Disclaimer: We don't own TMM. Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi do.

Zakuro Pure: Today we have a special guest in the author's note. She requested to be here for this chapter :).

Miley-nanami: Oh! Hi, BladeofMoonlight! (smiles friendly)

BladeofMoonlight: Hi!^^ Here is the chocolate (hands chocolate)

Zakuro Pure and Miley Nanami: Thanks! ^^

BladeofMoonlight: Can I beat the crap out of Aoyama already? (says impatiently)

Miley-nanami: Sure: D

Zakuro Pure: What do you have there?

BladeofMoonlight: A baseball bat (smiles evilly).

Miley-nanami: What for?

BladeofMoonlight: You'll see… Aoyama! (shouts out)

Aoyama: (comes in) what is it?

Zakuro Pure: This is our guest, BladeofMoonlight.

Aoyama: Oh, nice to m…

BladeofMoonliht: (rises bat)

Aoyama: … OUCH! OUCH! (starts running)

BladeofMonnlight: (runs after him) come here! It's just a moment! It won't hurt you… a lot!

Zakuro Pure and miley-nanami: ¬¬U… Well, we hope you will enjoy this chapter.

Miley-nanami: I think BladeofMoonlight will read it later. She's busy right now.

Zakuro Pure: Yeah…

Aoyama: OUCH! OUCH!

Chapter 3

— OVERCOMING —

It had been hours since they were waiting for Pai to come back with Kisshu. It was almost two in the morning and they were still at the basement. Taruto and Purin were asleep in Shirogane's chair while he was talking quietly with Akasaka and Zakuro. However, from time to time his eyes darted furtively at Lettuce, who was falling asleep with her head on Mint's shoulder, both sitting on the ground.

Ichigo was feeling strangely nervous because she was about to see Kisshu. She never had felt something for him and she never will, but the fact that he had declared his love for her several times, even if she never had thought about it seriously, and that he had risk his life to save her in the last battle, will make the situation a bit awkward for her because his love was unrequited. To tell the true, she hope Kisshu's whim was already over.

An hour later, Kisshu and Pai teleported right there. Akasaka, Zakuro and Shirogane stop talking and Mint wake up Lettuce. Both girls stood up and they and Ichigo approached the group. Akasaka wake up Purin and Taruto.

"They are already here," he said quietly.

Taruto stretched himself quickly and ran towards his brothers, happy to see Kisshu again.

"Where the hell did you go?" he asked, frowning.

"To a lot of places," he answered, messing up Taruto's hair.

Taruto protested and got rid of his hand.

Then, Kisshu looked around. He had never been there before. Bored, he soon thought Pai would find it more interesting than him, so he turned his head to the people who were looking at him. Shirogane was impatient and Akasaka, on the contrary, was relaxed. Zakuro, crossing her arms, seemed indifferent, but truly she was paying attention. Lettuce, tired, was feeling sleepy and was trying not to close her eyes. Mint frowned, bored of waiting, and Purin was rubbing his eyes, trying to wake up totally.

Kisshu looked at Ichigo, who was rubbing her hands together, nervously. She was exactly as he remembered her, as cute and pretty as ever, but she had an expression of deep sadness in her face. And that was due to Aoyama's alleged betrayal. That human could make her to break down like that, which meant she loved him with all her heart and that she never will be his. Now he understood it; now it was even clearer. He was sure she hadn't missed him once while he was away. But that's why he had left, to forget her. He hadn't succeeded, of course. He hadn't been away enough time and, even so, he doubted he would have forgotten her. He felt his heart beat fast, though… doki-doki.

"Hey, kon…!" he stopped. "Ichigo!" he smiled.

Automatically, Ichigo raised her hand to say hello. She din't know what to do. She wondered if that meant he had forgotten her or not.

"Well, can we start?" Shirogane asked.

Pai nodded.

"Kisshu and I were discussing the matter. That's why we are so late," he apologized.

"Well?" Shirogane urged them. Did you think about something?"

Kisshu nodded.

"It's obvious" he started "that Deep Blue can't manage himself right now. That's why we thought he is using Aoyama until he finds something to recover the strength he once had.

"But Aoyama is acting by his own decision, right?" asked Mint, looking at Ichigo from the corner of her eye.

"Like I said before," Pai answered "Deep Blue's trail is too weak. He had even taken the energy from our planet. He's desperate. I don't think he could survive if he were possessing Aoyama.

"Actually, it's not impossible that Deep Blue's controlling him in some way," Kisshu agreed "but it's very unlikely."

Ichigo sighed. Her hopes of Aoyama coming back for her were fading away more and more. Mint squeezed her hand to comfort her and herself too, although Ichigo didn't know that.

"¿How can he take a planet's energy?" Zakuro inquired. "Isn't that a bit impossible?"

"The 90% of our planet consist of energy," he explained "and cinyclones have a connection with that energy, but only the most powerful of us are able to use it.

"And if he take it all?" she asked again. "Wouldn't he be really powerful?

"That's impossible for Deep Blue right now because he is in a really bad condition," Pai said.

"Why?" Purin asked, curious.

"He'll explode," Kisshu laughed. "He will have an overcharging."

"And how is he going to recover his strength?" Akasaka asked, taking up the subject again.

Kisshu and Pai looked at each other, thoughtful.

"That's the only thing we don't know," Kisshu admitted.

"We'll have to wait until he attacks," Pai said.

Shirogane nodded and took some steps.

"Anything else?" Both cinyclons shook their heads. "In that case, I think it's time to go home. You three can stay here if you want."

"Thanks," Pai nodded.

"Let's go, Taruto!" Kisshu exclaimed. "See you all tomorrow!"

Shirogane and Akasaka went to show them their rooms and the girls went back home. Unfortunately, Ichigo's parents were awake, waiting for her, and she had to bear with their big half-an-hour scolding. When Purin arrived, she didn't have to bear with her parents; instead she had to deal with her hungry siblings, who had made a mess in the kitchen. On the other hand, Lettuce's fathers ran towards her when they saw her and cried, apologizing to the policeman they had called. Mint arrived at her house and her servants and nanny did as they were told, feeling relieve she was there at last. Zakuro lived alone, so she didn't have any problem.

The next day, Ichigo went to school. Even if she didn't feel like it, she forced herself to go. She couldn't miss classes. Her friends noticed she was sad and they thought, as Ichigo had told them, it was because she had broken up with Aoyama. Actually, Ichigo wasn't sure if that was true. Had she broken up with him or not? Not officially, but…

"Ichigo?" her teacher called. "Can you make this exercise on the blackboard?"

Ichigo wake out of her trance and stood up, a little dizzy. She nodded.

Time passed at school. She didn't see Aoyama, she hadn't seen him anymore. And she knew she won't see him again. When finally she went out, she met Lettuce on the way to the café.

"Hello, Ichigo!" she said, happy.

"You seem really happy," Ichigo smiled.

"Well, it's just…" she blushed. "Ryou invited me to have lunch together. I'm meeting him at the café and then we'll leave.

"That's great! Is that why you are wearing make up?"

"Oh! Is that evident?" she asked, nervous. "I'll remove it immediately," she took out a handkerchief from her bag.

Ichigo stopped her hand.

"No! Don't be silly. You look really nice," she assured her.

"Really?" she asked, uncertain.

Ichigo nodded.

Lettuce must be really in love with Ryou, Ichigo thought. She isn't the kind of girl who likes to stand out.

"And how are you doing?" Lettuce asked suddenly.

"Me? Well, I'm…" she was about to say fine, but she knew it wasn't the truth. Lettuce was looking at her with her kind blue eyes and she didn't dare to lie to her. "Actually, not very well. I miss him so much and I don't know what has happened. It's like if I couldn't wake up from a nightmare.

Lettuce looked at the sky and smiled. The sun brightness made her eyes clearer.

"You know? When I feel like that, I remember the people around me, the ones that love me and worry about me. Then, I'm able to overcome everything and understand that I can't be selfish and that there are people that also need me."

Ichigo looked at her attentively; she understood what she meant. She nodded with more energy, more than she had felt in days.

Suddenly, Masha went out of her pocket and they heard Shitogane's voice.

"Ichigo! Lettuce! Quickly! They are attacking the café!"

Ichigo and Lettuce looked at each other.

"And if Aoyama is there?" Ichigo asked, nervous.

"You can do it! Let's go! Mew Mew Lettuce! Metamorphosis…!

Ichigo nodded and followed her.

"Mew Mew Strawberry! Metamorphosis…!"

Both girls in her characteristics dresses ran to the café.

When they arrived, there were three chimeras animal that were attacking the café: one of them was like a huge dog with big thick fangs. It attacked with its claws out of fury. The other chimera animal was a giant dragonfly with round green eyes that flew really fast through the sky. It threw an electric bolt from its mouth. The last one was an enormous snake that bit with its thin sharp venomous fangs.

The other Mew Mews were already transformed and fighting against the beasts while Ryou and Akasaka watched the scene in tension. The three aliens were also helping them to defeat the chimeras animal. Pai and Zakuro were fighting against the dragonfly and both seemed to know what they were doing: Zakuro tied the dragonfly with her whips so it couldn't move fast and Pai took advantage and attacked with his big fan. Then, the dragonfly got loose and threw a bolt directly to Zakuro, who felt flat on her back with a big burn in her arm.

"Are you ok?" Pai asked above her.

Zakuro stood up, grabbing her aching arm

"Yeah, of course," she answered, taking part of the fight again. She won't let anyone think she was weak.

On the other hand, Mint was about to be bitten by the dog, when Lettuce joined the battle and pushed her out of the way. Ichigo attacked in that moment so the dog wouldn't bite both girls.

"Thank you, guys," Mint said, getting ready to summon her arrow.

"You're welcome," Lettuce answered, her castanets already in her hands.

Ichigo nodded and held tightly her Strawberry Bell.

Kisshu, Purin and Taruto were fighting with the big snake that hissed in their direction. Suddenly, the snake trashed of the tail and hit Pudding, launching her against the café's walls. She then felt onto the floor. Immediately, Taruto teleported by her side.

"Pudding!" Ichigo exclaimed. She had seen how the beast launched her friend by the corner of her eye. "Are you ok?" she asked when she arrived where the two children were.

"Purin is ok," she assured her, and looked at Taruto. "Taru-Taru, don't cry!"

"I'M NOT CRYING!" he shouted, furious, while he helped her to stand up.

"Taruto," Ichigo said "take Pudding to a safe place."

For the first time, Taruto nodded and obeyed her. He grabbed Pudding's hand and teleported her. Ichigo felt relieve because Pudding was ok, but that feeling didn't last long.

"Look out, Ichigo!"

Ichigo turned around quickly, but it was like if she was seeing it in slow motion. The chimera animal was rushing towards her with its ugly triangular face and its yellowish eyes looking directly at her. She was stunned like a stray cat illuminated by a car's lights in the middle of the night; her mind shouted her to run, but her body was paralyzed. She couldn't do anything at all, and then Kisshu appeared in front of her at the exact moment the snake was lowering its head to give a lethal bite. Kisshu raised his hands with his dragon daggers, holding them tightly in his fists, and with a sharp movement, he stack them in the snake's eyes, leaving the chimera animal blind and aching.

"Now, Ichigo!" he urged her.

Ichigo shook her head and wake out of her trance. She could move! She frowned and nodded, full of energy.

"Strawberry Bell!" she shouted, summoning her weapon again. "Ribon Strawberry Surprise!

The attack hit the chimera animal fully and, in a matter of time, it disappeared. Ichigo watched how it disappeared, out of breath and with her heart beating fast.

"Well done, Ichigo."

Ichigo turned to looked at Kisshu and saw him winking at her before teleporting to help with another chimera animal. When Ichigo was a little bit better, she came back to the battle with a solely thing on her mind. Kisshu… he has risked his life to save me again.

The dog was the only chimera animal that left, defending itself wildly. But it was not a rival for the six people who attacked it at the same time and soon it was defeated. In that moment, when they thought it was over and they were feeling exhausted, Aoyama appeared of thin air, still in his half alien looks. That made Kisshu and Pai looked at him suspiciously.

"Did you have fun?" He asked sarcastically.

"What do you want?" Zakuro asked, still grabbing her arm.

"Just to keep you distracted," he answered with an evil smile.

"¿Distracted?" Shirogane took some steps ahead.

"This attack was just a trap so my master could move freely without you detecting him," he affirmed. "I've finished my mission."

"Wait, Aoyama!" Ichigo shouted with her eyes ready to cry again. "You truly are in Deep Blue's side?

"I've told you before. You're annoying me. Leave me alone."

"Fine…," Ichigo whispered with a lump on her stomach. "Then…"

Ichigo's mind remembered when she was on her way to the café with Lettuce a few hours ago. You know?, Lettuce had told her. When I feel like that, I remember the people around me, the ones that love me and worry about me. Then, I'm able to overcome everything and understand that I can't be selfish and that there are people that also need me.

Lettuce was right. The future of the Earth was more important than anything. Finaly she understood that. There were people who loved her and worry abouy her, and people who were dependent on her. And Aoyama wasn't part of those people anymore. She was the Tokyo Mew Mew's leader and she couldn't ignore her responsibilities. Even if that meant she had to fight against Aoyama. Heartaching and almost crying, Ichigo summoned her weapon with an unusual seriousness. She grabbed it tightly before saying:

"Then, Aoyama… I'll have to fight against you. For the future of the Earth, I will serve you! Nya!" and she shouted out her attack. "Ribon Strawberry Surprise!

A bolt of pink light rushed towards a stunned Aoyama. Before disappearing to save his life, he looked at Ichigo, suddenly sad. But nobody noticed.

BladeofMoonlight: (Keeps hitting Aoyama out of fury)

Aoyama: OUCH! OUCH!…

Zakuro Pure: (finishes her chocolate) That's seems fun… :D

Miley-nanami: (has already finished her chocolate a while ago) Can we try? (Puppy eyes)

BladeofMoonlight: Sure ^^ (takes two more bats out of her pocket)

Aoyama: ¡NOOOOOOOOOOOO…!

The three girls: (hit Aoyama)

Aoyama: OUCH! OUCH!...

The three girls: (laugh evilly) ¡MUAHAHAHAHAHA…!

Answering reviews:

Ichigo: I better be good at this. That's what I'm studying ^^. And yeah, I think this chappie is important. Ichigo has fought back Aoyama! Hope you liked it!

Starfirewinx: hope you liked this one two! Kisses!

Katlity: I will try to revise the story a bit more, so there will be fewer mistakes :). I'm happy you like it! Hope to see you again!

Tasha Wolfy: —tries not to change to Aoyama-hater mode so she can answer properly— Well, since I pretend to put Aoyama and Mint together (weird, eh?), I can't do that. But who knows… muahahaha!

BladeofMoonlight: hope you liked the little funny dialogue. You are a good actress xDD

DancingPinkCows: Wow, what a funny name! I like it :). —takes chocolate…yummy!— I hope they keep acting right. That's the most difficult thing, I think. Specially Kisshu, he is really difficult to write about :S. Well, Akasaka is his surname and Keiichiro is his name, but since in the Spanish version of the manga they call him by his surname I just did it as well. Does anyone think I should change it?

Well, hope you all will leave a chocolate again :D and all those new people also. So please, REVIEW!

I remind you this fic is being translated from Spanish by me and written by

Miley-nanami y Zakuro Pure (yeah… me again)

(K)Kisses&hugs(L)