Authors note: One thing I can say. They title doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story. I already know. I just couldn't think of anything and that was all I could muster to come up with.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew

Opening the Past

Chapter Nine: Getting to know

When I woke and found myself still in Ryou's lap. His arms draped around me. I sat there for a moment. Trying to remember how I got here. My cheek was on his shoulder, one hand rapped around his neck and the other hand rested on his chest. I blinked a few times. What had happened? It all then came to me. Everything. Masaya, Mint, Ryou. As I felt his chest rise up and down something came to me. I then lifted my head and looked up at him. He was still awake! My face turned red slightly as He looked at me with his ice blue eyes.

"So you're finally awake." He said. I leaned back slightly. The color in my face deepening.

"Sorry!" I said "I didn't mean to fall asleep." I looked down at my lap. I couldn't believe what had went over me. Why had I gotten into his lap anyway? I looked up to see he was smiling.

"No worry." That was…unexpected. I then got up off of him as he stood up. I was still slightly blushing. Still trying to comprehend what in the world had come over me. He turned to look at me.

"Don't worry Ichigo its fine." I tore my eyes from the floor and looked up at him.

"Do you still need any help?" He looked around.

"Not much. Keiichiro and I did most of the work that needed to be done yesterday." He said flatly. "But if you want to help I could find something for you to do." I smiled. I couldn't help it.

"I would like that."

I decided that I could take my cleaning skills and tidy up the lab. Keiichiro did a great job of keeping everything neat and orderly. But there were still areas with a lot of dust. A few times I would get distracted and look at the computer screen. It seemed that there were more numbers starting to flash every time I took a glance.

"Ryou?" He was inspecting the time machine.

"What is it?" He sounded a little agitated. I kept my eyes on the computer screen.

"Wasn't this computer frozen?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well before there were only three rows glowing. And lately there have been more numbers. Not the complete rows but just random. And it seems that every time I turn around another number starts to blink."

Before I knew it he was right behind me. I jumped.

"What!" I scooted back as he leaned his face towards the screen. He stared at it.

"What's going on?" He then started hitting keys and the three rows that were flashing before grew larger on the screen as if they were drawing closer to use. And it stopped when all the other numbers were blocked out. I didn't get any of it. Or why the computer suddenly unfroze after it's been that way for over a week. Ryou hit a combination of keys and the numbers moved back then started streaming down in rows. Dozens, millions! All of the numbers were zooming by and a good number of them were flashing.

And the way it looked this wasn't supposed to happen. Ryou ran is hand through his golden – blond hair. Looking at a lost. This was the second time.

"Want me to get Keiichiro?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Not right now Ichigo." He pressed a key. Suddenly there came that same loud zumming noise. The one from when the machine had acted up. It was loud, snapping, and then there was a spark as a finger of purple lightening shot out of the computer! Ryou leaped back as it arched towards the ceiling. Sizzling and crackling like fire works. It then split into five separate ones like a hand and reached right for me! I gasped. I couldn't even will myself to move. It felt as if I were frozen. The same thing that had happened last night.

"Ichigo! Get down!" I heard some one scream at me. But a force kept me down. And just when it was about to reach me. Ryou came out of no where and jumped right on top of me. We hit the ground hard as my breath was knocked out of me. Like a snake it struck the lab wall and sparks ignited all around. Ryou wrapped his arms around me as the sparks flouted to the ground. The lightening vanished.

Slowly Ryou removed his arms away from shielding my face. We both looked towards the computer. The numbers were moving in a never ending stream down the screen. Just pouring. And a lot of them were flashing. I couldn't believe what had just happened. My heart was pounding fast. For a moment I had thought I was a goner.

There was pounding as feet rushed down the steps. When we looked towards the stairs Keiichiro along with all the mews, One, Two, and Three were in front of them. Half of the labs lights had gone out and sparks were still drifting off the walls and hitting the floor. Ryou was still on top of me. When they looked at us. We leaped apart. Ryou getting to his feet and I was setting up on my knees on the floor. I didn't even have to guess. I knew my face was red.

Keiichiro was too worried about what had happened to notice. Three and Zakuro were to mature to care. Pudding was too young to truly understand, Lettuce was frightened that we had gotten hurt. One was standing next to Kish looking about. And Mint and Two were standing right next to each other. Mint grinning and Two looked as if she had seen the world of the dead rise up with the living. Her face was so livid I could just imagine what she would say when she managed to get her voice back. All ready my head ache from the other day was threatening to come back. Mint, I was fine with, she was my best friend out of all the mews. Two…she was going to be trouble later.

"What happened!" Asked Keiichiro as he stepped further into the lab. Ryou had regained his expressionless tone and had his arms crossed over his chest. How could he act so calm! I WAS ALMOST KILLED JUST NOW BY SOME…..STUPID STANGE LIGHTING! And he's standing there explaining it all as if it was nothing but a miner melt down. I was fuming. I couldn't believe it. He was truly the most highly glorified jerk I'd ever get the displeasure to know!

After Ryou had fully explained what had accrued with the computers he had only mentioned that it happened to strike towards me. I was still kneeling on the floor. It was all I could do to keep my self from rising and kicking him hard below the belt. I was glaring intently at him as Keiichiro went up to the computer and looked at it for a moment. He stepped back a bit. Looking deep in thought.

"Well then, were going to have to stay clear of it. At the same time of figuring out what in the world just happened." He turned to me a look of deep concern on his face. "Ichigo are you sure you're all right?" I nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine. But I think I'm going to go home for the night. I had enough for one day!" I said as I rose to my feet and went towards the stairs. And just as my foot reached the first step Keiichiro called out.

"And Ryou maybe you could walk her home. Just to make sure everything goes alright." I froze. And I mental vision myself taking Ryou by the neck and strangling him to death!

A few minuets later we were walking through the park towards my house. I was at least twenty feet away from him. I was practically stomping as I marched my way down the path. I wasn't sure why I was mad but then…I was made a lot lately.

After about four minuets of this Ryou sighed loud enough for me to hear him.

"What's wrong with you now, baka." He asked. So much for being nice. I stopped and glanced over my shoulders. My deaths glare aiming at him.

"Don't call me that. And yes there is something wrong." I then turned forwards and continued to stomp/march/walk.

"Aren't you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"No!" I called not looking back at him.

"Stupid Strawberry." I heard him say under his breath. I whirled back around.

"What did you just call me?" I said as I marched right back to him. "It's your fault I'm upset in the first place! You massive jerk!" I yelled at him. He arched an eyebrow.

"Massive jerk? Wow, great come back." He said, his arms crossed over his chest. My face went red, but not from embarrassment.

"Maybe you should start having some emotions! I bet you could find a few on sale at the mall! But if not you could just create artificial ones with that great mind of yours!" He looked at me with a glare so harsh that it had me chock. Shoot! It was scarier than Two's. I stepped back then forced myself to turn around and continue to walk.

Ryou stopped talking as we continued in uttermost silence. The stomping of my feet long since turned into soft stepping. I felt bad. How could I have said that to him? Now I felt like I was the one turning into the true jerk…of you could call a female a jerk. I stopped. Letting him catch up by a few more steps before I turned around and looked up at him. He stopped a few feet away from me. Seeing his face made me feel even worse I bit my lip for a second. Then stopped.

"Ryou….I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. No matter how upset I was that wasn't called for." I said it, refusing to take my eyes off his face. He stood there for a moment till the look in his eyes faded. I let out a breath. That was good. He then sighed.

"It's ok Ichigo." He said sounding for the first time a little exhausted. I blinked a few times as he started to walk. As he past me. I looked up to the sky and saw it. That rip was back again. But in a different spot. Its frazzled edges seemed to hiss with electric power. I grabbed hold of Ryou's upper arm.

"Come on." I said trying to sound natural pulling him along as I smiled at him. It wasn't a fake smile either. But the feeling of anxiety I was afraid wasn't fake. I glanced quickly back up at the sky. Something was really wrong.

The rest of the walk home I was in a lighter mood. But I still was worried that Ryou might notice the sky. He had an annoying knack of noticing things you didn't want him to. The whole walk I held on to his arm. But I didn't notice tell we reached my front door. I took my hands away. Guessing he wanted his arm back by now. I glanced down at the ground. Why was I so nervous?

"Thanks a lot for taking me home, Ryou." I said with a small smile. The aggravation I had felt earlier long gone. He then turned heading back down the drive of my house. But a thin sliver of the colorful opening was visible through the tree's canopies. I sucked in my breath as I jolted forwards and grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back before he could completely turn around. But I kind of pulled a little harder than I intended. For he fell over, I stumbled and my back hit the front door. He balanced himself from falling and his face was just an inch away from mine.

My breath caught. That was probley the most stupid thing I would do this week. He looked into my eyes. His ice blue orbs looked as if they were cut out of the sky on a beautiful day in winter and given to him as a gift before he was borne. My heart was pounding. Why was it pounding? Why was I blushing? Why in the world I'm I asking myself theses stupid questions!

A few agonizing moments sweep past before he pulled himself straight upright and cleared his throught. I took a breath but something in me wished he done different.

"Um…well, see you later." He then turned and continued off. I stood there my back pressed against the door as I watched him leave. I took a quick glance up at the sky. The tare was sparkling slightly. I looked back down at Ryou as he disappeared down the path….He hadn't even asked why I had suddenly jerked him back. I sighed deeply as I lifted my hand and twisted the door knob. It pulled open. My back still pressed against the door. When I was fully inside. I lifted myself off and closed it shut. I then stood there in the unlighted house and looked at the carpet.

I could barely see it because it was so dark. But still I wished Ryou had kissed me. And the fact that I had even had the thought hurt me deep inside. I hadn't even told Masaya how I felt yet. It was as if I was jumping to cheat on him just because my feeling weren't the same for him anymore….but that's wrong. I slid down to the floor and sat looking up at the ceiling. That's just wrong….I should tell him first.

Later

When the girls got back home I was in the kitchen with my head down on the table. My arms covering my face.

"Why are all the lights?" I heard one of them ask. But I couldn't tell there voices apart. They all sounded the same. Suddenly the lights buzzed on.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?" I lifted my head to be blinded by the light. I squinted as I held my hand over my eyes. They weren't used to it at the moment. It was then that I realized it was Three. She sat down across from me at the table and looked at me with concern. I was actually getting sick of that look. Even though it was great to know people cared about you. A pang shot through my chest….Masaya cared about me.

"No…I'm not." I placed my head back down on the table. I heard a pair of footsteps coming into the kitchen.

"Why is it so dark in this house?" From the way she spoke I knew straight off it was Two. "What's wrong with you?" She didn't sound that much like she cared.

"I think Ryou made her upset on the way home." I couldn't tell who said that…Three or One.

"No. I don't think so."

"Of course not." Two. "She would never get mad at Ryou! Not after what happened today. Him so called saving her life." I just knew she was going to bring that up! I lifted my head. The light still stung my eyes.

"Would you lay off it?" I grumbled. She crossed her arms over her chest. I then pushed back the chair and stood up. As I walked past them I suddenly heard One behind me.

"Hay would you like to watch a movie with us?" I turned around. She was holding up a movie rental. Two rolled her eyes.

"She made us go far out of the way just to rent a movie." One looked down at the tape in her hands.

"Well, the machine would be done soon and we would have to go back to our own dimensions. I've kind of gotten used to being with all of you and I just wanted to have a memory of all of us doing something together before the end." The room was silent for a moment.

"You mean…having bonding time…with yourself?" asked Three who was turned around in her seat so she could look at us. One put her hands on her hips.

"Well, we may all be the same person but we're all different in a way. Some cases appearance and defiantly in our taste in guys."

"You got that right." Interrupted Ichigo Two. One turned and glared at her for a moment before she continued.

"So it would be more like have quality time with your twin sisters than with different versions of yourself." I thought about it then a small smile curved at my lips.

"Sure we could do that." One's face brightened up to the point that it almost remained me of an over hyper Pudding. Three stood up.

"I'm in." Two shook her head.

"We really do have different taste so I would love to watch it. As long as it's romance." Three raised an eyebrow.

"You've got to be kidding me. It has to be action his I'm going to watch it." I tiled my head.

"I prefer movies that leave you with a good feeling at the end." I said. One's arm holding the tape dropped limply to her side as she frowned at all three of us.

"You know you all suck don't you." I started to laugh. And Three and Two soon came in afterwards. We ended up watching a comedy on TV. Something we all could agree with. The whole time we kept laughing and the more I laughed with them the better I felt. By the time it stuck midnight. We were in the kitchen with the lights out making smor'es over the stove burner. And as we took turns melting our marshmallows and chocolate Two started chasing One around when she made a moment about Masaya being to dense for her and she wanted someone more care free like her Kish-kun. It was funny the way Two blew up but the whole time she was chasing her she was laughing. By the end of it they had forgotten the argument and we just messed around. We then cut all the lights out in the house and chased each other around. By four in the morning we we had crawled into my bedroom. All dressed in our desired night attire. But even then they didn't go to sleep. The talked about what it was like at their own home and how they met Kish and Masaya. It happened to be that Three did have an interest in a guy but she wouldn't tell us. It was hard for to think of any one that would catch her attention but I was still happy for her.

As they continued to talk on the floor I sat on my bed and turned to look out my window. The sky ahead was hazy with stars. As if magic dust was thrown over it and hung there. I smiled to myself as I rested my elbow on the window ledge my hand against my cheek. Listening to bits and pieces of their conversation. I realized then…that when they were gone….I would really miss them.

End Chapter Nine: Getting to know. I tried some fluff in the these last two chapters but I'm struggling. I'll still try to place in some more scenes along with some between One and Kish. The next chapter is going to be when the trouble starts called Beautiful Scares – Beloved Kitten