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The excited singing of Xianghua wakes me from my meditation.
“Xianghua?” I ask, reaching for my staff and using it to help me up slowly. “What's going on?”
“It's your birthday!!!!” She nearly screams, throwing her arms out wide. “I’m singing a birthday song! And I've got so much planned! There's a festival in a town, a new desert at a bakery, some crafts I bought from a merchant-”
“Hua- I- I don't…wanna do a lot.”
“...did I…did I overplan again?” she asks, her shoulders falling.
“Just a bit, but don't feel insecure about it,” I say quickly but calmly. “I really do appreciate how much you think all the time, Xianghua, even if it’s…overwhelming at times for me to keep up with.”
“I’m not…too much?” her hands are folded together, and she looks in my direction.
I shake my head, “Never.”
“So…birthday boy, what do you want to do then?” She says as she smiles, asking for my hand.
I grasp her hand lightly, and she flinches a little. “I never took you for the shy type, Hua…as for what I’d like to do…I think I’d like to look at the trees or walk by the river, maybe check out that festival later, as long as it’s not too loud!”
“Great!” She smiles wide, then seems shy. “I…uh…maybe I should get the gift out of the way?”
She seems so afraid, but…why?
She pulls out something from her bag, “Please don’t laugh, ‘kay?” She pulls out a red rabbit plush. It has flames on the side of its purple button eyes, and she taps it, “Cuz, amethyst, and February, y’know?” then taps its red handmade robe, with a bo staff slung behind it. “I know, I overdid the red…” she laughs shyly, and looks away.
“You…made this?” I take it from her gingerly, holding it in my hands. “It’s…adorable…” Now I’m the shy one…
“But it’s got a lopsided ear…and the stitchwork is really bad…”
“But you made it, so it’s worth more than any treasure in the world.” I ask to touch her cheek, and she says yes. I cup her cheek gently, allowing her to guide me, “Thank you, Hua…”
Her eyes get teary, “I…I hope you’ll hold it…when you’re stressed, or too cold, or when there’s too much going on, or someone scares you…”
“Considering I’ve fought a contorting pale…thing, a cursed pirate, lizardmen, Nightmare, and even Inferno…I feel this rabbit will get a lot of use. And I’m not quite joking, either…”
She snorts, then laughs. “C’mon, to the festival! Maxi’s waiting– he forced me to do this alone y’know– he can be such a bully sometimes!” She sticks her tongue out, “Just kidding! Hehe. Happy birthday, Kilik!”
As I follow her, I realize something that bites at my heart. I was an orphan taken in by Ling Sheng Su. This day might not even be when I was born. It might’ve been the day they found me at their doorstep. And all those who once celebrated it with me…
Despite that…I can’t bring myself to care about what the “real” birthday could be. Or even the past for once. I simply want to walk beside the woman I love, and spend a day with my best friend. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, and I know Soul Edge can wait just one day.