I would just like to take this moment and thank everyone who reviewed my story. You people really made writing this worth while and I would just like to say "thanks". This is my first fanfic and so I was very excited to put it up and to have all the support I did from my reviewers made all my effort worthwhile. Once more, thank you. And please send more reviews to me so I can know if you liked the completed story!

A shout out to the people who inspired me to complete this fanfic:

Mew-Dolphin

Mew Tatsu

Mew Mel

Mew of Fire

Poppanda

Mitsuki355

Digital98

saphireKat

lover's-death

Mew Kamara

KishxIchigo4ever

Ch. 13

The table, the room, the house, the whole world suddenly got really quiet. An eery quiet. No one was even breathing loud enough to be heard, if they were breathing at all.

Ichigo needing desperately to break the silence, cleared her throat, "Well, that's great. I'm sure you're all happy to be returning home." She put on the best smile she could.

"Yes." was Pie's flat response.

"Well, uh, if you'll excuse me." Ichigo practically ran from the table to her room. She needed to get away so badly. Her heart was breaking. It hurt so bad. She got into her room, closed the door and slid down to the floor. She rested her head on her knees.

What's wrong with me? she asked. Her whole body ached, especially her heart. She knew she loved Kish. She knew it all along. She knew it since the day she met him. She wanted nothing more than to hold him and beg him not to leave her again. Her heart just couldn't take it anymore. But, what if he wants to go home? She knew she'd never forgive herself if she stopped him from going home.

Why did she run off like that? Lettuce thought. If anything, it made the tension at the table worse. Lettuce also excused herself to her room. Her heart was breaking also only a lot worse this time. Before, it was bad, but not like this. She had just been given another chance. The first real chance. Now, it had slipped away from her. This was too much.

There was a knock on her door. She opened it. Pie walked in and she closed the door behind him.

"I came to return this book. You're right it was wonderful. One of the most beautiful stories I have ever read." Pie handed the book to her.

"No, please keep it. I want you to have it." Lettuce tried to smile as best she could.

Pie looked shocked, "But, I thought it was your most favorite."

"It is."

"But.."

"That's why I want you to have it. Please, Pie take it. So you will always have something to remember earth by. To remember me by."

He nodded. He then kneeled down and kissed her hand once more. Only a little longer than before.

Lettuce could no longer deny the water in her eyes as it began to fall down her cheeks.

Pie stood and left.

Lettuce wished she had the courage to tell Pie how much she loved him and needed him. How badly she wished him to stay. Yet, she feared that he would want to go home and not want to stay even for her. And she just couldn't get in the way of that.

"I want you to have it." Pudding pushed the jar back into Tart's hands.

"But, you've had it for so long." Tart tired again.

Pudding shook her head, "Only for you, Tar Tar. They were meant for you."

Then, Tart did something that even surprised himself. He placed the jar on the ground and kneeled before Pudding, "I am honored to ever be considered your friend, my lady."

When he rose back up, Pudding captured him in a tight hug, "Live a happy life back home, okey?"

Tart's heart sank, "Okey."

It was time to head towards the park. The girls offered to walk them there to send them off. Pie carried a book and Tart carried a jar. Ichigo looked around at the silent crowd. She could see in everyone's expressions that all their hearts were breaking, including hers.

Why? she asked herself. Why is this happening? Ichigo felt Lettuce's pain. She felt Pudding's pain. And she felt her own pain. It was so obvious that Pie and Tart cared deeply for Lettuce and Pudding. Why were these people being separated? And Kish? He's leaving me. It hurts so badly. My head and my heart are screaming at me to do something. Say something. Anything.

All too quickly they were at the entrance to the park. The sun had begun it's decent.

Pie stopped and turned around, "It's best if we part here. No telling what our ships rays may do to you."

They all nodded.

Then, silence again.

"Thank you all for taking us in our time of need." Pie tired to be blunt and quick, "We wouldn't have survived without you."

The three girls smiled slightly and nodded.

"Thanks for the candy, Pudding. I'll try to make it last as long as I can." Tart tired to smile.

"Your welcome." was Puddings response.

Kish looked to Ichigo. He forced a smirk on his face, "It's been great, kitten. Say hi to Massaya for me."

Ichigo didn't say anything. Didn't move. Didn't breathe.

With a wave of their hands they turned and walked away. He didn't even try to steal a kiss from her. He just turned and started walking. It's like he wasn't himself. Like he couldn't stand to take one more kiss from her even though this was the last goodbye. Like he couldn't stand it. Like it hurt him. Like...it...hurt...him...

SAY SOMETHING! SAY SOMETHING! SAY SOMETHING! Both her head and her heart were screaming at her.

Kish had takenabout threegrand steps when Ichigo screamed out, "KISH!"

He stopped suddenly and looked over his shoulder.

Everyone stopped. Time itself seemed to had stopped. The sun had stopped. The breeze had stopped. Everyone was holding their breathes.

Lettuce and Pudding both mentally begging Ichigo to say the right thing. Pie and Tart praying that Ichigo said something, anything to let them stay.

The birds all had scattered from the trees above at Ichigo's loud cry. They flew up like a cloud that jumped from the trees.

Ichigo took one deep breathe, "Massaya and I..." her voice trailed off, but thenshe forced herself to speak, "Massaya and I broke up only a few months after you left."

The pain was instantly replaced into Pie's, Tart's, Lettuce's and Pudding's heart. That was not what any of them were hoping to hear.

However, Kish slowly turned around to face Ichigo. His eyes locked with hers. Something changed in his eyes. Something changed in his heart. A new feeling was flooding through him hot as fire. In half of a nanosecond, Kish grabbed Ichigo and laid his lips on hers. He pushed on her lips trying to force them to move with his. Her lips responded to his every will. He caught her as her body arched backwards. Her knees had suddenly given out beneath her. He fell with her onto the soft grass. Small strands of grass flew up in the air around them. He kissed and kissed and kissed her till she couldn't breathe. There just seemed to be no satisfaction to his burning desire. He needed more and more. He then desperately trailed hot kisses all across her neck, up and down her arms, and all around her face til he couldn't breathe anymore. His hand holding her shoulders to the ground to keep her from escaping any of them. He then pulled back and looked deeply into Ichigo's eyes. He breathed heavy trying to catch his breathe. Then he slowly laid his lips on hers and filled that kiss with all the passion and love in his whole body.

The rest of the crowd stood there gawking with their mouths agape.

When the kiss ended, Kish looked Ichigo straight in the eyes once more and said, "Marry me."

Ichigo smiled, "Kish, I..."

"I'm not asking, Ichigo." He then smiled the sexiest smiled she ever saw, "I'm telling you. Marry me."

Ichigo smiled so bright as tears formed in her eyes.

"I swear by all the gods that I'll never leave you again. I'll never be without you again. I'll never not hold you, never not kiss you, never not have by my side. You will be mine. And I refuse to take no for an answer."

Ichigo reached and buried her face in his shoulder. She cried with a tremendous feeling of joy and completion.

"I love you." she whispered into his ear.

Lettuce wiped away tears from her cheeks. Pudding did too. The whole scene had touched them deeply.

Suddenly realizing how far the sun was down, Lettuce turned to Pie, "Pie, the sun. It's nearly set."

Pie just smiled back at her, "It doesn't matter anymore. I am home." Then he leaned in and kissed her gently. She walked straight into his arms.

Pudding and Tart looked at each other shyly.

"Are you staying too?" Pudding couldn't help the blush on her cheeks.

"Of course. I would never leave my lady." Then he captured Pudding in a loving kiss.

When Pie and Lettuce finally broke apart and Pudding and Tart as well, they all give each other shy smiles. Then they looked over to Kish and Ichigo who were still locked lip to lip and didn't seem to be considering coming up for air anytime soon.

"Ah hem!" Lettuce said.

Kish and Ichigo looked up and at their friends. Kish grumbled something about being interrupted and helped Ichigo to her feet. Then he pulled her into a protective hug. He vowed to himself to always be with Ichigo whenever she needed him and to love and protect her with all the strength he had.

"Let's go home, guys." Ichigo said.

Then, without another word, they all went back to their rightful home with the people they loved and cared for.