Hi, um these are the japanese names, so translation;

Zoey-Ichigo
Mark-Aoyoma
Corina-Mint
Kikki-Pudding
Renee-Zakuro
Dren/Kish- Kisshu
Briget- Lettuce
Wesley- Keiichiro
Elliot- Shirogane Ryo

Disclaimer;I don't own any of these characters, and if someone wants to steal this story i don't really care, but if you are going to make it a kisshu/ichigo story please don't tell me. I hate those.

please do enjoy

Aoyoma sat next to her all evening. They had told her mom that it was a studying sleep over at work and requested 3 nights of intense studying with friends. Her mom had been skeptical but had agreed when she learned that Keiichiro would supervise. The other Mews stopped in throughout the afternoon and evening but Ichigo had yet to awaken.

Shirogane had looked in several times, and stayed with her when Pudding dragged Aoyoma out for food. Aoyoma didn't eat much and returned to Ichigo's side rather quickly.

Shirogane left the room to find Lettuce standing there, fidgeting.

"How's she doing?" Shirogane smiled kindly.

"No change but at least she's resting instead of out there" Lettuce ducked her head down in agreement. Then her eyes filled with tears.

"I just don't know what to do. Ichigho's so hurt and she was out there all alone, all day, and I want her to be okay..." Shirogane looked at her, feeling distinctly helpless. He finally put his hands on her shoulders to try and calm her down. Lettuce just dashed into his arms, clinging to his chest. His arms settled around her shoulders as he let her calm down. He slowly led them away from Ichigo's room and into a back room with an extra table and chairs.

"You know, when I first met Ichigo, we nearly mowed each other over. Then I tried to hurt her and Mint. And she forgave me and helped me anyway. She was my first true friend. I didn't know what being a friend or having a friend meant until I met her. What can we do?"

"I-...I really don't know. When I first met her she was trying to protect Aoyoma even without powers. She trusted me, and agreed to help me, even when I wasn't sure this could work. She believed in this goal from the start. All she's got from it has been pain and complications. I doubt I could ever re-pay her."

"None of us could." The two spun towards the door. All the Mews and Keiichiro were there looking at them.

"Before Ichigo we were sure our plan would be a long, slow up-hill battle but with her, we are actually enjoying our days."

"I lived with my ballet, without my brother or any close friends"

"meeting Ichigo-onee-chan made me happy and found me a job so Pudding has money na no da"

"Her persistence is really admirable." Keiichiro, Mint, Pudding, and Zakuro looked at Lettuce and Shirogane. "Maybe its time we paid her back some."

Kiiechiro and Shirogane looked at each other. "Remember the first time she fought?"

"I'll give you a taste of cat spirit nya"

"Yeah and when my Mickey became a Chimera Animal."

"We helped each other because we're friends. Let's do our best together from now on"

"She's always been my friend from the moment we ran into each other."

"I'm really sorry too. Are you alright?" "sorry for acting nosy, but I couldn't put up with it, and I acted without thinking"

"I killed who you were, the shy timid girl. So don't say you can't make friends any more. okay? Since we're already friends, right? Nya"

Lettuce and Mint looked at each other.

"these two are my friends."

"And when Pudding meet her na no da."

"That was great!"

Zakuro nodded as she thought of when she was first joining the team.

"Zakuro-san...run"
"Why?"
"you're a friend"

"but how Zakuro-sama?"

"Lets start with trying to back trace how this happened."

"We can't do that until Ichigo wakes up na no da."

"Then we shall give her privacy until then." Zakuro turned to return to the tables that they had been cleaning before this little conversation.

Meanwhile up in the bedroom where Ichigo slept, Aoyoma was having similar train of thoughts.

He looked at her still face as he thought back to the first time she talked to him. He was so nervous that she wouldn't be like he thought, that she would be another girl like all the others, who would want to go to the mall or movie. No, not her. He smiled at the memory.

"I thought that you probably would like it, Aoyoma-kun If its okay with you, perhaps...Ummm...maybe this sunday we could..."

She was so cute, and so nervous. She couldn't have known he already was captivated. Neither of them knew what to say.

"Isn't it great that we have nice weather today?"

They must have said that same phrase three times that day. But it really was a nice day. He couldn't believe that the one person he had found that he wanted around him wanted to be around back.

"oh that's because I researched everything about you"

He looked at Ichigo. She knew so much about him, yet he had a hard time learning about her.

"I'm a Mew Mew." "A protector of Justice that wanders by."

She seemed worry that he would find something about her he wouldn't like. He was worried she would find someone else she would like. Someone more happy and chipper like her. That was what she deserved. And someone who could protect her.

"We're not doing anything wrong!"

He held her injured hand gently.

"Ichigo-"

000

She was in fetal position. Floating in this world was calming. There was no fighting, no danger...no pain. Ichigo looked around. It was very pretty here. She saw pretty pictures and glow. She relaxed. I like it here. Suddenly she was bopped on the head. Looking around, she saw no one.

BOP! There it was again. This time she looked up to see a black cat looking down at her. She reached out and cuddled the cat.

Kawaii! The cat meowed. She smiled at him. It is very peaceful here, isn't it?

Meow?

Do I want to stay here? I don't know.

Meow.

What do you mean, you picked?

Meow

My life? My life. I wonder. She thought about her life. She remembered the Mew Mews. Miwa and Moe came into her mind. They would want to talk tomorrow. And Aoyoma...

She looked up. If she stayed here she would never see Ayoma again. Or her parents or her friends or anyone. She would be alone.

No. I don't want to be alone. NO! I never want to be ALONE!

000

Ichigo slowly opened her eyes to see Aoyoma sitting next to her. He was resting his head on her lap. She sat up slowly, to not wake him. It was dark outside and the clock next to her bed read 1:38. She looked down at Aoyoma. He was frowning in his sleep. She gently slipped her hand under his head and supported it while she crept out of bed. She had to go to the bathroom. Leaving him sleeping on the bed, she went to the bathroom and grabbed a glass of water. Her hand still hurt and she could feel her clothes grate against her cuts but everything seemed to be healing. She sighed sadly as she remembered how much of her body Aoyoma saw. He would never want a woman with such a scarred childlike body. Slowly, for that was how she did everything when thoroughly injured, she inspected her injuries in the bathroom. Most were the normal minor scratches. She had amean one on her collarbone that angled towards her chin. She would have a hard time hiding that one. There were other large ones, one on her left shoulder, good hand, and on her thigh. She could feel a bruise from the kick from Kisshu. WIncing, she washed out those that were ready for air. The rest she un bandaged and dried carefully. She had seen more bandages in the room. Gingerly, she left the bathroom and went up the stair. Keiichiro saw her at this point.

"Ichigo?" She nearly jumped out of her skin, but managed to barely sweak. Keiichiro smiled. "Are you alright?" She smiled and nodded. In a quiet whisper, she spoke to him.

"It's just a few scratches. The one on my neck and my wrist might be hard to hide, but the rest will be easy. I'm sorry to be such a bother. What happened after I passed out?" Keiichiro frowned at her. She was worried about hiding it. Exactly how many injuries had they missed on her over the months? He responded to her last question.

"We called your mother. She thinks you're here to study for three days. I'm supervising. THe others covered your shifts for the next few days so you can relax and recover. Expect an interrogation tomorrow though. They are quite determined to beat down your door at three, so go get more sleep." Ichigo nodded and went up the stairs, whispering a soft 'good night' to the brunette. Keiichiro looked after her in sadness. She was such a cheerful girl, so thoughtful, he wished it had been reciprocated earlier. He went down to the basement where Ryo was still working.

"Yo." Ryo just nodded. "She's fine. She'd on her way back to bed. I told her we'll wake her at three tomorrow." Ryo nodded.

"I already took care of the school." Ryo didn't say anything more, but Keiichiro knew he was relieved. He didn't think the blond would forgive himself if anything happened to the girls.

000

Ichigo went back upstairs and to her door. Placing the cup of water on the floor, she opened the door with her good hand. Before she could bend over to grab the water, though, she was pulled into the room. Aoyoma wrapped his arms around her, mindful of her injuries.

"Don't ever do that again!" His whisper was harsh with worry. He had awakened to find Ichigo gone and was frightened something had happened to her. When she returned he grabbed the only part of her shoulder that wasn't injured and pulled her into a desperate hug. Gently closing the door behind her with his foot, he pulled away to look at her.

"Ichigo, please, I woke and you weren't here. Please don't scare me like that again!" She looked at his fearful eyes. He hugged her again. This time she whimpered. He released her immediately. Seeing blood on her shoulder, collarbone, and hand he saw that she had removed the bandages to replace them. He picked up the bandages from the table nearby and gently lifter her hand, he wiped the blood off it. Giving her a quick look, he kissed it and then wrapped it. Ichigo stared in wonder as she, not only remained human since it wasn't on the lips, but he blushed as he looked shyly away. After he had wrapped the hand he looked at her shoulder. It was covered by the pajamas, which were now soaked in blood. He grabbed a towel off the end of the bed, left over from when they had first cleaned her injuries. He looked at her uncertainly. SHe was wavering. She had walked around quite a bit for her injuries. He wasn't sure she could do much more. But still, he wanted to give her her privacy. He saw her eyes flutter and his arm came around her waist to support her as she weakened. He made his decision. She couldn't loose any more blood.

"Trust me." His whisper entered her ear. SHe registored it and his hands ans he slowly helped her out of the top. She blushed but could do nothing as she was too weak to protest. She simply wrapped the towel around her body as he removed the shirt. He kept his eyes averted out of respect. She then was in a towel and night pants. He looked at her shoulder and, in the same manner as the previous injury, he wiped it, kissed it and wrapped it. She was leaning against the wall for support and he looked at the last cut.

When she felt his cloth wip her last cut, she felt like whimpering. It hurt, even with the gentle care he was giving. Then his lips followed. She sighed as she felt his kiss on her collarbone. He gently placed a bandage on her collarbone and gave it another kiss. He could feel her breathing increase and her hand grasped his sleeve. Looking up at her, her eyes were glazed and at half mast. Something in him, something that had awakened when he saw her faint, emerged. The need to protect this creature. It was a need so strong, so potent, he was desperate to act. He needed to show her. Show his angel. He grazed his lips across her neck and brought his hand up to support her back. Ichigo's breath caught in her throat at the sensation. She arched her head back to give him more access.

His butterfly kisses came up her neck and back to her ear as she pulled him tighter. She rested her cheek against his ear and his lips nibbled at her shoulder. Both watched her injuries. Aoyoma felt her waver again and pulled back. Hooking one hand under her knees, he picked her up. GEntly, he placed on the bed and then backed up to sit in his previous position. Ichigo grabbed him.

WHen she realized he was leaving, she grabbed his shoulder. She didn't want him to go. SHe wanted him here, with her. He looked at her eyes as they pleaded with him. With a sigh, his body lowered next to hers. They held each other close as Aoyoma saw Ichigo fall asleep. She smiled as she watched him through closing eyes.

"Aoyoma-kun..." Aoyoma kissed her cheek softly.

"Masaya" She smiled in her sleep. Masaya


A/N Hi. didn't think I would ever get this up. It has maybe one more chapter. ciao