Ugh... What was that sound? My cell phone...? Stop ringing.... Stop... stop... stop... Dammit, it's not stopping. Groaning, I rolled out from under Masaya's arm and stumbled over to my cell phone. The ground tilted and I suddenly remembered why I went to bed so early. I still felt terribly sick. Clicking on my phone, I growled into it. "Who is this and why are you calling me at three in the morning?"

College Mew Mew 12

By: Satashi

"Ichigo," A loud cracking noise was heard. It was Zakuro. "I hate to interrupt your beauty sleep, but we're kind of fighting right now." Another crack of a whip.

"Where?"

"Fifth Street, by the river."

"On my way." I clicked off my phone. "Mew Mew strawberry! Metamorphosis!"

"Ichigo...?" Masaya was waking up, dazed and befuddled at what was going on. "Wha...?"

"I have to go to work, nyan." I smiled at him weakly.

He stumbled out of bed and quickly shook his head and rubbed his face harshly. "Okay, I'll go, you get in bed."

"I have to." I ran to the door, with him on my heels. "They're on Fifth Street!"

The door to our apartment came open easily and we were out in the street quickly. "Blue Abyss! Metamorphosis!"

The Blue Knight rushed next to me and scooped me up into his arms. Gasping, I was about to ask what was going on, but the world shifted around me and the next moment I found myself in the middle of the battle zone. "This way is faster."

"I see." I was set down, but I stumbled over. "I feel hot..."

"You're still too sick!"

"Jump!"

I leapt into the air, alongside the Blue Knight, but my leap was short, and I felt the explosion under me, sending me off course and falling roughly onto the ground. My cheeks burned, and it was hard to breathe. I wanted to just lay and sleep.

I didn't know what type of Chimera Anima we were fighting, but I knew that I had to get up and try to fight it. Pushing myself to a standing position, I felt someone grab around my waist and dash to the side, making me miss the blast that exploded where I just was.

"If you can't protect her, I'll have to take her from you." My vision was a little off, but I could still make out Kish holding me in his arms, glaring at Masaya like venom.

"Let her go and call off your Anima."

"It's not mine. I just want came because I thought there was a Mew Aqua."

Pai teleported down. "It's taken care of. Obviously it was to just piss us off when we should be sleeping."

"Then let's leave." Kish leaned down to kiss me, but stopped short. "Ichigo! You're burning up!"

I didn't want to answer, but I nodded anyway. "Yeah, I'm not really feeling well..."

"Come with me, we will fix you good as new!" Kish flew into the air lightly.

"No!"

"Eh?" He looked hurt. "Why?"

"I, er, rather stay here, if it's okay..." I tried to smile. "A few days of rest and I'll be fine. Just a cold."

"Is there...anything I can do for you?"

I laughed softly. "You can cause some havoc on campus so they'll cancel classes for me." Looking up at him, I continued. "But, really, please let me down so I can go back to bed?"

"...Okay..." He floated back down, where the Blue Knight was waiting, not patiently at all. "Here you go." Handing me over to Masaya, he glared at him. "I'm coming back in two days. If she isn't better, I'm going to kill you."

"Try it, elf boy."

Kish scoffed and hopped into the air. "Oh! Almost forgot!" In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Pudding. "Tart said to tell you 'hi' and he'd be stopping by for a candy drop later."

Pudding blushed. "O-Okay..."

"Till next time," He gave all of us a sort of friendly wave, and then flipped Masaya off before teleporting away.

I sank to my knees and sighed. "I think I'm going to throw up..."

"Ichigo? What are you doing?" Masaya scolded me as I swung my legs out of the bed and tried to stand. "You're still sick. You can't go to class today."

"I have to," I replied, sleepily. I've missed so much, and I was given a chance to make it all up, I can't afford not to go." I wavered a bit, but caught myself. "Everyone else is trying hard too, I have to too."

"You're trying a lot harder than the others." He reminded me, trying to get me to lie back down. "You work almost double what they do at the café because of your schedule. That means each of them have several extra hours a day to study than you do. You can't keep pushing yourself like this. Now lay down or I'll lock you in the house."

"I have to go to class!" I protested again, before sneezing. My stomach lurched. "I dun feel good..."

"See?" He helped me to the bathroom, where I sank down. "You can't even get out of bed without getting sick."

Bleh....I feel really sick. "Masaya..."

"Yes?" He kneeled by me.

"Remember how that first night where the guys got you drunk and I held your head up all night long here?"

"...Yeah?"

"I think you're about to return the favor...." My stomach lurched again.

"What a great guy..." I mumbled as he put the covers around me.

"Ugh, at least I didn't know what was going on last time," he complained playfully. "Here, I'll cut on some music for you. Just rest."

"...Okay."

My eyes closed as he tapped his radio and fixed it to my favorite station. "...reports of the strange alien now known as "Kish" attacking the campus with a chimera of some sort. The Tokyo Mew Mew group has chased him off, but not before causing a near riot on campus. Needless to say, classes have been all cancelled for the day..."

I stared at the ceiling a little bit before voicing my thoughts. "I love that perverted alien freak."

Crouch. Look ahead. Focus on the space between the two white lines. Ready your legs. Wait.

I licked my lips.

The gun sounded and my legs responded instantly, shooting me forward. My eyes were set, and the long track narrowed down to just the space between my two white lines. The first corner came and I rounded it easily, turning on the oval track. My breathing was hard and white wisp of fog came out when I breathed. I could feel my cat ears come out thanks to my increased heartbeat, but they were under the baseball cap I had firmly on my head. My tail annoyed my greatly, going down the right pants leg of my wind suit and twitching when I bent my knee.

The only sound I could hear was my breath and the wind coming against me as the second turn came. Veering with the track, I also made it across and then back onto the straight away to the starting/finishing point. Crossing my white line, I slowed down and put my hands on my kneecaps, breathing hard.

"Congratulations, Ichigo, you were the first to finish."

I nodded at my coach and looked over at the bleachers, where my friends were celebrating. I had just won the right to compete in the college track team competition held at one of the most prestigious colleges in Japan.

Masaya looked at his watch and signaled to me frantically. Nodding, I gave him a silent 'I'll be right there.' Look. He grinned at me and ran away, followed closely by my other friends. "Coach..." I was still panting. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave class early..." I took another few puffs of air. "My boyfriend is competing...for kendo... at the same school..." I took a long breath and slowly let it out, making my heart slowly start to go back to normal and my breathing slowing down.

"Anything for my star runner." My coach patted my head. "But, Ichigo, I know you like to wear your cap and wind pants while running here, but the finals only allow standard issue running shorts. You need to get used to wearing them."

Oh no!

"Ichigo, you're late." Mint scolded me as I appeared in the large kendo gym. Several people were lined against the walls and in the stands, watching the school's team battle it out to see who the best was. "Masaya already won his first match."

I sat down and took the offered water from Pudding, who had skipped school to be with us today. "Thanks," I leaned forward, collecting myself. "I have a problem, but I'll talk about it at the café." I nodded over at everyone standing close by. "You know privet stuff."

"Right." Mint placed her hand on my shoulder. "Whatever it is, just let it go while cheering on Masaya, okay?"

"Of course!"

"Next up! Masaya! His opponent is Kevin, Kendo captain!"

"Good luck, going against the captain so soon," Zakuro spoke, making us all turn and gasp at her being there. "Now he won't be tired when he has to beat him later."

"You made it!" I gave her a hug. "I'm so glad. I haven't seen you in a while."

"Filming is taking a lot of time," She whispered down to me, winking. "But I'm taking the week off for your competition and Masaya's as well."

"Ready? Begin!"

I turned my eyes on the match.

Kevin attacked first, a hard swing that Masaya easily blocked and countered. Kevin sidestepped the attack and returned it with an attack to the chest, which was ducked by bending straight backwards. The audience gasped and applauded the feat.

Masaya spun around and swept kicked, only to be jumped and attacked from above. Rolling, he managed to avoid the attack and come up with his own, getting deflected.

"Face!" Kevin called, successfully hitting Masaya's face mask. Both stopped, bowed and kneeled, waiting for the second round.

"First point! Blue! Contestants ready! Round two! Begin!"

Masaya stood still, holding a basic defensive stance. Seeing this, Kevin lunged forward, but missed as his opponent spun at the last moment. "Back!" his sword connected with Kevin's backside, thus gaining him a point as well.

"Second point! Red! Contestants ready! Round three! Begin!"

Masaya took the preempt attack this time and lunged out, slashing down hard. Kevin blocked the swing and countered with a side kick, narrowly missing its intended target. Back flipping, Masaya twisted in the air and landed in a crouch, losing the kendo style swordsman stance and holding his boken with one hand, parallel to the ground.

"That stance!"

"The Blue Knight," I whispered eyes large.

Kevin ran forward and attacked, but was easily dodged. Masaya neatly spun away, as if he was playing around. Attacking again, Masaya blocked and slashed upwards, knocking the boken from Kevin's grasp and making it spin into the air. Leaping up after it, Masaya caught the weapon in mid spin and landed, bringing both swords to Kevin's neck.

"...Surrender."

Masaya turned the sword, handle toward his opponent, which he took. Each took a step back, bowed, and kneeled.

"Last Point! Red! Winner, Masaya!"

"He did it!" I shouted, jumping up from my seat and bouncing in spot until he stepped off the mat. From there I ran over to him and tackled him in a hug, getting spun around. "Congratulations! You beat the captain! Now no one can stand in your way!"

"Thanks for your support," he replied, leaning down to kiss me. Several cat calls jeered out at us, but I kissed him anyway, blushing and smiling.

"Sure you don't want to come?" Masaya asked me as several students were yelling and celebrating. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"No, no I have to study. You go ahead." I undid the necklace from its clasp and stood on my tip-toes, fastening it around Masaya's neck. "Just make sure all the girls know that you already have a pet kitten." I flicked the bell, and grinned up at him. "Unless you're too ashamed to wear my bell to a party?"

"Not at all." He rubbed my hair. "I'll be home late."

"Masaya! Come on man!" Mark shouted from his jeep, which was overfilled with people as it was, all yelling loudly and a few already drinking.

"Coming!" He shouted back, running off, giving me a wave half way through and jumping onto the back of the jeep and then being pulled in. "Let's roll!"

"Woohoo!"

"Frat Party?" Zakuro asked me as I waved at them, even if no one was looking my way.

"Yup. He doesn't go out much, but all of his friends drag him away sometimes." I laughed to myself. "Once he and Mark got so drunk they started singing Christmas carols in the middle of summer."

Zakuro laughed. "Somehow with those two I can believe it."

"I didn't know Masaya drank," Lettuce voiced up, coming up behind us.

"Oh he doesn't. They'll force three beers on him and he'll be out cold before the last is done."

All of us experienced a good laugh on his behalf.

"So what's up?" Ryou asked, sitting on a table and crossing his legs. The last of the customers had left and Keiichiro was locking the door.

"Is there anyway to suppress my cat genes? Like, not have my ears and tail come up?"

"Why this all of a sudden?" Mint asked as she drank her tea. "Almost every time I see you at home you have your ears out."

"Oh, I see," Lettuce brought her hand to her mouth, as if just realizing something horrible. "You can't wear your hat or pants in the track run, can you?"

I shook my head slowly, looking down. "If I can't find someway to keep my ears from coming out when my heart beats fast...I can't run anymore..."

A silence moved over the room as everyone thought about what to do. I sighed and laid my head down onto the table.

"Maybe...we can tell the judges that she has a skin condition and has to have her legs covered?"

"Then I won't qualify for the race," I replied, head still down. "You have to be in good health to run. Plus everyone knows I wore running shorts until I became a Mew Mew again."

Another silence passed over. "Well..."

Slowly I lifted my head up and looked at Zakuro, who had spoken. "Yes?"

She sat on the table and crossed her legs, placing a hand on my head. "You could always say they are a good luck charm from a little sister or cousin that is sick and wants you to wear them while you race."

"...that's dumb enough to work."

"Ichigo! Ichigoooooooooooo! Come and answer the dooooooorrrrrrr!"

I opened the door to my apartment, half dressed and rubbing one of my eyes, trying to rid it of sleep. "What is it Mark..." I yawned.

"Whoa! She's sexy!"

I suddenly realized that along with Mark was a goofy looking Masaya as well as half the kendo team. Blushing furiously I darted behind the door, as I was only wearing a waist length shirt and shorts that were too short to even be considered wearing outside. Peeking around the door, I blushed more.

"Special delivery." Mark stated, helping Masaya inside.

"Hi Kitten," He slurred, grinning dumbly.

"How many did he have?" I asked him, taking Masaya from his shoulders and letting him lean on me while he laughed at nothing.

"Four." Mark replied happily. "He kind of didn't want to drink any at all, but you know how the guys get.

"Come on Marky!" One of the guys protested our talk. "We still have to hotwire the bus and drive it around town!"

"You're going to get arrested," I warned him.

"We're not really going to do it," He winked at me, fully sober and obviously the dedicated driver. "I'm taking them all home now."

"We're not going home!"

"Sure, sure," Mark pushed them out when a few wanted to come into my apartment. "Take care of him, and be sure he takes some medicine before he goes to sleep."

"Right." I waved at him as he ushered the large group down the walkway of our complex. Closing the door, I looked at Masaya, who was smiling at me.

"You're pretty."

"Ugh, your breath reeks." I fanned my face. "Come on; let's get you cleaned up and into bed."

"I dun want to sleep," He protested, trying to nuzzle my neck. "I want to be with you."

"I'll be there too, but you're not getting any snuggling done until you get a bath, phew."

"Kevin sprayed me." He shook up an imaginary can and pretended to pop the top of it, just to emphasize what he said. "Got all over me."

"I see." I couldn't help but laugh lightly. I had only seen Masaya drunk twice before, and each time I would have killed for a camera. "Come now, let's take a shower...No, honey, that's the closet. Over here. Good boy."

"Ughh.... Turn off the light..." I sat up lightly in bed and looked over at my boyfriend, who was holding his head and covering his eyes. "Ugggghhh....."

"Well, well, learned a lesson last night didn't we?" I asked, making him wince.

"Not so loud..."

I laughed. "Idiot." I patted his chest. "I'll get you some medicine. Stay in bed."

"Ughhhh....."

I smiled to myself as I poured him a glass of water. I don't know why, but it felt nice taking care of him for a change. Sitting back down on the bed, I helped him sit up. "Here, take this." I put the glass in his hand and helped guide it to his lips, as his eyes were still closed against the light coming in from the window. "How's that? Wasn't so bad was it?"

"Nah," He leaned against me, smiling. "You're warm."

"It's just cold in here," I replied, blushing a little. "We need to start dressing warmer or one of us might get sick."

"Yeah." He opened one eye and smiled. "You're hairs messed up."

Laughing lightly, I couldn't help but smile down at him. "You're an idiot, you know that?"