*is emotional* I'd just like to thank all my readers/reviewers up to this point. If it wasn't for you, I probably would have stopped writing this fic ages ago.
So THANKS!
Anyway, I figured Masaya hadn't really done much in this story yet... and Masaya-bashers, please don't hate just because I'm giving him a chance.
Chapter 12 – Chapter the Twelth
"This may sting a bit," Keiichiro warned, holding a damp cloth that had been soaked in some funny-smelling liquid and gently grasping Licorice's arm.
He began cleaning the wound, and Licorice had to bite her tongue to stop herself crying out. Sting a bit? She was in agony!
They were sitting at the kitchen table of the four-room apartment. Zakuro stood silently in the corner, surveying the scene with her sharp, icy sapphire-blue eyes. She'd barely said anything since arriving, and had returned to her typical dark, cold persona.
The four rooms of the apartment consisted of Licorice's bedroom, and the room Ryou and Keiichiro shared, which was also where the computers and other mew-related equipment was hidden (with some help from the aliens). The other two rooms were, of course, the kitchen and bathroom.
"Are you okay now?" Zakuro asked.
Licorice nodded, not daring to open her mouth. She winced as Keiichiro continued wiping the gash on her arm.
"The cut's not as deep as I first feared," Keiichiro said. "It should heal within a few days."
"Then I'll leave now," Zakuro said, turning for the door.
"Be careful," Keiichiro warned. "And watch out for Mew Spice."
"Oh, I will." Zakuro glanced back and gave him a small smile. Then she was gone.
"So," Keiichiro, who was now wrapping Licorice's wounded arm in white fabric, said with a smile, "how was your first day at school?"
"You mean apart from nearly being killed?" Licorice asked. "Pretty good, I guess."
"That's nice. Did you get any homework?"
"No. I didn't stay around long enough for them to give me any."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Keiichiro opened it to see Ichigo, Masaya and Kisshu (whatever he was doing there).
"Because of the attack, school is now off for today," Ichigo explained at the sight of Keiichiro's confused expression.
"So we thought we'd drop by and see if Licorice was alright," Masaya finished, looking over and giving Licorice a smile. Licorice just hoped that the embarrassed blush she was feeling couldn't be seen on her face.
Keiichiro let them in, and in a split second Ichigo was at Licorice's side.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo asked anxiously.
"I'm fine," Licorice informed her leader. "It doesn't hurt so much anymore."
"Ichigo, Masaya," Ryou's voice came from the kitchen doorway. "I know this is a bad time, but just come. I need to talk to you two now."
Ichigo shot a glare at Ryou, and gave Licorice a quick goodbye smile as she and Masaya followed Ryou into the other room.
"Are you going to thank me?" came a voice from behind her. Licorice turned her head to see Kisshu standing there.
"Thank...you? For what?" Licorice asked, slightly confused.
"For saving your life!" Kisshu reminded her, taking a step closer.
"Oh – right," she said awkwardly. "Thanks. Thanks a lot."
Kisshu smirked, a gleam in his eyes that made Licorice wonder if he'd only been teasing her. Licorice looked down at the table.
"How's your arm?" he asked.
"Huh?" Licorice said, looking up in surprise.
"If you don't remember, you were attacked by a catgirl who cut a deep gash on your arm," Kisshu said with a grin. This time, Licorice knew he was teasing her.
"I know that!" Whether she knew he was teasing her or not, she wasn't in the mood. "I just..." She didn't want to say the truth, which was that she was surprised her cared at all. "Uh... it's okay."
"You don't sound too sure of yourself."
Licorice shrugged. "I don't know. I'm tired, hurt. confused, and I can't even remember my own surname. I've been nearly killed twice today, so far I suck at using my mew powers, and my ancient history teacher paired me and Ichigo with a bitch!"
"That... sucks," Kisshu said thoughtfully.
"Well observed," Licorice replied. Kisshu laughed, which made her feel a bit better.
Just then, Ichigo and Masaya walked back into the room, both seeming rather uncomfortable. Ichigo has an irritated frown on her face, and though Masaya didn't look particularly distressed, something about the way he walked made it clear he wasn't happy.
"What happened?" Licorice asked, wondering what Ryou had said to make them so pre-occupied.
Ichigo opened her mouth to reply, but then Keiichiro came in, saying, "Ichigo, why don't you and Masaya take Ichigo shopping?"
"Shopping?" Licorice asked, her voice full of surprise.
"Well, you don't think you can keep borrowing Ichigo's clothes forever, do you?" Ryou pointed out. Until now, Licorice hadn't even been aware he was listening.
"Oh... yeah," Licorice said, suddenly remembering the only things she currently owned were her uniform, bed and schoolbag, Even her socks and – gasp – underwear had been borrowed from Ichigo.
"It's not just for clothes, of course," Keiichiro continued. "With the left over money, you can buy yourself whatever you want."
"Left over money? How much are you giving her?" Ichigo asked.
"Quite a bit," Ryou said.
"So..." Licorice said slowly, making a mental list of all the books and anime DVDs she wanted to buy (not that she could afford them all...), "if I wanted to, I could get the third Sailor Moon season?"
"Of course."
"Let's go shopping!" Licorice said, jumping up enthusiastically.
--
"How about this one?" Ichigo asked, handing Licorice a shirt.
"Pink isn't really my thing," Licorice said, holding it out in front of her as if to get a better look. "Do they have it in blue or black?"
"Uhm... no, they don't," Ichigo replied, searching through the tops.
"Green?" Licorice asked hopefully. "Purple?"
"Sorry," Ichigo said. "Well, actually, they do have purple, but it isn't a very nice shade." Ichigo pulled one out for Licorice to see.
"Yeah," Licorice giggled. "Let's just go with what we've got."
"If you say so," Ichigo said, handing the hangers hung with tee-shirts, skirts and jeans over to Licorice. "I'll go find the change room."
Ichigo skipped off, leaving Licorice alone with Masaya.
"They come in white, you know," Masaya pointed out, gesturing to the shirts Ichigo had been showing her earlier.
Licorice shrugged. "I've got enough shirts as it is. And besides," she grinned, "I was serious when I asked about the Sailor Moon DVDs."
Masaya gave her a slight smile. There was a moment of silence.
"How do you like being a Mew Mew?" Masaya asked.
Licorice's expression darkened. "I don't know, I guess..." she kicked at the carpeted shop floor with her new blue and white running-shoes. "I suck at it," she concluded.
"You think so?" Masaya asked. "Why's that? I thought you were pretty good."
"You were watching me?" Licorice exclaimed, suddenly realising that all that time she had been nearly getting killed and looking like an idiot, there had been a school full of people watching her. "Wait, of course you were..."
"What's wrong?"
Licorice sighed. "It's like, I don't know, like my powers aren't working right. Or maybe it's just me. Half the battle I was just standing there with a dazed expression on my face." She frowned. "I had to be saved. Twice. By boys – wait, that came out wrong..."
Masaya laughed. "You do know that the Mew Mews were originally created to destroy kimera animas, not fight each other. I'm not surprised your instinct isn't reacting immediately to the situation."
"But Ichigo – "
"Has been doing this for over a year," Masaya finished. "She's had much more experience."
"I guess..."
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do much better next time," Masaya gave Licorice a reassuring smile. Licorice gave him a small smile in return.
"Hey! The change rooms in the back," Ichigo said, and Licorice spun around at the sound of her voice. "C'mon!"
Her spirits lifted, Licorice, followed by Masaya, was led by Ichigo through the crowded clothing store.
--
Later that day, Ryou called the team to another meeting in his and Keiichiro's room in the apartment. Licorice, a little annoyed at being pulled away from her favourite Sailor Moon season, stood in quiet surprise as the blond sixteen-year-old informed them that the cyniclons would be attending the Mew Mews' schools.
"Wait, what?" Kisshu, who obviously hadn't heard about this until now, exclaimed. "How are we going to do that?"
"Like this," Pai said, pulling out something that resembled a watch. Before Kisshu could resist, he strapped it on the cyniclon boy's wrist. "Press these buttons here..."
Kisshu followed Pai's instructions, and was bathed in green light. When the light cleared, there was something different about him. He looked a couple years younger, and –
"I'm HUMAN!" Whether or not it was intentional, there was a trace of disgust in his voice.
"And thirteen years old," Pai added. "Now you can go undercover to Ichigo, Licorice and Masaya's school to assist them in the event that they are ever attacked again."
Now Licorice knew what Ryou had told Ichigo and Masaya earlier.
"Taruto will attend Pudding's school, and I will go to Lettuce's," Pai continued. Lettuce tilted her head to hide a blush. Ryou frowned.
"That's great Pai, now can you tell me how to turn back before my pants fall down?" Kisshu asked.
"That reminds me," said Pai. "We still need to purchase uniforms.."
"Pai, I was serious!" Kisshu said, pulling his pants back up.
Licorice couldn't hold it back anymore. She laughed.