𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙟𝙤𝙗

Throughout the remainder of the day, you had packed and had a quiet moment with Rogue. Moments like those were few and far between, considering there was always somebody around like Novalee, Frosch or even Sting upon occasion. However, Kuschel had decided it was time to leave the room and retreated to the bathroom for quite some time so you could have a little time with your boyfriend.

You'd then gone to Fairy Tail, just you and Kuschel, once you had finished packing and expressed where you were going. Lucy had grabbed your shoulders and grilled you on whether you had definitely made sure Rogue knew where you were going, to which you replied with a prompt "yes, Miss Lucy!"

You recalled how Natsu had left for a year when Fairy Tail had disbanded with no notice aside from a hastily written note, and how hard that must have been for Lucy. So you made sure to let her know that, yes, Rogue did know you were going, and so did the rest of Sabertooth.

Erza said a very tearful goodbye to you, as if you were going off to war, and Mirajane congratulated you for whatever reason.

When you went to Gajeel, he actually hugged you. He pulled you into a massive bearhug and said "don't get yourself killed, squirt. Or else," and you'd laughed even though saying all these goodbyes as if you were dying made you tear up a bit. Levy had joined you and Gajeel in that time and, whilst you were squeezing the life out of Panther Lily, she had presented you with a heavy bag and explained they were the other books in the series about Dragon mating habits. You'd tried to politely decline but, when you'd seen Gajeel glowering at you from behind her, you had taken them with a smile and thanked her.

You'd said your goodbyes to basically everyone at Fairy Tail, with every one of them wishing you luck in their own way. Natsu had punched you in the face with a wicked grin but stopped you when you went to retaliate, and said that you could only fight him once you were back - he'd called it a parting gift.

Gray had presented you with his naked self, albeit by accident, and Juvia had grabbed your collar with malice in her eye. You'd had to fumble and explain that, no, you were not interested in Gray and had a happy relationship with Rogue. After that, she seemed to relax a lot and treated you like a younger sister of sorts. She had before Tenrou Island had seemingly been obliterated by Acnologia, but ever since she'd returned and you'd been the same age, she had been a little funny around you.

Erza had given you, as well as a hug that bashed your head against her silver chest-plate, a small strawberry cupcake. It had been the last one at the bakery and she was going to eat it but, when you'd arrived and declared your absence, she'd wanted you to have it instead.

You'd even thrown back a few shots with Cana before you finally left the guildhall - on your way out, Wendy had thrown herself into you whilst profusely sobbing. You'd reassured her that you would be alright, and that it was just a while that you were going for.

Meanwhile, Kuschel was saying her goodbyes to Carla, both in human form. That, even if Carla wasn't the nicest sometimes, Kuschel absolutely adored her as if she was her sister. That had almost been enough to bring Carla to tears.

You bade farewells to the guild for the last time, and then turned to make your way home.

You spent the night at Sting and Rogue's place, alongside Yukino, Minerva, Orga, Rufus and Novalee. Orga sang a song for you, which reminded you greatly of Gajeel. Rufus wrote you some poem that used words that you didn't really understand.

Sting drank all the night long in your stead, when you'd said you didn't want a hangover on your journey. Orga and Rufus also drank, but Yukino, Minerva and Rogue remained sober.

It was something of a party - maybe more of a get together among friends. Yukino asked how your visit to Fairy Tail had gone and you told her all about it. When you finished, she'd just laughed and said "oh, classic Fairy Tail!"

You'd awoken on the floor of the living next morning. Minerva had her arms around you and Kuschel was inside of your top. Orga was beneath you, one arm around Sting and the other Rogue. Rufus, Novalee and Yukino were strewn across your legs. Apparently, everyone had formed a sleep pile.

"Ugh..." a groan from Rogue came.
"Morning guys," Sting said.

"What time is it..." Yukino murmured.

"Ah... I believe it has just passed half-past-eleven," Rufus spoke and you shot up, shoving Minerva off of you.

"Sorry Minerva— shit, I've gotta catch the train," you exclaimed, shaking Kuschel out of your shirt.
"Oh, right," Sting groaned. Your Exceed tumbled to the ground, befuddled.

You started putting your shoes on hurriedly while Kuschel gained her bearings.
"What's happening?" she asked.

"We're gonna miss our train," you replied, grabbing her by the paw and pulling her into your arms.

"Huh?" Novalee had only just woken up. Orga still snored soundly.

"Uh- bye guys? I dunno what to say," you said, "I'm going now."
Rogue got up, practically racing over to you, and with no hesitation smashed his lips against yours. It elicited a sound of surprise out of you at first and you almost dropped Kuschel, but you eventually shut your eyes and kissed him back.

"I love you," he murmured when he pulled away, pressing his hands to your cheeks. You smiled - all of these goodbyes as if you were being sent to war were sort of getting to you.

"I love—" you started.
"Just wait," he cut across, "wait and tell me when you see me again."

You hesitated and then nodded.
"Sure," you said quietly.

"Alright..." he replied, "I'm really going to miss you."
"I'm gonna miss you too," you leant in to kiss him again. He hummed quietly, caressing your cheek with his thumb.

"You're going to miss your train," he sighed after a while. You nodded and pulled away from him.
"Right, yeah," you said, "I don't really know what to say now."

"Don't say anything, then," Yukino spoke up, "bye, [Y/N]. Have a safe journey."
"Yes. If anything horrible happens, please come straight back home," Minerva said, "and tell me who did it, yes? I will rain hell upon them."

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks, you guys," you grinned. Novalee flung forwards and threw her arms around you.

"Bye, [Y/N]..." she mumbled, "I promise, when you come back, I'll be... so strong."
"I believe you, kid," you ruffled her hair, "now, I've really gotta go. I'm pushing time here."

"See you on the flip side!" Sting said, "oh, our little girl, all grown up."
"Shut up, Sting," you laughed, opening the front door, "bye guys!"

"Bye, [Y/N]!" they chorused. You gave a last look before you turned out the door with Kuschel. As soon as it shut behind you, she sprouted her wings and fluttered out of your arms.

"Let's get my suitcase, and quickly!" you said. She nodded and the both of you took off, you running and her flying alongside. With the adrenaline running through you, it didn't take you long to get your suitcase and run it to the station. The final call to board your train was just going as you arrived, leaping onto the train.

You began to quickly search for a vacant compartment, eventually finding one empty and sliding into it. The whistle of the train blew and you quickly threw back the Natsu-themed motion sickness pills, dry-swallowing them before turning out the window.

"Oi, [Y/N]! Safe journeys!" your eyes widened as you spotted Natsu start to jog alongside the train.
"Natsu?!" you exclaimed, pressing your hands against the window.
"Have a good time!" he laughed.

"Oh, right! Bye Natsu!" you hit the window with a cackle. He ran alongside your window until the train was going too fast for him to keep up, though he still tried. You grinned and watched the Fire Dragon Slayer disappear from sight, and the scenery change gradually from bustling town to rural country.

"Oh! Look, look!" Kuschel pawed at the window, "sheep! [Y/N]!"

You laughed.
"This is gonna be one hell of a job, huh?"