Damn, to think it's been about a year.
Oh, hi everyone! Nighttime Mistress here. Just got a lot in mind, and have been playing out and writing down most of what is going to happen next later in this fic of mine. (one might include Kisshu and Taruto's addiction to fabric conditioner sheets, and a bit of how and when Kisshu had a bishonen-ai history. But like I'm telling you all the details.)
Well, I'm guessing hardly anyone liked the last chapter since it was so short, and only had a drop of Joushu/Kisshu fluff that you all wanted for so long. Believe me; they are definitely going to connect closer than ever later on in the few or so chapters. Due to the killing torture that I had on my yaoi fic for Ouran High School Host Club, I've been dragged on almost into a dungeon state. You all could read it yourself if you don't believe me. (I say don't) I was close to killing myself when the fic was over.
And I guess you all are wondering where the F I've been for the past year huh? Well, the thing is I've been busy. (I mean, seriously, this is me not kidding anymore.) I'm making it official for my future career to be an authoress. I'm even working on my official original work. Yes, you read right. Original work. My first original is an action/fantasy/adventure called "The Papilio". It's a story that I can't post details here because I plan on going by the penname Sage E. (I recently found out on my current Japanese learning that it's written in katakana as "sejii") Seriously, so much has happened that I can't even explain it all.
Disclaimer: Is there anything more that I have to say to make this stupid disclaimer? (starts mumbling to herself) I see no point in it anyway.
On the side note, has anyone seen Candyberry lately? I wonder where she went...
On with the fic!
It's painful and hard
To bring back bad old memories
And fix them to start new ones.
But maybe it won't be so hard
Into naturally starting over
Chapter 10: The Other Side Second Opinion;
The Somewhat Eternal Calm
Kisshu landed back to the balcony on his roof with a soft tap. He jumped when he saw Taruto smirking at him wearing red orange pajamas crossing his arms over his chest at him.
"Geez, after Ichigo, you've gone soft Kisshu." He said in a matter of fact tone. Kisshu could only roll his eyes.
"Should that matter?"
"It should, I'm not saying it has to." he said. Kisshu rose an eyebrow at him. "Hey, you never know, you might find true love after all."
Kisshu's ears began to redden.
The younger alien rolled his eyes and laughed out loud. "Aw, come ON! Your only reason for coming here with me was so obvious. You definitely want to find someone after your disappointment with Ichigo."
The mention of the cat mew mew's name sounded like breaking glass in his ears and sour milk to his taste. Taruto saw this immediately. "Hmm. So you've really moved on from that girl, huh?"
"Look," the gold-eyed alien began. "I'd rather not have myself going down memory highway for something as far in my past as that. It's my only chance to start over and not worry about people like Ichigo. Besides, maybe both of us can expose ourselves to the public without anyone else knowing we're aliens."
"The fact is, anyone would, seeing freaks like us." stated Taruto in another matter of fact tone. "Speaking of Ichigo, it brings me back to that battle we had. What reason do you think could of sent that Chirema Anima?"
He almost forgot about the last battle with the Chirema Anima. "Good point." He said after a short pause. He was too worried about what Joushu would think about him knowing he was an alien than know how something like a Chimera Anima would appear without warning. He'll have to ask Pai if he could trace the Anima's location and track down the sender. Who ever sent it should have a very good reason for it. (because if they didn't, Kisshu swore he would make sure they don't see the light of the sun ever again.)
Whatever the reason, it didn't make his situation any easier or safer. It wasn't even safe for Joushu anymore. Now he felt so ashamed into turning her once normal life into chaos.
'Next time, I swear to be there to protect her.' he thought.
'Dammit, what a mess...'
"I'm getting a feeling it's more of a who that a what, Taruto. But for once, I'm not sure."
Taruto snorted. "For once? Try all the time." He replied. To Kisshu, Taruto's presence in his room was suddenly becoming a nuisance.
"Get out, you dumbass."
It was a dark, half lit room.
The only light available was from the large selection of grouped computer screens, showing random clips of data collected and recorded.
A large chair sat in front, as a male alien watched all the clips collected. He moved the strain of wavy, dark navy blue hair that draped his shoulders with a slender sun-kissed hand. Silver irises darted left and right scanning all the information and data shown. The fact that the only clothing that he had on were tight black pants with a muscular and slender body type (it was rather humid in their mind you.) Yet he seemed rather satisfied while watching the seven people that had to battle with Chirema Anima, and then frowned when it was defeated, and snorted when a small pink puffball collected it then coughed it back up.
"Heh, now I know their technology is too low-tech for Anima collection. But those five I'll deal with later." He said and paused the data of Kisshu on his balcony looking very depressed. Seeing this grew onto him as his face began to sadden.
The alien reached out and touched the screen that showed Kisshu's ivory face and his lush forest green hair. A piece of walking artwork of flawlessness and perfection was what he was. Years has he had to watch a beautiful canvas continue to drain of color with loneliness, suffering, and distress. It killed him for he knew if the seventeen year old was stressed, he was stressed. If tired, he began to feel tired. It was as if Kisshu was a part of him or was close to him for a very long time.
"Oh, how long has it been? Seven years? Eight years?" he asked himself with a long sigh. (A/N: How 'bout no years, you duck! XD) Then something caught his attention. He saw Kisshu hugging a human girl then flying away with her. Moments later as Kisshu was walking back home, he began hugging himself with a sort of smile as if unknown weight was just lifted off his shoulder by that...human.
"WHAT?!"
He slammed his fist onto the keyboard, making it malfunction for a few seconds as it replayed the hug Kisshu shared with the human. It replayed over and over as if it knew it was a torture factor for him. Without a thought, he punched the screen. He didn't care about his now bloody knuckles and fist, nor did he care that his whole current computer system would never work again. He was furious, angry and was filled with rage.
"I've watch him suffer as an alien since childhood and for years." He growled clenching his bloody fist. "I am not going to sit and watch him go through the same crap twice."
The male alien had enough rage in him to pull out a sophisticated looking navigator and searched for a certain someone's coordinates.
Monday Morning
6:35 a.m.
Walking down the side of the road, Joushu continued to stress about Ichigo and her reaction to last night with her hair tied to a high ponytail by a maroon colored ribbon, and nervously fiddling with the first year red bow of the long-sleeved school uniform. (even though it was a very nice black color for the high school, she still didn't like it.) She's and the rest of the Mew Mews are probably thinking maybe she was being brainwashed by Kisshu, and the other two aliens that they talked about. Yet, it would be harsh of them to think that way. She could already see their visions now, and they were rather chibi and cartoonish…
"Hey, you."
Joushu looked this way and that. No one was around. She got the feeling maybe her pervious thoughts were becoming too literal.
"Up here."
Sure enough, looking up in a tree she saw the bright colored brunette alien that was with Kisshu the night before. (Taruto she believed it was according to Pudding.) Due to his fashion, he went very punk looking like a rebelling brat that a normal teenager. Black eye shadow and a somewhat black hook marking-thing under his left eye making his bright orange eyes pop, tight black sleeveless top (that had a white painting of a tiger), baggy white jeans with chains jingling everywhere, and black and white sneakers. Joushu also painfully took notice in the leather finger cut off gloves and black leather, newspaper boy hat. She had to admit that the shirt matched, for it showed how built he was and his body type was quite slender. She was quite impressed.
Nevertheless, she rose an eyebrow "You know, the whole outfit gives off a bad impression if you're trying to live a normal life on Earth." she pointed out.
"Oh, so Kisshu told you already, did he? Joushu, was it?" he said as he jumped from the tree and landed next to her and the two began to walk.
"Um, yeah. What do you mean Kisshu already told me? About what?"
"About the whole thing with us living on Earth. Plus I'm guessing the Mew Mews already know who attack the city I suppose."
"No, actually they don't. They're still pointing fingers at you two."
"Hm. I could see why." There was an awkward pause. Joushu couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt like it was her giving off the awkward aura. Then again, strange that she was acting so casual to this person as if it were a normal routine. Heck, maybe it was just her.
"So, uh, Taruto-kun-"
"You're actually treating me as your equal?"
"Well, yeah. If you want to be living the same, then I might as well treat you as my equal."
Taruto stopped walking and laughed softly. Joushu, who was a few inches away from him turned around. "What's so funny?"
"Now I could see why Kisshu has a liking of you. You're so different." He said. Reasons she will never know, a short breeze pasted between the two.
"He really said that about me, Taruto-kun"
Taruto's laugh turned into a snort soon after. "Geez, there's a lot Kisshu isn't telling you. Well, in the mean time, I'm going to need you to visit the house that we're living in today..."
Joushu already had a pad and pen in hand.
"Okay, that works too."
After he finished the map, Joushu looked at it, turning the pad around and cocking her head at it, even when the directions were very simple.
"I'll try on getting there, but why do you need me there for?" she asked. Taruto gave her a rather mysterious glint in his eyes.
"Oh, it won't be me needing you there. There's a certain side of the story that you need listening to. Beside, I'll be monitoring the streets anyway if any other Chimera Anima decide to act up."
"What'll you do when they do act up and disappear again?"
Taruto could only sigh. "We'll try and trace it back if that's what you're thinking. But your situation is more important."
Joushu blinked in surprise. "It is?"
"Some-thing-like-that." He sang in a singsong tone, grinning. "Now be a good girl and stay out of trouble, Joushu-onee-chan. Ja Na!" giving a somewhat waving salute, he teleported away. Joushu could only sweatdrop at Taruto's form of an exit.
'Joushu-onee-chan he says. I'm getting a suspicious vibe from him.'
She regained her composure after seeing Ichigo appear a block ahead. Joushu pocketed the pad and pen in her school bag and ran to her cherry haired friend. At that moment, she got good impressions that maybe Ichigo forgave her.
"Oi! Ichigo!" she called out. She was very relieved when Ichigo stopped.
She thought it would be good to apologize for last night so Joushu went first. "Um, look. I'm sorry I had an outburst like that last night. I was just annoyed about there being so much commotion that I just exploded."
"Okay."
Joushu's mind quickly went blank. Ironic much? "Wait, that's it?"
"Yeah," said Ichigo. "but I need you to tell me the truth."
'The truth?' thought Joushu. 'What's she talking about?'
Ichigo turned to Joushu with very suspicious brown eyes. They were so deep in suspicion that Joushu thought she would know about everything.
"You seem like you knew Kisshu way before we told you anything. Why is that?" (A/N: Dramatic moment, oooooooh! XD)
Close to being busted was all that flashed like a traffic sign. The fact was, she forgot that Ichigo and the others still didn't know about Joushu's first encounter with Kisshu. She didn't see it as a big deal, so why did Ichigo made it seem like it was?
"Uh, well... you know. I watched a lot of... t.v. when I was a kid. Yeah, that's it! It just came up 3 years ago when I always watched you and the Mew Mews fight the Chimera Anima. So um... yeah." She stuttered adding nervous laughter, giving Ichigo the obvious.
"This isn't funny Joushu. Even with Kisshu and I calling a truce, memories keep coming back. I doubt on it and, I'm not quite sure anymore..."
'She doesn't like talking about it...'thought Joushu. Then she remembered Taruto giving her directions to his house and him saying that there was a certain side of a story that she needed to hear.
'I guess finding out the details wouldn't be so bad.'
"Hmm. I kind of see where you"re coming from, Ichigo. Sorry."
Ichigo smiled, clearly accepting the apology. "It's okay. It's just sometimes, I feel you're going to be in more danger because of me. I can't help but worry Joushu."
"Like I keep saying, I'm no damsel." began Joushu with pride as the local bus pulled up for both of them. "Sooner or later, I'm going to be a true member of Tokyo Mew Mew. And when I do, I'm gonna be the best, coolest, and strongest Mew Mew ever."
Ichigo liked her determination, but sweatedropped at Joushu's pride on the subject mumbling, "Under Shigonane's standards, I don't think that's going to happen, Joushu."
Unknown reason being, Joushu just couldn't keep still. Each class period she continued to shift and shake in her chair. There was one class where her sensei threw a piece of chalk at her for the annoying ticking she was doing with her nails.
"Fuushigiai! Unless you want an eraser thrown at you as well and a detention, I suggest you stop that noise!" he barked.
She gave an embarrassed laughed, rubbing the back of her head. "Heh heh. Sorry Sensei." She mumbled as the rest of the class giggled. Ichigo just sighed and shook her head. Even after all these years, Joushu still was considered the black sheep of the school.
Still, with the threat of a detention hanging over her head, she continued to be impatient throughout the day. Even during the lunch break and the classroom and halls buzzing with students who were either eating their bento and or talking with friends, she was still tapping her fingernail against the desk, a somewhat grumpy expression on her face as she munched on her peach melon bread. The school day felt like a school month and she was at her limit of patience.
Irritation was plastered clearly in Ichigo mind as she sat with Joushu and her constant tapping. "Sometimes I worry about you." She said finally while eating her broiled spinach in her bento.
Joushu gulped down the last of her peach melon bread and opened another one. "Hey, what's that suppose to mean?"
"Well, think about it. All you're eating today is peach melon bread, you've suddenly become impatient most of the day, and you keep staring out the window as if you're waiting for something."
'Yeah, waiting for the day to be over already.'
"I just like peach melon bread. There's nothing wrong with a little favorism." mumbled Joushu. Ichigo was definitely not convinced. She placed her bento on her chair, stood up while grabbing Joushu's school bag, and shaking it upside-down. Fifteen empty peach melon bread packets littered the ground along with her school notebooks and pencil case.
The day finally ended, and boy, was Joushu finally satisfied with that. She stretched her arms over her head with her schoolbag in hand and gave a relieved sigh as she walked along the sidewalks with cars bustling on the roads.
"Whew. Thank goodness, the day is over. Now I could finally relax." She said to herself. Then again, there was the whole thing with Taruto that she had to do.
"Oh, it won't be me needing you there. There's a certain side of the story that you need listening to."
"But seriously, what was he talking about when he said side story?" she asked herself knowing that her thoughts won't give her any type of answer. She pulled out her cell dialing home.
"Fuushigiai residence?" Thankfully, it was her mom that answered the phone.
"Hi mom." chirped Joushu happily. "Expect me home at 4:30, okay? I'm going to be at a friend's house."
"A friend from school?"
She didn't want to lie, but a white lie was better that saying no.
"Uh, yeah, somethin' like that." she chirped.
Joushu shifted her eyes from the hand drawn map in her hands to the current house she was standing in front of. The thing about it was that she realized was it was close to where she lived. It didn't even look like the abode of two aliens in hiding on Earth.
"Well, whatever." She said to herself ringing the doorbell and waited. Even though it would only be about a ten second wait, countless "what if" ideas came into mind.
'Seriously, what if this isn't even the right house? Besides, it would be a little weird for a girl in her school uniform to come inside a house with only two boys living here. I mean, I don't want them to get any ideas.'
'Then again, what if Taruto has some sort of fetish for chicks in school uniforms? I mean, the skirt for the uniform is pretty short...'
'Nah, no way. He doesn't seem like the type to be into that sort of thing...or is he?'
This instantly got her suspicious.
'What if he is into that type of ecchi play, and opens the door with nothing but some boxers on and kidnaps me or somethin'? What if I'm tricked into some freaky experiment on the female menstrual cycle? Or enlargement of female breast growth?! I'm almost at a C-cup as it is! I don't want my boobs to get any bigger by force!' (A/N: Ouch. I know how that feels. Having them go "boing boing" all the time could hurt. Makes me wish I were an A-cup again. Woah, wait, why am I talking about boobs all of a sudden? Okay, people, don't mind me. Seriously.)
This outrageously brought more strange possibilities into Joushu mind. One thing is for sure; if she went missing, it would be all over the news. Plus, she knew Ichigo and the others would probably make a big fuss over it too.
"Local Teenager Missing: Said to be abducted by aliens"
"UFOs: Three years and they're coming back?"
"Beavers and Squirrels: Cute and Cuddly or Evil" (A/N: Note the randomness people.)
'One thing I don't hope is some weirdo opening the door in their underwear, or boxers or something. That would be awkward.'
Finally, the door opened. Who else would appear as her idea of a weirdo but...
...Kisshu.
...shirtless.
...in green boxers.
...looking as if he just came from a shower.
He looked at her...
She looked at him...
.
..
...!
Kisshu shut the door with a slam, and pushed his back against the door, his face in panic and his mind running like endless clockwork.
'What the hell is Joushu doing here?!'
Mew Mew Preview!
Kisshu: Okay, now I definitely know I'm screwed now. It was only yesterday that I met up with Joushu. Now this?!
Taruto: Ah, relax Kisshu. Heck, it could've been worse. You almost answered the door with nothing on-
Kisshu: (through gritted teeth) Not helping!
Taruto: Yes I am. I mean, now you two could connect, take your lack of relationship to the next level-
Kisshu: Seriously, you're really not helping.
Taruto: Geez, if it wasn't for me to give your chick the directions to the house-
Kisshu: You WHAT?!
Taruto: Next Chapter: Hidari to Migi; The Open Book
Kisshu: You are so dead.
Taruto: Heh heh. Not if you rot away first.
And this is the part where I stop here and I leave you all to swim with frogs.
FWI, "hidari to migi" is basically Japanese for "left and right". Man, for this past year I've been trying to study the language and it is so not easy. Let alone reading it is a challenge because it takes so much effort and practice to understand. Freakin' three alphabets to memorize, but at least my hiragana and katakana are getting better.
Anyway, continuing on what I said earlier about my original work. If I were able to post it, you all will clearly see how I've changed through my writing. You all should probably already notice it by now. I can assure you that if I were able to post a sample of my original, you probably wouldn't recognize if it were the same Nighttime Mistress that paired Kisshu up with a workable OC because of how dark and demon like my writing style has gotten.
Well, you all know the drill. R&R so I could probably get off my writer's block. Can't believe I broke my promise on updating once a month. (note to self: coming up with fresh stuff once a month is almost like giving up an ear, an arm, and getting back two left feet.)
And be friendly on calling me "Sejii-san" guys, because I'm going to make it quite official. Plus it's better for me to be more casual to you all, don't you think?
Ja Na for now!
Nighttime Mistress (Sejii-san)
P.S. Eventually, I'll update my profile. Check it out sometime on what I'm currently up to, my Youtube page, and other stuff. So much has been going on for me that it'll be a mouthful. See you then!