I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew.

"If you two are done, there are a few things we should discuss," Pai's voice announced, startling Ichigo and Kish. The two turned to see Pai standing with his back against the wall, apparently waiting patiently for them to notice him. Kish smirked as Pai continued. "We still have a small problem of Zakuro trying to kill Kish. We cannot assume that she will give up so easily..."

Kish waved Pai's thought off. "I figured that after Ichigo attacked her, Zakuro would be more than a bit confused. Besides...I've already come up with a plan," Kish said in a mysterious voice.

"Then do tell," Pai remarked, rolling his eyes at the thought.

Kish smiled secretly and laid out his plan to Ichigo and Pai.

Back on Earth...

Zakuro was on her nightly prowl through the streets of Tokyo. Ever since Ichigo had gone missing after the ambush at the abandoned jail, Zakuro could not stop searching for Ichigo every waking hour of the day. She volunteered for all the shifts that the Mew's normally shared, which she got without any questions asked. The Mew's knew that Zakuro felt responsible for Ichigo disappearing, and they all secretly wished that Ichigo would appear during one of Zakuro's nightly patrols. If nothing else, it would ease the pain that Zakuro was feeling; the guilt at losing Ichigo yet again was starting to destroy her.

"Damn...another night, and Ichigo is still not here," Zakuro moaned, finishing up the patrol at Tokyo Park. She was standing on a branch of the tallest tree in the park, watching the city as the sun began to rise. "...Ichigo...I'm sorry..." Zakuro said quietly, her purple hair falling over her face to cover the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Balling her fists, she slammed one into the trunk of the tree. "Damn it...yet another night without Ichigo. What if..." Zakuro muttered angrily, unable to finish her sentence.

After a few seconds, Zakuro wiped the tears from her eyes and jumped down from the tree. She started to walk towards the entrance of the park before a sudden bright light appeared behind her. Startled, Zakuro whirled around to come face to face with Kish. "You?' Zakuro cried out, grabbing for her whip. As she brought it around to strike Kish, Ichigo stepped out from behind Kish and stood between him and Zakuro.

Unbelieving, Zakuro stammered, "Ichigo? What are you doing here...and with him?"

Ichigo smiled before replying, "Zakuro...it's time to let the past be the past. Let Kish live in peace, he's sorry for what he did to me. I have forgiven him already."

Zakuro stared at Ichigo, then at Kish, then back at Ichigo. "You can't possibly be serious...remember what he did to you? Remember that he kidnapped you and tortured you? You can't just simply throw all of those actions away like they are nothing!"

Ichigo shook her head as she replied, " I will never forget what he did to me...but I can forgive what he did. Do you not remember what you did to him?" Zakuro was speechless as Ichigo continued, "Kish and I are...well, we've moved on from that painful experience. So please Zakuro...allow Kish to stay on Earth with me."

For several minutes, Zakuro had a look of absolute rage, from flames in her eyes to her hands clinching and releasing imaginary objects. Finally, Zakuro took a deep breath.

"Fine...on one condition. If Kish ever so much as lays a finger on you that causes even the slightest discomfort to you, then I will rip his skin from the bone and let him die a slow and painful death," Zakuro declared.

As Kish gulped, Ichigo chuckled nervously, "if that's what it takes to get you to forgive Kish, I'm sure he would agree to the contract."

Sighing, Kish closed his eyes as he pronounced, "I shall allow Zakuro to skin me alive if I shall dare harm a single hair on Ichigo's head...and I swear it on my life and honor."

Zakuro eyed Kish for a few silent moments before nodding her head. "Fine. Seeing as how Ichigo is back now, I guess I don't need to keep worrying about you."

As Zakuro turned to walk home, Ichigo bowed and said in a almost silent voice, "thank you Zakuro for understanding. And thank you for caring so much."

Shrugging, Zakuro walked away, secretly smiling at the thought of Ichigo being safe and in good health. After Zakuro left, Ichigo turned to Kish.

"How did you know that she wouldn't kill you with me here?" Ichigo questioned Kish.

Kish laughed nervously. "I didn't. I took a gamble that she would care more for you than she hated me. It worked out, didn't it?"

Ichigo stared at Kish unbelieving, thinking that he was bluffing. Apparently, he wasn't. "You risked your life...on a hunch?"

Kish shrugged, "basically, yes."

Ichigo stood still for a few seconds before smiling. "Sounds like something you would do."

Nodding his head, Kish closed one eye and looked into Ichigo's eyes. "So...what do we do now?"

Thinking for a second, Ichigo replied, "oh, I have a few ideas."

Not getting the subtle hint, Kish asked, "what ideas?"

Laughing, Ichigo kissed Kish fully on the mouth. "Why don't we just go back to the way things were before, except this time, we can...make out instead of fighting when it's just you and me."

Grinning, Kish stated happily, "my kind of fight. But...I have a better idea." With that, Kish leaned in and kissed Ichigo in the most loving way that she had ever experienced. Ichigo kissed back, officially declaring them boyfriend and girlfriend. And neither one of them would have it any other way.

Sweet, finally finished this story after two years. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed my final Tokyo Mew Mew chapter that I will ever write. Thanks again!