Yes! Fall over backwards and jump for joy (or groan if you hate me :( )! The next chapter is here.

Sorry it took so long to update, life got busy and I haven't been able to work on this much at all -. I did say I wouldn't update to quickly xD.

Now, put out the fire and another log on the cat and enjoy the chappie!

29/06/11: If you're reading this fic for the first time, expect the quality of writing to go down from this chapter onwards D: This stuff was written when I was about 14, so it's not so great. However, the style gets progressively better as time goes on, so suffer through them because I promise it's worth it!

As Deep Blue uttered those 3 simple words, Ichigo's world froze and came tumbling down. Her worst fear, her nightmare, was coming true.

"No!" Ichigo muttered weakly, her cat ears going down in sadness. Ichigo's mind flowed with new questions. "H-how is this happening? How are you Deep Blue? Y-you don't look like Deep Blue to me… and D-deep Blue is dead!" She asked quietly, all of her questions merging together to create a confused babble.

'Deep Blue' stood motionless, bolt straight. His figure looked unforgiving, as strong as the last time Ichigo had seen him. Yet, Ichigo noticed, some things about his form were different. Instead of raven black hair, Deep Blues head was covered with fair blond hair, much like Blue Knight's. His eyes were no longer pale and emotionless, for now they shone deep blue in colour.

Ichigo held back the tears and forced herself to rise from the floor. Words from the last battle were coming back to her, telling her what to do. Yet… Ichigo didn't want to do what they said. Not again. After the brief taste of freedom, just a day of being able to choose what she did, she no longer wanted to fight. She felt like her Mew Mew life was over now, it had been finished that last battle, all she wanted to do was lead a normal life without any Deep Blue and alien issues.

Ichigo stood to full height and then tried to stand firm. She wanted to be like how she was before, strong and professional in the face of danger. However, she was weak inside… her heart breaking at the thought of Masaya being lost again.

"Why are you like this?" Asked Ichigo, unable to stop tears running down her cheeks. "You are Masaya! My Masaya! Not some alien god!"

Masaya closed his eyes momentarily.

He chanted, as if he had planned saying it all along, "I was always Deep Blue and Blue Knight… they just haven't been needed until recently."

Ichigo was stunned into silence. Was Masaya saying he was Deep Blue rather then just being his body holding that evil soul? Was Masaya not the nice and innocent person Ichigo grown to love? Had her love been wasted? Ichigo felt her happiness dying at the thought that Masaya, her love, was really an evil emotionless being.

"But… you can't be!" Cried Ichigo in distress, "Deep Blue is evil! And… and.." Ichigo trailed off, a new wave of tears overcoming her.

"If you are Deep Blue… that will make you a-an enemy…" Ichigo's head drooped. "Masaya, if you do what Deep Blue was meant to do…" She said lips trembling.

"I will have to kill you…"

Ichigo's heart broke in two as she felt herself torn between her love for Masaya and her duty as a Mew Mew. She didn't want to kill him… she didn't even want to hurt him but always her vow to protect the earth would have to come first.

For the second time, she vowed to fight against the enemy with all her might… even if it hurt her. She briskly wiped away her tears and summoned her Strawberry Bell Bell.

She then stood tall, her weapon held tightly in her hands. She faced Masaya, her body in a pose that showed she could and would fight. However, even as she faced Masaya, Ichigo could not bring herself to look into the eyes of her enemy.

Deep Blue's eyes widened in horror.

"You do not understand!" He cried, his eyes shining in anguish

Ichigo's eyes widened and she dropped her hands from her battle pose. Ichigo looked up at him, finally gazing deep into his eyes.

From the moment their gazes met, they both stood mesmerised. Ichigo silently gasped as she stared into Deep Blues dark blue eyes. As if by magic, her mind cleared of worry and filled with peace.

"I am Deep Blue, yet…" Deep Blue began, continuing to gaze deeply into her eyes, "I am Blue Knight. They are part of me, they are me, the good and the bad but…" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes shining with kindness and wisdom.

Ichigo couldn't help but smile.

He didn't have to even finish his sentence for her to know what he was about to say. His eyes had told it all.

Masaya was there.

Behind the godly, powerful figure before her, he was there.

Maybe not as obviously as before, but she knew he was there for Deep Blue's alien eyes looked at her in exactly the same way the old Masaya had done.

Yet, Ichigo also realised with much fear that, within those eyes shone a new strength, wisdom, intelligence and a purpose that no one, not even she, could never understand.

"I am still me you know…" Said Masaya, reading her mind and arguing against her unspoken doubts. "Behind all this power, I'm still me, but I'm a me with a purpose."

"B-but I don't understand…" She uttered simply, her voice barely above a whisper.

Masaya sighed deeply.

"All that is important is that I am still Masaya," Said Masaya, moving forward and embracing Ichigo.

"B-but…" Whispered Ichigo, burying her face in Masaya's cloak, "Why arn't you just Masaya?"

Masaya was lost for words for a brief moment. His eyes shone with sadness and fear for a moment and then he broke eye contact with Ichigo and let go of her. He focussed his eyes on something in the distance and walked a few steps away from her.

Ichigo looked at him, puzzled, and followed him to stand by his side.

"Ichigo… I have a destiny now," Began Masaya, still looking into the distance, "I know this is hard to understand, but the aliens need me. Taking over earth was never my main objective… The aliens need help on their own planet, I am their only hope…"

"But you aren't a God, Masaya… you are normal. You're just a 12 year old boy!"

"No, Ichigo." Replied Masaya instantly, calmly but sharply. He turned to face her and Ichigo saw his eyes were burning with hurt, loss yet a strange courage.

Masaya opened his mouth to speak again but he was interrupted by a loud noise from behind him. Both Masaya and Ichigo leapt apart in surprise and turned to see what was behind them.

Ichigo let out a small gasp, her heart beginning to race again. Her eyes focused upon a tall figure that seemed to be floating a few metres above them. It was a very distinguished figure… one that both Masaya and Ichigo recognised.

"Pai!" Gasped Ichigo, staring up at the purple-haired alien. Pai ignored her and simply floated to the floor, his eyes focused on Masaya.

"Deep Blue-sama," Cried Pai, his eyes glimmering with awe for the Godly figure before him, "You have returned to us!"

"Yes, Pai." Replied Masaya sharply, "Why are you here?"

Pai trembled before Deep Blue's tone. "It's Taruto's fault! He saw that Mew Ichigo was alone… and we suspected that you would be too. We were going to take you from here before anyone knew you were Deep Blue."

Pai sighed and looked at Ichigo frustratedly. "Our plan was ruined when she found you." He looked back to Deep Blue, "It doesn't matter now. Are you ready to return home?"

Ichigo had stood dumbfounded, motionless in shock, up until now, but hearing this she jolted awake, "NO!"

Deep Blue ignored her and replied to Pai, "No, I am not ready. Leave me be until I call you."

Ichigo could hear the strict authority in his voice that the old Deep Blue had had and she shivered. Masaya may be Masaya still, but he had changed. He had new responsibilities now, new loyalties, this scared her greatly.

Pai disappeared with Deep Blue's order and they were left alone again.

Ichigo wandered over towards Masaya, but he turned from her. She could see, even from this angle, that he was trying to sadness from her.

Ichigo stood, staring at him. Ichigo wanted to burst with the pain she felt. She felt destiny coming between her and Masaya, tearing their love into shreds. It seemed that Masaya and Ichigo's world were quickly breaking apart.

Life without Masaya was an impossible thought to Ichigo. She couldn't bear him not being there. Who would she look to for strength? Who would be there to hide her cat ears? How would she live without seeing Masaya's smile?

Finally Masaya turned to look at Ichigo, letting out a weak smile.

"I guess this is goodbye…" He said weakly.

"B-but… you can't leave me!" Cried Ichigo, unable to contain herself any longer. "I love you! You can't leave me now!"

"I know you are scared Ichigo," Said Masaya sharply, frowning sadly "But, I have to do this. It is my destiny."

Masaya eyes burned with pain and sadness, yet with a strange passion too. Ichigo began to weep bitterly;

"Why? Why can't we just be normal? Why do you have to leave me? Please… don't go! I love you… please, don't leave me!"

Masaya's eyes clouded with pain. He walked up to her and put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. He lifted a finger to her cheek and brushed away a tear;

"I… never want to see you cry, Ichigo." He said, his voice trembling. "It was my nightmare before I became Deep Blue before… I never wanted to see you cry then. I've always loved to see your smile, and loved how you make me laugh. I've always loved you Ichigo… I always will but,"

He trailed off for a brief moment, hesitating on what to say..

"But…just like the earth chose you to be one of its protectors, I must do the same for the aliens. I have to help them Ichigo… I hear them calling me, wanting someone to take away their pain and anguish. I-I have been given the power to do that," Said Masaya, beginning to shake violently, "and… if I just sit here millions will die… I have to go… even if I do not wish too."

Ichigo stopped wailing and cried silently, burying her face into Masaya neck. She wanted him so much to stay… but he had a task now, just like she had. She couldn't stand in front of his destiny…

"I…" Said Ichigo hesitantly, her eyes filling with tears again. She sniffed and held them back. She had to stay strong for Masaya,

"I understand."

Masaya looked relieved and, after a moment of silence, exclaimed; "I'm afraid I have to go now… but… before then… I need to hold you… just one last time…"

Masaya stuttered, his own eyes filling with tears as he pressed his lips to Ichigo's. Ichigo looked startled for a second, the contact such a shock for her that she almost slapped him, but then she pulled him towards her. Feeling the sudden joy of being so close to someone, Ichigo stopped weeping. No sadness could be felt in a moment such as this.

This embrace lasted but a few moments, but to both of them it seemed a lifetime. When Masaya finally drew away from Ichigo, he said no more. He no longer let himself feel any sadness, and he turned his mind to the task ahead.

Ichigo remained silent; there were no words that could be said that would say what they both wished to say. Masaya turned from her.

"Do not miss me." He said suddenly, his voice growing cold. "You will find someone else one day… do not let me leaving make you sad or hold you back. I don't want you to hurt or miss out on anything. Have a nice life for me… Goodbye."

"B-but…" Stuttered Ichigo, eyes wide, "But… I…"

"No, Ichigo!" Said Masaya sharply, waving his hand in the air. As soon as he did so, his form began to fade. Ichigo looked on, frozen in horror. He was going, transporting away.

As soon as the last faint outline of Masaya had vanished, Ichigo fell to the ground. Her held back tears finally broke through as her heart began to grieve and mourn for the person she doubted she would ever see again. Within her there seemed to be an unbearable pain, one which made her want to curl up and die. The reason why she had lived was gone, was there a reason to live now?

"Hey lady, are you alright?" Said a voice from behind her. Ichigo raised her head to see who had spoken and suddenly realised a ring of concerned people had gathered around her. She was attracting a lot of onlookers. Ichigo looked at them, usually she would get up and wipe away her tears and tell them she was fine, but she couldn't now for her heart was bitter with sadness.

"Just go away!" She cried, leaping to her feet and dashing off blindly into the shelter of some nearby trees. She continued to weep as she ran, her tears making it hard to see. She couldn't face the world right now. Not even her parents or the rest of the Mew Mew's. Not now. She had to be alone.

Eventually, Ichigo's legs grew weak from running and she slowed, falling to her knee's. She felt so alone, so hopeless. How would she live without Masaya?

As she knelt there weeping, Ichigo felt a shadow fall across her. Her cat senses told her someone was near. Someone from earlier must have followed her.

"Go away!" She shouted. The onlooker stopped moving, yet Ichigo's sensitive hearing made it easy to hear them breathing. Ichigo felt anger rising within her, "DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME EARLIER! GO AWAY! OK?"

Ichigo listened for sounds of movement, expecting her onlooker to leave. However, instead of the sounds of movements, she heard the figure before her let out a low chuckle.

"Are you that pleased to see me, Koneko-chan?" The figure sniggered. A surge of surprise spread through Ichigo, clearing her mind of all other thoughts. That voice… so devious and cunning… came to her like memories. She never thought she would hear that voice again, yet… she could hear it as clear as she could see the sunlight.

Ichigo quickly looked up, her eyes focusing on the figure in front of her. She gasped in surprise, her eyes wide.

A tall, green haired alien floated a few centimetres off the ground, his face twisted into a wicked smile. Focusing his amber eyes on Ichigo, the alien landed on the ground softly, exclaiming,

"Hello, Ichigo!"

-Feels happy- Yay, I finally get Kish back and rid of Masaya! -Huggles Kish- I didn't realise how much I missed him until 5 seconds ago. Sorry about all the setting up and MasayaxIchigo up until now, for those who want KishxIchigo, but I wasn't just gonna dump Kish into the story before his time. Certianly not before some sort of Ichigoified drama over Masaya going. But now alien fans can be happy! But not PaixLettuce fans... Oh stick it xD. She belongs with Ryou anyway... I rant - I shall force myself not too.

Au revoir till next chappie! Don't forget to review!