Chapter 7
Her chocolate eyes
« Hi, Ichigo. »
Saying that Ichigo was surprised would have been a HUGE euphemism. She was stunned. Astouned. Dumbfounded.
The only words that escaped her lips were :
« Ki… Kisshu ? »
It can´t be him. No, it can´t be…
She closed her eyes and then opened them, expecting the alien to have disappeared. But no, he was still here, standing on the window´s edge with some difficulty.
The second chock came when she fully realized in what state he was. It could be recaped with a single word : pityfull.
His body was skinny, nearly skeleton-like ; his once beautiful golden eyes had turn into a greenish-yellow color. His face was marked by shadows. His skin was diaphanous. He seemed terribly tired and was struggling to stand up. But what shocked her the most was the look in his eyes : a strange mixture between despair and contentment.
Oh my God. What… what in the world happened to him ?
Then Kisshu spoke :
« I´m… I´m glad to see you, Ichigo. »
And the answer hit her. This was a stupid question.
Remorse filled her like some evil poison. Her eyes became wet.
He came to see me…
He… he´s like this because of me…
« Kisshu… she muttered, not knowing what to do, or what to say.
« I… »
He tried to get in, but slipped and nearly fell. Without thinking, Ichigo rushed to his side and helped him get up. He gave her a grateful smile.
« Arigato…
« Come to the sofa… you´ll be able to lay down. »
That wouldn´t help him, she knew it. He needed way more than some rest. But it was the only thing she could think of.
She helped him to lay on the couch, and pulled a cushion under his head. He let out a cough and took her hand ; taken by surprised, Ichigo didn´t push it away. But she shivered.
His skin… is so cold !
« Ichigo… he spoke. I came to tell you…
« No, no, don´t talk, she commanded desperately. You… it´s okay. Would you like some hot chocolate ? I have some in the kitchen…
« Ichigo.
« It´s warm and good ! You´ll like it. »
He understood she would not let it go. He sighed.
« Fine. Chocolate. But after…
« I´ll get it ! »
The young woman practically rushed to the kitchen.
Once she arrived inside, she locked the door behind her and fell on a chair. Then she started crying.
Kisshu… Kisshu !
Kisshu watched Ichigo leave. A small smile appeared on his lips.
She´s even more cute than before. But it looks like she hasn´t changed much.
Good. He didn´t want her to change.
He was so… God, he was so pleased to see her again. It was so satisfying. A true relief.
Nothing could possibly go wrong now...
A few minutes later, Ichigo came back with the hot chocolate. He sat up to take it. Ichigo tried to push him down.
« No, stay...
« Don´t worry, Ichigo, I´m fine, he reassured her. I´m not that sick, you know. »
He gave her an innocent, gentle smile.
« Actually, seeing you makes me feel better. »
Oh no...
The redhead blushed and turned away. He then noticed her face was wet.
« Ichigo ? Kisshu asked, concerned, were you crying ?
« What ? Oh, no, she answered really fast. Ano... I´m a bit tired, that´s all. »
He nodded in disbelief ; she made a movement to give him the chocolate bowl. He saw her left hand.
Something immediately draw his attention : the ring on her finger.
Without thinking, Kisshu grabbed Ichigo´s wrist, making her gasp, and approached it to his face to look at the jewl. A dark shadow appeared in his eyes.
It´s... no. It can´t be...
« What´s that ring, Ichigo ? the alien said.
« Kisshu, you should...
« What´s that ring ? »
Despair was rising in his voice. He tried to get up and started to shake her wrist. Ichigo let out a sob and backed away from his grip.
« Is it...
« Calm down, please, Kisshu, Ichigo pleaded with a scared tone. You...
« Answer me ! Is it an engagement ring ? »
Oh my God.
She couldn´t lie. Not to him. Not about that subject.
He had to know the truth.
« Yes... yes. »
He stopped moving and looked at her.
Ichigo gasped as she looked into his eyes. All emotions had vanished. They were empty.
These were the eyes of a dead man.
When he spoke, his tone was emotionless.
« Who ? »
Don´t answer.
But, for some reason, she couldn´t help it.
« Masaya. »
Masaya.
Damn it.
How could he... how could he forget him ?
Because, as outstanding as it looked like, Kisshu had totally forgot him. Erased any images of him from his memory. He had thought about Ichigo, and only about Ichigo. He had forgot the reason why she didn´t love him in the first place.
Masaya.
The alien let out a sad laugh.
He had been foolish. Idiot. Ridiculous.
What he was doing seemed meaningless now. What exactly could he do ? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. There was nothing he could do.
Ichigo would never love him.
The night fell in his mind as he collapsed on the floor. Before blacking out, he vaguely heard the love of his life scream his name.
