The next morning I make breakfast for my teammate. Pancakes, and bacon with a side of seasonal berries. Both Klaudeous and Shadow, trudge into the kitchen. Shadow sits on the counter top leaning against the fridge, slowly falling back asleep while Klaudeous actually falls asleep at the table. I set a plate of food in front of him and run my hands through his abnormally soft hair which wakes him.
"Thank you for breakfast" he yawns, rubbing his eyes.
"You're welcome. It's the least I can do after crashing on your couch."
"We're a team. You can crash here anytime." he flashes a toothy smile and digs in.

At the guild hall, I head straight to Master Makarov with a concern of mine. I walk into his office without knocking and sit down. Makarov keeps his eyes closed as he waits for me to say what's on my mind. It takes me a full five minutes before I can speak.
"I might have killed his brother..." Makarov finally opens his eyes. His gaze is calm and collected as he waits for me to finish. "Oh god. What if I did? He'll hate me!"
"My child. You do not know for sure that his brother is the boy. If he is, then tell him. The longer you wait the more pain you'll be in. It's time for you to come to terms with your past." I shake my head. I don't want to remember I just want to forget. Standing, I leave his office and go to the bar. Mira sees me frustrated and tries to cheer me up but to no avail. Despite it being early, I drown my sorrow in liquor.

"That's my girl! Drink like there's no tomorrow!" Cana drunkenly slips an arm around me shoving another bottle in my hand. I hiccup and take the bottle.

"Today...is shit...hiccup" I chug the new bottle until it's contents are empty and throw it across the room nearly hitting Laxus. The thunder dragon glares at me then Cana then Mira and walks away. Mira waves over Klaudeous telling him to take me home. He hoist me over his shoulder as I protest and try to wiggle free.

"You're drunk. The only thing you're doing to drinking some water and going to sleep" there's no room for debate in his voice.

I kick and hit his back as hard as I can. "Shadow! I'm being kidnapped! Let me go you beautiful eyed freak."

Shadow giggles and continues eating fish with Pantherlily, waving goodbye to us. Klaudeous runs home setting me on his bed. "You stay put. I'll get you some water"

"Never. Why don't you go to sleep and I'll sneak out." I say leaning to my right side but not fully tipping over "I'm not even drunk!"

Klaudeous comes back with some water. "You are very drunk and can't even sit up straight. Tell me, do you know where you are?"

"I'm at the guild hall of course what kind of question is that? Mira! Where's my...oh hey a drink!" I take the water and down half before spitting it out. "This is water you suck!"

My teammate chuckles and lays me back on the bed once I start to yawn. My hand reaches out to grab his before he leaves. We lock eyes for a moment and his face turns red. I laugh weakly and fall asleep. Klaudeous sits next to me setting the glass on the nightstand. He brushes my hair out of my face. "You have no idea how beautiful you are Nakita Myr.

My head is pounding. Like it's pounding very hard. Sitting up in the bed I notice a some water and a pill on the nightstand. A note next to it read, "In case you have a headache. Dinner is in the fridge. Shadow and I took up a last minute quest so I'll be home late." Well so much for leaving. I down the pill and walk out the room. I notice that he has many photos of nature and his family. I take my time browsing through each one carefully until one photo in particular. Klaudeous is standing next to a younger boy who looks alarmingly like him...and the boy I killed. I back away from the photo as if it was cursed. Just before the tears fall, the door opens and Shadow cries out.

"We're home!"

"Did you miss us? I hope you weren't awake for too long." Klaudeous comes over to me and sees me staring at the photo. "Yeah that's Leo. I swear one day I'll find the person who killed him and kill that person with my bare hands.

Now I really can't tell him. "What if you find that person and they apologize. And they're very sorry for what they did?"

"Bullshit. I don't care how sorry they are. A thousand apologizes will never bring him back! I want to watch the life drain from his eyes as I strangle him. They took something precious to me, I'm simply returning the favor."

The looks in his eyes and his matter-of-fact tone of voice tell me he's not kidding. He can never know. But I have to tell him one day regardless of how I feel. He stalks off to the kitchen and opens the fridge. He tells me that he'll heat my food up for me and join me for dinner. The three of us eat on the couch and then wash dishes. Back on the couch both Klaudeous and I read some books while Shadow sleep. As I read, I can't help but think how he'll react when he finds out. I close my eyes attempting to push the bad thoughts away and end up falling asleep.

Two Months Later*

"Naki! Do a book quest with me please?" Levvy McGarden jogs over to me with her arms full of books.

I look up from the ancient text I was reading to study her. "Sure. I'll let Klaud know. Are you delivering those books?" I ask inclining my head.

"Oh no I'm heading to the guild library first to put these away. Want to come with? I could use the help."

I nod and follow her to the library still reading my book. She actually has more stacks of books on the library floor when we enter. Knowing I won't be able to read I close my book to help the Solid Script mage. First we sort the the books by subject. There's many historical texts along with political and enchanted texts. To my surprise we create about four very massive different piles.

An hour later the two of us have paused to read over the last manuscript she has. The manuscript tells of a lost, ancient blood line that once rules over Fiore. Intrigued, we keep reading feeling the magic roll of the text in waves.

Suddenly, Levvy sits up with a smug look on her face. "So, what's the deal with you and Klaudeous?"

I don't bother looking up from the text to answer her. "Nothing. We're just friends."

"Right... 'friends'. Have you seen the way he looks at you? Ever since you guys became a team, he's been very flirty."

Yes I've seen that look in those stormy eyes. "No I haven't. Also he's not flirting, he's just being nice"

"Really? Just being nice? I don't think so."

"Levvy." I snap. "I can never be more than friends with Klaudeous. I promised myself."

She falls quiet and quickly changes the subject to the quest we should have already left for. It's a simple pick up and deliver quest: more books. As we leave the library, I catch the faint smell of Klaudeous in one of the aisles. Outside, I see him talking to Warren so my mind is a bit at ease. Waving him over I ask if he want to go with Levvy and I but he declines saying it should be a girls trip. I wave goodbye and follow Levvy out the guildhall.

I'm very thankful that we don't have to take the train for this mission for it's just some ways outside of town. The walk itself is about 30 minutes as we come upon a quaint little house that's covered in vines. A kind old lady wearing a long red dress and matching shawl invites us in. Her eyes stay closed and her smile never falters as she offers us tea that we respectfully decline. She points with her cane to two big bags that are full of books. Levvy takes the smaller looking bag while I take the bigger one. Each bag has an address on them; one goes to the Cathedral while the other goes to a house. We wave goodbye to the kind lady, telling her we'll be back soon.

The walk back to Magnolia is a lot slower than before. We split up once we get into town to save more time. I realize that the house I'm delivering to is way across town making me thankful Levvy conjured a cart for me. As I walk, I pass the South Gate Park running into Shadow. Eventually, I double back to cut through it to save time. Luckily for me the house I'm looking for is down the street from the park. Ringing the doorbell, a younger woman opens the door holding a rambunctious toddler. She looks confused at first but when I show her the books her face light up. She let's me in instructing me to set the books down by a wall to wall bookshelf. Her collection of books out does Klaudeous but not Levvy. I wave goodbye making my way to the edge of town where Levvy waits for me.

Back at the old lady's house, she offers us a small amount of gold and two books each. Satisfied, we take our leave and start walking home. Halfway home, some figures come out of the tress surrounding us. I take note of the crossing knives guild mark on one of the guys shoulder and freeze. It's the Red Mist! I stand protectively in front of Levvy as a tall figure steps forward. His long, red hair resembles that of the blood he draws from all his victims. His piercing blue eyes reflect nothing but death and malice. He is the last person I'd ever hoped to see.

"Long time no see beautiful. Whatcha been up to?" His friendly tone does not match the murderous look on his face.

"Erik...how- how did you find me?" His name rolls of my tongue like acid.

"Now now my lovely, you know I'd never give you up. You are mine after all. Though it's been an arduous two years I've finally found you."

Levvy gets closer to me and whispers, "Who are they? How do they know you?"

I ignore her questions. My first priority is her safety and keeping my past a secret. "Shadow take Levvy out of here" My exceed doesn't ask any questions as she flies away with Levvy, her shouting at me as she goes.

"Wow. Well that was rude, you didn't introduce us." Erik laughs. "My my Naki, you truly are something else"

Without warning he creates a dome of air around my head, sucking the air out of me. I gasp, trying to create a golem, or even uproot a tree root to save myself or attack. Right before I pass out he ends his torment and I'm left on the ground gasping.

"Now, you know what happens next. You will come back with us. The boss has some words for you"

Still gasping, I barely get the next words out of my mouth. "Wait...give me...six months."

"Six months? For what?"

I rack my mind to make a logical excuse. "If I leave now, my guild will come after me, especially since Levvy has no doubt told the others what's happening right now. I'll meet you here in six months. I promise I'll be here Erik. I've never broken my promises to you."

He contemplates my proposal. "Three months. If you're not here or you think about running away, I'll burn everything you have ever loved."

Before I could respond, him and the rest of his group are teleported away. What have I done?