Here's the second chapter. As you can guess from the previous chapter, the story will be focus on Gajeel and Levy.

All the editing credits goes to my lovely beta reader, nalufever ^^

May you enjoy this chapter as well :D

Miyuu

II - I Want to be Your Friend

"If I'm not wrong, it happened during one of the annual events of Magnolia, the Hanami Festival," said Mavis, beginning the story. "In Magnolia we have some annual events that are celebrated in diverse ways. The Hanami Festival is when all of us, the citizens of Magnolia, gather around the blooming Rainbow Sakuras and party while waiting for the trees to glow." Rainbow Sakuras were one of Magnolia's most famous trademarks; being cherry trees that would glow in all colours of the rainbow during the evening. "Around six years ago, the Mayor of Magnolia, began to start a new tradition for this event. To use flowers to say whatever you want to someone during the Hanami Festival. The festival itself will be held for a month, while the trees bloom."

Lucy recalled the saying, that if someone gave flowers to another person under the big Rainbow Sakura, your feelings would come true.

"Even though at that time we had just opened, because of the event, our flowers were sold out fast. Especially flowers that convey love's feeling like red roses and tulips. It was on the last day of the festival that Levy came to the flower shop…"

Five years ago

"Excuse me…"

Levy McGarden, a petite woman with blue hair, pushed slowly on the glass door of the flower shop. She had walked around Magnolia, in hopes of buying a bouquet of flowers or even a solitary flower would do. And this new place, Fairy Heart - as she read the plaque in front of the shop - it was the last place that she hoped would still have flowers to be sold to her. She remembered Natsu mentioned this particular shop when he delivered the new books to her last week.

Levy's mind was a mess. She couldn't understand why Gajeel had asked her to go to see the big Rainbow Sakura on the last day of the Hanami Festival which was today. Everyone knew because of the tradition that started last year, the place was a famous place to confess one's feelings.

Did Gajeel want to confess to her? But that's impossible, they barely knew each other. She was in a slump because of the recent accident she'd had when they met for the first time. Two weeks before, she was almost hit by a big motorbike after leaving the library late at night. Even though she didn't get hit by the motorbike, she had twisted her ankle; that in the end had forced her to rest at home for a week. The jerk on the motorbike didn't even stop to look at her, the-almost-victim of hit and run; instead just ran away, leaving an injured Levy behind. Two weeks after the incident, Levy's ankle was almost healed but she was told by her doctor not to strain her ankle too much for the time being. Walking was okay, but when you have to manage a library that was humongous by yourself… it was hard for her not to groan. Even though there were Droy and Jet who helped her from time to time, still, it was not the same. That's when Natsu came to the library to deliver new books with a stranger, which was Gajeel.

Natsu was one of Levy's friends that would regularly help her with deliveries of new books from other cities to be filled in the library. He'd told her that he would come today but he never mentioned that he would also bring a friend. Not to mention that the extra person was this… scary. The scary looking man just looked around the library while folding his arms, leaving all the work to Natsu. But when she wanted to help Natsu to move the boxes filled with new books, suddenly the box that she intended to lift was gone from her hands. Levy saw it was in Gajeel's arms now. The man then asked with his deep rough voice where she wanted the box to be put. She didn't believe at first that the scary looking man had talked to her, but after her surprise, she told him where she wanted the books to be put. And after that, Gajeel didn't talk anymore, instead he moved the rest of the boxes to where Levy told him. 'What a strange, scary looking man.' That was her first impression of Gajeel.

When Levy asked Natsu who the man was, he told her his name and that Gajeel was his acquaintance; nakama (comrade). Levy didn't try to ask more about the man. If he was Natsu's friend then she would not think bad things of Gajeel, however scary he looked. At first Levy didn't want to get involved with Gajeel. His looks were quite intimidating and she was known as a goody-two-shoes. Her circle of friends didn't have someone like Gajeel - which in her opinion was a bad guy, based solely on his appearance. But she would try not to judge a book by its cover, however rough and scary the cover was.

But odd things started to happen. When Levy closed the library that night, that same day, she found Gajeel leaning outside against the large lamp post nearest the building. It was quite late because Levy had been too engaged reading the new books that she forgot about the time. When she realized, she was surprised how late it had become. She closed the library in a hurry, after putting a bookmark in the book. She was fumbling at her bag to check for her keys when she saw the man. At first she didn't recognize Gajeel, but after seeing the piercings on his face (Gajeel had more piercings than anyone Levy had ever met before) and after seeing the long unruly black hair, she recognized him and walked slowly to him.

"Gajeel-san?" asked Levy in a timid voice. "What are you doing here?" The street around the library was empty, except the two of them and some feral wandering cats.

"Salamander asked me to walk you home."

"Salamander…?" Salamander was the name of Natsu's workplace, which own by himself. "You mean Natsu?"

"He heard you had an accident not too long ago. He has some business to do tonight and asked me to walk you home. He told me that because you just received new books, you'd be too busy reading and forget about going home on time."

Levy's cheeks blushed a little at the mention of her habit. "I see," said Levy, then she stared at Gajeel, uneasy."Are you okay with this? I mean we just met each other today and we don't know much about each other."

"D'you mean yer afraid, scared of me?" Gajeel asked Levy, bluntly.

"I-It's not like that!" Even though there's this tiny part of her that does feel that way, but really that wasn't the real reason. She didn't want to trouble anyone, not to mention someone that she barely knew. "I-I admit that you are not someone that I would get acquainted with on a regular basis and if not because of Natsu, I wouldn't be brave enough to know someone as scary looking as you."

"Figures," snorted Gajeel.

"But that's not the case here!" exclaimed Levy, her words echoing in the empty street. "I don't like to trouble anybody. And we've just met this morning. It's strange for me. That's all."

"Really?" asked Gajeel, not believing Levy.

"It would be strange if I didn't feel that way," said Levy meeting Gajeel's eyes for the first time that night.

They stared at each other, assessing the reactions from each other.

"So, you don't want me to walk you home," said Gajeel in the end. Before Levy could reply, the man had turned and walked away.

"WAIT!" Without her realizing it, Levy chased after Gajeel and grabbed his wrist. "I didn't say that I don't want you to walk me home. I just said that it's strange for you to walk me home despite we barely known each other."

Gajeel stopped and turned to face Levy again. "So?"

"So… let's go home."

Levy didn't remember how the walk had turned out. But when she was safely tucked into her room, she felt like she was dreaming. What was that? Did she really just walk home with such a scary looking man? And why did she stop him when he turned to walk away from her? Was it her imagination when she saw a sad expression cross Gajeel's face when he said that she didn't want for him to walk her home? She had many questions. Later, the questions swirled inside her mind, almost made her restless in her sleep. Almost.

Levy thought that Gajeel would only walk her home that one time, but the next day, and the next after, even until now, Gajeel always walked her home. She thought that Natsu had asked Gajeel to walk her home because of her recent accident. After a month went by and the guy was still walking her home, she asked Natsu about it when he came to deliver more new books. Natsu told her that he never asked Gajeel to walk her home.

For some reason, Levy didn't want to disturb their somewhat friendly atmosphere. That's why she didn't ask Gajeel about why he still walked her home. Even though she felt awkward and uncomfortable with Gajeel at first, she had to admit that when they were together, it was not bad. In fact, she was safe from worries and because of Gajeel's appearance, no one dared to bother them. They would walk silently in comfort or sometimes Levy would start a conversation.

It had been six months since they started, of Gajeel walking Levy home. They even had dinner (in a fast food restaurant) together several times. In the afternoon they were both busy with their own work; Gajeel was a mechanic in a garage. Levy was the one that would instigate questions first and from then they would exchange questions.

If someone asked about her relationship with Gajeel, she would say that they were friends… even though she also confused where their relationship stood. Then, yesterday, when Gajeel walked her home, he asked her if she wanted to go with him to see Rainbow Sakura. And not only that, he also asked to meet under the biggest Rainbow Sakura, a place that was the place to confess one's feelings.

That was the first time Gajeel had ever asked her to go to same place with him. When they had dinner together, Levy was the one that always suggested if he wanted to eat together. The man was surprisingly reserved for someone with such an intimidating look. His way of speaking was gruff yes, but not his actions. He was also not good with literature and books which was Levy's expertise, but when the topic was his interest, he could be very chatty like her when she talked about the books that interested her. That was the biggest factor why she accepted his offer to meet. She didn't want to turn down his first invitation to her. She had a feeling that if she turned down this one request, the man would never - ever initiate something like this again.

But why would Gajeel ask to meet under the big Rainbow Sakura? There were many places with blooming Rainbow Sakura if they just wanted to see the flowers, it being Sakura season after all. She got back to her first question; did he want to confess something to her? But what? She doubted it would be a love confession. Their relationship wasn't like that. They were friends… or were they? Or... what?

Levy decided to use this time to make their relationship clear. Make it official; they were friends. Spending six months with Gajeel made her want to know him better. And what better way to know someone, than make them a friend? With determination, Levy searched Magnolia to buy a flower that would convey her feeling of wanting to become a friend to the mechanic - as the previous year's tradition of using flower to convey one's feelings had begun.

"Excuse me," said Levy after she fully entered the flower shop.

"Can we help you?" A voice answered Levy from her left. She saw a scarlet haired woman with a flowery apron approach her. "Welcome to Fairy Heart. Are you looking for flowers for a confession?"

"I-I do. NO! I mean I don't… Not that confession, no." Levy stumbled over her words. She just wanted to tell Gajeel to be friends with her- NOT to ask to be his lover. Yes, it's a confession, but NOT that confession. But the woman's question had settled her own intentions towards Gajeel. Levy blushed a deep red.

"Oh goodness, I will be making a confession!" Levy squatted to the ground, the strength was gone from her legs; her heart was beating faster than ever but she felt weak.

The scarlet haired woman helped Levy to her feet and brought her inside the store. There were two other women in the room and they looked in confusion at their co-worker.

"She just realized that she will make a confession and lost her strength when she fully realized that fact," said the first woman to the other florists of Fairy Heart. Levy was seated in a chair and when she realized where she was, the silvery white haired woman was offering her a cup of tea.

"I'm Mira; drink this. It's your time. We'll wait until you're calm." Mira pointed to the red head, "This is Erza,-" and then pointed to the petite woman with long blonde hair, "-she's Mavis."

"Thanks," said Levy. She took the cup and sipped the warm tea. She sighed and her shoulders relaxed as she began to feel the effect of the chamomile tea.

"Can you tell us of why you were reacting like that?" Erza asked Levy. Levy looked to the three women. For whatever reason she had a hunch they could help with her 'situation'. Before she realized, she spilled her story and the complicated situation between her and Gajeel.

"Even if it's just a confession of me wanting to be a friend to him I feel that it's very personal. If he says that he could never see me as his friend and doesn't want to be one… I know I will burst into tears on the spot. Well, not literally but when I'm alone in my room that's the first thing I'll do." Levy ended her story to the three attentively listening women in a sad and resigned tone.

Erza, Mirajane and Mavis exchanged a serious look before they nodded, silently in agreement. After that, Erza and Mirajane disappeared into the shop, leaving Mavis and Levy alone in the room.

"You want flower that can convey- tell that you enjoy his company and also that say you want to become friends with this Gajeel," Mavis concluded.

"Yes," Levy agreed. "I want to use the tradition that started last year during the Hanami Festival, conveying my feelings using flowers. Because, to be honest, I just can't speak openly to him directly… I'm not that brave."

"Well then, we have a perfect bouquet arrangement for you!" Mavis clapped her hands happily.

"Really? Your shop was my last hope. The other flower shops said they were out of flowers."

"Well, I understand why the other flower shop are out of stock. Today's the last day of the Hanami Festival. And with the new tradition of using flower to convey feelings, it's really no wonder their stocks were sold out fast. And as for us, we're just been open for a week. Even though there are some that are buying from us, the season is nearing the end, so we still have some flowers to be sold."

"And you have really saved me. Thanks."

"The customer's happiness is our happiness too… No. We are happy to help anyone with our flowers, whenever they need it." Mavis smiled warmly at Levy and the tension Levy felt earlier melted away.

"Here's the bouquet," said Mira as she walked into the room. In her hand was a very beautiful collection of yellow roses and white chrysanthemums.

"It's very pretty…" said Levy mesmerized. She received the bouquet from Mira, eyes locked on the flowers. "What's the meaning of this bouquet?"

"Yellow roses symbolize friendship. Giving someone a yellow rose means that you are offering a friendship to that person. The chrysanthemum represents joy. You mentioned before that you enjoy what you have with Gajeel. This is a perfect combination for what you want to tell him. Also, a white chrysanthemum is a symbol of loyalty. Your genuine and pure feeling that want to be with him will be clearly delivered. It has another meaning, but I guess that information will be revealed in the near future," Mira explained. Levy wanted to ask Mira about the other meaning of the flower but then she decided not to. She thought that any beautiful flowers like the ones in her hand must not have a bad meaning.

Then Erza came to the room with a pen and small gift card, giving both items to Levy. "Write your message on this card. I doubt that Gajeel knows the meaning behind the bouquet. You still have to write your message to make it clear." Levy accepted the pen and note and nodded.

"Even though it's just a confession you want to be friends with him, a confession is still a confession. Don't think that your feelings of wanting to be a friend is lesser than someone that confess their love to another. Loving someone as a friend is also a kind of love. Write your message with the hope that he will receive your feelings. The flowers will also help you to convey your feelings. So, ganbatte!" said Mavis, encouraging Levy.

When Levy exited the flower shop she was ready to meet Gajeel. She turned to look behind and saw that Erza, Mavis, and Mira were sending her encouragement through the window of the shop. She waved goodbye and left to meet Gajeel.

'Off we go!'

Levy walked to the Rainbow Sakura, the bouquet clutched tight in her arms. She was nervous and her heart was pounding rather fast. When she arrived, she saw Gajeel standing under the big tree alone. No other pairs or couples were in sight. 'It was really the end of the season. No one is around to confess anymore.'

Gajeel noticed her and nodded his head, an indication that he had seen her. Levy slowly walked to Gajeel and stopped about a three steps away from the man.

"Hi."

"Yeah."

"How long have you been waiting?"

"Not long, just arrived."

"I see."

A gentle wind scattered Sakura petals around their feet.

"Those flowers… are they for me?" Gajeel couldn't help but see the large bouquet in Levy's hands.

"Hm, yeah," said Levy shyly. "I-I know that this is not your thing! But I want to tell you something by giving you these flowers. You know, about the tradition that started a year ago, of giving someone flowers to convey feelings. That's why I have them."

"What? You want to confess to me?"

"NO!" Levy's cheeks turned crimson. "Not that confession! I mean, it is some kind of confession, but NOT that confession…" She hid her face with the bouquet. This was really embarrassing! Oh, Kami-sama, she shouldn't have brought flowers for Gajeel. Now that she thought about it again, he was not the kind of person that would be happy to receive flowers - from anyone. What was she thinking of giving him flowers?! 'I want to find a hole and hide myself in there!'

"Levy, I want to tell you something," said Gajeel solemnly. "After you hear what I want to say, you can tell me whatever you want to say… and if you still want to give me those flowers ."

In the six months Levy had spent getting acquainted with Gajeel, the man never called her by her given name. He always called her shrimp, a nickname that he had given her. She had protested once, demanding Gajeel use her proper name, but the man just smirked and said that he would only use her name when the time was right. He kept his word and never called her Levy - not until now.

Hearing Gajeel use her name, Levy focused all her attention back to the tall man. "What it is?"

"I was the one that hit you six months ago."

"...What?" All colour drained from Levy's face. Never she had been this shocked in her entire life.

"You were in an accident six month ago, weren't you? A big motorbike almost hit you one night near the library. The one that driving that motorbike was me."

Levy didn't know what Gajeel wanted to tell her, but she wasn't prepared to hear about this, this big revelation! She gazed at Gajeel unblinking, her mind processing Gajeel's words slowly. Then something clicked.

"Then, that time, when Natsu came with you for the first time…"

"I already knew it was you, you're the one that I almost hit with my bike. I wanted to make amends for my mistake. That's why I insisted on tagging along when Salamander wanted to deliver your new books. I told him that I wanted to go to the library. At first he didn't want to let me to join, but I told him about the real reason. I didn't know you well enough to apologize, and I didn't know how else I could approach you without scaring you away. All this time he always bitching at me to tell you the truth... I still feel really guilty for almost hitting you back then."

"How can you know that it was me that you almost hit?" Levy remembered, at the time of the accident, the street was quite dark because the street lamp was broken. Maybe that's why Gajeel didn't see her walking and when he did see her, it was too late for him to stop. Even though he tried his best to avoid her, the street was too narrow for his big motorbike to turn and make a sudden stop that in the end almost hit Levy.

"You saved my life once."

"What?" Another revelation for Levy. Would he stop surprising her? "I've met you before? When did this happen?"

"Two years ago around this time, I quit my gang, Phantom Lord. Jose, the boss, was not happy with me to say the least. That sorry ass still has other henchmen doing his underhanded bidding, but he's upset to lose even one thug," explained Gajeel. "I decided to turn over a new leaf and not get involved in any other shady business, ever again. Just a day after I quit, his men ganged up on me and had beaten me to a pulp. It's not that I'm not strong enough to beat them- but I don't want to be involved with them anymore." Gajeel looked up at the Rainbow Sakura. "I was leaning on this big tree and thought that my life was shit. Everyone that I knew was someone that always took advantage of me or had some kind of motive for doing something. I was fed-up with that world. Someone I know almost become a victim because of this, that's partly why I decided to quit. But before I was given any chance to have a new life, I was beaten and they also took all my money. I almost gave up trying to get another chance on life and thought that my hope to turn over a new leaf would just only be a dream... That's when you popped up."

"...We met here? Under this tree?"

"I was injured because of the beating. My eyes were swollen and they cut my hair. I understand if you don't recognize me. Looking in the mirror then, I barely could recognize myself."

Levy tried to remember the event that Gajeel talked about. And then she thought of something. Her eyes widened. "Edward?" Levy had called Gajeel Edward back then because the man wouldn't tell her his name and his hair cut reminded her of the character in one of her favorite films, but minus the scissorhands.

"I am," confirmed Gajeel. "You didn't know who I was but you still treated my injury; you're the first person that helped me freely without wanting something in return. Your genuine concern and care gave me the courage to believe that there are still good people in this world - and if I look hard enough, I can also find them. And thanks to you, I am what I am now."

"I-I don't think I did much back then. I just helped a person in need. That's all." Levy could feel her cheeks redden again because of Gajeel's praise.

"You really have no idea how much your kindness influenced me," said Gajeel. "There's no way I could forget you or what you did for me. And when I saw you that night, if it weren't for Lily, I would rather get in an accident with my bike then harm you."

"Who's Lily?"

"It's… my cat. Lily is the short for Pantherlily."

"So, you almost hit me because you carried your cat back then?"

"I was in a hurry to get to the vet. Someone had poisoned him and because I returned late that day, when I saw him, his body was already weak. The street that you walked that night was a shortcut to the vet."

Levy knew there was a veterinarian named Lisanna with a small practice on the block of the street where the accident happened. If Gajeel wanted to lie, he could have spun any wild reason at all. Who could have guessed he was a cat lover?

"After I rushed Lily to the vet, I went back to where I left you. But you were already gone. I did some research after you helped me dressing my wound, and I knew that you worked as a librarian in the Magnolia Library. I wanted to go and say sorry. I had intended to pay for your hospital bill if it was serious. But… I doubted you wanted to see me, especially since I almost hit you. The day Salamander wanted to deliver new books to the library was the day he took his car from the workshop. That's how I joined him and went to the library to meet you."

Gajeel stopped his explanation and stared directly at Levy's brown eyes. "The reason that I asked you to see the Rainbow Sakura with me is to tell you this story. I know that this place is famous for confessions. And that is my confession to you; I'm the one that almost killed you."

Levy stared back at Gajeel's red eyes, her face unreadable. "Is that all you want to tell me?"

"That's all."

The two stared unblinking for seconds that felt like minutes. Then, Levy walked towards Gajeel. She approached slowly, determination shining in her eyes. "You said that you will listen to whatever I say after you spoke. So, now is my turn to say something to you." Levy inhaled and let out a loud exhale. "I want you to become my friend. And I will not take no for an answer." Levy offered the flower bouquet to Gajeel.

Gajeel kept his hands in his pockets and looked at Levy confused. "Why?"

"My words were clear enough. I want to be your friend."

"I-"

"I heard your explanation already and that's my answer if you're seeking my forgiveness still." Levy cut off whatever Gajeel wanted to say. "It's my way to say I forgive you, by becoming your friend and lets put our past behind. And let me repeat again, I will not take no for an answer." A small smile spread on Levy's lips. "About the accident, it wasn't like you wanted to harm me. It was an accident. I'm not that petty to hold a grudge for something that was unintentional. I really want to become your friend, Gajeel. I want to get to know you better as a friend. I really enjoyed these past six months that I spent with you. Please don't take my happiness by saying that you don't want to become my friend."

Gajeel took the flowers from Levy, fishing the card from the bouquet and read: 'I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND,' written in capitals. "You're really forgiving you know."

"Well, that's one of my good points if I may say. It's not bad to have that kind of person as your friend, you know." Levy winked at Gajeel.

Gajeel snorted but then his lips turned up in a big grin. "Weren't we friends before?"

"To be honest, I don't know what kind of relationship we had before. That's why I want to make it official, that you and I are friends."

"How old are we? Do you have to say it out loud if you want to become friends with someone?" asked Gajeel, amused.

"I blame you for our vague relationship, sir. You're too quiet for a scary looking person. I can't suddenly ask you what kind of relationship that we have, can I? That's way too awkward for my liking."

"Whatever floats your boat, shrimp."

"THAT! Don't ever call me that again! My name is Levy and you have to say it correctly!" Levy yelled at Gajeel; annoyed, both hands on her waist. This man was really infuriating!

"...Do you really want me to use your name?" asked Gajeel in a serious tone of voice.

"Yes."

Suddenly Gajeel pulled Levy into his arms, arms locked around Levy's waist and leaned his face near to Levy.

"Ga-Gajeel?!" stuttered Levy, conscious with how near their faces were. Her hands were flailing, didn't know where she should touch him.

"Levy," said Gajeel, only above a whisper.

Levy's heartbeat was pounding fast, threatening to leave her chest. "Wh-What…?"

"I'm gonna do something. And just push me hard if you don't like it. I'll get the message." Gajeel closed ther gap and kissed Levy on the lips. Levy's eyes widened. The man started to move and their kiss turned from a peck to a full on make-out. In the midst of the kissing, Levy's shock subsided and she began to enjoy the kiss. Her hands crept around Gajeel's body.

'Kami-sama…'

Gajeel pulled back and looked at Levy who was blushing hotly. "I've fallen for you since you helped me a year ago. I didn't realize the feeling that I have was love, not until the night that I almost hit you. I really panicked when I saw it was you I'd almost hit. I'd kill myself, really, if anything happened to you. I call you shrimp because if I use your name, I can't suppress the feelings that started to grow inside me. That's why I told myself that if I ever used your name, that would be the time I tell you the truth. About the accident and about my feelings as well. So,-" Gajeel tightened his arms around Levy's waist, "-what's your answer?"

"I'm not too sure myself to be honest," said Levy moving her hands on Gajeel's broad chest. "I want to be your friend. That's it… but that's just the beginning. You've offered me more than I ever considered. And… I can't say that I don't like it."

She liked Gajeel, yes. Did she love him? She guessed she had to find out if her feelings were strong enough to be love. But she knew one thing - her feelings for Gajeel were pure and she was willing to find out more.

"Is that a yes?"

"Kiss me and I'll tell you my answer later."

With a wide smirk, Gajeel swept Levy off her feet and gave her a passionate kiss. They were very unaware of three pairs of eyes looking at them from under cover of a smaller group of Sakura trees, not far from where they were.

"I was right to add white chrysanthemum to the bouquet!" said one of the owners of the three pairs of eyes. "Their love is devoted towards each other, even if they haven't realized it themselves."

"Their story is very sweet! Ahhh! I love this kind of love story!" said another voice, stars in their eyes.

The last person nodded her head in agreement. "It's great that we helped them." The other two also nodded their heads with delight.

Yellow roses - friendship. Chrysanthemum - joy and a white chrysanthemum meant that your feeling were genuine and pure… Also, it declared devoted love; a love that was obviously shared between Gajeel and Levy.

To be continued