(Author's Note: Okay, not very thrilling character intro. You'll have to deal. Better things are in the future... I know, I have up to chapter seven completed. I'm just taking my time posting so I'll have time to write the next chapter. Too. Much. Homework... Ugh.

Thanks for all the reviews! Absolutely brill. Now please tell me, reader responses or not? sigh)

Chapter Three

Shadow Magic

Meimi woke up and rubbed her arm. "Ow!" Looking around her she realized how late it probably was. "Oh, no! Is it past my bedtime? Mom and Dad are bound to realize I'm gone!" Then she noticed she didn't even know where she was. "Grand!" Meimi tossed her head back where it landed softly on a pillow. "I'm in someone's bedroom?"

"Hello, Saint Tail!" Wait, am I in jail?

"Are you OK?" What? They don't sound menacing… "I saw you land on your arm. It's not broken, so you don't have to worry about getting it wrapped up. Though, if you see that Asuka dude often you best be careful." Meimi rolled over to see who was talking. Standing in front of her was a girl around her age.

"Um, hello."

"How are you feeling?"

"Good… Can you tell me where I am?"

"Oh! Yes. Silly me! Your in one of the guest bedrooms of the Satari household."

"I'm still in the Satari home?"

"Yep. Don't worry. The police left a few moment ago." Meimi only allowed herself to relax for a minute. Does this girl know who I am?

"Who are you?"

"I'm Kimi! Kimi Satari."

"You're a Satari? But… I thought… Miss Satari… Married…?"

"Oh, no! I'm Miss Satari's adopted daughter."

"Your adopted?"

"Yep! There's quite a story behind it. I guess it makes my name all the more fitting. 'One with no equal', or at least, I think that's the meaning…"

"What is the story of your adoption?"

"Well, I'm not quite sure. I've lost a lot of my memory during some point. Miss Satari said she found me on the streets, bleeding. Miss Satari toke me to the hospital. The doctors said whatever hurt me was probably the cause of my memory loss. I had a few surgeries and they looked for my parents. After a month or so they claim me to be an orphan. Miss Satari then adopted me."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I shouldn't be asking. It must be a tough subject for you…"

"Not at all. I love to answer questions that I can about my past!"

"Really? Well, then… How long have you been with Miss Satari?"

"Just about a week. Monday I will get to start school!"

"Where will you be going?"

"I believe the name is St. Paulia's Private School." She'll be going to my school? "I know I shouldn't be asking, but who are you? I assume by the look on your face you go to St. Paulia's, too." Should I tell her? She'll be bound to recognize me anyways…

"Promise you won't tell?"

"You're the first friend I've ever made. I would never tell. In fact, I want to join you!"

"What? Join me?"

"When your Saint Tail. Only when you need a helping hand, like tonight. I've been practicing magic ever since I heard about you. I guess I've done it before because I can already do some pretty advance stuff."

"By the way, how did I get up here?"

"Well, I saw you faint and-"

"Where were you watching from?"

"The shadows. You see... Um...This is an old home... and it has secret passages connecting the most shadowy points to each other... One of them is to the chamber downstairs. When I saw Asuka coming towards you I pulled you in... and closed the door."

"Why were you watching us?"

"I recently found out that Miss Satari's boyfriend has no feeling for her at all, he only wants the Moonlight jewel. When the police came saying you were planning to steal it, I had to make sure nothing went wrong."

"So you opened the secret passage?"

"Yep!" She said with a laugh.

"Unlocked the door?"

"Yes."

"And then you saved me from Asuka?"

"Affirmative." Meimi released a sigh. "Wow."

"You must understand! I couldn't let him get away with it!"

"Why didn't you tell Miss Satari about him?"

"I couldn't break her heart like that. It's better this way." Meimi looked into the girl's eyes. There was so much pain there for someone so young. For a second Meimi thought she was going to cry. Instead Kimi changed the subject.

"So, are you going to tell me who you are now, Saint Tail?"

"I suppose there's not much of a choice…" Meimi sat up and pulled down her hair. "I'm Meimi Haneoka."

"Hi, Meimi!" How can she be so casual? She now knows the identity of Saint Tail!

"Your scared."

"Huh? What?"

"I can see it in your eyes, your scared. You hate the fact you had to tell me, don't you? I'm sorry..."

"For what, exactly?"

"For having me tell you who you are. I just figured I recognized you anyways, and this way if I see you I can call you by your name, like friends."

"That could work…"

"What?"

"I have one other friend who knows my identity. She told me about your problem, hence why I came. If we're friends then you'll have a guide and I'll have a reason to stay away from Asuka until my arm's better."

"So… I'll really be your friend? And I'll be helping you by being your friend? This is wonderful! I can't wait to tell Miss Satari that I have a friend!"

"Don't tell her until after school Monday."

"Why?"

"How are you going to explain meeting me?"

"Point taken."

- - - - -

Asuka's feet dragged on the pavement as he walked home. So close… So close! How did she get away? She couldn't have preformed a trick with her arm hurt. And that hand… Is someone helping her from the inside? No. Can't be. We turned that house upside down. Too bad Miss Satari couldn't find her daughter. Maybe she saw someone run away…

How does she do it? There has to be some way to find her! Some way to track her down. It's just how… How does she get around? Then he had an idea. He changed his direction and started heading towards the police department. You may have gotten away this time, but try to escape when you don't even know I'm coming…

- - - - -

"Hey, could you tell me what the time is, Kimi?" They had been talking for awhile now and were getting along like good friends should. They had told each other basic facts about themselves so they could seem like they had actually knew one another come Monday.

"It's 11:30. Why, do you need to go home?"

"I've been here this late, a little bit longer won't make much of a difference… So, how did we meet?"

"Good question…" Kimi was already catching on. She didn't take Meimi questions as she would if Meimi was normal. She knew now that meeting a friend when she was stealing a jewel is no way to answer. What if they were both asked separately on Monday and gave different answer?

"It can't be one of those long friendship things since you just moved here."

"Yeah. How about one day recently we bumped into each other in the market and started to talk? When we realized I would be attending your school we promised to be friends, or something like that."

"It's a little vague, but we can work with that."

"Perfect! Now, tell me about the school!"

(Author's Note: Tada! OK, so throwing this weird girl in to the story may not seem like the best idea to you, but she has an important role on this story. I mean, she's already saved Meimi from Asuka. Give her credit.

Meimi: I think she's nice.

Asuka: Are you girls done yet?

Meimi: Yes, you little wuss.

Asuka: I'm no wuss. -reads over Author's Note so far- There's a new kid? What did she save you from? Gave you a hat on a bad hair day to prevent teasing? But really, be careful, Meimi. This girl might turn around and stab you in the back.

Aw, are you trying to protect her from the dangerous new girl? How sweet!

Asuka: -blushes- Am not!)