Me: CHAPTER SEVEN!! Wow, I've never had more than 5 chapters on a story x3 yay! Also you people are soooo very lucky because this is the only story I've been updating...yes i know I'm really bad for that and I bet the people reading my other fics are ready to kill me...eh heh +Sweat drop+

Thank you to every one who reviewed, you shocked me reviewing straight after I updated XD So quick, and thanks to every one who added/alerted me!!

Note!! ForeverxKatie: Of course not !! I'd never do that to Ryou T0T''

ANOTHER Note... this is an IxR fic, but of course all the bad stuff has to happen first before the IxR stuff can come!! Heh it'll happen in the next chap...I think...or maybe this one? Depends where the story takes me +glares at the ebil thing+

Don't own TMM XD unfortunately...

"Oh...m-m-my, It's f-f-freezing," Ichigo said in disbelief, teeth chattering uncontrollably as she huddled underneath the canopy, the scarce leaves providing little shelter against the onslaught of wind and rain. Ichigo was drenched from head to toe, the only dry part on her was underneath her coat, which was dripping water extensively on to the mud.

"Wow, i-it hasn't rained th-this hard in ages," Ichigo said, to no one in particular. She pulled the corners of her coat closer around her neck, shivering as she trudged through the dark sludge of the forest.

It's so cold, I never expected it to come down so suddenly, she thought, staring out into nothing but the dull colours around her. I hope it stops soon because I need to get home, it's getting late too. Maybe I should check the shopping in case it's wet.

Ichigo opened the bags, keeping them away from stray drops of rain, and searched through them quickly. Phew at least they're okay. I'm getting colder just standing here, maybe a walk will warm me up.

Ichigo shuddered and began walking forwards, the wind nipped at the hem of her skirt and coat, sending it flying around her legs. The bare trees offering very little comfort, or barrier from the chill.

It's kind of a shame, I mean the whole week has been perfect and then today it just decides to rain. It's a little depressing if you think about. "I wonder if anyone else is stuck in this? The cafe must've closed about an hour or so ago, so I guess the girls got home before it started," Ichigo said, speaking her thoughts out loud again. "Nah, I don't think anyone would've been out in this, unless they had something to do. I'm probably the only unlucky one out here."

Ichigo sighed, she had barely been in the forest ten minutes and she was already quite bored. "I bet Mint's having a blast in her mansion, it's warm and the maids get her what ever she wants, she wouldn't be caught dead out here."

"There's got to be a way to pass the time with out me freezing," she wondered, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. "Ugh there's mud all the way up the back of my legs, my socks are ruined...Maybe if I just do uh, sing a song? No the thunder would just drown it out."

Ichigo was stuck for ideas, she couldn't just spend ages here doing nothing, she had to entertain herself until the rain died down. What if I played a game, demo there's nothing to do here...or how about a story, that'd pass the time. Let's see...

The red head walked underneath a large tree, not paying any mind to the dark shadows as she thought. The thunder boomed loudly around her, but her thoughts weren't even swayed even though her body jumped slightly.

"Right. Uh, one day a young girl in middle school was walking through the woods, there was a storm and it was late so uh that's why she was there...uhm, the storm was incredibly loud and uh frightening," Ichigo sighed and shook her head. She must be extremely bored to do this. "The girl started to notice the dark shadows that covered the bushes and trees, any of which a monster or g-ghost could lurk behind, ready to pounce."

Ichigo face palmed, thanks to her own silly story, she had actually started to notice just how creepy the place she that she was currently standing in was. Real smart Ichigo, way to scare your self! There's no ghosts here, it's just the forest and the clouds are blocking out the light...th-that's all it is, no ghosts here what so ever.

She sniveled, backing away from the shadows that she had now convinced herself were haunted. I'm such a baka, I wish I wasn't alone now...I'm a baka, no I'm worse than that.

"Grr there's nothing to be frightened of, if...if Shirogane were here he'd probably laugh, or what if some random stranger walks through! They'll think I'm a complete moron," she cried, pumping a fist into the air.

Ichigo relaxed, exhaling heavily. Her breath came out as frost and she blew out again watching it blow away, well at least it was slightly amusing. She took a deep breath in thinking about the last three days.

She had spent them at home worrying and feeling guilty. It was pretty silly of me to just skip school because of that, I mean seeing Aoyama wouldn't have been that bad...I could have dealt with it, at least I think I could. Demo, I guess I was just trying to avoid seeing people. No, I just didn't want there to be a chance of me walking into Shirogane...even so it's not like he leaves the cafe a lot, well at least from what I've seen. I really should apologise to him, it made me feel absolutely sick afterwards, is guilt really that powerful?

Ichigo sighed, she had decidedly made herself a promise; she would go straight to the cafe and apologise, well at least after she got home and dried off. She didn't want to put it off any longer, it's not that she was just trying to make herself feel better, it was because of what she had seen. His eyes. They were so...I don't know how to explain it, that look I saw, I think it was hurt, but it was replaced so quickly I barely caught it. I don't want him to...to...Huh?

Ichigo thoughts were distracted by a something just a little ways off to her left, she looked over squinting her eyes to see. It looked like an animal from were she was now standing. What if it's hurt?

She decided to go and take a look, walking towards what ever was on the floor. She tried to follow it but her vision was obscured by the trees and bushes, and she could no longer see where it was. Strange...where'd it go I thought it was some where around here, perhaps I was just imagining it.

"Maybe it was an animal, it probably ra-Agh!" Ichigo was cut off as her foot caught on something. She flew forwards, landing with a loud thump in the dirt. "Ouch... baka tree root."

She sat up and turned around, expecting to see the cursed piece of wood that tripped her up. What she saw instead shocked her completely.

Why is he out here, in the forest? Why on Earth is he just sleeping on the floor? He must be insane.

Ichigo swiveled onto her knees and crawled over to the figure lying on the floor. "Sh-Shirogane?"

Ichigo sounded surprised, she hadn't expected the blonde to be asleep in the middle of the woods, she certainly hadn't expected to e seeing him straight after she was thinking about him, that part she found was just creepy.

"Shirogane," she said a bit louder. "Why are you asleep here of all places? In fact, why are you even out in this weather?!"

He didn't answer. Ichigo frowned, surely tripping over someone would wake them up, and if that didn't shouldn't the storm have kept him awake any way?

"Shirogane? Wake up," she said, louder. "Shirogane."

Still no answer. I bet he's ignoring me on purpose that jerk. Wait, that's not it, is it? He's not talking to me because he's mad! That has to be it.

"I bet you're still angry right? That's why you wont speak to me..." the koneko sighed dejectedly. "Well, even if it is strange you're out here...it's good because I was well looking for you."

She looked at him, still not listening to a word she said and frowned, clearly annoyed. "Well I uh, I know you're not going to talk to me, I mean who could blame you after what I did...I'm still annoyed you called me a weapon, d-demo I, well I had no right to do what I did."

"Shirogane, I know I was angry but I was wrong to do that, so I uh...well gomennasai Shirogane," Ichigo apologised, inwardly cringing from embarrassment. "I'm not expecting you to forgive me, I just wanted you to know that okay?"

Ichigo sat there for a minute or so looking ahead of her, he still hadn't said any thing and it was getting on her nerves, Ichigo waited and waited until...

"Look, I know you're mad but you could at least say something!" she cried, glaring at the boy next to her. "Fine, I'm leaving. Just sleep out here and freeze to death!"

Even though she said that she didn't move. She was expecting some kind of remark, or even just for him to move. Any kind of acknowledgment would have been fine. Ichigo frowned, pouting and crawled around so that she sat with her knees at his head. She lent over to his ear.

"You know you don't have to be this rude," she hissed. Still nothing.

Ichigo stared at him; he was breathing, so she knew he was alive...but even Shirogane wouldn't take something this far, or maybe he would.

"Sh-Shirogane?" she asked softer, worry evident in her voice. "Mou, Shirogane this isn't funny, you're scaring me."

Ichigo touched his arm and gasped loudly feeling just how cold it was. "Shirogane! Shirogane wake up, this isn't funny."

Her grip tightened on his arm. "Onegai Shirogane, open your eyes. This is too cruel, even by your standards."

She shook him gently, then brought her hand up to his head. When she had touched his arm she had felt how cold and wet he was, his hair was drenched when her hand touched it.

"Onegai..." she choked, pulling her hand away. Not a split second after she did, did her eyes catch the large branch a few feet away; there was blood on it. Her eyes traveled down to her hand and she had to fight with every muscle in her body not to scream or run away.

Her hand was red, even in this darkness the crimson colour was still very much visible. That's blood, that's Shirogane's blood...on my hand.

"Oh..." Ichigo breathed in sharply. "Oh no, Shirogane! Sh-Ryou onegai, wake up, open your eyes baka!"

She was still trying to come to terms with the liquid on her skin, it was making her feel ill. She tried to push the thought away, just sitting here freaking out wouldn't help him. Ichigo had to listen to the rational part of her brain, and with a colossal effort managed to push the thought to the back of her mind, well near enough.

Ichigo put her hand back on Ryou's head, his hair was soaked and matted together by the blood. Putting her hands underneath his arms, she moved him just enough so his head rested on her lap. She didn't care that her skirt now had dirt and blood on it.

"Ryou you have to wake up," she said, taking her phone from her pocket. No reception, just bloody great. "Come on, you're way to heavy for me to take to the cafe, you have to wake up okay? Stop being so damn stubborn!"

Ichigo shook him again, trying to provoke a response. "Just move, call me a baka or something. Onegai Ryou, I'm begging you here. Wake up!"

How any one could sleep through this, Ichigo had no idea. She shook him harder, and pulled him closer to her. "Look, I know you're cold and your heads probably hurting like hell, right? It'll just get worse if we can't get you home."

She felt his pulse; it was there and it was still pretty strong. She rubbed her hands up and down his arm trying to get some warmth back into them. Leaning over she got closer to his ear, rocking his body in a last attempt. "Onegai..."

A small smile crept onto her lips, she had moved her head away just in time to see him frowning. She cried out in a small form of victory and continued to talk to him. "Ryou, look at me nya?"

His eyes were fluttering and a small groan, barely audible, escaped his lips. He shivered and Ichigo's smile widened. "That's it, oh Ryou arigatou! I'm so glad you woke up, look at me okay."

Ryou was looking at her, his eyes open just a fraction as he tried to make the image clearer. All he could see was a shock of red hair and a continuously moving mouth.

His eyes closed again and his head lolled to the side. Ichigo gaped at him, she looked ready to panic. "Oh no you don't! Ryou wake up, it's uhm, uh Cyniclons...?"

Ryou's eyes fluttered open again, just a little bit wider than the last time. He groaned as his vision adjusted, the entire world was spinning endlessly. Thankfully it started to slow down and he could just about make out the person above him.

"...erry?" Ryou murmured, his voice hoarse.

"'erry'? Oh Strawberry...How in the world did this happen?" Ichigo sighed, smiling unconvincingly. He's awake, good. "How am I meant to get you back?"

Ryou smirked, eyes coming down again until Ichigo jerked him, quite violently he would have thought if he was coherent.

"Stay awake. Ryou how long have out been out here?" she asked, shifting their position slightly.

He looked at her through dazed eyes as if she were mad. "...mnt sure."

Ichigo sighed, all she had to do was go to the store, this was not how she had planned her day to end, but then again Ryou probably hadn't planned this either. Just how had he got here in the first place? She wondered, he looked so pale and he was so cold. Ichigo stared at him concerned, what was important was getting him home. "Okay, well can you get up? Even if it's just a bit?"

Ryou stared up at her, trying to decipher which of the two girls he was seeing was actually her. He blinked slowly and moved his arms to his side, shrugging.

The storm was still raging, with the wind whipping at every where it could, not helping the two soaked teenagers as the sat there. With a lot of effort he tried to push himself up, but his arms didn't want to take his wait, he now found himself stuck half leaning and sitting up on one arm. Ichigo tried to help him as she supported him but the world was still spinning for Ryou, and the loud crash of thunder made all that effort redundant.

Ichigo gasped with surprise, Ryou was laying down again but his head was hidden firmly in her lap, his hands were over his head tightly and he was shaking. That was a shock, he completely freaked out from the thunder. It's not like he's scared of it though...What's up with him?

Ichigo frowned and lightly put her hand on his head, stroking her fingers gently through his hair. The scratches she had given him the last time she saw him were still there, faint little lines on his cheek. She traced her hand slowly down to his cheek trying to calm him, Ichigo immediately drew her hand back feeling the heat radiating from him; he was burning up.

"Shirogane, you're hot," she said, panic rising slightly in her voice. "This is getting so stupid, I know you're ill but if you don't get home it'll get worse." Geez, why couldn't it be Pudding or someone small that I could carry...not that I want Pudding to be ill, damn I'm getting side tracked.

"...small, if he was small...," Ichigo said, unsure. "Shirogane...turn into Alto, I can get you back if you do that. Shirogane?" Oh yeah.

Ryou had his hands covering his ears tightly, blocking out the sounds from the storm. Ichigo sighed, this wasn't going any where and the longer they stayed out here the worse he would get. Ryou couldn't even hear her talking to him.

She put her hands on top of his pulling them away from his head. Ryou pulled back whining a little with protest. Ichigo pouted and pulled them away, forcing them down from his ears. She lent over, still keeping a grip firmly on his arms, and whispered in his ear. "Ryou please, turn into Alto. Let's just go home."

She moved her hands away, resting them lightly on his back. A small smile graced her lips as the blonde began to glow blue. Within a second a small lavender kitten was curled up on her skirt, shaking terribly.

Picking him up carefully, she placed him inside her coat with his head resting on her shoulder. He kept trying to hide under the warm material but without much luck, Ichigo couldn't help but giggle at the attempt.

Ichigo didn't waste any time getting out of the forest and into the street, she pulled her collar up shielding the kitten from the onslaught of rain. Her eyes darted around trying to see through it as she ran down the street, one hand holding the shopping and the other keeping Alto in place.

A streak of lightening forked its way through the sky and Alto flinched against her body, digging his head deeper under her coat. Ichigo could only curse as the sudden movement made her jump, a small blush spreading it's way across her cheeks as she realised just where he was resting his head.

She was running quickly through the park, but the short cut didn't seem to be any quicker at all. Ichigo had skidded several times on the wet floor and had to fight for balance or risk squishing Alto. The thunder came minutes later, the resounding sound sending frightening waves through the air.

Alto tensed, he's cat form too afraid to notice what he was doing as his claws cut deep into to the girls shoulder. Ichigo cried out just about ready to yank him away from her.

"Ow, let go Alto that really hurts," Ichigo gasped, grimacing. She pulled her hand up; allowing the shopping to slide to her elbow, and placed her hand over the kittens head, stroking him softly. "Shh, it's okay. It's just thunder Alto, it can't hurt you."

Slowly Alto retracted his claws mewing some form of an apology. Another flash of lightening lit up the sky, giving Ichigo a good look at him. The gash on his head was clearer now that his hair wasn't blocking it; it was pretty deep and bleeding still. If it like this in cat form, she wondered just how bad it was as a human.

Ichigo shifted him, taking care not to jolt the kitten in the process. Her coat was now covering Alto completely, she didn't even seem to mind that his wet fur was making her cold or putting blood on her clothes. She stopped outside a closed corner store taking shelter under the small roofing. Putting her hand up to her middle she started to rummage around in her inside pocket.

"You only have ten minutes right, and going like this is so slow," Ichigo thought out loud, still trying to find something. Where is it? The house keys, my phone, the keys again, hmm...Got it!

Pulling the object out from her pocket she smiled as it glinted it the street light. She kissed the pendant saying something she hadn't said in a long while. "Mew Mew Strawberry, metamorphosis!"

The strawberry haired girl glowed pink before changing into her mew form; her clothes changing from a skirt, t-shirt and coat, to her mew uniform complete with ears and tail.

"N-now w-w-we can g-get there qu-quicker," Ichigo stammered, shivering insanely. Unfortunately for her, the transformation got rid of her coat. "Why couldn't y-you make a warmer c-costume, baka?"

Ichigo groaned and set off once again into the rain, cursing loudly as she got drenched within a second of leaving shelter. Well at least it's quicker, I guess that's a good thing...yeah right, I'm freezing.

"Meow, nya-a meow," You could've taken you coat off first, Alto smirked. Even if he was struggling to stay conscious, he just couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her for that. He was getting soaked himself.

"Well I don't need you telling me that!" she screeched, the icy water driving her mental. "You could've designed a winter costume ya know Shirogane. Shirogane?"

Ichigo looked down and rolled her eyes; the drowned thing was asleep in her arms, his head resting in the crook of her neck. Aww, he's so cute! Uh...I did not just think that, nonono!

Aw but he is, don't deny it! Ichigo groaned, that stupid nagging voice was back.

Shut it, no one asked you...you...Just who are you any how?! She screamed inside her head.

I thought I answered this already, baka. I'm you, but I'm obviously your more sensible thoughts.

Ichigo could have sworn she was smirking, trust her to have a debate with her self. Ah, hush. I never asked you to be here, baka thoughts...

"Hey...it's the cafe! Yay!" Ichigo cheered, as the bright pink building came into sight. She had never been more relieved to see that building until now.

Ichigo sped over to the door, hoping from one foot to another in a vain attempt to warm up. She put her hand on the handle, praying for it to be unlocked, and pushed on the door. It opened!

The mew cried out in joy and pushed the door open all the way, exhaling a satisfied relief as the warmth rushed over her. "Thank Kami. Let's get you up stairs."

Ichigo's body returned to it's original state; wet, muddy and completely disheveled. She put her bags down on the nearest table and rushed up stairs making sure she didn't slip on the floor with her wet shoes. She opened Alto's door without a second thought as usual and softly laid him down on his bed, sitting next to him.

"Finally," she muttered, placing some of the blanket over Alto for warmth. "At least you're home, you ought to be really gra-ah, ah- achoo! Ugh, grateful for this."

Ichigo rubbed her nose, glowering at the annoying itch at the back of it, her throat felt sore too. she stood up off the bed and cast a look back to her former boss, and occasional savior. He had one eye barely open, watching her with what wold have been a quizzical look.

"I'm going to call Akasaka-san," she explained, walking towards the door. "He can drive you to a doctor."

Alto closed his eye as she left the room, giving in to the much needed – no, wanted sleep properly.

Ichigo walked down the stairs stopping at a dial on the wall to turn the temperature up. She took off her coat and folded it across the back of the chair, turning around to head into the kitchen.

"Hm, where's the phone?" She wondered, looking at the empty holder on the kitchen wall.

She scanned the room and not finding anything, began to search. She looked on the sides, in the cupboards, and for who knew why; the oven.

"Gah where is it?" Ichigo whined, stomping out of the kitchen. She looked around the front at all the tables and still didn't see it, her eyes cast around the dark room before landing on the basement door.

"It's open," she stated, walking over to it with some caution. It's never usually open, and the door was unlocked when we got here...what if some robber got in and found Ry-Shirogane's lab? Or what if it's some random stranger, who knows what they'll do if they found out about it?!

Ichigo gulped, one hand placed firmly on the doors edge to support herself. It's really dark down there...Oh stop it Ichigo, you're just scaring yourself, it's not like there's a monster down there, that could hide in the darkness...and get you...

Her grip tightened as she began walking down the concrete steps into the confines of the lab, her eyes fretfully searching he darkness until they landed on a figure sitting at one of the computers. It was hunched over, it's back facing her as it's body moved up and down in a rhythm.

Oh dear, what is that? No, I mean who is that? Ichigo shuddered moving closer to the figure. It was breathing, now that she was closer she could see that. Oh so it's a person, phew!

Setting her self ready, she walked over to the computer taking a deep breathe. Ichigo slammed her hand down on the side next to the keyboard, the sharp sound echoed through the room along with her voice. "H-hey! Turn around."

Ichigo cringed inwardly, she had meant to sound a lot braver than that. She jumped as the body moved, moaning it stood up and began to turn around.

Yay done! Hope you like this chapter, it'll hopefully get better by the next chapter and more IxR will happen.

Lol I like to play with Ichigo's mind...she's so easy to scare

Yay Ryou's home! Thanks to every one who reviewed and stuff. Love ya xx