Ichigo stumbled out of the teleportation clumsily, and found herself in the bright white halls of the city compound. Tart, who'd she teleported with, helped steady her footing. No sooner did she look up did she realize she was faced with a small crowd of the princes and compound staff, staring wide-eyed and slack jawed at her and Tart.

All eyes fell from her when she felt the ripple of air behind her — and then there was screaming.

"Oh my gods!"

"What the hell happened?"

"Is — is that Bram?"

"Is he alive? Someone get him to medical!"

Ichigo struggled to focus as people rushed around her to collect Bram out of Pie and Quiche's grip and hurry him down the hall. She saw a head of white hair weave through the crowd, and all of a sudden she was face to face with Orion.

"I demand to know what's going on here!" he yelled, glancing between Ichigo and the boys. "One minute Quiche is storming out of our morning meeting, and now Bram has been gravely injured!"

"Cut the shit, Orion," Quiche snarled. "We all know you orchestrated this whole thing."

"Quiche, not now," Pie said sternly. He turned to Orion. "Bram took advantage of Mew Ichigo being alone to abduct her from her room with the intent to kill her. We were able to apprehend him before she was seriously hurt."

Orion's jaw fell open. "He—he what? He would never … why?"

His eyes fell to Ichigo— questioning, interrogating. Ichigo shifted her weight uncomfortably and cast her gaze to the floor. She said a silent prayer of thanks that Pie had chosen not to disclose what room she was in when she was abducted. She knew it may add another layer of complication to the fallout.

Her head was spinning in the complication of it all. She felt numb.

"He said he was 'finishing what Deep Blue started,'" she answered.

"Oh, dear," Orion said softly. He took a step towards Ichigo. "Are you badly hurt?" He sounded genuinely concerned as he looked Ichigo up and down. "Broken bones? Concussion?"

"I– I don't know," Ichigo replied reluctantly.

Orion pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. "I'm glad you don't appear seriously injured." He let out a long sigh. "That would certainly be a tragedy – for all of us. Now, about the motive for the crime … Deep Blue has been dead for years. Why would Bram say something like that? That seems extremely out of character for him."

"Do you believe in what she's saying or not?" Tart snapped. "Because all it seems like you wanna do is make a big fuss over the guy who just hurt our friend!"

"Whether or not I believe the account of the event is irrelevant," Orion replied firmly. "All I know is that one of our princes just returned half-dead and blind, and so far, I've only heard one side of the story."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Quiche snapped.

"It means you're going to stand trial for what you've done!" Orion barked, taking one step closer to Quiche in a challenge. "Attempted murder of one of the other princes? I've never seen it in all my days! It's absurd!"

"Ichigo!"

Lettuce's voice echoed down the hall as she and Pudding rushed around the corner in a sprint. Ichigo felt relief wash over her; she allowed herself to be collected into the arms of her friends.

"Big sis, are you ok?" Pudding cried. "We heard what happened and we were so scared!"

"I'm okay," Ichigo murmured into Pudding's shoulder. She broke away from the hug with her friends and wiped some of the dried blood from her face with her palm. "I … I think it's time we go home."

Lettuce and Pudding exchanged worried looks.

"It's whatever makes you happy, big sis," Pudding said.

Lettuce nodded. "Pudding is right. This was obviously traumatic for you, and it's probably not safe to stay."

"I can assure you it's safe," interjected Orion, who'd been listening in. Ichigo glanced over her shoulder at him. "I'm certain this was an isolated incident. You have nothing more to worry over. However, it does sound like the emotional distress would be quite taxing, so perhaps it's best you go."

Ichigo narrowed her eyes. She still wasn't totally convinced Orion had anything to do with the attack — after all, they had no real proof. Orion also seemed genuinely concerned about her well-being, even though he was skeptical about Bram's motive. Despite all that, something about the look in Orion's eye in that moment made Ichigo feel distinctly uncomfortable.

"You can't hold a fair trial if Mew Ichigo leaves," Pie interjected. "She's the only witness to the abduction since they were alone."

"But you three were there to witness the recovery, yes?" Orion corrected, turning from Ichigo to face Pie. "I believe that is sufficient enough for your defense in this … incident."

"Where is the Emperor?" asked one of the other princes standing nearby. "Someone needs to call him to come quick."

"The Emperor hasn't been well the past few days," Orion replied. He shook his head. "He was quite ill at the festival yesterday. Retreated back to his quarters immediately after his speech. I'll see if he can be roused this evening for a debrief."

Ichigo exchanged looks with Lettuce, who gripped her arm tighter. "Ichigo, do you still want to leave? Now?" Lettuce whispered, concern dotting her tone.

Ichigo nodded without hesitation. "I need to go," she replied firmly, softly. "I just need to get away from this place … as soon as possible."

Lettuce glanced up. Ichigo turned and realized she had made eye contact with Pie. The two exchanged looks and nodded.

"I'll escort Tokyo Mew Mew back to Earth," Pie announced to the group. "It's a two-day journey total — I would assume we wouldn't hold trial for the incident today without at least a few days of preparation."

"Certainly," Orion replied. "These things take time. Though, we could speed things along — and keep the defendant out of house arrest — if you simply allowed one of the other guards to escort Tokyo Mew Mew on their journey home."

"I'm under house arrest?!" Quiche interjected. All eyes turned to him. "That's bullshit and you know it! You can't arrest me — I'm on the council just like you are!"

"Do you realize the gravity of what you've just done?" Orion snapped, stepping closer to Quiche. "Bram could be dead! Worse than that, Priva is carrying his firstborn child! He'll never see his children because of you! And I don't know about the rest of the council, but I don't think someone capable of that sort of heartless violence should walk free among us."

All of a sudden, a memory rushed back to Ichigo. She remembered assembling in the west wing of the old palace the night before; the women queuing in line. She remembered a sneer from a woman dressed in silver, heavily pregnant, just a few places ahead of her. It had to have been Bram's partner.

Despite everything — the fear, the abduction, the fight — Ichigo felt sick to her stomach at the thought of the little family; the woman in the silver dress.

"We … we should go," Lettuce said in hushed tones, pulling at Ichigo's arm as if to sense Ichigo's nerves.

Her attention left Lettuce when she caught Orion hissing something in a low tone — something Ichigo couldn't catch. She only realized when Quiche snapped back at him that they had switched out of speaking Japanese. Another one of the princes — standing over Orion's shoulder — chimed in, also speaking in Loq.

The foreign conversation further intensified the urgency to flee bubbling up in Ichigo's gut. She swallowed a growing knot in her throat and forced herself to focus on her friends.

"You're right," Ichigo said, her voice catching just slightly. "Let's get our room packed. We leave in ten."

In a way, it felt natural — being a leader, giving orders to her team. But Ichigo could see the way Lettuce and Pudding looked at her. It was as if her skin was transparent, and they could see right through to her inner thoughts; as if they could see the deep, dark depths of the ocean she was treading in, just to keep afloat of her emotion spilling over.

Pudding nodded. "Right," she asserted confidently. "Time to go home."

Ichigo forced her lips into a thin line, hoping it would somewhat resemble a smile. She then turned to Pie, who was watching the argument between the princes with a scowl.

"Pie," Ichigo started, catching his attention, "is it really okay if we leave now?"

"Do what you must," Pie replied with a curt nod. "You are of no use here if you are not also safe. I'll prepare the ship for departure if you'd like to collect your things."

Ichigo nodded, fighting to maintain composure as more people began to fill the already-chaotic hallway. "Thank you," she said over the frenzy of mixed languages all trying to talk over each other. Somewhere in the chaos, a woman shoved to the front, and Ira appeared with a panicked look and a breath of relief.

"Ichigo, are you—"

"I'm fine," Ichigo replied bluntly. "We're leaving as soon as possible — Pie is flying us home."

Ira's jaw stiffened. "I … yes, understood," she said solemnly. "I'll escort you back so you can prepare for departure."

Ira touched Ichigo's arm gently and turned away to lead her down the hall and away from the crowd. Lettuce nodded to Pie as they turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Ichigo stiffened. She turned to look over her shoulder just as one of the compound guards grabbed Quiche's shoulder and pulled him back. A second guard appeared, grasping him by the forearm.

"You can't go," Quiche exclaimed breathlessly. He forced one arm free from the guard on his left, but two more guards quickly appeared to force him back even further. The look in his eyes was sheer panic, gold irises dancing with adrenaline.

Ichigo recognized the look immediately. She'd seen it on him a few times before— after they'd kissed in the cafe kitchen, covered in lavender icing. When he'd asked her to dance at the conservation gala, as a desperate attempt to win her back when he'd realized he might lose her for good.

He'd been scared before. But fear wasn't something Quiche wore often. And it gave Ichigo pause.

"Not after — you can't—"

His expression pleaded with her — begging with her wordlessly, as if he was about to lose everything. For a brief moment, Ichigo's mind was filled with memories of the last few days. Parties, mischief, laughter and blissful sighs. Fingertips intertwining, coy words, the feeling she always got in her chest when he touched her.

But it was all soiled now. Ichigo watched a bead of sweat mixed with blood roll down Quiche's face. She could hardly stand to look at him with scarlet red splatters all over his face and the memory of him carving out a man's eyes in front of her just minutes ago.

Despite everything, deep down, Ichigo knew he'd always be the villain. Maybe he'd just grown better at hiding it. Everything they'd built together over the last few days felt like shattered glass, never to be the same. How could it be the same? How could she pick up the pieces, when she could see so clearly who he was still capable of becoming?

She didn't know. She knew she needed time. And the white halls felt like they were closing in on her with every passing second.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo murmured.

She watched the light fall out of his eyes as she turned away, and began to walk down the hall of the compound.

Away from the people who wanted her dead.

Away from the strange planet she'd just begun to understand.

Away from everything.

The stars rushed by the window of the cockpit, and Ichigo had never felt so far from home.

She sat in the co-pilot's chair of the ship and stared blankly through the cockpit window. Even though the stars rushed by at incredible speed, nothing could feel fast enough. She ached for the comfort of her own bed. She missed the rest of her friends still back on Earth — Mint, Zakuro, Berry, Ryou and Keiichiro. She wanted so badly to return to the way things had been the last time she found herself rushing through space at lightning speeds.

Ichigo felt numb. When she'd first begun packing in her room in the compound, she'd cried hard and loud. When they'd closed the hangar door of the ship, she cried then, too. But now, it felt as though she'd cried out every emotion in her body to the point of exhaustion. Mercilessly, the relief of sleep had evaded her. It was near impossible to sleep with a crushing weight on her chest and adrenaline still flaring up in small flashes down her nerves.

Lettuce and Pudding had done everything in their power to help. Ichigo still felt immense guilt for pulling them away from Novutera. When Ichigo had asked them if they'd prefer to stay — insisting she'd be okay on her own if they wanted to stay on the planet — both friends dismissed her immediately. So, with all three girls on the ship, Pie assured them that the journey would take no less than 36 hours of time measured in Earth's hours.

It still felt too long.

Ichigo rested her chin on her knees, curled up into herself in the co-pilot's chair. She thought about heading back to her room to fetch a blanket; when she turned to hop off the chair, she was met with bright blue eyes peering around the corner at her.

Lettuce blinked in surprise at being caught.

"I—um—" she stammered, "I was just, uh, checking in on you and — um, wanted to see if you needed anything."

Ichigo smiled wearily. "I'm okay," she replied. "You should sleep. I'll … I'll be there in a minute."

Lettuce bit her lip and glanced around the cockpit. "Do you…" she started. Her eyes landed back on Ichigo. "Do you, um … mind if I sit with you?"

Ichigo hesitated at first. Then, she nodded slowly. "…sure," she said.

She wasn't sure if she had the energy left to talk. But maybe the quiet calm of Lettuce's presence would lift the weight enough for her to sleep.

Lettuce came around the other side of Ichigo and awkwardly settled into the captain's chair of the ship. She crossed her legs first, then let out a sigh and settled into a similar position to Ichigo, curled up on the seat with her chin to her knees.

They let a comfortable silence linger between them for a few moments as they both watched the stars fly by the cockpit window.

"You know … you know that we can always go back," Lettuce said finally. "If you wanted to."

Ichigo felt her jaw tighten. "I'm not so sure."

Lettuce looked over at Ichigo curiously. She said nothing as Ichigo continued to stare out the window of the ship.

Ichigo exhaled a long breath from her nose. "It's just that … Bram told me there's more of them. More followers of Deep Blue, the ones who still want to take back Earth as theirs. If … if Quiche is right …"

She realized it hurt to say his name.

"…if Quiche is right about Orion's plan," she continued, "then Orion was working with Bram when … when it happened. If he's right, Orion wants me dead."

Lettuce remained quiet — thinking, processing.

"Remember how Orion said something about the Emperor being sick?" Ichigo said.

Lettuce nodded. "You're saying…"

"The Emperor told us his nephew is next in line," Ichigo continued. "If Orion is a follower of Deep Blue … and the Emperor dies …"

"Ichigo, this is a lot," Lettuce interjected. "We don't … we don't know all of those things for sure, right?"

"Right," Ichigo replied with a sigh. "But what if it's all true? What if they decide to go to war with Earth again?"

They both sat in silence as the weight of the idea settled over them. Everything they'd worked for, everything they'd sacrificed to protect the Earth and make peace with Quiche, Pie and Tart's people — the idea that it could all be taken away so easily…

"Pie wouldn't let that happen," Lettuce said firmly. "Or Tart. Or Quiche. Those three are part of the council. They're leaders people look up to. Besides, there's all of the allies they've made along the way…all of the people we've met…"

Lettuce's voice trailed off. Ichigo couldn't shake the feeling of dread weighing on her chest.

"I don't know," Ichigo sighed. "I just … maybe leaving was a mistake after all."

Lettuce turned to her. "I… I think you made the right decision," she said. "I mean, it was best for your health and safety. Mentally …. and physically. And that's really important, Ichigo."

Ichigo didn't reply. She let her gaze fall to the dashboard of the ship — all of the flashing lights and blinking displays. All so foreign. All so difficult to understand.

"I have this feeling," Lettuce said softly. Ichigo tilted her head towards Lettuce curiously. Lettuce let out a slow breath and closed her eyes. "I just have this feeling that we'll be back soon. That … that everything will turn out okay in the end."

When Lettuce opened her eyes, a small smile curled on her lips. "After all, we have our friends on Novutera now, just like we have friends on Earth. I'm sure everything will be okay, as long as we know that our friends have our back."

Ichigo wanted to believe Lettuce's reassurance. She so badly wanted to feel the same calm that washed over Lettuce's face as she smiled at Ichigo.

Lettuce had hope. She had Pie at her side, who was so willingly shepherding them back to Earth even as Quiche stayed back on Novutera to await a trial. Tart had offered to go with them, but Pie insisted he stay back to keep an eye on Quiche in his absence. Ichigo knew that Lettuce could sleep at night knowing where Pie's loyalty stood, and that his level-headed nature and intelligence would work to keep them all safe.

She wished she could feel the same.

"Thanks, Lettuce," Ichigo said, smiling slightly. Lettuce's eyes lit up at the sight of Ichigo's forced smile.

"Let's go to bed now," Lettuce said. She reached over and coaxed Ichigo's hand into her own. She gave it a light squeeze . "I'm sure … I'm sure it will make the time go even faster. Right?"

"Right," Ichigo agreed with a tired sigh.

She slipped her hand out of Lettuce's grasp, and the two girls made their way back to their tiny room in the vast spaceship carrying them home.

The night dragged into what Ichigo knew to be the daytime hours of Earth, though the view outside the windows of the ship didn't change. Ichigo, Lettuce and Pudding spent the morning chatting and playing board games together to pass the time. All three girls made small talk about what they missed about Earth, but Ichigo could feel Pudding and Lettuce's eyes on her whenever she looked away.

They were worried. Understandably so. Ichigo loved her friends, and was grateful for their concern. But she felt guilty for burdening them with her problems. After all, she was the leader of Tokyo Mew Mew. Wasn't she supposed to be the strong one? The one supporting them?

It wasn't long after lunchtime before Pie announced they were beginning their descent towards Earth. The ship slowed to a stop just within Earth's orbit, where Pie parked it close enough to a weather satellite to avoid detection on Earth. Then, one by one, he teleported each of the Mews down to the doors of the cafe.

Relief washed over Ichigo at the feeling of the ground beneath her feet, and at the smell of Tokyo air. It was good to be home.

Her first few minutes back on Earth were a blur as Tokyo Mew Mew reunited in a fluster of hugs, tears and questions. The girls were all hustled to the back of the empty café by Mint, Zakuro and Berry to sit and have some cake. Thankfully, Ryou had the oversight to close the café for the rest of the day in anticipation of their return. Once they'd all settled down enough to stop chattering over each other, it didn't take long for the members of the team to sense something was wrong.

"So you said the trip was … good?"

"Um, sort of," Ichigo mumbled. She was unsure of how to explain what had happened in a succinct way. Or, how much detail she should disclose. "Until we had to leave it was … fine."

Ryou dusted off his hands on a tea towel and threw it over his shoulder as he joined the rest of the group greeting the returned mews. "Back early, huh?" he said nonchalantly. "Tart sent me a message that you'd be arriving a few days ahead of schedule. What happened?"

Ichigo bit the inside of her cheek and averted her eyes. Luckily, Pie was quick to jump in.

"It's no fault of the mews. Mew Ichigo was attacked by a member of our council who identified himself as a Deep Blue loyalist."

"He was a what?" exclaimed Mint. "There's still people who follow Deep Blue?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Pie replied.

"We didn't know if things were going to be safe after that," Lettuce interjected. "Ichigo is pretty, um … shaken up, so we decided to come back."

The rest of Tokyo Mew Mew sat in shocked silence for a beat, their wide eyes fixed on Ichigo. She could feel them staring at her as she picked at a hangnail.

"Where are the other two?" Zakuro asked, breaking the silence. Ichigo looked up; she realized the question was directed at Pie.

"Quiche is under arrest," Pie replied stiffly. "Unfortunately, he reacted … badly when he found the perpetrator who'd attacked Ichigo."

"What, like, he killed someone?" Mint asked incredulously.

"No, the perpetrator is still alive," Pie said. "Barely. Since Ichigo's attacker is also a prince serving on our council, our laws require a more thorough process of investigation. I fully expect that Quiche will be released with no further consequence, but just in case he is in need of assistance before the trial, I entrusted Tart with the duty of keeping Quiche company while I transport the mews."

Silence settled over the rest of the group once more. The air felt so much heavier than it had just minutes ago.

"Ichigo, I'm … I'm so sorry."

Berry's soft voice broke through the silence. Ichigo looked up to see genuine sadness reflected in her bright, wide eyes. "I can't even imagine what you've been through."

Ichigo exhaled. "I'll be okay," she responded quietly. "It always helps to be around friends."

A small smile curled on her lips. Berry returned it with one of her own.

"We're all glad you returned safely," Ryou said. He nodded to Pie. "And I appreciate your continued help, Pie. I'd like to speak with you as well as the returning mews, and get a download on what exactly happened over the course of the trip."

"Unfortunately, I don't think that will be possible," Pie replied. "I am to return to my planet as soon as possible, so as not to delay Quiche's trial. However, I have full trust in the mews to deliver an extensive report of the trip."

"Wait, you're leaving already?" Pudding exclaimed. "You just got here!"

"I understand," Ryou told Pie with a nod. "Well, in that case, safe journey. I'm sure we'll be in touch soon."

Pie nodded to Ryou, then once to Lettuce. "Would you like to speak for a moment outside?" he asked her.

Lettuce nodded and rose from her seat a little too quickly; her chair made a loud nose as she did. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and turned to head out the back door.

The couple didn't hold hands — they hardly ever did — but Ichigo could see the way Pie gently ushered her out the door with one hand on the small of her back. A fresh wave of guilt washed over her. After all, she was the reason their time was cut short.

"I… I should go too," Ichigo said. She let out a long breath. Her eyelids were heavy. She felt tired enough to melt into a puddle on her seat. "I just need some time."

"Wait, but you haven't told us anything about the mission," Ryou said, an air of annoyance in his tone. "All we know is how it ended. What else did you learn?"

"Save it for another time, Ryou," Keiichiro chided lightly off to Ryou's right. The chef had stood quietly listening for the whole conversation, but he seemed deeply upset with Ryou in that moment. "Momomiya is clearly distressed after her ordeal, and all the traveling. I'm sure Fong and Midorikawa feel the same."

"I mean," Pudding started, "I could like, talk to you all day about stuff but I'm just excited to be back."

"The point is that Ichigo needs rest," Mint interjected. She glared up at Ryou. "Would it kill you to give them all a day to recover before you interrogate them?"

Ryou let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright, fine. But we meet back here for a debrief at 6pm tomorrow. Sharp."

Ichigo was secretly relieved.

Ichigo, Pudding and the rest of the mews bade their goodbyes to each other, exchanging hugs and well-wishes as they went their separate ways for the evening. Berry and Mint both offered to walk Ichigo home, but Ichigo told both of them she needed the time to herself. So, she slung her duffel bag over her shoulder and began to walk.

The walk home felt like it was in a dream in that it passed in nearly no time. Ichigo struggled to form an emotion beyond deep, grieving sadness and guilt. She still felt a thick numbness wrapped like a blanket over her usually active mind.

Little did she know what a battle it would be to get past her parents. No sooner had she stepped through the door was she inundated with questions — mostly from her dad, who demanded to know why "this Mint friend of hers" hadn't given them more warning they were coming home sooner than expected from Hawaii. Ichigo made up an excuse about a big fight between her friends, and insisted she just needed to rest after her flight home. Not entirely a lie, really — and her parents seemed to buy it well enough for her to push past them and up to her bedroom.

As soon as her back hit her bed, a strange feeling twisted a knot in her gut. She had expected to feel relief — finally home, in her room, laying in her own bed. But something about it still felt wrong.

Ichigo did her best to brush off the feeling by assuring herself that she'd feel better after a night of sleep. She rolled over and fished her dead phone out of her duffel, then plugged it in. It came to life with a buzz and a cascade of missed notifications. Ichigo paged through them, skimming through pages of messages before her eyes landed on one.

The text showed it was sent just that morning.

"Hey Momomiya, not sure if you're back from your trip yet, but I'm in town for the next few days and I wanted to see if you want to meet up? :)"

It was from Masaya.

Ichigo's thumb hovered over the notification. The bright screen suddenly seemed too bright in the dark of her room. She read the text over and over again, mouthing the words to herself.

The sick feeling in her gut twisted tighter. Ichigo ignored it, swallowing the knot in her throat and pursing her lips.

She opened the text message and began to type.