Farewell

It hurts... more than one can imagine. The magic particles inside of me is only getting worse despite having received the cure from Porlyusica. My life is slipping away through my fingers like water, and it's only a matter of time before it forsakes me...

Since the guild fell into ruin, I was moved to be treated at the treehouse located in the East Forest. Freed, Bixslow, and Evergreen came to visit me today. Unfortunately, they didn't get to stay for long because Porlyusica had just chased them out, but on the bright side, I no longer have to pretend like I'm holding up just fine around them.

Porlyusica sighs after locking the door, scowling as she walks toward the man lying helplessly and half-naked on her bed. "Laxus, why won't you tell them? How long are you going to hide the fact that you don't have long from everyone?"

I squint my eyes in pain as I cough out some blood. "Just keep you promise to me... that you won't tell anyone, not even Gramps. It won't do them any good worrying about me..."

"You foolish stubborn man..." Porlyusica mumbles before heading to her desk, mixing some potions. A while later, she winces when someone knocks on her door. "Yes, who is it now!"

"It's Mira. May I please come in?"

"Please, make yourself at home, sweetheart." Porlyusica is somewhat fond of Mira, for she treats her with much more respect than with others. "Laxus! Mira is here to see you! ... Laxus?"

*Zzz... zzz...* Pretending to be fast asleep, I am hoping to avoid having a conversation with Mira. Mira is the last person I want to know about my secret for she may have feelings for me. Back at the guild clinic, she took care of me when no asked her too, she fed me my food when I couldn't hold my spoon, and she even once fell asleep next to me with both her head and hands resting on my bed.

"Doctor, how is Laxus doing today?" Mira ask in a soft tone while she sits down on a wooden chair beside my bed.

"Er... his recovery is speedy, yet It's still too early to move him out of bed." There was hesitation in her voice, and I feel bad for making her lie. "I'm going out to gather some herbs. Stay as long as you like, dear."

"Thanks, Doc."

After Porlyusica had left, I carefully peek through my eye to find Mira humming beside me. She wipes the sweats on my face, giggling to herself as if she there's something funny on my face. I would never have tolerated this kind of behavior from anyone, yet Mira is a special case.

Then it occurs to me.

It will be much easier for Mira to let me go me if I can make her hate me, no matter how heartbreaking and awkward it will be for the both of us. This is for the best, the least I can do for her...

"Hey... thanks for disturbing my peaceful dream." I glare at her, heaving my shoulders up and down as I endure the pain inside my chest.

"Oh, Laxus, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up." She shots me her brightest smile, and I hesitate for a second. How do I not wish to rob away that radiant smile from her ever again...

"Anyway, it's good to see you're finally conscious, so how are you feeling?" When Mira places her hand on forehead, I immediately shove her hand off me, causing her to squeal as she draws her hand back. "Ouch! Laxus!"

"Tch, don't ask. Why are you even here anyway? Don't you have anything else better to do than to gloat over my failure?" I watch as her face expression turns darker and scarier. Mira is indeed the sensitive type, and who knows better how to push her buttons than yours truly?

"What? You got something you wanna say?" I smirk weakly at her.

"Laxus, I don't know why you're acting like this, but don't you think it's very rude considering that I came all the way here because I was worried about you?"

I scowl, then speak in a very condescending tone, "Please... spare me your crap. You're no different from the rest of the typical women out there, coming here only to take advantage of the situation in hope that I, Makarov's grandson, would fall for you. Tell you what, that ain't gonna work!"

"..."

Damn, that took everything out of me. It hurt me as much to say it. Now, I should brace myself for what's about to come since it's been a while since I last felt this demonic aura from her. Her eyes speak for themselves.

I roll around facing the wall, exposing my back on her. "Leave! I don't need you here!"

"That's it, I'm done." Mira finally gets up and stomp off to the door. "I thought you've changed, Laxus, but I guess I was wrong about you." she says before banging the door shut.

Silence immediately fills the room.

"No... I really do have changed. You were the one who changed me..." I mutter as my right eye betrays me, shedding a drop of tear tracing down the scar on my face.

The next morning...

Gramps has big announcement to make this morning at the guild, thus no one is supposed to come visit me now. Yet here she is again, smiling at me as if nothing major happened yesterday. Why? Why must she insist making this harder for us both than it already is?

After placing a wet towel on my forehead, Mira quickly frowns. "Are you really sure you're okay? Your temperature is really high, and you look really pale."

"..."

"Fine, be that way." Mira rolls her eyes before letting out a deep breath. "Look, I'm still really worried about you, and I decided to give you another chance."

"To be honest, I'd rather you be back at the guild working than disturb me here." I finally raise an eyebrow and smirk at her. "Oh that's right, the guild is no more now that your foolish little brother ruined it, didn't he?"

"Laxus, leave my little brother out of this." Mira clenches her fist while leering at me, about to burst with all the anger she's been suppressing.

"Heh!" I snicker like a villain "If only I had saved myself, then I would be there to prevent your foolish little brother from destroying the guild, even if I have to kill him myself!"

*Hicks... hicks...*

To my surprise, Mira is now crying with her hands covering her face. She wipes her eyes so much that they quickly swell red. "How could you, Laxus... After all I've done for you..." Her voice creaks as she frequently catches her breath in her throat. "I was such a fool getting my hopes up on you, I really am. I don't understand why you are always so cruel to me. How dare you hurt me over and and over! How dare you!"

"Oi, Mira, I—"

"You never care about how I feel! I HATE you!" As she is about to storm off from her chair, I instinctively sit up and grab her wrist. I don't know what just came over me, but my hand refuses to let go no matter how hard Mira struggles to shake me off. "Let go of me, you jerk!"

"Mira, please, I can explain!"

"I don't wanna hear it! I'm sick of listening to your all pathetic excuses!"

Now it all makes sense - I've lost the game the moment she cried. Tch, I'm a pathetic excuse for a man, to think that my heart shattered to pieces to hear she hates me...

"Listen, I was only— Arghh!" A gush of blood suddenly comes pouring out of mouth like waterfall, slowly dispersing into small pool of blood on the floor. Mira screams hysterical at the sight.

"La-Laxus! What's wrong!" She quickly sits back down on the chair to comfort me, frowning as she locks her hand on my guts and the other around my back. Meanwhile, I am having trouble catching my breath with my mouth opened. "Wait here, I'll go get Porlyusica right away!"

"No... I'm not going to make it... instead, I want you listen to my final wish."

"What are you saying? You are going to live through this!" Her hands starts trembling along with my whole body. My life is flashing before my eyes, and I am beyond terrified.

I cough out yet another blood while Mira rubs her hand on my chest to ease the pain. "Please... I'm not asking much of you... I just need you to stay and hold my hand until it's over. That's my only wish..."

"But I, I—"

"Mira, I beg you just this once!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not letting you die here!" Mira releases her hands from me and runs for the door. In that instance, I reach out my hand to her but instead end up falling out of bed on my own blood.

That's right, she just left me all alone...

"Mira... come back..." My vision is blurring and my heartbeat is slowing down. Eventually, I collapse from the unbearable pain inside my chest.

I don't understand. What is going on? The pain inside my chest is now gone, and my body feels really light. Cluelessly floating around in the air, my heart skips a beat when I come across my own body lying unconscious on the floor.

This can't be! I am dead!

I heard rumors about how ghosts appear as how they imagine themselves to be in life before they die, but I didn't actually believe in it until now. I really am still half-naked!

I fly out through the door and sit down waiting on the stairs for Mira to return. I was afraid at first that my butt would fall right through the stairs, but it seems that I wouldn't if I don't wish to become intangible. A while later, I get up on my feet right after spotting Mira running in panic as she drags Porlyusica up the stairs along with her.

"Oi, Mira!" As I thought, Mira and Porlyusica couldn't hear nor see me. Even when I spread my arm to greet them, they later run right through my body. Yeah, it was creepy.

"Laxus! Laxus! Please answer me!" Mira desperately shakes my body to no response. I can only watch her from behind with my arms folded, still crept out to see my own corpse lying before me. Mira bites her lips after laying her head on my chest to check for pulse. "No... this can't happening. His whole body is so cold..."

Porlyusica crouches down beside Mira and shakes her head. "He's gone, Mira. Laxus is now in a better place."

"..."

Actually, I'm still standing right behind you, old hag...

The tears raining down from Mira's cheeks continue to drip on my face. How I wish to comfort her, yet God forbids me to even pat her shoulder.

"Doctor, how could you agree to hide his condition from us all?"

Poulyusica sighs "It was his final wish. Can a person possibly be so cruel as to deny a man's dying wish?"

"Final wish, huh?" Mira whispers to herself, tangling her hands around my palm as she sobs. "I'm sorry I left you to die alone. You must've been so scared... I'm not mad at you anymore, so please... give me another chance to fulfill your last wish!" Her voice cracks like a little girl.

Touched by her every word, I too crouch down beside Mira and folds my hands around hers. I can feel her touch yet she probably can't feel mine. "Don't blame yourself, Mira. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. Thanks for always believing in me, and I wish you a long and prosperous life."

Just as I am about to leave the treehouse, I freeze to a sudden call of my name. I turn around to find Mira swiveling her head around in search of something. Not long later, she squints her eyes at my direction as if she can see me.

"Laxus, is that you?"

To be continued...

That's it for the sneak peek into this story. I will greatly appreciate it if you would let me know what you think of this story so far in the comment section. Thanks for reading, and look forward to the next chapter ^_^.