Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Kanji's POV

A lot had happened after we left Clover. The council came and rounded up Eisenwald. Kage willingly turned himself in, but when they went to where we left Erigor, the wind mage had disappeared. When we got back to Magnolia it was almost midnight. We all went our separate ways and went to return home. Erza said she would be staying in my apartment tonight and wouldn't take no for an answer. I unlocked the front door of my apartment and let Erza in first.

"You know where everything is." I told her as she made her way to the bathroom to take a shower.

Erza hadn't been in the shower long when there was a knock at the door.

Who the hell is coming by at this time?

I looked through the peephole and saw a man standing there. He was big, had blonde hair like mine and had a scar over his right eye.

Just what I needed.

I opened the door and looked at the man standing outside it "What do you want Laxus?"

"I can't stop by and visit my brother." He said.

"No that's not it. You usually go out of your way to avoid me. This isn't like you so get to the point." I said trying to get him to leave.

"Jeez little bro lighten up. I saw we were both in town and thought I stop by and say hello."

At damn near midnight.

"Well you did now leave, unless you want me to throw you out."

"Ha! Not like you could take me anyway, you're just as pathetic as those other guild chumps." He taunted me.

"If we both went all out you know it'd most likely end in a tie." I told him.

"You can't even hold a candle to me brat!"

"You wanna test that theory!" I yelled.

"Must you two always fight?" Erza said walking out of the shower in casual attire.

"Oh did I interrupt something?" Laxus snickered raising an eyebrow.

"Why must you torture me? Just leave Laxus. It's obvious you only came here with the intention of ruining my day." I said pushing him towards the door.

"Fine I'm going, see you around runt."

I slammed the door behind him and threw myself down on the couch. Erza took a seat next to me and leaned her head on my shoulder.

"You're fortunate enough to have a brother, you should really try and be closer with him" She said.

"That can't happen. He just has a different outlook on life. He only thinks about himself and I have the people around me. We've been distant for so long now I don't know if we can ever go back to the way it used to be." I told her looking out the window.

"I'm going to bed." She said standing up and going to the bedroom "Don't stay up too late."

Erza closed the door behind her and I went over the desk I had in the room. I dug through the draws until I found a photo. It had teenage Laxus, me when I was about nine, and a newborn baby was between us. We all had smiles on our face.

What happened to us?

I remembered taking that photo. It was right after Gray joined the guild. Mom had just given birth to her third child, the girl she always wanted. But she would never get to know her because she died a few days later. That left me and Laxus to raise this girl. We named her Lauren, after mom. I barely even remember her. A few months after she was born dad got kicked out of the guild. He disappeared one night, and took Lauren with him. We tried to track him down but had no luck. Laxus and I made a promise to get her back but we drifted apart and started fighting so much we never did.

I opened up the door to the bedroom and climbed into bed. I gave Erza a kiss on the forehead and drifted off to sleep.

We'll find you one day Lauren, I swear it.

LATER

When I woke up the next morning Erza's head was my chest and she was still asleep.

I shook her to wake her "Get up; you and Natsu have a big duel today."

Erza mumbled and rolled over. I got dressed and so did she. We left my apartment and headed towards the guild. When we got there Natsu was already outside waiting with a crowd of people who had come to watch. I went over and joined Gray and Lucy were comforting a crying Mira.

"What'd you do this time Gray?" I asked walking up.

"I'd agree with Erza being the strongest female mage but there are guys way stronger that Natsu and Gray, some even stronger then Kanji." Jet remarked.

I can't hold a candle to Gildarts; it's not even a contest.

"This'll be interesting." Elfman spoke in his loud voice.

"It's obvious Erza will win." I told him as Erza changed into her Flame Empress armor.

Natsu lit his hands-on fire and charged at Erza. He threw a few punches and she slashed at him a few times but no was really gaining the upper hand. Natsu nearly took out half the crowd with his fire breath and still missed Erza.

"That's enough!" Someone yelled as a gong went off.

One of those frog things that work for the council walked up and started reading off a list of charges.

What now?!

"Erza Scarlet you are under arrest."

Just great! Now I'm dating a criminal.

Erza went off willingly. She told me not to worry she'd be back by the end of the day and this was most likely just a formality. Natsu wasn't too keen on waiting but we found him and put him away so he wouldn't interfere with Erza. I rest of us relaxed at the guild waiting to go pick up Erza.

"Let me out!" the lizard under the cup yelled.

"Calm down. We can't let you out or you'll just go wild." Mira told him.

"Just let me out of here."

"You sure you want out?" Gramps asked him.

The lizard remained silent.

"What's the matter Natsu? Cat got your tongue?" Gramps said shooting a spell at the glass holding the lizard.

When the dust cleared Macao was in his place. He explained that he owed Natsu one so he offered to take his place so he could go after Erza.

"Damn idiot." I mumbled.

"I guess you'll be picking up two now." Gramps mumbled.

"I'm heading out now then." I told him.

"Wait a second my boy" Gramps reached into his jacket and handed me a letter "when you get there show this to Yajima. Don't read it till then."

"You got it Gramps." I took the letter and headed out to the nearby council branch where Natsu and Erza would be.

Wonder what's in this letter.

LATER

It took most of the day but I arrived at the location. I was escorted down to the holding cells. Yajima's projection was down there waiting for me.

"It's good to see you Kanji."

"You too sir, Gramps said to show this to you when I got here." I said pulling the envelope out of my pocket and opening it up for the man.

I held the letter up as he scanned it and hummed. He waved me over towards the cells.

"Unlock those two." He told the frog-man.

The jailer did as he was told and unlocked the two cells. Erza and Natsu walked out of the one and Yajima walked over to the other.

"You'll be going back with them. Consider yourself very lucky." He told the shadows.

The cell opened and a man walked out.

"Kage!"

"Uhh…Thanks I guess."

Just what are you up to Gramps?

We walked most of the night to make it make it back to Fairy Tail by morning. Kage was quiet; I guess he was pretty shocked to be coming back with us. When we got back to the guild Natsu was back to his usual self. Erza took a seat at the table and I took Kage to Gramps.

"Ahh you're back." Gramps looked up "And I see you delivered the letter."

"Yeah this what you wanted?" I asked.

"Yes good job."

"Can I ask why I'm here?" Kage spoke up.

"You'll be joining Fairy Tail." Gramps said looking up at the boy "But you'll have a very short leash to start. I'm doing you a favor by giving you a second chance, don't waste it."

Kage bowed his head and looked like he was going to cry "Thank you sir. I won't waste this opportunity."

Gramps took Kage to get him set up as a member of the guild I went back and took a seat next to Erza.

"You look like you're having fun." I told her

She looked exhausted and in desperate need of a nap.

"Erza! Fight me!" Natsu yelled charging at the woman.

Erza took one slash and sent the boy flying. Happy declared Erza the winner. I went upstairs to look at the job board. Only one caught my eye. It was to help a place called Galuna Island. The only reason I had any interest in it was because part of the reward was a spirit key.

Maybe I can give it to Lucy as a welcome present.

"It's not like you to take the S-Class jobs." A voice said.

"Yeah but doesn't mean I can't. Why you gonna steal this one?" I asked.

"Relax little man it's yours if you want it." Laxus told me.

Suddenly people began dropping like flies and falling asleep and landing on the floor. I put the job back on the board and looked over the balcony

"He's coming for a visit." Laxus groaned "I hate when he does this."

"That is something we can agree on." I told him.

I will stay awake. I've done it before I can do it again.

Mystogan came and left, taking a job with him. I headed back down stairs and woke some of the people lying on the floor up. Gray had to explain to Lucy what had happened.

"He always puts the guild to sleep so no one sees his face."

"That's not true, I've seen it." Laxus said making his presence known "He's just shy."

"Fight me Laxus!" Natsu yelled.

"Why if you couldn't beat Red what makes you think you stand a chance with me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Erza said giving off a dark aura.

"I mean I'm the strongest. None of you are anywhere near my level. Not Erza, not Kanji and certainly not Natsu!"

"Why don't you come down here and prove that." I said.

"Why don't you come up here?"

"AHH!" Natsu tried to run upstairs and fight Laxus but Gramps but a stop to it.

"You're not allowed upstairs Natsu."

"Looks like you got schooled Natsu." He looked at me "you wanna try your luck."

"That's enough Laxus." Gramps said defusing the argument.

Laxus went off into the shadows of the upper floor. I took my seat at the bar. Mira was helping Lucy and Kage.

"This place certainly is unique." The new mage remarked.

"Hey Mira why wasn't Natsu allowed on the second floor?" Lucy asked.

"Because only S-Class mages can go up there, and those are picked by Master. There are only six people in the guild eligible to go up there. That include Laxus, Erza, Kanji, and Mystogan." The barmaid explained.

"Don't get your hopes up Lucy. It ain't worth it. Those jobs are difficult and dangerous. I hate taking them. Too much riding on you, I hate the responsibility." I told the girl

"He's right." Mira agreed "there's no money worth risking your life over."

The next morning when I arrived at the guild I had planned on taking the Galuna island job. Only when I got there Mira told me that Natsu and stolen the job and gone off with Lucy to complete the quest. Apparently Gray had gone after them intending to bring them back but he never showed up.

"We'll go get them" Erza said.

"Uhh…okay." I agree.

We headed to the port hoping to find a boat to get us to Galuna Island.

AN

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Till Next Time!