More fluff…..more….um... I'm not good when it comes to fluff. I'm just not talented. Huck I don't even think I'm gifted with the talent of writing…I just like too because I like to daydream a lot and I forget them. So I write them down. But I'll try to have more fluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew

Opening the Past

Chapter Eight: Not knowing

When I got home it was about four in the morning and I was about to collapse. The Ichigo's where all sleeping away there nightmares and I was the one having to deal with them. I stumbled through the huddle of sleeping bags and plopped down on my bed. Fully dressed I kicked the covers back and snuggled inside. Not caring what went on in the world. Just chances to go on in life….and try to get rid of my nightmares.

When I woke I was greeted by a pair of large brown eyes. I shrieked and jumped back. My back pressed against the wall right beside the window. Ichigo One was kneeling beside my bed, her head tilted to the side and a look of wonderment on her face. Three was standing a few feet from her; her arms folded over her chest, a raised eyebrow, looking at me. Two was beside her, hands on her hips a grin on her face. I noticed they were all dressed.

"I never knew you snored," spoke One. I looked down at her.

"What?" I asked. She slightly smiled.

"You snore." Two butted in. "It was quite amusing. I mean you even drooled on your pillow." I could see she was holding back a gruel fit of laughter.

"Nice." Was all Three had to say as she turned and left the room. I guess she could be sarcastic at times too.

"And weren't you wearing that yesterday?" asked Two. I jumped down off the bed and went right up to Two. I knew what she was going to say and I was going to stop her before she could. I stomped on her white shoes as hard as I could with my brown boots. She yelped, leaping back, grabbing hold of her toe and hopping about.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" she rambled as I went to my closet yanked an outfit off its hanger and stomped out into the hall way. Slamming the bathroom door closed.

When I left the rest room I was dressed and ready in my school uniform. I jumped down the last four steps as I hurried down stairs and went into the kitchen. I started rummaging through the cabinets and grabbed myself an orange.

"Where are you going?" Ichigo Three was at the kitchen table reading a magazine as she drank hot tea and a bowel of cream of wheat. Weird combination if you asked me.

"School." I started leaving the kitchen grabbing my bag off the counter. "Don't leave the house!" I called back as I thought better. Three chuckled.

"Don't worry we won't leave. For the first time Two is tired of fresh air and wants her beauty sleep. Kish is coming over later today to spend time with One." I turned back around and pocked my head back into the kitchen. Eyeing her.

"You remember the numbers I gave you guys?" She slightly smiled to herself.

"Of course I remember. It's not something that's easy to forget. Anyway it has its usages. It keeps you from getting confused." I stepped further into the kitchen.

"And you're not upset about it?" She turned to face me.

"I'm not the type to get all raveled over something as senile as that. Two just has a problem because she was second in stead of first." I grinned to myself.

"Yeah…my way off getting back."

"Getting back for what?"

"Bye!" I called as I rushed out the kitchen and out into the fresh air. I twirled around twice and darted towards the street. Half way there I ran into Miwa and Moe standing at a cross walk. I called to them. I hadn't seen them in so long it felt as if they never existed.

"Hay Ichigo," said Miwa.

"I'm surprised you're not late" said a teasing Moe. I smiled back at them.

"I'm just as surprised as you are." I said half laughing. Even though on the inside I wanted to drop dead on my feet. No matter how free I now felt. It couldn't mask the fact that I had gone to sleep at four in the morning and woken up at seven. Wow…only three hours of sleep. How I'm I ever going to live through today's studies.

Later

Being in class again gave the feeling of normality. After becoming a mew mew and all and spent the better part of a week with three other versions of yourself from other dimensions. I was worn out. And being back in school seemed to feel as if everything was healing back to how it was when I was just a normal girl. Even if it was just for these seven hours.

Later

When the bell rang for lunch Miwa and Moe were partly laughing at me. I had gotten caught by the teacher sleeping in class and not only that I was talking in my sleep. Mumbling stuff like "Two leave me alone….Why are you guys messing in my stuff…Get away Kish…Three could you get that for me…." I was so embarrassed I didn't know what I would do. My teacher said if I kept at it I might actually get an A in her algebra class.

"You kept calling out those same numbers it was funny." Said a perky Moe. I glared at her.

"It's not funny. I didn't get to sleep last night tell four. And I still managed to get up early."

"Wow. You did that. I wouldn't be able to lift myself off my bed. Yet alone still go to school." Miwa

"Why were you up so late anyway?" Moe.

"Um…nothing really. I just had some stuff to deal with. You know loosing things." I said nervously. They both raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yeah right." Miwa

"As if, Ichigo." Moe "We know your lying to us."

"I am not!" I retaliated. Moe smiled.

"Don't worry Ichigo. We're used to your lame excuses." I glared at the both of them before I slapped my tray down on my desk and left the room. I wasn't that hungry anymore.

I decided to roam the halls for a while. Just to get my head clear. It was quiet and the sun light eagerly spilled through the windows. It had me feel better but I still was worried a bit about the other at my house. When I headed down the stairs I spotted Masaya coming the opposite way. I stopped. He looked up at me and smiled. I used to love that smile….but something has changed.

He came up to me.

"How have you been? You haven't called me." I clasped my hands behind my back. Smiling as brightly as I could.

"Sorry. I was kind of busy keeping the house straight while the parents are gone and you know working at the café and all…" He stood on the step in front of me and kissed me lightly on the checked. I tried to keep the smile on my face.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be eating lunch?" He asked.

"Well I was but I just wasn't that hungry. I felt like walking around instead. Just to get the feel of school back running through me." That sounded pretty stupid. He looked kindly down at me.

"That was the very same thing I was doing." Of course you where. "Want to walk together?" How could I refuse?

"Sure…I'd…lo- like that." He took hold of my hand. And we headed towards the court yard. We walked in silence but Masaya was grinning all the while. It made my face burn. But not from embarrassment…something else.

It was as if everything I had felt for Masaya was slowly draining away. And I couldn't understand why. As if every feeling I had for him was false and could no longer hold up to a fake belief. I could remember strongly how badly I was crushing on him and how happy I was when he agreed to go with me to the museum. I had been so eager then…just to hold him hand…to see him smile, just to be near him. Bu just as soon as it started it was interrupted by becoming a mew. But at the same time our relationship moved forwards. And I was thoroughly enjoying it. And as each day went by my feeling for him grew stronger but….how could they have just stopped all of a sudden. How could I suddenly feel this dought?

"You know I was really hoping that we could go someplace together sometime." I popped up my head. Coming back to reality. I blinked a few times.

"What?"

"I was hoping that we could go on a trip together some day. Just you and me. Maybe by a lake or something. Spend the day." It took me a moment to nod and smile.

"Sure." Sure! How could I be saying sure? I should be screaming and jumping up and down. Swinging my arms around him and saying. I'd love to. But no I wasn't doing that. I didn't want to do that. How could everything change? As he continued to talk I just concentrated on his face. The way his mouth moved, the shape of his face, his eyes, how happy he seemed to be enjoying what ever conversation we were supposedly having. I looked down at my hand in his. It didn't give off that same feeling anymore. I no longer…felt the same. I sighed. Not knowing what was going on.

When the bell rang both of us looked towards the school.

"Well have to go. See you later Ichigo." He asked hopefully. I looked at his face. How happy he looked. How cute he was. I couldn't do anything but slightly smile.

"Maybe tomorrow." I said feeling drained. He touched my arm.

"See you then." He then turned and headed back to wards the school building. I watched as the wind picked up and lifted leaves into the air. They were drifting past him. And my hair was blowing into my face. I didn't even bother to hold it back. As I steadily disappeared. I knew what had changed. I looked down at the grass as it swayed like waves around my feet. I looked back up.

"I no longer love you." I softly whispered as I caught the last glimpse of him vanishing into the building.

Later

Walking home I felt depressed and uncertain. Realizing you no longer feel the same way towards a person is one thing. Telling them is another. I shock my head. I should have told him today but it didn't feel right…not at this moment…not today. I was already tired as it was. I felt as if I was losing myself.

At the café I decided to help Ichigo One was tables and serve customers. I didn't feel like saying much and mostly stayed away from everyone else. This was one of the few times Zakuro had time to work so she was at the cash register.

I worked the better part of the afternoon feeling out of it. I just wasn't in the mood for much of anything. I just felt down. Cleaning the table off next to the table Mint sat; she raised her cup and sipped.

"Sit down, Ichigo." I stopped

"Huh?" Mint put her cup down. Looking at me.

"Sit next to me. Something's bothering you and I want to know what." I looked at her for a moment before I slapped down the rag and pulled up a chair beside Mint and sat down.

"So what's wrong?" She asked eyeing me. My elbows propped against the table and my hands buried in my hair.

"Not much. I think I'm just tired lately. Maybe stress."

"Ichigo your almost always stresses. And something is bothering you. And I have a strong feeling of what it's about." She raised her cup back up to her face. I looked up at her half glaring.

"What do you think it's about then?" I asked.

"Masaya of course." I frowned. "It's always Masaya. But I thought it would stop after you guys officially started going out." I removed my hands from my hair and sat up. Slumping against the chair.

"It's about him but not in them way you might think."

"So what is it?" I sighted.

"I don't think…I don't like him anymore." Mint's cup dropped from her hands and right before it hit the table she caught it. Her eyes never leaving my face, jaw open.

"You've got to be lying. I mean you always have like him. You followed him like a love sick puppy. You'd wipe the dung of his shoes with your hair if it would have him smile that dazzling smile of his at you. You'd –

"Ok! Ok! I get the point!" I slumped even deeper in my chair. "It's just that my feelings seemed to have changed that all. It was just kind of like a crush that blows off after a few months….a really….really….long ….crush." Suddenly a sneer came to Mints face.

"I think I know what it is." I looked up at her. She raised the cup back up to her lips. Her eyes keeping their gaze on me.

"What do you mean you know?" I could see her lips curl into a smile around the brim of her cup.

"You like someone else that's why." Frowning I pulled back in my chair.

"Like someone else. What are you getting at?" Her eyes were practically glittering as she set her cup down.

"You like Ryou don't you?" I felt my face burn so strong it was as if my skin would fall off.

"No I don't. I don't like that jerk!" Mint could no longer even drink her tea. She pushed it aside and leaned over towards me. Grinning so broadly I thought her face would creak.

"You do. We all knew it. You guys fight as if you were married. Have you ever seen the way you two look at each other at times? I mean it's out there in plain view!" I made a face.

"We do not. I don't look at him in any way. I never have."

"Oh, cut the act, Ichigo. We all know it. It's as obvious as when you liked Masaya. Except you just didn't admit to it."

"Is this supposed to be some twisted way of making a best friend feel better?" I snapped, glaring at her. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Ichigo what other reason would you have not to like Masaya any more. I mean after you guys stared dating all you called him was Aoyama – Kun. And then suddenly you start calling him Masaya again. As if you guys relationship had never changed. And you weren't as eager to go out on dates with him anymore. You seemed happier when Ryou forced you to stay the night shift. And you've been spending more time with him lately….doesn't that say anything in this?" We sat there in silence. As the fact tumbled around in my head like a washing machine. After a moment of the confusing and partly startling conversation. I rose from my seat and picked up the rag.

"Um…I've got work to do." As I turned and walked off I could just feel Mint's grin burning into my back.

I stayed in the kitchen for a while and washed dished while Three and Keiichiro were in-grossed in a conversation about the best way to make pastries. It appeared that Ichigo Three loved cooking as much as Keiichiro. I barley paid attention to the dishes. I such let my hands soak in the water for I was trapped in thought. I then lifted my hands from the water shook them and left Keiichiro and Three in their own world.

I stood at the top of the stair rail for a moment before I descended into the lab. Ryou was working on the laptop. I turned and looked at the computer. It was still frozen. Same numbers. But strangely…there were a whole lot more blinking. The machine was almost done. I knew because I helped fix it. All Ryou had to do was figure out how to get it to do what it did before.

I walked up to him. He seemed to not have noticed my presence. I watched him for a moment as he vigorously typed. I then draped my arms around his neck and placed my cheek at his shoulder. He stopped typing.

"What are you doing, Ichigo?" I didn't speak for a moment as I just laid my cheek on his shoulder…thinking.

"Just tired." He turned around in his seat. I let go of him as he looked at me. He seemed concerned.

"Are you sure you're all right? You said your head was bothering you the other day." I shook my head no. I looked down at the floor.

"Ichigo did something happen?" I guess I wasn't talented at hiding emotions. With out warning to him I got on his lap and rapped my arms around his neck again. Resting my head at his shoulder.

"Nothing is wrong…I'm just…tired." He sat there for a moment. He seemed uncomfortable. Slowly he rapped his arms around me and held me to him. I thought about him a moment before I closed my eyes.