I'm doing my best to update more frequently, still a lot going on for me. Side note, my output this year has been terrible. I've posted like thirty some chapters this year. That's a seventy percent decrease from last year. I need to get my shit together.
Which is why I'd like to officially announce year two of Seven Days of Updates! If you guys remember last year, I posted seven chapters in one week to celebrate the stories birthday and Christmas! Sadly, this years Seven Days is going to be pushed to the New Year. I need time to actually write the content, you know? So January 1st will be day one of the seven days of updates!
Enjoy!
"Do you guys know where Ultear is?" Drake's question was not answered right away, but he expected that. He watched with baited breath as both Gray and Juvia made a face at him.
"Ultear?" Gray asked. "Why? What's going on?"
"Nothing," Drake answered. "I just miss her, and I think it'd be cool to go and visit her." Juvia frowned at this.
"She is working, you know." She said. "She may not have time to just hang out."
"I know that," Drake said, looking at his feet. "We could even help her, I just miss her and I think it'd be great to see her again. It's...Been a while since the gangs been in one place." The parents exchanged a glance at this, staying silent. Drake didn't know if it was an unreasonable request, but he didn't think so. After a few seconds, Gray sighed and looked back at Drake.
"She's at a town near the border with Seven," He said. "It's called Arkney. Do you know it?" The name vaguely struck a chord with Drake, but nothing that really stuck out to him.
"I'm sure it won't be hard to find," He replied. "Thanks so much. I'll head out by tonight." Juvia smiled at him.
"Be careful," she said. "The areas been in deep trouble with bandits from Seven. It's not safe around there right now."
"I can only assume," Drake replied. "That's why she's out there, yeah?" Gray nodded.
"Yeah, so watch yourself. Never know if someone could see you as a potential score."
"I'll keep an eye out," Drake replied, turning to leave them be. "Thanks again."
"Give Ul our love!" Juvia shouted after him, making Drake grimace. Giving Ultear Juvia's love would require him to strangle her. It wasn't something anyone but she was capable of. Walking back to the girls, he saw them perk up at his return.
"What was that about?" Elise asked, mouthful of food still. Drake stared at her quietly before he looked down at his feet.
"You guys up for a road trip?" He asked. Neither girl asked him right away, and looking up told Drake his question confused them.
"Road trip?" Steph asked, crossing her arms over the table. "To where? For what?" Drake moved to sit down and smiled.
"To a place called Arkney in the north," he said. "It's...Where Ultear's working." Both girls eyes widened at this, and Elise even slowed her eating down.
"...We're going to visit Ul?" She asked, swallowing hard. Drake nodded.
"If you guys want," he replied. He looked over at Steph. "I think it'd be great to get the gang back together." She watched him quietly before her face welled up with happiness, her eyes glowing at him.
"That'd be great," she said, voice full of happiness. "I miss everyone so much." Drake nodded before he looked back at Elise, who looked up at him as he did so.
"You're free to stay if you want," he said. "I know it's only been a few days since you got home, so I won't force you to come with us." Elise watched him before she laughed.
"You kidding?" She asked. "Of course I'm coming. I miss her just as badly as you do." Drake couldn't help but crack a smile at this. So both of them were coming with. While he didn't have any doubts about that, it was great to hear.
"When should we leave?" Steph asked, looking excited. Drake shuddered.
"I was thinking we take the train as far as we can today," he said, making Elise's face go white. "Despite my hatred for the thing, it'll get us pretty far."
"If you think you can handle it," Steph replied, a knowing smile on her face. Drake wasn't really sure he could. As everyone knew, Dragon Slayers and vehicles didn't mix well.
"I think we'll be fine," He said. Elise spluttered at this.
"Do you have any idea how long we'll be on that thing?" She asked him, glaring at him. "I'm not in the mood for that."
"Do you have any idea how cold it'll be on the road?" He demanded. "It's the dead of winter, the roads will be frigid." This made Elise frown and stare at the table. Finally, she huffed and crossed her arms.
"Fine, we'll take the damn train." She said gruffly. Steph smiled.
"Well what are we waiting for?" She asked. "Let's go!"
"Can we pack, woman?" Elise asked. "Might have some things we should bring."
"Yeah, let's pack somethings first." Drake agreed. "Just in case we need a change of clothes or anything."
"Fine! Let's go pack! I'll meet you guys back here in an hour!" With this, Steph bounded from the table and left the guild hall, a spring in her step Drake had no seen in a long time.
"She's excited," Elise said bluntly, making Drake laugh.
"I can see that," he said as he stood. "Come on, let's not make her wait long."
"How cold do you think it'll be realistically?" Elise called from Drake's living room. Drake sighed as he shoved a spare shirt into a backpack.
"We're headed north, Elise." He called back. "What cold do you think it'll be?"
"...Pretty cold?"
"Yeah, probably." Drake wasn't sure why Elise was having such a difficult time figuring this out, but it was making him irritated. He could understand not wanting to be cold, but she didn't need to be so stubborn about it. "So get a coat and don't be a baby about it." Drake ignored the fake crying from his living room and shoved a spare pair of pants into his looked up as his roommate, the unnamed cat, jumped onto his bed and mewed at him.
"What?" He demanded. "I've got stuff to do." Another meow. "Well, that isn't my problem. You'll be okay on your own, you managed for a few years before I found you." At this, there was a knock on the door. "Get that, Elise!"
"Okay, okay." He heard Elise reply. Drake looked back down and reached down to pet the cat, smiling as she reacted positively to his touch. "You trying to come with me, girl? I don't think you want to, it'll be cold up north. Just ask Elise." Speaking of Elise, why hadn't he heard her speak up about the person at the door?
"Elise?" He called, getting no response. Now curious, Drake left his room and entered the living room, looking for Elise.
He found his moth watching him, arms crossed. Drake paled as he froze.
"Uh..." He started weakly. "Hi, Mom. Where's, uh, where's Elise?"
"She left to say goodbye to her parents," His mother replied, sounding cross. "Something you should of done too." At this she approached him, making Drake tense up. Now he was in trouble. "What, were you going to leave without telling me?"
"No..."
"Oh? When were you planning on telling me?"
"...Well, someone needs to watch my cat..."
"Oh? So just so I could watch your cat? When were you planning on doing that?"
"Before I left!"
"Uh huh," She said, reaching up and grabbing his ear, making Drake flinch and cry out. "You're such a troublemaker, you know that? Leaving without saying goodbye to your mother."
"H-How did you know I was leaving?!"
"You really think Gray and Juvia didn't mention it? How is it my own son doesn't tell me these things?"
"Are you done yet?" Drake asked, casting his mother an irritated look. She smiled and released him, allowing him to nurse his injured ear.
"Now I am," she said. "So, you're going to see Ultear?"
"Yeah," Drake said, "It's been too long since the gang was all together. It's time to bring us back together." His mother nodded.
"Well, good luck with that." She said. "Don't worry, I'll watch after your precious girl for you." At his a meow signalled the cats arrival, and Drake looked down as she wrapped herself around his mothers legs.
"Thanks," he said. "I appreciate it." His mother waved him off as she bent down to scratch the cat.
"Don't mention it, she's like a second kid to me." She said. "I may even have to name her while you're gone."
"Don't even, she's mine." Drake replied. He only got a teasing smile back for that, before his mother frowned. "What?" He asked.
"You really just going to wear that?" She asked, referring to his black coat. "It's freezing up north this time of year Drake, get a warmer jacket."
"I'm fine, Mom."
"You know when you were a kid, you got colds so easily. I worry about you."
"I said I'm fine."
"Well, don't come crying to me when your nose is stuffed up." Drake rolled his eyes at this and walked back to his room, his mother right behind him. He shoved a few more articles of clothing into his bag before he slung it over his shoulder and turned to his mom, who was smiling at him.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing," she replied. "Just marvelling at how grown up my little boy is." Drake groaned and pushed past her, making for his door as she laughed at him. "Hey! Turn your ass around." Drake paused and turned, staring at his mother. There was a silence between them before she smiled wider and held her arms out. Smiling to himself, Drake moved back and enveloped her in a hug, squeezing her tightly.
"Be good out there, okay?" She said. "I don't want to catch wind of anything bad you were doing out there." Drake managed a laugh.
"I will, don't worry." He said. "I'm a good kid." She snorted at this.
"Yeah, whatever you need to tell yourself to get to sleep at night." There was a silence between them again, and this time Drake heard his mother take a deep breath. "...And come home in in piece, okay?"
"Mom..."
"I know you're careful," she said, squeezing him tighter. "I know you are. But...You scare me sometimes. Especially after..." She didn't need to finish her sentence, Drake knew what she was talking about. She was referring to his last excursion. Which ended with a lost life and him nearly dead too.
"I'll be careful," he said, squeezing her as well. "I've got the girls with me, I'll be okay. They keep me in check." He knew this would get a laugh from her, and he was glad it did as intended.
"I know, where would you be without them?"
Who knows...
"We'll come home safe, I promise." He said. "Maybe we can bring the others too."
"That'd be nice." Drake moved away from his mother and wrapped his coat around himself tighter.
"I'm leaving, but please don't worry about me," he said. "I'll be okay." His mother only smiled sadly.
"I thought I taught you to not make promises you can't keep." She said. "I'll worry, nothing you can do about that. go on, get out of here." Drake wanted to say more, but nodded and turned, stepping out of his house and into the cold.
He'd come home safe, he had too.
After she'd opened the door to Kinana's irritated face, Elise vacated Drake's apartment as fast as she could. She had to go and check her parents house for a warmer coat anyway. Despite the know-it-all way he'd said it, she knew Drake was right. Her coat she was wearing was warm, but the north was probably colder. Entering the house without a second thought, Elise moved up to her old room and opened the door, peering inside.
She got a full view of mountains of her old possessions and things she'd left in her dorm room, which told her her mother had indeed kicked her out. Smiling weakly to herself, Elise stepped inside and started to sift through her things, looking for anything warmer than the coat she had now. She knew she must have owned one, but where was it?
"Elise?" Elise jumped and turned to find her mother standing in the door to her room, a quizzical look on her face. "What're you doing?"
"Ah, looking for an old coat of mine." She replied, turning to her mother fully. "Mine's not warm enough for up North, so..."
"Up North?" Her mother asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you leaving again already?" Elise laughed weakly and looked down at her feet. She'd been hoping to avoid her parents, and just leave them a note that she'd left with Drake and Steph. Encountering her mother here was going to make it that much harder to turn around and leave again.
"Uh, yeah." She said, scratching the side of her head. "Drake wants to go and see what Ultear is up too, and I miss her so..." There was silence between the two women before Elise's mother laughed.
"You don't have a warmer coat that'll fit you," she said, making Elise look up in confusion. "Don't bother looking."
"You're...Not gonna argue with me to stay?" She asked, rather confused by this notion. Her mother sighed and shook her head.
"No, there's no point." She said. "You're not a kid anymore, I'm not going to try and order you around. Besides, I know you must miss Ultear." Well, that much was true. "So go buy a warmer jacket, you'll freeze up north."
"...I'll find one, thanks." Elise said. Her mother smiled at her sadly.
"Feels like just yesterday you were learning to walk," she said. "Now you're running all over the place." Elise smiled weakly and moved to hug her mother, who returned the gesture happily.
"Stop embarrassing me," Elise muttered. Her mother laughed.
"Now we both now that isn't going to happen. Don't worry about Gajeel, I'll tell him where you went. He'll understand."
"Doesn't matter if he didn't, I was still going to go."
Steph had already returned to the guild hall, waiting impatiently for Drake and Elise. The sooner they got back the sooner they could hit the road, which meant they could see Ultear sooner. She didn't have a clue what had struck Drake that made him want to find Ultear, but she was happy he'd suggested it. She missed everyone terribly.
Approaching the kitchen area, Steph waited until her mother came out and smiled at her.
"Hey sweetie," she greeted warmly. "What's going on?" Steph smiled back at her.
"Hey mom," she said. "I just figured I should mention that Drake, Elise and I are headed up north."
"To find Ultear, yeah?" Her mother asked. "Juvia mentioned it. You guys must miss each other terribly." Steph nodded, looking down at her feet.
"It's been too long since we've been together," she said. "It's time we see each other again." Her mother nodded quietly.
"It's odd," she said. "It retrospect you guys were a team for such a short period of time, but seeing you apart is still so weird. Anyway, make sure you tell your Dad. Don't want him to worry about you, you know." Steph nodded, she hadn't forgotten about her father.
"Is he in his office?" She asked, earning a nod from, her mother. "Great, I'll go and tell him." Leaving the counter, Steph walked a bit farther back and towards the closed door that lead to her fathers office. Taking a deep breath, Steph knocked on the door and waited.
"Come on in," his voice finally came. She opened the door slowly and looked over to her right, smiling at her dad.
"Hey Dad," she greeted, making him smile.
"Morning Steph," he said. "What's going on? What're you all bundled up for?" Steph walked in fully and pulled at her jacket nervously. Confronting her Dad always made her nervous. She wasn't sure why though.
"Drake, Elise and I are headed up north," she said, making him raise an eyebrow. "Ultear's working up there, and we really wanted to see her."
"A road trip huh?" He asked, leaning back in his seat. "I see. Well, good for you guys. You haven't left town much since...Well, you know." Steph knew what he meant, and appreciated he didn't mention the incident by name.
"Yeah, it's time we come back together." She said. "I just figured I'd tell you before we head out." He nodded and slowly stood from his desk. Steph watched with curiosity until he walked out from behind the desk and outstretched his arms.
"You too old to give your old man a hug already?" He asked. Steph smiled and rushed to embrace him, enjoying the closeness as long as she could. Despite being home for a year now, there was very little she enjoyed more than a good hug from her Mom or Dad.
"Steph!" She heard Drake's voice yell from out in the hall. "You told us not to be late, so where are you?!" Steph laughed and separated from her Dad.
"I'd better go," she said. "He's easily irritable these days." Her father nodded with a smile.
"Have fun Steph," he said. "Be careful. Steph nodded.
"I will," she said. "I love you Dad."
"Love you too sweetheart." Steph bounded from the office, offering the same goodbye to her mother who took it happily. Once she reached Drake and Elise, shoe noted both looked a little teary eyed.
"What's up with you guys?" She asked.
"Nothing," Drake answered. "Nearly got bored to tears waiting for you." Steph suspected something else was up, but didn't say anything. He probably wasn't interested in talking about it. "You ready to head out?"
"Yeah, let's go!" Steph said. "We need to make sure we get to Onibus fast enough to catch a train!"
"Great," Elise muttered, looking upset now. "Trains, love them."
Steph hoped the mood of their journey improved after the train part was over.
"We told you to buy a warmer coat," Drake said, watching Elise shiver in the cold as they walked through the streets of Magnolia.
"Shut up," she hissed. "I'll buy one in Onibus for God sake." Drake rolled his eyes. Something, he got the feeling she'd manage to forget that she needed another coat. Despite the mood Elise exuded, it was odd for Drake to be going back on the road again. He hadn't been out on a job since Mount Olympus, so it was almost a foreign experience to him again. And yet, he was excited to see what was at the end of the road.
"Drake." Drake stopped and turned as his voice was called, raising an eyebrow. Natsu was approaching them, barely wearing anything to protect him from the cold. He obviously didn't need it, but it still made him stand out even more.
"Natsu?" Drake asked. "What's up?" The man stopped a few feet away and smiled.
"Heard you all were headed out," he said. "To see Ultear up north?"
"Yep!" Steph said. "We miss her so we're going for a visit!" Natsu chuckled at this.
"That's good," he said. "Friends shouldn't be apart for too long." His smile faded slightly. "It's odd. Last time you headed out was a year ago. Somehow it feels like forever ago now." Drake didn't need to guess why. He knew it was because everyday without Nashi felt like an eternity.
"Had to get back out eventually, you know?" Drake asked. "Better now than never." Natsu nodded quietly before he looked up at Drake, and the two examined each other quietly. Drake didn't know what Natsu was up to, but the silence was making him tense.
"...I'll be honest Drake," Natsu finally said. "I don't know you all that well. I never really made an attempt either." He then looked down at his feet. "But when Lucy told me how much of a friend you'd been to Nashi...I knew you were a good kid." Drake really hoped Natsu didn't pull some therapy office shit right now, he wasn't prepared. "Seeing how you cared for her...Losing her must have destroyed you."
"I think you know that," Drake said, voice now hoarse. Natsu nodded solemnly.
"I do," he said. "I've been thinking about you and her and...i realised something."
"Oh yeah?" Drake asked. "What was that?" Natsu smiled and stepped closer, reaching into his thin jacket.
"She cared for you so much," he said. "You meant the world to her, so..." With this, Natsu pulled out whatever was in his jacket out.
Drake felt his mouth dry up as Nashi's scarf revealed itself.
"I think she'd want you to have this." Natsu said. He came closer and reached out to Drake, offering the fabric to him. Drake stared at it in shock, no clue what to say.
"I...I can't take that," he said, pushing Natsu's arm away. "It's something that belongs with your family, not me."
"You are family, Drake." Natsu said, a warm, familiar smile on his face.
"G-Give it to Luke! Or keep it yourself!"
"She'd want you to have it." Without any warning, Natsu reached forward and wrapped the scarf around Drake's neck. The fabric was warm and made Drake's head spin as an all too familiar scent invaded his head. The man backed up and smiled. "Look, it even looks good on you."
"I...I don't understand," Drake said weakly, fighting off the vertigo he was getting from Nashi's faint scent invading his mind. "This was hers, it's apart of her legacy..."
"So are you," Natsu replied, turning to leave. "Trust me kid, you having that would make her the happiest." With this, Natsu left the three of them alone, and Drake in stunned silence.
"Wow..." Elise said. "That's...Nashi's. I can just barely smell her still."
"That was really nice of him," Steph said, sounding sad. "That scarf must mean a lot to him too." Drake slowly looked down at the scarf wrapped around his neck, staring at it in shock. He slowly lowered his face just enough for his nose to press against the scarf, and the smell grew even more intense.
But his face was also very warm now as the cold battered against him.
"...Come on," He said, turning to leave the city, scarf whipping around in the wind. The girls trailing slightly behind, the three of them left their home and made their way for Onibus and their ride to the North. What they found find, Drake didn't know.
He just hoped it helped fill the hole in his heart.
I'll keep my authors note short today, what with the long one above. I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!
Chapter 288: Long and Never Ending