Hey everyone, I'd like to introduce my first fanfic ever: Starlight.

It'll be filled with confusion, drama, romance and all that jazz, with a touch of humor.

Ichigo has been dating Masaya for a year now. Things between them haven't changed. But when Ichigo is offered an opportunity to become the next top idol, things start to get complicated. Why on Earth does she have to pair up with her jerk of a boss on her road to stardom?

Ichigo x Ryou

Japanese definitions will only be found at the end of this chapter. There aren't that many words to know, but they get used throughout the story.

Anyway, please review! Critiques are welcomed too as that will help me make the story better

Please review if you enjoy the read!

Chapter 1: Ryou's hidden feelings?!

"SHI—RO—GA—NE!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. Her face was undoubtedly bright beet red and a pair of black ears adorned her head as she struggled to hide them with her right arm.

A blond, blue-eyed adolescent looked at her coolly, only inches away from her face. "What's up, strawberry?"

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT CRAP." She screamed. Her ruby colored bangs swayed freely across her forehead as she forcefully pushed away the toned body of her handsome, but oh-so-agitating boss.

"Who told you to get licked by that dog?" His tone was neutral but his lips were curved in a slight sneer. "I was doing you the favor of changing you back." He watched her from the corner of his eyes as he began to walk out the kitchen door.

It was true. Ichigo Momomiya, the energetic 14 year old who had inconveniently passed by a leash-less dog on her way to work had spent the last 20 minutes before the start of her shift running away from the large canine. Instinctively, the dog felt a need to chase the poor girl, who at the time was in her full human form. The dog had managed to pin her down and plant a big slobbery kiss across her face. In fact, she got lucky this time. At least her encounter was with a friendly dog. Plus, she had transformed into a cat before the owner caught up.

Ichigo raised her index finger to her trembling lips. She could still feel the warmth of his soft lips and his gentle breath when he pulled away…AHH…WHAT on Earth was she thinking? Of course, anyone would be nervous in that situation right? Of course she'd be nervous even if it wasn't Masaya kissing her, right? And it'd only be natural to think about what happened right? Darn that jerk.

"WHY'D YOU HAVE TO K-KI-KISS ME?" She screamed after her boss. Realizing he had left, she ran out of the kitchen, deciding to give him a piece of her mind. With ears and tail still attached, she pushed open the door.

"Kiss? Ichigo?" Mint asked casually from her usual "tea sampling" table, as that was what she claimed she was doing for work. She raised an eyebrow at the surprised Ichigo.

"Oh, Mint. Um…I said..k..keys. That's right. I was looking for my keys." Ichigo turned away from Mint anxiously and darted up the stairs that led to Ryou Shirogane's room. And by god, she really had to learn to speak more quietly.

"Hmm…was that your kitty ears and tail I saw?" Ichigo heard Mint calling faintly after her.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the top of the steps. She calmed down a bit, her fluffy ears no longer present; the sound of bells could be heard no more. It really was unfair to be so easily read. Why didn't the other Mews have anything popping out from their heads when they were excited or nervous?

But there was a bright side to all of this. Masaya loved her cat-like features; he had called her his cat even before he found out about it. She remembered how he had hidden her in his jacket to protect his kitty from being seen. It had been absolute bliss. A smile was plastered on the cat girl's face and a dreamy, dazed look replaced the previously angry one. "Nya? Why am I up here again, nya?" She asked out loud.

The strawberry colored hair girl, once again managing to distract herself, forgot why she needed to see her infuriating boss. There had to be a reason for it though, and the girl decided that she would try to remember as she made her way there.

'Sorry to disappoint you baka strawberry, but you won't be seeing me shirtless in my room right now,' the giant paper that was pasted to the entrance of Ryou's room read. She was utterly shocked, angry and disgusted. SERIOUSLY, as if she would intentionally find him so she could see him shirtless… although he did have a nice body... No, no, no! She wasn't in the least bit disappointed! How dare he even write that! It wasn't her fault that he tells people to walk into the room while being half naked.

That was it. Her hands clasped tightly into fists as she pumped the air above her fervently. That Shirogane…that arrogant punk! Ichigo was mentally screaming to herself. That jerk makes my blood boil!

"Are you looking for Ryou?" said Keiichiro Akasaka, the long acquainted friend of Ryou and co-owner of Mew Mew Café. He had sensed a murderous aura radiating from the vicinity of his friend's room and had decided to check it out. Now he understood what it was.

"It was nothing Akasaka-san" Ichigo said tensely. She stood with her back facing Ryou's door and tried to subtly rip the blasted paper from it. "See you later" she said as soon as she managed to crumple the sign into a condensed ball and quickly placed it in her pocket.

Ichigo in her fury, stomped down every step of the staircase, fists clenched until her knuckles turned white.

"GET TO WORK." It was Ryou. He shook his head. "If you hadn't noticed, we've got a café to run. I'm adding the hour you wasted into your shift."

"NO! That's not fair! I get more done here than the other mews do in twice the time." She groaned. She looked her comrades in battle – they weren't quite as reliable as fellow workers. "Mint just sits around and sips tea and her tea time somehow always ends up being the entire work day. Half of all our profits go into paying for all the plates Pudding and Lettuce break and Zakuro, she isn't even here most of the time! If anything, I should be getting a raise! I DEMAND A RAISE" Ichigo made the same case everyday. Knowing what he was going to say didn't stop her from trying.

"No." Ryou replied flatly. "Besides, you owe me today for transforming you back." He watched her expression change in sudden realization. He cursed himself silently.

It all came back to her. She was running around on all fours with the bell around her black tail and neck ringing from her constant motion. She had managed to get to the cafe as a cat! Honestly, she had no idea what to do and worst of all, she couldn't open the front door!

And suddenly, as if responding to her panic, the door opened. Out stepped Ryou who looked directly at the hyper cat going insane. He picked her up and brought her inside without a word, away from the customers of schoolgirls who wanted to cuddle her to death, and into the kitchen where he performed the ultimate taboo- he kissed her! What a jerk! Ichigo scowled at the thought.

"First, Kish had to steal my first kiss, and then baka Shirogane had to steal the next …I don't even know since I've lost count. It wasn't until the Deep Blue crisis that I finally get to kiss Masaya for the first time. And now…well, we haven't kissed since then. " she mumbled miserably to herself.

"CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M SO MAD NOW?" Ichigo screamed.

Ryou stood there astounded, but most of all amused. So that was what it was all about. Of course, his cool exterior would never show what he was actually thinking. Sounds like I get to kiss Ichigo more than her boyfriend does. The corner of his mouth tipped into a subtle smirk, but in an instant, it was gone because of Ichigo's words.

"I'm getting kissed by the people I'd hate to kiss most of all!" Her eyes were fierce. She stared straight into his cerulean eyes as if sending him a challenge, but she didn't get the cold response she expected. Though he never flinched, Ichigo was sure she saw pain in those always seemingly unfeeling eyes of his. As soon as she noticed, his eyes suddenly lost their depth and gave way to dullness, as if to cover up any signs of emotion that may have been there before. She faltered for a brief moment. Maybe she had gone too far?

He narrowed his eyes at her and looked at her for a moment. In an instant, he turned around and said "Get to work. You're not getting that raise and you're working overtime tonight," his voice was uncaring as usual.

"Fine." Ichigo responded. She forced her voice to be steady but her arms shook. I must have imagined it. How could anyone like that even feel pain? Don't think that I'll easily fall for your tricks Shirogane! Armed with new certainty and triumphant from the near moment of weakness, Ichigo ignored all emotions and focused on work. Well, maybe she was keeping busy to distract herself from the sudden pain at her chest but she would never admit that.

Ryou was watching her from the corner of the room as he often did. Concealed in the shadows, his eyes followed her no less than they did the day before. He replayed those stinging words over and over again: "I'm getting kissed by the people I'd hate to kiss most of all." Why did those words bother him so much?

He watched her every movement as she hyperly bounced from one table to the next and observed as those chocolate colored eyes focused on the work at hand. She moved quickly and gracefully. She was in her own way, elegant; that was of course, when she wasn't talking. Ryou smiled to himself, a genuine smile that he had never let anyone see before. Her awesome composure, beautiful and swift movements when she worked were to be expected though. He had not forgotten about the genes of the Iriomote wildcat that he had infused with her own. He could never forget that.

Ryou was the reason her life began to take a strange turn. No, she did not owe him anything for that kiss that turned her from a cat back into a human. He owed her, at the very least, her transformation back into her normal self. As for all that work he made her do, all the times he annoyed her, excited her and surprised her, they weren't at all necessary, but it was fun. For him maybe, but he could tell she was extremely upset today.

"I'm getting kissed by all the people I'd hate to kiss most of all." Ugh. Maybe it was getting out of hand. Maybe he should be nicer.

Those words were ringing incessantly through his mind. "I'm just annoyed about the responsibility of it all, THAT'S ALL." He told himself harshly. He carried the overbearing responsibility of forcing such a fate onto those innocent girls, especially to Ichigo who suffered most of all. "And the kiss was just to change her back anyway..." he trailed off as he recalled her rosy cheeks and luminescent eyes that searched through his own. He could still feel the warmth of her body just as he was pulling away and the taste of her sweet lips. That imploring look on her face. She had seemed so vulnerable. ARGH. Why am I thinking that? He asked himself angrily. That's what happens during a kiss. There's nothing special about that.

The bell rang, signaling the entrance of another customer. It woke Ryou from his momentary trance. He saw the dark-haired Mr. Perfect approach the ecstatic girl. He couldn't understand why he was so annoyed by his presence.

"Masaya!" he heard Ichigo squeal with delight. Ugh, just great.

"Hi Ichigo." Masaya offered a warm smile. "I got out of kendo practice early today. Thought I'd drop by and maybe help out."

Ryou walked toward the scene. "That won't be necessary Aoyama. We have enough employees here."

"Shirogane!" Ichigo said indignantly, eyes pleading. "You know I've been having a tough time. It's so busy today."

Darn those eyes. "Whatever, but he's not getting paid." Ryou said nonchalantly while watching Masaya very carefully.

Ichigo immediately grabbed Masaya's arm, heading to the changing room and said "Thanks a whole bunch" as she ran off.

Ugh. Just perfect. I get to spend the next couple of hours watching the both of them. In utter annoyance but displaying a calm exterior, Ryou went to check on the other girls.

"Shirogane" Zakuro had been watching them. "You've no reason to not trust Aoyama-kun. He's already proven himself."

"Right." But that wasn't at all why Ryou was observing him so carefully.

Ichigo and Masaya returned hand in hand, ready to get to work. Masaya was greatly welcomed by the female customers. He was a good worker, someone Ichigo could finally rely on in the cafe. And he was just too adorable in those clothes!

"Get to work guys." Ryou was surprised to see Ichigo speed off to tend to the customers without a single complaint. He gave the couple a final glance and walked away.

She didn't want Masaya to think that she was troublesome and she didn't want him to see her arguing. It was a bit difficult not exploding when her temper wanted to flare at Ryou's arrogance, but she didn't mind so much. She was so relieved there was someone to finally help her out! She knew she could always count on her boyfriend. After the final customers left, the other mews left as well, and left it to Ichigo and Masaya to close up.

Tired from the busy day at work, she stretched her arms and was just about to sit.

Keiichiro walked out with a plate of new deserts. "Thanks for your hard work today. Would you like some cake?"

Ichigo blushed mildly. Masaya was there, she couldn't possibly show him how she pigged out on sweets. "No thank you Akasaka-san."

"Baka strawberry, just eat it." Ryou approached the three. He had been observing them unnoticed from the hallway.

The cat girl stared at the pastries, almost drooling but somehow managed to contain herself. "Just one!" She said, as if she was reluctant to eat any at all.

"Ichigo has never had more than one piece of cake on our dates together." Masaya said thoughtfully. "She must not like them too much or maybe she just has a small appetite." He looked at Ichigo and smiled. "Just like a dainty koneko neh?"

Meanwhile, Ryou and Keiichiro gave Ichigo an inquisitive and confused look. He can't possibly be talking about that baka! Ryou thought.

Ichigo's cheeks reddened under their gaze. Masaya lifted up a fork and scooped a piece of cake to feed Ichigo. "Ano..." Ichigo shifted a bit uneasily in her seat. She felt his hand brush her arm accidentally as he motioned to feed her and she suddenly remembered the warmth of Ryou's arms surrounding her earlier that day. POP! Out came Ichigo's fuzzy black ears and tail. Masaya gave a soft chuckle.

Ryou saw her flustered. Well why wouldn't she be. Aoyama, that annoying bastard is feeding her. Hold on...why should that bother me? He turned around, unable to watch the scene for a second longer.

"Later guys." With his back facing them, he walked away as if he did not have a single care in the world.

Ryou couldn't understand the annoyance he felt all day. It gnawed at him constantly. He didn't have a single moment of peace that day, even when he was alone. He looked at his treasured family portrait. Mom, Dad, god I miss you both so much. I wish you were here to listen to my problems.

Fire, flames and smoke suddenly appeared. The recurring memory was coming back. It came back every time he looked at the picture. He couldn't even look at his parents' faces in peace.

Ugh..Time for another shower to help me forget...again. Those showers always relaxed him and made him forget. Slowly the image of chaos retreated from his mind and instead were replaced with that echoing voice he had heard all day "I'm getting kissed by all the people I'd hate to kiss most of all."

Why did he keep hearing those words? Why wouldn't they just get out of his head? "Ichigo" he said her real name for the first time. "I'll always protect you. No matter what." As if he hadn't realized what he was saying, he suddenly caught himself.

Damnit. Get out of my head.

His overwhelming desire to protect her – that was just to take responsibility for turning her into a Mew right? How could it be anything more with that unrefined and unbelievably aggravating brat? She was just...UGH...loud and annoying! And kind, gentle and lively...geez Ryou STOP THAT!

But the sparkling expression when she smiled lingered in his mind.

He sighed in reluctant acceptance. Of course it wasn't just the responsibility. When he thought she had died in that final fight, he thought his own heart would stop beating. Darn that strawberry…of all people, why her? He sighed helplessly.

Ryou Shirogane, you are smitten with that baka strawberry.

But what did it matter. She was happily coupled with Masaya, her ideal and eternal love. That was fine with him, as long as she was alive and happy.

Author's note:

Excuse my japanese, for I have never taken a class nor formally learned the language. I used certain Japanese phrases because I wanted to stay true to the characters. These words are repeated multiple times throughout the story, so I figured that I'll only need to define them once (for those who haven't watched anime to such an obsessively excess degree that the Japanese would begin sinking into their brains)

Baka idiot

Nani? What? (with a more huh? / Ehh? tone)

koneko kitten

Arigato thank you

Ano Umm.. (it has a bit hesitant and a little uneasy tone to it)

Note that in Japanese culture, only good friends refer to each other by their first names. (Throughout the story, Ryou avoids calling Ichigo simply Ichigo. Just as Ichigo calls Ryou by his last name, instead of his first.)