Mamaya was running late. She had hurried to her locker after school, only to find out that she had left her textbook in her classroom. She hurried back to go and grab it so that she return it to her locker, only to bump into her friends standing in the doorway, talking to each other and laughing. When they spotted her, they waved her over. "Mamaya! We were wondering where you went. You rushed out so quick we thought you were leaving."

Mamaya stopped in front of them and shook her head. "I left my textbook, I came back to get it. What are you guys hanging around for?" she asked.

The two girls flipped their long, brown hair over their shoulders and smiled. "We were going to go to the mall after school. Wanna come? Aika's mom gave her some money so we were gonna get some makeup and stuff."

The girl, Aika, was beaming proudly. "She's been showing me how to do makeup and I think I'm getting pretty good at it."

Mamaya fidgeted nervously. Makeup? She'd never even thought of it before. Even Amaya hardly ever wore makeup, and in the rare moments that she did, it was always just a conservative amount of mascara and a cheap lip gloss. She surely couldn't help Mamaya learn how to do makeup. And she surely couldn't afford it.

She scratched her head and smiled meekly. "Thanks, but I've used up all my allowance money for the week. I kinda spent it all on food," she said. It was a lie, but they were becoming easier for her to make up as she went along. She wondered if that was a good thing. "I'll definitely come next time though!"

Aika nodded her head. "I'll show you all the things we get tomorrow!"

Mamaya nodded. She waved them off as she grabbed her textbook and began retreating to her locker. As she went she breathed a deep sigh of relief. What was she going to do? Maybe she would ask Amaya when she got home. She was beginning to feel the pressure of growing up as a teenage girl. Makeup, boys, clothes, money...she wasn't ready for any of that!

When she saw the shelter coming up as she ran to make her way home, she slowed. She wondered if Amaya was already back. Had Ms Rosbe told her anything about this morning's events? Part of her was nervous. She wondered how Amaya felt. She wished she could have been there and scolded herself for running late. Better get in there before things get bad, she thought to herself.

She stepped up to the front door and pushed it open. There was no screaming, no crying, no noises at all that indicated an argument going on. Mamaya wondered if it was already over. She stepped in and shut the door gently behind her. The lights were out in the front hall, but they were on in the kitchen and in their room at the end of the hall. Kids' voices rang through the room from the backyard play area, but Mamaya could not hear Ms Rosbe's voices laughing with them.

It was too quiet. It made the halls feel smaller and the atmosphere feel unfamiliar. She tiptoed through the hall and peered into the first doorway on the left. The light from kitchen shone through the hall. As she peeked in, she saw Ms Rosbe sitting at the table, hands covering her face, not saying anything. She didn't even seem to be breathing, though Mamaya knew she was probably just doing it inconspicuously. Her shoulders were slumped over, like she was exhausted.

Mamaya continued walking down the hallway toward the door at the end of it. The light shone from underneath the crack of the door, but Mamaya saw no shadows moving signifying that Amaya was walking around the room on the other side. If she was in there, she must have been lying down somewhere or in the bathroom. She continued toward the door until she was standing in front of it. Then she twisted the knob and pushed it open.

Amaya was sitting on the floor next to her bed, her head buried in the covers. Her arms were crossed underneath her face, her hair hiding her expression. She looked the same way Ms Rosbe had: exhausted and worn out. Mamaya shut the door. Aja lifted her head from the bed beside Amaya and perked her ears up and down, as if waiting.

She walked to the bed and sat down across from Amaya's head. "What happened?" she asked.

Amaya sighed. "I have until tomorrow morning to get my stuff out and leave."

Mamaya's eyes went wide. For a moment, she sat there in silence. Had she heard her right? "Wait, what?! She kicked you out!?"

Amaya nodded her head slowly up and down. "She said there was nothing she could do to stop me from being a Mew Mew. But she also said that I was too dangerous to keep around the kids. I brought to much trouble to this place. She said I was too much of a responsibility. If another accident like the last one occurred, they wouldn't have the money to pay for the damages. So she told me to pack my things and leave. She said she was sorry and she wished there was something else she could do, but this was the only way. She said that when things settle down, I'm welcome to come back for visits, but until then she doesn't want to see me around here."

Mamaya was shocked silent. She knew that getting kicked out would have been a possibility if they were in the care of someone else, but she never would have thought that Ms Rosbe would be the one to do it. Part of Mamaya was outraged. How could Ms Rosbe turn her back on them like this all of sudden?

"What about school?" Mamaya asked.

Amaya shrugged.

"You can't afford it on your own. Will you drop out?" she asked.

Amaya shrugged once more.

Mamaya's temper was running out of control. She got to her feet and began storming toward the door. "This isn't right! I'm going out there to talk to her myself! She can't do this to you! She's not allowed. She can't just kick a bunch of kids out on the street like this when she-"

"Mamaya," Amaya protested behind her.

The girl stopped and looked over her shoulder. Amaya had lifted her face from her bed. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were puffy. Her hair was a tangled mess and she had dark circles under her eyes. Mamaya felt so helpless then. She wished there was something she could do to ease her sister's pain. She hated seeing her like this.

"There's nothing I can do, and there's nothing you can do. She was kind enough to take me in but if she feels I'm endangering the other kids here, she has every right to kick me out. It's okay," she explained. She wiped her tears from her eyes and sent her sister a weak smile. "I guess I'll have to work more at the cafe to be able to afford it, but maybe I can still afford school. I don't know...I'm going to at least try."

Mamaya frowned. "But, Amaya..."

She shook her head and smiled again. "I'll be okay, Mamaya. She said I can come back to visit, so I'll see you again as soon as I can."

Mamaya gaped at her incredulously. "Excuse me?! No! I'm coming with you!"

Amaya opened her mouth to protest, but Mamaya interrupted too quickly for her to get a word in edgewise. "I don't know what makes you think you'd be going anywhere without me, but you're wrong. I'm coming with you, and it's not just for you. It's for me, too. I can't be here alone. I need you, Amaya! I've survived this whole time with you here, with me. I can't be alone, and I'm not letting you be alone either!"

Amaya softened and sighed. "You can't come back if you leave. Are you really sure?'

Mamaya nodded without even a moment's pause. "Of course! What do I have to miss here? Nothing! You're all I have Amaya!"

Amaya shrugged and jerked her thumb toward the closet they shared. "Better start packing then."

Mamaya nodded and ran to the closet to begin collecting her things. Amaya helped, making sure they left nothing important behind. They gathered their clothes, toothbrushes, shampoo, and other belongings and organized them into their backpacks. Mamaya rummaged through her drawers to make sure she left nothing behind. Amaya picked up her gold bracelet from the nightstand table and fastened it around her wrist. She pulled a sweater over her head and zipped up her backpack. "Ready?"

Mamaya nodded. "Are you sure you want to go tonight? She said we have till morning, right?"

Amaya shook her head. "I'd rather do it now, so the other kids don't see. Besides, I think she was just being nice giving us till morning. She probably doesn't want me here any longer than I have been." She turned to Aja and smiled down at the sleepy fox cub. "Ready to go, Aja?"

The fox barked and ran toward her, hopping onto her shoulder and perching herself there.

"Where will we go?" Mamaya asked.

Amaya opened their bedroom door and took one last look behind her. This had been her home for six years now. It seemed strange to be leaving it behind, but she supposed it was something she was used to. Maybe she was destined to never have a home; to never belong in one place. "The only place in Tokyo that we know," Amaya said, shutting the light off. "Cafe Mew Mew."

When Ryou opened the door, he was shell shocked to say the least. He frowned down at the two sisters and immediately asked them what brought them to the cafe so late at night. Amaya bowed her head down so low, he thought she might fall over. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't have come here if we had anywhere else to go...but can we stay the night? Just until we find something more permanent."

Ryou immediately let them in and locked the door behind them. He was not hesitant to begin making them feel at home. He offered to take their backpacks and sweaters and even offered them a seat. "I'm so sorry, Amaya. This is my fault. If I hadn't come to talk to her, she never would have done this to you. Of course you can stay here, for as long as you want. I live here, so of course you're welcome to as well. Akasaka will make you some tea."

A couple of minutes later, they sat around a cafe table, their drinks in front of them. Amaya watched the steam slither into the air and disappear. She thanked Akasaka for it and took a sip, thankful for the welcoming atmosphere. Aja slept on the ground at her feet. Mamaya sipped at her drink in the seat beside her. Ryou sat across from her, Akasaka at her other side.

"Are you hungry?" Akasaka offered. "We have some cakes and other desserts left over in the back if you'd like. I was going to throw them out, but it'd be a shame to waste them."

Mamaya perked up excitedly. "Heck yea!" she chirped. "This place is great, Amaya!"

Amaya shook her head and grinned. Akasaka stood and made way for the kitchen, Mamaya following excitedly behind him like an eager puppy. She was glad that her sister was taking it so well, but what was she going to do in the long run? They couldn't live in the cafe forever. Even a cheap apartment was out of the question for her. Who would want to be the landlord for a fifteen and thirteen year old girl?

"You know, I know that you're worried about the Chimera Anima finding you, but you should consider claiming your parents' inheritance," Ryou suggested.

Amaya's head shot up to look at him, eyes wide. "I can do that?"

He blinked and nodded. "Of course. They left it in your name, no doubt. As long as it's legally yours, you have every right to claim it." He paused, looking down at his tea. "But, you'll gain a lot of publicity because of it. Once the public finds out you're alive, I mean. Plus, you'll most likely have to deal with a lot legal issues first. But if it means being able to provide for yourself and Mamaya, the option is always there."

Amaya stood, her palms clapped the table in excitement. "Are you kidding?! That money could buy me a place to live...food to eat, water to drink. It could keep me and Mamaya in school. That inheritance is the only thing keeping me off the streets. It's either I claim it or we die."

Ryou looked up at her with worried eyes. "Yes..." he said quietly. "But, also, if the media gains enough interest in you, it's extremely likely they'll find out you're a Mew Mew. They'll also find out everything about the Project and everything about Tokyo Mew Mew in general. It's a lot of pressure...But if it's what you really want, we can work to figure something out that will maybe help you keep your secret identities."

Amaya sat back down in her seat and thought. It was a high risk move, claiming her inheritance. But what else could she do? That was a lot of money, money that could get her and sister as far in life as they needed. She thought about the money she used to have, the things she used to have and the house she used to have. Life for her had been so different back then. Of course she wanted it back. Didn't she? "I'll talk to Mamaya about it," she decided.

Ryou nodded. Then he stood. "In the meantime, I'll get you two some rooms set up," he said.

She watched as he stood and made way for the back where the stairs were. When he was gone, she sighed. What was she going to do? It all seemed so complicated.

Aja barked from the floor at her feet, making Amaya look down at the fox cub. She was staring up at Amaya with big brown eyes, tail wagging against the floor. Amaya smiled down at her and leaned over to pick her up and set her down into her lap. Aja sat perkily up on her legs and barked. 'Are we going to be okay?' she asked. 'Did Aja get you in trouble?'

Amaya shook her head and scratched the fox gently behind her ears. "No Aja, it wasn't your fault. She was mad at me for hiding you but that wasn't why she kicked me out. There were lots of reasons behind that," she explained. "As for us, I really don't know. But I'm going to try to make sure that you and Mamaya are okay. Okay?"

She barked in response.

Mamaya returned shortly after with a face full of angel food cake and a plate of pecan pie. She held it out toward Amaya to offer her a bite, but Amaya shook her head. The younger girl shrugged and immediately began shoving pieces of it into her already full mouth. "This is delicious!" she mumbled around her food.

Amaya grinned. "You really shouldn't be eating all that sugar before bed, Maya. You're going to be bouncing off that walls all night."

Mamaya shrugged. She took a seat next to her sister at the table and continued digging into her pecan pie. "I can't help it," she said between bites. "Akasaka's baking is delicious! I can't remember the last time I was able to eat like this. It totally beats the food from the shelter!"

Amaya had nothing to say about that. She simply ran her fingers through Aja's fur absentmindedly, thinking. She wondered if Mamaya missed their old life as much as she did. After all, Mamaya had been young when they left that world behind. Had she been missing the life of luxury too, or did she not mind having to live the frugal life? She'd never even thought of asking her.

She turned to the younger girl and watched as she continued eating greedily. "Mamaya?" she asked.

The girl looked up and swallowed the food in her mouth. She frowned at the strange expression Amaya was giving her. "Y-yes?" she asked nervously.

"Do you like the life you live? We don't have many things and we certainly don't have a lot of money...but do you like it like this? If you had the option to go back to the life we had, would you want it back? Or would you want to keep it this way?" she asked her.

Mamaya fidgeted nervously, unaccustomed to the serious tone of her sister's voice. She looked around as if avoiding eye contact as she thought, shaking her leg nervously against the chair. Then she shrugged and picked up her fork once again. "I think that we're fine without all that money... I think that we're different now. I don't know...I don't think I want to be one of those spoiled girls who can get anything she wants just because of the money she has. And we had a lot of money back then. More than what we needed. We can be fine with what we have..." she mumbled.

Amaya continued persistently. "Are you sure?"

Mamaya nodded. Hesitantly, she put her fork down again. "I could get a part time job. I could work here. I know I'm not a Mew Mew, but I wouldn't tell anyone. I don't know for sure if I would have enough to pay for school, but I could at least be able to provide the little things for myself so that you don't have to. We could save up to get our own place, and then maybe I could save up for college. I don't know..."

Amaya smiled at the thought. She leaned her elbows on the table in front of her and laced her fingers together. "Ryou says we should claim our inheritance."

Mamaya looked up at her. "But-"

"Here's my idea," Amaya began. "Listen closely."

Mamaya nodded as her sister began explaining the details of her plan.

Later that night, Ichigo was getting ready for bed. She was still worried about Amaya. They hadn't seen the girl since the Mew Mews had had their meeting. Normally she worked on Friday nights, but for some reason, she hadn't shown up. Shirogane had told them not to worry, she was dealing with some things at home and it was likely she wouldn't be coming in for a day or two. He'd requested that everyone else show up for their scheduled shifts to avoid business falling behind. Ichigo had agreed, but she was reluctant. That meant she couldn't see Aoyama after school.

She'd spoken to her long time boyfriend about her worries - keeping out the Mew Mew details, of course - seeking solace in his advice. Aoyama had always had wise things to say when it came to her troubles with her friends. Yet his advice had yet to make her feel any better. He'd simply smiled and told her to be patient. "Sometimes when people are so used to being locked up in their own minds, it takes a long time for them to be able to finally open up. Just keep being kind to her. I'm sure that she'll eventually open up to you."

She wished it was that easy. Ichigo was never exactly the patient type when it came to these things. How could she be patient and sit on the sidelines while her friend was hurting?

She continued wondering about it, lost in her thoughts as she stared at the bathroom mirror distantly. She'd been watching herself brush her teeth, but she had turned herself onto autopilot in a matter of seconds. Her body went through the motions as her train of thought continued. She wondered if Amaya spoke to her sister about the things that bothered her? They seemed to be very close, but it didn't look like Mamaya had known about Amaya being a Mew Mew at all. Perhaps she was even hiding things from her sister then.

Though, Ichigo could understand. She would never dare tell her parents about her being a Mew Mew. She wondered if it would be different if she had a sibling. She was sure that Lettuce, Mint and Pudding never told their siblings, though. Maybe it was a Mew Mew thing.

"Ichigo? Are you still awake?" her mother's voice called from the other side of the door. "It's past midnight, Ichigo! Go to bed!"

Ichigo spit her remaining toothpaste into the sink and wiped her mouth with a towel. "Okay!" she called back. She sighed and took one last look in the mirror. Perhaps she would stop by the cafe to talk to Shirogane about it in the morning. She would have to wake up early to make it on time before school, so her mother was right: she had better to get to bed.

She shut the light off in her bathroom and walked to her room. She shut the door, climbed into her bed and shut the lamp off. Then she pulled up the covers around her arms and sighed. "Goodnight Masha," she murmured.

Masha chanted across the room where he lay on her desk. "Goodnight Ichigo, goodnight Ichigo!"

She turned over on her side and pulled the blankets up around her neck, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was wide awake, her thoughts were keeping her too worried to sleep.

Amaya lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling and thinking. She couldn't sleep - her thoughts were rampant with all the things she was worried about. How was she going to provide for herself and her sister? How long could she stay at the cafe until Ryou wanted her to leave? He had told her that them staying there was not a problem, but she didn't want to put him out anymore than she had already. Besides, what would the others think when they found out? She would have to tell them everything.

She had come a long way in the past ten years. She'd started out having everything handed to her at her whim; now it was time for her to learn how to earn things herself. It felt like the weight of the world was suddenly on her shoulders. In more ways than one, it really was.

She sighed and looked to the wall on the other side of the room. It was a small room, the same size as the one Ryou stayed in. It had a bed and a dresser, a mirror in the corner and that was about it. It was bigger than the room she and Mamaya shared at the shelter, and much emptier. It was hard to think that there were other people in the building at all when the room felt so lonely. For so many years, she'd shared a room with her sister. Having a place to herself seemed strange now.

She wondered if Mamaya felt the same way.

She sat up and pushed the covers down, climbing out of bed. She wore a pair of orange cotton pajama pants and a yellow tank top. It was the only form of pajamas she owned since she lived in the shelter. Quietly, she tiptoed to the door and opened it to peek outside. The hallway was dark and silent; everyone was asleep. She padded across the hall and to the door on the other side. Then she opened it and walked in, shutting it behind her.

Mamaya was turned so her back was facing the door, but Amaya knew she was awake. She climbed into the bed beside her sister and sighed. "I can't sleep. I don't know why, but it feels strange not being at the shelter anymore. Almost like I'm more vulnerable or something."

Mamaya turned over to lie on her back. "I know. Living in the shelter was like living in a different world. Now that we're out in the open, it feels strange."

Amaya propped her elbow against the bed and leaned her cheek against her fist. "Do you think we're going to be okay? You know, without Ms Rosbe?" she asked. "There were so many things she did for us that I guess we took advantage of. I never even noticed how many things she did that we weren't aware of."

Mamaya shrugged. "I think we're gonna be okay. Besides, it's not like Ms Rosbe hates you. I'm sure that she would be willing to give you advice on something you need. She's a grown up and we're not...Grown ups are supposed to help kids with this stuff."

Amaya shrugged in response. The thought of going back at all made her feel uneasy. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that she was no longer welcome there. She'd caused way too much damage to ever be able to make up for it. Did she even deserve Ms Rosbe's help at this point?

"Worrying isn't going to help, you know," Mamaya murmured. "Let's just try to get some sleep. We've got school in the morning."

Amaya nodded absentmindedly. She wondered if Ms Rosbe had already cut off her school funds. If so, they were going to find out when she went to school the next day and got called down to the principal's office. Maybe she should stay home...Or maybe she should ask the principal in the morning if there were any problems with her school fees. She wasn't sure how any of it even worked. How would she cover it when Ms Rosbe did stop paying for her things?

She leaned back onto the mattress and sighed. Mamaya's breathing already signified that she was beginning to fall asleep, but Amaya could not rest her mind. She lay on her back and stared up at the ceiling, consumed by her thoughts.

It wasn't long after Amaya dozed off that she blinked herself awake once again. Her lashes fluttered open, and for a brief moment she wondered where she was. Then she remembered: she was at the cafe. Mamaya groaned sleepily beside her, hugging the sheets between her arms as she slept. The sun was beginning to creep through the curtains. She wondered what time it was.

Amaya rarely woke early, but she knew she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep now. She carefully climbed out of bed and began to cross the room toward the door. She shut it gently behind her as she left the room and padded across the hall back to her own room. She shut the door behind her, making Aja perk up at the end of her bed. The fox cub stretched like a feline and shook her head as if to shake off her sleep. 'You woke up early!' she said.

Amaya looked at the clock on the headboard of the bed. It was six thirty. School didn't start until eight thirty. "Yeah," she muttered, "I guess I did. I can't get much sleep in places I'm not very familiar with. I'll get used to it, I guess."

The rooms Ryou had given them were equipped with their own bathrooms. Amaya was thankful for that. She would have never been able to share a bathroom with Ryou, constantly worrying if he was going to walk in in the middle of her shower. When she walked into the tiny room, she noticed it had already been filled with towels. Two towels hung from a silver rack above the toilet while another four were folded in a shelf above the rack. Everything looked very neat and tidy. She wondered if it was Ryou who cleaned these rooms or Akasaka. She couldn't imagine Ryou to be the one to do it.

She turned on the water and unpacked her shampoo from her backpack. She set up her uniform on her bed and took off her old clothes, leaving them in a pile next to the bed. Then she stepped into the shower.

She had many things to settle with Ryou before she could relax in her new environment. Plus, as he said, she probably had some legal things to worry about. She was a minor living among other minors. If someone found out, they could all get in trouble. No doubt, Ryou had probably discovered a loophole to most of their legal struggles. She would have to ask him how he did it.

It was an excuse, but she couldn't help it: maybe she should take the day off from school to figure things out.

She rinsed the shampoo from her hair and shut the water off. After ringing out the water from her hair, she stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself. She rubbed herself dry and toweled her hair, then she went to the mirror and began brushing her teeth.

When she was done, she hung her towel over the rack and left the bathroom. Then she dressed herself and brushed her hair. She left her blazer hung against the mirror in the corner of the room and rolled up the sleeves of her blouse. It was a warm day, and if she decided to stay from school, she wouldn't want to get her blazer dirty. She pulled on her socks and stepped into shoes, then looked out the window.

At the shelter, Amaya needed only open the window for Aja to hop out and find herself a snack. Here, Amaya was on the second floor and Aja couldn't just jump out. She would have to walk her downstairs and to the back exit for her to go hunting for food. Since the place was a cafe, she couldn't let Aja rush back in with animal blood all over her face, so she would have to ask Ryou where he kept the hose in the backyard.

Aja barked. 'I'm hungry!'

Amaya sighed. "Give me a second, okay? I'm trying to figure it out. Let's go look for Ryou," she said. She stood from the bed and walked toward the door. When she opened it, Aja hopped off the bed and followed her. They made their way down the stairs and toward the kitchen. Before stepping in, Amaya turned to Aja. "You can't come in here, okay? No matter what,you can never come in here. If customers find your fur in the food, we'll be in lots of trouble. Only come in if Akasaka says it's okay."

The fox barked. 'Okay!'

When she turned back to the kitchen, she noticed Akasaka was already there. She blushed. She hadn't known that he'd been standing there. He was washing dishes and presumably getting things ready for the store to open. He smiled at her cheerfully. "Good morning, Amaya. I was just about to get started with breakfast. Do you like pancakes?" he asked.

Her stomach gurgled in response. Her face went red. "Oh, um yes," she stammered. "Um, actually, I wanted to ask you where you guys keep the hose in the backyard. Aja can be messy when she goes out for food, so she usually needs to be given a bath after..."

Akasaka nodded. "I'll show you," he said. He gestured for her to follow him as he stepped out of the kitchen and circled to the hallway behind it. Amaya and Aja followed timidly behind until they came to the back door. He opened it and stepped out. Amaya followed.

They were standing at the top of a small staircase that surrounded the building's walls. It went down toward the side of the building. At the end of the staircase was a hose wrapped around a wooden pole on the wall. Beside it was the knob to twist it on and off. "It's fairly long, so you can wrap it and unwrap it to your liking. Just be sure to shut the water off when you're done, or Ryou will be furious at the hydro bill."

Amaya nodded. "Thank you!" she said gratefully. She looked down at the fox standing near her feet. "Okay, Aja. You know the drill. Don't let anyone see you and don't go too far."

The fox barked and immediately darted away into the trees.

"I'll go finish preparing breakfast. Let me know if you need help with anything else," Akasaka said politely. Amaya nodded and watched as he returned down the hall and toward the kitchen.

She sat down at the top of the concrete steps and waited. There was nothing else she could do until Aja returned. Sometimes she took a couple of minutes, sometimes she took an hour. She hoped she wouldn't take too long, but she couldn't rush her either. If Aja couldn't find food, it would obviously take longer for her to hunt it down. Perhaps it was a good thing Amaya woke so early.

Her hair was still damp, but that was okay. Even at the shelter, Amaya didn't have the luxury of a hairdryer. She'd gotten used to letting it dry naturally by now. The breeze ran through her bangs, the only part of her hair that was fully dry by now. It sent the smell of her fruity shampoo across the air.

They would have to re-establish a routine. Perhaps she and Mamaya could take turns taking Aja out for her food in the morning. Normally, Amaya slept in and Mamaya let her out but that was when they lived in the shelter and the process of feeding Aja was much easier. She couldn't let Akasaka do all of the cooking either. She felt bad that he was even making her breakfast. Did he always do that, or was he going out of his way because of the sisters staying there? Ryou wasn't the type to sit down and eat his meals. She was sure it was just an act of kindness toward Amaya and her sister.

Just the idea of all the things she had to sort out made her stressed.

"Amaya?"

The girl looked up, shocked at the sudden voice. Ichigo stood at the bottom of the steps, looking up at her curiously. She was dressed in her school uniform and had her book bag in her hand, so she must have been on her way to school. Amaya wondered what time it was. If Mamaya didn't wake up soon, she would be late for school.

"Ichigo," Amaya replied. "You're up early."

The girl smiled and began walking up the steps toward Amaya. She sat on the step next to Amaya and set her book bag down next to her. "I could say the same about you. What brings you to the cafe this early in the morning?"

Amaya sighed through her nose and gave a weak smile. She supposed there was no hiding now. All she could do was tell the full truth. "I got kicked out of the shelter I lived at last night. I caused too many problems for the kids there when Kisshu attacked. I had nowhere else to go and I've never really been around the city before, so this was the only place I knew. Ryou offered a place for us to stay here until we find something else."

Ichigo looked at her in shock. Amaya had never opened up to her like this, she was obviously taken aback. "Amaya..." the girl murmured. "I'm so sorry."

She shrugged. "It was bound to happen. I was pushing a lot of boundaries there. In the end, this was the best solution."

Ichigo looked down at the ground in front of them and laced her fingers together. "If you don't mind me asking, how long did you live there?" she asked.

Amaya looked skyward as she thought and hummed. "Almost eight years. Ms Rosbe took me and Mamaya in after a fire burnt down Ryou's house. Before that, a fire burnt down my own house, which was why I was staying with Ryou's family. His mom took care of us there and Ms Rosbe took care of us at the shelter, but now I guess we're on our own."

"What about money?" Ichigo asked.

Amaya shrugged. "I'll pick up extra shifts here, I guess."

Ichigo said nothing in response to that. What Amaya did to make and save money was none of her business. Still, she was worried. Pudding was in a similar situation as well; it was up to her to provide for her sister and brothers back home. Yet Ichigo had never had to worry about anything like money or where her next meal would come from. "Amaya, if there's anything me or the others can do, I hope you know you can always ask us."

Amaya turned to the girl and smiled hesitantly. "Don't worry, I'll be fine," she said.

Ichigo sighed. She was opening up but it was hard for her to break her old habits. She was still pushing people away a little. Ichigo thought. What could she do to make Amaya open up a little more?

Then an idea popped into her head. "I know!" she chirped out loud.

Amaya looked at her quizzically. "H-huh?" she muttered.

Excitedly, Ichigo grasped Amaya's hands in hers. Her eyes were twinkling like a child's on Christmas morning. Amaya felt nervous just looking into them. "You should come to Mint's house with me and all the others Amaya. We can have a sleepover and it'll be awesome! Mint's got this huge house, it's like a mansion. And there are maids everywhere and fancy plants and chandeliers. And her room, it's like a princess's room. You would love it!"

Amaya frowned. A big, fancy, rich mansion? She wondered if her family knew Amaya's family. No doubt, their parents had probably met each other in the past, and in retrospect, met her. Amaya's face went red at the thought of one of Mint's parents recognizing her and asking her about her father's research. She shook her head quickly. "I don't think that's a very good idea-"

"Please Amaya? It'll be so much fun," Ichigo pleaded. Her hands were still laced in Amaya's.

Amaya wanted to say no, but Ichigo's eyes looked so desperate and so sad. As she stared into Amaya's eyes, she squeezed her hands tight. Her smile was uplifting. She was determined. She would probably take nothing but "yes" as an answer. Amaya sighed. She supposed she had no choice. Perhaps this was a chance for her to become friends with the Mew Mews.

She met Ichigo's gaze and smiled. "All right," she replied.

Ichigo lit up. "Amazing!" She stood, grabbing her book bag. "I'll go tell Mint and the others! How about tomorrow night after work? We'll go together!"

Amaya smiled meekly. "Sure," she said.

Ichigo began skipping down the steps. "Awesome! See you then Amaya, bye!" the girl called as she ran off toward the sidewalk. Amaya waved and watched as she disappeared around the other side of the building to make her way for school.

She sighed. Then she smiled. There was a little flutter in her chest that she hadn't felt in years. She couldn't help but feel a little happy.

After Aja returned and Amaya washed the fox cub up, she stepped back into the cafe to the wonderful smells of pancakes, bacon and lots of delicious fruit. She walked into the dining area and saw Mamaya sitting at a table covered in food, devouring everything in her sight. Amaya watched in awe, mouth agape. "He made all of this just for us?!"

Mamaya looked up through her face full of food and nodded. "Come and try it, Amaya! It's awesome!"

Amaya's stomach rumbled despite her hesitation.

"Dig in," Akasaka said behind her. "I'm sure that whatever you don't finish, Ryou will gladly take care of."

Amaya turned toward the brunet man and bowed her head down low. "Thank you so much for all of this, you really didn't have to go to so much trouble. My sister eats a lot but she doesn't eat this much. We can take care of ourselves, really," she said.

Akasaka's smile was warm and genuine. "It's all right, Amaya. I like to cook."

Amaya smiled in response, but she still felt uneasy. She would have to make it up to him somehow.

She glanced at the clock behind them, mounted atop the kitchen doorway. "Mamaya, you better hurry and get to school. You're going to be late if you don't get going," Amaya warned her.

Mamaya looked up at the clock and whined loudly. "Aww man. Where's Ryou's fancy car when you need it?" she moaned.

Akasaka interjected once again. "Actually, if you're speaking of the red Mercedes, that one is mine. But I'd be more than willing to give you a ride to school, as I need to step out to do some grocery shopping for when we open the shop a little later. How about it Mamaya? I'll even let you pick the radio station."

Mamaya lit up and threw her arms into the air in a cheer. "All right! Thanks Akasaka! You're the best!"

Amaya wanted to protest and scold her sister for being so quick to take advantage of Akasaka's kindness. It was their first day staying here and already it seemed Mamaya was overdoing it. She wondered why Akasaka was being so caring toward them in the first place. They had never really been close to him at all as kids, so what made him want to help them out so much? Could it be because they were friends with Ryou, and he was friends with him?

Akasaka was already hanging his untied apron over the kitchen door and switching it for a brown overcoat. He reached into his pocket to produce a single key and smiled at Amaya. "I'll be back in a couple of hours. Ryou has been neglecting his domestic responsibilities for a while now. But if you need something to do or you wish to speak with him, he should be in the basement right now, or in his room upstairs," he said cheerfully.

Amaya nodded, then bowed once more. "Thank you so much for giving my sister a ride. She won't make it a habit."

Akasaka smiled and waved as he followed the younger girl out the front door. "No worries," he said, then shut the door behind him.

Amaya sighed. What to do with her sister?

"Oh, Amaya. You're up pretty early."

The voice made her jump a little. She turned around to see Ryou walking in from the narrow hallway behind her. He'd most likely just woken up; his hair was a bit disheveled and his eyes looked tired. He wore his usual high collared black tank and white jeans. "Oh," Amaya said, her heart slowing down from her fright. "Yeah, I couldn't really sleep."

"Mm," he said shortly. He walked past her and toward the table where the food Akasaka had made still lay set out. He picked up a thin piece of bacon and plopped it into his mouth, hardly chewing at all before swallowing. "Want some coffee?" he asked. "I'm not big on breakfast but I need at least two cups of coffee in the morning."

Amaya grimaced at the thought. She'd never liked coffee in her life. She was way too young to even be drinking it at all. "Two cups? You're going to die of a heart attack."

He shrugged. As long as it woke him up in the morning, she was sure he didn't care. Amaya wondered if it was a habit he'd picked up in America while he was studying frivolously to complete their fathers' research. She could picture him bent over a lab desk with cups and cups of coffee around him trying desperately to stay awake.

"I need your help. I need to figure out what me and Mamaya are going to do."

He filled the coffee machine and peered out the tiny window of the kitchen. Usually it was used for Akasaka to give the girls' their orders. Ryou put a finger to his chin as he thought. "Well, it's a long shot, but you might be able to get Ms Rosbe to declare you emancipated."

Amaya frowned. "What's emancipated?"

"It basically means you're living independently with no guardian," he explained. "But that's pretty much the only loophole I can think of. The government usually helps you out with rent and living expenses when you're emancipated with a child younger than thirteen, so that would help Mamaya out, at least for a little while."

Amaya bit her lip nervously. "But that would mean speaking to Ms Rosbe again..."

Ryou came out of the kitchen with a steaming mug in his hand and sat at the table of food. He picked ravenously at the plate in front of him and sipped at his coffee. Amaya wondered if he was even breathing between gulps. "Not necessarily," he said between mouthfuls of food. "I can always send Akasaka over with the documents. All she has to do is sign them."

Amaya glared at him. "You always send Akasaka to do dirty work, don't you?" she muttered suspiciously. She remembered Akasaka saying that Ryou had been "neglecting his domestic responsibilities". She bet Ryou had been doing it on purpose, waiting for Akasaka to pick up his slack.

He shrugged and stood, wiping his hands on a napkin before returning to his coffee. "He doesn't mind."

"So what should I do then?" Amaya asked.

Ryou looked at her and grinned. He walked over to her and gently pushed a strand of her away from her eyes. "You stop worrying and you let us handle it. Keiichirou and I will figure all of the legal things out. As for you, focus on taking care of Mamaya and I'll take care of you. Deal?"

Amaya pouted stubbornly. "Fine," she whined.

He smiled, stroked her hair, then turned and made way for the kitchen to refill his coffee. "I'm going to be in the basement most of the day doing research. You can either help me or do your own thing. Whatever you do, be ready for work in four hours," he announced. He walked back out of the kitchen and down the hallway, toward the dark, winding staircase that led to the basement.

Amaya didn't like dark places like that, so she decided to stay upstairs. She knew there couldn't be much to do here, so she thought of going out and exploring the city. She looked out the windows. The sun was shining brightly down on the city without a cloud in the sky. It was beautiful out there. It would be a shame to stay inside. But where would she go?

Then she remembered Ichigo's offer to go to Mint's house after work. Her heart dropped. The only PJs she owned were those torn up orange pants. No doubt the other girls would have cute PJ sets and tons of other things.

She had to go shopping.