Could it be that I actually updated this story after a year and a half!

Well of course I have! Sorry for the long wait. I have had a nasty case of writer's block for this story. But hopefully I will update this story more often.

Just a little heads up, this chapter is over 4000 words long.

Enjoy!


Chapter 4

Silver was known throughout the underworld as Absolute Zero, the most cold-hearted ice demon that ever crawled his way out of hell. To His comrades, the only thing more frigid than his ice curse was that blood pumping organ he had the audacity to call a heart. And to The few enemies that dared to challenge him and lived to tell the tale, they could describe him as ruthless, malicious, and a complete bastard.

So it was hard to imagine that this demonic beast was the same man who was walking down the streets of Nieve as children passed him by. Carrying a basket with a baby blue bow tired on the top, around his left arm. And a black haired, blue eyed beauty hanging on to his right arm.

God damn it. Silver cursed as he tried to pull away from Mika. Unfortunately, she was stuck on him like some damn tick. How did I get stuck into this mess? He groaned as his mind began to reminisce about that night a month ago.

Silver and Mika walked in silence as he escorted her to her dwelling. Though she had stated that she would be fine walking home alone, Silver wasn't taking any chances. This girl was a beacon for trouble, getting into one mess after another. He was positive that the second he left her side, she would get herself in trouble again. Like the idiot she was.

But there was another reason behind his decision. Silver couldn't believe he was admitting to it, but he actually felt responsible for what had to this human girl. Guilt was a human emotion that served no real purpose to a demon. There was no logical reason for him to feel this way. It wasn't like he was the one who had attacked her or anything. And he certainly didn't wish for any harm to come to the girl. However, had he taken care of the situation when he discovered that damn lunatic spying on them, then she would have never gotten hurt. He took a quick glance towards Mika. Her legs were scraped and bruised. Her dress had been torn during the struggle. And her beautiful black hair was matted with blood, from the gash that son of a bitch gave her when he knocked her to the ground.

Why the hell should I care? Silver thought as he let out a groan. So what if that damn woman could have died tonight because of his negligence? It made no difference to him if this stupid girl lived or die. It was only a matter of time before all these wretched creatures will die at the hands of the Etherious. He refused to feel an ounce of fault over an inferior being. But as he took a deep breathe, his nose was filled with the scent of blood. Mika's blood. He sighed. No matter how many times he repeated that in his head, it still didn't get rid of that nagging feeling of guilt he felt.

"Here you are." Silver said as he stopped in front of her apartment. "You should be safe for now."

"Thank you, Silver." She bowed. "For everything you'll done for me." Silver didn't respond. But as he turned to leave, he felt the girl grab on to his hand.

"What is it now, girlie?" He turned to her once again, pulling away from her. "If you say the word sorry one more damn time,"

"No, it's not that." She interrupted him as she looked down. "It's just that you've done so much for me in the short time we've known each other. So I was wondering if…" she started running her fingers through her n hair in a nervous fashion. "If you would… let me cook you a…" her voice started to trail off. "A…. meal?" she whispered.

"What?" Silver would have refused at the spot, but he couldn't hear the last part.

"A meal." she looked up to Silver. "I don't have any money and I have nothing of value to repay you for everything you've done. But I've been told that I'm an excellent cook. And I would love to cook a meal for you." Her cheeked turned a light red. "If that is alright with you, that is?"

"I'll pass." Silver shot back in his usual blunt manner as he turned his back to her. He may not be an expert on humans, but he wasn't that naïve to not realize that this girl was growing attached to him. As if saving her life automatically made him her friend. He saved her on a whim, nothing more. And besides, Silver was a demon. He didn't need to eat food for sustenance like these weak humans. And even if he felt hunger, he could just eat some ice to replenish his stamina. But before he could leave, that girl stood in his path. "Now what are you doing?"

"Silver," Mika said with an unyielding look. "I insist that you let me repay you for all your kindness. So please have dinner with me!" Silver just stood there, astonished by this human's boldness. This was the second time that this girl had stood her ground against him. Normally he would just destroy anyone who dared to stand against him. But with this girl, he found her audaciousness sort of appealing.

What am I saying? Silver thought as he turned away. As if he could ever be attracted to a lowly vermin such as her. As he glanced back at her from the corner of his eye, he could see a trickle of blood running down the side of her face, illuminated against her creamy complexion. And once again, he felt that annoying little niggling feeling.

"Fine." He grunted. She was so persistent, it was annoying. But Silver had already gone through the trouble of saving this girl twice and even went out of his way to retrieve her crappy little trinket that was so valuable to her. What harm would it cause if he joined her on this little outing of hers? And in doing this futile task, it would probably erase this irritating sensation of guilt. Then after that, Silver could completely cut this human out of his life without any more complications. "I have some business to take care of, but I'll come back in a month for this meal."

"You promise?" she asked. Silver looked into her eyes. This girl had such beautiful blue eyes, likes two crystal blue ponds. And her determination only made those damn eyes shine brighter.

God Damn this girl. He turned away quickly.

"I promise."

"Silver?" Mika asked, pulling Silver back to reality.

"What was that?"

"I was just saying what a nice day it was."

"It's too damn hot." Silver replied. It may only be 60 degrees outside, but for an ice demon like him, it was like walking into an inferno. Usually by spring, Silver would be in the northern region of the continent, where it was much cooler. But instead, he was still in Nieve, on an outing with the human girl, Mika Fullbuster. "You have a dwelling, right."

"Yes."

"Then explain to me why the hell are we eating outside like animals?"

"It's such a beautiful day." Mika flashed that gorgeous smile of her. "And I thought it would be enjoyable to have a picnic."

"Yes, because nothing is more enjoyable than eating outside like a bunch of vagrants." Silver sarcastically. He had hoped that the comment would have upset Mika, but she just giggled.

"You're so silly." Mika said as she tightened her hold around his arm. "And then after that, I have a special surprise for you."

"Oh goody." Silver dryly answered replied as he rolled his eyes. He had only promised to eat with this girl and he had no desire to be around her any more than he needed to. But he had already the time and effort to return to this damn city. He might as well do as much as he could to assure a clean cut from the girl when he left for good.

Damn this girl. Silver thought as they continued on their way. Always making shit more complicated than it needed to be.

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Silver sat crisscross on the blanket, just watching Mika as she tried to start up a small fire to warm up the food. All the while, wondering what the hell he was doing here. He was supposed to be locating FACE. Just as Mard Geer had ordered him to. For the sake of his guild, his comrades and his race. But instead he was wasting his sweet time humoring some silly little brat.

Stupid humans. Silver thought as he leaned to his left, resting his cheek again his fist. They had the luxuries of a fully functional kitchens that were designed to make their lives easily. But they choose eat outside like some dirty hobo, Just for the hell of it. I swear they take one step forward and 10 steps back. It was moments like this that made Silver look forward to the activation on FACE. He look towards the girl again, who had finally managed to get a fire started. Her face glowing as if she had accomplish such as magnificent task. You made a damn fire. He let out a snort. Get over yourself.

"The food will be ready in a few minutes." Mika sat down next to Silver. Instinctively, Silver scooted to the side, a few inches away from the girl. She tried again to move closer, but Silver just distanced himself even more. "So Silver," Mika say, trying to fill in the silence between them. "How was your business trip?"

"That's none of your concern." Silver immediately shot back. As if he would share important information with the opposition.

"Um, sorry about that." Mika apologized as she looked downward. She should have guess that Silver wasn't the talkative type. "Um, what do you do for fun?

"Fun is pointless." Silver said as he turned away from her.

"Okay," She sighed. That question got her nowhere. "Have you read any good books lately?" she asked again, only to be responded by a low grunt.

This is hopeless. Mika thought to herself. Mika had worked so hard preparing these dishes for Silver, hoping to create the perfect meal for him. As a way to show her eternal gratitude for everything Silver had done for her. He had pulled her out of a frozen river. He had carried her through a raging blizzard to find her shelter. He nursed her back to health. He had found her most precious treasure. He had even saved her from that creep who had tried to kill her. After everything he had done for her, the least she could have done for him was to make him a meal he would never forget. But it seemed that the only thing she has done was annoy him. Maybe I was naïve to think that there was something special between us. Though Mika had growth to admire Silver, it was crystal clear that the feeling was not mutual. How could it be when she and Silver were polar opposites?

"Well," she said, becoming flustered with this conversation. "Can you at least tell me your last name?"

"I don't have one."

"You don't have a last name?" she repeated the statement, just to assure herself that she had heard correctly.

"That's what I said, girlie." He turned to the girl, who had a stern look on her face.

"Then what does your family go by?"

"I don't have a family, you tweet" He shot back, clearly annoyed at her constant babbling. He turned to her to see such a pitiful look on her face. Her eyes were becoming glossy, as if she was going to cried. "What the hell is with that look?"

"What happened to them?" she asked.

"Nothing happened. I've never had a damn family. Since the day I came into existence, I have always been on my own." Of all the stupid things that had come out of this stupid human's mouth, this one topped them all. To think that someone like him would need something as useless as a family. To be part of a family meant that you had a place in this world were you truly belong. Silver was a demon, born from the book of Zeref. He was created by the Black Mage as a tool for death and destruction. His only purpose in life was to destroy and kill as much as possible. Even if he wanted to, a being like him could never belong. Silver felt as Mika placed her hand on his arm.

"I guess we're not all that different then." She said as she closed her eyes.

"As if. You and I are as different as day and night." He shot back in an attempt to retain the wall of coolness he had put up. "Just how the hell are we alike?"

"It's just," she shuttered for a moment. "Neither of us have a family. We're alone in this world. It's nice to know someone who is just like me."

"The food," Silver pointed to the flames as he shifted his body away from Mika. "You should check on it or something." Mika immediately stood up and rush to the cooking food, much to Silver's relief.

Stupid girl. Silver thought as he watched her from the distant. How idiotic of her to think she could have anything in common with an Etherious. But as he gave it a bit more thought, he could see how the woman could make such allegation. But he was about to tell that damn human girl that he agreed with her.

"Looks like it's time for us to eat!" Mika sang as she presented Silver with several plates in her hands. Though Silver didn't require food to replenish his strength, even he had to admit that this human girl's cooking smelled quite appetizing. He watched attentively as Mika set each dish in front of him. There was a decapitated fowl with spices covering its lifeless corpse. A bowl of milled wheat stringed out to look like a bowl of worms. It was even more morbid to see that she had covered the top with the unborn embryo of a fowl. And a dish filled with chucks of flesh from a bovine with dismembered species of vegetables.

Just what the hell is this girl trying to feed me? Silver thought as he stared at the grotesque meal before him.

"Here," Mika held a forkful of the fowl to Silver's mouth. "Try some of the roasted hen." Silver cautiously eyed the sample for a moment. If he didn't eat this crap, it would probably upset Mika. And the last thing he wanted to do was to make the girl. Why that bothered him was beyond him. Reluctantly, he took the fork and with a loud gulp, he ate it. But as he chewed, he realized that this stuff was not bad. In fact, it was actually delicious.

"So," Mika asked as Silver took another piece of hen. "Did you like it?"

"It's really good." Silver said in between bites. "Did you slaughter this fowl yourself?"

"No," Mika replied. That was quite an odd question to ask her, but Mika gleefully smile at the sight of the man she had grown so fond of, enjoying her cooking. Confidently, she picked up the next dish.

"I'm glad you like it." She presented him with the other dish. "You should try this dish next. Its ramen noodles. I added chili peppers to give it an extra kick."

Chili peppers? Silver had never heard of such a thing. Perhaps it was an icy food. But the aroma of the dish was quite enticing, so without a second thought, he took his utensil and shoved a good portion into his mouth. Within seconds, Silver felt a terrible sensation in his mouth. It felt as he had just shallowed molten lava. He let out a horrid cry as he spat out the noodles. But even with those dreadful noodles out of his mouth, he could still feel that damn chili shit on his tongue. He quickly reached for the liquid with the bovine flesh and chugged it down, hoping that it would provide him with some relief.

"Careful," Mika panicked as she watched Silver drank the stemming stew. "The stew is still very hot!" Unfortunately for the ice demon, this news came far too late. Moments later, Silver's mouth was scalded by the boiling liquid. Thinking quickly, he ran to a nearby pond and dunk his head within the cooling liquid. Franticly, Mika rushed to his side and pulled his head out the water.

"What the hell was that!" he screamed as his tongue hung out from his mouth. So it sound more like 'Wat whe well was what!'

"I'm so sorry!" Mika cried over and over again as she sat next to Silver. But he wasn't too focus on her as much as he much more concern of his blistered mouth.

Stupid human. Silver thought as he lay on the ground. She's trying to freakin' kill me.

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"How much farther!" Silver called out as he grabbed jagged rock on the slide of the small hillside. When he agreed to see this special surprise of hers, he was hoping that she going to give him some worthless little trinket as a sigh of gratitude or something along that line. Had he known it involved climbing this goddamn cliff side, he would have told this human to go to hell.

"Don't worry." Mika said as she ascended upwards. "We're almost at the top." Silver let out a groan as he reached for next rock. But he couldn't complain too much about this. After all, it wasn't as if Mika had forced him to join her. And he found it rather difficult to be annoyed at the girl when he had such a lovely view of her sweet backside.

"Here we are." Mika proclaimed as they reached the grassy top. Silver looked around, only to see nothing but grass and rocks.

"And what the hell is so special about this damn place?" Silver snarled, clearly annoyed with this girl wasting his time with her nonsense.

"Look up." Silver up, only to see a clear sky. "Aren't the stars beautiful?"

"Stars?" Silver looked back to Mika. "You brought me up here for stars."

"Just not stars." She said as she sat down near the edge. "There's a meteor shower tonight and I was hoping to watch it together."

"And why the hell did we have to climb a damn cliff?!"

"Because you can't see the stars from the bright city. It is always better to watch it from a nice dark place." She gave him a smile. "Besides, I think it's nice to have a climb every once in a while." Every fiber in Silver's body wanted tear this girl apart. He had done nothing but waste time on things, that for some strange reason, this Mika woman assumed were important. Silver had better things to do than glaze up at the night sky like some stupid ass turkey during a rain storm. But as he looked down at the girl, at her joyful expression, his anger subsided. With a loud groan of defeat, he sat down next to Mika, who smiled at him.

"So, you like stars." He asked her. Why he would make any type inquiries was beyond him. It's not like he gave a damn about this human's interest.

"Yes," Mika turned her head upwards towards the starlit night. "I remembered how I would star gazed with my parents when they were still alive."

"Your parents?" Silver watched as Mika's head lowered.

"Yes, when I was little, my mother would tell me that the stars were the souls of the love ones that had long since passed away who are always watching over you. When there's a meteor shower that's just the souls coming to visit us. She would always say that if I ever felt lonely, all I would have to do is look up at the heavens, towards the stars."

"And let me guess, you believe that one of these falling stars just happen to be yours deceased parents." Surely this girl wasn't so stupid to believe in that bullshit. When humans died, they just rot away into nothingness. To think that there was anything beyond that was idiotic.

"I know it sounds a bit farfetched and childish to believe in such fairy tales, but it was that very tale that help me through the loneliest of time." she rose her head once more, her eyes now gleaming with unshed tears. "I have always been alone, Ever since my parents died.' If it wasn't for my job, I would probably go days without talking to a single person. But when I look up to the stars, I feel less lonely. As if my mother and father are here with me, watching over me."

Mika. Silver thought as Mika gazed into the night. He had always found it strange that this mortal woman stood out from all the other humans he had the misfortune to encounter. But throughout his travels, Silver had never met a human that he, dare he say, could relate to as much as Mika. They were both isolated, even among their own kind. Both have endured the bitterness of loneliness. And though he would never admit it to another soul, they both wish for a place where they belong, a place where they wouldn't have be alone anymore. Silver couldn't believe he was saying this, but he had found a kindred spirit with this human girl. Perhaps this is why he was so draw to her.

"It seems that the stars are very important to you." Silver said in a more sincere tone.

"Yes, though lately I haven't needed them as much as used to." Her cheeks started to turn a dark red. As she turned towards him "Not since I've met you. I know that our time together is short and once you leave, I will probably never see you again. But I am thankful to have known you, even if it was just for a little while."

"Would it," Silver said as he locked gaze with Mika. "Would it make you happy if I came back to you?" Mika just looked at Silver, speechless. "I mean… it wouldn't hurt to visit you every once in a while. It doesn't bother me, so long as it is alright with you." Silver added on, clearing flustered. Of course it bothered him to visit this girl. For craps sake, he was on a mission to find the very tool to destroy her whole race. For him to be constantly visiting this woman would jeopardized his duty. What was it about Mika Fullbuster that made him act like such an idiot? What made this girl so special that it made him so irrational?

"Yes," she said, a tear running down her cheek as she smiled. "Yes, I would like that very much." And just with that simple smile of hers, all of Silver's frustration had dissipated.

"You're such a crybaby." Silver teased her with a smirk on his face. "Looks like the meteor shower is starting." He said as they both look upwards.

Though Silver had seen this phenomenon more times than he could count, there was something special about this time. For some reason, this meteor shower seem more amazing than before. Could it be, for the first time, he had someone to share it with? Suddenly, Silver felt Mika as she laid her head against his arm, wrapping her arm around his. Silver should have pushed her away the instant her flesh made contact with his body, but he didn't. In fact, he had no desire to end this moment. Could it have been that peculiar look of bliss on her face? Or perhaps it was her intoxicating scent that filled his nostrils with the sweet aroma of sugar blossoms. For whatever reason, Silver just sat in silence as he watched the night sky light up with thousands of shooting stars. With Mika by his side.


A/N: In case you didn't understand; Silver was describing the food as he saw it. Which so happened to be roasted hen, ramen, and beef stew. I just use the description manner my little brother used to say when he was younger.

Yes, my brother was and still is a strange child.