Trapped in the Fandom Net

Moon: Yes, I am back! Horray!

Katani: There is nothing subtle about a couple of kids who looked like they stepped out of a sci-fi movie walking down the street!

Kunex: What do you suggest we do? Become chameleons?

Angel Ichigo: Celestial Moonlight Blade does not own TMM or MMP. She only owns the OCs and the plot.

Chapter 17: Hunting in Tokyo

"Why is everyone staring at us?" Destiny asked. The group was walking through downtown Tokyo, looking for Sues. This wasn't a hard job; Sues stuck out among normal people. They were too beautiful to blend in properly, so Soul found it easy to pick out and dispatch them as subltly as possible. However, that didn't stop people from staring. As if they had just been dropped out of outer space.

"That's a rather dumb question, bro." Moon said, laughing. "Look at the way we're dressed. Did you seriously think that wouldn't turn heads?"

"Good point." Destiny said, blushing a bit. Everyone got a laugh out of that, even Zakuro and Pai. Angel Ichigo smiled warmly at anyone who looked at her. Several people had questioned them about their attire and the Gate Keys-Moon's excuse was that they were headed to a costume party. If someone asked Soul what was up with her eyes, she would insist that they were contact lenses. Thankfully , they seemed to buy that and didn't press any further.

It would have been MUCH harder to explain away the high-tech weapons they were carrying with them. Angel Ichigo's staff couldn't be hidden under a cloak or in a large bag, but Kish claimed that it was just plastic. The pink haired angel-cat-girl grinned at him, conveying her thanks.

A curious kid followed the gang for a while, until Katani gently pointed out that her parents were at the light, and she wouldn't want to get lost. Moon pointed out that they were mostly getting lucky, and to try to keep low profile.

Mint was a little overwhelmed at being back in her world. It seemed so tame and normal, after all the chaos she had walked through in the Net. It felt warm and nostalgic. She wasn't going to let the Sues take this place over. She would hunt down and destroy every last one of them. They wouldn't lay a hand on the world she would die to protect.

Gemini noticed the seriousness in the bird mew's eyes and gave her a thumbs-up, as if somehow sensing her hardened resolve. Mika, Mew and Musica were having an enthusiastic discussion about shopping, as if they wanted to buy something before they dealt with the Sues. Angelcake and Amber were enjoying the sights, not saying anything unless they spotted something they liked or thought was cool.

Angel Ichigo pulled to a stop at one point. Moon glanced questioningly at her. "Ichigo? What's up?"

The pink-haired girl brought out her "talk-pad" and scribbled down; We've been walking in cirlces. I think whatever Sues were in this area are long gone. Where do you think would be a good place for them to make a base?

Amber looked around. "Dang, she's right! Savannah probably knows were coming now."

Shiru barked. The dragon was hidden under a huge coat, so no one knew what kind of creature he really was. Why no one was questioning why this "dog" was wearing a huge cloak was a mystery to Mint. Perhaps the kid's weird attire was enough to distract them from it. He let out a string of barks and growls, and Katani translated. How she understood dragon-speak was beyond any of the mews.

"Shiru says that it we got up high enough, he'd be able to catch their scent."

Soulstealer snapped her fingers. "That's a great idea! My sixth sense wasn't working well because there were too many people around, and it got muddled. But if we got high up, where there aren't too many people, I might be able to find the trail!"

"This is great. Okay people, start searching for multi-story buildings. The highest ones possible. Preperably further downtown, since the Sues will try to hide themselves among the sheer number of people in downtown Tokyo ." Moon said commandingly. All at once, the Gatekeepers and TMM cast started looking around.

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Meanwhile, in an old building that had been rapidly rebuilt by a workforce of Sues, Savannah, Bella and Stephanie were leaning over a huge map. "Okay…we'll need to surround this area, and start up the Device." Savannah spoke first. She pointed a slender finger towards the edge of Downtown Tokyo. "When it completes its task, this area will be fresh for the taking. All we'll need is a competent Composer, and the necessary changes will be completed."

"That's the problem, Savannah." Bella said, frowning. "We need a Composer. And none of the Gatekeepers would assist us, even if we held them at gunpoint. They would die for Silvera and Cosmic Peace, and they are no use to us dead."

"That's true." Savannah said. "And I've thought of that. I have a plan."

"You do?"

"We'll sample some of Moon's composing." The moonlight-haired girl spoke confidently. "If we manage to drain the essence from it, one of us could drink it and become a brilliant Composer, just like her."

Stephanie grinned at that. "I knew you wouldn't fail, Savannah! You're the best human ever! I adore you!"

"Good for you." Savannah said flatly, coolly, without any respect for her companion. It was the kind of grating, superior tone used by every other girl when she thought she was so much cooler than every other girl in the room. "Anyway, after I finish making the necessary changes to this Reality, we'll bring out the Runes of Fate and perform the Act of Sealing. Then everything would be perfect!"

"Yes! But Savannah…why stop there?" Bella asked, her lovely green eyes shining with knowledge. Savannah turned her molten golden eyes on the other girl.

"You're saying my plan isn't good enough?"

"Of course not!" Bella said hastily. "I was just thinking…why stop here? Why stop here when we can spread perfection over the entire cosmos and make you the Eternal Empress of all worlds?"

A hungry light danced in Savannah's golden eyes. "Eternal Empress…that has a nice ring to it. And how do you propose we do this? Silvera would definite stand in our way."

"Well…I was thinking that maybe we should try to access the never-ending pool of Insanity?" Bella suggested. "You know, the stuff Lettuce had drank that drove her batsh*t crazy when she was fighting the Dark Avatar? And don't stop there! On top of that, we should get Shiru."

"Shiru?" Stephanie gasped. "The little black dragon that follows Pudding and the Gatekeepers?"

"Yes. If he takes a dip in the Pond of Darkness, he'll return to his Soulless state! And when he does, his original power would double, and he'll have control over every Soulless in the Net! And that should be enough to stall even Silvera while I get it…"

"What?" Savannah's eyes widened and then narrowed. "What is this? And what do you mean YOU get it?"

Bella flinched. "O-Of course I'd give it too you! I mean the Plot Device that Moon had used to defeat Shinryu the first time, only with infinite ammo."

Savannah smiled, warming up to the idea. "I think it's time we put Mr and Ms Momomia to use." She snapped her fingers. Too burly Gary-Stus popped in, holding Angel Ichigo's parents in their iron grip. All three Queen Sues smirked.

"Let's see if they'll take the bait."

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"This is useless!" Mint shouted in frustration. Very large building they had come across, they couldn't have used. Either the elevator was out of order and something had spilled in the stairs, or they had to pay to get inside, and what would you know, no one had any money on their person right now.

"Shall we try to get to Café Mew Mew?" Mew tried to come up with something. Musica shook her head.

"It's too far from here! We don't have time, Savannah could be hatching her plan any minute now! We can't afford to keep wandering around like this!" Mika violently kicked a nearby stone in her anger. That's when Zakuro got an idea.

"Moon, can you use your powers outside the net?" She asked the brown-haired girl.

Moon looked a little confused by the question. "Of course we can. We're just expected to stay subtle about it, and make sure no one sees us."

Without another word, Zakuro marched into a nearby shop. A few seconds later, she marched back out with a notebook and a pen, which she handed to Moonlight.

"Then how about we MAKE a building, so something we can use to find the Sues where ever they are hiding?" She posed the question with a smile. Moon's eyes lit up.

"Zakuro, you are a genius!" She took the book&pen and ran into the ally nearby. The other Gatekeeprs all gave Zakuro a grin and followed her. The mews, aliens, and Ryou&Keiichiro hung out in front of the ally, to both shield the Gatekeepers from prying eyes and not to cause suspicion.

"What do you suppose Moon will create?" Tart asked randomly. Everyone else shrugged.

"It's hard to guess. Moon-san is a strange person and it's hard to tell what goes through her mind. Heck, it's hard to tell what goes on in the minds of all the gatekeepers. They just seem so rapid-fire." Lettuce admitted shyly. Pai nodded in her direction, silently agreeing with her.

Ryou sighed. "I never thought something like this would ever happen to us. I mean, even the Battle with Deep Blue pales in comparison, after the Soulless and the Sues. I feel as if we're trapped in one of those action movies where there's always something happening, and the characters never get a break."

"True." Keiichiro seconded that, leaning against the brick wall.

"We're lucky that Katani found us." Mint said. "If she hadn't taken us to Moon, we wouldn't have met the Gatekeepers and would probably be Soulless, wandering around helplessly."

"I wonder what possessed me to pick up that Gatekeeper computer from before all this." Ryou said, partially to himself.

"Maybe it was Fate na no da." Pudding said in all seriousness. Shiru barked, as if he agreed with her statement. Tart scowled at the little dragon for a split second before glancing back up at Pudding.

"Maybe it really was fate." The youngest alien spoke up. "After all, Soul talked about her as if she was a conscious entity, and she was the one who made the Runes of Fate. So maybe she did will this to happen. Maybe there's a reason behind it all. Maybe…just maybe, there's something that supposed to happen, a reason we met the Gatekeepers."

Everyone stared at him. "Wow that was insightful Tart." Kish said, surprised at his little brother's seriousness.

"I know." Tart said proudly.

"But I think it's true." Katani said, and Kunex smirked. "I wonder what Fate has in mind for us. What lies along the road of this lifetime?"

"IT'S DONE!" Moon shouted. Quickly, the group spread apart, allowing the Gatekeepers to come out of the ally. Moon was holding what looked like a mirror.

"What is that, Moon?"

"I don't know." She admitted. "However, it will lead us straight to the Sues and into their hideout."

"That's wonderful!" Kunex cheered. "You're the best, Moon."

"Thank you, Kunex. It's this way!" Moon lead the way as the group of warriors charged through the streets of Tokyo, leading to what would hopefully be the final showdown with the Sues. Of course, they didn't know what the Sues had in store for them.

End Chapter

Okay, that's a sort-of cliffhanger! This chapter was so much fun to fight for some reason…maybe it was the new plot, or maybe I was just eager to get to the fight with the Sues! What will we do when we realize they have Ichigo's parents?

Like it? Hate it? The only way I'll know is if you review!