Chapter 2

Usagi hesitantly opened the fire escape door. She was looking for Ami, hoping to tell her the time difference. She peeked down the stairs, and found the odd girl sitting on the stairway again.

"Umm, I- uh…"

Ami cracked an eye opened and looked at her. "Oh, it's you again. Is there something you need?"

'How rude!' Usagi took a deep breath. "The time difference is eight hours!" Ami opened both eyes now and stared hard at her.

"Excuse me?"

"You asked… the time difference between France and Japan. It's eight hours."

Ami's eyebrows shot up, and she gave Usagi an odd half smile. "You are the first to answer me seriously. I'll keep that in mind." With that, she stood up and walked back into the hallway, towards the public. Usagi watched her go with a blush and a sigh. 'There's something a bit off about her, but I like it.'

Ami walked back to the S4'Ss room as she again contemplated Tsukino. 'She's a strange girl, but interesting. She went as far as to find the answer to my question. I wonder what Michiru would think of her? Hopefully she won't try to do battle with Rei. I'd never see her again.'

"Yo! What are you doing! We're going outside!" Makoto smiled cheekily at her, knowing it would annoy Ami to have to leave so soon after coming in.

LINE BREAK

Usagi and her new friend Rino were walking across the school yard during the break. They laughed as they licked some ice cream they had gotten. Rino jumped in front of Usagi and walked backwards, not paying attention to behind her.

"Sooo, Usa, how do you like Mugen?"

"Well, I thought everyone here was stuck up. But I'm glad that doesn't apply to everyone here." She smiled at Rino, and then gasped. "Rino, look out behind-!"

Rino walked straight into Rei. She knocked her to the ground, dirtying her shirt and getting ice cream on her shoes. Rei stood up furiously and glared pointedly at Rino. "You stupid girl! Do you know how much this cost?"

Rino immediately cowered in fear. "I-I'm so sorry. I'll have my parents get it dry cleaned, or replace it!" Rei smirked at the quivering girl.

"One, you can't replace this shirt or these shoes, they're one of a kind. Two, if sorry were enough we wouldn't need the police, now would we? You know what to expect tomorrow."

Usagi watched the scene in horror before deciding to step in. "Now look, all she did was get a bit of mess on your clothes. Maybe you should try wearing the school outfit, and then you wouldn't have such problems."

Rei clenched her jaw sand stared at the girl who was defying her. Then, smiled evilly. "Standing up for your friend, huh? Okay, then, you clean it."

"Just what do you want me to clean it with?"

"Your mouth, that's right, lick it off and I'll forget about the whole incident. Otherwise, you BOTH will receive a card."

Usagi glared defiantly as people looked on. Then, holding her cone in her hand, she stepped up to Rei, looking down at her shoes. Rei grinned in delight. Either way, This 'Usagi' would be humiliated. Then Usagi looked up at her angrily.

"Lick this, bastard!" The next thing Rei knew, she was flat on her butt, ice cream dripping from her face. Makoto and Minako were laughing hysterically as Ami looked on impassively. She stared at Usagi in shock, before becoming enraged. She flew to her feet and pointed a finger at the blond.

"YOU! You can expect a red card to tomorrow!" She ground her teeth as she shoved people aside to get cleaned up. Makoto and Minako were still whooping with laughter as they passed.

"Good one, Tsukino! We sure will miss you when you're gone!" Usagi raised an eyebrow at them. She then turned to Rino "What is a 'red card'?"

Rino shuddered visibly. "If you get a red card, you will be made an enemy of the entire school! People will bully you at every moment possible

LINE BREAK

Rei was still a bubbling pool of anger when they returned to the hangout. She sat on the couch, thinking about all the horrible things she was going to do to her tomorrow. She chuckled, within the week, the weed would be gone, and everyone will have forgotten about the act of defiance.

Makoto and Minako watched her stew. "Finally, here will be some real entertainment! How long will she last, do you think?"

Makoto thought carefully. "I'll give her two weeks. She seems a bit stronger than usual."

Minako shook her head. "While that's true, I think a week and a half. Rei's going to be trying especially hard on this one. What do you think Ames?"

Ami stared out the window and paused before answering. "What a stupid question. She will last as long as she lasts." Makoto looked closely at her friend. "You feeling alright? You're acting a bit weirder than normal."

Ami smiled slightly as she stood up. "Michiru is returning soon."

The other three looked at each other, understanding. "Ahh, that explains a lot. But you know who Usagi reminds me a lot of?"

Minako nodded as they answered the question together. "Setsuna!"

Rei screamed from her position on the couch. "Shut up! That stupid Odango is nothing like my sister!"

LINE BREAK

"What the hell is this?" Usagi could feel the stares on her back as she opened her locker door. Posted on the inside, was a red slip. Usagi closed her eyes as she imagined Rei's face, the only possible culprit. She ripped the slip down and crumpled it, throwing it over her shoulder. She gathered her books and went to class.

When she arrived, however, everyone was staring at her maliciously. "Oh, it's the nasty commoner. It seems you have no desk, what ARE you going to do?"

Usagi looked around curiously, seeing that she was right. Her desk had indeed disappeared. Suddenly, something very slimy hit her chest. She looked down and saw an egg sliding down her front. Everyone took out an egg and fired. She could only put her hands up as the weapons hit her all over. After a minute, it was over. She looked at their faces; they were waiting for her to cry! Humiliated, she ran from the room, and down the hall way.

Usagi found herself on the fire escape, and tried not to cry. The tears came out, however, and she wiped her eyes in vain. Then, she heard a voice behind her,

"Did they hit you with eggs?" Usagi jumped but turned around. Ami was standing there, looking at her.

"Yes."

"What a waste." She took out a napkin and handed it to her. "I think you could use this more than I could." She shot her the quirky smile again, and Usagi blushed as she took it.

"Th-thank you." Ami stared at her for a second, before turning around and leaving the fire escape.

"W-where are you going?"

"Inside. Soon enough, you'll smell like rotten eggs." Usagi's mouth flopped open as she watched her depart. 'How is it possible from her to go from nice to rude so fast?'

LINE BREAK

Usagi strode into lunch, amidst stares and whispers.

"I heard she had five abortions!"

"Nasty slut."

"She's dumb as a pig, I hear."

"How did someone like her get into here?"

She closed her eyes and sat down at her usual table. Rino walked by and looked at her. Usagi smiled and was about to call out to her when Rino looked down and quickly walked the other way. Usagi frowned sadly. 'It's probably better for her not to be seen around me anyhow.' Then she opened her lunch with a smile. Her parents had packed her a particularly delicious lunch today. A shadow came over her just as she was about to dig in, however.

Rei stood over her with a smile. "Odango, how are you enjoying that nasty commoner lunch?" Usagi continued eating, and ignored her.

Rei leaned in closer to her and spoke loudly. "Oi! Odango, I said are you enjoying your lunch?" Usagi went on munching, but Rei could see a faint vein pulse in her forehead.

'Alright, time for the killer!' "Fine then, ignore me and eat. In fact, maybe you should eat it a bit more thoroughly!" Before Usagi knew what had happened, Rei grabbed the plate and threw it into her face. Usagi looked blankly at her lap, where her ruined lunch now sat. Her clothes were filthy, and she could hear Rei laughing. That stupid, arrogant, spoiled laugh!

She stood up out of her chair and stalked to where Rei stood. Rei looked down at her, expecting a loud protest. This time, however, there were tears.

"You bitch! How dare you wreck my lunch? You and your stupid S4 friends think you can treat everyone like trash, just because you're rich! Well, news flash, you can't." She poked a finger into the girl's chest to emphasize her words.

"You are just a stupid, spoiled brat who's never worked in her life! I'm so sick of your attitude and everything about you too!" With that, she ran from the cafeteria, leaving Rei again, humiliated.

LINE BREAK

Rei was seriously thinking about everything Usagi had said to her. Then, she chuckled manically. Makoto and Minako watched her in slight fear. "Mina, I think she's lost it!" Minako nodded back towards her.

"Uh, Rei, are you feeling okay?" Rei stopped laughing and looked at her friends.

"Tsukino Usagi is no longer a target." The two looked at her, shocked. Never had Rei called off the hunt.

"Why?" Rei smiled widely.

"I can't have my future girlfriend being terrorized, now can I?"

"EH?! Girlfriend, when did that happen?"

"It's obvious she likes me. This might be a fun experiment. Once I'm done with her, she will become a target once more."

"Are you crazy? Since when does 'I hate you' translate to 'I love you'?"

"She's simply hiding her feelings. I'll get them out of her, and then the real fun will begin!"

Minako and Makoto stared at each other before nodding in unison. "Yep, she has definitely lost it!"

LINE BREAK

Usagi waved good bye to Naru after work. Then, she spotted what was quickly becoming a familiar figure. Ami was standing, looking at a picture of Michiru Kaioh. She walked closer to it, and pressed a cheek against it, closing her eyes as she did so, with a serene smile.

"You will get some nasty germs if you do that." Ami tore herself from the picture to look at Usagi. Usagi walked over to her and took out a napkin. Ami got closer, expecting her to wipe her face with it. However, she walked right past her and wiped Michiru's picture. She stepped back after a while.

"She's so beautiful. So much talent, she paints, plays the violin, and even models occasionally. Do you know her?" Ami nodded, wand had her half smile again.

"I've known her for a long time. She taught me how to play the violin." Usagi watched her in wonder.

"No way! That's so cool. I guess you're happy she's returning from England soon, then."

"France, actually."

"Oh, was it France?" 'Wait a minute…' Ami walked away from her waving good bye from over her shoulder. Usagi watched her go, smiling.

'You are very interesting, Mizuno.' She smiled happily; unaware of what would happen in the next two days.

Line Break

A/N: There you go, that was pretty long. If things are moving a bit fast, I'm sorry. I'm kind of going with the Korean version, since that is my favorite. By the way, the events of the chapter took place over about a week and a half, so Usagi's been a target for a while. Next Chapter is the kidnapping scene!

Questions, comments, or criticism (not flames)? Review/PM please!