Chapter 19: Jinxed
A horse whined somewhere in the darkness that surrounded the ranch house.
Mira was upstairs, pretending to be asleep for Elfman's sake when Laxus returned home. She left the window up for the cool breeze that grazed the hot night. She kept her breath shallow, trying to hear anyone approach. It was several hours after he had left. She wondered if he would return in the middle of the night.
At first, she could not tell if the horse sound came from the barn or not. Mira jolted upright when she indeed heard the clatter of hooves passing the house. A worker would head straight to the barn from the fields, not approach the house.
Elfman lay on the floor, taking an impromptu nap after hours of pacing and racking his brain for what he could be doing. They both had been feeling pretty useless.
Carefully, the girl left the bed trying not to wake him. Her feet hurt. The wounds wrapped tightly in bandages. She ignored the pain, wanting the news first. Then Mira could prepare how to handle Lisanna and Elfman's reunion.
Mostly she just wanted to see her baby sister.
She made it outside the house without much noise. Laxus was exiting the barn. A chill grazed her arms, and Mira realized she had not covered up her slip that she had been sleeping in or put on shoes. Nothing else moved in the stillness of the night. She tried to decide if she should go to him or wait for him on the porch. As she watched, a sense of unease ripple through her body. Her spine stiffened at the slowness of his steps. Normally, he walked confident with deep strides and a proud look. His stance was now slouched with a touch of regret in his face.
In blind panic, she raced across the yard. Stickers digging into the cloth that wrapped her feet.
"Where is she?!" Mira demanded. She could smell murk and sewage radiating from Laxus, but she ignored it after briefly puzzling why he had that scent. When her eyes met his, she saw the hollowness. Laxus took her hand.
"Mira…" He uttered low and hesitant.
"I don't want anything but my sister.?" Mira bitterly interrupted.
"We found her."
"Where is she?"
"We found her body discarded in the cre..." Laxus began but Mira stopped hearing after a few words. Her ears just stopped functioning after the words "her body discarded" were said.
Mira wrapped her arms around herself and fell to the ground.
She couldn't cry.
Her mind just went blank.
She just stared into the distance not seeing the world for what it was anymore.
Lost.
How can you feel pain when you become so utterly broken that your mind simply stops?
The girl was not even aware when strong arms picked her up and carried her back in the house.
After that night, Mira and Elfman were changed people. Mira lost a lot of her spunk. The youthfulness and energy she once had, beaten out of her. What was left was a meek shell of who she use to be. Eventually, she quit working at the café to work at the bar. It was a strange choice of profession, dealing with drunks after her baby sister had been killed by an alcoholic. They said that Lisanna had gotten away from the man who they called "Serena." She had fell off of a cliff landing at in a creek. The coroner had assured the family that death would have been instantaneous. No pain. The body had then been washed downstream until it had been embanked. They said if the water had been up as it is during the rainy season, her body probably would not even been found. They never were sure if the man had sexually assaulted her in anyway. Any evidence was washed by the water. And the body had deteriorated enough to hide noticeable signs.
But working at the bar did good for Mira.
When the men got out of hand, Mira was the first one to get physically violent with them. Everyone was a bit afraid of her. You could see she enjoyed tormenting them a bit too much. Gildarts and Cana loved having her around, especially when Gildarts got called out for active duty, leaving Cana and Bacchus in charge. Mira had a better head on her shoulder with a low tolerance. She would discipline people quicker than the other two, not letting anything slide. The girls that ended up being hired as the place expanded, also helped her cope.
Days turned into months. Summer turned into Winter. And the year circled around again. During that time, Laxus had offered her a job of housekeeper at his home, but Mira stated her reputation would be ruined if she did - a single woman to be staying in a house full of men. Elfman had fully moved into the bunkhouse, and Mira had begun to live with Cana.
Five years after Lisanna disappeared, Laxus also got a new member of his family who showed up out of the blue, Lucy.
Mira remembered that day. Laxus had came to her with no idea how to handle the young spoiled princess. The teenaged girl had freaked him out more than Sting ever could. She had no idea how to live in the West, much less on a ranch full of men. Upon meeting Laxus's blonde cousin, Mira had fell in love with the girl. She had seen a bit of Lisanna in Lucy and taken her under her wing. She taught her to cook, clean, and plant gardens. Laxus and her had also taught Lucy to shoot and rope a steer. The blonde was a quick learner. She had also befriended the local bookworm, Levy who Mira had previously not had much contact. The three became good friends. Levy ended up supplying Mira and Lucy with tons of books about fantastic adventures.
Time just allowed the wounds to become smaller, even though that hollow ache was still a burden Mira had to carry.
And Laxus helped.
He would see Mira so much helping Lucy, he finally hired her officially now that there was a female in the house. Truthfully he just wanted Mira, now twenty and a beautiful lady, to be closer to him and away from that bar. There were too many rowdy pervert men. in town.
A relationship begin to bud between the two. More romantic then it had been before.
When Sting had left, and Laxus had gotten drug through the courts, Mira knew she wanted Laxus with all her heart. Mira and Laxus had Atlas Flame marry them in a private ceremony with Elfman, Flare, Gildarts, Levy, Cana and Lucy as their witnesses.
Lucy was crying by the end of the story.
"How can I? I didn't even know." Lucy thought of them and the pain. Her heart sadden at the lost and also the fact that even now Laxus was sick while Mira was pregnant. She thought about the key she wore around her neck, reminding her of that woman. So much sorrow hidden behind smiles and kindness. You would never imagine how broken people can be.
"It's ok Lucy." Mira hugged the girl she came to think of like a sister while Laxus rolled out of bed.
"For a long time I thought I was jinxed. My parents died. Wolfheim was killed, and then Lisanna died as well. I thought I was undeserving of happiness. That it was my fault, wanting to wallow in my own insecurities." Laxus took them both in his arms. "Many people made me see that there was something more. Once I realized what I wanted, which was to stay with Laxus and on this ranch with you and Elfman, I decided it was time to stop pretending I didn't want to be here."
Laxus pulled them both in a hug. He held both women tightly as if he would not let them go.
They sat like that quietly in that stuffy bedroom. Releasing them once they seemed calmer, Laxus grunted, "I will protect you both with every fiber of my being. And it worries me that some day I might not be here to protect you to."
"Don't talk like that." Lucy almost began a new wave of tears.
"Sting is home, but he is still childish and irresponsible. Elfman is a good brother, but I highly doubt he could run this place. Jellal could. And I think his heart is in the right place. His past scares me. He has talked about who he had dealings with before. People much worse than Phantom S. And if he needed to leave suddenly or if those people ever found him, my mind can't even contain the worry." He looked Lucy dead in the eyes, "You are a strong woman Lucy, but running this place is eating you up. You need to have time to be a girl and have fun."
"I do have fun here with you and my family."
"That is true, but you also sold one tyrant father for becoming a tyrant yourself." Laxus's words struck Lucy in a way she didn't think was possible. "But Mira and I have discussed Natsu taking over as ranch master."
"Laxus! Don't take her side!" Lucy muttered as she wiped her eyes.
"Of course Mira thinks more as a romantic in these matters," Laxus sighed patting Mira's head.
"He knows where the wind blows Lucy. My match making skills are unparalleled." Mira giggled then gimanced. Lucy asked if she was ok. She smiled while patting her tummy. "The baby wants a hug too. He's kicking. Feel right here." Lucy touched the spot she pointed to while Laxus beamed in pride at Mira.
"But I was thinking of it as more a proposition of Natsu." He continued. "His family owns ranches. His brother Zeref expanded Igneel Dragneel's ranch into a huge industrial farming company before becoming a Senator. Natsu's brother Rogue runs a cattle ranch like this one to the north. His cousin Gajeel, I met in prison, is also a very experience rancher. Even before Natsu arrived, I was looking at companies if this place goes belly-up. Under no circumstances would I ever hand of over the rights to Phantom S."
Lucy's stomach bottom out that Laxus was considering selling the ranch. The tightness in her heart prompted her words, "But this is our ho..."
"With Natsu being here, if we did sell, he could use his influence with Zeref to retain us as manager of the property. He would not have to hire new people to come in and we would get to keep our home. Plus I don't think there is anything in this country that could compete with the Dragneel's connections and deep pockets. Only yesterday I was talking to Jellal about this." Laxus was unaware of how impactful his words would be on future events.
Across the property as Gildarts met with Natsu, another meeting was happening. On the edge of the Phantom S property line, a shadowy figure waited. The trees camouflaged who he was meeting with in case anyone was 'out and about' at this time of day.
"Irene." Jellal mumble lowly as two horse riders appeared, throwing back his hood. The two dismounted before approaching him. Two almost identical women, but one older than the other. He realized Irene had brought Erza with her. Jellal schooled his features to not show his surprise. She probably wanted to remind him she had power as long as she had Erza on her side.
"So you have news?" The head of Phantom S asked with mild disrespect.
"Laxus is planning to sell the property to the Dragneels. He had thought about it before, but yesterday I overheard him talking to Natsu on one of his few trips down from his bedroom. And it is something I would do in his place. He even sent a letter to our mutual friend from prison, Gajeel, to come soon."
"NO!" Irene screeched. "Acnolgoia will not be pleased by this news. He got Laxus released from prison for a reason. It seems we need to hasten our plans."
Jellal grabbed her arm. "What exactly do you plan to do?" Erza who was standing to the far side, took an aggressive step toward him. He frowned at her reaction. He always hoped she wasn't aware of Irene's schemes. The older lady flicked his hand off her before rubbing the place where he touched in annoyance. "Honestly, sweets, that is for me to know. You said Gajeel. You mean Gajeel Redfox?"
"Yes."
"Well not all is lost." Irene glance toward Erza for confirmation. The other nodded.
Jellal grimaced knowing that Gajeel use to run with a bad group before something bad happened, leading to him being sent to prison. Instead of helping him out of prison, Zeref had left Gajeel to rot as punishment. Even though he did not know Gajeel as well as Laxus, he wondered briefly if Gajeel was still working for Acnologia. He always suspected Zeref had set up Gajeel to be arrested as bait to lure Acnologia into adopting a spy into his network. It looks like he had been correct in his assumption.
"Come Erza. Let's meet with Cobra to discuss these plans."
Jellal looked longingly toward Erza as she followed her mother, waiting for her to turn back toward him. To say something…
But she didn't…
And Jellal's heart broke when he realized he had almost betrayed his new family for someone he thought loved him. But if his plans were calculated correctly, Gajeel would be coming soon.
He remained still until they were out of sight before turning back to Love's property.
If Phantom S thought they could use him to break the Love and Lucky, Jellal was going to use him to break them. Gajeel had one weakness, his regret for shooting a man during a bank robbery. It was the act that got him sent to prison. The man had only been protecting his family. Gajeel not only hated the fact that he killed an innocent, but that he left a family fatherless.
And Jellal knew where that wife and baby currently resided, although the wife went by her maiden name now.
Juvia and her son were currently living with Reverend Atlas Flame, a long time friend of the Dragneel family.
Next Chapter: How to Kill A Man
AN: Hoped you like this chapter. A couple of bombs dropped. The name of Lisanna's killer. Yes he will return. I plan to let Mira meet him. Also Mira's history finally revealed how Lisanna died. Some Miraxus + Lucy family bonding time. Jellal re-enters the story. It's the first time we have seen him close to Erza. And that twist at the end... Please don't kill me Gruvia fans. It actually is a reverse plot of another Nalu fanfiction (by another author on here) where Juvia dies before the story at the hands of demons and Gray meets Natsu and Lucy as they cross his lands, journeying to Zeref's. Does anyone know what fanfiction I am talking about? Juvia will have a very strong presence in my story. I love her character and can't wait to develop her.
The reviews this chapter were so good. Thank you to all my reviewers: Persians - sarara1.8 - 4evrDorky - Juvia is my spirit animal - Saranau34 - HammyJessa - NaluFTFanatic - Guest - ThayetJade - FriendlyAnon - Guest
Some of you I want to reply here...
1. "I hope you put more Nalu in it especially from Natsu's perspective." Promise more Nalu next chapter. I know what you are thinking... The title "How to kill a man" and Nalu... These two things are not equal, but wait in see. I love next chapter. Now this chapter won't be from Natsu's perspective but a few chapters from now (I will say 3) a big chunk of the story will be from his perspective. I will try to make things less confusing. Not sure if this chapter help but next chapter is more straight forward.
2. "When I got to the part where Laxus seeing Lisanna running through the road I had to stop and I had a mini freak out to myself like 'nooo plase don't accidently get kicked by the horse and die lisanna'" I had to stop for a mini laughing session after reading that line before finishing the comment.
3. "Person's name starts with S? S as in Salamander? Salamander was a good guess. I did think of making the killer someone close to Natsu. Salamander would imply it might have been Igneel or Natsu himself since those are the only two I have called Salamander in the story. Serena was my choice because of his teamup with Jacob and August in the manga. And Jacob is already in my story ^_^ No August tho. (Why was the Emperor's son not Loved?)
4. Thanks so much and will hopefully keep it that way... btw I wish Juvia was my spirit animal.
5, "I can already feel the flood coming"/ "You aren't going to make me cry are you?" I didn't think this was too sad. At least, hope it wasn't on some 40 days and 40 nights level
6. "Laxus and Mira's history fits them so well." This is actually something I worried about. I thought to myself, "I have no idea how to write Miraxus" halfway through this story.
7. "I don't normally do this but it just wanted to say that your story is ten times better then Angel." I could cry right now. "Every time I read a new chapter I want more, so I figured I'd check out that book you mentioned and wow. The way you are taking this story is much more interesting and the humor is better... that the story you have created based loosely off of hers just feels better executed and all around much more enjoyable." Bless you! I needed to hear these words! "Sorry if this seems like a weird review I am really not good at expressing my self." You did fine!
Now to tell you my schedule. Currently, I aim for the beginning of the week (Monday) and end of the week (Friday). So twice a week. Some weeks the update times vary slightly (Sunday and Thursday for example). Or the plan gets shot all together. I do want to keep my two chapters a week until this story ends. As an avid fanfiction reader myself, I know waiting between chapter updates can be taxing. Especially at times where multiples stories aren't being updated... And I throw lots of little detail here and there, which I don't expect you to remember unless you read the chapters close together. So here's to a fun summer together +.+