Hey!
Ryou: Ugh It's you.
Your being mean to me already?! -pouts-
Ryou: Well I heard I'm not treated very nicely in this story.
...So?
Ryou: What do you mean 'so'?!
Oh come on. Stop being such a baby.
Ryou: -sulks-
Ikuto: Not being very nice today are you Gemma? -smirk-
Don't say that...Ikuto? What are you doing here? Your not in this fic! Get out!
Ikuto: Geez, I'm going I'm going.
Good! Anyway I don't own Tokyo Mew Mew (Or Ikuto...sadly.) but I do own this fic. So please REVIEW! ^^
Inuyasha: Oh and Gemma said that the chapters will be really quite short, but they get to the point, so please don't complain lovely people. ^^
GET OUT! -starts mumbling about random people interrupting and apologizes for OOC-ness-
Making A DecisionChapter One
Zakuro was seated next to one of the many tables at Cafe Mew Mew, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to avoid getting yet another headache thanks to the constant bickering of Ichigo and Ryou. Mint was casually sipping tea next to her idol, watching the pair with mild amusement. Pudding and Lettuce were supposed to be distracting the customers from the argument, Lettuce was busy picking up pieces of another shattered plate she had dropped that morning. And Pudding, instead of jumping up and down on a giant rubber ball, had also stopped to listen in on Ichigo and Ryou. The two teens were stood near the hallway to the kitchen, in clear view of the whole cafe.
Ryou was stood, lazily staring at Ichigo with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his white jeans, while the young waitress was glaring at him un-moving. He didn't flinch under her gaze and was about to turn and leave,unamused, until she spoke the word "Raise." with hardly any emotion in her voice.
"No." Ryou stated back, just as coolly.
"Raise." She said through her teeth.
"No." He said, running his hands through his blond hair, making it shimmer in the light.
"RAISE!"
He looked thought full for a moment, and Ichigo thought she won. "...No." She folded her arms defiantly.
"Raise raise raise raise raise raise..." She repeated, showing no sigh of giving up soon.
"LISTEN UP STRAWBERRY!" He shouted silencing her at once. More and more customers looked over at the sound of his raised voice. "You are not getting a raise okay? So stop wasting both our time and GET-TO-WORK!" The blond had finally lost his cool. He couldn't understand the strawberry at all. why was she still trying? She had asked the same question everyday and gotten the same answer every time.
'Why cant she just leave it at that!? Honestly.'
Ichigo was frowning by now, but he didn't seem bothered one bit by her attitude. She started to think.
"That jerk! I work the hardest and he knows it! Well...a day off isn't the same same as a raise so maybe-"
"And your not getting a day off either." Okay, now he sounded irritated.
"How did-!...I mean what? I didn't ask for a day off Shirogane-san." she smiled sweetly. 'Stupid genius.' She inwardly cursed him.
"You were thinking out loud again baka." He sighed. "And don't bother because your not going to get one anytime soon. Besides all you ever do with a day off is go waste it with that Aoyama anyway." He muttered, not as quiet as he expected. After stating this he turned towards the stairs, but then he heard an angry gasp and a thud from someone throwing down back over his shoulder her saw Zakuro and Lettuce each holding one of Mint's arms, desperately trying to make her sit back down.
"...Mint?" He arched an eyebrow at the blue haired girl.
Mint was tense and her jaw was tight. She stood grinding her teeth, almost audibly, while giving her blue eyes boss her best death glare.
"Calm down Mint-onee-chan!" Pudding begged, moving in front of her with her own arms outstretched.
"I AM CALM!" Mint yelled louder than she may have wanted, turning her head towards the small yellow girl.
"Geez, what's the problem?" The 18 year old muttered to himself more than anyone else, causing the annoyed girls head to snap back in his direction.
"Ichigo-san and Aoyama-kun recently broke up, Shirogane-san." Replied Lettuce rather shyly, still clutching to mint trying to return her to her seat. Effectively stopping her from kicking the life out of Ryou for bring the matter up. Mint shifted in their grasp and Zakuro, who was still sitting down, tugged on her arm lightly.
"We've been trying to avoid the subject all together considering she hasn't spoke much about it yet, and we were doing pretty well...up until now that is." Added Zakuro, sporting a pretty impressive glare of her own. Pudding, only just realising what was going on, walked towards her boss with her arms crossed, pouting. As soon as she reached him, she kicked him the leg rather forcefully, before begging to stalk over to Ichigo. She stopped at the table the other mews were crowed around and grinned. Ryou took to staring at his leg where it began to ache a little. "Why that little..."
"Lettuce-onee-chan...Zakuro-onee-chan...maybe you should let Mint-onee-chan kick baka boss-man-san too. Na no da!" Then she continued towards Ichigo, looking smug.
"I think she'd do more than just kick him once, Pudding." Mused Zakuro.
"Hai..." Nodded Lettuce in agreement.
Ryou frowned at the two girls still trying to restrain Mint. Lettuce bowed her head to avoid eye contact, while Zakuro just sat there and frowned right back.
"Would you prefer we just let go of Mint instead?" She asked raising and eyebrow.
"Ichi-nee?" Came puddings worried voice through the silence. Ichigo was being so quiet everyone almost forgot she was actually there in the first place. There she stood, looking down at the floor, red bangs covering her eyes. Her arms fell loosely at her sides, fingertips brushing the hem of her waitress's outfit.
"...Onee-chan?" Pudding turned her now watery eyes to the other mews. Zakuro and Lettuce simultaneously dropped Mints arms and stood. Ryou was actually feeling guilty for reminding her about such a touchy subject. He didn't hate the girl as much as he made out to. In fact it was quite the opposite, but he would never admit that. not even to himself. He swallowed his pride and began to apologize to him employee.
"Look Strawberry...I'm sorry. I didn't think-" He started but was interrupted by a "No, you never do." from Ichigo.
With her head still bowed she continued calmly. "You never think about how I'm feeling or how hard I work do you? We all run around saving Tokyo and the rest of the damn world practically everyday but then i get a lecture for being five minutes late every once in a while. We have to work here to cover up. And even here you tease me. You hardly ever thank any of us even though we risk our lives for everyone else's. I guess you just don't care at all then..." Looking at her, gobsmacked, Ryou noticed that tears were silently slipping down her face and landing on her apron. The others noticed this too. Mint, having calmed down seeing Ichigo hurt, started to steadily make her way towards her best friend, when Zakuro's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Let her get her emotions out first. I know it's hard but she can't keep everything bottled up." She spoke softly.
All of the customers were now quietly watching them, so Ryou was glad Ichigo had quietened down so only him and the other mews could hear her, otherwise they would have heard Ichigo talk of 'saving the world' and that would no doubt raise suspicion.
"Now wait a minute, don't you think your over-reacting just a little bit? And keep your voice down!" He hissed. Not caring if everyone saw her cry, Ichigo's head snapped up from the floor to look him dead in the eye.
"NO! I will not keep my voice down. If I want to shout then i will! Your not the boss of me!" Tears ran faster from her eyes with anger.
"In case you haven't noticed Strawberry, I am." He retorted in a bored manor. Glaring at him, Ichigo untied her apron and threw it at his feet, her eyes never leaving his.
"Well not anymore." She uttered. "I QUIT!" Then she turned and stomped away to the changing rooms, holding back a dry sob. Everyone just stood there staring in disbelief at one another. Even Zakuro looked shocked. The customers began to murmur amongst them selves when someone spoke up.
"It was only a matter of time with the way you've been treating her." Keiichiro stated looking at his younger friend. They all jumped slightly not realising he was there before hearing his voice. He was stood right outside of the kitchen and obviously had heard everything. Ryou regained his composure and removed the shocked look of his face that had been there since Ichigo strode off, just in time to see her leaving the changing room. She was wearing a short black skirt, not unlike her school one, and a light pink top with a picture of a black kitten across the front. She walked up to him and shoved her uniform into his chest with an angry force. After that she began to walk away, heading for the door. Stopping and looking back at him, she reached into her skirt pocket.
"And before i forget..." she said, apparently finding the object she was searching for. "Take back your damn pendant. This thing ruined my life." She held it in her hand for a moment, remembering the day she first got it and who she got it from. Slamming it down on the empty table she was currently stood by, she gave everyone an apologetic glance. Everyone save Ryou, whom she didn't make eye contact with at all.
"...Ichigo?" Questioned Mint reaching out and unsure hand as Ichigo took her leave. Having stopped crying and resorted to the occasinal sob, Ichigo made her way through the once again silent customers, who she had forgotten were even there. As soon as she got to the door, she looked back at the other mews.
'But it's not the other mews anymore is it? There just the mews. I'm not a part of this anymore." She sadly corrected herself.
"Please Ichigo." Mint pleaded quietly, walking after her.
"I'm sorry Mint..." Ichigo was starting to feel ashamed, leaving. "But I don't want to do this anymore. I can't...any of it."
Mint stood there,staring at her friend, wishing for her mind the suddenly change. Ichigo was mildly shocked to say the least when she looked up from the floor to see her close to tears. It pained her to see her best friend upset. And it pained her even more to know she was the one who caused it.
"Mint don't." She begged.
Zakuro, who was now walking up to the two girls, stopped a few paces in front of mint, facing Ichigo.
"You shouldn't feel the need to leave, Ichigo. If anyone should be ashamed, it should be him..." she explained, signaling behind her with her thumb. Ichigo looked over Zakuro's shoulder to see Ryou still standing in the spot where she left him, looking at the girls near the door. Pudding and Lettuce had also moved forward, watching. She finally realised that the whole cafe was watching her, but she honestly couldn't summon the energy to care.
"Zakuro, I..." Failing to think of any way to make it all seem better, Ichigo shook her head and sighed, giving up. Holding the door handle tightly she said,
"I'll come visit soon." Through the oncoming chocked sobs. Then she renched the large cafe door open and ran blindly along the path.
That's chapter one finished. Very short. But enough happened in it to satisfy me.^^
Ryou: ...Why do I seem like a jerk?
I'm sorry Ryou but that's just how my story goes. -shrug-
Ryou: But that's not fair!
Aw don't start sulking again. Here...have a cookie.
Ryou: ZOMG COOK- I mean ... I don't want a cookie. -looks away-
Sheesh fine. Any one who reviews can have a cookie instead! ^^
Ryou: W-what? I changed my mind, gimme!
No. You said you didn't want it so I'm giving the readers a chance to get one. -sticks tongue out-
Ryou: Your so childish.
Your the one starting to get wound up about food, Ryou T.T
Zakuro: Please REVIEW.