Ch. 5
Ichigo woke up on the couch with a cold, wet washcloth on her forehead.
"Good, you're awake." Lettuce removed the washcloth and sat Ichigo up. She handed her a cup of warm tea. She sipped the warm fluid and helped to relax her a bit.
"Was it a dream?" Ichigo asked.
Lettuce smiled and shook her head.
Ichigo cursed under her breathe.
Lettuce's smiled faded, "Ichigo, don't be this way. They've come to us for help."
"They? They need help? I'll give them help alright! I'll..."
Lettuce cut her off, "What do you have against them?"
"What they tired to do to this world! Have you forgotten!"
"They were just following orders. They..."
"They have brains don't they? They have minds of their own? Free will? They didn't have to..."
"They were doing it for their people. They believed it was the right thing to do!"
"They believe killing millions of people just for their own selfish needs was the right thing to do?" Ichigo raised her voice for the first time. She stood up and towered over Lettuce in her chair by the coach.
"What other choice did they have?" Lettuce now had raised her voice and stood to meet Ichigo eye to eye. "Do you honestly believe humans would have lived alongside them in peace? Is that what you think? Don't fool yourself thinking that if it was the other way around, humans wouldn't have done the same damn thing! Probably worse!"
By this time, Pie, Tart, Kish and Pudding had entered the room. They watched as Ichigo's eyes grew wide and then she sank back down to the coach. It was similar to a defeated knight bowing before his superior.
Lettuce took a long deep breathe and released all her tension. She then took a place by Ichigo on the coach. She went to place her hand on her shoulderand Ichigo shuddered under her touch.
"Alright." Ichigo said, taking control of herself once more, "start talking."
They all gathered into the living room and found a place to sit.
Pie began, "Thanks to the Mew Aqua we returned to our planet with, it has now been restored and is as beautiful as ever. Our people have been saved. Recently, however, Kish, Tart and I got ourselves into a bit of trouble."
"We were trying to find a power source strong enough to let us teleport back here and visit with you guys. Kind of see how you were doing." Kish looked towards Ichigo.
"And we thought a Mew Aqua sourcewould be great. But they're well protected. Each Mew Aqua was placed in shrines all over the planet.We thought we'd just sneak one, and then put it back." Tart added.
"Unfortunately, we were discovered. Our punishment for trying to take a Mew Aqua was to be banish here on earth for awhile." Pie concluded.
"How long is awhile?" Lettuce inquired.
Pie shrugged, "It was not specified."
"So, what 'help' do you need from us?" Ichigo was almost hesitant to asked.
"Shelter, food, and knowledge of human life." Pie answered bluntly.
Ichigo glanced at Lettuce and then at Pudding. Their eyes were saying the same thing.
"On condition,"she began slowly,"that you three will follow house rules, share in chores, gets jobs and share income, and not disrupt the peace in this household..." all eyes were upon her, "you three can stay here as long as you need."
Lettuce and Pudding had the biggest, brightest grins ever. Ichigo mentally noted she had not seen them grin like that in a very long time. She just hoped that she made the right decision.
"We promise to met those demands." Pie answered for the trio of aliens.
"Well, alright then," Ichigo stood up, smile restored to her face, "do you boys mind sharing a room?"
They all shook their heads.
"Great! Pudding, you start filling them in on rules and chores and whatever else you think of, and Lettuce and I will go clean out the spare room and set up some beds."
Lettuce followed Ichigo to the kitchen, "Lettuce, go on upstairs and get started. I need to make a phone call."
She nodded and continued on her way.
Ichigo picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
"Ryou! Hey! You're never going to believe this, but..."
