I am sooo sorry about my lack of updating. As I said in the author's note i deleted to put this in, the show that they aired 'Mew Mew Power' was so unlike the book that it just threw off my interest. It wasn't until my friend keisha told me to at least write an author's note to my fans (if I have any still) , telling them why I hadn't been able to write. For some reason or another (my other half probably knows better-her being the perfectionist and all) I started writting up this chapter on saturday, because I had nothing else to do. Sad, I know, but all the same, this chapter was made. Hopefully you people will forgive me. I'm sorry,and I hope to continue working on this story again. Read, and again, sorry.


Last Chapter:

"I thought it would be cool to come here. They go this new exhibit. They brought in a bunch of cats, and I think a mere cat or two might be part of the place. I thought it would be cool to come check it out, see what run's through our veins and all," he said, still watching the crowd as they slowly made their way in. He stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and began to speak again, slowing turning to look at her at the same time, "So Ichigo, what do you-" he stopped when he saw the look on her face. It was the look of pure terror.


Chapter 8
Can I Ask You For A Favor?

(Ichigo's point of view)

Ichigo could feel her heart beginning to quicken as she starred at the name of the place Ryou had brought her. She could hear Ryou talking unknowingly to himself about something; about what she didn't really know or care at the moment. Flashes of memories past by her face before she could banish them away.

Flashback
(A.N. flashbacks are from book one of manga, if anyone wants to know)

She was going to the zoo with Masaya. No strings attached, they were actually going on a date! "Aren't they cute, Masaya?"

"Oh yeah, whatever." Masaya was being really different that day…

"Oh look! That's the nocturnal animal exhibit. Masaya, let's go." It was so dark in there…

"Masaya? Where are you?" She was really freaked now, and that was when Masaya appeared from behind her…

"Ichigo!" That had sure surprised her…

"…I thought I'd lost you for a minute." He was really acting strange. Something was wrong…

"Let's go!"

"Huh? W…Wait!" She couldn't understand, was he mad?

"Hand…You're holding my hand."

"I don't want you to get lost." Something was making Masaya act all weird…

End Flashback

"Masaya…"


(Ryou's Point of View)

Ichigo looked like she was on the verge of tears! He couldn't understand what it was that was making her so emotional. One minute they walking in silence after an uncomfortable chat about him being left alone, and the next they were standing in front of the zoo…

I am such a baka! Damn my stupidity! The zoo was what was making her so emotional! This was a place where she shared memories with Masaya. Of course coming here would remind her of that time. It's more then likely these memories will lead to something that happened overseas…if she lets her mind drift that much. Damn!

Ryou's hand rose from his side, moving slowly and cautiously to her shoulder. His hand made contact with the fabric of her t-shirt, but he got no response…

He gave her a light shake, but again she did nothing to signal she had noticed. Her pink eyes were clouded over, memories no doubt consuming her mind. He still couldn't believe he had brought her here. He really did feel like a jerk at this moment. I'm sorry, strawberry.

He was snapped out of his self loathing by Ichigo's eyes. They were alit, no longer clouded over. She took a sharp intake of breath, and tears came to the corner of her eyes.

"Masaya..."

Damn! He wished he hadn't been right, but it appeared he had. There was nothing he could do now, accept get her away from there. With no further delay he grabbed her hand and started pulling her back into the park.

He was huffing from the exertion of running while pulling a doll like Ichigo along with him. He quickly placed her down on the nearest bench, checking behind him as he did to make sure they couldn't see the zoo from there. It wouldn't do any good if she could still see the place.

Ryou flopped himself down on the ground, a huff escaping him as he tried to catch him breath. He had run a long way to get them away from the noise of the zoo. It was quite loud now that he thought about it…


(Ichigo's point of view)

Ichigo had handed candy instead of payment to the little acrobat Pudding before they walked away. Then, a second time, she saw Pudding after Kish had interrupted her time at the zoo by making some of the animals start attacking her. That was when she had first officially met Kish, though she didn't exactly want to meet him that officially.

Flashback

"What about a cat?" Came a voice from above them, Pudding still latched on her in the excitement of seeing her cat ears.

"I wanted to see the human trying to sabotage our plans. But you're pretty cute!"

"Who are you?" she demanded. That was when the cloak fell on her.

"Wha…?" she was lost, and couldn't stop Kish from kissing her.

"My name is Kish. Thanks for the kiss." That was when she first met Kish…


(Ryou's Point of view)

"Kish…"

His eyes snapped over to Ichigo when he heard her mention the alien's name. Now I'm confused…He thought she had been thinking about Masaya, but unless he had misheard her, which he doubt he had, she had said the alien's name. The baka is too confusing for her own good…

"Certainly he can help!" Ichigo shouted abruptly, jumping up from her spot on the bench, only to have her knees give out on her. Ryou had jumped up second after she did, fear and confusion evident in his eyes.He quickly helped her back onto the bench and took a seat beside him, turning her face so that she was looking at him. Kish can help with what?

"Ichigo…"


(Ichigo's point of view)

Kish! He would be able to help! He knows more about the whole situation then any of us do… Well, Ryou might know something about it, but if I ask him, he will question me, and I can't answer right now. I don't even know myself, fully.

Ah! This is so confusing, and I haven't even gone too deep into the situation yet!

"Kish…"

But Kish would know something. He was involved in it before, so he must have some knowledge. He has to help me! He just has to!

But how do I find him? How am I supposed to get his help if he is on a different planet, building his own life? Surely he would come though; this is Kish we are talking about. He's helped me before; he would help me again. Right?

"Certainly he can help!" Ichigo found herself shouting as her body jumped up in the adrenaline of the moment. Quickly though, the rush left and her knees buckled, leaving her with no support for her body.

She wasn't entirely sure how, but she found herself back on the bench she had been sitting on. But wasn't I in front of the zoo? When did I move to sit on a bench? That was when she felt someone grab her chin and directing her face to the side.

"Ichigo…"

Noises ignored before came rushing back to her all at once, all competing to be heard over the other.

Again the voice came, clearer then any other noise…

"Ichigo…"

Ryou… she had forgotten he was with her. He was the one that had brought her to the zoo in the first place. But why am I not angry at him for it? Ichigo quickly found she was telling herself it was because Ryou had good intentions. They were both infused with the genes of the cat, and he had only wanted for her to see them. If it had been anywhere else, she would have actually been excited to see them. His intentions were good. Stupid Ryou…Can't even get mad at you…

"Strawberry, you answer me right now! You're starting to freak me out…"

Ryou might know a way to contact Kish. Maybe. Wait, is he worried about me? This is news to me…

His voice took on an entirely different tone. It was solemn, paniced and uncertain. "Look, we can go somewhere else. I'm sorry; please just snap out of it. I'll make you whatever you want! I'll buy you ice-cream! Just…come back…"

He's probably thinking about when he was alone for all that time. Half a year, alone! I wouldn't be able to stand that! And Ryou isn't the type of person to make a lot of friends, so it must be hard for him to lose all the friends he just made… Everyone needs at least one friend.


(Ryou's point of view)

"Just…come back…"

Everyone left him half a year ago, and now here he was sitting beside the one person he wanted to see the most, and she couldn't seem to even acknowledge his presence. It was all his fault too! Baka, did you really think you could keep something close to you? Most things fall away before long. You should have learnt you lesson by now…Ryou gave out a heavy sigh. I'm such an idiot!

He wasn't able to continue his attack on his self-esteem because he was interrupted by someone latching onto him.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo spoke into his shirt, her voice filled with sorrow. He could hear her sniffling, but he wasn't sure if it was because of the memories, or something else. He wasn't even sure why she was saying sorry? What is she saying sorry for? I'm the one that just put her through all that! I am the one that should be saying sorry! That baka!

"I'm…sorry. We shouldn't have left you alone…"

What? Where is this coming from? Surely she hadn't heard his rant about her coming back…She had still been out at the time. Right? He knew one thing for sure, if she had, he would die of embarrassment!

"Maybe…if I had stayed…" She sniffed again, stayed silent for a minute. "If I had stayed, maybe the rest of the gang wouldn't have left. Then you wouldn't have been alone…"


(Ichigo's point of view)

Her crying surface began to rumble after what she said. Ryou was laughing. Why are you laughing! She knew that he would answer her silent question, so she simply buried her face into his shirt more.

"You shouldn't think so highly of yourself strawberry. It's not good for you ego," Ryou said, laughing again. Ichigo scowled and promptly glared into his shirt.

He sighed then, as his right hand found its way into her hair, where he began to run his fingers through. The action itself was rather soothing for her, aside from the fact that her face was glowing red; a factor she was thankful he couldn't see.

"They all had dreams and lives to live. I couldn't expect everyone to stay just because I would be alone. Sure I would have liked if you hadn't gone away, but if it meant everyone else putting their dreams on hold, I'm not sure I would have been able to do that…"

Ichigo sighed and nodded into his shirt, showing that she understood. But I still feel so bad…

He seemed have read her mind, for he continued. "You better not be feeling bad for me. You're here now, so there's nothing to feel bad about."

She finally pulled her head away from his slightly damp shirt. Tears were still rolling down her face and in the corner of her eyes. She smiled up at Ryou, content with his answer.


(Ryou's point of view)

He smiled down at her in return. He was proud with himself for making her smile. Though things had been gloomy, and they hadn't even gotten to the topic of Masaya yet, Ryou felt that making her smile, for even that one moment, was worth him telling her some of his feelings.

"Now," he said, his voice dropping, knowing there was no way to avoid it any longer. How do I go about this though…Do I mention Masaya, and hope she will tell me about it? Chances are it's too soon though, so that wouldn't be the best idea. "Why is it you need Kish's help?"


(Ichigo's point of view)

She had liked the way the conversation was going before he said that. Kish led to Masaya, which led to depressing thoughts for Ichigo.

"Um…" She hesitated, wondering how she was supposed to ask Ryou for help in finding Kish. "Would you do me a favor?"

A quick look at Ryou told her that he was considering what it could be she would ask for. She would have to be quick if she wanted to get him to do this for her. She would have to do something in return for him…

"Well…" Ryou started to say, but Ichigo quickly jumped in.

"I'll tell you why I'm back early if you help me," she said quickly, without thinking. Surprised eyes looked back at each other. Well, I guess that works…But now I have to tell him! Way to go girl, you totally just set yourself up there!

"Sure…" Ryou answered, his voice laced with surprise and wonder. She could tell he had wanted to ask about her early return. It was only concern for upsetting her that kept him from asking. "So what is it you need?"


(Ryou's point of view)

Ichigo laughed nervously, telling Ryou right away that there was a good chance he wouldn't like what she was asking. Maybe that was why she offered to tell him that; because there was such a high chance that he wouldn't do it.

"Can you help me find a way to contact Kish?"


bumbumbaa!

Anyways, I'm finished updating this. I wasn't sure about where to leave you guys off at first, but I though that since I left you people alone for so long, I would end it with a little cliffie. Only a little one. Lol. Anywho, I really enjoyed writting this. I was bouncing all around afterwards, waiting for my editor to come check it. Then of course she tells me it's fine and I don't need to change anything. Welll..lol. No worries, love you still Keisha. Anywho! If anyone notices any mistakes feel free to tell me. This site often melds words together, because I do use word. So yeah, that wasn't my fault. But spelling mistakes and such.

Wo0t! It's up! So, since I haven't been able to look at all the reviews from my previous chapter, you all get treats. I cannot remember for the life of me what it is you were suppose to get, so you all to pick from an assortment of cookies and donuts. Wo0t. I soooo call Boston Cream Supreme. The ones with the wipping cream, not the banana filling. That stuffs nasta!

Um.. Anywho, hope you all are satisfied with this chapter. I hope I will update soon, but exams are coming up and all. Then I have summer school, so I will strive for getting another up before that all starts. Might be a push, but I will try. Bare with me here, first year of high school is always difficult.

Bye-byez,
Ja-ne.

Nekoyasha101