Disclaimer: I don't own Tokyo Mew Mew or any of the characters said in this story, unfortunately. T.T
Author's note: This is the second chapter for Home Sweet Home. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reviewing with chapter one. I really appreciate it. In this chapter, there are many of my made up OC but they play the part for the story bits in this chapter.
Chapter 2: The Fashion Show
At the night of the fashion show, everyone was busy getting every model finish and ready to start. Ichigo was so busy getting everything ready and is commanding orders of preparation after order to get everything perfect. Ichigo's running from one model after model to get them to wear her fashion designs.
"C'mon you guys! We're officially late! Let's get all our models sorted and prepared for their entrances!" yelled Ichigo
"Ichigo!" yelled an agitated Retasu
"Yes, Retasu?" question a very rushed Ichigo
"This top on Suki is supposed to be the colour neon aubergine but it's all wrong! All wrong!" Retasu exclaimed while waving her arms in the air because of hysterics
Ichigo stands there for about a minute thinking of a solution. Ichigo keeps on massaging her forehead so she can calm down for a moment to answer Retasu calmly and approach the problem.
"Okay, Retasu don't panic. That's my job right now. All you have to do about the problem is to put Suki on after Tomoko because the third light cue is yellow. She'll look eggplant." Ichigo answered to Retasu.
"Arigato, Ichigo." Retasu replied to Ichigo having to feel calmed if just for a little bit
"Oh that's okay Retasu…but it's wrong because the top is on backwards Retasu." Ichigo replied while walking away from Retasu giggling.
Retasu stood there for a couple of minutes gaping like a koi fish before she dragged Suki away to fix the entrance problem and maybe if Retasu notices, she'll also mix the backwards top Suki was wearing so it will be the right way around. Ichigo then tuned around and was face to face with another fashion designer.
"Ooh…Miss Strawberry! I'm scared of you" said the mystery fashion designer while walking towards Ichigo with a grin on his face.
"Toshiyuki, why are you back here? You know it's not possible because you're my competition." Ichigo replied with a hint of wonderful cheerfulness and gentle friendly smile on her face.
Both Toshiyuki and Ichigo walk towards each other with big grins on their faces and gave each other a friendly kiss on the cheeks and also a friendly hug.
"Competition! Please Ichigo, we're both friends and our designs are pearls! And besides…nothing will come between me and my protégé. After all, this is all about me." Toshiyuki said while flicking his right hand to emphasise his point.
Someone then walks past Ichigo and Toshiyuki when he suddenly grabs a dress and said…
"Oooh, I love this Ichigo! It will look very good on Takada Kanae. She'll definitely kill herself to wear this!" Toshiyuki laughed out loud along with Ichigo after he said that.
Ichigo gave a weary and tire sigh because she thinks that the pressure of putting a good and better show is getting to her.
"Why do I feel like I'm in Tokyo's busiest street butt naked?" complained Ichigo
"Strawberry you'll be fine. Seven years ago, you were a debutante of the plantation who was a newbie at fashion. Now you're my steel magnolia, with her very own show to present to the world!" Toshiyuki comforted Ichigo while complementing her at the same time.
Ichigo was touched and had unshed tears of happiness in her eyes from what Toshiyuki said and was really preventing herself to start the waterworks.
"Alright, now get out of here before you make me cry." Ichigo said to Toshiyuki while pushing him towards the door but not before giving each other a peck on both each others cheeks.
"Ganbare…Ichigo!" yelled Toshiyuki while walking away smiling.
-Meanwhile…outside the Fashion show building-
All the press and photographers was waiting for the rest of the models to come out so they can keep taking the models' pictures. The press' and photographers' attention was stolen by Masaya Aoyama who just arrived looking handsome as ever and with his fangirls shouting 'Aoyama-kun, marry me!'. After all…is being a secretary official for the government will make him very popular and reputational.
"Secretary Masaya, do you have moment?" ask a woman reporter
"Iie, gomen…demo I have to get inside and watch the show." Masaya replied
"Is it true that you and Miss Momomiya Ichigo-san have a relationship?" ask a male reporter
"Well hai…me and Ichigo have a relationship so excuse me but I better go inside." Masaya said while waving his hand to the press and photographers.
-Back inside the dressing room-
As Masaya gets interviewed outside, Ichigo watches him from a television with a big and cheerful grin o her face. Suddenly, Minto being her best friend…came up to her while crossing her arms across her chest while rolling her eyes at Ichigo.
"Please, Ichigo tell me he has a flaw somewhere?" Minto ask with a hint of sarcasm and mockery in her tone of voice.
Ichigo just ignored Minto's question and continue smiling sheepishly with a blush on her face.
"Aoyama-kun asked me to go to Osaka with him for Christmas." Ichigo shared to Minto with a grin plastered to her face showing her pearly white teeth.
"Ichi-chan, you're Aoyama-kun's going to ask you a lot more than that." Minto said while nodding her head vigorously smiling with Ichigo.
"You think so?" Ichigo said a bit unsure.
"Mmmmhmmm…" Minto replied more confident this time.
"Alright, it's time! Let's do this!" yelled a girl in-charged of introducing the models.
"Places, everyone!! Let's go…line up! Ok don't smile people, just smirks." Retasu reminded the models.
All the models lined up and started going out of the dressing room while waiting for the signal so they can walk out to take their turn to walk in on the catwalk.
At the after party of the fashion show, Ichigo along wit Minto, Retasu, Purin and Zakuro and along with everyone else…were having their pictures taken when Ichigo spotted Masaya walking towards her. So Ichigo, run towards him.
"Aoyama-kun!" Ichigo squeals while jumping on Masaya and hugging him.
Masaya chuckled while returning Ichigo's embrace lovingly before lowering her on the floor so she can stand on her own two feet.
"Congratulations, Ichi-chan!" Masaya exclaimed while giving Ichigo a peck on her lips.
"You're amazing, Aoyama-kun." Ichigo gushed softly against his lips.
"Also the flowers you sent me were insane!" Ichigo said although on the inside she was screaming saying she definitely loved all the flowers.
"Well I only wanted this day to be perfect for you." Masaya replied while stroking Ichigo's cheek lovingly.
"Kami! What if they hate me?"
"The critics hate themselves."
"That's easy for you to say. I wasn't born with that thick Masaya skin."
"No, you weren't Ichi. And that is what I love about you."
"Ichigo, gomen. I have a meeting to go to but enjoy the after party and I'll see you later."
Masaya apologized and kissed Ichigo on the lips but before he totally went, he told Ichigo to dress up when he picks her up.
"I remember, we have to go to that thing tonight at Hiroshima, so don't forget and dress beautifully even though you're already beautifully enough for me."
"What thing? I don't remember Aoyama-kun."
"THE Fundraiser thing."
"Right(!) The thing with your okaa-san. That's tonight."
"I'm afraid so." "Okay, Aoyama-kun."
"I'm so proud of you, Ichigo."
"Arigato. Aishiteru Aoyama-kun."
"Aishiteru, Ichigo."
And with that, Masaya kissed Ichigo one last time and said goodbye. When Masaya was out of earshot, Ichigo had a scowl evident on her full lips and a grim look on her whole face.
"Oh great(?!) Seeing Mrs. Masaya-san. What joy…that will be."
-That night-
That night, instead of Masaya picking Ichigo up…it was a limousine that picked her up from her apartment complex to drive Ichigo to Hiroshima. Then the driver of the limousine stopped. The driver then turned towards Ichigo whose looking confused as to why they stopped. The driver said and explained to Ichigo why they'd stopped.
"He's meeting is running a little late. He told me to take you inside."
"Where are we?" questions Ichigo
The driver said nothing but just went out and around to open the door for Ichigo.
"I'm so tired…Ikumi-san." Ichigo sighed.
"Yeah" Ikumi replied
"I've just had it."
"He shouldn't be too long though.
When Ikumi opened another door, there was another man standing there who welcomed Ichigo and lead they way through her office-like hallway.
"Miss Momomiya-san, would you come this way place."
Ichigo just turned to Ikumi who nodded his head and reassured Ichigo that it will be fine. Ichigo then tuned around and saw behind her was Masaya standing at the end of the corridor. They were both lead to a dark room with candles are opened so that lit the entire room up.
"So, have you made a decision yet?" Masaya questions Ichigo
"About what??" Ichigo replied looking a little confused.
"Osaka." Masaya simple replied.
"Osaka, Aoyama-kun? That's four months for now."
" I was thinking maybe 2-300 guests tops."
"For Christmas! Are you on medication…Aoyama-kun? What's going on? Where are we?"
Suddenly the dark room that both Masaya and Ichigo lit up and showing lots of ring jewelleries. Masaya had a big goofy smile on is face while Ichigo was once again gaping she had when she had like the flowers.
"Kami-sama!...K-kami-sama!" Ichigo stuttered while looking around the room that is full of engagement rings.
Masaya then kneeled on one knee in front of Ichigo, then takes her left hand and say…but before, Ichigo again blurted out.
"Kami-sama!" Not believing that this time was happening.
"Momomiya Ichigo, will you marry me?"
"Errr…umm… Aoyama-kun, I—I…" Ichigo continued standing there gaping feeling a little overwhelmed.
To be continued…
Author's note: Cliffy?! What will Ichigo reply to Masaya's question? Will it be good or bad? Don't worry guys, the third chapter is also at the works now. Sorry, kinda took long for me to update but MY okaa-chan was admitted and is still is at the hospital. I'll do my best to update over the weekends. In the third chapter, Masaya's okaa-san will make an appearance and Ryou will soon be re-introduce to the future chapters. So I hope you will enjoy this chapter. Please Read and Review. Arigato minna.
Uchiha Itachi - Uchiha Mika-chan