Chapter 2

"Ribbon…Lettuce Rush!" Retasu's attack hit one of the aliens in front of her. They were so many, how could they stop them?

Her gaze fell on the families behind her. That was unfair, those people couldn't fight, among them there were children, wounded people. She had to protect them!

"Rokuro-kun take them somewhere, please" she called blocking an alien who was attacking her. She couldn't get distracted. The alien in front of her was a young boy, maybe one or two years younger than her. She wondered what his name was, his story, if he really wanted to fight. Retasu managed to attack him back, making him fall to the ground. Her eyes looked at the sky. In front of here there were many aliens, she and her few men couldn't stop them. She really hoped that her friends were close by.

Suddenly she found herself surrounded, but her attackers wore all the same faces. Retasu knew well who that was: Mayume.

Mayume was one of the Fives: the most powerful and loyal to Deep Blue. Mayume had pink hair and crimson eyes, her lips were always turn up in a sinister grin. And her specialty were her illusions.

"What's going on, Mew Lettuce?" the five copies said in unison "Where are your friends?" she asked before start attacking with her spear. Retasu dodge one of them and attacked another but one of Mayume's copies hit one of her legs, making her fall on the ground. But immediately Retasu turned attacking the alien with a powerful water jet, but it was just a replica, because Mayume spoke in her ear.

"Wrong girl" she said before kicking Retasu that rolled over. Her elbow and knee now bruised but she didn't give up and when Mayume got closer, Retasu hit one of her legs making her fall. Immediately, the green Mew Mew was on her feet ready to attack again but someone hit her in the stomach, making her lose her breath for a moment.

"You're awful at picking" Mayume said with a laugh. She was there, over Retasu, looking at her with an amused look. The mew mew clutched the castanets she had in her hand, ready to attack again, but Mayume put her foot on one of Retasu's wrist, making her whimper. Retasu heard the alien laugh before Ichigo's voice reached her.

"Ribbon… Strawberry Surprise!" Mayume jumped away and flew towards Ichigo. Retasu held her wrist for a moment. It really hurt, but she got up quickly fighting another alien nearby.

When Minto, Purin and Zakuro arrived, they couldn't believe at how many aliens were there. Minto cursed under her breath before flew towards the enemies who were attacking from above. Her bow appeared in her hand and immediately she started to shoot as many arrows she could. Suddenly in front of her appeared Gen'ichi, another member of the Fives. She had spotted Mayume fighting against Ichigo. If two of the Five were there it was a serious attack, they really wanted to kill everyone.

"Hello, pretty bird" he said before attacking her with his black dented whip. Minto dodged the attack before shooting another arrow towards her enemy.

"Purin" Zakuro said punching an alien in the face "Help Retasu with the children, quick!"Purin kicked her enemy before nodding calling for Yuebin.

Suddenly Zakuro got attacked by two aliens. When they got close enough she jumped and using her weapon, she drag one of the two towards her and slice his throat with her claws. She then turned towards the other and quickly she was behind him braking his neck.

Mew Ichigo was panting, Mayume had wounded her side with her knife and the fact that she kept multiplying herself wasn't helping.

"Already tired?" Mayume exclaimed flying towards her, her aim was Ichigo's neck, so she jumped to her right landing on her feet. She moved immediately, she couldn't stay in the same place too long, Mayume's copies could appear any moment.

Purin ran with Yuebin towards the humans. They were screaming trying to shelter one another. Purin growled when she saw children cry, she wouldn't let them hurt them.

"Ribbon…Pudding ring Inferno" she shouted stopping a couple of aliens in her giant pudding. Yuebin jumped killing one of them and Purin badly injured the other. She looked at her hand now dirty of the alien's blood, she quickly looked away. But when she turned she saw an alien fly towards Yuebin. She ran fast pushing her friend to the ground.

"Purin" he said under her.

"Are you ok?" she asked getting up ready to fight, but the alien she saw in front of her made her breath inch.

"You…" she said but the tall young man attacked her with his red fans. Purin blocked his arm, but with the other he hit her making her land on the ground. Yuebin ran towards the attacker, who moved the fan producing a lightning that almost hit the Chinese young man.

Oh, God, Purin saw the alien flew towards the people they were trying to protect.

"Retasu!" she yelled seeing her friend nearby. The green Mew Mew followed Purin's gaze and immediately ran towards the alien. He was going to attack them.

"Ribbon… Lettuce Rush!" the alien stopped suddenly, but before the water jet could hit him he moved. When she got closer Retasu jumped to attack the alien, but when she found herself face to face with her enemy, her heart skipped a beat.

"Pai?"

She couldn't believe it, it was Pai, she was sure of that. He was changed and she noticed a scar at the side of his face, partially hidden by his tuft of purple hair. She couldn't believe he was alive, she felt so relieved. Purin had been right, they were alive. But where had he been? What had happened to him?

"Pai" she said again, but he just looked at her, before raising his fan and attacking her with a lightning. Retasu moved, she didn't have to move much, but some gravel of the ground hit her.

Why? She thought. Why had him attacked her? Why?

She quickly brush the dirt away from her face before running where Pai was headed. She jumped stopping him.

"Pai!" she said "Pai, please stop!" their eyes met, they were cold but they were studying her.

"Move aside" he said tightening his hold on his fan.

"Why?" Retasu asked with sad eyes making a step towards him "Why are you attacking us? Why are you doing this?"

"It's what I have to do" he said clenching his jaw.

She gasped taking another step towards him, they were close now "This is not you"

"Shut up" he said without taking his eyes off of her.

"Pai" she muttered forcing her tears back "You are not like this"

"I said shut up!" he yelled before hitting with his thunder the place where Retasu's people were sheltering. One of the walls exploded and the building shook.

"No!" she yelled clenching at Pai's arm, his fan started to glowing again "Stop! Stop, please stop! Pai, please!" he looked in her eyes once again, before pushing her at the ground behind him.

"It's what I have to do" he said without turning to her "Fuu-Rai-Sen!" he shouted and another lightning hit the remain wall, making the building fell on the helpless people.

The sound of explosion and the cries of the people echoed in Retasu's ears. She was on her knees looking at the scene ahead of her, her eyes were full of tears that this time she let spill out from her eyes.

"Why?!" she muttered before getting up shoving Pai with all the strength she had left "Why did you do it?! Why?" He took her arms while she was punching his chest "How could you be so cruel?!" she yelled. His hands clenched on her arms for a moment before pushing her away from him.

"Let's go!" she heard Gen'ichi order. One by one the aliens started to disappear. Pai looked at Retasu for a moment, who was still crying. Then he turned and flew away.

Why? She asked while she saw him disappear. Around her, her friends and the survivors had run towards the rubble building, hoping that someone was still alive, but all Retasu could think about was… why?