Chapter 3

Satou: Well, Kish, we've made it to Chapter 3!

Kish: So?

Satou: Smile!

Kish: No.

Satou: ;; Why not?

Chapter 3-----

"Welcome, Ichigo, to Cafe Mew Mew." Minto said firmly 15 minutes later. The 5 girls were happily standing in front of a large, pink building with a very girly feel to it. Ichigo's eyes widened with delight but she had no time to stand and stare in awe. Almost instantly she found herself being dragged through the bright pink doors by Purin and Retasu with Minto and Zakuro leading the way.

"Wait a sec... Why are we here nya?" Ichigo asked sheepishly when she took a good look around. The cafe's inside was pink too and there were heart shaped tables with heart-design chairs everywhere.

"This is where you'll be working as of today." Said a calm man's voice. IChigo turned around to see a tall man with lnog brown hair and brown eyes. He was very handsome and had a kind, gentle expression.

"I am Akasake Keichiiro, but a lovely young lady like yourself can call me Keichiiro." The man's introduction only made Ichigo's eyes widened and heart go "doki doki". He was sucha gentleman!

"My name is..." Ichigo started, but Purin cut her off.

"This is Honey!!"

"PURIN!" Minto yelled, turning bright red "She's NOT Honey!"

"Oops. My bad. This is Koneko!" Purin cried out in glee. Minto twitched and started chasing Purin around the Cafe. "Can't catch me na no da!" Purin teased happily.

"This is Ichigo-san." Retasu said softly as she pointed cheerfully to Ichigo "She's a Mew too."

"Hold up. 'Too'? You mean you're all Mews too?" Ichigo demanded. The chase stopped and Zakuro sighed.

"Like you, Ichigo, we're Mews. Minto is a bird, Retasu a whale, Purin a monkey and I am a gray wolf."

"And you're the world's most beautiful gray wolf too!" Minto cried out happily, hugging Zakuro around the waist. Zakuro showed no emotion towards this. "We've all been summoned together by Keichiiro and Ryou to help save the Zoo."

"Save the Zoo?" Ichigo repeated in confusion. Retasu sighed sadly. "Yes. The Kirema family are our rivals. Long ago they lived here but the lands were cursed with earthquakes and tornadoes almost daily. They moved where they evovled into their own seperate species so they could survive in their new world. But when they came back, humans had taken over the land and turned it into this lovely wildlife park." Retasu explained sadly.

"So they decided they'd try and ask for it back." Minto began calmly "But no one believed that this was their land. The people got angry and met a man named Deep Blue."

"Deep Blue was an evil wizard or a man. He took their freedom in exchange for the ability to create Kirema Animas and use new powers they never had before." Zakuro finished. Minto hugged her tightly and queitly thanked her for helping explain.

"But I still don't get it! Why are we in danger?!" Ichigo demanded angrily. This was too confusing!

"Kirema Animas are animals infected with an alien virus called a Kirema." Keichiiro explained "They mutant and fall under the control of anyone who is legaly a member of the Kirema Family. Recently, an animal killed a young child here. That animal was a kriema anima."

"But, much to our surprise, the original cursed Kirema family members had a change of heart." Added Minto firmly "And they decided to befriend the animals in the Zoo and have them help. So they created five cursed items: A jeweled dog collar, a candy drop, a pair of glasses, a ribbon and a bell."

Ichigo looked at the bell around her neck and then back up. "I have the bell." She said firmly "What about you?"

Minto turned around so Ichigo could see the back of her head and the back of her school uniform. Tying one of Minto's hair buns up was a scarlet ribbon. "I have the ribbon." She explained "I got it from a kid who was allowed to hold me one day in bird form. Then a kid plucked my feathers and I wished I got get them back. Next thing I knew, I'd turned into a human girl. All the visitors were scared away and I fled into the forest where I met Keichiiro."

Retasu was next to show off her item. She took her glasses off and handed them carefully to Ichigo. She, too, was in a school uniform now.

"These are my glasses." She explained "Ryou was the guy who played with me when I was a whale. But one day my eye sight got bad and I couldn't see my fish. So Ryou got me these glasses and I was wishing I could see without them because I looked goofy in them... I turned into a human and Ryou saved me from drowning. I can't see without them, though... And now everyone's worried 'cause my whale self is an endangered species..."

Ichigo nodded, noticing that Retasu seemed troubled by this. Then she turned to Purin.

"This is my candy drop!" Purin said in delight "This boy with pigtails used to watch my shows and one day he threw it at me no da. He's so sweet no na! I was wishing I could return it but he was gone before I could give it back in my new human form na no daaaa..."

Zakuro was last. She lifted her long, raven black hair up so Ichigo could see the jeweled dog collar around her neck. "My caretaker, Pie, gave me this." She said simply "And I was wishing to be left alone. Now I'm a model..."

Ichigo nodded and then blinked a couple times "So... Why are we in danger again?"

"The Kirema family gave these items to their children; Kish, Pie and Tart. But when Deep Blue discovered that they were trying to befriend the animals in stead of kill them he killed the parents of the three boys. The boys, who at the time were regular humans, became the mutant big-earred things you saw eariler. They were outcasts and begged Deep Blue to release them from their parents' curse. But Deep Blue refused and told them the only way that would happen was if they captured the Zoo property." Zakuro explained quickly.

"How are they going to do that legally nya?" Ichigo asked.

"They plan to make Animals attack vistors until the park loses all its money and sells the land to them." Said a new voice. Ichigo turned around and saw Ryou.

"Hello again nya."

"Hello."

"Why are you here nya?"

"I own this palce."

"Cool nya."

"Sure, whatever." Ryou said boredly "Listen girls. This might be a bad time but there are reports of extra large elephants right now."

Zakuro and Minto nodded, turning around and running off. Ichigo watched them go. "Do I follow?"

"Don't worry, Ichigo-san." Retasu said in her happy, gentle voice "They'll be fine. We must open Cafe."

"What the heck nya?"

"IT's time for Cafe Mew Mew to open na no da!" Purin cheered, bouncing over to Ichigo. She was now in a cute, frilly yellow waitress outfit. The minute Ichigo turned around Retasu was in a green one holding a red one out to Ichigo. Ichigo took the uniform and blinked.

"Nya?"

"Go change your clothes na no da!"

"Change my... clothes?"

"Oh, that's right. This is first time, isn't it Ichigo onee-chan na no da? RYOU!!!"

Retasu blushed and grabbed Purin's mouth "Nothing Shirogane-san!" She called "I'll help you, Ichigo-san."

"Why not Ryou na no da?"

Retasu sighed and pointed to the open/closed sign. "Flip that, Purin, and start seating customers."

"Right away na no da! Rodger that!" Purin cried, running off to flip the sign.

It took 5 minutes to get Ichigo changed. Retasu had made sure Ichigo was properly clothed and gone over some rules, such as not to flip your skirt or anything that attracted perverts. Ichigo, not having the rules written on her arm, quickly got to work and was a natural Waitress in now time. Everything was going perfect... Until he came.

"Konnichiwa! Welcoem to Cafe Mew Mew!" Ichigo said in delight as she greeted her first ever green haired customer.

"Private Table for 3, ok cutey?"

"Cutey? Moi?" Ichigo repeated happily, finally deciding to get a look at her customer. Ichigo froze and started to blush "K-Kishu!" She yelped in surprise. Kish stared at her and then smiled.

"Oh. You're the girl from the Zoo."

"Kish, is this that old hag?" Asked Tart, who was standing behind his older brother. Ichigo twitched and glared at Tart.

"Runt." She hissed.

"Hag." Tart replied, sticking his tounge out and laughing. Pie, on the other hand, was not amused.

"Please get us a seat." He demanded angrily. Ichigo's eyes grew wide and she nodded slowly, turning around and leading them to their seat. Kish was following very close while the other hung back a bit.

"So, Koneko-chan..." Kish whispered to her. Ichigo started turning bright red when she heard this and felt a burning on the top of her head "Are you cosplaying as a kitten?"

Ichigo paused and looked over at Retasu, who was staring rather oddly at her. Retasu then started pointing at her own head and at Ichigo. Ichigo stared and mouthed "What the heck?" And then she felt someone stroking her tail...

Wait. She wasn't supposed to have a tail right now.

"Wow, it's warm." Kish commented as he stroked Ichigo's tail. Ichigo gasped and turned around, trying to hide her tail.

"Oh. Wow. I guess the little monkey put that there nya. Uh, here's your seat." Ichigo said qucikly as she showed Kish a quiet, empty section of the Cafe "I'll be back to get your order soon."

"Ok then, Honey." Kish called after her.

"WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!" Ichigo demanded angrily after dragging Ryou into the employee section of the Cafe.

"Hmmm... This isn't good."

"I CAN SEE THAT!" Ichigo yelled angrily "MY CAT EARS AND TAIL ARE SHOWING!"

"It must mean that your wish is almost coming true." Ryou explained. Ichigo froze and started blushing.

"WHEEE! You mean, he likes meee?! YAY!"

"Not yay. If this advances, you'll turn into a cat again." Ryou explained sadly "So you need to find a way to get Kish to not like you."

Ichigo frowned and nodded. Just as this happened, Minto walked into the employee lounge.

"Oh, Ichigo-chan? What's with your ears and tail?"

"Kisshu-kun is starting to like me."

"Really? That's great."

"No, not great. I'm turning back intoa cat nyaaa!"

Minto blinked and then sighed. "Now, I'm doing this because you're a member of the team." She said firmly "I'll go take his order and try to get his mind off you. You just stay here until he leaves."

Ichigo nodded sadly "Ok..."

"Good girl. Be right back." Minto called as she walked out to Kish's table. Ichigo stood there, her eyes beginning to water. Why did this have to happen? WHY?! It just wasn't fair anymore...

---

Satou: YAY! Short xx;

Kish: Whatever.

Satou: You're not very supportive nya.