"How is it going to be living alone?".
"Okay, I guess," Ryker replied to Lisanna, who was sitting with him at a table, along with Natsu, Lucy, Elfman and Happy.
"Where exactly is it?" Lucy asked.
"It is not far from here, about 30 minutes," the soldier replied.
"It would be nice if you showed it to us, don't you think?", The celestial magician said smiling.
He took a sip of his beer and looked at it for a few moments before answering. "I don't have many things yet, everything is a bit messy. Who knows when I finish fixing it, " he said, but it was a lie. He didn't want a lot of people going to his resting place, he preferred to keep his relationship with others only in the guild and on missions. It was easier for him. Interestingly, only Mira visited him at his home frequently.
"We can go and get in through the window, Lucy," Natsu said nonchalantly.
"We can't go around invading someone else's house!", Lucy shouted at him.
"Don't even think about that pink hair," Ryker said, frowning at him.
Natsu shrugged and folded his hands behind his head.
"This is not a man thing, Natsu" Elfman said.
"It is hopeless ", the blonde magician said tired and defeated.
"Does he invade your home?", the soldier magician asked to the celestial wizard.
"Always and since always. I don't even think I know what my home is like without Natsu around, " she sighed.
"That's because they like each other," Happy said with a smile on his face.
"Shut up, stupid cat!", And the blonde screamed.
Ryker turned his head in disapproval. He then stopped and looked around the guild, his eyes stop at Erza, who was at a table talking to other wizards and eating his strawberry cake. They exchanged glances, and he can swear he saw her blush, turning red like the strawberries in her cake when he smiled and nodded. Why she reacted like this he can't say. Maybe an allergic reaction? Who knows.
As he continued to scan the guild with his eyes, the magician saw the older sister Strauss running back and forth with trays and more trays of drinks and treats. Today the hall was busier than usual. The wizards had finished varied missions at almost the same time, and they were all in the guild, giving them trouble.
Mira was really amazing, he thought. She was tireless, and was always willing for the members of the organization. Either she was in the kitchen, or at the bar serving, or transporting drinks and other things to the tables when requested, registering work orders, placing on the order board, or releasing the wizards for their respective jobs. What a tireless woman! Since he arrived he has never seen her rest or go out for anything else. She even found time to help him find a place to stay and hosted him at his home.
She certainly needed some time off.
"Looking at Mira-san, Ryker?", Lucy said, pulling him out of his thoughts. She had a mischievous look and smile.
"What are you talking about, girl?" He answered seriously.
"You were standing there looking at her, weren't you?", Lucy reinforced.
Ryker frowned and looked at her seriously. "I was just looking around the room. I didn't look at anyone, girl ".
The celestial magician looked with a malicious look and in a way that indicated that she was not believing anything in his words. "Of course," he said sarcastically.
"Well, believe what you want," he said, turning his face away.
"But did you look like you were looking at Mira?", Lisanna interjected smiling, with her arms crossed on the table.
"What!? Even you, Lisy? ", The magician spoke indignantly.
Lisanna and the others laughed contagiously, embarrassing the wizard.
"Lisy !?", Lucy asked intrigued to the youngest of the Strauss.
Lisanna looked at her smiling and enjoying herself. "He started calling me that after a while."
"It's so cute", Lucy said smiling as well as Lisanna, which makes Ryker more mad.
"Do you want to fight Mira? If that's the case, I can talk to her, but first you have to fight me first. I challenged you first! ", Natsu said, raising his tone and climbing the table and pointing a finger at Ryker in the last part.
"What!? Is this guy serious !? ", the soldier magician said looking in the direction of Lucy. She just had her palm on her face, in total disgust.
"Natsu, you idiot, get out of there now!", she ordered taking his arm forcing him to sit down again.
"Natsu never changes", Lisanna laughed looking at the interaction of the celestial magician and Dragon Slayer.
"That's because Natsu is a real man," Elfman said, with his arms crossed over his chest. "Now if you want to go out with my sister, you'll have to ask for my permission first," he said, turning to Ryker.
"Uh! But, what the fuck is with you today? ", Ryker said indignantly. "I don't want to go out with anyone. And what are you talking about anyway? ".
"Oh my God! You're as dense as Natsu and Gray, " Lisanna said, disappointed and bored.
"What do you mean by that?", Natsu asked, diverting his attention from Lucy to Lisanna.
"I don't think there's any use explaining it, anyway," she replied smiling, and Dragon Slayer and Ryker stood there without understanding anything.
"Well, I have things to do so I'm going to leave you with your crazy and meaningless theories," Ryker said standing up.
"Next time, just don't let people catch your eye," Lucy argued slyly.
He snorted. "I was sitting alone and you, guys, came out of nowhere. It's your fault for seeing things where they don't exist, " he said and started to walk away.
Passing Mira on the way, his serious and bored expression changed to something softer, and he smiled with the corner of his mouth and waved at her.
"'Crazy theories' is it?", Lucy and Lisanna spoke and laughed at each other.
Ryker left the guild stopping for a moment before going on his way. "Mira has done a lot for me after all, and she works a lot in the guild. I think I can do something for her too, even for just a day, "he thought and a small and genuine smile appeared involuntarily on his lips.
The next day, the guild was full and busy, Mira was at the bar serving some customers. She was wondering why Ryker hadn't come yet, he said he would always be there with her to help her out early in the morning. But today he did not appear. He may have gone to do something else important for, after all he had his own obligations and he had no duty to always be with her. Mira decided to forget that, apparently it was nothing serious and the other days he was there. A day that he didn't show up would be no big deal.
She continued with her service, attending to the wizards for their needs and registering the jobs on the job board. She was happy, smiling in her usua, almost angelic way.
Suddenly, the guild doors opened and revealed a different Ryker. He had a black jeans jacket with a white t-shirt underneath and he wore blue jeans with a leather feel and sneakers.
He stood for a few seconds looking around the guild, as if looking for someone. Few people actually noticed him, the majority continued with their duties, and what they noticed did not give importance, they only found his new style curious. When he found his target, he went straight to her.
Ryker walked over to Mira, who had just arrived at the bar, eyes fixed on her, he didn't deviate even a millimeter, walking with determination in her direction.
"Good morning, Ryker" she told him in her usual divine way. He came around the counter and stood beside the white-haired waitress. Looking into her eyes, he gently held her hand.
"Good Morning. You come with me, " he said, pulling her out.
When he said this, in a normal tone, the entire guild turned to them, and a deafening silence fell.
"What !?", Mira said in surprise. "I... I can't! I have things to do Ryker! ".
He looked at her and then at Lisanna, Kinana and Laki. "Can you take care of that for today?" He asked them.
"Sure, sure, feel free," Lisanna said with a smile. "Go ahead," she said, waving.
"We can handle," Laki said, smirking.
"See," he said to Mira, gently pulling her out of the guild.
"Wait, but where are we going?", Mira said confused and worried, despite being redder than Erza's hair. Which, by the way, was red with rage at that moment, waiting for any excuse to kill someone at that moment.
"Don't worry about it, I have it all figured out. And if you're worried about what you're wearing, know that you look great, " he said, which only increased the magician's blush, and the redhead's anger.
So he pulled her out by the hand. Seconds after passing through the guild doors the hall exploded with screams, the subject of the moment could not be any other than the two wizards who had just left. Let the gossip roll loose for Fairy Tail!
Just to know, Mirajane was wearing a strapless red dress with sleeves and lace, high-heeled shoes and a bow at the neck.
Mira and Ryker walked the streets of Magnolia, he still holds her hand, with their fingers intertwined.
"What is all this, Ryker?" She asked, a little shyly.
He stopped and dropped his hand. "Sorry to get you out of there like that," he said looking to the side. "I saw that you try too hard in the guild and you never have time to yourself. So I thought about ... giving you a day off "
The mage looked at him and smiled at the same time as she blushed. She approached him and grabbed his arm looking and smiling sweetly at him. "And where are we going?"
"I have two tickets to a film. I don't know what your particular taste is, but by the way I think it's silly, like romance. So I chose one of those, it'll be hell for me, but it's your day anyway ", the magician said with a slight blush and awkwardness.
"I'm going to love it," she laughed.
They walked side by side, she didn't hold on to him, heading towards the city's cinema. On the way, they talked about everything, mainly trivial conversations. Her telling more about Fiore and Magnolia, some old stories, and he even opened up to some things with her, which made her very happy.
"Do you want popcorn?" Ryker asked.
"Yes, please," she replied and he took the line, which annoyed him a little by the delay in the attendants.
"What movie exactly is it?" She asked curiously.
"That one over there," he said, pointing to a poster on the wall of the theater. "I took a look around and I think this is the best of its kind."
Mira was delighted with the choice. "This movie is great."
"Let's go? I think we can get in now, " he took her by the hand and they headed towards the rooms. He handed over the tickets and went inside, looking for what would be the best place, choosing one that was in the middle of the ranks and in the upper half of the room.
"This is a really good place," Mira said, noticing where they sat.
"I imagined. You know, I have a clinical eye for this, " he said jokingly, which surprised him. He was relaxed, and even a smile came out of his lip.
Mira laughed softly. "Here your popcorn and soda," he said, placing them on the armrests of the seats.
"You didn't have to choose this movie, you know that, right?", she said.
The magician looked at her. "Maybe, but ... today is your day. I just hope the movie is good and that you have fun ".
She looked at him for a moment and blushed. "Yes, I will, don't worry".
"And for me ..., it will be two hours of snooze", and ... he laughed !?
Mira fixed her eyes on him. Did he really laugh? It was for a brief moment, but yes. It could be seen that he tried to change his expression, to make himself look more serious and indifferent, but at that point he couldn't do it anymore. She saw him looking at her and smiling, not like the ones he gave out of the corner of his mouth, but a genuine, happy one.
When the lights went out and advertisements began to roll on the screen, Mira approached her friend as close as she could, and snuggled up to him, lifting the back of the chair, holding the bucket of popcorn in her lap.
"What's that Mira?", The wizard whispered.
"Today is not my day? You are a great back, " she said playfully.
"Slack," he replied with a laugh, and she laughed back, a low, sweet, fluffy laugh.
The film ended and even though Ryker found it the biggest bore of the year, he paid attention to it. Apparently Mira had liked it and that was what mattered.
"Then... Did you like the movie? " he asked as they left the theater.
"I liked it, it was so romantic," Mira replied, hands clasped and arms dangling in front of her chest and a silly smile on her face.
"It was supposed to be that. The movie was about romance, " he said sarcastically.
"The characters are so captivating and the couples are so natural. It was almost a vision of the guild ".
"I don't think there is that much silly drama in the guild little couples," he replied looking at her.
"That's because you haven't seen them before," she laughed, and he shrugged and kept walking.
"Well, anyway, it was good that you liked it. Next time can I choose a more agitated one? ", He said playfully.
The magician Satan Soul looked at him happily. "Why not? I would love to know more about your tastes, and I myself prefer films with more emotion ".
"What!?" He looks at her smiling silly, and smiles back. "You know, I've never been to a cinema like this. I mean ... I saw films, mostly old ones, but in a cinema like this, it was the first time ".
Mira looked at him in surprise and stood there admiring as they walked. He looked at her with what looked like a mischievous look. What did he want?
"So, I think I can say that my first time was with you," he blurted out in a very malicious way.
"AHH!", Mirajane Strauss squeaked and looked at him in fright and confusion, her color as white as milk went to an intense red.
"HAHAHAHA! You have to see your face now, " Ryker laughed, as he never did in his life, and had fun at the expense of the other magician.
Mirajane frowned and slapped his friend on the shoulder, turning his face, still red and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Let's go! It's a joke, I'm just bothering you, and you liked it, " Ryker said, taking her hand and dragging it.
"Where are we going now?", She said trying to hide the blush and a nervousness that she hadn't felt in a long time. It was curious what that person, whom she had known for a short time, was doing to her. She felt more alive at that moment, happier and more optimistic.
"You must be hungry. I'll take you to lunch. I found a very good restaurant, it seems, "he said, pulling her hand gently. Mira followed him, their hands clasped.
The wizards walked to a chic area of the city, where the street was full of highly rated restaurants. It was Magnolia's gastronomic street. Everyone in the city had a desire, at least once, to eat at one of them.
When they reached the spot, Mira stopped and looked at her companion. "Ryker! Are you sure?".
"Of course. Why?".
"This restaurant is very chic, one of the best in the city".
"I don't know about that," he said nonchalantly. "But I heard about this street and its restaurants very well. I wanted to taste it, and I thought you were going to like it. Come on, it will be on me, " said, smiling at Mira.
She can't refuse, he seemed happy and didn't want to break the mood, besides the magician always wanted to visit one of these restaurants, anyway.
"I have a reservation for today," Ryker told the Maître.
"Your name, sir," he asked pompously.
"Ryker. Table for two".
The Maître looked in the records for the name. "Ah yes. This way, sir, madam, "he said, taking them to their place.
The atmosphere was pleasant and welcoming, there was no denying it. The lighting was soothing and warm, the tables and chairs comfortable. The magicians sat down and thanked the Maître.
"It's a beautiful place, don't you think?" said Ryker.
"Yea. The atmosphere is very good, calm and welcoming ", Mira said smiling while looking around.
"It even looks like the guild ...", and with this comment the magician in front of him laughed loudly, and looked at him with her big blue eyes that shone like the sea waters bathed by the Sun.
"What is it?", Ryker said when he noticed her friend's look.
"Nothing," she said in awe. "Just ... thinking about some things."
He looked back at her and smiled.
"May I take your order?", A gentle and polite voice made them turn their attention. It was the waiter at the table giving them the menu at Angello's. They took it and started to see what they were going to choose.
Ryker started asking, after a while of analyzing. "A meat carpaccio, for starters, and a lasagna bolognese in the oven," he said to the waiter who took his order. "And you Mira?"
"I would like a mix of green leaves with caramelized fig, goat cheese and Lomoncello sauce, for starters. The main course I'm going to order is fresh fish, grilled with oyster sauce and vegetables, please ", she asked with a smile from the waiter, who wrote everything down.
"Very well. Will you want something to accompany? I can recommend the wine list, " he said politely.
"Do you want anything?", he asked to his companion.
"I'm fine, thanks," she replied.
"Just water, then," he asked.
"As you wish," the waiter said and left to take his orders.
"I don't even know what I asked for, to tell you the truth," the magician said in a whisper to his friend sitting across from him.
"Have you never eaten this type of food?".
"I never ate any food, except what you do," he said with a carefree face.
Mira might have been uncomfortable, but for some reason she wasn't. The tone and the way he used it was playful, even though it was true, and she knew it, it was like he was fine with it at that moment. And the only food he ate in his life was made by her, as he said, made her blush and made her happy.
"I can say that what you asked for, is good," she said.
"Hopefully ... And I can see that you are healthy. Mix of green leaves? ", He said a bit jokingly.
Mira smiled and looked at him. "Being healthy is important," he shrugged.
"That explains your great shape," he said nonchalantly, but for Mira it was too much. She gave the shade of bright red another name. Ryker noticed and smiled, which made our powerful wizard even more timid. A long time ago, if ever, someone managed to leave her like this.
The magician turned to his friend and looked at her curiously. "Hey, Mira. I know I don't talk much about my past, but if you don't mind, could you tell me your story? ".
She looked at him for a while, surprised that he was interested in her story and in herself, which made her happy. That day was being different and pleasant.
Mira told him everything, the loss of her parents, her rejection by the citizens of her hometown, the fear they had of her due to the nature of her magic, which did not make Ryker happy. She told him about how her brothers helped her out of her loneliness by learning the take over magic and showing that she was not alone, her arrival at Fairy Tail and her later rivalry with Erza. She, of course, did not leave out her most hostile attitude when she was younger. The magician also told how her behavior changed after the supposed loss of her sister, which shook her and forced her to be more gentle and kind. He talked about Edolas and everything and his reunion with Lisanna, after two years.
Ryker was impressed by his friend's story. Each fact took him by surprise, there was more to those wizards than he could have imagined. And Mira's was impressive, in addition to the way she stepped over her fate and moved on, something he suspected he would never achieve. However, what intrigued him most was the fact that there was another world, Edolas. But he would see that in another time.
"Your story was really incredible. I never imagined that you went through all this, "he said, finishing his plate.
"We have been through a lot, but with the help of our friends and family we have overcome everything. They are our strength ", the magician finished her meal.
"Yeah, I could tell. You are incredible Mira, you have gigantic strength, " he said, pulling a silly blush out of her. "Now, what impressed me the most ...", he said, looking maliciously at the magician seated in front of him and giggled sarcastically. "Mirajane Strauss! Who knew you were a problem girl! You mean you were a bad girl? I wish I could have seen that ... ", he said enjoying himself.
Mira can only blush a little and laugh at the situation and the memories of when she was younger.
"I really was. But I've changed, " she said, smiling.
"From water to wine, I have to say," and she just laughed some more. "If I provoke you, can I see a little of that old Mira?" he said maliciously.
"You can try," replied the magician provocatively, the two laughed.
They stayed there for a few more minutes talking about different things. Both never imagined that each other's company could be so pleasant. They were, in fact, having fun and enjoying each other. Until the waiter came back.
"So, my lady and sir. How are your dishes? Is there anything else I can help you with?".
"Mine is very good. But I must say, that if it was done by Mira it would be fantastic. She really cooks very well, " said the magician, looking at the waiter standing by their table and pointing at his friend.
The Take Over magician blushed at his friend's comment and felt a warm sensation in his chest. Many said that she was a great cook, but from him it seemed ... more special.
"He's overreacting," she said, redder than Erza's hair. "Everything is perfect. Thank you, " she said, shyly addressing the waiter. She was never shy, but he seemed to bring out this side of her.
The waiter smiles at the pair. "I must say that I believe in the boy. Meals are much better when they are prepared by the people who love us, " he said looking at Mira.
The magician blushed and looked nervous, not knowing what to do. "We ... n ... no ... we ..."
"We are not dating, just friends," Ryker said calmly and with a smile on his face.
"Oh! A thousand pardons, young people ", the waiter ended up being embarrassed.
"It's okay," the magician told him, who composed himself. "Do you want anything else?" Asked the magician to Mira, who still looked nervous.
"I ... I'm fine, thanks," she replied, trying to get back to normal. The magician had fun with her like that.
"Well, if that's the case, could you bring the bill, yes?", He said to the waiter who greeted them and turned to get the bill from the table.
"You cook much better Mira," the magician said, reaffirming.
She blushed again, and the feeling in her chest intensified. She was barely able to look at her mate now. "I don't know if I cook so well, but thank you, Ryker. It is ... it is very good to hear that from you ".
"Not so. You have fairy hands, " he said with a slight smile on his face.
Mira looked at him with wide eyes, she, who usually had a white hair and delicate as milk, was now more a shade of pink. Despite the sudden shyness, the nervousness that was taking over her, she smiles, that genuine and beautiful smile. Ryker smiles back.
"You are very kind," she said.
Surprising the magician. "Eh ... I am anything but kind," he replied in false indignation.
"Here sir", the waiter said placing the bill in front of the magician, who took it and a dark face appeared on his face.
"It"s everthing right?" Asked Mira worried about her friend's expression.
"Of course, there's nothing to worry about," he replied with comical tears in his eyes and reaching into his pocket to get his wallet and pay for meals. Just out of curiosity, the bill was in a trifle of $50,000 Jewls.
They left the restaurant and were strolling through the city center, where there were the main markets and stalls. In fact, it was a place where the magician liked to walk from time to time, mainly because of the fruits that were sold in the region.
"This is a place that I like to come to sometimes," he commented, surprising his partner.
She never imagined that he would like to go for a walk in a place like that, so crowded with people, especially for a private person like him. But what did she know? That day was full of surprises.
"Serious? Why? " She asked, intrigued.
"For the fruits," he replied promptly. "I like fruit, and you have so many varieties ...", he turned to her and looked at her. "Did you see!? I have some healthy habits too ", he commented with disdain and smiling.
Mirajane laughed at his comment. "Fruits are really good. But some can kill you if you're not careful, " she said with her frighteningly happy expression.
"What!?"
The two magicians continued walking around the city talking casually, having fun and enjoying what each had to offer the other. They went to a park and sat on a bench enjoying the weather.
Ryker started to make an expression of pain, Mira looked at him worriedly, he was holding parts of his body with his hands, as if trying to stop the pain that was felt in place.
"Are you okay?" She said, worried about the other magician's distress.
"Yeh. This is just a chronic pain I have. It will be over soon, " he said, trying to reassure his partner.
"Wendy can help you. I think we better go back to the guild, " she said, concerned for her friend's well-being.
"No!" He shouted. "I mean, it's already passing. There is no reason to leave. I have had this for some time. I'm used to it".
She looked at him with great concern, but she knew he didn't want to leave because of that, and if he was saying it was okay, she decided to continue with the tour. That was being very pleasant.
"Do you want ice cream?", The magician asked pointing to a stall.
"Of course".
"What flavor do you like?", Ryker asked as he got up to go buy the candy.
"Blueberry, if have it," she said, swinging from side to side.
After a while he came back with the ice cream in hand, giving what she asked for and he kept the chocolate.
They stayed there enjoying the ice cream, there was no conversation just a comfortable silence, which was broken at the end, when they ate the cones.
"It was very good, especially with this temperature," Mira said gently.
"It was," the magician said looking up and rambling. "You know, where I came from we didn't have any of that," he said and Mira looked at him curiously, but at the same time sad.
"What do you mean?" she asked worriedly.
"All of it," said, turning his index finger and looking at her. "The food, the fruits, the trees, the animals, that tranquility", he was saying while he was rambling, but he had a certain sadness and anguish on his face, but he also had peace.
"Not to mention the chocolate. Man, I love chocolate, " he said with a slight smile, which made Mira smile too. "We did everything for chocolate, coffee and other little things".
The magician looked at him curiously. "What kind?".
The magician turned to her and smirked.
"We were suffering from rationing, basically everything we needed was limited, and superfluous things then ... even less", she was amazed, they had problems, but nothing to indicate any kind of deprivation.
"But from time to time we would win a few things, and sometimes we would take them. If you understand me, " he said with a sarcastic laugh, she returned it with her wonderful smile.
"We were camped, had many accommodations from several different units ..."
"Units?" She interrupted him, asking curiously.
"Ah yes. They are like ... teams from the same guild, only it's much bigger ". He tried to answer, she seemed to understand, but he wasn't sure if he had made it clear, but decided to continue his story.
"Moving on ... We were in this place, it was huge and had the local boss. He ruled the whole fucking thing. Everyone reported to him and everyone must obey that shit, like a guild master, get it? ", She stated positively. The magician was finding his way of speaking curious, it was different for her.
"Sometimes he received some boxes, he had everything in them. Personal hygiene products, clothes, cigarettes, cigars, but what everyone was looking for was food. That was what interested us the most ".
"Wait!" Mira interrupted him again. "Why did he get all this and you didn't?" She asked, looking indignant and showing some anger.
"He was the commander, he had his perks," he said simply.
"It's not fair," she has a serious and irritated expression.
"It's life," he replied. "As I was saying, he received a box. Me and some friends ... ", he winked at her " ... we snuck into his room, while he was not there, obviously, and we took the box and ran out to our room ", saying that Mira can't let it to smile maliciously and satisfactorily.
"We were looking forward to seeing what was inside. Of course we expected it to be chocolate, coffee, some kind of food, canned goods, even cigarettes. But life is not fair, " he said wistfully.
"What was in the box?" She asked with wide eyes of curiosity.
"Socks and underwear," he laughing at the memory, the magician laughed with him. "Everything for socks and underwear. They were good, but it was not what we expected ", they continued laughing happily.
"But the best is coming now ...", Mira stopped her laugh looking at him in curiosity. "We knew that the commander would be pissed off when he found out that his precious box was missing. He would search the entire camp to find the culprits. And it wouldn't be pretty what he was going to do ".
"And what did you do !?"
"We just hid it in the accommodation of another unit," he smiled very maliciously. "When he discovered the box there, they literally had to clean the camp's latrines for a month!", when he finished, both wizards couldn't hold back their laughter.
They stood there, laughing and enjoying the story. Not all of Ryker's memories were, in fact, bad and he realized that in that world, with those people, he could see a more cheerful side, even if only a little.
" It was evil !", The white-haired mage said amid the laughter, and with a certain air of slander.
"Before them than me," he replied spitefully, between laughs. Perhaps the two are more alike than they look.
They looked at each other smiling and enjoying the company. But Mira's expression changed with something he had said before, and she wanted to know more, more about his past, what he suffered. She wanted to help him in any way, she knew he had internal issues that needed to be resolved, but he did little or barely let others help him.
"Ryker! Why did you suffer rationing? " She asked, showing concern.
The magician looked at her trying to disguise a discomfort he felt, but the magician could see it. "This is a story for another time, young lady," he said, forcing a smile.
Mira was frustrated and upset that he didn't want to share his life with her or seek help in any way.
Ryker looked her right in the eye, he could see her frustration, but he was not yet ready for that conversation. Instead, he slowly raised his eyes to her forehead and then to Mira's beautiful hair, and her, unusual, ponytail.
"Why do you leave your bangs like that?", He said running his hand through her hair, in fact he was picking at her bangs. This distracted her from her restlessness and turned her attention to him, blood went to her cheeks.
"What !?" she said excitedly as he played with her hair.
"Take it off Mira!"
"What? No! ", She said as he tried to remove the elastic that held his hair. "Ryker doesn't! Stop immediately! " She ordered, but it didn't work.
"Leave Mira ...", he said trying to pull the elastic from his hair, while the magician tried to stop him by holding his arms, leaning back to move away, waving his arms. "Be quiet!" He said as she let out a little cute squeak of laughter.
He kept trying to get Mira's hair up, he had a smile on his face, which didn't help Mira in her fight, who despite the protests, was enjoying her friend's more playful attitude. A side that she had not yet seen of him, and that he himself did not even know.
Finally he removed the elastic from Mirajane's silky white hair, his bangs fell over her forehead giving her a new look, something that pleased Ryker, although he didn't really care about her hair style, she looked good anyway even for him.
"It saw! It got much better. Now your hair covers your huge forehead, " he said jokingly and smiling.
"I don't have a big forehead," she replied falsely irritated and pouting.
"You think so ...", he said with an air of clown and with his arms crossed. They both looked at each other with genuine smiles on their faces.
Ryker stood up and held out his hand to Mira. "Come ..." he said with a determined look. She looked him in the eye, with her beautiful, bright blue eyes. She took his hand and they both walked.
They walked through the city until they left for the fields.
"Where are we going, Ryker?" Mira asked walking beside him, with her hands together.
"It is a place with a beautiful view of the lake and the city.", she blushed with the statement. This was getting too romantic for her.
"It is not far," the magician said. "I mean, we have to go up some hills, since the place is on the edge of a cliff."
"No problem. The day is great, and after that ice cream a walk helps to burn the calories ".
"Right! Women and their fattening complex. As if you need to burn some calories Mira," he said looking at her. "I heard you were a model."
Mira was slightly flushed, it was strange, she never bothered with anyone reminding her of her past in the photos. But he had a different reaction to her.
"Th ... that was a long time ago. I don't pose anymore, " she was flushed, with a little shyness.
"I would like to see some pictures. How about Mira? Would you ... show me?" He said softly.
"Er!", She choked on her statement, and blushed like never before, again. That day was being unusual for her, never before has the magician blushed so much in her life.
"Hahahaha! Just you, Mira, " he laughed at his shame. "I'm getting a taste for teasing you, girl," he said with a bright smile on his face. Mira looked at it and her heart warmed. She was happy that he was happy.
"That's not funny, Ryker!", She said in false discomfort.
So they walked for a while longer, going up a hill until they reached the destination.
"Here we are," the magician said.
It was a wide field, with widely spaced trees and fields of wildflowers, at the edge was a cliff that led down to the lake. To the left you could see the city, the guild and the cathedral, in the background the mountains. In fact, it was a breathtaking sight.
"I found myself coming here a few times to think and see the view. As you can see it is very beautiful ", said the magician looking at the landscape, numb and calm. "Sometimes coming here calms me down."
"It's beautiful, Ryker," replied Mira, looking around, enjoying the view.
The magician sat down, resting his back on a tree near the edge of the cliff, and Mira sat beside him.
"I just want to end the day here, if you don't mind," he said the magician in white.
"I don't care," replied Mira, who snuggled up to him, which took him by surprise.
"Hey!? Do I look like a pillow, by any chance? "He said in a normal tone. He knew what it looked like, but he didn't really care.
"No, but you look comfortable," she said with a shy smile. He then hugged her, bringing her closer, his hands resting on the magician's belly. Mira put her hands on the wizard's hands and positioned herself between his legs. They were hugely embraced.
They stayed in comfortable silence, enjoying the beautiful scenery that the place could offer, until the Sun started to set. Giving one more spectacle that nature had to offer, with its orange light, which dyed and gave new faces to the place.
"Thank you for today," MIra said in her sweet voice.
"No problem. If you had fun is what matters, " he replied, as he rested his chin on top of the Mira's head. "But, I think I have to thank you".
"Why?" She asked, as she stroked her hands on his belly. Even though she wanted to see the other magician's face, she didn't want to leave the comfortable position they had been in since they arrived.
Ryker took a deep breath. He can feel that he was calmer beside Mira, it was as if he, for a moment, had found some peace. He rested his head on Mira's right bare shoulder, leaving it beside hers.
She felt her face getting hot and her heart racing, also feeling tenderness and a desire to comfort him. So Mira put her right hand in his hair and stood there, stroking him. He felt very comfortable.
"You are my first and only friend. It's only you that I still consider so, " she felt her chest tighten. "I know that everyone in the guild considers themselves as a family, but I ... still don't have that spirit."
"You know you can count on everyone," she said sweetly and with a lot of affection in her voice, stroking her hair.
"I know, but it's just ... I have internal issues. You know Mira, I know that ... I don't talk much about my past, where I came from, but it's just that ... I'm still not ready to revisit those memories, " he said and his tone was somber.
Mira came out of his position and positioned himself in front of him, holding his head with both hands. She made him look at her.
"I will always be supporting you, just like Fairy Tail. I want to help you through this, but ... I'll wait when you're ready. Okay? ", She said in a motherly tone.
He smiled and rested his forehead on hers. Mira wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Ryker picked her up and placed her on his lap on his side. She let out a cute 'Kya!' And he hugged her tightly and closer to him.
"I know," he said. "I don't know if it was you or me who needed this day, but thanks for being with me," he said almost in a whisper, just for her to hear.
"You're welcome, Ryker ...".
"Ah, just don't forget that I still want to see your demon form. And I'm still going to rip that little punk girl from the past for me to see, " he said and laughed, being accompanied by a laughing demon mage.
Ryker and Mira stood there embracing, watching the sunset and the rise of the stars, until they decided it was time to leave, very late at night.
"Let's go! It's late, I'm taking you home, " he said, pulling away from her and getting up, she helped her up too. "Do you want me to carry you?" He said slyly.
"No!" She shouted. "This is another one of your stupid games".
He looked at her seriously. "Who said it was a joke !?", he said and immediately picked her up in a bride style, she released that cute 'Kya!'.
"Ryker! Put me down! ", Mira said slyly.
"Speaking like that doesn't seem like you really want to walk," he said, walking with her on his lap.
"These your games are not funny," she said, pouting her mouth and pouting. He laughed, and she blushed, but he put her down and they both went to Mirajane's house talking, laughing, but more importantly ... hand in hand.
"Hand it over ...", the magician said to Mira at the door of his house.
"Thank you, Ryker. Today was a very good day ".
"Maybe we can do it again, any of these days"
"It would be great," she said smiling.
"Well, then ... see you later," he said and hugged her for the last time that day.
"Bye Ryker", she said leaving the hug and entering his house.
The wizard turned when she entered and closed the door. He returned to his home. It was a good day, he felt lighter and more animated, but in the solitude of his home the ghosts and demons that haunt him, this time ... did not come.