A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! Hope you like this chapter...

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Chapter 6 - Wanting

"Ichigo."

The girl looked up from her bed, where she had been lying on her front, reading a book. "Yes?"

"Ichigo," the voice repeated. It sounded as if it was coming from the window. Ichigo turned and almost screamed when she saw a head bobbing outside her window. Ryou Shirogane's head.

"What are you doing there?" she hissed, scrambling into a sitting position and opening the window to allow Ryou to climb in. Even though she was angry at him, she didn't want to be responsible for his death. "I don't want to talk to you."

"I know you're angry, Strawberry," Ryou said calmly, sitting beside her on the bed so they were facing each other. "But please don't leave the café."

"Give me one good reason why I should come back," Ichigo challenged.

Ryou smiled, moving closer to her, so close that their noses were almost touching. "Because," he whispered, "If you go, you'll never get this…"

"Ichigo?" Sakura's voice floated through the open door. Ichigo bolted awake, gasping. "Wake up dear, breakfast is ready."

"Ok!" Ichigo replied in a voice that was higher than usual, touching her lips, which were still tingling with anticipation…for Ryou's kiss.

Ten days had passed since she had stormed out of the café. Ten days of emptiness after school as she trudged home to do her homework instead of running off to the café. A couple of times she had walked halfway to the café before realizing she had no place there. She had thought she would be happy to be free but her heart always felt heavy. She felt like something was missing from her life.

Funnily enough, she hadn't had any problem facing Masaya since their breakup. He seemed to be avoiding her more than she did him. She almost felt bad for him because she wasn't mourning the loss of their relationship. After she had gotten over the initial shock, she was almost content that it was over. The recent arguments had not been pleasant to endure. Besides, now she had something else on her mind.

Every night since the breakup, Ichigo had dreamt of sunshine blond hair and sea-blue eyes; every morning afterwards, she had woken up feeling just a little giddy. This wasn't the first time. She had felt lightheaded around him before – although who wouldn't, the boy was unnaturally good looking (and it was all natural!). However, she had previously written off the feelings as a mild case of madness – she had not wanted to be disloyal to her boyfriend.

Now the tables had turned. She was single. Her boyfriend had been the one to entertain feelings for another girl…and he had had the guts to break up with her to act on those feelings. And Ichigo knew why she had not felt the searing pain she had always associated with the breakup of Masaya and herself. She knew why she couldn't help noticing the way a fringe of blond hair fell into his eyes; the way the corner of those beautiful blue orbs crinkled whenever he grinned at something stupid she had done; the way his deep eyes seemed to hide his emotions whenever he schooled his face into a look of passive consciousness. She knew that somewhere along the way she had developed a crush on Ryou Shirogane.

But it wasn't that simple. She was still angry at him. Angry at the way he had no compassion towards her feelings. Angry that he had let her walk away in tears after hurting her. Angry that he probably didn't even feel the way she did. And why should he? She was a silly 16-year-old schoolgirl and he was…

"Ichigo?" Sakura had entered her room and was now looking at the teenager with a concerned look on her face. "Are you feeling alright?"

Ichigo smiled at her mother's concern. "I'm fine. I'm almost up!"

Sakura smiled. "Good. Someone is downstairs to see you, so please get dressed and come down soon." She went back down the stairs.

Ichigo was puzzled. She pulled on a nice pair of jeans and a pink short sleeve top before brushing her teeth, all the while wondering who was downstairs. Was it Ryou? Couldn't be, she wasn't sure he knew where she lived. Besides, why would he come now, after she had made it so clear she was finished with the project? Her gut twisted uncomfortably at the thought of the Mews and she scanned her mind for who else it could be. Masaya maybe? What would he want with her now?

She bounded down the stairs and her mother looked at her over the top of the newspaper, before gesturing towards the front door. Ichigo walked out of the front door and wished she hadn't after she shut it. Sitting on the swing to her right was none other than Ryou Shirogane.

Seeing him made all of her emotions jump to the surface. Excitement. Anger. Curiosity. She stared at him and noticed that he was looking especially handsome today. He was wearing jeans and a polo shirt and had the intoxicating smell of aftershave on him, which her cat senses could pick up from where she was standing. She suddenly felt the urge to hug him and had to fight with her feet to prevent herself from jumping into his arms. He smirked at her.

"Cat got your tongue, Strawberry," he said lazily, and suddenly the anger was back. He had no idea how he made her feel, the stupid boy! Although, the comment had been witty. Score one for him. She ignored his statement and leaned back on the doorframe.

"How did you get here?" she asked him icily.

"I walked."

Score two for Ryou. "I meant, how did you know where I live, Shirogane?"

He actually laughed then, a laugh that made her shiver inside. "I've walked you home many times in the past three years and you're asking me this now?"

Ichigo blushed. Score three and all out. She was falling fast. "What do you want then?"

He sat up straighter. "I want you to come back to the café."

"Plain as that?"

"Yes."

"Why should I?"

Ryou sighed. "Ichigo, we need you and I know you aren't the type to just leave when people need you –"

"Then you don't know me at all!" Ichigo replied hotly. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them – not only was she lying to him, she was lying to herself and she knew it. Ryou looked like he did too, as his eyes narrowed.

"That's not true," he said in a low voice. "The Ichigo I know cared about the people she was destined to protect."

"There we go; all that destiny stuff again!" Ichigo flared up at once. "So that's all I'm worth, is it? I'm just a pawn who has to save everyone else! No one really cares about what I want!"

"I care."

He said it so softly, it was almost as if he had not intended her to hear it but she did and immediately fell silent. They stared at each other for what seemed like hours, until a car horn startled them and they broke eye contact. Ichigo looked nervously at her feet.

"What do you want Ichigo?" he asked in his normal voice.

'You.'

She almost said it. Almost. But she bit her tongue.

"I need some space, Ryou," she replied, not looking up. "I need time to think."

He stood up and sighed again, noisily. Ichigo looked up and could tell he was struggling with his words.

"Ok, fine," he finally replied, walking past her. Ichigo could smell his cool aftershave. It reminded her of the ocean and she closed her eyes, missing the glance he shot her way. At the foot of the stairs he stopped. "I hope you will come back soon," he said to the verandah pole in front of him. "We need you."

'I need you,' Ryou thought as he walked back to the café, his heart lighter than it had been since Ichigo had left. He had done his part. He just hoped it would be enough.

Ichigo watched him walk away, her heart pounding. The way he had said 'we need you'…it almost sounded more personal. She shook her head slightly – she knew she was fantasizing again. Still, it was getting hard to control her feet again. Suddenly, she wanted to run after Ryou, to forgive him, to go back to the café. She moved forward a little…

The door opened behind her and Sakura popped out, snapping Ichigo out of her reverie. She smiled brightly at her daughter. "Was that your boss? He's such a gentleman. So polite!"

"Ex-boss," Ichigo reminded her mother absently.

"Oh yes," Sakura replied, her smile slipping a little. "Well, come inside and have breakfast!"

The phone rang then and Sakura hurried inside, allowing Ichigo a moment to ponder as she entered at a slower pace. She remembered her mother's reaction when Ichigo had told her she had quit work. Sakura had almost looked disappointed. Was this another sign she should return? Was some divine intervention telling her that her destiny was to be a Mew Mew after all?

Ichigo shut the door behind her as her mother came out of the living room. "Ichigo, phone call for you. It's Masaya."