DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TOKYO MEW MEW.

Ok, I did a fast update, because for some reason, I REALLY love writing this story. It's longer than usual too. Four pages--which is alot for an update in one day.

VALEDICTION
Chapter 1 – Fake Smile

Ichigo's POV


I watch as Masaya boards the plane. As soon as his figure disappears from my sight, I feel like a part of me is missing. I feel a great pain in my heart, a bottomless pit.

And by the way Masaya acted just now, I'm not sure if it will ever fill back up.

Masaya...

Before we arrived at the station, I felt sure of our love. I felt it could never be broken, no matter how far apart our physical bodies were. Yet as soon as we sat down, I felt tension thicker than molasses. It seemed to form a barrier between us, and I longed to break it. I could tell Masaya felt nervous, so I tried sending him reassuring looks.

I think I made it worse.

He seemed even more out of it, and I know I made a bad move. My heart was screaming for comfort and touch, so I did it. I leaned my head on his shoulder. I knew I should say something, but I couldn't find the right words, so we stayed silent. And for the moment I was content.

"Flight 182 for England," boomed a stranger's voice, one that I feared would haunt my nightmares. As if to confirm my fears,

Masaya rose. "That's my flight," he droned in monotone, something I knew was not characteristic of the Masaya who loved me.

Perhaps that was saying a bit much-that he didn't love me-but right now I felt the most vulnerable and this new attitude wasn't helping.

I wouldn't let go, though I knew it troubled him more. My eyes brimmed with tears, I fought to hold them back as I cried into is sleeve, my voice slightly muffled by the fabric, "I love you Masaya. I love you, love you, love you. Forever till the end of time."

Masaya gave me a sympathetic look, and we embraced. This was what I longed for! He really loved me! Happiness surged throughout my every being. Tell me you love me, that's all I need!

"I know, Ichigo, I know." And a final squeeze.

...What?

His back faced me, and I never saw his face again.

I felt like my body was frozen, I couldn't move or speak.

At least...tell me goodbye?

"FAREWELL MASAYA!" I managed to scream as loud as I could. But he did not move, he had no reaction at all. Was it not loud enough?

Too late, he's gone.

I, Ichigo Momomiya, have cried countless times. But never like this.

The tears wouldn't stop. I tried wiping them with my sleeve, but soon they were soaked. A woman nearby must've taken pity to me, for she handed me a handkerchief. "Don't worry, dear, they'll be back," she whispered comfortably. She was a nice lady, but it didn't really help. "Thanks," I murmured, trying to smile, but the tears were still flowing. "Take care, dear," she spoke one last time before she left for her flight.

My mind was on autopilot, to say the least, as I wandered over to the bench where we sat.

Why am I getting so worked up about this? Just because of this doesn't mean he doesn't love you.

So here I am, all alone, weeping and sobbing like a crybaby in some airport. I'd be embarrassed, but I'm too busy being depressed.

I lie there from anywhere around three minutes to three hours. I don't know, time doesn't seem to matter. As I finally pick myself up and start the long walk home, I try to erase all signs of sadness from my face. I don a cheerful, fake smile and arrive home.


Masaya's POV

The flight is long, but convenient for me. I need time to think. Think...truthfully. Perhaps I should start at the beginning.

At first, I had absolutely no interest in Ichigo. She was just one of those clumsy incompetent females that were in my crowd of fans. Does that sound mean to you? Well, I did say I would tell this truthfully.

Some of my friends thought it would be fun to see how long Ichigo could stay with me if I took her on weird, unusual, and just plain awful "dates". We planned some of them together, and we laughed. By the time the first "date" came around, I was curious to how she would react.

She was less...clingy as I expected her to be, which I guess was a good thing. But then the clumsiness kicked in and what happened? I got an extremely unwanted kiss.

The jokes went on for awhile, and she lasted longer than we thought she would. It was sometime later when a breaking news report was shown on air. One that changed my life.

One of them bore a striking resemblance to Ichigo. Sometime later, I "accidentally" called that Mew Mew, Ichigo. She said that was her name but...she was so confident. So...unlike Ichigo.

The clues fit in, and I was faced with an emotional conflict. What do you do when you love one part of a person, but not the other?

Yes, that's right. I love Mew Ichigo.

Not Ichigo.

Mew Ichigo.

And ever since Deep Blue was defeated, I lost the one I loved. It was...painful to say the least. I continued with the "wedding" with an ounce of hope left. Maybe I could get her back. Maybe.

Of course, at the end of the ceremony, her cat ears popped out. I was ecstatic inside. But she would not turn into Mew Ichigo; she was just Ichigo with cat ears protruding from her head, and nothing more to me. And the sudden happiness faded away as quickly as it came.

So what do I do?

I think I'll just have to let it go. That was the whole reason for the sudden flight to England, really. To sort out all my thoughts, maybe find a love that I can actually have. Study animals? Don't think I'd travel that far just for some animals.

I'm here to start a new beginning. Now just to figure out how to tell Ichigo.


Hope you like! Please give ideas or how you want story updates (refer to prologue) in your reviews. Thanks, all of you!