Disclaimer: Tokyo Mew Mew is all mine! Mia Ikumi: Excuse me? Me: Erm, and by mine, I mean Ikumi-san's… -hugs Ryou plushie- But this is mine! Ikumi: Hand it over. Me: -wimpers and hands over plushie- But… but… Ikumi: No. Mine.

Chapter 3 – I Want to Be the Light Bulb

((A/N – I know, that sounds really stupid, but you'll see))

"Alright. Everyone know what to do?" Pudding, Lettuce, and Zakuro nodded. "All right!" Mint held up a determined fist. "When we see Ichigo, Plan Memory goes into action!"

Pudding's face suddenly lit up excitedly, and a worried look clouded Lettuce's features. "Oh, dear," the green-haired girl said. "What if, before we make Ichigo remember anything, she falls in love with someone else?" Pudding, meanwhile, ran off towards the door of the restaurant. Mint scoffed at Lettuce, ignoring the younger girl.

"Don't be silly. Who would she fall in love with?"

"Ryou," responded Zakuro.

"Did someone call?" Giving a small yelp of surprise, Mint spun, seeing Ryou standing right behind her. Behind him, Ichigo was making her way over, with Pudding hanging onto her arm.

"Are you sure you don't like him?"

"Very sure."

"Really? But he likes you a lot!"

"Mm hmm."

"He kissed you, remember?"

"Pudding, long-distance inter-racial relationships just don't work for me. Sorry, but I don't think Kish is my type."

"But he WAS the first person who kissed you."

"And he was also the first person who tried to kill me and my friends, ne?"

"Okay… what about the Blue Knight?"

Ichigo looked at her, then at Mint. The rich girl held her breath, but Ichigo smiled. "Are you all against me?" Mint breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, I'd love to hang around, but I've got an art class. Welcome back from the hospital, Ichigo."

"Oh… thanks… bye…" Ichigo watched Mint leave. "I guess we'll postpone the party till later then…" She couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.

"I have a photo shoot to go to. Sorry, kiddo." Zakuro followed Mint.

"All right, have fun!" Ichigo tried to smile, then sighed. "Well, I guess it's just-"

CRASH. "I'm so sorry!" Lettuce was bowing to the girl whose parfait she had just spilled. Realization dawned over Ichigo.

"Hey! They left me to work by myself again!"

Pudding looked up at her. "Whaddo you mean? Lettuce and I are here…"

"Yeah… great…" Ichigo grabbed a mop and started working. "Ryou, I changed my mind, I do want a raise!"

The boss paused on his way into the kitchen. "Alright… but you have to make me more onigiri to earn it." He disappeared into the back.

"Ryou! You jerk!"

In the kitchen, Ryou sighed as he passed Keiichiro.

"Something wrong, Ryou?"

"Kei… you've always been there for me to talk to…"

"And I still am. What's on your mind?"

"Well… I've liked Ichigo for a while."

"She's so cute, it's hard not to like her."

"That's not what I mean."

"I know. Just remember, she loves Masaya."

"Yes, but she doesn't remember him. And I feel like this is a sign, like I could really use this opportunity to get her to like me."

"Do you want me to support you, or talk you out of it?"

"Either. I want advice. What should I do? Answer honestly."

"Let things take their course. If Ichigo falls in love with you, she does. Otherwise, Masaya'll be here in a couple of weeks."

"I know. So you think I should leave things as they are?"

"Act as if nothing's changed."

"But… things have changed. Haven't you ever noticed how her eyes light up when she smiles?"

"Of course I have."

Ryou was leaning against the counter, looking at the ceiling. "For a while, after he left, they stopped. She was still as sweet as ever, but her eyes… it was like Masaya was the light bulb, and when he left, the lamp couldn't shine. But now she doesn't remember that. Her eyes shine again. I want them to look like that. I want to be the new light bulb."

"Just don't break her heart. If she does remember him, you don't want her to have a new boyfriend, do you? She would feel terrible, unfaithful. I don't like her like you do, but I feel like she's a sister, and you know what a protective big brother I am." Keiichiro smiled softly. "All of those girls are like family to me. If you break my sister's heart, I might have to break your nose."

Ryou smiled, too. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Kei."

"No problem, Ryou." As the blonde left, he didn't hear Keiichiro add, "You know, I think Ichigo might just start to like you. And ever since that yacht party, I'm pretty sure Lettuce has liked you, too." He looked up, and realized that the boy was gone. He sighed. "He'll break Lettuce's heart, probably. Whether or not he breaks Ichigo's, too… I probably should have told him that the other girls plan to make her remember Masaya…"

:3

"That jerk… making me work all day without a raise…" Ichigo sighed and flopped down on her bed. "But maybe he's not so bad…" She closed her eyes and remembered the night she had turned into a cat… and he almost kissed her. "Oh!" Her eyes flew open, and she blushed deeply. "It's almost like I like him!" She shook her head, but now that she thought about it… she blushed again, more lightly, and giggled. Suddenly she heard someone knock on the door. "Coming!" The minute she opened the door, she was enveloped in a pair of arms, before she could even see their owner.

"Ichigo, I missed you so much! How've you been? You haven't forgotten me, have you?"

"Kish! What are you doing here!"

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A/N: Well, that's it for Chappy 3! Stay tuned for the next chapter if you wanna see double dating, love triangles, and a Cyclops cat! ;) -Runs off with Ryou plushie- Ikumi: GET BACK HERE! Me: but it's just a plushie! It can't hurt, right? Ikumi: But I love him too! No fair, Anna-san! Me: Wait… -skids to a halt- Ikumi: -steals plushie and runs off, pulling off mask.- Mwah ha ha! Mine! Me: FROGGY-CHAN! I should have known! Get back here! -tackles Froggy and runs away with plushie-

Until next time, STAR!

Lil-Brown-wRen