Tifa & Yuffie

[Tifa Lockhart]

"If that is what you want," Alpha replied simply, though he turned back to his console now, resuming what he was doing before she'd arrived.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

Roll smiled softly before saying farewell to her black and gold companion, realising he must be busy. She had decided to go home after that, a bit bored and choosing to watch some old TV show episodes that Maylu had saved onto her computer to stave off the boredom.

That night the Hikari household was rather abuzz with excitement, since the next day was the 10th. Lan and Sai were chattering excitedly about how much fun it would be with all their friends around to celebrate with, Luke was skittering back and forth helping Haruka with some preparations that needed to be done before the day and Yuichiro was busily working away on some behind-schedule project on his laptop, now and then calling for his eldest son to help him with something, knowing Lan was perfectly able to keep himself occupied for the time being.
As the activity settled, Haruka remained up for a little while to finish up cleaning some dishes, Luke had gone to bed some time ago so he'd be well and truly prepared for how busy tomorrow would surely be and Yuichiro had decided that sleep came before work when it was his sons' birthday tomorrow. As for the twins, Lan was already sleeping like a log and drooling on his pillow, whilst Sai couldn't help but lay awake for an hour or so wondering what it would be like celebrating a proper birthday for once...he'd never had a birthday before so it was proving both an exciting and nerve-wracking prospect, he wasn't so sure he was entirely prepared for whatever mayhem his twin and co. may wreak in the coming day. Eventually he thought himself to sleep, far more silent in his dreams that his twin for most of the night, save the one or two times he tossed in his sleep over the usual confusing dreams that he was aware even when dreaming he wouldn't remember by morning.

Come sunrise, Sai was up and about, sitting quietly on his bed trying not to let his excitement get the better of him and watching the digital clock vigilantly until a more sane hour to scramble down to the floor and drag his lazy younger brother from his bed. Lan proceeded to lay on the floor where he'd fallen and banter on about what he thought their parents might have bought them, whilst his elder brother went about getting dressed, before said boy moved to help his topsy-turvy twin to his feet and heading to the bathroom to comb his rather messy hair. It somewhat irritated him that no matter how carefully he combed the thick woody-brown locks they always spiked out in a fuzzy and untamed manner, hence he always tied the mess back. By the time he got to the kitchen Lan was already there and their mother was serving breakfast. Calling a brief and cheerful greeting over to her, he settled in his usual place beside his twin to wait, casting his gaze out of the large window that looked into the back yard, admiring his mother's meticulously cared for flower beds.

((long post is longer even than longcat! D:))

[Tifa Lockhart]

This morning something would be a little different to the usual morning routine, as Haruka was not alone as she set out the breakfast plates and spooned out the bacon and eggs. Zero moved about slowly, assisting where he could. He was the one who brought Saito's plate over to him.
"Though I do not entirely understand the significance..." he began as he set the plate down in front of Saito, "your mother has gone to great lengths to describe the relevance of today for you," he explained in a way that was so typical of the reploid.
"So I believe it is customary for me to greet the two of you with 'Happy Birthday', this morning."
Haruka giggled softly by the stove. It seemed she'd taken quite a liking to the blond haired man.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

Lan grinned as Zero wished them a happy birthday and offered a brief thankyou before he turned his attention to chatting excitedly with his mother across the kitchen bench. Saito turned his gaze away from the garden outside to meet the blue-eyed gaze of his friend, offering a delighted smile and a thanks, seeming to have been rather surprised by Zero's greeting, obviously not having expected a 'Happy Birthday' from the reploid. "Don't worry Zero, I'm as new to birthdays as you, really!" he laughed, leaning his arms on the table casually, though his eyes remained on his companion. "I almost feel childish, getting so excited over it since I'm 16 years old, technically!" he seemed a little embarrassed at the mention of that, but he shrugged dissmissively. "I suppose I've never really had a Birthday before, at least not one that I remember...so I guess it's to be expected that I'm a bit excited about everything!" the only birthdays he remembered were Lan's and he'd only really been able to offer the traditional morning greeting and conversation throughout the day, due to his lack of physical presence. One year, though, he'd worked hard during the nights before-hand to secretly battle viruses and run errands to collect some Zennys to give to Lan as a present. Lan had been surprised when Mega had actually offered him a gift and the smile on his face was one that Sai had never forgotten. It felt strange now to be celebrating his OWN birthday, especially since he was celebrating with Lan, but at the same time it didn't feel wrong at all, knowing he was Lan's twin. 'I wonder whether Chaud and senpai will be able to come along...?' he wondered, thinking back to the previous day, when Blues had promised as he left that he would at least give him a call to say "Happy Birthday" if he was too busy to visit.

As soon as their breakfast was served, Lan and Sai began eating, Lan wolfing the meal down in moments and promptly calling (politely) for seconds, his twin rolling his eyes and continuing eating. By the time Sai had finished, Lan was well and truly half-way through his second serving and attempting to banter excitedly over his food, despite his twin's scolding for bad manners. "honestly, Lan, you have NO manners...at all" the elder twin sighed, shaking his head in a forlorn manner, though the smile on his face suggested he was still fond of his twin's habits, despite how much he disagreed with them. He reached over to ruffle his twin's already-messy hair when his only reply was a wide grin and a teasing laugh, smiling fondly. "really, what am I going to do with you, you're a nightmare! Taking care of you is a full-time job! you should pay me!"
"Hey, hey! You're my brother, it's in the job description! you work free of charge, remember?" Lan teased in reply, gently prodding Saito in the shoulder. "besides, you know you'd be bored out of your skull if you didn't have me to contend with!"
Sai rolled his eyes at that, rubbing his shoulder where Lan had poked him so hard. "Touche...," he began, sitting back in his chair and folding his arms, smirking in a rather uncharacteristically mocking manner. "but I still think you wouldn't know your shirt from your shoes without me around. Next time you ask me to do your homework for you, you are SO paying me. You'll never improve your grades by cheating." he remarked, playfully. At that, he turned to the reploid beside them, with an amused look on his face. "if he ever asks you, just say no." Lan whined at that about how Sai was "cutting off all his lifelines", though the older twin just laughed.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zero watched the twins as they bantered with an amused expression on his face. He was only now beginning to realise how much Lan reminded him of Axl. It was almost uncanny, like Axl and X were standing before him once more.
"You two are certainly amusing to watch," he mused as he gathered up the used plates and took them over to Haruka at the sink.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

The twins laughed at that, both seeming to agree with the comment. "considering that most people we hang around with laugh at us all the time, that doesn't really come as a surprise!" Sai said, his younger twin nodding in agreement.
"yeah, I'm a natural comedian!" The younger twin bragged, pulling a ridiculous and amusing face as if to support his statement. This action only made his twin crack up laughing, telling him how silly he looked. The laughter only served to make the OTHER twin laugh as well, and very shortly they were both laughing animatedly. After a while of uncontrollable laughter and attempted gasps for air, Saito finally caught a breath and managed to calm himself, still giggling slightly under his breath as he tried to catch his breath again.
"a natural looney is what you are!" He finally managed to replied, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes where he'd been laughing so hard. "you niddy!" he grabbed the other twin into an affectionate sort of semi-headlock with a grin on his face.
"Insanity doesn't run in this family, it gallops! Dad's a nut-job too, remember!" Lan replied, mirroring his twin's grin.
"true, true. Makes me wonder if I'm entirely sane, myself!" he remarked, letting his brother go and turning back to Zero. "Hey Zero, what do you think?" he asked, obviously enjoying the playful conversation.

[Tifa Lockhart]

"I think you're all crazy," Zero replied without hesitation. he certainly seemed confident in his answer.

"Alright you two, hurry up and get ready. We've got places to be," Haruka said as she dried her hands on a towel after draining the kitchen sink.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

Sai didn't seem sure whether to take that as a compliment or what at first, but he promptly turned to Lan and shrugged, seeming to decide that crazy was a good thing. When their mother told them to get ready, Sai nodded and dashed off upstairs to get his PDA before he returned to the hallway to wait whilst his twin went off to get his shoes on and find where he'd tossed his bag and PET. It amazed Sai how easily he lost track of his things. After a few minutes the younger twin came racing back down the staircase with his bag on his back, shoes on his feet and his PET at his belt.
"would you believe it? My bag was under the bed the WHOLE TIME! and my PET was on the windowsill! what the heck was it doing there?!" he exclaimed as he stopped at his twin's side. Saito just rolled his eyes and smirked.
"oh, I don't know, how should I know how your mind works? don't ask me why you stash things like dirty socks in your computer desk...I don't know how you can EVER find your things, to be honest"
"hey! Come on, cut me some slack, at least I'm not a clean-freak like a certain somebody" At that Sai seemed to be rather offended and promptly folded his arms angrily.
"I am NOT a clean-freak! I just know how to be organised! unlike you!" he retorted, pouting slightly, though he quickly cheered up when their mother joined them, their just-waking-up father doddering along behind her, still rubbing sleep from his eyes and rubbing aimlessly at his already immaculately clean glasses with the usual bright green cloth with the smiley face on it. "oh! Morning dad!" the twins greeted cheerfully, receiving a somewhat tired, but equally cheerful greeting in return.
"happy Birthday, boys, you certainly seem more awake than I do, that's for sure" he remarked, with a sleepy laugh.
"geez, Dad! you always stay up so late when you're doing work! you need to sleep more often!" Lan scolded, grinning. Sai nodded in reply, seeming very serious.
"you can't just work ALL the time! Get some good sleep tonight, Papa, maybe I can help you out with work tomorrow, okay? I don't have any plans, after all!" The elder twin suggested, smiling. The tired scientist gratefully accepted the offer and then followed the rest of them out the door to go to wherever the two adults had conspired to take their sons to for their special day. Zero had agreed to tag along at Haruka's request, her main reason being that it would make Sai happy...that had seemed to convince Zero well enough. It was rather heart-warming how much like an elder brother the reploid acted towards the teen.

[Tifa Lockhart]

So it was the Hikari's departed their house for a day out adventuring. Thankfully none of them noticed the sleek black limousine parked a few blocks down from the house.

((feel free to skip or whatever))

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

For several hours after they left the Hikaris were gone and as it turned out, Haruka and Yuichiro had made a perfect choice, as both twins had thoroughly enjoyed their day out, Saito barely able to contain his excitement for the whole adventure, for once being the one to drag his brother about behind him as he went about energetically, which was an unusual and rather amusing spectacle. Arriving home the twins had practically leaped from the car, breaking into a race up the driveway, Lan managing to win for once by bowling his twin over on the grass and practically climbing over him to get to the doorway, before he went back to help his brother off of the lawn, and assisting in brushing off the excess grass that had clung to his clothes and hair. By the time that was done, their parents had already reached the door and were waiting for their sons and Zero to catch up to them. Finally the five of them entered the house, the twins being the first to enter with Zero close behind and Haruka behind him, their father staying back to close the door before following.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zero stood back to watch the twins as they tussled with one another, something about his gaze and posture suggesting he was being watchful to ensure they didn't hurt themselves. Only once they were done and had proceeded to the doorway did he move to follow them.

As the twins and their family entered the living room, a chorus of voices rose up in greeting.
"Happy birthday Lan and Saito!" they exclaimed.
Everyone was there, Maylu was waving to them energetically, Dex was laughing heartily while Yai arranged a generous number of presents on a tressel table. Higsby was there with Shuuko standing quietly behind him. Miss Mari, Maysa, Sal and Miyu were there too. Luke was standing by the far wall with Tory. Charlie was by the table inspecting the assorted party-foods, but he looked up with a grin when the twins walked in. Fire Fox stood close by him, smirking himself. Even Chaud was sitting in his chair in the corner watching quietly, beside him stood the fluro coloured haired woman Valeska, she seemed to be murmuring something to him.

There was a live feed up on the TV, on which all the navis stood in greeting. There was also a smaller window that blinked with the words "Call waiting".

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

Lan had immediately gone to greet everyone, slightly confused as to when all this had been planned, but mostly just excited to have all of his friends there to celebrate with him. Saito on the other hand had let a somewhat embarrassing yelp escape his lips when the chorus of voices had suddenly sounded and had ducked back slightly in shock, but he recovered fairly quickly from the slight scare and went to greet everyone. He noticed that even Jan and Helen from school had showed up, I mean who couldn't notice when they promptly tackled him into a near-strangling hug? He could see that Charlie was waving a note around over his head that on closer inspection was from Tesla (he wasn't sure how on Earth she managed to remember around her schedule) and even Raoul had taken the time to fly over to Dentech for the two of them, he was standing in a corner of the living room, nearby Higsby. Chisao was hopping up and down to try and get seen from behind the mass of people standing in the hallway (poor kid was so much shorter than everyone else, including his brother Dex). On the table was stacked a shockingly large assortment of presents, one of which could NOT be missed in its wrapping with the large card that was so obviously of Choina origin that it couldn't possibly be from anyone but Jasmin (Saito noted it appeared to have a postage stamp attached and as such he doubted the small asian girl was present). Another gift had a symbol attached that made it obvious Tamako of the hotsprings had sent it, who else would have HeavyMetalMan's symbol on their gifts? Another letter on the bench was too obviously Ameroupean to be from anywhere but Brightland (even Princess Pride had remembered Lan's birthday?). All in all, both twins wondered how on EARTH everyone had fit into their house, but here they were and neither could possibly say they weren't overjoyed that they had such loving friends.

"How much planning ahead did you guys do to get all of this together?! I can't believe that everyone's here!" Lan exclaimed, completely awed, his twin agreeing with a laugh before he quickly moved to finish greeting everyone, even his netnavi friends, whom he promised he'd go and spend some time with once all the greetings and everything were done. Seeing Chaud there seemed to have made the boy even more cheerful than earlier, as he knew exactly who would be there with him and he couldn't wait to enjoy celebrating his birthday with the silver-haired man. He didn't see Blues standing with Chaud at the time, so he assumed he was currently in the cyber-world for the time-being.

[Tifa Lockhart]

"I actually did most of it..." Luke admitted sheepishly then, stepping forward as he rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "Chaud offered to help... that's why I went and stayed with him for a few days."

"I was bored out of my brains," Chaud quickly interjected then. Of course the stoic monochrom haired boy didn't want them to think he actually cared. So in usual Chaud style he revoked the niceness of the gesture by adding an insult. "Helping Luke plan a party for you two neophytes was the best time waster I could find."
The young tycoon seemed a lot better, but there was still something lacking in his eyes... and certain spark of vitality. He picked a remote up off of the arm of his wheelchair and pointed it at the TV then, promptly the small screen lit up with Laika's face.
"Hello Lan, Saito," the Sharian man greeted promptly, looking away from whatever work he was doing to greet them. "Happy Birthday... I do apologise for my absence... urgent work called me back to Sharo this morning."

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

When Chaud had covered up his planning with Luke as simple boredom, Lan had simply rolled his eyes and shaken his head with a smirk, deciding to let Chaud keep his pride, but Sai on the other hand looked perhaps a little worried about the other young man, seeing the look in his eyes, he quickly let it go, though, when Laika's call came through, deciding to try talking to Chaud about it later.
"Oh, hey Laika!" Lan had greeted, cheerfully, grinning brightly. "It was nice of you to call to wish us Happy birthday! I would have thought you'd be a little too busy!"
Sai smiled and nodded in agreement. "yeah! thankyou for calling! And don't worry about the not being able to be here thing, we know you're busy! Military jobs are a 24 hour thing, after all, and you're a net-saviour on top of that!" he said, not seeming at all bothered that Laika couldn't be there. Searchman could be seen in a window on the side of the screen, the usual unemotive look on his face, though Sai knew he was there because he wanted to be. "Hey there, Searchman!" Sai waved a cheerful greeting to the other navi, smiling warmly in greeting. "so how have you two been, anyway? Busy, I guess?" he asked, his brother then jumping in as well.
"Hope you aren't freezing to death in that ice-box you guys call a military base!" Lan joked, laughing lightly. He'd never been terribly fond of Sharo, it was far too cold for his tastes. Sai had snickered slightly at the joke, but he had actually rather liked Sharo, not that he'd experienced the cold there, though, since he had been a navi at the time they had visited the country.

[Tifa Lockhart]

A look of mild annoyance seemed to cross Laika's face then, though Searchman raised a hand to smooth a smirk off of his lips.
"Sharo isn't an icebox, you ought to show it more respect," he stated officially. "From right where I am I could easily send the order to have Dentech removed like a cheap coffee stain."
He seemed rather indignant about that.