A/N- Wow... It's been a while... Almost four months since the last 'real' chapter... I'm sorry. On the plus side, the story is pretty short so far, so it won't be hard to reread if you're confused...? Um, anyway, I'm so, so, so sorry. Life has been a bitch. From troubles with the people I live with, to the death of a computer, to insane school... it's been horrible. But I'm hopefully back for good now!
I'm now finally able to start all of the requests I've gotten since... oh, god. November. Anyway, I'm back to my Update Schedule, I've got five requested oneshots and one requested chapter story, a new chapter story (and yes, I know that that is a bad idea), and five oneshots I thought of coming out soon. Along with two collaboration stories (oh god, what am I doing to myself...!?). Jesus, I must be trying to kill myself...
Anyway, welcome to the first full length chapter of Voodoo! Some lovely set up, yay!
Disclaimer- I don't own Fairy Tail. And it's a good thing I don't, or we wouldn't even be done with the Edolas arc cause I'm so freaking slow...
Cana walked into the old house, returning the waves of the people there that recognized her, all of whom had sad smiles on their faces. She walked up to a young lady with light brown hair, saying quietly, "Hey, Bisca."
The woman turned around, a surprised look on her face, "Cana? What are you doing here? You don't usually come until Thursday or Friday."
Cana looked down at her feet, a self mocking smile on her face, "I know. But... there's something I want to tell him."
Bisca sighed, and the look Cana hated the most appeared on her face. Pity. "You know he doesn't know who you are. And he's most likely not going to remember whatever you tell him," Bisca said, slowly, as if unsure.
Cana sighed, "I know, but... I..."
"It's okay," Bisca said, placing her hand on Cana's shoulder, "You don't have to try to explain it to me. Go on."
"Thanks," Cana said, walking past her.
"Hey!" Bisca called, "Are you coming on Thursday?"
"That's the plan," Cana replied.
She walked down the warm and friendly hallways, yet even though the house was obviously well cared for and loved, she couldn't help but feel like she was going to her own death sentence. Every moment she continued down the long hall, her stomach hurt more and more, clenching with a combination of nerves, embarrassment, and resentment.
She stopped at the familiar white door, and carefully grabbed the handle – almost as if she was frightened it would bite her. After a deep breath, she turned the handle, and pushed the door open.
In one of the chairs by the window sat a man with orange-y brown hair, just beginning to become dulled by the occasional gray hair. He had warm brown eyes and the traces of stubble across his chin. The moment Cana laid eyes on him, the clenching in her stomach became roiling pain.
The brown eyes turned to the door at the sound of it opening, and a goofy grin grew across his face as he breathed out, "Conny..."
Tears pricked her eyes, and she said, "No. I'm not Cornelia."
"But... you look just like her," he said, confusion filling his almost childish eyes.
Even though she was trying to hold them back, a half sob escaped her, "I know."
"Why...?" he asked, slowly standing up and crossing the room to her.
Cana clenched her eyes closed to try to hold in the tears, "Because she was my mother."
"But... that means," he said, eyes widening as the realization hit him.
Cana nodded, "Yeah. You're my father."
"Oh," Gildartz said, hesitantly reaching out to hug her. Slowly, she stepped into his arms, completing what she went through every time she came to see him.
"I came to tell you something," Cana said, standing in his arms, "You probably won't remember, but the last time I was here, I told you that I was running out of money and you'd most likely end up living with me. But a man came today and offered me a job."
"Really?" Gildartz asked as they crossed over to the chairs, "I... I think I maybe remember that..."
Cana forced a smile, "That's great!"
~Why can he remember what I say if he can't remember me?~ she thought to herself before continuing, "Well, the man is willing to pay me quite a lot of money, and if I actually succeed, he'll give me enough to take you to that doctor up north that I was telling you about last time I was here. Do you remember her?"
His forehead crinkled in concentration, before he said slowly and uncertainly, "Porlyusica...?"
Another forced smile, "Yeah. Anyway, the job will probably be really complicated, because it's going to require actual voodoo instead of just mixing things in a jar as a trick."
Gildartz laughed, "You know... Conny does that."
Cana smiled, "I know. You've told me before."
~And why does he still refer to Mom in the present tense? She's been dead for years...~
"I have, haven't I?" he said as he rolled his eyes, "But that doesn't make it any less true."
"True," Cana said. There was silence for a few moments, and the roiling storm inside of her continued to cause her pain. "Well... I should probably get going," she said, standing up. She could never stay and visit with him for long, because it reminded her too much of the painful parts of her past, and the first time he hadn't remembered her.
As she crossed the room, he called out, "Wait! Will you please stay and have lunch with me? I want to know more about you... Cana."
Cana. The one word that could make her stay and try to eat with him, even though she knew that she was just going to throw up as soon as she was alone.
Because it meant that even for just a moment, he remembered her.
Laxus angrily paced the room that he and Freed had rented for their stay, above the tavern that they had first stopped in for directions.
"I mean, can you believe her!?" he yelled, continuing to shout at Freed, who sat there pretending to listen, "She was insolent, and rude, and she even threw me out! Me! Laxus Dreyar!"
Freed sighed, and once again tried to speak, "Laxus, you were-"
"How dare she!?" Laxus interrupted, "I came and offered her a job, offered her money, and she... and she...!"
"Laxus!" Freed shouted, "Calm down. She agreed to take the job, and that's all that really matters, isn't it?"
Laxus sputtered angrily, "B-But... S-She...!"
"Calm down," Freed said, rolling his eyes, "Personally, I liked what I saw of her. She's willing to stand up to you. It doesn't matter that your family has money, and it doesn't matter that you're an asshole most of the time. It's for those same reasons that you like Bixlow, Evergreen, and I. And after you get the curse taken away from you, I think you'll like not only her, but you'll be willing to forgive Evergreen."
"Like her!? Forgive Evergreen!?" Laxus said, lip curling up in a sneer, "Are you insane!? This 'Lady of the Bayou' is a bitch, and Evergreen is the one that put this curse on me! What makes you think I'm going to like either of them!?"
Freed sighed, "Just give it time, Laxus."
"Yeah. Sure," Laxus said, plopping down in a chair.
He'd give it time. And while time would cause him to eventually forgive Evergreen – after the curse was lifted, of course – it would never be able to make him like the Bitch of the Bayou.