Author's Note: In which Nygus is in no mood to be paternal.

Chapter 2: Playing House

This wasn't happening.

It couldn't be happening… Not at this time… Not on this day.

Rolling onto one side, Sid stared blearily in the dark at his alarm clock, trying to ignore the sound that was penetrating his sleep clouded mind. He stared at the clock blankly once his eyes adjusted, noting that it was half past one before he rolled over and stared groggily at the crying infant lying in the make shift bed next to his. It was only the third night that he had taken the child in and he already wanted to put the kid in a basket and leave him on someone's doorstep. He was 12 years old and a student. He needed his sleep!

Kicking off his blankets, he picked up the child and shuffled his way to the kitchen, grabbing one of the bottles that Marie had come by and made a few of earlier in the day. Nygus had turned away the offer to learn, stating she wasn't a mother and had no intention on learning such things in the prime of her life. Marie had taken offense to the statement and had crushed a few bottles in her rage during the demonstration she was giving.

Popping the bottle into the child's mouth, he was thankful for the silence and promptly dropped on the living room couch, propping the baby up properly and leaning back sleepily. "Go to sleep, Black Star… You can't expect to become a great assassin if you're awake at such hours." He muttered tiredly. He smiled tiredly when he saw the blue haired baby staring at him intently while sucking on his bottle. He wondered if the child would always be this observant, despite the active content kicks of his feet at the moment. Clearly he'd be an energetic tyke. He had a lot of plans for this baby. He'd raise him up to know the ways of the assassin so that when he started at Shibusen himself, he and his partner would be a force to be reckoned with. He'll be the one to create a new image for a cursed clan.

He wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, but crying snapped the knife instantly from his sleep. He sat up, careful not to toss Black Star as he moved and let out a groan. The bottle lay empty and forgotten while Black Star cried for reasons Sid wasn't completely certain of. Glancing at the clock, he frowned when he saw it was nearly 3AM. He bounced the baby around but to no avail. He wanted nothing more than to leave the child crying in the living room, put in ear plugs and sleep since he had to be at the academy by7, but Nygus would surely rip him a new one if he tried such a thing.

Groaning miserably, he walked around the apartment, bouncing the child, attempting to sooth, and failing. Shooting a glance tiredly at the clock on the fall wall, he felt dread take over. It was nearly 4. His attention turned back down to the crying bundle in his arms. Why did the brat choose a school night to want to cry his lungs out? Becoming anxious, Sid cast his eyes in the direction of his partner's room. On any other occasion, he would have kept it moving and figured things out on his own, considering the hour, but he was becoming desperate and maybe he looked pitiful enough to get through to his thick skinned partner. Looking between the baby and Nygus's room door, it became clear what he would have to do.

Tapping cautiously on the door, though there was no real point to be silent with a screaming child in his arms, Sid waited for a response. A few moments passed and he lifted his hand to knock louder, when the door flung open and he meet with the blistering blue gaze of his groggy partner. Her teeth were clenched and her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What do you want?" she grounded out. Without hesitation, he held Black Star, who was hiccupping through cries now, out towards the glowering weapon.

"Help me." He was practically begging her with his eyes. Her stare hardened much to his dismay.

"You wanted to play house. Figure it out yourself. I have sleep to get." She snapped and slammed her room door. Sid would never know that she had faltered for a moment, ready to turn around and help him out a bit as he sat on the couch, tears of gloom welling up in his eyes.

"Stop crying!" he cried out. The child blinked suddenly, the crying instantly halting. He and Sid, once again stared at each other blankly before a gurgle sounded from the child, but not from his mouth. Sid blinked blankly as a content looked crossed the baby's face and a smell filled the air. "Gross." After a swift change, Sid dropped onto the couch, not bothering to walk to his room and allowed Black Star to rest against his chest. Muttering sleepily incoherent words to the drifting child, the pair fell asleep on the couch.

"Hey," Cracking an eye open, he stared blankly at Nygus, who was looking back down at him, fully dressed an expectant. "It's time to get ready for school… I can go ahead with Black Star if you like." Allowing his other eye to open, he noticed she had an extra bag slung over her shoulder.

"What time is it?"

"6:30. I know you had a hard time last night so I let you sleep in a bit." She informed. Carefully, she moved his arm and picked up Black Star who had been curled up against her meister. He wasn't sure if it was because his mind was still a sleep haze, but Sid couldn't help but to continue staring at the always stoic female as she handled the ninja baby with care. She had rarely dealt with him since they brought him home so he was pleased to see the maternal side of her. "Shinigami made arrangements for someone to watch him while we're in class… Sid, are you listening?" Nodding distractedly, he pushed himself up.

"Yeah, I'm listening… Thanks Nygus." She paused and allowed a slight smile to cross her face.

"Just get ready. I'll meet you at school." She said. Sid smiled a little as he watched her walk out. Maybe she was coming to terms with the fact playing house wasn't too bad.