Author' s Note: Hi all readers. Sorry I was at my dad's house this weekend. I made this chapter extra long though. I hope that makes up for it. Thank you to all my Reviewers. Neoblade26: I figured that Meimi had the weak end of the ribbon only holding on with her hands while Asuka got the book. Plus Asuka Jr. can be very ambitious. Thank you to Piekea Tyne, Mickie, mid*, Firegirl, Kyosnkozukigirl, and chibikins (first reviewer!) for reviewing! Chapter 3 is here!

Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Tail or Shakespeare. Better brush up on your Old English!

Chapter 3

Meimi came home around midnight the way she went out, through her window. Quietly, she tiptoed across her carpet and shut her window gently. Meimi sat up against her door and looked at the door handle. It remained immobile. " Okay…3…2…1" she whispered to herself. Her clothes changed instantly to her cotton pajamas. Meimi stood up and walked over tiredly to her bed. A now cold dinner sat on her nightstand. She yawned as she opened her textbooks and began her homework.

Asuka Jr. arrived home to an empty house as usual. His father was at work still. His mother had passed away sadly and shortly after he was born. His coat was torn from the lethal books, as were his pants. His face was slightly swollen and cut from the books also. Asuka Jr. dragged his painful body to the bathroom to wash up. When he was done washing his face, he bandaged it carefully. The finishing result looked as if he had a bad experience shaving. Asuka Jr. shrugged it off as he went up the stairs, his body aching with pain and fatigue with every step. Luckily for him, he had finished his homework easily before. He slid in to bed and fell instantly asleep.

" Meimi wake up! You're going to be late for school!" Her mother shouted up the stairs. Meimi lifted her head out of her Math book to look sluggishly at the clock. She gasped to when she saw the time and jumped out of bed. Meimi quickly threw on her uniform and packed up her bag. The pile of stolen books lingered besides her homework as she frantically grabbed for her belongings. She stuffed all of it carelessly in her bag as she ran out the door. Meimi stumbled down the stairs to meet her mother smiling and laughing at her.

" Morning Mom." Meimi said quickly putting on her shoes. She kissed her mom on the cheek and ran out the door.

" Have a nice day Sweetie!" Her mother shouted after her. She stood in the doorway watching her daughter scurry off to school. Detectives and police swarmed around the library searching for evidence on who Saint Tail really is. Meimi slowed down when she saw a particularly large crowd. " I doubt Asuka Jr. is still asleep in there." She said to herself trying to come up with an explanation. " He's probably just telling everyone how he almost caught Saint Tail." She said still looking at the crowd. Her feet started to move, as her eyes remained stationed on the spot. She collided with someone rounding the corner.

" Oh! I'm so sorry!" the boy exclaimed.

" The third time now!" Meimi yelled at him. Asuka Jr. helped her up with a questionable look on his face. " What?"

" You said third time, we've only bumped into each other twice." Asuka Jr. informed her. Meimi froze.

(Oh crap. I was Saint Tail when I bumped into him once.) Meimi blushed and backed away.

" It-it must be brain damage from colliding with you so often!" Meimi yelled at him before running towards the school. Her face burned with embarrassment as the cool wind tried to cool it off. The church bell rang telling its late students to hurry up. Meimi ran faster into the school courtyard and jumped up the steps. She quickly ran down the hall and burst into her homeroom. Luckily for her, the teacher was still absent. She walked to her desk letting her body cool off. Seira smiled at her welcoming. Meimi gave her a miserable look before sitting down.

" Good morning Meimi." Seira said happily.

" It may be a good morning, but it sure isn't for me." She said lying her head down on her desk. " I still have to do my math homework!" Meimi exclaimed lifting her head from her desk and fumbling through her backpack. She went to pull out her math book but instead popped out the copy of sleeping beauty. Meimi gasped at the sight of this and looked around to see if any one saw. Asuka Jr. had just entered the room. He looked over at her and then her book. His eyes widened at the sight of it and he walked quickly over to her.

" Meimi…where-" Asuka Jr. was interrupted by Seira suddenly.

" Thanks Meimi. Did you like Sleeping Beauty? It's one of my favorites." Seira said grabbing the book off her desk.

" Thanks again for letting me borrow it Seira." Meimi said. Asuka Jr., satisfied, walked back to his desk. She let out an exasperated sigh and sank back in her chair. " Seira, you're a life saver." Seira smiled and returned to her desk.

" Class let's begin today with the soliloquies that you had to write last night for homework." The teacher said gaining everyone's attention to her. " Do I have any volunteers?" Asuka Jr. raised his hand. The teacher nodded and waved him up to the front. Asuka straightened and took out a piece of paper. He released his breath before starting.

" I see you at night, both in dreams and in person,

The darkness conceals your face every time,

You are always one step ahead,

As I am one step behind,

Someday I will catch up,

Someday the light will shine on you,

And you will be revealed to me in both heart and mind,

Someday…"

Asuka bowed his head after he finished. The class remained silent in awe. Meimi stared at him as it dawned on her. He was talking about her. He was talking about Saint Tail. She blushed vigorously as she put her face in her hands.

" Well done Asuka. It was beautifully written. Does anyone else want to go?" the teacher asked. A few hands shot up eagerly. The drone of voices buzzed in Meimi's head. Her face had finally cooled down. She dared to look up. Everyone's attention was focused on the presenter. Meimi leaned back in her chair with relief and focused on the new presenter.

Asuka Jr. darted a look around the classroom. Most of them paid attention halve heartily. He saw Meimi resting her face on her hands. She seemed to be lost in thought. Asuka turned reluctantly back to the presenter as the class clapped at the ending. Meimi woke up out of her daydream and clapped along.

" Before we go on, I'd like to remind you that the Renaissance Days are next week. There will be a banquet with food and dancing. After, the play Romeo and Juliet will be showed to the rest of the school. Tryouts will be held after school today. I'd like to see you all there. Remember that you have to dress for the occasion also. Girls please wear medieval style ball gowns and boys tuxedos are fine. Both genders have to wear masquerade masks. I suggest you rent your costumes. Mention that it is for school and they will rent it to you for free. This is at all costumes shops." The teacher ended the reminder and began to teach once again. Most of the students whispered excitedly about this news. Meimi beamed at Seira who smiled.

" I'm gonna try out for Juliet after school." Meimi whispered to her friend.

" I'll be there, rooting you on." Seira said. Meimi smiled and turned towards the front of the room. She tried to focus on her work but it was no use. Excitement bubbled inside her as she bounced anxiously in her seat. The bell rang as all the students rushed out of the room. She ran to her locker and opened it quickly. Beside her Asuka Jr. was taking his time.

" Are you going to try out for the play Asuka?" Meimi asked peering over her locker door.

" If it gets me on the teacher's side then definitely." He replied still looking at all his stuff.

" You're such a suck up." She said slamming his locker. She walked away triumphantly to her next class. Asuka Jr. stared at his locker angrily before walking to his next class in the opposite direction. Meimi struggled through her classes trying to contain her excitement. The last bell finally rang as she eagerly raced down to the auditorium. Students piled into the auditorium filling almost every seat.

" Attention all students. This year we will be putting on the production of Romeo and Juliet for next week's Renaissance Days. First, let's introduce the director we hired, Mrs. Yui Kasanugi." The teacher began the rounds of clapping as the woman stepped forward.

" I'm very happy to be here. This reminds me of my days in the theater. I don't want to reminisce so let's get this show on the road. All Juliets please step to the left side of the stage. All Romeos to the right. All supporting roles to the middle." The students did what they were told. Mrs. Kasanugi rubbed her chin with approval. " I want to get a Romeo first. You there, with the blonde hair, what's your name?"

" Sawatari Manato." Sawatari said proudly straightening his bangs.

" Read from Scene One, Act Five where Romeo comes in. I will read the other parts." Sawatari paused before beginning.

"What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?"

"I know not, sir."

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." Sawatari said in a monotone. Mrs. Kasanugi looked at him in a bored manner.

" Um….thank you Mr. Sawatari….that was….interesting." Mrs. Kasanugi said trying hard not to hurt his feelings. Sawatari smiled broadly and stepped back into the group. Mrs. Kasanugi rubbed her forehead to comfort the upcoming headache. The crowd of students woke up from the boring speech. " You with the green hair, step forward." Mrs. Kasanugi said pointing to Asuka Jr. He stepped forward obediently." Name?"

" Daiki Asuka." He said. Mrs. Kasanugi scanned the crowd for another student.

" Girl with the long, orange hair. Step up." Meimi, uncertain, stepped forward. " What's your name?"

" Meimi Haneoka."

" Miss Haneoka and Mr. Asuka please play the parts of Romeo and Juliet where they first meet. Act One, Scene Five."

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." Asuka Jr. said while drawing closer to Meimi.

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss." Meimi said nervously. Her voice quavered with nervousness.

"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" Asuka asked looking up at Meimi. Her eyes were still connected to the script.

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

" Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."

" Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."

" Then have my lips the sin that they have took."

"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again." Asuka Jr. read the following sentences and stopped. Meimi also remained silent. She looked up at his green eyes and breathed nervously. Asuka Jr. leaned in and shut his eyes. Meimi felt his warm lips against hers as she shut her eyes. He drew backwards from her and stared into her confused blue eyes. " Don't forget your line!" he whispered harshly. Meimi snapped back to reality and quickly stared at her script.

" Y-You kiss by the book." Meimi stuttered. Her cheeks burned as she faced the crowd once more.

" Take a bow. You both did excellent." Mrs. Kasanugi said clapping wildly. The other students began to clap too. Asuka Jr. scratched his head and bowed. Meimi flushed a deeper red and bowed quickly. She made her way to the back of the crowd of students to find Seira.

" You did excellent Meimi." Seira said clapping her hand on her shoulder. Meimi shook rapidly. " What's wrong? You're not even on stage anymore." Seira asked her eyes filling with concern.

" Didn't you see? We kissed!" she shouted her voice wavering nervously.

" It's just acting Meimi." Seira said trying to calm her down.

" He could of acted like he was kissing me then!" Seira didn't answer and returned her stare to the actors. Meimi pushed the subject no farther. The try outs went relatively well through the rest of the auditions. When the last student had said their share, Mrs. Kasanugi stood up and cleared her throat. The auditorium's noise dulled down.

" You all did very well and you all deserve an applause." A round of clapping arose in the huge room. " The lists are posted at the entrance and congratulations to all actors and actresses." She said and grabbed her stuff. The students rushed to the lists to see if they were fortunate enough to make it. They stood as the following:

Romeo: Daiki Asuka

Juliet: Lina Takamiya

Nurse: Seira Mimori

Mercutio: Manato Sawatari

Benvolio: Ryoko ------

Meimi scanned the list for her name, but did not see it. Her eyes filled with tears. She pushed them back and swallowed. Meimi looked at Seira who was at the center of a couple friends. They congratulated her as she smiled bashfully.

(I want to know why. Why didn't I get picked. I did better than most of those girls up there) Meimi thought now angry with herself. She spotted Mrs. Kasanugi packing up.

" Mrs. Kasanugi, can I ask you something?" Meimi said nervously approaching the director.

" Let me guess, you want to know why you didn't make it, right?" Meimi could only nod. " You were great Miss Haneoka, really you were, but Miss Takamiya had something you didn't. She had more passion towards Mr. Asuka then you. She acted like she really did love him. You held back a little and that's okay." Mrs. Kasanugi said trying to explain.

" Then why didn't I get another part?" she asked pleading for an answer.

" Well there weren't many female parts. Miss Mimori was pure as the Nurse is in the play. I would have you play one of the male parts, but your hair is too long to put under a wig. You can still do behind the stages though. We need a light person. Would you like to take care of that?"

" Sure." Meimi replied in a disappointed voice. She walked over to the students that were now leaving. She greeted Seira and congratulated weakly.

" Meimi, you were excellent. I would've picked you." Seira said hugging her friend.

" Thanks Seira." Meimi said sadly wiping away the embarrassing tears. They both walked out of the school together and into the cool Spring air.

Author's Note: Please don't hate me! There's a reason that Meimi didn't get the part! I'll bring the plot back later, but first I have to make some bad guys. So they have to go through a lot before Asuka Jr. actually finds out. Gomen! Please review on how you like this chapter! I worked really hard on it!