Traitorous Pink
xDark Ladyx

Summary: Ichigo is forced between a choice: Let Aoyama-kun die, or join Kisshu. She chooses the latter. And so the tide turns, and the reign of darkness begins.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew or anything associated with it.
Pairings: Ichigo/Kisshu, Pudding/Taruto, Pai/Undecided
Note: I am from Australia, so I don't know any Japanese phrases, courtesies or mannerisms. Sorry if I somehow offend you by not putting in the correct sayings.

Chapter One

Ichigo had never felt so helpless before. Even when she was a human and not half-cat, she always felt like she could do something. But now, she couldn't move. She couldn't do anything. The slime – for that was the only thing she could call it – tightened around her shoulders and Ichigo's fist clenched. She turned to where Aoyama-kun was lying, unconscious and choking under a layer of slime. Tears prickled in the corners of Ichigo's eyes. "Stop it!"

Kisshu – the green-haired alien – smirked. Ichigo's eyes blurred over. Not Aoyama-kun...not Aoyama-kun. Please, God, please don't let him die! She was so deep into her prayer, that she almost didn't hear Kisshu's response. His words, dark and mirthful, made her heart stop. "I can stop it...on one condition."

Hope. Ichigo had never really felt what it was like. The last time she felt so...willing, was the day it all began...the day she had asked Aoyama-kun out. The thought of her raven haired crush jolted her back to reality. Her voice trembled. "What? What do you intend to do?"

"You know I always say it," Kisshu flew closer to her, his green hair ruffling slightly. He smiled an overly cheerful smile, and petted her bubblegum pink hair, almost caressingly. Realising what she was doing, Ichigo scolded herself, lightly. Aliens don't care about your feelings, Ichigo, she told herself, especially not heartless ones like Kisshu.

Ichigo squirmed and gritted her teeth. She didn't like where this was going. Whenever she had encountered Kisshu before, he had only said three things. It was either 'You'll lose the fight' or 'you won't make it out alive, next time' or...Ichigo shivered. No. She couldn't think about the next one. It wasn't an option. Aoyama-kun was the one for her.

Kisshu's cheerful expression dropped, and for a minute, Ichigo feared the worst. Kisshu hovered in the air, and he grabbed her chin, tilting it upward. His face was dangerously near. Ichigo's stomach turned, uncomfortably. What was he going to do? Kisshu smiled, darkly. "Be mine...and I will spare him."

Ichigo's mind flashed. No! She wouldn't do it! She couldn't! She wouldn't betray her friends...she wouldn't betray the Mew Mews! She had to get out of here! Ichigo looked desperately at Aoyama-kun's body. The slime was creeping up his face. It had almost swallowed him whole. Ichigo's heart sped up. She could jump...while Kisshu was distracted. Yes, she would jump!

But what good would that do? A voice in the back of her head asked, snidely. Ichigo swallowed, as Kisshu's face came closer and closer to hers. She couldn't leave Aoyama-kun to die! If she tried to rescue him...he would only get worse. Her heart felt like lead. She couldn't take the risk. She couldn't escape either. She wouldn't leave Aoyama-kun here. She couldn't.

Sacrificing your happiness for the happiness of the one you love is by far, the truest type of love, Ichigo recited, mentally. I have to do this...for Aoyama-kun.

Ichigo closed her eyes, tightly. Kisshu tucked a strand of her pink hair from her face. Ichigo found herself overwhelmed by darkness, as his soft, cold lips captured hers. Silent tears poured from her eyes. Kisshu smirked as he pulled from the kiss. His smile wavered slightly. "Why are you crying, kitty-cat?"

The pink-eyed girl whimpered slightly. She looked down at the floor, her hair forming a barrier around her face. "I-I'll come with you, but only if you...if you keep your end of the deal. A-and, at least let me say goodbye..."

Kisshu's eyes narrowed, "Do you think I'm naive? Let you go, so that you can go off and blab to your little group of Mew Mews? No, you're coming with me!"

Ichigo winced, taken aback by his sudden change in attitude. The slime started to cut off her circulation. Ichigo was growing more anxious. "J-just to my parents...I promise...please...just let Aoyama-kun go. Please!"

The green-haired alien held up his hand, his eyes softening slightly. Cursing himself mentally, he spat, bitterly, "Fine, but I'll keep Romeo, over here. You've got ten minutes, any longer and your little hero will die."

Ichigo nodded, frantically. She turned to Aoyama-kun, tears streaming down her face. Kisshu snapped his fingers and the slime that had been wrapped around her chest, disappeared. Ichigo bit her lip, and looked one last time at Aoyama-kun's fallen body, before running from the room, her eyes red and puffy. She sprinted from the school, and through the alleys, her mind never tearing from the scene she had just left.

For the first time, Ichigo Momomiya, leader of the Mew Mews, and half-cat half-girl superhero, was defeated. Not even her Strawberry Bell could save her now.

Sakura Momomiya was currently dusting the windows of her house, humming a Japanese song under her breath. It was almost time for school to finish, and even though Sakura didn't want to admit it to herself, she wished that Ichigo didn't spend so much time at the café. Ichigo was her only child, and it felt so lonely without her here.

Of course, Sakura never really felt alone. Not since Ichigo had taken up her new job. She always felt like she was being watched...being followed. It was somewhat creepy, because this morning when she entered Ichigo's room, she could have sworn that she saw a flying, pink fuzz ball. But then again, it was the day after Shintaro had started raving about how cute Ichigo had looked when she had dressed up as a pink fairy for her Grade School Play.

She had a long sip of coffee after that.

The door to the house slammed open, and Sakura jumped from the impact. Ichigo rushed into the house, looking cheerful. She dropped her bag into the living room, and smiled, widely. Her eyes were slightly red and her hair was dishevelled. Sakura looked at her only daughter, surprised. "Ichigo, don't you have to go to work?"

Sakura watched, critically, as Ichigo's face morphed into a shocked one. Ichigo rubbed the back of her head, sheepishly. "Oh! I forgot! I guess I'll have to go now. Shirogane will throw a fit!"

Ichigo flung her arms over her mother. Her voice was a mixed burble of words. "Bye Mom, I love you!"

Sakura was slightly taken aback. There was something different about Ichigo...something almost...fake. The red-head beamed down at her daughter. Nevertheless, she could get used to this 'new' Ichigo. "I love you too, Ichigo."

Ichigo pulled back, and grinned quickly, before running from the house, not even closing the door from behind her. Sakura froze, for a second, and tentatively approached the door. She clutched the cold, metal knob and stared out at the empty driveway. An eerie silence filled the area, and a gust of wind tousled her cherry-coloured hair. Sakura gazed at the bright strawberries that lined the neighbours' garden.

She sighed, and closed the door. She had long given up trying to figure out the puzzle that was Ichigo Momomiya.

"You're a good actor."

"Shut up, Kisshu! Haven't you done enough, today?" Ichigo cried out, rubbing her eyes furiously. She looked up, expecting Kisshu to snarl, or attack her verbally. She didn't want to admit it, especially not to Kisshu, but she was riling him up...testing his limitations. It was a stupid thing to do, but she was in a horrible situation. Any outburst could be taken as a chance to escape.

"Feisty, are we, kitty-whiskers?" Kisshu raised his eyebrows, and flicked his long finger towards a large glob of slime. Ichigo gulped. That was Aoyama-kun. She just knew it. She had to get him out of there! Kisshu snickered to himself, almost as if he pitied the person in the casing of gunk. He turned to Ichigo, who was still in her school uniform. "He's only got minutes left to live. I don't think you're in a position to shout insults, my sweet."

Ichigo looked down at her shoes. She squeezed her eyes shut, and avoided the alien's sharp gaze. She spoke, her voice was demanding, "Let Aoyama-kun go, Kisshu! You said you'd let him go if I...if I came with you."

"Yes," Kisshu laughed, his maroon cape rippling behind him, "I did, didn't I?"

Ichigo's chocolate brown orbs darted from side-to-side. She felt trapped. "We...we...we made a deal! You can't cheat me, Kisshu!"

Kisshu smirked, "Haven't you realised, honey? I've got the upper-hand here. But, since I'm feeling so nice, I'll stick to our deal. You come with me, and I'll let lover-boy go free."

I can't fight anymore. I'm defenceless. I have to give in. I'll find another way out. I can't let Aoyama-kun alone with Kisshu. Who knows what he could do to him? I'll go with him...but I won't stop fighting. I'll never turn my back on what is right. Ichigo thought to herself, determined.

Kisshu watched her from above, a twisted smile on his face, "Tick, tock, tick, tock. Hurry up kitten, time is running out for Prince Charming."

"O-Okay," Ichigo babbled, "I-I'll come with you! What do I have to do?"

The amber-eyed alien grinned at her, and teleported right in front of her. Ichigo took an instinctive step back. Kisshu's lips curled, and he stepped forward. Before Ichigo realised what had happened, he was kissing her again. Only this time it was different. His lips were warmer...Ichigo felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. Ichigo found herself slowly kissing back. Kisshu smiled into her lips and teleported to behind her. Ichigo's eyes flashed open. Had she just kissed him back?

"Mm, strawberry," Kisshu commented, winking at her. Ichigo felt her face grow hot. She had kissed Kisshu. And she had liked it. Ichigo clenched her fist. No! She loved Aoyama-kun! What sort of games were Kisshu playing with her?

"Let Aoyama-kun go!" Ichigo shouted, gritting her teeth. Kisshu shot her a feral smile, and Ichigo felt herself shiver involuntarily.

"If that's what you want, kitty," Kisshu snapped his fingers, and the big glob shook. A large slash appeared in the middle of the Chimera Animal, and it trembled. Ichigo watched with wide eyes, as the slime evaporated into green flecks. Aoyama-kun hovered in the air, his body convulsing painfully. His head jerked up and Ichigo bit her lip, tears falling freely. Kisshu chuckled from behind her, and with a wave of his hand, Aoyama-kun dropped to the ground, landing with a loud thud.

Ichigo tried to run towards him, but Kisshu gripped her arm, holding her back. His breath tingled against her neck, "Time to complete your part of the deal, kitten."

The redhead tried to break out of his tight grip, but Kisshu grabbed her around the waist. Ichigo didn't say anything, but she kept sobbing. Kisshu smiled, almost softly, "Say goodbye to Romeo, because this is the last time you'll be seeing him."

"No! Kisshu! Let me –" Ichigo couldn't finish her sentence, because her head started turning. She saw stars everywhere, and she felt extremely light-headed. She must have closed her eyes, because all she could see was black. Kisshu's hold on her loosened and Ichigo felt her feet touch solid ground.

Slowly, she let her eyes flutter open, but before she could take a look at her surroundings, she heard a silky, aristocrat voice come from behind her. "Who is this, Kisshu? Surely it isn't a human girl?"

Kisshu bared his teeth, "Pai."

End Chapter One.

This was just a random idea that came to me when I was watching Tokyo Mew Mew. Mind you, I don't speak Japanese, so forgive me for any mistakes. This story is going to be a 'Dark Ichigo' one, since I haven't come across many of them. This story also has a unique twist, namely in Ichigo's powers. Oh, and Pudding/Purin makes her entrance too, since I adore her and Taruto. I'm not too sure about Pai, so if you have any ideas, I'd appreciate it. I frankly don't know how this story will go about (this being my first Tokyo Mew Mew fic and all) since I'm not familiar with the community, so I'm just going to cross my fingers.

Review if you like it!
DL x