The girl stood at the edge of the woods, red hair streaming out in the wind. For a moment, it seemed she would never move. The wind whipped furiously around her, but she remained still. Her thoughts wandered back to the day, back when he had left her for dead. His image haunted her, kept her awake some nights.
"Jellal..." She whispered into the wind.
Sighing, Erza requipped into her usual Heart Kreuz armor and forced a smile onto her face as she approached the guild. Gray, shirtless as usual, glanced at her before returning to his bicker with Natsu.
"Natsu, I know I'm stronger than you."
"Liar, icy freak!"
Erza stopped, looking at them with an amused grin slowly spreading across her face. Gray felt her gaze, and slid his eyes over to check on his suspicions. Moments after, Natsu stopped talking long enough to notice who exactly Gray was staring at.
"Oh, Erza! Didn't see you! Gray and I are best friends, aren't we, ice buddy?"
He happily grabbed Gray's hand, laughing and making merry. Erza shook her head, leaving it be. She knew the truth, and it wasn't about to change. Of course, there was one truth that would always be a mystery to her, a truth that involved a certain young man with blue hair.
"Erza."
A vaguely familiar voice spoke her name, and she turned to see who it was. Oddly enough, no one was there. Another time, the voice said her name, and again she saw no one there. Gritting her teeth and shaking her head to clear it, she stormed into the guild with less of an effort to look happy.
"Erza, no need to break the guild down."
"Sorry, Master. I just have things... on my mind."
The minute man just opened one eye lazily at her and muttered something. She smiled sadly, tearing a sheet from the job board and breezing out of the guild hall. A quick requip switched her to the simpler Robes of Yuen, a more flexible fit. Once outside though, she bumped into someone hurrying to get inside the guild, noting that it was a familiar someone.
"Erza!"
"J-jellal." She reeled.
He noticed the tone of her voice, and his face fell. A quick sigh, and he was pulling her into the shadows of the woods. She followed, but only from a loss of words and surprise at his sudden appearance.
"Jellal, what are you-?"
"Shush. Just follow me."
She somewhat angrily shut her mouth, but made up her mind to ask him every question as soon as they stopped. Once in the safety and comfort of the trees, Jellal stopped and caught his breath, allowing Erza the opportunity to do the same.
"Erza, I have news."
"Yes, and explaining to do. Last time I saw you, the military was taking you to prison."
"About that... I was broken out by some... friends."
"And they would be?"
Erza glared at him, making him drop his gaze.
"Ultear and Meredy." He admitted sadly.
"W-what?!"
"It's true. We did, but for what we hope is a good enough reason."
Erza said nothing, only raising an eyebrow skeptically. Although her heart ached at every mention of Jellal's name, her law abiding side was protesting this latest act.
"We, the three of us, decided to form a guild to find and eliminate dark guilds in Fiore. It is a way to partially make up for our sins in the past."
Ultear met her fiery gaze coolly, and waited for her reaction. Erza chewed on her lip, mulling over the prospect of the new independent guild. It seemed like a good idea, yet there was something else bothering her.
"Alright, you made a guild. But why tell only me?"
"Because," Jellal looked up from his seated position on a fallen log. "I have regained my memories."
At this, the red-haired mage let a small gasp escape her lips. His memories of all of the things he had done to her, all of the things he had gone through with her...
"But I thought-"
"I know, but at the time I didn't realize that not all of my memories had come back. When I regained the second half of my memories, I remembered the first time I had met you. Your bright hair, Scarlet."
"Jellal, I..."
"I remembered how we always stuck up for each other, and then I remembered that day I sent you away."
A forlorn look entered his eyes, and Erza closed her eyes. This news was troubling indeed, but in a different way from anything else on her mind. The feelings she had buried resurfaced, and a tear formed at the corner of her eye. Unknown to the two of them, Ultear had led Meredy away, giving them privacy and intimacy.
"Erza, don't cry. Please, I'll find a way to make things work."
"That's what you said at the tower, idiot. I was a fool to trust you then, and I would be a fool to trust you now."
As she said those words, she instantly knew they were false. Instinct told her that Jellal was dangerous, but her heart was telling her Jellal was safe, a haven for her love. But was it actually love? More tears brimmed on her lashes, having no chance to fall, for Jellal wiped them away.
"I know I made mistakes and messed up really bad, but can you forgive me one last time? Just one more time, I promise."
She couldn't say anything through the sobs that shook her body. Jellal waited, and she slowly began calming her grief. He cautiously embraced her, folding her slight frame into his arms.
"Please?" He tried one more time.
"One last time, you fool. After that..."
"I know. I'm sorry, Erza. I'll make it good this time."
The two of them stood there, hugging, until she finally broke away, averting her gaze.
"I understand if you never want to speak to me again. No hard feelings."
She nodded, but didn't confirm or deny his theories. A last shuddering sigh pierced the lonely silence between them, and she walked slowly out of the woods.