Chapter Six
Saint Tail in Jail?
It was the first day of school since Meimi's arrest, and everyone knew something was up.
"I heard she was kidnapped!"
"I heard she's in the hospital, probably did drugs. She always seemed too happy…"
"On the news they said Saint Tail was captured! Do you think-"
"No way! Meimi?"
"I see how it could be so…"
And, of course, everyone wanted answers, so they questioned those they thought would know. Kimi, fresh from the hospital, not that anyone pestering her cared, was starting to twitch with agitation. No one noticed though. Their mistake.
"Hey, Kimi! Is it true that-"
"If you ask me about Meimi, you will not see the light of tomorrow. So, SHUT THE HELL UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE! I JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, AND IF ONE MORE PERSON DARES TO ASK ME ANYTHING CONCERNING MEIMI-"
Of course, despite how loud she was, no one was listening.
"It must be true! She wouldn't get so angry otherwise."
"Yeah! I just can't believe it!"
Kimi let out a frustrated yell, which no one acknowledged, and began to stomp towards the school. Someone grabbed her by the shoulder and she whirled around.
"IF YOU ASK ONE DAMN QUES- Makoto!"
Kimi hadn't realized how emotionally drained she was, and her emotions is from where she drew all her strength. Her knees buckled and she fell forward. She allowed herself to cry truly for the first time.
"Oh, Makoto! They're all being so horrible! 'Is she really in jail?' 'Is she Saint Tail?' No 'Is Meimi alright?' I thought these people were her friends, but they don't seem to care at all! Do they have no souls?"
"Shh, it's fine. Some are her friends, they just received a really big shock. I'm sure it was hard on you when you found out. Someone you were learning to trust, a thief? You asked questions as well." If only he knew. Makoto, you twit. She is Saint Tail. I'm not crying from not knowing Meimi's secret, I'm crying because I don't know what to do to help her. Saint Tail has only done good, this is so wrong!
Kimi wrapped her hands in the fabric of his shirt. You and Seira are my only friends now, and I was closest to Meimi. Your all I have to love now, so long as you don't leave me I might make it… Miss Satari betrayed my friend, Asuka caught her, and everything I had built my life upon is falling apart. This is why I don't want to remember! There's so much pain in this wonderful life, imagine how much was in my previous one?
Wait, what am I thinking? Miss Satari didn't know about Meimi… And Asuka is doing his job… And, and, and- Where is Seira and her idea? We need to get to work! Kimi pushed herself off of Makoto and turned her face to dry her eyes.
"Sorry 'bout that. I'll head inside now." Before she could leave Makoto wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the top of the head. "Don't worry, everything will be fine." I hope your right…
- - - - -
Asuka sighed, "I'm not going to school. I refuse to leave this room. I never want Haneoka out of my sight." Meimi held her breath. If it weren't under these circumstances, I would love to hear him say those words. If only I weren't under arrest… At that moment reality hit her, hard. All the air left her lungs, and she wasn't able to grab her pillow as tightly. I'm under arrest! She threw her head into her bed.
"You've finally realized how serious this is?" She looked up, expecting him to be leaning against the wall, smirking. Instead he was crouching, elbows on his knees. That look in his eyes… so… understanding?
"I get this gut feeling around you. I don't think your Saint Tail, but it does make sense. Lina said that one day you did some pretty Saint Tail-like stunts on the balance beam during gym, and claimed that it was a fluke. Lina didn't buy it. Then again, Lina pinned it on you for quite a while, but we came to the conclusion that you weren't… I never told her Saint Tail is actually a girl…, heh. But, your hair…" He looked down at the floor. Could he be…, blushing?
"I suppose you don't want to describe this feeling you get around me a little better?" He didn't look up. "I mean, a gut feeling doesn't work with a detective all the time. If you looked at me like you did Saint Tail-" His head shot up like a bullet.
"How I look at Saint Tail? Are you confessing-"
"Don't put words in my mouth! That's not what I said at all! Why do you of all people have to watch me in my room! You don't understand your own feelings! How are you suppose to know the feelings of OTHERS!"
"Who the heck was talking about FEELING?"
"We're talking about COMMON SENSE!"
"Who would want THAT?"
"SAINT TAIL!"
- - - - -
He looked in her eyes, concerned. This must really stress her out. Normally she's short-fused around me, but this is ridiculous! And she keeps talking about Saint Tail in such a way… Why won't she just confess? Meimi turned red with anger and turned away from him. He sat down in the chair of her desk, looking out her window. He heard a small sound behind him and didn't have to look to know she was screaming into her pillow. Defiantly not in her best mood…
- - - - -
Kimi sat in the office, waiting for the headmaster to see her. Until I see Seira I can't help Meimi, so I should help with the protection of the student body in the meantime. God, what is taking the headmaster so long? Even though she knew it wasn't right, she pressed her ear to the door. It was muffled, but she could make out what they were saying.
"You two must understand that I-"
"Shut up with the excuses, old man!" Kimi gasped. The first voice was the headmaster, and the second… "Leiko…" This caught her attention, and she was now more cautious.
"There is no way we can allow you to take her to court."
"And why not?"
"All the witnesses saw you and Kentaro hurting Kimi. Kimi didn't throw a punch or kick-"
"She did!"
"No. She dodged and struggled. Mere self-defense. It seems that she knows martial arts…"
"But how? I thought she didn't have any memory! She couldn't be that good-"
"The memory isn't completely lost. Just placed in the back of her mind. She may not know how she can do it, but her body does. She also can do mathematics and such, so I assume that it's only her memories that she's lost, not her knowledge... I assume that also how she knows what names mean. How many people know that Kentaro means 'big boy'? You may be sloppy, but only someone with fighting knowledge could fend you off as easily as she did." This was a third voice, Kentaro. He sounded closer to the door, and she realized that it possible he might know that someone was listening. She held her breath, waiting to see if he would mention it. He didn't.
"Fine, whatever. Can't you and the teachers just lie?"
"Your blackmail doesn't go that far." She's blackmailing the teachers and the headmaster?
"And why not?" Leiko voice was an ugly shriek.
"In court we would be under oath to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. We would be in more trouble if we lied in the courtroom then if you spread our secrets. All those pictures can get you is a way out of being taken to court by Miss Kimi. "Kimi had heard enough. Slowly she back away from the door and sat down, trying to sort out her thoughts.
The secretary walked in and smiled at her. "Do you need to see the headmaster?"
Kimi stood up. "No. I just realized he can't help me." With that she walked out. The secretary watched her leave, confused. Just as the girl disappeared around the corner two of her classmates walked out of the headmaster's office.
Kimi rushed into the church, giving a careless wave to one of the Sisters that was looking at her funny.
"Yo, Seira! Time to tell me this-" She cut herself off. The secret plan would be better if everyone in the church didn't know about it. Seira patiently placed a finger over her lips as Kimi sat down. Seira stood up from her prayer position and joined Kimi.
"We need another Saint Tail."
"Yes, that makes so much sense. I see why you didn't need to explain. Cloning a person under house arrest. So simple! Why didn't I think of that?" Seira giggled at Kimi's sarcasm.
"Of course. Cloning can be Plan B. Plan A is easier. Say we know this girl who can do magic, athletic, and looks like Saint Tail except with purple hair…"
"But I don't have the little tufts on either side of my head."
"The wig you will wear to have red hair will take care of that."
"Okay, so we have someone to take to take over her jobs. Now, on the subject of our friend under arrest?"
"New Saint Tail will do her jobs while Meimi is being watch. Are you catching my drift?"
"A person can't be in two places at once. How could dear Meimi be Saint Tail if they're trying to catch her elsewhere?"
"Exactly."
"Perfect. This conversation never happened."
"What conversation?"
"Good. Meimi will be in school tomorrow."
"What? But, Saint Tail-"
"Has something she needs to do as soon as possible."
- - - - -
"Why aren't I in jail?" Emotionally drained, Meimi was being very blunt.
"Saint Tail is one great magician. If we put her in jail we wouldn't be able to watch her all the time. She would probably just snap her fingers and poof! Something unbelievable would happen, and Saint Tail would be free."
"That doesn't seem very realistic, Asuka."
"Saint Tail defies what we think is impossible every time." Asuka got that distance look in his eyes that he got when he thought about Saint Tail. Why doesn't he look at me that way when he's around? He's the one who is telling everyone that I am Saint Tail! Surely he can't just love half of me!
"If you ask me-" The phone rang. Meimi rolled her eyes as she waited for Asuka to get ready. "Pick up the pace or they'll hang up!" Finally he nodded, and with a sigh she pick up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Howdy."
"Kimi, you sound… dead."
"I'm a little lifeless, that's for sure. Others at school know something's up. Apparently the news this morning said Saint Tail was under arrest, and when you didn't show-"
"They put two and two together?"
"Yep. 'Is Meimi Saint Tail?' People were asking me stupid questions like that all day. It was so annoying! I nearly took Makoto's head off when he tried to talk to me."
"Sounds terrible!"
"Yeah. Hey, does Asuka always watch you?"
"Except for when I go into the bathroom. Why do you ask?"
"Guess that means you won't be able to sneak out then…"
"Kimi!"
"Joking! Do you think you can come shopping this weekend if we allow Asuka to come?"
"No. House arrest means I stay in the house at all costs."
"Huh. I'll bring you the homework sometime before the weekend. I got to go."
"Bye."
"See ya."
