The Saint and The Angel
(Fallen, that is)
Disclaimer: I OWN SAINT TAIL!! BUAHAHAHA!! Just kidding... I wish I did, but I don't. Don't sue. Only the fic is mine. *sigh*
Author's Notes: Well, erm, thanks for that review! ^-^ I'm glad you like it! Er, that's it for now. *sweatdrop*
~
Episode Three: Conflicting Interests! A Fist Fight?
Meimi quickly sprinted to the chapel after school, hoping that if Seira found another lost lamb, that Fallen Angel wasn't going after the same thing. As she approached the entrance, she slowed down, watching a young man come out, his blue eyes worried, running a hand through his ebony hair. Meimi looked inside to find Seira waiting for her. "Don't tell me," Meimi said. "That was the person who needs our help, right?" The nun-in-training nodded, a somber expression to those purple eyes.
"You see, Meimi, this boy, named Kihara Shinji, has a bow and arrows. The arrows are made of pure diamond, and the bow of pure gold with a string of copper. That weapon was said to be used by the gods, to pierce the hearts of those who were full of sorrow and bring them love. And he has just received word from the police that Kaitou Fallen Angel is to steal it tonight." Meimi's blue eyes began widening. "And he knows the police have been after her so long. He needs divine help tonight, Meimi. He'll need it. You must protect that weapon. Just for reference, it's called the Hitan no Ai. Sorrow's Love." Seira looked into her friend's eyes as she nodded, affirming that she would protect it.
"I sense a pattern of sorts," Meimi commented thoughtfully. "First, the Bara no Chi said to get rid of loneliness. Now the Hitan no Ai said to eliminate sorrow." Seira nodded. But before she could caution the young thief, Meimi held up a hand. "I know, I know. This Fallen Angel is dangerous, I'm not to do anything too risky or anything that can jeopardize my identity and get us caught, right?" The nun-in-training nodded, a smile forming at the corners of her mouth. Meimi took out a marker, scribbled on a small pink note, and then snapped her fingers. The note vanished in a puff of pink smoke and reappeared in a small explosion of confetti when Asuka opened his Math book.
"Dear Mr. Detective,
Haha! I'm taking your job tonight! I'll be at the Kihara residence, protecting the Hitan no Ai. If you want to catch me there, go ahead and try. I'm warning you, though, there might be another guest coming! Don't get in my way,
St.*Tail."
His brows furrowed as he read the letter in confusion. Protecting something? That'd be a first. But Asuka did know that the guest would be Kaitou Fallen Angel. His dad had told him about it. And he also knew that Saint Tail had something against this Fallen Angel, something that made their encounter personal. But Asuka would be there. He'd always be there.
~
Meimi had stayed in the chapel, not that her mom would mind. After all, Haneoka Eimi hadn't seemed to mind a whole lot anymore. So, all she had to do was climb back into her room, grab her pendant, and race back to the chapel, where she waited. Finally, when she thought it was about time, she heaved a sigh, and then clutched the pendant tightly. "Lord, please forgive me, for I use no gimmick or trick. One, two, three!!!" she exclaimed, and then Saint Tail stood there. She bowed her head, her orange hair pressed against the white of Seira's nun habit. "May the blessings of God be with us," they said in unison.
"Good luck, Saint Tail," Seira said quietly. "This is going to be a mission like you've never had before. So be careful, got it?" Saint Tail nodded and smiled at Seira, grateful for her warning. She knew it would be dangerous; there would be no escape possible. Would Asuka try to catch her? Or would they work together? Well, the only way to find out was to go there. Sighing, she bid Seira farewell and hopped from roof to roof on her way to the Kihara residence.
Asuka and his father were already there, waiting. Asuka himself was unsure of what he was going to do when Saint Tail was arrived. Well, he had to cut his inner debate short because there was a distant sound of, "One, two, three!" as the window opened. His gaze locked on the young thief as she looked around the room, then spotted the Hitan no Ai. Behind it was Kihara Shinji himself. His eyes widened as he realized whom the intruder was.
"Saint Tail!" he exclaimed. "I didn't do anything wrong! I just wanted to protect my-" Saint Tail cut him off by raising her gloved hand. Then she shook her head, ponytail swaying.
"I'm not here to steal the Hitan no Ai, Shinji-kun," she said calmly. "I'm here to protect it. I want Kaitou Fallen Angel to steal it as little as you do." His eyes narrowed in a puzzled manner, then he nodded, understanding. Suddenly, the door burst open and a few guards ran in.
"Detective! There's a..." He was interrupted as a streak of black lightning lashed out at him, making him fall to the floor unconscious. Kaitou Fallen Angel stood there, her long braid swaying in the breeze that came from the open door. Everyone gasped, except Saint Tail. She hopped down from her ledge on the window and in front of the bow and arrow, protecting it. Fallen Angel tilted her head to the side and laughed.
"You teamed up with an amateur thief to protect that thing? How pathetic!" she commented. Saint Tail clenched her fists, and got out her wand and hat. Fallen Angel scoffed. "What are you going to do? Get your pigeons to peck me to death?" A flash came from the hat as Saint Tail tapped the wand against it, with her magical count. Many multi-colored balls flung themselves at the rogue thief. The smile vanished from her face as she threw herself on the ground in a roll, heading to Saint Tail, who gasped as she was hit in the shins, but still refused to move. Fallen Angel tried forcing the thief out of the way, but it didn't work. So, she clenched her fist and slammed it into Saint Tail's cheek.
Saint Tail stood there for a moment, in slight shock, a red mark appearing on her cheek, before returning the blow. Fallen Angel got her with a sharp right hook and Saint Tail dived on her, giving up on fair fighting. She sunk her teeth into the older thief's arm where it wasn't covered by the glove. Fallen Angel let out a yelp and slammed her elbow into Saint Tail's head, making her loosen her grip. Asuka ran over to them, then stopped, a bit wary of entering a vicious fight between the two thieves. The wand appeared in Saint Tail's hand and she swung it at Fallen Angel, who in turn wrestled it from her and used it to knock her half-unconscious. She then threw the wand at Saint Tail and grabbed the Hitan no Ai and flipped up onto the roof.
"That's what she gets for interfering!" she growled and hauled herself onto the roof, where guards were waiting as Asuka's dad followed the thief. With ease, Fallen Angel flipped over the guards and paused, waiting for Asuka Sr. to catch up. When she saw him emerge, she smiled, waved, and let herself fall. Meanwhile...
Asuka ran over to the fallen Saint Tail. He rested a hand on her shoulder. She was laying face down, so he couldn't see her identity. As he went to push her over, her gloved hand snapped up and caught his wrist. "Don't touch me," she gasped, and got up unsteadily, her bangs casting a shadow over her face. "Fallen Angel got away with the Hitan no Ai. Go after her, not me." With that, she snapped her fingers and muttered, "One. Two. Three..." In a poof of pink smoke, the balloon appeared. She clung to the bow on it, left the building, and closed her eyes as the wind carried her away. Asuka stood outside, watching her go away. The dull, flat tone in which she had spoken greatly disturbed him.
Hidden under the outer ledge of a window, out of everyone's sight, she watched Saint Tail float away with narrowed eyes. Suddenly, she gasped. 'Those are Genichirou's balloons!' she thought in wonder. 'How did that little pest get them?' Her eyes iced over and she hopped down into the bushes and raced home.
Saint Tail pushed the balloons back into her hat, and then entered the chapel. Seira was immediately by her side, gently touching her friend's cheek. "What happened?" she asked worriedly. "How did..." She stopped, understanding blooming in her eyes. "Don't worry," the young nun-in-training assured her. "Kaitou Fallen Angel will be caught, as long as the Lord wishes it."
