Prettyinpinkgal: Hello! Thank you all SOOOOOOO unbelievably much for reviewing! Without allof you, this story would still be a oneshot, so thank you all so much for the continuing support of all of you!

Ryou: (brooding in corner) ...

Kish: (brooding in another corner)...

Prettyinpinkgal: (sighs sadly) They're still upset because You-Know-Who is probably going to forget all about them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew. And I don't have to disclaim on the upcoming song in this chapter, cuz...there is no song in this chapter (sweatdrops). The reason I'm not using a real song is because I can't find one that fits with this chapter. Gomen. :( But at least this chappy will have more story in it than song! Right now, on Document Manager, this chapter looks very long, so hopefully it comes out that way on ff. net. I am planning on having a song (a real one) in the next chapter though! At least, I think I am... Anyway, onto the story!

JUST A DREAM

CHAPTER TWELVE: AN ORDINARY LIFE

My eyes shoot open. What a weird dream. My memory of it is blurred, and it feels like it's disappearing more and more. I take out the journal by my nightstand, and I write what I remember:

I'm running towards a strange light. I'm calling to someone as I run. Suddenly, I'm pulled back and a bunch of images zoom past me. I think that a couple of them had cats and people with weird ears in them. There's some people that appear briefly, and I feel like I know them. It's pretty weird though, because the more I think about this dream, the more I seem to forget.

I set my journal down after I write a little more, and I snuggle under the covers again, trying to fall back asleep. Suddenly, I shoot up. I grab my clock and look at the time, which reads 8:12.

"KYAAAA!" I scream as I jump out of bed, nearly landing on my face. I scramble around my room, trying to get my uniform on and get ready for school.

I run down the steps, where my parents greet me. "Why didn't you guys wake me up?" I cry as I eat my breakfast as fast as I can without choking.

"You're fifteen, Ichigo. You shouldn't have to be woken up by me," my mother replies. "You have an alarm clock, dear. Guess why we bought that for you?"

"But it's so annoying!" I manage to say in between bites. I finish in record time and kiss my parents goodbye. "I'm off!" I cry as I grab my bag, put my shoes on, and run off towards my school.

My name is Ichigo Momomiya. I'm your average 15-year-old girl. My life is so boring, though! Lately, the only thing that's been going on with me is studying for my entrance exam into high-school. Since this is our last month of school until we are officially high-schoolers, life is full of taking notes, studying, having no life outside of school, and having teachers lecture you for what seems like years.

Why can't life be more interesting?

But now that I think about it, my life isn't so bad. I have two great parents (although my dad's overprotective and he and my mom can be pretty weird) and I have a boyfriend!

Unfortunately, I rarely ever see my boyfriend because of studying for our upcoming exams (those stupid exams!). But when I do see him, I always feel so happy! His name's Masaya Aoyama. He's in my grade, and he's actually the most popular boy in school! I'm still kind of amazed that he loves me, out of all the girls at our school! I'm just middle-class, I guess you could say.

However, one day two years ago, I gathered my courage to ask him out to this Red Data Animals exibit. You see, Aoyama-kun is very into protecting the environment, so I thought it would be the perfect place for our first (and, if things didn't go well, last) date. And he actually agreed! Things went so well, we've been dating ever since.

Anyway, back on what Aoyama-kun's like. I could go on forever! He's sweet, is always understanding, is passionate about the environment, and is on the kendo team, so he's strong too.

However, I'm feeling a little strange this morning. I feel like...

"Ichigo!" I turn, and I see my best friends Miwa and Moe. Obviously, they're running late today, too.

"G'morning!" I manage to pant as I wait for them to catch up. Then we take off together.

"Sensei's going to kill us if we're late again!" Moe cries.

"No, she'll kill Ichigo. After all, Ichigo's been late more often than we have," Miwa points out.

"You guys are so mean!" I whine as we make a sharp turn. The school is just ahead. I'm guessing we have about three minutes. Four, if we're lucky.

Amazingly, we make it in time. We slump into our seats, out of breath and red-faced. "Well, that was exhilarating," Moe pants, a small grin on her face. Miwa and I giggle slightly in between breaths.

"In your seats, class," our homeroom teacher, Arima-san, tells us. The other students scurry to their seats.

And just like that, another school day has begun.

"Ichigo!" a voice calls as my friends and I start leaving the classroom. School's finally over for the day.

I turn, and see Aoyama-kun rushing towards me. Miwa and Moe smile and tell me that they'll go on ahead, and start walking home without me. "Aoyama-kun!" I greet, my common smile pasted on my face

But something's not right. The moment I saw him, I couldn't help but notice how my heart didn't pound like it used to. I didn't feel as excited to see him for some reason.

I was going to mention this earlier, but I was cut off when Miwa and Moe caught up with me as we were running to school. Ever since this morning, I've had a feeling that something isn't right. Not necessarily just with Aoyama-kun, although it is mainly with him. I feel like there is something fake about my life, like this isn't the way things are supposed to be. I can't really describe it. Something about the dream last night has made me feel pretty strange. I wonder why...

Aoyama-kun's voice breaks through my thoughts. "Do you want to go on a date after school?"

I look apologetically at him and say, "No. I have way too much homework to do. I'm sorry!"

He gives me an understanding smile, which makes me feel worse. "Don't worry about it. I'll see you later, okay?" He waves as he begins to walk away.

"I really am sorry!" I say, feeling awful not just because I had to turn down a date from him, but because I lied. Normally, for Aoyama-kun, whatever homework I have I put off until the last minute so I can be with him. I don't even have too much homework tonight. But I feel so strange right now, I can't really think about going on a date until I get a grip.

Aoyama-kun turns back and gives me a gentle kiss on the lips. I kiss back, but my mind is elsewhere.

My mind is on the fact that the kiss doesn't really mean anything to me.

RYOU'S POV (Earlier That Same Day)

I awaken to sunlight streaming in from my window. I groan, putting my pillow overtop my head, trying to go back to sleep. As you can tell, I'm not exactly a morning person. Especially today, since I feel like I have a massive headache.

"Geez..." I mumble under the pillow. I wonder if this is how it feels to have a hangover...

Slowly, I realize with much disappointment that I can't go back to sleep. I have to manage the cafe. I slip out of bed and get ready for the day. This darn headache...it's making me feel really out of it.

Still half-asleep and with a stubborn migraine, I head downstairs. "Morning," I mutter to Keiichiro.

"Good morning, Ryou," he replies as he sips his coffee. He looks at me. "Are you feeling alright?"

I look around, running my fingers through my blonde hair. "Bad headache," I reply, rubbing my sore head.

"You should go take medicine for that before it gets worse."

"Yeah," I groan. I was (and still am) in such a daze earlier, I didn't even think of taking medicine.

Something catches my attention. "Where's the girls?" I ask Keiichiro.

He looks at me, confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean, 'girls'?"

I blink. "You know what I mea--" Suddenly, the memories of the previous night come flooding back. As the memories come back, the headache begins to fade. The headache must have been a side effect of using the device I got from Kish.

"What girls?" Keiichiro asks, breaking through my thoughts.

"Ah...no, it's nothing. It must've been from a dream I had last night," I say, trying to hide my conflicting feelings. "Just a dream," I mutter to myself, barely able to believe I just called the past two years a dream.

No. This is a different world now. There's no one who will recall that Tokyo Mew Mew existed. Not even the members of Tokyo Mew Mew themselves. Not Minto, not Retasu, not Purin, not Zakuro. Not even Ichigo.

Ichigo. Is she alive now? If the device worked properly--which it probably did--then she should be alive and well. I give a small smile. I'm glad she's alright.

I decide I better become aquainted with this new world I've created with the push of a button. "Why are we living in a cafe?" I ask Keiichiro, seeing no point in having the cafe around if we don't have a base for Tokyo Mew Mew.

Keiichiro stares at me. "So that we can observe girls and decide which ones will be able to become injected with animal DNA. But the cafe won't open until tomorrow," he replies, looking at me worriedly. "I think you better lay down; the headache must be bad if it's affecting your memory."

"Good idea. I think I'll do that. Well, I'll see you in a couple hours." I walk up the stairs, acting sicker than I felt. I need some time to think.

I close my bedroom door behind me. I lay on top of my bed, not bothering to get under the blankets.

I feel like an outsider here. This is the world I'm used to, yet it's not. The people I've known for the past two years are on this earth, but are unaware that I've known them. It feels so surreal.

And Ichigo. Ichigo doesn't remember a thing. Not about Tokyo Mew Mew, aliens, or...me. "Stupid," I mutter under my breath, running my fingers through my bangs. "She's alive. That's all that matters. Be happy with that."

And I am. I truly am glad that she's able to laugh again, able to be with her parents and friends, and live a normal, happy life. But there's a part of me that is selfish. It wants Ichigo to be with me, or at least remember me. I'm really pathetic.

I fall back asleep, still feeling the headache, although it's not as strong as it was earlier. I wake up around noon, and I notice that my headache's gone. Then I feel my stomach growl. Realizing I skipped breakfast, I go downstairs to make an extra-large meal.

I fix myself some lunch. I take a bite out of an onigiri, trying to satisfy my bothersome stomach. After I finish, I notice a note on a nearby table. It's a note from Keiichiro, saying he's gone shopping for ingredients for the meals we'll start serving tomorrow. He won't be back until early evening, by the sound of it.

Well, since he's not going to be back for a while, I might as well see what's changed here in Tokyo.

I've been walking around for a few hours. Nothing has changed, really. The only noticible difference is that the news isn't reporting on Tokyo Mew Mew or the chirema animas.

I hear some bells ring. School must be getting out soon. As I walk by, I end up passing Minto's high school, Shotaru Private High School. I pause, and I wonder if she's changed at all. Eventually she walks by me, without even glancing at me.

"Aizawa-san, would you care to stop by my house for some tea?" a girl asks her.

"That sounds wonderful, Hoshino-san. Thank you for inviting me," Minto replies.

She hasn't changed one bit.

As I walk a bit further, I see Retasu. Unfortunately, she's surrounded by girls who don't exactly look like her friends.

"You stupid fool! I told you, make at least a couple mistakes on my homework! The teachers will get suspicious if I get 100 all the time!" one yelled at Retasu.

Retasu looked near tears. She's just as timid as she was before she joined Tokyo Mew Mew. "I-I'm sorry, I'll make sure to make a few mistakes next time..."

"You better!"

I resist the urge to help her. If I help Retasu, those girls may torture her even more. I'm sorry, Retasu, I think as I walk ahead, trying to ignore the scene.

About fifteen minutes later, I sit in a bench to take a break from walking. I close my eyes, listening to children laughing as they run around. It seems like it's been forever since there's been such peace on Earth.

I open my eyes. Two dark brown eyes stare at my blue ones, only inches from my face. "Uh..." I manage to say, leaning against the back of the bench.

The girl gives me puppy dog eyes as she backs up. Now that I'm able to see more than her eyes, I realize with a start that she's Purin. Does she recognize me...?

"Would you let me do a trick for you?" she asked in a sugary-sweet voice, obviously out to get money. I sigh. It was foolish to think that anyone recognized me that was not in my life before the Mew Project was carried out.

"No, thank you. But here's some yen for your trouble," I say, dropping a few coins into her hands. Her face lights up, yells thank you, and runs off to find another person to pay her.

Nearby, I hear two girls talking about Zakuro. "She's so awesome! I hope one day I can meet her!" one cries. I guess even now, Zakuro is a model.

So life goes on, even without memories.

So far, the only person I haven't seen or heard of is Ichigo. And she's the one I want to see the most. It feels like it's been years since she's been alive and happy.

I'm truly a fool. What do I expect to gain when I see her again? True, I want to see for myself that she's alive. But even more than that, I want to see her smile at me, to remember me.

I guess I'm more selfish than I first thought.

Again, I get up and walk through the streets of busy Tokyo.

ICHIGO'S POV

School got out about a half hour ago. I walk through my favorite park, enjoying the sakura (A/N cherry blossoms) lightly falling onto my head. Whenever I need to think about things, I simply come here, and my problems seem much easier to understand.

"Sakura, I told you, we have to be careful when we're in public! If my other girlfriend sees us..." What? It's Aoyama-kun's voice? No. It must be just a trick my ears are playing on me. Aoyama-kun's not the type of person to...!

Still, I can't resist following the sound of the voice. It's from the other side of that tree. I peer over at the back of the tree, and my heart stops. It is Aoyama-kun. He's with another girl. She's in one of my classes; her name's Sakura.

Suddenly, I don't enjoy the sakura flying overhead.

"It's okay; it's a one in a million chance that she'll be here out of anywhere else in the city," Sakura says. Aoyama-kun nods with a grin and leans in to kiss her...

And sees me.

"Ah! Ichigo, it's not what it looks like!"

Don't cry, Ichigo. There's no way I'll let him see me cry. "Save it, you jerk," I say, quietly and coldly. I've never felt as I have now. While I haven't been feeling as excited when I'm around him lately, he was still my boyfriend. And he's been cheating on me. He didn't even have the decency to break up with me. I raise my voice, and I'm appalled when it begins to crack. "I truly thought you loved me! But I guess that was all a lie, huh! I...I...I hate you!" With that, I run away, tears blurring my vision.

RYOU'S POV

I walk down the busy street, people pushing and shoving past each other. I'm not too far from the park yet. Suddenly, someone runs into me. I stumble back, while she almost falls. I quickly catch her. For a brief moment, my blue ones meet her sad, brown ones.

Ichigo...

"ICHIGO!" a voice shouts. We both look around, and I see Aoyama running towards her. Ichigo quickly scrambles to her feet. "Excuse me," she chokes out to me. She starts running away.

Aoyama stops only a few feet away from me. "Dang it," he murmurs, running his fingers through his hair. Instead of chasing after her, he simply turns around and walks back to where he came from.

How like Aoyama. Not even bothering to comfort Ichigo or to say "I'm sorry". I'm not sure what happened, but whatever it was must have been big.

I stare out to where Ichigo just was. I feel like I'm in a daze. Maybe it was just a trick my mind was playing on me, or maybe it's wishful thinking, but...

When she was looking at me, it seemed like she recognized me.

Prettyinpinkgal: I hope you guys enjoyed it! In case you don't remember, most of the dialogue from "the cheating scene" between Ichigo and Aoyama are from the first chapter of this story. So, does that mean some things can't be altered? Does that mean there's a possibility Ichigo will die in upcoming chapters? Read and find out ;) Please review! Thanks:)