"No one has ever been this kind to me before..." Zeref whispered. His eyes met hers, and the kindness radiating from hers melted his heart and brought tears to his eyes. The light shining on her golden hair gave her an ethereal look, and suddenly she wasn't the ragged, starved girl he saw a few minutes ago, but she was once again the happy girl she had been almost a year ago.

"That's not true." She said softly, leaning in closer. Zeref eyed her lips lovingly. Did he dare?

"It's also the first time I've loved someone this much..." He decided that yes, he did dare, damn the consequences, and he leaned in closer and closer...

Their lips met in a wonderful, warm embrace, and for a moment Zeref thought that maybe he could bear this horrible curse, as long as this beautiful girl was by his side, her laugh lighting up his life, her smile melting his heart. Of course, that was when everything seemed to go wrong.

The warmth left her eyes as she fell backwards, away from him, her mouth slack and her body limp and losing warmth. Zeref felt tears fill his eyes as his heart filled with grief. He had caused the greatest contradiction. He had killed the unkillable.

"Mavis..." He muttered, tears falling down onto her still body. There was no reply.

"Zeref! Please! I'm right here!" Mavis waved her arms frantically, tears falling freely, but he didn't see her. "Why can't you hear me?"

Zeref stood and wiped his red-rimmed eyes, sniffling softly. He stared through Mavis at her dead body, and then reached down and scooped it up.

Mavis turned as he walked past her, numbness spreading through her body. Or was it her body? Was she a ghost now?

"I-I'm dead..." She stuttered, wiping at her eyes. "H-He can't hear me b-because I-I'm dead..."

Zeref was walking faster now, staring straight ahead, his eyes swimming. Mavis ran after him, her eyes streaming, yelling his name.

"Please! Zeref! Hear me! Please!" She screamed, her voice going hoarse. Zeref stopped walking and turned slowly.

"I-I can sense you, Mavis." He said, eyes wide. Mavis smiled sadly.

"But you can't see me." She finished.

"I can't see you." He agreed, taking a step towards her. "I'm sorry, Mavis. It was wrong of me to think the world would accept us. I guess my kiss broke the curse." He laughed humorlessly, wiping the tears from his face. Mavis stifled a sob as he turned away from her. "Just know... I love you."

Mavis sobbed openly now as she whispered back, "I love you too."