Well, someone had to give Rachel the birthday she deserved.
I do not own Blazblue.
As the years go by…
"Hey, kid, ya got any idea what day it is?" Jubei's sudden question gained not only the attention of a young Ragna, but also one Lady Rachel who was sitting nearby sipping her tea under the shade of a tree.
"Huh? Oh, uh, it's the 31st, right? So, that means…" Ragna hummed as he caught his breath from their latest sparring match. "Its Halloween, yeah? Never thought about it much because the sister always went on about how it was satanic or some shit. Didn't want us celebrating it."
"She didn't like ya swearin' either, but that never stopped ya none." The old cat gave his ill-mannered student an accusing look.
"Yeah, whatever. What about Halloween, Master?" Ragna asked out of curiosity, but Rachel could already tell where things were heading.
"It ain't 'bout Halloween, kid. Today's a certain little lady's birthday." Jubei side eyed Rachel, who was doing her best to blend in to the Autumn foliage, but Ragna got the hint anyway.
"You mean… It's the rabbit's birthday?" The young man raised an eyebrow as he followed Jubei's gaze.
With the unwanted attention on her, Rachel couldn't help but sigh as she made her tea cup disappear and approached the two men.
"Yes, indeed it is. Although, Jubei, while your thoughtful consideration is…let's say appreciated, I dare say it is rather unnecessary. I hardly celebrate the occasion anymore." Rachel spoke plainly. It was true, too. Anything would get boring after so long, and yes that includes celebrating one's own birth.
"Ah, c'mon, don't go bein' such a stick in the mud." Jubei shot back.
"Mmm, nah, I think I know what she means, Master. I mean, nothing is fun after a billion times!" Ragna snickered, feeling the need to pat himself on the back for his own joke.
Rachel, on the other hand, was not nearly as amused.
And she showed as much with a quick bolt of lightning touching down mere inches away from Ragna's face. He couldn't help but shriek like a girl and stumble back as a result.
"Well, I'm not to sure about that, boy. You certainly seem to be positively tickled pink to make a fool of yourself for the billionth or so time." Rachel smiled triumphantly as the object of her amusement leapt back to his feet and stomped forward to stick his face in hers.
"Bet I'll be having a lot more fun after I kick your ass for the billionth time too!" The perpetually angry teen seethed.
"I do believe you will have to accomplish that at least once before making such claims, young man." Rachel practically sang back.
"Alright, you two, I think that'll do it. C'mon, kid, we still got plenty to do." Jubei beckoned Ragna back to the training field, to which the budding young warrior begrudgingly obliged. "And all the same to ya, Rachel, I do hope ya have a good day by yer standards."
"Yeah… Happy billionth birthday, Rabbit." Ragna stuck his tongue out but Rachel could tell that he actually did mean it in his own, childish way.
Which earned him a curtsy.
"My thanks, both of you. I'm sure I will have a positively delightful time." Rachel said knowing full well she would.
After all, any day they could spend together was a good one to her.
Many things may change…
"Rachel! Hey, Rachel!" The infamous criminal yelled at the sky from his seat by the riverside. He didn't have to wait long at all until the one and only Queen of the Vampires appeared before him.
"You know, it is hardly proper for the master to be at the beck and call of the servant." Rachel huffed in derision.
"Yeah, but you always show up anyway because what kind of stalker would you be otherwise, right?" Ragna lazily fired back, rising to his feet.
Ever so slightly, Rachel's lip curled into the smallest of smiles.
"Oh, Ragna, I must confess you caught me red handed! I simply cannot resist your off-putting scowl, unkept mop of hair or that bit of food you have kept stuck in your teeth since last we spoke. How could any woman ever pass on a catch like you?" Rachel overacted, circling around Ragna and making doe eyes at the man.
He tried, yet failed, to subtly pick at his teeth using his tongue before readdressing the snooty little vampire.
"Always such a mouth…" Ragna muttered before digging a small box out of his pocket. "You don't really deserve this, but I can't exactly take it back so here."
The criminal stuffed the tiny package into Rachel's hand and quickly shuffled a short distance away to let her open her present. She eyed the velvet box before shooting a smile Ragna's way.
"You stole this, didn't you?"
"Nope. Won the lottery. Just open the damn thing already." Ragna said without turning back to face her.
Deciding to comply, Rachel popped the container open. What she saw surprisingly delighted her. For the lack of a better word, the earrings were nothing short of spectacular. White gold embedded into the metal plating sparkled under the light while the large ruby planted in the middle of the fitted metal reflected gently under the sun.
"Why, Ragna, these are actually…impressive." Rachel said without an ounce of sass.
"Yeah, well, you know… Just saw them and thought of you." The man let his voice trail off more and more as he spoke, but there was no escaping Rachel's hearing.
"Is that so?" Rachel sauntered up behind the criminal. "And what about them brought about thoughts of myself?"
"The, uh, red…just…made me think of your eyes, alright!? What's with the third degree, damn!" Ragna hurried out the last bit as quickly as possible.
Rachel wanted to call attention to how the red matched his own face better than her eyes at the moment but she would let him have this one. Teleporting the box away, Rachel took her gift in hand and affixed the jewelry to her ears.
"So? How do they look, Ragna?" Rachel called out.
The most wanted man in the world peeked back over his shoulder and was rewarded with a dazzling eyeful of his own. Though it was hard to say which was more so.
The way she wore those earrings or the smile on her face.
He didn't have to say that though.
"…About what I expected." Ragna hurriedly dragged his collar up as he turned away. "Anyway, I screwed around enough here. I'm gonna hit the road. Go home and have some cake or something."
Rachel smiled even wider at her favorite boy's awkward antics.
"Very well. My thanks, Ragna." Rachel watched his retreating form as he gave her a wave.
"Happy billionth birthday, Rachel."
But one thing will always be certain…
It was early in the morning, hard to tell with the perpetual moonlight of Rachel's realm as it might be, but Ragna was still stirring from his sleep despite the ungodly hour. The man of Azure groaned as he cracked an eye open to look down at his favorite bunny buried in his chest.
Ragna sluggishly readjusted his arms to pull the vampire close enough to plant a kiss on the top of her head, which was plenty to wake her as well.
She yawned a quiet 'good morning' to her man as he raised up on an elbow.
"Happy billionth, baby." Ragna smirked to himself.
While the line itself wasn't in the slightest bit funny, his sheer dedication to the bit tickled Rachel despite her best efforts. It was quite literally every year without fail. It was stupid and childish, but showed a measure of care in its own way as well. He hardly cared to celebrate or even remember practically anyone else's birthday so she was right pleased with the attention she got for hers.
Although, Ragna trying to get up so soon just wouldn't do.
The criminal shifted to a sitting position on his side of the bed, but just as quickly Rachel snaked her arms around his neck and whined at him.
"Where do you think you're going, boy?"
"Gotta get started on your breakfast. Me and that old sack of skin actually planned a bunch of stuff for you today. He'll probably give me an earful if I'm not down there so I'll need you to hop off." Ragna gently ordered.
"Hmm…" Rachel hummed before nuzzling into his neck. "What if I rather spend the entire day in bed with you~?"
Oh, Ragna would be lying if he said it wasn't tempting as all hell, but he had a plan, dammit. He easily pulled her from his back and laid her down on the bed again, all while placating her with a lingering kiss to the lips. It kept her from putting up a fight and Ragna took the chance to pull away to a leaning position on the edge of the bed.
"Don't worry, Rachel. After giving Jeeves a hand in the kitchen I'll be back up and I promise to spoil you… All. Day. Long." Ragna whispered sensually as he dragged a hand down her side.
"I advise you don't keep a lady waiting then." Rachel commanded.
"Yes, ma'am." Ragna got up to his feet properly and made for the door. "Be back before you know it, babe."
Rachel watched the criminal stroll out and practically sighed dreamily like a love drunk teenager. Though she couldn't help herself, really. She had treated her own birthday as something not particularly special for many years, but that all changed when the young rebel became part of her life. Yes, just like always, he seemed to make what she once considered a mundane occasion to a pleasant little excuse for fun.
No matter if the gesture was big or small, having Ragna in her life always made for a happy birthday.
And that is how much I love you.
As always, review if you like. Happy Halloween, everyone.
