Rated PG-13

Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and everything affiliated with her are the property 
of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and DiC.  They are not mine, I 
am only borrowing them for a little while.  Any other characters are mine.  
If anyone wishes to use them, please notify me first.


Author's Notes (or Rant if you prefer): Hi everybody!  It's been a while, but 
here's the sequel to _Brother's Keeper_.  While it is not absolutely 
necessary for you to have read my previous story it would help if you did.  

This story takes place after the Sailorstars season in the anime, though it 
does draw a bit from the manga.  I use the North American names for the Inner
Scouts, but nearly everything else is the same from the Japanese anime.  I 
hope this doesn't offend any purists of either genre.


Just a bit of clarification:  
	the * * signify a person's thoughts
	the ***** before a section signify either a memory or a shift into 
the mindscape or dreamscape (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I 
hope).	


Please email me with your questions, comments, and/or criticisms at 
engjng@worldnet.att.net.  Heck, flame me if you want to.  I'd like any 
feedback I can get.  Enjoy the story!


Daughters of Destiny
Part 1 (revised)
by: Johnny Ng


~~8 years ago~~

	"Mommy!  Mommy!  Watch how high I can go!" a little girl shouted from 
the swings.
	A dark-haired Japanese woman, presumably the girl's mother, looked up 
from her magazine and smiled.  "That's great, Rhea.  Just be careful."
	Rhea pouted.  "Mommy, I'm not a baby anymore.  I'm six-years-old!"
	The mother laughed.  "Okay honey.  Just don't grow up too fast."  Her 
daughter smiled and continued swinging, her raven-colored hair trailing after 
her and brown eyes sparkling.  She continued to look at the girl and a sad 
expression crossed her face.  *I just wish your father could be here.*

~~present~~

	"That's all for today," the professor told his class, shutting off 
the slide projector.  "Be sure to read the chapters for next week and I'll 
see you all then."
	Trent Powers sighed.  *Who knew college would be this hard?*  He 
looked at his watch.  It was 5:20 PM. *Just enough time to go and pick up 
Mina.*  Grabbing his books and his backpack, he quickly ran out the door and 
into the parking lot.  Even though he was the most powerful mage in Tokyo, 
and possibly the world, Trent didn't like to flaunt his powers.  And besides, 
he liked driving.
	He pulled up at the Juban High School entrance and waited, but not 
for long.  Mina soon bounded out the doors and jumped into his arms.
	Trent gathered in his girlfriend and smiled.  "I take it that 
volleyball tryouts went well?"
	Mina smiled back at him.  "You bet!  I think the team's going to be 
great this year."  Her smile got larger.  Being captain of the volleyball 
team, she had a right to smile.  "In fact, there's this new girl, a freshman, 
who might even be better than I am."
	That comment made Trent pause.  "Better than you?  She must be good.  
What's her name?"
	Mina thought for a moment.  "I think her name was...Shidou.  Yeah, 
Rhea Shidou."  The sound of running footsteps caught her attention and she 
turned around and grinned.  "And here she comes now."
	The object of Mina and Trent's discussion had just finished 
showering.  Rhea gathered up her things and rushed out the front door, waving 
to Mina when she saw her.  Then she ran down the block and disappeared around 
the corner.
	"Well, I'll say one thing for her, she's fast," Trent remarked wryly, 
"and kinda cute, too."
	"Hey, keep your eyes to yourself!" Mina said, giving him a punch in 
the arm.
	Trent chuckled.  "Don't worry, love.  I only have eyes for you."  A 
thoughtful expression appeared on his face.  "Does she sort of remind you of 
someone?"
	Mina's forehead furrowed in thought.  "I don't think so.  She must 
have one of those faces.  So, are you going to drive me home or what?"
	"Your chariot awaits, my lady."
	The blond laughed.  "Just make sure you don't drive so fast this 
time.  You're not Haruka you know.  You have to obey the traffic laws."
	He chuckled.  "Speaking of the infamous racer Haruka Ten'ou, where 
has she and Michiru gone?"
	"Oh, they're on a tour of the United States.  Haruka is participating 
on the racing circuit there and Michiru arranged for a musical tour at the 
cities where Haruka's racing."
	"Pity, I was hoping to test my driving skills against hers again.  
The last time she won was just a fluke."
	"A fluke?  She beat you by a whole mile!"
	Trent grumbled.  "I had engine trouble."
	Mina shook her head.  "Just make sure you it doesn't happen on the 
way to my house."

	In the emptiness of space, the stars shone like gems on a black 
velvet background.  That is until they were eclipsed by a dark, diamond 
shaped object.  The object was a ship, and it was large, fully a mile long.  
The surface was pitch black and totally smooth, with no signs of an entrance, 
exit, or even engines.  The ship seemed to just move on its own, gliding 
along silently.
	The interior of the ship was slightly different from the exterior.  
The walls and ceiling were of the same shade of black as the hull and just as 
smooth.  However, computer terminals and duty stations sprouted from the 
deck, and the vessel's crew manned them.  And in the center of the deck on a 
raised dais was a chair, though it was more like a throne, that was currently 
unoccupied.
	A section of the wall disappeared and a person stepped onto the 
bridge of the ship.  One of the crewers stood at attention and bellowed, 
"Captain on the bridge!"  Everyone immediately became more alert.
	The captain smiled and sat down in his chair, which was slightly 
lower and in front of the throne.  He turned towards the navigator.  "How's 
our heading."
	"We are entering the star system now, sir," the officer said.
	"Good, activate the magical sensor fields, maximum range."  The 
captain leaned back in his chair.  *Let's see if whatever the master was 
looking for is out there...*
	"It's out there, Captain Raze."
	Raze felt a cold shiver run down his spine.  The voice had come from 
behind him.  He slowly turned his head.  Before him, on the throne, sat a 
figure.  "M-master Bane," he stuttered out, his eyes fixed on vision in front 
of him, if it indeed was a 'him'.  Little of the sorcerer could be seen, 
though.  Dark, swirling robes obscured his over eight feet height from head 
to toe.  All that could be seen beyond the robes was a single glowing orb 
located in the middle of where his head was supposed to be.
	"I have sensed great magic here," Bane continued.
	"The _Wrath's_ sensors will find it, master," Captain Raze blurted 
out.
	"No, I will find it."  His eye gleamed.  "And it will be mine."

	Rhea entered her house and put away her books.  Seeing her mom wasn't 
home yet, she then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
	She was about to turn on the stove when the phone rang.  Rhea sighed.  
*That's probably mom calling to tell me that she'll be late...again.*  She 
picked up the phone.  "Hello?"
	"Is this Rhea Shidou?" an unfamiliar voice on the other end of the 
line asked.
	"Yes, it is."
	"This is officer Tanaka of the Tokyo police."  A sigh.  "Are you 
sitting down, young lady?"
	There was suddenly a cold feeling in the pit of Rhea's stomach as she 
lowered herself into a chair.  "Y-yes."
	Another sigh.  "I'm sorry to say...there's been an accident involving 
your mother."
	Rhea felt her body go numb as she slumped further down in her seat.  
"W-what happened?"
	"It...it was a hit-and-run.  Your mother was crossing the street when 
a car came careening around a corner and struck her.  She's been taken to 
Juban General Hospital--"
	Rhea dropped the phone and ran out the door.

	Serena sighed.  "Amy, can we take a break now?"
	The blue-haired girl smiled.  "Alright, Serena, I guess we've earned 
it."  
	The two of them had volunteered as candystripers after school at the 
Amy's mom's hospital.  They had just finished their shift and headed for the 
lounge.  Before they got there, though, a frantic looking girl burst through 
the doors.
	"Can somebody help me?" she cried, "I'm looking for my mother-"
	Serena's eyes widened.  She knew this girl.  "Rhea?  Rhea, what's the 
matter?" she asked running up to the girl.
	"Who...Serena?"  Rhea recognized her as one of Mina's friends.  She 
ran to the blond's side.  "You've got to help me!  My mom was in an accident 
and the police said she was in this hospital"
	Serena turned to Amy.  "Amy, can you check to see if a Ms. Shidou was 
recently checked in?"
	Amy nodded.  "All right, Serena.  Why don't you take your friend to 
the nurses' lounge and try to calm her down."
	A minute later, Rhea found herself seated in the lounge holding a cup 
of tea that Serena had given her.
	Serena sat across the table from her with sympathetic expression on 
her face.  "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
	Rhea took a deep breath and put down her tea.  "Well, there's not 
much to tell.  I got home from school after volleyball practice and my mom 
wasn't home, so I started to cook dinner..."  She smiled sadly.  "That's how 
it was most days at my house.  I never knew my father; he left my mom when he 
found out that she was pregnant.  So it was just me and my mom.  She would go 
to work and I would go to school and whoever got home first would cook 
dinner.
	"For the past few days she has been late coming home but she would 
always call me, and when the phone rang, I thought it was her..."  Tears 
welled up in Rhea's eyes, but she continued.  "B-but it was the police.  They 
said that my mom was hit by a car a-and that she was in this hospital..."  
She couldn't take it anymore and collapsed in tears.
	Serena was immediately by Rhea's side and held the younger girl 
gently till she her sobs lessened.  "It'll be ok Rhea, it'll be okay," she 
soothed.
	There was a soft knock on the door and Amy walked in with her mother.
	Rhea stood up and made her way shakily over to the doctor.  "How's my 
mother, doctor?"
	Dr. Mizuno glanced at Amy who nodded and took Serena's arm.  "Serena, 
I think my mother wants to speak with Rhea alone."
	A puzzled look crossed the blond's face but she didn't resist when 
Amy gently led her out of the room.
	When the two girls left, Dr. Mizuno gestured for Rhea to sit.  "I'm 
afraid I have bad news Rhea..."

	"What's wrong, Amy?" Serena asked when the two of them were alone in 
the hallway.
	Amy sighed.  "Rhea's mother was hurt very badly and had lost a lot of 
blood.  The doctors don't think she'll survive"
	Serena gasped.  "That's terrible!"  Then her thoughts turned to Rhea.  
"Oh no, what about Rhea?"
	The lounge door opened and Amy's mother slowly led a listless and 
pale Rhea out.  The doctor turned to Amy and Serena.  "I think one of you 
should take Rhea home.  She's been through a lot--"
	"But we can't!" Serena blurted out, then seeing the confused 
expressions on Amy and her mother's faces, she explained, "Rhea only lived 
with her mother.  Now that her mother's in the hospital, she'll be all 
alone..."
	"What about other relatives?"
	A soft murmur escaped Rhea's lips and Dr. Mizuno looked at her.  
"What did you say, Rhea?"
	"I don't have anyone else," the girl repeated softly.  She looked up 
with pleading eyes.  "May I see my mother?  Please?"
	The doctor paused, but she saw the silent plea in the girl's eyes and 
relented.  "Very well, but you can't stay for long.  Amy, Serena, can you 
take Rhea to room 204, please?"
	Serena nodded.  "Yes, doctor."

	Aeko Shidou was not feeling very good.  In fact she was feeling 
extremely awful.  Her whole body ached and there was a fierce throbbing in 
her head.  With supreme effort, she cracked open her right eyelid.  *Where 
am I?*  She shifted her field of vision and noticed the medical equipment and 
the IV drip.  *A hospital?*
	<"Yes, dear, you're at a hospital?"> a voice answered in her mind.
	Aeko would have gasped if she could, but all that came out was a soft 
moan.  *Who was that?*
	There was a faint shimmering in the air in front of her and a 
translucent figure materialized.  Both of Aeko's eyes opened in surprise as 
she recognized the person standing over her.  *Daniel!*
	The ghostly form of Daniel Takazawa smiled sadly.  <"Yes, Aeko.  I'm 
glad that you recognized me.">
	Aeko tried to speak, but Daniel shook his head.  <"You are no 
condition to speak, my love.  Just think your thoughts and I will hear 
them.">
	Aeko nodded her head imperceptibly.  *Daniel, is that really you?   
Are you dead?  Am I dead?*
	Again there was the sad smile.  <"Well, I am.  But not you, Aeko, not 
yet...">
	*But soon, right?*  Daniel hesitated but nodded.  *That's all right.  
I already knew I was dying.*  Her eyes shifted to Daniel's form.  *You called 
me 'my love'.  Did you really mean that?*
	<"Of course I did.">  Daniel moved over to Aeko's bedside and brushed 
his hand over hers.  Though she saw the hand go through hers, Aeko felt a 
slight tingle as it did.  <"I loved you--I love you still--with all my 
heart.">
	*Then why did you leave me?*
	Daniel closed his eyes and sighed.  <"I was afraid.  Not of you, but 
for you.  I was afraid of me and what I feared that I was becoming.  I was 
afraid of my power...">  He turned away.  <"I was afraid of hurting you.">
	*Oh, Daniel.  I loved you, too.  I wouldn't have cared what you would 
have become, just as long as you were with me.*  Her thoughts grew sad.  *If 
you had stayed, then we could have been a family.*
	Daniel turned back to Aeko.  <"Why didn't you tell me you were 
pregnant?">
	*Would it have mattered?*
	<"Of course it would have.">
	Aeko's lips curled up in a small smile.  *You were always a bad liar, 
but at least you try.*  She heaved a mental sigh.  *You would have been proud 
of her.*
	<"I already am.">
	The door to the room began to open and Daniel sighed.  <"I have to go 
now, my love.">
	Aeko nodded.  *Don't worry, I'll see you soon.*
	Daniel smiled slightly and vanished.

	Rhea reached room 204 and paused with her hand over the handle.
	"Are you sure you want to do this, Rhea?" Serena asked.
	Without responding, Rhea grasped the handle and opened the door.  
Walking in, she saw her mother lying on the bed.  Bandages were visible where 
her gown didn't cover her and an IV drip stood next to the bed, delivering 
its nourishing liquid directly into her arm.
	Rhea rushed to her mother's side.  "Mom!" she cried, tears rolling 
down her cheeks.  "I'm here, mom."
	Aeko lifted her hand slowly and gently brushed her daughter's hair.  
"...Rhea...," she croaked out.
	"Don't try to talk, mom..."
	"...no, you...must hear this.  I-I don't...have much time."  Aeko 
took a shuddering breath.  You must...know about your father..."
	Rhea's eyes widened.  "My father?  What about him?  He left you.  He 
didn't want a family--"
	"No, your father...never knew about you.  I never told him that I was 
pregnant--"  Aeko closed her eyes as a spasm of pain coursed through her 
body.
	"Mom, you should rest!" Rhea said worriedly.
	"...your father...he..."  Aeko's breathing grew shallow and rapid.  
"...he...w-was..."  Her hand began to tremble and her eyes rolled back into 
her head.  The heart monitor next to the bed began to fluctuate as Aeko 
convulsed.
	Amy gasped and ran out the door.  "Emergency!  Code Blue, Code Blue!  
The patient is going into cardiac arrest!
	The nurses at the desk heard Amy's frantic cries and summoned a 
trauma team to Room 204.  Seconds later, the medical team rushed into the 
room with a crash cart.
	"Get clear!" a doctor yelled.  The girls backed away from the bed as 
the doctor began examining Aeko.  He glanced at the monitors and shined his 
flashlight into her eyes and saw that they were dilated.  "Prepare the 
defibrillator."  A nurse warmed up the machine and handed him the paddles.  
"Clear!"
	Aeko's body jumped as a current of electricity ran through it, but 
she didn't wake up.
	The doctor frowned.  "Turn it up all the way!"  Again the paddles 
were warmed up.  "Clear!"
	Again the body jumped, but again there was no response.
	"One more time.  C'mon!  Clear!"
	This time Aeko's body merely twitched and lay silent.  The doctor 
sighed and hung his head.  "We lost her."
	Rhea collapsed into Serena's arms as sobs wracked her body.

	"Captain," the _Wrath's_ helmsman said, "sensors have picked up a 
magical reading."
	"Where?"
	"The third planet of the system," Bane said offhandedly, "I believe 
the inhabitants call it...Earth."

	Ikuko Tsukino closed the door to the guestroom.  *Poor girl, so young 
to lose her mother...*  
	Serena had called from the hospital earlier that night and explained 
what had happened to Rhea.  Ikuko's heart went out to the girl and she 
immediately offered to take her in for the time being.  
	A few hours later, Serena brought Rhea home with her.  The pain and 
anguish were readily apparent in the girl's eyes.  She murmured her thanks to 
Mrs. Tsukino before asking to be shone to her room, complaining of weariness.  
Ikuko nodded her understanding and told Serena to take Rhea to the guestroom.  
She hadn't set foot out of that room since.
	That was four hours ago.  Rhea had declined eating dinner and Ikuko 
was getting worried, so she took a quick peek into the guestroom and saw Rhea 
apparently asleep.  That had eased her mind somewhat.  After closing the 
door, she made her way back to her bedroom.
	"How's she doing?" Kenji asked.
	Ikuko sat down heavily on the bed next to her husband.  "She's 
asleep, dear."  She felt Kenji's arms encircle her and she leaned back 
against his chest.  "She must be feeling awful.  I just wish I knew what to 
do."
	Kenji gently stroked his wife's hair.  "Don't worry, honey.  Right 
now, Rhea needs someone to be there for her.  This is the best thing we can 
do for her."
	"I hope you're right."

	Rhea was not asleep.  She heard Mrs. Tsukino open her door and close 
it again and sighed.  She stared up at the ceiling and counted the cracks, 
but she soon grew tired of that.  
	It was a cloudless night and the moonlight shone through the window 
spilling across the bed.  Rhea didn't notice it though.  She turned and 
stared out the window at the Moon.  Unbidden, tears came to her eyes.  *Mom 
loved looking at the Moon...*  
	A choked sob escaped her lips as tears worked their way down her 
face.  Quickly, almost angrily, Rhea drew the sleeve of her pajamas across 
her eyes.  Looking up at the Moon again, she made up her mind.  *I'm sorry, 
everyone.*

	Luna was a light sleeper.  Being the guardian cat to the Moon 
Princess, she had to be ready for anything.  Also, Serena tended to roll over 
in her sleep and smother her, so being a light sleeper made for a good 
survival instinct.  So, she was instantly awake when she heard the sound of 
footsteps going past Serena's door.
	*Who could that be?*  Luna made her way to the door and slowly pushed 
it open.  Looking down the hallway, she saw the shadowy form of Rhea inching 
her way slowly down the stairs and out the front door.  Luna immediately 
bounded back into the room and onto Serena's bed.  "Serena.  Serena, wake 
up!"
	"Ughh," Serena said blearily, "What is it, Luna?  Can't you see I'm 
trying to sleep?"
	"It's Rhea!  I think she's running away!"
	That got her attention.  "What?!"
	"Serena?" her mom's voice called out from across the hall, "Is some 
thing wrong?"
	"You had better tell your parents, Serena," Luna counseled.
	She nodded.  "Mom!  I think Rhea ran away!"


End Part 1

Author's Blurb: I apologize if my portrayal of the hospital scene is totally
wrong.  I admit that I have an acute lack medical knowledge and hospital
procedure, my only experience with either has been the handful of ER episodes
I have watched.

I eagerly await any comments or criticisms at engjng@worldnet.att.net