As Sawatari helped Meimi up onto a tree limb they both became aware of the voice of Asuka Jr. giving directions. Meimi couldn’t help but feel odd, not being the one he was after. The young detective seemed unaware of their presence and Meimi said as much.
"He couldn’t find his head with both hands," Sawatari hissed in annoyance, watching the preparations going on in front of the mansion, "why would you expect him to find us?" His voice had an ice-cold edge to it that made Meimi turn towards her classmate.
The photographer was staring hard at the object of their conversation and Meimi was suddenly aware of the young man’s good looks. She had never before looked at him with the eyes of a lover, but in the next second the feeling had passed and she knew it would never be repeated. Meimi allowed her eyes to return to Asuka Jr.
"And besides," Sawatari went on smoothly, "she’s not coming."
Meimi turned wide eyes on him, "N - not coming…?" she managed to stammer.
The blonde youth smiled and moved closer to her, his posture bespeaking his taking her into his confidence, "I sent the challenge from Saint Tail." He said it so blandly Meimi felt herself turn cold.
"You?" Her mind was laboring to comprehend what Sawatari was implying, hoping against hope she wasn’t hearing him correctly.
He smiled smugly. "I know you like him, and I want you to see the real Asuka Jr., the one that can’t find his head with both hands." Sawatari looked across the lawn with narrowed eyes, "This way you’ll get to see just what a jerk he is for yourself. And if I’m very lucky," he turned to face her, his voice softer, gentler, a fond smile on his lips, "you’ll see that you have someone who truly cares for you right here."
Meimi wasn’t sure for a moment if she should slap his arrogant face or just leave. That he could, and obviously would, do such a thing made her head spin. Drawing herself back from him she felt a wave of anger wash over her.
"I can’t believe you would do such a thing! To a classmate!"
"To a rival."
Meimi’s jaw dropped. "What?" she whispered in disbelief.
Sawatari nodded knowingly. "He likes you. He has for a long time, but he’s not worthy of you. The guy’s an idiot, just look around!" He gestured broadly, sweeping his arm to encompass the yard. But Meimi saw none of it. Her mind was suddenly full of images of Asuka Jr. Asuka Jr. the young man, not the detective, not the classmate.
Allowing her anger full rein she rounded on the photographer. "I can’t believe you would think of such a plan. And I can’t believe you would think this would make me like you! I’m leaving. I find your behavior reprehensible and so I’m going to act as if none of this ever happened. Don’t follow me, I’m too angry to speak, and I want to be alone."
Leaping from the tree she heard Sawatari protesting, but she quickly ran for the cover of the forest. She could hear him following but she didn’t pause. There was no way she was going to allow this to happen! Not to Asuka Jr.! Asuka Jr. was… her mind faltered. He was what? A friend? Surely. More? The word ‘rival’ rang in her head. She didn’t know what too make of that… all she knew was Asuka Jr. deserved better. He was not going to be made a fool of, by anyone, rival or not, if she had the means of preventing it.
Jumping onto a tree limb, Meimi placed herself against the tree trunk and tried to appear as small as possible. Sawatari ran by, calling for her. She allowed a minute to pass, and when she was sure he was gone she joined her hands together and opened her mind to the magic in her soul.
Saint Tail leapt easily from tree to tree moving steadily towards the house. She really had no idea what she was going to do, as she had no plans of stealing the Silvermoon Diamond, but at least, she thought, she could draw the police off. All she really needed to do was put in an appearance. Warmed by this thought she worked her way to the roof from an obliging tree.
As she ran for the peak a sudden movement off to her left made her crouch down. She was not alone.
Asuka Jr. called for the lights to be turned on and trained onto the roof of the mansion. He knew from experience that she would be coming in from the heights if she could and he wanted to make it as hard as possible for her. Tonight! He would catch her tonight for sure.
As the figure made its way to the peak of the roof Saint Tail conjured her silk hat. She was sure it was a thief, and that he must be panicking. It was just dumb luck that Asuka Jr., and the rest of the police force, was here. She wondered if Asuka Jr. would thank Sawatari for the challenge if he knew the truth about it. A smile tugged at her lips at the thought.
Floodlights blazed on, causing the thief to drop to his stomach. He scrambled like a spider, lower on the roof, trying to avoid being seen. Saint Tail, standing behind him, would have admitted that she felt bad for him, even if he was up to no good.
Passing her hand over her top hat Saint Tail called forth a floodlight of her own, lighting the roof from her hiding place. The cries from the police below as they saw this new light completed the smile.
Setting the hat down she faded back into the trees, watching.
Asuka Jr. emerged onto the roof just as the thief made up his mind to retrace his steps. The young detective gasped to see someone who was obviously not Saint Tail, but he never hesitated. Rushing towards the man he called for him to stop, and for the lights from below to come this way.
Cornered as he was the thief hastily pulled a weapon that Saint Tail couldn’t see from the cover of the trees. She screamed a warning, but then saw Asuka Jr. leap backwards, clutching his side. Her next scream was one of shocked anger as she watched him sink to his knee. For a fleeting moment she fought a desire to rush to his side. Turning on the thief she leveled her fury at him and conjured her wand. With a shout she sent the wand, and it’s trailing wire, at the thief’s legs. In mere seconds the man was bound and sliding inexorably towards the edge of the roof. He screamed in rage and terror, thrashing wildly to escape. Wrapping the wire around the limb she stood on Saint Tail leapt onto the roof and raced for her hat.
As she came into the light Asuka Jr. raised his head and began shouting to the officers around him. Several had clambered onto the room and following his directions ran in different directions… some after the thief, some after Saint Tail, and two stopped to see what help he needed.
Without breaking stride Saint Tail reclaimed her hat, extinguished its light and, counting aloud, began inflating her escape balloons. A sudden flash to her right drew her attention. There stood Sawatari, camera in hand, an evil grin on his face. Saint Tail felt her anger rekindle and she conjured a flight of doves that sped towards her classmate. Howling in surprise the young photographer dodged the birds as best he could, but not before the camera slipped from his hand and fell from the roof. The screaming curses that followed its path to the ground were barely heard by Saint Tail as she made good her escape.
Asuka Jr. tucked the bandaged hand under his arm as Haneoka made another grab for it. He insisted he was fine, and was puzzled by her concern. When he pointed this out to her she had blushed hotly, turned on her heels and fled, leaving him sputtering. As he watched her retreating form he wondered at his seemingly magical ability to make her angry. No matter what the topic was it was surely going to become a fight.
Shaking his head Asuka Jr. began walking again. Sawatari fell in beside him. For several moments neither one said a word, but then Asuka Jr. took hold of his conflicted feeling over the recent meeting with Haneoka and flung them at the photographer.
"What is it you want?" He demanded, coming to a stop.
The tall blonde fixed his eyes on the school and as Asuka Jr. watched, his face was overspread with crimson. Asuka Jr. didn't know what to make of this.
"Does your hand hurt?" Sawatari blurted out with no preamble.
Asuka Jr. looked at the object in question, confused. "No, it's only a graze, the knife barely touched me."
Sawatari nodded, but still didn't meet his eyes. "I sent that challenge from Saint Tail," he whispered with an obvious effort, his blush deepening, "And while I'm sorry you got hurt I'm not sorry I did it." He turned to face the detective, his voice taking on a growl, "I would have had her too, if that thief hadn't been there."
Asuka Jr. met Sawatari's eyes. He knew what this last statement meant and while he felt he could forgive his classmate the false challenge and its resulting wound, he wasn't ready to relinquish Haneoka.
"Really? And where is she?" he demanded, leaning towards the photographer. "If she was so close to being yours why isn't she with you now? Did she even show?!"
Sawatari blanched and retreated a step. Asuka Jr. didn't wait for a reply. He was sure none would be coming. Turning the young detective made his way to school, leaving a bemused Sawatari standing alone on the path.
As he neared the school he saw Haneoka sitting by the door, Seira by her side. The friends were having an animated conversation, Haneoka gesturing hugely, while Mimori laughed behind her hand. Asuka Jr. smiled to himself and headed for homeroom.