Yay, chapter eleven is here, with 3, 169 words of the actual story! Great!

I'm still getting those nice things called reviews, but the number of reviews keeps on going down. I think i'm getting less and less. Well extra special thanks to those who reviewed the last few! You've made this story with me XD!

I hope this chapter is an improvement on the last one, my brain has been working better this week so i should be writing better, but i've also been ill (Bless my soul) and was off on tuesday. And i had to do a virtual run of 12 kilometres today!! My legs hurt now :(

Well enjoy x

Chapter Eleven: One Step At A Time

I could only see black, not because it was dark, I didn't know the reason for me to see black, but I knew it had something to do with me losing my consciousness.

Mew Mew's P. O. V

"What's wrong, Ichigo-chan?" Retasu asked, carefully sliding away from Minto who was still injured. "You look upset."

"I'm fine." Ichigo answered quickly as she picked up her pace.

"Are you sure Ichigo 'nee-chan?" Purin asked as she stood in front of Ichigo on the tips of her toes. "Are you in a mood with us?"

Ichigo twitched at Purin's innocent face. "I'm not in a mood." Ichigo stepped backwards.

"Purin, what's wrong?" Retasu asked as she looked at the youngest Mew with confusion.

Purin was scanning the area with her golden brown eyes. It was like she was looking for something, but couldn't find it. "Where's Sakura 'nee-chan?"

This question caused everyone to look around the area in search for Sakura. They too couldn't see her.

"Hey, now that you mention it, I did think that she was being really quiet." Retasu mentioned as she turned her head towards the way they came.

"I agree." Ichigo added bitterly, crossing her arms and staring at the floor. She looked up when she realised she was being glared at harshly from the other Mew Mews. "We'll look for her later, we need to get Minto back to the Café."

Everyone was lost for words as Ichigo walked away towards the Café. What was wrong with Ichigo? Why was she acting so bitterly? Why wasn't she bothered that Sakura was missing?

"Ichigo-chan!" Retasu shouted, but was ignored. "What's wrong with Ichigo-chan?" She asked, lowering her voice.

"I don't know, Retasu 'nee-chan." Purin answered with a solemn expression on her face.

"She probably has a lot on her mind." Retasu and Purin turned to Zakuro, who spoke for the first time in a while. "It's best if we just leave her to cool off for a while before we ask her if anything's wrong."

"Hai, you're right." Retasu sighed.

"Come on. Let's get Minto back to the Café." Zakuro changed her grip on Minto before slowly walking her to the Café. Retasu and Purin followed, confused as to where Sakura was and upset that Ichigo acted like she didn't care.

Sakura's P. O. V

"She hasn't stirred yet."

"Maybe she's dead."

"Pai, how hard did you hit her?"

"Not hard enough to kill her."

I groaned at the sound of the unfamiliar voices around me. They had woken me up from my satisfying slumber. I was enjoying my dream of my family vacation to Turkey, the last holiday I shared with my father, before he died. I tried to remember which part of my memory I was up to, before I was so rudely interrupted, but unfortunately, I couldn't recall it.

"Hey, she's waking up." I heard a young voice shout.

I tried to open my eyes, but they closed shut as soon as they experienced the light. "Ouch." I groaned as I saw spots in my head.

"Why's she saying 'ouch'?" The younger voice asked.

"Maybe because Pai hit her too hard." A familiar voice muttered.

My eyes shot open with shock. Did I just hear Kisshu? I slowly struggled to sit up.

"Should I help her sit up?" I vaguely heard the younger voice ask.

"If you want to." The deepest voice answered.

I continued to try and sit up until I felt a pair of hands lightly grab my shoulders and pull me up. "Arigatou." I said wearily as the pair of hands released their grip on my shoulders.

My hand flew to my head as a pounding sensation began. I yelped in pain as my head felt sensitive to even the gentlest touch of my fingertips.

"Pai, honestly, how hard did you hit her?" I heard Kisshu ask.

"Konnichiwa!" I turned my head to see a smiling face. "What's your name?"

He had the same ears as Kisshu, so I guessed that he was from the same alien race. He was younger than Kisshu; he looked the same age as Purin.

"Sakura." I tried to smile, but the pain in my forehead was unreal and prevented me from smiling.

"Sa-ku-ra..." He looked deep in thought, until his eyes widened a little. "Kisshu, is she the one you were talking about?"

I looked over at Kisshu who seemed to stiffen at the younger alien's question.

"Taruto, be quiet!" Kisshu ordered.

I sent a puzzling look to Kisshu before turning to the younger alien. I noticed the grin on his face which was aimed at Kisshu. I couldn't help but giggle at the grin on his cute face. It gave him a mischievous look which just made him look adorable.

"Taruto, is that your name?"

The younger alien looked at me before nodding his head. "Hai." He smiled.

"Kisshu, watch over her. Make sure she doesn't run off." I looked up to see another alien staring at Kisshu somewhat intimidatingly.

"Hai." Kisshu sighed, looking down at the orange brown floor. I followed his gaze slowly, wondering what was wrong with him.

"Sayonara, Sakura!" I heard Taruto shout.

I turned around and smiled his way. "Bye."

I watched Taruto fade away, along with the oldest-looking alien. I slowly turned my head back, hearing Kisshu sit down beside me.

I was feeling tension build around us. There was no calm and happy atmosphere, more like an awkward one. I heard Kisshu sigh. Why was he sighing? He had nothing to sigh about. I wanted to ask him some questions, but he seemed to be in a foul mood.

A few minutes had passed before I began to fidget. I was desperate to ask him why I was here, but he was still giving off moody vibes. I could sense his moodiness strongly, it was unlike him to be in a bad mood. I pulled my knees up to my chest and rested my chin on them. I was slightly cold; goosebumps appeared on my arms and legs. Why was I wearing a short dress in February? I slowly parted my lips as I was getting ready to speak to Kisshu. What would I say to him? I knew what I wanted to say, but how could I say it without putting him in an even worse mood?

"It's cold in here, isn't it?"

I jumped at the sound of his voice. I didn't expect Kisshu to speak when I was about to ask a question. I turned to face him with a ghostly expression on my face. I gulped as I attempted a smile, I was just too freaked out to speak. I simply nodded my head, feeling dumb whilst doing so.

"You're safe here, you know." He stated, probably thinking that I was freaked out due to the fact that I was in an unknown place.

"Where is here?" I asked slowly as I turned my head to look at my feet. I was wearing faded pink leather baby dolls. I had had them for at least one year, it was natural for the leather to tear at the soles.

"Our base." Kisshu answered, copying my gaze with his own feet.

"Oh." I whispered, lowering my eyelids so my expression was solemn.

I felt Kisshu's eyes fixate on me. They were burning holes in my head, it caused me to lower my head with insecurity.

"What's wrong?" Kisshu asked, edging closer to me.

I let out a soft sigh before turning to meet his warm gaze. His face was soft and gentle, and his eyes displayed more emotion than I had ever seen from anyone in my whole life. "Why am I here?"

Kisshu looked down at the floor. "It's one of Pai's plans."

"Who's Pai?" I asked quickly.

"The tall one you saw before." He replied, looking back into my eyes.

"Oh. Well what role do I serve in his plan?" I looked back at my shoes, waiting for an answer off Kisshu.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kisshu follow my gaze, so he too was staring at my worn out baby dolls.

"Bait."

My eyes widened as I turned to Kisshu with a shocked and scared look on my face. "Bait?" I looked down with fright. Why was I bait? What kind of bait was I to be? Will I be killed in the process of acting bait?

"You won't be hurt or anything. Like I said," Kisshu placed a finger under my chin and lifted my head up so I was staring deeply into his golden eyes. "You'll be safe."

His smile sent my gaze to the floor. I couldn't look him in the eye. If I did, it would only draw me into kissing him. I didn't want to replay what happened last time, when I had reminisced that night with Garu. Just thinking about it made my eyes water.

"Sakura, your eyes are watering." I looked up at Kisshu. How did he notice my tear-filled eyes? He removed his finger from under my chin and turned to face the wall. "Try not to think of anything sad while you're here with me." He lay back on to the floor, placing his hands under his head. "I don't want to be surrounded by a depressing atmosphere.

I looked over at Kisshu as a small smile graced my lips. He didn't want me to feel depressed so there would be no tension, yet he was being silent and moody minutes before. How hypocritical of him. "I wasn't thinking of anything sad." I mentioned as Kisshu crossed his legs.

Kisshu flickered his eyes towards me for a second. "Well why were your eyes watering?" He asked as he began to move his foot up and down in a metronome motion.

It took me a while to answer since I was distracted by the movement of his foot. I don't know why this fascinated me, but it kept me busy for a while. Kisshu began to glare at me, demanding an answer from me. I gulped. "I was thinking of the other night."

Kisshu gave me a puzzling look as he sat up. "The other night?"

It was my turn to send him a puzzling look. "Don't you remember?"

"Hai, but why were you thinking of that?"

My puzzled look faded as I looked down at the warm coloured floor. "I was thinking about how I regret shoving you away when you did nothing wrong." I was unknowingly alternating my gaze on different spots on the floor as I felt my eyes water once again.

I noticed a smirk appear on Kisshu's face. "Why were you thinking about that?"

I crossed my legs as I turned to face Kisshu. "Because I-I-"

"Because...?" Kisshu repeated slowly, waiting for an answer, a certain answer.

I noticed his facial expression, the smirk portraying a thousand words. It was like he knew what my answer would be. He was just waiting for me to say this answer. I moved my eyes around in a circle as I thought of how to answer. I knew what I was going to say, Kisshu knew what I was going to say, but I didn't know how to say it. How could you rephrase 'I was thinking about that because I wanted to kiss you.'?

I jumped as I noticed that Kisshu was sitting in front of me, his face inches apart from mine.

"Well...aren't you gonna answer?" Kisshu smirked.

Mew Mew's P. O. V

"She can't be far." Retasu wailed as everyone crowded round Keiichiro's computer in the back room of the Café.

"Can you spot her on the tracker?" Minto asked wearily.

"It's faintly appearing on the tracker." Keiichiro answered as he clicked on a glowing pink circle on the computer screen. "But she is at-"

"That's where the aliens are!" Retasu screeched as she placed the tip of her finger over the pink circle on the screen.

"Well good luck retrieving her." Ryou said in a monotone voice as he exited the back room.

"Come on then girls!" Zakuro shouted, causing Ichigo to flinch.

"Hai!" Purin shouted enthusiastically before heading for the exit of the Café.

Sakura's P. O. V

"Well...aren't you gonna answer?" Kisshu smirked.

I looked down, intimidated by him and his question which the answer was something he most likely knew. I slowly looked up to meet his amused expression. "Do I have to say it?"

"Hai." Kisshu smirked.

"But, you know what I'm gonna say so why do I have to say it?" I asked.

I twitched when I saw Kisshu pout. "You have to say it to make me feel better after 'shoving me away' the other night."

I sighed with defeat. "Fine." I scowled before taking a deep breath. "I was thinking about that because I was thinking about kissing you."

I felt myself go red saying that sentence. I was truly embarrassed. Kisshu seemed pleased with himself, getting me to answer his question truthfully. I looked down, only to have Kisshu lift my head up with his index finger.

"Good." Kisshu leaned in and pecked my lips. I looked at him with confusion. "One step at a time with you. You might shove me away again."

I silently giggled before edging closer to Kisshu. His warm body temperature heated up my cold flesh. "Oh and one more thing." I looked up at Kisshu. "What am I luring in as bait?"

"The Mew Mews." He answered calmly as he wrapped an arm around me.

I couldn't help but smile at him. He was nice to me all of the time, even though I've treated him unkindly throughout our friendship. I rested my head on his shoulder as we sat against the wall. The wall was as cold as ice compared to Kisshu's temperature. He lightly traced his fingers along my shoulder, making an invisible zigzag pattern.

"I think she's in here!"

Kisshu and me jumped at the voice that echoed from outside the room we were in.

"Was that...who I think it was?" I asked as my eyes turned to the exit of the room.

Before Kisshu could answer, I saw green run past the room, then appear at the doorway seconds later.

"Here she is!"

The green turned out to be Retasu, who was now running up to Kisshu and me, followed by the other Mews.

"Sakura 'nee-chan! Are you okay?" Purin screeched as she followed Retasu.

"Hai." I answered whilst standing up. Retasu's and Purin's smiles turned into gasps and widened eyes. "What's wrong?"

Before they could answer, I was pulled back and felt something cold and sharp press on my neck, my hands held tightly behind my back.

"Ouch!" I screamed.

"Come closer and her neck's slit!"

"Pai, what are you doing?!" I heard Kisshu shout.

"This wasn't part of the plan!" Taruto wailed.

"I'm following Deep Blue's orders. If you have a problem with it, take it up with him!" Pai stated in a frustrated tone.

"Pai, don't hurt Sakura!" Retasu pleaded as she edged closer.

As she grew closer, Pai slowly began to push the sharp object into my neck. I yelled out in pain, causing Retasu to step back.

"I'll let her go if you surrender and help us take over earth so our race can once again live here in peace!" Pai shouted.

I bit my lower lip, refraining myself from laughing at what he said. It sounded like something out of the Star Wars films or Star Trek etc.

"Just kill her." All eyes turned to Ichigo. "We don't need her on our team. You can drown her for all I care."

I looked at Ichigo with a hurt expression. I couldn't believe what I had heard. Ichigo didn't care if I was dead? She was fine with me before I had left for Mito, before I had defeated the Kimera Anima.

Did it have anything to do with that? Was she being petty over a fight?

"Ichigo 'nee-chan! How can you say that?!" Purin cried. Ichigo didn't answer. Instead, she yawned and leaned against the wall. What had happened to Ichigo?

"Pai? Can you let Sakura go?" Taruto asked in an innocent tone.

"I'll be defying Deep Blue's orders if I do!" Pai protested.

"So what if you ignore him." Kisshu added. "He can't exactly kill you for it."

The pressure of the sharp object on my neck was lessening as Taruto and Kisshu talked Pai out of slitting my throat for someone else's purpose. I was relieved when he fully let go, causing me to grab a hold of my neck and almost cry my eyes out.

"Sakura-chan, are you okay?" Retasu asked as she ran up to me.

"Hai." I answered, keeping my eyes on the three aliens who were now arguing amongst themselves.

Every now and then they would glance over at me with worrying eyes. I couldn't hear their conversation; their voices were too quiet for my ears to pick up sound waves. After a while they soon stopped talking, making me wonder what they were saying.

"Sakura," I focused my attention on Kisshu who was slowly walking up to me with a pale face. What were they talking about before? "Come with me a minute."

"Why?" I questioned.

"Could you just come with me, please?!" He shouted frustratedly.

"Fine!" I screamed back. "Just don't shout at me!"

Kisshu grabbed my hand before teleporting the two of us to another room. The room looked like I was in water, but I think it was an illusion.

"Here she is." Kisshu said to something before teleporting away.

I was now alone in this room, but I was with someone else, the person Kisshu was talking to just then.

"So you are Sakura, I presume." A voice said.

"H-hai?" I answered, unsure as to what or who I was answering.

I jumped as I saw a shadow of a long haired person appear in front of me.

"Ah, Sakura, the newest Mew Mew, the newest cause of failure to our plans, the strongest cause of failure. You should be dead now. I ordered Pai to murder you, but he was persuaded not to by his own allies. How disappointing of them. You seem to be a problem for me to get what I want, therefore you must be eliminated."

Not a good ending in my opinion but what do you expect from an ill person who's now smaller than her mates?!

I am hoping to finish this by christmas (God forbid!) and start my furuba story in 2009. It's gonna feel like it will take me forever to finish this now, and i still have no idea for an ending. Seriously, i'm making this up as i go along. This really does show my retardedness, You would imagine that i have a plot for it, and if i have an ending for it soon, i might plan a sequel. Haha, imagine that. Would you read a sequel to this if i made one? I don't know why i'm a planning a sequel when i haven't even thought of an ending for this one yet!

Oh yeah, just so you know, i'll be going on a trip with school in a week on monday so if i don't update by then, you might be waiting for my next chapter for ages and wonder why so i'm putting it in this chapter. I'll be there for a week so i hope i'll have fun.

See you soon and don't forget to leave me a lovely review. Bye bye, i love you all. Mwah x