I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew, just like all of the other times I reminded you. And I'll let you know this again because I love my little fantasy. If I did, Ichigo would be with Ryou right now and Masaya.. Well he'd be completely defeated. I got to write part of this chapter the other day, after I finished the other. Good thing that I don't sleep. Here's chapter 4.

(Written on August 14 2006 )
Chapter 4 | An Unanswered Question

The word 'what' was the last thing that came from Ryou's lips. His heart was not torn out. She did not feel any emotion towards his best friend, Keiichiro. It was just a simple gesture of kindness to repay his.

"I just want to thank him for everything he has done."

They had talked about simple things that she could do for Keiichiro. He didn't need much to put a smile on his ace, nor to feel welcomed, thanked, or anything to do with kindness. Maybe they could secretly set him up with Zakura. We know a couple bodies that wouldn't mind. Ryou glanced at the time again. It had gotten late. 'Shouldn't Ichigo be going home now?'

"Shouldn't you be getting back now? It's getting late, Strawberry."

She wanted to say no, but she knew she had to say yes. Right before she could say it, something made a sound. It growled fierceness. It was in need. It was hungry? Her stomach growled. She laughed, trying to ignore it, but it didn't help the fact that Ryou had heard it.

"You baka, you're hungry. We'll go to the cafe and get a bite to eat."

Ichigo nodded in agreement. A plan, that she had not been aware of, had worked.

They were walking back to the cafe. It was a complete silence, except for the occasional growl of Ichigo's stomach. She decided to break the silence.

"So uh-"

"Strawber-"

They had both interrupted each other. She laughed about it. Ryou only looked away. How he loved her smile. He insisted that she should say what she was going to say first. He didn't feel the need to say ask question anymore.

"Oh. So if you're not into the sophisticated type, what kind of girls are you into?" It was that question again.

Ryou didn't really want to answer. He didn't want to say 'redheads, klutzy, and a bit slow'. That would be the perfect way to describe it. "Why do you want to know, Baka?"

"No reason. Just curious." Her answer didn't fill his curiosity, but he let it go. As always. "So what were you going to say?"

"It's nothing."

"But I want to know."

"Drop it." He had a smirk on his face. He couldn't resist. It was like tempting a little kitten with a piece of yarn.

They had talked about nothing in particular for half an hour. It was nice. Of course there were some smirks, mentioning how one of them is a baka, and of course, temptation. Many times they both had wanted to express to each other how they felt. Ryou couldn't. And well, Ichigo thought he had no interest.

They finally reached the cafe. Keiichiro was nowhere to be insight. They walked straight into the kitchen. Ichigo was heading to sit down at the table in the center; meanwhile Ryou went straight to the fridge to see what they had. There was a piece of cake there. It looked marvellous, as did all of the cakes that Keiichiro had prepared. He takes it from the fridge, heads to the drawer, grabbing a fork. He lays it down in front of Ichigo.

"You're not hungry?" She asks.

"No."

She takes a bite of her cake. He's watching her now. Every single bite she takes. She finished it slowly, managing to waste some time. She really doesn't want to go home yet. She thanks him for the little dessert, putting her dishes in the sink. He heads upstairs. She follows. She sat on his bed while he sat on a chair.

"So what did you want to tell me?"

"I told you, Baka, it's nothing."

"But I want to know."

She could go on forever. He eventually caved in though, surprisingly. He really wanted to know why. "..Baka Strawberry?"

"Yes." She knew he was going to ask him something. Another expression of love?

"Why did you break up with Masaya? I thought he was... Perfect."

She looks at him funny, then glances down, feeling a little guilty. She knew that she had broke up with him in hopes of getting somewhere with Ryou. Not to mention she was unloyal to him several times, not always by her fault though. The idea of liking someone else was unloyal to her. But could she tell him that to him? "Well..." No. "I just... I don't like him anymore."

Her answer was simple. It was what Ryou wanted to hear. At least that much, more of an explanation would be nice. He wanted to ask why not, but he couldn't.

"I was feeling guilty, I guess."

He didn't understand. "Guilty?"

She didn't want to say anymore. She couldn't express her feelings towards him right now. She didn't say anything. She was looking down, playing with her two index fingers, as she did on such occasions. He understood that much.

"I'll... I'll take you home now. Let's go, Strawberry."

She grabbed out for his arm, pulling on it, tightly. "I don't want .. To be alone right now."

The expression on her face told him that she was serious. "You can stay here tonight..." He grabbed the phone, handing it to her, and then said. "Call your mom. Tell her you're staying at a friend's."

She did as she was told. She told her mom that she'll stay at Mint's house for the night, and head to work first thing in the morning. Her mom said alright, that she'll see her tomorrow after work. Her mom was cheery as usual. She laid her head down on his bed. He sat right beside her.

A silence.

He went to his dresser, pulling out a baggy white t-shirt and red shorts. So he has more than one red item. He offers them to Ichigo, saying that she might be uncomfortable in the clothes she's wearing. She gladly accepts them. Straight into the bathroom.

She came back out. 'She still looks great.' Ryou points out to himself. The shorts are hanging a little below her kneecaps. The baggy white shirt is still, nonetheless, baggy but still managing to curve around every inch of her upper torso. Her red hair was dangling down, a little messy. A bell rang. She's blushing now.

Another silence.

She was laying there thinking of all the good possibilities that could occur because of this. And he was just wondering what was on her mind. He gazed upon her body, watching her smile at every random thought that passed through her mind. He couldn't help himself this time. He reached over her. He grabbed her face and pulled himself closer to her. He could feel her heart beat. Was she excited?

Her cat ears popped out. He couldn't see if her tail was there. He smirked. He loved seeing her get excited. He loved the cat aspect about her just as he loved her herself.

He kissed her. She wasn't pulling back, as she did all of the other occasions. He wondered. A pink puff of smoke had appeared before his eyes. He didn't expect anything else. He snickered, leaving her as a cat.

She demanded to be turned back as a human again. He declined. 'Didn't really feel like it' was his excuse. But when she least expected it, during her wonderful speech, he picked her up and kissed her again. She was human. The room was silent. You could hear her beating heart. She was still excited. Her ears and tail wouldn't leave.

"Are you... Happy to see me?" He snickered some more. All she did was blush.

She laid her head on his pillow, facing the wall, she couldn't stop blushing. Due to the fact that she was surely tired, she quickly fell asleep. And so did him. Right beside her.

He had waked up the next morning. Early as usual. He knew something was different about today though. He was facing Ichigo's back. His arms were wrapped around her waist securely, not letting go once in the middle of the night. He blushed a little. She was sleeping so peacefully. He gets up, quietly, trying his best not to wake her.

She turned around, still sleeping, and moaned something in her sleep. "..Ry-Ryou." She was dreaming of him. He couldn't believe it. "You- You Baka!" She had moaned again. He didn't expect this to be a good dream. The truth was it was. He smiled at her. He placed the covers back on her, and then kissed her forehead.

He walks into his bathroom to take a shower. He kept thinking about what he was doing during the night. Did she know that his arms were there? Did she try to stop him? What was she dreaming of? These thoughts filled his mind. Before he knew it, he was finished with the shower. He changed in the bathroom, and headed straight to his bedroom. She was still sleeping.

He sat on the chair, watching her. He hoped she'd say something more. Lucky him, she did.

She tossed and turned for a couple of seconds. Turned back to face him, and groaned in her sleep. "Ryo-" She had squinted her face now. Letting go, she said another word. "I..." But she wouldn't finish her sentence.

'I hate you... I loathe you... I... I love you?' He had thought to himself. Impossible. 'Ichigo hates me. She reminds me every day...'

She had moaned more words. "Strawberry- please." She growled in her sleep. She even hissed. She was the true wild cat. "Just-" A pause. "Can't we?" Another pause. She had blinked. Her eyes were opening. It was opening to an amused Ryou. He had a big smile on his face, as if he just watched something funny. He sort of did though.

"Ryou?" She was still partly asleep. "What time is it?"

"It's early."

She closed her eyes for a minute. She fell asleep almost instantly. Ryou hoped that she would go back into the dream, saying more things, which would be clues to him. It was like a puzzle. He wanted to know what kind of dream she was having. Especially one that involved him. She wouldn't say anyone word though.

She just tossed and turned some more. She groaned at the bed, she hissed at the pillow, and apparently reached out to touch someone. He grabbed her hand. Held it tight. He didn't want to let go.

Ichigo scratched her face. He knew it was time to let go of her hand. Without opening her eyes, she yelled out that she's late for work again. "Ryou is going to kill me." She shouted at herself. She quickly sat up, facing him. She stared at Ryou right in the eyes. "Shirogane!"

"Well then, I guess I know why you're always late, Baka Strawberry." He smirked.

He's sitting on the bed, right beside her.

"You're not late. It's early." He paused for a moment. It looked like there was something on her mind. "If you'd like... you can shower with me."

End | Chapter 4

Oh Ryou, you shouldn't have... Hehehe. Now you should really give a review for me.