The sky wasn't even awake.

There's a certain feeling related to my experience and it's not awfully self-explanatory so I guess I'm having a go now; do you remember that feeling being woken up by your parents at a dazy 5am with them telling you that you have to get ready for some kind of extensive trip somewhere? That's the kind happening now as I stand in an area I'm not too concerned about with three companions. One—not sure who right now, too tired to even care or think, a quick guess it's the pink-haired boy—was beside me and having their head leaning sleepily against my shoulder.

My hands crinkled beneath my gloves. I was practically buried underneath my scarf and the air seemed so chilly, I wondered the whole time if the season was having sentimental winter vibes just to prank me. Natsu wasn't any better; he stood almost frozen in place. His shoes stuck beneath the concrete and his arms wrapped around each other to achieve some kind of warmth. He was bundled in his jacket and scarf and his hair was still in a ponytail but considering that it was 5am, different strands fell into various angles. We were standing in some kind of area but I wasn't really processing where we were; just that Levy had woken me up on a Tuesday morning at 5am, giving me instructions to get on an early train ride to the city centre with Natsu. Things were blurred after that; I'm not sure how Levy and Gajeel even got us to where we are; some secluded place with lots of trees and a single lamp post that we all stood under. I'm sure I've heard 'South-West' being uttered by Levy at some point. Again I contemplate about how I'm not even sure how we even got here. Maybe Gajeel took us with his car. I don't remember. It's 5am. I don't need to remember.

My eyes were heavily commanding a shut down, but I forced them to stay open. Just stay up, you fuckers.

Natsu's head was still perched on my shoulder and at that point, I was dumbfounded at what exactly I'm suppose to do so I stared at the view in front of me; Gajeel and Levy's backs. They stood firmly with no hint of sleepiness. I realised that I've forgotten that they are the hands-on power couple who deal with equipment and materials for the stall buildings. That wasn't even really adding up in my head either. I really needed food. Food. Food. Food. Food. Give me food.

The sky was pitch dark, with just the slightest hint of blue undertones. As I continued to stare at their backs, blurred, dazed and vague hints of memory came gradually rushing inside my head. I had stumbled from my bed after the phone call, slowly and hastily got up to put on literally anything my hands could find. I ended up with pants, a pair of boots, a thick trench coat and a large scarf on. Still not quite sure what exactly I was suppose to be doing getting dressed at 5am, I had practically crawled to the living room where Natsu was asleep in his god-forsaken Iron Man boxers and a white shirt. I had shook him—still not sure why, guilty because I had no explanation why I was waking him up at 5am—until he had gotten up. He murmured what the hell was going on and if he was dead and then if he was dead, how did he end up dead and also if he could get popcorn. I tell him to shut up and get dressed. He does exactly that without really objecting as he apparently doesn't have any motivation now since he's dead—I tell him for the fifth or sixth time that he is not dead. He laughs it off at the train where he falls asleep on my shoulder as he always does. I remember that we had arrived at the city centre with Gajeel and Levy standing at the train station, apparently waiting for us. The last thing I really remembered was that they smiled at us and I was practically carrying Natsu as we stepped off the train.

Gajeel and Levy were murmuring something in front of us. Their voices were silent as if they were considerate of our sleepiness. But I conclude that that didn't make any sense because if they really were that considerate of our sleepiness, then what the hell were we doing here?

Levy's voice is a little drained. I blinked as I listened in carefully.

"You think I was too harsh calling them at 5am?" she nearly whispered.

"Nah." Gajeel yawned, "That flamebrain should learn to deal with what our side of the council does too. Paperwork is only a portion of what the council does."

I hear Levy chuckle silently, "No one else in the council really does it too often, you know."

What don't we do? What is going on?

Questions continued to pile inside my head and I'm pretty sure I have the exact answers stored in folders but mind folders are locked at times like these.

"Have you got their folders?" Gajeel asked, just a tiny bit louder.

"Yeah, they somehow managed to bring it when they arrived at Central. They're in the car."

Gajeel chuckled, "How did they even get to Central in the state they're in?"

"I'm not sure. I think Lucy carried Natsu the whole trip." the blue-haired girl muttered.

Their voices suddenly blurred again. Natsu's warm breaths against my cold skin was keeping me mildly awake. My hands were shoved in my trench coat pockets. The air was cool. My brain wasn't even functioning and the lack of food really wasn't improving things.

"When the fuck are those bastards arriving?" Gajeel asked, evidently irritated.

"Soon." Levy replied smoothly. She was so short and petite, and it was visibly emphasised once standing next to her boyfriend.

"They better make it fuckin' quick. We have another meeting first thing after this."

"Yeah, yeah." she mumbled and I had the right feeling that she was just grinning.

Minutes passed but I'm not quite sure. March was a month when minutes might feel like hours and hours may feel like minutes and days were just mere seconds that pass by so quickly. I closed my eyes once again, taking a silent deep breath and folding my arms, letting my mind wonder elsewhere.

The ground was having some kind of feeling to it, but it was too subtle to be an earthquake so I relieved all quick panic commands.

My eyes shot open and my eyes met the blinding, distant light in front of Gajeel and Levy. I remained confused and for some dumb reason, the weather had ceased to change and my feet were still somewhat frozen against the concrete. We were standing in the middle of the road. Why were we standing in the middle of the road? I'm not keen on suicide attempts.

Gajeel's voice hollers. He isn't whispering anymore. "Fuckin' finally."

A distant honk of the vehicle suddenly goes off and I realise it's a truck. Suddenly, my head was starting to unlock with keys to folders. 5am. Truck. Gajeel and Levy.

My head hurt. I wanted cereal badly.

South-West.

And suddenly, this time my eyes truly opened, focusing on the environment around me. The road, the bushes and trees, the landscape and the truck—or trucks—that was steadily approaching us.

My own voice surprises me; "Are these for the school or Central?"

Both Levy and Gajeel turn, a hint of surprise shown on their face.

Levy smiles, "Sorry we had to wake you up this early."

To my further surprise, I simply smiled, "It's okay. He's going to have to deal with this kind of thing soon enough anyway." I glanced at the pink-haired boy who remained asleep on my shoulder.

"This is for the school and Central." Gajeel grinned.

My eyebrows raised, "How did we get the funds for this?"

Levy grinned, "The business power duo requested their usual clients extra this year."

I nodded in understanding. "Fair enough. And I'm guessing we're here because of the school's club database?"

"Yup." Levy smiled and nodded, "Sorry about this, by the way Lucy."

I chuckled, "Don't worry. I'm sorry that you guys have to do this all the time."

Gajeel laughed, "Too used to it now after fuckin' five years in the council."

"You get used to waking up at 5am to deal with the materials." Levy added and I only just then realised that she was carrying a clipboard and pen.

Now clear to see, five trucks carrying an assortment of different materials—mostly wood, metal, glass and one carrying actual pre-made stalls—parked on the side of the road.

Without warning, Levy turned and strolled pass Natsu and I to what I assumed to be Gajeel's car behind us. The sound of the car door opening and closing briefly followed and the blue-haired girl walked back, handing me a familiar folder as she did.

A man emerged from the first truck and strolled to us. I'm not quite sure who it is at first, but eventually I take in his features and gradually recognised the dark-haired man, slowly smiling as I did. I personally hadn't seen him in a while.

"Good to be back in Koharu, right, Mest?" I asked, grinning.

Hello darlings! I missed Friday's update and I felt pretty bad about that, but before I can even elaborate, I just want to thank all my readers and a few reviewers who have been so sweet. I've gotten a few reviews with people asking about my health, quite concerned, and I just want to say thank you so much for your concern. It really means a lot, but I can assure you that I'm fine. I know fully and well that I tend to overwork myself to dangerous extents—it's just my pure nature and because I'm way too reckless for my own good. I'm getting better though, just got a bit more sleep this weekend.

It's not even Monday here, it's Sunday so I really shouldn't even be updating today, but since I missed out of Friday and I actually wanted to upload this on Saturday (but sorta couldn't) I thought why not just update it today. And also the Mest I'm personally viewing is the one post-Tartoros arc in the manga. You can check him out, he be looking fine.

Thank you for reading! Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews.

Till next time,

Ice

Recrudesce; (verb) break out again.