The Senshi and I were in my room, as always, but instead of discussing the new evils of Japan we were celebrating! We were out of high school. Mina, Lita, Amy and Serena were all going to Tokyo University next week. They all thought I would be sad that I won't be joining but, actually it was the opposite. Sure I wanted to but my dreams were coming true now. By fall I would be a full priestess. Grandpa would be needing more help as Chad was leaving and Grandpa was getting sicker. I could help full time now at the temple. I even had some ideas to make the temple more profitable. We needed more money. Our temple needed some new repairs and it cost a lot of money to feed the Senshi. Sure Lita helped a lot but Serena, as much I love her, needs to stop eating so bloody much!
"Oh! I'm so excited!" Mina gushed, "New guys! Hot guys!" Lita nodded in agreement. Amy nodded too. I knew, from our own personal talks, that Amy was sad about going to Tokyo University. She really wanted to join Darien at Harvard but decided, not telling us, she thought it would be better if she stayed. We were always worried that a new evil was coming even though there hadn't been one since Galaxia, unless you count all those TV evils the producers make their fictional Senshi fight. We have our own TV show. They think my name is Martha. Do I look like a Martha to you? Yuck! After Amy told me of her decision I tried to convince her to go for Harvard but the deadline had passed.
"Raye!" Serena looked at me all teary eyed, "I'm going to miss you!" she sobbed. I rolled my eyes. None of my friends were moving away! Serena is something else. I stunk my tongue out at her.
"Meatball Head, you are going to come here right after school anyway! It's not like you're moving!" Lita laughed in agreement. Serena nodded, trying not to cry. I sighed.
"Meatball Head, cheer up… I think I have some chocolate cookies left from last time you guys were here." I said. I was actually trying to save them for me and Grandpa but anything to stop Serena from flooding my bedroom. Mina shook her head and held up an empty tin.
"Um… we kind of ate them right now." Mina said. I sighed again. How is it that all my friends, except Amy, were such pigs? Grandpa knocked on my door. I stood up and slide the door open a tad bit.
"What?" I asked. Probably Grandpa was spying again and was going to whine about how we ate all the cookies- again. He looked anxious.
"Rachel…" he paused. Rachel? Why would he be using my full name? Even when he was made Grandpa never called me Rachel, "Phone." I told my friends I would be back in a minute and went down the hall and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Rachel Hino?" a man's voice asked me.
"It's Raye." I replied. I don't really like being called Rachel. It sounds too serious.
"Your mother and I named you Rachel." The man snapped. I was getting angry. Who on Earth was thing freak?
"What do you want?"
"I want to meet you." He replied.
"Sorry I tend not to meet pedophiles." I snapped.
"I'm your father! Didn't your grandfather tell you that?" the man cried. My father? I hadn't talked or communicated with my father since the day he dropped me off when I was two. He hadn't bothered to care about me at all.
"Like I said." I snapped. Anger filled me. I didn't want to see this man! Grandpa in every aspect, except one, was my father! That man… Marcus Hino… wasn't my dad at all!
"Listen, Rachel-"
"Raye."
"Rachel, I'm a busy man and I want to see you. Come down to City Hall at noon tomorrow."
"What if I'm busy?" I snapped.
"You're a child. You do not have plans. Tomorrow." Then he hung up! I slammed the phone down. I heard my door open. But I was too furious to care! I'm just a child? I'm the bloody Sailor Senshi of Mars! I'm the Protector of Princess Serenity and the future Crystal Tokyo! What did Father expect me to do? Drop all my plans for him! And why did I call him father? Suddenly I felt my friends all around me, hugging me. They knew I was upset. I looked at Amy. Only the Senshi of Water knew my anger at my father. Amy and I were a lot closer than everyone thought we were. We bonded the second we met, in both life times.
"That was your father?" she asked me. I nodded. Serena smiled.
"Wow! Isn't that good news? I mean you haven't heard of him in a long time?" Serena didn't understand. Her parents loved her. Neither left her. Mom didn't have a choice but Marcus Hino… he could have stayed. He could have raised me or at least send me birthday cards or visited me once or twice. He had no idea who I am! Okay neither does Grandpa but at least he has same idea.
I told my friends what Marcus Hino had said to me. They all felt bad for me and offered to come with me. I told them I should probably do this on my own. I wasn't in any mood for partying after that phone call so Lita, Mina and Serena left soon after. Amy stayed. We didn't talk but just sat there playing cards. I wasn't very good at chess but cards were something Amy and I were equal at. Amy didn't make me talk but let me beat her at cards. She let me sort out my thoughts. She understood me in ways the other Senshi didn't.
~~~~~~~~~~
I was in a skirt. I don't wear skirts that often but Grandpa convinced me to dress up for my father. For the man for abandoned me. So I was in a skirt with a blouse. I entered City Hall. A man in a suit was waiting for me. He led me up to Hino's office. I waited outside in the waiting room. I wondered what my "father" looked like. Did I look like him or mom? I prayed to the Spirits that I looked like my mother. The door opened and Marcus Hino stepped out. His dark brown hair was cut short but he had my eyes. He had my purple eyes. He smiled at me.
"Rachel." He said. I stood up.
"Raye." I followed him into his office and closed the door. He sat behind the desk like this was a business meeting. I suppose it was. I wasn't going to open my heart to him after sixteen years of nothing.
"Or should I call you Rei? High Princess of Mars and guardian to the Lunar Princess?" he said, smirking at me. I was shocked. No one outside the Senshi group knew that. I remained silent. I would let him play his games. I wasn't his mouse to catch.
"You think I hadn't paid any attention to my daughter these past years?" he asked. I said nothing. I hated him. Why didn't he make contact?
"I did. My little girl is a priestess and a Senshi. What a future you have, Rachel."
"Raye!" I cried, "Just because you spied on me doesn't mean you can call me whatever you want! I am Raye Hino! Not Rachel or Rei or whatever!" I stood up, "If you are just going to tell me that you are a lousy father I know that; I have better things to do!"
"A spitfire, aren't you? Got that from your dad." He replied smirking. I wanted to show him the full extend of the Senshi of Mars. A little fire would do nicely. Boom.
"I got nothing from you." I replied. He laughed. He seemed to enjoy this.
"I'm going to give you a job." He stated.
"I have a job." I retorted.
"A real job." He smirked.
"I have a real job. The temple needs people."
"A hooky religion." He snapped.
"That 'hooky religion' has saved my ass who knows how many times!" I cried. One of my powers even came from the religion! If it wasn't for that Temple and Grandpa I wouldn't have half the powers I did now! Marcus Hino laughed.
"You saved your ass a lot of the times, not that religion. That is not the point. I am going to give you a paying job."
"I don't have the time." I said. He just didn't seem to listen.
"Never mind the Temple. You will be working for me. I have a special job for you." I sighed. Whatever I said to him didn't seem to matter.
"I can't!" I cried, "Grandpa needs me! Since Chad has left there is no else to work at the Temple!" Sure money would be good; I could donate to the Temple. Marcus Hino jumped to his feet.
"Your whole life I've worked at getting you this job! You will work it!" he screamed. I shivered. I sensed a strange energy in the room. I didn't like this. I looked at him; right in his purple eyes and said, "You will not tell me what to do! You haven't bothered with me at all. Grandpa needs me." I turned and left the office. I didn't start to cry until I crossed the street. I turned my back on my father! That could have been my only chance for me to know him! I didn't understand why I cared so much. I didn't want to.
~~~~~~
Knock. Knock. People knocking on my bedroom door always sounded weird. I looked in the mirror. Great, now whoever was there would know I was crying.
"Raye?" Serena called to me.
"Just a second." I answered. There was nothing I could do now. I slide open by door. The Senshi stood on the other side. Lita was holding a huge chocolate cake; Mina was holding an enormous jug of chocolate milk. Amy was holding a soft teddy bear. Serena wrapped me in hug.
"Raye…" she whispered. I pulled away.
"Hi guys. Shouldn't you be getting ready?" I asked. The remaining Senshi walked in. Then I noticed four more Senshi- Amara, Michelle, Hotaru and Trista. Hotaru smiled at me.
"Hey Fire." Amara said. During the past years the Outer Senshi had nicknamed all of us by our elements. Truth be told I never really trusted Amara or Michelle fully when I heard that they backstabbed Serena. They said it was a plan but I don't believe it. They killed Saturn and Pluto. But I welcomed them into my room and I sat on my bed. Lita gave me a slice on the cake. I love chocolate. I bite into it and tasted heaven.
"Thanks Lita." I said. Amy put the bear on my bed. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. I understood. That was her last gift from her father. She hadn't heard from him since the battle with the Dark Moon Circus. Mina passed out the milk.
"So what happened?" Serena asked softly. I told them what that man, what else could I call him?, said. Lita looked furious.
"Spied on you? You could put him in jail!" she cried.
"I don't have any proof… and I don't see the need." I stood up and opened my door and walked outside. I didn't want to hear them be outraged and listen to them care. I wanted to handle this on my own. I shouldn't have told them.
"So you are going to leave a nice apartment, cushy job for this? For them?" a voice asked me. I jumped and with an ancient scroll in my hand I whirled around.
"Marcus Hino!" I cried. I put my guard down. Not a youma… though I would like one right now to kick it's ass.
"Father would be better, Rachel."
"If you refuse to call me by my name, why would I call you Father? Especially since you were never one to me." I snapped.
"I'm now."
"It's a little late." I turned away from him. I assumed my friends were hiding in the hallway, listening to this. Hino grabbed my shoulders and whirled me around.
"You are going to take this job!" he cried.
"You need to learn to brush." I countered. He slapped me across the face. I could hear the gasps from my friends. I touched the scroll again. He began to yank me down the stairs of the Temple. Furious I kicked his feet out from under him. That made me fall too but at least I was prepared. I tumbled myself to the bottom step and jumped to my feet; ready to fight. Hino smiled at me then clapped.
"If you do not take this job your future you want so badly will not happen." Suddenly I stumbled to my feet- a vision.
~~~~
Serena looked tired as she held three- year- old Rini by her hand. In her other arm was another little girl.
"I named her Chibi- Chibi," She told me, "This is not what was suppose to happen. Another evil came and killed Darien after our wedding."
"Then Chibi- Chibi?" I asked. She didn't look at me. I understood.
"Do you know who it was?" I asked.
"The lord and master of this world." She whispered.
"Who is that?"
"Our worst nightmare. Damn it Rei! If you took that bloody job you could have stop him! We would have been prepared!" I froze. This was my fault? Because I didn't want to leave everyone I cared about? Because I didn't want to become my father?
"Why couldn't we power up?" I asked.
"We couldn't with a member of our team dead." Serena said. Chibi- Chibi began to cry; Rini joined in.
"Who?" I whispered, dread filling me. Who could have died? Lita, Mina, Amy were so strong. They could fight anything off.
"You."
~~~~~~~~
I looked at Marcus Hino.
"Me?" I asked. He knelt to me.
"Power isn't just in the Senshi. The parents of the Senshi have power too." He whispered.
"I'm suppose to guard you?" I asked him. He shrugged and began to walk away. Serena stepped out of the Temple. I am supposed to protect my Princess. I couldn't be the reason why she was…
"Stop. I'll do it." I whispered. He turned to me and smiled. I followed him out of the courtyard. If this was my duty, let me do it.
Chapter Two: Senshi of NatureWe gathered at Amy's house. She was going to tell us about Raye. Raye just left us at her house; without another word. She didn't return. Her grandfather called all of us this morning, asking if we have talked to her. Amy said she knew what was going on. So here we were, in her bedroom.
"Queen Serenity wanted all the Senshi be protected. She knew that if one of the Princess Protectors were hurt then Serenity would be in danger and it would make it almost impossible for us to power up to our Eternal forms. We needed to be a team. So when we were conceived our parents were gifted with powers to protect us. They were suppose to only be activated when we were in danger and could not protect ourselves," Amy explained, "But since the age of Crystal Tokyo is drawing closer the Earth can feel the power and our parents seem to be able to sense and use their powers. Raye's dad is one of them. He knows he is dangerous and wants his daughter, the reason for his magic, to guard over him."
"Why couldn't she tell us?" I cried, "We have a right to know!" Amy nodded.
"I don't know. All this I have found out on my own. We must be careful." Serena looked confused.
"Could our siblings have magic too?" she asked. Amy shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe only Raye's father has awoken up. I don't know." I sighed. My parents had magic to protect me. I smirked to myself. They weren't allowed to use it. They weren't given the chance. "Well, Queen Serenity, nice going but I still had to survive on my own." I thought. I sighed inwardly. I have been a little bitter lately. I totally felt for Raye. She grew up without a dad and I understood but when he came back to her she was rude. I couldn't stop myself from thinking that at least her dad could come back. I looked out the window. I was being usually quiet. Serena picked up on that. She smiled weakly at me. She knew that she couldn't possibly understand what I was feeling. I stood up.
"I need to go." I said and left Amy's apartment. I walked down the street, knowing I should have probably called a taxi from Amy's apartment. Serena ran after me.
"Lita?" she called. I stopped and waiting for her to catch up. Serena and I were pretty close.
"Hey, Serena." I said. She just looked at me.
"Lita, need to talk?" she asked. I shook my head.
"Nah… just bummed. Times like these I wished I knew my parents. You guys are my family but sometimes…"
"I know. We aren't the same." Serena, always full of hugs, hugged me. I smiled. Yeah, I didn't have a mom or dad anymore but I had the Senshi. They were my family now.
"Thanks Sere." I whispered. Serena grinned, her whole face lighting up.
"Want to come back to Amy's?" she asked. I shook my head. I really needed to get home and start dinner. My plants needed watering and I should drop off my rent at the landlord's. Serena hugged me again.
"Call me tonight." Now a question but a command. Serena knew me better than anybody else. I nodded and took off down the street. Silently I thanked the universe for the Senshi.
~~~~~~~
A week had gone by since Raye disappeared. We have been keeping an eye for her but both Raye and her father had disappeared. The Senshi and I have been working non- stop at the Temple. Grandpa Hino wants to pay us but we refuse. I enjoy working at the Temple. It's so relaxing and peaceful. I was working by myself today. Grandpa Hino was down at the Police Station. He had been going down there a lot. He gave them tons of pictures and information about Raye. I don't think he has connected Marcus's appearance with Raye's disappearance. When Grandpa Hino wasn't at the police station he would be at the Sacred Fire. All of the Senshi brought a Lost Charm. It's supposed to help the owner of the charm find things that they lost. Personally I don't believe in charms but the money would help Grandpa Hino. As I cleaned up the table for the night I heard a quiet, "hello?" I walked to the edge of the stairs and saw a man in a wheelchair sitting at the bottom. I ran down the stairs.
"Do you need help?" I asked. I wondered if I could pick him up. I wondered if it would be safe.
"I've lost someone and I heard this would be a place to get help." He answered. I smiled at the crippled man.
"I don't think so. Have you tried the police station?"
"I didn't think it would be safe." He said. I was confused but also on edge. Could he be an enemy? That was one bad thing about being a Senshi; everyone was a potential enemy.
"Why is that?"
"She's a minor and lives on her own." Oh. She was like me. He was probably afraid to get child services involved. Then I wondered why she was on her own? Did she run away? The man started to cry. I knelt down to his level.
"I'm sure you will find her."
"I haven't seen her since she was ten. Lita, where are you?" he whispered. I froze. Ten? That's how old I was when my family died. I ran up the stairs. I didn't want all those memories flooding back to me. I had a brother. An older brother. He went to the hospital when he found out Mom and Dad were killed. He told me to stay at home. He didn't want me to see them. He never returned for me. I figured that he was either killed too or didn't want to deal with a child. He was sixteen. He had a life in front of him. I remember those weeks afterwards. I wanted to die. I prayed that I would not wake up in the morning. My wish never came true. Finally I forced myself to learn to take care of myself.
I cleaned up the table and put up the closed sign. I walked out to the pool behind the Temple. I sat by the water. Tears filled my eyes. I never cried. I hated to cry. Be strong! Be strong!
"Be strong!" I cursed myself. The water hit my bare feet. Tears fell off my face harder now. Damn it. Damn it! Damn Raye for leaving! Damn my parents! Damn them all! I jumped to my feet and just ran. When I was younger I did one of two things to kill my fear, anger or whatever. I would run or cook. I ran past cute boys, I ran past young children; I just ran. I burst through the doors of my apartment building and ran up the stairs to my apartment. There at the door was that man. He knocked on the door.
"Can I help you?" I snapped. I wanted tonight to let out my anger.
"Lita?" he whispered.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"Brian." He replied. Brian. My brother? Could this really be my brother? Tears filled my eyes. That wavy brown hair, those green eyes and my dad's nose. My brother?
"Brian?" I whispered. He nodded and rolled over to me.
"Lita…" We began to cry.
~~~~~~~~~
We were sitting in my living room. I had just made a cup of tea.
"What happened? Why didn't you return?" I asked. I was calmer down. My freak out had pasted. They never lasted long.
"I was hit by a drunk driver." He pointed to his legs, "I lost all feeling."
"But why didn't come back? Why did you leave me alone for eight years?" I wanted to know.
"I also received amnesia. I didn't know I had a little sister. Lita, I'm so sorry." He whispered. I didn't say anything. He forgot me. I smiled.
"Thank you for finding me." Brian raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you try to find me?"
"I was ten. I thought you didn't want me around." We hugged again. I loved being with my brother. My brother! I had family! Real biological family! Suddenly the mood got really serious.
"Lita, can you feel when storms are coming?" he asked. I nodded. I didn't explain why. One little gift from the planet Jupiter.
"So can I." I froze. The powers to protect the Senshi hit my mind. Did he also have magic?
"Since when?" I asked him.
"Since you were born. Remember when we were younger and a storm was coming I would always have our tent up? We use to hide in there as the thunder crashed." I nodded. When I was five I began to abandon the tent; Brian stayed in the tent. I loved watching the storms. I understand now why I loved the storms.
"Do you sense one now?" he asked me. I shook my head. The sky had been clear all day and my hair wasn't doing that weird curly thing it usually did when a storm was coming.
"I meant a mental one." He whispered. I froze again. A mental one? These powers our family scared me and I wondered if our Princess was in danger. I stood up and walked to the balcony for a moment's peace. The sun was setting. I starred at the red sun, reminding of Raye. Where was she now?
"Lita? I didn't mean to scare you." Brian said as he wheeled up to me. I faced him with a smile.
"You didn't," I answered, "What other powers do you have?" Brian seemed taken back by those words.
"Powers!" he cried, "I am no witch!"
"I didn't mean that!" I touched his shoulder, "Are storms all you sense?"
"During the past four years I have sick to my stomach for no reason at all. Then I discovered why."
"Why?" I was scared of the answer. I loved my brother and I didn't want him to know that I wasn't a normal sister. I didn't want him to know that I was a Senshi. He didn't look at me.
"I'm tired," he stated, "I should go."
"Where?" We were avoiding the why question.
"I have a hotel room."
"You can stay here."
"No… I'll see you tomorrow, after school?" Brian then left my apartment. I flopped down on the chesterfield. I was so tired.
~~~~~~~~~~
Serena came home with me after school today.
"So you think he knows?" Serena asked me. I nodded. I opened my door and walked to the kitchen. I was dying for a hot cup of tea.
"Any word on Raye?" I asked. Serena shook her head but said nothing. It was unusual for her to remain quiet. I wondered if she was troubled by the magical family members problem. Was this even a problem? I began to water my plants as Serena sat down in the living room. I loved my plants. They brought so much life to the room. Sometimes Serena reminds me of my plants: full of life but in need of nurture. I would never tell my Princess that! I poured the tea and handed a cup to Serena. I felt like I was going through the motions. Then came the knock. I looked at Serena.
"Do you think it's him?" she whispered. I nodded and walked towards the door. My heart was in my throat. I recalled the 'why' question. Would I discover the answer today? Would Serena over hear or would she go home soon? I opened the door; Serena stood behind me.
"Brian." I stated. He smiled at me.
"Who is this?" he asked cheerfully as I allowed my older brother into my home.
"I'm Serena Tsukino. I'm Lita's best friend." She shook his head.
"Is that all?" he asked. I felt numb. Something wasn't right.
"Yes…" Serena looked at me.
"Sere has been my friend since I moved here." I said. Brian nodded and looked at our teacups.
"Why." He whispered.
"Why what?" Serena looked confused and stole glances at the two of us. I understood. Brian was never one to dance around the bush. Why did he feel sick?
"Mokusei Makoto." I stared at him. That was my name during the Silver Millennium. Mokusei meant planet Jupiter. Serena was touching her Eternal locket. She looked at me. I nodded. I was okay. He wasn't an enemy. Honestly I wasn't sure of that but I didn't want Serena to worry.
"How did you know that?" I demanded.
"I just do. You are the Senshi of Protection, Sailor Jupiter." I nodded.
"How?" Serena whispered.
"Are you the Moon Princess?" he asked Serena. She looked at me again. I was filled with dread.
"Go." I told her. She looked at me and ran from my apartment. Brian watched Serena ran.
"You know the danger. You know the danger that your Princess is in." he wheezed. A storm was coming.
"What do you want Ikazuchi Fuwa? (Thunder Trouble)" I demanded. In my hand my wand materialized.
"The power is strong. Makoto! Help me!" Brian whispered. I suddenly understood the dilemma Raye was in. Abandon your friends in order to protect them or stay with them and watch your family destroy the world with power they shouldn't have?
"Brian…" tears filled my eyes, "Juno!" I made my decision quickly. If this was my duty, let me do it.