DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew, its characters, or its storylines.

This is my re-write of the Tokyo Mew Mew series. Let me stress to new readers that this is a RE-WRITE of a PRE-EXISTING SERIES. To my old, faithful readers, you asked for it and I’m giving it to you in 52 bi-weekly installments; ).

What I’m doing here is combining elements from the manga, the anime, and of course some of my own original thoughts. Truthfully, the authors set up a great backbone for the story and created wonderful characters, but they didn’t play the story to its full potential. That wasn’t the authors fault though. They had pressure from the magazine from what I understand.

Anyway, I will update this Wednesdays and Saturdays, just because there are so many of them. Please feel free to tell me what you would have liked changed in the story. Look forward to reading your reviews!

Art Angel

Episode 01: Metamorphosis, Part I

It was the day of the big Red Data Animal exhibit and environment conscious people everywhere were lined up to attend, including local junior high student Momomiya Ichigo. The red haired thirteen year old stood nervously beside her date- Aoyama Masaya.

It’s such a nice day out, she thought sadly. So why am I in this stupid museum exhibit?

“Momomiya-san, look at this!” She perked up at the sound of Aoyama’s voice and rushed over to join him. Oh yeah, she thought. That’s why. Aoyama was the hottest boy at Ichigo’s school. Every girl there pined for him. How lucky she was to be there with him! And yet, he was more interested in the exhibit than in her. She sighed.

Aoyama was looking at a picture of and Iriomotto Wildcat and her cubs. As Ichigo looked at the image she felt a strange connection to the animal… Its eyes seemed to stare back into hers.

“We have so many endangered animals here,” said Aoyama sadly. He smiled softly at the picture in front of them. It was such a kind smile. Ichigo wished he would smile so kindly at her. She bit her lower lip wistfully.

“I’ve got to be honest with you Momomiya-san; I didn’t expect you to invite me to the exhibit. I never realized you were an environmentalist too.”

“Oh yeah,” she replied laughing nervously. “The environment is good. We should protect it and stuff.” Ichigo you’re so stupid, she thought to herself. To her surprise Aoyama laughed and nodded. That smile, she thought happily. He smiled at me…

“Why don’t we go to the park,” he suggested after awhile. Ichigo readily agreed, happy to leave the relatively boring exhibit. As the exited the building, the couple was completely unaware of the golden cat idol that watched them with ruby eyes. Infrared statistics on Ichigo appeared on a computer screen not too far away. Two shadowed men watched, waiting to make their move.

“It’s so pretty out here,” she said laughing and twirling around. She stopped and blushed, realizing she must look pretty silly. Much to her surprise, Aoyama laughed cheerfully again.

“I’ll get us a couple of sodas,” he said leaving Ichigo at a picnic table. She watched him walk away.

“Now’s our chance,” commented one of the shadowed men.

“Do it now, before that guy returns,” replied the other.

The ground began to shake violently. Ichigo stood in a panic crying out for Aoyama. She tried to run in the direction after him, but soon found herself lost in a red fog of light. Everything around her vanished…

Where am I, she thought as she floated through the void. I should be freaking out here… I’m alone, naked, and very very confused… but I feel so calm. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into the eyes of the Iriomotto wildcat she’d seen in the picture earlier that day. The cat stared at her awhile before jumping to her. Ichigo extended her arms to reach for the cat, but found that it passed into her body. What is this strange, warm feeling, she thought…

“Momomiya-san, please wake up! Are you okay?” Ichigo opened her eyes to see a very concerned Aoyama looking down at her.

“What happened,” she asked sitting up slowly. Aoyama explained that there had been an earthquake and suggested that he take her home. Still a bit dazed and confused, Ichigo agreed that it was time to go.

“Was it successful?” A young man with long brown hair tied back in a pony tail turned to a younger man, in his teens, with short blonde hair. The blonde smiled.

“We’ll just have to wait and see. It shouldn’t be too long now.”

Ichigo rolled out of bed the next morning, yawned, and stretched. She walked across her room and carefully tied her hair up in pigtails with little pink ribbons. The cat dream had been bugging her all night, and she could have sworn at one point she woke up and saw a little grey cat on her window sill staring at her. I must still be out of it from the earthquake, she told herself hoping to shake the issue. It was time for school anyway.

“Ichigo! How was your date?” Her friend Mo came running up to her before class. “Fine”, she replied , deciding to leave out the details for the time being. Besides, another friend had run up and reminded them of a much more pressing engagement…

“We’re too late,” the three girls sighed in unison. Half of the schools female population was already crowding the gym to watch Aoyama’s morning Kendo practice. There was no doubt that Aoyama was the heart throb of the school; he was athletic, smart, sensitive, and loved nature. What more could a girl want? Ichigo smiled to herself remembering their date the other day. Even if it hadn’t been her dream date, she was still a step ahead of all these girls! She reached into her pocket and pulled out the pamphlet from the day before and smiled.

Just then a large gust of wind came along, ripping it from her hands. She jumped for it… not realizing that she was right on the edge of the second floor gym. She went right over the rail and plummeted towards the ground, her friends crying out her name in terror. She braced herself for the impact, but to her surprise, she came to realize she’d landed safely on her feet! Mortified by the large crowd gathering above her, she turned and ran to class just before the bell rang.

Class was no better. She kept getting sleepy and dozing off. This surprised her. She was no A student, but she was not in a habit of sleeping through her classes!

“Momomiya-san,” called her teacher suddenly. Ichigo stood and stammered a ‘yes ma’am.’

“Please read us the next poem in the text.” Ichigo nodded and began…

What’s going on, she thought as her classmates laughed at her. Every time I end a sentence I make a cat noise! Her teacher, however, was not so amused. Detention.

“I can’t believe she gave me detention!” whined Ichigo walking home later that evening. “It’s not like I was doing it on purposed…” Something caught her attention at just that moment. Aoyama! He had to have been there in the park. She could hear him talking to an animal of some kind. Excited, she rushed over to see him.

She called out to him as she got close, but he was too busy picking up trash to notice. Then, it all began. The bench behind Aoyama seemed to spontaneously combust, sending him crashing to the ground unconscious. Terrified Ichigo rushed over to him, but was frozen by what she saw next. From the cloud of debris arose a six foot tall, snarling mouse. She wanted to run, but she could find the strength to move her legs. The creature approached her rapidly, preparing to slice her into itty bitty pieces with its claws. And then…

Ichigo felt two strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her to the safety of a high tree branch. She turned to look at her rescuer.

“Are you okay Ichigo?” The tall blonde teen smiled at her, still holding her close to his body. Ichigo blushed. “Listen, we don’t have a lot of time right now,” he continued without waiting for a response. “You need to destroy that monster.”

“What?” she cried out in confusion.

To Be Continued…