Hey, its a week later and I have an update for a story - WOW!

Enjoy~

Also thanks LenaCastle! I didn't think anyone would actually remember me since I've been gone so long and changed everything :) It made me happy reading the review. Thank you for brightening my day xoxo


*~ Familiar Defiance ~*

*~ Chapter 3 ~*

As the days rolled on, the girls began to worry that they would be a mew short when the inevitable next alien attack occurred. Luckily - all things considered - Pai had decided to launch his latest strike the day before lettuce was to head out for the college open-days. With all five mews together they made quick work of the attack, only earning a few nicks and scratches each. Some injuries were worse than others. Mint and Zakuro were the least marred, quick and agile to react as they were during the fight. Pudding would have very visable bruises unfortunately. Lettuce and Ichigo took the brunt of the assault. Not that they were all that slow. It was just that they had mostly been switching between attacking when necessary and mostly defending both their youngest team mate and the stragglers of people who were far too concerned about trying to capture the scene on their mobile phones than their own safety.

After the battle was won and the alien had once again retreated to their isolated realm, Tokyo Mew Mew recollected back at the cafe basement. There they treated each other with the help of Keiichiro and Ryou. The pink and green mews, being worse for wear, were on their feet but both needed stitches respectively. The worst for Ichigo were the two gashes across her right shoulder and upper back, inflicted by the claws of the latest chimera. They were deep and more than a few inches in length. Lettuce's most gruesome injury from this fight was an angry looking welt right across her back, starting upper left and travelling diagonally downwards to her the top of her right hip, having been struck by the monster's whip-like tail. She had forced a laugh and commented that it would be difficult hiding it from her mother while they were away but not impossible.

It occurred to Ichigo the absurdity that they all made comments like this from time to time. That they all laughed away these very real concerns. That it was unfortunately becoming normal.

It was the end of the next working day. The cafe had been closed and swept up and the girls had just got off the phone to the green mew where she had confirmed that the painkillers were doing something but it was still very painful. Lettuce explained that she had had to at least tell her mother that she had a terrible backache to explain the wincing and use of paracetamol throughout the day. It was understandable, even the boys agreed and wished her well. After the call the girls got changed back into their casual attire ready to head home for the day.

Ichigo frowned at her reflection. She was half turned away in the long mirror, glancing at the deep cuts across her right shoulder disappearing underneath the cotton of her tank top. They looked painful… and they were, in all honesty. But Ichigo gritted her teeth deciding to power through out of shame and guilt. These slashes were nothing compared to the ravine in her green-haired enemy's chest. These would scar for sure but there was no doubt that she would survive. It was a wonder how he had survived after his ordeal.

She slowly pulled on her shirt, hissing as the material brushed against the wounds, yet her thoughts were on the alien boy in the park. She wondered how he was doing. Would she see him today? She hadn't seen him since last time when he had told her they weren't friends and that she shouldn't confuse them for it.

He was right. She knew he was right. But even though they weren't friends she still found herself concerned with his well-being! He had been dancing with death after all and that just didn't sit right with her - it probably never would.

"Later Ichigo," Zakuro broke her reverie as she passed behind her heading for the exit.

The red-head turned to see all the other girls had changed and were ready to leave. She threw them a smile to overshadow any concern or uncertainty in her mannerisms and waved as they began to exit, "See you guys tomorrow-oh! I guess, Monday actually."

When all of Tokyo Mew Mew had been patched up the day before, Ichigo had stated that she was still happy to come in today to work. Deep in her mind, still believing that she should count herself lucky that she was not in a worse off condition… like him. But after struggling and cursing under her breath all day while she worked, Keiichiro made her confess how much pain she was in and requested that she take a few days off to recover.

The young man had had to request it specifically because she kept rebutting her capabilities, especially as the leader of the mews. It took Ryou, walking into the kitchen during their heated discussion, threatening to dock her pay if she continued to work while not in top shape. The boys explained to her that although she was able to work, she should allow herself time to heal and recover. After some time, she relented and agreed that she would take the weekend off at least.

"Make sure to rest up and get better quickly, Ichigo," Mint commented as she walked out of the door. To a passerby it may have sounded like a heartless order but to Ichigo, who had known Mint for a while now, it was a caring sentiment that made Ichigo's smile a little more real.

"Enjoy the time off, onee-chan~!" Pudding sang as she followed the other girls out of the room, leaving Ichigo in the changing room alone.

The pink mew inhaled deeply, held for a moment and then released the breath before resuming her task of getting dressed.

It didn't take her long before she had her coat zipped up and was pulling her gloves on to hide her slender fingers from the biting chill of the winter air. All the while, she stood outside of the cafe doors, having just locked them behind her.

The beginning of the walk home was, as usual, uneventful. The usual pedestrians lining the pavements. Other late-workers heading home, a few party-goers ready to dance the weekend away, a couple late night vendors calling out their goods to the start of the busy nightlife. But it was all just noise to Ichigo as she walked as if in a trance.

Conscious effort was not necessary for this journey. She had taken it so many times now that it was ingrained in her mind. Her legs moved and her body turned through muscle memory alone. Besides, her mind was concerned with other things right now.

What was she supposed to do over the weekend? At least with work she could busy herself with cleaning or serving the customers to take her mind off of aliens and chimeras and boy trouble and pain and…

"Ugh," Ichigo groaned as her shoulder ached with the constant motion of her multiple winter layers shifting due to her movement.

Maybe she could call Aoyama and see if he were free to hang out with her tomorrow. They could finally reschedule that date. But what if he accidentally grazed her arm or brushed her leg where some of the less prominent yet still very sore wounds were? Worse - what if he were to put his arm around her and touch her shoulders? He would get the wrong idea! Think she was opposed to it! It wasn't like she could laugh it off and say 'No! No! I just have a few lines carved into my skin that are really painful because I'm a secret superhero but don't tell anyone!'

With a frustrated huff, Ichigo decided against calling her would-be boyfriend. She was almost certain that they may have stood a chance if not for the mew project intervention.

Damn you, Shirogane!

Maybe she could watch some television? Catch up on old shows she used to watch religiously before she was off fighting to save the world. Maybe a movie… or two… or five… ugh, this was gonna be a long weekend.

"Ugh! For goodness-" Ichigo groaned and slinked over to the nearest bench. The mew dropped down and let her bag fall off of her distressed shoulders. She closed her eyes and just breathed, allowing herself to rest for a couple of minutes.

The pain ebbed but never fully stopped. The constant dull throb would keep her from peaceful sleep until the wound fully healed. The night before had been a sleepless one and not just for the physical side effects of her dangerous occupation either.

The cool December air blowing across her cheeks felt like a nice contrast to the burning of her skin as it slowly stitched itself back together again. When she opened her eyes to take in her surroundings, she realised she was sat in front of the fountain in the middle of the park. The sound of far off traffic and car horns was muffled in comparison to the hushed chatter of the passersby and the trickling of the beautiful water feature in front of her. Following the pathway to her right would take her back to the cafe where she worked and talked war defence. The path ahead, just around the fountain, was where her mission to protect the Earth had begun just over a year ago.

The pathway to her left used to be home. Just a road to home. But it had turned into an uncertainty. The quiet section of the small woodland area, she passed everyday. On the way home from work. On the way home from school. It was shrouded in shadow and crowded with trees and wild shrubbery. Perfect for hiding.

The pathway home held the possibility for interaction with the enemy. Unbeknownst to said enemy but that was besides the point. Who knows how many times he may have watched her walk by without really seeing her or knowing her. Was he here today?

She felt her eyes stray down that path curiously.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Ichigo wondered if she should be more fearful of the idea that Kisshu may be lurking somewhere nearby. She absently noted that she felt more drawn to path than the avoidance that she probably should be feeling.

Shaking her head, and wincing at the action, she forced her eyes away muttering to herself, "Curiosity killed the cat." But a few tense seconds of indecision passed before she struggled to her feet and began in the direction against her better judgement, grumbling to herself, "... but satisfaction brought it back."

The mew was faintly aware of the rapid beating of her heart as she drew closer to the reclusive area. Ichigo felt a bubbling in the pit of her stomach and chalked it up to a confusing mix of nerves and anxiety. She was willingly seeking out the enemy, after all.

Why? What for? She already knew that he survived. That should have been enough.

It was.

But it also wasn't.

Ichigo was all too hung up on how he was doing. Was he better? Worse? The mew leader realised that she seemed to share the same level of concern for the alien as she held for her teammate and friend.

Earlier the girls had all huddled around a single mobile device on loud-speaker, as soon as the cafe doors shut, waiting with bated breath. As soon as Lettuce answered the call cheerfully, the group released long, drawn out sighs of relief.

Would Ichigo react the same when she saw Kisshu? Probably not. At least not audibly, nor visibly.

Was he even here today?

The thought occurred to her as she stood beneath the tree that she had found him in two weeks ago. She peered up in the dark canopy of leaf and branch. She could not see any discernible shapes resembling her alien not-friend and her brow furrowed. Was he hiding in another tree?

Don't be so stupid, Ichigo. She scolded herself internally but her eyes still searched the surrounding area briefly.

Once more against her better judgement, Ichigo heard her own voice loudly whisper his name, "Kish?"

Her chocolate orbs looked up into the tree top again as she waited for a response.

None came.

A chill ran down her spine as an unwelcome thought occurred to her. What if he suddenly got was? Or ill? Or the wound got infected?! What if he-?!

No! That was silly. She was just catastrophizing! She has seen him and confirmed that, although he looked beaten and bruised, he also looked stable and like he would survive after a few weeks - months more like - of pure rest.

He was most likely relaxing elsewhere today. It's not like he was confined to this location. The battles and chimeras may have been quicker to find and defeat, if that were the case.

With her worries, not completely eradicated but muffled, Ichigo felt first a heaviness to her shoulders and then a secondary hint of curiosity to what had caused the prior feeling. She pondered this as she slowly walked back to the path to continue on her way home.


The green haired alien watched the human girl walk away back towards the path she took most days. He had been sitting in a different spot this evening and was surprised and curious to find the girl come looking for him again.

What was wrong with her? Why didn't she understand that he meant her whole race harm? And if she did, why did she then not care?

He noted that she looked beaten today and walked with a bit of a limp. Had she been attacked? Taken a bad fall somehow? Maybe she was nearby during Pai's last mission. His brother had informed himself and the youngest of the three, that he had inflicted adequate damage to the mews and had hit a few humans before they had arrived. Was she one of them?

The thought didn't agree with him and that in itself was frustrating. The idea that this troublesome human had been caught in the crossfire stirred him with the tiniest inkling of not-quite remorse. Not because he was second guessing his mission - he could quite happily flatten this world in order to bring his family here to safety and sleep well once complete. But this bothersome girl had shown him comfort and consideration despite his alien heritage and reason for being here. That's not to say he would be sad if she were to perish, just disappointed that we wouldn't be able to possibly play with her after all was done.

Maybe he could keep her. She was interesting to say the least. Clearly far more receptive than Mew Ichigo and certainly seemed to care more than her.

But still a member of the opposite race. Still a human.

That being the only reason he didn't answer her call. She intrigued him for sure but maybe if he ignored her and didn't encourage her seeking him out then she would stop. The girl wouldn't bother anymore. She would forget her encounter with him and hate him like the rest of them. Then he could follow suit and get back to annihilating any and all that would and could oppose Cyniclon rule.

It was so simple.


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Lv Lv Hazard