:o wow, it's been a while. I'm sorry that I completely took (what is it, six months?) to update this. No real excuse… but I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL! Yeah baby! Anyawho, if you've forgotten, we left off where Ryou's come up with some spiffy plan, and we had some 'rippiting' awkward romance occur between our favorite pair :D. Now, this chapter is more serious, and shorter than the last, so I'm sorry, I tried to add humor, but it's been awhile, so be critical, because I don't want my story writing to change if it is, just let me know in the review

Enjoy!

The mews were just finishing closing up shop for the day. Everyone was feeling nervous anticipation for the impending mission. Ryou felt it more than anyone, as he worked with Masha to add an advantage for their side. His hands typed meticulously on the keyboard in front of him. There was a good chance that the mews would find the secret that the Cyniclon's had done so much to keep hidden, and he wanted to make sure that if they found it, they would be able to use the knowledge to the best of their abilities.

Masha currently floated contently next to Ryou's computer, his little robotic eyes spacing off as new program data was filed away into his memory database. What Ryou was having the girls do, this hastily put together plan, was either their salvation or down fall. His fingers typed a little harder at the thought. A gamble, this is exactly what's going on. We've made a gamble, and we win solely on how well Masha can do. If they win the gamble, it means they find out the threat, neutralize it, and save the world and Lettuce. If they lose the gamble?

They might lose everything.

Ryou remembered very clearly what the aliens had ordered, if they wanted Lettuce to live, they wouldn't interfere. His fingers typed faster as if trying to run the guilt out quickly. He had fought with himself quite a bit on this, but there was nothing to be done. They were the world's protectors, and as such, the world came first.

Lettuce would do the same thing.

At least, he kept telling himself she would.

A quiet knock penetrated his musings, but didn't break his focus on his current task. "Ryou?" Keiichiro called from the door way. "The girl's have finished closing up, is everything set to go?"

"Almost." Ryou continued to type but noticed his old friend hadn't left yet. He sighed in resignation. "You're worried too, aren't you?"

Akasaka moved closer and petted Masha in silence. After a few moments he looked to Ryou. "It's risky. Yes, I'm very worried."

Shirogane quickly typed in one last piece of information and passed it on to Masha. The creature woke up with a bit of a start, then immediately began purring under the strokes of Keiichiro's hand. Ryou looked at his friend, uncharacteristic vulnerability showing on his face. "You've known me and family as long as I can remember Keiichiro. Nothing's happened yet, should I call it off? Am I doing the right thing?"

Akasaka absently took away the wires configured into Masha so the little creature could float around more freely. "I don't like that Lettuce is being put in so much danger. But, though the circumstances are against us, and this is not what we want, our girls have to face danger all the time." He looked directly at Ryou. "We both know what Retasu would have us do. She would want the one's she loves to be safe above her own wellbeing."

Ryou bit back a sigh and nodded his head in mute agreement. His blue eyes flickered over to the floating piece of pink fluff. "Masha, do you understand what you need to do?"

The intelligent fluff ball nodded his head eagerly, provoking a slight smile from its creator. "Good." He turned back to Keiichiro. "I'll stay here and continue monitoring for any dangerous signs of activity. Tell the girls…" He turned abruptly back to his computer. "…tell them to stay safe."

Xxx

Ichigo turned to see Akasaka coming back up from the basement with Masha hovering behind him. It gave an excited squeal when it saw her and quickly floated over so it could nuzzle her cheek reassuringly. Ichigo petted him back with a slight smile, then turned back to their friend. "We're ready to go Keiichiro. Do we have the okay?"

He nodded his head grimly. "Stick to the plan girls. It would be better for all of us if nothing else goes wrong."

Mint nodded her head. "We'll do our best."

The girls walked out of the shop as casually as possible. It was still pretty nice out, and not everyone had headed in for the night yet. As the group continued on, Zakuro began to come into view. You could tell she had just come back from work. She wore designer capris with a periwinkle halter top that complimented her eyes and high ponytail. She surveyed their serious faces. "Ready?"

Ichigo gazed at her solemnly. "Yes."

Zakruo glanced around real quick before leading them down a rough dirt trail. Within minutes all sounds of the park and the people within it disappeared to leave them in a strangely heavy silence. Even the girl's were unusually quiet. Well of course we are! The aliens might go on with their threat if we don't win this, they might kill Lettuce! The red head silently fought against the tears pricking at her yes. They won't, there's no way they will, I won't let them! We just have to stick to the plan, so long as we get the aliens to come, everything will go fine. Especially if we find this 'secret weapon' of theirs, because when we do, I'll crush it.

"Okay." Ichigo realized that Zakuro had stopped the group. "This is as close as the trail gets to the area Ryou told me about."

"Woah!" Pudding looked down the sharp slant of earth down to another wooded area below. "It's deep!"

Mint looked at her group. "Let's get this over with."

Ichigo nodded, lifting her pendant up. "Alright." She kissed her pendant just as the others took their own out. The familiar warm light began to shine out of it. Ichigo smiled. It's time! "Mew Mew Strawberry, METAMORPHOSIS!"

"Mew Mew Mint, METAMORPHOSIS!"

"Mew Mew Pudding, METAMORPHOSIS!"

"Mew Mew Zakuro, METAMORPHOSIS!"

The light receded to show team Mew ready for battle. Ichigo turned to the drop off. "Tokyo Mew, follow me!"

They quickly jumped down and hurried into the forest.

Xxx

Stop blushing Retasu! She tried to think of anything to help her face cool down. Eating cakes at the café with the girls, watching the birds fly off as the sun sets, helping mom knit a scarf for dad, knitting, you use your hands, strong, warm hands… NO! The sight of Pai being so close to her, holding her hand came clearly into view in her mind, setting off another volley of heat waves to her face. Don't think like that, you can't think like that, he doesn't think of you like that!

"Lettuce, are you well?"

The green mew jumped to see Pai had turned from leading her down to the lab and was assessing her scarlet appearance.

"Y-yes. I'm fine, I was just, um…" His eyes are so gentle now, why hadn't I seen this in him before? "Is this training session going to be like the one before?"

He nodded his head and turned to continue walking. Retasu took advantage of this moment to concentrate on what he was saying. "Yes. You preformed well on the last test, and it would be prudent to add a few obstacles to see how this affects your performance."

"Oh." Lettuce focused hard on what these obstacles might be, what she would have to face, anything that would distract her. Before Pai had come to get her, she had even tried on all the clothes they had given her (and finally settling on a light blue shirt with matching pants) and read aloud all the materials they were composed of just to try and help her think less about him.

Lettuce tried not to fiddle with her hands as Pai walked with her down to the training lab. Ever since the… well, frog incident, it had become harder and harder for Retasu not to think about him. But why? Pai was… Pai was a Cyniclon! The enemy! Ryou! Think of Ryou! Of when he encouraged you, smiled at you as you waitressed, said you did well on a mission! But just as it was becoming harder for her to not think of Pai, her feelings towards Ryou were becoming less and less, well, there. Thinking of the mew team's heroic leader didn't spark her heart into racing as it once had, it didn't cause her to blush like it used to. Now instead… she risked a glanced at Pai's back and blushed again as memories flooded. No! Pai is very kind to be treating me so well despite that I'm an enemy, and he's very thoughtful, and his hands were so… but this doesn't change anything! We're enemies! I can't… I can't feel…

"Lettuce?"

"Ah!" The green mew was once again startled out of her reverie. "P-Pai! I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention! What were you saying?" She clenched her hands together as she felt yet another blush come on. She noticed his ear twitch slightly. Oh no, is he trying to hide his agitation with me?

Pai's face, whatever his ear might have been up to, remained emotionlessly serene. "I hadn't actually spoken, Lettuce. I just wanted to say that we are here."

Retasu raised her eyebrows in surprise and realized that he was right, they were now surrounded by the hum of technology, next to the glass window showing the training room. "O-Oh, sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for. But, I will need to teleport you in now." His ear twitched again as he set his hands on her shoulders, and she looked down quickly so her red face wouldn't give her away. "This time should be easier than the first."

With this said, the sudden, strange sensation that came with teleportation overtook the mew, but as he said, it was easier this time, not as cold or abrupt. Within moments they materialized into the training room. The green mew glanced up to see Pai looking carefully into her eyes. "Do you feel alright?"

He's worried? She smiled gently at the Cyniclon. "Yes, you were right; the second time is much smoother."

She tried not to show surprise when Pai offered his own small smile. "Good. Now," he reached into his pocket and took out her mew pendant, "the obstacles today won't be lethal in any way, but you might sustain minor injuries if you're not careful. So…" His ear began twitching a little faster as he and Retasu briefly touched hands while exchanging the pendant. Pai's eyes suddenly turned a little more intense as he looked at Retasu. "Lettuce…"

The mew hoped Cyniclon's couldn't hear a human's heart rate pick up speed. She also wondered if he realized that his hands were holding her shoulders more firmly, and if he noticed how much she was noticing it. "Um, yes, Pai-san?"

"I have been wondering…"

Xxx

"There it is, na no da!"

The mews finally fought their way out of the forest into a clearing/abandoned construction site that held a large tank in the center surrounded by strange equipment. Ichigo's cat eyes even from the distance they were at told her that a large mass was hiding within the tank's murky depths. Her cat ears lay flat against her head in agitation. "Alright team, let's stick to the plan." The mews readied their weapons.

Zakuro narrowed her eyes at the strange scene. "So, this is the reason Lettuce was taken?"

Pudding nodded her head, although her face was uncharacteristically wearing a frown. "It must be pretty bad, na no da."

Minto's eyes glared in rage. "Let's trash it!" Before the others could stop her, she had her arrow at ready. "Ribbon, Minto, ECHO!" The arrow blazed from her bow, making a direct line towards the dark blob.

But before the arrow ran half-way across the field, a large clawed paw intercepted it. A chimera anima had dropped down in front of the attack, and now growled menacingly at them with small green eyes. It's nose, if it could be called a nose, held a collection of long, slimy pink tentacles that lashed out and whipped the ground occasionally in anger. It's body was covered in blue fur, with a small stub of a tail on the rear.

Mint looked up at it in shock. "What the heck is it?"

"I'm calling it the mew masher."

Ichigo looked up in frustration, already knowing what she would see. "Kisshu! Where did you come from?"

"Why, your dreams pretty-kitty! Where else?"

She growled angrily at him. "Maybe in your dreams, you jerk!"

He gave her a fanged smile. "Well, I can see that you're not in the mood to talk, so let's just cut to the chase!" He pointed at the team. "Chimera Anima, attack!"

Xxx

Pai's eyes suddenly turned a little more intense as he looked at Retasu. "Lettuce…"

"Um, yes, Pai-san?"

"I have been wondering…"

They were interrupted by a loud and demanding croak, the surprise causing Lettuce to drop her pendant. They both quickly looked towards the far corner to see Taruto's bull frog once again intruding on them. It eyed them wearily, croaking again in disgruntlement.

Pai took his hands off Retasu's shoulders and clenched his fists together. "Kisshu!" That loathsome, contemptible, childish imbecile! That's it, after this training session I am personally chucking that amphibian over board!

A muffled sound near him made him start in surprise, and he turned to discover the green mew laughing. Granted, she was trying very hard to cover it, but small bursts of giggles kept escaping her mouth. Pai tried to concentrate on keeping his ear from waving wildly. "And how do you find this funny?"

She quickly swallowed whatever laughs she had left and looked up to Pai, though her smile was still there. "I'm sorry Pai-san, it's just that, this frog seems to show up at the worst of times. And," she stifled another giggle, to his ears every lasting pleasure, "I know it's bold of me to say, but, Kish does seem to be a likely culprit in this."

He frowned at the thought of the green-haired alien getting a good laugh from all of this. "Still, you'd think he'd have the decency-"

"Pai!"

The oldest Cyniclon turned to regard Taruto frantically teleporting behind them, subtly moving away from Lettuce. Speaking of having no decency. He sighed inwardly to himself. How many times have I told him to wait until I'm not working? Taruto didn't seem to notice his companion's annoyance. "Pai, Pai! There's-"

"Taruto, your frog's right there." Pai pointed in exasperation to the pesky eavesdropper. "So calm down, take him back to the cage, and change the lock."

"That's not it though!" Tart hunched his shoulders indignantly, unhappy with being so quickly dismissed, "Kisshu found the mews moving towards the creature! They're attacking Kish right now!"

Pai's eyes widened. We've been found? Humans! I should have known Blondie would do something like this!

Both aliens turned as a loud gasp escaped Lettuce's lips, her hands flying to cover her mouth in fear, all laughter forgotten. Pai's eyes hardened. It's finally happened, they finally gave up Lettuce in order to take a chance at saving the earth. He turned and leveled a look to the youngest alien. "Taruto, take care of that thing of yours and then help Kisshu stop the mews from reaching it right away."

Taruto nodded and swiftly flew down and grabbed his frog, who croaked in confusion, before teleporting away.

"No!" Lettuce tried to reach out to the fading Taruto. Pai's hand shot out fast and grabbed Lettuce's arm, keeping her from accidentally jumping into the portal before it fully left.

Pai felt a pang as the mew turned to regard his with panicked eyes, but kept his face emotionless, just as it always should have been. The green mew tried to push herself away, the complete difference in his appearance making her uneasy. "Pai, please, don't hurt my friends! There's no need for either of us to fight-"

He looked at her in shock. "What?" he demanded a bit harshly.

She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Pai, they're my friends! Please, I know we're enemies, but we don't need to fight like this!"

She can only think of her friends? The people who just condemned her? His eyes hardened, "And you think for one second they would hesitate to attack us?"

Retasu bit her lip and looked down; they both knew the answer to that. There's nothing to be done about it. He released her and walked a few paces away, so when he teleported she wouldn't be able to try anything rash. "You will have to stay here until we fix this problem, I'd advice you please be patient." He turned, facing her one last time before he teleported to earth to fight her team. Her face showed anguish as she looked up at him, her eyes desperately beseeching. Something in his heart twisted uncomfortably as she stood there hopelessly. I'm not sorry, this is the way it has to be, this must be done for the sake of my people. I will not be sorry for hurting a hostage, or what must now be done as the consequence for her team's actions. Even if…

Pai quickly teleported off without another word to her. Retasu stood there a few moments longer before slowly sinking to the ground and start to silently cry.

The mew pendant fallen beside her completely forgotten.

O.o hmm, now, do you think that ending could hold any significance to it? ;) I think it does. I'm sorry the chapter was so fast paced too, I tried to slow it, but it just seemed to go faster than I had intended. Next one will be up faster than it was before! Feel free to review!