Chapter 21
Gray slid into a street and hid from his attackers. His heart beat fast and hard, as he slid further into the crevice and slapped himself against the wall. Seconds slowed down to a halt as he heard footsteps approaching heavily, thumping on the concrete floor of the street outside. Sweat rolled down his cheeks, and he was worried that they would hear even the sound of his dripping sweat and would surround him. Once that happened, there was no escape.
Sun gleamed brightly in the sky, but the street he had slid into was shaded and cool and dark. He wished he had a cloak right now so he could slide into the crowds and slip away from his pursuers.
"Graaaaay~" He heard from the outside, and his heart skipped a few paces in anticipation.
He turned his head away from the opening of the street, even though he knew that wouldn't do anything.
Some shadows swiftly passed by the opening of the street, fierce and relentless, strong and prevalant.
"Gray-sama! Where are you?"
"Can I touch your chest once?"
"No! I will touch his chest first!"
"I want to feel his legs! They are so strong and muscular!"
"How dare you! Gray is mine!"
"Hands off bitch! He looked at me particularly a few seconds ago! He's mine!"
"No! He's mine! He deserves only the best!"
The voices trailed away into the distance.
Gray sighed. He breathed and continued to breathe, as he stayed in the crevice for a while longer. Just to be safe.
The festival was going on in full force outside. All through the streets of Magnolia… and the entire world. What had happened a few days back… was momentous. Monumental. Marvellous. It was something that wouldn't happen again in… forever.
Gray slowly inched closer to the opening and slid off outside. Sunlight pierced his body again, and brought him a sensation of warmth relief. He was safe from those women… for now.
"Gray." he heard a woman call.
Gray quickly turned around, ready to dash away, but when he looked at her, he realised he wasn't going to be assaulted by her.
He sighed and calmed down.
"Mira. You scared me half to death."
Mirajane smiled brightly at him. She brought out her handkerchief and dabbed his face with it.
"You're dripping in sweat. Here."
Gray smiled. "Thanks. Women like you give me hope, Mira."
Mirajane giggled. She handed Gray the handkerchief. She knew he would need it.
Elfman stepped forwards from beside Mirajane and looked down at Gray. He hid the sunlight behind him, and his massive figure shadowed Gray up.
Gray sweated more as he looked at Elfman's hulking figure.
"Hey… Elfman. What's… what's up? Something bothering you?" he asked nervously.
Elfman raised his hands up in the air.
Gray flinched away. "Yo! I… I wasn't flirting with Mirajane! I swear—"
He paused as he felt Elfman's heavy arms surround him in a hug.
Elfman started to cry tears. "GRAY! YOU'RE A MAN! YOU FOUGHT IN THE WAR LIKE A TRUE MAN! I THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!"
Gray sweated more as he returned the hug awkwardly. He almost fell over from the massive weight that Elfman was putting on him.
"Th-There, there… It's okay. I am fine."
"WAAAAH! WAAAAH!"
"Why are you crying!?"
"THESE ARE MANLY TEARS! TEARS OF JOY! YEAAAH!"
"I… I see… Hey! You're wetting my shirt! Back off! And… and these aren't your tears! Your nose is dripping! Get away from me!"
"GRAY! GRAAAAY!"
Mirajane couldn't help but laugh at the two.
She brought her hand to her lips and giggled. "He cried the same way on my lap for almost two hours."
Gray looked at Mirajane from under Elfman's trembling arm. "I… I see. Could you please help me, Mira?"
Mirajane smiled. She pulled Elfman gently away. He wiped his tears and kept sobbing. Mirajane caressed his back lovingly. "It's okay to cry, Elfman. But make sure you're not inconveniencing anyone."
"S-sorry, sis… I am just so happy."
Tears still leaking, he looked up into the sky and roared.
"WE WON! WE WON! THE LIGHT HAS DEAFEATED THE DARK ONCE AGAIN! WE WON THE WAR! ALL OF US! WE DID!"
The bystanders that heard him raised their hands in the air and cheered.
Gray and Mirajane smiled. That was true. The war that had ravaged their nations and the entire world for years had finally been won. The darkness couldn't stay in the world for long. As long as there was even a single shred of light left in the world to resist it, it wouldn't stay. That was the way of the world. That was how the world worked.
Many lives were lost. Many were injured. Innocent, evil, armed, unarmed, men, women, children, old, young… but they had left this world fighting for something that they believed in. They had crossed over to the Great Beyond, where pain was non-existent. They lived in the stars now. They had been sent to the world for a purpose. When that was done, they were taken back by the stars and skies. What was left behind was a safer and brighter world, thanks to them, that would always honour their deaths and work relentlessly towards a better and brighter future. Together. Forever.
Mirajane glanced at a woman dressed in blue that stood a distance away, fidgeting nervously. She would look at Gray, lower her eyes, fidget, and then look at Gray again. She knew that it was time Gray was left to Juvia.
Mirajane grabbed Elfman's wrist and dragged him away.
"Come on, Elfman. We better go check on the guild."
"O-okay… sis. Can I cry on your lap again? I need to cry more."
"Not here. You can when we get home. Okay?"
Gray turned around to face them.
"Hey, Mira?"
The sister and brother halted and turned around.
Gray had a look on anxiety on his face. He gulped.
"Have… Have you seen him?"
Mirajane and Elfman dropped their smiles and looked at each other anxiously.
Natsu had been missing for a few days. After the war ended, he had left one day. For what, no one knew. It had been purported that he would return on the day of the festival.
Mirajane looked back at Gray, and her fingers around Elfman's wrist tightened.
"He… he's back. I don't know when he returned."
Gray narrowed his eyes. "Where did you see him?"
Mirajane shook her head nervously. "I haven't. Me and Elfman visited Lisanna's resting place today, to offer flowers. There was already a lilly there on the pedestal. I knew immediately that Natsu had visited her already this morning."
Gray slowly nodded. "I… I see."
Mirajane slowly approached Gray. She smiled and grabbed his hand. She clasped his hand between the two of them.
"I know it's tough to accept what happened. I… I still don't understand why he's back… or how. Just like everyone, I thought he had left us. I mourned him day and night. But… he's back now. We have to accept that one day or the other. Something very strange must have happened to him while he was away. It will take him time to explain all that to us. It must be tough for him. As tough as it is for us. Maybe… even tougher. But… he is our friend. Our family. He fought for us. Even after he had died, he never gave up on us. He fought day and night, and came back to us. Because he wanted to protect us. Because he couldn't see us harmed or hurt. He lives for us, not for himself. He is our hero. We at least owe him enough to give him time. Right?"
Gray smiled and nodded. "I… I know. I just don't like the fact that he won't explain what exactly happened. As his best friend, I deserve to know. As our older sister, you deserve to know. And… Erza. She deserves to know."
Natsu wasn't the same man now. He had changed. This war… this struggle… it had changed everyone. Some were braver, some stronger, some kinder. But Natsu… he had changed the most. He had transformed. Aloof… lost in thoughts… lost in the faraway winds… hiding his pain away–whatever it might be. Maybe one day, he would open up.
Mirajane smiled wider. "I know… it'll get easier, Gray. We have always put our faith in Natsu. Let's do it one more time. Let's just trust him. He will never break it, we know that. Don't we?"
Gray nodded. "We do."
She lovingly pinched his cheek. "Then, let's give him some time. And when he comes back, let's welcome our hero with love and appreciation. Hmm?"
Gray smiled back. "Okay. Let's."
"Now then." She grabbed Gray's wrist and dragged him to Juvia. "Someone's waiting for you. Don't keep her hanging."
She handed Gray's hand to Juvia, and then turned away and grabbed Elfman's wrist again.
She waved at Gray. "See you, Gray and Juvia."
The siblings left.
Gray looked at Juvia, his cheeks burning red. Juvia's cheeks were the same.
"G-Gray-sama…"
She fidgeted and looked down. Gray smiled and started to drag her away.
"Come on, Juvia. Let's get something to eat."
Juvia's eyes lit up. "Yes! I… I mean, sure!"
The two left.
"How do you like the festival, Elfman?"
"I LIKE! ITS VERY MANLY!"
Mirajane giggled. She looked at her brother. Her younger brother. Almost her child. She smiled adoringly.
"Elfman?"
"Yeah, sis?"
She halted, and Elfman halted beside her, confused.
She looked up at the sky, hope and confidence brimming in her eyes. "You… were very brave. You fought bravely and courageously. You were strong and fierce. You protected my life so many times. I always knew that you had great strength in you. You just needed something… someone to test it. And now, you have proven it. To me. To everyone in the guild and the world who you fought for. We were facing strong enemies. Infinitely stronger than us. Zeref's demons… his armies… Acnologia and his dragons… but… you never gave up. You were hurt and injured so many times, but you always stood up tall and strong and capable. Because you knew that you had people to protect. People to save. I am proud of you, Elfman."
Elfman's face contorted. He quickly embraced his older sister and lifted her up in the air.
"WAAAAH! I LOVE YOU SIS! YOU'RE THE BEST!"
"Elfman… It's… it's okay! There, there. Don't hug me so tightly!"
"WAAH!"
"Ahem."
The Strauss siblings heard a voice. Elfman, still crying, put his sister down and looked at the large man that approached them.
Mirajane looked at the man anxiously. And ferociously.
"Laxus. What do you want?"
Laxus raised his hands up. "Just celebrating. Nothing special."
Mirajane raised her brow. "You? Celebrating? I didn't know you were the sociable kind."
Laxus scoffed. "Come on. Haven't I proved already that I have changed? Why the cold shoulder?"
Mirajane stood between Laxus and Elfman. "Just because you're Makarov-sama's grandchild doesn't mean you are entitled to the same respect and trust as him. It will take you longer to win the trust of the guild."
Laxus smiled. "And… what about your trust?"
Mirajane's eyes widened. Red crept over her cheeks. She looked down. "What… what do you mean?"
Elfman stepped in between the two. "Laxus. Don't you dare hurt her."
Laxus shook his head. "I am trying to… 'court' her."
Mirajane's cheeks got redder. She slowly placed her hand over Elfman's back.
"Elfman… could you leave him and me for a moment? I would like to teach Mr. Dreyer here a lesson."
Elfman turned around. "Okay. I'll go look for Evergreen. Make sure it's a good lesson, sis."
He trudged along.
There was silence. Uneasy… floating… awkward silence. Laxus pierced his vision on Mirajane, smiling. Mirajane clasped her hands together and looked down, fidgeting, embarrassed and agitated.
"It's time for your lesson, Mira."
"Don't call me that." She snapped and looked at him.
Laxus's smile only grew. "What do I call you?"
Mirajane clenched her teeth. She couldn't believe how embarrassed and heated this man was making her feel. After everything he had done. She hated him. She… hated him. Did she?
She walked to him and stood by his side. "Escort me to the guild. Post haste. I need to check on Erza."
Laxus extended his hand to her, but Mirajane slapped it away. "We aren't that close… yet."
Laxus felt surprised for a moment. Pleasantly surprised. He smiled again. "Come on. Let's take a walk."
Mirajane nodded and started to walk behind him. The couple took a winding and long walk towards the guild. A silent, awkward… yet a pleasant walk.
Silent winds breezed along the streets. Laxus's coat fluttered in them as he stood awkwardly, watching Mirajane leave. She was entering the gates to the guild HQ. She was slow in her walk, as if… she was expecting Laxus to say something. And Laxus… he wanted to say something. Something… anything.
The festival boomed behind him. It was a celebration of victory. Of the surrender of darkness before light. What better opportunity than today to… say something nice to Mirajane for once?
He slowly stepped forward.
"M-Mirajane."
She stopped in her tracks, and looked behind at him, her hair fluttering in the winds. Her eyes were widened. Was he finally going to say something?
"Yes?"
Laxus narrowed his eyes, as if going through internal pain. He fidgeted, which was a sight to see. The indomitable and domineering lightning dragon slayer nervous and at a loss for words… It was surreal. Maybe it was true. War changes people.
"Would you… would you like to get something to eat someday? With… me?"
Laxus blurted.
Mirajane stared at him. Her heart leapt. She didn't know why. It was as if the sun glowed brighter on her especially on that day. Was she dreaming? For a moment, she lost herself in Laxus's strikingly handsome looks.
When she found her tongue again, she smiled and nodded. The first smile she had given him in… forever.
"Yes. I think I would enjoy that."
Laxus found his face easing into an uneasy smile. "Thank you. For… for giving me a chance."
Mirajane waved at him, and watched him turn around and walk off into the distance. She turned around and entered through the gates. She brought her hand to her chest and felt her heart beat against her palm. It was erratic and restless. It was exhilarating.
She shook her head and slapped her cheeks softly. She was here to check on Erza. Nothing else.
She entered into the guildmaster's office. Makarov had recently retired. Who he had chosen was… Erza. Mirajane walked past a few paintings of Erza hanging on the walls as he headed past some hallways. She knew Erza had it in her to be the guildmaster. She was fierce, strong and capable. She was a leader, a commander… a fighter. She was the best candidate for the guildmaster's position that they had at the moment.
It was already evident from the fact that she was still inside, working while everyone was enjoying the festivities. Mirajane knew she was stressed. Maybe she should check on her friend.
She entered the main office, and looked at the table in the middle. It was topped with piles of papers and files and documents piling up on it in neat bundles. Erza was always organised and particular about neatness.
Mirajane narrowed her eyes. Erza's office was quiet, and… empty. Where was she? She slowly circled to the side of the table, and the files moved in the opposite direction. When Mirajane reached the side of the table, she saw Erza slumped over the table, her head buried in her arms. She was hidden behind the files.
Mirajane smiled and brought the plate of strawberry cake to the table. She gently placed it beside Erza's head. She slowly slid her hand over Erza's shoulder and gave her a soft shake.
Erza lifted her head, her hair dishevelled and falling before her eyes. She looked around, and then at Mirajane.
"Mira…" she smiled hurriedly, and then looked at her table. "Sorry. I haven't yet started looking over these files. These include all the new commissions we have received from all over the world."
Mirajane's eyes widened. She took a chair and sat down beside Erza. "So many?"
Erza nodded as she collected her hair and tied it in a ponytail behind her head. "Yeah… Fairy Tail's popularity has gone straight up after the war. We have all kinds of work now. Defeating thieves, bandits, mercenaries, rebels… beasts, monsters, trolls, dragons… they are all commissioning us."
Mirajane looked at the files. The mountains of papers. "Wow…"
She turned back to Erza. "I… I have decided to take up combat missions once again. Elfman and I will go on missions together."
Erza looked at her, concerned. "Are you sure?"
Mirajane smiled and nodded. "Yes. I can't sit back and watch while everyone does their duty. Me and Elfman have decided to help you as much as we can. Lisanna… would want it."
Erza found herself smiling. She caressed Mirajane's cheek lovingly. "Thank you. I promise that I will protect you and Elfman. We all will. What happened to Lisanna… I wouldn't let that be repeated."
Mirajane held Erza's hand that was over her cheek. "I know. You will make a great master. I know it."
Erza smiled sadly. She looked back at the files and tapped her finger on the desk. "I… I am not too sure. I mean… I am trying my best. But… I can't find the motivation. Ever since Makarov had told me that I would take his place one day, I had been preparing myself. But I still don't think it's enough."
Mirajane frowned. Erza might not, but Mirajane knew what was troubling her.
Him. His memories. His… behaviour.
Mirajane's heart coiled uncomfortably. Natsu had become a stranger to the guild. Almost a new recruit. An unimaginably powerful new recruit. He had spent the few days he was in Magnolia repairing his shack, not seeing anyone. And then, he left. Where? When? How? Why? For how long? No one knew. Except him.
Mirajane extended the plate of cake to Erza.
Erza looked at it. She smiled sombrely. "Sweets… they elude me now. I am not as fond of them as I was once. I have lost my sweet tooth."
Mirajane shook her head and corralled a lock of Erza's hair behind her ear. "You are just stressed. Or… maybe you have changed. We all have. War changes people. It's… not something that you're facing alone."
Erza looked off into the distance. Her hair fluttered as a gust of wind entered through the open window. The window pane rocked noisily.
Then… there was silence.
Erza's fists clenched tighter. "Is… is he back?"
Mirajane smiled sadly. She knew Erza could not not talk about him for too long. He had becomes a mystery. To everyone in the guild. But the one that it hurt the most was probably Erza. Natsu had always been a unique individual. Maybe… this was just a phase of his unqiuness. War changes people. He changed the most.
Mirajane nodded. "He visited Lisanna's resting place this morning. Me and Elfman visited Lisanna after he had already left."
Erza minutely shook her head and narrowed her eyes. "I… I don't know why he is doing this to me. Why… why can't he be normal? Like everyone else? He can just tell me… us… everything. Does he think I will judge him?"
Her eyes gleamed.
Mirajane caressed her shoulder. It was soft. And the weight that it was carrying on it was immense. It was made heavier by what Natsu was doing to her.
Mirajane slowly placed her cheek atop Erza's shoulder.
"I understand. But… he must have his reasons. This war was dark and harrowing. We all have suffered and lost a lot. But… he suffered the most. Killing his own brother must not have been easy for him. But… he did it for us. He killed the only family he had left. We all yearn for our family. He… separated from his for our sakes. He has lost a lot. I still don't know how he returned. Why he returned. But he did. He set aside even his own death somehow… to fight for us. To battle for us and protect us. We owe his some time. Right?"
Erza laughed. "It's surreal to know that Zeref was his brother all along. Right? That Natsu himself was Etherious."
Mirajane smiled and nodded. "Yes. It… it completely changed how I looked at Natsu. Then… knowing about his past… it was shocking. I would have much preferred not knowing about it at all."
Erza sunk in her chair as she thought about it all. Natsu's life 700 years ago. His birth… his life… his death… his dark past… his resurrection as Etherious. She knew so much about Natsu… and yet… mystery surrounded him like a snake coiling around its prey. Erza wanted to punish Natsu for doing what he was doing to her. But…she also wanted to embrace him with all her love and might… and maybe even let him melt into her arms. Cry out all his grief over her chest instead of doing what he was doing. She just wanted him to come back. To… be hers again. To think that he was so close… and yet so far. It stung her heart.
Mirajane watched Erza. "His past wasn't ideal, Erza. Just thinking about it scares me. Think what it must be doing to him. We should leave him be for a moment, right? He will come around. I am sure. He will come back to you. Don't worry."
Erza smiled softly to herself. Natsu… his beauty still enamored her. She was still besotted to him. She still adorned and admired him. Her heart still fluttered like a dove when she thought about him. She's was mad. With love. And she was sure that he was too. She knew she was being silly. Natsu would return. He returned from the dead for her. He would return. She knew it.
She stretched her arms, and yawned, smiling. She then looked down at the cake.
Mirajane giggled and pinched Erza's cheeks lovingly. "Go ahead. That's all yours."
Erza laughed and dug in.
The doors to the office flew open. Gajeel and Levy walked in, followed by Wendy and Cana. They all looked breathless.
Erza and Mirajane looked at them. They heard loud cheers from outside. What was that about? They knew that the festival was still going on. But why this sudden excitement?
Gajeel sighed uneasily. "He… he's back."
Cana, Wendy and Levy nodded.
Erza slowly stood up. Her eyes were widened, her fingers trembling and lips parted. Who was back?
Natsu…
Was he really back? Could she really see him? Finally? For real? She didnt know what she would do once she saw him, but she wanted to see him nevertheless. She didn't care about the cake anymore.
She rushed outside. Hallways and galleries, halls and rooms, tables, chairs… she rushed past everything. Her tired eyes flowed and dripped like pearls behind her, gleaming in the mild sunlight. But why should she care about pearls when her greatest treasure was awaiting her at her doorstep? She would see him with her own eyes. She would touch him with her fingers. She would listen to him talk. She would scent him. She would even drop down to his feet… all to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. That he really was here.
Sunlight bathed her tired body all over, replenishing her energy and excitement anew. That… and the prospect of seeing him. She hadn't seen him in so long. She hadn't touched him in so long. She hadn't hugged him in so long. But that was all going to go away soon. Soon, she would meet him.
Outside, she was met with a grand sight. Scores… hundreds of people gathered in a circle to meet their hero. The slayer of demons. The slayer of dragons. The slayer of Zeref. The slayer of Acnologia. The slayer of the fear and darkness in their hearts. The slayer of their concerns. Their saviour. Their protector.
Erza exhaled. Mirajane, Gajeel, Wendy, Levy and Cana stood behind her, looking at the massive crowd of people before them. There was no way they could meet Natsu like this.
But Erza wasn't to give up. She dashed into the crowd.
"Erza, wait!" Mirajane cried, but Erza wouldn't listen.
She dashed into the crowd. Pushing, pulling, snatching, elbowing, kneeing, rushing… She did it all. She had worked relentlessly for days, but all her tiredness was to the winds right now. She had to see her love. She had to see him now.
She was lost in an ocean of people. Shouting… cheering… jeering… roaring… it all filled her ears, but all she listened for was one note of his voice. One tremble of his throat, one trill of his tongue… that's all he wanted to hear. She shut out all the other noise and every other sight. But the ocean of hundreds of people was just as relentless. She would take one step forward, and be pushed back several. Tears in her eyes wouldn't stop. They drizzled on the floor, on someone's back, someone's shoulders and someone's chest. She was lost. She was lost in a forest, forever looking for an exit. Not finding it. Looking. Not finding it.
A hand pushed her to the left. Another to the right. Two would push her forward, and three backwards. It seemed that she would never reach him. He was so close… yet so distant. So close, but yet so far. Within her grasp, but like water that would escape from her fist.
Hands started to push Erza. Hundreds of hands that pushed her askew and awry, side to side, left to right, forward and backward, up and down. The crowd started to move forward, but she moved backwards. Tears blinded her eyes, and she could see nothing.
She tripped, and a hand pushed her forward. At that moment, her strength left her. Maybe… she should give up hope. She started to fall. Maybe she should lose. She wouldn't see him today. Maybe he didn't want to see her anyways. And why would he? He was a hero. He was a legend. A mystery. And who was she? No one.
She slumped on someone.
Arms coiled around her. Stabilising, protecting, loving. Strong and capable. Soft… and adoring.
Those arms carried the strength to destroy the world should Erza even shed a single tear. And right now, she was a crying mess. Her face was over someone's chest. It smelled like ash. Burnt paper. Charcoal. She found… solace. She found peace. She found an end to all her turmoil. She didn't know who that was… but she found her arms reacting on their own. She hugged that person back.
She broke down into unending tears over that chest, wetting it, sobbing, bawling, crying. She was inches away from complete collapse. And she leapt at the first source of comfort that she could find. That comfort was everything. It was warm in the cold, cool in the heat, shade under the sunlight, a light in the empty darkness. It was all of that… and so much more.
That person raised their one hand in the air… and a fire ignited in their palm. Bright, fierce, unending, warm, caring, protecting.
"ENOUGH!" He cried.
There was silence.
"I… I would like to be left alone for now. Please. Personal matters. I beg all of you."
The silence continued.
"Looks like he already has a girlfriend."
"Damn. I was wondering if he was single."
"Why are all the hot guys in this town taken?"
The person brought their hand back down and slid it around Erza's waist again. He let her cry to no end in his arms. Over his chest. In his embrace.
The people started to disappear. Soon, the streets were empty. Only that man… Erza… and their loneliness. Resonating. Mingling. Ending.
Erza sobbed and sobbed. In those arms…she melted like ice. In those arms… she found sweetness. Sourness. Bitterness. She found everything in that embrace.
"Why… Why would you do this to me? Do… Do you not care about me anymore? TELL ME!"
The man smiled. He placed one of his hands over Erza's head, and buried it deeper over his chest.
"I love you, Erza." He whispered.
Some more chapters are coming.