Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts
By "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl and Doug "Candle Light Author" Helm

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Scouts, and all terms, names, etc.
associated with this or other series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi,
DiC, Disney, Bandai, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and other big companies.
We make no claim to them and this work of fanfiction should not be seen
as making a claim. ACS is not intended for commercial release or use.

Those characters that are original and the story "Adventures of the
Chibi-Scouts" are copyrighted (c) 1997 by Will Wolfshohl & Doug Helm

Comments good or bad are encouraged. Please Email comments to "Tuxedo"
Will (wwolfshohl@logicon.com) or Doug (dhelm@log.on.ca)

ACS's home is "Tuxedo" Will's Fanfiction Archive at
http://log.on.ca/users/helm/anime/index.htm


Part 7 "Sisters"

        About the same time that Chad was trying to get Raye to take her
bath, Mrs. Aino was drawing the water for her young daughter's bath.
Undisturbed by the running water, a white ball of fur named Artemis was
sleeping soundly. His white fur helped him blend seamlessly in with the
white towels he was sleeping on.
        After filling the tub Mrs. Aino laid out a set of undergarments
and some pajamas before calling her daughter. As Mina skipped into the
bathroom, her mother said, "Time for your bath, Mina."
        "Okay Mommy," Mina agreed and waited while her mother left the
room. She was comfortable with having to leave the door open. It was a
minor price to pay for getting the privacy she liked. <I like to take
showers but baths are okay, and with the tub being bigger, it's a lot
more fun too!> Looking up she thought, <Anyway, the shower's up there a
long way now... Now to check the water...> "Perfect," Mina said more to
herself as she tested the water; it wasn't too hot but wasn't on the
cold side either. "I could get used to this." Giving a giggle Mina
started to get undressed unaware that Artemis was in the room with her.
        At about that exact time Artemis slowly opened his eyes. His
groggy brain didn't register that something was not quite right in the
room. He knew something was odd, like he should have been doing
something but no matter how hard he tried to figure out what he should
have been doing, he couldn't.
        Once Mina finished getting undressed she started to move towards
the tub. Suddenly she stopped. <Strange... I feel like somebody's
watching me. Maybe Mom's checking on me.> Turning slowly around, her
eyes didn't see anyone. Then something attracted her attention out of
the corner of her eye. As she turned she saw a white kitten sitting up
on a pile of towels.
        Giving a shriek Mina hastily picked up the dress she just
removed and covered herself, "Artemis!!! What are you doing in here!?!"
        "Mina, you're five," Artemis replied calmly, "No need to yell. I
just fell asleep in here that's all."
        "I'm fourteen!!!" Mina replied hotly still holding her dress in
front of her, "And I have every right to yell!"
        "Mina, five year olds aren't so self-conscious," Artemis
countered.
        "GET OUT!!!" Mina yelled again while splashing water in Artemis'
direction.
        "Okay! Okay, I'm leaving!" the white kitten bolted past the
embarrassed Mina. "I'm leaving!!!" he yelled one more time. <Sheesh!>
        "Stupid cat!" Mina shouted. She was feeling victorious though.
She was about to continue into the tub when her mother suddenly appeared
in the bathroom.
        "Honey, what's the matter?!?" Mina's mother anxiously demanded.
        "I thought I saw a mouse and got scared but it was only
Artemis," Mina said after thinking of a quick excuse.
        "That's okay, Honey," Mrs. Aino said relieved, "You take your
bath now and I'll keep Artemis downstairs until you're done." With that
Mina's mother left the room.
        Sliding into the tub Mina began to wash. After several seconds
Mina paused in her work, <Well maybe Artemis is right... Still he had no
business sleeping in here! Even a five year old is entitled to some
privacy.> This thought just caused Mina to be irritated again. She set
about scrubbing again trying to work off some of her irritation.

        About seven forty-five that evening Amy and Lita were lying in
bed. It had been a great day and they had found themselves enjoying
being able to help their mother out. Lita giggled. She had made sure to
inform her mother that she had received TWO stars in school that day.
        Mrs. Anderson had made a definite show about it, even when she
found out that Amy got two as well. Amy had tried to make it seem like
nothing special while her sister made a big deal over it.
        "Lita, you really started to sound like Serena there for a
minute," Amy remarked turning to face Lita.
        "Wha?" Lita said. She had started to drift off to sleep. Then
the remark registered. "What do you mean I started to `sound like
Serena'?!?"
        "Well you really went all out to tell Mom how well you did in
school today."
        "So?!?" Lita retorted sitting up and placing her hands on her
hips, "Is there something wrong with that?!?"
        "No," Amy admitted, "And please keep your voice down."
        "Sorry," Lita replied, "So what's your point, Amy? I mean why
shouldn't I tell Mom?" <The hug she gave me felt wonderful.> She was
beginning to wonder what type of home life Amy had that the others
didn't know about. "Does it bother you that much?"
        "Sis... Lita... we're five. We're supposed to be assuming the
role of five year olds. Looking at that chart, I don't think you are
exactly one for academics. You're barely outdoing Serena." <That reminds
me, I should talk to Serena. She put on some show today.>
        "Yeah but... couldn't I just get one more? Please Sis?"
        Amy smiled, "Well I guess I could let MY sister get away with
it." <Mom was very proud of you...>
        Lita grinned and settled back into bed and soon both girls
drifted off to sleep. Mrs. Anderson poked her head into the bedroom and
looked at the girls.
        <I thought I heard them talking...> Giving a shrug she walked
over adjusted the covers and whispered, "Pleasant dreams, Girls," before
leaving the room once again.

        At around eight o'clock that same night Chad quietly looked into
Raye's room. The little girl looked miserable and angry. Her cheeks were
still stained with tears. He also noticed that something was out of
place. Walking quietly over to the rocking chair that was in one corner
of her room, Chad picked up the Raggedy Anne doll from its place and
slowly carried it over to the bed.
        Gently lifting her arm, Chad tucked the doll next to Raye before
letting her arm gently down again over it. The worried look that had
been mixing with the others disappeared as Raye snuggled the doll closer
in a hug. Chad rearranged the covers before once again leaving the room
quietly the same way he came in. <Well if we have to start over again...
I'm quite prepared to wait.>

        Around one in the morning the Chibi-Scouts were snuggled in
their beds. Mina was sound asleep with Artemis curled beside her head.
Serena was snuggled close to Reenie with Luna at their feet and Raye was
dreaming of her vengeance on Chad. But she wasn't the only one dreaming
that night. At the Anderson residence Amy and Lita were sleeping in bed.
Amy appeared to be blissfully sleeping, undisturbed by her sister's
tossing and turning.
        Lita was also asleep but, even to the casual observer, she
wasn't having a very pleasant dream. Lita was dreaming that she was
sitting in a seat which seemed huge to her. She was seated between two
people that she apparently knew but she couldn't quite place. She knew
they were talking to her but she couldn't hear the words. However, their
tone was friendly and caring. This comforted her greatly. She was
picking up a warmth that she remembered but again couldn't place.
Suddenly the seat shook. The caring tones were drowned out with screams
of terror as what was obviously an airplane cabin filled with smoke was
suddenly plunged into darkness around her. As the fear of those around
her reached Lita, her own fear grew until she also joined the screaming.
        Lita bolted upright, fully awake, with a scream of sheer terror!
Amy was jerked awake at the unexpected noise. She saw her sister
quivering, visibly shaken. Lita was looking around and starting to sob;
she was covered in perspiration.
        Reaching over Amy hugged her sister tightly while asking, "Lita,
what's wrong?" The analytical part of her brain answered with the
obvious: Lita had had a nightmare. Amy told her analytical side to take
a hike. She had a frightened sister to console.
        Just as Lita was about to respond, their mother came into the
room with a worried expression on her face. "Lita, what's wrong?"
        In a shaky voice and still clinging to Amy, she replied, "Mommy,
I had a bad dream."
        Sitting down on the bed, Mrs. Anderson placed a comforting hand
on Lita's arm before saying, "Can you tell me about the dream, Dear?"
        Lita was silent for several seconds before responding, "I was on
a big plane when it got all smoky. People were shouting and it got
really dark... I didn't know what to do!"
        <Oh dear...> Mrs. Anderson thought, <Two years and she's still
having those dreams.> She knew as a doctor that Lita may never get over
that traumatic experience but it was still difficult for her to see such
a small child suffer so. Reaching over she drew Lita into a hug while
trying to reassure her daughter that it would be all right. <What am I
going to do when it comes time to tell you why you're living with me? >
She wasn't looking forward to the difficult task ahead but she knew
sooner or later one of her girls was going to raise the awkward
question.
        Young Amy watched this scene intently. <I know what she dreamt
about. So it happened here too.> As time passed Lita became calmer until
she seemed to be feeling better. <Good, Mom will leave now... Everything
will be okay and then I can discover from Lita what really occurred.>
        "Lita dear, I think you should come sleep in my bed. I don't
want you to have another bad dream tonight."
        This declaration surprised both little girls but as Lita thought
of being close to someone that she knew loved her, a warm feeling
developed. Lita got out of bed to go with her mother. Amy was also
feeling something. At first it was surprise, then a nagging sense of
loss. She didn't like the thought of spending the rest of the night
alone in the big bed. <Lita's lucky,> Amy thought, <I wish I could go
with them.>
        <I'm pretty lucky, but I think it�ll be more fun to have Amy
there too.> Lita was about to ask if Amy could come as well but instead
cast her gaze over to her sister. What Amy did next surprised her.
        "Mom, can I please come sleep with you too?" Amy let her eyes
form into big pleading puppy-dog ones.
        "Yes you can, Honey," her mother answered. She had been
expecting Amy's request but she wouldn't let her girls know it.
        Giving Amy a wink, Lita said, "Hurry up, Sis, I'm cold!"
        Giving a giggle in reply, Amy climbed out of bed and the three
of them left the room.
        "Girls, I want the two of you to go right to sleep. We have lots
of things to do tomorrow."
        "Yes Mommy," Amy and Lita responded in unison, their thoughts
were the same as well, <We have a great Mom!> Soon a fit of giggles
began.

        As Amy and Lita slept with their mother, she lay awake letting
her mind wander back to the past. Back to the time when she first had
met Lita.

                                  ******

        Dr. Anderson sighed. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her
nose to rub her eyes. It had been a long night in the Emergency Room,
and it was turning out to be an even longer day. Dr. Anderson was one of
several doctors the hospital had called in to treat the survivors of a
large plane crash. Slowly she glanced at the chart before pushing the
door open to see her next patient. Inside sitting on the examination
table was a little girl of about three years old. <Minor abrasions and
trauma, smoke inhalation, shock...>
        "Hi, I'm Dr. Anderson," she greeted the little girl trying to
put a friendly tone into her voice, "What's your name?" The little girl
just looked at her seemingly right through her. Glancing at the chart,
Dr. Anderson continued, "Is your name Lita?" There was a minuscule nod
but nothing else. Suppressing the urge to sigh, Dr. Anderson set about
examining the child. She tried to get Lita to talk but the little girl
never responded.
        After about ten minutes she called a nurse and had Lita Kino
admitted into the Pediatric Ward. She would be staying in the hospital
for recovery and observation for a few days at least. Walking down the
hallway, she placed Lita's chart on the nurse's desk before picking up
another one.
        "How's the little girl?" one of the nurses asked.
        "Shock mainly. Any known relatives?"
        "No, Doctor, we've tried contacting every Kino in the phonebook
and the police know but nothing so far."
        "Well if she doesn't have any relatives, that'll mean an
orphanage." Dr. Anderson grimaced, "I hate to do that to a little girl
but... it's the only alternative."

        Over the next couple of days, Dr. Anderson tried again to get
Lita to speak but without success. The third day, however, was very
different, Lita spoke but it wasn't to Dr. Anderson. Rather it was to
her young daughter, Amy, who was also three years old. She had been
following her mother around the hospital during her morning rounds when
they had come to Lita's room. It was a shock to have Amy speak to Lita.
Amy had always been very shy in nature. What was even more of a shock
was for Lita to respond.
        From their brief first meeting a bond quickly grew between them.
Soon Amy was more interested in going to visit Lita than following her
mother around. As the time grew nearer for Lita to be discharged, Dr.
Anderson worried for both little girls. Lita was slated to go to an
orphanage since no relatives had appeared. It seems her parents who died
in the plane crash had no living family willing to accept Lita. This was
very distressing. Dr. Anderson found herself growing just as attached to
Lita as her daughter was.
        One night, Dr. Anderson asked Amy if she would like Lita as a
sister. Amy seemed overjoyed at the prospect and so Dr. Anderson had
started to make inquiries. Only a short time later, she was allowed to
take custody of Lita and when Lita was released from the hospital she
came home with her new mother. Within a few months, Lita's adoption was
finalized.

        Over the next two years, the girls had become close and both
seemed to forget the whole incident in the hospital. They were simply
sisters and had always been so. Lita still had the occasional nightmare
but otherwise was a typical outgoing little girl.

                                  ******

        In the present, Mrs. Anderson hugged her two girls close before
drifting off to sleep. She knew that some day she would have to tell her
daughters the whole story. She loathed that day but they would be
entitled to know. Fortunately for her, that day was hopefully many years
in the future. <I hope you never ask because I'm not sure how you would
take the truth,> was her last conscious thought.

        Raye could hear someone calling her. At first she thought it was
her grandfather. <Am I late for school?> Raye thought to herself,
<And what am I holding?> As she slowly opened her eyes and focused she
found herself staring directly into Chad's eyes.
        "Good morning, Raye," Chad said softly, "I thought a sleepy-head
like you would never wake up."
        Raye opened her mouth to retort and ask Chad exactly what he
thought he was doing in HER room when she noticed that it wasn't her
room. At least not the room she was used to. <It wasn't a dream!!!> "I
want to get dressed BY MYSELF!" she immediately declared.
        "Okay," Chad agreed. <Well if it'll get her up without a fight.
Man, I hope she won't be weird like last night.> His acquiescence with
her request caused Raye to blink. She watched as Chad got up, retrieved
her school uniform along with other necessary items before saying, "Here
are your clothes, Raye. If you need any help, I'll be right outside the
door." With that Chad turned and left the room.
        Raye was now muddled. She knew she should be angry with him. She
wanted to be angry with him but there was something keeping her from
letting loose her anger. Sighing she started to climb out of her bed
when she finally noticed what she was hanging on to. <A doll?!?> she
thought with some incredulity, <I went to sleep and hugged a doll!?!?>
She sat for several seconds staring at the Raggedy Anne doll. She was
about to toss it away but found that she couldn't quite bring herself to
do it.  Sighing once again, Raye went over and placed it on the rocking
chair before getting dressed.
        Once she came out of her room, she found Chad waiting for her.
When he saw her he complimented, "My you're becoming a big girl. Not one
mistake that I can see." Raye forced herself to grin in response.
"You're such a cute kid..." Chad never got a chance to finish. Giving a
snarl of indignation, Raye stomped down the hallway muttering darkly to
herself.

        The weather for that day seemed to be matching Lita's mood. As
the two girls walked to school together, Amy continued to throw looks
Lita's way. She seemed to be down about something. After they had walked
about half way to school in silence, Amy decided to ask, "Lita, what
went on last night?"
        "I don't know, Amy," Lita replied in a sad tone, "I haven't had
a nightmare about my parents' dying in a long time." She was silent for
several seconds before saying, "But I've never woken up screaming before
when I had them."
        "Apparently us residing in five year old bodies must be
effecting the way that our troubles manifest themselves during REM
sleep."
        "Yeah, whatever, Amy," Lita said dismissing Amy's explanation
with a wave of her hand, "The big difference from the last time I had a
nightmare like last night is that I have a great mom and sister to help
me through it."
        "You're right, Lita," Amy replied smiling, "And we sure had fun
with Mom last night." Amy then giggled, which in turn made Lita giggle
as well. <Jeez, I'm starting to act like Serena!>
        The two girls continued on in a better mood and as they came to
about a block away from the school, they could see that Serena was
already there. They also noticed that Mina and Carrie were skipping in
from the school bus. Taking on a crafty expression, Amy turned to Lita
and said, "Let's race to school!" And with that declaration she took off
running down the street.
        "HEY!!! NO FAIR!!!" Lita protested and ran after her sister.

        The morning lessons passed quickly and soon it was recess time
again. As soon as Serena, Amy, and Lita were let out of class, Serena
went in search of Mina. It wasn't very hard to find her either. As she
approached the group who were playing the Sailor Scout game, she waved
to Mina to get her attention.
        "And what can I do for you, young lady?" Mina as Sailor Venus
asked.
        Smiling sweetly Serena stated, "Oh Sailor Venus... I want to
play too."
        "Well... who are YOU going to be?" Mina asked.
        "Silly, Sailor Moon of course."
        "But I'm playing Sailor Moon," Carrie interjected. She looked as
if she didn't relish being pushed out of her prized position.
        "Yeah, maybe you could be a victim," Mina/Venus suggested. <I
can think of a great way to save you!>
        "Can I talk to you for a second, SAILOR VENUS?" Serena asked.
Not giving Mina time to respond, she yanked the girl away from Carrie
and said in a hushed voice, "Mina, you're treading on thin ground here.
If you don't want me to blow the whistle about this to Luna and Artemis,
you'll convince Carrie to let me play Sailor Moon!"
        Mina gulped; the realization of exactly who she was talking to
kicked in. She turned back to Carrie and asked, "Carrie, would you mind
if Serena was Sailor Moon today?"
        "Well... I guess I could be Sailor Mars this once. But Serena
has to be Sailor Mars tomorrow." <Serena never wanted to play our game
before... It'll be a lot of fun with her playing. Better than the
sandbox or `ring around the rosy' she...> Carrie blinked as Serena
started to snicker, "What?"
        "Ummm... Nothing, okay deal. I'll be Sailor Moon today and then
we'll trade and I'll be Sailor..." Serena couldn't continue. <Poor kid,
just wait until she gets a load of my Mars impression.> For some reason
Carrie wasn't too keen on the way that Serena was grinning.
        "Hey Amy, let's go ask Mina to let us play too," Lita suggested
as they watched Serena negotiate her usual place.
        "No, I think I'll just sit and read." <Maybe it'll help me think
a way out of this dilemma.> Giving her sister a disappointed look, Lita
wandered over to the group of girls and after a brief discussion was
"allowed" to become Sailor Jupiter for the rest of the game. Settling
herself down Amy was about to start reading when she realized that she
didn't have any books with her. Giving a sigh she leaned back and
watched for a few moments as the girls played, when a shadow fell over
her. Looking up she saw her teacher standing before her.
        Crouching down Amy's teacher said, "You're very smart, Amy.
Would you like to try something a bit harder?"
        "Yes," Amy squeaked. <Like a little Calculus.>
        "Try and see if you can understand this, Amy," her teacher
requested, handing her a book, "It's a Grade Two reader."
        "Thank you, I'll try," Amy replied. Giving a smile her teacher
stood up and walked away. Thumbing through the book, Amy wasn't
surprised to find that she could easily understand the material. <Well
at least it is SOMETHING to read.> So settling herself more comfortably
Amy started leafing through the book. Not more than thirty seconds had
passed when Amy heard a voice.
        "What did teacher give you?"
        Looking up Amy noticed that it was two boys from her class,
"It's a Grade Two reader," Amy replied.
        Reaching out the boy who had asked the question snatched the
book and glanced through it. "Teacher's pet, aren't you?! Think you're
too smart to be with us?!"
        "No," Amy squeaked.
        The second boy sneered at Amy before saying, "I think you're
lying, you Miss Goody-Goody."
        Amy sat silently. She had endured this before - the disdain of
her peers. She had learned to accept it and as she grew older had
learned to ignore it. As she ignored it her peers soon realized that
teasing her wasn't as satisfying as it had been. But listening to it
repeat itself again, Amy couldn't keep the tears from her eyes. She felt
them run slowly down her cheeks. Her tears only seemed to encourage the
boys. Their taunts and barbs became more harsh and with each new one,
Amy seemed to feel even more helpless.
        Suddenly a new voice cut through the boys' barbs, and somehow it
made Amy feel a little better. "You quit teasing my sister!" came Lita's
angry bellow.
        "Oh yeah and what are you going to do if we don't quit?!"
        Trying to see what was happening Amy wiped her eyes and managed
to get a blurry picture of Lita stalking towards the boys.
        "What am `I' going to do about it?" Lita asked coldly.
        "Yeah!" the boys replied in unison.
        "THIS!!!" Lita shouted and giving a leap pushed the boy who had
started the entire incident. He went tumbling back and landed with a
thud. Glaring at the other boy who was standing open mouthed Lita
inquired, "You want some too?!?" Shaking his head he turned and bolted
away. The boy on the ground with tears forming in his eyes dropped the
book and scrambled after his companion. They both disappeared around a
corner. Turning back to her sister Lita asked, "What did they say to
you, Amy?" <It's lucky I kept an eye on you, Sis.>
        Giving a sniffle and wiping her eyes again Amy replied, "They
were just teasing me. I tried not to cry but I couldn't help myself."
        Feeling her own eyes moisten Lita helped Amy to stand. Amy then
wrapped her arms around Lita and explained, "Lita, it was just like when
I was little. I was always teased for being smart."
        "Well I don't think those two will tease you anymore," Lita
reassured her sister. <What a life she must of had. I always had a lot
of friends when I was little. There's got to be something... I know.>
"Sis, you know when I was playing over there with Mina, they had this
awful Sailor Mercury. Why don't you come try out for the part?"
        "Well," Amy pondered after a brief pause, "I guess I could,
Sis." Giving each other one more hug, both girls ran over to join the
group that was waiting for them.

End of Part 7