Chapter Seven

Clearing The Air

The girl continued to chatter on and on, clearly not noticing that Ryou wasn't paying attention. Instead he was contemplating what this would mean to the team. If anything happened, he knew that everyone would be needed at once. He figured that Zakuro probably knew this too. That girl didn't miss a beat when it came to strategizing.

"I'm sure it will be alright." Pudding said, finally noticing that she had lost Ryou's attention. "I mean, we do got the other girls and everything. Besides," she said mischievously, "you've got the Great Pudding Fong!" She emphasized, displaying her gymnastics routine. This brought a rare smile to Ryou's face and he got up from the computer, tossed her a piece of candy and headed up the stairs. Some days… he thought. At the top of the stairs, he was greeted by the image of Keiichiro and Suika chatting while he piped icing onto a mini cake. They stopped abruptly when he entered, and Ryou knew at once something was up.

"Okay you two, spill it." Was all he said.

Keiichiro looked at Ryou and sighed. "Suika found out about Masaya being in the hospital." He said simply. "She was asking me what it was all about."

"I have a right to know." Suika said defiantly. "He is my cousin's husband."

"You're right." Ryou sighed and thought back to his research last night. "If we find out any more information, you and Ichigo will be the first to know. Did you hear about Zakruo?" He asked, changing the subject.

Keiichiro nodded. "Yes, she said if anything happens while she's filming, she's going to leave the shoot to come back as quickly as possible."

"Good." Ryou said and walked out into the seating area. Mint was sitting there, looking over a dance magazine when she noticed him walking towards her.

"I heard about Zakuro, if that was what you were going to ask." She said as he approached.

"Actually," he replied, "I was going to ask you to get ready for your shift."

"I might as well. It doesn't look like Ichigo's here yet." She said, getting up and bringing her magazine along with a cup of tea into the kitchen.

Having a moment to himself, Ryou sighed and sat down for a second. The dream that he had last night came back to him, and he thought it over. A tap on his shoulder made him turn around to find Keiichiro staring at him. "We have to talk." He said instantly, and Keiichiro nodded and followed him silently back into the basement

"Did you really join the Mew Project to defeat this demon?" Ryou started when they reached the bottom of the steps.

"Yes." Keiichiro confirmed. "At first it was just to stop the aliens, but later I realized what would happen when that task was over."

"That's why when the Mew Project was over, you continued searching for another girl, so that there would be six warriors instead of five?" Ryou asked.

"Yes. I was sure everything pointed to Anzu Katoya, that is why I injected her with the DNA. I wasn't counting on you to find her before I could present her to the team." Keiichiro said.

"Now, I have one more question." Ryou said, looking his long time friend and partner in the eyes.

"What?" Keiichiro asked solemnly.

Ryou took a deep breath and sighed, "Do you think they stand a chance?"

His friend smiled at him and said without doubt, "I believe it with every fiber in my being." Ryou smiled back and they headed upstairs.

The day passed slowly at Café Mew Mew, Ichigo, Suika and Pudding all worked diligently waiting for the time the place could close and they could go home. Even Mint worked hard for once (except for taking a half hour for her daily tea) and they were all grateful at 5:00 when the doors were shut and they could get off their feet. At that moment though, when they were about to head out, Lettuce came rushing in, holding a portable TV in her hands.

"Stop! Stop!" She shouted. "Guys, there's a Kirema Anima attacking Zakuro's filming site!" And sure enough, on the small screen Mew Zakuro was battling a giant Bird-like alien. She was getting beaten badly and desperately needed help.

"Girls, go!" Ryou yelled and the five of them ran out the door. It was only a few blocks to the commercial location, but the area had been blocked off and was swarming with security.

"How are we ever going to get in?" Suika worried.

"Like this." Ichigo said, smiling at her. Then she shouted, "Mew Mew Strawberry Metamorphosis!" and was engulfed in pink.

"Mew Mew Mint Metamorphosis!" Mint yelled donning her blue outfit.

"Mew Mew Lettuce Metamorphosis!" Lettuce agreed, becoming enshrouded in green.

"Mew Mew Pudding Metamorphosis!" Pudding concluded, being wrapped in yellow.

"I guess I have no choice but to follow." Suika said, smiling at the girls who were now transformed into their battle costumes. "Mew Mew Suika Metamorphosis!" She shouted, and was transformed into her dark red battle costume, complimented by a bushy dark red tail and large floppy ears.

"Way to go Suika!" Pudding yelled and bounded over to her to give her a hug.

"Thanks, I guess." Suika said, embarrassed a little.

"Don't worry," Lettuce said, "you'll get used to it."

"Guys?" Mint asked. "Don't we have some butt to kick?"

"Follow me." Ichigo said, jumping over the barricades used to keep people out. They ran a few more feet and came upon the battle just as Mew Zakuro was knocked to the ground. She was bruised and beaten, but she had enough strength to notice the others show up.

"Nice of you to come." She said. "Now how about we defeat this thing?"

"Ribbon Pudding Ring Inferno!" Pudding shouted, using her attack to immobilize the giant bird.

"Ribbon Lettuce Flash" Lettuce yelled, causing the bird to become disoriented.

"Ribbon Zakuro Puree!" Zakuro shouted, wrapping her purple whip around it.

"Ribbon Mint Echo!" Mint joined in with, shooting a laser of light towards the beast.

"You're turn!" Ichigo yelled to Suika. "Just say the first thing that comes to your head."

" Red…Red Ruby Recorder!" Suika said, and in her hand an ornately carved recorder materialized. It was covered in roses and thorns and was glowing slightly. "Ribbon Watermelon Delight!" Suika yelled, and began to play the instrument. All at once, a hauntingly beautiful tune emerged, and almost instantly the Kirema Anima's eyes began to droop. A few seconds later, it was sleeping and motionless.

"Ribbon Strawberry Check!" Her cousin yelled and separated the bird from the invading alien.

As Masha recovered the alien, the six girls returned to their normal state and convened on the ground.