The Knight and The Strawberry

chapter 4

Erza is laying back on the bed in the small room of the inn they were staying at. It was a soft enough bed. The sheets were a bit scratchy, but she couldn't complain. After all, they had barely managed to afford it. They had spent the last of their funds for the job to pay for the accommodations. They would have to rely on the payment to feed and shelter themselves on the journey back to Magnolia.

But she wasn't too concerned about it. The job would be easy enough. A merchant's guild had asked for a couple wizards to clear a run down trade route of a nest of knackers, little goblin like creatures covered in spikes and with mouths full of long teeth. Nothing she and Ichigo hadn't handled before

Speaking of the orange haired teen, he had been behaving weirdly the entire night. Sure she wasn't thrilled about sharing a bed, but they hadn't had the money for a room with two, so there was no use complaining. But that didn't stop Ichigo. Erza simply rolled her eyes as she remembered how he had thrown a fit about it not being proper for them to share a bed. She didn't see what the big deal was. It's not like they hadn't had to do this before. In her mind it was as normal as when she had shared a bed with Cana before she got her room at fairy hills.

Her musings were broken as she heard the door open, and the source of her annoyance entered with a loaf of bread and a jug of milk in his arms.

"I thought you said you were getting dinner." She greeted him with a bit of her annoyed mood flaring at the sight of the measly meal

Ichigo huffed and set the food on the little table. "Yeah well I can't exactly pull money out of my ass Erza."

"So we fill up on bread and milk before we hunt down the beasts?" she let a bit more of her mood show in her words.

Ichigo just let it slide. Over the past two years he had learned that when it came to Erza and her bad moods, fighting fire with fire only made it worse. He cut two pieces off of the loaf and tossed one over to her. They ate in silence for a while. They both had their minds focused elsewhere.

'I can't believe we didn't remember to bring enough money again. How does this always happen? I never had this problem with Gray. Maybe she's just more expensive than he is.'

'First he whines about sharing a bed, like he always does. Then he brings back a loaf of bread expecting that to be dinner. Ugh sometimes I don't know why I put up with him.'

And so the awkward meal continued. Erza was starting to get angrier as the silence continued. She could tell Ichigo was angry. She had been annoyed by his petty behavior earlier, but she much preferred it to his current grumpiness.

'Some conversation would be nice.'

"It's getting late." Ichigo mumbled.

"Yeah" she huffed 'Great'

"I'm gonna get cleaned up and head to bed." He got up and walked to the bathroom "You should head to bed soon too."

"Thank you." Erza responded curtly

Soon Ichigo finished his shower and returned to the room to find Erza fast asleep.

'Great.' He thought to himself. Of all the times they had shared a bed, he had never once managed to go to bed without waking her. And every time she would lecture him about not interrupting her rest. That's just what he wanted right now.

Just like every other time, he quietly made his way to the bed and tried to lower himself onto his side. And just like every time, Erza rolled to stare at him.

"Sorry" he mumbled as he laid his head down on the pillow

"....It's alright" She mumbled "Sorry about getting upset about the food. I know it wasn't your fault."