What's Ichi's second fear? Here's the answer.

Chapter 12: Stormy Night

It was late at night and both me and Ichi keep hearing the thunder crashing every couple of minutes thanks to a certain thunderstorm popping in. I definitely hated hearing it every single time it rains that rough and when another one made it more louder, I could hear Ichi scream loudly and that frightenened me to the extent and when I looked at him, he was in the corner, just trembling.

I went over to him and I asked, "Are you okay?"

"D-D-D-Did the storm bother you?" asked Ichi, fearfully.

"A little." I replied.

Another clap of thunder comes out of nowhere and Ichi became freaked out about how loud it became and lets out several whimpers as he hid himself in a corner, hoping that it just goes away.

"It's bothering me a lot." Ichi said.

Then, I remembered...he's afraid of thunderstorms. I sorta figured that out myself years ago on the first week he shared a room with me that there was a huge thunderstorm that night.

2 years ago...

The thunder kept me up through most of the night and I was really scared of how loud it sounded and how I wished it would just go away, but it seems as though I'm not the only one afraid of the storm.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

As I got up, I saw Ichi's tail popping out of my pillow and he was shaking in fear and I wanted to know what's wrong and when I saw his face, I could tell that he was definitely scared. I was confused at to why and I asked, "Are you okay?"

"No." Ichi replied.

"What's wrong?"

Just as Ichi was about to answer, a flash of lightning struck and five claps of thunder were rumbling through the air and that made Ichi jump out of the bed and hid himself into a corner. I didn't understand why he was like this and it broke my heart to see him in this position and I said, "Ichi...what's bothering you?"

"I'm...I'm afraid." Ichi said, tearfully.

"What are you afraid of?"

Another sounds of thunder comes in and Ichi began whimpering and crying at the same time and covered his ears to prevent hearing the thunder again and then...it all made sense. He's afraid of thunderstorms.

"It's the storm, isn't it?" I asked, in a gentle tone.

Ichi didn't want to answer that, but the look on his face was enough to get his answer and he told me, "I've always been afraid of thunderstorms...ever since I was little."

I never realized he was that scared of it as I am and I said to him, "I'm afraid of thunderstorms too."

"You are?"

"Mm-hmm."

Ichi never knew anyone that would be afraid of thunderstorms as he was and he went over to me and asked, "Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

I nodded my head and said, "Of course."

I went into my bed and Ichi laid down on the edge, where I'm closer to and I said, "I'm by your side, Ich."

Ichi looked at me and I was right in front of him, just to let him know that he's not alone and that he's got a friend in me and he lets out a smile and said, "Thank you, Musaki."

Flashback ended

"I thought you might've grown out of that." I added.

Ichi looks up at me and he said, "That's something I'll never grow out of it...ever. I'm always afraid of thunderstorms, day and night...for 9 years."

I widened my eyes at that after he told me how long he's been afraid of storms and I asked, "9 years?"

"Yes."

"What about the first three years?" I asked.

"I don't really remember that much about my past, Saki...besides me killing my parents. All I know is that I don't like thunder and lightning. It scares me." Ichi said.

"It scares you when you're by yourself?"

"Mm-hmm." Ichi replied, timidly.

I couldn't blame him for that because I shared that same phobia ever since my parents died and I looked up at him and said, "You're not alone now."

Ichi looks at me and he just jumped into my arms for a huge hug and I couldn't resist giving him one too and I know that our friendship will grow stronger, even through the storm.

Friendship goes through everything. Got more coming up!