A/N: This is a small one-shot based on kisshuismylife's story 'Missing you' and the song 'Hey there, Delilah' by Plain White T's. Thank you so much kisshuismylife for allowing me to use your story idea! (EVERY ONE GO CHECK EMIKO-SAN'S STORIES OUT THEY ARE AWESOMER THAN SAUCE.)
Disclaimer: I don't own the song 'Hey there Delilah' or Tokyo Mew Mew!
Hey there, Ichigo
"Hey there, Ichigo, what's it like in Tokyo City? I'm a thousand miles away, but girl, tonight you look so pretty, yes you do... Shibuya can't shine as bright as you, I swear it's true..."
Ichigo stared blankly at the screen, her eyes hollow and shining with tears that wouldn't fall. Those who weren't close to her saw nothing but a sweet and happy seventeen-year-old, only a select few knew of the ghosts that haunted her nightmares. She, once again, bit at her already torn lip as the old and broken video played, the only thing heard in the near-to-empty house was the cracked strumming of an old guitar and the hushed tune of a long-since-gone phantom.
"Hey there, Ichigo, don't you worry about the distance, I'm right here if you get lonely, give this song another listen. Close your eyes, listen to my voice it's my disguise... I'm by your side..."
Her lip quivered, as she silently sung along, ignoring the soreness in her dry throat, "Oh... It's what you do to me... Oh, it's what you do to me... Oh, it's what you do to me... Oh it's what you do to me... What you do to me."
He smirked at the screen, golden eyes glistening and his green hair pulled back from it's usual bunches and clasped at the back of his head. He strummed a wrong note - as always - and winced, although still carried on. The strawberry-haired girl snorted, he was such an idiot; even though it had been a long, what four, five years now? She still remembered his moronic antics. She shook her head and moved back to completing her summer homework. She'd received this video from Keiichiro a few months after the final battle, Kisshu had apparently written her a song.
"Hey there, Ichigo, I've got so much left to say, if every simple song I wrote to you, would take your breath away: I'd write it all... Even more in love with me you'd fall, we'd have it all!"
How long had they been gone? It was about five years, maybe more, she couldn't remember. She did remember, however, the bright smirk he'd flashed her before he'd gone.
"You will be coming back, won't you?" Ichigo's eyes searched his golden ones.
"Of course, Koneko-chan, I promise!" He smirked, flashing his devilish fangs, "You won't miss me, will you?"
"Ha! Not a chance!"
Those had been pretty close to their last words, what had happened? Why hadn't he come back yet? Where was he now? Was he on Cyniclonia?
She'd asked herself these questions so many times, with them came her ghosts... her demons.
She paused her scribbling's, frowning at the page, but not at the work. Why didn't he come back? She thought.
"A thousand miles seems pretty far, but they've got planes and trains and cars! I'd walk to you if I had no other way, our friends would all make fun of us, and we'll just laugh along because, we know that none of them have felt this way! Ichigo, I can promise you, that by the time that we get through, the world will never ever be the same, and you're to blame!"
"He doesn't seem like the kind to break a promise..." She gnawed on her bottom lip, contemplating, before the thought she'd feared the most finally left her lips. She'd always brushed it off, thinking it not possible, but, of course, it made the most sense, "What if he's moved on? ... What if he forgot?"
Why was she saying them aloud? She'd held them back for so long!
"What if... What if something happened to him?" Memories flashed in her mind, Kisshu dead in her arms, jaw slack and eyes closed. His skin seemed paler, his whole body limp and lifeless.
"Hey there Ichigo, you be good and don't you miss me! Few more years and you'll be done with school, and I'll be making history like I do... You'll know it's all because of you..."
She sobbed back a scream, pushing her chair back as she abruptly stood, and allowed it to crash to the ground. Her chest constricted, breathing heavy and frenzied. Once she was again calm she grabbed her keys, homework and song seemingly forgotten, and left the empty house.
She pulled her cardigan tight around her, concealing her emotions to the passers by. A lot had taken place in the last few years; just after Pai, Kisshu and Taruto had left she and Aoyama had broken up, he was going to study in England and Ichigo had become confused about her feelings.
She was no-longer 'in love' with the kendo-champ, but instead, found herself wondering about a certain green-haired trouble-maker. Pudding was more verbal about her loss. Her Taru-Taru was gone and the poor monkey-mew was lonely, Lettuce was also feeling saddened by Pai leaving without so much as a goodbye.
All in all, the three girls were pretty upset.
What came about a year later broke Ichigo's shattered heart even more, her father had gotten a job in America, his dream job, and wanted to re-locate. Ichigo was completely against the idea, she didn't want to risk Kisshu coming back and not being there, nor did she particularly like the idea of moving countries, away from her best friends. Shintaro had, albeit reluctantly, gone on his own and left his wife and daughter back in Tokyo. After a few months neither side of the couple could take it anymore and Sakura had regretfully gone to the States to her husband. They hadn't abandoned their daughter, they had gotten Ichigo's best friends parents to check in regularly and Moe and Miwa had slept over almost every day.
Soon Ichigo's bond with the two had grown, as had their friendship with Lettuce and Pudding, the five girls were almost always together and kept nothing from each other.
Ichigo woke from her thoughts just in time to see that she was approaching her destination, she knocked loudly on the café doors, uncaring of the bruises forming on her knuckles. Just as she was about to start hammering again, the doors swung open and Keiichiro appeared.
"I'm sorry but I'm afraid-," He paused, "Ichigo? What are you doing here?"
"Ichigo's here!?" Moe and Miwa's voices were heard and they flew to the door, "Ichigo!"
"Hi... Um... Can I come in?" The cat-mew began to, again, gnaw at her bottom lip, ignoring her friends chidings as the lead her to the basement.
"Ichigo!" Lettuce stood, pulling her into a tight hug as Pudding pounced around yelling 'Na no da!' at the top of her lungs.
"Everyone sit down and shut up. We were discussing something important, got it!?" Zakuro shot a steely glare that forced everyone to do exactly as she'd said, "Now, Ichigo, I thought you'd made it clear last time you were here, that you weren't coming back?"
She sighed, "I'm not actually here about that, but now that that's the subject, I guess I should apologize." She turned to Ryou and bit her lip, "Sorry for yelling at you, and I'm sorry that I made fun of your hair... And that I threw the plates on the floor."
"It's fine, I'm sorry for provoking you, I guess." He nodded at her and leaned back in your chair, "Now that was painful... Anyway, what are you here for, Ichigo?"
"I... It's wrong to ask and I'm sorry, but I just... I can't cope anymore! I can't go on thinking that they'll never come back..." She took a deep breath and looked her boss dead in the eye, "Please. Do you know anything about Kisshu?"
"That's actually what we were discussing just now, we could get into contact if you want." Keiichiro offered, "The only reason we had for not doing so before was that we didn't know it was so important to all of you."
"You... can really do that?" Her voice was small and meak, almost a whisper, she could see him again?
"Yes." Keiichiro turned to the massive computer screen and booted the device up, "Are we ready?" There was a positive chorus throughout the room and soon a blurred image began to focus.
Pai's surprised face popped into view as he blinked at the screen, "Keiichiro? Mews?"
"Hello, Pai, sorry to startle you, we were just wondering how you were getting on?" Ichigo stood then, dashing towards the screen before blurting out frantically;
"Where's Kisshu? Is he ok?"
"He's fine, playing that damn guitar of his, last time I checked." Pai turned to glare at the door before turning back to the screen and asking, "Why?"
"I... Just... He didn't come back... He promised he would, none of you came back." She blushed slightly, "Not that you had to it's just-,"
"We missed you, all three of you." Lettuce cut in, coming to stand by her friend.
"Wait, you missed me too?" He blinked, taken aback as Lettuce laughed.
"Yes, we missed you're daily analyzations of our life style and the random attacks on out people." Lettuce snorted at Pai's raised eyebrow and rolling eyes.
"Why didn't you come back?" Ichigo questioned, chewing her lip.
"Kisshu wanted to, but he decided not to," Pai explained, "He thought you'd be happier with that Aoyama guy, I'm guessing he thought wrong?"
"It's been five whole years, I wasn't that in love with the guy! And besides!" She was becoming a little hysterical now, laughing slightly to herself, "We broke up about a week after you left! He's in England now... And I've been waiting for you guys to come back."
"Is there a reason you didn't call sooner?" Pai questioned, worry etching his face at Ichigo's behaviour.
"That was my fault," Keiichiro chuckled nervously and apologized, "We didn't know how much they needed to see you three."
Pai nodded in understanding and without warning he threw his head back and bellowed at the top of his voice, "KISSHU! GET IN HERE!"
They winced at the ear-splitting sound of wrong notes hit their ears, "What do you want now!? I was trying to write a- Ichigo?" He sprinted towards the screen, shoving Pai off of the chair and staring wide-eyed at her.
"Kisshu." Was pretty much all she could muster.
"W-what happened to you?" His face was pulled into a confused frown as he looked her over, he noticed at once her torn lip, the thinned out papery look in her cheeks and the way her hair fell limply around her.
"I made the biggest mistake of my life." She smiled sadly, "You didn't come back..."
"You... you actually wanted me to?" His jaw dropped.
"Yes. Yes, of course I did!" She an a hand through her hair and laughed bitterly, "I missed you! I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I was such and idiot! All I ever did was go on and on and on about Aoyama, when I had a perfectly amazing person almost throwing themself at me! Why, why was I so blind!? I'm sorry, I just... I realised it after you'd left. I was too late... Every day, I missed you more and more. I missed the way that you, you used to sit in my tree and watch me do my homework when you thought I didn't notice. Or-or when you'd come up with some 'master plan' to take down the Mew Mews once and for all! And then you'd fail - epically, might I add - and glare at us and swear vengeance. I missed the way you used to smirk at me and set my heart on fire, and I missed... I missed running away from you... And when you'd ruin my dates... I remember one time you followed me all the way home, just annoying me to bitter end asking me about god knows what! I... Love's a strong word, Kisshu... And you used it so lightly. Heck! I used in every sentence involving Aoyama... I don't know what possessed me to think that you weren't good enough for me, if anything it's the other way around. I don't deserve you Kisshu and I'm sorry-,"
"Don't say that." He cut her off, voice low and dark, "Don't you dare even think for one second that you don't deserve me. Ichigo, why do you think, even though we were enemies, that I tried to win you over. I'm not the kind of person who just pretends to love someone."
"I didn't mean it like that!" She screamed, tears now flowing down her cheeks, "After what I did to you, I don't deserve you're love."
"Well I don't care! Because no matter what I'll always love you!" She froze, heart thundering in her chest as she stared up at him.
"You still love me?" Neither of them noticed anyone else, then again, they were trying to leave them to it, Pai had re-claimed his chair and was watching with a smirk, the girls were either sobbing from Ichigo's speech or Kisshu's undying love for their friend - Ryou couldn't quite tell. And the two café owners were just completely lost.
"Of course I do." She gasped slightly, electing a smirk, "Why, does that surprise you, Kitten?"
"Don't, you're ruining the moment." She shot dryly, "... Kisshu? Do you think you could come back? Or... Or take me to Cyniclonia?"
"WHAT!?" That didn't just come from the bug-eyed aliens, but from practically everyone within hearing range, Ichigo blushed embarrassedly, glaring at the floor.
"I have nothing here, my parents are gone, I'm only still here for you guys..." She turned and smiled at her best friends, "I'm almost finished with school anyway, I can't be bothered anymore."
"Ichigo..." Kisshu whispered, causing her to wince slightly, "You're..."
"Out of line? Stupid? Ignorant?"
"Amazing." He sprung up and turned to Pai, "Pai! Go and get the newest portal device."
"What are you doing?" Pai asked sceptically, narrowing his eyes at his cousin.
"I'm going to earth." He ignored the others on earth and shoved Pai out of the room, who was droning on about consequences.
"As you can see, Pai hasn't changed much." He smirked at the screen, "Still a grouchy zombie."
"I heard that you little brat." The purple haired Cyniclon growled, coming back in with a heavy-looking device, ignoring Kish's cringing as he started to fiddle around with it.
"What about you, Kisshu? Have you changed at all?"
"How about we talk about it later? I want to know more about everything you mentioned earlier." It was Ichigo's time to cringe then, muttering a 'great' under her breath.
"You know," Pai called, cursing loudly when his finger touched an electric current, "Why do I always do that? Anyway, you know, you could all come too if you want, not permanently, unless you wish, but I think it would be nice for everyone to meet the people who helped us save our planet. Even though we were both technically dead set on killing each other to start with."
The others in the room all looked at each other, silently agreeing to his proposal, "I think we'd like that, could Moe and Miwa come as well?" Pai glanced up from his work, analysing the two humans before giving a curt nod.
"That shouldn't be a problem, Kisshu whilst you go to earth, I'll inform Hideki-sama, take Taruto with you." Kisshu nodded as Pai began to explain how the portal device worked, "You can't stay on Earth for longer than a day, two at most, or you'll be stuck there. You must make sure that everyone is ok with what's going on, I'm not going to prison for kidnapping someone. Go it?"
Everyone nodded as Pai glared, with a sigh he muttered a good luck and goodbye, before teleporting off, "I'll get Tart. TART GET IN HERE!"
A rather drowsy looking fourteen year old teleported in, glaring daggers at his cousin before notice just who was on the screen. Pudding had instantaneously elbowed Ichigo aside, face pressed up against the screen as she stared wide-eyed at the boy-turned teen. They both involuntarily gasped, jaws dropped and silent.
"W-what the hell's going on?" He murmured, his eyes never leaving Puddings.
"That lot in there are coming here and we're picking them up. Now let's go, Ichigo and I need to talk." Without so much as another word he switched the screen off and grabbed his cousins arm, rushing towards the machine.
Pudding blinked blankly at the backed out screen, "Was that... Taruto?"
"Oh my god." Almost everyone in the room, including Ryou, were staring, open mouthed, at the computer, "Is it just me or did that brat go from not to hot?!"
"Not that I would, like ever, but god damn." Mint's face was a mixture of awed and completely disgusted.
"I think... I need to lay down..." Pudding murmured, promptly collapsing to the ground with a dazed sigh. The girls laughed at their friend, only stopping to hear Moe ask;
"Wait... What are we going to tell our parents?"
"Moe, its the summer break before finals. I'm sure your mom won't mind us going to the hot springs to let off a little steam." Miwa rolled her eyes at Moe's embarrassed flush.
Over the past five years a lot had changed for the Mews, whether it was growing physically or mentally, all of them had done so, with the exception of Zakuro, who was now 22. Lettuce had just turned 18 and planning on entering collage in the next semester, there was a part of her, however, that longed for adventure and love, something only one person could give her. Pudding, 14 going on 15, was finishing up with middle school. Her friend and now adoptive mother, Maria Rosbe had taken in her and her siblings, she knew about the Mew project and also knew of her love for Taruto. Mint was 17, and of course, perusing her dream of becoming a prima ballerina, and already had many ballet associations after her. Zakuro was in the climax of her modelling and acting career, agents, magazines and companies wanted everything to do with her and the only time she was getting off was this summer break.
Ichigo was a totally different case, however, up until about ten minutes prior, she had no idea what on Earth she wanted to do with herself; her parents were abroad, she had no idea what she wanted to do, and the love of her life was in another galaxy! A roar ripped through the basement, papers flew around the room, catching onto the wind as a ripple appeared in the centre of the room. With a resounding pop, Tart and Kish landed, the eldest of the two holding a small device, similar to the one they'd seen Pai set up earlier.
"Hey there, Ichigo. You didn't miss me, did ya?" His infamous smirk lit his face, and just like that, everything in Ichigo's eyes was different. She knew exactly what she wanted. She took the few hesitant steps towards him, tears sliding down her face and one hand outstretched.
"Ha... Not a chance..." She whispered, a sad smile gracing her lips. Then, as if everything had sped up, she found herself held in a strangling embrace. Her legs wrapped around his middle and her head found it's way to the crook in his neck; her eyes were squeezed shut with such intensity that she almost saw stars, "You're back... You're finally back." Her fingers threaded into his, much longer, hair and she marvelled at it's softness.
Their reunion, however, was cut short, when the deafening screech of, "TARUTO!" Flew from Puddings mouth as she sprinted across the room. She then threw herself at the poor, unsuspecting boy and sent them both crashing to the ground. Ichigo cringed at Taruto's moan on pain - which was promptly ignored - and watched with pity as Pudding clung to him.
"G-get off, Monkey-girl!" He blushed, his face acquiring a brilliant shade of red when she stayed where she was, "So... um... I guess you missed me, then?"
"Ha!" Mint let out a fake laugh, inspecting her nails with a bored expression, "That's the understatement of the century! Honestly, those three have been moping about for the past five years, all depressed because their boyfriends were on a different planet. Couldn't you have come back sooner?"
"Aw, did you miss us, Minto?" Kish teleported behind her, throwing an arm over her shoulder and smirking at the blush on her face.
"No way! And get off me, you're filthy!" She wrinkled her nose and shoved him back towards Ichigo, "Don't leave her alone, I don't want to have to deal with her depression again."
"You do care." Kisshu sniggered at the glare he'd received, "Anyway, onto more serious matters - urgh, I hate serious matters - You'll be invited to stay on Cyniclonia for as long as you wish, however that may change due to Hideki-sama's preference, but he's a nice guy, so I doubt it. Two weeks at the least, if you wish to leave before then you're welcome to, however, that's usually the custom for guests of the council. You'll have until 9pm tonight to pack all of the belongs that you want to take and tell your families where you're going. Cell phones probably won't work on my planet, it's a possibility though. We'll all meet back here at 9pm, ok?"
There was a chorus of 'okay's and Kish turned to Ichigo, "Why don't we go to you house and talk there, then I can help you pack?" She agreed with a nod, "Any questions before I go...? Ok, see you later."
And with that he took Ichigo by the hand and teleported straight to her room. Before either of them said a word, a familiar turn began to echo through the house.
"Hey there, Ichigo, what's it like in Tokyo City? I'm a thousand miles away, but girl, tonight you look so pretty, yes you do... Shibuya can't shine as bright as you, I swear it's true..." Ichigo blushed, stepping towards the small device before pressing the pause button.
"I must've forgotten to switch it off..." She mumbled embarrassedly, "Do you remember that? I... I know it off by heart..."
"I remember filming it... It took me several hours to get it right; I still think I sent the wrong one." She smiled, turning back and taking a proper look at him.
"You've changed a lot." They said in unison.
"Sorry..." She swept a lock of her red hair behind her ear, but when she glanced up the expression on his face shocked her, "Kisshu... Are you ok?"
"Do you love me?" He blurted, his golden eyes boring right into her chocolate ones. She turned away at reached under her bed, pulling out her suitcase.
"Yes... No... I think so... I mean it's not like I love anyone else... I don't know if I love you, but I know that I care for you dearly." His face fell slightly, "But I want to love you!" She cringed, that wasn't what she'd meant, she fiddled with the top she was about to put in her bag, "I mean I will love you. I think I just need to get to know you..."
"So you mean like courting?" Ichigo giggled, eyes sparkling.
"Yes, but we call it dating."
"Oh... We don't normally do that a lot on Cyniclonia, you do date a bit, but when you've found the one, you bond." Ichigo nodded, "I've changed a lot, Ichigo... because of you..."
She smiled bitterly, placing more of her clothes into her suit case, "I know... I thought that was part of why you didn't come back... I realised just after you'd left that Aoyama and I weren't meant to be. He went to England and I stayed here... But I think, when my parents left... that's when it hurt the most. I know, it's my fault for hurting you the way I did, you can't even begin to imagine how sorry I am. I don't blame you if you hate me, I blame myself for that... I just... I've felt so hollow and empty all the time, I knew something was missing. When my parents moved to America, I guess I just started to fall apart... I started to have nightmares about the final battle... I still have them now, but I guess I'm just used to it. It was my fault that you died... And it was my fault that you left. I was just such a selfish little brat who was way out of her league. And I just missed you so god damn much it hurts. I know that what I'm feeling couldn't possibly even come to scale with what I did to you, and I hate myself for that, but I just, I want you back. And that's selfish of me, I wouldn't be surprised if you'd moved on already... but I really don't blame you if you want to leave, it's probably for the best. I know that you're ok, now, and you're free to do whatever you please, I can't stop you. And no matter how much it may hurt, I won't stop you, I've hurt you enough. If I hadn't been so blind, maybe it could've been different... But, it's too late now. If you could ever find it in your heart to forgive me, that alone would make me happy, no strings attached."
"Ichigo... Of course I can forgive you, I forgave you a long time ago..." He couldn't take it anymore, just standing there as she cried, so he took a step towards her, cupping her face and brushing her tears away, "I could never hate you, ever Ichigo. You're my everything. We've put each other through so much pain... I... I know I love you, Ichigo, please, come to Cyniclonia with me."
She smiled through her tears, and with a nod she lent towards him, "Let's start over."
"Ok," He smirked, "Hi, I'm Kisshu and I stole your first kiss."
"Well, I'm Ichigo and I think your ears are cute." She pushed herself up on her tip toes - had he always been this tall? - before placing a sweet kiss on his lips; pulling away before he could even process it, "I'm going to need to call my parents, why don't you pack what you think I need whilst I do that... Ok? Oh, and no going in my underwear draw."
"Uh... yeah..." She smirked at his dazed response, and rushed towards her phone, quickly dialling her mom's number.
"Hey, mom, yeah, It's an early call tonight, sorry... I've got some big news actually..."
A/N: Crap ending is crap... I might do another chapter depending on reviews, but it'll just be them in the future, maybe with some kishigo's running around ;D
Anyhow, I hope you liked it, if you did/didn't/are a good person, leave a little review in the box below! They make my day!
Please, review!
\
/
\
/
\/
