Author's Note: WARNING FOR (Ryou x Ichigo) FLUFF right off the bat. Just letting you know, and there may be more. If it bugs you, skip the first paragraph or so until you see speaking in all caps. This chapter's all Ryou's perspective. I apologize for the long wait for those who wanted this; I haven't written in a while so it may take a bit for me to get going again. Please review!
TOMORROW'S SOLACE
-- Ch. 06; Act 01 - A meeting and a proposition. (version. Ryou)
I could feel her fingers tracing the line of my jaw as she pulled me closer, placing her lips to my forehead. I couldn't do anything. I was overwhelmed with my own emotions to the point where I couldn't even speak. This was the happiest I had felt in a very long time, not since Mama and Papa were alive.
I must have been distracted because she poked my nose then with her index finger, making me squint my eyes shut out of reflex. She giggled, a soft sound that made my heart want to stop. When I opened my eyes again, her own warm eyes were watching me, and she was smiling.
"Ryou," she prodded, running her fingers through my hair, "What would you do for me?"
I blinked at her for a moment, coming back to my senses, "What would I do?"
She giggled again and nodded, "If I asked you to do something embarassing or dangerous or just plain crazy, would you?"
My voice had caught in my throat again and I had to look down. How was I supposed to tell her? Or was I? I'd look like such an idiot to her... but I just had to.
"Anything," I voiced firmly, plucking her hand from my hair and pressing it between my own two hands. Turning my eyes to look up directly into hers, I continued, "I'd do anything if it would convince you to stay right here. Forever."
She looked surprised. Why? Couldn't she grasp what I was trying to say?
Releasing her hand again, I brought my face close to hers, tilting my head slightly and letting my eyelids drop. Just let me kiss you...
"Don't you know how much I want to love you..? ...Ichigo..." I whispered.
"BRRRIING BRRRIING! ICHIGO HAS SENT MASHA TO WAKE SHIROGANE UP! Rise and shine!" I was jarred from my dream, roughly I might add, and ended up knocking the back of my skull against the headboard. Luckily I had missed my picture and the alarm clock by a mile, but the throbbing in my head...
"Ugh..." I moaned, glaring at the pink robot who fluttered down onto my shoulder and nuzzled against my cheek.
"Masha will tell Ichigo that Shirogane is awake! Okay, okay!" And with that, R2000 glided back off down the hallway.
Rising from beneath the mountain of sheets and crossing the room, I grabbed the vest that was lying on my office chair and pulled it on.
"Great timing," I muttered, trying to recover mentally by reassuring myself that at least the robot was now in good working order - and able to detect the Chimera Anima. I supposed it was fair enough that Ichigo was going to use my own creation against me, as long as the monsters would be defeated before they caused too much damage. There had been quite a few of them lately, but the one alien Ichigo had seen had not revealed herself again. It was a curious thing...
Downstairs the usual crowd was waiting, save Zakuro who was participating at a fashion show in Miami that weekend. Ichigo turned her nose up slightly at me when I arrived, her eyes squinted. Clearly she was angry that I was sleeping in when she had been working for several hours now. The only person who actually looked happy to see me was Retasu, who flushed upon my making my way into the dining area and waved her fingers in a shy greeting. I offered her as polite a nod as I could for having just been jolted awake.
"Hmmph." I felt my last nerve snap with that one noise. I turned to the redhead.
"What?" I shot back grumpily, "Did you miss spending time with me this morning?"
The catgirl's face reddened immediately, fire burning in her amber eyes, "No, of course not! You were supposed to help me clean out the fridge today! I don't want to do it by myself... I don't know what's in there! Suppose I get poisoned by one of your weird experiments?"
"Can't," I responded with fake coolness, knowing that I was going to get yelled at more than usual for going back on my word, "And you're really dumb if you think I'd keep specimens in the kitchen fridge. All of those are in the freezer in the basement."
The Strawberry's thoughts must have wandered, because she shivered in disgust, "But you said!"
"I lied," I replied nonchalantly. "Sorry, but I'm going to be out all afternoon. It's kind of important."
I brushed past her towards the kitchen before she could protest further, opening the door of the very fridge in question and pulling out a jug of 2 milk and an apple. I actually hadn't meant to be that rude to her, but I had never been a morning person. Ever. My upcoming meeting with a number of the country's police force and government officials wasn't doing much for my current state of mind, either. Since the Chimeras were again causing havoc, these organizations were not about to leave me alone after the few letters that they had sent me - that I had not responded to. Indeed, the government was ready to cage Japan's independent superhero team and take matters into its own hands. I had no idea what to expect, really. All I knew was Keiichiro had to stay here. One, to keep an eye on Max and the girls, and also, just in case a worst case scenario should occur. It wasn't as if they couldn't decide to throw me in prison, afterall. I was pretty sure I had broken no less than ten laws during the course of this endeaver.
I sighed involuntarily. How was I going to do this by myself?
Behind me, Max was finishing up a cup of coffee - decaf I assumed. Feeling his gaze upon me, I flicked my eyes over to stare coldly at him.
"Is that all you're going to eat? I know they say apples keep doctors away, but you should be having a little more than that, don't you think? You said yourself you had a busy afternoon. You'll get hungry later."
I rolled my eyes at him, stubbornly taking a bite from the apple, not bothering to finish chewing before I spoke, "What's it matter to you?"
The adult shrugged, "More than manners matter to you, apparently."
"I don't think most people worry about manners when it comes to their nemesis," I grumbled.
"Even opponents in battle have codes. In kendo both fighters bow to one another before and after a match, don't they?"
Why this had anything to do with me and him (and apples), I could not fathom, "Yeah, so?"
"And in sports both teams wait for the buzzer, correct?" he prodded further.
"It's just an apple," I concluded.
"You could stand to be a little nicer, is all I'm saying," he replied, his expression bright but also tired.
"You could stand to quit lecturing me, you know," I retorted, "Or to move out. Or to shave."
The shine in his eyes did not fade. Rather, the auburn-haired man appeared to be amused by my final suggestion. Rising to wash out the mug he had been using, he said, "'Perhaps' on the first note, 'not yet' on the second, and 'I'm afraid not' for that last one."
"Figures," I commented, removing the cap from the jug. Before I could bring the jug to my mouth, a warm hand seized my arm and lowered it.
"Use a glass," he instructed, "Otherwise, it's wasteful."
The wind had a lifting effect on my very being as I made my way to a congested area of downtown Tokyo. It seemed like it had been ages since I had ridden my motorbike for reason other than tailing a monster or rushing to the girls' aid. Yet, even now I wasn't cruising for leisure; I was attending a meeting. I had to stay on top of things somehow.
The building where the meeting was to be held was large, as I had expected. Upon entry I was met with immaculate conditions - the floors had recently been polished to their full brilliance so that I seemed to be walking on mirrors. The decor seemed to combine traditional Japan with the present Japan that was somehow fascinated by the West. I also noticed, almost immediately, that there were guards everywhere. They had probably been outside as well, but had managed to escape my notice.
"Shirogane-san, I presume? Please follow me," one officer spoke up. He was clean-shaven and managed to tower over me, although he was not exactly intimidating. He did, however, look like he could probably pin me against the floor in a matter of seconds.
"Right..." I responded cautiously and followed.
We passed by several closed doors, down a wide hallway with burgandy carpets, and emerged in an open area where a number of adult men were already seated on bulky couches around a low table. All attention immediately turned to me as we entered.
"So, you did come. It's been a very long time since I've laid eyes on you, Ryou-kun," the person at the head of the table responded.
It took me a moment to realize that I knew the speaker, "Takahashi-san?"
The man nodded approvingly, smoothing down his graying hair, "You look just like Elizabeth, don't you? Although, somehow like the late professor as well. I do believe it's something in your expression. Please sit down."
"Takahashi, we really don't have time for friendly chatter - this is serious," a white-haired official interjected, motioning me to sit with a certain forcefulness.
I frowned, but sat down in a vacant chair, crossing my arms in front of myself. At the older man's cue, the guards lined up around the exits. There was no escaping, that much had been made clear.
"I assume you're aware of the letters of request we have sent you? I believe there were five total."
"Yes..." I answered stiffly.
"You read them, I hope?"
"Yes... prior to ripping them up."
The white-haired man's face contorted at that, "Don't get cheeky with me. While we do appreciate all that you and your team have done, we can't continue to overlook exactly what it is that you are doing."
I simply nodded, while he continued, "Where should we begin, Shirogane-san? Shall we start by reminding you that child labor laws here in Japan state that no person under the age of fifteen should be employed? And no person under the age of eighteen should be employed in a dangerous job? I believe your youngest team member when this project began was...?"
"She was ten when she started," I replied.
"What else do we have on record for you? Experimenting on young girls without consent, underground importation of rare animal DNA into Japan, reckless driving, destruction of property..."
"Hey, I don't drive recklessly... that would be my partner, and yes, he has a license," I retorted, "And I believe that the most severe damage caused was not our doing, but the work of the Chimera Anima we were trying to defeat."
The man stopped, "Is that all you have to say for yourself, Ryou Shirogane? Have you nothing else to say? Do you have any idea how much trouble you are currently in?"
"I have a pretty good idea, but without all of that, Tokyo could very well be in ruins today. Lots of innocent people could be dead. You do remember that dome, don't you? If it hadn't been for us, the built up heat and pressure inside the dome could have become so much that..."
"I know, I know! Even our military forces couldn't break through it, however, there is still-!"
"He's only a child, Seto-san," Takahashi-san soothed.
"He's hardly a child, Takahashi, and he knows very well what he's doing! We can't let things like this continue; who knows what else he's capable of?"
I decided not to overstep my bounds, "Everything we did was for the good of the people; to protect them. And the girls haven't been harmed in any way. Once these attacks stop, they'll be able to return to normal."
"Do you honestly believe that, Shirogane-san? Do you really think any of their lives will be normal again?"
I frowned. While the girls did seem to be okay, and while I continued to monitor their genetic make-up, it wasn't exactly as if they would just wake up and not remember anything that happened to them.
"Well... I..."
"Exactly, exactly!" Seto-san yelled, letting his stack of papers flop down on the table.
"So, what do you propose that we do about the matter?" another of those present inquired.
"If the monsters get out of hand, there may be nothing that our forces can do to stop them. So far they haven't been nearly as effective as the Mew girls..."
There were various murmurs of agreement around the table. Maybe I really had jumped into this project way too quickly, for I had overlooked many of the consequences. I was willing to accept punishment, because truthfully, if this hadn't been done, the cost to humanity would have been far greater. But now my thoughts were on the girls. How did they feel about the Mew Project really?
"To get directly to the point, we have a proposition, Ryou-kun," Takahashi-san interrupted, his smile offered in my direction.
The buzz of a dozen voices talking at once eventually died down, and I could tell that some of those around me seemed to already be aware of this suggestion.
"The government is willing to overlook your offenses on several conditions. Firstly, we must have pardons in writing from each of the girls and their families; secondly, you must cooperate with us - you will inform us after each of the monsters are defeated, and when this is all over you will provide us with a full report. While I do not expect you to reveal all of Professor Jishou's notes, or your own notes and use of technology for that matter, when this mission is completed, we ask that you come to work for us at one of our research facilities where we will be able to monitor your actions and assist you."
In other words, they were willing to let the girls go...? The conditions seemed fair enough, but still... There seemed to be a few minor details missing here...
"Will you agree to these conditions?" Seto-san barked.
I must have been silent for a bit too long, because he prompted again, "...well?"
"The first two conditions I can deal with, however, I request time to consider the last. I'm not sure I like the idea of working for someone else..."
Seto-san snorted. "You do realize, do you not, that your only other option is imprisonment until you are put on trial?"
"I know."
Hiro Takahashi raised a hand, "Everyone, please. Let's give Ryou-kun a week to think about it. If he does not agree, then after things are settled with the monsters, we will take further steps. I'm sorry, Ryou-kun, but we really can't just let you off the hook."
"I understand."
"Well, that's all for today, then," Seto-san stated gruffly, "Dismissed."
I rose from my seat, my head a bit foggy. As I followed the guards back towards the entryway, I could catch some of those present muttering about how Takahashi-san had gone far too lightly on me because he was a friend of my father's, and about other notorious experiments I had surely taken part in. Right then I honestly just wanted to head back to the cafe and lay down somewhere before considering things further. As I pushed through the glass doors, I didn't bother to look back.
-- Ch. 06; Act 02 - A discussion and a plan. (version. Max)
I watched as Ryou left the hotel. He seemed all right at the very least, although I was surprised that the officials had gone so easy on him.
Tobikuma Seto walked up to me, shoving a stack of papers in my direction, "I assume you've written a report, Max?"
"I have," I replied, handing him a weathered leather-bound journal which he immediately snatched from my hand.
"It seems Shirogane-san has no written copy of the notes for the Mew Project. I searched everywhere and could find nothing, I even managed to hack his computer database while the cook was out."
"None? Shame. Oh well, please continue to keep an eye on things and report back to us with what you find."
"I shall do that. Thank you." I bowed politely, offering a wave at the officers, before hurrying out the door. I needed to get back to the pink cafe before anyone realized that I was missing.
Everything else aside, however, I was quite pleased. I had discovered a good deal about how the project had evolved from the initial set of research notes to its present state. Incidentally, the project was hardly anything like its predecessors, and it had managed to run through various tests in a surprisingly humane manner. There were no major failures recorded - no deaths of test subjects or other specimens save a few developing Chimeras that had been captured to record the Red Data Animals' powers. There was, however, one thing that bothered me, and that was the mention of a human test subject. No further information of that subject had been recorded, aside from the fact that there was one. Oh well, I would just have to find out for myself.
A smile crossed my face as I whispered under my breath, "Seto-san, you really should be more careful who you trust with important information. Haven't I always told you that?"
-- Ch. 06; Act 03 - How to let the cat out of the bag. (version. Ryou)
It happened so abruptly. So completely without warning. I never saw it coming... or, Alto never saw it coming.
No, I had not been out saving a certain catgirl from danger. Instead... I had simply been trying to avoid Max and his pitiful attempts at trying to make friends with me. The very fact that he seemed sincere did not help things, but only aggravated me further. I did not want anyone else getting close to me. I was a man of secrets, and I liked it that way. What went on in my head was something I preferred to leave within the confines of my own person. I had not even managed to bring up the details of the meeting with Keiichiro until a few moments before. I had tried several times before then, but I could never seem to catch him alone. So I had snuck out in the late evening hours to converse with him at his apartment.
And so, I had made another fatal error in coming back to the cafe - entering a darkened, occupied building without looking both ways. No sooner had I set one feline paw inside the doorway than I felt myself being lifted up to my enemy's face.
"Well, good evening. How did you wander in here? I don't think Ryou-kun will like that at all."
Alto... I, did the first thing he could think of, I took a good hard swing at the man's head, but came up short when the man held me off at a distance.
"Spunky, aren't you?" Max noted, attempting in vain to pet my head while keeping his hand and arm intact, "Well, I don't think they'll miss one slice of turkey, so long as you're gone before either of them returns."
I, however, was not concerned about turkey or even eating. Growling with as much menace as a kitten can have, I focused on wriggling out of Max's grasp before the transformation became permanent... and I only had about sixty seconds left in which to accomplish this.
Max managed a firm grip, I had to hand that to him, but I finally managed to get my teeth in contact with skin again and bit down hard. I could hear the adult sucking in his breath as the pain travelled along nerves and finally hit his brain, but he still didn't let go. I cursed in my head.
This was bad. I had very little time left before I had to transform back, and if I had to beat Max to a pulp afterwards, I would, but I would not live out the remainder of my life in this form. Hissing and spitting in vain, I made a final attempt to free myself. Max had finally wandered into the kitchen, but he was taking his time about this.
"Please, calm down. I can't just let you go. You might get lost, and if Ryou-kun finds you, I--"
"Nyaowr!"
"You could stand to be just a bit more friendly, eh? I'm only helping you achieve what you came for..."
"Nyawr! Nyawr!"
"Relax. I swear, I really--"
"..nyao..." the last was uttered somewhat feebly. Something in my brain - and the cat's - had clicked, telling me it was now or never, and the detransformation had started without my even thinking about it. Well, in any case I'd be in good position to attack Max when this was all over.
Ah, but as usual... Max's presence had negated any effects my usual luck may have had. The adult stood there stiffly, quite baffled as cyan light began to bloom around the kitten in his hands, moreso when the feline began to grow heavier and larger at a rapid pace. However, Max still hadn't let go, and as the human version of myself began to emerge, the adult was knocked off balance and came crashing down on top of me to pin me where I was now situated on the floor. So much for having the upper hand...
I hardly dared to open my eyes, but when I finally did I saw that Max was staring wide-eyed above me, a bit too astounded to actually say anything about the whole occurance even though his mouth was hanging open in disbelief.
"You..." Max managed weakly. I had regained my composure by this time. Flushing angrily, I shoved the adult off, rising abruptly and turning to exit the room.
"How long... have you been like this?"
The question was left unanswered.