｢Chapter 7｣
"Guess what day is it today?" Fighter burst into the infirmary as she shouted out the question.
"I don't know and don't wish to guess nor want to know about what day today is, Leader." Healer who was seated at her desk, writing on pieces of reports, replied bluntly at the overexcited starlight who had just burst into her office. Looking up to the clock on her table, she frown and looked. "And why are you in here at this time. Shouldn't you be having drills right now?"
"NOPE! I'm getting a day off today! Want to know why?" Fighter taunted even though Healer had just stated clearly that she do not wish to why.
"Not really, Fighter. Nothing surprising comes out you, and I could pretty well guess why. But I chose not to understand." Healer retorted back jokingly.
"But I wish to say it, what can you do about it?" Fighter walked to the side of Healer and shouted into her ears. "It's my special day today! BIRTHDAY!"
Healer covered her ears and rolled her eyes as Fighter spoke."Geez Fighter! What's so special about birthdays? Yes you are finally older, but you still act as a young child. I just can't believe that you are 19! And you act like you are 12 years old." Healer insulted.
"Look who's talking. You are acting, no, you look like you are a 12 year old. And birthday s are special, because I get to get a day off!" Fighter insulted back, as she laid down on the bed in the infirmary.
"What do you mean that I looked like a 12 year old? And what, is it because you are a year older, leading to increasing insanity in your mind? Don't tell me that you are intending to spend your off day HERE, in a infirmary?" Healer questioned sarcastically.
"Well I'm BORED! It's only me having the off day. There's no one to play, talk or irritate when I'm the only one who is having the off day." Fighter reasoned.
"And you came here just to irritate me? Hello Fighter! For goodness sake, you are the one who is having off day and free. I still have a hell lot of work to do, and you are here to disturb me. Why not Maker but me?" Healer asked as she continued with her work at her desk, totally ignoring the fact that Fighter was lying on the bed.
"I guessed she's busy as well" Fighter muttered softly under her breath, but loud enough for Healer to hear it.
"Okay. This is really unfair. Both of us are busy, yet you chose to disturb me and not Maker. What a bias friend are you ar. Come think of it, I noticed that you haven't been talking much to Maker." Healer analysed.
"Whatever." Fighter, not knowing how should she react to the analysis, chose to end the conversation and start a new one. "So Healer, what time will you finish your work?
"I'm not sure. Why is that so?"
"Let's go out!" Fighter suggested.
"No! I'm busy! If you want to see me at your birthday dinner tonight, then please entertain your own self for now." Healer blurted out.
"Dinner?" Fighter repeated with a raised eye brown. "You mean I have a birthday dinner tonight?"
"Shit!" Healer cursed under her breath. 'It is supposed to be a surprise and I screwed it. ARGH!' "Pretend you heard nothing from me. Just be in dining hall on time later. And PLEASE get out now." Healer ordered.
Fighter stood up from the examination bed and walked towards Healer. "I will get out, if that's what you want." Fighter said sadly before continuing in a joking voice, " You are the most unsympathetic empath that I've met in my life."
"You!" Healer, using the pen that was in her hand, poked Fighter at her stomach.
"Hahaaha!" Fighter laughed out as she walked to the door. "See you later then, Healer. Thanks for entertaining me for all these while, even when you are so busy." Smiling at Healer, Fighter left the infirmary.
'What a way to spend birthday, having an off day on my own. Everyone else is so busy with their own work. If this was the case, I would rather be in drills than having the day off.' Fighter thought as she sat on the high branch of her favourite tree, back leaning against the huge trunk, allowing her legs to hang in the air.
'Birthday dinner? I wonder how will it be . . . ' Fighter thought as she closed her eyes, enjoying the rustling sound of the leaves as the wind breeze by.
"I noticed that you haven't been talking to Maker these days" The sentence Healer made earlier on rang in Fighter's mind. 'Really. I haven't really talked to Maker ever since Mercury left. Even at Hillreign, we didn't talked much. It feels like she's avoiding me. I wonder if it's because of that kiss that night."
[Flashback]
"Careful!" Fighter called out and pulled Maker's hand as Maker missed a footing to the next step.
"Thanks." Maker said and pulled back her hand from Fighter once she regained her balance. She then continued, "This is why I say you should not come here alone." With that, Maker continued climbing forward towards their destination, with Fighter at her side.
Once reaching at Hillreign, they two of them sat separately at their usual place. Hillreign is the place where they could see the part of the galaxy, particularly, the Sol System. Even though it is 100 light years away, they could still see the sun of the sol system, as well as the pearl moon which shine from the light of the sun.
Fighter stared at the Moon, thinking about the Moon princess and her new baby. 'Odango, it's time for me to let go.' Tears started filling her eyes. Fighter looked up into the sky, blinking her eyes, not allowing the tears to fall off. 'I must not cry. Not anymore.'
Fighter looked over to where Maker was seated. She saw Maker sitting there, not looking at the sky but at the ground. 'She seemed upset. What happened?'
"Maker?"
"Hmmm?" Maker responded, not looking at Fighter.
"Are you angry with me?" Fighter mustered all the courage she had in her and asked.
"What made you think so?" Maker asked, still not looking at Fighter.
"You are not talking to me, since we started the journey out." Fighter stated.
"There's nothing as such. I'm just tired. I'm not angry with you. Don't worry so much, Fighter." Maker replied and that was the last conversation they had for the day.
[End of Flashback]
Fighter heaved a sigh, allowing her head to come in contact with the tree. 'What had happened to us? We used to be open to each other, able to talk about any topic. But lately, it feels like things had change. It feels like she's hiding something. And what's up with me? Why do I feel nervous when I'm alone with her? Wait! What am I thinking? She's my best friend aren't she? And she do have someone that she likes. . . Mercury . . .'
"Oi! Fighter!" A voice from below called out to her. Fighter knew who was she without even having the need to look down. There was only one person in the palace who dares to "Oi" her. Healer.
"Yes ELFIN?" Fighter replied with a huge smirk on her face.
"What did you just called me?" Healer retorted as she glared at Fighter.
"Elfin. You are always petite as compared to me and Maker. And now, you seemed even tinier from where I'm looking. " Fighter explained.
"Fine. To think that I rushed through my work so that YOU would have an accompany to do things and this is what I get in return. FINE! I'm retreating. Bye" Healer stated, turning away from the tree and started walking away.
"What? Serious?" Fighter scream excitedly as she leaped down from the branch to the group. right behind Healer as Healer started to make her move. Pulling Healer's hand, Fighter continued, "Come on! Let's go!" Fighter dragged Healer behind her, who started whining.
"Can we not run? You know I hate to perspire, don't you?"
"I do, that's why we are running, elfin." Fighter joked.
"You!"
"You two are late." Maker declared as Fighter dragged Healer into the dining room.
Kakkyu and Maker are both seated by the table, waiting patiently for the other two to arrive.
Fighter shoved Healer to her seat as she apologised. "Sorry Ouhi, we overlooked the time. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Tell me, why am I so kind to you today? And all I get in return are sweat and ill treatments from you." Healer commented dejectedly as she was being pushed violently into her seat.
"Because today is MY birthday!" Fighter directed the sentence to Healer and stuck out her tongue at her.
Kakkyu, laughing the little commotion, turned her attention back to Fighter as she replied, "No worries Fighter, you are the star today. No matter how late are you, we will still wait for you."
Fighter blushed a little, not knowing what to say. She looked around the room, only to realise that the room only contained the four of them. Puzzled, she asked, "Where's King Ryuuji?"
"It's ladies night today, Fighter. Ryuuji had something to settle at Jinzei, so he's away for two weeks since yesterday. " Kakkyu explained. "For you." Kakkyu continued as she placed an indigo paper wrap next to Fighter. "Happy 19 to you, Fighter."
Picking up the present from the table, Fighter thanked Kakkyu.
"Open it up to see if you like it or not." Kakkyu ordered gently.
Fighter ripped open the beautiful wrapping and was surprise to find a star-shaped bracelet, with a pearly white shiny outline.
"It's so beautiful, Ouhi! Thanks you so much, Ouhi!" Fighter said in appreciation as she put on the bracelet on her left hand.
"The lining is made of moonstone from Earth. I know you will like it, Fighter." Kakkyu explained.
"Really?" Fighter responded, as she stared intensively at the bracelet. The image of the moon princess started to appear before her. She shook her head vigorously, trying to get the image out of her mind. She shifted her attention to Healer, who was sitting beside her. "Where's my pressie, Elfin?" Fighter asked, battling her eyelashes at Healer
"Don't look at me with that eyes of yours." Healer shivered as she retorted. "Firstly, you got my present already. My precious time given to you today is your present. And secondly, stop calling me Elfin or anything with the same implied meaning." Healer grunted as she continued.
"Whatever!" Fighter challenged. "What can you do about me, ELF" Fighter burst out into laughter.
"Shut up Fighter!" Healer shouted out. Leaning towards Fighter's ear, she carried on, "Wait till Ouhi is away, I'll make sure you won't make it to see the sunrise tomorrow." And she pushed Fighter away from her, proceeding to the food that was placed in front of her.
"Be gentle, Healer!" Fighter complained. Fighter lifted her head a little, and her eyes came in contact with Maker, who was seated directly opposite her on the round table. Realising that Maker is looking at her as well, Fighter turned away.
"Fighter?" Maker called out. "Sorry. I did not prepare any gift for you. I hope you won't mind about it. It kind of slipped out of my mind that it's your birthday today."
Fighter could feel sharp pain piercing through her chest as Maker finished. 'Why does it hurts when she say that she had forgotten about my birthday. Why is that so?' "It's alright, Maker, it's just birthday. Nothing really special about that." Fighter lied, as she tried to shake off the pain and negative feelings that were growing within her.
"Alright, my dear starlights, I actually have a little news to share with you all." Kakkyu cleared her throat a little as she continued. "I . . . The next heir is coming soon, in nine months time."