Author's Note: Sorry for the long gap between chapters however, hopefully my hiatus is now over as my holidays are, yet, I hope that my free time will not disappear entirely this year. My creative spark has returned, a little though but at least it is back. Anyway, onto the chapter.

Note: I am Australian, and we have alternative ways of spelling certain words from America. Eg. Mum/Mom, -ise/-ize etc.

Every artist needs opinions and loves to listen to them. Please, leave behind constructive criticisms and/or thoughts on the chapters. If you think there is something wrong with the chapter, I implore you, please explain why and even suggest options and ideas for me to improve the next chapter. Even though I love writing and this is truly just writing down a world that is playing out in my head, I do want to improve my skill and see that people enjoy themselves.

Thank you.

Chapter 35: Building Thunder

Pudding skipped along the street, basking in the strong sunlight. She paused at the lights, waiting for the walk signal, taking the opportunity to observe the area. It was a habit she had quickly developed due to the Golden Lion Tamarin DNA roaming in her blood, she had to make sure everything in her surround territory was in perfect condition, untouched by enemies. She briefly glanced it over to calm her animal DNA nerves before she went back to planning her performance at the café. She crossed the road, diving into the park before she jumped up into the nearest tree. Pudding had gotten used to using the dense network of trees to travel to and from the café, she even had discovered which clothes of hers gave her the best movability. She couldn't help but smile that it happened to be her orange, silk Chinese suit and red slip-on shoes that her father had sent over from China.

'Pudding better thank him when he returns home,' She thought when she halted, her two hands slapping around a top branch, curling her feet around a thick tree branch. She stealthy crept forward to peer out of the greenery to see a large crowd of reporters, circling around the front doors of Café Mew Mew. Pudding watched, just wanting to jump down and perform to the crowd of money-filled adults but she remembered her father's training.

"If you want to be a successful warrior Pudding, you must use your brain as well as your brawn," His deep, thick Chinese accent fresh in her memory.

"So it is truly a coincidence?" A reporter asked before pushing her microphone rudely into Keiichiro's face. He held his gentleman posture and charm, smiling professionally.

"Yes, the name of this Café, Café Mew Mew is named after one of the English onomatopoeic words for a cat's meow. See our mascot on our roof, the angel cat?" He pointed to the golden cat statue that sat on top of the café, "The name was derived from that, a symbol created by the Shirogane family. We started building this Café a year ago, so it is a total coincidence that Tokyo Mew Mew appeared. We have absolutely no connection to them, however we do support them in their plight to fight against these monster attacks. These attacks have harmed many people, it is truly unfortunate that some people have lost businesses, friends and family and even their own health. So, to help out the best we can, we are also going to make Mew Mew brand merchandise, which, a large percentage of funds will be sent to the families of these victims," Keiichiro advertised.

Ryou's icy blue stare watched the front door sharply, perched on a table nearby a window. Lettuce walked into the room, her green emerald eyes flicking onto him, the door and then back to him. His eyes looked harsher as he frowned slightly, his lips in a thin line and even though Lettuce walked up to him slowly, his face didn't falter, frozen still, preventing any emotions leaking out however his bouncing knee and tapping fingers betrayed him.

"Shirogane-san… Are you okay?" Lettuce asked, Ryou blinked, snapping out of his nervous thoughts.

"You should be asking if we will be okay," he eventually said, his gaze still on the closed front door. His ears were tuned onto Keiichiro's voice as he tried to charismatically talk his way out of danger, "I thought something like this might happen if you girls were discovered but after last night…" Ryou trailed off, his brow lowering. Lettuce bit her lip, knowing that she contributed to it. If only she collected Mew Ichigo and they all escaped from the scene, they perhaps wouldn't be in such a mess.

"I'm sorry Shirogane-san… We didn't think about what might happen…" Lettuce's hands clutched her green pleated skirt, lowering her eyes to the clean floor of the café.

"You had been captured by them, you saved Mew Ichigo and Mew Zakuro and stopped those aliens from carrying out their plan…" Ryou stepped in, glancing at Lettuce. Lettuce looked back up at him and into his burning blue eyes, she was taken back at how intense they were, burning into her before his face softened, "I thought you wouldn't be able to work today… How did you're family take it?" Ryou asked gently, shifting away from the grave subject.

"Oh… Well, they were shocked but they luckily watched the news so they believed Mew Zakuro's story. They did keep me home today from school, my dad checked on me before I went to sleep, tucking me in and checked on me before he went to work. Mum stayed home, making me my favourite dishes, brushing my hair… I felt like I was a spoilt five year old. My brother… He couldn't stop crying… I had to stay with him and when he left for school," Lettuce stopped, her eyes glistening as water balled up at the corners of her eyes, "When he left for school, he held onto me, crying and pleading to me to not to go away…" Lettuce went quiet, wiping away her tears, "It took me a while to convince mum to let me out… Sorry but may I make a selfish request?" Lettuce asked him, Ryou had been watching her carefully, for a second, Lettuce thought he wouldn't listen to her but he slowly nodded, "May I leave once we close? Otherwise…" Lettuce trailed off again.

"Yes, however I want to talk to you all now that you are all gathered up," Ryou said. A silence settled over them before he glanced into her eyes again, "You are still worried aren't you?" He asked her bluntly, Lettuce tilted her head slightly, confused at first at what he meant, "You don't like lying to your family do you?" Lettuce froze, her heart thumping loudly as Ryou hit the nail on the head.

"Yes…" She sighed, "Yes…"

"Our way of life has been threatened, My fa-" He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze harsh, "Someone once said to me, 'Desperate times call for desperate measures,', unfortunately, we have to live by that. We are protecting innocent lives, protecting our planet and to do that successfully, we must do whatever is necessary to keep us hidden… Or this," He pointed at the front door, "Is the least of our worries…"

"Keiichiro-san is a master at handling that crowd," Hitomi said, walking out of the change room with Pudding behind her.

"Lettuce Onee-chan! You're okay na no aa!" Pudding cheered, latching herself onto Lettuce's torso, her arms wrapping around her in a tight hug.

"Pu-pu-pudding-san…" Lettuce stammered, lurching backwards as Pudding's weight dragged her down. Pudding nuzzled her face into Lettuce, smiling happily before she scrambled up onto her back. Lettuce swayed back and forth, her arms flailing around wildly like a fish out of water, trying to stabilise herself.

"Lettuce Onee-chan, balance yourself na no da!" Pudding laughed, draping her arms over Lettuce's shoulders, wrapping her legs around Lettuce's wide hips. Thankfully Lettuce was able to stop swaying, holding up Pudding's weight. Ryou smirked a little at this before Hitomi sat down beside him.

"Are they already onto us?" Hitomi asked him.

"They matched up Tokyo Mew Mew with Café Mew Mew," Ryou quickly explained.

"Well that was going to happen wasn't it? It's like a vampire trying to act like a normal guy but living in a creepy, tall house on top of a hill where bats constantly fly around it," Hitomi said.

"Hey, I didn't come up with the name of the café, if it was up to me, this wouldn't be a café," Ryou huffed, "Keiichiro hopefully will end all suspicion today,"

"Anyway, in a way, it was good that the majority of the media was focused at the front of the cafe, it will be easier for Fujiwara to get here without detection," Hitomi said when the backdoor slammed close, announcing the arrival of a blushing Ichigo. Yet as her bewildered gaze swept over the girls and Ryou, her blush caused by Masaya earlier faded and she voiced her echoing thoughts.

"You're making Zakuro Fujiwara, a famous model, work at Café Mew Mew?".

"You look amazing Onee-sama!" Mint cried out, a slight blush on her cheeks as Zakuro turned around, looking at her reflection in the mirror, staring at her own Café Mew Mew uniform, as per usual, customised to her Mew Mew colour.

"Yeah, I doubted it at first but that uniform makes you look cute," Calum laughed before he rubbed his chin that was covered in dark stubble, "Yet, you also make that uniform somewhat sexy," He laughed louder. His eyes flicked over to Hitomi and Ichigo, who were watching him nervously, the American-born, rising guitarist Calum Johnson sitting in front of them. He easily could tell that he had fans in the room, so did Zakuro.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Zakuro sternly glanced at Calum who walked into the change room, sitting down on the flat lounge that ran up the middle of the room, "Thank you," Zakuro turned to Mint who stood beside her, smiling slightly. It still unnerved her a little at how Mint adored her, even after everything she did to her.

"So… On top of your modeling career, which gets in the way of your education sometimes; on top of the advertisements you get paid to do frequently and on top of photo shoots, school work and social life… You are going to work at a café, a newly opened café that is gaining popularity?" Calum asked, his hazel hair now dyed into a deep, midnight blue with black streaks.

"Yes, but it is only part-time though," Zakuro simply replied as Calum gawked at her, "Akasaka-san has allowed me to not work time to time due to my other commitments," Zakuro said.

"But why? You have enough money as it is…" He asked, sitting up and staring at her. Hitomi and Lettuce glanced at each other, anxiety bubbling up in their stomachs.

'He's clever but someone else would ask why a famous teenager, with all the money she could want is working at a café, a café called Café Mew Mew when Tokyo Mew Mew has appeared and one is called Mew Zakuro? Someone will make that connection won't they? Oh no…' Images appeared in Lettuce's mind, after talking to Ryou, her mind screamed with the possible scenarios that could happen. Obviously, Zakuro had thought of this too.

"Didn't you tell me that I need to get more comfortable in public? To spend time as Zakuro, not the amazing model, Zakuro Fujiwara," Zakuro threw back his own words, "If I'm surrounded by lots of people everyday, working like a normal teenager, won't I be doing just that?" She asked him. Calum arched an eyebrow, amazed at how cheekily she used his own advice against her senpai, calming him somewhat instantly. However, he still had a little skeptical bubble floating in his mind, refusing to pop at her words but he sighed, overlooking it and giving up.

"I still think it's a bad idea," He half sung.

"Sorry Fujiwara-san, but isn't Johnson-sa-" Ichigo started up when Calum looked at her.

"Hey, just call me Calum, I'll never be used to the whole 'last name-san' thing," He smiled.

"Okay… I agree with Calum-san," Ichigo struggled with acting so familiar with a celebrity she was a fan of, "This café already has enough attention and is quite popular. Won't it be hard if they find out that you work here? The café will be swarmed all the time by media and fans," Ichigo explained.

"I know Ichigo" Zakuro said, everyone looked at Zakuro with curiousity as she walked over to her school bag, "I've prepared for that," She said, unzipping a side pocket to reveal a small white container.

"What is that na no da?" Pudding asked, jumping over to her.

"Coloured contacts, that's all I need," Zakuro said, opening them and carefully putting in the dark, gray-blue tinted contacts.

"Is that really all you need?" Lettuce asked.

"Yes, since fans and normal civilians don't know to much about the rich and famous, they have their own ideas about where they are and where they go. They get the conclusion that it's somewhere fancy, not somewhere common, like here. When they see celebrities, only the paparazzi are rude enough to come barreling towards them, a civilian will think, "I wonder if that's…?" but they will doubt themselves. So to think that Zakuro Fujiwara works at a Café, that is out of their mind, they will suspects and these contacts as well as my… personality…" She darkened her tone staring at Calum, "It'll drive them off,".

"That's true," Lettuce snapped her fingers, "In show business, you always have to have a cheery attitude and a perfect façade however, no one truly acts like that in real life,"

"Yeah, not to mention Zakuro can be a total bi-" Calum started when Zakuro gave him a hard gaze to shut him up.

"Anyway, Calum you better leave after all, we're working now," Zakuro told Calum. At first, he looked like he was going to sulk, refusing to leave but he stood up and waved goodbye to the girls. Zakuro walked out of the change room, Calum right at her heels as he followed her to the back door.

"You really want to work here don't you? Do you get benefits like all you can eat after shifts?" He continued to prod, "Or, for those girls… That blue haired one particular… Are they your friends?" Zakuro opened the door, pausing for a second as she picked her words carefully, the hinges slowly creaking.

"I guess you could say that…" Zakuro sighed, "WI did something bad to them and right now, I'm still a little cynical about them," Zakuro carefully trod around the major plot points, hoping to get some good advice.

"Why?"

"They are different to me and haven't been through anything like I have… They are all so immature but at the same time, I can't help but feel I'm conceited…" Zakuro blathered as Calum leaned on the door frame, trying to make some sense of what she was saying.

"I guess…" He raised one eyebrow, struggling to find words of wisdom for his kohai, "You can teach them, can't you, show them the ropes and then learn from them… From your words, it sounds like your putting your doubt behind you and giving them a chance, just, umm, see how it goes I guess,"

"That speech lacked the luster that they usually have. Is my waitress out fit really distracted you that much?" Zakuro laughed.

"Hey, I am teenage boy, aprons and skirts wake the roaring lion," Calum grinned, looking at Zakuro like a perverted man out of a comedy anime.

"I hope you're joking," Zakuro rolled her eyes, "Thank you anyway for the words, you always are able to ease my mind,"

"Yep, that's what they told me to do when the new batch of kohai came along," He smiled, "Everyway, I better go now before I'm seen, perhaps one day I'll make a star appearance," He smirked, waving goodbye to her.

Kish sat down, legs crossed in the centre of the sleeping quarters. His yellow eyes glowed in the dim room, glaring forward at an invisible enemy. He blocked out the surrounding world, absorbed in his own mind as his thoughts flew by him, stirring many different emotions.

'Keeki… What happened to her? She must have been captured, after all, the base was broken into at the prison and we haven't found a body…' Silence gripped the base, only sometimes the occasional splash sounded from the Para Para breeding tank. 'The Mew Mews… Did they take her with them? No… They didn't have anyone with them when they attacked,' Kish thought back to that night, the cold night air on his skin, against Mew Ichigo's throbbing chest and then boiling hatred as that man's voice jeered at them through Keeki's communicator, 'Could it have been him? Maybe he found the base, let out the Mew Mews and captured Keeki… Perhaps… Is he working alongside the Mews? They might have a whole force that is hidden from us… Like the ballet girl, I've never seen her before and that other girl that kicked me that one time…' His upper lip curled, flashing his teeth at the invisible enemy before his face dropped, darkening as memories appeared of the white hair, golden gaze Kaerfuan girl.

'She wasn't a fighter,' Kish never saw her once with a weapon, 'She only had that deformed Para Para by her side, it wouldn't be able to defend her though. If she was really attacked by someone that night, she was so small, so fragile, she would easily lose to them,'. His sharp fingernails started dig into his skin as intrusive images of crimson plasma trickling over her pale skin, her high-pitched screams as they tortured her with alien-like devices. Humiliating her, defiling her, murdering her soul…

'They would have kidnapped her, after all, now everyone on this planet knows of our existence and she was researching these people so if they broke her…' Kish grated his teeth together however it slipped, his canine teeth cutting into his tongue. The hot, copper-like, thick liquid filled his mouth quickly, foully tingling his throat. He fell forward, parting his lips to let it dribble out as his eyes searched for anything to help him.

"God, I look fucking pitiful right now…" He hoarsely said aloud, wiping away the blood from his pointy chin. He found a small cloth nearby, making quick use of it, pushing it into the cut. He sat himself down on an old mattress, the springs groaning under his weight. They rudely bumped into his boney body, the material of the mattress was stained, smelling of strange, salty scents that made his nose tingle when he buried his face into it but it was still a bed for Kish. He remembered the day Keeki found and brought it back for him from a large tip, smiling at her own achievement for finding them all suitable beds. His heart throbbed with grief, threatening to overpower him when another thought came barging into his mind, a more militaristic voice snapping him to attention.

'We've blown our cover now, Lord Furaro's plan for a quiet take over has failed because of us and our radio systems have been hacked… We have to report our failure home… I wonder if Sasujiro has contacted them yet…' He lowered his eyebrows as a thought came into his head, 'His plan of a silent take-over is now dead in the water however, how much longer could we keep it silent?' His thoughts were interrupted as Sasujiro teleported in front of him.

"Kish, repor-" Sasujiro paused as he looked at Kish who had his tongue out as if he had tasted something disgusting and was pushing a bloodstained cloth into his tongue, "What happened?" He asked softly, Kish was little taken back at how his own personal feelings got in the way of his duties for the mission.

"Bit' mah togun'" He mumbled, Sasujiro looked him over, confused before he shook it off, "Don' worry, nawthing 'as come 'ere buwt I heard vwoices a ittle w'hile ago," Kish tried to report.

'No jokes… Straight up report without teasing me…' Sasujiro thought, a strange, heavy silence breaking out. Sasujiro must have felt it, his shoulders and body sinking with the weight, dragging him down as he tried to tell Kish something.

"I couldn't find her," Sasujiro cut to the chase, "Not a trace of her nor that Para Para of hers…" Kish's face dropped even more. He took off the cloth and retracted his tongue back into his mouth. His lips paused into a thin line as his face grew darker, brooding with dark clouded emotions.

"I see… Have you reported it yet?" Kish asked in a deadpan voice.

"Yes, I've shut down all but one communicator so I can receive the reply from Lord Furaro. I've found a new place to relocate our activities to, prepare to evacuate once the operation has started," Sasujiro informed him quickly, leaving Kish in a daze.

"What? Please explain what you're yapping about?" Kish asked when the last remaining communicator flashed. Sasujiro didn't waste any time to respond.

"Sasujiro reporting," Sasujiro spoke into it, his voice calm and collected.

"Sasujiro Ohaju, my fellow warrior, I apologise," The deep, gravely voice of Furaro emitted from the device. "My plan has backfired and created heavy losses on you. I feel deep sorrow for what I'm about to say… Thank you for identifying our enemies capabilities yet it costed Keeki's life. We shall hold a ceremony in her honour after tonight. I looked over your plan, I must say, even by initiating this, by tonight, we will have hit the Aquisferans hard,".

"Sir, what do you want us to do?" Kish stepped in, "I don't know of this plan but how can we hit the whole planet hard?" Sasujiro gazed at him harshly for not addressing him as Lord Furaro however to Kish, it sounded unnatural and didn't roll of the tongue.

"Ah Kish, perfect, you both are here, listen up and listen carefully," Furaro snapped them into attention, "After speaking with everyone, we have decided to scrap the silent invasion, it is deemed impossible when we are reclaiming a planet with over eight billion lives on it. We need to formulate massive strikes on the entire planet, synchornised and carefully planned out operations while we constantly grind them down with Para Para assaults and attacks," He explained.

"You mean, a full out invasion?" Kish asked, he felt as if he was standing on the edge of a bottomless ravine, about to plummet as the dreaded weight of the situation took hold.

"Yes, I have sent out a fleet towards the planet, filled with Para Para breeders, researchers and warriors. I will station them at each major city that has a large Ki reaction, covering the surrounding area. I am sending four more Kaerufans to your position," He explained, "Use a full out strike against Aquis-Tokyo, we will follow it up with a full attack using Para Para and my warriors around the rest of the planet," Furaro continued. Kish's head snapped up, swallowing his words entirely. No matter what, he couldn't help but voice his thoughts.

"Won't we be sacrificing more of our people for this though?" Kish asked, his voice distressed. Sasujiro and Furaro immediately knew what he meant by that, why his voice was heavier then lead.

"Yes, I understand that, we all do Kish however for the greater good of our people, we must make sacrifices, that is known throughout history…" Furaro said heavily, "Sorry Kish, Sasujiro, please understand that is our final stand for our race, we cannot survive here any longer… Deep Blue is awakening, we must find him and welcome him to our planet, our planet, not a planet full of these vermin,"

"We understand Lord Furaro," Sasujiro bowed his head, understanding everything, accepting it quickly.

"When the reinforcement arrive they will give you the new updated communicators, every warrior on the planet will have them so you can plan together. After this, destroy this remaining communicator. Good luck. End transmission," Furaro's voice disappeared and swiftly, without a pause, Sasujiro threw the communicator to the ground, smashing the front and then Kish summoned his Dragon Swords, smashing the communicator more.

"So, mind telling me your plan…" Kish asked, looking up at him as he picked up his sai.

"Well, Kish, what are the two most important elements of life?" He asked him.

"Sorry Mr. Scientist but I was brought here to fight, not for chemistry," Kish mumbled, slightly irritated however Sasujiro couldn't help just snicker. Kish folding his arms, pouting slightly until Sasujiro calmed down.

"Well, when he head over to our new base I'll fill you in but, don't you think it'll be interesting to turn the two most important elements that life depends on them to exterminate them?"

"I wonder if Ichigo is still working at that café?" Miwa asked before she checked her watch, "Too late anyway, they would be closing up now," She sighed, slightly disappointed, the image of the cute pastries of Café Mew Mew teased her, the sweet smell and the perfect taste.

"I could go for a cupcake and iced coffee," Moe voiced her own fantasy until she pouted, "Honestly, Ichigo has everything, a job that gives her all the sweets she could want, plenty of money and not to mention a perfect boyfriend…"

"Hmm, specially the last part… After all, they walked off together this afternoon," Miwa giggled, "Apparently they headed to the park,"

"To drop her off to work?" Moe asked.

"Moe, use that head of yours, why would a boy take a girl that he emits is cute into the park, all alone?"

"No, he couldn't have…" Moe's voice wavered as the images of what could've happened flew through her mind. Due to her love of fanfiction, her imagination slowly worked its way up the rating until she hit adult fanficiton territory. Her lips trembled in slight excitement, a faint blush threatening to prickling her ears and cheecks.

"Don't think about what I think your thinking about," Miwa gave her a sly look.

Silence and glass shattered around them, piercing through the calm evening atmosphere, freezing the peace that everyone was entranced by. Miwa froze up, the cracking of glass ripping through her cheerful, carefree attitude as fragments of glass started to rain down on street from the buildings above but luckily Moe was able to keep control, slamming her arm into Miwa's side, knocking her to safety before jumping under cover with her, small glass shards slicing her skin. It felt like flicks of embers were raining on them from a dim, blood lit evening sky, the cuts burning and throbbing as blood began to trickle over their skin. Miwa cried out, her muscles stretching unnaturally in her ankle as her ankle twisted and rolled suddenly as her body was thrown to the ground. Pain pulsated, pulling on each tissue painfully with a burning grip before flooding around in her blood. Moe dropped everything, ignoring how the glass shards in her wounds pricked her skin as she rushed to Miwa's side, looking her over as her screams tortured her, concern building up her throat.

"Miwa! Miwa! What's wrong!" Moe desperately asked as a flood of flying black Chimera bats flew out of the buildings, winding around like a deadly, black river in the darkening sky.

"My ankle! It hurts! It hurts!" Miwa screamed above the high-pitched clicks of the Chimera bats. Sticky tears began to stream from her eyes, stinging her as they fell into the small cuts, glittering with glass specks. The Chimera Animas circled around until they dropped down onto the street below, folding their wings and using the bald, armoured patch on their foreheads to slam into glass windscreens and windows of the surrounding buildings. Screeching of tires, sliding over tarmac joined the frightful night chorus. The shriek of metal as cars scratched by another and followed by yelling and screaming of people as everyone ran away, wide eyes watching the concrete cracked open, roads splitting apart as cars were crumpled against each other as if they were made from paper. Moe for once, wished she was deaf so the painfully wailing of injured, terrified people that rose up like the flames that rose from the wreckage of infrastructure and vehicals around them. Moe thought for a second that there was an earthquake, the ground fracturing around them, the ground shuddering under her feet however her phone nor anyone else's had picked up an early earthquake warning.

'No… it's something else…' The ground then erupted, pipes, tarmac, dirt and concrete slabs falling down around a three-story tall Para Paban that slunk out of the hole. Moe immediately recognised it from the news reports however it looked different. A large metal helmet covered its face, and the small wings were covered in enforced plates of metal. Thick plates of gray armour covered its slimy-textured back, only its stomach was bare. The Armoured Para Paban reared up, let forth a cry, showing off its strange, semi-transparent skin as scathing light balled up in its mouth. Moe and Miwa had no time to react when it let forth its attack. Their bodies were frozen in place, they could only watch in horror as the ball was propelled into a tall building, burning through the building frame and exploding through the levels of the building.

Moe wrapped her arms around Miwa's shoulders protectively, Miwa's trembling, aching feet scrambled, trying to put distance between them and the Armoured Para Paban. Moe helped her back as the front of her head throbbed once and was followed by a tide that washed over her head, sucking weight away from her. Her vision blurred for a second, as if she almost fell into a Microsleep.

"They'll save us right?" Miwa moaned, "Tokyo Mew Mew… Right?"

Tremors, ones more violent erupted nearby. Otachi's family could feel it under their feet, nearby tremors yelled over the slight ones however only Otachi's mother knew that these tremors were popping up all over the city. Otachi cowered on the floor, shrinking under the dining table as if the long table cloth would protect him. His whole body trembled from fear, anxiety and pumping adrenaline that raged at him, commanding him to run. The unnatural shrieks, the hollering that rose over the silent evening air. His rusty dark brown eyes flicked open to see his father still in his businessman suit, flinging his suitcase to the ground, running to the back door to close it as his mother ran to do the same to the front door.

"What's happening? Are we going to die?" Otachi whimpered pitifully, the fur on his tail standing up as he let out a canine wailing, boarding on howling. Otachi's Mother curled her lip, fire burning in her stomach as she watched her son. Otachi's chest heaved, as if he was about to throw up his guts until a long howl sounded from him, at this, his father came running, staring at his son with wide, worried eyes. He dropped to his side, hushing soothing words, patting his shoulder and back in an attempt to calm him while he trying to calm himself.

His mother growled, her black ears flattening as she ran over to all the windows, locking them and closing all the blinds, "Otachi! Takashi! Barricade every door and every window, close every shutter and blind so no one can see inside!" She pointed at them, her voice harsh like army sergeant as she pulled out torches and candles, "While going that, turn off all power to this house," Otachi flinched at her gruff words, he wanted her to hold him, pat him and tell him everything would be okay but the dog side of him snapped, clicking into action and without another word followed her orders.

"Anyrya," Takashi was slightly bewildered at his wife and how her modern, fragile, housewife image shattered. Her harsh gaze, her frown that accompanied her long, determined growl. It didn't match the pale green dress that fluttered around her knees nor did the white apron. The image shattered along with the world around them. The sky darkened, the sun not wanting to witness what was happening in Aquis-Tokyo. The stars looked down harshly, watching slightly, not giving any warning to the populace of Aquisfera about the wave of alien pods that started to rain down.

Mew Ichigo breathed heavily, she felt like every breath was replacing her guts, filling her with air. She felt like she would just float away, as if this was a dream.

No, it was no dream.

This was a hellish nightmare.

No matter how hard Ichigo tried to wake up, how much she wished for a rewind button…

Reality was locked into place.

"Ribbon Lettuce Rush!" Mew Lettuce screamed, dealing with a swarm of Chimera Bats, luckily it was just enough to deal with them, each blade slamming through the Chimera Animas, flushing out the Para Para from its body, releasing its grip and returning the bats to their natural form.

'How… How?' Mew Ichigo could only repeat that thought as an Armoured Para Paban screeched at her and the other Mews. Right now, it was hard to believe that a half hour ago they were comfortable in Café Mew Mew. The only thing they could complain about was how Mint didn't pull her weight during the shift, how Ryou worked Ichigo until her arms and legs ached as she walked home. Mew Zakuro leaped out of the way of the Para Paban's attack, her boots skidded over the concrete while she flicked around her Zakuro Whip. Her harsh purple eyes didn't move from the Armoured head of the Para Paban.

"Ribbon Zakuro Pure!" She screamed, trying to loop the purple light whip around its bell-shaped head.

Mew Ichigo could still taste the sweet, sugar icing of the cake Keiichiro had made for them.

"After all you girls have been through, all of these trials that have made you stronger and now, we are all together, I think its about time to celebrate," He smiled.

"He hugged you!" Lettuce and Pudding fawned as Ichigo held her head in her hands.

"Yes… I can't believe it and he said he wanted to see me again…" Ichigo giggled. Zakuro smiled at Ichigo, watching how the strong Mew Ichigo turned into a giddy, love-struck school-girl.

However, Masha's eyes lit up. That's when the sirens rose around them, breaking up their little private party. In a few seconds, the carefree world was ripped away violently, fate replacing it with a screaming, traumatic abyss. Everything blurred after that, as if everything ran in blurred slow motion yet at the same time, it was excessively fast-paced. Tears. Fear. Uncertainly. Hitomi's desperate pleas to help, clawing her way to the Mews as Ryou held her back, his hands grasping her shoulders as Mew Mint harshly snapped her into reality.

Mew Pudding observed the area, the ripped roads were split down the middle, the pipes and earth under it exposed to the night air. Every window on the buildings were cracked, smashed open, allowing paper work to flutter out of the cubicals like butterflies escaping from their chrysalis. The yellow Mew Mew then jumped onto her Ring Inferno, the bouncy substance of the Ring Inferno sprung her into the air. She stared at the Armoured Para Paban as she propelled by it. Luckily the Zakuro Pure had neatly wrapped around the neck of it, making it holler as it started to burn a ring into it. Mew Mint flew above to warn them of any other danger however she drew her Mint Arrow, pulling it back.

"Ribbon Mint Echo!" She let the blue arrow head fly straight to its head however, after colliding with a little ting, its was repelled away, flying up into the night sky. Mew Zakuro hissed, wondering what kind of metal or element was used to create this armour.

"Mew Pudding, reinforce your kick with an attack!" Mew Zakuro called out, Mew Pudding nodded, swirling the Pudding Ring around her wrist.

"Ribbon Pudding Coin!" She created a glowing, yellow disk below her feet as she began to fall through the air. Her foot slammed onto the Pudding Coin, the heat was strong but Mew Pudding knew that it was the least of her problems when the Pudding Coin, with her added power, slammed right on top of the Armoured Para Paban's head, causing its face to slam painfully onto the concrete. They heard a crack, smiling however as Mew Pudding jumped off, the Pudding Coin disappearing, the helmet had only received a large crack and a slight fracture.

"Kami-sama, oh please, help us…" Mew Lettuce prayed as Mew Zakuro was sent flying as the Para Paban's tail swatted her away like a bettle.

Mew Ichigo swallowed hard as she gripped her Strawberry Bell when her muscles in her thighs jumped oddly, twitching somewhat, before calming down again. Mew Ichigo looked at her thighs when the Para Paban let another screech out, the sound ringing and throbbing the Mew Mew's heads. They all grasped her head, feeling the heat and the dull yet constant throb of a headache.

"What's wrong with us?" Mew Lettuce asked, her eyes flicking from Mew Zakuro, who was being pulled to her feet by the fluttering Mew Mint to Mew Ichigo.

"My head! It hurts!" Mew Ichigo groaned when Mew Lettuce's vision was clouded again, her head spinning a little. She stumbled forward, unspectingly into the path of the Para Paban.

"Mew Lettuce Onee-chan!" Mew Pudding yelled, springing up and sprinting to Mew Lettuce, pushing her and herself out of harms way. Mew Zakuro's head throbbed with pain, burning constantly with no sign of slowly when something clicked. She pressed on her Mew Pendent, directly contacting Keiichiro as the thought grew in her head more.

"Akasaka-san, we seem to be suffering strange headaches that have suddenly snuck up on us. Headaches and dizzy spells but we haven't done anything nor can smell and taste anything bad that may be making us sick but can you find anything out of the ordinary?" She requested.

"Have any of you had twitching limbs?" Keiichiro asked, his voice dropping.

"Yes," Mew Zakuro replied, "What is it? Do you know what it is?"

"Could it be a special Chimera Anima?" Hitomi sounded, she was obviously with the two, anxiously watching the footage that poured into the lab.

"There is a small chance of that… However, I think its something that can happen naturally, it seems familiar…" Ryou murmured when everything fell silent.

"GIRLS! The aliens are distracting you from their real plan!" Keiichiro yelled urgantly, his voice shuddering slightly but rough and commanding, snapping everyone to attention, "The Chimera Animas and Para Paban are wasting your precious energy and time, however they are speeding up their other plan at the same time! If we don't find the source of it, everyone, including yourselves will die of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in less than 2 hours!"

Zoey Hoshi: Isn't nice to have a partner who is a biology/chemistry nerd? Prepare for intense scientific explanation and large-scale skirmishes next chapter.

Ryou: You know, this seems like another franchise but I can't put my finger on it…

Zoey Hoshi: Oh! Put away your Gears of Wa- I mean, your fears you whore….

Ryou: ….Lame…

Zoey Hoshi: (Wearing a bad pokerface) What?