| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 40 The Killer Souls shrieked and bunched together again as if sharing all their agony with each other. When the lightning finished crackling around them, they unbunched and glared at Shinigami through green eyes dimmed by their gray selves. Cosmos observed this with interest. <They�re tired! It hurt them! They must have melded to keep from getting trashed!> She stood and pushed past Shinigami. � I think I know what it is!� � Be careful, Cosmos.� She stood in her best balance position and looked over the hoard of Killer Souls. � All right you little shits, here�s the deal. You�re dead. But since you won�t stay that way, I�m going to kill you again!� She gathered her strength and made it tangible. <I hope I can remember how the incantation goes.> In her light voice, she sang the words as she recalled them. � Je nora benat senar akaneris!� Her wings flared, cracking and popping audibly. Cosmos gave a pained cry, but didn�t falter. She focused the raw power on the Killer Souls and almost fell over as the concentrated beam left her heel-touching hands. When the beam died down, it was evident that the Killer Souls were gone. Cheers broke out and everyone congratulated each other. Cosmos� wings dropped toward the ground and hung limply. � Cosmos?� Duo asked softly. She turned and they could all see the tears on her face. � It hurts,� she murmured. Her eyes closed and she fell forward. Duo easily caught her and settled on the ground. He calmly brushed her hair out of her face and rubbed her shoulders where her wings were. � Is she okay?� Shinigami asked. � Hai,� Duo answered softly. � It was just the pain from her wings made her pass out. That�s all.� Shinigami sighed heavily and dropped to his knees. � Every time . . . I get so disgusted with myself . . .� Duo gently folded Cosmos� wings, despite her whimpers of pain. � It�s all right, Otousan. It can�t be changed.� Shinigami took Cosmos and held her in his lap. � That�s not it. It doesn�t matter that you can forgive me, though I do appreciate it, but I can�t forgive myself. And if I can�t forgive myself, then I�m worthless. Every time I see her wince for no particular reason, I know she was testing her wings and I have to leave because it drives me mad watching her stare at the sky, wishing to fly again.� � Otousan,� Duo said sternly. � Cosmos doesn�t want you to be unhappy. You told me that yourself. She knows you�re faking all those smiles and it�s made her snappy recently. If you don�t pull yourself out of that pit of self-loathing you like to wallow in I will do what I told Cosmos I�d do!� Shinigami stared at his son in disbelief. � You�d . . .� Duo nodded solemnly. � Otousan, I really don�t want to. I�m not eager to take your place. But the incoming souls depend on you to welcome them and make them feel safe. If you can�t do that for your own Reaper, how do you think the souls feel?� <How did he get to be so wise?> Shinigami nodded in return. � I understand. Just . . . I don�t know . . . give me a few days.� Duo speared him with a look. � You have five seconds.� � Nani?!� � Four . . .� � Why do I only get a few seconds?!� � Three . . .� � This is insane!� � Two . . .� Duo�s voice had taken on a warning tone. � Okay, fine.� � One . . .� � This better work.� � Time�s up! Wanna know why I only gave you five seconds?� � It would be nice to know.� Duo pointed at Cosmos and then fell over backwards to lay on the floor in a more comfortable position. He whistled innocently as Cosmos stirred. Cosmos rolled and blinked. � Itai . . . Bright light. What happened? . . . Oh yeah. The Killer Souls.� She sat up. � Are they gone?� � They�re gone,� Shinigami assured her. � I killed them?� � Hai.� Cosmos sat, stunned. � Wow. What did I do?� � Don�t ask me, C-chan. It was something I�ve never heard before. I�m sure you�ll recall it in time.� Duo bolted upright. � �C-chan�?� He pointed his finger at Cosmos and began to laugh behind his other hand. � �C-chan�!� Cosmos rolled her eyes. � Ugh.� She pushed him over. � Grow up.� Duo fell back into the mist, cackling. � Love it!� Shinigami snorted. � You should be laughing, D-chan.� Duo sat up. � Nani?!� Cosmos smirked. � Oh, come on, �D-chan�. I think it�s cute.� � I�m not a -chan! I�m a -kun!� � -sama!� the Reapers and Angels conversing at the other side of the room chorused suddenly. Duo clutched at his heart and faked choking noises as he fell over again. � A -kun! I�m a -kun!� � You make it sound like a breed of animal.� Duo shot Cosmos a glare. � Urusai.� Cosmos pouted and her eyes filled with tears. She let out a loud wail and let Shinigami hug her. � All I ever do is . . . what you ask of me, but you . . . you never treat me like I�m worth anything!� she sobbed. There seemed to be something fishy about this display, but Duo felt bad anyway. He put his hand on Cosmos� shoulder but she shrugged him off. Then, without warning, she rammed her elbow into his face. He tipped over yet again, holding his nose. � You hit his face!� Shinigami hissed. Cosmos whirled around and crawled up to Duo�s head. � Gomen nasai, Duo! I didn�t mean to get your nose!� She grabbed his wrist and tugged. � Let me see if it�s bleeding.� Dazed, Duo could do little more than comply. He winced and groaned in distress as Cosmos pressed around the bridge of his nose. � Itai . . .� � Nothing seems wrong,� Cosmos mused out loud. � Sit, Duo.� Duo rose with Cosmos� help and watched her, his eyes a bit unfocused. � I do believe it�s safe to say that I should never piss you off again. You hit hard and then act all innocuous.� Cosmos kissed his nose and hugged him. � Gomen nasai, Duo. I honestly wasn�t aiming for your face.� Duo reached up as though to return the hug, but grabbed Cosmos� ribs instead and began to tickle her mercilessly. � Sucker!� |