Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew or any of its characters

Claimer: I, chop4tess, own this story, its plot, and any and all original characters

Welcome to chapter twelve of the 2014 rewrite! Enter overprotective Shintaro.

Enjoy!

Chapter twelve: Dinner

It had been an interesting week for Ichigo to say the least. Kishu had been coming around more often and spending time with her and her mother. Sakura and Kishu seemed to be getting along just fine which was a huge relief to Ichigo. Then there was her father. Sakura had told him about Kishu on Thursday to give him as little time as possible to get wound up before they met. Shintaro hadn't been happy that his wife had been meeting their daughter's secret boyfriend without telling him. He felt like he was being left out of what was a very important part of Ichigo's life. When Sakura reminded him that he hadn't exactly been on board with the idea of Ichigo having her baby from the start, Shintaro had scowled and looked away.

Ichigo pulled on one of the dresses her mother had brought for her a few days ago and checked her reflection in her mirror. It was a pretty dress, white with red strawberries, and it fit nicely across her pregnant belly. Her baby kicked and Ichigo laughed. "Do you like it, little one?" Ichigo rubbed her stomach and smiled as her son kicked again. Ichigo grabbed her hair brush and tied her hair into bunches tied with red ribbons.

"Ichigo are you ready yet?" Sakura knocked on her daughter's bedroom door before walking in. "Oh Ichigo, you look lovely!" Sakura beamed. Ichigo laughed and patted her stomach.

"My son seems to think so too."

"He's certainly an active baby. He must take after his mother." Sakura smiled wryly.

"Did I kick a lot?" Ichigo asked.

"Oh yes," Sakura grimaced at the memory placing a hand on her stomach.

"Sorry," Ichigo apologised.

"Don't be sorry, you were worth it." Sakura kissed her daughter's forehead. "Are you ready for dinner?"

"I don't know," Ichigo said honestly. "I know Kishu loves me and I know he'll never leave me but I don't want dad to give him a hard time. There's only so much hostility anyone can take."

"I've spoken to your father Ichigo and he promised to behave." Sakura smiled at her daughter and tried not to let her own private concerns show. As she had reminded Shintaro, it would be far better for both their daughter and grandson if Ichigo and Kishu stayed a couple and raised their son as a family. If Shintaro scared Kishu off then he'd break Ichigo's heart.

"I think we both know that our idea of 'behaving' is different to father's idea." Ichigo muttered rubbing her belly as her son kicked.

"Well we'll just have to wait and see what happens. From my conversations with Kishu I think he can handle himself just fine." Sakura kissed her daughter's forehead. "Now come on, let's go downstairs and wait for our guest." Ichigo nodded and followed her mother out of her bedroom and downstairs. Ichigo had to take the stairs slowly these days as they were steep for a seven month pregnant woman. Ichigo found her father pacing in the kitchen dressed in a smart shirt and jeans muttering.

"He's going to be late," Shintaro announced glancing at the clock.

"Kishu has ten minutes until he could be considered late." Sakura answered diplomatically walking into the kitchen to check the food. Shintaro grunted then spotted Ichigo standing in the doorway.

"Ichigo, you look beautiful." Shintaro smiled and Ichigo gave him a tense smile back.

"Thank dad," Ichigo paused and bit her lip, "you will be civil to Kishu right dad?"

"Of course I will be," Shintaro answered. When Ichigo didn't look convinced Shintaro stepped forward and placed his hands on Ichigo's shoulders. "If I could scare him off then that would only prove that he's not good enough for you."

"I love him father. If he goes because you chased him away then I'll go too." Ichigo looked into her father's eyes so he knew she was serious. "There is only so much hostility a person can take before they give in. While I believe Kishu loves me if you make his life unbearable then that would push anyone away no matter what. If you love me at all then you'll accept Kishu as both my boyfriend and as the father of my son." Shintaro stared at his daughter in silent shock for several minutes after her speech. He'd never heard her sound so confident or mature before. He sighed as he realised that his little girl was growing up fast.

"I understand Ichigo," Shintaro kissed his daughter's forehead in much the same way his wife had done moments before. Ichigo frowned as her father hadn't exactly promised to behave. But the doorbell rang at that moment so Ichigo decided to let it go for the moment. Before her father could move Ichigo turned and went to answer the door first. As this was Kishu's first time meeting her father Ichigo wanted him to see a friendly face first.

Ichigo opened the front door and had to take a moment to stare. Kishu had brought some new clothes recently and was currently wearing a nice green shirt with dark blue jeans and a black jacket. He looked older dressed this way with his now black hair. Kishu held out a bunch of flowers and smiled at Ichigo. "These are for you my kitty."

"Oh they're beautiful, thank you Kishu." Ichigo took the flowers and breathed in. The gentle fragrance of the roses and other flowers filled her nose making her smile. "Please come in." Ichigo stepped aside and Kishu walked in pulling the door shut behind him.

"You look lovely," Kishu kissed Ichigo's cheek. "Is this a new dress?"

"Indeed it is my mum brought it for me a few days ago." Ichigo laughed and leaned in close. "Are you saying all this to make my dad like you more?"

"Is it working?" Kishu whispered back making Ichigo giggle. Her baby kicked at that moment and Ichigo reached out and took Kishu's hand before placing it on her belly.

"Your son certainly thinks so," Ichigo smiled as her baby kicked again. Kishu's eyes went wide and he dropped to his knees to cradle Ichigo's belly in his hands.

"Hello my son," Kishu spoke to Ichigo stomach, "what was that you said?" Kishu placed his ear against Ichigo's stomach as if listening, making Ichigo laugh. "Our son says you look radiant." Kishu glanced up at Ichigo and she shook her head looking down at her boyfriend with a look of loving exasperation.

"Are you two planning on standing in the doorway all night?" Sakura called from the kitchen.

"Oops," Ichigo winched, "come on Kishu there's no sense in delaying the inevitable." Kishu pushed himself up and took Ichigo's hand in his as he kicked off his shoes.

"Everything is going to be fine."

"You don't know that." Ichigo squeezed Kishu's hand worriedly.

"I know that as long as I have you there's no mountain I can't overcome." Kishu walked towards the kitchen in long confident strides. Ichigo walked beside him holding his hand in hers and the flowers in the other. She wished she shared Kishu's confidence. She knew that nothing could pull them apart but she didn't want resentment and a bad atmosphere to surround her baby for the rest of his life. She wanted to raise her son in a warm, friendly and relaxed family home.

"Ah Kishu, thank you for coming," Sakura smiled at Kishu warmly.

"The pleasure is mine Mrs Momomiya," Kishu answered with a smile.

"Look at the lovely flowers Kishu brought for me!" Ichigo showed her mothers the flowers.

"They're beautiful, and so many different kinds of flowers! I'll get a vase for them." Sakura took the bouquet and started searching through the kitchen cabinets for one of her glass vases. Ichigo glanced at her father and tightened her grip on Kishu's hand slightly. Shintaro was examining Kishu with his eyes, sizing him up in that way that only a protective father could do.

"Mr Momomiya, it is a pleasure to finally meet you." Kishu released Ichigo's hand and stepped forward with his hand outstretched towards Shintaro. Shintaro paused for just a second before he reached out and grasped Kishu's hand in his own.

"You have a firm grip at least. I can't stand a man with a weak handshake." Shintaro released Kishu's hand but his eyes never left Kishu's face. Kishu stepped back and took Ichigo's hand in his again. Kishu appeared relaxed but Ichigo could see the nervous tension in his shoulders and jaw line. The atmosphere in the kitchen was far from relaxed or friendly. "I must say, I find myself wondering why this is the first time we've met."

"Shintaro…" Sakura warned.

"I'm not sure what you mean Sir," Kishu replied meeting Shintaro's fierce gaze without flinching.

"My daughter must have been dating you for some time before you got her pregnant yet she's never mentioned you. In fact I recall she was quite depressed for some time because her boyfriend left for America. So when and where did you meet her?"

"We've known each other for years but we've only been dating for a short time." Kishu answered honestly. "Ichigo was Masaya's girlfriend when I first met her and we didn't start dating until he'd been gone for almost a year. I know he made Ichigo depressed and I hate him for it, but I believe that being with me has made Ichigo happy."

"At least Masaya had the decency to speak to me before dating my daughter." Shintaro said his voice hard.

"Forgive me if I sound rude, but I don't believe that Ichigo belongs to you and therefore can make her own decisions about who she dates without your permission." Ichigo's jaw dropped open in shock at Kishu's statement. Shintaro looked like he'd been slapped and Sakura looked torn between shock and laughter.

"Of course I know that Ichigo doesn't belong to me! I worry that you may think she belongs to you though." Shintaro snapped.

"Ichigo is mine and I am hers. She belongs to me in the same way that I belong to her. I deeply respect your daughter Sir and would never do anything to purposefully hurt her. I can't promise that we'll never argue as a couple, or that we'll never disagree, but I can promise that I will be faithful to her and treat Ichigo and our son with the deepest love and respect they both deserve." Kishu answered steadily. Ichigo gave Kishu's hand a quick squeeze. She really wanted to kiss Kishu right now to let him know how much she loved him for saying all that. Kishu squeezed her hand back and Ichigo knew that he knew what she was thinking.

"You claim to respect my daughter but you made her pregnant at sixteen years!" Shintaro glared at Kishu. "You didn't respect her enough to keep your hands to yourself."

"Shintaro…!" Sakura exclaimed in shock.

"It's the truth Sakura and you know it." Shintaro replied curtly.

"Yes, I touched your daughter, but it was entirely consensual Mr Momomiya. I would never force Ichigo into anything she didn't want or wasn't ready for. I didn't plan on getting her pregnant but I intend to stand beside her to raise our child. Ichigo and I made love that night seven months ago and our child was the result of that. I regret nothing." Kishu broke eye contact to glance at Ichigo with a smile. "And I don't believe that Ichigo regrets it either."

"No I don't," Ichigo replied without hesitation.

"What of your parents?" Shintaro asked Kishu. "What do they think of their son becoming a teenage father?"

"My father is dead," Kishu said quietly, "my mother is very far away and I don't have much contact with her." Ichigo stared at Kishu in horror. She never knew that Kishu's father had died.

"Oh my, Kishu I'm so sorry to hear that." Sakura glared at Shintaro who had the grace to look embarrassed.

"It was an earthquake but I would rather not talk about it if that is alright." Kishu's voice hitched slightly and he visibly swallowed.

"Of course that is alright," Sakura said hurriedly giving Shintaro a dark look.

"So you live here alone at sixteen?" Shintaro frowned.

"I live with my two close friends, Pai and Taruto. We're not related but we've always considered ourselves to be brothers."

"How can you afford to live?" Shintaro pressed.

"Their parents and my mother send money when they can." Kishu answered. Ichigo glanced sideways at Kishu wondering for the first time how Kishu and the others financed everything. She highly doubted that Kishu's mother really was sending them money. What would the address of the remitting bank be? The idea made her want to giggle.

"There's nothing wrong with that," Sakura jumped back into the conversation. "Now let's eat before the meal is spoiled."

"You claim that you'll stand beside my daughter but I wonder how long that promise will stand." Shintaro continued ignoring Sakura. "How do I know that even when things are difficult and you're getting up every couple of hours to feed the new born baby that you won't walk out on my daughter?"

"I won't because I love her." Kishu answered. "But I realise that there is nothing I could say which would convince you of this. I believe there is a saying that 'actions speak louder than words' so allow me to demonstrate my unending commitment to your daughter." Kishu turned to Ichigo who looked slightly concerned. Kishu took Ichigo's hand in both of his and dropped to one knee. Ichigo's eyes went wide and she gasped aloud as Kishu pulled a small blue velvet box from his pocket. "Ichigo Momomiya, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"

"Kishu…" Ichigo's throat closed up and for a moment she couldn't speak. Kishu opened the box to show her a beautiful gold engagement ring with a diamond in the middle. On the right side of the diamond was a ruby and on the other was an emerald. The ring sparkled in the light and to Ichigo's eyes it looked perfect. "Yes, yes of course I'll marry you!" Ichigo cried out as she finally found her voice. She threw herself into Kishu's arms. Kishu laughed as he stood up with Ichigo in his arms holding her tight. As Ichigo drew back Kishu slipped the ring onto her ring finger on her left hand.

"Damn it's too big. I had to guess your ring size at the shop." Kishu frowned in annoyance but Ichigo just laughed.

"We can easily have it fitted." Ichigo cupped Kishu's face in hers. "I love you." Not caring that her parents were watching, Ichigo leaned forward and kissed Kishu on the lips. Kishu kissed her back but he kept the kiss chaste well aware that Shintaro was staring at them.

"I love you too," Kishu whispered against Ichigo's lips.

"You boy," Shintaro barked and Kishu turned to look at him. "Are you serious about marrying my daughter?"

"Yes," Kishu replied.

"Can you provide for her and my grandson?"

"I can't give them everything right now, but they will never have a lack of love. I intend to find a job soon to provide Ichigo a place to live with me and our child. Hopefully as I get older I will be able to take on jobs that will pay better and therefore allow me to provide more for Ichigo."

"Material objects hold no sway for me." Ichigo said her voice tight with emotion. "I just want to be with you and our baby." Shintaro said nothing for a moment. Sakura smiled and stepped forward to pull her daughter into a tight hug.

"Congratulations Ichigo, I'm sure you'll be very happy together." Sakura squeezed Ichigo and Ichigo squeezed back.

"Thank you mum," Ichigo hiccupped as tears of pure joy started to fall.

"I don't fully accept this situation yet," Shintaro stepped up to Kishu, "but it is clear that my daughter loves you and that you make her happy. All I want is for Ichigo to be happy and if the person who makes her happy is you, then I can bring you into our family." Shintaro held out a hand and Kishu smiled as he shook it.

"I promise Mr Momomiya that I'm going to prove myself to you."

"You'd better," Shintaro grunted but there was no real heat in his words. Ichigo threw herself at her father and hugged him tight.

"Thank you dad," Ichigo whispered in his ear. "Thank you for making me so happy." Shintaro didn't reply but he hugged Ichigo back hard, letting her know without words how much he loved her.

"Well after all that excitement I need to eat!" Sakura announced with a laugh. Ichigo and Kishu laughed as well while Shintaro smiled. Ichigo wiped away her tears and reached out to take Kishu's hand in hers. It seemed that things were finally starting to come together. Ichigo wanted them to be a family, a real family. And now it seemed her wish was coming true. Her father was several steps closer to accepting Kishu and Ichigo couldn't believe he was now her fiancé. It would be some time before they married but that didn't matter to Ichigo. They had the rest of their lives to spend together, there was no hurry.

*End Chapter*

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