Ginrei Birthday

Leo had bought out the entire park for Ginrei's birthday. Her second in command had asked for a picnic together in the park with just the two of them to keep each other company as part of her celebration. Leo had interpreted that request as kicking everyone else out of the immediate area and so the young heiress had the whole park closed off complete with security.

 

They would also needed somewhere to sit and enjoy their lunch together but a blanket on the ground seemed so primitive and the gazebos the park had one offer just seemed so used and dirty. She didn't want to leave a poor impression of herself on her good friend and so she had them all torn down and rebuilt and made sure they were sealed off and covered until Ginrei's big day.

 

The park was also spotless, Leo had a small army of professionals pick it clean and all the unsightly mess was replaced with decorations. Ginrei was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of time and effort put into this lunch. She took Leo's arm and led her around as if Leo was the recipient of this gift. Ginrei walked her lady over to their table in the best spot in the entire park where the two would be waited on and served catered food.

 

'You didn't have to go this far, m'lady.' Ginrei gushed 'This is all too much.'

 

'Nonsense' Leo brushed her friends concerns aside and tenderly holds Ginrei's fingertips in her hands 'I spare no expense for my most dearest friends'

 

Ginrei was moved to tears. She never thought her dear Leo would speak in such a way 'Leo, you're so generous, I'm not worthy!'

 

'Oh my' Leo was taken aback. She took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed away Ginrei's tears. 'You shouldn't be crying on such a special day. Come, let's open some presents. That will help cheer you up!'

 

Leo took Ginrei by the hand and sat her down. 'Let's start with the card.' Leo handed Ginrei the finest looking envelope and a card that she was personalised for Ginrei herself. It was even scented and Ginrei mashed her nostrils against the card and soaked it in. She would never forget the beautiful scent.

 

Ginrei's other gifts included spiral seashells from Leo's recent trip, experimental art pieces that featured swirls and also some first edition books from Ginrei's favourite authors that were all signed. Some of the authors were reclusive and hadn't been seen in decades and one was even on their deathbed. Yet Leo's influence secured all of their signatures. Every one of them was a gift that Ginrei could keep in her home and remind her of her heroine's poise, grace and her love.

 

'There's one more gift.' Leo announced. She took out a piece of paper and presented it to Ginrei 'This is a little certificate that will grant you one wish. All you have to do is present it to me and ask for anything you want, and I will grant it to you.'

 

Ginrei snatched up the piece of paper and focused intensely. She could ask for anything she wanted. A private jet, an island, a mansion, a sports car, she could even be funded for her entire life. She was overwhelmed with choices and she shook in her seat.

 

'You can save it for later.' Leo giggled.

 

'No!' Ginrei squeaked 'I know what I want!' She held the paper out and bowed her head. 'I wish for-' and then she felt something grab it from her hand. It wasn't Leo though, it was a tanuki with a bandanna tied around it.

 

'Oh dear!' Leo gasped 'I should have hired pest control. I knew if forgot something!'

 

Ginrei leaped after the tanuki and chased it down. She charged through garbage pails, bushes and even a tree to track it down until Ginrei found herself face-to-face with the brown-haired strategist of Touno Tengu, Misato. Ginrei's dress was ruined from the chase and she was like a woman possessed. The tanuki hid behind Misato for safety.

 

'What happened to you dress?' Misato asked with sincerity.

 

'Never you mind my dress!' Ginrei hissed 'That rat of yours took something precious from me!'

 

Misato looked at the tanuki's mouth and took the crumpled piece of paper from its snout 'This thing? It's just a piece of paper?' She eyed the sheet, completely unimpressed by it. She tucked away the piece of paper just in case it actually was worth something.

 

'How dare you!?' Ginrei launched herself forward and brought Misato into a barrier. They were sent to a fantastical outside dining area for their fighting arena. 'It's a precious gift from my dear lady!'

 

'I didn't know she'd gotten so cheap.' Misato cackled before she was made to cower before Ginrei's might and barely sidestepped a thrust from Ginrei's lance.  Misato's cute new sweater wouldn't be spared however, as its thread was chewed by the spinning drill-like action of the lance and left Misato's tummy exposed 'Hey! I just bought this!'

 

'Who cares about your filthy rags?' She barrelled down on Misato and made lunges that tore up the earth around the two combatants. 'You'll relinquish that gift at once!' Ginrei swiped, stabbed and thrust at Misato. Even with its immense size and the sheer destruction it laid in it's wake, Ginrei wielded her lance as if it were an extension of herself.

 

'Nachi bought me that sweater! It's a really expensive brand!' Misato growled. She unleashed her leaf fan and blocked Ginrei's strikes. It was an odd sight seeing a lance slice leaves and strike sparks across the field.

 

'Disgusting!' Ginrei spat 'Adorning yourself in the goods of a blue-haired devil!'

 

Misato was genuinely shocked at Ginrei's hatred 'Nachi is nice once you-'

 

'A pitiful excuse for a rival to lady Leo's fortune!' Ginrei growled. 'Don't speak any further of her!' She transformed into her shinobi outfit for more destructive power and flailed wildly at Misato.

 

A squeak escaped Misato's lips 'This is getting silly can't we just-'

 

'No!' Ginrei roared. She leaped in the air so high she turned into a tiny blip in the sky then drove down with all of her might, spiralling downwards towards Misato with great force.

 

'Oh hey, cool that reminds me of that move from a role-playing ga-' Misato cut herself off as her dire situation became clear. She let out a shriek of terror and leaped towards safety. Ginrei's lance struck the earth and a shockwave rippled out and turned the soil over and showering the entire area in dust. Misato dug her way out of the rubble and hacked up a mouthful of dirt 'Alright no more miss nice tanuki!'

 

Misato transformed and her fuzzy tail turned stiff from her sheer frustration 'Have some of this!' Misato kicked up a gust of wind that knocked Ginrei back and kicked up leaves and rocks that shredded her shinobi outfit 'And some of this!' Ginrei fell on her backside and was doused by an isolated downpour right on her position that drenched her hair and ruined her amazing drills. 'Do you want some more?' Misato readied her fingertips to call down the final blow and Ginrei was struck with electricity.

 

Ginrei groggily rose to her feet and pointed her lance at Misato 'I'll keep going until I die! My lady did everything she could for my birthday! I won't let her down!'

 

'Your birthday?' Misato took out the piece of paper and eyed it. Perhaps Misato empathised with her enemy due to how Kumi had ruined every one of Misato's birthdays for at least three years or maybe she had just gotten caught up in the emotion but Misato knew she couldn't hold onto this 'Fine, you win. Take your gift.' Misato stretched out her arm to offer the paper as a truce.

 

'I see you're not the mindless beast I thought you were.' Ginrei took her gift back and the barrier fell.

 

'I guess that's a compliment?' Misato flicked her tail back and forth, trying to hide her agitation. 'Well, whatever, happy birthday and so on.' Misato turned her back on Ginrei and left.

 

Victorious at last, Ginrei returned to her lady's side, confident that her status as Leo's knight was defended. She stumbled like a drunkard with her clothes in tatters and her sopping wet hair dripping down over her face and fell back into her seat. She used the last of her strength to hold out her gift 'I'm ready to ask for my wish' She slurred.

 

'What happened to you?' Leo gasped. She knelt by Ginrei's side and clutched her friend tightly.

 

'Don't worry about me, Leo.' Ginrei was seeing stars 'Please just grant my wish.'

 

Leo held Ginrei's hands and brought them to her chest 'Anything! I'll grant anything you desire.'

 

Ginrei eyed Leo wistfully 'May I have just one kiss?'

 

Leo wasn't sure what to make of this request. Surely her close friend couldn't? Could she? It must be a joke. Leo went with it and gave Ginrei a peck on the cheek. Perhaps that was all Ginrei needed?

 

'Thank you.' Ginrei giggled like a schoolgirl and drool trickled from the corners of her mouth. She lost all sense of balance and swayed in her seat until she toppled over into Leo's arms.

 

'Ginrei? Ginrei!?' Leo held her friend tightly. It seemed as though Ginrei had passed out 'Oh dear.'

 

Their picnic would have to be cut short and her party postponed but after some bedrest Ginrei had recovered from her eventful lunch. She had gotten just about everything she wanted and didn't grumble or complain that her picnic alone with Leo was ruined. They were still team mates and friends which meant they'd still get to keep fighting together and perhaps Ginrei might just get another chance to be alone with Leo. Until then she'd remain Leo's faithful knight-shinobi-thing.