Hey, everyone. This is the sixth and final chapter of this story. I'm so sad! T.T ... It feels like the end of an era. Luckily, I'm already planning my next fic. ^_^

So, please enjoy chapter six...

Kisshu ran all the way to Ichigo's house, not caring that his lungs were burning in protest or that there might be humans on the street. He slowed as he approached the house, leaping through the window and landing softly on all fours as he realised Ichigo was in the room. He stood and let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding, but he wasn't sure whether it was in relief or disappointment. She was asleep; head tilted back, surrounded by open textbooks and printed worksheets. She looked much younger than when she was awake – much more vulnerable. Someone like that couldn't possibly have all the hate against him that Deep Blue had tried to persuade him of. A shadow passed over the sun and the room was briefly plunged into darkness. The temperature dropped and Kisshu involuntary saw himself back at base, when Deep Blue was 'talking' to him.

The shimmering form summoned the static screen and it flickered to life. "Look at her," Deep Blue's voice whispered. Kisshu had tried to ignore it but he couldn't control anything as his eyes followed the screen. "She's living out her normal life, just as she wanted. She looks so very happy without you."
"How long has it been?" Kisshu knew that time did not flow at the same speed in different dimensions.

"Much longer than you'd like."

The screen flickered again and Ichigo was sharing an Ice-cream with Aoyama. "But see – that human you hate so much. She smiles with him, because she has no room left in her heart for you."

Could it be true? Might she have gone back to him? Or maybe she never intended to leave.

He stared at the image hungrily, trying to see every little detail, anything to prove his suspicions wrong. Was he imagining that her smile looked just a little sadder than normal?

Deep Blue's voice was quiet, but icy. "There is, and never was any room for you in her life. Finally, now you're gone she can move on and live. Her world fell apart when you were in it and now that you're gone, she can put the pieces back together."

Kisshu finally managed to tear his eyes away from the screen. "Haven't you got anything better to do?"

"You're never going to be like her. You are entirely different. Don't you remember you purpose for coming to this place?"

Kisshu paused. He had come to wipe the earth of everyone who was on it. "But that's not why I'm here now. Things have changed. I've changed." He defended his cause. His new cause.

"So you have abandoned your origins and your people." The shimmering form seemed to smile. "I wonder if you have learnt it yet."

"Learnt what?" Kisshu asked irritably.

"That you will die alone because the emotion you call love is your weakness."

"Well then leave me to die in peace." He retorted, but thought Just leave the screen up. Please.

Deep Blue vanished, and as if he'd heard Kisshu's wish the screen was left where it had appeared.

It flickered and Ichigo was alone in a park. The sun glinted off her face, and it took a second for him to realise she was crying. Damn it! He let his fingertips brush the surface of the screen, hoping that she would somehow feel his presence, and know he was trying to comfort her.

Then the scene had changed again. Ichigo was looking into the eyes of the human, his hands caressing her face, leaning closer until their lips touched. Last time he had witnessed this, it had made his blood burn. This time, the rage had gone; leaving a cold, dull emptiness. Kisshu shut his eyes and turned away.

He had seen enough.

Ichigo stirred when the clouds passed the sun and the soft afternoon light shone into the room. Kisshu blinked as he could see the present again, and the past faded back into his memories.

She moved like a sleepwalker, unsteadily sitting up and reaching out her arm to him. What Deep Blue said is only part of the past. He thought. "Kisshu?" She said, her voice trembling as she stood.

"Yes?"

Suddenly Ichigo's whole body jerked as he spoke, and her eyes became very focused. She seemed to have come out of her trance, bowing her head to the floor, hair covering her eyes.

Her arm moved faster than Kisshu had thought possible, catching him on his right cheek, snapping his head to the side. Kisshu put a hand to his stinging cheek as he looked at Ichigo and flinched – from her blazing eyes more than the pain.

"Oh no. Hell no. No way do you get to walk in here after you just disappeared like that. How could you? Or maybe you're just back to gloat." She finished coldly.

Kisshu looked at her, confused. "I came as quickly as I could, and I'm..." He trailed off as she glared at him, eyes dark and clouded.

She paused, regarding him more calmly. "You're a great liar. You had me convinced, you know. You really did." Ichigo drew in a ragged breath that didn't match her indifferent expression, and her eyes cleared for the briefest second. She was hurting, big time. "Are you done? I have work to do." She turned her head away.

Kisshu mouth opened and closed without any sound. "Done?" He said abstractedly. "Ichigo…What happened?" It has to be part of the past.

"Don't give me that!" She snapped, and Kisshu stepped back, as if pushed by her voice. Ichigo was looking at him like he was a stranger... One she hated. It unnerved him to hear the venom in her hushed voice.

"You know exactly what happened. You and all your lies. You're not sorry. You couldn't have cared less. I was just a tool to get you what you wanted. So don't tell me you're sorry when it was all just a lie."

"I don't understand-" Kisshu began but was interrupted almost instantly

"Let me tell you what I don't understand." Ichigo said, her icy demeanour breaking into a thousand pieces, letting the emotion flow out. "I don't understand why you said you loved me then disappeared, leaving others to do your dirty work. I don't get why you're here now and I don't know why my stupid heart won't stop hurting!"

Kisshu felt paralysed, like he was trapped in a nightmare, as he watched her sit on the bed and turn away from him, wiping her eyes angrily. "Do you have any idea of how long I spent waiting for you? How I couldn't tell anyone why I was crying because they wouldn't believe me? All because of you."

"I think it's best if I go." He said hollowly. He let his hope go too, holding on only with the edges of his fingertips. It's now. It's not just in the past. It's all true. What Deep Blue had said. She didn't need him anymore, and even him just being there was hurting her. That was... he'd deal with it when he had time to sort through everything. He turned away and was about to try a portal, not caring if he didn't have enough power, when Ichigo suddenly said "Don't go! Please, don't go."

Kisshu stopped, wide eyed. She… He felt every muscle freeze, as if one move would make Deep Blue's taunting come true.

"I was so worried," she whispered, so quietly Kisshu almost didn't hear. "And so confused. I didn't know what I'd done to make you hate me so much you'd just leave."

"I would never leave you, not on purpose." Kisshu replied softly, walking towards her, wanting to close the gap between them completely, but he didn't want to risk scaring her.

"But you did." Ichigo's voice was laden with accusations.

"I was taken away." Kisshu explained, not wanting to go in to too much detail.

"You were what?" Ichigo demanded, turning around so Kisshu could see her face at last.

"Slightly captive, but that doesn't matter now." He said quickly.

Ichigo ran up and hugged him, startling Kisshu slightly." Oh, I'm so sorry!" she said after she'd let go, brushing her fingertips over the reddish patch on his cheek. Kisshu was suddenly reminded of how he'd touched the screen at the base when it had shown her crying. "Don't worry about it," He said. "I heal quickly."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed for a second. "Did they hurt you?" She asked.

"Huh? No, not at all." Kisshu replied, only slightly bending the truth. While it was true that beyond throwing him against the wall, Deep Blue had not physically hurt him in any other way. Psychologically however, Kisshu reckoned it would be a very long time before he could stand in the same dimension with Deep Blue and not be tearing him to pieces for all the hours he spent trying to persuade him that everything he had felt was a lie.

"How did you hurt your hand then?" Ichigo said, lightly grazing her fingers over his bruised knuckles. Or rather, bruised and cut, because he had skinned his knuckles on a piece of granite back at base... how long ago was it? Anyway, on top of that, Kisshu had punched the tree with the same hand so there were both just-healing cuts and new bruises. It made sense that she would wonder how the half-healed wounds had got that way.

"Oh..." Kisshu felt embarrassed, and decided to tell her only about the most recent injury to his hands. "My powers had been...siphoned off which left me powerless like a human-" He caught a sharp glance from Ichigo and added "Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I had to get to you as fast as I could and since I couldn't teleport I had to walk...um, run. So I got a bit frustrated and I, uh, took it out on a tree. I mean, I had to see you and explain..." Kisshu realised he was babbling and promptly closed his mouth, cutting off the stream of words that were starting to sound incredibly corny. He glanced up at Ichigo who was smiling sadly. "What is it?" He asked.

"I knew it! I knew he was wrong." Ichigo said.

"You've lost me."

"Ryou-san."

Kisshu disguised a grimace as a concerned frown.

"He said you'd stolen the-"

"The Mew Aqua, right?" Kisshu finished for her.

"How did you know?" Ichigo said, staring at him incredulously.

"I just talked to him."

"You've seen him? Where? When?" Her expression went from sad to intrigued.

After a second's thought Kisshu realised that Ryou had been missing for over two weeks. She was bound to be worried.

"He's back now, but don't give him too hard a time. I'm sure he said what he thought would protect you." The guy had gotten him out of that prison, so Kisshu thought it was only fair to help him out a little in return.

Ichigo looked relieved, and then once that had passed, more than a little suspicious. "You're sticking up for Ryou-san?" She asked, reaching up and resting her cool hand on his forehead. "Nope, you're not sick." She took her hand back. "I'm glad though."

"Yeah, me too." He caught her hand and held it in his. "I think we have to-" Suddenly he stopped, glancing at her bedroom door. "Someone's coming." Kisshu said quietly, letting her hand drop and took a quick mental inventory. He thought he might just have enough power to teleport a short distance.

He stood and walked to the other side of the room.

"Why are you going?" Ichigo said, panicked.

Kisshu grinned. She was so cute, at totally the wrong moment. "You know I wouldn't leave you, but what would your parents think if they found a person they'd only met once sitting unannounced in your room?"

Ichigo blushed slightly. "Ah. Good point."

"Don't worry, I'll just be outside." Kisshu waved his hand and, sure enough, a portal appeared.

"'Kay." Ichigo nodded as he stepped into it and the portal sealed itself just behind him. Not long after, someone knocked on Ichigo's door. "Ichigo? Can I come in?" Her mum's voice wafted through.

"Yeah, sure."

Sakura came in with a basket of laundry in her arms, probably the ones she had made Ichigo's father dry the night before. Ichigo smiled and leant against her pillows as her mum sat on her bed. "You looked flushed, Ichigo. Are you ok?" Ichigo put a hand to her face. "I'm fine."

"Then what's that for?" Her mum's change of tone made the smile drop from her face instantly. Ichigo only then realised she had used her bandaged arm, the one Pai had slashed. For some reason, the wound had taken much longer to heal than a normal cut would, even of that size, and a scar was just beginning to form. She had managed to hide it pretty well…until now, that is.

"Um… a cut?" Ichigo answered nonchalantly, hoping to lead her mum of the scent by acting as if it were an everyday, obvious thing.

"Please don't insult my intelligence." Sakura frowned, and Ichigo looked down at her hands. No such luck. Think...think...

"I ran into a door and I guess there must've been splinters in it…" Ichigo mumbled to the floor. A DOOR? Why? She's going to see straight through that! No, no, why did I have to say a door? I'm going to get grounded for life...and probably be covered in bubble-wrap. Me-sized bubble-wrap. A door? Just why? When she looked up from her mental panicking, expecting shouting at the very least, she was surprised to see her mother's expression had relaxed. "Oh…" Sakura started to smile. "I see."

Yay! I didn't think she'd believe me! She cheered on the inside. On the outside, Ichigo sighed exasperatedly, overdoing the theatrics slightly. "I knew you'd laugh. I'm such a klutz, and it just kind of happened."

Sakura gave up trying to hide her smile and kissed Ichigo's forehead."Ok, sweetie."

The smile slid off her face guilty as her mum walked out of the room.

I have got to stop lying. Ichigo started mechanically sorting through the clothes. A shirt… some trousers… socks… why were her shoelaces in the washing pile? Anyway...jumpers...Kisshu…

"You're back!" Ichigo exclaimed happily, dropping the clothes in her hands and shoving the folded ones into her cupboard. She had only belatedly noticing his figure that she saw from the corner of her eyes. Kisshu had just appeared by her window. Unfortunately, he looked deadly serious. "What actually happened to your arm?" He asked carefully as she sat back on the bed.

Ichigo cringed. Okay then.

"How did you know? And it was a door-" Ichigo stopped mid-sentence as Kisshu seemed to vanish then re-appear right in front of her, one leg folded beneath him on the bed, the other still on the carpet. His fingers reached out and brushed her cheek and his gold eyes stared at her intently. "I thought you wouldn't want to lie to me. The window was open so I heard everything, and no door could have needed a bandage like that." She caught the sadness in his voice.

"I don't want to lie to you." Ichigo protested faintly.

Kisshu leaned back and folded his other leg so he was sitting on the bed crossed legged, right opposite Ichigo.

"Then what happened?"

Ichigo closed her eyes. She found it difficult to think straight when he was so close. Sadly, it made it easier to remember how Pai had started to break her heart with a few words. "The day after you took me to the lake, we were attacked by a chimera animal."

"So that's what did this to you?" Kisshu said, and Ichigo heard the faint trace of relief that it was nothing worse. Ichigo opened her eyes and slowly began to undo the bandage. "Not quite." She said, as the last layer came free and Ichigo flexed her arm and bit her lip as Kisshu stared at it unblinkingly. "No…That's impossible." Suddenly his voice was as hard as diamond and his eyes were just as cold as he recognised a slash made by his own weapons. Kisshu briefly remembered that his swords had disappeared after his surprise attack on Deep Blue, so it was in fact possible.

"Who did this to you?" He said quietly.

"It wasn't anyone's fault... my reflexes were slow and-"

"I'm not asking whose fault it was, Ichigo." Kisshu interrupted. "I'm asking who did this to you."

Ichigo didn't want to get Kisshu hurt because of her, or fight with anyone, but... "Pai." She whispered. "He had your swords… that's why I thought you'd told him to do it."

"That's also what you meant by 'sending others to do my work'." He said stiffly, taking her hands in his. Ichigo was surprised – his hands felt gentle and warm, a complete contradiction to his voice. Which one was what he really felt?

Kisshu traced patterns on her hand with his fingers and Ichigo started to think of how many hours she had spent wishing she had never met him when in fact... now he was back she wanted little more than to curl up in his arms and stay there forever.

Her mobile seemed to have other ideas, and its loud ring made them both jump. Kisshu laughed as he almost fell of her bed and Ichigo had to grab his hand to stop him from tumbling over the edge.

Ichigo reached over to her bag with her spare hand and checked the glowing screen.

1 Text Message from Aoyama Masaya

Ichigo sighed and leant against the headboard of the bed as she snapped the phone shut without even reading the text. "Here we go again." She muttered, closing her eyes.

"What's wrong, kitten? More returning admirers?" Kisshu teased good-naturedly, and Ichigo seriously considered that all the guys in her life were psychic. First it was Ryou, and then Kisshu...maybe she was just like an open book: way too easy to read.

"Uh, something like that."

"Oh." Kisshu's voice dropped and she felt the bed shift as he got up. "You spent a lot of time around that human when I wasn't around, didn't you?"

Wow, he got to the point fast. "Yes."

"Do you love him?" Kisshu asked, and sounded as if he were considering something.

"No… I did, but I don't now." Ichigo was startled into explaining herself.

"Do you love me?"

Ichigo couldn't help but smile. What a question. "Of course I do."

"Then," She heard his voice much closer than the last time. "That's good enough for me."

"You're… kind of sweet when you're jealous."

"Say what?"

Ichigo opened her eyes in time to catch Kisshu's affronted expression. "Guys are not sweet. And I'm not jealous of that runt." He added quickly.

Ichigo grinned. "I believe you." She was going to tease him for a bit longer but then her dad called up. "Ichigo!"

She sat bolt upright, calling back "Coming!"

"I'll guess I'll see you…" Ichigo hesitated. I won't even know where he will be.

Kisshu saw her expression and smiled reassuringly. "I'll come to you, and I'm not planning on going back to them, so don't worry." He gently pressed his thumb against the lines on her forehead. "Frowns don't suit you, so you shouldn't worry and just smile."

She knew them meant Deep Blue and the others. "Bye." She got up and walked to the door, and when she turned back to ask where he would be staying she saw that Kisshu was already gone and the breeze from the open window was ruffling the curtains.

/ / /

"How was your evening?" Kisshu asked, not even trying to hide the smile that Ichigo's startled expression bought to his lips.

"I don't care if you can teleport everywhere - you still need to learn to knock!" Ichigo chastised half-heartedly.

Kisshu shook his head. "Sorry, that's out of my league."

"Right."

Ichigo started to dig around in her wardrobe, and wasn't surprised to find Kisshu leaning over her shoulder. "Looking for something?" he asked.

Ichigo smiled. "Only my sanity. Although tomorrow's New Years day, and I saved this one kimono especially for the festival, but I can't find it."

"What's the New year's festival?"

Ichigo paused in her searching. "You'd make a terrible spy. What happened to 'know your enemy'?" Kisshu laughed and held his hands up in a mock surrender. "You got me with that one. I did learn a lot of stuff, but nothing interesting."

Ichigo went back to browsing, explaining the things she'd been taught for years as she dug through clothes she hadn't even realised she still had.

"New Year's day is when we say goodbye to the past year and welcome the New Year. It's a time to think about what we want to do in the future, and how to get there. We pray for good luck and happiness, and we celebrate by getting everyone together and having fun." Ichigo pulled out a pink kimono and smiled. "I wore this to greet the New Year about four years ago. Anyway," She carried on, folding the older kimono carefully and putting it to one side. "It only happens once a year so it's a big thing. There's a lot of things to look out for too – all the festival foods and one of my favourite 'firsts' of the New Year is 'Hatsuhinode', or 'the first sunrise'. It looks so...beautiful."

Kisshu had been listening intently. "Do you mind if I come?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I come to the New Years festival with you?"

"Sure, if you want to." Ichigo said. Kisshu nodded and took her hand. "I want to learn all the new things, everything I missed because we were fighting. I want to know everything."

Ichigo stared at him. This was a new side to him – the inquisitive side. She kissed him lightly then smiled and walked across the room. Only, Kisshu held on to her hand.

"I don't think that's enough for today," he said, resting his hands either side of her on the wall, and his arms formed a kind of barrier. His eyes seemed to darken slightly. "You were right earlier. I was jealous. I have a right to be though." He reached down, and with his fingertips brushed the mark on her leg that set her apart from others as a Mew Mew. It burned for a second then the pain went away. "That is who you are. You shouldn't have to be with humans who don't understand you, humans you have to hide who you truly are from." Ichigo knew he was thinking of one human in particular and said "I know that, Kisshu. That's why I'm here, with you." "I haven't seen you properly in months, while he has. I've missed you." "I've missed you too." "Prove it to me." She stood and pulled him forward when he stepped in unexpectedly at the same time, backing her up against the wall and pinning her hands there so she couldn't move. Ichigo found her pulse racing and titled her head back as his lips touched hers and this time they were insistent and not at all hesitant. He let her hands drop, cupped her face with one hand and slid the other behind her without breaking the kiss.

Ichigo felt shivers running up and down her body. They had never been...this close. She could feel his heart beating in his chest, and he must've felt her shivers because he pulled apart slightly and stared at her for a few seconds. His eyes were so bright they seemed to be almost on fire, and his voice was very low. "What is it?" he whispered, eyes focusing on her. "Did that feel bad?" Ichigo stood still, trapped between the boy she loved and a hard wall and as she looked into those eyes she realised something. "No... It felt too good." I want him. He laughed softly and rested his forehead on hers, emerald against ruby. "Nothing could ever be too good for you." He said, brushing a wisp of hair way from her face and let his fingers stay in a soft caress, tracing her cheeks and sliding down to her mouth. Ichigo felt more alive now than she ever had before – she was aware of every tiny sound, of every movement and of how his hips were pressed against hers, their chests so close and their lips – burning with a white hot desire. She leant in, tilted her head and closed her eyes –

"Eeep!"

- Only to somehow slip on something and end up flying sideways onto the bed, pulling Kisshu down with her. They landed in a tangled mess of legs and bed covers, Kisshu landing after her, half of him leaning on her, propping himself up with his hands after he got his balance back.

Ichigo peered upside down over the edge of the bed. "Found the culprit!" She announced. "I tripped over my shoes." Kisshu grinned down at her. "Only you," He said, shaking his head. "But I must admit that I don't mind at all." Ichigo realised that they were very close indeed, and felt almost out of her depth. Having a guy pretty much on top of her was ... Ichigo lost her train of thought as Kisshu pressed her into the bed, moving his legs so he was straddling her and kissed her, tugging gently on her bottom lip. On an impulse, Ichigo threw her arms around his neck, kissing him back with equal intensity until she felt the covers beneath her go taught. She realised Kisshu had been leaning his weight onto the bed and was now clenching his hands into fists on the covers. Ichigo let her arms drop and he broke the kiss and moved his head so his cheek was resting by hers. Her eyes went wide as he let out a low, almost pained, moan. "Damn. How is it," He breathed, "that you know exactly what to do to me?" "Because I'd do anything for you." Ichigo said simply. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest and knew how fast his heart was beating. She could only assume her own was racing just as fast. Kisshu half wished for a distraction before he went too far and did something he might regret, and half wanted to go right ahead.

All of a sudden he was on the other side of the room, and Ichigo flinched as cold air came rushing towards her where he had been. "Someone's coming." Kisshu said quietly, looking away. "Aren't they always," Ichigo muttered somewhat breathlessly, sitting up. Kisshu felt a small smile slip onto his face and looked up. "Feel free to consider getting a lock, but I'd better go." Ichigo sat up properly and nodded. "Bye." Only seconds later her dad came into the room. "Ichigo, do you want to get your kimono ready for tomorrow?" He asked, and then glanced suspiciously around the room. "Sure. Um... what are you looking for?" She asked, hoping her cheeks weren't as flushed as they felt. Ichigo wasn't sure whether she should feel happy or confused, but it seemed happy was winning at the moment. "I thought I heard another person's voice in here..." Ichigo swallowed and plastered a big, fake smile on her face and linked her arm through her dad's. "It's just me. So where did you put the kimono's?" Ichigo closed the door firmly behind her, wondering what exactly had just happened, and also what her dad might have said if he knew exactly who she was talking to, and doing what.

/ / /

Ryou put his book to one side and stared at him phone as it blinked red. Too fast to be low battery. It meant something was seriously wrong. He bolted downstairs to the computer, clicking his tongue as it took a while to load up. He tapped in what his phone was showing, and his eyes were a blur as he read the screen over and over, trying to make sense of it. No seriously wrong… just very different.

"How on earth…?" he muttered. He highlighted part of the data and a picture showed on screen. It was a Mew mark… Ichigo's by the look of it. Only, it had turned a deep gold, and had morphed so it had a band of gold going around her leg, linking with a new, second mark that looked like a small fire.

Ryou sat back in his chair and laughed. Of all the people, Ichigo had broken the barrier. She had just doubled the powers of her own team, and also broke through the safeguard that meant all of the girls would only be Mew Mews as long as Kisshu was around. She could stop being a Mew Mew whenever she chose.

He laughed again, then stopped abruptly as he realised just how her mark had gotten that way. He shook his head, not wanting to go in that direction of thought. Ryou sent a quick text to Keiichiro, explaining what had happened and asking if he saw the girls, to tell them the news. He was about to go back to his book when an idea struck him. He walked to a mirror and pulled his collar away from his neck. His mark had turned golden too. Ryou was speechless. A Mew Mew and an alien, He thought. We might just beat them yet. And… finish the work that you started. He sent a promise to his parents. We'll beat them.

/ / /

"Mmnmph." Ichigo mumbled as her alarm went off, swatting at it with her hand until she knocked it off the table and had to resort to poking it quiet with a clothes hanger she found lurking on the floor. After dozing for a few more minutes, Ichigo got up and stretched sleepily. Why did I set my alarm? She wondered groggily, squinting at her retrieved clock. It was 10 in the evening... why would she have a nap so late and set an alarm? Suddenly she remembered and threw open the curtains, leaning on the windowsill to let in the moonlight and a cool breeze. Because it's New Years Eve. She smiled contentedly. And I'm going with my family, and Kisshu. But first, there were still some things to do. Ichigo got dressed and clambered downstairs, noticing all the New Year's charms that hung around the house, readjusting a few of them on her way down.

"You know, Japan didn't always celebrate New Years on the 31 December or the first day of January." Shintaro began to explain, after Ichigo had sat down in the living room.

"Really? What about Sanga-Nichi?" Ichigo asked about the first three days of January, mildly curious.

Her dad nodded. "Oh, we still celebrated it, but it was more like the Chinese New Year, until we changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1873. That was just after the Meji restoration and the games played and the poetry said originated from-"

At this point, Ichigo had realised that this wasn't going to be a short explanation and she let her mind wander.

New Year's really is fun. I wonder who I'll see at the festival? Pudding might be there, with all her little brothers and sisters...Zakuro's probably busy, even today...Mint would probably find it too common... Lettuce will be there, I think. Ichigo sat up straighter. Ryou-san is back too! Ichigo's shoulders slumped, unnoticed by her dad. Deep Blue... everything bad revolves around him. If there's some way, any way at all to solve this without hurting anybody... The more Ichigo thought about it, the more she realised that the only idea would be for Kisshu to go back to Deep Blue and somehow convince him to stop attacking them.

There was a faint noise in the background, but Ichigo ignored it, too busy thinking. It happened again, and she realised her dad had stopped talking and had gotten up to go to the door. Ichigo abruptly stood up and ran, overtaking her dad and opening the door to reveal a certain green haired, human teenager.

"Hey." He smiled. "You…" His eyes widened as he took in the soft, peach coloured Kimono. It was how the thin pink–blue spiral patterns covering the majority of the fabric brought out the shine in her eyes and the happiness in her smile. The obi had the outlines of dozens of falling cherry blossoms, and went perfectly with the real cherry blossom Ichigo had pinned to her hair. "You look amazing."

"Thanks." She murmured, blushing slightly. "I always liked wearing Kimono's to greet the New Year."

"That's one Earth custom I could definitely get used to." He said, pulling her into his arms. They heard a cough behind them and Ichigo froze in his arms, and then quickly ducked out of them as her father came out of the door.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." He said pointedly.

Ichigo cringed. She had forgotten he had been right behind her. "Hi dad. Didn't see you there." "So I gathered." Her dad replied dryly, and with one quick look at Sakura, who had also come to see who was at the door and was holding everyone's coats, turned and walked towards the town centre where the shrine was. Ichigo sighed and felt as if her dad would be peeking behind him the whole way there.

When the group got to the shrine, Sakura gently pulled Shintaro by the arm away from spying on his daughter and smiled at Ichigo. "Be good, and don't get lost, ok? We'll meet back here..." She checked her watch.

"...In a few hours. Our phones are on if you need to contact us." She started to walk towards the centre of the square and Ichigo laughed as she heard her father say "But we shouldn't leave them-"

"You should trust Ichigo more, and-" her mother said, but Ichigo couldn't hear the rest of the sentence because they had already moved out of hearing distance.

"Your father is very protective of you." Kisshu commented. Ichigo sighed. "Yup." She agreed, thinking of how her dad had treated her last boyfriend – he had challenged Aoyama-kun to a kendo match. Thinking of it, she was sure her dad didn't think of Kisshu as her boyfriend otherwise... forget kendo, he'd probably challenge Kisshu to a duel with sharpened swords... Kisshu called her attention back to the present.

"Hey, I think there's someone you want to talk to over there." He motioned with his hand to a tall, blonde person talking animatedly to a long-haired brunette.

"Keiichiro-san and Ryou-san!" Ichigo exclaimed as she recognised them. "He's back!" She said, suddenly feeling warmth blossom in her chest, and a sense of relief. "Come on then," Kisshu said, walking ahead with a small smile. "I thought you had words to say to him." Ichigo nodded and caught up with Kisshu as Ryou turned round, and frowned at her. "Oh. Hi."

"What kind of a greeting is that after disappearing for two weeks?" Ichigo exclaimed. "Calm down," he said, waving his hands at her. "And I'm not going to apologise, so stop looking at me like that. Anyway, it's not like intended to go for that long."

Ichigo opened her mouth, probably to give Ryou an ear-full, but Keiichiro cut in. "It's ok. I've already given him a lecture, Ichigo-san." He said, smiling wryly. Ryou sighed. "While I was there, I did manage to do something that will help you two." He motioned to Kisshu and Ichigo. "I trapped Deep Blue in a smaller version of that 'mystical holding cell' for a while when I got us out." Ryou explained. "So we have time to figure something out. Maybe we can even make this thing work. Although," He added to Ichigo, looking Kisshu up and down with a mild suspicion showing in his eyes. "You'd better keep an eye on this one."

"I will." Ichigo smiled as Kisshu took her hand and squeezed it. Ryou shook his head and with a brief wave behind him, he walked back to Keiichiro and he was soon lost in the crowd.

"Sheesh, how much can that fluffy thing do?" Kisshu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"His name is Masha." Ichigo automatically corrected him.

"Huh." He wrinkled his nose, making a link. "Any relation to the human?"

Ichigo looked to the side. "Not anymore." Kisshu smiled slightly, and Ichigo pulled him by the hand to go and look at all the stalls selling food. "Ooh, look! Toffee apples!" Ichigo bought two, handing one to Kisshu and laughed as he stared at apprehensively before taking a bite.

"Hey!" Someone called out to them, before Ichigo had even begun to eat her own apple.

Ichigo looked for the source of the voice and found it in a boy with dark hair and chocolate eyes who was running up behind them.

"Hello, Aoyama-kun. How are you?" Ichigo said.

Aoyama smiled. "I'm good. But hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" He motioned to a quieter spot a few yards away from the hustle and bustle of the stalls.

"Sure. What about?" Ichigo walked ahead automatically. Kisshu lagged behind, frowning in concentration.

"I-"

"Get away from her." Kisshu interrupted suddenly through clenched teeth, pulling Ichigo behind him.

"Huh?"

"I said get the hell away from her!" He hissed, materialising and drawing his swords.

"Kisshu, don't!" Ichigo yelled, running in front of him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"You don't know what he was thinking about you just now."

"And you do?" She countered, aware of Aoyama's curious stare.

Kisshu nodded sharply, never taking his eyes off Aoyama. Well, he couldn't read thoughts as such; he just got the general gist of them. But he still didn't like one bit of what the human was thinking.

Not good. Ichigo thought. "Let me handle this, Kisshu." She said. When he remained where he was, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him back gently. "And put those swords away!" She added. Kisshu begrudgingly did so and retreated a few steps.

Ichigo turned back to Aoyama-kun and saw he was running a hand through his dark hair. "What is it you need to talk to me about?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah." Aoyama glanced warily at Kisshu. "I think we should just be friends. And by the look on that guy's face I don't think I'm the only one who thinks so."

Kisshu just glared at him, his gold eyes no less beautiful for the anger in them.

"So I'll see you round?" Aoyama said to Ichigo who just nodded blankly and waved as he left.

Probably to the shrine. She was brought out of her reverie by Kisshu muttering. "He should've been begging for your forgiveness…"

"Kisshu, it's ok. Honestly." Ichigo said. I mean, I feel kind of numb, sure, but wasn't supposed to be the one to tell him first?

"There is no way he ever deserved you." Kisshu spat. "That son of a bitch was going out with some other girl, and just stringing you along. Tearing him apart wouldn't be good enough."

"What did you say?" Ichigo asked in a small voice. Aoyama-kun was…what?

Kisshu immediately went from angry to contrite when he saw Ichigo's expression. "I… I'm sorry." He said, covering the distance between them and pulled her into a hug. "Sorry. I didn't realise…I guess you didn't want to be told like that." He pulled back a little and peered at her face. "You ok?"

"Yeah. I mean, yes, I'm fine."

Kisshu hated the scrawny human even more as he swallowed back his jealously. That other guy still managed to wedge his way in the middle of them. "Okay!" Kisshu announced, thinking quickly. "I've got a surprise for you, but you'll have to wait a few hours."

"A surprise?" Ichigo asked curiously.

"Uh huh. Now c'mon, didn't you say something about how the food here isn't completely strange?" Ichigo smiled as she defended earth-style food while showing Kisshu how New Year's worked, explaining about the traditions linked to fortunes being told by people dressed as shrine maidens and the Kimono's colours and styles having different meanings.

They eventually got to the shrine, Ichigo prayed for the normal things like good health for her family and good things for the future, and deep inside, in no more than a whisper she gave thanks to the Gods for letting her become a Mew Mew. Without that, she would never had met any of the girls, or discovered Ryou's nice (if slightly strange) side and Keiichiro's amazing cooking. She would never have found Kisshu. Ichigo closed her eyes and felt her prayers float up with the burning incense.

She glanced sideways at Kisshu and started as she saw his whole body shimmer, and for a split-second she saw his half-top and elfish ears before he reverted back to his human self. "Um, Kisshu, you... you shimmered...back to yourself." Kisshu froze and looked down quickly. Crap. He thought. "I can't keep this up for too long."

"Its fine, go."

Kisshu let out a breath. "Thanks. Ah - wait a sec." He quickly scrawled on a piece of paper, folded it, and gave it to her. "Read this when you're at home. I'll have everything sorted out by then."

"Sorted?" Ichigo asked.

"For your surprise, remember?" Throwing a grin behind him, he walked into the shadows of a nearby tree and transported. Ichigo blinked slowly. What kind of surprise is he planning? She was itching to read the note, but resisted, stuffing it into her pocket instead.

Ichigo could hardly wait to get home. Her parents stayed in the kitchen while Ichigo excused herself and ran upstairs, hastily unfolding the note.

Look in your wardrobe. K

A few seconds later Ichigo was pulling a square box out from her wardrobe, and another note pinned to it. She leaned in to read it.

Yes, I did break-and-enter illegally, but it was for Part 1 of your surprise – I hope you like it. I'll pick you up at 3am for the second part.

Ichigo glanced at the clock. It was half two. That left her with only half an hour to get ready for… she didn't even know what. First a swimming trip to a lake and now…?

She took a second look at the box that the note had been attached to. It was about two feet long each way, with a blue ribbon tied diagonally around it, a bow resting on the lid. She tentatively undid it and opened the box. "Oh my God." Ichigo breathed. Inside was the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen. Ichigo pulled it out of the box and stared. It was silk, a delicate carnation pink.

The floor-length dress had a cut that was subtle and the sleeves cut off at an angle at the elbows, ending in loose ruffles. At the waist it split into two sections, with a darker shade down the middle, and intricate patterns weaved into the edges, like hundreds of wings sown in silver, joined tip-to-tip. Ichigo shook her head and re-read the note. This couldn't possibly be for her – it must've cost a fortune!

But no, the dress was for her, and Ichigo took off her casual clothes, and put the dress on, feeling like a princess in a fairytale. She looked…stunning. Ichigo had never really seen it before, but the dress seemed to make her shine.

"Hiya." A voice accompanied the arms around her waist.

Ichigo smiled. "Hello Kisshu."

Kisshu looked offended. "What? So I can't sneak up on you any more?"

Ichigo held the notes between two fingers. "We really must stop meeting like this." She joked.

"But that takes all the fun out of everything." Kisshu replied. He held her at arms length to admire the dress. "It suits you."

Ichigo smiled. "I love it. Thank you." She couldn't find the right words for her gratitude, and simple seemed to work the best. She realised he wasn't wearing his usual attire either. He had replaced it for long dark trousers, and a white shirt that was unbuttoned at the top. It made him look older…

Kisshu winked. "Don't thank me now. I wasn't sure how cold it would be tonight so…"

Ichigo shook his head. "The dress is beautiful, and has long sleeves so I will be fine. Stop worrying."

"Are you ready to go then? We're teleporting, by the way. Earth transport is too slow."

Ichigo hit him lightly on the arm and Kisshu told her to hold on tight. She quickly tied on her shoes and looped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. Teleporting didn't scare her, but she wasn't about to open her eyes while travelling really fast.

Kisshu looked down at the girl in his arms with a kindness in his eyes that would have been felt by a blind person. Deep Blue was wrong. He would never understand that the bonds that tied him to Ichigo were made of stronger things than he could comprehend. She was his only weakness, at least on the Earth. Kisshu held her tight as he summoned the portal, only letting go after they had landed at their destination.

It had taken a bit of work to fix everything properly, and he had been lucky. If any human's had been wandering by, they would have seen a green-haired alien flitting from place to place more than thirty feet in the air carrying wires. It would have been hard to explain that. Luckily, everything had stayed in its place and there were no wires to be seen anywhere.

"Kisshu, what is all of this?" Ichigo had opened her eyes and let go. She was looking around with a slightly bewildered expression.

The carpet had faded, and been replaced with soft green grass, and they were surrounded by the tallest pine tree's she had ever seen. They seemed to touch the sky, and become part of the scattered light from the stars.

"My gift to you. People give gifts to each other on New Years, right?"

"Yes, but…" Ichigo wasn't too sure how to explain how the dress and this place were all much more than she deserved.

"But what?" Kisshu said taking her right hand and holding it, slipping his other hand around her waist, waiting for her as she hesitantly rested her other hand on his shoulder. "But this is far too much for me. I mean…"

"Stop worrying. Nothing good can ever be too much for you." Kisshu closed his eyes briefly and grinned when he opened them. Gentle music had started playing, and the stars in the sky seemed to have dimmed. He began a soft, classic ballroom dance, and soon they were covering the whole grassy expanse in sweeping circles and steps, Ichigo laughing in delight. "I didn't know you could dance!" She exclaimed, tilting her head back.

"I'm a fast learner. But," He admitted, "There's a lot to learn about your world."

"I could teach you." Ichigo offered.

"I'd like that. By the way, you're not scared of heights, are you?"

Ichigo looked at him curiously. "No." Not after all the times she had fought against them in the air.

Kisshu smiled and his eyes brightened in the faint light. "That's good, kitten," He said, standing still, taking her hands and clasping them tightly in his. "Now look around."

Ichigo did so and gasped. They were about twenty feet of the ground. The flowers looked little more than colourful patches on the green grass, and the stars looked much closer.

"How?" She mumbled. "How could you-"

"My home has technology that you haven't discovered how to use here. Now, I believe we were in the middle of something?"

Ichigo shook her head. "All the way up here? Not a chance. We'd fall. Or...worse."

Kisshu acted like he didn't hear her and raised her hand so she spun round, catching her at the last moment. "I will never let you fall." He whispered. "Never." He pulled her back up. "Now would you trust me?" Kisshu said in a normal voice.

Ichigo sighed, looking doubtfully at the ground far below them. "Fine. I trust you." She put her arms back round him, and they began to dance, in much slower and wider circles then they had on the ground. Ichigo suddenly felt a sense of Déjà vu – about when Kisshu has caught her in his arms. "That first day… you carried me home, didn't you?"

Kisshu nodded. "I could hardly leave you out in the middle of the street at night, could I?"

"I wouldn't have minded staying a little longer." She said. I wouldn't have minded staying there all night, she thought.

"You were half-asleep." Kisshu replied laughing. "I doubt you noticed."

"I was not!" She said indignantly.

Kisshu grinned. "You talk in your sleep, y'know."

"I do?"

"Yes." Kisshu nodded solemnly with total conviction.

Ichigo froze, already feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. "What…did I say?" She ran through her most bizarre dreams lately and wondered what exactly she'd said.

"You said…" Kisshu paused, and then shook his head. "No, I think I'll keep this to myself."

Ichigo took her hand out of his. That's not fair!" She complained.

"It certainly is," Kisshu justified smoothly. "Because if you were awake, then you'd remember exactly what you said."

Ichigo frowned at his teasing. "That's not fair and you know it."

Kisshu said nothing, and in the silence, Ichigo noticed the music had changed. It was softer, almost sweet.

The soft music made Ichigo smile, and she relented.

"Fine, you get that one. But you were wrong earlier you know." Ichigo pointed out.

"Oh? What about?" Kisshu asked, intrigued.

"When you said there was a lot to learn about my world."

"I think it's true."

"No, it's not. It's our world now."

"Always." He took her hand and kissed it, just like the first time outside the café.

There were a few moments where the music quietened down, and stopped completely. Ichigo looked around, confused.

Kisshu, on the other hand, glanced around with a degree of satisfaction. "Ah! It's just about time for the final part of my gift to you."

"What more could you possibly give to me?" She murmured.

Kisshu held her tight as they flew up further, and he stopped the branch of a tall aspen tree, one of the highest there. "Ladies first." He said, indicating the branch. Ichigo stepped down onto it, and told her to take a seat. "I can give you this."

As he spoke, the sun had peaked between the mountains, and its rays were just shining out, catching in the dew drops surrounding them, throwing rainbows of light everywhere.

Ichigo shielded her eyes with her hand as the soft light flew over the trees and valleys in front of them, smiling as she felt the warm brightness brush over her own face. Suddenly the whole meadow was in light, and the sky looked as if it had been painted with the finest brushes in oil paints. From gentle pinks to brazen oranges and just a tinge of blue, the sky seemed alive, with the colour of a summer flower and as much life.

Ichigo stretched out her hand to try and touch the sun, that source of light in the sky rimmed with gold.

Kisshu laughed softly and Ichigo snatched her hand back. She had almost forgotten he was there, and that she was a good twenty feet in the air. "It's beautiful." She said to him, looking at his kind eyes and handsome face.

"Yes," He replied. "You are." Kisshu kissed her once, twice and asked him softly to forgive him.

Ichigo hugged him fiercely and smiled. "There's nothing to forgive. You didn't go away on purpose, and you've given me so much." She rested her forehead against his. "I love you."

Kisshu had never heard sweeter sounding words, and whispered his reply onto sweeter lips.

"I love you. Forever."

"And yet you still won't tell me what I said in my sleep."

Kisshu grinned at her. "You said you always loved me."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What's strange about that?"

"People can lie when they are awake, Ichigo. But no-one can ever lie, or be unsure of themselves when they're dreaming."

They sat in silence watching the sun rise, because there was no need for any more words.

And that was the last chapter of this story. I hope you liked it! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, Author alerted/ favourited or favourited this story. Oh, even if you didn't do any of that, thanks for reading anyway.

Lastly, thanks to the characters, and I'm sorry that I was mean to them at times, but that's just the way it had to be. 'sniff sniff'.

Happy summer holiday's everyone!