Ichigo moaned as she became aware of a dull throb in her arm. It was persistent and annoying. She moaned again, hoping to reclaim the sweet unconsciousness of sleep, but it was no use. Her arm was hurting badly, and she felt slightly light headed and dizzy. With a groan she slowly eased her eyelids open, allowing herself time to adjust to the light. Realising she was not in her pink, frilly bedroom, Ichigo blinked in confusion. Where the hell am I? She thought in a panic, desperately scanning her memories of the day before. In a rush it all came flooding back, the fall the argument, the tree branch and then blackness. But where was she now? Turning her head, Ichigo yelped in surprise and skittered backwards as she came face to face with a sleeping Shirogane. He was slumped over in the bedside chair, his face resting on the duvet mere inches from where her own sleeping head had been. What the hell?! She thought furiously as Shirogane slowly opened his wide blue eyes.
Ryou couldn't help the smile that spread across his face when he realised Ichigo had finally woken up. She had been unconscious for nearly sixteen hours, and Ryou had been fretting non-stop. 'Oh Ichigo!' he cried, seizing her hand in elation, 'I'm so glad you are awake!' Ryou's happiness was short-lived however, as Ichigo harshly yanked her hand out of his. He frowned at her in confusion as she glared at him. 'W-what's wrong Strawberry?' he stammered, reaching for her hand again 'are you still feeling unwell? I could have Keiichiro bring up some tea...' His sentence trailed off when Ichigo once again tore her hand from his, snarling 'Don't you dare touch me!'
Her face was livid, and Ryou's heart sank. She was still angry. Maybe if he apologised quickly this would all blow over and she would forgive him. 'Ichigo,' he stuttered, 'I am really sor-' Once again his sentence was cut short as Ichigo growled at him. 'Save it,' she said, her voice as cold as ice shards, 'because I really don't want to hear it.' Her face was blank and unforgiving as she uttered these words. 'But Strawberry,' Ryou protested, 'I just wanted to say I was sorry. I'm really sorry for what I said.' He peered up at her from between his lashes, praying to God that she would just find it in her heart to forgive him.
Ichigo's face remained impassive as she calmly said, 'My name is not Strawberry. I would prefer it if you addressed me as Momomiya-san, as we are no longer friends.' Ryou's eyes widened in hurt, and he found it difficult to clear his throat so he could answer her. 'What do you mean, no longer friends? Are you still mad at me Ichigo?' He said, his voice low. Ichigo didn't even bother to look at him as she swung her legs out of the bed, stating once again in an eerily calm manner 'I am not friends with people who only think of me as a weapon. I'll continue working at the cafe, not for you, but because I can't abandon my teammates. You and I are done, Shirogane-san.' Ichigo walked towards the door, not even glancing at the teen that had remained vigil at her bedside. Ryou's head dipped low as her words impacted, the corners of his mouth drooping ever so slightly as he noted her formal use of his name. He sighed, and with a great effort, he managed to pull his stoic facade back up just long enough to say to her retreating back, 'If that's what you want...Momomiya-san...'
Ryou felt his heart shatter as Ichigo quietly closed the door, leaving him alone in his bedroom. The room that had just became a tomb for his heart. He gasped raggedly as the pain tore through his chest. It was over. She hated him, and now nothing was going to change. Not that he'd ever really had a chance with her, but at least she had liked him enough to talk to him, include him in the rollercoaster ups and downs of her life. Now that had been destroyed, burst like a fragile soap bubble, any remaining flicker of hope extinguished by her complete and utter rejection. All that was left was an empty chest cavity, a gaping hole where his heart used to beat. For the second time in his short life, Ryou Shirogane felt truly and unmistakeably alone.