Entering the city of the Cyniclons
Montana, Tectum
Pai, Kisshu and Taruto lived in a two storey house next to the cathedral. The elders lived in the house next to theirs. It was only the three of them living together. Pai's sister lived with her lover on the other side of the street and Taruto's parents lived a few houses away. The house of the co-leaders wasn't bigger or fancier than the other houses in the city. They didn't need luxury. They had three bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor, a kitchen and a living room on the first floor. The front door leaded to the first floor as the ground floor was the basement as well.
This night Kisshu couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about Zoey. He wanted to share his feelings with someone to ask for advice, but he wasn't sure whether he should do that. Pai had been so coarse to him when he learnd about his feelings for Zoey. He definitely shouldn't talk to Pai about it. Well, then… he'll ask Taruto. Taru was still just a kid, but… At least he would understand. He was in love with someone too.
Kisshu got up and walked through the corridor towards Taruto's room. The brown haired boy was looking at a picture of his parents. Kisshu knew he did it every night before going to sleep. Even though, he was already 32 (16) years old, Taru missed living with his parents. They lived only a few houses away, but his duties as a co-leader didn't leave him much free time to see them.
After a few moments Kisshu stopped staring and stepped into the room. Taruto hadn't even noticed him until he spoke to him.
- Saying good night to your parents? – Kisshu asked as he walked closer to his friend.
- Don't mock me! – Taruto growled and tried to hide the picture under the blanket. But Kisshu stepped beside him and grabbed his arm.
- I didn't mean to. – The green haired Cyniclon said, and looked down at the picture. Taruto's mum was standing on the right, his dad on the left and Taru on the middle. They were all cuddling and smiling. Kisshu looked at Taruto. - You are lucky that your parents are still alive – he smiled.
- I thought you would think I'm childish, thinking of them so much.
- That's crazy, I would never do that. You should spend time with them as long as you can!
- Like I had the free time for that! – Taruto sighed sarcastically, than looked up at Kisshu. – Have you come to say this?
- No. - Kisshu shook his head, looking down on Taru with a little anxiety.
- Why then? – Taruto asked, but he noticed the worry in his friend's eyes. – Do you want to sit down? – he offered as moving away to give Kisshu space.
Kisshu slowly nodded and sat down next to him. - Thanks… - He said and remained silent for a while.
- Come on Kisshu! – Taruto said as his friend was only staring balnkly at the wall. – It is about Zoey, isn't it?
Hearing her name Kisshu looked up immediately. – Zoey… - he sighed.
- You love her, don't you? – Taruto asked wrapping his arm around Kissu's shoulders.
- …I do – Kisshu admitted. – And I have no idea what to do! – He looked into Taruto's yellow eyes. – I should forget her, right?
- That's what Pai suggested – Taru shrugged, but it sounded like he didn't agree with that statement.
- But I don't want to forget her…
- What happened on the debrief?
- She was so different than six years ago – Kisshu said. – First she answered my questions and then we had a nice conversation. I never thought we can have one! She told me about her life and asked about mine. She was being so kind when I talked about our situation. She understood everything. She even apologized for being unkind to us six years ago…
- Kikki was kind too. – Taruto added. – Seems like the Mew girls have changed indeed.
- Zoey has for sure. Inside the cabin, she actually said that she liked me. And today she wanted me to stay with her.
- Did you?
- Only for a few minutes. I embraced her and she took my hand.
- Did you kiss?
Kisshu took a deep breath. – No. She tried to kiss me last night but I refused.
- Why?!
- Because! I'm a leader now. I shouldn't spend time on humans!
- Than why have you embraced her today?! And why have you come to me to talk about it?! – Taruto asked.
- I don't know – Kisshu sighed confused. – When I was with her, I felt so good and pleasant. But I always remembered that I shouldn't be there. I should have been here with my people. But now I'm thinking of her all the time and I want to be with her!
- You are quite complicated, my friend – Taruto said, but then smiled at him to cheer him up. – But that's the same I felt after I left Kikki.
- And how are you dealing with these feelings?
- I can't deny them. I do love her – Taruto claimed. – I try to focus on my job, and in the meanwhile, I hope to see her again. I miss her, but when I think of her laugh it makes me happy.
- Good for you…
- Oh, Kisshu! Come on! If you love her so much, you should see her again! You're even in a better position as she is just outside this dimension!
- But Pai…
- He doesn't have to know.
- But we're leaving anyway – Kisshu said sadly. - The more time I spend with her, the more it would hurt when I'll have to leave her.
- Won't it hurt more, if you never find out what you two could have? – Taru asked and Kisshu had to admit that he said something very wise. - They say it's better to love and lose that love, than never love at all.
- You are right, Taruto – Kisshu said. – I would probably dwell on what we could have had for eternity. Maybe I'll go and see her in a few days. Thank you! – Kisshu smiled at him and hugged him for a few seconds.
- You're welcome! – Taruto answered warmly. He was proud of himself for being able to give advice to his friend.
They didn't even realize that Pai had been listening most of the time. He had heard them by accident, but decided to keep on listening.
"So, Kisshu's still planning to waste his time on her!" Pai thought. "What a fool!" He decided to end this relationship before Kisshu start to make stupid decisions again. Only he didn't know how to do that, yet. Maybe he should talk to Zoey and tell her to stay away from Kisshu.
…
Montana, Winter Resort, the next morning,
„I do love him!" That was Zoey's first thought after she woke up. It was the sixth day already, but she still didn't feel like skiing, no matter that they were only about to stay for four more days. She only wanted to be with Kisshu, like in her dreams.
- Zoey! Is everything okay? – Sarah asked during breakfast. Only she, Zoey and Haley were at the table. Chris and Andy were still sleeping.
- Is it about that boy from two days ago? – Haley asked. She couldn't know how right she was.
- Yes, it is about him – Zoey answered, as she knew her friends wouldn't stop until she speaks. – And no, I'm not okay.
- What happened? – Sarah wondered.
- I met him yesterday. You know he always liked me back in Tokyo, but I never really paid attention to him – Zoey admitted. – But as we talked, I realized that I like him so much. He was so kind and attentive…
- But what's wrong with this? – Haley asked. – Does he have a girlfriend?
- I don't think so – Zoey shook her head. – But he's really busy and… he said we shouldn't meet again!
- What a jerk! – Haley said.
- But did you felt like he still liked you? – Sarah asked.
- He didn't deny that he did – Zoey replied. – And he hugged me. Do you think that it would be a good idea to look for him?
- If you like him as much you seem to like him… - Sara said. – You must tell him how you feel!
- In case you really like him – Haley added, - maybe you should do so. Perhaps, he'll realize that you worth spending time with!
- Thanks, girls! – Zoey shouted, as she finally made up her mind. She stood up and raised her fist. – I'm going to find Kisshu and tell him how I feel about him!
- Fine but… You're coming to ski with us first, right? – Haley asked.
- No, sorry, I'm not! – Zoey rattled as she ran back to their bedroom and changed her pyjamas to winter clothes.
Actually she put on her black Mew dress, as she wanted to impress Kisshu. But she put on thick, violet tights, socks, a cardigan and her pink winter jacket. She wasn't taking any backpack with her, only her Mew Mew pendant.
- Bye, girls! – she shouted as she rushed to the door. She grabbed her pink gloves, scarf and hat, and left for the mountains.
- She disappears, again! – Sarah sighed. - The boys won't believe me.
- What's up with her lately? – Haley asked. – She seemed so happy and relieved in the first three days, and then she turned to a zombie…
- I think she's only falling in love – Sarah concluded. – And I think she deserves it. She hasn't got a boyfriend since we met two and a half years ago.
- OMG! We're already on the third year of college?! – Haley realized. – Time passes so fast!
- It does – Sarah agreed.
- I hope things turn out well for Zoey and that mysterious Kisshu guy – Haley claimed.
…
Montana, in the mountains,
Zoey was rushing through the woods, the frozen snow was under her boots. First, she didn't know where to look for him, so she was wandering around the forest. Then she remembered. "We first met at the high ponderosa tree. Of course, he didn't revealed himself then, but… Yesterday he said that meeting me for the first time in Montana was an accident. That means… that… he appeared there by accident!" she guessed. "Maybe because that was the place where he left his secret dimension…"
She changed her way and started running towards the high pine tree where they had been having a conversation last day. "If that was the spot where he first appeared after leaving the secret dimension… then there must be a way to enter that dimension from there." Zoey thought. "I'm going to find that way!" she decided. Deciding that, she actually arrived at the spot. The ponderosa tree and the trunk on which they'd sat before were right beside her. There was also a little glade around the ponderosa.
- But what now? – she asked herself. – How do I enter an alternate dimension?
…
Montana, Tectum,
Kisshu, Pai and Taruto were having breakfast. They had a round wooden table inside the living room, close to the kitchen. That's what they called the dining area. Pai was preparing fresh vegetables, Kisshu was frying eggs and Taruto was setting the table. Taruto and Kisshu exchanged a few words, but Pai remained silent most of the time.
The Cyniclons mostly took unprocessed food from the humans. Vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, mushrooms and a few kind of meat, usually seafood. They preferred to take food from farms and harbors, than from shops and supermarkets. They usually cooked and prepared their own food, and didn't use plastic things, as they can become rubbish which pollute the Earth.
Soon, they started eating.
- Hey! These eggs are amazing! – Taruto shouted cheerfully, looking at Kisshu admiringly.
- I'm glad you like it – Kisshu smiled back at him.
- And the veggies are great too! – Taruto looked at Pai, but he only nodded. Taruto shrugged. – Would someone give me the orange juice? – Kisshu gave him the jug in which they were keeping the juice. – Thanks! I really enjoy living with you two! – Taruto exclaimed happily.
- I like it too! – Kisshu agreed.
- Hm – Pai sighed. He was kind of down this morning. His friends tried to ask him about it later on, but he didn't answer.
Ten minutes later, when they were about to leave for the cathedral, someone knocked on the front door. Kisshu and Taruto were washing dishes, so Pai opened the door. There was a middle aged Cyniclon man standing outside, holding a salver in his hands that was covered with a red kitchen cloth.
- What can I help you with? – Pai asked the man. He held out the salver in response.
- These are from your sister, Sir! – The man said. – She was too busy to hand them over by herself.
- What is exactly on this salver? – Pai asked as he took it.
- She wishes you a nice day! – The man answered shortly, then he bowed and rushed his steps down the stairs which led to the front door.
- Wait! – Pai shouted and the man returned. – Tell her I said thank you!
The man nodded and disappeared inside the morning crowd. People were flooding the streets in the morning. They took their children to school – a building the elders taught the younger ones about science, literature and history. Other people went to get some food or water from the supplies. Others went to work. There were healers, engineers, scientist, architects, martial artists, and so on.
Pai stopped staring at the crowd of Cyniclons and went back to the house. He placed the salver on the dining table and took off the red kitchen cloth. He saw that the salver was full of walnut cakes. That was a bit strange. Her sister knew that he didn't like walnut much. He preferred hazelnut. But…
- Hey, guys! – Pai spoke to the others. They looked at him in surprise.
- What happened? – Taruto asked.
- Who was knocking? – Kisshu wondered. Both of them stared at the cookies greedily as they noticed them.
- My sister sent me walnut cakes – Pai said. – Do you want some? – he offered.
That was enough for Kisshu and Taruto. They dropped the dishes and rushed to the table. However they didn't notice the small puddle of water they splashed out during dishwashing. So Kisshu slipped on the water and pushed Taruto by accident. Thus Taruto unfortunately fell on the dining table and accidentally spilled all of the remaining orange juice on the cookies. And if that wasn't enough, pushing Taruto to the table hadn't stopped Kisshu. He fell on the table as well, accidentally pushed the salver and almost all of the cookies which remained dry fell on the ground and crushed.
Kisshu and Taruto, after they managed to stand on their feet again, looked up at Pai remorsefully, waiting for pardon. Pai looked at them surprised, but he didn't seemed to be too shocked by the accident. He knew his friends. They always caused some kind of domestic trouble in their house.
- We're really sorry about it! – Kisshu said feeling ashamed.
- We ruined your sister's gift – Taruto added. – We are so lame!
- We are – Kisshu added. – You always warned us not to splash out the water during dishwashing, and yet we did… Can you forgive us?
- Please, forgive us! – Taruto begged. – We'll clean it up and we'll clean your bedroom too! – he promised, and Kisshu nodded in agreement.
That was the moment when Pai started to laugh. He laughed both on his silly friends and on the mess around the dining table they caused. Kisshu and Taruto, realizing that he wasn't as angry as they had been expecting, joined him in laughing. They had a great moment, airily laughing at themselves, and Pai wasn't acting as cold as before.
- So… you're not mad at us? – Kisshu asked.
- I'm not mad – Pai said. – It was an accident.
- But you were so nervous this morning. I thought you were going to kill us for this! – Taruto said.
- Kill you? These were just cookies – Pai claimed. – And I was nervous as I'm concerned about you – he turned to Kisshu, who looked at him uncomprehendingly.
- About me? – Kisshu asked.
Pai took a deep breath before answering.
- I just don't want you to make any bad decisions. Falling in love with Zoey made you do crazy things the last time.
- Pai…! – Kisshu shook his head angrily, but then calmed himself down. – Actually, what you're saying is true. – Pai frowned. He was counting on more defiance. – But I won't lose my mind this time! – Kisshu stated. – I promise you, Pai!
- We'll see about it! – Pai responded. – And now, you two clean up this mess and my room as well, just as you promised!
- Alright – Kisshu agreed.
- We'll do it – Taruto sighed. Then he saw one last cookie that wasn't soaked in orange juice or crushed on the ground. He picked it up. – Hey, Pai! There's one good cookie left!
- You can have it – Pai offered him.
- It was a gift from your sister – Kisshu said. – You shall have it, Pai!
- Fair enough – Taruto admitted and gave the cookie to Pai. – Meet us at the assembly hall! – he said and started to wipe the table with a kitchen cloth.
- We got this! – Kisshu said as he was sweeping up the broken cookies from the floor. He knew Pai had a rough morning.
- Alright – Pai replied and headed to the door. He ate the small walnut cake while he was walking towards the cathedral. It tasted a bit weird though. "My sister must have tried a new flavor" he guessed.
…
The morning meeting was going well. Kisshu helped the engineers to find a solution for the explosive quantum engine problems. After that they discussed some other topics. But sometime later, the nervousness of Pai came back. He didn't know why he was so angry, but he tried to hide his rage. That made him look uptight.
…
Montana, in the mountains,
Zoey had been thinking of a solution for a while. She transformed into her Mew Mew form and climbed up to the top of the high ponderosa tree. She continued thinking there. Maybe if she used her magical Mew Mew powers, she could enter the Cyniclons' dimension.
"That was how we entered an alternate dimension back in Tokyo" she remembered, "when we saved Masha from Pai and Taruto. And that is how Reneé freed Bridget, Corina and Kikki from the sub dimension Kisshu had sent them once." She stretched her arm and summoned her Magical Bell. "That's what I have to do!" she decided.
She wasn't sure how exactly to use her bell to open a portal to that other dimension, but she didn't hesitate much. She took a deep breath, she held the magic bell in front of her and jumped off the tree. During the fall she held out the bell even more and concentrated. She was focusing on Kisshu and on her power.
She was about half way to the ground when her pink, magical bell started to shine and glitter. Soon the air started to wave around her and she was hit by that weird feeling which she felt during the previous teleportations. But after a second she already got out of the portal, in which she saw nothing but the light of her bell.
The light faded, the bell stopped shining, and she realized that she was still falling, but in a different place. The skies were filled with grayish-white clouds and she was approaching the ground covered with light-colored sand and smaller stones. She reacted just in time, made a flip and landed on her feet like a cat. That was when she let her bell disappear and looked around.
…
Montana, the secret dimension, outside Tectum
Zoey was thrilled, even though she was the one who wanted to come here. She was standing in a valley, among mountains of the same shape like the mountains back in Montana.
The landscape was the same, but the climate was completely different. The air was warm like the summer in Greek. The ground was covered with sand, pebbles and smaller stones instead of snow. There were no trees in the nearby, and only lean vegetation, like a few scattered patches of grass. The mountains were covered by small bushes and a few small trees. This land was like a Mediterranean island in the summer. Only the skies were covered with white clouds instead of being blue and shiny.
She also discovered the walls of a city a few hundred meters away. Those walls were made of some kind of white stone, and all the columns and buildings she saw inside were made of the same white stone as well. The Cyniclons' city actually looked similar to the ancient Greek or Roman cities, but it was a bit different. Somehow it also looked modern and highly developed.
Zoey was sure that Kisshu would be inside that strange city, so she headed that way. She ran to the city and jumped on the top of the wall. It was about 4 meters high. Given her cat-abilities she could have jumped it even in her human form.
She looked around the city. There were wide streets and basically cube shaped houses all around. But as she looked in the distance, she discovered the shape of a big cathedral with large columns and a great white dome on top of it. She guessed that the cathedral must be the center of the city, and as Kisshu was a leader, he must be there too.
She jumped off the wall and landed inside the city. The streets were full of people, and they were wearing the same kind of clothing Kisshu, Pai and Taruto was always wearing. Although, the citizens were wearing paler colors: white, grey and sand-color, and their clothing weren't as revealing as the clothes of Kisshu and Taruto. She realized that only the younger ones wore shorter clothing.
She knew that in her winter clothing she would look even more suspicious, so she took off her jacket, her cardigan and her tights too. There were no people beside the walls, so she did that without being noticed. It was way too hot for those clothes, anyway. She left them beside the wall, and she left for the cathedral wearing her black, catwoman dress and her brown boots. But she didn't dare to change back to her human form. She didn't know why, but she felt safer as a Mew Mew.
She tried to fit in with the crowd walking through the streets of this alien city. But this city was bigger and more complex than how she expected.
…