Author's Note: Alright I don't own TMM and I'm not claiming to either. I use some lyrics from various artists and I don't own those either.
Chapter 3 "Thoughts Lead Back to You"
It appeared as though the weekend was finally over as Retasu walked out her front door. The sun was once again shining brilliantly in the sky above, symbolizing another beautiful day. Despite the appearance of the world around her, it did not feel bright in her world. The young teenager let out a soft sigh before beginning to walk towards Okumura Daifuzoku. She held onto her school bag as she saw Ichigo walking towards her own school. "Ohayo Ichigo-san!" Retasu called out as she waved at Ichigo and ran over to her.
The strawberry haired fifteen year old turned and smiled brightly. "Ohayo Retasu! It is good to see you actually going to school today!" The girl stated as she walked alongside the girl.
"Okaasan wouldn't allow me to miss school for another week. Besides I'm going to have a lot of work to make up." Retasu remarked as she tried not to think about the reason she had chosen to skip school the prior week. After walking with her friend for a while she stopped and looked at the crossroads. "Well I have to go this way."
"Alright Retasu my school is this way." Ichigo stated pointing in the opposite direction of her friend. "I will see you this afternoon? Everyone is going to meet at the café and then we are going to hang out." The strawberry mew reminded Retasu as she ran off towards her school but not before having to her friend.
"I'll be there no need to worry Ichigo-san. I will be there!" Retasu shouted as she herself took off running towards her school.
Upon reaching her school, she looked around at everyone once she walked in the door. It appeared as though they all looked at her shocked. Retasu guessed that they thought she was not going to come back to school. As the school day went on and Retasu did her work; however, she kept thinking about their trip to Café Mew Mew after school. Retasu was saddened as she thought about how Ryou was not going to be there as she sighed and rested her head on her desk. It was lunch time and she did not feel up to eating. Retasu then walked over to the window as she looked out it and watched the clouds. "All of my thoughts lead back to Shirogane-san." She sighed as her blue eyes turned to her classmates who were giggling and conversing about things.
All the pain I thought I knew,
All my thoughts lead back to you,
Back to what was never said,
Back and forth inside my head
Lunch period was over as Retasu returned to her seat and listened to her teacher go on about Algebra. The girl attempted to work hard to catch up with her classmates in the lessons they were on. When the school bell rang, she let out a soft sigh, thankful that class was funally over. Retasu walked outside the school building rather slowly as she looked at the blue sky and smiled. Hopefully seeing her friends once more would help distract her from those thoughts inside her head.
Retasu made her way through town as she headed towards the café holding onto her school bag. As the girl was walking she stopped for a moment when a small animal caught her eye. Picking it up gently, the lettuce mew noticed its leg had been injured. "It looks as if you have been injured young one." Retasu then took out her handkerchief as she wrapped it around the small creature's paw gently. "There you go now you have to give that paw time to heal." She smiled as she stood up and set the kitten down. "Be more careful from now on, alright?"
Retasu then continued on her way to the café when all of a sudden the wind blew fiercely and the girl held her skirt down as she looked around. Retasu looked at the blackened sky as her eyes widened. "Is there a storm coming?" She questioned as she watch debris fly through the air as she ran towards the café. The wind died down as the sky returned to its normal shade of blue as Retasu looked around confused. "What was that all about?"
The green mew made it to the café as she looked at her friends all standing outside and waiting for her. "Konnichiwa. Gomen nasai I'm late." Retasu apologized as she looked at her friends that were standing there.
"It is ok Retasu-oneechan! Ichigo-oneechan and Aoyama-oniichan just got here as well! You aren't that late na no da!" Purin smiled as she bounced around as usual although she was now wear a school uniform of her own and the colors suited her well. She wore an orange plaid skirt with an orange vest sweater over a white blouse.
"Now what are we going to do everyone?" Ichigo questioned as she looked around at the group of girls standing there and held onto Masaya's arm. Masaya had asked the girls if they could all hang out after school today and he suggested that they all meet at the café.
"Well I suggest you all go into the back and change. The café opens in five minutes." Ryou stated as he walked out from behind the café and smiled at the 6 teenagers.
"Shirogane!"
"Shirogane-san!"
"Shirogane-oniichan!" They all said at the same time as they looked at him in shock.
Ichigo was the first one to recover from the shock as she let go of Masaya's arm and looked at him. "I thought you weren't coming back until Saturday Shirogane." Ichigo stated clearly shocked that he was back.
"That is true Ichigo we hadn't planned on returning until this Saturday however we were done investigating and decided that we would return to Tokyo yesterday afternoon. We were going to call you all, but thought it would be better to surprise you when you all came to the café this afternoon." Keiichiro explained.
"But Akasaka-oniichan how did you know we were coming to the café no da?" Purin asked confused.
"Shirogane called me last night and asked me to suggest to you all that we head to the café after we all got out of school." Masaya stated as the girls all looked at him in shock.
"Aoyama-kun you knew Shirogane and Akasaka-san were back the entire time?" Ichigo questioned as she looked at him stunned.
"Gomen. They told me to keep it a secret so that they could surprise you and it looks like it worked." Masaya smiled.
Retasu frowned as she didn't look at anyone as she turned her head away and looked at the ground. Deciding to put thoughts and feelings aside, she then smiled her best and faced the group. "We had better get changed." The girl stated before quickly rushing towards the back of the café.
All the pain I thought I knew,
All my thoughts lead back to you,
Back to what was never said,
Back and forth inside my head
Ryou watched Retasu walk into the back of the café as he looked at the group. "Something is different with Retasu is she alright?" Shirogane questioned as he looked at the girls and Masaya.
"She just had a rough week last week…" Zakuro tried to explain as she looked away from Ryou and at the other mews.
The girls didn't say anything more as they all headed to the back of the café and got changed. Retasu looked in the mirror as she sighed and walked outside the café and opened it. Customers began coming inside as she helped take orders and Purin brought the customers their drinks.
Shirogane looked into the dining area as he watched Retasu drop a thing of plates and glasses as he sighed and turned to Keiichiro. "It would seem things have not changed. Retasu just dropped a thing a dishes all over the ground."
"Don't scold her Ryou she probably has a lot on her mind after all the girls said she had a rough week last week." Keiichiro responded as he made some pastries for the customers.
"I did not plan on scolding her Keiichiro." Ryou stated as he walked out and helped Retasu clean up the dishes she broke. "You know Retasu you have to be more careful with the dishes otherwise we won't have any that aren't broken." He stated as he cleaned some plates up.
Retasu blushed as she looked at the glass on the ground. Her heart beat seemed to pick up as she tried her best to contain her nervousness. "Gomen nasai Shirogane-san I didn't mean…"
Retasu was cut off as Ryou placed his finger over her mouth and smiled slightly. "You do not need to apologize Retasu, I understand you have a lot on your mind; the girls said you had a rough week last week. I'll let it slip for today alright? Please try to clear your mind though so we don't have to constantly clean up dishes."
Retasu nodded as she finished cleaning up the dishes she broke. "I will Shirogane-san. Arigato for helping." She smiled nervously as she threw away the broken pieces of glass and went outside to rake leaves. Making certain to leave Ryou as quickly as she could without causing a scene.
Ryou watched Retasu rush outside as he stood up and walked into the kitchen. He began washing dishes as he looked out the window and could see Retasu raking leaves as he narrowed his eyes.
Ryou's POV
Retasu what is going on with you? Sure you've always been a bit quiet and not the one to spill everything to me, but you are acting so distant… I wish I knew what was going on so I could help you. I care for you a lot Retasu…
End Ryou's POV
Retasu flipped the sign to closed as Ichigo escorted the last customers out of Café Mew Mew and sighed. "What a day." The strawberry haired girl grabbed a broom as she started to sweep around the café when she bumped into Masaya and smiled. "Gomen Aoyama-kun." She giggled and went off to clean more.
The girls and guys finished cleaning up the café as everyone sat down and Keiichiro walked into the room with a cake. "I figured since we came home we should celebrate with some cake." Keiichiro smiled as he set the cake on the table and smiled.
"That is a great idea Akasaka-san I will go grab some plates." Retasu offered as she ran into the kitchen and Ryou decided to follow her and help. The green haired teen turned around and was surprised as she almost dropped the plates, but Ryou managed to stop her from dropping them as he held onto the bottom of the plates. "Sh…Shirogane-san…" Retasu managed as she blushed a bright strawberry red.
Ryou smiled as he took the plates from Retasu. "Here I'll bring the dishes to the others so you won't break them." He remarked as he left Retasu in the kitchen and carried the plates out to the others.
All the pain I thought I knew,
All my thoughts lead back to you,
Back to what was never said,
Back and forth inside my head
Retasu stood in the kitchen as she looked at the floor and sighed. Whenever he was around her she could not help those thoughts racing through her mind. Someday, maybe someday she'd be able to voice her feeling to him. At the moment that seemed rather unlikely. Retasu had been standing in the kitchen for five minutes before Keiichiro finally walked into the kitchen and smiled gently to Retasu. "How come you are not in there enjoying yourself like the others are Retasu?"
The girl was startled as her sapphire eyes turned to the twenty-one year old. "Akasaka-san… Gomen I was thinking about…"
"Ryou…" He interrupted quietly as he walked over to Retasu. "You can't tell him how you feel can you?"
Retasu blushed severely as she frowned and shook her head in reply. "N…no… I cannot tell him. Things would be awkward between us if I were to tell him my feelings for him." Retasu replied as she looked up at Keiichiro before quickly looking back towards her shoes.
Keiichiro smiled warmly as he walked over to Retasu and put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Retasu I'm sure that you will figure out what to do someday. However for now everyone is out there waiting for you so let's go have some fun." He urged before pushing her towards the saloon type doors.
Retasu laughed nervously as she sat down next to Ryou and ate her piece of cake. "Wow Akasaka-san, this cake is really good." She complimented taking another bite from her cake.
Keiichiro smiled. "Arigato Retasu, however I did not make the cake Ryou did." He replied looked at Ryou who had his eyes shut and arms crossed.
Retasu blushed as she turned to Ryou. "Um… the cake… it… it is very good… Shirogane-san." She managed as she looked at him.
"Arigato, Retasu I am glad that you like it." He said with a slight smile as he opened his eyes and looked at her.
The girls all laughed as they finished their cake and Purin began to bounce around the café. "I think Retasu-oneechan has a crush on Shirogane-oniichan na no da!" Purin shouted out as loud as she could.
All the pain I thought I knew,
All my thoughts lead back to you,
Back to what was never said,
Back and forth inside my head
Retasu could not believe what has just happened as her eyes widened in horror. Instantly her face turned a fierce shade of strawberry red as she stood up and ran into the back room and changed quickly. Without a single word, the green haired girl rushed out of the café as everyone stood up in shock as they heard the back door slam behind their friend. The café fell silent as they heard harsh raindrops begin to fall on the roof as a storm began.
Author's Note: There is my Chapter 3 remake for you! I may edit some more today, if not I'll work on them again tomorrow. Reviews? We get to meet old friends next Chapter, things are getting interesting around here that's for sure! For the Future of the Earth, I'll keep writing~nya!
Japanese Words and Meanings
Gomen- Sorry
Arigato- Thank you
Nya/Nyan- Meow
Na No Da- Purin says it at the end of each sentence; a form of exclamation
Oneesama- Minto refers to Zakuro as Oneesama; This is a form of big sister but with a lot of respect
Oneechan- sister
Oniichan- brother
Ohayo- Good Morning
Konnichiwa- Good Afternoon
Minna - Everyone