DAYBREAK
Episode 38
"Uh, Michiru? I think we're going in circles."
"Why would you say that?" Michiru also noticed something amiss, but she didn't want to admit to not knowing the way.
"Well, we've passed the same bookstore three times already." Haruka pointed to a store across the street.
"Oh…maybe we could go inside and ask for directions?"
"Anything to keep from walking around in…" Haruka wanted to complain about the awkward silence between her and Michiru, but decided against it. They headed across the street when they were stopped in the middle by traffic. Haruka rolled her eyes and sighed. "Typical…" All of a sudden, a motorcycle pulled up right in front of them. "Hey, that's…"
"You ladies need a ride?" Kurai took off her helmet and smiled at them.
"So you're the one who got us into this!" Michiru yelled at Kurai.
"Uh, Michiru, can we save the yelling for later? The light is about to turn green and I don't feel like getting hit by a car. Just hop on and we can go someplace else…"
"Okay." Haruka got on behind Kurai with no hesitation. Michiru, sensing it was useless to refuse, also got on. Haruka wrapped her arms around Kurai's waist, very much to Michiru's dismay. To get back at her, Michiru grabbed hold of Haruka's shoulders. The light turned green and the motorcycle sped away around a corner and stopped on a quiet street. The three girls climbed off and stood facing each other. Kurai shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.
"Uh, I really should be going. Dinner will be ready soon…" Kurai took a few steps back.
"Oh, leaving so soon?" Michiru was eyeing Kurai coldly.
"Yes. I just wanted to return the motorcycle, that's all."
"How did you get it anyway?" Haruka was also eyeing Kurai, but with more friendliness than Michiru.
"I'll tell you tomorrow. Bye!" Kurai quickly sprinted away.
"Wait!" Haruka began to run after her when she was pulled back by Michiru.
"Haruka, let's just go home." The two girls mounted the motorcycle and drove off, without so much as a word…
Kurai walked through the door, careful not to make too much noise so as not to disrupt anyone Still, Rini heard her and appeared around the corner.
"Kurai!" Rini flung herself right at Kurai, knocking the blonde back. "I'm so glad you're home!"
"It's good to see you, too, Rini. Now where's your mother?" Kurai slowly got up, Rini still hanging from her neck.
"Which one?" Kurai laughed at Rini's sincere question.
"Let me rephrase that…where's Usagi?"
"Oh. She's upstairs, trying to do her homework."
"Succeeding?"
"Not really."
"Well, then, let's go see if we can help her." Kurai set Rini down and grabbed the pink-haired girl's hand. They walked up the flight of stairs together when…
"I DON'T GET THIS!!!!!!!!" Kurai and Rini both jumped in surprise as Usagi stormed out of her room towards her sister. "Kurai, please help me! I have to finish my homework before my date with…"
"Mamoru!" Rini's face began to glow as she anticipated her future father's visit.
"Mamoru?" Kurai stared at Usagi quizzically, then smiled as she understood. "Oh, you mean Endymion, don't you?"
"Yes, but I won't mean anyone if I don't finish my homework!" Usagi whined, once again beginning to beg.
"Say no more, Usagi. I'll help you." Kurai gave her sister a confident grin.
"You're too nice to her, Kurai," Rini piped up suddenly.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Usagi yelled angrily.
"It means that the way you act, you don't even deserve a sister like Kurai!" Rini retorted,
"She's right, you know." Sammy was standing in his doorway, eating an apple.
"Um, guys? Stop, okay? It's really no problem. And Usagi is a good sister…" Kurai was nervously trying to stop the unavoidable fight.
"HA!" Usagi ran at Sammy, who slammed his door just in time to have Usagi hit it face-first. She fell back onto the floor and heard Rini laughing,
"Rini, what did I teach you about not making fun of hurt people?" Usagi heard Kurai scolding Rini , which she found unusual.
"I'm sorry, Kurai," Rini apologized.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Rini." Kurai pointed to Usagi, who was still lying on the floor. She watched Rini take a few steps towards her.
"I'm sorry I laughed at your pain, Usagi," Rini said shyly.
"Uh, that's okay, Rini." Usagi propped herself up on her elbows and was surprised when Rini gave her a hug and then skipped to her own room.
"Come on, let's see what your homework problem is." Kurai extended her hand out to Usagi, who gratefully took it and was pulled up.
"Kurai?" Usagi asked as the two girls strolled into their room.
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you're not Rini's mother?" Kurai started laughing.
"No, but I do spend a lot of time with her in Crystal Tokyo, so I'm pretty close."
"Oh…what was our mother like?"
"Well, she was very beautiful and kind. All the people loved her, even those that had never met her. She loved us very dearly and provided us with anything we needed."
"Like what?"
"The best thing Mother ever gave me was…"
"Was what?"
"Really not 'what', but 'who'…"
"So, who was it?" Kurai realized she had already said way too much.
"Uh, no one. It doesn't matter. Now, are you going to finish your homework or not?" Kurai smiled nervously while her sister eyed her suspiciously. But, just the same, Usagi handed her science book to Kurai and pointed to a page about metals…
Both Usagi and Kurai were lying on their beds reading, having just finished dinner. Kurai was engrossed in a book by Ernest Hemingway while her sister tried very desperately to concentrate on the book she was reading for English. They were the only ones in the house since the rest of the family had gone out for a walk together. Kurai put her book on the nightstand and recalled the tantrum Rini had had when she heard she wouldn't see Mamoru. Kurai started laughing and Usagi looked over at her.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm going to go get a drink. Want anything?"
"Can you bring some pretzels or something?"
"Usagi, we just had dinner!"
"Your point?"
"Never mind. I'll bring something…like carrots." Kurai watched Usagi mischievously, waiting for a response.
"Okay, I can have some ca…oh, God, no! Not carrots!" Usagi started making gagging noises, which made Kurai start laughing uncontrollably. Usagi noticed and threw her textbook at her, which narrowly missed.
"Hey! Watch it or I won't bring you anything." Kurai picked up the book and handed it back to her sister, who was now glaring at her. "Do that long enough and you won't look pretty for your date…"
"What?!" Usagi instantly stopped glaring and looked worried instead. Kurai pushed the English book into her hands.
"Read this. It's very interesting."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes, unless you want to sit on the royal council all day and not know what everyone's talking about." Usagi groaned and began reading again. Kurai smiled at her sympathetically then went downstairs to the kitchen. Kurai was about to pour herself a glass of milk when she heard the doorbell ring and a thud from upstairs.
"Oh my God! Mamoru's here!" Kurai heard Usagi running around frantically upstairs, obviously not ready.
"Don't worry, Usagi! I'll let him in while you get ready!" Kurai offered.
"Thanks, Kurai! That would be great!" Kurai heard Usagi run into the bathroom and slam the door. The doorbell ran again and Kurai sighed. She set her drink down and made her way over to the front door. Kurai opened the door to find Mamoru standing on the front step.
"Oh, hi, Dar…" Kurai began.
"Usagi! You changed your hair!" Mamoru hugged Kurai, who became clearly flustered.
"Huh?! Oh, no, I'm not…"
"This is unexpected, but you look so cute!" Mamoru put one of Kurai's bangs behind her ear.
"I do? I mean…" Kurai was unsuccessfully trying to convince Mamoru she wasn't his girlfriend.
"I'm so glad to see you." Mamoru leaned in close to Kurai and her eyes widened as he suddenly kissed her…