First off, this chapter is dedicated to my friend Maru-sha. Happy birthday! I hope you continue to produce great stories!

Randall Flagg2

(1)

Serenity woke up, yawned and stretched, then smiled. Today was a day unlike any other day. It was a special day, the day when all things went right and happiness was plentiful.

"Today's my twelfth birthday!" Serenity exclaimed happily. "Well, twelve in human years that is." she added quickly. "The day when everyone tries to make me happy and gives me presents! I'm so happy!"

Serenity went to her closet and shut the door. A minute or two later, she came out in jean shorts and a red shirt. Time to go to the party she so much deserved. After all, it was her special day. Who could forget about it?

(2)

"Hello Spike!" Serenity said excitedly.

"Hey." Spike said bitterly. He didn't even turn around to regard her.

Serenity leaned towards him, all the while beaming. "Can you guess what day it is?" she asked.

"Tuesday. What else would it be?" Spike said sarcastically.

Serenity's smile remained despite this. "No Spike, it's a very special day! Today we do something fun!"

For a moment, Serenity thought that he knew what she was getting at. Then Spike said "Is today the day we take out the garbage?"

One moment Spike was sitting in an armchair relaxing, a moment later he was hunched over, clutching his groin where Serenity had kicked him and making squealing noises. Serenity stormed out of the room, furious that Spike would forget her special day.

Serenity didn't remain angry for long however. From what she knew about Spike, he wasn't one to remember a day like today. Heck he didn't even like kids, so why would he care about her?

Her happiness restored, Serenity left the room. Surely the others would remember this day.

(3)

"Hey Jet and Faye, can you guess what day it is?" Serenity asked.

Faye removed her cigarette from her mouth and said "Nope not really, and I couldn't care less."

"Pretty much the same here." Jet said, taking a drag on his cigarette. "Why do you seem so excited about today?" he asked.

Serenity frowned. "No! Don't you remember what today is? It's a very special day, especially for me!" she said impatiently.

"It's just another day like any other day! Why is it so important to you?" Faye asked.

"You really don't know why?" Serenity whined.

"Nope. Sorry kiddo." Jet sighed. He took another drag on his cigarette.

Serenity turned around and left the room, furious. It was enough that Spike forgot about her birthday, but Jet and Faye? Sure Faye was self centered and Jet was, as the saying went, "all business", but they didn't seem like the kind of people to forget a birthday! Serenity didn't understand it. Nonetheless, the others should remember.

(4)

Serenity went up to Ed and Ein. The two of them were staring into Ed's computer. Serenity approached them. "Hey guys, guess what day it is!" she said.

Ed did not even turn to regard her. Ein simply yawned. Serenity drew closer. "I said do you know what day it is?" she said a bit louder. Ed's head began to sway back and forth, but she otherwise pair no attention. Serenity finally stood right next to her.

"I said for the last frigging time, do you-"

She never finished. Ed suddenly spun around and sank her fangs into Serenity's leg with a horrible growl. Serenity yelped and tried to pry Ed off, but the girl had jaws like a Doberman pinscher. Serenity promptly smacked herself three times on the head and turned into a cloud. She quickly floated away from the growling Ed and back into her room. Then she rammed herself against the wall three times and turned back into a demon.

Tears began to form in Serenity's eyes. "They didn't remember my birthday? If they all forgot, what's the chance of my brother remembering? Though I'm not surprised the way he treats me. And Haruko… well I know what she's really like, so she doesn't couint." she thought.

Serenity laid down on her bed, buried her face into her pillow, and began to sob. How could they be so cruel? How?

(5)

Sometime later, Serenity's tears came to a halt. Oh well, it didn't matter. Plenty of birthdays were forgotten, so why should hers be any different? So what if she didn't get any presents? So what if she didn't get a party? So what if…

Serenity stopped. She was making herself depressed. Deciding to get a glass of milk, she went downstairs. But just as she turned on the lights…

"SURPRISE!" came the loud yell as the kitchen lights came on. Suddenly, balloons flew out everywhere, as did party streamers. The bebop crew, Haruko and her brother jumped out suddenly. Well, Spike didn't. He was sulking in the corner. On the table was a huge, two layer chocolate cake.

"How…?" was all Serenity could squeak out.

"You didn't really think I'd let them forget your special day, did you?" Inuyasha smirked, ruffling his sister's hair affectionately. Haruko came up to her carrying a large present.

"And we all got you something too!" she laughed.

Serenity began to laugh. She should have seen this coming. "Oh thank you guys so much! I thought you had actually forgotten!" she said merrily.

Inuyasha took out a knife and cut Serenity a large slab of chocolate cake. "Be sure to save some of it for-" all of a sudden, there was the sound of someone gobbling something. Everyone turned and saw with dismay that Serenity had eaten the entire remainder of the cake.

"The rest of us…" Inuyasha finished glumly.

(6)

Serenity took the present from Haruko. "So what is it?" she asked.

"Open it and see!" the pink haired woman giggled. Serenity opened it and the present turned out to be a aqua blue bass guitar. She hugged the present and smiled.

"Oh thank you!" she said. "Who's next?"

"We'll go. We got this for you together." Jet said. He and Faye presented Serenity with a box. She opened it, and she laughed. The first part of it was a pair of jeans, and the other part was a shirt with a demon's face on it with the words "God's busy, can I help you?" written below it.

"I knew you'd like it." Faye chuckled. "I also got you this." She tossed Serenity a pack of cigarettes. Everyone gasped, but then Faye took them back. "Just kidding!" she said. She took one out and lit it up.

"Ed is next! Ed is next!" Ed crowed, giving Serenity a box that had been crudely wrapped. With a slight smile, Serenity opened it. Inside the box was a gold watch. Serenity promptly put it on.

"And that leaves you Spike! What'cha get me?" Serenity asked. With a slight smirk, Spike gave her a long thin box. Serenity opened it and her eyes lit up. Before she could try out the contents though, Inuyasha yanked it away.

"No way! Absolutely not! No how! Forget it!" Inuyasha roared. In his hands was a BB gun.

"What?" Spike asked. "It's just an air rifle. What's the worst she can do with it?"

"I don't care, I am not giving this to her!" Inuyasha yelled back. "You don't know what she's capable of! I am not taking a chance!"

"Please Inuyasha?" Serenity asked, pouting as cutely as she could.

"No way!" Inuyasha snarled.

Serenity began to sniffle. "Pretty please?" she asked in a pitiful voice.

Inuyasha began to weaken. "Well… I…"

Serenity began to whimper with tears in her eyes. "Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

"Okay fine!" Inuyasha reluctantly gave her the BB gun. Her tears stopped instantly. Serenity said a quick thank you, and enjoyed the rest of her birthday.

(7)

Serenity crawled into her bed and got under the covers. What a day it had been. She had never been so happy. And what gifts she had gotten, particularly Spike's! She had never been anticipating something like that!

Serenity clutched the BB gun to her chest and fell asleep. Tomorrow would be eventful indeed. Oh yes it would…

To be continued…

No comments this time! Hope you liked this!

Randall Flagg2