I do not own any of the copyrighted characters in this fanfic. The characters I create and the idea, however, are mine. Enjoy!

AN - I've been super-busy over the last couple of weeks, and I haven't had the time that I'd like to have had in order to write! ^_^* But here's the next chapter, for your reading enjoyment.

Dealing Fate's Hand

Chapter 5

Flickering candles lined the path the Amazoness sisters walked to where Aislyn waited for their return. Their hushed whispers bounced off the walls of the corridor, and the only other noise in the eerily quiet place was the click of their heels against the marble floor. A breeze could be felt blowing from the slightly opened door ahead of them, which led to Aislyn's chamber. As they reached the door, Vesves suddenly stopped, causing her sisters to stop as well.

"What do you think these are for," she asked, staring at the orb she held in her hand. The strange marking on the orb emitted a faint glow, and it radiated with power.

"Who knows," Junjun stated with a shrug, looking down at her orb as well. "All that matters is that we've done what the Mistress asked us to. I just hope next time, we'll be able to have more fun."

"Parapara says Mother will be pleased," the girl exclaimed, followed by her childish giggling.

"Don't call her that, Parapara," Cerecere scolded, frowning slightly at the blue-haired girl.

"She is like our mother though, isn't she," Vesves questioned, biting her bottom lip in thought. "She did create us."

"But considering what she's told us of her life, it's not wise to call her mother," Junjun stated. "Not unless she wants us to." She shook her head slightly, turning back towards the double doors. As she stepped forward to push the doors open fully, they seemed to swing open by themselves. The sisters gasped, looking at each other with surprise written on their faces.

"Let's get going," Cerecere stated, taking an uncertain step into the darkness. As her sisters followed behind her, candles began to light themselves, creating a path they could follow.

"You've returned, children," Aislyn's voice carried through the room. "Did you do what I asked of you?" No one answered right away as the candles continued to light up, eventually leading to where Aislyn sat. She looked up expectantly, her pale blue eyes unreadable.

"We managed to do what you wanted us to," Vesves ventured, as they came to stand together in a straight line. They held out their hands, showing the orbs to Aislyn. "Small Lady, however, is-"

"Do not worry about her for now," Aislyn interrupted. "I am pleased with your accomplishment at hand." She stood from her seat, walking over towards the girls. As she stopped in front of Vesves, the redheaded girl swallowed noisily.

"Mistress, I-"

"Wasn't there a question you wanted to ask, Vesves?" Aislyn paused, glancing at the other three girls. "In fact, you were all wondering what the significance of these orbs were," she continued. A small smile appeared on her face, as the girls gasped. "And now I suppose you're wondering how I know these things. I am your mother after all, aren't I?" A silence settled over them, and Aislyn looked towards Parapara. "Don't you want to know what they are for?"

"Parapara wants to know!" As the girl bounced in place, her excitement spread to her sisters.

"What are they for, Mother," Cerecere asked. Junjun gave her a sideways glance, shaking her head slightly, however remained quiet.

With a wave of Aislyn's arm, the orbs floated from each of the girls' hands, floating up and attaching to their foreheads. Each girl let out a short scream as the orbs assimilated with her, and their bodies went lack. As the symbol from each orb began to burn on their forehead, their eyes became blank.

"This is the next part of my gift to you, my children," Aislyn spoke, tracing over the symbols and reinforcing her magical powers into them. "It's a gift you will come to use well; a power bestowed upon you from the very cosmos itself." She stepped away from them, and they fell to the ground, exhausted…

A groan escaped from Parapara's lips as she groggily opened her eyes. Her eyesight was blurry, and she shook her head slightly, to clear her vision. She slowly sat up, looking around and taking in her surroundings. As she looked to the side, she saw Aislyn staring at her, an eyebrow arched in the air. "Parapara… feels strange," she stated slowly, looking up at Aislyn with confusion. It was then that she noticed her sisters nearby, sleeping peacefully.

"It's normal, little one, though I was expecting you to take more than a few days to recover," Aislyn replied, extending a hand towards the girl. Parapara accepted her offer, allowing her mother to pull her to her feet. "I could use your help, though," Aislyn stated. "Do you think you can help me?"

"Parapara will try her best!"

"That's what I was hoping to hear you say," Aislyn smiled, patting the energetic girl on the top of her head. "I knew you wouldn't let me down."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Somehow, this is not how I imagined our vacation," Mina pouted. She was sitting on a blanket, on the front lawn of the Koji residence. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a bikini top, taking full advantage of the unseasonable warm spring weather as she rubbed suntan lotion over her arms and legs. Amy sat next to her, wearing a sundress and quietly reading a book. She paused in her reading, turning her face up towards the sun.

"How do you mean, Mina," she asked, letting out a contented sigh. "This is beautiful weather." Mina looked over at the blue-haired girl, and squirted the contents of the bottle out onto her friend. Laughing as Amy let out a squeal of surprise, the smile slowly melted from her face.

"We shouldn't have to spend our vacation like this," she stated slowly. She shook her head from side to side, and then groaned as she flopped back against the unforgiving ground. "I just wish this new enemy would attack or do something to make it worth-while for wasting our entire vacation! We could be having so much fun, but we're not! Because of them."

Amy turned slightly and watched as the blonde rolled over onto her stomach, however she remained silent. A shadow fell over them, and they both looked up to see Rowen standing over them. "Mina, I know you don't mean that, do you," he asked, taking a seat next to the girls.

"No," she answered with a slight whining tone in her voice, laying her head on her arms. She sighed once again, and then sat up, resting on her knees. She looked over at Rowen, and her usually crystal-clear blue eyes were clouded with her worries. "I just… I don't know."

"Don't know about what?" The three teens looked over, and saw Sage approaching them. He had a towel draped over his shoulders, and sweat beaded his forehead from a recent workout.

"About what to think of this enemy," Mina stated. She sighed, and then a sudden smile lit her face. "We might as well not worry about it for now! There's nothing we can do, until they make their move." She hopped up, grabbing Rowen by his hands.

"Mina, what-"

"Let's get something to eat," she exclaimed, pulling him up to his feet. She waved towards Amy and Sage, and Rowen shrugged his shoulders and gave his two friends an apologetic smile as he allowed Mina to lead him away.

Amy shook her head in amusement, and then closed her book. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she looked back up towards Sage. "How is Kento," she asked.

"Angry about this whole thing," Sage replied, crossing his arms over his chest. A crooked smile crossed his face as he thought of something. "I feel bad for that punching bag he's taking his aggression out on."

"It's understandable," Amy stated. "Serena hasn't left Setsuna's side since this all began, and Rini has been acting peculiarly." She trailed off, as a frown appeared on her face. "What do you suppose brought on this change?"

Sage never got the chance to answer, as a red sports car pulled into the driveway. As the engine cut off, the driver side opened and Darien stepped out, and as he walked around towards the front of his car, the passenger door opened, and Rini got out of the car. She slammed the door shut, and ran to catch up with Darien, latching onto his arm. The two made their way towards where Amy and Sage were, and as they approached them, a voice called over the yard.

"Rini!"

The pink-haired girl looked up, and a smile lit her face as she saw who had called out to her. "Yuli," she exclaimed, waving in his direction. He and Kento had just exited the house, and the young boy ran out in her direction. She let go of Darien's arm, and ran to meet her friend.

"Rini," Yuli exclaimed, as they met in a hug. "I'm glad you're back!"

"Me too," she replied. The two, running arm-and-arm, headed back towards the house. As they passed Kento, Rini paused slightly. An uncertain expression crossed her face as she looked at him, and then she smiled, before she and Yuli continued on their way.

"Rini, wait," Kento began, sighing as she paid him no heed. Running a hand through his drenched hair, he sighed as he clenched the towel he held tightly in his hand. Throwing a brief glance back towards the house, he walked down the steps and then began to jog, disappearing around the corner. Amy and Sage looked at each other in surprise, and then looked towards Darien, as he approached them.

"Hi Darien," Amy greeted. "You're back already?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I didn't want to stay away too long, and since Rini was with me, I decided to drive back." He looked towards the house, and his attention was drawn back towards Amy as she spoke again.

"I thought you were going to rest for a while?" She watched as he shrugged his shoulders, and confusion crossed her face. "Darien, is something wrong," she asked.

He slowly shook his head, focusing on Amy's face. "How's Setsuna," he asked, looking towards the house once again. "Is Serena still with her?"

"Yeah."

"That's good," he trailed. Without saying another word, he headed towards the house.

"That was strange," Sage commented, as he and Amy watched Darien's retreating figure. Although she didn't say anything, Amy silently agreed.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Ryo, I'm not sensing anything at all." Rei and Ryo were walking together, on a path nearby Mia's house. Ryo had wanted to survey the area, to make sure none of their new enemies were nearby, and Rei tagged along to place protective charms to ward off evil. She stopped and soon, Ryo realized she had done so, and turned back towards her.

"Rei, are you sensing something?"

"You weren't listening to me!" She frowned, crossing her arms. "Ryo, why are you so preoccupied? I just got finished saying I didn't sense anything." Her features softened, as she looked into his face. Taking a step towards him, she placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "What is it?"

"I'm worried, Rei," he sighed. He looked away from her, staring at a fixed point in the distance. "Why did Rini come back here," he asked quietly. He turned his back to her, his shoulders sagging forward. "And why did she come back alone? What's going on?"

"Oh, Ryo." Rei took a step towards him, wrapping her arms around him from behind and resting her cheek against his back. "I miss Kitiana, too." There was a long stretch of silence as she listened to his breathing, when he spoke again.

"Rei?" He paused, however she remained silent, as she sensed he wanted to say more. "Do you think that I was too harsh towards Lady Kayura? We haven't seen her, or the Warlords, since what happened."

"I think," she began, carefully choosing her words, "that what you said sounded harsh, but needed to be said."

"Did you see the look on Lady Kayura's face," he exclaimed, guilt creeping into his voice. "I shouldn't have said it like that! I trust her and the Warlords. I would trust them with my life! I just-" He trailed off, sighing in frustration.

Rei silently walked around in front of Ryo. She trailed a hand down the side of his face, pushing his chin up so that she stared into his eyes. "She knows you trust her, Ryo," she began, a soft smile appearing on her face. "But we're a team now, and she can't tell us half-truths! Even if it's something we don't want to hear, she must talk with us. You did the right thing, Ryo, as the leader of the Ronin Warriors."

"Thanks, Rei," Ryo stated, pulling her into a hug. As they stepped apart, he grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Let's head back for the house. There's nothing out here." They began to make their way down the path, when they heard soft laughter filtering through the trees.

"What was that," Rei asked, tensing, as she became alert. Ryo stood next to her, looking around as well.

"Ryo of Wildfire, Parapara wants to play!" Ryo looked ahead, towards a branch where a figure sat. Her silhouette could be seen, outlined from a sudden flash of light. The light shot out in his direction and as it hit him, Rei screamed.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Fluffy, white clouds slowly rolled across the sky, casting their dark shadows over the warriors as they sat outside. Amy and Sage sat together still idly talking, and Sai had joined them. They turned, as they heard the door open and shut, and saw Mina, Rowen, and Lita each carrying a tray in their direction.

"Hi guys," Mina exclaimed, as she slowly lowered herself to the ground. "We brought everyone lunch." After Lita and Rowen had set their trays down, Mina looked around. "Where's Kento? I know I saw him come out here."

"We made sure to make some of his favorites," Lita smiled. "So he can't miss this!"

"He went for a jog, I think," Amy answered, taking a sandwich from one of the trays. "I guess he just wanted some time alone, to clear his head."

"He's taking Rini's reappearance really badly," Sai commented. "And with the way she's been acting, it's not surprising. I feel bad for Kento."

"It leaves you to wonder why she has come back here," Sage asked thoughtfully. "Was she sent here by her Mother, or was it some other circumstance?"

"We won't know the answer to that question, until Setsuna regains consciousness." The sound of chimes filled the air, as Lady Kayura walked towards them, seemingly from thin air. It was not her appearance, however, that surprised them the most.

"Lady Kayura," Rowen exclaimed, his confusion mirrored on the faces of his friends. "You're wearing your battle armor. What's going on?"

"I've done the only thing I can think to do," she replied. "Over these last couple of days, the knowledge I sought through meditation did not come to me. So, I have prepared myself for battle, for it is inevitable."

The sun suddenly hid behind the clouds, creating a dark atmosphere. Kayura cast a glance towards the sky, narrowing her eyes slightly as the clouds continued to shift slowly. The front door of the house slammed closed once again, and Kayura turned her gaze in that direction, spotting Serena. The blonde ran in their direction, stopping suddenly as a look of fear appeared on her face.

"What… are those things?" Confused by what Serena could have meant, Lady Kayura turned in the direction the teenager was staring at, and froze. Standing before them, were four armored samurai.

To Be Continued…