Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew

Title: Opening Up.

Warnings: Maybe a slight bit of OOCness, characters ages have been changed ; so they're roughly all the same age apart from Akasaka-san and Ryou who're slightly older of course

Author: Mairi. (Dark Winged Angel Mairiel).

Proof Reader: Kaoru Saotome

Summary: The girls are told of the holiday plans, but not all goes according to Ryou and Keiichiro's idea. Ryou's determined to take Ichigo's mind off of what happened, so what happens when Keiichiro suggests that Ryou and Ichigo should go somewhere together?

Pairings: Ryou x Ichigo.

Chapter 5 – Not all plans go accordingly.

After a hard day's work the girls rested at a table, all having some tea that Keiichiro had made for them. Ryou had woken up a while ago and had come downstairs to sit with them all.

"We've had an idea for a holiday for a month if you lot are interested," Ryou said, getting them to change the subject.

"Oh? when?" Lettuce asked timidly.

"Maybe within the next couple of weeks?" he replied.

"Oh, I wouldn't be able to go, my parents are taking me on holiday in the next week or so," she sighed unhappily,

"I can't go either. I've got other business that I have to attend to," Mint said with a saddened face. Zakuro and Pudding were unable to go too. Keiichiro looked to Ryou, who was trying to hold back a really disappointed look. No one knew that he and Keiichiro were trying to make Ichigo feel a bit better. He thought for a moment; there was bound to be something he could do so he didn't end up having a disappointed Ryou Shirogane on one hand and a depressed Ichigo on the other. Then he clicked. Idea. He turned to Ryou.

"Ryou, why don't you and Ichigo go somewhere together?"

"Together, us?" Ichigo wondered out loud. She blushed slightly, not enough to be noticed. She considered how she and Shirogane would cope with being together for; god only knew how long it'd be if it was only the two of them going now.

"I'd think it'd be fun, Ichigo," Ryou said, smiling slightly. He hadn't expected Keiichiro to suggest that for him, he had indeed thought of asking Ichigo about wanting to go somewhere after the others said they couldn't go with them.

"Yeah you two should choose somewhere instead, it'd still be worth it," Mint smirked.

"Yeah, sure. We could talk about it later. I have to get going," Ichigo said quietly, getting up to get changed.

"Ichigo, do you want me to walk you home?" Ryou asked suddenly. Ichigo turned her head to him with a small smile and nodded.

"Sure," she said, then went off with the rest of the girls following her. Keiichiro still had a smile on his face when he turned to look at Ryou.

"Ryou, you should make your move soon. I know that the incident happened today but I don't think Ichigo wants to be alone, if you know what I mean. She could do with some company of a…certain kind, even if you're only hinting at it just now."

"Heh. I was going to wait until the holiday…but I guess I could lay down a few hints. I just hope what you say is correct. I don't want to upset her more."

"It'll be fine, trust me."

"Ne, Ryou…I'm ready," Ichigo said reaching the table again, she hadn't heard anything that had been said thankfully.

"Alright. Let's go, shall we? Catcha later, Keiichiro."

"Ne…it's gotten dark pretty quickly, hasn't it?" Ichigo said, striking up a conversation between them. She'd been thinking about Ryou quite a lot since he sorted Aoyama out. He was growing on her, but she didn't think he was interested in her; she thought he was just being nice to her. She pulled her coat around her a little tighter, shivering with the cold. Ryou noticed the movement and thought about making her a tiny bit warmer, if he could. He wrapped an arm around her waist, going slightly red in the face as he did so, and pulled her closer to him. Ichigo gasped slightly, and her eyes widened a little before a blush coloured her cheeks. She didn't look up at him so she never saw the same pink tinge grow across his cheeks.

"Didn't expect it to be this chilly on a summer night?" he asked, tightening his grip a little more on her waist. He was feeling uneasy for some reason. It felt like they were being watched. He decided to ignore it for now.

"No, I didn't," she replied, relaxing into his hold. She wasn't going to say it out loud but she felt safe, and she was enjoying being with him.

"So, do you have plans for tomorrow?" he asked, not actually realising what he just asked.

"Uh, I was suppose to go to the pictures with…but, that won't be happening anymore, I guess. So no, I don't have any plans for tomorrow."

"Aa, sorry I asked."

"It's okay, Shirogane-san."

"How about going somewhere tomorrow before the café opens?" he asked, looking down at her. Ichigo was quiet for a second or two, she was thinking that Ryou was just feeling sorry for her but something else told her that he was being serious and she should go along.

"Okay, where will we go?"

"You choose if you like."

"Could we go to the pictures? That movie that I was suppose to see with…" She couldn't bring herself to say his name now. "…It was a movie I've been wanting to see for a few weeks, since it came out."

"Sure, what time would you like me to pick you up?" he asked, as they stopped outside the front door of Ichigo's home. She looked up to him fully now, slipping out of the hold at the same time.

"Is ten okay?"

"Sure it is. I'll see you tomorrow then?" he confirmed, about to turn away. Ichigo nodded at him. He turned and only got a few steps before Ichigo hugged him from behind.

"Shirogane-san, thanks…for being there for me." This put a smile on Ryou's face. He turned to face her, still letting her hug him, and wrapped both of his arms around her and held her tightly.

"It's not a problem, Ichigo. I'll be there whenever you need me, remember that."

"I will, see you."

"Goodnight."

They both let go at the same time. Ichigo dove into her house and up to her room, her face bright red.

'Was I just… did he… were we… hugging?' she thought, panicking slightly. Her mind went back to just a little earlier. Had Ryou asked her out…? She couldn't believe it. She was feeling better than ever, and she was excited about tomorrow. She got changed quickly and went straight to bed, too tired to stay awake right now.

Ryou smiled to himself as he walked away, taking a glance at the house before continuing back to the café. He couldn't believe it either. He'd only thought about asking Ichigo about plans, and now he was going to be collecting her tomorrow morning and going to see a movie with her. Maybe he should make his move then; she didn't seem to mind the hug, after all.

He reached the café within fifteen minutes or so at his relatively fast walking pace. Keiichiro was still up and at the table, reading and drinking some tea. Looking up, he gave a welcoming smile to Ryou. "Hey, welcome back."

"Thanks."

"So, how'd the walk go?" he asked, his gaze returning to the magazine in front of him.

"What do you mean?" returned Ryou, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh come on, I can tell just by the look on your face."

"I managed to ask Ichigo if she wanted to go out tomorrow before we open up," he replied, a slight blush beginning to creep across his cheeks.

"Oh, where are you going to?"

"To see a movie, and then I don't know. Maybe I'll take her somewhere for eating."

"Fair enough. When are you leaving?"

"Ten o'clock in the morning. I'll get an early night I guess," he said taking a seat.

"Do you plan on making a move?"

"I'll try. She didn't seem to mind me hugging her or helping her to warm up."

"I see. Well, I hope it all works out, Ryou. I'll be up a while making some cakes for tomorrow."

"At this time of night, Keiichiro?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Alright. I'm going to head off to bed, then. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight."

Ryou yawned as he made his way up to the room. Taking his shirt off and discarding it on the chair, he did the same with his trousers, leaving him in his boxers. He set his clock alarm to seven and slipped under the covers after switching the light off. He closed his eyes and thought about the day he had ahead of him, and about who he'd be spending it with. Tomorrow was going to be fun.

woooooo another chapter done. ) Last chapter is number 6 BUT! (before you kill me o.o; ) i will be doing a sequel to this story (oh my bf is going to love me ) but for now, enjoy this one, also i've done up another story called "Bitter Sweet" I won't tell you what it's about, well not all of it let's just say there shall be a lot of Aoyama bashing

Aoyama: -.- Why me...

Ryou: YAY!

Me: hehehe Frying Pan, Chain Saaaw ooorrrr...death by bouncy ball? o.O

Ryou: CHAINSAW! xD

Me: Riiiight -.- spoil sport Ryou, i was wanting the bouncey ball o.o ti'd be funny >> anyhoo see you viewers next chaper D