I'm terribly sorry for the huge delay of this chapter. I don't have much of an excuse except the obvious factor that I've managed to create more of a life in the last two months. But thankfully because of that, I've gained so much creativity and ideas for this story, it's amazing. So I hope you enjoy the newest addition to Where Love Meets. And do keep the reviews coming, they give me motivation. D: (greedy little girl here)

Remember boys and girls, I don't own Tokyo Mew Mew!

(Written on January 1, 2007)
Chapter 12 | Where Can We Begin?

Ichigo's eyes steamed as hopeful tears were bulging out. She was ready to sob with extreme amounts of joy. She felt as if she was watching a love-sick movie, in the privacy of her own bedroom, where the two main characters finally admit their love for each other. That's when everything comes out to the happy ending she was seeking. She was in her own fairy tale.

She couldn't believe it. All she wanted to do right now was to embrace Ryou around the waist as she finally told him her real feelings: one of the deepest forms of love there could be. The feeling that she felt couldn't exactly be explained in simple words. She could say "I love you" back to him, but she didn't want to do only that. She wanted to say it and show him it.

She did exactly what she wanted to do. She leaped forward and buried her head against his tuxedo. She held back her tears and tightened her grip around him. "Ryou..." She whispered her confession. She stepped back away from him, staring him into the eyes. A smile appeared on her face, surrounded by her rosy cheeks, still blushing from his confession.

Ryou became more alert when he heard an alarm ringing from his watch. It could only mean one thing.

"If you don't mind, could we do something tomorrow?" He suggested to her as he reaching out to hold her hand.

She nodded in acceptance, filled with glee.

"I'll be over to get you around nine, Baka Strawberry."

It had been forever since she heard that nickname. She really did love it, even though she made it seem like she didn't. She couldn't help but to love it when it was something that Ryou named for her.

He reached over and kissed her on the forehead. As his back turned, she figured something must have come up once his watch started to ring. Never once turning to look away, she watched him exit to the right. She wondered what it could be, eventually fading away, leaving her with thoughts of bliss and wonder.

Something that she had always wanted was a simple date with Ryou. It could be their carefree date without any worries about the chimeras. Why would she have to worry now that they defeated Deep Blue? There was no sign of the aliens since they had defeated them. Sure, once in a while they would eventually pop out of nowhere to see the girls, but it was nothing unusual. It was nothing troubling. It was more of a free-for-all play house. Ichigo knew how much Purin loved to play with her close friend, Tart. And she also knew about the secret feelings that Mint harboured inside. It really wasn't any much of a wonder why they still hung around. But now wasn't a time to think about that.

It was a time to worry. She rushed back into the ballroom where her friends were still dancing. Zakura and Keiichiro managing to sneak away from a moment for some air. Retasu was still dancing with the stranger from before. She gazed around for Mint. In the corner was Purin making displays for the guest. A smile appeared on Ichigo's face as she giggled when Purin fell over, still landing on her feet, like the childish monkey that she was.

There she was. In the other corner of the room, legs crossed and hands occupied as usual. Hands holding up her little cup filled with a brand new tea she had just recently bought, glancing straight forward at nothing particular.

Still glancing down, Mint took notice to her surroundings. "Hai Ichigo."

She smiled at Mint, in a sort-of obvious manner that Mint would expect Ichigo to want something. It was a usual case when Ichigo wandered up to Mint with a pair of puppy-dog eyes and a squeal coming from her when she begs Mint for whatever she had wanted in the first place. This would be the first time where she would not whimper in need, or beg for the object.

She would slowly manage her way to asking Mint, knowing that Mint would have no reason not to let her. It wasn't even that often when Ichigo came around to asking if she could borrow some kind of clothing. The first time was for a date with Masaya, but that never did play out correctly.

She tilted her head to the side, first making a little cat sound then getting back to her dirty work. "Minto…"

"Did you complete Part One of the plan?"

Was Ichigo at a lost? The whole plan idea that Mint was indicating about could have been less confusing whether she declared it was the "Capture the Blond" portion. The only thing that Ichigo did not understand was what she was talking about. The whole plan idea from the day earlier had slipped her mind once she began to think about what to wear for her date with Ryou.

"Part One? What? Part One of what plan?"

"Capture the Blonde Part One. Did you complete it?"

Ichigo's body began to slump as if she couldn't believe Mint had just said that out loud, on the side of the second ball that she had attended. It was bad enough that the first one was interrupted by a chimera who took control of such a talented pianist, but now she has to start on about that plan?

"Umm…" She began to think with a bright smile on her face. Mint was starting to think that Ichigo was never going to do anything about her situation, and that she was would have to take action. It wouldn't mind her much even if she had to. "Well sort of."

"Sort of?" She said in an 'are-you-serious' way. "What do you mean sort of? Did you or did you not?"

"Uh."

An interruption from Mint. "Now I know you were dancing with him… Did you even talk to him? Or were you just trying to keep your feet off his?"

Ichigo's face grew a faint red as she recalled how she did crush his right foot at first when they managed their way on the dance floor. "Of course I talked to him! We're going on a date tomorrow!"

"Oh, you finally told him you liked him." Mint started to smile, feeling relief that she did not have to do anything. "It's about time, Ichigo. You know how long you've been harbouring those feelings for him? Every time I watch you two argue about nothing in general, there's always this lovey-dovey tension between you two that neither of you would admit. Even when you were with… Uh what's his name?"

"Masaya?"

"Yeah, him. Even when you were with Masaya, you were all over Ryou."

"I was?" Her face finally turned the red that captured the real Ichigo.

"Yeah. I'm so proud!"

"But I didn't tell him I liked him… Yet at least."

Mint blinked three times in a row, feeling kind of annoyed at the moment. She could believe that it never happened, though it would have been more fun to think otherwise. It was time to remove this annoyed expression and put on her optimistic expression. "There's always tomorrow. So what are you guys going for your…"

Mint had finally begun to understand where Ichigo was leaning towards, what Ichigo would like to have.

"Ichigo, want to come over after this? Well right now, it's kind of boring."

Ichigo squealed with joy. Yes, yes, she wanted to. Beginning with a cunning method, she made it look as if there wasn't anything she was after. "Sureeee."

Mint rose up from her chair, placing the tea cup on the table, pushing her chair back into place. Side by side, they left the ballroom and headed straight to her house. Once they arrived, Ichigo waited in Mint's bedroom for her. Mint said something about having to tell her maids about something highly important.

Ichigo jumped back into Mint's enormous bed, beginning to daydream about the next day. She began to wonder where Ryou would bring her, what they would do, and above all things, the different times or situations where she could finally come around to saying "I like you too, Ryou".

She began to squeal to herself, feeling more excited than she has ever felt before. She got up, looking around for some device that could let her find the time. A clock, oh where would a clock be in Mint's bedroom? She started to stroll around her room, still looking for one, ignoring everything else around her.

Mint peeped into her bedroom to see whether Ichigo had already made her way into her closet. She didn't, but Mint was curious what she could be doing wandering around so lifeless like that. Lifeless, no, more like clueless.

"What are you doing?"

Ichigo jumped, turning around waving her tail behind her. She quickly pressed her hands against her cat ears, declaring that she was searching for a clock. "If it's late, I need to call my folks."

"Oh you can do that after. Come with me."

Mint reached forward to grab Ichigo's hand. Dragging her across the bedroom, they entered her closet. Two large columns with about three times as many shirts, pants, skirts, or dressed Ichigo would have in her closet or her dressers.

A sign of excitement came from Ichigo. She attempted to keep it to herself but couldn't help to let it go. It was the third time that she had been in this closet and she just couldn't help but to wonder about all of the things that Mint had. It wasn't often that she would see Mint dress up, but when she did, she always did look amazing.

"Well what do you plan on wearing tomorrow? We can't have you wearing some regular civilian clothing, Ryou is high class…" She smirked, placing a smile upon her face, knowing that Ichigo might feel a little smaller than Ryou, gaining more determination to declare her feelings.

"That might be true," It had worked. "But I like Ryou. I like Ryou a lot. I won't give up."

Mint showed her a single outfit that would blow Ryou's mind away. Yes, Ichigo had found the perfect outfit. Yes, Ichigo had more determination than ever. Yes, she was going to win Ryou over completely. But then again, it really wasn't much that she would have to do— he's already fallen for her. All this was a keep safe to make sure this plan goes through.

Ichigo bowed down once to thank Mint, afterwards bowing down another three times to show her appreciation. She could always count on her best friend to help her through any of these events. Once outside, she waved goodbye to Mint, running forward to hit her house.

Opening the door, she shouts to her mother in the kitchen that she'll be busy tomorrow. Ignoring her father's screaming comments about what she'll be doing tomorrow, whether it's with a boy or not, she quickly runs upstairs with her ideal outfit in a bag.

She collapses on the bed, feeling so relieved for the first time in the last months. Her eyes closed instantly as her head touched the pillow, with melodies in her head, wondering about where Ryou would bring her. Could it be karaoke? Could it be a private beach with another glimpse of Ryou in a Speedo? Maybe it was the regular dinner and a movie date. Naw, her thoughts knew that regular 'date' wouldn't be something Ryou would do.

If none of those ideas, what would they be doing tomorrow?

She drifted off to sleep with the same melody inside her mind. Her thoughts were still restless as she dreamed of possible dates with Ryou, each one more perfect than the one before.

End | Chapter 12