Those who've read the teaser can skip the first two parts if you'd like :)

~\Chapter 5/~

~**Maybe I'm Blaire**~

\*****/

"Can I leave now? I feel needed…"

"I'm sorry, little one," He patted her tiny form in his lap.

The little girl groaned. "Let me guess, not yet?"

"Yes, little one, not yet…"

Lucy bowed down deep. "I'm really sorry!"

Everybody's eyes grew confused. Murmurs started rising as they all watched the blonde lowering her torso. Levy and Cana shared a look, and Master almost looked like he was staring into space. Natsu was on the side watching her intently meanwhile Happy was floating next to him.

Levy spoke up first, "I'm sorry Lu-chan but, sorry for what? You don't have to apolo—"

The blonde stood up straight and cut her off.

"I'm not Lucy."

Silence.

"I'm really, really sorry for the misunderstanding everyone," She said apologetically, but everyone was still trying to comprehend what she said before. Levy spoke up first.

"W-What do you mean you're not Lucy?! You are! You—you…"

"I know,"

Levy frowned, "Huh?"

"I meant, I know some of you, that's why I called you by your names. You see, I know Lucy too."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Cana shouted, running into the center in front of the composed looking blonde. "What do you mean you know our names?! You're Lucy right?! You said you were!"

"Actually I didn't. And I'm not Lucy, as I told you." She looked through Cana, into the eyes of the guild. "My name's Blaire. Blaire Frinter, and this," She gestured the green-haired man beside her, "Is my brother, Carol Frinter. This is my daughter, Shoyuu. I'll say this as much as you want to, but I really am not Lucy. She's my friend though…" She looked over at Levy, "She told me a lot about you, Levy-chan, or just Levy? I'm not sure, that's how she's always called you,"

Lucy looked over at Makarov, "You, you're Master. She's said a lot about you as well. This must be an amazing guild, she speaks so fondly of you…" The short man nodded conspicuously. And as if the thought crossed her mind just at that moment, she started to look around the guild hall until she found him, sitting by the side, watching.

She stared at him. Natsu wasn't paying attention.

Among all of them, he still hasn't recovered from the initial shock.

"I'm not Lucy."

He gritted his teeth.

Liar.

"Natsu…" His head snapped up at her voice mentioning his name. "…Dragneel, was it? She doesn't talk a lot about you…but you're interesting. I couldn't help it, I got curious, and asked her about you but…" She trailed off, looking down. The man in question, however, was feeling anger boil up inside him. She can't seriously be doing this. She's lying into everyone's faces, to his family, to her family.

He was about to call her out when Lucy's voice darkened.

"Just so you know, she's never forgiven you."

Natsu felt himself die inside.

Lucy faced back into the guild and made a huge breath, and told a lie she knew would change everything for her forever.

"Lucy…she died,"

The guild went terrifyingly silent.

The face of each guildmate was rid of color. Levy was near into releasing tears and Lucy felt herself break.

She just crushed their souls, and not the tiniest bit of space was left in her that didn't feel remorse.

But she had to do this, no matter how big this mistake was. She just has to make everybody feel better as a different person, leave, and never have to see any of them ever again. It's that simple. They'd never have to see her face again, and so will he.

Would he even want her to stay in the first place?

Probably not.

Lucy snapped from her thoughts, because in the midst of the awful silence, a burst of light appeared and a certain spirit made himself sighted. She gulped.

'Crap.'

"Hey guys, why'd you leave me back there~? Aquarius almost had me…" Loke cried out as soon as he saw Lucy, the woman sweating profusely. She could feel her thoughts racing, 'Think. Think! Before it's too LATE!'

"Loke?"

The lion turned at the sound of his name. "Oh Levy! Long time no see—wait." He looked around, and immediately gripped his two companions by the shoulders.

He stared.

An awkward silence.

Then…

"Why didn't you tell me about this?!" Loke yelled shaking the two of them back and forth. Lucy looked to the crowd and closed her eyes, nodding at their faces. 'Yes, the seriousness just got killed.'

They made another look and Lucy nodded at them again. 'Yes, the cat is stupid.'

"Were you guys planning to have the fun all to yourselves?" The player took out a hankie from his suit and sniffed, "And here I thought we were friends…ahuhu…"

Levy looked weirdly at the two adults and spirit, and the guild followed. Carol gave a look at Loke and glanced at Lucy, who already more than knew about the arising confusion.

"Loke, stop it."

"But L—!"

Carol immediately pinched and stretched at his cheeks, finally mad out of his wits. "What did she just say, huh? Are you deaf, you stupid cat-beast?"

"Shorry…" Loke squeaked.

Lucy just sighed and decided to pat at Shoyuu's head, who was already just as confused as everyone else. The child looked up at her Mom, but just shook her head and decided to play with one of her markers. Lucy sighed again.

She knew she should have told her spirits sooner.

Lucy's eyes widened. That's right, her spirits! How is she supposed to explain this to them…?

"Loke," The lion faced to the twelve year old girl after the cheek pinching. Wiping at the sides of his face, he winked at her.

Even with the bruises, he made a kissy face at her, "Yes, Asuka sweet? You've certainly grown,"

'Don't do that when your face is black!' everyone thought.

Shaking the disgust off, she finally asked, "Is…is Lucy really, well…" she barely managed to squeak out the word when she said, "…dead?"

Loke froze.

"Huh? What do you mean? She's—"

"Don't worry about it Loke," Lucy immediately cut in, finding her chance, "we already told them about, you know…her death." Lucy made her face dead serious, but left a small hint of a look hoping he'd get the hint.

Loke wrinkled his forehead. It took a second, but he did.

"Oh…"

Lucy faced to them and bowed her head. "We're deeply sorry once again for having to give you this awful news…but she's wished it herself." Lucy silently fiddled with her hair, thankful that the blonde color has turned lighter. She thought it could come as some sort of excuse.

Makarov decided to clear his throat, first to make a sound among them, "Well Miss, we appreciate the effort...but how come you have her spirits?"

Lucy looked up. "Written on her will."

Cana frowned, "Will?"

"Was she really supposed to know her death that she'd even make a will?" Levy stomped her foot, "That's ridiculous! Lucy wouldn't make a will. Just admit it already, you're her! You're Lucy!"

"I'm not. Loke?"

"She's not lying you guys…"

Levy scowled at the lion spirit. "Oh yeah? Then give us proof then. What's her name Loke?"

Lucy tugged at her ear and Loke shifted awkwardly. "What was that? I didn't hear,"

"What's. Her. Name?"

He looked at the blonde, screaming for help among his facial features. The blonde merely tugged her ear again until the lion finally spotted something on her arm.

"Blaire. Duh," Loke said nonchalantly, crossing his arms and looking at Levy as if she had two heads. Lucy sighed in relief, rubbing at the small smudge on her arm and sneakily returning her daughter's marker. "I wouldn't not know my Master's name wouldn't I? Also…" He turned a serious face, "…just face it guys, Lucy's dead."

Levy's face turned red.

"How could you just say that?!" Levy furiously yelled as she tried to break free of Cana's grasp. Loke stiffened and looked down. Levy gritted her teeth in anger, "Look at me! Look at me when I'm talking to you Loke!"

"Levy—!"

"Stay out of this Gajeel!" She answered, and the man hushed.

Levy continued, "She was your princess wasn't she?! She was your precious master wasn't she?! She was the best, you adored her! How long could she have died that you'd be able to speak of her like that?! How could you just possibly expect me to stand here and listen as you calmly tell me your loved one's dead?!" She tried to wriggle to her escape, but no use. She started crying. "Liars! You too, Blaire! Liars, liars, liars!"

She fell on her feet and started sobbing, bringing Cana down with her. Lucy cringed at the sight of her best friend crying, knowing it was her fault. But what could she do? She can't give her identity up now just to reunite with her and the guild, to come back to the life she knew was the best she ever had.

To come back home meant danger.

Everyone could die.

"It's a deal."

"Yes."

Everyone…even Levy.

Even him.

Lucy shook the thought away.

Levy sobbed hopelessly into Cana's arms and the card mage could only watch and hold her as she tries to cry herself out of her misery. She knew the bluenette refused to believe it, and with that, it's breaking an entirety of her whole apart. As what happens when a family member dies. Levy was depressed, saddened immensely, whatever other adjective she could possibly find in her half-drunk head, but she knew one thing, and that was how much Lucy was a sister to her friend.

Cana wanted to be furious, but even she knew that there was nothing to accept but truth in this situation.

The petite girl continued to cry in her friend's arms when 'Blaire' suddenly came near them and kneeled down, a sad smile on her face. "I'm sorry…" She looked up at Cana, who was holding the crying girl, "Can you…?"

She had the urge to refuse, but decided against it and let go of Levy.

"Cana…?" Levy sniffed at the sudden loss of warmth. Not a second later though, it returned.

But it was warmer…and familiar. Really familiar.

'It can't be…?'

Levy's tears peeked at her lids, "Lu…chan?"

"It's Blaire,"

Levy's gasped got caught in her throat, but confusion took over quickly. Then anger. She was about to ask what the hell she wanted when suddenly, her hug turned tighter. Levy mumbled out a 'huh?' in wonder, but the warmth of the woman's embrace was engulfing her…and it reminded her so much of her best friend. She hugged back, the warmth taking over her then suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. She blinked when she realized it. The question died down in her throat the first time…but she found strength to finally ask it.

"Hey…is she really dead?"

"…"

Nothing.

That sound of nothing spoke out to her.

Yes.

And she broke.

Lucy tried to maintain a face of sympathy as the girl finally poured out her anguish and sadness into the sobs she emitted. Her embrace on the wailing bluenette tightened, and as she held her in her arms, she knew she was about to cry too.

I feel your pain.

I really cried…when I lost myself too you know?

She wanted to say…but she couldn't.

The sad part?

She felt her lie become truth in her best friend's eyes.

Lucy looked over Levy's shoulder to see Natsu standing a few feet behind the both of them, and as much as she wanted to gasp, she choked silently instead.

He was crying.

But his face was frozen into a blank expression.

Lucy's eyes faced down and gritted her teeth, rubbing Levy's back as the girl let out a choke in between sobs. Anger rushed in her head, but so did that face.

What did it mean?

Lucy shook her head inwardly. No, the question should be…

"Why does he care?"

Levy looked up at the girl's sudden mumble, "H-Huh?" She sniffed, "Blaire…san?"

Lucy gave a kind smile. "Ah, it was nothing."

Levy's cries died down after some time, meanwhile the entire guild could only watch her. Makarov and Mirajane however were talking to Carol, who told them about Lucy's death. Her made-up…death. The blonde herself had her eyebrows meet at the thought.

Lucy pulled back and wiped away any leftover tears on the bluenette's face. She smiled, remembering how she used to do this whenever the bookworm emoted over some dramatic story she'd always fail to spoil to her. Those times were just like this, a sad Levy and a torn-in-two options Lucy.

The blonde stood up after patting her on the head and helping her up. "She's out there somewhere, free and happy…but she wouldn't want you to be this way you know?" She held Levy's hand and squeezed it. Lucy turned up the sides of her mouth slightly, "Just smile with the happy feelings okay? That's what she always says," Yeah, to herself on most nights.

Levy sighed and nodded. "I guess…" She smiled up at her, "It's the least I can do."

Lucy nodded at her in agreement, and let go of her hands. She didn't want to turn around so soon…but he was behind Levy. "Loke, let's go home?" The lion spirit nodded.

"Yea—"

"L—Blaire…"

The celestial mage glanced at Carol who called out suddenly. "Hm?"

"About that…you can't go home yet,"

Lucy stopped in her tracks and stared at him, "What?"

The green-haired man waved his hands, "Now don't get the wrong idea or anything—! It's just that, there's someone maybe you'd like to meet…"

Lucy looked at him as if he was a ghost. "Are you kidding me? I can't stay here!" She silently yelled at him, careful not to let the rest of the guild hear.

Carol pulled at her arm and Lucy stumbled forward as he whispered something into her ear.

Her eyes widened.

"Blaire-san." Startled, Lucy pulled back from her friend and turned around, seeing the petite girl again. Her hands were in fists and she looked up with determination. "Can—C-Can I please see your right hand?!"

The blonde froze, "H-Huh?"

"I-If you don't mind…" Levy started awkwardly, "I-I-I'd like to see your r-right hand. It's covered with a glove and L-Lucy used to have her mark on the b-b-back of it a-and I-I know you're not Lucy! You said that but, I'd just like to see o-one more proof I guess…please?"

"…alright."

"Huh?" Levy looked up.

Lucy removed the glove from her right hand and rubbed at it slightly. It was quick, almost unreal, but she somehow managed to dart her eyes at Natsu. He was staring intently. She frowned then sighed.

Raising it, she showed the back to reveal a completely different mark; a red spiral-like sign, which had a small star in the center.

"Here it is," She chuckled uneasily, "I come from the White Starlight guild. Pretty weird mark huh? Ahaha, I thought it was…"

Silence.

Levy couldn't say a sound out of shock.

To see a woman that's closely identical to her best friend holding up her hand proudly with a different guild mark…somehow it doesn't feel right to her.

"Although…" Lucy hesitated, but one look at Carol's face got her determination springing back up. She took a deep breath and spoke, "There's this issue right now, that me and my brother is struggling with and…"

She faced to Makarov and bowed.

"…do you mind if I stay for a week?"

I knew he wanted to shout no.

I knew that.

But the Master said yes.

And the look he gave me left me shattered.

'You liar'

But I knew better.

'You lied first.'

PLEASE READ ASDFGHKKHGFDSADFHJKK(poll on profile)

No replying to reviews because dinner's in two minutes and I'm still here uploading this.

So for future complaints about this stupid chapter—I'm sorry if I can't give you guys anything else better and for this story's incredibly slow flow. This is probably gonna reach about 30 chapters…yeah probably. Don't worry though, summer's almost here for me so I'm a free spirit ^_^ nearly…

Also, my main focus on this chapter was how lies could work out. In some Lucy-Leaves clichés, there are some straightforward stories where Lucy just suddenly appears into the guild as another person and ka-boom she stays and wahhhhh messy story. I don't like that, no matter how many writers managed to pull that off. As for me, I want emotion to actually be there, you know? I don't like how some writers just let Lucy back into the guild and everything turns out like it was nothing. That's stupid. So in this chapter, I showed how I think it should be like if Lucy came back to the guild as another person. With a crying Levy I somehow managed to pull that off…haha(sorry Levy I love you T.T)

OH AND BY THE WAY GUYS, I made this poll on my profile about one-shots I'm planning to write(yes, that's how much free time Ive got now) If you want you can choose a summary you're more interested in and most votes at the next MIB update wins :3

So that's all for now, thank you for reading my story. Updates are coming I'm sure, since I've got a lot of free time now :)

Leave a review and have a good day!

-K-