OTDE series: Into The Deep Chapter 2 – Betrayed

Once again I'm so sorry for not updating last week but I started school and we had some stuff going on in my family and it was just absolutely hectic. I hope you guys can forgive me and still enjoy this series. Thanks to Soccer-geek for letting me use her name for the Cyniclon planet (Cynth). What's wrong with Kish? How long can they hide out at the country house? Read on to find out!

Ichigo rolled out of bed, a weird but cute mix of a groan and a purr leaving her lips as she stretched herself. They had been on Cynth for four days, most of which had been spent lounging in the luxurious house. Ichigo would have been perfectly happy if there wasn't one little problem…

Out of those four days, Kish had only spoken to her on the first.

She didn't know what was going on with him, but she was starting to get fairly annoyed. He had promptly avoided her as soon as they landed, not even making eye contact when they happened to pass each other in the halls. Not that that happened much since he seemed to be very good at disappearing as soon as he caught sight of her.

The others had noticed it quickly. Before they had left Earth, whenever Kish and her had been in the same room they had always some sort of contact, whether it be holding hands or having Kish's arms wrapped around her waist.

Honestly she should have noticed something was wrong. On the ship he had seemed so distant and anxious, but she had summed that up to his going home. Now she wondered what exactly it could be. Was he finally realizing he could do so much better than her? Or did he blame her for killing and destroying while in Chimera form? She really wouldn't blame him for either.

Ichigo's thoughts were interrupted by a soft tap on the door.

Kisshu she prayed involuntarily, her heart beating at the thought of seeing him on the other side of the door, his green hair tousled and messy, his amber eyes glowing and his devilish smirk showing the tips of his fangs.

She opened the door and her heart fell. Lot stood there, his green eyes lighting up when he caught sight of her. He smiled happily and bid her good morning.

"Good morning to you too." She responded, trying to not let her disappointment show. She didn't manage it. His smile faltered a little and his expression turned sympathetic.

"Expecting someone else?" He asked quietly. Ichigo sighed and stepped past him.

"No, not really."

A few minutes later they arrived in the "dining room" which was really more like a buffet line. Any type of breakfast food you could imagine was laid out for the taking and Ichigo's mouth watered at the sight of it even though she had probably eaten three times her weight in food in the past couple days. She spotted a plate of pancakes covered in strawberries and strawberry syrup, one of her favorites. She swooped in, quickly snatching the dish from the table before anyone else could claim it. Lot laughed and grabbed a plate of French toast, something he had always requested from the café during his time on earth, and led her out a side door that opened up onto a garden patio.

It was a beautiful little spot, a quaint table nestled in-between the blossoming flowers and towering trees. Lot used one hand to pull a chair out for her, waited for her to sit, and pushed her in. She thanked him quietly, the whole time trying to remember if Kish had ever done that for her.

Ichigo blushed as she realized Lot was staring at her, waiting for an answer to a question she hadn't heard.

"Sorry, what was that?" Her face burned and she looked down at her breakfast.

"I asked if you were missing home yet." He said. His green eyes studied her, watching her expression as she answered.

"Not really. My parents are never really home, so I guess I'm kind of used to not seeing them. Besides Moe and Miwa, all my other friends are here with me." She explained, trying to avoid getting syrup everywhere as she cut into the cakes. Lot was quiet for a second, seeming to contemplate something.

"But there is someone or something you miss." It was a statement not a question. Ichigo froze, her mouth popping into an 'o' of surprise.

Lot's face turned red and he began to stammer.

"I..I'm sorry. It's none of my business I just…I don't like seeing you sad." He clamped his mouth shut as though he had said more than he meant to. Ichigo rubbed the back of her neck-a nervous habit she had picked up from Kish- and sighed.

"No no it's all right. It's true. I just thought it was obvious is all. I mean, I thought everyone could see that Kish is avoiding me." She set her fork down, no longer having an appetite. Lot was quiet and suddenly his hand brushed softly over her cheek.

"He doesn't know what he's missing." His voice was soft and his eyes were warm with a mix of sadness in them.

Ichigo pulled back, her cheeks flaming again.

"I..I should go." She said quickly. Lot looked at her again, this time his eyes were resigned and depressed.

"I'm sorry. I've lost someone too and I know how it feels. I just…I don't want you to be alone and…and I don't want to go through this alone either." His eyes stared past her as he remembered the gory scene of his brother's death.

"Oh Lot." Ichigo breathed, settling herself back in the chair. "You never really had time to grieve for him did you?"

"He didn't even have a proper funeral. Cyniclons never bury the dead. We burn them on a beautiful pyre, decorated with their favorite things and flowers brought by everyone attending. The ashes are left out so the wind can blow them away. Burying the dead is too much like our living in the caves, it restricts us, keeps us from being really free. It was more of a prison than it was a home." By this time Lot's eyes had spilled over and warm tears streaked his cheeks.

Ichigo pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around his lithe form.

Kisshu stood at the window, watching the scene on the patio. He watched as the boy put his hand on Ichigo's face, watched as he made her smile.

Watched as his Koneko-chan embraced him.

Though he knew it was for her own good, seeing her and not being able to be with her was slowly killing him. A huge Ichigo shaped hole had not only been ripped in his heart but also his whole world. Everything reminded him of her, the sweet smell of the flowers in bloom, the pink in the sunrise, even the wind rustling through the trees was a painful reminder of her tinkling laugh.

Kish couldn't find refuge in his sleep either, as every dream in the past four nights had been of Ichigo. It was the same thing over and over.

In the dream, he would see her figure standing just out of reach. Each step he took towards her, she took a step away. He would chase her through the dream and then suddenly she would stop and turn slowly towards him. His heart would pound as she neared him, her eyes husky and longing. Her lips would hover just millimeters above his, hot breath pouring over his skin.

And then she was gone. The rest of the dream was darkness. He would always wake before he found his way out of the dark, though he suspected that was because there was no exit.

Kish was snapped from his thoughts when he realized that the room had gone silent. No one moved as they stared at him, hands and forks paused in midair, reaching for food. Mouths hung open on unfinished sentences.

He had been staring out the window at Ichigo, and she was looking back.

She was still looking when a thin girl ran through the door and launched herself at Kish.

She was still looking when the girl pulled him towards her and pressed their lips together.

What? What just happened? Guess you'll have to wait until next Thursday to find out! Please review and let me know what you think, who you think the girl is, and what you want to happen!