DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN TOKYO MEW MEW. Doo doo doo.

Chapter Twelve: Everything's Coming Together

Ryou sat on the edge of his with his face in his palms, but slowly looked up running his hands through his hair. The box with Lettuce's uniform laid beside him with the note he had crumpled up a few inches away. It was hard to believe that any of this was happening and the only person he could think of to blame was himself for dragging her and the other girls into it.

Standing up, he pulled off his shirt and tossed it across the room then paced around in a circle still harshly pulling on his hair. For some reason what's happening with Lettuce really was getting to him. It was bothering him on many levels and now the concern he felt for her was the only thing on his mind. Letting out a long sigh he plopped back down onto his bed and stared at the crumpled up note next to him.

He ran his hand over it before he picked it up and opened it. Smoothing out the creases he had made in it, he glanced at her squiggly handwriting taking in over word that she had written. Now after the initial shock he was looking for clues about the day and her rather strange behavior. His stomach clenched when he thought about her new short hair and her smiling face. Shaking his head he stared back down at the paper with new determination.

Hello Former Friends and Teammates,

I'm leaving, it's that simple. I can't take being apart of this so-called team that helps everyone out. It seems that all I bring to the team is being awkward and invisible, and I'm sick of that. Switching sides is the only way that can I actually become something better then I am now.

I am no longer the invisible, shy girl who doesn't stand up for herself. I've transformed. Now I no longer will tolerate being treated badly or talked down to by my so-called friends. Ichigo's got the attention, Mint's got the sass, Zakuro's got the grace, and Pudding is the acrobat. I got nothing.

Now I will have everything without you all in the picture.

Goodbye for Now,

Lettuce

Ryou stared at the paper still trying to make sense out of the words she had written. It was like all the kindness was violently ripped out of her body and now she was only left with hatred towards the Mew Mews. He had never seen this side of her before… well at least not until yesterday. His eyes widened when he finally realized what was going on. Now the note was making sense, everything was coming together.

The note claimed she was switching sides, her outbursts, the fact she didn't need her glasses anymore, and finally her strange injury in battle. Kish, Pai, and Tart must have done something with that plant that when it hit Lettuce… it changed her. It turned her against them. Now they were probably going to make her take down the others.

"Oh no," he murmured as he stared out of the window at the rain that was starting to let up. Quickly he grabbed his coat and ran out of the door. The only thing he could do was warn the other Mew Mews. There was no way he could tell the effects of the plant on Lettuce.

"I've got to hurry," he told himself splashing through the puddles while running at a brisk pace.

Thinking back to the letter, he tried to figure out some clues of which Mew Mew's house she would attack first. Something finally hit him… Ichigo's got the attention. Ichigo would be her first target even if Kish was behind this.

Lettuce awoke feeling pain run through the front of her body along with a sense of feeling cold. Her eyes opened to find herself face planted on the cold metal floor of the space station. She winced and spit at the ground finally lifting herself up to see herself face to face with Kish, Pai, and Tart. Kish had a determined smirk on his face, Tart had the same smirk with his hand on his hip while Pai looked away avoiding her gaze.

"What's going on now," she snapped at them clenching her fists. For some reason rage was flowing through her body and she couldn't seem to control it, old lettuce wasn't responding anymore.

"Time to fulfill what he created you for," Kish began still smiling from ear to ear. "You're going to make your wildest dream come true… destroying the Mew Mews."

A smile came to her face as she found herself walking towards them placing on elbow on Kish's shoulder, "When do we leave?"

"Right now," Kish replied looking over at Tart who giggled and then at Pai who nodded. After they were all ready Kish merely snapped his fingers and they teleported away.

The moon cast a shadow on the pink walls and pink décor of Ichigo's bedroom where she was sleeping peacefully. Only her soft breathing could be heard through the silent night. Her day had been so frustrating, confusing, and downright weird that she was more tired then her cat genes made her. Instead of focusing on the weirdness Lettuce had caused today, her thoughts drifted back and forth between Masaya and tuna fish. A clunk was heard on her rooftop, but all it caused the cat-girl to do was wince in her sleep while slowly shifting from one side to the other.

Kish floated beside Ichigo's window taking in her sleeping beauty for a moment before silently and slowly opening her window. A moment later, Tart floated beside Kish along with Pai who was holding Lettuce by the waist to keep her from falling. His cheeks were red as he tried to keep his stoic expression but he refused to make eye contact or even speak with Lettuce. The only thing he was feeling was remorse… not remorse about what he done earlier but remorse for taking a part in creating her as a weapon. Now he knew how Kish felt whenever Kish was in combat with Ichigo. He let out a sigh as all four of them entered Ichigo's room through the window.

Silently Pai set Lettuce down on the floor and Kish gave her a nod. Ichigo was vulnerable, oblivious, and a very good sleeper. For a moment she paused before her castanets appeared in her hands. Closing her eyes she gathered a small bit of power before opening them with a look of fierce determination. A worried look came across Kish's face, Tart smiled from ear-to-ear, and Pai had a look of sadness.

Everything was coming together.

Something shifted and moaned. Lettuce blinked to see Ichigo slowly awakening from bed looking directly at her with a groggy stare.

"Lettuce?" she rubbed her eyes and yawned trying to register what was going on around her.

This wasn't expected, Ichigo wasn't supposed to wake up. No matter… Lettuce would just take a shot anyways. It didn't matter if she was awake or asleep all it mattered was that she wouldn't be waking up when she was done with her. This was Lettuce's time to shine. It was her revenge.

"Ribbon," she began calling out every word that popped into her mind as her hands began to illuminate with green light, "Lettuce Rush!"

Ichigo's eyes widened. It was real. Lettuce was attacking her. The burst of energy hit her bed right on target causing Ichigo to become airborne. Shock was running through her mind as she flipped in the air landing on her ankle the wrong way falling to her side. She squinted her eyes in the pain of being injured as she gazed up at Lettuce's cold, emotionless, and determined stare. Kish floated forward slightly but was stopped by Tart grabbing and holding him in place.

"Kish! Don't interfere you idiot! You'll ruin everything we worked for," Tart snapped tightening his grip on Kish's arms. "Finish her already! Jeeze!"

Lettuce didn't have to agree, her body now agreed automatically moving her castanets up again and closing her eyes to gather power back into her body. Ichigo didn't have time to transform; she didn't have time to do anything. If she transformed then she would be shot down in mid-transformation. Now her eyes began to tear up and she couldn't understand why. She had never cried in the face of an enemy but this face was all too familiar.

"Ribbon," Lettuce started moving on of her arms forward. Nothing was going to stop her now. It was over. The first one would be the hardest then the others would follow with no troubles.

"Lettuce!" A voice yelled from behind her.

Narrowing her eyes at being interrupted, Lettuce turned around sending a glare to the face of the person behind her. Instead of seeing someone with the same glare her eyes locked with a concerned of blue eyes with shaggy blond hair in their way.

To Be Continued…

I've accomplished two chapters in one weekend. This one may be slightly ho-hum, mainly because the beginning is slightly boring since it's just Ryou finally putting together the pieces. I think this is the longest chapter so far but whatever.

I'm estimating there will only be about three or four more chapters left until it's finished. Then I'll move onto my already in progress short story about Shikamaru and Ino. Then I'll probably do a PaixLettuce one as like a sequel to this story. :D

Lettuce will only be a stone cold bitch for a little while longer.