Okay, you've all waited and waited long enough, I apologize for the constant lapses on my part for not getting this to you sooner. Seriously, I had so many ideas on how this chapter would go! But all of them seemed to… I dunno, cut certain relationships short? It's difficult to explain, but just so you know, despite the beginning, I thought this was very fun and funny to write, so I hope you all enjoy it. Thank-you for everyone's dedication in continuing to read this story!!

Reisha opened her eyes wearily, having been unaware that she had even closed them before. What, what time is it?... She mechanically moved her head to look at the clock that read 11:24 in fierce red lighting. Time… what does it matter? Mrs. Midorikawa's body couldn't cry anymore, her body couldn't react to the deep aching anguish in her heart anymore; there was no energy left to feel it. Retasu, her body did a sharp intake as the image of her daughter happy and safe was brought forward to her mind, my sweet baby Retasu, where are you…?

How long had it been now since her baby had been taken from her? How long had it been since the aliens had captured her? Three days, four? Time was muddled together and there was no distinction between morning and night. Kakashi had taken off of work and had been running between the police station and their home for updates. Each time he came home, his face was a little wearier, his voice more hollow. But what could they do? What could anyone do? Reisha forced herself off the couch and towards the phone, where a message had been left. As she passed by the mirror she looked into it with unseeing and uncaring eyes. Her hair was one big rats nest from constant neglect and sleep, her eyes were dull and caked with old make-up and crust from sleeping, the dark shadows under her eyes didn't help.

She continued over to the message machine and clicked the blinking button dejectedly. Maybe this time? Maybe they've found her safe and sound? Maybe… Her heart barely fluttered alive with the hope, but she still felt it shot down as if it had soared high as her husband's voice came through. "… Hey honey. The police are working hard, but their having trouble. … They said… We'll keep looking Reisha, no one's giving up. I'll try to be home by dinner… I love you." The message clicked off dispassionately.

She knew what everyone thought; she knew that the police didn't expect to find her daughter now, that there was a good chance Retasu would never turn up home alive. But she couldn't be dead! SHE COULDN'T BE DEAD! I'd know in my heart, right? I would know if my daughter was gone, right?!

Reisha looked out the window, it was a gorgeous day, the kind where mom's took their kids to parks for hours on end, and families worked on their gardens. How can the world be so beautiful when everything's so wrong? Once again Reisha thought back to the last time when she had seen her daughter, all flustered for being late to work. She remembered her daughter fumbling out of bed. "Mom, why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" It felt so accusatory now. Why hadn't she? Why didn't she go up there and catch a few more moments with her daughter? She would have been so peaceful looking, her hair a cascade of green all around her, her glasses off to the side so her perfect oval face would be almost distinctive.

The tears wouldn't form, but the ache in the mother's heart grew heavier. "Why? Why, why, why, why?!" Reisha clenched her eyes shut. This pain in her heart, it was unbearable, it was unthinkable. She wanted to lash out and make it go away, she wanted to rip it out of her chest and be done with it. "Retasu… Retasu…" The tired mother slouched to the floor, burying her head in her hands and moaning as if half of her body had been ripped off. "Retasu… oh God, Retasu, be safe…"

Xxx

Lettuce stared blankly at the wall across from the kitchen table she was sitting at, absently holding a cup of coffee in hand. She had spent the whole day helping Pai-san with his green room. In secret truth, she had really enjoyed it. She liked walking alongside Pai and teaching him what she knew of his plants, which honestly wasn't all that much, but he really seemed to enjoy learning everything about them. In turn, she would inquire about a plant she wasn't familiar with, and he would do his best to tell her about it. Though Retasu wouldn't openly admit to it, she liked to hear him speak, to listen to the sound of his voice as he patiently explained. The calm, peaceful look he had as he gazed on his specimens seemed to alter his face dramatically; it made him appear less severe, less cold. "What about this one?" She recalled asking him hesitantly; still being in partial shock from the smile he had given her, and for some reason being unable to banish from her mind the fact that she was in a very lovely dress in front of him. Pai had turned and regarded the flower levelly, nodding to himself. "The Lilium lijiangense. It has a rather unique appearance and is quite rarely seen in the wild, let alone gardens; I'm not surprised you don't know it." He had leaned down towards it and had held one of the odd blooms up for her to more closely inspect. "It's only known locations are in West Sichuan and North-West Yunnan, China. All I truly know about it is that it thrives more-so in 'woodsy' conditions." "It's very beautiful." She remembered remarking. He had simply nodded and continued on towards another plant, but she was just happy that he was willing to let her ask questions as well.

Now, though, her heart felt a little heavier. She didn't know what was going on, but when she had been with Pai, she had felt similar to how she sometimes would feel when Ryou talked with her, or encouraged her on the battlefield.

It felt that way, only better.

But how could I?! He's planning to hurt everyone I care about! His sole reason for being on earth is to destroy humanity! How can I possibly feel like this?! It was wrong, she knew that what she was feeling was very wrong. It was a betrayal to her Mew friends, and more importantly, a betrayal to Ryou! Not that he would even know it to be one; after all, he has Ichigo. Retasu felt a small pang of jealousy, but knew that it was for the best. She and Ichigo were best friends, and she wouldn't let anyone (even Ryou) destroy that one precious fact in her life. If Ryou was meant for Ichigo, then there was nothing she could do about it.

Except apparently fall for someone not even from earth.

But maybe I have this all wrong? Maybe I'm just reading into things too much, after all, anyone would be glad that he had been so kind, right? And it's not so wrong to notice different things about him, right? So, it might not… be anything in relations to romance.

Regardless of whether she felt anything for him or not, Retasu knew that if the chance came, she would have to try and escape. My heart can battle with itself all it wants, but it's my duty to contact Ryou somehow and save everyone from this catastrophe. But maybe they've found out about it already? Maybe, I'm not too late? Retasu set the coffee down and walked over to the bed, falling heavily into the welcoming blankets. First chance I get, first chance I get…

Xxx

Mint's ears pricked slightly as Ichigo giggled to herself once again. All day the red-head had been making a fool of herself, staring into space, giggling behind her hand, and saying ridiculous things under her breath. It had 'MASAYA' written all over it.

If Mint was in complete honesty, it was the most annoying thing her friend had ever done in her life. Not only was their best friend in the clutches of the whole planet's enemy, but it was a busy day and due to Ichigo's short attention span, it was getting to the point where Mint was soon going to have to actually work.

"Miss? Hey, uh, blue waitress?"

Mint narrowed her brown eyes in irritation. This is my tea break! Just ignore them Mint, maybe the commoner will go to bug Ichigo, or just quit entirely.

"Yoo-who! Girl with the black hair?"

Hold it in Mint, you're refined Mint…

" Drinking the coffee?"

That's it! Mint rose gracefully from her chair and regarded the high school boy coldly. "Tea. It's not coffee, it's tea. I am on my break, as in, not working at the moment. Let me go get you some help. Ichigo!"

The red-head jumped out of her day dream and turned in surprise towards Mint. "Huh? Sorry Mint, I didn't hear you, what was that?"

Oh that little- "Ichigo, you've been spacing all day, this customer requires assistance, and you have been doing nothing but dreaming about that Masaya of yours!"

"What!" Ichigo's brows furrowed towards the blue mew. "I have not (actually) been thinking about Masaya! And why can't you help the guy?"

"Because it's my tea break! And there's no way I can miss it, why don't you understand this?"

"Why can't you get off your high throne once in awhile and help for once?"

"What part of 'break' are you having trouble with?!"

"You aristocratic types are all the same!"

"Excuse me?!"

The customer, a high school boy with brown hair and lots of freckles, got up abruptly from his seat. "Hey, look, it's not that big a deal-"

The bickering girl's turned on him, yelling simultaneously. "STAY OUT OF THIS!"

"Mint-oniichan! Ichigo-oniichan! Ryou said-" Pudding peered out of the kitchen and took in the scene, quickly bouncing over to the crestfallen customer. "Can I help you sir, na no da?"

He looked down at her in surprise. "Did you say 'na no da'?"

Pudding grinned hugely at the tall boy. "It's Pudding's favorite thing to say, na no da!"

"In that case, you can help me." He smiled in relief. "I'm sorry, but my little sister loves acrobatics, and my girlfriend said that a blond girl that works here does amazing tricks. She also let me know that the girl constantly said 'na no da'." He knelt down to the little girl's level. "You're her, right? Listen, my little sis is having her birthday in a few days, and if you were available, I was wondering if you'd come and do some tricks for her party. I can pay! Just tell me how much, and it'd only be for a few hours!"

Ichigo and Mint's fight had simmered down to fuming bickers by now. Pudding grinned even wider. "Pudding would love to put on a show, na no da! Of course I do have a fee for this, let me see when I'm available, na no da." Pudding fetched out a tiny calendar book from her apron pocket. "Oh!" Her eyes flew back to her friends, who had finished their argument and were looking away from each other. "I forgot! Ryou wants us, na no da. You'd better hurry down too, it seemed urgent, could you tell him I'll be there in a minute, na no da?" She turned back to the customer and her book.

Mint and Ichigo exchanged a look, each thinking the same thing. Lettuce. Fight forgotten, the quickly left for the basement.

Xxx

Kish quietly teleported into the surveillance room and glanced in on the prisoner. At first he found no movement, but then noticed the rumpled lump on the bed. The object he was holding wriggled agitatedly and he cupped his hands down on it to keep it still. Teleporting into Lettuce's bathroom and glancing out, he could hear her steady breathing. She's sound asleep. His grin grew wolfish. Perfect.

He hurried over and set the object on the floor and moved to go away, thought better of it, and carefully arranged the covers over Lettuce before leaving. Kisshu laughed to himself once he reached the hallway. "Now to set it into action…"

Xxx

Ryou turned quickly as he heard feet descending into the basement. "It took you girl's long enough, where's Pudding?"

"She'll be down in a bit, she's making 'party reservations'." Mint smirked, provoking Ryou to raise an eyebrow in question.

"What's up?" Ichigo leaned in on her boss. "Have you found anything on Lettuce? Or the aliens?"

Ryou turned back to the computer. "We might have. Zakuro's pretty sure she's found something big, so at closing time, she'll meet us here." He pointed to part of a map showing on his screen. "It's part of some land belonging to an old chemical plant. It's right next to the park outside of here, and apparently one of the park trails go right up against it."

Ichigo's eyes widened in realization, "And you think that's where Lettuce was taken?"

"Exactly, Zakuro found the opening to the trail down by the downtown shops and market. Me and Asakasa usually just drive down to it, so we've never really known about the trail. Also," Ryou brought up another map of the area, only several red dots pulsed in random areas. "These are the exact area's where all of the fights within these last few weeks have taken place, and if you look, they all center in," his finger stabbed at an open area on the screen, "here."

"So we'll know why the Cyniclons took Lettuce, na no da?!" Pudding bounced in and stared intently at the screen. "We'll be able to get Lettuce back?"

Ryou furrowed his brow slightly, "Let's not jump to something that big, we will save Lettuce, but I don't know if it will actually help get her back. Ichigo," he turned and held her gaze. "It's important that you take Masha with you so I can see what you find, don't forget it."

"Right." The waitress nodded eagerly. Don't worry Lettuce, we're not giving up yet!

Xxx

Pai sat at his computer where he was supposed to be checking up on the secret chimera anima's growth, but was surprisingly staring off into space.

At least, he was when Taruto came in. The youngest Cyniclon, however, had too much on his mind to notice. "Pai!"

The purple haired alien jumped, causing a few keys to be randomly pressed. He looked up sharply at his younger companion. "Taruto, you should know better than to surprise me."

"But Pa-i! He got away again!"

The oldest Cyniclon's brows furrowed in annoyance. "Taruto, if you can't keep one troublesome bull-frog in its cage, there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it."

The brown haired child lowered himself down so Pai could see his pleading face more clearly. "Please Pai, it won't happen again! Just check the camera's for me real quick, or the heat detectors, or the sound recorders! Please? I know you're busy-" It was then Taruto noticed the unusual lack of activity. "Hey, what gives? You're just sitting around doing nothing-?"

Pai ignored him and began to bring up all the security files, immediately changing Tart's point of attention. Pai glanced around at the screens and readings. "Your frog seems to have-" The Cyniclon's eyebrows rose in astonishment, his ear twitching violently. That… that imbecile! "Nevermind, I'll get your amphibian myself, the last thing we need is for it to get away again." He glared pointedly at Taruto before disappearing. "While I take care of this, go study… natural resources from the ocean." Pai missed the annoyed stare from his friend as he hurried away. What in the world possessed that dim-witted Kish to hide the frog the Mew Lettuce's room!

Kisshu, glancing in the room from around the corner, watched his friend leave for Lettuce's room with a gleam in his eye.

Xxx

Pai materialized in front of the door to the mew's room, feeling, with a shock, nervous to enter in. Of all the-! I've been alive for how many years and have not once been nervous because of a girl, LET ALONE AN ENEMY! His blood boiled at the thought of this all being Kish's idiotic fault. It's not enough that the whole colony's lives are at stake, that our whole plan to defeat the humans is at stake, no, he needs to sneak experiment specimens into a hostage's room just so he can get a good laugh!

He was infuriated by Kish's actions, and Kish would pay for it later on, but that wasn't why he was nervous. Pai couldn't stop thinking about the incident in the garden, about how pretty the Green Mew, Lettuce, had looked, how intelligent she was and how helpful she had been despite the fact that she wasn't forced to.

And more importantly, how he had actually smiled at her. And it had been a sincere one at that!

The ear twitched knowingly.

"Forget it…" he growled to himself. If he didn't think about it, he would have to acknowledge what a strange thing it was, or more importantly, what it might imply. He knocked two quiet firm knocks on the door. "Mew Lettuce… I'm coming in, for your safety, stay away and in full view of the door." His own voice fell flat in his ears, like a computer droning. It doesn't matter what I sound like, enough of these ridiculous thoughts! She's the hostage, I'm the captor! Without further warning he quickly opened the door.

And found no one?

His brow furrowed as he quickly shut the door and turned back, it was a tiny room, and there was virtually no where to really hide. But he didn't see Lettuce anywhere. His mind reeled, how could she escape? Why didn't the alarms sound? Where would she have gone?! If she escapes… If she got away, all of Pai's work would be virtually ruined. He turned to leave the room and begin the search just as a loud noise stopped him.

Cccccccccrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkk.

Pai halted in his tracks and turned slowly. That's right! His gaze interlocked with the golden eyes of a dark green Bull frog. It croaked challengingly at him, daring him to try and grab at it. "I don't have time for this…" The frog's eyes widened and it croaked out loudly, apparently scoffing at Pai's lack of interest. As if testing the battle ground, it sidled slightly closer to the mattress. Ignore the stupid creature, send Taruto to grab it. That way you can find the mew and flail Kish alive for giving her the opportunity to escape!! (After all, everything that went wrong on the ship seemed to automatically involve the green-haired alien) He watched it carefully as he turned away towards the door.

The frog, seemingly sensing Pai's departure, made a leap for the bed.

And quick as lightning, Pai grabbed it out of the air.

The frog let out a small croak of shock. There! Pai thought angrily, now I can get rid of this thing and focus on where- A shift and small moan from the bed froze the tallest Cyniclon in place. He had been so convinced she had escaped, and then so focused on the frog, that he hadn't seen her sound asleep on the mattress they had given her! Kisshu… he thought darkly.

His ear began making rapid twitches as he took in Lettuce. Her glasses had fallen off to one side of the bed and she still wore the dress from before. Her braids curled this way and that way near her head, gently tickling her cheek. And she looked so… helpless. He had never noticed how dark her lashes were, or how light her skin color was, or how slender her arms were, or how small her lips...

The frog croaked knowingly and jumped out of his hands and onto the bed. It turned and regarded Pai with what the Cyniclon could only think of as a smirk. It shifted its body to face towards Lettuce's head as it continued to stare down the purple-haired boy.

Pai's eyes widened in realization. No… don't even think about it. Pai carefully shifted his weight, leaning forward to nab the frog. "If you take one more step…" he whispered threateningly.

The frog leaped.

Pai reached out to grab it.

And missed.

The frog landed with a ominous 'plop!' onto the sleeping mews head. Pai's eyes widened in absolute horror as the frog shifted its body to fully face him, ignorantly stepping on the girl's eyes and mouth. Blood rushed to Pai's head. "You little…!"

The frog's eyes widened with shock as it suddenly became air born and landed in Lettuce's lap. It turned and regarded the newly awakened green-haired girl in curiosity. Pai, on the other hand, was once again frozen into silence. Oh no…

"Hmm…?" Lettuce rubbed her eyes groggily and blinked in confusion towards the green blur in her lap (Pai's ear twitched at the sleepy gesture). She frowned slightly and felt for her glasses. Turning her head to meet with her hand that placed the glasses on and turned towards the strange thing that had woke her up.

Pai's ears, suddenly realizing what was coming, tried to flatten out to protect themselves from the scream that was sure to come.

Xxx

Retasu blinked to be sure she was seeing right, but even after the next few blinks, in her lap still remained a frog. What? "Are you what woke me up? How in the world did you get in here?" The frog in her lap blinked twice at her, looking somewhat bewildered itself. Why would a frog be in here…? All the sudden she remembered an earlier conversation. "Oh!" She smiled at it. "You must be Taruto's 'escaped prisoner', am I right?" She gently ran a finger down its spine. "I can't imagine how you got in here, but you should go back to hiding, or to Taruto, silly frog." She smiled a little sadly to herself. "Maybe he'll be nice and take you back home, and you can find your friends."

The frog blinked as if considering her words, then shifted slightly away from her.

Retasu smiled gently at it. "Maybe, if you get home, you can let my friends know where I am, and tell my family I'm okay?" She reached to stroke it again, but it shifted uneasily away. "I'm sorry," she drew her hand away, "I didn't mean to scare you. It's horrible to feel frightened, isn't it?" The frog turned its head to face her more in question. "I'm sure we'll both make it through this somehow," her smile grew fainter, "and then we can both be back with the ones we love." The green mew raised her eyebrows at it questioningly. "Now, what should I do with you?"

The frog turned, as if filled with sudden inspiration, and launched towards one end of the bed. Lettuce turned to follow it…

And found herself looking right into the shocked eldest Cyniclon's face.

Lettuce's cheeks bloomed into a deep red of embarrassment. "P-P-Pai-san…" What in the world is Pai doing here while I'm sleeping? Why…? Her eyes widened as she realized he must have been there ever since she had woken up, which meant… He heard me speaking to a frog! Oh my gosh, the things I said! And he heard! She also became aware of how rumbled her appearance must be after sleeping. She unconsciously drew the blanket up around her. "Why were you watching me sleep?" The question escaped her lips before she realized it, and soon an equally dark blush bloomed onto the Cyniclon's face, his ear making wild jabs at the air. Retasu gasped in horror. "No! I-I didn't… it came out… wrong… I'm sorry!" As a last ditch effort she jumped out of the bed and tried to stand tall, but the movement threw the frog off with a shocked croak, and she quickly leaned down to grab the frog just as Pai did.

The two instinctively felt something brush against their skin and they both gripped it, one nervously and the other firmly.

Only, the frog had already leaped out of the way.

Pai, to his ear's everlasting enjoyment, found himself clasping Mew Lettuce's hands.

Lettuce's blue eyes widened and her cheeks grew hotter with renewed vigor. "Ah… I'm…" She tried to draw her hands out of his, but he didn't let go. She looked up into his eyes, which in the process of trying to grab the frog had come extremely close to her own. They still held a same wide eyed stare, revealing very little to her. W-why won't he let go? Have I maddened him? No! I can't afford to anger him! What have I done?! "Pai… san…?"

The Cyniclon sighed and closed his eyes. Lettuce fumbled for another apology, but couldn't seem to get past the feeling of how warm his hands were to get it out. She tried again to draw her hands out, but this time he gripped them more decisively, not in a way that made them hurt, but more so that she noticed how large his hands were, how they cupped her own. The Cyniclon opened his eyes and found her still trying to say some form of apology. "M-… Lettuce."

The usage of her name alone struck her into stunned silence. He carefully rose from his knees and helped her up, never letting go of her hands. His face still held a touch of pink, though Lettuce's had yet to vanish. "Pai-san, I'm really sorry! I hadn't meant to be rude, and then embarrassing myself like that…" she faded off as Pai continued to stare into her eyes.

"Lettuce," Pai didn't seem to notice the jolt that went through her as he used her name again. "you have no reason to apologize. If anything I-" Pai's eyes widened in astonishment, much to Lettuce's confusion. But as quick as it came, it was gone, a look of quiet resolution in its place. "If anything, I should be the one to apologize. I came in here only to retrieve that." He tilted his head in indication towards the frog, whom seemed to be holding itself with a bit of arrogant pride. "Ah… also," Pai finally let Lettuce's hands fall, and she noticed his face was growing a bit pinker. "The… it happened to jump on you while you were asleep, and it'd be wise to was your face."

"Oh, um, yes, of course." Lettuce quickly scuttled away and washed up her face, hoping some of the heat would die down with the drenching of cold water. When she turned back, Pai was firmly holding the now indignant frog.

Pai inclined his head slightly, and though she wasn't sure, the small smile seemed to be playing on his lips again. "I'll be back in about 2 hours, just so you know." He turned towards the door, "I want to try another training session."

For some reason Lettuce's stomach dropped, was she disappointed that he would come back for some other reason? "Alright, I'll be ready."

He nodded and turned to leave again.

"Um, Pai-san?"

He cocked an eyebrow and turned back to her. She fumbled subtly with her fingers. "T-thank-you."

He frowned slightly. "For what?"

What could she say? For treating me nice even when he didn't have to? For keeping me alive? She smiled openly. "Actually, I'm not really sure, but thank-you all the same."

Pai's features smoothed over as he tried to hide his confusion, and a tiny hint of pleasure. He turned without further word and left the room, quietly locking it behind him.

I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE! Is that just me? Oh, and for those squeamish on the frog-on-her-face part, sorry, I just could resist making that frog a little more mischievous. :D Reviews. Are. AWESOME! They're even better when you get a lot of them :wink wink:, oh, also, I felt the characters might have been slightly OOC, so, I AM trying to subtly change them, but let me know if you feel up to it, k? Thanks so much you guys for reading, and furthermore, enjoying what I write!! REVIEW!! XD