The second day of the grand magic games ended in a blur. Team Natsu squeezed out of the bustling spectators out of the arena.
"Let's grab something to eat!" Breathed Natsu when they finally made it out. His pink hair ruffled by the cat nestling his head. "Where did iceboy ran off to anyway?"
"Dunno. He disappeared all of a sudden" Said Lucy rubbing her behind as she emerged from the crowd. "Perverts." She muttered dryly under her breath "Food sounds good, I think I'll come."
"Great! I'm so hungry I can eat a dragon!" Boasted the pink-haired boy "Stop looking so upset Lucy!"
"Aye! Fish! Fish! Yeah! Cheer up Lucy!" Happy Exclaimed.
"Somebody just grabbed me there! Why won't I be?" The blonde retorted.
Wendy and Erza stood watching the two pester the celestial mage.
"C'mon! C'mon!" Natsu and Happy said in unison yanking Lucy towards the street.
"Err. Just don't go causing any trouble!" Scolded the blonde girl panicking. "Wendy? Erza?" She called.
Wendy nodded and looked at the red-haired mage thoughtfully.
"You guys go ahead. I think I'll take a stroll." Erza responded smiling warmly at the little girl.
Time flew as people came across to and fro from everywhere. Erza wandered idly around the shops left and right. Looking absent-mindedly at anything that caught her eye. A few more strides and she decided to head "home"
I'm being followed
xxxx
I lost her. The shady figured sighed stepping into the dark alley way.
It was never that easy to follow someone around especially with the way he looked. All hooded and mysterious. People tend to gawk and shoot suspicious glances at him. So tough. Has it always been like this? He grinned at the private joke.
"Oh well. It's getting dark anyway. Maybe next time." He fumed kicking the stray can in his way.
"Next time what?" A voice came from behind.
The hooded man whirled around as excitement flooded him and even more surprised when the sword's edge met his throat. Sharp. She noticed after all.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" The girl snarled at him making every word more pronounced.
Ooh. Dead end. He thought thrilled.
"You can take back your sword now." He said.
Relying on the only unimpaired sense at the moment, the girl lowered her sword confused taking a few steps back.
"Jellal?" She mused.
THUD. The girl tripped and on reflex, the hooded man caught her by the wrist breaking the fall.
"Thank you." She uttered regaining her balance.
"Fierce. And clumsy as always Erza." He remarked with a grin, finally taking off his hood, his marked face now visible, partially at least, blame the lack of light for that but he was somehow thankful.
It was late and the only source of light available are the ones coming from the moon. Jellal could hardly make out the features of his object of attention except of course for the latter's scarlet tresses. She made quite a name out of it, not only because of her prominent streak but also of the many successful missions accomplished her color came in tact with. She would still be known as Scarlet even if she was of a different name.
Very relaxed without armor these days. Could the reason possibly be because-?
Thoughts died down as his sight wandered around her face taking notice at those deep brown eyes staring back with unspoken questions or was that look rather intrigued? Heat flooded his face and he swore he could hear his heartbeat double or even triple its pace. Without a second thought the hooded man felt his body move involuntarily forward allowing less space to come between them.
This would be the closest I could get. It would make her very uncomfortable now.
He marveled at his stupor stopping midway at his attempt, taking hold of the girl's arm instead. Was the action teasing or was it reckless? Why was he indifferent all so suddenly? He came to know one thing, why did his determination waver now? A sudden pang of guilt jolted in him. Is it because of making the girl uncomfortable or was it because he's taking the information he needed with deceit? His inner self grimaced as he sent unvoiced apologies to the girl.
xxxx
