DAYBREAK

Episode 24

Usagi felt someone nudging her and she opened her eyes.

"Hey, sleepy-head." As Usagi's eyes adjusted, she saw Kurai's face above her own.

"What time is it?"

"It's 6:00."

"What?!" Usagi was instantly awake. "I never get up this early!"

"I know…and you're always late, too. Now come on. We have a lot to do."

"What do you mean 'we'?"

"You didn't expect me to stay home all day and not attend school, did you?"

"You mean you're going to school with me?!"

"Hopefully."

"Oh." Usagi got out of bed and saw that Kurai was already dressed. "And when did you wake up?"

"Fifteen minutes ago. Now come on. Breakfast is almost ready."

"But Mom doesn't get up for another few minutes."

"True, but she's not the only one that can make breakfast."

"You mean you're making breakfast?"

"Yeah. I figured I should give your mother a rest, considering I did sort of take advantage of your whole family and all."

"Then shouldn't Chibiusa have made us breakfast by now?"

"I guess she didn't listen to me when I taught her how to behave." Usagi smiled faintly and then groggily walked out of her room, followed by Kurai. She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

"Um, Usagi?"

"Yeah?"

"You forgot your clothes." Usagi opened the door to find her school uniform in Kurai's hands.

"Oh, thanks." Usagi smiled appreciatively at Kurai, grabbed her clothes, and shut the bathroom door again.

"Same old Serenity," Kurai said, shaking her head with a grin on her face. She went back into her room and made her bed. Kurai glanced over at Usagi's bed and shrugged. "Why not?" She went over to it and also fixed it up.

"You're too nice, Kurai." Kurai turned to see Sammy standing in the doorway.

"How so?"

"Only someone like you would even attempt to make Usagi's bed," Sammy answered. "Not to mention breakfast. It's hard to believe you and Usagi are sisters."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?!"

"Maybe because it's true?"

"Sammy! You better stop before you don't get any pancakes."

"Um…forget everything I said. Sorry."

"That's better. Now let's go downstairs and set the table."

"Okay." They ran downstairs and finished setting the table just as Mrs. Tsukino came downstairs.

"Now what's this?"

"Think of it as a little vacation," Kurai replied.

"Very little…" Sammy added. Kurai lightly punched him in the back but giggled just the same.

"Which one of you is responsible for this?"

"Well, I made breakfast and Sammy helped me set the table."

"Well, thanks to both of you. Did Usagi have anything to do with this?"

"HA!" Sammy started laughing.

"You're gonna pay for that!" Usagi had slowly been coming down the stairs when she heard Sammy's remark and bolted down after him. Usagi chased her brother around the house while Mrs. Tsukino and Kurai shook their heads, half-disappointed, half-amused.

"Okay, everyone's here. Now we can begin our lesson just as soon as the bell rings," Mr. Yamato said.

"Perfect opportunity for us to talk," Usagi remarked to Makoto, Minako, and Molly. Makoto opened her mouth to say something when she was interrupted by the sound of Melvin's voice.

"Hello there, ladies!" Molly smiled brightly while Usagi, Makoto, and Minako cringed.

"Hi, Melvin!" Molly exclaimed. She got up and walked over to her boyfriend to talk with him. Makoto, seizing the moment, turned back to her two friends.

"So, how's Kurai?" she asked Usagi.

"Good. She helped me with my homework last night and made breakfast this morning."

"Damn."

"Yeah, I know. Right now she's in the office with my mom, getting registered."

"So she's going to go to school here?" Minako questioned.

"Yeah."

"I guess you'll have a helluva lot of explaining to do when everyone else sees her." Makoto gave Usagi a little half-smile. Usagi was about to answer when the bell rang and class began.

"And where have you been for the past few years?" Principal Takaki asked.

"I've been attending a private school for girls in Switzerland," Kurai answered.

"So I assume you're an above-average student?"

"Yes, she's very intelligent," Mrs. Tsukino commented.

"Then I guess we can try putting her in the more advanced classes."

"That would be nice," Kurai said, with a smile on her face. She liked challenges, especially ones she could learn from.

"Alright. Now we just have to get you a uniform. What size are you?"

"Uh, I guess a medium, since that's what Usagi wears."

"Good." Principal Takaki looked at his secretary, who instinctively got up and went into the back room of the office. She quickly came back with a uniform and handed it to Kurai. "You can go home for the remainder of the day, since it will take us some time to set a schedule for you."

"Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay a bit longer and look around, just to get acquainted with the school."

"That's a splendid idea, Kurai," Mrs. Tsukino replied.

"It's fine with me. But you will need this." Principal Takaki once again glanced over at his secretary, who opened a drawer and took out a small tag. She gave it to Kurai, along with a pen. "Now, just write your name under the word "VISITOR" and you'll be able to walk around the school without a teacher stopping you for not wearing the uniform."

"Thank you."

"I guess I'll go home, then. See you later, honey." Mrs. Tsukino grabbed the uniform, hugged Kurai, and left out the door. Kurai watched her leave and then also got up and stepped out into the hallway. She looked both ways and saw no one around.

"This might prove to be fun…"