Author's Notes at bottom - Enjoy!
@------
Forever More
Chapter 1 - Shingo
By: Bethany
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG
@------
I could hear the school bell ringing as I pushed the stroller
along the sidewalk. Keri 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 Keri, 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 Keri'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 Keri'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 Keri 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 Keri to bed. However, I
soon decided that wrestling an alligator would have been easier than
trying to put Keri down for a nap. I rocked her, sang to her, put her
in her bed with strict instructions to lie down. Still she screamed.
"Keri, 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 Keri seemed to loose the battle to keep her eyes open,
the bedroom door slowly creaked open. "Mama--" Chibi-Usa began and Keri
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 Keri 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 Keri 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, Keri 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, Keri 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
Keri 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, for surely 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, Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 done."
I turned in my seat, proclaiming in my most haughty voice: "I'll
have you know that Chibi-Usa takes after me, Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri.
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 too 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 Keri)
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. 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 Keri 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. When I inquired about him, 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. Keri 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 completely lock 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 ADHD, 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 Keri decided that her attention was at it's 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 Keri
was next to one of them, it was quite impossible. At first Osuka seemed
amused by Keri's outburst, but as it continued, his smile turned to one
of bewilderment, and then of one who's eardrums were about to burst.
"Keri, 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 Keri
from my arms and swinging her up in the air. Like someone had turned
her faucet of tears off, Keri 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 seen 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri seemed subdued as we
pulled out of the school grounds and towards the highway. The backseat
was less crowded; empty it seemed, with only a car seat and Chibi-Usa.
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 kissing 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri to bed and go to sleep myself. Keri 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 Keri suddenly stopped
talking and instantly began crying. I shook my head, turning to tell
Mamo-chan to get her some more ice cream when I seen 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 Keri 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 Keri
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. Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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.
And so ends chapter one. My editor had all sorts of ideas about what I
was attempting to do with Shingo in this chapter with everything from
this being a convient way to boot him off for a while, to my evil mind
having something in store for him. My reply? Guess you'll have to read
and see, ne? *avoids flying pots and pans aimed at my head* Look, with
out hook endings, I might not have any constant readers. Gotta keep you
all coming back somehow, don't I? ^.~ I'm kidding! I know you all keep
reading, I see your reviews and find myself sitting at my computer,
grinning to myself like a mad woman *cackles and huggles everyone*
Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, but then you've heard this before,
ne? I wonder where... how... oh wait! I know! I've been writing SM
fanfiction for three long years and damnit if I've figured out how to
take over copyrights since then, so it's still not mine. If I do figure
out how to take over things, SM and Harry Potter are first on my list :)
Please stayed turned for Chapter 2 - which hasn't been named yet, but
I have started writing it! ^-^v
@------
Forever More
Chapter 1 - Shingo
By: Bethany
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG
@------
I could hear the school bell ringing as I pushed the stroller
along the sidewalk. Keri 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 Keri, 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 Keri'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 Keri'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 Keri 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 Keri to bed. However, I
soon decided that wrestling an alligator would have been easier than
trying to put Keri down for a nap. I rocked her, sang to her, put her
in her bed with strict instructions to lie down. Still she screamed.
"Keri, 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 Keri seemed to loose the battle to keep her eyes open,
the bedroom door slowly creaked open. "Mama--" Chibi-Usa began and Keri
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 Keri 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 Keri 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, Keri 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, Keri 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
Keri 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, for surely 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, Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 done."
I turned in my seat, proclaiming in my most haughty voice: "I'll
have you know that Chibi-Usa takes after me, Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri.
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 too 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 Keri)
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. 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 Keri 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. When I inquired about him, 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. Keri 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 completely lock 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 ADHD, 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 Keri decided that her attention was at it's 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 Keri
was next to one of them, it was quite impossible. At first Osuka seemed
amused by Keri's outburst, but as it continued, his smile turned to one
of bewilderment, and then of one who's eardrums were about to burst.
"Keri, 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 Keri
from my arms and swinging her up in the air. Like someone had turned
her faucet of tears off, Keri 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 seen 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri seemed subdued as we
pulled out of the school grounds and towards the highway. The backseat
was less crowded; empty it seemed, with only a car seat and Chibi-Usa.
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 kissing 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri to bed and go to sleep myself. Keri 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 Keri suddenly stopped
talking and instantly began crying. I shook my head, turning to tell
Mamo-chan to get her some more ice cream when I seen 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 Keri 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 Keri
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. Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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 Keri 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.
And so ends chapter one. My editor had all sorts of ideas about what I
was attempting to do with Shingo in this chapter with everything from
this being a convient way to boot him off for a while, to my evil mind
having something in store for him. My reply? Guess you'll have to read
and see, ne? *avoids flying pots and pans aimed at my head* Look, with
out hook endings, I might not have any constant readers. Gotta keep you
all coming back somehow, don't I? ^.~ I'm kidding! I know you all keep
reading, I see your reviews and find myself sitting at my computer,
grinning to myself like a mad woman *cackles and huggles everyone*
Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, but then you've heard this before,
ne? I wonder where... how... oh wait! I know! I've been writing SM
fanfiction for three long years and damnit if I've figured out how to
take over copyrights since then, so it's still not mine. If I do figure
out how to take over things, SM and Harry Potter are first on my list :)
Please stayed turned for Chapter 2 - which hasn't been named yet, but
I have started writing it! ^-^v