Cuxie: I'm baaa-aaack!

Ichigo: And?

Cuxie: Ahem!(deep breath)....RYOU IS NO LONGER WITH MISHA12!!!!!!! WHOEVER WANTS HIM BETTER REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!!! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!!!X3

Ryou:...Way to put it gently.

Cuxie: Sorry. But I kinda saw this coming.

Ryou: What?!

Cuxie: Er...nvm. REVIEWS!! Where are ya?!

Ichigo: I thought you were skipping reviews.

Cuxie: Oh. So I am! Then...CHAPPY!! Where are ya?!

Ryou:(sigh) Please get on with it.

Ryou awoke to the sounds of pots and bangs clanging together somewhere below him. His first instinct told him that he should check for theives, but as the scent of burning toasted wafted up the stairs he knew it was something much, much worse. And the empty space in the bed beside him confirmed his fear.

Ichigo. Cooking.

He groaned, "I'm sure it's much easier to buy poison than to make it." Throwing back the covers he decided to take a long shower to avoid going downstairs. When faced with death every minute counts. Darn, he thought in disappointment. I was looking forward to her reaction this morning too. She didn't even scream.

The water was running and as Ryou got in, a high-pitched beeping noise sounded throughout the cafe. Ichigo had managed to set off the fire alarm.

"Oh crap!" a girlish shriek cried over the sound. "It'll wake Ryou up!"

He snorted and decided to ignore everything. Maybe if he went about his day per usual everything would follow. Or at least not turn into a disaster.

It got quiet.

He waited and listened closely. Positive thinking--

"RYOU!! Breakfast is ready!"

--so doesn't work. He sighed and mentally prepared himself for whatever form of edible torture she had ready for him. "I'm coming!"

He pulled on some boxers and threw a towel over his shoulder. This'll definitely freak her out, he thought with a lazy smirk. He made his way slowly down the stairs, into the mostly empty seating area below. Kako sat in her usual spot sipping at a saucer of strawberry milk.

She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Your wife's in the kitchen, er, cooking."

"I heard."

"Maybe you should get dressed. I didn't think it was possible but she can do some serious damage with a wooden spoon and a couple of eggs," the kitten reprimanded.

"I'll take my chances," he answered cockily.

Kako shrugged, "You're a goner either way. Your deathbed's over there," she said emotionlessly, pointing to a table for two in the corner. I checked tablecloth was thrown over it with a flower vase in the center holding a single yellow daisy. Two places were set, both plates containing something of the industructably-solid variety and the gelantinous variety.(something hard and something gooey!)

"Is that--"

"Poisonous? Inedible? Deadly? All of the above? Yes." Kako answered swiftly.

"RYOU!!" Ichigo yelled coming out of the kitchen with two glasses of orange juice in both hands. "Are you--" she stopped short nearly dropping both glasses.

Ryou smirked at her expression, "Good morning, Strawberry." He said sauntering over to her. "Like what you see?"

She didn't answer. Even if she could've found her voice, she was too busy admiring him. She watched speechlessly as a bead of water dripped down from his damp hair onto his well-toned chest. Her eyes widened as it seemed to evaporate at that point. God he's hott...

"You know Ichigo, I was thinking..." he took the glasses from her and set them on the table beside him. "Since we'll be with everyone on the cruise maybe we should do something together today."

"...Oh." she mouthed the word as his arms wrapped around her waist. He pulled her against his chest and she inhaled deeply, shivering as she did. He smells so good too.

Ryou looked at the girl, completely melted in his arms, and devised a plan. "I can take you out to brunch." She simply nodded, unable to remember the basics of forming a sentence. He leaned down and kissed her forehead while stroking her hair. "Go get ready then," he whispered.

His arms loosened and he pulled her away gently. She looked confused and disappointed. Both hands were placed against his chest and she looked up at him as if awaiting his next move. He smiled slightly and pointed to the dressing room. Her cheeks, which were a carnation pink, flushed a dark russet color and she disappeared into the room within seconds.

"....Well. That was a little unexpected," Kako said, clearly impressed. "I underestimated you. Get rid of the evidence and she'll completely forget."

"Way ahead of you," Ryou said, clearing away Ichigo's sad attempt at a romantic breakfast and tossing it in the trash, dishes and all. Kako raised a brow at him. "Rich. I'll buy more."

"So cocky..." she mumbled.

Ryou sighed, tossing the last of the food away. "I love her but...she can't cook to save her life."

Later that very same morning somewhere in between 11 and noon...:

"That was delicious!" Ichigo grinned, clutching Ryou's arm. He nodded. "I can't help feeling like I forgot something though..." she muttered thoughtfully.

Ryou fought back a smile. "Probably nothing. What did I tell you about thinking to hard about one thing?" She stuck her tongue out at him.

And I don't wanna fall to pieces

I just wanna sit and stare at you

"Ichigo?" Ryou asked curiously at the sound of the familiar song.

Ichigo blushed. "I-I made it my ringtone. Let me get that!" She dug around in her purse, pulling out a silver Razar with a strawberry charm(because she's cliche like that). "Hello?...Oh hi, Lettuce! What's up?....Actually me and Ryou are in town right now."

Ryou looked up while she chatted and a sense of doom and foreboding washed over him. Something was coming. Or already here. Or going to happen. Or already happened.

Something bad.

But Ichigo seemed happy about it. Looking at her smiling face didn't make him feel any better. She chatted happily, completely agreeing with Lettuce and whatever she was trying to convince her do to.

Something that included him.

"Uh, Ichigo?" he asked nervously.

"Uh-huh! That's great. We'll meet you by the coffee place in fifteen?.....See ya then! Bye!" she snapped the phone shut and turned to him. Smiling sadistically, he couldn't help but wonder what evil thoughts were running through her usually vacant head.

"Ichigo...what did you just invovle me in?" he asked taking note of how she'd said 'they' would meet Lettuce, and most likely the other Mews, at where ever.

She shook her head blithely and grinned ear-to-ear. "Oh nothing. Just a little trip."

"A trip?" she nodded.

"A shopping trip."

Cuxie: Sorry for being so dramatic at the Sorry for the long wait! What did you guys think of this chapter?

Ryou: What's in store for me?

Cuxie: Oh...ya know...Hell.

Ichigo: That's what he gets for tricking me!

Cuxie: With his sexyness!XD

Ryou: Is it my fault I'm irresistable?

Cuxie&Ichigo: YES!!

Cuxie: PLZ REVIEW!! I'll update faster! Promise!