Chapter Thirty-Four: Sticks and Stones

I'm do happy it's Christmas break! I'm so happy to be with my family and I hope you all are having a good time as well. Do enjoy this chapter my friends.

*wink*

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew.

Ichigo placed the receiver on the phone base with a smile. She held in her squeals of excitement due to the office receptionist watching her keenly with her old eyes.

The redhead had just finished having a conversation with her dear mother concerning her time in Michaelis as well as her decision to run with Kisshu for Hana. Her mother was ecstatic and happy for her daughter as she listened to her tell of the events that had happened while she was away for school. After explaining all that had happened at school, Ichigo had made a simple request to send something to her from her home in Tokyo. Her mother happily agreed and Ichigo had told her of the letters she had sent prior to her call.

After a sad goodbye, Ichigo had stopped the call and was now heading towards the cafe where she was to meet with Kisshu and Yuka.

With her uniform flowing delicately behind her, she quickly made her way to the square. The sun was loosely drifting in the afternoon sky, the cool air of fall was becoming colder. Winter was coming...

Ichigo made her way to the cafe only to see Kisshu and Yuka sitting across from each other with menus in front of their faces, preventing them from looking at each other.

Ichigo couldn't help but giggle, they were still rivals even though they had somewhat made amends.

The two at the table looked up at the sound of giggling and their eyes flashed with delight.

"Ichigo!"

"Ichigo-chan!"

Both got up and made their way over to Ichigo and latched onto her arms. With Yuka on the right and Kisshu on the left, Ichigo immediately stopped giggling.

"Come sit next to me Ichigo-chan!" Yuka squealed, happy to see the redhead.

"No, come sit with me Ichigo~." Kisshu cooed slowly as he pulled her close.

After his remark, Yuka looked at Kisshu and scowled. Kisshu scowled at the younger girl too as Ichigo swallowed heavily. Yuka's violet eyes narrowed as she pulled on Ichigo's arm, "Ichigo-chan has to sit with me!"

"Who says she has to sit with you, Takeshi?"

Ichigo sighed as they pulled on her, she felt like a toy being fought over by conflicting children. "Y-You guys!"

"She'll sit with me!"

"No! Ichigo-chan sits with me!"

The redhead groaned as they continued to pull on her arms. "I'll sit with both of you! Just let go!" she cried, feelin her arms almost pop. "Ouch."

The three sat down, Ichigo between the two, a tray of cakes on the table. All were pink and frosted with white icing. Strawberry.

"I've taken the liberty of ordering some strawberry cakes for celebration." Kisshu said before kissing his sweetheart's cheek. Ichigo blushed at the gesture and managed to mumble a 'thank you'. Ichigo eyed the cakes with hunger, it had been a crazy day filled with phone calls, paperwork and school assignments. Ichigo had not been able to eat any food during school...

"So, Ichigo-chan..." Yuka began, bringing the redhead's attention away from the cakes. "I hear from Ami-chan that you are going to start your training for Hana soon?"

The redhead nodded, placing her hands on the table. "Zakuro-san and Pai-san will be helping Kisshu and I practice for the competition. We will practice placement on the stage, walkthroughs and on a later date: the dance."

Kisshu crossed his arms, "All too easy."

Yuka tilted her head, "Dance?"

The redhead nodded, "One of the tests is a dance. The dance helps see how well the dancers fit together as a team and a couple, that's what Zakuro-san told me. We have training for that tommorow."

Yuka turned her head, much like a puppy would when confused. Ichigo waved her hand, "It will be explained later. There will be some announcements sometime soon that will clear things up. An assembly will be called as well or something like that..."

The three of them began to munch on the cakes, enjoying the strawberry goodness.

But before Ichigo could take a bite of her cake, their peace was disturbed as an all too familiar voice called out.

"Hey! Little Miss Pigtails!"

Ichigo stiffened as Kisshu and Yuka rolled their eyes and fell back into their seats.

Tsubaki was walking toward their table with three other girls with her, two of which were twins. They both had short ash blonde hair with star clips and dark blue eyes. The other girl had thin braided black hair and dark eyes behind rectangular glasses. All were wearing their uniforms on. Tsubaki had a displeased look on her face as her long black hair and orange bow flowed behind her, creating a dark halo around her.

She and her group came up to the table and looked down at the three. "How dare you..." she hissed as she put her hands on her hips.

Ichigo looked into her dark eyes, "W-What-"

"Don't play dumb!"

The redhead jumped in her seat and Kisshu stood, his pupils turning into slits. Tsubaki's eyes glowed angrily, "You actually entered. You actually did it!" Tsubaki hissed as she scowled.

"I was this close to getting Fujiwara to name me Hana but you!" she held two of her fingers a mere centimeter apart to emphasize her words. She then pointed at Ichigo menacingly, "You entered the competition! I-"

"Shut up Aono!"

Tsubaki's cold eyes looked toward Yuka, who had her legs crossed and her arms folded over her chest. Her violet eyes were sparking with anger. "Leave her alone."

The three girls behind Tsubaki scowled, all in unison they said, "How dare you address Tsubaki-sama in such a tone!"

Yuka made no change in position or facade. She directed her attention to Tsubaki, "Ichigo-chan is a better candidate, she actually cares about the school and not the glory. She intends to challenge herself as well as her love for Kisshu."

Tsubaki chuckled, her eyes sparking. "Better candidate for Hana? Please, more like candidate for choosing an idiotic pervert!"

Ichigo stroked one of her pigtails. A frown came on her face, "Idiotic pervert?" she said rather loudly.

Tsubaki turned to look at her, small traces of surprise were evident on her face.

Ichigo stood, an unhappy look on her cute face. Kisshu looked at her with curious eyes, wondering what she was going to say.

"I am running for Hana because I want to assure that Michaelis has a good reputation and I wish for Kisshu to be my partner in making sure it happens."

Ichigo placed a hand on her chest, "Kisshu and I are perfect together and I believe that we are an ideal team! He may be forward but that's one of the things that makes him who he is!"

Kisshu blinked as he watched the redhead. She was standing up for him!

Ichigo...

The redhead's brown eyes glowed determinedly, "Kisshu and I are running for Hana because we want to test our love! We will compete against you."

Tsubaki grit her teeth to keep from lashing out, the three girls around her were silent as they watched and waited for their leader's response. Surprisingly, Tsubaki's frown evened out. Her lips pressed into a firm line, her fists clenched and unclenched.

"You may be in the competition. But Ryuuji and I will win-! I-I will make sure that you have the most humiliating loss! Mark my words!"

Turning away in a huff, her long black hair flowing like a cape. She walked off and her three lackies followed with weary expressions. They eyed Ichigo carefully before catching up with their self-procliamed leader.

Once they were out of sight, Ichigo sighed and sat back down. She placed her hand on her head and groaned. "She's quite the character..."

Kisshu wrapped his arms around Ichigo, startling her.

Rubbing his head agaisnt hers, he sighed; "Oh Ichigo... You... You are so amazing..."

"W-What?"

Yuka smiled at the redhead, "You stood up to Tsubaki. I'm so proud of you Ichigo-chan! You're so headstrong, another perfect quality for Hana!"

The redhead blushed, "Umm..."

Kisshu kissed her cheek, "You are the perfect princess for Michaelis, but you're my princess first."

End! Of that chapter that is!

Anyway, I've checked the schedule for this story and we are getting close to the '10 chapters left' mark.

:(

But I will have other works coming soon and I will tes out the experience of writing two or more stories at once.

Now, something special will follow this story and I would like a lot of female readers to read... I believe it will speak to you...

Stay tuned my lovelies.

Ciao!