Serenity [A/N: Trigger warning for anybody that has had or is still battling eating problems. This is essential for my character's personality and strength and resolve further in the story. If I could omit it or change it, I would. Please don't hate me!]
Juvia returned two hours after I spoke with Makarov. When she walked through the doors, I went back to Makarov's office and told him of her arrival. I returned to my seat at the bar next to Lucy, who kindly saved it for me.
"Hey Bunny girl! Who is this? A new member?" Gajeel took a big sniff in. I gave him the evil eye from under my hood that told him he was in trouble if he said anything. He just humphed. "Whatever."
"Hey Iron-breath! Fight me!" Natsu shouted at Gajeel from across the hall.
"No, I want to relax for a while." Just as he finished and sat at a table a little ways away, Natsu landed a Fire Dragon Iron Fist to Gajeel's left cheek and sent him flying, landing on and breaking the stairs. Gajeel gets up and the Dragon Slayer fight begins. I stay in my seat and watch until Nii-san speaks.
"Hey Lucy-chan! How was your mission?"
"Pretty good but, as per usual, Natsu went overboard on a roar and destroyed some property so we had to give up most of the reward money for the damages."
"Same here only, we had to sacrifice all of it." Juvia looked at me. "I'm sorry. My name is Juvia. What's yours? Oof!" I tackled Juvia in a hug and in the process, my hood came off.
"Nee-san, I missed you!" I broke away from Juvia so we could look at each other. I watched as the recognition filled her eyes then sadness and joy as she hugged me again.
"My little siren! You're home!"
"Yes, I'm home-for good."
"That's right, brats. We have a new member- one who has been gone for a few years and has decided to come back home- Fairy Tail's Siren Serenity Locksar! Now, let's celebrate her return!" The guildhall erupted into cheers and the party started.
"Welcome back, Serenity. Do you want your original guild mark colors?"
"Actually, I want different colors." My original guild mark was sunset orange fading out to sea foam green. "Can you do royal maroon outlined with sunrise gold sparkles?" Mira nodded.
"Where at? Same place?"
"No." My first guild mark was on my right ankle. I took off my cloak revealing my outfit- a low cut halter top, a skirt that ended mid thigh, knee high black heeled boots, and my necklace(a gift from Yami for my birthday a few weeks ago). I jumped up to sit on the bar so my exposed back was facing Mira. "On my left shoulder blade, where my heart is." Mira acknowledged my placement and I felt the cold stamp then the warm magic completing my stamp. Mira and Nee-san held up a mirror each so I could see my new stamp. It was perfect, but I started to cry.
"Did I do it wrong? I'm sorry, Siren." Mira started to cry too.
"Mira, it's perfect. I lost a friend before I came back and these were his favorite colors." I started fiddling with the necklace he gave me. 'It's the symbol the ancient queens of Egypt used to wear.' Remembering what he told me when he gave it to me, I shook my head and got my bearings back. "Isn't there a party happening right now? No more sadness. Let's enjoy it!" Nobody asked me any questions about my time away or Yami- which I was thankful for. A few more hours passed when I started getting tired, then I realized I had nowhere to go. Nii-san came up to me.
"Do you have anywhere to stay? I just got you back and I know a lot of these older men are perverts, so I don't feel comfortable leaving you to sleep here. I asked Master and he said you can stay with me at Fairy Hills for the time being." Being very tired, I just nodded and grabbed my bag. I stood up and Nee-san draped her arm over my shoulder and I leaned into her side, missing the feel and warmth of the only family I ever knew. For as long as I can remember, it was always me and Juvia. I don't remember our parents. Juvie said they died when I was three and she was eight. Her magic was strong enough for her to work to provide for us. Eventually, Phantom Lord found us, but she refused to join unless I could too. Soon after, I found my magic- Siren Song. It is a very rare Lost Magic, like Dragon Slaying and God Slaying magics.
I am currently the only one in Fiore with this magic, so the Magic Council has kept an eye on me, except the past two years when I was in Domino City. I take deep breaths to keep from crying again, thinking about Yami. Juvia notices my breathing and tightens her arm around me.
"Thinking about him, again?" I just nod, not wanting to say anything. "He must have been very important and someone special for your emotions to be like this. When you're ready, can you tell me about him?" I give another nod and we walk in comfortable silence for the next few minutes. We arrive at Fairy Hills and I'm so tired I am dragging my feet. We walk through the doors and Nee-san picks me up bridal style and carries me to her room just a few doors down.
"You've gotten stronger, Nee-san."
"No, you've gotten lighter. How often did you eat while there?"
"Everyday."
"Really?" I had developed an eating disorder about a year after joining Phantom Lord. I was about eight or nine, and I was always compared to Nee-san. I was chubby compared to her. I looked more like a rectangle when she was developing her womanly curves, so I would go two or three days without eating every two to four days. I quickly lost my fat and gained my hourglass figure, but then everyone said I was too weak and probably couldn't ever do magic. I did as much research and training with anyone willing to teach me, but I could not learn any of the magics I read about or was taught. Then, one day- when I had had enough of the gossip- I found my magic. I yelled at the top of my lungs for everyone to shut their mouths and stop talking about me. They did, but conversations never resumed that day or for the next few days when I asked why everyone stopped talking. When no one answered, I asked the nearest member to answer my question. Master Jose had been watching both times and figured out my magic. He helped me to control it so I wouldn't use it in anger again.
"Okay. I have had one meal in the last three days, plus the piece of cake that Mira had given me shortly after I had arrived. You know I still can't tolerate eating a lot."
"I know, but you still need to eat at least one good meal a day and a snack." She's right, but with everything going on- trying to get home, grieving the loss of my friend, then celebrating Fairy Tail style- I was not thinking about food. All lame excuses, I know. Nee-san puts my feet on the floor so she can open the door to her room. When I see it, I do not want to enter. Gray's face is EVERYWHERE! There are homemade pillow cases, sheets, blankets, small dolls, medium dolls, and one life size Gray doll laying on the bed.
"I knew you liked Gray, but this is borderline stalker, Nee-san."
"I know, but I can't bring myself to get rid of any of it, even though we finally just got together."
"Let's make a deal. If you get rid of everything- you can keep two dolls, but NOT the lifesize Gray doll, since you now have the real deal- I will do better with my eating habits. Okay, Nee-san?" She had given me her signature surprised/puppy dog eyes so I had to cave and let her keep two dolls. She nodded vigorously and hugged me in a big Juvia-style bear hug. I hugged her back. Let's start tomorrow, after we've had some rest." She nodded again and went to her dresser and pulled out two sleeper sets and tossed one to me. We both got changed and crawled into bed, after I made her move her lifesize doll to the closet. Within minutes, we were asleep.
