Chapter 1

"The artwork here is wonderful isn't it?" Ichigo sighed, arm in arm with Masaya.

"Yeah, it's calming to see the hard work of great people pay off like this, art isn't like singers or anything, especially classics like these, modern art doesn't cut it though."

As they walked along the gallery, there was a painting of Edo in the feudal era washed over with a beautiful sunset, but as they approached, a boy a couple of years older than them stopped them, "Sorry, but I can't let you get any closer."

"Why?" Masaya asked.

"Yeah! What's the deal?" Ichigo added.

"This artwork is under close police monitoring."

"So you must be one of those community students working with them to increase your chances of getting in later in life." Masaya replied.

"You could say that, but as I was saying, we're not letting anyone get too close."

"What's the deal?" Ichigo asked him.

"Tonight, this piece will be the target of Azumano's infamous phantom thief, Dark."

"Dark?"

"No one knows who he is, but he always sends the police a warning note of when and where he will steal a piece of art. He has played us before, so we're not taking any risks."

"Phantom thief?"

"Often referred to as a fallen angel because of his black wings."

"Cool!" exclaimed an excited voice, "I want to see him!"

Ichigo jumped, "Pudding! What are you doing here?"

"Taking by little brothers and sisters to see the art." Pudding replied, as her five siblings appeared from behind her, waving.

"Well, it'll be way past your bedtime when he appears kid," the blue-haired boy replied, "You must be what… 8?"

"So?"

"8-year-olds need their sleep."

"Who are you to boss me around buddy?"

"All that I am going to tell you is that I am with the Azumano police force trying to capture Dark, now, if you are quite finished, there is a crowd coming from behind."

The lot left, Pudding and her siblings parted ways from Ichigo and Masaya.

"What a jerk! He's worse than Ryou!" Ichigo huffed.

"Never mind, I'm sure that he means well."

"You're always so positive Masaya."

"Come on, I'll get you an ice cream, your favourite is strawberry right?"

"Strawberry and vanilla double scoop."

"Coming right up."

"Hey that's my line!"

"You're not working right now though."

After her date Ichigo went to the café to talk to Keiichiro about the fallen angel, "Is it possible that he's a Kirema Anima?" she asked herself, as she found the brunet.

"I never actually heard of Dark, let me have a look on the computer," he typed away, "I don't know about him being a Kirema Anima, but he sure is popular."

He revealed a picture of him from CCTV; it was black and white, revealing pale skin, black hair, and a cocky expression.

Mint came in, "Ichigo! Why aren't you… who on earth is that?"

"That's what we're discussing, apparently his full name is Dark Mousy."

"And some jerk up at the art museum said he is after the Feudal sunset."

"Wow, you're not calling Ryou a jerk."

"Compared to this guy, Ryou is a teddy bear."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's a fact."

"It's called your opinion."

"Girls, calm down," Keiichiro interjected, "But I doubt he is a Kirema Anima though, he was here forty years ago."

"Could he have evolved from when the last ones were here? They keep banging on about how they are the rightful owners of this planet."

"Maybe, but you'll have to be careful, the art museum will be crawling with police tonight."

Lettuce came in, "Guys, we have a lot of customers and I can't do it by myself, Zakuro was called out five minutes ago."

"On our way." Ichigo replied, changing quickly into her waitress outfit and hurrying out.

That night Tokyo Mew Mew was standing on the roof of the museum, "So what are we looking for again?" Zakuro asked.

Ichigo took out a picture, "He has black wings."

"Not bad looking for a thief." Mint muttered.

"Did you say something Mint?"

"No, what made you think I did?"

Just then there was a gentle thud on the roof, "Wow, Tokyo brought in a real welcoming committee, I should come here more often."

"Welcoming committee? We're Tokyo Mew Mew!"

"Oh, those girls going around blasting aliens?" Dark asked.

"Dark!" Daisuke said inside him, "We don't have time for you to flirt! Get to work around here remember?"

"Cool it Daisuke," Dark said in his mind, "See you ladies later," he added out loud, and he flew to a window and through.

"Looks like a job for you Mint, you can fly, we'll meet you inside."

"Right," Mint replied, flying through the window, just as the thief was coming out, armed with the Feudal Sunset, "Put that back!"

"Can't do that, sorry."

"And why not?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Yes I would," Mint replied, holding out the Mintoon Arrow. "Don't make me use this buster."

"I don't think you will."

"Dark!" Daisuke yelled, "Just get out of here already!"

"Shut it Daisuke, I know what I'm doing!"

"Doesn't look like it!"

Dark took her free hand with his and kissed it gently, making her blush, "What are you doing?" she asked, pulling it away.

"What? Can't a thief show good manners sometimes?"

"Most are jerks!"

"Well then, you've met one who breaks the mould, I'll be sure to look out for you if I'm in the neighbourhood again." Dark replied, disappearing in a flash of black feathers.

"Err… hey you! Wait!"

The rest appeared, "Where is he?" Ichigo shouted.

"He… he got away."

"What?" Lettuce exclaimed.

"How?" Zakuro asked.

"He just did! Now let's go before someone sees us."

Ichigo looked at her, "You're blushing."

"What? No I'm not!"

"Yes you are, yes you are!" Pudding chanted.

"Shut up and let's go already!"

The next day Mint wasn't at work, "Hey Keiichiro, did Mint call in sick or something?" Ichigo asked.

"No, she didn't, you better check up on her after work."

Ryou came up, "Did you hear about this Dark?"

"Yeah, we were trying to stop him last night!"

"WHAT? Ichigo, you're supposed to be stopping Kirema Anima, not going after phantom thieves!"

"I permitted it Ryou, there was a slim possibility of him being some form of Kirema Anima, as for his tastes in art, I am trying to find a connection between them."

"How come you didn't tell me?"

"You were busy with schoolwork." Keiichiro replied, shrugging.

"No way! Ryou actually goes to school?" Ichigo asked.

"Of course I do! I'm still at High School!" Ryou snapped.

"Anyway, you better check up on Mint."

"Right."

After work they all met at Mint's mansion and rang the bell.

"Hello?"

"Mint? It's us, can we come in?"

"Err… sure."

The gates opened and she was in the hall, her hair down, "What is it?"

"You weren't at work today but you didn't call in sick." Ichigo replied.

"It must've slipped my mind, I've been pretty busy today."

"With what?"

"Things."

Pudding walked over to the desk, it was piled high with stuff about Dark, "What's this?"

"Hey! Get away from there you little menace!"

Ichigo looked at some of the notes, "Where did you get all this from?"

"Internet, most newspapers in Azumano have archives." Mint replied, tidying everything up. "But it seems that Dark has one weakness, a pretty face."

"You mean he's a flirt."

"By the looks of it, yes." Mint replied, blushing slightly, "According to all this he's quite the charmer, he's had practice, no doubt about it, but he disappeared for 40 years and came back, the chances of him being a Kirema Anima are slim."

"But Keiichiro said that Nessie was one, they haven't exactly been a recent event."