New feelings

…

Montana, in the mountains,

They both took a deep breath and looked into the distance. They tried to enjoy the short time they were spending together. After learning about the truth, Zoey felt herself closer to Kisshu than ever. She felt both sorry for him and his people and respected him for all that he had done for his folk. She finally realized what a great person Kisshu was deep inside. Unfortunately, maybe it was too late. Kisshu didn't want her as much as before. But maybe… if she tried…

Kisshu, in fact, felt attracted to her as well, although, he tried to resist the feeling. Her sympathy filled him with warmth. She was kind and attentive, and much more patient than how she used to be. Also, now he knew that she liked him back. If only they could be together, but… His people would be so disappointed in him. He promised Pai and Kisshu not to lose his mind again. He can't be with her… But he wanted to.

- A leader, huh? – Zoey asked.

- I do what I have to do to help my people – he replied. - We never asked to be leaders, but the elders decided it was time for innovation. There was an election and our people had chosen us.

- It must be hard… - she guessed.

- It is. But it is an honor as well. This way I can help my people more than ever – Kisshu stated. – They rely on me.

- I guess you're a good leader.

- I wish I was.

They were looking at the night landscape for a while again, while Zoey changed back to her human form. Kisshu looked at her with a smaller surprise.

- How come you haven't changed back until now? – he wondered.

- I don't have much time to be my cat-self when I'm among others. I like to use the time I'm spending in the nature to be a Mew Mew.

- Seems like I'm the only person you revealed yourself to for a long time – Kisshu smiled. – Is this so, my kitty?

- Actually… yes – Zoey admitted. – Except the criminals in New York, but they had no idea who I was.

- Well… Good luck with providing justice for New York and have fun skiing! I should leave now – Kisshu decided. – My co-leaders must be wondering what is taking me so long…

Zoey grabbed his left arm again like before, and looked up in his golden eyes.

- Just stay a bit longer, please! – she begged.

- Zoey – he shook his head. – I really shouldn't.

- Just… Let us stay here like this for a little bit longer! – she requested, as she looked up at the stars and pulled him closer to her.

- Zoey…? – Kisshu stared at her. He didn't quite understand. He already knew that she liked him, but… Does she like him this much?!

- It has been years… that I could be by someone's side who knew who I really was. With whom I could be myself – she explained.

- I see.

- I don't want to push you, but… - she added, still staring at the night sky, - but don't you like it here too?

- …I do – he finally answered. He stopped looking at her face and looked up at the stars instead. – I like it here way too much – he claimed as he wrapped his left arm around her back. She then released him and took hold of his other arm.

They were sitting under the high ponderosa tree, both looking at the glimmering stars and the shining crescent moon. The moonlight illuminated the snowy peaks of the mountains around. A soft, cool breeze waved their hair. This evening couldn't have been more pleasant or beautiful.

Kisshu, despite his thin clothes, wasn't feeling cold, but he pulled Zoey closer tightening his hold of her. She gratefully snuggled closer to him and laid her head on his shoulders. She tightened her hold of his arm as well. Kisshu liked that. He moved his right hand so that while Zoey was holding his arm, he was holding hers too. They both felt closer to each other than ever before.

"If only this moment could last forever!" – they both wished.

…

After cuddling for long minutes, they both started to feel the need to finally go back to their own people. Zoey started to feel cold despite Kisshu's amazing hug, and he started to be a bit cold too. They both took a deep breath which resulted in a few chills. Zoey then snuggled closer to him and Kisshu kindly stroked her back a few times. Then he forced himself to end the idyll and come back to reality, in which this relationship between him and her would never work.

- We should leave now! – he suggested. – It's late and dark. I'll take you back to your friends, in case you don't mind – he offered.

- It would be great – she answered, but there was some disappointment in her voice. She didn't want to let him go. She didn't want to say goodbye so soon. …Just after she realized that she liked him so much.

- Let's go then! – he said. He stood up and helped her up too. They were still holding each other tightly. – Are you ready?

- I think so – she sighed and smiled at him with gratitude and a bit sorrow.

Kisshu smiled back at her. Then he lifted her up like the previous day, ascended a few inches from the ground and teleported themselves to the porch of the cottage. There he landed on the decking and put her down close to him. It took a few seconds for her to regain her balance. Kisshu only let her go after that.

- Thank you – she said.

- You're welcome, my darling. – He gave her a pale smile.

They were looking at each other's faces, trying to figure out how to say goodbye. Zoey didn't want him to leave and Kisshu would want to stay with her too. But both of them knew that he couldn't stay any longer. Yet, Zoey tried one last time to change his mind.

- Don't you wanna come in? – she asked him. – We can have dinner together.

- I don't think you have thought this out properly – he smiled shaking his head. However, deep inside, he highly appreciated her offer.

- What do you mean?

- I can't hide my ears as you can, little kitty – he explained. – Your friends would realize in seconds that there's something weird about me.

- True, but… What if we tell them that you've come from a cosplay?

- And how would we explain the fact, that I cannot get rid of my "fake ears"?

- So you're not coming in, right? – she sighed disappointedly.

- I'd better leave now! – Kisshu decided. – Will you keep our secret, as you promised me?

- I will – Zoey promised again. – I have no intentions for hurting your people.

- I'm glad to hear that. Take care, kitty! I'm not sure we're ever gonna see each other again! – He said this with hidden pain in his voice.

- But… Won't you come and see me for a few more times before you leave with your people? – she offered.

- I shall not! – he replied as his voice turned to be more coarse. – As a leader of the Cyniclons, I shouldn't spend time with a human girl. I've already wasted too much time, trying to find out whether you mean any danger to us! – He was being harsh to her to make the farewell easier, but it still hurt him, seeing the disappointment on her face.

- If that's what you think of me… - Zoey grumbled angrily, - then you'd better get lost indeed! – She felt truly insulted now.

- I will. Bye, Zoey! – He quickly soared above and disappeared into the air. He thought it was better to make her angry than to make her cry.

- Just do so, you bastard! – she murmured nervously. – Not like I'm gonna miss you at all!

But no matter how hard she tried to convince herself about this, she knew she was going to miss him very bad. "Kisshu" – she thought taking a last look at the stars, - "I still want to see you again!" Kisshu's plan didn't work. She cried a few tears before entering the cottage. She felt so bad about him leaving. She felt so bad for the fate of him and his people. If only she could make a difference…!

…

Montana, Winter Resort,

Zoey decided to go to bed early this day. Her friends kept on asking her about her day and telling her about theirs, but she didn't listen to them much. She had dinner with them, but after that she lied down on her bed in the room she shared with Haley and Sarah. She couldn't sleep though. She only pretended to be sleeping until the two other girls went to bed as well. She was thinking of Kisshu again.

She couldn't push those feelings aside which she felt this evening. When she was close to him, even when he was being rough, she felt so pleasant, so safe. Like, he would save her from everything. She could be herself in his presence as he already knew and accepted who she was. He understood how terrible it was her to hide her cat-part and to lose the boy she thought she could have loved forever. He was so understanding.

Although, he tried to keep his distance, she knew Kisshu still liked her. He couldn't resist cheering her up when she was down, and he saved her the other day. He was so different than six years ago. Ha was still looking very young, he still kept on teasing her with his stupid jokes, but… Something has changed. He became more mature. He was more caring and attentive.

"Becoming a leader brought out the best of him." Zoey thought. Well, except the fact, that being a leader was the very thing that kept him from staying longer with her. It was the reason why he told her that they shall never meet again. But she wanted to meet him again. She wanted to that calmness she haven't felt with any boy since she broke up with Mark.

Mark… She really missed him after their breakup but not for long. The truth was, months before they decided to end their relationship, she started to feel some emptiness too. Mark broke up with her, because he couldn't handle the cat-thing anymore. But this was just one part of it. They drifted away from each other. Their love ran out. Zoey also realized that the time were spending together was becoming more and more boring.

She broke up with Mark too, because she felt their love was fading away. But the fact that Mark used her Mew Mew part as an excuse did hurt her. That's why she felt so uneasy while trying to other guy. She was terrified by the possibility that they might found out about her ears and tail. She knew that they wouldn't accept her. But Kisshu did, and by the way, he had always cared for her.

Kisshu never missed out an opportunity to show her how special she was. It could seem like he was mocking when he called her kitty, but she realized it was only a nickname and a sign of admiration. He probably found her interesting. Her Mew Mew and her human part as well. And even when they were fighting he never managed to hurt her seriously. That was because he liked her too much to harm her.

Sometimes Kisshu even saved her from a Chimera Animal. He was the one who woke her up when all of her friends were trapped in her dream, and the one who saved her from Deep Blue. He did cause her a hard time many days, but… The meanest attacks she got when Kisshu saw him with Mark. He was jealous, that's why he did it. But in the end he decided to give up on her, because she told him that she's in love with Mark. "He loved me so much that he let me go" she sighed.

It's quite ironic, that she was starting to feel the same for him right when he seemed to love her less than before. But she couldn't help thinking of him all night. She wanted to see him again so desperately, as the thought of never seeing him again gave her more fright then the storm the other day. She wanted to tell him, how she was feeling about him. She wanted him to hold her and to kiss her!

"I have to find him!" she sat up, gasping. She was about to leave the room when she looked outside the window. It was still dark outside, so she lied back to her bed. "How would I find him, anyway?" she wondered. "He's in another dimension!" She sadly closed her brown eyes and tried to finally fall asleep. But when she managed to do so, she was only dreaming of Kisshu.

In her dream they were sitting on a trunk, under a high tree, just as the evening before. But in her dream there was daylight and spring. There were flowers everywhere. The sun were shining on them as they cuddled and looked deeply in each other's eyes. She was in her Mew Mew form and they were so happy. They leaned closer to each other and were about to kiss. That was when she realized that she was indeed falling in love with him.

…

Montana, Tectum,

Kisshu appeared next to the dry fountain. He had a little time to think before he reached the cathedral by walking. He wasn't quite sure what he was feeling. He enjoyed the conversation with Zoey way too much. He told her everything and he hugged her under the stars. He was sure that Pai would become very nervous if he learned about it. So he decided to deny the fact that he started to have those kind of feelings for her again.

He wanted to deny the fact, how good he felt in her presence again. But it was different than six years ago. Back than her presence made him excited, even nervous and jealous, but now… Besides getting excited he somehow felt a new kind of peace and calmness. Like he belonged to her, like they were meant to be. When they spoke, for a while he forgot about all of his problems. Even when he was talking about his rough past.

She was so kind and understanding. She understand his past, and the fact that they must be here for a while. She finally realized that he wasn't a bad person. He felt like she finally started to appreciate him. Zoey apologized for not being empathic enough in the past and tried to make up for it. She made him feel right. She made him feel safe. She was so different.

She was holding him so tight. He felt pleasant sitting beside her in the winter moonlight. The fact that she prevented him in leaving so many times made him feel needed. He felt like she needed him and that made him realize that he needed her too. He had never felt so free for six years, than during the time he was being with her.

He knew it would be hard to deny. All the feeling Zoey brought back and all the new ones. The passion she induced in him, that made his heart race faster every time he thought of her. What he did many times since he saved her form being crushed in that cabin. It was obvious. He only liked her much back in the days, but now… Now he was falling in love with her for real.

- Pai would kill me! – he sighed as climbing the stairs of the cathedral. – As now I like her more than before…

- Hey, Kisshu! – Taruto shouted his name, as usually, when he entered the great assembly hall.

- Hey, guys! – he shouted back raising his right hand as a greeting.

Pai and Taruto were standing around the round table in the center of the hall. The elders, the eight wisest and oldest of the Cyniclons were sitting around the table too. Some holographic screens were hovering above the table, and Pai and the elders seemed to be debating over something important. Only Taru was waving back.

The others noticed him when he stepped next to the table. Pai and the elders looked at him, nodded, then turned back to the screens. They were discussing the need to expand the warehouse where they were storing their food. Then they switched to the production of the new quantum engines. Soon they called in a few engineers to take part in the conversation too.

Kisshu tried to add a few things to the discussion, but he didn't speak much. He tried to hide it, but he was thinking of Zoey during the whole time. Luckily, Pai leaded the conversation, so he didn't get caught. He was only being there physically.

In his thoughts he was with Zoey, lying on a meadow filled with the flowers of spring. The sun was shining on their skin as they were looking at each other's faces. Her cat ears and tail looked so cute as she was surrounded by different shades of flowers. He couldn't resist that sparkle in her eyes and reached for her mouth. They were so happy… That was when he realized that he had already fallen in love with her again.

"I do love her, I guess" he thought.

After a while the engineers left. Pai and Taruto than moved a few meters away from the table and gestured for him. He knew they wanted to ask him about the debrief regarding Zoey in private.

- What have you managed to found out? – Pai asked straightly.

- She didn't know anything – Kisshu ensured them. – And she had no intentions to hurt us.

- I knew it! – Taruto smiled and punched the air. – The Mew Mews are not our enemies anymore!

- So you made sure that she didn't know where we lived and what we were doing here, right? – Pai asked him further.

- Yes, I did – Kisshu replied.

- And then you left, as I suggested, right?

- Weeell… Right! – Kisshu tried to deny but it was nearly impossible to lie when Pai was looking at him with his strict face.

- Kisshu! What have you done?! – Pai raised his voice as he realized that Kisshu is hiding something.

- Nothing really… - Kisshu raised his hand in front of him in defense.

- Naa, Kisshu! – Taruto whined. – Why are you always so secretive?

- I have told her a few things, okay! – Kisshu admitted at last. – But I made her promise that she would remain silent!

- What kind of things?! – Pai hissed angrily.

- Why are you being so mad now? – Kisshu asked him back. – Taruto told Kikki everything and you haven't even looked at him with a trace of disapproval!

- That's true – Taruto shrugged. – So why is it a problem, that he told her, Pai? He made her promise not to reveal our secret!

- For the record, I've never liked that you told so much to Kikki! – Pai claimed. – Besides Kikki was the youngest and the less harmful of the Mew Mews. But Zoey was the leader and the strongest one. She always meant a great threat to us, and – he looked at Kisshu with anger, - now she knows about everything!

- I've never mentioned I told her everything – Kisshu highlighted.

- I know you, Kisshu. – Pai shook his head. – She's turned your brain again, hasn't she?

- Nothing of the sort! – Kisshu tried to deny.

- Tell me that at least you made her swear to keep our secret, and that you said goodbye to her forever!

- I did. She swore and I told her that we shall never see each other again.

- You see, Kisshu – Pai sighed, - this last statement of yours was finally sincere.

- What do you mean? – Kisshu asked angrily.

- I know you're falling in love with her again! – Pai claimed. Kisshu stared at him thrilled. He didn't think that Pai would found out so easily. – No matter how hard you try to deny… Did you think that I won't notice how much you drifted during the previous debate?! – Pai yelled. - You didn't even have any idea of what we were talking about!

- So when the engineers told us that the testing engine had exploded –Taruto said as he turned to Kisshu, - and you told them that it was a lucky start, you weren't being sarcastic at all?! Cause it was hard to decide whether you were joking or…

- What?! The first engine exploded?! – Kisshu shouted in surprise. - They must have forgotten to reduce the interference between the walls and the quantum vibrations using a thin layer of crystallized carbon…

- That you could have told the engineers, instead of telling them to cheer up! – Pai said nervously. – But you were too busy dreaming about your little kitty!

- I'm sorry, okay?! – Kisshu yelled back. – It's not my fault! And it's none of your business anyway!

- Is it not?! – Pai frowned.

- I can love whoever I would like to love!

- No, you cannot! You have other responsibilities!

They were staring at each other as furious wild wolves, growling and eyeing.

- Guys, guys! – Taruto stepped between them, trying to keep them apart. – Please don't quarrel!

- I haven't started it! – Kisshu stated.

- Yes you have! You shouldn't have searched for her in the first place! – Pai berated Kisshu.

- Naa, Pai! – Taru turned to him. – I searched for Kikki as well.

- Well, you shouldn't have done that either! – Pai scolded him too.

- So what now? – Kisshu growled. – Are you the one who's giving orders to everyone?! I thought that we were CO-leaders!

- I wasn't giving orders, I only shared my opinion with you! Your behavior – Pai looked at Kisshu with sharp criticism, - is irresponsible and childish!

- And you are a control-freak! – Kisshu attacked back, but deep inside he had to agree with Pai. He gave too much space for his emotions. But it was so hard to deny his feelings.

Pai froze for a moment. Kisshu was sure he was going to punch him in the face, but he didn't. Pai just looked at him with a face without expressions. Deep inside he was disappointed in the others.

- Can we make peace now? – Taruto asked breaking the silence.

- I advise you to forget about her and focus on the issues we need to discuss! – Pai said to Kisshu firmly, then he turned to Taruto, who was about to defend Kisshu's feelings. – Don't say a thing Taruto! – Pai said. – You too need to focus more! Let's go back to the table!

They discussed a few more topics with the elder, then they went back to their house to sleep.

…