Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all its components is the property of Naoko Takeuchi. Apollo is my own creation, and if you wish to use her, please ask me first.

DAYBREAK

Episode 17

"Usagi!" a voice whispered behind Usagi. She turned to see Michiru calling to her from around the corner. It was lunchtime and Usagi had just finished her food. Usagi got up and walked over to her.

"Yes?"

"We have to discuss the whole 'Kurai issue'. Can you come to Haruka's and my house after school?" Usagi thought about what she was supposed to do after school: go home, eat a snack, go to the arcade, see the others at the temple…

"Yes." Michiru smiled and started to walk away. All of a sudden, she ran back to Usagi.

"We told Ami already and she's coming, too. Thanks." Michiru ran off and Usagi saw her join up with Haruka. The two walked back into the school and Usagi heard a familiar sound.

"You should have studied more, Makoto." Usagi knew who the owner of the sentence was. She turned and walked over to Ami and Lita, who were discussing the results of yesterday's math test.

"How did you do, Usagi?" Makoto asked. The blonde had sat down and thrown a quick glance at Ami. Ami understood at once where Usagi had been, but didn't say anything. "I said, 'How did you…'"

"I probably did worse than you, if that's what you're implying, Makoto," Usagi said slyly. Ami smiled and went back to her reading.

"No…that's not it…" Makoto blushed and Usagi could see that her friend was embarrassed by her remark.

"It's okay. All I know is that next time I really have to study…" Ami snorted at Usagi's sentence. Usagi and Makoto looked at her with a surprised look.

"Sorry…involuntary reaction." Ami smiled and the two other girls started laughing. Ami breathed a sigh of relief that Usagi hadn't started wailing that she was making fun of her. Inside the school, Michiru was watching the scene through the window. She was smiling at their antics, obviously amused at their playful innocence.

"I wish I had that back…" Michiru said quietly.

"How are our little pals?" Michiru had jumped at Haruka's unexpected words.

"Since when do you refer to them as friends?" Michiru gave Haruka a little, mysterious half-smile.

"Ever since…I don't know. I guess it just felt right calling them friends," Haruka replied.

"Finally…" Michiru whispered under her breath.

"Hey, guys!" Makoto was yelling to Ami and Usagi. But, the two girls didn't hear. They kept walking in the opposite direction of their own houses. "Now, what's up with those two?"

"I feel so bad lying to Makoto like this," Ami said, looking back at her confused friend.

"Yeah, but we can't tell anyone about Kurai…until she says so." Usagi was thinking about all this sneaking around and lying. The two girls kept walking until they heard a car pull up behind them. They turned to see Haruka and Michiru getting out of Haruka's car. Usagi and Ami walked over to the pair and stared into their faces.

"Ready?" Haruka finally asked. Ami and Usagi nodded their heads and they all got into the car. The car drove away, almost exceeding the speed limit. Unbeknownst to the four girls, Makoto was watching them from around the corner.

"This is getting stranger and stranger…"