Chapter 4: Ambush

"Then what are we doing standing around here for?" Ichigo yelled. "Mint's probably already hurt."

"Calm down, young one," Sammy said in a soothing tone. "First we need to figure out where she's been held."

"Yes, figure it out," an unsettling voice ran out. "The more you stand there, the easier it is for you to die."

Then all of a sudden, a streak passed through. It ran passed Sammy and decapitated him. Ichigo and Cassandra screamed.

"What was that?" Ichigo shrieked with horror. Her ears and tail popped up at the fright.

"My, My what's this? Another cat to play with?" Ichigo saw a cat-like figure crouching on the coffee table with a bloodied machete his hand.

"Who are you?" Ichigo managed to say.

"I'm Kilroy, but you can call me Hansom, 'kay. I must say, you are a pretty kitty. I would take you home with me, but Master gave clear orders to kill anyone who wants to stop Master."

"I see," Hyperguy said calmly. "You're working for Sherlac. Typical of him to use someone as agile as a werecat to help meet his ends."

"What have you done with Mint?" Ichigo barked at feline man.

"Oh Birdie's been really fun to play with. The most fun I ever had. Her body was absolutely perfect."

Ichigo's eyes widened in dread. We're too late. This friend as has already had his way with her.

"You seem sad," Kilroy said disappointed as he leaped from the table and quickly placed his arms around Ichigo. "Tell you what. When I get done with these two, we could have fun together, just the two of us."

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!"

Kilroy was pushed back with amazing force and crashed into the piano. Ichigo felt hope warming every inch of her, for standing before her was someone she wished to see again.

"Quchie!" she yelled joyously.

"Seems like someone forgot to invite me to the party," Quiche jested as he smiled.

"No fair," Kilroy said as he got up and grabbed his machete. "No one asked you to play." He leaped forward, but Hyperguy quickly came from behind and put him in a hold, placing handcuffs around his wrists.

"I'm not having any fun anymore," Kilroy shouted. "Master will be mad when he finds out I failed."

"Indeed I am," Sherlac's voice boomed as he appeared. "It seems that it was a foolish decision to send you, Kilroy. You are a complete failure."

"But Master…"

"No excuses. I seems that I have to do everything myself. I'll start by finishing you." Bolts of lightning began to shoot from Sherlac's hands and began to shock Kilroy as he screamed with pain.

"Alright, that's enough. Mew Mew Strawberry, Metamorphose!" Ichigo yelled as she changed into her Mew form. "For your evil deeds, I'll make you pay!"

Sherlac cackled. "Do you seriously think you have the power to stop me? You are pathetic."

Hyperguy stood in front of Ichigo. "Sherlac, stop this. It's me you want anyway. Why waste your energy on them?"

The lighting ceased. "I have a good point. I will be much more of a challenge anyway." Then in a flash, they were transported to an arena. At one end stood Sherlac with a caged Mint behind him, and at the other stood Hyperguy with Ichigo, Cassadra, Quiche, and a wounded Kilroy sitting in a box behind him.

"So, Me," Sherlac said with a smirk, "This is where it all ends."

"Not really," Hyperguy said. "You seemed to have some ability to keep coming back."

"Was that a joke? I haven't heard you tell a joke in a long time."

"That's because you talk so much that I can't get a word in edgewise."

"Enough banter. HAVE AT YOU!" Sherlac levitated and caused a storm around the arena.

"This doesn't look good," Ichigo said worried.

"Don't worry, Hyperguy is a tough fighter," Cassandra reassured her.

"I guess so," Ichigo replied, "Quiche, is Kilroy going to be alright?"

"He'll live," Quiche answered, "His skin is badly burned."

Ichigo looked with pity upon the body that lay next to her. The poor thing. Wait, why am I doing this? He raped Mint. But then again, Sherlac's probably filling him with lies. He might not know a life without torment. I wonder what's going on in his head.