Hiya:)
Don't think I'm gonna write that long a review today. Actually feeling kinda glum. I've no idea why.
This chapter is a bit longer than what we've had till now, but it's not one of my best works. There is, however, fluff in the end. I don't know about you people, but I cannot resist the fluff:)
Just go read the story. Oo, and I keep forgetting to say this, but review!
Ichigo p.o.v.
After a long drive through the forest, we were at my old house. We parked a few blocks away in the bushes, so if there were new owners, they wouldn't see us. Then we snuck to the backyard. There, I began sniffing around.
It didn't take long to find what I was searching for. Even though I didn't know what that something was. I just figured my family would at least leave me a clue.
And they had. I dug into the ground with my hands, and soon I took a small box out of the earth. I shook the dirt of and inspected it. When I realized what had to be inside, I inhaled sharply. Kishu gave me a questioning look.
In the car, I mouthed, and he nodded. We quickly made our way back to the car, but I couldn't help but stop and stare, with brimming tears, at the house I grew up in. So many memories... I'd been ripped away from this place, and my family. I guess my mom had been right. Humans were bad.
I felt arms snake around me, and I mentally corrected myself. Some humans. Not all. Like Kishu. He led me to the truck, and I climbed back in, clinging to the only hope of finding my family.
While Kishu started driving away from the city, I opened the box. Inside was a letter and a little multicoloured bag. I read the letter first.
Dear ichigo,
If you're reading this, I know you've escaped. Just know that I am so proud of you for escaping. I know that you'll find your way back to us from here. This will help you find us quicker. This shouldn't have been the way to give it to you, but don't worry; we'll celebrate when you get back.
Love
Mom, dad, lily and Allen
p.s. I should've told you earlier, but I'm pregnant. With twins. Hopefully you'll be here soon to meet them. I'm sure they would love to meet their big sister.
Tears streamed onto the paper and into the box as I reached for the little bag. I opened it and shook the insides into my hand. It was a colour changing collar, with a pendant on it.
The pendant. The coming of age pendant. I should've gotten this when I turned seventeen, a legal adult cat. But I hadn't been able to.
I wound it around my neck, and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I took it off again and stared at it. I hadn't felt any different, which was definitely a bad sign. With the pendant came power. I should've been a stronger cat by now. Why wasn't it working?
Maybe it's broken, a voice in my head whispered. But that was impossible. It was a magic item. They didn't break. I was just doing something wrong. But what?
I crept to the front, showing Kishu the letter and explaining the pendant to him. He took it in well enough, considering he was a human.
After that I put everything, including the pendant, in the box. I hid the box in the truck, and then I slid down onto some pillows that we had stuffed in the corner before we left.
I had to figure out what to do, but for now, all I wanted was to sleep. This day had been exhausting, and I was still wounded. Maybe a nap would be a good idea.
Before I knew it, I was sound asleep again.
I was woken up to darkness by kishu. He was shaking me softly, whispering softly to me. I sat up drowsily and stared at him. He was grinning.
'We need to do some shopping. I figured I'd get some clothes for you, and then you could put them on in here and come choose some food with me. Sound okay?'
I nodded half-heartedly, still not really awake. He chuckled and asked for my clothes and shoe sizes, and I gave them to him. He left, and I went back to sleep.
A little later Kishu woke me up again. He pushed a bag into my hands, and left the truck for me to get changed. Thanks to my enhanced vision (A/N sorry if this sounds really lameXD), I saw that his cheeks were red. I wondered why while I checked the clothes. When I found out though, my cheeks burned brighter than his.
In the bag was a skirt, a pair of leggings, a hoodie, a packet with underwear and a bra. I looked at the bra as my cheeks grew hotter and hotter. But seeing as kishu was waiting outside for me, I put the embarrassing thoughts aside and put on the clothes. Everything fit perfectly, thankfully. Or maybe it was just the thought of having clothes that weren't so revealing that made them so nice.
I climbed out of the van. When I saw him leaning against the van, my cheeks started heating up again. Kishu chuckled, even though he was red as well. Quickly, he pushed some other bags into the van. Then, he took my hand and started pulling me to the store.
'Come on, we're just a normal couple going to the store. Kay?'
I nodded, even though I was starting to feel squeamish. Going about like any other regular human again... it had been so long. What if I did something that gave me away? I didn't want to be locked up again!
Kishu felt my resistance, and turned around to put his arms around my waist and pull me to his chest. He rubbed my shoulders softly. Strangely, it helped. I relaxed in his arms and leaned against him.
'Normal couple,' he whispered. 'Okay?'
I nodded again. This time, I felt surer of myself.
Kishu turned back to the store, but kept one arm around me. We started walking again.
When we entered the store, I felt all of the leftover worry flow out of me. It was just a trip to the store, for heaven's sake. I had done it hundreds of times before, when I had still been part of this wonderful human world. What was there to worry about?
We got all of the basic foods that we would need to survive. Then, kishu pulled me over to the candy section.
'Go on,' he said. 'Pick whatever you want.'
I very nearly strangled him when I hugged him, but I didn't care. He was the nicest, sweetest, most generous person I had ever met. And I loved him for that.
... No! Not like that! Jeez, don't take everything so literally...
Eventually we left the store with about ten bags of shopping, one of those bags entirely filled with candy. What can I say? Don't let the child loose in the candy store.
When we finally had everything loaded into the van, I dropped down onto the cushions, completely exhausted.
'You should probably get some sleep,' Kishu said. 'You had a busy day.'
'But that's... not very nice... to you,' I slurred. 'I wouldn't be a very good travel buddy.'
'I'll go to sleep soon too. I'll just park the van somewhere remote, and then I'll hit the sack. Just go to sleep.'
He didn't need to tell me twice. The last thing I heard was the car engine starting.
Warm lips on mine. Hands in my hair, clinging to it. Soft hair brushing my cheeks.
A dream, I thought hazily, definitely a dream.
And yet, this dream felt so real. Lips really were brushing against mine softly. Fingers were caressing my cheeks softly.
I kissed the mysterious person back, grabbing onto his shirt. This was one of the nicest dreams I had had in a long time. Because I knew who this person was.
Kishu. There was no other person I would dream about like this than him.
Kishu gasped when I kissed him back. And to answer, he pushed his lips against mine, hard. The kiss deepened. Fire was racing through my lips, my whole face. I never wanted this dream to end.
At last kishu broke the kiss, letting me slide back down slowly to the cushions. He was kissing my neck now, nuzzling it.
'I love you,' he whispered. 'I love you so much. When those people took you away from me, I swear my heart broke. I promise you, they'll never take you away from me again.'
With those sweet words in my head, I sank into peaceful darkness.