Alright, just one little note here, from now on, the story will be set in Maro's P.O.V. It's easier that way, and I'm not getting all confused. Only time I'll do another characters P.O.V is if they know something important to the story line.
To say that I was confused was an understatement of epic proportions. Cloud had ran off like a scared cat, I had no doubt that something fishy was going on about tonight, and, worst of all, I had a fucking wolf stuck in my head. At this point, I needed a hug, hell, even a hug from Reno would be better than I could do was sit on my bed for the next three, maybe four hours, and do nothing but listen to music. So, that's exactly what I did.
((5 Hours 22 minutes later))
I was in the process of getting ready for whatever Genesis had planned. I had already straightened my hair, and, in a feeble attempt to look slightly older, I had left it down. It was just above my ass in length, which was a good thing, any longer, and no one would have been able to see the tail. Next, I put on the costume I had purchased the day before, in the same order: trousers, top, ears, tail, and finally, the long trench that came with it. I didn't feel stupid, but chances are that I looked it. I was way past caring though. Zack opened the dividing door a fraction, to see if it was safe to come in.
"I'm dressed, Zack," I said, he sighed in relief, or, what I hoped was relief, he came in, and sat on the end of my bed, all I had left to do was apply make-up. I shuddered at the thought.
"What's wrong?" Zack asked, sounding worried.
"Make-up..." I replied, my voice quiet, "What is this all about, anyway?" Zack laughed dryly. I started putting dark grey eyeshadow on.
"You seriously don't know?"
"Nope," I replied, keeping my head still as I started work on the other eye, "Do you?"
"Yeah, it's your birthday!" he blurted, he clamped his hands over his mouth.
"My... birthday...?" I kept going with the make-up, deciding that I should finish that first. After a little effort with eyeliner and foundation, I was done. "That would mean that it's November 23rd... he hasn't planned a fucking party has he!?" Zack just nodded, looking rather disgraced with himself for letting it slip. "I'm going to kill someone for this!"
"He got Angeal to bring Leon!" Zack yelled in an attempt to stop me killing someone, since he was in the immediate vicinity, I could very well turn on him... not a chance, that face is too cute. I was frozen in place, had he just said...
"Leon...?" I asked, he nodded, grinning like an idiot, "Fucking hell, if Leon's here, then I'm not going anywhere, I'll just stay in bed for the rest of my life." Zack grabbed my arm and dragged me out the door. My feeble attempts at resistance had him laughing, but he just kept pulling me along. All too soon, we were standing in front of the cafeteria doors. I was not at all pleased. "Zackary Fair, I now hate you..."
"Don't say my full name," he whined, pouting cutely, I couldn't help but think that he'd been taking lessons from Reno on that, "I feel really old when you do that, Marona Hakashi." I just shrugged. People using my full name didn't bother me, not anymore. It was used far too often when I was still in the Orphanage. In fact, when I was still there, they kept calling Leon 'Squall' and he hated that. I never bothered to ask why.I decided that it was none of my business.
"That doesn't work on me Zack..." I said quietly, but he wasn't listening to me, he was opening the door to the cafeteria, and before I knew what was happening, I was dragged inside be several pairs of hands; Zack's, Reno's, Cissnei's, and, believe it or not, Genesis as well. What I saw next shocked me to hell and back.
The cafeteria had undergone a radical transformation. The tables were lined up along two of the walls for people to sit at. The furthest wall had a long line of tables set up with food across them. From what I could see, every Recruit was there. I could just see the top of someone I though was Cloud on the other side of a large group. The noise level was horrendous. All I couls hear was loud drum and bass music, and people shouting over it, and then it was silent. Everyone had stopped whatever they were doing, and the were looking at me. I went bright red, then made an attempt to hide behind Genesis, who merely stepped to the side again, smiling sadistically.
"You're a fucking sadist!" I hissed at him, he just continued to smile. Then it started. Quietly at first, but with growing volume, the people in the room started singing 'happy birthday'. I don't think I had ever been so embarrassed in my life. That's when Leon appeared. Despite the fact that Zack had told me he would be here, I had thought that he was joking, but, sure enough, there was Leon. Dressed as a Vampire, how original. He walked over to me, smiling cheerfully. He hugged me tightly, hiding my burning face in his chest. For that, I was grateful. I hugged him back. I was very happy to see him, happy enough to cry, and that's exactly what I did. I cried. The tears were hot as they rad down my cheeks, onto his costume. making it all wet.
"Happy birthday, Wolf," he said in my ear, the gathered crowd were just finishing their song, but I dared not look up yet, I was crying for fuck sake, "Hey, you're old enough to drive now!" He was trying to lift my mood, I knew he was.
"I'll never drive, Leon..." I hiccuped, pulling away, my tears gone, "Me + car = BOOM, we've been and had this conversation before, now, for your own sake, drop it." Leon just smiled, then took something out of his pocket. Another small, box, almost like the one that Angeal had sent Genesis round with yesterday. Everyone else had gone back to their previous conversations, leaving me to talk to the small, yet comfortable group around me. I opened the box carefully. Inside it, was a single hoop earring. A small white label marked it as 'sterling silver'. It was coiled round in the form of a small dragon. I grinned at Leon, who seemed pleased with my reaction. I took out the earring that I was already wearing, a small silver ball stud, that I wore for training purposes. I swapped the earrings, leaving the stud in the box, which I shut, and found a pocket to put it in. Then, with a little help from Reno, of all people, I put the new on in.
"I think she likes it," said Zack, stating the obvious. I was going to give him one of my sarcastic replies, but it died in my throat. Zack too, was holding a box out to me. This one was larger, and, when I accepted it from him, it was certainly a lot heavier. Out of habit, I sat on the floor, exactly where I was, and proceeded to open it. I certainly wasn't expecting what was inside.
It wasn't scary, not at all. in fact, it was surprisingly nice. Inside, were some new clothes, of all the things on the planet. I wasn't going to ask how he knew what size of t-shirt I wore, since he had ended up with mine more times than I cared to remember. There were three t-shirts. A black one, a white one, and a bright blue one. Then there was the trousers. Two pairs of trousers. A pair of dark grey combats, and a pair of dark blue jeans. I was more than pleased about Zack's present. I was ecstatic. All I could do to show my thanks was grin like an idiot, and he too, seemed pleased with my reaction.
((25 minutes later))
I had quite a lot of useful items from the group around me. Reno had got me a sword care kit containing polish, dusters and othere things like that, as well as a stuffed moogle toy from Rude. How childish it was, but, I was still very happy about it. Cissnei had decided that I needed to be more feminine, so, she had got me a black and white checked skirt, and a black top with a skull on it to go with it. That was rather shocking, and I knew well enough that I wasn't going to wear it that often. Tseng, had sent a small gift with Cissnei. It was a very nice poem, which had been illustrated with a pack of wolves. Whoever had written it out had done so very neatly, and I made a mental note to thank him the next time I seen him.
The wierdest presents of the evening had to be the oned from Genesis and Sephiroth. Though, judging from the look on Sephiroth's face, he had been harrased into comming to the party. Genesis, had went and got me a copy of 'LOVELESS' despite that fact that i had never expressed any interest in it what so ever. I said nothing, and went on to the one from Sephiroth. That one was just wierd. It was another box, except, this one had holes in the top and sides... and it was moving. Once I had opened the box, I think I could have died on the spot. Inside, was a not so tiny German Sheperd puppy. I wasn't just confused, I was shocked, and just a little wary. I looked at Sephiroth for several minutes. He just stood there, acting like had only spent a few gil on the puppy that now sat on my lap, licking my left hand gently. Genesis then hissed something unexpected in my ear, barely audible over the noise.
"He own's the pup's mother," he hissed, "He's trusting you to take good care of the little fella, now that you have an actual appartment."
"What do you mean, appartment!?" I yelled, he flinched slightly.
"You're a SOLDIER now, little one, the appartment comes with the position," he replied, smiling, "You should go thank him, tell him you'll take good care of the pup." I nodded and stood up. Slightly less confused than I had been. I walked over to Sephiroth, I held the pup close to my chest, he was shaking slightly.
"Thank you, Sir," I said above the noise of the ongoing party, "I promise I'll take good care of him." Sephiroth nodded.
"He's house trained," was all he said, before he walked away, leaving me with my new pet. It suddenly hit me, right there, that I had forgotten about poor Cloud, who must have been feeling kind of odd, since he was probably the only one in the room who wasn't a SOLDIER Recruit. However, I had a job to do first, one that wouldn't take any more than five minutes. So, I went in search of Leon.
