Chapter 7
Betrayal
"He appears to be stable now." Pai commented, closing the lid of the hospital "bed". Ichigo wasn't really sure what to call it. The "bed" was long and lengthy, but a huge black contraption that looked like a coffin. The inside was padded with some sort of memory foam that cocooned and protected the occupant on all sides, like packaging wrap shipping something fragile. The top of the lid was perforated to allow easy access to oxygen, and even had a system that kept the entire inner area sterile. Off to the side where Pai currently sat, was a small, touch screen computer type object. Currently on the screen was a diagram of a male waulrinswi. Like male humans, waulrinswi had a similar build as well as the customary genitalia. Off to the side of this image were monitors for breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
They were all gathered in the medical ward of the ship, another area that had been left out of their tour. It looked like a miniature hospital set up with rows of the coffin-like beds. As well as closets, and dressers that contained medical equipment. Every object in the room contained a magnetic lock so that it was easy to access but would remain shut in case the ship flipped, and of course, the ceiling was an exact mirror of the current floor.
"Tell me what happened again?" Pai asked.
Ichigo sighed, rubbing her hand tenderly over her bruised throat.
"I'm not exactly sure." She repeated for the hundredth time in the past few minutes, "We were sparring, I managed a hit, and he suddenly went crazy. It was the first time…" She swallowed, finishing the sentence in her head, "The first time he tried to kill me."
"First time what?" Tart prompted, his eyes glued to Kish's monitor.
"First time I'd ever seen him like that." Ichigo finished quietly.
"I guess we'll only know when he wakes up and can consciously tell us." Pai concluded.
Ichigo nodded along with the rest of the group, but she had a feeling Kish didn't even know. The scene kept replaying in her head where he suddenly seemed to snap back to reality, to the look of horror on his face when he saw that he had hurt her. No, she highly doubted Kish could supply any answers.
"Well, let's call it a day. I'll go make dinner then it's straight to bed. Until then, I suppose you can do whatever you think of to keep yourselves entertained."
"So I can go into your room?" Pudding snickered.
Pai pursed his lips.
"You can do anything that does not involve going into my room, the control room, or blowing up the ship!" He rephrased.
"Kill joy." Tart muttered, quiet enough so that only Pudding could hear.
Dinner was a quiet affair, this time containing more of the waulrinswi's food, most of which turned out to be surprisingly flavorful despite its questionable appearance, then promptly off to bed. All of them were exhausted from the rigorous training they'd been put through that day, yet, despite the aching in her muscles and her body's desperate plea for sleep, Ichigo couldn't allow herself to drift off dreamlessly. Her mind was too focused on a certain pair of golden eyes. Why had Kish looked so horrorstruck instead of surprised when he had come to? What had been going through his mind?
She kept telling herself that there was no way she could get an answer at the moment and it would be best for her to sleep and think about everything after a good night's rest but she couldn't. She couldn't quell the conveyer belt of questions. After shifting around restlessly for another hour, Ichigo still couldn't will sleep to come. Giving up with a discontented sigh, she pulled the zipper back from her bed and climbed carefully out of the small den. Judging by Berry's steady breathing, she was still fast asleep.
Ichigo crept silently out of the room, inwardly cursing when the motion sensor lights picked up on her movement and flashed on. She paused at the door, but the beds must've done a good job shielding its occupants from light, for Berry didn't stir. Still keeping as silent as a mouse, Ichigo pressed the button for the door and slid out into the hallway.
She stood for a moment as the doors slid closed behind her wondering what she should do. Kish's horrorstruck face flashed across her mind's eye again. She shook her head. It seemed wrong to go and interrogate him. Besides, he'd had a rough day. Ichigo reached up to her neck, touching the bruised area gently. Then again, she'd also had a bad day and as the recipient of most of his attacks, she felt it was high time she deserved an answer.
Making up her mind, Ichigo set off in the direction of the front area. Once she got there she'd be able to find her way to the hospital wing.
Ichigo walked in silence through the winding hallways until she arrived in the area she and Kish had been sitting in the night before. She paused. The book he had been reading was closed resting on the table, along with their two empty mugs. Both of those must've spilled all over the place when the ship flipped yesterday. Her eyes drifted to the bar. Kish was kind enough to make her a drink last night and take the time to comfort her. Perhaps, she should do the same.
Ichigo nodded to herself and walked purposefully behind the bar counter. She found the mugs stored in the back wall in padded foam to keep them from jostling and breaking. She also found an assortment of drink powders in a drawer. The problem was, she couldn't read any of the labels and none of the contents had any pictures or other form of identification for what it was.
Sighing irritably, Ichigo placed the mug on the counter and began rummaging through the contents. She opened one container, inhaling a whiff of a floral-perfume type scent before she closed it and set it aside, reaching for another. This one had a strong citrus scent, but she was looking for the garralanta. She wasn't sure if it was Kish's favorite, but it had been what he was drinking last night.
She continued her search until she found a brown powder that smelled like mint. Pleased with herself, Ichigo scooped a generous amount of the powder into the mug, found what looked like the large ice-cubes Kish had used, and added that to the mug as well. Now she just needed to figure out what he'd used for the hot water.
Ichigo searched through the bar's equivalent of a miniature refrigerator, the cupboards, and even under the sink, but she couldn't find it. Shaking her head in disbelief, she turned on the faucet, which, luckily, was a simple earth style model, and waited for the water to run hot before filling the mug. She found a spoon to stir the drink with, tidied up after herself, then headed to the hospital wing.
She was surprised to find that Kish was up. He sat in the bed, his legs drawn up to his chest with his head in his hands. He hadn't noticed her entrance until she pulled up a chair next to him.
"Hey." She said softly, putting the drink in a cup holder conveniently provided by the bed.
Kish glanced up at her wearily.
"How are you feeling?"
"Lousy." He muttered.
"Well, I did punch you in the face a few times." Ichigo said, chuckling slightly, trying to lighten the mood.
Kish didn't laugh with her.
"Is everyone else ok?" He asked.
"Everyone's fine." She reassured him, "Here, I made this for you." She gestured to the steaming mug.
Kish ignored it.
"Kish," Ichigo sighed softly, reaching out to grip his arm, but he jerked out of her reach, shrinking into himself.
Ichigo pulled her hand back, watching him with a pained expression. There had to be something she could do to help. She hated seeing him like this.
They sat there in silence for a while before Kish finally spoke, his voice barely over a whisper.
"I didn't tell you all of my dreams."
She looked back up, but Kish wasn't looking at her. His arms were still wrapped tightly around his legs, his chin resting on his knees. His golden eyes stared dully at the opposite wall.
Ichigo remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Every night I have the same dream." He began quietly, "It's a lot like the one you had. I'm walking in an unfamiliar landscape, full of greenery and life when suddenly everything becomes quiet. I'm on edge. I feel like something has happened. Something bad.
"Then a scream rips through the silence. I instantly run in that direction, panic over riding all my senses to find the land bathed in blood. Every night it's someone different, but it's always someone I care about. Pai, Tart, you…" He trailed off, "You're all bathed in blood, and so am I. I'm bathed in your blood. I'm covered in it."
Ichigo nodded. He'd told her this.
Kish shook his head. He must've seen her out of the corner of his eyes.
"That's not everything. In your dream, you'd mentioned that you felt that there was something following you, some kind of monster." He drew in a shuddering breath, "I'm that monster. In my dreams, I always wake up after everyone's been ripped apart and I realize that it's their blood on my hands! I was the one that killed them!"
"Kish you are not—," Ichigo began, but he interrupted her, whipping around so that she could see the unshed tears in the corners of his eyes.
"But I am Ichigo!" He cried, "I am that monster!"
"No Kish, you're not." Ichigo said firmly, standing up and gripping his shoulders.
Kish shook his head disbelievingly, tears actually escaping from the corners of his eyes.
"I hurt you." He whispered.
Ichigo blinked, staring blankly at him before he reached out to brush the ever-coloring bruise on her neck, but before he could so much as graze her skin, she unconsciously flinched back, the memory of him choking her still fresh in her memory. Ichigo instantly regretted her action as she watched Kish's face fall.
"It's… It's nothing." Ichigo tried to reassure him, "You weren't yourself."
"Then who was I?" Kish cried, suddenly reaching out and gripping her arm like a frightened child seeking answers. His eyes were shining in desperation, "I don't know what to do anymore." He whimpered, "I'm worried my dreams will become reality! That I will turn into this monster and kill everyone I care about! What is happening to me?"
He searched Ichigo's face, frantically hoping, begging, for her to hold the answers. He looked so lost, so alone, like he was grasping at straws for something that would keep him from falling under.
Ichigo felt her insides crumble as she gazed back at the broken boy. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Kish, I don't know." She whispered.
She might as well have cut his crumbling lifeline with those words. Tears ran thick and fast down the sides of his face. His entire frame racked with sobs as he fell apart before her.
Ichigo slid onto the bed beside him, wrapping her arms around his trembling form and drawing him into her.
He buried his head into her breasts, something she would've sent him flying across the room for had it been any other time. Ichigo held him tightly as he cried away his fears, running her fingers gingerly through his hair.
"We'll figure this out Kish." Ichigo promised him, cradling him tightly, "You're not alone. I'm here for you."
Ichigo held Kish for over an hour as he cried. Eventually his sobs began to cease to quiet sniffles. Ichigo rubbed his back soothingly as he pulled back slightly.
"Sorry." He muttered, a tinge of pink hinting his cheeks.
"Don't worry about it." Ichigo replied.
Kish didn't respond. He seemed incredibly embarrassed that he had cried in front of her, but Ichigo didn't mind. It reminded her that Kish was just as human as she was.
"I really wish I knew what was going on." Kish whimpered.
Ichigo patted his shoulder, "We'll find out." She promised.
Kish nodded, sliding down onto his side and laying down, his head resting on Ichigo's lap. He looked up at her pleadingly, but with heavy eyes.
"Do you mind?" He asked, "I think I might be able to sleep if you're here."
Ichigo shook here head smiling serenely.
"Sleep, you've deserved it. I'll be right here when you wake up." She promised, leaning down and kissing him lightly on the forehead.
Kish smiled sleepily, his muscles visibly relaxing as he closed his eyes.
Ichigo settled back in the bed, her back resting against the lid as she ran her fingers through his hair. It was amazingly soft. She'd have to ask him what he used when he woke up. As it was, Kish had fallen asleep seconds after his eyes had closed, breathing evenly, his breath tickling her thighs.
Ichigo leaned her head back, staring at the ceiling. She would help Kish figure out what was going on no matter what. Kish had helped her when no one else seemed to be able to reach her. This time, she would do the same for him.
She drifted off as well, the mug of garralanta remained untouched in the cup holder beside them.
A fortnight passed. The girls spent every waking hour training or studying every aspect of the planet the waulrinswi knew. As training wore on, it began to focus more on each of the girl's individual talents. Pudding was the best at survival skills. From all her time having to fend for herself and her siblings, she was quickly able to adapt to any environment she was dropped in. She knew how to read the land to find water, distinguish edible foods from the poisonous, quickly assemble and disassemble shelters as well as efficiently being able to whip up a fire with just about any materials she was given. Pudding had also developed her offensive skills. While she was never actually capable of dealing a detrimental blow, she was quick and light on her feet, making her the perfect distraction. She and Tart had begun to use this to their advantage to play pranks on Pai to pass the time. Ichigo had awoken on more than one occasion to Pai screaming and cursing at them so loud it had reverberated off the walls of the ship.
Mint had worked on sharpening her skills with the bow and arrow. Out of all of them, she was the only one able to move on from stationary targets. She quickly progressed to mobile targets, being able to take down over ten in under a minute. Pai, pleased with her progress, had begun training her to shoot relying on one sense at a time. One day he would have her blindfolded, training her to rely on hearing alone in order to pinpoint a target, the next she would have in earplugs, relying on her eyes only. While it had been hard for Mint to adjust at first, she'd quickly been able to take it in her stride and could even be found at times practicing on her own.
For Zakuro, it had taken a little while to draw out her latent talent. As it turned out, the eldest Mew was extremely accomplished at martial art. Unlike most of them, she could switch easily between offense and defense, and had enough force behind her punches and kicks to total whatever came her way. Her skills with her whip had also developed. It became an extension of her body. She'd learned to use the weapon to hinder an opponent while taking out another, use it to change a landscape, disrupt another's movements, and as a shield, giving her a three hundred sixty degree circumference of protection to recuperate.
Berry, who'd never dreamed she'd have the opportunity to practice medicine until nursing school, quickly took to memorizing natural herbs and their medical uses. A few of the plants the waulrinswi had discovered on the new planet could be mashed up into a natural salve that could used to treat minor burns and cuts. Another plant, that apparently grew well over their heads and was as thick and tough as a yucca bush, when wetted down, could be used like casting material to set broken limbs when it dried. As they drew nearer to their destination, Berry began packing a small bag full of medical supplies from the ship claiming that they wouldn't know what they needed when they landed. Ichigo didn't argue. She was just glad one of them wasn't terrified of the sight of blood or mangled limbs. Since her dreams, which had begun to increase in intensity, she couldn't even stomach the thought of it.
Lettuce had also been another mystery. She wasn't strong in physical combat, and despite being highly book smart, she didn't show any promise in being able to memorize safe foods or practice medicine like Berry. Her skills did become apparent after a week of training. She had been in her Mew form with her water clickity-clacks during combat training. A cooler of water sat in the corner for refreshment purposes. Lettuce had been trying to hold off a barrage of attacks from Tart when the cooler had exploded and the water inside had rushed to her aid sending the smaller alien hurling into the opposite wall. The water had then returned to surround her like a protective shadow as she stood up shakily. The water shrunk and expanded with every breath she took, seeming to follow every silent command she gave. Similar to how Tart could control and manipulate plants, Pai paired the two of them up again, hoping that some of the concepts for controlling their elements would be similar. It turned out they weren't. While Tart's power was more telekinetic, allowing him to exert his will over the inanimate objects from a center of control, his mind, Lettuce's did not. Water was a free flowing element that could only be controlled by a variety of forces. Certain stances and movements in one direction would control the water to do one thing while there was an entirely different set of stances and movements to perform another. Lettuce's emotions also played a key role in how forceful the water behaved. However, because of her meek and quiet personality, it took another week for her to actually be able to assert her control over the element. Therefore, Lettuce spent long hours after the others had left learning how to work with her newfound power through trial and error since she didn't have a teacher. Other than that, she could be found in the library, studying the waulrinswi's books because she was trying to learn their language before they landed.
Ichigo's combat style had also changed. While, like Zakuro, she was good at going between offence and defense, she had found that she was good at reading an opponent, formulating a plan, and taking down an opponent based on their weaknesses. Her fight style had to be adjusted, however, because of her change in weapon. During a combat training session, the same one Lettuce had discovered her new power, Pai asked her to transform and bring out her weapon. Ichigo had transformed into her Mew persona and attempted to summon the Strawberry Bell, only to discover she had the same beautiful katana that had appeared when Kish had attacked her. Everyone was at a loss to explain why her weapon had suddenly changed, but it had hindered her training in the beginning. Ichigo had been used to fighting with a smaller weapon that she could keep close to herself when flipping, diving, or avoiding. The katana didn't allow her to do this. It was long, just about half her height, and dangerously sharp, though it was hard for her to accept that something so beautiful could be so deadly. She had to learn how to slash and parry with it like it was an extension of her body. The adjustment had been difficult and strenuous, especially since Pai was the one training her, not to mention he didn't seem to have an ounce of the patience he showed Lettuce when working with her. She wished she could've worked with Kish. Kish, though annoying and overbearing at times was an extremely good teacher, helping her work through things slowly and approaching from different angles when the situation called for it. However, Kish had been dismissed from training since his incident. Kish had not been pleased with this decision, but he didn't argue. Though he wouldn't say, Ichigo knew he was afraid of losing control and hurting someone else.
Ichigo and Kish had been working on the mystery of his change long after everyone else had gone to bed. Since neither of them could sleep very well without their dreams being plagued by nightmares, they focused on trying to solve the riddle behind them. They had begun by drawing up a diagram to compare their dreams side by side. Like Kish had said, the only main difference between their dreams was the angle and perception of their dream as well as those they tended to find dead. Ichigo had then begun interrogating him about his scouting mission, which proved to be little help since Kish could hardly recall anything except for a few disjointed flashes of memory here and there. They took note of the small details anyway, figuring every little bit could help.
"Ok, so you remember your team taking samples, running, what we would call pH tests, and heading back to base, correct?" Ichigo confirmed, jotting it down on a list of notes as she and Kish sat in the entrance room with a touch screen, hologram device.
"Pretty much." Kish replied.
"But you also recalled the fear I experience in my dreams." Ichigo noted, scanning over their notes.
"It sounded familiar." Kish agreed.
"Hmm, I wonder…" Ichigo muttered to herself as she brought up a blank page. It was scary how homologous the system was to a computer. She picked up a stylist and began to draw to the best of her ability, which, unfortunately, looked like a third grader's attempt.
"What's that supposed to be?" Kish questioned, peering over her shoulder.
"You're eyes." Ichigo answered, distracted as she focused on the drawing.
"What?" Kish exclaimed, sounding affronted, "My eyes are much sexier looking than that! You're drawing skills suck!" He immediately dodged the cup she sent flying his way, catching it before it shattered on the floor.
"Any way," Ichigo growled through ground teeth, "This is how your eyes looked when you… well, when you attacked me."
Kish's joking manner immediately melted. He placed the cup on the table, leaning closer to her to get a better look. Though her drawings were somewhat abstract in appearance, he immediately understood what she was trying to convey. His pupils, though normally thin and feline-like were thin as slits and seemed to radiate hatred. He never thought he could look that way. Especially not towards Ichigo.
Ichigo felt him begin to recoil next to her and grabbed his arm. She needed him to stay focused.
"Have you ever seen your eyes like this?" She asked him.
He shook his head.
"No, I've never…" He suddenly fell silent as a dawning look fell over him, "No, I have…" He muttered, taking the stylist from her, "but it wasn't my eyes." He made to draw, but paused, shuddering.
Ichigo waited expectantly, but after a few minutes had passed, Kish was still staring at the screen.
"What's wrong?" She asked him.
Kish shook his head, "I can't draw it. One minute I can picture it and the next it's like trying to cup water. It just slides right though my hands."
"Don't push yourself." She consoled him.
He set down the stylist.
"I'm not, I just want to know what's happening to me." He grunted.
"We'll find out." Ichigo promised, lacing her fingers through his as he had begun to clench his fists. She didn't know why, but the action of just holding her hand, or being near her seemed to console him when nothing else could.
Kish sighed, trying to release his pent up anxieties.
"Have you had any more nightmares?" He asked.
"Same dream every night." Ichigo replied bitterly, "You?"
"Same."
Ichigo bit her lip, "But I get this sense of foreboding the closer we get. It's like a premonition or a warning."
"Yeah, I've had a really bad feeling too." He replied.
Ichigo nodded, not voicing how she was dying to just ask them to turn the ship around so she could go back to her own home. She missed her parents, Yuki, and Momo. Were they mad at her for her sudden disappearance? Maybe even worried sick. Ichigo still wondered how her parents had received her letter. She hoped they were accepting of who she was and would welcome her back with open arms, assuming she lived…
"Kitty Cat, what's wrong?" Kish asked, tilting her chin up so she was looking at him straight in the face.
"N-nothing really! Sorry, just spaced out!" Ichigo exclaimed, trying to laugh off her anxieties.
"Are you worried about something?" Kish asked, not falling for her falsely cheery voice.
"No, no, I'm perfectly fine." She lied.
He looked at her sternly.
"Ichigo, Masaya died a little over four weeks ago. You were then suddenly whisked away by your former enemies to help them fight off an unknown adversary, a fight you're not even sure you'll come back from."
Ichigo took her hand out of his, glaring at him.
"Thanks for summing that up." She huffed, folding her arms, "I'm feeling just peachy now, thanks."
"Ichigo, it's ok to be afraid." Kish told her.
"I'm not afraid. I led us onto this mission. I will see that it is carried out." She replied.
"Do you miss your parents?"
Ichigo froze, her heart skipping a beat. She did miss her parents. Especially her mom, who she felt she was starting to become very close to since Masaya died.
Kish nodded knowingly.
"Just be glad they're still alive." He told her, "My parents died when I was very young."
Ichigo looked at him sympathetically.
"I'm sorry." She murmured.
"Don't be." Kish replied, "It was a long time ago."
They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a little while, Ichigo mulling over what to say in her head. She wanted to know more about Kish, about his childhood, his parents, his friends, his life. She wanted to know everything. She was just about to open her mouth to ask when a deafening scream and an explosion interrupted the silence. The entire ship rocked as if it had been hit, nearly sending Ichigo tumbling into the coffee table if Kish hadn't caught her.
"What was that?" She gasped as more shrieks and shouts came from the upper quarters of the ship.
Kish shook his head in bewilderment.
Ichigo pulled herself out of Kish's arms and hightailed it for the stairs, taking tow at a time, Kish flying behind her. They raced through the winding halls, following the sounds of screaming and shouting.
"YOU INSOLENT BASTARD!" A shrill voice shrieked.
Ichigo and Kish rounded the corner and stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes wide.
Water was flying out of the walls, slamming with the force of a tycoon into a beaten and battered looking Pai. Lettuce was shrieking at the top of her lungs, her face purpled in rage, fists clenched around her weapons.
"YOU LIED! YOU FUCKING LIED!" She screamed, thrusting a fist forward, sending a wave of water crashing into the downed waulrinswi.
"Lettuce, what are you doing?" Ichigo exclaimed, jumping into the fray. She grabbed Lettuce's wrists, doing her best to restrain the enraged girl as Kish rushed to Pai's aid.
"NO!" She shrieked, shaking Ichigo off of her and sending another blast of water into Pai's gut. He gasped and collapsed against the wall.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kish yelled, bending down to assist his brother.
"What am I doing?" Lettuce repeated looking thunderous as the rest of the Mews and Tart rushed into the hallway. The water around her began bubbling as it reacted to her rising anger; "I think the better question is what you swine really brought us here for!"
Ichigo stared. She had never seen Lettuce this angry; actually, in general, Lettuce was never angry. But observing her now, the usual meek and quiet girl was shaking with barely supressed rage. Ichigo was also startled to find that tears were staining her cheeks.
"What are you going on about?" Tart demanded, flying across the hall to stand protectively in front of Pai and Kish.
Glaring murderously, Lettuce reached up to her right ear and pulled out a small, hearing aid looking device.
Pai's eyes widened.
She tossed it to Kish, who caught it easily.
"Play back the recording." She snarled.
"Lettuce, what is that?" Zakuro asked, breaking the tense silence.
"It's a language translator." Lettuce replied, her eyes never leaving Pai. She might as well have just been speaking with him, "I found it in the library while I was trying to learn your language. It goes into your ear and instantly sends electrical signals to the brain to translate any language your brain doesn't recognize. Bet you regret I found this don't you?"
Pai didn't reply, glaring coldly at Lettuce.
Kish turned the translator over in his hands and pressed a miniscule button on the side before twirling a ring on the outer circumference.
"How far are you out?" A gravely voice spoke through the translator, as loud and clear as if the speaker on the other end was present in the room.
"Three days at most." Pai's tired voice replied.
"The sacrifices?"
The recording went silent, as Pai seemed to wait to respond.
"They don't know a thing." He finally replied, an edge to his voice.
"You're doing the right thing by bringing the Mews. The power in their veins will be our salvation."
That was when there was an enraged scream, the sound of all hell breaking loose, and the recording ended.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the device in Kish's palm, even Kish and Tart. Pai was glaring at the floor looking ashamed.
"We weren't brought here to help you," Mint began quietly.
"No," Lettuce interrupted, "we were brought here to die for them so they could run away like cowards with their tails tucked between their legs."
"SHUT UP!" Pai yelled, his fists clenched and trembling at his sides, "YOU KNOW NOTHING!"
"ENLIGHTEN ME!" Lettuce shrieked in response, firing up at once, "WHAT PART OF WE'RE THE SACRIFICES DO I NOT GET? WHAT THE FUCK AM I NOT UNDERSTANDING?"
Pai opened his mouth to retort when a fist suddenly slammed into the side of his head sending him careening into the wall.
"HOW COULD YOU!" Kish yelled, "THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS! THEY GAVE UP EVERYTHING TO COME HELP US AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY THEM?"
"Don't act like you don't know!" Lettuce laughed derisively.
Ichigo flinched. Hearing Lettuce, that cruel edge in her voice was positively terrifying.
"We didn't!" Tart defended.
Kish ignored them, leaping upon Pai, who was trying to pick himself up, and striking at every bit of exposed skin he could reach.
"YOU BETRAYED THEM! YOU BETRAYED ALL OF US!" Kish shrieked, punching Pai square in the face. Blood poured from Pai's nose and ears, his face bruising from all the blows he had taken. He caught Kish's next punch, flipping him over onto his back.
"I'M SAVING US!" He roared.
"How the hell do you make that out?" Lettuce demanded.
Pai whirled around, glaring murderously at Lettuce.
"You don't get it do you?" He spat, "I will do whatever it takes to protect my family, even if it means killing you!"
The hallway fell into a stunned silence. Everyone was staring at Pai as if he'd grown a second head. The eldest waulrinswi had a family?
"I didn't want to do this, Kish, believe me." He pleaded, extending a hand and helping Kish to his feet, "but there was no way I could stand by and do nothing! Not if there was a slim chance I could end this nightmare for Arnes and the kids!"
"How does that—?" Kish began, but Pai cut him off.
"All the ships have been destroyed except this one Kish! And you and I both know this one can't hold everyone! There's no chance of getting off that wretched planet unless we invoke the power of the spirits! And for something this big you know there's only one way to do that! Sensana saw—,"
"I don't care what Sensana saw!" Kish interrupted, "This is where you're getting your news from? She's been wrong before! Who's to say she's not wrong now?"
Pai shook his head despairingly, gazing at Kish as if he was trying to explain a simple problem to a dense child.
"Our people are dying everyday Kish. What if it's Arnes or one of my kids next? I…" He buried his head in his hands, pulling at his hair, "I need to save them!" He looked more helpless than Ichigo had ever dreamed possible. She almost felt bad for him, had it not been for the sinking feeling in her stomach as time seemed to stop. She was never going home. She was never going to see her parents or her friends again. In fact, in three days time she would be dead. None of them knew how to operate the ship. They had no chance of mutiny. She felt tears beginning to pool in the corners of her eyes. She'd never gotten to even say goodbye, and worst of all she had led her fellow Mews to death's door. How could she have been so stupid? Pai had never liked any of them and even pointed out all the fallacies of their fighting to Ryou. They weren't needed for any sort of rescue mission. How could she have kidded herself to believe that seasoned warriors needed the help of six accidents?
As if she couldn't feel any worse, a quiet voice spoke up from the other side of the hallway.
"Then what about my family?" Pudding asked.
Ichigo felt her gut wrench at the sound of hopelessness and despair in the young girl's voice. Gulping, she looked down the hall, past the groups of waulrinswi and Lettuce, to the group of girls. Berry stood with her arms around Pudding, who was clutching onto her middle, her large brown eyes wet with tears.
"I'm the only one taking care of them! What are they going to do if I die? They don't know how to take care of themselves!" Pudding cried, "Please! Pai! In light of your situation, you of all people should understand!"
Ichigo felt tears escape from the corners of her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Pai chocked, fighting back his own tears.
"Please let us go back home!" Pudding begged, tears cascading like waterfalls down her cheeks, "They need me!"
"I'm so sorry." Pai repeated, tears now freely flowing down the length of his cheeks, "But we need you more."
Before any of them could react, Pai stretched out his hand, his fan shimmering into existence. With a flick of his wrist, lightening shot of the air, striking each of the girls to the ground.
Ichigo fell back with a cry of surprise as darkness danced at the edges of her vision. What had he done to them?
"I truly am sorry." She heard Pai repeat again before darkness consumed her.
Yay! My editor stopped watching Supernatural to edit! There were only minor changes, so don't worry about having to reread. Just mostly punctuation and grammar errors. Thanks Hisoka1021!
Also, I've had a lot of people who were guests on here that I can't reply to their comments. So, for those who have commented as guests, here's some answers.
I got asked by one if I had considered becoming an author. I have posted on my profile page that I've been working on a novel. However, author would probably be a side career because I have a greater interest in the medical field.
Another question, I just read from a review today, was why I needed an editor. I know this isn't a novel, and I know I'm not trying to sell it, and that there's probably still errors even after going through an editor. My reason is because I don't want to subject my readers to a poor quality story. I want to make my stories close to, or even on par with actual novels.
Thanks to all who review! I love hearing your feed back!