heey :D yes i no i tooka while again :L finally at chapter ten! this chapter is not the funniest but you do find out more of how ichigo and ryou are feeling lol :P enjoy :)

Chapter10- Race to the bottom!

Ichigos pov

I felt myself finally slipping from my dreamland and into the real world, I rolled over and breathed in deeply catching the smell of something nice. I could also hear the sounds of the waves on the beach and some birds... I can't normally hear this in the room wait this doesn't feel like my bed where am I? I thought as I moved from my comfortable position and slightly opened my eyes everything was blurry but I could see blue, and a golden colour, is that the sky? No it looks sort of like eyes... wait what? I lifted my hands and rubbed my eyes to clear the sleepy dust away and opened my eyes again to look straight into shirogane's who was looking at me, his hair still all messed up from sleep and his eyes still looking slightly drowsy.

I felt my face heat up and it wasn't because of the warmness of the sun on my skin. Shirogane smiled lazily at me.

"Good morning strawberry" he said while he sat up and stretched.

"ugh good morning Shirogane-san" I said back with a small smile slightly confused, I looked around my self to see grass and trees before I remembered we camped up here, well that makes sense I really am silly sometimes.

I looked around to see keiichiro and Zakuro sat by the cooker cooking what looked like toast, eggs and bacon and also having a nice conversation of some sort, who new what they could be talking about. Lettuce, pudding and mint still seemed to be asleep... well that's odd... I'm actually awake before everyone else yay! I wonder what the time is then.

"Shirogane-san do you know what time it is?" I asked stretching my arms and yawning.

"Quarter past seven, congratulations for getting up before eight" he said with a smirk and I frowned at him.

"What ever" I said sticking my tongue out at him and sitting up where I stretched again.

Normal pov

Ichigo got up and walked over to wear Zakuro and keiichiro where, grinning at the food as she approached them.

"Hey Zakuro-san, Akasaka-san" she said smiling sweetly as the two looked up each giving gentle smiles.

"Good morning Ichigo" keiichiro said putting another piece of bacon on a plate.

"Your actually awake early, I'm surprised Ichigo" Zakuro said raising one of her eyebrows and Ichigo blushed slightly embarrassed that people kept commenting on that.

"Eh yeah, guess I am" Ichigo said scratching the back of her neck with a nervous laugh.

"Congrats, hey Ichigo want to have a walk with me?" Zakuro asked standing up and giving keiichiro a smile and a wink which Ichigo missed.

"Um sure I guess" Ichigo replied and followed Zakuro as she started to walk towards the trees.

"Where are those two going?" Ryou asked as he walked over and took zakuros place beside keiichiro.

"For a morning walk" keiichiro replied still cooking.

"So not only did Ichigo get up early she's walking? This morning is full of surprises" Ryou said and keiichiro shook his head.

"So not long left now" keiichiro said and Ryou sighed.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss this" Ryou replied and keiichiro smirked.

"Do you mean being away from work or being with Ichigo all day everyday?" keiichiro asked and Ryou blushed slightly before giving an emotion free face.

"Being away from work and actually having fun of course, why would I enjoy spending everyday with the baka, I have enough of her back home" Ryou relied with a huff resting his head in his hands.

"Oh come on Ryou your not fooling anyone, your always so much happier when she's around" keiichiro said with a smile and Ryou frowned.

"No I just enjoy picking on her because she sets herself up" Ryou replied and keiichiro sighed.

"so that's why yesterday you carried her halfway up the mountain, hugged her to keep her tail and ears covered instead of putting the blanket over her or something and called her beautiful last night, don't think I didn't hear you, I was right beside you" keiichiro said and ryous face went slightly pink again before he scowled.

"I carried her up the mountain to keep her from moaning, I hugged her to keep her from being discovered it would've been too much rustling and moving around to cover her with the blanket, plus that would look pretty suspicious, and I didn't call her beautiful! Where the hell did you get that from, you must have some hell of a weird dreams keiichiro" Ryou hung his head before glaring at his friend.

"Last night, when she called the sky pretty and you said more like beautiful, anyone could tell you weren't talking about the sky, you where looking at her" keiichiro said and Ryou looked away blushing slightly.

"Believe what you want keiichiro" Ryou mumbled.

"I think that she likes you to, even though she's only just realising it" keiichiro said and Ryou looked at him.

"Ok keiichiro 1, she pretty much hates me, 2, how can she like me back if I don't like her hhmmm?" Ryou asked before getting up and walking away.

"Because you don't just like her do you?" keiichiro asked shaking his head with a smile as he watched his friend walk off.

Ryou's pov

What the hell was with keiichiro this morning? It's none of his business if I like someone or not I wish he would just stay out of it. He was just waiting for me to slip up and then it would be revealed. I've got a feeling he's up to something and I think that he already knows how I feel, he just wants me to admit it, well like that's gonna happen, for me to admit it its got to be real... I wouldn't even though it is.

But what he said about Ichigo... I thought as I sat down under a tree and closed my eyes. Does she like me back? There's no way she could, she's just broken up with someone, and she pretty much hates me, but maybe... no I'm not getting my hopes up over nothing, she hates me and that's the way it's always going to be.

Normal pov

"So Ichigo, enjoying the trip?" Zakuro asked as the two walked through the shady forest, bits of light falling through the leaves making everything look like it was glowing.

"Yeah, well the start wasn't so good but, it's been really fun so far! What about you?" Ichigo asked happily.

"yeah its been nice hanging out with you guys more, even though I love my work, it is nice to have a break away from it" Zakuro replied and Ichigo smiled.

"So where are we going?" Ichigo asked and Zakuro smiled slightly.

"You'll see soon" was all Zakuro said and the two carried on walking in a peaceful silence. Soon the trees started to get less and soon they where in an open space on the edge of the cliff. Zakuro walked over to the edge and sat down. Ichigo's eyes widened and she grinned as she walked over and sat beside Zakuro.

"This is amazing!" Ichigo said as she looked off the cliff at the beach below.

"Yeah it's pretty nice here" Zakuro replied. Ichigo turned to look at Zakuro who had a small smile playing on her lips.

"Hey Zakuro you seem happier today" Ichigo commented and Zakuro smiled slightly at her.

"Maybe I am" Zakuro said looking away from her. Both sat in silence for a while until Ichigo broke it.

"So why did you bring me here?" Ichigo asked looking at Zakuro curiously. Zakuro turned her head and smiled at Ichigo slightly.

"I thought that we could get away from everyone and just talk" Zakuro replied and Ichigo looked confused.

"Talk about what?" Ichigo asked and Zakuro rolled her eyes.

"You and Shirogane-san of course" Zakuro replied and Ichigo blushed slightly.

"W what's there to talk about?" Ichigo stuttered as she composed herself again.

"you don't need to pretend anything around me Ichigo I'm not going to tell the others what you say, this is just between me and you, if you talk it may help you understand things" Zakuro replied watching the ocean. Ichigo hung her head before also looking at the ocean. Everything was quiet for a couple of minutes until Ichigo finally decided to talk.

"I guess that I have been feeling confused lately" Ichigo finally started, twiddling with her fingers.

"What about?" Zakuro asked and Ichigo looked at her.

"Well its just Shirogane-san has been so nice to me lately even though we still fight, he's been acting different, no offence to you guys but he probably helped me the most when I found out about aoyama-kun. I don't no I've just been able to talk to him a bit more lately I guess and relax and have some fun, that is until you guys say stuff and embarrass us!" Ichigo said looking down at her hands and Zakuro smiled at her.

"we're only messing with you Ichigo, you don't no what you two sound and look like while your arguing, and the things you argue over as well it seems very much more like flirting to me" Zakuro said and Ichigo went red.

"I don't flirt with him, I just argue, if he says something I just end up saying something back" Ichigo replied. Zakuro smiled happily that Ichigo was opening up to her.

"Well do you like him?" Zakuro finally asked and Ichigo went red.

"I I I truthfully don't no... but I do no that since I've broken up with aoyama-kun we have been closer and I like it, I don't no about him but I no that for me he's becoming a really close friend just like you guys, I mean I always trusted him but I I just talk to him more. When you guys aren't around we actually sometimes have half normal conversations, I just feel more relaxed around him now really" Ichigo explained as well as she could to the wolf girl.

"I see, I think its good that you two are bonding more, thank you for opening up to me Ichigo, and you no I'm always here for you to talk to, I wont speak a word of this to the girls, you have my word" Zakuro said and Ichigo smiled at her.

"Thanks Zakuro, I think talking to someone's helped me a bit" Ichigo replied and Zakuro patted her on the shoulder.

"Your welcome anyway lets head back now" Zakuro said and Ichigo followed her. When they got back to camp the others where awake and sat eating breakfast, all except Ryou who still hadn't showed up. The girls turned there head when they heard someone approaching to see Ichigo and Zakuro. Mint frowned.

"Where did you guys go and how come Ichigo's up early?" mint asked and Zakuro slightly smiled at her.

"Just went for a morning walk, since Ichigo was awake I asked her if she wanted to come with me" Zakuro explained sitting down next to her.

"Still doesn't explain why Ichigo was up early" mint said and the others looked at Ichigo who blushed and shrugged.

"I just woke up early is all" Ichigo explained and mint rolled her eyes.

"I totally believe that" mint said and pudding laughed.

"Ichigo is never awake early na no da!" she said grabbing Ichigo's hand and pulling her down beside her.

Ichigo pouted but soon joined in laughing.

"So Akasaka-san what are we doing today except hiking back down the mountain?" lettuce asked and Ichigo sighed.

"Ugh I forgot we had to go back down!" and mint rolled her eyes.

"Well I thought that to make it more fun we could have a race down the mountain, first to the bottoms the winners" keiichiro explained and mint frowned.

"What do we win?" mint asked bluntly and pudding grinned.

"Oohh pudding wants a prize Na no da!" she shouted before hyperly bouncing up and down on the spot.

"First to the bottom can pick someone from the loosing teams to be their personal slave" Zakuro said and keiichiro raised an eyebrow at her.

"Ok I defiantly have to win now" mint said and Ichigo laughed.

"So we're going in teams?" lettuce asked.

"Going in teams to what?" Ryou said as he walked over and sat down.

"In a race down the mountain, first to the bottom gets to choose someone from the loosing teams to be their slave" Zakuro explained and Ryou sighed.

"Fine so what are the teams?" Ryou asked and keiichiro smiled.

"Mint, lettuce and Ichigo are one team" which received two smiles and one frown.

"Why am I on the same team as Ichigo she's so slow!" mint complained and Ichigo glared at her.

"Hey I want to win you no so I'm not gonna be slow!" she argued back and mint growled.

"Ryou and zakuro will be another team and me and pudding the last team" keiichiro explained and Ryou glared at him.

"Why didn't you pair me up with you? why did you pair me up with her?" Ryou demanded and keiichiro chuckled as Zakuro looked offended.

"dont be so rude to zakuro-oneesama!" mint shouted slapping ryou over the head, he glared at her before looking at zakuro as she started to speak.

"Why what's wrong with being partnered up with me Shirogane-san?" Zakuro asked innocently Ryou glared at her warily.

"...nothing" he said and keiichiro smiled.

"Good I'm glad you're happy with your teams, lets pack up and get moving" keiichiro said and they all got to work packing up there camping things. Twenty minutes later and they where all stood at the start of the path ready to go.

"Ok on three, one two three!" keiichiro said and everyone ran off.

With Zakuro and Ryou

"So Shirogane-san where were you this morning?" Zakuro asked as the two of them walked through the trees, they had had a running head start so decided to walk for a while.

"I went for a walk just like you did why?" Ryou asked warily, he knew she was up to something.

"No reason I was just curious as to why you weren't there this morning, it didn't have anything to do with a talk with Akasaka-san did it?" she asked though she showed no expression and he glared at her.

"No I couldn't care less what he thinks, I wish he and OTHER PEOPLE would just keep out of peoples business" Ryou said raising his voice on the 'other people' indicating that Zakuro was one of them.

"But haven't you ever thought that maybe the 'other people' are trying to help you?" she asked and Ryou walked a bit further ahead of her.

"Maybe I don't want 'other peoples' help with things I don't want help with, and help? All you've done is embarrass me" Ryou said and Zakuro sighed.

"We weren't trying to embarrass you only get you to admit that's all" she said walking further ahead of him.

"Well I don't want your help with anything, I'm fine now can we change the subject?" Ryou said and Zakuro nodded.

"Ok do you think we are in the lead?" Zakuro asked and Ryou nodded.

"We have to be we are the only team that has both members with fast animal genes. With mint, lettuce and Ichigo, only Ichigo has animal genes that allow her to move faster, the other two are better at other things and with keiichiro and pudding well keiichiro doesn't have any genes so I would imagine there at the back" Ryou explained and Zakuro nodded.

"That does make sense, I guess we're at an unfair advantage" she said and Ryou shrugged.

"Who cares as long as we win, I'm not about to become anyone's slave"

With mint, lettuce and Ichigo

"Sooo Ichigo, hows you and Shirogane-san lately?" mint said in a teasing tone as they all continued to run.

"Fine why?" Ichigo asked and mint sighed.

"So you haven't kissed or anything yet then?" she said with a raised eyebrow and Ichigo went slightly red.

"N n noo why would we do that! Eww!" Ichigo exclaimed and mint sighed.

"Do you think we're far enough ahead to walk for a while?" mint asked and Ichigo nodded.

"I think we need a plan" lettuce said and Ichigo looked at her curiously.

"Why?" she asked.

"Haven't you thought about it both Zakuro-san and Shirogane-san can move very fast but only Ichigo can here, I don't think there's much chance of us winning" lettuce explained and mint frowned.

"True hhmm" mint said putting her hand to her head in concentration.

"I bet Zakuro and Shirogane have thought of this as well" Ichigo said and sighed.

"that might be a good thing though, they might not expect anyone to be as far ahead as them so they may walk more, if we keep moving we could beat them as long as we choose a short route" lettuce explained and Ichigo smiled.

"Good there's still a chance I think we should keep running, can you two keep running?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah but we will need brakes we haven't got the genes of a cat like you" mint said and Ichigo smiled.

"Good lets go!" she said before they started running again Ichigo in the lead.

Keiichiro and pudding

"Come on we have to beat them Na no da!" pudding shouted way in front of Akasaka-san who was running as fast as he could behind.

"I'm coming pudding slow down a bit please?" keiichiro shouted, pudding stopped and let him catch up and they started walking for a while.

"Can we go now na no da!" pudding shouted pulling his arm.

"In a minute pudding" he said and she pouted but carried on walking before...

"Can we go now na no da!" she shouted again pulling his arm.

"In a minute pudding I promise" he said again with a smile at her and she pouted.

"But we will lose if we don't go now Na no da!" she started pulling more forcefully on his arm.

"Ok ok I'm going" he said before the two of them started running again, this time pudding running beside keiichiro laughing happily.

It was afternoon when the teams reached the bottom. Zakuro and Ryou alternated between sprinting and walking, Ichigo, lettuce and mint ran the whole way with short walking breaks and keiichiro and pudding ran the whole way.

"I think we're almost at the bottom" Ryou said to Zakuro as the two continued to walk.

"Good do you think we're going to be the first?" Zakuro asked and also smirked slightly.

"yeah we have to be we're the fastest even if we did walk alot" Ryou said as they walked out of the trees and over to the path that led down to the hotel but soon stopped in his tracks his mouth open.

"hey Zakuro" Shirogane-san!" Ichigo shouted waving at them the others all smiling at them.

"What! How did you guys beat us!" Ryou demanded as him and Zakuro walked over to them.

"I don't no" mint said and Zakuro smiled at keiichiro.

"Looks like we lost, who won?" Zakuro asked looking between the two teams.

"Our team did!" mint said smirking happily and Ryou sighed.

"Great" was all Ryou said.

"So can we choose our slaves now since that was the deal if we won" mint asked excitedly and keiichiro nodded.

"Ok Akasaka-san you are now my personal slave" mint said smiling happily.

"Why did you choose akasaka-san?" Ichigo asked and mint smiled happily.

"Because he makes the best tea" mint said and Ichigo rolled her eyes and laughed while keiichiro sweat dropped.

"Ok hhmmm" Ichigo said looking at the people left, Zakuro, no, pudding... double no.

"Ok Shirogane-san you're my slave!" Ichigo said happily.

"...seriously? This day can't get any worse" Ryou mumbled.

"Why did you choose Shirogane-san Ichigo?" mint asked back trying to copy ichigos voice.

"More revenge" was the only answer Ichigo gave and she sent an innocent smile at Ryou.

"Ok lettuce what about you?" keiichiro asked and lettuce smiled slightly.

"Oh Zakuro-san" lettuce said and smiled slightly at Zakuro.

"Yay! Puddings no ones slave na no da!" pudding shouted and laughed making the others laugh.

"Come on then lets head inside" keiichiro said and everyone followed.

"Shirogane-san?" Ichigo asked and Ryou looked at her.

"What?" he asked tiredly.

"Take this bag to my room" she said and Ryou growled at her.

"Take it yourself" he said annoyed and Zakuro tutted behind him.

"Shirogane-san I believe your her slave so you have to do what she tells you" Zakuro said and Ryou sighed and grabbed the bag off Ichigo who smiled victoriously, after seeing what Ichigo did mint also got keiichiro to carry her bag for her.

"So where do you want it?" Ryou asked as he followed her into her room.

"Over there please" she said pointing to her bed. He walked over and put it down before walking over to his room to get rid of his stuff.

Ryou walked out his room to see a smiling Ichigo outside his door.

"What do you want strawberry?" he said tiredly, why did he have to open his mouth early saying the day couldn't get any worse because for him it had just got worse.

"Tut tut since you are now my slave until tomorrow you have to do whatever I say and to start with you shall call me your highness or princess Ichigo got it?" Ichigo said in a chirpy voice with a grin plastered on her face and Ryou sighed wiping his face.

"What ever strawberry..." he start but was interrupted by Ichigo who coughed and he sighed.

"Fine whatever 'princess' strawberry" he sighed and started walking.

"Better! Anyway let's go meet with the others" Ichigo said running off in front of him and he scowled.

"Hey Ichigo! Shirogane-san!" mint waved over to them. She was sat at a table with the other girls, keiichiro serving them tea.

"Hey guys~!" Ichigo said happily and sat down beside pudding. Ryou walked over to keiichiro.

"Looks like it's just me and you serving them then, doesn't look like Zakuros going to do anything" Ryou said and keiichiro nodded with a shrug.

"Oh well how bad could it get?" keiichiro asked and Ryou growled quietly when Ichigo called his name.

"Oh Shirogane-san~!" she sang happily beside a giggling pudding and Ryou walked over.

"What now strawberry" Ryou asked and Ichigo tutted, Ryou sighed in frustration.

"'princess' strawberry" he corrected him self and mint, lettuce and pudding all giggled slightly Zakuro did smile.

"Bring everyone some cakes please" Ichigo said politely before Ryou walked off to the cafe returning not long after with a tray with different cakes on it.

"Is this to your liking 'princess' strawberry?" Ryou asked sarcastically and Ichigo smiled at him.

"Yes thank you" Ichigo said before all the girls tucked into the cakes. This was going to be one looonngg afternoon.

:D well i hope you enjoyed this chapter i will start writing the other chapter ill try and get it done as fast as i can but i have lots of work at the moment :L bye bye :P