Hi! You're all probably just as surprised as I am. I didn't think I would be able to double update. I guess I got inspiration from listening to all of the full version of the Fairy Tail openings and endings. And we finally get to see Kukaku in the story. I finally decided my method structure for the story. After two to three chapters, I will change the POV. The time shift between present time and past time will be different. The character's won't be thinking about past experiences in order (for example, Aoi might be thinking about a memory a month after Hikari leaves but Kukaku might be thinking of hers a month before Hikari even joins Fairy Tail) but I will be doing POVs in order though. The order will be appearances made in the story so it will be: Aoi, Kei, Theo, Kukaku. And my co-hosts aren't here with me because of Raigeki and Roxas' entrance last chapter so I'm alone until next chapter. Well, enjoy the chapter.

The Melody's Lullaby

Chapter 3: We See Fire

On a train toward a town in the mountains, a month before Hikari leaves for the Silence Uprising

A man in his thirties stared blankly out the window overlooking the landscape. He had black hair and red eyes and was on his way to his client's house. The man continued to overlook the land until a loud groan of pain echoed in the almost empty train car. He looked back to see a group of children and… a blue, flying cat. The group consisted of a redhead with Heart Kreuz armor, a blonde in a white shirt and a short matching skirt, a black haired male who was sitting next to the blonde, a pink-haired male who was passed out on the redhead's lap, and a pair of twins with beanies. There was another in the group. He had light brown hair and he then waved his arms in the air. The man quickly caught a glimpse at the boy's arm. The Fairy Tail symbol was present on it. "So they're a part of Fairy Tail. Aoi joined that guild a few years ago if I remember correctly. I wonder how everyone's been…"

Year 1, Day 78 (May 16), on the road

Kei's POV

The three of us had been travelling for a month around Fiore now. Everything was going fine most of the time except that Aoi was still recovering. And she also picked up a bad habit of eating dango, cinnamon sticks, and suckers twenty-four-seven when we stopped in Chev, a town known for having tons of cooks around. A cook had offered Aoi those three things and she instantly bought a dozen of each. Although, I can't say Theo was any better. He actually bought a few things from that little town. But they were just kids. It was night and the stars twinkled above us. We didn't have enough money to get a ride so we had to walk. Strange, we had been doing this a lot. I looked over at the two to see them sleeping. Theo actually looked like a little kid without his glasses and Aoi just looked like an innocent little girl. We had agreed to do lookouts whenever we travelled on foot and it was supposed to be Aoi's shift and then it would be Theo's soon. Aoi was eleven, though. She can barely stay up past twelve. Before I could go wake Theo up, smoke slowly filled the air. It wasn't strong enough to be a big one but it was close. I quickly walked towards the source of the fire to see a girl sitting in front of it with some firecrackers in her hands. "What are you doing out here?" She glared at me but went back to staring at the fire just as quickly.

"I was bored and the factory was closed." She lit another firecracker and threw it in. The fire helped me make her out in the darkness. She had neck length, black hair, lightly tan skin, and sea blue eyes. She wore an orange vest unzipped, revealing a yellow shirt that had an explosion on the front, red pants with white circles on her knees but she had black socks on instead of shoes. Her left arm was wrapped up in white bandages. For some reason, it looked… shorter than her other arm. She also had a phany pack on her hip. She looked back at me. Now that I looked closer, she didn't seem any older than Aoi. "Why are you still here?"

"No reason really. Although, it would be wise to put out that fire." She continued to glare while I just sighed. "Fine then." My face twisted into a mischievous grin. "I guess I'll just have to put it out myself to prevent from being caught." She looked at me as if I was kidding. I was being half truthful. I pulled out a knife and aimed it at her throat. "It would be wise to listen rather than letting me do my thing." She just glared and glared and glared at me. Not even a flinch, though. Although, I can tell she's not strong enough to hold me back.

"I don't need to listen to you," she said as she opened the bag on her hip. I grabbed her arm and took the bag. Inside of it were explosives of all kinds. Pyromaniac. "Give that back!"

"Not until you put that little fire out and explain why you're here. If not, I'll just kill you with your own explosives." I knew she wasn't too much of a threat but I couldn't risk it. I was a wanted thief and Aoi was being chased by mages. After a few moments of silence, the bushes behind me rustled. They revealed Theo who looked at the two of us surprised. "Theo, convince this little pyromaniac to put the fire out." He looked at the girl as I let her arm go and backed away.

"Put the fire out." She reluctantly complied as she took out a small flask of water and poured it onto the water. "Tell us your name…" Theo looked like he was about to pass out as his knees began to buckle. I sent the knife back to the pocket dimension and helped Theo stand.

"My name is Kukaku Suzumiya." Kukaku covered her mouth once she said her name. She was probably surprised that Theo had some power over her actions. I know I was when he used it on Aoi. "Since you guys made me tell you who I was, who are you two?" Theo smiled and told her his name. I stayed quiet for a bit before telling her mine.

"We better go back to check on Aoi," Theo said as I glared at him. It was bad enough the girl knew I was lying a little. The worst that could happen would be that this girl was hired by Aoi's parents. What am I thinking? I'm starting to sound like a paranoid thief. We walked back to the campsite with Kukaku following us. Theo was trying to get her to talk on the way back. As we got closer, I heard music. I didn't think that Aoi played music, although, but then she wouldn't be able to use guitar magic. There was singing too. The music was slow while the singing was soft. It was definitely Aoi.

"Ima kimi ni tsudae tai~ Tsugatta kokoro ga arukoto~ Arukideshita yume wo~ Hanasame you daki shimete~ Mune no okini himeta kizuato ni wa~ Todokanai omoi~"* Aoi stopped singing and playing all together. She looked like she wanted to sing more but she couldn't. Aoi put the guitar down and put a cinnamon stick in her stick. She stared at the night sky, her eyes blank. We came out after a minute. "About time you guys got back…" She never looked at us.

"Well, we found a new travelling companion. Her name's Kukaku and she's about your age," Theo explained as Aoi looked at Kukaku. Realization flashed through her eyes. Aoi got up and looked Kukaku. They stared at each other for a few good minutes before Aoi handed Kukaku a dango. She smiled innocently at the pyromaniac.

"Nice to see you again, Kukaku," she said, making me and Theo glance at her. "We met when I was travelling. She's quite interesting when you get to know her."

"I'm surprised you two know Aoi. She doesn't get attached easily." Aoi lightly slugged Kukaku's arm as the two walked over to Aoi's sleeping bag. The two seemed like close friends but Aoi had a look in her eyes that said she trust doesn't anyone.

"Things got more interesting, huh?" Theo asked as he smiled at me. Theo was nice guy but his smiling sure gets annoying at times. Well, at least we know we have someone else who can help us out. Maybe.

References:

*What I want to tell you right now~ is what is in my connected heart~ The unreachable feeling in the hidden scar~ In the depths of my heart~ That clings to my dream~ As if it'll never let go~

From the beginning of the full version of HOLY SHINE by Daisy X Daisy and is the 5th ending of Fairy Tail

Aoi was singing and playing the song slowly because she hasn't as much as the others so she's still adjusting to her magic. She was practicing using her guitar and she wasn't used to singing while playing so that's why her version is different from the original.

That's the end. I'm still surprised I double updated today. Well, proud and surprised. Now we know all of the main characters! Yay! I hope I didn't make Kukaku OOC. Please correct me if I did. I would like to thank everyone who sent in an OC. It was a great help. Well, I gotta go. Sorry this isn't longer. Until next time, bye for now!