The Greyhound Part 3: War of the Mind

Chapter 26

"BE READY PHANTOM! FAIRY TAIL'S COME KNOCKING!"

Makarov's yell was accompanied by the sound of his mages rushing into battle.

Natsu wasted no time lighting the back third of the common area on fire.

Gray froze large portions of the floor to trip up his opponents, before sending out massive constructs to crush them.

Elfman was using his transformed right arm to throw some nasty punches, and Loke was using all the magic his rings would allow.

But Makarov paid no mind as he walked toward the stairs he knew led to Jose, the man responsible for everything. "Erza, handle things here!" he barked out and the Re-Quip mage was all too eager to 'handle' Phantom Lord.

The woman wasted no time before jumping into the fray.


Gajeel had hidden himself the moment he saw the wall implode. soaring up to the rafters he took in everything before him. Master Jose had told him not to jump into the fight immediately but to wait for old man Makarov to leave first, and that was one reason he was restraining himself at the moment.

But another reason was because he was looking for that homicidal freak he'd met last night. The last thing he needed was to jump in headfirst just to deal with that psychopath again.

He'd told Jose about the man. Some guy hanging around Magnolia who could move so fast he lost track of him and was so quick on his feet that he couldn't land a single hit. That didn't fit with anyone who was currently supposed to be present at Fairy Tail. Their stronger S-Class mages were gone, and yet a guy that strong just so happens to be hanging around with the Fairies?

He'd also mentioned the part about him cramming a chunk of explosive lacrima down his throat but that just made his master laugh. In the end, his concerns were ignored. The plan was to proceed as if nothing had happened.

And from the looks of things that might just work. As far as he could tell the maniac from the night before wasn't here… maybe what he said about not being a Fairy was true? Regardless he had a target picked out, and Makarov had just finished walking upstairs.

The moment the old geezer was out of sight he launched himself as someone who'd caught his eye. A brunette girl throwing around cards, but there was something strange about her. The card attacks themselves weren't at all impressive, but the girl herself seemed to have a strangely high concentration of magic for a Holder Type mage… so he decided to investigate.

Flying from the rafters he reeled an arm back and sent a massive metal beam forward "Iron Dragon's Club!"


Cana heard the shout, the sound of an attack heading straight for her, and she turned just in time to see a metal pole heading straight for her face.

There was no time to react, no time to defend, only enough time to register what was coming. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.

*Clang-Clink!*

"It's not manly to sneak attack a lady!" came the cry of a voice she recognized. The blow never reached her, instead standing in her way was Elfman with a pretty pissed-off expression.

"Heh, not bad. I'm always impressed when fodder like you manages to block an attack." The iron dragon replied.

That was all it took for the two to start brawling.


Makarov had reached the top floor and was only feet away from his rival guild master's office. As he moved he found himself growing more and more angry, enacting less and less control over his magic. It started to flow out of him, and destroy the hall he walked through.

Spider web-like cracks formed at his feet every time he touched the ground, as a vibrant white light escaped from his body. The shredded concrete and splintered wood around him felt less secure with each step he took. Soon his released power reached the walls, and as he passed by the ceiling started to crumble.

He didn't even need to touch the door, it just flew off its hinges as he approached. Giving him unimpeded access to his enemy.

"JOSE!" he roared at the man in front of him. Finally, he was in sight. A man dressed in blue robes sat before him. Black hair pulled back in a short ponytail, and devious intentions clear on his face.

"Ah, Saint Dreyar. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Don't play dumb Porla! After what you did to my children you'll be lucky if I let you walk out of here with your head still attached to the rest of your body!" The dark-haired man just chuckled.

"Oh is that what you're so upset about. Come now Makarov, that was just my little Gajeel playing a bit too roughly with your children. I can discipline him if you like, but being 'parents' I think we both know kids will be kids."

Joking. This man had brutalized his family, and now he was cracking jokes about it.

"I don't know why I expected you to show remorse, but now you'll receive No Mercy!"

A massive fist shot forward demolishing what remained of the small office on its way to Jose.

But something felt wrong.

"You coward." Makarov said, "Why bother starting a war if you aren't even willing to fight!?"

As he pulled back his arm the image of Jose seemed to flicker, before reappearing in a perfectly fine state.

"Come now 'Maki' we're Wizard Saints if we actually fought it would be catastrophic. So I figured it would be best to entertain you with a Thought Projection" he jested.

"I will find you, and when I do I will rip you limb from limb!" The eldest Saint shouted.

"Heh, well as interesting as that sounds, I think you have more pressing matters to concern yourself with. Like dying, Aria now!"

From the shadows flew a large man dressed in a green cloak and hat, appearing like a cross between a monk and a street magician.

"So sad." he said while crying "To see one so great fall."

"Metsu!"


Lucy had been gone for some time. Finding all she needed from the store she was finally heading back towards the guild. "Whew, finally the guild is in sight," she said in relief while holding up a heavy bag of supplies.

"Hopefully Kinzo didn't scare Levy too much." She commented absentmindedly. But the feeling of something hitting her head brought her out of those thoughts. And as she looked up she noticed storm clouds had appeared. "Oh man, looks like it's gonna rain."

"Drip-drop drip-drop."

The sound of someone chanting shifted her focus as she watched a blue-haired woman dressed in a long black coat approach her. To the woman's left was another individual, a flamboyant-looking man with spiky green hair and a monocle.

"Come now Juvia my dear, you're scaring ze poor girl." The man said with a thick french accent.

The now named Juvia just looked at her "Juvia apologizes Ms. Lucy." She said with a nod.

"... Oh no it's fine. Was she talking in the third person just now?" she waved her off awkwardly, and moved to walk past them.

The rain picked up, and a true down poor started. She wanted to find shelter, to get off the street. But something was strange to her, and she couldn't shake the feeling.

Turning again to face the woman she asked "How did you know my name?"

The woman's reply made her heart stop. "Because you're the target."

Quickly Lucy tried to move her feet but instead found herself immobilized inside a giant water bubble.

"Water Lock" The spell swallowed her up.

As the seconds ticked by she found herself panicking. She was running out of air and the threat of drowning entered her mind.

She'd experienced this before and it was still just as terrifying. But what was she supposed to do, she'd been helpless last time as well. She couldn't compare to Sherry's strength and the way things were looking she couldn't measure up to this woman either. The only reason she'd survived before was thanks to Aquarius…

Finally, a thought that could help her emerged but it may have been too late. She was out of air and her vision was starting to blur. With a weak hand she reached down for her keys, and the moment her fingers brushed against one she forced as much magic as she could into it before darkness overtook her.

A bright flash filled the area, the light bouncing off of the Water Lock, and when the light died, in its place stood a Mermaid with sky blue hair.

She was beautiful, but her beautiful features were twisted into a rage-filled snarl. "When is this world gonna learn, not to fuck with what's mine?"

Her first move was to command the water trapping Lucy. With a simple hand wave, she dispelled the Water Lock freeing the girl. And as her drenched form collapsed against the concrete street Aquarius was relieved to hear her labored but consistent breaths.

"Now, to deal with you." She said, turning her glare on the water woman. With an outstretched arm, she called upon the rain, and it stopped. Quickly each and every drop solidified into ice and she launched them at her opponent.

"Death by a thousand cuts doesn't even compare to what I'm gonna do to you." The wrathful spirit spat as the frigid rain collided with Juvia's form.

That should have been the end of things but it wasn't that simple. Looking towards the rain woman again she found her attack simply passing through her. The area that each shard would have connected with turned to water long enough to be useless. This girl's very body could turn into water.

Growling yet again Aquarius settled in for what she knew would be a war of attrition. "Don't think you're safe just because you can liquify yourself."

Pointing toward the woman the mermaid only had one command "Burn."

Responding to her call the water that made up Juvia's Water Body started to sizzle before it completely boiled over.

Shock didn't even completely settle on her face, it happened too quickly.

"AHHhhahAha!" The rain woman screamed, the feeling of her own body being scorched from the inside out taking over her senses. She couldn't think straight, the only thing she felt was pain. Her face and limbs distorted themselves as they bubbled from the heat, and her screams only continued.

The desire to feel normal again overwhelmed her and in response her Water Body deactivated.

As she dropped to the ground in a heap, barely staying up on her knees, the accomplice she'd come with appeared at her side. She didn't look injured, in fact, Juvia looked untouched, but she was clearly experiencing pain from whatever the Spirit had done to her.

"Juvia are you alright?" The Frenchmen asked. But his concern would go unrewarded, as Aquarius used her Basin to send a torrent of scalding water toward them.

"Lucy doesn't want me to kill anyone, so I won't. But that doesn't mean I can't burn you to the point where you're unrecognizable."

The attack drew closer, so close it seemed undodgeable, but as quickly as it approached it stopped mid-flight.

She didn't understand what happened only that her attack was floating in the air unmoving, but then she saw that the rain woman was holding up a hand. "Sol quickly, acquire the target. Juvia can hold her off!"

Sol didn't waste any time shooting forward in an attempt to grab Lucy. The girl wasn't even conscious, making her an easy target.

"No chance!" Aquarius screamed before sending a shockwave toward the man, only to have it stop in mid-air like her last attack.

"No no!" she screamed in response before throwing every attack she could think of at her two adversaries.

That was all the opening the man needed. Sinking into the ground he used some type of Earth Magic to move forward before grabbing the fallen Lucy and racing back toward his partner's side.

The two prepared to run as Juvia continued to hold back the Spirit's onslaught. "Sol, retreat with the target, Juvia can handle this." She reassured. That was all the reason he needed. And he bolted away.

"LUCY!" Aquarius cried in desperation. No no they couldn't just take her, she couldn't fail. Lucy was her responsibility Layla had made that perfectly clear. She couldn't let them hurt her!

But here she was, powerless only able to watch as the man raced away with her charge…

He didn't make it two steps before someone else shot out of the shadows too fast for her to track. All she knew was that Lucy wasn't in the man's hands anymore and said man's head was rolling on the ground.

Moving her eyes quickly she found who she was looking for. A young man clad in a black hooded coat. With one arm he held Lucy tightly to himself. Holding her up like a child as though she weighed nothing. In his other hand, he raised a sword, seemingly the weapon he used to kill the would-be kidnapper.

Or so she thought. While Sol's head had in fact separated from his body, before her very eyes both his head and body disintegrated into dust.

The moment it happened her eyes were drawn back to the hooded man who wasted no time in spinning around and stabbing his blade into... the wall of a store behind him?

Her confusion didn't last long though as the man she thought had died ended up sticking his head out of a wall a few dozen feet further down. Part of his body still being phased into the brick.

"You almost killed me!" the man shouted with a raised fist and ever-present accent. "And how did you know I was in zat wall!?"

The newcomer didn't even acknowledge him, instead, using the speed he'd displayed earlier, he launched himself down the street coming to a sliding halt right next to the mermaid. Careful to cradle the blonde's head against himself as he moved so as not to give her whiplash.

Aquarius just looked down at him and the girl in his arms in relief, before concern overtook her once more. "Who are you?" she asked the man.

"It doesn't matter, I'm here to help," he told her with finality, and that was good enough for her.

"If you can distract them I can get her back to the guildhall, or at least away from here," he commented.

Mulling it over she figured this guy was probably her best bet considering the water girl was able to counter her attacks so effectively, at least at this level of attack.

"I can't promise you a clean getaway, this girl has been able to stop everything I've thrown at her." the water spirit informed.

"Then stop holding back and just flatten the area." he snapped back impatiently.

"What?" she silently questioned.

"I saw what you did to that cruise ship in Hargeon Port, I don't care who she is, she can't match that level of strength."

Immediately the Spirit was aiming a questioning glare his way. "How does he know about that? And I can't just do that here; I'll crush most of the surrounding area."

"Don't worry about collateral damage. There's no one around for a good quarter-mile, it's all just empty buildings," he revealed.

Even so, she still didn't want to destroy a large portion of the city if she didn't have to.

Noticing her hesitation he made one last comment. "Look it's either her safety or a few buildings, you pick!"

That was all she needed to hear, and the dichotomy made her question why she was so hesitant. Of course, her girl came first.

"I'll make sure Lucy is out of the splash zone so don't pull any punches." He said before crouching down preparing to dash off with the girl in tow.

"Don't think Juvia will just let you run off!" came the call of the rain woman who raced toward him.

The mermaid was taken slightly off guard, but the hooded man wasted no time in throwing his weapon toward the approaching mage.

The blade cut through the air as it approached, and Juvia considered just ignoring it. After all, it would just pass through her Water Body. But something told her otherwise.

She didn't know how to describe it, maybe instinct, maybe some kind of supernatural warning told her to do it, maybe it was the look in the man's eyes as he threw the weapon at her. But at the last moment, she moved ever so slightly to the side. And felt the sword slice open her cheek.

She stopped in her tracks. Wide eyes and gaping mouth were all she had to offer the world as she looked at her would-be killer.

She didn't understand how or why, but somehow that blade had bypassed her Spell and damaged her real body. If she hadn't stepped to the side that sword would have pierced her head instead of just grazing her skin, and the realization that she'd almost died really set in.

Regardless one thing was for certain. This man was dangerous.

The sound of cracking knuckles brought her back to reality as the mermaid spoke again. "Alright new guy, get lost. I'll make sure they can't follow you."

With a nod, he left, and not a moment later Juvia was face to face with the Queen of the Sea.

"DISAPPEAR!" she roared. While using her urn to form a massive tidal wave that easily eclipsed the surrounding buildings. Both Juvia and Sol were hopeless to defend against an attack of that size. She washed them away and sent a good portion of the city with them.


Kinzo raced for the guildhall. It had only been about a half-mile from the fight and he was approaching the building at high speeds. He wasn't sure what had happened to the Spirit he'd left behind, but what he did know was he couldn't fight properly while worrying about Lucy getting swiped out from under his nose in the middle of it.

He needed to get her back to the guild where Mira could watch after her, and he could fight unhindered.

With one last burst of speed, he jumped smashing his feet into what remained of the guild doors.

Crashing through them he came to a halt as his boots slid against the wood floor. Raising to his full height while still cradling Lucy against his chest like a child he screamed "MIRA GET OUT HERE!"

He heard a crash from the back room and the barmaid all but tumbled through the doorway.

"What, what is it!?" she said before locking eyes with him and seeing Lucy's pitiful state.

Charging over she ripped the girl from his grasp. "What did you do to her!?" she screeched.

Kinzo paid her no mind. "Shut up and get back! They might still be coming!" he roared at her, before dropping to a knee and forging two blades in his hands. He faced the entrance and just focused. Trying to sense any form of life approaching them.

Mirajane flinched back when the man yelled at her and grew even more confused when he took a defensive stance toward the entrance. But after a few seconds of total silence, she grew impatient.

Ready to tell him off and demand he explain what happened. She opened her mouth, but then immediately closed it when she saw him tense.

Something was coming.

A pulse of magic and a bright flash of light was all the warning they got before a new addition was standing in the guildhall with them… er floating.

Aquarius had summoned herself back to Lucy's side once she was sure the two fools from earlier weren't gonna try anything again.

Straightening out, Kinzo addressed the spirit "I take it they were dealt with?"

A smirk was her facial expression of choice. "Naturally." but the smirk died when she saw Lucy in Mira's arms. "How is she?" she asked him.

"I'm not sure, she doesn't seem to be injured in any serious way, but she hasn't regained consciousness yet if that's what you're asking."

With a nod, the mermaid acknowledged his words.

"Okay someone needs to explain to me what's going on!" Mira hollered.

The two took a moment to look at her before Kinzo said "You tell her. She wouldn't believe me anyway."

Mira's eyes seemed to narrow at his words but soon after softened. Realizing she'd done it again, accuse him without proof.

"Very well" the spirit accepted before recounting the story.


"Iron Dragon's Club!"

"Beast Soul: Scale Bull!"

Elfman and Gajeel had been trading blows for some time, and the Beast mage was clearly struggling.

"Hahaha, and here I was getting worried about you Fairies actually being strong." the Iron dragon taunted.

"We are strong!" The Strauss roared back.

"Heh heh. No, the guy I fought last night was strong. In comparison the rest of you are pathetic."

"I'll show you just how strong Fairy Tail is! Like a Real Man!" came the retort while throwing a right hook.

The swing was all too easily avoided, but that little 'manly' outburst made Gajeel realize something.

"Wait a second I know you, your Elfman aren't you?" the iron dragon asked.

"Heh so you know me, that only proves how much of a Man I am!" the mage boasted while moving in for another attack.

"Hah some man you are. Aren't you the coward who killed his little si-"

"Beast Soul: Black Bull!"

He never got to finish, anger filled his opponent before he could.

Elfman brought his new arm down aiming to crush the arrogant bastard into the ground.

… he was far too slow.

"Gihihi, touchy touchy. Iron Dragon's Sword!"

Gajeel had easily moved around the overly telegraphed slam and changed his arm into a mechanized saw.

He watched with glea as Elfman's eyes widened, and the man seemed to realize that this was game over.

Bringing the weapon down in a wide ark he aimed for his opponent's head. And he watched as his high-speed steel dug into the brutish man's neck.

Blood soared through the air painting the ground, and Elfman's body fell limp to the earth.


Cana had recovered quickly after Gajeel's surprise attack and was very thankful to Elfman for saving her from what would have no doubt been a skull-splitting blow. But she didn't jump in to fight alongside her savior, instead choosing to leave the men to dook it out. In the meantime, she would deal with any small fry that tried to interfere.

… she was starting to regret that decision. Elfman was losing pretty badly, and she knew he couldn't keep this up much longer.

She didn't have too much time to think about it though. Another batch of Phantom mages were on their way.

"Heaven, Reverse Death, Mountain," she said while holding up three cards.

"Summoned Lightning!" Throwing the cards forward they exploded in a large display of thunder. Volts of electricity rippling outward, and sending members flying.

She'd made some space with that attack. A moment to think was her reward and with that time she looked back toward Elfman, only to see him winding up for a very telegraphed attack.

"Shit a child could dodge that, and this guy isn't just gonna let you get away with it!"

Her thoughts proved to be true as she watched the dragon move out of the way, and turn his arm into a jagged chainsaw.

Shit, she needed to move!

Racing forward she tried to think as the blade grew closer and closer to Elfman's neck. But once she saw his blood flying through the air, and her friend's body falling to the ground all rational thought left her.

"CRaaaAASH!"

She screeched at the top of her lungs while flooding her fist, and swinging with far more magic than she was able to control.

The result was Gajeel being sent flying and the ground she stood on turning to dust.

She'd put so much into that attack almost purely on instinct...if only it had been enough.

Gajeel twisted in midair if only to glare back at the girl he planned on ripping apart. That glare froze her. That was probably her strongest attack, a massive burst of Crash Magic point-blank, and this guy was just glaring back at her like nothing had happened.

It was hopeless, how was she supposed to stand up against something like that? All she could do was stare back in fear.

"Fire Dragon's Talon!"

Until Natsu came down on the Phantom's head with a massive flame-powered ax kick. Gajeel was shot toward the ground at high speed and his body buried itself into the floorboards as a large dust cloud obscured her sight.

"Nice hit Cana! I'll take it from here!" The fire-breather said with a toothy grin before launching himself into the smokescreen eager to do battle.

She released a shaky breath she didn't realize she was holding, and her body started to relax ever so slightly.

"ErraAgh!" she heard a grunt of pain.

Looking toward the ground she saw the person who'd caused her to act in the first place laying on the ground holding a hand to his throat.

"Elfman!" she cried while dropping to her knees.

Taking in his current condition she could clearly tell that his neck had been cut quite deeply but it wasn't to the point of reaching his carotid artery which meant it was unlikely for him to bleed out. Unfortunately, that was far from his only wound.

When Gajeel slashed him, the Beastman chose to fall backward in an attempt to avoid a life-threatening injury. Which worked, he stopped the sword from taking off his head. Unfortunately, his fall while protecting his neck left his chest wide open. The blade had left a nasty slice from his left collarbone to the center of his chest.

"Ah hell, hang on big guy I got ya!" She said while using her Wardrobe card to pull out bandages. The act caused her to flinch. Pain shot through her right hand as she used magic.

Taking a moment to look at her palm she saw it was an unnatural shade of red, and very clearly angry at her overusing it. "Man using that much crash magic at once was a really bad idea."

but she couldn't focus on that right now, her friend need help.

"Damn it, Elfman, what were you thinking? That attack was way too obvious!" she chastised while wrapping him up. Throwing the odd card attack to keep opponents at bay, and being sure to use her left hand.

"Sorry," he said back with a weak smile. "But he brought up Lis."


"So that's what happened," Mira said, reflecting on the story.

"The way things are looking, I'd guess those idiots were a part of Phantom Lord." Kinzo offered.

"Why do you say that?" asked the platinum blonde.

"The timing is too convenient. Phantom starts attacking you guys, and the day an assault on their base is supposed to happen, the moment Fairy Tail isn't in Magnolia is when a couple of strong wizards try to kidnap Lucy? It just fits together too well."

She didn't really have a retort to that. But she didn't get much time to think about it as the girl in her arms started to stir.

"Emm, ehm. Wha?" she mumbled as her eyes started to open.

Aquarius was hovering over her the second she saw signs of consciousness. "Lucy, Lucy are you alright? Can you hear me?"

The girl's eyes started to focus as she looked up at her summon. "Huh, Aquarius? What happened, where am I-"

Fear flooded her system as she rocketed out of Mira's grasp and flailed around while taking in her surroundings.

"Huh? The guild? But what happened to those two…" Her mind finally registered the first person she saw. And she wasted no time in showing her gratitude.

"Aquarius… you saved me." the Spirit mage said while close to tears.

The mermaid smiled, but soon after started shaking her head. "Nope, wasn't me. He's your hero this time around." with a pointed finger she aimed at the hooded boy who'd saved her charge.

And Lucy wasted no time turning to him. With surprised eyes and a slightly gaping mouth, she took in his appearance and the information. The only thing she could say was "Thank you." And she meant it.

Kinzo just watched her for a moment, waiting for her to turn away and the conversation to move on, but it didn't because she wouldn't stop looking at him. Why was she still looking at him? She'd said her 'thanks' now things could continue… right?

A couple more moments passed in silence before he saw Mira getting heated behind the blonde and aggressively mouthing for him to 'Say you're welcome!'

"Ah, er. Don't mention it… glad you're still with us." he managed to get out. To be honest, social interactions like this always made him uncomfortable, and the fact that she was still staring didn't help.

And if her previous actions made him uncomfortable, what came next multiplied that feeling.

She hugged him, and we're not talking about a pat on the back. She fully embraced him, like she was trying to bury herself in his chest.

Mira was taken aback by the action, but Aquarius was just smirking.

He could tell she was crying again but had no idea what to do about it.

"Thank you, thank you." she kept repeating.

"Uh… like I said, don't mention it." bringing himself to wrap one arm around the girl he gave her a light squeeze and release which seemed to cue her that it was time to let go.

She did and moved back to her previous spot.

He would be lying if he said he didn't like how much she appreciated his intervention, he just didn't know what to do with that admiration. Regardless, he wasn't out of the fire yet.

"Oh Lucy, did you finally manage to bag yourself a man?"

The girl locked up, he just raised an eyebrow.

It was Aquarius who'd spoken, and at the moment she looked like a Cheshire cat. Hovering over toward the blonde she wrapped an arm around her shoulder before teasing her more.

"I was getting worried, you know. You're 17 but have never shown any interest in boys. I was starting to think you'd end up dying alone with only a few cats to keep you company."

"Hey, that's not-! We're not-"

"But I have to say, Lucy." The Mermaid started again, ignoring her complaints.

"As far as boyfriend material goes..."

the spirit took a second to run her eyes across his face and figure. Very clearly sizing him up.

"... He's not bad."

The boy just ignored her, not bothering to play along. But the woman didn't mind that, he wasn't the target of her taunting anyway.

"I didn't ask you! And don't just go around assuming things either! We're not together!"

"Oh! So you're still single then? … pffft, Hahaha!"

Their banter continued for some time, and he just watched. Mirajane looked like she wanted to jump in on the action but after looking at him again she just put her head down and stayed where she was.

"Come on Lucy, what's wrong with him? Handsome, strong, protective. Those are good qualities. I mean sure he looks a little rough around the edges. Not the most polite person I've ever met and a bit impatient, but still."

"I would jump on him before someone else steals him away." The spirit said while wiggling her eyebrows.

"Uhhh, you're insufferable!" Lucy finally cried out in defeat. Before looking at him.

"Kinzo I'm sorry, she tends to say stuff like that just to mess with me. I promise she doesn't mean anything by it."

"It's no concern of mine." was his short reply.

Soon after Aquarius' head snapped up, looking at him. What Lucy had said reminded her of something.

"His name is Kinzo? Kinzo, Kinzo… where have I heard that befo-!"

"Don't kill her…Please. Please don't make me look at you like that."

"I don't want to look at you the way I do people like… like Kinzo. I don't want to be afraid of you"

Ah, that was where. She'd mentioned a man named Kinzo on the island.

"So you're him? The killer," she asked with no hesitation.

He narrowed his eyes at her words. Lucy reacted to them as well.

"Aquarius you can't just say stuff li-"

"I am." He said cutting the girl off.

The mermaid took in his response, listening to his all too neutral tone, and watching his never-changing expression. This kid was good at reigning himself in and locking down his emotions when he wanted to.

"How many? How many people have you killed?"

"Aquari-!"

"No clue."

"You didn't bother to remember?" she prompted.

His response came shortly after. "Have you ever met an exterminator who bothers to stick around and count every roach he kills?"

That answer concerned her. "We are talking about people, right? Do you see people as insects? You would dehumanize them in that way?"

"I don't have to. They do that themselves. Dark mages, slave traders, murderers… can 'people' like that really be considered human?"

The mermaid watched him, looking for any sign of emotion or stress on his features, but so far nothing changed. "And is it only people like that you hurt, no one else?" and there it was. His expression cracked if only slightly, if only for a moment. But she could see it, the regret.

"No, not just them. There were innocents, people who didn't deserve it." The somber tone did plenty to let her see behind the mask he kept up.

"Do you regret it?"

"Do you?" he shot back.

That response threw her for a loop, but it seemed he had more to say.

Looking down he pressed on.

"I'm somewhat familiar with you 'Celestial spirits'. Old hero's given immortality and called to serve mankind throughout generations. Records of you have been around for thousands of years at least. I'd imagine in that time you've done plenty of immoral things, hurt a lot of people serving under different mages. So the question applies to you too."

Looking up again they locked eyes "Do you regret it?"

"..."

"Heh, suppose I do." she chuckled. Surprised at his attempt to 'empathize' with and interogate her at the same time.

"And I wasn't judging you kid, just curious." she offered.

He looked at her in neutrality once again.

"Well whatever, at the end of the day I suppose I still have to thank you though." Her gaze and voice grew more serious. "Today you helped someone important to me. Lucy is my responsibility but I couldn't keep her safe on my own. You stepped in, and for that I'm grateful."

Her words surprised him, and he was afraid it showed on his face. But regardless his response was a simple nod, and she seemed to smile at that.

The spirit started to glow signaling her exit, but she held off for just a moment longer "Oh and Lucy... I was serious about jumping on him while you can."

And in a flash, she was gone.

The girl just turned red and grit her teeth at the same time. "I'm- I'm gonna go check on Levy she said before heading towards the infirmary." He kept an eye on her as she went and as she closed the door behind her, he visibly relaxed.

Taking in a few deep breaths he got himself under control. "I'd be great if you stopped glaring at me," he said.

Mira's stare only intensified.

"... What? What's your problem?" he asked in slight irritation.

"Just stay away from her," she said with a bit of venom.

"I don't follow?"

"Stay away from Lucy, that girl has been through enough. The last thing she needs is someone like you trying to make advances on her."

There was so much wrong with what she just said, and so many assumptions about what he wanted baked in.

"You do realize if I hadn't gone out there to help her she would have been taken right?"

"I don't care, thank for your help and all, but keep your hands away from the girls around here."

"Heh" what else could he do but laugh at her response?

"You're in the middle of a guild war, and yet you're acting like I'm the real enemy."

He just moved over to the bar and took a seat, not bothering to look at her anymore.

"I am a dangerous person so I suppose in some ways that is wise. But for the most part, making me out to be your enemy is quite foolish."

The woman just kept glaring but eventually made her way back toward the kitchen. She pushed open the door, ready to start working again. But more words hit her ears.

"Oh, and Mirajane, just for the record. I have no interest in courtship, sexual encounters, or romance of any kind with the women in this guild. So you don't need to worry your silly little head about it."

She just growled at him while moving to the back room. Slamming the door as she went.

In the end, he didn't regret his decision to help Lucy, and he didn't regret his decision to tell Mira off. But he did realize she probably wouldn't be serving him drinks today… not that he would trust her to do so at the moment.


Author's note.

Okay, I had some fun with this one (don't know why but I really enjoy writing Aquarius, which is weird because I didn't think her character was anything special in the actual series.), and it ended up being pretty long. And as promised quite a bit of action. Anyway, I'm enjoying being able to post stuff more often and it seems like people are actually tuning in to read more chapters at a time if my view to visitor ratio is accurate. As always thank you all for reading and if you want, let me know what you thought in the review section. Until next time.


Magic

1) Metal-Make Magic like ice make... but with metal

2) Speed Magic (Potential energy magic- p.s. I made this up so you won't find it on a wiki... I think.) so any time you see Conversion Leap (speed boost) or Kinetic Decay (stealing something else's speed and trapping it in place)

3) Telekinesis lifting things with one's mind etc.

4) Re-Quip no armor just items/weapons

Tools

1) His Revolver- Iron Maiden (two types of ammo revealed. Puncture rounds and Flashbang rounds)

2) The rings his mother gave him - can be molded into other objects and when spun together replay a recorded message.

3) The magic absorbing metal - He can choose to make his weapons out of this or other kinds of normal metal (iron, steel, etc.)

4) The Eye of Talionis - replacing his right eye, it allows the user to see magic (Ethernano)

5) Isacc Colt's journals - three journals belonging to his father

6) metal woven into his hair - this will not play a major role for most of the story but I may as well mention it so people don't forget.

Abilities

(1) Enhanced strength, speed, and senses. - under normal circumstances, Kinzo can act like a normal human in terms of strength and senses, but when he focuses on a particular trait it can increase its effectiveness. I.E. by focusing on his sense of Sight, he can see more clearly at much farther distances.