Brought Together Chapter 4:

Ichigo's Decision

Pai, noticing that Kisshu had calmed down somewhat, said, "Um… can you take that medicine now, Kisshu?"

"Fine, but then you have to explain how I got this way in the first place," Kisshu said. "I feel really weak and tired, and you said I have a really high fever. Why is that?"

"Medicine first," Pai said.

Kisshu sighed, but nodded. Pai poured a little of the fever medicine onto a spoon, and held it out to Kisshu, who swallowed it. When he had swallowed all of it, he said, "Yuck. Now are you going to tell me what happened?"

"Fine…. I'm not positive, but I think you went into a state of shock, and it was so severe that it caused you to get sick," Pai said.

"Why would I go into shock?" Kisshu asked, puzzled.

Pai glanced at Ichigo, and said, "We think it's because of what Ichigo said to you earlier."

"Oh…." Kisshu said. "Did you really mean that, Ichigo?"

"No, I didn't. I was just having a bad day, and your attack made it worse," Ichigo said. "I'm really sorry."

"Why were you having a bad day?" Kisshu asked.

Ichigo replied, "I woke up late and got yelled at by my teacher, that treehugger broke up with me, I had to work an extra two hours at the Café because I was five minutes late, and I had to fight your Chimera tiger thing."

"Wait, you were only five minutes late, and you had to work two extra hours?" Kisshu asked. "Blondie must really hate you…"

"I think he does," Ichigo said sadly. "I don't understand why, considering no one else actually does any work at the Café but me, but he obviously hates me, because I'm the only one he treats like dirt."

"Sorry about that," Kisshu said. "Hey, can I kill the treehugger now that you don't like him anymore?"

"Wait until you're recovered," Pai said before Ichigo could say anything.

"Fine….." Kisshu said. "I'm getting tired anyways. What time is it?"

"About 10 at night," Pai replied. "You should get some rest."

"Okay…" Kisshu said. He fell asleep a few minutes later.

Pai left the room and beckoned to Ichigo as well. She followed him out and he closed Kisshu's door.

"Do you want to go home?" Pai asked Ichigo.

He was surprised when she said, "No. I'm fine staying here as long as you are fine with it."

"Why?" Pai asked.

"I want to be here for Kisshu," Ichigo said.

"Is that the only reason?" Pai asked.

"I guess not…" Ichigo said. "I just want to get away, and besides, if I leave now, my dad will kill the treehugger before Kisshu gets a chance to."

"If you're staying here, don't you need clothes and things?" Pai asked.

"Might be a good idea…" Ichigo said. "I should leave my pendant behind, so Ryou can't track me."

"I'll teleport you back to your house, then you can get your stuff," Pai said. He took her hand and they teleported to Ichigo's room. Ichigo quickly grabbed a bag, and shoved some clothes into it. Then she peeked out the door, ran to the bathroom, grabbed some toiletries, and ran back, closing her door silently. She shoved the stuff into the bag, then grabbed her sleeping bag and pillow and said softly, "Okay, I'm all set, let's go." Pai nodded, and teleported her back to Kisshu's room.

Once there, Ichigo laid out her sleeping bag and pillow, and took her shoes off. She set her things to one side as Pai teleported out. Ichigo climbed into her sleeping bag, and went to sleep.

Short, I know. I'll post more tomorrow, I think. I'm hoping people will review soon…. Thanks to Shady-rocket-chu-girl, who is my best friend and my first reviewer.