Chapter XVI

Happy Birthday

Listen up y'all! Today it really IS HAO AND YOH'S BIRTHDAY! (12 May 2014). So I wrote a special chapter just for this, so you really have to search on youtube these two songs! (i mean three, in a way)

Good little Girl (Adventure Time)

-allright. This is a song I really like from Adventure Time. Yeah, I watch the series! Aaand, I also wrote the lyrics in the chaper, so it would be a waste if you didn't listen to it! (some lyrics modified though). For Opacho's debute, listen to the part sang by Rebecca Sugar (follow the lyrics)

Marceline 's song written by Rebecca Sugar

this is also important! It has ukulele aaaand it really is a beautiful song sang by Rilury in this chapter. (lyrics also included)

All in all, have a nice time reading this! Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOH AND HAO! 3

Hao was staring at the top of the tent. It's been half an hour already and she still hasn't woken up. But for some reason, he hadn't bothered her. And for that he had to stay still, laid on his back while she was resting her head on his chest and also supporting the weight of her hand and left foot. She was sleeping just like a koala bear clenched on a tree branch.

She was sleeping heavily, probably recouping the bad sleeping because of the nightmares she had. Breathing softly and somehow childish.

He didn't mind it at all and for some another reason he couldn't explain and would have been just an useless headache in the morning if he tried to, he wanted it to last. After all, this was somehow a special day.

But Luchist interrupted the moment by bringing an entire full breakfast dish.

"Good morning, Hao-sama. Excuse me for this sudden entrance, but I wanted to serve you the finest breakfast in bed on this occasion." He said joyfully, but his face became utterly shocked when he saw Rilury who was suddenly awakened by the smell of the shrimps.

Without even noticing the surroundings, she headed right to the plate and put 3 shrimps in her mouth, which she swallowed in a second.

"So tasty! Those are my favourite!" she exclaimed.

She started to observe things more clearly and saw Luchist's expression.

"Oh, um, sorry, when I'm sleepy I usually act on my instincts…" she said flustered, but still in a good mood because of the delicious taste she had.

"Hao-sama…" Luchist became wry and serious. Then he burst in overdramatic watrefall tears. "Why haven't you told me that you're having a guest? I should have prepared more food! I'll be right back, please excuse me!" he said covering his face with his arm.

Both Hao and Rilury became puzzled by Luchist's reaction. Then she became conscious about the surrounding and seemed to remember something.

"Wait…Hao, what day is it?" she asked highly concerned.

He smirked. Did she know something?

"12 May." He answered, trying to seem as ignorant as possible.

"No, not the date! What day of the week?"

Apparently she didn't have a clue.

"Thursday." He answered somehow irritated.

"Oh god I should have done it yesterday!" she exclaimed deeply concerned for herself. "I have to go now, I'm in a hurry!" she said and left the tent, but not before grabbing a bunch of shrimps. "See you later Hao! And umm…thanks for letting me sleep in your tent!" she said from outside in a rush.

His arm went on supporting his head, slightly confused and a bit pouted. She always does that. Act in a completely different way than...

"I'm back, Hao-sama! And this time I've brought another plate!" Luchist entered the tent happily. But his face became puzzled. "Huh? Why did that girl disappear?" he was overly disappointed again.

"It's ok, Luchist." Hao said regaining his ordinary smile of his. "I'll have her plate, because she already spoiled mine." His chuckle followed with a slight arrogance.

"I'm sorry, but the discount was only 'till yesterday." The salesman categorically said.

"Please, please, please! I'm sort of low in money and I don't even have a place to sleep and blah-blah-blah how much do I have to tell you of my dramatic life until you'll have a bit of mercy?" she said desperately.

"I'm sorry, but a no is no. We, patch officiants, also have our expenses" he said.

The door brutally opened and Akira stepped through.

"Having the dare to negotiate something with my daughter?" she said with a threatening voice.

The seller suddenly changed his expression. "She is…?" he said flustered. "My sincere apologies, Takahashi-sama! You can have this as an apology gift!" he said desperately.

"Thanks, but I'll still pay for it the discounted price. Oh, but can I have as a gift this camera, please? " she said with an enthusiastic grin.

"Of course, of course!" he said hopelessly trying to hide himself under the counter bar from Akira who was furiously coming toward him.

"Oh well, that was easy." Rilury said and wanted to walk out of the store.

"Where are you going, missy?" her mother's voice was heard from the back. Crap. Rilury though she could escape unnoticed by letting her spill her anger on the salesman.

"To…my tent?" she hesitated to answer, but didn't know why.

"You went missing one night without telling me and slept outside?! What was in your head?!" her mother outraged.

"Wait a second mom, I didn't have any place to sleep! All the hotel rooms were occupied!" she tried to reason with her.

"Seriously?" Akira rolled her eyes. "Your mother is a high ranked person in the Patch Tribe and you didn't have any place to sleep?" she asked rhetorically.

Rilury slapped her forehead. Of course! She should have just come to her mother! It never occurred this through her head because she has never asked for her mother's help before. Maybe because most of the time she lived alone and was on her own, actually...

"Look at you! You need to take a shower." her mother said regaining her composure.

"Just a shower? I need a two hour long bath!" Rilury's response made Akira smile a bit. "But first…I have to um…gather my things from the camp. Just give the address and I'll be there!"

Yoh woke up late in the morning…Something was missing. Did he wake up by his own and slept all time he wanted? It was the first time since…

Wait…Where was Anna? No shikigami overthrowing his bed? No vuvuzela? No feet stamped on his face? No-

"Morning, Yoh"

The kiss he felt on his cheek made him blush and thrill in horror as he realized it was Anna who did that. ANNA.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked terrified and puzzled.

"Don't be a fool" Anna rolled over her eyes. "It's your birthday, baka. So today no training, no harsh treatment and I'll comport myself as a loving fiancée as a present. Because you know I don't like wasting money on those bad quality products from the Patches. I even made breakfast." She said with a plain voice and somehow pouted, showing a plate with a baked egg and a glass of orange juice.

Yoh took a few seconds to comprehend the situation. Then he sighed relieved.

"But don't worry. Tomorrow you'll compensate the enough." She added, thing which made him have a sweat drop. She crossed her arms.

"So, my dear fiancée, what would you like to do today?" she asked composed.

"A birthday party!" he answered with his usual grin, thing which made Anna roll her eyes again.

Then he had a warm smile.

"And also…"

He leaned towards her and covered her with his arms. He took Anna by surprise.

"Just stay together a little more in this comfortable morning bed." He said softly as they were both lying on the messy, but fuzzy sheets. She put her arms on his chest and she breathed slightly. Then she looked at him with her usual intimidating look.

" I hope you're aware that if this was an ordinary day, you would have been lying beaten off on the ground. But I'll just add 20 more kilometers for tomorrow." She added with a smile.

"He-he..." Yoh reacted with a grin, but also a sweat drop appeared on his forehead.

His expression changed with a blushed one as he felt Anna wrapping his neck with her arms and slightly placing a soft kiss on his lips. Then she sank her head on his naked chest unveiled by the loose tied yukata.

Yoh's eyes became a warm glance. He caressed her hair with one arm and kissed her head. Strange thing... He hasn't noticed her hair smelled so good until now.

"Outta' my waay!" Rilury screamed as she ran through Hao's camping, making everyone of his followers look puzzled. They didn't even have time to figure out who it was and by the time they wanted to chase her, she would have already disappeared from their sight. It seemed like she knew exactly where she was going.

But she didn't. After seeing empty tent, she felt hopeless.

"Are you looking for someone, miss?" Luchist asked with a polite smile.

"Oh, you're the chef again. The shrimps were great, by the way!"

This made him smile. At least she knew to make compliments.

"And yeah, I really am looking for someone…" she added, confirming his guess.

Just an ordinary day like any other. Actually, his birthday were never something important for him. Like every year, his followers were celebrating it and even settling on a ceremonial, which, of course, he won't attend more than a couple of minutes without boring himself. Those things he considered to be foolish. He didn't know why, but this time he expected her to know about that. It shouldn't have mattered.

Too many thoughts this morning, so Hao decided to meditate some time sitting by the lake. The nature always comforted him, it helped his mind forget about the things that bothered him in some way or another.

*Click!*

The sound of a camera capturing a picture interrupted him. He looked back and saw Rilury behind him, holding a camera.

"Surprise!" Rilury said cheerful. She had her earring on of course.

He smiled pleased. But then he asked with a smug.

"Hm? I guess you're back to find Luchist?"

She pouted with a blush.

"Baka! I don't want to eat…that much. But instead…"

She pulled out a present.

"O-tanjoubi omedetou!"** she said happily while handing him the box.

"Come on! Open it, open it!" she said excited.

Hao was a bit surprised. He wasn't expecting this. But in a way, he should have been accustomed with this by now. He opened the box.

"A flute?" he said, slightly smiling..

"Do you like it?" she asked with a curious look.

"It's great. Thanks, Rilu-chan." he said feeling a bit happy, even if he didn't know the reason.

She had a strong blush and a surprised look. Hao smirked, thing which he always does when she looks like this.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing…" she answered flustered and still blushing. "But um, it's the first time you've called me like that."

"Oh, really?" he said also blushing a bit, because he realized he had said that on a whim.

"Well, this means we're friends, Hao-kun!" she tried to give this atmosphere a lighter tone.

"Don't call me like that. I don't usually use appellatives." He responded on a forced irritated and ignorant tone, trying to hide his look.

She chuckled. "Wow, it's the first time I actually managed to tease you a bit! It surely does seem fun!"

He also smiled a bit.

"Well, enjoy while it lasts. What is that camera for?" he asked.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Before I leave to move my things –yeah, finally found a place to sleep, whoop whoop - I want to take a picture of us!"

"A picture?"

"Yeah! To immortalize this moment! Now you're 16, one year older than me...At least in this lifetime." she rapidly added before Hao could say something.

"Oh and plus, one day you'll look at it and you'll say: 'Hey, this annoying girl gave me a flute on my birthday. Wonder if it still works.' And that's how you'll keep practicing." She joked, and Hao smiled.

He talked with his usual superior smile:

"Hmm, ok then. But just one shot. And erase that other picture with me."

"Meh, it was blurred, anyway."

She came closer to him and held the camera with one arm.

"Hold still now…And smile!"

*Click!*

The party held for Yoh brought the usual atmosphere. Everyone was invited. Entertaining discussions, arguing, even fighting to death. What the hell, it was an awesome party and it was still on, even if it was already late.

Rilury went outside to relax herself a bit. Of course, it was fun and all that, but she still wasn't accustomed to have this kind of atmosphere at...home. She still felt at ease, even had some discussions with Ren regarding her teammates, laugh at some of Chocolove's jokes, noticing the slightly different attitude of Anna towards Yoh and lastly, before getting outside, having a discussion with Lyserg in English. They've mostly talked about England and some recent music bands.

Of course, she wasn't surprised when she noticed Hao suddenly appearing near her. Probably he was watching them all this time.

"Want to join the party? It is also your birthday after all." she asked with a smug.

"Humph, maybe some other time." He calmly responded. "I just waned to invite you to my birthday party, if you want to call it so, even if there's just me and Opacho making some music."

"Oh nice! I can't wait to see you play the flute! Let me just say goodbye to them."

"I'll be waiting for you by the lake." He said with a satisfied smile.

The only way she knew to get there was through his camp. And of course, how to sneak in without being noticed by a bunch of pissed off followers that you bothered earlier running like crazy and making slaloming through their tents?

They sort of formed of barricade and there was a lot of agitation. Demanding questions were coming from everywhere. She wanted to pull out her wolfram sword...

*song plays*

"Follow my lead" Hao appeared offering her his hand. She took it. Everybody remained silent.

At the lake, there was little Opacho playing at the ukulele. She seemed to be quite fascinated, but suddenly felt Hao's hand trying to pull her earring off.

"Hey!" she said and slightly pushed him off.

He started singing.

"Good little girl"

-Opacho and Rilury made the backing vocals-

"Always picking a fight with me

You know that I'm bad,

But you're spending the night with me

What, do you want, from my world?

You're a good little girl.."

Rilury smiled with a challenging air and she continued singing:

"Bad little boy,

That's what you're acting like,

I really don't buy

That you're that kind of guy,

And, if you are,

Why do you want to hang out with me?"

He evilly chuckled.

"Don't you know I'm a villain? Ever night I'm out killing, sending everyone running like children. I know why you're mad at me. I've got demon eyes and they're looking right through your anatomy."

He took her chin with his fingers and looked her in the eyes, smirking. She blushed.

"Transparent. You've got a thing for me, girl, it's apparent."

"Oh-oh!"

Everybody looked at Opacho.

"Opacho's got a hot potato,

And another two hot tomatoes,

We're going to make a good sauce maybe,

So I'll shake my bottle baby…"

She sang with her cute voice and they both smiled looking at her. Then, Hao turned his look back at Rilury, having a delicious smug.

"I am a thousand years old. I might be bad, but not little." He made a high jump and went on a branch of a tree.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Rilury asked.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be back." He said with a superior tone.

"Hmph! Why would I worry about you?" she pulled her tongue out, but he already disappeared. "Baka…" she said slightly pouted to herself.

"Rilury-chan!" Opacho called her.

"What is it, Opacho?" she was surprised by her addressing.

"Opacho wants to thank you. Because of you, Hao seems happier than usual."

She blushed.

"What do you mean?"

Opacho sat by the lake and Rilury sat near her.

"Well, Opacho loves Hao-sama. But she also once feared Hao-sama and left him. He was different, anrgy and sorrow. Opacho was in deep pain... But when Opacho saw him again, she knew he was changed somehow. It was the same Hao-sama that Opacho met at the beginning. And now she understands why."

"Well, if you say so…I somehow know how it is to loose a dear person…" Rilury said a bit thoughtful.

"For that, Opacho's going to play the ukulele for you! What song do you want to sing?"

"Well I have written once a song …oh, forget it, it's stupid."

"What song is it?" Opacho asked childishly demanding and made Rilury smile a bit.

"Well…when I was 8, my father left me. I was spying on him that night and saw him eating…" she laughed melancholy, " my French fries that he bought for me that day at one of our few walks in the park. He left without saying a word to me, and I didn't have the courage to say anything to him, because I was too upset because of that. And I thought he was going for another business trip. Only after some days I would find out that he'll never return…"

"Did something bad happen to him?" Opacho asked saddened.

"I don't even know that…But, thing is, I wrote a song the night after. It sounds quite weird but…"

"Sing it!" Opacho said enthusiastic like a little child she was. She chuckled.

"Okay, here it goes."

*song 2 plays*

"Daddy, Why Did You Leave Me

You created me, so don't you wanna see me?

Daddy, why did you make me,

If your not gonna take me,

To get a burger and shakey?

My cursed blood is your cursed blood,

Come on back and be my bud,

I can count your visits on my finger tips,

Come back and give me presents from your business trips."

Hao stopped from singing the first note of the flute to hear her voice. He listened her singing about her pain in the past. It sounded nice. His eyes caught a bit of a melancholic glance.

The full moon was spreading a nostalgic pale light.

"Daddy why did you eat my fries?

I bought them,

And they were mine.

But you ate them,

You ate my fires,

and I cried,

But you didn't see me cry.

…

Daddy, there were tears there,

If you saw them would you even care?"

Opacho's eyes became flooded with big tears and she hugged Rilury. She smiled warmly and held the little one in her arms.

The flute started playing.

A beautiful song could be heard from the woods. Nostalgic and a bit sad. But sublime.

They both listened to it peacefully. Rilury was glad to hear Hao playing the flute she gave him, even if he didn't want to be seen for some reason.

Maybe he was just a lonely person after all.

To be continued...

Allright, from the next chapter we'll get into action again, promise!

**means Happy Birthday in japanese!

mistakes to be corrected later, he-he...

btw, perhaps I'll draw that picture someday? Who knows? Anyway, this picture is important, so remember the moment! xD