Author's Note: Wow, I was really surprised at the number of people who have expressed that they find Max interesting. Anyway, I wanted to respond to one of these reviews, from Darkstar Unic which reads: "Your story has intrigued me very much. Usually I'm not the kind that likes new characters in a fanfiction, but Max just fits."

I will tell you the truth: I'm not either. I really did not want to make up new characters for this story because I personally like reading about the official characters and nobody else. However, to work with the aliens, it seemed like making more of them was neccessary. Even Takahashi and Seto were placed in the story because there were roles that needed to be filled based on the plot that was developing in my head. And so, while I do give special attention to Max, I also made him appear because the plot just wouldn't work without him. It's also an area I feel has been largely unchartered - a random stranger (and adult rather than a potential Mew) discovering the secrets of the Mew Project and what he decides to do with this knowledge. And also, to another of my reader's. You don't have to post anonymously with question marks. I don't bite. :D

TOMORROW'S SOLACE

-- Ch. 08; Act 01 - Upcoming Deadline. (version. Ichigo)

"Ribbon Loveberry Check!"

"Ribbon Strawberry Check!" I echoed. The Chimera Anima flashed and a frightened flock of doves took to the air, leaving behind a scattered group of aliens that Masha and Ucha hurried to devour.

Berii rushed over to me, her face a smile, "We did it, Ichigo!"

"Y-yeah," I replied, laughing. I was nervous, and she seemed to be able to tell.

"Ichigo?" she questioned.

Returning to normal I flopped down on the grass, "I'm sorry. It's just... this whole thing is kind of scary. I mean, last time it was scary too, but this... I'm not sure."

Berii settled down next to me, "Is it because Aoyama-kun is no longer the Blue Knight?"

I smiled sadly and shook my head, "It's just... different, that's all."

"I'm afraid I don't understand," she admitted, fingering the head of a dandelion flower and causing some of the seeds to parachute away into the breeze, "I mean, this is all different to me because until a few months ago I had never seen an alien before. Sure, there were Chimera Anima, but, I know that's not what you mean."

"You might be right. Maybe I relied on the Blue Knight too much without realizing it. He was always there when I was in danger and now... Now I worry about Masaya because I know he wants to protect me, but..."

Berii nodded her understanding, wrapping her arms around her knees and looking off into the sky, "But now he can't and you're afraid he might get hurt."

We were silent for a while, a silence filled with birdsong in the distance and the whir of traffic.

"He loves you, though," she said firmly, looking back over at me. "You two are one of the most inspiring couples I know. It'll all work out."

I giggled then, yanking myself up in one quick movement, "Yeah, I know he does. But see, the other day when I told him about Kisshu and the others, he insisted on tagging along. I'm scared he's going to get hurt if things get dangerous."

"It'll be fine, I'm sure of it! Although, maybe you could talk Tasuku into staying behind...?"

"Hey, Berii!" the voice belonged to none other than Tasuku Meguro who was waving his arms furiously a few yards off, "What are you saying about me while I'm not around?"

"It's nothing!" she shouted back, brushing her hair from her face as she rose to her feet and dusted the grass clippings off her dress.

"Hey, c'mon, you can tell me, Berii! I won't get upset! That's just not me, yanno?"

"I said it was nothing!" she responded again.

"Ooh..." she grumbled, color coming to her cheeks as she buried her fingers in the folds of her apron, "...that Tasuku."

I smiled despite her frustration, "Hey, Berii, it'll all work out, right?"

The two of us laughed, hoping our worries would escape with the laughter. Mine didn't.

-- Ch. 08; Act 02 - How to make something out of nothing. (version. Ryou)

Why? Why did he have to go too?

These thoughts played over and over in my mind as I handled the dishes a bit too roughly for Keiichiro's liking.

"Ryou, would you like me to finish those instead?" my guardian inquired, trying to be as gentle as possible, but I could tell he was worried for the china.

"I can handle it," I insisted as I dried another plate with the dishcloth, stacking it with others like it on the countertop.

I just couldn't figure that guy out. I knew already that he had come across the Mew Project notes in the study room, and he had admitted to blackmailing Keiichiro. He had also blackmailed Ichigo and myself. What I didn't understand was why he hadn't done anything. What was he waiting for? Didn't he have us right where he wanted us?

My hands slowed as my theories started to run out. None of them seemed likely. Maybe he really was working for the government. Or perhaps, like he had said, he was giving the government or some other agency limited information for his own benefit. But what was that benefit?

"Penny for your thoughts, Ryou-kun?" It was him of course. I merely glared at him out of the corner of my eye and returned to scrubbing the saucer I was working on even more forcefully than before.

Seeing as he was not about to get an answer from me, Max sighed and turned to Keiichiro, "So, Akasaka-kun, how's research going?"

"Not quite the way I would have hoped, but we're making progress," Keiichiro replied cheerfully. I could feel his eyes wandering in my direction, "Ryou's the one who code-named the substance 'Mew Ore'. He also managed to hack one of the United States' satellites in order to get a rough idea of where this substance might be found within the Yucatan. We're thinking somewhere in the area near Chichen Itza."

I gaped at him. How could Keiichiro be so free with information?! But then, I knew. The cocky grin Max had cast in my direction was almost certain proof that this was what he had weasled out of Keiichiro. He wanted additional information on our current tasks, and whatever card he had played was working all too well on my friend.

"Why don't you join in the conversation?" Max suggested, "I'm sure you know more about this sort of thing than either of us do."

"No thanks. I don't want to talk to you," I countered, returning the dishes to their proper homes in the kitchen cupboards and stalking away and up to my room.

I had gotten halfway up the spiral staircase when I heard footsteps behind me. Digging my nails into the railing as I kept walking, I could feel frustration welling up, threatening to explode inside of me.

When a hand grasped at my wrist, I spun with such fury that the force of my arm being wrenched away caused him to stumble backwards down three of the steps before he gripped the railing and pulled himself back up.

Keiichiro stared at me as if I had just smacked him across the face, "Ryou! What's gotten into you?" His face was a mixture of confusion and pain. It was difficult to look at him, as though I had somehow betrayed the silent bond of trust between us.

I let out a short breath, backing away from him and up another step, "What do you think is wrong with me? It's that guy over there. Honestly, if he was blackmailing you all along, why didn't you tell me?"

"Ryou, what are you talking about? Max-san isn't blackmailing me," Keiichiro said, the pain in his expression subsiding and being replaced ounce for ounce with more confusion.

"You expect me to believe that? He's already proven he can't be trusted! He got Ichigo from the start, he's been snooping through the library, and he's even threatened to hurt the girls. What are we letting him hang around for anyway? If this has to do with me, I can fend for myself. I'm not a kid anymore! Don't let him use me to get information out of you!"

"Ryou, Max-san is our guest. I don't believe he would hurt the girls. You should be a little more accepting," Keiichiro sighed.

"More accepting? You're TOO accepting! Why do you trust him?"

Keiichiro blinked at me in silence but said nothing.

"Keiichiro! Why do you trust him?" I pressed.

Keiichiro sighed again, resting his hand on my shoulder and giving it a light squeeze, "Let's say... he reminds me of someone I know. So, I don't think he's a bad person."

"Keiichir-!!"

"And," he continued, interrupting me, "I might know who he's giving information to. Therefore, I am quite sure that Max-san won't betray us. If I had major doubts, I would not be so open with him. If I turn out to be wrong in the end, then perhaps I am a kindhearted fool, but I think you should reserve your judgment until the Mew Ore is safely in our hands and these other aliens are no longer a threat."

I groaned, staring back at him with a look of defeat, "It seems like too much of a gamble to me."

Keiichiro smiled weakly at that, clapping my shoulder gently before letting it go completely, "You've taken far greater risks in your lifetime than I have, Ryou."

I raised an eyebrow, "So?"

I did not need to be reminded of how reckless I was.

"So, I hope you'll be kind enough to bail me out like I have bailed you out in the past," Keiichiro answered with a smile before starting back down the steps.

-- Ch. 08; Act 03 - Another Meeting and a Lesson in Division. (version. Ichigo)

Summer! It was finally summer!

After waving an enthusiastic goodbye to Miwa and Moe and starting down the sidewalk towards the park, that's when it hit me. What summer? There was a job to do, and if the determined expression on Shirogane's face as he, Akasaka-san, and Pai sat around the blond's laptop meant anything, it was going to be a BIG job. I sighed, but it came out as more of a whine than anything. There was nothing wrong with saving the human race, but even superheroes deserve a vacation sometime. Right?

"Hey, Ichigo, are you okay? You seem pretty disappointed."

I flicked my weary eyes upwards to gaze upon Masaya's gentle, smiling face and felt like crying.

"Masaya! No... I just..." I fretted, my hands balling themselves into fists.

"Ichigo?" he rested an arm on my shoulder as I grew tense.

"I want a vacation!" I practically wailed, "I've been working my butt off at the cafe, fighting aliens, and studying as hard as I can so I can pass the demon teacher's class and now I have to zip off to Mexico and fight more aliens and do more work and then maybe... MAYBE I'll have time left over to do my summer homework!"

Masaya laughed nervously but his voice was consoling, "It'll be fine, Ichigo. And don't worry. I can help you study when we have free time."

This did not, however, mean that my wonderful boyfriend would do my homework for me. I sighed my defeat.

"Okay. Thanks, Masaya."

The basement was as dark and dusty as ever. I was ushered downstairs by Minto just as soon as I opened the doors of the pink castle to let the two of us inside. Shirogane was seated importantly at the front of the room with Pai and Akasaka-san to either side of him and Kisshu standing off to the side. The green-headed alien offered me a lop-sided grin as I entered the dim room which I returned with a great deal less enthusiasm. At least someone was having fun. Zakuro-san, Berii, Tasuku, Purin, Taruto, and Retasu crowded to one side. Minto brought up the rear. Max was off in his own corner, looking a bit intrigued from all I could tell.

"We've called you all down here to go over the game plan," Shirogane stated by way of explanation.

'The least he could do is say "hello",' I thought to myself with some irritation.

"Ryou, Pai-san, and I have been looking further into the situation during this past week," Akasaka-san added gently.

"And?" Zakuro-san inquired, folding her arms infront of her, "What have you all discovered?"

"There's definitely a signal coming from the area near Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Penninsula," Shirogane stated, "It's there. We just have to uncover it."

"Is this going to involve more digging?" Minto questioned disdainfully.

Akasaka-san smiled weakly, "We don't know, Minto-san, but it's a possibility."

"There's a 75.6 percent chance that the Mew Ore is located within a created structure. It is unlikely that our ancestors would have simply buried it. They would want for the mineral to be accessable in case a crisis arose. Unlike the Mew Aqua that was broken and scattered, we believe the Mew Ore to be in one piece," Pai droned.

I was hopeful. "So we don't have to dig, right?" I proded, clasping my hands together.

"Wrong. We can't know for sure. Chances are any ruins from that long ago have sunken into the ground." Well, that response was quick.

I made a face. Shirogane was always making us work. I had hoped I'd never have to dig again after the final Mew Aqua was discovered. I could still remember the blisters from before and how it had taken weeks for them to disappear completely.

"Pai-san, I-I have a question!" Retasu piped up nervously, only daring to raise her arm into the air about halfway.

Pai turned his gaze on her, seeming to hesitate momentarily, "What is it?"

"What do you intend to do... about your governor and the other two people should we be forced to face them?"

"We'll fight them."

"B-but..." Retasu was a pacifist. The idea of fighting didn't sit very well with her. She preferred solving problems by talking them over.

"What choice do we have?" Kisshu spoke up from his part of the basement, "They want to kill us, and they came here to destroy you. We tried talking to her. She didn't want to listen."

"Perhaps the other two would be more willing to listen," she suggested.

"I doubt it," Pai answered.

Taruto shifted uneasily, "I know what you mean. I don't want to fight anyone either, but, if we don't, we won't just lose the Mew Ore, but you guys might lose your planet."

"They're right," Zakuro-san added blandly, "We have to look at the big picture here."

"Um, suppose they attack Tokyo while we're gone?" It was Berii. She looked worried at the thought.

Shirogane and Akasaka-san exchanged glances.

"The possibility exists," Pai acknowledged.

"Perhaps it would be best if we split up into groups," Masaya suggested beside me.

Shirogane's aquamarine eyes fell on him. He nodded slowly, "Aoyama might be right. Some of us should stay here just in case. It would also be a good idea to have backup rather than present all of our forces at once."

"I suppose that just leaves the question of who's going and who's staying behind," said Zakuro.

"Kisshu and I will be going. Taruto, you should stay behind. The others will need a way to transport to the Yucatan quickly in case trouble arises," Pai decided.

"Hey! Why do I have to stay behind?!" Taruto complained.

"Because you're a kid," Kisshu teased, "This is an adult's job."

"I suppose that means you'll be staying behind as well," Minto joked.

"Cheer up, Taru-Taru! Bu-Ling will stay behind too, na no da! Friends have to stick together no da!" she proved her point by bounding over to the alien and glomping him tightly.

"If it's an adult's job, I suppose I'll be going on this journey as well," Max spoke decisively. It was the first time he contributed anything since we entered the basement.

Zakuro-san cast an untrusting stare in his direction, "I'll go as well."

"I'm going wherever oneesama goes!" Minto declared quickly, latching onto the older girl's arm.

"I can stay behind," Berii offered. She glanced at Tasuku worriedly. I could tell that she was concerned not only for him, but for Tokyo as well, considering so far only Purin and Taruto were staying behind. I wondered if maybe I should stay behind as well.

"Make that two," Tasuku smiled, forming a peace sign with his fingers.

"I'll..." I was at a loss. I didn't know what to do. Should I stay and defend Tokyo? Should I go and help the others find the Mew Ore?

"Ichigo and Retasu will be going," Shirogane decided for me. I shot him a look. Retasu merely flushed and nodded her head submissively.

"I'll go with Ichigo, if that's okay..." Masaya said, though Shirogane was already nodding automatically. He probably knew that he could not sway Masaya's mind.

"One of us should stay behind," Shirogane said to Akasaka-san.

"I agree," Akasaka-san answered promptly.

For a moment it seemed like Akasaka-san had taken his eyes off Shirogane and was instead looking at me. At the time I failed to make any connection with this gesture.

"Ryou will go. I will stay here and take charge of the computer systems. If there is any trouble, we are to let each other know so that one team may come to the other's assistance. I will go ahead and install the programs in Masha and Ucha so they can be used as a form of long distance communication and data exchange."

Akasaka-san nodded politely after he had said this and returned to work at one of the monitors.

Shirogane looked vaguely surprised at this decision, but was all doom-and-gloom again soon after.

"It's clear, right? Berii, Tasuku, Taruto, Purin, and Keiichiro will remain here in Tokyo in case the aliens reappear here in an attempt to stall or distract us. The rest of you will be coming with me," Shirogane summarized.

There were various nods and quiet chatter. I had a feeling that with Shirogane tagging along, this field trip was going to be even more work than I had expected and even less like a vacation. Then again, this was serious. Did I really expect a vacation in the first place? I just hoped he'd let us stop for breaks when we got tired or needed to use the bathroom.

"I wanted to go hunt for the magic rock, no da, but it can't be helped no da," Purin said quietly.

"Sorry about that," Shirogane murmured, "Well, unless there are any other complaints, I suggest you girls rest up."

Taruto hopped down from his place on one of the desks, snubbing his nose and heading for the stairs, "I'm hungry."

Purin followed Taruto gingerly, "Bu-Ling will make Taru-Taru something really yummy to eat, na no da!"

"I-I can take care of it myself!" he protested.

"Don't be silly! Since we're friends, we have to help each other out, na no da!" she insisted, grabbing his arm.

Taruto made some grumbling noises before they both disappeared upstairs.

-- Ch. 08; Act 04 - Freedom and Failure. (version. Max)

There wasn't much resting up to do, to be honest. Indeed I had not been doing much of anything, nor did I have anything to pack - something I very much regretted.

Teleportation seemed so complex a subject, yet it took Kisshu and Pai no more than a wave of their hands and our group was standing on rocky ground, interrupted by patches of grass and expanses of trees.

"Watch out for sinkholes," Ryou recited, finding a place beside Pai and taking the lead. To where... I was not entirely sure.

After a few hours of walking and no close encounters with anything dangerous, our field trip took on a more monotonous tone. By this time the sun was towering right over us in the sky and was not going to let us forget that we were now considerably closer to the equator.

"It's so hot," Ichigo complained, making a face and also a vain attempt to create a sufficient breeze with the hand she was waving infront of her nose.

"You're such a baby. You'll want someone to carry you next," Ryou commented as soon as she finished.

"I'm not a baby, Shirogane! Masaya, tell him I'm not a baby!"

Aoyama smiled feebily, "Let's just relax. Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere."

"I concur," Minto agreed, although she had little room for complaints as she had brought along a handheld fan and a number of other fancy objects that seemed like they would prove to be useless in this environment, "So, what do we need to know about this place besides the weather's a little uncomfortable?"

Ryou groaned, casting Retasu, who was walking beside him, something of a pleading look.

"I've heard that scientists believe an asteroid crashed here 65 million years ago," she offered.

"Actually..." Kisshu started, rubbing his cheek, "according to our planet's history, a team of explorers crash-landed somewhere around here a long time ago. Maybe it's the same thing."

"That was only two thousand years ago," Pai corrected him blandly, "The records say that another group journied to the same location to search for the crew, but they miscalculated and arrived centuries later. The second group succeeded in establishing a settlement here and were able to make contact with a foreign race."

"Hmm..." Ryou muttered, "They say that 'Yucatan' means 'place of richness', but there's a popular myth that when the Spanish showed up, the guys who lived here said 'we don't understand your words'."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Kisshu tilted his head.

"It means it's possible that the language barrier wasn't between the Spanish and the indigenous people who lived here, but it might have been between humans and your ancestors," he clarified.

"Hey, Pai. The second group who came here brought the Mew Ore with them, right?" Kisshu glanced over at Pai.

"To be sure. Some of our ancestors chose to remain on Earth, ignoring the plans to reclaim it in the future. They worked alongside the humans, culturing creatures and plants from our planet - what became the Chimera. When their civilization failed, many of the Chimera fled north into the desert or south into the rainforests, or even into the oceans. There are reports that other Chimera were found in fossils buried in local sites that had been abandoned. We suppose they were left by the first exploration team. In any case, that is where your 'Nessie' and 'Bigfoot' legends originated from. That is also where Deep Blue's ancestors arose from."

Aoyama looked up abruptly, "You mean...?"

"Though it was against our laws to do so, our ancestors procreated with the humans. That is why you - a human carrying alien blood within you - exist."

"So then, there are others like Aoyama?" Ryou questioned, his voice serious.

"It is likely that at least 9.8 percent of Earth's population..." Pai started.

"...has alien blood," Ryou finished with a sigh, his eyebrows knit, "In other words, your governor would have little problem finding a suitable host."

"Exactly. That is why we're going to find the Mew Ore," Pai concluded.

"This is making my head hurt..." Ichigo sighed, "Is it really neccessary for us to remember all of this stuff you're talking about now? I'll be lucky if I can remember all the details for my homework assignments. Double-spaced, single-spaced... font size..."

"Ichigo, this may be important" Zakuro advised, although she seemed bored herself.

Ichigo bobbed her head in defeat. "So, anything besides aliens and sinkholes we need to worry about?" she tried again.

I laughed lightly, "There's always wild animals, disease, not to mention the weather here can change without warning. Large storms are frequent."

Ichigo whimpered, "Shirogane, is this true?"

"Probably."

Ichigo let out another loud sigh.

"Hey, don't worry so much, kitty cat, I won't let anything bad happen to you!" Kisshu offered enthusiastically.

"You can stop calling me 'kitty cat'!" she complained.

"And I," I heard Aoyama say quietly, "I'll protect you."

Ichigo seemed considerably more satisfied with this.

"Honestly, Ryou, how much further do you expect us to walk today? I don't see any life in sight," Minto remarked.

"Until we get there," he replied vaguely, although he looked tired himself. And worried.

"Suppose it gets dark first?" she continued impatiently.

"Then we'll make camp."

"Camp?" Ichigo's face fell again.

"Well, this is a vacation, isn't it? Besides, we can't have Kisshu and Pai popping us back and forth all the time when the other aliens might already know where the Mew Ore is located."

"I'd rather sleep in a hotel," Minto scoffed.

Ryou shook his head, "It's a long story, but we can't sleep in a hotel."

"Why not?" Zakuro looked suspicious.

Ryou shifted his gaze over to me. He was void of emotion, as usual, although I was surprised at what he said next. "I'll explain everything in due time" was all he said in reply.

He was a genius. I never questioned that, and yet, he had given in to my demands so easily. I was almost disappointed that he hadn't tried to fight back just a little more than he did.

The hours passed by at a snail's pace. Finally, when the girls refused to walk any further, we made camp for the night in an open area sheltered on one side by a cliff wall. Ryou built a fire to serve as protection from "wild animals" at the other end. The girl's unrolled blankets and sleeping bags and settled into their own little discussion circle. I caught bits and pieces of conversation about Ryou being too demanding, worries about bugs, concerns about sink holes, why men were so confusing, and the like. Pai and Kisshu were sprawled out on a ledge about six feet above our camp, staring at the night sky. Ryou was off with Aoyama, contacting Akasaka-kun via Masha.

Having no real place, I lowered myself down onto the ground a few feet away where there was a large patch of grass that could suffice as a tolerable bed cushion and glanced across the landscape. My thoughts and memories teased me, but all in all, it was good to be outdoors. I felt less confined in more ways than one, and saw this as a good omen.

Eventually my head slumped forward and I was overtaken by restless sleep.

'You liar!' the voice rang in my head, 'You liar! YOU LIAR! YOU LIAR!'

'But, I couldn't just-!' came my feeble protest. It was the truth. I was a liar, wasn't I? How had things turned out this way? And why had they turned out this way?

'Shut up, I hate you! Liar! LIAR! LIAR!'

In my dream I started backing away. Backing away from the person making these accusations. Accusations that were true. I was guilty. I was a liar, and if it were not for my own greed, I'd be completely useless to anyone.

Around me the girls appeared in bright dresses, gathering hands and forming a ring to cage me in. They began moving clockwise around me; dancing, chanting, 'Liar, liar, pants on fire! Liar, liar, burn in fire!'

'Everyone, I can explain! Really! Please listen to me just this once,' I pleaded.

'The jury finds you guilty! So shut up and die!' Ryou snapped, raising a torch in the air which illuminated the area and cast jagged shadows that rose off the ground and wrapped around my legs.

'No! Stop!' another voice protested. It was far away, a voice painfully familiar to me. That voice would never reach me in time. Ryou had already dropped the torch. The ground around me was ablaze now, and I could feel my hopes dying. The girls had all scattered into the night, their chants echoing in the air.

I heard Ryou laughing from beyond the fire, 'Looks like I get the last word, doesn't it Max? Nobody threatens me and gets away with it.'

'Ryou!' I shouted. I was too late. I just knew it. I was... Too. Late.

"Ryou!" I yelled, bolting upright in my sleeping bag. The campfire had died down to an eerie glow and as my eyes adjusted, I could make out the figures of the girls, still sleeping soundly. A closer inspection confirmed my fears. Everyone was present. Everyone, that is, except for Ryou Shirogane.