Just reach out your hand, and there's someone right here…
After those words were said to me… I couldn't hold myself back any longer… she was the first and only person to ever see me cry… even when we were fighting, she was always on my side. Even after all I had done to her brother… she still knew my heart; she knew I didn't really want to fight. I only did so to serve Laxus… but she believed in me, she made me see the truth… but now… it's too late. After everything I've done, she could never accept me… no one could… And yet, why do I feel a sense of peace around her?
I never… wanted… to do all this… Her reply? "I know… I know."
How could she have known? All I ever did to her was hurt her and her brother… and yet… "Let's all enjoy the Harvest Festival together next year, okay?" I agreed. What else was I supposed to say? Her smile made my heart beat faster, her instant acceptance made the pain in my chest intensify all the more. I… I want to be the one to protect her smile, to bring her only happiness.
One Week Later
"Fried!" a voice called out from behind him.
Spinning on his heel, he shot a glance over his shoulder to see whom the voice belonged.
"M-Mirajane…?" he said, his eyes widening slightly as he saw her in the distance, exiting the Fairy Tail building. He was standing a few yards away with only a small backpack slung over his back. Standing in the middle of the road, he inched off to the side as he saw Mirajane run towards him. Knowing that the upcoming conversation was going to be something he did not want the public to overhear, a low hum whisked though the air as he quickly set to work creating a rune with his magic. A few moments later, he was finished and not a moment too soon.
"Hey…" she panted as she ran over to his side, "I've been looking all over for you. Don't tell me you were planning on leaving without saying goodbye…" she said with a slight whimper in her voice.
"I… I didn't think that you would have wanted to see me… after what I did…"
"Hey, we're nakama aren't we? You were just acting on Laxus's orders; I can't blame you there."
"Mira…jane…" he whispered as he looked down. His face stung with agony of being with someone so forgiving. Had he been with Laxus, he would have been scolded very harshly, if not worse.
"Tell me Fried… is it true what the rumors are claiming? Is the Raijin Tribe really disbanding?"
Fried looked up and smirked at her bluntness, but a sad look entered his beautiful teal-colored eyes. Sighing he looked over Mirajane's shoulder, staring at nothing in particular as he spoke with a detached voice.
"…Yeah. After Laxus was excommunicated by his grandfather from the guild, he decided to go off on his own. Set new goals for himself; less destructive goals. I'm not sure what Bickslow and Evergreen plan on doing. Bickslow might travel away as well to improve his power, but if I'm not mistaken, Ever plans on staying with Fairy Tail for a while."
"And you?" she inquired.
"I…" he sighed. "Mirajane, I cannot stay here. Not after I have done wrong by so many. I raised a hand against my nakama, some of which were my closet friends. I cannot stand to face everyone and the kindness they are showing me…" he said as his eyes focused back on her angelic face. The wind was starting to blow gently, moving her hair from in front of her face. The sunrays peaked out over the horizon as the morning was upon them. The rays kissed the ends of her hair, giving her a glowing appearance. While observing her features, Fried almost missed what she said next.
"Sure you can. No one wishes for you to leave, Fried. Only your fear of not getting accepted is holding you back. So please, stay…" she implored, causing another jolt of emotional pain to course through his mind.
A shadow passed over his features as he bent his head to look at the ground. "How… how can everyone accept me again? After all I've done? I could have killed Cana when I attacked her. I could have killed your brother with the magic I used. I could have-"
"But you didn't." she interrupted. "You and I both know you never wanted to fight against Fairy Tail from the beginning. Your heart was in the right place. It was your orders and the one who gave them who had the problem. It wasn't your fault… you were just acting off of orders…"
Her next sentence was cut off as Fried wrapped one arm around her torso and the other over her shoulder in a gentle yet firm hug. Placing his head down upon where her collarbone and shoulder met, the two of them stood in that position for a few moments in comfortable silence, enjoying the closeness of one another. Mirajane placed her arms around him and gently put her head down so her cheek barely touched his and her chin was comfortably resting against his shoulder.
"Mirajane… thank you… your kindness was what brought me back to sanity. Acting under Laxus's rule was… terrifying. I will admit that using my power in ways that threatened others did give me a certain thrill that I enjoyed, but these last few weeks… it just wasn't me. You brought me back to myself and for that I shall always be grateful."
"Then prove it… prove to me that you truly are thankful for what I did… stay here… with your family… with your nakama… with me…"
Fried's body froze as he felt a wetness drop onto his shoulder.
"Oh Mirajane, please don't cry. Not for me… you… you shouldn't have to become upset over me… I'm not worth it…"
"Trust me Fried, you are… to me…" she whispered. "I… I don't want you to leave again… no one has seen any of you or your group in well over a few years… you were deeply missed, and now will be even more so than before."
Fried sighed. "Very well, I shall stay, but only until I figure out what I am truly going to do with myself."
This lit up a soft smile on Mirajane face. "That will be enough." She whispered.
"Enough?" he inquired.
"Yes… enough to keep me happy. Even if we are not together side by side, just knowing you are near brings me peace. I can rest happy, knowing that you will not leave during the night, without saying goodbye at least…" she said as one single tear descended down her cheek.
"Oh Mirajane… is that why you were upset? Because I did not say a goodbye?" he said as he took a small step away so he could properly face her.
Mirajane simply gave a small nod in reply.
Fried huffed slightly at the complications he'd made.
"I never wished to hurt anyone by leaving, especially you. After everything you have done for me… I didn't want to be the reason for your pain. I was going to just slip out of your life, so you could, over time, forget about me and move on with your life… and be happy… with or without me…"
"…You silly man…" she whispered so softly Fried had to strain to hear it. "I never once wished for you to leave. No, I always bask in the light that your presence gives me. It fills me with the feeling of happiness that… I cannot even express… ever since our battle I have been watching you. You've become lost because of improper guidance, but… that's not your fault… we, here at Fairy Tail, love you Fried. I… I…" she had to pause and look away to keep him from seeing her now lobster-red face as she blushed with embarrassment. This was not the perfect scenario of confessing her love for him that she'd had in mind.
Taking advantage of her hesitance, Fried took a step closer towards her so that their bodies were almost touching once again and brought his hand up to her chin, pulling her face up to look him in the eye.
"You what, Mirajane?" he said with a hint of urgency.
"I… it's nothing… never mind Fried. All I'm saying is… no one wants you to leave… I don't want you to leave…"
"Then I won't. I will stay by your side Mirajane, for as long as you'll allow me to…" he said, leaning forward so that his body mostly encompassed hers. "Aishiteru." He whispered so softly that Mirajane did not believe her ears at first.
"W-What did you j-just say?" she breathed out in a faint whisper.
"Aishiteru, Mirajane. I always have and always will. Your bravery, even when you were known as 'Demon', has always inspired me. The protectiveness you showed for your brother against me made me see just how loyal you were. And… when you… ceased fighting with me that day… when you could have ended my very life after everything I'd done… yet, you didn't… that filled me with a wonder of how much love can a beautiful woman like yourself can truly contain…" he declared.
"T-Thank… you… Fried… I… I…. love you too… Ever since you walked through the doors of Fairy Tail, even when you were with Laxus, I saw you just before Evergreen turned us. It was the reason I did not fight back against her control. I had one glimpse of you and froze, allowing Ever's power to take control of me."
Fried hesitated to reply. Taking a deep breath, he took a small step away from Mirajane's body to give her room to breath after their confessions.
"I… I saw you as well… I tried to ask Ever to spare you but… Laxus snapped at me and told me the feelings that I had… they made a person weak…-"
"No." Mirajane interrupted. "Feelings such as these do not make one weak. It actually means the exact opposite. Having a special bond with someone makes the two even stronger. I mean, just look at Lucy and Loki. Those two… even though Loki is Lucy's Spirit, the love that those two have together makes them so much stronger. Gray and Juvia as well; they have a special bond, and the fact that they are water and ice accompany each other as well. The bonds that two people have… others should never underestimate them… This is one lesson Laxus needs to learn before Master can hand the title of "fourth" over to him. Once Laxus learns this lesson, I believe it could shape him into a wonderful leader."
"The power of love… is a very strong yet mysterious thing…" he breathed out.
Suddenly Mirajane squeaked, jerking Fried out of his train of thought.
"W-What is it?" he asked as he looked around.
"W-we… everyone… they could have heard…" {Oh my gosh! Please don't tell me I just confessed my feelings for Fried in front of everyone in Fairy Tail!}
Fried laughed at her little spook out and brought his other hand -having his right hand was still where he left it on her chin- up to her cheek to calm her enough so he could speak.
"Mirajane, do you really think I would allow everyone to hear about our private life?" he chuckled as he saw her shake her head no. "Look at your feet." He softly commanded. {She really is quite cute. I'm so lucky to have a woman like her by my side…}
Mirajane's eyes widened as she finally took notice of the runes that encompassed them in a small box.
"H-How… when…?" {Fried's runes! They're all around us!}
Fried smiled at her before closing the small gap between them and pulling her into his full embrace, having her completely in his arms where she belonged.
"I had a feeling our conversation would be something private, between us. I placed them right before you approached me. After all, my word is law and the law I have decreed is no one should hear what we have just said, no one can see us, and if anyone comes near, we become something along the lines of transparent and-" Just as he was explaining, a person walked straight through him, causing Mirajane's eyes to widen comically in disbelief. "If someone comes, they will walk straight through us. No one even knows we are here. We have disappeared until I wish for us to be seen." he continued, letting out a laugh as if he had not stopped speaking.
"In-incredible… you have become so powerful…" she whispered in amazement.
Fried smiled at the compliment and leaned his forehead against her own, staring deeply into her eyes.
"As have you Mira… you really have grown up. You were beautiful before, but now… now you have truly become a gorgeous women right in front of my eyes."
Mirajane blushed and shyly looked away.
"Don't… don't turn away from me… even your glance… I want to see you, all the time and as much as you'll allow…" he whispered while leaning forward cautiously, waiting to see if she would give any indication of objecting to his next action.
Sensing no denial, he began to lean forward so he could press his lips against hers. Just as he was a few centimeters away…
"Fried… wait…" she said as she placed a hand on his chest to stop his advances.
Fried drew back, pouting slightly but respected her and did as she asked.
She chuckled at his antics but hurried to explain herself.
"Don't worry. You'll have your chance in a bit, silly. Just be patient." She whispered and an idea came to her. As she began to walk away, she dragged her hand seductively across his chest and over his shoulder as she walked past him and towards the guild.
Fried, who got slightly aroused at the sensation, growled deeply in his throat at his little sensual demon.
Suddenly Mirajane, who had not walked even five paces, froze, her body not moving at her command.
"Dirty little trick you pulled back there my little demon. I might just have to put you in your place." Fried, who had walked up behind her, whispered seductively in her ear.
Mirajane's eyes took on a new light as she sent a smirk in his direction. "Well said, but can you really overpower someone such as me? After all, it was me on top during our battle, was it not?" She teased, referring to the prior week.
"You're really pushing your luck, aren't you Mirajane…" he said, his voice taking on a deeper baritone pitch.
"There is no luck that I need. I'm clearly your match." She challenged.
Fried smiled fully now, exposing his white teeth. Flipping his sea foam green hair over his shoulder and out of his eyes, he suddenly came up with an idea. Quickly, he summoned some of his energy and began to draw a second rune around the two of them, still inside the original.
"W-What are you doing?" Mirajane asked, her voice losing some of its valor.
"Just be patient…" he said, mimicking her earlier words. "Ah… there we go… now Mirajane… let's play a game…"
Catching on to his words, certain images began to form in her mind, many she had no idea where they came from.
"W-what kind of game?" she whispered as she felt a biped walk through her and Fried, letting her know that his previous rune was still in affect and that she had not walked out of his borders yet. No one would be able to hear them until she was a good few feet away. She was trapped and there to play his little game until he released her.
"My word is law here, little demon. If you are okay playing this game with me, I'll be more than willing, but I feel that it might be a bit early for you."
Mirajane tilted her head slightly, but gave no indication of interrupting him, so he took that as a positive sign and continued. "The rules are simple and I have set few, but the spell shall end at midnight tonight. If I win my game, I get to claim my own personal prize." He said cryptically, without truly explaining anything.
"A-And if you lose…?" she questioned.
He chuckled. "If I somehow lose, then you can ask me one thing. Anything you want, and, assuming it's in my power, I shall grant it for you."
Mirajane considered this for a moment, but knowing that her now-lover would never truly harm her she figured it would be fun to play his way for now.
"Alright, I accept." She stated as looked away from his face and towards the guild. At once she felt a certain pressure on her body that felt as if it her personal energy was being connected with something. Just as suddenly as the sensation appeared, it vanished and people could see her once again. Able to move her body once more she turned, but couldn't locate Fried anywhere.
"That little sneak. I don't even know the rules of his game!" she whined to herself making people stare at her.
Placing her signature smile back onto her face she turned and headed out towards the guild once more to get back to her bar, having been away far too long. People would start to worry if she wasn't back soon.
As she walked away, she didn't notice Fried watching her from behind.
Let the games begin my little demon. Fried's voice whispered through her mind. She spun around as the voice resounded in her head, but couldn't find him. With one more glance over her shoulder, she returned to the guild.
~ :D ~
Thanks for reading! :) So far this is a one-shot! But if I get enough reviews I'll keep adding chapters to this. :) I already have about 12,000 words typed up for yall, but if no one likes the story then I won't waste my time in posting another chapter. :\ Anyway, i DO hope everyone likes it! Till next time!
~Winter