| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 31 Several days passed and the girls finally got used to seeing the guys as little babies. Halcyon quit yelling and they all had a room magically enhanced to form a �holding pen� so they could leave the guys there for a while while they did something else that couldn�t include them. Cosmos had taken Duo outside to enjoy the day. She sat against a tree near the Deveraux Gorge, watching Duo and warning him away from the edge. It was going well . . . Until the ledge under Duo collapsed. He gave a surprised cry and Cosmos dove after him, crushing him to her lithe body and curling around him. He began to cry as they fell the twenty feet to the bottom, realizing they were in danger. Curling into his own ball, Duo sucked at one of Cosmos� finger to calm them both. It worked on Duo�s end, but Cosmos was stifling the natural urge to tense. <If I stay as loose as possible, it�s less likely that something will get broken. That�s right Nova, just relax.> She hit the bottom on her back and felt something crack. <Oh please don�t let that be my spine. Please no.> They bounced off the gorge wall numerous times, Cosmos taking all of the impact. They hit tree roots and protruding rocks, giving Cosmos various scratches and scrapes. When it was finally over and Cosmos had quit rolling and had fallen to her side, she listened for Ferals and Duo�s young voice, but Duo wasn�t making a sound. � Duo?� she whispered. � Aa?� he replied quietly, sensing the need for as much silence as possible. � Daijibou desu ka?� � Hai.� � Good. Now we have to be quiet, okay? Until I can get us out of here.� � Hai.� Then there was complete reticence from Duo except the soft sounds of his breathing. <I can�t move. Something�s definitely broken. What the hell am I supposed to do now? The others are too far away to call and I can�t go anywhere like this. I guess I�ll just have to sit here and wait. I hope Duo doesn�t start crying for whatever reason. We�ll be in deeper shit then.> *~*~* <Now what�s wrong with me? Why can�t I concentrate? I have a job to do!> Shinigami glanced around, but all the Reapers were there. All but Cosmos. <But she�s all right. If she were in trouble she�d�ve called or something.> Then that nagging voice in the back of his head added with a worried tone, <But what if she can�t call? What if she�s somewhere unconscious or bleeding to death or---> Shinigami stood up and pointed at an older Reaper. � I�m going to check on Cosmos. You�re in charge.� � Hai, Shinigami-sama.� Automatically grabbing his scythe, Shinigami disappeared. *~*~* <Iie! Not Ferals! Shimatta, how�d they find us?!> Cosmos leaned in closer to Duo�s head. � Ferals are coming, Duo,� she murmured. � Do you know what those are?� He nodded. � Perfect. No matter what happens, don�t cry, all right?� Another nod. � No matter what happens or if you get hurt, don�t cry.� A third nod. Duo curled up further and pushed against her stomach. � That�s right, Duo. Good. Stay just like that. I�ll protect you. I won�t let anything happen to you.� The pack of Ferals came around the turn in the gorge, noses in the air. They lowered their heads to stare at her, then trotted slowly forward, fanning out to surround her. <Whatever happens,> Cosmos begged whoever would listen as the Ferals closed in, <spare Duo. If I have to die to save him, so be it. That�s my job. Just let him live.> Shinigami appeared a few feet away and saw the tight circle of Ferals fighting each other for something. He dashed forward, slicing at the beasts with precision matched by very few. When they were all dead, he turned to face their intended target. <They�re not dead. They�re not dead.> Despite his mind�s insistence, he asked shakily, � Cosmos?� There was silence. He knelt by the curled form, fearing the worst. � Cosmos?� Something moved within her grasp and slid out into the open. � Daddy?� a quiet voice inquired. � Duo!� Shinigami picked the child up, amazed that, beyond some light scratches and dirt smudges, he was totally unhurt. � Daijibou desu ka?� � Hai.� Duo then twisted to look down at Cosmos. � �Smos?� Still no answer. Shinigami set Duo down and reached for her bloody neck. <She can�t be dead. She can�t be dead. If she�s dead I�ll never get over it and Duo . . . Come on, Cosmos, I know you�re still alive. You�re strong. You�ll be okay.> Duo beat him to it. Stretching out his little arm, he patted Cosmos� blood- smeared cheek. � �Smos?� Her eyes popped open. � Duo?!� she hissed. � What are you doing?! The Ferals will get you!� She tried to grab him, but he moved away and she refused to uncurl. � Nani?!� � Daddy,� Duo replied, sitting down and looking at his reddened palm. � He�s not here, Duo! I wish he were, but that�s not possible! I�m too weak to contact anyone! Now come here before the Ferals get back!� � Iie.� � Duo!� Duo pointed at Shinigami. � Daddy.� � Duo, there are more Ferals coming! I can feel them through the ground!� � That doesn�t matter,� Shinigami said finally. � I won�t let them near you.� Cosmos twitched and her eyes shot toward the direction his voice had come from. � Shinigami-sama?!� He touched her shoulder gently and hesitantly, not sure if there was a wound there or not under all the blood. � I�m right here, Cosmos.� She let out a breath. � I can�t move. When I hit the rocks over there something cracked or snapped and since I couldn�t tell what it was I�ve been too afraid to try and fight it to uncurl.� � It�s okay. I�ll take care of everything from here on.� He looked up. � Duo.� The child climbed his side with ludicrous ease and crawled into the Death God�s robe�s hood. He peeked over his father�s shoulder at Cosmos and waved as he smiled. � �Smos!� She managed a small wave in return, wincing as pain lanced through her. She curled further in on herself, the only movement that didn�t hurt. � Itai . . .� Shinigami carefully picked her up and held her against him. Leaning down to her head, he murmured softly. � Relax, Cosmos. I won�t let anything get you.� Even quieter, he added, � Heika.� Cosmos looked at him, half stunned, half skeptical. � I don�t like the way your eyes are so glassy.� He freed one hand enough to wave it over her face. � Get some sleep.� Though she fought valiantly, Cosmos� eyes closed and she slept. |