Here we are, latest chappie! This chapter involves a bit of insight on Erza and Lucy's great revelation.

Thank you again, for all of your reviews! I am so glad that you lot like it. It greatly motivates me.

Enjoy

Chapter 5

{Loke's POV}

I've done it.

I've single-handedly broken one of the laws of the Spirit Realm. I would no doubt be sentenced as soon as they find out.

Then why don't I feel scared?

Maybe it was because I've grown to love her too much. So much that I would not care about anything but her. I had used to view Selene as a fool for losing her control like that, but not anymore. Now that I love someone as much as Selene did, I found it to be reasonable. Of course she couldn't live without her beloved. When somebody becomes your whole world, how could you go on without them?

So I have to stay away. I can't let myself get any closer than this. But I might not be able to if I was constantly around her so I have to keep my distance. I didn't care if they tried to erase me, but I wouldn't let myself put her into danger, especially if that danger originated from me.

I would keep her safe.

{Lucy's POV}

It has been nearly a fortnight since that kiss. I was so shell-shocked that I didn't react and before I actually came to my senses, he'd already left.

He hasn't come out to see me at all.

Even if I summoned him, he wouldn't show up. Whenever I tried, it would be Virgo showing up instead, saying something among the lines of 'Onii-sama is busy, Hime-sama. Will I be of any assistance?'.

It pissed me off to no end.

Two weeks ago, I'd been ridiculously angry over the sudden kiss, which I had counted as harassment. I had cursed him and told myself that he'd better get out of my life. Now, he'd as good as disappeared from my life and I felt as if my life was losing its meaning. I even hoped that he would turn up unannounced like before every time I turned around to look behind me. I began to miss him. I was extremely confused by the kiss. I sort of wished that it hadn't ended as quickly as that. But I shouldn't be, right? I was so conflicted by my feelings that Levy-chan had been wondering if I'd gone mad.

"Lucy… Lucy… Lucy! LUCY!"

I was jolted awake from my musings by a very concerned Erza. I looked around me, remembering that I was back in the guild hall. I thanked my lucky stars that it was as rowdy as ever, or Erza's voice would've directed all the attention towards me.

"Lucy, are you okay? You've been distracted."

I smiled at Erza, who had the word 'concerned' spelled all across her forehead. I debated against telling her my issue, but then my ever sharp mind gave me a pointed nudge.

'You idiot. Erza had gone through more than you had. Besides, she could give you advice on your so-called problem. Have your moronic sieve-like memory forgotten about her and Jellal? Romance is so her area of expertise.'

Ah yes, my lovely voice-of-reason. It would get along very well with Aquarius if it ever decided to materialize as a full-bodied form. However, it was being reasonable. Erza did have more experience in that department. Not that I'm saying I have a love issue, but it could be useful. Probably.

She was still looking at me worriedly. I cleared my throat as I mentally attempted to figure out how to approach the topic.

"Nee, Erza…How did you know that you were in love with Jellal?"

{Erza's POV}

I was astonished by her question. Me and Jellal? Why would she want to know?

I observed her slightly pink face, her twiddling thumbs and her shifting postures. I then recalled the faraway look she had worn on her face. She had been like that for quite a while; ever since she came back from the waitress job. Then it clicked. I understood the frustrated expression that I caught her having a few days ago. I understood the forlorn aura she exhibited every once in a while. I understood the confusion and the internal conflict she must have been having.

She was in love. But she didn't know it yet.

The question was: Who?

{Lucy's POV}

I peered at Erza from under my eyelashes. I had found my fingers incredibly interesting after asking that question, and couldn't bring myself to tear my eyes away from them. But I forced myself to glance at Erza, to see how she was taking the enquiry.

To my utter surprise, she was glowing. With joy.

"Hmm, where do I start? Well, you know about my past and how Jellal features in it so I guess I don't have to tell you that part…" Erza pondered. "Well, I didn't know it was love at first, if you must know. I liked the way he was so charming. He could get virtually anybody to follow him, trust him. That was how he managed to get the rest to obey him in the Tower of Heaven. I admired how he never gave up, even though we were all trapped and all hope seemed lost. He protected us the best he could, and I found him to be so courageous. I admired that part of him too. He was a leader, a brother and an idol to all of us. That's why I didn't want to believe that he actually betrayed us. Because he'd always been on our side, see."

"How did that turn into love?" I was interested. After all, Erza hardly ever talked about herself, so I doubted that anyone ever knows her completely. It was rather thrilling to be confided in like this.

"Well, I don't know, really. All I know was I started to want him to look at me differently. See me as who I am, instead of someone just like the other girls. I began to want him to treat me specially. I wanted to get closer to him, become someone near his level. I wished to be his equal. Someone who could stand next to him, fighting alongside with him, not behind him and letting him protect me. I wanted to protect him too." Erza said, a dreamy expression on her face. She looked so peaceful and at ease that I knew she was relieving the memories of her past.

I patiently waited for Erza to snap out of it. It took a while, but she did, and her brilliant smile told me that she was basking in the glow of love.

"Then after we parted ways, I missed him badly. It started slow; I missed him a little bit more with each passing day. In the end, I missed him so much that everything reminded me of him. Heck, even my hair reminded me of him. I wanted to see him - wanted to be next to him. Well, you know the rest. He's now in prison and we are apart."

I racked my brains. She missed Jellal. Did I miss Loke? Yes I did. Erza wanted to see Jellal. Did I want to see him? Yes I did. Does that mean I love him? I have no idea. I needed more information.

"How…do you feel around him?" I asked.

Erza smiled at me, as if she could tell my inner turmoil. I fidgeted under her gaze.

"Enough talking about me. Let me ask you some questions then! Then you'll know how it is for me."

I gulped. What if she figures it out? But…I needed answers. She chuckled at the sight of my unease.

"Oh, I already figured out that you are having romance issues." She said. I yelped in surprise. "But I'm not the gossipy type so your secret is safe with me…unless they have already figured it out too."

"How did you know?" I demanded. I haven't told anyone!

"Did you look into a mirror of late?" Erza replied. "You have been out of sorts you know. Anyone could tell that something's up. When you asked me that question, it dawned on me. Simple as that. But if it were Mira, her mind automatically goes into that direction, so I'd say she's onto you, Lucy."

I was dismayed. I had hoped that no one would notice. Oh dear. Erza immediately launched into her round of 20 Questions.

"Does your heart beat very quickly when you're near him?" Erza asked.

"Yes…" I replied.

"Is he constantly on your mind?"

"Yes."

"Do you miss him?"

"Yeah."

"Do you like to have him around?"

"…Yes…"

It went on and on and on. My tongue felt like it would twist itself after all the questions she shot at me. At the end of it, she looked at me with pride and fondness. I stared back, not understanding.

"I congratulate you, Lucy. You are in love. You're finally an official maiden in love."

I sat there transfixed as Erza walked off, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I was in love.

I was in love with Loke.

Was I in love?

Hell, why deny it?

I AM IN LOVE WITH LOKE.

It felt so good to finally realise it. My chest felt so light. My mind was so clear.

Now, all I have to do is to catch myself a very evasive lion.

I am NOT letting him get away.