Evey: "...you have no idea how tired I am. I haven't been getting very good sleep lately and I fear it is affecting my writing." starts to cry

Pudding: runs up to her and huggles "I'm sorry."

Tart: doesn't care

Evey: is angry at Tart for his lack of love towards other people. Turns to face Musa, a smile gleaming prettily on her face. "Yes...I really loved ballet...but I've always had really weak ankles, so it made it harder...after a while I quit...I was in in before I moved to my current residence.." groans to herself "I hated it when I'd come home from a ballet practice or recital with bloodied toes."

Tart: still doesn't care and covers Evey's mouth with duct tape

Evey: attempts to scream through it "you ass"

Pudding: trying to stop the fight before it really begins, she clears her throat and introduces the next chapter "AND HERE GOES!!!"

CHAPTER NINE

Smiling ruefully at the now stunned Ryou, he held Pudding tighter, showing that he wasn't going to let go without the bargain set in place. "So what are you willing to give up in order to get beloved Pudding back?" Pudding blushed slightly at his choice for words and all became quiet. It seemed like a matter of who could go longest while standing their ground. Pudding didn't like this.

Stepping out from behind the maroon curtains that were lining the back window, Ichigo stared at the group that had seemed so angry and futile towards each other and suddenly come to be at a loss for words. No one had noticed she was there, they were too busy glaring at each other with a look that says, "I'll kill you."

Scooting towards the back room where Pudding's siblings were currently being held, she debated all the way whether to let them out or not. They had been worried sick about her not coming home when she was supposed to that night. Peering around the door, she snuck a couple of glances at the sound asleep children that were curled up together, obviously showing the sibling love needed in times of peril.

Slowly easing out of the doorway, Pudding saw her slip away. She wondered why Ichigo wouldn't help her out. Thinking it had to do with her not trying hard enough at work, she got discouraged. She had tried her best. Honest. She would just have to work harder when she got away from Tart. How was she to get away from him?

She began to think about ways of escape, every one coming to the fact that she didn't want to leave him. Not listening to a single word that was being said between Ryou and Tart, Pudding was finally jerked back to reality when a harsh tug on her collar came and yanked at her neck.

"Forget it" She heard Tart say in a selfish manner. "That is way too under priced for the one Mew Mew needed at the time." Looking up in confusion at Tart, he smiled down sheepishly, trying to play off like he didn't just blurt out some important information.

Glancing from Tart to Ryou and back to Tart again, she was finally able to get something out of Ryou, "Since you were not mature enough when you gained your powers, they increase every minute after you come of age." He explained. Then turning back to face Tart with and accusing glare he said, "And Tart knew that all along from the very beginning. Turning in that information to his High Court, along with a lot of other useful information and tips, they granted him much. "

Blurting out before she could stop herself, she said, "At least I was captured for a reason then. I don't have to worry about Tart liking me or not liking me, because it doesn't matter." Her eyes shift from side to side, not believing what she just said. She looked at Tart. His expression seemed pained, but she didn't care. She knew the real reason he had acted so nice to her. I was to get to her heart so that he could use her for the power source she was and then dump her on some street side corner.

Stepping towards her as if he understood her thoughts, he said, "Its not like that."

Moving back with his every step towards her, she retorts bravely, "The hell it is."

Staring down at her, he sighs and begins to wrap the chain around his hand, causing it to get shorter and shorter with every turn of his wrist. Not realizing she had done so, she turned on her heel to face the front door and opening it before Lettuce could. Pudding didn't know how she did it, but she thought it was pretty damn cool.

Watching as Lettuce walked towards the silent group a couple of steps before realizing they were there. Stopping suddenly, Lettuce caused whatever was behind her to slam into her back and fall to the ground. The person behind Lettuce screamed and Pudding automatically recognized the voice.

Knowing she couldn't run to Lettuce's side and help the fallen girl due to the length of the chain that Tart had shortened, she stood there beside Tart and stared. Lettuce knelt beside the girl apologizing many times, "I am so sorry Mint. I was just startled by..." She let her words trail off and stood up while helping the flustered, blue-haired girl to her feet and stepping away silently so that she might understand why she stopped.

Mint gaped at the way of linking between Tart and Pudding. Staring directly at the collar around Pudding's neck, she took note that Tart was obviously the one in charge. Facing Ryou, a questioning look on her usually scowling face, she saw him sigh in relief. Almost as if their entrance had saved him from something he didn't want to happen or didn't wish to explain.

Lettuce moved next to Ryou and he placed a possessive arm around her shoulders. Still not used to it, she blushed but asked the question that had bothered her since she froze in the doorway. "Why is Pudding in chains?"

Stepping forward and folding her arms across her chest, Mint put in her two sense as well, letting all she was thinking spill out. "And why is the alien back? I though we beat their sorry, terrestrial asses."

Pudding grinned at Mint's choice of words, but glancing up at Tart, she noticed clearly that he wasn't. In fact, it looked like he was going to blow up and breathe fire. She heard Ryou's voice and only started to listen when she realized it was about her situation.

Pointing to Tart, Ryou stated with a smug look plastered on his face, "The bastard kidnapped Pudding, causing her siblings to come crying to me and be underfoot all day when there is work to be done. And on top of that, he is now demanding a ransom."

"Just give him whatever he wants. My siblings need me and I do not wish to be used as a tool." Pudding said softly, not even daring to see to response Tart made, who was looking at her with hurt.

Ryou stared at her with intense eyes, telling her he was sorry. "...I can't very well give him the planet to save only you..."

END OF CHAPTER NINE

Evey: "o.O...long chapter..." runs around the place with a hand puppet that looks like a princess. Makes the puppet head bang and wave at random people on the streets "heh heh. aren't I cute?"

Pudding: wants one too

Evey: scuttles away with the hand puppet before Pudding can snatch it from her. Makes the Princess puppet hike up her pink skirts and pretend to run as well

Tart: grabs the puppet from Evey's hands and cuts off its head, laughing as the white stuffing comes out

Evey and Pudding: cries, tears streaming down both of their faces "poor dolly."

(I really did this at school today...except I named the puppet Eggplant and the teacher was the one who took it away and cut off its head with scissors in front of the whole class...I was depressed...)

(oh yeah...I don't own TMM...or Fruit Roll-Ups for that matter...If I did...the pictures on the rollups would be of anime characters like Pudding and Tart)