The Truth is Hard to Handle

Chapter 9

Passion, Pride, and Pain

YAY!!! You reviewed like I asked you to! Nobody EVER listens to me!!!!!!!! Well, here's your story. Hope you like it! I sure had fun writing it! (Tee hee hee! I love death scenes!!!)

"Why the hell did he shove us in here?" Mint snapped, "And he looked a little drunk, didn't he? I think he was drunk."

"He wasn't drunk," Zakuro reassured, stroking little Pudding's hair out of her closed eyes, "What shocked me is that he forgot Ichigo."

"Oh, yeah," Mint sighed, "You think she's still in there?"

"Maybe," Zakuro said, "I mean, there must have been a reason for taking us out of that room. At least this room's a little better."

Mint smiled, "I know. Food. Books. TV. It's like they were prepared to live in here. Hey! What're you doing?!"

Zakuro was ripping open a bag of Doritos. She turned to Mint and said, "You want some?"

"That's stealing! I won't steal!"

Zakuro laughed and said, "Oh, and Kish kidnapping us is better?"

"You're right!" Mint smiled, "Gimme a Pepsi!"

Zakuro gave Mint a Pepsi and she cracked it open. She took a sip, but nearly dropped it when the little blond girl sat up and said, "Can I have a drink?"

"You're awake!" Mint cried, handing her the can. Pudding took a long drink like she hadn't had anything to drink in twenty-four hours…wait a minute…oh, wait…she hadn't…

After swallowing a mouthful of pop, Pudding said, "Yeah I woke up last night actually but everyone else was asleep so I went back to sleep can I have some Doritos?" She said it all like it was one sentence. Then, she took a big bite of chips and said, "Why isn't Lettuce up yet?"

Mint and Zakuro didn't have a chance to answer, because Pai answered the door, with Kish close to his side. "Come on! Let's go!" Pai snapped, grabbing Mint's arm roughly and dragging her out. Zakuro and Pudding stood, Lettuce in Zakuro's arms, but Kish sneered, "No! Just Mint! You three stay here!" They sat, Mint was dragged out, and the door was closed and locked.

In another room, Kish sat Mint down and sat down himself. Pai left the room and closed the door. "Where is she?" Kish said calmly.

"Where is who?" Mint said, not understanding.

"Ichigo."

"She's not in that room?!" Mint cried.

"Of course she's not in that room! Why do you think you're here?!" Kish shouted, standing and waving his arms frantically.

Mint was speechless. Part of her felt like laughing. Part of her felt like crying. She sighed and said quietly, "I didn't know. I swear to God. I didn't know."

Kish sighed, too. He sat heavily and said, "Masaya is crazier than ever. With him out there, she's defenseless."

The door burst open and Masaya came in, looking furious. He shoved Kish aside and brought his face so close to Mint's so whenever he said an 's' he spit right in her face. "Bird girl, I have very little patience today," he said, "So I'll make you a deal. You get Ichigo back here, and you're free. No questions asked. I will let you go."

"What about the others?"

"No!" Masaya shouted, "Just you! Not them! Did I say they'd be set free? No! JUST YOU!!!"

"No."

"What?" Masaya said, backing away from her face.

"I said no," Mint said, "I won't do it. Not without them."

"I see," Masaya said, "Fine." He grabbed Mint's arm again and yanked her out of the small room. He began to drag her back to the room where her friends waited.

"What are you doing?!" Kish cried, jumping to his feet and racing after Masaya.

Masaya shoved Mint into the room and began to punch her. "If any of you try to stop me, I'll do the same to you!" He kicked her, bit her arm and then pulled out a knife and held it to her neck. Mint's friends sat shocked.

"No!" Kish shouted, "No, Masaya, stop!"

"Why?!" Masaya growled, turning to Kish and pressing the knife against Mint's skin so blood began to show.

"Because it's not Ichigo!" Kish cried.

Masaya stopped. The knife slipped from his hands and fell to the floor with a loud "CLANG!" He was fuming inside, but didn't show it. "You're right," Masaya said firmly, "It's not." He stood and walked out. He slammed the front door behind him.

Mint sat up in tears. Her lip and eye were awfully swollen and her neck was bleeding, soaking her t-shirt in blood. "Ichigo…" she breathed. Worry filled her mind for her friend. Masaya was out for revenge. He would've killed her if he'd had the chance. For once she was thankful to Kish. He'd saved her life.

"Mint, let me help you. Please," Kish said gently, reaching a hand out toward her to help her up.

"Thanks," Mint said, taking his hand and pressing her whole weight against him. She limped away with him.

Her friends followed without being told. It was an unspoken agreement, sorta, to protect one another. That would not be forgotten. Mint wouldn't allow it.

But one of her sisters was in danger. And she was not about to let her get hurt.

BACK WITH ICHIGO, RYOU AND KEIICHIRO!!!

Ichigo blinked awake. How long had she slept? Where was she? Where were Mint, Pudding, Zakuro and Lettuce? What had happened? Why did she have a headache? She sat up and looked in the corner. A body was lying on the couch, asleep. Was it Kish? No…he was too tall to be Kish.

"Psst!" Ichigo snapped, "Hey! Yoo-hoo! Person On Couch! Wake up!"

Person On Couch stirred and sat up with a grunt. His eyes opened and looked at Ichigo. He flicked on a light beside him.

Ichigo gasped, "Ryou!"

"Ichigo! You're awake!"

"Yeah, I am," Ichigo said, blushing, "What happened? Where are the others?"

"I came to rescue you…all of you," Ryou explained, "But the others weren't in the room with you, and I was out of time. I had to leave before…" He didn't finish the sentence, but he didn't have to. She knew which 'before' he was speaking of. Before Kish came. Before alarms went off and sirens sounded. Before Masaya showed up.

Before someone got hurt.

A strong wind blew at the house and Ryou shut the open window. Ichigo, still groggy, laid back down, but sat up when Ryou said, "Uh-oh."

"What's 'uh-oh'? Why did you 'uh-oh'?" Ichigo asked.

"We've got company."

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Masaya didn't ring the doorbell. He let himself in. He'd gone to this house enough times to know that the spare key was hidden in a kitty Hide-A-Key thingamabob. He walked right up the stairs to Ichigo's room and knocked on the door. Once again, he didn't wait for an answer, but opened the door and said, "Hey."

Ichigo gulped. She didn't remember much of what had happened, but she knew Masaya was part of it. And she knew Masaya was not on her side, even though he wanted to be.

"I need to talk to you, Ichigo," Masaya said. His voice sounded so sweet. His voice had signaled safety for so long. It was hard to resist him.

Ichigo tried to think of something witty to say, but all she could think of was, "No." Masaya showed his anger and frustration through his eyes and only his eyes.

Ryou walked up to Masaya and said, "Leave now. You've done your damage."

"Have not!" Masaya said. His face was solemn, even as he punched Ryou in the gut and knocked the wind out of him. Ryou crumpled to the floor in a heap, unconscious.

Ichigo jumped off the bed and changed into her Mew form. She didn't want to fight Masaya again. She ran towards the window and jumped out of it. Once she hit the ground, she ran as fast as she could.

Masaya jumped out the window after her, but did not follow. He sighed calmly and went back into her house.

Ichigo didn't know where to run. She was pretty sure the other Mew Mews were not safe. They were still with Kish. Masaya's house…duh. Bad idea. The café? Keiichiro would be asleep, though. Oh, well, he was gonna catch up with her in his sports car anyway, why not make it in front of a place she knew well. Wait, but was he following her? He would have caught her by now if he had been. She ran on to the café.

Once there, she banged on the door as hard as she could, "KEIICHIRO! KEIICHIRO! LET ME IN! MASAYA'S AFTER ME! PLEASE! PLEASE! HE'S GONNA KILL ME! HELP ME! KEIICHIRO, PLEASE!!!!" Keiichiro was actually there by the first 'please' but Ichigo kept going for dramatic affect.

"You're awake!" Keiichiro smiled.

"Yes, I am!" Ichigo gasped for air, "But Ryou! Still back there! Masaya…" she motioned like someone hit her stomach, still gasping for breath, "…hit Ryou… unconscious…at…my house."

Keiichiro didn't understand, "Wha da wha huh?"

Ichigo had caught her breath now, "Ryou! He's still at my house! Masaya hit him in the stomach and he fainted. Then Masaya went to come after me, but I jumped out the window and landed on the ground – thanks for those cat genes by the way – but Ryou is still at my house! For all I know, he's dead!"

"He's not dead," someone said, but it wasn't Keiichiro, "yet."

And there was Masaya, holding Ryou by the back of his shirt. Ryou was conscious and looking quite worried. In fact, Ichigo's expression matched Ryou's identically.

DUN DUN DUUUUN!!!!! OK, so nobody died. Well, if caught your attention didn't it?!?!

You know that part where Masaya beats Mint up? Well, I kind of though of that part because Instant Star. Anyone watch that show? Anyone? No one? No? Just me? Hm. Y'all should watch that show. It's damn good. Oh and then when Masaya calls Mint 'bird girl,' I kind of remembered that from a book I read, Maximum Ride? It's what Ari always calls Max! It's hella damn good!!! Sorry for my language today, I'm just in a bad word mood today!!!