:D Time for some Taruto and Pudding! Thanks for your patience! Here's part 2 of 'Other troubled Loves' (for the record I hate part 2s). And yes, it's only short because it SHOULD have been apart of the last chapter, but I chickened out and ran out of time. Your reviews have been amazing guys, thanks again for your encouraging words!

"Taeko, please wake up! Na no da!" Pudding once again vainly shoved at her host's shoulders, wishing with all her heart that there was something she could do for him. When they had all first fallen to the ground, and after a few brief moments of trying to revive them, she had run for the phone. But no matter how long she called the police station, no one answered; it didn't even go to the operator. Thinking perhaps the phone was somehow busted, she ran to a neighbor, but no one answered the door. She took a chance and let herself in, finding a woman and two small children left in much the same situation as the party guests in front of a TV still playing out cartoons. It was almost surreal, the dead silence hanging over that family that was lying helplessly on their living room floor, the breeze from the open window ruffling their hair. These people she also tried to help, and then went to their phone, which also didn't reach the police station.

When it became evident that she couldn't reach help, she went back out to the guests. She tried everything to revive them, including three of her family's secret techniques and going as far as slapping a few of the adults.

Pudding knew, deep in her bones, that the Cyniclons were involved in this. Why else would so many people just, just, fall like that? But it was such a different attack from normal, they never actually hurt so many people before. Taruto never hurt so many people before…

She shook her head grimly. Pudding would deal with Taruto later, but right then, what was important was helping these people. "Taeko, can you hear Pudding? Akemi needs you, na no da! You have to wake up!" The youngest mew's voice faded till it was only above a whisper, "Please, na no da…"

"Pudding!"

Immediately recognizing the voice, she turned hopefully. They can help, my onee-sans will know what to do, na no da! "Minto!" She took in the purple figure coming up close behind. "Zakuro onee-chan! You have to help, na no da!"

Zakuro approached the slightly trembling girl and knelt down, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "We can't, there's nothing that can be done, not right now."

The blond girl held in her whimper. "Is it the aliens, na no da?"

"Yeah," Mint glanced back the way she'd come, a worried frown etched onto her features. "It looks like they've infected everyone but us."

Pudding's wide eyes wavered in slight panic. "Everyone, na no da?" Pudding-chan's siblings too? Hanacha, Chincha, Luncha, Honcha, Heicha…?

Zakuro stood up once again. "We'll explain everything on the way back to the café."

Nodding at the unspoken command, she quickly retrieved out her pendant and tapped it to her lips. "Mew Mew Pudding, METAMORPHOSIS!" The warm sensation was a temporary salve on her taut and worried nerves. When the transformation ended, she looked back to her teammates. "Where are Ichigo and Lettuce, na no da?"

The blue and purple mews started slightly, sharing a significant glance. Pudding looked between them in confusion. What's wrong? Why can't they tell me?

"Well well, what do we have here?"

All three heads shot up to look at the floating Taruto. Puddings heart jumped in brief excitement at seeing her friend before reality cut in. "Taru-taru, what have you guys done, na no da?"

The brunette instantly became ruffled. "I told you not to call me that!" His grin came back. "And are you sure you wanna know?"

Mint took a few steps forward, looking ready to clock him out of the sky. "Whatever it is you did do, we'll put an end to it soon enough!"

"Hmph!" Taruto frowned at the annoying winged mew. "You wish! This time our plan's full proof, all thanks to your stupid teammate!"

Pudding looked to him in confusion. "What do you mean, na no da?"

But Mint was already one step ahead of her young counterpart. "We already know you kidnapped Ichigo! Give her back to us now!"

"Sorry, she's a little tied up at the moment, and I don't feel like helping the hag!" Taruto turned away from the older mews and watched Pudding carefully, who was looking down at the ground, appearing to tremble. "Are you gonna cry now? You baby? We got you guys cornered, and your friend as a hostage! And then the bookwo-" He started abruptly when the youngest mew glared up at him. Glared at him! Pudding had never done something like that before.

"Taruto, how can you do this, na no da!" She gestured towards the little kids who had fallen at the birthday table. "Why did you hurt all these kids when they were defenseless against you? I thought you were my friend, Taruto." Taruto suddenly felt like he had been punched, twice. Once from the obnoxious blonde's words, the other from her angry and crestfallen face.

He quickly worked up a cloud of frustration to hide his misgivings. "Well, it's your fault for being so naïve and dumb! What did you expect? It's my job to defeat you! How could I be friends with you?" He sneered to himself, ready to watch the onslaught of tears.

But Pudding only looked at him even more sadly, much to his discomfort. "Even if we weren't friends, I had always thought you were a good person." She knelt by one of the children. "Your right, it's my fault for being dumb, for believing in you, na no da."

Zakuro and Mint, taken aback by Pudding being so serious, started back to the present. "Pudding," Minto came over to her, "we need to go. The sooner we stop them, the sooner these people will be alright."

The yellow mew stood up and moved to follow her friends out of the backyard. She turned and regarded Taruto, who still looked shocked. "Taru-taru, if we need to be enemies so Akemi and Taeko and the others can be safe," she glared once more at him, "then I will beat you." With that said, she turned and hurried off after her comrades. Leaving a very confused, and though he wouldn't admit it, hurt Cyniclon behind.

Xxx

No. Lettuce watched in horror as the spores threaded their way to every part of the city. No, no! Please, stop this! But of course the cry went unheeded, perhaps even unheard above the Chimeras triumphant laugh. Lettuce, though she was now only a soul, not a true being with limbs and nerves, felt herself trembling in horror. I have to do something, I have to do SOMETHING! She futilely threw herself into the arms, towards the brain, at the fingers. Stop it! Stop it NOW!

The tiny spores, those who were to be saved for later releases, and those already being created to fill in the space left by their brethren, immediately went to attack the lone soul that dared attempt to harm their mother. Lettuce moved away from them, the small mass that hung in a limbo like state with her in the darkness and moved towards the light, where the Chimera's soul resided.

Listen to me! The past mew cried out weakly to the stronger soul, the one tainted and strangely formed. You have to stop this!

The Chimera scoffed inwardly, the sound grating to Lettuce's mind, though she had no ears to hear from. Give it up, Lettuce. You body, your powers, your SELF are mine now!

Maybe it was because she had no reason to think that there was any good in the creature, maybe it was because she had been released from her human shell and was now merely the soul that had dwelled in it, or how unstable her emotions were. But whatever it was, she finally refused to hold back. No I'm NOT! Lettuce's form, just a tiny shining ball of light, suddenly grew and shoved at the confines of the body, the light shriveling up some of the spores unable to get away. I am my own person, and NO ONE will make me do ANYTHING! The ball of light shoved angrily towards where the girls heart was, and felt a bit of surprise when the Chimera reacted with pain. In an instant, Lettuce's belligerent spirit was grabbed by an unseen force, the fight quickly being squeezed out of her.

You miserable wretch! The creature flung Lettuce farther into the dark void in disgust. Lie to yourself all you care to, but for the remainder of your existence, I will spend all my energy on proving to you that your frivolous dream is no longer possible! If you wanted your body so much, perhaps you should have thought before saving that useless leader of yours!

Don't speak of Ichigo that way! It was amazing how she no longer had a body, but she could still hurt, a lot. I would stand in your way again if I had the chance to keep you from hurting her! Ichigo is an amazing person! I had thought she would be safe if I took your attack. I had thought… Lettuce trailed off in misery, faintly feeling some kind of familiar tug.

It was unnerving how she could feel the creature glare at her. Yes, you had thought you would kill me by forcing me to merge with a weaker being and thereby saving everyone. And even after your sorry carcass was gone, me included, you would be looked back on as the hero, not the weak mew that you were.

I never did that so people would think well of me! I only wanted to save my friends… The strange feeling was growing stronger.

Yes, and here you are, aiding to the death of them. Lettuce felt the Chimera jerk about, she saw through 'her' eyes as she glanced about to see what was causing the familiar tug. What is doing that?

Lettuce remained quiet, not sure of it herself. Whatever it was, it seemed to make her captor agitated. But why? The feeling was so warm, almost a safe relief, knowing it was close…

Lettuce felt shock and fear sink into her as she recognized what it was. Oh no.

And of course, Lettuce's thoughts were as loud to the Chimera as if someone was talking right in front of her. What is it? She demanded viciously. Quickly the same strange force grabbed her again, as if to keep her from escaping. The images that Lettuce was trying to hard not to picture sprung up to meet the leading host's thoughts. Ah, the cold grin curled back onto Lettuce's old face. Your friends have transformed, no doubt to find a way to save their miserable lives.

With the force still holding tight to her, Lettuce watched as the Chimera's plans unfolded before her eyes. No! Don't attack them!

Without another word Lettuce was thrown away again, left to only watch was her past body strode towards Pai.

Xxx

The Chimera regarded her master with some apprehension. He had been off, ever since he had accidentally merged her with this body.

And though she'd never admit it to the leeching soul inside her, she knew exactly why. Well, she thought to herself, not really caring if Lettuce could hear her or not, perhaps I should remind him that this body can be used for more than… fighting.

She could feel Lettuce, who had heard, become confused, not understanding anything besides that her friends might be in danger. Do me a favor, leech. She thought in disgust as she waltzed towards Pai. Go hide in some dark corner and keep out of this.

Not surprisingly, the pathetic creature ignored her, intent on finding even the smallest ways to rebel. The Chimera frowned in annoyance, but, knowing exactly how this would feel for the past host, decided to let her see how stupid she was. Pai still wasn't paying her any mind.

That was about to change.

"Master." She breathed out, her voice just a small level above husky. That drew the eldest Cyniclon's attention.

W-what are you doing?

She quickly shoved the intruding soul away, far into the back regions of her mind. "Sir," she said more levelly now, "My… mew instincts tell me that the rest of Tokyo Mew Mew is active." She came to his side in a matter of three short steps. "With your permission, may I attack them?" The Chimera frowned inwardly as Lettuce tried to put up another feeble fight. To what end? Was she weak and stupid?

She sensed Pai jerk slightly at her tone. "I need to check a few readings first." What was his problem? In this form, he had no reason to shut her out. He should want her. As he turned away her eyes narrowed again. I'll make him want me.

The Chimera swiftly clasped his hand, stopping him from turning away completely. He turned to regard her with surprise. "Master," she tried to keep her tone light, what was the word? Coy. "I am yours to command. I only want to please you." Before he could jerk away she leaned into him, her hands clinging to his shirt so she wouldn't be off balance. She was perfectly aware of how one could entice a mate, and this was a prime example. She looked into his stormy, mysterious eyes. "And," she leaned close to him, far too close, "you can command me to do more than fight."

Before he could say anything against it, the Chimera pulled him down slightly to meet her lips. The Chimera didn't understand anything too intricate or complex to the human emotions, but what she did know was that his body near hers felt good, his mouth on hers felt nice. And she wanted him. Pai, who made her, shaped her, let her be alive. She didn't care his reason, or she did, but it was only because he cared about it. If she could have Pai, if he would be hers…

Firm, hard hands gripped her shoulders, and she suddenly felt a brush of cold air as his lips left hers. She looked up to him in surprise, and was greeted with the coldest glare ever witnessed.

"What." He said between grated, furious teeth, "are you doing."

The sudden shock of his anger brought the normally controlled Chimera to a confused halt. "Trying… to please you, master. Is this body not one you are attracted to?"

Her last statement seemed to further anger him, and though she could feel it rolling off him, all that came out was that cutting, icy voice. "You assume too much in thinking that… that this would please me. Excuse me." Without even a glance at her he turned on his heel and headed to the far side of the tower. Never seeing the Chimera's look of hurt, and then darkening anger facing his back.

Xxx

The eldest Cyniclon's mind was in turmoil.

Pai would never admit it to anyone, but his experiment being in control of his lost love's body actually pained him. It was like some twisted, sick irony. The girl who fought and gave her all to ensure the safety of her home planet was not embodying the one creature that could destroy her race entirely. It isn't Lettuce; he had to keep telling himself, she's not there any longer. But still, watching as the Chimera released her spores, laughed at the destruction and death she was causing. The way she greedily watched him, even when she thought he wasn't looking.

Lettuce might die again if she ever saw herself.

The green mews quiet nature and gentle sincerity had drawn him to her. Her intelligence and tender heart amazed him. But this creature, this creature he created, was different. Oh, she was quiet, but quiet in the sense of an assassin lurking in the shadows. Intelligent, but cold and indifferent to what knowledge she carried.

Pai felt sick when he realized how similar that description was to himself.

And then… and then it kissed him! True, it might have been a technical she, now that it embodied the green mews form, but it was a parasite, an experiment, it wasn't meant to be attracted to him, only to follow orders! And even then, was attracted the right word? Love certainly wasn't. Oh, it may have acted in the ways it mentally associated with love, but its kiss was a kiss to possess, to own.

Not to love.

Even if it was… that, he thought miserably, it's only Lettuce's body, it's not her.

Pai glanced back to the creature; sure enough, it was watching him. It was subtle, out of the corner of its eye, but watching him all the same. The intense gaze unnerved him, and hurt him even more as he thought of how he had had Lettuce, he had had her! And now, he had no one.

He turned stiffly towards her, not bothering to cover the obvious frustration he had towards her. "You said you can locate the mews?"

She looked back at him wordlessly, heartlessly. "Yes."

Pai nodded. "Tell me where to go."

I don't know about you guys (oh wait, yes I do, 'cause I'm the author), but that Chimera is going to be even WORSE news pretty soon. But how worse, you say? :D You'll have to tune in for the next chap in a couple of weeks. Thanks for taking the time to read! You guys rock!