DAYBREAK
Episode 36
"Kurai?!" Rei screamed.
"Damn it, not again!" Minako smacked her head in half-disappointment, half-embarrassment. Kurai simply started laughing.
"Got ya," she proclaimed.
"You're just lucky we need you otherwise I'd…" Rei threatened.
"You'd what, Rei? Fight me? Hurt me? Yell at me? Come on, even you have to admit it was a good prank." Kurai noticed Minako scowling at her. "Oh, Minako, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lead you on like that. It just…happened. Will you please forgive me?" Kurai pleaded so sincerely that Minako couldn't help but lose her attitude.
"Alright, you're forgiven. And it was a good prank." Kurai grinned mischievously at the compliment.
"Now I'm gonna be late for dinner because of you!" Rei yelled, growing angry.
"Sorry, but the temple's right there." Kurai pointed up and the two other girls turned around.
"Huh? When did we get here?" Rei stared at the steps disbelievingly.
"Guess you were too engrossed in my wonderful charm that you didn't even notice…" Kurai answered slyly. Rei glared at her until Minako jumped in.
"Uh, bye Rei! I'll see you tomorrow."
"But what about you? Now you have to walk alone," Rei asked.
"Uh, hello!" Kurai waved her hand in front of Rei. "I can stay with her." Rei looked at Kurai scornfully. "What?! I said I was sorry!" Rei opened her mouth to speak when she heard her grandfather calling for her.
"Bye, guys." Rei gave Kurai one last evil look and then ran up the stairs. Kurai watched her and then turned to Minako.
"What's with her?" Kurai asked.
"Rei doesn't trust people very easily, so she's probably still weary of you."
"I see much hasn't changed since the Silver Millennium."
"Have I changed?" Minako gazed at Kurai, hoping for a good response.
"Well, you're a bit more fun…"
"What do you mean?"
"You used to be more serious back then. From what I've seen, you're more like Usagi than ever." Minako looked worried.
"Uh, is that a bad thing?" Kurai laughed at the remark.
"No, of course not. It means being a Senshi hasn't taken its toll on you yet."
"Will it?"
"Hopefully, it won't. If I haven't fully succumbed to it yet, it will take a while for you to."
"Oh." Minako paused, thinking. She leaned back against the motorcycle and realized that Kurai had driven it. "Uh, Kurai?"
"Yeah?"
"Since when can you drive and where'd you get the bike from?"
"I learned how to drive in my dreams and…" Kurai stopped. Minako stood in front of her with a suspicious expression on her face.
"Where'd you get the motorcycle from, Kurai?" Minako questioned again. Kurai gulped, not wanting to reveal her secret. But Kurai could see Minako wasn't about to let her go.
"Uh, I sorta borrowed it from Haruka…"
"You stole it?!" Minako jumped at her own exclamation.
"Huh?! No! I mean I really borrowed it!" Kurai took a step back, watching Minako carefully.
"Oh…when?" Minako calmed down a bit.
"Just now. Don't worry, Minako, I'll give it back to her." Kurai smiled warily, nervously looking back behind her.
"At least you have some way of getting around the city other than by foot…"
"You know, even if I did fool you guys, I really did mean it when I asked if you wanted a ride." Kurai became more relaxed.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, your house is pretty far, right?"
"Sort of."
"Then I'll drive you. Gotta do something other than speed around the city…" Kurai grabbed Haruka's helmet, which she was using. She put it on and got on the motorcycle. Kurai gestured for Minako to sit behind her, but the blonde hesitated. "Don't worry, I know how to drive." Minako slightly nodded her head and got on.
"One thing, though." Minako put her feet down.
"What's that?"
"I can take a practical joke and all, but don't play one on…"
"Ami. Yeah, I know. Now, are you ready?" Minako looked shocked for a moment but regained her composure. She put her feet up on the motorcycle and grabbed on to Kurai's shoulders.
"Now I am." Kurai revved the engine and sped off, Minako holding on tight…
"So, what were you doing out walking by yourself anyway?" Haruka's legs were becoming tired from walking.
"I could ask you the same thing," Michiru counteracted.
"Oh, come on, Michiru, I just wanted to run alone."
"Why alone?" Michiru had a doubtful gleam in her eye.
"I just needed to think…"
"About what, Haruka?"
"Why is it so important?!" Haruka was beginning to get impatient of the interrogation.
"Because you weren't thinking about the race, which isn't like you."
"I was just remembering something, that's all."
"Whatever you say. I, on the other hand, simply felt like getting some fresh air."
"Oh." The couple walked on in silence, Haruka occasionally glancing over her shoulder as if someone were following her…
"Here we are." Kurai pulled up to Minako's house.
"Yeah, and in one piece, too." Minako slowly and clumsily got off the motorcycle. "Uh, thanks."
"No prob…" Kurai felt something growing warm in her pocket. She put her hand in and felt the Time Key glowing with life. "I better go give back Haruka her motorcycle. I'll see you later, Minako."
"Okay, bye." Minako waved to Kurai, who quickly drove away. "Well, she was in a rush. But, then again, I shouldn't complain…"