Out of This World – From Bad to Worse
"B-b-but…how?" Ichigo could feel her skin shiver, "He was destroyed already!! I saw…I saw Masaya…I saw Masaya die…killing Deep Blue…I remember watching Masaya unleash the Mew Aqua when he killed Deep Blue."
Aaron clinched his teeth and responded his wounds oozing badly still, "The ghost…it, I mean he, found a strand of DNA from Deep Blue somehow, and he absorbed it."
"But how does that mean Deep Blue is back?!" Mint seemed confused.
Keiichiro came back down with a first aid kit and Aaron quickly took his shirt off without thinking exposing the scars on his body. "Thanks Kei…" Aaron chuckled as he slumped into a chair trying to relax.
"This is just to stop the bleeding, I won't know if you have any internal injuries until I get an X-Ray," Kei replied as he quickly started to apply aid.
"Aaron…how long…have you been fighting?" Lettuce finally asked her voice trembling.
Aaron suddenly realized the scars on his body were exposed and he said keeping his back to the girls, "A long time…a very long time."
"But he's still alive so he must be tough!" Pudding's ever cheery tone chimed in.
Aaron chuckled and shook his head, "Ever the optimist Pudding, I love it."
"I know this isn't the time to ask Aaron, "Ryou spoke, "but do you have anything as to why Deep Blue suddenly is alive once more? What about all this data as well? Did you find something?"
"Yeah, the reason I was late was because Windstrom picked up a faint ghost signature somewhere on a remote island about 50 miles outside of Japan in International waters. It appears that there was some sort of base on that island that has been abandoned. From what it looked like and faint signatures I picked up it appeared to be where your old friends were hiding during the initial war."
"Old friends?"
"Kisu, Pie, and Tart."
"Kisu…" Ichigo remembered the alien that had a mad crush on her.
"That's not the worst of it though; there was a chamber that descended down about 2 miles so to be shielded from all know scanning methods. Down there I found traces of DNA that belonged…to Deep Blue."
"That data I've sent you will explain most everything I found in that base as well as other information about the very brief scan I had on Deep Blue before…well basically I got my ass kicked."
"Wha-!?" Berry seemed shocked, "but how easily you took care of that ghost the first time around and that giant lizard!?
"I can explain that as well, but first…I seriously need to heal." Keiichiro finished the last of the bandages and Aaron looked like a half mummy. "Thanks Kei," he smiled somewhat painfully.
Keiichiro smiled and responded kindly, "you are quite welcome Aaron."
Aaron turned around and put his shirt back on stating, "I'm sorry for my tardiness as well as getting you all involved in this mess. I…know how this must feel knowing that the very thing that tried to kill everyone once before is now back and stronger than ever-."
"Masaya…"Ichigo said softly.
"Hmmm?"
"Masaya…" Ichigo could feel her eyes well up with tears, "Masaya can't turn back into Deep Blue!!"
"Errr…"
"Now look what you've done!" Mint chided Aaron before consoling her friend.
The doors to the café opened and ironically Masaya appeared. "Afternoon-," he spied Aaron in bandages. "What happened?!"
Ichigo looked up in tears and whispered, "Masaya?!" she blinked a few times before she ran over yelling, "Masaya!!" She hugged his tightly sobbing loudly.
Masaya gently stroked her hair as she cried and then looked over at Aaron angered before he asked, the anger in his voice, "What did you do to her this time?"
"It appears Deep Blue is back," Ryou answered for him.
"I'm going to guess Ichigo might have thought you'd turned back into that thing again."
"Deep Blue…" Masaya's eyes grew wide with fear.
"I think you should get back to work on finding out how to unblock that DNA negation or whatever you've called it that's blocking their Red Data DNA. I'll need all the help I can get…and fast now that Deep Blue is back."
"Spectral presence detected," Windstrom spoke suddenly blaring the alarm.
"I figured as much," Aaron said clutching his ribs and buckling over as he attempted to move forward.
"You're not well enough!!" Berry helped him back up, "You'll die if you try to fight him again!"
"Better me than everyone else…" Aaron said coldly, "Besides who else is going to fight it? You're all unable to transform and there's no one else to fight."
"What about your injuries?!" Lettuce was concerned.
"I've been through worse."
"If you die who will I show my new tricks too?!" Pudding chirped.
Aaron chuckled, "Don't worry Pudding, I have no intention of dying, and make sure you have a new one ready for me once I take care of this bastard."
Pudding nodded approvingly, "You bet!"
Zakuro looked at him and after a few seconds nodded saying softly, "Good luck."
"Windstrom," Aaron said, "I want you to upload all data from the previous battle into my visor and find a weakness in his defenses."
"Affirmative, upload commencing…upload complete."
Aaron took a deep breath and looked over at Berry, "You might want to stand back little bunny, cause I'm about to power up."
Berry blushed a little and moved back a bit, "O-Of course."
Aaron clinched his fist and then relaxed it. Then suddenly he thrust his right arm into the air palm open and facing up screaming, "MetaSigma, EXTREME!!"
A blinding light hit and everyone shielded their eyes. When they looked again Aaron wore the Navy suit of armour they had originally met him in. He went down on one knee again almost instantly and growled a little as he forced his body back up to a vertical base. "Aaron…"
"Don't call me Aaron like this, my name is…MetaSigma."
"Meta…Sigma…"
"That's a cool trick!" Pudding seemed to check him out up close, "teach me how to do that!"
"Pudding," Lettuce pulled her away slowly, "I don't think it's something he can just 'teach you.'"
"Yeah. Sorry about that Pudding, this is my shtick. You all have your Mew Mew abilities, and I have my own."
"Spectral presence has increased by 25 percent," Windstrom stated.
"He's feeding…" Meta thought, "Most likely being protected by Deep Blue." Meta looked over at Ryou and said, "Go back to studying that data I sent to you, maybe you'll find something that'll explain how to reverse the effects of the block. I'll…hold them off as long as I can. God be with me…"
"Be careful!" Berry yelled as Meta opened the doors and dashed off to battle once more. Berry was hugged warmly and surprised by it, "Tasuku?"
Her boyfriend whispered to her, "He'll be fine, just trust in his ability, like I trust in yours."
Berry blushed and nodded, "Yes…"
The location of the attack…
The place was barren as bustling people were no more…it was like a ghost town as the winds blew by as the only thing piercing the silence. The ghost appeared to be patting his stomach as if having just finished a feast. "Ohhhhhhh MY that was good!"
"Master, it appears that our little…friend is coming back. Should I engage him?" Deep Blue spoke.
"I'm going to have a nap after this wonderful meal…I should be awake in a couple of days. Go right ahead and play with him, but be aware that he's not as weak as he was the first time you two fought. He's already grown stronger so be careful and if you have any problems go back to the deep volcanic base ok?"
Deep Blue bowed, "Of course master."
The ghost
disappeared leaving Deep Blue waiting as Meta closed in quickly. Deep
Blue went into a meditative state as if focusing his energies before
the battle. After a few minutes a voice was heard, "HEY, BLUE!! You
ready for a revenge butt kicking?!"
Deep Blue slowly opened
his eyes no change in his expression to which he responded, "You
aren't even of this world, and therefore you must be expelled, like
a virus from the body."
"Ohhhhh, good banter!!" Meta chuckled a somewhat evil smile pierced his lips and finished, "why is it monsters suck at banter these days and then the dead ones always seem to deliver the best lines!?"
Deep Blue made no response and ignited his energy blade, "Prepare to die…virus upon this world."
Meta ignited his energy saber and responded, "Let's dance Blue boy." Energy clashed with energy and sparks flew as the two combatants locked up right away engaging in a series of close range strikes and ending with a deadlock. "Hmmm, not bad," Meta jeered at his opponent.
"You possess a sword skill that is adequate for a guard," Deep Blue continued very monotonous, "so I will end this quickly and be on my way."
"So full of yourself I see," Meta chuckled, "Ok then, try THIS." Meta broke away from the dead lock and threw out a series of strikes that Deep Blue dodged quickly. The last strike though grazed Deep Blue's left hand opening a wound, but instead of bleeding it started to release what appeared to be spiritual energy.
"I see," Deep Blue's dark gaze held despite the cut, "You do have a hidden power that I can't see. It is unfortunate that despite the fun I have had, I must end this fight now. I grow tired of looking at a virus upon this world."
"Blah blah blah! What is up with this virus upon the world crap!"
Deep Blue moved so quickly Meta lost sight of him for a moment before he reacted and turned around blocking a quick strike from behind. "Your struggle will be for naught. You will die."
"Says the guy who isn't even…real!" Meta grunted struggling to push back the blade.
"Die…virus," Deep Blue removed one of his hands from his energy blade and charged up a blast and pushed it against Meta's chest in a under arm swooping motion. The blast fried Meta and he screamed in agony before being thrown to the ground impacting with a large THUD. He lay there motionless his body smoking from the impact at point blank range. "Virus neutralized," Deep Blue disappeared back to the course specified by the ghost. A brisk wind blew by as silence sounded once more signs of a battle strewn across the ground. Several minutes passed before a slight twitch showed from the crater. A few minutes later the ground shifted slightly as a hand shifted, and then an arm. Finally a few minutes later a voice was heard weakly stating, "W…Wind…Wind…strom, activate s-s…savoir…" Meta's voice went silent and the brisk wind blew again. A few moments later the impact crater was empty and Meta was no longer there.
The next day…
No word was heard from Meta. The site where he had fought was thoroughly searched by Ichigo and her crew but they could not find any sign of Meta or what happened to him. They feared the worst after seeing the impact crater, but noticed that if he had died, chances are there would have been a body. That left only one question. What happened to Meta? "Have you found anything?" Lettuce appeared in the base as Ryou continued his work.
"Hmmm? Oh, hey Lettuce," Ryou appeared to be exceedingly tired his eyes bloodshot as if he had not had any sleep in quite a well.
"I brought you some coffee," Lettuce smiled setting the cup down next to Ryou.
"Thanks…"
"Ryou, are you ok? You sound tired."
"I'm…fine. I just didn't get any sleep last night."
"What?! You shouldn't stay up all night!"
Ryou shook his head and chuckled, "Thanks for your concern Lettuce, but I've spent many a sleepless night doing stuff like this. I'm the only one who can do anything about everything that's going on now. It's like this is my punishment for getting all of you involved so long ago."
Lettuce stuttered a little, "Ummm, you know…Ryou…uhmmm. I…don't consider it a punishment with me becoming a Mew Mew and all. I mean if it wasn't for all that happening I'm sure I'd still be treated so poorly by my old friends. I wouldn't have ever met Ichigo and all the other girls," her face turned red slightly as she finished, "And…uhmmm…I ummm…I never would have met…you at all."
Ryou looked down at the coffee and slowly took a sip of it, "Thank you…Lettuce this is some really good coffee."
Lettuce smiled and nodded, "Thank you! I uh…made it myself."
Ryou smiled and set the cup back down, "If I run out, I'll have to ask for some more then."
Lettuce bowed and responded, "I'll leave you to your work then, if you need anything else don't hesitate to ask." Lettuce slowly walked back up the stairs into the café her heart thumping in her chest and she relaxed a little more.
"Lettuce!" Ichigo surprised her as Lettuce flailed and dropped her waitress trey. "Errrr…you ok Lettuce? You look like you were spacing out or something."
"I-I-It's n-n-n-n-nothing!" Lettuce stammered out her face turning bright red.
"Oh…"
Ichigo responded a little down.
Lettuce recovered and said
smiling, "Ryou still hasn't found anything out yet, but I'm
sure he'll figure out what happened to Aaron soon."
Ichigo nodded and shook her head trying to snap out of her funk, "Yeah, Ryou's always been good at stuff like that. What am I worrying about!?" She made a half-hearted laugh.
"Ichigo can you take this to table 5?" Keiichiro asked as he put the finishing touches on a nice, fresh piece of cake.
"Sure!" Ichigo scooped up the cake carefully and headed out to the floor.
"Keiichiro," Lettuce asked, "Ummmm…thank you for teaching me that recipe."
Keiichiro smiled and nodded, "I'm glad to be of help."
"Lettuce we could use your help out here!" Mint said as she served something to another guest.
"Coming!" Lettuce walked out of the kitchen and onto the floor.
Keiichiro looked over at the stairs leading to the base and could hear the clacking of computer keys still. He turned back around not worrying about it and continued on with the dishes.
Ryou took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes the effects of lack of sleep starting to wear on him a bit. He had a headache from the strain on his eyes and he shook his head to try to keep awake. He was no closer to finding out how to remove the DNA block nor what happened or where Aaron went. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack with what limited information he had on both as it was. He took a deep breath and took another sip of the coffee that Lettuce had made for him. It was slightly sweetened just the way he liked it. He looked into the cup remembering everything that had happened with Deep Blue before and hoped that something bad wouldn't happen this time around. He shook his head shaking out any such unproductive thoughts and put his glasses back on. No sooner had he done this when he got an incoming transmission. He put on his transmitter and picked up, "This is Ryou, who am I talking to?"
"I am the Windstrom Central Computer informing you that Aaron is alive and recovering in his healing waters chamber. He should be out within a few hours and he asked me to relay this message to you," Windstrom responded.
The message started, "Hey Ryou…I want you to know I'll be ok. I'm just recovering right now and I should be done within a few hours. I will contact you then and I'll explain everything that's happening as well as all the other data I forwarded to you the other day. Tell the girls to be ready because this is going to be a long night and I'm sure some of them are going to be tired in the morning. Let them know as well…that I'm sorry to have worried them, and that I appreciate their concern. See you soon," The transmission ended.
"Transmission ended," Windstrom severed the transmission link and Ryou took off the transmitter breathing a sigh of relief. He sipped on the coffee one more time and slowly got up heading up stairs to tell everyone the good news.
A couple hours later…
The café was just finishing up the closing down cleaning as it was already late. As usual it had been another day packed full of school kids, girls in particular who couldn't get enough of the incredible sweets that were made. Once Ryou has broken the news to everyone that Aaron was ok and would be joining them in a couple of hours it seemed to give them new legs. "Do you think he got rid of Deep Blue?" Berry asked Ichigo as they finished putting chairs on the tables.
Ichigo shrugged unsure, "I have no idea. The impact crater could have been Deep Blue dying; it could have been a lot of things. I guess we'll find out once we see Aaron again."
"Man…I just feel so helpless having to let Aaron go at it alone," Berry sighed, "I guess it's funny how I used to complain about worrying about everyone else because I was a Mew Mew and how I couldn't let anyone close and now, that I can't become one anymore. I feel so helpless because I know I can do something."
"I'm sure Ryou will figure it out Berry," Ichigo smiled, "And besides I'm just as anxious to get back to protecting the people I love so much."
Berry and Ichigo chuckled thinking about their boyfriends as they finished setting chairs on the tables. "Pudding can you please finish mopping up this area?" Lettuce asked as she carried the last of the dishes from the lobby into the kitchen for Keiichiro to wash. Pudding rolled over on a ball and cleaned up the area while she hummed an upbeat tune, while Mint finished sweeping the stairs leading upstairs.
"How do you think he'll be?" Mint asked Zakuro who was rolling up the rest of the mats.
Zakuro quietly thought for a moment before responding rarely, "No idea."
Mint sighed and thought, "So much for pleasant conversation and Zakuro-nee-sama is even less talkative than usual."
"Oh, where is Tasuku by the way Berry?" Ichigo had meant to ask as he wasn't with Berry today as usual.
"Hmmm? Oh, he asked for the day off. He didn't really give me a reason but he said that he'd stop by later and say hi."
"Maybe he's studying for something important?"
Berry chuckled and blushed slightly, "Tasuku never was the studying type Ichigo, but you might be right. He's changed a bit over the last couple of years, but it's only made me love him more."
Ichigo chuckled and whispered to her, "Masaya and I enjoyed going on a double date with you and Tasuku the other day. You should join us again sometime."
Berry nodded and whispered back, "I'll let Tasuku know as well."
The doors to the café opened and Tasuku appeared a massive grin on his face. "Hey Berry!" he rushed over and gave her a huge hug.
"Tasuku!! I'm working right now!" she yelled at him as her face flushed red.
Ichigo chuckled at the sight and said, "Oh come on now Berry, I'd be glad to see him if I were you."
Tasuku laughed and said, "Berry did you forget that yesterday was your birthday?"
Berry suddenly remembered and went, "OH MY GOD THAT'S RIGHT!!"
Ichigo squealed and said, "We need to throw you a party!"
Tasuku's big grin responded, "I already planned ahead for that! I have all sorts of things coming to the café here soon."
Berry's face went flush and she said, "B-b-b-but what is Ryou going to think!?"
"I think it'll be fine, since he already cleared it with me," Ryou appeared, "and since we're all trying to relax considering the situation a party is an excellent idea."
"Besides, you're with all your friends aren't you? So everything is perfect!" Tasuku hugged her again tightly.
Berry replied embarrassed, "T-thank you everyone."
"Yay!! A party! I'll provide the entertainment!" Pudding said balancing a plate on a thin stick.
"And I've already prepared a lovely cake for the occasion," Keiichiro responded with a smile having finished the dishes it appeared.
"See Berry?" Tasuku laughed, "I was preparing this for a while."
"Tasuku!" Berry blushed brightly and hugged him, "Thank you…" she whispered to him.
He hugged her back and responded, "No problem hun, I do it because I love you."
The decorations arrived soon after brought by Tasuku's mother who had gone shopping for them and she chuckled when she saw Berry, "I'm surprised Tasuku didn't let it slip to you," she said to Berry while the girls helped set everything up for the party.
Berry chuckled embarrassed and responded, "I had no idea!"
"Thanks again for the help mom," Tasuku smiled.
"Have you everyone, and make sure you get her home at a decent time young man!" Tasuku's mom chided him.
"Yes mother," he rolled his eyes in disbelief his mother just said that.
She chuckled and finished, "Happy birthday again Berry and have fun!" Tasuku's mother left the café and Tasuku sighed.
"Your mother is so funny Tasuku," Berry smiled and let out a light laugh.
"Don't remind me," Tasuku groaned.
Berry looked around making sure no one was looking and she quickly gave Tasuku a kiss on the cheek. She looked down and blushed saying, "That's for giving me this wonderful surprise."
Tasuku grinned widely and replied, "Trust me; the biggest surprise is yet to come." Berry looked at him confused and nodded still unsure as to what he had that was bigger than a surprise party.
Within minutes the café had been transformed into a party café complete with streamers, balloons, and the works. Glorious amounts of food were placed on a couple of tables and a giant triple layer birthday cake was brought out and placed on an adjacent table sixteen candles scattered around it. All the girls were still in their café maid costumes noise poppers in hand and the lights were dimmed slightly so that the candles glow would light the room. Once everything had been set they started to sing happy birthday.
Aaron was within seconds of arriving back into the café and took a deep breath. He exited on the other side when suddenly the girls let off the noise makers instantly scaring Aaron. He jumped and dove instinctively for cover right through the cake unknowing destroying the triple layer beauty. "WHAT THE?!" Berry screamed as she watched Aaron suddenly in his armour pointing his weapon around as if looking for something and cake covering all over him.
"AARON!!" Ichigo was in shock.
Aaron suddenly looked around and realized that he was in the café and that everyone was looking at him with a look of wide eyed amazement, and then he looked at the cake covering his body and took a small bite, "Uhhhhh…sorry? Look on the bright side! The cake tastes ok!"
There was silence for about half a minute as everyone just stared at Aaron covered in cake before Berry yelled out, "AARON!!"
Aaron grinned sheepishly before saying embarrassed, "I'm uhhh…kinda jumpy when something loud goes off suddenly like that."
"No I'm just so glad to see you!! We thought you were dead!!"
Everyone ran over excited to see him as he chuckled and again apologized due to bursting through the cake. Keiichiro chuckled and responded, "I'll just have to bring out another cake then and hopefully Aaron will enjoy a piece instead of destroying a piece."
Aaron chuckled and finished, "Yeah give me a second, I'm going to go and get this cake off me." He slowly got up and reopened a portal back to his home and finished, "I'll need maybe 10 to 15 minutes to shower and get this cake out of my hair so, uhhhh…don't start the party without me?"
He went through and the portal closed a collective sigh went off from the group and a sudden bout of laughter after finally realizing what had just transpired. Tasuku looked at Berry and sheepishly said, "That…wasn't the surprise I was talking about."
Berry continued to laugh and shook her head saying, "It's ok Tasuku, this birthday party is going to be one to remember I'm sure!"
The girls helped clean up the old cake as well as the floor where Aaron had landed after diving through the cake and before they knew it Aaron was back his hair still wet from the shower and he appeared much more refreshed. This time around he came out and recognized that there were streamers and balloons as well as other party decorations strung about and he asked, "So who's birthday is it?"
"It's Berry's sixteenth birthday," Mint said, "but sadly you ruined that wonderfully delicious looking triple layer cake."
"Yeah I said I was sorry," Aaron put his hand behind his head and laughed sheepishly again.
"Not to worry, for I cake with a backup plan," Keiichiro appeared with another cake that wasn't NEARLY as big as the first but was big enough to feed the entire group.
"And since Aaron…killed the first celebration, how about we sing happy birthday to her again?" Tasuku said.
Everyone agreed and again the lights were dimmed allowing the glow of the candles to illuminate the room properly. Everyone started singing, "Happy birthday to you…Happy birthday to you…Happy birthday to Berry! Happy birthday to you!!" She blew out the candles in one breath and everyone clapped as the lights came back on fully.
"Entertainment time!" Pudding started balancing on her ball while spinning a plate with cake on it on a thin stick.
Aaron chuckled and said, "Well I'm going to let you girls enjoy Berry's birthday party for a bit. I need to speak with Ryou alone so Ryou if you'll come with me."
"You won't be too long will you?" Berry asked.
"It's your birthday party, I'd hate to miss too much of it," he winked and gave a thumb up.
Aaron and Ryou moved through the kitchen allowing the girls to enjoy Berry's party more. Once they had gone down the stairs Aaron's expression turned from good to bad. "We have a problem," Aaron explained, "While we're aware Deep Blue has been revived…he's not the Deep Blue you remember. He's like a mindless doppelganger whose power is about 4 or 5 times as strong as what his original physical form was. This thing is made out of pure energy, and it's even more ruthless than when it was residing within Masaya's body."
"So what are you saying? You're aware it's quite powerful, but?"
Aaron sighed hesitant to finish, "Right now I'm not sure I can kill Deep Blue, the ghost is far weaker than Deep Blue that much I do know after the research I completed showed what it is we're really battling. Honestly…right now the Mew Mews are the only way I'll stand a chance of killing Deep Blue, until then I'll be lucky to keep him at bay. Hopefully all the data I've collected will expose some kind of weakness he has, but thus far I'm no closer to forming a plan than I was the first time I fought him."
"That is a problem."
"It gets worse…I can't find either of them on any scans. Either they've found something that masks their presence or they've found a way to escape this realm and that is the LAST thing we need that ghost doing is finding a way out of here."