Half-term is almost over! Aww! Anyway, apart from that, there isn't really much to say. This is probably the shortest A/N I've ever done.

I don't own Tokyo Mew Mew.

Chapter 1

Christmas Brings Kiichigo

Her breaths came out in clouds of a pearly white mist as she walked along the path. Her short strawberry hair was pulled back in the usual bunches, however, since she hadn't brought a hat, her head was freezing. As were her hands and pretty much everywhere else.

During her shift at Café Mew Mew snow had fallen constantly, blanketing the ground in the white flakes. Icicles hung from the buildings and trees like crystals. So much for 'Sunshine all day long'. Stupid weather forecast! thought the catgirl. A whistling wind whipped up her hair and the edges of the jacket that dangled from her shoulders. She tugged it tighter around her, trying to warm her up.

Ichigo looked to her companion, wondering how on earth he could walk sleeveless and not get cold. Or at least seem unaffected by the cold. The tall blonde, who had insisted on walking her home since a frightening shadow of ebony darkness surrounded the streets of Tokyo, had given the red-head his jacket because she had forgotten her own.

Ichigo sighed and faced forward once more. The two rounded the corner, every step bringing them closer to the Momomiya residence. The silence was just about killing the strawberry Wildcat. She herself couldn't think of anything reasonable to say to him, however, that didn't mean he was in the same situation! There was sure to be some topic or other he could bring up that they would be able to discuss - or, seeing as it was the two of them, they would be able to argue about.

The catgirl frowned slightly. Butt this frown turned first into a shocked expression when a tiny white flake landed gracefully on her nose. Her hand lifted into line with her face so her fingers could reach and touch the little thing. Her head flew up to stare at the sky and a shriek emitted from Ichigo.

The boy beside her turned to face her, giving her a questioning look.

Though she didn't see it, she replied, "Shirogane, it's snowing!!"

Ryou glanced up aswell, noting that it was indeed snowing. Then turning back to the Irimote, he smiled, though it was quite a small smile. Ichigo's face was a sight not to miss. Her eyes were open wide and seemingly sparkling, her mouth twisted into an excited grin and an aura of childishness engulfing her.

"Wow, I've never seen anyone get this worked up about a little snow," he said.

The catgirl came out of her childish daze, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at her boss, "What? Don't you like snow Shirogane?"

"Of course I like snow, baka Strawberry. I've just never seen a teenager revert to a five-year-old's state of mind over the stuff before," he scoffed, shoving his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

She rolled her eyes and giggled. Then, an idea popped into her head. The red-head threw her head back up to the sky again, however, this time she opened her mouth wide. Several snowflakes fell from the air and landed in her mouth, immediately dissolving when they came into contact with the warmth.

Ryou shook his head and continued walking. She caught up to him.

Finally growing tired of eating the snowflakes, she started talking.

"Christmas is only a week away. You don't have any of those big, fancy parties planned, do you?"

He sighed. "Yeah, Christmas Eve there's going to be a party."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ichigo pull a face.

"You really hate it that much?"

"Anou…no, not…hate in particular. I just don't fit in. I'm not rich and I can't socialize with anyone. It's just, you know, kinda boring for me."

"The other girls don't seem to have a problem," Ryou informed her.

"Well, Minto-chan is used to parties like them, as is Zakuro-chan. Purin-chan likes to perform for the guests and Retasu-chan gets asked to dance after only a couple of minutes of being there," Ichigo explained.

"I asked you to dance, didn't I?" he asked, knowing the answer anyway.

"Yeah…but…" Her mouth tugged up into a smile. She hadn't forgotten exactly, but she had realised something. He could have danced with any girl he wanted. However, he chose to dance with her because she was the lonely wallflower that would have probably remained that way all night. Ichigo had to admit, he seemed like the biggest jerk in the world most of the time, but Ryou did have his moments. But he could never be as sweet as her Aoyama-kun.

Ichigo immediately got caught up in another of her constant daydreams. This continued until the two arrived at the top of the catgirl's street, which was pointed out by Ryou seeing as Ichigo was pretty much oblivious to her surroundings.

"Oh, already?" Ichigo asked, quite shocked they had gotten there so quickly. Her tone suggested that she was actually upset about it.

"What? Will my Strawberry miss me? Can she not bare to part ways with me so soon?" Ryou teased, leaning dangerously close to the catgirl's face.

"Nya!" she shrieked, her cat ears and tail deciding to make an appearance.

Ryou smirked and reached out a hand. He began to scratch behind her ear as he had been doing so every time her Wildcat features popped out in the past few weeks.

A soft rumbling noise came from somewhere inside Ichigo. Her purring grew louder and louder as Ryou continued to rub her ears. Suddenly he stopped, giving her a second to calm down before…

"SHIROGANE!! Wait - I WAS PURRING?!?!"

"Yep," he simply replied.

She glared at him, then sighed.

"I guess I better be going. See you tomorrow, Shirogane," she said smiling, waving her hand at the boy.

"Actually the café's closed tomorrow. You can still come in if you want. The other girls are. Even Kish, Pai and Tart are," he told her.

"Oh. Why are you closing the café?"

"Putting up Christmas decorations. Keiichiro's making me," he groaned.

The red-head giggled. "I'll defiantly be in then. Usual time?"

"No. You have to come in half an hour earlier than normal. in other words: on time."

The Irimote had to use all her will-power not to lose it with him then and there. He could see this. He turned to leave her, but before taking a step forward, he flicked her forehead. "See you tomorrow, baka Strawberry."

And with that he was off, walking away from the outraged Ichigo.

She glared at his back before also turning on her heel and heading down her street.

It was an arrangement they had made a week or so back; Ryou would walk Ichigo home but he would drop her off at the top of her street. It began due to one time when Ryou walked Ichigo all the way up to her driveway before leaving. It had just so happened that Ichigo's father had seen them and questioned his poor daughter non-stop - every conversation they had (he would always find a way to bring it up) - for at least a week.

Her childish grin returned as soon as she looked around and took in her street. Lights were hung in the gardens, shining bright, reminding her Christmas was only a week away.

She started running towards her house, excitement filling every inch of her body.

However, as she approached, something didn't seem right…something was different…

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"I see she's back," commented a girl as she glanced out of the window and across the street. The Momomiya home was busier than ever and buzzing with happiness.

"Hai. It's been years hasn't it?"

A tall man approached the teenager from behind, laying a hand on her shoulder as he joined in her watching.

"How many years exactly? She was four when she left, and Ichigo-san's thirteen now so…nine years?" she asked her father.

"Yeah. That's it. Nine years and Kiichigo-san's back. Wonder what made her change her mind about staying in America," he said.

"Who knows? Could be that her parents wanted her back. Maybe they can finally handle the two of them," she answered, her eyes never leaving the scene in front of her.

"Oh well. I bet, though, Ichigo-san is happy."

"Yeah. Getting someone back that you've been separated from for so long must be good," she sighed. "If only mum would come back. Then we'd be happy too."

"Oh, Lilli! Stop going on about that. You're mother and I got divorced. We have been for three years now and we aren't getting back together anytime soon so…" he trailed off as he left the room.

"But dad!" Lilli exclaimed, following him out of the room.

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Arriving at her house, Ichigo burst inside, calling out to her parents that she was home.

"Ichigo honey, where have you been? You're later than usual," her mother shouted from the living room.

"I hope you haven't been with that boy again. If you have, you're in big trouble, missy," her father yelled.

"Depends which 'boy' you're talking about," Ichigo grinned as she took her shoes off and placed them in the cupboard.

"What do you mean by that young lady?!" he bellowed. "Wait…you HAVE been with a boy, haven't you?"

Ichigo giggled. "No," she lied. "I just like getting you worked up."

Ichigo made her way to the door, about to enter the living room when she discovered something. Ryou's jacket still hung from her shoulders. Deciding it would be best to hide the jacket instead of starting a yelling match with her parents - though it would be mainly her father - she sped upstairs and into her bedroom.

Now, seeing as Ichigo is so slow, when she got into her bedroom she didn't notice the several suitcases lying in the middle of the floor. Nor when she went to place the jacket on her own bed did she see the other airbed that had been blown up and propped against the other wall. So, the oblivious girl left the room, not realizing a thing…until she was halfway down the stairs.

Rushing back to her room, Ichigo did a double-take. That was when she saw everything. Her face screwed up in confusion. Choosing the best course of action that would actually get her an answer rather than her thinking about it all night to no avail she turned and headed towards the living room.

"Mum! Dad! Why are there --"

She stopped in mid-sentence, unable to believe the sight that met her.

"Kiichigo…" the Irimote Wildcat whispered.

"Heya Ichi! Good to see you again!" a girl exclaimed.

She stood in the middle of the living room, arms open wide gesturing for Ichigo to hug her. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, threatening to pour down her cheeks at any time. Choking back a sob and trying to swallow the lump in her throat, Ichigo took in the other girl's appearance. She had long hair that reached mid-back which was the same colour as the catgirl's. Her soft chocolate eyes were a mirror image of the Irimote's own and her smile was virtually a reflection. Apart from the fact she was slightly taller and seemingly stick-thin, she could have been Ichigo's double. Probably because she was Ichigo's double…

"Ki?"

"Yeah, it's me. I'm home!"

Wiping her tears away, she flung herself into this new girl's arms.

"KYAH! It's sooo good to see you again!! I missed you so much! It's been years!" Ichigo shrieked, parting from her old friend to begin to bounce up and down on the spot. "I've missed you Kiichigo!"

Kiichigo just giggled as she watched Ichigo jumping around the room, clapping her hands in delight. "Missed you too, sis," she eventually said.

Stopping for only a second, Ichigo enquired," So they're your bags up in my room?"

"Yep. Hope you don't mind that I'm going to be sharing your room for a while?" Kiichigo smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head nervously.

"No problem! It gives us more chance to gossip!" the catgirl squealed happily.

"Yeah. I need to know about all the cute boys around here now, seeing as I'm back for good," her sister grinned, winking, her tone mischievous.

"Girls…" came an angry voice from behind.

"Eep! Forgot you were here! Let's continue this conversation upstairs, Ki!" And with that, Ichigo grabbed her sister's wrist and dragged her out and up to her bedroom.

From the bottom of the stairs they could her their dad's threatening calls about dating boys leading to consequences.

"He was like this when we were four, wasn't he?" Kiichigo asked.

"He doesn't ever change," the smaller of the two smiled.

"And it seems neither does this room. It's still pink!"

"Yeah, but a different shade," Ichigo pointed out.

Kiichigo took a seat on the bed as Ichigo carried on talking.

"…and then there's my friends and my job at the café --" once again she stopped mid-sentence, but it was followed with, "Oh no! I promised Shirogane I'd be in tomorrow!...You'll just have to come in with me! You can meet all of my friends! And all we're doing tomorrow is putting up the decorations - which should be interesting if Purin-chan does a repeat performance of last year. That was probably the funniest thing I've ever seen!"

Kiichigo spoke up then, "I can't wait. It sounds like fun! But, is it alright if I go to bed now? I'm really tired from my long flight."

"Sure," replied the catgirl. She left the room so that Kiichigo could get changed and settle in peace. Though it was not long before Ichigo herself retired for bed. Plenty of sleep was required since tomorrow was assured to be somewhat interesting…

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A/N: So, how did you like it? I should've updated my other stories first, I know. But I've had this idea for a while now and really wanted to turn it into a story!

I'm working on the sequel to Prank Wars, however it may take a while before I can post it. I've got a history project due in soon and a geography one aswell. And it really doesn't help I've barely done anything for them so far.

Anyway, review if you want me to update…both this and my other fics!