A/N: Yes, I know this one is late. But I hope you'll accept my humblest apologies - I had an extremely bad day yesterday, and just wasn't able to post it. But it's up now (a little on the fluffy side, but hopefully there's some humour in here somewhere). I'll post the one that was meant for today in a few hours. In the meantime, enjoy this one!

Yet another day of December, and they're at it once again, cute little arguments, banter friend-to-friend. But why is it - I wonder, that she goes to him for help, when she could've asked a Mew Mew, or even bandaged it herself…

Small and green, so delicate yet strong, with blood red berries hanging in clusters from the stems holding the bunch together; it was beautiful, mesmerizing, and so… begging for Ichigo to touch it. At least, that was the excuse she used when twenty minutes later, she rushed into the café, shrieking about the scarlet liquid trickling down her arm.

She whimpered as Ryou wrapped the bandage tighter around her hand. He glanced up at her - taking in her quivering lip and big, brimming chocolate eyes - and chuckled. Her head cocked to the side at the sound, but he ignored her movement, focusing back on cleaning and dressing her wound.

"You really ought to be more careful, baka Strawberry," he muttered. She winced as he tugged on the bandage, before pouting.

"I was being careful. It's not my fault--" She cut herself off mid-sentence, upon seeing the disbelieving expression that overcame Ryou's face. "...Ok, so maybe it was my fault. But I didn't think that--" He was still staring at her in the same, 'yeah, right' kind of way; Ichigo sighed. "Alright, so I knew it would hurt me. But I wanted to touch it anyway! It just looked so pretty!"

"That doesn't mean you have to reach out and grab a whole branch. It's holly for God's sake - the edges are deliberately, and extremely clearly spiked! Only a moron would grab a handful of holly." He shot her a brief look. "Well, ok, I suppose that does give you some excuse--"

He ducked as she made a swipe at his head with her other hand.

"Now, now. No need for that. Especially not when I was kind enough to help you," he chided, deliberately prodding her bandage, and in doing so caused her to squeak. She mock-glared at him, before rolling her eyes and jumping off of the table she was currently sat atop of.

"Yeah, yeah," she drawled. "Be nice to Shirogane, because he's always nice to me." The sarcasm practically poured from her mouth, resulting in a small smile gracing Ryou's lips. Ichigo stared at him, incredulously.

"Shirogane, did you just… smile?" she breathed.

He shrugged carelessly, his smile broadening a little. "Yeah, I guess so. And Strawberry?"

"Hmm?" She blinked, stooping to grab her schoolbag lying discarded on the floor, but nodded to show him he could continue.

"You can call me Ryou from now on. But only when the other Mews aren't around."

Again, Ichigo found herself taken aback by the blonde boy before her. Then, a few seconds later, she smiled warmly at him. "Ok," she said, before adding softly, "Ryou." His name rolled off her tongue so easily, effortlessly, that it was as though her lips had been made to fit around the word; her tongue curled around it with a fluentness that made the sole time she spoke it sound less foreign to her ears.

He tried to force back the grin that was creeping across his lips. Clearing his throat, he said, "Yes, but remember: no using it when the others are around. We don't want them getting the wrong idea, now do we?"

"Mint's already got the wrong idea," Ichigo muttered. She adjusted her hold on her schoolbag. "I should probably get back. Else I'll be late for lessons. And I really don't need another detention." She laughed, seemingly amused by the thought. He rolled his eyes at her.

Ichigo turned to leave, but before she made it to the door, a question popped up in her head. "Ryou… well I was wondering… you know, since we have to dress up in these Christmas costumes, maybe you could--"

"No, Momomiya, for the last time, I am not dressing up as Santa Claus."

However, she had that glint in her eye - the scheming, mischievous one she always got when assured she could convince him of something - and he inhaled sharply. For a moment, the two stood there, silently staring at each other as the clock ticked by. Then, sticking her tongue out at him, she swiveled and left, calling behind her as she went, "You will, Shirogane! I know you will!"

Ryou shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, at the exact same time that Keiichiro wandered through the open door of the café.

"Good morning, Ryou," he greeted kindly, removing his coat and walking towards his younger friend.

"Morning, Keii."

"What was Ichigo-san doing here?" the chef asked curiously. In reply, all he got was a nonchalant shrug. Sighing, he continued, "Oh, and I was wondering if you could help me with something…?"

Ryou quirked an eyebrow as a prompt for him to carry on.

"Well, you see, there was some holly in the park, and it looked so pretty and just begging to be touched, so…"

"Oh! Not you too!"

A/N: Like it? Love it? Not like it at all? Let me know! Review, please!