Chapter Fourteen
Supper
Mei stood nearly a foot shorter than Cana and smelled of jasmine. There was natural peppiness to her and could likely make anyone smile. Just like Mirajane. Cana smiled to herself at that one, thinking about her friends at the guild. They must all be worried by now. She had left a note with the Master about her trip, though she didn't quite say how long she would be away or mention with whom she was traveling with.
"What's this one?" She asked, pointing at a random plant.
"This one is an herb you can use when you're unwell." Mei slowly ran her thumb over a leaf. "Shan would make me tea from it almost every day when I was with child."
"And these?" Cana walked forward some more, hoping to move along their little tour and get to the end.
"Shan planted this one for me. It's called a hydrangea." She looked at the small plant fondly, gently petting the large cluster of blue-violet blooming flowers. Beside it sat another one, smaller and with pink flowers.
"Jian gave me this one when we were children." She said, her expression almost sad as she hesitantly placed her hand on it. It looked as if it had been pruned a few too many times as there was only a single cluster on it versus the first one which was nearly covered with puffs of flowers.
"We were all so close when we were little." She went on to say. "Nearly inseparable until the day Jian left." Her smile became sad for a brief moment before she perked herself back up. "But I'm sure you don't want to hear such old stories. Jian must've told them all to you already."
Cana wasn't sure if she should tell her that Bacchus had never spoken about them or anything of Yi Kai until a hardly month ago and that she wasn't even his wife. That might be good news for her. She thought to herself when she caught Mei glancing once again at the lonely pink flowers whilst they moved on to another part of the garden.
They saw a man walk by with her things and after speaking with him, Mei excitedly told her where she would be staying.
"I can take you to your quarters." She said, following her servant. The hall they walked though was quiet. All the kids from before seemed to have been dismissed and allowed a calmness to flood the space. When they passed a large circular opening in the wall leading back out to the garden, it was almost like a picture with how beautiful it was. She couldn't help but pause a moment to look at it. The richness of the plants against the blue of the mountains and sky were so well balanced and serene.
"How did you and Jian meet?" The smaller woman stood beside her. That one stumped her for a moment. She wasn't sure again if the truth was the best idea, but she didn't want to lie to her.
"We met at a, festival." The last word was drawn out as they continued on to her room.
"Really? What happened?" She seemed genuinely interested.
"He saw me playing a game and challenged me." Her eyes shifted around while she tried to think of a way to tell the story without mentioning the whole truth.
"That sounds like something he would do." Mei giggled. "Then what?"
"He won." Reliving that night left a bad taste in her mouth. "It all just sort of, fell into place after that."
"What about the wedding?" She asked next. Cana was already too strained to think up any more details and the thought of walking down the aisle to Bacchus was maddening.
"We didn't have a large ceremony." Was all she could muster for an answer. Thankfully they had arrived to her room by then which, to her dismay, had already become occupied by a half-stripped Bacchus. He turned around quickly to keep his large guild mark out of view, facing them. Cana had seen him this way often enough while he worked aboard during their voyage, but she feared for Mei's reaction. When the little woman gave none, she wasn't sure if she was glad for it or not.
"It's good to see you two getting along." He said slipping on a fresh white tunic and walking over to Cana. She noticed the way the sparkle faded from Mei's eyes when he kissed her cheek.
"Did you enjoy the garden, Cana?" He asked and she nodded, restraining the urge to kiss her fist to his face in return.
"It was very beautiful. Makes me wish we had one of our own back home." Her tone bordered sarcasm, but thankfully went over Mei's head.
"Is there anything I can get for you?" She asked him directly, getting a smile and a headshake in return.
"We're fine, Mei. Thank you." He said to her. She was about to leave when she turned and raced over to him, hugging him tightly and catching him off guard. As before, he hesitated before returning the embrace.
"I'm sorry." She let go after a second, looking over at Cana. "I'm just so excited to see Jian again."
"It's fine. Who am I to keep two old friends apart?" She said, cocking an eyebrow at Bacchus, who in turn fired back with a look of his own.
"Supper should be ready shortly. I'd love for you to join us again."
"Thank you. We'll see you then." Bacchus smiled graciously. With that, she finally left and Cana's face relaxed from the constant grin she had to keep. She watched Bacchus' shoulders also relax as he went sit on the edge of the bed. Cana knew it wasn't her place to ask, but her curiosity was piqued.
"What's the plan now?" She asked instead while Bacchus stared out at nothing, his head resting atop his folded hands.
"I'm not sure." His eyes looked so tired, aging before her. Unsure of what else to ask, she unfolded her arms and went to start unpacking her bag, pulling out the other dress that Yan-yan made for her. It was in the same style as the one she was wearing, but light violet instead of red and with white and gold thread flowers and green leaves embroidered along the edges. As she held it up, she turned to look back at Bacchus who glanced over at her once he noticed her gaze. Without a word he stood and walked out of the room for a minute to let her change.
She opened the door with her back to him, and he zipped her up. The feel of his hands moving so swiftly over her back sent a shivering sensation over her. Quickly she banished the thoughts in her mind and turned to face him.
"It suits you." He told her.
"Don't get used to it." She frowned at him. Bacchus went back over to the bed, lying down this time. It was then that she noticed just how narrow it was.
"It won't kill you to share a bed with me again." He said, voicing her thoughts. He had his arms folded behind his head and was looking her up and down again.
"No. But the floor won't kill you either." She slowly swayed her hand parallel to the ground as if to display the alternative to him.
"You weren't too opposed to it a few weeks ago, if I remember correctly."
"That was once and I was drunk."
"Make all the excuses you want." He grinned at her. "Drunk words are sober thoughts."
She gave a frustrated groan and threw her hands up at him.
"So what did your Master have to say? Did you see him?"
When his grin faded and he shifted his focus from her, Cana knew right away. We were too late. A lump rose up in her throat, leaving her chest empty. She tried to swallow it down and hesitantly went to sit beside her travel companion. Words were difficult to find and get past the lump, so she simply let him sit in silence and speak when he was ready. What do we do now? Where else can we… The realization came quick enough. The palace.
They sat there together until there came a knock at the door. It was the servant from earlier to let them know it was time to eat. Once she finished up with getting ready they left, walking down the empty hall. She was side by side with him when Bacchus offered up his arm to her. She took it, resting her hand in the crook of his arm and walked down the long hall to the small dining room beside him. Have to keep up appearances, right?
Shan, Mei and Zhuang were already seated at the small round table. There were foods similar to the ones from lunch steaming on the table as well as a pot of tea. When they joined in, Mei was the first to speak.
"Cana! What a beautiful dress! Where did you get it?" The woman gushed as they entered and sat.
"A friend of mine gave it to me recently." She answered, shooting a smug look at Bacchus.
"It looks great on you." The warm smile Mei gave made her think of Mirajane again. She thanked her and continued on with her meal. They were served a sour soup with chunks of meat and with at least seven different vegetables bobbing up and down in it. There was also a large plate of noodles, a platter of seared meats, hot rice and pan-fried roots and sprouts as well as fried dough balls that had been rolled in small seeds. Eagerly, she tried and ate a bite of everything and enjoyed the different textures and flavors.
"Do you like the food?" Mei asked her while her mouth was full. Cana nodded politely and swallowed.
"It's all so delicious."
"And it's good for you. The doctors always tell the women here to eat these foods for a healthy pregnancy." She nearly choked on her food when Mei said that and looked down at her stomach.
"That so?" Cana tried to keep her voice steady while she tried to regain her appetite.
Just as with lunch, the three Yikani friends reminisced about their days as youths, laughing and sharing their blunders and adventures. Soon enough, the dishes were all empty of food and their bellies full. Mu came and cleared the table and brought freshly made tea as they were laughing about when their Master had been caught between Shan and Jian in a prank war and found himself drenched head to toe, standing under an empty bucket of water that was tipped from an exposed beam in the ceiling by Shan.
"I'd never seen him laugh so hard." Mei went on to say. "We were all so worried he would be upset but he only laughed."
"He seemed like a wonderful man." Cana said softly.
"Yes. He was strict, but he was still gentle and kind." The warm look in her eyes somehow drifted to Bacchus, which Cana seemed to be the only one to notice.
"I suppose this means you are the new Master?" Bacchus asked, looking directly at Shan.
"I am." The other man nodded, his brief smile fading. There was a building tension between them by the way they looked across the table at one another.
"Congratulations." Bacchus broke out a winning grin to slice the thick air. "I guess that means I also ought to call you Master now, too."
"You would if you were still a student of this school." Shan's face had hardened into a frowning stone mask, reviving the tension from before. The frightened look in Mei's eyes made Cana's body tingle with anticipation. Slowly, she sat upright with a hand moving to reach for her cards.
"You're right." He said with his eyes locked on Shan. Nervously, Mei and her son looked to Shan while Cana retracted her deck from the little bag tied to her waist. It was plain as day to her that his wife and child feared him. The thought of that sickened her as she bitterly put her deck away. What kind of family fears one of their own? Her mind went back to Laxus and his Raijinshu and the cruel game he played with them against Fairy Tail. But that was then and Laxus has since changed his tune. She watched carefully as the two men at the table stared each other down. This needs to stop. She decided.
"Jian darling." Cana spoke up as she touched Bacchus' shoulder. He looked over at her, breaking from his and Shan's staring contest. He was suspicious of her and eyed her up and down. "I'm feeling a little light headed just now." She softened her look at him, drooping her eyes to appear more tired. He caught on to her hint and put an arm around her shoulders, helping her to stand.
"Is she alright?" Mei asked him, seeming to also pick up on the gesture.
"She'll be fine. But if you'd excuse us, I think my wife is weary from our travels." He said with his gaze fixated once more on Shan.
"Thank you for the lovely meal." Cana spoke faintly and smiled at them. "I'm sorry I'm such a bore."
"It was no trouble. We're always happy to see an old friend." Mei said quickly, her eyes avoiding her husband.
"Goodnight." Bacchus said to them, half-bowing at Mei. He turned to repeat the gesture at Shan who hardly nodded in return.
Their walk back to their room was wordless and awkward. Just as before, she had her hand tucked into his arm, in case there were more eyes around than they could see. Once back in the little comfort of their room, they broke apart. He sat on the side of the bed, reminding her of its size once again, and put his head in his hands. Cana paced with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.
"You want to tell me what that was all about?" She stopped a moment to speak to him. He lifted his head, resting his chin on his folded hands, staring at nothing.
"Just an old fight between old friends."
"Oh don't be so cryptic." Cana frowned. "I'm not an idiot Bacchus."
"No one ever said you were."
"Then don't assume that I couldn't see what was going on between you and Shan at dinner." He flinched subtly, but not enough for her to miss it.
"We are just getting a feel for one another." He said so easily. "You and I are both strangers here and in times of war, you can never be too sure about who you let into your home."
"I can understand if you were some man off the street, but you were childhood friends."
"Until I left them." Bacchus' tone was bitter. He leaned forward and sighed as rubbed at his temples. "I can understand why they are so hesitant to have me here."
"They? You mean Shan. Mei seemed more than happy to see you again."
"She is only showing proper courtesy as is expected of her."
"Oh sure. And those looks she would give you is just courtesy." She spat while she continued to pace a few times before stopping at her bag and began to repack it.
"We leave in the morning." It was more an order than a statement.
"Morning?" She scoffed at him. "Why wait? It's obvious Mei's the only one who wants us, correction, you here."
"I'm not going to leave this place in the middle of the night again." He emphasized the last word.
"You mean you're not going to leave her again." She cocked an eyebrow at him, earning an annoyed glare. "Oh? Hit a soft spot?" Cana stood and stepped closer to him boldly. "Maybe it's her you want to really share a bed with tonight instead. Is that why your good ol' buddy Shan is really giving us the cold shoulder?" He remained steady, though she could see how his body tensed. "She wouldn't stop looking or talking about you all day. Hell, she'd speak directly to only you anytime you were in front of her."
"What does it bother you any?" Bacchus spoke evenly, his eyes fixed on her the way they had been on Shan just moments before.
"It doesn't. I'm simply pointing out a few things I've noticed. Could be why your friend is being such a jackass."
"He has his reasons. As does Mei."
"Whatever." She snorted and turned to go back to her bag. Cana knew that despite however much she tried, they were staying the night and that was it. It's just one night. She sighed heavily and told him to leave so she might change. Wordless, he stood up and exited.
Though the sun had long since set, the air was still humid and the breeze too soft for any good. The only comfortable enough clothes she could bear to sleep in were the matching pink shorts and camisole she had and even those felt too warm. Though he had seen her wearing it before, she threw on the robe hanging off a chair she spotted earlier. It was made of silk, but unfortunately too short and barely covered her knees. Damn. She huffed to herself as she went to the door, letting Bacchus back in. They didn't say a word to each other as she went to lie on the right side of the bed, her back to the middle of it. She shut her eyes when she heard his tunic being slipped off and it softly plop onto the floor. To her surprise, instead of lying down, he plucked one of the pillows and a blanket up from under her and spread it out on the floor a few feet away.
"What are you doing?" She rolled over to see him tugging and fixing the blankets.
"I gave it some thought and sharing a bed would kill us." He settled down into his makeshift bed his back to her.
"Would it now?" She went on to lie back down, facing his back.
"If I remember correctly, that last time we shared a bed you gave off enough body heat to fuel a train. You'd probably end up cooking us both before sunrise."
Cana stifled a smile though he wasn't looking at her and rolled over, her back to him now.
"I suppose you're right." She said, letting her heavy eyes close.
A/N: Hey everyone, it's that time! Sorry for the midday upload, had a 7am call into the shop this morning so I went to sleep and woke up too early to have a chance to revise and upload. On the plus side I get a 3 hour lunch break so I can get this out to you (mostly) on time.
That said, I want to put out there that I know this chapter is a little anti-climatic. I'll admit I wasn't terribly sure how I wanted it to end and after countless revisions and reviews, this is what I kept coming back to. So hopefully it's not too disappointing and you'll still enjoy it.
Anyway, thanks for the views, too! We've just broken the 1.5K mark and I'm really, truly elated about that.
So until next week, as always, Betty B.