Disclaimer: Nup, Tokyo Mew Mew's not mine. Neither is "Tuesday morning" Okay? Okay. ^^
Whee! Someone wants me to continue! ^_^ Ironically, it's probably going to *be* Tuesday morning before anyone reads this. Oh yeah, and I altered Ichigo and Masaya's age since this is a while after everything. Not sure how the series turned out so . . . *shrugs* The song lyrics are also changed a bit. ^^
Tart's thoughts: ^...^
{I remember stormy weather
the way the sky looks when it's cold
and you were with me
content with walking
so unaware of the world . . .}
"Ichigo? Ichigo!"
A car pulled up beside the fourteen-year-old girl and a raven-headed boy looked out at her, concern flickering in his eyes. Ichigo turned her crimson eyes to look at him and she tried to smile.
"Hey Masaya. What's up?" The boy shook his head, not about to be dissuaded from his worry for the younger girl.
"I was just coming back from dinner, my parents aren't home right now. But why are you out here? It's going to storm Ichigo." He got out of the car, leaving it idling on the curb. "Come on, kitten," he said fondly, tapping her bell. Ichigo smiled sadly.
"I need to, um, get home Masaya."
"Yes you do. I can give you a ride. And I'm *not* taking no for an answer." Ichigo nodded, sighing slightly, but smiled up at her boyfriend.
"I guess." He opened the door and she climbed in. *He's so gallant.* Ichigo smiled to herself then laughed mentally. *Who uses that word anymore? But it just suits Masaya . . .* Masaya got in, gripping the steering wheel lightly. He pressed the pedal and the car glided away from the curb.
"Who got you so upset?" he asked, as expert at reading Ichigo's emotions as ever. The cat-girl sweatdropped and looked down at the carpet.
"No one."
*Don't make me lie to you Masaya.* She prayed silently, as if he could hear her thoughts. Then again, if he could, she wouldn't have wanted him to.
{Please don't drive me home tonight
'cause I don't want to feel alone
please don't drive me home tonight
'cause I don't wanna go . . .}
"Well, this is your house." Masaya said softly as he pulled up in front of it. Ichigo nodded quickly, hating herself for how quickly she was leaping out of the car.
"Thanks a lot Ma-"
"Ichigo."
He cut her off, grasping her arm with a gentle but firm grip. His smoky dark eyes looked up at her with concern and caution.
"Just know . . . that I'm always here to talk to. Whatever it is. Don't just hide it away." Ichigo nodded slowly, smiling at him.
"I know, Masaya. And . . . thank you." He released her arm and she shut the car door quietly, walking inside slowly. She heard Masaya's car pull away and regretted that she couldn't tell him everything.
*About Kish . . . but why is that jerk on my mind?!* She climbed up the steps to the doorway, opened the door and called a 'hello' out to her parents, who probably weren't even home yet from going out to dinner. Ichigo flopped down on her bed, staring listlessly at the kitten curled up on her pillow.
"Rwor." She smiled at it sadly, imitating kitten-speak. The little hyper fluff-ball was a present from Masaya for her birthday and she'd named it Maze. Its blue eyes looked back at her incredulously.
"Rwrror," Maze replied in disinterested kitten fashion, then shifted to giving herself a bath, ignoring her mistress except for the occasional meow to ensure that she still had Ichigo's attention.
"I can't stop thinking of Kish. But I'm still completely loyal to Masaya!"
"Meworr." Maze agreed, her large eyes not betraying any understanding emotion.
"I'll wake up tomorrow and have forgotten all about him." Ichigo laughed, but the laugh was empty.
" . . . I hope. Oh Kish . . . why did you have to like me?! Why do you have to be so . . . you?!" Ichigo rolled over on her back, staring up at her starred ceiling and tried not to think about anybody but Masaya.
{Tuesday morning
in the dark
I was finding out
who you are}
Kish glared at Tart.
"PLEASE go away."
"Nup. You're mentally unstable! Pai says so." The younger alien grinned as Kish grew livid.
"Oh? I am? We'll just see about that . . . PAI!"
There, understandably, wasn't a response from the hall. "Well he can believe what he wants then. I'm perfectly sane, just thinking about kittens. Is that okay with you Tart?" Kish leaned back on his hands and smirked, but Tart wasn't quite done taunting him.
"Do these kittens wear bells and do you kiss these kittens occasionally?"
"TART!"
"Just asking. Geez, grum-py." Tart flipped a picture between his fingers. "I guess you won't be wanting this picture of Ichigo that I was going to keep for you once we left."
"Nn?" Kish looked up. "What's she doing?"
"Nothing that would interest you, you silly sod."
"Where'd you get *that* phrase?"
"A British person said it in a book. I'm trying it out."
"Well it doesn't work for you. The picture?"
"It's mine!"
"Not for long." Kish pulled the picture easily from Tart's grasp, dodging his following knife.
"Dang it, that was mine!" Tart yelled. "Now I have to find something else to blackmail you with!"
"Hard luck." Kish looked at the photograph, taken from outside her room evidently. The girl was sleeping on top of her bed, her long eyelashes almost seeming to move with a dream. The photographer had caught her perfectly, looking almost angelic in her unconscious state. If Ichigo knew about this, if she knew anybody had photographed her while she was sleeping, it would have been an international incident. But... he was leaving. He was taking it with him, the only part of her he was taking with him.
And that made Tart being really exceedingly creepy on his behalf... okay, right? But it wasn't in keeping with the game, with how he had told her everything was over and now you threw in a picture he 'had to have'...
/I thought that all my feelings for her were a game. Maybe . . . I was wrong./
{I took your picture while you were sleeping
and then I paced around the room
if I had known then that these things would happen
would they have happened to you?}
Tart looked at Kish speculatively. ^Heh, he does like her. This could be interesting, though why anyone likes that old witch so much is a mystery. She can't even FLY for crying out loud. Stupid in my opinion.^
He turned to leave the room, shaking his head at the stupidity of humans . . . and certain aliens. ^Kish hasn't fallen in love BEFORE. Why does he have to like someone now, on an alien planet, with ICHIGO of all people!?^
^It's not like she's even going to accept him.^
^_^ REVIEW! -oops, too demanding. Do you wish to review? -nah, too formal. Review. -c'mon girl, that's an ORDER. Nuh uh. Please please please please PLEASE review! -that's *groveling*. No. Um . . . please review? ^_^