Betraying My People Chapter 10:
This is a Problem….
Kisshu woke up that night, while Ichigo was out. Pai was in there instead, and he asked, "Kisshu, how are you feeling?"
"Awful," Kisshu said in a weak voice. "I feel really weak." He started coughing. When he got his breath back, he said, "I'm still cold, too."
Pai felt his forehead, and his eyes widened. "Your fever went back up," he said. "I'm getting more of the medicine. Try to stay awake till I get back, okay?"
"Okay," Kisshu said.
Pai teleported out, and got the medicine and a spoon, then went back and gave Kisshu a spoonful of it. "Are you hungry?" Pai asked.
"No," Kisshu said. "Where's Ichigo?"
"She was making dinner," Pai said. "Do you want me to get her?"
"Yeah…." Kisshu said.
Pai teleported out, and Ichigo came in a few minutes later. She had a bowl of soup with her, and she said, "Kisshu, you should have some of this."
"I'm not hungry," Kisshu said.
"Do you feel sick?" Ichigo asked.
"No, I'm just not hungry," Kisshu replied. "I'm tired…"
Ichigo sighed and put the soup on Kisshu's desk, and said, "Get some rest, then. I'll be right here."
Kisshu fell asleep almost immediately. Ichigo noticed his cheeks were flushed again, and got a cold cloth, then put it over Kisshu's forehead.
Pai came in a while later, and asked, "How is he?"
"He's still got a really high fever," Ichigo replied. "And he says he has no appetite. I'm worried, he came down with this really quickly."
"You're right," Pai said. "I wonder if Deep Blue has something to do with this."
"Why do you think that?" Ichigo asked.
"Kisshu got sick right after we talked to Deep Blue," Pai replied. "And Kisshu's the leader of this mission, not to mention he's the best warrior on our planet. If Deep Blue wants us out of the way, he'd have to take down Kisshu first."
Ichigo looked scared. "If Deep Blue is behind this, does that mean there's no way to cure Kisshu?" she asked. "If he caused this, he could do it again, even if we figure out how to cure Kisshu."
Pai looked worried. "You have a point," he said. "We may have to get rid of Deep Blue to help Kisshu."
"I wonder what he meant when he said, "I'll control that boy by myself", Ichigo said.
"Deep Blue has a human host in your world," Pai explained. "I wonder if I can find out who it is?"
"You'd better get on that," Ichigo said. "Kisshu's life may depend on it."
"I'll go start that," Pai said. "Stay in here, I'll keep you posted."
"Got it," Ichigo said. Pai teleported out to start research. It was getting late, so Ichigo decided to go to sleep. She checked on Kisshu, and saw that he was still sleeping. Then she got in her sleeping bag and went to sleep.
The next morning, she woke up suddenly, because Kisshu was coughing. She got up and went over to him, then pulled him into a sitting position. Kisshu slowly stopped coughing, but he was gasping for air.
When it looked like his breathing was back to normal, Ichigo started to lay him back down, but noticed his breathing became harsher when she did. "Koneko-chan, I really don't feel good," Kisshu said. "I can't breathe."
Ichigo looked worried. "Should I get Pai?" she asked.
"No, I want you to stay here," Kisshu said. "I don't want to be alone."
Ichigo was worried, but said, "Okay, I'll stay. Do you need help sitting up?"
"I think so," Kisshu said. "Sorry."
"It's not your fault," Ichigo said. "I'll be able to support you better if I'm sitting behind you, okay?"
"K," Kisshu said.
Ichigo climbed onto the bed, and leaning against the headboard, she rested Kisshu's head in her lap.
Pai came in a few minutes later, and saw them. Ichigo looked up at him and said, "Kisshu can't breathe lying down, so I'm supporting him."
"Kisshu, you can't breathe?" Pai asked, worried.
"Not too well," Kisshu said.
Pai came over and put a hand on Kisshu's forehead. "You need more medicine," he said. "Your fever just isn't going away."
Kisshu started coughing again, and when he stopped, he was gasping for air. He finally got his breath back, but suddenly passed out. Pai immediately put a hand on his forehead, then yanked it off. "This is getting bad," he said grimly. "His temperature just shot up again. I don't think the medicine can help him anymore."
Ichigo looked scared. "What do we do? If we can't bring his fever down, he could…" she trailed off.
"I know," Pai said. "And I don't know what to do either."
Before Ichigo could say anything, Kisshu started gasping for air again. Ichigo was really scared now. She put a hand on Kisshu's cheek, and noticed that his skin was cooler. She looked at Pai, and said, "His skin is cooler now. Is that good or bad?"
Pai's eyes widened. "That's bad," he whispered. "At this rate…" he trailed off.
Ichigo caught Pai's meaning instantly. This can't be happening… she thought. No…no… "NO!" she screamed, and was instantly enveloped in pink light.
Pai watched in awe as the pink light surrounded Ichigo. Then the pink light started to flow into Kisshu, and he began to glow as well. Pai noticed Kisshu's labored breathing was starting to even out.
Finally the light show faded, and Pai came over. Kisshu was starting to wake up. Ichigo noticed, and said, "Kisshu, how are you feeling?"
"I think I'm feeling better," Kisshu said. "A minute ago I felt like my whole body was going numb, but that feeling's gone."
Ichigo and Pai both heaved sighs of relief. "Thank goodness," Pai said. "We thought you were about to die."
"Is that why I felt numb?" Kisshu asked. "What happened, anyways?"
"Ichigo noticed your skin was going cold, and we both thought you were going to die," Pai replied. "Then she was surrounded by pink light, and the light flowed into you."
"Ichigo, you can heal?" Kisshu asked.
"I guess so," Ichigo said.
"Thanks for saving me," Kisshu said.
"I'm just glad you didn't die," Ichigo said. "I think you need more time to recover, though. That was pretty serious."
"I think you're right," Kisshu admitted. "I still feel really weak. I don't think I can sit up. But I can breathe again. Is my fever gone?"
Ichigo put a hand on his forehead, and said, "Yeah, it feels like it. I think you need to take it easy, though. I wasn't able to completely heal you."
"K," Kisshu said. "Can I have something to eat? I'm hungry."
"I'll go heat up some soup," Pai said. "You shouldn't eat anything too heavy right away."
"Okay," Kisshu said.
Pai teleported out and came back a few minutes later with a bowl of soup. Ichigo had moved to a chair next to Kisshu's bed, and Pai handed her the bowl. "Kisshu, open up," she said, spooning up some soup.
Kisshu obeyed, and Ichigo started feeding him the soup. When he finished the bowl, Ichigo set it aside, and said, "You should go to sleep, you really need to rest."
Kisshu sighed, and Ichigo smoothed his bangs back. "I'll be right here," she said. "Don't worry, you'll recover."
"Alright," Kisshu said, settling down. He was asleep in minutes.
Pai beckoned to Ichigo, who went over. "You'll stay?" he asked her.
"Yeah, after that, he needs someone 24/7," Ichigo said.
"What if you need to sleep?" Pai asked.
"I'll just sleep with him," Ichigo said. "He seems to like it when I do that."
Pai nodded. "Come get me if you need me, but I'll be in and out," he said.
"Will do," Ichigo said. Pai nodded and teleported out.
Kisshu woke up later that day, and said, "I'm kind of hot, can you take some of the blankets off?"
"Sure," Ichigo said. She hesitated, then said, "You don't mind if I sleep with you, do you?"
"Not at all, I love it when you do that," Kisshu said.
Ichigo smiled and took some of the blankets off. "That's better," Kisshu said. "Thanks, Koneko-chan."
"Sure Kisshu," Ichigo said. She smoothed the remainder of the blankets out, and said, "Try to get some more rest, it's the only way you'll recover."
"I'm not really tired," Kisshu said.
"Do you want me to find a book?" Ichigo asked.
"Can we play a game?" Kisshu asked.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Ichigo said reluctantly. "Pai said that you shouldn't get excited or worked up right now. It could be bad for you."
Kisshu sighed. "What books do you have?" he asked.
"The Beasts of Clawstone Castle is a good one," Ichigo said. "I brought it in here while you were sleeping."
"Okay," Kisshu said.
Ichigo picked up the book, which was lying on her sleeping bag, and opened it to the first page. Then she started reading aloud.
Eventually Kisshu got tired, and he said, "Can we stop?"
"Sure, it's nighttime anyways," Ichigo said. "Can I sleep with you?"
"Sure," Kisshu said. He scooted over, and Ichigo climbed in next to him. They curled up together, and slowly fell asleep.
Over the course of the next two weeks, Ichigo stayed with Kisshu all the time. Since she had brought him back from the brink of death, he had been getting slowly stronger. It still took a long time for him to start recovering, though. It wasn't until halfway through the week after Ichigo healed Kisshu that he could sit up, and it took another week before he could stand. Although he was able to walk soon after, he still got tired out very easily. Pai told him to stay close to or in his room at all times, since he had a tendency to get tired out walking, and then needed help getting back to his room.
Strangely, but luckily, they hadn't seen or heard from Deep Blue at all since Kisshu had gotten sick. Pai was still doing research on Deep Blue's human host, while Ichigo was helping Kisshu, who wasn't happy with how slowly he was recovering. Ichigo understood he was frustrated, having to take everything slowly, when he was used to being active.
About a month later, Kisshu was almost back to full strength. He only got tired teleporting, but he could fly again. The teleporting thing bugged him, and he was talking to Ichigo about it one day. "I really miss being able to teleport," he told her. "I wish this problem would go away."
"It will soon," Ichigo said. "You nearly died, it's going to be a while before you can really say you're back to full strength. I know you're frustrated, but you'll get through this."
"It's been a MONTH," Kisshu said.
"Just be grateful you're actually alive," Ichigo said. "If I hadn't gotten so scared and discovered a new power, you'd be dead right now. I think the weakness is a pretty small price to pay for still being alive."
Kisshu looked at her, and said, "You're right. I'm sorry, it's just hard to have to take everything slowly."
"I know," Ichigo said. "And I don't blame you for being frustrated."
"Thanks, Koneko-chan," Kisshu said. "Can we get something to eat?"
"Sure," Ichigo said, smiling.
They went to the kitchen, where to their surprise, they found Keiichiro, as well as Pai and Taruto. Pai looked like he was sulking.
"What's going on?" Ichigo asked.
"Taruto came to find me and told me that Pai is a disaster in the kitchen, then grabbed me and teleported here," Keiichiro said. "Is there a reason you can't cook for them?"
"I've been with Kisshu," Ichigo said.
"It's been a MONTH since that happened," Taruto complained.
"That's what Kisshu said," Ichigo said.
"What did happen?" Keiichiro asked.
"Deep Blue somehow got Kisshu sick, and he nearly died," Ichigo said. "I discovered a new power to heal just in time, but that experience left Kisshu very weak, and I felt that I needed to stay with him until he was back to full strength."
"Kisshu, are you okay?" Keiichiro asked, sounding worried.
"Aside from not being able to teleport without collapsing, yes," Kisshu said. "The teleporting problem is annoying, though."
"Well, at least you're alive," Keiichiro said. "Pai said something about a truce, but then Taruto saw he was getting out a pot, and panicked. Is Pai really that bad?"
"Yes," Kisshu and Taruto said. "He poisoned us one time, and after that, he's been banned from the kitchen."
Keiichiro sighed, and said, "So what was that about a truce?"
Pai said, "Our leader is against us using Mew Aqua to heal our planet, and we believe he was just using us to take over the Earth for himself. We told him that plan, and he basically told us we were no good. We believe it would be better if our two groups cooperated to collect the Mew Aqua, and then used it to heal our home planet. Then we wouldn't have to attack the humans."
"That's a good plan, but do we have to worry about your leader?" Keiichiro asked.
"I'm working on that," Pai said. "He has a human host in your world, and if I find out who it is before he takes control, we can kill the human and the problem will be solved."
"Let's talk to the other Mews, too," Keiichiro said.
"Okay," Ichigo said. "Should we go now?"
"Sure," Keiichiro said. "Let's go."
Okay, horrendous chapter ending. I hope you'll review, and not flame me.