MMC: I use English translated manga names, if it really bugs you say so. :P Starto!

Kish's eyes fluttered open slowly, it was pitch black. His whole body felt frozen and something sharp was grating against his legs. Feeling with his hands, he found a hold to pull himself up with. The ground was cold, icy even. It was freezing cold, dark and damp.

Am I…Am I back home? He asked himself.

No the ground and walls were too smooth.

'Hello?' he tried to call out. Then noticing how weak his voice was, he tried to stand. No use, his legs wouldn't respond.

'The attack signals coming from Tokyo Harbour, it seems you were right.'

'Someone should stay behind to keep an eye on him…a Mew I mean. I'll be here too, but I won't be of much use if something goes wrong.'

Kish listened intently to the bits of conversation he could follow.

'I really don't want to…'

'No don't worry Ichigo; that's understandable. Lettuce, would you?'

'A-are you sure, you'll all be okay on your own?'

'Don't worry, we'll be fine.'

'Well, okay. I'll stay, hurry back.'

He heard the girls run out, shouting goodbyes, and then the slam of a door.

'I'm going to help Keiichiro in the lab, Lettuce would you mind going down and staying with him. Just to make sure he doesn't try anything funny.'

'Yes alright.'

'And Lettuce…'

'Yes?'



'Give him these. We need him alive.'

'I will.'

Kish tried to sit up, and summon his weapons. But even concentrating all his power, his current state meant he could hardly even breathe properly, let alone use up extra energy. Panicking as he heard the door creak open, he tensed his body in preparation for an attack. Instead, just a quiet whisper.

'A-Are you awake?'

Kish winced as the room filled with light, his eyes watering with the sudden shock. He seemed to be in a basement of some sort, or cellar. His legs had apparently managed to get twisted around a pile of metal rods in the corner, and his back was ridged against a cold radiator. Standing on top of a set of stairs, was the green haired Mew, he had often seen in battles. Her name didn't quiet come to mind, although if his mind hadn't been so dulled, he would have realised it was said only a moment ago. She stood, gazing down on him, her expression a weird contortion of concern and fear.

'Um, uh…Kish?'

Kish tried to gather some air to reply, but the air he gathered was simply dust which only caused him to erupt into a small coughing fit. Either way, it still caught the Mews attention. Stumbling down the steps, she went over to kneel beside him.

'Here, take this.'

Kish's eyes, which had just about adjusted to the new sharp light, blasting from the lone light bulb above his head, managed to just make out the small bile this Mew was holding. He shook his head, not planning on being fooled once again.

'It will make you feel better, it's a painkiller,' the Mew tried.

Once again Kish shook his head, trying to move away. Unfortunately he only managed to ram his back further into the rusted radiator. Groaning, he twisted his body in a vain attempt to sooth the pain. A moment later, and he felt a hand move softly across his back, bringing him upright. Then a soft liquid draining down his arid throat. Although not immediately, he soon felt the numbness return to his limbs. A relieving feeling against the ache he had felt before. She removed the bottle, letting the remaining liquid spill own his neck.

'Sorry, but just trust me, it will feel better,' the Mew said nervously.

Kish tried his best to glare at her, 'Why in hell would I trust you,' he managed to croak, 'tell me where I am.'

The Mew sighed, 'You can trust us to keep you alive, we need you if this plans going to work,' she looked away a little shy, 'You're going to be staying with us here in the café basement, as a hostage.'

'H-Hell no,' Kish managed to stammer, trying his best to manoeuvre himself up. No such luck, yelling out in pain, he collapsed back on the ground. The green haired Mew, immediately offered once 

again the bottle once again, but Kish pulled his energy and knocked it out from her hand, sending it clattering against the floor.

As the bile stopped its spinning it left the two in an awkward silence. Or at least awkward for the Mew, Kish was hardly conscious.

'W-Why did she do it…?'

His voice was quiet, and so incredibly weak. In fact it was only just audible.

'She had no choice, she didn't want to either,' was the Mews quiet response.

'Of, of course she did, she…' Kish choked, trying to settle his breathing, 'She hates me.'

The Mew sighed, 'She doesn't hate you, and even if she did she wouldn't have wanted to do that. She's just not that sort of person.'

The Mew waited for a reply, but she what she got was unexpected.

'I wish I could hate her.'

The Mew blinked. Kish had just had his heart stepped on and repeatedly stamped into the ground.

Correct me if I'm wrong, she thought to herself, but Kish never took me as the forgiving type. And this statement, implied, that he was still…

'Are you sure you don't want some more pain killers,' she asked him, distracting herself from her own thoughts, 'Hostage means we need to keep you alive, so I promise there's no ulterior motive.'

He didn't answer.

She sighed. Her knees cracked as she stood, and slowly she clambered back upstairs. Pausing at the door, only to say,

'My names Lettuce by the way, if you didn't know. You might as well know if you're going to be staying here.'

Kish only grunted in reply, writhing in the position he was stuck in.

--