(Authors Note)
Hey all! Welcome back! I'd first like to say to everyone who reviewed, and to anyone else who enjoyed the first chapter that I will be continuing this story into a multi-chapter story like you all wanted to see. As I mentioned in a small note at the beginning of the first chapter, I will be adding an OC to this story just to make it more fun to me as I write. I changed the rating of the story from T to M just because I may want to let loose, and use a little language, and who knows.. maybe a tasteful lemon if that's what you all would like. Anyways, let me know what you all think in a review. Like I said in the last chapter, make sure to spread the word of the story, so other writers out there who may of not thought of doing a Nastu x Lisanna fic, or even a fairy tail fic in general can add more stories to this great site :D
And to those who reviewed the first chapter, your cookies are currently being baked as you read this, and shall be ready for pick up at your earliest convince.
Disclaimer: I don't own fairy tail or any of it's characters, although if I did.. *sighs* I wouldn't be writing this now would I? :P
The Shadow Demon's Return
It's been a few days since the official announcement of Natsu and Lisanna becoming an actual couple, and things around the guild were once again going well. The jobs requests were coming in at a constant rate, supplying everyone with income which made everyone happy of course. All around everyone from within the guild was enjoying the time of peace that had fallen onto them. Natsu was challenging anyone and everyone who would look at him funny with Lisanna laughing as he did so, Gray wandering around the guild without his clothes with Juvia shadowing him and professing her love to him, Erza.. well she was happy just to be bossing everyone around to keep the guild in order, and then there was Lucy who was happily skimming through the latest issue of sorcerers weekly checking out the latest news on the famous mage's of Fiore. Gajeel munching on some iron in the corner of the guild, then there was Wendy happily helping out anywhere she could. All was peaceful.. That is until-
BAM!
The loud noise obviously caused from the guilds double doors being kicked in hard, causing everyone to stop whatever they were doing, and look towards the person who rudely kicked in the door.
Standing in the door frame a 6 foot tall man dressed in a black cloak with its hood off, revealing his very dark brown spiky hair, with the sides of his head shaved, and black horse shoe shaped earrings with spikes on each end of the horse shoes, and over all very handsome face. Lazily shifting his piercing blue eyes around the guild hall a couple times before his eye lids dropped in annoyance while doing a slight pout before exhaling in confusion, he then dropped his travel bag to his side, and started walking towards the center of the guild hall with his thick black boots echoing throughout with each step he took.
Taking in the appearance of the newcomer everyone that was fairly new to the guild was on edge not knowing what to make of the mysterious man. To the other guild members, the man had a striking resemblance to a member of the guild that grew up in Mira, and Erza's age group. Narrowing their eyes at the man nobody made a sound as the man took in the faces around him.
"Uh.. this wouldn't happen to be fairy tail.. would it?" The man asked stupidly, causing everyone to sweat drop.
Walking around the bar, Mira stepped forward to the man smiling the whole way. "Yes it is." Mira confirmed as she suddenly leaned forward to get a better look at the man in front of her. Putting a finger to her lips and putting on a cute thinking face, she asked the question everyone wanted to spout out. "How come I feel like we've met somewhere before.." Mira hummed as she wracked her brain for answers.
'Hmm.. white hair..' the man thought as he took a better look at the beautiful woman in front of him cutely trying to think, and then looked around the guild hall more carefully, quickly spotting the large form of Elfman, and then later Lisanna who was sitting next to Natsu at a table in the corner. 'It's gotta be her, what happened to the violent punk chick she used to be?'
"Is that you Mira?" The man asked, ignoring the girls question completely.
"That's me!" Mira smiled completely being taken out of her thinking, and then being completely shocked as the man quickly hugged her.
"Oh man! I haven't seen you in ages!" The man laughed happily as he pulled back from the hug, while holding Mira's shoulders. Effectively confusing the girl even more.
"Y-you haven't?" Mira asked clearly not remembering if she had met this man before.
"What? You guys don't recognize me? I'm hurt..." The man playfully pouted, letting go of Mira's shoulders.
"Ah I knew I felt something familiar coming towards the guild." Makarov stated as he appeared from the second floor railing. "Welcome home Brian." He smiled.
Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, the now identified Brian just chuckled as he took in the shocked faces of everyone from within the hall, that quickly exploded into cheers, and yelling. "Eh.. yeah.. good to be back I suppose." He took another look around. "Things sure have changed since the last time I was-OMPF!" Brian coughed as he was tackled hard to the ground by a white blur.
"Your really back!" Mira shouted happily as she clung onto the man, smiling widely as she pulled away from him.
"That.. I am." Brian replied simply with a pained smile on his face trying to breath from the hug Mira was giving him. "Mira.. can't.. breathe.." He wheezed out, as everyone rushed over to the two still on the floor asking questions wildly about where he had been, and what he was doing for the past few years.
Finally getting back up on his feet, and offering a hand to Mira. Brian just looked at everyone with a small smile. "Guys.. seriously.. calm down.." He gestured with his hands in front of him signalling to give him some space.
"FIGHT ME BRIAN!" Natsu roared as he charged towards the dark haired man with flaming fists who was the center of everyone's attention at the moment, only to be side stepped and caged in a headlock at blinding speeds.
"Ah.. Natsu.. nice to see ya." Brian laughed as he gave the pink haired dragon slayer a noogy from hell with an evil smirk, before throwing the pink haired boy out of the still open guild hall doors. Making everyone sweatdrop at the scene.
'Yep.. definitely Brian..' Everyone thought as they watched Natsu flying out of the building helplessly, with Lisanna, and Happy chasing after him.
"Now, now everyone. I know you all are happy to see him, and have lots of questions for him. But I believe he, and I need to have a talk before he can talk to you all." Makarov informed everyone as he got in front of Brian, and Mira who were still in the center of the mass of people. "I think it'd be best if we talked in my office." Makarov stated to the dark haired man, getting a nod in return.
"Don't worry guys, I'll be back down to talk to you all in a bit." He stated, and looked back to Mira who was making her way back to the bar with a smile.
"Gawk later. Lets go." Makarov chuckled, getting the man's attention.
"Yeah. Sure." Brian mumbled as he followed his master to his office.
Seeing the two disappear on the second level, and hearing the door to Makarov's office shut. Everyone was in frenzy over the appearance of Brian after so long.
Arriving back into the guild, Lucy quickly made her way over to the table Natsu, Lisanna, Grey, and Erza were sitting at.
"Okay, who was that?" Lucy asked simply.
"That would be Brian." Erza stated simply while taking a bite of her most beloved cheese cake.
"Obviously..." Lucy dead panned.
Giggling at Lucy's frustration, Lisanna decided to fill her in properly. "He's been a member of fairy tail for quite some time. He joined before Erza, myself and siblings did. He was also the first of Erza, and Mira-nee's age group to reach S-Class, and has been rivals of sorts with Laxus since they were kids." Lisanna smiled, with Erza, and Grey nodding their heads.
"And he's a Shadow Dragon Slayer too!" Natsu added in perhaps a little too loudly. (See Authors Note at the bottom of the chapter for info)
"H-he is?" Lucy stuttered out.
"Yeah. If you couldn't tell by him taking out the walking matchstick here without even a care in the world, you'd see that he's strong." Gray informed with a smirk.
"Gray! Your clothes!" A far off voice of Cana called out.
"WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!" Gray jumped out of his chair looking around madly for his clothes, making everyone sweat drop at the frequent event, well except Juvia who was drooling not too far off from the table.
"So why was he gone for so long?" Lucy asked after a moment or two of silence.
"That's a good question." Lisanna replied, not sure of what Brian has been up to all this time. "I think Mira-nee knows, so you could always ask her, or Brian when he is done talking to the master." Lisanna smiled.
"Why would Mirajane know?" Lucy asked while looking back to the bar at Mira, who was happily cleaning the beer mugs, smiling cutely with her eyes closed as she did so.
"Well it's a long story." Lisanna responded not really wanting to go into it. "Just ask either one yourself."
"Fine." Lucy huffed, seeing how she was obviously not getting any answers out of the youngest take over mage of the Strauss family.
"I heard he was on some crazy 10 year mission or something." Natsu finally spoke out after thinking back as far as he could remember.
"A 10 year mission?"
"Something like that.. but who knows. All I know is he's gonna fight me once he's done upstairs!" Natsu announced while punching a burning fist into his palm, smirking the whole time madly.
"Oh geez Natsu.." Lisanna sighed.
In Makarov's Office
"So.. how was the mission?"
"Eh.. didn't really turn out so well master." Brian sighed as he leaned forward in his chair with his hands clasped together in front of him, causing Makarov to raise an eyebrow. "It got complicated very quickly.. it seems like there are more and more demons from the book of Zeref being brought back. At first it was not that rough, gathering information on the dark mage's who were trying to bring the demons back to life, but after a while it was no longer a matter of trying to take care of the mage's, and a low level demon.."
"What do you mean?"
"Simply put. I think there is someone out there who is able to read further into Zeref's book than any other dark mage, and is reviving more than just one demon at a time, who has also managed to stay off of the radar somehow. I almost didn't survive the first time a more powerful demon was summoned, and had to fight it.. but the second time.." Brian trailed off quietly.
"What happened the second time?" Makarov asked in a serious tone, watching as Brian looked away not meeting his master's eyes.
"I had to run away." Brian whispered, with his head down in shame.
Seeing how down the boy in front of him was after admitting his defeat, Makarov simply smiled widely.
"None of that now my boy. The fact that you were able to return back to the guild in one piece is all that matters." Makarov said with his smile still ever present, causing Brian to look back up at his master quickly.
"But master i failed! I failed my mission!" Brian shouted angrily.
"That does not matter to me or anyone else here one bit, and you should know it." Makarov scolded. "The fact that you even took on that mission and completed most of it is amazing as it is. Most would never even touch the request after reading what was on it especially at your age." Makarov said in a soft voice. "You are a strong man, and a very intelligent one at that. So tell me why are you beating yourself up about this so badly?"
"Because.." Brian trailed off quietly. "Because I can never face my father after failing so miserably like this.. I would rather him not know that his lost son can't finish the jobs he takes on."
Hearing what the boy was saying took the old man off guard. "What are you talking about Brian?"
"It's.. nothing.. I'd rather just forget about it all together." Brian stated avoiding the question all together, causing Makarov to sigh.
"Look, I'm not going to demand you to tell me what this is really all about, but nobody can help you if you aren't willing to open up to anyone. We are a family here, and you know that all too well. I hate to see my children in such a state." Makarov said as he jumped on his desk, and set a hand on Brian's shoulder. "Now please. Tell me what it is that is bothering you so much?"
"I.. really don't want to talk about it old man.. maybe some day.. but not now." Brian stated in a low voice.
"Very well, but at least think about what I said, you know your friends down below would be more than happy to hear you out, and give you advice." Makarov smirked. "And I'm certain I know just who you'd turn to if you wont talk to me about it, perhaps a certain white haired take over mage?" Makarov wiggled his eyes brows.
Looking up at his masters mischievous eyes, Brian just growled at the short man. "I highly doubt you know what you are really talking about right now old man."
"Ahh piff... don't give me that, I know love when I see it. Now run along, and mingle like the good little boy you are." Makarov laughed seeing Brian's glare towards him.
"I should stick you on a twig, and roast you old man.." Brian threatened as he stood up, heading towards the door. With a laughing Makarov still sitting on his desk. Stopping before leaving the room, Brian looks back at the short man still laughing. "Hey.. is Cana still here?" Brian asked, causing Makarov to stop laughing, and look at him curiously.
"Yes, I believe she is still down below, why?"
"Oh no reason, just curious." Brian waved off Makarov's question while waving goodbye as he opened the door and headed back down stairs.
"That boy.." Makarov chuckled to himself as he hopped back into his chair, and started going through the evil task of sorting through the magic councils latest complaints and fines. "Ugh.."
Back Downstairs
"Shhh there he is!" Someone called out from within the guild hall, as Brian made his way down the steps, acknowledging those who came up to him. Greeting those who came up to him as politely as he could, Brian just excused himself from everyone and slowly made his way to the bar where the guilds female heavy weight drinking champion was currently downing her most recent barrel of alcohol.
"Hey Cana. Long time no see." Brian greeted the girl on the counter, causing Cana to pull her face away from the barrel she was chugging.
"Hey. I'm surprised that I'm first on your list to talk to." Cana replied curiously swaying around a bit on the counter top. "Surly I figured Mira would of been first on your list." Cana smirked as looked over her shoulder seeing Mira currently walking over to the two to check on Cana's alcohol supply.
"Yeah whatever.. We need to talk about something." Brian said, causing the girl to narrow her eyes at him.
"Talk about what?"
Putting a palm to his face, Brian just sighed. "Lets.. just go outside so we can talk in peace. I really had a long trip, and I'd rather not say anything in front of everyone here. No offense Mira." Brian smiled at the oldest Strauss sibling who was taking away Cana's latest empty barrel.
"Non taken." Mira smiled as she heaved the barrel away to the back, humming happily as she did so.
"Fine, lets go." Cana said as she set her barrel down, and hopped off the bar counter, and followed Brian out of the guild with everyone watching them leave.
"What was that about?"
"Why's Cana get to be the first one he talks to?"
"Yeah! I had questions too!"
The guild's members all started whining after Brian and Cana left the guild, shutting the doors behind them. Hearing everyone's whining from the back room, Mira made her way over to the table Natsu, Lisanna, Grey, Lucy, and Erza were all sitting at, and started cleaning up the tables dishes after hearing them complaining the most.
"Don't worry everyone. He'll be back. I'm sure whatever it is that Brian needed to talk about with Cana is important." Mira smiled as she collected the plates and empty mugs, but opened her eyes showing a little worry in them which was only picked up on by her little sister Lisanna.
Outside The Guild
"So what did you want to talk about?" Cana huffed with her hands on her hips.
"I know why your here." Brian stated simply, causing Cana to raise an eyebrow. "I came here for the same reason."
"Y-you what?" Cana gasped.
"I believe I've kept this long enough to myself, and seeing how I don't intend on leaving again.. I guess it's time that I came clean, at least to you of all people." Brian sighed as he sat down on the grass with a frown. "I know you came here looking for Gildarts. I also know that your his daughter."
"How did you know that." Cana growled out narrowing her eyes at the slightly older male in front of her.
"Simple really." Brian replied while looking away with a far away look in his eyes. "I'm your older brother..."
"Your.. my older brother?" Cana whispered out. "That can't be true. I never had an older brother." Cana accused.
"I figured you might say that.. but the truth is, Gildarts is both our father, and I am your brother." Brian informed while looking back at Cana. "I was only three at the time you were born." Brian smiled, but his smile slowly turned into a frown. "But a year later I got lost deep out in the woods behind our home after father left on a job. Everyone tried to find me, but at the time nobody could find where I went. What everyone doesn't know is that I ended up being found by a dragon, who later trained me." Brian informed to his quiet little sister, as he reached into his cloak, and pulled out an old photograph, handing it over to Cana.
"But.. but.." Was all Cana could choke out as she looked at the picture Brian had given her. Looking at the picture even with teary eyes, Cana could see Gildarts, and her mother who was holding a few month old baby, smiling for the camera as a dark haired three and a half year old Brian was giving the camera a grumpy look. "I don't know what to say.." Cana managed to say as she silently cried seeing the picture in front of her. Flipping the picture over she saw her mothers handwriting with the date the picture was taken, and the names of everyone present in it, confirming any doubt that were floating in her head at the moment.
"I'm sorry." Brian said quietly, but loud enough to be heard by Cana, getting Cana to look up at him with teary eyes.
"Why are you sorry?" Cana asked while trying to wipe her tears away.
"Because I never told you.. I had so many opportunities to do so, but I kept myself away not knowing how you would react to me being your older brother, and for that I am sorry.." Brian said quietly looking down at the grass below him.
"Please don't be sorry." Brian heard Cana say, and quickly looked up to meet his sister's eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for.. I'm.. just glad to know that I am not alone.. and that I have family that I can be close to right now." Cana said as she jumped forward, and hugged Brian tightly crying into his shoulder.
"Hey.. no need to cry. I'm not going anywhere." Brian said as he rubbed his sisters back to comfort her.
After a few more minutes of crying, and releasing the hug. Cana looked at Brian with a curious look on her face. "So.. what are we going to do about dad?"
Sighing after hearing their dad being brought up. "I.. really don't know to be honest. I made a promise to myself that if I could finish my 10 year quest, then I would talk to dad, and tell him the truth." Brian informed looking away in shame.
"I made myself a similar promise.. I told myself I'd tell him once I became an S-Class mage.." Cana also looked away. "But I've failed to become one four times now.."
"As I'm sure you could of already guess by me being here now.. I failed my 10 year quest.. so don't feel so bad." Brian forced a smile to his face in hope of cheering Cana up. "How about we go about it a different way. Together." Brian suggested causing Cana to give him her undivided attention.
"The next time he comes back to the guild, we tell him. No more I need to do this, or anything else. As adults.. we tell him what we have been wanting to for a long time now. We will do this together." Brian suggested with a sad smile.
"Together.." Cana nodded with a smile.
"But just because we are going to do this regardless, doesn't mean your big brother wont help you become an S-Class mage anyways!" Brian announced as he stood up from his position on the ground, offering a hand to his sister.
"You.. really wanna help me?" Cana whispered out in shock as she was being pulled up by Brian.
"Of course!" Brian smiled while striking a pose.
"You know your gonna have to talk to Mira once we get back inside right?" Cana chuckled, seeing her brothers pose falter as he tensed up, and look at her strangely.
"Yeah.. she sure has changed from the last time I was here. What happened to her?" Brian asked quietly in worry.
"A lot has happened over the past couple years.. It would be best if you heard it from her." Cana trailed off sadly.
"I guess I'll just have to ask her myself, at least she doesn't seem like she will gut me for asking something stupid like before." Brian laughed. "Lets get our asses back to the guild. Last one their pays the tab!" Brian smirked as he started running back to the guild with Cana hot on his heels after hearing about possibly getting out of paying for her tab.
Back Inside While Brian and Cana Were Talking
"So Mirajane, your sister said you knew why Brian has been gone for so long? Care to elaborate?" Lucy asked, after her curiosity got the better of her seeing how Brian left the guild with Cana, and had no other option besides confronting Mira about her curiosities.
Hearing the question from the blonde haired celestial mage, Mira set the mug she was cleaning down and had a thoughtful look on her face. She was silent for almost a good minute before she spoke.
"I don't have a clue sorry." Mira smiled, causing Lucy to fall off her bar stool.
"What do you mean you don't have a clue!? Lisanna said you were like the only one knew?!" Lucy shouted, at the giggling white haired beauty behind the bar.
"Well.. I only know that he took a long term quest a little over three years ago.." Mira trailed off with a sad look behind her eyes.
"So.. you don't know?" Lucy asked in a quiet voice, seeing the look in Mira's eyes made her worry something was wrong, but also that Mira knew more than she was giving out.
"Sorry, but I don't." Mira sighed as she picked up the mug, and started cleaning it once more while in thought.
"But you grew up with him right? So surely you know other stuff about him." Lucy asked again after a few moments of silence.
"Of course I know lots about him, but.. he's always been one to distance himself from others at times. As you may remember, I used to be a lot different when I was younger, and I'd always start silly fights with Erza." Mira giggled. "But Brian.. he was always out to prove himself for whatever reasons.. he is also very talented, and very hard working, and can be kind of a jerk at times to others. And at least for me those were the reasons why I acted out more than usual when I was younger. I just wanted him to see me as a strong woman I suppose."
"What do you mean Mira?" Lucy asked curiously, not sure she was following.
"Oh.. its nothing." Mira smiled as she turned to set the now clean mug back up on the shelf.
"I'm getting nowhere with you Mirajane." Lucy whined as she plopped her head onto the counter.
"You think so?" Mira asked while tilting her head to the side cutely.
"Ugh.." Lucy whined some more, but her and Mira's attention were taken away by the guild doors opening up and revealing Brian looking grumpy, and Cana laughing as they entered the guild, and making their way to the bar.
"Welcome back you two." Mira smiled happy to see them return.
"Thanks Mira." Brian smiled, only to get punched in the arm by Cana.
"You lost so your paying." Cana smiled evilly, causing Mira and Lucy to look at him in question.
"Ugh.. should of kept my mouth shut.." Brian trailed off, watching Mira cover her mouth as she giggled.
"Would you like something Brian?" Mira asked sweetly.
"Oh sure. A beer would be nice." Brian responded, getting a happy nod from the girl from behind the bar.
Seeing her chance to ask some questions in hopes of satisfying her curiosities, Lucy decided to make herself known at the bar.
"Hi I'm Lucy, Lucy Heartfil-." Lucy tried to greet politely, but was cut off.
"Yeah that's nice." Brian replied in a tired voice staring at the doorway Mira disappeared into not really paying any attention to anything around him.
"Hey! Your supposed to introduce yourself when people who don't know you introduce themselves to you ya jerk!" Lucy yelled wildly, causing Brian to nearly fall off his bar stool at the amount of yelling Lucy was doing.
"Shit girl.. calm down I was just kidding." Brian rolled his eyes in annoyance. 'Maybe I should just hide up on the second floor.. damn ankle bitters..'
"Names Brian."
"That's it?" Lucy pouted.
"Um.. Yeah? Sorry I don't have some fancy name, or something." Brian chuckled as Mira came out from the back room with a plate of food, and his beer.
"I figured you might be hungry too." Mira winked to him as she set the plate down, watching Brian's eyes grow wide at the food.
"Oh dear god this looks great! Thanks Mira!" Brian thanked, and got a happy nod in return from Mira.
"We will have to catch up after everyone quiets down for the night, yeah?" Mira asked cutely.
Looking away from his mug of beer that he was currently drinking from, Brian just smiled. "Of course Mira. I'd like that."
Watching the display between the two older mage's in front of her, Lucy couldn't help but feel that there was something going on between the two that nobody had mentioned to her earlier, and she was getting slightly annoyed. "Okay seriously I want some answers from you buddy." Lucy poked Brian in the shoulder. "Why were you gone so long, and why have I not heard of you in sorcerers weekly? Usually every S-Classed mage from a famous guild is in there, so why is it that I've never heard of you, or seen your picture before? And what's-" Lucy rambled off in a hurry, only to be cut off by Brian.
"Hey.. Lucilianthith was your name right? Your currently border lining Natsu's territory of annoyance.. enough questions. I'm tired, and not in the mood." Brian growled out with a glare before taking another drink from his mug.
Getting the hint quickly, and not wanting to be thrown out of the guild hall like Natsu was earlier, Lucy quickly jumped away from the bar, and made her way back to the table where her friends were at in defeat.
"You didn't have to be so mean." Cana laughed.
"Oh come on.. I hardly have the patience to answer every single question shot at me right now... I'm entitled to be a dick if i want to Cana." Brian huffed crossing his arms over his chest with a mock pout on his face, causing Mira to giggle.
"So wheres Laxus at? I don't feel him anywhere near by." Brian asked either of the two girls around him, who just looked at each other in worry.
"Laxus got excommunicated by the master after a certain event." Mira answered quietly, while Cana just looked away from everyone.
"Excommunicated?" Brian said with wide eyes. "What happened?"
"He pretty much declared war on fairy tail to rid the guild of the weak, and had forced everyone to fight each other. But also turned Mira, and some of the other girls into stone, threatening to break them if we didn't follow the rules to his game.." Cana finished explaining, only to hear Brian's mug shattering in his hand causing glass to go everywhere. "He.. what?"
"He... turned you into stone Mira?" Brian trailed off in a dark tone menacingly, as a black and dark purple mist started hazing around his body from where he sat. "And then threatened to break you.." Mira nodded sadly holding her hands in front of her, watching as Brian's fist tightened with blood dripping off of it after shattering his mug. "I'm going after that asshole." Brian stated standing up quickly from his bar stool with the black, and dark purple mist still radiating out of his body, and following him as he stomped towards the guilds entrance, very pissed off.
Quickly everyone noticed the large amount of magical energy Brian was putting out after hearing the mug he was holding shatter a moment ago, and everyone was starting to get a little nervous. Even Makarov escaped from his office to see what was going on, but remained silent as he saw Mira working her way towards Brian.
"Please calm down, we are all okay, and that's all that matters." Mira said quietly as she made her way around the bar to catch up to the retreating pissed off man.
Turning around with a dark look on his face. "I.. won't forgive him. I will make sure he never thinks of hurting you.. or anyone in our guild ever.. again.." Brian stated as he turned back around to leave the guild. "I'll be back later, I need to think." Brian waved back to Mira who had a worried look on her face, but was thankful that he at least calmed down enough to lower his magical energy, and let her know that he was coming back.
Making her way to her sister's side after seeing Brian storming out of the guild, Lisanna just hugged her sister from behind. "It will be okay Mira-nee. He will come back."
Nodding to what Lisanna just said Mira looked at her sister. "I know he will.. I'm just afraid of what is going to happen when he does.." Mira admitted while looking downwards.
"What do you mean Mira-nee? Did you two get in a fight?" Lisanna asked only to get a no from her older sister.
"So why is he so upset right now?" Lisanna asked curiously, not knowing what the cause for Brian's sudden outburst could be.
"Cana, and I told him about what happened to Laxus that got him excommunicated from the guild.. and he isn't very happy hearing what Laxus did to everyone, especially me.." Mira quietly answered.
"So he just needs to blow off some steam, and take some time to think things through. That's usually what happens when Brian gets like this Mira-nee you of all people should know this." Lisanna stated, getting a nod from Mira. "So why are you afraid of whats going to happen when he comes back?" Lisanna asked with a sly smirk making its way on her face. "You wouldn't be hoping for him to return, and sweep you off your feet eh?" Lisanna chuckled, seeing Mira slightly blush.
"Eh!? No, no.. nothing like that." Mira chuckled nervously as she tried to change the topic. "So.. how are you and Natsu doing? Do you guys need anything at your table?" Mira smiled nervously, knowing that her attempts to change the subject would fail miserably.
"Good, and no thank you. Now don't change the subject, your going to tell me all about it." Lisanna ordered as she pushed Mira back to the bar, who was trying to escape her little sisters interrogation.
"But, but.." Mira cried as she found it useless to get out of the situation she was in now.
Few Hours Later
Returning to the guild later that night once clearing his mind, and cooling off, after hearing the news of Laxus being a prick to everyone he cared in the guild. It was roughly around 10pm at night, and Brian was heading back to the guild in attempts to salvage whatever is to be left of his first day back at fairy tail in a little over three years.
'Hopefully there will be some people still in the guild after I stormed out.. This.. was not how I was expecting my first day back to go..' Brian sighed to himself as he neared the doors to the guild. Opening the large doors to the guild he was glad to be surprised that there were still a few people in the guild.
Spotting Natsu, and his little group sitting with Erza. Who was currently refereeing Natsu, and Gray's hourly fight, but looked up after noticing him entering the guild and waved with a small smile before going back to judging the fight. Brian just laughed while waving back, as he quietly snuck into the guild trying to not be spotted.
"Brian! How goes!" Wakaba greeted loudly as he walked over to the dark haired mage, leaving a grumpy looking Marco sitting at the table he just left.
"Ugh.. I was trying to not make a scene old man.." Brian growled out menacingly, seeing how everyone that was left in the guild now spotted him.
"Touchy, touchy.. your still as irritable as ever I see. Glad to see that we are only down to one easily pissed off n high strung mage in the guild now." Wakaba laughed obviously drunk.
"The hell you talking about?" Brian growled out narrowing his eyes at Wakaba.
"Oh well since you haven't been here in a while I will tell you. You, and Mira's rein of terror on the guild is over!" Wakaba laughed as he slung an arm over Brian's shoulder as they made their way to the bar, thinking about all the times Brian, and Mira would terrorize the guild starting fights, and doing pranks to embarrass those who had managed pissed them off.. which wasn't hard to do back then..
"Yeah, yeah that's nice n all, but get your hand off me." Brian swatted Wakaba's arm off of himself. "If you don't mind I have to take care of some business, so please.. beat it." Brian growled out. Silently thankful for Wakaba backing off, and also thankful that everyone else in the guild hall caught the clue that he didn't want to talk to anyone else right now after snapping at Wakaba like that.
"What's his problem?" Lucy quietly asked anyone who would listen at their table, as they watched Brian get to the bar, and sit down asking Mira for something.
"Not a clue." Gray shrugged as him, and Natsu returned back to the table both with large bumps on their heads curtsy of Erza before the two got out of hand. Surprisingly Gray was still wearing his clothes for once.
"Well simply put. Brian is an easily irritable person, and will take it out on those who upset him." Erza nodded after her short explanation. "Growing up Brian was always starting fights, sort of like what Natsu has been doing, and failing at ever since he came here to Fairy Tail, but unlike Natsu he won most of his fights."
"Hey!" Natsu whined loudly.
"Seeing how he was only a year older than myself, and Mira. The three of us would usually end up in frequent fights, more Mira, and myself than Brian. Brian would tend to pick fights with Laxus the most out of everyone in the guild. The two of them had a well.. sort of friendly rivalry.." Erza chuckled thinking about how "friendly" they really were with each other. "So pretty much don't irritate him, or be ready to face the consequences. I certainly am in no hurry to face Brian even after all these years he has been away." Erza finished explaining to those at the table that weren't familiar with him.
"Shesh.. he sounds like a real jerk." Lucy groaned.
"He doesn't mean it really, It's just his way of dealing with the world I suppose, its just his is.. a little more violent." Erza smiled, getting Lucy's face to pale. "Like everyone here, Brian's had just as hard of a past as the rest of us." Erza said with her eyes lowering to the table, thinking about her own past as a slave.
"I see.. does anyone know what happened to him? And why have I not heard of him before?" Lucy asked quietly.
"No. Brian has been very reclusive when it comes to his past. It would be best to just leave him alone until the time comes when he may approach you." Erza suggested as she motioned with her heard towards the bar, and everyone glanced over to where she was indicating to see that Brian was smiling as he was talking, and waving his arms around to act out whatever he was talking about to Mira, who was giggling at whatever they were talking about.
"As far as you not knowing him, I'm sure you've heard of him by his title. Brian doesn't seek fame like other mage's, so he tries really hard to make him, and his title hard to connect together." Erza explained.
"What's his title?" Lucy asked excited to know what he's called, so she could see if she's heard of him or not.
"His title carries a lot of weight to it, perhaps more than mine, or Mira's." Erza started but caught a sideways glance of the bar, only to see Mira glaring at her as if warning her to go no further. "Um.. Excuse me I need to get another drink." Erza quickly said sweating a little bit at the degree of a glare Mira was giving her, and got up from her seat leaving the table quickly, making Lucy deflate seeing she didn't get anything out of Erza.
"First Mirajane, and now Erza too? What is going on.." Lucy whined with her head down.
Everyone looked away from either the bar or Lucy, after hearing Natsu mumble something out quietly, catching Lisanna's attention quickly.
"What's wrong Natsu?" Lisanna asked curiously, seeing her normally obnoxious boyfriend being very quiet.
"Nothing's wrong really.. I'm just thinking why it's only Mira that Brian is talking to, and not us too? He used to hangout with all of us when we were little.." Natsu huffed out with childish pout.
"Oh Natsu.. you would know the reason for that if you ever paid attention to anything beside fighting, and food." Lisanna giggled at her boyfriends expense.
"Hey!"
"Well it's true." Gray grunted in agreement.
"Shesh Gray put some clothes on!" Lucy groaned covering her eyes, after suddenly noticing that between the past few minutes that Gray stripped his clothes off, without the others at the table noticing.
"WHAT THE!?"
"Juvia is quite curious about this Brian." Juvia added. 'But Juvia is happy to be sitting next to her Gray in almost no clothes hehe.' Juvia lustfully thought to herself with a blush on her face.
"Just leave him be for now. Especially you Natsu. I don't want you interrupting anything you shouldn't be." Lisanna warned with a stern look, before looking across the hall at her older sister and Brian enjoying each others company.
"Fine." Natsu pouted, puffing his cheeks out.
Later That Night
"So when do you usually close the guild down Mira?" Brian casually asked taking another sip of his most recent beer.
"Usually around midnight." Mira smiled as she was cleaning off the bar's counter.
"Need any help tonight?" Brian offered, making Mira look up at him.
"Sure! I could always use a little help." Mira smiled happily.
"Well.. I'll try to be useful, and try not to break anything." Brian laughed.
As the night crawled on, and the rest of the guild members that were still in the hall, paid off their tabs and left for home. Brian watched as the still ever curious, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lisanna, and Lucy made their way out of the guild wishing him and Mira good night before leaving.
"Well that just leaves the master who is still stuck up in his office. What else do we need to do Mira?" Brian asked as he started putting the chairs up on the tables for Mira, seeing that the guild is now empty.
"Nothing really, I just have a few more dishes to do for the night." Mira said, as she put up the chair she was holding onto still smiling as cutely as ever.
"So, did you want to talk after we finish up here?" Brian asked with a small hint of nervousness in his voice?
"Of course." Mira smiled. "Elfman, and Lisanna are usually sleeping by the time I get home, so it should be okay."
"Alright. Well lets hurry up here, I wanna hear all about what's been happening to my favorite demoness over the years. We could even go to the hill outside of town that we'd hangout at when we were younger." Brian winked, making Mira blush as she nodded.
"I'd like that." Mira smiled happily.
A short while later after everything was cleaned up, and taken care of for the night. The two bid an ever smirking Makarov goodnight as they left the guild, and made there way side by side to the hill top that the two would go to when they were growing up.
Arriving at the top of a small hill with a nice view of Mongolia, and Fairy Tail's guild in the far off distance. Brian sat down on the ground, and leaned back against a large oak tree with his eyes closed, with Mira gracefully doing the same careful not to do any damage to her dress. After a minute, or two of silence Brian broke the silence that had fallen over the two since they had arrived.
"I've missed you." Brian whispered with his eyes still closed.
"I missed you too Brian." Mira whispered back as she looked up at the night sky with her blue eyes shining as they took in how bright the stars were tonight.
"So have you been practicing with your guitar since I left?" Brian smiled thinking back when they were younger, and him teaching Mira how to play the guitar.
"I have." Mira smiled, recalling the same memory.
"You'll have to play for me some time." Brian smiled. "I wrote a few songs while I was away." Brian spoke the last part quietly.
"I'd love to hear them, you know I love watching you play, and sing." Mira replied with a smile, as she looked away from the nights sky to see Brian's somewhat sad face.
"So.. I don't mean to pry.. but.. what happened to you Mira? Your very different now.. not that I don't mind seeing you all cute, and bubbly." Brian smiled as he asked the question that had been on his mind for the better part of the day.
"It's.. a long story.. but.. about 9 months after you left for your 10 year quest.. I took an S-Class quest, and took Elfman, and Lisanna with me thinking nothing would happen to us.. I was wrong.." Mira trailed off quietly. "I was wrong.." Mira said again in a whisper, making Brian's curiosity even greater. "The quest was to take care of a large beast terrorizing a small town.. after tracking down the beast and fighting with it, the beast overpowered me.. Seeing that I was injured, Elfman tried to do a full body take over on the beast.. at first he was okay.. but then he lost control.. and the beast started rampaging with my little brother trapped inside fighting for control. Lisanna saw that I was in no shape to restrain Elfman, and tried to calm him down.. but.. the beast.. killed Lisanna.." Mira slowly cried, and leaned her head on Brian's shoulder as she retold the story of what happened.
Putting his arm around Mira to comfort her, Brian just remained silent to let Mira continue.
"After we returned from the mission, and had Lisanna's funeral.. I no longer had the will to fight.. and no longer took on any missions for the guild. Seeing my little sister get killed in front of my eyes was.. too much for me.." Mira sobbed as she grabbed onto Brian's cloak, burying her face into his chest.
"Mira.. please don't cry.." Brian said really not used to seeing Mira in such a state, rubbing her side in hopes of further comforting her.
'This doesn't make any sense.. I saw Lisanna at the guild today.. right?' Brian thought to himself as he continued to try, and clam Mira down a little more so she could continue.
"After two years had gone by.. I had regained my fighting spirit only after Laxus declared his stupid war on the guild, and freed nearly killed Elfman in front of me.." Mira moved up to wipe her eyes dry. "Later after that, we all got sucked into a parallel dimension of Earthland called Edolas.. to put that story simply, everyone in the guild got turned into giant lacrima stones except for Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, and a few others, mainly because of their dragon slayer powers. After everything ended there in Edolas, and we all returned back here, we found out that Lisanna did not actually die on that S-Class mission, but was taken away to Edolas, and came back with us while we were returning home." Mira sighed after controlling her emotions, and laying back down against Brian's cloaked chest looking up into his blue eyes that were filled with worry, and regret behind them.
"I'm.. sorry I wasn't here.. to help you, and everyone.." Brian quietly said as he looked away from Mira's large teary eyes.
"I know you are.." Mira smiled sadly, putting her hand on Brian's cheek turning his face back to her, making him look back into her eyes. "I know you had to take that 10 year quest to prove yourself worthy of telling Gildarts the truth about you. Even though I wish you hadn't, and stayed in the guild.. with me.." Mira slightly looked away from Brian's sapphire blue eyes with a blush.
"I've kept my promises.. I never told anyone about why you took on that 10 year quest.. or about Gildarts being your father, and also Cana being your younger sister. It was hard for me to not let everyone know why you were leaving when they were all very concerned, and worried about you.. But most of all, I also waited.. for you.. to come home." Mira's finished shyly with her blush reddened further.
"You know.." Brian spoke quietly with a small smile, happy to hear she kept her word to him, getting Mira to look back at him. "I made myself another promise today once I cleared my head, after I had sorted out what to do with Laxus the next time I see him." Brian smiled slightly seeing Mira tilt her head, awaiting whatever came next. "I promised myself that I would stay here, in Fairy Tail.. and that I wouldn't take on another quest like that again." Brian said with a happy smile.
"I would like that very much, and I'm going to hold you to your promise." Mira hugged him tightly, with Brian returning the embrace. Moving away slightly from each other, and putting their foreheads together with both of them smiling at each other, neither of them said anything for a few minutes as they just stared into each others eyes.
'I guess I should just say it..'
'This must be a dream.. except I feel like I'm going to faint with him next to me, and looking at me like that after him being away for so long, so this can't be a dream..'
"I love you." Brian whispered softly, making Mira's eyes widen after registering what he just said, and smiled a moment later.
"I love you too.. I always have." Mira closed her eyes cutely, not noticing Brian leaning forward.
Leaning in further Brian's lips softly connected with Mira's, causing her eyes to open widely before slowly closing once more, and started enjoying the kiss she had been longing to have since she was younger. Breaking away from the kiss, Brian just smiled with his eyes closed.
"Sorry.. I've been wanting to do that for quite some time now."
"Don't be." Mira smiled. "I've wanted you to do that for so long now.." Mira said quickly as she leaned in to get another kiss.
After kissing a few more times, and leaning against each other in content. Mira yawned cutely, getting Brian's attention.
"Tired?" Brian softly asked.
"A little. Today has been a lot for me to handle emotionally." Mira smiled, before yawning again.
"We should probably head back. I still need to look for a place to stay." Brian quietly chuckled after remembering he still needed to search for a place to stay now that he was back.
"No, I'm fine.. right here.." Mira sighed in content as she snuggled into Brian's side even further, causing Brian to laugh quietly, but paled quickly as he looked down to see a clear view of the top of Mira's breasts that her dress was not covering.
'Oh god. Look away Brian! Look away! She will certainly gut me if she notices me staring! Sweet Mira, or not I'm sure she'd still try, and kill me!'
"Alright then, but at least let me take my cloak off to cover us." Brian suggested after mentally calming himself down, and seeing Mira move away a little to let him take his cloak off, clearly happy that they were going to stay in their spot for the night together.
Mira just sat there taking in every feature Brian was hiding under his cloak, as Brian was taking his cloak off. Blushing as she registered all of his very sculpted muscles that were easily noticeable by the very tight form fitting black shirt he was wearing underneath it by the moon, and star light of the night sky.
'Oh my..'
"Here." Brian stated as he let Mira lay back down next to him, setting his cloak over her after she got comfortable.
"Thank you." Mira replied, looking up, and giving Brian a small kiss on the lips to show her gratitude.
"Any time." Brian smiled after the kiss, getting comfortable as he laid his head on top of Mira's.
"I love you." Both Brian, and Mira whispered at the same time, making both of them quietly laugh at each other saying it at the same time.
'I've been waiting for this for so long.' Both Brian, and Mira thought at the same time, before letting their bodies need for sleep take over, smiling in content as the world around them faded into a peaceful, relaxing bliss.
The Next Morning
After waking up this morning, and noticing that Mira had not returned home last night. Lisanna, and Elfman quickly split up in a frantic search all over Mongolia for their older sister. Currently as Elfman was off checking the guild to see if anyone had seen her, Lisanna was currently dragging Natsu along with her in hopes that Natsu could track Mira's sent down with his acute sense of smell in hopes of finding out where she could possibly be.
After searching for about half an hour wandering around the streets of Mongolia, Natsu who had been fairly quiet as he concentrated on tracking down Mira's sent, suddenly spoke out getting his girlfriends attention.
"Over there Lisanna!" Natsu pointed out once they made their way to the outskirts of the town.
"I'm really getting worried.. it's not like Mira-nee to disappear like this, and leave the city.." Lisanna said quietly with her worry now peaking seeing that they were heading away from the city.
"I.. smell someone else up ahead, come on." Natsu informed as he picked up the pace, as they started making their way up a small hill outside of town.
Getting to the top of the hill, both Lisanna and Natsu froze at the sight they saw before them. Neither Natsu, or Lisanna had considered Brian being the reason why Mira didn't return home last night. Seeing both of the older mage's still breathing, they both came to the conclusion that Brian, and Mira had fallen asleep together. For whatever reason they were out here was anyone's guess.
Laughing at the appearance of his fellow dragon slaying sprawled out on his back, next to a tree with Mira laying on top of him with her long white hair sprawled out over both of them, and Brian's cloak covering them to keep warm during the night, and both of them with small smiles on their face. Natsu couldn't help but laugh.
"So much for being kidnapped." Natsu chuckled after controlling his laughing fit.
"I should of known Brian was the reason why Mira-nee didn't come home last night." Lisanna smirked as they neared in on the couple still peacefully sleeping on the ground.
Grabbing a near by stick, Natsu grinned evilly as he neared in on his target, aiming for the only area that he could find a clear shot at. Finding its mark, Natsu started to poke Brian in the ribs with the stick grinning the entire time.
"Hey.. Natsu.. I don't think that's such a good idea." Lisanna warned.
"Shh Lisanna! For I am a NINJA!" Natsu proclaimed as he wrapped his scarf around his face, and struck his best ninja pose with the stick still in his hands.
"But Natsu you rea-" Lisanna was cut off by a large black, and dark purple magic circle appearing in front of Brian's face, and his eyes snapping open revealing his eyes to be completely black with only the blue of his eyes still showing. Catching Natsu off guard and making him pale ghost white. A moment later after the large magic circle appeared, a huge black and purple beam of magic shot out, once Brian opened his mouth.
"AHHH!" Natsu screamed as he, and the offending stick flew a good distance away from the couple, and started rolling down the hill making Lisanna sweat drop.
"I tried to warn you.." Lisanna sighed as she suddenly noticed Mira, and Brian slowly waking up.
"Ngnah.. who's yelling.." Brian groaned tiredly, as Mira slowly lifted herself off of him, yawning cutely.
"Was that Natsu?" Mira asked trying to blink the sleep out of her eyes.
Suddenly noticing that someone was near them, Mira slowly turned her head to see Lisanna waving at them, and laughing weakly.
"Good morning you two." Lisanna said simply. "I was worried about you after I woke up to see you weren't at the house Mira-nee." Lisanna explained, glad to see no harm came to her sister.
"So you had Natsu sniff us out? Clever." Brian chuckled as he stood up offering his hand to Mira who gladly accepted it.
"So what were you two doing out here?" Lisanna asked with a sly smirk on her face.
"Just catching up." Brian stated simply with an uneasy smile. 'What the hell.. why is Lisanna being so nosy?' Brian thought, but was taken out of his thoughts as Mira stood on her tip toes, and kissed him on the lips, ignoring her little sister. Who just stood there not sure of what happened last night.
"We were just talking Lisanna." Mira smiled cutely looking back to her sister after the kiss.
"I'm sure.." Lisanna giggled as she looked down at the bottom of the hill to see Natsu still laying on his back in pain with smoke coming off of his clothes and swirl patters rotating in his eyes.
"My.. moo?" The three barely heard from below the hill, obviously coming from the downed pink flame dragon slayer of Fairy Tail.
Seeing where Lisanna was looking, Brian and Mira both looked down at the bottom of the hill, curious as to what Lisanna was looking at.
"What happened to Natsu?" Mira blinked in confusion.
Glaring at her sister, and Brian in mock annoyance. "Your boyfriend fired an attack at my boyfriend when he was trying to poke him with a stick." Lisanna replied with a small smirk forming on her mouth while crossing her arms over her chest to try and make it look like she was angry.
"I did what?" Brian laughed clearly amused, not remember doing such a thing.
"I didn't feel Brian move at all." Mira added putting a finger to her lips cutely, while trying to remember if she felt him move at all while they slept.
"Eh.. yeah.. you both were apparently too far gone sleeping to notice." Lisanna sweat dropped.
"Well whatever.." Brian suggested as he stretched his body out after sleeping on the ground. "I guess I'll carry "Your Boyfriend" Lisanna, seeing how I apparently did that to him, but only for a little bit. Mira, and I need to change after falling asleep.." Brian laughed, with Mira giggling along with him.
"Your such a gentleman." Lisanna rolled her eyes.
Making their way down the small hill, Brian picked up the still dazed, and confused Natsu who was mumbling incoherently, and set him over his shoulder. While the four made their way back into town.
After making it near the center of town, Brian suddenly dropped Natsu to the ground on his head effectively waking him up.
"OW! What the hell man!?" Natsu howled, as he was nursing his head after falling to the ground.
"Sorry, nap time was over. Mira, and I need to part ways with you guys for now. We'll see you in the guild a little bit later today, I'll even grace you n your friends with my presence." Brian laughed, with Mira nodding behind him.
"Alright, see you two later." Lisanna winked towards her sister, who just smiled back as Lisanna helped Natsu to his feet laughing at him as he finally got back up on his feet after stumbling around a bit.
Seeing Lisanna waving back at them, and Natsu grumbling as he stalked on towards the guild, and then Lisanna grabbing his hand, and started talking to him. Mira and Brian just laughed at the two.
"I suppose you'd like to take a shower, and get something to eat?" Mira suggested as she took a hold of Brian's hand leading them towards her, and her siblings house.
"That does sound amazing right about now, I wont lie." Brian laughed.
"Well lucky for you I can offer you both." Mira giggled, and the two continued on their way to get ready for the new day ahead of them.
(Authors Note)
Well that's the end of the second chapter of Now and Forever :P Hopefully you all enjoyed it, despite the lack of heavy Natsu x Lisanna moments. I wanted to at least introduce my OC into the story in this chapter, and reveal a little bit of his background to you all. Obviously if you didn't catch the hints in the chapter. Brian and Mira were fairly close to each other, but never openly showed it around the others in the guild when they were younger. Also yes I decided to make Brian a Shadow Dragon Slayer, reason for this? Well cuz I thought it fit him better than any other idea I had. Also when the time comes where Rouge is ever brought in I will tell you now that Brian, and Rouge were taken in by two different dragons, and everything will be explained in later chapters. Now! Enough teasing hints on the future. Leave a review and let me know what you all think? See you in the next chapter!