I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew people.

Now, enjoy!

The rain crashes into the earth with the power of millions of bullets. There are puddles everywhere, reflecting the white lightening. The thunder roars furious and the wind whistles it's way through every little corner of the earth with a scornful laughter. Everyone who's still outside on the streets hurries towards his home. Except for one young girl, who stands seemingly doubting under a tree next to a pond in a park. She clasps a bag in her hands. Her eyes look torn, as if she is between to minds. She knows that she shouldn't be standing underneath a tree when there's a thunderstorm, but if she steps away from it now all of her books will be soaked. She can't stand the thought of the wet pages and the running ink without freezing immediately. Besides, these books are from the library, so they're not hers to ruin.

With a sigh she slides down the tree and stares with pulled op knees to the wild waves that the wind created in the once so lovely pond. She doesn't like it when the water is this turbulent. It makes her feel uncomfortable.

After a while her teeth begin to chatter, without her noticing it. The rain has got her completely soaked and her cold clothes stick to her body like ice. It almost hurts. But her books are safe and that's the only thing that matters to the girl right now. Her green hair droops in dark wisps down her pale face. An enormous thunderclap strikes through the park. The girl cringes even further and closes her eyes. She is frightened.

Retasu has always been afraid of thunderstorms. When she was younger, she used to hide behind the couch with the curtains closed. Then her parents would come sit next to her to comfort her and to distract her with old photo albums. She'd fall asleep in her father's arms, smiling. But now she isn't safe at home behind the couch. She is lying underneath a tree, shivering heavily, curled up like a little hedgehog. Protecting her books, her treasure. Meanwhile tears are prudently escaping her clear, blue eyes. To distract herself she tries to think about last afternoon. It had been a regular day.

She worked in Café Mew Mew and didn't break any plates today, even though it was very busy and she got really nervous because she had the feeling everyone was looking at her stumbling around in her clumsy way. There was one time she almost dropped a cup because she was startled by a bird that flew into one of the windows. Her friend and colleague Mint immediately ran outside, concerned about the little creature. That was one of the few times she had seen Mint being sweet to and concerned about anything but her tea break or Zakuro, another friend and colleague of theirs. It was kind of confusing.

Another thunderclap strikes through the park. Retasu smothers her own shriek. The tears are now flowing richly from her eyes. Quickly she starts to think about last afternoon some more. It had been, like always, a busy afternoon. The café was bulging with costumers en she had to run to keep everyone satisfied, including her boss Ryou who had been keeping a close eye on her all day. It had made her really agitated and insecure. Again. She had been the last one to leave today. After she changed back to her normal clothing she had bumped into Ryou. Literally.

She had crashed into him with an huge bump. So heavily that her glasses had fallen of her nose, causing her to not able to see anything. Nevertheless, she knew exactly who she had ran into. She could feel it from the way her heart pounded in her chest. "I'm so sorry!" she cried panicked while she found her heartbeat raising. Silently she had cursed herself and her weak heart. It was so stupid that after four years she still had an immense weak spot for Ryou. He was her boss, for heavens sake! And still… still her heart keeps on racing whenever he gets close. Once she felt his lips on her, deep under water. She never lost that feeling.

Ryou had picked up her glasses and carefully put them back on her nose. After that he had smiled to her. A rare, stunningly smile that knocked the wind out of her. "No need to apologize. You did good today". And he had been gone, leaving her in shock.

From that shock she went to the park, simply to read something on the water's edge. She is reading Romeo and Juliet. Again. The story keeps on touching her. And every time when Juliet wakes up and finds her Romeo next to her, dead, Retasu cries. She always gets completely wrapped up in books. A relic from the time when she rather spent time in books then in reality. Her… change made a sudden end to that era. With her change the reality had become too hard and cold to ignore, but at the same time it had become warm. From that point her friends had always been there. Ryou also, but she isn't sure that is something positive… She just never got rid of that unreasonable crush of hers. He's too close to. Of course, she has had crushes on other guys. She even had a boyfriend one time, something that surprised herself more then anyone. But every time she gets back to Ryou in some annoying way she doesn't understand. It's kind of frightening. She wonders if he ever knew. If he knows right now. If she wouldn't have been this cold, she probably would have blushed. She can't bear to think of it. Still… Who knows? He's smart enough to see it himself and if not there always is a chance Pudding told him. She can imagine the cheerful, talkative teenager doing something like that. By accident, of course. She would never mean to do it on purpose, knowing it would bring Retasu into trouble.

Pudding is now the age of Retasu when she first changed. Strange, it seems such a long time ago. She can't even imagine not being who she is right now. A lot of things happened in the past four years.. Still she has managed to stay the same as always. She doesn't know how she did that herself. She has been taking care of Pudding a bit. The girl feels like her best friend as well as her little sister. Also, she's been living in the library like before. But she's proud to admit that her clumsiness lessen a bit. Her ability to make dolls has improved as well. She has matured. Four years…

Suddenly the alarm bells in the back of her head begin to jingle. Retasu opens her blue eyes and gets up, suspicious. Her experiences have taught her that you should always listen to your instinct. And at this moment, her instinct is screaming.

The wind blow the tresses of her hair, dark from the rain, playfully around her face. Like it's teasing her. The rain has slowly lessened, she notices. Now there's only icy drizzle left. Her hand slides of its own accord to the golden pendant, hanging from a necklace around her neck. She always carries it with her nowadays, just in case. Not that something is likely to happen, but still. Something's happening right now too and she's happy to have the pendant close to her. It makes her feel a little safe. Her eyes scan the darkness of the park. She notices something from the corner of her eyes and quickly turns her head to a tree on the other side of the water's edge, right in front of her. The lightening lightens up the tree for a second or so, but there's nothing to be seen. Carefully her eyes continue to scan every single leave in the tree, until her eyes contact the thing she was searching for and didn't want to find at the same time.

Black. The eyes are black. Deep, pitch black and cold as ice. Metallic. Vast like a storm above a wild sea. She can see the lightening reflecting and the thunder is also to be seen there, in the black.

Retasu stares into those black eyes, petrified, wondering if her mind is playing a game with her. It must have been her thinking of the past from a few moments ago that caused this hallucination she's staring at right now, that's it. That's why she is imagining seeing those eyes.

They're exactly as they are in her memories, a perfect reflection. Maybe a little more mature, a little wiser. Older. Changed in the past four years. Every night she dreams about those eyes. It's like walking into one of her dreams. Maybe she fell asleep underneath the tree or maybe she's finally gone mad. Everything is more likely then that he would really be sitting there, in that tree, with those black eyes that burn a hole in her heart. She doesn't understand. She thought she had wiped away every single memory of him she had left.

A while after they left she noticed that she couldn't stop thinking about him. That she dreamt about him. His eyes, the way his hair fell, his way of moving and thinking. It freaked her out and step by step she had eliminated him from her life. Keeping her in her mind wouldn't solve anything, it didn't mean anything. It was pointless. So she didn't.

One way or another this delusion seems to dissolve all of the effort she has put into getting rid of the part of her that he had conquered. She doesn't want to move. She doesn't want to go just to find nothing. She'd rather stay under this tree forever then going to that other tree and find the nothing she knows will be there. The most compelling memory forces itself into her mind again. That last look. That last look behind before he gave his life for them. That look has kept haunting her ever since he sent it. She still can't name it, though she's been trying to for the past four years. He was willing to give his life, to give everything. For them. For… her?

No, that's a silly thought. Of course not. He never thought of her in that way. His lack of heart is known everywhere. But still… To be honest, she never believed he doesn't have a heart. He cared for his people and his friends, she's sure about that. He just didn't care about… them. This world, these people. He didn't give a damn. Not the slightest bit. He was always heartless and cold. Still he was angry, angry at the ones that were destroying this beautiful planet. But he didn't show, so she isn't sure. She can name only one time she saw something in his eyes that she could call an emotion. During that last look. Retasu cringes again. Hurt. It hurts.

The lightening seems to come out of nowhere, cleaving the tree with a horrible cracking sound. It's like it cries out from a terrifying pain. The roots tear off en slowly, exasperatingly slow, it begins to fall. Retasu is standing on the exact place where it will come down, but she doesn't move. She can't bring herself to moving. If she moves, everything will be gone.

She understands now. That's it. She'll die. She'll die and that's why her subconscious is showing her those eyes for one last time. She's glad that the last thing she'll see will be those black eyes staring back at her. That's a nice ending of her life. She smiled slightly. Yes, a nice ending.

The next second the eyes are gone. Just disappeared, most likely into the nothing of her subconscious they came from. Faded in the darkness of the evening air. The girl closes her eyes to detain the black colour a little longer. The icy drizzle rinses her salt tears from her face. The cracking sound is coming closer.

The hit doesn't come from the direction she was expecting. From her side something crashed into her with an unknown power and drags her along through the air. Wait, then she isn't going to die? Is it a dream after all? No, impossible. Even with all the power of every single world she knows and doesn't know she wouldn't be able to think of this feeling. Those strong arms that are curling around her and press her protective against oneself. The feeling of her head on his chest. The sound of his steady heartbeat. It feels strange and known at the same time. Still…

It can't be him. Most likely it's someone completely different. Presently she will open her eyes and see a stranger. Green eyes, brown ones maybe. But not the metallic black she is longing for so bad.

No, wait, hold it, stop. She isn't longing for those eyes, for that face. That would be the same as longing for pain and that would be totally insane. Because looking him in the eyes would be equal to being hurt. Hurt with the same pain she wakes up with every single morning after he haunted her dreams and that pain multiplied by a thousand or more. Of course she wouldn't want that. She isn't masochistic or suicidal.

The tree comes down on the wet earth with a noise that makes her ears burst and makes the ground shiver. Her saviour wards off the blow of hitting the ground with his shoulder and then pushes her even tighter to his chest to protect her from the splintering wood. Still as death they remain lying on the ground, the echo of the tree's collapsing still in the evening air. The drizzle can't reach her face anymore. Retasu doesn't want to open her eyes. Not just yet. Let her dream of the face she won't see ever again some more.

"Retasu?". Wow. Her subconscious really surpassed itself this time. He even sounds like him. "Are you injured?". Yes, he would ask the same, she supposes. Always first analyze the effects. Logic, that's what his life is about. At least, it was when he left four years ago, as far as she could tell. "Retasu?" the voice repeats "Are you injured?". Wait, he knows her name. So that would mean she actually knows this guy. The girl sighs. It's time to wake up. Her saviour turns her around in his arms so she comes to face him and he can look at her features. Tears are running across her cheeks and she keeps her eyes closed, as if she desperately tries to hold on to something that'll be gone soon. She shivers, her lips are blue from the cold. Carefully, exasperatingly slow, the girl opens her blue eyes and looks at him. Her eyes immediately become like saucers.

Black. His eyes are black. Metallic black, with a slight, mysterious shimmer. Eyes like a huge storm. She can see her own reflection in it. They're a special kind of black, dark and deep but still bright as sunlight. Moving, always moving. Angry but scheming. His black. And they're close. They're noses almost touch. Oddly enough it doesn't hurt at all. It makes her feel all warm and almost like she is shimmering herself. She missed those eyes like hell.

"Retasu". It's a conclusion this time. It's her. Mew Lettuce in her human form. Retasu. She can see his lips move as he speaks to her. His voice is low and hypnotic. She wouldn't be able to move if she would have wanted to. Luckily she doesn't want to move at all. The voice belongs to the lips. The lips belong to the eyes. The eyes belong to him. Him. Her blue lips whisper his name. "Pai…".

"Retasu". "Pai". "Retasu". "Pai". "Retasu". Silence. They can't go on like this, nothing will come of it. Still she can't bring herself to say anything else. So she remains silent, staring at him. He's here. Very close. Unbelievably close. She can stare at him once again. He's back. He came back and- "You saved my life" Retasu says astonished. She isn't used to him saving her life. She's used to him trying to kill her. But, they're not enemies anymore. Still she can't seem to put the puzzle together. Why in heavens name did he save her?

Another thunderclap. Retasu cringes and closes her eyes again. No. Please. Unintentional she nuzzles her face to his neck, looking for protection. "You didn't run away". Her moist hair tickles his thin lips as he speaks. Retasu gasps when hearing his voice. "Why didn't you run away?". Retasu doesn't move. She recalls the moment she could've ran, but didn't, entranced by his eyes. He doesn't understand. Neither does she, she has to admit. "I… eh, well, I-". "You just kept standing on the same spot and looked at me, even though you were on the point of getting crushed by that large tree". "I- Yes, I did…". "Why?". Completely rational of course. Exactly like she remembers him. There's no emotion in his voice and that's exactly what stirs up a lot of emotions within her. "You… I was… frozen, because, eh, I was frightened". "You were frightened by the tree" he concludes. "No! Well, yes, also, of course, but I was mostly frightened by, well, you, actually". She feels herself blush and bites her lips. What is she saying? "By me?". "Yes, do you think it odd, the last time you came to earth you we're trying to extinguish humankind". Pai is silent. Retasu immediately hates herself for saying that. "I mean, I'm sorry, Pai-san, I didn't mean to insult you or anything, you just frightened me". Alright, that's it. Now she has completely ruined everything. Retasu keeps her eyes closed. Just a little longer…

Another thunderclap. Retasu utters a frightened little cry. "You're scared" he says, without reacting to her helpless jabber. "I-". Retasu wants to deny, but notices she can't. "Yes. I'm scared". "You fight enemies that are more powerful then you are, yet still you fear thunder". "Yes. And I also fear clowns". Darn, now she has given away another insignificant yet embarrassing secret of hers. She really is bad at conversing with him, she supposes. She catches her breath when she feels his fingers gently caress the dark tresses of her hair. "There is no need to do so". Ironic, isn't it? Her former enemy with the eyes like thunder is trying to take away her fear for the thunder, with success. And not just her former enemy. No. Him. Pai. The one she has always feared the most and yet also always has been concentrated on the most. It was like every time she was fighting one of his creations or comrades, she couldn't stop looking at him from the corner of her eyes. He intrigued her. He was different from the others. So cold, yet so determined in helping his people. Never any emotion on his face. The best fighter of them all. Taruto was still a child and Kisshu always got carried away by his feelings. Pai fought with a preciseness that scared her the most of all. She learned a lot by fighting him, she must say. Sometimes she even felt like he was teaching her. She knows he could have killed her a hundred times, but didn't. He just tried the same attack again until she knew how to block it, like he wanted her to. Of course she can't be sure, because his eyes never told her anything. Well, maybe once. That last look. It was something with regret and hope and anger… She still doesn't know where the anger must have come from. The only thing her simple human mind can come up with is that he didn't like to see her as he saw her: desperately holding on to Ryou. But that's a ridiculous thought. Ever since he isn't their enemy anymore he's been polite to Ryou. Still… She never believed those guys actually liked each other. It's more like they were forced into negotiation with each other, even though they would love to see the other guy, well, dead. The reason behind this will always be a secret for her, she believes. She doesn't have the guts to ask either Ryou or Pai.

The thought hits her once again. She could ask Pai. Because he's here. He's here, he's back and he's holding her tightly to his chest. His fingers are still gently caressing her hair, trying to comfort her.

"Why are you here, Pai?". She had to ask. There must be a reason behind his visit and it would be wrong not to here out that reason because of her own selfishness. Because wanting this moment to last forever is quite selfish. His fingers immediately stops moving and Retasu wishes she had just kept her mouth shut. That wish scares her even more then the thunderclaps. Still his fingers remain lying on her hair, something that makes her heart burst like a bubble. She's pathetic.

"You are in danger". Silence. "What do you mean?". She was right. This is important. Danger. "I rather explain that when everyone is near, so that I don't have to repeat it". "Of course". Retasu nods her head while opening her eyes with a sigh. She doesn't want it to end just yet… But it's already over. The moment is gone. She has to get back to real life. Pai gets up and pulls her with him. His arms are still tightly around her and she lies her hands on his shoulders. They're extravagantly well-muscled, she notices with an immediate blush. He puts his hands on her waist and looks at her with his piercing lightening-eyes. It's breathtaking.

"Let's go". Retasu blinks with her lashes and suddenly they are standing in the middle of Café Mew Mew. Disorientated she looks around the room she's walked through so many times before, while still holding the alien. In front of them she finds a startled Ryou. "Akasaka!" he shouts. His whole body is completely tensed, his blue eyes locked to Pai. She feels Pai's body also tense, probably in reaction to Ryou. She knew they didn't like each other. Ryou looks alarmed. Retasu suddenly understands the thing he sees: the most dangerous alien of all keeping the most weak Mew of all locked in his grip. She wants to say there's nothing to fear, that Pai won't hurt her. But how can she when she isn't completely sure herself?

"Let go of her". At once the grip around her waist disappears and Retasu lets go of Pai's shoulders, clasping her hands together behind her back and stepping back a little. Her cheeks are a brilliant shade of red and she doesn't look either of the boys in the eyes. This might be the one situation she would rather never have to face. "Retasu" Ryou says, still tensed. Retasu walks towards him, leaving Pai behind. She can feel his eyes burning in her back and shivers lightly. "Call for the others". Retasu nods her head and almost runs out of the room, to the basement. On her way down she comes to face Keiichiro. "What is going on?" he asks, worried about his tensed friend. "Pai… Pai is back". That's the first time she actually really said it out loud. It feels quite good.

Keiichiro runs away and Retasu continues her way down. The basement is empty and spooky lighted by a computer screen. Retasu swallows and places herself behind the screen. She types on the keyboard and prays that she's doing it right. Ryou would kill her when she broke anything. "Girls? Girls, do you copy?". One by one the faces of her friends appear in different windows. "What is it, Retasu-onee-chan?" Pudding asks with a smile. "Yes, what are you doing behind Shirogane's computer, Retasu?". Mint looks bored, as always. Retasu decides to just throw it out. There is no other way to say it, is there? "Pai is back". Silence. Every face pales a little, including hers. She's not used to saying it. "What does he want?" Zakuro asks essential. "I'm not sure, but he says were in danger". "Of course, our lifes were getting boring again anyway…" Mint murmurs. Retasu can't hold back a little smile.

Ichigo is without doubt the palest of them all. Her eyes are like saucers and she's short of breath. Retasu can almost hear her hart racing, even though they're communicating through their pendants. "Is he… Are the others also back?" Ichigo asks with a tremble voice. Silence. Everyone knows the question Ichigo really wants to ask. Is Kisshu back? "I didn't see them…" Retasu speaks with her soft voice. Is he back? "We're on our way" Zakuro says. Retasu nods. "Great. Ichigo, can you call Masaya?". Ichigo begins to blush. Mint lets out a deep sigh. "Let me guess: he's already with you?". "I, eh, will contact, eh, we'll be there as soon as possible. Bye!". And the communication is gone. Retasu smiles while shaking her head. Ichigo. "He didn't come?". Pudding raises one of her eyebrows. "And Tar-T-, I mean, Taruto?". "I don't know, Pudding. Sorry". "Hmmm… I guess I'll come and have a look myself. O dear when he stayed home". And the communication is gone. Just after that Zakuro en Mint also leave. Retasu gets up and walks back to the room she left. Her legs are shaking. She finds the tree young men in an awkward position. Keiichiro is leaning against the wall of the room with a slight smile around his lips and his arms crossed in front of his chest. Pai stands upright in the middle of the room and Ryou has taken place on small couch. He gesticulates her to come to him. With quick steps she walks towards him. "The others are on their way". "Good". Ryou tabs on the place next to him on the small couch. "Sit". He sounds stern, like a teacher or… well, a boss. But then an incredibly good-looking teacher. Retasu finds herself blushing once again. There will be a day she won't be able to stop anymore. "But, Ryou, there's-". "Retasu". She knows that voice. No contradiction, it says. It means he's getting serious. Silently Retasu sits down next to him on the couch. Ryou leans towards her. "I just heard you almost got crushed by a tree. Are you alright?". He sounds concerned, something that speeds up her heart. Pai's ears twitch a little, she's afraid he can hear. But there's nothing she can do about the feeling that is slowly moving through her body. Retasu looks neither of the boys in the eyes. "I'm fine, no need to worry. Thanks to Pai". Ryou immediately understands that the last thing she said is meant as a warning and arrogantly raises one of his eyebrows. Retasu looks away ostentatious. They might not like each other, they're on the same team now, so they have to get along. No other options. It's time for Ryou to understand that.

God, he looks hot when he raises one eyebrow.

"Why were you standing under that tree in the first place? Idiot". "Hé!" Retasu cries out indignant "I was only trying to protect my b-". She falls silent and her eyes become saucers. "O no! My books! O my, no way…". She jumps to her feet and looks around with an neglected and desperate look in her blue eyes, not even bothering to not look at the boys anymore. She has more important things to worry about. "I have to go get them!". "No". There were two voices saying that. Retasu looks surprised from Ryou to Pai. Ryou has got up and takes a step towards her at the same time Pai does so. The boys look at each other, surprised by both the other and their self. Their eyes narrow down a bit. "I'll fetch them" Pai says without taking his eyes of Ryou. Within a second he starts to fade. "No, please wait!". Retasu reaches her hands out to the place he was standing just a second ago, but too late. The spot is empty. He's gone. Gone.

This is the point where Retasu's legs refuse to listen any longer. She falls on her knees to the ground and wraps her arms around her body. She shivers. She hadn't realised that she is still wearing her drenched clothes. All of a sudden her tears start running down her cheeks again en she closes her eyes to detain the black colour a little longer. She can't lose it again. She has to remember it to the end of her days. "No… Please don't leave…". Not again. She can't go through this again. Last time it almost broke her to pieces. There is no way she can survive that hurting another time. Especially not now, when she is soaked and cold and her books are gone.

Then she feels two steady hands on her lightly juddering shoulders. "Retasu?". The girl's eyes dash open and she stares into the deep, metallic black of his eyes. Strange. It's always more beautiful then she could remember. Maybe it changes every second. But they're always like a thunderstorm. "Pai…". The tears won't stop flowing. He sits in front of her on the ground, on his knees, his hands still on her shoulders. He's back. He never left. Not really. Carefully he wipes away her tears with his thumbs, caressing her face a little, then he brushes away her hair from her face, also caressing that. But that might be her imagination going wild because of the fact he's back. She looks dreadful. Hurt. She looks like she's in pain. He doesn't know why, but he hates that. Why is she in pain? She wasn't in pain before he went to get her books for her. "I've got your books". Retasu smiles softly, a stunning smile that takes away some of the misery on her face. "Thank you".

Retasu is ordered to take off her wet clothes and put on something dry. Luckily she always has a bit of clothing hanging in the changing room, in case she or her friends need them. It isn't much: just a white skirt and a white top, but at least it is something dry. Fortunately Keiichiro brings her a too big, blue blouse which she usually wouldn't even dare to look at because she would be afraid that she had to give up all of her money and even more. The material feels soft on her sensitive, pale skin and is nicely warm. It smells like fabric softener and reminds her of home. Relieved because she is wearing something that isn't drenched with rain she gets back to the room. None of the guys inside it seem to have moved since she left. Silence. In the silent Retasu takes place next to Ryou on the couch again, not knowing where else she should sit. She moves away from his as much as possible, trying to oppress the warm, tingling feeling in her chest. She can't stare at him like she's smitten right now. It wouldn't be right. And what would Pai think of her… Keiichiro already knows, of course he knows. He found out about her crush two years ago and helped her with supporting looks ever since. He seems to understand how she's suffering from it. Because she is.

She takes out Romeo and Juliet from her bag, that is put next to the couch, and tries to lose herself in the confused feelings of Juliet Capulet, but she can't concentrate and keeps on peeking at Pai from the corners of her eyes, afraid he might disappear. A couple of times he catches her looks with his beautiful, black eyes and she takes her eyes of him in embarrassment. What must he be thinking of her? But she can't suppress herself. She just has to look at him. It's a need.

Eventually she closes her book with a loud bang. She hasn't read a page. She places her book on her lap and looks at Pai, now openly. It feels like admitting a crime, but this time she has a good reason. She has something to ask him. "Are you alone?". A little flickering of emotion dashes through his metallic eyes, like she woke him from a dream. Do the aliens dream? Something for later to ask, maybe. "No, I'm not". Not? Retasu looks at him in surprise. "Taruto teleported as soon as possible, I'm for 97.4% sure that he went to find Pudding". There is a short silence. "And… Kisshu?". "He didn't come with us". "Oh…". Not… She wonders what Ichigo will think of this. Will she be relieved or disappointed? She isn't sure, but sometimes when she looks in Ichigo's eyes… it's like she has the same dreams as Retasu is haunted by every night, but in her case with golden eyes instead of black ones. She can't be sure though, because she never talks about her dreams. Ever. Pudding might also have them, though Taruto did come back a couple of times. To get candy, so he says. But when he's here, he never leaves Pudding alone. He always helps her at home, her brothers and sister have grown quite fond of him. They'll be glad to see him again. And so will Pudding. She misses him like hell, Retasu can tell. Since she doesn't have to everything at home any longer, because the teacher of her little sister has moved in, she gets bored quite easily and she can't shut up about 'the old days'. Sometimes Retasu thinks Pudding will be happy when some enemy shows up again. That would mean she has something to do. But at the same time, she wouldn't. Pudding is just as happy as the others that the earth isn't in danger any longer. Or was, she has to say. The arriving of Pai and Taruto changed that thought.

"Which book is that?". Retasu startles from her thoughts. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?'. "That book. What is it?". "O! Eh, it's Romeo and Juliet". "A classical, tragic love-story. They both die in the end". "Yes, that's true. But still… The face that they'd die for there love really makes me-". Retasu closes her mouth and gets red. "I'm sorry, you didn't ask for me to say anything. Forgive me". "No need to apologize. It's interesting. I'd love to hear your opinion about the book". "O, eh, well…" Retasu stutters "I…". Slowly, watched by his black eyes, she regains her strength. "It's my favourite, actually. I really love it for the face that even death can't keep them apart, because they are meant to be. They belong with each other and they'd do anything to be with each other, no matter what their families might say. That's love". "That is love?". "Yes. In my eyes, that's real love". "Fascinating…". He looks at her, intrigued by her words and the way that once she talks about a book, the shy girl seems to disappear and he can take a look at the wonderful young woman that is underneath it. Retasu realises the way she just behaved and stares to her own hands, back to shy again. Why can't she just look him straight in the eyes?

The boy and the girl are saved from having to converse uncomfortable some more by Mint, who walks in, cocky and gracious as always. One way or another Retasu has learned not to care about that attitude anymore. She knows that underneath the attitude Mint is a lovely girl who really cares about her friends and family. Knowing that is enough. Mint ignores Pai and takes in her friend. "Really fashionable, Ret" she says mocking. Retasu looks away, ashamed. It might not hurt her anymore to hear those things from Mint, it still isn't really a nice thing, she has to admit.

Pai doesn't like the cocky, blue girl. She might be pretty and 'fashionable', he finds that Retasu looks twice as good as she does, just wearing that blue blouse that is too big for her but matches great with her eyes. His eyes narrow a bit. The blue one would make a real nice couple with Blondie.

Mint walks to the kitchen and comes back with three cups of tea a little later. She gives one of the cups to Retasu with a little smile (Pai's eyes widen again) and then goes to stand in the middle of the room, a couple of metres from Pai, drinking from one cup and just holding the other. Retasu, Keiichiro and Ryou aren't surprised. It happens quite often. In less then a minute Zakuro walks in and takes one of the cups from Mint. "Perfect, thank you". Mint smiles. It almost scary, the good those two feel each other. In the past four years they have grown towards each other even more. After Mint was disenchanted from her dream that Zakuro was perfect, Zakuro opened up a bit more. Their relationship is kind of like the relationship of Retasu and Pudding. Best friends, but also big sis and little sis.

Ryou moves to make place for the two, what causes him to sit against Retasu, whose heartbeat immediately speeds up a bit more and catches her breath. She stares at her hands and tries not to pay attention to Ryou, who makes this quite difficult by deciding to put his arm around the back of the couch. Silently Retasu tries to calm down. This position… it looks like they're lovers. O God, why does this happen right now? She really doesn't know where to look anymore. She just cringes and tries not to look at Pai (who is staring at her), nor Ryou (who, in fact, is also staring at her). As a solution she just closes her eyes. It starting to get late… It's half past nine already…

Her blue eyes dash open. O no! Her parents! Quickly she fetches her mobile phone: three missed calls. She types the number of her home and impatiently waits for one of them to pick up the phone. "Midoriwaka". "Mom?". "Retasu! Where are you?". Her mother sounds worried. Retasu bites her lips. She hates it to make her parents worry about her. Since she has come back with weird bruises ever since she changes into a mew, they are almost always concerned. They might have thought that she was in real trouble. Well, she was almost crushed by a tree. But no way she's telling that to her parents. From the corner of her eye she notices that Pai's still staring at her, carefully watching the expressions on her face. "I'm sorry. I'm having a sleepover at Pudding's house, with your permission. She needs help with her mathematics and science homework". Her mother sighs, but Retasu can tell she's smiling. "Of course, sweetie, but don't go to sleep to late, alright? You have to work tomorrow". "I know, mom. I promise" Retasu says obedient "Give dad a kiss from me". "I will. Goodbye!". "Bye!". With a sigh Retasu puts away her mobile phone, noticing that Pai is still staring at her and so is Ryou. She looks kind of sad. She doesn't want to lie to her parents, but she has no choice. They have no idea of her being a mew so she can't just tell them that an old alien friend of theirs showed up from out of nowhere, saying that they're in trouble. Now she just has to hope she can really have a sleepover at Pudding's house tonight, otherwise she would have to sleep in the Café. The same building Ryou and Keiichiro will be sleeping. And Pai. Retasu gulps. Well, they probably won't sleep at all tonight anyway.

10