Chapter 2: 2 new students

Mirage fumbled out of bed as her father informed her that today she would start attending a public school. "Juuban High, dear, you must understand is a very lowly school. Public in fact. I don't understand why you would want to attend such a horrendous educational facility. It's quite revolting. What's the matter with the private all girls school that you were in?" Mirage simply slid on her uniform as her father stood outside her door rambling like a fool. "Father. Please do stop talking. You are beginning to annoy me. And about the all girls school. It is the most drool looking, and my I say acting, school imaginable. I want excitement." Her father stuttered and then walked down the staircase that led to the garage. "Ask Yuki for directions. She knows where it is." Mirage bounced out of her bedroom making sure to grab her keys off the rack next to her bed before she left. Yuki was waiting for her by the stairwell. Mirage hugged the black haired, blue eyed, girl with glee. Yuki grabbed her hand and drug her towards the garage. "Come on Mirage. After I show you how to get to the school I have to return. Your father seems to enjoy burdening me with extra work." The two girls ran laughing to Mirage's car.

Usagi and Rei sat in front of the school as they waited for the rest of their friends to show up. Rei pushed her backpack on the step in front of her and leaned forward as she tried to pull something out of it. "You know what Usa-chan?" Usagi shook her head as she nibbled on a granola bar she had grabbed on the way out of the door this morning. "Nani?" Rei pulled a small black book from her backpack and grinned. "I have been taking pictures of all of us this year. This is were I have been keeping them." She flipped through the pages as she continued to talk. "As I was looking through it this morning I realized how important you all are to me. After this year.we'll all probably split up." Usagi nodded in agreement as she threw her garbage into a nearby can. "I know. I was thinking the same thing this morning when I got up. I have a picture of us when we all started out. I looked at it when I got up this morning and realized how much we all have changed." The two stopped talking as Ami and Makoto walked up the stairs. Ami sat next to Usagi and handed her a picture frame with a picture of the five girls together. Makoto sat next to Rei and popped a piece of gum in her mouth. "So. One more semester and we each go our way huh?" Ami sighed and cradled her books in her arms. " I guess so. What are your plans?" Usagi placed the picture in her backpack. "I'm just gonna wing it. I'll probably stay here in Tokyo." Rei nodded as she took a piece of gum Makoto offered her. "Yea. I'll probably do the same. Someone has to take care of grandpa and next to that when he passes away the shrine belongs to me." Makoto shrugs. "I might go to America and start a restaurant there or something. Maybe. What about you Ame's?" Ami shook her head. "Oh I don't know. I know I want to be a doctor but I have no clue as to where I'm going." The conversation came to a halt as Mina came running around the corner. "Hey gang!! You sit here any longer and your gonna be late for class. Come on!!" The girls jump up and run up the stairway as they head toward their classes.

Mirage watched as Yuki drove her car back towards the house. Swinging her backpack up onto her left shoulder she walked up a short flight of stairs. Gazing up she could see the words 'Juuban High School' in big letters. She sighed. "Well. Here goes nothing." Her feet guided her into a small office where a short, stern looking man sat in a chair looking at her. She smiled at him and handed him her registration slips. The man nodded then handed her a small white slip of paper. Mirage took it and quickly made her exit. Glancing down at the paper she saw that it was her class schedule. "Room 80. Folklore. Mrs. Keyuga. Okay then where is room 80?" She began to walk towards a small building that she thought may be where room 80 would be. As she walked she heard a young mans voice. "Excuse me!! Excuse me!!" She turned to see an attractive young man with golden hair and bright chestnut eyes. He jogged up to her and showed her a slip. "Do you know where the first room on the list is?" She giggled. "Actually I'm looking for that very room. Are you a new student also?" The boy nodded. "Yea. Names Mattie. Matt by my friends. Call me which ever so pleases you." A faint blush crossed Mirage's cheeks as he spoke. "My name is Mirage. It's a pleasure." Matt winked at her. "It most certainly is. Its not often that I get to see such a pretty face." Mirage's cheeks bloomed with a new shade of red. The two stand in silence for a moment and then Mirage grabs his hand. "Come on. We gotta find our class." Matt nodded as she dragged him along. They approached a young female teacher who was struggling with her briefcase that had just spilled all its contents. Mirage bent over to help the woman with the mess. "Here. Let me get that. Would you like me to carry some of this to your classroom? There is no way it will all fit in that." The woman nodded and some of her white hair spilled out of her bun. "Oh darn it. I'm just not having the best of mornings. Thank you dear. I would seriously appreciate it." She fiddled with her hair and fixed it back into a bun. Matt picked up some of the papers and organized them. "I'll help too." The three cleaned up the mess and began to walk towards the small building. The woman looked at Mirage with her faded blue eyes and smiled. "So who are your sensei's. I'll write up a note explaining you're tardy." Mirage smiled. "Thank you Ma'am. Our sensei is Mrs. Keyuga." The woman almost dropped her briefcase a second time. "Well that's just convenient. I am her!! Oh you must be my new students." Matt and Mirage both nodded as the woman shouldered her briefcase. Mirage shifted the weight of the papers she was carrying to her left as she walked in between Matt and Mrs. Keyuga. "Mrs. Keyuga. Forgive me for asking but exactly how old are you? You look to young to be teaching." Mrs. Keyuga smiled. "For starters you can call me Crystal. Not Mrs. Keyuga. I hate formality. Secondly I am 21 years old. You are right I am a bit young but lets just say I was always ahead of the pack." Crystal opened a small door and let the two students in first. "My desk is right in front of you. Just set my stuff there. You can sit where ever you want." She shuffled in behind them then waved to the class. "Good Morning Gang!! Sorry I'm so late. My little sister needed a ride to school this morning and my folks are to lazy to get up." Mina glanced over at the two new students. "Hey you two! There are two open seats right behind me. You can sit there. Come on!" Matt was the first over and was sitting right behind her. Mirage climbed into the seat next to him. Crystal picked up a book off of her desk and glanced at it. Holding it up she frowned. "What's the name of this book?" Ami sat up. "It is called the history of ancient writings." Crystal pointed at Usagi. "Do you have a copy of it?" Usagi nodded. "We all do. The dean said we have to." Crystal threw her book into the trash. "Forget what the dean said. This is my class. I teach folklore, not history. Hand up your books." The class passed the books forward in a rush. Crystal took them all and tossed them in the trash bin. Pointing at a young boy with Coke- bottle glasses she smiled. "Melvin. Would you please take this to the dean's office? Tell him it's a present from me." Melvin climbed out of his seat and grabbed the bin in a hurry as he rushed out the door. Crystal turned back to the class. "Okay!! We have two new students. Like you didn't notice.anyhow. Matt, Mirage will you please stand up." The two did as they were directed and stood. Usagi felt her mind go blank as she looked at Mirage. 'Its that girl I saw in my mirror!!!' Crystal interrupted her thoughts. "Okay guys tell them the rules." Usagi smiled this was easy. "HAVE FUN!!" Ami nodded. "Learn something everyday." Mina stood up. "There are no rules!!" The class went into a small cheer. Mirage began to giggle. Matt smiled at her. "What's so funny?" Mirage stopped laughing and sat in her desk. "Oh well. I came from a private school for all girls. The nuns would freak if we talked on the way to PE. This is way different." Crystal nodded her head in understanding. "My sister goes there. Anyhow guys. WE do need to start our next section. It's actually about a bedtime story my mother used to tell me when I was a little younger than you." The class leaned forward in interest and Melvin returned to his seat. "Its about a princess. Actually a bunch of princesses. From each planet." Usagi, Mina, and Ami all looked at each other with light smirks on their faces. Crystal continued. "The princesses are said to have special powers that they were to use to protect the universe as well as the Moon princess from evil. Oh heck. You want me to just tell you the story?" The class echoed with a unanimous answer. "HAI!!" Crystal smiled. "Okay. Here goes. Many years ago, in the time of the silver millennium there were 9 princesses. 8 of them were dedicated to the protection of the 9th. She was the Moon Princess, Usagi." Crystal paused. "Perhaps we should do a play one of these days about this story. Some students in this class look like they could play the part. What do you guys think?" Once again the class barked the same answer. "HAI!" Crystal grinned even broader. "Okay. The 8 princesses were the princess of Mars, that should be.Rei.you play her part, The princess of Mercury, Ami, the princess of Venus, Hmmmm.Mina, the princess of Jupiter, definitely Makoto, the princess of Saturn, hmmmmmmmm.. Mirage why don't you play as her, the princess of Uranus.ummmm Katie, the princess of Neptune, Molly, and the princess of Pluto, Cassie you can do it. The 9th princess was the Moon Princess. Usagi would you be kind enough to play her part?" Usagi nodded with joy. Mirage frowned. "What about the Earth, Crystal. You said there was a princess from each planet." Crystal winked at her. "The moon princess was deeply in love with a prince from earth. Matt why don't you play him?" Matt frowned. "No offense ma'am. But I can't act for the life of me. Besides. I would rather be Saturn's true love. Better planet. " Mirage felt as though her face was on fire. Quickly looking into her pocket mirror she checked her face. She was relieved to see it was its normal light rosy color. Crystal nodded. "Of course. Melvin. I'm counting on you." Usagi grimaced. 'Yucky!!! I have to be in love with him!!! Why cant Molly be me??? It's her boyfriend!!'

The day passed on and fourth period had just ended. Mirage had 3 of her classes with Usagi so far and they had become friends. The two girls were waiting in front of the school for the rest of Usagi's friends. Mirage was smiling and laughing as she reapplied her lipstick. "Yea. I have plenty of free time. Our housemaid. My childhood friend. Isn't supposed to be here till 3 anyway. Its only 12." Mirage kept talking with Usagi as Matt snuck up behind Mirage. The girls didn't notice. Matt popped out from behind the wall and grabbed Mirage's sides as gently as possible. The girls screeched and Mirage spun around with fury on her face. "MATT!!!! You twerp!!! How dare you!!! You scared the life out of me!!" Matt just stared at her with a stupid grin. "Your so cute when your mad." Mirage's face flushed a deep red and she spun around to face Usagi. Matt stopped grinning. "Oh hey now! Come on!! I was only messing with you. Mirage!!! Hey stop ignoring me. Mirage!!! UGG!! YOUR IMPOSSIBLE!!!!" Mirage slowly turned around to face him. "Matt. Would you like to go to the ice cream parlor with us girls?" Usagi giggled. Sudden forgiveness always totally confuses a guy. Matt grinned enthusiastically. "Of course. But uhhh. Why the sudden forgiveness? You were just screaming at me a minute ago." Mirage places her hands on her hips. "Cause. You're so cute when you get annoyed." Matt fell silent and the rest of the girls walked up. Mina and Usagi linked arms and began to skip towards Tokyo Park where the Ice Cream Parlor was. Rei, Ami, and Makoto walked calmly behind them as they talked about their finals and other events of the day. Mirage pulled out her cell phone and called Yuki at the house. "Hi Yuki.. Yea it's me.. School got out early today cause they had finals.. Yea.No no.I'm going to Tokyo Park with my new friends.. Yea.Okay.I'll call you when I need a ride.or if I go anywhere else.Yes I promise.Okay.Okay.. Yes.. Bye." Matt held out his arm as he waited for her to put her phone back into her purse. When she looked up he smiled. "Shall we?" Mirage nodded and slid her arm through his. Then with out telling the other they both burst into a dead sprint when they saw their friends rounding the next corner. "HEY!!!!"