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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, however, seemed unaware of their presence, and Meimi said as much.
"He couldn’t find his head with both hands," Sawatari hissed in annoyance, "why would you expect him to find us?"
Meimi said nothing but returned her gaze to the activity before her. The tree hideout was well chosen. From where they sat they could see almost all of the front lawn.
The mansion was huge and of an older European style. It rose four stories above the meticulously manicured lawn and was bounded by a sort of wilderness of trees. Police trucks, with searchlights mounted to their backs, faced the edifice and everywhere policemen moved like swarming bees.
It all suddenly seemed so absurd to Meimi, this whole cat and mouse game. The lengths he went to, time after time, and for nothing! In effect Sawatari was right, but she blushed at the thought. Asuka Jr. was smart, he was clever… and she knew it better than anyone. Yet here he was, once again making a fool of himself. Her color rose and she turned towards Sawatari, only to find him inches from her face.
"Meimi-chan…" he whispered, leaning towards her. Meimi drew back in alarm, lost her balance, and began to fall from the tree. Sawatari reached out, caught her neatly around the waist and pulled her back to the relative safety of his arms. Meimi was crushed to his chest, and she took a second to catch her breath before protestations began to rise to her lips. Sawatari suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and she saw him narrow his gaze as he looked past her towards the mansion. It seemed something was happening.
"Good evening!" came a tremulous feminine voice. Leaning forward Meimi strained to see better, but Sawatari, now focused on the proceedings, held her tight, his hand still pressed to her lips.
Asuka Jr. yelled something and lights blazed on. Moving swiftly Sawatari dropped from the tree, Meimi tucked neatly under one arm, his camera in his free hand and began jogging closer for a better view. After a moment Meimi managed to slip from his grip. He glanced back at her, but kept moving; she slowly followed.
Asuka Jr. was pointing, shouting and running towards the house as they came close. Through all of it Meimi had eyes only for the bogus Saint Tail.
She stood, unmoving, on the peak of the roof. Her costume was that of Saint Tail, though her height looked to be off, even from Meimi’s position on the ground. In her hand Saint Tail held an object that reflected the searchlights in a million tiny rainbows. She must have the diamond, Meimi thought. In the next second she saw Asuka Jr. on the roof, stealthily moving towards the ponytailed villain. The fake Saint Tail didn’t move. In fact she appeared quite unaware of her present danger. Meimi could see that Asuka Jr. was speaking, but couldn’t hear anything for the pounding of her heart. Then several things happened at once.
Asuka Jr. lunched himself at the thief, even as she turned to face him, and they collided. The momentum of the meeting caused them to fall off the roof’s peak and begin sliding for the edge. Meimi could hear the Saint Tail screaming, and Asuka Jr. yelling, and if they hadn’t been in so much danger she would have found the events rather comical.
Racing towards the house Meimi leapt easily into a tree and used it as a ladder to the roof. As she grew closer to her goal she could make out voices. One she knew as well as her own. Asuka Jr. was yelling, loudly, at the bogus Saint Tail... and then Meimi made out the sounds of someone crying. Not just crying, but sobbing as if from some great despair. After listening for a moment Meimi gasped.
The crying girl was Rina.
Lacing her fingers together Meimi quickly became the cat burglar of Seika. With a lithe jump she was on the roof and making as much noise as she could, trying to draw Asuka Jr. away from her classmate.
Asuka Jr. looked up as the real Saint Tail whirled in a kaleidoscope of skirt and ponytail, producing her top hat. With a deft move she conjured a flock of doves that raced towards the detective where he knelt beside Rina.
With a cry of surprise Asuka Jr. wrapped his arms around his head and bent over the prone form below him, trying to shield her from the onslaught. Rina grasped the opportunity and quickly clambered onto the nearest tree and began her descent. Asuka Jr. flailed wildly at the attacking creatures, but somehow lost sight of the bogus thief. With an oath Asuka Jr. ducked under the birds, racing towards the real Saint Tail. But even as he ran he was calling directions to the many policemen that appeared and hastened to his aid. Some he sent after the fake Saint Tail, other’s he told to follow him. Saint Tail found herself coming to the end of the roof, and to the end of her ideas. To escape now would turn the chase back on Rina, and she was quite sure Rina wouldn’t be able to escape with the practiced ease Saint Tail could. But how to prolong the chase?
Saint Tail slid to a stop and braced herself.
Asuka Jr., for the second time that evening, found himself holding Saint Tail. His momentum carried them forward, but Saint Tail managed to keep her feet. They stood for a long second before Asuka Jr. began making demands.
"You are under arrest!" he bellowed, seemingly pleased with the phrase. "Turn over the SilverMoon Diamond!"
"I don’t have it."
Asuka Jr. paused, suddenly unsure. "You…what?"
"I don’t have it."
His grip relaxed and he straightened up, releasing her. Saint Tail moved a step forward, but didn’t run. She stood with her back to him and there was a moment of silence before Saint Tail went on.
"I don’t have the diamond Asuka Jr. and I didn’t send you the challenge." She allowed some time for this to sink in before she continued. How far could Rina have gone? She still needed time. Marshalling her thoughts she asked him, "Do you remember when I seemingly stole a wedding veil?"
Asuka Jr. made an affirmative noise.
"We, you and I, managed to save a girl from a situation she didn’t want to be in."
"Are you saying that this case is similar?" the detective asked perplexed.
"It’s similar in that there is something going on that you are seemingly blind to."
Asuka Jr. turned to the approaching police officers and waved them back. "Go on," he said facing Saint Tail again.
"Asuka Jr. is there someone you like?"
Blushing hotly he practically shouted at her, "What would that have to do…"
"Answer me!"
Cowed, Asuka Jr. made the same sound of agreement as before.
"And are you aware that there is someone who likes you as well?"
The gasp that reached her ears gave her pause. Perhaps that wasn’t the best phrasing, but she forged ahead.
"If someone wanted to attract your attention what better way than to become the object of…"
Saint Tail broke off, hastily pressing her fists against the rising color in her cheeks. Asuka Jr. also felt his face burning and he took a step back.
"I didn’t challenge you tonight Asuka Jr.," Saint Tail said in a rush as she tried to compose herself, "there was no theft, and no one is at fault. Do you understand me?"
Asuka Jr. fought to regain control of the situation, with no luck. They both stood for a long moment, each hoping the other wouldn’t notice their own panting. Slowly Asuka Jr. took another step backwards as he realized what Saint Tail was implying.
"You’re saying that girl…" his voice faded away. He was wrapped in disbelief, even as she nodded yes, but in the next second he rethought the situation. "Why should I believe you?!" he demanded loudly.
"You’re the smartest detective I know," she said simply, "and I know you can easily grasp the logic in the plan."
The silence behind her stretched on as Asuka Jr. pondered this. Finally she heard him turn and tell the gathered officers to wait for him on the lawn, and that they should make preparations to leave. The sounds of the men moving off faded after a moment and Saint Tail hazarded a glance over her shoulder.
Asuka Jr. stood, his back to her.
Turning she took a step closer to the detective. His shoulders were slumped and his whole posture bespoke his misery.
"What should I do?" he whispered.
Saint Tail smiled in spite of herself, "You’ll do the right thing, I’m sure. Both she and I trust you too." And with that she was gone.
"Do you think he’s figured it out?" Seira asked her friend as they slowly strolled from the school towards the chapel.
Meimi laughed, "Not a chance. He is the smartest detective I know, but," and her laughter filled the air, "he’s still a boy."
At that moment the whining cries of Rina calling to Asuka Jr. could be heard causing both girls to stop and look back. The young detective’s voice could then be heard, telling Rina to leave him alone. Seira smiled catching Meimi’s eye and together they turned back towards the chapel.