Chapter 7: Yuki
"Hikari…."
Though the woman had made her way up to the stunned female, the child still took no notice, her brown eyes glued onto the Master. Her body was shaking slightly as she let the news sink in. This demon…this demon that had just got done destroying an entire town…was now heading in the direction of her old home? She could care less what happened to her Aunt or the butlers…but that girl…her precious little sister…if anything happened to her…
"I need to go…I have to take this job."
Makarov simply raised a brow at this; partly curious on why she would say such a thing.
"It's an S-class mission. You're not eligible for this job."
"But I need to go….no….I have to…I have to take this job…"
"I can't let you do this. It's too dangerous, and you wouldn't be able to fight this type of demon on your own."
"Then I'll accompany whatever S-class wizard takes it, but I need to be there."
"Hikari-"
"I have to!"
Those words were shouted, anger and worry growing in her system. She was not going to be left behind, not when that girl was involved. She wouldn't have it. She didn't care what she had to do, but she was going. She would not take no for an answer. The Master knew this, judging from the great determination and emotion she was showing, but still could not easily give in.
"You say you have to go?" he asked.
The girl nodded.
"Yes."
"Tell me why."
Hikari was silent at first, a little hesitant to let anything out. She hadn't even told Erza the full story yet, and now it would seem that the whole guild would find out. Glancing around, she found that all eyes were on her, making things even more uncomfortable, but if it raised her chances to go along…
"Hikari, how can I even consider a request such as this if you can't tell me the reason behind why you must tag along?" the old man asked.
She locked gazes with him again, the uncomfortableness growing, but she knew she couldn't stay silent. She'd have to share this bit of her life if she wanted the chance to go. So, with that girl in mind, she answered.
"I have to go…I have to go because…in that town…there's…there's someone I need to…protect."
The man's stare was unchanging.
"Protect?" he asked. "Who?"
She gulped, her breathing slightly shaky.
"A girl…my little sister…Yuki."
"You have a little sister?"
This question came from Lucy, the girl blurting it out in shock.
"Well, cousin if you want to be technical, but she's more like my sister…that's just how close her and I are."
Letting out a sigh, her gaze dropped to the floor. Whether she wanted to or not, it had to happen. It was time to share the entirety of her untold story.
"It started when I was five…almost six. After Atlas Flame disappeared, I went to live with my Aunt. Though I missed Atlas a lot and wanted to find him, I thought things would be ok because I was with family, but I was wrong. My Aunt…Aunt Chiyo Kikoru, was an evil woman, along with her two butlers Akito and Jerick. They all treated me badly from the start and instead of becoming part of the family, I was made into a servant, one considered lower than dirt as she put it. Though it was my duty to do everything they told me, I specifically served one person more than them, and that was their daughter…Yuki. I remember being nervous about meeting her, thinking she was somehow going to be as mean as her Mother, but, when I met her…
"You will have household duties every day to attend to, and if you don't finish them, you'll get a beating so badly you'd wish you'd never been born."
The soon to be six year old looked up at her Aunt, her deep black locks tied up tight in a bun, her young face sporting a stern glare. Being her real Father's older sister, she thought the woman would look much older, but luck seemed to be on her side when it came to her youth.
"Along with your duties, you will be the personal servant to my daughter. You shall take good care of her, and if anything bad happens to my child, the blame will be on you."
"She has a daughter…" Hikari thought, worry filling her system. Her Aunt was pretty scary and she had only been here a day, so how was her daughter going to be like? "Will she be like Aunt Chiyo? Just as mean…always wanting to hit…"
"Quit day dreaming you stupid child!" her Aunt suddenly said, smacking her upside the head and breaking her from her thoughts. "There will be none of that here or you'll be out on the streets, and mind you, those out there don't take kindly to wretched little girls like you. Now let's go."
Opening the door the two were standing in front of, the young girl was shoved inside, her Aunt following.
"Yuki, from today on, you will have a new servant. This is your cousin, Hikari."
At first, Hikari could see nothing, but after a few seconds, a little head popped out from under the covers, revealing a pair of deep, black eyes. Soon enough, the little girl popped out entirely, and from the moment the two laid eyes on each other…
"Yu…ki…" she said softly.
The girl, from memory, was a year younger than her, and a bit smaller than her, too. Her eyes and hair were a deep midnight black just like her Mother's, but unlike the mean and stern expression that her Aunt Chiyo usually carried, hers was a soft one, shy even. The child looked so…innocent. The brunette opened her mouth and went to say something, but before she could, she was pushed again, the older woman knocking her to the ground.
"Baka. She is not just Yuki to you. You are her servant; therefore you will address her as Yuki-sama. Do you understand me?"
"…Hai…" replied the fallen girl, a little too afraid to get back up.
"Good. Your duties start now. There's a bowl of water and a cloth over there. Pat her head down a little to cool her off. She's had a fever all day. She gets sick a lot, so be prepared to do this often, and remember, if anything bad happens to her, you will be to blame and punishments will surely come your way."
And with that, she took off, shutting the door behind her.
Turning her attention back to the girl, she froze, those black eyes still on her. She was unsure of what to do, a little nervous to move. It was a small coughing fit from the younger female that broke her from her thoughts. She sure sounded sick..
Standing up, she walked over to the bedside table, grabbing the cloth from the bowl and wringing it out. After, she reached out and pressed her own hand against Yuki's forehead.
"Um…yeah, you do feel real warm. Maybe you should lie down…it'd be a little easier for me to help cool you off…"
She didn't want to sound too demanding knowing the girl's position in the family, but that didn't seem to be the case, Yuki instantly laying down and snuggling under the covers. She wasted no time in patting the girl's head down, both in silence as she did her job.
"She looks so helpless…" the brunette thought. "I wonder what she's sick with. Auntie says that her body is weak and she gets sick easy, but nothing else. I-"
"Hi…kari?"
Hikari snapped back when she heard a little voice. Locking gazes once again, she saw that the shy look had changed, a more needy one taking place.
"Hikari…" she said again, and moments after, the Dragon Slayer felt a little hand slip in her own.
"I completely melted after that…" she told them, that memory being one she could never forget. "And we became close…fast, eventually calling each other sisters. She was always clinging to me, always wanting to snuggle…always wanting to play. We had to be careful with the playing part though. A few times, one of the butlers or my Aunt would catch us and I'd get beaten pretty badly. According to them, servants like me shouldn't be playing, not even with the one I served. Didn't stop us from sneaking it though, and at nights, especially stormy ones, I'd sneak in and sleep with her. She hates storms you see…can't stand the thunder."
"Well, if you two were so close, why didn't she try and stop your Aunt from doing things to you?" Mirajane asked.
"Oh, she tried. She tried a lot, but my Aunt never listened, always telling her that I was a servant and had to learn my place."
"Fool of a girl! Sleeping in when you have duties to attend to?"
Hikari had just entered Yuki's room, in a slight panic because she had woken up late, only to find her Aunt there, the woman furious she had done so.
"You know better!"
"Ah!"
Chiyo grabbed the brunette by the hair, pulling it and knocking her to the ground. Hikari really didn't mean to sleep in, but it was those stupid nightmares that kept her from getting a good night's rest. She knew the butlers and her Aunt were behind it, but it wasn't like she could openly say so. She'd probably get killed for that.
"Okaasan, stop it! Don't hurt her!" Yuki cried, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Yuki-chan, but this must be done." Her Mother told her. "You'll understand it when you're older. Servants must learn their place in this household, meaning if they step out of line, they must be punished or they will never learn."
"That's awful…" Wendy said sadly, huggling onto Carla as she listened. She had no idea Hikari had ever gone through such things…
"Perhaps…but that's just how things were. I was pretty accepting of it, but Yuki, not for a second. She often said she hated her Mother, but I'd always have to turn around and tell her not to say that. As much as I hated the woman myself, she took good care of Yuki. Never yelled at her, always made sure she had proper food, proper Doctors, things like that. But…not long after I turned eleven, I learned a very dark secret about that place…the both of us did…that showed my Aunt was nothing but a liar…a witch, and that everything she had done, the so called caring she had showed Yuki was all fake."
"What did you find out?" Lisanna asked.
A pit grew in the bottom of her stomach, that familiar guilt rising in her chest. It was a day she had never forgotten…a day that always floated around in her mind. The day she ran away…leaving her little sister behind…
"Found you!"
The two girls had been sneaking around the house playing hide and seek, taking care to keep out of sight from her Aunt and the butlers. She had just spotted Yuki behind a curtain, the black haired female giggling upon being found.
"Always finding me, nee-chan. Right, you're turn!"
Hikari giggled back, shaking her head.
"We can't silly. It's getting a little late and dinner will be soon, meaning those sad excuses for butlers and your Mother will be up and about any minute. We should get back to your room before we get caught."
The ten year old gave a little playful pout before giggling again and running over to Hikari, tackling her in a hug.
"All right. Thanks so much for playing with me. I love it when we can have these moments together."
The girl blushed a little, smiling and hugging the younger one back.
"Never have to thank me for spending time with you, Yuki-chan."
Yuki then pulled away, a warm smile on her face, and slipped her hand into the brunettes.
"You're the best, nee-chan."
"And you're silly, you know that? Come on. If we get back soon, we can fit some snuggle time in before your Mother calls for me."
"Hai hai!" the girl said back, and with that, the two were off.
"Ne…nee-chan, do you know what's for dinner tonight?"
"To be honest…I don't." she replied, scratching the back of her head. "I remember her mentioning it yesterday, but it seems I've forgotten."
"Well I hope it's something good." Yuki continued. "I'm feeling really hungry today. She best feed you right as well. If not, you know I'll save some of my own for you, right?"
"You don't have to do that, Yuki-chan."
"I do!" the child said back. "Especially if she doesn't give you a proper amount of food. It's not fair that-"
Before Yuki could finish, Hikari had stopped in her tracks, a strange feeling taking over her.
"Nee-chan?"
The feeling flooded her system, growing stronger by the second.
"Nee-chan, what is it?"
"Some…magic power…" she said softly, eye brows furrowed in confusion. "I feel a strong sense of magic power."
"You do? From where?"
The brunette looked over at a nearby door slightly ajar.
"There…I feel it from there."
It was such an odd feeling for she had never felt anything this strong before aside from the power she felt from Atlas, but this was a different kind of magic feeling…a darker one.
"I don't know…maybe it's just me. Come on, we should really get back."
"Or…" Yuki said, a playful glint in her gaze. "We can go check it out."
"That's really not a good idea. It'd be safe just to-"
"Oh come on, it's only a peek! I promise it won't take long!"
And before she could say anymore, the ten year old ran to the door and disappeared behind it.
"Yuki!" she called out, but nothing. She knew this wasn't good at all, and also knew that if they got caught, bad things would happen, but she couldn't just leave the girl on her own…she never would. So, she followed, running to the door and slipping inside.
When she entered, she could just make out a set of stairs, immediately going down them.
"Yuki-chan…" she whispered quietly as she tip-toed down, panic setting in. She could smell the girl, but just couldn't see her. Soon enough, she realized it wasn't just the girl she could smell, but her Aunt and the butlers, too. This only made her panic rise even more, the fear of being caught growing.
"Yuki-chan, where are you?" she whispered, but got nothing back. Eventually, she was found, the girl standing at the very bottom of the stairs. Catching up, she gave the girl a little tug on the sleeve of her nightgown to get her attention.
"Yuki-chan, come on, this is dangerous. We'll get caught. Let's go. Yuki?"
Though the younger girl could hear her, she was paying no mind, her eyes wide as she stared at the scenery in front of her. Curious, Hikari turned to look too, and when her eyes fell upon what was in the room…
"It's almost complete, Madam." Jerick said, both him and Akito writing what looked to be runes around a…
"Magic circle?" Hikari questioned to herself. Seeing those two as well as her Aunt there told her to run, but curiosity got the best of her, and she too found herself watching silently with Yuki.
"Good." The woman said, eyeing them. "It needs to be ready within a few hours. I can't be missing my monthly dose of this magic."
"No Madam, we can't have that." Akito added. "I'm glad it seems to be working well."
"Oh it's working quite well." She replied. "Just look at how young it's keeping me. Who knew that daughter of mine would have so much magic in her and such a strong life force as well."
"Magic?" Hikari thought. Yuki didn't have any magic. Despite her Mother being so strong, Yuki never once showed a sign of having any. Even Yuki seemed shocked at hearing this judging by the look Hikari saw on her face.
"Well, she is your daughter after all." Jerick told her. "Of course her magic is strong. That's why it was a wonderful idea you binded her gifts so she'd never know. All the more magic for you to suck out."
"Do you think she'll ever catch on?" Akito asked.
"Her? Catch on?" Chiyo said with a cocked eye brow. "Like she could. To find that there has been a magic circle directly below her room that has been slowly sucking her magic and her life force out of her and into me for quite a few years all to keep me young…no, she never would. She's not bright enough to."
"But that Dragon Slayer might be." Jerick said back. "What if she finds out?"
"She won't either." Chiyo said back. "That stupid girl…the only thing she is good for is caring for Yuki, keeping her well so I can keep sucking out that magic and life force. She's not bright enough either. She'd never find out."
In this very moment, Hikari's heart froze, something in her mind clicking as it began to make sense of things going on around her.
"She's…been…"
Often times, she had wondered why her Aunt always seemed so young for her age, but she never gave much thought to it, thinking it was normal, but now…
"Like she could. To find that there has been a magic circle directly below her room that has been slowly sucking her magic and her life force out of her and into me for quite a few years all to keep me young…no, she never would…"
"You wench…" she uttered out through anger, her body shaking as her Aunt's words played through her mind again. She spoke it too loud however, for moments after she said it, Akito looked their way, his eyes widening when he saw them.
"M-Madam! The children! They-"
"It's been you…it's been you this whole time…"
Her Aunt caught gaze of them, but instead of freaking out like both Jerick and Akito thought she would, she simply stared, almost unphased by their presence.
"You're the reason she's weak….you're the reason she always seems to be sick….you're sucking out her magic…her…life force…"
Out of her own daughter…her own flesh and blood…out of the person she was supposed to love more than anyone in the world.
"All for youth…all to look young…you're risking the life of your only child for…beauty…"
Chiyo, whose look was neutral, now changed, a smirk appearing on her face.
"Oh yes, risking the life of my child for a life time of beauty…wonderful…isn't it?"
Hikari's eyes widened at this, Yuki's as well.
"O…Okaasan…" the young girl stuttered out, her eyes tearing up. "Okaasan….I thought you…I thought you…loved…me…"
"Oh I do love you, child." She said back. "I love you for all the things you provide your dear Mother. You're such a good girl for doing so…"
"You bitch!" Hikari shouted, flames suddenly surrounding her body. She was furious beyond words, those flames of anger growing by the second. "That's not love! That's selfishness! You're not supposed to do things that will hurt her! I thought you cared….I thought you really loved her! She's your daughter! You're only daughter! You have no right to treat her this way! She could die!"
A black ball of energy began to form in Chiyo's hand, the shadows in the room beginning to change form. Shadow magic…a strong gift, but Hikari paid no mind, too angered to do so.
"Who are you to tell me I don't have the right?" Chiyo asked, the dark energy in her hand growing bigger. "I gave birth to her…I brought her in to this world. I gave her life; therefore, I can do what I wish to her. As for you, I have no use for you now. You'll just have to be replaced. Now that you've found this out, you have to die. It's a good thing really. I've been itching to finally kill you…"
"Okaasan, no!" Yuki shouted.
Now normally, in her Aunt's presence, as well as Akito's and Jerick's, she was always in fear, but now, her feelings were different. The fear was gone, the want and will to protect her younger sister replacing it and her deep anger supporting it.
"Kill me?" the brunette asked with a smirk. "I am the daughter of Atlas Flame, a fire dragon slayer…you really think you can simply…kill me? Oh no…how wrong you are. I won't let you get near me, or Yuki, ever again. She's mine…my Yuki…my little sister, and I will do everything I can to protect her from people like you!"
After her last few words, she let out a yell, her flames growing higher, and before the three adults could react, Hikari punched the floor with great force, sending a stream of flames across the room.
"The circle!" Chiyo shouted.
But it was too late. The flames crashed across the floor and over to the circle, breaking the runes and destroying the magic that had been placed.
"No! You devil of a child! You will pay for that!"
But Hikari didn't stick around to listen. Instead, she grabbed Yuki by the hand and tore up the stairs, bursting into the hallway. Slamming the door shut, she placed her hand against the lock and melted it. She knew it wouldn't hold them for good, but at least for a few minutes. The two then continued running, Hikari throwing flames in every direction as she made her way through the house until they were all the way back to her room. Once they were inside there, she melted her lock as well. She then found herself backing into a corner, eventually hitting the wall and sliding down to the floor, pulling Yuki into her arms.
She never intended to let loose as she did, but she was angered, scared for Yuki's life. This girl meant the world to her, and this whole time, the one person she thought was taking care of her…the one person she always defended whenever Yuki would say she hated the woman, was just using her. She was sucking out what magic lay bound in Yuki's body and her life force as well, leaving her weak. How could a Mother do that to their own child…their own flesh and blood?
"Nee-chan…"
Out of breath, the eleven year old continued to hold onto the younger girl tightly. She could still smell the flames from the fire she had started and wondered how long it would be before her Aunt and the others found them.
"I'm sorry…" Hikari whispered. "I'm sorry you saw that…I'm sorry this is all happening…I'm sorry your Mother is…"
"Nee-chan…you have to leave…"
At hearing this, she looked down at the other with shock.
"No! I'm not leaving you behind!"
"You have to."
"I won't!"
"Nee-chan…they won't hurt me, but they'll hurt you…"
"Wouldn't be the first time."
"But you might even be killed…."
"Who cares! Let them do what they want! I'm not leaving you! I'm not going to let that witch of a woman do those things to you anymore! And you can't say she won't hurt you! She's been hurting you this whole time! She's the reason you're sick, Yuki! I can't leave you alone with her!"
"She might still do those things, but she won't hurt me any other way. She'll want to keep using me…to keep sucking out the magic and-"
"No! I won't have it!"
"Please…"
"I said no…I'll not leave you alone. I won't…in fact…I'll just take you with me. I'll take care of you."
"I'm sick, Hikari-chan. My body won't handle it. You're strong. You have magic."
"You're only sick because of her! This is all her fault! I can take care of you!"
"You can't…"
"But-"
"I can't go with you…and you can't stay…for me…Nee-chan…"
"Yuki-chan…"
A single tear fell down her cheek, but the brunette quickly wiped it away.
"Nee-chan…for now…just run. If they find you, I know they'll kill you, and I couldn't bare it if they did. Please, just find somewhere safe and don't come back."
Hikari squeezed the girl tighter, her heart breaking at these words. She couldn't just not come back, not with what she had just learned.
"I'll go…I'll go somewhere safe…for you…but here me now. I will come back. I will leave here, get stronger, and when I return, I will defeat Jerick, Akito, and your Mother, and then I will take you."
"Nee-chan…."
"I will come back for you. I will come back and save you from your Mother…I will save you from this town. Yuki-chan…I'll do it. I promise."
Hikari then went silent, finishing her story. She held back the tears that had itched to stream down her face, those memories breaking her heart.
"I said I'd return…that when I was stronger…I'd return, defeat them, and take her away. I promised. I may not be the strongest in the world, but I am definitely a lot stronger than I was back then. I can defeat them…and not just me…all of us…"
She lifted her hand to a familiar silver necklace bearing a heart pendant lying around her neck…a gift from the scarlet haired woman…and squeezed her hand gently around the heart.
"Erza…Erza said that whoever I was protecting, she would help me protect as well…she and the guild. She said everyone would back me up and help. Master…please. Yuki…Yuki means so much to me, and every day I am racked with the guilt of leaving her behind. I can't wait any longer, especially if that demon is heading in their direction. You have to understand…people wise, she was the first taste of family I've ever had. Aside from my human Father that I barely remember, I had never had any kind of human family love…but with Yuki…I did. She was the first I can remember…the very first…who gave me that warmth. She's my family…my little sister…my Yuki-chan, so no matter who takes this job, I must go with them. I must save Yuki."
The whole room was silent after Hikari's little speech, people such as Lucy, Lisanna, Mirajane, and Erza in tears from her words.
"Hikari….my Hikari…" Erza thought, her heart completely broken from what she had heard. Out of all the bad things that she suffered from living with her Aunt, Yuki was the good thing…that source of light that had kept the brunette smiling…
"Master…" Hikari said pleadingly.
Makarov closed his eyes, his mind racing with thoughts. It was very rare to see the child show emotion like this, and it hurt him to see one of his children in so much pain, but there were many things he had to consider. This was indeed a dangerous quest for her even if she was with an S-class wizard.
"I don't know…" he said softly.
Hikari's heart clenched at these words, her fists now shaking as she balled them up tight. What did he mean he didn't know? What more did he need to? She could handle this quest and could keep herself safe, and knowing she would be with an S-class wizard should have put his mind at ease, but he was still unsure about it. That didn't work for Hikari, not when Yuki was involved. That didn't work at all.
"You know what? Forget it. I don't care what you think…I don't need your permission…"
Her brows furrowed in anger, infuriated that the man would still consider saying no after what she just said.
"She's my sister and with or without anyone, I'm going to get her back. If it gets me kicked out of here, so be it. I'm heading to the city tonight, and not you or anyone is going to stop me."
And with that, she took off running, heading straight back home.
"Hikari!" Erza shouted.
But she ignored, paying no mind to anyone back there. Her mind was set on what she was going to do and nothing was going to stop her.
"Yuki…" she thought as she reached the apartment. "Yuki…"
Opening the door, she headed into Erza's place. Since she spent most of her time there, it was where a good chunk of what she owned resided. Wasting no time, she found her messenger bag and began stuffing it with things she thought she'd need.
"I'll rescue you…" she said to herself. "I'll save you, Yuki. I promised I would come back, and I meant it. Nothing is going to hurt you…my Yuki…"
It was still a project to hold those tears back, but she did, trying her best just to stay strong. She had to be if she was going to do this. It was going to be a long journey, and in possibly facing her Aunt and the butlers, the fighting would be hard…there was no time for tears.
"Hikari…"
The child froze when she heard this voice. After entering the room, she had forgotten to shut the door, leaving her to not notice the woman coming in not long after. She wasn't surprised she had followed.
"Hikari-chan…" Erza said softly, walking closer until she was right behind the girl.
"I have to go, Erza. I have to do this."
"I know…"
"She can't be left there…not with them…and not with that demon on the way. I have to be the one to save her…no one else. She's my family, Erza…"
"I know she is."
"Then you understand why I have to do this?"
"I do." She knew Yuki was precious to her and that the girl would stop at nothing to rescue and bring her back. "I do understand why you have to leave…but…I don't want you to leave alone."
Hikari clenched her hands tightly around her bag.
"Erza, I-"
"I talked to the Master, and everything is set. I will be taking the quest, but not only me. He is being very lenient with this one, and allowing the whole team to go. Natsu, Happy, Lucy, Gray…and you. All of us, Hikari-chan…all of us together…so please…"
She pulled the girl close to her from behind, hugging her gently, her Motherly instincts of keeping her own child safe kicking in.
"Please don't leave tonight. Don't go out there alone. We can leave first this in the morning together…the whole team. You don't have to do this alone, remember? We can help you, and we will…so please…"
"…Thank god…"
Erza wasn't expecting these words, but they were the first ones to come out of the child's mouth after her plea not to leave.
"Hikari?"
"Thank god…" she said again. "Because, to be honest, even though I would have done it without a second thought, I didn't want to go alone. I didn't want to do this by myself. I wanted you to come with me, Erza…"
She then finally turned around, facing the other, and revealing that the tears she had been working so hard to hold back were now flowing, freely falling down her face. She could no longer hold it in.
"I wanted you…"
Erza quickly scooped the girl up and sat down on the nearby bed, holding the brunette tightly in her arms, the eleven year old crying on the woman's shoulder. Yes, she would have done this alone, but in reality, she didn't want to. Her old home held more bad memories than good ones, and though she was brave enough to face them, her Aunt and the butlers still invested a bit of fear into her heart. She was just going to ignore them for the sake of saving Yuki, but if Erza was there…if Erza was by her side.
"I want you to come with me …I don't want to go alone."
If Erza was by her side, she'd feel safe. The woman was her sense of security, and for some reason, when she was nearby, she always felt stronger. Perhaps it was their close bond that made her feel that way, just as Mirajane and Lisanna had mentioned months ago. Making bonds with people really did make one stronger.
"I would have gone on my own…I really would have, but I'd feel safer if you went, too. I'd feel safer if you were with me…"
"I'll be with you." Erza whispered to the crying girl, rubbing her back comfortingly. "I'll be right by your side."
"Promise?" she sniffled.
"I swear it." Erza said back. "And not just me, but the whole team. We'll all be right by your side. We'll rescue Yuki and we'll defeat that demon, together."
Hikari wrapped her arms around the woman's neck and nuzzled into those sweet smelling scarlet locks, her crying easing up a bit upon hearing this. She truly did feel safe in Erza's arms, her voice and words slowly comforting every fear she had.
"We'll leave in the morning, ok? Just so we can get a good night's rest…we'll need it."
"But what if something bad happens? What if it already happened? What if she's hurt?"
"Nothing bad is going to happen, ok?" Erza told her. "Nothing bad at all. We'll make it there in time. The distance from Cardona and Kyrioshi is a long one, so it will take some time for the demon to even reach it."
"But to get there from here, I heard Lucy said we were two days away…"
"We are, but we can get there in less than a day. We have that wagon that runs off of magic power. We can speed there in no time. We can do it Hikari-chan. Everything will be ok, I promise."
Pushing back, she rubbed her tears away, staring up at the older woman as she bid the tears to stop. Already, despite her fears, she could feel her chest warming up, the mere presence and love from the woman behind it. Erza…her…Mother…
"Erza…"
"I'm right here…" she said, leaning in and placing a kiss on the girl's forehead. "I'm right here. It will be just you and me from here on out tonight. We can eat, snuggle up, and get some rest."
"And tomorrow, we can leave?"
"Bright and early." The woman replied with a smile. "I promise."
And with that, Hikari eased up completely, falling back and clinging to the woman yet again, Erza snuggling her right up and holding her tight. The two remained that way for quite some time before eating and turning in for the night. Surprisingly enough, the eleven year old passed right out, taking comfort in Erza's warmth, and when morning came…
"Hikari-chan, you doing all right?"
The girl looked over at the blonde, Lucy offering her a comforting smile. Right now it was only herself, Lucy, Happy, and Natsu riding in the back, Gray out front changing places with Erza, who had been driving the wagon. Happy was passed out, Natsu was dying as usual, and she…she just stuck to herself, holding onto a small package of bread Mirajane and Lisanna had given her before the group left.
"Thanks but…I'm not really hungry."
"Take it anyways." Mirajane said warmly. "I made it just last night. In case you do finally get hungry, you'll have something to snack on. Go on."
Though she knew she would have little to no appetite at all, she took the bread anyways, not wanting to disappoint her or Lisanna.
"Mira-nee? Lisa-nee?"
"Yes?"
"I'm a little scared about this trip. Not really of the demon, but of going back to that town…of facing my Aunt, and just…I mean, what if something bad happened to Yuki while I was gone? Granted my Aunt probably wouldn't have done anything to her if she wanted the spell to keep going, but still, I'm just scared. I don't want to lose her…"
"You won't lose her." Lisanna told her gently, stealing her for a hug. Mirajane squeezed in for it as well, both comforting the young brunette the best they could.
"I'm sure everything is fine." Mirajane said. "You guys will get there before you know it and you'll have your Yuki back. There's no need to be scared, ok? You have everyone behind you, and they'll do anything they can to protect you…you and Yuki."
Hikari nodded her head, nuzzling into the embraces from both of her big sisters.
"Everything will be all right." Lisanna whispered, caressing the girl's hair. "Everything will be all right. Have a safe trip, ok? And know we both love you very much…"
"Hikari?"
The brunette snapped out of her little daze to find Lucy calling out to her again.
"Uh…sorry. Yeah, I'm all right…"
This was a lie of course, but she really didn't want anyone over-worrying for her, especially when they would soon have a demon on their hands.
"I'm back." Said another voice." Turning to look, Erza slipped into the back, the wagon now taking off at full speed again with Gray powering it. Making her way to Hikari, she took a seat beside the girl and pulled her into her arms.
"We should be there soon." Erza told them. "We'll go to your Aunts, deal with them, take Yuki back, and then continue until we find that demon. Are you and everyone doing all right back here?"
"I'm fine." Lucy replied. "Happy's asleep, and Natsu…well, Natsu is being Natsu."
"I want to get off…." He mumbled.
"And I'm fine as well." Hikari told her, happily getting comfortable in Erza's embrace. "Just…."
She quieted before she could finish, her stomach turning with nerves. It was a mixture of everything really. Fear, guilt, anxiousness... It had been over a year since she had seen Yuki and was really hoping she was ok. She was also hoping that the girl wouldn't be angry at her for taking so long. She really was trying to make herself stronger during that time period so she could defeat her and the butlers, but now the whole team was with her, so even if she still wasn't strong enough, everyone here working together would be more than enough strength to defeat them.
"I know." Erza said warmly, kissing her on the head. She knew of the child's fear. "There's no need to be scared though, or to worry. We're all here together, and together we will take care of this. If you're having trouble easing your feelings, try to think of something happy."
"Like what?"
"Like…how it will feel to finally get Yuki back. Your little sister will be around again, and better yet, she'll have a big, loving family waiting for her. Everyone here and the rest of the guild can't wait to meet her."
Hikari furrowed her brows a little
"They can't? Waiting for her….you mean, she can become part of the guild?"
"Well of course, silly. She's your family, which makes her part of our family, too."
"She can really be part of Fairy Tail?"
"Well yes. What did you think was going to happen to her once we got her back?"
"Well, I mean, I guess I wasn't sure if the Master would let her, but then again…it is Master. I was planning on giving her my apartment upstairs and-"
"You really are silly, you know that?" Erza asked.
"What?"
"Hikari, did you already forget about our conversation from yesterday? Granted we didn't quite finish it all the way, but…"
The brunette blushed a little thinking about it.
"Of course I didn't forget…"
"Well then, in knowing you are going to become my…well, knowing you are my daughter, what makes you think you're going to have anything to do with your old apartment anymore? You'll be living with me, and not just you, but Yuki is very much welcome, too."
"Oh, you asked her already?" Lucy piped in. "About the adoption? And she's going to be yours?"
Erza looked up at the blonde with a smile and nodded, Lucy's face, in return, brightening up with a huge grin.
"That's great! I'm really happy to hear that! I've been wondering when that was going to come about."
"Have you spoken to people about this already?" Hikari asked he scarlet haired woman.
"That's all she's ever been talking about." Lucy answered for her. "She mentioned the idea a long while back and always chats about it. I'm really glad she finally told you!"
"I couldn't help myself." Erza said, suddenly nuzzling the eleven year olds cheek. "Talking about you always makes me happy, the adoption subject particularly. I've been thinking about it for a long time, but was waiting for the right moment to tell you."
"Erza…"
So the woman had been planning it? Even during the times Hikari thought she was too much of a pain, she was always wanted?
"Erza…" she said again, this time with a smile, and snuggled up close to the other, warmth now flaring over her fears and worries.
"My Hikari-chan…"
Peeking up to the older woman, she let her fingers gently play with the ends of the scarlet hair.
"You'd really let Yuki live with us?"
"Of course I would. I'd be happy to."
With her snuggly side taking over, she leaned in and placed a kiss on the woman's cheek.
"You're the best, Erza. You really are."
This move derped up the mage and left her speechless for a second, a blush tinting her cheeks.
"You know," Hikari said. "Yuki coming to the guild…that really is exciting to think about. She'll get to meet everyone and can have a big family, too."
"That's right." Lucy told her. "And we'll all take really good care of her. She could get all her strength back!"
"Yeah! And she and I can play together without having to worry, and she can come along on the picnics Mira-nee, Lisa-nee, and I go on, and I can show her around town, and Erza, she can have dinners with us and snuggle time and everything!"
Erza was happy to see the girl finally brightening up a bit, nodding and smiling at the child's excitement.
"Yes she can. It will be wonderful."
"Hai! And, and then we-"
Mid-sentence, she stopped, the cause being the wagon suddenly coming to a halt.
"What? We're here already?" the brunette asked.
That question was soon answered by the sudden presence of Gray, the ice mage standing there with a bit of a sullen and somewhat shocked look on his face.
"Erza…everyone…you have to see this…"
They knew something was wrong, Gray's looking giving that away, but they just didn't know what. In curiosity, they all got off, even Natsu, who snapped out of his motion sickness mode. What was going on? What had he seen? They all wondered this as they reached the front of the carriage, that wonder quickly disappearing when they saw what was in front of them, taking them all of guard. It was a sight they were not expecting, a sight that shook their hearts greatly…a sight that made Hikari sick to her stomach…Yes, they had indeed arrived in Kyrioshi…well, what was left of it…
"No…no…it can't be…"
But…it was. The entire area was in shambles, the town torn apart. Very few buildings stood, the rest broken down and crumbled to the ground. Some people were carrying and helping the injured while others were crying over dead bodies. The smell of death was everywhere, and with the young Dragon Slayer having such a keen sense of smell, it only turned her stomach more.
"Natsu…" Happy cried softly, landing on his shoulder at what he saw and clinging to him slightly.
"What…there's…there's just no way." Erza said. "The demon couldn't have possibly come through. It should have taken him a lot longer than this."
"He must be moving faster than we expected…" Gray added. "Just…look at everything…it's destroyed…"
"And the smell…" Natsu said, covering his face a little.
"This is terrible…" Lucy muttered. We need to help them, and…Hikari?"
Hikari was too shocked to say anything…too shocked to even move, her eyes widened at what she was now witnessing. Everything was as Gray said…destroyed, buildings she was once used to seeing no longer in existence. The sight of dead bodies shocked her system even more. She had never truly witnessed death like this before. It also placed a thought in her mind, a worry that shook her from the immobility that had taken over, a fear that she desperately pleaded in her heart was not true….
"Yuki…"
Without a single word, and as quick as she could, she took off, running through the rubble of a town.
"Hikari!" Erza shouted, her and the gang following, but the child didn't stop. She couldn't. She had to get there…she had to find her, and she had to…
"No way…"
Coming to a stop, her eyes widened yet again at a devastating sight. There in front of her was nothing but crumbled and broken remains of her old home, a building she had spent nearly half her life in. To her, it had always been so big and so grand looking, but now, it lay in shambles, nothing left but broken pieces.
"Hikari!"
The rest of the gang had finally caught up, stopping beside the speechless female. When they saw what she was looking at, they all had the same thought.
"Hikari…" Erza asked. "Was this your old home?"
The child couldn't answer, her gaze locked with the houses remains. She didn't care so much for the building, but truly feared what may be buried beneath what was left. Were there bodies? Or had they escaped? Where was her Aunt? Where were the butlers, and Yuki…where was her Yuki? If they didn't escape, were they trapped? Maybe they couldn't get out? Maybe she should search the rubble? Maybe she-"
"Hikari…is that you?"
A new voice shook her from her thoughts. Turning, she found and older man not far from them, immediately recognizing who he was.
"Chehiya-san?"
Mr. Chehiya was her next door neighbor growing up and always treated her relatively nice when he saw her.
"Hikari…I've been wondering what happened to you. When your Aunt said you were gone I…"
He then suddenly quieted, a saddened look falling upon his face.
"Where are they…My Aunt…Jerick…Akito?"
"Hikari…" he said, his voice shaky. "Hikari, they're dead."
Hikari's heart stopped when she heard this, the news shocking her. Just like that, three mages she had always viewed as quite powerful were gone…no longer existing.
"Gaimeka…he came last night." The man told her. "No one saw it coming. We were warned of course, but we didn't think he would make it so quickly. The destruction…it happened so fast…so many people have died. We pulled the bodies of your Aunt and the butlers out this morning and buried them…"
Hikari's chest tightened, finding it hard to almost breath.
"And Yuki…what of Yuki…"
The man stayed silent, his eyes watering up. Hikari didn't settle for this, making her way over and suddenly pushing him down in anger. There was no way he was trying to tell her what she thought he was.
"I said where's Yuki!" she screamed.
"Hikari, stop!" Erza told her.
"I'm sorry, Hikari. We pulled her body out too. She was alive though, but just barely. We've been caring for her throughout the night, but…there's nothing else we can do. Her injuries are too severe. We-"
"Where is she…"
"Hikari, you-"
"Where is she!?"
"She's where the bank used to be, but Hikari, she doesn't have much longer. She-"
The brunette didn't even bother to let him finish, taking off and running to where she was told. She wouldn't believe anything he said…she wouldn't believe it at all. Yuki couldn't die…she wouldn't…none of that would happen.
"Hikari wait!" Erza called, the gang running and following her again.
Remembering where the building was, she made her way over and stopped almost immediately when she was a few inches away.
"Yuki…"
There on the ground, was a small pile of sheets, a body of a young girl on top of them.
"Yuki!"
Running to her side, she knelt down beside her, tears already streaming down her face. Her little sister…her precious Yuki…
"Yuki! Yuki wake up! Speak to me!"
The girl, who was covered in bandages, had her eyes closed, but upon hearing Hikari's voice, they slowly opened, brows furrowing slightly in confusion.
"Nee….chan?"
Hikari nearly broke down when she heard her voice, relief in seeing her alive taking over. It had been so long since she had heard that voice, the sound gracing her ears like music.
"It's ok, Yuki-chan…" she said, gently taking her hand. "Everything's ok…I'm here now…"
The entire gang had caught up at this point, watching in silence at the scene in front of them.
"This is her Yuki…" Erza thought. "That precious person…"
Staring up at the brunette, the confusion suddenly changed into happiness, a smile now on her face as tears filled those midnight black eyes.
"Nee-chan…it's you…it's really you. You came back…"
"Of course I did." Hikari told her, wiping away those tears. "I promised you didn't I? I'm sorry I took so long. I was trying to get stronger to defeat your…Yuki…I'm sorry it's been so long. I hope you never thought I forgot you. I thought about you every day…"
"And I thought about you." Yuki said back, squeezing the girl's hand. "Always and never once did I think you forgot me. You're my nee-chan…I'm so happy you're here…I'm so happy I can see you before I…"
Hikari knew what words were going to be said next, but she still wouldn't believe them. It wasn't going to happen…nothing was going to happen to her.
"Yuki-chan, you're coming home with me. There's a whole family waiting for you."
"Nee-chan, I-"
"And we have a healer there, Wendy. She's a Dragon Slayer just like me. She can heal you, and-"
"Nee-chan…"
"And you can join Fairy Tail and live with me, and everything will be perfect. We can be together again, Yuki."
"Nee-chan…please…I don't have much time left…"
"That's not true, Yuki…" she said shakily. "You'll be all right. We'll take care of you…I'll take care of you, and-"
"Nee-chan-"
"No!"
More tears fell down the brunettes face, the girl gripping Yuki's hand tighter. She wasn't dying…she wasn't. She wouldn't let it happen.
"Yuki-chan…"
"Nee-chan…you know I love you, right? I love you so much…"
"I love you, too…."
"Thank you…thank you for everything you've done for me. You're the best big sister anyone could ask for."
"Yuki-chan…please…"
"Nee-chan…can you sing to me?"
She wasn't expecting this question. It had been forever since she'd done so.
"Yuki…"
"My lullaby…Nee-chan…can you sing it to me?"
Nodding her head, she leaned in and placed a kiss on the girl's cheek, her free hand now caressing those dark locks as the song began.
"Little child, be not afraid
Though thunder explodes and the lightening flash
Illuminates your tear stained face, I'm here tonight.
My child please know that these years do show
The rains apart of how life goes
But it's dark and it's late, so I'll hold you and wait
Till your frightened eyes do close
And I hope that you know that nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls of rivers and lands, on forests and sands
Makes the beautiful world that you see in the morning
Everything's fine in the morning, the rain will be gone in the morning
And I'll still be here in the morning."
She managed to smile a little after singing this, reaching up to wipe away her own tears.
"Did you miss that, Yuki-chan?"
No answer came. Looking back at the girl's face, she saw her eyes had closed.
"Yuki?"
Still nothing, panic running through her system now.
"Yuki! Yuki-chan wake up! Yuki! Please! Don't leave me!"
But no voice came. That precious sound could no longer be heard. No more nee-chan, no more smiles, no more of those giggles…nothing, and before Hikari could say anything else, Yuki's hand went limp and slipped out of her own.
"No…no….Yuki!"
"Oh no…" Lucy said softly, the woman crying on Natsu's shoulder. Happy was tearing up as well, Gray standing in silence. Erza was also in tears, heartbroken that this all had happened. Yuki was still so young, and for Hikari….for her daughter…
"Hikari-"
"Yuki…" the girl cried, her tears endless now. "Yuki…please…come back."
But she was gone…her little sister…her first taste of human family love….the reason she was able to live on and still smile no matter what bad things were happening when she was growing up, was gone…and because of the things that had happened…because she had left over a year ago, leaving her behind…she couldn't help but blame herself.
"I'm sorry…Yuki…my Yuki…my…"
And in that moment, a scream was let out. A scream full of nothing but the darkest pain she had ever felt in her life, and it echoed across the broken town. Flames also covered the entirety of her body as she let it out, jetting out far and violently in every direction and allowing no one near her as her heart broke.
"Hikari!" Erza shouted, trying to get closer, but the heat was too much. "Hikari, please!"
"We've got to get to her!" Lucy said.
"Those flames are just too hot!" Gray said back.
"But not for me." Natsu told them, taking a step forward.
"Natsu, please get to her." Erza pleaded. "Please, I-"
But before she could finish, and before Natsu could move, the flames came down, the screaming stopped.
"Hikari!"
But the girl heard nothing, darkness and sadness surrounding her aching heart. Nothing made sense right now…nothing seemed real, and before anyone could react, she stood up and took off running.
"Hikari wait!" Erza shouted, running after her, but the young girl seemed quicker.
"Hikari please!" Erza couldn't lose sight of her. She knew the girl was hurting…she knew she was in pain and would do anything to be there for her.
As she continued to run, Erza started losing sight of her, Hikari taking off and shooting in different directions. Eventually, she watched as the girl entered some nearby woods. She followed suit, but as soon as she was in there…
"Hikari! Hikari where are you!"
Nothing. The child was nowhere to be found. She kept running however, hoping to come by her. She couldn't be alone right now, especially when there was a demon about. She at least had to be somewhere safe…and she needed to be comforted…she needed to have people around.
"Hikari….Hikari!"
