Author's Note: Hiya everyone! Christmas is coming! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Kwanza! (Sorry if I spelled it wrong) Happy whatever! I get two weeks off from school because of the holiday! That means I may be able to write more than one chapter! Ooh! Lucky you!

Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is Saint Tail. But I doubt I'll get it. I will never own Saint Tail even if I ask for it!

Chapter 8

" What do you want me to do?" Meimi asked eagerly on the set of the photo shoot. She wore her usual black and pink outfit. It seemed a bit small like the skirt was to short and the front had a lower cut. She pulled nervously on her pink skirt wishing it would cover her thighs.

" Don't be shy babe. The camera loves you." Sawatari exclaimed. The camera snapped leaving dark blotches dancing across her eyes. " Hold the bottle up next to your face. Let the fan blow your hair away from your face." He instructed. Meimi did so but she still felt uncomfortable.

" I think this costume is too small." She said quietly. She didn't like to argue let alone with her boss.

" Nonsense. You look sexy." He complimented. Meimi blushed and held her arms across her chest feeling more self-conscious than ever. Sawatari sighed and stepped away from his camera. " That should be enough for today." He said disappointedly. He walked towards her and planted a kiss on her flushed cheek. " Good job." Sawatari said and walked behind the set. Meimi turned around to watch him walk away. She placed her hand on her cheek.

" Where could she be?!" Asuka Jr. yelled. He was at his office shouting into his telephone.

" New York City is huge. It could be days before we find her sir." The chief police officer said calmly on the other line.

" We have a whole force at disposal to finding her!"

" Calm down sir. We're doing all we can do. We'll call you as soon as we have any leads." The phone clicked and the dial tone rang out. Asuka Jr. slammed down the phone and angrily sighed.

" I have your coffee sir." Takamiya said. She clumsily handed him a hot mug spilling coffee all over his hand. Asuka Jr. cursed and brought his hand to his mouth. He sucked the hot beverage off and glared angrily at his secretary. " I-I'm sorry." She stammered.

" I'm just pissed off." He explained. " Where in hell could Asuka have went off to?" He said staring out of his office window.

" Maybe she went back to where she came from?" Lina suggested.

" Takamiya, I found her on top of a pile of trash. I doubt she purposely went back to go live in a black plastic bag." He said sarcasm getting the best of him.

" Maybe…maybe she didn't want to burden you anymore." She replied her voice filled with fright.

" She didn't cause any trouble." Asuka Jr. said his mind racing for answers. Takamiya looked at him before ducking out the door and retreating behind her desk. Asuka Jr., filled with frustration, sat down in his chair and picked up the phone. He looked down at the numbers and spotted Mimori's name on speed dial. It had been two days since Asuka Jr. had seen either of the two women. He hesitantly pushed the button. The other line rung and rung, and you guessed it, rung again. It seemed like an eternity before Seira's comforting voice answered the phone.

" Hello?" She answered sweetly.

" Hey…" He said softly.

" Oh, it's you." Seira said in a disappointed tone.

" I know you probably don't ever want to see me again, let alone talk to me, but I have an excuse." Asuka Jr. explained.

" Really?" She asked doubtfully.

" She kissed me." He said.

" So typical male." Seira said while sighing.

" What? You don't believe me? You were right there."

" Oh I saw alright. You both were definitely connected and I don't mean by the hip."

" Could you forgive me?"

" Could I or will I?"

" Either." Asuka Jr. pleaded. The line fell silent.

" Time doesn't heal everything. Even if you called me next year, my heart would still be broken." Seira said hardly above a whisper.

" Is that a yes or a no?"

" What do you think?" She replied angrily. Seira slammed the phone on the wall. She covered her mouth trying to hold in the cry of pain. Tears rolled down her already tender cheeks.

" You're so stupid Asuka." He told himself. He dispiritedly put down the phone and covered his face with his hands. His bangs spread over his fingers their texture rubbing against his skin. The phone rang impatiently. Asuka Jr. sprang to life and grabbed the phone.

" Hello?" He asked eagerly.

" Yo, haven't talked to you in a long time." A familiar voice said on the other end.

" Who is this?"

" Don't you recognize me? This is Sawatari." Sawatari clarified.

" Oh, hi. How are you doing?" Asuka Jr. asked in a disappointed tone. He sunk back into his office chair.

" Man, I made the perfect ad for you. Guess who's selling my product."

" I have no idea." Asuka said dumbly.

" Saint Tail, well not the real one. God knows where she went. But I got someone who looks exactly like her."

" Really? What's her name?" He asked sitting back up in his chair.

" Asuka…uhhh….can't remember her last name. But I swear, this girl looks exactly like Meimi." Sawatari exclaimed. " Hello Asuka Jr.? You there?" The phone lay on his desk. The door slammed to his office, Asuka Jr. on the other side. He quickly ran out of the station and jumped on the subway. A few stops later he got off, and dashed into a towering skyscraper.

" Where can I find Sawatari Minato?" He asked the attendant in an exhausted voice.

" Fifth floor, first room on your right." She said without looking up. Asuka Jr. slapped the marble desk as a gratification and dashed down the hall. He walked on the elevator hastily and jabbed at the button impatiently. He watched the light tick from 2 to 3 to 4 and then finally to 5. He jumped off just as the doors opened. Asuka Jr. threw open the first door on his right to find Meimi in a skimpy Saint Tail outfit. He ran towards her.

" Sorry I didn't call you or anything, Sawatari said-" Meimi apologized. His body muffled her words as he embraced her tightly.

" I was afraid I lost you again." He said quietly. Meimi felt her face burn as she felt his body rub up against her's. She slowly brought her palms around his back and ran her fingers down his spine.

" Asuka Jr., when did you get here?" Sawatari asked walking in through the door. He snapped his cell phone shut as he approached his friend. Asuka Jr. quickly released Meimi and turned to him.

" Just now. It's good to see you Sawatari. Looking good as ever." Asuka Jr. said playfully punching him in the shoulder.

" Can't say the same about you." He scoffed. Silence. " Just kidding." He said patting his friend on the arm. " So, do you know her or something?" Sawatari addressed.

" I guess you can say that." Asuka Jr. said stealing a glance at Meimi. She was covering her front with her arms shyly. " What's up with the outfit? It doesn't seem to fit her."

" It's not suppose to. She's suppose to sell the product by looking attractive."

" You're selling this to women?" Asuka Jr. asked questionably.

" Yes."

" Well I don't think this is directed towards women. More like really…lonely men." Asuka Jr. opinioned.

" Well…you see…" Sawatari said tilting his head at Meimi. Asuka Jr. smiled knowing that he had won. " Go change into the spare." He finally said. Meimi smiled softly at Asuka Jr. before dashing off into the dressing room.

" Doesn't she look like Meimi?" Sawatari said anxiously.

" Yeah…" Asuka Jr. replied in a faraway voice.

" Whatever happened to Meimi anyway?"

" She…uhh…transferred schools." Asuka Jr. stuttered. Sawatari eyed him before looking at the dressing room.

" What's taking so long?" He asked impatiently.

" Be out in a minute." Meimi called out. " Please Lord forgive me for the tricks up my sleeves. One…two…three!" She whispered. An explosion of smoke and confetti blinded her temporarily. Meimi opened her eyes to see herself in her old costume. " It worked!" She clapped. " Coming!" She yelled. Meimi stepped outside to let the boys view her. Asuka Jr.'s jaw dropped.

" Holy…" He exclaimed.

(They look exactly the same! Meimi why are you lying to me? You have to be! You look too much like the Meimi I know not to be!) His thoughts screamed.

" That's perfect!" Sawatari said happily. " We begin shooting now!" He said scrambling behind his camera. Meimi smiled at Asuka Jr. before walking onto the photo set.

" I'll leave now. Asuka come back to my apartment when I'm done." He said.

" Okay!" Asuka Jr. was about to step through the door when something black and pink caught his eye. He carefully crept over to the dressing room to find two Saint Tail outfits hanging promptly on the stall wall. One was the ultra revealing one while the other was the regular.

" What?" He asked himself. He felt the fabric before looking up at Meimi who paid no attention to anything besides the camera.

(If this is the spare, then what is she wearing? Wait, where did she get that outfit? Could this mean…could this mean that this is Saint Tail? Is this Meimi?)

Author's Note: Oh no! Not another cliff hanger! Read and review and have a happy holiday!