Gomen ne. I know it’s late. I have an incomplete looming over my head from this last semester that required me to watch A&E’s presentation of Pride and Prejudice yesterday. 6 HOURS of Austen. OMG. We so should have gone to the new movie! Beautiful love story though. If you’re a Ryou Ichigo fan I’d suggest you read the novel or see the movie. You’d appreciate the romantic angst. Not to mention the wit and how normal it makes other families look…But I digress. On to the sequel!

Ryou: well it’s about damn time… hey, what am I doing here?

Kei-chan: well, other authors seem to have so much fun talking to you… I thought I’d try it out!

Ryou: GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Kei-chan: Alright. I can always make Ichigo fall for a cute American boy…

Ryou: You know, maybe I can stay for awhile.

Kei-chan: Good boy (gives him treat) Now, on with the story!

Fluff in the Aftermath: Abroad

Chapter 1: Startling News

“Really? You won’t tease us about something like that would you?” Zakuro looked skeptically at Keiichiro who smiled in his normal pleasant way. Of course not, he responded. It had been a month or so since they had returned from their excursion. School was getting ready to start. It was the perfect time to spring the news on them.

“We sent all the information to your parents in the mail. It should be arriving either today or tomorrow.” Ryou leaned up against a wall smiling casually at them.

“What about my brothers and sister?” Keiichiro assured Purin that her siblings would be fine. They had made arrangements. Mint had the next question: why?

“Well, some strange things have been happening over there and we thought it may be best if you all investigated it.” Keiichiro raised a brow at Ryou’s explanation. His friend had an immaculate talent for leaving out important information. “You’ll live and go to school there for about 6 months.” Ichigo frowned. This was most definitely not sounding good to her.

“Are you two coming with us?” She looked hopefully at Ryou who refused to make eye contact with her. He slowly shook his head. Ichigo slumped forward and hung her head. Rettasu patted her on the back sympathetically.

“When do we leave?”

“A week from Thursday.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Airport, 7 am

- - - - - - - - - -

The time flew by without anyone really noticing it much. Ryou had avoided Ichigo for most of the time which made her more uncomfortable about the trip than before. Still, he’d picked her up that morning and walked with her to the airport. It was a quiet walk, but the fact that she had been near him was good enough.

The time for departure had come. A call went out on the speakers for all passengers boarding the 7:30 flight to North America to please go to the proper terminal. One by one all five girls hugged Keiichiro and Ryou and headed for their flight. Ichigo clung tightly to Ryou, just wanting a moment longer to feel his arms around her. They watched their friends board the plane and then fly away. Keiichiro patted his young friend on the shoulder. It was time to go home.

- - - - - - -

Airplane

- - - - - - -

“Wow this is so awesome!” Purin was hardly able to contain her bounciness. The guys had bought out the whole first class just for the five of them! Mint and Zakuro just made themselves at home; clearly first class was no big deal to them. The others were in awe.

“Don’t be so depressed Ichigo,” called Zakuro. She turned from the window and smiled sadly at them. I’m not, she replied.

“This is why I like being single. I can go anywhere I want, meet any guy I want, and not feel sad when I’m not around him.” Mint stretched out on her seat and rang for a steward; she wanted a blanket. Ichigo couldn’t help but giggle a little at that. They were valid points, all of them. However, unlike her confident and sarcastic young friend, Ichigo was happiest when in a relationship. And now… she was about to be without her significant other for what seemed an eternity… and he didn’t seem to be nearly as fazed by it as she was! Suddenly, her sadness turned into anger and she no longer sobbed over their being apart. She was going to make the best of this trip… and do her best to make Ryou miss her!

- - - - - - - -

America

- - - - - - - -

“So, who’s supposed to pick us up here?” Rettasu looked around the airport nervously. There were so many people there. Everywhere around them they could hear loud noises and talking; of course only Mint and Zakuro knew any English. Rettasu knew a little, but was not very proficient in it. Purin was too young and Ichigo was a lost cause. What had the guys been thinking?

“Ohayou, Minna-san! Genki desu ka?” They looked up to see a familiar face waving to them from the crowd: Ami! She rushed over to greet them. There was a look of relief on several faces. Ami laughed and helped them gather their bags. It was going to be another 45 minute drive to get to their temporary home.

Okay, it’s FINALLY started! OMG… I had such writers block for this… This continuation is much more plot oriented (as I said it would be), but it will contain the fluff. You may not believe it now, but there will be much fluff between Ichigo and Ryou in later chapters. Some between other characters as well ; ). I wanna make Ryou sweat! I really hope you’ll enjoy reading this one as much as Fluff!