Written by: DamnHeFLy

A/N: Thinking about buffing the word count...

Disclaimer: Not my characters...

The shock that came wasn't from the news of Lisanna's death, but how her mentor had declined to visit.

Erza made her way to the guild, walking while allowing a tear-riddened Levy to clutch onto her and cry onto her blouse. Her armor would be uncomfortable for Levy, so it would be best to leave it unequipped. The streets were quiet at this time of the day, but the odd feeling from the silence was when they were nearing the guild hall. Day or night, never did Fairy Tail remain quiet. Her mentor should be in there already, comforting Mira and Elfman.

But Carrot-head wasn't. Her mentor, who cared so much more about others than himself, chose not to console the people who gave him shelter.

"I have to calm down and think," he said.

Before Erza pushed opened the doors, the doors already swung open, and flying through it was Natsu. Someone apparently gave him a blow, but who would be fighting at such a time? The redhead only needed to glance in the guild to find out. The blonde stood there with a nasty grin and an outstretched arm that just delivered a punch. The crowd that had gathered earlier stared at the two of them in worry, knowing that a fight now would be nothing but trouble.

The fire dragon slayer showed no signs of backing down, twisting in mid air to secure a landing, his feet scraping away the stone tiles. Before Natsu could retaliate, Erza raised an arm, blocking and signalling him to stop. "What are you doing at a time like this, Natsu?!"

"That bastard! Laxus said that Lisanna died because...beacuse..." Natsu used an arm to shield his face, a futile attempt to stop the tears. For someone who held Lisanna so close to his heart, it must have been devastating to hear the news. "Lisanna isn't weak!"

Natsu wiped the last tears of his face with the back of his hand, getting ready for another strike, Laxus only grinning to express an invitation. Before Natsu dashed, a hand fell on his shoulder. What struck Erza first was the orange hair, followed by the odd yellow eyes. For as long as Erza could remember, her mentor never had yellow eyes, and her mentor said he wouldn't even come. Had he "calmed down"?

It only took a second for Carrot-head to flicker and deliver a quick blow to Laxus's stomach, a blow with such impact that the sound of it echoed throughout the guild hall. No doubt that anyone, even Laxus would fall to the loss in strength in his legs. Using that advantage, her mentor grabbed Laxus's neck and hammer-threw him into a wall.

The Thunder God Tribe, his trusty lackeys were immediately alerted. Bixlow took out his dolls and Freed Justine drew his sword, but in a blink of an eye, the dolls were nothing but wooden splinters and the blade of Freed's rapier was snapped like a twig. Not a single eye could match that speed. There was only one more member unmobilized, and Evergreen was ready to make herself useful by removing her glasses. Her mentor was, however, more vigilant, flickering behind the women and grabbing her neck, perhaps too tightly such that it constricted her breathing. The grasp did not only immobilize Evergreen, but was obviously also hurting her.

Before the leader could strike again, her mentor tightened his grip on the women's neck, sending a message to Laxus. Her mentor's only emotion was a deepened scowl, Laxus sneering in return. "If I kill this women and your tribe, does that make you all weak?"

As an egoist, Laxus didn't take the comment very well, tightening his fist as if he was about to throw a punch, snarling as hard as he could only to be interrupted by the sound of a door opening. Everyone's attention turned to the guild master's office, and the two people who emerged were a solemn Marakrov and a red-eyed Mira. "What's the commotion about?"

It was only after Marakrov spotted her mentor gripping onto Evergreen's neck did Carrot-head loosen his grip, letting the half-conscious woman fall onto the floor unceremoniously. "I didn't like your grandson's attitude very much."

"It's not very uncommon to hear that, but your unhappiness should be directed towards my grandson alone." It was the first time Erza saw Marakrov mildly angry, the eccentric persona he usually wore bearing no remnants. "Since I have finished interrogating Mira about the incident, you can take her home first while I talk to Elfman. He drank too much anyways and he'll probably be sleeping into the infirmary tonight."

"Understood." Her mentor glanced once more at the defeated group, watching as Laxus' lackeys backed off and scurried back to help up their leader. Laxus however, felt no remorse, ready to continue the fight. Erza could standby no more, immediately summoning up her default armor and a pair of swords, ready to engage in battle on behalf of her mentor. A hand on her shoulder, however, halted her, causing her to relax from her stance. "Erza, we're not fighting anymore. It was irrational of me to fight anyway. I'll just bring Mira home, since it's really late. Would you like to accompany us? Mira is a friend of yours, and at a time like this, I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

The redhead only nodded, wondering when her mentor cared so much for Mira. Erza knew jealousy at this point of time was uncalled for, but it didn't stop the feeling from brewing. Her mentor walked up to the silver-hair beauty who was still wiping her eyes, and Erza knew that the care she received was different, a care that was beyond etiquette and sympathy. The look in her mentor's hazel eyes reflected true heartbreak. "Shall we go, Mira?"

Mira didn't reply, or couldn't reply, instead following Erza and her mentor out of the guild. But before they could leave the place, Laxus gripped Mira's arm tightly. "Who the fuck do you think you are, messing with us like that and expecting to leave?!"

With that trademark "flickering" technique of his, her mentor slapped Laxus' arm away. Gripping the collar of Laxus' coat, her mentor flickered again slammed him against the bar counter, away from everyone else, looking at him with the scariest face that she'd ever seen him make. Without warning, the room received a flux in gravity. Every part of Erza's body felt slightly heavier, and the oxygen became noticeably thinner. Everyone else was feeling the same effects apparently, but it was Laxus, who was standing closest to Carrot-head mentor who was feeling it the most. The once-mighty leader of the Thunder God Tribe was barely having any air, making hoarse noises. What kind of spell is this?

Only through deeper analysis did Erza realize that wasn't a spell, but magic itself. So much magic power was released that it changed the whole density of the air in the room and the gravity in the area. And her mentor wasn't even trying, as if all this while, her mentor never needed to exert to create magic, but exert to prevent magic from flowing uncontrollably out of him. Such power is unheard of in one human being, so just what is her mentor?

"I am a man that has more magic power than every guild on Earthland combined. And I've caused the deaths of more people than you have met. So if you dare insult the deceased again..." Her mentor dropped the man onto the floor, and he barely caught his footing. Turning his back to the blonde, he walked towards Mira and Erza. "...I will not hesitate to kill you"

Putting his arm around Mira's shoulders, he guided her out of the guild, with a petrified Erza trailing behind. Erza didn't know what to think. She didn't know whether this was her mentor's sense of justice or a mix of personal emotions. And the source of emotions, might they be from Mira? The other guild members were petrified, not only by the sorry state the supposedly strongest mage in Magnolia, but by the overwhelming display of power from her mentor. To be honest, even Erza was taken aback.

As they walked back, Erza's mind had yet to rearrange its thoughts. Her mentor walked beside Mira, looking around in a protective manner. It was in the middle of the night, and it was awfully quiet, but Magnolia was fairly safe at night, yet her mentor had a look of worry etched on his face. Erza did not want to think of why her mentor was acting in such a manner. Even towards Erza herself, Carrot-head was never protective, instilling a sense of self-dependence into her, and yet to Mira's sorry state, he was a whole different person.

Was it for this period of time or will it last? Erza could only hope that it was the former, wanting her mentor's attention back.

They reached the Strauss household, the vision lacrima player still on the floor. The exact same place, but the atmosphere and emotions miles apart. Mira sat on her couch, her eyes bearing such pain that it made Erza feel terrible inside. Her mentor sat beside Mira, patting Mira comfortingly on the back. As if suddenly remembering she was here, her mentor called out to her. "Erza, could you get Mira some warm water?"

Honestly, Erza had no intention on letting her mentor out of her sight, but her respect for him was too great to ignore any of his orders. Reluctantly and wordlessly, Erza left the living room and entered the kitchen, taking some time to find the water heater and make some warm water. Throughout her time in the kitchen, she listened hard for any sound, which was mostly a few sobs from Mira. There was no talking or wailing.

Erza was worried, so she hurriedly took the cup and walked out of the kitchen, her eyes widening at the scene.

They were hugging.

It wasn't an intense hug, but they were embracing, Mira's face buried in the nape of Carrot-head's neck. Mira's arms were around her mentor's chest, muffled sobs escaping from Mira. The redhead could bear no more jealousy. Her meter was at its capacity, her heart already starting to hurt. It took a lot of effort just to remember to hold on to the cup.

Before Erza could compose herself, she put the cup on a random table, trying her best not to let her tears out while running out the back door and going around the house back to the open field behind Mira's house. As she brought her face to her knees in a crying position, she let it out. Her pent-up tears of frustration, disappointment and despair, and yet the pain was growing.

She hated Mira for being beautiful, attractive and great with people. She hated her mentor for making her fall in love with him unintentionally. And above everything else, she hated her lack of courage, her unattractiveness, her stupidity and belief in those stupid books.

The back door opened, Erza notified by the creak of the door. Emerging from it was her mentor, looking somewhat depressed. Mustering all her remaining energy, Erza put on a strong front, but she couldn't hide her bloodshot eyes. "Erza, why are you-"

"I was mourning for...uh... Lisanna..." It didn't sound very convincing, but her mentor seemed to have accepted it.

"Do you want to go back to your dorm first? Mira's feeling down and-"

"I-I understand, I'll get going now." Without a second moment, Erza walked past her mentor, racing towards the front foor, not even bothering to look back. She was going to leave all her feelings behind, built up stronger walls around herself, and focus on her goal.

No more sensei, just herself and Fairy Tail and the world.

As she entered her dorm room after walking, the first thing that Erza did was flop on her bed. She unequipped everything, leaving her bare self to bask in the thin moonlight through the blinds. Sensei might like her like this, she thought, but instantly shook her head. Shaking her head, however, did nothing to dispel her thoughts, and she imagined a surreal image of her mentor. He stood over her, slowly crawling onto her bed and onto her.

Erza looked at the smile on the illusion's face, and smiled in return. She tilted her head back, letting a touch starting from her touch roam her body.

Oh, no. Erza thought.