Author's note: Hi. Okay, I'm sorry for the delay. I've not been very well lately (kidney infection – those things cause monster migraines, let me tell you), but I'm recovering nicely. It's unfortunate, however, that I'm writing this chapter before a college test, but to hell with it. I need to get back into writing. Lol.

Now, I just want to point out that I made two mistakes in the last two chapters. Sorry. I've corrected them now. In the first chapter, the text now says, 'He was going to tell Ichigo tomorrow' rather than 'tomorrow morning' to fit it around Haruka partnering up with Ichigo in gym class, and, in chapter two, the sequence of Ichigo getting dressed in the morning now includes her cat bell choker from Masaya. I can't believe I forgot to include that before. Lol.

Also, I only just realised just how long I made these chapters. Lol. I hadn't intended to make them this long, really I didn't. XD I guess I just got carried away when writing this fic. Haha. Therefore, all of the chapters shall be of similar length, because I don't like chapters being of unequal length. :P

Finally, this is what the chapter title is about: 'Ryou' means 'distant' (as well as 'cool', 'refreshing' and 'reality') and 'Ichigo' means 'strawberry'.

Chapter Three: One's Distant, One's a Strawberry

Closing the doors of the very pink and girly Cafe Mew Mew behind Ichigo, nineteen-year-old Shirogane Ryou guided the high school girl with a sweeping hand gesture over to the only available table in the room, seeing as all the rest had been cleared away long ago - due to it not being a cafe anymore - and had been replaced by items that made it look more like a person's home. She nodded and headed in that direction.

As he watched her move, he uncomfortably took note of how hot she looked in the uniform that she was wearing. The colour and style both suited her extremely well... and the skirt was so short, he could see a great deal of her legs without really trying. Her old uniform had only succeeded in making her look cute, but the new one made him rather hot under the collar.

He also took note of the single high ponytail that her dark red hair was tied up into; she used to wear it in two pigtails that had, also, only succeeded in making her look cute... but, like the new uniform, the new hairstyle made her look more grown-up and, therefore, very damn hot.

Ichigo sat herself down at the table that Ryou had indicated, placing her briefcase at her feet, and looked up at him, waiting, so he walked over and sat down opposite her.

Ichigo looked down. "Um..." she said awkwardly, "so..."

"Ichigo! Ichigo!" a tiny voice called out. Ichigo's head sprung up and she looked around wildly. Ryou then watched her suddenly focus on a spot behind him before her face lit up and a pink ball of fluff zoomed past his face. "Ichigo!"

"Masha!" Ichigo stood up and hugged the flying robot. "Wow, Masha, it's been so long since I last saw you!"

Masha snuggled into Ichigo's embrace. "Masha miss Ichigo! Masha miss Ichigo!"

Ryou smiled; the last time the two of them had been together was two years ago, so he'd been expecting a touching reunion. His smile turned very slightly sad; it was really his doing that they'd been away from each other for so long, but he'd never once regretted his decision. Masha had been living with Ichigo all the time that the Mew Mews had been on call, as that was where he'd needed to be... but, as soon as the threats had stopped two years ago, he'd decided to take Masha back and instead have him live at Cafe Mew Mew. That way, Ichigo could get on with her normal life and not have Masha, a clear mark of her old life, interfering with it. Ichigo had been completely against the idea at first, demanding to keep Masha despite the lack of threats to the planet, because she'd formed a special bond with the robot. Ryou, however, had remained firm in his decision and that had been the last time that the two humans had spoken face-to-face.

Ryou heard sniffling coming from Ichigo. Looking over to her, he was horrified to see her crying again, clutching onto Masha like a life preserver.

"Ichigo?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"Ack! Masha getting squashed! Masha getting squashed!"

"I... can't..." Ichigo shook her head and sat back down, tears dripping down her face. "Masha..."

Ryou blinked. "What? What's wrong?"

A sob escaped Ichigo's throat. "I... I named Ma-Masha after... M-Masaya-k-kun..."

For the second time, anger surged through Ryou's veins at the mention of that name; that boy had been Ichigo's world... he'd meant everything to her... he'd been the boy Ryou himself had been sure she'd end up marrying and living happily ever after with... but he'd broken her heart by choosing someone else over her.

The scowl on his face was deep as he watched her sob, still squashing Masha with her tight hug. "Listen, Ichigo..." She lifted her tear-streaked face to look at him. "For a start, you need to stop calling the guy..." He cringed. "... 'Masaya-kun'... okay?" That had felt way too friendly a way to address the boy for his liking, but he'd needed to say it to get his point across.

Ichigo blinked and sniffled. "But... but we were..."

"I know. You were close... but not anymore... and helping you get over him clearly won't be easy... but you can start by calling him 'Aoyama'."

Ichigo's eyes widened in horror, as if he'd asked her to jump off the top of Tokyo Tower without her cat powers. "Aoy... Aoy..."

"Aoyama."

She blinked at him for a minute, then looked down. "Well... what about if I call him 'Aoyama-kun'? Like I used... to...?"

Ryou sighed as he saw Ichigo on the brink of tears again; she really wasn't used to calling the guy anything other than either 'Aoyama-kun' or 'Masaya-kun'... but each of those names seemed to bring back horrible memories of how happy the two of them used to be together.

He pounded his lower arm on the table, making her jump. "Look me in the eyes and say it: 'Ao-ya-ma'. Don't put an honorific on the end, just say 'Aoyama'."

Ichigo blinked. "Aoyama..."

Ryou smiled, nodding, and lifted his arm from the table to cross his arms.

Ichigo managed a half-smile, but it seemed to die again as she looked back down at the table and loosened her grip on Masha, who stopped struggling and looked up at her with sad eyes.

Ryou didn't like the silence that had suddenly fallen upon the room; it was a sad and awkward silence. Glancing around the room, he racked his brains for something to say to the distraught schoolgirl sitting opposite him and hopefully take her mind off her downcast mood. He twisted his mouth in concentration; he could comment on the weather, but he didn't really like small talk... he could insult Masaya, but that wouldn't make her feel better, as not only would it be reminding her of her ex-boyfriend, it would make her feel bad listening to him insult the guy. He racked his brains harder. Suddenly, he had an idea.

He smirked. "Hey, Ichigo..." She slowly looked up at him. He shrugged casually. "What's the deal with your school skirt, anyway?" She blinked at him. "I mean, it's really short. Get it any shorter and everyone would be able to see your panties." He felt a surge of satisfaction as he saw her face turn red and her jaw clench. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course... if you like attracting the attention of all the neighbourhood perverts every time the wind picks up."

Ichigo's clenched fist slammed into the table, her face a picture of rage. "Shut up, Shirogane!"

His smirk deepened. "Or what? You'll flash me?"

She roared. "Shut up! Pervert!" She threw Masha at him, who squealed as he spun in circles towards the blonde.

Ryou ducked and laughed. "Aww, now you're taking your anger out on Masha? That's not nice."

Ichigo shrieked in a mixture of panic and realisation. "Masha!"

She stood up and rushed over to where she'd thrown the robot and Ryou turned in his seat just enough to see her kneel down and pick it up. He snickered. Ichigo, clearly hearing this, froze, standing up at lightning speed and whirling round to glare heatedly at him.

Ryou shrugged. "The slightest thing and they're on show." He was lying, of course, but what was the harm in a little teasing?

"Shut up!" She raised a fist to punch him.

Ryou laughed. "Oh, come on... you're not seriously going to hit your own boss, are you?"

Ichigo growled. "No... I'm going to maul my ex-boss!"

Ryou flinched away from the fist, seriously believing that she would hit him with it. After all, Ichigo was known to be quite brash when enraged. Instead, he felt the front legs of his chair lift up off the ground.

"Wha-?" He looked up and saw Ichigo smirking evilly at him as she pulled his chair back even further. "Mah! Stop it, Ichigo! Don't!" Ichigo yanked him backwards and stepped out of the way. He fell straight to the ground with a yelp.

The red-headed girl burst into cackles of laughter and the pink robot flew around her head, also laughing. Ryou, however, felt his face flush slightly with embarrassment, as she'd just seriously dented his pride by making him fall on the floor like that. He was also rather annoyed at being made the victim of her cruel joke.

Standing up, the blonde-haired boy brushed himself off and glared at the uniformed girl in front of him, who was doubling over in her laughter. He couldn't help but smile at how much she seemed to have cheered up... despite the fact that it was at his expense.

"I got you there, Shirogane."

Ryou looked away, feeling slightly exasperated. "Mmm... you sure did." He looked back at her. "But I'm glad to see you're feeling better."

She looked confused for a moment as she straightened up. "Huh?" She blinked before smiling. "Yeah, I guess I am feeling better. Thanks."

Ryou nodded. "My pleasure." He suddenly noticed the accessory around her neck and leaned forward to touch it with his index finger.

"Huh?"

"Hmm..." Ryou moved back again and put his arms back down to his sides. "You told me a long time ago, back when we were fighting that other enemy, that you got this thing from Aoyama."

Ichigo looked down and nodded. "Mmm-hmm..."

"Well, I suggest you get rid of it." Ichigo looked up at him. "It symbolises being attached to him, especially since it's a choker. Throw it away."

Once again, Ichigo looked horrified. "What? No! I... I can't throw it away!" Her hand moved up to grab the choker and her voice went quiet. "It means a lot to me."

Ryou heaved a deep sigh and ran his fingers through his blonde locks. "Alright, fine... don't throw it away... just take it off and... store it somewhere, okay?

Ichigo nodded. "Okay... I'll do that... when I get home..."

Ryou sighed, not failing to notice the sombre tone in her voice; he knew that it would take a long time for her to get over Masaya, which made him think that maybe he should help her along. He would, of course, leave this sort of thing to the other Mew Mews, but they had their own lives to lead. They barely saw them anymore, what with them all attending different schools and living in different areas, so, essentially, it was up to him... not that he minded that, of course.

"Ichigo-"

Ichigo looked up at the clock on the wall and sighed. "You know what? I've been here too long already." She chuckled half-heartedly. "If I leave it any later, my parents will be wondering where I am."

"... Right."

"Goodbye, Ichigo!" Masha called out.

Ichigo waved to the tiny robot. "Bye, Masha." She then made her way over to the door, picking up her briefcase as she did so.

"Ichigo?" Ryou asked.

She stopped and looked back at him. "Hmm?"

Ryou once again ran a hand through his hair. "Do you... maybe want to... come back again tomorrow?" He looked over at her before shrugging and shoving his hands in his pockets. "You don't have to, of course. It's up to you."

Ichigo blinked at him for a moment, then smiled. "Sure, Shirogane. I'd love to come back tomorrow. Maybe I can get to know you a bit better. I'd like that. I mean, I thought you were just a snooty, cold, arrogant jerk, but you've shown a caring side."

His eyes widened, then he smirked. "Excuse me, but you've always known about my caring side. I always showed it when you and the other Mew Mews were in trouble, didn't I?"

Ichigo put on a contemplative expression. "Hmm... yeah, I guess so..."

Ryou strode forward very fast, reached out and grabbed her by the chin. She let out a faint squeal.

"Admit I'm a nice guy, Ichigo. You know I am."

Ichigo tried to shake free of his grip. "Let go of my chin."

"Not until you admit I'm a nice guy."

Ichigo scowled. "But you're not! You always tease me, just because you find it funny when I get annoyed!"

Ryou chuckled. "Very true." He leaned his face forward so that it was mere inches away from hers. "But I still want you to admit that I can be a nice guy."

Ichigo's face flushed red. "Wh... Why are you so close? Are you... are you going to try to kiss me again?" Ryou smirked at how flustered and annoyed the girl was getting; he was finding it very amusing. "You'd better not!"

"Or what, exactly?"

"Or... or..." She seemed to be racking her brain for inspiration. "Or I'll kick you where it'll hurt you the most! I mean it!"

Ryou laughed. "Oh, is that right?"

Ichigo stared him down. "Yes, that's right."

Ryou merely chuckled as he let go of her chin, placing his hands on his hips. "No need to panic... I wasn't going to kiss you." He chuckled again. "Nah. It wouldn't be any fun if it didn't turn you into a cat."

Ichigo scowled at him, her face even redder than before and her fists clenched at her sides. "You jerk." Ryou smirked at her, leaned forward and flicked her nose. "Ow!"

"No Mew mark means no transformation... and no transformation means no turning into a cat when you get kissed. Tell me, what's the fun in that?"

Ichigo rubbed her nose. "I hate you."

"Right... which certainly explains why you want to come back to my house tomorrow."

Ichigo stuck her tongue out at him before opening the door and walking out of Cafe Mew Mew. "See you, Shirogane."

"See you, Ichigo." Ryou closed the door.

Lying on his back in bed, the nineteen-year-old blonde boy stared up at the ceiling and sighed, Masha zooming round his head; he really couldn't believe that life had come down to this... that Masaya had dumped Ichigo for someone else... that Ichigo had come round to his house and that he'd comforted her... that she'd be coming round again tomorrow night...

He'd always had feelings for Ichigo, right from the very moment he'd met her, but he'd always thought of her as taken, never to be his. He'd thought she was cute the day he'd rescued her from the rat Chimera Anima that had attacked Masaya and left him unconscious... and had developed a crush on her when he'd seen her Mew Mew form's passion, determination and – he had to smirk at this – sexual appeal. Being bright pink and catlike, with a bell attached by a ribbon to her tail, she looked like a teenage boy's fantasy come to life... which was no doubt why Kisshu had liked her so much and had claimed her as his 'toy'.

His smirk faded away again; it was a while later, when the first three Mew Mews had been gathered, that he'd developed more of an infatuation with Ichigo. He'd seen just how elegant, beautiful and ladylike she'd looked in the ball gown that he'd bought for her and had felt like he'd been floating on cloud nine when they'd waltzed. He'd felt like the luckiest and happiest guy alive. It was a moment that he'd never wanted to end. It had just felt so amazing and so... right....

Even after the ball had ended, the infatuation had continued. Everything that Ichigo had done had entertained him, prompting him to tease her and provoke her into a rage... and, every time, he'd come back for more. She'd been his strawberry-flavoured drug... and he'd kept needing to come back to have his fill of her klutzy air-headedness and fiery-tempered passion... the latter of which being evident every time she was either defending herself, defending Planet Earth or defending her love, Masaya.

He sighed again, recalling that, once, he'd seriously thought that he might have been in love with Ichigo, as all the signs had been there; he'd felt jealous whenever she was around Masaya, he'd felt scared whenever anything had happened to her, he'd felt the impulse to kiss her whenever she'd gotten too close – and actually did kiss her on two occasions – and had always thought about her when she wasn't there.

He rolled over onto his side; yeah, he'd thought that he was in love with her, but he'd spoken to Keiichirou, asking him what it was like to be in love, as the man knew perfectly well himself, thanks to the love that he'd had – and now had again – for Rei. The man had given him a strange look, but had told him, "Well, Ryou... to truly know that you're in love with someone, you have to ask yourself a lot of questions. Do you know them inside out and not just like what you see, but love what you see? Do you know their favourite food, favourite drink, favourite music and anything else you can think of, plus the stuff they don't like? Do you think about them all the time, wondering what they're doing, if they're thinking of you and how they'd react to knowing how much you think about them? And let's not forget the most important thing: are willing to die for them on the spot, no questions asked? Would you jump in front of a bullet for them, without giving a second thought to your own safety?"

These questions had constantly swirled around Ryou's head as though they'd been trapped in a mixing bowl, being stirred round and round by a wooden spoon; no, he couldn't answer all of the questions with a yes, which had made him realise how idiotic he'd been, thinking that he was in love with Momomiya Ichigo. He'd never told Keiichirou whom it was that he liked, but the man was smart, so there wasn't much doubt that he'd figured it out for himself anyway.

"Ryou look unhappy!" Masha chirped. "Ryou look unhappy!"

Ryou smiled lightly and grabbed the robot from mid-air "Yeah, well..." he replied, "Ryou is unhappy..." He paused. "Think nothing of it, Masha."

He let Masha go and it zoomed around his head. "Masha want to make happy! Masha want to make happy!"

Ryou sighed. "You know, I think Ichigo should change your name. She did name you after Aoyama, after all... and keeping your name as 'Masha' is only going to bring her to tears again."

"No subject change! No subject change!" The robot flew in mad circles round Ryou's head, clearly not liking how its attempt at comfort was being ignored. Ryou sighed again.

Ichigo had finally arrived home and felt exhausted; she'd had quite a day and was taking off her shoes, all set to collapse onto either her bed or the sofa, when her father, Shintaro, came rushing over to her. She leapt back in shock at the speed.

"Ichigo!" he cried. "Where have you been? You normally come straight home from school! What took you so long? Were you at Aoyama's house? Did something happen there? What's been going on?"

Ichigo's mother, Sakura, appeared seemingly out of nowhere and placed a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Easy, Shintaro..." she said, "I'm sure Ichigo wasn't up to anything bad." She beamed at her daughter. "Right, Ichigo?"

"Uh..." Ichigo replied, blinking, "right..."

"I hope you spent a lovely afternoon with your boyfriend." Sakura winked. "After all, isn't that what lovers are supposed to do? Spend time together? Even if it's just a nice little walk in the park?"

"Uh..." Ichigo looked down. "Sure..."

"Hmm?" Shintaro asked. "What's wrong, Ichigo? Aoyama didn't do anything to hurt you today, did he?"

Ichigo couldn't stop her face from turning red as her head shot up to look her father in the eyes. "Um..." She felt the familiar lump in her throat at being reminded of the catastrophic event that had taken place as soon as she'd left school for the day, setting off the chain reaction of her spending the afternoon with Ryou.

Sakura gave Shintaro a light punch on the shoulder. "Now, Shintaro..." she said playfully, "even after giving the boy your blessings three years ago, you're still being overprotective. Does Aoyama really seem like the type of boy who would hurt our little Ichigo?"

Ichigo felt her stomach twist into knots.

Shintaro sighed, smiling slightly. "I suppose not. He's a good kid, after all... and you don't find many of those around these days." He paused, then shrugged. "Okay, okay... wherever you were, Ichigo, it's nothing to do with me." He trudged away again, planting himself on the couch. He smirked. "But do tell me if you end up pregnant, okay?"

Sakura laughed. "Shintaro!"

Normally, Ichigo would get very red in the face, scream, "Dad!" and insist that she was not, and was still not ready to be, pregnant, but, as of today, she could do nothing but force out a weak chuckle and lower her head to hide her watering eyes; Masaya was no longer her boyfriend, so she no longer had any chance to get pregnant with his baby... not that she'd ever slept with him before, because she'd never been ready to, but she'd always known that she'd want to sleep with him eventually. Now, that just wasn't an option anymore.

She ran to the stairs, dropping her briefcase on the way, and dashed up them towards her bedroom. Nothing felt more inviting than her bed right now; she wanted to collapse on it and cry her cares away once more.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Shintaro's horrified voice called out after her. Apparently, he'd misunderstood her unusual lack of outburst.

"No!" Ichigo called back, slamming her door behind her. She reached up to her neck with both hands, untied her cat bell choker and threw it across the room. She then ran over to her bed, collapsed on it and began to cry.