(Sorry this is a bit short,everyone. I had to get it out, and over with so I could work on Ch. 8 at school. See you guys next time!)
Chapter Seven- Ryou's Surprising Choice
"How could you lose her? Why didn't you tell one of us?" Pai and Tart were gaping at their friend incredulously. Pai looked distraught at the thought of the Mew Mews getting away with taking their adopted child away. Tart looked annoyed that Kisshu didn't look as upset as he should. "Aren't you worried about her!"
Kisshu sighed, looking over at his two friends. "Yes, but I think this is better for her." He started to walk back to his room, but Pai grabbed his arm.
"After everything I went through for you to be able to keep her!" His elder friend glared at him. "Go back and get her, now!"
"Later." Kisshu replied, disappearing. Pai and Tart stared at each other, both in shock.
I
At the Café, the Mew Mews were having trouble calming Arissa down. Pudding had tried doing a talent demonstration. Even Mint had gone gentle towards her. Still, the child could not be soothed. She wanted Kisshu and his friends. These girls had hurt them. Especially her buddy Tart, and she didn't forgive them for it. "I wanna go homes."
Mint sighed. "I give up. Ichigo, you try. You used to babysit for her. Why don't you work on calming her down, before Ryou and Keiichiro come up here."
Ichigo swallowed, walking over to Arissa. I didn't want to hurt her, or Kisshu...but,the Cyniclons were trying to turn her against all of humanity. Just looking at her, Ichigo knew that her adorable former charge had already changed. She pulled up a chair beside Arissa and touched her shoulder lightly. "Hey, Rissa..."
The young girl looked up at Ichigo with contempt. "Take me back. Kish no hurted me. I loves him, Pai and Tart."
"But, Arissa, they're not good aliens, baby. They want to kill everyone and everything on Earth."
"Well, we not good earflings either. We ruined their planet." Arissa retorted. "I helping them fixes it."
Ichigo looked stunned at this child's knowledge. Had the Cyniclons really already gotten to her? It hadn't really been that long, had it? She sighed in defeat. "Arissa, I'm sorry. I can't take you back to Kisshu." This she said in the most firm voice she could muster.
"That's right." Ryou and Keiichiro had been standing in the doorway of the kitchen, as the girls had been trying to quiet the child. Now Ryou strode in easily, and picked her up. He ignored her squirms of protest, and just held her until she stopped. It was much like how Pai had taken to handling her very few tantrums. He sat down with her in his lap, and looked at the older girls and Keiichiro. "I told you before that where she went once we got her back was unimportant. The reason for it is because I had already planned to take her in temporarily as opposed to sending her to an orphanage."
The reaction was of the mixed variety. Ichigo looked like she was choking on her soda while Mint, Zakuro and Pudding just stared in awe. Finally, Ichigo broke the long silence. "Do you even know how to take care of kids?"
Ryou ignored her implied insult. He was talking to Arissa now about her new home. The child was confused as to why she had to live with him, when her Mommy was probably looking for her. "Well...see, your mother and father died late this afternoon." He spoke with sympathy, remembering how it felt to lose his parents so suddenly. He wanted to tell her it was the aliens' fault, but he didn't feel the time was right. "If I don't take you in, you'll end up in an orphanage. Those places aren't very nice." And I'm not going to let Kisshu and his friends get at you again! He added silently to himself.
"Can I ever sees Kisshu again?" Arissa asked now. She was hoping this guy would give her a better answer than Mint had.
"I'm afraid not." Ryou replied gently, yet firmly. "We'll still have lots of fun though." He added the last part to persuade her, but Ryou knew that he and Keiichiro would have a lot of psychological damage to undo. "First thing tomorrow, we'll get you registered for school."
Arissa nodded, without verbally showing excitement. Pai had been her only teacher, and she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about a new one, let alone a new place to live and learn. "What I call you?" She looked up at Ryou now. Even though she still wanted to be with Kisshu and his friends, she didn't particularly feel threatened by Ryou and his friends anymore either.
"Just Ryou will do." Ryou replied, as he stood up with her. He sat her down on the chair again. He then turned to Ichigo. "Get her a small milkshake, will ya? Arissa, tell her what flavor you want." With that, he walked back towards his room upstairs.
Arissa turned to look at Ichigo. "Anilla with whipped cream." She grinned cutely, as Ichigo hustled to the kitchen. She would drink this one in Tart's honor, since he couldn't have one as well.