One year has passed. One year since the death of my home. One year since the east gate. But only a year since the green guild mark on my right breast has been exchanged for a blue gaudy one. And one year since I've heard any word of the man who walked out of the east gate alone...
I pour clear vodka into the dainty evening glasses on a tray, it looked awfully like the rain as I pour...Brutish laughter filled the air as well as cat calls from our...Patrons. But I've been at the job a while now. It is all white noise. Coconut liquor tops up the glasses and I swirl in the sauce with drops of ice. Eve's personal contribution. It has been so long since that night...Weeks after, that memory in front of the east gate replays in my mind like an old song. I would wonder in my sleep how far east my friend has gone or if he is no longer going east. But soon the Weeks stretch into months and I would wonder less and less between jobs and bartending. But I never stop completely. I balance the tray on one hand and glide over to the table of my enthusiastic patrons.
"The green beauty has brought us our dues boys!" A small man with globs of spit and lashings of gray speckling his thin beard eyed my body.
"Six white Russians for our beloved clients" I smile sultry like and lean down dangerously low to distribute the drinks. I hate this. I hate how they eye my breasts like they are entitled to them. I hate how I must act like an object to be held like a prize. But this job has also been good to us. Bob, Hibiki, Ren, Eve and even Jenny have done their part to make us feel at home. I hate how we are all objects but we are also treated with some level of respect. Jenny, me and Freed are often the ones making the rounds. Asking what our clients would have to slack their thirst and what job they would like us to do when they depart. Bickslow had the unfortunate ability to scare our clients rather than appear elegant and beautiful. He gratefully resigned to the kitchens and after hours jobs. Laxus is like an idol with Hibiki and his companions. They do nothing but look pretty and stand there. I can't tell what Laxus thinks about that. "You know just how to pour them sweetheart" the old man leaned in close to me. To close.
"My name is Evergreen, sweetheart" I lean up and spin the tray in my hand. "I think you should like to remember that".
The old man raised his hands. I wanted to break them. "What ever the beauty Evergreen desires" he winked and began to slurp the drink with spit splattering his beard. His eyes never left mine and the wet booming laugh of his friends tainted my ears. I left before I did something I regret. Not all clients are bad. Some are good and polite. Others are bashful and shy and make me laugh when I slink in close enough to see their blush. I passed a few of these clients and slyly pulled drink orders from them as I took their empty glasses. It's good work and not everything is taking drinks-
The ceiling groaned above us and what sounded like a giant banged it's fists against the roof. The glasses on my tray shook and I immediately looked to Laxus who stared at the roof in silent judgement. As the noise subsided he blinked twice and then looked at me. It's just thunder, is what that look told me. I am used to thunder. And then the rain began. Rain, wind and thunder lashed against the bright colourful building in it's personal attack. "It's just rain" I say to some of the disturbed patrons. "Just rain..." And then I remember again. The man that walked east. How the sky cried for him. Is it crying for him now? I shake my head. The sky is not alive and has never lived. I for some reason felt angry thinking that. The bar was in front of me again. And a golden bottle of tequila on the bench. I don't know who put it there. But I know clients would want some heavy stuff as much as I do anyway. I just begin to tip the bottle into square glasses when he turned up.
"Evergreen dear" Hibiki approached and picked up a ripe lemon. "How are you? You look a little...tense".
"I'm fine" I watch him carefully as he began to elegantly slice the lemon into wedges.
"Not the thunder?" He smiled. A bright flash filled the air and clients gasped and muttered between each other ominously. "Or the lightning?" My look was enough to answer that question. "Well I'm not surprised. But whatever is bothering you it may pay to lighten up. You have a patron".
"I'm a little busy at the moment" I mutter between tight lips.
"That's fine. Freed will continue your service to our clients".
"Then why can't Freed serve this patron?" I know I'm letting my frustration show. But as the rain drummed against the roof it also drummed against my head.
"This one is partial to women" Hibiki is being all charm but I know he may start to bite soon.
"Aren't they all?" I snap and dust the rims of the glasses with salt.
He laughed in what would be an alluring way if I was interested. Reaching across he placed the lemon wedges along the tray in circles of the tequila shots. "Look. Take the bottle with you. And once the client has offered you the job once refreshed, take the rest of the night off. I don't think you could handle the rest of the night after these" he smiled and waved his hands over the two square glasses.
I'm not about to pass up a night off. Especially with this rain. "Fine" the tequila bottle caught the moody light as I picked up the tray and balanced it on top. "But I'm taking the bottle for the night too".
"It's on the house. And table two by the door" he said to my back.
Table two is more or less the table clients go to if they don't want to be disturbed. And normally it's a singles table. That's perfectly fine with me, I don't want to deal with anyone actually. It became quieter as I approached the booth. Not many clients have ventured this close to the door this evening. It must be the weather. "I didn't think anyone would be here". I flinched and nearly dropped my tray. The sky is crying tonight. Why did I remember...I can almost smell soot in the air. "Excuse me Miss...". I jolt in shock and found myself standing in front of table two. My feet must have moved forward as my mind stuck itself in the past. A wet huddled woman sat hunched in the corner of the booth. Trying to leech off some warmth from the plush cushions. She was a pretty young thing. In a common way I suppose. "I..I am your client tonight".
Well polished words pranced off my tongue before my mind could catch up. "Well that certainly makes my night serving someone as lovely as you" I smile smoothly and sat myself on the edge of the table. I placed the tequila down and wink. "It's so rare to see a woman who looks ravishing after being caught in the rain" she blushed madly and I sigh on the inside. I've served women before. It isn't as common as men and honestly I would prefer a guy in front of me right now. Women are harder to figure out for me. I suppose it is evident in the company I keep. "Warm yourself up with one of these" I pass a glass over to her with a lemon wedge and take one in my hand. The drink is gone is seconds for me, the sour sting of lemon drowning any tequila left in my mouth. She however, was nervous and didn't quite bite the lemon in time.
"Ah! That's foul!"
"Just wait for it to kick in" I purr. I'm certainly waiting. I could still hear the rain, I can almost feel it creeping into my lungs once more. If I close my eyes... I shake my head. I have a client right now. I must think about that later. And I certainly will. I may wish and wish and wish that I don't lay awake at night and think about where he is or if he is okay. But I always do in the end. I'm no liar. Small flirtatious talk with this woman comes easy. More shots even easier. It's a pleasant distraction. It seems she is getting better too. The more she takes the more relaxed she is and the more she lets herself cut loose around me. After her third one however...That's when our situation reversed.
"Oh you're so glad you never came here from where I did! The rain was pounding" she slumped on one arm and smiled crookedly with glazed eyes and flushed cheeks.
"And where was 'here' sweets?" I pour another shot for myself but hold it delicately in my hand instead of drinking.
"A dumb dour place. A really pretty lady like you would hate it!" she giggled and I managed a smile. "It is some small town to the east..."
The glass nearly fell from my hands. "The...The east". Suddenly I heard the rain again. When did I stop hearing it?
"Yeah the east...The south is much more interesting though. Where did you come from?".
East...I shake my head and glance at the girl sitting at the table. "North...". She came from the east. Did she see...I blink my eyes and I see it again. That look he gave me. His sad, angry and vacant eyes looking into mine with something else...
"-Nothing but woodsmen over there". She must have been saying something. How long was she speaking? I found myself saying something before I botch this.
"Woodsman huh? I've heard that they can be very comely. Is there any female woodsman?" My voice sounded high pitched even to me.
"No..." she sighed forlornly. "I wish there was".
"Say..Darling?" I lean forward and slide her my shot. "Have you seen anyone unusual coming south?".
"Unusual?" she downs the glass and didn't even bother squeezing a lemon into her mouth. Not a good sign...
"Yes. He may stand out from the rest of the men" rain pummeled down on the roof and thunder made the roof and my head creak. I blink and those blue turned gray eyes are looking at me again, with rain water running over and down them.
"Unusual..." she hummed absentmindedly and spun the glass on the table. I wanted to pick it up and throw it at the wall. "Was this man your talking about really tall?"
"Yes yes!" I lean forward. I felt my skin prickle and saw those eyes again in the girl in front of me. Sad and vacant. "He-he had white hair and blue eyes!"
She clapped her hands and laughed at me with uncontrollable glee. I wanted to slap her mouth shut. "That's the one!" she giggled "I saw him passing through my village! He didn't stay long though-"
"Is he all right?!" I blurt out and grab her hands.
"Alright? What do you mean alright?" she giggled lucidly but then she caught the look in my eyes. And then nervousness crept into her eyes and she tried to tug her hands away from mine. I am not relenting however. "A-alright? Well, well. It is so long ago I can't quite remember. Can you let go-"
"Try!" I snap. The anger and violence in my voice nearly makes me shiver.
"H-he looked...He looked" she paused and moved her jaw around in circles. I felt her hands begin to shake. "S-sad. But more than that, or less really..."
"Less? What do you mean less?" I growl.
"H-he looked hollow. Expressionless and emotionless. But y-you could always tell he had be hurt badly. H-he didn't speak much. He looked lonely. Really really lonely-" the woman jerked forward as I stand up. "What where are you going?!"
But I had abandoned her with her shots of courage. I heard the rain. I felt it drumming down all around me as I nearly run past clients. It was everywhere and the smell of soot drifted cloyingly down my nose. "Evergreen, where are you-". It is Hibiki. But when I looked at him he didn't have his eyes. He had dark gray ones both sad angry and vacant. Why did you go east?! Why couldn't you just stay here?! I was behind the bar again and rushing out to the back of the kitchens.
"Hey, what are you doing Ever-" I think I heard Bickslow. But I didn't stop running until I was outside. And then the sky's tears began to drown me amidst the thunder. Why did you go...?
It is no longer raining. And the woman soaked in rain and tequila has been long gone. Hibiki and Bob are giving me less bar tending shifts and more after hours work. To think I scared the woman that much...Sometimes I still see his eyes. When I blink. When I see someone tall. Someone with white hair. Someone with blue eyes...I see them now. Looking at an old parchment for a job. It's an old wanted poster. It isn't his face, but even in the rough sketches I see his eyes in place of the drawings. They both look sad so it didn't take my mind much for the charcoal pupils to turn gray and look at me with some unexplained look. I wish it would stop. I wish I never saw Elfman at the east gate. But that's a lie. And I'm not a liar. I'm not sure if I'm glad I saw him but I feel like I would regret not seeing him at all. I just wish it would end. I go to throw the paper in the bin when Freed turned into the kitchen.
"We have very good news" he even had a slight smile on his face. It must be good.
"What's so good eh? I sigh and tap my fingers in my chin.
"Fairy Tail is getting back together. Everyone is coming back". The hands fell from my face and I felt as if my legs nearly collapsed too. They are coming back..."Ever? Ever are you alright?" Freed took my arm and steadied me. "You look like you are about to collapse!"
"I'm fine..." I mutter. Is that a lie? They are coming back...They are all coming back. But then I look up and I'm not fine again. I look up and Freed's jade eyes are dark gray, a mixture of sad, angry and vacant at the same time. Are all of them coming back?
Twenty apples sat in front of me on the bench, all different colours and sizes. I pick up a plump green one and begin to peel it with a thin blade. It's been not long since Freed told me that Fairy Tail is returning from the dead. But even so I have asked for more after hours work and behind the kitchen jobs. I just can't be out there...that woman caught in the rain. She saw him far to the east. How can everyone be coming back if he is so deep in the east? There are nineteen apples left. When did I finish peeling the first? I pick up a second apple. A red scrawny one where I could peel it in two cuts with my blade. I take my time and drag the edge across the skin. Why did you go east? Why when everyone else is coming together...? Are you no longer east? Was that old news that woman told me? There are seventeen apples left. I don't remember picking up the third. Are you with them now? Are you finally with your sisters?
"I thought it would be best for them if I wasn't around. They agreed in their own way. Though they tried to cover it up" I can still hear how he laughed after he said that. I didn't sound like a laugh at all.
"Ever" a different voice. A calm and almost warm voice. Laxus.
"Hi Laxus" I felt calmer. His presence always calms me even in a storm. I kept my eyes on my work. I didn't want to see his golden bright eyes replaced with vacant deep gray.
He is quiet for a long time, just content watching me work. Until I got to the fifth apple. "Are you happy do that work?"
"Happy has nothing to do with it" I reply and place the apple in the bowl. Four to go.
"Content then?"
"That's a good word" I toss an apple in the air and he catches it sharply. He bites into but refuses to look like he is enjoying it. "Not that I don't enjoy your silent company...But why are you here?"
"I thought you would like to know some news".
"I always like some good gossip" I reply and inspect the second to last apple before I start to peel.
"You wouldn't know that. Not by the way you stay back here" I felt him step closer. I felt uncomfortable. Not because of him but because of what he is getting at. "After that night where you bolted from your lesbian girl you've never been the same. Why is that? You've never reacted that way to other chicks before".
"It was just a bad night. The rain put me off" I heard the tightness in my tone. They way I was carefully choosing some answers.
"Never in all the years we have worked with each other have you been put off by some rain" Laxus came around and sat on my bench. I felt his eyes on me but I refused to meet them. The blade of the knife began to cut away the apple. "Fairy tail is coming here". My hand jerked in shock and the blade slipped off the skin of the apple and bit deeply into my thumb.
"Shit!" I swore and threw the knife down. Blood flowed out of my thumb like a bloated river and dripped ominously on the half peeled apple. Laxus made no attempts to help me but watched me with burning scrutiny the bored through my skin. The knife slipped. My hand jerked when he said that damn sentence. "So they are coming here are they?" I hiss and press a tea towel into my thumb almost bruisingly.
"Yup. The old idiots are back again". I couldn't help but look at him now. His eyes never turned gray but they looked gold and fierce as he stared at me. "Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Erza the whole pack of asses. Even the bitches Mira and Lisanna".
I waited for that last name. For that one I was always looking out for. But he never said a single word and just stared at me. "Is that it?"
"Is there someone else you're expecting" he said sharply.
I froze. Does he know? "I don't know what you are talking about" I immediately looked away and furiously bandage my thumb.
"I know you Ever. I know you don't get all caught up on something for no reason. And I noticed..." he picked up the bloody apple and rinsed it under the tap. "That I left someone's name out in particular" he took a bite of the now clean apple. I felt heat try to creep up my cheeks and no matter how much I turned away from Laxus I felt like he could just see right through me. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Is there? I felt it creep up my chest. I felt his deep gray eyes looking at me Every time I shut my eyes. I felt that vacant and sad look. And then I told him. "You didn't see him that night..."my shoulders slumped and I dropped my bleeding hand. "When we stood out that gate. He wasn't him" I rest my forehead on my good hand. "He went east by himself. Even his sisters didn't want to go with him. They don't even know where he is". I felt some tightness in my chest and it just seemed to get worse under Laxus's intimidating glare. "I know what being alone like that does to a person. And with the frame of mind he was in..." I puff out some air and glared at the apple peels tossed aside. "What do you think he will do?" I didn't wait for an answer. "He destroyed the home of everyone he cares about to save his sisters. And then he leaves to go east and it looks like no one cares about what happens to him. Including Mirajane and Lisanna, who he practically sold his soul to save".
"I wouldn't say no one cares about him" a softer voice said. I turn sharply and Freed smiled at me next to Bickslow who is oddly sober standing in the doorway. "I think someone right here cares very much".
"You are right about that" Laxus jumped off the bench and patted my shoulder. "I for one am not happy that he isn't coming either. So who will go with Ever?"
"What?-"
"I will go" Freed stepped forward.
"Wait!" I shout and jump to my feet. "What do you mean going with me?"
"Well considering that his sisters would rather come here then even bother to find out where he is let alone if he is all right. It seems that the only people to give a damn's us" Laxus turned to me. "And I'm not 'content'..." he rolled his eyes at me. "...Leaving Elfman alone either". The tightness in my chest began to fade and I gape at Laxus. Gray eyes flashed for a fraction of a second but I am no longer scared of them. I am hopeful.
"You are really letting me do this?"
"You are letting you do this" He grasped me by the shoulders. His golden familiar eyes lifted my fallen heart and he filled me trust I feel when I am around the Raijinshuu. They are my family. "Freed. Go with Ever" he said. "Go as far east as you have to and find him. Find him and bring him back home. I don't care if it takes you two years to do this. Find him".
Find him...
Tink tink tink. Something pattered on the window pane of the kitchens. And as I turned the first smatterings of rain began to dance along the crystal clear surface.
Bring him home...
Our preparation was short. Our goodbye even shorter. It matters not to me, I know I will see them again. As me and Freed stepped out the door of Blue Pegasus I looked to the sky and felt the rain on my face. How far east have you gone? I thought as the rain speckled my glasses. Far east no doubt. As far as his feet would carry him. I guess I am going to find out. We took our first steps down The Eastward Boulevard and we never looked back.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It is a slightly different writing style for me and I am really enjoying in.
Lots of love.
San-of-the-forest.