Brought Together Chapter 8:
Back Home
The next day, Ichigo packed her stuff and got ready to go back. Then she and the Cyniclons waited till Café Mew Mew's closing time. When they saw it was time, the four of them teleported back to Earth, landing outside the Café. Noticing the door was closed, Ichigo went up and knocked, followed by Kisshu, Pai and Taruto.
Luckily for them, Lettuce was the one who opened it, and she cried, "ICHIGO?"
Ichigo and the Cyniclons heard running footsteps, and then the door was flung open.
Ichigo noticed that everyone was staring at her and the Cyniclons, and said, "Can we come in?"
"Why are they here?" Mint asked, pointing at Kisshu, Pai and Taruto.
"We're here with a proposal," Pai said.
Zakuro sighed and said, "You can come in. But Ryou's not going to like this."
Ichigo nodded to Kisshu and the other two, and they followed the other Mews inside. Ryou and Keiichiro came out of the kitchen just at that moment, and Ryou started looking murderous. Then he said, "Ichigo, where have you been, and why are you with those rotten aliens?"
"We're here with a proposal," Ichigo said. "And I've been staying at the Cyniclon's base."
"WHY would you do something like that?" Ryou asked, completely outraged.
"Well, at first it was because Pai had some questions, but I decided to stay after that," Ichigo said. "I found out that the reason Pai and Taruto brought me to their base was that Kisshu had collapsed, and they thought it had something to do with our battle that day. It turned out that they were right; what I said to Kisshu that day caused him so much pain that he went into shock. He also became sick from that, and I stayed to take care of him."
"That's not like you, Ichigo," Ryou said. "Did they do something to your mind?"
"NO, they did not," Ichigo said. "I actually stayed for two reasons. One, I felt I should make things right with Kisshu. But I was also looking to get away for a while."
"Away from what?" Ryou asked.
"YOU!" Ichigo shouted. "I was totally sick of you bullying me, cutting my pay just for the fun of it, and making me work overtime just for being late! It's not my fault my cat genes make me tired- it's yours! If I had a choice, you'd be in jail for ruining my life! The only good thing about this is meeting my friends and Kisshu. I hate you, Ryou!"
Ryou looked shocked. "Y-you don't really mean that, do you?" he asked.
"Why do you care? You hate me too!" Ichigo said.
"I think we're getting off track," Keiichiro said before Ryou could respond. "Ichigo, why did you bring the aliens here?"
"We have a proposal to make," Pai said. "Because we lost so many times, our leader abandoned us. We decided that it might work better if we and you guys formed a truce, and then used the Mew Aqua to save my home planet."
"Would that mean you wouldn't attack anymore?" Keiichiro asked.
"We would have no reason to attack," Pai said. "I believe this would benefit both of our groups."
Everyone was surprised to hear Lettuce say, "I agree. I never thought we should fight in the first place, but I was overruled."
"It would be nice to stop fighting," Mint said.
"Pudding likes this idea, na no da," Pudding said.
Zakuro said thoughtfully, "I agree too. This would be a much better solution than fighting each other endlessly."
"I think it's a good idea, we wouldn't have to put you girls in danger so much," Keiichiro said. Everyone looked at Ryou.
"I refuse," Ryou said. "I wouldn't trust those aliens, ever. I don't understand why you all trust them. And Ichigo, if you helped them, you're just a traitor. I don't see why you'd help them; all they did was make your life miserable."
To everyone's surprise, Ichigo didn't cry or run away from Ryou. Instead, she replied, "They never made my life miserable. You are the one who made my life miserable, Ryou. You turned me into a Mew Mew without my permission, and made me fight them, and overworked me just for laughs. The Cyniclons are just trying to help their people, and you obviously could care less. You could have picked anyone, and you chose to make me a Mew Mew. I could have had a completely normal life, and never had to lie to my parents, but you are the reason my life has been a misery. If you hadn't chosen me, maybe this wouldn't have happened. But you did choose me, and now I think that since I'm the leader of Tokyo Mew Mew, I have the right to make decisions as well. Frankly, I think you should lose that right, and let me handle this. If the Cyniclons are willing to make peace, we should be too. I'm aware of how much you hate me, but you were the one who made me the leader of this team. As leader, I am telling you that we are going along with the new plan whether you like it or not."
"You're going to regret this," Ryou said. Then he ran off- or tried to. Ichigo teleported in front of him, and said, "If you're going to the basement to get one of your inventions, you'll have to go through me first."
Lettuce came over and said, "Me too." The other Mews looked at each other and joined Ichigo and Lettuce. Kisshu, Pai and Taruto came over too.
"What will you do now, Ryou?" Ichigo asked.
I know, I know, it's another cliffhanger. In this story, I'm not going to promise that Ryou will live. Sorry to Ryou fans, but I hate him with a burning passion, and I just seem to have a thing about killing him. I've realized that I can't really make promises about not killing him. Please don't flame me!
