| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 26 Cosmos thought that there�d been a flash of black, but when she opened here eyes, nothing was out of place and no one unfamiliar was nearby. No one familiar was nearby, for that matter. She was closing her eyes to go back to sleep when she heard it. A soft whimpering. It was soon accompanied by moving and something snuggling up to her back. Curious, Cosmos twisted her head, but whatever it was wasn�t Duo and wasn�t very big. She rolled and saw it, and her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. � Na~ani?!� Cosmos sat and picked it up and held it at arm�s length. It giggled and reac- hed for her, but that wasn�t possible because of its own short arms. � D-Duo?!� He giggled again and blinked large indigo eyes. � A~a!� She wrapped him up in his now humongous shirt and slipped through the planes to the Seventh Dimension. � Shinigami-sama!� Shinigami, sitting at his desk going over reports of people, jumped, scattering the papers everywhere and knocking his scythe, which had been leaning against the desk by his elbow, to the floor. His work chair, now balanced on only two legs, teetered unsteadily and then finally fell over. � Ack!� Cosmos stood there, listening to the muffled curses. Some were old, some just now invented. � Shinigami-sama?� One hand appeared on the desktop, then another. Shinigami�s head finally appeared and he looked wearily at Cosmos. � Hai, Cosmos?� She picked his scythe up and examined the crystal blade for cracks, then laid it on his desk and helped him up with her unoccupied hand. � Shinigami-sama, there is a big problem.� � How big?� � Big big.� The other Reapers watched intently. Rather interesting things, as proved by Shinigami-sama�s rather graceless plunge to the floor earlier, always happened when Cosmos and Shinigami-sama had a confrontation. These incidents had grown in number since Cosmos had become Duo-sama�s personal guard. � Honto?� he asked in a bored tone. � Seriously.� � Anou, nan da?� Cosmos held the bundle up to Shinigami. � This.� The God of Death lifted the collar of the shirt and peered inside, then abruptly dropped the shirt collar back down. He was pale, as if he�d just seen some kind of goblin. � Oh, Kami! Not another one!� Cosmos pulled the shirt back and cradled it. � This is not �another one�, Shinigami-sama.� � It has to be! Oh, I don�t believe it! I thought you were smarter than that!� Cosmos suddenly realized his train of thought. � Shinigami-sama! This is not my child! This is not Duo�s child! He�s---� � He�s what? Only Death Gods have indigo eyes!� � He�s---� � He�s not mine! I---� � MAY I FINISH?!� Cosmos shouted. The Reapers blinked, then began to snicker. It was always so unnaturally fun to see Shinigami-sama�s reaction when Cosmos yelled at him. Even though they sometimes wished they could yell at their boss too, it was all right if only one of them could. Shingami closed his mouth, eyes clearly surprised. � Nani?� he asked with a bit of a threatening tone as he narrowed his eyes at Cosmos. Cosmos blushed and lowered her gaze to the floor. � Nandemo nai.� � That�s what I thought. Now what were you trying to say? I did get a bit carried away.� More confident, Cosmos looked up and met his eyes. � He�s yours.� � Nani?!� Cosmos pulled the shirt collar back, revealing the little face. � Oh come on, Shinigami-sama.� She grinned a mirror of Duo�s, taking an unholy amount of glee in furthering his confusion. � Don�t tell me you�ve forgotten your own son.� Shinigami took the bundle and held it, realizing that it was indeed Duo. � I . . . Duo?� Duo kicked as he giggled, pushing the shirt up. Shinigami looked at Cosmos. � How did this happen?� Cosmos shook her head. � I don�t know. I woke to this flash of black and looked around, but there wasn�t anything suspicious. Then I felt something at my back and rolled and guess what I found?� There was a bit of thoughtful silence. Then a sad tone: � I can�t care for him again. There�s been an influx of souls recently. I won�t have time for him and the souls.� Shinigami was very obviously upset at having to say this. � It�s either one or the other.� � Don�t worry, Shinigami-sama. I promised I�d watch out for him, which I�m sure includes parameters such as these, and that�s exactly what I�m going to do. Or do you think I can�t handle it?� � I�m sure you could, it�s just . . . I feel that he�s my responsibility and no one else�s.� � He is, but my job is to take part of that responsibility off you. He�ll be fine. I won�t let him out of my sight, I promise.� Shinigami smiled through the tears gathering in his eyes. <Can�t let them see. If it were only Cosmos it would be different, but not with the other Reapers here.> � I believe you, Cosmos. Here.� There was a profound sense of loss as the baby left his arms and was held by the child�s guardian. � No da, even if I can�t pay him too much attention, you could always . . . leave him here.� Some of the older Reapers, who remembered Duo�s years there, laughed and made teasing remarks at the Death God. Cosmos smiled. � If that�s what you want, Shinigami-sama. He�s your son.� � Hai!� A small, black, energy crib appeared from nowhere. � Put him in here and get some supplies. I think I saved the stuff from before and put it in the closet.� � Shinigami-sama?� � Sentimental value. Go on and get it.� � Hai, Shinigami-sama.� Cosmos placed Duo in the crib and disappeared momentarily. When she returned, she had some powder, a few diapers, and a feeding formula. Shingami watched Cosmos easily and expertly powder and diaper the wriggling Duo without saying a word. � How did you know how to do that?� Cosmos giggled. � You don�t think I was paying attention when you were doing this the first time?� � You remember that far back?!� � Iie, but the knowledge is there. I�ve always been absurdly attentive.� |