There was nothing all around him. An endless stretch of inky darkness, devoid of color and life. All Ryou knew was that here, it was empty and cold. But "here" was someplace he didn't know.
He looked about himself, confused. Where am I? he thought. Something caught his eye, and he turned to face it. A girl dressed in white floated a few feet away, her face mostly hidden as she curled in on herself. Her face glistened with tears that still spilled from her eyes. Ryou appraised her with awe and concern. "Who are you?" he asked, reaching for the girl.
She looked up at him and he jerked back, eyes wide. "Ichigo?" he cried.
The girl gazed at him, her red hair swirling around her face. "Ryou..." she whispered.
Ryou stared back. "Strawberry, what's going on?" he asked, voice shaking slightly, both from surprise and the strong emotions in her eyes.
Ichigo smiled faintly, the tears slowing. "I... tried to save us, Ryou. But I was too late." She bowed her head, voice soft and quiet. "Mew Ichigo has vanished."
"I don't understand! What does this mean?" Ryou demanded. Tears burned in his eyes, threatening to spill over.
Ichigo stepped forward and placed her hand against his cheek, caressing him with her soft fingers. "I'm gone forever, Ryou. That is what this means."
Ryou stared at her, the tears dripping down his cheeks. He placed his hand over hers, a heart-broken feeling tight in his chest. "Baka Strawberry! Why have you died?!" he cried furiously.
"Because I love you," she said.
Ichigo leaned up and gently kissed his lips, pouring in all of her passion and love for him. "I love you, Ryou Shirogane," she breathed, and disappeared.
Ryou grasped vainly at the air, trying to get her back. "Ichigo... I love you too." Those were the last words he uttered before he plummeted into the darkness.