Chapter three: Surprise, Surprise
Time passed slowly for Ichigo. It was two days before she heard from Rettasu, and she didn't find Purin until the first Sunday. Zakuro had called Thursday to let it be known that she found Keiichiro, only to learn from him that Ryou had disappeared one week prior. Keiichiro called on Monday saying that he found the blonde, but it might take some convincing to get him to attend the reunion. Ichigo told Keiichiro to put Ryou on the phone, but the younger man wasn't around so the older promised to have him call when he got home. Sure enough, Ryou called the next day, and Ichigo told him it would mean a lot to her if he'd come. He said he'd see what he could do. When the day of the reunion finally came, Ichigo was rushing all over the place. With Masaya's help, she calmed down long enough to get to Café Mew Mew, and then she became a ball of energy again. It came in handy, however, because she managed to get a very decent buffet table made before Zakuro and Minto arrived. Purin came next, eager to help, and so Ichigo sent her to the kitchen to make more food. Considering that didn't take her too long, she was bored by the time Rettasu showed up, apologizing for being late and saying she had an unexpected 'customer'. Ichigo sighed and walked over to Masaya.
"All the mew mews are accounted for," she smiled. Masaya could tell she wasn't satisfied.
"Keiichiro just called," his wife's expression lightened at his words, and he reluctantly continued, "to say that Ryou might need more convincing than he thought. So they'll be a little late."
"They already are a little late," Ichigo sighed. "Oh well, I guess I should be greateful Ryou's coming at all."
"Keiichiro supposedly had to make some sacrafuces to attend as well," Zakuro told the reunion moderators, "so be happy he's coming back, too."
"I am," Ichigo spoke reassuringly, "but I kind of figured he'd find a way to get here. Ryou, however, is slightly on the immature side and still doesn't want to accept that I'm not his."
"True. Minto still calls me 'onee-sama', but she's tried a few times to make it more that that."
"Huh!" Ichigo blushed, "you mean Minto-kun is... gay?"
"Or at least halfway there," Zakuro tilted her head, "you never noticed?"
"I just thought she was obsessed with you..."
"She is, but she makes it seem like a sisterly love. I can understand how you got confused. True, she looks up to me, but there's so much more to it than that."
"Wow. I thought I was the only one with a surprise today."
"Careful, Ichigo," Masaya put in, "you have a tendency to let things slip out."
"Yeah I do," Ichigo grinned. A limo pulled up. "Oh, good, Keiichiro and Ryou won't be as late as they thought."
"Keiichiro and Ryou are here!" Purin unneededly announced. Rettasu and Minto followed her to the newly arrived vehicle, and met up with Masaya, Ichigo, and Zakuro who were also heading to meet the men.
"Ryou," Ichigo hugged the blonde, "I'm so glad you came. I've missed you."
"You have?" Ryou blushed, then hugged her close. Masaya held in his jealousy for Ichigo's sake. "I've missed you, too."
"You've gotten taller," Ichigo giggled.
"How do you know you haven't just been shrinking?"
"Oh, Ryou," Ichigo laughed, "please tell me this means you've put it past you."
Ryou nodded, "I have."
"Great," Ichigo hugged him once more, "I'm so happy to hear that."
A rouse of 'ahem' came from the others. Ichigo looked over to see a woman very similar to herself , only with blue hair the shade that Minto's turned when she transformed into Mew Minto, and soft, almost lavender eyes.
"Oh," Ryou let go of Ichigo and walked over to the other woman. "Momomiya Ichigo, meet Aoi Kiichigo."
"A pleasure," Ichigo offered her hand. Kiichigo smiled and shook it. "Are you Ryou's girlfriend?"
"I am," Kiichigo's voice was another attribute she and Ichigo shared. Masaya was the first to notice that notice that she resembled Ichigo even more when she smiled... if that was even possible. Ichigo was suddenly the jealous one.
"Alright, now that everyone's here, I can make my announcement!"
"Actually, Ichigo," Ryou interrupted, "there's something I need to tell you and the girls."
"Can't it wait?" Ichigo tried to be nice, "I've been waiting two weeks for this!"
"And I've been waiting four years to tell you what I have to say."
"Stop exaggerating," Ichigo scoffed.
"He's not exaggerating," Kiichigo spoke. "He's told me everything about you girls and what he has to say is important."
"Ichigo," Masaya pulled Ichigo close enough so he could whisper, "I know our news is big, but why don't you be nice and let Ryou talk first?"
"What!" Ichigo snapped. Masaya would never side with Ryou so this had to be because Kiichigo said something. Ichigo growled softly, "I am Momomiya Ichigo, the one and only, nya"
"Uhh, Ichigo," Masaya blinked, "your-"
"I'm what!" Ichigo hissed.
"No, that's not..." Masaya stopped when his wife noticed a familiar black tail curled around her leg.
