as Flan and Pie swayed together, and even Pudding and Tart were giving it a shot, holding hands, and stepping all over each other's toes. This was the last dance…she had to dance with someone. She glanced around the room and then, without another thought, ran up to Kish.
"Oh, hi Ichigo!" he called. "You're not going to dance with someone? It is the last dance…"
"Yeah, I am," Ichigo decided. "I'm going to dance with you."
He looked at her like she was crazy. "But…But I can't…"
Ichigo smiled. "Yeah, I know you can't stand on your own, much less walk or dance. So, I'll wheel you around. We can pretend we're dancing." She took hold of the handles on the back of Kish's wheelchair. "Now usually the rules are to let the guy lead, but you're going to have to let me lead."
"No problem," Kish replied, staring up at her contentedly. "You are a born leader."
They did the wheel waltz around the little section on the side. A few guests gave them strange, disgusted looks, but they just ignored them, wrapped in their own world.
---
Meanwhile, Puding and Tart were starting to grasp this concept known as "slow dancing". Tart watched Pie dancing with Flan next to them and tried to copy him. Pudding did the same with Flan, and eventually the pair was managing it without walking on each other. Pie slowly pulled Flan's head to his shoulder, so Tart reached out and pulled Pudding's head to his shoulder. This was a little awkward since Pudding was a bit taller than him and she was bending down. At last after a few minutes, Pudding and Tart ended up hugging, like Flan and Pie were doing at that moment.
At last, the song was ending. The last few notes were beginning to play. Flan and Pie pulled apart and connected in a slow, romantic kiss. Pudding looked at Tart. Tart looked at Pudding. Pudding began to lean closer, preparing. Tart didn't really know what to do. He frantically tried to remember how to kiss someone, and ended up pursing his lips out like a fish. Pudding's lips hit his hardened lip muscles, and although it was a very awkward kiss, it was a kiss.
Pudding pulled away and looked at him in confusion. "You know, you don't have to have your lips all the way out like that," she said.
Tart relaxed his fish face. "Uh…well I've never done that before."
Pudding smiled. "It's alright. We'll try again some other time."
The rest of the guests began to filter out through the back doors, back up to their chambers. There were a few still lingering behind, laughing and conversing loudly.
Ichigo wheeled Kish up near the others. "Hi, you guys!" she called, happily.
"Oh, so there you are," Flan said, separating from Pie for a moment. "So Ichigo…" she said with a smile. "Did you have a good time?"
"Yeah!" Ichigo answered, happily. "And I wasn't bored! …At least after I talked to you and all…"
"So did I," Kish agreed, "And now I've got all this nice gooshog meat to take…er, smuggle back with me…I can't believe they just gave it away."
"I can't believe you actually like it!" Tart cried, stepping up with Pudding.
"Hey, you try eating mushy whitish gunk for a week straight and then tell me how you think this gooshog meat tastes."
Tart smiled and rushed up to give his friend a hug.
"Hey, I haven't seen you in a while," Kish said as Tart nearly tackled him. "What happened? You look at least two years older."
"Oh, I just decided to change my look a little. I'm glad you came to the ball."
As they talked, Pudding moved in a little on the side. Pie suddenly lit up. "I've got an idea!" he cried, pulling out the tiny camera device he carried with him. "Group picture!"
Flan scurried over, standing next to Ichigo. Pudding grabbed the side of Kish's wheelchair and leaned a little in. Kish pulled Tart onto his lap.
"Hey, let me down," he complained. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Aw, come on," Kish pleaded. "Just this one picture."
"Alright," Tart finally decided. As Pie held up the little camera, Kish discreetly made bunny ears behind Tart's head. Pudding noticed, but didn't say anything and tried to hold back laughter. Click!
Then, she burst out laughing. "Tart, he was making a bunny shadow behind you!"
"What?!" Tart turned around and looked at Kish. "Kish…?"
Kish snickered. "I couldn't help it…you were sitting right there in front of me, so innocent…"
Tart sighed. "Kish…I demand a retake!"
"Oh, alright," Pie said, resetting the camera device.
"Hey, Pie!" Kish called. "Put that thing down!"
"Huh?" Pie asked, looking up at him. "You don't want another picture?"
"No, I thought you said 'group picture'. You're part of this group, aren't you?"
"Yeah!" the others called. "C'mon, get in here, Pie!" Flan cried.
"Oh, okay," Pie decided. He sat the camera again and left it floating in the air as he walked over into the picture, putting an arm around Flan.
A few minutes later, the camera flashed, and they were caught there in that little window. Together forever.
---
Just as he had promised Ichigo, when they got back to their apartments after the annual Palace of Mercury ball, Pie told Flan, Tart, and Kish to meet him in his parlor, where he showed them the scars, and told them all about what had happened to him.
Kish actually seemed relieved. "Well, at least I got to know a little more about you before…well, before I die." He was being terribly blunt about it lately, and Pie only felt worse that he hadn't been able to find the cure.
The Mew Mews had also reported the night before that Ryou found that since Mew Aquas don't exist on Mercury, there is no way to use one on Mercury, its properties will always degenerate, no matter what is done in prevention. Even if they brought Kish to Earth, there would be no way to heal him, since Ryou had used the last of the Mew Aqua in his test. Lettuce, Mint, and Zakuro hadn't found another one yet. Yet. There was still that glimmer of a hope.
Flan was fascinated, finding out what had really happened that day in the lab.
Tart was afraid. "Does it hurt?" he kept asking. "That looks really painful."
"No, Tart," Pie finally answered. "They're scars. Scars don't hurt."
"But that one's really deep," Tart said, worried. "What if something hit you there?"
"It wouldn't feel any different than if it hit you."
"What about the pod treatment?"
"The pods only treat existing wounds. They can't erase scars after they've set in."
"So why didn't you get pod treatment when that thing tried to kill you?"
"Tart, this happened a long time ago, before you were born. They didn't have pod treatment back then."
At last, his mouth closed and the questions ceased.
The little group then broke up, Flan returning to her apartment where Pudding was waiting. Kish was too tired to wheel himself back to the hospital, so Pie pushed him there. All was quiet. Or not.
---
A slight glow emanated from the darkened chandelier overhead. The smooth ballroom floor reflected the magical light as it danced from above. Had it happened? What was going on? It felt wonderful. Kish took a deep breath and let the cold night air fill his lungs. He was…outside? But the ballroom was inside, right?
He took a step forward, his black shoe clicking against the marble. That was when he noticed his clothes- an elaborate black suit, even classier than the one Pie had been wearing. He was all dressed up…for what? The ball was over. He scanned the cold, empty hall. All the guests had gone home. It also surprised him how he was standing there, so effortlessly. It was as if he were suddenly cured.
Kish blinked and held his head, feeling the slippery strands. That's right, he thought, I've still got that gel in my hair. I should've washed it out before I went to bed. He shook his head. Now he remembered going to bed, but he wasn't asleep.
Something was happening. A shadow in the corner was moving closer. Kish looked up. What was going on? He could hear the soft clicks of shoes against marble as the figure advanced in the darkness. He held his breath. Now what could be after him?
But his fear disappeared as the figure stepped into the light beneath the chandelier, next to him. From the deep, dark shadowed parts of the room emerged the beautiful, shining entity, like a rainbow peeking out of the storm clouds. She lifted her head, her smile lighting up her face, as her pink-red hair shimmered.
"Ichigo?" Kish was barely able to breathe those precious syllables, the breath snatched from his throat. She was so dazzling…more beautiful than ever before.
Ichigo's eyes glowed, softly. "Kish…" her sweet voice wrapped around. "So…I told you that I'd dance with you. Are you ready?"
Kish could barely move, entranced by her beauty, but slowly, he managed to return her gesture, smiling back. "Yes. Of course." His voice echoed and felt awkward twisting around that holy creature before him.
Ichigo's hands swept to the edges of her ball gown, the elegant pink one with the red ribbons, and she bent into a curtsy. She was a flower…a rose in bloom. Kish had two choices- pluck it, and one day it would eventually wither and turn away, or keep it right here, where he would always find it.
Slowly, he reached out a hand, covered by a white glove. As that delicate flower rose again, she gently fitted her hand inside of it. A shiver ran through Kish's body. Slowly, he brought the hand closer. He reached down, pressing his lips gently against its center. The warm, smooth skin drove away the coldness of the night.
The sun rose, her smiling face, bubbling with delight. "Oh, Kish…" She cocked her head, the glittering strands hanging off one side. "Come on. Let's not just stand here."
Her other hand reached up, and he raised his. They slid together so easily. Kish fingered her hands, softly. It doesn't matter where I am, or what has happened, his inner voice said. I will always cherish this moment. And then the dance began.
Ichigo and Kish brushed across the smooth floor, hand in hand. They waltzed in the black of night, illuminated by a single chandelier- the princess and the prince. Ichigo raised her arms, spinning away, holding on by one hand, and then curling back again. Then…she separated, breaking the chain.
Kish glanced around. He had lost her. She was gone again…or was she?
In the distance, her light shone forth again. Her shoes came clicking back…running pace. She jumped…and Kish's arms folded around her. Catching her. For a moment, Ichigo remained suspended in his arms. Then she began to slip back down, her arms lowering…back down from ultimate expression to smooth, sweet caresses as her hands slid over his head and onto his shoulders.
Kish closed his eyes as tears of happiness slipped out. He never imagined anything like this would ever happen…this wondrous scene before him. His arms wrapped around this precious creature, and he felt he would never let go. In the midst of this stranded wonderland, he found himself wondering, is this heaven? In his mind, he prayed that it was, because he could spend all of eternity here…and never let go. Never let go of that beautiful dream…
---
"Kish…Ki-ish…" It was her soft, musical voice again, dancing itself into his heart…just like she had… "Kish? Kish, can you hear me?" The world was returning now. A blurry pinkish face descended from above, the features undefined.
Ichigo bent over Kish's body on the hospital bed. He was starting to wake up now. His teary eyes at last opened completely, but at the sight of her, he smiled through the shining teardrops and his shaky voice called out- "Ichigo!"
Ichigo glanced worriedly downwards as his arms emerged from the covers, sliding around her body. "Kish!" she cried. "Are you okay? You're crying…"
"I'm happy," Kish replied, sitting up and rubbing the tears from his eyes. "I…I had the most wonderful dream. We were…at the ball, but there was nobody there. Just us. You were in your dress, and I was in a suit, and…and we danced. Just like you said we would."
Ichigo sighed. "Oh, if only it weren't a dream."
"Yeah…" Kish replied, sinking back down onto the bed. "If only…it had been heaven. A-assuming that there is a heaven…and that I would go there."
"Of course," Ichigo answered, leaning in a little closer. "I used to think that you were this…murderer, and I couldn't stand the sight of you, but…the more time I spend with you, the more you reveal yourself to me, I know that you're not that cruel, obsessed person you let others believe you to be."
"Ichigo…" Kish began, looking lovingly up at her. "…I don't want…to leave you. That's my greatest fear. That I will…disappear, and never see you again." He slowly let out his breath. "I only recently realized what a devastating loss that would be…"
Ichigo slipped closer. She just wanted to make everything better again, and wash away all that was wrong. She wished she could…clear everything.
Kish seemed attracted, feeling that need to wipe away everything that didn't belong, that was not part of the master plan of the universe.
And then…their lips connected. The warm, protective shield springing forth again. A second later, they pulled apart, both stunned. Ichigo stunned that she had actually, willingly just kissed Kish on the lips…and it had felt so good. Kish stunned with the different, wonderful feeling it had given him, deep in his heart.
"You know…" he spoke up at last. "I kissed you five times…ten or so with other girls…and I lost count with Cookie…" He smiled, that same, pleasant smile that always made Ichigo feel so happy inside. "…but that one was different…from all the others."
Ichigo slowly turned. Her heart was going to burst. Kish…she thought, as she slowly exited the room, looking back at him. Why do you make me feel like that? It's almost like…it's just the same as if…Ichigo didn't want to finish the sentence, but her mind was finishing it for her. There was no pushing the thought back. …I love him.