| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 42 Duo landed silently and ducked into the brush as Cosmos turned toward the wind, which just happened to be the direction he�d come from. <What�s she doing so far out here? What could possibly be so important--or destructive--that she couldn�t do at home?> The breeze picked up and Cosmos closed her eyes and lifted her head. She spread her wings slowly, wincing and hissing in pain as they cracked and popped in protest. The feathers rustled quietly as the wind ruffled them, seeming to dance in the air. <What in Hell is she doing? Trying to recreate flight?> A burst of wind came through the trees, lifting Cosmos off the ground and high into the sky. <Is she trying to kill herself?!> She kept her eyes closed and just felt, tipping slightly in one direction or another to keep moving �forward�. <Okay, she�s doing fine. But what�s the point of this? She�s not going anywhere and she�s not sight-seeing or else she�d have her eyes open.> The gust died and Cosmos slowly floated back to the ground. She waited for the next air burst, letting it carry her into the sky again. <So she�s playing around. Hm. At least her wings aren�t as much trouble as before.> The wind picked up in a quick blast. Cosmos was battered helplessly, even though her wings flapped furiously to keep her upright. <Her wings are too weak! She hasn�t used them for so long that now they can�t do anything except hold her up! Damn!> As Cosmos fell, Duo exploded from his hiding place after her. He barely caught her without becoming prey to the wind as well. � Cosmos?!� She opened her eyes and blinked. � Huh?� � Daijibou desu ka?� � Hai, daijibou. Why did you follow me?� � Because I worried.� He kissed her nose. � Let�s go home. It�s too cold for you to be out here dressed like that.� Cosmos didn�t seem adverse to the idea. Her only request was: � I want to fly.� � But Cosmos---� � Please Duo? I can do it. I just need a little work and time.� � . . .� � Onegai?� � . . . All right. But if you lose control just once, I�m carrying you the rest of the way.� � Agreed.� Duo held Cosmos� hands until her wings held her up on their own. � See? They�re stronger already.� Duo nodded. � Hai, but what if another gust came along?� � I�d be in deep shit,� Cosmos answered immediately. He laughed. � I�ll keep you steady. I promise.� Several gasps alerted them to new presences. They turned to stare at their comrades, who were staring at Cosmos. � Terestria, you promised!� Cosmos cried, the hurt evident in her voice at the betrayal. � Don�t get upset, Cosmos,� Halcyon ordered. � I pulled rank and made her tell me.� Duo took Cosmos� hand and tugged it. � Come on,� he said softly when she finally looked at him. � Home.� Nodding, Cosmos headed in the direction of the castle. *~*~* � Oi, Shinigami-sama! Guess what?� Shinigami yawned as he lifted his head to look at her. � You wouldn�t like my guess if you heard it. You might as well just tell me.� Cosmos snorted. � Is that all you ever worry about?� � Hai---Iie! How dare you suggest that!� Duo snickered. � Actually, it was my suggestion.� Shinigami looked back and forth between the identical grins of evil and heaved a tolerating sigh. � Okay, what is it?� Cosmos giggled, then calmed herself before lifting carefully into the air, stopping just short of the ceiling between two stalactites. � See?� Shinigami�s mouth fell open as he watched Cosmos float near the ceiling, her wings beating once at regular intervals to keep her up. � How . . .?� � I didn�t give up,� she answered with a small smile. � Sou, but don�t put her in a strong wind.� Cosmos glared down at Duo. � That�s not my fault! The feathers haven�t finished growing yet!� � But you never tried before . . .� Shinigami objected quietly. � Because the feathers hadn�t grown back in enough for me to try. And as a result of my wait, the bones locked, which is why it caused pain when I opened them.� Shinigami eventually stood and went over to where Cosmos was slowly lowering herself back to the floor. He caught her before she touched the floor and hugged her. � I was so sure you�d never fly again,� he whispered, glad the Reapers weren�t there as he began to cry. � I know I was wrong now. I�m glad I was. My little angel has her wings back.� Cosmos tightened her arms momentarily around Shinigami�s neck, not at all frightened that she was a foot off the ground. The shoulder under her chin jumped and she frowned as she leaned back. Softly, she brushed away the tears falling from the Death God�s eyes. � Those better be happy tears.� Shinigami pulled her in for another hug. � They are,� he assured her. � They are, Lady Shinigami.� Cosmos smiled widely and gave Shinigami�s cheek a kiss. � Domo arigatou, Otousan.� Duo stood off to the side. He shook his head. � Chotto matte. Did I miss something important?� Cosmos laughed. � You�re too much, Duo!� |