Disclaimer : I don´t own Tokyo Mew mew.


Sudden news

The next morning, the sky was bright and blue and the sun shining. Zakuro inhaled the fresh air as she walked to the Café : this was going to be a beautiful day. She would be able to forget her worries. Smiling a bit to herself, she stepped inside.

Even a year after Deep Blue´s defeat, Café Mew mew hadn´t changed one bit. It was still the same pink and welcoming place the people of Tokyo used to know and frequent with delight, enjoying the sweet and delicious pas...

Craaash !

"Gomen nasai, gomen nasai, gomen nasai ! I just tripped...

"Look at the bright side, Retasu onee-chan, na do da ! It´s only your second big china crashing this week !

"You really have a funny way to consider the bright side, Purin...

"Oh, leave her alone, Minto ! You´re not even working !

Zakuro shook her head. This was daily routine. Even the costumers were used to it : they didn´t stop their chatting one bit, not looking at the four waitresses arguing.

However, she knew that Ryou wouldn´t react as well as them : walking forward the group, she called :

"Minna...

"Zakuro onee-sama !" Minto exclaimed.

Ignoring Ichigo, she rushed to her side and bowed.

"Where were you ? I was wondering if you had decided not to come today.

"I am just five minutes late, Minto."

Zakuro managed to keep her voice not to dry, but turned her head around so she wouldn´t face her. She thought Minto was a very good friend, but she was really tired of this daily worshipping. She wasn´t any goddess, and after so much time, Minto could really stop considering her like one.

"I see you were doing something productive, she added, staring at Ichigo, Retasu and Purin. Keep it that way. That´s how waitresses are supposed to work in a Café."

Ichigo´s eyes widened. Retasu blushed and looked down shamefully.

"Well, you heard Zakuro onee-sama ? Return to work, we have costumers.

"That goes for you too, Minto, Zakuro replied.

"I was trying today´s tea speciality !"

Zakuro didn´t insist. Most likely, this was the only thing Minto could do at work. If she was serving costumers, she would probably break as much china as Retasu.

While the others were getting back to work, Zakuro took the direction of the changerooms. Five minutes later, she emerged, dressed in her purple dress and white apron. The uniform looked always great on her and she liked wearing it.

There were only a few costumers this morning and the girls didn´t have a lot to do. When the clients left, and no one else came, the group decided to take a small break. Ryou wasn´t here yet and he wouldn´t scream on them. Purin went back to perform her tricks, as Retasu and Ichigo sat on a table to chat. Of course, Minto sat at the same table than Zakuro with her cup of tea.

"What are you going to do, Onee-sama ?

"Read."

With this short answer, Zakuro reached for the newspaper folded in her pocket. She had no time to read it this morning. Despite all the noise the others were doing, she had no trouble to concentrate : she was used to it by now.

"They are so immature, Minto observed, sipping her lemon tea. Look at them..."

Zakuro didn´t answer.

There wasn´t anything really interesting today. Something about the construction of new tower, a convention about some fantastic series... on the stars page, there was a little article about her :

« It is rumored that Fujiwara Zakuro-san, Japan´s most well-known model and actress, has accepted the leading role of the musical "Happy Children".»

Which wasn´t true at all. Her agent had never received such a proposition.

Zakuro´s attention was suddenly diverted by the girl´s chatting.

"It´s Mother´s day tomorrow ! Retasu, what are you going to give to your mom ?

"I thought of a book, maybe... or flowers...

"I shall offer mine a new evening dress" Minto said, looking satisfied.

« Ishii Denjirô-shachô, the director of the famous automobile firm, has succumbed to a heart attack this morning around 6 o´clock. He was on high medication for severe asthma and apparently took too much of his medicine. His widow, Ishii Kana-san, was too shocked to answer our questions. »

Ishii Denjirô...

Zakuro´s hands tightened on the newspaper. The voices of her friends faded.

"Onee-sama ?"

Around her, the Café disappeared as her mind drifted away, forcing her to remember...

« As soon as she saw what was inside, her world shattered to pieces.

Zakuro felt like she was drowning. Gasping, she took a step back.

Next to her mother stood a man, a man that she had already seen before. It was Ishii-shachô, her father´s boss. He was tall, with cold eyes and grey hair.

And when she entered, they were... her mom was... with him...

"Zakuro..."

Kana scrambled out of Denjirô´s hold, her face flushing. An expression of horror, similar to her daughter´s, was on her face.

Zakuro let out a sob and ran out of the room.

"Zakuro, wait ! I can explain !" »

Ishii Denjirô...

He´s... dead... ?

"His widow, Ishii Kana-san, was too shocked to..."

"Onee-sama !"

Zakuro´s tumultuous thoughts were interrupted by Minto´s worried voice. She looked up to stare at her and realized she had been holding her breath for the last minute. Exhaling deeply, she loosened her grip on the magazine and put it down on the table.

Minto had noticed something was obviously wrong : Zakuro had never looked so... confused before.

"Onee-sama...

"What, Minto ?"

Taken aback, the raven-haired girl took a small step back. Zakuro was avoiding her look, but her voice was hard and clearly annoyed.

"I... I was asking you what you were going to give to your mother for tomorrow " she said, hoping to warm up the icy atmosphere.

A second later, Minto realized she had made a mistake, even though she didn´t know why.

Zakuro finally met her gaze. She glared at her and stood up abruptly. But before she could speak, Ryou entered the room.

He frowned and folded his arms.

"Hey, you five, I´m not paying you for your laziness ! Get back to work !

"There is no one here, Shirogane ! Ichigo objected.

"Then why don´t you do some cleaning ? Come on. You know where the mops are."

Ichigo started to reply back, but he ignored her completely and returned to the kitchen. The redhead gave an angry sigh but obeyed : soon the girls followed.

After all, this was preferable, Zakuro thought. She needed to work.

She needed to do something right now, not to stay lost and confused.

And also to avoid Minto.

It worked. At least, for a some time, she was too busy working to allow herself to mull over the sudden death of her stepfather.