Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back to my side series. When last we left, tragedy and drama had struck the lives of Zilar and Mimi alike. Culminating in Zilar's temporary leave from the guild in order to "find himself". Let us see what time has dealt our two protagonists.
It was a quiet and droll afternoon. Mimi was lying in bed reading the latest issue of Sorcerers Weekly. She was looking through an article on beauty tips when there was a knock at her door. She set down the magazine and got up out of bed. She walked over to the mirror in her room and quickly looked over herself.
"Hope he likes it," she said reassuringly to herself. She quickly walked downstairs to answer the door. When she opened it, she saw Hibiki standing there looking bright as ever.
"Hey Mimi," he greeted her, "ready to go?"
"Sure am," she answered. She locked the door and turned back to him. They shared a warm kiss and began walking down the road. It had been several months since Zilar left Magnolia and while Mimi was still far from 100%, she was finding it easier to cope with life without him. Much due to Hibiki lending her his love and support in the troubling times. Today Mimi wanted to go out shopping for some new clothes and Hibiki had decided to join her.
"Male or female, I do have a way with fashion," he smiled.
"I'm sure you do, hon," she giggled. They soon arrived to a small boutique and Mimi began browsing around. She looked through their selection of capris and skirts with Hibiki providing a constructive second opinion.
"How about this," he said. In his hand was a cute light blue sweater. While Mimi did like the look of it, for some reason she was apprehensive about the garment.
"Oh, I don't know. Blue's not quite my color," she said.
"Come on now, I'm sure it'll look great on you," he replied. His sweet smile helped sell it so Mimi smiled back and agreed to try it on. She secured herself and her chosen clothing in a changing room. When she took the sweater, she realized what had made her not so sure about it. The sweater was perhaps a shade or two different than Zilar's old sleeveless coat. She had to admit, there were times over the past few months where she found or saw something which sparked her memory of him. It was beginning to happen less and less, but she couldn't help but be reminded by the blue sweater in her hands. She gently put the sweater up to her face as though to comfort herself.
"I wonder where he is right now," she thought. She looked out a small window in the changing room and saw clouds formed around the mountain range far off on the horizon.
"I wonder if he's..."
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Rain poured down on the now muddy road of a small yet bustling mountain town. People and carriages passed by with great frequency. And on the side of the road, sitting against the wall of a small shop and being pelted endlessly by the rain, was a man in a dark gray hooded cloak. The cloak he wore was now heavily mucked with dirt and grime. As a carriage drove by particularly close to him, he was washed over with dirty ground water. It didn't faze him however. He sat, perfectly still, as the rain ran down the tip of his hood and falling in a steady stream in his lap.
"Hey, what are you doing there?" A man in a navy blue raincoat and gold badge walked up to the man. It appeared to be one of the local town police officers.
"Loitering is prohibited here, you grisly old hermit," the officer said. The man paid him no mind.
"Hey, did you here me, punk," the officer grabbed the man up on to his feet and tore back his hood.
"I said get lost!" The officer threw the man out into the road. The man fell unceremoniously to his hand and knees, splattering only more mud across his face. The officer moved along with his patrol. The man wiped away the muck from his face, revealing sky blue eyes beneath. His hair, now visible without his hood, was silver like the shining lining between the two sides of a cloud. The man was none other than Zilar Enlil of the guild Fairy Tail, or at least he resembled that man. In the past months, Zilar had become a depressed shadow of the man he used to be. His hair far more messy and disheveled than it had ever been. His eyes losing a bit of their sunny day look they had before. His cheeks, jaw, and chin had now a layer of silver stubble from not shaving. Zilar stood up to see a small, humble inn before him. He slowly and wobbly walked in and to the front counter. The innkeeper, a hunched elderly man, looked at the distraught mage with mild surprise.
"Room for 1 I expect?" He asked. Zilar did not answer him. He simply nodded gently in affirmation.
"Uh, right then, that'll be 350 Jewel for the night." The man held out his hand for a moment, but no money filled it.
"I apologize, but I do not have enough money for the room. I have been a little down on my luck as of late. I will find someplace else. Thank you for your time," Zilar bowed his head and turned back for the door.
"Wait a minute," the old man exclaimed. Zilar turned back to him. The old man could see the look of sorrow in Zilar's face. Perhaps it was old age or maybe just human sympathy, but he had to take some pity on him.
"Look...you give me 150 Jewel and maybe you can help me around the inn and we'll call it a deal, how about that," the old man said. Zilar gave the smallest ghost of a smile and paid the old man. The old man led him up to his room and gave him the key.
"If you need anything, just holler," the old man said. Zilar nodded once more and closed the door behind him. He set his satchel down in a chair and laid down on the bed. He could hardly bare to recollect the events of the past few months. He quickly dozed off to sleep.
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After Mimi was finished shopping, she invited Hibiki over to her house.
"Are you sure it's alright that I spend the night," Hibiki asked.
"It's fine, it's fine," she answered. "Besides, I could really use the company." They walked back to her house, ordered Chinese, and sat on the couch watching TV and cuddling. Around 11, they decided to turn in for the night.
"Hey, is it alright if I use your shower. I kinda always shower before bed. Helps me sleep a little," Hibiki said bashfuly.
"Sure, no problem. Bathroom's right there," she giggled. Hibiki walked into the bathroom and shut the door. After a minute or two, the water started running. Mimi lied down in her bed thinking for a little while. She was still having thoughts about what Zilar might've been doing up until now. She didn't know where in the mountains his parents lived. Nor did she know where his supposed spirit journey would take him. He could be on the other side of Fiore for all she knew.
"I guess I can't blame him," she thought to herself sulkingly. "I would wanna get as far away from me as possible, too." Just then, Hibiki stepped out of the bathroom. He was only wearing some boxers, to which Mimi blushed rather brightly.
"I'm really sorry about this," he said earnestly. "Is there anything I could put on?"
"Oh, there might still be an old t-shirt in one of those drawers," she replied. Hibiki searched for a moment and found a white t-shirt to put on.
"It's just a little big on me, but it'll do. Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," she said. But the t-shirt he was wearing was formerly Zilar's. Mimi took it one day and wore it and never gave it back, which is why Zilar didn't take it with him when he left.
"Could you get the lights," she asked.
"Sure." Hibiki reached over and switched off the lamp. It was now dark in the room and the two were asking more into bed. Hibiki spoke through the darkness.
"Hey Mimi?"
"Yeah?"
"I've told you how beautiful you are, right?"
"Oh stop it," Mimi said playfully. The two gave each other a quick kiss. But soon they kissed again. And again. And again. Hibiki gently pulled Mimi on top of him and Mimi wrapped her arms around his neck. The two kissed more and Hibiki began slowly rubbing his hands down her back. Mimi was beginning to get into the mood, though a few things felt off. The way Hibiki felt was different. His muscles were leaner than Zilar's and his body wasn't as big. But what troubled her most is that she could still manage to smell the tiniest trace of Zilar on the t-shirt Hibiki wore. She quickly began remembering all the tender moments she had shared with him.
"H-Hibiki...n-no, wait...stop," she muttered. She began pushing herself away from him and he quickly let go.
"I-I'm really sorry, did I do something wrong?" He asked.
"N-N-No, nothing like that. It's just," Mimi began, "I'm not as into it as I thought I was. I'm so sorry."
"Right," Hibiki said with an understanding smile. "Maybe it'd be best if I'd go." He began to get up.
"No!" Mimi grabbed his wrist, stopping him from leaving. "...P-Please, stay here...with me...this bed...it's been so cold recently...too cold..." Hibiki smiled once more and softly stroked her cheek.
"Of course I'll stay," he said. They both settled down under the blanket and Hibiki pulled Mimi close in to his chest. While she still felt something was wrong, this was the safest and warmest Mimi had felt in months.
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Morning struck and soon Zilar was up and ready to pay back his debt to the old man who had housed him despite his lacking money. The old man, who's name was Jed, told Zilar he could begin by serving the other inn patrons breakfast. Zilar quickly scarfed down his own food and then began waiting customers and delivering their meals. Afterwards, Zilar was put on dish duty. The chores thankfully ended there for the time being. Jed wanted Zilar to help re-shingle the roof of the inn, but granted Zilar a few hours to himself. The ground was still soft and muddy from the rain the night before, but the sun was out now and the old mountain town had an antique shine about it. Zilar indulged himself looking in shop windows and watching children play in the streets. But soon it was time to return to the inn for yet more labor. He and Jed sat on the roof replacing all the shingles. They talked and laughed a great deal as the sun began setting over the purple-hued mountain tops. As supper-time came around, Zilar was once again put in the dinning room. After a long days work, Jed and Zilar sat together at the bar and poured themselves a drink.
"You done a fine job today, Zilar," Jed complimented.
"Thank you," he answered. "It was the least I could do after all that you have done."
"But speaking of jobs...I was actually thinking of offering you one," Jed said. "It's normally just me running this old place, so I could use a new set of young, sturdy hands like yours helping me out. And this time around, I can pay you; 50 Jewel a day. Now it's not the biggest paycheck, sure. But it's honest work and I'd say you could probably use any money you could get." Zilar stared in awe for a moment. He then smiled warmly and gently laughed to himself.
"It would appear so," he said. "Very well, it would be an honor and a pleasure working with you, sir."
"No need for the 'sir'," Jed said grabbing his tankard of ale. "Jed is just fine by me. So how about a toast, to my new running buddy." Zilar took his own tankard and clunked it with Jed's.
"Here here," Zilar said. They both took a long swig and slammed down their drinks. They laughed a moment more when they heard the front door open. Zilar turned to see two women standing there at the doorway. One had dark purple hair and wore a stern expression. She wore a white, military-like outfit and carried a sheathed katana at her hip. The other had brown hair with a queer hairstyle making parts stick up like cat ears. She had whisker-like markings on her face and looked in far greater spirits than her associate. What she wore was...not very much at all to be perfectly frank. A black hooded cloak, but underneath and clearly visible a brassiere with pink paw marks with matching panties which were gartered to a pair of black and purple stockings. But Zilar did recognize them; Kagura and Millianna of the all-female guild, Mermaid Heel.
"Excuse me, our carriage broke down a little ways outside of town and it will be a few days until it is properly repaired," Kagura spoke in a polite, yet firm manner. "We would like a room here until further notice." Jed tapped Zilar on the shoulder and Zilar looked back at him.
"How about you take these two up to their room and then you can call it a night. Not sure if my old heart could handle dealing with such lovely ladies as them." Jed jokingly nudged Zilar in the arm and Zilar laughed in return. Jed got up from the bar and left to his room while Zilar approached the young women.
"That will be two rooms or one," Zilar asked.
"One will suffice," Kagura promptly answered.
"That will be 400 Jewel then if you please," Zilar said. Kagura quickly counted her money and handed it to Zilar.
"Thank you. If you two would follow me," Zilar said. He took their two traveling bags and escorted them to their room. As Zilar lifted up one bag, his sleeve rose up revealing his guild mark. Millianna noticed this.
"Wow, you're from Fairy Tail, aren't y-" Zilar quickly covered Millianna's mouth. Kagura surprisingly did nothing, perhaps thinking her partner's outburst was out of place and required shushing.
"I would appreciate you keeping such information quiet," Zilar said, taking his hand away. "Not very many people around here know much about magic guilds, so my true identity is secret. I would like to keep it that way."
"Oh, sorry," Millianna said quickly apologizing.
"It is quite alright," Zilar said. They all walked upstairs and Zilar unlocked their room for them. He set their baggage down on the bed and handed the room keys to Kagura.
"If there is anything else you will be needing, my room is two doors down the hall on your left," Zilar said.
"Thank you," Kagura replied. Zilar left, but Millianna tapped his shoulder.
"If you don't mind me asking," she said, "what are you doing all this way from your guild?" Zilar looked away with a distant expression.
"I would rather like to leave it at 'personal affairs'," he replied curtly.
"Oh, okay, sorry," she said.
"It is alright," he replied with a small smile. He turned to leave again as Millianna began to shut the door.
"Goodnight." Zilar turned back once more to see Millianna smiling meekly through the small crack in the doorway.
"Goodnight." He said. Millianna closed the door completely and Zilar left back to his room.
Mimi is still in the process of getting over Zilar while Zilar is seeming to try beginning a new lifestyle as an assistant in keeper in the mountains. As well as Millianna showing an interest in Zilar. Hope to see you back again next week.
