Starri: Thanks for the reviews, guys!

Kisshu: I'm starting to like this! I get to tease Birdbrat and Squirt more! Heheh!

Mint: Why you ... *raises hand*

Starri: *blocks* Whoa, guys! Lay off the fighting and save it for the story!

Mint&Kisshu: =_=''''

Starri: And on that note, Teto, do the disclaimer!

Teto: *opens mouth to speak*

Pudding: HYAAAA! *knocks Teto out* Nuh uh, it's Pudding's time to shine, na no da! Starrishine does not own Tokyo Mew Mew, just this story, nao da!

Starri: Nooooooo you knocked her out! Bad monkey! Bad monkey!

Pudding: *rolls eyes* I'll show you a bad monkey ...

Starri: *takes out mushroom* Grrr! *stops* Wait, why am I gonna kill you? You're just like Teto, only not addicted to bread!

Pudding: Or a chimera.

Starri: Well, now, you could be my new disclaimer-announcer for this story!

Pudding: *bounces* ARIGATO! ARIGATO! WAHOO!

Starri: *sweatdrops* Anyway, please enjoy the chapter.

Meanwhile, while Pai was explaining their ordeal to the remaining Mews ...

"Ugggh! I can't believe that knave spilled my own tea on me! MY OWN TEA!"

Mint was seething in a fluffy blue robe, waiting for her clothes to dry. Ichigo attempted to subdue her hot-tempered friend.

"Now, now, Mint. You know that Kisshu is just immaturity and disrespect at its best. You should just ignore him until he gives up."

Mint calmed down a little and plopped onto a chair with a sigh. "I know, Ichigo. Pfft. You know how I get when commoners do things like that."

Ichigo swatted playfully at the bird Mew. "Hey! I know who you mean when you say 'commoners'." Mint giggled, cheering up.

"Well, it's only fair."

"Is not!"

"Is definitely too."

"Not!"

"See, you commoners can't even stick to complete sentences." Mint yawned, and Ichigo, who was sure that her friend was completely cured, abruptly turned around, smiling.

"Grr, I'm going to go check on Ryou."

She didn't leave soon enough to miss Mint's lazy retort.

"My, my, quite the player, aren't we, Ichigo? First Pretty Boy, then Big Ears, and now Blondie. Tsk, tsk. Sometimes I worry about yo-"

Ichigo closed the door with a little more force than was nessecary, struggling not to hiss. Yep, Mint sure was cured.

Suddenly, she was greeted by a shadow at the foot of the stairs. "Hey, Ichigo."

She jumped, of course. "Nyaaa!" Ryou stepped foward, rolling his eyes.

"Always the springy strawberry. I bet you can't look at your own shadow without trembling."

Ichigo flushed indignantly. "If you're going to act this way, then I should be getting back to the kitchen!" She was about to whirl around and stomp off, but was stopped by Ryou saying,

"Ichigo, wait. It's really important." She looked athim curiously.

"What?"

"Mew Berrii." Ichigo tensed, remembering the voice that she had heard on the phone line.

You are being watched ...

Ryou uncharactaristically placed a hand on the pink Mew's shoulder. "I want you to go with me to find her. She's the newest member, I know, but new or not, we can't let anyone take her."

Ichigo nodded, determination sparking in her eyes. "But ... what about everyone else?"

Ryou sighed and removed his hand from her shoulder. "They have to stay here and fight the kirema animas. If you all go, who'll defend Tokyo?"

Ichigo bit her lip to stop it from trembling. She couldn't ... she couldn't leave her best friends behind! But ... she glanced toward Mint's door. She couldn't lead the team while she was away ... but she had to save Berri. Though she was going to leave, that didn't mean that the team had to fall apart in her absence.

"Right, I'll go!" Ichigo nodded her head, solemn and determined. She was going to save Mew Berrii. And, together with all the Mews, they could save the planet.

Again.

Ryou nodded, a slightly proud expression in his eyes.

"I would have expected nothing less, Mew Ichigo."

"When are we going to go?"

"Let's see ..." Ryou rubbed his chin. "Tomorrow. We need to get to Berri as soon as possible."

Ichigo frowned. But that only left her half a day to enjoy with her friends ...

"Time to announce it to the other Mews." The pinkette nodded, slighly drooping. This was going to be hard ...

Ichigo took a deep breath and turned toward the dining room. It was time to tell her friends.

Just as she walked in the doorway, for some reason Pudding was juggling plates and Pai had a funny expression on his face, almost like he was hiding something. She smiled weakly at the scene and moistened her lips.

Pudding stopped spinning her plates and set them down, sensing something wrong.

"Ichigo-onee-chan? What's wrong, na no da?"

"Gomen ... everyone ... I'm leaving tomorrow."

~::*::~::*::~

With Mint in the backroom ...

Mint smirked as Ichigo slammed the door. Once again, she'd managd to ruffle the cat Mew's fur and cheer herself up.

"I still got it," She whispered, smirking.

"Still got what?" The blue Mew whirled around to see that infernal alien, Kisshu.

"Wh-wha-YOU!" She immediately leaped to her feet, glaring accusingly at Kisshu. "What are you in here for, you uncivilized barbarian?"

Kisshu snorted. "Barbarian? Sounds more like you."

Mint flushed angrily. "How dare you speak to me like that!"

Kisshu smirked. "I dared because I wanted to." He yawned, bored. "Little birdie's got her feathers all bent up, eh?"

Mint flushed and even darker shade and opened her mouth, speechless.

Kisshu yawned again and turned to leave. "Well, see ya, birdbrat. I've enjoyed teasing you."

That was the final straw. Composing her voice, Mint called, "Hey, Kisshu?"

"Hm?" He turned about halfway around before he was met by a perfectly manicured hand making impact on his left cheek.

SLAP!

He jawdropped. That bird had just slapped him. Slapped him. No one had ever dared to slap him!

Mint was a bit surprised at herself for doing that, but triumph quickly overcame her shock. She smirked coolly.

"See ya. I've enjoyed the slapping session." And with that, Mint turned around haughtily, opened the door, and stepped out, leaving a shocked and red-cheeked Kisshu on the floor behind her.

Starri: Well, sorry for the late update but I've been all over the world getting school supplies. Bleh.

Pudding: Whoa! Masaya and Tasuku are covered in dust, na no da!

Starri: No worries, Pudding-chan. They'll be in the story ... soon ...

Pudding: Anyways, please review and pudding will do some tricks for you, na no da! :3