It's kinda hard to believe that it's my 8th chapter already…

SORRY for taking so long to update…


Last Chapter:

Out of the looming darkness, a figure appeared. The figure of a mew…


Chapter 8: Friend or Foe?

Keiichiro, Ryou, and the mews couldn't believe their eyes. Was it really the figure of, of, one of them, a mew?

Pudding clutched Lettuce's hands, whispering, "Lettuce-san… do you see what I see, na no da…?" Doubt quivered in that question. Yet, that seemed to be the question that everyone felt like asking.

Lettuce whispered back, "I… think so… A mew mew…"

Her words were heard by all that were in the group, confirming that fact that they weren't dreaming or hallucinating.

The figure spoke again, repeating its question. "Who tries to enter the Ŀyňę§ϊ₣ portal? State your names."

Now that they heard her more clearly, they realized that the name of the portal didn't sound like any language they had heard of. The word itself contained power of its own.

"We are the Tokyo Mew Mew." Ichigo said bravely.

"Baka!" Ryou muttered. "Who speaks?" He raised his voice.

A chuckle sounded in the chilling darkness. "Who… am I…?" For some reason, those few simple words sent shivers down the listener's spines.

"I am the guardian of this portal." Was all the person said. She stepped forward, and they could see her figure silhouetted against the shimmer of darkness.

From what could be seen in the darkness, the mew had pointy wolf/dog-like ears, sticking out like Zakuro's.

Long dark hair flanked her body, like a cape, reaching below her slender waist. A sleeveless black top ended just above her waist, revealing her belly button. Her shoulders were bare, but halfway down her upper arm cloth sleeves extended, then firming up to become a long glove. A mini-skirt blossomed from her lower waist, matched with boots that went above her knees. It was definitely one of them. And she was transformed, too.

"Are… are you a mew?" Ichigo asked.

The figure did not respond to her question. Ignoring it, she said, "State your purpose of coming here. The Ŀyňę§ϊ₣ portal does not welcome strangers."

Her tone was dead and emotionless.

"We came here to check out the sudden upsurge of power in this place." Ryou answered.

"You are not the guardians of this place, or anywhere else. Why do you meddle with such affairs? What you call the 'upsurge of power'... what does it have to do with you?"

"This… well…" He had no answer to such a question.

"Why shouldn't we care? It is our duty to protect the safety of others!" Ichigo prepped up.

"And who entrusted you this duty? Who ever said that you had to protect others?" Her voice was still as emotionless.

"Well… why not? We have the special ability to fight the Chimera Anima, and it is human nature for one to protect another!" Ichigo was getting worked up.

The mysterious mew laughed. "Humans are weak, selfish creatures. Why should you protect them?"

"Because," Lettuce spoke up, her eyes flashing with determination. "Amongst them, there are ones that we love, and ones that love us. We must use our power to protect others."

The mew seemed stunned by Lettuce's sudden emotional speech. Her eyes hardened, and she spoke in a harsh voice, uttering a single word.

"Fools."

Ichigo looked ready to argue, but Ryou stepped in front of her to say, "Don't."

"But—"

Ryou's glare silenced her. Turning around, he looked at the stranger. "You… are you a mew?"

"Whether I am and whether I wish to be a… mew is different." She spat out bitterly.

"That is not an answer. Are you a mew?" Ryou persisted.

"Define 'a mew'."

He frowned in frustration. "… At least… tell me, what is your name?"

"My name…" the girl murmured. A wave of sadness surged in her eyes, but was quickly replaced with cold calculation. "I do not… I do not need a name." She said icily, though in the darkness, her eyes glinted with a bit of sadness, and… regret.

Ichigo saw this, and said, "Why do you not need a name? You, are you, and must therefore have a name to, to…" She trailed off.

"What animal's DNA do you have?" Minto spoke for the first time.

"Why should I tell you?"

"You don't have to." Minto said calmly. "But it would be nice to know."

"My DNA… is crossed with that of a Tasmanian tiger."

"What?!?" Ryou said in surprise. "But… but…"

"But what, Shirogane?" Ichigo interrupted.

Regaining his calm and composure, Ryou said, "The Tasmanian Tiger, also known as the Tasmanian Wolf, is a brown furred animal with black stripes. It is a red data animal, but… but…"

"but what? Stuttering is not like you, Shirogane." Ichigo said impatiently.

"The tasmanian tiger… it's extinct, and its been that way for, like, 60 years!" Ryou shook his head, making his blond hair flutter. "You can't possibly create a mew from an extinct animal!" (A'N: the Tasmanian tiger/wolf really is extinct for about 60 years. These are true facts!)


"Shirogane-san… what is 'extinct', na no da?" Pudding asked.

"Er…"

"I'll tell you." Lettuce pulled Pudding aside and started explaining what 'extinct' meant.


"Erm… excuse me, just asking, when did you, er, become a mew?" Ichigo asked the girl.

"Do not call me a 'mew'. I am not one of you. I… have been this way as long as I can remember. My task is to protect this portal and its secrets." The mew kept her icy tone.

"Why has the portal appeared suddenly?" Keiichiro asked.

"Do you really need to know? Will you understand if I tell you?" The tiger girl laughed with scorn. "Fate, Destiny. Whatever you believe in."

Suddenly the portal seemed to flicker in size, contracting and expanding. A faint light veiled through, brightening into a white light. The light pierced the eyes of the on-lookers, but then it retreated as suddenly as it came.

"љшюяђўґждζΘε!" A strange cry escaped from the girl, who was now facing the dark portal. It sounded like a spell; a command. She raised her left hand. On it was a floating sphere of strange light.

"ζΰЉǿĦΞэќ…" she muttered. The blob of light flew into the portal.

Without turning around, she spoke to them, commanding, "It is time for you to leave. Hurry back. Your… friend needs you." The word 'friend' sounded forced and sarcastic.

Worry flashed between the mews and the 2 men. Could she be indicating Zakuro? But how would she know about Zakuro?

"Thanks." Ichigo said. "It was really nice meeting you, really." Her tone was earnest. "I hope we meet again."

The figure responded with a nod, so small that they barely saw it. Suddenly, her body straightened. She lifted her head, and from a voice that was not her own flew these words, in a soft hiss: "Beware of those you think you trust. Trust your eyes, what you see, and your instincts… Animal instincts can see through human influences… Be wary… an imposer is amongst you…" The last few words could barely be heard.

After this sudden warning, she collapsed. The surroundings seemed to brighten a little. Ichigo ran over to help her up, but was sent flying.

"I do not need your help." Despite this, she staggered as she got up. A sheathed sword appeared in her hands, long and supple. Holding it vertical, in line with her face, she said "Leave."

Lettuce had already helped Ichigo up. The group started walking towards the exit.

The tiger girl flicked her sword, spinning it 270˚, until it was horizontal. "ΩΫЋЖǿεщю∫" She muttered, and she vanished, but her presence was still felt, guarding the portal.

"Back to the café." Ryou ordered. He seemed to want to say something, but ushered them out.

Behind them, a pair of eyes glinted in the semi-darkness, waiting…


Another chappie over! Happy Chinese New Year to you all!! You can't believe how busy you can get during these days…

So, a new mew, huh?

The Tasmanian Tiger/Wolf really is a red data animal which is extinct. Let's just call it the Tasmanian Tiger since Zakuro is already the wolf, so we won't mix things out.

Just saying, there is nothing significant about the weird language. It's not in code or anything, just selected by random.

PLEASE REVIEW!!! Say SOMETHING! Even if it's just a "very bad"!