I JUST PULLED MY FIRST HOMEWORK ALL-NIGHTER LAST NIGHT AND BOY AM I READY FOR BED! :D Thanks for tuning in again folks! I have to say, the person I enjoyed writing the most this chapter was Minto. Weird right? But anyway! You've been waiting for this chapter long enough! Please enjoy!
Once Ichigo grabbed a few moments to compose herself from what she just endured with Kisshu, she made a beeline for the café. With any luck, the girls and Ryou and Keiichiro are still here. The door was closed, meaning they weren't taking customers, but what did she expect? If Let-… if the Chimera had started its attack, her friends would have to take off the waitress outfit and go mew mew, so they had to kick the customers out. They were probably figuring out a plan in the basement right then!
She shoved the unlocked doors open. "Mint, Pudding, Zakuro!" She glanced around the dark room and headed towards the back. "Ryou, Keiichiro?" No one appeared to be in the basement, though the computer was on. Just my luck, she thought crossly, I escape and everyone's already taken off. But to where? Now would be a great time to have that missing cell phone! The red head huffed and moved to leave the café again. As she passed by one of the tables, a small cream purse caught her eye. Hmm? One of the customers must have forgotten it when Ryou shoved them out… As she reached the door she realized something and whirled around. That wasn't just a customer's purse.
That was Lettuce's.
The room suddenly seemed all the more dim to Ichigo. Lettuce… she approached the small object quietly, like she was seeing some precious artifact in a museum. It had been thrown there in a hurry, her cell phone and lip gloss had spilled out. Oh Lettuce! Chocolate brown eyes were suddenly blurry with painful tears. She had probably been on her way to meet Ichigo, but then Ichigo had been kidnapped. Had she seen it? Or had her emergency call been caught by her? Whatever it had been, she had obviously figured things out and had come running here. Had the team helped her? If they had, why hadn't Ryou sent all of Tokyo Mew Mew? So much would be different right then if only little things that hadn't happened did! The tears started to slip down her cheeks as she picked up the cell phone. It's all my fault! Why, why'd you have to save me Lettuce? Why?
She clutched the phone to her, barely registering that she was shaking and starting to hiccup. It's not fair! You've never done anything to deserve this Lettuce! Oh God, why, why did you have to… have to… Ichigo couldn't bring herself to say it, admit it. Tokyo Mew Mew's worked miracles before, we've defeated crazy odds, always together. So, so you can't be gone! Because if us mews can't fight together as a team… Please, please come back Lettuce, we need you, I need you!
The picture of Lettuce's body controlled by the Chimera came unwillingly to the front of her mind. It's heartless eyes, detached voice. The way it looked at her like an insect, like food, with Lettuce's eyes, it set her blood boiling."You." The pink mew spoke the term in detest, as if the phantom image in her mind was in reality right in front of her. "You did this; you took my best friend away." The red head gently laid the late Lettuce's phone back on the table next to the purse. "And you know what?" Ichigo picked out the pendant that she had set in her pocket. "For your evil actions," she kissed the pendant, and in a burst of light she was transformed, ready for battle.
"We will make you pay."
Xxx
The chimera started slightly from her casual walk as a sharp chill hit her. It was such a strange sensation; it reminded her of… what exactly? There were so many overwhelming things belonging to this body, this life, it might take some time for her to grasp them all.
It was anger.
When I want your opinion, which I will never, feel free to spew out your prattles all you want. But until then… Mentally the soul tried to push the intruding being away, but it appeared Lettuce was finally on the leg of recovery and wasn't so easily dissuaded. I need you to listen to me; whatever you're planning, you need to stop it.
The Chimera groaned, temporarily forgetting the ever-observant Pai walking a wary distance behind her. Did you ignore your friends as much as you do me? Because that can't miss you that much if you were like this before.
The righteous anger flared briefly in the weaker soul, provoking a smirk from the experiment, but was quickly doused to give attention to more pressing issues. Please Chimera, don't hurt my friends! You have the city; you have my body, can't you leave them be?
The Chimera smothered a scathing laugh. It gets on my nerves, the extent of your naiveté. Even someone as painfully simple as you can understand the necessity of my actions.
Then wait! Don't attack them unless they attack you! Please! Haven't you done enough? Lettuce inwardly languished, impossible to hide anything from the raw situation she found herself in. I will do anything you ask, I will even try to find a way to leave! But you must end this!
A smile of grim satisfaction grew on the past Lettuce's face. As tempting as that offer is, this isn't just for a silly cause. I am finding that I have two real goals right now. Making Pai mine. She brushed off the feeble mental glare from Lettuce. And making your life, or what's left of it, a living hell. Fitting, for everything you've put me through. And I can tell you this; once you have lost everything it seems you are trying so hard to protect, then you will be gone, wholly and forever. The Chimera melted into the shadows, Pai close behind. Her instincts tingled in anticipation, and she and Lettuce watched the café front with a balanced mixture of fear and sadistic glee. Let's see just how quickly your friends break, hmm?
But, upon the door opening, both girls looked on in surprise as the mew leader Ichigo came out. Retasu couldn't hide her disbelief even if she tried. Ichigo's okay! She escaped!
Xxx
Ichigo quickly exited the building, her eyes narrowed in frustration. My only problem is I can't make that blasted Chimera pay till I figure out where she is. Ichigo suddenly noticed a familiar, ghostly tug towards the back of her head. There's a mew nearby! Ichigo realized. And, she glanced around suddenly, their close!
"ICHIGO NEE-CHAN!"
Barely having time to turn, the pink haired mew was suddenly hit by a speeding blond bullet, which promptly hugged her tightly. "Ichigo nee-chan, your okay, na no da!"
Relief washed over Ichigo. "Pudding!" She kneeled down and hugged the small girl back, happily squeezing the life out of her. "It's so good to see you- ow!"
A sudden thwack! to her head startled Ichigo. Looking up, she found one furious looking Mew Minto. "Do you have any idea what we've been through because of you?"
Instant irritation kicked in out of instinct. "Do you have any idea what I've gone through?"
Mint was adamant. "I can't believe you! If you'd quit flirting with aliens so much, maybe they'd stop stealing you!"
A blush hit the girl as she remembered her parting moments with Kisshu. "I don't flirt with them! Sorry for being such an easy target!"
Mint sniffed reproachfully. "You should be."
Before Ichigo could be riled up further Zakuro came up, looking relieved. "We're all glad you're safe Ichigo."
Turning her attention away from the ruffled bird mew, she immediately perked up at the sight of Zakuro. "And I'm glad to see you! How come you're not affected by the spores? Did Ryou have an antidote?"
"Nope, the spores just don't like mew mews, na no da!"
"Where are Ryou, and Keiichiro?" Ichigo glanced about, as if they would suddenly materialize to greet her return as well.
"Ryou's actually outside of Tokyo right now." Zakuro's eyes narrowed slightly, as if noticing something the others weren't. "He says he can't get in until enough time's past for the spores remaining without hosts to die, otherwise they'll just fall ill to them too."
Ichigo gazed solemnly at her. "So we're on our own?" Great, they can never make it easy for us.
Zakuro nodded gravely, but her eyes were glancing around. It was Mint who voiced what was troubling the oldest mew. "Where's Lettuce? Last we heard she had found a way to get to you."
Pudding hugged Ichigo again. "And she did, na no da! Because you're here!" She looked up and saw Ichigo's sad face.
"You mean, you guys didn't know if she got to me?"
Minto shook her head, giving Ichigo an odd look. "Lettuce couldn't get hold of any of us, she somehow caught Zakuro during a photo shoot break, and explained you'd been kidnapped." She glanced back to Zakuro, wondering if her onee-sama would help back her up, but her idol had a strange look on her face, and not the good kind. "Um, she said she couldn't wait for Zakuro to get in contact with everyone else, and then she went and saved you! So, where is she? I'm half tempted to scold her for being so reckless and helping you all alone."
Ichigo looked on at her friends sadly. Pudding inched closer to her nee-chan, slipping her hand into her leader's limp grip. "Ichigo, where is Lettuce, na no da…?"
Zakuro and Ichigo shared a brief, tense glance. Zakuro looked away, not able to bring herself to voice what she just confirmed.
Ichigo tried not to choke on her words. "Pudding, Lettuce, I mean, she did rescue me. But Lettuce, she…" She had to stop, trying to build her heart up for the task. "Pudding, Lettuce-"
"Is right here."
The group turned to find Lettuce leaning against a tree, her face hidden in shadow. With a swift movement she pushed herself off the tree and stepped into the light, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Xxx
Stay away from them! Lettuce's soul now beat against the one in control, desperately trying to keep the danger at bay. But her blows affected the creature as much as trying to whip someone with a piece of yarn. The Chimera took satisfaction in Lettuce's panic as she stepped forward. No! Back away! Go away!
Oh, but little leech, look how excited they've become. Her eyes crinkled with dark laughter. Just sit back and enjoy the show.
Lettuce had stopped listening, however, when she saw the look in the youngest mew's eyes, a look that made her want to cry out injustice all over again. This was not lost on the Chimera. Here she comes…
NO! PUDDING, DON'T!
Xxx
Pudding reacted immediately, seeing that her other nee-chan that she had been so worried over was fine, started vaulting for her. "Lettuce nee-chan! You're okay! We-" She looked back in surprise to find Ichigo had grabbed her hand and was pulling her back, the way a frantic mother stops a toddler from running head first off a cliff. "Ichigo, na no da?" Zakuro also had a firm grip on Mint's shoulder, who in turn looked at her onee-sama in confusion. "Ichigo, what's wrong, na no da?" She looked back to Lettuce, who for some reason looked like she was trying not to laugh. What was so funny?
Mint and Pudding felt uneasy shudders go through them as Lettuce smirked rudely towards Ichigo. "Yes, Ichigo. What's wrong? Can't I hug my 'teammates'?"
"Pudding, listen to me." Ichigo pulled the girl back and turned her so she could look into the youngest mews eyes, trying to keep her voice calm. Pudding felt more than saw Zakuro and Mint's attention turn towards their leader as well. "I got away from the Cyniclons. But Lettuce…" Her voice cracked. "Lettuce…"
"Is dead." Lettuce supplied, with an uncomfortable amount of relish.
Pudding looked between the two in surprise. "No you're not! Lettuce nee-chan is right here, na no da!"
Nobody save one heard the true porpoise mew let out an anguished sob at the irony of Pudding's statement. And how her friends were about to be torn apart by the lies and there was nothing she could do. Please, I'm begging you, please stop…
Lettuce, or apparently not Lettuce, smiled cruelly. "You're so simple." Her gaze made Pudding feel like some discarded object, a dirty, disdainful object. The apparent not-Lettuce gestured to her body. "This was indeed the past host's, your 'Lettuce's body. I however, how can I say this? Have taken over management?" Her eyes danced manically.
"You stole Lettuce's form!" Ichigo pointed angrily at her, rising up from her kneeling position by Pudding. If the true Retasu still had eyes, she would have been crying from the look on her best friend's face. "She had tried to protect me by jumping in front of the Chimera's attack, and in the end got possessed herself!"
Ichigo, I'm sorry Ichigo, this wasn't supposed to happen! The true mew looked on helplessly as her friends faces transformed to ones of horror. She could see the indecision in their eyes, the need to refuse it.
"That-that can't be true!" Mint stepped up, one arm firmly held in Zakuro's grasp to keep her from going further. "Lettuce can't be gone! The aliens must have hypnotized you! Messed with your brain! But you're still Lettuce!" Pudding nodded mutely, an unnatural frown altering her features. "Come on Lettuce, quit hiding and come out! You can't really be gone!"
Minto… Retasu couldn't help but feel awed. Of all the mews, she never expected Mint to believe in her the most. Oh Minto, I'm not gone. I'm here, I'm here…
Both statements seemed to irritate the Chimera. "I'm telling you, your friend is gone. Dead. And she's not coming back." And that's a promise, Lettuce. She thought with venom.
"Enough." The remaining members of Tokyo Mew Mew jumped as Pai emerged from the shadows behind the creature. He gazed directly at Ichigo, shrewdly guessing how she had gotten there. "We will give you but one warning. Surrender yourselves now, or face imminent death."
Ichigo took a step forward, so she was neck and neck with Mint. "Funny, where have I heard that before?"
"Oh, but this time is so much different." No! Lettuce inwardly began to fight against the other soul, knowing her worst fears were about to happen. The Chimera smiled at her captive's vain attempts; outwardly to the others it made her seem slightly crazed. "Wouldn't you agree?"
Pudding's eyes widened with sudden comprehension. "We, we have to fight Lettuce, na no da?"
"No," Zakuro took a battle ready stance, "we have to fight the host inside Lettuce's body."
"But we can't do that!" Minto looked between her teammates and the Chimera wildly.
The creature gazed coldly at her with emerald eyes. She hated how pathetic they were, how losing one team member, the weakest team member, was enough to throw them off kilter and not be able to carry out their duties. She smirked darkly, her eyes shooting daggers. "In that case, let me end this for you quickly." In one simultaneous movement she and Pai launched at what was left of the Tokyo Mew Mew team, Lettuce's cry of horror blatantly ignored and unheard.
Xxx
Pai lifted his massive fan above his head and brought it down in the direction of the mews Pudding and Ichigo. "Kuu Rai Sen!"
The small yellow mew felt someone's arm wrap around her waist and hoist her up. "I got you Pudding!" In the next instant they were jumping fifteen feet high and away from the vortex of wind, which continued its rampage till it hit a tree that was viciously uprooted and thrown down.
Pudding, finally recovering from shock, quickly summoned her weapons. "I'm alright now, na no da." She glared at the Cyniclon, who held his fan at ready, emotionless as rock. "You'll pay for what you did to Lettuce onee-chan!" She raised her weapons and began to cartwheel backwards as their glow grew stronger. "Ribbon…" At their height she smacked the energy wave down in front of her, propelling it forward towards its target. "Pudding INFERNO!"
On the opposite end of the battle field Mint and Zakuro took turns lashing out at Lettuce's possessed body. With a laugh the Chimera wordlessly summoned the past mews weapons and attacked with a water beam aimed at Zakuro. The purple mew, unable to dodge, brought her arms up in defense as the attack hit her and flung her towards the woods. The Chimera's laugh started to have a demented tint to it. "Weak, you're all weak!"
"Ribbon, Mint ECHO!"
The Chimera turned and felt the energy arrow graze her cheek bone. With a hiss, she turned to the winged mew who had locked onto her from the air. Dodging another arrow, she took a giant leap and began to attack Mint.
The blue mew, not very well trained in self-defense or any forms of fighting, dodged and threw in kicks as best she could. "No matter what you say, monster, I won't believe you that Lettuce is dead."
The green eyes narrowed and the porpoise mew threw an expert punch, which Mint luckily dodged. "I grow tired of this game you mews play. You knew Lettuce, she was weaker than all of you! Why waste your time caring for something that wasteful!"
Minto threw in a quick kick, using her fluttering wings to keep balance. "We might be stronger than her in some aspects, but that doesn't mean she was weak!" She made a swipe with her bow, but again 'Lettuce' dodged. "I know you're wrong! Lettuce isn't gone!" All at once she punched for the Chimera, who caught her fist.
Gripping the startled blue mews wrist tightly, she brought herself inches within Minto's face. "She was hardly a snack, barely filling enough. I inherited her memories, you know. Do you what that weakling thought of you? That you were a snob. That all you cared for was first your riches, then yourself." Inwardly Lettuce clawed for the mouth to try and force the creature to stop her rant. "To her, you were the weakest mew."
Minto looked so startled and hurt that the true Lettuce wished she still had eyes so she could cry. The two warring souls were brought up short with the next words from Mint's mouth. "Liar."
The Chimera glared at her, enraged. "What did you call me?"
Minto looked down her nose with the regal aristocratic grace she was born and bred with. "Lettuce was too honest for her own good, even with strangers. If she had felt that way, I would have known it. Besides, you have her memories right? She had too little self esteem to place herself on a higher level than me." Her eyes glinted with superior mockery. "It's pitiful, the way you pick fights. I've seen children do better. And whether or not you keep insisting on it, I know that Lettuce is alive. I know."
With a snarl Mew Lettuce shoved Minto and kicked her towards the earth, where the bird mew landed heavily on the gravel path. "Lettuce is dead! Do you hear me? She's gone, and she's never coming back!" With an angry shriek she cried out her attack, the castanets spouting out roaring waves towards the exposed mew.
"Minto!" From the shade of the woods Zakuro leaped and picked up the helpless mew, carrying her to safety.
Mint looked into the purple eyes adoringly. "Onee-sama, thank-you."
The wolf mew allowed a small, grim smile as she set Minto down on her own two feet. "Stay with me, don't let her take you on alone."
Ichigo watched Lettuce's form dip down towards her friends again before turning back to Pai. Pudding, who had been engaging him, leaped back towards the mew leader and landed next to her. "Why did you have to hurt Lettuce, na no da?"
Pai, in Ichigo's uncaring opinion, looked almost pained. "I can't expect you to understand, this was the only way to conquer you."
"No it wasn't!" Ichigo, who didn't feel like giving the jerk a breather, vaulted for him, her strawberry bell ringing as it came into contact with the hilt of his fan. "Your whole plan is crazy! Have you taken a look at that monstrosity you created? She's nuts!"
Even as the word's left the pink girl's mouth, the Chimera started to scream loudly. "Shut up! Shut up shut up shut UP! I'm sick of you! Your leeches, all of you! You're the parasites!" She raised her castanets again. "Ribbon, LETTUCE RUSH!"
The mews only had a few brief moments to gawk at the massive wave that poured out of the castanets and towered over their heads. In a matter of seconds the whole area was awash with rapids and dangerous currents. A nearby lantern's glass burst at the wave's impact, the metal bending under the intense pressure. Pai, along with the mews were swept up and tumbled crazily inside the currents, not being able to teleport away in time to avoid it. Zakuro held tightly to Mint as they were sent spiraling towards the café, which so far hadn't crumbled despite the fight taking place in its front yard. Ichigo, flailing helplessly, trying to find Pudding, felt a piece of fabric brush against her arm and clung for dear life.
In a matter of moments it was over, the wave spreading throughout the park quickly dropped the height and power of its initial attack. Groaning in pain, Ichigo looked towards the body that had once belonged to her best friend. Though she hadn't been on the receiving end of her attack, the Chimera was soaked, her bangs hanging down so that her crazed eyes peaked out dangerously from beneath.
Green eyes locked with pink, and for a moment it seemed like some message passed between the two. Lettuce, breathing heavily, glanced to her left. A sickening smile curled onto her face. She slowly bent down and retrieved something from the ground, a large piece of shattered glass from the lantern. "Always trying to save your precious friends, aren't you? What would you do? What if you couldn't save them?" All at once she began running towards the trees.
Alarmed, Ichigo followed her path till she saw the struggling figure of Pudding, who was pinned under a fallen branch. What? But, I thought- She looked over to find herself gripping the fabric of Pai's pant leg. Horror washed over her as she realized what the Chimera intended. "No! PUDDING!"
Xxx
Lettuce watched in horror as the Chimera produced a tidal wave that was larger than anything she had ever been able to create, a cry escaped from her as she watched not only her friends, but Pai as well get swept away in its chaotic current. Minto's words had given her hope, and belief that maybe, just maybe she could pull through from this. It had given her confidence, confidence which she then used to the fullest in verbally attacking the thief in her body. 'You'll never win! Not when my friends believe in me! They'll stop you! We'll stop you! And once they defeat my body and we're gone, all of your parasites will be destroyed! And all you will be feeding off is death!'
She hadn't realized the dam of anger and insecurities that she would let loose by her words, the sheer hatred that the Chimera could retaliate with. Inwardly Lettuce looked frantically for her friends amidst the sloshing swells. My friends! Ichigo, Minto, Pudding, Zakuro! What have you done?
But it seemed the Chimera was through with being amused with her. A boiling rage was ebbing off of the controlling soul, a rage aimed at her.
And though Lettuce recognized it, though she was deeply afraid, it didn't stop her frantic search, or her babbling panic. What if they drowned? What if they've been crushed? Where has Pai gone? How could you do this?
As the water receded, Lettuce felt immense relief flow through her when she caught Zakuro holding Minto protectively against to rooftop of café mew mew where they had been washed up. Lettuce could feel the Chimera's frustration continue to build at the sight of her comrade's still living, but didn't pay attention. Both souls watched through Lettuce's old eyes until they came to find Ichigo gasping on the group a fair distance away, her sleek black fur looking horribly wet and mused. Lettuce looked curiously also to Ichigo's tight grip on Pai's pant leg. Had she been trying to keep him from teleporting away? Luckily, Pai himself looked fine, if not very shocked. But their safe, nobody was hurt.
At that moment Ichigo glanced up and her gaze locked with the Chimeras (and coincidentally, Lettuce's). Lettuce understood that look. She had seen it countless times in all their other fights. It was the look of hard determination, the one that always irked their opponents because it seemed to say the words 'Is that all you got? Is that all you can throw at me?'.
And though Lettuce felt infinite pride for her best friend, for her leader, she could feel the Chimera's loathing build like bile would in the back of her throat, if she still had a throat. A movement in their peripheral vision caused the Chimer to turn and see a matted mass of yellow cloth and brown fur amid the debris. Lettuce gasped in realization. Pudding!
The Chimera's frustration suddenly seemed to simmer down into something deeper, uglier. Lettuce felt the false smile spread across her old face as the Chimera reached down to pick something up. A piece of glass?
Then the images of what the Chimera intended to do assaulted Lettuce's mind. NO! She screamed in horror.
The sick smile stayed plastered on, anger brimming up just behind its edges. "Always trying to save your precious friends, aren't you? What would you do? What if you couldn't save them?"
Before Lettuce comprehended what had happened the Chimera had sprinted over to where Pudding was lying helplessly caught under a broken branch, a maniac glee of anticipation running down the villains' spine as Pudding's confused expression turned to one of terror when she saw the monster fast approaching. No! Dear Lord NO, get away from her! GET AWAY FROM PUDDING!
The Chimera kicked away the tambourine Pudding had managed to hold onto in the rushing waters. Gripping viciously at the girl's chin she forced her to tilt her head back to the point of pain, exposing her small pale throat. Lettuce screamed almost incoherently at her captor, slamming into the prison on the body no longer in her control. GET AWAY FROM HER! STOP THIS, PLEASE STOP! PLEASE!
The Chimera laughed dementedly as Pudding tried to scream out for help. "Try to save your precious friends now, Lettuce! Try now!" She brought the glass towards the mew's exposed throat.
NOOOOOOOOOOO! Lettuce abruptly felt something happen that she couldn't really explain with words. If it came close to anything, it could be compared to how eyes first see light after being in the dark for a long time. Not in the sense of gradually stepping out at your own pace, but somebody thrusting you out, forcing you to look directly into the sun without blinking. All the sudden Retasu's head ached horribly, the rest of her silently shrieking in agony. And that's when she realized.
The rest of her.
Her body.
She was looking down at Pudding, she was dripping wet; she was in control. She also realized that she was screaming what she had been so desperately been crying out within herself and cut herself off. The shard of glass hung hesitantly over its prey, bare centimeters from the trembling child's neck. With a shaky, aching arm she threw it far from her, letting go of the fragile child beneath her. All at once tears welled into her eyes, blurring her view of the little girl. "P-Pudding…"
Xxx
The youngest mew trembled violently in fear. The giant wave had torn her away from Ichigo, and as she had struggled to stay afloat a current had pulled her under into the arms of a torn limb from a tree. When the water had suddenly gone away, she was left in a few confused moments as to how she had ended up stuck under the branch, and then how she could get out. But suddenly Ichigo had frantically screamed for her, and she had looked over in time to see Lettuce onee-chan, who was no longer her onee-chan, coming towards her with a terrifying gleam in her eye. That's not my onee-chan. She had thought in horror, seeing that kind of face on Lettuce's normally gentle being was scary in and of itself. A whole new wave of panic came when Pudding realized what the Chimera had planned to do, when she had forced her head back and started talking to herself, raising the sharp piece of glass.
She tried to scream out for her team, but the monster inside Lettuce's body had pressed hard against her throat, making it come out in choked and coughing gurgles. Was this it? Was Pudding going to have to go see mom and tell her that she couldn't take care of Hanacha, Chincha, Luncha, Honcha, and Heicha anymore? Oh mommy, I'm sorry, Hanacha, Chincah, Luncha, Honcha, Heicha, I'm sorry! Fighting back tears she had clenched her eyes shut in fear.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Pudding, despite the terrible jolt that scream gave her, kept her eyes firmly shut, cringing in fear. Why had the Chimera cried out like that? Should she look? What if it was a terrible trick? She briefly heard something soar threw the wind and then land with a muffled thump on the ground far away. What was going on? The monster wasn't doing anything. All at once arm holding her neck captive flung itself away.
"P-Pudding…"
The yellow mews eyes opened carefully, then widened in shock. The Chimera was leaning over her, no longer aggressively, crying. But not just crying; something had changed. . Lettuce's body looked greatly pained, like it was fighting itself. It was weird, but the eyes, they were no longer hard or cold and mean. In fact they were softer, gentler, and looked really, really sad. But why…
"Pudding, please…" the youngest mew watched the figure above her in mute astonishment. Lettuce's tears were now falling onto Pudding's face. "Get away from me…" she managed to gasp out. "Hurry, get away from me, please Pudding…"
But, as if suddenly heeding her own words, the mew jumped up and ran as fast as she could towards the woods, disappearing into the park. Pudding sat up as much as she could in her pinned position and watched where the being had run. Could it have- did- was that really?
"Lettuce nee-chan?"
O_O The truth is out! But what can the mews do? What can ANYBODY :subtle glances towards Pai: do? Sorry there wasn't a lot of pairing fluff in this chapter, and that it was a bit violent, but it was a lot of fun to write! If you have a spare moment, please let me know what you thought!