"Kiana!"
Kiana looked up from her desk, closing her book. Cecilia came bounding into her room, holding something behind her back. Snow fell slowly outside, piling up on the streets in small mounds. It was winter time. They had been in Nagazora for a little over four months now.
Einstein and Tesla had sent her here more to keep an eye on Cocolia.
"What is it, squirt?" Kiana asked, seeing Cecilia fidgeting with something behind her back.
"S- Stop calling me squirt!"
"Pfft, whatever Squirt. What'cha got there behind your back?" she asked. Kiana leaned a little to the side, hoping to catch a glimpse of what she was hiding.
Cecilia immediately moved to hide from her older sister's tracking gaze.
"I- I… Did you forget?" Cecilia asked.
"Mmm? Forget? Forget what?" Kiana blinked in confusion. Did she forget to make dinner? That was odd. Kiana had made dinner for the both of them before she sat down to study.
"Not that idiot! Did you forget what day it is today?" Cecilia asked.
Today? Kiana quirked an eyebrow. She looked at the calendar, wondering what Cecilia meant.
December 7.
Oh. Kiana blinked several times. That was right. Today was their birthday. Now, Kiana knew what Cecilia was hiding behind her back.
Birthdays were something they had lost the luxury of celebrating. At least, Kiana did. She knew that Cecilia had always felt bad that, even though it was their birthday, Kiana never celebrated once. The older girl had always gone out of her way to make sure that Cecilia was happy on their supposedly happy day.
And Cecilia had always complained that Kiana never celebrated. However, Kiana insisted that if Cecilia was happy on their birthdays, then she was happy as well.
It had been like this ever since their father died.
"It's our birthday," Kiana said, feeling a growing feeling of guilt. She had forgotten to make the usual birthday meal and rudimentary cake for her younger sister.
"Yeah, did you forget?" Cecilia asked.
"K-Kind of?" she replied.
"Haah. Idiot. Anyway…" Cecilia pulled out a small bag from behind her back. She handed it to her older sister, who took it with a small amount of surprise on her face.
"So…," Kiana asked. "Was this why you were out so late every night? Please tell me you got this legally."
Cecilia's face grew red at Kiana's implication. She stamped her foot and fumed, feeling embarrassed to her very soul. "I got it legally! I didn't use any scummy ways to get it!"
Kiana giggled at her reaction. She smiled as she reached into the bag, pulling out a crudely wrapped package.
Cecilia watched with anticipation as Kiana unwrapped the gift.
Kiana pulled out a small strap of black fabric with a cheap plastic yellow gem embroidered into the front. She held it in front of her. "A choker?"
"W- Well? I went around everywhere with Mei-senpai to find something. I found it at a second-hand clothing store. I… I'm sorry I can't get you anything better-"
Cecilia's voice was cut off as Kiana walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. The warmth of her older sister spread through her body
"Thank you. I love it," Kiana said, stroking her sister's hair softly. She pulled away from the hug and placed the choker around her neck. After she finished, she pushed her hair aside and smiled. "Well?"
"It looks great on you, Big Sis," Cecilia said.
Kiana smiled fondly as she held it in her hand. It was the first present Cecilia had ever gotten her since their father died. Birthdays were a luxury Kiana had always strived to provide for her younger sister whenever she could. Whatever funds she had earned as "Bianka Ataegina" were used to provide food and shelter, as well as pay off their travel funds. Any scraps that were left were used to buy Cecilia clothes.
"Kiana."
Kiana turned around and saw Himeko walking up to her. She was dressed in a familiar red battlesuit. She hadn't seen that battlesuit since Nagazora. That familiar lite-armor plated, form fitting bodysuit.
"You're wearing Scarlet Fusion," Kiana commented.
"Oh. Yeah, I'm going all in on this," Himeko said.
Kiana nodded.
"You brought it with you?" Himeko asked, nodding to the choker in Kiana's hands.
Kiana nodded. "It's the first thing she ever got me with her money. You know I thought she was going around doing shady things for money. She went out all the time at night with Mei so much that I thought she was actually doing… stuff."
"Like?"
"You know… stuff."
Himeko nodded, not wanting to push any further.
"She got me this on our birthday. Whenever we had birthdays, I always made sure to get Cecilia something, even if it was just a small thing. I made food for the both of us and she always complained that I didn't take care of myself enough. I always worked myself to death for the both of us.
"Whatever money I earned from… doing stuff, it all went to clothing, food, and shelter. Occasionally, I used all of it to pay for our travel fees when we left Siberia. First to Germany then to wherever else we had to go," Kiana began.
Himeko remained silent, allowing her to continue.
"When we got to Nagazora, I guess being friends with Mei came with perks. This is her first birthday present to me. Even if she gets me more expensive stuff now every year, I still wear this because this is the first gift my baby sister got for me," she said.
"We'll get her back," Himeko said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Kiana nodded. "I know. We will get her back. No matter what. No matter the cost. I will cut down everyone who gets in my way of that." She gripped the railing, crushing it in her hands.
With resolve burning in her eyes, Kiana looked out the window.
Ceci… don't worry. No matter what, I'll get you back. Big Sis will always save you.
Kiana let go of the railing and held the black choker tightly.
Yes, I gave Durandal's choker a backstory. This functions as a very short sort of epilogue/interlude before the final arc.