What SHOULD Have Happened
Part 11
The six of them headed to Café Mew Mew, and Ichigo unlocked the door. "They're probably in the basement," she said, and led the way downstairs. She knocked on the door of the lab, and heard footsteps. Then Pai opened the door, looking startled. "What happened to school?" he asked.
"It got canceled due to fan clubs fighting," Mika said. "We told Renji, and he says he won't tell a soul."
Pai looked at Kisshu, who nodded and said, "Renji said he's a computer expert; maybe he can take your place helping Keiichiro if we need to fight."
Pai nodded and said, "That's a good idea. We're almost finished with a transformation device for Mika."
"Actually, I just finished," Keiichiro said, coming over. He handed a pendant to Mika that was similar to the others', except it was white and black.
Mika took it, then kissed it and shouted, "MEW MEW MIKA! METAMORPHO-SIS!"
She was enveloped in soft white light, which swirled around her like snow. When it cleared, she looked different. Her curly long brown hair had turned snow white, and two rounded white ears with black spots poked up on either side of her head. Her outfit was a white crop top with cap sleeves, and black spots. She had two armbands, also white, with full wrist-length sleeves attached to them. She was wearing a white pleated miniskirt, and knee-high black boots. She also had a white tail with black spots, and tied around her tail was a silver ribbon. Her pendant was also supported by a silver ribbon, but it had tiny black dots on it.
Keiichiro went and got a full length mirror, and showed Mika her reflection. "This is so cool!" Mika said happily.
"You look great," Renji said. "Not that you didn't before…."
Mika blushed and said, "Thanks, Renji."
Renji smiled. The others smiled too, and then Keiichiro said, "Mika, do you have a weapon?"
Mika concentrated, then called out, "Snowflake Staff!" A silver staff appeared in her right hand. It had a snowflake carving on top, and a pattern of swirling snowflakes on the staff itself.
"Looks like you're going to have some kind of ice attack," Pai commented. "Just don't do it in here, okay?"
"I know," Mika said. She made the staff disappear, and was about to detransform when one of the computers started beeping.
Keiichiro ran over and pressed a few keys, then said, "There's a Chimera Anima attacking Hanabira Elementary School!"
"That's Pudding's school!" Ichigo said. "Let's go!" She transformed, and Kisshu said, "Let's teleport."
"Can we come?" Moe asked, motioning to herself and Miwa. "We could at least help evacuate the kids."
"Fine…." Pai said. He took Moe and Miwa by the shoulders, and teleported, followed by Kisshu with Ichigo and Mika.
They landed in front of the school, and saw teachers trying to keep the students in order as a Chimera that looked like some kind of plant tried to grab them with vine-like arms. Looking up, Ichigo said, "There's Taruto!"
The others looked up too, and Ichigo said, "Kish, you and Pai do something about Taruto, we'll handle the Chimera Anima."
"Got it," Kisshu said, and he and Pai flew up towards Taruto. Moe and Miwa, meanwhile, had gone to help the teachers, who were still evacuating the scared kids.
Suddenly they heard a scream, and Ichigo and Mika looked up sharply as the Chimera's vines picked up a little girl. "Mika, if I get the little girl, can you attack after I'm out of the way?" Ichigo asked.
"Hai," Mika said.
Ichigo immediately leaped into the air, catching the attention of the plant Chimera. It held the little girl up like a shield, and Ichigo got a bit closer, then slashed through the vine holding the little girl, grabbing her and shouting, "Mika, now!"
Mika summoned her staff as Ichigo landed with the little girl, and shouted, "Ribon… Mika BLIZZARD!" A swirl of snow froze the plant Chimera solid, and then to Ichigo's surprise, Mika threw her staff like a spear. When the staff hit the block of ice, the ice shattered- and so did the Chimera Anima. All that was left was the infuser and a bunch of dead vines. Kisshu snapped his fingers, and the infuser disappeared.
Ichigo set the little girl down, and asked, "Are you hurt?"
The little girl shook her head. She reached up, looking happy. "Neko ears!" she said happily. She gently petted one of them, and Ichigo couldn't hold back a purr.
One of the teachers ran over, and said, "Thank you so much for saving Tsukiko."
"Sure," Ichigo said.
The teacher smiled and said, "Okay Tsukiko, time to go home."
"But I want to play with Onee-chan's ears!" Tsukiko protested. "They're SOFT…."
"It's not polite," the teacher said. "Say goodbye, I'm sure she has to get back to her friends."
"Bye Onee-chan…" Tsukiko said.
"Bye!" Ichigo said. The teacher picked up Tsukiko and walked off as Kisshu came up to Ichigo. "Good job, Koneko-chan," he said. "Pai captured Taruto, we have to go back to the Café."
"'Kay," Ichigo said. "I wonder where Pudding was today. This is her school, after all."
"Maybe she was sick," Kisshu said.
"That could be, or maybe one of her siblings was sick," Ichigo said.
Moe and Miwa came over then, and Kisshu said, "Let's go. Grab on." The girls obeyed, and he teleported them back to the basement of Café Mew Mew.
Pai and Mika had already returned with Taruto, who was unconscious. "Good, you're back," Pai said. "I was right, I don't have enough power to reverse the brainwash. I'm going to need some of yours, Kisshu."
"That's fine," Kisshu said. "Let me know when."
Pai nodded, and said, "Stay quiet." The others obeyed as Pai's hand, which was on Taruto's forehead, began to glow.
Twenty minutes later, Pai said, "Kisshu, I need help." Kisshu went over and took Pai's free hand, pouring his power into Pai.
Another half hour passed before Pai took his hand away and let go of Kisshu's hand. "That should do it," he said. He stood up, looking exhausted. Kisshu looked pretty tired too, and Keiichiro said, "Pai, you should stay here tonight. I'll keep an eye on Taruto after I take Kisshu and Ichigo home."
"Thanks," Pai said. He looked at Kisshu, and said, "Kisshu, take it easy for a bit."
"Fine…." Kisshu said.
"I'll take you and Ichigo home," Keiichiro said. "Let's get in my car."
Ichigo and Kisshu followed him out to his car, and got in. He drove them home, but by the time they were there, Kisshu was fast asleep. Keiichiro saw this, and said, "He should rest. I can take him."
"Okay," Ichigo said. She unbuckled Kisshu's seatbelt, and Keiichiro picked him up. Ichigo got both their school bags, and went to the front door, then opened it, letting Keiichiro in first.
Sakura came in as Ichigo took her shoes off, and asked, "What happened?"
"He used up too much power; he'll be fine with some rest," Keiichiro said. "Can you show me where his room is?"
"Of course," Sakura said. She led the way to Kisshu's room, and Keiichiro put Kisshu down on the bed. Ichigo took off his shoes, and tucked him in.
"I have to go back and keep an eye on Pai and Taruto; please take care of Kisshu," Keiichiro said.
"We will," Ichigo said.
"I'll walk you out," Sakura said.
"You don't need to, I'll be fine," Keiichiro said.
"I wanted to talk with you anyways," Sakura said. "I'll keep it brief, but let's not wake Kisshu up."
"Alright," Keiichiro said. He and Sakura left, closing the door behind them, and Ichigo climbed onto the bed with Kisshu and started stroking his hair.
Downstairs: "What did you want to talk about?" Keiichiro asked Sakura.
"I'm just worried about Ichigo," Sakura said. "I know she's a lot stronger than she used to be, but I just worry, because she's always been so naïve. I trust Kisshu to protect her, but I just want you to keep an eye on her too. I'm just glad you didn't make her into a Mew earlier."
"Why is that?" Keiichiro asked. "Does she have a medical condition or something?"
"No, but she was born a month early, and the doctors told us she probably wouldn't live more than about two weeks," Sakura said. "Up till she was about nine, we had to be extremely careful with her. Moe and Miwa began protecting her the way they do because we told them she was fragile when they first met. I realize that she's gotten much stronger, and I know Pai can heal, but I just don't want anything bad to happen to her- or at the very least, nothing bad that can't be reversed."
"I understand, and I'll do my best to keep an eye on her," Keiichiro said. "Is this information I should give to Pai as well? He's going to have to heal any serious things that happen to the Mews, because taking them to a hospital could get them found out. I don't anticipate anything major, given how powerful she is, but I just thought I'd ask."
"Ichigo doesn't have any medical issues, so unless you feel Pai should know this, you don't have to tell him," Sakura said. "I guess I'm pretty overprotective."
"It's fine," Keiichiro said with a smile. "She doesn't have any allergies, either, right?"
"No, but try to get her to eat vegetables, and she'll have a fit," Sakura said.
"I don't plan on it," Keiichiro said. "Pai told me Kisshu is the same way."
"Great…." Sakura said. "More for me and Shintaro, I guess. I won't take any more of your time, but please just be careful with Ichigo."
"I will, I swear," Keiichiro said. He smiled at her and left. Sakura sighed and went back upstairs.
She quietly went to Kisshu's room, and found that Kisshu was waking up. He and Ichigo looked up as she came in, and she said, "Sorry to disturb you, but I got a call from the school earlier."
"About the fight?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes," Sakura said. "Apparently the police managed to break it up, and the girls who started it have been expelled. The school will be closed for a week, because the gym needs to be repaired and because the teachers are going to be having meetings about this incident. You and your friends aren't going to be punished for the 'Wanted' posters you apparently put up, but rules at the school will be stricter now, since the girls there apparently can't control themselves. There will be an assembly when you get back, explaining what they've decided."
"Okay," Ichigo said. "Was there anything else?"
"Due to the fact you lied about the 'stargazing trip', your curfew is now 9:30 on weeknights, and 10:30 on weekends," Sakura said.
Kisshu and Ichigo sighed, but didn't argue.
I know it's a bit short, but I think I'll put more stuff in the next chapter. At least they got Taruto back! Please review, it keeps me going!