Chapter 2: Mint Pudding, with Strawberries

Okay, here's the deal. I decided to screw the fixing my chapters thing. Since I'm so friggin' computer illiterate, someone is going to have to walk me through the editing thing. People keep telling me 'Change the format to html.' How do I do that? C'mon people I've looked all over Document Manager and I cannot find a way to change whatever my format is to html. So, if you wanna take my hand and help my pathetic self through this "difficult" process, e-mail me.

Thank you.

The cute monkey had never left his side. She'd curled up at the bottom of the bed and slept there. She'd made a little monkey's nest; pillows, a comforter, a sheet, more pillows… It's where she's been since the last fight. And she was up at his side in the slightest movement was made on his part. When Keiichiro had said watch over him, she'd saluted, nodded and with the most serious face she could muster she squeaked "Yes-siree!! Purin will do good!!" And here she was. At his side in heartbeat.

She blinked big brown eyes. A deep Hershey's brown. Ryou had once teased her that her eyes were so brown because of all the chocolate she ate, it came out her hair and eyes. But now, Ryou wondered if it was true. Her irises shined like glazed chocolate balls, her pupil a bonus dark, chocolate covered cherry. Her hair was a rich brown – rich, full and glossy. Like a healthy monkey's fur, it shined. The brown of her hair glowed mahogany when the sun light struck natural dark red highlights. Everything about her was bright, cheery and hyper. Her eyes always danced with energy, her body only to house the spunkiness and delirium that buzzed inside of her.

But now that cute smile was now a weary one, her eyes energy focused on being concerned. She looked down at him with worry. She'd heard him make that small noise and move around on the bed uncomfortably. Purin was worried she hadn't done her job right. She'd never left, just like she said she would, but Ryou didn't look any better. He looked worse. 'Purin was only to keep guard' her mind reminded her. 'This is no job for you. Go get Mint.'

Purin nodded inwardly and outwardly, mahogany curtain flowing about her head. She looked down at Ryou with a bright smile and said loudly "Purin's gonna go get Mint!! Be good!!!"

She duped down far enough to give him a quick peck on the forehead, then leaned back up, flipped off the bed, and zoomed out the door. Leaving a blinking Ryou behind.

=================================

Ryou laid still for a long moment holding his breath. Purin's moving about caused him a great deal of pain. Nothing like before, but it still hurt. He knew she meant well. She always did. So, he'd fought to keep his face blank, though it was a terrible effort. The monkey just wanted to help, no need to make her feel bad. The last thing he wanted to hear was Purin's wailing because she did 'bad', whatever that meant. The girl was a ball of energy, but she never really did anything wrong in a matter of speaking. Sure, she broke dishes and all, but that wasn't necessarily wrong. But then, that wasn't what she was worried about. She was scared to do 'bad'. Perhaps there was a difference.

Ryou let out his breath slowly, trying to be kind to his ribs. He could hear Purin stampeding around, calling for Mint. He shook his head lightly at her eagerness to help and please. But the action aloud quiet a few strands of blonde hair to make their way into his vision. He glared good naturally at them, but didn't bother to push them away. His hair didn't do anything wrong. No need to move it to a new home.

Instead, he just stared up through the blonde bars, focusing lazily on the curtain. The window was open, letting a strong breeze make the see-through linen dance over his white ceiling. It rippled, and straightened, then fell back over the window. And almost immediately the sheet of fabric would begin its hypnotic dance once again. He watched it muted aw as the cloth wisped about, like a white flame licking the ceiling, trying to spread itself.

It rustled gently, as did the trees, and a soft whistle was made by the wind as it ran through and between the tree branches and over the windowsill. All together it was a soft symphony, lulling him to sleep. His vision blurred as his eyes unfocused, all expressions gone as his face went slack. This was deeper than sleep. It was comatose. He was drifting away. Nothing to hold him back from falling further into a dreamless sleep…

"Damn it, Ichigo!" Ryou wearily reopened his eyes slowly to half lidded. Mint was standing to the side of the bed, her slender arms crossed below a slender bust. She had her game face on, and was ready to play.

Everything about Mint Arizawa physically was slender, just like the bird she was. It was a good slender, though, evenly proportioned to the slightest detail. Her small feet connected to fine ankles, which in turn was apart of fair legs. Those legs were long, as the slide up into hips thicker than the legs, though not by much. Her waist was low and torso long, just like a bird's. Her bust was small compared to the others, but appeared ample and full against her small frame. Small shoulders lead out into long, thin, soft arms that narrowed to fine wrists. To hands with long fingers decorated with rings and those with stones that simmered and shined, always polished to perfection. Just like the rest over her. Her neck was a steady length, as long as one of those women who modeled necklaces and chokers. Her chin was pointed, and dainty, her nose small and ski slope like. But her eyes were different.

The one thing that Ryou was attracted to, if anything at all, were her eyes. A rich, strong, dark brown, like dark cherry wood unpolished. Her eyes didn't glisten in the sun light, or glow in the moon light. Instead, they absorbed it. Absorbed everything. Everything she looked at, just seemed to be sucked into her eyes, those endless brown pools of oblivion.

Unless she was in her Mew Mew form. Then, her eyes were deep, platinum blue. A blue so dark, it passed for onyx. Then, the light would hit those dangerous azur orbs. Though, they still wouldn't shine, and they still wouldn't glow. They would reflect the light, like dark metal, or a tinted mirror. Her eyes were then a cool sheet of metal, deflecting anything and everything. Though, no matter how they looked, her eyes were hard and sharp, just like her personality.

Ryou had always loved it when she turned those naturally glaring eyes to him. She was a fun one to argue with. They'd gone for hours, staring each other down, trying to see who had the coldest eyes. But Keiichiro would always interfere, and she was off to work again. But the times they spent verbally abusing each other was fun. The brother and sister relationship they had was one that no one else would ever reach. Though, he'd prefer if her anger didn't accompany that look of malice she had now. Hoo boy, he'd hate to be on the other end of that look right about now.

Who was that, anyway?

Ichigo Momomiya.

Wooo, well, there it is. Ichigo is finally brought in. I'd have typed up her disruption, but I gotta get ready for Mass. Ugh, do yourself a favor, don't become Catholic. It's sucks. If you are Catholic, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Tch, Mass doesn't start till six, yet we have to leave five fifteen. For good seats… For the love of God…