Hey! You all just got left on a pretty big cliff-hanger. :D So here's the resolution to that part! Personally, I liked characterizing Taruto this chapter; it had a little more focus on him than normal. Also, I think Ichigo is a great friend. I know there are a few bashers out there, but honestly, I think she might be my favorite, go figure? But now you must read! READ IT!

Oh, Kaeru=frog. Now READ!

Taruto knew he was in trouble.

Really, the signs had been building up since this whole fight started. First, he had rushed into the fray without grabbing a trained chimera, and the only option he had, by a twisted stroke of luck, was the bullfrog he had swiped before teleporting. However, after he merged the animal it barely grew over six feet and was only listening to his orders half the time. The second sign of trouble was, as always, the frustrating Mew Pudding. Even now she giggled and teased him as she dodged his attacks and abusive comments. Worse yet, the frog was listening more to her than it was its master! But the third sign, the true and only real sign that Taruto knew he was in trouble, happened approximately three minutes ago.

Everything had been going fine. Sure the mews weren't crying or dying off, but neither were the Cyniclons about to lose. Pudding had, naturally, been the soul center of his frustrations. She had giggled as yet again she moved out of range for his attack. "Taru-taru, you need to get better at hitting targets!"

Taruto had whipped his click-clacks around in agitation. He had given up for the day telling her to not call him that. "Shut up small-fry! I'm gonna hurt you so bad you'll be crying for weeks!" He looked to the chimera-bullfrog. "Attack her you useless amphibian!"

The frog had cast a demeaning glance up at its master. Pudding watched with her head tilted in a way so adorable it irked the youngest Cyniclon to no end. "I said move! Stupid creature, Iam your master! Now ATTACK HER!"

It looked away with a very bored face, flicking its tongue like a whip at the whiney child, hitting him smartly against his leg. Though Taruto did make some effort, he couldn't hold back a howl of pain.

And instead of the cowering fear he had wanted to create within the littlest mew, she almost fell to the ground laughing harder than ever before. "Aw," she had cooed at the frog, which looked at her with sudden curiosity. "Is Taru-taru being mean to you, na no da?"

The traitor had hopped over and loudly croaked in complaining tones, his eyes looking into the mews appealingly. Pudding hugged the ugly thing instantly. "Don't worry kaeru-pi! Pudding's lots nicer than that mean Taru-taru, na no da!"

Taruto felt his sanity slipping, the cute way she had been coddling his creation make him so mad he wouldn't be satisfied till she was crying in defeat for a month!

He had spun around to demand that Kisshu helped him out (there was no way he was demanding anything from Pai), and to his shock watched as Kisshu disappeared into thin air! He's not allowed to teleport away until we kick the stupid mew team's butt! He whipped around the other way to rat him out to Pai, but felt his face pale when he couldn't find him either. What, they just left me? Why? What'd I do? Is this some kind of test?

Hearing an ear-shattering cry, he turned and found their biggest weapon, the mole-chimera, deforming into the puny animal it had once been. The old hag was missing, but the purple and blue mews (the scariest and snobbiest, in Taruto's opinion) were hurrying over towards him.

This was his final clue that he was in trouble.

Xxx

"I-Ichigo!"

Lettuce couldn't keep the astonishment out of her voice, let alone the sheer relief. She didn't know how, but her best friend had come out of nowhere and just saved her from certain death.

Kisshu seemed to have the same reaction. He looked down at his fallen comrade back to the mew leader in shock. "You…" But catching himself, his gaping mouth closed and the old Kish was back, a dangerous leer crossing his features. "You just couldn't stay away from me, could you Ichigo?"

Ichigo had a scary look in her eyes. Her sleek onyx fur was standing straight on end in irritation, her eyes narrowed in total concentration on her prey. If she hadn't been wearing her gloves, they would have been able to see her knuckles clutching her strawberry bell in pale white fury. "Lettuce," Her voice was taut, but there was no mistaking the sincere warmth as she spoke her friend's name. "I'll take care of this, you rest." Her voice slid down into an icy bite. "As for you, Kish. There's something you really should know." She leaned forward slightly, provoking Kish's grin wider.

"I've wanted to do this all day."

With that she pounced at him at a speed that, when she regained her senses, would shock even her.

Xxx

Retasu felt like she was in a daze. Everything all the sudden seemed so surreal, like she hadn't just gone through gaining all the hope of living and losing it all in the despair of anticipated death after fighting with more passion than she ever had before.

One thought resonated with her that shook her to her senses. She was, for now, still very much alive.

But was Pai?

Ichigo had beaten Kisshu farther away from her, and also the fallen Cyniclon. Retasu hurriedly crawled to his side, but he was face-down, scorch marks visible on his back from what Ichigo's attack had done. She looked at him in growing panic as she registered the extent of the damage, and the fact that he wasn't moving. No! Pai, no! Please don't be dead!

With a large effort, she turned him face up and saw a trickle of blood coming from his mouth. Retasu without thinking quickly brought her ear down to his mouth, waiting for eternity till she felt something like… yes… yes! He was breathing! It was faint, terribly faint, but there! She felt her face relax. Thank goodness, Ichigo hasn't killed him.

Clearly the beating she had taken was messing with her senses, because now without thinking of how it seemed, she gently brushed his hair away from his eyes, faintly registering the soft feel of it. But he looked so pained! Was there nothing she could do?

Her eyes filled with tears. Pai, I'm sorry for all I've put you through, if only… But she stopped herself as she registered the venomous growls and cries from her friend as she fiercely fought against the remaining Cyniclon. …if only is a dream, nothing more. She hurriedly stood up and went for her castanets, ignoring the doubts in her mind. Ichigo needs my help, and if I can do anything, then I will.

Xxx

Kisshu was probably only alive right then due to his instinct. He saw how Ichigo had leaned forward and had anticipated her attack. As she was speaking her last words, his dragon claws were already reforming in his hands. And not a second too soon, he had had just enough time to bring his weapons up to block a strong kick that would have knocked the wind out of him, if not broken a rib.

The mew leader was no longer holding back; she had no need to. If she did, Kish might actually get a chance at taking another shot at the bookworm. So every move she made was one of pure ferocity, precision, and power.

If Kisshu had loved his kitten when she was angry before, he was really enjoying the show now. The only thing, of course being, he couldn't enjoy it nearly as much while he was trying to save his neck.

Nevertheless, Kish, as he always is, was extremely persistent in making the best of his time with his toy. He again parried her attack. "C'mon kitty, lighten up." She ignored him, focusing on her attacks meeting his face. But as she continued her onslaught, it was hard to ignore how tired she was becoming. Certainly she hadn't been fighting this hard before, when they were distracting the aliens, but it had still taken a toll on her body. This, combined with her increasing frustration at missing her target, ultimately brought her downfall. As she moved to try and hit him again, she swung her attack too wide. And Kisshu, ever diligent in taking every opportunity available, was suddenly right there, inches from her face. The glowing gold of his eyes temporarily froze his attacker, the possessive grin coming to his face. "Ichigo, you don't have to be so jealous of Lettuce. If you want to play the damsel-" he teleported behind her, his next words tickling her ears, "I would love to play your captor."

Unfortunately for him, this broke the strange spell, and Ichigo immediately went to kick him where it hurts (just barely missing). Right then she was too focused on beating him up to flush properly, as she later would when remembering this moment. "Kisshu!" She jabbed at him with her strawberry bell, intent on bruising some part of that smirking face. "I- despise-you! You jerk!"

But she had acted out of anger too hastily again, and suddenly her strawberry bell was caught between the two sais, and she was unable to break loose. Kish's smirk flamed into an anticipating leer. "That, dear kitten, is why I must have you."

Ichigo tried to wrench her bell free, but had no luck. Crap. She felt panic rise. In an act of desperation, she moved to kick him. Kish reacted instantly and dodged the kick, sweeping her own feet from under her so her hands lost their grip on her weapon and sent her sprawling to the ground.

She sat herself up quickly, meaning to bounce back up before it was too late. But of course, it was already. Kish stood over her with one sai pointed lightly at her throat. Ichigo looked up at him furiously, all her earlier pomp and confidence draining. He grinned evilly at her. "Game over, Ichigo."

"Ahem."

Kish turned to receive Ichigo's strawberry bell right to his face. With a shocked cry he stumbled away from his prey and looked to the battered green mew through the hand massaging his face. "Seriously? What is it with you and not giving up?"

Lettuce glared at him and raised her castanets that she had retrieved. Without her even speaking, waters began to pour forth from her weapon. But instead of a powerful beam hitting him, a giant tidal wave was formed and swept him up and out of the room. Incidentally, his cranium bashed into the hallway wall as the water receded. With a self-mocking smirk Kish's eyes glazed over and he fell into a dark abyss.

Xxx

Ichigo stared at the fallen Cyniclon in shock. She shouldn't really have been shocked, the stupid oaf had had it coming BIG time. There was a small pang of regret that it hadn't been her handy work, but if not delivered from her, why not from her best friend? "Thanks for your help, Lettuce." She turned with a big self-satisfied smile. "That look on his face was…" Her smile drained from her face as she took in Lettuce's crumpled form lying on the ground. "Lettuce!" Ichigo rushed to her friend's side. "Hey, are you alright? Lettuce?"

Her best friend looked up at her with a weary smile. "I'm sorry. I've just drained myself a lot today."

That's right. Ichigo recalled when she had finally found Lettuce, she was kneeling in defeat in front of Pai, who had his fan raised and was saying something to her. She had looked terrible then; she must have fought them right until she couldn't anymore. Ichigo clenched her teeth in frustration. She's been fighting those blasted Cyniclons while we could only sit back and do nothing! Man! People always think she's just a shy and nice girl, they never realize just how strong she can be! Ichigo rubbed her friend's shoulder in encouragement, smoothly hiding her inner turmoil. "You did great. And don't be sorry!" She felt her ears sag a little in shame. "It's me and the rest of the mew team who should be sorry, sorry it took us so long to save you."

Lettuce shook her head, her eyes looking sadder than Ichigo had seen them in a long time. "If it hadn't been for my folly in getting caught, none of you would have had to go through this for me."

"You would have done the same." Ichigo ran over to her bell and picked it up and returned to Lettuce's side, helping her stand up.

"How did you even reach me Ichigo?"

The mew leader subtly glanced towards the green-haired Cyniclon. "I had some help, but honestly, we're not going back the way I came." It dawned on her that she didn't know how to get them off the ship. She looked over to her best friend. "Tell me you have an idea on how to get us home?"

Lettuce jumped a little, as if just remembering something. "Ryou! That's right! Ichigo," Lettuce gestured to the far end of the room, "can you help me over to that computer?"

Ichigo looked at the technological monstrosity in shock. "That's a computer?" And here I thought Ryou had too much tech in his basement, Cyniclons beat him hands down. They hurried over to the computer, where Lettuce quickly began typing in some keys she activated the sound system.

"Ryou! It's Lettuce! Can you hear me?"

Xxx

Ryou had never even left the monitor. True, the moment he heard Retasu's good-bye to him, he knew there was next to no chance of saving the green Mew. Keiichiro had been just as devastated with the turn of events as he had been. If only she would have listened! Why didn't she listen? He had known why, of course; because if she came, she thought the Cyniclons would follow, and in turn, someone might have gotten hurt; he might have gotten hurt. Keiichiro had watched helplessly when Ryou had tried to convince her, but nothing shook her resolve. They couldn't find a way of telling her the plan without the aliens over hearing, and if the Cyniclons got even a whiff of what he planned, Lettuce would be out faster than a birthday candle. Why didn't he see this? Why didn't he calculate her natural protective nature towards others? If only she'd listened… if only…

But then she was talking through the monitor again, and everything in him went blank in absolute astonishment. He was so astonished he didn't answer the first time.

"Ryou? Maybe I'm on the wrong frequency…"

Keiichiro shook Ryou when he still didn't move, and is catatonic state broke. "No, no Lettuce, I'm here!" Relief flooded his voice. "Are you alright? What happened to the aliens? Lettuce, are you alright?" He was so happy he didn't realize he repeated himself. Keiichiro had to laugh to himself.

There was no mistaking Lettuce's own sense of relief. "Yes, though I'm a bit tired. We've temporarily taken care of the Cyniclons. If Ichigo hadn't come and saved me, I don't know what would have happened. Thank-you for sending her!"

Once again he was thrown for a loop, and this time Keiichiro couldn't break the spell.

"Ah, Shirogane-san? Are you still there?"

"I what?"

A different but very distinct voice tuned into the system. "Actually, I didn't, I mean, he-"

Surprises were beginning to become a normalcy. "Ichigo?" What the…? How the heck…? WHAT?

"Ahaha, um, hi Ryou."

"Ichigo, what are you doing on the Cyniclon ship?"

"He didn't send you?"

"I'll tell you about it later Lettuce."

"What are you doing there!"

"LISTEN RYOU, I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW, JUST GET US OFF THE SHIP!"

Ryou sucked in a breath as the team leader's high pitched yell rang through his ears. Keiichiro was stifling a laugh behind him. Jeeze! That girl… "Alright! Quiet down, noisy girl!"

"YOU THINK I'M BEING NOISY? DO YOU HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT YOU'VE PUT ME THROUGH TODAY? Oh, sorry Lettuce, am I being too loud?"

"Just a little bit, but I think we should focus on leaving."

Ryou decided to take that as his cue to act before Ichigo opened her mouth again. "Okay, Lettuce, do you remember the coordinates you typed in before?"

"I think so."

"Great, type them back into panel's 3,4, and 5. Remember, the seventh panel that opens should be the one you press to leave, the sixth just needs your confirmation that everything's correct."

"Yes, thank-you for your help Shirogane-san."

"What'd he say? How could you understand that?"

"Ichigo, leave her alone and let her concentrate!"

"Mleh!"

"Did you just make a face at me?"

"And what're you gonna do if I did?"

"Um, you guys, please…"

"Oh, right, sorry Lettuce."

Ryou waited a few tense moments before a page opened up on his screen alerting him to alien technology penetrating the café into the basement. "Guys, everything's clear to go on this side, ready to come home?"

The girl's replied in unison. "Ready."

Xxx

Lettuce was going home, home! She turned to Ichigo and held her hand. "Here goes nothing."

And she pressed the button.

Immediately the floor around them filled with light and energy, which began to slowly pulsate, growing quicker by each second till it felt like a solid mass. Lettuce looked to her friend and smiled, both of them almost giddy with happiness.

Ichigo's cat ears twitched and she turned around, her eyes widening. Lettuce followed her gaze and saw that Pai had turned himself back on his stomach and was trying to rise. It was taking him considerable effort, but his eyes were fixed only on the green mew.

Pai! Lettuce looked at his distraught figure, barely able to lift himself off the floor. His eyes looked into hers almost desperately. Suddenly Ichigo wrapped her arms around Lettuce's torso.

"Lettuce, what are you doing?"

She turned to glance back at her friend in confusion. What are you talking about? But Retasu suddenly realized how close she had gotten to leaving the circle of light that was slowly taking them home. I was leaving the circle? But why? She turned back to Pai and realized why. Ichigo's grip on her friend increased as she looked into Pai's eyes. I… I think I'm…

In love.

"Lettuce!"

The green mew started and pulled herself back, sorrow morphing her features. Of course I am, I knew that all along, since the day when he found me in his garden. Maybe even before that. He's all I have been able to think of. Her shoulders slumped. I'm a fool. Not only would I fall in love with my enemy, but there's no way, no way would he ever return such stupid feelings. A tiny part of her heart barely fluttered in reply.

None, no small way at all?

The light and speed escalated, and Lettuce realized they weren't going to be there any longer. She looked at Pai again, tears starting to form in her eyes. I don't… I don't want to be your enemy! Her body was now nothing more than transparent pixels, but her voice rang out just as they disappeared. "Pai, forgive me!"

Xxx

Taruto held up his click-clacks menacingly. "You mews come one step closer, and I'll unleash my most powerful attack on you yet!"

The snobby mew's lips curved in a way almost similar to Kish's when he smirked. "Really? Well," she took one step forward, "strike me down, shorty!"

Taruto gaped at her. "W-what are you doing? I told you not to come closer or I'd pulverize you!"

Minto didn't even bother holding her battle stance and crossed her arms over her chest smugly. "With what? Your click-clack toy? We'd dodge it easily. Your friends ditched you, your chimera ditched you," she gestured to where Pudding was still coddling the overly large bullfrog, which looked pleased with itself, "and now you're saying that you've had an ace up your sleeve this whole time and you never used it." The blue mew raised her eyebrows expectantly. "What, do you need a drum roll before you show us?"

Oh man, what do I do! Taruto, tried to puff his chest out to look fiercer. "All right then, you asked for this!" Not knowing what else to do he raised his click-clacks in the air and started to spin them, hoping it looked impressive.

"Wait," everyone turned to the purple mew, who was looking down at her pendant. "I see, got it." She looked to Mint and Pudding. "Let's go." And without another word to the youngest Cyniclon they peeled away.

He watched their departure in surprise, but his shock turned into a gleeful grin. "Uh, yeah! You better run! 'Cause if I dared use my ultimate attack on you, boy, you'd be sorry! Whatta bunch of sissies! You gonna run back home to cry? Ha ha ha!" He swaggered over to where his friends had been. "I sure showed them! Nobody messes with Taruto!" Oh! He started briefly. I'd better go see where the others went, I can't believe they ditched me! In an instant Taruto's form vanished from the air.

The chimera frog glanced around at the sudden lack of people, croaking in slight disgruntlement before hopping off towards the woods.

Xxx

Keiichiro gripped the back of Ryou's chair as they watched the data transfer. "Here they come!"

Both of them turned to watch as a bright light suddenly appeared and Ichigo and Lettuce materialized before them. They both fell to the floor as gravity sunk in, but Keiichiro rushed to their aide quickly. Ryou, after assessing that they were completely through, quickly turned to his computer and typed in various codes before pressing enter and verbally verifying to his computer to activate a program. Once it was set up he turned back to his mews, whom Keiichiro had helped onto a nearby stretcher (which had been originally intended for Lettuce only, but…).

He turned to Ryou. "I'm going to go fetch the first aid kit and something for them to drink." Without another word Akasaka-san trotted up the stairs.

Lettuce didn't look well. She was cut all over her body and bruising in some areas. As her mew form powered down, she was left wet and cold. But what Ryou noticed the most, and what he understood the least, was a look of profound sadness in her eyes. He came over and knelt in front of her.

The moment her eyes registered him, she broke into one of her beautiful smiles. "Shirogane-san!"

He frowned slightly; the sadness was still hiding behind that smile. "Lettuce, is everything alright?"

Her eyes widened and fell into her lap, almost ashamed. "Mmhm, I hope so… Ryou… I'm sorry for not doing as you told me right away, but-"

Ah, that's what it is. "Lettuce, you have nothing to be sorry about. You were afraid to come back because the aliens would follow, is that right?"

She looked at him for appeal. "I didn't want anyone to be hurt! They swore they would follow if I left, they could still-"

Ryou took her hands in his. "No, Lettuce, they can't."

She blinked in confusion. "What?"

He sighed heavily, still cursing himself for his own mistake. "I should have found a way to tell you. While we were on 'lock down', when you were first taken, I had developed a program that could mimic the alien's distortion field. When you transferred some of the alien data over to me, one of the files was the key component for the program. If I chose to activate it, they wouldn't be able to teleport anywhere inside it, nor listen in on communication networks and the like."

The creator of the mew team watched as the pieces fell together for the Porpoise Mew. "So if I had left like you told me to, then they couldn't have followed anyway."

"Still." Ryou looked at her with admiration. "You didn't know that. And you knew there was a chance someone could be endangered by your actions, and you chose their life over yours." He smiled bitterly at the irony. "Unlike me."

Lettuce gasped. "No! Ryou, I can't thank-you enough for saving me, you made… you made the wise decision." Lettuce looked down at her lap, lost in a gloomy thought.

Ryou could tell whatever was on her mind, she didn't want to share. She's back, that's all that matters right now. He squeezed her hands once more before letting go. "Welcome home, Lettuce."

The blond scientist glanced to Ichigo. For some reason, she seemed really distracted, looking constantly in confusion at Lettuce. Was it her physical condition? It certainly was shocking to see, especially because Retasu came across as being so fragile. But it was no real surprise to be in bad shape after fighting and being held captive. "The teleportation didn't leave any side effects did it?"

Ichigo glanced at him. "Huh? Oh, ah, I don't think so…" She glanced to Lettuce again, who didn't notice.

A loud clatter on the steps brought all three heads swinging towards the door at once, just in time to see Pudding and Mint rush through and make a run at Lettuce. Retasu stumbled to her feet and caught them both in an embrace.

"Lettuce-oniichan!" Pudding hiccupped as tears fought their way out of her eyes.

Mint was fighting her own wave of emotion, and failing. "Don't ever do that to us again!"

"We missed you so much, na no da!"

"If I failed to tell you before, you are a great friend Lettuce!"

The green mew started to have tears welling as well. "You guys…"

Ichigo snapped out of her own strange mood and smiled, getting up off the bed and joining the hug. "You're the greatest friend Retasu."

Zakuro, who had just come down with Keiichiro, walked over and hugged the flustered comrade as well. "We're glad you're safe." She let go and backed away, smiling at the scene.

Lettuce seemed like she was unable to take it all in. "I… I missed you all too. You're the best friends anybody could ever want! I-I thought I'd never see you again." All the sudden a thought struck her. "Oh my gosh, my parents!" She looked to Ryou, feeling slightly panicky. "What should I do? What do I tell them?"

Ichigo patted her arm reassuringly. "How about the truth? Tokyo Mew Mew was able to rescue you."

"They still don't know you're a mew, so you will have to lie. I'm sorry it can't be easier." Ryou sat back in his chair. "However, I'd like Ichigo to walk you home, just in case. Your house is still under the distortion field, but I don't want to take any chances."

Lettuce looked to Ichigo, who grinned in reply. "Of course!"

Pudding jumped up and down, tears forgotten. "Me too! I want to help oniichan get home too!"

Mint casually brushed an invisible hair from her face. "I have nothing else going on, so I'll tag along as well."

Zakuro smiled. "I guess I'll invite myself too, then."

Lettuce couldn't help but laugh. The crisis had been averted. It was finally over! "Let me try to clean myself up real quick before we go, I'll be back in a moment!" She hurried up the stairs to the changing room.

Pudding glanced at Ichigo. "Ichigo-oniichan?"

The red-head glanced down, a silly smile plastered over her face. "Hmm, what's that Pudding?"

"Pudding wants to know how you got to Lettuce when you were with us! That way Pudding can save people too, na no da!"

All eyes suddenly fell on the suddenly pale Mew leader. Ryou looked closely at Ichigo. "What an excellent question, Pudding."

Mint narrowed her eyes accusingly. "I couldn't agree more."

"Oh, um, well…"

Xxx

Kisshu didn't quite remember why he was sleeping, or why his head hurt as bad as it did, but he would have been very content to just stay unmoving on the ground.

"What the?"

Taruto, of course, ruined this plan.

He felt the smallest Cyniclon shaking him vigorously. "Kish, Kish wake up! Are you okay? What happened? Was there a fight? Why'd you leave me? What happened to your head?"

Kish groaned and pushed himself into a seated position, his head throbbing horribly. "Stop shouting Taruto! You're giving me a worse head ache!" He blearily looked around, things slowly coming back to him. His last memory was the meek mew sending a wave at him that blasted him into the wall. He cursed in a way he shouldn't of in front of Taruto. "I can't believe she surprised me like that!"

Taruto hovered even closer, as if the near proximity would help him get more information. "What'd they do? Who is she? The bookworm! She's the one that got you? Where is she?"

Kisshu also remembered his fallen comrade. "Pai!"

"Pai, she's with Pai? Where is Pai- oh jeeze, Pai!"

Both Cyniclon's zoned in on his still form and rushed over. Kish quickly checked his pulse while Taruto hovered in circles around them babbling nervously. His pulse is faint. Kisshu quickly hefted him up and teleported to the eldest Cyniclon's room. Taruto followed quickly behind, still spouting out questions. Kish tried not to snap at the youngest alien. "Taruto, go get the medical supply Pai keeps in the training room."

"Which part?"

Kish through his hands up. "All of it, just hurry up!"

Taruto came back quick, dumping the whole kit next to the bed. "Kisshu?"

"What, Tart."

"Is that it then? Did we just lose?"

Kisshu looked down at Pai. "No, Taruto, it's not over, not just yet."

Xxx

In the Midorikawa residence, there was very little life. The radio was playing out the latest hits, and dishes clinked and clattered as Kakashi Midorikawa put things away. The sound of slippers stepping around the house was heard. But nothing more. There were no laughs, no yells, no voices, nothing. Reisha hadn't spoken to her husband for three days now; she only sat at the window looking out dispassionately at the road. She had done her best to clean up, if only for him, and so her brown hair was now in a neat bun, her make-up scrubbed clean off, and her clothes in better condition. But her eyes continued to stare out the window, all life drained from them. Nothing but a shadow, an inconsolable expression left to them.

Retasu… Retasu… She stared at the road, willing it to show her daughter. Retasu… Retasu… She had already thought up every possible hallucination for her daughter returning, she had watched her daughter come through the front door countless times showing her parents she was alright. Yet it never truly happened. It might never truly happen…

We were supposed to knit a new sweater for her grand-mother, and she never tried that new tea I got her. I didn't see that science project she had been so excited about. She promised she'd show it to me after it was graded, she promised…

At the end of the road Reisha's eyes caught the flash of someone wearing glasses, and her eyes momentarily sparked. Why am I haunted by these hallucinations? Do I want to torture myself this badly? She knew what everyone thought, even what she was beginning to accept. That Lettuce was dead. What use was a human to a bunch of Cyniclon invaders? They used her as a shield and killed her. No, no NO! They didn't kill her! They didn't kill her!

The glasses belonged to someone with green hair.

Reisha felt her heart speed up. Oh God, this one looks so real! Everything in her pushed back, pushed away from feeling the stab of disappointment, but she couldn't help but lean closer. Alright, fine then. Let's see how this hallucination ends? Lettuce usually would run slower in them though…

Now the hallucination's figure was more distinct. The green braids swished back and forth as the phantom girl raced down the road towards them. Hmm, I don't remember those clothes on the last ones… Reisha's breath caught as the ghost tripped slightly and almost fell, but recovered and continued to hurry. T-they've never tripped before! The spark of life in Reisha's eyes kindled into a small glow. This wasn't possible; she was going crazy, really crazy now! "…Kakashi…" she whispered silently, urgently hoping.

She could see the face now. That wasn't the serene face from the dreams; it was a rushing frantic face, eyebrows furrowed slightly in concentration, eyes shining from waiting tears. Reisha was breathing so hard she thought she would give herself a heart-attack. "Kakashi." It's real, she's real! SHE'S REAL! "Kakashi! KAKASHI! KAKASHI!"

Reisha's husband bolted into the room, his dark green hair in disarray. "What, what's going on? Reisha, what is it?"

The small kindle burst into raging fire. Tears began streaming down her face. "Kakashi! Kakashi!" She pointed frantically at the window, unable to believe her eyes.

"What? What is it?" He leaned against the window. It took him only a moment to catch sight of the frantically running girl before he bolted from the window and towards the door. "Oh my God! Oh God!" Reisha raced out the door with him, for some reason laughing uncontrollably.

Xxx

Lettuce was glad she asked her friends to leave her to walk the last block home. The moment she saw her parents bolt through the doors towards her she had choked up, her heart feeling like it would burst. "Mom! Dad!" She started crying like a small child, and suddenly she met them in a huge embrace. Her crying was muffled against her father's shoulder, but you couldn't hear it anyway over the parents own sobs of relief.

Kakashi kept lifting his daughter's head to see her face before burying her back into his chest again, muttering 'it's alright, your safe now, it's alright'. Reisha clung to her like a life line, her voice cracking as she tried to soothe her daughter 'my baby, my sweet baby…'.

Retasu temporarily forgot the mews, the Cyniclons, and the plot to end the world. All that mattered were her parents, her and her parents. She'd never felt so happy, and so sad, and so relieved in her entire life.

Of course, she knew that scolding's and proper explanations would be indefinitely wanted later, but right then and there, all that mattered was that she was back with her loving parents again. Together the family walked back to the Midorikawa residence, the two loving parents holding their daughter protectively between them.

So, whatcha think? Don't worry, Pai will be back to his 'normal' self soon. :] My my, Ichigo has a lot of explaining to do, doesn't she? And for those who are wondering, don't worry, we'll see the bullfrog again as well. ;) And so we're half-way there! More dark twists and turns await thee! Muahahahaha!