Forever More
By: Bethany
Originally Released: 4/2003
Revised: 7/2015

Prologue & Chapter 1 - Shingo

I collapsed down on the king sized bed I shared with my husband of four years. The ceiling fan slowly turned, circulating a small, but very welcome breeze through the room. It was mid-June, just close enough to summer that the heat was getting to be a little much. The calendar hanging on the wall showed ten more days until my twenty-fourth birthday. It seemed impossible that it had been six years since I had traveled from the U.S. with my brother. Seemed even more impossible that my parents had been dead for six years.

Four years ago we defeated the latest evil to threaten mankind. Master Pharoah 90 was, to say the least, a formable opponent. He threw everything from time warps to big ugly youmas at us. But in the end, the Sailor Senshi prevailed.

Just three months after that battle, I suffered a miscarriage that nearly destroyed me faster than any battle with evil could have. Grief tore at my soul for the longest time, making me nearly go insane with the loss of my baby. In the end I began grief counseling, and with the support of my husband and friends, made it through.

The baby monitor on the table beside the bed hummed quietly, echoing the silence that was in my house for once. On November 19, two and a half years ago, I gave birth to my second child; a girl, whom we named Chiba Kousagi Mizuki (can you guess who had a go at naming her?) My beautiful baby had golden hair like mine and Shingo's, and ocean blue eyes that hid well the fact that she was a walking, running, always talking terror.

Then again, perhaps I had been spoiled with Chibi-Usa. My five year old was so well behaved from newborn on - she never cried unless she had to and was always content with every situation. Her younger sister was soon to drive both Mamo-chan and I insane. From the first night she came home from the hospital, she let us know that she was in no form or fashion going to be quiet and content. Those days were over in a flash.

Age had not calmed her any, either. Just like Chibi-Usa, Kousagi began talking at an incredibly young age. Unlike Chibi-Usa, she never stopped talking afterwards. From dawn to dusk, Kousagi had an ongoing conversation that started as baby gibberish and soon became the only words she knew said over and over in different order. "No!" was her favorite word of all time, followed closely by "Mine!" and "Baka!" (I sent her to Minako's for the day after the Solider of Love taught her that one.)

Yes, our Kousagi could talk non-stop, run from you and hide everything her small hands could grasp. Mamo-chan had been dumpster diving more than once for our keys. My wedding band had two trips down the kitchen sink - she had even flushed the Silver Crystal. The only person in the house unaffected by Kousagi's wrath was Shingo who had put a lock on his door so high that she couldn't reach it - yet.

Outside of the dose of creativity our children gave us, life had been quiet for my husband and I. Since the defeat of Pharoah 90, no enemies had appeared in Tokyo and it seemed that it would stay that way. Or so I hoped.

But to completely believe we had obtained peace would be naive on my behalf. I knew too well how it was in my line of work, knew too well that the end of one evil was only the beginning of another. Little did I know that I would be the one to breed the next enemy in our lives.

Chapter 1 – Shingo

I could hear the school bell ringing as I pushed the stroller along the sidewalk. Kousagi kicked her feet happily, gibbering away in a language that only she seemed to understand. On my left Chibi-Usa was humming, skipping ahead a few feet and then turning to wait for me to catch up. On my other side I heard the constant nagging of Luna as she padded her way along. "I don't see why I have to be out walking. I'd much rather give myself a through bath and sleep the rest of the afternoon away," she complained. Again. I had only heard this same sentence mumbled three times since we left my house. About five blocks away.

We came upon the schoolyard just as Shingo was running out the doors and towards us. "Onii-chan!" Chibi-Usa called, running up ahead to get his attention.

I stopped pushing Kousagi, who's gibbering instantly turned to loud protest, and cast a wayward glance down at my guardian cat. "Luna, Mamo-chan said you need some exercise - it will help your labor along," I explained to my cat, who was due any day now. She looked miserable; I'll give her that. But lying around the house barking orders out at Artemis was about to drive us all crazy.

Luna sounded more like a kitten herself when she began talking again, just low enough that passer-bys couldn't hear. "But I'm tired, Usagi-chan, surely you understand that."

I nodded, looking at her with sympathy. "Okay, Luna. You can sit on Kousagi's lap on the way home."

Instantly she jerked her head up, giving me a look that would strike me with lightening if she could muster up the strength. "No, thank you," she replied in a haughty voice. "I'd rather walk. She who turns and runs away," she began reciting, "has fur on her back the next day."

I chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly. "Suit yourself."

Chibi-Usa returned with Shingo at her side. I turned the stroller around and much to Kousagi's delight began pushing her again. She really enjoyed riding in a stroller, which was saying something since just about nothing else made her happy.

Shingo kept in pace with me, staring at the sidewalk. Everyday he grew to look more and more like our father. His legs were long, making him nearly as tall as I was, and his features were true to mine and mothers. Only his hair was a shade darker than mine, more a dirty blonde than a honey blonde like mine. His blue eyes that were normally bright with mischief seemed serious today; telling me something important was on his mind.

"How was your day?" I asked brightly, trying to keep a light tone so that it would be easier for him to say what was on his mind.

"Fine," he replied in a monotone voice, forever staring at the sidewalk.

"Do you have homework?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied, again giving me no more than a quick answer and no eye contact. Whatever was on his mind must be really important, I suspected, or he would just blurt it out. I decided to let him figure out a way to come to me, instead of pressuring him, so I grew silent.

Chibi-Usa bent down, scooping Luna up in her arms and hugging her. I shook my head at the smug look on my guardian's face. "You're not helping her, Chibi-Usa," I said matter of factly.

"I know, Mama," my daughter replied, grinning. "But Luna says that she is tired and her baby is going to be my kitten..."

I rolled my eyes, turning to push the stroller up our sidewalk. Instantly Kousagi began wailing loudly, kicking her arms and legs. "No nap! No nap, Mama! No nap!" she cried, tears flooding her small red cheeks.

I picked her up, giving her a stern look that made her quiet, somewhat. "You know you're going to take a nap, no matter how much screaming you do, young lady," I warned as we went in the house. Of course she knew, but that wasn't going to stop her from at least trying to get out of it.

We went in the house where I tried to put Kousagi to bed. However, I soon decided that wrestling an alligator would have been easier than trying to put Kousagi down for a nap. I rocked her, sang to her, put her in her bed with strict instructions to lie down. Still she screamed. "Kousagi, why don't you just take a little nap, ne? Mama wants peace and quiet," I moaned, feeling my head begin to pound. Her reply was to begin crying louder, holding her arms up for me to pick her up out of the bed. I sighed and picked her up, sitting in the rocking chair.

I sang, she cried. And this unmelodic harmony continued for another ten minutes until finally she quieted down. Slowly her cries were tiring her out, and she fought to keep her eyes open to stare at me.

Just as Kousagi seemed to lose the battle to keep her eyes open, the bedroom door slowly creaked open. "Mama-" Chibi-Usa began and Kousagi instantly sat up, her eyes wide open.

I groaned. "Chiba Usagi you know better than to come in here while I'm trying to get Kousagi to sleep. Now look what you've done!"

"But Mama-"

"No buts, Small Lady, go in your room until I come and get you."

Chibi-Usa left the room, but I paid little attention to her, my focus more on Kousagi who was fighting to get out of my arms. As she began crying to get down, I felt like crying with her.

Finally, about fifteen minutes later, Kousagi fell asleep. I placed her in her crib and waited anxiously to see if she would awaken. Her small cubby arm reached for the stuffed rabbit she normally slept with and I placed it near her. She grabbed it and continued to sleep. With a sigh of relief I tiptoed out of the bedroom and shut the door.

The clock in the living room chimed the hour of four as I passed, going to Chibi-Usa's room. A small bunny decorated the door, Chibi-Usa's name painted underneath it. I knocked quickly. Faintly I heard Chibi-Usa's muffled voice reply: "Come in."

I pushed the door open slowly, struck with surprise at what I saw. Toys - everywhere. Clothes, too. My mouth dropped slightly as I managed to pull my gaze from the cluttered floor to the bed where Chibi-Usa was sitting up slowly, wiping her eyes. "Small Lady," I breathed, pushing the pile over so that I could walk through. "What happened in here?"

My oldest daughter gasped, her eyes widening with apparent surprise as she looked around. "I-I don't know, Mama."

I put my hands on my hips, staring around at the drawers that were open, some pulled completely out of the dresser and laying upside down in the floor. All her stuff animals looked like they had been thrown carelessly around, some piled in the middle of clothes and other toys. "Don't lie to me, Small Lady," I commanded sternly.

"But Mama, I didn't do it!" Chibi-Usa cried, fresh tears filling and falling from her blue eyes. "I swear I didn't do it!"

"Then who did?" I asked, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. Though I know Shingo wouldn't have, Kousagi was with me... that only left Chibi-Usa.

Her eyes skipped guiltily around at the mess. "I can't say," she whispered.

I threw my hand up, exasperated. "Chiba Usagi Tomoko, don't you dare sit there and lie to me! You are to clean up this room, spotless, do you understand me? Do not come out of this room until you have done so." I turned on my heel, left the room and closed the door hard behind me. On the other side I heard Chibi-Usa begin sobbing and I felt my heart break. It took all I had to walk away and not apologize. Giving in would not teach her not to lie, I had to be strong.

Chibi-Usa still hadn't come out of her room by the time Mamo-chan came home from work. My husband put his briefcase down and sat in the recliner, beckoning me to him. Obediently I sat down on his lap and allowed him to wrap his strong arms around my body and kiss my face. "How was your day?" I asked, relaxing against him and listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

"Pretty good," he replied. "Only I missed you like crazy," he added, winking down at me.

"Oh, Mamo-chan, you were only gone eight hours," I told him playfully.

"Eight hours too long, if you ask me. If it were up to me, I'd spend every moment of my life holding you like this." He breathed in deeply, his chest rising under my face. "Where are the children?"

"Shingo is doing his homework, Chibi-Usa is cleaning her room and Kousagi is asleep, though I don't expect her to be for long. I think that kid has a biological time clock in her that tells her when you come home from work," I told him, laughing to myself. "Chibi-Usa and I got into it today. I can't believe it, but she lied to me. Her room was a disaster area and when I asked her why she done it, she said she didn't."

"Really? That's odd," Mamo-chan noted, knowing as well as I did that Chibi-Usa never lied. It just wasn't in her nature. "Did she say who did it?"

"No, she said she couldn't tell me. Want to know what the strange thing is? I don't think she remembers doing it. She looked so shocked at the mess, like she hadn't seen it before that moment."

"Hmm, I'll go talk to her about it," Mamo-chan said, kissing my neck before I stood up.

I watched him disappear down the hall as I went into the kitchen to begin dinner. Mako-chan had been giving me some cooking lessons, or near misses at cutting her life in half, as she told me the first time I burnt something. I was actually getting better, I believed. Of the things I had tried to cook, chicken curry still stayed a little beyond my reach. But tonight I planned on keeping it simple; hamburger and fries.

I had finished making the patties and putting them into the skillet when I heard Shingo come through, sitting at the counter across from me. I washed my hands and dried them. Shingo said nothing until I turned to him.

"Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something," he blurted out like it was pronouncing a death sentence.

I turned the burgers on low and leaned against the counter, my attention directed to him. "You know you can tell me anything, Shingo. Go ahead."

He played with the end of the place mat for a minute, trying, I supposed, to find the right words. I couldn't image what would be so hard to say. Finally, he began; "Maaku is going to a new school, a private school for boys starting the week after next. And, I wanted to go there, too." He stopped abruptly, looking to me with hope in his blue eyes.

I blinked, this isn't what I had thought he would ask. "A private school, ne? Where's it at?"

Once again Shingo found my place mat increasingly interesting. I waited patiently for him to continue. "It's a top school; they have awards and things like that for education."

"And it's where, again?" I prompted.

"Sendai." So that was the catch. It was about 400kms away. Shingo must have caught the look on my face, because he began talking again, a lot faster than a moment ago. "It's a live-in school. They have dorms and the students share rooms, and they have a lot of activities and things to do. It'll be fun Mom, please? Please?" he begged, his voice drawling out.

I turned back to the stove, flipping the hamburgers over and thinking. A part of me wanted to keep him here, close to me. Another part said this would be good for him - either way, it would be one of the hardest decisions I had ever made. I sighed. "I'll speak with Mamo-chan about it, okay?"

"Thanks Mom!" Shingo jumped over the counter, nearly crashing against me as he hugged me. "I have an information packet in my room; I'll go get it so you can call about it."

"I haven't said yes, yet, Shingo," I told him, waving the spatula in the air in his direction. He grinned, nodded and sprinted out of the room. As he passed down the hall, Kousagi started crying for Mamo-chan. I shook my head, perhaps this was the best thing for him right now.

That night I sat at my vanity table, removing my make-up and thinking about a way to bring up the school to Mamo-chan. I had called the school and found that out tuition was expensive, a little more than I had really wanted to pay out. But Shingo was so excited; I thought discussing it with my husband wouldn't hurt anything. If need be, I would go back to work to pay for it, but I didn't think it would be a problem.

Over the baby monitor sitting on our bedside table, I heard Mamo-chan lay Kousagi down in her bed and then check on Chibi-Usa. A few minutes after he came into our room, closing the door behind him softly. "Are they asleep?" I asked, looking at him through my mirror.

"Finally," he replied, taking his robe off and sitting on the bed to watch me brush my hair out. "I think Kousagi is my pay back for anything I ever done wrong as a child. Although I don't recall being that stubborn; perhaps I'm getting paid back for what you've done."

I turned in my seat, proclaiming in my most haughty voice: "I'll have you know that Chibi-Usa takes after me, Kousagi is all yours."

Before Mamo-chan could think of a suitable come back, Luna piped in from where she lay at the foot of our bed. "I can second that opinion. Usagi-chan was a well behaved child." She moaned as she stretched out, her stomach protruding at both sides.

"Daijiabou, Luna?" Mamo-chan asked, placing his hand on her stomach and feeling for the little one inside.

Luna nodded weakly and rolled over on her side. Artemis, who sat by her side, watched with silent worry etched on his face. "A bit tired, is all. The kitten has been very active today, more so than usual. That walk Usagi-chan made me take today didn't help anything."

"Walk?" I asked, turning in my seat and raising my eyebrow at my guardian feline. "You call Chibi-Usa carrying you a walk? At least the fresh air may have done some good."

"You do need exercise," Mamo-chan said gently, though Luna grimaced as though she had swallowed bitter syrup. "You seem to be very close to giving birth. You'll be thankful you walked around when it's time."

Luna, as stubborn as they come (I wonder if Kousagi gets it from her?), rolled her eyes back and proceed to go on as if Mamo-chan hadn't said a word. "I'm ready for this kitten to be born already."

"I know how that feels, remember I was a week over due with Kousagi. Of course, I should have known then how stubborn she would be in life." I sighed, putting my brush down. Any time was as good as now, I supposed, to bring up Shingo's desire to go to a private school. "By the way, Mamo-chan, Shingo came to be today and asked if he could attend a private boys school in Sendai and I told him I would talk to you about it," I said nonchalantly, as though it hadn't been the main focus of my thoughts since dinner.

"Why does he want to go to a school that far away?" Mamo-chan wondered aloud.

"Maaku is going there, too. And he's about the only friend Shingo has. I called them today." I told Mamo-chan about the school, trying to emphasize more on the good it would do them, rather than the money it would cost us.

Surprisingly, Mamo-chan nodded thoughtfully when I finished. "I do think it will do him some good. If it's the school I'm thinking of, they have a very small teacher-student ratio and the special attention could be the thing to get Shingo's grades up."

Nodding my agreement in what I hoped was a passive way I went back to brushing my hair. My heart pounded in my chest, though. I felt excited for Shingo, but also apprehensive. Shingo hadn't been more than a couple of miles from my side since he was six years old. I could already feel my heart aching with how much I would miss him.

We climbed into bed, Mamo-chan turning the light off and casting dark shadows around the room. Curled up in my soul mate's arms, I fell fast asleep.

A sleep that wasn't to last long, however. Groggily, still half believing that I was dreaming I felt something poking my arm. Flinging my arm up, I turned over.

"Usagi! Wake up, Usagi!"

Now why would someone in my dream be telling me to wake up? The thought was ridiculous, to say the least. Determinedly I buried my face in Mamo-chan's chest, waving my hand behind me. "Go away," I said to whoever it was.

There was a conspiracy in this house, I knew. Because in a few minutes I heard my bedroom door squeak open and the shuffling of small feet came over to the bed. This time the intruder was trying to wake Mamo-chan up. "Papa, Papa!"

"No Chibi-Usa, you have to sleep in your own bed," Mamo-chan replied, his voice muffled by my hair.

Chibi-Usa came over to the other side of the bed, poking her index finger in my shoulder. "Mama, wake up! Mama!"

"You heard your father," I replied.

My reply was followed by a snort of impatience by my daughter, followed by her running out of the room - not softly, either - and slamming the door. I grunted, now awake enough to wonder why everyone was so intent on waking me up. But not so awake to make myself get up to check.

I didn't have to terribly long to wonder, however. "Mom!" Shingo yelled just moments later, bursting in our room and turning the light on. "Dad, get up!"

Both Mamo-chan and I sat up, blurry eyed and groggy, and stared at our children like they had gone mad. "What in the name of all that is good do you want at (I took a quick glimpse at the clock) 1 a.m.? It better be good-"

"Or I, Tuxedo Kamen, will not forgive you!" Mamo-chan declared, one arm in the air and his eyes still closed. Arm still raised, he fell back onto his pillows.

My mouth fell open, all previous thoughts having fled my mind completely in light of what my husband just said. I'm sure the look on my face was an amusing sight, for both Shingo and Chibi-Usa - emergency of the moment forgotten - busted out in giggles. I blinked, looking at Mamo-chan in near disbelief. "Ne, Mamo-chan, your speeches are even corny when you're asleep!"

"Haha," my soul mate replied, burying his face in his pillows while mumbling something to the effect of: "Yours aren't any better."

Remembering we had two sets of eyes watching us curiously, I turned back to them, trying to stop my own laughter. "What is it you two want, anyways?"

"Luna is in labor!" both Shingo and Chibi-Usa shouted together. Mamo-chan sat up, his eyes still half shut. "Okay, you're forgiven," he mumbled, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. I watched him grab his doctor's bag, try to put a robe on while holding it, and then finally deciding it was better done the other way. Getting up and putting a robe on myself, I followed Mamo-chan and the children.

It would be interesting, at least, to see just what it was Mamo-chan thought it was going to do to my guardian cat.

We found Luna lying in a pet bed (that she hadn't used until tonight) in the kitchen. I sat at the table with Chibi-Usa and Shingo. Both were far too excited to sleep, especially Chibi-Usa. Every time Luna made a small sound, Chibi-Usa would squeal: "Is my kitten here yet?!"

It was by far a comic sight. Between Chibi-Usa squealing, Shingo jumping up to check, only to return shaking his head, and Mamo-chan trying his best to treat Luna like a pregnant woman, not cat - I could have busted out laughing had it not been for another cat in the house.

Honestly, I didn't know who to feel sorrier for - Luna who was in labor, or Artemis who looked like he was.

I watched as he paced the length of the kitchen, his face grimacing in pain every time Luna made a small sound. Back and forth he walked until I thought he would wear a path in my floor. "Sit down, Artemis! Walking back and forth is not helping anyone," I insisted in a soothing, yet persistent, voice.

He simply shook his head, and continued to walk. "I can't stop, Usagi. If I do I may go crazy."

So he walked, Chibi-Usa squealed, Shingo checked on Luna, I sat and Mamo-chan kept urging Luna to "breathe" (at which she replied: "What the hell does it look like I'm doing?!"). After an hour of this, the routine settled some. The end of the second hour found Shingo and Chibi-Usa asleep at the table, their heads on their arms, Mamo-chan with his head propped on his hands, half asleep, and Artemis still walking.

It's funny how it all worked out. By the time Luna gave birth to her first kitten, Artemis and I were the only ones awake. The white cat gave a huge yelp, which woke everyone in the house up (including Kousagi) laughing as he danced around the kitchen, repeating the same phrase: "I'm a Papa! Yippee!"

Mamo-chan woke up, Shingo and Chibi-Usa following as they stared at the tiny black kitten that lay neck to Luna. A few minutes later, we were staring at two black kittens. Mamo-chan shrugged. "I thought there might be two by how big she was," he said in his defense. By this time, Artemis was beyond repair. He jumped up and down, sliding on the tile floor while screaming to the world that he was once again a papa.

Luna began cleaning her young ones while I urged Shingo and Chibi-Usa back to bed. The two went, arguing all the way, and I was free to calm Kousagi back down and get her to sleep. By the time I returned, Mamo-chan was again in the floor next to Luna. Curiously, I walked over. The first thing I noticed was another kitten lying against Luna, this one smoke gray. The second thing I noticed was the lack of Artemis skidding across the floor.

"Where is Artem—oh." Luna pointed with her paw.

Artemis was lying in front of Mamo-chan; passed out.

Two weeks later Shingo left for school. It took all I had not to cry as we unloaded his trunk from the car and carried it into his dorm room. I had to say though, I was impressed by the living quarters at the school. The room Shingo shared with his best friend, Maaku, was as large as my living room, one twin sized bed on either side with bedside tables beside them. Between the two tables a large window over looked the grounds. Each had a tall dresser, a desk with a lamp and chair and a closet on their side of the room.

I walked over to the window, peering out at what would be Shingo's view. Kousagi pointed at the group of children playing baseball in the field, "ohhing" as the ball soared into the air.

"Wonderful view, ne?" a voice behind me asked. I turned to see a man standing in the doorway, a friendly smile curled on his thin lips.

Funny how he had such thin lips, I thought as I walked towards him, God knows nothing else about him was small. His body seemed to fill the frame of the door to the brim, and nearly blocked out the light that spilled in from beyond. His unruly brown hair looked has he had ran his fingers through it many times and his mustache needed trimming, I thought. He held out his hand to me, and I tentatively placed my hand in his much larger one. "You must be Shingo's mother, I presume?"

"Hai," I replied, trying not to seem rude as I pulled my hand from his. "I'm sorry, you are?" I asked, trying to adjust Kousagi on my hip who was wanting down so she could wander around.

"Oh, my name is Wang Osuka, I'm the Head Teacher. I meet your husband, son and daughter in the corridor just moments ago. Wonderful family you have, Chiba-san."

I smiled, again trying to restrain Kousagi as she tried - and failed - at another attempt to get down. I could see her face scrunch up out of the corner of my eye as she got ready to let out a howl of frustration. I continued to smile as the Head Teacher began explaining about the activities the school offered after classes were over, silently wishing he would remember something he just had to do elsewhere.

"I understand that Shingo has ADD, Chiba-san. Now, I know that right now that seems like a bit much, but believe me, it's not all as bad as it sounds. As an adolescent, yes, he had pent up energy. But we can provide him with activities to focus that energy, help him to release it in positive ways. Overly energetic children grow up to be active adults who have seemingly endless energy. They move up in the world quickly, have a knack for creative ideas and..."

I'm not sure if this was a blessing or not, but it was at that precise moment that Kousagi decided that her attention was at its wits end and promptly she let out a scream that would have had Beryl running like her skirts were on fire. I tried to cover my ears, but since Kousagi was next to one of them, it was quite impossible. At first Osuka seemed amused by Kousagi's outburst, but as it continued, his smile turned to one of bewilderment, and then of one who's eardrums were about to burst.

"Kousagi, darling, shhh," I calmed, looking around desperately for something to attract her attention. The problem was, she wanted to go outside, and that was a little impossible at the moment.

Thankfully, my husband took that moment to come in, plucking Kousagi from my arms and swinging her up in the air. Like someone had turned her faucet of tears off, Kousagi instantly stopped crying and giggled as Mamo-chan swung her up again. "What's Papa's angel crying about, ne?" I scowled at him under my breath, muttering about her being completely him made over.

Shingo burst in the room behind Mamo-chan, Maaku right beside him. "Isn't this great, Mom? They have every kind of club you can think of, even a unicycle club!" he spilled excitedly, handing me a leaflet to look through. Indeed, it seemed they had everything here that he could possibly want to do.

Seconds after Shingo, Chibi-Usa came stomping in the room, mumbling something under her breath. When she saw me staring at her, she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes shifting away. I started to ask her what was wrong when Osuka clapped his hands together and motioned us out the door. "I just have some papers for you to fill out, Chiba-san, and we'll be all done here."

It was on the tip of my tongue to say I wasn't ready to leave Shingo yet, but when I looked my young brother wasn't remotely interested in what we were doing anyway as he opened his trunk and started pulling out model cars to sit on his nightstand. Mamo-chan told him we'd be right back and he nodded, waving his hand with little interest. A pang of hurt pulled at my heart; it was starting already, his separation from me. Somehow I knew it was going to hurt me more than him.

We entered the Head Teacher's office, which was across the hall from the Principal's, and sat down. In the corner sat a box of toys that Chibi-Usa tricked Kousagi into coming to look at, giving Mamo-chan and I a chance to talk without her going hysterical again. Osuka gave Mamo-chan a folder and a pen, explaining that there were merely accident report forms, emergency contact numbers and medical release forms that we needed to fill out before we left.

Time has a strange way of going by much quicker when you don't want it to. It seemed mere minutes had passed and the forms were filled out, and we were standing to leave. My stomach felt like a lead ball had been placed in the bottom of it.

Tugging an unwilling Kousagi along, the four of us made our way back to Shingo's room to say goodbye. Mamo-chan handed him some money, telling him to keep half of it for supplies he would need and the other to spend on himself, hugged him bye and moved to the doorway to allow me to come closer. I stared at Shingo for a long moment, trying to memorize how happy he looked standing in his dorm room. This was the right thing, I told myself. He's so happy, he deserves this. I bit my bottom lip to keep from sobbing instead of talking. "Erm, if you need anything, you know the number. And... and call us, every week, to let us know how you are. And if you want to come home.."

"I know, just call," Shingo said, smiling in a way that said he didn't plan on coming home until winter break. The lump in my chest grew heavier still.

"Be good, and take your medicine," I mumbled, pulling him to me for a hug. He squeezed my ribs so hard it hurt and kissed my cheek as he backed away.

"Don't worry Mom," he said easily, much more easily than I could have. "I'll be fine, it's not like you'll never see me again."

I smiled, trying with all my might to hold back the tears that threatened to fall from my face. I couldn't bring myself to say good-bye, so I simply walked over to stand next to Mamo-chan who instantly put his arm around my shoulder. Shingo rubbed his hand in Chibi-Usa's strawberry hair affectionately. "Be good, brat," he smiled. She nodded, hugging him briefly before joining us at the door.

We got into the car in silence, even Kousagi seemed subdued as we pulled out of the school grounds and towards the highway. The backseat was less crowded; empty it seemed, with only two children. I turned around and stared at the scenery, listening to the music on the radio. A light drizzle began, soon turning into a steady downpour.

The windshield wipers rocked back and forth, pulling me into a dreamless sleep.

In my mind a mere few minutes had passed until suddenly Mamo-chan was gently caressing my face, telling me to wake up. I blinked back the sleep in my eyes and looked up at his handsome face. He had parked inside our garage because of the continuing rain outside. I stretched, looking in the backseat to see Chibi-Usa and Kousagi both sound asleep.

"What time is it?" I mumbled, realizing I would have to wake them both up to eat something or they would get up in the middle of the night.

"Nine o'clock. They haven't been asleep long," Mamo-chan said as he got out and opened the backdoor to get Kousagi from her car seat. I did the same, picking Chibi-Usa up and shutting the door with my foot. We went in the house, putting the children in their beds while I fixed something to eat. The house was so quiet that it un-nerved me for a moment, my feet padding across the kitchen floor seemed to echo.

I found Luna and Artemis curled up beside their sleeping kittens. I smiled softly, using extra care not to make too much noise and wake them.

Chibi-Usa down right refused to wake up and eat. I poked her gently, telling her to get up, but she mumbled something incoherent and snuggled deeper in the blankets. Despite what I said about Chibi-Usa being completely my daughter, she did have her father's sleeping habits. Nothing short of an explosion would get her out of the bed if she could help it. Getting her ready for school in the morning was a nightmare.

So instead of pushing it, I gently pulled her clothes off her and slid a gown over her head. I tucked her in, kissed her goodnight and turned the lights out on my way out.

She didn't wake up once.

I'm still not quite sure whom my other daughter took after, though. I went in to wake her up and nearly jumped out of my skin when she sprang up in a sitting position and began laughing. Anyone who could wake up that cheerful could be no kid of mine, I thought as I carried a bouncing Kousagi into the kitchen for dinner. If it weren't for the fact that she looked exactly like me, I would have sworn there was a switch at birth.

Outside of Kousagi talking to herself; her spoon, her plate, her cup and the ceiling - our dinner was quiet. Already I missed Shingo's laughter as he teased Chibi-Usa, or his constant chatter about something someone had done at school. I tried not to dwell on it, and instead forced another bite into my mouth and chewed slowly. Mamo-chan - of course - nearly swallowed his food whole, finished off his drink and was rummaging through the fridge for desert when I decided I had had enough and began putting the dirty dishes in the sink.

I washed the dishes quickly and began drying them so that I could put Kousagi to bed and go to sleep myself. Kousagi was talking to someone or something in a very excited voice, stopping to take a bite of Mamo-chan's ice cream every now and then. The peaceful lull that had settled over us, however, came to a crashing halt when Kousagi suddenly stopped talking and began crying. I shook my head, turning to tell Mamo-chan to get her some more ice cream when I saw Chibi-Usa standing in the doorway.

Her blue eyes were wide open, so far that the white of her eye seemed to be drowning out her pupils. Her mouth was twisted in a look of horror and she was waving her hands out in front of her like she was trying to clear away invisible spider webs. Dropping the cup into the sink, I took a step towards her, but Mamo-chan put his arm out to stop me. "Don't," he said softly, but the command behind his voice was unmistakable.

I wanted to scream, but my voice failed me. Mamo-chan slowly reached forward, grabbed Kousagi from her highchair and handed her to me. For a moment I felt so numb I thought I might drop her. My youngest continued crying, though softer now, with a look of horror on her face that nearly matched Chibi-Usa's. Beyond her, I saw Mamo-chan slowly approach Chibi-Usa, trying not to startle her. He turned her around, trying to lead her back to bed, but she wouldn't budge.

"Easy, baby, come back to bed," he whispered to her.

Instead of soothing her, his soft words seemed to terrify her. She began shaking her head, whimpering. I bit my lip as Mamo-chan tried to console her. I knew you weren't suppose to wake up someone who was sleep walking, but something told me this wasn't just her body living what was in her dream. No, this was different, somehow. I put Kousagi down. Assuming she was scared of the way Chibi-Usa was acting, she ran around the kitchen and into the living room as fast as her small legs would carry her.

I stepped forward, ignoring Mamo-chan as I reached towards Chibi-Usa. "Usako, don't wake her!" my husband hissed urgently, trying to hold me back. But I couldn't just stand there, watching her face look so terrified.

Quickly I ran forward, pulling her into my arms. She fought, withering in my arms and beginning to scream. "No!" she whimpered.

"He's... he's going to hurt... stop him... Mama, where are you?" I felt the tears spill from my eyes at her words. She sounded like she was all alone, she had no idea I was there!

From behind me I heard Mamo-chan trying to reason with her and me. Trying to take her from me, he pulled at my arms, but I refused to budge. "Chibi-Usa, I'm here," I cried to her as she called my name, over and over, into a chant. I shook her gently, calling her name. Finally she stopped, dropping into my arms. Her breathing was shallow, her chest heaving with the effort to inhale.

Horrified, I allowed Mamo-chan to pull her from my arms without a word, he scooped her up and carried her into her bedroom. I bit my thumbnail as I staggered in the room behind her. "Mamo-chan?" I whispered as he grabbed his doctor's bag and produced a small light.

Pushing both her eyelids open, he shined the light in her eyes one by one. "What's wrong with her?" I whispered, coming to sit on the opposite side of her twin bed. "Mamo-chan?" He checked her pulse and then took her temperature. "What is wrong with her?!" I demanded in a voice so high and so shrill, I would have never recognized it as my own. Kousagi came to stand beside me, silent tears still wetting her face.

"Her eyes are dilating, pulse normal, temperature normal," he mumbled to himself, rather than to me. "Blood pressure is slightly high... She's not in shock..." Biting on my knuckle now, I watched as he propped another pillow behind her and pulled the covers up to her chin. Finally he turned to me. "She seems fine now. It seemed a little intense for just a nightmare, though." I couldn't speak, or take my eyes from Chibi-Usa, even though Kousagi was pulling on my hand and crying.

For a few minutes we both just stared at our eldest daughter, but she slept on peacefully. Slowly Mamo-chan stood up, putting his stuff back in his bag and shutting it. He picked Kousagi up in one arm, his bag in the other and went to the doorway. "Usako?"

"I'm going to stay in here with her," I whispered, laying down next to her on the bed and pressing her body to mine. "So if she calls for me, I'll be here."

He nodded and shut the light out. He put Kousagi to bed, and then a few minutes later I heard him go into our bedroom. For hours it seemed, I laid awake and listened to the sound of her even breathing. Sometime near dawn, I went and got in the bed with Mamo-chan, making sure the baby monitor was on high volume.

I slid under the sheets and laid my head on the pillow. Almost like he had been waiting for me to come to bed, Mamo-chan wrapped his arms around me. "How is she?"

"She didn't wake up anymore," I replied. He mumbled something I didn't understand, and by the time I thought to ask him about it, he was asleep once more. But I couldn't sleep - every time I closed my eyes I saw Chibi-Usa's face as she came in the kitchen. Her eyes looked so haunted, so petrified that it gave me chills. What had scared her so much? And why did she seem to think I wasn't going to be there to help her?

-End Chapter 1.

Well, here we go again. I started this story many many years ago, but I never finished it. And re-reading it now, I didn't really like where I was heading with it. So I will probably just re-write the whole of it. That being said, if you have been reading the two previous books to this story – Flee to Destiny and No Greater Love – you are probably accustomed to really fast updates. Probably not going to happen with this story since instead of just revising it, I'm writing it. But I promise to actually finish it this time and not go on a 12 year hiatus!

Btw, in the alternate reality Sailor Moon manga, Mamoru and Usagi's second child is named Kousagi (I just knew Mamoru had something to do with that!) and her middle name, Mizuki means "beautiful moon" in Japanese. I liked it ^_^

Your reviews, likes, follows, etc are soooo appreciated! If you have questions, ask away, I will answer them in the author's notes. Otherwise, we'll see you soon for chapter 2!

God Bless,
Beth