Chapter 7

For you are never fully in control

Every review I had commented upon how sweet that bit with Viper was, I even surprised myself. I finished writing it and thought, 'aww sweet' too! I'm so happy that you all like what I'm writing.

As Viper wakes up the next morning, she wonders what else is in the bed with her. Fantasma has his own cage on the other side of the room to sleep in. She had never had anyone else in the bed with her before. Rolling over, she looks at the source of the warmth and realises that it's the baby. He had stayed. Of course, it wasn't like he could have gone anywhere, but that slipped her mind.

'Another hour in bed won't hurt,' she thinks as she brings the sleeping child closer to her and in return it moved closer to her, firmly grabbing her night dress.

Half an hour later, someone dares to open her door and take a peek inside. They were welcomed into her room by a knife inches from their nose. Said intruder immediately closes the door and the knife disintegrates into mist.

Luce didn't mind about the knife all too much. She had faced worse in her time as the boss of Giglio Nero before being an Arcobaleno. She did, however, wish that she had a camera on her. She could have blackmailed Viper forever with that one shot. Squealing into her hands, she skips down the stairs to inform the others that Viper is taking good care of the baby and will be down later.

When Viper does eventually come down, baby in her arms, it's time for lunch. Which isn't surprising for her. However, it's when she sees Fon go and change the baby and Verde start to feed it with a bottle of milk made by Luce, that she is reminded of Lal's shout from last night. Even though she was outside the house, she could still hear Lal shout. Must be the Army Training. "Why do we have to line up for this brat?"

She found it infinitely amusing that this baby had everyone wrapped around it's little finger. 'There he goes again,' She laughs to herself. Tsunayoshi had just finished being fed when he reached out for Skull. And since this baby wasn't being denied anything, it was immediately passed into the Stunt man's hands.

Skull was ecstatic that the baby had asked for him specifically. Since he had finished his own lunch, Skull took the baby and moved to the living room. Laying out flat on the longest sofa, he supports the baby into a sitting position on his chest. "So, what do you want to do?" he asks the baby. Tsunayoshi leans forwards and grabs the chain attached to his lip. He shakes his hand, making the chain jangle and lets out a cheer. But getting over excited, Tsunayoshi pulls too hard and Skull lets out a yelp.

There is a snigger from the doorway. "Even the child attacks you," says Reborn, looking superior as always. But it's totally the opposite. Tsunayoshi couldn't look anymore heartbroken. His eyes got wider, if that's even possible, and he tears up. He immediately lets go of the chain and hugs Skull's chest. Tiny high pitch whimpers resonate from the boy and Skull places one hand on the baby's back as Tsunayoshi shakes. Turning his back on Reborn, Skull rolls over and brings his knees up to the back of the sofa. Tsunayoshi slides off in the process and curls up in the space between Skull and the back of the sofa, still crying his eyes out.

"Tsunayoshi," Skull whispers gently. Watery liquid chocolate eyes look his way, tears streaming like a waterfall. Pulling his sleeve down, Skull wipes the baby's tears up. "It's alright. I'm fine, okay. So smile Tsunayoshi, or you'll make me sad." And he gives the baby a huge smile. Tsunayoshi looks Skull directly in the eyes and tilts his head as if thinking. After a long while of thinking, Tsunayoshi tilts his head the other way and give a small smile. When Skull pats his head and his smile remains, Tsunayoshi's smile grows.

So, deciding that everything is alright now, Tsunayoshi curls up and falls asleep. All that crying made him tired.

For the rest of the day, Tsunayoshi wouldn't leave Skull's side as if repenting for his misdeed. When Luce decided it was time for bed and took the child, Tsunayoshi immediately screamed and reached out for the stuntman.

"Fine," pouts Luce in fake anger. "I get it, I'm not good enough. I'll just leave you alone," and she walks into her room.

"You know, you don't wanna make Mamma Luce mad. You'd best sleep with her next." Advises Skull as he walks into his room with the child. Skull swears that he sees the child roll his eyes. But that's not possible. Babies don't know what that means, they have no reason for that gesture. Putting it up to his tired eyes playing tricks on him, Skull lays the baby down before getting changed.

"You're going to be different from the others. I know you are. You're the first person ever to cry for me... As nice as Luce and Fon are, they do nothing to stop Reborn and Colonnello tormenting me." He sits down on the bed, smiling gently at the baby. "But you regretted your actions, and I thank you for that. Maybe one day, when you're older, I'll take you flying." His eyes fill with an excited gleam, whilst he raises a hand in the air. "We'll go out on my motorbike, drive fast and free, over the roads and over the air, and I'll show you there's more to me than the others think." He lowers his hand to his lap, balling it into a fist. Slowly, he sighs. "Whilst my body is indestructible, my heart is not, and I hope that you can fill in the cracks the others have made. For I don't know how much longer I can take this."

This time, it's Tsunayoshi's turn to wipe the tears away. Gently patting Skull's cheek, Tsunayoshi then reaches out as if for a hug. And Skull is more than willing to oblige.

See you all soon!

Phantom Hitman 1412

First Published 24 March 2012.

Edited 27 February 2013