If you don't like this chapter then I am very flattered.

Chapter 5—"Finding Her Blue Knight—The Face She Always Knew"

Ichigo had never been more content. She had found what truly made her happy! And that was Blackcherry. She started wearing the normal school uniform because she wasn't crying out for attention anymore. She made more friends but still always preferred to stay with Blackcherry. For Shizuma, it was a dream come true. Who would've thought that while trying to find something in Ryou's blue eyes and Masaya's brown eyes Ichigo was able to find what she was searching for all along in a younger girl's? Blackcherry's condition became better and she finally stopped needing to attend group therapy. In fact she didn't need the cookie cutters anymore. She had a strawberry with her all along. And they would share every second, ever minute, every hour, every day, every season, every month, every year together as much as they possibly could. But the season was now winter.

"Ah-CHOO!"

"Oh, Shizuma, you sound terrible," Ichigo tried to comfort her loved one over the phone.

"I know…I'm really, really sorry Momomiya…I really did want to go sledding with you…I've never done it before…" Blackcherry coughed weakly.

"Don't worry about it—when you get better we'll try. I mean we've got a while. And Spring's just around the corner."

"There is a giant forest in my backyard…it looks so pretty with the frost on it." Blackcherry murmured dreamily. Ichigo blushed—did Blackcherry want her to see it? It was hard to believe how sharing she had become—but she had always made an effort to be open with Ichigo.

"Get better soon, okay?"

"Okay." They hung up the phones, and Ichigo sighed and brushed her apron off.

"Ryou…why do we have to wear short sleeves in the middle of the winter? I'll be frostbitten nya!" She whined.

"Quit whining and get back to work," muttered the blonde, who looked quite comfortable in his fuzzy turtleneck. Ichigo imagined being wrapped in tight black cat fur and tried to feel better.

"Momomiya," Akasaka chirped tenderly to her. "We're out of cake mix. There's a store right down the street—can you go fetch us some?" Ichigo was happy to receive some politeness in the café for once and happily agreed upon him giving her the money and a nice cuddly scarf.

Ichigo sighed and made her way down the street, crossing over a bridge. She puffed into the air and saw her breath. Looking down into the water, she was surprised that it hadn't completely frozen over yet. Her mind blanked and she started to think, I wonder if Blackcherry knows how to swim? Does she like to? Does she like the water? What does she like more—hot or cold? What do her bathing suits look like?

"HONEY, I'M HOME!" came a nasty call and Ichigo found herself intertwined between two pale limbs and a mouth with fangs in her face, pursing its lips her way.

"Eek! Quiche, get away! No!" she tried to push him aside. Normally she secretly liked the attention, but this time her heart was full of love like an overflowing grail filled to the top of bubbling, fizzing, strawberry juice, the grail being full only for the sip of Blackcherry's lips. But after he made another flirty attempt towards her she kicked his shins and tried to make her way across the bridge. He grabbed her arm and twisted it like an abusive husband making her shriek in pain. In all the panic she suddenly dropped her brooch into the frozen waters beneath her, leaving her pale in disbelief. It caught Quiche's eye instantly and he hurled her into the water after it, her frail body crashing into the floating pieces of ice and the subzero waters.

…I'm going to die…this is it…I can feel my lungs giving away my last breaths…it's so cold I can't even move…my brooch…I've let everyone down…no…please…God, what do I do…

And in the middle of her despair, a loving face came swimming into view.

Blackcherry…? Have you come to rescue me…?

But she came face to face with chocolate eyes and a tender smile.

Oh, Masaya's comforting and loving face! Oh that tanned skin and bronze eyes and beautiful ebony locks and those eyelashes that once upon a time I would give my life to brush my fingers over…Oh, where have you gone…!

SPLASH!

With a sudden forceful lift, Ichigo felt the wind again. She was cold and almost blue, shivering like a mad dog. But she felt two warm arms wrapping around her body. Her view was still fuzzy when she felt whoever it was place her on the ground. As the mysterious stranger battled the green blur that looked like it might be Quiche, she passed out.

When she awoke, she was wrapped in a blanket, but still on that same spot on the ground where she had been left. She looked up and expected whoever it was to be gone—but there were two gorgeous sad misty looking azure eyes staring back at her, a man's gentle porcelain face caressed by locks of gold. He looked like a prince… But he frowned to her sadly.

"Please do not fight anymore."

Ichigo was stunned by the stranger's words, but before she could utter another word or question whose side he was on, she felt his lips seep into hers and all the cold in her face disappeared like magic. Nothing in her life ever had such taste such warmth and such rightness to it. Such perfection….

And when he released her, she saw his gaze again. And in his gaze she did not see blue, but brown! Not pale white but tanned skin and not blonde angelic hair but the tousled black hair she had loved so long ago..

"Masaya..Masaya….." Ichigo chanted like he had put a voodoo spell on her. He smiled and held her close. He knew she was Mew Ichigo. He had known all along. And he was the Blue Knight!

"And it was Masaya! He's the Blue Knight! I couldn't believe it," Ichigo told Blackcherry over the phone that night. She felt guilty, because she told very vague bits and pieces of the story. Not just because she couldn't remember, but because she didn't think she needed to tell Blackcherry such things at the risk of her reaction. Especially since in the midst of a life-threatening situation, Blackcherry had not crossed her mind for all but a nanosecond. But her image did not appear to her. Not once.

"Masaya." Shizuma echoed. But her voice sounded clouded. That far away voice again that she used to have.

"Blackcherry?"

"I am glad you are all right Momomiya…I would not be able to live knowing you had been hurt and I not there to protect you."

I chigo smiled, thinking that all was well after-all. She chuckled a little. "Don't worry. When I see Masaya at school tomorrow I'll tell him you thank him. Is that all right?"

"No thank you."

Ichigo grew pale again. She bit her lip. Quiche had tried to kiss her and she had pushed him away. But here was a complete stranger, though he turned out to be Masaya, and she sat down and let the feeling take her over. She had betrayed Blackcherry and not even told her. She was wordless. What to say…what to say…

Ichigo's voice trembled tearfully, "I love you Blackcherry Shizuma! And nothing will change that! I will love you forever and ever!"

Blackcherry was silent on the other side of the phone. Oh that sweet desperation in her lover's voice… Blackcherry sounded like she was smiling, and though still quiet, she muttered lovingly, "Thank you. …I…I feel the same way."

But Blackcherry was still the first one to hang up the phone that night.