The Beginning of the End

By: Kioko the pirate

Chapter 9: Tending Wounds

It took about a minute for Kioko and Angel to get up to the main room of the tower, when they finally reached the hole in the wall they found that some of the officers were slowly getting up and checking on each other.

"What are the police doing here?" asked Kioko as he landed.

"Lilo called them after you and Stitch left here on the cliff." Said Angel.

Kioko's eyes widened. "Oops, I forgot all about her." Said Kioko as he blushed a little.

Angel just shook her head; suddenly they heard a moaning noise. They looked over to see Lilo slowly getting to her feet as she held the side of her face. Kioko turned and sat Angel down against the wall.

"You wait right here, and take it easy." Instructed Kioko as he patted Angel on the head.

Kioko turns and a run over to Lilo, he reach's her right as she slid back down to the floor. Kioko kneeled down in front of her with a smile. "What happened to you?" asked Kioko.

"Hashi back handed me and I went head first into the wall. Speaking of Hashi I'm guessing that because you're here that you won?"

"Yeah, I beat him." Said Kioko simply.

"Is Angel safe?" asked Lilo.

Kioko looks over his shoulder at the pink experiment. "She's a little beat up, but other then that she's safe. Now let me take a look at you." Said Kioko as he pulled Lilo's hand away from her cheek.

"Well, how does it look?" asked Lilo.

"Well, let's just say that I'm surprised that you didn't lose any teeth." Said Kioko as he starred at her cheek.

Lilo had a large black bruise on her left cheek and it was beginning to swell. "Yeah well, so am I. That was the hardest hit that I've ever taken, I don't see how you can take hits like that and keep fighting?" said Lilo as she looked at Kioko's many bleeding wounds.

"It's not easy and it takes a lot of training to be able to survive hits like those." Said Kioko as he wiped away some blood from his forehead.

"I bet, hey have you checked Stitch yet?" asked Lilo.

"Stitch?" asked Kioko as he looked around. He finally saw the experiment laying face down on the floor. "I'll go check him now."

Kioko stands up and walks over to Stitch, he once again kneels down and carefully flips Stitch over. He had a little blood running from his mouth and a few scraps on his body. After a moment Stitch began to slowly open his eyes, he moaned in pain as he put his paw on his head.

"What happened?" asked Stitch weakly.

"Well, I'm guessing that you tried to fight Hashi and you got your butt kicked?" said Kioko as he helped Stitch sit up. "But you'll be happy to hear that Angel is safe."

Stitch sighed and lowered his head. "It doesn't matter, she's never going to talk to me or anything ever again." Moaned Stitch.

Kioko got a confused look on his face. "Why wouldn't she talk to you?" asked Kioko in a concerned voice.

"Because she thinks that I cheated on her."

"What, why would she think that?"

"Because Pantucka wanted me and Bonnie to… well… mate, but we didn't. Bonnie didn't want to, I didn't want to and nothing happened. But as Pantucka was about to kill us he mentioned it and well, lets just say that Angel doesn't believe that nothing happened. That's why she won't talk to me." Explained Stitch as he looked over at Angel.

Kioko just nodded in acknowledgment. "Well, there's a simple fix for that. You just have to make her believe you."

"But how do I do that if she won't talk to me?" asked Stitch.

"Just because she isn't talking to you doesn't mean that she isn't listening. You must put your heart into making her believe; make her feel like the only one you care about. And then if that doesn't seal the deal so to speak, then I would suggest doing something romantic when we get back." Said Kioko caringly.

"Romantic huh? Like what?"

"Like a romantic dinner on the beach or something."

Stitch seemed to think about this for a moment, he finally looked up at Kioko. "Thanks Kioko, I never knew you could come up with these things." Said Stitch gratefully.

"Neither did I, I'm a regular Doctor Phil… ok, that's creepy. Anyway before you go off and make amends why don't you help with some of the injured. If you're up to it that is?"

Stitch got to his feet shakily, but finally found his balance. "Yeah, I'm in good enough condition to help. Now lets go." Said Stitch as he walked away.

"Got it." Agreed Kioko as he also walked away.

As the two men went around helping whoever they could, Lilo managed to slide her way over next to Angel. Who was just sitting there looking at Stitch with a disapproving stare.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Lilo straight out.

"Why do you ask?" said Angel without looking at her.

"Well, I thought for sure that you and Stitch would be hugging and kissing right now. And yet you two haven't said a word to each other since I got here, did something happen?" asked Lilo in the same concerned tone that Kioko had used.

Angel sighed. "Something did happen, Stitch cheated on me." Said Angel sadly.

Lilo was shocked at the thought of her best and most loyal friend cheating on the one experiment that he loved. "What do you mean he cheated on you?"

"I mean that him and Bonnie spent last night together, that dirty little thief stole him from me." Growled Angel.

"Well, have you talked to him at all?" asked Lilo.

"Yeah, but all he keeps saying is that nothing happened, that they just talked."

"Well did you ever stop and think that maybe he was telling the truth?"

"Why would I do that?" asked Angel coldly.

Lilo placed her hand on Angel's shoulder. "Because he's never lied to you before, and he wouldn't start now. He loves you more then anyone else in the universe, he wouldn't cheat on you." Said Lilo caringly

"She's right…" Angel and Lilo look over to see Bonnie walking up to them. "Stitch wouldn't cheat on you's, he's a good guy and is very loyal."

"How would you know?" asked Angel in an angry tone.

Bonnie sighed. "Cause that's what wes talked about last night. All he's could talk about was how much he loved you. I've never seen someone so worried abouts anyone before."

"So you guy's really did just talk?" asked Lilo.

Bonnie nodded. "Likes I told dol… I means Angel, I'm just not ready for a relationship. Also Stitch isn't really my's type."

Angel just folded her arms across her chest and closed her eyes, a look of deep thought on her face. "Angel, I think you should give Stitch another chance to explain himself." Said Lilo quietly.

Angel sighed and looked at Bonnie and then at Lilo. "I guess your right Lilo." Said Angel quietly.

Meanwhile Kioko was helping out the injured officers, to their utter amazement. He finishes helping one officer with a broken bone when he notices Shemata laying next to one of the tables. She was slowly trying to push her self up; Kioko walks over and extends his hand to her. She opens her eyes and sees the pirate offering his hand, a look of suspicion comes over her face.

"What are you doing?" asked Shemata coldly.

Kioko raised one of his eyebrows. "I'm helping you, that's what I'm doing."

"I don't need… any help from a space pirate like you." Growls Shemata as she uses the table to lift herself to her feet.

She begins to limp away when suddenly her leg gives out and she trips. But in an instant Kioko rushed over and caught her by the shoulders. "I think you do your hurt pretty badly." Said Kioko in a concerned voice.

Shemata gave him a dirty look. "Why would you care about how much I was hurt?"

Kioko sighs, his eyes catch her name tag on her armor. "Listen Shemata, despite what you may think of me I'm going to help you." Said Kioko as he threw her arm over his shoulder and walked her to a nearby medical cot.

She sits down and looks up at Kioko strangely. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I came with the human and the blue creature, to save Angel, she's the pink one." Said Kioko as he looked over at them.

Shemata got a really confused look on her face. "Why would you help them save her, you aren't the one to save people."

Kioko gave another sigh. "I helped them because they are my friends, and I saved Angel because… well… I can't really explain why."

"I find it hard to believe that you have friends. After all the horrible things you did, after all of the police officers you killed. None of this is making sense!"

"It may not make a lot of sense, but believe it or not I've changed." Kioko gets up and walks away, leaving Shemata with a confused look on her face.

A few minutes later Stitch walks over and sits next to Angel, he had a very nervous expression on his face. "Angel, you don't have to say anything but at least listen to me. I love you more then anyone else, we've had three beautiful kids together, I would never think about cheating on you. If you don't believe me then that's fine, but let me say that nothing happened between me and Bonnie. I will always stay loyal to you, because I love you." Said Stitch as he tried to put his soul into it.

Angel gave a soft sigh. "I love you too Stitch, so I've decided to take your word on what happened. But only if you prove to me that you honestly love me, only then will I forgive your actions." Said Angel softly.

Stitch looked at her with a joyous gaze. "Oh don't worry Angel I will prove it to you, don't worry."

Angel smiled. "I'm sure you will." Stitch and Angel wrap their arms around each other in a tight hug.

A moment later Angel winces from a sharp pain in her gut, she leans against the wall as she holds her gut. "You guy's shouldn't be doing that yet." Said Kioko as he walked over to the two experiments. "Especially you, with your internal injuries you shouldn't be doing much of anything." Said Kioko as he kneeled down in front of Angel.

"Internal injuries huh? I think we can handle that." Said Shemata as she walked up to the group.

Kioko gave her a strange look. "You're actually going to help us?"

"As an officer of the law it is my duty to help anyone in need, even if it's helping a pirate." Shemata kneels down in front of Stitch, Angel and Lilo. "So what do we have?"

"Angel has it the worst, she has some internal bleeding. Stitch just ahs a few cuts and scraps." Said Kioko.

"And I have this big old bruise on my face." Said Lilo.

Shemata smiled. "Nothing that we cannot handle, we will have you guy's fixed up in no time." Said Shemata as she looked at the three wounded people. She then looks back over her shoulder at some of her officers. "Can we get some med kits over here? And make sure they have an IIS in one of them."

"An IIS?" asked Lilo.

"An Internal Injury Scanner." Said Shemata

"Oh." Said Lilo as she looked away.

Shemata got right to work on the three wounded friends; she patched up Angel first seeing as how she had the most serious injuries. She had managed to heal her internal injuries almost completely, now Angel just had a little discomfort in her gut. As Shemata worked on Stitch and Lilo Angel got up and walked over to the hole in the wall. She looked down at the crater covered battle field; she leaned on the rough edge of the hole and gave a sigh.

'Kioko was willing to give his life to save me, and so was Stitch. Even Lilo placed herself in a dangerous position for me.' Thought Angel as a smile came across her face. 'I really am loved here.'

As Angel stood looking over the terrain she had no idea that she was being watched. On the other side if the cliffs a blood covered man watched with an evil grin.

"That was certainly fun." Said the man. "But finally I have found him, finally I can have my revenge." The man wiped his left cheek, revealing two black strips. "I still can't believe that he didn't recognize me, I thought it would be rather obvious. Hashi and Hanagi sound so similar. He has gotten weaker over the years; it's too bad really I wanted to fight the full powered Kioko. Not this goody goody Kioko who actually cares about people." Hashi also known as Hanagi began to chuckle evilly. "It doesn't matter, after my plan is completed, he will be back to where he was back then." Hanagi looks across at the tower and more specifically Angel. "And now… I have the final piece needed to put my plan into action."

Hanagi turns and begins to walk away. "And at long last the reign of Kioko 'The Great Destroyer' will end and the reign of Hanagi will begin!" yelled Hanagi as he walked off laughing evilly.

Meanwhile back at the tower Shemata was finishing up Lilo's bruise. It was no longer black, now it was just a small grey, quarter sized bruise. Shemata began to put away the medical equipment. "Thank you for your help, Shemata." Said Kioko as he helped put some of the equipment away.

"Don't you want to fix your self up?"

"No, my wounds will heal fairly quickly; I just need to find a shirt." Said Kioko calmly.

She looked over at him with an amazed smile. "You really have changed haven't you?"

A smile came across his face. "Well, I'll just say that being around them for so long can have a very positive affect on a person."

"They all seem to like you as well, especially Angel. You two seem real close." Said Shemata quietly.

Kioko looks over at the pink experiment and smiles. "Yeah, we are pretty close."

The two of them stood up, Shemata grabbed the two large med kits. "Well, once again thanks for your help… lieutenant Shemata." Said Kioko.

"You too… Kioko. Would you guy's like a ride back to your ship?"

Every one walked up to Kioko. "That would be greatly appreciated." Said Kioko with a smile.

Shemata nodded and they all piled onto the small landing craft, including Bonnie and Clyde who were bound by leg and arm cuffs. They got back to the ship in only a minute or two; they all hopped off the ship. As they began to walk towards the ship, Kioko turns back and looks at Shemata. The two just smiled at each other before going on their separate ways. The police ship speeds away into the sky, Kioko and the others launch soon after.

The desert planet disappeared into a sea of red as the ship blasted into vortex space. "It's going to be a long trip back to earth, so I suggest that we all find something to do." Said Kioko.

Every one nodded and began to find something to do. Stitch, Angel and Lilo began to play a three way game of rock, paper, scissors. Bonnie and Clyde just sat there quietly, they did not want to cause trouble in their situation. Kioko found yet another spare black t-shirt and slipped it on.

"How many of those do you have?" asked Stitch as he looked over at Kioko.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

After a couple hours every one seemed to fade away, Stitch and Lilo were fast asleep in the back, along with Bonnie and Clyde. Kioko was still at the controls and Angel was just bored out of her mind. Another hour passes before she walks up next to Kioko and notices that he had a very deep look on his face.

"What's wrong, you look troubled?" asked Angel in a slightly concerned tone.

"What, no I'm not troubled." Said Kioko defensively.

Angel raised her eyebrow. "Now I know you're troubled, tell me what's wrong?"

"It's nothing really."

"I know you well enough Kioko to know that it is never nothing. Tell me what it is." Said Angel as she rested her paw on his shoulder.

Kioko sighed. "It's just that, I felt something today, something that I don't usually feel."

"What is that?"

"I felt scared."

"Scared of what?"

Kioko lowered his head and then looked at her. "I was scared of losing you."

A loving look came over Angels face. "You were scared of losing me?"

"Angel, I care about you more then anything else, you're the only one who really understands me. I don't know what would happen if I lost you… but"

"But what?" asked Angel caringly.

"But it just feel's wrong, it feel's like I'm making you disloyal to Stitch." Said Kioko in a solemn voice.

Angel gave a small laugh. "Just because you care about me? Kioko, you have nothing to worry about."

"Why is that?" asked Kioko.

"Kioko, look at Stitch and Lilo…" The two of them look towards the back of the ship. Lilo and Stitch were fast asleep, Stitch was leaning on her and Lilo had her arm around him. "They care about each other more then anyone else, but I don't see it as cheating. Stitch has known her a lot longer then he has known me and so they care about each other in their own way. I've seen Stitch snuggling with Lilo but I don't think anything of it." Explains Angel in a loving tone.

"Except for when he snuggles with Bonnie, then you get upset." Said Kioko.

Angel's face straightened for a moment. "That's beside the point, what I'm trying to say is that they have their own special bond that they can be happy with." Angel wraps her arms around Kioko's neck in a loving hug. "Just like we have our own special bond that neither of us should be ashamed of."

Kioko smiles and hugs her back. "Thank you so much Angel." Said Kioko softly as he held her tight.

Angel smiled. "Don't worry about it Kioko." Whispered Angel, she releases herself from the hug and flops into Kioko's lap. "Now… how do you fly this thing?" asked Angel enthusiastically.

Kioko raised his eyebrow and laughed. "Why do you want to know?"

Angel shrugged. "Well, I've got nothing else to do for the next 6 hours so I might as well learn something."

Kioko just laughed and rubbed her head. "I guess I can teach you a few things. First take the yolk." Commanded Kioko.

Angel reached forward and took the controls in her paws. "Like this?"

"Yep, just like that, now the second thing you need to know is…"

Well, they are on their way home. But unfortunately they are in for an unhappy welcome home. I'll try to finish this in the next chapter, I'll get to work on it right away. See you later.