| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 35 Duo snapped back to reality. � Uh?� He shook his head. � Uh-uh.� She snorted. � Don�t lie to me. It�s my job to know. I just don�t understand why you�re upset.� Duo sighed and decided to tell her. � It�s . . . the way you�re standing.� Cosmos� face screwed up in confusion. � How could my . . .� She suddenly grinned evilly and wiggled her butt. � That help any?� � Cosmos!� She straightened up and laughed. � Now I know how to torture you!� � Then you better be ready for me to jump you.� Cosmos stopped. � Really?� He nodded. � Gee, Duo. I didn�t know you lusted after me like that.� The grin returned. � Want me to make you feel better?� Duo eyed her warily. � What would you do?� � Leave.� Duo felt slightly panicked. � Leave where?� � Here. I�d just go back inside until you�re in control again and then you can ogle me some more when you think I�m not looking.� Duo blanched. � Oh yes, I know you�re checking me out. I�ve seen you do it numerous times. You can�t keep things from me, Duo. I�m a very observant person.� � Sou, demo---� � Don�t try to prove me wrong. You�ll lose. I know I�m right and you know I�m right.� Duo closed his eyes and sighed defeatedly, letting his chin drop to his chest. � I shall always be tortured.� Cosmos moved behind him and made him sit while she unravelled his braid. � Duo . . . How should I put this? . . . Duo, you are a prince. I am not even what could be considered nobility.� She ran her fingers through his hair as she thought of an appropriate word for her position. � I�m a . . . I�m probably something along the lines of a low-class peasant.� He turned his head slightly to look at her out of the corner of his eye. � And you�re saying this because . . .� � I know you love me.� He fell back into her lap and gazed up at her. � Hai, I do.� � Your otousan may think of me as his daughter, but he would never let us have any kind of relationship.� Duo growled. � Fuck him.� Cosmos pulled back in surprise. � Huh?� � You heard me. Cosmos, my okaasan was just like you. A Reaper, a Mystik, and positively stunning to behold. If my otousan can have some kind of relationship with one of his own Reapers, then I don�t see what�s wrong with me having a relationship with a girl who�s a Reaper, a Mystik, and very gorgeous.� � But your okaasan was an upper-level Reaper. As high on the ranking ladder as one can get besides being Shinigami. I�m not even a middle-class Reaper.� � Why not?� Cosmos continued to play with his hair in an unconscious gesture of worry. � I don�t know. I never asked and the information was never supplied. It doesn�t matter anyhow, since the other Reapers all listen to me. I�ve been in the business longer than most of them.� � I don�t care.� � I know you don�t. But your otousan does.� � He can�t do anything!� � He can too. He can give you a new guard and partner me with someone who�ll follow me wherever I go and tattle if I don�t do as I�m told.� � I�m a lot stronger than my otousan. He told me so himself. I don�t want to, but if I have to keep him from separating us, I�ll do whatever it takes.� � Please don�t, Duo.� � I don�t want to, Cosmos, but if that�s the only way . . .� � I love it,� a third voice said abruptly. Cosmos and Duo looked up and around, but the speaker wasn�t visible. Duo stood. � Come out!� he ordered. � I want to see your face!� The voice was laughing this time. � I love it!� The air blackened, shimmered, and solidified. Shinigami was grinning stupidly. � It�s perfect.� Both Duo and Cosmos were at a loss for words. � How much did you hear of . . .� Duo forced out. � Everything!� Shinigami replied. He suddenly narrowed his eyes at Duo and said dangerously, � Are you planning to overthrow me?� Duo leaned back and held his arms out. � Iie! I was just . . . I . . . uh . . .� � What are you talking about?� Cosmos asked Shinigami. � Huh? Oh.� Shinigami straightened and cleared his throat. � Duo, Cosmos, I am not going to separate you. Actually, I think it�s about time you two got your act together.� � Nani?� � But Shinigami-sama, I�m not---� � Is that all you know? What you aren�t?� Shinigami snapped. Cosmos blinked. � Anou---� � Look. To allay your fears, you�re not a lower-class Reaper as you�ve led yourself to believe.� � Led myself---?� � Do you clearly remember me telling you your rank?� � Iie---� � Then you�re assuming, which can be a bad thing. To be completely honest, Cosmos, you�re �rank� is equal to Duo�s and mine.� � How---� � Your otousan.� � What do you---� � I know I have a lot of explaining to do and you�ll have to forgive me for not telling you before. I probably would�ve never gotten around to it if you and Duo hadn�t formed the thing you have for each other.� � So---� � Anyway, this is the story.� Shinigami paused and looked at Cosmos. � You ready?� She nodded. � You better sit down.� |