When we got back to the guild we were spent We had all agreed to forgo staying the night and instead take the midnight train to get home as soon as possible. The guild was barely open when we arrived. In our exhausted states we rushed through our report of the mission: from us finding the poster of the mission dead and the symbol, to getting trapped in the book to making our way back home. Master welcomed Hadwin despite the unconventionality of it all.
Soon Hadwin and I were on our way back to my apartment. I held his book close to my chest the whole way there. We were lucky and didn't see Lucy on our way in. I really didn't want to have to explain everything to her just now. I needed sleep before I could tell it all again to anyone. After we quietly entered my apartment, I set up a bed on couch. A
"Hadwin, I thought that everyone was dead again. But here you are right in front of me...I just can't tell you how happy I am to see you and have you here with me." I told him as he settled himself on the couch.
"Aiyana, it must have been so hard to not have anyone when you woke up again. It's still hard to believe they're all gone. I mean I knew a lot of time had past, but one hundred years?! How do you do it?" he asked.
I sighed and sat down on the desk chair. "I write it all down. I remember them that way. Basally I try to always keep them in my heart, but I remember that I am still alive and that I must keep living."
He nodded slowly and said goodnight.
The next morning we were both woken up by a pounding on the door. I quickly pulled on a robe and yanked the door open. Before me stood Erza, Lucy, Levy, and Juvia. All of them looked ready to travel. A few feet from the door sat Erza's trolley of luggage.
"Wha-?" I dumbly mumbled.
"Who is it Aiyana?" a voice called from behind me. It was lovely to hear Hadwin's voice again.
"Just some of my guild mates, Hadwin," I called back. I faced forward to answer Erza and was surprised by their expressions. Suddenly, I was pushed aside as all four girls stuck their heads in the door.
"Who's that?" Lucy asked excitedly.
"Um… My old friend Hadwin. He's from before the whole time jump. It's sorta a long story," I said, "What's all this about a mission?"
"Guildmates?" Hadwin spoke over my shoulder. I awkwardly looked back at him. He was shirtless and still had the adorable bed head he had had when he was human.
"This is Lucy, Erza, Levy, and Juvia," I pointed to each in turn, "And this is Hadwin. He was my partner before the last time skip. He was stuck in a book and now lives in it. Now what mission do you need me for?"
"There's a long mission that requires five women. We want you come with us," Levy said.
"Give me just a few minutes. I just got back from a mission with Laxus," I said as I walked back in the apartment. They followed me in. As I packed a new bag I was barraged by questions about my mission with Laxus.
"Where did you go?"
"Some small village to the west."
"Did you fight monsters?"
"No."
"Was fighting with Laxus hard?"
"Yes, he has almost no planning skills."
"Did you rescue Hadwin?"
"Yes we did."
"Did you have hot sex with Laxus?"
"Ye... No! Hadwin we did no such thing! He- we- just cause I fell on him once or twice doesn't mean anything!"
"You know you want him,"
"Hadwin!"
"He's right you know. We've seen how you two act together and we all know you're into each other," it was Levy who spoke.
"I'm not against the idea, but I just don't know if he wants what I do. I'm a one man kind of woman and right now Laxus doesn't seem to want that right now. He doesn't seem to want anything with anyone," I said slowly stopping my frantic packing.
"Just because it seems like he doesn't want you doesn't mean he doesn't. Juvia knows this from experience. Grey has told Juvia that he does want her, but Grey and Juvia need to work things out. Juvia needs to work on her stalking, and Grey will work on his needless fighting," Juvia said quietly.
"I guess I'll just have to see when we get back," I said.