Me: Chapter 4!! Yay, lol it's soooo unfair. I just randomly got ill and I have to stay in TT-TT But I have to go buy stuff so I can do my college work, I have the worst time to get ill ;-;

Kish: Nobody cares missy. Get over it...

Me: You know I only brought you back here so I could tell you something you'll like.

Kish: And what could that possibly be?

Me: Enough with the sarcasm! Well I've planned this entire story out -yes I'm organised for once- and I've also planned out a sequel if people like this one.

Kish: You're thinking a bit far ahead aren't you?

Me: Oh well, any way the aliens are in that one and it's less fluffy then this. Disclaimer please.

Kish: Missy here don't own us, if she did it'd be IchigoXRyou all the way and Masaya would...uh I can't say that in a T rated fiction, let's just say he'll die a horrible death.

Me: XD'''' Lol Action!

Previously:

"Is this how you treat your customers Shirogane-san?" she asked coolly, her amused expression completely gone to be replaced with absolutely no emotions. She faced him now taking in his confusion and raised eyebrows, she smirked. "Shouldn't you be working?"

Ichigo turned around and headed towards her table, she could see Mint with her hand covering her mouth, trying not to laugh she guessed.

What the heck just happened?! Did she just best me? Ryou's head spun with what he just witnessed. What happened to ditzy Ichigo? A second ago she was smiling and the she just...well I don't know what she just did.

"Keep it up Ichigo," Mint smiled a crocodiles smile and Ichigo just nodded. Can't allow Shirogane to know anything, I won't risk being brought to tears again.

-- --

Ryou stood there dumb founded, he quickly remembered to close his open mouth when he caught Mint staring and tightened his grip on the mop handle.

What just happened? Mint's looking more weird than usual, that stupid know-it-all look is annoying me, she's talking with Ichigo...what is up with that baka? Ryou sighed inwardly, he wrung the water out of the mop and proceeded to wash away the tea from the floor, this was kind of difficult considering he couldn't used one arm properly.

It was bandaged perfectly, but it still hurt. That baka's fault for breaking my window, that new one we ordered won't be here for at least three days...Strawberry, what was that just now?

"Ryou you done?"

Ryou lifted his mind from his thoughts and faced his friend. "Almost Keichiiro.

"Oh good, could you help out in here afterwards maybe?" He asked, friendlily. "It's nothing to complicated."

"What are you implying Keichiiro?" Ryou sulked. It wasn't like he couldn't do work, and he was a genius so how could it be complicated, he just didn't want to work. "...Keichiiro, did you know Ichigo's here?"

"Hm, I only just noticed a bit before you did," he told him.

Ryou sighed and dropped the mop back into the bucket with a splash, he bent over and picked up the bucket walking out to the kitchen. "So you haven't noticed anything strange?"

"No, she's just been the same old Ichigo-san from what I've seen," Keichiiro said, looking over at the red head eating her cake extremely happily. The smile on her face was huge as she sat there talking. "Why do you ask?"

"Hm, no reason," Ryou said following his gaze. Ichigo sat eating her cake, she was just staring ahead showing no emotions what so ever. What's Keichiiro talking about, she's not the same as usual. What is wrong with her?

Ryou walked past his friend and out to the back, tipping the dirty water down the outside drain. He left the mop and bucket out side to dry off, or at least until the next mess happened.

Really today had just been too confusing, what with how Ichigo had been acting that morning, and how she just was with him now. This morning she had willingly cleaned up; even though she didn't work here any more, she hadn't shouted at him once; even when she saw him with out a shirt on, and now the way she had just spoken to him; so sarcastically and cocky.

This was giving him a head ache, something was definitely up with the koneko and he wasn't about to let her get away with it. Baka Strawberry.

"Hey Keichiiro, go give her another cake," he said, planning.

Keichiiro raised both his eyebrows and gave his young friend a strange look. "Sure. Mind telling me why though?"

Ryou stayed quiet, he seemed to have taken an interest at a small corner of the cupboard opposite. Though really he was just to far in his thoughts to even hear his guardians question.

Keichiiro sighed inwardly, now not even wanting to know what what going on in that blonde head. Well this is Ryou, nothing is ever simple with him, heh heh.

"Ichigo," he called out, as he opened the kitchen door. He held her cake in one hand and casually began walking over to her. She smiled brightly when he got there and placed the cake down in front of her.

"Kyah, arigatou Akasaka-san," she laughed, joyfully stabbing her fork into it, then into her mouth. She didn't notice some one watching her annoyed. "This is delicious."

"You're welcome Ichigo-san, how are you now?" He asked, genuinely concerned.

"Oh I'm good, why do you ask?" She replied, looking confused.

"We haven't seen you in a few days that's all," he explained, still smiling kindly at her.

"I see, it's kind of complicated," she said, sighing greatly. "Aoyama broke up with me, Oh! But don't tell anyone, I'm only telling the girls."

"Okay, well I'll be getting back to work, stay cheerful Ichigo-san," he said heading back into the kitchen.

Well that explains why we haven't heard from her, but if she's told me and only telling the girls...then the only person she doesn't want to know would be Ryou. Hm...

"Where is Ryou?" The young chef wondered aloud, looking around the empty kitchen. "He was here just a second ago..."

Unbeknown to Keichiiro, Ryou Shirogane was now sitting in his room slightly miffed. He was sitting on his bed legs crossed slightly at the ankles (A/N we all know guys can't do it properly XD), his eyes boring a hole into the wall opposite.

What the hell was that!? She was all smiles and laughter when he went over, and she was talking away without a care in the world. What is going on here?

Ryou sighed and fell back on the bed, azure eyes now staring at the ceiling confused. She was so different when I talked to her, I just don't get it. Why does she have to be all happy when Keichiiro's near her?

Ryou blinked and his mouth dropping open. No, no, no! Geez that makes it sound like I'm jealous or something, why should I care who she's happy around. What ever get a grip, it's not like she's mine or anything...Gah that sounds stupid too! What is this woman doing to me!

Ryou growled and stood up sharply, his white hoody with short green sleeves was incredibly creased and disheveled. He looked down at him self and straightened out his clothes groaning.

What a week...I get slapped, shouted at, loose my best employee because of a stupid remark, woken by a brick through the window and have my arm cut open. Could this week get any worse...Crap I didn't just think that? I've probably just jinxed myself, well done Ryou.

He groaned again pulling out the chair at his desk. He was getting annoyed by how much he was thinking, he really ought to try to take his mind of his thought. Turning on his laptop he decided to immerse himself in his work, the aliens hadn't bothered them since the Deepblue saga, but it was always good to keep an eye on them, especially when they kept popping up randomly. He did of course wonder why this was, but he just didn't seem bothered to do anything about it, it wasn't like they were causing any trouble, so as long as they left Earth alone he wasn't interested that much.

He clicked through file after file trying to take his mind off of what had happened today; files about the Mew project, about his family, about the cafe. He was even annoyed enough to go through the bills and being a teenager -even one of his maturity- this was the most boring task he had ever done. It wasn't even taking up much time, he knew this because he kept glancing at the clock every few minutes.

"That's it, I can't stand doing this any longer," Ryou winged, switching it off and leaving the room hastily.

He made his way back down the stairs and out into the front of the cafe, it wasn't as busy as an hour ago but there were still a lot of customers, most of them had not been served.

His attention was drawn to the other side of the room seeing some of the girls chatting, well this would explain the lack of service. Ryou walked over to them hotly and slammed his hand on the table. "Get back to work girls, we have customers waiting. I don't pay you to chat," he ordered. There was a strain on his voice, and inside his head he cursed himself. The hand he had slammed down on the table was his inured one, and the impact sent a shock wave up his arm. They watched him confusedly.

"Well?" He snapped, shooting them a glare. All at once they clambered to get to work trying to get out of his way, yet again with the exception of Mint. "Mint, get to work."

She raised an eyebrow and glanced quickly at Ichigo, she had already shifted her mood impressing her. This would be interesting to watch, that in itself was the only reason she got up. "Yare yare Shirogane-san, calm down."

Ichigo watched her best friend walk away and get to work, she had to fight with every force in her body not to faint from shock from what she had just witnessed.

So she can work! The two of them thought simultaneously, unknown to each other though.

"Hurt didn't it," Ichigo stated, a smirk playing on her lips.

Ryou eyed her expression and sat down opposite her. "Aw, are you worried about me?" He mocked, hoping to get a raise out of her.

"I'm merely stating the obvious," she said dryly, looking him straight in the eye. Don't fail, please keep it up a little longer...just until he leaves. Don't cave in, it's just like looking into anyone else's eyes, even if they do draw you in...Cut it out head!

"Why?"

Ichigo refocused and settled to keep her gaze level with his. "Why what Shirogane-san?"

Ryou rolled his eyes and lent back in the chair. "Why the 'Shirogane-san', why are you acting so differently?" He asked, mimicking her new detestably polite way of addressing him. "It's not like you."

"I'm not acting differently, and how would you know what I'm like?" Ichigo said dryly. "Who knew you actually gave me some attention."

"Strawbe-" he was cut off by Ichigo's hand being held up.

"I, Shirogane Ryou, have a name," she looked at him, her eyes devoid of expression. "It is not Strawberry, it isn't Baka either. Address me properly or don't talk to me at all."

What...is going...on? Ryou thought. He didn't realise it, but she had struck a nerve in him. She never spoke so formally or so precisely, she never acted so empty or apathetic. She's acting so strange, so detached...I can't even read her.

"Ichigo, I'm only going to ask once more," Ryou frowned watching her unreadable expression. He wondered vaguely how much effort this was taking her. "What is going on with you? You're normally bubbly and happy." Now you're just acting so distant, so emotionless. It's like she's wearing a mask...she's acting like, acting like...

"...me," Ryou looked at her sharply, realisation dawning, eying her up and down for any signs of a crack in her shield. "Answer me Ichigo."

"There's nothing to answer, Shirogane-san no baka," she smirked and stood up. "I already payed, so I'll be taking my leave. Ja ne."

Ichigo went to turn away but found herself being spun around. Ryou was standing in front of her looking infuriated. "What the hell!?"

He hadn't meant to shout that loud, now the whole cafe was zooming in on them, all wanting to see what was going on, the mews especially because they knew what was going on, in Ichigo's head at least.

-Flash back-

The strawberry let out a relieved sigh and relaxed in her chair. "That's good to know, now about the other thing," Ichigo said carefully, pulling her friend close so she could whisper in her ear.

"Since Aoyama dumped me I resolved to be different, okay?" Ichigo explained to her green haired friend. "Aoyama and Shirogane...they both keep hurting me and I've had enough. So now when I seem, I keep shielding off my emotions...you know like how Shirogane does to us?"

"Hai, carry on," Lettuce said, trying to understand.

"Well I'm telling the same thing to Mint when she arrives, but from now on I'll block myself off from them both. Shirogane will get a taste of his own medicine, and I don't want him to tease me if he finds out I got dumped...it'd be too much for me to handle," Ichigo told her, trying to keep a rein on her voice. "I...I know this sounds so strange, but if he did that I think I'd break. So I can't let them, even if it annoys the hell out of him, at least he'll know how we feel when he doesn't open up...sorry it doesn't make much sense Lettuce."

Lettuce turned red and gasped as she listened to her friend talk.

"Ichigo-san is that really necessary?" she asked, covering her mouth. Ichigo pulled back and rested her head on her hand, eyes closing slowly. "It is Lettuce, believe me. I'm just so sick of the way he picks on me just because my emotions show through so much, I will never allow my ears to pop out again."

-End Flash Back-

"Ichigo all day long you've been different, what the hell is going on that you must find so important to hide from me?" He asked, anger still present in his voice.

Ichigo brushed off his arm. "You like to be nosey don't you? Pack it in, you're like a child who's not getting his own way," she spat darkly. "Mind your own business, besides why on Earth should you care for someone who's just a weapon? Would've thought you only took interest in humans."

"...I-Ichigo," Ryou fought for words to come to his mouth, but his brain had just shut down. Her voice cut through him like a knife and that was nothing compared to the way she looked at him. "You...you're taking a silly comment way out of context."

"Really? I wouldn't have expected that someone who was so emotionless would understand," Ichigo said. "After all, you find it so easy to say what ever pops into your head."

Okay this is getting out of hand. I was going for emotionless, not heartless, but I can't stop, my mouth won't close. Stop damn it! Don't say something you'll regret or something that'll hurt him!

Why do you care if you hurt him?

Who the heck are you?

I'm you baka, if he's hurt you so much then why do you care?

Because I do, it's not nice to make people suffer, it was just to prove a point. Not to purposely be out to get someone.

"Ichigo, you're being ridiculous," Ryou spoke softly, he was treading in on hot stones with every thing he said. "You know I never meant it that way."

"Good day Shirogane-san," Ichigo said, once again heading for the door. She was so grateful she had gotten control over her mouth, her heart was pounding a hundred miles per hour and she could feel her world spinning around her. Just make it away from the cafe, come on keep going. Don't say a thing.

She opened the door closing it carefully behind her before tearing down the pathway out of sight of the pink castle.

"Oh my strawberry bells, what the hell was I thinking," she screamed, running down the street. "I almost said something that would've killed him, how could I be so nasty? How could I...how...I'm so horrible."

Ichigo was crying now, full tears streaming down her cheeks and into her hair as the wind blew them back. She was running but she certainly didn't know where, she was beginning to get annoyed with the weather, just once couldn't it be on her side instead of mocking her.

"I just wanted to prove a point, I just wanted him to see what he does, to see how he's able to hurt me," she slowed down, panting with her hands on her knees, her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she gasped for a breathe. "I didn't mean to go over board, I-I...I'm so sorry, I must've sounded like a right evil baka. Never again...n-never will I act like that again..."

Ichigo sat down on the floor in a heap, still breathing heavy, ragged breaths. He always has a mask, he always acts so cold and emotionless...I was doing it perfectly so what happened? Why did I just go into such a nasty state?...I wonder how he copes doing it, demo he's done it for years...

Ichigo sat there crying on the floor, sobbing her heart out. She didn't hear the distant singing of a child skipping in the background getting closer and closer.

It wasn't until she wiped her eyes and looked up, that her deaf ears caught the singing and saw him bounding towards her. "Oh no..."

"Iguana, Iguana!" the little boy sung, throwing the poor animal into the air several times. The boy tripped and the dazed lizard went flying towards the frozen koneko landing smack on her lips. Oh no, here we go again...wahhhh! This isn't fair!

"H-hey, wasn't there an onee-chan here?" The little boy asked, looking around as he picked up the Iguana and walked off. (A/N: I feel so sorry for that poor lizard...--;)

"Hissss," Neko Ichigo sat hiding in a bush, clawing the leaves around her. "Meow meow! Meeeo-OWW, hiiisss." Hiss, stupid kid and that bloody Igua-OW, hiss

Ichigo rubbed her poor rear end, plucking the rose thorn from it. Just my bloody luck! As if this week hasn't been stressful enough!

"Meow meow, Meowww," She cried in frustration. I thought this wouldn't happen again!?

Neko Ichigo started walking down the side walk, she was the picture of a very unhappy kitten and stalked moodily in and out of peoples legs as they walked down the street. This day just keeps getting better and better! This is so wonderful!! Hissss

Ichigo looked around, everything was so big from down here and she didn't even know where she was. She had run off not knowing where she was going and now she was starting to regret that.

Gotta find someone to kiss, a bird, another cat...even a dog would be okay...uhm anyone except that freaky cat! Oh Lord if you're out there, don't let me meet that freaky mama's boy cat!

Ichigo shuddered at the thought, remembering how Alto had thankfully saved her every time that weird thing had come after her begging for a kiss. Alto always saved me...but I doubt he would now, especially...

She started crying again, the small tears matting her fur together. "MEEOW, meeeooow, meow meow meow," It's not fair! I'll be stuck like this, some one kiss me, anyone!

"You rang my love?"

"EEEKKK MEOW MEOWWWW, Me-e-ow sob," EEEKKK, NOOO NOT YOU, why did it have to be you? Sob...Ichigo then knew for sure that the world was out to get her.

"I heard your voice calling me, and I knew you could not resist me," the creepy stalker cat said, looming over the distraught black kitten.

"Meowowo, MEOW!! Nya! Nyah-ah!," No, go away you mama's boy. NO! Why! Oh no...

"But my sweet neko-chan, did you not wish for a kiss from your Francois?" Asked the fat cat, puckering his lips. He held her arms as she struggled.

"NYAH!! MEOW, meow meow nya...NYA!!," NEVER!! NOO, just my luck...NO!!

Francois was now an inch away from her face, no matter how hard she tried to back up. Where's Alto when I need him most, It's all my fault for being so horrible...

Ichigo was screeching and clawing for all she was worth, she was not about to let this fat, creepy stalker of a cat touch her lips. Just as he was about to close the gap between them, he stopped. Both their ears perked up as they turned to look to the side, searching for the source of the noise they heard.

Francois pulled back fast, and freaked out. "Later my kitten, I'll return," saying that he tore off, leaving a trail of dust behind him.

"Nya...meow, meow..." Mou...what was that about? Ichigo looked around, her ears were still pricked as she tried to stand up on her back legs. Looking over the distance she saw exactly why Francois had legged it; coming at her at the greatest speed she had ever seen, was a Doberman.

"Nyah...MEOW!!" Oh...NOOOOOOOO!

-- --

"Ryou...Ryou?"

Keichiiro stood there next to his friend, the cafe had returned to what they had previously been doing once the fired up red head left. Now only the Mews and Keichiiro were still reeling after the event.

Keichiiro waved a hand in front of the blonde's face, making him focus on him. "Ryou are you all right?"

Ryou opened and shut his mouth several times trying to find something to say. That was the thing, Ryou Shirogane was never speechless, and now he was just at a loss for words. "K-K-Keichiiro what...what just happened?"

"I was hoping you could explain that to us," Keichiiro said in a hushed voice.

"What happened with Ichigo onee-chan na no da?" Pudding asked, running over to her to bosses. "Ne, Bossman what's wrong na no da?"

Ryou looked down at the monkey and gave her a small smile. "Nothing Pudding just go finish up, this place closes in half an hour," he said, trying to sound reassuring.

Pudding gave him a suspicious look and bounced up close to his face. "Hmm, this looks like it'll need some detective work na no da, come on Lettuce nee-chan," Pudding cried determinedly, whipping out her detective costume.

"Uh Pudding, lets go finish up like Shirogane-san said to," Lettuce said, prying the small girl away from the boys.

"But, but...what about Ichigo onee-chan na no da!?" Pudding shouted, her cries echoing as she was dragged away.

"Pudding-chan shhhh!"

Ryou was now staring at the door again, a thousand thoughts working their way around his mind. Keichiiro watched him uneasily, that argument was...unusual to say the least, Keichiiro knew Ryou too well to know that he was upset and it just showed how intense that moment had been if the girls had seen just how much Ryou got rocked.

He took an unconscious step forward, not even in control of his own body. "I-I'm going out," he said, heading to the door.

"Ryou...are you okay?" Keichiiro asked cautiously.

He turned his head and gave his friend a forced smile. "Yes," he lied. Keichiiro knew this but left it alone, deciding not to ask. He watched his friend leave, closing the door carefully behind him.

Ne, what do you think? Good, bad, needs improvement?? Well R&R so I know okay! 5 Reviews minimum please!... lol you would not believe how long it took me to find out that damned stalker cats name...so much work XD

Well see you next chapter x x x