F O U R
It had been one week since Nashi decided to run off from Crocus to Hargeon.
In reality, it wasn't that long, but Nashi felt that she'd been gone for a month. She even started to get used to Hargeon and not miss Fairy Tail as much anymore which might seem like a mean thing to say. But truth is, she started to put extra focus into her training with Grisam.
He ended up being a fantastic mentor/ trainer. Grisam seemed to know everything that would help improve a certain skill or help her learn a new one. He was starting with no gadgets first so that she could become accustomed to using her body but promised they'd start with those in three weeks.
Nashi felt like she owed him a lot. He had let her stay in his home for free seeing as she had no money or a job and trained her. Although, Creston didn't seem to like her at all whenever she came to their house with him around. He'd always frown around her and had the habit of avoiding her which she found strange. She thought that he'd be more friendly than that. Then again, Grisam is also more friendly than she thought he'd be.
So every day, her routine would be to wake up, go for a jog out in the woods, do her warm-up stretches, and start practicing with her body. She memorized the unwritten schedule and made sure to stay with it despite the many times that she hated getting out of bed. She wasn't going to waste her time in the morning. Training was becoming her whole lifestyle.
"49... 50!", Grisam finishes counting as Nashi lands on her feet when she releases the strong branch of the tree. "Good job, Nash'," he praised.
"Thank you, Gris," Nashi grins. She certainly had grown stronger with her arms. Now she barely broke a sweat while doing arm-ups.
"Now let's do a cool down walk, and we'll be finished," Grisam suggests and starts his way down the forest.
"But we hardly did anything today," Nashi pouts.
"You don't want to overwork your body. You could injure yourself," he explains.
"But-"
He cuts her off with the shake of his head, "No buts."
"Whatever," she mumbles childishly which causes him to give a short chuckle.
"This week was to just get you started. Next week, you'll be breaking a sweat for sure," he nods with certainty.
"Sure," she says with a non-believing tone.
"I don't lie," he rolls his eyes.
"But you do have that whole mysterious aura thing," Nashi shrugs.
"I do?", he asks while cocking a brow.
"Yup," Nashi pops the 'p' and continues walking.
"I can't see that," he shakes his head.
"What do you mean?! You're a walking mystery," Nashi persuades him to agree.
"I am?", he gives a small laugh.
"I bet even scooby-doo couldn't find out your evil schemes," Nashi grins.
"Sure, but then again, they're bad detectives if they have to rely on a running man-child and dog," Grisam shrugs.
"Damn you and your realistic scenery of cartoons," Nashi shakes her head feigning out disappointment.
His hand ruffles with her hair, and the corner of his lips quirk up. "Because you believe whatever cartoons say," he snickers.
"Stop messing with my hair!", Nashi leans away from his touch and sighs, "Everything you hear has to be based on some truth. Even lies."
"I suppose that's somewhat right," Grisam shrugs.
"Of course. I'm always right," Nashi grins.
"Yeah, totally," Grisam says sarcastically.
"Exactly," Nashi ignores his sarcasm and gives a smirk.
"My, my. You, Nashi, sure are something," Grisam shakes his head.
"Well, I am Nashi Dragneel. Obviously," Nashi says in a 'duh' tone.
"That would explain it," Grisam ruffles her hand once more, and Nashi chooses to endure it and huffs out in irritation.
"Why are you so obsessed with my hair?", Nashi asks with an eye roll.
"I'm still trying to figure out if you're lying when you said that you were born with it pink," Grisam shrugs.
"I don't lie," Nashi folds her arms and glares at Grisam. She hated when anyone messed with her hair, and he seemed to do it the most.
"So you're always right?", Grisam cocks a brow.
"Damn right I am!", Nashi shouts.
"Calm down, Nash," Grisam chuckles.
"Where the hell are we going?", Nashi asks as they walk side by side each other down the busy streets of Hargeon.
"I was hungry, so I thought that we should go eat at my favorite restaurant," he answers.
"Now, I just feel bad. You're doing all this training for me and letting me stay at your house. How the hell am I gonna owe you everything?", Nashi pouts.
"How about this... You take me to Fairy Tail when you go back," he suggests.
"Are you sure? The guild is a rowdy bunch," Nashi says with uncertainty.
"I've been dealing with the girl named Nashi Dragneel. I'm sure I can handle it," Grisam shrugs.
"But they're different than me. They have magic-"
"When has that stopped you... or even me for the matter? Stop doubting yourself, Nash. I'm not gonna die without a good fight," Grisam grabs hold onto her shoulders and looks at her intensely.
Nashi refuses to meet his eyes, "But what if-"
"Nashi, look at me," he says softly.
She finally looks at him. His green eyes seem to be boring into her soul which made her a little uncomfortable under his gaze.
"You're not acting like that Nashi that I know and-", he stops quickly. He swiftly looks away with a blush and releases her shoulders. They continue to walk side by side.
"And what?", Nashi asks in confusion.
He coughs and answers, "And have trained."
"That's just because whenever I fight, I'm in my element," Nashi grins at the thought.
"Then always act like you're in a battle. Life is a battle; ain't it? You have choices to battle for or even people to fight for. Just stop being so gloomy. That's my job," he says.
"Gloomy? Since when?", Nashi grins.
He gives a pointed look causing Nashi to laugh at his 'grumpy' face.
"Sure, when I first met you, I thought you looked too serious-"
"Really?", he chuckles.
"-But you're a pretty nice guy," she shrugs.
"That's all I get? 'Nice guy'?", he grumbles.
"No, you got 'pretty nice guy'," Nashi grins.
"I'm a guy. I don't wanna be pretty," he mutters.
"Fine! You're an ugly nice guy," Nashi changes.
"Better," he nods.
"I'm glad you think so," Nashi nods back.
They both laugh in unison as they step into the deliciously scented restaurant. Nashi moans at the smell while Grisam cocks a brow at her.
"You must really love fish," he laughs.
"I do. My uncle likes to catch fish every day, and sometimes I join him," Nashi smiles at the memory.
"How's your uncle like?", Grisam asks.
"He's a bit strange...", she trails off.
"Can't be stranger than you," he cheekily says.
Nashi slaps the back of his head and mutters, "Shut up."
"Damn, the training really has been working," Grisam groans as he rubs his head.
"You deserved that," Nashi mutters.
"So how strange can your uncle be?", Grisam asks.
"Considering the fact that he's blue and a cat would be the first step," Nashi shrugs.
"A blue cat?", he asks with surprise.
"He also flies and talks of course," Nashi says.
"You're related to a flying, talking, blue cat?", Grisam cocks a brow.
"Not by blood, but a family doesn't have to be all about related by blood anyway. It's about who you're raised with or who you care for the most," Nashi shrugs.
"I guess that's true," Grisam nods.
"Of course it is. Despite everyone being different and supposedly different at my guild, we always treat everyone with respect and kindness because we're all family," Nashi smiles.
"Do you miss Fairy Tail?", Grisam asks.
"Sometimes. I'm usually always in the guild, but so far, I've enjoyed training with you," Nashi smiles at Grisam.
"Yeah. I've enjoyed it too," Grisam gives a small smile back.
"That food really filled me up," Nashi pats her belly which feels like it might explode any moment.
"You ate so much fish. I'm surprised how you managed to fit it all inside of you," he says.
"Maybe that's my magic power," Nashi grins.
"Probably is," Grisam agrees.
They end up at Grisam's house, and he unlocks the door. Nashi follows after Grisam and smiles once smelling the familiar place. She never understood why, but the scent was so amazing to her. She loved it. Although, Grisam smelled much better which is part of the reason why it didn't matter if she were hanging out with a guy everyday.
"You're doing that thing again," Grisam says.
"Huh?", Nashi's head snaps to Grisam's direction.
"Can you smell things more than most people?", he asks.
"Hmm... I've never been asked that before, but now that I think about it, I do," Nashi thinks aloud.
"So that's why you're always sniffing everything," Grisam nods in understanding.
"Yeah. I love the smell of your house," she shrugs.
"What?", he asks while cocking a brow.
"You also smell great too," she admits with a nod.
Grisam's face blushes slightly, but Nashi moves to his couch.
"You can't go around saying weird things like that," he mutters.
"I was just talking to you. Don't worry about it," Nashi waves him off and closes her eyes.
"Still, that's-", he's cut off by a snore. "Are you kidding me? Sleeping already in just five seconds? That's gotta be a record."
As if on cue, Creston walks through the front door. "Hey, Grisam."
"Hi," Grisam greets.
"I see that Nashi's sleeping on the couch," Creston leans over to one side to look around Grisam and at Nashi.
"We just went to eat, so that must've tired her up," Grisam shrugs.
"I don't understand why you're letting her stay and now giving her free food!", Creston shakes his head.
"Nashi dying isn't really what I want to happen," Grisam sighs.
"But if the plan doesn't work-"
"It will," Grisam nods firmly.
"Fairy Tail doesn't seem like a place that you'd want to mess with, Grisam," Creston frowns.
"All I have to do is trick them. I'd like to say that I'm a pretty good actor," Grisam gives a smug smile.
"No, you're not. I think that you're actually starting to like Nashi," Creston smirks.
"Why would I like her? I've barely known her for a week, and in the time that I have known her, she's been an idiot," Grisam quickly protests.
"Just know that once Nashi finds out, she'll hate her for a long time," Creston says.
Grisam frowns at the thought of Nashi crying or being pissed at him. He wouldn't like that.
"Whatever! Why would I give a single fuck?", he glares at Creston.
"Calm down. You don't need to be so defensive," Creston mutters.
"Then you need to think before you say," Grisam says.
Creston pauses to think and sighs. "I'm done with you. I'm tired. Good night." He walks towards his room and slams the door shut.
Grisam sits on the chair beside the couch and stares at Nashi. Maybe it seemed kind of a creepy thing to do, but Grisam studied her features. He noticed some drool coming off to the side of her jaw. Cute...
No! Shut up, Idiot. She's only a tool to get what I really want. There's no way I can screw this up.
But still, he couldn't help but pull a strand of her silky soft hair behind her ear.
She's a really deep sleeper.
A/N: Thank you for the kind reviews (I'm trying to give you all a shout out but the damn 'Doc Manager' thing is being such a bitch asdfghjkl. Sorry, I get frustrated easily.)
Q: So uh how do you guys feel about Grisam now? Positive or Negative?