11) ...

Dedicated to Zephyrus Anemoi Fiction

(nee ZephyrFiction)


"Shiroberugu?" Minto gasped.

She was sitting up in Shirogane's bed, propped against a large stack of pillows, mandatory fruit tea in hand. A long rest had helped the-bird Mew recover, and now, at three o'clock the following afternoon, she was rapidly returning to her normal self. Ryou had no doubt that, if not for the few sprains in her vertebrae, she'd be downstairs, criticising the state of the café.

"Yes, that's what I said," Ryou repeated, folding his arms across his chest. "You know her?"

"Well, not personally, but of course I know of her!" Minto said daintily, examining her pristine fingernails. "She's only the daughter of the wealthiest prospector in the oil business! Everybody who's anybody knows her name. She attends all the parties of the members of the board. She has everything she could ever want. She's a student at the most prestigious school in Japan. She is the wealthiest heiress in the country! Of course I know who she is!"

Ryou waited patiently for her little rant to conclude, musing to himself that she really sounded like another version of Minto. He stared wistfully out the window at the sky. It was brilliant blue, dotted with light, wispy clouds. A sole bird flew past. The trees outside were starting to lose their leaves; fall was morphing slowly into winter. Already a chill was creeping into the night. Ryou realised Minto had finished speaking and returned his attention.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why what?" Ryou asked, confused.

She raised one eyebrow. "Why are you asking me about Shiroberugu? What else?"

"Well, when we acquire a new addition to the team, it's beneficial for us to know as much as we can about her," Ryou replied, rolling his eyes. Minto's eyes widened. She seemed to have forgotten about her tea; it clattered loudly as the cup tipped, spilling its contents over the saucer and splattering the bedcovers. It went unnoticed.

"She's… what? Miruku… the next Mew?" she stuttered.

"You know… I think this might even top when Zakuro joined the team," Ryou smirked. Minto's face was priceless.

"Is she here now?" she asked shrilly.

Ryou nodded. "You already met her."

Minto blinked, astonished. "When?"

"At the battle - remember?" He shot her a strange look.

"What do you - oh!" Minto gasped, eyes widening with realisation. "You mean - the child - she's - oh, lord." She paled.

"What's wrong?" he asked sharply.

Minto looked utterly dismayed. "I was so rude! I thought she was just a normal, meddling kid! Oh, I can never show my face downstairs. Ever!" She moaned and pulled the covers up over her head.

Ryou fought an incredulous laugh. "You're kidding, right?"

"You don't understand!" Minto's muffled voice snapped hotly. "You don't know what it's like for people like us. I'm so ashamed!"

He rolled his eyes and bent to tug the blankets down. "Stop being so melodramatic. It's not that bad."

"Fine. Shirogane, help me out of bed," Minto commanded. Ryou's face became serious.

"Aizawa, no. You can't get up. You're not allowed to move," he told her sternly. "You're not going down to see Miruku. Not in your current state. You'll have plenty of time to see her later."

"Ryou," Keiichiro interrupted, poking his head in the door. He noticed the conscious Minto and smiled. "It's good to see you up, Minto-san. How are you feeling?"

"Annoyed," Minto replied huffily. "Shiroberugu Miruku is downstairs, and I can't see her."

Keiichiro laughed good-naturedly.

"That's not quite what I meant," he said. "How is your back?"

"Sore."

"She still can't move it, Keiichiro. We're going to need a brace," Ryou said.

"A what?" Minto demanded in horror.

"A neck brace," Keiichiro explained. "It holds your head in place and stops your spine from twisting too much. I think it would be a good idea for you to wear one. It'll help you heal."

Minto sighed as they left the room. Resting her head back against the pillows, she winced involuntarily as a sharp pain shot down her spine.

"It's going to be a boring few days," she mused moodily, swilling the remains of her tea around her cup.


"I'm here, na no da!"

Ichigo and Retasu turned from where they were polishing the cutlery to see a very happy Purin beaming in the doorway.

"Hey, Purin!" she greeted merrily. It had been a while since she'd seen the monkey-Mew. "How're you doing today?"

"Great!" Purin chirped. Her face suddenly fell. "How's Minto-onee-chan?"

"She's up in bed," Retasu explained. "You can go up and see her if you'd like. But be careful. Akasaka-san said her back is very tender."

"It's hardly her back we need to worry about," Ichigo muttered, and mimicked an ogre stomping around in a rage. Purin giggled.

Retasu was about to reply when the little bell above the door tinkled and all the three of them turned. A small girl with long, whitish curls had entered. She looked around expressionlessly.

"Hi, Miruku-san," Ichigo greeted tentatively. She wasn't sure what to expect in the new girl. Miruku walked a little further inside.

"Hello," she said quietly, eyeing them all.

Purin stared in open curiosity. "Who's this, na no da?"

"Oh, right," Retasu realised. "You two haven't met yet. Purin, this is Miruku, the new Mew. Miruku-san, this is Purin."

With a happy shout, Purin bounced forward and skipped around the young girl, chattering in a very Purin-like way. They were about the same age, Ichigo realised. Miruku stood quite still, waiting patiently for the monkey-Mew to calm down. There was a cool expression on her porcelain-like features. She sniffed daintily, picking at a bit of fluff on the hem of her fur lined coat.

Purin abruptly realised her joy wasn't mutual, ceased being excited and let her hands drop from where she'd enthusiastically embraced the girl.

"Please excuse me," Miruku said in a dull voice, stepping away from them all.

"Did I say something wrong, na no da?" Purin asked sadly, as the kestrel-Mew walked away.

"I don't think so, Purin," Retasu replied, equally as confused.

"She's very quiet," Ichigo added. "I don't think she's a very excitable girl."

"Oh…" Purin looked crushed. She plastered a grin on her face. "Well! I'd better go get changed, na no da! We've got a whole lot of work to do today!"

"Purin…" Retasu called half-heartedly, but she'd already bounded away. Ichigo exchanged a sad glance with the green-haired girl.

"Poor Purin," she said, putting the cutlery away.

"I know. She's been the youngest for so long that a new girl the same age as her probably made her so happy," Retasu replied. "She was so excited."

"I guess she'll just have to get used to the fact that Miruku doesn't play around like she does," Ichigo added. She left an unhappy Retasu in the kitchen and went to find the broom.


Ding!

"All passengers on flight zero-eight-seven please make your way to the baggage collection. Flight zero-eight-seven. The airline is now unloading to the carousels."

Ding!

The female voice echoed around the airport. Fujiwara Zakuro fixed the dark satin scarf around her neck, and the broad, elegant hat on her head. She slipped on a pair of dark sunglasses.

"Okay. I'm ready, Kenji."

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Zakuro was really not in any mood for the paparazzi. She'd just landed back in Tokyo after her photo shoot in California, and she was quite keen to collect her bags and get back to Café Mew Mew without being noticed. It was wishful thinking, of course.

The minute she stepped off the aerobridge with her casually-dressed bodyguards, they popped up everywhere. How did they always know where she was, what she was doing, and where she would be going? Sighing inwardly, Zakuro elegantly removed her sunglasses, flashing the photographers a famously charming smile. Shouts came from all directions.

"Miss Fujiwara! Smile over here, please!"

"Over this way, Miss Fujiwara!"

"Miss Fujiwara, tell us about your latest photo shoot!"

"There are rumours you'll be on the front page of a famous magazine in America. Is this true?"

"Is it true you'll be modelling for Playboy?"

"No," Zakuro's rep said firmly. Surrounding her with bodyguards, the small party pushed through the crowd of photographers, behind which had gathered a large hoard of curious people. Holding her hat on her head, Zakuro looked around at the sea of people craning to look at her.

"Miss Fujiwara – quickly please," her manager called over his shoulder. They pressed on towards the baggage carousel, paparazzi popping up everywhere. Her case had been removed before the rest, and an airline official was waiting beside it. He spoke into a walkie-talkie as they approached.

"Thank you," Zakuro's manager said, grabbing it and wheeling it away. Zakuro smiled at the official, who seemed a little bedazzled, before sweeping after him. Her limousine was waiting conveniently outside the doors. Mr Kenji leapt forward and pulled the rear door open.

"Thanks," Zakuro said quickly, sliding neatly into the back with her manager. Her case was shoved in the trunk and Kenji appeared in the driver's compartment.

"Where to, Miss Fujiwara?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Her home, of course!" he manager, Mr Hokari, scoffed. Zakuro smiled wryly.

"Actually, no," she contradicted him.

He looked surprised. "No?"

"Café Mew Mew, if you please," Zakuro said. Kenji nodded curtly and slid up the dividing window. The engine purred to life and the limousine pulled away from the terminal, beginning its journey back to the café.


"Zakuro-onee-chan!" Purin cried happily.

Retasu paused in the doorway to the kitchen with a heavily-laden tray in her arms. Ichigo looked up from where she was mopping the floor. Purin's fingers hesitated above the register.

Zakuro walked in, catching the attention of everybody in the café. People stopped talking and hushed murmurs of recognition swept through the customers.

Keiichiro walked by with an impressive-looking cake creation. He sent Zakuro a beaming smile. "Nice to have you back, Zakuro-san."

"Keiichiro!" Shirogane called from the staircase. "Minto's brace fits; she's complaining a bit, but her back–" He stopped quickly upon spotting Zakuro. A small smile crossed his face.

"Fujiwara," he greeted coolly, nodding curtly.

She smiled wryly, then her expression sharpened as she glanced at the empty table usually occupied by a certain, pristine blue-haired Mew. "Where's Minto?"

"She's upstairs," Ryou replied.

"Why?" Zakuro inquired.

"We were battling a Chimera Anima," Ichigo explained. "She was injured…"

"Is she alright?" Zakuro demanded, concern flashing in her eyes.

"She's going to be," Keiichiro reassured her. "But she was quite badly hurt."

"Her vertebra was sprained in several places," Ryou added.

Zakuro glanced down at her quickly-healing fractured arm in its white cast. "Can I see her?"

"Sure. I'm sure she'll be pleased to have some company." Shirogane smirked. "She's been bored all afternoon. It's all we hear about."

As Zakuro crossed the room and headed upstairs, Ryou glanced at Ichigo, who was still standing with an absent-minded grip on the mop.

"Baka," he called lightly. "Keep mopping."

Ichigo's mouth pulled down into a frown at the insult, and she prepared to protest loudly. An odd expression crossed her face. He wasn't being nasty about it; he was only teasing. She blinked in confusion, staring dumbly at him.

Smirking quietly at her reaction, Ryou walked away down the hall, bound for the laboratory.


Minto was absolutely delighted. "Zakuro-onee-sama!"

"Hello, Minto. What happened to you?" Zakuro asked, seating herself at Shirogane's desk. Minto was still propped up, but now with the addition of a thick, foam-and-plaster brace clasped around her neck. She looked very uncomfortable.

"Oh… we were just battling," Minto said casually, brushing it off. "And this penguin-thing smashed me into a wall. You know."

"Sounds oddly like what happened to me." Zakuro smiled wryly, glancing at her cast. Minto laughed.

"How was the photo shoot?" she asked, interested.

Zakuro shrugged. "The same as any other."

There was a knock at the door and Saki poked her head in.

"Sorry to bother you, Zakuro-san, but Shirogane would like your assistance in the laboratory. Something to do with the next Mew or something," she said, hazel eyes flicking to the bed-ridden Mew. She hesitated slightly. "How're you doing, Minto-san?"

"Perfectly fine, thank you, Akahayashi," Minto replied, somewhat shortly. Saki looked a little uncomfortable. Zakuro rose from her seat.

"Well, I'd better talk to Shirogane. I'll be back later, Minto," she said. Minto sent Saki a cool stare. With something suspiciously like a squeak, Saki slipped out hastily after Zakuro.

"So, why is she mad at you?" Zakuro asked as they descended the stairs.

"Um… I'm not entirely sure. I think it was because she got injured in battle and I didn't," Saki replied, hazel-green eyes flashing with confusion. "Or maybe I didn't defend her or something. She's really mad, huh?"

"I guess. What you need to know about Minto is that she's an only child. So she tends to need to be the centre of attention sometimes," Zakuro explained. "She's probably not actually that mad at you. She just wants you to feel guilty for making her mad, which you are. Soon enough she'll get over it."

"Oh…" Saki said stupidly, drinking all this in.

They walked into the laboratory. Ryou was sitting at his multiple-screened computer, tapping furiously at the keyboard. Boxes of information were popping up everywhere. It was quite exciting.

"Shirogane-san," Saki interrupted. He looked up expectantly. "Zakuro-san is here."

"Oh, right. Thanks, Saki," Ryou replied. "Come in, Zakuro."

Zakuro sent Saki a small smile. The jovial red-head shut the door as she left. Zakuro waited while her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, listening to the constant whirrs of Ryou's computers. She crossed the room to where he was sitting and sat down on a spare computer chair, waiting for him to speak.

"What do you know about Torekokumo Ame?" Ryou asked. Zakuro watched him coolly with serene eyes.

"Well…" she began thoughtfully, "She's an excellent singer. The critics love her. She's very beautiful, confident, and successful. People are calling her the idol of the generation. She won the 'Tokyo Teen! Talent Competition' in 1999 and became a star before anyone could stop her. Kids love her. Boys think she's gorgeous. She was the year's 'Rising Star'. She's fifteen years old."

"You're sure the girl you're talking about…" Ryou tapped around on the keyboard and a photo appeared on the screen. It was of a girl with pearly, smooth skin, long, deep blue-green ringlets, and big catlike blue-brown eyes. She was smiling charmingly. "… is the same girl on the screen?"

"Yes, absolutely," Zakuro replied immediately. "I've been to a few celebrity parties this year, and she was there. She smiles the same smile in every photo. Shirogane," she added warningly. "Don't tell me she's the next Mew."

"Well… she might be. I want you, Ichigo, Retasu and Saki to go to her performance tomorrow. After the show, you, being well-loved and famous and all that, will head out the back and have a chat our rising starlet. Try to convince her to come out here for coffee. Do whatever you have to do, Fujiwara. You're probably the only one she'll actually listen to."

"You do realise it's going to be even more difficult for her to be around consistently than it is for me," she replied. "Injecting a teen pop sensation really wasn't your most intelligent idea."

"Unfortunately," Ryou replied, "There was very little we could do about it. But we'll make it work somehow."

Zakuro sighed. "All right. Don't say I didn't warn you." She was quiet for a moment. "So, basically, you want me to use my fame to bring her here so you can test her?"

A hint of a smile crossed Ryou's face. "Basically."

"Consider it done."


"Kisshu, our sensors have detected the strength of another human's DNA," Pai said informatively.

Kisshu looked around from his lounging position, where he'd spent the last few minutes wondering bitterly why Ichigo couldn't find any love for him in her heart.

"Oh, really?" he asked smoothly, sounding entirely uninterested. Pai frowned.

"Yes. Now why don't you come and have a look?" he said pointedly, in a no-nonsense voice.

Kisshu rolled his eyes. "Do I look like I can be bothered?"

"Kisshu, this is ridiculous! Get up now and come and fulfil your duties, as our leader, to our race. You were placed in control of this mission because of your 'determination' and 'enthusiasm'. Perhaps I should report back to Deep Blue with this sudden lack of interest?" Pai said sternly. Kisshu glared at him in distaste.

"Alright, alright – don't get your panties in a twist," he sneered, rising casually and stalking past his older comrade. Pai resisted the temptation to hit him and simply followed instead, maintaining his cool composure.

"So who is this charming little freak?" Kisshu asked, yawning loudly.

"A young female by the name of 'Ame'," Pai replied, ignoring his friend's attitude. "She's a popular musical artist among the younger humans. Our sensors have detected that the balance of DNA in her cells has been recently altered somehow. Her DNA is very active at the moment."

"Interesting," Kisshu purred, gleaming yellow eyes fixed on the screen. It displayed an image of a pretty turquouise-haired girl. "Perhaps we should check her out?"

"There is the possibility that those meddling Mews have yet to discover her intriguing DNA behaviour," Pai replied stiffly. "This could be the perfect opportunity to undo their plans."

"By kidnapping the starlet before they get to her?" Kisshu asked, interested now.

"Precisely."

"Well, Pai, my friend, I've got to give you some credit; sometimes you're just downright ingenious," he said, smirking. Pai turned silently to leave.

"Tell the youngling our plans," Kisshu called to his back. "Tomorrow, we're going to a concert."


"Aww… Why can't I go, na no da?"

Purin sat backwards on a chair, arms resting against the back of it, chin resting on the top; her legs dangling out either side. Ichigo watched her absent-mindedly, thoughts elsewhere.

"We need someone to stay here and look after the café, Purin-san," Keiichiro said, trying his best to explain to the impatient young girl why she was remaining behind. It was proving more difficult than he'd originally imagined. She wasn't taking very well to the idea.

"So all the others get to go out and have fun while I'm stuck here, cleaning up?" she demanded, pouting. "Doesn't sound fair to me, na no da."

"You won't be here alone, Purin-chan," Retasu replied. "Minto and Miruku will be here, too."

"But Minto-onee-chan will be in bed asleep, and Miruku-san doesn't like me!" Purin protested. In the corner of the room, white-haired Miruku listened silently, unfazed by the monkey-Mew's claims.

"That's not true, Purin," Retasu said, glancing nervously at the kestrel-Mew. "I'm sure she likes you very much."

"Well, why won't she play with me, then? She's boring, na no da," Purin declared, hands on hips. Retasu blushed furiously, hoping she wasn't offending the quiet heiress.

"Purin-san, perhaps this isn't the best time to be having this conversation…" Keiichiro trailed off, smiling a little uncomfortably. Purin puffed up her cheeks like a small child about to throw a tantrum.

"But it's not fair, na no da!" she cried. "I wanna go, too!"

"You can't Purin!" Ichigo cried, finally snapping. "Shirogane said so, and what he says goes. So just deal with it, okay?"

"Would anyone like some soda?" Saki, who'd presently arrived on scene, asked from the doorway. In her hands was a tray loaded with the last few dirty dishes and cups from the café, which had recently shut.

Luckily for everybody, Purin was instantly distracted by the concept of sweet, fizzy liquid, and she jumped up and bounced away after the red-haired girl like an excited puppy. Retasu sighed with relief, pulling on her blue cardigan.

"Well, that didn't quite go to plan," Keiichiro said jovially, laughing lightly. Ichigo untied her white apron and rolled it up into a ball. Miruku stood wordlessly from where she had been sitting and walked away down the corridor to get changed. They watched her leave, wondering how she really felt about them all. Then their gaze turned to the staircase, where Zakuro was returning from another visit with Minto. As they watched, she walked into the foyer, attempting to remove the cast from her arm.

"You're certain it doesn't cause you any pain anymore?" Keiichiro asked quickly, his eyes filled with concern.

"I'm sure," she replied flatly, ripping at it with a sort of eager vengeance.

"I just don't want you making a hasty decision and re-injuring it," Keiichiro went on, watching her apprehensively. "Perhaps it would be better if–"

RRRIP!

With a satisfied smile, Zakuro pulled the cast off her arm and carefully flexed her fingers. She looked up, midnight blue eyes looking relieved.

"Well, that's that," Akasaka said reluctantly, as she tossed the useless white scrap in the trash.

"Ready to go?" Zakuro asked, looking around at Retasu and Ichigo, the latter starting in surprise.

"Oh! I totally forgot… I have to get changed!" she exclaimed, hurrying away down the corridor to do so.

She dressed quickly, pulling on the pink frock Zakuro had given her for the photo shoot. Gosh… that feels like so long ago now… she mused wonderingly. She looked in the mirror to tie up the ribbon and jumped violently in surprise, cat ears popping out involuntarily. Miruku had appeared from nowhere and was standing behind her, pulling on her fur coat.

"Oh, hello," Ichigo said, heart still racing. "You scared me."

"Sorry…" Miruku replied quietly, watching her with peachy eyes. They stared at each other for a few moments.

"Your ears are out…" Miruku trailed off, sounding completely disinterested. She picked up her designer bag and walked towards the door. Ichigo, who had clamped her hands to her furry ears, perked up.

"Hey – wait!" she called. The small child came to an obedient halt, waiting for her to continue. Ichigo took a deep breath.

"Look, Miruku-san, you don't always have to be so polite, y'know… We don't mind so much about manners and all that," she said, trying to sound friendly and jovial. "Why don't you let loose and come have fun with us sometime?"

Miruku was silent. Her face was expressionless. Ichigo wished she had some sort of indication as to what she was thinking.

After a moment, the girl spoke, her quiet, smooth voice like a breath of wind. "See you tomorrow."

Then she walked out without another word, a confused Ichigo watching on with wide eyes, realising she'd just made a complete fool of herself.


To be continued...