HELLOOO MY DARLINGS! I am sooooo sorry (once again:D) that it took me so long to upload this! I've been busy, and I think I had a tiny case of writer's block. IT'S OVER AND DONE WITH NOW, BABY! I'M BACK! Anywayz! I hope you like the next chapter! If you see any bolded sentences surrounded by parentheses, those are my little author comments I couldn't resist making. SORRRYYY :D ANYWAYS, KISSHU FANS UNITE!

Don't own Tokyo Mew Mew. DANGIT

CHAPTER 3: Meetings and Greetings

With a mechanic hiss, the door of the spaceship slid down and hit the ground with a bump.

Kisshu, Pai, and Taruto cautiously floated out of the ship, moving slowly so as not to alarm.

Many of the faces peaking out behind the rock disappeared, and those that remained were very, very cautious. Kisshu couldn't blame them. It'd been over a year since the day Deep Blue's presence had been sensed, since Blue had offered them a chance to live on Earth once more. Kisshu had been the first selected to go on this mission, because he was an expert swordfighter, and because he was young, healthy, and willing. Deep Blue had later gone back to get Pai and Taruto when Kisshu had been unsuccessful in defeating the Mew Mews. At any rate, the Contraltians hadn't had any news from Kish, Pai, and Tart for a while, so no wonder they were nervous.

Kisshu, Pai, and Taruto slowly hovered closer, just a bit. Before they could say anything, a shout echoed forth.

"Kisshu! Pai! Taruto! Is that you?"

One gruff alien pushed his way to the front of the little crowd hovering around the tunnels entrance. He limped out into the open and stared at the returned group with calculating eyes, leaning on a carved staff. Kisshu permitted himself a wry smile. Good. So Kaybler was still around.

Kaybler was the leader of the Contraltians. He was a gruff, wizened man, very smart and dependable, but a little rough around the edges. He'd been their leader as long as Kisshu could remember. Long ago, Kaybler had been trapped outside the caves during one of the wicked sandstorms, and had been attacked by a lone, starving wild wolf. He'd survived, but his back and leg had been badly injured. When his back had been injured, the luminescent sensors that ran up and down an alien's spine and allowed them to fly had been damaged, and Kaybler had ever since been forced to limp around on his crippled leg.

Instead of weakening Kaybler, the experience had appeared to make him stronger. He was tough and never backed down, and he was the perfect leader for the hard times the Contraltians lived in.

Kisshu called out, "It's us, Kaybler-san."

Kaybler's sun-baked face cracked in a wide grin as he recognized Kisshu's voice. Limping forward, he exclaimed, "Kisshu, Pai, Taruto! You're back!" He called back over his shoulder to the aliens hovering nervously. "It's alright, people. It's definitely them."

At this, the curious people began to slowly float out around the entrance…and then, in a big burst, many of them surged out and forward, wanting to see the returned people. They crowded around Kisshu's group, smiling and laughing and hugging and asking questions. Kisshu, Pai, and Taruto, as you can imagine, were not overly thrilled at being hugged-they are kinda no-touchy (except for that perverted Kisshu when it comes to Ichigo!)- but they understood their peoples excitement. Family members of Pai and Taruto-Pai's brothers, Taruto's mother-crowded around them, exclaiming with relief, and Kisshu felt a little hollow spot deep inside. He pushed the thought away.

Kisshu felt his face grew solemn as he saw the condition his people were in. In his time away, he'd forgotten just how badly off they'd been. The people's faces were thin and gaunt, very many dirty, clothing in tatters, and so many eyes haunted by suffering.

Kaybler managed to make his way forward to the front of the crowd. He gave each of the returned aliens a rough pat on the shoulder and growled, "So you're back, eh? And what news have you for us from Deep Blue-sama?"

The crowd grew silent, waiting for the answer. Kisshu glanced at Pai. Pai hesitated, then nodded at Kisshu.

Kisshu said slowly, "Deep Blue….was not who we thought he was." He paused, unsure how to go on. "His motives were not to help us, as we thought."

Kisshu could literally feel the atmosphere around him change. Faces that had a moment ago been excited, hopeful, joyful-had abruptly fallen to disappointed, despairing, defeated. (HEY THEY ALL STARTED WITH D)

Kaybler let out a sigh. Then his eyes turned shrewd. "What do you mean, 'was', Kisshu-kun?"

"He's dead." Kisshu said harshly.

Kaybler sighed again. "Sounds like you've got quite a lot to share, eh, Kisshu-kun? We might as well go inside."

"Wait," Kisshu said. Then he smiled, feeling real happiness. "Don't give up hope yet, Kaybler-san, everyone. Deep Blue is gone, but we've got something else." He turned and nodded to Taruto. Tart then flew back into the ship.

"What's going on, Kisshu-kun?" Kaybler rumbled.

Kisshu smirked. "Just wait."

Taruto came flying back out, excitement written in his amber eyes. He was holding the orb of Mew Aqua close to his chest. He handed it to Kisshu.

Kisshu bounced it in his palm, feeling the warmth, the rush of good feelings that spread out of it. Kaybler and the others were staring at the Aqua with open awe, affected by it also.

Kisshu opened his mouth to speak, to explain, but before he could, an unfamiliar, dazed voice called out.

"Is that…Mew Aqua?"

Out of the crowd of people surrounding them, one alien girl drifted forward.

Kisshu-alone with Pai and Taruto-stared at her. She looked to be about Kisshu's age, Kisshu thought, maybe a little bit younger. She was rather short and slender, with long hair of a deep violet color, which was pulled back into an intricate braid hanging over her shoulder almost to her waist. Her ears were as large as any alien's, and she wore a sort of gray tunic, with the accompanying arm bands and lace-up boots. Her eyes, however, were what caught attention. They were large and silver, and very bright and deep, with a knowing, intelligent, worldly look to them.

Kisshu and his friends didn't really notice much of this at the time. How did she-whoever she was-know about the Mew Aqua? So far as they knew, the substance existed on no other planet besides Earth.

Finally, Taruto spoke. "How do you know that?"

The girl looked puzzled. She cocked her head to the side a bit and pursed her lips. After a moment or so, she said, sounding confused, "I'm not sure. I just…know."

SOOOOO yaaa! I hope you guys liked that! BY THE WAY...I know that in theory, there would probably be no kind of honorific terms on Kisshu's planet...that's really just a Japanese thing, as far as I know...but I really like the honorific thing, so I'm keeping it anyway. :D

Keep reviewing, as always, you know I love 'em! And thanks to those who have been reviewing, they give me soooo much excitement! I will try to have the next chappie up as quickly as possible!

Kisshu: YOU SAID THAT LAST TIME

ME: SHUT UP, YOU, OR ITS BACK IN THE CLOSET

:D Ignore that! LOVE YOU READERS! ...if i have any...LOL good times