Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts and everything affiliated with them are the property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Dic, and many other big name people and companies with lots of money and lots of lawyers. I do not own them so don't sue me; I'm only borrowing them for a little while. Any other characters are mine. If anyone wishes to use them, please notify me first.
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 (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I hope).
Please email me with your comments and/or criticisms at jnkryo@yahoo.com. Heck, flame me if you want to. I'd like any feedback I can get. Enjoy the story!
Brother's Keeper
Part 4
by: Johnny Ng
Saturday morning found Mina up early preparing breakfast for her family and humming a jaunty tune. The kitchen was a mess, but Mina didn't seem to mind. She had dreamed of Trent last night and was in an extremely good mood, and she was determined to share her mood with everyone she met, including her family.
Mina's mom stumbled into the kitchen, still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. A noxious aroma had awakened her and she had followed it to the kitchen. *Maybe something spoiled in the refri-* When she caught sight of her daughter cooking food, her eyes snapped open. She remembered the last time Mina had cooked and she was not about to go to the hospital again.
"Mina, dear, why are you out of bed so early?" she asked sweetly.
Mina turned around, a whisk in her hand. "Oh, 'morning mom. I didn't hear you come down the stairs. What would you like for breakfast?"
Mrs. Aino surveyed her destroyed kitchen. "Actually, dear, I was thinking maybe we should go out for breakfast."
"Oh, ok mom. That's sounds cool! Just let me clean up h-"
"No, no. It's alright," Mina's mom said, grabbing her daughter's hand before she could touch the dishes. "Let it sit, I'll clean it up later."
"Well...ok mom. I'll go wake Daddy and we'll get ready." Mina skipped up the stairs, still humming.
Mrs. Aino slumped against the wall and looked wearily at the mess around her. *I know she means well and she tries very hard, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I let her cook in my house again.*
After breakfast with her parents, Mina decided to go call up her friends and go for a little shopping trip. She was still in a good mood and was still determined to share it. However, only Serena and Lita were available to go mall trawling, but everyone agreed to meet up at the shrine for lunch.
At the mall, Serena and Lita pestered Mina for details about her date, but she wasn't telling them anything, at least not until everyone was there, so the two of them had to content themselves with shopping with Mina, something that they were well prepared to do.
A couple of hours and store purchases later, the trio decided to head for Raye's.
"C'mon Mina, just a little hint?" Serena pleaded.
Mina smiled. "Not until I meet with everyone."
Serena grabbed Mina's arm and started pulling. "Well then, let's hurry up!"
They arrived at the Hikawa shrine at exactly 12:00. Raye was shocked. "Serena! Your actually on time!"
"Hmph! I'm not always late, you know. When I set my mind on something, I do it," Serena retorted, then her stomach growled.
Raye grinned. "I guess we all know where your mind is."
Serena blushed and everyone had a good laugh at her expense as Raye brought out some sandwiches. Everyone immediately dug in, except Mina. She was sitting by the door looking out at the gardens with a wistful look on her face, an untouched sandwich in her hand.
Lita waved her hand on front of the blond's face. "Yoo hoo! Earth to Mina! Are you alright?"
She blinked. "Oh, sorry guys, I was just thinking of something."
"Are you sure it wasn't someone? Like Trent?" Serena asked slyly. Raye frowned slightly at the sound of that name.
Mina blushed. "Was it that obvious?"
"Well, c'mon girl, give us some details about that date."
"Ok, it started..." Mina told them everything that happened on the date, in minute detail. She even repeated word-for-word what Trent said when he told her he loved her. When she finished, their were sighs all around.
"How romantic," Serena said dreamily.
Everyone, even Raye, had to agree to that.
"So, when's your next date?" Lita asked.
"He hasn't called me yet-"
"Then shouldn't you be at home waiting? You don't want your dad picking up or anything."
Mina jumped up. "You're right. I better get home."
Just then, the phone rang.
"I'll get it!" Chad yelled from the other room. After a few moments, he yelled back. "Mina! It's for you, some guy named...Trent?"
Mina gasped and ran for the phone and, after a few minutes of talking, she came back with the same wistful look on her face as before.
"That was Trent," she said to no one in particular. "He asked me out to lunch in the park. See you later guys." Mina walked slowly out the door.
"I wish I had a guy like Trent," Serena said.
"You do!" Raye shouted. "His name is Darien."
"Oh yeah, heh heh. Hey, got any more sandwiches, Raye?"
Daniel studied the picture on his computer screen. *No, his hair's a bit darker.* He made a few adjustments. *And his chin's not so pronounced.* He manipulated the controls again until... *Ah, perfect!*
On his screen was a perfect picture of Trent's face. *The wonders of modern technology.* He typed a few commands and ran the face through the Japan population registry and waited until a match could be found. A few minutes later, a name popped up. *Trent Powers. Interesting.*
He got up and went to his bookcase. Speaking a few mystic phrases, it dissolved and revealed a hidden circular room. On the floor were various arcane symbols. Daniel began a chant and the symbols glowed, then flashed brightly. When the brilliance faded, standing in the middle of the room was roughly humanoid female figure. She was held in place by the symbols on the floor.
~What do wish of me?~ the creature asked in a rather feminine voice.
"What is you name, demoness?"
~I am Malicia.~
Daniel gestured and dispelled the symbols. "Follow me."
Even though the demoness was free, she sensed the power that Daniel was emanating and was loath to attack him. She followed him into his office and stopped by his desk.
Daniel turned his computer screen to her, showing her the picture of Trent. "I want you to find this boy." He pressed a button and printed the picture out along with the information that was available from the population registry. "His name is Trent Powers. Bring him to me unharmed. I would like to talk to him."
~Very well, Master.~ The demoness shimmered and changed into a strikingly beautiful woman before she teleported away.
Daniel shut down his computer. *Soon, very soon...my brother.*
Mina entered the park and headed to the spot where she and Trent and had sat together last night. When she got there, she saw a picnic spread out on the grass, but Trent was nowhere to be seen. She walked up to the spread and picked up a card.
Look behind you.
She turned and saw Trent trying to sneak up on her. "Hi Trent!"
When he saw he was found out, he grinned sheepishly and held out a bouquet of flowers. "Boy, you're fast."
Mina just smiled before she ran up to him and kissed him. "Wow, I wasn't expecting a picnic, Trent. This is great!"
"Nothing's too good for you."
Mina giggled and they sat down to eat.
Malicia was traveling between the folds of reality when she sensed a large concentration of power. Power that was similar to her master's. She decided to take a break from looking for Trent Powers to investigate this.
Reaching out her hands, Malicia parted the subspace fabric and stepped back into reality. She found herself in a park and not to far away was the source of the power she had felt. Shifting to human form, she followed the park path. Rounding a clump of trees, she spied two humans, a male and a female, apparently enjoying a meal. She looked closer and was astonished to see that the male looked exactly like the one in the picture, and power she sensed flowed from him!
Straightening her dress, Malicia stepped from behind the tree and headed towards the two humans.
"That was great, Trent," Mina said swallowing the last of her cake and leaning back against his chest. Trent responded by massaging her shoulders.
"Well, there's still a lot of food left, if you want any more."
"Right now, all I want is you."
Trent kissed her hair. Suddenly, a chill went up his spine. He snapped his head up and saw a woman walking towards them.
"Hello, are you Trent Powers?" she asked smiling dazzlingly.
Mina immediately didn't like her. Her teeth were too white...and she had altogether too many of them. She smiled her own smile at the woman. "Hi, I'm Mina. Who are you?"
The woman ignored her. She turned to the boy. "My name is Ms. Malicia. Are you Trent Powers."
Now Trent was eyeing her suspiciously. "Yes...yes I am. Why?"
Malicia smiled. "That's all I wanted to know." She shifted back to her true form and lunged at Trent.
He reacted swiftly. "Mina, get back!" he shouted shoving her to the left and leaping out of the way.
Various plates and foodstuffs were scattered as Malicia crashed into the picnic. She picked up a plate and threw it at Trent.
He ducked it and looked for a weapon of his own. *Gotta give Mina a chance to escape!* He grabbed a branch. "What do you want!?"
The demoness grinned. ~My master just wants you.~
Trent risked a look around, but Mina was nowhere to be seen. *Good, she's gone. Now how am I gonna get out of this?* "And who is your master?"
~Ahhh, that would be telling.~
Malicia lunged at her prey again. Trent braced himself for the impact, but halfway into her leap, the demoness disappeared.
"Wha...?" Trent looked around frantically. *Where is sh-*
~I have you now!~ Malicia shouted, popping into reality behind him.
When Mina saw the woman start to change, she knew she had to transform as well, and Trent provided her with the perfect opportunity.
By shoving her out of the way, Mina had a chance to duck behind a tree and call for help. Then she transformed into Sailor Venus.
Peeking around the tree, Sailor Venus saw Malicia about to leap on Trent.
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"
There was nothing Trent could do. The demoness had teleported behind him and surprised him. *I'm dead.*
Suddenly he heard a shout and a bright beam of light struck Malicia in the chest and flung her into the bushes.
A female figure stood on a branch of a nearby tree, her form silhouetted by the sun.
"A park is a place for rest and relaxation, but you have turned it into a place of danger. In the name of Venus, I will punish you!"
*Sailor Venus?* Trent blinked. *The Sailor Scouts are real?*
Sailor Venus jumped down next to Trent. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm fine for now. Did you happen to see a girl run out of the park earlier? One with blond hair?"
"You mean Mina? She's safe. You'd better get out of here, too."
Trent visibly relaxed when he heard that Mina was safe. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Good lu-."
~Not so fast!~
The air shimmered and Malicia reappeared. Or more precisely, ten Malicias reappeared and they hovered around the two humans.
~Give me Trent and I will let you live.~
Sailor Venus edged closer to Trent. "When I give the word, run," she whispered. She turned and faced the nearest demoness. "Oh yeah? Take this! Venus Crescent Beam..."
She aimed her hand straight up and a lance of light emerged. "Run!"
she shouted to Trent who took off like a shot. Once her beam reached the right height, she finished her attack. "...Shower!"
The beam split apart into ten separate beams, each speeding towards a target...and passed right through each of them!
Sailor Venus took a step backwards. "What?" Then she realized. *Illusions.*
Each of the holographic Malicias laughed as they disappeared. "Over here, Sailor Venus!" the demoness shouted from behind the scout.
She whirled around and saw that Malicia had Trent in her grasp.
~Looks like I win,~ the demoness smirked
Sailor Venus was in a bind. She couldn't risk attacking for fear of hitting Trent.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
A sudden fog bank blanketed the area.
~What the...? What's happening?~ Malicia growled. Venus almost wept with relief.
"You have disturbed the peace of this park and disrupted the lunch two of young lovers." Sailor Venus blushed at that remark, but Sailor Moon didn't miss a beat. "I will not forgive you. I am Sailor Moon and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!"
The fog dissipated and revealed Sailor Moon standing there defiantly, flanked by the rest of the Sailor Scouts.
"Thank God, you're all here!" Venus cried.
Sailor Jupiter looked at the demoness holding Trent. "Looks like you could use some help, Venus."
With the arrival of reinforcements for her enemy, Malicia decided that she had had enough. ~Maybe some other time Sailor Scouts.~ She opened a rift and stepped through, pulling Trent along with her. A moment later, the portal closed with a popping noise
"Trent! Noooo!" Sailor Venus screamed.
Sailor Moon looked at Sailor Mercury who was working on her minicomputer. "Have you got anything, Mercury?"
A few more moments of furious typing and Mercury cracked a smile. "I was able to get a reading on the portal and have linked my computer with an overhead GPS satellite. Whenever and wherever that portal opens up again, I'll know." Further explanation was interrupted by someone sobbing.
Venus had fallen to her knees, tears streaking down her face. Jupiter and Mars were trying to comfort her when Moon and Mercury ran up to them.
Sailor Moon knelt in front of the sobbing Scout. "Don't worry, Mina. We'll find Trent. We'll get him back."
Venus didn't say anything. She just collapsed into Sailor Moon's arms and cried.
Tuxedo Mask made his appearance just then, landing next to Sailor Moon. "Sorry I'm lat...What happened?"
While Sailor Mars filled him in on the events, Venus was eventually able to pull herself together. "Are you ok?" Sailor Moon asked her.
She took a shuddering breath. "No. I won't be until I get Trent back."
A beeping interrupted them.
Sailor Mercury gasped. "That's my computer. It's detected another portal opening." Pulling out said computer, she triangulated the coordinates. "It's in a spot roughly 90 miles north of here."
Jupiter smacked her palm. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
Sailor Moon looked at her fellow blond. "Do you feel up to it?"
Venus nodded. "Let's go."
"My car's park outside," Tux added. He looked around at the surprised looks the girls were giving him. "What? You thought I run everywhere as Tuxedo Mask? It's a long way from my apartment to here."