Hi!

This isn't Broadway, this is her friend. Well this chapter was writen by Broadway, but she didn't want to post it because she thought that she was the only one who liked the plot line and was afraid everyone would hate it. Eh, she's very sensitive about that kind of thing. So, I read it and thought it was a really good idea and that it was a waste to just let it rot in her computer, so I decided to post it to see what you guys think of it (Lucky for me, she left her Fanfic hompage wide open, so it was easy). So please guys! Review! If she gets flames she will probably kill me for posting it, but I'm sure she would like the feed-back.... anyway, review!

Prelude: Two Years Previous to the Mew Project

'Tuesday, December 8th, 1999' read the newspaper that was plopped carelessly by the paper boy on the doorstep of the Momomiya residence that surprisingly clear winter morning. Not a moment after the paper boy left, the front door to the house swung open revealing an eleven-year old Ichigo with a smile bright enough to light the entire city of Tokyo plastered to her face. Today was a special day in the young girl's life. Today was the first day she was allowed to spend the entire day with her friends in public without supervision.

In front of the shopping mall, she stood scanning the passing crowd until her eyes light up with excitement when she saw them, "Miwa! Moe! Over here!" she cried out.

Having heard their names, Miwa and Moe turned their heads to see Ichigo waving frantically at them, almost looking like she would explode with excitement. Both girls smiled almost simultaneously and ran toward their maroon-haired friend.

"Ichigo!" Exclaimed Moe, "I can't believe it! We're at a shopping mall, without parents! What should we do first?!"

Ichigo beamed, "Shop of course! And then grab some lunch before we head back home. This is going to be so much fun!" Ichigo, unable to contain herself, jumped into the air in her excitement.

The tree girls giggled and then latched arms together before entering the front door of the mall.

Several hours later, the girls emerged from one of the many shops in the mall and laughing at something Miwa had just said. Abruptly, Moe stopped laughing and put on a coy look, "Hey Ichigo, look who's over there."

Ichigo followed Miwa's gaze over to a group of boys sitting at one of the various benches and felt her breath catch in her throat.

It was Haruki Hinamori. The boy was only a few inches above Ichigo's own height, but of course most of his height came from his long legs. These legs, of course, had a thin, but very toned torso to match its perfection. His arms, like his torso, were thin, but strong and trained from the several hours of weekly Kendo practices and tournaments. Resting prestigiously atop his sculpted neck was undoubtedly the most gorgeous head one was ever to see. Forest green hair framed his face, lightly brushing his face in a playful manner. His skin was pale, but not abnormally so. Resting on his face, were two soft earth colored eyes, that always seemed to have a hidden smile confined in it, even when the smile was absent on his face.

Among the people surrounding him, Ichigo could recognize only two others, Haruki's two best friends. Although, Haruki was the most popular boy in school, his group of friends was quit obscure. Yuuto, for instance, was the class nerd. Though his appearance contradicted that stereotype completely. Yuuto was tall and muscular. In short, everything about Yuuto was intimidating. But, as one would tell you, the most unnerving quality of Yuuto's was his emotionless face. You would be considered a lucky man, indeed, if you were to catch even a shadow of a smile upon is strong, sharp features. Even his eyes were often absent of emotion, but Yuuto acted like everyone's elder brother. So, no one minded him much.

On the polar opposite side, the other boy in Haruki's group was short, almost midget size. Though, despite that unfortunate fact, the boy, Kaito, held his head high and proud. Despite him being the same age as Yuuto and Haruki, he looked quite boyish. His hair was a disarray of mousy brown hair atop his face, which still had some baby fat still on him, only adding to his boyish charm. Kaito's energy levels, unlike Yuuto's were through the roof. He could barely hold still, but he spent most of that energy trying to prove that size was not important.

Ichigo could barely breathe. Haruki, as you might have guessed, was her long time love interest. Miwa and Moe giggled in amusement to see Ichigo's face brighten to a deep pink.

The girls giggling broke Ichigo's trance, while she hurriedly muttered that they should leave. Highly amused by the girl's fluster, the girls agreed to leave the area toward home.

During the walk home, the once bright blue sky began to disappear behind threatening looking clouds. Knowing this fact the girls walked rapidly towards their homes.

"I didn't hear anything about snow on the news." Observed Miwa.

"How strange." Exclaimed Moe.

"I don't know, but I don't like the look of it. We better get home and quickly." Pressed Ichigo.

The three nodded their agreement and branched off their separate ways. Each cautiously made their way home, but none could shake the feeling of impending doom.

Several hours later, Ichigo lay sprawled on her bed, wrapped in a blanket, "Ichigo?"Her mother called.

"Yes?" she responded too lost in the realm of her comfort to truly pay attention.

"Can you come here for a moment?"

Curiously, Ichigo got off her bed and made her way downstairs to find her father and mother in front of the TV, "Mom? Dad? What's going on?"

"Honey, watch this." Her mother said carefully.

"Today, three elementary school boys went missing." Sounded the voice of the TV reporter.

"All three of the boys were last seen walking home from the mall earlier today. Local officials are currently out trying to solve the case. If you have any information on these boys,"

Ichigo's eyes went wide as she inhaled a shaky breath. For, on the screen, flashed the pictures of Haruki, Yuuto, and Kaito.

"Please contact the authorities immediately." And then the TV went black.

Ichigo remained frozen in place, unable to believe what she had just heard. They were gone, just like a swirl of smoke, without a trace.

Unable to contain herself, Ichigo ran to her room and cried. Between her sobs, she prayed to every god she had ever heard of that they would return safe. And, in the history of Tokyo, it had never snowed harder than it did that night.

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