Hana no Yōna Egao 花のような笑顔

by Her Pretty Smile

A/N: Oh gosh. Thank you so much for the feedback, you guys. Honestly, I never expected this to gain positive reviews. In fact, I even braced myself for criticisms like 'why the heck were they OOC, you idiot?' or something like that. XD

Oh, and I'm really sorry for not updating for a while. I was occupied by other... er, matters.

So, as an apology, here's chapter two, with ice cream and a cherry on top! :)

Hana no Yōna Egao 花のような笑顔

'Smile Like A Flower'

Chapter 2

Her Grief, His Comfort, and Their Camaraderie

"OI, OLD GEEZER. I'M taking this job," Mirajane said, smirking in anticipation as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"My, my," Makarov remarked cheerfully. "Another one? Don't you wanna rest for a while, Mira-chan?"

Mirajane twitched, the annoyance making its way to her seventeen-year-old features. "Why should I? That other job wasn't S-Class, anyway. And don't call me that, you perverted old man."

Makarov felt like he was pierced by an arrow on his chest. Literally. "G—Gomen," he squeaked out, careful not to annoy the girl any further. Quickly, he gave the paper a once-over, scanning its contents and then signing it before giving it back to her. "Here you go. I'll inform the client immediately!" he said cheerfully.

She tucked the paper in the pocket of her skirt. "Aa. See ya, old man."

"Be careful, okay?" he called out.

She waved a hand in the air casually, her back to him. "Hai, hai."

-;-

SHE HAD THOUGHT THAT the job was going to be a piece of cake. That it was going to be nothing serious and that after completing the request she would be on her way home with Elfman and Lisanna.

But then she realized that that would never happen again. Not after this.

When she opened the doors to the guild, happy greetings and calls reached her ears almost instantly.

"Mira! You're back!"

"How did it go? Successful as usual, eh?"

"Master! Mira-chan's back!"

"Oi, Mira! Fight me!"

Mirajane looked up.

And all noise stopped completely.

Natsu, who was charging at her full speed, was immediately thrown to the wall which was slightly similar to swatting a fly.

When he regained his composure, his eyes were dark with confusion. "Mi—Mira...? What's the matter?"

Her bangs were covering her eyes, but it didn't conceal the somber aura she was radiating so strongly.

"O—Oi..." Natsu picked himself up. He had a bad feeling about this. "Mira? What's wrong? Hey, where's Elfman?"

Her body went completely rigid.

"Where's Lisanna?"

There was a loud 'thump' as Mirajane fell to the floor, clutching herself tightly as her body trembled, wracking with sobs of despair.

Natsu's eyes went wide. "Mira?" Slowly, like his feet were made of lead, he walked over to her, his hand unconsciously stretching out towards her. "O—Oi... Why—Why are you crying?"

"She's gone!" she cried out, her tears falling in numerous drops on the wooden floor.

Natsu stopped in his tracks. "Gone...? Who—Who's... gone...?"

She lifted her head to look at her through tear-filled eyes. "Lisanna..." she choked out. "Lisanna's gone..."

Natsu's eyes went wide in shock and disbelief.

And that was the last thing she saw before her eyes got heavy and she slumped to the ground.

-;-

WHEN SHE OPENED HER eyes, she heard familiar voices filling the room.

"Nee-chan! Is nee-chan going to be all right?!"

"No shouting around patients, you fool! Don't you have any manners?"

"Nee-chan... It's... It's all my fault! If—If only I—"

Despite her groggy state, Mirajane sat up in bed, effectively interrupting Elfman.

"Nee-chan!" the latter cried out, immediately rushing over to her side. "You're awake!"

Her empty gaze rested on him. "...Elfman," she whispered.

"Ssh. Don't speak, nee-chan. You'll overexert yourself," Elfman said worriedly.

"I'm... fine..." She gently pushed him away and started to get down from bed.

"Oi, jii jii, you called for me?" Laxus appeared in the doorway, looking as uninterested as ever.

Makarov did not turn around. He was staring at Mirajane with a serious expression on his face.

Laxus' eyes narrowed when he realized that he wasn't being acknowledged. "Oi—"

"Laxus," Makarov said.

"What is it?" the blond-haired man asked impatiently.

"Spar with Mirajane."

The latter froze.

A look of shock crossed Elfman's face. "M—Master?" he said in disbelief.

Porlyusica was seething. "Makarov, what do you think you're—"

"Laxus, didn't you hear me?" Makarov's voice was like hard steel. "Spar with Mirajane."

Laxus' face scrunched up in thought. "I don't know, jii jii. She looks pretty worn out—"

"Laxus, do it. Do not let me repeat myself." Makarov turned his head towards him. "And give it your all."

Elfman sputtered, "M—Master! Nee-chan isn't in the best of conditio—"

"Her physical state is fine," Makarov interrupted. "She should be able to fight."

Porlyusica frowned. "Makarov..."

Laxus' eyes narrowed slightly before he let out a sigh. "Fine. But it ain't my fault if she gets badly injured."

Mirajane's eyes were wide, her disbelieving gaze on the ground.

Elfman looked pained. "Nee-chan..."

-;-

LAXUS FROWNED. THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD girl in front of him was limping badly, and her body was full of cuts and horrible-looking bruises. There was blood dripping down from the side of her face, and a large gash on her shoulder was present.

Mirajane clutched her battered body in pain. "Ungh..." she groaned.

Laxus frowned even more. "I think we should stop, jii jii. If this keeps up, she'll end up dead."

"...No." Her voice was quiet.

He stared as she painfully picked herself up.

"We... h—have to go on..." she choked out between coughs. "Un—Until I c—can bring out my magic..."

His eyes narrowed. "You really do have a death wish, don't you, little Demon?"

She suddenly looked straight at him with conflicting emotions in her sapphire-blue eyes. Judging from the expression on her face, she was desperately hoping for something, yet deep inside she was consumed by guilt, loss, and weariness.

His eyes narrowed even more. She lost her spark, and she lost her will. She did not want to fight, but she felt like she had to.

Because she sensed that something was wrong with her.

So he struck her again and again, not paying any heed to her wounds and disregarding the fact that her life was at risk. He would give her this chance to try to redeem herself, but if she couldn't do it, then she would just have to give up her career as a mage.

"Stop... Stop it! Nee-chan!" Elfman cried out, struggling against his restraints.

"Elfman, calm down!" Macao said, gripping the former's arm tightly. "Mirajane can handle herself!"

"Have faith in yer sister!" Wakaba said, holding Elfman's body back. "She ain't an S-Class Mage for nothin'!"

"But—!"

"Elfman." Mirajane's voice was quiet as she struggled to stand up. "Stay out of this."

"But nee-chan—"

"Stay out of this. Please."

Something in her voice must have struck a chord within him, because he immediately fell silent.

Laxus crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It ain't my fault if you die, got it?"

Mirajane looked at him and a small smile played on her lips. "Aa. I know."

-;-

THE RAIN POURED HARD and showed no sign of letting up.

Some of the countless drops fell on Mirajane's face, staining her cheeks and her eyes.

If no one knew better, it would've seemed like she was crying.

"I—I can't..." She was on her knees, her hands on the ground along with her wide, disbelieving stare. "I can't... use my magic anymore..."

Makarov closed his eyes.

"I'm surprised you're still alive," Laxus said gruffly, turning his back on her. "But that's to be expected of a former S-Class Mage, anyway." Then he walked off without another word.

She lifted her head slightly and managed to get a glimpse of his retreating back before she eventually slumped to the ground, unconscious.

-;-

THIS TIME, WHEN MIRAJANE woke up, she got off the clinic's bed and made her way to the guild hall.

"Elfman... Elfman..." she muttered under her breath, searching for her brother's face.

"Mira-chan!" Wakaba called out, concern mixed with horror evident in his tone. "You shouldn't be walking around in your condition!"

She ignored him. "Elfman... Where are you?"

After a moment, she heard his voice.

"Nee-chan!"

"Elfman!" she cried out, running to his arms. "Elfman... I'm so, so sorry... I..."

"Ssh, nee-chan. You don't need to apologize." Elfman's hand on her hair felt soothing. "It's all my fault, not yours…"

"I—I failed to protect Lisanna… I'm—I'm a horrible sister…" she choked out. "And… And I can't use my magic anymore… I have also failed in being a mage… I—I can't protect you anymore… I'm—I'm weak…!"

Elfman looked pained. "Nee-chan…" It was the first time he'd ever seen her this vulnerable and he didn't know what to do.

So all he could do was hold her in his arms and let her emotions pour out.

-;-

LATER ON THAT NIGHT, Mirajane sat herself on a bench, listlessly staring at the night sky. She had so much to think about, and her loss of Lisanna was still making her heart ache painfully. She had always been very close with her younger sister; they cooked together, sew together, laughed together, shared girly secrets together…

And now she was gone.

Just like that.

"You moping?" a gruff voice said.

Startled, she lifted her head to look up at the source and found herself staring into the eyes of her fellow S-Class Mage.

"Y—You…" she breathed out in disbelief. "What… What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? I was walking around when I saw you just looking up at the sky like an idiot," he replied.

She blinked at him, then gave a slight chuckle. "Yeah… I guess I was…"

His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before it eventually returned to their normal size. "You…"

"Hmm…?"

He fell silent. Usually she would award him with either a smack on the head or a nasty, witty retort.

But here she was, her expression soft yet her eyes holding deep sorrow.

"You could try being a cover girl for the guild for a while."

Her head snapped back towards him. "What?"

"I won't repeat it again, little Demon." He started to walk off.

But even without looking back, he knew that she was considering it.

However… what just compelled him to say that?

She was just no one… just a weakling.

Wasn't she?

-;-

SHE STARED BACK UP at the sky, admiring the stars. Lisanna… might you be in Heaven now…? Are you watching over me and Elfman at this very moment…?

Inadvertently, her gaze rested on the flower bracelet he had given her four years ago.

And then she smiled.

It was the same smile back then.

And again, it was because of him.

Thank you.

You've given me a reason to stay in the guild.

With that, she stood up and was on her way home.

Chapter 2—End

A/N: I'm sorry. I really think that this chapter isn't up to par. Can you tell me what you think? Should I revise this?