Ichigo regretted letting Mint talk her into wearing the dress, but it was too late now. She turned left and right in front of her bedroom mirror and watched the a-line skirt of the little black dress whirl around her thighs. Sighing, she felt the tight bodice grip her ribs as she drew a breath. Mint had talked her into the dress after insisting that the sweetheart neckline "makes your chest look so good, oh my god. You have to wear this one." Ichigo yanked at the armpits of the dress to pull it further up. In a lot of ways, it reminded Ichigo of her mew uniform, with the sweetheart neckline, and the short skirt flaring out from the smallest part of her waist.
Mint had also leant her a pair of 1-inch heels with wraparound straps encircling her ankles. Ichigo was absolutely terrified of tripping over herself in the expensive shoes, but Mint reassured her that the chunky heel would keep her steady. Ichigo slipped the shoes on her bare feet, then stood and twirled in the mirror to admire the finished look. Admittedly, though the dress was about a size too tight, and the shoes were already pinching at her ankles, she looked good. Really, really good. Ichigo smiled in satisfaction and felt a surge of confidence rush through her veins. Tonight, she would need it.
Ichigo still didn't know what she was going to do on her date with Masaya, if anything. She went the whole day playing out imaginary scenarios for how the date would go in her head. Every time she pictured telling Masaya the plain truth – everything she had told Mint and Lettuce just that afternoon – she pictured only disappointment, anger and tears. She couldn't picture an outcome that resulted in her relationship being fine, save for the idea of simply not telling Masaya everything. Ichigo quickly reminded herself about how terribly it had gone last time she tried to hide something from Masaya. But do I really have a choice? she thought to herself. She sighed and plucked the diamond ring from its hiding spot at the back of the top drawer of her dresser.
As if on cue, Ichigo heard the sound of the doorbell chime downstairs. The sound made her heart leap into her throat. She wished so badly that she could halt time. It felt like she had no time – to think, to plan, to come up with what to say. She snatched her tan raincoat from the coat hook over the back of her door and dropped the ring in one of its pockets. In a strange sense, she felt like she was moving through her life minute-by-minute. She sighed as she slipped one arm through the coat, then the other. Current objective: she thought, belting the coat, ...hiding this dress from my parents.
Ichigo made her way downstairs and saw Masaya chatting with her mom in the doorway. He looked classically handsome, as he always did – dressed in the same grey suit Ichigo recognized from the charity gala. It made him look sharp, professional. He could have passed for 25, 26 years old. Ichigo walked up behind her mom and caught Masaya's eye. He turned his attention to her and smiled.
"Good evening, Momomiya," he greeted her. "You look lovely."
Ichigo felt a faint blush spreading across her cheeks as she tilted her head to the side and smiled even wider. "Thanks, Aoyama."
Ichigo's mom grinned at the couple and stepped back. Ichigo took Masaya's hand in hers. His grasp was blissfully warm and comforting.
"Now, don't be out too late, okay?" Ichigo's mom chirped. She crossed her arms and dropped her voice lower. "You know how your dad gets sometimes …"
Ichigo laughed nervously and glanced behind her mom. Her dad was busy in the kitchen, searing something that smelled like garlic and fish. Ichigo thanked her lucky stars he was too busy to nag her on the way out the door.
"I promise I'll bring her back before 10," Masaya reassured her mom, giving Ichigo's hand a light squeeze. Ichigo's mom nodded, satisfied.
"Well, don't let me keep you!" she said. "Have fun!"
With that, Ichigo and Masaya left the doorway and headed out to the sidewalk. To Ichigo's surprise, a black cab was waiting outside her house.
"You called a taxi?" Ichigo exclaimed, glancing up at Masaya. They almost never rode in taxis, preferring the train system for most things, and walking for others. Masaya grinned.
"Of course! Well, it's a towncar. It is a special occasion, after all," he said. Ichigo couldn't help but feel impressed. Masaya opened the door of the sleek black car for Ichigo. She ducked her head and slipped inside. The interior smelled like expensive perfume and leather. Masaya slid in the seat next to her, then closed the door behind them. Ichigo unbelted her coat and smoothed her dress on her lap as the car began to move.
Glancing up at Masaya, she caught him looking up and down at her as she fixed her skirt. "I love that dress," he said, grinning. Ichigo's faint blush deepened. She was secretly thrilled that Masaya was admiring her looks. She felt her confidence surge.
She smiled back at Masaya playfully. "Had to hide it from my parents for obvious reasons."
"Well you look beautiful," Masaya added. He held Ichigo's hand in the space between their seats. Ichigo suddenly remembered the engagement ring in her pocket. She slipped it on her left ring finger before taking hold of Masaya's hand once more.
The car ride seemed to take no time at all as Ichigo and Masaya made small talk about which university applications Ichigo should submit first. Ichigo was slacking on finishing the lengthy forms, feeling frustrated whenever her limited understanding of English fell short of allowing her to translate what the schools were asking of her. She hated relying on Masaya for help – especially with her English. She tried keeping their conversation light, refusing to divulge how much she was struggling to do the bare minimum to attend an English school. Masaya seemed thrilled with the topic of Ichigo's applications. He enthusiastically described the feeling of excitement when he got his first acceptance letter in the mail. Ichigo grasped hold of Masaya's warm, happy energy and held it close in her thoughts like a lantern, hoping it would warm her mood.
Once they arrived at their destination in downtown Tokyo, Masaya tipped the driver, then stepped out of the towncar first to open the door for Ichigo. Ichigo took his hand and slipped out of the leather seats, stepping on to the sidewalk of the street lit with neon lights. It was loud, bright and dazzlingly beautiful. Ichigo took a long, deep breath of the breezy air that smelled vaguely of fried food and motor oil. Something about downtown Tokyo at nighttime made her feel alive.
"Ready?" Masaya asked as he shut the car door behind them.
Ichigo smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm starving! Let's go!"
Masaya led her to the doorway of a narrow, dimly-lit building a half-block down from where the driver had dropped them off. He pulled open a tall wood door with an iron handle and gestured for Ichigo to go in before him. Ichigo's eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark entryway of the posh restaurant as she stepped inside.
The room smelled like mahogany and fresh seafood, mixed with a dash of brandy wafting from the cabinet directly behind the host stand. Masaya chatted with a trim, elegant woman behind the desk, then Ichigo found herself following Masaya and the hostess down the narrow, winding floor between candlelit tables. Ichigo noticed that they were far and beyond the youngest couple in the restaurant.
Masaya pulled out Ichigo's seat for her once they found their table. Ichigo sat and pulled her chair in the rest of the way before shedding her coat. The restaurant hostess took it from her, trading Ichigo for a menu as she rattled through the wine list. Masaya and Ichigo exchanged an amused glance. They both ordered black tea before settling into each other's uninterrupted company once more.
Ichigo found her nerves peaking again as Masaya's warm gaze searched hers. Take it minute by minute, she reminded herself. Sighing, Ichigo forced a smile up her face and looked around the restaurant curiously. The high ceilings held dark wood beams, where modern chandeliers made of Edison bulbs and wrought iron hung like pieces of industrial art. "This place is really beautiful," she sighed, meeting her fiancé's warm eyes once more.
Masaya smiled wider. "Glad you like it," he said. "I wanted to treat you to something special before I left."
Ichigo fidgeted with the ring on her finger, twirling it as she tilted her head to one side. "I'd be perfectly happy with ramen, too, you know," she said with a giggle.
"I know," Masaya laughed. "But you deserve the best."
Ichigo felt her stomach sink. A familiar cocktail of guilt churned in her gut as she let out a deep sigh. In reality, she knew she deserved none of it – not the towncar, not the date, not Masaya's gentle kindness.
Masaya's expression changed in the next moment, but he was interrupted by a server bringing over their tea. They both thanked the server, then raised their cups in a cheers.
"To … us," Masaya said simply, smiling.
Ichigo smiled back. "To us."
It shocked her how much those two words felt like a lie in that moment. Ichigo took a sip of her tea and set it down with care on the black wood table. Minute by minute.
"Ichigo," Masaya said, catching Ichigo's attention, "what are you thinking about? You seem deep in thought tonight."
Ichigo stiffened. She took a deep breath and quickly began to pluck familiar excuses from the forefront of her mind. "I … I'm thinking about how I wish we had more time together," she replied truthfully. "I'll miss you when you have to leave again."
Masaya seemed satisfied with the answer, nodding to himself thoughtfully. "I'll miss you too," he murmured. "But it won't be for long, you know. I'll be back in Tokyo in only a couple months. 11 weeks, I think?"
11 weeks still felt like such a long time in Ichigo's mind. She nodded and rested her head on one hand. "We've gone longer without seeing each other, right?"
"Right," Masaya agreed with a smile. "Then, when I get back, we'll be together all the time. There will be lots to do this summer to get you ready to move. I'm sure we'll be plenty busy. The time will go by fast."
The time was already going by fast. Too fast. Ichigo clenched her jaw subconsciously and tilted her head to one side. "Yeah, I'm sure it will," she murmured. She smiled slightly and averted her gaze to the dining room of the restaurant. It was sparsely seated – Ichigo guessed that Mondays were probably slow for them, like most restaurants and cafés. One couple off to their left were already visibly drunk. The woman, a lady in her mid-50s with a bob and a red dress, laughed a little too loudly at her date's joke as she swirled an ornate-looking cocktail in one hand. Ichigo hadn't realized she was spacing out until she glanced back at Masaya. His look of concern made her straighten her back.
"Are you sure nothing's bothering you?" Masaya prodded gently. Ichigo swallowed hard and bit the inside of her cheek.
"It's – I just –" she started hesitantly. She felt like she was trying to zip an overstuffed suitcase, cramming her worries into a small corner of her mind. Exhaling, she started again: "I guess I'm just feeling overwhelmed."
"Tell me what you're feeling overwhelmed about," said Masaya. He tilted his head to one side. Ichigo watched him tap the side of his teacup with one finger. The small movement gave away the fact that he was nervous, fidgety. Ichigo fought back her own nerves and sighed. Her eyes flicked between the various items on their table as she searched her mind for what to say.
"I had a conversation with Shirogane after my shift yesterday," she said finally. Carefully, methodically, she teased the earlier parts of her night away from its explosive ending. She knew she could latch on to her conversation with Ryou, and place it in front of Masaya as a façade for now. He waited patiently for her to continue. Ichigo met his eyes again, feeling like she had a life ring to hold on to. She continued in a low voice. "When we move to London … what are we going to do if a chimera shows up like they've been doing here in Tokyo? What if we get attacked, and I'm the only one who can fight it off?"
Masaya thought for a moment. He narrowed his eyes and glanced around the restaurant. Ichigo knew he was probably seeing whether or not anyone was listening in to their conversation. His finger stopped tapping on his teacup. "Is that what Shirogane told you would happen?" he asked carefully.
Ichigo bit her lip and nodded timidly. "Yeah," she murmured. "I guess everyone's been worried for us. You know, being away from the rest of the team."
Masaya regarded her with a "hmm" before taking a sip of tea. He seemed lost in thought, an air of anxiety continuing to cloud his eyes. "So Shirogane thinks there's going to be a chimera parasite floating around London somewhere?"
"Well, maybe," Ichigo replied quickly, tilting her head to one side. She picked up her tea and took a sip. The steaming liquid calmed her nerves, though she noticed her hands were trembling ever so slightly. "He said that him and Keiichiro have seen chimera parasites travel all over the place, and that it's not unheard of for one to show up outside of Japan. He's not the only one who's worried – the whole team is."
"Are you?" Masaya asked simply. Ichigo blinked.
"Am I worried?"
"Yes – is this your worry, or theirs?"
Ichigo thought for a moment. "I am worried about it," she admitted. "I wouldn't know what I would do without the mews if a chimera showed up in London. I mean, the seagull chimera the other day was almost a disaster when I had to try to fight it alone."
"But do you really think that would happen again, in London?" Masaya asked. He had resumed the tapping on his teacup. "What are the odds, really? The parasites were only really planted in Tokyo – it would be miraculous if one ended up overseas."
"Shirogane doesn't think so," Ichigo insisted. She felt her jaw tensing; it felt like they were on the precipice of an argument.
"Shirogane is very smart, and I respect him a lot," Masaya replied slowly. His gaze drifted as if he was choosing his words carefully. "... but I worry that his intentions with keeping you here are partly selfish."
Ichigo furrowed her brow, confused. "What do you mean?"
Masaya stretched his neck, pausing again before starting slowly, "... well, the Mew Project is his life's work," he continued. His eyes returned to Ichigo. "If I were Shirogane, I would want to keep all of the mews in Tokyo as well."
The remark startled Ichigo. She cocked her head and blinked. "You think Shirogane is making this up so that I stay in Tokyo? So he can further develop the Mew Project?"
Masaya shook his head quickly. "No, not … well, maybe, but not exactly," he corrected. He exhaled in a sigh. "I just don't think the possibility of a chimera showing up in London of all places is really that plausible. And it seems awfully convenient for Shirogane to tell you all of this now, after we're engaged."
Ichigo began to connect the dots. She thought of the conversation with Ryou in the basement, where she twirled the ring on her finger while Ryou told her that "it's obvious to everyone, Momomiya". Ryou's congratulations after their announcement that they were engaged. Masaya's hand on her back as they walked around the café.
Masaya was worried. Not just about Quiche. About Ryou, too. When did he get so jealous?
She wondered to herself if this possessive streak was new – but she knew deep down it wasn't. Ever since he gave her the choker necklace with the small, silver bell, Masaya had always called her his cat. It was equal parts flattering and worrying. Ichigo found herself fidgeting with her engagement ring again as she thought about how to reply.
"I – I don't think Shirogane is interested in me, if that's what you mean," Ichigo said carefully. She bit the inside of her cheek and watched Masaya's reaction carefully. He shrugged, appearing nonchalant.
"I don't know, Momomiya," he said. He brushed his thick, black hair back with one hand. "I just don't want anything coming in between us."
Ichigo noticed with curiosity that he had switched to using her last name again. She furrowed her brow. One part of her brain – the part with the bursting suitcase of packed-away emotions – screamed at her that this was the perfect excuse to tell him the truth about everything. But another part of her worried about his emotional vulnerability. Masaya was visibly anxious, and had been ever since he put the ring on her finger.
She couldn't help but wonder – was she engaged out of devotion or desperation? Or both? After all, Masaya hadn't proposed until after the huge fight with Quiche, after everything came to light about the kiss and the dance. The more she thought about the circumstances around their engagement, the more she wondered if the ring and the bell choker were one and the same: a signifier that this one is mine. An effort to keep her close, to keep others away. And at 17, the engagement felt strangely premature, if not impulsive.
A question bubbled up to the surface as she mulled it over: Do I care? What does it matter if Masaya wants to make sure I'm his, forever?
Isn't that what any girl wants? she thought. To have a man devoted to her? A man wanting to make sure she is his one and only? Besides, they had been through so much together. They had fought in battles side by side and cheated death during the rebirth of Deep Blue. It always felt right for them to be together, after everything they had been through. After all, not every girl gets to save the world with her first love by her side.
Ichigo let out a deep breath and felt her anxiety relax its grip on her body. "I promise," she murmured carefully, slowly, making eye contact with Masaya's worried brown eyes, "we'll figure all of this out. The move, being long-distance for a few months … everything."
It wasn't a lie. Ichigo knew they would figure out something. What she still didn't know was what she wanted after the 14-day rollercoaster of emotion was over. Would they work through all of it and still end up engaged, with Masaya blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging in Ichigo's head? Would they decide to keep their engagement a secret for even longer? Maybe Ichigo could convince him to let her stay in Tokyo for a few more months after the summer.
She knew it was wishful thinking, but Ichigo couldn't help losing herself in Masaya's warm eyes as she slumped her shoulders. It would be so easy to keep everything as it was. For Masaya to never know, for Ichigo to simply go along with the plan to move in the fall. To have the fairytale romance and the wedding she had dreamed about since she was a little girl. In that dimly-lit downtown restaurant with him in the sharp, grey suit, Ichigo could envision it all. A cute, charming apartment with old hardwood floors in London. Mornings cooking breakfast together, late nights studying while rain pattered on the window outside. Easy.
Masaya had been studying her for half a minute as Ichigo let her mind wander. She could tell he was thinking hard, likely wondering about what was going through her head just as much as she was thinking about him. "You know that in the end, all I care about is making you happy, right?" Masaya said finally. The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile.
Ichigo smiled slightly too. She nodded, "Mm, yeah."
"I know you're nervous, but I promise it'll all turn out okay in the end," he murmured. He reached out across the table and took her hand in his. His grip was firm and warm. She didn't realize how sweaty her palm was until it rested in his. "Because you're my cat. And I love you so much."
Ichigo clenched her jaw and nodded.
Maybe I'm the one making this all too complicated.
Maybe I should just ... go with it.
She envisioned making pancakes with Masaya in their London apartment and smiled.
"I love you too."
The rest of the night was spent chatting about the social culture in London and Masaya's favorite cafés. Ichigo enjoyed the best salmon of her life at the posh restaurant, and Masaya let her try some of his mushroom risotto. Masaya insisted on paying the bill. Everything felt simple. Everything felt right.
Ichigo sat in a blissful daze in the back of the black towncar with her head resting on Masaya's shoulder. He was wearing his cologne again, the same one he wore when he proposed. Its musky, spicy smell filled Ichigo's senses and made her feel warm inside. It felt like no time at all until the car turned on to Ichigo's street. Her neck felt stiff when Masaya's shoulder left her side. He slipped out of the car to open the door for her, extending a hand to help her out. She took his warm grasp in his and stepped out. She belted her coat over her dress and heaved a sigh as Masaya closed the door of the towncar behind them.
"So," Masaya started, "I got a mysterious text from someone saying I should be at the café tomorrow at 3PM? I'm assuming we're being summoned by your friends for something?"
Ichigo rolled her eyes and grinned. She remembered Pudding's clumsy question about Masaya's favorite cake earlier that day. "Yeah, I guess the mews are planning some kind of surprise party for us? Not much of a surprise, though, huh?"
Masaya chuckled. "Ah, well I figured as much." He grinned. "So, I'll see you around 3? Maybe we can do another date sometime after the party?"
"Sure!" Ichigo agreed. "I promise I won't keep you too late. I know your flight on Wednesday is super early."
"1AM," Masaya said, grimacing. "Staying up for you is worth it, though."
Ichigo felt a flush on her cheeks. She giggled and took Masaya's hands in hers. "Thanks for the date," she murmured, glazing up at Masaya. He smiled down at her, then leaned in closer, gripping her hands tighter. Ichigo stood taller on her tip toes and kissed him.
The kiss was short, sweet and warm. Ichigo broke away and smiled up into his loving eyes. Kissing Masaya felt familiar. She always felt safe around him, and their kisses were the same. Safe and comforting. His eyes were soft, loving as Ichigo smiled up at him.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" she murmured.
"See you tomorrow," he agreed. He pulled her into his chest in a warm, full-body hug. Ichigo buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes. They remained there, on the sidewalk in front of her house, for a few seconds more before Masaya broke away.
"Goodnight, Ichigo," he said softly. He released one of her hands, then the other, as Ichigo turned and walked to her front door. She glanced back at him with a flush on her cheeks and a smile on her face. She was almost to the front door before she remembered the engagement ring – she pulled it off her finger and dropped it in her coat pocket hurriedly before opening the door and walking inside.
"I'm home!" Ichigo announced to her parents. She slipped off her shoes in the entryway and dropped them on the hardwood with a thump. Her parents were cuddled up on their couch in the living room, watching a movie that looked like it was from the 70s. A woman with overly-teased hair was smoking a cigarette at a table across from an American actor, who had a bad moustache and an even worse grasp on the Japanese language.
"How was your date?" Ichigo's mom chirped. She sat up straighter and gathered a fleece blanket around her waist.
"It was really nice!" Ichigo hummed, fidgeting with her hands. "The restaurant was really fancy. I had some of the best salmon ever."
"Better than your mom's?" her dad exclaimed. "Not possible! I hope that Aoyama kid behaved himself. You know how I feel about those late-night dates."
Ichigo glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall: 9:47. "Dad, it's not even 10 yet!"
"Well good thing, or else I would have sent the cops after you!"
"DAD!"
"Shintaro!" Ichigo's mom hissed, giving her husband a playful smack on the arm. "Ichigo is nearly 18! Let her have a little fun with her boyfriend every once in a while!"
Shintaro let out a snort and raised his eyebrows. "Sure, sure," he grumbled. He turned his attention to the TV. "Anyway, I'm glad you had a nice date, honey."
Ichigo grinned and nodded. "Thanks, dad." She sighed and glanced over to her mom. "It's getting late … I think I'm headed to bed."
"Ok, well goodnight, honey!" her mom said with a smile. "Sleep well!"
"'Night," Ichigo replied. She turned and strode up the stairs. Her legs felt stiff from walking around in heels all night. Once she reached the top of the stairs, she shed her coat and slung it over one arm. She felt grateful that she had successfully hid the borrowed cocktail dress from her parents.
Ichigo's eyelids felt heavy as she turned the handle of her door and swung it open with a sigh. She reached for her light switch – but her stomach jumped into her throat when she felt something on her wrist.
Three things happened in the next half-second, too fast for Ichigo to react. First, she realized the feeling on her wrist was a hand. Second, she heard the door close sharply behind her. Third, she felt another hand clap over her mouth.
She stumbled back and found herself pinned against her door. She dropped her coat on the floor and inhaled sharply as she caught the slightest hint of a gold staring down at her in the dark room.
"Shhh," he shushed. "You'll give us away, kitten."
Ichigo's eyes adjusted to the light quickly as she glared up at Quiche with furious eyes. She used her free arm to rip his hand from her mouth.
"What the heck are you doing in my room?!" she hissed as loud as she felt she could. "Get OUT!"
"Not so fast, now," Quiche murmured. She could see enough of him now to make out that he was wearing that stupid smirk she was growing to resent. She thought about slapping it off his face, but he was faster. He snatched her other wrist in his hand and pulled her towards him in a forceful tug. She stumbled forward into him clumsily – then, in the next instant, she felt like the ground was disappearing from their feet. He was teleporting.
"What are you doing?!" she gasped as she felt him grasp her tighter. She had to shut her eyes – she felt like she would throw up as gravity seemed to disappear.
Quiche's words sounded murky in her ear as Ichigo screwed her eyes shut: "You'll see."
And just like that, Ichigo's bedroom was empty, and they were gone.
(A.N./
Hope you love a good cliffhanger. ;)
Thanks so much for all of the lovely reviews as of late! I've been a little slower with the chapters because of some life stuff going on, but I appreciate all of your support. Hope you loved this latest update!)