Sorry about the delay! I've been on a car trip and I would have updated late last night but there was a huge accident on the highway that backed everything up at least 18 miles. If I ever see a car again, it will be too soon. But anyway, thank you to my reviewers! And I'm beginning to work on the getting out the next chapters of NWIO and Standing Aside (hope that makes you...not homicidal, StarryNight101)!

But anyway, enjoy if you can.

Bottom of the Barrel

1c) Classroom

by sakanascales876

She was nearly invisible -except the Odangos- underneath the tower of napkin dispensers she must have spent at least an hour creating. Mamoru watched in fascination as her pigtails occasionally bobbed up and down, intense mumbling and scribbling coming from her every minute or so. He was tempted to knock all of it down just to annoy her, but his curiosity bested him.

"What on Earth are you doing?" he asked with a monotonous tone. Startled, she popped up, hitting her head on a salt shaker.

She scowled at him. "Don't scare me like that! Can't you see that I'm busy?"

"With what?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes before standing up. "I'm studying for a science test."

"Study?" Disbelief flooded his mind, and before he knew it, he pushed aside the tower gently to see an open book on her desk with words that to him looked suspiciously like…science. Mamoru looked at her in shock. "You're actually studying?"

Usagi gave a growl before seating herself once more, burying herself back into her text book. "If you're going to insult me: leave."

"That's the plan," he said cheekily. "But what's with the little fort you've got here? Are you trying to conceal your secret studying technique, which is not working out too well for you-,"

"I bet my allowance to Luna that the only reason I'm failing is because there are too many distractions in the classroom, so if I studied somewhere else I'd do better. I can't have any distractions. Now please leave before I throw pepper in your face."

Mamoru blinked in confusion, reaching up to scratch his head. That made some sense to him, but… "Wait. Isn't Luna your cat?"

"Uh…" Usagi began, a nervous laugh erupting from her. "Yeah, but I named her after my father's father's grand-daughter…err, yeah."

"But that's-,"

"You're distracting me now, Mamoru-baka." She hid herself beneath her fort once more, ignoring his frown and angry look at her.

A bit insulted, he stalked around the table, making his way into the booth and scooting next to her, ignoring her protesting and pouting as she demanded that he leave.

"What are you studying?" he asked, looking down at her book to get a general idea at what she was tackling.

"Science."

He rolled his eyes. "I know that! But what area of science are you on?"

With a huff, she pointed at the main title at the beginning of the chapter. He nodded, gathering up her notes and highlighting key points to remember, slowly explaining them to her with patience. Usagi wasn't listening, but watching how his bangs fell just above his eyebrows, and she noticed how nicely the dark hair compared with his dark skin. His shirt was slightly ruffled and his collar was messy, and she couldn't help becoming aware of the fact that he looked good even when he was slightly haggard.

"Odango, are you even listening?" His deep tone sliced through her thoughts, and she found herself ogling at his sapphire eyes, a blush coating her cheeks.

"Sorry, I…uh—got distracted," she said nervously, averting her eyes back down to her notes.

Mamoru groaned, "God; it's not only in the classroom! Whoever this Luna is, she's about to make a bit of money."

She gave out a whimper and Mamoru began to teach again, pausing every minute or so to make sure that she was at least listening. It wasn't fair! This was even more distracting than Haruna's classroom! There was no way that she was going to pass this test. A thought occurred to her then. What the hell was Luna, a talking cat, going to do with her money anyway?

I hope you liked it! Please review!

-Fishyscales876 ;)