A Really Poor Choice of Words

Dear readers,

Thank you for stopping by and reading this story. I would like to thank you all for your comments, reviews, follows and kudos. You have no idea how happy they make me feel! Because I can assure you that there is nothing that makes an author/writer happier than to receive feedback from the audience!

This chapter was initially intended to be far longer, but, then, I felt like it would be better to split it in two separate updates to get the desired effect!

The music I used for this particular segment is Nayeon's 'Pop.'

Lulyy Elizabeth Vaca - Thank you for your comment! I am glad to see that you liked the last chapter so much and if you are looking for some steamy Kishigo moments, they are about to come. Pinkie promise!

DrDark7 - Thank you for your comment! I am so happy that you liked the last update. And, I hope you will find the following ones equally enjoyable. Ichigo is not in an exactly easy situation here, is she?

AnimeRoxx – Thank you for your comment! I am so glad to hear that you liked the last chapter. Haha, yes. We are going rather slow here, but a lot of ideas and emotions are yet to come. Falling in love is a process, after all!

Kishlover985 - Thank you for your comment! Yes, it's great to be back, indeed! I am really happy that you liked the last chapter so much. Hopefully, you will find this one also quite intriguing.

As always, please enjoy and review!

I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew

The white blades of the fan above their heads were turning in a slow, regular rhythm, only barely audible to even the sharpest pair of ears.

"Hmm, I don't really think I am the right person you should talk to about this," the brunette scratched his chin nervously, as he sent the girl in front of him a polite, yet somewhat apologetic smile.

"Keiichiro, please," Ichigo pleaded with her puppy eyes, her high hopes still largely intact, "If anyone has any power over Ryou, it's you."

He gave her a twisted look, somewhat torn.

And, seeing that, Ichigo knew it only required a slightly more resistance on her part to succeed. Frankly, she had hard time understanding why she hadn't let someone else handle this issue. She was more than conscious that Lettuce was much better at the whole diplomacy and negotiation thing than Ichigo ever considered herself to be. But she was also aware that Keiichiro had a soft spot for her due to all the abuse Ryou had been constantly putting her through. And this integral weakness of his would, therefore, refrain him from disregarding her words without giving them any deeper thought. All the more, since Ichigo had a point and they both they knew it; what the Mew Mew was currently proposing to Keiichiro was actually perfectly reasonable. To her, at least. All she had to do was to make the brunette see it as well.

"As much as I would like to help you, Ichigo, I don't really know if Ryou would agree to something like that. You know how he is about work. Especially now that searching for the Mew Aqua gained the utmost importance," Keiichiro sighed dejectedly.

Noting Ichigo's saddened expression, he, then, quickly added, "But I will try and talk him into it, alright?"

"Yayyyy, you're the best, Keiichiro," Ichigo squealed and threw herself in his arms with content.

She could already picture the long scowl cutting down Ryou's face at the prospect of Zakuro's welcome back party. Still, she did not let that mental image destroy the happiness that was slowly spreading throughout her veins. If the Tokyo Mew Mew needed anything at the current moment, it was a brief time off, a little celebration, if you will. And this opportunity was too good to be simply missed.

"You're welcome," Keiichiro smiled before tilting his head to the right in a quizzical manner, "Did you do something to your face?"

"W-what?" Ichigo blurted out.

"Your face. You're really glowing upon recently. Are you using a new moisturizer or something?" Keiichiro tried patiently.

Hearing this, heat immediately rushed to Ichigo's cheeks, making her glow and glisten some more.

Of course, Keiichiro noticed.

And he was not the only one. When Ichigo had arrived to school earlier today, Moe and Miwa had ambushed her with exactly the same kind of question. Until now, Ichigo dismissed it as stupid girl talk but, seeing that even someone as remotely disinterested in female issues as Keiichiro did note the difference, had left Ichigo somewhat flabbergasted.

She felt like a deer caught in headlights.

For she knew she did not get facial, as Miwa had vehemently suggested, nor changed anything about her make-up routine. Not in the slightest.

It was all Kisshu's doing, and Ichigo knew it.

The only thing she was secretly hoping for was the fact that Miwa, Moe and not even Keiichiro knew it too.

"Oh, yea. Something like that," Ichigo replied, massaging the back of her neck, more embarrassed at her own lies than ever.

Lying was bad, of that much the Mew Mew was sure. There was likewise no telling how much longer she could continue with this secret affair until she would get caught up in her own lie. But the events from the past few nights had made her adamant in her belief that whatever was happening was happening for a reason. Again, it was not that Ichigo was particularly proud of the things she had done with the alien, but she still did not deem it necessary to stop. Not yet, at least. Plus, if Kisshu could please her and release her inner frustrations from time to time, she could even save her relationship with Masaya that way! It was just sex, what else could go wrong?

"It really suits you," Keiichiro returned kindly, "Far more than the frowns you usually wear when you are around here."

"Well if someone did not make it his life mission to piss me off every time I walk in this Café, maybe I would smile more often," Ichigo absentmindedly noted, as an image of her annoying boss resurfaced in her mind.

She could not exactly pinpoint what had led to the latest argument with Ryou, but Ichigo was certain that it had everything to do with the incident that had happened last week, when Pudding had left a trail of flour on the floor. Quite naturally, the marks of white feet got spread all over the Café and, to put it lightly, Ryou was not enthusiastic about that. In fact, he would still not shut up about it, which had made Ichigo want to avoid him at all costs until he finally cooled down. And, since she still wanted to do the party for Zakuro, she concluded that reaching up to Keiichiro might as well be her best bet to get things going. Furthermore, now that there had not been an alien attack for almost a week, Ichigo had all the time in the world to do just that.

Not having to fight the Cyniclons for some time supplied Ichigo with a strange feeling of relief. After all, she needed time to process all of this before she could face Kisshu again. And, she had a bad premonition that if she was to fight him anytime soon, things would only get out of her hands once more.

Can we really fight during the day, while engaging in other activities by night?

She shuddered at that violent thought, wondering what exactly she was getting herself into, and what kind of consequences would her decision to partake in such endeavors truly have. Where did that make her stand, anyway? Was she an enemy or a comrade? Surely, the Cyniclons did not think they could use their random ad hoc late night rendezvous against her, now, did they?

'Well, at least they are on a break now too.'

Unfortunately for her, the false sense of security was only short-lived, since, at that moment, the door swung wide open and in marched Ryou purposefully, nearly barreling into the auburn-haired girl and sending her screaming.

Ichigo stared at the blonde surprised and one surreptitious glance at Keiichiro had made her secure that something must have happened. Ryou was far from running around the Café so carelessly so whatever it was, it must have been really big. And the anxious glint in his blue eyes only solidified that belief.

"There is a Cyniclon alert in the Sakuragaoka Park," Ryou's eyes skidded wildly across the rest of the team who just happened to enter the small space of the kitchen area at the sudden noise.

"Right now?" Lettuce asked, clearly unsettled by his revelation ,"But that park is no longer open to public, Ryou. It has been put under renovation since August, I believe."

"Yes, that might very well be the case, but you don't need an entrance ticket to go inside and save the Earth, do you?" the blonde answered dryly, leaving no more room for arguments, "Now, go!"

'And just when I thought that it would be another of these long, boring days,' Ichigo exhaled sharply before nodding at her team mates.

Nobody had to be told of what was necessary to do, as that had become obvious long time ago. Ryou, after all, trained them well enough to know that saving the world got priority over anything else in their lives. No matter what they had been up to, or what plans they had formed, everything had to be put on hold, as the fate of the planet Earth was once again put at risk. Still, it was weird, but for some strange reason, a curious feeling spread down Ichigo's body, as the new information of their upcoming mission fully registered in her brain.

Was it anticipation? Dread? Or a mixture thereof?

Was she less scared of what an atrocity she would have to face once they arrived at the point of their destination, because of her affair that she had been secretly participating in with the alien? Or was it because she had a strong suspicion that they would end up doing far more than just fighting?

Whichever it was, Ichigo was ready.

After the last unexpected meeting in that dark alley, she did not want to take any chances. Better safe than sorry, as they said. And, if it required a bit more time with her razor in the bathroom and a few extra minutes in front of her underwear drawer to avoid any future embarrassment with the extraterrestrial, then so be it. Whether Ichigo did all these just-in-case preparations in order to only truly feel good about herself remained rather equivocal, though. She knew that her sheer black, lacey briefs that she was presently wearing might say otherwise. But there was no time to dwell on such little details.

"Girls, over there!"

Everyone followed Zakuro's elegant index finger, as the fine lines of the Chimera Anima slowly began emerging in front of them. This time, there seemed to be only one diabolic creature they had to battle. But, as opposed to the previous ones that the girls had encountered, this monster surpassed them all by means of its exorbitant size.

"What is that, na no da?" Pudding's pupils widened at the sight of the crocodile-like giant.

"Your biggest nightmare," came a malevolent cackle before the alien trio materialized from seemingly thin air.

Merely from the angry expression on Taruto's face, could Ichigo tell that he was in for the retaliation for their last battle. And the manner with which he snapped his fingers and set the monster in motion was a rather clear indicator of this evil intention.

"Watch out, the scale on its body is razor-sharp," Mint let out, while she hovered in the air at a safe distance from the Chimera Anima.

"Then we just have to attack it without getting anywhere close to it," Ichigo concluded, "Zakuro, you go first!"

"Right! Ribbon Zakuro Spear!"

"Mint!"

"Ribbon Mint Echo!"

Jumping at the closest branch, Ichigo then just in time dodged the huge scaly tail of the reptile and turned around merely to see how Lettuce's Ribbon Lettuce Rush hit the monster with a splash of water.

"Nice one, Lettuce," Ichigo applauded as she surveyed the battle field.

They were winning.

If they kept on attacking in this fashion, it would not take long until the ghastly monster in front of them would be finished. The only question that remained plugging the Mew Mew's mind resided in the fact whether, after the Chimera Anima was done for, the Cyniclons were to become their opponent next.

Glancing up, she could not entirely dismiss that thought. Last time proved that the enemy was perfectly fine with joining the battle at any point. So there was literally no chance that today would be any different. And although their present unwavering postures hardly imposed any threat, she could not put it past them. Even more so, when their mind could change in a period of a few seconds.

Ichigo's pink eyes darted frantically from Taruto, who still apparently simmered with anger at their last encounter, to Kisshu, whose evident nonchalance had made her gaze linger on his persona for a moment longer. He was floating in the air with his hands crossed behind his head carelessly, not paying the slightest damn that he was, once again, causing havoc over the whole Tokyo. But when their gazes met, Ichigo could swear that that annoying smirk on his face only widened, while one of his fangs slipped through his semi-parted lips.

Of course he is enjoying this! Did you really think that something in his behavior would change and he would miraculously stop attacking humanity just because you two had a few steamy sessions together? Get real!

Not willing to follow that train of thinking, Ichigo eventually tore her eyes from Kisshu's form and met Pai's steely stare, feeling her blood freezing momentarily. There was such a stark difference in the way the eldest alien regarded her, as if he had every good reason to murder her, barren of any emotions and completely disinterested, that had made Ichigo swallow thickly.

For a quick second, she realized that she preferred far more Taruto's viciousness and Kisshu's inherent evilness to such a hard, cold inhuman stare. And that single isolated thought had forced her to grip her weapon tighter.

It was now or never.

"Ribbon Strawberry Check," she shouted at the top of her lungs and watched as, a moment later, the monster in front of her dispersed into a million pieces once the pink rays of her attack pierced through its humungous body, separating the little lizard from the jelly shell of the Parasyte effectively.

"Yay, we rock, na no da," Pudding hopped up and down on the ground cheerfully, but Ichigo refused to lower her guard just yet. She was aware that this was not over. If anything, it was far from over.

And she knew she was right the moment she tried to fight the twinge of fear that sprang at the sound of the swift teleportation.

"Ichigo, behind you!"

Turning around, she saw the emerald green hair briefly entering her peripheral vision, but she was not quick enough to evade the hands that grabbed her shoulder and clamped over her mouth.

She was just about to start screaming and kicking all around her, however, his low voice had made her pause.

"Don't fight, it looks more convincing this way," he whispered in her ear and it was only then when Ichigo had gotten the message.

To anyone else, it would have seemed that he was attacking her, trying to hurt her. But that wasn't the case. For one, he didn't use any force. Even if his actions might look aggressive to an outsider, Kisshu was actually holding her in a rather gentle way. His hand on her mouth did not try to suffocate her and neither was the hold on her shoulder exactly painful.

Kisshu wasn't attacking her.

Although, for some inexplicable reason, he wanted everyone else to perceive it otherwise.

And when she caught a glimpse of his golden orbs, far more playful than angry, Ichigo was even more certain of that conclusion.

"Now, we're gonna leave this place for a little, alright?" he started in a soft, conspiratorial kind of tone that he used only when he was up to some mischief ,"Don't do anything reckless, kitten, and I promise you'll have a good time. What do you say?"

Ichigo stole another glance at him, trying to read the situation that was slowly unfolding in front of her carefully. What he was proposing sounded exciting, there was no dispute about that, but could she truly leave the battle field and her friends just because of her inner desire? That would be highly unprofessional, would it not? One thing was to do these activities after the fight was over, not when the fighting was still in progress and her presence as vital as ever. But if both her and Kisshu were gone at the same time, would it make any difference in her calculations? It would still be four against two, leaving the Tokyo Mew Mew with a distinct advantage on their side. Plus, Ichigo was convinced that, out of all three of them, Kisshu was definitely the strongest and most powerful. Maybe getting him away from the battle field might actually result in even easier victory. Pudding could probably take care of Taruto on her own, putting Pai at a terrible disadvantage wherein he would have to fight against Zakuro, Lettuce and Mint completely alone.

Yes, if Kisshu was with her the whole time and away from the fighting, there was no danger in leaving Taruto and Pai in her team mates' hands, Ichigo was sure of it.

Turning her head to the left, she imperceptibly nodded, setting the little flames in his gaze instantly ablaze.

"You've got yourself a deal, Ichigo," he laughed before his left hand slid down her shoulder and grabbed her wrist.

She winced at the sudden pain that shot through her, thinking quickly whether this could possibly be a trap after all, but when he smoothly readjusted his hold on her, she knew that he probably just wanted to make the whole thing a bit more convincing. Even though she would heavily appreciated quite the opposite.

It was only with utmost fascination that she observed how their contours gradually started to shimmer and disintegrate, as the urgent voices of her comrades wafted to her ears.

What the hell am I doing?

She was almost ready to call it all off and wriggle out of his grasp, but the sensation of something solid against her feet had made her eyes open in alarm.

They were still in the park, somewhere. But she could no longer hear anything. No female cries, nor explosions from alien attacks. Only the light warble of the nearby stream interrupted the otherwise still silence.

Not forgetting her initial anger, Ichigo turned around and hissed.

"What was that hand on my wrist for?"

"Not to blow our cover?" he quirked his lips upwards, fairly amused by her growing aggravation.

"You're such a jerk sometimes," she huffed, facing away from him. Maybe it was still time to go back.

"Only sometimes?" he grinned widely, not that Ichigo could see it.

He then enveloped her in a hug and his hands latched onto her breasts, feeling her up instantly.

"Would you prefer if I touched you like this in front of your friends instead?" he cooed and the only reason why she did not immediately deck him was the effect his fingers had produced on her body.

She bit her bottom lip, trying to stifle her moan.

"Don't hold it," he snickered, noting the apparent change in her demeanor, "I like all these little sounds that you make. It's so sexy."

"Mm, Kisshu, wait! What if someone sees us," she hesitated, her eyes trailing nervously around the open area with more than a bit of dread in her voice.

"There is no one here," he answered dismissively, as his lips kept planting one kiss down her neck after another.

"B-but-"

He sensed her anxiety and paused his hands on her body.

There was a long drawn out silence, while only her heartbeat continued to thrum in her ears.

"Do you want to go back?" he asked, serious, and she knew that if she said yes, he would take her back. No questions asked.

Why was she hesitating, then?

Was it because her conscience had gotten the best of her? Because there was a fight happening not too far away from them? Because her team mates needed her? Or was it because she was swallowed with immeasurable guilt?

Could she ever face her team again after this? And what about Ryou?

Oh my god! No. No. No. No thoughts about Ryou now. That's a hard pass!

Maybe, it was just the thirst for more adventure. To get the taste of what else Kisshu could do to her body, to be more precise. And, also, its indistinct effect on their future. Was this how all of their upcoming fights would look like henceforward? Only seemingly fighting, and, in reality, doing completely different things? Yes. It might have been that, or, alternatively, the fear of getting caught; the possibility that someone might see them together. And, even worse, witness her unconcealed excitement to be with him.

Or could it, perhaps, be a fear of an entirely different nature? A fear that sprang from the notion that if she rejected him now, he might not offer his 'services' to her any longer?

A brief image of Masaya flashed in front of her eyes, making her stomach immediately drop.

"Well? What's the answer?" Kisshu inquired, his breath tingling the soft skin of her neck.

And something about the way he said it had made her turn around to face him, and tell him sincerely what worried her the most.

"I-I don't want to go back. I just…are you sure that Pai and Taruto are not around?" she asked, somewhat at awe at the level of openness she had just displayed in front of him.

But, again, she never really had a problem with saying anything to Kisshu. He would never judge her, nor mock her; never ask, nor question her motives. He was just there. Somehow. Filling her free time with otherworldly pleasure. That was what he was good for. That was what she used him for. And she would be stupid if she cut that source of supply and never enjoyed his touch ever again just because of some stupid irrational fear.

"Positive," he chuckled, as he began nuzzling her neck all over again, "Don't worry about them, think only about me. Now, take off your panties, I wanna eat you out."

"No!"

"No?" he repeated after her, his tone playful.

Honesty, Ichigo. Honesty!

"Hm…you see. Last time, it was dark, you know! I think-"

She gasped in shock when his hands suddenly helped her to push her underwear down in one quick movement. He then drank in the sight of her and his mouth curved back into that lopsided grin.

"Much better," he commented with appreciation, making Ichigo's cheeks instantly flush at his words.

She did not know what it was about him that had made her step outside of her comfort zone further and further, but it was safe to assume two things. If they got caught, she would be fucked because there was absolutely no way of how to justify having his head in between her crotch without raising any suspicion; the second being that, as opposed to Masaya, Kisshu, apparently, loved to eat pussy.

He lay down on the grass and motioned for her to join him.

"Sit on my face."

"I have, I-have never done this before, is-is it even safe?"

What the hell, Ichigo? Since when do you care about his safety?

"I-I mean I-"

He grinned.

"You're cute."

He grabbed her hips in his hands and pulled her down onto him.

"Don't hold back, Ichigo. Move your hips on me however you please. I want you to enjoy yourself, ok?" he winked at her and something about that gesture had made her want to pulverize him, or suffocate him to death, which, considering the situation, was not thoroughly unfeasible.

To enjoy myself, hm? And in such an unnatural position? How could I even-

But then he began.

And the moment his wet tongue touched her, she forgot everything, including how to speak, her train of thoughts completely lost. She gathered the impression that he had showed her everything there was to oral sex the last time they were together. But, obviously, she was wrong. So wrong.

Ichigo would never ever admit it out loud, but there was something spectacular about the way how he had made her feel during sex. How his hands gripped her thighs when she began moaning and her uncertainty soon disappeared and pleasure took over instead. How she was fighting him at first, resisting the urge to trust him and to let her body immerse in the strange sensations that his tongue was giving to her. How he had made her feel extremely vulnerable to both his sight and his touch and soon transformed that anxiety into desire and anticipation with his knowledge and skill. And, the longer he had continued with his administrations, the easier she relaxed into his touch until she let go altogether and she felt her hips began moving on their own accord.

She could practically hear him grinning against her, but she could not help it. She wanted more. Far more. And there was nothing standing in her way of getting it.

Were her hands on her breasts to squeeze her elation in, or in his hair to push his tongue further inside her? Both?

She could not tell anymore, her eyes had been shut far too long to focus on such menial trifles. However, at some point, she knew that she propped her whole body against his, as she arched her back, giving him even more access, willing him to continue, reveling in his every move, every twirl of his tongue, dipping inside her over and over again.

"Yeah like that…Oh god, right there…mhm."

And, after a few more intense seconds, she forgot everything.

That they were enemies.

That his head was in between her thighs.

That they were supposed to fight.

That her comrades probably needed her help.

Hell, the whole sky could fall over and Ichigo would not care.

Everything was lost in the waves of pleasure that was slowly overruling her mind, making anything else inconsequential in comparison.

Only his tongue on her mattered.

Nothing else.

She arched her back further and, with one final loud cry, came within the next second.

He kissed her thigh when he was done with her, and Ichigo collapsed onto the ground next to him feeling like her whole body was made of rubber.

As she slowly came back to her senses, her sanity starting to slowly reappear, she looked skyward, contemplating whether or not this was truly the right thing to do.

"Ichigo, are you listening to me?"

No, truthfully, she was not. In fact, she did not listen to anything or anybody, for that matter, and it did not take a genius to figure out why.

For the past couple of days, Ichigo began to feel that she was living in some sort of trance, which was a million miles away from anyone else's reality. She did not pay attention to any of her classes, nor to any of the juicy gossips that Moe and Miwa were so willingly sharing with her. She did not even realize that Masaya was stroking her hair a few times, so, to answer Lettuce's worried question honestly, Ichigo was, indeed, not listening to her.

And, even if she was, she would not be able to reply to her off the bat.

How could she?

When her whole body was preoccupied solely with the series of events that had happened last week. How could she let him do that to her. And why did it have to feel so good? God, this was entirely weird. Not to mention inappropriate. And the worst thing about all that was that she frequently caught herself wanting it again. And more; making her mind pulsing with the images of Kisshu constantly.

She might have been having a date with Masaya later today, but it might very well be tomorrow, she did not know for sure. For some reason, she could not remember much, nor could she really concentrate on anything but the whirlwind of thoughts that were relentlessly flowing through her head. At first, Ichigo predicted that if she was to do all these things with Kisshu, her body would finally relax and, in turn, her insatiable curiosity would be quenched. But, unfortunately, it was on the contrary.

Whatever she got, she wanted it again and again and far more at that.

How?

Why?

She could not tell but she knew she wanted him like she had never wanted anyone in her life. Not even Masaya. It was not based on any romantic feelings, rather the opposite; it was purely animalistic. She wanted to feel him. Again. Which had led to another bitter and shocking realization: she wanted to sleep with him. Have him fuck her. God, if his fingers and mouth were this good she could only dream about how great he was altogether.

Oh my god.

Had she just thought about his….

No way!

"Ichigo, are you blushing?" Lettuce sent her a puzzled look, her worry merely rising in volume with each of the following seconds, "Your ears are out too, you know."

Oh. God.

"I-I just. I was just thinking about something… hard."

Really poor choice of words, Ichigo.

"I see," Lettuce nodded weakly, not truly sure of what she should make out of that response, "Well, as I was saying, Ryou wants to see you. He is waiting for you downstairs."

Oh great, not that again!

Whatever her boss wanted was surely going to ruin her mood, not that Kisshu hadn't done an excellent job at that already.

Untying her apron, Ichigo calmly pulled the white article of clothing over her head and shot Lettuce a wide, reassuring smile.

"Yea, I'll be right there."