Ichigo held her breath. Kisshu was the first person she had allowed into her world after all these months. Last night was the first in a long time she allowed anyone to see her cry and the first she allowed them to touch her. She would not even let her parents hug her. Last night though, she felt so terribly alone. She felt alone since Aoyama-Kun died but last night she felt like she could not stand it any longer. The trouble had been that she did not know how to go back to her family or friends. She put up a protective wall around herself for so long that she no longer knew how to take it down. But then Kisshu walked back into her life, a person who could enter her world, come past her locked doors, literally. Until last night no one had entered her self made sanctuary, her room, but he simply came in. She did not have to find a way to let him in, he just came. Her room was the only place she could fall apart, and he had seen her fall apart.
Kisshu stayed with her while she cried, he even tried to help. When she felt like she would die if she had to be alone anymore he appeared. He brought her to this place to make her feel better, taking her out from behind all her self made walls. Now he was entering yet another territory. She let him kiss her once and if she did not push him away he would do it again. Her eyes closed as his soft lips caressed her cheek and worked down her jaw. He kissed her chin, and then just above, only a hair away from her lips. The thought crossed her mind to turn her head away from the kiss that was only seconds away but she simply could not get her mind to react in time.
He could not resist the temptation any longer. His heart beat pounded in his ears as his lips pressed against hers. A sweet explosion clouded his mind. Her kiss, a sweet candy, an intoxicating drug that stole his ability to breathe. He touched her face with his hand and pressed closer deepening the kiss. This kiss felt even better than the first one. Her lips returned his soft touch. He broke the kiss only for a second, just to look at her. Ichigo's eyes were closed. He breathed in as she exhaled, lips touching only slightly. Her eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly. Kisshu kissed her lightly once, and then pressed his lips to hers fully again. He had been waiting so long for this, for her to return his affection. Since the first day they met and he stole a kiss he had longed for another. More than that, he longed for her to let him kiss her and to have her return his kiss. He longed to be with her just this way, for her to be his. These kinds of moments were what his best, most pleasant dreams had been about in the last year and a half.
Kisshu felt her hands on his chest gently, but firmly pushing his away. She had reached her limit it seemed. He reluctantly obeyed and broke the kiss. It was shorter than he wanted, but longer than the kiss she let him have at the water. The truth was if she had not put an end to it he might never have stopped. No kiss could ever be long enough with her, he would always want more. He would never be able to get enough of her. His golden eyes met her big brown ones. Oh no, what was that expression? Had he upset her?
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking again. I didn't bring you here to try to take advantage of you, I swear. I'm still a guy. . . I get carried away even though I don't mean to."
"I know." Her fingers brushed a bit of damp hair from his eyes and grazed the side of his face.
His eyes fluttered closed at her touch. He sat up and turned around quickly, facing the shore, with his back to her. Facing her, looking at her, all it was doing was tempting him. If he was going to slow down his heart and calm himself down he could not keep looking at her. He closed his eyes, focused on the breeze blowing across his skin and the sound of the waves. It was amazing how fast the sound of the ocean began to relax him. He could hear a few seagulls calling into the wind. The wind was blowing hard enough now that his cloths and hair felt much dryer. He could feel his body relaxing as the waves crashed against the rocks.
He felt a gentle touch on his arm, "Hey, Kisshu?"
He did not turn to look at her for fear it would undo all the ground he gained in relaxing. "Yeah?"
Ichigo moved a bit closer behind him. "You're not angry, are you?"
Kisshu shook his head making the bands in his hair brush over his face. "No, I'm not angry at all."
"Are you sure? You have been sitting there quite a while. I thought maybe you were angry."
"No, but it's very peaceful here. It would be very easy to fall asleep to these sounds."
"A lot of people record these sounds and play them to fall asleep to. I think everyone loves the sea." Ichigo wrapped her arms loosely around his neck as she leaned behind him. "Aren't you glad now that you did not destroy it?"
He chuckled, "Yeah, I am."
"We should probably go back now though. But we should come here again some time." She swung around the side of him and smiled. "Right?"
Kisshu froze momentarily, taken back by her smile. This girl. . . how could she always make his heart stop with one look? Seeing her smile got to him even more. She was the most amazing creature in the world, in any world - And she had him wrapped around her little finger, but he did not mind that somehow. He was so happy to see her smile again. The sound of her laughing had been just like pure music. He was a little afraid to take her back home. What if she lost her smile again? Here she seemed to have forgotten her pain, like this was a different dimension. If he took he home would it really be alright?
"We could stay here a little longer, Ichigo."
She shook her head. "My parents will worry too much if I stay away for much longer. It should be time for dinner so I have to be home." She smiled again, "But don't worry! I will sneak you a plate of my mom's food. I know you will like it!"
He bit the inside of his cheek, not wanting to take her home. Wasn't it something there that made her stop smiling? He didn't want to. When he brought her here it was not with the intention of keeping her here, but now that she was smiling again. . . Then again he tried to take her away against her will once before and that had not turned out well. That girl was stubborn when she made up her mind to be.
Ichigo grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Ok?"
"If you really want to go back now, then we can go." He nodded reluctantly.
When it came to Ichigo he was always outmatched no matter what he did. Kisshu scooped her up into his arms, enjoying the moment more he could be with her here. She hid her face and she closed her eyes in preparation. The air rippled as they entered the port and he moved swiftly through it. She held onto him and held her breath. He stepped out carefully behind her house, sure no one would see them. She was right, it was turning dark here. It had not been noticeable at the beach but it was here. He gently set her down on the ground wishing he had taken his time. Ichigo took two step and wavered, legs betraying her totally. His kitty was still not used to that type of travel. He moved forward, arms moving back around her reflexively, a little too much so. She revived instantly, exploding like a wildcat, claws extended, when she noted the unintentional placement of his hands.
"Kisshu!" She jerked free and swiped at him with her hand.
Kisshu dodged her, "Wait! It was an accident!" He held up his hands in surrender.
"Kisshu!" Ichigo hissed. "That was a little too convenient for an accident!"
"I didn't mean to! You were falling! I didn't watch where I was grabbing you!" He sought safety in the sky where she could not reach him. "Does this mean I don't get to try your mom's food?"
Her eyes narrowed, "I'll think about it!" She whirled on her heels, hair swaying as she did. "Can you behave yourself if you wait in my room?"
"So you'll forgive me and bring me food?" He smirked.
"Yes, I will, but watch it next time!" She shot him a wry smile and ran into the house.
Kisshu waited, and waited, and waited for what seemed like a terminal amount of time. His kitty was taking so long, but that was what girls did. He was nearly asleep on her pillow when he heard the door open. A momentary twinge of panic hit when he wondered if one of her parents might have followed her. He had been so near sleep he never would have noticed even if Ichigo had been trying to warn him to hide. He breathed a sigh of relief when she was the only one who came in. As promised she was carrying a plate with her. He had no idea what was on the plate since he was not that familiar with all the human foods but it did smell nice. She held it out to him triumphantly.
"How did you get them to let you bring this up with you?" He took it from her hand.
She dropped onto the bed next to him. "I told them I was really hungry and wanted to take a bit of food to bed with me."
"And they believed you?"
"Of course. They are just so glad to see me eating they would have said yes to me taking the refrigerator with me to bed. It was no trouble at all to get them to agree to the plate."
Kisshu winced inwardly. So she really had not been taking care of herself as he suspected. He noticed her drop in weight the first time he saw her. She did not look bad, just a bit too thin. He had a feeling she had been taking poor care of herself before he came. Now that he was here he would have to be sure she was healthy.
"Ichigo!" He grinned.
"What?" She eyed him, already suspicious of his tone.
"Will you feed me?"
She cocked and eyebrow. "You can teleport and make swords appear, but you can't manage to feed yourself?"
"But I'm tired now! I took you a long way." He whined at her.
"I think you can manage to take a few bites of food to your mouth then." She eyed him defiantly.
Kisshu stuck his lip out, "Please, Koneko-chan!"
"Did you know you are a pain, Kisshu?" She rubbed her lips together to keep from smiling. "But if you're so tired I'm sure you are too tired to eat at all, so I can just take the plate back."
"Aw!" He sighed, "Alright, I guess I can feed myself. . . sense you are too mean to do it for me."
"I am sure you will manage somehow, Kisshu."
Kisshu took the first bite of something fluffy and white. It felt like eating a cloud, a cloud filled with cheese. He attempted to be easy going about it but this might have just become his favorite food. He worked his way through the rest of the nameless food, progressing in speed with each different human food he tried. Ichigo's mother had never met him so he really could not go down and hug her, but it was tempting. He needed to have Ichigo bring him this every time he was here!
"Human food is amazing, Ichigo! I don't eat it that often but it is delicious!"
Ichigo smirked, "I told you that you would like it. But I have a surprise for you!"
He leaned forward excitedly, "What surprise?"
"Cheesecake dessert." She held out a second small plate. "I sneaked this for you too."
He tilted his head, "Cheese is a dessert too? I thought ice cream was dessert."
"You will understand when you try it. Cheesecake is my favorite."
"Really?" He broke off a piece and held it up to her mouth. "Then have it with me."
Ichigo hesitated, "Well. . . alright. . . but I-"
Kisshu stuck it in her mouth before she could finish protesting. His heart thumped a little faster. He did it, he got her to take it! Round one went to him, or was it round two. . . It was round two, but that was fine. He broke off a piece for himself and tasted it.
"Ichigo! You're amazing for bringing it to me! You're so right!" He nuzzled her arm.
"I know! I told you it was good!" She giggled.
"We should eat it every day!"
"No, no! You can't have it every day or you'll get fat, silly!" She rolled her eyes. "You're only supposed to have it once in a while."
Kisshu shoved another piece in her moth before she could stop him. He nudged his way closer to her little by little so she would not notice. Being with her like this was so much fun. He could not have been happier. It was like they were old friends just talking and laughing. The best thing was that she gave him cheesecake, and even better that she let him give her some. At this moment nothing could have been better. Coming back seemed to be going fine. There was one thing he was going to do that would make her mad though but he was going to do it anyway.
He eyed a crumb of cheesecake left over from him shoving it into her mouth. "Ichigo, hold still." He moved swiftly, catching the piece stuck to her lip with a swipe of his tongue.
Ichigo's cheeks flushed bright red instantly.
"You had a few crumbs stuck to your face." He declared innocently, as if he did her a favor.
Her brown eyes narrow but she just stood up. "I'm going to wash these." She scooped up the dishes. "Stay put."
Kisshu licked his lips. The cake was sweet, but that was even sweeter. He dropped back onto her pillow with a smug, triumphant, and devious smile inescapably plastered to his face. That was more fun than it even should have been. He loved the instant blush that washed over her cheeks. It was deliciously fun and amusing. He would have to think of more ways to make her blush like that.
The door opened again a few minutes later and she walked in without a word or a look in his direction. This might be a problem. He glided to his feet and watched her hang up a few bits of clothes, slamming hangers around a bit more forcefully than needed. He winced when she shut the closet door with a loud thud. Ichigo snatched up her night gown, whirled on her heels and leveled him with a stare.
"Are you planning to stand there all night when I am trying to get ready for bed?" She asked sharply.
Kisshu gave her his most adoring smile, "Is that a no to my question about being able to stay here again tonight?"
Her eyes narrowed without a word.
He put on his sweetest most pitiful face, "Please, Ichigo? I don't have anywhere else to stay you know."
"How did you get here?" She asked shortly.
"I borrowed a ship from Pai. Why?"
"Then you do have a place to stay." She waltzed by him.
"But, Ichigo, come on! It is cold in there at night and it is so hard to sleep in!" He dropped to his knees. "Please, please, please let me stay here! I hate sleeping in that thing!" It was a lie. He did not mind sleeping in it at all. Taruto was staying there. Kisshu only minded because he wanted to stay with her. Even if it had been a palace he would have hated it as long as it meant leaving her. Kisshu dropped down farther and grabbed her ankle and continued whining pitifully.
"Fine!" She hissed.
"Please, Ichigo! Please!" He continued.
"I said you could, now shut up! You are worse than a two year old!"
Bingo! Kisshu floated up and threw his arms around her. "You really are the best, Koneko-chan!"
"Now get in the closet." She ordered, unaffected by his adoration.
"Eh? You're going to make me sleep in the closet?"
"No, that's where you will be until I change my clothes!" Ichigo grabbed him by the arm, tossed him in, and shut the doors.
Kisshu sighed and waited obediently for her to finish. Her could smell her perfume on her cloths. He did not mind this as long as he got to come out eventually. This was not too high a price for getting to see her in the nightgown and stay the night again. Being locked in a closet was not the worst thing she could have done to him. It was getting a bit warm inside of it though. It would not be very long before it was going to be too warm. He frowned as the thought crossed his mind that she probably never locked that Blue Knight in a closet. His fingers knotted into fists. Why was he always having to worry about that guy? He should he been the one with her all along! He would have treated her better. Where was that guy when Ichigo was so depressed anyway? If he was so great why was he not around to comfort Ichigo? If she would ever agree to be his he would never leave her side like that guy seemed to have done.
The doors flew open unexpectedly, "You can come out now, Kisshu."
She made a squeaking sound as he suddenly swept her into the air. "Lets go to bed. I'm sleepy, Ichigo."
She frowned, "You couldn't tell me that while I was on the floor?"
He grinned, "Will you kiss me goodnight, Ichigo?"
"No." She crossed her arms.
"Ok, then you have to tuck me in instead."
"What? Tuck you in? What are you talking about?"
"You have to sing to me, or tell me a story. . . something like that." He twirled her in circles in the air.
Ichigo sprang out of his arms, cat reflexes showing as she hit the ground, and switched off the light. "Get in bed, now, you weirdo!"
"Oh! Ichigo, that sounds so-"
"Keep talking and you're sleeping outside." She leveled him with a glare and walked to the bed.
Ichigo slipped under the blankets and nestled in. He noticed she already had her back to him. That might be a bad sign. There was a chance he had gone a little too far and annoyed her too much. He stared at her in silence for a long time wondering what he should do. Maybe if he left her alone she would calm down and forget about being angry with him. If he was careful she would forget all about being angry by morning. He jumped as she rolled over and looked into his eyes.
"Thank you for today. It was a lot of fun." Her eyes were soft again. "There, I told you something good, so that counts as a bed time story."
Kisshu smiled, "You are so cute, Koneko-chan!"
Ichigo slipped one arm around his waist and settled her head against his chest. "I was really happy today, Kisshu."
He circled her in his arms and thought about trying for a kiss.
"However, Kisshu. . . if you miss behave I will still kick you onto the floor!"
Kisshu nodded. Okay, so the kiss idea was out. But this was nice too. He would get to cuddle with Ichigo all night again. There was not much more he could ask for. She was smiling again and she was letting him stay. This was so much more than he ever dreamed he would get with her when he first came to her room to see her yesterday. His hopes had already been exceeded, wonderfully so. Tonight was even better than before because she looked so much happier this time. She was not crying. He could still feel the sadness she carried deep inside her though. It was a deep pain that had been given enough time to eat away at her from the inside. He had a bad feeling it would take a long time to free her from that, but things were looking better. He was the only one for her. He would always protect her no matter what. Somehow, in time, he would find a way to banish all her bad dreams. For tonight though, he would just enjoy the small victories.