CHAPTER SEVEN: DETENTION

~ Misaki's POV ~

"What do you mean?" I demanded, frantically looking back and forth from Suzuna and our head of house. "How?"

Suzuna shrugged. "I just can't cast spells anymore."

"Misaki-chan, we've learned this only after the Quidditch match." Our head said. "Reportedly, she was going to cast the Orchideous spell as a party trick, but nothing happened. We've done several tests but none seems to be working." She explained gravely.

"Is that even possible?" I said, outraged, tightly holding onto Suzuna's hand.

She shook her head. "This is the first time we've ever heard of such incident. We've already reported this to the headmaster and even the Ministry."

I hugged Suzuna. "What did you do that day?" I asked her, my head furrowed.

She thought for a while. "Woke up, showered, slipped in the bathroom, breakfast, class, watched the Quidditch game, bought binoculars and snacks, bathroom, then I tried the spell around my friends." She answered monotonously. I was even more affected than she seems to be!

"When was the last time your magic worked, if you could remember?" I asked, observing the little movements in her face.

A pause.

"I used it to find my clothes this morning. They were under my room mate's bed." She answered, almost uninterested.

"Who did you talk to?" I continued interrogating.

"Aoi, Shizuko, Akira, Kizuki, Gerard, and Usui."

"Eh? Gerard and Usui?" I questioned. "What did they say?"

"They were asking me about Mahoutokoro and you."

I guess that's nothing very suspicious, but I'm going to have to talk to Usui about this.

"What's going to happen to her?" I asked our head.

"Naturally," she said. "She'll be sent home."

"Squib." Suzuna muttered sadly.

"No." I said sternly. "Don't think that way. Something's just not right. I'll find out soon, okay?" I assured her, patting her head affectionately.

x x x x x x x x

The day ended quickly. I couldn't find anything much to think about except what had happened to my sister. If it was even possible, I don't know. Nobody seems to know. It's infuriating to be in the dark this way.

Today was the first day of my detention. The walk to Potions classroom felt like a walk to the Underworld. I was terribly nervous. I have never received detention before, or lost my house any points. Until now. And it's my Prefect year!

I entered the lit room with my Potions book in hand and saw that I had a detention buddy. Sigh. Why doesn't it surprise me?

"What's the book for?" Usui asked from his seat which was on the second row. I walked towards him and took a seat beside his.

"It's my potions book, moron." I said coldly.

Usui frowned. "It's detention, not extra credit."

"Who knows?" I said loudly. "Why are you here anyway?"

"Funny story, actually." He chuckled. "I'm here because the other members of our team demanded that I get detention for saving you."

I felt guilty.

"I told you you didn't have to!" I hissed at him, banging my fist on the table.

"Don't feel guilty. I get to have private hours with you anyway. So it's more of an opportunity than a burden." He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "You say the most inappropriate of things..."

"Don't worry." He said, leaning towards me. "I will come to save you as much as you need."

I turned scarlet, pushing him away.

"I don't need your help!"

Just as I finished the sentence, Hisoka-sensei emerged from the ingredients cupboard on the right corner of the room, rubbing his hands together as he did.

"An odd mix. Prefects of Suzaku and Genbu..." He said. Don't even remind me. Then, turning to Usui, he said, "I expected better from you."

Usui merely shrugged.

"Anyway," he said, straightening his robes, "You will have to organize the ingredients cupboard alphabetically. One spilled ingredient is equivalent to an extra day of detention. Get going."

Usui and I slowly entered the cupboard as Hisoka-sensei left the room. It was small and square, and it smelled of rot and other things I probably did not want to know. Three walls were lined with shelves of ingredients. Unfortunately, none were labelled.

"Let's identify each first, then?" Usui said with a clap of his hand. He took a small bottle of blue-violet coloured liquid. "Pretty sure this is Lethe River Water." He said, putting the glass among others similar to it.

"I'll get started on this side." I announced, taking a flask of green slimy fluid and identifying it as Flobberworm Mucus.

"Porcupine quills..."

"Valerian Sprigs..."

"Horklump Juice..." We went on. Being the competitive me, I tried my best to identify more than he, so I was rushing my task. Suddenly, his elbow knocked a glass of red liquid from my hand. I caught it immediately, thanks to my sharp reflexes.

"Idiot! You almost gave me an extra night of detention!" I screamed at him, punching his shoulder with my free hand.

"That's the point, isn't it?" He said with an arrogant smirk. "For us to spend more time together."

"Shut up and just finish your task." I rolled my eyes.

After a few minutes of clanking glasses and soft thuds, I heard Usui murmur, "Hmm."

I turned to face him and found him closely examining a glass of silver-coloured liquid. He opened the bottle and took a whiff. His forehead creased.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It smells like... food." He answered, his eyes narrowing as he took more whiffs. "I'm not familiar with this ingredient."

"That's new." I said, taking the bottle from his hands. "Maybe we should taste it."

He snatched it right back. "That's not a good idea." He said, placing it behind his back.

"Why not? I don't think they'd put any ingredient that's dangerous in here."

He ignored my question and pocketed the small bottle.

"That's stealing!" I hissed at him. He gave me a 'duh' look and put a finger to my lips.

"No one needs to know." He whispered. I turned red. What the hell is wrong with him?

"I do! You actually expect me to lie about this?" I whispered angrily, for fear that Hisoka-sensei might be outside. I don't know why he's so interested in a food-smelling ingredient. It's not as if he can eat it.

"Yes, Ayuzawa, I do." He smirked. "Wouldn't you?"

"Of course not!" I said. "If we get caught, we'll be in more trouble than we already are! I'm sorry but I'm not used to detention." I snapped at him, trying to take the ingredient from his pocket. But, of course, he evaded my every move. Sometimes it's annoying how skilled he is. Sometimes to the point that I want to slap him hard across the face.

"We won't get caught if you don't say anything." He said, blocking his pocket with his hand. "Unless of course, you'd want to spend more detention with me. Maybe that is your motive. Real sly, Ayuzawa."

"That's not it!" I screamed, turning red.

"Why are you blushing, then?" He teased, wiggling his eyebrows as he cornered me to one side. And the cupboard was not spacious, I tell you. I hate how I can't stop the blood from rushing to my cheeks.

"Not in this room." A stern voice suddenly said. Usui and I both turned our heads and found Hisoka glaring at us. There's just no end to the embarrassment Usui's bringing me, is there? Usui then stepped back, smirking, and fixed his tie. I was smoothing my uniform, trying to hide the redness in my cheeks by looking down.

"But I'm impressed." Hisoka-sensei commented, his eyes skirting over every inch of the cupboard with his brown eyes narrowed. "You are dismissed. Don't let me catch you fooling around again."

"We weren't-" I tried to say, but he gave me a look that convinced me that he would not believe me anyway. I sighed, biting my lip.

Usui and I went out of the cupboard. I grabbed my book from the table and walked out the room. I felt him close behind me. Our footsteps on the wooden floor echoed in the empty hallways. It was probably almost, if not past, curfew which was at 10 PM, and no one was allowed past then. I yawned, realizing how tired I actually was. And I have six more nights of this...

~ Usui's POV ~

"Usui, I need to ask you something." Misaki suddenly said, surprising me. I nodded, urging her to go on.

"What did you talk to Suzuna about?" She asked, the fatigue showing in her voice.

I placed my hands in my pockets. "You." I answered.

"Any specifics?" She asked, annoyed at my answer.

"Nothing, really. I just wanted to know more about you." I answered. That was true, but not completely. I can't tell her everything yet.

"Why didn't you ask me?" She said. "And why was Gerard there too? She mentioned talking to him."

"Because you wouldn't answer without scolding me." I said. "He was there because I was talking to him previously."

"That's true." She sighed. "But it was just suspicious that you suddenly talked to her. Especially with all that's going on."

"What do you mean?" I asked, but I already knew. But she doesn't know that.

"Nothing." Then, silence.

"Would you like me to carry you to the room?" I teased her. It'll wake her up.

"I have no energy to spend on you right now, so kindly shut up." She replied coldly, emphasizing the last two words. Her brows were knit as she spoke, her eyes almost closed. The way she walked looked like she was dragging herself. Then she sighed.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bark like that. Just a little moody." She apologized, relaxing her tense expression.

"You should meow instead." I said, whistling.

I felt her glare at me. "You are making it difficult to get along with you. Just keep quiet." She said exasperatedly.

And so our walk was silent.

x x x x x x x x

When we arrived at the common room, Misaki almost looked like she was asleep. Her eyes were fluttering shut, but she resisted the fatigue. I walked her to her room, as I do every time.

"Go." She yawned like a cat. I smiled warmly, wanting to hold her.

"Goodnight, Ayuzawa." I said with a small bow of the head.

"Mmm." She replied, her eyes half closed. "'Night, pervert."

I chuckled as she closed the door behind her. I turned and headed for my own room, but I didn't intend to sleep yet.

When I went inside the boys' dormitory, the lights were already closed. I squinted through the darkness, making sure my path was clear as I headed for my brother's bed.

"Wake up." I shook his shoulders. He woke up immediately.

"What?" He groaned. "This better be important..." He then threw the sheets off of his body and stood up. He followed me to the common room. We sat down opposite each other, my legs propped up on the table in between.

"What is it?" He asked, blinking a couple of times to adjust his eyes to the light.

I smirked, pulling out something from my pocket.

"I think I found it." I said, playing with the small bottle of silver in my hand. My brother's eyebrows shot up, waking him up.

This was easier than we expected.


A/N: I might not be able to post the next chapter quickly, since I'm going somewhere for a week vacation. But whenever I get a hold of the internet, I'll try to update.

To whoever's reading this story, thank you so much for bearing with me. I know it's not really that interesting, but thank you anyway for reading. I appreciate it. Receiving alerts that you favorited/followed/reviewed my story is really uplifting! The story seems to be confusing right now, but things will make more sense soon, I promise. Please just bear with me x