Chapter Five:

He's the guy you should feel sorry for. He had the world and he thought that he wanted more. I owe it all to the mistake he made back then. I owe it all to my girl's ex-boyfriend.

Pudding felt that something wasn't right. When she arrived home that evening, Yuebin was waiting on the couch for her. He asked no questions and was almost painfully sweet towards her. It reminded Pudding of the time Mint lost a bet to Ichigo and was only allowed to say nice things to the cat Mew for an entire week.

"Ron, is everything alright?" Pudding asked over the breakfast table the next morning, preparing to send her younger siblings off to day-camp.

"Oh, yes, everything is fine, don't worry," Yuebin said as he studied Pudding over his cup of coffee.

Pudding nodded slightly, not wanting to argue. Her cellphone buzzed in her pocket. She took out the little yellow cellphone with a monkey charm on it and looked at the screen that read,

New Text Message.

Pudding smiled. She had stayed up late the night before, texting back and forth with Tart. Finally, sometime after midnight, she received a message that said,

Mew Pudding, this is Pie. I have confiscated Taruto's phone so that we can all get some sleep. He will have it back in the morning. Until then, good night.

Pudding had chuckled at the message, no doubt in her mind that it was Pie who sent the text.

She opened her phone to see that the new message was from Tart and she quickly responded while her siblings pulled on their shoes.

"Who are you texting?" Yuebin asked.

"Tart," Pudding said. She looked up, her eyes slightly wide, expecting Yuebin to be angry. "We're just friends."

"Oh, I know," Yuebin said with an atypical smile. He made an exaggerated look at the clock. "Oh, dear, you're going to be late."

Pudding's eyes widened as she saw the time.

"We are going to be late!" She exclaimed. She gathered her siblings and rushed them out the door.

Unknowingly leaving her phone behind.

Yuebin picked up the phone and scrolled through Pudding's text conversation with Tart. There was a lot of 'LOL's, smiley faces and hearts in her texts and he noticed with anger she spoke in third person via text. He scowled as he got to that morning's text, the one she had just received before leaving.

Good morning Pudding. I 3 U.

Her response was, Puddin Taru-Taru, na no da. :)

Yuebin held the phone tightly in his hand, resisting the urge to crush it. That unfaithful little…

The phone vibrated in his hand. A new message from Tart.

Can't w8 2 C U. Any chance we can meet this morning b4 work?

Yuebin smiled with a plan.

Meet Pudding the alley from last nite in 15. Pudding has a surprise for U, na no da. ;)

Yuebin pocketed the phone after receiving Tart's response, saying that he'd be there.

Ron Yuebin was going to get his revenge.

Tart grinned when his cellphone told him that he had arrived with time to spare into the alleyway. He had run the entire way there, worried about teleporting during the day. He adjusted the band on his wrist that acted as a restrictor for his powers. It was primarily for Ryou that he and his brothers were wearing them, as the blond young man was still hesitant around the Cyniclons, despite knowing they were no longer at war.

Tart wondered why Pudding had wanted to meet him here, as she hadn't said. He also wondered what 'surprise' she had. He hoped that it was that she had spoken to her father about Yuebin's behavior.

He heard a noise coming from behind him and sharply turned around.

"Pudding?" Tart asked.

To his shock, Yuebin came out of the shadows, cradling his fist with his other hand. He had a smirk on his face that eerily reminded Tart of Kish when the older alien was thinking of ways to kill Ichigo's boyfriend and win her heart.

"Surprise," Yuebin said mockingly.

And with that, he lunged forward.

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Pudding walked down the sidewalk, glad that she had gotten the kids to day-camp just on time. Now she could go back to the house and chat with Tart some more on the phone before work…

Pudding turned her head at hearing a thumping sound coming from the alleyway beside her.

Wasn't this where I came to hide from Tart when I ran away last night? She thought. She took a step into the alley, clutching her power pendant.

To her shock, she saw Tart on the ground, badly bruised and bleeding, with Yuebin standing over him, his fists bloody.

Why didn't he fight back? Pudding wondered, looking at Tart in shock.

"Pudding, run!" Tart ordered weakly, his eyes hard as he tried to climb to his feet.

"Taru-Taru!" Pudding said, ignoring Tart's order and instead running to his side.

"Pudding, go, please!" Tart begged, but his request fell onto deaf ears.

Pudding was in full angry monkey mode.

She stood and stared defiantly at Yuebin.

"Leave Taru-Taru alone, na no da," She said in a deadly whisper, her power pendant unnoticed in her hand.

"Get out of my way so I can kill this worthless piece of filth," Yuebin snarled. "I'll deal with your infidelity later."

"No! Pudding will not let Yuebin hurt her Taru-Taru!" Pudding yelled, planting her feet.

"As your husband to be, you will obey me!" Yuebin roared, raising his hand to strike Pudding.

Pudding closed her eyes and braced for the impact, but it never came. She heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh and she opened her eyes, her pendant falling from her hand. Tart lay at her feet, a new angry red mark on his cheek. Pudding realized he had jumped in front of her to take the blow.

"Run!" Tart ordered again, struggling to his feet.

Pudding listened this time and she tore off down the alley. She heard Tart grunt again from behind her and heard the sound of a body hit the ground hard. To her panic, she heard footsteps pounding after her.

She ran harder, faster, trying to find a safe place.

The Café, she thought desperately. If I just get to the Café…

She didn't even make it half-way as she felt Yuebin's arms wrap around her, his hand covering her mouth tightly.

"You are coming with me," He whispered harshly into her ear. Pudding started to cry in pain, frustration and a feeling of helplessness.

She couldn't win.