Author's note: Oh, boy! I'm soooo sorry for the wait! I've been writing this chapter forever, and I know I kept a lot of you guys waiting because of the cliffy. But, in any case, this is the chapter that I have cherished (because the chapter after this is my favorite) writing, mainly because of the explanations and flashbacks. Anyway, I am beginning to speak fluent Japanese in my writing, so I think I will post a thing here for you Un-Japanese-TMM lovers.
, ne: Do you agree?
Hai: Yes
Sumimasen: I'm sorry.
Kekko Desu: It's fine.
So desu ka: I see…
Iie: No
Baka: Idiot
Kawaii: Cute
Hai, dozo: yes, I agree
-dono: to treat someone as loyalty
-hiten: to speak of someone evilly, or an enemy.
-onii-san: to call someone a sister or brother
-sama: To call someone as if they were high in respect
-san: To call someone who is a superior, as if you look up to them
-kun: To call (normally a male) someone a friend
-chan: to cal (normally a female) someone a friend
Nani: What?
Naku na Don't cry:
Sessha: a term to call yourself formally
Anata: You
Kudasai: Please
Naku na, kudasai…: Please, don't cry…
Watashi no ai: … I love you.
Neko: Cat
Yes, yes, I know a very long list. But, hey, I just put what I thought I might put up there in Japanese…
Anyway, I hope you love this chapter as much as I did! Thanks for the Reviews; keep em' coming!
Chapter Four: Her Side of The Story(Ryou's POV)
"It's true, Shirogane-san, Akiyo is a Mew!" the tall dark-haired man said shockingly; his tone almost as if he were out of breath, "But how? There were only five specimens for the Mew Project… how can Akiyo-san be…"
I looked over and saw that Keiichiro was rather speechless, though I really had no room to talk. I was probably twice as worse as him; out of breath and completely in shock. There I was, standing face to face with a living mystery… another Mew. That isn't one of my creations, to that fact. How did this happen? Did somebody find my father's notes?
Who did this!
"Run some blood tests and find out everything you can about this girl. I want to know everything from her anima genes, all the way to her shoe size! Feed me everything you got, Keiichiro," I told him almost excitedly, and then walked upstairs to see that Ichigo had already left, and that Masha was fluttering around confoundedly.
"Ichigo leave? Leave Masha?" the small pink robot said to me as it noticed I was watching, then fluttered it's small little wings over to me, looking at me with the saddest expression a robot of his technology could make.
I smiled at it kindly as I raised my hand, petting the small little invention lightly on the head with a few fingers, "R2000, will you do a favor for Ryou?" I asked him tenderly, a light smile on my face.
His eyes lit up with happiness, "Favor for Ryou? Favor?"
I nodded, "Tell the girls to come here to the café. I have important news."
"Masha will do! Masha do favor for Ryou!" it said, and then flew out of the café window, and out into the dark night.
(Normal POV)
Little by little, Masha did this favor for him. He gathered each of the girls and brought them safely to the café without haste, first Retasu. Then he safely returned Purin, and last was Zakuro and Minto (They were at each others house). All of them heard the new about Akiyo, and were awaiting Ichigo's arrival so they could take the matter farther with her there.
There, at Ichigo's home, she was asleep. Curled up in a little cocoon of blankets, dreaming a row of soundless dreams; hoping her lover would return safely back into her arms.
Though poor Masha had a problem.
"Ichigo! Ichigo?" the small robot cooed, ramming hard against Ichigo's bedroom window, making a small tapping noise, "Ichigo! Café news! Important Ryou news!"
She lay soundlessly.
Silently, the little robot sighed as it closed its small little eyes. When it opened its eyes, a high pitched screeching noise came from it, and it began to make a arrangement of screams, beeps, and flashes of bright lights. Stubbornly, the robot tweeted loudly, " Important Ryou news! Ichigo no sleep! No sleep!"
Ichigo jumped and opened her eyes groggily to hear the racket coming from the outside windowpane. She sat up and climbed to her window across the room, "Nya!" she yawned while rubbing her eyes. She half-consciously walked opened the blinds to see Masha, "Masha! Be quiet! It's almost midnight, and you'll wake my parents up!" she said half wittedly, half angrily.
"Masha sorry." It said quietly as it stopped its collateral yell.
"What do you need, Masha?" Ichigo asked it.
"Important Ryou news! Ichigo go to café with Masha! Café news!" Masha tweeted out, much more quietly.
"What's wrong? Did they find Aoyama-kun?" She asked them happily.
Masha looked at her sadly, "No Masaya…"
She sighed frustratingly, "Alright… I'll be outside in a few minutes. Wait for me, alright?"
"Masha will do." The little robot whispered, then flew down to the front door at Ichigo's house.
She slowly walked away from the window and began to stride quietly to her bedroom door, grabbing a long pink robe to cover over her pajamas. She slipped it on while creeping downstairs, and slid sneakily past her parent's room. She opened the front door and looked behind her, checking to make sure no one was around. Then, she turned around and walked outside, closing the door quietly behind her; face to face with Masha.
" I wonder what Shirogane-san is trying to pull," Ichigo thought aloud, " Waking me up in the middle of the night, just to hear more of his dumb lectures!"
Masha looked over at Ichigo as they left the house, a sad expression on its face, "Ichigo no like to hear Ryou news?"
Ichigo shook her head, though she smiled, "it's alright, Masha… it just better be important."
The two of them walked into the Café Mew Mew and were immediately trampled with questions.
"Can you believe it!" Minto asked, rushing up to Ichigo.
"Believe what, nya?" Ichigo asked her tiredly.
"Akiyo-san!" Minto replied energetically.
"What about her?" Ichigo asked sleepily, as she walked over to everyone.
"She's a Mew!" Minto said happily, "She's one of us!"
"NANI!" Ichigo screamed.
She ran over to the couch that was nearest to the pale door of the lab, where all of the girls –and Shirogane- were all huddled up around the young girl. Akiyo was lying down soundlessly on the couch, and her head was rested comfortably onto Ryou's lap. She seemed still unconscious from the fire's fumes, but something lingered about her that made her seem perfectly alive. Everyone was looking at her body in awe, as if she were a newly discovered jewel; some of them recognizing the injection mark on her ankle.
"Shirogane-san" Retasu asked, "How exactly can she be a Mew?"
"Hai, dozo!" Ichigo said happily, "That's exactly what I'd like to know!"
Purin nodded, " I thought that there were only five experiments, ne?" she said curiously, poking at the sleeping beauty's foot.
"Hai, for me there were…" Ryou answered.
"Then how come there is another, ne?" Zakuro asked him coldly, "No one else has the technology or intelligence to forge another Mew. Did you make a mistake, Shirogane-sama?"
"Nothing is impossible, apparently. I don't have 6th experiment-" he began.
" Open your eyes, baka. She's right in front of you." Zakuro interrupted.
" How was I supposed to give the injection mark, Zakuro-chan! She was in AMERICA!" Ryou screamed back, but then he rested a pale hand on his forehead, rubbing it lightly as he closed his eyes, " All of this… is so confusing…"
" Who would do this, Shirogane-san?" Retasu said quietly, "I do not understand…"
There was a moment of silence, but it was broken by Minto's voice.
"What if it was Kisshu-hiten!" she blurted out, "After all, he did kidnap Aoyama-san while Akiyo-chan was unconscious!"
"Even worse…" Zakuro said in a deadpan tone, "What if her and Kisshu are a team?"
Ichigo looked down at Akiyo's face, and then looked over at Zakuro, "I don't think that Akiyo-san would be teamed with Kisshu…we'll have to ask her when she awakens." She replied.
"Yeah, that'll work nicely," Zakuro said; shaking her head, " Wait for her to wake up and say 'Hey, Akiyo-san! I'm glad your okay, but we have some news for you! You're a superhero, and we were wondering if you knew our arch-enemy, Kisshu-hiten, who might have stolen Masaya!'" she said to them sarcastically, acting as if Ichigo during the quote.
"Iie, Zakuro-chan," Ichigo said, "We'll just talk to her about the fire, and her history in America. Then, we'll lightly tell her about the Mews, and then mention Kisshu-hiten, and see if it rings any bells."
Zakuro shook her head, "What's the difference? It won't work…"
"Shirogane-san!" Keiichiro said, "I have the information on Akiyo-san you wanted!"
"Give me all you got, Akasaka-san!" said Ryou happily, turning around to face him, but being careful not to wake the girl.
He cleared his throat, " Akiyo Hino Nakagawa. Age 14. Date of birth: November 1st, 1990. Anima injection process: positive and is the sixth experiment; a fox. Her element of power: Fire. Elemental colors: Black and red. She seems to have a different transformation then the other experiments, and her appearance changes ever so slightly when she is a Mew. Lived in the USA in the town of San Diego, California, with parents until her current age, when they were supposedly killed in a train accident. She then moved to Tokyo, Japan to live with her Aunt and step cousin, Masaya Aoyama, four months after the accident," He took a deep breath, and smiled, "Shoe size 7 ½."
"Woah… four months living alone…" Minto whispered into Retasu's ear, "how did she do it?"
"Beats me," Retasu whispered back, "But something smells fishy."
Ichigo nodded; completely speechless.
"Akiyo-onii-chan has a HUGE foot!" Purin replied in the odd moment, examining her foot as if it were a foreign object.
"Shh…" Ryou said to Purin lightly, as he took her hand kindly away from Akiyo's foot, "She's awakening…"
Everyone immediately got quiet, while some held their breath in the moment of suspense. The girl, Akiyo Nakagawa, opened her eyes; a calm shade of blue escaped from them. She looked around at everyone oddly as she tried to sit up. Ryou slipped his arm around her shoulder and sat her up politely next to him, and then took his arm off of her, to let her sit; staring at all of the girls.
"Wha? … What.. happened?" she said, as she rubbed her forehead lightly with her palm.
" I don't know how to tell you think, Akiyo-san," Ichigo began; her ton low and full of sadness, "But you were involved in a fire over at Aoyama-kun's house. There's nothing left…"
Akiyo's eyes widened, full off frozen shock, "What about Masaya-onii-san!" she said her voice, "Is he alright? Is he even alive?"
"We're… not sure…" Ryou answered solemnly, " He disappeared after the accident, but we think he's alright."
"You think?" she yelled, "That's not good enough!"
Akiyo stood up quickly, and a sharp wince of pain struck to her face. She tried walking, but it turned out more like staggering, to the door, "That's not good enough! We… have to go find him! He's all I have left!" Ichigo tried to pull her back, but Retasu stopped her.
"Please, sit down," Ichigo said, "You need rest!"
" I won't rest until I know Aoyama-kun's alright! I've lost everything now, all but him! I'm not going to sit around and let him slip away from my grasp! I wont let him leave me!" She yelled, her tone loud mostly because of pain, and the other partial piece was from anger.
"Don't be foolish, Nakagawa-san," Ryou said kindly, "If you continue now, your shattered ankle will drop you and leave you to the city to die. You'll be dead before you even realize where he might be."
"No… I have to…" Akiyo said stubbornly, her eyes flooded with tears.
She tried taking a few more steps, just making it to the door of Cafe Mew Mew. But while she was opening the door, a hand slipped onto her shoulder, and pulled her back. She was now in the arms of Shirogane Ryou, his broad hands on her shoulders, and her face was mere inches from his.
" We have more to talk about," he said to her coldly, "And I will not allow you to walk away from me."
For a split second, it looked as if Akiyo was blushing. Then again, it could have been a flash of anger escaping to her cheeks, but Shirogane didn't like to think so. She went limp in his arms and he caught her, and with his help be guided her back to the couch where she sat down willingly.
"What's the huge news?" Akiyo snapped.
"Well, first, we found out something import-" Ichigo started.
"Let me explain." Keiichiro interrupted; both Ichigo and Akiyo nodded.
"Here in Tokyo, there is a group of five girls who are superheroes. They are called the Tokyo Mew Mew. They each were injected with genes of an endangered animal for their anima powers, enabling them to be able to be part human, part animal. This process was done by Dr. Ryou Shirogane, the person sitting next to you," He motioned to Ryou, "Ichigo, Minto, Retasu, Purin, and Zakuro, are those five girls. And it appears," he bent down in front of her and stared her straight in the eye, "That you are one, too."
Akiyo looked at him with one eyebrow raised, "Prove it."
All five girls looked at each other and smiled.
"Strawberry Mew Evolution!"
In a flash, Ichigo was in her uniform; Akiyo's eyebrows raised in shocked.
"Akasaka-san?" Akiyo questioned with a smile.
"Yes, Nakagawa-san?" he replied.
"Tell me more."
He smiled and nodded, " I will late the leader collaborate with you. I have work to do." He said, and walked back downstairs into the lab.
Ichigo sat on the other side of Akiyo, "Tell me all you remember, Akiyo-san," Ichigo said softly, "About the fire."
" Alright…" the girl replied, " After you and I talked, I went inside the kitchen talk to Masaya-onii-san, because he was signaling me to come inside. When I walked inside, I started to help him carry out drinks from the kitchen, and a fire burst from behind me. Out of instinct, I turned around and looked at it, and by the time I turned back around to Masaya-onii-san, he was gone. I figured he had tried to run from the fire, or escape the house, so I started running; trying to find him. But after a while, the smoke burned in my eyes, and I had to close them; and then it started making me dizzy from inhaling in, and I was unconscious before I got to the back door. And well…" she said sadly; a solemn tone, "Here I am…"
"Did you… see anybody take him? Or who started the fire?" Ichigo asked Akiyo kindly, the other girls silent in the deep moment.
"No… I have no idea what started the fire. And what do you mean by take him? Did someone kidnap him!"
"We think so…" Ichigo said sadly, and her tone was almost like a whisper, "By our arch enemy."
"Who? And why would he take Masaya?" she asked them out of anger.
" There… is an alien who we fought about a year ago… we thought he had died, but –according to Shirogane-san- he's alive. The reason why he took Aoyama-kun was because he knows that I am in love with Aoyama-kun… and he wants revenge for me not loving him instead," She informed quietly, "His name is Kisshu."
As soon as the name was mentioned, Akiyo was speechless.
Her ice blue eyes looked as if they were frozen over; cold and foggy. Her pale hands were trembling, and yet she didn't move and inch. She sat there, staring deep into Ichigo's eyes; frozen. Tears rolled carelessly down her cheek without effort; no blinking. Nothing. Just an ice-cold stare.
"Akiyo-san? What's… what's wrong?" Ichigo asked her foresightedly; frightened.
" I know him… I know Kisshu-dono," she said blankly; just barely staggering out the words.
" You know Kisshu-hiten as well?" Ichigo asked; Zakuro sighed.
" Green hair; gold eyes… yes?" she yelled, "It's Kisshu…"
" That does sound like him; but there must be a mistake. How do you know your Kisshu?" Ichigo asked her hurriedly.
" He was… my best friend…" She said, " But I wanted him to be more."
AN: Ahahahah! The story of Akiyo and Kisshu begins next chapter: Forbidden Love. Most favorite chapter- A mix of romance, action, humor, but mostly…mystery! Yesh, that's right! A Mew Kitsune first- Please review!