Broken trust
Dear readers,
Thank you for stopping by and reading this story. I would like to hereby thank you for all of your fabulous comments, reviews, follows and kudos! It always makes me so happy to read your kind words!
Regarding the story, ok here goes! A new update at LONG LAST and pretty long again at that! As I already mentioned, even if the remake is officially over, this fic shall continue until its very end. Now, what more should you expect? Well, the title of this following chapter is rather self-explanatory; it is going to be a real roller coaster ride, mind you! So prepare yourself for some heated conflicts and serious confrontation because things are only going to get ugly from now on!
The music I used for this part is Tessa Violet's 'YES MOM.'
DrDark7 - Thank you for your comment! That, she surely is! How much will Ichigo's feelings determine the future course of the events, though? Read and find out!
ilovekisshuthemost - Thank you for your comment! I am so happy to read that you enjoyed the last chapter so much. Hopefully, you will like the following ones just as much, if not more!
AnimeRoxx - Thank you for your comment! They surely are bonding now, or are they? How will their secret 'relationship' affect the respective positions and agendas Kisshu and Ichigo are bound to follow? And who will subdue first? That is yet to be found out.
xKinkajou - Thank you for your comment! I am so glad to hear that you enjoy this story so much. And thank you for your kind words too. I am not really into writing graphic lemons, but I like to use mature themes and twist them a little to better fit my narration.
BettaDream - Thank you for your comment! I am excited to hear that you enjoyed the last update and I can only hope that you will like this one as well!
Lulyy Elizabeth Vaca - Thank you for your comment! I am so happy to hear that you liked the previous chapter so much. Mixing action with fluff is always fun to write! That's for sure.
Lucero Perez - Thank you for your comment! If you want to know more about how Mint approaches the whole situation, something tells me that you will like this following update a lot!
Lilith - Thank you for your comment! I am glad to hear that you enjoy this story so much. It always makes me happy to read that people like what I write. Let me know how you feel about the following chapters as well, please!
tonianery - Thank you for your comment! I am so happy to hear that you came upon this story. We are circa half way in now, so you have perfect timing, indeed!
As always, please enjoy and review!
I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew
Pudding narrowed her big, brown eyes in utmost concentration, as she continued to tap her little finger against her bottom lip in deep thought.
"I think I like the one on the right better," she said at last, catching Mint slightly off guard with her unexpected proclamation.
"Are you sure?" the blue lorikeet Mew arched a quizzical eye brow at her companion, while she took another small sip of her Earl Grey tea, "I would argue that the one on the left depicts Zakuro's essence far more accurately," she retorted, letting her gaze sweep once more over the stoic, completely impenetrable expression of her idol's blank face.
"But the one on the right makes Big sis Zakuro prettier, na no da!" Pudding objected loudly, making Mint's brow furrow in mild irritation.
"I think Pudding is right, Mint," Lettuce chimed in tentatively.
With the broomstick still firmly grasped in her hands, the green-haired girl edged closer to the table that Mint and Pudding had been occupying, and observed Zakuro's newest Vogue cover with equal interest.
"The one on the left accentuates Zakuro's natural vibe, that is true. However, the one on the right is exactly what everybody wants to see. The almost unearthly beauty of Zakuro Fujiwara, happy and joyful with life, grinning broadly with a wide smile on her face," Lettuce commented sagely, pushing her glasses further up her nose before quickly adding, "You should ask Ichigo about this. She is rather good at pointing out things like that, you know."
"I don't," Mint closed the glossy magazine abruptly, without sparing the finless porpoise Mew a single glance.
"Hm...o-ok?" Lettuce stuttered, too appalled at the loaded tension that had irrevocably stretched around them the moment the red head's name was mentioned.
"Where is she anyway?" Mint inquired, ignoring the latter's still slightly trembling body in her peripheral, as she swiftly surveyed their surroundings only to note that her, Pudding and Lettuce were truly the only people present on the Café Mew Mew premises.
Minus, Keiichiro and Ryou, of course. But the scientist duo had made it very clear to everyone that day that they needed to work and run some more tests pertaining to their latest battles downstairs, which basically meant that they would not leave the basement unless there was an emergency of an imminent Cyniclon attack, a fatal plumbing issue or something similarly pressing.
Cyniclon attack, hm?
Mint pursed her lips at the mental image of their most recent fight, while the short, almost painful, memory of Kisshu and Ichigo flitted back to her mind.
In reality, Mint still hadn't quite decided what to make out of the situation that was slowly unraveling in front of her eyes. A huge part of her brain wanted to beat Ichigo senseless for her potential stupidity, ignorance, as well as the possible danger she had been putting everyone through. But what if she was wrong? Could she trust her judgement fully and automatically assume that her suspicion was valid? No. For that to happen, Mint had to be one hundred percent certain in her assumption that something was amiss first. Really amiss. In other words, she needed evidence. A testimony, if you will, since she sincerely doubted that Masaya's jealousy or one instance of weird, singlehanded interaction on the battle field were sufficient enough to prove that what her mind had been trying to generate was not a simple projection of her temporary insanity. Ryou was, after all, only concerned about facts; mere speculation meant absolutely nothing to him.
Mint set her tea cup down and sighed.
It was precisely at times like these that the blue lorikeet Mew missed Zakuro's presence around herself the most; more specifically, the latter's broad wisdom and lifelong experience.
"I think Ichigo went to see a doctor, so she'll come a little later today. Or that is, at least, what Keiichiro told us," Lettuce supplied dully, clasping at the broomstick in her hands tighter once Mint's hard gaze shifted onto her still somewhat shaking form.
"A doctor, huh?" the dark-haired girl let out absentmindedly, as her attention transferred slowly back down onto the cup in front of her, "How convenient."
"W-what?"
Nonetheless, no sooner could Mint elaborate in any way, than the male body of their boss all of a sudden barged in through the kitchen door, making the three of the Mew Mews immediately bristle all at once, knowing all too well what was expected of them long before he had even opened his mouth.
"Tokyo Mew Mew, we have a problem."
Ichigo could not shake off the bad premonition that something was terribly wrong.
She could, of course, always ascribe the psychological instability and physical strain in her muscles to her constant lack of sleep. Yet, deep down, she knew that the incessant sense of trepidation that had been rattling through her bones consistently was hardly a byproduct of her busy schedule filled with school or work but rather the result of the stress she had accumulated in her body over the few weeks by leading a double life.
A double life that no amount of pills could exactly help her with.
'Wouldn't it be way too simpler if I just gave up and tell everybody everything?' Ichigo asked sullenly, as she paid for her prescribed medication and accepted the white small box in the palm of her hand.
Perhaps. But coming clean would mean she would have to face all her demons simultaneously, which was something that Ichigo was still largely opposed to doing.
'Maybe, I could start by telling Masaya,' Ichigo mused, while she continued on her way back to the Café with growing uncertainty, 'Then, I'd tell Ryou, and, at last, I'd tell the other Mews. Maybe, they will understand?'
'Yea, right,' her inner snorted in contempt.
'Or, maybe not,' Ichigo exhaled sharply, as she paused in her tracks close to the wooden bench, whose inviting exterior had tempted her sore legs to sit down for a brief moment and bask in the solitude of the afternoon park; if only for a single second.
Ichigo looked around herself with tired, thoughtful eyes.
It was a beautiful day. Brimming with the warmth and sunny rays, which were extremely rare at this time of the year for Tokyo. But the girl did not mind. After all, she was rather fond of surprises. The good ones, at least, which is why she soon found herself gradually plopping down onto the wooden surface, reveling in the pure bliss of relaxation. She closed her eye lids slowly, letting the sun caress her face, while her mind began to wind down under the soft touch of his warm hand on her skin.
'Maybe today will not be that bad, after all,' she thought to herself.
But the moment she had finally lapsed into a sense of false security, a strange electric sensation shot through her body, causing her breath to abruptly hitch in her throat.
In a flash, her eyes peeled open in alarm, as a sinking sensation developed somewhere deep in her chest, and Ichigo heaved loudly, slumping on the ground with her hand still pressed against her rib cage, when her lungs suddenly painfully constricted, making it impossible for her to draw a fresh intake of air.
And, then, before she could register a coherent thought, a vivid jet-black light flashed in front of her face, sending her body irrevocably into another round of agony.
'What the hell?!' the Mew Mew rasped, squinting against the sun, once Masha detached himself from her mobile phone and immediately puffed out next to her cheek, alerting her instantly of the true origins of her misery.
There was no doubt about it now. It was the Cyniclons.
Ichigo clenched her teeth and procured her pendant, kissing the small object fervently and making a quick work of changing herself into her super hero persona, just before the air above her shimmered and an alien figure materialized directly in front of her.
If she expected another meaningless fight and pleasure, she was sorely mistaken, though. As, this time, it was not Kisshu, who had become her opponent. It was Pai. And, judging by the solemn expression on his face, there was no way Ichigo could fuck her way out of this one.
"Kuu Rai Sen."
Her eyes widened a fraction when the familiar yellow current instantaneously filled every corner of her vision, but she reacted fast enough for a change and ducked swiftly to the left.
Not missing a beat, Ichigo summoned her weapon and struck her victorious pose, tilting her chin slightly upwards.
"Bring it on!" she smirked, with her Strawberry Bell firmly in her hands, ready to counter-attack.
But no sooner could she say or do anything else, that another searing surge of blackness had hit her from behind, making her double in pain and lose her balance momentarily.
Ichigo stumbled forward a few steps, slightly weak and with her pupils disoriented, before she turned around and lifted her gaze upwards. Only upon then had she truly realized that Pai had not come alone. And it did not take too long for her to spot Taruto's neat contours fully emerging in her line of sight not a second later.
"It's payback time, you hag!" the youngest Cyniclon sniggered evilly, his sharp fangs bare, "You annoying Mew Mews were talking big game last time, so we're here to even the score," he grinned before his left arm shot up and the last thing Ichigo saw was the sizzling yellow energy that appeared in his palm right before he flicked his wrist backwards and sent her whole body flying.
Fuck.
With significant difficulty, Ichigo scrambled back onto her feet, panting heavily. Setting her jaw, she cursed once more and glared daggers in the direction where the two Cyniclons kept levitating in the air close to each other.
And that was exactly the moment when a sudden thought had pierced through her mind with shocking alacrity.
Two Cyniclons…in the air.
Two. Cyniclons.
Two.
"Where's Kisshu?!" Ichigo bit back angrily, noting the obvious absence of the green haired alien with a mixture of concern and visible bewilderment.
At this, Pai's impassive eyes imperceptibly narrowed, whereas Taruto burst out laughing maniacally.
"Hahaha, having the hots for the enemy, huh? You aim high. As if Kisshu would ever get serious! And with an old human hag like you!"
"Shut it!" Ichigo yelled and tried to catch the little twerp by his ankle, pulling him down with her, yet Taruto was quicker.
"You wish, hag!"
With a brisk snap of his fingers, another flash of dark, ominous light quickly pervaded Ichigo's vision, causing her limbs to twist and bend in an unnatural manner, until her body finally gave up and she fell inadvertently back on the ground.
"Y-you, b-bastards," Ichigo hissed in pain, blinking back the tears that stung in her eyes, while she strived to struggle against the menacing black glare of light that had kept assaulting her from all different directions, making it impossible for her to breathe, let alone stand and fight.
"Look at that, Pai! The hag's still talking back! I'm impressed," Taruto whistled in mock praise, as he put his hands behind his head casually and continued to watch Ichigo's squirming form from above in glee.
"She won't be for long," the latter responded coolly and teleported right in front of the distressed Mew Mew, raising his right hand in the air and extending his fan in a rather menacing manner, "Kuu Rai-"
"Pudding Ring Inferno!"
Pudding cried out, just before the bright golden substance of the gelatin blasted from her hands, rendering the eldest Cyniclon instantly immobile.
"Ribbon Mint Echo!"
"Ribbon Lettuce Rush!"
"Tch," Pai tsked in irritation, as his form quickly disintegrated, only to reappear beside Taruto shortly after.
The moment was broken; the excruciating torture at its end.
Quite perplexed, Ichigo sensed how the black light around her immediately died out in front of her eyes, while its fierce hold on her lungs slowly evaporated, enabling her to take a deep breath at long last.
"L-lettuce, P-pudding…M-mint," she murmured in shock, her voice seeping with huge relief, once her friends, one by one, appeared closely by her side, "W-what are you, g-guys, doing h-here?"
"Saving the day! What else, na no da?" Pudding quipped with a big, broad smile on her face, as she aimed her weapon directly at the scowling Cyniclons that kept floating above them, "Now, which of you want to be punished first?" she inquired, twirling her tambourine rings in between her fingers playfully.
Taruto pulled a fairly disgusted face, whereas Pai looked on, his features as stoic as ever, barren of any real emotion.
"I think we have had enough of fighting for one day," he replied eventually, letting his cold gaze briefly flick from Lettuce to Mint, to Pudding and ultimately to Ichigo, where it infinitely settled before a faint, somewhat twisted, smirk cracked on his lips.
"Until next time," Pai announced darkly and, within the next instance, both he and Taruto were gone.
Lettuce blinked owlishly, not quite sure of what to make out of it all.
"That was….."
"Weird, na no da," Pudding finished, eyeing the spot where the Cyniclons have been hovering just a few seconds ago, equally confused.
"Yes," Mint hummed in mild agreement, with her brow scrunched up in thought.
"Well, as long as it's over," Ichigo shrugged and powered down into her regular clothes, forcing her panic down.
From the corner of her eye, she could see that all Mint, Lettuce and Pudding did the same, restoring the scenery around them instantly back to its still and strangely quiet form.
In a way, it almost looked as though there was no fight between the Mew Mews and the Cyniclons whatsoever. Nonetheless, the moment Taruto's vicious words replayed in Ichigo's mind, her former feelings of trepidation not only returned, but also grew in their enormity.
You aim high. As if Kisshu would ever get serious and with an old human hag like you!
She inwardly flinched at the hissing tone, unable to control her rapid heartbeat that was hammering in her ears, loud and clear, any longer.
What was the fight about, really? Did they simply want to scare her to death? Or to submission? And what about that peculiar black light that almost suffocated her on the spot?
Unable to answer any of her questions, Ichigo set her jaw tight.
"Come on. Ryou's waiting for us. There is no need to linger around here anymore," she announced at last and started in the general direction of the Café only to shudder a second later, when the mysterious black light flashed in her memory once again along with Taruto's shrill voice that refused to leave her thoughts alone.
Today's battle was an unconventional one.
That was, at least, what Ryou had himself said when the Mew Mews had arrived back to their headquarters and informed him about their most recent encounter with the Cyniclons.
"A black fizzling light, hm?" the blonde pondered Ichigo's words carefully, as his eyes adopted that strange kind of far-away quality whenever his mind travelled elsewhere.
But even if he eventually dismissed their report with a mere wave of his hand, Mint could not believe that everything that had been happening around her had been purely coincidental. Not in the slightest, actually.
And the closer they had been approaching the end of their shift, the more positive the blue lorikeet Mew was that she was entitled to know. To discover, and to determine what exactly she should do with this sneaking suspicion that had started pulsing in her mind stronger and stronger with each passing second.
So she waited. Patiently. Stealthily. Until everyone had left the locker room, and her and Ichigo were completely alone. And, just when the pink Mew Mew was about to turn around and exit as well, that was the time that Mint had finally decided to strike.
"Ichigo, may I have a word with you?" she stopped her mid-way, making the red head pause and whirl around to meet the serious expression on the latter's face with a slight startle.
"S-sure. Why so formal?"
Mint straightened up, as she finished tying her fancy shoes and fixed Ichigo with a level-headed look.
"Ichigo, what's going on with you lately?"
"W-what do you mean?" the auburn-haired girl instantly sweat dropped, providing Mint with all the more reason to proceed with this uncomfortable conversation, despite how tedious the blue lorikeet Mew expected it to be.
"Just what I am saying," she retorted tersely, "What is going on with you? Why are you acting so weird lately? I mean, weirder than usual."
"I-I don't know what you are talking about."
Hearing this, Mint's pupils visibly narrowed. Her gaze then flashed dangerously.
"Masaya asked me something interesting the other day."
"He did?" Ichigo responded calmly, but Mint could easily detect the nervousness in her friend's voice.
"Yes. He wanted to know if I know someone who goes by the name Kisshu," Mint paused, tilting her head to the side, "Now tell me, Ichigo, why would he want to ask me something like that?"
"M-maybe he was just hungry?"* Ichigo tried faintly but Mint saw right through her.
"Right. I don't know what's going on but whatever is bothering you, you can tell me. Or do you want me to talk to Ryou about it?"
"N-NO!" Ichigo snatched Mint's wrist quickly, her panic mode taking over.
"Then what the hell is wrong with you? What is going on between you and Ryou? Why are the two of you constantly arguing so much? And how does Kisshu tie into it? I saw it, Ichigo. How he was holding your hand during the last battle right before you disappeared. Where did you want to go with him and what did you two intend to do?"
Ichigo's face was getting redder and redder at this point, whereas Mint's eyes widened in shock.
"Don't tell me that-"
"NO! It's not that! I-I…." Ichigo squeaked.
"You what?" Mint sent her a look of disbelief, her tone harsh, almost dismissive.
"I-I think I might be up to…something…but I need you to t-trust me with this one for now. P-please, Mint! Don't tell anyone," Ichigo pleaded as her expression filled with even more guilt and concern.
Mint gave her an incredulous stare, yet, to Ichigo's own surprise, the blue lorikeet Mew yanked her wrist out of the red head's grasp with a slight jerk and sighed.
"Listen, Ichigo. I don't know why you are acting so cagey all of a sudden, but there is one thing I'd like you to keep in mind. Don't trust him. Whatever Kisshu says or does, don't let your guard down around him. No matter what he says or promises to you."
"W-why would you say it?" Ichigo asked unevenly.
Mint held her gaze, her eyes hard as steel.
"Because I can tell that he doesn't have an honest bone in his body."
She shot Ichigo one last look and, with that, went away.
"So you don't believe me?!"
As opposed to the rapid thrumming of Ichigo's heart, the clock that was hanging on the opposite side of the wall was ticking slowly, deliberately, as if to denote that each and every movement of her hands was a measured instance of uncertainty; an unsure future of immense gain and loss, not entirely unlike Ichigo's current situation.
"Ichigo, that's-"
"What?! Are you trying to tell me that that's not true? It's a little too late for that, don't you think?" she shouted back in fury, as her eyes contracted into slits.
She could not believe Masaya; nor the fact that they were presently having this conversation. And it did not help his situation in the least bit that, instead of confronting Ichigo directly, he had first addressed his concerns regarding his suspicions to Mint. To Mint, of all people! A notion, which the red head perceived as nothing but a clear sign of betrayal on Masaya's part.
"Going snooping around confusing my friends?! What is the point of being in a relationship when you don't trust me with the things I say?" she let out some more steam, pinning her boyfriend with a vicious scowl.
"I tried, Ichigo. You act so weird recently. I don't understand. I am just worried!"
"Worried?" she echoed in disbelief, as she took another step towards Masaya, "That much that you go around asking my friends the most ridiculous questions?"
"I talked only to Mint!" Masaya protested readily and that readiness only succeeded in aggravating his girlfriend some more.
"Even worse!" she countered, "Don't you know what a huge gossip Mint is?!"
That shut him up, if the sudden change in his demeanor could serve of any indication.
"Ichigo, I am just really concerned about us, alright? I am sorry that I acted behind your back. I did not mean to be sneaky or anything. But you are growing distant. You can't deny that. Sometimes…sometimes I feel like you are becoming a totally new person, to be honest," Masaya answered truthfully, causing Ichigo to temporarily pause in her tantrum and give him a long, silent look.
Was she really becoming someone else? Or, better yet, could she? Would the old Ichigo even start a fight at school? Probably not. But it wasn't like the old Ichigo would ever start a loud fight with Masaya to begin with. Not the old, mild-tempered Ichigo who was too scared to confront any of her issues head-on. Wasn't it just the Iriomote Cat DNA coming alive, then, that was setting her inner self free at long last? The self that Masaya's relationship with her was stifling constantly? Or had Ryou truly screwed up her life to that extent that finding a normal boyfriend was no longer even thinkable in her line of work? No. This had absolutely nothing to do with Ichigo's changes in her DNA. It was about her, coming finally to terms with the fact that Masaya, handsome or not, was completely incompatible with her way of living.
Come to think of it, how many times had Ichigo postponed the inevitable? How many times had she refrained from spewing all these words out of her mouth in order to save Masaya the humiliation? Hundred times? Thousand times? How many more times was she willing to internally suffer at the expense of her boyfriend's ignorance? When was actually the last time she had felt anything pleasant when she was standing next to him? Anything besides anger, aggravation or worry, that is.
Ichigo bit on her bottom lip.
"Masaya," she growled in a low tone, her frustration rising.
"Ichigo, look. I am sorry for what I did, ok? I guess I was just really tired and took it out on you and all. I know that that barely justifies my actions, but I love you and I want to make it work so how about we-"
"How about you just go?" Ichigo shot back, all pretense gone.
"Huh?"
He stared at her, utterly dumbfounded.
"I-I…you're right. We need a break," Ichigo replied hastily, trying to sort out through her jumbled thoughts as best as she could without losing focus, as his face in front of her gradually started to change, "I am sorry. It's just too much lately. And I'm really stressed."
Not a complete lie.
Only yesterday did she swallow a couple of those pills to calm her mind after her brief exchange with Mint. How much longer was she able to maintain a lifestyle like this without going insane? A week? A month? Masaya was already suspicious of her. Mint, apparently, was suspicious of her as well. How long would it take for Ryou to uncover her secret? And what would happen to her, once he did? Was fooling around with Kisshu really worth all the trouble?
"Ok, I understand," Masaya replied after a while, rousing Ichigo from her innermost musings instantly, "I am soon going to be leaving for the conference, but any time before or after that I am available. So when you want to see me, just drop me a line, ok?" he smiled at her weakly, trying to regain eye contact.
"Will do," Ichigo nodded meekly, not meeting his teary gaze.
She heard the chair feebly squeak against the linoleum floor when her no-longer boyfriend stood up and, without another word, exited the study room, leaving the read head to her thoughts alone.
The sun was gradually starting to dip behind the horizon, as Ichigo continued to lay on her elbows against the railing, staring at the river in front of her aimlessly.
A part of her was aware that Ryou would put her through hell tomorrow, based on the number of the missed calls on her phone that had been already glaring at her from the bright display for quite some time now. Yet, Ichigo did not care.
She had just broken up with Masaya.
Mint and her had a row yesterday.
She had every right to sulk. Plus, how could playing hookie make anything any worse?
Nonetheless, the deeper Ichigo had pondered this question, the more convinced she had become that it was only a matter of time until things would go even more downhill from now on.
And, judging by the shivering sound of the ripple in the air, she obviously didn't need to wait for any of that much longer.
"Well hello there, kitty cat!" a familiar voice sounded from behind her and it took no extra effort on Ichigo's part to identify Kisshu's mocking voice.
She knew it too well at this point. Far too well, she might add. To that degree, that it sometimes even scared her.
When his hands turned her around and his lips found hers, Ichigo suddenly sensed something low and warm coil in her gut. But that feeling was not strong enough to completely erase her former doubts. With Masaya out of the picture, she was technically single at the current moment. Still, that had paradoxically made her 'relationship' with Kisshu even more questionable in her eyes. Should she tell him about the latest state of events in her love life? But why? Besides, didn't he know already? He always knew. Everything. Even long before Ichigo had known herself. And the fact that they hadn't seen each other since he had slept with her after he had almost drowned did not seem to change anything about that concept in the slightest. Somehow, Ichigo had a weird suspicion that his mystifying powers lingered on her skin either way. And, even more so, when she saw the conniving glint in his eyes and the smug expression he was incessantly wearing. That itself had made her even more certain that whatever he had been doing within these past few days, he was up to no good.
Realizing this, Ichigo's features screwed into a fierce scowl.
"Where the hell were you yesterday?! Why did you not fight along Taruto and Pai?"
"Missed me?" Kisshu quirked a surprised eye brow at her and Ichigo blushed, averting her eyes in shame.
Was it true? Did she miss him? Or was it just the fearful feeling that he was up to something behind her back that had been bothering her? Why was she getting so worked up anyway? Didn't she have enough drama as it was? Why did she so willingly add fuel to the fire?
"I sure as hell could use some of your help there, yea!" she spat back, concealing her mixed emotions behind a mask of bravado.
"So you did miss me," his sly grin widened ever so slightly, revealing a row of pearl teeth as a consequence, as his gaze twinkled with a strange kind of excitement, "That's good to hear, indeed."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Ichigo huffed and was about to push off the railing and start walking away, but a pale hand on her arm drew her back.
"Why so fast?" he tried to grasp her chin with his other hand but Ichigo swatted it away instantly.
She hated when he was like this. Thoroughly annoying and stupidly arrogant. On second thought, maybe she should have really let him drown. That way, she would not have to deal with his idiocy ever again. Ichigo mentally debated whether she should just send him home, too tired and drained for any of his usual crap. But then, as clear as day, an idea had struck her that she had not thought of before. Kisshu had offered to provide her with various services in the past. Was supplying classified information one of them?
Well, can't hurt to try.
She turned around briskly, her hazel gaze trained on his molten gold.
"The black light," Ichigo barked, not willing to lose any more time with his silly mind games, "What was that about? Start talking. Now!"
"Woa. You really are in a bad mood today, aren't you?" he grinned some more, while his eyes momentarily flashed in amusement, taking in her growing frustration, "I'm sorry Taruto battered you so bad, kitten. I'll make sure to give him a pep talk later. Don't worry!"
"That's not the real issue here and you know it!"
"What is the real issue here, then, I-chi-go?" he elongated her name playfully, "As far as I know, you're still in one piece," his lustful gaze briefly slid down her front, while a dark, low chuckle escaped his lips, "And as appealing as ever."
"W-wait!"
But he didn't wait.
And, before any more interrogation could take place, Ichigo slowly found her resolve waning, as his tongue continued to explore her mouth, making her react far more to him, her composure in tatters, her guard lowering.
You're becoming a totally different person.
Could Masaya really be telling the truth? What was happening to her? Why did her body trust Kisshu so much? Reacting to him almost automatically? On what grounds did the alien earn her trust? And why were all of her senses becoming more and more erratic whenever he was physically around her? Why was she so hysterical? And ecstatic at the same time? Was this normal? No. It couldn't be. This was, by no means, right. This was actually totally wrong. And this feeling of wrongness was only amplified through the screaming voices that constantly echoed in Ichigo's mind, making the taste of his tongue around hers suddenly bitter and sick.
As if Kisshu would ever get serious and with an old human hag like you!
'Back home I am pretty popular with the ladies.'
Don't trust him.
It was too much.
Ichigo could no longer focus on the way his lips had placed wet kisses down her neck, not anymore. And definitely not when her head had been swimming with all kind of contradicting feelings and thoughts. She had to make some sense of it, somehow, anyhow. Or else, she would really drive herself nuts, one way or another.
"K-kisshu?"
"Mhhm-mhhm," she heard him respond against the soft skin of her clavicle.
"How many girls have you been with?"
"Why does it matter?" he chuckled lightly, as he continued to nibble at her neck, enjoying the little trembles of her body.
"Do you have someone at home now?"
There was a long, drawn-out pause.
"Well, do you?!" Ichigo pressed, her inner mania rising.
The alien pulled back, looking her dead in the eye, measuring her reaction.
"No," he replied finally.
"Good. I would not like to be involved with someone who is cheating," Ichigo scoffed.
At this, he gave out a soft laugh.
"That is rather forthcoming of someone who had been cheating on their own boyfriend for the past couple of weeks."
"I am not cheating!" she objected instantly.
"Oh, is that so?" Kisshu grabbed her chin, tilting it upwards so that she could meet his amused face "How would you call it, then?"
"I-I," she cast her eyes aside, unable to hold his intense stare, "It's not cheating," she let out at last.
To her heart, it was not cheating, although to anyone else it would be perceived as anything but.
"Whatever you say," he hummed in response, as he resumed with biting at her neck, considering their conversation finished.
But Ichigo was far from calm and certainly not finished. If anything, she was more stressed than ever.
Kisshu's answers were too vague, too delayed, too preplanned, for her little nerves to accept them for the truth. Not yet, at least. A sprinkle of self-doubt weaseled its way back to the forefront of her mind then, prickling her conscience with the same traitorous uncertainty.
"You really don't have anyone else back home?" Ichigo inquired again, causing him to ease back once more and, this time, with a small frown marring his handsome features.
"Why do you keep asking me that?" he returned her anxious stare.
Because I don't believe you!
Or was it because she wanted to know that she was the only girl in his life?
That, despite what Taruto had told her earlier, that Kisshu could get serious?
What the hell did she want him to say? That he would desert the Cyniclons for her? For this? For whatever they had been doing? Why? She was confusing herself now. It had made no sense. She knew as well as him that this thing between them was a source of temporary pleasure and that, at the end of the day, it meant absolutely nothing. Why did she suddenly feel like his answers meant everything to her, though? And why was she getting so defensive in the very first place? Was it her paranoia speaking?
Or was it the horror of the idea that Kisshu could really be lying to her and pretending all this time?
He doesn't have an honest bone in his body.
It was at that moment that Mint's cautious words once again echoed in her mind, making Ichigo's heart tense up with all kinds of anxiety, sending an unwilling chill down her spine.
What if Mint was right? What if Kisshu was, after all, truly only using her? But the sex was genuine, so genuine. How could it possibly mean nothing? Could he really fuck her senseless with a clinical absence of any deeper feelings? And why did it even matter to her now? Shouldn't she just be happy that he was willing to do so and enjoy it, while she still could? Why was it, all of a sudden, a problem for her that he did not feel anything in return?
Unless…unless she was bothered by this overall situation significantly more than she was willing to admit to herself.
Ichigo's heart stopped at that thought. This was truly bad; this was getting out of control. If she caught some serious feelings for Kisshu, there was no way back. She knew. She would be utterly helpless, practically at his mercy; no longer able to fight him and save her home planet from the Cyniclons, should her heart decide to betray her and fall madly for him. She could not let that happen now, could she?
"Kisshu?"
"Mm, what is it, kitten? You're so curious today. Almost makes me think that you take this seriously," he grinned at her with his sharp fangs and immediately realized his mistake, when he sensed how Ichigo's eyes widened at his words and her body instantly froze on him.
Almost. Makes. Me. Think. That. You. Take. This. Seriously.
Too stunned to speak, she glanced up at him in shock and stared deep into these golden eyes that were glittering with that heart tugging emotion; eyes that held so many secrets and mysteries that Ichigo could feel like she would drown in them at once if she did not look away fast.
Her thoughts unexpectedly came to a grounding halt.
And, suddenly, Ichigo had had enough.
Of this conversation, of his shenanigans and of him in general.
What was so special about him anyway? Yes. He had showed her a couple of tips and tricks as far as the realm of sex was concerned, but that was it. She owned him nothing and he was not worth the risk. He really wasn't, now she was sure of it. And something about this realization must have been relayed through her body language because, for a fraction of a second, Ichigo could see how his face fell, alerting her immediately that this was really dangerous. Seriously dangerous. And that no matter how much passion and happiness she had been getting during these quick interactions with Kisshu, he was her arch enemy. An enemy with whom she had shared information and whom she had invited to their headquarters; an enemy whose mere presence in her life was threatening not only to her, but also to all humanity as it was.
An enemy who might have far more control over her life than desirable, and if she did not end it then and there, that control could only grow in volume and prove detrimental to everyone else.
Making up her mind, Ichigo shoved him off of her abruptly, feeling his fingertips sliding from her chin with a feather-like touch.
"This thing," she gestured with her hand between them, "I-I mean everything what we've been doing…it's wrong. And it will stop, Kisshu…It will stop right now!" she said resolutely, even if her hands were trembling.
"You don't really mean that, kitten," he cooed, leaning slowly back towards her, but she pushed him away in a flash.
"I do. It's for the best. So stay away from me!" she jumped back, putting as much distance between them as she could, while her voice came out in short, frantic pants.
"Come on, did you not have a good time?" he stopped her movement with one quick tug, and pulled her back to him, his breath once again on her ear.
Her skin prickled at the contact and that infinitely scared her.
It was only when her head whipped back to meet his full-blown grin and she heard him laugh at her facial reaction that something about that carefree nonchalance had finally broken her out of her trance and solidified her determination to resist him. She ripped her wrist from his grasp, deciding then and there that she needed to avoid Kisshu at all cost.
Besides, he was like a plaster. All it took was one sharp pull.
"Are you deaf?!" she screeched, "I don't want to see your stupid, ugly face ever again so STAY AWAY! WE'RE DONE!"
He winced at her yell and she used that moment of surprise to strike.
Before Kisshu could react in any manner, Ichigo punched him so hard that his head turned to the left with a loud cracking sound.
He blinked back at her in awe, as a hint of genuine hurt momentarily entered his eyes before it was replaced with blistering hatred. His cat-like pupils subsequently contracted into thin slivers, while the fire of revenge began to shake his whole form.
"Fine," Kisshu cocked his head to the side and spat some excessive blood on the ground.
He then trailed his gold, gleaming eyes back onto the Mew Mew in front of him and, summoning his sais, he spoke in an eerily calm voice that had chilled Ichigo to the bone, "Have it your way, then."
As his blades twirled and glinted against the evening setting sun, Ichigo noted, with mounting fear, that there was nothing left between them, save for the broken trust.
* See the ending of chapter 14 for the food pun reference.