Hello darlings! It's been a while since I updated, I apologize! The story is coming to an end-should be a couple more chapters! Thanks so much for all the great reviews and support! I love hearing your thoughts on the story, and constructive criticism is always welcome. Thanks for being so FABULOUS!

Chapter 11: Departure

After Searadesi's startling prediction, Kisshu hurriedly met with Pai, Taruto, and Kaybler-san, and they listened as Searadesi told them just what her vision had foretold.

Sitting in a chair in a private cavern, with four anxious aliens hovering around her, Seara looked very small. Her eyes still had that faraway glaze to them, and her hands were trembling slightly. Her voice, however, was quite steady when she began to speak.

She said, "In my vision….I see the city called Tokyo being torn apart. A monster….a huge monster, will rise from the earth. When it emerges, it will fill the whole sky. Innocent humans will be killed by it, defenseless. The Mew Mews you speak of will attempt to fight it."

Kisshu, Pai, and Taruto all stiffened slightly at the mention of the Mew Mews.

Searadesi continued, "But they simply won't be prepared-they will be completely caught off guard. And this monster will be just…too strong. The Mew Mews will be destroyed. And eventually…..it will move on from Tokyo and wreck all of Earth." She clutched her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "Humans might be able to stop it eventually…I can't….can't see for certain…but it will certainly do great damage before then."

Taruto looked at Pai worriedly. "Chimera Animal?"

Pai looked even graver than normal (which is saying something). "It can't be. Chimera Animals came with us, and they left with us, too. There's no way there can still be one on Earth."

"What else could it be?" Kisshu demanded.

Seara put a hand to her forehead and clenched her eyes shut as if trying to remember something. "I think…it's a….it is a Chimera Animal. But not the type you had. It's not a normal one."

"How is that possible?" Taruto wondered.

Seara said haltingly, "It's….it's because of Deep Blue. When he was killed…the Mew Aqua in his body was released, and it seeped into the earth. It encountered animals and mutated them…and all this time, it's been festering there, mutating the animals until there was one giant monster. Soon it will be strong enough to break free."

"How soon?" Kaybler asked seriously.

Seara held her hands up uncertainly. "Two days? Three? Three at the most."

There was a sort of ominous silence as that sunk in. Taruto broke it. "What do we do?"

There was no reply, until Kaybler said, "You do want to do something, then?"

"What?" Taruto exclaimed.

"Well," Kaybler said delicately, "From what I can understand, it sounds like it'd be a suicide mission. I just want to be sure you've thought this through."

Kisshu said angrily, "Kaybler-san, without the Mew Mews, we'd be dead and our planet still in ruins. Of course we must help them."

Pai nodded his affirmative and Taruto said, "Yeah!"

Kaybler's face was carefully guarded. "Alright. If that is what you decide, then we as a village will support you." His face displayed only seriousness, but there was a gleam in his eye that made Kisshu think somehow Kaybler had been testing them with his questions, and that he approved of their decision.

Searadesi, however, was looking at Kisshu quite strangely. Her gaze was searching and…perhaps a bit sad? He didn't understand it.

After that, everything moved too quickly for him to have a chance to ask her about it. Because they were going back to Earth.

They'd decided it was the only thing they could do. The spacecraft was in fine working order, and could easily carry them back to Earth. The biggest question was who would go.

Kisshu, Pai, and Taruto all immediately secured a place, of course. But who else?

The village was scarce on able-bodied young workers, unfortunately. Too many of them had simply been trapped inside in the dark for far too long, and were only now able to come outside. Of that group of people, a small amount were at all skilled in fighting or combat. And of THAT small amount, a very few were at all willing to accompany Kisshu and the others on a cross-galaxy journey.

Eventually, though, a select few were picked for this very critical mission. One was Marzac, one of the pair of brothers that Kisshu had been sent on a scouting mission with. He had a steady head and was very skilled with the alien version of a bow and arrows, which was almost the same as normal bow and arrows except the arrows contained the same sensors that allowed the aliens to fly, so the arrows could basically go as far or as high as you wanted them too.

Another was Brittlee, who's biggest asset was simply that she was an amazing, speedy flier. She was also adept with knives. Her older brother, Arigo, was the last person selected for this mission. He was a huge guy, arms roped with brute force and strength. Everyone had agreed it could be very handy to have someone like him along.

Kaybler would not be coming. When asked, he shook his head and said, "Sorry, Kisshu-kun, Pai-kun, Taruto-kun-my place is here, with the people. My spirit will be with you." That was pretty much what Kisshu had expected of him.

And that was all anyone expected. All the villagers gathered to say goodbye to those leaving, and Kaybler-san gave a very affecting speech. That was all there was time for.

Kisshu went back to his room and hurriedly packed up his Sais-his dragon swords-and a change of clothes. He trailed his fingers over his father's dagger and his mother's set of pipes, but left them sitting there. He was ready. He hurried back up to the surface, where nearly all of the village was gathered around the spacecraft. And standing near the entrance with the other journeyers was Searadesi, a pack slung over her shoulder, her face unreadable.

Kisshu, shocked, beelined his way to her. She saw him coming and straightened her shoulders, and he knew that she knew what he was going to say.

"Searadesi-chan? You're coming?"

She nodded, lifting her chin. "Yes."

Kisshu's brow furrowed. "Searadesi, it's far too dangerous! This is…" He lowered his voice and looked around to make sure no one heard him. He didn't want to make them lose hope. "This is probably going to be a suicide mission! You don't need to be in the middle of that!

She shook her head. "I don't care. I'm going."

Kisshu could feel himself getting worked up, and he tried to calm himself down. "Searadesi-chan, you need to stay here. You don't understand."

Searadesi's silver eyes flashed. "I don't? Kisshu, I saw what's going to happen. I know better than anyone. And I can help. I can see what's going to happen. You need me. This doesn't have to be a suicide mission."

Kisshu just looked at her, jaw clenched. He didn't want her to go, but he had a feeling that he wasn't going to be able to stop her. She was right. She could help.

He just didn't want her to get hurt.

"Fine," he said, his voice irritated. "Get on the damn ship. I hope you know what you signed up for."

It was sort of funny. Kisshu had never spoken to her so crankily before, and he wasn't quite sure how she'd react. But as he turned to get on the ship, he saw her break into a huge smile.

As soon as everyone was loaded inside, Pai and Kisshu took their places at the control panel and began to maneuver the machine. As the craft began to move, Kisshu could clearly hear the cheers of the villagers around them, echoing in his ears.