Hey there people! Have you gotten sick of me yet? =P, I hope not. Well, here's the next chapter! It's not as long as the last chapter (Just a little longer than the first chapter), but you guys don't mind do you?

Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't own Saint Tail. Asuka does. Hehehe.

Signed, Anonymous

Chapter Eight: Revelations

By Enchanted Pink Jade

*~*~*~*~*

Meimi kept on sneaking sidelong glances at Asuka as they walked towards her home. He had been gloomy all day. When she first saw him, she knew something was wrong and asked if everything was all right, but his only response was a curt nod and a smile, which in Meimi's opinion, was forced.

Alarming sounds have been ringing inside her head for the past few hours or so. She only didn't want to say anything that would set his nerves off. What was going on? Why was he like this? Was it because of her? Meimi truly wished she knew. They haven't been together as an official couple for that long... Maybe it was falling apart already? But... it can't be! she thought frantically, but on the outside, she was the picture of coolness and calm.

Asuka sighed heavily, feeling Meimi's distress without having to look at her. He honestly didn't want to talk to her about anything until he got it sorted out in his own head. Was he seeing this right? Was she the one that he had been writing to all along? If so, then what was the problem? He'd been thinking about it all day, and he was still no closer to an answer than he was back then.

They were now right in front of her house. "Well, I guess, I'll see you tomorrow," she said, head down. Meimi then turned around and headed to her door.

"Matte."

Meimi stopped in her tracks, slowly turned around. "Nani?"

"Ano... eto... " Think, dammit. THINK. Asuka sighed. "I know that I haven't been the best person in the world today..."

Meimi stood there with rapt attention, waiting for him to go on. Her midnight blue eyes were concentrated solely on him, making him all the more a nervous wreck.

"So... I'd like to make up for it tonight. That is, if you don't mind," he added, as an afterthought.

Tonight? A date with him tonight? "Demo... Saint Tail's calling card..." Meimi murmured, remembering where she also had to be that night.

"Don't worry about it. She said that she was going at 8 o'clock. I'll come by at about a few minutes after 9 o'clock. So, what do you say? My treat. We can go out for some snacks, anything."

Meimi's eyes lit up. "Okay. I'll be ready by then," she said smiling up into his face, glad that he wasn't going to break up with her. She was just reading into things too much. She turned around and headed for her door again, but this time, with renewed spirits.

Meimi turned around to watch him go, only to find that he was right behind her. She looked up at him in surprise. "Nani? Did I forget something?"

A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes, and his lips broke into a slow, taunting, smirk. "I didn't get my goodbye kiss," he said, and before she could respond, he'd pulled her towards him, kissing her softly and reassuringly. Her lips were warm and soft as they parted underneath his, and kissing him back. Her hands came up to tangle into his hair.

So she was the one who I was writing to all along. So what? That doesn't change anything. He was a fool to even ponder about it for such a long time.

They now parted, from lack of air. "I'll see you tonight," he breathed against her lips. He gave one last peck on the cheek and left, the sparkle, still in his eyes. Asuka ran his tongue over his lips, still tasting the sweetness that was her. Meimi was HIS, and that was all that mattered.

The said girl walked into her home in a daze, the effect of the detective's actions still taking its toll on her. Slowly, she walked into her room, and was greeted by her little pet hedgehog, who was perched on her bed, looking up at her "Hi, Ruby," Meimi said, as she sat next to Ruby. "Things are looking bright and sunny from here. Demo, demo... How long will it last?" she muttered. Ruby cocked her head to one side in question, and squeaked a response.

"Oh, never mind that! I should be happy right now! I have a date with him later Ruby! What time is it?" She glanced at her clock. It read 3:45 pm, and she moaned. That's more than 5 hours! What am I going to do 'till then? Then she remembered that she had some homework, and the journal to write in. Journal first, before I forget, she thought, as she removed it from her pack and read.

Well, where we were at the time and who we were with is irrelevant. And, I guess we should try to meet up again. And I agree with you. Somewhere where there are less people... I dunno about that. Hey, why not meet at the bench where we leave this journal? Should have thought of this before.... ah.. Oh well. What do you think? You can choose the time, and or another place, if you already had one in mind.

I hope that you'll be fine soon. What had happened couldn't have been too traumatic, could it? If you really liked a guy, you should go for him. As they say, love waits for no one. And if there are a couple of things in your way, get rid of 'em. At least, that's my advice, though I'm no expert. And as for your point of view of the world changing... well, you can go to a store and buy a rose tinted sunglass, so that when you put it on, everything you see will have a soft pink look, rosy and soft. I know someone who does that.

And don't feel bad about that incident that you had. I had just had an experience that I never want to go through again. It shook me up real bad, and scared me. I never thought that there would be a day when I was afraid of something. But one night, all that changed. So, you really shouldn't brood on it too long. We're in the same boat, so to speak... Until next time.

~419119

Meimi looked up from the book and sighed. She grabbed a pen and wrote back a response. When she finished, she reread what she wrote, and found it to her liking. Looking at the clock, she decided that she had enough time to go put it back on the bench. What does 41919 stand for? she wondered.

*~*~*~*~*

"Ahhhhck! Get her! She's getting awaaaaaaaaaaaay!" a man screamed, as he jumped down from the second story of the building.

They cursed her name a million times as she ran farther away. Hearing their crude words of anger only caused her to giggle breathlessly as she ran with the small Renaissance painting in her left arm. Once again, she had managed to slip through their grasp

While the other guards were scrambling around, trying to find out how she came, the so-called owner was fuming. Asuka was slumped against a pillar in the front that supported the balcony above. I don't even know why I bother coming... No, never mind. I promised myself that I'd catch her... but now it almost looks hopeless. Asuka's father on the other hand, was walking down the stairs at leisurely pace, a small statue clutched in his gloved hand.

"Look what I found..." he said, a grin spreading across his face. Shimikage Aritomo, who's painting was supposedly stolen, looked his way. His face paled to a waxen color. So maybe this wasn't such a waste after all. "Seize him," he commanded. The guards rushed forward before the man could make a getaway.

A similar grin appeared on Asuka's face. "Well, dad. It looks like you have everything under control here. I'll be on my way."

"Sure, son. Oh, and be sure to tell her the good news."

"I will, dad."

And with those last spoken words, he left the crime scene, and started his walk to her home. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was only 20 minutes before 9 o'clock. So he decided to take a detour to the park, to see if the journal was back. I'll surprise her with it. I only hope she won't get angry. And I'll tell her the good news. He thought over in his mind the exact words that he was going to say, or at least, what he should say.

The good news that he had just received from his father was that they had caught the three men from that one night that Meimi had to suffer. They were in the middle of committing another crime, so they were captured.

As he reached the bench, he bent down to get the small journal. If she had written back, he'd take it and surprise her with it. If she hadn't yet written back and returned the small journal with a new entry, he would still take it with him and surprise her with it. He flipped to the last page and smiled. There was a new entry. Deciding that he would read and write in it later, though it would be pointless then, he put the journal in the big pocket of his coat.

He was just about ready to head towards Meimi's house when he spotted a flash of red hair, with a black and pink blur. Saint Tail! He glanced at his watch. He now had about 15 minutes. Without thinking twice, he hurriedly followed the agile girl, going in the opposite direction of Meimi's home. He didn't want to give chase, or try and catch her. Besides, he really didn't have the time. He just wanted to know who she was. I'll just spy a bit.

Asuka prayed that she hadn't heard him following from behind. She didn't. Or she would have gone faster or played a trick on him, so that he wouldn't follow her. Unless this in itself was a trap.

He followed her nonstop. Until they ended up at the back of the Church near their school. No one else was around, and the only light there was the moon's reflected rays, and light from the inside of the Church. She's stopped running by now, and seemed to be talking to.... the ground? He squinted his eyes and moved a little closer so that he could have a better look at her profile, without alerting her to his presence.

Asuka saw it now. She was talking to a little creature as she squatted down, though he couldn't determine what kind of animal it was from where he was hidden.

"Ruby. You behaved, didn't you? I'm sorry that I couldn't have taken you along, demo... My hands were busy holding the painting. I couldn't carry you."

The little small thing piped back a response, one that sounded suspiciously like 'It's okay, don't worry. I forgive you.' Another little peep. 'Oh, and I did behave.'

"Ahhh... That's very good to hear." Saint Tail said. "Come on, let's go home, Ruby." She started to leave, when the little animal made little squeaks of protest, and she turned back. "Nani? Did I forget something?"

*Nani? Did I forget something?"

Why did that all of a sudden sound so familiar right now? I know I've head someone say that to me... somewhere... His train of thought was interrupted as the girl, known as the thief that he never could catch, laughed.

"Oh, that's right. I have to change out of these clothes."

Nani? She was going to strip out of the clothes that she's wearing right now? His cheeks took on a warm feeling as blood rushed up into his face at the thought of her... THAT way. But he mentally slapped himself and looked away. He already had someone that he really liked.

Now he heard her chanting....

"Glow of the moon and light of the sun.

My work for today is over and done.

One. Two. Three!"

"Okay, Ruby! I've changed are you happy now?" she asked in a mock-stern voice. Asuka turned his head back. The girl that was supposedly Saint Tail was standing there, looking down at her pet, and facing his direction. He couldn't believe what his eyes told him.

Meimi?!?!

He blinked, just to make sure that he was really seeing right. But when he focused his gaze back on her, it was still Meimi. The girl that he was supposed to meet tonight...

Meimi... First, the journal. And then this. What the hell is going on? What other secrets does she have that she's keeping from me?

Forgetting that he was supposed to be in hiding, he stepped out from where he was hidden, making his presence known. "Meimi?"

Her head snapped up at the mention of her name. Somehow, before looking, she already knew who it was. "Asuka Jr.? What are you doing here?"

"I can ask you the same thing," he said tersely. She looked into his eyes then, and found that they were hard, his face was emotionless. The sparkle of mischief that she had seen earlier, the confidant smirk. They weren't there anymore... He knows. Kami-sama, he knows. Panic filled her entire being right then and there, as a feeling of loss came over her. Now is not the time! I'm not ready! she thought frantically.

She was planning on telling him, but she hadn't counted on him finding out for himself, sooner than she'd planned. She'd wanted a little more time to sort things out about this. But now, it doesn't seem like she had a choice. "How long were you here?" Maybe he hadn't seen. Maybe he was angry for a different reason. Maybe...

"Long enough."

Two words.

That was what all it took just for her world to go topsy-turvy and upside down. This was even worse than what happened that fateful night ago. The damage had been done, but she knew that it would heal, and that she'd eventually get over it. This was different, she knew it. How do you go about picking up the million pieces of your heart that had shattered, and putting them back together again? She really needed to know, because that's exactly what was happening to her heart this moment, as Asuka looked at her in that uncaring way, with disgust now written all over his face.

Why was he disgusted now? He wasn't so when she nearly lost something that could never be returned. In fact, it seemed like he didn't care about it. Only that she was safe. Or could it all have been a lie? That she'd mistaken his kindness for pity, and that he felt an obligation to her? No! It couldn't be that. He really did care. Didn't he?

"Look, let me explain," she pleaded. Ruby made little squeaks of concern, seeing that her friend was in distress, but no one paid the hedgehog any heed.

"What's there to explain? We've been playing a game of cat and mouse for years. You enjoyed it. You enjoyed making a fool out of me. Then you just had to have me as your boyfriend to have the whole package, wrapped neatly in pretty colored paper with the ribbons. End of story."

"That's not true!"

"Isn't it? You probably had a good laugh about it behind my back." Asuka sneered.

"Stop it. Stop putting words into my mouth! Stop trying to act like you really know me, and what I think, or assuming you know why I do the things that I do. You don't know!"

"That's just it-Meimi-" He'd said her name as if it was a curse. "I thought I knew you. But it seems that I'm wrong. You had everyone fooled. And you loved every minute of it. Did you put Sawatari and Takamiya up to that little stunt in the café?"

"You're being unfair..." By now, she had long given up on keeping her tears to herself, for now they were coming out in oceans. She was drowning in her own tears, and it seemed that her savior wasn't coming to her rescue this time.

"You know what? You're right; I didn't give you enough credit. Takamiya and Sawatari are probably innocent victims in your little game. You work alone," he said. Then turned around and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Meimi cried, going after him.

Asuka paused in his tracks. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about this. It'll be a little secret, between us. That's all there'll ever be between us, nothing more. Oh, and one more thing. Something I promised dad that I'd tell you. They caught the three who had almost raped you that night. You should be happy." Then he walked on. He couldn't see, since his back was turned on her, but she had crumpled onto the ground unceremoniously, her knees being unable to support her weight. All he heard was her, sobbing wretchedly. But he made no move to turn back.

*~*~*~*~*

Author's Note: Wahahahahaha! I'm not even going to say anything about how I ended this chapter. Hehehe. I was going to add more to his chapter, but then I decided that it was dark and sad enough. But I will say this: Asuka is being stupid and idiotic and CRUEL. But then again, I made him do that... so I guess it must be me, ne? ::shrugs::

Well, I'm off to work on the next chapter, which I think is going to be the last one. It might even be followed by an Epilogue. So stay tuned! I promise that I won't take too long this time. You will never guess what I have in store for you guys! (Or maybe you can... Is the story predictable?...)

Ja ne!

~Enchanted Pink Jade

E-mail: Lyricalaznangel@aol.com