"Sorry."
He atoned, tracing a finger across the side of her slim face. The dark-green mask he wore hid his facial expressions, but could not hide the sorrow lying beneath the hazel orbs. He was a tall figure, with clothing adorning closely every part of his body, shadowed away, much like his feelings. She often wished he would share just a bit of suffering and sorrow with her.
"Are you returning?"
She asked simply, her voice stern until the last note, where it turned higher than anticipated. The man reached for her hand, and squeezed it tightly.
"I don't know."
He answered after a while. He avoided her gaze, his voice soft, reduced almost to incoherent mumble. How rarely did such fresh, raw emotion escape onto his collected features?
She withdrew her hand away involuntarily, then shrunk back, surprised at her own action. She sighed. The man looked at her, still understanding in his dismal.
She knew he was never going to cease punishing himself. Over the death of his best friend, and a brother, he hung the burden over his back, refusing to live.
"I will repay a life for a life. Erza, I am going to devout my life into fighting dark mages. I won't let my actions be forgiven. Simon…he can't die in vain."
The phrase resounded in her ears; it seemed little more than a distant echo now.
"Sorry. Erza."
He repeated, "Live for him."
She wanted to lie down and sob. He wasn't going to come back. No matter what she said or did, his choice was final. A deep, burning rage for no one rose inside of her. She swallowed it down, along with the acute urge to cry.
"Take care, Jellal. I'll-no, Fairy Tail,-will always be here for you."
She said, taking a step closer to him. The mask hid Jellal's shadowy smile. Suddenly，she reached out to his forehead. He flinched, as if fearing attack. Instead, she gently tucked a lose blue lock of hair back into his bandana. She paused for a while, and then pulled him into a tight hug. No words were spoken, for their hearts spoke for them.
"Take care."
She urged, her voice croaky with emotion. She let go of him slowly, closing her eyes.
When she reopened them, his obscure figure was receding into the blazing orange sun. she reached out, words stuck in her throat.
"Wait-she cried, her quivering hand rose-I…"
Although the evening sunlight was blinding, she saw his dark shadow turn around, giving her a wave. Half-smiling and half-crying, she waved back.
She didn't know how long she stayed there, standing and staring into the setting sun until stars dotted the navy sky. When she made her way back into her dorm, the hate and hollowness seemed to dispel.
"Live for me…my scarlet flower."
AN：Please review!