Kia was incredibly warm when she woke up, but that wasn't what fully pulled her from her sleep. Half-rolling her eyes, she peeked over toward the boy who was snoring on the couch. She sighed, gently petting Happy's head as he snuggled closer to her. It felt so good to be home.
"I see you finally woke up."
Kia looked over to see that Natsu had somehow managed to wake up and sit up without her noticing. She smiled softly, "Yeah."
"How are you feeling?"
She held up her free hand, trying and failing to summon her flames with a sigh, "I'm still off. I have a feeling this may last for a few more days."
She turned to gaze toward her brother, "Sorry you had to carry me home last night."
"It's fine," Natsu's happy expression turned into a grumble at the end, "But that jerk could have brought you home."
Kia raised an eyebrow, "What jerk?"
"What do you mean what jerk?" Natsu exclaimed, "The one who left you sleeping outside after you talked."
The Dragon Slayer's rising tone caused Happy to shift as he began to come to.
"Natsu, I wasn't talking to anyone when I fell asleep. I was by myself."
"Then how did you get this?" he reached over to grab something that was draped over the arm of the chair near him.
Kia looked over the dark navy coat, trying to place where she had seen it before. "I didn't have that."
"It was covering you like a blanket when Happy and I found you."
Natsu watched as his sister's face shifted to one of deep thought; his anger slowly rising.
"Are you telling me that wanna-be stripper found you and just left you there?!"
Happy was fully awake now, "What's all the yelling about?"
Kia rubbed the top of his head, "Natsu's throwing a fit over a coat."
"I thought he might."
"Why?"
"Because it's Gray's."
Kia looked up at her brother as he was now ranting about the other boy as he stomped around the room. She couldn't help herself; she burst into laughter.
||~x~||
"I still don't get why you find it so funny," Natsu grumbled as he walked with his arms behind his head.
Kia shook her head, Gray's coat resting over her arm, "Because you're trying to be protective of me. How can I not find that funny?"
"I am not!"
"Sure." Happy and Kia replied in unison.
Natsu leaned over toward the floating blue cat, "Hey! Aren't you supposed to be on my side!"
"Sorry," Happy shrugged.
Kia laughed as she ruffled Natsu's spiky hair, "Will you stop worrying? There's not like there's anything going on between us." She shook her head as she removed her hand from his, "I haven't even been around."
"Still," Natsu grumbled under his breath as he tousled his hair a little.
"If you want to go there," his sister leaned sideways to get closer, "what about you and that girl, Lucy?"
The Phoenix Slayer could sense the warmth going to her brother's face, "We're partners. I thought you already knew we were on the same team."
She gave him a knowing look before turning to continue for the guild hall, "I'll believe that one when the Master finally gets to retire."
||~x~||
Natsu had found a way to start a fight with Gray the moment he stepped through the guild doors. Even though he hadn't come out and said why, the pyro had just launched a challenge with an insult and they were at it.
Kia sighed, walking over to the table to sit with the others.
V raised an eyebrow at Kia, "What's got him all riled up this morning?"
The pink-haired girl shrugged as she laid Gray's coat on the back of his chair, "Does he ever really have a reason?"
Lucy took a sip of her drink, "I still don't understand where he gets all the energy from."
Wendy and Carla walked over, the Exceed sighing, "That's probably why he's constantly whining about food."
Wendy gave a small laugh, hoping to diffuse the small amount of tension she could feel beginning to form. It was at that point that the guild doors swung open again.
Kinana smiled warmly at the small group that had just walked in, "Welcome! May I help you?"
"Wonderful. It seems the rumors were true." a deep voice spoke with an air of cheer.
Some of the Fairy Tail members questioned who could be paying them a visit, until the five figures stepped in further so that the morning light was no longer hiding their faces.
"Hello my lovelies!" Sherry waved, "I'm glad to hear your deaths were exaggerated."
The members of Lamia Scale were met with smiles (and few jokes and jabs) as they all spread out to mingle with the friends they had thought they had lost seven years ago. The Mythics found themselves off to the side, trying to stay out of the way without missing out on the fun. Kia couldn't help the smile that slowly grew across her face.
"Warning," V whispered to Amber loud enough for her other friend to hear, "sentimental sister mode has been activated."
The dark-haired girl sighed, "You better watch it before it switches over to protective mode."
"My god, I never believed in true love until now."
The three turned back to the group to see the white-haired boy who had been bantering with Gray approaching a very fluster Juvia. Kia and V held back their chuckles, overly amused to see the usually lovestruck mage not knowing what to do when the treatment was turned in her direction.
Then something kind of surprising happened.
"Okay icicle head," the black-haired girl said as she slid between him and Juvia, "you can take about a hundred paces backwards and learn to respect the lady's space."
Both Kia and V, along with the older members of Team Natsu, stared at the unusually confrontational behavior coming from Amber. It wasn't that the blood mage couldn't be harsh, it was more along the lines that she very rarely chose to be.
Lyon put his hands up in front of him in surrender, "I meant nothing by it."
Gray and the rest of Team Natsu stared at the ice wizard in confusion and shock; they had never seen Lyon backdown like that. They were all curious as to the look Amber must have been giving him. Her teammates were more curious as to what had truly caused the outburst. A twinkle shone in both of their eyes as they turned to glance at each other. A smirk crossed Kia's lips as a more devious grin came to Verani.
||~x~||
The excitement had started to die down after that. Many of the Lamia Scale members disappeared to talk with some of those in Fairy Tail. Sherry seemed to be sticking close to Lucy and Wendy's group as Yuka talked with Natsu and Romeo. Even Gray and Lyon had made their way outside to do a little training and some talking.
"Kia."
The Phoenix Slayer turned to see where the Master had called her from, seeing the old wizard seated at the bar with the Wizard Saint Jura. Standing, Kia lightly patted Amber on the shoulder before heading across the room.
"Where is she going?" Natsu mumbled through his mouthful of food.
Verani watched after her best friend, quickly assessing the situation. She sighed, "To be in a serious conversation that I am happy to avoid."
The others at their table were now aware of the pink-haired girl's absence, following the gaze of her brother to see her taking the stool next to Makarov. The expression on all three of their faces just confirmed V's comment.
"Why would she get called over to speak with them?" Lucy wondered out loud. "What could they be talking about?"
Natsu turned his head a little, straining his ears.
"Aaa!" he exclaimed when Erza smacked the back of his head at the same time. "What was that for?"
The redhead loomed over him, "For trying to eavesdrop on words not meant for your ears."
"Don't worry," Amber smirked as she took a sip, "I put a sound barrier up for Kia when she left."
"Say what?" Natsu stared at the blood mage.
She nodded in his direction, "Your sister knows you."
Lucy chuckled as Happy stepped up next to his best friend's plate, fish in hand, "She got you again."
"Again?" Erza raised a brow.
"Yeah," Happy cooed, "Kia burned him this morning."
"What the hell, man?!" Natsu whined.
Verani smirked, "Well, what do you expect? It's a sister's duty to pick on and bug her brother."
"Yeah," Amber added, "And poor Laxus gets enough of that from you."
"But beyond that," Erza stole a peek over at the bar herself. "Whatever they are discussing must be important."
Verani sighed, "It probably has something to do with what the council's been up to. Or maybe our lovely scaly friend."
"More than likely," Amber leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. "Master's probably trying to avoid us having to pay them a visit again."
"Again?" Wendy asked, a little shocked, "You guys have been to see the Magic Council before?"
The two members of the Mythics looked at each other nervously. Amber let out a strained chuckle while Verani let out a full blown laugh. The four wizards and their two Exceeds looked at the pair in confusion.
"Let's just say," Amber brought her hand up to her mouth, "I thought we were going to have to let Master know that Kia had finally gotten herself arrested for running her mouth."
The younger three's jaws dropped as Erza asked the question they were all thinking, "What did she do?"
Verani tried to reign in her laughter, "She told that head guy that he could shove his staff up his ass."
"She did what?!" Lucy exclaimed as Natsu started bursting a gut beside her.
He held her stomach as he managed to choke out, "No way. That's awesome."
There was a clank as Erza swatted him in the back of the head again. Amber just shook her head, "That wasn't exactly how she phrased it."
"I know that." V defended, "But it was something along those lines."
"Well don't tell the story if you aren't going to get it right."
"Fine," the blonde grumbled, "Then why don't you tell them what she said."
Amber sighed again, "Because I can't exactly remember how she said it either."
"I told him," they all snapped to look as Kia walked back over to their table, "that if I said his staff was real, he would still find a way to deny its existence even if I had shoved it up his ass."
"That's even better," Natsu lost himself to laughter again.
Lucy ignored the loud Dragon Slayer, "How did you not get in trouble for that?"
Kia shrugged, "I managed to make a few of the other council members chuckle or laugh. I'm assuming that was what saved me."
"I have the coolest sister!" Natsu was nearly in tears by now. Erza glared, raising her hand, but she didn't get a chance to swing.
Kia's fists landed firmly on top of her brother's head, "Just because I do something, doesn't mean you can go around doing the same!"
Natsu rubbed his head, "You didn't have to hit me that hard."
"You ever do anything remotely as dumb and I'll show you just how hard I can crack you in the head." A fire flickered in her eyes as she seemed to loom over him.
He cowered in his seat and squeaked, "Yes, ma'am."
"Good," she rested her hands on her hips. "Now that that's out of the way." A grin came to her face, "You up for some good ole fashion sparring."
"Alright. I'm fired up now!"
||~x~||
Kia's muscles were whining as she laid back on the roof of the guild hall. She probably should have waited another day or two before getting back into the swing of things like that.
'At least he wasn't pulling his punches.'
A proud smile came to her face. Natsu had been doing good while she was away. He had grown stronger.
'But he still has a way to go before then...'
She forced the thought to the back of her head as her eyes scanned the stars overhead. It was still odd having the guild hall on the outskirts of Magnolia, but it did wonders for seeing the night sky like this. It brought a sense of peace to Kia that she hadn't been able to find in such a long time.
"I thought I might find you up here."
She tilted her head back, seeing the Master at the apex of the roof. Unlike normal, he made direct eye contact when he spoke to Kia. This immediately told her that this wasn't just going to be a casual conversation.
She pushed herself up so that she could face him properly, "What is it, Master? Is this about our conversation with Jura earlier?"
"No," he shook his head. "Though that information is troubling, I had something else I needed to discuss with you."
She nodded, letting him know that she was ready to listen.
"I have decided that it is time for me to pass along my mantle." Her eyes widened a little in surprise as he continued, "I wanted to talk with you about this because I think it would be appropriate to inform him about some of your situation."
Kia looked down at her hands, her eyes hidden behind her bangs, "Which parts of my situation?"
"The basics. The seal and what you and your team have really been doing for the past few years. Anything beyond that will be up to you, but I do plan to let him know that there is more that I cannot disclose."
"I understand," she gripped the bottoms of her shorts tightly before looking up to meet his gaze. "It is only right that he knows who is in the guild he will be in charge of."
Makarov sighed, "I know this isn't easy for you. If you would like, you are welcome to be present when I tell him."
"No," Kia shook her head, "I respect that this should be something between the current master and the new one. I wouldn't want to overstep my place."
"Kia, you don't have to be so proper or coy around me." Makarov locked his eyes with hers, making sure she didn't look away. "You've never done anything for me to question your place in this guild. I have never once questioned your actions or motives."
She couldn't help the smirk, "Even when you watched me shoulder check Acnologia?"
"I wasn't going to bring that up," the old man grumbled under his breath, before the two broke out in light laughter. Makarov sat down as Kia turned back to lay out on the roof again.
"So, I heard from my granddaughter that you owe me a story about your last trip to see the Magic Council."
Kia sighed, "I should have seen that one coming."
||~x~||
See you all Monday with the next chapter. (Though I may have a bonus update this weekend to celebrate my anniversary :) ) Have a great day, night, week, everything!