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Peach was now looking at him in an expectant sort of way and she had stopped crying. Realising that her crying earlier had been nothing more than a method of telling her guardian that she required something of him; Kaito had to admit that he was impressed with the way the other had attracted the attention of her parent. Now that they were nearly close enough to touch, Kaito guessed that it was probably his turn to do his part. Stretching out his hands towards Peach to the point of almost tumbling, Kaito hoped that Gareth had got the hint and play his part as well.


The baby girl had ceased to cry when Azrael had brought her over to Kaito. So was his guess correct then? Were these babies actually capable of manipulation?

No a voice within Gareth's mind said. It's probably common sense to most parents to allow their kids to play together while they talked and equally logical for kids to cry when they desired something

But I'm not a parent another voice within Gareth's mind countered; albeit peevishly. I'm just a normal fifteen year old with an aim in life

Well, too bad then his first voice said in a shrugging sort of manner. Looks like your "aims" have got to be altered now that you've got a kid to take care of

The voices in his mind would probably continue arguing if Kaito had not begun to get restless and was on the verge of tumbling out of Gareth's arm in his determination to reach Peach. Realising it just in time, Gareth brought the blue haired baby over to Peach as well.

Now that they were finally close enough to touch, Kaito let out a gurgle of what could pass for laughter and gave Peach a playful pat on the nose. Gotcha! he seemed to say as he lurched backwards playfully in an attempt to escape a counter from Peach.

"No, not really," Gareth replied as he gave a glance at the two giggling babies. " My grandmother, she helps me take care of Kaito when I'm in school but after school, I pick the little fellow up."

Here Gareth paused and gave a tentative laugh. " When she first saw me and Kaito, I thought that all hell had broken loose or something; my eardrums are still ringing with her yells and threats because she had thought that...well...you know...I did something...bad. But my grandmother, she isn't a bad sort. Used to say that one can never have too many grandchildren around."

Then realizing that perhaps he had spoken more than he had intended to and probably more than what Azrael had wanted to know, Gareth fell silent and gazed through the window of the bus. They were nearing their intended stop. Perhaps in about ten minutes or so thought Gareth silently.

Kaito gave a small laugh as Peach came nearer. Clearly he was enjoying this game as much as the other and to tease Peach further, Kaito bent forward and stuck out his tongue in a challenge.

"... You're lucky,"

Gareth turned his head to face Azrael but the other had already shifted his attention to the bus's aisle and seemed to be caught up in a world of his own. Leaning back against the seat of the chair, Gareth scratched his right cheek absent mindedly. "Yeah. I guess so. It'd be troublesome if I had to find someone to take care of the little guy,"


Ohohoho! So now they were in a face making competition eh? Kaito gave his own baby sounding squeal of delight and began experimenting with the parameters of his face as well. Finding that if he pulled the side of his eyes real hard, he could make himself squint! And if he pulled the corners of his mouth, he could make himself grin wider! Amused at this new discovery, Kaito began joining Peach in the making of the most atrocious faces anyone had ever seen and would have continued doing so if Gareth had not at that moment noticed what Peach and the blue haired infant was up to and gave Kaito a warning tap on the shoulder to show his disapproval.


"Kaito, if you keep making faces like that, your face might just stick that way when the winds changes," said Gareth in his most spookiest voice. "The same applies to you too Peach, you wouldn't want to scare people away with a face like that now would you?"

Gareth would have instantly dropped the sppoky act if he had known that he was being equated to someone's grandmother but as it were, the teenager was feeling rather proud of being able to hold the babies' attention.

Grinning, Gareth was amused to find that Peach was hiding her face behind her hands and was smiling innocently at him. "I know that game," said Gareth as he settled Kaito beside Peach. Mimicking her movements, Gareth hid his face as well, waited for a moment or so and opened his hands to reveal his hidden face. "Peekaboo! I see you!" said Gareth before giving both Peach and Kaito a tickle (Gareth had forgotten to ask Azrael's permission but thought that it was okay as Azrael was not really looking at them anyway. It had also occurred to Gareth that this was what it must have felt like to have brothers and sisters but that was rather beside the point).

Kaito meanwhile stared at Peach and his guardian. What are they doing? thought the blue haired baby as both Gareth and Peach seemed to be hiding their faces and grinning at each other through the slits found between the fingers. Was it some sort of game?

Then as suddenly as the game had started, Gareth had opened up his hands and shouted something like "Peekaboo!" and began tickling him and Peach. Kaito still was not sure what all this was about but laughed as he was tickled mercilessly by his guardian.

Gareth laughed and scrambled with the two babies; not quite noticing the disapproving stares that the passengers were giving the trio. At any rate, it was not like he knew them or was going to run into them anytime soon.

Settling back onto the seat of the bus to get a breather, Gareth was surprised to find that the bus was begining to slow down. Were they reaching the stop already? Poking his head out of the bus's window, Gareth was rather disappointed that they were.

Grabbing his backpack, Gareth turned to Kaito who was still happily giggling away with Peach. "Hey buddy," Gareth said as he gently lifted the blue hair baby from the seat of the bus. "It's about time you say bye bye to your new friend,"

Say bye bye? Were they leaving already? Kaito's smile immediately turned into that of one who would be turning on the water works soon. Kaito did not want to say goodbye! That was too sudden. Squirming, Kaito let out a rather shrill cry of protest which made even Gareth's ears ring. It was rather surpring how much strength the baby could put into his voice when he had a mind to.

Nevertheless, Gareth gently but firmly lifted the protesting blue haired infant off the seat of the bus and coaxed the little one until Kaito calmed down a little. "See? It isn't so bad as all that right? And making a fuss is never good; I'm sure Peach wouldn't cry over it...,"

Peach? Kaito turned to where the blond baby was and made soft cooing sounds to her. He wanted to play with her again! Would they ever meet again? Kaito's eyes seemed to say as he looked at the other.

The bus had stopped and passengers were now starting to get off the bus. Standing up, Gareth glanced akwardly in Azrael's direction. "It's awfully kind of you to let Peach play with Kaito. Thanks."

Then turning to Peach, Gareth gave the little girl a small wave before starting his way down the aisle.