Prettyinpinkgal: Hey! Welcome back to the drama, romance, and...whatnot...of "Just a Dream"!

Ryou: (sweatdrops) You sound like a talk show host.

Kish: What's a talk show host?

Prettyinpinkgal: Glad to see you guys are feeling better!

R&K: Yeah. We don't hate you too much right now. We'd hate you less if you'd let us go home and leave us alone (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) but maybe you shouldn't have your hopes up.

Prettyinpinkgal: ... (shocks them) (to readers) Aaaanyway, this chapter's unlucky thirteen. I'm happy that you guys liked the last chapter! Please enjoy this one! It's in Ichigo's POV.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew. I also do not own the song "A Little Pain" from the anime Nana (I have not seen this anime; I've heard it's for older teens, so I'm probably not going to see it for a while, if ever. But I heard the song and I thought it sounded dramatic and sad, and, in a way, conveys how the singer may feel like she's trying to understand something, at least to me, so I thought it would be the perfect song for this chapter).

JUST A DREAM

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: FALSE REALITY

I tear down the streets, my feet automatically running towards the direction of my home. Tears are blurring my vision, and I wipe them away.

I throw open my front door, slamming it behind me. Dad's still at work, and I remember Mom talking last night about going shopping this afternoon. So I have the house to myself. That's good news, because I really don't want anybody asking me to talk about what's wrong.

I run up into my room, closing the door behind me. As soon as I do so, I throw myself onto my bed, sobbing into a pillow.

How can Aoyama-kun cheat on me like that? I had trusted him; he was both my friend and my boyfriend. Now he was neither.

Travel to the moon

Kimi wa nemuri yume o toku

Daremo inai hoshi no hikari ayatsuri nagara

Minutes had felt like hours when I was running home. Now, they feel like seconds. Before I know it, it's six thirty. I must have dozed off.

A knock sounds. "Ichigo?" I hear my mom say. I wonder why she doesn't come in like she normally would, and I realize that I had locked the door.

I wipe my eyes, trying to hide the stains from my tears. I clear my throat, hoping my voice doesn't catch. "What?" I croak.

"Is something wrong, dear?"

"ICHIGO! WHAT'S WRONG?" A faint smile plays on my lips when I hear the second voice. That's my father for you.

"N-nothing. I'll be fine. Can I be alone for a while, though?" I ask, still not wanting to talk about what happened.

"Alright. Do you want me to bring dinner up to you?" Mom asks. Some moms would pester their kids for information, but not my mom. She understands that if something's upsetting me, it's something big. Normally I smile no matter how I'm feeling, but not today. She knows it's best to leave me alone if it's what I want, and to wait until I want to talk to her about it.

"No thank you," I reply. "I'm not hungry." I hear my mom dragging my father away from the door. I can hear it because my dad's complaining loud enough for the neighborhood to hear.

Once all is relatively silent, I stare up at the ceiling. My thoughts, strangely enough, drift to that boy I bumped into. How weird. Shouldn't I be thinking about how Aoyama-kun--no, he's just Aoyama now--and I used to go to aquariums, and all sorts of dates we went on and how we'll never go on them again?

Still, the picture of that boy with his piercing blue eyes comes into my mind. He seemed so...familiar. I feel like I know him from somewhere, but I don't know where.

Wait! I think I know where I saw him! I quickly take out my journal, and flip to today's date. It was where I'd written about my dream.

A few images I can still remember. One is a small grey cat. I feel like I know it's name...Artemis? Azuma? Aru?

Another has a few girls in it. I couldn't see their faces very well. They did wear bright colors on their strange clothes--that, I remember. And I think a couple of the girls had...tails?

Finally--and this image stayed around the longest--there was a boy. I remember his bright blue eyes, and his blonde hair, but that's all I recall. But for some reason, my heart pounds just thinking about him. I know I've met him--I can feel it--but I can't remember where.

So that's it. He's from my dream. But was it just a dream, or was it full of memories?

The part with the girls is definitely just a dream. Girls can't have tails. And who would wear those clothes in real life?

"Maybe I'm just looking too far into this. Maybe it was just a coincidence," I mutter. But still, I feel like I should see that boy again.

I get ready for bed, then shout goodnight to my parents. It's only 7, but I don't really feel like staying up. The events of today have made me exhausted.

I wake up when the rays of the sun hit my face. I groan, then quickly jump out of bed. My stupid alarm clock must not have gone off!

I quickly glance at it, and then I do a double take. It's only six. I'm actually early! I laugh at myself; I'm so used to waking up late, I always assume I'm late without checking the time!

It's been three days since I realized Aoyama was cheating on me. Aoyama and Sakura seem happy that they can be out in public and not worry about me seeing them.

As for me, it hurts, of course. Really, really hurts. But somehow, I think it's more because I trusted him, not because of my feelings for him.

Which is stupid, because I do have feelings for him.

Or did.

Anyway, I still have the image of that boy who helped me in my mind. The blonde guy. I think I know him from somewhere other than my dream. But where?

Ever since seeing that boy again, I've been feeling even weirder. Something's not right. For the past three days, I would pretend to act like my usual self, but I always have this sick feeling in my stomach, like things aren't the way they should be. But haven't they always been this way?

Tsuyoku naru tame wasureta egao

Kitto futari nara torimodosu

Somehow, I feel that if I see that guy again, he might be able to help me figure out what's going on with me. I think this as I brush my hair, carefully tying a ribbon on both sides of my head. I smile at my reflection in the mirror, but smiling feels so strange right now.

Kidzuite

I've been looking for that boy for the past few days, in order to talk to him. When I'm walking home with Miwa and Moe, I try to look for him as Miwa and Moe continue talking. I volunteer to get groceries and go shopping for Mom in order to try and see if he's somewhere around Tokyo. But I still haven't been able to see him.

Suddenly, I drop my brush. W-what's happening to me? Images are starting to flood through my mind again! Just like in that dream...!

I see a pink-haired girl with cat ears and a tail with a bell on it. She's dressed up strangely, just like those other girls. I'm watching her on TV.

"For the Earth's future, we will be of service, nya!" she says.

I suddenly realize that the pink-haired girl's me.

Another scene pops into my brain.

"Give me a raise!" I screech at a boy...the blonde-haired boy. He looks slightly shorter, like it was from a couple years ago.

"I'm not giving you a raise," he says calmly. He flicks my forehead, and begins walking away.

"Grrr! You're so mean! See if I'm ever coming to your stupid rich parties again!" I yell, sticking my tongue out at him. I mentally sweatdrop, realizing that was probably the worst comeback I could have ever thought of. Thankfully, he doesn't mention about it. He just keeps walking away. He's soon out of sight, and I sigh. "Shirogane's such a jerk," I mutter as I start mopping the floor.

So his name's Shirogane? He doesn't really seem as nice as I thought he was. Still, if he knows anything about what's going on with me...

I'm here waiting for you

Ma to wa chigau mirai ga atte mo

I'm here waiting for you

Sakebi tsudzukete

Kitto kokoro wa tsunagu ito o tagutteru

Ano koro no watashi me o samasu youni

My eyes focus back into the mirror. Wow. My face definitely reflects how I feel: scared, curious, and excited.

Scared, because I don't know what's going on anymore. I feel like my life is being turned inside out, and I'm the only one who notices it.

Curious, because I want to know what's happening, and why I'm going through this.

Excited, because this must be the most interesting thing that's ever happened to me!

No need to cry

I walk down the steps, still thinking about those dreams. "Morning, Ichigo!" my mom says, startling me out of my thoughts. She's in the kitchen, making breakfast. "This is unusual, you being up so early."

"Y-yeah, I know," I say with a forced smile. The feeling's back. The feeling that this is not how my life is supposed to be. Everything's too...I don't know. I can't explain it. But it's starting to scare me.

I sit in my desk at school, watching everyone around me. Some girls nearby are talking about some cute guy one of them met. A guy and girl--who have been officially dating, laugh about something.

Travel in silence te o nobaseba fureru noni

It seems like everyone's smiling. Everyone's laughing.

A chill crawls up my spine. I'm different than them; I know something.

Trouble is, I don't know what it is myself.

Kimi wa tooi sore wa omoide no naka no koto

"Hey! Earth to Ichigo!" Moe yells, waving her hand in front of my face as I snap out of my thoughts. She and Miwa have probably been trying to snap me out of it for a while.

I let out a laugh, rubbing the back of my head. "Sorry; I guess I spaced out a little bit! What were we talking about?"

Koe ga kikoeru me o tojireba

Chiisana itami sae itoshiku te

Miwa let out an irritated sigh. "We were talking about the cute cafe that just opened up! It's called Cafe Mew Mew--isn't that the cutest name ever?" she squeals, her irritation with me forgotten.

"Don't forget those cute guys who work there! Particularly that blonde," Moe points out. They both start to go off into their own little world, probably dreaming off going on dates with those two guys.

What a happy world. It seems like it's so bright and cheery, but I'm stuck in the darkness, trying to find my way around.

Mitsumete

I gasp suddenly, clutching my head and squeezing my eyes shut, tears forming and threatening to drop. Owww... I think pitifully as pain surges through me. I faintly notice through the pain that I've fallen out of my seat and onto the floor.

"Ichigo! Ichigo, what's wrong? Ichigo?!" Moe and Miwa cry, shaking my shoulder gently. I push their arms away, curling up into a ball. It hurts so bad...

As a result of the pain, I drift off into unconsciousness.

Pain surges through me as I'm thrown this way and that, attacked in every direction, both by physical and seemingly magical means. Some weird monsters are causing the damage. What are these things?

"Mew Mew Mint, Metamorphosis!"

"Mew Mew Lettuce, Metamorphosis!"

"Mew Mew Pudding, Metamorphosis!"

"Mew Mew Zakuro, Metamorphosis!"

The four girls I saw from previous flashbacks are standing in front of me. The blue-haired girl turns to me, an angry look on her face, but concern is in her eyes. "What do you think you're doing, rushing into a battle like that?" she shouts.

"Sorry," I feel myself say. I jump up, the bell on my tail ringing. "Okay, let's go! For the future of the Earth, we will be of service, nya!" I cry, doing the same moves I saw in my flashback. A heart-shaped bell appears in my hands.

The other girls do attacks too, I think, but for the most part all I can see is the bell that suddenly appeared. "Ribbon...STRABERRY SURPRISE!" I shout, a large blast attacking the freaky-looking creature. The creature shrieks, then something comes out of it. A--wait, what IS that thing?! It's some flying fluffy ball! It just ate that thing that came out of the creature!

"Thanks, Masha!" I say happily, while the me that is watching this is completely confused and scared. Why am I battling a monster? Who are these girls? What came out of the creature? What is that flying thing, this "Masha"? Why am I suddenly seeing "memories" (if that's what they are) of things that never existed?

What on earth is HAPPENING to me?

"Well done, Tokyo Mew Mew," a voice says behind me. I feel myself return to my regular self (by "regular", I mean without a tail and cat ears), and the others detransform as well. We all turn around to see a brown-haired man, who looks around twenty-three. He is kind of good-looking, though. There's another figure with him.

"Thanks, Akasaka-san," I and the other girls say.

A new voice speaks up. "Ichigo! That was careless! You know the chirema anima are getting tougher; you can't be so irresponsible!" I shoot a glare at the speaker, who ends up being Shirogane.

You're the one I need to talk to! I try to say, but I have no control over this memory, or whatever it is. I start saying some comeback, but the real me isn't listening. I'm staring at that boy Shirogane. I wish he'd give me a hint about where he is!

I'm here waiting for you

Kaze ni fuka re hitori mayotte mo

I'm here waiting for you

Sora o miagete

Zutto kokoro wa te o hirogete mamotteru

Ano koro no kimi ga furikaeru made

"I'm going back to the cafe. Come back to Cafe Mew Mew when you're ready to act like you have a brain," he says at me, leaving.

"HEY! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!" I shout at him, about to chase after him. The green-haired girl holds me down, saying, "Please, calm down!"

The dream ends, and I open my eyes, a pounding headache torturing my poor brain. I see Moe and Miwa by my bedside. "Are you alright?" Moe asks quietly, not wanting to be too loud.

"Mmm," I say, wanting to nod but unable to, due to my migraine. "Just a really bad headache."

"You really freaked everyone out back there," Miwa whispers. "Are you sure it's just a headache?"

"Yes. I'm sorry for causing a scene," I whisper to the two of them, touched by their concern. "How long was I--"

"About an hour. The nurse called your parents, but neither of them picked up the phone. They really ought to get cell phones, you know?" Moe says, which results in me in giggling. Laughing just made my headache worse, though.

No need to cry

"You guys go ahead home," I say, realizing school ended about twenty minutes ago. "Thanks for being worried about me," I add with a small, weak smile.

"No problem. The school nurse is right on the other side of the curtain, if you need her. Hope you feel better!" They wave and leave.

Now, more than ever, I need to know what's going on. A part of the dream flashes back to me, and my eyes squeeze shut as my headache gets worse. I think, somehow, it's connected to the dream. But I can't worry about pain right now. I have to find out what I need to know and remember!

"I'm going back to the cafe. Come back to Cafe Mew Mew when you're ready to act like you have a brain," was what Shirogane said. Wasn't Cafe Mew Mew the place Moe and Miwa were raving about? They mentioned two guys...could they possibly be talking about Shirogane and Akasaka-san?! A broad smile finds its way onto my face--a real one, the first in a while. My headache is starting to fade. I think that I'm finally starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together!

(Feel something, feel nothing
Listen closely, listen closely)
Wide open ears
Disarm the dream tickler
In the constant moment
(You will find me where it's quiet
Listen closely, listen closely)
Let the blood flow through all the spaces
Of the universe

I finally feel well enough to walk, and I let the nurse know I'm leaving. I practically--no, wait, I did--skip to my home. I can't wait to meet Shirogane and Akasaka-san!!

Kidzuite

I'm here waiting for you

Ima to wa chigau mirai ga atte mo

I'm here waiting for you

Sakebi tsudzukete

Kitto kokoro wa tsunagu ito o tagutteru

Ano koro no watashi me o samasu youni

No need to cry

(Listen closely, listen closely)

THIRD PERSON

MEANWHILE...

An alien named Kish sneered from above the city humans call Tokyo. "We'll show them for destroying our beautiful planet," he said, both to himself and his companions Pie and Tart. Their unofficial leader, Melon, agreed.

"We will commence our plan shortly. We shall soon take our place as the true inhabitants of Earth, and destroy these pathetic humans," Melon said, an evil gleam in his eye.

Prettyinpinkgal: I started typing this about a month ago, and just now I finished it. I know I told some of you that I'd update sometime in February, but I kept messing up with this chapter, because I tried using the lyrics for "Somewhere" by Within Temptation, but I couldn't make it work with the story. I know "A Little Pain" didn't come out as the perfect lyrics of this chapter, but I needed to put SOME song in here (it is a songfic, after all! Plus, I promised you guys I'd put a song in this chapter)! This chapter didn't really come out the way I liked even now, and I had a lot of trouble getting into character, somehow, but I still hope you all enjoyed it somewhat. I'm very sorry for not updating:( You're welcome to yell at me for it.