I don't own Tokyo Mew Mew/Mew Mew Power—this is just a fanfic sprung from my own twisted imagination. Really, there's very little similarity between MY dysfunctional characters and TMM's happy, flighty little ditzes.
I can't believe how long it has been since I last updated! Almost 3 YEARS?!?!?! It's truly inexcusableNevertheless, I love these characters way too much to ever abandon the story altogether— it WILL be finished!... eventually… Plus, though this doesn't even come close to proper penance, this is definitely the best chapter yet! Fair warning, though… there's nothing sexual, but the content gets pretty dark at this point.
Chapter 10: The Measure of a Man
The Demon's Fang
"Are you concealed? Completely concealed?" Pai whispered.
"For the 10th time, yes," Kish hissed back as their pod landed in the docking bay of the Demon's Fang.
Pai hoped so, for both their sakes. He wasn't particularly in the mood to die today, and if Kish was discovered, that was the fate that awaited them both at the hands of Retasu's crew. And he doubted that the Commander had handpicked them for her flagship because of their merciful and loving personalities. They were probably almost as crazy as her when it came to torture!
The alien was interrupted from his unpleasant reverie by the whoosh of the opening hatch. At least a hundred crewmembers were at the docking bay, running around in a state of utter confusion. Tenshin was at the head, looking frazzled and out of his league, as usual. Pai allowed himself a sigh of relief. With all of this chaos, at least he would have a chance to hide Kish.
For the moment, at least, everyone seemed to be ignoring him. If he could just finish docking his pod on his own, he could escort Kish out of dangers in the relative safety of the shadows…
His fantasies of an easy escape were cut short as Tenshin popped his head into the open hatch. "Ambassador, what in God's name happened down there?" he growled. "We lost all contact with the two of you hours ago, and the Emperor himself just popped up on the Holocom, demanding Retasu's return. Pai could tell that Tenshin was trying hard to keep an accusatory tone out of his voice, but it was blatant that the lieutenant was wondering how he could have survived relatively unscathed while Retasu lay dying.
He decided to play along with the man's biases for the time being. Pai took a steadying breath and began. "Your guess is almost as good as mine," he began pathetically. "I was knocked unconscious somehow when Zakuro and Retasu confronted each other. I don't know what happened, but when I woke up, Zakuro's corpse was almost on top of me. It was terrible… the blood… the stench of carnage… when I came to my senses, I saw the commander was only barely alive. Thankfully, the pods were nearby, but I still had to drag her bloody body back—it was terrible!"
Tenshin locked stares with him for a long moment, until Pai could practically feel the soldier's disdain for his 'cowardice.' "If only you knew the truth, little soldier," Pai sneered internally. "Your commander lies dying not by Zakuro's hand, but nearly by mine."
"We are sorry for the 'inconvenience' you have suffered, Ambassador," he began coldly. "Unfortunately, your return home will have to be delayed. We are making directly for the capital with all speed. We have already sent a message to your home world, updating them on your safe return from your 'heroic' mission. You should report directly to the medical bay at this time."
Pai loosed a foppish sigh. "I think I will head to the medbay," he said shakily. Thankfully, amazingly, Tenshin had fallen for his pathetic act. He had forgotten just how easy it was to manipulate most of humanity, simply by playing on their preconceived notions. Retasu had never bought his act in the time he had spent with her.
He pushed the thought of the commander away. He had troubles enough at the moment, without trying to piece together whatever feelings he had for his sworn enemy. Pai finished docking his pod, at the far end of the bay, where the shadows were thickest. "Stay here," he whispered to his friend. "I'll be back in a few hours to collect you when things have calmed down." With that the Prince gracefully exited the ship and headed jauntily toward the med bay, looking every bit the sarcastic dandy that the crew mistook him for.
Kish had no qualms about waiting a few more hours. After all, what were mere minutes in this relatively comfortable pod, when compared to the years he had spent, wasting away below the earth in utter solitude? While Pai had been enjoying the glamorous life of a spy and prince, he had been rotting in prison. Still, the patronizing tone that his "friend" had taken irked him. Pai had always been such an insufferable snob, always holding all the answers!
The ghost of a smile graced his chapped and torn lips, and for a moment, the shadow of his former self shone through. Weren't these the same exact thoughts that were always running through his mind all those years ago? When he was so young, and felt like he could take on the world? When Ichigo would always get so annoyed with him that she'd turn as red as a tomato in her little show of righteous fury? When they had all had such high hopes, been so full of life and dreams? When all three of them had been together…
He let loose a quick, agonized hiss of breath. Tart's death could still pain him after all these years. Still, now was not the time to dwell on such things. He had to be pragmatic. Pai's arrogance, while annoying, was not without merit. Kish's knowledge of current affairs was woefully outdated. For one thing, when had Lettuce become so dangerous? And weren't she and the wolf girl supposed to be allies? Perhaps it was time for him to update his understanding of the situation.
He cautiously slunk out of the plane, wary of any sign of life. Detecting nothing he stepped over to a computer terminal, eager for any information he could gather on this Empire, and the man he hated.
Pai returned from the med bay, unsurprisingly with a clean bill of health. He had wanted to take a look at the Intensive Care Unit, to see how Retasu was faring, but he had been denied access. 'That's probably for the best, anyways,' he told himself. 'I can't lose sight of my goals at this time; not when an end to this suffering is in sight.' Pai returned to his room, glancing out the viewport window. The looming specter of earth was in distant view; in less than two hours, they would probably be docking. Cupping his face in his hands, he sat down at the foot of his cot. He couldn't get Retasu's face out of his head. Pai knew he shouldn't have kissed her while unconscious; it had only complicated his own growing feelings. But why had Midorikawa spared him, when he was at her mercy? It would have been so easy, to end him right there… away from any witnesses, and with a ready-made scapegoat in Zakuro. And that kiss! How much more could it have been, if she had been able to reciprocate? Wild, half-formed thoughts buzzed through his mind. Pai clenched his fists. Was he a savage, driven only by carnal desire? So what if he wanted Retasu? Had he not sworn himself to a higher cause? The freedom of his millions of kinsmen, even the galaxy at large- these were the things to which he had dedicated his life and soul. Pai sighed, and fell back onto his bed. 'At least,' he whispered to the empty room, 'that's what I need to keep telling myself.'
Karingi Warship, Shinto Sector
Aboard the Karingi warship, darkness reigned. Yet this was no mere peaceful void. The inhabitants of this eternal night were very much alive, each one resonating with focus and controlled hatred from the shadows. The Karingi, fearsome warriors, had long ago pledged their service and loyalty to the same dark entity as Masaya, in exchange for the unnatural strength it offered. In deference to their dark deity, they had grown accustomed over the millennia to living, plotting, and killing from the shadows. Spreading like a plague from their original home world, they had swarmed over the galaxy, seeking out and extinguishing lesser races in their continual quest for greater power.
Two of these reptiles stood at the bridge of the ship, staring into the vast emptiness of space. "How go the preparations for our attack?" hissed one of the sibilant voices. "When will we be prepared to attack this worthless empire?"
"Soon, my lord," the other whispered. "Our Karingi warships have been massing all along the outlying territories of Masaya's realm. Yet the pathetic technology of this rabble has been unable to detect us."
"Good. And what of our plans to attack the heart of the empire? These outer planets are meaningless; I wish to see that unworthy pretender Masaya brought to his knees, at the very heart of his power!"
The Karingi commander took a hesitant breath. "Alas, my lord, as you know, our former spy, Zakuro Fujiwara was recently destroyed by Masaya's dog, Retasu Midorikawa, and one of the alien princes, Pai. We believe that Masaya detected her traitorous spirit, and thus had her removed. We have not yet found another spy… though we have already begun the search."
The Warlord raised a delicate, scaled brow. "That will make matters considerably more difficult. Thankfully, Fujiwara was able to send us detailed plans of the heart of the Empire, and Masaya's palace. However, our priests have failed to break through the wards that Masaya has placed upon his stronghold… and until we can destroy those defenses, we will be at a standstill."
The other raised his head in surprise. "Is this human really so powerful? Surely, no fleshling alive can stand against the might of our swords and magic!"
The Warlord hissed. "This one is… different. He is a servant of the Great Darkness, just as we. And, though I have no idea why, he has been granted power that even exceeds my own."
"That's impossible! Why would one so unworthy be bestowed with such a gift? We are the ones who sacrifice to the Void, we are the ones who have left countless planets in eternal darkness in Its name!"
"Do you not think I realize this?" the Warlord hissed, his ire growing. "Long has the thought of this human usurper troubled me. By all rights, that power should be mine!" His clawed hands tightened around a steel railway as he spoke, bending the powerful metal to his will. But just as soon as his emotion manifested itself, it disappeared. "Yet, do not worry, my loyal commander. I understand the will of the Void. If I am truly deserving of this power, if the Karingi are to take their place as true rulers of the galaxy, then it is only natural that we take it by force. Is it not our Code to rule by sword and blood? We will crush this pretender and his dog, bring his petty empire to its knees, and sacrifice all of them to the Altar of Shadows! Surely, then, his power shall be ours. And finally, commander, we shall be the undisputed heirs of the Great Darkness, the true masters of shadow and extinguishers of light!"
The commander bowed. "It is as you say, my Lord. We await your command."
The Warlord smiled. "Patience. Begin our assault on the outer territories, but do not yet take the heart of the Empire. We shall find a chink in this human's armor, a weakness in his power. Then, we shall take our victory."
The Emperor's Palace
In his inner sanctum, Masaya agitatedly paced back and forth. With his senses fully attuned, he had felt the moment that the Demon's Fang had touched down, and was awaiting Retasu's delivery in a manner that, if he were honest, could only be described as nervous. Why did he feel this way? He couldn't allow himself to dwell long on the answer, to consider how out of character his concern was. Retasu was a valuable asset, and he couldn't let her go to waste. That was all, right? Half-formed thoughts flitted in and out of his head, as he contemplated his unwelcome new uncertainty. How could she, his apprentice, have fallen to such foes? Had Zakuro truly been so deadly? And how long had she been sharing secrets of the Empire with the foul Karingi? When would they make their move? And what of that ambassador? Was he the one who had so gravely wounded Retasu? Yet, Masaya did not have time to follow that line of reasoning, for at that moment Tenshin, accompanied by a full medical team, burst into his chambers.
To his credit, Retasu's lieutenant did not waste time with meaningless banalities. "She was badly injured in her battle with Zakuro, though we were unable to extract any data from the battle. Due to the ice storm's intensity, our equipment malfunctioned. Tenshin shook his head in confusion. "We've done everything we can, and repaired every injury she seems to have suffered… there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with her. And yet, her vitals grow weaker every second, and she appears to be in considerable pain!"
Masaya had listened impassively, schooling his features so that these underlings saw no hint of his fear for Retasu. "Understood," he acknowledged. "Now leave us."
The medical team fled, eager to escape the terror that the Emperor inspired. Simply standing in his presence made one feel as if they were drowning in a dark abyss! Yet Tenshin hesitated, unable to turn away from the figure of his commander. "I don't know what's happened to her, but please… she's been a fair commander" he whispered, before bowing and quickly taking his leave.
Such impudence would normally have been severely punished, but Masaya's entire world had quickly shrunken to the single body in front of him. For all her fearsome power, Retasu looked so delicate and fragile at the moment. Almost unconsciously, he ran a finger across her face, brushing a stray hair from her eyes. A jolt ran through him at the contact; 'this is the first person I've touched in years.' Through the haze of her pain, Retasu gave a soft moan, leaning into his touch. 'Little fool,' he thought sadly. 'Why, even now, do you still draw close to me, when all I've ever caused you is pain?' It was apparent to him that her mysterious illness was not caused by any worldly wound. But what, then, was the cause? Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind, and touching her face, immersed himself in her spirit.
Masaya found himself floating in darkness, a strange feeling of being disconnected from his limbs pervading him. But he did not dwell long on his own condition, for he immediately sensed that he was not alone. "Identify yourself!" he cried out to the darkness.
A dark voice whispered back, more ancient than the bones of the earth, irrepressible hatred and scorn dripping from its every syllable. "So imperious!" it laughed. "You sound like quite a proper little emperor! I have been called many things throughout history, but the truth is I don't have a name."
Suddenly, before Masaya could reply, he saw a shape appear from the viscous darkness. Slowly it took on a shape, and then more defined features. He found himself staring at a smirking version of himself. The only difference was the eyes… unlike his own, they were simply pits: pools of darkness, blacker than the emptiest reaches of space… empty and hungry. "Anyways, you already know me," the creature said. "You've pledged your soul to me, remember? And I have given you more than you could ever dream of in return!" It laughed, a hollow sound, and Masaya noticed that the mouth was the same as the eyes… a widening, empty chasm. "I should be offended, my little disciple! You can't even recognize your own God!"
Instinctively, Masaya recoiled. A shiver of fear trickled down his spine. "Why are you here?" he gestured. "What do you want with Retasu?"
"Oh! What a brave face you're putting on! If I didn't know you better, I'd think you wanted to play hero!" The creature conjured up an unconscious Midorikawa. "Little Lettuce here has been very naughty!" it giggled, as it ran an unnaturally long, red tongue across her face. Masaya jerked, trying to stop the thing, but found his body refused to move. "Yes yes yes, very naughty indeed. She swore herself to me, you know. Swore to follow me, to serve me, to be MINE. And look what she has done! That last battle with the little wolfpup and wizard was a mistake. She tried to throw off my influence, to escape me, renounce me! Can you believe the gall?" The Masaya look alike roughly grabbed Retasu's hair, dragging her up to face Masaya. "And do you know why?" It didn't wait for him to respond. "For you! Apparently, she loved little, meaningless, pathetic YOU more than she loved all that I had to offer!" Its voice changed to a deep growl. "And I am very possessive of what is mine."
The monster reverted back to Masaya's voice, and, almost lovingly, caressed Retasu. "We can't have that sort of disobedience, now can we? And she's already sworn herself to me, mind, body and soul. So, if she won't follow me willingly, I've decided to take her back! It's easy, since her spirit is weak and wounded, lingering in between life and death." It drew out a black sword, poising it above Retasu's throat.
"Wait!!" Masaya screamed, finally finding his voice. "Stop!"
The creature hesitated, its grin still in place. "Now what do you want? It isn't time for me to collect my debt from you, so you're free to go."
Masaya's mind raced… what could he do? How could he protect Retasu? Just standing in the present of this thing… this monster, seemed to render him helpless. And how could he fight the very source of his power? It was futile!
The dark creature watched, enjoying Masaya's internal torment. It morphed again, this time taking another familiar shape. It's dark hair turned a brilliant magenta, and Masaya's physique transformed into gentle, feminine curves. "I suppose I should thank you," it said in Ichigo's soft, cheerful voice. "It seems that you damn every woman who loves you to me! What lovely gifts!"
Masaya gaped, all thoughts momentarily abandoning him. At the shock of seeing the image of his wife, the woman he condemned to madness, casually holding a sword over Retasu, his legs buckled. But the beast had given him an idea. "Gift? You like getting gifts, right?" he asked.
"Only something worthwhile," Ichigo's image gave a feral grin. "Only something valuable."
"Then… what about a trade?" Masaya whispered, his voice hoarse as he contemplated what he was about to give up.
"Perhaps… what are you offering?" It stared at him, black pits on Ichigo's beautiful face, waiting expectantly.
"Myself. Take me in exchange for Retasu!" he said, the words flying out of his mouth.
"You! YOU?!" the monster laughed. "But you're already mine!"
Masaya straightened, gathering his full strength in his voice. "Not exactly. Unlike Retasu, I'm not dying. And, so far, I've only followed you of my own free will. I was never truly yours."
It grinned with Ichigo's smile. "Clever, clever boy! It seems like you've discovered something that is actually worth my while! It's true, you've always possessed immense potential, far more than Retasu, my Karingi devotees, or anyone I've yet had. And… while you've served my interests in some ways, in others you haven't quite proven to be as malleable as I'd like. Your soul, in its entirety, would certainly be worth a trade." It laughed. "It's a deal."
Masaya shuddered, as his mind raced in protest. What had he done? Yet, looking down at Retasu, he knew that it was too late to lie to himself. He loved her. Despite all that he had done, despite what he had subjected her to, despite her own sins, he could not regret his decision. "In exchange, you will spare Retasu?" he asked.
"Little Lettuce will be free," it chuckled. "After all, you are a much bigger prize." It dropped Retasu, who faded away. Masaya would have liked to have touched her again, to tell her goodbye in some way, but apparently that was not to be. He steeled himself for the unimaginable.
"This will hurt" the Ichigo monster said gleefully, as it approached him. He stared at her eyes, and felt for a moment a pain more excruciating, more agonizing than anything imaginable. And then, he felt no more.
(Wow! Okay, so sorry if this was a bit freaky, but it's such a relief to get that scene out of my head and onto paper. No hints for the next chapter, though; you guys will just have to wait and see!)