OTDE: Into The Deep Chapter 6- The Return

So I debated whether or not to do a Christmas chapter but with what happened to Ichigo I decided to would be very hard and weird and I procrastinated too long. But I hope you like this chapter so maybe that will make up for it Let me know what you think!

Kisshu lifted his head sleepily from the bed, his back cracking as he sat up in the chair. He had been sitting by Ichigo's bedside for hours, watching her sleep, and had only recently dozed off. One hand gripped her smaller one and the other gently caressed her face.

"Koneko-chan please wake up." He whispered. Kish had been sitting here, in clear sight of the door, ever since Lot had burst in the night before.

"Is Ichigo in here?" He had questioned, his blonde hair ruffled from running his hands through it. Kish had glared at the older Cyniclon boy, wanting so badly to smack him away.

"She's here but I've requested that she be left alone until we can figure out what is wrong with her" he growled, watching as Lot's face darkened with anger.

"Well why shouldn't I be allowed to see her? I was there when it happened!" His voice lowered and Kisshu could hear him straining to keep it under control. Kish bared his fangs slightly, not liking that the boy was still here.

"For all we know you could be the cause of this." Kish knew the accusation was wild but he didn't really care at the moment. He just wanted Lot out of the room. Lot's eye grew wide and he growled low in his throat, his fangs glistening under the overhead light.

"She would still be out there if it wasn't for me. We all know you wouldn't go looking for her. You haven't cared about her at all for the past few weeks and suddenly you want to step in just because she's hurt? You just don't want me to be here when she wakes up because you know…" Kisshu had cut him off by punching him in the mouth. The Cyniclon looked stunned for a few seconds but then retaliated by connecting his own fists with Kish's stomach. The wind rushed out of Kish, leaving him bent over and heaving.

"Let's take this outside. I don't want Ichigo getting hurt." Kisshu hissed as he regained his breath. Lot shook his head, visibly attempting to calm himself.

"No. This alone would hurt Ichigo. I'm done with you Kisshu. You can act all caring and sweet while she's hurt but as soon as she's well again I know that I will be there for her. In fact, with the way you've been treating her, I have no doubt she'll come to me over you." With that said, Lot had walked out. Kisshu rubbed his sore stomach muscles and wondered how true that was.

Kish snapped himself out of the reverie, his hand fluttering uselessly around Ichigo's face. He pressed his forehead to the side of the bed, cursing himself for being so stupid. Mikata had avoided him since he had proclaimed his love for Ichigo and he could really have used his best friend at the moment. He was sure the girl would want nothing to do with him, just like Ichigo would probably want nothing to do with him when she woke up.

The door opened and Kish stiffened, not really wanting another confrontation with Lot until he'd had time to think out his argument. Moments later he relaxed, seeing Karma's silver hair as she entered. The Cyniclon looked sadly down at Ichigo, thinking how vulnerable the usually buoyant looked lying still in the bed.

"I remember the day I met her." She said quietly, noticing that Kish's ears perked up though his gaze had already returned to Ichigo. "I was completely star struck, I mean she was such a huge deal here and I couldn't believe that I was getting to meet her. To see her in action no less! I hope I didn't make too much a fool of myself." She chuckled softly. Kish shook his head, a small smile playing on his face. Karma sat herself next to her adopted brother and continued.

"I soon realized she was so much more than just some figurehead. She was so brave and strong and confident. She led us all against impossible odds and almost lost herself in the process." It was true. Karma admired and respected Ichigo as a leader, but she loved her as a friend and a sister. She knew that even though Kish hadn't been acting like it, he still loved her as well, and maybe this whole thing was the wakeup call he needed to get his head out of his butt.

Kish had been sitting quietly, as he had done for the majority of his time at Ichigo's bedside, but suddenly his fist smashed into the wall. Karma jumped slightly, not having expected the rage but she looked calmly into his angry amber eyes.

"She's never given up before! WHY ISN'T SHE FIGHTING NOW? ICHIGO WHY AREN'T YOU FIGHTING?" His voice rose in desperation. His anger dissipated, leaving him empty and miserable. He hadn't cried since seeing Ichigo's limp body in Lot's arms but now the tears came, streaming down his face and falling into the green hair that had come loose about his shoulders. Karma rose from her seat, coming to wrap her arms around her younger brother. His sobs racked his body, and it was a few minutes before he had quieted enough to speak.

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't tried to keep both her and Mikata….If I hadn't been so selfish…" he cried and his attention turned back to Ichigo. He took her hand gently and leaned down to press his forehead against it. "I'm so sorry Ichigo. I will never forgive myself if you die. I don't think I could stand it." He whispered.

Karma squeezed him once more and took her leave, knowing that she could do no more to comfort the heartbroken Cyniclon. As she left the room she spotted Mikata leaning against the wall opposite of the door. The silver haired alien closed the door softly behind her and stared at the girl she had known for so long. Her eyes were dark with pain but also filled with a strong determination.

"Please don't be too hard on him. I don't know if he can handle losing you right now." Karma said quietly and walked down the hall. Mikata stared at her retreating figure, wondering just how she should handle the situation. A very big part of her was mourning over her own loss, the loss of her wedding, husband and future. But another part knew that Kisshu had never been hers to lose. She had always known that his feelings for her were much more platonic than she hoped for and though she had tried to deny it, she had seen the sorrow in his eyes when he had returned home the first time, and the gleam in them after the call to return to earth. It had been too evident that he had been completely head over heels in love with the cat Mew but Mikata had been too overjoyed with their marriage arrangement to care.

Now she looked apprehensively at the door, forcing down her feelings and trying to accept that she could not force her feelings on Kisshu. She had seen the love he felt for Ichigo and knew she could never settle herself to a husband who could never show her a fraction of that. Taking a breath to steady herself, she turned the door handle and watched as Kish's disheveled emerald head lifted to see her.

"Mikata." He breathed, his eyes wary but happy to see her. She sat next to him, staying silent and watching the slow rise and fall of Ichigo's chest as the unconscious girl breathed. Finally, she turned and looked Kish straight in the eye.

"We cannot marry. Not if your heart belongs to her, which I have witnessed for myself." Kisshu opened his mouth to interrupt her but she put her hand up, gesturing for him to wait. "Kish you love her and even I, as blind as I've been, can easily see that." Kish's eyes watered slightly as they returned to the Mew leader's still form. Mikata studied his profile, eyes taking in the familiar look of his face. It was the same face she had looked up at as a child but it was also different.

The innocent look was gone from his eyes, replaced with a weathered, almost wise look. His muscles had grown along with him, keeping him tall and slim but also stone hard under his pale skin. Instead of his signature smirk, his face wore a terrified frown as he looked down at the woman he loved. No, this was not her Kisshu any longer, nor had he been for some time.

"And what of us? No matter what I still think of you as my best friend." He turned back to look at her. Mikata forced a small grin and lightly punched him in the arm.

"You're not going to get rid of me that easily." She giggled and saw his eyes slide shut in relief. His hands pulled her in for a hug and he bent to kiss her cheek.

At that moment, Ichigo's eyes fluttered open.