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[svn r3] moved all the bad stuff to 'old'
author rlm
date Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:12 -0500
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rlm@2 1 Author’s note: Hello everyone! ^-^ This is Heather of the Amazoness Duo
rlm@2 2 again. ^-^ This is my first Kaitou Saint Tail fanfic, though I hope to write more
rlm@2 3 soon. I just love Seira & Meimi. ^,^ Anyway, if you could spare a moment,
rlm@2 4 please tell me what you think. ^-^ Thanks! *hugs*
rlm@2 5
rlm@2 6 Kiss Me Sunlights
rlm@2 7 By Amazoness Duo
rlm@2 8 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@2 9
rlm@2 10
rlm@2 11 The night air felt cool against Meimi’s bare skin, the moonlight lighting
rlm@2 12 the path she’d traveled time and time again. Pulling her jacket closer to her as
rlm@2 13 the wind picked up, she wondered what Seira needed her to do this time. A car
rlm@2 14 drove by a short distance away, startling her. It seemed to be the only sound she
rlm@2 15 had heard that night aside from her own footsteps. Along with a nervous feeling
rlm@2 16 growing in her stomach, she was starting to get anxious. Seira had been her best
rlm@2 17 friend for years now. They had gone through a lot together. She thought she
rlm@2 18 knew the other girl rather well. Something had been off in Seira’s voice when
rlm@2 19 she had called a short time ago, urging her to come meet her. Meimi only hoped
rlm@2 20 it wasn’t anything bad.
rlm@2 21 “There you are. I was starting to think that you wouldn’t come,” a
rlm@2 22 gentle voice said from a bench near the church. Seira mustered up a smile for
rlm@2 23 her friend, but it didn’t much help quell the tumultuous feelings inside of her.
rlm@2 24 She almost wished that something had happened and Meimi hadn’t been able to
rlm@2 25 make it. Then things would be so much easier. But that was the point, wasn’t it?
rlm@2 26 She was tired of leaving things the way they were. Wasn’t it better to get things
rlm@2 27 out in the open and hope for some sort of happy resolution to it all? The sister-
rlm@2 28 in-training had spent over two hours trying to decide if she should call at all and
rlm@2 29 the past half hour worrying about what a mistake she may have made. The cold
rlm@2 30 bench under her had offered little sympathy to her worries. The cold night air
rlm@2 31 seeped right through the thin white fabric.
rlm@2 32 “I’m always here if you ask me, Seira. You know that.” Meimi tilted
rlm@2 33 her head to the side and laughed a bit. “But sometimes it seems like you know
rlm@2 34 everything anyway.” Brushing back her long her, she joined the short haired girl
rlm@2 35 on the bench. A leaf fell slowly between the two before landing on the cold dew
rlm@2 36 of the grass. The wind served to accentuate the silence as the two girls sat there
rlm@2 37 quietly. Meimi was starting to feel more nervous at each passing second,
rlm@2 38 wondering what was going on. Seira was acting strangely. If this was just like
rlm@2 39 every other time she had called her to do something as Saint Tail, then why was
rlm@2 40 she so quiet?
rlm@2 41 Seira didn’t answer for a long moment, looking out into the darkness.
rlm@2 42 Her night vision wasn’t as good as Meimi’s, but she wasn’t looking for anything
rlm@2 43 in particular. She had prayed about what to do about this for a while now and it
rlm@2 44 seemed that this was the best course of action. Not telling Meimi was almost as
rlm@2 45 bad as lying to her. “Meimi-chan, I thought there was something you should
rlm@2 46 know. I don’t like hiding anything from you. You’re my best friend and you’ve
rlm@2 47 always been very special to me so I feel horrible when I keep something from
rlm@2 48 you.” The wind seemed to die down for a moment. Seira reached out and placed
rlm@2 49 her hand over Meimi’s. Her hand felt warm to the touch, Seira’s hand holding it
rlm@2 50 tighter. She didn’t know if she could find the strength to say what she wanted to.
rlm@2 51 Her heart pounding in her chest, Meimi didn’t say anything. Seira
rlm@2 52 sounded so serious. What could be so important that she wouldn’t have told her
rlm@2 53 already? There was a touch of sadness laced in the sister-in-training’s voice as
rlm@2 54 well. Was she going away? To another school or church? Somewhere where
rlm@2 55 they wouldn’t see each other again? She moved her hand around so that she was
rlm@2 56 holding Seira’s as well and squeezed back, urging her to go on. “What is it,
rlm@2 57 Seira?”
rlm@2 58 It took all of Seira’s willpower to look Meimi in the eyes. What lovely
rlm@2 59 blue gray eyes they were... It was all she could do to keep from losing herself in
rlm@2 60 their depths. Her free hand held the small cross on her necklace, trying to find
rlm@2 61 the strength to go on from up above. “Meimi-chan, I know that someone’s in
rlm@2 62 love with you. They have been for a very long time. You’re like an angel to
rlm@2 63 them, a sweet and shining flower in their life that makes them happier than you
rlm@2 64 could ever know. They love you so much but they’re afraid to say anything.
rlm@2 65 Their life is already planned out. They know how things are supposed to be.
rlm@2 66 They don’t want to frighten you or risk losing you.” She was shaking now,
rlm@2 67 almost too afraid to go on but unsure if she could stop herself now that she’d
rlm@2 68 said as much as she had. Meimi’s warm hand squeezed her own shaking one
rlm@2 69 softly. Pulling it into both of her own, she held it on her lap as she tried to calm
rlm@2 70 down.
rlm@2 71 Meimi was still in shock over what Seira had said. So many people
rlm@2 72 went to the short haired girl with their problems day in and day out. Had
rlm@2 73 someone come to her saying all of this? Was someone really this worried about
rlm@2 74 her finding out he was in love with her? Was it... Was it Asuka Jr.? Had he come
rlm@2 75 to Seira about all of this? Her heart was pounding even harder in her chest now.
rlm@2 76 “It’s Asuka Jr., isn’t it? He was the one who said all that, wasn’t he? I knew he
rlm@2 77 could be romantic. He’s afraid of telling me? Is that why he’s always so mean?”
rlm@2 78 she got out in a blur. Everything was so strange, like her heart was being pulled
rlm@2 79 in different directions. That was so sweet that he thought of her that way, like an
rlm@2 80 angel. And here she thought he was just being a jerk about everything. Wait,
rlm@2 81 something was wrong. Seriously wrong. “Seira, are you crying?”
rlm@2 82 The slightly smaller girl shuddered in the cold night air, choking back a
rlm@2 83 sob as she pulled her hand away from Meimi’s. No, it wasn’t supposed to be this
rlm@2 84 way. She had been wrong to have thought she should ever have said anything.
rlm@2 85 Her life was already planned out for her. It was a mistake to think that she
rlm@2 86 should say anything at all. She could barely hear Meimi asking again and again
rlm@2 87 what was wrong, but she was having a hard enough time trying to pull herself
rlm@2 88 back together. Right now all she wanted was to cry herself to sleep. To get
rlm@2 89 away. But she couldn’t. Even if she could try, Meimi was much faster than her.
rlm@2 90 The wind started to pick up again, leaves swirling around the two girls. Seira
rlm@2 91 wiped at her eyes with her palms, shaking her head in answer to Meimi’s
rlm@2 92 repeated question. Whenever she tried to speak, all she could do was choke out
rlm@2 93 another sob. It took her several minutes before she could get anything out, her
rlm@2 94 throat now painful. “No, it’s nothing, Meimi-chan. It really doesn’t matter. It
rlm@2 95 doesn’t matter at all. Just forget about it. Please forget about it for me.”
rlm@2 96 Meimi didn’t know what to say to her best friend. Watching Seira
rlm@2 97 sitting right next to her, hunched over and sobbing, her face buried in her hands.
rlm@2 98 It sent an icy blade through her heart. What had she done? How had she hurt
rlm@2 99 her? “Seira?” she asked quietly, but it was too late. The damage was done and
rlm@2 100 she knew that no amount of questioning would get whatever she’d done out of
rlm@2 101 Seira. Her shoulders slumped sadly as she looked at her feet. She felt... empty.
rlm@2 102 She wished she had kept her mouth shut.
rlm@2 103 “A girl came to me with a problem. She had accidentally given a video
rlm@2 104 tape to her best friend with some things on it that she doesn’t want her to see
rlm@2 105 instead of another tape she was going to give her. She’s afraid that her friend
rlm@2 106 will see the tape before she’s ready to understand how she feels. Saint Tail needs
rlm@2 107 to get it back for her,” Seira explained, her voice barely masking the pain she
rlm@2 108 was in.
rlm@2 109 Meimi nodded weakly, sighing. “Hai, I’ll get it back for her, Seira. I’ll
rlm@2 110 go get it tomorrow.” An uneasy silence blanketed the two for a long moment.
rlm@2 111 Meimi tried to take Seira’s hand again, but the nun girl stood up quickly. “Seira,
rlm@2 112 I don’t have to go. Can you tell me what’s wrong? I’m really sorry if it’s
rlm@2 113 something I said.” Getting to her feet, she took a step towards the short haired
rlm@2 114 girl, but Seira took a step away, her back to her.
rlm@2 115 “No, it’s not important. I was mistaken to think it was. I’m extremely
rlm@2 116 sorry for getting you out here so late. I’ll try to be more considerate next time.”
rlm@2 117 Seira held as still as she could, unsure of how long she could keep from crying
rlm@2 118 in front of her friend.
rlm@2 119 “But... Why are you so sad, Seira? Maybe I should stay with you. You
rlm@2 120 don’t have to tell me anything,” Meimi offered hopefully. Anything to make up
rlm@2 121 for putting her best friend through any pain. If she couldn’t know what was
rlm@2 122 going on, at least she could be there for her.
rlm@2 123 “Thank you, but I have some things I need to do in the church. I
rlm@2 124 promised one of the Sisters. Goodnight, Meimi-chan.” Her hands clasped in
rlm@2 125 front of her, Seira didn’t look back. ‘Please don’t go. Please stay with me. I
rlm@2 126 don’t want to be alone right now,’ she thought frantically, but no words would
rlm@2 127 come out.
rlm@2 128 “Oh... okay. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Sleep well, Seira.”
rlm@2 129 Meimi offered a weak smile before disappearing the way she had come.
rlm@2 130 Seira collapsed to her knees seconds later, shaking her head as icy tears
rlm@2 131 fell to the ground. “But... Meimi, I love you.” The wind scattered her tears as the
rlm@2 132 night moved inexorably onward towards the coming dawn.
rlm@2 133
rlm@2 134 Meimi yawned tiredly as she trudged her way to school the next
rlm@2 135 morning. She had spent half the night tossing and turning, her mind constantly
rlm@2 136 returning to Seira. The lonely look in her eyes that she’d barely managed to
rlm@2 137 catch a glimpse of before the nun-in-training had turned away haunted her every
rlm@2 138 time she closed her eyes. How could she have hurt her that badly? It could have
rlm@2 139 been something else that hurt her. Maybe whatever it was that Seira wasn’t
rlm@2 140 telling her. But Meimi had a hard time believing that. Seira had seemed nervous,
rlm@2 141 but it wasn’t until she’d started ranting about what she thought it could be that
rlm@2 142 the glow in the young Sister’s eyes had shattered. But no matter how many
rlm@2 143 times she went over it in her mind, she couldn’t figure out what had happened.
rlm@2 144 A sigh escaped the mysterious thief’s lips as she hoisted her bookbag
rlm@2 145 higher. All she had to do was ask Seira about it before class. Unless Seira tried
rlm@2 146 to change the subject like she did often enough when she would ask about just
rlm@2 147 what Seira’s sources of information were. No, she wouldn’t let her off that easy.
rlm@2 148 If Seira was hurting, then she had to know why. She couldn’t leave her best
rlm@2 149 friend like that. It tore her up inside to think that it was her fault. That she was
rlm@2 150 the reason for those crystal tears in Seira’s indigo eyes. This was something
rlm@2 151 Kaitou Saint Tail would have to put right if she was ever going to get a good
rlm@2 152 night’s sleep again.
rlm@2 153 A rustling sound in the bushes off to the right startled Meimi. To her
rlm@2 154 surprise, Ryoko and Kyoko stepped out. The two girls’ uniforms were both
rlm@2 155 rather disheveled and they were both blushing a deep scarlet. Brushing back
rlm@2 156 some hair from her eyes, Meimi took a deep breath. “Oh, it’s you. You two
rlm@2 157 frightened me.” She tilted her head to the side, watching Kyoko fidget as she
rlm@2 158 tried to snag something that seemed to be made from white cloth in Ryoko’s
rlm@2 159 hand. Ryoko only grinned as she kept it away from the smaller girl.
rlm@2 160 “Meimi-chan!! What a surprise to see you here. I mean, on your way to
rlm@2 161 school and all. You’re usually to school just a little earlier than us,” Kyoko got
rlm@2 162 out quickly. She offered a nervous laugh after a brief second. “Well, you better
rlm@2 163 get going if you don’t want to be late for class.”
rlm@2 164 “Un, you’re right.” Meimi nodded as she took a step forward. She
rlm@2 165 paused when she noticed that neither Kyoko nor Ryoko had made a move to
rlm@2 166 follow her. “What about you two? Shouldn’t you get going, too?”
rlm@2 167 Kyoko cast a sidelong glance at Ryoko before replying. “I would, but I
rlm@2 168 need to get something that was stolen from me before I can go.” As the wind
rlm@2 169 picked up, her blush grew darker, her hands going down immediately to hold
rlm@2 170 down her skirt.
rlm@2 171 Ryoko just giggled as she began to follow Meimi. “You’ll have to ask
rlm@2 172 Saint Tail if you want it back that badly, Kyoko-chan. Or you can come over
rlm@2 173 tonight. I’m sure you could get whatever it is back then.” She smiled innocently
rlm@2 174 as the other girl gave her a deadly glare. One she might actually worry about if
rlm@2 175 she didn’t know what a kitten Kyoko was.
rlm@2 176 “Hmph...” Kyoko crossed her arms as she followed the two girls ahead
rlm@2 177 of her. “I guess I’ll just have to do that then.” She made extra sure to give Ryoko
rlm@2 178 another disapproving glare before melting into a bright smile when she finally
rlm@2 179 caught her eyes. “Maybe we could study... or something.”
rlm@2 180 “Or something,” Ryoko repeated in agreement, returning the smile.
rlm@2 181 Meimi sweatdropped fiercely as they walked along. She had no idea
rlm@2 182 what they were talking about. Unless... No, she was just having a hard time
rlm@2 183 thinking correctly after the night before with Seira. Her mind wasn’t working
rlm@2 184 now and she needed to speak with her best friend soon so things could go back
rlm@2 185 to normal. Lonely, tear filled eyes greeted her when her eyes closed, sending a
rlm@2 186 shiver through her soul. She needed to see Seira. Soon. But where was she?
rlm@2 187 Seira usually met her on the way to school, but the brunette was nowhere to be
rlm@2 188 seen. Was she waiting for her? She picked up her pace as she the school came
rlm@2 189 into site.
rlm@2 190
rlm@2 191 Setting her bookbag next to her desk, Haneoka Meimi glanced around
rlm@2 192 the room for her best friend, hoping to see her amongst the small groups of
rlm@2 193 students. After a few tense moments, she still couldn’t spot the sister-in-training.
rlm@2 194 A long sigh escaped her lips as she sat down. This was starting to worry her.
rlm@2 195 First the weird way Seira had been acting the night before and now her not
rlm@2 196 showing up for class. It didn’t seem like her at all. Something was most certainly
rlm@2 197 wrong.
rlm@2 198 “So you really almost caught her this time, Asuka Jr.?” one of the boys
rlm@2 199 asked eagerly as the detectives son walked into class.
rlm@2 200 “Yeah, not like the last thirty seven times. This time she was looking
rlm@2 201 right at me. If I hadn’t been blinded by Mimori holding a flashlight, I would
rlm@2 202 have seen who she was,” Asuka Jr. responded, a mix of anguish and hope in his
rlm@2 203 voice. “One of these days... I will be the one to catch Saint Tail!”
rlm@2 204 The other boys crowded around him with their usual casual amusement.
rlm@2 205 Whether it was for the recent news on Asuka Jr.’s quest to catch Saint Tail or if
rlm@2 206 it was just to watch him make an ass out of himself, none of the girls really
rlm@2 207 knew. Nor cared.
rlm@2 208 Meimi rested her chin on her hands, waiting to see how Asuka Jr.’s
rlm@2 209 account of events would conflict with reality. All he cared about was catching
rlm@2 210 Saint Tail. How could he be so single minded? And thinking that she couldn’t be
rlm@2 211 Saint Tail, at that! Oh, when he found out, she needed to give him a piece of her
rlm@2 212 mind. Seira’s warning came to mind again, snapping her out of it. She had to be
rlm@2 213 very careful about who could know that. So far only Seira knew that she was the
rlm@2 214 Mysterious Thief Saint Tail. But that was because she could always trust Seira
rlm@2 215 with anything. Seira was the entire reason she was Saint Tail. Asuka Jr. chasing
rlm@2 216 her was just a side of it that managed to keep her entertained as she kept going
rlm@2 217 on whatever missions Seira had for her. She enjoyed the chase. It was fun to
rlm@2 218 play cat and mouse, like a game.
rlm@2 219 “She’s practically begging for me to catch her now. I can tell. I bet that
rlm@2 220 I can catch her by the next time I see her,” Asuka Jr. bragged, leaning against his
rlm@2 221 desk.
rlm@2 222 Meimi stood up immediately, a certain nun-in-training not there to stop
rlm@2 223 her anger from boiling over. “I am not...” She clenched her fists, barely keeping
rlm@2 224 herself from saying something she would regret later on. It was so much easier
rlm@2 225 when Seira was there to drag her off. “Saint Tail is not begging for you to catch
rlm@2 226 her! I don’t see why she’d pick such an inept person to be the one to figure out
rlm@2 227 who she is.”
rlm@2 228 The green haired boy frowned as he turned to face the (unbeknownst to
rlm@2 229 him) mysterious thief. “How would you know, Haneoka? You’re not there when
rlm@2 230 I match wits with Saint Tail again and again. You wouldn’t understand this sort
rlm@2 231 of thing. It’s part of criminal mentality, Saint Tail’s in particular. She wants me
rlm@2 232 to catch her.”
rlm@2 233 Fuming, Meimi reduced the distance between her and her rival in an
rlm@2 234 instant. “You match wits with her? So that’s why you always lose. I knew there
rlm@2 235 had to be some reason.”
rlm@2 236 “Shut up! This has nothing to do with you!” the boy said angrily as he
rlm@2 237 matched her glare. Why was she always shooting him down? Especially about
rlm@2 238 Saint Tail? He was the expert on the thief, not her. She should know her place!
rlm@2 239 Before Meimi could shoot something back that would have stunned her
rlm@2 240 classmates and, in particular, Asuka Jr., their teacher was upon them. And
rlm@2 241 apparently, Meimi had said it because after the room fell deathly silent as
rlm@2 242 everyone’s attention had focussed on her, she spent the rest of that morning
rlm@2 243 outside holding two buckets of water.
rlm@2 244
rlm@2 245 By lunchtime, Meimi was still embarrassed about her little outburst
rlm@2 246 earlier. She was still getting freaked out looks from Asuka Jr. and Lina was
rlm@2 247 giving her the evil eye. Seira had yet to make an appearance and that was really
rlm@2 248 starting to worry her. She couldn’t remember Seira ever missing a full day of
rlm@2 249 school. The clouds were starting to darken and the wind was picking up,
rlm@2 250 blowing back her long hair. It even smelled like rain. She really didn’t feel like
rlm@2 251 going through the effort of giving Asuka Jr. a challenge, but she knew she had
rlm@2 252 to. A promise was a promise, after all. Patting him on the back as she passed, he
rlm@2 253 stared at her oddly. She murmured something as she headed for the church to
rlm@2 254 see if her friend had taken refuge there.
rlm@2 255
rlm@2 256 Haneoka sure was acting strangely. Even more so than normal. And he
rlm@2 257 still couldn’t believe what she’d said earlier this morning. The things that had
rlm@2 258 come out of that girl’s mouth... He shook his head and continued eating his
rlm@2 259 lunch.
rlm@2 260 “Good luck tonight!” a boy said as he passed by.
rlm@2 261 Asuka Jr. raised an eyebrow and stared at the boy until he was out of
rlm@2 262 sight. Freak. He went back to eating his lunch.
rlm@2 263 “Oh, I’ll bet Kaitou Saint Tail’s going to perform her greatest heist,” a
rlm@2 264 girl said as she and her friends came from behind.
rlm@2 265 “I wonder what she wants this time,” another girl said thoughtfully as
rlm@2 266 she came from his other side.
rlm@2 267 “What’s going on?!” The young detective wannabe stood up in
rlm@2 268 frustration. A slip of paper came floating down off of his back. “Huh?” Plucking
rlm@2 269 it from the ground, he quickly skimmed over it.
rlm@2 270 “Tonight I will come to steal an important videotape from Kinomoto
rlm@2 271 Sakura. Not even the coming storm can stop me. ~ St. Tail”
rlm@2 272 “Saint Tail?!” The green haired boy’s eyes went wide at the letter.
rlm@2 273 Another challenge! This time, he would prove Haneoka-san wrong. Leaving the
rlm@2 274 rest of his lunch, he ran off to call the Inept Police Force for backup.
rlm@2 275
rlm@2 276 The door flew open as Haneoka Meimi entered her house. She barely
rlm@2 277 had the willpower to take off her shoes. Releasing a frustrated sigh, she
rlm@2 278 collapsed onto the couch, her bookbag dropping next to her. Try as she might,
rlm@2 279 she had been unable to locate her missing best friend and none of the nuns
rlm@2 280 would tell her where she was. It was like some huge conspiracy was keeping her
rlm@2 281 from seeing Seira. Okay, maybe not. But it was still frustrating after seeing her
rlm@2 282 best friend crying the night before. She wanted to be there, to help her. Just like
rlm@2 283 how Seira had always helped her when things were bad. She couldn’t get the
rlm@2 284 nun girl off her mind all day. Her worrying was just getting worse. She still
rlm@2 285 didn’t quite know why Seira had wanted to see her the night before. I certainly
rlm@2 286 wasn’t just to tell her what she needed to do. And she was really starting to fear
rlm@2 287 that it had something to do with her. Why else would Seira be avoiding her this
rlm@2 288 way?
rlm@2 289 “Meimi, are you alright?” her father asked, pushing up his glasses with
rlm@2 290 his index finger.
rlm@2 291 “No.”
rlm@2 292 “Would you like to see a magic trick? It’ll cheer you up.” He smiled as
rlm@2 293 he entered the living room.
rlm@2 294 “No.”
rlm@2 295 He frowned as he went back to the kitchen. “I’m worried about Meimi-
rlm@2 296 chan, Mama. She seems so troubled, but she won’t let me cheer her up.”
rlm@2 297 Eimi smiled as she hugged her magician husband. “That’s okay. I’m
rlm@2 298 supposed to be your special assistant, so she doesn’t need to see the magic trick
rlm@2 299 anyway. Besides, Meimi’s in love,” she stated quite positively. Meimi
rlm@2 300 sweatdropped, still within earshot of her parents.
rlm@2 301 Genichirou turned around, looking at the back of his daughter’s head.
rlm@2 302 “In love? Are you sure? I think she’s just troubled about school.”
rlm@2 303 “No, she’s in love. Sitting there that way reminds me just how I was at
rlm@2 304 her age.”
rlm@2 305 “Like you? That’s what I’m worried about.”
rlm@2 306 “Then stop worrying about it and we’ll go rehearse that magic trick of
rlm@2 307 yours. I’m sure I’ll make a good special assistant,” Eimi said suggestively.
rlm@2 308 “Oh, practice _that_ part. Yeah, I always love _that_ part.”
rlm@2 309 Meimi blushed profusely at her parents’ plans. At least they weren’t
rlm@2 310 worrying about her anymore. She didn’t feel like explaining as it was. In love.
rlm@2 311 Ha! If only. That would be easier than this. Sweatdropping at a strange noise
rlm@2 312 coming from the kitchen, she quickly excused herself and hurried upstairs.
rlm@2 313
rlm@2 314 “Ruby? Why is Seira avoiding me? Why is she acting so strangely?”
rlm@2 315 Meimi asked as she tossed her school blouse vaguely in the hedgehog’s
rlm@2 316 direction. Of course, she got no answer. “I mean, we’ve been best friends for
rlm@2 317 years. We’re always together. So why would she just leave me out of things
rlm@2 318 now? We’re partners. She’s the only reason I’m Saint Tail anyway. Maybe I
rlm@2 319 shouldn’t go until she explains things to me. I need to know what hurt her so I
rlm@2 320 can try to fix it. I really hope it wasn’t me. If I hurt her...” Sighing, her skirt
rlm@2 321 joined the blouse as she dug through her closet. Not that it mattered what she
rlm@2 322 picked out as it was because she would soon be running across rooftops as Saint
rlm@2 323 Tail. “She’s acting strangely. Something about all this just makes me nervous. I
rlm@2 324 need to see her smile again before I can rest easily. I can’t get her out of my
rlm@2 325 mind. But that doesn’t help any if she’s not there. I missed her all day.” Pausing
rlm@2 326 for a moment, she shook her head. “No, since last night. I never should have left
rlm@2 327 her. I should have stayed with her. I was stupid to leave after seeing those tears
rlm@2 328 in her eyes.” She clutched a sweater to her chest, her eyes falling closed as guilt
rlm@2 329 grabbed at her soul. Regret at failing Seira when she knew Seira would have
rlm@2 330 stayed with her no matter what preyed on her mind, visions of what might have
rlm@2 331 been running over and over.
rlm@2 332 Ruby made a small sound as she stood up and tilted her head to the
rlm@2 333 side, poking out of Meimi’s school clothes.
rlm@2 334 Smiling, Meimi picked up her small pet. “Thanks, Ruby. You’re right. I
rlm@2 335 need to go work all of this out with Seira. Neither of us can be happy until we’ve
rlm@2 336 put things right.” She kissed the hedgehog’s forehead and set it back down. Her
rlm@2 337 thoughts grew more determined to fix things as she slipped out the window.
rlm@2 338 “Seira.”
rlm@2 339
rlm@2 340 Seira heard her coming long before she could see her. Her eyes were
rlm@2 341 still closed as she stay kneeling in prayer. Her heart was racing as she tried to
rlm@2 342 stay calm, praying for the strength to keep going. If only things could work out...
rlm@2 343 But no, she had decided a long time ago that they wouldn’t. That’s why she had
rlm@2 344 chosen this life. She had things planned. A hand on her shoulder startled her out
rlm@2 345 of her thoughts and what little concentration she had gathered. Attempting a
rlm@2 346 smile, she turned to face her friend, the look of concern on Meimi’s face wiping
rlm@2 347 the smile away. The silence lasted for a few moments before she stood up.
rlm@2 348 Meimi’s blue eyes tried to catch her own gray blue eyes, but she couldn’t meet
rlm@2 349 her gaze. “Hello, Meimi-chan.”
rlm@2 350 “Seira, where were you? I couldn’t find you at all at school. None of
rlm@2 351 the Sisters would tell me where you were, either.” Meimi took a step closer to
rlm@2 352 the brunette. “I was worried about you. I missed you. And after last night... It
rlm@2 353 scared me. All of those things you said last night and then you up and disappear
rlm@2 354 today. I didn’t know what to think.”
rlm@2 355 Clasping her hands together, the nun-in-training looked away. “I’m
rlm@2 356 sorry, Meim-chan. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just didn’t feel well today. I
rlm@2 357 couldn’t go to school.” Her heart twisted at the half truth. A sigh escaped her
rlm@2 358 lips. She had already tried to tell Meimi the night before. It was pointless to try
rlm@2 359 again. She would just have to hold those feelings inside. Forever. Because she
rlm@2 360 knew they would never go away. She had been so scared of them at first. She
rlm@2 361 had been raised by nuns. It was completely improper to feel that way. But as
rlm@2 362 time went by, she realized that she couldn’t help it. It was part of who she was.
rlm@2 363 She couldn’t keep herself from loving Meimi. She could merely keep herself
rlm@2 364 from expressing it. And if she couldn’t, then it was best for her to go into the
rlm@2 365 convent. It would be a way to repay the church for raising a lonely orphan girl
rlm@2 366 like herself. If she couldn’t be with the one she loved, at least she could do that.
rlm@2 367 “Why? Were you sick? Or was it because of last night?” Meimi
rlm@2 368 demanded. Taking Seira’s arm, she turned the slightly smaller girl to face her.
rlm@2 369 Her face was still marked with concern. “Seira, whatever it was last night, I
rlm@2 370 shouldn’t have left. And I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I
rlm@2 371 don’t ever want to hurt you. Please tell me what’s going on.” Her fingers lightly
rlm@2 372 brushed Seira’s puffy red cheeks. Sadness welled up in her at that. It was
rlm@2 373 obvious that she’d been crying earlier.
rlm@2 374 Seira blushed a bit at the feeling of Meimi’s fingers against her cheek.
rlm@2 375 Her eyes fell closed, the frightened girl torn between pulling away and melting
rlm@2 376 into the warm touch. Why did she have to do this to her? She was helping her by
rlm@2 377 keeping it all inside, by not burdening her with these feelings that she could
rlm@2 378 never return. Her eyes started to sting again but she fought to hold the tears
rlm@2 379 back. “Meimi-chan... Please just go and get the tape.. Please...” she pleaded with
rlm@2 380 the mysterious thief, unsure of how much more she could take before breaking
rlm@2 381 down. The young Sister-in-training shuddered as Meimi’s fingers brushed some
rlm@2 382 tears away from her cheeks. It hadn’t occurred to her until then that she’d begun
rlm@2 383 to cry.
rlm@2 384 “Seira, please tell me what’s going on. I don’t know if it’s my fault or
rlm@2 385 not, but I want to help you,” Meimi whispered softly, feeling horrible at seeing
rlm@2 386 the other girl in such pain. If only there was some way for her to alleviate it. To
rlm@2 387 take it on herself. “Please, Seira-chan.” Seira tried to respond a few times, but
rlm@2 388 only sobs escaped her. Meimi pulled her shuddering body close, hugging her as
rlm@2 389 warmly as she could. The brunette slumped against her, choked sobs coming
rlm@2 390 from her as she held on. The poor girl seemed so tiny and frail in her grasp. “No.
rlm@2 391 I’m going to do what I should have done last time. I’m going to stay with you.
rlm@2 392 I’ll always be there for you, Seira-chan. I’ll always protect you.” Hugging the
rlm@2 393 other girl tighter, Meimi closed her blue eyes. ‘Not Saint Tail, but me. I’ll
rlm@2 394 always be there to help her. I don’t need a flashy alter-ego to be there for Seira.’
rlm@2 395 This wasn’t fair! How could she be so close and yet so far? It was like a
rlm@2 396 taste of heaven. All she ever wanted, but she knew it would be snatched from
rlm@2 397 her at any moment. This wasn’t really hers. She was only getting Meimi’s
rlm@2 398 warmth, her loving embrace because of their friendship. It would never be what
rlm@2 399 she really wanted. This was only a mirage. She had to keep her mind from
rlm@2 400 giving in. But it felt so nice, Meimi’s arms around her. She couldn’t help but rest
rlm@2 401 her head on the magical girl’s shoulder. If she had to endure much more of this,
rlm@2 402 it would be far too much for her to handle. “You have to help that girl. I’ll be
rlm@2 403 here when you’re finished. I promise,” she whispered softly into Meimi’s ear.
rlm@2 404 Meimi hesitated, biting her lip. Could she really just abandon her again
rlm@2 405 the way she had the night before? What if it made things worse? Seira was much
rlm@2 406 more important to her than Saint Tail. Her choice between the two was clear.
rlm@2 407 “Please. She needs your help. She’ll be hurt badly if you don’t get that
rlm@2 408 videotape back. It’s important.” Seira wiped at her eyes as she took a step away
rlm@2 409 from Meimi’s warm embrace. “She’s in love with the girl she gave that tape to.
rlm@2 410 If you don’t get it back, it could ruin everything.”
rlm@2 411 That startled her. The girl she gave it to? So she... was in love with
rlm@2 412 her...? Alright, this was starting to get confusing. “You’ll still be here?” Meimi
rlm@2 413 repeated, sounding unsure.
rlm@2 414 Nodding, Seira hugged herself. “I’ll still be here, Meimi. I promise you.
rlm@2 415 But please, help her first. I... I understand what she’s going through. She needs
rlm@2 416 your help.” When she’d first stumbled upon the pale, dark haired girl, she had
rlm@2 417 been outside the church, some bodyguards following nearby. Something about
rlm@2 418 her, maybe the sad look in her stormy blue eyes, had drawn Seira closer. She
rlm@2 419 had learned of the girl’s True Love, her best friend who hadn’t caught on about
rlm@2 420 how she felt despite numerous hints. She had videotaped a confession of her
rlm@2 421 love and had accidentally given it to the other girl by mistake rather than the
rlm@2 422 video she had meant to give her, something showing off a costume. Now she
rlm@2 423 was afraid that the other girl would find out before she was ready. She still
rlm@2 424 remembered the dark haired girl’s words.
rlm@2 425 “When I close my eyes, I can see her smiling at me. So warmly, so
rlm@2 426 tenderly. Yet she doesn't see the yearning, doesn't notice the depths of my love
rlm@2 427 for her. It flows deeply through me, cradling my soul when things get too
rlm@2 428 painful to move on. Her very essence, all that she is forces me to carry on when
rlm@2 429 I don't think I can anymore. I would do anything for her. I would give her the
rlm@2 430 world if I could. I would give her my heart, but she already has it. Does she
rlm@2 431 know that? Is it just an accepted fact or does she still think that maybe I'm just a
rlm@2 432 little strange? That my reasoning for acting the way I do can't possibly be
rlm@2 433 because I'm in love with her. So in love with her. I would die for her. This life is
rlm@2 434 only a cruel joke without her so my own life can't be worth very much at all. But
rlm@2 435 her... She’s an angel. I don't regret a single day, a single second that was spent
rlm@2 436 with her, no matter the pain it would cause later. Even if I had known, I wouldn't
rlm@2 437 give it away for the world. Because on cold, lonely nights like tonight, I can
rlm@2 438 close my eyes and see her through the tears, waiting for me. Sometimes that's
rlm@2 439 the only way I can get to sleep. In her arms, I know that I would be able to
rlm@2 440 finally sleep peacefully. But that will never happen, will it? I'll have to keep
rlm@2 441 pretending, keep yearning for her, even if it hurts. I can't show her the tears, the
rlm@2 442 rips in my soul. I can't let her know that I'm bleeding inside. That every smile
rlm@2 443 hides the sobs I keep from her. But that's the way it has to be. How would she
rlm@2 444 handle the knowledge that being with her is both the most wonderful, warm
rlm@2 445 feeling in my heart, and the most painful, cold torment? I can't take that
rlm@2 446 innocence away from her. She would lose something. And then our friendship
rlm@2 447 would suffer for it. She wouldn't act the same way around me anymore and I
rlm@2 448 would hate myself for that.” Tomoyo closed her eyes and sighed. “I want her to
rlm@2 449 know, but it shouldn’t be this way. She wouldn’t understand if she finds out on
rlm@2 450 her own.”
rlm@2 451 ‘I want to tell you, too, Meimi. But I can’t... I tried, but I can’t. I’m
rlm@2 452 sorry,’ Seira thought to herself sadly.
rlm@2 453 Finally nodding assent, Meimi crossed her arms. “Alright, but I’ll be
rlm@2 454 right back. I can’t stand to see you like this Seira. I need to know what’s hurting
rlm@2 455 you.”
rlm@2 456 Seira smiled softly, taking Meimi’s hand. “Thank you, Meimi-chan.
rlm@2 457 I’m sure the girl will be very happy to receive God’s protection with the help of
rlm@2 458 Saint Tail.”
rlm@2 459
rlm@2 460 Sakura Kinomoto sweatdropped as her older brother, Touya once again
rlm@2 461 argued with the younger, green haired boy about just why he needed to be there.
rlm@2 462 Just half an hour ago, a boy named Asuka Jr. had arrived with several police
rlm@2 463 officers and had demanded that they let him in, showing off some sort of trinket
rlm@2 464 as if it were a badge and an excellent reason for them to comply with his
rlm@2 465 demands. Touya had not been about to, but his friend, the bespectacled white
rlm@2 466 haired boy had managed to calm him down long enough for the green haired boy
rlm@2 467 to slip past and explain his case. Apparently, the mysterious thief Saint Tail had
rlm@2 468 pegged their house for her next heist and would be there that night. And even
rlm@2 469 more of a shock to the young Cardmistress was that she was after a videotape
rlm@2 470 that Tomoyo had given her. That just didn’t make sense. Why would a thief
rlm@2 471 want to steal something that her friend had given her? Especially something of
rlm@2 472 no actual value like a videotape. The green haired boy had shrugged off her
rlm@2 473 question, merely stating that ‘Saint Tail’s like that. I’m sure she has a reason.”
rlm@2 474 But that wasn’t a good enough explanation to the brunette.
rlm@2 475 Unfortunately, he seemed to be in no mood to explain, busying himself with
rlm@2 476 planning some sort of trap for the mysterious thief. So Sakura sat alone in her
rlm@2 477 room, her brother’s irritated voice coming upstairs through the door as he
rlm@2 478 hounded the younger boy at every step. Sakura was thankful that her father was
rlm@2 479 gone for the night. Of course, that meant Touya had to cook. And he had
rlm@2 480 expressed no interest whatsoever at feeding the hungry looking officers
rlm@2 481 downstairs.
rlm@2 482 Why did she want the videotape? What could be so important that
rlm@2 483 she’d sneak in to steal it? It was just a videotape of her in various costumes with
rlm@2 484 some action sequences at the end to appease Kero-chan. Maybe she should call
rlm@2 485 Tomoyo. Tomoyo always made things seem better, especially when she was
rlm@2 486 confused like this. Her hand reached out instinctively for the pink cell phone
rlm@2 487 Tomoyo had given her so long ago. Her fingers paused just over the speed dial
rlm@2 488 button. The dark haired girl loved taking videos of her. Wouldn’t it worry her if
rlm@2 489 Sakura told her someone was trying to steal it? No, she couldn’t worry Tomoyo
rlm@2 490 like that. The other girl was rather... eccentric. Especially when it came to her.
rlm@2 491 But she’d never really seen her worried about anything that didn’t have to do
rlm@2 492 with her. Still, she didn’t want to press her luck and worry Tomoyo
rlm@2 493 unnecessarily. This matter would likely be solved soon enough.
rlm@2 494 But what was on that videotape?
rlm@2 495
rlm@2 496 Touya spent a long time preparing dinner, making sure that everything
rlm@2 497 was just perfect. The intoxicating smells wafted through the house, seeming to
rlm@2 498 draw everyone towards the kitchen. Yukito watched intently as he went about
rlm@2 499 pouring in some water. The taller boy made absolutely sure that he had just
rlm@2 500 enough food for himself, Yukito, and his little sister. Of course, it was a rather
rlm@2 501 difficult job discerning just how much the white haired boy would eat.
rlm@2 502 “So what are you making?” one of the officers asked curiously. He and
rlm@2 503 two others had gathered to watch Touya cook. They all looked starving. But the
rlm@2 504 teenage boy still wasn’t pleased about this intrusion into his home.
rlm@2 505 Pointedly ignoring them, Touya went back to preparing the food. It was
rlm@2 506 with some satisfaction that he noticed someone’s stomach growling.
rlm@2 507
rlm@2 508 Asuka Jr. paced the living room nervously. It was starting to grow late
rlm@2 509 out and there had still been no sign of Saint Tail. She was coming. He knew she
rlm@2 510 was. He knew it at his very core. Because she always did. There was something
rlm@2 511 in that line of thought that comforted the boy. It was reassuring; a constant in an
rlm@2 512 otherwise always shifting world. And for that, he thanked Saint Tail. But he was
rlm@2 513 still going to catch her and find out just who she was! This game of theirs had
rlm@2 514 gone on long enough. He wouldn’t allow himself to be fooled by anymore of her
rlm@2 515 tricks. This time all of the cards were on the table and he was determined to win.
rlm@2 516 “Take your shoes off,” the older boy of the house demanded, his eyes
rlm@2 517 following Asuka Jr.’s every move. The officers that had come with Asuka Jr.
rlm@2 518 had already complied.
rlm@2 519 “What?” The green haired boy asked, turning around for the hundredth
rlm@2 520 time on the plush carpet as he continued his pacing.
rlm@2 521 “I said, take your shoes off,” Touya repeated firmly.
rlm@2 522 “I need to be able to catch Saint Tail! This is official business. You can
rlm@2 523 take it up with the mayor,” Asuka Jr. argued, his frustration building. He would
rlm@2 524 be the one to catch Saint Tail! Why did everyone insist upon getting in his way?
rlm@2 525 Didn’t they understand? It was his quest! He just had to catch her! It was the
rlm@2 526 natural order of things. Yet people still insisted upon interfering. Right now it
rlm@2 527 was his time. As soon as his business with Saint Tail was concluded, it could go
rlm@2 528 back to being Torga’s time. Or whatever his name was. But the look on the older
rlm@2 529 boys face told an entirely different story. Grumbling to himself, Asuka Jr. finally
rlm@2 530 left his shoes by the door.
rlm@2 531 Crossing his arms angrily, the junior detective returned to his pacing,
rlm@2 532 oblivious to anything but his sole purpose in life. Where had he been, again? Oh
rlm@2 533 yes. She would be here. And when she did...
rlm@2 534 “Hello! I’m here to see Kinomoto-san. Is she here?” A cute girl in a
rlm@2 535 black and white school uniform asked. It was the same uniform he’d seen that
rlm@2 536 Sakura girl wearing earlier. Must be a classmate. He couldn’t quite see her face
rlm@2 537 under shadows cast by the slightly larger than usual hat she was wearing. “Yeah,
rlm@2 538 she’s upstairs. But make it quick. This is official police business.” A giggle
rlm@2 539 escaped the girl as she headed for the stairs. Stupid girl. She didn’t understand
rlm@2 540 what she was in the middle of. He continued his pacing, waiting for just the right
rlm@2 541 moment to pounce on Saint Tail. It couldn’t be much longer now.
rlm@2 542
rlm@2 543 Confusion. That was the first response that came to Sakura’s mind as
rlm@2 544 she sat in stunned silence, her television currently showing static. Two hours.
rlm@2 545 The tape had been two hours long. How do you take two hours to confess your
rlm@2 546 love to someone? Tomoyo had found an excellent way. And she’d made perfect
rlm@2 547 use of the new editing system her mother had given her, splicing in scenes from
rlm@2 548 earlier tapes and cute background music as she all the while narrated the video,
rlm@2 549 giving an explanation of her feelings and what Sakura meant to her. It was
rlm@2 550 certainly the oddest declaration of love that Sakura had ever been witness to, but
rlm@2 551 it had definitely been done well.
rlm@2 552 But for some reason, the brunette just couldn’t work herself up to be
rlm@2 553 surprised. It made sense. Even if she hadn’t really understood a lot of what the
rlm@2 554 dark haired girl had said before or some of the hints she had given, this just
rlm@2 555 seemed to clear up everything, giving her an insight into her best friend that
rlm@2 556 she’d never thought to look for. Of course Tomoyo loved her. In hindsight, it
rlm@2 557 was blindingly obvious. Looking back, everything took on a whole new light.
rlm@2 558 Things made more sense now. Tomoyo made more sense now.
rlm@2 559 And in some ways, Sakura made more sense now. The video had really
rlm@2 560 gotten her to think. Every little confession Tomoyo had made, every explanation
rlm@2 561 that had drawn Sakura closer to the screen, wanting to know what the pale girl
rlm@2 562 was about to say next, had started to confuse her more and more as the video
rlm@2 563 went on. But now... What Tomoyo had explained had sounded so familiar. The
rlm@2 564 feelings she had described and the emotions that coursed through her had all felt
rlm@2 565 so close to her. As if she understood what Tomoyo had meant. But she couldn’t
rlm@2 566 possibly understand, could she? Those feelings weren’t anything like what she
rlm@2 567 had felt for Yukito. Yet Tomoyo was most positively in love. So where had
rlm@2 568 those feelings, or the memories of those feelings, been to have come unbidden to
rlm@2 569 her mind?
rlm@2 570 And then, she understood. Just as those stormy blue eyes had conveyed
rlm@2 571 the feelings deep within Tomoyo, she knew that she’d felt them everyday
rlm@2 572 herself. How far did it go back? How long had she felt this way? She couldn’t
rlm@2 573 tell for sure. But those safe, warm feelings had bathed her for quite a while now.
rlm@2 574 That soft thrill, the yearning, and the jumbled thoughts. The hot blushes and the
rlm@2 575 embarrassing moments. She had felt this way about Tomoyo for a mystifying
rlm@2 576 amount of time. She just hadn’t realized it. “Hoe...”
rlm@2 577 Tomoyo had been too close to her. Sakura had never been able to
rlm@2 578 understand because those feelings were always there. She had come to take them
rlm@2 579 for granted, just as she had taken Tomoyo for granted. As if they’d always be
rlm@2 580 there the same way that Tomoyo would always be there. So she had never taken
rlm@2 581 the time to actually look at those feelings, to see that Tomoyo was their source.
rlm@2 582 That Tomoyo made her happy. Just like what Tomoyo had said. ‘I’ll be happy as
rlm@2 583 long as the person I like is happy.’ Those words had comforted her slightly
rlm@2 584 when she was trying to get over Yukito. But now she understood the warmth
rlm@2 585 behind Tomoyo’s voice when she’d said it. This time she knew what Tomoyo
rlm@2 586 had truly meant. “But Tomoyo-chan... You make me happy,” Sakura whispered.
rlm@2 587 Her head cocked to the side in thought, she realized that it was true. Tomoyo did
rlm@2 588 make her happy. She was the one thing in this world that she always knew could
rlm@2 589 make things seem better.
rlm@2 590 She had had these feelings for a long time now. But it took two hours
rlm@2 591 tape to make her realize what they were.
rlm@2 592
rlm@2 593 Closing the door quietly behind her, Sakura’s ‘friend’ was pleased to
rlm@2 594 note that Sakura looked to be completely out of it. She was looking off into
rlm@2 595 space, deep in thought. With a skillful hop, the girl was on the other side of the
rlm@2 596 bed, quickly making her way to the television and the video. Had her mind been
rlm@2 597 on the situation at hand rather than on Seira and what could be troubling the
rlm@2 598 poor nun girl, she would have scene the cord running from the gaming system to
rlm@2 599 the controller. And with her above average reflexes, she probably wouldn’t have
rlm@2 600 stumbled and come crashing to the ground with a loud thump.
rlm@2 601 Sakura’s attention shifted to the unexpected girl in her room, cutting
rlm@2 602 through her introspection like a knife. “Who are you?” She asked curiously as
rlm@2 603 she stood up. Why would anyone from school be over here now? Except... Her
rlm@2 604 voice grew shaky as her knees threatened to give out. This was too sudden! She
rlm@2 605 had to have a moment to compose herself. “Tomoyo-chan?” she asked
rlm@2 606 hesitantly. Sure the girl didn’t seem to have Tomoyo’s usual grace, but everyone
rlm@2 607 had their off days.
rlm@2 608 Meimi sweatdropped as she scrambled to her feet. She could already
rlm@2 609 hear Asuka Jr.’s footsteps as her ran up the stairs, followed closely by the Inept
rlm@2 610 Police Force and Sakura’s big brother. She silently cursed as she glanced around
rlm@2 611 hurriedly for the videotape. This wouldn’t be happening if her mind didn’t keep
rlm@2 612 wandering elsewhere. She told Seira that they needed to talk. She doubted she’d
rlm@2 613 be able to get anything done at this rate. The cold worrying about Seira was
rlm@2 614 weighing heavily upon her soul.
rlm@2 615 “Tomoyo-chan,” Sakura started nervously, taking a step forward. In the
rlm@2 616 dim room, it was hard to make out any features of the girl ahead of her, the
rlm@2 617 oversized hat still shadowing her face. “I... I want you to know that...” To
rlm@2 618 Sakura’s embarrassment, Asuka Jr. and the rest of the boys chose that moment
rlm@2 619 to bust into her room. Her face turned a bright shade of crimson as her hands
rlm@2 620 went to her chest. What had she been about to say anyway? Could she work up
rlm@2 621 the strength to say it after they all left again?
rlm@2 622 “I know it’s you, Saint Tail! I’m not letting you get away this time,”
rlm@2 623 Asuka Jr. stated as he and the others rushed into the room. His eyes never left
rlm@2 624 her. He knew what a mistake that could be. He was the leading expert on Saint
rlm@2 625 Tail, after all.
rlm@2 626 The girl in the school uniform just grinned at the intruders. Pulling the
rlm@2 627 oversized hat to the side, her long pony tail fell out and down her back. With
rlm@2 628 another swift movement, the school fuku was gone, replaced by the magician’s
rlm@2 629 tuxedo based costume she wore. “One.”
rlm@2 630 “Not this time!” The green haired boy thrust himself over the bed,
rlm@2 631 slumping on the floor in time to hear the word ‘two’. “I won’t let you escape
rlm@2 632 until I know who you are, Saint Tail!” He yelled as he leapt forward.
rlm@2 633 “Three!!” Sakura blossoms flew out of the large hat, starting to whip
rlm@2 634 around the room, blinding the group with the onslaught of petals. She had
rlm@2 635 thought it appropriate.
rlm@2 636 “Block off all the exits! Don’t let her out of the house!” Asuka Jr.
rlm@2 637 yelled as he made his way towards the mysterious thief. He held his blazer over
rlm@2 638 his head, trying to block the storm of flower petals. Almost there...
rlm@2 639 Sakura vaguely remembered her fight with the Flower Card as all of
rlm@2 640 this went on, the whole thing not making much sense, especially after her recent
rlm@2 641 revelation. Just what was going on? That girl... She was the one trying to steal
rlm@2 642 Tomoyo’s video! Her video! That was only for her!!
rlm@2 643 Meimi hurriedly searched for the video. To her dismay, there were two
rlm@2 644 tapes on top of the television. Blinking through the swirl of petals, she saw
rlm@2 645 labels on the two. ‘Sakura’s Exhausting Day at the Park’ was half way through
rlm@2 646 and the other label was blank. She snagged that one, praying that she had chosen
rlm@2 647 the right one. But by then it was too late. As she turned to head for the door, a
rlm@2 648 hand gripped her bare arm just above her long gloves. Tightly.
rlm@2 649 “I won’t let you go!” Determination flared in the junior detectives eyes
rlm@2 650 as he held tightly to his prize. This was it. He would finally know once and for
rlm@2 651 all. He squinted, trying to see through the haze of flowers. She looked so
rlm@2 652 familiar. He knew her, he was certain of that. He couldn’t quite make out who.
rlm@2 653 His heart skipped a beat as he realized how close he was to finally attaining his
rlm@2 654 goal. “I’ve caught you, Saint Tail.”
rlm@2 655 Meimi’s eyes went wide as she froze where she stood. Was this the
rlm@2 656 end? Was he finally going to find out who she was? What would he think? What
rlm@2 657 would Seira think? What could she do? She looked away, unsure of herself.
rlm@2 658 Suddenly this wasn’t a game. It wasn’t just cat and mouse anymore. It was over.
rlm@2 659 She couldn’t help but feel like she’d failed Seira. She knew the other girl would
rlm@2 660 be fine with whatever happened, but could she even go out as Saint Tail after
rlm@2 661 this? No, not if he found out. And she was Saint Tail for Seira. So she could help
rlm@2 662 her. No, this wasn’t fair. It couldn’t end now.
rlm@2 663 Suddenly, something jostled into Asuka Jr. and, to his sheer horror, he
rlm@2 664 lost his grip on the mysterious thief. Mortified, he looked up to see Touya
rlm@2 665 blindly stumbling through the raining petals. That moron! How could he ruin
rlm@2 666 this!
rlm@2 667 The grip was gone. It... It wasn’t over, was it? The game was still afoot.
rlm@2 668 Her heart began beating again, a smile returning to her lips as she felt warmth
rlm@2 669 rush through her previously cold body. Looking up, she saw the tall boy from
rlm@2 670 downstairs, fumbling through the flower petals. No, that wasn’t it. He knew full
rlm@2 671 well where he was going. He had saved her. She smiled broader before dashing
rlm@2 672 towards the door.
rlm@2 673 Touya grabbed Asuka Jr.’s arm as he tried to get past him and after the
rlm@2 674 mysterious thief. “What the hell’s going on here?” he asked, his eyebrows
rlm@2 675 arching. The junior detective still looked like he was suffering from shock.
rlm@2 676 Touya hid a smirk. He really didn’t like this kids methods. Too much like the
rlm@2 677 brat for his liking. And he didn’t like the idea of the brat with his sister at all.
rlm@2 678 Speaking of which, where was Sakura?
rlm@2 679
rlm@2 680 Meimi bolted down the stairs, taking them two at a time as she gauged
rlm@2 681 the distance to the door. She was sure that Asuka Jr. was right behind her as he
rlm@2 682 often was and every little second counted. In the kitchen, she could dimly hear
rlm@2 683 someone with an Osaka dialect and the white haired boy arguing over the last of
rlm@2 684 the food. Ignoring it, mysterious thief Saint Tail broke out into the inky black
rlm@2 685 night, broken only by tiny pinpricks of light through the velvet. The cool air felt
rlm@2 686 refreshing against her skin, the tense moment back in the house getting to her
rlm@2 687 much worse than she’d thought. After a brief second, she leapt up onto the
rlm@2 688 rooftop, bounding to another one a short distance away. All that was left was to
rlm@2 689 return the videotape and return to Seira. All in a night’s work for Kaitou Saint
rlm@2 690 Tail. Grinning to herself, she had no idea that she was being watched.
rlm@2 691
rlm@2 692 Sakura stared in stunned amazement as the magician girl cleared
rlm@2 693 another building. She idly wondered if Tomoyo had felt that same amazement
rlm@2 694 at seeing her bounding along rooftops similarly. But that had been a magical
rlm@2 695 event. This was more like professional curiosity. After all, she had met her share
rlm@2 696 of magical people. Pulling out a Sakura Card, Sakura quickly shouted ‘Release’
rlm@2 697 and used the Jump to catch up, leaping effortlessly along behind the other girl.
rlm@2 698 That was her video. And she was going to get it back.
rlm@2 699
rlm@2 700 Her mind still focussing on the sad looking nun girl, it took Meimi a
rlm@2 701 moment to notice that someone was following her. Frowning, she turned to see
rlm@2 702 who it was, expecting the young junior detective to be on her trail. To her
rlm@2 703 surprise, the younger brunette girl had given chase and was doing a wonderful
rlm@2 704 job of keeping pace with her. There weren’t that many people who could. In
rlm@2 705 fact, it seemed like the wings on her feet were practically carrying her along.
rlm@2 706 “Stop!” Sakura yelled, a Card in her hands in case her call was ignored.
rlm@2 707 “I want that videotape back. It’s mine.”
rlm@2 708 Meimi shook her head, turning around towards the younger girl. “I’m
rlm@2 709 afraid it’s not. I was sent here to return it to a girl who had misplaced it. It’s
rlm@2 710 really hers.”
rlm@2 711 Sakura was silent for a moment, biting the inside of her lip. “Misplaced
rlm@2 712 it?” Had Tomoyo not meant to give it to her yet? Was she still worried about
rlm@2 713 what Sakura would think if she found out? Had she gotten it by accident?
rlm@2 714 Nodding, the pony tailed girl took a step backwards. Pausing for just a
rlm@2 715 second, she took another. “Of course. So it seems that it’s not your tape after all.
rlm@2 716 But don’t worry. It will be back in it’s rightful owner’s hands soon enough.”
rlm@2 717 Sakura sighed. This was still too much for her to take all at once. So if
rlm@2 718 Tomoyo hadn’t meant for her to see the tape, if it had been a way for the dark
rlm@2 719 haired girl to get out all of that pent up emotion inside, should she just pretend
rlm@2 720 she hadn’t seen it? But then she would have to ignore Tomoyo’s feelings as well
rlm@2 721 as her own. She couldn’t do that to her friend. Sakura knew that she had to go
rlm@2 722 talk to Tomoyo. “So you’re just returning it to Tomoyo-chan?” she asked
rlm@2 723 reluctantly.
rlm@2 724 Meimi nodded again. “And whatever’s on the tape, if it’s that
rlm@2 725 important, hopefully she’ll show you someday.” She smiled as she took another
rlm@2 726 step. “And if you’re that important to her, I’m sure she will.” The pony tailed
rlm@2 727 girl couldn’t help but wonder why Seira was so involved in this mission, but she
rlm@2 728 sure hoped things worked out for the two girls.
rlm@2 729 Sakura blushed a little and smiled. “Hai... I think she will.”
rlm@2 730 With a quick count, Kaitou Saint Tail disappeared in a swirl of doves.
rlm@2 731
rlm@2 732 . Not long after that, Saint Tail managed to sneak into the Daidouji
rlm@2 733 mansion. Which was no small feat when compared to the Kinomoto residence.
rlm@2 734 There were plenty of well trained guards (all female, curiously enough), and a
rlm@2 735 very well placed security system. It took her over an hour to get inside the huge
rlm@2 736 place. Moving quietly, she looked around for a good place to leave the tape,
rlm@2 737 complete with a cute pink ribbon.
rlm@2 738 “You managed to get it back? Her faith in you is obviously very well
rlm@2 739 founded.” Smiling sweetly, the dark haired girl got out of bed, her long
rlm@2 740 nightgown trailing just above her feet. In the dim light, she could have easily
rlm@2 741 been a ghost, her pale skin sharply contrasted by her dark hair.
rlm@2 742 Kaitou Saint Tail froze. This had never happened before. She wasn’t
rlm@2 743 quite sure how to react. “Who? Oh, Seira-chan. But how did you...” She trailed
rlm@2 744 off, shaking her head. How did she link her to Seira? It must have been the
rlm@2 745 video. Seira had said that God might set things right and now here she was with
rlm@2 746 the tape, playing messenger for Him because of Seira.
rlm@2 747 Tomoyo continued to smile that odd smile of hers, her head tilted to the
rlm@2 748 side. She held the tape to her chest tightly, glad to know that her confession was
rlm@2 749 once again in her hands. She would tell Sakura soon enough. “Arigato
rlm@2 750 gozimasu, Meimi-san.”
rlm@2 751 “All in a days work for...” Meimi trailed off again, sweatdropping.
rlm@2 752 “Wait, what do you mean?”
rlm@2 753 Tomoyo just smiled again. “Seira was talking a lot about you. You
rlm@2 754 have to be the same girl she was talking about. I think that she needed someone
rlm@2 755 to listen just as much as I did. Everyone goes to her with their problems, but no
rlm@2 756 one seems to stop and wonder if she has any.” Of course, no one really asked
rlm@2 757 her, either aside from her mother, but her mother was often times busy. But
rlm@2 758 that’s because she did a good job of pretending to be happy for Sakura’s sake.
rlm@2 759 Still, it was nice to have someone to talk to. Which was why she had made the
rlm@2 760 videotape in the first place. It was a way of voicing all of the turmoil that the
rlm@2 761 feelings inside of her gave rise to.
rlm@2 762 “She was? I.. Well, I’m really glad I could help. Seira-chan seemed
rlm@2 763 really worried about all of this so if I’ve managed to put it right then maybe that
rlm@2 764 will get me a step closer to fixing things with her.”
rlm@2 765 “I can see why someone’s in love with you. You’re very sweet and
rlm@2 766 caring. A little like someone else I know.” Tomoyo had to force herself not to
rlm@2 767 bring up Sakura. She knew that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to quit talking
rlm@2 768 about the magnificent Cardmistress for at least half an hour.
rlm@2 769 “Someone?” How much did this strange girl know about her and what
rlm@2 770 was going on? How much had Seira told her? Whatever it was, she was very
rlm@2 771 perceptive.
rlm@2 772 “I think you know who,” was the simple reply.
rlm@2 773 Meimi arched her eyebrows, unsure of what she meant. But before she
rlm@2 774 could say anything, the pieces began to coalesce. Why Seira was so involved
rlm@2 775 with this, why she related to this dark haired girl, why she’d called Meimi out to
rlm@2 776 the church the night before, why she was always willing to do anything for her,
rlm@2 777 why seemed to get jealous of Asuka Jr. from time to time, why she threw herself
rlm@2 778 into their time together with the whole Saint Tail thing. “Seira...”
rlm@2 779 “You should probably get to the church before you keep her waiting for
rlm@2 780 too long,” Tomoyo said thoughtfully, ushering the mysterious thief back towards
rlm@2 781 the window. “I’m sure she’ll want to know how things turned out. Thank you
rlm@2 782 again, Meimi-san. And please tell Seira-san that I’m glad I came to her with my
rlm@2 783 problem.”
rlm@2 784 Meimi nodded weakly before sliding out the window.
rlm@2 785
rlm@2 786 Seira was deep in prayer again, as she had been since Meimi had left
rlm@2 787 much earlier that afternoon. It was the only way that she could calm herself
rlm@2 788 about the whole situation. She hadn’t felt good at all and this was at least letting
rlm@2 789 her get it all out to someone she knew would listen. She didn’t hear Meimi’s
rlm@2 790 approach this time, but the arms that slowly went around her from behind, shook
rlm@2 791 her out of the near trance-like state that she had been in.
rlm@2 792 “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Meimi asked simply, resting her
rlm@2 793 head against Meimi’s back. She could feel the soft rise and fall of Seira’s
rlm@2 794 breathing in her arms.
rlm@2 795 “I... I didn’t know how. I didn’t think I could,” Seira explained, a little
rlm@2 796 thrown off by what was happening. It couldn’t be what she thought it was.
rlm@2 797 “I’m sorry. I should have noticed sooner, Seira.” Sighing, she let her
rlm@2 798 eyes fall closed, still resting against the Sister-in-training.
rlm@2 799 Seira didn’t know what to make out of what was going on. The only
rlm@2 800 thing she was fairly certain of was that Meimi knew her dark little secret. She
rlm@2 801 blinked back painful tears, shaking her head ever so slightly. “No, I’m the one
rlm@2 802 who should be sorry, Meimi-chan. I just couldn’t help it. You don’t understand.
rlm@2 803 I couldn’t help but fall in love with you. I.. I know I shouldn’t, but...”
rlm@2 804 “Why not?” Meimi asked softly, slowly opening her blue eyes.
rlm@2 805 Pausing for a moment, Seira shook her head in confusion. There were
rlm@2 806 plenty of reasons. Because some of the Sisters said it was wrong, even if she
rlm@2 807 didn’t believe that. Because she was afraid of losing Meimi. Because she didn’t
rlm@2 808 want to hurt the other girl. “Because...”
rlm@2 809 “I love you,” Meimi whispered shyly, embarrassed. It was the first time
rlm@2 810 she’d uttered those words, and to her best friend at that. But she didn’t care if the
rlm@2 811 situation seemed awkward. She was just glad that she understood.
rlm@2 812 Seira’s slightly darker eyes went wide as it ran through her mind.
rlm@2 813 “You... Meimi-chan?” She stopped blinking back the tears, several falling down
rlm@2 814 her delicate features as she turned around in Meimi’s grasp. “You what?”
rlm@2 815 Meimi blushed as she met the other girl’s gaze. “I love you, Seira,” she
rlm@2 816 repeated softly. Why was she still crying? What had she done wrong? She had
rlm@2 817 searched her heart before coming back here. She knew this was what she
rlm@2 818 wanted. But had she made things worse?
rlm@2 819 Smiling through the tears, the nun girl wrapped her arms around the
rlm@2 820 mysterious thief, holding onto her tightly. “Oh, Meimi-chan... I love you, too!”
rlm@2 821 She held on for what seemed like an eternity in the middle of the church, both
rlm@2 822 girls huddled together. “I love you,” she whispered again, not wanting to let go.
rlm@2 823 It felt so nice to finally hold her, especially after hearing that.
rlm@2 824 Meimi was blushing lightly as she rocked back and forth with the
rlm@2 825 slightly smaller girl in her arms. She felt overwhelmed inside. The feelings were
rlm@2 826 almost too much for her. But even exhausted as she was, she felt wonderful.
rlm@2 827 There was no place she'd rather be. Her blush darkened as Meimi’s eyes closed,
rlm@2 828 her lips puckering as she leaned ever so slowly forward. Her own eyes falling
rlm@2 829 closed in the face of sheer exhaustion and in such a warm embrace, she gave in
rlm@2 830 completely to her friend, meeting those lips in a startlingly enrapturing kiss. The
rlm@2 831 waves inside of her heart were no longer crashing, pulling her under in the
rlm@2 832 confusion. The sea was finally calm. “I love you,” she heard whispered softly.
rlm@2 833 Whether she said it or Seira had, it didn’t really matter as she surrendered
rlm@2 834 herself back to the kiss.
rlm@2 835
rlm@2 836