DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN TOKYO MEW MEW. Blah-ity. Blah.

Chapter Eleven: Night Visits

Slowly Lettuce's eyes fluttered open and began to take in the cold, harsh surroundings around her. Coming to she found herself attatched to the steel wall sending shivers up her bare back with bands attaching her wrists and ankles. She was stuck. Cold was the only feeling she had, both physically and mentally. She realized she was no longer in her dripping wet and muddy school uniform but she was a Mew Mew. For the first time, she felt exposed and uncomfortable in something. Her normal lime green hair was there but her outfit was different, she was no longer in what use to be her battle clothing. Her midriff was covered in what seemed to be either tape or bandages, the same material covered her ankles, thighs, and upper arms. The same clothing that the aliens had on was now adorning her. A piece of a cloth was draped over her hips looking like a short skirt while a top that seemed like a tank top missing the midriff covered her chest.

It was very uncomfortable.

Obviously they didn't trust her or else she would wander freely around the space station they claimed was their home. Now it was her home.

Pudding couldn't sleep. Something didn't sit well in her stomach as she kept tossing and turning under her covers. It was late and all she could hear was the pitter patter of the rain against her window and the almost silent snores of her beloved brothers and sisters in the surrounding rooms. For the first time in a while she felt cold. The same scene played over and over again in her mind.

"Where's Lettuce," she asked happily when the work day was done and everyone was closing up around her. Quickly after opening the box, Ryou closed it and pretended everything was fine leaving Pudding in the bliss of ignorance.

Ryou paused for a moment, putting his fingers to his cheeks while glancing out the window. Ichigo was gazing at the doors waiting eagerly for Masaya to come back from the restroom and wrap his arms around her while Mint ran her finger in a bored manner around the rim of her tea cup only looking up when Zakuro passed by. At this time everyday Pudding and Lettuce would usually eat many of the leftover pastries together or play a game to pass the time. They would used to play Café Hide and Seek but they knocked over an unstable chemical in the lab one day.

"She left early," Ryou finally put simply before heading up to his bedroom without another word still carrying the box with Lettuce's uniform contained within it.

Mint smirked slightly knowing that she had been right in the end while Zakuro kept the same monotone look on her face while sweeping the floor. As for Ichigo, she was off in dreamland pretending the situation wasn't any of her concern to begin with.

"We'll walk you home, Pudding," Zakuro told her while standing next to Mint by the door.

As soon as Masaya entered the room again, Ichigo appeared to tear up and instantly left with Masaya wrapping his arms protectively around her. Everything was happening too fast and Pudding couldn't exactly grasp it all. Instead she walked up to Zakuro and Mint, and latched onto Zakuro's side allowing her to guide her home.

The rain pittered and pattered against the umbrella that was covering the three of them. Usually when she walked home with Mint and Zakuro, Mint was a buzz with chatting about her accomplishments in dance or asking Zakuro about her life as a model. This time Mint was silent and looking forward while Zakuro kept peering down and smiling at Pudding. Usually Pudding walked home with Lettuce but today was different; she could even feel it in the air.

"Do you think Lettuce is pretty with her new haircut," Pudding asked trying to break the silence.

"Pretty on the outside," Mint answered still staring forward, "but she's ugly on the inside."

Pudding looked up at Mint in confusion. Why would Mint say something like that? It couldn't be true. Lettuce could never be ugly no matter what she did.

"Maybe… she was never cut out… for the hero life," Zakuro calmly stated looking over at Mint who nodded in agreement.

"Shut up!" Pudding finally snapped she couldn't take this anymore. It didn't make any sense. Things were changing too rapidly and everyone around her showed no concern and was just being stoics about it. It was unbelievable to her that Lettuce could be nothing but kind to everyone.

After those words, Pudding broke away from them deciding to run home.

Footsteps echoed throughout the hallway. Lettuce looked up now becoming used to the cold wall she was attatched to. A shadow appeared and began to come closer to where she was. A sense of fear began to ran through her but quickly disappeared as the throbbing returned to her leg, instilling new Lettuce back into power. Her mind instantly raced into the possibilities of who could be coming. Maybe it would be Kish coming to check on her, or probably Tart coming to mock her being stuck in place. For a moment she closed her eyes, trying to imagine herself off of this horrible ship and back in her warm bed.

Something warm and soft brushed against her cheek and than ran through her hair. Instantly her eyes popped open to see herself face-to-face with Pai. He was only a couple of inches away and she could feel his warm breath on her cold face. For some reason, his eyes were calm and sad unlike Kish's and Tart's who were lively for seeking revenge. She smirked seeing a hint of desire hidden beneath his mask, this desire gave her confidence and power that the New Lettuce craved and lived off of.

Again he ran his hand over her cheek and then through her hair, this time it was his other hand. Her eyes met his for a moment and she could feel herself becoming vulnerable and the hard outer shell that New Lettuce came to be was disappearing. The smirk faded away and now her eyes were beginning to tear up. Old Lettuce had returned and somehow found comfort with Pai even if he was the enemy. On the dark ship that seemed to give her nothing but sorrow, she found comfort in his presence. Cold tears streamed down her cheeks as she bit her lip. They didn't make it far down her cheeks as Pai kissed them everytime one streamed down.

Now she could feel her cheeks turning red and confusion was taking over. This couldn't be happening for real, he was her enemy and she had to fight him. Ryou was the person she wanted to be with not this guy. The throbbing came back as she winced in pain.

"Get the hell away from me," she snapped at him and pulled her face away violently. "Don't you dare touch me."

A hurt look came to Pai's face as he pulled back a little. Now he was feeling a lot of remorse for ever giving this innocent and sweet girl the enzyme causing her to completely change. He gazed at her for a second watching as tears of anger and sadness were still coming down her cheeks. Pausing for a moment, he cupped her face in his hands and leaned forward looking into her eyes.

"I'm… sorry," he simply whispered while giving her a soft kiss on the nose.

Again she pulled away facing towards the ground with her eyes closed. Now all she wanted was revenge on her friends. Pai turned away and wandered down the hallway with the same stoic expression on his face.

To Be Continued…

Umm… hello! It's been a little while now.

I will now hopefully have time to keep updating this story and have found inspiration to get back into it. Once this one is finished, I am hoping to make a short story about Shikamaru and Ino from Naruto, because they're my favorite.

That's way in the future. I hope I still have my readers even after my long absence, but school's crazy for a Junior and I have a social life so my writing sometimes suffers. If it's not my writing then it's usually my art. Anywho, my writing has improved and it'll only get better since I've been giving a lot of praise for it from my teachers.

Enough bragging…

This chapter is one of my favorites mainly because this is somewhat of a love story but Ryou and Lettuce haven't been able to have their moments yet since she's all evil. I've been getting many comments and messages about how much people would love to see PaiXLettuce. So here ya guys go! This is your chapter!

I don't know if I'll develop it since this is mainly a LettuceXRyou fanfic, but putting the silent alien in the story to show his lust for Lettuce was fun. Maybe he'll pop up later but I had to have her somewhat reject him. Sorry.

Also I made Pudding emotional since she seems to be the closest to Pudding out of everyone. Also her outfit is somewhat revealing because all the aliens seem to have a somewhat revealing. Also if my grammar is off sorry, I've been sick so I'm out of it a little.

Maybe the new chapter will be up tomorrow. Enjoy :D