The Towel Rack Rated: PG
Chapter Six: Sock 'em!
Day: Still Saturday

---Darien POV---

I walked onto the temple grounds and looked around. It's always so quiet and peaceful at this shrine. Tall willow trees framed the entire premises, with small figurines dotting the landscape. I noticed Andrew had walked up beside me, still massaging his sore scalp. I grinned. That should teach him not to use blackmail against me.

He was pouting when he came up beside me. "Darien, did you HAVE to pull my HAIR?"

"Yep."

"Damn you." He groaned, fingering his blonde strands.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Andy, you're not going bald. Would you stop worrying about it, for crying out loud?" I raised an eyebrow. "You know…you don't seem to be too worried about setting things straight with Mina, for things to be so bad."

His eyes lit up, and he started stuttering. "Of course…course I'm worried about it! Mina's the love of my life…why wouldn't I be worried?"

That did it. The stuttering, the nervous laughter, the shifting of the eyes…my dear friend had some evil scheme up his sleeve…and I had just caught him.

"Andrew, stop messing around. Why are we REALLY here? There's nothing wrong with you and Mina, is there?" I crossed my arms sourly and stared him down.

His blue eyes dropped to the stone pathway. "No, there's not." He mumbled, raking a hand through his hair.

"Uh-huh…I thought so. So what are we doing here?"

He sighed and started shifting his eyes around the temple grounds again. Then all the sudden, his eyes lightened and he turned back to me. "Well, Darien, I believe…"

I raised an eyebrow. Something was up…

He kept on talking for a while…it was amazing how many words he could get out of his mouth in a minute…I just stood and listened to him babble.

"Well, it all started in this contest that Raye and I engaged ourselves in. We made a bet that I couldn't get you to fall for the Mina being mad at me thing…uhhh…but it did work for a while, right? So I win, and uhhhh…and…and…oh, Darien, would you look at that?"

He pointed behind him to some unknown spot. I frowned. "What are we looking at, Andrew?"

He scratched his head. "Uhhh…"

---Andrew POV---

Damn him! Why does he have to see right through me? Why must he be so freaking SMART? Be dumb, Darien! For once, my friend, be stupid!

"We…we're…looking at…a RARE species of bird!"

"Really? What's the name of this species of bird?" A critical, unbelieving look was being thrown my way. He was standing like stone, refusing to turn around.

"The…the…red…the red crow!" I stuttered, waving my arms frantically at the imaginary bird.

"Red crow? Andrew, there is no such thing." He said crossly.

"Yes, there is! You've just never heard of it because it's SO rare! Look, this is a once in a lifetime chance!"

…the critical look was still in his eyes.

I sighed exasperatedly. "Would you just turn around and look at the damn bird!" I shook him around by the shoulders, making him face the opposite direction. Making sure he couldn't see anything behind him, I released his shoulders.

Swiveling around on my heels, I gave a quick thumbs up to the three girls who were hiding in the bushes near us. Ah, see, audience? Andrew had a plan all along, yes, yes, I did! My dear friends Lita and Raye and my darling girlfriend Mina had snuck into the bushes when we walked up. Ingenious, isn't it? Thank you, thank you. And now…you shall see the rest of this ingenious plan.

The girls sprang from the bushes and started dashing towards Darien, who was starting to turn back around, a deep scowl that was apparently directed towards me starting to cross his face.

Raye bounded into the air and flipped on top of the other raven-haired person on the lawn, knocking him to the ground.

"OOF!" He yelled, his voice catching in his throat.

Raye pinned his arms to the ground, sitting on his stomach. "Alright, girls! Get the stuff!"

Darien's eyes became panicked. "STUFF? WHAT STUFF!"

Mina walked up and stuffed a sock in his mouth. "Just stuff to keep you quiet, Darry! You had better hope that was one of Chad's clean socks."

Lita scrunched up her nose and started giggling. "Eww…"

I grinned. "Looks like the mighty Darien has finally fallen into a trap."

---Darien POV---

I'm going to kill him. Murder him. Slaughter him. Bring him back to life, and then do a repeat!

What the hell are they DOING!

A sock was shoved into my mouth. Another was tied around my eyes. Oh, crap, this isn't good. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!

"whrat ifhe goifg ofn phefe?"

Andrew was standing above me, I could tell. "You say something Dar? I couldn't quite make it out."

I heard the girls giggling. Oh, this is bad. And it's not like I can fight BACK. For god's sakes, it's RAYE. Damn it…must she be a girl?

---Mina POV---

"Alright, TTC! We got 'em! Now, Lita, tie his hands, and I'll tie his feet." I exclaimed proudly, throwing her yet another sock. Raiding Chad's room had turned up useful…it's a good thing he and Raye's grandpa are out back, doing what they call 'temple training.' Weird.

I stretched the sock as far as it would go and tied Darien's feet together. I stood up and leaned against Andrew, kissing his cheek. "You did a good job getting him here, sweetie."

He grinned. "I told you I had a plan."

Lita scoffed. "Sure…what did you have to tell him?"

He scratched his head. "Uhh…well…"

Lita stood up from tying Darien's hands above his head. "Don't tell us. I just don't wanna know."

Raye cleared her throat. "What next, guys?"

I sprung into action. "Alright! Andy, you and Raye take his feet. Lita and I will take his hands. Into the closet he goes!"

"CWPHYSET?"

I smacked the mumbling socked one's ear. "Shaddup, Darien! This is for your own good, you'll see!"

Without much struggle, we lifted him up and dragged him through Raye's bedroom, and into the hallway, in front of his destination….THE TOWEL CLOSET.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA…..

Ain't ya'll glad that this lovely little goddess of love and beauty is one of the good guys? Hmm? I'd be one great villain though…

Amy was sitting in front of the closet, guarding it. She gulped, seeing him tied and gagged. "Aren't you guys going a little too far?"

"No way, Ames!" Raye grinned. "Sere happy?"

A yell came from the closet. "I HEAR YOU ALL! LET ME OUT OF HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT! I ORDER YOU!"

Raye giggled. "Guess nooot!" She said in a sing-song voice.

Andrew blinked. "You already put her in there? So soon?"

Amy shook her head sadly, looking very guilty. "I couldn't stop them…she was so happy…reading…manga…and…they…grabbed her all the sudden…and…boom! Bang! Smash! She was in the closet…and…and…she's been yelling ever since! PLEASE make her cease! My train of thought is so unruly and disorganized. I can't think clearly with all the screams!"

As if in response to Amy's request, Serena started yelling again. "AMY MIZUNO, YOU LET ME OUT RIGHT NOW! RAYE HINO, MINA AINO, LITA KINO! NOW!"

Lita shouted back, knocking on the door. "Not a chance, Serena!"

Andrew tapped me on the shoulder. "So…she's not tied up?"

"Nope."

"How do we get Darien in there without her running out?"

"…good question."

Lita rubbed her hands together evilly. "Leave that to me, TTC."

Raye stooped down and pulled the sock off Darien's eyes. "Should we leave you all tied up?"

He stared up at her with pure anger in his eyes.

"Serena can untie him!" I exclaimed. "Awww…"

Coos all around….except for the two men in the room. One was tied up, and I still doubt he would have joined in on our cooing…the other? He's just not a girl. Plain and simple.

Andrew sweatdropped. "I don't seem to see the romance in that."

"Well…at least it's interaction…" I giggled.

He was still sweatdropping. "Uh-huh…"

I clapped my hands. "Alright, all! Enough of this! Get in your positions!"

Amy stood in front of the closet door, with her hand on the doorknob. She nodded. "Ready."

Lita stood on the other side of the door. "Ready. I'll grab Serena."

Andrew, Raye, and I all grabbed Darien, who wouldn't stop fidgeting! I smacked his ear again. "STOP IT!"

He looked up at me evilly and fidgeted more. I sighed. "Can you guys hold him?"

They nodded. "It's alright, he can fight all he wants. We're gonna get him in that darned closet!" Raye laughed.

I nodded. "Alright, everyone. On the count of three, TTC will finally complete it's first mission. Ready?"

"READY!" They all shouted.

"Alright! ONE!"

We picked up Darien.

"TWO!"

Lita flexed her arms.

"….THREEEEE!"

Amy swung open the closet door and jumped back. Serena sprang out, yelling. Lita jumped into action.

"BAZZZAAA!" She yelled, clobbering the pigtailed blonde to the ground. She held her down by pinning each arm to the ground and straddling her waist. "ALRIGHT, GET HIM IN THERE! SHE'S TRAPPED!"

The three of us hauled Darien up, and tossed him in the small closet. "Now, Lita!" I shouted. She jumped up off of Serena and picked her up, slinging her over her shoulder.

"PUT ME DOWN! NO! I WON'T GO BACK IN THAT CLOSET! NOOOOO! NOT WITH…WITH….WITH….AHHHHHHHHH! YOU'VE ALL HAD THIS PLANNED! I KNEW IT, I KNEW RAYE WOULDN'T SHARE HER MANGA VOLUNTARILY! LEEEEETTTTT MEEEEEE GOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"NEVER!" Lita yelled maniacally…laughing insanely.

I sweatdropped. Lita really gets into the evil role well…

The tall brunette walked up to the closet, where she unceremoniously dropped Serena. Stepping back, she waved happily at Serena. Amy then slammed the door and locked it.

We all looked at each other.

"My dear friends…my fellow TTC members…my comrades…" I drawled. "Mission. Complete. Good job, everyone!"

Andrew grinned. "Yeah, we finally got them! Now…when do we let them out?"

"Oh…." I tapped my forehead. "How about we let 'em stay the night?"

Raye groaned. "I won't be sleeping, I don't guess. Well, I'm not the only one going down…you all are staying TOO. Well…Andrew, you can go home….but the rest of you…you get to suffer with me!"

Lita grinned. "Fine by me! Maybe we'll hear them confessing their love in the middle of the night!"

"Awwww…." All of us girls cooed. Andrew…well, yeah, again, he just sweatdropped. Really, he's just as romantic as us…I just don't think he gets the cooing thing.

He shook his head. "Well, I'll leave you girls to your…eavesdropping. Do give them a little privacy, will you?"

We all pouted.

He laughed slightly. "…or not. See you all tomorrow! 10 a.m., I'll be here, and we'll let them out."

There was beating on the door. Darn, she still hasn't untied him? Why is SHE the only one beating up the door? Gah, Serena, get your priorities straight! Focus on the GUY! Not the DOOR, THE GUY!

I beat back on the door and told her just that.

Everyone giggled. Andrew grinned.

Serena…well, she didn't take that too well.

"AAAHHH! MINA! LET ME OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW! I DO NOT WANT TO STAY IN HERE WITH DARIEN! I DON'T WANT TO STAY IN HERE AT ALLLLLLL!"

"Tough luck, chick." I chirped. "Now go pay a little attention to the socked one."

Giggles again.

We walked out of the hall, listening as she yelled some more.

"You think she'll ever untie him?" Raye asked.

"She might not…yikes, guys, we may have a problem." Lita said.

I bit my lip. "You're right…she might think that that way, he won't annoy her. But it's Serena, she has too much heart to leave him like that."

"Awwww…."

Sweatdropping Andrew.

"I'm going home now. Good night, girls."

"Good night, Andy!" We all chirped happily.

…now, let's see what this night holds in store for our two closet occupants.

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End Chapter Six.

I'll end the chapter there, and starting next chapter, we'll take a peak in the closet! Lol...should be fun!

Also…Lita yelled out "Baza!" when she jumped on Serena, if you noticed. That's not really a normal little saying, right? Well, I referenced that to one time in the past where my friend April was being stupid and she jumped off a trampoline yelling that. I just had to use it. LOL.

See you all next chapter, please review!

Luna