Hello my honeybunches of oats! It's been a while since I've updated-please don't hate me! I've had a request for more Pai and Tart in the story-MEAM-neko n.n, I hope this satisfies you! There's lots more Tart in this one, Pai will show up more later!

I do not own TMM, and if I did I would reign supreme over Tokyo with Kisshu by my side!

Chapter 7: Fawning!

"Wake up, Kisshu."

Kisshu shifted in his sleep, too lost in a warm, comfortable world to respond to the voice tugging at his consciousness.

"Kisshu, wake up."

Kisshu didn't move.

"Kisshu!" Someone shook his shoulder roughly. He batted the hand away automatically.

There was a sigh. "Alright, you asked for it." The voice now held an undertone of menace.

Kisshu heard the faint shimmery sound in the air that meant someone was transporting away, then silence. He drifted.

There was the shimmery sound again, and before Kisshu's half asleep mind could register it, a wave of icy cold water splashed over him.

Kisshu sat bold upright, sputtering. "TARUTO!"

Tart hovered in the air, smirking at him. "Good morning, sunshine!"

Kisshu glared at him. "You little..."

Tart grinned. "Kaybler wants everyone up."

Kisshu threw off his blanket and stood up. "You could have just told me that instead of dousing me!" he complained, pulling on his boots.

Tart smiled evilly. "Yeah, well, this was more fun!"

A few minutes later, Kisshu was dressed and ready, though perhaps a little wetter than he would normally hope for. He and Tart headed up to the main cavern together, Kisshu still aiming idle threats at Taruto. The cave was filled; everyone was there, positively buzzing with excitement. A few women, including Reeza, were serving breakfast at a table, and Taruto and Kisshu automatically went to that table (manly men need their food!) As they ate, Kaybler stood up and called out, "Alright, everyone, as soon as we're all done eating, we want every able-bodied person who can get away to come outside. We are going to split into teams and do a little more exploring today. We need everyone who can help, please!"

He didn't really have to call for help; everyone was eager to get outside again, Kisshu observed. His people had been trapped in these caves too long.

Kisshu's exploration party included Taruto, Pai, Marzac, a few girls he didn't know well, and a strong, grizzled looking man who hadn't said much. They were east of the cave system and into the forest. Several other exploration parties had headed in different directions.

Kisshu had everything the village needed mapped out in his mind: A source of water, good soil, good resources, and hopefully a lack of dangerous creatures. So far, they hadn't found a place that fit the bill.

However, he was a tad distracted. He and Taruto were being fawned over.

"Taruto-sama, what was your favorite part about being on Earth?" the slim girl with the red hair-Kisshu thought her name was Vivia-asked, giggling a looked a little at loss. The three were girls were hovering close to him and Kisshu, laughing at everything they said and tossing their hair at every opportunity. "I don't know...the food?"

Vivia laughed loudly. "Oh, Taruto-sama, you're so funny!" Tart looked confused.

"What about you, Kisshu-sama?" Terian, the pale blond-haired one, asked him, smiling sweetly. Sama? Kisshu could get used to being called that, but he was getting a bit irritated with the girls. He sort of understood their reasons for acting that way-they saw him and Tart as heroes, saving the planet-but they were on a mission, for gosh's sakes!

Kisshu got an idea. "Hmm, I don't know. Pai, why don't you help me out with that one?" He grabbed Pai, who had been walking behind them a bit, and pulled him into their little group.

Pai gave the girls his best glare, which was, well, terrifying. The girls stared at him for a moment, then scattered. Kisshu glimpsed one hiding behind Marzac, who looked like he thought it was his lucky day.

Kisshu grinned. "Thanks, Pai."

Pai sighed. "Glad to be of assistance." He walked ahead, going back to the electronic device he'd been holding.

"Well, that was weird," Taruto said, still looking dazed by the random fangirl attack (it's just like what would happen if Tart and Kissh came out in real life!).

Kisshu grinned. "Get used to it, kid. You're a real lady's man!" He elbowed Tart, getting him back for their little water episode that morning.

"Yeah..." Tart, for some reason, rather than replying with a snappy comeback, looked thoughtful, and a little sad. He was quiet for a while. Kisshu let him think, looking around as they walked through the woods. Eventually, Tart said quietly, "Kisshu, do you think we'll ever go back to Earth?"

Kisshu froze up inside. "Um, why do you ask?"

Tart shrugged a shoulder. "I dpn't know...I...I miss it there...a little bit."

Kisshu thought he knew what was going on. "Yeah, I do too, sometimes...I don't know if we'll ever go back. It's a long ways away..."

Tart sighed. Kisshu wasn't sure if he should bring his suspicion up. He went with his instinct. "Tart, do you miss Pudding?"

This time Tart froze. Kisshu could see him considering whether to laugh it off and pretend he had no idea what Kisshu was talking about, but eventually he gave in. "Yeah, I do."

Kisshu kind of hoped that would be the end of that conversation, because he didn't really want to talk about Earth any more, but Tart had more to say. "I miss her. But not just her. I kind of miss fighting the Mew Mews, honestly. It was bad, but it was sort of fun sometimes, even if they always beat us. I miss all the Mew Mews. I even sort of miss that old lady hag Ichigo."

Kisshu grimaced. Tart saw it, and said quickly, "Sorry. We don't have to talk about that."

"No, it's fine," Kisshu said quietly. Talking about Ichigo hurt, but it also felt sort of good to let it out. "I miss 'em too, Tart."

He missed Earth, he missed the Mew Mews, he missed Ichigo, he missed Pudding, he missed that blue one who never stopped drinking tea and the nice green one and the purple one who never talked...he even missed their blond leader with his weird outfits and the dark haired leader who liked to cook...He missed tormenting Ichigo-it was just so durn much fun!- and devising new ways to beat her, even if they never worked. It was still fun to try, and to get to see her defeat the Chimeras, see her almost lose but never give up, always come back and win with the power of her belief...he missed it all. He missed Earth.

He couldn't bring himself to miss Aoyama, though. Him, Kisshu could live without.

So can I, Kisshu...so can I!

AKA I HATE AOYAMA WITH A BURNING PASSION! WHO'S WITH ME?