Author's Note: Just to tell you this chapter is a little sad. Or happy depending on how you look at it. It's also a little shorter. Sorry!
Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Tail.
Chapter 10
Meimi bent over her book sipping on her morning coffee. She had left the house early, so early that Asuka Jr. had not gotten up, and settled herself in the local cozy coffeehouse. She intently glared at the words in the hard covered book but they seemed to fade in her brain. She could remain concentrated on her novel if her mind kept wondering to the predicament between, her, Seira, and Asuka Jr. Meimi gulped down the rest of the coffee and slammed the book shut. She had made up her mind. She was going to tell her herself. She wanted her best friend back even if it meant Seira hating her. She wanted Seira to know that she was back and she would always be there. Meimi quickly departed the shop and stumbled out onto the littered pavement. She hailed a yellow taxi and told the driver her destination. Meimi was on her way.
" Umm…Seira there's something I've been meaning to tell you." Asuka Jr. said through his house phone. Seira, on the other line, was sitting in her office listening contently.
" Yes?" Seira replied.
" It's about Asuka. The one with the stitches." He said anxiously.
" I know who she is." She said in an unhappy snap.
" Well…umm…you see…the thing is…" Asuka Jr. stuttered.
" Miss Mimori, you have a visitor." The secretary ranged over her intercom.
" Send them in. Now what were you saying Asuka Jr.?" Her attention back to the phone. Meimi entered her room slowly and delicately shut the door. Seira gestured her to sit down. Meimi complied and sat down in the rather uncomfortable seat.
" Asuka Jr. can you hold on a second?" Seira asked politely.
" Not really. This is really important." He answered hesitantly.
" I'm sorry, can you wait a minute?" She asked Meimi. Meimi nodded. She had not heard Seira say Asuka Jr.'s name nor did she want to intrude on their conversation.
" As I was saying, Seira…Asuka is Meimi. She told me herself." He finally confessed. Seira was listless for words. She put her hand over the phone and looked up languidly at Meimi. Meimi, not knowing what to do, smiled nervously. Seira gently put the phone down on the receiver and stared at Meimi. Tears glossed over her eyes as she sucked in a painful breath. She rose quickly from her seat and walked calmly over to Meimi. Seira kept closing her eyes to hold back the tears that wanted to penetrate her ducts. She reached the edge of Meimi's chair and looked sadly down at her. Meimi looked around the room not knowing what was going on.
" Meimi…" Seira whispered. Suddenly, Seira grabbed Meimi's head and brought it to her stomach. She hugged Meimi tightly tears spilling down her cheeks. Meimi uncertainly placed her hands on Seira's arms and comforted her. " I knew it was you. I knew it was. And I would have it no other way."
" What do you mean?" Meimi finally said after realizing her friend was crying out of joy.
" You were and still are the one for Asuka Jr. After you left, I felt so bad for him. I ended up comforting him and we fell in love. But I'm sure he was just bouncing back from your relationship." Seira explained easing herself. She had doubted Asuka Jr.'s love until now. She had finally found out the truth. He had been and always will be in love with Meimi. She never stood a chance. Seira released Meimi from her heart felt embrace.
" You stayed together all that time?" Meimi asked in bewilderment.
" Well I fell in love with him then. That's when I knew I couldn't be a nun. Then he finally came around a couple months ago." She explained.
" I see…" Meimi said softly. " By any chance do you remember why I went away?"
" Not that I can recall. It has been a long time Meimi." Seira apologized.
(How does it feel to be alone and betrayed?) The voice from yesterday angrily growled again.
(There's still this matter too.) Meimi thought exasperated. By now, she was used to people talking in her head. She wanted to tell someone, but she feared of being accused of mental instability. Maybe she could tell Asuka Jr. now that all things had calmed down.
" Seira are you okay?" Asuka Jr. burst through her office door. Seira darted her gaze up at him. Her face held a questionable expression. " The phone just went dead." He explained. Asuka Jr. took his worried eyes off of Seira and spotted Meimi. His eyes widened with surprise. " Was she here when…" He trailed. Seira slowly nodded. " Oh, Seira…" He said hugging her tightly. " I'm sorry for doing this to you. I really am. I must have hurt you for so long." He said rubbing her back.
" It's okay. Meimi's here and I'm happy for you two. I always will be." Seira said in a comforting tone. A forced smile crept across her face as she stared anxiously at the ceiling. Tears rimmed her eyes but this time they did not spill but only iced her eyes over with a watery blanket.
" Are you sure you're okay?" Asuka Jr. asked worriedly. He pulled her back so he could look into her tearful eyes. Seira embarrassingly wiped the unshed tears away and nodded.
" I'm sure there's at least one man out there for me." Seira said hopefully. " I could always go back to the convent." He looked at her doubtfully but Seira shook her head insisting that everything was fine. " It's life. Now I'd like to be left alone." Seira said trying to appear happy. Meimi hugged her one last time and followed Asuka Jr. out the door. Making sure the door was shut, Seira sat down on her desk and stared blankly out the window. Tears fell down her face. No noise escaped from her closed mouth. Seira reached into her desk drawer and grabbed a silvery object. She pulled it out revealing a small cross. Seira shut her eyes and prayed.
Author's Note: I want to thank all my reviewers in all my stories, but specifically this one. That's because, well, you're reading this story and I'm thanking you for reading this story. So thankies!!