Arrogant, cocky, and proud-three words to describe the big blonde guy with a lightning-shaped scar on his right eye, and who wields Lighning Dragon Slayer magic. Laxus Dreyar was indeed well-known to be the one and only grandbrat of Fairy Tail's third-err, eighth master. As a kid growing up, Laxus lived up to his grandpa's shadow, and that fact drove him betrayal of his home guild. After such destruction and damages the grandbrat has done in the past, Makarov Dreyar granted his excommunication from the guild. Laxus was an obedient man, and Makarov was, nevertheless, a very considerate parent. Of course, doing that to his own brat was like having one of your arms amputated. And yes, if you are wondering whether it hurt or not? Yes, yes it did.
But little did they know that Laxus Dreyar had a 'soft' side, in which only selected few are able and allowed to see. There's the Raijinshu, and there's the Master. But wait-a Strauss?
Grunt.
"Come on now," said Laxus. "Since when did it become oh-so very hard for you guys to say good bye?"
Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen stood right before their beloved leader who was about to leave in a short notice, sulking.
"But why are you doing this all by yourself?!" Evergreen protested. Nothing much more she can do but protest.
"Yeah!" chanted the seith mage. "We are also responsible for the ruckus!"
Sigh. Laxus knew it would be hard cracking nuts for them.
"In this way I can..." he paused, realizing his deeds. "this way I can make Gramps get me out of his old brain. He needs not a jerk in the guild."
"We'll talk to him!" yelled Ever.
"Don't," replied Laxus. "It's fine with me, totally. Besides..."
He dragged his attention from the three going to the sky that's about to be consumed by the night.
"...I have no attachments left there..."
Boy, sure he's got a mindful of-
Well?
Bickslow seemed to notice the green-haired man's silent approach. "FREED! SAY SOMETHING AT LEAST!"
Freed was unusually silent, eh.
Finally he cleared his throat and said, "For all I know, Laxus, is we'll see each other again." He managed to crack a smile despite the gloom.
"There," the bigger man patted him on the back. "Is Freed the ONLY one who's grown up here? Huh?"
...
Laxus belted a deep sigh. "Well, it's really good bye now. Gotta leave."
On that note he turned his back from the three and walked straight ahead. Tracing a few steps Evergreen and Bickslow sobbed, and Freed somehow managed to put a smile on his face. And back to the expelled man, oh there he was, waving an empty hand a farewell.
"Stay well!"
FAIRY TAIL GUILD
"Alright! Listen up, everyone!" On the center of the stage stood a woman clothed in metal-what? Seriously, this scarlet-headed of a girl has an armor for her day by day living. Nice, isn't? A requip mage, indeed. Erza Scarlet shot a glare to those who were still brawling, as if they did not hear what she had just said. Of all sorts of people, she hated the most those who have small ounce of respect.
"Everyone!" she spat. "Please, those who are interested, listen. Master Makarov assigned me to take charge of the preparations for the Fan-"
"Gray!" a pinkette yelled out of the blue.
"What is it, you pyromaniac?" the so-called Gray (who is naked) turned around to find a flaming fist being pressed on his face.
And that certainly did not please the woman speaking in front.
! #$/^*
...
"As I was saying..." Erza continued as if she did not go down to put a stop to the two.
Natsu and Gray choked.
"...As we are aware, Fantasia is just around the clock, so we better start our productions now!" The crowd cheered. "So everyone, please practice in the parade. You are all free to choose your partners. That would be all."
"LET'S GO!" Fairy Tail chanted.
The guild was suddenly thinning its imhabitants, and there we found Erza sitting on one of the bar stools. She decided to check out on her long-ago rival-Mirajane Strauss. The lady knight knew how difficult this whole thing has been for Mira not just because she was reminded of her gone sister but also by a person of special importance to her who's gone astray...
Erza swore there is sadness and longing behind those smiles that Mirajane gave away to everyone, as if they were just candies.
"Hey, Mira." The barmaid snapped out of her own delusion and approached Titania from the opposite side of the bar.
"Do you want a mug, Erza?"
"How do you feel?"
"I'm fine." She just smiled. Well, she always did, anyway.
"Don't you mess with me, Mira. I've known you since we were kids."
"Then why ask?"
Oh, boy. Silence sure was pregnant.
"Has he given a..." A sigh escaped from Mirajane's mouth. Ah, the pain.
Erza did not bother to go on. She knew. She really did.
"The last time I talked to him was a week before he went all out." the white-haired beauty clasped her hands together. "Nothing followed."
"To think he would turn like that..."
Just then, flashbacks suddenly occurred to Mirajane's mind.
...
"Ah," said Laxus, delighted. "So you are the only one who passed? I'm kinda pleased to see you here, beautiful."
Mirajane knew no better than to ignore the blonde's usual remarks. Being the man he is, this did not bother her at all. What ticked her off was how to find a strategy to get past through him and be an S-class mage. Yes, Laxus just happened to be the final battle stage opponent.
"Shall we begin?" asked Mira dryly.
Laxus smirked. Oh, his mind. His dirty mind. "Begin what?"
Mirajane's cheeks turned into deep scarlet. Has she mentioned he's quite hot? Damn this blondie. Damn his perfectly sculptured chest and back.
Wait-what?
...
"Perhaps he is a powerful wizard, but the one inside him is just as weak as a new-born kitten."
Erza can't help but feel sorry for the eldest Strauss. Of all people, why love a big jerk in the first place? Does being blonde count?
"But can we please let him be for now? Like what Master did?"
Oh.
"But," there was seriousness in Erza's voice. "do you want to be with him before he really leaves?"
Mirajane made a face that even the intelligent Titania could not understand. Was she sad? Regretful for being with him? For not doing anything to change his mind? What? And then it hit them both-
"Yes," said Mira. "I do want to." For the slightest bit, Erza smiled but then, quickly withdrew when her friend looked down. "But how can I? I don't even know where the hell he is."
Oh, sadness... why?
"Maybe you should be out for some moment," insisted Erza. She then placed a reassuring palm on her right shoulder. "I'll get Kinana to take over your shift. Might as well do it myself." She winked. "And oh, I'll inform Elfman as well."
"Erza... t-tha-" The scarlet-haired woman who used to duke things out with her, enveloped her in a big, tight hug. "I know." Smiles and all, yeah. That should work.
The guild sure is amazing because of its facilities. But what made it more amusing was that it leads to an easy, open access to the sea just behind it! And as adviced by Erza, Mirajane now walked along the sand, leaving trails of her tiny feet.
It was almost dusk-just almost. She decided to be there because first-it is in fact near to the guild and second-the sea calmed her. When she was young, she used to go there and celebrate humble life events alone, like her birthday (she alotted two hours for herself every year, on her birthday), dates related to her parents, triumphs, and sometimes, sad happenings, frustrations, and heartaches. The sea somehow was her diary, a friend that she never had.
She went there all by herself. She never let anyone to be there with her. Not even he was allowed. She never even insisted for her siblings to come. No, she didn't want anyone to disrupt her. And now there she was again, still, all by herself, feeling the cold wind brush through her platinum hair and caress her soft, pearl skin. It was another painful day when she went there. Damn that blondie.
Blondie.
That Laxus...
Damn him and his nonsense reasonings.
Damn him because he went like that and never even bothered to say a word.
Damn him for just leaving her without notice.
"SCREW HIM!" Those words just had to be yelled out. Screw him, right.
Screw him and his beautiful face...
Screw him and those eyes...
Screw him and-
"Screw who?"
A gruff voice called after her words. But who could have been there when everyone else in the guild is just busy like bees...
Or it could just be someone who isn't there anymore...
She was sure the voice was not Elfman's... or Makarov's. Not Freed's or Bickslow's. No...
It could not be...
"Am I still talking to a stone or what?"
Of course, it was the great dragon.
Mirajane turned around to see an all-patched up blonde lightning mage slugging a big training bag on his left shoulder. His surprise appearance somehow made her smile and, err, blush. She noticed that almost all of his upper body was bandaged. Well, he was heavily damaged after all...
She brushed aside strands of her silvery white hair to see more of the man's face, for the last time, perhaps?
"Laxus," she called out. "W-what are you doing here?"
Grunt.
"Will you please stop being a jerk for just the time being?" That made Laxus chuckle. At least. And then he sighed.
"I thought I would be a little dramatic over here but I guess you wanted to do the production first."
It's not like very "Laxus" to give in so easily. Telling his real intentions is rare, mind you. Usually it would cost 100,000 jewels before you could squeeze the truth from the man but right now...
Laxus shortened the distance between him and the lady he surprised, his signature smirk ghosting in his lips like the usual. Like Mira, he, too, left trails of his feet on the sand, as if it was a requiem when walking there. And so they were kinda close-close enough to hear each other without screaming their heads off. So intimate...
Mira let out a comfortable yet anxious sigh. What the hell was this man doing here? And why here? Screw him.
The blonde cleared his throat. "I just thought of revisiting the places I used to go to when I was still a member." He smiled-a real, warm one. "Am I forbidden to set foot even on this lovely beach?"
The white-haired lady wasn't sure how to react to Laxus's sudden warming up. Heck, he sure is warm to her, but to share happy intentions to her is what she found difficult to provide reaction to.
Oh, damn.
At a time like this Mirajane Strauss would set aside the awkwardness by smiling. But now was differenet. She was silent for about 8 seconds, going 9, 10-
"Why are you not talking? Still a stone?" Laxus blurted out.
Once again, Mira sighed, unsure of what to tell the man.
But she spoke anyway.
"I'm not just sure how to react to this... whole thing with you being all kind and good seven days ago, then going wild child and colonial recently, and then being the defeated guy you turn so warm all of a sudden and-"
"I don't need to hear more of your accusations," he said, sadly. "Really. I've heard enough. From everyone in this town. From some people in the guild. So please..."
Pain.
There was a hint of pain in Laxus's words. And for the record this was the first time he begged for something. Boy, he sure was surprising Mirajane at this moment...
Silence.
They were silent for a moment. No one dared to speak. No one dared to open a mouth to say something. They only stared at the open sea, just the two of them in a serene moment. Perhaps in this way they could enjoy every bit of it, for it could also be the last. l
Thump.
Laxus felt two frail arms enveloping his huge frame. Mira now clung on his body. She hugged him with all her strength. She embraced him for-perhaps-the last time. Laxus remained still, not wanting to disrupt the intimate contact of his skin with hers. And then he remembered that he wasn't wearing any shirt underneath his fur coat, so technically, despite being wrapped in thick bandages, he is naked and could still feel Mira's soft skin against his. Boy, his reaction to this sent shivers to his spine. Yes, having Mirajane Strauss-Fairy Tail's number one pinup girl-hug you sure can make you want to claim her yours dirtily, but having this Mirajane Strauss-the all worried, caring, loving girl she is-Laxus was left vulnerable.
He then gathered his arms to hug her too. With his huge body Mirajane looked merely like a stick, but it did not matter. Not at all. He rested his chin on her white crown, stayed like that for a bit. She did not have any violent reactions about his gesture. It was, in fact, soothing.
Face now resting on his chest, Mira mumbled something like "I wish you did not go astray."
Hearing these words from the only woman he loved was purely achy, but he'd be lying if he said she was not right. "I wish, too."
Still caught in his arms, Mira spoke. "Where are you going now?"
He sighed. "I don't know," he paused. "I don't know yet, actually. It feels weird because I am always out on jobs in different cities and I know where to go, but now, I just feel so lost."
"How about staying with us-"
"Hush, Mirajane," he interrupted her. "No, I won't stay with you and your manly brother."
"Come on, Laxus-"
"I'm sorry, but I just can't. Gramps will go nuts."
"And if he doesn't find out?"
"Mira," his voice husky. "I can't. It's too risky and... and..."
"And what, dragon?"
Dragon.
It's been a while since she called him that. Who would have thought that someone would be worthy to give the great Laxus Dreyar a pet name?
"...I would find it hard to let go of the things that keep me coming back to this stupid guild that I once went home to," he chuckled and smiled. "Hey, it's been so long with the pet name, Demon."
The demon and the dragon. How sadistic.
"Is this really you, Laxus?" Out of nowhere Mira managed to ask. Now, this made Laxus himself laugh. Also, this made him move to a sway, as if dancing Mira.
"Of course it's me, silly."
"Okay," and then she pressed herself against the man, lovingly, and rocked along with his swaying movement. This should be memorable, she thought.
"Will you be watching the parade tonight?" she asked.
"I'll see," he said.
"Well," she spoke. "You better be there, because I'm using my magic... again."
Mira somehow gained little benefit from Laxus's games. She awoke her sleeping demons during the battle, right?
"So you're the real Demon Mirajane again, huh?" He teased.
"I have always been, idiot."
Idiot? Laxus? YES! And there they were, dancing, but not apart from the hug. It was now totally dark-evening has set. Mira then remembered that they still have-
"Fantasia!" She snapped and detached herself from Laxus.
"Yeah, that flowery parade."
"I have to go back now!"
"Then head back."
"But..." she was sad. She really was. Going back to the guild meant leaving him now.
"Go now, you have to shine there," Laxus teased. "But remember to wear a dress that doesn't expose much of your skin. Those old perv-"
Before Laxus could finish his words, Mira tiptoed and pulled on his neck and dragged him lower, and crashed her pale lips on his dry ones. Yes, they were kissing, just as soon as the blonde was aware that the woman was the first to kiss, not him. The kiss gradually became aggresive, then they just found themselves wanting domination as their tongues fought for control. For the last time, Mira thought, because I might not see him again. Forever. Not as optimistic as Freed and she hoped she was.
Then their lips parted, and both of them heavily panted. That was just a kiss! Nothing more, nothing less but a kiss, alright? And yet that was enough to make them feel the need...
"I-I have to get going now, Laxus," though painful, Mira had to be the one to put an end to this surprise visit. She knew Laxus wouldn't.
So he sighed and said, "Fine. I'll just be in the streets, eyeing you." He smirked at this.
"I'll feel your eyes burning on me eventually, I know." Mira gathered herself together. "So..."
"This is good bye now?" Blondie asked. He managed to grab Mira by the waist and darted his emerald eyes on her sapphire orbs. Sapphire. Blue. The color of the sea. The color of the sky.
"Perhaps by just looking at the sea and sky, I'll be reminded of you," he smiled.
"Now you're being poetic, dragon," she teased. "But as much as I want to hear your poems right now I do have a bar to manage and a guild to tame. I'll see you around, I guess?" She bit her lip.
"So you're a guild tamer now? Okay. I'll see you around, then."
She pecked him on the lips once more, one last time, and headed for the guild.
Watching Mira free from his grasp, slowly walk away from him was not something Laxus enjoyed. He was readying himself to follow, but then he was hit by the fact the he can't. Not anymore.
And so it hit him once more. The whole taking-over-Fairy-Tail thing led to his exile, and exile means leaving the guild, and leaving the guild means moving away from Mira.
"I shouldn't have..."
Still feeling the gloom, Laxus decided to carry on and head for the streets of Magnolia. He swore now to himself that no matter how bashful people will be when he reached town, he wouldn't give a shit. Mirajane. He would see his Demon.