DAYBREAK

Episode 40

"Hey, Usagi, do you know where room 104 is?" Kurai was glancing from room to room, person to person when she heard the bell ring.

"Hold on, let me check." Usagi opened her agenda to the map of the school, while Kurai watched kids struggling to open their lockers. Funny how she had had no trouble… "Got it!"

"Where is it?"

"If you go down this hall and turn left at the end, it should be somewhere around there."

"Alright, thanks, Usagi. I can go on alone from here."

"Okay, I'll see you at lunch then."

"Bye." Kurai and Usagi parted, the younger going upstairs while the older tried to find her first period class. Kurai followed Usagi's directions and came across the room. She was about to walk in when she heard someone calling her name…or so she thought. When Kurai looked around for the owner of the voice, all she saw were whole groups of students. Kurai shrugged and walked into class. She glanced around and found Ami sitting in the corner, reading. "I see nothing's changed…" Kurai whispered to herself as she made her way over to Ami, who lifted her head at the sound of feet approaching.

"Kurai?" Ami stared at Kurai with confusion in her eyes. "You're in my class?"

"Looks like." Kurai sat down in front of Ami and turned herself towards the other girl. "So, whatcha reading?"

"Oh, just finishing the book we're required to read for this class." Ami closed the book and set it down at the top corner of her desk.

"Oh, well, is the teacher for this class nice?"

"Most of the time. She's very busy with other activities, though, so she's a bit cranky sometimes." Kurai laughed slightly and Ami smiled as her own words sunk in.

"I guess I'll have to be a little more careful on those 'special' days." Kurai was about to turn back around in her seat when Ami patted her on the shoulder.

"Hey, Kurai?"

"Yes, Ami?"

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but…what exactly are you doing in an honors course?" Ami fidgeted, worried that she would anger her new friend.

"Relax, Ami." Kurai smirked at the nervous girl, who sighed. "I see what you're getting at. See, I actually know everything I'll ever need to know education-wise already, but it would look a bit suspicious if I didn't go to school."

"But where did you learn it all from?"

"Since I still have my memory from the Silver Millennium, I remember my studies from then. Plus, I've had a whole lot of time to read books."

"True…but how did you fool the principal?"

"I've led everyone to believe I've been in a private school for girls these past few years."

"Few?"

"You're right…many." The second bell rang and a big group of students came through the door, along with the teacher.

"I don't think anyone sits in that seat, so you can stay there for now," Ami informed Kurai.

"Great." Kurai fixed her gaze on the teacher, who was now taking out her lesson books. "You think I'll have to introduce myself?"

"You might." Ami also looked at the teacher just as the third bell rang. Everyone ran to sit in their seats and opened their books. Kurai sat back in her chair and sighed, thinking about what she would say if…

"Class! We have a new student today!" Kurai inwardly groaned as her new teacher coaxed her up to the front of the room. "Everyone, this is Kurai. Tell us a little about yourself, Kurai."

"Well, my name is Kurai Tsukino and I'm Usagi Tsukino's sister, if any of you know her. For the past few years, I've been attending a private school for girls…" Kurai stopped as she heard whispering. She easily heard what the other students were saying, even if their voices were hushed.

"A private school? Where?" The teacher was attempting to help but not getting very far.

"In Switzerland. It was right outside a quaint little village."

"What caused you to come back?"

"I missed my family."

"Awwwwwwww" one of the kids shouted, while the others started laughing. Kurai simply smirked, taking note of who it had been. Ami noticed and became worried. She had seen that smirk before…

"Well, Kurai, thank you for introducing yourself. You can go sit down now." Kurai was about to walk back to her seat when the door flew open. Everyone jumped and stared at whom had caused the interruption. The culprit walked through the door and stopped right in front of Kurai.

"Hello. My name is Klein. I just started going here and this is my first period class." Klein noticed Kurai standing next to him and squinted his eyes. Could it be that girl from yesterday, he asked himself. Kurai squinted back, contemplating on where she had seen him before.

"Well, two new students in one day! This sure is odd…but nice." The teacher was nervously staring at the two students squinting at each other. Kurai suddenly widened her eyes and put out her hand.

"Hello, Klein. I'm Kurai." Klein stared at Kurai's hand for a moment, but took it just the same and shook it.

"Hello, Kurai." They let their hands go and both of them sat down. The teacher stared after them and then shook her head slightly.

"Well, then, shall we begin?"…

"Lessee, that was 2nd period, meaning I should go to…French now. Perfect…where is it?" Kurai was standing off to the side of the hallway, attempting to locate her class. Ami had gone in the other direction to her gym class and Kurai was completely lost. She furiously closed the agenda and covered her eyes slightly. "I call on the Sun god, Apollo, help me, please." Kurai suddenly jerked her head up and smiled. "Finally…" She turned the corner and jogged to her 3rd period class. The bell rang just as she stepped through the door.

"Oh, hello," the teacher greeted her. "You must be the new one."

"Precisely." Kurai extended out her hand and the teacher shook it. Both let go and Kurai was directed to a seat in the center of the room. "Wow, how incredibly discrete…" she whispered.

The teacher straightened herself and began to speak to the class. "Everyone, get our your textbooks and turn to…"

"Damm it!!" Haruka burst through the open door, skidding to a stop in front of the room.

"Mr. Tenoh, late again?" The teacher crossed her arms and took on an annoyed look.

"Obviously," Haruka grumbled, causing the rest of the class to laugh softly.

"That's enough. Take your seat." Haruka walked towards her seat and sat down, not noticing the person who now sat next to her.

"Stupid bitch." Kurai started laughing quietly and only now did Haruka realize she was there. "Kurai?"

"I see you finally acknowledged my presence." Kurai bowed slightly and Haruka chuckled.

"Please, stop with the courtesy."

"Sorry, I wanted to make you feel guilty."

"Gee, thanks." Haruka took her book out and opened it. "What page are we on?"

"That is a very good question that I can't answer." Kurai looked up and found that her new teacher was feverishly writing something on the board.

"I hate French." Kurai glanced back at Haruka, who was getting last night's homework out. "The language of love my ass."

"I thought you knew French already." Kurai was cautiously watching the teacher, who she figured had a short temper.

"I do, but to graduate I need at least two years of a foreign language."

"That's the modern school system for you."

"What about you?"

"Huh?"

"In all that time, you must have learned at least one other language."

"Actually, I know all the languages of the world fluently." Haruka's jaw dropped and Kurai lightly pushed it back up.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope. I would have told them that, but then I wouldn't have been able to answer the questions."

"You have a good…"

"Haruka!!!!!!!" Both girls turned forward and found the entire class staring at them. "How many times have I told you not to disrupt my class?!"

"A lot?" Haruka grinned slightly, causing the teacher to sigh.

"Both of you just be quiet and pay attention."

"Yes ma'am," Kurai instantly answered, with a slight hint of sarcasm in her tone. Fortunately, Haruka was the only other person who heard it and the class went back to what it was originally doing. "Thank the Lord." Out of the corner of her eye, Kurai saw Haruka smile and she also grinned, imagining the months ahead…