rlm@0: Author’s notes: Hello minna-san! ^-^ This is the first story I’ve
rlm@0: written since I’ve moved. I’ve been having a hard time handling
rlm@0: things, so this has helped me to focus some of that energy. I wrote
rlm@0: most of this on three separate nights. It’s my second Saint Tail
rlm@0: story and hopefully it won’t be my last. ^-^ I would love to hear any
rlm@0: comments, so if you feel up to e-mailing, I would appreciate it. ^-^
rlm@0: This is an alternate end for Saint Tail, so I know it doesn’t fit
rlm@0: exactly with the end of the series. Oh, and Meimi originally had
rlm@0: glasses in the manga. Megumi Tachikawa said that she was farsighted
rlm@0: and only used them for school but she stopped drawing Meimi in them
rlm@0: because she didn’t have her in class much. I thought this was cute,
rlm@0: so I wanted to add it. ^-^ Anyway, thank you so much for reading! ^-^
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Can’t Say Goodbye to Yesterday
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	‘The church is really beautiful,’ Meimi thought to herself as the
rlm@0: large structure came into view. A small smile crossed her lips as she
rlm@0: hugged her sweater to herself. ‘I’ve been here hundreds of times, but
rlm@0: I never really noticed just how beautiful it really is. But Seira
rlm@0: always noticed. She spent even more time here than I did.’ With the
rlm@0: changing direction in her line of thought, the brunette’s smile
rlm@0: faded. Sighing, she paused in front of the large, ornate doors. Her
rlm@0: heart plummeted as her mind drifted back to a conversation she had
rlm@0: had with Seira earlier. 
rlm@0: 	Meimi was now fifteen. Though not the best of students, with
rlm@0: Seira’s help, she had passed rather well through her high school
rlm@0: entrance exams. Finally having such a huge weight lifted from her
rlm@0: shoulders, Meimi had been exhilarated at the newfound freedom. But
rlm@0: her excitement was short-lived. When she had asked Seira about what
rlm@0: the Catholic high school was like that they would be going to, Seira
rlm@0: had told her she would find out for her. Then she had struck Meimi a
rlm@0: blow that she was still reeling from. Seira wouldn’t be joining her
rlm@0: at the high school. She was going to Rome with one of the older
rlm@0: Sisters, presumably to prepare for entering the convent in a few
rlm@0: years. Something that Meimi had thought was years away was now
rlm@0: painfully close. 
rlm@0: 	There wasn’t a time that Meimi could remember not having her gentle
rlm@0: best friend near. Seira was always there to help her through things,
rlm@0: always there to listen to her heart. The Sister-in-training made a
rlm@0: wonderful listener and she had granted Meimi a wonderful confidante.
rlm@0: Seira had been willing to do anything for her, from pretending to be
rlm@0: Meimi to protect her identity to running around dressed like a snow
rlm@0: girl. She had always been infinitely loyal to Meimi, always ready to
rlm@0: help her. But now Meimi was facing the thought of losing Seira and it
rlm@0: drove splinters through her heart. ‘Why God? Why are you taking her
rlm@0: away from me? I know you need her. But so do I...’ Meimi prayed
rlm@0: silently. The thought of losing her best friend sent shivers through
rlm@0: her. It felt like a large piece of her life was about to fade away,
rlm@0: something more important than a limb. She could already feel that
rlm@0: something was missing even though Seira wouldn’t be leaving for at
rlm@0: least another month. But that month hung over Meimi like a death
rlm@0: shroud. Despite Seira’s warm smile when she had come to greet her at
rlm@0: lunch, Meimi had only barely suppressed tears before running away
rlm@0: from her friend. How was she supposed to pretend that nothing was
rlm@0: wrong when Seira would be leaving so soon? How could she live through
rlm@0: the month when Seira would be gone by its end? 
rlm@0: 	So here she was. The brunette thief had called Seira shortly after
rlm@0: getting home. She needed to speak with Seira as quickly as possible.
rlm@0: She didn’t know how, but she had to find some way to convince Seira
rlm@0: to stay. There had to be something she could do. Maybe God wanted
rlm@0: Seira for whatever His plans may be. But if that was the case, the
rlm@0: Saint Tail would have to steal her away. She hoped He would
rlm@0: understand. He would have to. He had placed Seira in her life, after
rlm@0: all. He had to know how important she was to Meimi. 
rlm@0: 	Steeling her resolve, Meimi entered the church. Her fists clenched
rlm@0: in determination, the brunette girl glanced about for the one
rlm@0: troubling her thoughts. Seira had insisted they meet on the church,
rlm@0: something that seemed only fitting after how often they had met
rlm@0: there. Trailing her fingers over the edges of the pews, Meimi made
rlm@0: her way towards the altar. “Forgive me, Lord, for I am without
rlm@0: deceit,” Meimi whispered to herself. 
rlm@0: 	“I hope you aren’t planning on going out as Saint Tail tonight. I’m
rlm@0: afraid there’s nothing to steal.” Seira’s words brought Meimi’s
rlm@0: attention to her immediately. The young Sister-in-training smiled
rlm@0: sweetly, dressed in her all white habit. Standing up from the front
rlm@0: Pew, she rested her hands together in front of her. She had been
rlm@0: praying for hours, having come to the church as soon as school had
rlm@0: ended. One of the nuns had to come get her when Meimi had called for
rlm@0: her. She felt her heart swell to see the mysterious thief once more.
rlm@0: Despite her best efforts, Meimi was never far from her mind. 
rlm@0: 	Spotting Seira near the front, Meimi offered a small smile of her
rlm@0: own. “Everyone always comes to you to pray when they need Saint
rlm@0: Tail’s help. But this time, I think Saint Tail is the one who needs
rlm@0: help.” Her smile faltered as Seira slowly eliminated the distance
rlm@0: between them. Her vision blurred as tears once again threatened to
rlm@0: ruin her composure. She averted her gaze quickly, hoping that her
rlm@0: friend wouldn’t notice. 
rlm@0: 	“You’re always welcome in the Lord’s home, Meimi-chan. You know
rlm@0: that. Everyone can come pray here. Even Saint Tail.” Seira felt an
rlm@0: icy chill overtake her as she saw just how close to tears the
rlm@0: brunette thief was. She took Meimi’s hand and led the semi-startled
rlm@0: girl over to the pew near the front that she had been using. Sitting
rlm@0: down, she motioned for Meimi to join her. It hurt her to see Meimi in
rlm@0: such pain. Which is why she had put off telling her for so long. In
rlm@0: retrospect, she had to wonder if that had been a wise decision. Maybe
rlm@0: if Meimi had known longer, it wouldn’t hurt so much now. But that was
rlm@0: all in the past. All she could do for now was try to help as well as
rlm@0: she could. “What’s wrong, Meimi-chan?” she asked worriedly. She knew
rlm@0: the problem well enough. It had been troubling her for quite some
rlm@0: time. If only she knew how to solve in better. 
rlm@0: 	Meimi took a deep breath, staring straight ahead. Why was this so
rlm@0: difficult? Because Seira had never been leaving before. This had
rlm@0: never been a problem for her. But now she felt off balance, unsure.
rlm@0: “Seira-chan... Are you sure this is what you want to do? Go into the
rlm@0: convent, I mean. Is that really what you want to do with your life?” 
rlm@0: 	“Of course, I do, Meimi-chan. I can’t think of a better path in
rlm@0: this life than one that serves the Lord. And how better to repay the
rlm@0: nuns here? They raised me, a poor orphan girl left on their doorstep.
rlm@0: No one forced them to. No one made them. I want to repay them for
rlm@0: that. For all of the happiness in my life. I owe so much to them. I
rlm@0: believe it’s my path in life,” Seira explained, watching the
rlm@0: brunette. This was something that she had decided long ago, but never
rlm@0: before had she had to explain it to her best friend. Meimi had simply
rlm@0: accepted it before now. But now, Meimi appeared to be having her
rlm@0: doubts. Of course, Seira had other reasons as well, but ones that
rlm@0: were a little more difficult to go into. 
rlm@0: 	“But...” Meimi began, her voice breaking. She took another breath
rlm@0: before continuing. “But what about falling in love? What about
rlm@0: finding your special someone, of spending your life forever with him?
rlm@0: I can’t imagine God denying you that.” She knew she was grasping at
rlm@0: straws now, but she had to try. She couldn’t imagine Seira alone
rlm@0: forever, never falling in love. Why would God wish such a lonely life
rlm@0: for his diligent servant? It didn’t make any sense. Seira deserved to
rlm@0: have that. And Meimi wanted her to stay, so they could find it
rlm@0: together. 
rlm@0: 	Seira paused for a moment, studying the teary eyed thief. After a
rlm@0: long silence, she answered, looking to the altar. “I’ve already
rlm@0: fallen in love, Meimi-chan. I fell in love a long time ago. God
rlm@0: didn’t deny me that. And I’ll forever thank Him for allowing me to
rlm@0: fall in love with such a wonderful person. That’s one of the many
rlm@0: reasons why I want to repay him by becoming a Sister.” 
rlm@0: 	Watching Seira quietly, Meimi was astounded by how radiant she
rlm@0: looked. Whether it was because she was speaking of God or the one she
rlm@0: loved, Meimi couldn’t tell for sure. Whatever the case, Seira was
rlm@0: practically glowing. It wasn’t fair. Seira deserved to be happy. To
rlm@0: be loved. To be nearby. Meimi had always thought it would be fine
rlm@0: when Seira one day became a Sister, thinking she would simply become
rlm@0: one nearby. In her mind, it didn’t feel like anything would change.
rlm@0: But now, it felt too horrible to think of Seira all alone and far
rlm@0: away. The thought that Seira was in love only made that worse.
rlm@0: “You’re in love? Seira-chan, you never told me. You’ve always been
rlm@0: there to listen to me, but I guess I wasn't very good at listening
rlm@0: when you needed me. I’m sorry.” Meimi hung her head guiltily. She was
rlm@0: usually so much better at handling things, even if she could have a
rlm@0: fiery temper, but at the moment she was completely lost. How often
rlm@0: had Seira been there for her? How often had Seira saved her in one
rlm@0: sense or another? Without magic and without athletics, Seira had
rlm@0: always been there to save Meimi when everything was out of control.
rlm@0: She would always think of something to help her, even when her secret
rlm@0: identity was at stake. Seira had been her guardian angel. No one knew
rlm@0: her better than the Sister-in-training. Seira didn’t know the newest
rlm@0: trends or the hottest bands, but she knew everything about Meimi
rlm@0: herself. Yet Meimi had failed her. She had had no idea of Seira’s own
rlm@0: love. A hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. She
rlm@0: slowly looked up into Seira’s understanding blue-gray eyes. 
rlm@0: 	“Meimi-chan, please don’t blame yourself. I never told you because
rlm@0: I didn’t want you to know. It wouldn’t change things right now even
rlm@0: if you did. I couldn’t get with this person no matter how much I
rlm@0: would want to. I’ve already decided what I’m going to do with my
rlm@0: life.” 
rlm@0: 	“You didn’t want me to know? But why not? I’m your best friend. I
rlm@0: just thought there wasn’t anyone you liked.” Meimi’s mind started
rlm@0: sifting through everything, hoping for some clue to unravel Seira’s
rlm@0: love’s mystery identity. Part of her was hoping it would be the key
rlm@0: to keeping Seira from leaving. If she could only find out and somehow
rlm@0: fix things, then maybe Seira would change her mind. Determination
rlm@0: began to well up inside of her, burning throughout her body. Saint
rlm@0: Tail had helped countless people before. Now she would save the most
rlm@0: selfless and loving person she could think of. Somehow.
rlm@0: Unfortunately, whenever Saint Tail was off to solve things, Seira was
rlm@0: there to provide her with the information she needed to know. This
rlm@0: time she had no such luck. It left her wondering how she could manage
rlm@0: without her best friend. Would Seira leaving mean the end of Saint
rlm@0: Tail as well? She quickly shook off the thought. She couldn’t quit
rlm@0: being Saint Tail anymore than she could quit being Meimi. They were
rlm@0: like two different people, but they were both parts of her. ‘I can’t
rlm@0: do this without you,’ Meimi thought desperately. ‘But I have to try.’
rlm@0: Thinking quickly, her mind latched onto the first possibility. “Is it
rlm@0: Sawatari-kun? He does seem to like you. And he is pretty cool,” Meimi
rlm@0: conceded, watching Seira for any reaction. To her surprise, the young
rlm@0: Sister began to laugh. Meimi sweatdropped. “And you always laugh when
rlm@0: he hits on you.”
rlm@0: 	Giggling, Seira nodded, covering her mouth primly. “That’s because
rlm@0: it’s funny. I think it’s silly that he would go to the trouble.
rlm@0: Everyone knows I’m going to become a nun. Besides, I love someone
rlm@0: else. So I couldn’t fall for his ‘charms’ even if I wasn’t going to.”
rlm@0: Another giggle escaped the dark haired girl’s lips as she watched the
rlm@0: quizzical look that Meimi gave her. She had always been amused that
rlm@0: Sawatari would shower any attention on her. It was something that
rlm@0: other girls didn’t understand. They would all kill for his attention.
rlm@0: That he would choose her out of everyone couldn’t help but make her
rlm@0: laugh. She wouldn’t be getting with anyone anyway. There was only one
rlm@0: person that she would want at all and it certainly wasn’t him.
rlm@0: 	Meimi could only stare for a long moment, unsure of how to
rlm@0: continue. Well, it obviously wasn’t Sawatari. But who did that leave?
rlm@0: Seira was kind and sweet to everyone. But even then, there weren’t
rlm@0: any boys that stood out. Plenty came to her to pray and to confess
rlm@0: things, but none really knew her all that well. And Seira didn’t seem
rlm@0: to mind. There weren’t any boys that came to mind. Unless... Meimi’s
rlm@0: eyes went wide as a thought struck her. “It isn’t a boy, is it, Seira-
rlm@0: chan?” Her heart began to pound quicker in her chest as she waited
rlm@0: anxiously. Just how much had she missed about her best friend? How
rlm@0: much had she let go unnoticed? What if it was a girl? Who?
rlm@0: 	A look of surprise crossed Seira’s features for a moment. She
rlm@0: hadn’t quite expected Meimi to ask anything like that. The dark
rlm@0: haired girl had been inclined to leave it off with there simply being
rlm@0: someone she was in love with. But though Meimi could be... moody, she
rlm@0: certainly wasn’t naïve. Slowly, she found herself nodding. She
rlm@0: couldn’t bring herself to lie about it, especially to Meimi. “Hai,
rlm@0: it’s a girl,” Seira said quietly, almost reluctantly. She couldn’t
rlm@0: bring herself to meet Meimi’s questing gaze. Her cheeks darkened
rlm@0: slightly in embarrassment and frustration. What was she supposed to
rlm@0: say if Meimi asked her? What could she do? She didn’t have to tell
rlm@0: her who it was. She could refuse to answer. But after all they had
rlm@0: been through together, could she really do that to Meimi? Didn’t
rlm@0: Meimi deserve to know? She would be leaving soon enough anyway. It
rlm@0: wouldn’t be able to cause much harm. 
rlm@0: 	“Is that why you’re leaving? Is that why you want to be a nun?”
rlm@0: Meimi asked quickly, staring intently at the white clad girl next to
rlm@0: her. Things slowly began to make more sense to the mysterious thief.
rlm@0: That was why Seira was never interested in any of the boys, why she
rlm@0: was never interested in dating. Seira had been raised by the Sisters,
rlm@0: so of course she didn’t think she could be with a girl. That was why
rlm@0: she was intent on becoming a nun, remaining celibate. 
rlm@0: 	Seira shook her head, clasping her gloved hands in front of her.
rlm@0: Only her face was visible in the long white dress. “No, that’s not
rlm@0: it.” She paused to consider for a moment. “That’s not all of it, at
rlm@0: least. Like I said before, I want to for the Lord. I want to pay back
rlm@0: the Sisters who raised me. And yes, because I’m in love with another
rlm@0: girl. I can’t be with her. And I won’t love anyone else. Anyone
rlm@0: besides Him. So I’ll be His willing servant.” Falling in love with
rlm@0: Meimi had only fortified Seira’s decision to become a Sister. She had
rlm@0: tasted love in all of its bittersweet glory. She had that and always
rlm@0: would. But it only helped her to realize where her path in life lay.
rlm@0: She couldn’t be with Meimi. She understood that. So there was nothing
rlm@0: to keep her from a life devoted to God. 
rlm@0: 	Meimi’s head spun, her only real argument, that of Seira falling in
rlm@0: love, having faltered. Her spirits dwindled as she thought of life
rlm@0: without her guardian angel, of a life apart from her best friend. No.
rlm@0: There had to be something she could do. This couldn’t be it. She was
rlm@0: Saint Tail. She could fix this. She always gave people their happy
rlm@0: ending. Why couldn’t she have hers? “But maybe she could likes you
rlm@0: to. Or maybe she would if she only knew. Seira-chan, it can’t be a
rlm@0: sin for you to fall in love.”
rlm@0: 	“And I don’t think it is. The Lord allowed me to fall in love with
rlm@0: a girl that fills my heart with joy. And I’m ever grateful for that.
rlm@0: But she’s out of my reach. Like a star in the sky, I can watch her
rlm@0: and love her, but I can’t have her no matter how my heart wishes
rlm@0: otherwise.” Seira smiled a little sadly at the brunette, suddenly
rlm@0: feeling very lonely in the large and empty church. Meimi was right
rlm@0: next to her, but it might as well have been thousands of miles away.
rlm@0: Like the face of God, some things were simply out of one’s reach. She
rlm@0: fought back the urge to cry herself. Swallowing back a lump in her
rlm@0: throat, she managed to hold the smile for a bit longer. Meimi was so
rlm@0: beautiful, so wonderful. If only love wasn’t such a double edged
rlm@0: sword. Her heart sang for the brunette, relishing in her company and
rlm@0: in the adoring thoughts she had of Meimi. But her heart also ached
rlm@0: terribly from the burden of that love. But she would suffer through
rlm@0: it as best she could. “Besides, you’re already in love with Asuka
rlm@0: Jr,” she finished. 
rlm@0: 	“I am NOT in love with...” Meimi trailed off, Seira’s words ringing
rlm@0: in her ears. Her mouth opened and closed in a futile attempt to
rlm@0: continue. “Me?” she got out weakly, shock overtaking her. It felt
rlm@0: like an eternity before Seira replied with a small nod. Meimi
rlm@0: suddenly felt as if she were being tossed around on an unfriendly
rlm@0: sea, dipping below the treacherous waves that tried to drown her. How
rlm@0: could she be the one that Seira loved? How could she be the girl that
rlm@0: lay in Seira’s beautiful heart? But in many ways, it made sense.
rlm@0: Seira had always been willing to do anything for her, had always been
rlm@0: the there for her throughout it all. She had been the one to convince
rlm@0: Meimi to be Kaitou Saint Tail in the first place. She was the one who
rlm@0: was always seemed to matter the most to Seira, the one who Seira
rlm@0: always prayed for. Meimi clung to this newfound revelation as a life
rlm@0: raft, trying to stay afloat in her own sea of turmoil. “I’m not in
rlm@0: love with Asuka Jr.,” she stated again, more quietly this time. “I
rlm@0: hate him.” This was safer territory. She knew how to handle this.
rlm@0: They had spoken about it before. It was much easier for her to handle
rlm@0: than the uncharted territory of Seira’s feelings for her.
rlm@0: 	Seira contemplated Meimi’s words for a moment, a small smile on her
rlm@0: lips. “Sometimes I think that you and Saint Tail are two completely
rlm@0: different people. You hate Asuka Jr., but she loves him. Or maybe she
rlm@0: just loves the chase,” the Sister-in-training said thoughtfully. She
rlm@0: had said it. At last. She had finally told Meimi how she felt about
rlm@0: her, albeit in an indirect fashion. But at least she had. She had
rlm@0: almost decided against it when she had realized how soon she would be
rlm@0: leaving. But this was for the best. She wouldn’t have a chance to
rlm@0: ruin things. And at least Meimi would know before she left. Meimi
rlm@0: would understand how important she was to Seira. 
rlm@0: 	“I don’t...” Meimi struggled for words, unsure of what to say. Her
rlm@0: mind swirled about in one direction and another. “He’s such an idiot.
rlm@0: When I’m Meimi, we argue a lot and he really gets on my nerves. But
rlm@0: when I’m Saint Tail, I can’t wait for him to catch me. I keep
rlm@0: wondering when it will be. It’s like this fascinating game. I love
rlm@0: how he pays so much attention to Saint Tail. She’s his singleminded
rlm@0: obsession. I like how that feels when I’m her,” Meimi conceded at
rlm@0: last. It wasn’t something she thought about often. It was more of a
rlm@0: feeling than anything else. But it was so different when she was
rlm@0: Meimi and when she was Saint Tail. How could she have such
rlm@0: conflicting emotions? 
rlm@0: 	Nodding thoughtfully, Seira watched her friend. “That’s what I
rlm@0: thought. It does sound like you’re two different people. She thinks
rlm@0: one way and you think another. But I noticed that a long time ago.
rlm@0: She gives you a chance to be something different, to be something
rlm@0: special. She lets you get the spotlight. You’re more confident as
rlm@0: her, as well. And everyone else seemed to notice her, especially
rlm@0: Asuka Jr. But what no one else saw, what you didn’t see, was that
rlm@0: Meimi-chan is special. That she’s more amazing than a thousand Saint
rlm@0: Tails. Everyone loves a good mystery. But what happens when the
rlm@0: mystery is gone, when the riddle’s been solved? What more does it
rlm@0: hold? That’s why I always simply thought of Saint Tail as you. As
rlm@0: Meimi in a cute magician’s outfit. But everyone else, even you, think
rlm@0: of her as something completely different, as a mysterious puzzle.”
rlm@0: Seira smiled softly, tilting her head to the side as she studied
rlm@0: Meimi. Her heart felt warm and fuzzy, her love surrounding herself
rlm@0: like a blanket. “I always thought you were perfect the way you are
rlm@0: Meimi. You don’t need to be mysterious. You don’t need to be
rlm@0: something more than you are. It was always enough for you to be you.
rlm@0: At least, I thought so. I always thought it was strange how Asuka Jr.
rlm@0: could chase Saint Tail so passionately and yet be so cold to you.
rlm@0: You’re more amazing than Saint Tail could ever hope to be, Meimi-
rlm@0: chan.” It was nice to be able to tell Meimi these things, to be able
rlm@0: to say them out loud for once. It relaxed a burden on her soul. Yes,
rlm@0: she would be gone soon. But at least she would have no regrets. “I’ve
rlm@0: loved you for the longest time.”
rlm@0: 	Meimi blushed deeply as her own blue eyes met Seira’s. She was left
rlm@0: at a loss for what to say. She had to admit that it felt nice to know
rlm@0: that someone thought that way about her as Meimi, but Seira? It was
rlm@0: so bizarre. She wanted to say something, to make sense of the moment,
rlm@0: but coherent thought eluded her. No reply seemed adequate enough to
rlm@0: express her feelings. Words couldn’t begin to explain the swirl of
rlm@0: emotions that frenzied throughout her soul. The beautiful Sister-in-
rlm@0: training before her would soon be gone, leaving a void in her life
rlm@0: that she couldn’t replace. How was she supposed to go on without
rlm@0: Seira? How could she push forward without the dark haired girl’s ever-
rlm@0: present companionship and support? It would be like being lost in the
rlm@0: desert without any food or water. It would be like finding no shelter
rlm@0: in the midst of a storm. She would be lost without Seira’s inner
rlm@0: light to guide herself by. When the game was all over and done with,
rlm@0: what would become of Asuka Jr. and herself? He loved Saint Tail,
rlm@0: after all. And she loved the chase. What then? Could she even be
rlm@0: Saint Tail without Sister Seira to help her see things through? Would
rlm@0: it even be worth it? When all was said and done, it was Seira that
rlm@0: she needed, that Meimi needed. The game was wonderful, while it
rlm@0: lasted. But one day there would be no time for games. And she would
rlm@0: have to grow up. This wasn’t about Saint Tail, Meimi suddenly
rlm@0: realized. This was about herself. It didn’t matter what Saint Tail
rlm@0: thought or how she felt about whom. This was about Meimi and where
rlm@0: her own heart lay. But where exactly was that?
rlm@0: 	Seira stood up slowly, smoothing down her long white skirt. She
rlm@0: offered a weak smile to her friend. She still didn’t know what to
rlm@0: think about Meimi’s reaction. She tried to tell herself that it
rlm@0: didn’t matter, that she would be leaving soon anyway. But she wanted
rlm@0: Meimi to have good memories of her. She wanted Meimi to remember her
rlm@0: fondly, not with concern. “I have to get to sleep, Meimi-chan. You
rlm@0: probably should, too. Otherwise your parents might wonder why you’re
rlm@0: so sleepy tomorrow morning.” Her back was to Meimi now, her hands
rlm@0: once again clasped in front of her. ‘Please, Lord, please don’t let
rlm@0: me cry. Not now. Please let me last until she’s gone. Just until
rlm@0: then. Please...’ she prayed quietly. The dark haired girl had trouble
rlm@0: focussing, feeling the anguish in her heart cascading throughout her.
rlm@0: She didn’t want to leave Meimi, even if it was necessary. Her heart
rlm@0: couldn’t handle the strain. 
rlm@0: 	Seira was a good girl. She never lied, cheated, or stole from
rlm@0: anyone. Sometimes she would bend things, but only if she believed
rlm@0: they were for the best, for God. She didn’t get into trouble and
rlm@0: helped whoever she could. Yet this Sister-in-training had fallen in
rlm@0: love with a thief. Love was cruel, the sweetest torture that God
rlm@0: could ever have conjured up. And it was one that left Seira weak and
rlm@0: confused.
rlm@0: 	Hands slowly turned Seira around from where she stood. The dark
rlm@0: haired girl was too weak to stop it and too lost in thought to have
rlm@0: seen it coming. Her clasped hands were soon taken by Meimi’s. She
rlm@0: looked at Meimi silently for a long moment. Meimi slowly brushed her
rlm@0: tears away with her fingertips. The two simply stood in an odd moment
rlm@0: of tranquility. And then, the mysterious thief stole a kiss. It took
rlm@0: Seira by surprise, her heart both unsure and enraptured at the same
rlm@0: time. She could feel Meimi’s deliciously soft lips against her own,
rlm@0: leaving her breathless with a soft and intoxicating kiss. Seira could
rlm@0: only watch for a moment in silence. She wanted to thank Meimi, to ask
rlm@0: her why, to kiss her again, to do anything at all. But all she could
rlm@0: do was cry. Meimi held onto her as Seira collapsed to her knees. The
rlm@0: mysterious thief held her close as she cried. Seira could only lay
rlm@0: against Meimi, her heart torn apart, sobbing. 
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	‘The church is really beautiful,’ Meimi thought to herself as she
rlm@0: entered the silent building. Sunlight spilled through stained glass,
rlm@0: painting the ground near the altar in a torrent of colors. Kneeling
rlm@0: in the midst of this shining rainbow was a girl clad simply in white.
rlm@0: A smile crossed the mysterious thief’s lips as she crept ever closer,
rlm@0: being very careful not to make a noise. ‘It is beautiful, but not as
rlm@0: beautiful as Seira.’ To Meimi’s delight, Seira remained deep in
rlm@0: prayer as she approached. Being the daughter of a magician and a
rlm@0: thief, the auburn haired girl could appreciate the element of
rlm@0: surprise in things. Especially when it was offered so easily to her.
rlm@0: And what made a better surprise than surprising the one you love?
rlm@0: 	“Hello, Meimi-chan,” Seira called out, not bothering to open her
rlm@0: eyes.
rlm@0: 	Meimi stopped short, just a foot behind the kneeling Sister-in-
rlm@0: training. Unfortunately, she hadn’t remembered one of the most
rlm@0: important credos of any magician, things are not always as they seem.
rlm@0: “Seira... How did you know it was me?” 
rlm@0: 	Performing the Sign of the Cross, the young nun rose, a smile on
rlm@0: her lips. “I always know when it’s you,” she stated simply. Truth be
rlm@0: told, she had been waiting for her friend’s arrival. She had known it
rlm@0: would only be a matter of time before Meimi came to see her. But as
rlm@0: always, Meimi’s presence sent her heart aflutter. It was so strange
rlm@0: for Seira when she would see Meimi at the church, her refuge, her
rlm@0: asylum. The church offered Seira the chance to commune with God, to
rlm@0: feel at peace with the world and it’s inhabitants. It was her most
rlm@0: treasured place. She could spend hours there, deep in prayer or
rlm@0: simply lost in thought. It was such a lovely place and it still held
rlm@0: the awe that had lured Seira to it as a very young child. It gave her
rlm@0: such a calm, safe feeling when she was there. Meimi, on the other
rlm@0: hand, gave Seira a very different feeling. Seira had been the auburn
rlm@0: haired girl’s best friend for quite some time, and in all that time
rlm@0: she had always found herself amazed by the athletic young magician.
rlm@0: There was something about Meimi that spun her around and left her
rlm@0: breathless. It was something she had struggled to understand while
rlm@0: their friendship grew. But even before she had requested Meimi to
rlm@0: grant people God’s protection as Saint Tail, she had known that she
rlm@0: was in love with the other girl. Watching the beautiful auburn haired
rlm@0: girl work her magic spun silk strands around Seira’s heart, holding
rlm@0: it captive. Having Meimi in her refuge, standing so nearby in this
rlm@0: have on God, it always left her feeling nearly overwhelmed. The best
rlm@0: of Heaven and of Earth. 
rlm@0: 	Meimi sighed as she absentmindedly played with the cross hanging
rlm@0: from Seira’s neck. “I guess so. But doesn’t it defeat the purpose of
rlm@0: me being a ‘mysterious thief’?” That was one thing that always caught
rlm@0: Meimi off guard, the fact that Seira always seemed to see right
rlm@0: through her. She couldn’t pull anything over on the dark haired girl.
rlm@0: For a girl that didn’t know anything about the latest hit songs or
rlm@0: fashions (unless she needed to find out about them), there wasn’t a
rlm@0: thing about Meimi that she didn’t know. Meimi’s eyes slowly trailed
rlm@0: up from the cross to Seira’s slate gray eyes. The auburn haired girl
rlm@0: smiled as the Sister-in-training watched her.
rlm@0: 	“I must know all of your tricks, then, Meimi-chan.” Giggling, Seira
rlm@0: wrapped her arms around the slightly taller girl’s neck. She couldn’t
rlm@0: remember the last time she had felt so lighthearted, so free. ‘And He
rlm@0: will lift me up on eagle’s wings…’ Her nose rested against Meimi’s as
rlm@0: she looked into beautiful blue eyes. There was more magic in those
rlm@0: shining eyes than there were in all of the magic Meimi performed as
rlm@0: Saint Tail. After all, that was just smoke and mirrors. But the
rlm@0: beautiful sparkle in her eyes was a gift from God, a true miracle.
rlm@0: And one that Seira couldn’t help but love dearly. “You should wear
rlm@0: your glasses more often. You look so cute in them,” Seira suggested
rlm@0: after a moment.
rlm@0: 	Blushing faintly, Meimi closed her eyes. “You really do know all my
rlm@0: secrets. But I hate wearing those things. I don’t even wear those in
rlm@0: class anymore. They looked so stupid.” While Meimi wasn’t exactly
rlm@0: vain, she did know that many of her classmates thought she was
rlm@0: pretty. She hadn’t been very happy about needing to get glasses when
rlm@0: she had found out she was farsighted because she felt it made her
rlm@0: look boring. She didn’t like having the glasses in her way. So she
rlm@0: hadn’t worn them very often since getting them. Seira was one of the
rlm@0: few people who even knew she had them. 
rlm@0: 	“I still think you looked very pretty in them,” Seira insisted,
rlm@0: trying to envision how Meimi would look in her glasses at the moment.
rlm@0: The last time she had seen the auburn haired girl wear them had been
rlm@0: over a year before. “Besides, you think very highly of your father
rlm@0: and he wears glasses,” she pointed out. A smile crossed her lips when
rlm@0: she saw Meimi waver. She knew that it would make Meimi rethink it. He
rlm@0: was why the other girl had gotten into magic in the first place,
rlm@0: after all.
rlm@0: 	“I hadn’t thought about that,” Meimi admitted, relenting. “Maybe
rlm@0: I’ll wear them sometime soon, if you think I should.” Seeing Seira
rlm@0: nod in agreement, Meimi smiled. If Seira thought she looked cute in
rlm@0: her glasses, she suddenly didn’t have a very good reason not to wear
rlm@0: them anymore. It was nice knowing that the perceptive Sister-in-
rlm@0: training found her pretty. What Seira thought was much more important
rlm@0: than what anyone else thought. So when she heard such things from the
rlm@0: dark haired girl, it always stayed with her. Perhaps it was because
rlm@0: she knew that Seira wouldn’t lie to her, that when Seira said these
rlm@0: things she meant it wholeheartedly. Or maybe it was as simple as
rlm@0: those sorts of things sounding so much better coming from the person
rlm@0: who loved you. Whatever the case, Meimi took it to heart. “If you
rlm@0: know all of my tricks and secrets, then you should be my assistant,
rlm@0: Seira. Every good magician has an assistant.”
rlm@0: 	Giggling, Seira shook her head. “I’m really not sure if I’d make a
rlm@0: very good assistant. They’re only there to distract the audience.
rlm@0: You’re too good a magician to need anything like that. I don’t think
rlm@0: I’m dazzling enough to make a decent assistant.” Though the proposal
rlm@0: certainly had its appeal, Seira couldn’t imagine being on stage while
rlm@0: Meimi performed her magic. Especially in whatever skimpy outfit being
rlm@0: a magician’s assistant usually meant having to wear. She was much
rlm@0: more of a behind the scenes player in such things. Just as she had
rlm@0: always been throughout Saint Tail’s career. She would provide the
rlm@0: information and whatever help she could. Meimi was much better suited
rlm@0: to the spotlight. 
rlm@0: 	“Oh, that’s not true. You’d make a gorgeous assistant. You’d just
rlm@0: need a flashier outfit, like my Saint Tail one. Something cute and
rlm@0: lacy. Then we could go on stage together.” Though Meimi was only half-
rlm@0: serious, she could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest. If
rlm@0: only Seira would agree, then everything would work out. It would be
rlm@0: the perfect way of keeping the dark haired girl from leaving to
rlm@0: become a nun. They could be a team, just as they were now. They could
rlm@0: stay together, forever. Meimi tried to force the thought away, but it
rlm@0: was like trying to push a freight train. Seira would be leaving very
rlm@0: soon. There was a chance that she may never see the young Sister-in-
rlm@0: training again. Even if they did meet again, Seira would be a full
rlm@0: fledged nun by then. Their relationship would have to come to an end,
rlm@0: their friendship all that remained. Meimi didn’t know if she could
rlm@0: take that. It wasn’t just life without Seira anymore. It was life
rlm@0: without the love that she now found herself needing more than the air
rlm@0: she breathed. 
rlm@0: 	“And usurp you while you wear that cute tuxedo on stage? I could
rlm@0: never do that, Meimi-chan.” Seira smiled brightly, happy to have
rlm@0: Meimi so near. She could feel Meimi’s hands slip around her waist,
rlm@0: anxiously pulling her closer. Seira relaxed against the slightly
rlm@0: taller girl, her worries far behind her. Because above all else,
rlm@0: Seira had faith that things would turn out for the best. She had
rlm@0: faith in God above. She would follow his will wherever it led her.
rlm@0: And she had faith in a girl named Meimi Haneoka. She knew that
rlm@0: somehow everything would work out. Her heart fluttered delicately,
rlm@0: like a cherry blossom in a gentle breeze. This was perfect. Her
rlm@0: fingers interlocked behind Meimi’s neck, covered by the other girl’s
rlm@0: beautiful auburn hair. She was very thankful for her blessings,
rlm@0: indeed.
rlm@0: 	Meimi, being the overemotional girl she was, felt her own heart
rlm@0: pounding in her chest. She wanted to hold onto the moment, steal it
rlm@0: away and hide it forever in a locket. The pretty young Sister-in-
rlm@0: training in her arms was held close to her beating heart, sending
rlm@0: tremors through her soul. Seira was so sweet, so gentle. Sometimes
rlm@0: Meimi wondered why it had taken her so long to start dating Seira. At
rlm@0: other times she was completely surprised to find herself so enamored
rlm@0: with this loving spirit. At times like that, she was unsure of how
rlm@0: she had ended up in such a strange predicament, but incredibly
rlm@0: grateful she had ended up there nonetheless. Right now she found
rlm@0: herself simply caught up in the beat of Seira’s heart against her
rlm@0: own. So calm, so reassuring. All the while, Meimi’s own heart played
rlm@0: a staccato beat inside of her. In many ways, it was just like the two
rlm@0: girls. Very little could bother Seira while Meimi found herself
rlm@0: reacting heavily to everything that she stumbled across. Meimi
rlm@0: watched as the dark haired girl closed her eyes, content to listen to
rlm@0: the musical harmony of their joined hearts. But that just made the
rlm@0: young magician’s heart beat that much faster, a hand going up to
rlm@0: trail along Seira’s soft cheek. She smiled when she saw Seira’s eyes
rlm@0: flutter open, dark lashes batting as gray eyes looked back into her
rlm@0: own. ‘Kiss her,’ she heard echoing through her thoughts. Without
rlm@0: another thought, she obeyed, kissing her pretty best friend. It was
rlm@0: what she wanted, after all. What she had wanted to do when she was
rlm@0: first sneaking up behind Seira. Just a simple kiss. Her lips pressed
rlm@0: lightly against Seira’s, startling the young almost-nun at first.
rlm@0: Meimi kissed the other girl harder, pouring out the flurry of
rlm@0: emotions struggling through her heart as their lips met. As Meimi
rlm@0: often did when they kissed, she marveled at how soft Seira’s lips
rlm@0: felt against her own, at how warm the kiss felt, at how delicious it
rlm@0: tasted, at how Seira seemed to melt into her. It all swept her up
rlm@0: like a tornado, whipping around her fiercely as she and Seira waited
rlm@0: in the eye of the storm. 
rlm@0: 	Thoughts were only dimly functional in Seira’s mind. They fought
rlm@0: through her head with the same strength of whispers. There was a
rlm@0: bright light, shimmering and all encompassing that held Seira’s soul
rlm@0: up high. And there were warm, persistent lips that were rarely away
rlm@0: from her own for more than a fraction of a second. She shifted
rlm@0: against Meimi, unsure of her own strength to stand. She felt like
rlm@0: light was pouring through her whole body, her lips drawn again and
rlm@0: again to Meimi’s as if they were magnetized. She could feel soft hair
rlm@0: under her fingers as Meimi’s own fingers cupped her cheek. She felt
rlm@0: deliciously lightheaded, as if nothing mattered in the world. ‘Thank
rlm@0: you, Lord, for letting me meet her,’ she silently prayed as she felt
rlm@0: Meimi kiss her again. Her lips parted for the mysterious thief when
rlm@0: they met again, an acute thrill rippling through Seira’s normally
rlm@0: placid world like a stone skipping over a pond. If there was one
rlm@0: guilty pleasure that Seira had to admit to, it was that Meimi was an
rlm@0: excellent kisser. It was Meimi’s kisses that kept Seira up at night,
rlm@0: dreaming about one more soul stirring kiss.
rlm@0: 	When the two finally pulled apart, the Sister-in-training placed a
rlm@0: finger on Meimi’s nose, holding her at bay. “Meimi-chan... We
rlm@0: probably shouldn’t be doing that in here.” 
rlm@0: 	“Do you really think He’d mind?” Meimi asked, her arms
rlm@0: outstretched. The problems with dating a girl who was raised by nuns,
rlm@0: she conceded. But she wouldn’t trade those problems for anything. 
rlm@0: 	Seira smiled at Meimi’s question, shaking her head. Taking the
rlm@0: auburn haired girl’s hand, she led her outside to the garden. “It’s
rlm@0: not Him that I’m worried about. It’s Sister Abbess who would most
rlm@0: likely have a problem with it. I’d rather spare her the sight of your
rlm@0: world famous kisses.”
rlm@0: 	Meimi stuck her tongue out, sitting alongside Seira on one of the
rlm@0: garden’s benches. “They can’t be world famous if you’re the only one
rlm@0: who knows about them.”
rlm@0: 	With a giggle, Seira nodded. “Good, then let’s keep it that way.
rlm@0: I’d rather be the only one to know about them. I’m sure Sister Abbess
rlm@0: would be much happier that way, too.” 
rlm@0: 	Meimi couldn’t help but smile at her dark haired friend’s sweet
rlm@0: presence. She couldn’t put her finger on anything specific. She just
rlm@0: felt so... in love. It was like a fireworks display in her heart, a
rlm@0: blinding display of pyrotechnics. “I love you, you know, Seira.”
rlm@0: 	Smiling, Seira nodded, kissing Meimi’s cheek. “I know. I love you,
rlm@0: too.” She watched the blue eyed girl for a long moment, simply gazing
rlm@0: at her lovely features. She couldn’t think of anything prettier in
rlm@0: the garden. After a moment, Meimi yawned, a hand going to her mouth.
rlm@0: “You didn’t sleep much last night?” Seira asked. Seeing Meimi nod,
rlm@0: the dark haired girl took Meimi’s head and rested it in her lap,
rlm@0: stroking her long, auburn hair back. 
rlm@0: 	Meimi stifled another yawn and a protest. She was about to say that
rlm@0: it wasn’t too bad, but Seira’s lap felt so nice. And she had to admit
rlm@0: that it was better than sitting up. Seira’s gentle hands felt so nice
rlm@0: through her long hair, drifting through it ever so softly. Everything
rlm@0: began to grow blurry after a long, sweet moment. Meimi fought to keep
rlm@0: her eyes from closing, trying to focus on a tree across from them. “I
rlm@0: was working on a new magic trick. I thought it might come in handy if
rlm@0: Saint Tail needs to go help again sometime soon.” 
rlm@0: 	Seira kept up her gentle brushing of Meimi’s hair, looking down at
rlm@0: her sleepy best friend. A smile lit up her face. The athletic girl
rlm@0: was so cute when she was tired. Maybe she put the other girl through
rlm@0: too many late nights as Saint Tail, but Meimi never complained about
rlm@0: it. “You were working on a new magic trick? That’s great. You can try
rlm@0: it out tonight.” She watched the other girl, waiting for a reaction.
rlm@0: Meimi seemed more intent on holding in another sigh for the time
rlm@0: being. 
rlm@0: 	“Yeah? That should be...” Meimi trailed off, her mind finally
rlm@0: catching up. She sat up quickly, her long hair drifting in the wind
rlm@0: for a moment. Suddenly wide awake, Meimi turned to the Sister-in-
rlm@0: training. “Wait... Oh, no.” She shook her head. “I have tickets
rlm@0: tonight. We’re going to the Jun concert, remember? I bought those
rlm@0: tickets weeks ago. We have a date tonight. I don’t have time for
rlm@0: Saint Tail.”
rlm@0: 	Sweatdropping, Seira placed both of her hands in her lap. “I know.
rlm@0: But this girl really needs God’s protection. And Saint Tail is the
rlm@0: only one who can give it to her. I really wanted to go on our date
rlm@0: tonight, too, Meimi-chan. But I think it’s more important that you
rlm@0: help her.” Seira gave Meimi her best hopeful look, squeezing her
rlm@0: hands together tighter. The other girl tried not to meet her eyes,
rlm@0: but Seira kept up, her slate gray eyes following Meimi’s. 
rlm@0: 	“But I had to wait in line for two hours for those tickets,” Meimi
rlm@0: whined, slumping back on the bench with her arms crossed. Staring up
rlm@0: at the treetops, she harumphed. “It was supposed to be a big night,
rlm@0: too. I was really looking forward to this.” She had gone on plenty of
rlm@0: dates with Seira in the time they had been together, but that didn’t
rlm@0: mean that she wanted to sacrifice her upcoming one for Saint Tail.
rlm@0: She could see a dove carrying off the tickets in her mind’s eye.
rlm@0: Seira’s hand rested on her own, trying to calm her. She sighed.
rlm@0: 	“I was looking forward to it, too. But I think this is more
rlm@0: important. Besides, I don’t think your two hours of waiting have to
rlm@0: go to waste. I know two people who would love to have those tickets.”
rlm@0: Seira smiled brightly, catching Meimi’s eye again. Taking Meimi’s
rlm@0: hand with both of her own, she held it to her heart. She had no idea
rlm@0: who Jun was other than she was some idol that Meimi liked to listen
rlm@0: to. So it didn’t bother her that she couldn’t see the girl sing. She
rlm@0: was disappointed that she couldn’t go out with Meimi that night, but
rlm@0: she believed that Saint Tail was needed.
rlm@0: 	“But that’s not fair! Why can’t we go on our date? Isn’t it time
rlm@0: for Saint Tail to have a break? I just want to be with you tonight,”
rlm@0: Meimi said at last, turning to meet Seira’s gaze. She squeezed
rlm@0: Seira’s hands, her own disappointment evident even in the face of
rlm@0: Seira’s optimistic smile. It had sounded like such a magical night.
rlm@0: Tickets for Jun’s new concert and Seira would be coming with her. It
rlm@0: would have been such a perfect date, being there together with Jun’s
rlm@0: love songs drawing them together. And it was one of their last
rlm@0: chances to be together. Meimi was all too aware that she was running
rlm@0: out of time with Seira. But even packing in as much time as she could
rlm@0: with the Sister-in-training, it never felt enough. There was always
rlm@0: that nagging feeling that it would all be coming to an end all too
rlm@0: soon. 
rlm@0: 	“She’s very sick right now. She can’t go out much and she may be
rlm@0: with God very soon. I met her at the hospital when I went with one of
rlm@0: the other Sisters. She has a love letter at home, one that she wrote
rlm@0: a long time ago but never delivered. A beautiful pink letter with a
rlm@0: long ribbon on it. Her mother has it, along with the rest of her
rlm@0: things. She wants to give it to the person she likes, but she can’t
rlm@0: even get home to find it,” Seira explained, still holding onto
rlm@0: Meimi’s hand. “I told her she would surely have God’s protection.”
rlm@0: 	“Oh... I.. I didn’t know.” Meimi could only stare, her heart
rlm@0: dropping. That poor girl. The thought of her dying without even being
rlm@0: able to tell her love of her heart’s true feelings was horrible. What
rlm@0: if she hadn’t known of Seira’s feelings before she left for Rome?
rlm@0: That would have been unbearable. The pretty thief nodded solemnly,
rlm@0: her mind made up. “I’ll do it. Saint Tail will find the letter.” Her
rlm@0: heart melted when she saw the grateful smile that Seira flashed her,
rlm@0: along with a sweet kiss on the cheek.
rlm@0: 	“You have my gratitude as well as the Lord’s. And I’m sure Ryoko
rlm@0: and Kyoko will be very happy as well when they get the tickets.”
rlm@0: Seira couldn’t help but smile happily at her defeated friend. A date
rlm@0: would have been lovely, but somehow it seemed more fitting to spend
rlm@0: one of their last nights together helping others through Saint Tail.
rlm@0: 	“All right. But you have to wait for me at the church. I’m coming
rlm@0: right back after I’m done,” Meimi said stubbornly. 
rlm@0: 	“But you need your sleep, Meimi-chan,” Seira argued. She could
rlm@0: still see the sleepiness in Meimi’s blue eyes, but the auburn haired
rlm@0: girl fought it off. She didn’t know if she should feel bad or happy
rlm@0: that she was the reason that Meimi was always sneaking off late at
rlm@0: night. She decided that it was probably a good thing, even if it did
rlm@0: leave poor Meimi sleep deprived. 
rlm@0: 	“I don’t care. I need to see you more than I need to sleep. We can
rlm@0: talk in the garden or just sit in the church or whatever. I just want
rlm@0: to be with you tonight.” Meimi looked over at Seira determinedly. She
rlm@0: saw Seira nod in assent, and felt her heart relax. It wasn’t the big
rlm@0: date she had been planning, but at least it was something. 
rlm@0: 	“I’d love that, Meimi-chan,” Seira replied, resting her head on
rlm@0: Meimi’s shoulder. Her gray eyes fluttered closed, her mind
rlm@0: concentrating on the girl next to her. If any of the nun’s saw them,
rlm@0: they probably wouldn’t think anything. But even that didn’t really
rlm@0: seem to matter. It was just enough that she was there with Meimi. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	‘Now where could it be?’ Moving with the lithe ease of a trained
rlm@0: gymnast, Saint Tail made almost no sound as she slipped through an
rlm@0: upper window of a seemingly empty house. But appearances can be
rlm@0: deceiving. The woman of the house could be home or Asuka Jr. could be
rlm@0: waiting for her. Lurking in the shadows, the mysterious thief crept
rlm@0: silently forward. Her prize lay somewhere in the house, a pretty,
rlm@0: pink love letter. Meimi grinned to herself. She got to play Cupid for
rlm@0: once instead of just a thief. 
rlm@0: 	Turning a doorknob ever so slowly, Meimi ducked into a small room.
rlm@0: ‘Just where Seira told me it would be,’ Meimi thought happily. The
rlm@0: room was small, but very cute. Stuffed animals lay on the bed atop a
rlm@0: large well used quilt. A small white desk took up the other corner of
rlm@0: the room, books and notes all over it. Meimi smiled to herself as she
rlm@0: looked about the room. Chisato, the girl that lived there must be
rlm@0: very sweet. She had to quell the thought when she remembered the girl
rlm@0: was in the hospital. The difference between the well lived in room
rlm@0: and the stuffy atmosphere of the hospital was tremendous. “Hopefully
rlm@0: she can come back home soon. And when she does, maybe she’ll have a
rlm@0: boyfriend waiting for her.” Smiling again, Meimi set her sights on
rlm@0: the desk.
rlm@0: 	Flipping through notebooks, Kaitou Saint Tail tried to uncover the
rlm@0: elusive love letter. She felt bad for snooping through the girl’s
rlm@0: private possessions, but she had no other way of finding the letter.
rlm@0: Besides, she was a thief after all, so this was her line of work. She
rlm@0: smiled at the small drawings in the notebooks, cute little pictures
rlm@0: of little animals and classmates with little captions around them.
rlm@0: ‘Poor Asami-chan doesn’t like tests,’ one read next to some Math
rlm@0: notes above a picture of a girl looking frantic. ‘Almost lunchtime!’
rlm@0: another read with a girl staring anxiously at the clock. Saint Tail
rlm@0: continued to flip through the notebook, amused by the little
rlm@0: drawings. Her smile faded slowly as she found more and more of them
rlm@0: as the girl become bedridden. ‘Mama makes the best soup!’ was the
rlm@0: caption of one that showed her in bed with a big bowl. ‘I miss Asami-
rlm@0: chan...’ another read, showing her stuck in bed and gazing out the
rlm@0: window. The paper around the drawing was wrinkled as if teardrops had
rlm@0: fallen on it. 
rlm@0: 	Shaking her head, Meimi put the notebook back down. She had to find
rlm@0: the love letter. That was her goal. Everything else could wait. She
rlm@0: had promised Seira that she would do this. A sigh escaped her as she
rlm@0: saw the clock. She was missing Jun’s first song. And she would
rlm@0: probably hear how wonderful it was the next day from Ryoko and Kyoko. 
rlm@0: 	Turning her attention back to the task at hand, Meimi sifted
rlm@0: through several more folders and notebooks but to no avail. Her hands
rlm@0: traveled down the desk, searching through every drawer she came
rlm@0: across. Still nothing. The desk had been her obvious answer, but she
rlm@0: couldn’t find the love letter on it at all. Turning to check the
rlm@0: nightstand near the bed, Meimi stumbled over a wastebasket. Covering
rlm@0: her mouth, she cursed silently, hoping she hadn’t made too much
rlm@0: noise. Sighing after a moment of silence, Meimi pushed her pony tail
rlm@0: back. ‘Maybe I should wear my glasses more often after all. All this
rlm@0: running around in the dark can’t be good for my eyesight.’ Kneeling
rlm@0: down, the mysterious thief began to pick up the wastebasket. It had
rlm@0: been nearly overflowing with tissues. Well, the girl had been sick.
rlm@0: But they were all dark, stained. It took Meimi a moment to notice
rlm@0: that they were all bloody. Her heart rolled in her chest as she set
rlm@0: the basket aside. She couldn’t get distracted by these things. She
rlm@0: had to find the letter.
rlm@0: 	“Where is it?” Meimi asked in frustration. As if in answer, the
rlm@0: closet door opened. The auburn haired girl froze as a boy’s figure
rlm@0: stepped out. 
rlm@0: 	“Looking for this?” Asuka Jr. asked, holding up the rectangular
rlm@0: envelope in his hand. He grinned to himself as he watched Saint Tail
rlm@0: motionless in the shadows. “I don’t know why you’re here to steal
rlm@0: some girl’s love letter, Saint Tail, but I’m not going to let you get
rlm@0: away with it. Tonight, you’re mine.” He watched her for a moment, but
rlm@0: she made no move to escape. He grinned in anticipation as he hurried
rlm@0: forward to claim his own prize. He reached out, grabbing hold of
rlm@0: Saint Tail’s arm with all the strength he could muster. “You’re not
rlm@0: going anywhere!” He hauled her closer, his heart pounding as his face
rlm@0: inched closer to her own. He was about to see who she was. He would
rlm@0: finally know who Saint Tail was. His heart felt like it would burst.
rlm@0: His head finally reached hers, his eyes straining in the darkness. To
rlm@0: his surprise, Saint Tail had no face. “Wha?!” The face was completely
rlm@0: blank, absolutely no features at all. She bobbed back and forth like
rlm@0: a balloon as he pulled back. Something behind him took the letter
rlm@0: right out of his hand in his state of surprise. “Huh? No!”
rlm@0: 	“Thank you! There’s someone who needs this love letter much more
rlm@0: than you. I hope you don’t mind. I have Cupid’s arrow to deliver.”
rlm@0: Leaping out of the way, Saint Tail waved to the young detective
rlm@0: before disappearing out the window. Landing on her feet, she
rlm@0: immediately broke into a run, sticking to the shadows. ‘Wow... It’s
rlm@0: like his spell’s been broken. I was always so eager to see if he’d
rlm@0: find out or not that I would freeze when he was about to find out.
rlm@0: But now that I’m dating Seira, it’s like it doesn’t matter. I’ll have
rlm@0: to thank her later.’ Smiling to herself, the mysterious thief made
rlm@0: her way to the hospital.
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	Sneaking past the front desk, Saint Tail tried to determine where
rlm@0: Chisato’s room was. It was past visiting hours, but she thought that
rlm@0: a quick visit couldn’t hurt. Besides, she thought it would cheer the
rlm@0: sick girl up to know that her love letter had been retrieved and was
rlm@0: about to reach the hands of the one she loved. Maybe that would give
rlm@0: her the strength to get better. Meimi smiled at the thought. Before
rlm@0: she could go another step, she heard someone rush up to the desk. Her
rlm@0: ears perked up at the frantic tone of voice.
rlm@0: 	“I need to know where a girl named Chisato Hikari’s room is! I need
rlm@0: to stop Saint Tail!”
rlm@0: 	Meimi’s eyes went wide. It sounded like Asuka Jr. had ran all the
rlm@0: way to the hospital. He obviously didn’t feel like giving up easily
rlm@0: tonight. This would have to be a very short visit, then. Taking her
rlm@0: best guess, Saint Tail dashed down the mostly empty hallway, ducking
rlm@0: past a handful of nurses. A shout behind her told her that she had
rlm@0: been spotted by the persistent detective’s son. Whirling around,
rlm@0: Meimi brought her top hat about, doves flying out towards the
rlm@0: detective to distract him. ‘I have to tell her that her letter will
rlm@0: be delivered directly. That should perk her up. Even if Asuka Jr.’s
rlm@0: here, I can still do that. I’ll just make it quick.’ The birds did
rlm@0: their job distracting the young detective, giving Meimi the chance to
rlm@0: slip into Chisato’s hospital room. 
rlm@0: 	Walking to the small bed, Meimi held up the pink love letter to
rlm@0: show to its owner. “Chisato-chan...” she whispered, stopping beside
rlm@0: the bed. “I have your love letter. Don’t worry. It will be in your
rlm@0: love’s hands before the nights over,” she whispered reassuringly. The
rlm@0: girl was deathly pale, her long hair disappearing behind her. Meimi
rlm@0: leaned closer, trying to get Chisato’s attention. “Chisato-chan...”
rlm@0: she whispered, a little louder this time. Still no response. But
rlm@0: there was a strange beeping in the room and a ruckus coming from the
rlm@0: hallway. “Chisato-chan?” The girl just lay there, silent and
rlm@0: unmoving. Meimi took a step back as the door burst open, doctors
rlm@0: rushing to the girl’s side. Her heart hung like a weight in her chest
rlm@0: as she watched them gather around the girl’s prone form. She shook
rlm@0: her head, her ponytail moving from side to side. “No..” she
rlm@0: whispered, realization hitting her. She felt like the floor had just
rlm@0: given way underneath her. Her legs didn’t respond to her mental
rlm@0: commands, collapsing underneath her. She could only watch as doctors
rlm@0: began to slow their hurried performance. It all felt so surreal, men
rlm@0: gathered around an unmoving child, intent upon one who is doing
rlm@0: nothing at all.
rlm@0: 	An unsteady hand helped Saint Tail back to her feet. Asuka Jr.
rlm@0: could only stare as the doctors continued swarming around the
rlm@0: unmoving girl. “What happened?” Asuka Jr. heard. The voice startled
rlm@0: him. It took him a moment before her remembered it was his own. It
rlm@0: sounded so distant, as if it had traveled to him through a body of
rlm@0: water. He had been so intent on catching Saint Tail, but now that
rlm@0: hardly seemed to matter. Was that the girl that Saint Tail was trying
rlm@0: to help in the bed, surrounded by an army of masked doctors? What a
rlm@0: frightening sight, all of these faceless people surrounding someone,
rlm@0: poking and prodding relentlessly. “What’s.. What’s going on?” Asuka
rlm@0: tried again, getting no more strength behind his voice. 
rlm@0: 	For what felt like an eternity, both thief and detective stood and
rlm@0: watched, unable to do a thing. Their eternal struggle forgotten, they
rlm@0: stood together against the wall, too forlorn to offer anything but a
rlm@0: shoulder to lean on. During all this time, the letter remained in
rlm@0: Saint Tail’s hand, feeling like it held the weight of the world
rlm@0: within it, almost too heavy for her weak fingers. Slowly, a doctor
rlm@0: approached the two, pulling down her mask. “I’m sorry. She’s dead. We
rlm@0: did all we could, but it was too late. Her body just gave out. Were
rlm@0: you friends with the deceased?”
rlm@0: 	‘With the deceased’ played again and again through Meimi’s
rlm@0: thoughts. This was a girl with hopes and dreams, fears and loves.
rlm@0: Meimi had only known her from the writings she had seen, the drawings
rlm@0: this girl had drawn with a hand that no longer moved. That she had
rlm@0: seen with eyes that could no longer see. No, Meimi had not been
rlm@0: friends with her, had not even known of her until earlier that day.
rlm@0: But this had been another girl, a beautiful, sweet girl. And now she
rlm@0: was dead. Meimi felt her heart seize in her chest. “I.. I just wanted
rlm@0: to help her..” she barely got out, the world around her blurring as
rlm@0: tears burned at her eyes. She couldn’t even see as the body was
rlm@0: wheeled out of the room. ‘I miss Asami-chan,’ Meimi heard in her
rlm@0: head, the image of the lonely girl looking out a window returning to
rlm@0: her. She closed her eyes tightly. “I.. I have to go..” She pulled
rlm@0: away, clutching the letter like a lifeline. She had to hurry. She
rlm@0: didn’t know why, only that she couldn’t waste a second. Perhaps it
rlm@0: was a way of escaping the tragedy of the moment. Perhaps it was a way
rlm@0: for her to busy herself with something else. Whatever the case, she
rlm@0: quickly turned to leave. 
rlm@0: 	“Good luck,” Asuka Jr. called after her, his hands in his pockets.
rlm@0: He didn’t feel like following. He couldn’t bring himself to. Not
rlm@0: tonight. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	With trembling hands, Saint Tail slid open the window to another
rlm@0: bedroom a short time later. Slipping into the room, she held the love
rlm@0: letter to her chest. “Are you Asami-chan?” she heard herself asking
rlm@0: into the darkness, pointed towards the bed. “I have something for
rlm@0: you.” Her mind refused to deviate from her task. She was here to
rlm@0: deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver
rlm@0: the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the
rlm@0: letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter.
rlm@0: Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver
rlm@0: the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the
rlm@0: letter. Deliver the letter. Deliver the
rlm@0: 	The figure on the bed stirred, shifting sleepily before finally
rlm@0: sitting up. In the darkness, the half blanket shrouded figure looked
rlm@0: far too much like ancient depictions of death to Meimi. Shuddering
rlm@0: violently, the mysterious thief tried not to think at all. She
rlm@0: focused solely on her mission. This was what she had been meant to
rlm@0: do. She had to give the letter to this girl. “I’m Saint Tail. I have
rlm@0: a letter that belongs to you.” Her fingers shook as she held out the
rlm@0: letter. It slipped from her fingers, pinwheeling in the air before
rlm@0: flopping on the floor. Meimi reached for it, taking two tries to
rlm@0: finally clasp it in her gloved hand again. 
rlm@0: 	The sleepy figure shook her head, trying to get her bearings.
rlm@0: “Saint Tail?” she asked curiously before yawning. Reaching forward,
rlm@0: she slowly took the pink love letter. Her mind was still half asleep.
rlm@0: “What’s this?” It took her a moment to see through the blurry haze of
rlm@0: sleep. She turned the letter over in her hand. A small drawing of a
rlm@0: lovestruck girl on the back brought a smile to her lips. “Chisato-
rlm@0: chan.” Her mind was still tired to make anything of the connection to
rlm@0: her friend.
rlm@0: 	“It’s for you. From her. Chisato-chan. She.. She wanted you to have
rlm@0: it..” Meimi got out weakly. “I.. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She could
rlm@0: feel her eyes tearing up again. She had to leave. And soon. 
rlm@0: 	Asami shook her head, anxiety gripping her soul. Tearing open the
rlm@0: letter, she skimmed through the cutely decorated stationary. It was
rlm@0: obviously Chisato’s lovely handwriting, with her shy, delicate way of
rlm@0: speaking. She smiled as she read through it. Chisato must have sent
rlm@0: it sense she was stuck in the hospital. They hadn’t been able to talk
rlm@0: much because the hospital didn’t let visitors see her often. How
rlm@0: sweet of her. Halfway through, she finally understood. Her reading
rlm@0: quickened, her eyes tearing over the paper. “She.. loves me?” She
rlm@0: glanced up to the mysterious thief. To her surprise, Saint Tail
rlm@0: shrank back into the shadows, shaking her head continuously. “Chisato-
rlm@0: chan’s in love with me?” she asked again. She was overcome by shock.
rlm@0: Chisato had been her best friend for years now. She had always been
rlm@0: so sweet. It took her off guard that Chisato could be in love with
rlm@0: her. The other girl had always been so shy around her, blushing when
rlm@0: she would ask questions about love or relationships. She still didn’t
rlm@0: know how she felt about it. Flattered? Embarrassed? It was such a
rlm@0: beautiful, glowing letter. She held it close to her chest. She felt..
rlm@0: happy. She smiled. Maybe.. Maybe she felt the same way.
rlm@0: 	“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Meimi repeated, nearly at the window.
rlm@0: She could barely think, suddenly overcome by what had happened
rlm@0: earlier. She no longer had her mission to keep her from thinking
rlm@0: about it. It consumed her soul, dark tendrils holding her, sending
rlm@0: icy chills throughout her body. Her heart felt frozen. 
rlm@0: 	“Sorry..? For what? What’s going on?” Asami slid off of her bed,
rlm@0: suddenly panicking. Was Saint Tail crying? Moonlight sparkled off of
rlm@0: her tears, little shooting stars slipping down her chin and falling
rlm@0: to the earth below. “What is it? What happened?” Asami demanded.
rlm@0: Saint Tail’s mouth opened and Asami’s world shattered as if it was
rlm@0: made of brittle glass.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	“It’s not fair! It isn’t fair at all!” Meimi sobbed, her head on
rlm@0: Seira’s lap sometime later. She had left Asami alone, leaving when
rlm@0: she had been unable to comfort her. The last she had seen of the
rlm@0: other girl had been her crying and broken in her room. Meimi had
rlm@0: hurried straight to Seira, the night taking it’s toll on the
rlm@0: mysterious thief. And there she found herself, crying into Seira’s
rlm@0: blue nightgown. 
rlm@0: 	Seira gently stroked Meimi’s hair, unsure of what to say to soothe
rlm@0: the distraught thief. She could feel the warm tears against her legs,
rlm@0: seeping through the fabric of her nightgown. A chill went through her
rlm@0: as the night wind blew across the two girls, but somehow she doubted
rlm@0: it was the cause of her sudden chill. She swallowed painfully,
rlm@0: closing her eyes. “I should have explained. Sister Emari and I were
rlm@0: visiting the terminally ill patients. They knew she was going to die
rlm@0: soon. I just didn’t think it would be tonight. I’m so sorry, Meimi-
rlm@0: chan.”
rlm@0: 	“But why, Seira? Why?” Meimi asked, wiping her eyes on Seira’s
rlm@0: nightgown. “Why did He take her? She was a sweet girl, I could tell.
rlm@0: And.. and she was in love. Asami.. I think she loved her back. But
rlm@0: now she’ll never know. Now she’ll never be able to see.” Meimi shook
rlm@0: her head in frustration, tears sliding down her cheeks. 
rlm@0: 	“I don’t think she would have told Asami-chan otherwise, Meimi-
rlm@0: chan. She was very shy. She didn’t know how to tell her friend. She
rlm@0: wrote that love letter before she got sick. She wasn’t going to give
rlm@0: it to her. But when she got sick, she thought it was her only
rlm@0: chance," Seira explained, her fingers brushing away some of Meimi’s
rlm@0: tears. 
rlm@0: 	“Then I failed her. I didn’t get it to Asami-chan in time. If I
rlm@0: had, maybe they could have talked. Maybe they could have had some
rlm@0: time together.” Meimi shook her head, tears clinging to her
rlm@0: eyelashes. She felt so weak inside, so torn apart. Saint Tail always
rlm@0: brought people God’s protection. How could she have failed? It always
rlm@0: helped people, but this time she felt no joy in accomplishing her
rlm@0: task. 
rlm@0: 	Seira gently held Meimi’s head in her lap, her gray eyes looking
rlm@0: deep into Meimi. “Meimi-chan, death is not failure. Death doesn’t
rlm@0: mean that you lost. Life is more than winning and losing. She may
rlm@0: have died, but that doesn’t mean her love died with her. It was only
rlm@0: sealed away in an envelope. You delivered it for her. She was too shy
rlm@0: to tell her True Love how she felt. You couldn’t have prevented her
rlm@0: death. It was God’s will that she return to Him now. But you did give
rlm@0: her love a last message. She’s free from her pain now. But you have
rlm@0: freed her from a regret that may have stayed with her soul. She has
rlm@0: finally been able to tell the girl she loves how she felt. I’m sure
rlm@0: she’s smiling up above, watching over Asami-chan. And now Asami-chan
rlm@0: knows. What she does with that knowledge is up to her. But if it
rlm@0: weren’t for you, she would never have known that Chisato-chan was in
rlm@0: love with her.”
rlm@0: 	Meimi sniffled, trying to meet Seira’s gaze. “But it’s still not
rlm@0: fair. I tried so hard, but I feel like it didn’t mean anything.”
rlm@0: 	“For Chisato-chan, it meant everything. She can rest peacefully now
rlm@0: thanks to you, Meimi-chan.” Seira bent over, kissing Meimi’s
rlm@0: forehead. “You did your best. That’s all anyone could ever ask of
rlm@0: you.”
rlm@0: 	“I know..” Meimi replied weakly, resting an arm across her face. “I
rlm@0: know.”
rlm@0: 	Seira sighed sadly, still stroking Meimi’s long hair. “Sometimes
rlm@0: it’s very hard to understand His plan, Meimi-chan. Sometimes it’s
rlm@0: easy to lose our way. But we have to have faith, even when we wonder
rlm@0: ‘why’. Sometimes ‘because’ is the only answer we can find. Life is
rlm@0: full of beauty and sadness. Even in the simplest, plainest things are
rlm@0: immeasurable beauty. And there can also be immeasurable pain. We have
rlm@0: to console each other while we’re on this earth. We have to help each
rlm@0: other. Even then, pain will still find us. But with pain and with
rlm@0: anguish, there is always hope. We have to nurture it like a tiny
rlm@0: flower, letting it bloom in all of us. Hope, love, dreams, these are
rlm@0: all parts of the same thing. There the gifts that He has given us. As
rlm@0: long as we have hope, despair can never ruin us. Never completely.”
rlm@0: Seira placed another kiss on Meimi’s head. “I love you, Meimi-chan. I
rlm@0: realize now that I would have made a huge mistake if I hadn’t told
rlm@0: you.”
rlm@0: 	“I love you, Seira..” Meimi got out quietly, her voice choking up.
rlm@0: She closed her eyes, tears silently falling onto Seira’s lap. 
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	Meimi sighed as she slumped onto her bed, exhausted. A groan
rlm@0: escaped her after a quick glance at the clock. Why did Saint Tail
rlm@0: always have to work at night? It was too bad that being a mysterious
rlm@0: thief wasn’t a valid excuse for staying up so late at night. And
rlm@0: neither was spending the wee morning hours with a pretty Sister-in-
rlm@0: training. Somehow she doubted the nuns at her school would accept
rlm@0: either excuse. Yet she already knew that sleep would elude her. Her
rlm@0: mind was still too focused on Seira, on the past few hours. On what
rlm@0: little time they had left. That thought alone would keep sleep at bay
rlm@0: for quite some time. The whole thing with Chisato had her even more
rlm@0: concerned with losing Seira. Shifting uneasily in bed, the auburn
rlm@0: haired girl found herself staring at the clock as minutes silently
rlm@0: ticked away. Hopelessness surrounded her heart, thick and heavy. Each
rlm@0: minute that ticked by signaled another moment that she could not
rlm@0: reclaim, another instant with Seira that was forever, inexorably
rlm@0: gone. 
rlm@0: 	Rolling onto her back, Meimi stared up at her roof, trying
rlm@0: unsuccessfully to push away such troublesome thoughts. But she had
rlm@0: never been good at such things. This would keep eating at her until
rlm@0: it went away on its own or until she could resolve the situation. And
rlm@0: there was nothing she could do about it. In less than a week, Seira
rlm@0: would be gone. When next they met, the dark haired girl would be a
rlm@0: full-fledged Sister. They would still be friends, of that Meimi was
rlm@0: certain. They would forever be friends. But what of their courtship,
rlm@0: which Meimi was starting to feel was going to be cut off all too
rlm@0: briefly? That was something they would have to abandon once Seira
rlm@0: became a nun. Seira would then be a woman of God, destined to a life
rlm@0: of celibacy, married to the Church. Such childish things as their
rlm@0: relationship would be nothing but memories.
rlm@0: 	And where did that put Meimi? Would she eventually find some boy
rlm@0: and get married? That didn’t sound right, to move on when Seira
rlm@0: became a nun. But what else was she supposed to do? What did their
rlm@0: relationship mean, anyway? ‘It means I love her,’ Meimi mentally
rlm@0: answered, her hands behind her head. ‘And I would still love her,
rlm@0: even if she does go off and becomes Sister Seira.’ But could she
rlm@0: really spend forever alone, as Seira was about to? That thought was
rlm@0: too lonely to bear, chilling Meimi’s heart. So how, then, could Seira
rlm@0: live with the thought? It would have to be a terribly lonely life, a
rlm@0: life without the love Seira had held for so long. She could see Seira
rlm@0: kneeling in prayer forever. Why would God want to deny one of his
rlm@0: kindest, gentlest subjects the chance at love? It baffled Meimi. 
rlm@0: 	But then... Perhaps He didn’t. Meimi sat up suddenly, pacing the
rlm@0: floor of her room, almost stumbling over her pet hedgehog, Ruby.
rlm@0: Throughout the past few years, Saint Tail had been the one to grant
rlm@0: God’s protection. All at the behest of Seira. She had always gone to
rlm@0: help whoever Seira had asked her to. Who better to receive God’s
rlm@0: protection from the mysterious thief Saint Tail than the girl who had
rlm@0: brought it all about so selflessly to begin with? Who was more
rlm@0: deserving than Seira? Yes, it made perfect sense. But how? 
rlm@0: 	Pausing for only a moment to pick up Ruby, Meimi resumed her
rlm@0: pacing. What could Saint Tail do to prevent Seira from leaving? What
rlm@0: was within her power to fix things for the young Sister-in-training?
rlm@0: This was always Seira’s line of work. She was the one who came up
rlm@0: with how to fix things for people. But this time Meimi was on her
rlm@0: own. She thought frantically, not noticing the light starting to
rlm@0: spill through her window. There had to be something, somehow. It
rlm@0: wasn’t as if she could just steal Seira. Or could she? Lifting up
rlm@0: Ruby, she smiled brightly at the cute hedgehog. “I can’t let Seira
rlm@0: go. I won’t let her. I need her here, Ruby, with me. And I’ll make
rlm@0: sure she’s happy. I’ll grant her God’s protection. This will be Saint
rlm@0: Tail’s finest performance!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	“Please guide me. Please help me find my path.” Dim light bathed
rlm@0: the young nun as the sun struggled up into the sky. Dawn had only
rlm@0: broken a short time before, but the dark haired girl had been there
rlm@0: for much longer. She was alone in the large, empty church, hands
rlm@0: clasped in prayer. Her simple white outfit shimmered in a myriad of
rlm@0: colors as the sun played across the beautiful stained glass. Had
rlm@0: anyone seen her, they might well have mistaken the girl for an angel
rlm@0: sent from Heaven. To the Sisters who had raised her, she was a little
rlm@0: angel, something that had brought joy and wonder to their lives. A
rlm@0: little gift from God that had landed on their doorstep by a mother
rlm@0: who could not take care of her. They had pulled together to raise
rlm@0: this little orphan into the beautiful young lady she was today. Seira
rlm@0: felt she owed it to these loving women who had brought her up for as
rlm@0: long as she could remember. She wanted to dedicate her life to the
rlm@0: God that she loved so dearly. This had been her destined path, her
rlm@0: future for as long as she could remember. But now... 
rlm@0: 	Sighing, Seira’s head lowered. She was having trouble thinking. The
rlm@0: church had always been such a tranquil place for her. But now her
rlm@0: heart was being torn in two. She had been in love with Meimi for
rlm@0: years, but had never thought she could actually be with Meimi. That
rlm@0: was one of the reasons she had wanted to join the convent. It would
rlm@0: be easier that way. If she could not be with the one she loved, then
rlm@0: she would devote herself to the Lord. Now she had a taste of the love
rlm@0: in her heart and it left her unsure of herself. She knew that her
rlm@0: faith would not waver. She would always be devoted in her heart. But
rlm@0: her path now seemed so uncertain. Her whole life had been leading up
rlm@0: to her eventually becoming a nun. Seira didn’t know any other way.
rlm@0: Everyone had expected her to become a nun. The Sisters at the school,
rlm@0: the students, even Meimi and herself. 
rlm@0: 	But with Meimi in her life, she was suddenly left with a
rlm@0: surprisingly different option. Her heart belonged to Meimi, of that
rlm@0: she was certain. She could go and be with her, stay with her
rlm@0: mysterious thief. She could give in to the yearnings of her heart.
rlm@0: She could have one but not the other. Her dream since she had been a
rlm@0: child, the life she had prepared for could be hers. Or she could have
rlm@0: the girl of her dreams. Which would it be? Seira felt as if she were
rlm@0: being tugged in all directions. Her heart felt empty, afraid. 
rlm@0: 	So she prayed. And prayed. Because if there was one thing this
rlm@0: could not affect, it was her faith in God above. Her delicate hands
rlm@0: still held together, she continued her prayer for guidance. “Please
rlm@0: help me to understand. I will follow your will wherever it leads me.”
rlm@0: She swallowed pack the pain of tears left unshed. “I love her so
rlm@0: much. Thank you for placing her in my life. For giving us the time
rlm@0: together that you have. I will always cherish that gift you have
rlm@0: given me. But now I find myself at a crossroads and I don’t know
rlm@0: which path to take. I want to dedicate myself to you, to live my life
rlm@0: for you. But I can’t do that if I’m with Meimi. But I don’t want to
rlm@0: leave Meimi, either. I’m lost, my Lord. Please help me to find my
rlm@0: way,” she whispered, her eyes closed tightly. 
rlm@0: 	“Seira-chan, what are you doing up so early?” a voice asked from
rlm@0: the back of the church. 
rlm@0: 	Seira crossed herself before turning to see who the voice belonged
rlm@0: to.  There was nothing she could do for now but wait and hope that
rlm@0: her prayer would be answered. “Good morning, Sister Emari. I was just
rlm@0: praying.” The dark haired girl smiled softly at the older woman as
rlm@0: the Sister joined her in front of the altar. She hadn’t slept at all
rlm@0: the night before, leaving her fuzzy and unfocused. Her mind was still
rlm@0: jumbled, her heart heavy. But she would have to have faith that
rlm@0: things would work out. Wherever God led her, she would follow. 
rlm@0: 	The older woman yawned tiredly as she reached the Sister in
rlm@0: training, a hand covering her mouth. “And I thought I was an early
rlm@0: riser. You must have a lot on your mind if you came to pray so
rlm@0: early.” Pulling down her glasses, Sister Emari rubbed some of the
rlm@0: sleep from her eyes. She smiled gently at the younger girl after
rlm@0: replacing her glasses. Her smile faded as she saw the wet sheen over
rlm@0: Seira’s gray eyes. “Is something troubling you, dear?” 
rlm@0: 	Picking up her bible, Seira averted her eyes, hugging the book
rlm@0: tightly to her chest. The only sound in the large expanse of the
rlm@0: church was Seira’s cross lightly sliding across the bible as she
rlm@0: shifted. “I’m going away in less than a week,” the dark haired girl
rlm@0: said at last, turning to look at the older woman. 
rlm@0: 	“Is that what you’re concerned about, Seira-chan? Dear, you
rlm@0: shouldn’t worry about that. I know that you’ll make such a lovely
rlm@0: nun. You’re kind and sweet and gentle. We’ll all miss you terribly,
rlm@0: but when you return, you’ll be Sister Seira.” Sister Emari put a hand
rlm@0: on Seira’s shoulder, smiling at the younger girl reassuringly. It
rlm@0: didn’t seem to help Seira’s disposition any. The older Sister pushed
rlm@0: her glasses back up. “That’s not it? What is it, Seira-chan?” The
rlm@0: younger girl was practically a daughter to her and to the rest of the
rlm@0: nuns at the school. It worried her to see Seira so troubled by
rlm@0: something. Usually the younger girl was so bright and full of life.
rlm@0: Now she seemed consumed by doubt. Could it be the upcoming trip to
rlm@0: Rome itself? Seira had been so eager when they had first told her of
rlm@0: it several months before. What could be bothering her about it now?
rlm@0: For a moment, Sister Emari could see the small child that had been
rlm@0: left at the church doorstep, the one that she had watched grow over
rlm@0: the years. Like any mother, she couldn’t stand to see the younger
rlm@0: girl in pain. None of the Sisters at the school could. Seira was
rlm@0: their pride and joy. 
rlm@0: 	Seira hesitated for a moment, hugging her bible. What was she
rlm@0: supposed to say? She always believed in doing what was right, what
rlm@0: the Lord wanted, but she knew that sometimes you could bend things if
rlm@0: it would help. Like having her best friend steal items to bring them
rlm@0: back to those that needed them. Like lying about Ruby being a stuffed
rlm@0: animal so Asuka Jr. wouldn’t catch on that Meimi was Saint Tail. But
rlm@0: could she lie about this? About being in love with another girl?
rlm@0: Whenever Seira would bend things, it was only to help others, never
rlm@0: herself. Sighing inwardly, she could feel herself trembling as she
rlm@0: lowered her gaze. “I don’t want to leave Meimi-chan,” she whispered. 
rlm@0: 	“Is that what this is all about? I’m sure you can come back and
rlm@0: visit soon enough after you get settled. We’ll all want to see you
rlm@0: again soon anyway. And I’m sure that the two of you could write each
rlm@0: other.” Smiling warmly, Sister Emari tried to work out the soonest
rlm@0: that Seira could return. She would miss the dark haired girl
rlm@0: considerably, as she knew everyone else would. Maybe they could try
rlm@0: to collect some money and fly her back for a visit sooner than they
rlm@0: had originally planned. Anything to see their smiling little girl
rlm@0: again. If only she would smile. Sister Emari frowned. Seira was
rlm@0: usually so happy, always smiling or giggling. It was horrible to see
rlm@0: the pretty younger girl robbed of her beautiful smile. Just as it
rlm@0: would be sad when Seira left. The Sister-in-training really
rlm@0: brightened the lives of the nuns. 
rlm@0: 	“I love her,” Seira said, looking down. She had never told any of
rlm@0: the Sisters before of her feelings for Meimi. With the churches views
rlm@0: on homosexuality, she had been too afraid to say anything. And it had
rlm@0: been pointless to worry about it before. She would be joining the
rlm@0: convent, away from the girl she loved. She wouldn’t be acting on her
rlm@0: feelings, so it wasn’t a problem. It didn’t make her love Meimi any
rlm@0: less, but it just hadn’t been important because there was no way she
rlm@0: could be with the other girl. But now that was different. She was
rlm@0: afraid of how the older women might react, afraid that she would let
rlm@0: down these wonderful women who had raised her. 
rlm@0: 	“Oh...” Sister Emari cleared her throat, pushing up her glasses.
rlm@0: The older Sister began to look around the large room, her eyes
rlm@0: wandering. That had been... unexpected. Still, had she really
rlm@0: expected Seira to grow up and never fall in love? Such a thing was
rlm@0: preposterous. Of course their little Seira had fallen in love. But
rlm@0: with Meimi? “You love Meimi?” Sister Emari repeated. Seeing Seira nod
rlm@0: slowly, Emari sighed. She had heard correctly after all. “But she’s
rlm@0: so... moody.”
rlm@0: 	Seira giggled softly despite herself. “I’ve noticed. But it’s
rlm@0: something I’ve always loved. She’s very emotional.” Releasing a sigh,
rlm@0: she closed her eyes. Her heart was still entangled hopelessly in a
rlm@0: web she couldn’t begin to untangle. But her mind understood the
rlm@0: church doctrine well enough. If she was to remain celibate, then it
rlm@0: didn’t matter if she had feelings for another woman. “I know where I
rlm@0: belong, Sister Emari. I love her, but that just makes it even more
rlm@0: important that I join the convent. I will be God’s servant.” She
rlm@0: waited for the older woman’s agreement but when none came, her eyes
rlm@0: fluttered open. Sister Emari had her arms crossed, her attention cast
rlm@0: forward as if she were deep in thought. “Sister?”
rlm@0: 	“Her name was Kasumi.”
rlm@0: 	Blinking in confusion, Seira shook her head. “Whose name was Kasumi?”
rlm@0: 	The older Sister smiled, her glasses glinting in the growing light.
rlm@0: “Nothing. It was a long time ago. Seira, I’m not sure if your place
rlm@0: is in the convent. You’ve always been God’s servant. You’ve always
rlm@0: helped His people as best you could. And you aren’t a Sister yet.
rlm@0: Even then, you’ve done wonderful things for people. I meant what I
rlm@0: said earlier. You are kind and gentle and loving. But you don’t need
rlm@0: to be a priest or a nun to follow the Lord’s path for you.”
rlm@0: 	“I don’t think I understand, Sister Emari. Doesn’t all of this make
rlm@0: it even clearer that I should become a nun? Doesn’t all of this make
rlm@0: my path clear?” Seira asked, gray eyes meeting the Emari’s brown
rlm@0: eyes. She had made her decision, but now it seemed that Sister Emari
rlm@0: was telling her otherwise. Confusion rolled over her, tossing the
rlm@0: young Sister-in-training about.
rlm@0: 	“I can’t tell you what your path is, Seira-chan. Sometimes we have
rlm@0: a hard time seeing it, but if we listen closely enough, we can
rlm@0: understand in the end what we were put here for. You have done a
rlm@0: wonderful job helping people even without being a nun. I don’t think
rlm@0: being one would change you one bit. I do, on the other hand, think
rlm@0: that the Lord would want you to be happy. He would want you to have
rlm@0: joy in your life. And most of all, He would want to see your precious
rlm@0: smile, just as He’s let us all see it as you grew up here.” Emari
rlm@0: reached out and held the dark haired girl’s cheek. “You’re like a
rlm@0: daughter to me, Seira-chan. To all of us. He would want you to be
rlm@0: happy. We want you to be happy. We always thought you would grow up
rlm@0: to become a nun because of how you are. But we don't expect it of
rlm@0: you. Perhaps your path lies elsewhere. You’re one of the Lord’s most
rlm@0: faithful servants. I can’t see Him wanting you to be lonely.”
rlm@0: 	“I... Sister Emari...” Seira got out weakly, taken aback. She
rlm@0: blinked weary, tear streaked eyes. Her tangled heart struggled
rlm@0: against the confining webs, Sister Emari’s words coursing through her
rlm@0: soul. Crying softly, she felt arms pull her closer, gentle hands
rlm@0: stroking her back. Was Sister Emari right? Could she be with Meimi?
rlm@0: But still, she felt the convent’s calling, could feel her life’s
rlm@0: dream waiting for her. Her mind collapsed into confusion. Resting
rlm@0: weakly against the older woman, Seira cried herself to sleep.
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	“Saint Tail!!” Darting forward, Asuka Jr. snagged at thin air.
rlm@0: Blinking confusedly, the boy barely had time to notice his
rlm@0: surrounding before he tumbled to the floor. Grumbling, he sat up,
rlm@0: throwing his blankets to the side. Just another dream. Sighing, the
rlm@0: green haired boy walked barefoot across his tidy room. Some would
rlm@0: call him obsessed with the mysterious thief, but he didn’t care what
rlm@0: anyone else thought. Only one thing mattered to the young detective,
rlm@0: and that was unmasking Saint Tail. One day he would. One day soon. He
rlm@0: would catch her. He would be the one. Saint Tail had promised him
rlm@0: that he would be the only one to catch her. She was his first thought
rlm@0: upon waking and his last thought upon drifting off to sleep. She was,
rlm@0: for all intents and purposes, his one driving goal in life.
rlm@0: 	Stepping up to his window, Asuka Jr. drew the blinds. The dark
rlm@0: haired boy winded as light poured into his room. Yawning, he turned
rlm@0: away and began to get dressed. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the night
rlm@0: before, having followed Saint Tail all the way to a hospital. He had
rlm@0: almost caught her when doctors had run past, nearly knocking him
rlm@0: over. They had run to the same room Saint Tail had been heading
rlm@0: towards. 
rlm@0: 	Asuka Jr. closed his eyes tightly, trying to force out the thoughts
rlm@0: that followed. But even as he tried to relegate them to the shadows
rlm@0: of his mind, searchlights brought them out into the open. The girl
rlm@0: had died. The girl that Saint Tail had been helping had been dead by
rlm@0: the time the doctor’s reached her. Her body had finally given out,
rlm@0: one of the doctors had told him. He and Saint Tail had been side by
rlm@0: side as they heard the news. He could have caught her then and there.
rlm@0: But he couldn’t. His heart hadn’t been in it. He saw them cart away
rlm@0: the body of a pale girl and he suddenly hadn’t felt strong enough to
rlm@0: stand, let alone to haul in Saint Tail. It was then that he learned
rlm@0: that Saint Tail had been about to deliver a love letter from the now
rlm@0: dead girl. It had been her final wish. So Asuka Jr. had let her go.
rlm@0: How could he let the girl’s final wish go unfulfilled? At least this
rlm@0: way, she wouldn’t regret never telling her love on the other side.
rlm@0: They would know. But that thought sent a cold chill through him. How
rlm@0: would he handle a letter confessing someone’s love for him only to
rlm@0: discover they had already died? It was a painful situation, he knew.
rlm@0: He was relieved that Saint Tail had been the one to give the letter
rlm@0: and not himself. He didn’t know if he could do that. 
rlm@0: 	Trying to shake off the haunting feeling the thoughts gave him,
rlm@0: Asuka Jr. turned to pick up his backpack. Something on the window
rlm@0: caught his eye. Squinting, her walked closer to the plane of glass.
rlm@0: “Traeh s’arieS retsiS rof emoc lliw I ,thginoT,” he managed to sound
rlm@0: out. “What the hell?” Had Saint Tail suddenly started writing in
rlm@0: code? Or was this some strange type of riddle? He shook his head,
rlm@0: trying to decode the bizarre message. It finally hit him the third
rlm@0: time through. She’d written it on his window from the outside. It was
rlm@0: backwards. “Tonight, I will come for Sister Seira’s heart. Saint
rlm@0: Tail.” He read it over again. What could she mean? He shook his head.
rlm@0: It didn’t matter. He would find out tonight. Tonight, for sure! He
rlm@0: would catch Saint Tail!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	The church was completely empty except for a lone girl. Seira sat
rlm@0: quietly in a confessional, her heart struggling to understand where
rlm@0: her place was, where she belonged. She couldn’t tell how long she had
rlm@0: been there or even when she had first arrived. This was her usual
rlm@0: spot, inside the church, waiting for those in need. But now she found
rlm@0: herself in need. She could usually determine what needed to be done
rlm@0: to help people, to fix their problems. But she found herself unable
rlm@0: to come up with a solution to her own predicament. Her heart teetered
rlm@0: back and forth on the edge, unsure of which choice to make. On one
rlm@0: hand, she loved Meimi dearly. On the other, her life was one that was
rlm@0: committed to God. It left her in a precarious predicament. 
rlm@0: 	A sound in the other side of the confessional dragged Seira out of
rlm@0: her thoughts. She smiled softly as she looked over at the screen.
rlm@0: This was something she could handle. It was so much easier helping
rlm@0: others figure out what to do than trying to decide what to do on her
rlm@0: own. She would be leaving in a few days, but maybe she could get
rlm@0: Saint Tail to help a few last people before she left. Or she could at
rlm@0: least help ease someone’s mind with whatever troubles they had. “Can
rlm@0: I help you?”
rlm@0: 	“I have a confession to make,” the voice said from the other side.
rlm@0: It sounded strange, unfamiliar. “I’m in love with another girl. She’s
rlm@0: all I think about anymore. She’s just perfect. She’s so sweet and
rlm@0: caring. She would do anything for me. Even though I do some stupid
rlm@0: things sometimes, she always helps me out of it. I can always come to
rlm@0: her with my problems and she always listens to me, no matter what
rlm@0: they are. She can get a little jealous sometimes and she can get me
rlm@0: to do things without my even knowing she tricked me into it, but it
rlm@0: all just makes me love her even more. She knows me better than anyone
rlm@0: else could ever hope to.”
rlm@0: 	Seira felt her heart pounding in her chest. Holding her hands in
rlm@0: her lap, she tried to come up with a reply. “Are you worried that
rlm@0: it’s a girl? It sounds like you’re very much in love. I don’t think
rlm@0: the Lord would ever fault you for such a thing.” 
rlm@0: 	“I’m not worried about that. But I think she is. I think she’s been
rlm@0: worried about that for some time.”
rlm@0: 	“So she’s afraid that it’s wrong for her to be in love with another
rlm@0: girl.” Seira sighed, bowing her head. “I know how that feels. But God
rlm@0: loves all of his children. He isn’t an exclusive being, there only
rlm@0: for some and not others. I don’t see how being in love can be a sin.
rlm@0: He’s so loving. He wouldn’t be angry with you for being in love, no
rlm@0: matter who you’re in love with.”
rlm@0: 	“Really? I wish you could tell her that. I’m so scared that I’m
rlm@0: going to lose her because of this. And I can’t lose her. I need her.
rlm@0: More than anything. She makes my life complete. I’d be lost without
rlm@0: her. She’s always been my guiding light. She’s the one that steers me
rlm@0: in the right direction.”
rlm@0: 	Standing up, Seira reached for the door. Something about this was
rlm@0: just too strange. It sounded too familiar. The door opened and she
rlm@0: stumbled into Saint Tail. The Sister-in-training’s arms flailed as
rlm@0: she fell against the mysterious thief. Both girls tumbled to the
rlm@0: floor in a heap. “Meimi-chan?” Seira looked up directly into auburn
rlm@0: hair. She closed her eyes as it tickled her nose. 
rlm@0: 	“You weren’t supposed to come out yet,” Meimi explained, getting to
rlm@0: her knees. She smiled at the dark haired girl. “It’s ventriloquism.
rlm@0: I’ve been practicing. I knew it would come in handy one of these
rlm@0: days.”
rlm@0: 	“So you were waiting right outside? What in Heaven for?” Seira
rlm@0: asked, blinking. She slowly gathered up her skirt underneath her,
rlm@0: still kneeling herself.
rlm@0: 	“For this.” Meimi cupped Seira’s chin, kissing her softly. The
rlm@0: young nun froze as she kissed her warmly, gloved fingers stroking
rlm@0: under her chin. Meimi held the kiss, drawing it out before finally
rlm@0: pulling away. Seira was pleasantly dizzy when she was done. Meimi
rlm@0: smiled and trailed up to Seira’s lips with her fingertip. “I love
rlm@0: you, Seira. I need you.”
rlm@0: 	Seira shook her head, slowly getting to her feet. “Meimi-chan.. You
rlm@0: really shouldn’t do that in here.” She turned her back to the auburn
rlm@0: haired girl, trying to quell her warring feelings. She held her hands
rlm@0: to her chest, breathing slowly. 
rlm@0: 	“Why? You said yourself that He wouldn’t fault you for it,” Meimi
rlm@0: argued. Still Seira looked uncertain. Meimi took her hands, looking
rlm@0: the dark haired girl in the eye. “Please come with me. Just for now.
rlm@0: I have to show you something. Ruby has something she wants to show
rlm@0: you.” Her blue eyes pleaded with Seira until the young nun finally
rlm@0: relented. She hurried outside, leading Seira into the darkening
rlm@0: night. Stars already twinkled outside like lanterns in a long and
rlm@0: dark sea. “Ruby!” Meimi called. The cute little hedgehog ran out from
rlm@0: behind some bushes, leaping up into Meimi’s waiting hands. “I would
rlm@0: have done this on my own, but Ruby wanted to come along,” Meimi
rlm@0: explained. 
rlm@0: 	“Ruby’s always welcome to come along,” Seira said with a smile,
rlm@0: petting the hedgehog in Saint Tail’s hands. Something glimmered in
rlm@0: the moonlight, hanging from Ruby’s ribbon. Seira looked at it
rlm@0: curiously, reaching out. She gently pulled it away from the ribbon,
rlm@0: holding it up in the dim light. A small gold ring glimmered in her
rlm@0: hand. Seira opened her mouth but nothing came out. She suddenly felt
rlm@0: much dizzier than she had after the kiss. She was about to sit down,
rlm@0: but Meimi took her hands, piercing blue eyes captivating her. She
rlm@0: could only look back, ring still in hand. 
rlm@0: 	“It’s my mother’s engagement ring. She was actually really for this
rlm@0: plan when I asked her if I could have it.” Meimi swallowed, licking
rlm@0: her dry lips. She felt so anxious. She had never before thought of
rlm@0: doing this, had never thought of how difficult it would be. But the
rlm@0: thought of losing Seira spurred her on. This was what she wanted, to
rlm@0: be with Seira forever. Standing there in her Saint Tail tuxedo, it
rlm@0: seemed all too fitting. “Seira, will you marry me?”
rlm@0: 	Seira stared back in stunned silence. A marriage proposal? Meimi
rlm@0: was proposing to her? Her cheeks darkened as the thought made its way
rlm@0: to her heart. “I.. Meimi-chan..” she got out, blushing. “But we
rlm@0: can’t.” She tried to think, but her mind was paralyzed, trapped on
rlm@0: the ring and Meimi’s blue orbs. 
rlm@0: 	“I know we can’t legally get married, but I want to marry you,
rlm@0: Seira. I thought long and hard about this. This is what I want. I
rlm@0: hope it’s what you want, too. I promise I’ll take care of you. I
rlm@0: promise I’ll love you forever. I know we’ll have God’s protection on
rlm@0: this. Just please say yes,” Meimi pleaded, her fingers entwining with
rlm@0: Seira’s. Her heart hung above infinity as she awaited Seira’s reply,
rlm@0: her eyes questing into Seira’s for an answer.
rlm@0: 	“Saint Tail! You won’t get away this time!” Asuka Jr. yelled as he
rlm@0: ran towards the two girls. 
rlm@0: 	Meimi smiled at Seira before taking a step back and turning to
rlm@0: Asuka Jr. “Sometimes, a magician will reveal her tricks to the
rlm@0: audience so they can see the illusion for what it is. I’ve played
rlm@0: this game long enough. Thank you for playing it with me, Asuka Jr. I
rlm@0: had fun. But I can’t play it anymore.” Reaching up, Meimi pulled out
rlm@0: her ribbon, her long ponytail spilling behind her. She shook her
rlm@0: head, her hair fluttering around her. 
rlm@0: 	“Haneoka-san?!” Asuka Jr. stared in amazement. “You.. You’re Saint
rlm@0: Tail? But how?” For all of this time, there had been hints of Meimi
rlm@0: in Saint Tail, but he had never been certain. There had always been
rlm@0: that mystery. But now, the mystery of Saint Tail was laid out right
rlm@0: in front of him. He could only watch, unsure of what to do. She was
rlm@0: unmasked. What more could he do?
rlm@0: 	Meimi turned back to Seira, and with a graceful step was right
rlm@0: against her. Wrapping an arm around Seira’s waist, she held the young
rlm@0: Sister-in-training tightly. Pulling up her top hat, she counted down.
rlm@0: “One! Two! Three!” With an impressive burst, a group of colorful
rlm@0: balloons lifted above them. Meimi grabbed the line as the lifted into
rlm@0: the air, pulling Seira into the sky with her. 
rlm@0: 	Asuka Jr. watched the two girls float into the air for a long
rlm@0: moment, watching until they were far out of sight. Collapsing
rlm@0: backwards, he could only sit there, Saint Tail’s unmasking burned
rlm@0: into his mind. It was over. The chase had finally ended. He had what
rlm@0: he wanted. He knew who Saint Tail was. So why did he feel so empty?
rlm@0: The mystery was gone, the one thing that had kept him on edge, eager
rlm@0: to find it’s resolution. It really was like finding out how a magic
rlm@0: trick worked. When you saw it again, the magic was gone. It was
rlm@0: simply a gesture. Saint Tail was simply Haneoka. There was no magic
rlm@0: behind it, no mystery anymore. He sighed. He didn’t bother looking
rlm@0: when someone sat down next to him.
rlm@0: 	“Well.. You know now.” Lina looked up into the heavens, following
rlm@0: Asuka Jr.'s gaze. “Is it everything you had hoped for?” she asked,
rlm@0: looking over to him. 
rlm@0: 	“The magic’s gone. She showed me how the magic works. It’s just..
rlm@0: gone.” Asuka Jr. shook his head, still in shock. “I don’t know where
rlm@0: to go from here. I don’t know what to do. Saint Tail was everything.
rlm@0: I finally caught her. I know who she is. Now what? The game’s over.”
rlm@0: 	Lina nodded thoughtfully. She offered a small smile, catching Asuka
rlm@0: Jr.’s eye. Resting a hand on his, she shrugged. “Real magic doesn’t
rlm@0: work that way. Real magic doesn’t disappear when you find out what
rlm@0: causes it.”
rlm@0: 	Asuka Jr. sighed, looking down at Lina’s hand. “I guess you’re
rlm@0: right. But what do I do now?” He looked up again, seeing Lina bathed
rlm@0: in moonlight. He didn’t know why, but for the first time, he realized
rlm@0: how pretty she was.
rlm@0: 	“Keep looking. Saint Tail wasn’t the magic you were looking for. So
rlm@0: keep looking until you find that magic. Until you find the real
rlm@0: magic. Magic that won’t disappear when you understand it.” Lina
rlm@0: smiled, taking his hand in her own.
rlm@0: 	Asuka Jr. nodded, smiling faintly himself. “I’ll keep looking.”
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	Up above, a young Sister-in-training and a mysterious thief floated
rlm@0: through the air. Seira had been taken by surprise at first, too
rlm@0: shocked to keep herself from being whisked away by Saint Tail. She
rlm@0: had had the presence of mind to hold onto the engagement ring,
rlm@0: luckily. The two hung above, suspended up in a beautiful star
rlm@0: speckled heaven. Seira sighed, resting against Meimi as she held onto
rlm@0: her. The two floated quietly for what felt like a beautiful taste of
rlm@0: eternity. Seira could feel Meimi’s heart beating against her own, a
rlm@0: thunderous beat against her own. Meimi was usually so much more
rlm@0: confident as Saint Tail, but it seemed that even that confidence
rlm@0: couldn’t shield her as she waited anxiously. “I’ll marry you, Meimi-
rlm@0: chan,” Seira said at last, pulling back enough to look into Meimi’s
rlm@0: gorgeous blue eyes. She smiled at the look of relief that washed over
rlm@0: the auburn haired girl’s face. “It’s what I want, too.”
rlm@0: 	Meimi smiled brightly holding Seira even tighter. The future
rlm@0: suddenly wasn’t weighing upon her shoulders. Instead it made her feel
rlm@0: lighter than air, drawing her above her worries. The future was no
rlm@0: longer something to dread, but something to await with each passing
rlm@0: breath. “Seira..” Meimi felt her heart float joyously like the
rlm@0: balloons she was holding. “I love you, Seira,” Meimi whispered.
rlm@0: 	Seira’s decision was finally made. She felt free, given the eagle’s
rlm@0: wings she had sought for so long. Life was the most precious dream.
rlm@0: She silently thanked the God that she had dedicated her life to for
rlm@0: this beautiful moment, for letting her future lay with Meimi. That
rlm@0: future lay before them, unwritten but full of glorious promise and
rlm@0: wonder. And they would write their future hand in hand. “I love you,
rlm@0: too, Meimi-chan,” Seira replied, her gray eyes sparkling. Leaning
rlm@0: forward, she kissed the mysterious thief, her very own not-so-
rlm@0: mysterious thief with all the love in her heart. With her hands
rlm@0: behind Meimi’s waist, she slipped on the engagement ring, a thrill
rlm@0: passing through her as the symbol of their union clasped her finger.
rlm@0: And so they floated through the skies above, the silhouette of a
rlm@0: thief and a nun kissing in the light of the moon.
rlm@0: