It is said that when someone finds their soulmate, their other half, the second part that completes their life, they become more than they ever did by themselves.

They become whole.

They become one.

They are faced with many challenges and hardships during their time together.

They hopefully laugh and love being with each other.

They will undoubtedly have problems and argue with each other.

Some see this as a step down towards the two separating. Others suggest that if they can worry and scream about the other, that just means they are that much closer.

Whatever it means, these two must always be ready to face the good and bad together.

That's probably why it's always addressed in marriage ceremonies now that I think about it.

But there is something so puzzling about finding yourself complete with another person.

When you find that one person that connects you to the world, you become someone different, someone better. So when that person is taken from you...

What do you become then?

I can't remember where I read that line. I believe it was in one of the books Levy lent me some time ago when we were younger.

I had never known what love felt like back then so for a brief period that subject intrigued me.

That's not true. I knew what love was. I loved the man that protected me and sheltered me in that terrible dungeon from those horrible monsters. I loved those friends I made that made those dark, dreary days just a little bit more bearable. I loved my guild for accepting the broken shell I was when I arrived and filling it with hope and love until I didn't have to feel the darkness of the Tower of Heaven anymore.

But I didn't know this love expressed in that book. The love between people that made it unbearable to be separated. The love that apparently only two people could share together.

I didn't know what it was like...until I found him again.

Something about seeing him again filled me with so much warmth and happiness. I was angry and sad that he had disappeared from my life for so long. But I was just so much happier to see him again.

When he was taken from me, I was someone who was just afraid to face the new and strange world I found myself in alone.

And when he was returned to me, I felt like a part of myself returned as well as so much more.

It wasn't the same love told in those books at the time, but over the years it steadily grew into that love.

I thought I was wrong.

I thought I might have been confused and just misunderstood what I felt.

But when we lost our loved one and I nearly lost him again I knew if he disappeared, I wouldn't be the same person I was when he was around. A part of me would be broken.

I let that feeling simmer and build inside me, just content being at his side and staying by him along the way. For some time I thought we were growing apart and I prepared for the idea that he might not ever think of me the same way I did him...

But then he took me out to the country. We found my home and I felt like I was finally embraced by my parents. I became angry with him. He became angry with me. We fought. I confessed. We talked. We made love...

And he said he loved me too.

I blanked. I couldn't express what I felt. It was happiness and anxiety and fear and hope and joy and trepidation all in the same instant.

It was love.

We became one.

I never wanted to be away from him. And I believed he never wanted to be away from me. We stay together in the guild and I had never felt so happy.

And then I was here.

...

I'm...I'm not quite sure...how I got here...when did I get here?

Where was here anyway?

########Titania########

I finally opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was a blinding light. It actually hurt that I needed to shield them again almost instantly. But after a moment, they adjusted well and saw that I was in...

I'm...not sure. This whole place is...strange. The area surrounding me was a completely empty space filled with nothing but changing shades of yellow and white. It was like I was in a cloud.

I looked down and I saw I was just floating in this spot without any help from any outside source. It kind of felt like I was swimming but there wasn't even any resistance from water.

Air! I-I wasn't breathing! I...

I wasn't breathing. I didn't need air.

I looked over myself and saw I was now wearing some kind of white dress instead of my normal clothes. I was no longer wearing the ripped up bandages or pants from my fighting outfit. And I tried to summon another set of armor from my inventory but nothing happened.

How did I get here?

The last thing I remembered was...I was in the Tower of Heaven...and-

"Oh no!"

I felt an overwhelming sense of dread fill my stomach as I remembered that the Tower was cracking and falling around me and Naruto. I looked around for something-

Before remembering what I did.

My confusion and dread was quickly replaced with sadness and despair. The last thing I remember before all that magic surrounded me was...

I remember Naruto looking up at me...screaming my name and crying for me to get out before it was too late. But considering my surroundings and my failure to get out of the crystal when he asked...

I'm...I'm dead.

I died trying to divert that magic somewhere it wouldn't hurt people.

I turned around in my empty space and saw no other figures or objects in this nothingness. Hopefully that meant that Naruto and the others had made it out alive. Dammit, I hated not knowing.

But where am I?

I immediately thought this place might be Heaven, with all the beautiful lights and clouds around me, but if that were true then why was I alone?

There were far more kind and benevolent and deserving people to go into Heaven besides me. So why was it so empty?

My mind immediately went to another solution, like Purgatory or Limbo. Or Nirvana? A personal Heaven? But even with all my speculation, the truth was that nothing was going to change my current situation.

I was here now.

I was dead.

And I was alone now.

For some reason a small smile came over my face. It wasn't me smirking at my situation or deriding my circumstance. It was just...

All things considered...this was peaceful.

It was warm. Calming. I closed my eyes and leaned back to feel like...like I was floating in warm water. Like a bath.

No wonder people always seemed so interested in speculating what the afterlife would be like. It was beautiful.

But nothing could get rid of this longing and regret turning in my stomach.

I would never be able to go home to Fairy Tail. I would never get to go back and see Fairy Hills. I wouldn't get to fall asleep in our bed in Naruto's house.

I still had that book Levy had lent me to read. It was past the climax and I was getting into the final act and now I'll never know how it ends. There was that new style cake at the shop they were going to introduce that had the new frosting and filling in it. I was really looking forward to that. There were so many new weapons and armor ideas I had that I wanted to introduce to the blacksmith but those were useless now.

...

I'll never see anyone again.

I'll miss the guild. I'll miss sitting down with everyone and laughing at their stories. I'll miss seeing Natsu and Gray have their friendly little spats. I'll miss helping everybody out by telling them how I think they could improve themselves and their technique.

I'll miss Natsu and Gray and Lucy and Happy and going on missions with them. I'll miss sitting at the counter and chatting with Mira as Elfman proudly states how he will continue to get stronger and Lisanna supports him as readily as she always did. I'll miss Levy's quiet moments of reading while Jet and Droy argue and boast about who did the most work in the last mission. I'll miss the scent of Wakaba's pipe mixing in the air while Macao teaches Romeo how the Mage world worked. I'll even miss Master and Cana's constant drinking.

I'll miss tucking Koyuki in at night and reading her stories. I'll miss taking a bath with her as she splashes around in the water before we sit together as I brush her hair. I'll miss the way she cuddles up to me and takes a nap once we're finished cleaning up her toys. I'll miss seeing her and Mahiro hug and laugh with each other when they see each other again. I'll miss Mahiro hugging me tightly and telling me how proud she is of my work like how a mother always does for a child.

I'll miss Naruto. I'll miss our kisses. I'll miss the times we fell asleep together. I'll miss the times we didn't sleep. I'll miss the special pastry treats he bought and gave me when he knows I'm mad he didn't do the laundry. I'll miss surprising him with ramen when I wanted to convince him to go shopping with me for new armors. I'll miss his laugh. His smile. His warmth. His love.

I just...I want to see that all again. Just once.

"Oh, for fuck sake."

Naruto!

I opened my eyes when I heard Naruto's voice and I twisted in the air so I was floating upright. The blank space around me had changed into a familiar bathroom as Naruto stood in front of the mirror...dressed up in a suit? He was alive?! What-

I suddenly realized that I was in the bathroom of Naruto's home on the edge of town. And he was getting dressed in a formal suit and struggling to tie his tie around his neck. He always had trouble with that and needed my help to do it. I floated there for a moment and tried to think why-

...

Was...was he going to my funeral?

Did I even have a body to bury?

"Okay, i-it's over and around, then you-you twist it over like that and-"

I looked back over and saw he had wrapped part of the knot around his finger. I stifled a laugh and covered my mouth at the sheer annoyance and peeved expression he showed at his failure to do so. He started jerking his hand out of the knot and pulled the whole thing over his head before he turned around and-

Walked through me and out the door.

My laughter immediately died out as I looked over myself in horror. I quickly touched myself all over to see I could still feel myself like I was physical. I quickly looked to the frame of the door and swung my arm out, watching in shock as it just passed through the wall and wood like air.

I'm...a ghost.

Well...that was unnerving. It was certainly interesting to be able to move through solid object and phase through things but-

But I'm invisible. Naruto turned, looked at me, and walked right through me.

...

Oh god...I'm really gone.

As that revelation started to sink in and I was still amazed I wasn't having a more severe panic attack, I turned around and floated across the hall into the bedroom Naruto had walked into in a huff.

I entered and floated in wait as I saw Naruto pace around our bedroom and grumble to himself. He looked down at the tie in his hand and groaned before tossing it to the end of the bed before he sat down on it. I watched him sigh and fall back on the bed before he just seemed to drone out like he did when he thought no one was listening-which was technically true in this sense.

"I hate ties. Ties are the worst. They always get too tight and I feel like someone's got their stupid hands around my neck like they're trying to choke me." I watched him rub his neck and grumble, "Why don't I ever remember how to tie that stupid thing."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head in confusion as well. We had so many jobs where we had to dress up fancy and he needed to wear a tie. And despite all my guidance and help and showing him each step to do it, he still always forgot. I'm not even sure where I learned to tie a tie but I knew it better than him. I floated down and over the other side of the bed to mimic like I was sitting on it, even if it was only for myself. I shook my head, "I always had to help you finish your tie."

"You always helped me do it! Because I sucked at it!"

Did-did he just respond to me? I looked over my shoulder to see him cover his face and moan into his hands. The shred of hope that grew in my chest left when I realized he was probably just talking to himself. I did that sometimes too. But even so...

I turned a little more to talk to him, "I wish I could have taught you to do it better. That was my fault for not being stricter with you."

"I mean what's the point of ties! They're so useless and stupid!"

"I always thought you looked kind of charming while wearing one."

"I look like a dumbass wearing one!"

"That's not true."

"Maybe I should just skip wearing one?" I watched him fall back and relax into his side of the bed before questioning, "Would you be mad if I went without wearing a tie?"

I just stared at him for a moment in silence before I looked back at the bed. I positioned myself onto my side of the bed and turned over so it was like I was facing him while lying on my pillow. It felt like old times. When we would just lay in bed and talk. I spoke softly, "I think you know how I'd be if you did that."

Naruto just seemed to think in silence before he turned as well to lay on his side and face me directly. He shrugged while looking directly into my eyes, "You'd probably get real upset, chew my ear off, give that little expression that's a mix of a glare and a cute pout, and then I'd fold and do it anyway."

I could feel myself smiling, "You know me so well."

...

...

...

"I miss you."

When he said that, I noticed a underlining tremble and hitch in his voice. I could hear something in his tone and I could tell he looked so sad staring at me. I felt like tears were going to come to my eye as I raised my hand to reach out to him. I just...for a moment-

"Onii-chan."

I phased through the bed and quickly turned around to see Koyuki standing in the doorway with a sad look on her face, she was wearing a little black dress with a black hat on top as well. She looked so beautiful but I couldn't appreciate it at all with that melancholic expression on her face. I had never seen her look like that before. Not even when Mahiro had to leave.

Naruto kneeled down right in front of her and looked her over before smiling, "You look perfect, Koyuki. Absolutely perfect." He looked around for a clock before nodding, "Okay, we'll need to leave soon. Just sit in the living room while I finish getting ready, okay?"

She pulled on his sleeve and kept holding it tight in her little fingers, "Onii-chan."

Naruto turned back to look at her and I felt a wretched cold fill my chest as tears started coming down from her eyes. She whimpered out and tried to stop sobbing as her tiny voice broke, "O-Onii-chan, t-tell me again. W-why did Onee-chan have to go? Why can't she come back?"

Oh...oh no.

Naruto seems just as horrified as I did before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He bent down a little further to look Koyuki in the eyes as she hiccuped and couldn't stop her crying. He held her little shoulders gently and spoke to her in a calming tone, "Koyuki...you know what kind of person she was. Erza...she protected people. She was a hero and always did what she could to save them. This time she saved us and..."

He stopped, struggling to find a way to explain my death to Koyuki before he smiled, "And we couldn't save her before it was too late." I saw Koyuki tear up again before Naruto gently lifted her chin and smiled at her, "C'mon, I know this is scary, but it gets better sweetie. I promise."

Koyuki gave a sniffle and let out a little cry before nodding.

Naruto looked at her sadly, "Erza wouldn't want us to keep crying and be sad. She'd want us to be happy. It hurts Koyuki...but we owe it to Erza to be happy, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay."

I saw Naruto smile and move her hat out of the way before kissing her on her forehead, "I love you."

She gave a sad nod, "I love you too."

Koyuki walked out of the bedroom and out of my sight as Naruto let out a heavy sigh and pushed himself up to his feet. His shoulders seemed to slump and he was slow before he turned around and grabbed his tie. He wrapped it around his neck and prepared to try and fix it again.

I came floating over in front of him and overlapped my hands with his, noticing that he seemed to stop and think for a moment when I did. I blinked in surprise and looked up at him before I slowly started to move my hands, Naruto's hands moving in perfect sync with mine as we tied his tie.

After a moment, he tightened it around his collar and it was perfect. I floated backwards and looked him over as he held the longest end of his tie and stood silently. He finally came out of his thoughts and walked right past me before turning off the lights.

I looked back to see him stand in the doorway for a moment before saying over his shoulder, "I'll be back."

And the room went pitch black as he closed the door.

*CRASH*

########Titania########

I was startled by the sudden thunderclap before I heard the deafening roar and torrential rain coming down around me. The rain did nothing to me and merely moved through me but I was so shocked by the sudden change of my surroundings that I didn't realize where I was for a moment. Until I finally noticed...

This was the graveyard...behind Kardia Cathedral.

Except there were so many people filling up the usually empty graveyard.

I immediately recognized the members of Fairy Tail standing in the front rows with funeral wear adorned for my service. After that there were many familiar and friendly faces from around the town I knew that I talked with regularly. Beyond that there were other individuals and people that had known of me or I had met on some occasion enough to be referred to as an acquaintance.

Members of Blue Pegasus and Quatro Cerberus were attending as well. I spotted Bob-San and Goldmine-San standing in the crowd with solemn expressions, Bob-San dabbing his eyes to clear the tears out before they ruined his makeup.

I floated over the back of the crowd some more and spotted someone I really didn't expect to see.

Mystogan was standing just at the entrance to the church, far behind the last row of people that had come to my funeral. I knew it was him because Master and Naruto had described him to me. I had never shared a word with him, and I wished I could have met him directly to thank him for helping out with Phantom...but I was honored that he came to say goodbye.

Even further back and hiding in the alley between two buildings I saw Laxus leaning against a wall and looking towards the graveyard. He seemed to furrow his eyes before turning around and walking down the alley and away from here entirely. It was hard talking to him. And he had become increasingly difficult to talk to over the years...but I'm glad he came. For whatever reason he had.

I quickly turned around and floated back over the ground before reaching the front rows of my service. I spotted Lisanna silently sobbing and being comforted by Elfman as Mira had her head hung with a sad expression on her face. Cana, Macao, and Wakaba's were giving a silent prayer as Levy seemed to keep back her tears with Jet and Droy at her side. I finally reached the first row and saw Gray and Lucy stand beside each other in black outfits while Naruto stood beside Koyuki as she gripped the seam of his pants for support.

I heard the priest finish his prayer and step aside to give room for another speaker. I looked down in confusion...

Before I saw Master Makarov take a few steps forward to stand directly in front of my gravestone.

Here Lies Erza Scarlet

Friend

Love

Hero

They...they placed me right beside Hashirama-San.

"Erza Scarlet...was certainly a difficult young woman to know." Master spoke as his voice carried over the rain and reached the ears of everyone who was listening, "At times she was our only voice of reason in a crowd of loonies. Others, she was the loudest voice in that crowd. She could be as kind as a saint. Or as scary as a tyrant. Sometimes you couldn't tell when she was either. Erza...was capable of boundless love for her friends and dearest people. Her honor has inspired and led us through many hard times. And her compassion shall never be forgotten as long as Fairy Tail continues to stand. Her love...will stay with us for the rest of our lives. And may we hope our love, in return, can help her find peace."

...

It did Master. I wanted to say that-I wanted to say those words even though no one would be able to hear me-but the words stayed on my tongue because I noticed him lower his head after saying those words. His face blocked from my sight as his shoulders seemed to tremble.

"Erza-" I heard him say in a shaky voice, "No parent ever thinks of experiencing the horror of burying their own child. But I must do that now. I wish I could be strong, and stand here while singing of your beauty and your courage and telling people just how wonderful you are. And I know you think I should stay as the old man that always seemed so strong to you. But please understand, at this moment, I just want to be the parent that mourns the loss of his child. I'm sorry."

Master. I-

I heard a shuffle of feet and the clanking of metal and looked aside with some others to see a group of Rune Knights standing at attention. They were escorting the Magic Council with black garments to protect them from the rain and somber expressions on their faces. Standing beside them was Mahiro, dressed in her Rune Knight uniform and carrying a bouquet of different flowers in her arms. Her head was hung slightly as I couldn't see her eyes in the rain and she didn't seem to pay any mind to the fact she was getting soaked.

I saw Org-Sama step forward and bow his head politely before announcing to the crowd, "Erza Scarlet...her bravery and sacrifice have done so much to benefit our country and our world. Without her help, the damages and pain-the sheer amount of peoples' lives that may have been destroyed or affected by what happened out there in the ocean is incalculable. The lives of the people of Fiore are indebted to her for her sacrifice."

No. I don't deserve their thanks like that. I wasn't even thinking of those people when I did it. I'm happy no one else was hurt but I was merely thinking of my friends at that moment.

"So, we wish to honor her forever for her sacrifice and commemorate this hero who risked her life for the salvation of so many. Erza Scarlet...we hereby wish to honor you with a permanent position upon the Ten Wizard Saints. And we give you a bouquet of flowers...a flower picked from every town and city in the country...as a thanks from every person in Fiore for your sacrifice. Captain."

Mahiro slowly marched forward and stood silently in front of my gravestone. She quietly kneeled down and placed the varied bouquet on the other beds of flowers placed around it. I saw Mahiro linger and stay crouched in front of my grave before gently running a hand over the top of it. I saw her stand up and shake a little with tears in her eyes as she took a sharp breath in, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye."

"M-Mama."

Mahiro turned around and saw Koyuki shivering and failing to hold back her tears. She turned around and moved to her side before kneeling down and hugging Koyuki tightly, comforting her while she cried out into her armor.

There were a few more moments before the many back rows and gathered people started to file out through the exits and entrances after attending the ceremony. A few people gave their apologies to my friends before the only people left in the cemetery were those from Fairy Tail and the dead that were already here.

It was deadly silent as I looked over the crowd and saw everyone just standing in silence, some teetering on the edge of tears and others just stone-faced as they didn't want to weep sadly. I just hovered and looked out to all the people that had come to say goodbye. But I noticed that nowhere in the crowd could I see-

"Natsu wait!"

Many of the others in the crowd and I looked over and saw Natsu making his way through the cemetery with an intense glare on his face. I saw him snarl in anger and shake his head, "This is bullshit! It can't be true! It can't! She can't be gone!"

"Natsu!"

"What are you doing?!"

"Lower your voice!"

Several of our guildmates yelled out to him at his sudden appearance and his anger for whatever reason. I saw Natsu grit his teeth and look over at my gravestone before he started making his way towards it. If there was anything I knew about Natsu, it was that I could tell the look he made when he spotted something he wanted to break.

"No!"

Natsu's arms, legs, and chest were grabbed and bound by our friends as they tried to stop him from doing anything. He thrashed around in their hold and yelled, "Fucking let go of me! She isn't dead! She can't just be dead!" He leaned through their pulling and roared, "Wake up Erza! Wake up god dammit!"

"N-Natsu, please stop."

I heard Lisanna sob out as Mira also started to cry into her hands.

Lucy's composure cracked and Gray wrapped an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

Natsu forced his arms out and knocked the others to the ground as he marched over to attack my grave, "You can't die! You were always the strongest! The scariest! You were always the one that could do anything! So I'm not gonna believe you could just die!" I heard his voice crack and tears fill his eyes as he yelled, "I won't-"

*THWACK*

Naruto came running in and punched Natsu's cheek hard enough that he fell to the floor. I just watched in silence as Natsu pushed himself up in the dirt and mud as Naruto grabbed his collar and yelled, "Stop it! It's over Natsu! She's gone!"

"She can't be!" Natsu yelled back and shook his head, "There has to be something! She-she can't be dead Naruto."

"She is." I heard him quietly respond as his arms lost their tension and he lowered the hold on Natsu's collar. I saw Naruto's head dip and he shook his head, "She's gone Natsu. And we can't bring her back. She's gone, and we're still here. She did what she did...to save our lives. So we have to smile. We have to be happy and live every day to the fullest. We have to be strong...because...because otherwise-"

I floated down to see his face, and my body went cold when I saw the tears going down his cheeks.

"Otherwise all she'll see are the people she sacrificed her life for crying and wasting her death."

W-what?

I heard more people around me start to break into sobs and crying.

Naruto let go of Natsu all together and he fell to his knees as Natsu cried on the ground.

N-no. Not this. T-this wasn't supposed to happen.

Naruto, h-he was struggling with his voice and huffing for air.

This isn't right.

Their cries start to overwhelm the sound of pouring rain.

I-I wasn't-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Naruto threw back his head and cried, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Please. P-please stop. This wasn't what I wanted. I-I knew it was going to be hard, b-but I just wanted to protect all of you.

Please don't cry. Don't cry for me.

My eyes watered and I covered my mouth while shaking my head. Not this. I didn't want this. I wanted them to be happy. I wanted them to live their lives. I-I-

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"You shouldn't have to be."

########Titania########

I opened my eyes and realized I was in the white space again. Naruto nor anyone else I knew was visible in my sights, and I just arrived here again like when I arrived in the bedroom and the graveyard. But this time was different.

There was a new voice that had spoken to me. I turned around and tried to spot the new arrival before my eyes landed on two people floating far enough away that I couldn't quite see their faces. There were people here? I just focused on getting answers and yelled, "Who are you?! Show yourselves!"

One was a male that sounded unsure, "I guess she doesn't recognize us."

The other was female and seemed doubtful of his speculation, "No! Give it a sec! It'll totally click!"

The two strangers floated into my sight and I kept vigilant of what they may do. They came up in front of me and I...I-I just...they...

...

I...I knew them.

The woman was a lovely lady with long hair as bright red as mine with beautiful lilac eyes. She was wearing a dress similar to mine and she looked so young and youthful as she smiled and nodded towards me with a big grin.

The taller man beside her was wearing a white suit instead. He had shorter black hair and brown eyes with a more reserved smile than the woman. But even though he wasn't grinning as wide as her, he still looked at me with sheer happiness.

I recognized them. Almost immediately. I had seen them before.

I had looked at their pictures so much that their faces were burned into my mind.

The woman was Erika Sotō and the man was Kazuya Sakumina.

They...t-they were-

"Mother? Father?"

I didn't even realize that I had said that before Erika-I-I mean my mother collided into me and hugged me tightly. H-her hug was really, really tight as I felt an unusual pressure around my arms and chest. I was really happy that I wasn't breathing in his place, "Kyaa~! She recognizes us~! See! See Kazu! I told you she would! Awwww~, my baby girl knows who I am!"

I wheezed out through the powerful hug, "O-of course I do."

"Okay Erika, you were right." My...my father came up to her side and rubbed her shoulders as the grip quickly loosened, "Now you might wanna let her go before she pops." My mother shrugged and released me so I was facing my father directly. He was taller than me by maybe a head, about the size of Naruto as he quickly hugged me too and whispered by my ear, "I'm really happy you do know who we are. We were...very scared that we would have to explain that to you."

I was startled by their arrival and their sudden affectionate displays but...

But this hug...

It felt as-no, it was even better than I thought it would be. I returned the hug and leaned further into it so I could feel my father's affection. After a moment the hug ended and we separated. I was sad that it had to stop but I had so many questions to ask. I tried to compose myself and looked between them, "I-um-I recognize you both because I found the pictures in your journal and our old home."

"See, I told you she would read them." My mother jabbed my father in his side as he looked aside with a strange expression, "And you were worried that she wouldn't."

"It was a legitimate worry. I thought she would be worried about reading the stories of the people she never knew."

"Well she did. Are you happy?"

My father seemed embarrassed and looked away as my mother smiled and poked him with her elbow. They seemed so young...so energetic...this must have been what they were like before they died.

"I...I loved reading about your adventures and what you did. The both of you." I spoke up, a little hesitant and flustered to be saying that to them, "They inspired me to become a better Mage and a better help to people in need."

They both looked at me in surprise but my mother smiled and got up close enough to my face that our noses almost touched, "Really? You really liked them?" I nodded, "Hehe. Yeah, Kazu did a pretty good job writing down all our stories and stuff. I mean it only really got interesting when I popped in and we teamed up but every story needs some build up."

Father looked nonplussed at the idea that the rest of his journal was just a prologue. But he seemed to smile again and looked at me, "I saw near the end there that it wasn't just my journal you've picked up."

I didn't know what he-

"Oh. You mean Kusanagi and Excalibur, correct?" They nodded and I nodded in return, "They are both magnificent blades. Sturdy and sharp and the way you both could channel your magics into them to create a nullifying effect for them was amazing. I read that you made them so that only you both could use them to their full potential. I didn't realize that if I tried-"

"We always wanted to pass them onto you when you got older." My father stated.

My mother continued, "We had a specialist modify them so that it wasn't just our magics that activated them. When you touch them, and if your magic ever activated one day, they would pass on to you and you could use them to their best ability." She smiled and shrugged, "I just didn't think it'd take you this long to use them."

"I never used them before because I wished to keep them pristine and perfect. As mementos to you both. But now I realize that was wrong. They weren't prizes. They were blades that needed to be used for the greater good. If I knew they felt so perfect when I fought with them I would have used them much sooner." I then blinked and looked between them both, "What do you mean when you say 'near the end'?"

"We were buried on that island. We died on it. We hovered there and could keep watch on it even when we moved on." My father answered with a pensive gaze as he looked down sadly, "We saw what happened after we died. The years you were stuck there. The way you were brought back. When you had to fight and give yourself up. We could see that."

He sounded so sad saying that and even my mother looked despondent as she looked at me apologetically, "I'm sorry we couldn't protect you from that place. We're sorry we left you in that place alone. We were trying to find a way to get out and we did what we could but-"

"I know." I grabbed both of their hands and squeezed them gently to convey my understanding. I looked between them both as they looked back at me, "I understand why you both did it. It was for my sake you tried to break out of the Tower." I-um-I started welling up talking about their sacrifice with them as my eye started watering. I had thought this situation through in my dreams so many times but actually doing it, "I'm sorry you died because of that. I-"

"Don't apologize." My mother said as she quickly grabbed me in another, less constricting hug and held me tightly. I found myself hugging her in return without thought, "We did what we did because we didn't want you to be stuck in a world like that. But because we did that you had to go through the rest of your life without parents. We're sorry we abandoned you."

"Please don't say that."

I hugged my mother back as much as I could as I heard her sniffle on my shoulder to hide her tears. I could see father at the other side looking off and trying to keep his composure.

It was true that when I was growing up, I was angry that they had left me alone in that place. I didn't know how I would react when I would see them again but I knew I would be angry. But when I grew up and realized that they had died trying to find a way for us to escape from the Tower of Heaven and in their last moments were thinking of me...I was still angry. Not for as long as I was before but for a moment I was filled with so many emotions I couldn't discern what was what. In the end...I understood what they did and...and I was happy to have such parents that would be brave enough to do that. I always imagined them as heroes. They were, in every sense of the word.

But there was just something wrong with this.

It wasn't just me. I wasn't just the one having these feelings. My parents too regretted not being able to go back and see me. Those feelings I had when I thought I would never be able to see them again...I just saw Naruto and the others go through that as well. W-was that real? Did I leave them to go through the same feelings I went through?

Did I...was I right to do what I did?

"It wasn't all bad." My mother said over my shoulder before pulling back into my sight with a smile on her face. She grinned, "You have made some truly amazing friends. Haven't you?"

...

I smiled in return, "Yes. Fairy Tail. There were so many amazing and kind people there." I didn't even realize I had reached up to hold my bicep with my tattoo over it before looking down to see it wasn't there anymore. Of course it wouldn't be. What was I expecting?

My father nodded his head in agreement, "Your friends were very brave. And they cared for you so much that they were willing to brave that hellhole to bring you home. Most people can't find companions like that in their entire lives. You were very fortunate."

I nodded. Yes. I was very lucky to have met them.

"Not just them." My mother said in a different tone of voice as she seemed to chuckle and raise her eyebrows in expectation, "That was quite the guy to fall in love with, huh?"

I smiled, "Yeah. He was a great person too."

"Hmm." Father had a strange frown on his face and gave a grumbled hum, "I wonder about that."

I was confused but mother turned to him and frowned, "Are you serious? That kid gave you a proper burial, got our swords back to our daughter, and delivered your journal to her. You watched him fight in that Tower too! I was right beside you! And you still have a problem with him?"

My father just seemed to narrow his eyes and look aside indignantly while my mother pushed on. Did my father have a problem with Naruto?

"Look, all girls grow up and they reach that age. You should at least be happy Erza found a guy that cared that much." Oh. I think I realized what father was so cross about. Mother nudged him slightly, "Are you just mad because you never got the chance to make threats with him?"

"Father, Naruto was a really great person. He was strong and kind and sweet." I explained to him.

Father seemed to keep his frown before it lessened and he smiled, "The kind of person you knew was only looking at you."

My mother leaned into his side, "The kind of person you couldn't help but smile when you see. The person that you finally meet and feel...complete with."

I felt a mix of joy and sadness reminiscing about Naruto as I smiled, "One day, I wanted us to get married and have a family together."

The grimace returned to my father's face as he grumbled, "I heard adoption is always a good idea."

Adoption? Was...was my farther not familiar with how babies are born? I shook my head, "N-no, I was going to have them-"

"Sweetie." Mother interrupted me and shook her head, "Trust me, you should just let that one slide. Daddy was really hoping to handle this all himself when you grew up, so hearing you already getting to that point probably isn't doing him any good."

Oh, well all right. I suppose that's something to talk about at a different time.

Except...my thought about Naruto...my memories of Fairy Tail and my friends...

"What's going to happen?" I hesitated to ask them both. They looked at me pensively, no doubt because I had a strange expression on my face. I didn't know if I looked scared or angry or worried or...confused.

Father answered, "When you come to this side, you can have what you want. If you choose you can go and watch out for them-look over them every now and then to see how they're doing-but you can rest easy here."

"..." I looked down at nothing, "And what happens to them?"

"They keep going. They keep living and it might take some time but...they'll stop crying." My mother said to me. I must not have liked that answer because she followed up, "What do you want to happen?"

...

"I...I don't want to leave them."

I answered truthfully. It was selfish and stupid and there wasn't a single person in the world that probably didn't want more time but I still told them the truth. I lifted my head to look between them, "I want to help them and watch them and live with them longer. I don't want to stop. I want to keep loving Naruto and live with Koyuki and Mahiro and fight with Natsu and Gray and talk with Mirajane and Cana and Lucy and help Master and wait for Gildarts. I want to keep staying by their sides." I felt my eye water and I cried, "I don't want to make them cry because of me."

My mother and father looked at each other silently like they were thinking about something.

Father came closer to me and wrapped his arms around me tightly. I stayed silent as I heard him speak, "When you're here, we'll be able to spend every day together. We can talk about all the adventures we had. You can tell us what you did and I can tell you about all the stuff I didn't keep written between those pages."

My mother joined our hug and whispered as well, "And when you're here, we can have all new adventures too. Hehe, you'd be surprised what kind of landscapes and locations we can visit and move through when we are there."

"When you come here...we can be together again. We can be a family again."

I leaned my head into their shoulders and wrapped my arms around them in return. That's right. I can have my parents back. I have everything I ever wanted as a child right here in my arms. At least...I can have my family again.

"Just...not yet."

My parents let me go and my mother held me out at arm's length away from her. I blinked, startled and wordless at their behavior before my mother looked at me with watery eyes, "Erza, I want you to listen to me carefully. We...we don't ever want to see you again."

...

"W-wha-"

"Or at least not for a very long time." Father added.

"Yeah!" My mother nodded enthusiastically, "Not for a very, very long time! At least until you're a hundred!"

"We want you to live your life to the fullest, and however you'd like to be happy."

"And eat lots and be healthy!"

What are they-

"And have a big family."

"With a ton of little kids!"

"Preferably adopted."

I don't-

"Keep gathering more of those weapons and become strong enough to protect everyone you care about!"

"Keep training with our swords. They're yours now and you could need them in the future."

"A-and just-just-"

M-my mother started to cry and tears were running down my father's face as well. My mother struggled but finally spoke, "And remember that we love you."

My father nodded, "We are so proud of you for what you've done. And so proud of what you've become."

"We will always love you. Alive or dead...you will always be our daughter. And we could not be happier to have someone like you be who you are...Erza Scarlet."

I-I don't understand what they're saying. I started crying too, so happy to hear them say that to me and fill me with so much joy and love. But still I didn't understand why they were saying that now.

I then realized...they were getting farther away. What was happening? I-I tried floating toward them but it didn't work. I reached out and cried to them, "Wait! M-mother! Father! What's-"

"We love Erza!"

"We'll always love you!"

"Mother! Father!"

I yelled out to them but they started to disappear from my sight.

And then...the whole world went white.

########Titania########

And then it went dark.

...

What...what happened?

That white world I was surrounded by just suddenly disappeared and then it was dark.

No wait. It's not all dark. There were...bits of light scattered around in the darkness. They melded and turned the bleak black into a wonder of purple and white.

And the moon.

I saw the moon, brighter and more clearly than I had in a very long time.

This was the sky.

I was looking up at the sky. The sound of rustling waves were in my ears. I felt tired and pained and every part of my body was aching.

What-

"Erza!"

"Erza!"

"Nee-San!"

"Er-chan!"

"Erza-San!"

"You're alive!"

"Thank god!"

I slowly turned my head to the side and saw a beach with a boat pulled up onto it. From the boat I saw Lucy, Happy, Juvia, Milliana, Shō, Simon, Gray, Wally, and Natsu all coming out of it. Some of them were even running through the shallow water towards me.

I'm...alive?

How-

"Ah!"

I yelped as I was suddenly dropped into the sea and felt water wash all over me, stinging my wounds but I was too confused to even notice. I looked back-

N-Naruto.

He was crouched over and gasping for air as a massive cloud of smoke was in the background. He-he rescued me? Did he carry me here to land? How-

"Gah!"

He coughed and blood covered his chin! I-I went to his side in a panic and looked him over, "Naruto!" I tried to help him relax but he was too tense and stayed crouched over. How did he get me? How did I survive? I was surrounded by the magic. I thought I was being absorbed by it. How-

"Y-you can't."

I barely heard him grumble out through his coughs and wheezing. I leaned down-

He grabbed my shoulder and lifted himself up as best he could while I steadied his arms. He only got so far as on his knees but we were at the same level now as he pressed his forehead against mine, the salt water on his face and the tears in his eye now clear to me.

"I-I understand how you wanted to protect us. At that moment, t-there wasn't anything else we could do." He panted heavily as his eyes closed and he grit his teeth, "B-but asking us to smile? Asking us to be happy and keep living? How? H-HOW COULD YOU THINK WE COULD DO THAT AFTER LOSING YOU?!"

...

Naruto shoulders slumped and he rested his head between my sternum and chin. I could feel the weight he put against me as he lost his strength and needed to rest.

"Please don't leave. I...I can't lose you."

...

I gently hugged him, cradling his head under my chin before I kissed his forehead. And rubbed his blond hair as I started welling up and cried. I smiled and softly spoke, "You won't. Ever again. I promise."

It might have been a second chance. It may have been a dream. I'm not quite sure how I survived. Or if I really met my parents.

But what happened was real enough.

I won't surrender my life like that again. And as long as I have the strength I will fight to protect this life I've been given. I'll never forget the sacrifices up to this point. And I'll never forget the ones that are by my side.

Everyone finally reached our sides and covered us. There were so many questions about our wellbeing and what happened and even more smiles and laughs as they cheered that we had made it. I too smiled, laughed, and cried with everyone as the smoke from the Tower of Heaven continued to rise.

I didn't realize at that moment that I was crying from both eyes. By some miracle, I was no longer hindered by the consequence of my sacrifice all those years ago. And I could openly weep again like I once could before I was captive.

But I didn't notice. And I didn't care at that moment.

Many years ago I washed up on a beach and cried out to the heavens because I had lost so much.

But now...

I'm truly free.

And I am alive.

########Titania and The Hunter########

Chapter 44: Moments in Heaven

########Titania and The Hunter########

Done

ReadxReview

Thank You and Bye