Chapter Three: 'You were at the Wrong Age'
Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew
A/N: In this chapter we shall abandon the realm of fluff and plunge forth into the world of angst and danger. There will also be the abrupt introduction of plot. At least that's what I call it. I would like to add that I am lucky to be alive to write this fic: I fell off a horse hard this morning, and my left hip is killing me. In fact, all I can really do is sit at the computer and write fanfiction. Ah well, there are worse fates.
BTW, when Pai calls Kish brother, I don't mean that they are actual genetic brothers, it's just a term of affection.
Five months later...
'Kishu?' Pai called. 'I want to talk to you.'
'Yeah? What about?' Kish demanded. Once his tone would have been blasé and careless as he asked this. Now it was downright mutinous
Pai closed his eyes and sighed. He'd put this off for far too long.
'It's about the instructions I have received from Deep Blue –'
'What. Is he displeased with my work? Does he want me punished? Removed from service? What?'
'No, Kish.' Pai's voice was surprisingly gentle as he looked at his young companion, once so carefree, now brooding and hostile. 'Deep blue gave no instructions concerning you. I am acting on my own judgement. I think it would be best if you went home.'
'We don't have a home, Pai-sama. That's the issue here.'
'Pai's eyes flashed irritably. 'You know what I mean,' he said. 'I think you should retire from this mission. Rejoin our people. It would be better for you.'
'You've failed to persuade him, haven't you?' Kish said, cutting straight to the chase. 'There aren't going to be any negotiations.'
'Kishu, the chances of a treaty with the humans succeeding were never good,' Pai said soothingly. 'I did my best – for I agree that if it were possible a peaceful solution would be preferable – but now it's time to think of what's best for our people. We have waited long enough.' He paused, then said heavily: 'Deep Blue wishes to launch a full-scale attack on the Earthlings in two of their weeks.'
'N –'
'I understand your distress,' Pai cut Kish off, placing a restraining hand on his shoulder, for the younger alien had leapt to his feet. 'And I empathise with it, but surely you see that this is the only way we can secure any kind of future for ourselves and our descendents.'
'How can you say that?' Kish gasped. 'I thought you thought that the humans weren't all bad? I thought you had feelings for Lettuce, and what about Taruto? He would be devastated if their little monkey –'
'Hey, stop trying to pin this on me!' Tart yelled, loud-mouthed as ever. 'You know it's you who's got the problem here, Kish, I really could not care less.' He zoomed away cross-legged into the recesses of the base.
Pai shook his head. 'Idiot,' he muttered. 'You are right, Kish, in our time here we have come to realise that the Mew Mews and the race they protect are more than mere obstacles. In happier times, we might even have been good friends. But these are not happy times, Kish, and now we must fight for our people...and accept that they will do the same for theirs.'
'Ichigo would never –'
'Ichigo will do her duty. I would expect no less of her. Human love is not boundless, Kish; in the end, her loyalty must be to her own race. I do not ask you to betray your friends on Earth, my brother, but for your own sake I cannot let you turn your back on your people. Go home. Sit this one out.' Pai knelt in front of Kish and held his shoulders. 'It's the best I can do for you, Kishu.'
'Can I say goodbye to her?' Kish whispered at last.
'No.' Pai's voice was firm. 'To see her again will only would you more. If you visit her now, and tell her of our plans, you must part as enemies. Leave now. Go and be among our people. You have been away from them for too long.' He bowed his head and sighed as Kish headed slowly for one of their shuttles.' 'You were at the wrong age for this,' he muttered, almost to himself.
'What do you mean, "the wrong age"?' Tart demanded loudly. 'I'm younger than he is and I'm doing just fine.'
Pai rounded on him. 'This is not simply a question of older or younger, little one,' he said sternly. ''I am too old, and you are too young, to be caught as he is caught.' His brows lowered in a quelling glare. 'You have not yet felt love, my young friend. When you have, then you may mock him, if you still have the stomach for such jests.' Pai turned and swept away, leaving Tart staring wide-eyed after him. For once the young alien was silenced.
A/N: Ok, the reason for Kish's new hostile persona will be made clear next chapter.
