Enjoy!

Key:

'Thoughts.'

Emphasis

"Letters and other print or text read out loud."

—Time lapses and scene changes will be in this format—


Chapter 3: Recruit!

3rd P.O.V.:

Ryou watched as the girls stumbled into the pink cafe. The all had a solemn look about their faces, telling Ryou what had just happened, all without words.

"Again?" He asked, though it sounded more like a statement than anything else. Lettuce was the only one to respond even though it was just a small nod. Ryou sighed and ran hand through his hair. This was the third time in a row that they've lost to the aliens. All the mew's were putting in 220% and then some to stop those aliens, but they've suddenly grown much stronger. Neither Ryou nor Keiichiro suppect that it's the use of Mew Aqua, since if it were that said aliens would be gone by now, leaving a rotting and destroyed Earth. And no one was eager to wait until that happened.

From behind him, Ryou heard footsteps coming for the direction of the lab. He was about to tell the owner of the footsteps about the day's failure, but instead he was interrupted by Keiichiro talking first. "Everyone." He turned around to look at Keiichiro, who looked hopeful about something.'Did he...?' Ryou thought with a quiet gasp. Keiichiro simply nodded at the other male and headed to the lab with everyone else following him. Once they reached the lab, the mew's saw the record and the picture of some teenager smiling smugly on the large computer screen, next to it a map with a blinking dot on the south of what appeared to be the United States- Florida specifically. The picture was the school picture of a young high schooler , though all the mew's were having a little problem deciphering what gender this teenager is. The mew's observed that the person had tanned skin, as if they are mixed or maybe even from Okinawa since they still looked Japanese. "What's going on?" Asked Ichigo as she got closer to the large computer screen. "This is Orenjitera Kyoko, a high school student just a year older than you, Ichigo." Keiichiro responded. "We've been looking for her since the beginning of the project." Ryou quietly said absent mindedly as he pulled up another picture from a file in the computer. This picture showed a small child, around 7 or 8 smiling excitedly at the camera. She had silky, long, black hair pulled into two high pigtails by two star shaped hair ties. Her skin was also tanned and her eyes shone a light golden brown just like the girl in the other picture. The only real difference is that the young girl was much fatter than the older. "Are you sure it's her?" Ryou asked Keiichiro, sounding strangely relieved.

"Why is she important?" Mint asked, slightly annoyed by their losses and the fact that neither scientist had explained anything. The was a bit of a pause and Ryou turned to face the mews. "She," he said, "is the first Mew."

All the girls gasped. "But I thought that Ichigo-oneechan was the first mew, nanoda!" Pudding said, speaking for all the other mews. Ryou nodded, "So did I, but a few days after Ichigo's DNA was activated, we found a notebook were my father talked about having injected Kyoko with Mew DNA already. This journal was from two months before he died." Ryou responded. Keiichiro continued for him, "In the journal he stated that she has the DNA infused within her right now. Whether or not the DNA is active or dormant, we don't know. We've been trying to find her because since she has had the Mew DNA infused within her for so long, it's only natural that she could an extremely powerful and helpful addition to the team."

"Specially now..." Lettuce said quietly and all the girls nodded in agreement.

"Well then we have to get her!" Mint exclaimed, "We need all the help we can get."

Ryou and Keiichiro nodded. "Maybe one of you should come with me to get her. Like with Zakuro and Retasu, we might need to convince her to join." Ryou explained. "Ichigo should go." Zakuro spoke up after a few moments of thinking. Lettuce, Mint, and Pudding all nodded, "She is the one that pretty much made all of us to join." Said Mint. "M-Me? I don't know... I told Aoyama-kun that I'd go on vacation with him and his family..." Ichigo muttered. Everyone else sweat dropped and Minto slapped her behind the head, "For once, will you stop thinking about you stupid boyfriend! This is more important than your love life!"

"And you get to get to America, nanoda!" Pudding said with a bright smile.

Ichigo frowned,"Fine! But I'll get back at you guys for making me miss my chance at impressing Aoyama-kun parents!"

The mews smiled along with Keiichiro, but Ichigo noticed that Ryou was looking intently at the picture on the screen with a look that like a mixture of relief, hope, and... The girl couldn't pin point what that other emotion that Ryou was displaying was but almost felt as she did the same face whenever she looked at her crush, Masaya.

'I wonder...'

- At the airport, a week later -

Ichigo looked around the airport, looking hard to spot the blond ass wipe meant to meet her here. She grumbled some choices words not meant to be heard in mixed company, how dare he take so long to get to the airport? The plane is leaving in less than forty minutes and she still hasn't gotten the ticket he promised to buy for her (since she isn't exactly the richest kid in Tokyo.)

"Lighten up, will you? You're scaring the other people." The cat girl heard from behind her. She turned around and glared at the uninterested blond. "I've been waiting for half an hour!" she exclaimed, waiving her carry on bag in the air. He grimaced at her and grabbed her wrist so she would stop the obnoxious action.

"Good to know, kitty-cat." He said mockingly. Ichigo was about to claw his eyes out when she heard Keiichiro interfere. "Sorry we're late. We ran into a little bit of trouble on our way here." As if enchanted, her anger was gone. "Oh... then I guest it can't be helped." She said with a light smile.

Ryou scoffed. "Well? Lets get to the gate before Ichigo makes us miss it." Ryou said, beginning to walk towards the lined up desks to get their tickets. "Me?!" Ichigo exclaimed, "But you were the late one!" But her words fell to deaf ears as Ryou and Keiichiro were already talking to the lady and putting their luggages on the weight beside the desk. Ichigo growled a bit and hurried to put her own luggage on the weight.

This was going to be a long ride. Sixteen hours with the "genius"?

'I wont make it.'

After a few more minutes of talking and gathering information about the flight, Keiichiro gave Ichigo and Ryou a paper pouch with their tickets inside. They picked up their carry ons from the weight and Ichigo watched as her small luggage bag was put on the conveyor belt on the back wall.

—Sixteen hours and a half later—

The ride went going unexpectedly well for Ichigo. Ryou had spent the whole time on his laptop or sleeping thus far and had not once spoken to her. Keiichiro was enjoying a book that was way too big in the girl's opinion and spoke with her ever so often. Though at times it felt a bit lonely or boring, the scenery outside was enough to keep the girl somewhat occupied.

The sun was almost setting when the three arrived at Miami International Airpoirt. They were now on their way to the Orenjitera residence in a car that Keiichiro had rented. Ichigo took this time to look at the buildings that adorned the city. "Wuah~! It's so nice here! Why did you leave this place?" Ichigo asked, remembering that Ryou and Keiichiro had lived in the States for a few years. "Well, be didn't stay here, we stayed in Virginia, which is more to the north." Keiichiro responded.

"That and the project." Ryou added.

Ichigo nodded and looked back at the buildings they were passing. Some of them were old and most them looked kind of dirty, but it was still a pretty cool looking city. People sat on the sidewalks and on white plastic chairs in front of what Ichigo assumed were some sorts of convenience stores. Through the half open window, she heard lively music in a language she couldn't recognize and sounded nothing like English. Though she didn't know English, so she wasn't really sure if it wasn't English or if it was another language entirely. "Wait, Ryou, you know where we're going right?" Ichigo asked when she realized that he hadn't mentioned anything about where this girl's house is. Ryou nodded, "Unlike you, I think before I go out and about." He said nonchalantly. "Excuse me?!" Ichigo exclaimed, ready to claw out the blond's sapphire eyes again. She stopped though when she spotted a small smirk creep up Ryou's features. 'He's trying to get a reaction from me!' she realized. So, she crossed her arms and looked out the window. Ryou heard the cat girl murmur something about him being mean and his smirk grew wider.

Half an hour later, the two teenagers where in front of the Orenjitera's house. "Keiichiro and I will do all the talking." Ryou said as he walked up the steps to the doorbell button. "Alright." Ichigo said. 'But wait. Then why am here?' the cat girl thought. She opened her mouth to nag Ryou about it, but he had already pressed the bell and a loud voice from the inside of the house begged them to wait a second. A few heavy steps and a few second of the door lock being unlocked, Ryou and Ichigo were greeted by a Japanese couple, both around their late 30's. The woman had long brown hair up in a messy bun and her skin was a fair, light color. She was short. Very short. Compared to man beside her, there was a about 60 centimeter (2 feet) difference or more. The man beside her was almost complete opposite. The cat girl went ahead and assumed that the man is probably from Okinawa since besides him being very tall and dark, his features where like that of a Japanese person.

The couple gave them a small smile until their eyes landed on Ryou. Then the woman's face twisted into a look of somber relief and the man sighted in a way that looked as he had found something that he had been waiting on for years. The woman brought a small delicate hand up to her mouth, "Shirogane Ryou?" Ichigo's eyes widened is surprise, 'They know him?!'

Ryou bowed slightly, "It's a pleasure seeing you again, Mr. and Mrs. Orenjitera." The woman stepped forward brought Ryou into a tight hug. "I thought you had died along with your family!" the woman cried out. Ichigo stepped back a bit to give them some space. "We're so glad you're alive and well." The man said, patting Ryou on the shoulder. The woman pulled back and looked at Keiichiro, "Keiichiro... my goodness look at how much you've grown! How old are you two now?" Keiichiro smiled at her, "Ryou is 15 now and I've recently turned 21." He responded. "Come, come you three. I just finished brewing some tea." Mrs. Orenjitera turned and walked into the house and Mr. Orenjitera signaled for the three to come inside. "Oh, Kyoko will so relieved to know that you two are ok. Speaking of which, Hachi, where is Kyoko?" After a second of thought, Mr. Orenjitera- or, well, Hachi- tapped his chin and responded, "I think she is out with Oren practicing." For some reason, this caught Ichigo's attention. "Practicing?" she asked the man beside her. Hachi nodded at the girl, "She's gotten really into skateboarding as of late. Won't stop talking about 'going pro' and meeting a 'Hawk' man. I don't really under stand it, to honest, but as long as she's safe and happy…"

Mrs. Orenjitera- or Nanako as she preferred to be called by her given name- nodded, then turned to Ryou and winked at him, "I remember the giant crush you had on Kyoko. Such a little player at such a young age!" Ichigo almost busted out laughing and cursed at her phone for being out of battery, and therefore rending it unable to take a picture, when she saw a blush make its way across the blond's face. "Ah... it wasn't that big..." Ryou said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Keiichiro let out a small chuckle as they were lead into the living room. "Now, now don't be bashful! It was cute!" Nanako pressed on.

"So Ryou knows her already..." Ichigo mumbled to herself.

"And what is your name, miss?" Ichigo was pulled out of her thoughts when Hachi asked her. She was relived that the couple spoke in Japanese, she had expected for the family to speak only English. "Oh uh, my name is Momomiya Ichigo." She responded, a bit startled. "Momomiya Ichigo? What a cute name!" Nanako said as she made her way into the kitchen. The man nodded and smiled politely, "Pleasure to meet you, Momomiya-san." Ichigo smiled at him as well. "Same to you as well, Orenjitera-san."

Everyone was now seated in the living room of the spacious house. The strawberry girl noticed how different the house setup was from those in Japan, though Japanese knick knacks were here and there around the home. Nanako walked into the room after a few second of disappearing into the kitchen holding a tray of the tea and cups that were promised before. She set the tray down on the coffee table in front of Keiichiro with a bright smile and went to seat with her husband.

"Ryou, Keiichiro. Where have you two been all these years?" Hachi asked with a serious face. Ryou took a sip of his tea and set the cup back down on the saucer, on the coffee table. "After my parents death, I went to Virginia with Keiichiro. I lived there for four years before moving back to Tokyo." The couple nodded, "Ah... and what about you two's studies?" Mrs. Orenjitera asked.

"Oh, both Ryou and I have finished college already." Keiichiro responded. The two elders erupted with a light laughter, "Haha, as expected from two kids so smart!"

Ryou chuckled at bit, "I make sure not to brag." Ichigo looked at him, perplexed and shocked beyond belief. 'Lair!'

"And what are you two doing now? I mean, if you're done with school all ready..." Ryou took a silent, deep breath before speaking again. "Keiichiro and I have continued my father's work- The Mew Project."

A look of complete and utter shock took over the Orenjitera's faces. "You're here for Kyoko." Nanako muttered, seeming to pale slightly. Keiichiro, Ryou, and Ichigo nodded slowly, not knowing what to expect. "Yes, we-" Ryou started.

"No."

All three where shocked when they heard that come from Kyoko's father. "We were part of experiment. It didn't work the first time, and I doubt it works now. And even if it does work, we are in no position to move back to Tokyo." Ichigo stared at the man in disbelief. The future of Tokyo- no, the world- is at stake here!

"But it does work!" Ichigo spoke, at last. "It does! My team and I are proof of that!"

"Your team? So if there's more of you, then why do you need Kyoko?!" Nanako asked. Ichigo leaned forward, "That's exactly why we need Kyoko-san! We've been failing at keeping alien attacks under control- we need all the help we can get!"

Nanako let out a small, exasperated sigh. The woman got up and walked to the other side of the room, hands placed on her hips. Soon after, Hachi got up as well and joined his wife. Keiichiro, Ryou, and Ichigo watched them, all hoping that the couple would change their minds.

Ichigo watched as they mumbled between themselves with anticipating eyes.

After a few minutes of tension-filled silence and mumbling, Hachi turned to the other three. "I guess we don't really have the right to say that she can't fight for earth, huh?" He said, draping an arm around his wife. Ichigo, Ryou, and Keiichiro grinned and smiled, glad that they changed their minds. "Thank you so much!" Ichigo exclaimed. "But," Nanako interrupted three's onslaught of "thank you"s, "even though we have said yes, it really comes down to whether or not Kyoko is okay with leaving Miami. And, like we mentioned before, we are not in a position to move right now." Keiichiro nodded, "Yes, of course."

"She normally spends hours practicing with the 'crew' so maybe you should come back tomorrow a little earlier to talk to her about it." Hachi announced.

Ryou stood, followed by Keiichiro and Ichigo, and all three bowed. "Thank you for giving us the opportunity." Keiichiro said.

Promptly after, the three left the house and were welcomed by humid, hot, and sticky air. "I really hope we can convince her to help us tomorrow." Ichigo said as they climbed into the rented car, Keiichiro and Ryou in the front, her in the back.

Ryou simply nodded, mindlessly, and Ichigo noticed the same look from before in the lab appear on the blond's face.

'I wonder what he's thinking.' She wondered, but let the subject go and looked out of the window into the city.


This took so long to write! I don't really know why, but yeah.

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