Chapter five:

Honey and Feathers

Munching on a slice of pizza, she studied the book in front of her.  Having skipped the trip to the Great Hall for the umpteenth time, she decided to stow away in her classroom once more.

How could she enjoy her time eating, when half the student body was watching her inhale her food?  It was just too weird.

Taking another rather large bite of her pizza, she flipped the page of her book, with her other hand.  One of her afternoon joys, lying sprawled out on one of the many tables, with a good manga to read.

Sighing dreamily, she snapped the book shut.  It was time like these, when she missed them most.  Rolling over onto her back, she pouted miserably.

I wonder if they miss me?

Raising her arms up over her head, she stared at them.  She laid sprawled on a high wooden table, her knees bent, so that her legs dangled off the side.  Tilting her head, she sighed lonely.  She really did miss them.

Sure they always said, that they needed her, and that she held them together.  But it didn't mean that she didn't need them.  She needed them more than they needed her, really.  Without them, she was a sniveling klutz, who failed at everything she tried.

Minako, with her sunny bright smile, and flippant attitude, always knew how to make Usagi feel special.

Makoto, who knew how to act tough, when things got down, always made Usagi feel strong.  Stronger than she actually was.

Ami, she was a genius, but she was always kind.  She knew how to make Usagi feel good, because she never gave up on her.

Oh Ami…

Tears rushed to her eyes, when she thought of her blue haired friend.  But they didn't fall until she thought about her dark haired friend.  Sure they fought; sure they couldn't get alone, longer than a minute.

But it only made the bond between them stronger.

Rei knew how to make her feel brave, and worthy to protect their world.  Surely Rei was made as hell at her.  Especially since she had missed four meetings, and plus took half of her mangas.  Smiling through her tears, she thought about the outers.

Her friends always made her feel cherished, loved, and protected.  And in return, she tried her hardest to make them feel the same.

Dropping her hands she let them rest against her middle.  She stared up at the ceiling, with a longing look on her face.  If only she could see them, just to see how they were holding up, without her.

Hmm where did I put…

Searching the table with her left hand blindly, she accidentally pushed something over the edge.  Cursing, she rolled over onto her side, and looked.

Damn

Usagi stretched, trying to reach the fallen box of pizza.  Even though half of it laid on the ground upside down, she wasn't about to waste it.  It had taken nearly an hour to order the kind of pizza she wanted.  The owl had taken its sweet time delivering.  But most of all, it had cost her most of her pouch money.

"Having trouble?"

Yelping, Usagi fell off the edge of the table, landing with a plop on her pizza.  With her left eye twitching, she pushed herself up to her feet.  The laughter behind her did nothing to help dampen her raging anger.  Glancing down at what was left of her meal, she gritted her teeth.  She whirled around yelling, "why you little-"

The boy standing in her classroom only smirked, and crossed his arms over his chest.  "Little?"  He shook his head, the mocking smile on his charming face, was enough to have her ready to through the table at him.

He stalked towards her, his robes billowing about his tall form.  Standing before her. She had to look up at him.  "Like I said, little?"

Glaring at him, she snapped, "You mister," she stabbed him with her finger, after she rose to the tip of her toes.  "Have no right-"

She wasn't able to finish, since he pulled away, and she lost her balance.  Grabbing at the table, Usagi steadied herself.  "I want you out!  I don't have you in class until tomorrow.  Don't you come back till then!"  Jerking her finger in the direction of the door, she lifted her chin as if she could intimidate him enough to make him leave.

The boy chuckled, shaking his head once again.  "But I'm here for my private lessons."  He started around the room, his eyes assessing the mess she had made just a moment ago.

Balking, Usagi spluttered, "w-what?"  Hurrying after him, she moved so that she blocked his way to her desk.  He smirked, looking down at her.  "You heard me.  I'm going to need private lessons, if I'm going to be your partner in class, correct?"

Usagi started to shake her head, "Iie, I refu-" when he shook his head, her eyes narrowed, "Why are you shaking your head?  I'm the professor not you!"

He chuckled, and this time, he bent low so that his face was inches from hers, "but if a student requests a Professors help, they are obligated to spend more time, to teach that student.  Outside of class included."

Opening her mouth, to reject, she instantly closed it.  He was right.

Damn him!

She narrowed her eyes on him, and she gritted out, "fine."  Whirling from him, she stalked to her desk.  The boy was too damn clever, and too damn hot for his own good.

Dropping into her chair behind her desk, she eyed the boy with resentment.  And he was too familiar to her that it frightened her to stay to close to him for too long.

What am I getting myself into?

~~~~

 Standing from the bench she had been sitting at, she crossed the room to the open window.  It was another lovely day in mid September, but she hardly noticed.  Peering out, she looked down below, to see a yellow sports car come to a screeching halt.

Smiling slightly to herself, she watched as three people clamber out, and race to the front door.  Somewhere in the distance of the empty house, she heard a door swing open.  "Setsuna!"

She waited, listening to the thunder of footsteps coming up the staircase.  She turned, when the door to the room flew open.  "Where is Usagi, Setsuna?"

The woman standing the doorway was heaving, her chest rising and falling, most likely from her race through the mansion, and up the stairs to the music room.  Moving away from the window, she replied carefully, "I'm not sure what you are getting at?"

She smiled sweetly, as two more entered the room, after the tall blonde had stormed in.  "Don't give me that crap Setsuna.  Usagi hasn't come to a single meeting for weeks now."

Haruka was highly upset.  It showed on her face, where lines had creased her brow, and her face was turning red.  Michiru, who stood behind the taller woman, wrapped her arms around her.  "Now Haruka.  You know you will get nowhere talking to Setsuna like that."

Her lips twitched wanting to form a smile, when stormy sea colored eyes turned on her.  "Setsuna."  Her voice was usually calm, her nature more soothing than fiery.  Right now the voice sounded like the calm before a storm.  Heat was held back, as she could see in Michiru's eyes.

"The girl's are worried.  Usagi's Okaasan said she had not seen Usagi for weeks now.  She had been told she was staying with us."  Her teal eyes moved to the woman she held tightly to her.  "Haruka and I have not called Usagi's mother.  And Hotaru is still too young to use the phone."

Setsuna wanted to grin, but she held back the notion.  When Michiru looked back at her, Setsuna had to clear her throat to hide her expression.  "Usagi's missing?  When did this happen?"

Amusement dripped from her voice, and she knew she was caught.  What had happened to all those years of acting?

"So you do not know where Usagi might be?"  There was doubt in Haruka's voice.  She pulled away from her lover's arms, and stalked towards the older woman.  "Setsuna?"

She rolled her shoulders in a soothing manner.  Turning her sharp garnet eyes upon the blonde woman, she replied nonchalantly, "Maybe I do."  She looked away to stare at Michiru, "or maybe I don't."

"Setsuna mama!  This is not a game.  Where is Usagi hime?"

Looking down, she caught sight of the youthful Hotaru.  She was still just a child.  Weeks ago, she had just been a baby, but she was growing steadily.  Her body needing to be of age, in order to handle the great powers of Saturn.

Sighing, she discarded her little game, and stated, "hai I know where she is.  I sent her on a mission, considering there isn't any danger here."

Frowning, Haruka asked, "what kind of mission?"

Setsuna turned from them, as she replied, "she's cleaning up a mistake I made.  I gave her the option, and she chose it.  Don't worry she's in no harms way."

"I want to see her.  With my own eyes."  Haruka stiffened, when the taller woman whirled to her.  "I told you, she is doing fine.  I'm keeping watch at all times."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Haruka asked, "oh yea, then what is she doing right now?"  The oldest shook her head, before she answered, "She's on her way to the music room, as we speak.  She hears music, and wants to see who is playing."

A tug on her dress caused her to look down, "can we see her Setsuna mama.  I want to see Usagi chan.  I miss her."

Setsuna crouched down, so that she could be eye level with the youngest senshi.  "Haruka, why don't you play us a song?  On the piano."

The younger woman replied, "Setsuna don't-" She was cut off, by a stern look, from the older woman.  "Fine!"

She moved to the black piano and dropped down onto the bench Setsuna had been sitting at a moment ago.  Sliding her fingers across the keys, she listened to the notes.  Sighing carefully, so that her body relaxed, before she began to play.

"Yes, this is the song."  She stood, stepping back from Hotaru.  As she moved away, things began to blur.  Smirking, she crossed her arms over her chest, and she whispered beneath her breath, "You have, one month."

~~~~

So she would have to spend extra time with him…

She could do that, what could it hurt, maybe once she got to know him…he might be…

Usagi shook her head, stopping in the empty hallway.  What was she thinking?  There was no way Draco could change.  The guy was just too- too.  In frustration, she stomped her foot, "Argh what is the word!"

Hearing a sound, she looked up to find a group of first years from her class earlier that morning.  She went red in the face with embarrassment.  Scratching the back of her head nervously, she laughed, "Eheh heh, hi."

The girls moved around her, before scurrying off to the Great Hall.  Usagi sighed, "Bet they think I'm loony."  Maybe I am, I keep talking to myself.  Shaking her head, she continued her trek down the hall.  Wait wasn't I supposed to take left, or a right back there?  She looked around, "oh iie, I'm lost!"

She whirled around, searching her surroundings.  "Okay keep calm, if I just walk back this way, I should get back on the right direction to my room."  Inhaling deeply, before letting it out, she started her way back down the hall.  Coming to a crossing, she looked down one way to the other.  They both looked the same, so which one had she come from?

Shrugging her shoulders, she began, "Inka binka bottle of ink, quark fell out, and you stink."  She stopped at the hallway in front of her.  "Oh well that's a no brainier."  Starting again, she repeated the words, and got rid of the hallway to her right.  "Well I guess it's this way."

Usagi followed the hallway.  Passing coats of armor she frowned when she walked by a painting.  She stopped to look at it.  "Now I know I haven't seen that one before."  Looking back down the hallway, she frowned.  Where is that damn gargoyle?  She had never before gotten lost, so how come she had now?  Leaning against the wall, so that she could stare at the painting, she quickly blamed, "this is all that boy's fault."  Nodding in agreement, she added, "If he hadn't made me so angry…"

Looking down the hallway, she finished, "I wouldn't have gotten lost."  "And would you rather I called you Odango?"  Usagi frowned, where had that come from?  Rubbing at her forehead, she concentrated on the voice she had heard in her head.

"Not if she wants to be a Slytherin. If she wants to fit in so badly, then she better start acting like a Slytherin."

Draco?  That was Draco's voice.  She knew it.  Frowning, she struggled to grasp more, but the memory slipped through her fingers.  She sighed, looking dejectedly, at the painting.  Setsuna had said she had been here before.  And those kids, they even mentioned a Usagi Tsukino, from the Slytherin house.  She was one of the last students to have gone missing.

Usagi shivered, running her hands up and down her arms.  Did it suddenly get cold?  Glancing down the hallway, she frowned, was that laughter?

Pushing away from the wall, she started down the hall once more.  She listened carefully, trying to catch any sound.  She could have sworn she heard laughter.  Following the corner, she jerked to a stop, at the sticking sound of a piano.  From the door to her right, she could hear the sad notes of a lonely song.

She relaxed instantly, the sound familiar to her somehow.  Usagi stopped in front of the door, her hand reaching out to turn the knob.  A slight breeze came from the crack as she pushed the door open.  Stepping into the room, the world suddenly tilted.  Stumbling, she looked up, as a blast of energy slammed into her.

Before the door to the room slammed shut, she let out a startled scream.

~~~~

Usagi looked at the Great Hall doors nervously.  You can do it.  If everyone laughs, you can always dig a hole in the ground and hide till it all dies down.  This is so embarrassing!  She shook her head in dismay.  I can't do this. 

How many times does someone manage to get honeyed and feathered in their lifetime?  Somehow she had managed to do it three times within five minutes.  Was that normal?

She groaned, as she reached for the door, and pulled it open.  She would never live this one down.  How would she even go on with her life?  Slipping into the Great Hall, she let the door shut behind her.  It wasn't until she passed the Slytherin table did the room fall silent.  When she passed the second table, she was greeted with feverish whispers, and chuckles.  She could figure what she looked like.  A chicken popped into her mind, in more ways than one.  She was like a beacon among the sea of bodies.  Usually, it was because of her smile, and sunny attitude.  Not today.  She never felt unhappier than she did now.  Quietly she made her way to the teacher's table.

"Usagi, how did this happen?"  She could hear a small ounce of concern in Albus' voice, along with the amusement that dripped from his words.  Frowning, she glanced up at him.  This is completely embarrassing!

How did she explain to someone, that she had managed three klutz attacks, as Rei like to call them, all in five minutes?  She wasn't even sure if she had been attacked or not, now.  At first she had believed someone was playing a nasty prank on her.  But maybe she had klutzed out, and had taken out a few things causing a mess.

She looked at him helplessly, holding up her hands as she replied, "I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I do know, the music room will never be the same again."

"The music room?  What were you doing in the music room?"  The sneer came from the end of the table.  Looking to the man in the black robes, she shivered.  "Well, I heard the piano, and I wanted to see who was playing."  Looking back to the gray haired man, she pouted, "And the next thing I knew."  She held up her arms to show what happened when curiosity got the better of someone.

Professor McGonagal looked to the older man, "Albus we better see what happened."  He nodded, "Quite right Minerva.  Why don't you, and Severus come with us."

The man at the end of the table stood, along with the witch in emerald green robes.  Albus came to his feet, and followed the other two teachers around the table.  "See what happened?  I- well I really don't think you guys should go see it.  Why don't I go first, and clean it up a bit."  Hurrying after them, she pleaded, "Please!  I think it would be the best way to go."

I am so going to be fired for this.

They entered the entrance hall, and Minerva stated bluntly, "well at least we wont need directions.  We can just follow the trail."  She pointed to the smear of honey on the floor, and walls.

Usagi frowned, what did the old woman expect?  Did she think I could just float my way down here?

Following the teachers up the marble staircase, she kept silent.  "Forget to take your shower this morning Professor."  Jerking back, Usagi's head whipped around, "You!"

"Can it Malfoy, can't you see she was attacked."  Harry moved to take his place at her side.  Draco rolled his eyes, "Yes, well I can see you have gotten yourself into trouble once more."

Usagi wrinkled her nose at him, "I don't have to listen to you if I don't want to."  The silver haired boy smirked, "then why are you standing around here, for."

Momentarily she gaped at his remark, before she threw up her arms in frustration, and marched away from him.  She caught up with the other teachers, who stood in front of the music room door.  It was shut, even though she didn't remember closing the door.  "Maybe I should go in, you know, to see if everything is okay…"

What the hell am I saying???

Draco scoffed, "Want us to cover you?"  Glaring at him, she replied, "baka."  She made her way to the front of the group.  Staring at the door, she fought back her fear.  I am not going to klutz out, I am not going to klutz out.

Faintly, she could hear the sound of the piano playing.  "See I told you I heard the piano."  Minerva nodded, "we never said you didn't.  But it appears we have caught your culprit."  Usagi looked back at the door.  Why did the song sound familiar?  It was like it was beckoning her to enter, to open the door, and go inside.

Maybe that's how I got into this mess in the first place.

Inhaling sharply, she reached out for the doorknob.  It was unlocked, so she pushed the door open.

The group standing out in the hall stared into the room, without saying a word.  "Um, are there two music rooms, by any chance?"  The room was spotless.  There wasn't a single feather, not a drop of honey.  The statue Usagi had slipped into earlier was standing, unlike how she had left it moments ago.

The instruments were arranged neatly, unlike how Usagi had seen them last, after she had gotten threw with being in the room.  It couldn't have been her imagination.  She was walking proof, that somewhere there was a total mess, because she had done something.  Either by walking into a prank, or klutzing out.

Stepping into the room, the sound of the piano was became louder, each note more pronounce.  She turned to it, to find a figure sitting upon its bench.  The melody was very calming, but it sounded lonesome.  As if it lacked something or someone.

Upon entering the room, Minerva cleared her throat.  The young man at the piano stopped playing, at the new sound.  As if feeling them behind him, he slowly turned in his seat to look at them.

Usagi stared for the briefest of seconds, before bursting into action.  Running forward, she shouted, "Haruka!!!"

Catching sight of the person who had called out her name, she questioned, "Usagi?"

~~~~

Michiru stomped her foot in indignation, "What happened?!?!"  She turned her burning sea colored eyes upon the other person in the room.

Setsuna smirked, her eyes slightly cross-eyed from staring at the feather on the end of her nose.  Blowing, she watched it flitter through the air, before coming to a rest on the floor at her feet.

"I presume I interrupted an event, when I sent Haruka and Hotaru to Usagi.  The event vanished from that world, and had to go somewhere."  She shrugged, her eyes moving over the horrible mess. 

Michiru glared, "I refuse to have to clean this up!"

Setsuna shook her head in amusement.  If there was one thing for sure, the music room will never be the same again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay peeps here it is the next chapter for this story.  I hope you like it, and I am sorry it took me a while to write it.  I had no idea what I wanted to write, so I had to start from there.  But its out, and its got a little seriousness, and a little comedy.  Well there will only be more to come, if I shut up right now, and get to writing it.  TAKE CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tty all later!

LP