Chapter 19:

Birthday Wishes

Emochan stayed in the hospital for a few days to recuperate. Her mother brought her meals every day because the hospital meals were lousy. All her friends visited after school, giving her the homework she missed and teaching her new material. Toshira didn't leave her unless he had to. During the time that she was alone in the hospital room, Emo began to reevaluate herself and what her priorities were. The morning of the day before she was to leave, she decided to try something.

"Danklezhan? Are you strong enough to speak with me?" Her voice was very soft so no one else could hear. The room was very still for a moment. Emochan sighed. Maybe I'm just being stupid by trying to talk to him. He's probably angry with me.

"Princess…?" Danklezhan's low voice filled her ears. She smiled as a white mist formed before her on the bed. The mist danced before her tired eyes, swirling around and combining in a form of her old friend. He was about the size of a husky dog but light as air. His transparent eyes expressed deep sadness to his master.

"What is so sad, Danklezhan?" The brunette asked, placing a hand on the apparition on her lap. He was much smaller than she remembered, but she figured that was because he wasn't strong enough to materialize into his true form yet. His head lifted into her palm. He felt fluffy and soft to the touch.

"I am so sorry that I haven't been there to help you, Princess. I feel as though I have failed you and the Queen." Emochan frowned a little at his confession, feeling guilty herself.

"Danklezhan, you need not worry. I don't blame you for anything," she said as he sprawled across her lap, laying one of his claws atop her arm. "You stopped me from actually destroying myself. That accounts for a lot. I'm the one who felt useless." Emochan lowered her head.

"You are unaware of just how powerful your heart is, Princess. It is filled with so much light…you alone have the power to change the world."

"But I don't want all that power for myself. It's such a burden to think about. Knowing that I could destroy the planet…that I have placed so much pressure on my shoulders when it comes to battling Toma-san and Daichi-san…"

Danklezhan's head lifted to look at Emochan.

"You can do it. All your companions are there to help you." Emo looked at her dragon dearly and smiled.

"I know. And that's what's getting me through. I didn't think about how my death would affect them, especially Toshira. I've realized that ending my life would only make things worse. I know what I need to do now." Her dragon growled slightly in response, but it was a pleasant sound to Emo. "You know…I've missed you a lot. You should visit more often," she chuckled to him.

"Now that your power is growing, mine is returning. I will be able to help you more in time."

"I'm glad. I remember when you and I would sit by the fields of the castle, long ago. I would lay against your soft belly and we would tell silly stories to each other. And when Mother wasn't looking, I would steal some sweets from the kitchen and sneak them to you." Emochan giggled as she reminisced. Her translucent dragon rubbed his head against her chest slightly. She yawned.

"Those were wonderful times, Princess. One day, it will be like that again. I know it."

"Yes…I know it too, Dankelezhan…" Emochan felt her eyes grow heavy as her head fell into her pillow. She felt Danklezhan nuzzle against her chest and a sweet smell of lavender filled her nostrils. It was his sweet scent from the past. I've missed that too…

When Emochan returned home, she was informed by her mom that her birthday was coming up. Emo had completely forgotten! Turning 16 was a big deal back in America but she didn't know it if was the same in Japan. There could also be a possibility that Daichi and Toma could crash whatever plans she would make. But she decided not to let that possibility ruin it for her. When she returned to school, she reminded her friends of the date and saw all their faces light up. She finished school on the Friday before her birthday and started to walk home when she heard Reiko and Sakura's voices calling for her. The young girl turned and saw Sakura and Reiko smiling at her. She caught up to them and greeted them with puzzlement. "What is going on? I thought you two had chores to do?" She asked. The pink-haired twin grabbed her arm with a large grin on her face.

"Nope! Mom and Dad forgot it was your birthday tomorrow so we need to go and get you a present from them!" Reiko said with a smile and patted her pocket, which had money inside. Emochan smiled and followed the girls into the shopping central of Tokyo. They looked at miscellaneous shops and windows, but Emochan wasn't sure what she wanted. Finally, they entered a small dress shop. The sisters told her it would be a great idea to get a new dress to wear at the Plum Festival. Emochan passed by some dresses and looked for one that looked right for her. There were red ones, green ones, ones with sleeves and ones with thin or no shoulder straps. As Emochan turned a corner in the very back of the store, she spotted something sparkling under the lights. It was a silky black gown, but it was casual enough to wear on any normal day. It had a silver dragon veined around the dress; it's head resting in the crease in the center of the V-neck collar. Emochan smiled and showed it to her friends.

"It will be perfect for the Plum festival!" Reiko said with Sakura nodding in agreement. The three left the store and returned to Emochan's house for some dinner. Over curry and rise, the four discussed plans for a dinner the next night for everyone. When the girls left, Emochan retreated upstairs to take a hot bath and prepare for the next day. As she lay in bed, she prayed silently that Daichi and Tomaru wouldn't show up.

The birthday girl woke up the next morning to the sounds of her mother's cooking. With a yawn, she got dressed and walked downstairs to see her mother making pancakes: her favorite American breakfast! "Well you're 16 today, so I knew you'd like it!" Her mother smiled as Emochan sat down at the table. As she poured a waterfall of syrup over her food, her mom took out a small box and put it in front of her. "Happy birthday." she said as Emochan opened the gift. Inside the sparkling wrapping paper was a velvet box.

"What's this?" Emochan asked and opened the box to reveal a beautiful silver and gold charm bracelet. "Mom..." she whispered in awe. There was a bunch of small charms on it: a tiny spatula, a kitty head, a ballet shoe, an American flag, a Japanese flag, a pencil, and a rose.

"Your father bought that for me when I was your age. Those are charms I had collected over the years, along with ones he got me, and ones I put on there for you. I hope you cherish it as much as I have," Her mother said and Emochan could feel water build up in her eyes.

"Oh Mom, thank you," Emochan said as she put on the bracelet. She stood up and hugged her mother with a tearful smile. "I wish Dad was here."

"I know. He would have wanted you to have this," Her mother said and Emochan nodded. She glanced at each charm, her eyes lowering a little.

How could I have been so selfish....trying to kill myself? I have to fight for her...for dad...for everyone....I can't die now, Emo thought.

That afternoon, everyone was going to hook up at Toshira's place for a party. Emochan didn't know about it though; she thought her and Toshira were going to go on a date. She first felt suspicious when he asked her to come to his place instead of him picking her up. It was also very silent leading up to his apartment, when usually he has the television on or music playing. Also, the door was unlocked. She opened it and looked cautiously through the darkness that greeted her. "Toshira…?" She called out.

"SURPRISE!!!" Everyone screamed as a sudden burst of light filled the room. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMOCHAN!!!" Emochan gasped in surprise as her friends threw confetti around her. Gifts were scattered around the room with streamers dangling along the corners and ceiling. A banner saying "Happy 16th Birthday" hung across the fireplace. Emochan was delighted by their gesture. Toshira appeared behind her and put a party hat on her head.

"There ya go," he said with a grin.

"You guys…" Emochan chuckled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. The others all smiled and gave Emo their gifts. Toshira gave her a precious diamond vase with crystal roses. Reiko and Sakura got her some charms for her bracelet, including a Kanji symbol for love, a dragon, a flip-flop, and a cupcake. Toshiro got her a black leather jacket for her to wear when she was on Toshira's motorcycle. Mai gave her a copy of Split Time's demo CD, and Sarah gave her a recipe book with her favorite foods from her restaurant. Homoto gave her a new helmet to wear. Emochan smiled at them all and gave them hugs in thanks. As the others started talking about different topics, Emochan felt a chill crawl down her spine. Time seemed to slow around her and out of the corner of her eyes she thought she could see a shadow of someone watching her from outside of one of Toshira's windows. A chuckle could be heard in the distance. "Daichi?" She whispered. Time sped back up and her eyes darted around her in fright.

"Emochan, are you alright?" Toshira said. Emochan looked at him and her face relaxed.

"Hai. Sorry," she said. A humming sound could be heard from Toshira's kitchen and Mai and Reiko brought out a large round cake. The frosting was blue with green roses on the top, with a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMOCHAN!"written in the center. Emochan's eyes lit up at the sight and the girl smiled happily. They all began to sing the American happy birthday song to Emochan as she blew out the candles on the cake. Toshira cut the cake and served it to everyone. It was Chocolate! The rest of the party went well. Before leaving, Emochan told them about the group dinner later that evening. Once everyone was gone, Toshira closed his door with a huff of relief and looked at Emochan as she sat on his couch.

"That went well, I think," Toshira said as he joined her. She smiled.

"Thank you for that, Toshira. I really needed it," Emochan said and rested her head on his shoulder. Toshira leaned back against the soft cushion of the couch.

"You know that I would do anything for you, right?" Toshira asked, peering over at Emochan. Her eyes met his and she nodded slowly.

"Yeah...I know," she answered, her voice a little weary. Toshira took one of her hands and held it tightly within his own. Emochan stared at their hands for a long moment.

"You are not alone…" The voice of Queen Serendipity rang in her head and she sighed. Her head drew closer to Toshira's and they embraced into a passionate kiss.