XIII

"Happy birthday, Claire!" Serah sang.

Lightning groaned and turned on her stomach.

"Come on, it's your day off and your birthday! You're not going to just sit in bed all day are you? This year the fireworks fall on the same day, so we can go see them!"

Lightning buried her face in her pillow. "The fireworks aren't till night time… Let me sleep…"

But Serah didn't approve.

She grasped the sheets and pulled them, causing Lightning to fall ungracefully to the floor.

"O-ow…"

"You're twenty years old now! A fully-fledged adult! So wake up!"

Lightning grunted. "Fine…"

Maybe she should have gotten Serah another bird after the other one died… That way, she'd annoy it instead of her. Still, she was looking forward to spending time with Serah. Lately, she hadn't had any time for Serah, but for a good reason. She'd been promoted to sergeant, which meant a considerable pay rise. Her birthday and Serah's birthday were the only two days in the year where they actually acted like sisters; that's how it had been for the past two years.

-

"Happy birthday~" Serah held out a neatly wrapped gift box and handed it to her sister, who was lazily resting her chin on the table, a small towel slumped over her wet head.

Lightning, less-than-enthusiastic, opened it.

"You wouldn't tell me what you wanted, so I just bought something out of impulse…"

Lightning pulled out the armband, and realized Serah was wearing one as well.

"As long as we wear these, we'll always be together… It's cheesy, but…"

"Thank you, Serah" Lightning interjected with a hearty smile.

Serah sighed in relief.

"Let's go out now, okay!?"

Lightning furrowed her brow. "W-What?"

-

When the first of the fireworks were released, they were welcomed with a cheer. Most viewers were standing on the beach, which was exactly the case with Lightning and Serah.

Lightning should have been working. The fireworks meant alcohol, and alcohol meant brawls, so the Guardian Corps could have used all the help they could get.

"I love these fireworks…" Serah sighed.

"I know."

"Someday, I'm going to come here with a nice boy. And you should too, Light."

Lightning snorted.

"I'd like to see that" she rolled her eyes.

Serah frowned. "A lot of boys would be chasing after you if you weren't so…" She didn't bother finishing the sentence.

"Whatever…"

The fireworks rolled on. Lightning stared in awe as they exploded. Many of the children were terrified that the sparks would land on them, when Serah was little, so was she.

She looked over to her younger sister. She was growing up… a little too fast…

"Happy birthday, Light" Serah smiled.

-

Wooshka!

And then there were thirteen.

As I write this, I am playing the game for a second time. Adamantoises are hard…

Anyways, I decided to incorporate the Bodhum fireworks into this. It's apparently the biggest event of the year for the citizens.

Oh, weren't these good days? Without the wrath of Snow to terrorize the Farron sisters!~ *sigh*

Hope you enjoy what little is left of this story.

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