Hello everyone!!! Here's a new story!!

Hope you like it, and please review!

~nightfall 26

Ichigo was confused, to say the least.

She sat in her room, hugging her knees to her chest and staring at the wall. She was thinking about Masaya. How many times had she comforted in those warm arms? How many days had she spent dreaming of him?

Now the spark was gone. Time after time he seemed to fail her, in little ways, in small disappointments. She didn't feel her heart thump against her rib cage when he neared her, nor did she long to see his face. Ichigo hadn't seen Masaya in several days, and normally by now her heart would be aching to see him. Lately, however, everything had dulled. They seemed to talk too much, text just a little too often, see each other just a little less than usual. Now that the Blue Knight had vanished from his body, it seemed his courage had as well. Just the other day, Ichigo had been approached by a girl named Shizawa who had gotten a boy to pin her in place and beaten her up.

Flashback

Ichigo sat on the side of the fountain at Okasaga Park. Her ankles were crossed, and she was bent over a book. Her gaze was rooted to the pages, and she was studying for an upcoming exam.

"Hey, Ichigo." Came a voice. She looked up quickly, startled. Masaya stood in front of her, smiling. His face was aglow with simple happiness. She laughed quietly.

"Hi, Masaya. How was practice?" She asked. He set his school bag down next to the fountain and sat next to her, smiling.

"It went well enough. Kendo is quite an exhausting sport." He said, wiping some sweat from his brow. Ichigo nodded and stuck a book mark in the textbook before shoving it in her bag.

"Shall we?" Her voice was playful, and she held her arm out for him to take. He chuckled quietly and looped his arm with hers, beginning the walk. As they turned down an alley-way, Ichigo noticed several shapes up ahead. Shadows, playing on the ground before them. Ichigo dropped Masaya's arm, feeling nervousness settle in the pit of her stomach. Two teenagers came walking towards them. A girl and a boy.

"Hello, Aoyama-kun." The girl purred, flicking her long, raven colored hair over one shoulder. Masaya smiled at her.

"Hello, Shizawa." He said to her. Ichigo raised an eyebrow at their friendliness.

"Well, well. Is this your girlfriend? Isn't it good timing. Kajik, go ahead. Give her some bruises to show for being Aoyama-kuns lovely little girlfriend." Shisawa spat, hurrying over to Masaya. The boy looked at Shizawa before cracking his knuckles. Ichigo took a step back from them, her eyes filled with fear.

Wait, what am I doing? I'm a Mew mew! I can take them easily! She thought, biting down on her lip and standing her ground. Masaya yelled at the girl once, then backed down when she whispered something in his ear. She wrapped her arms around him, stopping his stuggles effortlessly. Ichigo's mouth dropped open. How could he?! The boy advanced, brandishing his fists as a warning. Ichigo ran at him, smoothly leaping over their heads. She landed on the balls of her feet, smiling slightly. He growled, looking irritated, and walked towards her. Ichigo ducked underneath his blow, her smile remaining on her face. To her surprise, however, he grabbed her arms from behind.

"Hey!" She cried, kicking at him. He didn't even flinch. Shizawa, now in front of her, landed a punch square in her face.

She could only see Masaya's face as he watched. She screamed loudly, heartbreakingly, blood curdlingly. She shut her eyes against the next blow.

But it never came. The rough hands released her suddenly, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing wretched sobs.

"Ichigo! Please, please, open your eyes..."

Ichigo opened her eye. One of them wouldn't open, and her face throbbed in pain.

Ryou knelt in front of her, his eyes filled with worry and distress.

"I took care of that little brat and her boyfriend. Was there anyone else around?" He asked, gathering her into his arms gently. She nodded slowly, the tears beginning to stop flowing.

"Masaya was standing right there... Where is he?"

End of Flashback

Ichigo buried her face in her knees. The bruises on her face had finally started to fade, yellowing in places. She was finally able to open her right eye. Her face had been a patchwork of purples and blues. Shizawa had spread things about her, horrible rumors that had ruined her reputation. Half the girls at school hated her now, over something she hadn't done. They all believed Shizawa's rumors. Truly, she hadn't done anything wrong. Masaya had promised to speak to the girls, but he hadn't to date. When she asked about it, he apologized profusely and hugged her. As if that would make her problems suddenly vanish.

He had just stood there, and watched. While she got beaten up.

It was true, the spark was gone.

What was even worse about this whole situation was that she was beginning to feel something towards someone else. She buried the feelings all the time, forcing herself not to think of him. No matter what she did, her heartbeat always accelerated when he was getting close to her. He helped her, saved her, defended her. Her face always turned three shades of red when he said something nice to her. That was quite rare, true, but miracles did tend to happen...
Ichigo chuckled at her joke once. Her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, and read the message hurriedly. It was from Masaya.

Sorry, can't come see you. I have to do some family things, you know how it is. I want to see you though. -Masaya

Ichigo snorted, containing dark laughter. She tossed the phone onto her pillows, rolling her eyes. He always had some excuse. The problem was, she knew how much he adored her. She knew how hard he tried. It was just who he was now, for real, without some awesome alien guy inside of him. Though how he could have watched her get punched in the face and just walk away was a mystery to her. With a sigh, she pushed herself off her bed and stood at the window. She really did like Masaya, for what it was worth. Just not the way he loved her. She felt her heart squeeze gently at what she was about to do. With a final thought, she walked back to her bed and picked up her phone. Quickly, she typed in a response to his message.

It's okay, Masaya. I would like to talk to you. Tonight?

Ichigo swallowed nervously before clicking the send button. She was going to break up with him. She had to. It was beginning to hurt her, all the constant stifling affections and pathetic excuses and all the hateful girls. Getting beaten up was the last straw. Once they knew he wasn't really worth it, they'd all forgive her, wouldn't they?

She could only hope.

So Masaya responded soon, saying he'd be glad to meet her in three hours at Okasaga Park. Ichigo smiled a little to herself. She walked over to the mirror, tossing her hair slightly and exhaling in nervousness. She had to tell the other Mews of her decision. They'd been such good friends, defending her against the nasty girls, comforting her when she sobbed over another Masaya disappointment. Ryou especially. He had been so amazing. Since he had saved her, he had comforted her every time she cried. Every time she was upset, he was always there. Ichigo threw on a jacket over her outfit, a black skirt, leggings, and a ruffled white shirt. She didn't bother to put her hair up. It helped to cover her wounds.

"Mom, I'm going to the Cafe!" She called, before walking out the door.

"Okay, honey, be back for dinner!" Her mom replied, waving once from the kitchen window. Ichigo smiled and began to trot at a nice pace to Cafe Mew Mew. Once she arrived, she called everyone to the kitchen.

"I want to thank all of you for being such good friends to me while I've been going through all of this junk with Masaya." She murmured, fidgeting slightly. Lettuce smiled.

"Of course, Ichigo-san, we'll help with anything." She said, patting Ichigo's shoulder. Pudding laughed and jumped up on the countertop.

"We love you, na no da!" She exclaimed, grinning madly. Zahuro nodded from her position in the corner, her arms folded over her chest. Minto lifted her nose into the air.
"I don't know why we do this for you, Ichigo, we never get anything in return." She replied snootily, smoothing her apron. Ichigo sighed. That was the most she could expect from Minto. Keiichiro smiled warmly.

"I want to say that I'm breaking up with Masaya. I've had enough, really, truly, had enough." Ichigo said, her voice clear and strong. From behind the swinging doors, Ryou's eyes widened. But he hid swiftly behind the wall and calmed his racing heart.

"What brought you to this decision, Ichigo-san?" Lettuce asked curiously, cocking her head. Ichigo pursed her lips.

"Well, I believe that the 'spark' is gone from the relationship. Sure, he's good and steady, but he won't defend me, and almost always lets me down. I mean, look at me. The bruises have almost faded from my face." Ichigo explained, sticking her hands in the pockets of her jacket. Lettuce nodded slowly. Minto looked over at Ichigo briefly, nodding once. She looked a little concerned. But only a little.

"Good decision." Zahuro said from her corner. Ichigo smiled brightly.

"So when are you going to break up with him, na no da?" Pudding asked, bouncing down from the counter. Ichigo laughed.

"In a little while." The walk down had taken an hour, since she had been slow, and the talk so far had lasted quite a bit. Lettuce nodded.

"You'd better do it soon." Lettuce murmured. Ichigo exhaled heavily, her heart racing.
"I should, I know, but I don't want to." She chuckled quietly. But her friends ushered her out the door, and she walked out, nervousness setting in.

So she was on her way.

Please review!!! If I get reviews, I'll continue the story!!!

Did I mention review yet?

Oh, and review! :)

~Nightfall26