[America Mew Mew] Episode Thirty One

[sunrises]

Aaand they keep on gabbing. But on the upside, a cliffhanger definitely means plot in the next episode, right? I certainly hope so. o/

Title: Episode 31: Panforte Reveals His Love? The Mews Bond
Fandom: Tokyo Mew Mew [AU and mostly OC-fic]
Summary: Ryou and Roy try to determine the meaning behind the mew aqua stealing while the mew mews bond. And what's this about Panforte finally telling Chive who he loves?
Claimer: If you recognize it from TMM, it's not mine and I don't derive any profit from it. o3o Otherwise, it's mine and I request you ask me before using it elsewhere, okay?

As he peered into every jar, vase, and bottle, Ryou mentally made an assessment on the state of the basement. Thanks to the bright lights, he could easily see the scratch marks in the furniture and dried blood on the tiles. It was obvious Celsia hadn't lied when she said there had been a struggle in the room two days ago. Ryou had all the hard evidence he needed - thanks to the overturned chairs and stains - but he couldn't help biting his lip as he rose and walked over towards the giant computer. Roy was already there, inspecting the keyboard with his hands.

Studying the monitor, Ryou solemnly commented as he tapped on Roy's shoulder, "The cameras were off, weren't they?"

Roy nodded, turning the system on with a flick of a switch. He waited for the screen to load before typing some commands in. Windows popped up, but none of them featured either a mew mew decked in blue or a green-clad alien. "Looks like Shuu accidentally turned them off with the computer Saturday. You gonna scold him, Ryler?"

"Why would I," Ryou smirked, "When I can just recreate the scene right here?"

Roy pressed his lips, "B-but you hadn't mastered that technique yet! It'd drain most of your energy. You sure you wanna go through this?"

"Are you my best friend or my mother," Ryou shot back as he summoned his staff. "I know what I'm doing. And besides, even if I faint, you'll still be around to witness this, right?"

Roy bit his lip and slowly nodded as he watched Ryou stand in the middle of the room. Ryou twirled his staff in the air clockwise, then counterclockwise as he tapped the four corners around a newly created circle. "Kairos, Recreate!"

The entire room appeared to rewind; Roy stared as he watched the clock on the wall literally rewind itself. Ryou panted as he held the staff up to the ceiling. "Come on... show yourselves..."

The door to the basement opened, and both Roy and Ryou jumped as they saw Chive float in. However, he completely ignored them both as he stared at the computer beyond Roy. After staring at the endless display of technology, he then turned towards the former location of the jar.

"Ryou... it's like he's not even aware we're here."

"O-of course," Ryou muttered, still holding the staff up. "This is a recreation of the past. They can't see us - and we can't alter what's going on. That's why we're on Kairos' time."

"Makes sense," Roy murmured, his gaze never leaving Chive. A familiar metamorphosis cry came out, and both Roy and Ryou turned to see Mew Celsia standing by the basement door. No doubt she'd heard Chive come in here too.

Kotoko had told them that a weird punk had wanted to steal flowers, but when she came back to read him the riot act, he had completely disappeared. Ryou hated lying, but he had to tell her that he was actually some kind of elf who was probably there to pull a prank on Roy. Realizing that he wasn't there, the elf had just teleported himself out of there.

"No wonder he'd acted so rude," Kotoko had sighed with relief. "If it's an elf, I can relax. It wasn't bad parenting after all!"

(To be honest, both Roy and Ryou were amazed she'd even bought the story. There wasn't much that ever got past Kotoko. And yes, that was probably the reason she was still Liz Shirogane's best friend.)

The battle between Chive and Mew Celsia raged on. Roy yawned as Ryou said, "Hey, if it's boring, maybe you should cast this spell!"

Just then, they saw the fragments of glass fly all over the room. Roy instinctively created force fields around him and Ryou... and stared as the glass transparently flew through his hands.

"I told you," Ryou chided him. "It's a recreation of the past."

Roy blushed as he dropped the force fields, "Sorry."

They were both expecting Chive to leave the room triumphantly after stealing the Mew Aqua. But instead, they watched, jaws dropping, as he flew back to Mew Celsia and slowly removed the fragments of glass stuck in her arms. He had actually stayed the entire time to make sure that she wasn't fatally hurt! And even told her, "I did not want to fight."

But then she had to kick him after stubbornly saying thank you. (And they thought she was a lady!)

Roy whistled, "They were totally flirting with each other."

"That's what you get for putting teenage girls in charge of battles," Ryou grunted as the spell dispersed. Time resumed to its normal speed, and he fell into the nearest couch as he made his staff disappear into thin air. "But she looked totally hot in that dress. Chinese-style definitely suits her."

"Totally," Roy grinned. "She's got the legs to show 'em off. But I still think Sorrel's outfit was the hottest--"

Ryou threw a pillow at his friend. "Seriously? We can contemplate their hotness later, but if we say it here, they'd kill us."

"True enough," Roy admitted. "But there's the whole story for you. He came in to steal the sample, but it seems his feelings are wavering between Mimi and Celsia."

"Jealous?"

Roy blinked, "Why would I be? I already have a girlfriend."

"Yeah, but you're going to have to break up with Sarah some day," Ryou shrugged. "And who better to comfort you than Cel?"

Roy shot him a glare, "I'm perfectly happy with Sarah, thank you very much."

Sighing, Ryou stared up at the ceiling. "So we confirmed Shuu's fears. We lost a sample of Mew Aqua that we never even knew we had! Why the heck did he try and hide it from us?"

"Because he didn't want to make us worry," Roy pressed his lips together, his eyes turning to face the computer. "You can't help respecting him for that. And besides, we can talk to Miles again about the Mew Aqua. If he found it once, he can find it again."

"Don't count on it," Ryou countered. "I'd rather wait and see what that other data has to show us first. We didn't get the answers we wanted from the aliens."

"Though Briar's response to hearing that Miles might be one of them is enough, once you connect the dots," Roy answered. "We can piece together that Alina was of their same race, and thus... Miles is actually half-alien."

"Makes sense, but his general appearance doesn't suggest it. He's not even aware of it at the moment!"

"Perhaps the alien DNA's recessive in comparison to most human genes? It'd explain why his ears are only slightly pointy compared to a normal human's."

"Possibly." Ryou nodded. "I know human genes well enough, but there's got to be something that sets him apart from the others. Could you run the pictures side-by-side and compare something for me?"

"Sure," Roy shrugged as he opened the pictures on the screen. "Where do you want me to zoom in? He looks like a normal human on the outside... has five fingers on each hand... that kind of stuff."

"Try his face," Ryou suggested, leaning over his friend's shoulder. "There might be something that we can't tell just by looking at him."

Roy nodded, following his friend's orders. The faces were zoomed in; both Roy and Ryou staggered back as they exchanged worried glances.

"All of them have swirled irises," Ryou finally commented. "I've never seen something like this before. On first glance, I thought his eyes were green, but they're actually some weird mixture of green and yellow. Humans can't have yellow eyes."

"Really? ... Then the swirls probably confirm it," Roy bit his lip as he typed furiously on the keyboard. "Especially since all four of them have it."

"We need to scan Alina's picture in and compare her with Luciano and Miles," Ryou crossed his arms. "It'd probably put this whole thing into perspective."

The door to the basement opened again. Roy and Ryou turned as they watched Mimi and Miles slowly walk in. Roy immediately put up a screensaver as he brought his swivel chair over to the newcomers. "What's up?"

Miles gestured to the bottle around his neck. "Sorry I didn't come earlier, but Meems and I found this on Saturday."

Ryou took the bottle from him, holding it up to the bright lights. "You mean... you found Mew Aqua?"

A sudden thud echoed throughout the room. Immediately, Ryou turned to stare at the fallen Miles. Mimi precariously held him in her arms as Roy jumped from his seat to help her. They carried Miles to the couch and watched as his chest slowly rose up and down rhythmically.

"Good," Roy sighed with relief. "He's breathing. But I wonder if that means the Mew Aqua's a crutch for him."

Ryou shrugged, still fingering the bottle. "Could be. I also think the Mew Aqua could've given him enough strength to stay awake until he gave it up. Perhaps the Mew Aqua's draining his energy?"

"They're both good theories," Mimi interrupted, "But this is my boyfriend we're talking about! Why're you just sitting there?"

Roy smiled softly to her, "Because this happened before. If it happened once, it'll happen again."

Mimi pouted, "I know! But still... isn't there anything you could do?"

"Not until we inspect this sample," Roy confessed. "Give us half an hour and we'll tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Mew Aqua."

"W-what? But I wanted to help Miles... isn't there anything? Something? Please?"

Ryou desolately sighed as he pushed her out of the door. "Mom brought some strawberry cupcakes and milk. I'm sure she'd love to have them with you, okay?"

He slammed the door behind her. She made a face as she kicked the metal, "You meanies! I'll just have all the cupcakes now, you hear?"

"M-miss Mimi? A-are you all right?"

Mimi turned to face Retasu. Managing a smile, she said, "Now I am. How've you been, Retasu? I thought you were going home?"

"Next week," Retasu smiled as she took her friend's hand. "Let us spend time together?"

She could never say no to Retasu, so Mimi found herself running up the flight of stairs and into the nearby changing room. (She knew Ryou'd probably said something to Retasu, but she didn't mind! She was gonna eat yummy strawberry cupcakes, after all~ And hopefully spend some time with her favorite Japanese friend.)

Celsia emotionlessly sat in front of a mirror as Sorrel hand-fed her a peppermint cupcake. Mimi stared.

"Celsia? Why aren't you like jumping up and down for joy?"

Sorrel gestured to the multitude of bandages on her companion's arm, "She got injured by Chive in the last fight. But I think something else happened? Not sure what."

Mimi shrugged, "But it's still weird! You know Celsia had this girlcrush on you for forever. And you're actually hand-feeding her! She'd be on cloud nine right now!"

Celsia glared, "Mimi, could you do me a favor and please be quiet? Bells are still ringing in my ears."

Primrose walked in with a box of lemon cupcakes. Tilting her head to the side, she remarked, "He~ey! It's been a while since all five of us were together."

All of them were silent as they looked at each other. Primrose was right! They'd been so busy with other things - family, lovers, friends - that they had completely ignored each other in favor of their newfound pastimes. Was this why all their battles were getting the best of them?

"Yeah," Mimi finally said with a grin. "I'm glad we were all able to talk like this! Just the five of us."

Primrose giggled, "Uh-huh! I missed having my four older sisters~"

Sorrel's face softened, "Aren't you a sweetheart."

"She is," Celsia found herself smiling too. "Thanks for bringing all the cupcakes, Prim."

"Yes," Retasu chimed in as she took a chocolate chip mint cupcake from another box. "T-thank you."

Giving them the thumbs-up, Primrose called, "It was no problem! I really wanted to talk with you guys, since you know... you're all busy with other stuff. I couldn't even call you to battle Saturday, Meems. Shuu said you were busy with Miles."

"Uh-huh," Mimi sighed, taking a strawberry cupcake and staring it down. "He found another sample of Mew Aqua, so I didn't want to risk anything."

"T-that's not the point," Primrose quietly remarked. The others stared at her as she slowly pulled a lemon cupcake and took a bite out of it. "... I'm the only mew mew that can't purify Chimera Anima. The only other way for me to defeat 'em is to... kill them."

The four mew mews jumped.

"You mean, kill? Like, destroy?" Mimi narrowed her eyes. "How's that possible?"

"It happened Saturday," Primrose ignored the tears welling up in her eyes. "I-I didn't want to hurt that rat, but Shuu had to kill it for me!"

Sorrel whistled, "Shuugo? Really? No way."

"I know," Primrose immediately looked up at her with a grin. "He was so beast! He was like, 'take that!' and he like sliced the rat and it was so amazing if it wasn't so sad at the same time! But he said it wasn't unlike the time he killed a spider for you, Meems."

Mimi blushed, "Really? Maybe he's stronger than he looks."

"He's a lot stronger," Sorrel remarked, "If he could kill a Chimera Anima with only your help."

There was a brief period of silence. No one talked as Mimi finished off her strawberry cupcake; Retasu was even able to drop a plastic cup without much interference. Ten minutes passed before Primrose stood on top of the nearest chair and wobbled for about five seconds before clapping her hands.

"OKAY! No more awkward silence! Cause what're we? We're the mew mews!"

Primrose paused for a second as she looked around at her friends. Putting her hands on her hips, she immediately stated, "And that is why we need a cheer."

The other mew mews stared at her blankly. Primrose shrugged as she jumped off the chair effortlessly and stood in front of them, "What? It's not like we've got anything better to do."

"Agreed," Mimi shrugged as she stood beside Prim. "So. Who wants to learn new cheers?"

+

Why had he bothered to help her? Chive groaned as he watched Panforte tightly wrap bandages around his shin. "Ow," Chive protested. "Couldn't you be more flexible with that?"

"It's the quickest way," Panforte insisted as he finished tying the last few strands. "Besides, it was your own fault."

"Don't remind me," Chive glared back as he lay on the couch. Staring up at the mirrored ceiling, he added, "... Couldn't you have just healed me?"

"Your leg might never think it'd been hurt before," Panforte emotionlessly replied as he picked up a thick book from the floor. Opening it, he flipped through the first hundred pages to his chapter. "It's best if you rest for at least three hours."

"Meh." Chive snorted. "You just want to see the results of the Mew Aqua sample."

"I don't need to," Panforte didn't look up from the book, "When I know what it can do."

Closing his eyes, Chive muttered, "Did you really read through all those notes? Cause I know I was too lazy---"

"Yes," Panforte nodded. "Unlike you, I actually bothered to see the notes the previous scouts left behind."

"Whatever. But what does Mew Aqua actually do, then?"

"It's the planet's way of healing itself," Panforte held the book up with his right hand. Motioning to the picture of a lush, green forest, he remarked, "If we take all the Mew Aqua, we can heal our planet and leave Earth to rot in its own pollution."

Chive stood up and pointed, "So that's why it was so important!" Wincing, he shakily leaned back in his seat. "Ow. How much more of it do we need?"

"More than that sample."

"I know that much," Chive rolled his eyes as he watched Panforte flip through the thick, dusty book. "I'm asking for a rough amount. You know, I'm surprised our boss hasn't called us yet considering how much we've been failing lately."

"We succeeded this time," Panforte shrugged. "And the boss has been ill lately."

Chive blinked. "So that's why we've been talking through his secretary? I know he's been mad since we've changed plans and haven't exactly told him."

Panforte pressed his lips as he pulled out a detailed outline from the book. "I sent it to Raclette. She knows that instead of coming to invade Earth, we're scouting it for our civilization. However... from our research, the people are destroying their own resources. We'd be inheriting a desolate planet when we finished conquering it."

Chive leaned forward. However, Panforte placed a hand on his throat as he slammed the book shut. "In order to accomplish our task, we'll need all the Mew Aqua we can find."

"I told you, I know..." Chive trailed off, glancing over at his mentor. "You're in love with someone on Earth, aren't you?"

Panforte stared up at the ceiling. "Of course not. It's just that logically, Earth isn't---"

"But you just admitted Earth has more resources than our own planet. Wouldn't it have made more sense to honestly report that to our commander?"

As Chive kicked his legs, all he could hear was the sound of his heels against the soft fabric. Panforte still stared up at the ceiling; he didn't even look at Chive as he buried his gaze into the verses of their homeland. Sighing, Chive scooted over so that he was right next to his comrade. He gently pushed the book down and stared straight into Panforte's eyes.

"Admit it. You love someone."

Panforte pressed his lips. "I said I don't. But what happened to your love?"

"Are we changing the subject here?" Chive rolled his eyes. "My love was just that. My love. It's obvious she loves someone else - and the more I got to know her, the more irritating she became to me. It's obvious she's a fan of domestic violence, Panforte."

"Is it," Panforte hollowly laughed. "Then how do you know you don't love her?"

"Because it's not that kind of love," Chive insisted, still staring into Panforte's eyes. "You don't know what kind of life I lived back home."

"You were a Casanova," Panforte's voice was oddly shaky. "They drafted you into the military because the government caught you passionately kissing the leader's niece. You just like looking at pretty ladies. Even..."

Chive raised his eyebrows. "And? She was hot. And a good kisser."

Panforte sighed disgustedly, "That's all you need to love someone? Appearances?"

"No."

Panforte stared at his companion. "No?"

"You heard me," Chive frowned. "Love is so much more than looking at someone and telling her she's hot. Sure, I made out with the leader's niece - and I don't think he'll ever forgive me for it!" He leaned back, pointing up at one of the light fixtures in the ceiling. "But making out with someone isn't love."

"Then why'd you call the pink mew 'my love'?"

Chive smirked, "Because it was fun to watch her squirm. And I really did think she's cute, Panforte. Don't get me wrong."

"Oh? Because I'm thinking you're more mature than you let on," Panforte returned the smirk. "And here I thought your goal in life was to gather as many lady friends as possible."

"Pffffft," Chive snorted, laughing so hard he placed both hands over his stomach. "That's the easiest way to get in so much trouble! You only do one girl at a time. And then dump them in a way that they'd never figure out you were dating someone else."

Panforte sighed, "Despicable."

"What," Chive made a face. "You were asking for it."

"Perhaps," Panforte softly smiled as he closed his eyes. "But it was nice to know you have a brain inside that head of yours."

There was brief silence for a moment before Chive narrowed his eyes. "Hey! You were changing the subject on me. Who do you like?"

"You would laugh at me if you knew," was Panforte's sullen reply as he rose from the couch. As he turned to leave, he narrowed his eyes at Chive. "Talk to Briar when he comes back. I think we'll need to start watching the Alesci kid more closely."

Chive pouted, "No fair! Just 'cause you can walk, you won't tell me who you love---"

At that moment, the door slammed straight into Panforte as Briar floated in. The child alien blinked as he slowly closed the door behind him. Helping Panforte from the corner of the room, Briar dryly commented, "You know, you're such a glutton for punishment."

Glancing from Chive to Panforte, Briar immediately made motions to walk back through the door.

"Hang on," Chive called. "Stop Panforte for a second. He was going to tell me who he loved on Earth."

"Oh?" Briar smirked as he crossed his arms. "It's about time."

He seized Panforte's arms and literally dragged him back to the couch ("Let me go, Briar! Do you know who you're speaking to?") with both arms literally struggling for help. Chive helped Briar push Panforte down, but both boys were able to force him down. Setting the book aside again, Chive narrowed his eyes.

"So even Briar knew? But you weren't going to tell me?"

Panforte sighed. "Now is not the right time. We still have Mew Aqua to collect--"

"There'll never be a right time," Briar cut him off. "So just go ahead and say it. You know that's the reason why you've changed our scouting plans. Not that the leader'll be happy to hear it - and certainly not from Chive - but..."

"I know, I know," Panforte sighed. "So... if I must. I have feelings for Miss Sorrel Hayden. You may know her better as the purple mew mew."

Chive's jaw dropped as Briar smirked. Panforte stared down at his feet; his white hair immediately hid his face from both of his comrades as he added, "But she has no idea who I really am."

"He was pretending to be a human to stalk her," Briar explained, loosening his grip on Panforte, "But he fell in love with her. Ironic, huh?"

Chive whistled. "And here I thought my relationship with the pink mew was bad. You're in pretty deep, Panforte. What if she rejects you once she knows who you are?"

"That's why I need to cease our relationship," Panforte slowly replied, his face still hidden behind his bangs. Rubbing his hands on his face, he added, "It's for the best. She'll never know who I really was, and... I'll never have to tell her."

"You're a coward."

Both Briar and Panforte stared at Chive with expressions of disbelief (though, Chive noted amusedly, Panforte had definitely been blushing at the mere thought of Sorrel).

"You're telling me... you want me to pursue her still," Panforte nervously commented.

"That's right," Chive nodded. "So me and my love never worked out. But that doesn't mean that you have to stop seeing Sorrel! I'm sure that she loves you too. Maybe she'll learn to see you for who you really are."

"I doubt that," Panforte laughed hollowly.

Chive shut him up with a glare and, "You didn't really see her when we were at the mall, did you?"

Panforte blinked, "Huh?"

"You should've seen her," Chive laughed. "She really loved you. I don't know who the soa you were pretending to be, but... she loved that person."

"That's the problem," Panforte shrugged half-heartedly. "That person actually exists. I don't think she loves me for me."

Briar stomped his foot, "Talk is getting us nowhere! You're going to tell Sorrel the truth, Panforte, and that's that. Chive, you're going to help me look for Mew Aqua after your leg recovers. And that is that! Meeting adjourned!"

With that, the youngest alien confidently marched out of the room. Panforte and Chive exchanged bewildered glances.

"Did he just..."

"... Order us? I think he did."

The two laughed. Panforte rose from his seat as he watched Chive comfortably settle into the couch. "Enjoy your nap," Panforte smiled. "Because you won't have one for a while after this."

+

After spending at least an hour learning new cheers from Primrose, Mimi suddenly remembered why she didn't try out for the cheerleading squad this summer. They spent too much time dancing! And exercising more than she ever did on the soccer team!

It seemed that only Retasu and Sorrel agreed with her physical sentiments, as the three were lying on the floor with closed eyes while Celsia and Primrose warmed up for the next round.

"I don't get it," Mimi hoarsely called. "How were you able to withstand that, Cels?"

"I'm a ballet dancer," Celsia sighed as she skipped over to her companion. Handing the three girls water bottles, she wandered over to the window again. "I'm used to all this physical activity. But don't you play soccer?"

"I run," Mimi gratefully downed the entire bottle in ten seconds. "I'm not used to all this dancing and cheering and yelling."

Sorrel gasped as she swallowed water, "Yeah, I just sing. I don't really move around the stage."

Retasu didn't say anything as she finished not one, but two water bottles. Mimi sighed sympathetically, "Poor Retasu. I guess she's not much of an athlete."

She nodded, "That is right," as she pushed her glasses further up her nose. "I-I am sorry for worrying you."

"Oh, Retasu," Primrose cried as she immediately hugged her friend. "You didn't worry me at all! I'm just glad you were able to learn the cheers too. Yay for Manhattan Mew Mew!"

"Even though we're technically from Long Island," Sorrel quipped. "Manhattan just sounded better."

"And besides," Mimi giggled. "We'd attract too much attention in Manhattan. I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to be mistaken for a superhero."

"Ditto," Celsia nodded as she took a sip from a water bottle. "... You know, being able to bond like this was nice. I don't remember the last time I was actually able to do things with you, Sorrel! You're always with your boyfriend."

"Same goes for you, Meems," Celsia added as an afterthought. "It really does seem like everyone but me and Primrose have boyfriends. Mimi's got Miles... Sorrel has Garner... and even Retasu's supposedly dating Ryou."

Retasu jumped, "W-wait, naaaani? I-I am not dating Sh-shirogane-san!"

"Chill," Sorrel massaged Retasu's shoulders slowly. "It was just a rumor. And even if you were, I don't mind. You two are cute."

Retasu blushed as she put her hand on Sorrel's wrist, "Y-you think so?"

"I know so," Sorrel flashed a smile.

Celsia sighed blissfully, "I wish you could do that to me. It sounds like Retasu's really enjoying that message."

"Oh," Mimi blinked. "I can massage you if you like."

"It's not the same," Celsia shot back with narrowed eyes. "I'd rather Sorrel did it to me."

"A little jealous, aren't we?"

All the girls blinked as they watched Ryou appear from the door frame. The blond laughed as he leaned in and gently kissed Retasu on the cheek. The poor girl slowly fell to the floor (but not before being supported by Sorrel); Ryou too blushed as he rose and turned to face the five mew mews.

"So, Mimi. You want the results of the Mew Aqua, right? You need to come down with me."

Primrose protested, "Wait! How come we can't come with you?"

"Because," Ryou's face suddenly turned solemn. "It has to do with Mimi's boyfriend. I... think something's seriously wrong with Miles. And only Mimi can cure it."