Hey people! It's time for another omake! Sorry for keep writing omakes. I'm also pretty pissed off that the other three's birthdays are so close, all one month difference… Then I'm the odd one out I think you all should pity me! Okay, just joking… Today's Sozes' birthday! Happy birthday!
Note to Sozes: I know you dun like the story, but at least like this chapter. Or I don't talk to you and Mitsuko again, just like last time.
[Mitsuko: C'mon! I was joking that time! D: ]
Shadow: Happy birthday Sozes!
Sozes:*O.o* Thanks!
Mitsuko: Isn't Sozes' birthday yours too?
Shadow: Yea, I realized that…. Since in real life my birthday is so far, and Sozes and I are twins in this story… I guess, I will be having my 'birthday' today!
Chika: So, happy birthday to you?
Shadow: Gee, thanks Chika… Or are you directing that to Sozes?
Chika: No…
Shadow: So you're not wishing her happy birthday?
Chika: Of course I am!
Mitsuko: Okay, you two! Cut it out! To all readers, Fullmetal Alchemist does not belong to the two writers of this story.
Shadow: Yea, or Al won't be with May Chang at all!
Mitsuko: Watch what ya're talking!
Virtues Middle School
Risembool
"So, students… If x equals 3, what would y be equal to?"
The teacher lifted her head, only to see no reaction from the class again.
"Shadow. Answer the question please."
Shadow sighed, as he stood up. As he took up his book, he glanced at his watch and began counting down to himself, "12…11"
He pushed his chair back "10…9…8"
He walked up to the white board, "7… 6… 5"
He took the marker from the teacher, "4… 3… 2"
He reached out to write his answer. "1…" "B-r-r-r-ing!"
"Okay, we will continue this lesson next time. Class dismissed."
Shadow smiled, as he walked back to his seat, to take his wallet.
"You knew the lesson was gonna end, don't you?"
"Kind of…" Shadow looked up and grinned at Chika and Sozes.
"Brother, race ya to the cafeteria!"
Shadow was about to accept the challenge, when Sozes had run off.
"Hey! No fair!"
Chika could only looked at her friends running off in the distance, sighing. Why do her ever-so-active friends always leave her behind?
"Hey Chika! Over here!" Shadow waved to his friend, who then came over with the exasperated look on her face.
"Why do you and Sozes always disappear during lunchtime?"
"Why do you ask that? Want to talk to me privately? I'm a busy person, ya know. But don't worry about that…you shall be a special case. I will make time for you anytime!" Shadow teased her.
"What do you mean by that?" Chika exclaimed, starting to blush again.
"Now, now. Chika, Shadow, don't quarrel during lunchtime. Ya know, ya two look like a couple when ya quarrel."
Shadow and Chika turned to see Mitsuko and Al walking towards the table that the two friends had reserved.
"Shadow, go and help the others with the food."
"Yea, I know, I know" Shadow shrugged and walked off, as Al went to join him to find his brother.
Mitsuko looked at her best friend looking at her brother dejectedly. "C'mon Chika, don't mind what I'm sayin'. You know I just love to tease him yeah? And dudes your age don't get us at all."
Chika looked back at her, then smiled lightly.
The two girls then began to make small talk, while waiting for the others to come.
"Hoho, I see Matsudaira's sister and girlfriend." The girls heard a familiar voice, then turning back with caution, only to see Damien the school bully, who had clashed with Shadow a few times before.
"Get lost, Damien, and I'm not his girlfriend." Chika replied coolly to the school bully, remembering Mitsuko's words.
"Shut up little girl… Can't ya see who's the boss here?"
"Where? I don't see the principal here…" Mitsuko looked around for any signs of said person.
"Do you see him, Chika?" Mitsuko asked her friend, who then shaked her head.
Unfortunately, that was the last straw for Damien, who got angry then shouted at her.
"You daughter of a b****! Oh yea, I forgot you have no mother."
That sentence had a huge impact on Mitsuko, who then suddenly remembered that the following day was her mother's death anniversary. She got up and ran off silently.
Chika then got up, wanting to scold and hit Damien, but only settling with a slap to his face. "Whack!" Everybody in the canteen immediately turned to look at the two students.
Damien felt a jab at his pride. He just got hit by a girl and he isn't going to let it lying down. He glared at Chika, then raising his fist, preparing to strike, only to felt someone holding him back.
"Quit it, sore loser. Or you wanna another fight with me?"
He turned around to see his 'rival', then trying to stay calm, "What do you want? Another trashing from me? Your girlfriend just bloody h*** slapped me!"
Despite what he said, Shadow stayed calm and warned him "Chika's my friend, nothing more. Please treat her with more respect; she is a girl. And if you really want a trashing, you can find me, not her."
Shadow then walked to Chika, "Are you hurt?"
"No." Came the meek reply of Chika.
"I doubt Sis would have the mood to eat her share then. Might as well, let me have her share!" Shadow sat down at the table as the others began to come back with the food.
Chika shook her head. Shadow can be immature yet mature sometimes…Knowing Mitsuko would be alright, she doubted Shadow's words, and packed Mitsuko's share and asked Al to bring it to her before their lessons start, then tucking into the meal.
Mitsuko recalled the times she had with her mother, and how everyone would say that they had the same hair when they walked around the town together. Shihiro would use to let her sit on his lap while she ran her fingers through the keys of the piano, and press any random keys together which made Shihiro laugh as her mother watched from behind. How her father would bring her to playgrounds and tell her stories as her mother cooed her to sleep every night…
"Mitsuko… Hey Mitsuko… Wake up."
She felt a nudge at her shoulder, realizing she had fallen asleep in class.
"Wha…? I fell asleep. First time so far." Mitsuko woke up thank Al for waking her up.
"Wondered why you were so silent, normally you would be scribbling notes and drawing random pictures."
"Erm… Yeah… Concentrate on the lesson yep?" Mitsuko smiled at her friend before turning her attention to the teacher.
"There's another couple! You Matsudairas must be really good eh? One clique has two couples for the Matsudairas!"
Mitsuko and Al were interrupted from their conversation as they walked along the corridors after lesson.
Damien again? How many times must he disturb us?
"How can we help you?" Al asked Damien, noticing Mitsuko's irritated gaze as the boy approached them.
"Oh nothing, just doing my usual stuff."
"Well in that case jus-" Mitsuko did not manage to finish her sentence as the school bully carried on.
"You two are always together huh? Sitting together in class, eating together during recess, so what's going on eh? One without a father, and one without a mother. What a nice pair!"
A laugh followed and he continued his teasing.
"I wonder why do you even care for your siblings Matsudaira. They took your mum away from you. And guess what? They even have the same birthday as her death anniversary! Did they bring bad luck to your family? Aren't they burdens to you? Wait. They already are!"
Damien laughed more.
"And-"
"Mitsuko?"
Al realized that his friend had already stormed away from them. He gave Damien an angry look before finding Mitsuko.
Holding on to the ring necklace her siblings gave her for her birthday, she stared blankly at the school ground from the basketball court.
Burdens? Heh… I rather have burdens than have no siblings …
Mitsuko let out a sigh as she recalled about her mother again. The ritual of celebrating of birthdays never took place every year for the twins, knowing that it wasn't really a day meant celebrating, especially when it was the day you lose someone close to you.
"Feeling down?"
Mitsuko was deep in her thoughts that she did not realize that Al had already taken a seat beside her at the bench. She let our another sigh before leaning back on her seat, looking up to the sky.
"He's just teasing you, don't be too carried away."
"It's just that I don't want to be reminded bout' how mum passed away because of them. And I hate it when people talk bad bout' my siblings. If I could they would've been blown from here to central in one second."
Al looked at his friend, realizing that her she was really upset.
"You know he's been picking on y'll since he knew Shadow. Just let him be."
"I'm used to that. It's just…" She did not manage to finish her sentence. With that, she sat up and rested her head on her hands. A soft pat on her shoulder comforted her a little as she muttered, "Just hope mum ain't angry."
"Hey! Where did Sozes went off to?" Shadow asked Chika as they both got out of class.
"She had to prepare a cake for you two's party, so she rushed off first."
"Oh right…So, we shall wait for the others to get out of class before we go then." Shadow walked on, while Chika followed behind.
I completely forgot tomorrow's our birthday.
Shadow looked to the ground, remembering what happened a few days ago… The first quarrel among the four of them…
Flashback
"Chika, let's hold a surprise party for Shadow and Sozes!" Shadow was walking past Chika's and Mitsuko's room to his room when he heard the conversation between the two girls.
He buried his head deeper in his cap. I don't wanna have a surprise. After all, Father and Shihiro will be grieving on that day.
He wanted to open the door and reject his sister's proposal. But Sozes, who had been behind him all along, beat him to the door.
" I don't want to have a surprise party. Just a small-scale party will do."
"What do ya mean by that?"
"It's mother's death anniversary. What's there to celebrate?" Shadow rebutted Mitsuko's question with another question.
"But it is also a celebration of your birth…" Chika quietly tried to explain.
"Yea… That's why a small-scale one will do…" Sozes replied Chika.
Just then, an awkward silence settled among the four of them, with Chika and Sozes looking at the other two alternately. Shadow and Mitsuko were glaring at each other.
"We have the right to hold this party."
"Don't you understand? Mother died on that day, thirteen years ago!"
"I don't understand why you are blaming yourself for something you didn't do wrong."
"Mother died during my birth. Heck, they even have to cut her stomach just to get Sozes, who at that time, is at critical condition! My birth lead to mother's death and Sozes' to near-death situation!"
Chika was surprised, she had not known about it. She was shocked by how the ever-so-cheerful Shadow had beaten himself up because of his birth situation.
Mitsuko was shocked. He wasn't supposed to know that! She remembered Shihiro telling her about her mother's death those years ago. Even though she knew what had happened, she had not blamed Sozes, or Shadow for the matter of fact. She had resolved to enjoy her time with her two siblings, the twins Shadow and Sozes which her mother had suffered great pains to give birth to.
Sozes just kept quiet. A few weeks ago, she and Shadow, who were playing hide-and-seek together, had overheard their father and brother's conversation about their mother's death. She remembered the agonized look on her brother's face, which was masked by a fake smile at her later on, telling her to continue looking for Chika.
Shadow looked at the three of them, before turning his back and left.
Flashback end.
"Shadow, you there?"
Shadow looked around to see the clique's favourite spot, the rooftop of the school. Shadow sighed, before joining Chika, who had sat in the part of the shade
"Ooo… I see another pair of Matsudaira couple… What do you think? I sure am lucky!"
Shadow raised his eyebrow at Damien, who just appeared.
"Hey Kawashi, you're quite cute, you know? Why settle for Matsudaira there when you can have me?"
Shadow felt immense anger. The next thing he knew, he had pushed Damien to the floor and prepared his fist for a punch.
"Shadow! What are you doing?" He turned to see his sister with Sozes. Mitsuko was just in time to stop Shadow from beating up their rival, though she also felt the same sense of hatred Shadow had for him.
Shadow immediately got up and walked off cooly, leaving Damien still lying on the floor, startled at his actions. Damien had never seen this side of Shadow, not even when he had his first fight with Shadow. This Shadow here had a serious look on his face, which was rarely seen on the happy-go-lucky guy. He also seemed to give off a frightening aura around him. For the second time, Damien was scared. It's pretty ironic that both times that he was scared, it was because of Shadow, the person he was always trying to bully. He had no choice but to stand up and run off as Mitsuko and Sozes approached Chika.
"Here's a toast to the twins!" Shihiro held up a glass of punch [A/N: It's supposed to be wine, but oh well, they are kids. Underage kids cannot drink wine. I also don't want them to get drunk and do something wrong.]
After Chika had brought Shadow back to the roof, he looked around to see his friends all crowded around him. Sozes had always liked parties, but she was not smiling but looking at the others with her no-expression-face. Shihiro noticed the look Shadow gave to Mitsuko as she told him not to try anything funny again. Sozes seemed to be quiet too, not like the cheery self she was among her friends. As an older brother, I should find out what happened…
"Fluffy, Shadow seemed so angry that time. Should I tell Shihiro about what happened?"
"Tell me what?"
Sozes jerked, turning back, seeing Shihiro, who gently smiled at her.
"Don't worry. I won't scold ya."
Shadow looked around. Mitsuko was talking to Al. Ed was talking to Winry and the adults were talking among one another.
After his 'toast', Shihiro had also disappeared. Chika was sitting at the couch alone, gazing out into the night. He would have gone up and chatted with Chika.
But, tonight, just tonight, he don't feel like disturbing the said person. So, he trudged up to the balcony up on the second floor.
"I guess I should tell you then." He heard Sozes, then peered down. Shihiro was talking to Sozes, with Fluffy on her lap. Sky is flying around them.
They were here all along.
Shadow would normally had called out to them but his two siblings seem at peace now. He wouldn't want to disturb them. He looked up at the sky. There are quite a few stars today.
"So, you're here." Hearing the familiar voice, Shadow turned around to see Chika.
Chika walked up and stood beside him, "You always seem to like looking at the night sky… Why is that so?"
Shadow looked at Chika, then started relating what had happened, years ago.
Flashback
"Haha! Your mother doesn't want you anymore! Nobody wants you!" The words echoed in Shadow's mind. Nobody wants me… Shadow was hiding out at his room, under his blankets. He had been there for very long. How many hours, he did not know.
"Shadow? Why didn't ya go for your dinner?" It's Shihiro. He came to scold me for bein' such a burden.
"Shadow?"
"Go away."
"What's wrong, little bro?"
"Nobody wants me. Mum doesn't want me. Mitsuko always scold me. Dad always doesn't talk to me. Sozes made new friends and ignored me. Shihiro is always not at home." [A/N: Chika hasn't arrived at this point of the story.]
"Aw… Come on, Mitsuko cares for ya, that's why she scolds ya. Dad is those type of quiet guy. And, I do have school to go to, ya know that? As for Sozes, why can't she make new friends? Ya can make new friends too…"
Shadow looked up at his brother, who's smiling gently. He then felt the urge to ask the question that he's been wanting to ask for very long.
"Shihiro, what kind of a person is Mum?"
"Curious, aren't ya?"Seeing Shadow's nods, he then continued, "She's kinda the complete opposite of Dad, energetic, cheerful, gentle…"
Seeing the smile on Shadow's face, Shihiro then asked him, "Ya miss her?"
Shadow nodded.
Shihiro gestured for him to follow him. The two brothers walked to the balcony. There, Shihiro pointed up to the sky. "Ya know, there is a saying. That, if ya missed someone who've died, they will appear in the sky as a star, so ya will know that they're safe."
"Is the saying true?"
Shihiro just smiled, "It's up to ya to believe it."
Flashback end
Shihiro just stayed quiet as he listened Sozes relating the things that had happened. The overhearing of his and his father's conversation. Mitsuko and Shadow's quarrel. Damien picking them as targets.
No wonder they're behaving weirdly.
Shihiro looked at his sister. She was petting Fluffy and Sky fondly, with a worried look on her face. He patted her shoulder, then told her, "Don't worry, they'll be fine."
They both smiled, before continued playing with the pets. As Mitsuko came to join them with Al behind her.
"Sozes, can I have a word with you?"
"Sure, sis…" Sozes put Fluffy down to the floor as it started to hop around them as Mitsuko left Al with Shihiro, leading Sozes to the corridor.
"Sozes… Are you upset with… what you heard Dad and Nii-san talking about the other day?"
Sozes looked up to see her sister having her very-serious look. She could tell that she was unhappy that Shadow had found out about the truth of their mother's death.
"No… I'm just… Afraid that you and Shadow will continue to quarrel. Shadow doesn't like it…"
Mitsuko looked down and her fingers was holding on to the ring-necklace that her siblings had given her again.
"I know Shadow doesn't like it… But it's just the way that I show that I care for him. Maybe I do go abit overboard but…"
Sozes noticed that her sister's gaze had turned to Shadow who walked past the corridor with Chika behind him.
"Sis… You said that our birthdays are worth celebrating. I know that you miss mum too, I know that you don't blame us but maybe you should tell Shadow… He just can't seem to forgive himself."
Mitsuko looked at Sozes. Her sister started a light laugh before giving a pat on her back, leading them down the corridor.
"Sure. Anything for my sis eh? Now Fluffy will sure want a nice bowl of salad as a birthday gift, let's make her one shall we?" Mitsuko gave her sibling a smile as the two made their way to the kitchen.
Chika could only smile at her friend's story. She remembered that time, not long after she had joined their school….
Flashback
"I've gotta go. Soccer practice." Chika smiled at Shadow's retreating back. Shadow had been her first friend, when she had arrived at his family restaurant with her parents. Shadow had waited on them, and had talked to her a lot.
"Hey Chika…" Chika turned around to see the class monitor.
"Hello, looking for Shadow? He just left."
"No. We're here for you."
"Me?"
"Thanks."
"Haha. What's the thanks for?"
"Before you came, he was so quiet and never talked to anyone. Not even Sozes could get him to join the class activities. But, after you came, he began to join in the class and even made friends with the other quieter students, who opened up too. It's all thanks to you."
Flashback end.
Shadow looked at Chika, who seem to thinking of something. He then remembered what he had felt when Damien had gone to disturb the two of them. Why did he felt that? Is it because he is fed up of Damien's insults? It couldn't have been. But no matter now, he's going to say sorry to Damien the next time he sees him. And maybe he will find out why he was that angry when Damien insulted him after he grew up.
He was distracted by a call from Mitsuko. She seemed to be happy, unlike a few days before when she talked to him coldly. Maybe things ain't that bad after all. His siblings and friends do not blame him for the death of his mother, no one seemed to put it at their minds, all that matters that they were celebrating the birth of the twins.
Sozes gaze turned to her siblings as Mitsuko talked to Shadow silently as she fed Fluffy with the salad they had made. Looking at Fluffy enjoying his food, Sozes thought that maybe her mother did not mind sacrificing herself for the birth of the two of them. Maybe she knew that they would bring joy and laughter for everyone.
As Shadow gave a light smile to Mitsuko and went off to join Chika, Sozes knew that everything will turn out just alright.
Happy belated birthday Sozes and Fluffy! I think Mitsuko is gonna be done with chapter nine soon, so stay tuned people!
-Signing out: Shadow-