Next afternoon, in Makarov office...

Makarov poured the coffee into the cups. His eyes were serious, as he did not lift his gaze from the steaming cups when he passed one to the poison dragon slayer sitting in front of him. "Sugar?"

"Yes, thanks." Cobra let the Master put three full spoons of sugar in his cup, before leaning back in his chair. He looked relaxed, but his grip on the cup was so strong his knuckles were almost white, and he was not entirely sure how exactly they not shaking. A miracle the cup is not in pieces on the ground.

Makarov poured himself some sugar, and then for two long minutes he stood there, mixing the coffee with a small spoon, blowing on it from time to time. He hd thought about what to say to Cobra multiple times that morning, but the speech he had prepared himself seemed now inadequate. Any of the speeches I had thought of seems inadequate, to be honest, he thought, drawing in a deep breath.

The poison slayer in front of him was sitting in his chair, probably guessing what his Master was about to tell him, probably not. You never knew what Cobra was thinking of, especially if he didn't want you to know.

Makarov sighed. "I think you know why I called you here today, Cobra." he finally said.

Cobra huffed. "Yeah." Of course he knew. Makarov must have been known about the fight in between you and Snow White. That was not a thing the iron slayer was going to keep from Makarov, and for once, Cobra couldn't blame Gajeel. 'Course I am the bad guy, he thought with a grimace, Not the poor little thing that had just lost all of her dear family and friends.

The poor little thing that had brought up the worst nightmare of his whole life, the man that was the reason he had become who he was, and done what he did, before his seven years- stay in the prisons of Era.

The thought of Brain's laugh was still making him sick to his stomach. Better getting done with this shit as soon as possible.

"So, when is Lahar coming and pick me up?" blurted out the poison slayer, taking a sip of his overly-sugared coffee.

Makarov eyes widened, and for a moment he looked completely puzzled. But then his brows drew together, drawing deep lines in his forehead, and the Master narrowed his eyes in a way that made Cobra think he was going to get a huge punch in his jaw. "I am not sending you away, Cobra."

"If you think I would ever send you away, I must assume you have not understand neither me, neither how things work at Fairy Tail." Makarov sipped his coffee. "Sending you away might be the easiest thing to do, but when I accepted you here, I knew things were not going to be easy, even if after eight months you have not killed any of your guild mates." I will not include the attempted poisoning of Natsu, which I partly understand! thought Makarov sound and clear for Cobra to hear, earning the poison slayer a snort.

"You know Cobra," Makarov tone was soft, and his eyes, although sad, searched the purple one of the poison slayer behind the smoke exhaling from the cups, "when one is healing... there are some memories, that is better not to recall for a while. Memories that carry faces, feelings, places, and words with them. Memories that can destroy months of hard work, if recalled." Makarov looked the steam rising from his cup as it vanished in the air. "Healing is a long process, but I guess you already know that. It takes years. And often we don't realise how much we are hurt, and we believe too soon that we are back to our old self again. And even more often," Makarov voice was now a whisper, "we do not realise how much others might be hurt, just as we are."

The Master of Fairy Tail let out a sigh. If Makarov could have, he would have taken the sorrows of his children upon his own shoulders. "When two people that are healing start fighting," he said, "they are easily blinded by their own grief. Their actions become inconsiderate, and cruel. Neither you nor Dalila are to blame for what happened."

Cobra felt a little knot in his stomach untie. And another one in his throat and chest tighten.

So, the old man is not angry with me? Well, not exactly.

"However, as a Master, I cannot ignore what happened." Makarov voice grew stronger as he spoke, looking Cobra straight in the eye. "I sent Dalila away for a little while, I would like you to do the same. I have a mission for you, Cobra."

Cobra stiffened. It was unusual for the old geezer to give orders like that. But seemed like he had no choice. "Yes, Master."

"Understand me, child." Makarov's voice was still firm, "I am not ordering you anything. If you do not want to go, because you think it would be better for you to stay at Fairy Tail, then I am not going to oppose. But I believe a little change of air might do you well. Plus," he said, in a lighter tone, jumping down from his desk, "I have been planning on asking you to take this job for a while now, because you are the best mage I could send."

Now Cobra was recognising his Master once more. The poison slayer smirked, imperceptibly. He forced his magic a little, but Makarov soul was unreadable as always.

"Hehe, you need to work a little bit more to penetrate this old man secrets, my child." Makarov said with a wink, reaching a small folder on a bookshelf. "And you will not be working alone, of course! Your team mates should be here any moment by now!"

"Mh." Cobra titled his head. "I do not hear Salamander's rambling. They must be..." then he stopped.

He had heard it. And it was not Natsu, nor Gray, nor Erza, Lucy or Wendy. His eyebrows lifted together, as he looked questioningly at Makarov.

"It seems that one is arriving." grinned the Master, jumping back on the table again.

She was arriving indeed. The drip-drop of her soul was unmistakable. After one minute, in which Makarov kept leafing the folder, leaving Cobra wondering what the heck was going on, a light knock on the door sounded in the office.

"Come in, child!"

The door opened. "Good morning, Master! Juvia has come, as you asked."

Juvia entered the office and glanced at Cobra. "Good morning, Cobra." she said shaking a little.

Juvia was still one of the mages that were a little wary around him. Cobra believed they had never spoke properly, actually. Especially after that Juvia had washed him away with her enchantment the day Dalila had set foot in the guild hall for the first time, the Water mage had kept her distance from the poison slayer.

Should Juvia say she is sorry for that wave? was questioning her soul the main time. Maybe he doesn't remember... And Juvia did it for Gray-sama!

Cobra rolled his eyes, but said nothing. Juvia souls sounded like the sea waves crashing on the shore. It seemed monotonous, but if he listened carefully, he could hear distinct sounds and whispers. Mainly, different praises of Gray and wishes he decided to not dwell into.

"Does Master have a mission for Juvia?" asked the Water mage, wanting to break the silence that had fallen in the room, while Makarov was busy with his papers, and Cobra with her soul.

"I do, Juvia!" said Makarov, lifting his head from the file with a smile. "You and Cobra are here because I have decided to form a new team, for this particular mission. Your abilities, combined with the ones of Cobra and Gajeel, will ensure us success."

Cobra looked at Makarov. "Metalhead?"

"Gajeel will come with you, yes." Makarov nodded to both Juvia and Cobra. "And Pantherlily as well, of course."

Juvia, Gajeel, the cat and him? That was a pretty strong team. They were all S-class mages, and Cobra knew he was even higher than that level. What are you planning, Makarov? asked mentally Cobra, folding his arms on his chest.

Still, Cobra couldn't hear a thing form Makarov about the mission. He turned to Juvia, that she let out a small smile at him. "Gajeel-kun and Juvia had worked together many times. Also when they were in Panthom Lord, they used to team up sometimes, even if Gajeel-kun preferred to work alone at that time, and Juvia's team were the Element Four."

It clicked in Cobra's mind then. So, that was why? "Are you forming a team from ex-member of dark guilds, old man?"

Makarov grinned. "Yes I am, Cobra. For this mission, your past is a big advantage. It is the only thing that might ensure you success, probably."

Cobra and Juvia looked at each other. No, even the rain woman hadn't a clue of what Makarov was planning. Her soul became agitated, like rough sea and night, with deep currents running over the surface. "What do you need Cobra, Gajeel-kun and Juvia for, Master?" she asked. "Juvia's past is something that she is not very... proud of." she added, lowering her head. Strays of guilt were enveloping all around her soul, and Cobra heard the sound of the pouring rain that used to follow her everywhere. Instinctively, he glanced outside the window. A few drops were already tapping the window glass.

Cobra was not feeling on hundred percent at ease himself. Which was saying something, considering how much close he had been less than twenty four years before to killing one of the Fairies.

"I will tell everything as soon as Gajeel is here, don't you worry Juvia." Makarov smiled encouragingly. "You will understand as soon as I explain you what the mission is about... But do you know why is Gajeel late?" he asked, looking at the clock.

"Juvia doesn't know." the Water mage shook her head. "Gajeel-kun is always on time for jobs. Maybe-" "He's coming." interrupted Cobra.

Well, 'he' was not really appropriate. 'They' was the right word.

Indeed, after a couple of minutes, some loud steps from the stair were heard form Makarov office. The door bursted open, and Gajeel entered panting in the office.

"Master!" shouted the iron dragon slayer, "I am here. Sorry."

"Yes, sorry Master!" said another voice. Cobra already knew that the iron dragon slayer was not alone, so he was not surprised when Levy peeped out from behind Gajeel.

"Oh, hello to you Levy!" said Makarov with a huge smile.

I see, Mirajane was right after all... Cobra flinched hearing the she-devil name inside Makarov head. According to Makarov thoughts, Mirajane was already planning a baby shower for Levy. The wedding had been planned for a while.

That particular detail remembered Cobra to never, never let Mira know about any interest in any one.

"Hello, Levy-san" greeted Juvia, with a sly smile. "Hello, Juvia!" Levy cheered, unaware of the raised eyebrow of Makarov and of the blush that was creeping up Gajeel's cheeks.

"Good morning everyone! We are a little late, sorry." Lily came into view, waving his small paw at the group. "You had a mission for Gajeel and me, right, Master?" he asked, smiling politely.

"I do have a mission fro you, indeed!" Makarov nodded, but was still smiling down at the two mages. Cobra believed he heard the old mage fantasizing for a moment about getting some new babies crawling around the guild hall, but the poison slayer pointedly denied that belief went back hearing Juvia's murmuring soul instead.

Gajeel was the fist one to realise that there was an extra member in the room. "Ehm, yeah so, Shri-Levy..." he said tentatively, looking down to Levy. The girl looked up to him "Yes?" the she realised it too. "Uh-ah! Yes, Master, I am so sorry-ehm-I am going!" she stuttered, as her face became crimson in an instant. Oh my-oh my-oh my!

Cobra heard Levy's head shutting down - which was quite a rarity - as she panicked - which was not a rarity when Gajeel was around her - and sneered as she bowed and stormed outside the room.

"Well, now that we are all here, " Makarov cleared his throat, "Let me tell you why I have requested all of you to come here today."

Gajeel glanced at Cobra. The poison slayer looked as cool as always, in his slightly slithering way. As much cool as a snake ya don't know is sleepin' or not, commented Gajeel inside his head.

The memory of the look Cobra gave him the night before, feeling him wiggling out of his grasp like it was nothing, was making Gajeel feel he was standing right next to a wild, dangerous animal out of its cage. An animal than was scaring even for a dragon slayer. How featherweight had the guts of going right against him... She was really out of herself too.

The purple eye of the poison slayer interjected him, and Gajeel quickly averted his gaze. He didn't want to admit that on that moment Cobra had scared him to death - but it explained why he was part fo the Oraciòn Seis. Had he been less than that, he wouldn't be part of one of the guilds of the Balam Alliance, wouldn't he?

Gajeel shook his head, sending those thoughts away, and concentrated on Makarov instead.

On the features of the small Master, the cheerfulness had disappeared. Makarov opened the folder in front of him, and took a sheet of paper. He put it on the table.

It was a picture. The quality was low, and Cobra supposed it was taken from a security lacryma or something. In the picture three men were walking on a street. One was short and fat, covered in a sort of armour, and had a deformed face. Next to him, there was a tall one, with a black dress and a tall hat. None of those were known to the poison slayer, who glanced brieflty at Makarov, before examining the third figure.

Surprisingly, the third man looked familiar. Cobra narrowed his eyes, trying to remember were he had seen him before. He had a short, black beard, and was enveloped in a black cloak. Wait... Isn't him...

"M-Master!" Juvia whispered, as her eyes filled with worry and fear. Gajeel tensed behind Cobra, clenching his jaw. "I thought this fucker was in jail! What is he doing Iwan around with those two?"

"It's quite clear what they are doing, Gajeel." Makarov didn't try to hide the anger in his voice. "Raven Tail is rebanding."


At the same moment, in another part of Fiore...

Dalila had been in the train the whole morning, leaving Magnolia before dawn, and had stopped at her destination right after lunch. A lunch she didn't have and was not planning to, because after almost eight hour in a train, with her brand new dragon slayer motion sickness, she was ready to throw up her own soul, and whatever she might have tried to put in her stomach.

The train had stopped on a small station lost among mountains, so small it had only one track. It was the last stop, and it was the only transport available for all the villages of the valleys around, if you had not a horse to walk on the narrow paths among the moitains.

Right after she had got out of the train, Dalila had realised that she hadn't even said goodbye to Lucy or Levy. They were out the previous evening, and she left too early that morning for anyone to be up. Not even the ghost of Mavis had come to accompany her to the station, which kind of hurt, but anyway her pride was already hurt byt he way she had lost control with Cobra, so Dalila preferred to have walked alone to the train station, in the end.

I will need to confront Mavis when I'll be back. If she was going to be back.

However, since she felt really sorry for Lucy, and since Dalila remembered by heart her lacryma-number, the wind slayer had paid the few coins needed to make a call from the cafè in she small train station where she had dropped.

When Lucy hadn't answered, Dalila had left her a message. She didn't know exactly what to say. It was not the case to tell Lucy Cobra had come to murder her in the kitchen, and that she had just use magic to literally burn the little patience the posion slayer had.

"Ehm-Lucy, hello! I... With Master Makarov we have decided I had to leave for... To go training with a friend and-uhm-it was a little done in a rush, actually! I send you a hug, I will call you as soon as I am back to Magnolia!"

Dalila hung up. Well, I didn't lied, she said to herself, walking outside the station and checking the direction to the small valley where Warrod was living.

The directions pointed her towards a path wiggling among the trees of the woods.

Dalila looked at the path, illuminated by the soft light of the sun. Let's just hope there are no Vulcans in these woods, she thought with a shiver, setting out for the path.

But the where no Vulcans living in the valley close to Warrod.

Instead, the air was calm and smelling of fresh leaves and musk, buzzing with the sound of bees and squirrels. Soon Dalila was captured by the beauty of the woods, and the thought of Vulcans slipped from her mind.

Actually, she was starting to feel a little worried about meeting Warrod again. He was now old, much older than Makarov, and immensely older than when she met him. Was he going to remember her? Was he really willing to teach her, or at least, to give a room were to practice the little magic she was able to master?

And at a same time, she felt exited and happy as a kid, going to see a dear friends she had not seen in ages. I don't mind if he doesn't teach me magic! she thought, As long as I can enjoy his company again! This place is beautiful.

She heard birds singing among the branches above her, and smiled. Music everywhere, isn't it?

Warrod liked music, too. This was one of the reasons why Dalila had liked Warrod since the very first time they met. Although I am afraid I will not be able to understand his jokes, once again... she chuckled to herself. Warrod had a weird sense of humour, in her opinion.

Dalila continued to walk in the woods, and she walked and walked, for the whole afternoon, and was started to feel tired when a signal on a log signalled her that she was close. Thank Mavis! she thought, hastening among the leaves and the roots of the trees. The sun was low on the crest of the mountains around the valley but there was still a soft, green light illuminating the path before her.

She hoped she would arrive soon to his hut. I am tired, and hungry! she thought, as her stomach growled. And it's getting dark out here.

The path came to a turn, where the trees seemed to be less thick. I must be very close to the end of the wood now.

She was indeed. As the trees disappeared, the red light of the sunset illuminated the valley opening in front of her.

Oh my heavens... Dalila took a few more hesitant steps, stopping to admire the heavenly sight in front of her. This is...

In front of her, there was a huge valley, surrounded by tall mountains with their peaks covered in snow. The setting sun had coloured them in orange and red and pink, and they were glittering against the purple sky as if they were coated in rubies and topazes.

The air was fresh and clear caressing bright yellow flowers, shining like golden stones among the grass, green and tall.

A light blue and green butterfly flew in front of her, and disappeared a moment later. The murmur of a small waterfall caught her attention, and she saw it at the very end of the valley, drawing a rainbow with its water drops.

This place looks like it has just come out from a fairy tale...

Her eyes looked for a sign of Warrod's house, as she moved slowly on the field. Bees were wandering among the flowers, and their soft buzz was mixing with the sound of the waterfall and the rustling of the trees behind her.

After a few minutes walking in awe, Dalila finally saw a small hut, with a bright red roof and white walls, starring in the middle of the valley. She hastened there, and as she came closer, she saw a small garden with pink, red and blue flowers waving gently in the wind.

As soon as the wind dragon slayer approached, the door of the hut slowly opened, and a tall man came out from the hut.

He stood for a while there, waiting for Dalila to reach the hem of the garden. And when she arrived there, she halted. Warrod had changed much, and very little at the same time. Dalila could see that his skin was brown, and wrinkled, as the trunk of an old tree, and his hair were dark green. But the smile he was wearing was the same one of one hundred of years ago.

The wind slayer felt a tear rolling once more on her cheek, but she didn't wipe it away. It is Warrod... It really is...

All of a sudden, the mage in front of her opened his arms, and without wasting a second, Dalila almost knocked Warrod down, hugging him with all her strength. A scream of joy escaped her throat among the tears.

The old mage tighten his arms around her as well.

"Dalila-san..." whispered Warrod Sequen. "You are alive!"


A little earlier that afternoon, at Magnolia train station...

The train was late, and the strange team just funded by Master Makarov was currently waiting in the train station cafè.

If they keep glaring at each other in that way... Juvia doesn't know what she could do...

Juvia took a small sip of the vanilla infusion in front of her. She looked At Gajeel, and Cobra, and then at Gajeel, and then at Cobra, and then the poison slayer glared at her and she almost chocked on the infusion and averted her gaze. Juvia wished Erza-san was here!

The fact was that, once out of the guild, Cobra and Gajeel had started glowering at each other for no apparent reason, and the more minutes passed, the more hard they were glowering and the more tension was filling the air around them.

Juvia had attempted some conversation - it was possible that Gajeel-kun had bothered Cobra by thinking something inappropriate, but hey they were a team, right? They had to work together!

But when only Pantherlily had kept answered her, she had fallen silent, and hoped for their silent battle to die out. Also Lily had noticed the two dragon slayers glaring threateningly one to the other, but he had no idea of the reason, however he was getting more and more worried, because he had no idea how Juvia and him could stop them if they started to fight right in the middle of the street.

Lily was hoping they got soon on the train, so that each one of them would have had something else to worry about - not puking too much on him and Juvia, mainly - and when Cobra had informed them that their train had been delayed, the Exceed had felt his heart sink. I pray Mavis and all the gods and goddesses of this land that these two do not kill each other before the end of this mission.

Things have been relatively quiet since they entered the cafè, but both of the dragon slayers were quite tense. Cobra had scared the waiter asking for a cup of plain bleach and the rat poison they were using, and Gajeel had ordered the poor boy the two knifes they used to cut the meat in the kitchen.

Damn it, Gajeel! thought Lily, wising that Gajeel had the same Soul Hearing magic of Cobra. What the hell is going on between you two?

"Mind your business, cat!" snapped Cobra.

Now, for all of you that aren't in Gajeel's head - like Cobra - and can't hear Cobra's thoughts either, here is what was going on. Cobra hadn't taken too well the association made by Gajeel between his behaviour last night and his former role in the Oraciòn Seis. When he first heard him thinking about it in Makarov office, the poison slayer had let it slide - with not little difficulty.

However, the plan outlines with Master Makarov had not helped the situation. Not at all.

"Iwan has been located in the city of Xianto." Makarov had explained them. "I am in contact with the Council. This is an undercover mission, and the objective is to take down Raven Tail and their allies once and for all. And to do so, it has been decided that you all will pretend to be part of Raven Tail. It will be credible, since you have been part of dark guilds already. Once infiltrated, just collect as much information as possible."

Cobra had shrugged - piece of cake, really, Iwan was not that smart as far as the dragon slayer could remember - but the idea of pretending to be part of a dark guild again had ignited a whole fire in Gajeel's soul.

Cobra had been able to identify feelings like fear, anger, a good deal of remorse and bad, bad memories, climbing from the depths of his memory, where Gajeel had relegated them.

The phantom of Phantom Lord - literally! - was still haunting Gajeel. Cobra had been able to identify feelings like fear, anger, a good deal of remorse and bad, bad memories, climbing from the depths of his memory, where Gajeel had relegated them.

But then there had been once thing that had Cobra almost lost the little control he had regained on himself.

Pretendin' to enter a dark guild so that that fucker can go sprint-killin' around and do the hell he wants? Gajeel had thought, glancing at the poison slayer. Can't believe Master is askin' him that!

Glaring at Gajeel hadn't helped. The iron slayer had glanced at him, gritting his teeth. Happy? Ya'll have more fun soon.

Cobra had swallowed the poison coating in his mouth, trying to focus on Makarov and ignore the iron slayer, but it was easier said than done.

He was not 'go sprint-killing around' anyone, or 'do the hell he wanted', or 'having fun', for all that mattered. Dammit, he would have killed Dalila with pleasure the night before, but that was because the wind dragon slayer had brought to the surface his worst memories, horrors that were still making his skin burn.

Some nights Cobra had wakone up with his body covered in scales, even is he was alone in his own bed.

It was the fact that Gajeel was convinced that Cobra found it fun that was bothering the poison slayer. It was fun, but not in the kind of way Gajeel believed. It was more difficult. Fuck. If only Cobra would have been able to sleep decently the previous night, now he wouldn't have been on the verge of spitting bleach on that scrap of metal sitting in front of him across the table.

On the other hand, Gajeel hadn't had a pleasant night himself. Seeing the fight in between Cobra and Dalila, was like being back to many years. When he himself had wanted nothing else to destroy Fairy Tail. And with one of their members in particular, he got very close to. Very, very close.

Gajeel's soul had kept rummaging those considerations over and over, and Gajeel was thinking about it when they had exited the guild hall. They had started glowering at each other because Cobra knew what Gajeel was thinking, and Gajeel knew what he himself was thinking, and guessing what Cobra was thinking, and had screamed to him his thoughts, consequences be damned.

"Don't ya fuckin' dare to talk to my cat like that." hissed the iron dragon slayer.

Pantherlily rolled his eyes. Here they go. "Gajeel," he started, "it's ok. You don't-" "I don't what, Lilì? Like he fuckin' thinks he can to the hell he wants?"

The 'he' Gajeel was referring to lost the little patient he had.

"If I do talk to your cat like that, what are you going to do to me, uh?" Cobra's tone was studiedly casual. And that made Pantherlily fur crawl. "There is nothing no one has to say to anyone else!" he quickly said, "Now, if we-"

"I'll fucking show what I can do!" Gajeel slammed the knife on the wooden table, up to the handle.

People in the nearby table let out small cried of surprise. And then they shut up immediately after, when Cobra looked over them, overly amused and satisfied.

Gajeel noticed that too. Trembling not to jump at the throat of the poison slayer, Gajeel slowly started to sit back down, when Cobra struck his blow. "Nothing? A pity." he smirked. "I wanted to see if you were going to pin me to a tree, or if you got more creative in these years."

Gajeel stiffed on his seat.

Cobra's smirk widened. The iron slayer's soul howled like a wounded animal, howled for the things he couldn't change anymore and wished with all himself that had never, never happened.

Under the table, Gajeel's fists tightened until he felt his own nail pierce the skin, and draw blood. His eyes prickled, a mixture of remorse, anger and... "I need to take some fresh air."

The three mages followed him with their eyes as the iron slayer stood un from his seat and walked out of the door.

"I am going and check on him." said Pantherlily as soon as the door closed, flying behind the iron dragon slayer.

Cobra closed his eye, listening to Gajeel's and Lily's souls as they got away, melting themselves with the rest of the passer-byes. About time.

The poison slayer knew too well it was not ideal, to say the least, having fought with a member of his current. As well as he knew that Makarov had sent him on this mission not only because his presence was needed, but also because he thought it would have done him good to concentrate on something else. Sure the old geezer is going to sermon me as soon as we are back.

"Cobra."

Damn, he almost forgot Juvia was there too.

He didn't open his eye. "What?"

He heard her moving, and sitting in front of him. "Juvia would like you to listen to her."

Cobra sighed. "Listen here," he started, opening his eye, but Juvia held out a hand, stopping him. "Please. Juvia knows that you might already know what she wants to say, but... But Juvia would like you to listen anyway."

Cobra sighed, sitting upright. "Fine." At least for once she is not thinking about Gray.

Juvia took a small breath. She fidgeted with her own fingers, before starting to speak. "Juvia has been knowing Gajeel-kun for a long time. We met in Phantom Lord. And... Life in Phantom Lord was not easy. Master Josef was not easy to satisfy. And both Juvia and Gajeel-kun did bad things, that they still regret. Even to the mages of Fairy Tail."

Cobra rolled his eye. "I know that."

"But Fairy Tail has become our guild now, and..."

Juvia cleared her throat. Speaking to one who already knew what you were about to say wasn't making her feel at ease. "You know, Juvia wanted to be a Fairy Tail mage more than anything else. And she thought she had to do something, to be one of them. Not many people were speaking to Juvia in her first weeks... But then she understood that Fairy Tail didn't want anything from Juvia. All that you had to do was... being yourself." Juvia smiled. "And understanding that, had made Juvia incredibly happy. Yes, she was happy, like she had never been in Phantom Lord."

"And Gajeel-kun... It took to him a while to believe it, but then, Juvia saw him becoming more... More Gajeel-kun than he had ever been, and Juvia saw him happy for the first time. And Juvia was more happy now, because she saw her best friend happy as well."

The overuse of the word 'happy' was sickening, but Cobra restrained himself from making any comment.

"But Juvia knows that there are things... Things that bother Gajeel-kun. What he did to... To Levy, and her friends, he can't forget, and those memories haunt him. They don't let him sleep, sometimes. Gajeel doesn't speak to Juvia about this, but Juvia knows. Because it happens to her, as well." Juvia dried a tear that had just rolled down to her cheek. "And the point is... That the more Gajeel and Juvia are accepted and loved at Fairy Tail, the more they regret what they did. The more time they spend at the guild, the more those memories hurt. They keep coming back less and less often, but when it happens, it is... it is..."

Juvia swallowed heavily her tears. "Please, Juvia asks you not to bring back these memories to Gajeel-kun. Because they hurt him. And Juvia can't stand seeing him so sad, when she knows he has struggled so much."

Cobra didn't say anything. He just shrugged. There was nothing he was going to reply, and honestly he didn't care about 'Gajeel-kun' and his struggles.

But when Brain's laugh replayed in the poison slayer's mind, Cobra suddenly realised that the way he was behaving was exactly the way Brain had trained him to behave.

What Brain had trained him to be.

Heartless and careless, right as he was being right now. With no regards for other's feelings, and etcetera, etcetera, all the things the Fairies would never do.

The way they were offering him to change, for once, and he was turning his head on the other side, keeping behaving like a man he hated with all himself had taught him.

Fuck.

That sudden awareness knocked the breath out of him.

Juvia couldn't know what was passing by Cobra's mind. But the poison slayer was distracted by a random thought that had appeared in the soul of the Water mage.

First thought of Cobra was that Snow White was haunting him again. It must be a fucking curse or something.

"What does Show White has to do with this." he hissed, but it came out as a murmur.

"Oh, Juvia was just... It's nothing." Juvia shook her head. "She was thinking that, even Dalila-san, who has done nothing bad in her life, has much trouble with her past, but just in the opposite way. The memories that haunts her are the happy ones. Juvia hears her crying some nights. It is heart breaking."

Juvia's word sunk in him, and they stung.

A lot.

And Cobra was not expecting it.

"Honestly, I have never seen her that much grieved." he muttered under his breath, trying to fight that emptiness slowly taking over his stomach and lungs.

"Oh, but she is!" Juvia eyes went wide. "Juvia sometimes wonders, you know... What would it be to be loved, to have a family, someone to care for you... To have friends... And all of a sudden, losing it all..." The Water mage shivered and tugged herself in her coat. "It must be terrible."

Cobra opened his mouth to reply... And closed it.


City of Xianto, later that night, in an small hotel downtown...

"Cobra?"

Cobra's eye shot open. He looked around and saw the room filled with darkness. Street lamps were shining outside, and the light was making his way through the curtains. Cobra slowly sat up on the bed. He must have fallen asleep. He hadn't even had the strength to change in his pj's. No fucking wonder, after so many fucking hours on that fucking train.

He and Juvia had joined Gajeel and Pantherlily a few minutes after the iron slayer had exited the cafè. The trip had been horrible as expected, but at least it had been perfectly silent.

They had arrived in Xianto after five hours, and they have gone straight to their hotel, for the so-much-needed sleep.

The clock on the nightstand struck one in the morning.

A light knock at the door startled him. "Cobra? Are you in there?"

Oh right. That was why he woke up all of a sudden. There was someone at the door. It was Lily, in fact. Cobra frowned as he got up and went to the door, without bothering to turn the lights on and swung the door open.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking down at the Exceed. "And what's the matter with Metalhead? Why are you so worried about him?"

"Uh-ehm, yes..." Lily coughed a little, composing himself once more. Had Cobra any idea of the effect his single, indigo eye was doing when he was looking on someone who had just woke him up? Lily believed he didn't, and thought to tell him, but he then decided not to. There were more urgent matters at the present moment, which was why in fact he had knocked at the poison slayer door.

"Sorry for waking you up, Cobra." said the Exceed. "Gajeel had been missing for the last five hours. We have no idea were he went."


Two minutes later, Cobra and Lily were walking fast down the streets of Xianto.

"I sent Juvia in the city centre. I have seen that the slums are this way. This part of the city is... rarely frequented." Lily meant the slums of Xianto. "We will be able to cover more ground in this way.". The Exceed had turned into his battle form, and his sword was thumping against his calf. "He said he was going to get some fresh air an hour or so after we arrived at the hotel. " he continued. "And... he didn't came back."

"He hadn't told you were he was going, didn't he?" asked Cobra, turning into a nearby streets, as the Exceed rushed to meet his pace.

"No." murmured Lily. "I didn't ask. He looked rather gloomy... I guessed he needed some time to... think."

Cobra restrained himself from commenting that it was the proof that actually Gajeel was able to think. Sarcasm felt unnecessary at that moment, and Lily was seriously worried about the iron dragon slayer. Metalhead, you really are an idiot, grumbled the poison slayer, taking another turn.

Neither Lily nor Juvia thought Gajeel was in serious harm. The iron slayer was a fighter, and a good one. He was not going to let his guard down.

Even so, Cobra could feel the worried look in Lily's face as his eyes darted back and forth onto the empty streets, searching every alley and every shadow. And his soul was unusually loud.

No, thought Cobra, that night, the worst enemy of Gajeel was the iron dragon slayer himself. Their discussion at the train station - well, what Cobra had actually said, mainly - had left him angry and wistful. In the few moments were he was not busy keeping the bleach he just drunk in place, Cobra had heard Gajeel thoughts wrapping around that single memory, that very thing he wished he never did.

And once he was alone with Lily, neither the presence of one of his dearest friends had been able to give him some relief. Cobra could almost see the iron dragon slayer walking down that same streets he and Lily were crossing, looking for some distraction, anything...

In any other situation, Cobra wouldn't have opened the door. He was not caring that much. But, however, something was pushing him along the streets of Xianto at that terrible hour at night.

That was my fucking fault.

As they proceeded in the maze of narrow streets and alleys, a stench of trash and rotten food grew around them. The pavement was dismal, and weeds were growing undisturbed on the house walls.

"I should have gone after him..." whispered Lily.

"Metalhead is not going to be in serious danger. It's not like he would kill himself or anything..." huffed Cobra, eyeing a couple of men lingering below a street lamp, who glared suspiciously in their direction.

"Yes, of course." murmured Lily. "But the danger one can endure does not always come from others."

Cobra bite his tongue and said anything. He knew it was his fault. Lily knew it as well, or at least believe Cobra could have controlled himself a little more. Just a little. Even punching Gajeel right in the face or poisoning him would have been better than recalling him that he had actually pinned to a tree the girl he had fallen for, carving the Phantom Lord guild mark on his stomach.

However, Lily had also seen Cobra so out of himself the night before, that he couldn't blame the poison slayer for snapping.

Said poison slayer was ready to tell Lily nor him nor the metal idiot deserved so much attention, for both of them were equally two big fat idiots, but they had no time.

They speed down another alley, entering the most rough part of the city. It had been a smart idea to send Juvia downtown, where the roads were more secure and the night life was still roaring and singing, while Cobra and Lily walked into the worst districts of Xianto.

Those were places were it was better not to be alone. Cobra could have gone alone, for his face was still well known, and no one could tell he was looming around the slums in the middle of the night for any good reason. At worst, they would have let him wandering in peace. But it was better to have Lily with him, just in case.

"Do your hear him?" asked Lily in a low voice.

"No." Cobra shot a glare to a woman, with less than a scarf as miniskirt, looking down at them from a window. He chest was bared, and she was lazily covering her chest with an arm.

"We have yet to arrive to the port. There will be dives and holes. We will have plenty of places to look at."

A chill run down to Lily spine. He despised such places, and the thought that Gajeel could have chosen one of those places to drown his sorrows was a painful one.

Haven't I told him million times that he's more than allow to punch me in the guts, instead of going around like a fool and getting himself drunk and wasted? Lily clenched his teeth. Since he had known Gajeel, It had happened twice that Lily had to go into the worst corners of Magnolia to look for the dragon slayer. It had been more than enough, thank you very much.

"There are some things you have to do alone, Lily."

Lost in his thought, Cobra's deep voice startled him. Lily turned and frowned at the poison slayer. "What do you mean?"

Cobra shrugged. "I can't get drunk, so there is no point to visit every inn of the town, trying to..." he gestured with the hand. Seriously, he would have been broke by now, if he had tried to get drink. And the worst the alcohol, the better for his system. It as like having an enormous bonus of energy.

Usually, when Cobra was in that mood, he went in the woods, looking for something to kill. When he was with Brain, he used to kill people, but now he was contented into hunting a deer, or a wolf, or whatever. It had happened a couple of times, and in the first two months of his life at Fairy Tail. And was not positive they were going to be the last two times. Old habits are hard to die.

The lights of the port glinted in front of them. Xianto was a city of the sea, like Hargeon, but it was bigger, and had a much worse reputation.

Cobra glanced around. Not very much different than the questionable district he had seen. Houses covered in moss, with old and grey paint, and cracked walls. Bad, bad smell, like something was rotting in the shadows around them, and it probably was. An unnatural silence, grieved with the feeling of people listening to other people.

Lily swallowed when two men, both tall and with long, black capes, started walking towards them, but back away as soon as Cobra openly growled at them.

There was no doubt that being with Cobra in such a place was a luck for the Exceed. Lily was a brave warrior, but he had little to do with reckless robbers and assassins. Some of them might be able to overcome him with a simple trick. However, at the present moment, he was more worried for Gajeel than for himself.

"Stop that, cat." hissed Cobra, as they passed a drunken man who was singing and pissing in a dark corner. "You are hurting my head."

Lily bit his lip. Stop thinking for the worst Lily! Focus on the task at hand, find Gajeel!

A group of men who passed by them, some of them laughing, some of them grunting something intelligible, all of them drunk and wasted.

After they passed them, Lily turned to Cobra. "No, no one had seen Gajeel." Cobra anticipated his question. "But soon we might find him. We are close to the streets were the pubs and the holes are. I can hear them."

Lily nodded, as a paw instinctively went to the hand of his sword. The Exceed didn't like places like that. He didn't like the smell, the sight of wasted men and women, the depravation and the misery lurking in their eyes.

He had nothing against the poor - he knew that life could be hard, if you were born in the wrong neighbourhood.

No, what Lily could hardly tolerate, and not because of some sense of superiority, but out of pity, was their loss of hope. He would have preferred much more to deal with a terrible enemy, maybe Zeref himself, instead of witnessing a human being so lost in his or her own misery to drink all night to become less of a man, even less of an animal.

In front of them, the Exceed was feeling at fault, and his impotence was unbearable to him.

That was also why Lily was so mad at himself on that moment, as he peeked into an illuminated window of a small pub. Indecent songs were coming from the inside, as well as the smell of low quality brandy and rotten food. Damn, he wished Gajeel was engaged in a hand-to-hand combat instead of being inside there. He...

"I told you to stop that shit." growled Cobra, as they turn left behind them the stench and the singing. Gajeel was not there, and inside everyone was too drunk to give them any piece of information.

"I am sorry Cobra. I am just worried about Gajeel." murmured Lily. He didn't want to angry Cobra, or to stand in his way when he was trying to look for the poison dragon slayer.

"It is not your fault if Metalhead had suddenly decided he wanted to play more stupid than usual."

They passed an alley, were a pale light revealed several women, barely dressed walking lazily up and down. One of them whistle at them. "Hey, beautiful!"

Lily grimaced as they passed by.

"We should look at pubs first." grumbled Cobra. "I doubt he was looking for \textit{that} kind of entertainment tonight."

The two continued to walk among the streets. Cobra was didn't anywhere. He walked fast, like he had an important business to carry out, which could not be delayed. The few moments spent in front of any open door or window were enough for him to check if Gajeel was inside, or if anyone was sober enough to point them were the iron dragon slayer went.

Picking up Gajeel scent was out of question. The several dozens of stinks his nose was able to perceive were too strong to be able to discern Gajeel iron scent. The man was also smelling of something sweeter, like cinnamon and freshly baked bread, but Cobra despaired in smelling that.

The more they were advancing, the more pubs they meet. Loud and totally off-key voices and instruments were accompanying pirates jingles and common songs, with mangle words so that the lyrics were obscene and crude. Laughs and drunk men were vomited into the narrow streets from the small doors. A drunk man, with a large red nose and small, ugly eyes was thrown out from a pub and bumped into them. "Sorry, sirs." he slurred. Lily stepped away, slightly disgusted.

The drunk didn't even notice him, looking up at Cobra instead. "Oh." he said, noting the clean, furry coat of the slayer, "Sir, do you have a coin for-" but Cobra had already seized his wrist and was holding it firmly, away from his body.

Cobra didn't even think about it, before clenching his fist roughly. The drunk shouted in pain and horror, as his wrist cracked loudly.

"Sorry, I am afraid I have no coins." chuckled darkly Cobra, letting the drunk go.

"Ah, oh my- Who the hell are you?" asked the man, dropping on his knees and holding his broken wrist.

But Cobra was already a few steps away. Behind him, Lily stood bewildered for a few seconds, before running at his side. "Are you crazy?" he hissed. "Was it necessary?"

"Yes, it was." Cobra didn't tear his eyes from the street around them. "One. Some people that are less drunk than they want us to believe, are watching us. Strange people in their territory, you get that, cat? Good." Cobra glanced around. "No apparent connection with Iwan or Raven Tail. But if Iwan starts to gather informations about us in this city, he will start looking these places. And we want him to find credible information, right?"

They passed an inn bigger than the others. At the door, whores in miniskirt and bright, slightly smudged red lipstick waved to them. Cobra passed without even looking at their direction. "Two," he continued, "the fucker was looking for my wallet, which is something I do not enjoy in general."

Despite the situation, Lily snorted. "I would never try to steal a hair of your coat, Cobra, let alone your wallet!"

Cobra smirked "You won't get to grab a hair of my coat, unless you kill me first cat."

They turned a sharp corner. The streets appeared to Lily all the same. He hoped Cobra knew were they were going. "Yes I am." growled the slayer. "If you want another reason for I snapped that wrist, the man slapped a kid today and this is something that neither I would do."

Lily couldn't help but find Cobra's educational method quite similar to the ones of a certain red-headed mages, and was about to tell him, when suddenly Cobra halted. He ducked his head to the side, listening. His lips twitched, as if he had a bitter taste on his tongue. Lily stared at him, his fur standing straight on his neck and back.

"He is close." stated the poison dragon slayer. "This way".


Duh. I know. Not happening much. But good things come to those who wait...