PB4G: Kat's Khaotic Birthday, Pt. 5

Kitty Kat's Khaotic Birthday Week, Pt. 5
---
July 10, 2032
Early in the morning. Sahir's phone alarm goes off, playing a festive tune. He got up and turned it off, letting out a yawn. "Alright, birthday girl, time to greet the morning and salute the--"
He quickly realized he was the only one in the hotel room. The other bed was made, with the seal plush he'd bought sitting on top.
"Um...Saku?" "(I didn't hear her leave...even her footsteps are quiet.)"
He got up from the bed, then noticed a note on the nightstand, with a message written with clear and concise handwriting. "'Went out for a walk. Will be back soon. - Sakuya'."
"Doesn't say where or when...I get it. Girl needs her peace and quiet. Welp, guess I'd better get to prepping for tonight..."
---
At the center of town sat Mt. Namsan, a pristine public park that offered scenic views of downtown Seoul. At its peak was the N Seoul Tower, a needle-shaped broadcasting tower with an observation deck not unlike that of Tokyo's eponymous tower.
It was on this deck that Sakuya was standing, looking out towards the city's skyline. It was a pleasant morning, with nary a gust of wind. As she observed the scenery, her phone went off. Seeing who it was from, she quickly answered. "Hello?"
"Good morning, my birthday girl! How's your trip going?" Lily asked, sitting on her apartment couch with a laptop across from her.
"Good morning, Mother. The trip's been wonderful so far. I'm currently enjoying a lovely mountaintop view."
"Ooh, Mt. Namsan, I'm guessing? I've had some clients rave about it. Best view in the city, by far. A place like that would make for an ideal date spot, you know."
"Mother."
"Just some motherly advice, sweetie."
"Well, I'm not here on a date. Just wanted to start the day with some tranquility. It's been a very lively last few days." Sakuya related. "I wish you were here. I'm glad to hear your voice, but not having you here with me is difficult."
"I'm sorry, Saku. I just couldn't afford another vacation so soon after the last one. Especially with so many people booking trips now. It won't be this busy again until Christmas. I promise, when you get back, we'll do something to celebrate. Trust me, if I could be there I would. I've got a family of 15 trying to book the same floor on a cruise ship. It's not going very well." 
Lily noticed that she was getting another call. "Oh, speak of the devil. That's gonna be them. I have to go, Saku. Happy birthday, sweetie. Have lots of fun."
"Thank you, Mother. Good luck with the booking nightmare. I love you."
"Love you too, Saku. See you soon." The call ended.
Sakuya continued to look out. After a few minutes...
"SAKUUUUU!" a voice called out from below.
She looked down, towards the path leading to the tower. Barbara and Ibuki, both wearing workout clothing, were waving at her. "Isn't that a bit high up for a magnolia to be growing?!" the latter asked.
"Perhaps I should uproot myself. I'll be right down." Sakuya replied, and made her way down the tower.
She approached her friends. "Good morning, Ibuki-chan. Senpai. I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Well what better day for surprises, eh, girlie?" Ibuki embraced her. "Happy birthday, sweets. You out here for a jog?"
"More like a light walk. I take it from your garb that it's more of the former that you're out here for?"
"Yep. We're working off that fish from last night. Kitty Kat told us this was the best place to do it. It's better to keep up healthy habits, even on vacation." Barbara replied.
"Gotta look nice and pretty for Sir Pointy Hair." Ibuki teased.
"As if you're not doing the same thing for my brother."
"Please, I'm doing this for me. If this bod drives your bro crazy, it's an added bonus."
"Nobody ever accused you of being dishonest, Ibuki-chan." Sakuya responded. "Well if you two are still in the midst of your exercise, I won't keep you from it."
"Oh no, we were actually on our way back down. We'd stopped to take a break when we spotted you." Barbara replied.
"We're pretty much gonna keep it to walking from here, so you're totally welcome to come with. Cuz real talk, I know you've probably got your reasons, but I don't like the idea of you being all alone on your birthday. Pretty please?" Ibuki asked.
"Your concern is appreciated, Ibuki-chan. I suppose I have been out here for..." Sakuya checked the time. "...over two hours. Ah...I've clearly lost track of the time. I hope Sahir-kun isn't too worried. Alright, I'll come along."
"Two hours?! You've been here since before daybreak? Oh, Saku, I know you can protect yourself, but you need to be more careful." Barbara advised.
"I know, Senpai. I needed to keep my mind occupied. I don't have the easiest time sleeping."
"You could've just called me if you were having problems. I wouldn't have minded." Ibuki assured.
Barbara took note of her reaction. This clearly wasn't a new problem. "Hey, let's get to walking. Don't want to keep anyone waiting, do we?"
"Okay. Please lead the way." Sakuya replied.
The girls began their descent down the mountain. "So, you excited for tonight? It's a fancy place we managed to get." Barbara asked.
"I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. I asked Carrie-chan not to go overboard on me, and she does it anyway." Sakuya replied.
"It's a real pattern with that one. We'll say she doesn't have to spend money on us, and she turns around and spends it. 'My money isn't for hoarding, it's for ensuring my friends are taken care of'." Ibuki put on a faux French accent.
"If only every rich kid had that mentality. She could sit on that cash forever, and instead she wants to work and make the world better. Our Care is one of a kind." Barbara mused.
"I'm still unsure if someone like me should be spoiled in such a manner." Sakuya replied.
"And just what do you mean 'someone like you'?" Ibuki questioned.
"I mean...someone who's done the things that I have."
"Saku, please don't--" Barbara began.
"Please let me get it out, Senpai. I wasn't born to do amazing things like you all were. I wasn't even born to be *human*. I was born to be a weapon. Raised not with love and compassion, but hatred and bitterness. I never even knew what 'happiness' was until I met you all. The idea of me having a future that doesn't involve wielding a blade is still so foreign."
"Hey, why don't we sit down for this?" Ibuki gestured towards a bench.
"Yeah, good idea." Barbara replied, and the three sat down.
"I apologize if it sounds like I'm complaining. I expressed this same thought to Max-kun not that long ago. I...long for a time when the skills I'll be asked to use won't have anything to do with combat. Is that wrong of me to say?" Sakuya asked.
"No, of course not. You know me. I absolutely hate the idea of causing anyone harm. I'd love it if my life was just singing and dancing for people, hanging out with friends and going for walks on the beach with Keeb. But I also know that there are people out there with bad intentions. People only we can deal with. And if I had the choice and I decided to stand by and ignore the problem, then I shouldn't have this power in the first place." Barbara replied.
"Heh."
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Your brother said something remarkably similar. For as different as you two can be, there are times when it's obvious that you're twins."
"For real, I thought that was Maxie talking for a second there." Ibuki added. "You're not the only one who'd rather never go through something like that war again. I get where you're coming from. My whole life's been one struggle after another. I'm finally at a point where I can be happy about everything. My sister can keep Kanae-chan happy and fed, I've got a job that I love and doesn't involve pummeling someone, and I've got a guy that I feel like I can grow old with. It's honestly so good that I keep expecting to wake up. My advice, Saku? Don't dwell on the things you're not proud of. Enjoy what you've got now."
"I am trying, Ibuki-chan. And I don't think about it as much anymore. But it's impossible to completely ignore. Every once in a while, I'm reminded of what I was molded for." Sakuya replied.
"Saku...what you were made to be doesn't matter. The people who did that to you are all gone. You're free to be happy." Barbara assured.
"I know one thing that's gonna make sure that's the case today. I hear a certain Belgian waffle's on cake duty tonight." Ibuki added.
"How could anyone be somber with that in mind?" Sakuya lightly smiled.
"Couldn't be you, girlfriend. Let's keep moving."
With a few more minutes of walking, the three reached the bottom of the mountain. "So, Saku, you got anything else you plan on doing? We're meeting up with our boys for breakfast if you wanna come with." Ibuki asked.
"I would love that, but I should be getting back to the hotel. I don't want Sahir-kun to start worrying." Sakuya replied.
"He should know by now that you'll be fine wherever you go. We'll see you tonight if we don't beforehand. Have a good day~." Barbara bid, and the girls went their separate ways.
---
In his hotel room, Sahir was looking in a mirror, garbed in nothing save for a pair of black dress pants. He flexed a bicep.
"Oh, yeah, lookin' fine. Mbappé could never." He gazed even closer. "Mm-mm-mm. We. Are. Sexy."
He struck a dramatic pose. "We are sexy bitches."
He was so entranced by his own musculature that he realized far too late that the door had opened.
"Ahem."
Sakuya was staring at him from the doorway.
"Gah! Saku!" Sahir looked around nervously, then reached for his bed, grabbing a dress shirt and, in his haste, tying it around his neck as if it were a cape. "Ahahaha, h-how you doin'? I was just, uh, trying on my Halloween costume! Ahaha..."
"It's July."
"Well if Mariah Carey can start singing on November 1st, I can get a Halloween costume in July. Aheh...so...how's it going?"
Sakuya shook her head. "Very few things are more unappealing than narcissism."
"Who's being a narcissist?! Is it a crime to love my abs? That nobody wants to rub..."
"You're still preoccupied with that?" Sakuya untied her hair, then sat down on her bed, putting her head down on the seal plush.
"So...another rough night sleeping, I'm guessing."
"....."
"Which one was it this time? Prague? Kiev?"
"...Mumbai."
"Oof."
"It must have swam to the forefront after Kat-chan mentioned that her uncle was from there. Wouldn't it be a cruel twist of fate if it had been someone he knew..."
"Saku, don't do that to yourself. Besides, Mumbai has how many people living there?"
"Over 12 and a half million."
"I'd say the chances of that are pretty slim. C'mon, the people you took out were all former hand freaks, right? Pretty much all of them must've been Grade-A scumbags."
"Most. But not all."
"It wasn't your fault, Saku."
"You and everyone else has told me that repeatedly."
"And we'll keep telling you until the bad parts finally go away. In fact, I've got something here to help that along."
Sahir bent down and pulled a bag out from under his bed. "I know you're not big on shiny things, so I've been pulling at my dreads, asking myself what the best thing to get you could be. I finally decided to ask the queen of gifting, and she said, and I quote..." He started speaking in a French accent. "'Gift her something that only you can. A gift that will remind her of you whenever she looks at it.' And then the light bulb went off."
"Let's see just what manner of bulb...oh, my." Sakuya took out a collared footballer's jersey, magenta in color. The patch was an image of a magnolia flower. On the back, 'Saku' was written in pink lettering, along with the number 19.
"And here's the cherry on top." Sahir pointed out the pattern on the sleeves, which consisted of the silhouettes of numerous seals, circling around the cuffs. "I tried including as much of you as possible. The perfect wear for the next time I drag you to a game. I, um...hope it's good."
"Good...? It's the most thoughtful gift I've ever gotten! I absolutely love it! I'm going to go try it on!" Sakuya hopped off the bed and into the bathroom.
"Okay...I think I aced that." Sahir mumbled to himself.
Sakuya soon emerged, wearing the jersey. "Well? Do I look pitch-ready?"
"Oh, girl, that is what I'm talking about! I'd start you in any game. You look--"
"'Awesome'?"
"I was gonna say beautiful."
Sakuya blushed. "R-Really? I...thank you, Sahir-kun." She bounded over, and embraced him. "Thank you for...making me feel human."
"I dunno why you wouldn't. You're more human than anyone else. And I'm happy to make *you* happy."
"Consider it mission accomplished." Sakuya looked to the side, then put her hand on his abdomen.
"Yeeeeah, boy." Sahir said with a grin.
---
A grocery market in Sinsa.
"Okay...what coloring should we give it?" Kat sifted through a section filled with cake ingredients. Accompanying her today, manning the cart, was Natalia.
"I'd say something in pink...what do you think, Kenny?" 
Kenneth, nearby, was staring ponderously at a can. 'Freeze-dried Pufferfish - Assorted Flavors!' was printed on it along with a cartoon image of the fish.
"Kennyyyyy?"
He snapped out of it. "Beg your pardon. I was just...curious about this."
"What's that? Oh, frozen puffers. Neat. The lychee one's my fave." Kat said.
"You...actually eat these?"
"What else are you supposed to do with 'em, play ping-pong?" Kat could see what he was thinking. "They're not real puffers, Kenny. They're just candy."
"Oh...of course. I knew that."
"Sure ya did." Kat put the can in the cart. "You need a special license to even cook these things, much less freeze them and stick them in a can. It'd be a lawsuit waiting to happen."
"What does it say about the cuisine I've encountered that I truly believed that they were real fish..."
"Says the guy who calls fries 'chips'."
"Anywho." Natalia interjected. "You got any ideas on the cake, Kenny?"
"Well as far as the flavor, I'm fine with anything. From an aesthetic standpoint, it would have to be something reflecting Sakuya. Perhaps...flower petals fluttering in the wind." Kenneth replied.
"Ooh, I can pull that off! See, I knew we were a perfect pairing." Natalia put her head on his shoulder briefly.
Behind the group, someone else had walked up and was perusing the shelves. "La-da-da-dee~...oh, is that candy puffers I see?"
"Hm? Hold up, I know that blonde head of hair." Kat noticed. "Is that you, Aunt Mini?"
"La-da-da--hm?" She turned around. "So-yin? Is that you, pussycat?"
"Auntie!" Kat warmly embraced her. "Oh, I was hoping we'd bump into each other. You're as drop-dead gorgeous as ever."
"Oh, you and your compliments, kitten. How are you? I haven't seen you since before you left for the land of tea and chips."
"Oh, dear lord, there's more of them." Kenneth mumbled.
"I've been doing great. It's been a bit bumpy since I got back, but I think things are turning around." Kat replied.
"Your mom told me all about it. I'm sorry. At least you look more chipper now. Are these two part of 'the Krew' I've heard so much about?" Mini asked.
"Yep! Come over and meet my Auntie, folks. This is Natty. She's if hugs were a person."
"Hallo!" Natalia greeted.
"And this is Kenny. He's a big fan of Dad."
"Deception, thy name is Kit." Kenneth grumbled.
"Guys, this is my Aunt Min-li, or Mini as we call her. She runs a specialty store with my uncle not too far from here."
"Hello, So-yin's friends. I'd heard you all were a lively bunch. Vijay ran into two of you while he was out by the river." Mini said.
"Oh yeah, her son is the one Maxie and Tabs fished up." Kat clarified.
"Ah, the 'dweller of the deep' Tabitha mentioned. That makes sense." Kenneth replied.
"Uncle, uncle...is that the same uncle you said could turn people into apes?" Natalia asked.
"Oh, don't tell me you've been sharing that story, pussycat!" Mini uttered.
"That was years ago! I'm shocked she remembered it!" Kat replied. 
"I just have to hear the explanation for this." Kenneth said.
"Ugh. My husband used to entertain her with tall tales when she was little. One of them was that he could turn people into apes with a single touch." Mini explained.
"...can he?" Natalia asked.
"Absolutely not! It was just a dumb bedtime story."
"Hey, I used to love those stories. They were some of the things I looked forward to most when I stayed over. That and you letting me have cookies past when I was supposed to." Kat spoke.
"Oh, did Joonie ever get mad at me for doing that. 'You're undermining my parental authority', she'd say. But what else is an aunt for, if not to bend the rules a little?"
"Heh. My aunt would agree with that sentiment." Kenneth said. "I'm still surprised to see you dressed in such vibrant colors while your sister is the picture of professional reservation."
"That's how it's always been. I was the rebellious one. I would make our mother so angry. I'd wear wild clothes, stay out past curfew...date boys she couldn't stand. I could see the vein emerge from her head the moment I said I was marrying an Indian man."
"And yet Mom is the one Grandma's always criticizing." Kat replied.
"Probably because she realizes I'm a lost cause. But I like to think I'm the reason Joonie didn't wind up like that. I could see she was developing some of those tendencies, and I have to remind her that she needs to let her kids be themselves instead of who she thinks they ought to be. Because if she becomes the kind of parent that's disappointed no matter what, then her kids'll resent her for life."
"I've taken note of that. She is firm and structure-driven, but not to the point that it's suffocating. I would wager our good feline would be far more unhappy if that were the case." Kenneth surmised.
"The pressure is always going to be highest on the oldest."
"(Perhaps that's why Mrs. Kit is so much more critical of the former Viper.)" Kenneth thought.
"On a less depressing note, it's a bit early to be doing a cake supply run, don't you think?"
"Oh, it's not for me. My friend Saku's birthday is today. I'd feel weird buying my own cake." Kat replied.
"I've picked out my own cake more than once. It's like telling someone what to get you for your birthday and then pretending to be surprised. Oh, wait, I'm sorry, I'm not taking up too much of your time, am I?"
"Oh, no, absolutely not! I've always got time for my fam."
"Well if you wouldn't mind, I actually have something else to talk with you about. I can go pay for my things and we can talk outside?"
"Sure, I can do that. You mind me stepping out for a minute, guys?"
"Go ahead. I can recognize what's a dessert ingredient and what...isn't." Natalia replied.
"I'm not encouraged by that hesitation." Kenneth chimed in.
"Let's be on our way, then. Lovely meeting you two. Come along, pussycat." Mini directed.
"BRB." Kat followed her.
"Hey...Kenny?" Natalia spoke up.
"Yes?" he responded.
"Kat's auntie...her demeanor, her fashion sense, even her hair color...it's not just me, right? She reminds me a lot of Barb."
"Oh, good, I thought I was the only one thinking it. There are clearly some things that influenced our feline leader, but the similarities with Barbara are quite noticeable. Perhaps there's just a personality type that she gravitates towards."
"Yeah, that's probably it. So, hey...you really wanna try these puffer things?"
"I feel that there might be dire consequences for not doing so."
Outside, Kat stood with her aunt and the groceries. "Alright, so what did you wanna talk about?" she asked.
"It's Parvati. She's been in a downer mood for the last few weeks. She's going to be entering high school once the academic year starts, and I think she's really scared." Mini related.
"How come?"
"She's heard the stories about how hard school here was for you. That, and last year didn't go so well for her. The other kids...they'd call her 'halfie' and all sorts of other awful names."
"Ugh, little punks."
"Could you talk to her and give her some encouragement? She's always looked up to you, and I think it would mean more coming from you."
"Sure, that's no problem. Is she at home now?"
"Yes, but it's probably not a good idea to go in person. She's getting over a cold."
"I'll call her up, then." Kat took out her phone and began a video call.
On the other side of the call was a tan-skinned, 15-year old girl with wavy black hair. Gaming merchandise was present in her room, and she wore pink pajamas. Having been fending off a cold, she looked tired. "Is that you, So-yin...?"
"Heya, lovebird. Long time no talkie. How are you?"
"...sick."
"Yeah, I can see that. Guess that means more time for gaming. We gotta hop online before I leave. So hey, your mom's been telling me that you're nervous about the new school year. How's come?"
"...the other kids think I'm weird."
"Weird is good, little cuz. Kids made fun of me cuz of my dad's music. Are they being mean cuz you're part-Indian?"
"Yeah. They'll call me a halfie or put a finger on their forehead and make really dumb noises."
"You haven't gotten into any fights, have you?"
"Not yet. But if any kids at this new school start something..."
"Don't think like that. Know why? Cuz you'll get in more trouble than the jerks making fun of you. The ones that made fun of me never got in trouble, but I did. There's nothing wrong with you, Parvie. Your parents were separated by hundreds of miles and two totally different cultures, but guess what? That didn't matter, and they made you. You're like a little miracle. So tune out the stupid, and just be yourself. The real ones'll find you, and stick around. Y'know, all of my friends come from different places. But that's what we love about each other. You'll find friends like that, I'm sure of it."
"You make it sound so easy, Kitty Kat. I wish I was cool like you."
"Hey hey hey hey, don't be down on yourself. It's not like everything's easy for me even now. I've been a nervous wreck for this past week. Just the other day some smoothbrain tried to make me his TikTok content by saying all these bad things about my dad."
"Why are people so mean to Uncle Wei? He's always so nice and cool."
"Exactly! That's what I'm saying. There's always gonna be idiots, Parvie. The thing you've gotta do is surround yourself with good people. Then those loudmouths saying all those mean things are gonna get a lot quieter. Not saying it's gonna be easy. It wasn't for me. I know it sounds cliché, but just be yourself. A smart and pretty girl like you's gonna be just fine."
"I'm not *that* smart and pretty..."
"Honey, the goddess you're named after would be jealous of your looks. Your grades are way better than mine were going into high school, and I ended up third in my class. You might as well start preparing your graduation speech now." Kat winked.
Parvati let out a small giggle. "Thanks, Kitty Kat. I feel a lot better now."
"That's what family's for, little cuz."
"Hey, so, you want to hop on FFXIV later? I haven't played with you in a while."
"I'd love to, but I can't tonight. I've got a friend's birthday to attend to. I can do it tomorrow."
"Okay. I'll hold you to it."
"I'll be there. I'll let you get some sleep, cuz you look like you're halfway there already."
"Thanks. Bye-bye."
"Pleasant dreams."
The call ended. "I think she's gonna be alright."
"Thank you so much for that, pussycat. I didn't want to say anything because you had it completely covered." Mini replied.
"It's no biggie. Family comes first, after all."
"Your mother would be so happy to hear you say that. She's...well..."
"Huh? Is something wrong with Mom?"
"Well, for as nervous as you are about this week, Joonie might be even more so. She's worried that if things go poorly enough, you might never come back."
Kat was stunned. "I...I've been scared that if things go bad, my friends won't come back. You're telling me Mom's afraid that *I* won't come back?! That's crazy!"
"She probably wouldn't be thrilled that I'm telling you this, but it's better that you know. Your mother's been dealing with a case of Empty Nest Syndrome since you and Lin moved out. She's never been the most chipper person to be around, but ever since you left for school, she's seemed...more depressed."
"I...I don't get it. I spent three years abroad in Japan, and everything was fine. It was her idea for me to go! And she's always wanted me to get into a good school and be successful. So why...?"
"I think it's because when you went to Japan, she knew you would come home. Now she's not so sure. Especially given your rather wealthy partner."
"Ugh, Mom..."
"That's a conversation for you and your mother to have. I'm just the aunt that let you stay up watching scary movies past your bedtime."
"And people wonder how I ended up like this."
"Excessively charming and sharp-witted yet also big-hearted and kind?"
"Gurl, you know it."
"Do I ever." Mini put a hand on Kat's shoulder. "I'll let you get back to your cake quest. See you on Tuesday."
"You need help taking those back?" 
"It's just a couple blocks, I'll be alright."
"Okay. Tell Uncle Vik I said hi."
"Oh, he might come bounding over here himself if I told him. Feel free to pop in if you have a minute. You know we always have tea ready."
"Sounds like a plan. See ya later, Auntie."
Mini waved, and departed. As soon as she did so, Kat's body language dropped. "(Oh, no, Mom...I've been so preoccupied with my own craziness that I hadn't even noticed anything wrong with her. I've gotta talk to her ASAP.)"
"We're all done, Kitty Kat." Natalia appeared with Kenneth.
"Oh, sweet. Sorry, that took longer than I thought. You get everything we needed?"
"Unless I just bought baking soda instead of frosting, then yeah."
Kat observed Kenneth holding a can. "Yo, Kenny. Is that what I think it is?"
He sighed. "You're going to make me eat one now, aren't you?"
"I won't leave you alone until you do."
"Grah, fine." He popped open the can, and took out a spiky, glass-like piece of white candy. With a bit of hesitation, he ate it, and it made a crunching noise.
"Weeeeeeell?" Kat looked with curiosity.
".....grr."
"You like it, don't you?"
"...I'll never tell."
"Hoodsie, tickle it out of him!"
"Yeeee~!" Natalia started tickling his side.
"Oh, for, stop that! Gah, fine, I'll admit it!" Kenneth let out as the tickling stopped. "Ugh...satisfied?"
"Totes. Oh, and just FYI, I lied, those *are* real puffers. C'mon, ladies." Kat walked away.
"I don't believe anything that comes out of your mouth." Kenneth replied. Natalia giggled and followed after Kat. Kenneth paused for a moment, looked around, then popped open the can again to eat another candy, before moving.
---
Later that evening, at the hotel.
"La la la, la da do, Saku, Saku~. La la la, la da do, I love my Saku~." Ibuki sang, as she brushed Sakuya's hair.
"I wouldn't recommend taking up a singing career, Ibuki-chan." Sakuya replied.
"What, don't think I can hit the right notes? You're wounding me. Hey, since we've got time, I've got a crazy idea."
"Oh dear."
"First of all, I love how well-taken care of your hair is. Like, this is some of the nicest hair I've ever handled."
"You're just trying to flatter me."
"I'm serious! It's just so silky and smooth. Like a fine piece of fabric. I usually wouldn't change anything up about it, but...I do have one little suggestion. Have you ever tried curling it?"
"Hmm...I can't say that I have. I normally keep it tied back, so it wouldn't be very noticeable, anyway."
"I've got some extra curlers with me. Doesn't have to be too crazy curly, but just that right, subtle amount you pull off so well. I think it'd look really pretty. It's a special night at a fancy restaurant, why not try something different?"
"I'm not one to doubt your aesthetic sense. If you think it would look nice..."
"I know it will. And don't sell your own senses short. You're one of the most well put-together people I know. I don't think I've even seen your nails chipped. So I consider getting to change your hair up an honor. I'll be right back with the curlers. Don't go anywhere." Ibuki left the room.
"Where would I be...oh, never mind." Sakuya twirled her hair around her finger. She lightly giggled.
Ibuki returned to her own room. "Sorry to interrupt Boys Hour."
Inside, Sahir was adjusting his tie, while Max adjusted his cuff. Kenneth sat on the bed, hands close to his pockets.
"Well, what's a boy's night without a lovely maiden entering the picture~?" Sahir questioned.
"Careful where your eye wanders." Max spoke up.
"For real, one of these days I might think you're serious." Ibuki walked up to Max. "Oh, you clean up so good. Makes me wanna eat you up."
"Easy there. It might spoil your dinner." 
"Bloody..." Kenneth grumbled, discreetly taking something out of his pocket and stuffing it into his mouth.
"What's his deal?" Ibuki asked.
"Aw, he's hiding candy in his pocket. Thinks we haven't noticed." Sahir replied.
"Tch...!" Kenneth reacted.
"C'mon, Kenny. Dessert before dinner? What are you even eating?" Ibuki asked.
"These." Kenneth took the can of freeze-dried pufferfish out of his coat pocket. 
"Candy...puffers? Why are you...?"
"Curse it all, that silver-tongued kitten convinced me to buy them. Whether they're actually frozen pufferfish or just spiny candies, I cannot say. All I can say is that they're addictive, and I'll likely be taking several cans back with me to England."
"Let me get one of those." Max took one and ate it. "...it's pineapple. Not bad, actually."
"Yeah, well, I think that's enough for one night. Cuz I'm not gonna be the one to tell Natty that her boyfriend can't have any of the cake she put together cuz he stuffed his face full of spiky candy." Ibuki said.
"...can I have just one more?" Kenneth asked.
Ibuki took the can. "You'll get this back after dinner."
"What are you, my mother?"
"I can't dilly-dally here all night, I've got business to attend to." Ibuki walked into the bathroom, taking a bag from it. "Beauty is a full-time job, y'know."
"In that case, you should be getting a raise." Max quipped.
"GOD, I love you. Take notes, boys. Your ladies'll be happier for it."
"I seem to have left my notepad at home." Kenneth responded.
"See ya in a few~." Ibuki left the room.
"Now what can that girl be up to?" Sahir pondered.
"First, that's no girl. That is a *woman*." Max corrected. "Now what she could be up to, I've got no--"
He noticed Kenneth reaching for the can, sitting on the adjacent nightstand. Max quickly grabbed it. "No." He pointed right at the offending party.
"I'm not a dog, you can't order me around like that." Kenneth responded, grabbing at the can to no avail.
"What kinda hold do these things have on you?" Sahir questioned.
---
The Kit home.
Natalia placed the finished cake inside of a white box. "And there we go...sorry I've kinda taken over your kitchen the last few days, Mrs. Kit!"
"Don't worry about it. I would be more concerned about cooking in that nice of a dress, but I won't argue against a master of her craft." Joon sat on her couch, holding a glass of wine. Wei sat next to her.
Kat emerged from upstairs, carrying a set of black heels in her hand. "All set, Natty? Need help carrying it?"
"It might be easier if I had a bag for it..." Natalia replied.
"Hang on, we should have one here somewhere..."
Wei whistled at her. "Someone getting married? If you didn't look like the spitting image of your mom on our wedding day..."
"Oh, you old charmer, you...hey, so..." Kat did a curtsy to display the black dress she was wearing, that went down to her knees, which themselves were covered by stockings. "These are occasion-appropriate, right? Same with the shoes?"
"You still need your mother to approve of what you're wearing?" Joon took a sip of wine. "...you look wonderful, So-yin."
"Heehee...thanks, Mom."
"The shopping bags are in the drawer next to the sink, by the way."
"Oh, right! Thank you." Kat went to go fetch one.
Carrie came downstairs in a dark purple dress. "Professor Kubo should be here with our ride in about 5 minutes."
"Now doesn't that look like one of your aunt's originals." Joon commented.
"A gift from my last birthday. Aunt Melly never says no to a chance to spoil me, it seems."
"Something her niece definitely inherited." Natalia chimed in, as Kat emerged with a bag to put the cake in.
"There we go...so, got any ground rules?" Kat asked.
"...enjoy yourself." Joon replied.
"Hm? Nothing else?"
"I know you'll conduct yourself responsibly. I trust you. You don't need me to chaperone you from the couch."
"Ah...okay, then."
Carrie looked out the window. "I think that's them. Let's get going. Appointments were made to be kept."
"I think I see why you like this girl." Wei said.
"Hush." Joon bluntly replied.
Carrie directed Natalia outside. Kat was about to follow, but paused. "Hey...Mom?"
"Yes?" Joon asked.
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Me? Well...I'm going to be starting my lesson plans for the next school year."
"Would you mind if I stayed around to take notes? Just to see what it's like--"
"So-yin."
"Ah, yeah?"
"No young lady entering her second year of college is going to be spending a summer day taking notes. Especially with her friends in town." 
Joon could see Kat's intentions. "If you really want to spend a day learning from your mother...I suppose I can arrange for it later in the week."
"Really?! I mean...thanks, Mom, I'd love that."
"Don't try to hide anything from me. I know you better than you know yourself. Now go have fun."
"Yes, ma'am. See you when I get back."
"Have a wonderful night, kitten!" Wei bid, as Kat left. "Oh boy, would you listen to that one? They grow up so quick, don't they?"
"Yes...they do." Joon's hand shook. "Wei."
"Yes, dear?"
"Whatever you see or hear from me the rest of the night..." A tear streaked down her face. "...keep it to yourself."
Wei sighed, the kind of sigh where someone knows that a situation was coming. "Let me get the tissues."
Waiting outside of the house was a bus, the advertising on its side indicating that it was from a rental service. The door was open, and standing outside of it was Rin, herself in a green dress that reached down to her ankles, along with green heels. "Welcome aboard the Kubo express, ladies~."
"HOLY--" Kat exclaimed, before collecting herself.
"Oh my goodness, Professor, you look lovely! That is a beautiful dress you have." Carrie complimented.
"Chalk it up to my future sister-in-law taking it upon herself to transform our wardrobe." Rin replied.
Rose appeared, in a blue dress and skirt, along with a collar that held an aqua gemstone. "Is she or is she not the mirror image of the goddess Amaterasu, herself?"
"Ah, p-please don't start throwing around those lofty comparisons!" Rin blushed.
"Quite right. The goddess could never compare."
"Roooooose!" Rin blushed even more.
Kat leaned in and whispered to Carrie. "I want that to be us someday."
"I would think it already was, Selene." Carrie teased, causing Kat to blush.
"Alright, all teasing aside, we should be off. Nobody likes a delay." Rose said.
"Right you are. Come along, kitten." Carrie directed.
"Yes, my queen." Kat followed her. "Hey Prof...still got some of that tea I gave you?"
"Stashed away in my bag, yes. I'm definitely going to need it." Rin answered as everyone boarded.
Kat looked out at the row of seats, as everyone was in formal dress. "Hello, my beautiful people, how are we doing on this fabulous Saturday night?"
"Not as fabulous as you're looking~." Barbara replied.
"God I want a piece of those legs so bad. Alright, where's tonight's main character?"
"I believe it's me you're looking for."
Sakuya stood up from her seat. She wore a reddish-purple dress, along with matching heeled boots. Her hair was down, and had been curled. "Good evening, Kat-chan."
Kat looked as though she was shorting out. "Bruuuuuuh. Y'all need to hold me back cuz I'm about to go FERAL."
"You've done it now, Ibuki." Max whispered.
"I don't regret a thing." Ibuki replied.
"Saku, oh my God! I love the hairdo! You look amazing!" Kat exclaimed.
"You really think so? I'm thrilled to hear it. I think you were onto something, Ibuki-chan." Sakuya replied.
"I'm never wrong when it comes to you being pretty." Ibuki winked.
"That's underselling it a bit. It's always fun to try something new." Cindy chimed in.
"I'd say someone's well-informed on that front." Max commented.
In complete contrast to her normally-bright wardrobe, Cindy was wearing a short-skirted black dress, along with matching strapped heels. Her nails had also been painted black. "What, this? I know it's not my usual thing, but my sister gave it to me as a moving gift. 'Everything looks better in black' is one of her mantras."
"Much as I prefer warm colors, I can't argue with our good Arch-Witch there." Rin commented.
Kat slumped into her seat beside Carrie. "Uggh, why do I gotta be around so many pretty people? It's like I'm being spoiled..."
"Mind your thirst, love." Carrie replied.
The bus exited the neighborhood, and entered the lit-up city. "So, Carrie-chan. Exactly what kind of restaurant are we going to?" Sakuya asked.
"Heh." Sahir, sitting beside her, chuckled.
"Sahir-kun?"
"I think it would be better to see it for yourself." Carrie said. "I know you said that I shouldn't spend so much on everyone, but once you see it, I'm sure you'll change your mind."
After passing over one of the many bridges spanning over the Han River, the bus came to a stop by the sidewalk.
"Alright, here we are." Carrie indicated.
"Ah...there's nothing here. I'm not seeing anything." Sakuya said.
"We'll just have to take a closer look, won't we?"
Everyone began to disembark. "Hey, Prof, I just realized...where's Shizuka?" Kat asked.
"Ah, she was tuckered out from chasing butterflies today, so we got someone to look after her." Rin replied.
"Your sister, actually." Rose clarified.
"My--Lin?! And she agreed to it?" Kat questioned.
"Surprisingly, yes. Maybe she's trying to make a point. A woman her age opting to spend a Saturday night babysitting?" Rin replied.
"I'm taking it as a test. On whether she has changed or not. She's not to leave or invite anyone else over under any circumstances. If Shizuka wakes up and sees that she's throwing a wild party, or that anything in the hotel room is missing or out of place, well. Well." Rose ominously spoke.
"I, uh...hope she behaves herself, then." Kat uttered in response.
"For what it's worth, she was very respectful. Didn't mention that first night at all. I'm optimistic that she's had an epiphany." Rin said.
"For everyone's sake, I hope your instincts are right." Rose replied.
After getting off the bus, the group looked out from the sidewalk. "Ah...!" Sakuya looked down and spotted something.
"Mon chérie, your chariot awaits." Carrie said.
Parked by the shore was a luxury party boat, lit up with bright magenta lights.
Awestruck, Sakuya turned to Carrie. "...You're outrageous."
"I believed this would be far more memorable than a simple meal. Dinner and a river cruise, and maybe some slow dancing?" Carrie outlined.
"I don't even want to know what the bill for this was."
"Money is never an issue, so long as everyone is happy. Now watch your step, everyone."
"Need a hand to hold, Kenny?" Natalia asked.
"...please do." Kenneth uttered at the sight of the stairs.
"We won't be running into any underwater photographers in that thing, will we?" Tabby asked.
"If we do, we'll have more things to worry about than our clothes getting soggy." Max replied.
As everyone started walking, Sakuya could only gaze upon the boat.
"What's going through your noggin?" Sahir asked.
"Is this...really for me?" she asked back.
"Course it is. And you know why? Cuz we all got together and decided 'Saku deserves a nice birthday'." He held out his hand. "So, you wanna see how it looks?"
Sakuya reciprocated, a little smile on her face. "Yes, of course. Lead the way."
---
One dinner later, and the group was free to enjoy the boat at their leisure. 
As the boat cruised along, Kat stared at the cityscape from the side. Her trance was broken by the sound of heels hitting wood. Carrie got next to her. "Another beautiful night. We couldn't have asked for better weather." she said.
"If any one thing's gone right this week..." Kat looked back out. "It's nice to remember that I come from a really great place. Even with all the drama hiding in it."
"Luckily for us, it only took a few days to resolve it all. Now we can just concentrate on enjoying ourselves."
"Yeah...nothing to worry about at all."
Carrie gave her a look. "I know that tone. Is there something else on your mind?"
Kat knew she couldn't lie to her. "Y'know how I've been so spooked that you guys would hate this place and all the drama so much that you'd never want to come back? I guess that feeling's hereditary."
"Is it your mother?"
"How'd you guess?"
"Just an observation. I've noticed her hand twitching whenever she's stressed."
"Well when you're raised to not show a lot of outward emotion, your body's gonna find other ways to say how it's feeling."
"I've heard the implications throughout my time here. Just how strict was your grandmother?"
"I don't really think 'strict' is the right word for it. My grandma controlled every single part of Mom and Aunt Mini's lives. What they ate, how they dressed, who their friends were. My aunt told me stories about how she couldn't even hang out with her friends without a chaperone. And that's not even getting into how bad it was when they started dating."
"Was your grandmother really so disapproving?"
"Oh, that's not even the half of it. You know how Lin can be a real button-pusher with my mom? That's what my aunt was. Staying out late past curfew, wearing clothes my grandma didn't approve of, you name it. Then came the day she brought a foreign exchange student from India home. Oh, did that ever raise some hell. See, my grandma wasn't just majorly controlling, she was also a hard-core traditionalist. The idea of my aunt dating a foreigner was the biggest slap in the face you could imagine. Even though Uncle Vik is the nicest guy *ever*, it was never gonna be enough. So Aunt Mini said enough was enough, and ran off with him. Even now she doesn't see eye-to-eye with my grandma."
"I wasn't aware that you had this much familial turmoil. They've all seemed like such lovely people."
"I didn't want you to think that I came from a madhouse. I wanted you to meet them yourself."
"I also take it that your grandmother isn't approving of our relationship, given...well, everything."
"I've heard her talking on the phone with my mom. She calls it 'a phase'. Whether it's about you being another girl, or a foreigner, doesn't matter. You'd think she'd be more on board considering you've got money. I mean, that's the only reason she tolerates my dad. Otherwise, she thinks he's a clown." Kat shook her head. "Gah, here we are on a nice boat ride, and here I am dumping all my family drama on you. I really gotta read the room better."
"I don't mind. But I'm still a bit confused about why your mother is so tense."
"Cuz she's scared that all the drama and past stuff is gonna push me away and make me never wanna come back. That as soon as we're done with school, I'm gonna move somewhere far away and not come home. At least that's what my aunt says."
"And what has your mother said?"
"...nothing. My mom...she doesn't tell me anything about how she's feeling. I only ever know when her hand starts twitching. She keeps everything bottled up. I know I'm gonna have to talk to her before I go back to London...I just don't know what that's gonna look like." Kat scratched the back of her own ear. "Regretting stepping into my den of chaos yet?"
"Not in the slightest. For all your fears, I have nothing but adoration for your family. Your parents have been very welcoming. But I can see for myself the kind of pain your mother is in. I think it would be best for everyone if you spoke with her soon. For your peace of mind as much as hers." Carrie leaned into her. "You're lucky to have such understanding and attentive parents."
Kat leaned into her in response. "I'm lucky in a lot more ways than that." "(And I know what you're really saying. 'Enjoy them and be good to them for as long as you have them'. I can do that. Anything to make everyone happy.)"
On the ship's upper deck, Cindy was also looking outward.
"There you are. Guess they scared you off, huh?" Max arrived.
"Oh, hey Maxie. Haha, guess they were getting a little intense, huh? Ibuki really takes her arm-wresting seriously."
"She's definitely got a competitive streak. Mainly when it's Keeb. His mom's a famous wrestler, and Ibuki looked up to her growing up. So she loves saying that she beat him at something. And I think for Keeb he just doesn't want to get beat in front of my sister. Especially by the one person to actually knock out his mom."
"Wait, Ibuki did what?!"
"Oh yeah, she fought Keeb's mom on live TV and won. Barely. It was a hell of a spectacle. It was sheer will that let her pull it off."
"Yeah, that I can believe. I don't think I've ever met anyone with that much willpower. I mean, she broke free from Noir's control. She's so unbelievably strong." Cindy poked at one of her earrings. "On top of being the queen of fashion. So how come you're not down there with her?"
"Well to be honest, I came looking for you. Wanted to make sure everything was okay."
"I'm alright. Just wanted to really take a look at all the lights. I'm so used to the sky being filled with airships, that seeing a big city at night without them is a whole new experience." She paused. "I do get homesick sometimes. But I'm glad I decided to stay here. I wouldn't be the person I am now if I didn't meet you and Ibuki."
"Glad I could help, even if it was mostly me getting shot and stabbed and needing a really good nurse to look after me."
"It helps that you're such a good patient~. But I really hope you don't need to be one again. My heart can only take so much."
Cindy paused to think. Her tone became more serious. "Hey, Maxie?"
"Yeah...?"
"Honest question. Just to settle what's been buzzing in my brain...what am I to you?"
"...! I, uh...what do you mean?"
"I've heard the teasing you've been getting. 'Hey Maxie, must be nice to have an extra girlfriend.'"
"That's just them joking around."
"I know that. But I want to know how *you* feel about me. I know I kinda forced myself on you when we first met. I was really excited to have someone around that I could be friends with."
She continued to stare out. "I know what it looks like. I leave my whole world and family to come live next to you. Doesn't help that's exactly how my mom met my dad. I promise that's not what it is. All I want is genuine friendship. Especially since...I still miss Hugo so much."
"I know. He was as good and loyal a companion as you could ask for. I can't even imagine the void that leaves."
"It's so much worse when I'm by myself, and I can still hear him fussing around the apartment, tidying up. Everything that's happened, it's made me have to grow up. Moving away, living on my own, breaking up...it's been hard. That's why I want to stay so close. You and Ibuki help make it easier. So all I want to know is...how do you see me. The quirky neighbor, just a friend...or has Cindy-O's whimsical charm managed to lure the dashing hero away from the fearsome huntress?"
"N-Now hold on a sec, that's totally not it--!"
Cindy had a laugh at his reaction. "Sorry, that was bad, right? Maybe I'm spending *too* much time around Ibuki."
"Please don't turn into a tease. I've already got a girlfriend and an ex-girlfriend that let me hear it every time they see me. Anyway, to answer your question...I'll admit that at first, I thought you were a bit...much. A little too friendly for someone I'd only just met."
"I can see why."
"But after a while...I got it. I understood why you wanted to help everyone, and I'm always gonna be grateful for you helping me recover every time I got roughed up. It wasn't until you got hurt during the battle that I finally understood what you are to me. It felt like I was watching my own sister slowly dying, and I couldn't do anything to stop it."
Cindy perked up at the word. "What'd you just...?"
"I guess that's the best answer that I can give. You've got the same kind of warmth to your personality as Barb does. So, that's how I feel. I see you like a sister."
"Aaaaah...!" Cindy's eyes lit up.
"W-What's wrong, did I say something bad?"
"Just the opposite! I've felt the exact same and I wanted to hear you say it! You're like the little brother I never had!"
"(Why do I always have to be the *little* one?)"
She embraced him. "I love you so much, Maxie! Thanks for making me feel at-home! C'mon, I wanna see Ibuki flex on Mr. Pointy Hair!"
She tugged him along. "Alright, but just don't scuff my suit--AH!"
---
About an hour later, Sakuya was alone on the bow of the ship.
"There she is, like a mystifying siren." Kat approached her.
"I've been called many things, but 'siren' is a first for me." Sakuya replied. "Were you looking for me?"
"Yep. Things in the game room are getting pre-tty competitive. Sparky and I are doing a bit of a poker tourney, and we wanted everyone on-board. Doc got this really weird look in her eye about it, so I'm nervous about this already."
"I wouldn't have pegged Dr. Wolfe for a poker expert. Though I have heard the stories about Professor Kubo's mother..."
"You're welcome to come join the fun. Wouldn't be right to have everyone partying down below except for the birthday girl."
"I'll be right along. I just wanted to enjoy the scenery a little more."
"I won't argue with that. It's a perfect night for a cruise like this."
Sakuya let out a breath. "I never could have imagined making it to this point. In my nineteen years on this Earth, I've seen and endured more pain and hardship than most will see in their entire lives. I was born and molded to *cause* much of that hardship. All the while being decried as a monster not for my actions...but for my feelings. For playing with dolls and wearing a bow in my hair, for wanting to wear dresses and rejecting my birth name. That by itself illicits more hatred than all the horrors I've inflicted in the past."
Kat took her by the hand.
Sakuya began to get emotional. "If you had told me that I would survive all of that hatred, all of that torment and violence and misery, I would have called you mad. If you then went on to say that I would one day be celebrating my birthday on a fancy boat, with friends that accept me for who I am while looking how I always wished to...and that..." Tears began to trickle down. "...and that the one person who ever showed me love when I was a child would be waiting for me back home, I would have had you committed. And yet here I am, with everything I could have possibly dreamed of..."
"Oh, Saku, please don't cry..."
Sakuya took a tissue out of her purse, and started wiping her eyes. "Oh, my dear friend Kat-chan...these are joyous tears. I'm finally at a point where I can be happy, and discard the past as a horrible nightmare that I will never return to. I can't thank you and the others enough for showering me with more love and kindness than I have ever received. Thank you...for setting me free and allowing me to live."
"I love you, Saku. We all do. And there's something I think we all need to say before the night's done." Kat turned around. "On three, people! One, two..."
Suddenly, everyone else appeared from behind the corner. "Happy birthday, Saku!" they all exclaimed.
"Ah--were you all listening in the whole time?" Sakuya questioned.
"Sorry, we were just wondering where you'd gone." Natalia said.
"We're all so happy that you're happy, Saku." Barbara chimed in.
"And it's totally okay to feel that you are." Ibuki added.
Sahir walked over and put his arm around Sakuya. "C'mon, let's have some fun while the night's still young. I'm gonna make Kenny cry with my expert card skills."
"Not even in your dreams." Kenneth responded.
"I will be incredibly happy to watch you try." Sakuya answered.
"Tha lady of the hour approves! Let's go make some bad decisions!" Sahir bid.
"Wooooo, gambling!" Tabby cheered.
"Leave it at fun, people! We don't need you developing gambling habits!" Rin responded.
"Wasn't your father's shop financed by your mother's gambling?" Rose pointed out.
"Not the same!"
As everyone walked to the lower level, Sakuya turned around to look at Kat. With a smile and a nod, Kat knew Sakuya would be alright. That look of contentment, if for even just a moment, helped settle the fluttering in her own heart.
"Happy birthday, Saku." Kat bid.
"Thank you for making it so." Sakuya said back.