"We're here Haruharu!" Misha yelled.
She heard Ahsim sigh and turned to look at him.
"What?" she asked.
Ahsim shook his head, not bothering to answer.
"You're late," Ariha announced, spinning in the chair to look at them.
"Don't do that!" the twins yelled, trying to hide how much she'd surprised them.
Ariha grinned, slightly evilly.
"What's the matter? Did I scare you?" she inquired, a hint of teasing in her voice.
"Where's Haru?" Ahsim growled, dodging the question.
Ariha shrugged, spinning in her chair again.
"He wasn't here when I got here. But he left a note telling us to sit in these chairs," she said, gesturing to the other chairs.
Ahsim and Misha sat. Ahsim crossed his arms, slouching a bit. Misha, meanwhile, pulled out a DS and started playing. Ariha watched them, resting her chin on her fist while her elbow dug into her knee. She studied Ahsim. He glanced at her.
"What?" he asked.
Ariha shifted in her chair, crossing her legs.
"Nothing. I just don't recall the original mew mews ever having a boy. In fact, none of them ever appeared to be as ill tempered and…depressing as you," she said.
Ahsim flushed.
"What did you just say!" he asked.
Ariha just smiled. Before Ahsim could say another word, the lab door flew open and a mountain of a man strolled in, with a beard and glasses.
"Ariha!" he exclaimed.
Ariha glanced at him.
"Yes, Mr. Okami?" she asked.
"I expected you back 15 minutes ago!"
Ariha held in a sigh.
"My apologies, Mr. Okami. I was merely falling your orders to deliver these files to Dr. Hasegawa. I assumed you wished for them to be hand delivered. But as you can see, the doctor's not in right now."
Mr. Okami sighed.
"Do as you wish. You're done for the day afterwards."
His gaze went to the twins.
"And who are you?" he asked.
"They were here when I walked in," Ariha interjected. "I suppose they're his sister's kids."
Satisfied with that explanation, Mr. Okami walked out. Ariha watched him go, eyes narrowed.
"Hey Ahsim?" Misha asked in a whisper, leaning over to her twin.
Ahsim glanced at her.
"Huh?" he asked.
"Is it just me or did her attitude change when he came in?" she asked.
Ahsim shrugged.
"Either way she's still a bitch," he declared.
Misha looked over at Ariha.
"I'm not so sure about that," she said.
It was then Taykoe and Hachi came running in. Ana was perched on Hachi's back.
"Uh….how does one respond to this?" Misha asked as Hachi collapsed.
Ana got off her and brushed her jacket.
"Pack mule," she offered as an explanation.
"So, where is Haru and Kei?" Taykoe asked.
"He left instructions for us to sit in these chairs," Ahsim answered.
"Simple enough. Try not to screw this up, Hachi," Ana instructed, flopping into one of the chairs.
Hachi crawled into one and Taykoe cautiously sat down as well. The chairs started to vibrate and then a sort of metal seatbelt shot from the back of the chair, surrounding each mew.
"What the hell?" Ana growled.
The floor slid open and the chairs fell down into the darkness.
"OH MY GOD! WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" Hachi cried.
Tears were gathered in her eyes.
"Are you crying?" Ana asked.
"NO!"
Misha had been laughing maniacally through the entire ride.
"THIS IS SO COOL!" she yelled.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER!" Ahsim yelled.
Ariha opened her left eye a bit, flinching at the wind that hit her eye.
"ISN'T THIS FUUUUUUUUUUUN!" Misha yelled as they fell deeper into the dark tunnel.
"No, it's ridiculous!" Ariha growled.
She began to glow white, morphing into her mew form. Ariha broke free of the 'seatbelt' and leapt out, now free falling.
"This is a really long fall," Misha remarked.
Ariha ignored her, bringing forth a staff. She fell past the others and stabbed the staff into the walls.
"Transform now!" she ordered.
The lights filled the dark tunnel, a mix of blue, purple, silver, and gray. The others broke free of the restraints, leaving the chairs as a bad memory. They caught hold of the staff that was strung across the center, each hanging from it.
"Well, at least we're not falling into the unknown now," Hachi remarked.
The others glared at her.
"Congrats," came Haru's voice.
It echoed in the darkness.
"Where are you Haru! I have plans to rip both you and Kei a new one!" Ariha yelled.
"We look forward to it," Kei said.
"Threats aside, congrats mews."
"On what?" Taykoe inquired.
"You passed."
They all felt a floor beneath their feet and lights came on, revealing an all white lab. Haru and Kei were waiting for them.
"Afternoon ladies," Haru greeted.
Ahsim cleared his throat.
"And Ahsim," Haru added hastily.
He gestured to a table.
"Oh cool! Beanie bags!" Misha cried, diving for the red one.
She looked back at the others.
"Has anyone seen my DS?"
Everyone shook their heads. Panicked, Misha began searching her body, oblivious to the outfit change. Everyone studied her, observing her gray skirt and matching her gray top which only covered her breasts and the gray boots she wore. A tattoo similar to the other mews was on her right hip. This brought attention to Ahsim. He wore shorts and a top that were gray and his boots were almost a dead ringer for Misha minus the heel. His tattoo was on his left hip.
"What?" he asked.
Everyones' gaze trailed away from him.
"DS!" Misha stressed.
Kei glanced upwards, catching something in his hand.
"This it?" he asked, offering it to her.
Misha snatched it away.
"Don't think I haven't forgotten how you knocked me out but thank you."
With that said, she dived back onto the bean bag. The other mews also took a seat.
"If the floor disappears, I'll kill you," Ana threatened as she sat.
Haru rolled his eyes.
"Kei, sit," he ordered.
Kei flopped onto the beanie bag next to Hachi.
"Alright, let me explain," Haru said. "Yesterday, I had Kei observe how you each acted. With the exception of Ariha, none of you are able to work on a team."
"Objection!" Misha exclaimed.
"Overruled!" Haru said.
"Reapproached!" Misha challenged.
"Denied!" Haru finalized.
Misha surrendered, sitting back.
"Wait, why is Ariha an exception?" Taykoe inquired.
Haru looked sheepish.
"Well, Kei couldn't find her. Even with the tracker I put on each of you," he admitted.
"Pardon!" Taykoe cried.
"The tracker is gone. Your mew powers fried it," Haru said.
"You can't expect us to work as a team when we barely know each other," Ariha remarked.
She stretched a bit.
"Really, what do any of us know about each other? If you had wanted this project to be a success, your best move would have been to gather a group of people who were close to each other," Ariha observed.
"Hmmm," Haru mumbled, looking at them.
He smiled.
"I've sent texts to your cells with an address. Bring some clothes and whatever else and report there no later than six."
With that, the ceiling above Haru's head slid open and he vanished through it.
"Oh man! I wanted to leave that way!" Misha whined.
Kei held up a remote and pushed a button. The ceiling above each mew slid open and they all were sucked through.
"Kei! You're so in for it!" Ana screamed.
Kei smiled.
"Sweet silence," he chuckled.
