Yeah, chapter 2, couldn't stand to not write this story, I think it's a cool idea. Anyway, if you haven't read my story Letting Down Myself, then you should, but I want to tell you there is a sequel in the making of it. See, this is going to be about Ichigo's confessions to everyone else and...why am I spoiling everything; you'll just have to wait until it comes out. Anyway, I want to tell you this is like tradition in old England, but it has a more modern thing to it, like the TV and the microwave and DDR...don't ask, just wait till it comes. Oh, and thanks for the person who said it was a screwed up version of the Little Mermaid. I enjoyed your compliment at the end, but I was pretty much confused; it was like you were insulting me and giving me a compliment at the same time. So thanks a lot for confusing me! And thanks to the other reviewers, and that time I wasn't being sarcastic.

I do not own TMM or the Little Mermaid. Nor do I own DDR, even though I love the game to pieces and can play on Standard level. Ha! I am a level higher than my sister!

"Did...did I just hear what I think she said," thought Ryou in confusion.

"I...I...never mind, ok," said Ichigo. "Come on, lets go!" she said as she dragged Ryou down halls and up stairs until they reached the attic. Ichigo's father's stuff was kept up there. But there weren't just boxes in there; up in the attic, there was a whole shrine to her late-father. Ryou stared at the huge painting of Ichigo's father. "He was the son of the king here..." said Ichigo, breaking Ryou's train of thought.

"I...I really miss him...my favorite story is how my mother and father met...my mother...she was an ordinary girl...and then...she went to that dance...and she met the prince...and then...they ran away to live together in happiness...years later, my grandfather died, and this was when I was just a baby...since my dad was the kings only son, he took the responsibility...and they haven't subjected for a new ruler because the town likes my mother as a ruler so much."

"Wow...I don't know anything about my mother...she died giving birth to me and I haven't asked my father about her," said Ryou.

"But...but how could you go through life not even knowing a thing about your mothe. I learn everything I can about my real father so I know what he was like," said Ichigo.

"It's...it's because the memories...they hurt," stated Ryou. Ichigo turned her head toward him and stared. "I love my mother because she sacrificed herself so I could live, and just knowing that sends this pain in my heart, knowing that I might not ever feel more love than hers." Ichigo almost got lost staring into his deep blue eyes. She almost wanted to...to..."NO!" She said to herself. "I can't...I'm getting married to Masaya next month; I can't have this total stranger come in and ruin those plans."

"Here's one," she said digging through a closet-like space finding one of her father's suits. "This looks like it will fit, right Ryou?" she exclaimed.

"Right," said Ryou with a smile on his face. And even if she did love him, how could he ever love her back. She wasn't perfect, plus, he looked well over sixteen and was probably already married or engaged to someone closer to his homeland.

Everything was ready and the first guests had started to arrive. Of course, Masaya had shown up early and was introduced to Ryou, who wasn't all happy about Masaya.

Flashback

"Ichigo, are you here?" asked Masaya while wondering through the great hall. "I'm up here," she shouted back while she guided Ryou around like a lost puppy. "Ichigo, I heard that bad news. You almost drowned and I was so worried and...who's that guy?' he said finally acknowledging Ryou's presence.

"Oh, this is Ryou. He saved me," said Ichigo happily.

"I am forever grateful to you Ryou for saving my beautiful Ichigo," stated Masaya in gratitude.

"His Ichigo?" thought Ryou. "What does he mean by his Ichigo?"

"Oh, Ryou, this is Masaya, we're getting married in a month," said Ichigo. You thought someone would be a little...happier when someone would say that, but there was a tone of sadness in her voice that only Ryou saw. Ryou didn't like something about Masaya; actually, he didn't like anything about Masaya because now he knew his one love was taken.

End Flashback

That had been hours ago, and by now, the place was already filled with people. A private band that plays all of Ichigo's favorite songs was hired and people were already on the dance floor dancing there heart away. Ichigo had been dancing with Masaya for some time now, and Ryou was getting jealous...really, really, really jealous. Finally, Ichigo noticed Ryou's bad mood, and decided to go over and talk to him.

"Ryou, what are you so...mad about?" asked Ichigo with worry in her voice.

"It's nothing, I'm just so bored," said Ryou. He was quite bored, but it was mostly because of Masaya, but did her really want to admit that to Ichigo when she was having so much fun? "Then I'd ruin her evening," he thought.

"Do you want to dance Ryou?" Ichigo asked. "I'll dance a couple songs with you if you want."

Ryou was surprised at her question. He never expected this to happen, and it was so sudden. "Sure...ok." Ryou got up and offered Ichigo his hand and lead her to the floor. He had learned about the ways of dancing on land, but he never knew that those skills would actually be put to use. Once Ichigo and Ryou were on the dance floor, the band started playing Ichigo's favorite song; She Will Be Loved.

Beauty queen of only eighteen

she had some trouble with herself

he was always there to help her

she always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles

And wound up at your door

I've had you so many times but somehow

I want more

I don't mind spending everyday

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

She will be loved

Tap on my window knock on my door

I want to make you feel beautiful

I know i tend to get so insecure

It doesn't matter anymore

Its not always rainbows and butterflies

Its compromise it moves us along

My heart is full and my doors always open

You can come anytime you want

I don't mind spending everyday

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

She will be loved

I know where you hide

Alone in your car

Know all of the things that make you who you are

I know that goodbye means nothing at all

Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls

Tap on my window knock on my door

I wanna make you feel beautiful

I don't mind spending everyday

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

"Could...I don't want to dance anymore, ok?" said Ryou. He really didn't want to get this close to Ichigo; under the sea, if a man ever got this close to an engaged woman, he would be killed. "Just one more song, Ryou, please?" she said in a pleading tone. Ryou couldn't help but give in. He made his way to the floor again, as long as they didn't play...

I'm so tired of being here

Suppressed by all my childish fear

And if you have to leave

I wish that you would just leave

Cause your presence still lingers hear

And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just so much that time cannot erase

When you'd cry I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And i held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me

"Great," thought Ryou. Ichigo had moved closer to his body and from the looks of it was resting her head against his chest. To her, he felt so...warm...she wanted to stay in that position forever...

You used to captivate me by your resonating light

But now I'm bound by the life you left behind

Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams

Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just so much that time cannot erase

When you'd cry I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And i held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

But thought you're still with me

I've been alone all along

When you'd cry I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And i held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me

Sad enough for Ichigo, it did end. She parted from Ryou, blushing realizing what she had just done. She didn't think she'd be so close to him, and when she was, it felt like heaven. She didn't want to leave his side. But she was engaged, and she ran away, leaving Ryou.

Masaya followed Ichigo to ask her for a couple more dances when someone he'd seen before but never tried talking to walked by. He had always seen her with Queen Zakuro, but had never tried to get in her way; after all she was the queen's personal advisor. He was always intrigued by her, and for a moment thought, "Why not?"

"Excuse me, Miss Aizawa?" Masaya asked. The blue-haired girl turned around to find the prince staring at her. "Yes?"

"Would you care to dance?"

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Minutes later, Ichigo emerged back into the light. The ball would be ending soon and that would mean Masaya would have to leave. Once the ball was over, Masaya left, giving her a good-night kiss and left for his fathers own kingdom. Once the crowds had cleared, she found Ryou and led him to the room he'd be staying in. While heading upstairs, she saw Ryou gazing out the window.

"Ryou, why are you looking at the ocean?" she asked.

"Say Ichigo, do you believe in mermaids and mermen?"

"Well...when I was younger, my mother always told me of a story...and I still believe it to this day. Do you want to hear it?" Ichigo asked excitedly. She loved the thought of telling stories to people instead of people telling the stories to her. "Oh why not," said Ryou. "Maybe I'll be in it," he thought.

"Ok, my mother told me that long ago, my grandfather from my father's side of the family discovered the kingdom of the merpeople and wondered what to do with them. Once the king found out, he was furious that a human discovered them, and wanted to get rid of my grandfather. But my grandfather came up with a solution; the people in the castle would be the only ones who knew about it, and no one else would. The king of the merpeople agreed, and we now live in peace...but you can't tell anyone, alright?" Ryou smiled at this. "Boy, would she be surprised if she found out I was a merman," he thought and chuckled. "I promise," said Ryou.

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The next morning, Ichigo put on some baggy clothes and a hat that she stuffed all her hair in., except for a couple strands so she wouldn't look like she was bald. It was about 9:00 and her mother would still be sleeping until around 9:30. She was just about to go down the stairs when a familiar voice surprised her. "Good morning Ichigo," said Ryou, making Ichigo jump.

"Where did he come from, and where did he get all those clothes?" she thought.

"Oh, I got these clothes from Keiichiro, he said that i needed something other than these things called 'khaki shorts'," he said.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed at him. She didn't want anyone interfering with what she did every morning. "Well someone's cranky this morning. So where are you going?" he asked.

"It's none of your business," she hissed at him again.

"Well then," said Ryou while backing her into a wall and getting closer to her. "I'm making it my business."

"Woah! Now he's brave; no one would even dare talk back to me or back me into a corner," thought Ichigo. Her heart was beating faster and faster with every inch he grew closer to her. She could hear him breathing and by then, he was so close that if anyone saw the two of them, he'd get in the huge trouble, and so would she. "Fine then, you're coming with me." Ichigo grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out the door and all the way to a...arcade?

"What the hell is this, and why are you dressed so funny?" he asked her. "Ok, every morning, I come here to play a couple driving games..."she said, and Ryou looked back at her with a confused look. "My driver's license...I am 16...you probably have one," she said. Ryou obviously had no idea what she was talking about. Once she entered, she noticed a new game she had heard about from Ikari; a princess she was friends with in another kingdom.

"Cool, this must be what Ikari was talking about, DDR! They must've installed it when I left," she stared at the game in amazement. "Wanna play?" she asked Ryou "Or are you afraid a girl will beat you?" she teased. "Yeah, sure, I'll play," said Ryou. He may have only been on legs for a day or two, but it was like he had been on them all his life. After putting in a couple coins, the game started, and Ryou and Ichigo, who had both never played it in there lives, now knew about the lovely game called Dance, Dance Revolution.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The screen was like this when they were finished...

Player A (Ichigo) D

Player B (Ryou) C

"Wow...usually, people let me win..." said Ichigo. "I guess I don't have a future in dancing."

"Not entirely true, you may have stunk at that, but you were pretty good last night," said Ryou jokingly.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" said Ichigo. At the same time thinking "Who the hell is this guy? What happened to the sweet and caring Ryou I met yesterday?"

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That night, Queen Zakuro was up in her room when she revealed a glass ball behind a purple curtain. After mumbling a couple words, a face appeared in the ball, and it was as if the glass ball had turned into a telephone. "Good evening King Shirogane," said Zakuro with a warm smile on her face.

"I wish I could say the same thing," replied Shirogane (I am gonna call him by his last name because...well, I just am) "My son has been missing for about two days and I'm afraid that... I'm afraid he's with his mother now," said Shirogane, really depressed.

"Oh really, what does he look like?" replied Zakuro curiously. "Two days ago eh, that about the time Ryou showed up," she thought.

"He's got blond hair, blue eyes and a little bit of an attitude, but he can be very nice. His name is Ryou" he said.

"Well then don't worry, Ryou is safe, he's with me," replied Zakuro. "What! Damnit! He must have kissed a human! It must have been that wench he went after who was drowning; should've just let her drown," said Shirogane in an angry manner. Now she was mad. "I hate to burst your angry shouting, but that 'wench' is my daughter, and I think he's in love with her," she said in a tone like ha, I got you there.

"No, he cannot fall in love with...a human girl!"

"And why not?" snapped Zakuro. "What if Ichigo loves him back and they have a child?"

"I shall not and will not happen! I forbid it! Besides, the spell loses affect about a week after it goes into affect. Plus, your daughters engaged, is she not?" said Shirogane. He had got her. "She may be engaged, but she could get out of the engagement just like that," she replied.

"Well I forbid it and that's that. When the spell wears off he will come home and forget all this ever happened to him and..."

"And what? End up miserable without his true love? Face it Shirogane, love always seems to prevail, and you must honor Ryou's decision. After all, he's almost an adult and is old enough to make his own decisions." Zakuro was finished talking to Shirogane, she did have to get some sleep. "Well then, goodbye Zakuro," said Shirogane hotly, and the glass ball returned to a blank screen.

Well, how do you like it so far? Oh don't worry; like every other fic I write, it'll be Ryou/Ichigo, just give it some time. Ok, so I am going to tell you who is in the band, so I don't keep everything in suspense. Tart is the drummer/percussionist, which includes keyboard, Pai is the male singer and electric guitar player, and Lettuce is the female singer and bass guitar player. There is a reason that they are members of the band, but they won't be exposed until either chapter 4 or 5. I'll probably post chapter 3 by...oh say, Monday, maybe Halloween if I go to work with my mom. Here is you paragraph/summary of the next chappie:

Ichigo was crying on the balcony facing the sea in her room and she never once heard her door open. She couldn't believe any of the things that just happened. It was too much. She was drowning in her misery, and yet, she could always end it. She then felt to strong arms around her and a voice that said, "I'm sorry."

This chapter is pretty long too, and this little phrase comes from the very end. Anyway, read and review, over and out. -Nibzo