Chasing Dreams
Fist Fights in Fairy Tail
Chapter Eight
'So this is Fairy Tail?' Akira thought. Her head craned back and she stared up at the building before her. She wouldn't have noticed it or even bothered to take another glance at it in the downpour of rain.
Water pummeled the top of the umbrella and the wind blew gusts of cold mist into her face. It was freezing outside and yet Akira couldn't help but have second thoughts about going inside.
Erza had kept her promise and hadn't pushed even once when Akira had stopped a few feet away from the entrance. She was true to her word when she said that Akira didn't have to go inside. However, the red haired mage did prop the door open a little before she herself entered the building.
"Wait right here, Akira. I'll get you a cup of hot cocoa."
Erza had been gone for about ten minutes and Akira was beginning to get antsy. Light spilled from the crack in the doorway. Akira couldn't help but find herself shivering as walked up towards the door. Standing under the alcove, she leaned against the side of the building and tried to peek inside. Warmth and good smells escaped from the building, it was very inviting.
Biting her lip, her resolve was beginning to wane. Her stomach growled and her muscles were aching her to sit down and get off her feet.
'I should just leave.' Akira thought to herself, internally debating on what to do. It was the rational thing to do, the smart thing. But a stronger much more impulsive part of her begged her to go inside and face the unknown. Sighing, Akira shook her head. There was no point debating on it. She had already made up her mind.
Closing the umbrella, Akira shook out the water and stood there for a moment as the sky echoed with quiet rumbles of thunder. Gripping the doorway, she pushed the door open and slipped inside.
Immediately warmth seized her. She shivered slightly at the abrupt change in temperature and stared a little at the sight. Akira wasn't sure what she had been picturing but this place seemed like any other bar. A few tables were upturned here and there but the noise level was about what Akira expected on a late midweek night. She stood there for a long moment, almost unsure of what to do. Water dripped from her and she couldn't help but feel a little like a wet cat.
Leaning the umbrella against the wall next to the doorway, Akira shouldered her bag and cautiously stepped forward. Her lips firmed and she didn't look back at anyone who glanced in her direction. After the show with the blonde and the evil fish lady, Akira was hesitant in starting up anything that could lead to a fight.
Looking around, she didn't see the red haired knight. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for Akira, she didn't like standing around, awkwardly waiting for someone she would barely consider to be a familiar face. Pursing her lips, Akira ran a hand through her tangled hair and shook out the excess water. Her wet hair was beginning to chill the back of her neck.
The bar was mostly empty, thankfully and Akira carefully set herself up on a barstool. Her bag slumped off her shoulder and she set it on the counter. There were whispers at her back and Akira could feel a few pairs of eyes staring into her back.
"What's a kid like you doing in a place like this?" A voice called directly to her right.
'Here we go again.' Akira dryly muttered, her words barely audible. Looking down the bar, she spotted a woman she hadn't previously noted. Her body was shadowed in the corner and Akira could smell the booze from here.
The woman's smile was wolffish. She expertly knocked back a mug of ale or whatever other poison that was going down her gullet and a pair of tarot cards moved quickly in between two fingers. "It's a late for little girls to be wandering around after dark." She purred, her eyes hidden in the dark of the room.
Akira bristled and sized her up. Biting words were on the tip of her tongue but she did nothing but level a suspicious look in the woman's direction. "Eh… You wouldn't be looking for a fight would you?" She leveled, her eyes narrowing.
"And what if I am?" A smile split her lips and the poorly dressed drunk leaned forward. Her eyes seemed to gleam at the prospect and the tarot cards in her hand doubled. "You gonna do something about it, kid?"
Akira didn't outwardly show any change in emotion but her insides dropped at the prospect. The fact of the matter was that she was in a place that she really didn't belong surrounded by people who were all assumed to be experienced mages. Even an old drunk like that could probably get a few good swings in with her shoulder out of commission.
Water dropped down from her clothes and pooped into puddles around the old stool she was sitting on. Akira was tired, chilled and hinestly was barely holding herself together as it was. What would a fist fight do for her? Nothing. At the best she would win and get thrown out of the guild right back into the rain. At the worst… Akira swallowed slightly and her muscles ached with her slightly shift in weight.
That realization hit her like a train and Akira found herself slipping out of the seat. A cup of hot cocoa wasn't worth another set of bruises.
"Now, Cana! That's not how we talk to guests!"
Akira turned at the disapproving voice and she met a pair of sparkling blue eyes. While her own were dull and more of a gray blue, the woman's were brilliantly bright.
"Ah, come on Mira! I was just messing." The drunk- Cana pouted, "You can't tell me you're not the least bit curious?"
'Curious about what?' Akira's lip firmed and she looked back between the two. She didn't like it when people talked about her like she wasn't there. Her cheeks puffed out and Akira couldn't help but scowl at the underdressed drunk in the corner.
Cana caught her eye and abruptly laughed, "Look at you, Akira-hime! What a dark look on such a pretty face!"
Akira was taken aback by the words, "I'm not a princess." She muttered, looking uneasily in Cana's direction.
"Stop teasing, Cana." The barmaid's arm stretched across the table and there was a steaming cup placed on the counter.
"Yeah, yeah- sheesh! The kid and I were just hitting it off, no need for the demon look." The drunk muttered into her cup, winking at Akira, before taking another swig.
"Don't be bothered with her, she doesn't mean any harm." The woman's smile was reassuring but Akira was still uneasy.
"How'd you know my name?" She tentatively asked, giving Cana a glance before edging away from the counter. Her head craned slightly to look around but she didn't see Erza anywhere.
The white haired woman smiled, her teeth sparkled, "Just a hunch," She leaned forward against the counter, "I'm going to take it you're the one that Ezra has been talking about. Akira's eyes widened slightly at the sentiment and she was surprised to that.
"You know Erza?" Akira spoke, looking back at the barmaid with interest.
The white haired lady giggle slightly and smiled, "Erza is a dear friend of mine, she mentioned you might stop by." Her hand stretched across the counter and the white haired lady wiped down the water that had dripped across the wood.
"Really?" Akira snorted in disbelief, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Oh yes," The barmaid cheerfully spoke, giving the girl a smile, "She's been talking about you all week."
Akira found herself at a loss for words and she was caught off guard. Something warm fluttered in her chest at the prospect. Erza, had mentioned her?
'But why?' Akira couldn't help but wonder, her nose scrunching in thought. A week ago Erza hadn't even known where she was. Had she really been so intent on keeping her promise?
The barmaid seemed to misinterpret her look because she held of her hands in a faux surrender, "All good things, I promise!" Her laugh was light and infectious, "You know," she spoke, leaning forward across the counter in a conspiring manner, "You can take a seat if you want, Erza shouldn't be too long and she was very clear in instructing that you get the finest cup of hot cocoa Fairy Tail has to offer." The white haired lady seemed to notice her hesitation, "I promise Cana won't bother you anymore- isn't that right Cana?"
Her voice raised slightly at the drunk's name but Cana barely seemed fazed. "Yeah yeah, I got it Mira," She slug back a large gulp and audibly smacked her lips in content.
"I can take care of myself, you know." Akira couldn't help but mutter, shooting both the barmaid and the drunk a look. Nevertheless, Akira pushed back up into her seat. A steaming mug was pushed toward her and just from the smell she could tell it was definitely hot chocolate. Taking a small breath Akira swirled the contents in apprehension. The barmaid's kind eyes looked at her expectantly. Gripping the edge of the hot mug, Akira looked between the woman and her drink before finally taking a small sip.
It was rich and Akira couldn't help but close her eyes as the warmth immediately spread to her cheeks. She paused for a moment on the taste. Lifting the mud up, Akira greedily took another drink. It was good, really good.
"So how's it taste? Mira-nee made it special! Her hot chocolate is the best!"
A voice from her left startled Akira and she choked mid drink.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you!"
Akira sputtered out a few wet coughs and internally cursed herself. She was never this jumpy but there was something about these people that made her more on edge than usual. She cleared her throat and carefully wiped the hot chocolate running down her chin onto the back of her hand.
"I wasn't scared." Akira immediately responded, "Just a little startled is all." She wiped the back of her hands on her pants. Her nose wrinkled at the residual stickiness and she turned her head towards the voice only for her jaw to drop slightly in surprise. Her head whipped between the two. "Hey…" Akira's eyes narrowed, "This isn't some sort of magic is it?"
"Only the magic of family~" The short haired woman sang, moving quickly around the counter to sling an arm around her…her?
Akira blinked for a long moment and stared between the two. At first they had looked the same but now she could see the differences.
"Are you her sister or her mom?" Akira pointed a finger at the barkeep and her eyes quickly moved between the two, "I can't tell."
The life seemed to drain out of the oldest and her face buried into her hands, "I'm not that old!" Mira wailed, causing the other two to sweatdrop. "Lisanna! I don't look like an old maid do I?!"
Akira was startled back as a cry erupted from the eldest. Her face morphed into horror and her mouth dropped open slightly. She really didn't know how to react to making the barkeep cry. Her mind froze and a significant amount of guilt dropped heavily against her chest.
"Mira-nee," The youngest one comforted, though any other words were drowned out by Cana's sputtering laughs.
"Pfft! She got you good, grandma" The ale sloshed in her mug and she choked on the liquid, "You got the white hair and everything!"
"I didn't mean anything by it." Akira quietly bit out, casting a clear look of displeasure at the drunk. She really was starting to dislike her.
"You're just saying that because you don't want me to feel bad!" Mira wailed, burying her head into her sister's shoulder. "But I know the truth! I really do look old!"
Akira sweatdropped, "That's not true…" She uneasily murmured, looking around in hopes that someone could help her calm down the woman she upset, "You don't look a day over uh…" Akira shrunk in her chair and her mouth went dry as she peered at the barkeep. With the white hair and older styles clothing, Akira really had no idea "...thirty." Akira finally decided,"You don't look a day over thirty!" She declared, only to have her mouth drop open in horror as the barkeep began to cry even harder.
Cana visibly choked and fell back against the counter. Coughing, her drink sprayed across the counter and laugher howled which Akira actively ignored.
"We're sisters." The short haired one spoke, her eyes sparkling to life as she wrapped an arm around her still sobbing older sister. "I'm Lisanna and this is Mira. She's the oldest of the three of us."
Akira looked around in expectation but she didn't see another identical girl running around.
"Oh, there are only two of us here, tonight." Lisanna spoke, noting her curious glance, "Elfman went with Evergreen on a mission together."
'I hope Evergreen is the name for the last of them,' Akira sweatdropped, and carefully took a sip of her cocoa, 'Elfman is a horrible name for a girl.'
"Mira! Did Erza come back yet?!" A loud voice called across the guild hall.
"Not yet," The barkeep cheerfully replied, lifting her head up and astonishing Akira with her completely tear free completion.
"Wait a second," The girl's eyes viciously narrowed in suspicion and Akira was beginning to suspect it had been a ruse, "Weren't you just-"
"But you can meet our new member!" Cana barked out, her smile gleaned in the dark of the corner, "She's a almost the same age Erza was when she first joined and probably just as much as a spitfire! You'd better watch out, Natsu!"
"New member?!"
"New member?!"
Akira's mouth dropped open in indignation as Cana grandly gestured to her by throwing a bottle cap her way. Mira reached out and caught it, "Cana! That is not what Erza-"
The name caught Akira's ear and the girl vehemently scowled, "Wait a second!" Akira interrupted, cutting of the barmaid. Sitting straight up, she glared at the mages around her, "This wasn't part of the deal!" Her good mood was gone and Akira tightened her grasp on the bag slung around her good shoulder. 'Erza promised!' Akira thought, her mind betraying her as she spun around to look at the unfamiliar faces surrounding her.
Suddenly a head full of bright pink hair invaded her vision and Akira found herself in very close proximity to a stranger.
"Hey! Erza recruited you right?!" The cheerful boy asked. His sharp, pearly white teeth gleamed and Akira pressed her back against the counter.
"No one recruited me." She vehemently argued, glaring at the people around her, "I never said I would join a guild!"
"But you're strong right? If Erza recruited you then you gotta be strong!" He continued, his voice pitching high with excitement as he shook with energy.
"That's none of your business." Setting her drink down, Akira crossed her arms over her chest and looked around for Erza. Any direction she looked in, a mop of pink hair would block her line of sight.
"Fight me!" The pink haired mage declared, pointing a finger down at her.
"Thanks, but no thanks-" Akira's words were cut off as he invaded her personal space.
"I can smell the magic on you! Come on!" His voice pitched up in a very dramatic whine and
Akira balked, 'This guy is really persistent isn't he?' Gritting her teeth, Akira jumped off the counter and shouldered her bag. He eyes lit up and he got into a fighting stance. He was blocking the door and it was becoming clear that if she didn't do something she was going to be trapped here.
Cana's eyes lit up and she set down her drink to assess the situation. Holding her hand up, her tarot cards split between two hands before she laid them down against the table. Her eyes flashed and she looked between the two. It was obvious this girl was a spitfire, but how much could she hold up against Natsu was the real question. She'd been watching Akira ever since she's walked in. Cana was no expert in magic by any means but there was something off about the girl. She'd been slightly poking at the girl all night in attempt to really see if she couldn't shoot out even a hint of her magic. Cana leaned forward in anticipation, her hand spread across her deck. If anyone could coax little magic show out of her, Natsu would be the one. Cana wanted to see what Ezra saw in her
"Mira-nee…" Lisanna murmured, looking at the two, "I'm not sure this is a good idea. Erza already said that-"
"You want to fight then, Pinky?" Akira spoke up, her voice going dangerously low. The guild quieted slightly and Akira could tell by the looks on the faces of the mages around her that this was a regular occurrence. Pinky's cheesing grin was already baiting her and she could feel the hot flow of magic pulse through her bloodstream. His preparatory grin was her answer. "All right then, what's the rules?"
"Ghighighi! We only got one around here." Another mage spoke up. Akira turned around and was confused to not be able to match a voice to the speaker. Movement caught her eye and she finally could see him in the shadow of the room. Seated in the corner, his eyes were piercing and his wild, black hair framed his face to make him look like a madman. Thick iron bars riveted through his skin and Akira almost winced at the sight. They looked painful. "The first mage to either give up or pass out loses!"
Akira thought for a long moment before nodding her head, "Seems doable." She muttered, giving him a slight nod in understanding before looking back to Pinky.
Throwing her bag forward, it slid past him and thumped against the wall near the door. Akira carefully rolled her shoulder back, twinging at the distinct pain. She took a calculated step forward and her hands settled on her hips. A plan settled in her mind and she took a small breath to steady herself. Her legs coiled beneath her.
Pinky stretched his arms back and winded back a fist; "All right! Let's see what you're made of! I'm not going to hold-"
Akira didn't allow him to finish his sentence before shooting off towards him. His eyes widened in excitement and a fist winded back. Akira ran at him at full force and just when he was about to strike, she dropped. Sliding in between his legs, Akira slid straight past him and used the same momentum to leap to her feet. Taking a step forward, she swung her bag over her shoulder.
Stumbling forward, Akira caught her shoulder against the doorframe to steady herself. She really didn't plan on fighting him, that would've been really stupid. Akira has already seen how powerful Erza was and she had no desire to fight a mage that could easily be just as powerful. That one slide already had her shoulder cramping and anything more than a few punches would send it back into the same state it had been two weeks ago.
No, she'd been planning her escape.
This pink haired idiot had been exactly who she had been expecting. Mages were all the same and no matter what Erza said, Akira knew she was right. They were nothing more than sneaky, back stabbing mercenaries for hire. Everything she had seen proved it.
So if he gave her such an easy out, why wouldn't she take it? She was grateful for the hot chocolate but between the drunk and Pinky- it was clear that she had overstayed her welcome. And Erza didn't even bother to stick around, it was clear she had better things to do. Not that Akira really blames her. She wouldn't stick around for someone like her either.
Giving a mocking salute, Akira turned back around to face the door, "I give up-"
"Is this where you've gotten to, Flamebrain?" A shirtless man interrupted her, stretching out from where he was sitting in a booth. Standing up, he walked over to stand next to the pink haired mage. "Fighting little girls now are you, Natsu? That has to be the most pathetic thing I've seen all day."
Akira froze, her hands twitched and she clenched her fists as soon as his words processed. Spinning back around on her heel, her brows narrowed in indignation, "Who you calling little-"
"Why don't you come over here and say it to my face?!"
Both affronted mages shot each other a look before glaring back at the ice mage.
"Unless you want to my fist in your face I suggest you stay out of it, Gray!" Pinky hollered, "This is my fight! I saw her first!"
"First of all, I'm not fighting either of you!" Akira exasperated, throwing her hands up in the air. The pair didn't seem to hear her as they went head to head. Akira huffed and irritably shouldered her bag, she didn't like it when people ignored her.
"As if you could ever connect your fist to anything!" Gray jeered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Is that a challenge?!" Natsu growled, shoving the other away.
"No, not for me it won't be."
"Gray-sama is so cool!"
Akira's mouth dropped in slight horror. She wasn't sure what was worse, the fact that the man's clothes began to drop to the floor or the fact that a woman had seemingly crawled out of the wood works to cheer on this impromptu stripping session. Even if she wanted to fight, there was no way in Earthland that she would be able to seriously fight a naked person.
Akira blinked for a long moment. Her mouth upturned in morbid fascination and disgust. As more clothes dropped to the floor, their fist fight began to get brutal. Spinning on her heel, she made her way to the door. With her back to the fighting pair and the shouts of the mages drowning out the noise, Akira gathered her things.
"You want a fight! I'll give you a fight!" Gray bellowed, holding his hands out in front, "Ice Make: Lance!" Crackles of magic swirled about and solid speed of ice flew through the air. Natsu easily dodge a few and sent a spinning kick of fire back.
At the same time, Cana leaned up from where she was, "Gray! Put your damn clothes on! We got innocent eyes watching!" The drunk mage hollered, throwing an empty bottle in his direction. Mira sweatdropped and turned her gaze to Cana who shrugged, "What? I have my morals, however skewed they may be."
The ice mage easily ducked under the burst of flames and the cheap shot Cana threw in his direction. What he didn't see realize is where the flames were going. Sailing over the top of his shoulder, the flames gave a bottle a whipping force and it caught speed.
With her back to the fighting pair and the shouts of the mages drowning out the noise, Akira hadn't even seen it coming.
The bottle drilled into her shoulder, sending Akira flying forward. She didn't even have a chance to steady herself before slamming face first into the floor.
Cana choked, "Oh shit!"
The two mages didn't even give a glance behind them as they continued to throw fists. Tables toppled over, sending the few sets of mugs spilling to the floor.
The two white haired mage's came running out from behind the bar. The younger of the two went straight towards Akira. Her blue eyes were wide and her hands fluttered nervously as she hurried over.
Mira's gaze was shoulders were tight and she quickly crossed the distance towards the fighting mages. Cana cringed and slunk down against the wall with her beer in from like a shield. The guild seemed to quiet slightly and an uneasy atmosphere churned.
It only took a scant few seconds before Akira immediately shoved herself up off the less than clean floor. Her face was already smarting from the fall. Lifting her right hand up, she felt the edges of her nose. Looking down, Akira pulled her hand away at the warm smear of blood that was staining her two of her fingers.
Akira's head throbbed. Her fingers slowly curled into a her fist and an immediate surge of rage flamed. Magic gushed through her veins and her fingers twitched with the sudden burst of energy. She could barely feel the pain in her shoulder. She could barely feel anything Akira's wildly glanced around and grabbed the first thing that she could get her hands on which happened to be her umbrella.
Lisanna closed the distance to the downed girl and she squatted down. She looked worriedly over Akira. Her hand tentatively reached out but immediately the girl jerked away from the contact. Her eyes flashed and Lisanna startled back at the glow. Mágica swirled lazily around the tips of her fingers, sputtering with a weak, erratic pulse of light
Her grip around the umbrella shook and without even a thought, Akira heaved it as hard as she could at the fighting pair.
The bright red umbrella ripped through the air. Mira's brows rose in surprise and she jerked back just as the offending object flew past her at a frightening speed. With an ear splitting crack it hit the back of Gray's legs. Opening up, the umbrella's wide brim tangled the mage's legs and sent him toppling forward into Natsu. Both mages fell to the floor in a sudden heap.
There was a brief pause before true guild was in an uproar.
Cana couldn't help but laugh, her hyena cackle echoed across the guild with Gajeel's closely behind it.
Juvia pounced forward and immediately attacked the offending object. The red umbrella was in tatters before anyone could blink. The rain woman's own umbrella was held tightly in her grip and she glared with devil eyes. Holding her blue umbrella like a scepter, she seemed to almost denounce the red one as a traitor to its own kind.
"Get off me you idiot!" Natsu bellowed, shoving Gray back, "If you can't even stay on your feet you shouldn't be fighting!"
"Says the one who can barely handle a teeter totter without throwing up!"
"Natsu! Gray!" Mira's voice was unforgiving and the two mages snapped to attention, alarmed at the sudden and seemingly unwarranted anger.
Levy who was sitting in a booth beside Gajeel paused in her reading. Her specs fell to the bridge of her nose and her face paled at the look on Mira's face who hands were outstretched to grab the pair. Sliding out of the booth, she took one last look at the two fighting mages before shutting her book with a snap.
"I think I might head out for the night. It's getting a bit loud." Levy spoke, fervently glancing back at the doomed pair, " I'm not sure there will be much of the guild left after Mira is done with them.
Gajeel's brow raised, "So you're not going to stay and watch?" He asked, eyeing in interest as Mira began chewing the pair out.
Levy shook her head, "And get caught in the crossfire? No thanks. I'd prefer to live long enough to finish my book." Hurrying towards the door, Levy rerouted past the toppled tables and gave Lisanna a quick nod,
Lisanna sighed and glanced at her sister, "Have a nice night Levy." The blue haired bookworm gave a nodded her head in thanks before slipping out of sight.
Levy wasn't the only one. The guild was slowly beginning to empty. Mages were either leaving or moving to sit on the outskirts near the walls.
Akira's breathing has turned ragged and the sudden outburst of magic slowed to a sluggish flow. Her heartbeat throbbed in her ears and she carelessly steadied herself against an upturned chair that had clattered to the floor. Wiping her nose on the back of her hand, she waved off Lisanna's fretting hands.
"Don't touch me," She muttered, leaning away to protect her left shoulder as much as possible.
The blue haired bookworm opened the door to the guild but before she walked out another shadow darkened the doorway, "Erza! You're back!"
"Yeah, it took a little longer than I thought it would." Erza warmly smiled and stepped through the open door. "Did Akira come through? She's not outside so I was hoping…"
The smile dropped off her face as Erza finally assessed the scene in front of her. Chairs and tables were scattered across the floor. Mira was gripping the back Natsu and Gray's shirts- both of them sporting a good amount of bruises. But it wasn't until Erza laid her eyes onto Akira that her temper spiked.
Seated on the floor with Lisanna crouching next to her was Akira. She was leaning away from the white haired mage and the back of her hand was shoved up against her dripping nose. Her face was screwed up with a clear expression of anger, hurt and fear.
Walking forward, Erza immediately bent down on a knee and looked over Akira. The girl gripped her shoulder and she glared at Erza. Her eyes were angry and her nose was covered in blood. "Your guild is full of such lovely people." Akira spat, her breath ragged, "I can't even begin to tell you what an improvement it's been meeting such an inspiring group."
Akira didn't care how she sounded. She didn't care how stuck up and bitter she looked. It felt so good to shove right up in the mage's face.
Erza to her credit, didn't even react. Instead, she reached down and gently touched Akira's cheek. "Are you alright?" She murmured, her brown eyes slowly training in on her nose. "What happened?"
Akira found herself at a loss for words. She had so much anger and frustration that would be so easy to lash against the older mage. Years of hating guilds ached painfully in her heart and yet a few simple words had her quieted. Erza's eyes were kind and the same familiar warmth filled her. The scarlet haired knight reached out and Akira didn't even think to stop her as she carefully brushed a few strand of hair away to get a better look at her face.
The surge of emotion at seeing Erza mixed in with her fading anger and her mind to confusion. She wanted to be mad, she really did. But looking around at the numerous amount of concerned faces around her made it hard to know what to feel.
Akira took a few small breaths and she sheepishly looked down, "It's just a bloody nose…" She muttered, her cheeks puffing out in annoyance. She wanted to be angry and yet she didn't. Looking back at Lisanna who was seated on the floor next to her, she waved the mage away. "I'm fine! Don't make such a big fuss over it. Haven't you ever seen a bloody nose before?"
Her anger was subsided and now all that was left was nervousness. Eyes were on her and Akira couldn't help but uncomfortably toe the floor. She was not used to getting any attention and it was making her uncomfortable. No one was ever worried over her and she wasn't sure if she liked it.
Rolling to her feet, Akira scoffed and carefully kicked the beer bottle away that was by her feet, "They're not so tough." She muttered to herself, pinching her bleeding nose before sticking her tongue out at the boys."I won fair and square anyways!" Akira's confidence returned a little and she pointed at the downed boys with a slight smug look of victory.
"Gigigi!" Gajeel sniggered, "How does it feel Natsu, Gray? Two versus won and you still lost!"
The pair of them were still smarting from Mira's hits and the most they responded with was a groan. Lisanna almost cringed as Erza's eyes narrowed marginally at Gajeel's statements.
The girl ignored a spike of pain that ripped through her shoulder, "Pinky and Stripper stink at fighting." Akira declared, frowning as she turned slightly back to Erza. "Is that what the mages here do? Attack from behind and strip in the middle of a fight? Where I come from, that's called cheating."
"They did what." Erza's voice was rationally calm but anyone who knew her could feel the drop in temperature in the room.
Lisanna gasped slightly as more blood gushed from Akira's nose. The girl automatically tipped her head back and both Lisanna and Mira grabbed napkins from the few tables that were still standing.
"How about we go into the kitchen?" Mira suggested. Her voice was light and kind, her hands delicately reaches across Akira's back and gently led her forward. Lisanna immediately mirrored her older sister's actions and guided her on the left, "We have a first aid kit and how does another cup of hot cocoa sound?"
If Akira has any protests, she didn't get much a say in the manner. Both the Stratuss sisters whisked the girl away and the three of them disappeared around the corner. As soon as they were out of sight any and all warmth on Erza's face was gone.
"What in Earthland did you two do?" Erza's eyes lifted and everyone in the guild screeched to a halt. There was no give to her tone and her shadow fell ominously over the pair.
Author's Note: Yeah, bad impression for the Akira. Natsu and Gray didn't exactly endear the guild to her. I really like Lisanna and Mira's sister dynamic, I find their relationship really wonderful and not exploited enough. If there is anything you liked or want to see improved, please leave a comment!