Chapter 11

An alien and a little monkey

Masaya arrived at their house fifteen minutes after Ichigo´s call. He had asked a friend of his to tell the professor he wouldn´t show up in class today.

The little cottage in which Ichigo and he were living was undoubtfully the cutest of the street. Masaya inherited it as a present from his aunt. He had decided to ask his love to live here with him on her seventeen birthday. They had been living there together for two years now.

When he opened the door, he distinctly heard sobs coming from the living room.

« Ichigo ? It´s me ! » he yelled, throwing his stuff on the table.

The young girl immeditaly stepped out of the room. Her pretty face was filled with tears. Still crying, she went to him and buried her face in his chest.

« Oh, Masaya... Masaya ! Thank God, you´re here ! »

He had never felt so worried. He just couldn´t stand seeing his love crying ; it reminded him of the terrible nightmares he was having six years ago, before Diipu Buruu´s awakening. He hugged her tenderly and wiped her tears.

She´s totally panicked... I have to reassure her.

She needed his help.

« It´s okay, Ichigo. Everything´s gonna be fine, he said in order to calm her down. Where... where is he ?

« On the sofa... he´s just laying there... he won´t...

« Stay calm. Take me to him. »

She sniffed, but nodded and led him inside the room. Masaya immediately saw Kisshu, laying on the couch.

Oh Jesus...

Ichigo had all the reasons in the world to go frantic. « Sick » wasn´t even strong enough to describe the alien´s state. He didn´t look a living person. He was nothing but a shadow...

She was right.

He´s going under.

Ichigo had put a wet compress on his forehead and laid the covers over his body.

That won´t help.

She knew this. She just wanted to do something, even if it was pointless. She cares for him.

Again, his face clouded over. But, again, he put his feelings aside. He sat next to Kisshu to have a better look.

He´s been through a lot of pain...

Masaya sighed in compassion. Then he turned to Ichigo. She was staring at him helplessly.

« What can we do, Masaya ? What can we do to help him ? »

Good question.

How could they help an alien ?

Think. Think. She needs you.

There has to be a solution...

The hospital ? No way.

Medicine ? Would they even work ?

Ryou could maybe help ? Masaya thought about it... but he frowned. Even if there was the slightest chance that Ryou would accept to help Kisshu – one the aliens responsible for his parent´s death -, could he really do something for him ? He too didn´t know anything about the alien´s organism...

No... Kisshu needed to be cured with his planet´s remedy.

He needed to be seen by his friends.

But that´s impossible...

Or is it ?

Masaya stood up. He had an idea.

« Ichigo ?

« Yes ? she asked hopefully.

« Do you remember the two other aliens Kisshu used to work with ?

« Ano... Pai and Taruto ?

« Yes, them. Do you think maybe they came with Kisshu ? »

Ichigo just stared at him. She obviously didn´t get his point.

« I remember you told me that Purin was friends with the youngest... Taruto » he insisted.

And she seemed to understand.

« I... yeah. It´s true.

« Then... if they all came, Purin would know, right ? I mean, Taruto probably went to see her... »

Ichigo´s eyes lit up ; before he could move, she rushed to the phone to type her friend´s number.

Please... please, Masaya, be right ! she thought.

He sat down next to Kisshu again.


« Come on, silly ! Don't be shy !

« You´re sure they won´t hurt me ?

« Of course ! Monkeys are so nice ! They´ll love you ! I mean, they´re just like me ! »

That´s why I´m so anxious ! Taruto thought.

The two friends were hanging out at the little zoo where Purin used to perform her tricks. Luckily for the young alien, it wasn´t really crowded on Friday mornings ; but Purin had insisted for him to wear human clothes in order to go unnoticed, and she had bought him a hat – to hide his ears -, jeans and a leather jacket. He had to admit he looked really cool with these ; actually, a group of girls were watching him very carefully right now from afar, giggling and blushing.

They were in front of the monkey place ; the small animals had warmly welcomed Purin with excited movements... and were eyeing Taruto with evident curiousity. He felt a bit insecure : they were like Purin´s other family, they were wondering if he was good enough for her and if they would accept him or not.

« You can hold Kiki ! She´s very sweet, Purin decided. I know her since she´s a baby. »

She raised a hand and took the little monkey in her arms. Taruto watched her hesitantly. She looked really adorable... her eyes reminded him of Purin, actually. He leaned forward to take the monkey, but a surprise came to him : she jumped off his friend´s grip into his arms and started to hug him !

« I can´t believe it ! » Taruto articulated, nearly suffocating because of her tight grip.

Purin was laughing like crazy, with tears in her hazel eyes.

« Told ya ! She loves you ! she chuckled.

« I can see that... »

He allowed himself to tenderly contemplate his friend.

She´s so cute when she´s laughing...

He had a weird feeling in his chest, and felt his cheeks turn pink. He immediately looked away ; fortunately, Purin didn´t notice. Kiki then got back next to her fellow monkeys. The young girl took Taruto´s hand and led him to the fountain.

« Tell me, Taru-taru, how is your planet now ? »

He sat next to her on the edge and answered.

« It´s wonderful. The plants and the trees have come back and there even more species than there were on Earth. There are huge forests, and waterfalls, and green hills with caverns where we can live. The climate is so warm, it´s almost always sunny...

« It sounds so amazing... she sighed. I wish I could see it. »

Maybe... one day... he thought hopefully.

Don't go to fast. It´s still early.

« And did you come alone ? she asked. I mean, how are Pai and Kisshu ?

« Ano... they´re here with me, he revealed.

« Really ? This so great ! Where are they ?

« Well... Pai was supposed to go meet Retasu. »

Her eyes sparkled.

« I was sure he liked her ! she exclaimed, grinning.

« Yeah... I thought so too... he usually didn´t show his feelings so it was hard to tell. But sometimes, it was really obvious.

« Retasu onee-chan is gonna be so pleased ! She missed him a lot... they would be perfect together.

« Well, they´re pretty alike after all.

« What about Kisshu ? »

Taruto´s smile faded. He cleared his throat and let out a sigh. But before he could speak, Purin´s cellphone started to ring in her pocket. She apologized and answered.

« Moshi moshi ? »

Right after she said this, a worried expression appeared on her face. Taruto watched her with curiousity.

« Ichigo onee-chan ? You´re crying ? »

And he understood immediately.

« Purin...

« Wait... what ? Kisshu ? Ichigo, I don´t under... Taruto ? »

She looked at him, concerned.

« Yes, he... but, how do you... Ichigo ?

« Purin, give me the phone » Taruto commanded.

His voice was firm and resolute. She was surprised... but she obliged. He took the cell and brought it to his ear. It was pretty similar to their own communicators.

« Ichigo ?

« Tar... Taruto ? »

Holy crap.

Purin´s worries were fully justified : Ichigo was sobbing and sniffing on the line. She sounded like she was in terrible pain. Damn, no... Kisshu... something must have gone awfully wrong...

« Ichigo, what happened to Kisshu ? » he asked in an authoritarian way.

She let out a sigh full of remorse.

« He collapsed... he won´t wake up ! she cried. Please, come over. Masaya and I have no idea what to do ! »

HOLY CRAP !

Aoyama !

How could I be dumb enough to forget this guy ?

Purin touched his shoulder.

« Taru-taru, what is it ?

« Wait a second. Ichigo ?

« Ye... yes ?

« I´m coming with Purin right now. I´m calling Pai too. Ok ? »

She didn´t even show curiousity at the mention of her old enemy´s name.

« Make it quick » she just said, and he hung up.

« I´ll tell you everything, Purin, but I have to contact Pai first, he said to his concerned friend. Everything´s gonna be fine. »

I just hope that sounded convincing.