72 Garden Lane--The Wright Residence

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie wished she'd had a camera handy to capture Erin's reaction to Tiger-Lily on film. “Awww, Yukitokun, she’s totally adorable! Cassie, I kind of think I’m in love with your family.”

Cassie chuckled lightly. "You've only met two of them and you love them already? That's impressive. Wait til you meet the rest, you may change your mind." She paused for a second before laughing again. "Or you should come along on one of the infamous O'Leary family vacations. That might make you rethink your previous statement."

Just then, Tiger-Lily's eyes locked on Yukito and his Aladdin costume, already wide dark-brown eyes (inherited from her father, according to Tink) getting wider as she took in the sight. Cassie could almost hear the wheels in the toddler's mind turning. I've seen you before...who are you? OH! ALADDIN! "'Waddin! 'Waddin!"

Her adorable outburst made the little group erupt into laughter, Cassie and Tink especially. “That’s right! It’s Aladdin! And I’ll bet you thought you wouldn’t have any fans.”

Their Jasmine reached over to hug her Aladdin, saying, “Actually, I knew we’d be the hit of the party the entire time.” Yukito focused his attentions on Cassie's tiny cousin--Or is she a second cousin? Since she's my cousin's daughter...-- taking her hands as if they were executives at a business meeting, or referees at the start of a soccer game. "Hi, Tiger-Lily. It's nice to meet you."

Lily giggled at this, reaching her arms out to Yukito. "Wuv you, 'Waddin!"

“You are too cute. Don’t ever change.” Cassie laughed quietly at Erin's comment, more out of obligation than anything else. She can't help it. I used to be like that too. You can't just stop growing up, no matter how hard you try. There is no Neverland here.

“She’s so adorable!" cried Erin. I want one, can I keep her?”

"Ha...haha..." Yukito cut in before Cassie could respond. "No. We can't kidnap a kid because you think she's cute. The rules are you have to make your own. And there are issues with that."

Cassie snorted in amusement at this. First awkward moment of the day. It's officially a party now!

"But I think she would love to borrow you for a week. What do you say?" Lily giggled again. "Naw...your parents wouldn't like it, would they? Ah, well..."

Cassie looked over at Tink, who shrugged. "Hey, I wouldn't object out right to it..." She winked at Cassie just as Scarlett and Rhett appeared out of the corner of her eye. "Caroline!"

Cassie looked over, the blood draining from her face when she saw Mike lock eyes on Yukito. Oh God, not here. Not at my birthday party, please...

"Hi, Aunt Kristen!" Tink called before rolling her eyes at Cassie. "Duty calls. I guess I'll catch up with you guys later. It was nice meeting you," she added at Erin and Yukito as Cassie handed Tiger-Lily back to Tink, who then walked away, fairy wings bobbing up and down as she went to greet Cassie's mother.

Cassie turned back to her friends. "So...how are you guys?"

And here's the second awkward moment.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

He took a deep breath, looking in the mirror, a nervous flush on his face. Yes, he'd been planning this stunt since long before he knew it would be staged as his kanojo's birthday party. But it still felt strange to be doing something for her sister on a day meant for Cassie.

Then Kagayaki shook his head, pushing away the strangeness of this thought. 'Iie. Wants maked.... Shebychan... happy desu. That maked Cassie happy. That been good, yah!' He adjusted his costume one more time, idly tugging at his coat and blinking at the strangeness of the colored contacts in his eyes. It'd been a while since the last time he'd dressed up as Al, and then he'd had his okaasan to help him. This time, though, he'd managed to do something himself. And that alone empowered him to go through with doing this thing to make Shebychan smile.

Hopefully.

The ponytail - as it had last time - still felt strange. He was so used to his hair being short. Not to mentioned he'd had to steal to see Tanakasan in the middle of the night on the day before the party to get his hair cut and dyed, and have Tanakasan help him figure out the clip-on hair extension. They'd managed it. But he'd pulled it together completely on his own. Because it was the best thing he could do.

He sent himself a cute smile in the mirror. This completed the costume in his mind, so he slowly opened the door that had shut him off from the world for a couple of hours. Kagayaki slowly slipped down the stairs, a white glove running along the magnificent railing. With how their staircase was set up, there was no way Cassie wouldn't see him, but they had to notice sometime. He looked around for Shebychan. No sign of her. Of course. She wasn't a social person. But she would show up, eventually.

So he did what his instincts told him next: find Cassie. Find Cassie. Find Cassie. Kagayaki moved along slowly. He ran into someone. Cassie's mother and a man he sort of recognized but couldn't place. He was too distracted. Then he saw Cassie. His face lit up and he moved towards her almost shyly from behind. 'She so pretty....' A blush formed on his face. 'So kawaii!' Kagayaki reached out and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Cassie..." he whispered, his accented voice falling as warm breaths on her ear. His gloved hand moved to give her pretty bow some life. Their faces were close. "Otanjobi omedeto gozaimasu." 'Please been happy with me.'

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Yukito leaned down to the tiny girl and told her something, to which an equally tiny voice announced, "Wuv you, 'Waddin!"

Erin burst into laughter again, and met the little one's eyes. "You are too cute. Don't ever change." Then to Cassie, "She's so adorable! I want on, can I keep her?"

Now Yukito turned to look at her as she continued to smile with amusement that Tiger-Lily provided, an expression on his face that Erin couldn't place. "Ha...haha..." His face turned serious. "No. We can't kidnap a kid because you think she's cute. The rules are you have to make your own. And there are issues with that."

"Yukito!" Erin chided with a laugh as she gave his arm a shove. For some reason she couldn't really put her finger on, his comment made her feel a little embarrassed, and she hid the unfamiliar feeling behind her laughter. "She's so cute, though! Look at her!" Erin pointed in Tiger-Lily's direction again.

Yukito took the cue and once more turned his attention briefly to the small one. "But I think she would love to borrow you for a week. What do you say?" Lily giggled again. "Naw...your parents wouldn't like it, would they? Ah, well..."

Cassie looked over at Caroline, which made Erin assume that that was her mom, and Caroline shrugged. "Hey, I wouldn't object out right to it..."

"See?" Erin said, not missing the vote in her favor, and nudged Yukito, still smiling, thoroughly amused.

Erin recognized Cassie's mother's voice calling out to Caroline, and the little one's mother excused herself as she retrieved Tiger-Lily and started to head out. "It was nice meeting you," she commented to Yukito and Erin, and Erin responded with an enthusiastic wave to them both. "You too!" she said sincerely.

Erin then linked her arm in Yukito's and looked up at him, another smile coming onto her face, slowly leading into a few chortles. "You said 'we'. You were totally in," she said, referring to the hypothetical kidnapping.

"So...how are you guys?" Cassie voiced, apparently feeling like there was an awkward silence she needed to break. Erin wasn't really sure where that need came from, though.

However, she didn't have time to respond to Cassie, because her eyes found a very different-looking Aidousan making his way over to them. "Hey!" she pointed in his direction cheerily. "Aidousan! Alchemist-person!" To Yukito, "Wow, he really went all out, didn't he?" as Aidousan said something to Cassie too quietly for Erin to catch. But their interaction made Erin smile, and she moved closer to Yukito's side. "Aw, they're so great together..." She looked up to him with a large smile, then leaned up to give his cheek a kiss.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Hahaha....No. We can't kidnap a kid because you think she's cute. The rules are you have to make your own. And there are issues with that." He sent Erin a look, arching his eyebrow at the hints hidden in his comment.

"Yukito!" Erin chided with a laugh as she gave his arm a shove, and he smiled, a strange gleam to his eyes as he watched her. "She's so cute, though! Look at her!" Reluctantly, he turned from Erin and looked back at Tiger-Lily.

He made a sign for the little girl to be quiet, and whispered, "But I think she would love to borrow you for a week. What do you say?" Lily giggled. He smirked at her. "Naw...your parents wouldn't like it, would they? Ah, well..."

"Hey, I wouldn't object out right to it..." Caroline said.

"See?" Erin nudged Yukito, and he looked up at her with a gleam in his eyes.

"It was nice meeting you," Caroline said as she pulled herself - and Tiger-Lily - away.

"You too!" Erin waved enthusiastically, and Yukito gave Caroline a respectful nod, sending Tiger-Lily a little wave.

Erin then linked her arm in Yukito's and looked up at him, another smile coming onto her face, slowly leading into a few chortles. "You said 'we'. You were totally in,"

He smirked, guilty, sending her a look. "Maybe..." His gaze shifted over to the newcomers. Including Cassie's mother. And her boyfriend. Immediately the man locked eyes with Yukito, and they inspected each other's face with a notable tenseness. Yukito sucked in a quiet breath, feeling the pang of the bruises across his back all the more intently. But he said nothing.

"So...how are you guys?" Cassie voiced, trying to keep things level-headed. He turned away from the man, still seething and subduing the undeniable heat rising up his back, and looked over at Erin, who was in turn looking over at another new person.

"Hey! Aidousan! Alchemist-person!" Yukito looked over, and sure enough, there was Aidousan in full Alphonse Elric garb. "Wow, he really went all out, didn't he?"

Yukito smirked, his tone humorous. "We Japanese pride ourselves on our cosplaying abilities...either that or he didn't have anything else to do with his time."

He nodded his head in a sort of half-bow to Aidousan, as the older boy went right up to Cassie, touching her shoulder and whispering in her ear.

"Aw, they're so great together..." Erin commented, grinning up at him. He smiled down at her, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Automatically, his hand went down to touch her cheek, and he stared at her for a long moment. He couldn't keep his mind off the whole Tiger-Lily thing, now. It was like the kid was tapping on the edge of his brain, insisting that the situation be thought of. It wasn't like he was actually thinking about having kids someday - no way - but it brought up something serious in the relationship that he hadn't really thought about before.

He never wanted to feel like they didn't know each other enough. That they weren't honest enough. Or that there wasn't enough stubborn determination for them to keep the relationship together. He wrapped his arms around her shoulder and turned back to Cassie and Aidousan, smiling and arching an eyebrow at the latter's costume. "Yo...what made you choose Al?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie's heart raced as Mike and Yukito locked eyes on each other, and she was sure she probably looked like a deer in the headlights. It was if she could see how much the two hated each other, like their anger was radiating off of them in waves, just as it had when she had watched them fight. How could the rest of the party not see it? How could her mother miss what was right in front of her face?

Easy. She's doing the exact same thing I did.

She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she whirled around. Seeing Kagayaki, though, made her calm down just slightly. "Don't do that!" she said, probably louder than she should have. "You scared me!"

"Cassie...Otanjobi omedeto gozaimasu," he said, reaching his hand out to fix the blue bow in Cassie's hair. Cassie's expression softened. "Arigato gozaimasu. Does that mean 'happy birthday' or something?"

Relax...you have to stop being so jumpy, or someone's gonna get suspicious...but I can't really help it! I can't!

"Hey! Aidousan! Alchemist-person! Wow, he really went all out, didn't he?"

"We Japanese pride ourselves on our cosplaying abilities...either that or he didn't have anything else to do with his time," Yukito replied.

Cassie stared at her boyfriend, taking in the costume for the first time. Her mouth fell open slightly. He...he dyed his hair...why did he do that? Not even Shelby did that, she's just got the ponytail...which he has too. My sister and my boyfriend are wearing the same costumes at my birthday party...Not awkward. Not awkward if we don't let it be awkward.

"Wow...that's really something..." she said quietly. "Um, you are aware that you and Shelby match, right?" She laughed nervously. "You, um, look good though."

"Yo...what made you choose Al?"

Cassie laughed, a bit more naturally this time. "Because Al's adorably endearing. And because maybe he felt the need to spoil the ending for those of us who haven't finished it yet...I've only watched up until episode 15 or so. Kinda lost interest after Ed vs. Mustang." Glancing over, she saw that her mother and Mike were gone, most likely to mingle with other party guests. Thank God. "Thank y'all for coming, by the way."

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"Don't do that! You scared me!"

He smiled, fixing her pretty blue bow. "Cassie... Otanjobi omedeto gozaimasu."

The fear left her face, and that made him feel much better. "Arigato gozaimasu. Does that mean 'happy birthday' or something?"

Kagayaki nodded, leaning in to kiss her just as Erinchan spoke: "Hey! Aidousan! Alchemist-person!" He jumped a little, laughing with surprise.

"No yellin', yah!" he laughed, his hand slipping behind his neck and up a little to touch the scars on the back of his head. 'Don't surprise me when I'm distracted by Cassie-chan, silly.'

"We Japanese pride ourselves on our cosplaying abilities...either that or he didn't have anything else to do with his time."

Kagayaki laughed again, shaking his head. "Iie, iie... Wanted... look naisu... for Cassie-chan's party, yah." 'And I thought that, maybe, if I did a good job, Shelby-chan would like me too.'

"Wow...that's really something..." Cassie said, her voice low. "Um, you are aware that you and Shelby match, right?" His heart stopped for a second, but he didn't let it show. "You, um, look good though." He beamed. 'She said I looked good! That makes me feel... good! Now if I can just get Shelbychan to think that...'

"Yo...what made you choose Al?" Yukito asked. Kagayaki shrugged, not wanting the awkwardness that came with saying he'd dressed up as something he knew his girlfriend's sister would like. That wasn't how it was! Really! He just hated the idea of Shelbychan not liking him.

Cassie's laugh reached him, and Kagayaki's face lit up, all nervousness melting away. "Because Al's adorably endearing. And because maybe he felt the need to spoil the ending for those of us who haven't finished it yet...I've only watched up until episode 15 or so. Kinda lost interest after Ed vs. Mustang." Then Cassie looked around, and he tilted his head to the side a little, following her eyes. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He reached over and took her hand as their conversation on MSN coming back into his mind, his grip tightening with feeling. 'He's not here, is he? It's okay, Cassie... I'll protect you, I promise. Just tell me what you want me to do.' "Thank y'all for coming, by the way."

He smiled gently, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "Been okay, Cassie-chan. Kitto." 'I love you. I'm gonna keep you safe. Promise.'

[hanashyrexchana]

OOC: Poppy said it was okay for Shelby to be hanging around the food and be generally emo xD

Juliet Echo Eco

Adjusting her hat one last time, Juliet flashed herself a smile through the mirror, doing her best to look bratty yet adorable. Smoothing her pink dress out, she took a step back from the mirror. "Perfect!" She told her self, slowly turning so she could see the complete costume. While she was usually against herself crossplaying (dressing up as a boy anime or manga character), this was an exception, as the boy she was dressing up as was the true cross-dresser. Besides, she loved the outfit too much to keep to herself, not to mention that she was running out of excuses to herself as to why she didn't ever wear pink. Juliet just hoped it wouldn't get too hot. "Oh well, I can always take off the gloves." She said to no one in particular as she leaped down the stairs, past her fathers study and towards the front door.

"Going somewhere?" Mr.Eco asked, leaning back in his chair so he could see into the hall.

Back tracking, she poked her head through the door and smiled sweetly. "That Cassie I met is having a birthday party today." She didn't say whether she was invited or not; she hated lying. Besides, the maid had sort of hinted at it, and Juliet usually found that at large parties the mood was 'the more the merrier'.

Looking her up and down, he raised an eyebrow. "A costume party, I hope?"

"Yes, Papa, a costume party." Giving him a quick kiss on the forehead, she continued her way towards the front door, picking up the gift back she had left on the small table. It would be wrong to show up, uninvited without even bringing something. She just hoped Cassie liked necklaces

The size of the party was a bit surprising, but Juliet didn't mind. Large parties meant it would be easier to get in. Walking up the driveway, she smiled and made eye contact with those who were still mingling out front, acting like she belonged there. It worked, because she got in the house. Setting down the little blue gift bag, she scanned the room. Impressive...

"Hello, thank you for coming today." Juliet turned to see a rather well done interpretation of Rhett from Gone with the Wind smiling at her, extending his hand as a way of welcome. Crap. If he's her dad or something, I'm busted.

Returning his smile she took his hand. "It's my pleasure...." Thinking quick, she threw in a wink. "Rhett. Is Miss Scarlett around?" They both laughed, to Juliet's relief.

"She's greeting other guests." He examined at her, as if trying to decide who she was. For a second, Juliet thought she felt his eyes linger around her chest, but it must have been her imagination. "I should be doing the same. Have a good time then." He slinked off towards a family that was getting out of their car in their driveway, and Juliet let out a sigh of relief.

"Now, what to do...." Surveying the room, she noticed a particularly gloomy looking Alphonse Elric loitering around the chip bowl. Grinning, she made her way over and stood next to her, waiting to be noticed. "Hey, Alphonse. Why the long face?" Tapping her shoulder, she felt her smile grow.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

She had abandoned the traditional gloves that went with her costume about five minutes into the party--they were too warm and restricted what she could eat. For that was where Shelby had found herself since the moment the first guests had arrived--at the food table, silently devouring bite after bite as if she hadn't eaten in years. Which was partially true--to be perfectly honest, Shelby couldn't remember the last time she'd had a full meal--her usual routine consisted of sneaking down to the kitchen to grab a few crackers or a handful of cereal, sometimes a few cookies, between episodes or chapters at unconventional hours of the night. She didn't even want to know how much weight she'd lost, but she knew people were noticing, especially her mother and her sister. But they don't care. They wouldn't notice if I just wasted away into nothing, would they? If I just got smaller and smaller...

So she stood there, eating chip after chip, cookie after cookie and tried to avoid contact with anything resembling potato salad, all the while trying to go as unnoticed as she could. Her costume wasn't exactly helping in that endeavor, the bright red fabric of the coat occasionally attracting the eye of some confused but curious party guest, but it wasn't hurting either, as Shelby quickly figured out that most people don't stop to comment on a costume they don't immediately recognize. And for that, Shelby was glad, because she wouldn't have changed her costume for the world. Although she was a little warm in the signature red jacket, she loved it's authenticity and the confidence it gave her to wear it. She had attempted to straighten her hair, but had given up after an intense half hour of struggling and just pulled it into the familiar ponytail down her back. She had tucked her Al plushie into the pocket of the coat, figuring that if she couldn't talk to him, she could at least keep him close, and even though Al himself was not a State Alchemist, the pocket watch (complete with "Don't forget 3 Oct. 11" scrawled on the inside) hung from her belt loop. Finally, two necklaces completed the look, one of a transmutation circle and the other of the classic alchemy symbol.

Yes, Shelby loved her costume, but she found she couldn't enjoy it as much as she thought she would. Not the party, of course--she had known that would be awful, and would have gladly retreated back up to her room if she thought she could have gotten away with it. Another confrontation with her sister was not what she needed, and she knew she would never be able to look Mike in the eye either. No, she had thought that dressing up as the love of her life would be...she didn't even know. I guess I thought it would give me strength, because he's so strong and brave and wonderful...but it isn't. Not really, no matter how much I try to pretend. Al, I wish you'd come back...

But of course, he didn't. True to his word, Al had not returned or spoken to Shelby once since that day. She sighed and reached for another chip, glancing out the window to try and gauge when the ribs would be ready. I'm so freaking hungry... She couldn't remember a time when she had ever felt so lonely.

Or so she thought, until a voice above her head said, "Hey, Alphonse. Why the long face?"

Shelby whirled around as she felt a hand on her shoulder, only to be faced with a particularly convincing Ciel Phantomhive from Kuroshitsuji smiling at her. Wait, what? Another cosplayer? And from not a very mainstream anime either...at least, not compared to FMA and DeathNote and stuff. That's so weird... After staring at the mystery cosplayer for a moment, she realized that it was, in fact, a girl--more precisely, a girl dressed as a boy dressed as a girl. Only in anime.

It took her another minute to find her voice, but she managed to croak out, "Ciel? Wait...you recognize me?! You know FMA?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

When Erin vaguely recognized Aidousan's latest ensemble-- she remembered catching a show at a friend's house, something about alchemists and a magical stone or something-- she announced the recognition suddenly enough to catch Aidousan off-guard, and he responded with a laugh. "No yellin', yah!"

"That wasn't yelling, it was announcing with enthusiasm," Erin corrected with a smile. "There's a difference." Then to Yukito, "Wow, he really went all out, didn't he?"

"We Japanese pride ourselves on our cosplaying abilities...either that or he didn't have anything else to do with his time."

Erin scoffed at his explanation, sending him a playful smile. "Watch out, you'll make yourself sound like a stereotype." Her smile stayed on strong, even as Cassie and Aidousan kept going on about... whatever it was, Erin was too busy still smiling over his "excuse" for not "kidnapping" a kid. Issues with that, huh? Like you don't know how to get around those things.

Even though her thoughts were wandering, Erin still kept her eyes on the cute little pair in front of her-- it was so adorable to watch Aidousan's reactions to Cassie, especially when Cassie wasn't doing anything besides being her perky little self. "Aw, they're so great together..." She glanced up at Yukito, briefly kissing his cheek, as if silently saying, We're great together, too, you know. Yukito rested his hand on her cheek, neither breaking eye contact for a moment, Erin unable to quell her smile. Then, "What, did you forget what I looked like?" She gave a content laugh when Yukito pulled his arms around her shoulders, once again remembering they had been in a conversation with a couple of someones. "Yo... what made you choose Al?"

Aidousan just answered with a shrug, but Cassie chimed in with an explanation of, "Because Al's adorably endearing. And because maybe he felt the need to spoil the ending for those of us who haven't finished it yet...I've only watched up until episode 15 or so. Kinda lost interest after Ed vs. Mustang."

"Yeah, I just saw like... random episodes and poked at the books when my parents took me o the bookstore.. so I have no idea what you're talking about," Erin put in with a laugh, turning back to look at Yukito.

"Thank y'all for coming, by the way."

Erin moved so she was next to Yukito's side again, arms around him in a prolonged hug. She turned her head to glance back at Cassie when she spoke, a little chortle at her friend's words. "Like I would've gone anywhere else today.... So, are we just gonna stand out here for the rest of the day or what?" I wonder if someone brought cookies... I kind of want some.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

The entire group was taking part in the teasings, little shoulder-smacks and laughter punctuating each comment until the two couples sub-consciously started to veer off into their own world. "Aw, they're so great together..." She kissed his cheek, making him smile as he turned to her, cupping her cheek in his palm as he watched her. You like kids, Erin? he wanted to ask casually, easily. Like there was nothing to it. But Yukito's problem was that he never let it just be Yukito's problem that could be dealt with. As he stared at her, she was unable to keep a smile off her face - apparently she would have been as awful at an acting career as him.

"What, did you forget what I looked like?" She laughed, and he stopped staring to roll his eyes.

"I just wanted to make sure I got here with the right girlfriend," he teased wrapping his arm around her shoulders and turning to Kagayaki, determined not to let the whole party evolve into two makeout sessions. While at the same time, he was trying not to be so obvious about ignoring Mike and Cassie's mother, who he was sure were very disinterested in these 'teenager topics'. "Yo... what made you choose Al?"

Aidousan just answered with a shrug, but Cassie chimed in with an explanation of, "Because Al's adorably endearing. And because maybe he felt the need to spoil the ending for those of us who haven't finished it yet...I've only watched up until episode 15 or so. Kinda lost interest after Ed vs. Mustang."

Yukito arched an eyebrow at Aidousan. "By her answer I'm hoping you made the right choice." was all he commented, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Yeah, I just saw like... random episodes and poked at the books when my parents took me o the bookstore.. so I have no idea what you're talking about," Erin put in with a laugh.

"Thank y'all for coming, by the way." Cassie couldn't have gone long without saying it, and Erin answered for the rest of the group, embracing Yukito but speaking to Cassie.

"Like I would've gone anywhere else today.... So, are we just gonna stand out here for the rest of the day or what?"

Yukito sighed, paused to roll his eyes, and added, "Remind me, girlfriend, that you have no subtlety." his lips twitched upwards in a smile, "But I have a hard time picking up on things, so maybe that works out for the best." He turned to Cassie with a wink, "She's probably on the lookout for food. She held your present the whole way and I'm sure it made her hungry."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She needed to relax. This was her birthday party, wasn't it? This was her day. No one was going to do anything, and Mike certainly wasn't going to pick a fight when it would be so easy for Kristen to see. Cassie was safe here. She could enjoy herself fully for the first time in weeks. She wouldn't have to constantly look over her shoulder to see if he was behind her, she could breathe without wondering when he might strike again. She could enjoy her birthday party and have fun with her friends without wanting to slam the door and hide under the covers and she wouldn't have to duck away whenever anyone tried to touch her. And most of all, she would be able to sleep tonight, without waking up screaming or huddled on the floor of the shower, water turned on full-blast and as hot as it would go, trying to wash and burn away the feel of his rough touch from her skin.

Today was her birthday. Today would be different.

Or so she hoped.

"That wasn't yelling, it was announcing with enthusiasm," Erin protested. "There's a difference. Wow, he really went all out, didn't he?"

Yes, he had, and Cassie wasn't sure if she liked it. Yes, it was creative, but Shelby was wearing the exact same thing. Minus the hair dye. Which Cassie also wasn't thrilled about. I liked the way it was before...and Erin and Yukito did something together as a couple, which is cute. I should have talked to you about that...you could have been the Mad Hatter or something. Or the Cheshire Cat. This is just...I don't even know. Too weird. Erin and Yukito match, and so do my sister and my boyfriend.

But now wasn't the time to object to anyone's costume--it would ruin the day. And Cassie wasn't going to let that happen, not if she had anything to say about it.

"Thank y'all for coming, by the way," she told her friends, meaning it in more ways than she could probably list. Thanks for helping me pretend it's okay.

"Like I would've gone anywhere else today.... So, are we just gonna stand out here for the rest of the day or what?"

Erin's words seemed to amuse Yukito. "Remind me, girlfriend, that you have no subtlety. But I have a hard time picking up on things, so maybe that works out for the best. She's probably on the lookout for food. She held your present the whole way and I'm sure it made her hungry."

"Oh, right!" Cassie cried, slapping her forehead. "Food. Sorry, you guys must think I'm the worst hostess ever! Come on." Turning around, she started to lead them to the long table of food in the dining room before she was stopped by a surprising sight.

It was Mike and her mother, no longer dressed as Scarlett and Rhett but instead in formal evening wear, Kristen in a deep blue gown and Mike in a suit. Cassie stood still, alarm bells going off in her head as Mike leered at her before shooting a look at Yukito that could have peeled the paint off of the over 150-year old walls. "Mom?" she asked.

Kristen looked up. "Oh, good, Cassandra. I was just going to send someone to go find you. We're leaving now."

Cassie stared at her, uncomfortably aware of the presence of her friends behind her. "Leaving?"

"Yes. Mike and I are going out for dinner."

"Tonight? Now?"

"Well, of course, Cassandra."

"But...it's my birthday." This was all wrong. Her mom was leaving? On her birthday?

"Well, I know that, darling. But it's not like you'll be all alone, and you don't really need us here, do you? We have reservations at Antoine's." Her mother linked her arm through Mike's. "It's our two-year anniversary."

Cassie blinked. "Well, yeah, Mom, but--" She stopped. Two-year anniversary? But...what?! What the hell, Mom!

Her voice shook with anger. "Your two-year anniversary? Does that mean that you started your...affair...with him...on my birthday?"

Kristen's face took on an expression that let Cassie know her mother felt that she had said too much. "Um...well, yes, Cassandra, when you put it that way..."

"What the ****?!"

Her mother's eyes widened. "Cassandra Emily!"

"First, you ruin our family with this, then you forget you even have children so you can hang out with him, and then you not only leave my birthday party, you have the audacity to tell me that when I was eating cake at my 15th birthday, you were screwing him for the first time?!"

"Cassandra, now is not the time..."

"How could you?"

Kristen looked at her. " I am not discussing this now."

"Yes you are!"

Now she looked amused. "Cassandra, like it or not I am your mother."

That did it. A flare went up inside Cassie. "What mother? Mom, since the divorce if anyone's been acting like a mother around here, it's been me!" Who gives Adele and Halina their paychecks? Who planned this whole party? Who makes sure that Shelby eats something every now and then? Who even remembers that there is a Shelby?!

Kristen sighed angrily. "I do not have time for this. What do you want from me?"

"I want you to think about someone besides yourself for the first time in your life!"

As soon as she said the words Cassie wanted to take them back. They hung in the air, suspended from Cassie's anger and dangling in front of her face, taunting her. For one moment, Kristen's face took on a look of pure anger, more angry than Cassie had ever seen her, and then...

Slap.

Cassie's head was flung to the side from the force of her mother's blow, and she raised both hands to touch her stinging cheek in disbelief. Her mother had never hit her, not once. Slowly, she turned to face her, not removing her hands.

Kristen looked as horrified as Cassie felt. "Cassandra..." she whispered, shocked.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"Thank y'all for coming, by the way," Cassiechan said, and Kagayaki leaned against her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and watching his friend with a soft smile. 'Of course we came. We love you, Cassie.'

"We come, because you better t'an ot'r zuff we have has to do," he whispered in her ear, his accent very thick. "Daisuki."

"Like I would've gone anywhere else today.... So, are we just gonna stand out here for the rest of the day or what?" Saikochan asked. Kagayaki looked up at Cassie as he could, smiling at her. 'Calm down, I know you're upset, but I'm here and even if I don't know why you're upset, I'm going to keep you safe. Promise. Itsumo.'

"Remind me, girlfriend, that you have no subtlety. But I have a hard time picking up on things, so maybe that works out for the best. She's probably on the lookout for food. She held your present the whole way and I'm sure it made her hungry."

Kagayaki laughed. "T'at Saikochan," he said, winking at her. "T'at why we la' her."

"Oh, right! Food. Sorry, you guys must think I'm the worst hostess ever! Come on." Cassie said, turning. He let go of her easily, knowing holding onto her wasn't the best thing to do but no really knowing what was the best thing. Kagayaki just followed her, reaching over and taking her hand with a crooked smile.

"Been okay, Cassiechan." he told her, but something showed that she didn't think so. She was looking at something... He followed her gaze to her mother and a man. Kagayaki looked in her face, searching for what would help him out. 'Who is that? Is that... Is that your mother and her boyfriend?' His hold on her hand tightened. "Cassie?" She looked over at Yukito pointedly, and Kagayaki tensed. 'Just stay with me... I'll keep you safe, I promise, no matter what it takes.

"Mom?"

Wrightosan looked over at Cassie, and he noticed she wasn't dressed for the costume party. 'That's weird...' "Oh, good, Cassandra. I was just going to send someone to go find you. We're leaving now."

Cassie looked upset, and for good reason. 'Leaving?' Cassie had the same thought as him: "Leaving?"

"Yes. Mike and I are going out for dinner."

"Tonight? Now?"

"Well, of course, Cassandra."

"But...it's my birthday." Kagayaki looked over, wanting to do something to help, his head pounding because he didn't know what to do. 'You don't need her. I'll take care of you.'

"Well, I know that, darling. But it's not like you'll be all alone, and you don't really need us here, do you? We have reservations at Antoine's." Kagayaki tensed more as Wrightosan linked her arm through her boyfriend's. He made himself meet the man's eyes for a second, but he found himself shaking a little, and his gaze fell to the floor. He was breathless. 'Be strong. For Cassie. Don't be such a baby! Get over yourself! Imagine how upset and scared she is! I'm her boyfriend. I promised I would protect her. And I will keep that promise.' He lifted his chin but didn't meet the man's eyes again. 'He won't hurt her again.' "It's our two-year anniversary."

"Well, yeah, Mom, but--" Cassie's voice changed and Kagayaki looked over at her. "Your two-year anniversary? Does that mean that you started your...affair...with him...on my birthday?"

Kagayaki looked over at Wrightosan with surprise. 'What sort of okaasan does that? I... I don't understand...' His face spoke his thoughts, but he didn't like the look he saw for a split second that Wrightosan's boyfriend gave Cassie. He moved a bit closer to her.

"Um...well, yes, Cassandra, when you put it that way..."

"What the ****?!"

"Cassandra Emily!"

"First, you ruin our family with this, then you forget you even have children so you can hang out with him, and then you not only leave my birthday party, you have the audacity to tell me that when I was eating cake at my 15th birthday, you were screwing him for the first time?!"

Kagayaki stepped back a little. He shouldn't be involved in this. This was family stuff. Where he came from, family stuff stayed within the family. He was confused... But his hand didn't loosen on Cassie's. He wasn't leaving her. He just didn't want to get caught up in this and make things worse.

"Cassandra, now is not the time..."

"How could you?"

"I am not discussing this now."

'Birthdays are ****. I'm never having a birthday ever again. Ever again.'

"Yes you are!"

"Cassandra, like it or not I am your mother." The look on Wrightosan's face was almost evil.

"What mother? Mom, since the divorce if anyone's been acting like a mother around here, it's been me!"

'Yes, you have. For everyone, you've been here and she hasn't. Just forget her. How about we go back to Japan, together, and forget all this? We can take Shelbychan. She'll love it. And we can be together. No one will question us. Please, let's just go...' "Cassiechan..." he whispered very softly.

"I do not have time for this. What do you want from me?"

"I want you to think about someone besides yourself for the first time in your life!"

Kagayaki saw the anger, and he felt his heart pounding. His hand loosened just a little on Cassie's hand and he stepped back.

When Wrightosan's made contact with Cassie's cheek, however, his expression changed. He took his hand from Cassie's altogether.

He looked at Cassie for a second. She was in pain. He turned to Wrightosan, his hands in fists.

"NO YOU DON', B****!" he cried, finding himself out of control and slapping Cassie's mother back. He stood between Cassie and her mother. "Ne'er... touch her... again..." he breathed darkly, his entire body shaking. He pointed at her boyfriend, that... that... "You an' him, jus' same! You hur' Cassiechan!" He waved his hands in a final manner in front of his chest. "No more, no more!" He turned to Cassie, laying his hand over the hands she had on her cheek. "Cassie," he said, his voice much calmer now; shaky even. "you okay?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Like I would've gone anywhere else today...." Erin responded easily to Cassie's unnecessary thanks. "So, are we just gonna stand out here for the rest of the day or what?"

"Remind me, girlfriend, that you have no subtlety,"[/b] Yukito commented, making Erin's lips bow in a pout. "Aw..."

But then he smiled at her and added, "But I have a hard time picking up on things, so maybe that works out for the best." Immediately her face brightened, and Yukito looked over to Cassie. "She's probably on the lookout for food. She held your present the whole way and I'm sure it made her hungry."

"You didn't smell it when it was baking, Yukito! The whole house smelt sooo sweet and I kept smelling it the whole tiiiime, and I didn't have enough stuff or time to make two of them!" Erin explained quickly, hugging herself close to Yukito with a grin. "And I kinda figured there'd be stuff here..."

Kagayaki laughed. "T'at Saikochan," he said, winking at her. "T'at why we la' her."

"Aww, see, Aidousan gets it," she stated proudly with a little laugh.

"Oh, right! Food. Sorry, you guys must think I'm the worst hostess ever! Come on." Erin rolled her eyes at Cassie's emphatic apology with a smile, and she followed in Cassie's wake still holding onto Yukito's hand all the while. Automatically Erin wandered along the overflowing table, trying to decide on something as she absently chewed on pretzel sticks, effectively loosing sight of Cassie and Aidousan for the moment.

She had just found a sweet bread that she particularly liked when Cassie's voice begged for her attention- because it was, oddly enough for Cassie, escalating. Erin turned back around to find Cassie, her mother, and what's-his-face in a little cluster, the two females snapping back and forth.

"What the ****?!"

"Cassandra Emily!"

"First, you ruin our family with this, then you forget you even have children so you can hang out with him, and then you not only leave my birthday party, you have the audacity to tell me that when I was eating cake at my 15th birthday, you were screwing him for the first time?!"

"Cassandra, now is not the time..."

"How could you?"

"I am not discussing this now."

No... leave her alone! Just go away with your screwup boyfriend and leave her alone and happy for once, stop ruining everything! Why are you so horrible to her?! Erin wanted to scream, but Cassie was doing the job for her. "Yes you are!"

"Cassandra, like it or not I am your mother."

"What mother? Mom, since the divorce if anyone's been acting like a mother around here, it's been me!"

And Erin stood there almost dumbfounded to be witnessing this, something that seemed too private to be so public, like a bad train wreck....

"I do not have time for this. What do you want from me?"

"I want you to think about someone besides yourself for the first time in your life!"

A pause, and then, the smack of flesh against flesh, and Erin's eyes widened in shock. You... disgusting... b--- Erin jerked forward automatically, but already, Aidousan, clearly much closer and with more force, served the snake her own medicine, screaming out Erin's exact thoughts.

"Ne'er... touch her... again... You an' him, jus' same! You hur' Cassiechan!" He waved his hands in a final manner in front of his chest. "No more, no more!" Immediately he turned to Cassie, speaking softly to her, probably consoling, and Erin was wondering if what she was feeling was just another form of heartbreak. She hurt you... I can't understand it... why did she hurt you? Doesn't she love you? Oh, Cassie... If there was any way to take her away from it all, and if Erin had been able to think of it, she would have done whatever it took to whisk Cassie as far from that place as physically possible. And plot horrible, wicked things to happen to her.

It took everything for her to stay back and not continue what Aidousan had started. To not run up screaming and kicking the person who could be so cruel. And all she could make herself say was a croaked, "No..."

[hanashyrexchana]

Juliet Echo Eco

“Hey, Alphonse, why the long face?” The look an the little cosplayer's face was priceless. As if she hadn't expected anyone to recognize her even though Fullmetal Alchemist was the fifth most watched anime in the country. After a few seconds, followed by a moment of recognition the girl finally responded.

”Ciel? Wait... you recognize me?! You know FMA?” Her voice was a bit creaky, as if she hadn't used it in a while.

Smirking, she nodded. “Yep, it was my first anime actually. Though I'm more of an Edward person myself. Risembool Rangers, RED DAWN, and all that jazz.” Chuckling, she surveyed the redheads costume. “Not bad, not bad... but why the movie? Honestly? That was like.... fan-fiction for your tv.” Shaking her head in dissatisfaction, she studied the girls face closer. “And you are a girl, right?” Juliet teased, sending her a wink. “Be something cute, Like Mikuru Asahina . You know, from the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? You look like her, you know. The only reason I'm crossplaying right now is cause my character is dressed as a girl.” Happily rambling on, she took a potato chip and ate it. “Anyways, you're Cassie's sister, yeah? You look like her too, you know. Not that you act much like her, from what I know about her.” Sending her another wink, she confided. “I've only really met the birthday girl once, so I guess I shouldn't be here, but I just love parties... and I did get her a gift, so I don't feel tooooo bad.”

As she spoke, she heard a fight start to break out behind her. Turning around, Juliet saw Cassie standing with Aladdin, Jasmine (she took a moment to be relieved she hadn't worn her own Jasmine costume), and another Alphonse Elric standing close to who appeared to be Cassie's mother. “What is this, an anime convention?” She muttered as Cassie and the women shouted back and forth. Nervously she looked towards Shelby, wondering how she would react. After all, it was her sister.... right? A loud cracking noise, followed by another and more yelling drew Juliet's attention back to the fight. 'I chose the wrong party to crash...'

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

He had wandered over to the snack table with Erin for a few moments, watching her pick up random tidbits and munching on them. She was humming something, did she realize that? He smiled to himself, content to just watch her. His expression started to fade when he realized he would soon have to eat something to make Erin content. He was sure she would try to stuff something sweet and mushy down his throat. The smirk returned when he admitted he liked that feeling he got when she tried to take care of him. Or at least relieve some of the guilt she might be experiencing when she was constantly eating and he went without by default. He ignored the conversation just behind him for the moment, staring down stupidly at something that didn't look like food at all. Is that a kind of cake, or a sandwich? I can't tell...it looks kinda like some sort of bread, but I think it's gonna be sweet, since it's a bright color...Erin?

"Tonight? Now?" his ears perked up when he heard the strange rise in Cassie's voice. He looked up to see her talking with her mother, who looked adamant. Yukito's eyes fell immediately on Mike, and the familiar look on his face. A face straining to maintain control while at the same time fade away into the background. A guilty face. He didn't even look at Cassie the whole time he listened in, his eyes locked on the man. He stiffened when Mrs. Wright looped her arm in his, and he could see the satisfied difference in Mike's posture. Simmering beneath the surface, he automatically wandered to Erin's side, brushing against her shoulder to keep him relaxed. Wait.

"First, you ruin our family with this, then you forget you even have children so you can hang out with him, and then you not only leave my birthday party, you have the audacity to tell me that when I was eating cake at my 15th birthday, you were screwing him for the first time?!" Cassie was quickly snapping. Yukito wondered if she recognized this blowout as a direct aftermath of months, hours, maybe years of things. If she really knew her anger was at so many people. And this was good, in his mind. At least she had the guts to face the person she was the most embittered at.

"Cassandra, now is not the time..." her mother was trying to cool things down, and Yukito almost laughed at the impossibility.

"How could you?"

"I am not discussing this now."

"Yes you are!"

"Cassandra, like it or not I am your mother."

"What mother? Mom, since the divorce if anyone's been acting like a mother around here, it's been me!" Ouch. Aidousan moved forward to mumble something to Cassie, but he wasn't noticed.

Kristen sighed angrily. "I do not have time for this. What do you want from me?"

"I want you to think about someone besides yourself for the first time in your life!"

Slap.

Yukito jolted, moving a full foot in Cassie's direction as soon as the movement began, and he felt his heart leap into his throat despite himself. Before he could let loose his natural reaction, Aidousan had jumped in from his docile position directly into the fray, slapping Mrs. Wright back. Yukito grimaced, turned from Cassie's mother, and instead turned to her mother's boyfriend with a dark look. While Aidousan shouted emphatically, Yukito slipped from Erin's side and strode quickly up to the man of the hour.

"Hello, jack***." Yukito growled, not hesitating before slamming his fist upwards to the man's face, in the direct way of breaking his nose, then slamming his shoulder into his gut to take advantage of his little weight to push him over and tackle him to the ground. "We all know what you did," he hissed, his eyes burning, "Tell me, do you think about it when you're holding her mother? You ****ing ****."