Finding Ryou's Heart

OK, so I didn't plan on writing a Chapter Two, but after seeing that so many people read my 1st story, I decided, "What the heck?" I actually already had the first seven paragraphs of this story written, but you don't care about that. Here it is!

He had just left her there.

What a jerk.

Lettuce pushed the door open, "You OK?" she asked.

Ichigo smiled, "Yeah."

"He told you?" Ichigo's smile faded.

"Does…has…everyone known?" Ichigo asked.

"Only since they took you," Lettuce said, "Before that it was a mystery," she paused, "to everyone. And I thought he liked me!" she laughed.

"Not funny," Ichigo said.

Her smile disappeared and a 'you're-my-best-friend' frown took over, "I know." Another pause. This one was longer, "Well, next time, that won't happen! Next time, it'll be all or nothing! Next time, they kill one of us, they kill all of us! They capture one of us, they capture all of us! They let one of us go…" her voice trailed off.

"You were saying?" Ichigo said, smiling, "they let all of us go, right?" the peppy look in her eyes was there, just as it had been two whole years ago.

"Right!" Lettuce said. Zakuro popped her head in the swinging door that led to the back room.

"Pudding's gymnastics tournament is in one hour, guys!" Zakuro said, "We're all going for ice cream afterwards!" Lettuce got up.

"You coming?" she said.

"In a minute," Ichigo sighed, "I just need some time alone for a bit, 'kay?"

"OK," Lettuce shrugged. She and Zakuro left, gabbing and giggling. They had become the best of friends during Ichigo's absence.

Ryou came through the door. He wasn't crying, but his red and flushed face gave it away that he had been. He came in and sat down next to Ichigo.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," Ichigo sighed again.

"Ichigo, I…" he started.

"Why'd you go and tell me that you loved me right after you told me my boyfriend died?" Ichigo stood up and faced him.

"Ichigo, I…" he tried again.

"What, did you think "Oh, Masaya's dead, now she'll love me?" Is that what you thought?" she paused, "The aliens may have taken away me dignity, but they didn't take away my love for Masaya!" She was almost crying (again) now.

"Ichigo! I just thought you'd want to know there was one person who cared for you!" Ryou said.

"I know that!" Ichigo snapped, "And you know what?" Pause, "That's what friends are for!" she stormed out.

Ryou just sat down and cried.

Five minutes later, Keiichiro came in.

"We've got to go," he said, "the Mew Mews are already in me mini-van."

"Just go without me," Ryou said, "Ichigo hates me, and don't tell her this, but without Ichigo, I have no reason to live. I'm moving far away from Tokyo. I'm going to America."

"I guess I can't stop you," Keiichiro replied, "But just come to Pudding's gymnastics tournament, even if it's your last day here in Tokyo. Anyway, Pudding would be mad if you missed it." The two men smiled.

"Yeah, sure," he said, "Just don't tell the girls about this."

"OK," Keiichiro said, "come on, let's go!"

At the gymnasium, Ryou sat as far away from Ichigo as possible. He knew from experience not to sit next to a girl when they're mad at you…………

Anyway, they sat (from left to right) Ryou, Keiichiro, Zakuro, Mint, Lettuce, and Ichigo. Pudding, of course, was in the girls' locker room getting ready.

Finally, the show started.

"First up, Pudding Fong!" music played and Pudding appeared wearing a yellow and orange leotard. The announcer spoke again, "Pudding will be doing an original routine called, "Without My Friend and Boss Together!"" Puddinf started to do her routine.

"Obvious much?" Lettuce whispered to Zakuro. Pudding ended up placing 1st place in her age group (the 12-year-olds) and 2nd place for ages ten through eighteen. There was a storm, though, so there was no ice cream.

Later that night, Ichigo went to Keiichiro and said, "Where's Ryou? I want to apologize." Keiichiro gulped, "Keiichiro? Where is he?"

He gulped again, "If I tell you, do you promise not to hurt me?" he said.

"Why would I kill you?" Ichigo questioned.

"Well…" Keiichiro thought to himself, "Should I tell her? I shouldn't…should I?" You know what? He told.

"WHAT!" Ichigo yelled after he told her, "And you just let him go? You idiot!" she was furious, "Drive me to the airport!"

"But…" Keiichiro said.

"NOW!" Ichigo hollered.

"OK, OK!" he grabbed his keys and they left.

At the airport, Ichigo ran to the gate. She was so nervous, her cat ears were popping up, but she didn't care.

Finally, she found Ryou, waiting in line to give his ticket to board the plane.

"RYOU!" she yelled.

"Ichigo," Ryou said calmly, "I understand. I'm an idiot. You don't date idiots." Ryou turned back to the ticket lady.

"No, Ryou!" she yelled back, "You're not an idiot!" she gasped for breath (she ran all the way here!) "I LOVE YOU, RYOU!"

Ryou turned back around, "What was that?"

"I LOVE YOU!" she was crying now. Ryou hopped right out of the line and kissed Ichigo. It was a big, long, happy kiss.

"Mr. Shirogane!" the ticket lady was calling, "MR. SHIROGANE! Are you boarding or not?"

"I think you can pretty much give his ticket away. I don't think he wants to leave Tokyo right now," was Keiichiro's response. And it was true. He didn't leave.

Oh, I love a happy ending! Hope you enjoyed. I'll only write a Chapter Three if you want me to, so give me good reviews, PLEASE!