From the Very First Moment I Laid Eyes on You...

AN: Ok, so all I changed was the names (such as Mark/Masaya , Elliot/Ryou and Zoey/Ichigo)

Chapter 2

The next day…

It's morning. Another day, another time. Everyday is the same. Ichigo comes in late. I scold her, tell her to get back to work, a perisite, sometimes Ichigo came barging in my room without knocking; yelling at me to give her a raise and I would always give her the same answer.

Why didn't I give her a raise? I think everyone can tell that out of all the girls, Ichigo is the one that works the hardest. So why am I being strict on her you ask? I guess this all goes back to when my parents died. I never really care or love anyone since my parents. Meeting Ichigo stirred up those feelings; those feelings that I tried my best to contain. But he knows. Damn my co-worker. Damn him for his observation and perception. When he first mentioned it to me, I denied it. I don't want to face that pain…that pain of loosing someone that you cared or loved to something. For my parents, it was the grim reaper. For my strawberry, it was him. The boy whom she idolizes and from what I heard, the majority of the school's population.

Why am I not fighting for her love? I guess for several reasons. One, I was in denial while this was happening, so it's too late for me to turn the clock back. Two, I don't want to see her reaction when I profess my love for her because last time I checked, she stills considered me to be a "cold jerk of a boss who never gives her a raise for her work". Three. Whenever Masaya arrives, whether it's his name or in person, I saw how her eyes lighted up whenver the name "Masaya" was mentioned. How her spirits rose and she always does her performance to the best. I remember of that spirit when she joined her school's gymnastic team and got the team to be in second place. It was all for Masaya. It was all for him. How could I even think of competing against a guy who makes her be who she wants to be, that fire which is there suddenly turns into a burst of flames.

I saw how she smiled at him. She would never smiled like that at me. Heck, I'm lucky enough that I could kiss her whenever she turns into a kitten. But, I want to kiss her because she wants to, not because she wants to be in her human form.

How could I fight for her love when it is already obvious that she's heads over heel in love with him! As long as I don't say it, I won't know for sure that she rejected me. That pain could never come back to me.

But, that pain is coming back to me. Alas, there is nothing that I can do right now but be the person who she sees.

Ryou watched through the windows and heads back down. On his way down the stairs, he overheardIchigo asking Keiichiro if she could used his kitchen to make some chocolates.

Chocolates? What ever for?

Slipping back into his room, Ryou looked at his calender.

Oh right. Tommorrow is Valentine's Day.

With this thought, his eyes darken. His hair covering his eyes as he slowly walked to the window, facing the sky.

She's probably making him chocolates no doubt it.

Running his fingers through his hair,Ryou sighed.

I wonder if I did something bad in my previous life? Maybe I had an affair that I wasn't suppose to have. This might explains why my love life is like this. A nice shower will do. Hmm…better tell Wesley to bring some food up since I do not want to be in the Café where she might be excited over giving her chocolate to Masaya.

Taking off his shirt, Ryou started to head toward the bathroom. The door burst.

"Ryou!"

Strawberry scent filled through his room. Crossing his arms across his chest. "Why must you always barged in? Don't they teach you how to knock or your strawberry sized brain couldn't handle the lecture?"

There goes my big mouth. It's a wonder that she can even stand in my presence for so long. But, I can't reveal my feelings for her. I already know that they will get crush into tiny particles. Besides, I have a feeling that if I started acting nice to her, my little strawberry might think that aliens had abducted me or this was Kish's doing. Though, there are some times that we did have our moments. I never did forget that ball we held. How she crushed my toes, yet the feeling of her body near mine gives me the happiness. Only if it was for a short moment. I never did forget her reaction that was displayed all over her face. Yet, I have a feeling that she might thought that when I flirted with her or come on to her, it's only because she was my "first" experiment or I have my motives. That is partly true, but my real reason is just to be near her, without us bickering.

"Why are you always mean to me? Why me! Why am I the only one who's getting the harsh treatment from you!" Ichigo yelled.

I rolled my eyes. I can't tell her why I'm always mean to her and not to the other girls. Time to change the subject.

"What do you want?"

Her eyes scanned the room. They lingered over the plush that I received from Ketasu. That plush resembled my "cat" form.

"Well..I…" A blush started to appear once she realized that she had walked on Ryou, half-naked again.

Although that blush just makes her even more adorable. I have to keep up my mask.

"Well? What is it that you want!"

I guess she didn't like my tone because her eyes flared up.

"Here's what I want. I WANT A RAISE! It's not fair that the other girls get the same pay as I do, but I always do more work around here. I want to get pay for the work that I did. I want a raise! And I won't take NO for an answer." Ichigo yelled, steam going out of her ears.

"Hmm…let me think right after I take my shower." With that said,Ryou left an angry strawberry mew.

Knowing her, she won't stay that long since closing time is close and she has to go home.

Sinking in the tub, he closed his eyes. Right after he was done showering, he laid on his bed.

Well, I guess I should leave. The more time I sleep, the longer my dreams will be. Dreams of what could happen.

"Goodnight my little wildcat...," Ryou whispered into the moonlight as darkness claimed him.

Elliot/Ryou: Why must I endure the torture and pain when it's Valentine's Day?

Sakura M.: (laughs) Be patience. You will get your rewards. Not all what it seems.

Zoey/Ichigo: Do I even know how to make chocolates?

Sakura M.: In my fic, you do.

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AN: Hmm...what plot should I do? Any suggestions? Also, if you're going to send a review, make sure that it's polite. After all, if you don't like it, then don't review at all.

Ok, So the names are somewhat a mixed of the Mew Mew Power and Tokyo Mew Mew. If anyone would like, can they please help me?

7.6.05 - Ok...jap. names are a bit harder so I'm just going to use first names.