Thank you all for your patience with this new chapter! I'm glad to hear people liking this story and I'm having so much fun writing it! I hope you will like this chapter
Thanks for proofreading CJ!
Three weeks passed without a single appearance of Natsu in the community home. It was uncomfortably quiet without him and everyone could feel each other's worry. Lucy and Cana kept coming to the community home regularly, but it was hard to stay uplifted during the activities. Even Gray had admitted it was boring without having his fiery friend around.
Lucy stared out of the window that faced the garden. ''I'm sure he will be back this week,'' someone next to her said. Lucy looked up into the sky-blue eyes of Mirajane's little sister. She had gotten to know Lisanna when Mirajane brought her along last week. She was bright and cheerful and around Lucy's age. Her short, snow-white hair always danced on her shoulders and she never failed to cheer anyone up.
''You said that last week too,'' Lucy replied before letting her head hopelessly rest on her folded arms.
''I've known him since we were little kids,'' Lisanna said, ''he always returns, he just needs some time alone.''
Lucy was surprised to learn they were close. Not knowing whether to overthink their relationship or to be cheered up, she remained silent.
''You're quite a newbie, do you want to know some of the people's secrets?'' Lisanna said with a playful wink.
Lucy skittishly looked around to make sure no one was hearing their conversation. ''Like what?'' As much as she wanted to pretend not to be interested in such matters, she was simply too curious to decline.
Lisanna's eyes glittered and Lucy was now certain the innocent-looking girl might not be that pure after all.
''Did you know...'' she said, her index finger tapping on her cheek, ''that Mira and I have an older brother?''
''Really?'' Lucy was surprised. Somehow the image of a male form of Mirajane crossed her mind and it weirded her out.
''Hm, hm.'' Lisanna nodded. ''I will make sure he hops by soon.''
A short silence followed as she tried to think of other things to tell.
''Even though it might seem like Mira is in charge here, she is the assistant of the one really in charge.''
''The Fairy Tail has been owned by the Dreyar family for two hundred years,'' ''the current owner is Makarov Dreyar, but he is over ninety years old and rarely visits anymore.''
Lucy raised her head. This was actually helpful information on what she and Cana were investigating. Because of all the strange things happening lately, they had both neglected their research.
Lisanna looked left and right before leaning into Lucy to whisper something to her. ''Just between you and me; Mira has a total crush on Makarov's grandson.''
Lucy gasped. ''Really?!'' she let out a little too loud. A few people turned their heads towards them. She quickly covered her mouth.
Levy had noticed something was going on and sneaked her way towards them. ''Are we gossiping, girls?'' she asked as she tried to sit down on the higher benches. Lucy gave her a hand, Levy's pregnant belly had grown a lot lately and some movements had gotten difficult for her.
''I swear we weren't, Levy,'' Lucy tried to save their skin, ''we were just-''
Her smile curled into a devilish smirk. ''How dare you keep them from me.''
Lucy and Lisanna exchanged a questioning look and nodded. ''So you too want to know about the secrets of the people here?'' Lisanna asked.
Levy and Lucy were hanging on her lips. Lisanna looked around once more, preying on her next victim. The redhead practicing her sword skills in the garden caught her eye.
''Did you guys know...'' she started with a mischievous look in her eyes, ''that Erza has a boyfriend in jail.''
Their eyes widened. ''No way,'' Lucy whispered in awe.
''My boyfriend has been in jail multiple times as well though,'' Levy casually mentioned. Both girls looked at her in horror. Before they had the opportunity to ask about the shocking new facts they just learned, they were interrupted by Mirajane.
''Is my little sis spreading rumours again?'' she asked in a tone of which Lucy couldn't tell whether she was proud or disappointed.
''Did you not bring Cana again, Lucy?''
Lucy looked down at the table, hesitating. ''She... she has a hard time controlling her drinking problem again.''
The group fell silent. ''I wish there was more we could do for her,'' Levy said in a soft voice.
Lucy smiled bitterly. ''Believe me, this place was my last hope. I just don't know anymore.''
''Shall I pay her a visit?'' Mirajane offered.
Lucy smiled. ''That'd be sweet, Mira.''
''Why don't you hop by my place, today, Luce?'' Levy asked, ''you wanted to see my library, right?''
Her eyes lit up. ''I'd love that!''
Cana groaned in frustration. Laid out before her, were all the cards of the set, accompanied by a yellowish sheet of paper.
The lady of the shop had given her the missing instructions for the cards. She had explained they were a special set of tarot cards, which can be used to predict the future. She had laughed sheepishly about the thought of blabbering like Lucy and her horoscopes. This was so unlike her. Why did this have to be the only legacy her mom had left her?
She stood up to take a break. She was about to grab another can of beer from the fridge when movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned her head towards the window and looked down to the street one floor beneath her. Next to one of the street lanterns, a dark figure in a trenchcoat was standing still like a statue. Her breath got stuck in her throat. Panic struck her like lightning. Thoughts about her uncovering secrets about the community home and the murder of Mavis Vermillion three weeks ago flashed through her mind, doubling her heartbeat.
She reached for her phone to call Lucy, but before she could dial her number, she heard the doorbell ring. In a rush of adrenaline, she opened the kitchen drawer and weaponed herself with a rolling pin. The doorbell rang once more. With her heart stammering against her ribcage, she opened the door towards the staircase and slowly, but steadily walked down.
She almost stopped breathing when she swung the door open at the third ring of the bell. She held up the rolling pin, ready to defend herself.
A loud and high-pitched shriek brought her to her senses. Before her stood no man, neither someone in a trenchcoat.
''Mira?'' Cana brought out, trying to catch her breath again.
''Seems like I arrived at the right time,'' Mira said, still lightly shocked, ''look at you, you're an absolute mess!''
Cana didn't know what to say. She let her lifted arm down and lost grip of the rolling pin, which fell to the pavement with a loud noise. She quickly looked to her left and right, but there was no one else to be seen. ''I-'' she managed to bring out, but her upwelling emotions choked her.
''It's okay,'' Mira said. She could feel her heart sink at the sight of the worn-out girl standing before her. The bags under her eyes had gotten even worse, her hair was greasy and Mira did not have to take a step closer to tell she was reeking of booze.
''I need help,'' she said on the verge of crying, ''please..''