Erza stood defiantly on the steps of the train. "Alright! Let's head to the hotel that the shop owner promised to meet us at." She said in her strict tone. The red-haired mage leaped from the last step, followed by a very disoriented Natsu, who fell to the ground and kissed it repeatedly.
"OH LAND I LOVE YOU LET'S NEVER PART AGAIN!"
Lucy nudged Gray, who was sleeping soundly with his head resting on her shoulder. "Gray, we're here. Wake up!" She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. "GRAY STOP STRIPPING WAKE UP!" The celestial mage screamed, throwing the half-naked sleep-stripper out of the train. Gray woke up, colliding with the floor.
"Ouch, what the Hell, Lucy?" He said, rubbing his cheek from where it had hit the hard floor. She grinned, jumping out of her seat and throwing his shirt at him before leaping over him and heading off the train. Artemis looked down at Gray too, giggling slightly, before exiting too.
Gray was thoroughly confused. Did he say something funny in his sleep? He sweat-dropped. Did he say THAT in his sleep? The dark-haired ice wizard groaned inwardly and got up, putting his shirt on as he followed suit, rather uncomfortably.
"Artemis, Lucy, and I will share a room, Natsu and Gray will share the other." Erza was dictating as they rode in the carriage to the hotel. Happy groaned about always being left out. "We will behave respectfully, and not break ANYTHING, is that understood?" She glared at the boys, who cowered in fear while simultaneously 'yes ma'am'ing.
They arrived at the hotel and in the lobby an elderly gentleman with balding white hair stood and greeted them. "Ah you must be the mages from Fairy Tail. It's an honour. Thank you for coming." He bowed deeply. "My name is Maskuna, and I run the boat tour shop down on the east bay."
Erza stood in front and introduced them all. "I am Erza Scarlett, and these are my teammates: Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Lucy Heartfilia, Artemis, and Happy." Happy cheered at finally being recognised as a member of the group. Maskuna smiled and nodded at each of them as they were introduced.
"It's a pleasure. Now, I've paid for you to have a week here. Let's get to the rooms so we can discuss matters more privately."
They all went to their rooms, which were side by side. The boys dropped their things off and came to the girls room. The girls room was a large apartment style. Much nicer than the boys room. There was a couch and two side bedrooms. They had gathered around the sofa, which was paired with a loveseat and coffee table. Natsu sat on the loveseat, Gray between Lucy and Erza on the couch, Maskuna sat beside Natsu, unrolling a map onto the coffee table. Artemis stood in the corner, leaning against the wall quietly.
"So, I know that this monster was summoned or paid for or something by this rival competitor. His name is Jinju and he owns another boat tour on the west bay. He's been trying to compete with me for years, because his side is pathetic and mine has the beautiful reef.
He recently threatened me, before the monster attacks, and every day since they started, he's been trying to buy me out. Saying 'it's a shame clients are dying and your boats are being wrecked. I'll gladly pay you full price and you can wash your hands of this debacle.' It's so obviously him. He's a heartless fool." Maskuna said clenching his fists. "He's nearly done my business in, too. I'm sure he's warning everyone about the unfortunate issues I've faced with this monster."
"So, how would he have summoned a monster?" Erza asked, staring at the map, where Maskuna had circled Jinju's shop, and his own. The elderly man shrugged.
"That's your job. Defeat his monster, and get him to stop trying to ruin my business!" With that the old man slapped the coffee table. "I'm certain he has spies everywhere, so you are to blend in as tourists. I don't want him getting suspicious and throwing away evidence."
"Understood sir. We shall do everything we can." Erza nodded. "We shall begin our work. Thank you for your information and patronage."
"Yes well, don't let me down." Maskuna stood and left. Artemis watched him go, something not sitting right with her about him.
"Alright so this is our plan." Her attention snapped back to Erza, who was now standing and pacing. "Gray and Lucy are going to go to Jinju's shop, pretending to be a young couple on a date. Try to find any condemning evidence of Jinju's involvement without rousing suspicion." Natsu started to protest but Erza grinned evilly at him and he shut his mouth. "Natsu and Happy are going to go down to the east bay and try to find out if any witnesses saw what the monster looks like, I want details. I want to know what exactly this monster is. Artemis and I are going to the casinos and try to get in on some local gossip. No one has looser lips than poker players around pretty girls."
The team, given their tasks, all stood up. "Wait here, Gray, if we're going on a date, I need to change my outfit!" Lucy winked at the ice mage. He shrugged. "Whatever." And she ran into her designated room. Artemis went into her own room to change. They had decided Artemis and Lucy would get the bedrooms, and Erza would get the couch because Erza requips so she didn't even need the privacy.
Natsu and Happy were already gone when the girls exited their rooms. Erza had changed into an elegant cocktail dress and Gray sat on the couch, his clothes were gone. Lucy, now wearing a lovely sun dress, threw a heel at him. "CLOTHES."
Artemis came out, wearing a green cocktail dress. Erza and Artemis left, leaving Lucy and Gray (now clothed) to sort out their cover.
"So we've been dating for a year?" Gray said, not looking Lucy in the eye. "Gray, what is up with you?"
The black haired male blushed a little. "Nothing alright? Get off of my back." He said, extending his hand and looking away. "Come on, sweetheart." Lucy giggled and laced her fingers through his as she took his hand. "Yes dear."
When Artemis and Erza came back to the room, they were not surprised to find that Natsu and Happy were already back, lounging on the couch. "Well?" Erza asked, sitting down and requiping into sweats and a tank top. Artemis headed silently back to her room to change.
"We got so much food. They had so many different kinds of fish and clams and it was DELICIOUS!" Natsu sighed, happily while Happy drooled. "I'm hungry again let's go back!" Happy cheered. Erza hit them both on the head. "FOCUS. The monster?"
"Oh right," Natsu got serious. "I've heard various different descriptions, but all seem to revolve around it being three stories high, and look like a large eel."
"Yeah. It sounds DELICIOUS!" Happy exclaimed. Natsu grinned. "Sounds easy, too! I'm all fired up!" Erza nodded. "Calm down, we still have time. We need to do this by the book."
"Gray and Lucy aren't back yet?" Artemis had come out of her room, also in sweats and a tank top. "I haven't seen them yet." Natsu responded. "Maybe they got caught?"
Erza groaned. "I hope not. Anyway, I'll go look for them I guess..." She said, standing up and walking to the door. She gripped the handle and pulled the door open, screamed, and slammed it shut.
"What is it!?" Natsu jumped up, Artemis had already crossed the room and was in-front of Erza with her bow drawn, arrow notched. Artemis had done it all so fast, not even Erza had registered it before the other woman was over her in a protective stance. "HOLY CRAP ART YOU ARE FAST!" Natsu exclaimed.
"No...uhhhh" Erza was bright red and obviously shaken. Artemis opened the door, keeping her arrow notched. Two very red figures stood in the doorway.
"Uhhhh er..." Gray stammered, scratching the back of his head. Lucy was shaking, red faced, and lips swollen.
"YOU TWO WERE KISSING?!" Erza exclaimed. Ah now Natsu was up to speed. "Are you an item?!" Natsu yelled. Happy chimed in with 'they loooooove eachother~'
Artemis sighed, relaxing slightly. She put her arrow away and set her bow down. "I almost killed you guys."
"Sorry..." Lucy mumbled. The two came in and shut the door, avoiding eye contact with everyone, including eachother.
"We didn't find any evidence that this was Jinju's evil plot, though the guy did give us the creeps." Gray said, plopping down on the sofa, still avoiding everyone's eyes. The group just stared at him, still obviously in shock.
"He's up to something though, we just have no physical evidence. Yet." He said, nervously pulling at his collar.
"Keep your clothes on." Artemis said, sitting in the loveseat. "Yes. Tell us how you and Lucy ended up...like that!" Erza said eagerly.
"Um...Well..." Gray looked to Lucy for help. "We were being followed, so on the elevator Gray planned that when we needed to really make the stalker uncomfortable. So we started making out as we walked to the room, making it look like we were going to..." Lucy blushed again. "Anyway the follower apparently didn't want to interrupt us, so he stayed on the elevator, playing he was going to another floor."
The rest of the team sweat dropped. "That explains why you were making out before...but...you were still making out after the elevator had gone." Natsu said, surprisingly astute.
"WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE!" Gray and Lucy yelled at the same time. Erza coughed a little. "Alright guys, obviously something is going on. Artemis and I didn't have much luck ourselves. The local casinos all seem rather uninformed about the goings on off shore."
"We should regroup in the morning and hash out a plan then." Artemis said, noticing the general excitement had left the group rather lackluster. Erza nodded. "Sounds good. Natsu, Gray, Happy, meet here around 8, we'll get breakfast and figure out our next move."
After everyone had left, Erza had gone to shower. Lucy stopped Artemis as she was heading to her room. "Artemis, can I ask you something?" The blonde had a determined look, and Artemis sighed, sitting back down.
"Yes, fine." Lucy groaned inwardly at the cold attitude.
"What is up with you? You're really acting strangely. Always at Erza's side, protecting her when you know she's capable of handling her own. You are acting suspicious to me, and I don't want to be suspicious of you. I want to be friends with you."
The other girl's eyes snapped up and she stared at Lucy with an unreadable expression. "Tch. My business is my business, celestial mage. You needn't have concerns. I only tolerate you because of Erza."
"Why are you so spiteful towards me? What did I ever do to you!?" Lucy asked, snapping. This girl is bound and determined to hate her and she wanted to know why. She deserved to know why. "And why are you so obsessive about Erza? WHO ARE YOU REALLY?!"
Artemis gave her a dark, menacing look. Lucy felt her spine shiver. 'I could have sworn only Aquarius could make a face that terrifying...' She thought.
"Mind yourself, girl. You're testing my good-nature." Artemis' voice dripped venom. "I won't screw this up just because of you." With that she stood and grabbed her bow and quiver, storming off and slamming her door.
Erza came out in time to watch the dramatic exit. Lucy was shaking, and she walked over, drying her hair. "What was that all about?" She asked, shutting up quickly seeing Lucy was crying. The blonde turned and ran into her own room, slamming the door.
Erza grumbled, putting the towel around her shoulders and knocking gently on Artemis' door. "Art, can I talk to you?" The red-haired wizard asked softly. She cracked open the door, peeking inside.
The room was empty. "SHIT! ARTEMIS?!"
The cell was chilly, as she remembered it being. The familiar blue hair shined in the moonlight.
"How is she?" Jellal asked, looking up in the darkness.
"She is strong, and well." Artemis said softly, after a moment. Jellal sighed with a smile. "She puts on airs though. I can tell she is hurting still, deep down." With that his beautiful face frowned and his eyes cast downward.
"Jellal..." Artemis' face was in shadow, but Jellal could sense her hesitation. "You did not mention her companionship with the celestial wizard."
"I know. Would you still have gone?" He said softly. He expected her upset. When she gently touched his cheek he leaned into it.
"She carries his key." Artemis said. "If he crosses the gate, I'm as good as done for."
"It's too much to ask. I'm sorry." Jellal said, not meeting her eyes.
Artemis pulled her hand away, leaving his cheek once more cold. Silence passed between them, as she stared down at his figure. The guards outside couldn't see her, and thought he was just muttering to himself. She felt a pang in her heart. There was so much at risk here. However, looking down at him she couldn't help but feel this emotion she had never experienced before. If it came down to facing him, for Jellal's sake, she'd have no real choice. Her heart wouldn't allow any other option.
She groaned, frustrated at herself, at her heart, at the beautiful man before her. She fell to her knees infront of him, taking his face in her hands she brought his eyes to her own. She willed all of the emotions tearing her up inside to be seen by him. She silently pleaded for him to feel her.
She leaned forward, hesitating only slightly, before she placed her lips over his. He froze only a fraction of a moment, before leaning into the kiss. She placed all of those feelings into that kiss, relishing the softness of his lips against her own. There were tears. Her tears, she guessed with mild surprise. As she broke away from Jellal, who's eyes were opening again looking slightly dazed, she brushed the tears that had wetted his cheeks, and then wiped them off of her own cheeks. She ran her thumb gently as she held his face.
"You're going to be the death of me, Jellal." She whispered, kissing his forhead before vanishing. Jellal sat in his cell, still in a daze. He couldn't understand her. Why was she willing to sacrifice everything for his sake? He licked his lips, still tasting the berry and woodsy taste of her lips.
A/N That's it for chapter 4. Sorry it took so long guys. Thanks for the great reviews and follows. I appreciate it. I'll try to update again before the week is out. I appreciate it!
-Seeker