The toughest struggle yet: preparations

Chapter 33 part 1

Ah, winter. A time for love and joy. The season of Christmas. Children playing in the snow, building snowmen and having snowball fights. Buying presents for your loved ones. Enjoying life in the cold. Getting a Christmas tree for the family. A time of genuine happiness. And I freaking hate winter. No one understands. Sleeping in the snow sucks. It's cold and generally uncomfortable. If it's snowing it's even worse. Snowflakes fell so cold if they land on you. I was looking out of the window of the guild at the snow. Romeo and Wendy had gotten the good idea to build a snowman. They were having a great amount of fun. The first month of winter and it was already snowing like crazy. Snow and I never really got along that well. I didn't really matter anyway. I was holding the tickets to rays palace. It hadn't been that long since the Gear Chronicle incident and I still hadn't asked her. When you speak of the sun, here she came. Through the door to the guildhall as if on command to appear at that very moment. She sat down at our table and noticed the tickets in my hand.

"Hey Jack. What's that you have there?" She noted my tickets. Well no way out now. I gathered most of my courage. I was really going to do it this time.

"Oh this. They're free meal tickets to that five star restaurant ray's palace. Dinner for two you know. Just for two. One time only," I tried sounding cool and all, but that wasn't what I sounded like at all. I must have sounded extremely nervous because she put her hands over her mouth and took a step back.

"Jack. A-are you… a-asking me on a date?" I fumbled on the thing people call words, but I think my lack of words figuratively spoke for themselves.

"Y-yea… I um… I guess… that's… yyeesssssss," I said dragging the s out as long as I could blocking any and all verbal assault and or rejections. But instead of getting mad she began blushing.

"S-sure. A-any time in mind," she stumbled.

"I don't… um any time i-is fine with me. I-it's not like I have any routines to follow," I laughed a little awkwardly. Mira was standing at the bar cleaning a glass and Kai was sitting beside her sipping on a drink.

"Ah… Young lovers. It's always so cute watching someone asking another person out for the first time am I right Kai?" She said smiling gently at me and Sapphire slowly fell back into place. Kai sighed.

"I don't care. I only want one thing if the two of them become an item. It needs to last forever. If Jack breaks her heart I'll kill him," It was Mira's turn to sigh.

"Why does everything have to be so serious with you? Can't you just enjoy it for once that someone are in love," Kai looked at us and we laughed at a joke one of us made.

"Love. Give me a break," he threw some jewel at the counter.

"You never learn do you? He needs help and you're the only boy here who knows him that well," I made a tsk and left her standing at the bar smiling at his back.

Me and Sapphire had luckily fallen into routine and were talking as if I didn't just ask the girl of my dreams on a date and she accepted. Silver came along and joined.

"Hello fellow teammates. How are you doing this fine winter day?"

"Oh Silver. Just the best friend I was looking for. Can I speak with you for a minute?" and then the two girls left leaving me to myself. Kai sat down beside me.

Sapphire POV.

We left Jack sitting at the table. I noticed Kai sat down beside him just as we left. We went around a corner and into an empty room. The second I closed the door I exploded in a cloud of joy. Silver started freaking

"What seems to be the issue Sapphire?" I tried to calm down.

"Okay okay… Jack… just asked me out," When she heard that she squealed like a little schoolgirl.

"Oh my goodness Sapphire this is great news. When and where? Inform me," I brushed away a tuft of hair that fell in my face from jumping too much.

"It's tomorrow night and it's at Ray's palace," Silver squealed even more.

"That's a five star restaurant. That's great, but… if it's tomorrow we need to get moving."

"Wha…" She grabbed my arm and pulled me to the bar.

"Mira," She said and she came over.

"What is it?" She took one look at me and nodded at Silver.

"Listen up guys! The bar will be closed for a while, while the girls go out. I'll be back tonight. There will be 50% off because of this," Mira yelled into the guild. All the girls immediately got up and started walking out of the guild. What was going on? Silver and Mira pulled me outside and we went to Fairy hill for a girls meeting.

"What is this urgent matter Mira?" Erza asked crossing her arms.

"Yeah seriously. I wasn't done drinking and you just close the bar. What's that about?" Cana added taking a sip of a bottle of booze.

"Everyone. This is a very special occasion. Tomorrow night Sapphire here will go on her first date!" I blushed as everyone's attention turned to me.

"S-so what? It's not a big deal," I stuttered. Everyone made an 'aww' sound at me.

"Tell us. Who's the lucky guy?"

"J-jack Greyhound."

"I knew it. So he finally took himself together and asked you. About time," Cana spoke.

"That's great news. Juvia is happy for you."

"But the question is: What are you going to do on your date? It's Jack so it can't be anything too fancy right?" Levy asked out of curiosity.

"He's taking me to dinner at um… Ray's palace."

"EEEEEHHHH! How can he afford that!" Everyone said at once.

"That means we are in a hurry to get you ready. A five star restaurant. Talk about a good place for a first date," Lucy jumped in.

"Everyone listen up. We will assign each of you a squad. Each squad will take care of a specific task. First squad will be her dress. Mira and Evergreen will take care of that. Next up is hair. Lucy, Juvia and Kinana will take that task. Next is make-up. Cana and myself will handle that. Finally jewelry. Everything down to a hairpin. Lisanna, Levy and Bisca will do that. Silver will go around and coordinate since you know what will look good on her. Everyone we have until tomorrow night. Go," Erza commanded. I was put in a chair. When did they have time to do all this? I just told Silver and that was right after Jack asked me. Not five minutes after they began, I was already standing model for a dress.

"Let's see. This is about your size," Mira said. Silver looked at the dress.

"I believe we need to emphasize on her eyes or hair. The dress is the primary ingredient in an outfit. Everything else will have to match. If she will be going to Ray's palace the dress will have to be less puffy. They hold dances every night with soothing music so she will have to be able to move around freely and be close to Jack at the same time," Silver explained. Mira and Evergreen nodded and went back to the dresser. Geez. This was going to go on all night wasn't it? I mean I'm not complaining. I love that everyone wants to help. Silver sat down in front of me.

"Now Sapphire, the two of us need to go over some things," she took out a notepad with some things written on them. When did she have the freaking time to do this!?

"Um… okay."

"You need to assume Jack is chivalrous. Wait for him to open the door, pull out your chair, take your coat so on and so forth. If he doesn't brush it off and ignore it. When you order food, you order first. If you can't decide when the waiter arrives chose the salad. It's always a good choice to make an impression. Do not compliment him on anything. Let him tell you that you are beautiful, but never the other way around. Do not ask him if he wants to dance. If he doesn't ask you that most likely means he cannot dance and thus it would be embarrassing, because he cannot say no to you. Try your best to giggle and not laugh. If you burst out laughing everyone will stare and if I know Jack he will not want to attract attention. Did you understand all of that," I lightly nodded since Lucy was setting up my hair. Damn I need to take notes just for a dinner. It really was complicated.

"When you are done eating and dancing and everything wait for him to stand up and let him help you up and escort you out. If you get cold, make him notice without telling him. He'll most likely give you his coat. Let him drop you off at your home and depending on how good an evening you had maybe give him a quick peck on the cheek," Silver winked at me. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.

"S-sure," Lucy smiled behind me where she was done setting up my hair. Silver inspected her work.

"Let us see. This should do. It looks great," She said nodding.

"Your new assignment will be to assist where you can."

"Got it," And she left with the others. Silver began giggling.

"What's so funny?"

"I cannot believe my best friend is about to embark on her first date is all."

Jack POV.

Kai sat down next to me and faced me.

"So… I hear you asked a certain someone on a date," I blushed.

"Tha-that's right. What about it. I won't listen to anything negative you have to say regarding it," I said stubbornly.

"When?" He merely said.

"…Tomorrow night," I answered a little hesitantly.

"Where?"

"…Ray's palace," where was he going with this?

"You'll need some clothes. A suit or something. Ray's palace. That's a five star restaurant right? Come on. We need to get you ready," He got up and started walking out of the guild. I got up and followed.

"Where are we going?"

"To buy some nice clothes for you."

"I know, but why are you helping me?"

"That's obvious. You're going on a date with one of the few people I care about. I won't allow you to mess this up," Kai. I didn't know you had a side like this.

"Don't even think about thanking me. I don't care if you two get together. Sapphire just needs to have a good time," Well never mind then. We went into a fancy store. Kai went to the desk.

"Hello sir what can I do for you?" Kai pointed to me standing behind him.

"He's going on a date at a five star restaurant tonight and he needs some treads," She looked at me for a while.

"Please follow me," she gestured to a changing room. I went inside and she began measuring me.

"A tie or butterfly sir?"

"Butterfly. Ray's palace hold dances every evening. A tie would get in the way," Kai answered from outside the room. How did he know so much about everything all the time?

"Do you have a price range sir?"

"Well I'm not stinking rich so I guess…"

"No he doesn't," Kai cut me off.

"Very well," She said and left to go find some suits for me to try on. I poked my head out.

"Why did you say I don't have a price range? There's no way I can pay for any of the suits here."

"Oh course you can. I mean I'm holding all of your money for you right now aren't I?" he held out some jewel and smirked.

"But that's not mi… Ohh. Thanks," he was going to buy me a super expensive suit just because. The woman returned with a couple of suits.

"Please try this on sir," I put one of them on and inspected myself in the mirror.

"Is it too your liking?" To my liking? I have no idea. I've never worn a suit before.

"I don't know. Kai!"

"She doesn't care what you wear. She likes you not your clothes."

"yeah but still. I can't just enter wearing anything. She needs to like it right?" Kai sighed and entered the room. He took one look at me.

"No."

"What the heck man. You were the one who said clothes didn't matter. What do you mean no?" He didn't say anything and left again.

"I guess that's a no then. Well there are still some more to try right?" I put on another.

"No," Kai said before he even saw it. He handed me another one through the curtain.

"This one," He said coldly.

"Alllllright then."

"There are a lot of things to keep in mind on a date. First of all open the door for her, pull out her chair and take her coat. All that stuff. Chivalry is the most important thing. Compliment her, but don't make it shallow. Something you really mean. I know you'll think of something. When the waiter comes you let her order first. Also, don't be a pig. Order something that's about the same size as hers so she won't have to wait for you to finish and you don't have to wait for her to finish. That'll make her feel like a burden. Keep the conversation going. At all costs. Awkward silence will ruin everything. When you're done eating and everything take her hand and help her up and follow her home. You're not sleeping at her house tonight by the way. That's weird. One thing to keep in mind when walking with her. Look for any, ANY sign that she's a bit cold. If you see one, give her your coat. She'll appreciate that a lot. When you're at the door don't outstay your welcome. When she says goodnight you do the same and walk away. If she doesn't give you a kiss go for it. If she does predict where she's putting it. It most likely not on the lips the first time. One last thing. It's ray's palace so there's dancing too. Ask her to dance with you. It's a slow romantic dance. She'll love it. Trust me," I was taking mental notes of everything Kai said. When he mentioned the last part I stopped for a second.

"That's good and all Kai. But I have no idea how to dance. At all. What about that little detail?"

"No need to worry. I know just the thing. And no. I'm not going to dance with you if that's what you're thinking," I tried thinking about Kai and me dancing a slow, romantic dance. I almost threw up at the thought.

"No offense. I'm glad you're not going to teach me that way. Then… How are you going to teach me? Silver?"

"It'll take way too long to teach you normally. We're taking a detour to Blue Pegasus after we're done here, I heard they were in town recently," Blue Pegasus? That guild with the playboys. Why are we going there? I'm not dancing with one of their guys. No way! That can't be it. He must have another reason.

After he had approved my suit, butterfly and all that jazz, he paid the cashier. She winked at him before we left.

"I really don't get it Kai. How come you're so popular with the ladies?"

"I don't know and I don't care. What's it to you anyway?" He countered.

"Nothing just curious," we saw some girls standing in a huge crowd looking at something. Kai gritted his teeth.

"I guess we found them. The trimens. Whatever that means," He went over to the crowd.

"Move," the girls turned around only to see the tall red haired celestial mage glaring down at them. They all got out of his way. He went into the center and sure enough, The trimens were in the middle showing off.

"Hibiki!" Kai yelled and they stopped to look at him.

"You're Kai Astro from Fairy Tail correct?"

"Yeah I need your help for a minute."

"What do you need? Scoring tips. Got a girl you like huh?" All the girls made a 'uuuhh' sound.

"Shut up women! No one of my teammates has his first date coming up and I need you to teach him how to dance using archive," He said coldly and pushed me forward. Hibiki looked at me.

"So a real charmer I see. Good job buddy. Alright. The first date is the most important. I'll do it. What kind of dance are we talking about?" I blushed a little.

"Um the… It's at Ray's Palace so… I don't know," this was way out of my comfort zone. Asking a guy to teach me how to dance in front of hundreds of fangirls constantly awing at me.

"You got it. ARCHIVE! INFORMATION TRANSFER!" he pulled up the interface and pressed a few buttons. A loading bar appeared over my head. It slowly filled up and when it was full, I suddenly saw a stream of pictures of movements and poses when you dance. It was definitely a strange feeling to suddenly have all of these motions programmed into your body.

"Well thanks Hibiki I owe you one," Kai said and left. I quickly followed in his tracks.

"How do you know Hibiki?"

"Hibiki knows me and I know Hibiki but we don't know each other," What on earth does that mean!? That they don't know each other personally? I guess so. We got back to the guildhall.

"Anyway you're all set now. Don't screw this up!" He went inside leaving me with my suit and my newly taught dance.