Author's Note: This short story is dedicated to my son Tim who turns 20 as of 11:56pm today, June 17th. Not many parents get to say they have a child who saved their lives (twice), made their lives happier, helped get them and their spouse together, and then to top it all off, became a US Marine. Tim, you are my miracle, my joy, and my hope, and I love you.
Reader's Note: I can't find the actual date of Shingo's birthday, but this story is about him. Putting the story in my Holiday Series timeline. Astraearose and I have his birthday listed in September, which would fall shortly after August Vacation story, so none of this has happened yet as of the current book in the series.
Acknowledgements: You should thank Astraearose-silvermoon for the Lunarian wolves. She came up with the concept and we've both been using them in our stories. I really have to say thank you to her for being an incredible friend and beta!
For My Son
A Love Shots Story
Tsukino Ikuko knew she lived an extraordinary life. She had two wonderful children, her nephew, and double handful of teenagers surrounding her almost all of the time. Being a mother was the most incredible and rewarding experience of her life. She adored all the children and teenagers around her, and thrived on helping and encouraging them.
Ikuko often felt rushed, not that she minded, and even a bit overwhelmed. Sometimes however, she could take a step back and just think about the beauty of the life she had and those who made it incredibly special. She made her way through the house very early in the morning, stopping here to pick up a lone sock, there to add water to a plant that had been forgotten and was looking a bit brown, and another place just to plug in someone's game controller so it would be functional when one of the kids picked it up.
As she climbed the stairs, Ikuko grabbed a basket of laundry and delivered bits and pieces of it to the young ones in her charge. The sun wasn't quite up when she put a dress on Hotaru's desk, a school blazer on Haruka's door, and a sweater on Makoto's. Then she took the last of the laundry into her son's room and quietly put the clothing away in his dresser.
Shingo, who was sprawled diagonally across the bed with one arm and part of his head hanging over the edge, mumbled in his sleep. Ikuko turned to look at him. His thick blonde hair was a mess and he had a line of dirt over his cheek. He was the most beautiful boy she could ever imagine existing. She loved his bright blue eyes, his funny laugh when he pulled off a prank, and the way every once in a while he said or did something so sweet it would melt her heart.
After bending to kiss her son's cheek, Ikuko made her way out of the bedroom and back down into the kitchen. It was still early enough that she would be able to make him blueberry pancakes for his birthday breakfast. She enjoyed doing something her children loved on their special day. It made her feel like she could shower them with her love.
An hour later, as the table grew crowded and the noise level increased to thundering decibels, Ikuko stood behind Kenji as he held up his hands to get everyone's attention. "Happy birthday Shingo," Kenji said, smiling down the length of the table. "I want to remind everyone to be here for dinner tonight as we plan to celebrate."
"We will dad," Usagi said, grinning over at her brother, "but I get all the cake."
Shingo stuck his tongue out at his older sister, but grinned as well. They could argue at times, but they were very close. "Only if it isn't an Oreo cake," he said, then laughed.
Ikuko watched all the teenagers interacting and couldn't help but smile. Her house was full and happy. No one could ask for more. They might have an unconventional life, considering each one of the youngsters around her were superheroes, but she enjoyed every minute of it. She was proud of all of them, but none more than Shingo, who was much younger than his sister had been when he'd discovered his powers. Now, as Blue Moon Knight, he helped to keep Tokyo, and the world, safe.
As soon as everyone was done eating and the dishes had been put into the dishwasher, Ikuko waited by the door as her kids left for school. She hugged most of them, but for Shingo, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "I'm proud to be your mom." He grinned at her, kissed her cheek in return, and hugged her hard for a long moment, which was about the only emotion he would show in front of Hotaru, who was standing beside him.
"I love you," he whispered. Then he was gone.
As soon as the others made it out the door, Ikuko leaned against the window, watching them as they walked down the street. She rested her head against the cool glass and prayed that all of them would be safe, that they would all have a good day, and they would all come home as happy and healthy as they had left. That was the one downside to overseeing such a massive group of teenage superheroes. They sometimes got hurt.
"Oh good, Ikuko. I was looking for you." The feminine voice came from floor level and she peered down at the black cat, Luna, who had first found Usagi and helped her access her powers.
"Morning Luna. Please tell me Usagi or Minako remembered to feed you and Artemis."
The cat chuckled. "They didn't," she shook her head. "Thankfully Mamoru is an incredibly responsible young man and never forgets us." She leaped up onto a table next to the door and butted her head against Ikuko's hand. "I actually wanted to talk to you about Shingo's present."
"His present?" Ikuko asked, confused. "I already got him the new gaming system. You saw it."
Luna shook her head. "Not that present. One from myself and Artemis."
Ikuko looked around, but she didn't see a present, or the white cat, who was Luna's partner and soulmate. "Where is Artemis?"
"He's sleeping," she admitted. "He was in the command center half the night trying to hack into a satellite over a place called Alaska. He thinks we might find something useful there." She shook her head. "Anyway, last night I talked to Usagi about this, and she suggested I come and talk to you as well."
"About what?" Ikuko asked, worried.
"Lunarian wolves."
"Wolves?"
Luna snickered. "They are wolves the same way Arty and I are cats," she explained. "The wolves are the guides for Shingo and Hotaru, who are both old enough to care for them now."
"They're like you? Where have they been all this time?"
"In stasis, just as Artemis and I were," Luna explained. "Arty tracked them down a few days ago and I sent Kunzite to get them, since he is the only one who can keep a secret around here." She snickered and Ikuko joined her. It wasn't true of course. Every one of the teenagers kept the biggest secret of all from the world. They were the Senshi, Shitennou, and Hogosha. Legendary protectors of the earth and the entire solar system.
"Where are they now?"
"In the command center. I was hoping I could get you and Kenji to carry them here, if you both think he is ready. They are quite young, hardly more than newborns."
"Shingo can do anything," Ikuko said proudly. It wasn't entirely accurate, but his skills increased by the day. He was incredibly smart and she knew he could handle the responsibility, as could Hotaru. "I can come with you, but Kenji has a story to do on the Emperor's daughter. She is making some sort of announcement this morning."
"That's fine. You should be able to carry both, quite easily."
"Or I could help," Saeko said, coming into the entryway. "I don't have to work today." She smiled at Ikuko as she walked toward them. "I took the day off to celebrate Shingo's birthday." Doctor Mizuno Saeko was Ami's mother, and had come to live in the big house when they'd purchased it so that she could be close in case someone was injured.
Ikuko hugged Saeko, who had become one of her best friends in a very short time, and they followed Luna down the stairs and into the basement where the secret passageway to the command center was hidden. It was a three minute walk through the tunnel to the command center, which was hidden under the Crown. They didn't hear any sounds from the arcade above, but Ikuko knew that when school ended for the day the place would be crowded with students.
"Over here," Luna said, leaping onto the long conference table and making her way to a large wicker basket in the center. Ikuko pulled the blanket off the top and gasped. Inside two little glass pods were what looked like newborn Lunarian wolves. One, the smaller of the two, had mostly black fur with a sheen of purple hidden in the strands, though there were patches of silver. The other was just the opposite, mostly silver with purple-tinged black spots. Tiny wings were folded against their backs. Both slept soundly, an enchanted sleep put over them by the Queen of the Silver Millennium, in order to save their lives when the kingdom had died in battle.
"They're beautiful," Saeko breathed. "Which is which?"
"This is Tsuki," Luna said. "She is Hotaru's guardian and guide. And this," she pointed to the second wolf, "is Tomatsu. He and Shingo have the same bond." She shook her head sadly. "I didn't remember them until a few weeks ago, or I would have found them and brought them here sooner."
"Well, I'm glad they're here now," Ikuko told her. She grinned at Saeko, who had picked up the female wolf in her chamber. She reached out and grabbed Tomatsu. "What do we do next?" she asked.
"Nothing. At least, not yet. If you press the green button on the side of the container, it will break open and they will wake up immediately. I would just rather have Shingo and Hotaru here when that happens."
Ikuko agreed it was the smartest plan, so she cuddled the pod in her arms and followed Luna back to the large house that was the home of Tokyo's superheroes. She and Saeko put the pups in the study, then hurried into the kitchen to bake a cake and prepare everything else for the party. She pulled the gifts out from under the recycling bin and they wrapped them together, talking and laughing about the joys and amusements of motherhood.
When the party was over and all the gifts had been unwrapped, leaving bits of paper and tape all over the table and floor around Shingo. He was studying the new Lives of the Senshi game, which was multiplayer and the first game including all of the Senshi, Shitennou, and Hogosha. Kenji had been talking about it for weeks and had rushed out to buy it the moment it was available. Shingo was excitedly talking about all the features he'd read and was asking Usagi if she wanted to play a round when Luna signaled to Ikuko that it was time.
Mamoru came into the room, holding the stasis pods in his hands, and gave Ikuko a smile. "Shingo," Ikuko said. "There is one last present for you. Of course, part of the present isn't yours, but Hotaru's." She watched Mamoru put the stasis pods in front of them and step back. "These are your guides," Ikuko explained. "Though they are very young. For now, the two of you will have to take care of them and help them grow big and strong."
"We will," Shingo and Hotaru chorused.
Luna and Artemis walked them through opening the pods and Minako brought in several baby blankets and a couple of bottles meant for puppies or kittens. Then, Ikuko watched in delighted fascination as Shingo pressed the green button and carefully lifted Tomatsu into his arms. The little pup whimpered at the chilly air and snuggled closer, whimpering for a moment and making sucking sounds. Usagi hurried over with a bottle of puppy formula for him and another for Hotaru, who was staring at Tsuki and still hadn't opened her pod.
"I love him," Shingo said, his voice low. "I can hear him, calling for me."
Ikuko hadn't heard anything, so she looked to Luna for answers. The cat was smiling. "I knew it. The bond is already there. Lunarian wolves speak telepathically. Their first conversations are usually with their parents, but unfortunately, these are the last two Lunarian wolves. More will come from their line. She moved closer to Shingo and reached out to rub her cheek against the pup. "Smell is very important at this age. They can smell their food, and their caregiver. You." She purred as she nuzzled the pup. "He will need you for everything the first few weeks. You mother agreed to care for them both while you're in school, but most of it has to be you. Do you understand?"
"Hai," both teens answered, neither taking their eyes from the tiny pups.
"Mom," Shingo whispered, carefully handing her the little bundle of fur. "Isn't he awesome?"
Ikuko gave a watery laugh. "He is," she admitted. "Though not quite so awesome as you." She gave Shingo a one-armed hug, then showed him how to feed the pup from the bottle, tilting it so he didn't swallow any air. "Happy birthday baby," she whispered, kissing Shingo's temple.
"Thanks mom," he whispered, already distracted by the pup, who had wriggled back into his arms and was devouring his formula.
Ikuko stood back, watching in delight. He had already forgotten the gaming system and the new game. His entire attention was focused on the pup. She couldn't have been more proud, standing there. Shingo was her son, her beautiful boy who had always been such an easy child. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like without him, and didn't want to.
"Happy birthday," she whispered again, thinking of the day he had been born and it was he who was so helpless and small, relying on her for everything. Now he was nearly grown and making his own mark on the world. She felt satisfaction that something that had come from her had turned into the miracle she saw before her eyes. Her love for her son was immeasurable and unending.