Here's Angelic for you and I hope you like it! This is a RxI story, so if you're a RxI fan, enjoy it! And if you're not, enjoy it anyway or review on how it sucked. It's still a review and I will greatly appreciate it if you do. :)

So, disclaimer? I don't own TOKYO MEW MEW. 5 reviews for every chapter! Please and enjoy :). (review!)

I. Gone

An ear-piercing scream shrieked through Ichigo's ears- tearing and scraping the soft walls around her eardrums- echoing in all quarters of the Cafe. Ichigo let out a startled scream as the plate in her hands slipped and shattered on the floor into pieces. She didn't know what hurt more: the horrifying scream or the loud shatter of the plate. Whether which one startled her more, didn't matter now. The loud thumping her ears followed by the ones of her heart, caused a sudden rush to her head. Her knees shook and she quickly gripped the sink, taking small breaths to calm the loud pounding in her chest. Her almost shattered ears thumped in her head in a fast beat.

She expected Ryou to pop out of nowhere like a Jack-in-the-Box because she knew Ryou was going be on her back -if he wasn't already- calling her "baka" or just plain insulting her, apart from lowing her salary and who knew what else for breaking a plate. Apart from flicking her nose, which usually happens in scenarios like this.

Or worse: extra hours and very very low pay or nothing at all. If there was a cold-hearted, inconsiderable jerk-of-a-boss on the earth, if possible the entire universe, that would be Ryou Shirogane. It seemed he didn't care anything else but making her life miserable.

"What happened?" she called out and turned off the sink. For a brief second, she was almost glad she was pulled back to reality by Lettuce's scream rather than having Ryou appearing out of nowhere and flicking her nose. But, then again, she'd prefer Ryou's flick than having an almost shattered ear.

If there was a reason for Lettuce to scream that loud, it was because she had broken more plates or maybe by getting scared. Who knew? Lettuce was always breaking plates and it was no surprise for her to let out a yelp or a small scream. But a scream like this? The plates had to have fallen on her to scream that loud or that horrifying. In fact, Ichigo had never heard something like this from Lettuce.

Ichigo checked the clock on the wall. 7:38 p.m? She had been cleaning dishes for 6 minutes only? That meant she only had 12 minutes to finish washing dishes, help Lettuce, pick up the chairs and run out of the Cafe before anyone knew she was gone, especially Ryou. No. Check that. Besides that, she still needed to get herself ready. She didn't want to look tired and sweaty in front of Masaya for their webcam chat. Ever since he left for England, Masaya has been in-and-out of contact and Ichigo did NOT want to miss the chance on talking him today.

Quickly drying her hands on a dry towel, she called out, "Are you okay Lettuce? What happened?"

"Oh my God! Someone please help! Keiichiro! Zakuro! It's Ryou!" Lettuce screamed.

Ichigo's ears burned and tingled by how loud Lettuce was screaming. Ryou? Well that was a very unexpected reason for her screaming. What could've Ryou done for Lettuce to scream like that? If possible, anything. But, this cry for help sounded desperate...scared...terrified. Ichigo had never heard Lettuce scream this way nor sound that frightening. Did Ryou really do something bad to her? Worried, she left the broken pieces on the floor and she made her way out the kitchen, to the hall. Getting out a little late wouldn't hurt, right?

The sun was setting outside, making the Cafe a soft orange from its last rays. It was quiet, the last minutes before closing. Relief washed over Ichigo. It almost seemed peaceful, but Lettuce's scream added a tense layer to it. In fact, Ichigo felt like being in a haunted place. Somewhere quiet, peaceful but making it haunted after a scream. A killing, frightening scream. For a brief second, it didn't feel like the lively Cafe that it was.

Rounding the corner, she expected bumping into Ryou -probably already headed to the stairs, leaving the scene- and automatically start screaming at him, but her knees locked her in place. What she saw, wasn't what she was expecting. In fact, it didn't come close to what she had in mind. She quickly looked away and tried relaxing her breathing which was slowly cutting short. Her knees wobbled and she quickly put her hand on the wall- to prevent her being sprawled on the floor.

She would have liked to believe that what she saw was a hallucination or part of those jokes where a scary face covers the computer screen after a calm scene at a website. Slowly turning her eyes, she confirmed that it wasn't a joke. Blinking her eyes quickly, she hoped that the scenery would disappear between the opening and closing. Her vision turned blurry and swirled.

Was it was she saw, happening? Was this some sort of sick trick? Answering her own question, she shook her head.

As her vision cleared, she focused on Lettuce first, trying to focus more on her. Lettuce's terrified face had tears streaming down her cheeks under her moist glasses. Her eyes were open, alert and watery. Forcing herself, Ichigo followed her gaze downward and there, holding in her hands was Ryou's hand, who was sprawled on the floor with his eyes rolled to the back of his head-only the white of his eyes showing on his open eyelids. His nose was red and bruised, with blood oozing through his nostril.

That was when something inside her broke, like a thin mirror being shattered inside her heart, piercing and sinking until every piece released a shot of pain through her veins. Ichigo felt her blood rise to her head and made her heart felt like a hot watery soggy bag, making it hard to breath. She tried breathing through her mouth, but she couldn't swallow that big knot. Was she part of a gorgy movie? Like Saw? Obviously not, because Ryou's body parts would be all over the place, not in one piece.

Then something caught her eye. There, around his head, was dark red liquid; staining his platinum blonde hair in blood. Ichigo suddenly felt her mouth quiver and her eyes burn. Maybe it was the scenery itself that was making her want to break down crying. Lettuce finally looked up and her eyes widen in relief.

"Ichigo! Please help me! I-I dont-dont know what happened! I was w-walking and I just found him on the floor!" Lettuce stuttered as tears kept streaming down her cheeks. She started with her panic gestures-pointing to the second floor and Ryou. Taking a deep breath and trying to swallow that knot in her throat, Ichigo made her way towards Lettuce trying to keep her composure to help Lettuce.

"Where's Keiichiro?" Ichigo crocked-but loud enough for Lettuce to hear- trying not to look at Ryou's terrifying gaze. Her heart felt like it burst right through her chest. Her whole body burned; the tips of her fingers tingled.

"I-I dont-"

Lettuce and Ichigo looked sideways when a door opened. For their luck it was Keiichiro, who was carrying a bag of groceries. "Keiichiro!" Lettuce screamed as she showed an emotion of panick and relief. Keiichiro's expression turned to shock and he instantly dropped the bags and didn't waste his time on quickly running to them. Ichigo didn't know if Keiichiro's presence made the situation better. If he was too late or he came at the right time. The atmosphere only got tenser. Scarier.

"What happened?" Keiichiro asked as he knelt down and reached for a pulse.

"We don't know. Lettuce says he was on the floor when she arrived and I was in the kitchen washing plates," replied Ichigo as she sat across Keiichiro, with Ryou between them. Lettuce had moved away, giving her place to Keiichiro. Both Lettuce and Ichigo watched Keiichiro unzip Ryous' vest. He put his ear against his chest and listened. Ichigo's breathing hastened as she searched his face for an answer while Lettuce cried with her hands together in her mouth. Ichigo felt her fingers cross and left them that way. Probably hoping they would work.

Keiichiro's eyes widen and Ichigo felt her chest rise up and her eyes burn fast.

"Where's Masha?" he asked, looking hard at Ichigo.

Ichigo quickly made memory and replied, "Ryou took him to his room this morning. I haven't seen him since."

Where was Masha? He had to be here with Ryou, correct?

"Lettuce! Please call the ambulance! Give them the address and to hurry!" Keiichiro ordered. Lettuce nodded and she quickly scurried to the kitchen. It was then Zakuro, Mint, and Pudding came walking in.

"Ichigo? What happened?" Mint asked. Her expression turned into terror when she saw Ryou. Not even Ichigo could answer that, so she stattered, trying to get something out of her mouth. Zakuro's expression twitched and quickly stopped walking.

"No-no da! Ryou!" screamed Pudding.

"Zakuro. Mint. Please get Pudding out of here!" Keiichiro ordered. Zakuro walked in front of Pudding and turned her around towards the exit.

"No! Let me go! Ryou!" screamed Pudding. Mint followed behind Zakuro, giving a final terrified glance before closing the door. Ichigo turned her attention back on Keiichiro, although she still heard Pudding's struggles.

"Keiichiro? Do you think-"

"I don't know," he interrupted as he zipped back the vest. "His pulse is very slow." He stared at Ryou's face and breathed deeply as he closed Ryou's eyelids. Ichigo breathed in and tried holding in her tears until Keiichiro broke the silence.

"Wait..." Ichigo perked up and turned to face Keiichiro, who was examining something on the side of Ryous' right thigh.

"What? What is it Keiichiro?" she asked. All of this was becoming confusing and sudden. Ryou was in front of her with his head cracked open, for Pete's Sake. Was there more to this then? More, other than Ryou dying? What more could there be than THAT?

Ichigo watched as Keiichiro grabbed a hold of something and pulled it out. Holding between his index finger and thumb in front of his face, was a needle. Well, a small piece of it. It was stained in blood and glinted in the light.

"Where did that come from?" she asked, shocked.

"It was on the side of his thigh. That's not all though..." Keiichiro put his hand on the side and gave it a small press. "...His skin is hard. I'm more troubled on how it get on his thigh."

Ichigo looked worriedly at him, instantly reaching the most obvious answer. Ryou wasn't suicidal. He was reserved, unsociable...practically a loaner and emo, that much she got out of him, but to kill himself? No. What reason? Purpose? Ryou wasn't the type to end his life like that for no reason or a reason. He was much to-she picked the first word that suited him- smart. She didn't want to start thinking beyond that.

"We have to get him to the hospital first."

"Right," agreed Keiichiro.

Ichigo placed her hand on Ryous' and a cold shiver went through her fingertips. His hands were icy cold and stiff.

"I'll put this somewhere safe and finish picking up the Cafe. Would you stay here meanwhile? If he reacts, tell me." Keiichiro asked standing up.

Ichigo stiffly nodded.

"Here-" Keiichiro unfastened his straps and ripped the loose part of his shirt. "-Wrap it around his head. I don't want him bleeding to..." Ichigo saw Keiichiro's face flinch in pain, at the same time as hers. The word hung in the air between them until Keiichiro said, "Before the paramedics arrive." He jumped the word. Having the word floating in the air between hurt Ichigo more than saying it or choosing not to say it. It was all over Ryou. -flinch-

"I'll be back." He gave her a kind smile and for a small moment, it calmed her. Ichigo took the piece of clothing and she was alone.

The cafe was dead silent. Haunting. The room felt like it was caving in on Ichigo, absorbing her. Her eyes burned and stinged as she stared at Ryou. What was taking the ambulance so long? Time was passing and each second meant everything to save Ryou. Her eyes blinked when she realized she was worried for Ryou. Why should she be?

After all he was the person making her life miserable, but seeing him like she was now, he seemed weak...vulnerable. Whether he was the person making her life miserable didn't matter now. All she cared now was for him to arrive on time, get saved, and everything will be back as it was. She was starting to regret ever wishing he was gone from her life. All those times she screamed out that she hated him, that she wished he was gone, that time when she said, "Go throw yourself over a cliff." Guilty.

Hoping he didn't take it serious, she shook her head trying to rid the thought. Ichigo stared at the blood that now surrounded Ryous' head. Blood. The rust-and-salt smell came to her mouth. making it bitter. Her hairs started rising up and her skin shook with goosebumps. Taking a deep breath, she tried pushing aside the bloods' existence and sat herself in front of Ryou's head.

"It's just tomato juice," she started saying as she carefully lifted Ryou's head onto her lap, the warm blood staining her hands. With one hand, she held it under Ryou's head and lifted it while she wrapped the cloth around his head with her other hand.

"Tomato juice. Tomato juice. Tomato juice... coming out of Ryou's head, but no problem right?"

She was halfway when she noticed where her hand was, she felt a dent or something that felt really loose like a piece of wet skin hanging. All mushy and squishy. Yuck. Shivers coldly went down her spine. The sudden warmth of her hand made her stop and look at Ryou's head. Why was it warm? The question startled her. She stared at Ryous' body position and slowly looked up to where the stairs were. From the bottom, she saw bloches of blood on the wall and the steps. A bloody hand-print smeared the white wall. Her eyes continued up until there was no more blood stains. Ichigo saw the door to his room was opened, the sun's rays glowing through his window.

The Cafe went from haunted house to a Chucky movie scene. And Halloween was MONTHS away.

"Ryou," she whined. "Halloween is MONTHS away. This is no time to pull a stupid stunt like this." Silence followed and she felt her face burn in embarassment. For a moment, she thought she wasn't not here; with Ryous' head open like a broken vase. For a slight second, she expected him to complain. For a second, she wanted him to be okay. For a second, she wished he wasn't dying.

Shaking her head, she quickly wrapped the last of the cloth and hid the end part under a layer. She slowly put down Ryou's head on the floor and made her way beside him. Golden-stained locks peered through the layers of the cloth, staining it in ruby red. Ichigo started to feel desperate and useless.

What could she do now? She wanted to do something besides just staring at him, waiting for him to react or wait for him to... Quickly shaking the thought away, she got Ryou's left hand placed it between hers. His firm veins pulsed through his white skin that stretched halfway up his arm.

His face was still, his chest slowly rising. In...out...in... Giving his hand a tight squeeze she took a deep breath from her now dried lips and whispered through her swollen throat.

"Ryou..." Her lips twitched, but she pressed them in a hard line before continuing. "Can you hear me? Ryou. It's me, Ichigo."

She felt drops of water fall on her hands, realizing that she was crying. How long has she been crying?

"Ryou..." she said. Her voice broke, trying to hold back a sob. Her lips wavered a bit and wiped the tears on her cheek with her shoulder.

Ryou was surprisingly stiff and heavy like a statue. His hand felt cold compared to her warm blood stained hands. Then a sudden movement in her hand startled her. She stared at her fingers and realized Ryous' fingers were moving. They wrapped around her fingers and squeezed her hand, holding them it in a firm grip. Seeing a reaction from Ryou brought a smile to her face.

"R-Ryou?" His name came out as a whisper between pauses. She waited for Ryou's eyes to open, but they never did, only quick movements under his eyelids. His mouth trembled as if he was freezing. He looked like he was in pain as if he wanted to move, but couldn't.

The sudden doors bursting open startled her. The paramedics came rushing in with a stretcher and equipment with Keiichiro behind them. Seeing the paramedics doing their job, Ichigo stepped aside as the paramedics strapped Ryou to the stretcher, blood dripping as they hurried outside where the ambulance was waiting; its' siren echoing through the Cafe.

"Keiichiro!" Ichigo nervously called out and started walking towards him. "Ryou moved his hand." All the other details, like the blood on the stairs and the wall vanished from her mind. The sudden reaction from Ryou roused her mood.

"He did?" Keiichiro asked, his eyes showing relief. "Anything else happened?"

"Just that and his mouth was shivering," Ichigo said look at Ryou's hand hanging on one side of the stretcher. "Well that's good news! That means he's still conscious. I'll go talk to the others. I'll meet you girls outside," he said giving a smile and quickly running to door Zakuro and the others went in. Ichigo stood there, watching alone. She stared at her hands and cafe uniform; both stained in blood. Ryou was still conscious. He can still make it.

"Ichigo?" Lettuce's voice came from behind her. Ichigo turned around and found Lettuce holding a mop and a bucket. "I'll finish up here. You go on and put your clothes somewhere to clean." Lettuce forced a smile under her red teary eyes.

"Oh. OK then," said Ichigo wiping the blood on her uniform, even if there was no sense to it nomore. Somehow, she felt her spirits high. Knowing Ryou was conscious did mean a good thing, but, that puddle of blood made her worry. It was a threat for Ryou's survival. Staring at the puddle of blood, she made her way to the changing rooms.

(minutes then)

Ichigo sat in one of the hospital chairs, waiting for any news of Ryou. Keiichiro was leaning against the wall with Zakuro a few feet away while Lettuce and Mint stayed with Pudding in a couch in front of hers.

"Maybe we should ask if there's progress or something," Lettuce requested.

"We should wait until the doctor comes out. He'll have the answers we need," Keiichiro spoke softly.

"Besides Lettuce, we barely got here 10 minutes ago and you want answers already?" Mint said.

Ichigo listened to them talk. All she wanted for this to be over. To get out of this place. People were getting in and out. Either with good news or not. People with good news got out with their loved one in a wheelchair or walking, happy to be out, but the ones who weren't, left with teary eyes. Ichigo tried getting that thought out of her head. The jerk. Ryou had to come out-healthy and walking and everything would be the way it was with them fighting everyday and discussing.

Ichigo stood up and started pacing. Every now and then she'd look at the clock. Five seconds. Six seconds. Ten seconds. Ichigo couldn't stand here waiting. She had to see Ryou was going to be ok. Approaching the Mews, she said, "I'll be right back. I'm heading for the restroom." She didn't even wait for their answer. Quickly making her way through the halls, she scanned every open door trying to see Ryou.

What was she doing? Why? Couldn't see be waiting with the Mews instead? She thought about going back, but she kept going. It was as if instinct had taken over or something. She couldn't go back, no matter how much she questioned herself.

Everytime she passed a clock, she'd check it. One second. Next hall. Three seconds. She must've gone crazy because she had to find Ryou and NOW. It was taking too long. Time was running out and FAST. She turned to her left and quickly scanned the passing window until she found him, at last.

There were paramedics everywhere. One checking the blinking box, another on his right with needles, another two on his left and at least four people scurrying and brining stuff in. One paramedic came in rushing through the door with a box and two rectangular pads. Everyone seemed so busy that they didn't realize Ichigo was there.

Ichigo watched in complete silence as they unzipped, practically tore, his vest opened. The annoying beeping sound started up as the red line on the box began scribbling. Beep. Beep. Ichigo put her hands together and started crying. All this was too much-watching Ryou with tubes, needles, and stuff coming in and out of his system. Blood stained towels where everywhere.

The paramedic with the box rushed to Ryou's side and started up the machine. Ichigo couldn't help the tears. They were running down nonstop. Something was taking over her that she coudln't fight against this. Against this feeling.

Then there was the sound she didn't want to hear. Beeeeeeeeeeeepppppppppppppp...

Ichigo's insides started tensing up. She watched as the doctor laid the pads on Ryou's chest and said something. Ryou's body jerked up from the stretcher as if he was getting kicked from the back.

"Ichigo?" Keiichiros' voice came from behind her. She didn't bother to look. Her gaze kept switching from the box to Ryou's face.

Again his body jumped from the bed. Her heart hastened as the same annoying sound continued. Beeeeeeppppp...

"Ichigo. Let's go. We should wait," Keiichiro said as he laid a hand on her shoulder. Instantly she took it off and answered with a solid, "NO."

"You shouldn't be here. It's better to wait than to witness this," Keiichiro explained as he put his hand again. Ichigo immediately shook her shoulder, but it didn't shake off. His hand started tugging trying to make her go back.

"No...I'm not going anywhere," Ichigo said as she tried to stay firm against his strong grip. She wished it was Ryous' pulses she was hearing instead of hers.

"I don't want you seeing this Ichigo. It's better to wait," Keiichiro said as he grabbed an elbow. Ichigo tried shaking both off, but she couldn't. She tried to stand firm, but whenever Keiichiro tugged, she started to move. Her chest was swelling up inside her as she tried to fight against this. Tears started streaming down her cheeks.

"No Keiichiro! I need to stay!" she protested. Ichigo felt another pair of hands grab her waist.

She tried fighting against this. That annoying beeping sound kept going, making her more desperate. Ryou jerked up from the bed again and nothing happened. The paramedics had stopped moving and she looked at the one that had the box. He looked at Ryou and shook his head slowly. Ichigo gave a final hard effort and broke free from Keiichiro's and Zakuros' grip. Quickly scurrying to the window, she found the doctor walking out of the door.

"Are you here for Ryou Shirogane?" He asked as he took off his gloves.

"Yes," Ichigo answered quickly not bother to wipe the tears in her eyes. Keiichiro and Zakuro stood beside her. "What's wrong? Is Ryou ok? Were you able to close to wound?" she asked.

The doctor sighed deeply and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but he didn't make it."

Those words echoed through Ichigo's head as they hit her like a sharp-needled wall. There, she felt something in her chest sink and immediately break down into tears as well as Keiichiro. He went up to the doctor and said, "It's not true. Tell me ITS NOT TRUE."

"I'm sorry, but Ryou arrived with a severe open wound in his head. Unfortunately, he lost a lot of blood and he didn't respond when we tried bringing him back. I'm sorry."

"NO!" Keiichiro exploded, banging a wall. Ichigo felt her breath escape as she tried taking this in. She felt her body crumble and she quickly hugged Zakuro to somehow feel safe or comforted. Zakuro's sweet perfume ran through her nose.

Ryou was gone. Forever.

"He's gone," she whispered through her hands. Those two words, as short as it was, sank deep in her heart and brought tears to her eyes. She couldn't stop herself and she let all those tears come out as she, along with Keiichiro and Zakuro, cried and mourned in the hall. The simple fact that Ryou wasn't in her life anymore, was too unbearable. "NO..." she whispered as she hugged Zakuro tight as cried on her shoulder.

-End. Part 1

BUM BUM BUM..Ryou's dead. Yes he is because I wrote so. XD. I was glad that I passed the 2,000 word mark. Yay! I know, I know. It's dooms-day for everyone from now on. You want to know what happens next? If you do, review! 5 reviews will bring Chap. 2.

OH NO! How in the world are they going to know how they felt about one another? Why did I make a story in which Ryou dies? Did the first sentence make you say it fast that you didn't breathe? Who thought Ichigo was NOT herself as she cleaned Ryou's head? Why WAS Ryou's blood warm? What does the stairs have to do with the story? Why was Ryou on the floor? What's in for Ichigo now? Is she the ditzy-clumsy-Ichigo or was she replaced by some robot? TEll me PLEASE!

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