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!

PS:  Sorry about the delay in uploading the epilogue :-p

Brother's Keeper

Epilogue

by:  Johnny Ng

            Things were finally back to normal in Tokyo (well, about as normal as things could get in this city), but something was bugging Mina.  She and Trent have been deepening their relationship, going on dates and all that, but there was something that Trent was hiding from her.  Whenever, she would call him after school, his mother would tell her that Trent was out.  She had confronted him about that and he had told her that he was busy with something and that it'll be finished soon.

            Well, Mina couldn't take it anymore.  She marched to Trent's house determined to find out what he had been doing.  Before she could knock on his door, though, it opened and Trent stood in front of her.

            Mina put her hands on her hips and glared at her boyfriend.

            Trent sensed that Mina was slightly annoyed, or maybe really annoyed, at him.  "I guess you want to know what I've been doing, huh?" he asked nervously.  Mina just continued to glare at him and a trickle of sweat rolled down his neck.  "Well, I guess I could show you, but it's not really done yet."

            Mina raised her eyebrows, startled.  "You mean it's not another girl?"

            Trent laughed out loud.  "Of course not.  You're the only one for me.  Besides, if I broke your heart, I'd have some very angry Scouts wanting to kill me...not to mention your father."  He shook his head.  "No, it's not another girl.  If you want I can take you there now."

            "Sure, let's go," she said, her curiosity piqued.

            Trent took her hand and teleported them to a clearing.  Mina took a moment to get her bearings and gasped.  They were standing outside a cave...a very familiar cave.

            "Why have you brought me here?" Mina asked, her voice quavering as she tried to suppress the memories the cave invoked.

            Trent looked her straight in the eyes.  "I know this is hard for you, that's why I didn't want to bring you here until it and you were ready.  If you don't feel up to it, we can leave."

            Mina shook her head.  "No, I'm alright."  She cleared her throat.  "Just why _have_ you brought me here?"

            "Why don't you go inside and find out."

            "Not without you, buster!"  She grabbed Trent's hand pulled him along with her.

            They stepped inside the cave and Mina's jaw dropped.  The two stone briers had been removed and in the center of the cave was a crystal coffin with Daniel's body inside it.

            Mina faced Trent.  "So this is what you did with him."

            After the battle at Tokyo Tower, everyone tried to get Trent to tell them where he had teleported Daniel's body, but he refused to say anything.

            "It seemed like the perfect spot.  This cave had already been consecrated by my brother and its so peaceful here and..."  Trent trailed off, overcome with emotion.

            Mina hugged Trent gently.  "I understand."

            He smiled slightly.  "Thanks."  He cleared his throat.  "I knew you hated him-"

            "No, I didn't hate him," Mina interrupted.  "I didn't like him much, and there were times I would have cheerfully pulled out his spine through his nose, but I never hated him...because he was your brother and you loved him."

            "Thank you, Mina.  I needed to here that," Trent said and took a deep breath.  "I've been coming here everyday after the battle to prepare this tomb, but I guess I really come here because it is so peaceful."

            Neither of them said anything for a while after that.

            "I guess I should take you home now," Trent said finally breaking the silence.

            "No, let's stay a while," Mina replied slipping her hand into his, "and enjoy the peace."

            The lights were on at the top floor meeting room in the Takazawa Industries building.  It was an emergency meeting of the company's shareholders and executives.  Around the table sat the main shareholders and execs of the company...along with Mariko.

            The secretary didn't know why she had been allowed to attend.  *I was just Mr. Takazawa's secretary after all.*

            The senior vice-president called the meeting to order.  "We are here to discuss the future of Takazawa Industries.  It has been a month since Mr. Takazawa was reported missing and in accordance with his instructions, we are now going to follow his final orders."

            Mariko was shocked.  She knew of her boss's absence, but had assumed that he was just on an extended vacation.

            The VP buzzed the intercom and told his secretary to bring in the envelope, the same envelope Mr. Takazawa had told her to put in the vault a little over a month ago, Mariko realized.

            The VP took the envelope and opened it and read the letter inside.

            "I'm not much of a writer, so this will be brief.  Since you are reading this, I assume that I am either dead, or it has already been 30 days since anyone had last seen or heard from me.  In that case, I, Daniel Takazawa, being of sound mind, body do hereby leave my entire estate and my company to my secretary, Mariko Hanada. 

            "She has been my faithful companion and friend since the beginning of Takazawa Industries, and I think I would have married her if I hadn't already been married to my job.  As it is, she possesses both the skill and competence to run this company and I expect everyone to treat her as you have treated me.  Congratulations, Mariko, and good luck."

            The VP looked up.  "Signed, Daniel Takazawa."

            Mariko was stunned.  Her mouth moved, but no words came out.

            The VP saw this and adjourned the meeting.  Everyone filed out of the room except for Mariko who seemed to be rooted to her chair and the VP.

            The exec made his way over to his new boss.  "Ms. Hanada?  There was a separate letter inside Mr. Takazawa's final orders.  It is addressed to you."

            Mariko looked up at him and the letter in his hand.  She took it.  "Thank you."

            "Like Mr. Takazawa said, 'congratulations'."  The VP smiled and left the meeting room, leaving Mariko alone with her thoughts.

            The former secretary continued to sit in her chair for a while, then she finally broke her letter's seal and read it.

            "Mariko, I know that I naming you my successor and heir is somewhat of a shock, but I am totally serious.  You _are_ the most skilled and competent person I know in my company.  If you hadn't realized it, I had been grooming you to succeed me for a while now, giving you more and more responsibilities, and you have performed each and every task brilliantly.  I know you will handle this company well, perhaps even better than I have."

            Mariko had made her way to the window while she was reading this.

            "And one more thing, Mariko.  I want you to set up a trust fund for one Trent Powers and give it to him when he comes of age.  You will find a file on him on my computer.

            "Well, that's it Mariko.  I know you'll do well, but don't let the work control you.  Remember to stop and take in the sights along the way.  Good luck!

            "PS:  You were right, Tokyo Tower is beautiful at night."

            Mariko read the letter over again before she folded it and put it in her pocket.  She stared out the window as tears blurred her vision, but she was still able to see the Tokyo Tower glowing brightly in the distance.

The End.

Endnotes:  Oh my God!  You made it this far!  I'm not sure if I should be flattered or worried.  Well, I would like to take this time to honor the Sailor Moon fanfic authors who inspired me to start writing my own fanfics.  My undying thanks go out to Tim Nolan, Ken Wolfe, Jendra, Andrea Hui, Troy Stanton, Sexylyon, Alicia Blade, and many others.  If you enjoyed my story thanks should go to them as well.  It you hated my story, though, don't blame them.  Whether you liked it or not, you should read their stories at "A Sailor Moon Romance" (www.moonromance.net).

            As for my story, please send all comments, criticisms, questions, or flames to jnkryo@yahoo.com.  Thanks for reading!

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