Hello everyone!

I'm so sorry about how late this is...

thing is my comp broke .

but all is good! I bought a new one!!

well, on with the story!

Ichigo sat at a table in the back of the café. Sighing she lifted her foot up and rubbed it absent-mindedly sighing at a busy day of work. She smiled as Mint walked into the room, carefree from not working all day. Still, Ichigo didn't mind too much. She watched as Mint disappeared around the corner, to get changed out of her work uniform. She couldn't quite figure her out, she was a very wealthy girl and yet she subjected herself to long hours of work. Well, OK, drinking vast amounts of tea? Ichigo smiled again. She certainly knew where to find the weird ones.

A flashing light caught her eye and drew her attention to the table. Groaning she leaned forward and grabbed her mobile phone and looked through the message. Again it was another from Aoyoma, apologising for his rash departure and asking her if she wanted to go out again. Banging her head on the table at her predicament she had managed to gain the attention of Mint. Peering around the corner she watched Ichigo as she repeatedly slammed her head again the wooden surface.

"Ichigo?" she called out cautiously. Without waiting for a reply she advanced on the girl. "are you aright?" straining her ears she heard her mutter under her breath.

"why wont he leave me alone?" she whispered squeezing her eyes shut. Pulling out a chair, she sat down drawing the gaze of Ichigo.

"I guess your still getting advancements that you don't want?" at the sluggish nodding of Ichigo's head she started looking at her nails. "I take it you like someone else." Ichigo looked up at her at that. Did she like someone else? Her thoughts ran wild with countless images of her and Ryou. Covering her mouth with one hand, she held in gasp. Did she know really and honestly that she liked Ryou, even before she had made the connection herself? "of course you do, I mean, after all he is quite the looker." hiding her reddening face in her arm at Mints brash comment she sighed in defeat.

"but what am I going to do? I don't even know if Ryou likes me." she said, her voice dipping in her dispear. Hearing a quaint Hmm she looked up again at Mint and she could literally see the cogs turning in her head. Watching the small frown of thought disappear behind a bright beaming smile, Ichigo thought it reminded her slightly of a light bulb suddenly turning on. So bright you grimace with regret.

"well, its simple really. You play him." Mint sat back in her chair, obviously pleased with herself for coming up with such a smart plan.

"play him?" Ichigo frowned at Mint. "I don't think I'm really following you all that well, Mint." sighing Mint sat forward in her chair, placing her hands over Ichigo's.

"to find out if Ryou likes you without saying it so bluntly for him to understand you need to make him jealous of you." Ichigo leaned In towards Mint, as her voice quieted to a whisper.

"...make him jealous..." Ichigo repeated under her breath. Nodding Mint continued.

"Exactly. And who better to do so with the the wall sought after..." Ichigo gasped as the plot finally clicked in her head. Yes this could work out. Nodding in her excitement of the moment and let out a small squeal. "text him back now and tell him to meet you here straight away in the café. Ryou is still here, and he'll probably be in the front still." standing she left Ichigo to her messaging. Holding back the grin she felt tug at her lips, she continued to get changed. Of course, it would be left up to a a genius like herself to set the plan in motion...

Not fifteen minutes later Ichigo was standing in the front of the café. Sure enough Ryou was there. Hiding her excitement she tried not to stare at him too much. As the seconds pasted she couldn't help but wonder if her was looking at her, standing there alone in the middle of the floor, looking rather silly. Feeling her embarrassment come over her she stood even straighter. Could she feel his eyes on her back, watching her every movement. Unable to resist the temptation any more she began to look around when the front door opened, causing her too look at them. Sure enough anomaly was standing there, a big grin on his face, obviously happy in himself to be there. Running forward, a fake smile in place she took hold of his arm and casually looked over her shoulder, to see if her fawning over some other man bothered the Cold and Stern Ryou. As her gaze fell onto where he sat her heart fell. He was no longer there. Cursing mentally she turned back around to the man she now clung onto.

Immediately letting go of his arm she walked outside, a smile no longer present on her face.

"so, what shall we do now then?" Aoyoma's voice reached her ears. Freezing in her movements her heart sunk once again. Damn it! She had forgotten that she had said they could do something. Turning around, not even bothering to show him a smile she gave him the only answer she could be bothered with.

"you can walk me home." without waiting for a reply she set off, hoping he would take off in the other direction. To her luck, he didn't.

The walk home was a long one, filled with the non stop chatting from Aoyoma. Ichigo didn't really reply to him, the occasion sound seemed good enough for him before continuing on.

"...and then I was like 'But I've done all my homework so I deserve to go out to a party with my mates!' I mean, who did they think they are, my parents?" Ichigo finally stopped as she saw her house, not too far away in the distance.

"yeah, I see where your going with this but, my house is just down there." Ichigo pointed vaguely down the street. "so I'm really sorry but its getting late and my mother probably has dinner ready. But thanks, really, for walking me home."

"sure! Not a problem." as Ichigo turned around she heard his voice once again. "maybe we could do this again some time? Only a little longer, and maybe you talking a little more." he laughed, unsure of his words. Turning around to look at him Ichigo began to consider if it was really mean of her to do this to him. She looked at his innocent face, sure he was handsome but a little babyish. Then he smiled and Ichigo felt a tug at her heart. She smiled back at him and nodded.

"sure, I think that would be great." pausing a while she nodded and moved off into the distance, not quite sure of what she was going to do now, nor what these feelings in her were. Sure he seemed nice and all, and he was the person she was supposed to love in the end, was he not. And he really was good looking. Maybe she should just give him a chance. Turning around she looked and saw him still standing there. She saw his smile broaden, as if her turning around was unexpected. She waved at him, receiving a wave back and she resumed walking.

God, what have I gotten myself into.

Ryou watched her leave from his window. Somewhere in his mind he was saying it was a bit shady of him watching her leave like this. But after seeing her with that younger man he couldn't bare to sit there and watch them so he left, came up here, and watched them out of the window. In a way he was glad of this, because he saw her shun him away from her like he was nothing. Put one and one together he got two, and so came to the conclusion that the young man was no threat. In fact, it seemed Ichigo had him there to make Ryou jealous. He could almost laugh at the silliness of her games. Frowning as he turned away as the young man followed her he returned to his thoughts. In a way, Ichigo had succeeded. She had, some how, made him jealous. Only slightly so, but still. When he saw her with the boy, who in all rights was handsome, he felt uneasy within himself and unsure of what he might have done.

Running a hand through his hair he grounded his teeth. When it came to Ichigo he felt rather protective of her. The way she talks to him when they're alone. Announcing her concerns about anything and everything. He felt that, when she kissed him, it was more then just a kiss. It felt like she wanted him, like she loved him. Shaking his head he moved over to his bed and pulled back the covers. Removing almost all his clothes he laid down, the cover pulled off him. His thoughts went to Ichigo and her innocent kisses. God, she was so innocent. She probably didn't even realise what she caused in him. He groaned as he remembered they way she grounded herself against his manhood. She knew, even if slightly, how she made him feel.

Turning over he pondered to himself if this was just lust he felt for her, or perhaps it was something more...

The next day went by in a blur as Ichigo found herself working. Sighing she couldn't help but think of what she was going to do about the two men in her life. Sitting down in the empty café she laid her head down on her arms and sighed again. Her thoughts were filled with Ryou and how much she wanted him, nay, needed him. She couldn't understand where all these thoughts were coming from. She had never thought about these things before. She hadn't even kissed anyone before Ryou. Sure she had imagined what it would have been like kissing Aoyoma, but when Ryou kissed her she melted. All sense and reason flew out of the window.

Ryou stood there in the door way and looked around the café. It was deserted, all but from the small pink form that was Ichigo. He chuckled at her banging her head on the desk. Slowly he moved behind her without her noticing. Clearing his throat he made her jump out of her seat.

"I want to see you in the back, immediately." with that he turned around and left the room.

Ichigo's thoughts were running wild. He wanted to see her in the back, probably to tell her off for slacking off. Sighing she reluctantly walked though the doors and into the back. Her head handing low she stared at the floor. Seeing the hem of his white trousers she looked up, opening her mouth to apologise when his lips claimed her own.

Yay! Please let me know what you think!

Also warning for the next chapter... Things will be heated...

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