Home Ch 1

Ichigo Momoyia stared up at the pink cupcake shaped café. It had been well over a year since she seen it. Right now, she craved the feeling of belonging only that place gave her.

She walked in nervously, glancing around. She let out a joyful sigh. Just how I left it! And there they were, her four best friends, same as always.
Mint drinking tea, Typical Minto; Zakuro scaring customers; Lettuce breaking plates and Pudding was breaking twice as many.
Ichigo crept up behind Mint. "Yo, Minto. D'you think you should do what you're paid for? Like, I dunno, work!"
"In a minute Ichigo. After my three o'clock tea..." Mint glanced around. "Ichigo?!" She put her cup down and flung her arms around her neck.
"Hey! I see you missed me." Ichigo grinned.
"Ichigo?" The other three Mews came to greet their Mew Leader, Kiichiro came out of the kitchen.
"Ichigo-san! Welcome back! Everyone's missed you." He hugged her. Someone'll be happy.
"Great to be back." She smiled at him. She glanced around the café. Someone's missing. "Where's Shirogane?" Kiichiro chuckled and pointed to the stairs.
"You-know-where." Ichigo nodded and went upstairs.

Ichigo knocked on the bedroom door.
"Yes?" Came Ryou Shirogane's irritated voice. She creaked the door open. Ryou was at his desk. His head in his hands, he didn't even look to see who entered. "Retasu if you've broken more plates; I'm taking it out of your pay!" Ichigo put her hands on her hips.
"Not bloody likely, Jerk!" That made him jump! He spun around and stared at her.
"Ichigo?!" He yelped. I must be dreaming. If I am; please don't let me wake up.
"Here I am; in the flesh. Miss me?" She grinned.
"Why are you back? Are you okay?" He had to sit on the bed. Miss you? Understatement!
"Do I need a reason? The States isn't really my deal. But I do need a favour..." She added. He looked at her. "...Can I have my job back?... and a place to crash? Mom and Dad won't be coming back to Tokyo." She bit her lip hoping he wouldn't ask her why.
"And Aoyoma? Isn't he gonna put you up? He's back too right?" Ichigo's eyes burned.
"No. He dumped me months ago. Please, Shirogane! I have nowhere else to turn! I'll even work just for my room and board." She was begging now. Ryou couldn't stand it. He stood up and got a tissue from a box and dabbed her eyes.
"Welcome back, Strawberry. I'll see what I can do." He whispered. She looked up at him.
"You don't know how much this means, thank you so much!" She bowed her head and walked out. Ryou stared after her. If it's possible; she's gotten cuter and prettier in over a year! Idiot Aoyoma, you don't know what you lost!
He sat at his desk again grinning like an idiot. Strawberry, Strawberry, Strawberry! My craving will be satisfied at last!

Downstairs everyone had finished work for the day, so Ichigo sat and had tea with them.
"I asked for my job back. It seemed to be alright." She explained.
"It better be. Ichigo, you're the only one who does a decent amount of work around here." Zakuro grinned. Ichigo noticed the uniforms had changed. Black pants and Mew-colour coordinated shirts. But it was the beginning of winter (Maybe in summer they wear their old uniforms.) It still looked great. Kiichiro looked at her.

"So, how's your parents?" Without warning Ichigo dropped her cup and sobbed into her hands. Mint immediately put her arms around the strawberry Mew.
"Onee-chan? What's the matter?" Pudding exclaimed. Ichigo cried into Mint's blue shirt.
"Mom and Dad. They were in a car accident about a month back. There wasn't anything I could do because I was at our apartment being upset about Aoyoma-Kun and they went out without me to buy me something to cheer me up. Why couldn't I be in the car with them? It was a blizzard and everything!  I should've told them not to go. Well, I did, but not well enough! I'm never good enough! I'm not good enough for Aoyoma-Kun, I'm not a good enough daughter, and I let my parents die! I wish I'd gone with them. I wish I died with them, save me all this heartache!" She exclaimed.

Ryou was sitting on the stairs listening to every last word.
Ichigo. Sweet Ichigo, I want to heal your pain. You've had enough- Kishu leaving, Aoyoma dumping you like you're his toy; now your parents can't even comfort you and tell you "its okay, I'm here."  Well Ichigo. I'm here whenever you need me.
He stood up and entered the café.
"Ryou-nii? Can Ichigo-onee stay here for a while? She's got nowhere else!" Pudding asked. He looked at Ichigo still being comforted by Mint.
"I don't see why not. We have a spare room going." He sighed. How can I say no?  Ichigo's cat ears pricked up. The Mew genes still lingered in her, only her. Hard to say why but it didn't bother Ryou one little bit. Ichigo flashed a smile through her tears. I can't help it. Every expression that girl makes, she's beautiful, it makes me wanna smile. Ryou went into the kitchen to see Kiichiro.

"Kiichiro-san, she's had it tough this past year. I can't stand seeing her unhappy. What do I do?" He leaned against the counter. He looked through the little window into the café. Ichigo had stopped crying and took stuff out of a pink rucksack.
"I bought presents last week to cheer me up. Minto." She handed her a blue velvet box. Inside was a silver necklace with a diamond encrusted humming bird pendant. Mint's jaw dropped.
"Beautiful! Thanks Ichigo." She put it around her neck. It suited her just fine.
"Zakuro-onee." She gave the purple Mew a designer handbag and scarf.
"Thank you, Strawberry-nee. My favourite designer too. Must've cost a bundle." She admired it.
"Not at all. Retasu-san, for you." A silver charm bracelet.
"You're too kind, Ichigo-san."
"And Pudding-san." (The biggest lollipop ever and a monkey t-shirt,) "I had no idea what to get you, sorry."
"WOW! Pudding never seen a lollipop so big! Thanks a lot Onee-chan!" She jumped up and down. Okay... as long as she's happy. Ichigo smiled.

Back in the kitchen. Ryou was going crazy.
"She's always thinking of others before herself. Why?!" He pulled at his hair.
"She's always been like that, it's an Ichigo thing. She cares about everyone and everything." Kiichiro smiled. Ryou breathed out a longing sigh. "You love her don't you Ryou-san? Like for real. I've seen the longing in your eyes since she left. Do you think she feels the same? I do." He chuckled. "She's always had that secret smile only for you. I see it, you have one for her too." Ryou's cheeks went red. "I never thought I'd see the day Ryou Shirogane blushes."

"What's he blushing about?" Ichigo came in. Ryou went redder. Kiichiro smiled.
"Doesn't matter. Are you feeling better? I'm sorry I brought on the subject." He added.
"I'm okay. I would've had to explain sooner or later. Anyway this is for you Kiichiro-san. I came up with the recipes myself, all tried and tested, and all bound into a cookery book for you, I hope you use some of them in the café menu. I'd be very happy." She gave him a red leather bound book. Ichigo's super sweet cook book!  Scrawled in silver lettering.
"Thank you very much, Ichigo-san!" He hugged her.
"And now a very special gift for Shirogane. Tah-dah! I knew you had a secret guilty pleasure for MCR so I got you a signed T-Shirt when I went on my lonesome to a gig in LA." She threw it at him. He looked at it with that smile on his face.
"Thanks Strawberry. This is really great... wait...you went alone?" He stared at her. She nodded.
"Aoyoma-Kun dumped me that day right before we were gonna go together. So I said I wasn't gonna let him spoil something I've saved for three months to go to. So I went alone." She shrugged. Ryou's temper gorge was reaching maximum.
"Don't call him 'Kun' as if he deserves respect! You've always deserved better. Way better, I'd say even Kishu would've treat you better than he has!" Ichigo stared at her blue eyed teenage boss.
"Are you okay? Aoyoma-Kun and I are over and I can't help the 'Kun' bit, I've called him that since first grade!" She added quietly. Zakuro popped her head through the door.

"Okay, we're off. See you tomorrow Ichigo-nee."
"Ja-ne!" They replied, she smiled and left. Kiichiro grabbed his bag.
"I have paper work at home, so I'll see you kids later." He gave Ryou a sly wink. Which was returned with a glare that could freeze hell.
"Bye bye!" Ichigo waved. I hope he'll like the recipes! She looked at Ryou. "So where should I put my stuff?" He sighed.
"C'mon, I'll help take your bags up to your room. It's the one next door to mine." He went into the café and picked up the holdall from under the table. How am I gonna do this? I can't even look at her without getting crazy thoughts!  

They got to her room.
"It's pretty simplistic but you can do what you want to make it home. There's an en-suit in there." Ryou dropped the holdall on the bed.
"Thanks, Shirogane. I mean it. This means a lot to me." Ichigo muttered.
"Not a problem. All of you Mews are special to me, so I'd do whatever to help." He replied. Particularly you. She smiled.
"Y'know I never thought you were any more than a stuck up Jerk. Here I'm proved wrong. You do care, in your own little way." She added sitting on the bed.
"There's a lot about me you don't know Strawberry. You can stay as long as you like." He turned and walked out the door. Stay forever.