Disclaimer: Kaitou Saint Tail is not, and never will be, my property. I am only borrowing them for a little fun. Please don't bother
suing. I'm sure that I'm practically a continent away from you.
Notes: Wow… *claps hands happily* People actually read this. ^.^ Well, thanks for reading and commenting and suggesting. Sorry I delayed uploading this for so long… Lazy me.
Is Meimi the Homecoming Queen? You'll find out here.
Kissing Scenes? Hmmm… Thinking about it…
Lost Slippers
Part II
ASUKA JR. FOCUSED his agate eyes on the unoffending piece of dessert, hacking and stabbing at the tender spongy bread with callous single-mindedness. It wasn't fair. All that stupid piece of cake had to do was sit there in its sagging butt, looking edible and tasty, while he had to dance with every girl present in the dance. Now was that injustice or was that injustice?
"Hey!" Niitsu Minoru suddenly cried out. A particularly empathic jab on the cake sent chocolate icing splattering all over the place. "Would you mind, Asuka? I'd like to keep my white suit white."
His friend merely grunted back.
"Everybody finished dessert fifteen minutes ago," remarked Yoshio Tsuru. "They're all dancing now."
"If they all want to get stomachache, that's their problem," snapped Asuka.
"And you think you won't? You barely ate anything."
"His plate was empty enough," remarked Minoru absently.
"Yeah." Tsuru glared at the boy detective. "Its contents ended up on the tablecloth and my shirt."
"Hey, man, I think I can see where we're going here now." Minoru draped a hand across Asuka's shoulder.
"Eh?" Asuka glared back at Tsuru and also at Minoru's mysteriously smiling face.
"Our buddy's chickened out."
"Yeah…" said agreed Tsuru. "You wanna run home now, little buddy?"
"I'm not your little buddy," snarled Asuka. "The bet's still on!"
"Good. Now, there's the first girl you gotta dance with."
"Wha?! Nan da yo?"
"Right, Wanda," said Minoru coolly. "You are going to ask her to dance before the soccer team asks her. You'll never be able to squeeze through later."
Asuka looked at the girl dismally. She was older than him, at least a head taller, blonde, curvaceous, buxom, all woman at sweet sixteen… And probably didn't even know he existed.
"Can't you choose easy pickings?" he finally said in a small voice. "I mean… I don't know their Chemistry that much."
"Chemistry?" said Tsuru. "She's perfect."
"Yeah," said Minoru. "PPP."
"PPP?" repeated Asuka. "Point-to-Point Protocol?"
"PPP. Pretty, popular and pea-brained!" He slapped Asuka's back and gave Tsuru a high-five, laughing gleefully.
Asuka gave them a sickened look. "You guys are insufferable."
"What?" said Tsuru innocently. "We can save you the trouble and tell Haneyoka that everything she said about you is true."
"No need for that." He sniffed disdainfully. "And I called you friends..."
Nonetheless, he straightened up, steeled himself and walked towards the girl Wanda.
"Wait!" called Minoru, catching up with him. "Here. You'll need these."
Puzzled, Asuka peered down at the package his friend thrust to him. The were fancy business cards with his name on it. Daiki Asuka Jr, it says, professional academic assistant. Will do home works, projects, and tutors all subjects, except Physical Education. Fee: 1 dance tonight.
"AN AD?!!!" Asuka exploded. He practically threw the cards at Minoru. "Niitsu you are dead. DEAD."
"Whoa!" said Minoru. "It'll make it easier for you. Would you rather go around announcing it to everyone? Come on, man. We're just trying to help. After all, we are friends."
"Whatever! You'll pay for this after all this is over. I'll be several hundred bucks richer than you."
"Sure, Asuka." He chuckled. "I'll be too happy to pay you. After all, that's entertainment: expensive."
Asuka merely shook in a minor apoplexy as he slinked away. "This is your fault, Haneyoka!" he muttered through gritted teeth.
Still, he girded his loins and approached the older girl. However, a few paces from the girl, he lost his nerve and froze on his tracks. He stood there, seemingly a stone outside, but raving in rage and embarrassment inside.
Suddenly, the girl turned to him, an irritated expression painted on her face.
"Well?" she demanded impatiently.
Asuka stuttred, "A-ano…"
"Are you gonna ask me to dance or not?"
"Aah.. yeah…" He blinked in disbelief but nonetheless managed to get his leaden feet moving. In spite of himself, he took one of Minoru's business cards and handed it to her.
"Oh, I'll look at that later," the girl said brusquely, flipping the piece of paper on the table. She stood up and allowed Asuka to lead her to the dance floor. "Can you imagine that?"
"Eh?"
She was disgustedly looking at something over his shoulder. "Look at those idiot stumbling all over that red-head girl. And they left me by myself. Hmph. They'll pay for this humiliation, you'll see. At least, you're smart enough to take advantage of the situation… Tell me, do you think that girl is more attractive than I am?"
Asuka really couldn't spot which girl his dance partner was referring to so he just nodded.
"Of course, you'd say that. Secret admirers…" Her laughter pealed at a too high a frequency. "I don't know your name, boy, and I don't remember seeing you ever around school. Anyway, even if you're not popular or sporty you look pretty handsome. And you don't step on my feet while dancing. I think my girlfriends would like a dance with you."
"Er… T-that's great…. Thanks… I guess."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNLIKE MOST EVENINGS, the school gym wasn't dark and quiet. Indeed, its present state was a far cry from the usual what with the loud music and eager chatter of talking ( or yelling!) of friends. At nine in the evening, the party fever was rapidly heightening.
Asuka Jr. grinned to himself in satisfaction. The party has only started three hours ago, the eating lasting for only an hour or so and the dancing officially starting an hour later. Even so, he had already danced with every girl in school and even some of the outsiders present. He had won the bet. After all, they didn't specify how long each dance was supposed to be.
He glanced at his watch. Good. Maybe he could go home early now that the dare had been settled. His ears were starting to ring from the loud music and he had some chores to do at home. Parties were just not his type of thing.
"Hey, Niitsu," he called to his friend. "I'm done. I've danced with every girl in school."
"What about Haneoka?" asked Yoshio Tsuru.
"Obviously, she isn't here."
"Lucky bastard," muttered Niitsu Minoru. "And obviously being the nerd that you are had its uses."
"Hey! I didn't bribe a single girl to do her physics homework. Or chem. Or math."
"They all danced with you willingly?!" squeaked Yoshio.
"Why not?"
"Everybody's nice to the outcasts tonight," remarked Niitsu, a wee bit jealous of the attention the females were showering at Asuka. "It must be the water."
"No, just my look goods." Asuka grinned triumphantly. "And now, if you don't mind, I'm going home."
Niitsu stopped him with at tug at his coat tails. "It's not over yet," he said.
"Whaddaya mean!?!"
"You haven't dance with the Prom Queen."
"Prom Queen? You mean the Lady of the Night? The Homecoming Queen?"
"Whatever."
"What the heck? I have danced with everyone anyway. One of them's bound to be the winner."
Yoshio shook his head. "Uh-uh."
"Are outsiders included in the judging?" asked Niitsu.
"I think so."
"What are you talking about?" Asuka demanded, getting a little impatient. "Well?"
"You haven't danced with her yet." Yoshio gestured to the girl sitting quietly in the corner, apparently resting from the series of dances she has been offered. "You never got the chance, slowpoke."
Whoa! Asuka drew in his breath sharply. That girl he hadn't even seen yet. And boy did he nearly miss something big time. The petite slim figure in the blue dress was very attractive alright. Her round expressive eyes shone, reflecting the disco lights. Her red blond hair contrasted sharply against the dim environment, making her even more stunning.
Chagrined, Asuka turned away. "I-... She isn't our classmate, - I mean school mate."
"That's true," said Niitsu. A smile has crept on his face after he noticed his friend's blush. "But they say she's going to be the Lady of the Night."
"She's an outsider," Asuka growled self-consciously.
"We're not really sure about that," pointed out Yoshio.
"We'll have to wait and see," agreed Minoru, eyes twinkling. He broke into breathless laughter as Asuka Jr. groaned. Boy, is this fun or what!
~~~~~~~~~
MEIMI BLINKED IN confusion. What was that? Did she just hear her name? That's impossible, she quickly dismissed. It must be the punch. Maybe somebody sabotaged it and poisoned it with liquor. Bad idea.
The next thing she knew, however, she was already being dragged to the stage, people applauding and congratulating her avidly from all sides. Before she could figure out the situation, however, her schoolmates had already dumped her on the stage. Looking up in a daze, she was distracted by the most unpleasant unanticipated sight.
"Asuka Jr.!"
"Haneoka!"
"You're the Guy of the Night?!"
At the same time, Asuka also sputtered, "You're the Lady of the Night?!"
To label the expression on their faces as shock and disbelief would be an understatement. Perhaps, more than one of them was regretting he/she had come. They gazed at each other stonily for a long time.
"Hey, Asuka!" broke in Niitsu's voice. "Are you chicken!?"
That woke Asuka up. "I'm not!"
Ignoring the hoots and catcalls all around them, Asuka offered his hand to his companion, face contorted into a frown.
"May I have this dance?" he said crisply.
"As you wish," answered Meimi icily.
They danced away to a waltz in silence, oblivious to the stares of the other students. Soon enough, the others lost interest and resumed their previous business.
"Um..." Asuka said, attempting to be at least civil with this. "You look- look" he was cut off by a cough. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "You look... different."
Meimi finally looked at him uneasily. "I... You're not so bad yourself, Asuka Jr."
Silenced ruled again as none could think of anything else to say.
"I heard you danced with everybody, Asuka."
"Ah..." he reddened a bit. "It's just Niitsu's stupid dare"
"How 'd you do it?" Meimi peered at him curiously. "How much homework are you gonna be doing till the end of the school year?"
"Hey!" Asuka glared at her indignantly hot-faced. "They accepted freely! See, you're wrong. I'm no nerdy geek major turn off."
"Obviously you're wrong, too," snapped Meimi curtly. "I'm not the little prissy girl you accuse me of being."
Asuka's frown deepened as he turned his face away from her. "So we're both wrong, apparently," he muttered. "As if I care."
"Well, I don't care either," huffed Meimi.
"Hmph."
~~~~~~~~~~~
MEIMI SNEAKED A look on her watch. 11:40. She had to get out of there. For her, being the Lady of the Night was more of a burden than an honor. It was all restrictions. She had been doomed to stay with Asuka Jr the whole night. Of course, it wasn't that bad. But Meimi wasn't about to admit that to anybody at all.
Speaking of which, why on earth was Asuka still there? In fact, she expected him not to come at all what with the challenge she had sent him and all. Well, she did put it here in the party grounds but he should have stumbled upon it by now.
Meimi shook her head resignedly. Promise or no promise, this time she'll have to complete her mission without the boy detective in her heels. He didn't find the note. It's his loss, not Saint Tail's.
Before she could slither away, Asuka Jr turned to her.
"They say we have to dance to this tune," he said in annoyance. "Whether we like it or not."
"But I have to go!" Meimi protested in agitation.
"Complain to them," Asuka Jr muttered, equally displeased.
In the end, they we're coaxed to the dance floor by the hosts of the night's event. They managed, however, to pick a less um... public place, choosing a corner with less people around to watch or tease them.
At the first whine of the violin, Meimi knew immediately it was not a good idea.
"Um..." She gulped. "The tempo's a little too slow in this one."
"Tell me about it," muttered Asuka jr, trying not to look at his beautiful companion.
Darn, thought Meimi. Something must be really wrong with the punch. Asuka Jr was starting to look... cute, red and all with embarrassment.
She caught sight of the clock on the gym wall. Almost 11:45. She had to arrive at the mansion by midnight. Cripes!
She smiled in spite of herself. What is this Cinderella? She's trying to get away before the clock strikes twelve but her Prince Charming was keeping her. She racked her head in panic. What the heck was she thinking?!?! Comparing Asuka Jr with Prince Charming?! Meimi reddened at the thought.
"Eh? What's wrong with you?" inquired Asuka. "It's not as if I'm crowding you or anything. And it's pretty chilly." Yep, he was indeed too far. Much to his own horror, he started to wish they were as close as the others.
I wonder how she smells like...
Absentmindedly, he pressed nearer, sniffing discreetly. She smelled nice. She smelled of some mild girly sweet fragrance, the type of perfume school girls typically wear.
Presently, he returned to himself. Blinking as his green eyes focused, he came face to face with the girl he had always claimed to loathe, and was overwhelmed with what he saw.
There they were, her eyes, peering back at him curiously, almost... wistfully. The deep blue was the fathomless ocean. His consciousness flailed as he struggled to stop himself from drowning in those orbs.
Darn! He yelled inwardly. What's happening to me?!
Time stopped. Only the vague swirling of the room remained. Was it indeed the room in motion? Or was it them? Meimi couldn't tell. All she could see was the dark green eyes that stared back into her own. Like a forest, so serene, so wonderful, so unknown. And they slowly slid closer and closer…
Ding dong! Ding dong!
Meimi snapped out of her confused stupor instantly
"Oh my goodness!" she said. "It's midnight."
Before Asuka could say anything, Meimi disappeared into the throng of people still dancing despite the lateness of the hour. They were all determined not to let slip this opportunity of seldom-experienced freedom bypass them.
Asuka shrugged coolly. He didn't deny that he was downright perplexed. He was not saying he wasn't disturbed by what happened, or that it was at all unpleasant. It was definitely uncomfortable but there's no way at all he'd let Minoru, Tsuru or`` anybody else know. Instead, he strolled to the punch table and picked out a plastic cup.
Firstly of course, he ladled punch into his cup. Drinking the supposedly non-alcoholic drink straight-down, he was startled by what was slowly revealed as the punch volume receded. There appeared to be some sort of writing at the bottom of his cup.
At midnight tonight, the brocaded slippers of the Heike family currently in possession of Yuki Sakura will be mine.
Spraying punch all over everybody in his general vicinity, Asuka gave out a surprised battlecry and bolted out of the gym, steamrolling everyone on his way.
"SAINT TAIL!!!"