DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew, period.

Summary: Things don't go as planned in the Final Battle, so Deep Blue, as Masaya, sends Ichigo to a place he thinks she will be happy. When Ichigo wakes up, she finds everyone is alive, she's not a Mew Mew, and her boyfriend is...Ryou Shirogane! Will Ichigo find her way back home, and does she even want to?

Pairings: IchigoRyou, plus some MintKeiichiro and RettasuMasaya on the side.

A/N: SO SORRY for the unexcusably late update. That's all I seem to be doing lately...

A BIG shout-out to every single one of my reviewers! I'm not going to list them, as I need to get this chapter out as soon as possible. Sorry, yet again! You people have probably forgotten about this story by now...

ANyway, I have big ideas for 'A Life of Kastiocracy' (hope I spelt that right) Of course, I need to get off my lazy bum and finish this one first.

The writing in this chapter may seem a little different, I think my writing is developing! Yay! Oh, and don't let the title of this chapter freak you out...it's not what it sounds like, really.

- - -

A LIFE OF CONTENTMENT
The Art of Meeting Those Dead

- - -

Knock, knock.

I have a strange urge to scream 'Who's there?' but thankfully I don't. When I look to the source of the rapping, which is on the sound-proof window, I am met by the smirking face of Minto.

MINTO?

.-xxx-.

A huge grin spreads across her face. Minto waves to me like one would a small child, teasing me. It is then I notice my position. With Ryou, of all people. Oh, Minto would never let me forget this...

I suddenly snap to reality, and my mind poses a more logical inquiry. What is Minto doing in Ryou's limo?

Voicing my question would be pointless, as the window is soundproof. I settle for watching in vain as Minto turns her attention back to the road, taking her mischievous smirk with her. I vaguely remember something Minto once said to me...

'You two are a bit more interesting than these displays...'

Of course, that was with Masaya - my one true love, I remind myself - not Ryou. But I can't help but see a striking similarity.

Embarrassed, I jerk my chin from Ryou's grasp. I can almost envision little question marks floating over Ryou's head as he looks to me. Of course, I turn my face from him to hide my blush before I can imagine much else. Why is Ryou making me feel this way?

The limo comes to a halt and Akasaka-san opens our door for us. When I exit the vehicle, I can see just what Minto is wearing.

And it is gorgeous.

It looks delicate, but with a sharp edge at the same time. The dress is completely black, with lace and netting accents. It somehow fits her better than what she wore back home, and shows off her figure more as well. Speaking of which, Minto looks a deal older. Not thirties or twenties, but later teens. Am I also that old? I haven't exactly had time to examine myself after I arrived in this place.

When she runs a hand through her, I notice something else. One of her fingers glints in the sunlight.

A ring.

And not just any ring. A promise ring. As in she's going to be engaged.

I nervously check my hands, though they are devoid of any jewelry.

But...who?

My eyes follow her gaze to Akasaka-san. No...it couldn't be. Could it?

"Strawberry..."

I blink to find Ryou waving his hand in my face. "W-what? Sorry...I didn't catch that..."

He raises an eyebrow. "Strawberry, we're not going to crash." I huff and give him a look that clearly states that I'm not worried about such trivial things.

Ryou laughs. "As I was saying, we need to go meet the others..."

I was confused. The others were coming with us? And just who were the 'others'? It could be Kisshu and his gang for all I knew. This place was so messed up, I halfway expected that.

When I saw them, it was almost like the group I remembered. Yet the differences were astounding...

.-xxx-.

Masaya...

When I saw him, I felt like leaping into his arms. I wanted to hear his voice reassure me that this was all just some dream that soon I would wake from.

But do I really want to wake up?

I shake that thought away and prepare to run into Masaya's strong arms. The problem? They were holding someone else.

...Rettasu?

At even just one look, I know they were desperately in love, a love I could never break. I feel like crying, so I avert my attention elsewhere.

My eyes scan the group to see if there are any other changes. Purin and Zakuro are strangely absent. The next couple I lay my eyes on shocks me even more than the last.

Looking perfectly content and unharmed were...Ryou's parents. I had truly never seen them, but the resemblance was striking, especially in his beautiful mother.

I wanted to scream right then and there about how they were meant to be dead, but I doubted it would be something they'd like to hear. The gears in my mind started twirling. What kind of place was I in that those dead would be alive?

"Shall we head inside the station?" his mother tones in a delicate voice, a sweet melody to my ears. I half expected to purr. Which reminded me, I got nervous plenty of times, but where were my ears and tail? Dismissing the thought, I follow the other's lead to the station. Ryou, now the ever gentleman, once again carries all of the bags.

When we arrive, the first thing Ryou does is plop down everything on the floor. "Where'd that mighty strength run off to?" I tease, which surprises even myself.

Ryou once again dons a determined face, and I hear his father chuckle at him. He prepares to lift the baggage again, but is stopped by Akasaka-san's voice.

"I believe we should say our goodbyes first, Ryou."

When said farewells were exchanged, I was ready to go. This time I was carrying my own packages. When I looked to Ryou, I caught sight of his father patting him on the back and murmuring to him. His mother also remarked quietly. It was apparently both very important and very secret, and I found myself wondering what they could be conversing about.

I lifted my things with a heave as Ryou trotted back over to our stuff. "Getting a backbone, eh, Strawberry?" I stick my tongue out at him, mostly because I can't think of anything else to say back. When we are almost on the ship, I turn to look back on what I'm leaving. I'm met with six glowing faces, all of which are waving to us. I smile a true smile back at them all.

"Farewell!"

.-xxx-.

Once we are inside the twisted hallways of the ship, I follow Ryou's lead. I can tell we are getting higher and higher in classes as we ascend stairwell after stairwell. When we finally arrive, he hands me a room card key and speaks, "First class for the beautiful princess." When I retrieve the card I both fluster and giggle softly. Why? I'm not quite sure, but I wish I knew.

I test the key, and when I open the door I am greeted with the most gorgeous room I've seen in a long time. Velvet curtains, silk pillows...it all screams 'expensive'.

"My room is connected to yours, so if you need me, just knock." I nod. "If you don't feel safe, you can lock it..." I slap Ryou playfully. "Don't even think about entering when not invited, Shirogane," I counter, reverting to his family name in a mock threat. He laughs.

"You should get some rest, Strawberry. I hear of a fancy party tonight!"

At that I am hit with a wave of memories. Ryou has already retreated to his room, and he doesn't notice me fall to my knees.

'How about a cruise around Tokyo Harbor on my ship?'

'I got this just for you.'

'Hurry up, Ichigo! We're going to a party!'

'This is like a dream!'

'That's Ryou! Oh my gosh.'

'You look bored.'

'I'm just a regular girl. I know I don't belong at fancy parties like these.'

'He was cute until he opened his mouth.'

'Relax, will you?'

'I don't mind dancing with him. In fact, I think I almost...like it!'

I grab my head in a desperate attempt to calm my headache and the stream of memories that came with it. I slowly rise from the carpet floor and trudge into my room, closing the door behind me. I collapse onto the soft, cushiony bed. Laying on it, I feel all my troubles seemingly slip away, and fall into what was to be a peaceful slumber.

But it was far from it.

.-xxx-.

'You have questions, Cat-Child...'

.-xxx-.

A/N: Oh, goody...there may ACTUALLY BE A PLOT. Okay, so there always was, but this makes things more interesting, no? I for one loved it when Ryou and Ichigo were on their Tokyo Harbor cruise, away from Masaya...ah.
What? I don't hate him! I actually try to use his full potential in this trilogy. Yep, no Masaya-is-completely-forgotten-and-brushed aside from me. Hah.

Again, thank you all! Your kind words (and threats) keep my going! Just let me work with my procrastination problem...