Ichigo's Illness Chapter 40:
The Next Day
The next morning, Ichigo and Kisshu woke up around the same time, and noticed that Pai and Lettuce were still sleeping in the chairs they had fallen asleep in last night. "Kisshu, how are you feeling?" Ichigo said.
"I feel a lot better, and my stomach feels fine," Kisshu said. "I'm still feeling shaky, though. What about you?"
"I'm fine," Ichigo said. "I'm glad you're feeling better; you were in really bad shape last night. You were right about the fact that throwing up too much causes your body to break down; if Lettuce and I hadn't gotten there as quickly as we did, you'd be in a lot worse shape right now. We weren't able to completely heal you, so you might need to take things slow for a while."
Kisshu sighed. "I hate taking things slow," he said.
"I know," Ichigo said. "I'll help you get through this, and it shouldn't take very long this time."
Kisshu sighed again and sat up. Ichigo sat up too, and they looked over at Pai and Lettuce. "Should we wake them up?" Ichigo asked.
"No, let them sleep," Kisshu said.
Ichigo nodded and got up. Kisshu stood up, but he was looking pretty shaky. Ichigo noticed and came over just in time, since his legs were still too weak to hold him. She caught him as he fell forward, and helped him sit back down. "I guess you're right," Kisshu said. "I am going to have to take things slowly."
"You'll recover," Ichigo said. "You should be back to full strength in a few days. Are you at all hungry?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah, I'm starving," Kisshu said.
"I'll go ask my mom if you can have something to eat," Ichigo said. "You probably can't eat anything too heavy right away."
"Okay," Kisshu said.
Ichigo smiled and left the room. She went across to Yuka's room, and found that no one was there. She went down to the kitchen, and found her mom there. "Morning, Mom," Ichigo said.
Sakura spun and said, "You're up!"
"Yeah, the medicine worked," Ichigo said. "Kisshu's hungry, what should I give him?"
"I'll make some broth, he shouldn't be eating anything too heavy," Sakura said. "Is he coming?"
"After last night, he can't really walk yet," Ichigo said. "He was in really bad shape, and it took a lot of power to make sure he'd actually survive. Lettuce and I couldn't completely heal him, so he needs to take it easy for a while longer."
"Did he kill Mika?" Sakura asked.
"No, he let her live on the condition she never interferes in our lives or sends anymore weird plagues to Tokyo," Ichigo said. "He says he's going soft, but frankly, I don't think he could have killed her in the state he's in right now."
Sakura sighed. "I imagine that's for the best."
"I've never seen you get that mad at anyone," Ichigo commented.
"I've never been that mad in my entire life," Sakura admitted. "I kind of scared myself, and I think I scared Yuka too. It's just that I saw you and Kisshu just withering away, and when Pai said Mika was responsible, I just lost it."
"I can't believe Kisshu slept through that," Ichigo said. "Did it make you feel better?"
"No," Sakura admitted. "The only thing that would have made me feel better at that point would be knowing that you and Kisshu were going to be okay. I was really worried about both of you."
"Well, we're better now," Ichigo said. "I'm back to full strength, and Kisshu should be there in a few days."
Sakura hugged her tightly for a few minutes, then said, "I'll make some broth for Kisshu. You should go see your dad, he's been really worried too."
"Okay," Ichigo said, smiling. She left the kitchen, and went to the living room, where she found Shintaro reading the paper. He looked up as she came in, and jumped up, then came over and hugged her tightly, until she said, "Dad… can't… breathe…"
Shintaro let go and said, "Sorry, I've been really worried about the two of you. Where's Kisshu?"
"I never thought I'd live to see the day you'd worry about my boyfriend," Ichigo said with a grin. Her smile faded a bit as she said, "Lettuce and I couldn't completely heal him, so he's going to have to take it easy for a while. He can't really walk yet, so he's still upstairs. Mom's making him some broth, he finally got hungry."
"I'm glad you're both alright," Shintaro said. "I've been really worried."
"Thanks Dad," Ichigo said. "I'm going back to Kisshu, I want to make sure he hasn't done anything weird to Lettuce and Pai, they're still asleep."
"They slept over?" Shintaro asked.
"More like fell asleep watching Kisshu," Ichigo said. "It was 2 AM when he woke up after collapsing and Lettuce and I healing him."
"Wow," Shintaro said. "Mind if I come?"
"Sure," Ichigo said. "Hey, where's Yuka?"
"I think she was sleeping over at Pudding's," Shintaro said. "Pudding and Taruto invited her after your mom went berserk on Mika, and she accepted. I think she got scared when your mom started slamming pots around."
"That was pretty scary," Ichigo agreed. "Let's go see Kisshu."
Shintaro followed her upstairs, and to Kisshu's room. Kisshu was sitting on the bed, and Lettuce and Pai were glaring at him. When Kisshu saw Ichigo and Shintaro, his jaw dropped.
"What?" Shintaro asked.
"Um… I thought you didn't like me," Kisshu said.
Shintaro started to look a little nervous and didn't reply. Ichigo smirked and said, "Actually, Dad said he was really worried about you. I guess hating you was an act, huh Dad?"
Shintaro looked uncomfortable and said, "Um… pretty much, yeah."
Kisshu looked shocked. Seeing that he was speechless, Ichigo said, "So Dad, does this little confession mean Kisshu and I can sleep together?"
"I'll think about it," Shintaro said, and left, looking highly embarrassed.
Ichigo looked over at Kisshu, who was still speechless, and started laughing.
Pai sighed and said, "Before you get too worked up, would you tell Kisshu that he HAS to delete that photo?"
"What photo?" Ichigo asked, going over to Kisshu. Kisshu snapped out of shock and smirked, then showed her a picture on a digital camera, of Pai and Lettuce sleeping next to each other, Lettuce's head on Pai's shoulder. "Why delete it? It's so cute!" Ichigo said.
"I told you she'd say that," Lettuce sighed.
"Kisshu, if you post that anywhere, Internet or otherwise, you WILL die, got it?" Pai asked.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever Pai," Kisshu said, obviously not listening.
Pai growled, and started to lunge at Kisshu. Ichigo grabbed his arm, and said, "Can you at least wait until Kisshu can defend himself before attacking?"
"I thought you healed him," Pai said grumpily.
"We did, but we couldn't completely heal his weakness," Lettuce said. "It was pretty severe this time."
Pai sighed and settled back into his chair. Sakura came in a few minutes later and said, "Kisshu, I've got some broth for you, you shouldn't eat anything too heavy yet."
"Thanks, Sakura," Kisshu said. He took the bowl from her and started drinking it. When he was finished, he said, "Wow, I can't believe how much I missed eating."
"You haven't been able to in about a month, so I'm not surprised," Sakura said, taking the bowl back.
"It's been that long?" Kisshu asked.
"Now do you understand why everyone, even Shintaro, was worried?" Sakura asked.
"I guess, but the fact that Shintaro was worried about me is still pretty shocking," Kisshu said. "And then he said he'd think about me and Ichigo sleeping together when we're not sick!"
Sakura giggled. "He just needed some time to adjust," she said. "Once he gets used to someone near Ichigo, he treats that person fine. It just takes him a while to warm up to people."
"Wow," Kisshu said. "Can I have more broth?"
"Sure," Sakura said. "But that's it for a while, you shouldn't eat or drink too much right away."
Kisshu sighed, but said, "Thanks."
Sakura smiled and left, returning a few minutes later with more broth. Kisshu drank it, and said, "Thanks, Sakura."
"Sure," Sakura said with a smile. "I'll take the bowl back downstairs." Kisshu handed it to her, and she left.
Pai sighed and said, "I'm going to go tell Keiichiro that you're starting to get better, Kisshu."
"Okay, thanks Pai," Kisshu said.
Pai nodded and teleported off with Lettuce. "What do you want to do now, Kisshu?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't know, since I can't go anywhere," Kisshu said. "Where's Yuka?"
"Dad said Pudding invited her and Taruto over for a sleepover," Ichigo said. "I think my mom kind of scared her."
"Why?" Kisshu asked.
"Oh right, you were sleeping," Ichigo said. "Pai told Mom that Mika was responsible for the stomach bug, and she literally went berserk. I've NEVER seen her that mad. Frankly, I can't believe you slept through that."
"Wow," Kisshu said. "I've never seen her mad at all."
"Yeah, she doesn't usually have a temper," Ichigo said. "She told me this morning that she actually scared herself when she went berserk on Mika."
"It's too bad I missed that," Kisshu said.
"I think it would have scared you, too," Ichigo said. "Even Pai was looking nervous when my mom started screaming."
Kisshu was about to reply, when Sakura came in and said, "Yuka's home, and she wants to see you, is that okay?"
"Sure," Kisshu said. Sakura smiled and went out of the room. A few minutes later she came back with Yuka, who immediately threw herself at Kisshu, knocking him backwards. "Oniichan! You're better!" she cried, doing a pretty good imitation of Pudding glomping Taruto. Unlike Taruto, Kisshu hugged back tightly. Ichigo and Sakura smiled softly, watching them.
Finally Kisshu and Yuka broke apart, and Yuka said, "Oniichan, I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Thanks Yuka," Kisshu said with a smile. "Have you been good while I've been sick?"
"I tried," Yuka said. "Aunt Sakura was fun. But I really missed you."
"I'm sorry," Kisshu said. "I didn't want you to get sick."
"That's okay, all that matters is that you're better," Yuka said. "Can we go play?"
"It has to be something in here," Kisshu said. "I still can't walk."
"I might be able to help," Ichigo said. "Kisshu, lie back down. Yuka, I need you to let go, okay?"
"Okay," Yuka said reluctantly. She slid off the bed as Ichigo laid her hands on Kisshu's chest, and began to glow. The glow was brighter than usual, and it lasted a few minutes before fading into Kisshu's body. Ichigo took her hands away, and asked, "How does that feel?"
"I feel stronger, thanks Koneko-chan," Kisshu said. He put his feet on the floor, and had no trouble standing up. He wasn't shaky anymore either.
"Can we play?" Yuka asked eagerly.
"Can I take a shower first?" Kisshu asked. Yuka pouted, but nodded. Kisshu ruffled her hair and gathered up some clothes, then left.
Yuka sighed and said, "Ichigo-oneechan, can you play with me?"
"Sure Yuka, what do you want to play?" Ichigo asked.
"House!" Yuka said. "That way Oniichan can play when he's done."
"Okay," Ichigo said with a smile. She followed Yuka to her room, and sat down on the floor as Yuka started getting out toys.
Okay, another horrendous chapter ending. I think there will be one more chapter, and then the timeskip thing. Plz Review!
