| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 28 The sight that greeted Cosmos was completely unexpected. Shinigami was running around like the other Reapers, trying not to let Duo touch them. The child�s form suddenly blurred and Cosmos looked down. Standing just barely at knee-level was Duo. He grinned evilly and touched her shin lightly. Cosmos picked him up and then looked at the others when they gave heavy sighs. � Nani?� Shinigami went over and tickled Duo�s stomach. � We were playing tag. It was an innocent mistake. We didn�t know he could move that fast.� Cosmos laughed. � Oh, you poor souls! He wore you out, huh?� � That,� Shinigami answered as he went to a cooler and opened the lid, � is a dreadful understatement.� He took out a bottle of water and motioned for the other Reapers to come over. They calmly went over and retrieved a bottle for themselves, removing the lids and downing the whole twenty-four ounces in one go. Duo giggled and batted at her bangs. He suddenly stopped and began to whimper. Cosmos took in the face and the �pity me� gaze and sighed. � Nan da?� She ran one finger along his stomach. He grabbed it and began sucking on it viciously. She smiled. � Sou ka. Why didn�t you say so?� The baby gave her a �you should�ve known� look and kept on until Cosmos took her finger back and reached for the bottle. He began to whimper again and it turned into soft crying when he got no response. Cosmos, since both hands were full, took a drink from the bottle herself to test it. � Doesn�t taste too bad. I could get used to it myself.� She gave it to Duo, who put the rubber nipple in his mouth, pulled it out and eyed it, then began to suck at it as he had done to Cosmos� finger earlier. � Well you either like it or you can�t stand it but you�re too hungry to care.� Duo smiled around the bottle and reached up with one hand to pat her cheek softly. Shinigami stood to the side, observing silently. <I wonder if Lily would�ve looked like Cosmos, been as absorbed in his motions as Cosmos.> He brushed away a stray tear that had gotten past his defenses. Luckily, his back was to the other Reapers. Cosmos raised her head in concern and discreetly watched Shinigami. <He looks so sad. It must hurt to see this.> She finally met his gaze and nodded once very slowly. <I understand, Shinigami-sama.> He smiled back and went to take Duo. She gave him up without a fuss and took the empty bottle from the baby to wash. Shinigami placed Duo against his shoulder to burp him and then held him in one arm while going over some papers. He suddenly received short notice on an incoming soul. Shinigami grabbed his scythe and moved to the doors, completely forgetting his �passenger� until the Reaper and soul were appearing. This treated the newcomers to Shinigami staring in surprise at a small boy in his arm that couldn�t�ve been more than fifteen months old. The soul laughed at the sight and the Reaper giggled. Shinigami blushed and went through the standard procedure, wondering how he�d live this down because that particular Reaper was a notorious gossip. He let out a sigh and bounced Duo gently, making the child laugh and clutch his robe tighter. Shinigami smiled and put his face down close to Duo�s. The two touched noses for a while and then Duo hugged Shinigami�s head. � Daddy.� Shinigami smiled. The first word was again a happy experience. Too bad Cosmos hadn�t been there to hear it. She�d be a little upset, but that�d make her all the more determined to see Duo walk. Just then Cosmos appeared. She seemed to sense that she�d miss something. � Did something happen?� � Duo spoke.� Cosmos seemed to materialize at his side. � What�d he say?� � Daddy.� Cosmos laughed and gave Duo�s little forehead a kiss. � Sorry I missed it. But I�ll be around for the next miracle!� She stopped and sighed. � Halcyon just won�t leave me alone.� � I don�t want to say it, but I�ve got a lot of work to do that requires two hands. Why don�t you take him with you this time?� � Okay.� Cosmos carefully took Duo, not saying anything when Shinigami held on a bit longer than was necessary. � I�ll bring him right back, all right, Shinigami-sama? No detours.� � No no. Don�t worry about me. Go on and have fun.� � Shinigami-sama, you know you�re going to miss him.� � But you shouldn�t have to be shuttling him back and forth. Look, you keep him at night and bring him back in the morning. I�ll watch him all day.� � You�ll regret that idea, Shinigami-sama,� Cosmos warned. � But if that�s what you want, I�ll do it.� � I�ll let you know if I want you to bring him back.� Cosmos shrugged and returned to the castle. � All right, Halcyon. What do you want now?� � Don�t talk to me that way! Since you�re the calmest about this, I�m going to be calling for you a lot!� � Well what is it that you can�t handle?� � He won�t stop wiggling!� � Hold his ankles.� � Nani?� � Hold his ankles.� Cosmos demonstrated. � Like so.� � How am I supposed to do that with only two hands?� Letting Duo climb up to sit behind her head on her shoulders and hold onto her braid, Cosmos held Zechs� legs so Halcyon could put the diaper on. � Honto, Halcyon. You being the oldest I thought you�d know something about babies.� � I do! They�re annoying and cry a lot. Like you.� � Oi! Don�t go there! I could leave you high and dry, no da!� Cosmos reached up to take Duo�s little hands in her thumbs and index fingers. � I�m getting Duo something to keep him busy.� � Cosmos, how many diapers have you changed?� Airia asked, bouncing Heero gently on her knee. He seemed to be enjoying himself; the happy laughter was unmistakable. � �Bout three.� � Must�ve been trouble.� � Not really. Duo responds very well to what�s said to him.� � What do you mean?� |