REVIEW: Lettuce took control and lost it again after saving her friends. The mews realize she's alive, and Kisshu confronts her briefly. PAI TOTALLY FINDS OUT, AND THE CHIMERA IS SOOOOOOO BUSTED. AND RYOU ASKS HORRIBLE THINGS OF ZAKURO.
End review.
I'm sorry guys! I know I'm always saying that now, but I truly am. I wanted this to be the final epic(ish) chapter and then give you a epilogue, but it's going to have to be postponed a little bit longer. BUT. The final chapter is 75% done, I just need to adjust the stink'in Chimera's attitude and actually have Lettuce and Pai GET TOGETHER. So, please bear a little longer, but for those of you who have been so amazingly patient with me, thank-you. Here is part of the chapter that you were meant to have much sooner than this…
Ryou looked through his calculations once more, intent on making sure that there wasn't even one mistake to be had in his plan. If he couldn't make this work- no, he wasn't going there, he needed to believe in his plan. There was no alternative to this, as Zakuro had all but pounded into his brain. Even now the blue-eyed genius grimaced at the shameful actions he had asked one of the mews to commit.
"You made Tokyo Mew Mew to defend the earth, and that's what I'll do. But if you want someone killed, if you want murder done to a comrade, to Lettuce, then do it yourself."
What possessed me to ask that? The blondie clenched his teeth as he sped even faster through the calculations, his hands quickly moving to do a formula check on a battered old note pad. Fear. Stupid, illogical fear is what possessed me. Zakuro was right, if I'm selfish enough to sacrifice Lettuce, then it might as well be by my own hands. I'm responsible for them! Ryou turned to where his best friend was waiting patiently for further instruction. "Keiichiro, I need three drops of synthetic mix A, and about a fourth of formula R19."
The long haired companion didn't even spare his friend a nod but set right to work, his years of cooking and working as a chemist giving his movements a precision that Ryou felt a twinge of envy against.
I'm a coward. The creator of the mews turned back to his work. But… god bless it! I know Lettuce deserves better than this, she's gone beyond the expectations I had in regards to her perseverance and fortitude. I've created this situation she's in, I've created her! Yet still… I can't go against it. What would Lettuce want me to do? Would she hate me for stopping her at the price of her life? I… I can't see that, I can't see Lettuce putting herself before others. He shook his head in agitation as he charged up a particle accelerator, keeping a close eye on its energy fluctuations. But does that make my actions right? My wish to put humanity before her?
Ryou jumped as a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He turned in surprise to see Keiichiro looking at him in concern. "Ryou, what's on your mind?"
The young genius shrugged off the gesture and returned to his calculations. "I… nothing."
"Ryou."
"Do we really have time for you to interrogate me right now?"
"You have about thirty seconds before that particle accelerator is fully charged, and then forty-five seconds before it's juiced the formula enough."
"I should watch the readings."
"You should tell me what you and Zakuro spoke about."
The young man jumped and looked back to his friend, somewhat alarmed. "Did she-"
"No, she didn't need to. Please remember who you're talking to Ryou. And no, before you ask, the girl's don't suspect a thing. Zakuro is an actress, after all."
"More model than actress." Ryou mumbled.
"Please," The chef tentatively placed his hand back on his friend's shoulder. "I'm not here to judge you Ryou, I'm here to help."
Ryou cast his eye over to the machinery. Forty-eight seconds left. "I asked her to… if we can't stop Lettuce like this, I asked her to do it herself."
The blond haired man was grateful that Keiichiro's face remained calm, even as he felt his hand tighten against his shoulder.
He looked down. "I asked it out of fear, I didn't have faith in our abilities to save her, and it was the best solution." Ryou ground his teeth once again. "Of course she refused me, flatly, and I've just realize how much like the Cyniclons I can be."
Keiichiro furrowed his eyebrows. "And what makes you say that?"
"Well, isn't it obvious? I was willing to harm another soul just to make ends meet."
The brown haired man shook his head sadly. "That is no Cyniclon trait and you know it, that's human nature. And not even that. Our mew mews are warriors that target a specific enemy, just like any military. They go out to protect others, regardless of if they're harmed in the process." He paused for a moment, thinking. "You may be right, but in a different sense. What you are doing is similar to how the Cyniclons operate, because they are working towards the goal of saving others. The only difference is that they are willing to hurt those who aren't truly apart of the conflict. You, Ryou, are not."
Ryou pulled out the charged mixture with a self-mocking grin. "Remind me again why I always hesitate to come to you for help?"
"When it comes to any knowledge that is strategic, mathematical, or technological, you are a force to be reckoned with. But when it comes to your social skills and interacting with any other person?" He grinned wryly. "I'll save your pride by not saying."
The mew creator rolled his eyes. "Ha ha, now I remember." He took down a few notes thoughtfully.
Once again the pastry chef guessed his thoughts, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly. "It will work out, just have faith. We'll save Lettuce before the end of the day."
Ryou sighed and nodded his head, willing himself to believe just that. A little longer Lettuce, just hold out a little longer…
Xxx
No… Lettuce struggled weakly within the confines of her own body as it made it's way steadily back to the café. She had fought with everything in her, praying by some miracle she could keep the creature at bay and away from her friends. But it was to no avail; though she was the original owner of the body, it was the Chimera that knew how to infiltrate and take control of another person's being. Lettuce could not win against something programmed to do what she'd never done before. No, no no…
Silence, leech. You're lucky I don't know HOW to kill you. The Chimera growled threateningly.
The moment the experiment had complete control once again, it had attacked her. Lettuce didn't know how, but obviously she had thrown the final straw that broke the camel's back. Now she lay within her own body, tangled by forces she couldn't see at all, forces that constricted her rather tightly if her spirit tried to move out and pick another fight with the alpha host.
It's pathetic how you just moan and whine in desperation instead of lashing out. Though I'll give you some credit, throwing your pendant away and making even yourself unsure of where it is, it almost seemed smart. Lettuce cringed as the being's grating laugh echoed around her, she wondered if her laugh had ever sounded like this. I find it quite satisfying that my master was the one to find and save me the trouble. Take note who he helped, you feeble soul.
He suspects you- argh! Lettuce cringed in pain as the invisible constraints squeezed harder, causing the false-spirit to let out a sharp malevolent laugh.
The green mew hated that nothing was private in this prison, that the Chimera knew everything. How when she heard Pai, she immediately felt a foolish twinge of hope, especially after Kish's words to her. She hated that the Chimera could hear every one of her vain cries for help: 'Pai-san, I'm in here, I'm alive, please help me Pai-san, please stop this! Pai-san!' There was nothing more humiliating than your enemy knowing you're every thought and, to deepen the wound, to be able to abuse you with them.
When I find your friends, dear weakling, I am going to show no mercy, and that includes all members of your team, down to the last blond haired baby meat sack. In fact, your parents aren't necessary for my master's take over either. I wouldn't even need to raise a hand against them; I would just order them to kill each other. Oh, you'll be sure to remember this day.
STOP IT! Lettuce couldn't even be bothered by the painful twisting of the second prison the host had created. As the Chimera spoke her words, Lettuce was vulnerable to the raw graphic image-thoughts of just how the Chimera planned to slaughter everyone dear to her. Her parents strangling each other, her father stabbing her mother through the heart, Pudding screaming as she was cut open, Ichigo struggling as she was forced under water and drowning. JUST STOP IT, PLEASE! Why, WHY would you want to do this?
Retasu felt like she had been thrown into a wall, then smooshed into the ground, and scraped off one piece at a time. It was no wonder the body had physical symptoms for emotional unrest, without a body to project the raw emotion, it was unbearable. As she fought not to cry out against the pain her spirit was feeling, she realized that the Chimera had paused, it was actually thinking through her question. Why? Lettuce pressed.
… Because you have them. Because they are pieces of you, or people that hold pieces of you. Because breaking them is breaking you. She went silent again, and Lettuce thought that she was done, but almost as if she had meant to say it to herself, she then added. You, a weak, feeble, flimsy and sorry excuse for a spirit, were given something precious that I can never have.
Lettuce's feeble struggles fell away at hearing such a shocking thing from her captor. Being within such a susceptible proximity to the alpha host, Lettuce could feel the waves of painful loneliness briefly flare up and off of the creature. She had never thought of how the creature, something that seemed so terrible, was so terrible, could really be nothing more than another broken heart that couldn't heal. What was that saying she had once heard? Broken hearts make broken hearts? I-it doesn't have to be this way… Lettuce fought not to cry out against the constrictions.
Maybe not at the beginning, when I was willing to be merciful.
Please…
No. I've heard enough of your pleas and your 'bleeding heart'! I've had enough of you. Retasu felt the urge to panic when the constraints began to melt together and form a strong, claustrophobic wall that surrounded her. Don't panic like a stupid child. Once we reach the café, I'll open your walls just enough so you can watch everything.
Xxx
Ichigo stared at her strawberry shortcake glumly. Keiichiro had, once again, thought ahead somehow and had provided some refrigerated treats for them all. And, true to her name, strawberry shortcake was one of Ichigo's favorite desserts. Right then, however, she didn't feel hungry. In fact, Pudding seemed to be the only one able to down her dessert (and then some). Where Ichigo had managed one or two bites before drifting away, Mint had only picked delicately at her food, as if giving the appearance that she was going to eat it, and merely admiring it at that moment. Zakuro's wasn't even touched, wasn't even moved from the platter that it had been brought out on.
They knew that there was a kiwi tart delight sitting all alone in the fridge right then, its owner unable to come and claim it.
Why did you have to jump in front of me Lettuce? Ichigo looked down at her lap in misery. Why did I have to be so weak? The mew leader clearly remembered her last thoughts before she realized Lettuce had taken her place. The first was the desperate fear of her death, the idea of more pain, all she wanted to do was live and live and just get away. The moment the pain cut off, and she realized she was still alive, it was nothing short of an overwhelming sense of relief. God must have a horrible sense of humor, to give me what I want at the expense of something I'd never willingly give. But would she have? She had been so scared, so panicked, if someone had given her that option, would she have taken it? Her knuckles tightened in her lap. Never. Never, never, never, NO. Lettuce would be scolding me for thinking like this.
"Ichigo."
Well, I can't see her scolding, but she'd be so disappointed in me, and after everything else so far, I don't think I could take that.
"Ichigo!"
How did it come to this? Fighting our own kind? And of everyone, why'd it have to be Lettuce? Why…
"Hey! Earth to the team leader, Ichigo!"
The red head started and looked up to face Mint, who wore a very unflattering frown on her face. "Huh?"
The girl let out a long suffering sigh and rolled her brown eyes. "How is it that you can get lost in your thoughts at a time like this?" For once Ichigo didn't rise to the bait and looked back down at her lap. Minto, however, wasn't satisfied with that tactic either. "Oh no, don't even try to sulk! Everyone here is wondering how Ryou expects us to still fight Lettuce, and do you really think we'll figure anything out if our leader decides to host her own pity party?"
Ichigo's hands tightened into frustrated fists. Was that really what she was doing? Throwing her own pity party? I'm a teenager, for crying out loud! If I want to sulk, I will! She met Minto's eyes with what she hoped was a frosty glare. "You know it should have been me that the Chimera attacked, right?"
Pudding paused in stuffing an éclair into her mouth. "What do you mean, na no da?"
Ichigo bit her tongue, suddenly regretting her inner teen rebellion. "They took me so I could be the chimera's host, and Lettuce saved me from that fate at too high a cost! I'm the one who should be suffering, not her!"
Minto's frosty glare outdid Ichigo's by a long shot. "I would have expected more from you, Ichigo. So the alien's messed up again. And you're sad about it? You have time to whimper and whine about it?"
Rebellious anger shot Ichigo to her feet with a scathing retort on her lips, but before she could utter it out, Zakuro's next words stopped them in her tracks.
"Lettuce probably did us a favor."
All mews looked to the eldest in shock, not sure how to take that statement.
Zakuro's elbows came to rest on the table so she could cushion her chin thoughtfully in her hands. "Think about it. It may sound harsh, but if that creature can do as much damage as it's done inside Lettuce's body, what are the chances it would have been worse with it inside Ichigo?" She met the brown eyes with her cool grey-blue ones. "In fact, I don't think we'd stand nearly as big of a chance taking out the chimera if it had been Ichigo who was possessed."
The girls were struck dumb. My god, it's such a horrible thing to say, but… she's right. Ichigo, however, wasn't quite ready to let go of her sulky mood. "Well, regardless of that, she didn't do it because she thought she'd make a worse host, she did it to save me."
Minto lightly smacked her idiot friend upside the head. "And what, she-who-is-in-charge, do you think we're trying to do right now?"
Before Ichigo could turn around and snarl a reply, the éclair dotted yellow mew chirped up. "We're going to save Lettuce nee-chan, na no da! And show Taru-taru and those meanies that they can't mess with our friends!"
"Ichigo." The red head turned back to Zakuro, who was staring her down gravely. "You do understand, don't you? We need to fight Lettuce if we're going to save her. And no one will be able to save her if we can't fight past our own inner battles."
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned to find Minto regarding her a little more seriously as well (no doubt attempting to imitate her onee-sama). "So then, why do you think Lettuce saved you?"
"Because I was weak." Ichigo spit out like it was a curse.
Mint rolled her eyes good naturedly. "No, she didn't rescue you because you were weak. She rescued you because you are worth saving." The mew offered a rare compassionate smile. "Just like Lettuce is worth saving."
Ichigo's eyes widened suddenly. "What? What'd you say?"
Mint's face deflated of compassion slightly. "Don't ruin it with not paying attention. I told you that your worth saving, just like Lettuce."
That's right… Ichigo zoned off, gazing towards the café window that looked to the road. I remember talking with Lettuce about that…
After they had rescued Lettuce the first time and they were escorting her home, Lettuce had timidly asked if they could talk real quick and the rest of the team had gone on ahead.
"Your sure your alright?" Ichigo asked in bemusement at her fidgeting friend. Though regardless of her suspicious behavior, she was just glad that the mew member was safe once again.
Lettuce nodded eagerly, too eagerly. "T-thank-you for your concern, Ichigo, but I promise, I'm fine!" The green haired girl looked over to where the rest of the mews were talking, her face turning sad. "If you hadn't saved me…"
The red head narrowed her eyes in concern, putting her desire to get the information out of Lettuce aside for the time being. "Hey, don't talk like that! Of course we saved you! Only wish we would have known what that tank was about and had taken it out sooner, by what you were telling Ryou."
"Do you regret saving me?" Lettuce asked suddenly. Ichigo turned towards her in horror, and her best friend immediately broke into a stuttering fit. "N-no, t-that's not what- I m-meant to say- that is- i-it's not that I'm n-not grateful, but-"
"Lettuce, how can you-?" Ichigo stopped her anger wrought tirade at Lettuce's miserable look, reminded that she didn't know the whole story. She pursed her lips and changed tactics. "Would you leave me to die if I was in trouble?"
"Never!" Lettuce whirled on her, thinking her own question had made Ichigo think she didn't care for her as a friend. "I would never leave you in trouble, you're my best friend, and if I can protect…" her eyes widened slightly as Ichigo grinned reassuringly. "…Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh'. I would never hesitate to save you just as you would never hesitate to save me."Ichigo squeezed her friend's hand. "Your worth saving, Lettuce. And if it takes practically endangering the world to keep you safe, then so be it. It's probably selfish. But as a teenager, I can get away with it."
Lettuce blushed at the idea of Ichigo saying that she was 'worth it', it was a compliment she'd probably remember for a long time to come. "T-thank-you Ichigo." She smiled that gentle, beautiful smile of hers. "You always know what do say."
Ichigo gave her a light hug before gesturing to the others. "C'mon, let's catch up with everyone else."
"…Ichigo nee-chan?"
The team leader blinked and turned back to her comrades, who were looking on. Mint furrowed her brows slightly in concern. "What's wrong?"
With a start the girl realized that her eyes had fogged up at remembering Lettuce so carefree and safe. "Nothing, I'm just tired of all this."
"Good then, help us find a way to fix it!" Mint impatiently placed her hands on her hips.
The red head grinned wryly. "Yeah, yeah, I got it." An idea suddenly struck her. "…I got it. Oh my gosh you guys, I got it!"
Zakuro smiled slightly as the other two girls looked at her expectantly. "What, na no da?" Pudding said questioningly.
Ichigo smiled conspiringly. "How to take down the Chimera."
Xxx
Kish's eyes narrowed as he felt a presence ripple into existence behind him. He knew that serious aura anywhere. "What's up, Pai? Saw the Chimera's handy work from before. I must say, you need to train it up a bit more, don't you think?"
He turned to regard the Cyniclon. The moment he saw that calculating, deadly serious questioning gaze his own mind began to work in a whirl. Pai watched him a few more moments before his eyes narrowed in accusation. "You knew."
Kish's mind began to run ever faster, his smirk widening in that annoying, almost disarming way. "Well, looks like grumpy pants here isn't in the mood for talk. I guess getting drenched by a tsunami can do that to a guy. What do I know, oh-wisest-of-us-all?"
His humor was having a rather negative effect on the elder Cyniclon, if the furrowing brow and dangerous eyes were any indication. "You knew that she was alive, trapped in her own body."
Kish rolled his eyes, making sure he could dodge if Pai chose to attack him right then. "We've been through this dialogue before; she has a name, say it."
"Kisshu," Pai bared his fangs, thought better of it, and with an effort reeled in his temper. "This could be looked on as insubordination, you know. Why didn't you tell me?"
"If I wasn't practicing insubordination at least once a week, you'd be convinced that the mew's had captured me and switched me with some random clone."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Kish's golden eyes looked intently into the dark irises, more keenly than Pai was comfortable with. "And if I had told you, what would you do?"
Pai paused a few moments, letting the meaning behind the words sink in. He looked back to the green haired Cyniclon in realization. "You knew that something was off with the Chimera."
Kish fought down his signature smirk in favor of keeping this new serious face. "Maybe."
"I would have dismissed your claims and pressed on with the plan out of having a sheer grudge against you."
"Probably."
"And if you had told me Let-Mew Lettuce was alive and I confronted the Chimera on only your word, it would simply have made a reasonable lie that would at least satisfy me and I would then continue to discredit you."
"Not a lot of trust in me, huh?"
It seemed as though Pai was realizing just how stupid he had been the last couple hours (if the growing look of horror was anything to go by). "You knew if you let my suspicions grow, I would later confirm them on my own and inadvertently find fault in the Chimera."
Kish did let his smirk show now. "Now all my tricks are out of the bag, do you feel better now that you've found me out?"
"Hardly." The purple haired Cyniclon threw out bitterly. "I let invalid and useless data cloud my vision from the important information. And I let it happen so long that my subordinate had to snap me out of it. I probably wouldn't have even realized…"
"Let's just get one thing straight, that 'invalid and useless data'? It's called emotion, ya braniac. And with you as the exception (previous exception), everyone suffers from it." His mind settled as it reached the end of its plan. "Now that you're up to speed, what are we going to do?"
Pai raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Why would we do anything?"
Kish tried not to roll his eyes, tried. "Because you're letting a psycho run the show, and, oh, I don't know, it's keeping your girlfriend hostage."
Pai's ear jerked violently. "She is not my-"
"Just like Ichigo isn't mine, but that's not really the point. The point is that you've messed up, and as our leader, I think you need to save what's left of your reputation, and pride." Kish's golden eyes gleamed with challenge.
"Kish, I…" Pai closed his eyes as if sending a quick prayer for patience, "I've thought of saving Mew Lettuce, and I… want to free her. But think Kisshu, it's our duty to rid this world of the humans so that our families, our people can escape that hellish planet and live in peace." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself just as much as Kisshu. "And this is as close as we've ever come! If I stop this now, who's to say we won't have another chance like this? The mew's have seen everything now, Shiroganewill probably know how it all happened, it would take months… maybe even longer… to pull something like this off again."
Kish bit back his natural sarcastic retort as he took in the inner turmoil his friend (yes, friend) was facing. The fact was, Kish wasn't nearly as loyal to his people as he should have been, wanted to be. Pai, on the other hand, knew nothing but that loyalty and need to serve his people so that they might have a better future. If there was anything Kish would grudgingly admire about his comrade, it was his will to help and protect those he cared about. How interesting that the same could be said for a certain currently-held-against-her-will mew. "I guess that's the question, isn't it?" The first Cyniclon to have reached the earth spoke with the same carefree voice, but his eyes showed the underlying edge of grim importance. "Do you let this maniac do its worst, effectively conforming most of humanity to eternal slavery and death, and hopefully giving us the dream not yet realized of having our families free of their current planet? Or, do you save this pathetic enemy, the porpoise mew, who you happen to fancy (cliché understatement of the year), and once again our plans for world domination is stalled until next time?" Kisshu paused, then added as an afterthought. "Either way, you'll come out a prick and disappointment to one or more of the parties involved."
Pai looked hard at the green-haired Cyniclon. "As always, you're as helpful as a mutt chewing on my leg."
Golden eyes gleamed in amusement. "So, then, what's it going to be?"
Xxx
As Lettuce and her captor stepped out of the woods towards the café, the girls exited the building and stood their ground a few yards away from it. With careful precession the creature removed the layers of wall it had surrounded the surviving soul with so that it could 'see' what was going on. A mocking grin grew as the helpless whelp began its pathetic rant for her friends all over again at the sight of them. I'm going to enjoy this.
"Chimera," Ichigo spat out unpleasantly. "What did you do to Lettuce?"
The green mew's eyes flared briefly with anger before cooling back to that reproachful indifference. "I honestly don't get tired of telling you, but I'm surprised you want to hear it so much; she's dead. Do you understand? Dead."
Mint scoffed in disgust. "You didn't inherit Lettuce's brain when you stole her body, did you? If you had, I'm pretty sure you'd be smart enough to know we're not buying that response."
The green eyes narrowed once again. "Oh, I don't need you pathetic meat bags to believe anything; I just thought I'd humor you in your last moments."
"Give Lettuce nee-chan back to us, na no da!" Pudding pointed accusingly.
The creature cocked it's head to the side, raising her eyebrows in a rather delicate manner. "Let me guess, if I don't, you'll simply make me?" Without waiting for a response the Chimera wordlessly called her castanets to hand. "May I remind you of the last time we fought? You won't get off the hook so easily." Her mouth curved to a vicious smile as her eyes met the smallest mew's. "Especially you."
Zakuro shot out a hand protectively in front of her comrade, but Pudding wasn't phased in the least (at least, she didn't let on that she was). "We know you're in there Lettuce nee-chan, we won't give up on you, na no da! So don't you give up on us!"
"That's right!" Ichigo joined. "You showed us that your still fighting despite it all, the least we can do is give it our all too, right?"
"What a touching scene." The Chimera stalked a few steps closer. "A shame, I'm sure, that I wasn't programmed to enjoy such sweet moments." The experiment watched, a sadistic smile beginning to play on its lips, as Tokyo Mew Mew summoned their weapons as one. "Well, if you all plan to fight with such valiant force, I suppose it would be wrong of me to hold back." With an animalistic shriek Mew Lettuce's body leapt into the air towards the mews, her castanets at ready. "Ribbon, Lettuce RUSH!"
"Stick to the plan you guys!" Ichigo cried out as she moved out of the attack's range.
There, something to chew on till this bloody writer's block let's up. Right now EVERYTHING is plotted out, I swear, it's only a matter of getting it onto the computer screen. But I'll be honest, I kinda need some push to get done with this since real life is so stink'in LOUD right now. So, would you be willing to give a review?
Till next time! ~Ally