Versatility in the Arts
Kuroki and Gajeel, after non-stop walking for two days, arrived in the Royal City at night.
Kuroki was seriously tense now, always having her head bowed at all times. Gajeel could see why, guards were every where!
"This is where the King lies, and from what Mom told me, where Fairy Tail resides as a magic lacrima. Mystogan did tell you how to revive them right?" She questioned, being careful to use her friend's alias. Smoothing her long black hair down to create a curtain, she carefully wiped her bloody tears away with a red cloth so it looked like it was dampened and not bloody.
Gajeel nodded and looked down at a gloved hand. Although Edo-Laxus gave him clothes, he chose to stick with his own and a simple cloak. "Yeah. Just hit it with Dragon Slayer magic."
Kuroki hummed in agreement and turned a corner, extending her pole to look like a traveler's cane. Walking at a deliberate place, it was obvious she had a place to go. To where? Gajeel could only guess. The two walked a further ways down a few alley ways until they reached a small cozy building. From the sweet smell, it was a bakery. Gajeel rose a brow, but followed none of the less. For all he knew, this bakery could be an information and weaponry bank with all of the whacked out things in this world.
Walking in to the place, it seemed like a normal bakery. Sweets on display everywhere they stepped, and decorations here and there. The most outstanding one was the furtherest wall on the left. On it was a woman facing towards the distance in a sideways view. The painting was so massive that it was only the head and neck. Sparkling black eyes were glittering and hair flew into the wind. Tears ran down the cheek facing the passerby's. Tears of…blood.
"Welcome to Ewell and Cersino bakery. Can I help you with anything?"
Kuroki turned towards a boy a few years older than her with shaggy black hair and piercing red eyes. He was taller than her, but not dramatically, and he was tone and lean. Wearing simple black pants, a long sleeved yellow shirt and an apron, the boy seemed like a regular teen.
"Yes. I was wondering who painted this picture?" She questioned and Gajeel bit his tounge. They came here for her to admire art work? Although it was beautiful, this seriously was not the time to be worriying about it. The boy smiled warmly and turned towards the painting.
"Believe it or not, Imperial Grand Dutchess Takara Knightwalker painted it when she was just a young girl. She was quite talented."
"Was?" Gajeel asked and the young man turned to him with a sweet smile.
"Unfortunetly, Sugar Foot, that is the rumor these days. That during her banishment she was attacked by a gang and because of her curse that took away her sight, many believes she died. She had no way to notice the thugs coming her way until it was to late."
A stony silence settled as the three seemed to give a moment of scilence of reverent respect for the woman standing before them. Then Gajeel blinked at something the young man said.
"S-Sugar Foot?" The black haired man smirked and winked at Gajeel which made the dragon slayer shiver and Kuroki to laugh. Suddenly, a boy with blonde hair and icy blue eyes popped in with a solem expression.
"Rogue-Kun? What's wrong? Everything alright?" The one with black hair turned and shook his head with a bright smile.
"Everything's fine! I was just explaining about Takara-chan. Did you check on those cupcakes, Sting?"
Sting nodded apathetically and walked in to the main room. The blonde wore all black; shirt, jeans, boots and jewlery. Sting had a few piercings here and there, one on the nose, the bottom lip, and a row on his left ear. Sting Ewell sighed and looked at the painting. "Dutchess Takara was such a nice and beautiful girl. Edolas suffered a great loss. No matter if the ignorant fools knew it or not."
It sounded like Sting just gave a eulogy.
Kuroki and Gajeel glanced at each other. Almost knowing what she was going to do, he nodded and she reached for her hood.
"Even if I was blind, I could not believe my own friends would think of me so weak."
Taking off the hood, she looked at them with bloody tears still steadily streaming. Rogue Cersino gasped and placed his hands over his mouth in desbelief. Sting's eyes widened and his hands began to shake.
"N-no...! It can't be! Faust said—"
"Faust lied, Sting." Kuroki cut the blonde off and Gajeel stepped back to give them there space. Whatever Sting was about to say was interrupted by Rogue tackling the girl into a giant hug.
"I knew it. I told Sting every night but he didn't believe me. I knew you were still alive!" Kuroki smiled warmly and hugged back fiercly. Feeling her bloody tears fall harder she cried and smiled harder.
"I told you two I wasn't going to leave you alone."
Sting watched on, not willing to believe so easily. Rogue saw that and sighed. Did Sting not see the girl crying blood?! It was clearly there old friend! As if to prove it, Takara smiled and took Sting's hand.
"How is Doranbolt? Last time I saw him, he wanted to be an admiral. Did he get promoted after all of this time?"
Sting's eyes widened. She asked about Admiral Doranbolt, the man who protected and loved Takara as an older brother. Before she left, she made Sting promise that he kept an eye on the man who was way older than them at the time. "Yep, that's Takara." Sting decided, grabbing the girl into a hug. Kuroki laughed and Gajeel coughed. Guards were coming into the bakery.
"Kuroki! Hood! Now!" Gajeel barked and the girl hurridely pulled on the hood, just as the guards were walking in.
"Sting, be a dear and show the new trainees to the kitchen." Rogue shooed off lovingly, batting his eyelashes at the two male guards. Sting grumbled, hating when Rogue got flirty with people in front of him.
As the three walked into the bakery, Kuroki could hear the sugar sweet voice of her friend greet, "Good afternoon! Welcome to Ewell and Cersino bakery, can I help you?" Kuroki snickered and looked up at Sting.
"If you don't get him now, it will be to late. Rogue is obviously fishing for a man." Sting grumbled but looked away and pouted as he looked back to the closing door of the kitchen, just in time to see one of the guards actually flirting back.
"Whatever. I'll talk to Rogue when you admit to Prince Jellal that you love him."
That shut her up.
-Earthland-
Takara and Jellal laughed as they watched some skits on PlayTube. Takara, knowing when people would check up on her, brought in her tablet just to have fun with the prisoner she was falling for. Since the tablet was small, they had to sit very close together. Not that either of them minded.
"Who in the hell can come up with a name like 'Watermelondrea'?" (A,N; Pronounced water•may•lone•dray• a) Jellal asked and Takara giggled. Shrugging, she felt him inch closer so the tablet they were balancing on their knees wouldn't fall. Her heart skipped lightly.
"I don't know, but Tre Melvin is a genius."
"In comedy yes. But there's a musical genius sitting right next to me."
Takara's grip on the blanket over the two tightened with a spasm. Jellal smirked. He had a chance. Why was his lips so close to her ear?! Takara blushed and held her breath when he kissed her on the cheek, fingers intertwining with hers. What she wouldn't give to know if he liked her the same way she did. But she knew the answer. Jellal was just a kind soul who showed his gratitude by not condemning him to be alone. And these little actions were his signs of appreciation. She sighed but leaned her head on his shoulder as they debated on which video to watch next.
'I swear if I see them together…!'
Takara gasped and jumped away from Jellal so fast, the guy could hear the wind moving past his ear. She threw the tablet under his pillow and immediately got into position out of his cell. Before he could even question what was wrong, footsteps were heard. A few seconds later, Doranbolt came down the hallway with a stern frown.
"We need to talk." Doranbolt stated as soon as he stepped in arms length from her.
"Why is that, Oni-chan?"
He glanced into Jellal's cell to see a napping Jellal with a blanket over him on the floor. He had a stack of books Takara always brought him off to the corner and his bed was in normal shape. Maybe he didn't need to worry about them. "I'm just giving you a heads up. Lahar is having a meeting with all of the federal guards on your block. There's been a recent try of rebellion and escape, so there coming up with new rules." Doranbolt explained and Takara nodded. Doranbolt chuckled and stroked his baby sister's hair. "Do you ever put a comb through this mess? Mom would have a heart attack if she saw you like this."
Takara giggled and took the rubberband from her brother's wrist. Pulling her hair back, the man smiled, "Much better. You have a pretty face." Was all he said before walking away to some meeting.
"That was a close one." Jellal muttered when his footsteps dissappeared. Takara nodded and turned towards the cell with a small smile, glad that they could get back to their shinanigans. Before she could re-open it, however, Jellal shook his head and stopped her. Going to his bed he grabbed the mini computer-like device and walked back towards her. Sliding her tablet through the cell he smiled softly. "We should not be jeapordizing your position like this. It is not becoming of a future general or admiral."
Takara blinked, more than a little hurt. Jellal saw that and reached out to caress her face. He wanted to keep that smile he saw her with just a few minutes ago. But he knew they should not be even remotely close to friends. Though he wanted her. More than anything. Takara slid down to the floor outside the cell like so many other guards down the rows was.
"O-O'kay."
Jellal heard stories the men in the showers told. How the ones with the female guards fell in love but they risked it and lost them forever because their loves were repositioned. There was no chance for him. Especially since he was supposed to he under maximum security. Takara was the finest guard the magic council could offer, yet she was still a sweet and gentle girl. He couldn't risk having her ripped away from him because they became close. He. Could. Not.
-Edolas-
"What's wrong, Neko-chan?" Mystogan walked with Kuroki around the outskirts of Magnolia.
"My sight is getting worse." Mystogan paused and sighed, pulling her closer to him.
"It will be alright. We will get back home before—"
"Before what?! Before everything goes completely dark?! It's hard to paint now, Jellal-sama! I can hardly tell my smudges from my cross hatching when I'm drawing!" Kuroki began to cry as Mystogan held her tighter. "Be strong, Kuroki. It will all be over soon.
-End Flashback-
"I forgot what actually seeing lines was like." Kuroki murmured as Sting and Rogue walked the two out towards the nearest bar.
"We're glad your back safe and sound."
Gajeel spotted the bar and suggested the group go see if they can get some information from there.
Kuroki nodded and wrapped her arms around Sting's waist. "You have to protect me from the guys, Sting! I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have to see my face to notice my body."
Sting rolled his eyes, but smirked and wrapped an arm around her waist. He knew she wasn't the kind to flaunt about their looks so he could tell what her real intentions were. Glancing over at Rogue, he looked away and began walking towards the bars doors with an extra stomp in each step. Gajeel rolled his eyes and smirked. Rogue was clearly jealous. Unlike Rogue, Sting was bi-sexual. So it looked believable if Kuroki all of a sudden decided to flirt with him.
"You two need to stop with the pity-jealousy party and go hook up somewhere." Gajeel muttered before following with Kuroki and Sting in tow.
