Changes-Cry Baby

AN: *sigh* don't own Moon Child characters...oh, by the way, this one is set before the end of Measuring Tape seeing as Measuring Tape spanned quite a bit of time. Inspired by the fact Kei said Sho was a cry baby.

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"Ahhhh!!" Kei was up and running towards the terrified screams before Shinji even registered the terror drenched sound. Easily jumping over the six foot wall into the ally behind where they lived Kei looked to the right to see Sho huddling in a quivering bundle by some crates as a massive dog towered over him, spit drooling from his gnashing jaw as it barked at the trembling boy. A blur, Kei leapt towards the dog, grabbing it by the scruff of its neck and through it over the opposite wall where it landed with a pig like 'yelp'. Instantly there was a 'sniffling thing' attached desperately to his leg. With a sigh that was no where near to covering the extent of his relief, Kei leaned down and picked up the young boy who hid his face in Kei neck, continuing to sniffle. Kei could feel the tears slide down his neck.

"Ah, you are such a cry baby Sho..." Kei whispered as he hugged Sho who began to mumble something along the lines of 'I'm NOT crying!', though he didn't move his face from the safety of Kei's neck.

*

"Not again Sho..." Kei sighed as he knelt in front of the quivering boy who instantly pressed his tear stained face against Kei's chest. Giving a chaste kiss to the boys forehead Kei gently picked up Sho's small hand in his own, not daring to breathe.

Blood.

It was so tantalizing that its scent nearly overwhelmed him but Kei fought down his hunger ruthlessly, picking up a damp clothe as he gently wiped the blood away to reveal a shallow cut.

"It's not that bad Sho..." Kei comforted as he gently caressed Sho's wet cheeks, rubbing away the tears that exaggerated the small cut on his palm.

"Kei..." Sho whimpered, folding his small arms around the vampire, demanding a hug. With another sigh Kei pulled the small boy tightly to him.

*

"Ahhh!" Sho squealed, abandoning his water fight with Toshi as he dropped his water pistol and began to run, headless chicken style, around the small yard tears sparking on his cheeks.

"KEI!" He yelled as he hid behind the laughing Toshi before letting out a panicked 'yelp' and took to running about the yard again.

Kei's dark eyes squinted as he slouched into the yard, his hands hidden within gloves as they held a newspaper above his head to try and stay out of the cursed suns rays.

"You called..." He drawled, raising an eyebrow as he watched Sho run about in his 'Batman' swimming trunks before he tripped over the hose pipe and fell flat on his face.

"Kei!" Sho warbled holding out shaking hands towards the blonde man before he hid under hem, but not before Kei saw his tear stained face. Sighting Kei walked over to the young boy, making sure to keep the newspaper above his head.

"What's wrong Sho?" Kei whispered as he crouched before the shaking boy, leaning forward to hear his muffled words.

"It...Its a...a..." Kei didn't need to hear the end of the stuttering sentence as he could already hear the faint sound of one of Sho's worst fears. Kei's shoulders slumped as he smiled crookedly down at the boy who peeked desperately up at him through his arms.

"C'mere Sho." Kei urged, letting go of one side of the newspaper so that it lay on his head as, one armed, he held Sho against him.

"Now...Ssssh...If you don't move it will leave you along..." Kie continued to comfort as he heard what had caused Sho to once again cry fly closer towards them. A whimper whispered from Sho as he watched the yellow and black demon fly towards him causing Kei to hold Sho tighter to him as the small boy cried at the sight of a bee.

"Look Sho..." Kei whispered in his ear causing Sho to peek out of his hiding place in Kei's shirt to watch as the bee hovered by them for a few moments before, almost drunkenly, flying over the wall and away.

"See Sho, if you just stay calm and leave it alone it wont do anything to you." Kei said with a smile as he smoothed Sho's rumbled locks and crushed away the glittering tears on his cheek.

"Nah! Sho will always be a crybaby!" Toshi cackled, making Sho's head snap up from its comfortable position on Kei's chest to glare irritably as his friend.

"I'm NOT crying!" He huffed as he wiped the said tears of his cheek.

*

Kei woke slowly to the gentle tug on his shirt. His eyes took in the darkness of the room around him, the faint breeze caressing his face and the scent of Sho's that enveloped his senses.

"Ahh...Sho, what is it?" Kei whispered, turning over to look at the shivering boy who stood by his bed his face hid in shadows, yet he didn't answer. A gentle smile tugged at Kei mouth as he held out a hand to the quivering boy.

"C'mere..." He whispered, smiling fully as the boy took his hand and allowed himself to be pulled into the bed, the covers quickly pulled to his chin.

"Did you have another nightmare?" Kei asked, running his hand over Sho's soft hair which now brushed his shoulders, the other soothingly caressing the side of his face where he could feel the wet traces of tears. A hesitant nod answered him. Huddling the boy closer to him Kei slipped down the bed until he was face to face with Sho, clearly able to see the tears slipping down his cheeks and his trembling lips.

"What was it about Sho?" Sho raised large mahogany eyes to his protector, his voice soft...scared.

"You...you died Kei..." Kei stared wide eyed at the little boy in front of him before he relaxed back into the bed, ruffling Sho's hair.

"Well...I cant see that happening anytime soon do you?" He smiled, but Sho continued to stare hauntingly at him.

"You died Kei, and I as all alone...you'd left me..." Kei blinked. Sho was scared about loosing me? The monster? Kei sighed, leaning his forhead on Sho's who had begun to cry again, quietly.

"Sho, I promise you. I will never leave you." Sho's shining eyes stared desperately up at him, his little hands clutching his shirt.

"Really Kei?"

"Really, really." Kei replied earnestly, smiling as he twined pinkies with Sho. With a whispered giggle Sho hugged Kei before snuggling up against him and hogging the covers.

"Ah, so now you're going to sleep."Kei drawled as he shifted until he was comfortable, with one arm around Sho.

"Y'know', he whispered sleepily as Sho lay his cheek on his chest, 'you really are a cry baby." And for once Sho made no reply but just sat watching as Kei slowly went back to sleep. Hesitantly he raised a hand and drew it gently, curiously, through Kei's soft blonde hair before he rested his head under Kei's chin, closing his eyes.

"I'll always cry as long as you are here to comfort me Kei..."