"Igooorrr~!"
Shuri gobbled him up with a big kiss on his chubby cheeks. It was impossible to hold herself back when he tried so hard to be an adult.
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|DxD|- Chapter 35- Akeno The Strong
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Breakfast—the first meal of the day. An assortment of meat, eggs, and other food littered the table. Chopsticks and silverware clanged as the others ate. As for Akeno? She very much preferred her hands.
Life was exciting for the 21-month old, especially since she could eat meat. Her little mouth was oily with the chopped pieces. She leaned over to take another piece from her plate when her father pulled her back onto his stomach.
"No, Akeno. Chew your food first."
"Mmmmm…"
She frowned and leaned forward again. She could definitely squeeze in a little more.
"Akeno. Swallow your food."
Akeno tilted her head upwards. Her father was looking at her with a stern expression.
"..."
She looked down again. Since he insisted, she'd swallow her food. But why didn't he say anything about that meanie across the table? He was shovelling super mouthfuls. It was unfair.
"Pwapwa~?"
She tapped him on the stomach to address this injustice, but he sternly reprimanded her.
"Swallow, Akeno."
"..."
Her eyes prickled with tears. This was definitely unfair. Apple Face over there was getting delicious cuts of meat from her mother. He'd already eaten two large steaks. If nothing was done to him, he'd eat everything and nothing would be left for her.
"Hmph~!"
Since no one would do anything, she'd take matters into her own hands. Akeno shifted her body over her father's lap. She just barely turned around when she was lifted and placed on the floor.
Oh, so now he was willing to help? She slapped away Baraquiel's arms as soon as he put her down. She could handle herself.
The tiles felt cold beneath her feet. She considered asking her father to pick her up, but she had her pride. She would definitely not allow Apple Face to keep eating her meat.
She waddled around the table with a goal in mind. Her feet sounded like wet slaps on the tiles. It was strange how everything else had gone quiet. But absolutely nothing would steer her focus from her goal.
She got to her enemy's leg. His face was bright red. It was funny and weird, but she couldn't laugh otherwise he'd think she was here to joke.
She placed her hands against his thigh. She'd show him the might of Akeno The Strong!
"Mau~!"
She pushed against his thigh…and nothing happened.
"Hnng~!"
She grunted and pushed again, harder this time. Her face scrunched up in exertion, but all she did was wrinkle his tracksuit. What was happening? When she did this to her parents, their legs always shifted.
Displeased, Akeno slapped his thigh.
"No, Akeno. Don't hit big brother."
Shuri gently persuaded. Akeno, under her mother's words, reluctantly stopped. But it definitely wasn't over.
"Hmph~!"
She waddled away towards the fruit rack next to the fridge. There were bananas, apples, oranges, and other kinds of fruits separated by small shelves stacked on top of each other. She deliberated for a moment and then picked the apple. An apple for Apple Face. It was fitting.
She clamped both hands around the fruit and waddled back. Her mother always forced her to eat fruits when she had too much meat. She would do the same to Apple Face.
"Apu~!"
She bumped against his leg and dropped the apple on his lap. There. That was his food. She'd take the meat for safekeeping. She barely stretched her hand towards his plate when the apple was placed in her hands again.
"..."
This stupid idiot. This apple is for him, not her!
"Apu~!!"
She threw it at his stomach. The time to eat meat was over. If her mother wouldn't enforce justice, then she would. No crime would flourish under her watch.
Akeno reached for his plate, and again, he put the apple in her hand.
"..."
*Vein Twitch!*
She grabbed his finger and put the apple on his open palm.
"You~!"
She righteously pointed at his face.
"Apu~! You Apu~!"
A sharp wheeze came from across the table. Akeno looked over and saw her father was hunched over the table with shaking shoulders. Was he sick?
She ignored him. The smell of meat was too tantalising and this meanie would eat it if she didn't take it. She reached over to grab, but suddenly found herself being lifted.
"?"
Her back was placed against his chest and she immediately struggled to get off. She definitely didn't want…to…—
Her resistance was crushed by the gradual warmth she felt. It was like being submerged in a tub of warm water. Her body tingled in comfort. She could get used to this.
But she barely had the chance to immerse herself when a pair of hands lifted her off and placed her back on the floor. Suddenly, she felt very cold.
"Noooo~!"
She whined and draped her body over Igor's thigh. Her foot sought to find a foothold on his calf while her hands held onto his shirt. Her desires were overwritten by this one need to feel this warmth again. He was a walking heater, a miracle, a plushie miracle!
"Apu~! Apu~!!"
She raised her arms when she knew she couldn't climb him. Her eyes were full of pleading. She'd forgive everything if Apple Face picked her up.
"Apu~!!!"
She stomped her foot on the ground when he didn't move. She'd bite this stupid meanie to death if he didn't obey her.
"Akeno. Say 'please' to big brother~."
"Pwease!"
There was not an ounce of hesitation. Her hands clamped around his finger and pulled his arm down. Her eyes filled with tears of regret. If she knew he was warmer than her blankets, she absolutely wouldn't have gotten off.
Thankfully, stupid Apple Face picked her up and placed her on his lap. Akeno quickly scampered for his chest and placed her head there.
"Haaa~."
She released a satisfied sigh. She flopped over him without a care in the world. Forget the food. Forget everything else. This was perfect. This was the life.
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|DxD|
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Death had always followed Baraquiel for centuries. He was no stranger to life or death situations. From wars, to skirmishes, and minor battles, all had him acquainted with the mysterious concept.
Blades, schemes, and politics, Baraquiel went through all of them. Even death by illness, as slim a possibility it was, was something he considered if anyone engineered a virus for Fallen Angels. What never ever crossed his mind, was death by shortness of breath.
Baraquiel could not remember a time in his life where he laughed himself into such a weakened state. As serious as he was, there were times in his life where he laughed himself into tears. But it was never to the extent where he could barely speak.
This breakfast was just one mishap after the other. From beginning to end, Igor remained as red as a tomato. Shuri's deliberate care and babying left the boy embarrassed to no end.
Baraquiel could understand. Being spoon fed and told to open up for the 'train' at such an age would make any lad squirm. But understanding did not mean he wouldn't chuckle at the sight. Only the forkfuls of food kept him somewhat stable. It was what his daughter did that made him lose what little remaining composure he had.
It was undignified as a family head and a Cadre to do anything more beyond a respectable chuckle. Yet who told his daughter to equate the boy to an apple? He truly could not hold it when she threw the apple at him and cutely called him "Apu".
He absolutely would not forget nor would he let Igor off in the future. From beginning to end, pictures were secretly captured through magic. He was initially against his wife's idea. But now, he was completely onboard. Igor's reactions were just too fun to watch.
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AN: Shameless advertisement for my p@treon. Buy this poor author some coffee so he can keep uploading two chapters a day. With enough coffee, I might work weekends too.
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Thanks for reading and until the next one.
Chapter 35
END