Also, for all of you writers; I'm having a short story contest at my website, Neko-Tokyo ). The deadline for that is December 1st and so far I only have a few entries. I will be turning the winner's story into a 5-10 page fanmanga. - It can be any pairing and with whatever Tokyo Mew Mew characters you want, just please keep it PG and NO fan characters. Sorry. You may use a Christmas theme if you wish, since the holidays are coming up. I hope you will consider entering. Thanks again and please enjoy Chapter Three. :bows:
Chapter Three - Poolside Reunion
Above me the sky began darkening without warning, and the smell of rain soon came to my nostrils. I quickened my footsteps. As if on cue, drops of water began to cascade down from the clouds. Just great. I would have to find Ichigo during a rainstorm. Just great. Already this girl was proving to be a huge pain in the rear.
"R2000, can you narrow down the location further?" I asked.
"Scanning... eastern side, closest to the cafe..." it responded.
"Right, atleast we aren't far."
The robot then began reacting, "Chimera Anima! Chimera Anima!"
"What! Now?" I gritted my teeth. This was not good. A Chimera Anima showing up when she wouldn't even have a clue? I had been hoping for atleast a little bit of time to explain things. She was definately going to freak out about this. "Then again... she is our ultimate weapon, and after we get that pendant to her, she should have no trouble whatsoever defeating an enemy, right?"
"Right! Right!"
"Thought so..." I focused again on where I was going. Trees began gathering on each side of me as I travelled deeper into the park. A few benches dotted the path. A fog had risen up and what had been clearly visible a moment before was now obscured. I cursed under my breath. Darn rain!
"R2000, standby..." I concentrated on the nearest tree, the lowest branch. It looked sturdy enough to hold me. Concentrate... concentrate...! I leapt up into the air, my feet free from the ground, and the tree branch coming into my reach in slow motion. I grasped the limb in my hands and swung up to crouch there. I looked around, but the fog was still an issue. I cursed again, but at the same time, I heard a high-pitched scream. Obviously a girl. I whipped around and cleared the distance to the next tree, and then two more. I could finally make out the silhouette of something very large. That's when I heard an angry roar and another scream. The fog slowly began to clear and below me, in a panic, I recognized the girl that Keiichiro had brought up on the computer. A few yards away, where the shadow had been, was a huge rat whose eyes were focused dangerously on her. It let out another roar, raising it's arm to slash Ichigo in half.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" she screamed again.
Time to play hero. I swooped down and snatched up the red-head before claws raked up the ground where we had just been standing. I leapt a little clumsily back onto the branch from which I'd come, forgetting to calculate the added weight in my rush.
"Are you alright? Momomiya Ichigo?"
Large amber eyes flew open and stared up at me in alarm. She really was pretty cute. Her hair was up in two high ponytails on each side of her head, framing a young face. She must have been walking home from school because she was still wearing her uniform which was a light shade of gray with red and white accents. I loosened my grip on her and she fell backwards onto the branch, still gaping at me and apparently speechless.
She finally managed a, "How do you know my name?"
"There's no time for that," I stated firmly, remembering the situation we were in. "First, defeat the monster."
"What! Me?" she looked at me like I was crazy. The Chimera Anima had caught on to where we were and swiped at the branch with a growl. I scooped her up again, making her screech out of surprise, then landed in the next tree over. It was really hard to move when you were carrying someone. I dropped her.
"Oof!" She looked panicked now and began inching away from me across the branch, giving me a "don't come any closer" look.
"You know, you're heavier than you look," I commented.
She glared at me, "Let go, you! Who exactly are you anyway!"
"There's no time for that..." I repeated, keeping a wary eye on the rat. This was taking way too long.
"Aoyama-kun..." she murmured. I noticed then that the boy I had seen with her before was now laying off to the side of the clearing unconscious. If that was the case, she had the will to fight. She only needed the pendant. Her back was to me, so I gave her a rough shove and her body fell forwards. She screamed again but as she plummeted from the tree, her body twisted until she landed upright and on her feet. Her expression was still mixed with fear and confusion. So she really was the one... I fidgeted in my side pocket for the pendant I was carrying with me and called down to her. Ichigo's head shot up when I did so.
"Momomiya Ichigo! You have been chosen. Take this, Mew Ichigo!" With that I hurled the pendant down to her.
I still remembered all of the details from that day. How she had transformed and clumsily battled with the Chimera Anima, how the cat genes had taken over and given her courage to fight, how she had started crying afterwards as she demanded to know what was going on... how her body felt when I had taught her to dance at the party, the expression on her face as a gray kitten transformed before her eyes, the serene smile she had given me the day I finally let her go...
"Well done! Wasn't that a great success!" I inquired excitedly. She had actually done rather well all things considered. In time, I was certain she could accomplish much more for the Mew Project.
"I don't understand any of this! So, explain yourself!" she ordered, eyes brimming with tears after her first real battle as Mew Ichigo. She hovered over her boyfriend who was still unconscious. I stopped a few feet away, my excitement fading as I realized how upset sge actually was. Studying her for a moment, I knelt down beside her, lifting her chin with my hand so she was looking at me, "Don't cry. I told you. You're the chosen one."
I suppose it had always been hopeless. I had actually started to love Ichigo, yet I always knew that her heart belonged to Aoyama Masaya. Perhaps I had atleast convinced her that I wasn't a heartless jerk. Hopefully. But I doubted it. I shook my head. Baka, you better have a really good excuse for not visiting.
Awakening from my dreams and memories, I shoved the covers aside, rose, and stretched out. Sunlight filtered through my window, letting me know that it was around the middle of the day. I slid on a shirt and trudged downstairs to the empty kitchen to fix myself a quick breakfast. To tell the truth, I'm a horrible cook, but I wasn't about to starve. I had an interview today. In the afternoon I was scheduled to meet with the manager of the local pool. Hopefully he'd hire me so I could do work to occupy my time. On the phone he had seemed somewhat interested in my surfing experience. I'm not a particularly strong swimmer, but I'm observant, and know how to act fast when I have to. Surely they could always use another lifeguard. The girls would have laughed if they knew their "boss" was going to interview for such a position.
-
The smell of chlorine greeted me as I abandoned my motorbike and climbed the path to the outdoor pool. There were a few picnic tables scattered about the area, complete with neon-colored umbrellas for shade. Folding chairs formed a ring around the pool which was fairly large and heated. I tapped on the door to the manager's office with my knuckle and was bid entry. The door swung open to reveal a middle-aged man finishing up a discussion with a girl of about my age.
"One moment..." he appologized to me, not bothering to look up, "Just be more careful next time. Those chemicals aren't cheap and we had to drain the entire pool because of them. When you treat the water, measure away from the pool... okay?"
"Yes, sir. I'm really really sorry..." the girl bowed deeply. She pushed a strand of green hair back behind her ear, her cheeks pink with embarassment.
"I know you are. Just remember that next time," he said, smiling at her reassuringly.
"I'm sorry..." she repeated.
"...Lettuce?"
The girl turned with a slight gasp, her eyes wide with surprise, and her face flushed, "Sh-shirogane-san?"
The manager chuckled, "I take it you guys know one another. Call me when you're done, Ryou..."
"Um, sure..." I muttered as he left the room.
"Nice to see you again... how are things going?" I offered her a smile.
"You really surprised me. I haven't seen you in ages, Shirogane-san... um, I'm doing well..." she brightened, her cheeks still red, "How are things going at the cafe?"
"Slow..." I replied carefully, "Actually, it's just me right now."
"Oh! Then, where is Akasaka-san?"
"He's off in Egypt," I grumbled.
"I see... Hope it isn't too lonely there by yourself. If you want, I could come visit, I mean, if I wouldn't be imposing..." she suggested slowly.
"Nah. It's okay, you don't have to."
"Well, it would be no trouble..." she added cautiously.
"Only if you really want to," I answered.
"I do!" she said with a laugh. Lettuce fidgeted a bit, "What brings you here... if you don't mind my asking?"
"I came here looking for a job..." I stated simply.
"I see," she murmured, trying to be polite but I could tell she was not altogether buying it.
"I heard a rumor you were a lifeguard now, but I figured you probably worked at the beach..."
"Oh no," Lettuce shook her head quickly, "I work right here. Most of the time I just do clean up, however..." She fidgeted again slightly, then made a deep bow. As she did so I noticed that her mark had completely disappeared. No trace of it was left. "I really should be getting back to work. Good luck with your interview; I know the manager will hire you. It was nice seeing you again."
"Likewise. Take care."
The girl offered me a final shy smile before leaving the room. Her absence was soon replaced by the manager returning.
"So, Mr. Shirogane..." he greeted.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir."
"It's quite alright," he answered, sinking down into his chair and looking me over. "So, you want to be a lifeguard..."
"Yes... sir," came my smooth reply, although it was a lie.
"I hear you surf a lot, have you ever competed?" he asked curiously.
"No."
"Shame," he sighed, leaning back in his chair, "Well, we'll see how you do for a week. You seem to be in pretty good physical shape. Besides, maybe you can get Lettuce to try harder."
I watched him as he lit a cigarette, "Lettuce was once my employee at the cafe. She's a hard worker, sir..."
"You know what I mean. She's a nice girl but she's clumsy."
"But she tries," I added.
"...yes she does," he finally admitted, "I'll see you tomorrow at 8AM?"
"Ofcourse, thank you sir," I bowed slightly and walked out from the shortest interview session one could imagine. The sun was bright, making me squint as I made my way back to where my bike was parked.
"...you didn't have to do that."
I shielded my eyes with a hand and turned to see Lettuce watching me. She had since changed into a swimsuit. I grinned at her slightly, "I felt like it. You were eavesdropping."
"I-I..." she paused as her face flushed a bit, "Bad habit I picked up from the girls... have you heard from them, Shirogane-san?"
"Not from them... You should probably get back to work."
"I'll come visit the cafe sometime... maybe we can talk about it then?" she offered.
"Ok." I nodded as she retreated back inside the ring of lounge chairs.
The drive home was a quiet one. The wind felt good against my face and helped to wake me up fully. I switched the lights back on upon my return and paced across the dining area to the answering machine on the counter. No messages. It figured.
The silence then was about enough to drive me insane, so I switched on the stereo and allowed a melody to drift about the room.
"Alone / It's like being in a crowded room with no familiar faces / Alone / It's like thinking that I see your face in unfamiliar places / Alone / It's waking up to an empty bed you used to lay your head on / Alone / And I don't wanna be alone anymore."
-
"Welcome home," Keiichiro's voice echoed in my head, "Welcome back."
I remember turning around to see my best friend standing there in the middle of the cafe. His face a mixture of sympathy and relief. I had walked over to him, "I am back, aren't I Keiichiro?"
"You look worn out..." Keiichiro had commented.
"Ofcourse," I replied sarcastically, "You saw. It's tough work helping to save the world..."
"And even tougher watching the person you care about walk away with someone else, I'd imagine... Why didn't you say anything to her?"
I fell forward against Keiichiro's chest then, my eyes welling with tears in one of the few times I had broken down in my life. I wasn't one to cry. Crying wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't erase the past.
"Tell her what, exactly, Keiichiro! What am I supposed to tell her...? She chose Aoyama a long time ago... I don't care if she thanks me for anything or not... It doesn't matter anymore... I let her go. I've screwed her life up enough already. It's over now. I'm glad it's over."
"Yes, it's over. You should be proud..." he replied.
"It-it's over-" I choked. Nobody came back to check up on me. Lettuce had called the next day to ask if there was work, but I didn't talk to the others again until they had come inquiring as to why they could no longer transform. And then there was the mock wedding.
-
Clearly the music was not helping, it was only bringing me back to the past. I wanted so desperately to escape that past. I rummaged through the cabinets and gathered items necessary to whip up a quick sandwich. I ate it infront of my laptop, holding the sandwich in one hand and typing with the other. No new e-mail. No new news. No unusual readings. I felt like I had been locked off from the rest of the world. A knock on the door interrupted me from my depressive mood. I arose and went to let my guest in. It was Lettuce.
"I didn't think you were coming today..." I said when I saw her.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'll leave if I'm interrupting you!" said Lettuce as she bowed appologetically.
"No, no it's fine. I just didn't expect it- come in," I swung the door open the rest of the way, "Can I get you anything?"
"No, that's okay, I'm fine," she answered, finding a seat at a center table. I followed and sat down across from her.
"Um, well... you looked really lonely today, so..."
"I looked lonely?"
She studied me for a moment and then nodded, "I haven't seen Ichigo-san or the others either. I did see Pudding-san in the park once from a distance, but there was a crowd and I was in a rush... We've all drifted apart... The Mew Project was what brought us together... and... it seems like it was the only thing holding us together. I... I hate to bring up the past, but I've really come to miss that."
"So have I..." I muttered.
She offered me an encouraging smile, "But, there has to be some way we can get in contact with them right? Can we not schedule a gathering?"
I shook my head, "I don't know how to get in touch with them. Assuming Mint and Pudding live in the same residences as they did three years ago, we could probably get a hold of them, but as for Zakuro..."
"And Ichigo-san?"
I shook my head again and looked away, "I have no idea where she is."
"I see..." she murmured sadly.
"It was a good thought, but..." I let my voice trail off.
"Well, I won't give up even if you do," she said boldly, "I'll find them somehow, and we can all be together again. Even if only for a short while..."
"Lettuce..."
"No, I'm serious. I'm sure that this wasn't meant to be the end. We all had such a strong friendship. I get the feeling that you miss them even more than I do..."
"Doubtful."
"Shirogane-san..."
"Possible."
"I'll make us some tea," she offered, standing up.
"There's no need."
"No, no. I want to," she said firmly, rushing off to the kitchen. Within minutes a glass of hot raspberry tea sat infront of me.
"Thanks..."
"Sure," she said lightly.
"You're right. I do miss them, Lettuce. The cafe's too quiet... that's why I applied for the job..."
"I see. Well, I'm glad he's considering giving it to you. That way I'll be able to see more of you."
I smiled slightly and took a sip of the tea.
"Does it taste alright?"
"Yeah. Thanks. Better than I could do."
"I'm glad," she smiled, taking a sip from her own cup.
We continued talking for about 2 hours. Lettuce was not going to give up on the girls and asked me if I could do an internet search on Zakuro and Ichigo's whereabouts. I told her I'd try, but for her not to get her hopes too high, and Lettuce said she'd be giving the Fong residence and the Aizawa mansion a visit.
"Thanks for coming, Lettuce," I said politely as I opened the door for her. It was getting dark.
"Sure. See you tommorrow," she said with a smile and a bow.
"Yeah. See you."
Lettuce hurried off. I checked the clock. Stupid. She had probably missed eating with her family on account of me. She was so selfless.
A/N: Sorry that the chapters are so short... well, they seem short to me. I got stuck on this one towards the end because I stopped writing for a while.
I did a search for the song used in this chapter and found one right away that I thought fit rather well. It's called "Alone" by Joe. Never heard the song but if someone could find it for me, that'd be awesome.
I've decided that I will be making this a Ryou x Ichigo fiction since more people seem to want that than not. Who knows whether they'll be together in the end or not, though. I'm not sure how or whether to add in the other girls or the aliens, so suggestions are appreciated. And don't worry about Keiichiro, because he'll be back from Egypt before the story's over. Thanks for sticking with me and please stay tuned for "Chapter 4 - Ripple on the Water". Lame title, I know. X-x