Kasumi: Wings and the Ocean

Chapter 4

Later, Lucy sat on a park bench, flipping through Sorcerer Weekly, laughing and having a grand time reading about the wizarding guild Fairy Tail, and how they had destroyed seven homes by accident. 

"Talk about going overboard!" She laughed, and then she sighed when she flipped to the next page, and saw who had to be the prettiest girl in all of Fairy Tail. "The centerfold's Mirajane. She's so pretty." Lucy couldn't help but stare at the smiling face of the white hair, blue eyed girl on her page. She looked so kind, like she would reach out through the page and become Lucy's friend instantly. "I wish I knew how to get to be a member. Do you have to apply or maybe interview with them? I don't know, but I am so gonna join Fairy Tail! They're totally the coolest guild ever!" 

"Lucy?" Lucy jumped at her own name. and looked up to see Kasumi standing there, her cheeks pinker than her hair, her sleeves covering her hands, looking sheepish. 

"Oh, hi again, Kasumi." Lucy said, a little awkward. "What's up?" Kasumi got closer, and held out a couple jewel.

"I know it's not the whole bill, but I did want to pay you back for lunch." She explained. "I know that we did help you, even if we didn't mean to. I always keep some money for emergency, but this seemed more important." Lucy smiled at the shy girl, and pushed the money back towards her.

"Keep it. I don't want you guys to get into trouble later." Kasumi's cheeks went redder, and she sat down.

"Well, maybe I can help you some other way. You said you wanted to join Fairy Tail, right? Well-"

"What was that?" Came an awfully familiar voice, and Kasumi went completely red, covering her mouth. "You two want to join Fairy Tail?" 

"Salamander!" Lucy shrieked as the creep himself popped out of a bush! 

"I've been looking all over for you. It's just fate I happened to catch both the loveliest ladies I saw today together." Kasumi's eyes watered as she kept her mouth covered, scared of what she might say. He was using that charm magic again, she could tell, but she couldn't help but be drawn in. Lucy, meanwhile, was fighting it off in a more aggressive manner, trying to keep her head straight as she listened to him talk. "I wanted to personally invite you to the party I'm having on my yacht tonight." Lucy took a deep breath and pointed a finger at him, standing up. 

"Your charm spell won't work on me, and I won't let you use it on her! That magic's weakness is awareness!" Kasumi looked up at her, stunned. Was Lucy really defending her? "It doesn't work on people if they know you're using it." Salamander was unfazed by her words.

"Just as I thought. I guessed you were a wizard the moment I laid eyes on you. No matter. The invitation still stands." Lucy crossed her arms and turned away from him.

"Well, you can forget it." She told him sternly. "I wouldn't be caught dead at a party thrown by a creep like you! And I'm certain Kasumi feels the same way!" Kasumi shook her head, still keeping her mouth shut. But poor Salamander felt a stab go through his chest at Lucy's words.

"A creep? Why would you call me that?" He whimpered, and Lucy's looked back at him, annoyed. 

"Your spell. Using it to make yourself popular." She snarled, but Salamander went back to being cool.

"Don't be mad, my dear. It's all in good fun." He told her in his smooth voice. "I just wanted to feel like a celebrity at my own party. Can you blame me?" Lucy shrugged, pulling Kasumi to her feet to get her away from Salamander. 

"This just proves that even famous wizards can be big idiots." Kasumi stifled a laugh, covering her mouth again with her sleeve. But Salamander had one last idea.

"You wish to join the Fairy Tail guild, right?" Lucy gasped, and he knew he had her.

"Have you ever heard about Salamander, one of Fairy Tail's Wizards?" Lucy snapped her head at that.

"Well, yeah. You're telling me you're him?" Kasumi's eyes went wide, and she shook her head quickly, but that went unnoticed by both of them, and she was having trouble speaking right now. "You're that Salamander?" 

"That's correct." He smirked. "And if you want to join, I could probably put in a good word for you." Lucy gasped, and it was suddenly like she was under his spell again. 

"I would love to go to your party tonight!" She nuzzled up to him happily, and he held up his hands in a modest manner.

"Wow, tat was even easier than I thought it would be." 

"So you really think you could get me into Fairy Tail? No kidding?" He shrugged handsomely. 

"I don't see why not. But you can't say anything about the charm spell."

"I won't say a word!" Lucy said happily, and she turned to Kasumi. "And I'm sure Kasumi won't say anything either, right??" Kasumi looked concerned, but every time she tried to speak, her words got caught in her throat. She had never been good with talking to people she didn't know. Being under a charm spell was the exception before, and Lucy had been so kind before to her, Natsu and Happy. 

"Good." Salamander turned on his heel. "Then I'll see you at the party tonight." And he left in another flurry of purple magic. 

"You got it Mr. Salamander Sir!" That was when Lucy realized. "He got me. I was pseudo-charmed. But..." She jumped up with a cheer, and turned to Kasumi. "He's gonna get me into Fairy Tail!" Kasumi finally uncovered her mouth, wiping her eyes.

"Lucy, there's something I have to tell you." She said, rubbing her shoulder, but Lucy grabbed her arm.

"Come on, Kasumi! Let's go shopping together! We can get some dresses for tonight! Maybe he'll let you into Fairy Tail too!" She took off running, dragging Kasumi behind her.

"But I don't have any moneyyyyyy!"