Author's Note: Things have been getting slightly hectic for me, but I'm still going strong and I'll upload as often as I can. I don't have much to say this time around so review and enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 12
The guild had been cleaned up in record time, leaving Erza satisfied with the time improvement her guild mates had made. The multiple factions involved in the quest for Gray had all been informed about the specific meeting they were to have the next day, except there were a few who were threatened to not show up. Mainly from the dragon slayers, but Mira had her hand in it too with her sweet appearance shadowed by a terrifying aura.
Needless to say, everyone was told to keep quite about the brawl when Gray had returned alongside Wendy and the Exceeds. Natsu was by far the hardest to convince to keep his mouth shut, since he wanted to proclaim that he defended their relationship at all costs. Of course Erza wasn't hesitant to resolve this matter on her own and went about it with a small 'talk' with him. That little interaction left Natsu pale when he returned to their table and he was more than happy to agree with what Erza had to say.
Though the group was saddened when the ice mage merely waved at them before he went straight for the bar counter. Although it made a take over mage and a card mage very happy to see their target of affection going for them, but they didn't know that Gray wanted to kill some time before he could drink his problem away for the meantime.
It was difficult for Gray to sit at a table with three of his team mates he had conflicting thoughts over; Erza's confession and her kiss, the sickening kiss with Natsu and his secret (but not to her anymore) crush on Lucy. The little dragon slayer and the cats went to sit with them, completely unaware of the disappointed atmosphere that radiated off of the rest of Team Natsu and Levy.
"Man, why isn't the ice pop sitting with us?" Natsu complained to Wendy as she sat alongside Erza and Levy.
"I did what I could to help, but it seems that Gray-nii's problem is still bothering him." Wendy replied although everyone had caught on to the new honorific she gave to Gray.
"I'm sure you did your best Wendy, but I have a question for you. When did you begin to call Gray your brother?" Erza asked the now surprised tween who hadn't expected them to catch on so quick, leaving Carla to face palm at her naivety.
"W-Well I always thought as him as my brother as I do for Natsu-nii, b-but I didn't know if he'd approve." Wendy replied as this was partly true on her behalf, but finally came out thanks to Carrie.
"Really now? I'd understand why you would call either Natsu, Gajeel or even Laxus as brothers due to being dragon slayers, but I don't understand why you'd choose Gray as well." Levy spoke up as the small interrogation was coming down on the dark haired girl.
"Now, now no need to put Wendy on the spot you guys. Maybe she just looks up to him, just as much as she does to Natsu." Lucy spoke up in defense of the young girl who was grateful for the blonde's save.
"Yeah, me and the ice pop are great examples!" Natsu exclaimed, although everyone at the table knew better than to think those two would be great examples together in the same room.
"I see, but I'm sure there are others more suited for you to look for guidance Wendy." Erza said and luckily for her that seemed to end the subject about why she called Gray brother.
For the next couple of hours, things in Fairy Tail remained just like any other day but there was a tense atmosphere when one group would make eye contact with the other. Although Gray was glad to get through the morning and a good hour or two past the afternoon so he could get a nice cold glass of beer. He failed to realize that when he ordered his first drink that Cana had decided to make her way over to him, much to the dismay of the Phantom Team and Team E.L.L.N. who lost their opportunities at the same time.
"Judging by how fast you downed that one, I'd say you were waiting to drink for a while." Cana said jokingly as she sat down next him, her usual drinking quota unmet for the day, but an idea formed in her head to kill two birds with one stone.
"You have no idea Cana, right now I just want to unwind for a bit." Gray replied as Cana was internally jumping for joy when things looked to be going her way.
"If you want to ease up then why not have a little fun while your're at?" The bikini clad card mage said suggestively as Gray gave it a little thought.
"What do you have in mind?" Cana fist pumped to herself for successfully getting Gray to go for the bait, although she was still weary since he agreed somewhat easily.
"A drinking match between you and me!"
"...pass." Gray immediately shot her down and she retorted with her sad puppy eyes to him as she whined out "But why?"
"Because any time I play with you I'll end up losing, not to mention those bets we make are only for your entertainment" He crossed his arms as he called for Kinana to refill his empty mug.
"Fine I'll make it fair by testing who can finish their mugs the fastest, instead of who can drink the most." Cana offered while she still gave him her best puppy eyes and the ice mage's wall of sternness slowly melted away before he uncrossed his arms and sighed.
"Alright I'll play, but you've got to stop with those damn puppy eyes, you know I can't last when you do it." He replied as she cheered happily before calling over Kinana to fill up 30 booze filled mugs for each player.
"You know the rules Gray; finish a mug you slam it down and get the next. First to finish their 30 wins the game." Both mages reached for their first mug, Kinana acting as starting referee counting down from three.
"...Two...One...GO!" Like that both mages began to chug down their alcohol at impressive speeds, already going for their eighth glass in less than four minutes.
Obviously a crowd formed around the two as the empty glasses began to pile up and small bets were being placed to who would win, the obvious choice being Cana with a pretty good portion of Gray. Though the main battling factions were reluctant to see for themselves, unsure if their wanting for Gray would lead them to take advantage of the situation.
Cana and Gray were surprisingly neck and neck with their emptied mugs, much to the crowds excitement although not great for Cana's win streak. It wasn't that she was doing this on purpose or was any way slow when it came to her booze, but her mind continuously battled with winning the game or pouncing on Gray already. She felt fuzzy with him being so close and Cana knew that it wasn't the alcohol talking either, but more like an restrained urge that was ready to break free.
Cana had found it strange how deep she was being while drinking this much, but she couldn't help it and wondered to herself why she hasn't dated Gray before. She's known him for so long, hell he was the first kid besides herself to be in Fairy Tail after all. When they grew up, that same bond never left and yet she has dated so many guys in the past with nothing amounting to wanting to be with Gray. Even so, she believed it wouldn't be so bad to take a step further in their relationship.
"We're almost done Cana and it seems I'll be winning this for sure!" Gray exclaimed as she subconsciously continued to drink while she was busy with her retrospection, but Gray was in the lead by just a half-filled mug. "Even if I win, you'll still be the reigning champ to me and no one could ever change that." The beautified Gray had snapped Cana right out of her thoughts and she got herself back into the game.
Both mages had continued to down their booze until the last one remained and though the match flew past them, the winning mug felt like time was going in slow motion. The cheers had slowed down, the bitterness of the alcohol was tasted much more in Cana's opinion and her movements felt so sluggish. The cheering crowd had silenced when the final sound of a mug slamming onto the bar counter was heard and everyone waited to see the final ruling.
Kinana looked carefully, amazed that it was actually this close but still raised the winning person's arm up. Hand up in winning glory, Cana smiled to her guild mates as she had won the match by a very thin margin for the first time and the cheers had started up once again. Though he lost, Gray gave her a thumb's up for winning and smiled up at her, however his hand was soon grabbed by Cana and she lead him to the rear entrance of the guild in a rush.
Cana expertly maneuvered the drunken Gray right outside towards the beach and made sure they weren't being followed by anyone. When it looked like the coast was clear, she led him to a small overlooking rock cliff on the shore that was nicely shaded by trees. A memorable place she shares with the ice mage, although she isn't sure he could even remember it now.
With a few more stumbling steps and the continuous drunken chuckle from Gray, Cana was able to have some alone time with him. She was actually happy that her little plan had actually worked in her favor and no one seemed to follow right after them.
"Hey Gray you feeling alright there?" She asked as he had gone quite all of the sudden, not one chuckle escaping his lips, but instead there was a peaceful smile there.
"I'm *hic* drunk, but right now I feel great *hic*" Came his reply as the two childhood friends sat next to each other in the shade, a peaceful atmosphere between the two.
"You're not alone then, I feel great with you near me." Cana slightly blushed as she said this, but compared with what she has done before this seemed very mild for her to do.
"Is *hic* that so?" Gray may have been drunk, but being friends with Cana and her type of training techniques to keep a slightly clearer mind when in a drunken daze made sure he was somewhat thinking clear enough.
"Yeah it is. You and I've grown up a lot Gray, but we hardly changed at all." She scooted closer to the mage feeling the nice cool air permeate her skin, cooling her even more from the heat besides the shade.
"I don't *hic* think that, you've changed t-*hic* the way you are" Gray said placing his hands down onto the rock's surface, hoping to balance his teeter tottering world.
"How so Gray? I still think I have one of the greatest bodies in the guild, not to mention I'm still the top drinker of our guild." She said her own drunken stupor beginning to come around now, but the hiccups hardly came up since she's learned how to avoid doing so.
"Not phy-*hic* physically you drunk, I meant by how you act. You used to be this slightly anxious girl *hic* who was always trying to tell Gildarts that she was his daughter." He replied looking back out onto the ocean enjoying the sea breeze that swept by them, his own connection to it coming up from the depths of his heart.
"Now you're this upstanding bad*hic*ass who will do everything to protect her guild and isn't afraid to do what's right and *hic* have some fun along the way." Cana blushed from his compliments, although to Gray he was saying the things that he truly thought about Cana.
"Wow Gray, now it's time for me to say that you're drunkenly babbling things." Cana joked as she scooted even closer to the mage, their arms already touching each other and the only thing left that she wanted to do was rest her head on his shoulder.
"I *hic* know what I'm saying Cana, if there's one thing I don't mind about b-booze is that it helps me say some things easier." Gray said looking down at Cana who had a small smile on her face as she looked up at him.
"Do you remember this place Gray?"
"Well duh, of course I remember. This use to be our favorite spot" Cana was happy he remembered, but wished he would go further than that though. "*hic* We had a lot of memories here."
"We sure did..." By this time Cana's beating heart was pounding away at her chest, her arm finally locking together with Gray's and his natural scent was slowly lulling her to sleep.
"Like the time you told me Gildarts was your dad, I couldn't believe that such a nice girl like you was the daughter of one of Fairy Tail's strongest mages." He smiled again thinking back to the many things that they told each other when they came to this spot.
So many years have passed since those days where their lives were filled with the ambitions of children who dreamed about the accomplishments f their dreams. Cana's story of trying to reveal to Gildarts that she came to the guild for him always had Gray backing her up to tell him, knowing that one day she would do it. With Gray, Cana was actually impressed to see that he was willing to do everything in his power to bring back his master and she looked up to his strength of trying to beat the impossible to help her overcome her fears of Gildarts rejecting her.
Even though Gray was never able to reverse the spell that took his master away and Cana hadn't been able to tell Gildarts who she was until the trials, the two still held a bond that was formed in that exact same spot they were in now. The card mage had also looked back at this and was happy to have Gray by her side, yet that lingering feeling of what she wanted Gray to remember nagged at her.
"Yeah, but I also remember this place being where we shared our first kiss." Cana said now saying out right what she wanted him to remember. At the same time achieving what she wanted to do earlier and laying her head on his shoulder as he slightly stiffened, feeling the additional weight resting on his arm.
"That's *hic* right, we shared our first kiss here..." Gray couldn't tell if he was blushing or not, but that memory was one he held in the back of his mind that hasn't seen the light of day in so long.
FLASHBACK
They were barely fourteen, Gray had gone to their usual spot to relax in the shining glow of the moonlight. Even if he was no where near a possible solution to saving Ur, he wouldn't give up so easily even though it began to stress him out every time he thought about it. He couldn't help it when his frustrated tears streamed down his face as he watched the ocean waves crash along the shore.
All the research he was doing, all the questions he's asked and all the work he was pushing his body through to achieve higher limits of his latent ability didn't get him anywhere close to discovering a way to get Ur back. He was living his life like she said to do, but the guilt for causing her to sacrifice herself was eating away at him and he couldn't take the toll of his failed attempts.
He pounded the rock he sat on to relieve himself of all the anger that had built inside of him due to all of his short comings, a task he started ever since his journey to the West. He punched it as hard as he could until blood slowly seeped through his knuckles, its stinging sensation acting as a relief to him until a voice called out to him.
"Gray what happened to your hand!" Cana rushed to his side and examined the bloody fist as he tried to wipe the remaining tears from his eyes.
"It doesn't concern you Cana, just leave me alone..." Gray said forcibly taking back his hand trying his hardest to avoid his voice breaking mid-way, but Cana wasn't having none of that and grabbed his hand again.
"It does concern me when someone I care about is going through this sort of pain." She quickly went for her new fuzzy pouch and took out a healing card, even if she was barely learning to use them it would at least heal his wounds. "I know you're trying your hardest Gray."
"No Cana, it doesn't seem like I am. No matter what I do, I'll never be able to help her..." New tears threatened to escape as the pain of guilt stabbed at his heart cease to grow inside of him.
"You've got to understand Gray that you're not alone anymore, if this is bothering you so much then talk to us instead of bottling it all up." Cana retracted the card back as his hand was fully healed and she embraced the tear stricken mage.
"Please Gray, count on me too. You're too important for me to lose and this anger and guilt wouldn't be something your master wants for you and neither do I." She held the mage in her arms for some time before she felt a pair of awkward arms embrace her back and Cana snuggled into the ice mage's attempt of a hug.
"Thank you Cana..." He whispered into her ear, the aching of his heart no longer becoming the burden he had to carry alone. He's placed his trust in others, made friendships that have improved him, but he's glad that he has someone like Cana to comfort him.
Cana later released her tight hug on Gray and looked at him in the eye, her amethyst meeting his dark blue ones. She's cared for him as much as he has for her and slowly as those thoughts filled her young mind, Cana drew ever so nearer to Gray's face. Even if she was on top of things, as far as looking after her fellow guild mates that were older than her, Gray had this air about him that expressed how much he was willing to put on the line and it drew her to him.
He was different, he had his mind set on a goal that was near impossible to achieve from what he's told her, but he didn't give up so easily. She didn't know why, but his strength in determination was what she was looking for and Gray was willing to share it with her. Before she knew it, a cool pair of lips had met hers underneath the moonlight. It was a sweet kiss that had only lasted for a few seconds before she parted their lips and Gray remained star struck from what just happened.
Both young mages looked at each other blushing from one ear to the other, as they processed what had just transpired. Gray couldn't form any words for this was the first time he had ever kissed a girl and the same could be said for Cana as she just gave Gray her first kiss.
"D-Did we just k-kiss?" The young ice mage tried to break the awkward silence between them to the best of his abilities.
"Y-Yeah we did and it w-was my..."
"First time? It was mine too." The raging storm of anger in his heart had passed and in its stay there was a simple feeling of peace and bliss as he looked back out onto the ocean waters that seemed much calmer now.
Gray felt a hand hold onto his, but didn't do anything about it and held it tight as he watched the waters with his dear friend. In the past weeks of gaining nothing but a worsening mood, Gray had actually felt comfortable with Cana at his side to help him keep on a steady path again. Alas, this little fairy tale didn't get it's happy ending and the two slowly lost the connection that attracted them to each other and in the end they had simply became the best of friends.
FLASHBACK END
"What ever happened that stopped us from being together?" Cana may have still been in her drunken stupor, but it was a question she was full aware of and wanted to ask.
"I don't really know. You just got a crush on Laxus and after a while we then drifted apart in a way." Gray replied his hiccups long gone, but his drunken blush remained on his pale face. "You then somehow moved onto Macao and began dating some random guys here and there."
"I guessed that happened, but why didn't I come around to ask you out or the other way around for that matter!?" Cana was still latched onto Gray's arm, her hold growing even stronger as her mind wanted answers to the questions she had.
"You said so yourself that you wouldn't want that." Gray's features had returned to his cool persona, either on his own power or subconsciously when he replied to her. Drunk as he may be, there were something's that were hard wired into his psyche like his stripping habit that led to his coat being on the rocky surface beside him.
"Why?" It came out as a whisper, the burning emotions inside her flared up into an inferno, discovering that she was the reason why they weren't together.
"Because if we were to become a couple and something were to come between us that we couldn't fix and it would lead us to break up, then you couldn't handle the fact of losing me forever." His features softened remembering those words that had pained his heart for a while. "The same could be said about me, I couldn't bear to think of being unable to talk to you again." Silent tears began to fall on Gray's bicep as Cana let them fall from her eyes, now understanding the true extent of their friendship.
As emotional and drunk as she was, Cana couldn't believe that they had thought through the possibility of being unable to even speak to each other again. She sealed her fate of being with Gray in order to keep the man she came to care about for years to come. For the person whose strength she shared to push herself to undergo those trials four times, but the pain of that realization hurt her as well. It was all for the sake of having him by her side later in life did she ever tell Gray that, just to only have it back fire on her in the future.
These mixed feelings had all been for naught for she closed off any chances with Gray years ago to protect one of the greatest friendships she's ever had, but now it wouldn't suffice. She wanted more, she knew she was being selfish but her heart was going out to the one person she knew who built an ice wall over his own to protect himself for the others' sake. Cana would rather damn her own precautions, just to have a chance to experience something she hasn't been able to in so long.
The card mage wanted to experience love again. She wanted to feel the true extent of a person's affection for another where one would vow to be with their significant other till death do they part. She wanted to feel that sense of happiness that she did after kissing Gray, the one where she whole heartily believed that she found the special person her mother talked about aside from her father. Now more than anything that Cana wanted was a do over with the first love she ever had; her first love with Gray Fullbuster.
"You know what Gray?" She asked wiping away her tears, a sense of determination swelling within her as the fires of passion seemed to burn stronger now with her new conviction to the future she wanted.
"Hmmm?" Came his reply as he turned to see the card mage resting on his shoulder, who now held onto him even tighter than before.
"Screw what I said all those years ago!" She exclaimed as she claimed his lips for her own and what a wonderful feeling she received when their lips met.
The kiss reminded her of the one they shared so long ago, his cool lips that now had the taste of alcohol on them, which counted as a bonus to her. His natural scent captivated her with its mountain air freshness, but there was a difference to this kiss than the one before.
They were no longer young teenagers entrapped with their ambitions for the future, since they managed to get past them in their own way. They had grown up into strong, prideful and great mages of Fairy Tail who protect their own and others. Finally, this time Cana is sure she will be with Gray and make her mother happy as she looks over her from the skies above.
Their lips parted as Cana buried herself into his chest, giggling like never before and it surprised Gray to hear laugh in such a way, but he found it pretty cute. Cana smiled up at him and finally understood that destiny may be mapped out, but she can find a way to change it. She stood up, bringing Gray along with her and decided that it was high time they went back inside the guild and get him something to sober up a little more.
Gray on the inside was finally coming around to what was happening and was internally panicking at the thought that not only did he receive a confession from Erza, but he just got one from Cana too. A long forgotten spark flared within him as he held onto Cana's guiding hand and he feared what it stood for. Had his feelings for her come back? Was he going to fall for this girl- no this woman- all over again?
His thoughts were cut short when a sword was thrown between the two as it stuck to the side of the guild building where the two were so close of reaching the door. Both mages turned to see none other than the Titania standing there with her arms crossed and and over bearing aura surrounding her. Cana shot a glare at her, while Gray wasn't so mentally ready to see her yet after what happened the night before.
"We've already discussed this Cana! There is a planned meeting tomorrow and I will not allow you to have a head start on any of us!" She shouted as Gray couldn't believe how angry Erza was becoming out of the blue.
"This is something between two old friends Scarlet, so don't butt in!" Cana wasn't backing down and the new rush of adrenaline had sobered her up enough to prepare for anything.
"Calm down Erza!" Gray shouted as got in front of Cana, trying to calm down the raging red head as best as his drunken mind could from doing any harm to the mage behind him. "I know you're better than resorting to violence Erza"
"Please step aside Gray, this is between me and Cana." Erza was feeling slightly disheartened when she witnessed Gray defending Cana, but knew that he'd protect anyone who was in the right even from his own guild mates.
"Not until you tell me what in the he-" Gray never got to finish his sentence as his world had turned black before him and the gasps from both girls was the last thing he heard.
Holding up Gray as best as she could, Mira smiled up to the two arguing mages who hadn't seen her coming. Mid-way through what Gray was saying did she appear behind him and delivered a swift neck chop to knock him out, catching him before he hit the ground. She was obviously happy to have the raven head be supported by her and came just in time before Gray learned too much about what was going on.
"Now ladies I know that we agreed to have a meeting about this, but be careful what you say with him around." Mira said as she began walking back inside with Erza and Cana following close behind her.
"Why did you do that Mira?" Cana asked resisting the urge to grab Gray from right under her.
"I made sure he doesn't learn what's going on or else things could get pretty nasty." She replied a blush forming on her face when she realized that she had an arm around his muscular torso. "Although we need to do something about Gray so our little meeting isn't interrupted by him on accident."
"Do you have anything in mind Mira?" Erza knew better than to trust the she demon with her Gray, but she didn't have any ideas on how to deal with Gray for the moment.
"I sure do, so don't worry your heads about it." Once she made it inside with Gray, Mira called over Elfman to take him back to the infirmary to rest up, but made a specific gesture to ensure he would come straight down right afterwards. "Now about Gray, he'll be out like a light for a few hours, so I need someone to look over him."
"I'll do it!" Came the simultaneous reply of both Erza and Cana who glared to one another right when they heard each other.
"Ara, ara someone's going to have to give in." Mira was having her own fun as these two were searching for the best possible way to beat the other. "Sorry girls, but I already had someone in mind. Lisanna!"
The youngest Strauss sibling made her way over to her sister, the requip mage and card mage deflated in defeat at not even getting the chance to be at Gray's side. They both knew Mira was pulling their legs from the start when she said that and vowed not to fall for it again.
"Yes Mira-nee?"
"Can you be a dear and look after Gray for a while please" Mira asked as Lisanna looked skeptic for a second before nodding and walking off towards the infirmary, leaving Mira with two pairs of glaring eyes.
"That's cold Mira" Cana said as Mira simply smiled at her before walking back to the bar and helping Kinana with orders.
"She has a point though, she picked someone who isn't interested in Gray to keep watch over him rather than someone like us." Erza said no longer angry and sighed as she watched the young white haired girl walk up the staircase.
"Y-Yeah, I guess that does make some sense." Cana knew all too well that wasn't the case and could only speculate why Mira would choose Lisanna to watch over him rather than herself. "Just what are you doing Mira? You're making this more complicated than it needs to be"
