The Revenge of Dark Red Chapter 8:

Lettuce's Worry and Shishi's Return

Lettuce was sitting in a chair next to Kisshu's bed. Kisshu was still unconscious, and Lettuce being who she was, felt bad that Kisshu had been so badly injured while protecting her. Lettuce was worried sick about Kisshu, and she actually wasn't letting anyone else take shifts. If Emiko hadn't been resting, she might have considered leaving, but as it was even Pai couldn't get her to leave Kisshu's room.

It had been two days, and Lettuce was still in Kisshu's room. He wasn't waking up, and even Emiko had given up on trying to get Lettuce to leave Kisshu's side.

On the night of the third day since Kisshu had been injured, Emiko came into Kisshu's room and sat down next to Lettuce, saying, "Lettuce, I understand you're worried, but you have to realize that this is not your fault. You did not force Kisshu to protect you like that, he chose to do so. Also, I'm not sure it was only you he was thinking of when he did that."

"What do you mean?" Lettuce asked.

"He may have protected you, but I think he had two reasons for doing so. One, you're Ichigo's closest Mew friend, but two, he was worried about Pai," Emiko said.

"Pai?" Lettuce asked.

Emiko replied, "Yes. Pai loves you, and if you died, he would become depressed and unable to do anything. Kisshu knows Pai very well, better than you or I. They are brothers, after all. Pai remains emotionless to most, and you are the first person to bring out the emotions he hides. Kisshu knows very well that without you, Pai would go back to being completely monotonic. Pai- and you for that matter- are instrumental in keeping this planet together. If we lose you, we lose Pai as well. None of us want Pai to be sad. That's the second reason Kisshu saved you."

"I think I understand better now," Lettuce said. "But I can't leave Kisshu-san like this. You tell me to rest, but I don't think I'll be able to sleep, knowing Kisshu-san still isn't better."

Emiko sighed and was about to argue with this statement, but suddenly she heard a very soft noise. "Kisshu?" she asked softly.

Kisshu's POV:

Kisshu was waking up. The first thing he noticed was that Emiko was calling his name. He slowly opened his eyes, aware that he was feeling really weak. At first everything was blurry, but his vision slowly cleared, and to his surprise, not only Emiko was standing over him, but Lettuce was too, and she looked really worried. Kisshu tried to say something, to respond to Emiko, but suddenly found himself coughing so hard he couldn't breathe. Dimly he heard Emiko saying something, and then someone was helping him sit up. He felt a hand on his chest, and the coughing began to subside, so he assumed the hand was Emiko's. He opened his eyes again, and saw Emiko's worried face.

Normal POV:

The two women had been worried when Kisshu began to cough. Emiko saw that Kisshu was too weak to sit up, and told Lettuce to help him. Lettuce obeyed immediately, and Emiko placed a hand on Kisshu's chest, and sent her healing powers through his body. Gradually, Kisshu stopped coughing, and opened his eyes. "Kisshu, are you okay?" Emiko asked him softly.

Kisshu opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when Emiko shook her head. "Just speak telepathically. I don't want you to start coughing again."

Kisshu nodded, then said telepathically, "What happened? I feel really weak."

Emiko replied, "Dark Red threw her sword at Pai, and he dodged, but Lettuce was behind him, and you jumped to save her. The sword embedded itself in your shoulder, and you passed out from blood loss soon after. I also found poison on the blade, but I got it out. You lost a lot of blood though. Pai and Taruto finished off Dark Red, and we took you back here. It's been three days since then."

"Three DAYS!" Kisshu asked incredulously.

"Yes, and Lettuce has been in here that whole time," Emiko said.

"Where is she now?" Kisshu asked.

"She's holding you up," Emiko replied.

Kisshu looked up at the person holding him. It was Lettuce, and she looked worried. "I'm sorry you got hurt because of me, Kisshu-san," she said sadly.

Forgetting that he was speaking telepathically, Kisshu said, "It's not your fault. I'm just reckless, I guess."

Before Emiko could translate this, Lettuce said, "That's what Emiko said. I guess it's just me."

Both Kisshu and Emiko looked shocked. "What's wrong?" Lettuce asked.

Still speaking telepathically, Kisshu said, "You can hear me?"

Lettuce nodded. Emiko said aloud, "This is unusual. Maybe it's because you're holding onto him, that you can hear him."

"Ichigo-san said she can hear you when you speak telepathically," Lettuce said.

"Yes, but I have a bond to her, so that's why," Emiko explained. "Try to hear Kisshu when you're not holding onto him."

Lettuce helped Kisshu lie back down and took her hands off him.

"Thanks. Can you still hear me?" Kisshu asked.

"Yes, and you're welcome," Lettuce said.

"Well, this is interesting," Emiko commented. "Maybe Pai will know what's causing this."

"I'm tired," Kisshu said. "Can we talk about this some other time?"

"Of course, go back to sleep," Emiko said. "Lettuce, out. I'll take the first shift."

"Why does Lettuce have to leave?" Kisshu asked, yawning.

"Because she's been in this room, awake, for three days. Now, sleep," Emiko ordered.

Kisshu soon fell asleep, worn out from talking and the coughing fit. Emiko steered Lettuce out into the hallway, then closed the door. Then she went back to Kisshu's side and sat down on a chair next to the bed.

Meanwhile, with Ayame and the others: Everyone was worried about Kisshu, but they were also worried about Lettuce, who hadn't been seen in three days. So they were pretty relieved when she walked into the room where everyone was hanging out and said, "Hi minna."

"LETTUCE!" everyone exclaimed. "You had us worried, Lettuce," Ichigo said. "You look like you could use some rest. Go to your room and sleep, okay?"

Lettuce nodded, but then frowned. "Why were you worried about me?"

Mint rolled her eyes. "Because you wouldn't leave Kisshu's side for three days, wouldn't eat, and absolutely refused to sleep. You're a mess, by the way."

Lettuce giggled nervously, but before she could say anything, Ayame ran into the room, yelling, "Guess who's back?" Then she saw Lettuce. "Aunt Lettuce, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, why?" Lettuce asked.

"You look like you haven't slept in about a month," Ayame replied bluntly.

"Oh… Who's back?" Lettuce asked.

"SHISHI! Shishi's back, everyone!" Ayame yelled happily.

Where was Shishi in all of this? Review and find out!