Author's Note: I was hoping to hit 30 reviews before I posted this but I didn't. Oh well. I can't deprive you readers from the story any longer so here is Chapter 8. Sorry if there is any grammar spelling errors I do this stuff really early in the morning. Right now it's about 5:00 and I haven't slept since 10:00 am this morning. Must be the chocolate…
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Tail! I could go for some pancakes right now, how 'bout you?
Chapter 8
Asuka Jr. stared at the spot where Saint Tail had just been laying. All that was there now was her blood. The auditorium was silent staring at Asuka and Mrs. Kasanugi. After a few moments, they burst with applause.
" What?" Asuka asked stunned finally realizing that he was not the only one there. He looked out in the audience to see everyone standing and clapping excitedly.
" They think that was part of the play!" Sawatari exclaimed bowing dramatically to the audience. " We're a hit!"
" But what happened to Saint Tail?" Asuka asked seriously worried.
" Stop thinking about that thief. She should die, she's a criminal." Sawatari said still staring out in the audience happily. Asuka Jr. looked down at the bloody stage before standing up furiously. He grabbed Sawatari angrily by the collar.
" Don't you ever, EVER say that about Saint Tail! You can't compare her to a petty pickpocket. She only steals for good and you know that!" Asuka shouted in his face. He threw Sawatari on the ground forcefully. Sawatari looked up, shocked and frightened, before stumbling off stage.
" Asuka! Get your butt over hear and help me hold down Mrs. Kasanugi!" Takamiya shouted from off stage. He turned to see her holding the director's arms painfully behind her back. " She tried to kill me while you were mourning over Saint Tail!" she said after he assisted her. He did not reply as he stepped back on the set. The audience was now leaving the auditorium. They flooded out of the room tired and ready to retire to their houses. He stopped once again at the bloody area. He picked up his sword and traced the blood with it. He stopped when he circled all the way around.
" Dammit!" He said stomping his foot angrily. The floor gave through as his foot fell into a trap door. He slipped falling into it and landing on a soft mattress. Beside him was a fresh stain of blood that his hand had landed in. He shook it off, disgusted, before looking at it. He smelled it carefully. Surprised by the smell, he put one finger in his mouth. " Strawberry syrup!" He yelled happily.
(She's still alive!) He thought climbing out of the hole.
Meimi climbed the ladder from below the stage cautiously. Though she had changed out of her Saint Tail outfit, the syrup had left an easily noticeable stain on her shirt. Most of the students were huddled around Asuka pleading for information on her. She smiled as she made her way around the crowd and climbed the ladder to her lighting position. Meimi had left her black sweatshirt on the walkway. She retrieved it and pulled it over her stained shirt. She sat down for a moment to regain her thoughts.
(Good thing I saw that 'blood bag' prop.) She thought rubbing the spot where she had been 'stabbed'. It was bruised but nothing more. Meimi pulled herself up and walked to ladder. At the bottom she saw Asuka Jr.'s smiling face. She smiled as she hurried down the ladder.
" Did you see it? Did you see Saint Tail?" he asked jumping up and down with excitement.
" Who do you think was guiding the spotlight?" Meimi asked teasingly. She smiled to herself when she realized she was not lying.
" What's so funny?" He asked curiously. Meimi snapped back to reality and blushed widely.
" N-nothing!" She stammered embarrassed.
" We got a standing ovation because of her. She's a good actress you know." Asuka said with admiration in his voice.
" I saw." Meimi agreed playing along.
" For a moment…I really thought she had died." He said his tone of voice growing with sadness. He brightened again realizing his frown. " I bet she's a good liar. She sure fooled me. Don't you think?" He asked in a chipper tone. Meimi's heart stabbed with pain.
(I don't mean to lie. I just can't tell you right now.) She thought sadly.
" Haneoka?" Asuka asked with concern.
" Y-Yeah. She probably is." She said hiding her guilt. The air was still as the conversation fell.
" M-My dad's waiting out in the car. See you tomorrow, okay?" He said stepping off the stage. Meimi nodded and watched him leave. He hands were raised near her heart as it pounded with guilt. Tears filled her eyes as she walked off the stage.
(It'll end soon Asuka. I promise I'll stop hurting you.) She thought slipping outside. The air was cold as she held her dress in her hands. Her mother met her in the parking lot.
" I loved the play honey. That Saint Tail sure is something. She reminds me of myself when I was young." Her mother said dreamily sighing. " Those were the good days." They stopped at red light.
" Mom, did you like being a thief?" Meimi asked softly.
" Sure. It was fun outsmarting the police. But what I did was wrong. I stole for myself." She said seriously.
" Did you ever have to make a decision between being a regular woman or a thief?"
" Yep, when I met your father. But I knew I wouldn't regret my decision. I still don't. I loved your father more than I did being a thief and that drove me to return all those things I stole." She said the light turning green. The motor filled the silent air as Meimi's mom drove on.
" Mom, say I was Saint Tail and I had to tell Asuka Jr. who I really am. Do you think he would reject me?" She asked. " This is all theoretic of course." She said quickly correcting herself. Meimi's mom smiled slyly.
" Meimi I know your Saint Tail. So does your father. And we're not mad at you for being a thief because you steal for good purposes. We're very proud of you. I don't think anyone could be mad at you for doing a good deed. Except, you know, those people you catch." Her mother said smiling through the whole thing. Meimi sniffed happily holding back the tears and hugged her mother.
" Thank you Mom. I'm so sorry I kept it from you." She said continuing to embrace her.
" Honey not while I'm driving. I'll get us in an accident." Meimi released her grip quickly.
" How did you find out?" Meimi asked curiously.
" Please. It was like putting pieces together from a puzzle. Every night you went out, Saint Tail was in the paper. She's very agile and she knows magic. I taught you gymnastics and your father knows magic. Plus, I was a thief when I was young so it's not hard imagining you as one."
" Is it that obvious?"
" Only to family."
" Does that mean Grandma knows?" Meimi asked jokingly.
" She would have a heart attack if she found out, too much excitement for her. Let her stick to watching Jeopardy and playing Bingo." Meimi's mother laughed. Meimi joined her as they drove up their driveway. " Scoot yourself to bed. I don't expect Saint Tail to make two appearances tonight." He mom said pushing her through the door. Meimi raced through the kitchen to the living room where her father was reading the newspaper. She kissed him on the head causing him to look up.
" What was that for?" He asked smiling at her.
" You missed me dad. The crowd loved me. I did a sword fight with the detective." She said running up the stairs. Her father mouthed the words 'she knows?' to his wife. She nodded while hanging up Meimi's dress in the closet.
" I'll see it on the new in the morning Meimi! I'll tape it if you want." He yelled up the stairs.
" Sure Dad that would be great!" She yelled back. Meimi's mother walked over to the back of the couch and wove her arms around her husband's shoulders.
" No matter what happens, we have to support her Genichiro." Meimi's mother said kissing his cheek. He grabbed her arm gently.
" I know Eimi. I just hope she won't burn out." He said looking up at his wife. She withdrew and walked upstairs to her bedroom. He listened to her light footsteps fade away as he continued reading his newspaper.
Author's Note: So sorry if it was boring for you. You'll just have to wait for the Action, Adventure, and Romance. REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! I'm gonna get an ulcer saying it so much! Love to all readers!