THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR GREAT REVEIWS!!! ESPECIALLY "gods little fallen angel," "Hinoiri Maiden()" and "Mew Peach!" love you all!!! Hanajima xx

AAAHHHH!!! Forgot to add a disclaimer!!! Okay. Nothing belongs to me so.... DON'T SUE!! Ahem. On with the story.

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6 MONTHS ON!!

"Welcome to the café," Ichigo murmured miserably. "May I take your order?"

The two girls sat at the brightly decorated table gave her an odd look.

Ichigo became alarmed. "Oh! Have you not decided yet? I'm so sorry!!" tears started welling up in her dulled eyes. The two girls became startled and looked at each other, alarmed.

"I'm sorry ladies," Keiichiro appeared behind Ichigo and smiled. "our bright little waitress has just suffered a great loss." He squeezed Ichigo's shoulders reassuringly. "We'll send someone else for your order right away."

The two girls, whom Ichigo now recognised as Naoko and Hotaru looked up at Keiichiro and blushed. "of course keiichiro-kun!" they sighed in unison.

Keiichiro flashed them another smile and steered Ichigo away into the kitchen. Puddings unmistakeable voice floated through the doors.

"WELLLCOME!!! May Pudding, performer extraordinaire take your order?"

Ichigo sighed. "Thank you Keiichiro," she said, "but I really want to start my waitress duties again. Really, it has been six months." She looked up at him with her watery eyes. "I just- I thought I'd be better by now." She broke down into tears.

Keiichiro looked down at her forlornly. She had let her hair grow down past shoulder length, and it had adopted a slivery tinge to it. It was beautiful really, but she had become very pale and her eyes had lost the shine that had brightened up her features.

"How's it going?" Ryou came up beside keiichiro and looked down at the despairing cat.

"Not too good." Keiichiro sighed. "she hasn't battled since it happened and I'm very worried about her."

Ryou frowned. "Well, we have a problem. We're going to need her to battle."

Keiichiro shook his head. "No, Ryou, let the others deal with the kiremas this time. They'll have to manage without her again."

"But, Kei, the aliens have returned."

Ichigo's head shot up, terror and hatred filing her pink eyes.

Keiichiro looked shocked also.

Ichigo shook her head. "No- no..."

Ryou bent down to her eye level and placed his hand on hers. ~he's being so nice about this,~ she thought, "Ichigo, you HAVE to fight."

"No-"she murmured. "No, I- I can't.. I-"

"Ichigo, please." Keiichiro said quietly, seeing what this was doing to her and frowning. "Please, or your friends, they'll die too- they cant handle the aliens on their own, they'll get killed."

Her eyes widened, and tears spilled down her cheeks onto her shaking hands.

Zakuro walked slowly in, Mint trailing behind clutching Zakuro's uniform. "Keiichiro, what's happening?"

"Ichigo has to fight again, doesn't she?" Mint whispered.

Ichigo turned slowly to look at her them. ~How would I feel if they died too?~ She thought, pain tweaking at her heart. ~I wouldn't be able to stand it.~

Lettuce and Pudding came in also. Ichigo gritted her teeth. ~I have to do this. For my friends.~ she stood up, clenching her fist in front of her chest. "girls," she said, "we have work to do!"

Keiichiro laughed with relief, Zakuro and Mint grinned at their friend, and Lettuce ran over to her and hugged her tight, whispering, "Oh Ichigo we missed you!"

"YAY! The five mew mews are back in business!" Pudding yelled, punching the air in triumph.

The girls arranged themselves outside. "Right, I spotted the alien activity somewhere around the mall, so keep you eyes open!" Masha "said" transmitting Ryou's voice.

"Right." Ichigo said. She turned to her friends.

"Time to protect the planet!!" Pudding yelled.

"So, the old hag has finally come out of her hidey hole!"

"TART!!" Zakuro growled at the tiny alien.

Ichigo whipped round and came face to face with... "KISH."

She stared at him, numb. He looked back, eyes wide with shock.

"So." He said quietly, "you- you're ok now..?"

Ichigo glared at him, hatred bubbling up inside her. "HOW DARE YOU." She said dangerously. "I could NEVER be okay after what you did!" she started shrieking. "You MURDERED my MASAYA!!"

He flinched, sorrow filling his sharp green eyes.

"I-Ichigo..?" lettuce asked timidly.

"TRANSFORM!!" Ichigo screeched. "MEW MEW STRAWBERRY METAMORPHOSIS!" A bright light surrounded her as her cat features emerged and her battle costume materialised. When her feet touched the ground, and the others had finished their transformation, Lettuce gasped.

Ichigo's costume?!" she said, alarmed. "I-it's – CHANGED!!"

Authors note. So, second chapter all done! Hope you like the story! Remember, the more reviews I get, the faster the chapters keep coming!!!! Look out for the third instalment soon!

Hanajima x