Whoops, took me a while to actually update this, huh? Sorry guys, shit happens but I still intend to update this every Friday. So mark it down!
Enjoy!
"Gin, I found the seeds you were looking for!" Gin smiled and turned around as Anna waved the small bag of seeds around happily like a trophy.
"Good job," he said as he took them from her. "You're a good little helper, aren't you?"
"Yep!" Anna replied. "What's left?" Gin looked back down at the sheet of paper on his hands, looking foe what was left.
"Just some tools," he replied. "Care to find me a trowel?" Anna raised an eyebrow at this, confused.
"Trowel?" She asked. "What's that?" Gin made a face at this, coming to the realisation he didn't know what it was either.
"I dunno," he replied with a laugh. "I guess we have to find one on our own." Smiling, Anna ran off into the isles of the store again, leaving Gin with the handfuls of stuff he already had. Having taken Anna to the Garden Emporium with him, he'd tasked her with finding some of the things on the list while he carried heavier items like rakes or hoes. Turning a corner, Gin saw the young girl examining tools very close up, clearly looking for the trowels. Finally, after a few minutes, she smiled triumphantly and picked one off the shelf, running back to Gin.
"Got it!" She exclaimed happily, waving around the small shovel happily. Gin nodded with a smile.
"Alright, let's go and pay for this stuff then," he said. Anna close behind, the pair walked up t the counter and laid out all of the items they intended to buy, Gin taking out his wallet. Dharen had given him more than enough money to buy all of this stuff, and he;d asked for the change once they all regrouped.
"Is this everything?" The woman behind the counter asked.
"Yep," Gin replied.
"That'll be 300 jewel." Nodding, Gin took some of the bills in his hand out and gave them to the woman, who sorted out his change before handing back some coins and smaller jewel bills. Taking his leave, the pair walked out of the store and back into the open street, having accomplished their task.
"Now what?" Anna asked, looking up at Gin.
"I guess we regroup with my friends now," Gin replied as he looked around for any sign of them. "But they might not be done yet." Before Anna could reply, her stomach did for her. Gin heard a mighty roar come from the girls abdomen, making her blush and Gin smile. "Hungry?" He asked.
"...Maybe," Anna replied, avoiding his gaze. Gin dug into his pocket and felt around for the change, mentally counting out how much there was. It was certainly enough for a meal, so Dharen would probably understand if he did so. Deciding it was the right thing to do, Gin lightly grabbed the girls hand.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go and get you something to eat."
"Eh?" Anna asked. "Y-You don't have to spend money on me, Gin..."
"Hush," he replied. "I've been in your scenario before, and I'd have killed for a helping hand to buy me a meal. Let's find you something." Waling a short distance, the two soon came upon a bistro. Entering quickly, Gin and Anna stood in line as others ordered from the counter.
"What're you feeling?" Gin asked the young girl, who was staring up at the menu with drool hanging from her mouth.
"Uh..." she said, pointing up at the menu. "That sounds good." Gin followed her finger.
"A steak sandwich?" He demanded jokingly, nudging at the girl. "Pricey little one, aren't ya?"
"You offered," she retaliated. "Is it too expensive?" Gin shook his head as they walked closer.
"Nah," he said. "You're good. How do you want the steak done."
"Rare." Gin made a face and looked over at the girl, surprised by her answer.
"That so?" He asked. "Had it before?" The girl nodded with a smile.
"My Mom used to make it that way," she said. "I love it."
"Alright, say no more." Once they got up to the counter, Gin ordered the girls sandwich and the two went off to the side to wait for them to finish cooking it. While they waited, Gin felt Anna lean into his side a bit, which made him smile. It was odd, being the helper in such a scenario. But after what happened with Fairy Tail, and with himself all those years, he could hardly turn a blind eye.
"Gin?" Anna asked, breaking him from his train of thought.
"Yeah?" He asked, looking down at her.
"You said you belong to a guild here, right?" She asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Gin nodded.
"Yes," he said. "What about it?"
"Does that man you grew up here?" Gin frowned and her question and shook his head.
"Nope," he replied. "I didn't grow up even close to here."
"Where did you grow up?" Anna asked immediately. Was this what people meant when they said children asked too many questions?
"No where in particular," he replied as he thought back to the roads he'd travelled for so many years. "I never really had a home until recently."
"Is that why you decided to help me?" Anna asked.
"You're a perceptive one, aren't you?" Anna only beamed at this. "Yes, that's why. I can't just turn a blind eye to someone who is in the same spot I was more than once."
"Then I'll do everything I can to repay your kindness!" Anna shouted. "Not to worry, Gin! I'll be the best girl I can be."
"Easy does it," Gin replied with a laugh. "It's not needed, I just wanted to help."
"I still need to do what I can to help! Now, find me my sandwich! I'm hungry!"
Once they'd gotten some food into Anna's stomach, the pair picked their things back up and made their way back to the entrance of New Avalon, where the others were waiting by the cart that had driven them there in the first place. As they got close Abigail looked over in their direction, smiling.
"There you are, Gin." She said, making everyone else look over. "What took you so long?"
"Who's the little squirt?" Tristan asked, making Anna cower behind Gin's legs as everyone's eyes turned to her. Gin put a hand on her head to soothe her as he replied.
"This is Anna. She's an orphan I found on the streets around here. Do you think it would be too much trouble to take her in, Dharen?" Dharen broke out into a grin at this.
"Not at all!" He said. "We're a guild, after all. We're supposed to help people! Do you not have anyone else at all, Anna?"
"N-No I don't." Anna replied quietly. Dharen nodded at this, not missing a beat.
"Then we'll be your new family," he proclaimed. "Don't even worry about it."
"We'll talk to Xeros about it, too." Hyperion said. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind." Grateful that the others had agreed with him, they all began piling their new gardening tools into the cart, making sure to leave enough room for them all to sit down on the ride back. While they were doing this, Quinn made his move. Gin watched as he walked up to Anna and bent down to be on eye level with her, smiling at her.
"Hey kid!" He said, startling her. "How're you doing?"
"I-I'm okay?" Anna asked instead of telling. Quinn frowned at this.
"Only okay?" He asked. "Well that's no good. We'll have to change that." Before anyone could say anything, Quinn hoisted the girl up by her waist and sat her down on his shoulder, making her look surprised.
"W-What're you doing?" She asked.
"Gotta make it my mission to make you happy!" Quinn replied. "Just think of me and your brother from now on!" As Quinn carried the girl away, Gin could only watch with curiosity.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, turning to Tristan and Abigail. Tristan looked thoroughly done and Abigail was snickering.
"Quinn's childish nature makes it easier for him to connect with kids," Abigail said as they watched the duo near the tree line, Anna laughing at something Quinn said. "He's always been good at disaster relief in that sense."
"Yeah cause he's a massive moron," Tristan said. "Makes it easier for kids to trust him." Abigail slapped the mans arm at this.
"Don't go around starting shit," she said. "You must know what it's like for a kid to have nothing. Quinn too. It's important we make sure that Anna is comfortable and happy."
"Exactly," Gin agreed. "And besides, it might take our attention off of the glaring worries we all have at the moment. At this the three grew silent, thinking about Neptu. Gin was certain the man would be okay, but it didn't make him less concerned. From what he'd been told and what he'd heard, this infection was serious business. But Neptu was strong, he could do it.
"We have to make sure Anna's able to smile that widely when Neptu comes back," Abigail said, gesturing to the laughing girl as Quinn spun her around. "It'll be great for him to come back to something so sweet and innocent." Gin nodded as he watched Anna laugh and laugh, Quinn doing a good job at keeping her distracted.
They'd protect that smile. He knew they could do it.
Neptu knew it was foolish to try and get some sleep, but what else could he do? Night was falling and Elizabeth had already nodded off beside him, leaving him with his thoughts. And none of those thoughts were any good for him. He kept thinking back to what the scrolls from Magnus had told him, and how he was going to die if they didn't solve this infection and fast. Neptu didn't even know how far gone his infection was, so how was he supposed to get rid of it safely.
Deciding it was no good to try and get sleep, Neptu carefully moved past Elizabeth and opened the door to the carriage, manoeuvring himself so he could get up front and sit with Zynna, who was driving.
"Can't sleep?" She asked. Neptu only laughed.
"No," he replied. "How could I? I might not wake up myself." Zynna gave him an irritated look at this, as he new she would.
"Would you shut your mouth already?" She demanded. "If I told you once I told you a million times; you'll be fine. We're going to get to Zentopia, get you inside and solve the problem. That's all there is to it and that's the only thing that matter right now."
"How can you be so certain?" Neptu demanded. "We don't know how this infection even works. For all we know it takes root when the Demon Slayers started using their magic, and I've been using mine for almost two decades. I'm in deep shit, no way to cut it. How can you be so positive?"
"Because if I let myself get distracted and worried about you more than I have to, I'll devolve into a mess that you'd have to deal with," she replied sharply. "I have to be strong for not just myself, but you too you blithering jackass." Neptu took slight offence to his sister jab, but he knew she was right. Since he'd found out abut his problem that morning, he hadn't been in the best shape mentally and everyone knew it. Guess it took his sister to make him realise that.
"I suppose so," he said. "But I can't stop worrying. I don't want to wake up and hurt someone."
"Then don't," Zynna replied bluntly as she glared at him. Neptu resisted the urge to punch her arm.
"It's not that simple, you idiot." He hissed. "What if it's stronger than me and I can't resist it? What if it beats me when I try to get rid of it? I don't know if I can win this fight."
"You'd better, or else." She said. "I lost you once, I can't lose you again. It'd hurt to much." Despite the fistfight that resulted in him earning her forgiveness in the first place, hearing her say this so matter of fact caught Neptu off guard.
"Really?" He asked. Zynna rolled her eyes at his idiocy.
"Of course," she snapped. "You're brother, I love you. Speaking of that, you'd better find a way to stomach your fear for Liz's sake." Neptu made a face at this and looked over his shoulder into the carriage, where Elizabeth was still asleep.
"What?" He asked, looking back at his sister.
"How dumb are you?" She demanded, glaring at him like he was missing something obvious. "You mean the world to that girl. That's why she's here right now. That's why she stuck with you all those years when you were a murdering psychopath. You mean so much to her she can't imagine life without you. So suck it up and put a smile on for her sake at least if not you're own. Come on bro, it's not rocket science." Silent, Neptu looked over his shoulder again and watched Elizabeth's silent form. It was true now that he looked back she had seemed immensely worried about him, and refused to take no for an answer when it came to travelling with the pair to Zentopia. Neptu guessed he really hadn't given it much thought until that moment. Thinking back to their conversation when she'd caught him smoking, she had looked pretty stressed out herself. Even then, she'd smiled for him.
"You're right," Neptu finally said. "I need to at least smile for her. If I don;t I'm only going to worry her more than I already am."
"There you go," Zynna said. "Only took you twelve hours."
"Shut up already, will you?" Neptu asked as he shoved her and made her laugh. "I get it, I'm dumb."
"I already knew that," Zynna replied. The pair stared at each for a minute before Zynna turned her eyes back to the road and lightly pulled on the reins for the horse to slow up as a rough patch of road was coming up.
"Want me to keep you company up here?" Neptu asked. "I can't sleep either way."
"What I really want is for your dumb ass to get some rest, but I know isn't happening any time soon. Can you take the reins? I am kinda tired." Nodding, Neptu gestured for his sister to hand him the reins, which she did. Once he had he was surprised as she wrapped him in a quick hug before disappearing into the carriage.
"We'll find a way to save you," she said in his ear. "Don't worry. It'll all be okay." After she said this, she disappeared around the side of the carriage to sleep, leaving Neptu with his thoughts. He hadn't told Zynna, but the reason he refused to sleep was because last time he had he'd nearly attacked Dharen. He didn't know if it was a sign just how close he was too losing control, but he'd be damned it he did that to Elizabeth. Dharen was one ting but not her. Not his closest companion. Watching the road ahead, Neptu thought back to his sisters reassurance that everything would be okay. He wanted to believe her, but some part of him deep down knew something was going to happen. He didn't know what, he just knew it.
No matter what happens. I need to keep a smile on my face. For Liz, and For Zynna. And for myself especially. After all, I've been through worse, right?
"Good job Anna! You're doing great!"
"Thanks Dharen!" Gin smiled from his spot in the garden as he watched Dharen instruct the young girl on how to plant the seeds they'd bought the day before, a wide smile on both faces. Gin hadn't realised Dharen wanted them to help him work on the new section of garden as well, but it seemed to be great binding exercise with Anna.
Sadly not all of them were pleased about their newest job.
"Fucking plants..." Tristan hissed from Gin's right, making him snicker. "Fucking seeds...Fucking tools..."
"Would you mind not using such language near Anna?" Abigail asked from her spot trimming hedges. "It's too early for her to learn such vulgar language."
"Besides," Quinn said, cloth over his head to help him from sweating. "You got the easiest job so far. Gin and I are out here actually doing the digging, all you have to do is drop the seeds in!"
"It's still bull!" Tristan said. Despite his anger, Gin noted he dropped the curse from the sentence. "I didn't come here to garden! Why're we sitting around playing garden while Neptu is-?!"
"Our directions were to hold down the fort," Dharen said as he and Anna approached. "And this is what that means. If you're going to be a part of this guild, that means you'll have to suck it up and help us out. Besides-"
"Gin look!" Anna said, grabbing at Gin's sleeve and pulling him away towards her recently filled hole. I planted that all by myself!"
"Oh yeah?" Gin asked, ignoring his memories of Dharen digging the hole. "That's great!" Anna nodded, but soon grew upset looking.
"It's too hot out here," she said. "I'm thirsty."
"We have been working for a while." Dharen said. "Gin, why don't you take Anna inside and get us something to drink? It's break time." Gin nodded and put a hand on the girls head.
"We'll be back," he said. "With refreshments."
"Don't worry, we got it!" Anna agreed with a smile. Gin chased after the girl as she sprinted for the door, keeping after her as they searched for the kitchen.
"It's around here somewhere," Gin said at her displeasure. "Don't worry."
"I'm not worried!" Anna said. "Which is kinda new for me! This is so exciting!" Gin could only smile as the young girl tore ahead of him again, looking around the halls of the mansion. He was happy that the girl was in such high spirits, especially since she still looked so frail.
Before he could catch up to the girl, Gin felt a chill go down his spine.
Turning, his eyes widened. Leaning against the wall they'd just passed by was the same woman from yesterday. Same dress, same blood red eyes and lips, same everything. Gin stared at her for a moment before Anna called him
"What're you looking at?" Anna asked, rejoining him with a curious look.
"...Nothing," he said, concerned now. Why was that woman here? Who was she?
"You look at nothing a whole lot, Gin."
"Aha, sorry. Come on. Let's go get drinks." Following after the girl, Gin spared one last look behind him, but the woman was gone. Gin didn't know what was going on, but a knot had formed in his stomach.
He had a bad feeling about this.
I'll do my best to update again next Friday, I swear! This is the first full promised week of updates anyway! Rejoice! I hope you guys enjoyed, leave a review!