Home (Book 3)

Chapter Six

Erza's POV

I looked at the route Cani ran away and sighed. She can be such a pain. I know that everyone is expecting me to go get her because I am the only one she sort of listens to. When she's mad, sad, or depressed, she would look for me to fight with. Fighting somewhat calms her down, but a few days later, she'll feel mad, sad, or depressed again. That just can't be helped now that Lucy's up in the sky. I like saying that rather than saying that she's dead. Natsu was a jerk to boot her out of Team Natsu, but Lucy forgave him. She was too nice.

I ran into the forest. I couldn't see anyone because it was foggy. I walked around mindlessly. Well, not really mindlessly. I was thinking about Lucy. Her apartment was nice too. Her landlady wasn't. I shivered as I thought of Lucy's monstrous landlady. But, after Lucy went to the sky, well... her landlady made us pay for Lucy's seven year rent. Which was... ugh never mind. Too much math.

Wouldn't it be easier if Lucy moved to Fairy Hills? Oh right, the rent there is way more expensive. 100,000 a month. Hmm... That's actually not a lot. I rent five rooms for my armor and I still have plenty jewels left over. Oh wait never mind, I'm S-Class. Teehee. Oh wait never mind, Lucy is now stronger than Master... I think.

I looked around my surroundings. I couldn't see Cani anywhere. I tried to catch sight of something black, since Cani was wearing black, but the fog was getting thicker and thicker. I started getting dizzy. My head started pounding. Everything was getting blurrier and blurrier. I sighed. I officially declare that Cani is a pain in the butt.

I fell down on the ground. I started to feel sleepy. I closed my eyes. I quickly opened them again. I won't fall asleep, I swear it. Cani needs me. But just laying there just felt so comfortable. Maybe I'll just lay down there for a few minutes before going back to look for Cani. *Yawn* I am so sleepy. I closed my eyes and let the comfortable darkness swallow. That's all I remember.

Cani's POV

I was done crying. I was about to go out when I suddenly heard a familiar scream. I ran over to the scream, fearing it was that thing. I hope it is her. A wave of happiness surged over me. I fastened my pace, and when that wasn't fast enough, I sprouted out my demonic wings, and flew over to the scream.

I finally got to the area of the scream, only to find that it was a clearing with nothing there. I searched the areas around there but there was nothing. Maybe I was losing my mind. I groaned out loud. I felt tears coming streaking down my face once again. Am I really that stupid? Why can't just face the truth that nee-chan is dead?! Why do I have to go around imagining that nee-chan is still alive?

I sighed. I decided to go back to the cemetery. Going back there means looking at nee-chan's gravestone, which I despise. I somehow believe that nee-chan is still alive out there. I slowly walked out of the clearing and back in the forest. The forest was very foggy. That's weird, the fog looked similar to... Sleeping Fog. The only way to be immune to sleeping fog is to not breath. I frowned, this is not any normal Sleeping Fog. I created some water and splashed myself with it.

My senses were back to normal. I recognized this forest as the Eternal Sleep Woods. Legend says that wood nymphs cursed this forest because people were ruining it. Whoever breaths in the fog will fall into eternal sleep, in other words, they will die. I swallowed a lump in my throat. I shivered at the thought of dying. I have to meet up with nee-chan's expectations of living happily.

I locked myself in a safety bubble, and continued making my way out of the forest. When I was almost out, something scarlet caught my eye. I went closer and closer to the scarlet thing. Then, I saw someone with blue hair and someone with pink hair. I recognized the insignia they both bear as Crime Sorciére, the guild that destroys dark guilds. I also recognized the man with blue hairs' tattoo near his right eye.

A smirked played on my lips as I recognized the man as Erza's true love, Jellal, in whom she always talks about. I recognized the pinkette as Meredy, Jellal's apprentice. I wonder where Ultear is. I hid behind a tree and watched the rather amusing scene. I could see and hear them, but they can't see me. Jellal looked unsurely at Erza.

"You think she's okay?" Meredy asked.

"I know she is." Jellal sounded hesitant.

"Well maybe she's just sleeping like Sleeping Beauty, waiting for her Prince, which just so happens to be you." Meredy teased.

"Meredy, I'm anything but a prince." Jellal sighed.

"You're counterpart is a prince, wait no, he's now a king." Meredy pointed out.

"But that's my counterpart, not me." Jellal replied.

"Kiss her." Meredy said flatly.

"What? No Meredy, I will not-" Jellal began but Meredy interrupted.

"You will kiss her now or I'll do what Ultear did during the Grand Magic Games." Meredy glared at him. It took all my willpower not to laugh.

"Meredy-" Jellal once again was cut off by Meredy.

"Sense Link!" Meredy chanted. A pink heart-like bracelet appeared on both Jellal and Meredy's wrist.

"I'm doing this for your own good, Jellal, you need your happiness, you can thank me on the wedding." Meredy sighed before stuffing a bunch of jalapeño peppers in her mouth.

Meredy's face turned bright red and she started breathing fire similar to Natsu's. She started running in circles screaming. Her eyeballs were bulging out. I mentally laughed until my sides hurt. I turned over and looked at Jellal only to find him funnier than Meredy. His eyes were wide, and his face was also bright red. '3...2..1...' I mentally counted before Jellal started running in circles breathing fire.

"Meredy!" He screamed. "Fine I'll kiss her, just stop!"

"No! Get me some water first!" Meredy panted.

"How the heck will I be able to find water?" Jellal asked.

I was annoyed by the fact that it was raining and they didn't even know it. I guess the jalapeño peppers effected their brains. If I had known that, I would have stopped Meredy. I decided to go out of hiding. I calmly walked over to them. It took a while, but eventually, they noticed me.

"Hey, you must be Cani." Meredy panted.

"One thing, IT'S RAINING!!!!!" I screamed in their faces.

"I don't drink rain water." Meredy said smoothly.

Jellal rolled his eyes. "I am aware of that." He muttered.

I groaned. "Water Waves!" I chanted.

A small wave of crystal clear water splashed Jellal and Meredy's faces. Jellal had his mouth opened so he swallowed some. He seemed to relieve some. Since Meredy and Jellal still had that sense link, Meredy relieved some as well. Their faces weren't bright red anymore, thank goodness. Though it had been funny, having them suffer wasn't really that great. On second thought...

"Kiss Erza now or else you will suffer." I said.

Jellal shivered. "What is up with woman these days?" He muttered to himself, though both Meredy and I heard him.

"Nothing." We replied in sync.

"Now do it." I added.

Jellal sighed and went over to Erza. He slowly kneeled down. He leaned closer and closer...