Here it is, the anticipated next chaper of "THE BLUE WARRIOR"!!! I'm very very very sorry I haven't updated in so long!
Please forgive me!
Don't forget to review!
~nightfall26
Last chapter...
After they had parted at the park, Ichigo stumbled listlessly back to the Cafe. She stopped at a street corner, leaning heavily on the side of a building. Sobs wracked her thin body, and she covered her face in her hands. She felt more alone than ever before. Suddenly, she felt the gentle touch of a hand on her shoulder. Looking up through teary eyes, Ichigo saw a figure she had never before been so glad to see.
With that, she threw herself into the arms of the Blue Knight.
Ichigo allowed the sobs to come hard and fast. The tears came in such great quantities that she could hardly breathe. What little air she did intake came in gasps. The Blue Knight at first stood there stiffly, awkwardness hanging over the two of them like a shroud. But after a moment, he relaxed and gently put his arms around her. Ichigo clutched her hands in the back of his blue trench coat, crying so hard she was shaking violently. He hesitantly rubbed a hand across her back, an unsure expression crossing his face. Ichigo simply pressed herself closer. He leaned his cheek on her hair, and closed his eyes until Ichigo's sobs gradually started to dwindle.
"Ichigo," the Blue Knight murmured. He lifted his head off of hers, and looked down at her with a curious expression. She sniffled and raised her gaze slowly. It took a while to register that she was clutching herself to the Blue Knight, and when she did, she jumped away like she had been burned.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, rubbing a hand across her still streaming eyes. He smiled gently.
"It's alright. What happened?" he asked, his face concerned. Ichigo sighed, her gaze cast downwards. Grief clouded her eyes.
"Oh, I won't bother you," she muttered, knotting her hands together. The Blue Knight put a finger underneath her chin, tilting her gaze up to meet his own.
"I told you once before. I was born for the sole purpose to protect you. And that means in any way I can. Please trust me." His voice was reverent, and Ichigo nodded slowly. Her eyes filled with a dull pain, and she looked away from him.
"Remember when you helped me defeat that giant butterfly? And you told me I could do it because I loved?"
He nodded, his cerulean eyes flashing dangerously as he recalled the fight. Ichigo didn't notice.
"Well... I don't know how, but you seemed to know about Masaya and me. We were so very close... He's everything to me. But obviously I don't mean much to him," she spat, anger clouding her expression for a moment. Then she shook her head and continued.
"He just told me that we had to break up. For my own good. But..." Her eyes filled with tears again, and she pulled her arms to her chest, cradling herself. The Blue Knight walked closer, and looked her deep in the eyes.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and his voice sent chills down her spine. In his eyes, there was true worry. True concern. Ichigo stared into his eyes, losing herself in the depths of electric blue bliss. It was calming, oddly. A drop of water landed on her head, and she jumped. It had startled her out of the moment. That one drop began to evolve into a steady rainfall, and Ichigo began to cry again. The Blue Knight stood in front of her for a moment before pulling her into an embrace.
They stood like that for a few moments, and suddenly, he gathered the weeping girl into his arms. He leapt into the air, carrying her with him. They soared over the soaked landscape, passing the large buildings until they came to the cafe. He landed gently, careful not to disturb the emotional Ichigo. He shoved the front door open with a single hand, disturbing the scene from inside. Pudding, Zakuro, Lettuce, and Mint were sitting around a table. Ryou and Keiichiro were talking quietly near the kitchen. Everyone stopped in their tracks to stare.
"Ichigo!" The girls cried in unison. Ryou and Keiichiro hurried over, and the Blue Knight set her down, holding her close with one arm. His gaze was sorrowful. Ryou stepped forward, his eyes questioning.
"What happened?" he asked, taking in the sight before him. The Blue Knight was holding a dripping, sobbing, wreck of a girl. Ichigo.
The Blue Knight sighed heavily.
"Ask her," he said simply, helping her sit down in a chair. Ichigo looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears.
"Thank you," she said, reaching out a shaking hand to him. Her fingers grazed the tips of his for a moment, and he stepped back. He smiled, and with that, disappeared through the door he had come in. Ichigo stared at where he had once stood, her eyes dull. Lettuce stood, walking to Ichigo's side.
"Ichigo..." she murmured, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"What happened?" Keiichiro asked. Ichigo shook her head, turning away from them all to bury her head in her arms on the table. Sobs shook her shoulders and back. Ryou looked at her for a moment, his eyes surprised.
"I'll go call her parents... They can come get her," he whispered, shock paralyzing him momentarily. He shook himself and walked away. Mint got to her feet, her eyes concerned. For once. But she sighed, and followed Ryou. Zakuro did the same. Pudding looked sad, and joined Lettuce by Ichigo.
"Lettuce onee-chan, what's wrong, na no da?" she asked, her eyes troubled. Lettuce sighed.
"Not many things could upset Ichigo this much. Aoyama-san must have told her something... troubling," she murmured, wringing her hands in distress. Pudding took up the seat next to Ichigo, patting her back comfortingly. Lettuce sat on the other side of her. Before long, Mint and Zakuro returned to the room to sit around the sobbing Ichigo. They each exchanged looks of worry, waiting with her until her parents got there.
It was nearly a half hour until Sakura Momomiya pulled up in her car, rushing into the cafe to help her distraught daughter into the car. She talked to Ryou for a moment, her expression upset. Mr. Momomiya stormed in, his face livid.
"If you've harmed my daughter in any way, I swear I will tear your head from your neck!" He screeched, brandishing his fist.
"Now, dear, hush while the good boy tells you what happened," Mrs. Momomiya said, patting her husbands arm softly. He huffed, but relaxed a bit.
Ryou held up his hands, shaking his head.
"Mr. Momomiya, I don't know what happened. You have to ask your daughter," he said, his voice quiet. Sakura nodded once, and sighed. The girls watched her leave, waving half-heartedly after their friend. Mr. Momomiya growled, his red face returning to normal as he stomped back outside.
Ryou turned back to the girls.
"Shirogane-san, what do you think happened?" Lettuce asked meekly, walking up to him. He looked shocked, and ran a hand through his blonde hair in frustration. None of them had ever seen Ichigo so upset. It was quite a rare situation.
"I have no idea. I don't even know why the Blue Knight was here. I'm completely... lost." Ryou muttered. He turned on his heel and walked out, Keiichiro following him.
The remaining Mews simply stared at each other, not knowing what to do.
On the ride home, Ichigo pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She stared out the window, tears slipping down her cheeks silently. Her parents seemed to know not to ask anything just yet. Ichigo buried her head in her knees, a sob coming from her chest.
"Why..." she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.
How could Masaya do this to me? He knows how much I love him. It's just an excuse that he has to protect me from him. An excuse. It has to be...
"Ichigo, dear, we're home," her mother murmured kindly, placing an affectionate hand on her knee. Ichigo flinched back from the contact. Her father stepped out of the car and opened her door before scooping his daughter into his arms.
"Take her upstairs, for now," Sakura whispered, closing the car doors to walk inside with her family. Ichigo hardly seemed to register being in her room as her dad placed her down on the bed.
"Get some sleep, honey," Sakura said from over Mr. Momomiya's shoulder. Ichigo didn't budge. She simply pulled her knees to her chest again and began to rock herself back and forth. Her parents sighed in sync before walking out, shutting the door quietly. Ichigo pulled the white hairpiece out of her hair, tossing it down on the floor.
"Masaya... Why did you leave me? Please, Masaya, don't do this to me..." Her voice was a strangled plea.
Finally, she stopped crying. She turned over on her side and buried her face in the familiar pillows.
It took some time before she drifted into the safety of sleep.
Kish watched her from the window, his face confused.
"What's the matter with you, Ichigo? Why are you so sad?" he murmured, placing a hand against the glass of the windowpane.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes to stare at him. But much to his surprise, she simply sighed and shut her eyes again.
Now he knew something was wrong. Normally she'd hurl biting insults at him. Or at least protest weakly to him being at her house.
Not a single sound came from her room. Not a single movement. Kish moved himself into a more comfortable position in a nearby tree branch.
"I'll stay here until you awaken, kitten." Kish whispered, leaning back to relax.
He might be there a while.
Well, there you go!! Much thanks to Kitty Kat K.O., who very kindly agreed to beta this for me!! Thank you!! :)
Okay, I'm introducing a new rule. If I don't get 3 reviews on this chapter, I am not updating!!
So don't forget to review!
Please and thank you!
~nightfall26