Chapter 11
The Legend
"I still don't understand what they are." Ichigo stated, starting to feel like she was missing something big.
"The Waesf Aleurs," Kish began, "Oh where do I start?" He ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
"The last Waesf Aleur was seen over ten thousand years ago." Sensana supplied, her blind eyes strangely focused on Ichigo, "According to the legends, they are a rare breed of predator, with cognitive skills that nearly outmatch every species. They learn at a rapid rate, and kill at an even faster one."
"If they're so smart, why'd they go extinct?" Ichigo interjected.
"No one knows." Kish replied, "No one knows anything about them really. From what we know of the legends, one day they just disappeared."
"And there's been no fossil evidence or any trace of them?"
"None."
"Then how are you supposed to fight something you don't know anything about?"
"You don't." Sensana replied, "When the odds are not in your favor you do the natural thing and flee, but the enemy has destroyed every means of escape. Our ships are gone, and the materials used to rebuild them completely demolished. There is only one way."
Ichigo felt something snap in her as white-hot anger pushed her from the bed, throwing her moss coverings into Kish's face.
"Are you deaf as well as blind?" Ichigo roared, stomping around the bed until she was directly in Sensana's face, "We are not going to be your blood sacrifices and I'm taking everyone home!"
"Um, Ichigo…" Kish tried.
"You have no right to keep us here! So if you know what's good for you you'll let the other Mews go now!" She continued to shriek into Sensana's face. The woman was making her blood boil. She hadn't even reacted to Ichigo being within such close proximity to her, nor did she even let on that she was listening to her at all. Ichigo balled her fists at her side, trying to control the urge to punch the living daylights out of the impassive seer before her.
"Ichigo." Kish said again.
"What?" Ichigo snapped, turning around. His face was bright red and he looked like he had the beginning of a nosebleed, "You might want to cover up." He finished, blushing even more deeply.
Ichigo blinked before glancing down. Aside from the dressing on her shoulder and ribs, she was completely nude. She blinked once more before flushing a deep crimson and giving a hair raising shriek as she grabbed at the moss, trying to cover herself.
"Why am I naked?" she yelled, the moss sliding through her fingers.
Something soft and light was draped over her shoulders. Ichigo instantly grasped at the ends and pulled it tightly around herself, thankful that the article covered completely.
"My apologies." Arnes spoke, "It is easier as a healer to work without the restriction of clothing. However, your clothes were caked in blood. We had to cut them off of you in order to treat your injuries. I hope you'll forgive me."
"Er, yes, of course. You did what you had to." Ichigo replied automatically, bowing a little as she pulled the blanket like material around her. It was soft and plush and it radiated heat as if it had been next to a fire all afternoon.
Arnes helped her settle back in the bed, working around her as she continued to grasp the blanket tightly, a feat that proved rather difficult with climbing back onto the moss and settling back down.
"Even if we were to let you go, how do you intend to get back home?" Sensana finally spoke.
Ichigo's back stiffened as she glared at the seer.
"All the ships have been destroyed. The last working one fell apart upon your arrival, and even if there were a ship, you'd have no idea how to operate it, or even navigate it back to Earth. So, Mew Ichigo, I will ask again. How do you intend to get back home?"
"I don't know, but mark my words we will find a way." Ichigo responded coldly.
"I look forward to it." Sensana smirked, "Genri, please have armed guards escorting Mew Ichigo everywhere. It wouldn't do to have our most precious sacrifice escape."
"It will be done Lady Sensana." Genri confirmed, then proceeded to give the order to Frikr to carry out.
"Good." And with that Sensana turned on her heel and left the room, seemingly having no problem finding her way about.
"I can't believe you're so middle-aged as to believe in blood sacrifices!" Ichigo snarled, rounding on Genri.
"Believe me when I tell you it's not my cup of tea." He responded smoothly, walking up to her. He raised a hand, instantly causing Ichigo to flinch backwards.
"Don't touch her!" Kish snarled, leaping onto the hospital bed, just to wrench Genri's hand away.
Irritation snapped across Genri's face. He swiftly ripped his wrist out of Kish's grasp and in the next instant backhanded Kish so hard that he was thrown backwards off the bed, landing in a heap with an angry red mark welling up on the side of his face.
"Kish!" Ichigo and Arnes cried.
"Know your place." Genri snarled in Kish's direction. The younger waulrinswi merely glared daggers at him as he returned to his feet.
"Hmph." Genri scoffed, turning his attention back to Ichigo, "Mew Ichigo, I am only doing what I believe is best for the waulrinswi. You've seen this creature up close, and you've bravely fought against it at great personal risk to yourself and others. If you were in my position, how could you justify to the mothers of our warriors sending them into combat with a creature like that? Please realize that none of us wanted things to end this way."
"That's bullshit!" Kish yelled, stomping back over to them.
"You insolent—!"
"He's right." Ichigo snapped her face set in a hard line of determination, "Here's what's going to happen. You're going to let the rest of the girls go, and we're going to destroy the waffle allures—,"
"Waesf Aleurs before the winter solstice. We will complete the job we originally set out to do."
Genri blinked in surprise for a few moments before a genuine smile graced his features.
"I wish you the best of luck." He stated, before inclining his head to Ichigo, and following Sensana out, Frikr at his heels.
"That guy is such a bastard." Kish seethed, sitting back down with a heavy thump as Arnes helped Ichigo climb back into the bed.
"You were extremely rude Kish." Arnes admonished him, tucking the blanket some more around Ichigo, then covering her back up with the moss.
"Are you ok?" Ichigo asked worriedly, eyeing the angry red mark left on his cheek.
"I'm fine." Kish replied shortly, "More importantly, we need to devise a way to get you and everyone else out of here."
"No, more importantly," Ichigo turned to glare at Arnes, "How can you stand there placidly and allow five people you don't even know to be sacrificed like lambs?"
"Ichigo—," Kish began.
"No! I'm curious! For someone as caring and sweet as you seem to be, how can you justify this?"
Arnes' eyes dropped as her hands twisted in the fabric of her skirt.
"Because I didn't know." Arnes answered softly.
"How could you not have known? You just stood there silently while that bitch told us the entire reason we're here!"
"…It does explain a lot…"
Ichigo glared at her, telling her with her silence to continue.
Arnes let out a long breath. Reaching behind her, she grabbed a small chair and slid it over, seating herself in it.
"I know we have just met, Mew Ichigo—,"
"—Just Ichigo is fine."
"—Ichigo, but I knew nothing of these "sacrifices." I'm just a healer."
"Genri seemed rather favorable of you." Ichigo pointed out.
"Yes, I was quite surprised that Lord Adatiane even knew me…"
"Oh!" Kish exclaimed, slamming a fist into his palm, "I think I'm starting to understand!"
"Understand?" Ichigo repeated, "Understand what?"
But Kish ignored her instead addressing Arnes.
"Did Pai ever seem off?"
"I don't think so." Arnes answered slowly, "He always picked up the kids when he was done at work, helped me make dinner, and…"
Ichigo was silent, watching Arnes as something seemed to dawn on her.
"No… he was more reserved and closed off. Then he left with you and Tart" –Ichigo felt a pang go through her chest at the younger's name—"Then when he returned he was hysterical… He burst through the door as soon as he got back, calling out for me. He sounded so… desperate… I wasn't sure why. He kept asking if the kids and I were alright…"
"I see." Kish sighed.
"See what?" Ichigo asked, though she had a sinking feeling they were sharing the same train of thought.
"Well, I might be going out on a limb here, but I think this will explain everything. Arnes, even on the ship Pai was more closed off and reserved than usual. Out of the three of us, he was the only one told the true reason behind this mission. My guess is that he initially refused, so Genri forced his hand. If Pai didn't complete the mission, I think they were going to do something to you and the kids."
Arnes' large brown eyes widened, her mouth opening into a silent gasp of horror. She stated at Kish for a moment before slowly shaking her head in denial.
"No…no… Lord Adatiane would never do that! He's a fair and just ruler who cares for the wellbeing and survival of his citizens!"
"But Pai would never harm Lettuce." Ichigo said softly.
Kish nodded in agreement.
"This can't be." Arnes repeated, a little more loudly but she sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.
"It is." Kish said solemnly, "and I think we all know it."
But Arnes shook her head.
"No…" She repeated, her entire form trembling, "I have to believe that Lord Adatiane has our best interests at heart. I have to! If we can't trust our rulers to save us then who can we trust?"
Ichigo fisted her hands in the moss coverings. She didn't have an answer.
"You can start by trusting us." Kish answered softly.
Ichigo and Arnes both looked at him.
"Arnes, I haven't told Pai, and now I'll never be able to tell Tart, but I've gained these abilities. I'm not sure how or why, but they allowed me to fight on par with that Waesf Aleur. If I can harness those abilities, and with the help of the Mews, we may actually be able to defeat them."
Ichigo gulped, vividly recalling the battle scene where she had been able to do nothing more than be thrown around like a ragdoll. She had sounded so confident when she claimed that her and the Mews would destroy the Waesf Aleurs, but looking back, she was beginning to have doubts. Kish had single-handedly taken down that creature, not her. All she had provided was suitable distraction, and she had barely survived the experience. How could she possibly survive going against more?
Arnes seemed to be equally as doubtful.
"But Kish," she said, "you're just one waulrinswi."
"Yeah, but I'm one damn sexy one." Kish grinned cheekily.
Ichigo cracked a smile, but Arnes was still gripping her skirts.
"Why don't you go home to Pai and the kids?" Kish suggested softly.
"No, I need to make sure Ichigo's ok." Arnes replied flatly.
"I'm fine." Ichigo replied.
"No, I don't trust this one to not jump you in your sleep."
"I'm not going to jump her in her sleep!" Kish cried indignantly, though a deep blush dusted his cheeks.
"Right." Arnes agreed sarcastically, "Well, before I do anything else, Ichigo, how about I find you some clothes?"
"I'd appreciate that." Ichigo replied, pulling the blanket tighter around herself, now keenly aware of Kish's lecherous eyes.
"I'll be right back." Arnes said softly, "Don't do anything." She directed sternly at Kish.
"I'm not going to!" Kish yelled after her.
Ichigo felt his eyes return to her.
"Are you doing ok?" He asked.
"I'm sore and I'm scared." Ichigo answered honestly.
"Me too." Kish admitted, "But I promise I won't let anything happen to you." He reached towards her, but Ichigo batted his hand away.
"I don't need empty assurances Kish. Like I told Genri, we will complete what we came here to do. We will destroy the Waesf Aleurs, but…" She trailed off with a sigh.
"—But?"
"I don't even know where to begin. We don't know anything about them."
"Neither do we." Kish sighed, but Ichigo shook her head before turning her head to meet his eyes.
"There's something you do know. Tell me the legends."
"I don't know Ichigo." Kish began uncomfortably, "You're in the Healer's Wing. Maybe you should rest first."
"Now is as good a time as any." Ichigo argued.
"The legends aren't exactly pretty." Kish grimaced.
"I was able to work that part out for myself thanks."
"Ichigo, I really don't think now is the time—,"
"Kish, I just held Berry in my arms while she died because of that monster! When is a good time? When it's Mint? Lettuce? Pudding? Zakuro? I need to know what we're up against!" Ichigo cried, fresh tears peeking out of the corners of her eyes.
Kish reached forward silently and grabbed her hand. He brushed the pad of his thumb over the scraped and scarred surface before entwining his fingers with hers.
"It's not something any of us waulrinswi like to talk about." He said softly, not meeting her eyes, "But when I was really young, our mother used to tell us the legend of the Waesf Aleurs. Over ten thousand years ago, our people spoke of the Waesf Aleur. Not much was said about them other than that they were shadow killers. For a long time our people even feared the night. It was impossible to tell if a shadow was just a mere shadow or the last thing you'd ever see. Any way, these things were said to be extremely adaptable, hunting our kind to any environment. Deserts, forests, tundra, you name it. The strange thing is though, one day they just disappeared."
"How?" Ichigo interrupted. It didn't make sense. How could such a successful predator just disappear?
"No one knows." Kish replied, "No one has even seen one until today."
"And none of the old legends hold any hints?"
"I vaguely remember something about a cavern."
"A cavern?"
"Yeah, but it never made much sense to me so I never paid much attention." Kish answered honestly.
"Cavern…" Ichigo mused, mulling over the word in her brain in a desperate attempt to find the connection. Unsurprisingly, she was drawing a blank.
"What do the legends mention about a cavern?"
Kish thought for a moment before replying, 'I think something about them being birthed or rising from a cavern."
"So they're born in some sort of cave?"
Kish shrugged, "Possibly."
The soft padding of footsteps on the stone floor interrupted them. They looked up to see Arnes returning with a neat pile of folded clothing carried in her arms.
"I found a few articles of clothing to give you to try on." Arnes said when she reached them, setting the pile down in Ichigo's lap, "Would you like to try them on?"
Ichigo nodded wordlessly.
"Alright, Kish, please leave us for a minute."
Kish looked like he was about to protest, but then just nodded, got up, and started walking away.
"Don't you dare peek!" Arnes shouted after him.
Kish waved back at her lazily, "Don't worry, I already got to see her naked today."
Ichigo's face turned beet red. She grabbed a fist full of moss and chucked it after him, ignoring the pain from her broken rib. She completely missed, sending Kish into peals of laughter.
"The nerve of him." Ichigo fumed as Arnes stifled a laugh.
"Indeed, you have quite an arm. Do you need any help getting up?"
"No, I think I'm fine. I was able to get in Sensana's face earlier any way."
"Fueled by emotion, yes, but your body is still healing."
"I'm fine." Ichigo said again, setting the clothes off to one side then swinging her legs over the other.
Arnes hovered over her like a mother hen as her toes brushed the floor. Weird, she hadn't noticed how warm a stone floor could be.
Being careful not to jostle her rib and shoulder, Ichigo slowly pushed herself to her feet. She gasped in pain as her ankle protested against the sudden weight.
"Told you." Arnes chided, catching her and helping her sit back down.
"It wasn't that painful earlier." Ichigo protested bitterly.
"You may have agitated it again when you were standing on it."
Ichigo didn't reply as Arnes slid the blanket from her shoulders. She reached over, unfolding the first piece of clothing, a simple brown shirt.
"Lift your arms a little, if you can." Arnes instructed.
Ichigo did as she was told, expecting her shoulder to be the worst since it had shattered, but to her surprise, it only felt stiff. Arnes guided her arms through the long sleeves, being extra careful as she pulled it over her left shoulder. Gently, Arnes then guided her head through the hole at the top.
"Do you not have bras here?" Ichigo asked.
"Have what?"
"Bras?"
Arnes merely continued to look confused.
"It's an article of clothing that um, supports breasts." Ichigo explained uncomfortably.
"That sounds uncomfortable." Arnes replied.
"I'll take that as you don't." Ichigo sighed.
"It would help healing if you don't have anything obscuring your ribs."
"What about the bandages?"
"They're removable."
"So are bras."
"They are?"
An awkward silence fell between the two of them.
"I can try to find something that'll work if it will make you feel better." Arnes offered.
"Can we just use extra bandaging when we rewrap my ribs?" Ichigo suggested.
"Yes, I can do that." Arnes nodded.
"Ok." Ichigo reached behind herself, grabbing the rest of the pile and setting it next to her.
Arnes lifted the next article of clothing, a small pair of faded, drawstring, blue pants. She knelt down carefully before Ichigo, starting with her bad ankle, she gently slipped her foot and ankle through one of the pant legs, did the same with the other, then passed the waist-line up to Ichigo to finish pulling the pants up. Ichigo struggled a bit, but was able to pull the clothing over her hips, then tying the drawstring so that the pants fit snuggly over her slender hips.
"What's the rest?" Ichigo inquired.
"A cloak." Arnes replied, unfolding the last article. It was a simple brown piece that looked long enough to brush her ankles with a small clasp to hold it together. Arnes refolded the cloak and set it back on the bed, "You won't need it right now, but I figured, if you get cold…"
Ichigo nodded.
"Would you mind lying back? I'd like to relook at your ankle."
Ichigo nodded again, gingerly lifting her legs back up onto the bed, and using her good shoulder to lower herself back down. She hissed in pain as everything immediately began to hurt anew.
Arnes' gentle fingers brushed her pant leg back and her cool palms rested against the inflamed area of her ankle. Ichigo glanced over at her as Arnes closed her eyes, her hands glowing.
"Yes, you definitely agitated it." Arnes murmured, though Ichigo couldn't tell if she was talking to herself or to her, "Ok, it's going to be unbearably hot for a minute, but stick with me." She instructed.
Ichigo felt her ankle heat up, followed by an odd sensation that felt like her muscles and tendons were being extended and flexed before settling. Ichigo gasped at the sudden heat. It felt like heated metal was being pushed in and out of every tissue. Ichigo's gasp turned into a drawn out whimper as the heat only intensified, but then it was gone.
Ichigo sighed, bringing up her good arm to wipe her brow.
"Ok, try flexing and extending on your own."
Ichigo lifted her leg, twirling her ankle. To her amazement, her ankle didn't hurt at all.
"How?" She asked in amazement.
"My special ability." Arnes smiled, shifting her weight slightly, "How's your shoulder?"
"It only feels stiff." Ichigo replied.
"That's great!" Arnes exclaimed, a broad smile gracing her kind features.
"What did you do?"
"It was the first thing I worked on. It was badly shattered so I spent hours piecing the bone back together. I think I was able to get everything, but it's still weak. Now it's up to your puroissuem—."
"My what?" Ichigo interrupted.
"Puroissuem, it's our word for the connective tissue membrane that covers your bones. Do you have another word for it on Earth?"
"I wouldn't know. I don't know anatomy." Ichigo replied sheepishly. She wished Berry were here. Berry probably would've known what Arnes was talking about…
"Oh, ok, well, it's this tissue on your bone that will develop into shulnsufrerdr and urdaufrerdr, which will help rebuild the bone. With daily treatments I can try to speed this process up, but as you experienced with your ankle, it can be painful."
"Do it." Ichigo said immediately, though she didn't understand any of the terminology Arnes had just used.
"What will be best for it is just rest." Arnes interjected.
"I don't have time." Ichigo sighed, "I need to destroy the Waesf Aleurs, rescue the other Mews, and get everyone back home to earth safely."
"Ichigo…" Arnes began.
"What do you know about the Waesf Aleurs?" Ichigo interrupted.
"Just the legend." Arnes replied, allowing the swift change in conversation.
"What do you know about a cavern?"
"Have you talked about this with Kish?"
"Yeah, but he didn't say much."
"We don't know much." Arnes said apologetically.
"Do you remember anything about a cavern? Kish mentioned remembering something about a cavern."
"Not from the legends specifically. I remember hearing about a cavern from an old family prayer though."
"Prayer?" Ichigo repeated.
"I don't think it will give you anything to go off of though."
"May I hear it?" Ichigo interjected.
Arnes sat down next to her on the edge of the bed, brushing her bangs out of her face.
"To the Gods,
To our ancestors,
To the spirits that watch over us,
Please hear my prayer.
Keep the beast within its cavern.
Protect innocents with your divine guidance.
Keep it away.
We humbly beseech you.
Allow our future generations to grow older,
To live under the warmth of the sun.
Keep it away,
Locked within its cavern.
Oh please keep it away
The Waesf Aleurs."
Ichigo sat quietly for a moment, trying to mull over the words in her head. Arnes was right. She really hadn't gleamed any new information from it.
"Can you repeat it?" She asked any way.
Arnes repeated the prayer.
"You say locked within its cavern. Is that possible?" She asked after listening for a second time.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know. A cavern could mean a lot of things, a cave, a cell…"
"Why is that an old family prayer?"
"It's been passed down for generations. My mother said it over my bed every night as my grandmother did for her and so on." Arnes replied.
"Do you say it over your kids' beds?"
"Every night."
"But why? If what everyone is saying is true, the Waesf Aleurs haven't been seen for over ten thousand years. Why pray for protection against something that presumably posed no threat?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure." Arnes sighed, "But ever since coming here, I feel like it's the only prayer I know to ask for the safety of my family. Tradition dies hard I suppose. Hearing the prayer used to make me feel safe, like a higher power would make sure I woke up to see the next day. I just wanted that for my kids as well."
"Are you dressed yet?" Kish called.
"Yes Kish!" Ichigo yelled, rolling her eyes.
"Geez, you take forever!" He complained, strolling back into the infirmary.
"And you have zero patience." Arnes smirked.
"Yeah, well, Pai's here with the kids. He brought you dinner."
"Oh!" Arnes exclaimed jumping up from Ichigo's bed and running out.
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked Kish. She had picked up on the false cheeriness of his voice.
"What? Nothing! I'm fine!" Kish replied a little to quickly.
"Kish." Ichigo said sternly.
"Not now." Kish replied firmly, avoiding her eyes as Arnes stepped back into their line of sight with a small bundle in her arms, followed by Pai and another young child who rode on his shoulders.
Ichigo nearly gasped when she saw Pai. She'd never seen him look so awful. Despite the distance between them, she could see dark shadows under his eyes, as well as a red tint, telling her they were bloodshot. He had lost a considerable amount of weight. Once strong, warrior arms, were deathly thin and frail. They looked like they could snap like a twig, not to mention his usual clothing now hung from his frail frame like he was trying to wrap himself in a tent. His usual hair was gone too. The tied portion he had kept over his left ear was gone, completely shorn off, leaving an irregular chopped area in his usually well-kept hair. There was also a long scar that ran from one cheek to the other, directly over the bridge of his nose.
"Hey Ichigo." Pai said softly, stopping at the foot of her bed as Arnes moved to occupy another, shrugging off the top of her dress with one arm. Pai was avoiding looking at her, "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better." Ichigo responded flatly. She was torn. She couldn't decide if she was pissed or sorry for him. Despite all he'd put them through, he looked as if he was suffering as well.
"I'm glad to hear."
An awkward silence passed between the three of them. Kish was refusing to look at Pai as much as Pai was refusing to look at the two of them.
"Dadda! Dadda!" The child on Pai's shoulders exclaimed, tugging at his ears.
"Who's this?" Ichigo asked, trying to break the ice.
Pai glanced at her before reaching up and picking the toddler off his shoulders and bringing him down to cradle him in his arms for Ichigo to see.
The kid had jet-black hair with soft brown eyes that looked startlingly like his mother's. He had a small button nose, a strong jaw line, and to Ichigo's surprise, small ears that were close to his head, but pointed at the tips.
"This is Kou. According to Earth years, he'd be four." Pai introduced.
Kou stared at Ichigo from Pai's arms, his large brown eyes looking her up and down as if he were appraising her. Cocking his head, he reached for her with small, delicate fingers.
Ichigo reached out her hand, brushing it against his. Kou broke into a large grin, grasping at her hand like he was determined to pull her out of the bed to him.
"Kou, this is Ichigo." Pai finished his introduction.
Kou looked up curiously at Pai, his fingers clenched as tightly as he could around Ichigo's thumb.
"Ichigo." Pai repeated, a soft loving smile on his face, "Can you say Ichigo?"
Kou opened his mouth like he was going to try to say her name, only to give a loud squeal of delight as he bounced around in his father's arm, letting go of Ichigo's thumb to cover his face with his hands.
Ichigo couldn't help but smile. Kou was adorable.
"Kisshu!" Kou suddenly exclaimed, suddenly reaching for Kish.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees as the silence returned, Kou reaching for Kish, completely oblivious of the tension between the two waulrinswi.
Finally, Kish broke out in a grin, stepping forward and lifting him out of Pai's arms. Pai seemed reluctant at first, but he conceded, allowing Kish to hold his son.
"You've gotten bigger since I left." Kish told Kou, holding him at arms length, "Have you been behaving for your mother?"
"No." Kou replied, tucking his head as his face lit up with a bright smile. He had such tiny little teeth.
"No?" Kish repeated in surprise, "Why you little—," He brought Kou down, giving him a large raspberry, causing the toddler to shriek with laughter.
The baby began wailing loudly.
"Kou keep it down!" Arnes exclaimed, trying to rock her second child. Her breast was hanging out from her dress. They'd accidently interrupted the youngest in the middle of nursing, and now he was practically howling. All Ichigo could see were two tiny fists that were waving above his bundle of blankets.
"Sowwy Mommy." Kou apologized, his head drooping against Kish's shoulder when he was repositioned to Kish's hip.
Arnes looked like she wanted to apologize to Kou for snapping at him, but the baby's wailing only seemed to get louder.
"I'm sorry, I'll be right back." She said quickly, gathering the infant tighter in her arms and rushing out of the room.
"Hey, you're not in trouble. Mommy just doesn't want Annon bawling in here." Pai said softly, moving closer to Kish to rustle his son's hair. However, Kish's grip tightened around Kou and he stepped back, still not looking at Pai.
"Kish, there's only so many times I can apologize." Pai sighed, looking pained.
"Tell that to Tart and Berry!" Kish stated tensely, then looked ashamed of himself as Pai seemed to deflate.
"I do every night." Pai barely whispered, "I wish I could take it all back… that there had been another way…"
"There was! It's called not betraying your friends and family!" Kish snarled, still trying to keep his voice low so as not to upset Kou, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.
"I was trying to protect my family!" Pai yelled back, his entire form trembling.
"Well you didn't succeed did you? Your own flesh and blood died in the end!" Kish finally screamed, unleashing all the bottled up emotions he had tried to surpress.
"Kish!" Ichigo tried to interject. Kou's bottom lip was trembling as he looked back and forth between Kish and Pai.
"I know!" Pai screamed, "And I hate myself for it!"
"As well you should!"
"Stop yelling at Dadda!" Kou cried, a small fist landing in the same place Genri had struck earlier.
Kish flinched, biting his lip to avoid hissing in pain.
Pai pulled Kou back out of Kish's arms, cradling the small boy as he gently kissed his forehead, "Shhhh, Kou, it's ok."
"I see Tart's face every time I close my eyes. I hear his laughter in the wind, and feel his presence in the plants." Pai addressed Kish softly, looking on the verge of tears, "I tried so hard to protect everyone I care about, but you're right. I still failed in the end."
Kish wiped angrily at the corners of his eyes. He took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his fists.
"As much as I want to hate you." He finally stated, opening his eyes, "I just can't."
Pai didn't react, merely cradling Kou to his chest.
"But I need you to be honest with me." Kish continued, taking another deep breath to calm himself, "What really happened? I have a vague idea, but I want to hear it from you."
Pai shook his head.
"I can't. I'm sorry Kish, but I can't tell you."
"Is it because of the guards?" Ichigo asked in a low whisper, hoping they wouldn't hear her.
Pai stiffened, hesitating before nodding.
Kish rolled his eyes before suddenly vanishing.
"What the—?" Pai exclaimed in surprise.
"Where'd Kisshu go?" Kou asked, wide eyed before they heard a series of large thumps. Kish reappeared before them seconds later.
"Do it again!" Kou cheered, clapping his hands.
"What did you do?" Pai demanded, his eyes wide with fear.
"Nothing, the guards are just taking a little nap." Kish reassured him, "No one will over hear us."
Pai was still gaping at Kish like he'd seen a ghost.
"What happened Pai?" Kish asked impatiently.
"Hold on, let me grab Arnes. She has a right to know." Pai stalled, turning around and heading out of the infirmary. He returned a few minutes later with Arnes in tow, Annon fast asleep in her arms and her dress redone. He pulled out a chair for her, then pulled another one over for himself. Kish sat down next to Ichigo, his eyes trained on Pai expectantly.
"It's a long story." Pai began.
A/N: Here's the edited chapter. If you've already read, don't worry about reading it again. I was just fixing up little errors that were here and there.