Hikari: Wow, I'm actually updating! Although, I'm sure not enough people are interested in this story enough to care. sobs. I actually don't really care, this was my second fanfiction ever, so it is not the best. Oh well, I just want to make this to the best of my ability and only get better from there. This was probably written a few months ago at least, I just had to revise it and then actually make time to update.

Ryou: Must you rant everytime?

Hikari: How did you get here? You were in my other story too? I'm confused!!!!

Ryou: Baka. Just get on with the story. I'm a manga character, what I do does not have to make sense.

Hikari: You have made a very good point. Now, I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew, only the made-up characters featured in this story.

Suika: Like me!

Peach: And me!

Momo: If my calculations are correct, then you own me too.

Katsuro: I feel so betrayed. Why am I the only boy you own?

Hikari: You're not.

Katsuro: The others are enemies. It's no fair!

Hikari: That's just the way it worked out. I don't plan these things out you know.

Katsuro: True.

Hikari: Now, on with the story!!!!

Ryou: Finally...

They Come and Go

Chapter 14

Secrets Discovered

"Hello," Ichigo asked. She was on the phone with Ryou. She would be late to work today because of a doctor's appointment. "Are you there?"

"Yes Ichigo," Ryou replied. He had just stepped out of the shower when Ichigo decided to call him. Why did she not just show up late like usual, it was not like he docked her pay, yet. "I'm here. Would you please refrain from calling so early in the morning."

"I had to call now," Ichigo asked, annoyed that Ryou would respond like this when she was calling him to tell him when she would be there. "I have to leave for school soon."

"Whatever," Ryou replied. He could really care less. It was too early to hear her voice, and she seemed too happy for the morning. How did she do it. "Just come in."

"Alright," Ichigo chirped, any sign of annoyance gone from her voice. With that, she hung up the phone and headed downstairs for breakfast.

Ryou, meanwhile finished getting dressed and went down to the lab to research more on the two new aliens out there.

There has to be something. Ryou mused as he sat in front of the computer screen. He had gathered up all of the knowledge he could obtain from their encounter with the aliens. The only problem was that that was not a lot of information.

After an hour, Ryou still had come up with nothing. Shit, he thought. Why can I not find anything. There was at least some information about Kish and the others. Why are these two any different? Ryou finally gave up after a couple more hours to break for lunch. After lunch, it was right back to work. He composed a file using all the known data that he had.

Meanwhile, the girls were all working upstairs in the café. Fortunately for Ryou, they worked quietly and did not disturb him.

"Ichigo," Masaya called out. I know I saw her somewhere around here. Why does she always run away from me. Does she not like me the way I like her?

"Masaya," Ichigo said, stopping in her tracks. "Are you there?"

"Yes," Masaya responded. "I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch?"

"Umm," Ichigo replied. She was extremely nervous about being with Masaya, but if she turned him down, he would think that she hated him. "Sure."

"Alright," Masaya responded cheerfully. "Let's go."

He took Ichigo's hand and the two walked off together towards a nearby café. There seem to be a lot of those around here. The name was Café Okashi.

"Lettuce," A boy questioned, whom Lettuce could not see.

"Y-Yes," Lettuce stuttered. "Did someone call for me?"

"Yeah," the boy replied. It was only then that he came into view. It turned out to be Katsuro. "I thought I saw you. I was out getting lunch, and I thought I saw you, so I decided to check. What brings you out here?"

"I-I'm on my l-l-lunch break," Lettuce stuttered again. She was extremely nervous around Katsuro, but then again, who was she not nervous around? "I am picking up lunch for some girls."

"I'll help you out, if that's okay with you," Katsuro smiled, taking her hand.

Lettuce blushed profusely, but still managed to reply, "Sure."

The two walked off and retrieved lunch, Katsuro's treat. Then he walked her back to school, but not before asking, "Lettuce. I really like you. I think that you are a great person, especially when you have confidence in yourself. What I am trying to say is, will you go out with me?"

"What," Lettuce gasped. She had never been asked out before. What should she say, she did really like Katsuro, but enough to go out with him.

"I mean, it does not have to be formal or anything," Katsuro responded quickly. "It's just, you are beautiful, especially when you let your hair down, and your personality is wonderful. I just really like you Lettuce."

"I-I don't know what to say," Lettuce stuttered. She was still shocked by the concept of going out with someone.

"How about yes," Katsuro suggested, a smile breaking out on his face.

"Ok," Lettuce responded. She tried to sound confident, but it was hard, she was still extremely shocked.

"Great," Katsuro beamed. "Comon. We have to get back to school." He walked her back to school, hand in hand, and bade her farewell afterwards and promised to pick her up after school to walk to the café with her.

"Ryou," Suika asked from the top of the stairs.

"Yes Suika," Ryou responded coolly, he did not like it when people disturbed his work. "What do you want?"

"It's just," Suika started. "You have been down there all day. I'm worried. I have not seen you at all except for ten minutes at lunch."

"Don't worry," Ryou said sighing. "I am doing research."

"Research on what," Suika said, her voice rising.

"Research on the two new aliens Kinomi and Kajitsu. Who else would it be?"

"I just-," Suika started, but Ryou cut her off.

"You just what," Ryou said growing annoyed at the interruption. "You are just disturbing me. Go back to work."

"Hey, asshole," Peach shouted from the stairs. "Lay off will you. If Suika cares enough to worry about you, I suggest that you accept it. Who else would care enough?"

"A lot of people," Suika chirped.

"Shut up, Suika," Peach said. "I'm coming to your defense, don't turn on me now."

Suika just giggled and went downstairs to look at the research. Ryou's temper was growing shorter by the second and he was extremely grateful when Momo called out, "Suika, Peach! Come back here! The tables are starting to fill up!"

The two girls rushed out, but not before Suika whispered to Ryou, "We all care about you, especially me." Then she too turned and rushed upstairs and got right back to work.

"Strange girl," Ryou muttered, before turning his attention back to the computer monitor.

"I'll see you after practice then," Masaya said to the nervous redhead next to him. Seeing as he was completely oblivious, he did not notice how red her face was, or the fact that she would not look him in the eye.

"Um," Ichigo started. "Where are we going?"

"You have work after school, right," Masaya asked. "I thought that I could walk you there."

"I have a doctor's appointment," Ichigo sighed. "But I might come back to school to pick up my books." A hopeful expression was plastered on her red face.

Masaya just grinned and responded, "Sure. I'll see you then." With that final remark, he kissed her on the cheek and waved goodbye as he hurried off to his next class.

Ichigo blushed even more, and felt her tail and ears pop out. Shit. Ichigo screamed in her mind. She turned to leave, but then felt her body morph into a cat. She yelped from shock, and then found herself to be a little black cat.

"Nya," she cried out. Shit. Ichigo thought in her mind. She had to find someone to kiss, and fast. Otherwise, she would be stuck like this forever.

Ryou slowly pushed himself up from his seat at the computer and stretched. Suika was right, he needed to get up. His eyes hurt from looking at the computer monitor for so long. He slowly ascended the stairs and stepped out into the bright café. He quickly scrawled a note on a piece of paper, telling everybody that he was going out for a walk, the left the café. When he stepped outside, he was greeted by the even brighter sunlight of the afternoon.

Ryou slowly walked to the park where he had first met Suika after all those years. He had not gone far when he saw a strange and familiar sight. He quickly went behind a tree to hide. What he saw was a little black cat with a bell around it. Then he did something that he was hoping he would never have to do again.

"Nya," Ichigo asked, looking around the park. I could have sworn Shirogane was here a second ago. Ah well, I am probably just imagining things. Ichigo continued walking until she found herself face to face with a large yellow cat with light brown stripes all down it's back.

"Hello my darling," The fat cat said to her. "And how have you been?"

Ichigo merely hissed and continued on her way. Of course the cat could not let her do so, so he blocked her path saying, "Ah, but my darling, I, Francis, have been waiting to see you again." He leaned in close and tried to kiss Neko-Ichigo, but she ran away just in time.

"You're more annoying than Kish," Neko-Ichigo shouted as she ran.

"I don't know who Kish is dear," Francis called back to her. "But I sure hope that you are not cheating on me."

"I'm not with you," Neko-Ichigo screamed. She turned a corner. It was not a dead end, but the next one was. "Leave me alone!"

Francis went in for the kill, when suddenly, a small gray cat, tackled him, pushing him to the ground. "Stay away from her," The cat said. It had a small green scarf around it's neck. "Are you alright?" He asked Neko-Ichigo before they both started running.

"I'm fine," Neko-Ichigo said as they ran.

When they got to a safe place, the gray cat said, "Do you remember me?"

"Yes," Neko-Ichigo replied. "You called me a kissing maniac, Alto."

"Yeah," Alto said. "And I guess I have to kiss you again."

"Why-," Neko-Ichigo started, but was cut off by a kiss from Alto.

There was a sudden flash of light pink light as Ichigo returned to normal. She quickly ran off to school, not even bothering to look at the cat behind her.

"Alert! Alert," Masha screamed. "Chimera Anima! Alert!"

"Power Pendant Activate! Mew Mew Suika Metamorpho-sis," Suika called out once she had left the café.

The other two girls followed suit with, "Power Pendant Activate! Mew Mew Peach Metamorpho-sis," Peach cried out. Once she was transformed, she started running even quicker than she already was, leaving the other two girls in the dust.

Momo was the last to call out, "Power Pedant Activate! Mew Mew Momo Metamorpho-sis!"

Now they were all transformed and rushed to the location of the Chimera Anima, which happened to be at the park. That seemed to be a common place to fight now-a-days.

I'm so late. I'm so late. Ichigo thought as she ran to school. I'm gonna be in so much trouble. I can't keep missing class. Why do I have to turn into a cat. At least Alto saved me. Hey! I never got to thank him. Oh well, I'm probably gonna see him again sometime.

Ichigo had just turned the corner when she saw Masaya walking to class. "Ichigo," he called out to the redhead. "I didn't see you in class. What happened? I was worried."

Ichigo started to blush a deep shade of crimson as she replied, "I felt sick, so I skipped class, but I feel better now, so I decided to come back to school since we still had more classes." Ichigo knew that it was a pitiful excuse, but it was all she could come up with on such short notice. "Anyway, I gotta run."

She tried to scamper off, but Masaya caught her arm, "Don't over-work yourself, ok?"

"Yeah," Ichigo said, her face turning the color of the ribbons in her hair.

Masaya smiled and let go of her arm, and Ichigo was about to scamper off when Masha started yelling, "Alert! Alert! Chimera Anima! Alert!"

"Shit," Ichigo said under her breath.

Masaya did not hear what Ichigo said, but he did hear Masha, "What was that?"

Ichigo did not reply, she just took off in the opposite direction from the school in search of the Chimera Anima. Masaya called after her, but she did not hear. She was too busy shouting, "Power Pendant Activate! Mew Mew Strawberry Metamorpho-sis!" The bright pink light engulfed her as she ran. Little did she know that she was being followed.

"Ribbon Digital Rush," Momo yelled at the Chimera Anima in front of her. The Anima screeched out in pain as the attack hit, but it did not falter. Instead, it kept charging at the three girls in the park.

"Comon," Peach yelled as she dodged another attack. "We've done this before. Why is it so hard now?"

"Because," Suika started. She could not finish because the Chimera hit her dead on in the stomach and she was thrown against a tree with considerable force.

"Suika," Momo cried. She diverted her attention long enough to get herself hit too.

She landed a small distance away from Suika, who continued, "We are a part of a group now. We are not alone. We have to stay together."

"Strength in numbers," Momo added.

"Apart we are weak, together we are strong," Peach finished. That was the code the girls seemed to live by. Only when they were all together were they powerful, tear them apart, and they were weak, defenseless.

"How sad," Kinomi said, his red eyes gleaming mischievously. "Should we take pity on the girls?"

"I think not," Kajitsu said, his silver eyes resting upon Momo, who had still not managed to get off the ground. The Chimera Anima towered over them, firing rapid attacks at Peach, who somehow managed to dodge each one. When she was hit, the two aliens laughed at the site. The site of three helpless, beaten girls, laying on the ground.

"Kill them," Kinomi yelled to the Chimera Anima.

It lunged at the girls, and was within inches of Peach when they heard, "Ribbon Strawberry Surprise!" A blast of pink light hit the Chimera, causing it to falter in it's attack. This gave Suika just enough time to grab her two friends and use her wings to escape.

The next blow came, and knocked their savior, Ichigo, to the ground. "Oof," they all heard as her body collided with the dry earth.

"Ichigo," Momo shouted, barely audible above the rawr of the Chimera. "Suika, help her."

"I'm trying," Suika said as she set her two friends down on the tree branch and jumped down. She winced in pain as her feet hit the ground, but kept going anyway. She had to save Ichigo.

"Ribbon Lettuce Rush," a girl in all green called out. The blast of water hit the Chimera with amazing force as she grabbed Ichigo and whisked her away to safety.

This left Suika on the ground, who called out, "Suika Keyboard!" There is was, the keyboard, she then called out, "Ribbon Keyboard Cascade!" The keys swirled out and rushed toward the Chimera Anima, as well as some other attacks.

"Ribbon Minto Echo," Mint shouted from above, her wings guiding her to the scene of the fight.

"Ribbon Pudding Ring Inferno," Pudding cried out, joining in on what she called the "fun" of fighting.

"Ribbon Zakuro Pure," Zakuro cried. She was up in a tree, surveying the situation from above.

All of the attacks joined together and eliminated the Chimera. Of course the fight was not over, because Kinomi and Kajitsu were still there, and in the mood to fight, but the girls were together, they could take them.

"Well girls, it seems that you are all very strong, but not strong enough," Kinomi shouted as he rushed at them.

"Ribbon Minto Echo," Mint shouted reflexively. This was becoming second nature to all of them. The blast headed toward Kinomi as he rushed at Ichigo.

It was about to hit when the girls all heard Kajitsu call out, "Barrier!" The attack merely repelled off of Kinomi as he came at them. He was about to reach Ichigo when someone swooped down to save her.

"The Blue Knight," Ichigo gasped as she saw her savior. Had she looked back, she would have seen that Kinomi hit Lettuce and knocked her to the ground. Suika rushed over to her wounded friend and bent down by her side.

"Lettuce," Suika gasped. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine," Lettuce replied, pushing herself up off the ground.

"Who is he," Suika asked.

Kinomi was rushing at them again, but Zakuro managed to explain while dodging attacks, "He is The Blue Knight. He tends to show up and save Ichigo when she is in trouble."
"Oh," Suika replied, dodging the attack aimed at her.

The girls continued avoiding the attacks until Kinomi called out, "Now! Appear!"

Three flashes jumped in front of the girl's eyes. Then Kish, Tart, and Pai were there.

The Blue Knight instantly took on fighting Kish along with Ichigo. While they were having their little side battle, everyone else was working together to fight the rest of the aliens.

"Fuu-Rei-Sen," Pai called out. The blast came down hard on Zakuro, who had grabbed Mint in an effort to save her from a previous attack. The girls dropped down, beaten, their bodies making a dull thud against the dry earth.

Pai aimed his attack again and called out, "Fuu-Rei-Sen!" This time the attack was aimed at Lettuce. She dodged the attack, but only to be hit by Tart. She too fell to the ground, beaten.

"Lettuce," Suika screamed. She wanted so badly to help her wounded friends, but she could not take her eyes off the attacks before her. She evaded the attack that came at her, and managed to pull Mint out of the way before another attack hit her.

Zakuro had managed to pull herself up off the ground and called out, "Ribbon Zakuro Pure!" The attack was aimed directly at Pai, and hit him directly as well. He was injured, but not out yet.

The fight continued on for awhile longer, eventually Ichigo and The Blue Knight joined in the fight, as well as Kish joining the aliens. He was no match for the two of them on his own and he knew it.

In a few more minutes, Keiichiro, Ryou, and Katsuro had arrived at the fight. There was nothing they could do but watch and warn the girls of on-coming attacks, which was not much in this case.

After the three had arrived, everyone had taken at least one direct attack, and was badly injured. It was time for the aliens to deliver the finishing blows.

"Fuu-Rei-Sen," Pai yelled, aiming the attack directly at the injured Mew Mews.

"No," Ryou yelled. The blast headed directly for them.

"We failed," Suika said, her voice barely audible above the rawr of the on-coming attack.

"We stood together as one," Momo continued.

"Yet we still were not strong enough," Peach finished.

"No," Ichigo whispered. "We are not through yet."

"We will succeed," Mint continued on for their leader.

"We cannot lose," Lettuce said, her voice was lined with confidence.

"For the sake of the world," Pudding coughed out. The attack was drawing ever closer to the girls, along with the attacks of the other aliens.

"We will win," Zakuro finished.

"Tokyo Mew Mew, go," whispered Ryou under his breath.

It was then that all of the girls began to glow their respective colors. The attacks loomed over them, but were reflected off just as they were about to make contact. "Tokyo Mew Mew, GO," Ryou shouted, louder this time. They could not fail. The future of the Earth depended upon it.

The girls rose to their feet and called out their attack, "Ribbon Minto Echo," Mint screamed at the awaiting aliens, who had been dumb-struck by the girls sudden recovery.

"Ribbon Lettuce Rush," Lettuce called out next, the confidence filling up in her voice.

"Ribbon Pudding Ring Inferno," Pudding cried out gleefully. She was back and ready to fight.

"Ribbon Zakuro Pure," Zakuro called out. Her whip heading steadily towards the aliens.

"Ribbon Peach Discus," Peach screamed ruthlessly, and with a vengeance. No one harmed her friends and got away with it.

"Ribbon Digital Rush," Momo yelled. She was weak, but not out yet. She still had enough energy left in her for this final blow.

"Ribbon Keyboard Cascade," Suika shouted. The keys flew out, knowing exactly where to go, and what their target was.

The last to go was Ichigo. She screamed out, louder than all the rest, "Ribbon Strawberry Surprise!"

All of the attacks headed straight for the aliens and hit dead on, and with the help of a blast from The Blue Knight, sent them flying. They each went back to wherever they come from, leaving the girls alone at the park.

"We did it," Ichigo said, as she collapsed on the ground, changing back into her normal state. "They're gone."

"Yeah," Mint said as she sunk down next to her friend.

All of the girls sunk to the ground and stayed there. They could not bring themselves to move from this place. They were safe once again.

"Good job girls," Ryou said as he walked over to them. "That was your toughest battle yet. The aliens have gotten stronger." He helped Suika and the others off the ground. Each one of them seemed badly beaten, despite the smiles on their faces.

"Ichigo," Someone called from across the park. "Is that you?"

"Shit," Ichigo said as Masaya walked over. "How much did you see?"

"All of it," Masaya responded. Everyone was quiet, watching. So much for Ichigo's disguise. "You're a Mew Mew? Mew Ichigo?"

"Yes, she is," Ryou interrupted. He still did not like Masaya. Now he knew that it was not just because he had liked Ichigo. "She is saving all of us."

"Ichigo," Masaya started. "Why?"

"What do you mean," Ichigo asked, confused.

"Why didn't you tell me," Masaya questioned the redhead in front of him.

"Because," Ichigo whispered. "It was supposed to be a secret."

"All those times," Masaya said. "I thought Mew Ichigo was you, but you kept up this Masquerade that it was not you. Why?"

"I didn't want to put you in danger," Ichigo protested. "Because, Masaya, I-I love you."

"I love you too Ichigo," Masaya said, he voice growing to a mere whisper that the others had to strain their ears to hear. "You don't have to keep secrets from me. I don't care."

"Thank you," Ichigo said.

Masaya pulled her into an embrace, and they stayed like that for awhile, in each other's arms. Tears fell freely from Ichigo's eyes, but she did not care. He knew now. There was no reason to hide it anymore.

When they broke apart, Ichigo noticed that everyone was helping each other to stand up. School was over, and they all had to get to the café. So much for her doctor's appointment.

"Lettuce, your arm," Mint said to the green-haired girl she was helping up. "It's bleeding."

"Here," Ryou said as he ripped the bottom of his shirt off to wrap around Lettuce's arm. "This should stop the bleeding."

"Thank you," Lettuce said. The sight of blood made her dizzy, but she felt better when Katsuro came over to help her back to the café.

"Momo," Suika said. "Momo? Are you ok?"

Momo was laying on the ground. That final attack had used all her strength.

"I'll be fine," Momo managed to choke out before consciousness left her.

"She needs help," Zakuro called.

"Here," Ryou said. "Give her to me."

Suika and Peach carefully picked their friend up, mindless of their own wounds, and handed her to Ryou, who, in turn headed back to the café. There was nowhere else to take her.

Everyone else rushed after, as soon as they had composed themselves.

"Together we stand," Suika whispered.

"Separated we fall," Peach finished. It was their motto in life. They lived and breathed by that saying.

"Comon everyone, na no da," Pudding called. That girl never lost energy. They all rushed on to see if Momo was ok.

Hikari: Please read and review!!!! Till next time!!!!