Chapter 4

Morning came.

Eclairs has woke up. She was still laying on Milo's chest and moved her hands and legs just like other babies usually did.

Couple minutes later Milo opened his blue eyes as well. He immediately looked at the creature in his arms and smiled warmly.

"You're awake, young lady?"

Eclairs laughed and kept moving her legs and hands.

Milo then hugged her, carried her in his arms, and walked entering his temple. "There's still plenty of food Uncle Alde—"

He didn't continue.

He stopped his steps when seeing somebody was sleeping on his couch.

"Camus?" he murmured as he approached his couch and shook Camus's shoulder lightly to wake him up.

Camus opened his eyes slowly.

"What are you doing here?" asked Milo, completely baffled.

"Sleeping?" murmured Camus as he switched into sit position and put his hand on his eyes for a while. He still looked very sleepy.

"In my temple?" Milo asked again.

"Hmmm…," murmured Camus incoherently.

Milo chuckled slightly and walked to the kitchen still with the baby in his arms. He washed his face for a while before preparing the breakfast. "You wanted to check, didn't you?" he asked.

Camus didn't answer. After he fully gained his consciousness, he stood up and walked slowly to the kitchen and washed his face.

Afterwards he only looked at Milo in silent.

"You're…," he said suddenly.

Milo immediately turned his head on him. "Yes?"

"You're not an assassin."

Silence.

The only sound in that temple was only the voice of Eclairs and her incoherent baby words.

"The baby proves it," said Camus, a bit bowing his head. As usual he always looked so shy when talking about his thoughts. "I know in recent times you never stop thinking about Andromeda Island and the rest. But it was over, Milo… I mean…they indeed couldn't forgive you but…the most important is…you have asked for their apologize..."

Milo put Eclairs on the dining table, gazed at his best friend and recalled to the time when they visited Andromeda Island for the second times.

Once again they tried to ask for apologize and gave a lot of aid for the dwellers, but still their screams and swearing were just the same as before.

Assassin!

You're wicked assassin, Scorpio Milo!

Milo then stepped to his best friend and soon hugged him really tight. Camus was stricken for a while, but then he replied the hug though only with one hand.

"Thanks," Milo smiled after releasing his hug.

Camus nodded, still bowing his head. "The baby could recognize the virtue of your heart," he said then. "That's why she likes you very much."

Milo nodded as well and continued preparing the food, while Camus approached the baby to nurture her, though his eyes were still gazing at Milo.

He knew, no matter how many encouraging words he said to make him better, it would never be successful enough to erase the pain Milo had to carry on.

Minutes later, a cheerful voice came from the entrance of Scorpio temple.

"Auntie Shaina is here!"

Milo and Camus stared at each other.

That's it…

The time of babysitting was over.

Shaina appeared and immediately marched at the baby. She picked her up into her arms and shook her lightly with laughters. "How are you doing, girl? Did Uncle Milo treat you well?"

Eclairs laughed as well, seemed very happy when seeing Shaina. Once again she swung her hands up and down and hugged her auntie so tight.

"Hey!" greeted Shaina to Milo.

"Hey," Milo replied, smiling.

"What about the vanilla? Did it work?"

"Yes, Camus did very well," Milo chuckled. Camus only smiled slightly.

"Thank you very much for taking care of her, now I have to return her to her mother. Oh, here," said Shaina as she gave Milo a box. "I bought it for you."

"What is it?"

"You can open it later," she approached him and kissed his cheek briefly. "We have to go soon, sweetheart…," she said to Eclairs. "Bid Uncle Milo farewell."

Milo kissed Eclairs's cheek and smiled warmly at her.

"Goodbye, sweety," he said. "Hope to see you again."

Eclairs stopped laughing and now staring at Milo with her bright blue eyes.

Then she paid out her hands and struggled to get herself away from Shaina. "Nnnnnn…," her hands were addressing Milo.

"Ow…," said Shaina gloomily. "She didn't want to be apart from you, Milo…"

"Nnnnn…nnnnnnnnnnn…Miyo…," Eclairs started to cry.

"You have to go home, young lady," Milo grasped Eclairs' hand softly and kissed her cheek again. "You'll see your mom…"

It made no effect. Eclairs tears trickled down her cheeks and she kept addressing her hands at Milo. Shaina didn't have any choice but letting Milo carried her in his arms for a while.

"Thank you for all," Milo smiled to the baby as he hugged her softly. "Thank you for making me realizing the virtue in my heart…"

Camus watched the view silently. There was a smile on his face. Shaina was smiling as well, though minutes later she coughed slightly.

"Ehm…," coughed Shaina. "I'm jealous…"

Milo laughed, then gave the baby to Shaina and kissed both niece and auntie for the last time.

"Kidding," Shaina chuckled. "K, sweety," she told Eclairs. "We have to go now…say goodbye to Uncle Milo…"

"Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn….," Eclairs was still crying and wanted be hugged by Milo again. Shaina was in gloom as well, but she didn't have any choice; Eclairs's mother has come back and like it or not they had to go home soon. She then turned around and was about to leave Scorpio temple, but unexpectedly Eclairs's sobs got louder and louder.

"Milo, give your jacket to Shaina," suggested Camus.

Milo startled. Yes…how come he forgot it…?

He soon released his jacket, stepped at Shaina, and put the jacket on Shaina's body.

"Fragrance," said Milo.

"Oh, you're right…," said Shaina, astonished. She fixed the jacket on her body—it was too large for her, but that's ok.

And it sort of work; since the jacket has Milo's aroma and reminded Eclairs to the handsome blue-haired man, she gradually stopped crying.

Yet…though her tears has been stopped falling…her eyes still looked at Milo, even after she and her auntie has been far and farther from Scorpio temple.

In the distance, Milo could see a tear fell from Eclairs's bright blue eyes before she and Shaina were completely vanished from his sight.

…

"That's it…," smiled Milo. His eyes were filled with sadness.

Camus approached him.

"You'll meet again."

Milo nodded.

He and Camus smiled at each other, until Milo finally aware there was still the box Shaina gave him in his hand.

Milo then opened the box…

…and he laughed slightly when seeing its contents.

He knew it was Shaina who bought it and wrote something inside it, yet he felt as if the baby talked to him herself.

In the box there were eleven éclairs choux…

…and there was a piece of paper which said…

"Thank you, very much, Uncle Milo…!

I will never forget you…"

The End