Chapter four - Current Day.
Rain was not the only thing to fall this day. Tears of those who had known the bright smile of Kysa also hit the ground around the grave. Those who did not know the faerie, were present to support their comrades. Tears fell from even the eyes of Makarov, who had not seen the girl for some time. Though she had disappeared, she was still a Fairy Tail wizard, and she still had a place in his heart as one of his children. Laxus stood beside Makarov, hand on his shoulder, also feeling the pain of the girl's death. Those who had been in the guild the longest had been touched by the kind hearted, care-free girl.
"I'm surprised she's not here," Mira said under her breath so only the master would here. "I know how much she loved the girl."
Before Makarov could utter his reply, there a solemn howl filled the cemetery. It was the cry of Zakkai, who had survived his master's last battle. The group that was gathered around the grave, parted as the wolf walked towards his master's grave, followed by a beautiful white fox with three tails. The fox stopped in front of Makarov and gave him one short look, to which he nodded.
"Let us go back to the guild" Makarov turned to his children. "The last thing Kysa would want is to have us standing out in the rain. She'd want you all inside, drinking in her memory!"
Reluctant at first, those who knew the girl decided that it would be what she wanted, and they began their way back to the guild, the rest following. But Makarov lingered behind for a moment. He looked up, and standing between Zakkai and Avira at the grave, was Neesin. She wore a short black dress, the skirt billowing in the wind.
"You should follow them, before someone notices your absence." Her voice was cold, and she did not turn to address the old man behind her. "I would prefer to not have your guild members meddling in my personal affairs."
"Neesin, I'm-"
"I don't want your sympathy, Makarov." Neesin cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "I don't want their sympathy."
He knew the conversation was over. Their was no way to get through to her during a time like this, but he decided to give it one shot. "Kysa was one of my children, and she always will be a child to me." He could see Neesin's muscles tighten. She was obviously miffed that he had not left her alone yet. "And I know she was your sister, Neesin. Though you do not bear the mark of Fairy Tail, I have watched you grow over the years too. Kysa once wore that mark, and her wish was that you would someday stand beside her in the guild, and join our family..." He paused for a moment, fearing that she would jump down his throat at any moment. "You're always welcome to join our family."
"Kysa was my family. My only family." Her voice was emotionless at she stared down at her sister's grave, "She was always weak and naive. She always wanted to be surrounded by people, and I couldn't give that to her."
"You and her are as different as night, and day." Makarov sighed. But as soon as he finished that statement, he found himself looking into the depths Neesin Tanninson's eyes. Even he had to take in a breath; he had never seen the color of her eyes. Her right eye was icy blue, as cold looking as her heart probably was, he imagined, but her left eye looked as the life had been sucked from it. It was a deep pool of gray, surrounded by the paleness of her flesh from the burn she suffered from long ago. He held her gaze, and continued to speak. "But she loved you regardless, and you let her love you. At some time, the burden of solitude will crush you, Neesin. But just know, I will always be waiting with open arms." Without waiting for a response, Makarov turned and left Neesin standing in the empty graveyard.
"Neesin," Zakkai looked up from the grave, finally being able to speak. "It really was her wish that you would accept the same family. That you would find happiness with their guidance."
Neesin ignored the words of the wolf, and bent down in front of the grave her of sister. There were no tears shed, and no words spoken. She simply placed her sister's necklace on the gravestone, and then she was gone.
"Hmmm, Happy, didn't you hear someone talking too?" Natsu asked the blue exceed by his side. The dragon slayer, and his companion entered the now empty graveyard.
"Aye! But it seems that nobody is here Natsu."
"That's strange, but that scent, I've smelled it before." Natsu looked everywhere. Behind gravestones, in the church and event he bushes, but he could not find the source of the smell.
"Can you tell where they went, Natsu?" Happy asked from up in the air. He was aiding his partner by searching the ground from above.
"No, it's just lingering here. It's like whoever produced it is gone?"
"L-l-l-like a g-g-g-ghost?"
"Maybe." Natsu looked around quizzically. "Maybe it was the ghost of Kysa, or her sister. Nobody has seen her for years. I've never even seen her. I'm starting to think she might be dead too."
"You'll be dead along with them if you stay here for too long." And voice said sternly behind him.
"ERZA!" Natsu jumped up and stood attentive in front of the scarlet haired wizard.
"I seem to remember Master telling everyone to return to the guild." She crossed her arms and looked at Natsu sternly. "Now get moving, both of you."
"Y-Yes!" Natsu and Happy exclaimed in unison. They jumped ahead of Erza, and immediately made their way home to the guild.
Back at the Guild.
"Kysa sounds like a really sweet girl." Lucy said as she looked up from her mug. "I'm really sad that I didn't get to meet her once." She was curious about the member of Fairy Tail that could call upon familiars. She thought she would have met everyone who bore the guild's mark, but obviously she had not.
"She was kind hearted. Wendy reminds me of her, except Kysa would probably be a few years her senior now." Mira responded as she cleaned behind the bar.
"I heard that she had a sister, is she a member of the guild? Is she here today." Lucy looked around the room, in hopes of seeing an unfamiliar face.
"No, Neesin rarely comes here. She used to visit Kysa often. But Kysa frequented the guild less and less. Neesin quit coming back to visit altogether." Mira put the glass she was drying down. "Neesin was never fond of people. She only allowed Kysa to keep her company."
"Oh." Lucy looked down at her cup, her mind still wondering about Kysa's sister.
"To be truthful, Neesin wasn't Kysa's real sister. I don't know much of the story, but I know that Neesin had saved Kysa and her familiar when she was very young. They became companions, and Neesin helped Kysa find her way to Fairy Tail." Mira leaned against the counter and looked out at the rest of the guild enjoying themselves. "Master always hoped that one day that maybe one day Neesin would find her way here too. But sometimes even I wonder if that's too much to hope for."
"Oh?" Lucy had become very interested in Kysa's mysterious sister. She wondered what kind of person she was like.
"Don't try looking for her Lucy," Mira saw the look in her eyes. "She's beyond persuading. And she's not one to be sought out. You're lucky that you've never had a run in with her yet."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"I hope that you never find out." Mira said as she returned to wiping out the mugs.
Lucy knew that the conversation was over, but still couldn't help being curious about Neesin. Who wouldn't be curious about a person no one really knew anything about. Lucy imagined different scenarios of the mysterious sister. She imagined Kysa as being someone like Mira, or Wendy, while Neesin was pictured as a dark monster like figure. Lucy's wild imagination was soon interrupted by the doors being kicked open.
"Master, I found them!" Erza exclaimed as she dragged Natsu, and Happy in by their ears and let them go in front of where Makarov was sitting.
"Hmph, I thought I told you to come back to the guild." Makarov said from his perch on the bar. He grabbed his mug and took another drink.
"I smelled something funny in the graveyard," Natsu explained. "I wanted to see what it was."
"If you're not careful, that nose of yours is going to get you in trouble, Natsu."