Birthday Shopping

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I spent most of the morning hiding under the covers. Sephiroth had left early; no doubt he was aiming for a sneak attack on Izzy and Aranel. I also have no doubt that it worked and he was currently fighting off their crew yet again.

I could hear the boys out in the backyard with Zelda. Yazoo had revamped the water balloon cannon and now he and Kadaj were ganging up on Loz. Sooner or later he would come running though the back door crying, wanting me to tell his younger brothers to lighting up. But for now the house was quite… except for the laughter of that little girl.

I was starting to hear and see her more and more, I wanted to be annoyed, but just couldn’t bring myself to. Every time I saw or heard her I was happy. It’s like the world around me just calmed down for a few moments and I was at peace. I was starting to think I was going crazy… well crazier. I turned over and opened my eyes a bit, seeing the little redhead sitting on the edge of the bed opposite me. I closed my eyes again, listening to her hum, but then it just stopped.

Next thing I knew, Zelda was up on the bed licking my face. I started laughing, picking up the puppy as I sat up. Just as I thought, next to her was Loz, soaking wet, tears streaming down his face.

“Kadaj, Yazoo,” I called. My two youngest pecked though the door. “Loz’s turn.” Loz perked up, jumping off the bed.

“Mom,” Kadaj whined.

“Go after him,” I said, “The two of you can gang up on Yazoo.” Kadaj smiled menacingly and chased after Loz.

“I guess it’s only fair,” Yazoo whined. He wondered off back down the hall. Zelda looked up at me, her head tilled to the side.

“I think I’m going to take Loz and Kadaj out today,” I told her. “We have to go birthday shopping for Yazoo. His birthday is only six days away.” I sit and stare off into space, wondering just how I’m going to pull this off when I hear the back door open again. I look over to the door as I hear heavy footsteps make there way upstairs.

“Success,” Sephiroth cried appearing in the doorway, no longer a Neko.

“Ah… and I was getting use to the ears,” I teased.

“Well I was tired of sleeping on the couch,” he whined, “My back was starting to hurt.”

“I can’t believe that sneak attack worked. It never works.”

“And it didn’t this time either. I had to fight off a few lackeys as well as Isdela, but I managed to get my hand on this,” He produced the gold materia from his coat.

“Good,” I said, “Now you can take Yazoo and go dump that in the ocean somewhere.”

“Why would I do that,” He asked, “And why would I take Yazoo?”

“I need him distracted,” I said. “I was going to take Loz and Kadaj out birthday shopping for him today and I don’t want him feeling like his left out or anything.”

“It’s this late in the month,” Sephiroth asked, “Already?”

“Yeah. The 28^th is only six days away. So I need to go shopping.”

“He’s going to be eight,” Sephiroth commented.

“Yep”

I heard Sephy sigh, as I got ready. “When did they grow up on us?”

“Overnight,” I said. I pulled on a gray t-shirt with a cat on it that says Adorkable and a pair of old jeans. I put my hair up in a ponytail and began my search for socks. Most days I ended up mixing and matching pairs because I can never find the mates to most of my socks. Lucky for me, most of my socks match no mater which ones I pair up.

“Let’s all go out,” I hear Sephiroth say, I can hear the panic in his voice although he hides it pretty well. “I’ll distracted Yazoo so you can shop and then we can go for lunch or something.”

“O…kay,” I ponder just what his up to. “Go tell the boys to come in and change, they’ve been shooting each other with water balloons again.”

Sephiroth rushes out of the room. I put on my shoes and make my way downstairs. Before the doorbell even rings, I open the front door. There stands my sister the lizard woman and Isdela the bunny.

“That’s cute guys, but Halloween’s still a few months off,” I tease.

“Where’s Sephiroth,” Aranel growls.

“Not here,” I lie, “told him to go chuck that materia into the ocean. You just missed him.”

Aranel and Isdela look at each other in pure horror and rush back to their ship. I wonder how long it will take them to realize I was cover for Sephy. One because we had already made plans and it’s next to impossible to get Sephy to do anything family related, and Two, it’s only fair they should be stuck that way for a few days. It serves them right for leaving my stuck an angry Neko for almost a week.

“The boys are upstairs changing,” Sephiroth said as I closed the door. “Are they gone?”

“Yeah,” I said, “And you owe me.”

He sighs in relive and smiles at me, “Thank you.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, give me that materia.”

He laughs and shakes his head as he hands me the materia. I’ll change my sister and Izzy back myself when they show back up. Then I’m getting rid of it once and for all.

Later

It had been a far more difficult task to shop for birthday presents than we thought, but we eventually accomplished our goal and headed home. The boys were tasked with taking care of Zelda the second we got though the door, time enough for my to get Yazoo’s presents up to my room without too much suspicion.

“Help me wrap these Sephy,” I ask as he follows me upstairs.

“Whom all are you planning to invite over next Tuesday,” he asked.

“Lets see,” I start thinking of everyone we could invite as I put the bags down on the bed and start looking for the wrapping paper. “Well Marceline, Christian and their boys, Yuffie, Reno and their boys. Cloud and Zack…”

Sephiroth scoffed, “Why those two?”

“Because Cloud and I happen to be friends.”

“Fine just don’t say…”

“Aranel and Isdela,” I interrupt.

Sephiroth balls his fist, “Why must you invite them?”

“Because Aranel is my sister and the boys Aunt and Isdela is one of my closest friends.” Sephiroth kicked the bed, glared at me and then realized it hurt to stand. “Maybe next time you can refrain from kicking things that bite back.”

Sephiroth just growled and sat down on the bed. “My guess is your parents are coming too?”

“Yes,” I replay, “Why wouldn’t they?”

“Who else,” He ask.

“I was thinking of asking Reno to bring his friend Rude along and get Cloud and Zack to bring Vincent. Thought that would be a nice distraction for the two of them. Then maybe you three won’t be at each other’s throats the whole time.”

Sephiroth smiled, I knew he’d love that idea. Besides, this was Yazoo’s birthday. I was going to have his Aunts and Father fighting during his party, although he would probably enjoy that.

“Does he really need another chemistry set,” Sephiroth asked me pulling the toy out of the bag.

“That’s Kadaj’s gift to him,” I respond, “Most likely going to regret that.” I take the set from Sephy and start sizing out paper. “Kadaj probably already knows what this is being used for.”

“But Yazoo gets a least two a year since his third birthday,” Sephy protested.

“I know and I regret each and every one.” I wrap the set and put it aside with the card Kadaj picked out. I’ll have to get the boys to sign those later.

“What is this,” Sephiroth asked distort.

“It’s Twilight Sparkle,” I say taking the plush toy from his. “It’s Yazoo’s favorite pony and Loz’s present to him.”

“Really,” Sephy glares at me.

“Yes! Really,” I say. “Now hand me that box, I can’t wrap her like this.”

Sephiroth hands me the empty box out of the back Twilight was in. I put the plush toy in the box and start wrapping.

“What did we get him,” Sephiroth asked.

“A book on the history of Gaia and a gift card to Barnes & Noble,” I responded.

“A history book isn’t a birthday present,” Sephiroth insisted.

“It is when your son could read though the entirety of Belle’s library and still be bored.”

Sephy just shook in head. It really did surprise me some times how little he seemed to know about this own children. Then again, why should it? He is a professional villain after all.