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Rudra slowly stirred awake the next morning, feeling refreshed and satisfied. A contented sigh escaped his lips as he stretched his arms, his muscles relaxed from the events of the previous night. The soft warmth of the bed tempted him to stay, but he resisted the urge. Instead, he turned his head to the side, his gaze falling upon Kagura, who was still fast asleep beside him. Her peaceful expression made him smile.
The sight of her bare shoulders peeking out from under the blanket, the faint traces of red marks on her skin, sent a surge of satisfaction through him. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face before silently slipping out of bed. Moving carefully to avoid disturbing her, he headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
After a quick shower, he stepped out, rubbing a towel against his damp hair. Without wasting time, he created a shadow clone and instructed it to prepare breakfast while he got dressed. As he fastened the last button on his shirt, a soft groan reached his ears. Turning his attention back to the bed, he saw Kagura stirring awake.
She stretched her arms lazily and rubbed her eyes, the blanket slipping down her body. Rudra's gaze instinctively followed, taking in the sight of her bare chest, decorated with the marks he had left the night before. A smirk tugged at his lips. Kagura blinked sleepily and met his gaze, her cheeks flushing as she quickly pulled the blanket back over herself.
"You're up already?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse from sleep.
"Yeah," Rudra replied, running a hand through his hair. "Figured I'd get a head start on the day."
Kagura frowned slightly, her brows knitting together. "Are you leaving?"
"Yeah, I was," he admitted. "I've got some things to take care of."
Hearing this, Kagura quickly tried to stand. "Wait! Before you go, at least eat somethin—"
The moment she placed weight on her legs, they wobbled beneath her. A gasp escaped her lips as she lost balance, but before she could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her. Rudra pulled her close, holding her firmly against his chest.
"Are you sure you wanna cook something?" he asked, amusement evident in his tone. "You can't even stand properly."
Kagura shot him a glare, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. "And whose fault do you think that is?"
Rudra smirked, leaning in slightly. "You liked it though, didn't you?"
Kagura's blush deepened as she looked away, refusing to answer. Instead, she huffed and playfully smacked his chest. "Shut up."
Chuckling, Rudra helped her back onto the bed. "Just rest. I had my clone start making breakfast already."
Kagura sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Still, I should at least help."
"You can barely move. I don't think you should be handling fire or knives right now," he teased, causing her to scowl at him again.
"Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms. "But you're eating before you leave, no excuses."
Rudra chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Alright, alright. You win."
With that, he guided her toward the bathroom. "Go freshen up. Breakfast should be ready by the time you're done."
Kagura rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile on her lips. "Bossy."
Rudra smirked, watching her disappear into the bathroom. As he heard the sound of running water, he shook his head in amusement before heading towards the kitchen. A small smile played on his lips as he thought back to the night before—he wouldn't mind having more mornings like this.
Kagura stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hands with a towel, when she noticed that the scent of freshly made breakfast filled the room. Her eyes landed on the neatly set table, a variety of dishes arranged perfectly. A puff of smoke lingered in the air, signaling the disappearance of Rudra's clone, which had prepared the meal.
Rudra, already seated, looked up and smiled. "Come on, sit down and eat before it gets cold."
She nodded, walking over to take a seat beside him. They both began to eat in comfortable silence for a few moments before Kagura decided to break it. "Rudra, can I ask you something?"
He looked at her while chewing, then swallowed before nodding. "Of course."
She hesitated for a second before speaking. "What would you do if… I got pregnant?"
Rudra nearly choked on his food but quickly cleared his throat, looking at her with wide eyes. "That's… quite the question to ask over breakfast." He set down his chopsticks and leaned back slightly. "I guess… I'd take responsibility, obviously. I wouldn't leave you alone in that situation."
Kagura gave him a long look. "Really?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Of course. I mean, if that ever happened, I'd want to be there—to protect you, to protect our child. I'd figure something out." He glanced at her with a teasing smirk. "Why? Are you thinking of making me a father already?"
She rolled her eyes and threw a piece of bread at him. "Idiot. I was just curious."
He chuckled, catching the bread and taking a bite. "Fair enough."
They continued their meal, occasionally exchanging playful remarks, until they were both finished. Kagura began collecting the dishes, stacking them neatly. As she was about to take them to the sink, Rudra spoke up.
"Kagura, when you found me… did you happen to find a fruit?"
She paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "A fruit?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "It would've been strange—almost as if it was alive."
Kagura furrowed her brows, recalling the peculiar item. "Yeah, actually. It was pulsating, like it had a heartbeat or something."
Hearing this, Rudra's expression became serious. "Where is it now?"
"When I found you, you were holding onto it so tightly that I figured it was important. So, I stored it in my Requip magic for safekeeping." She wiped her hands on a cloth before summoning the fruit into her grasp. The strange fruit still pulsed slightly in her palm as she handed it over to Rudra.
He examined it for a moment before sealing it into a scroll. With that done, he turned toward the door, preparing to leave.
"You're going?" Kagura asked, her voice quieter now.
Rudra stopped, back still facing her. "Yeah. I need to. I don't know how much time has passed since I left. I also need to check on Fairy Tail, to make sure they're safe."
She lowered her gaze, gripping the cloth in her hands. After a short silence, she nodded. "I understand."
Seeing her subdued expression, Rudra smiled gently. He took a step toward her, reaching for her hand and pulling her closer. Kagura looked up in surprise, only for him to lean in and press a soft kiss to her lips. She barely had time to react before he pulled away, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Now, I really need to go."
Before she could say anything else, his figure dispersed into a murder of crows, the black feathers scattering as they flew out the open window, disappearing into the sky.
Kagura stood there for a moment, staring at the window. Then, she sighed, crossing her arms. "I forgot to tell him that the Fairy Tail members were already back…" She shrugged. "Oh well, he'll find out soon enough."
With that, she finished cleaning up before leaving to return to her own guild.
***
At the Fairy Tail guild's bar, Erza, Lucy, Mira, and Kinana were sitting together, enjoying a moment of relaxation amidst the usual chaos of the guild.
Lucy sighed, resting her head on the table. "Ugh… I don't know how I'm gonna pay my rent this month. I'm completely broke again!"
Mira chuckled as she wiped down a glass. "Didn't you just take a job with Natsu and Happy last week?"
"I did," Lucy groaned. "But the reward money barely covered the repairs Natsu caused! I swear, every time I think I'll have extra jewels, something crazy happens."
Erza, who was savoring a slice of strawberry cake, spoke without looking up. "You should consider more efficient missions. Or at least take jobs that don't involve destruction."
Lucy pouted. "That's easier said than done when Natsu is involved."
Kinana, who had been quietly listening, glanced toward the ruckus happening across the guild hall. "Speaking of destruction… It looks like Gray and Natsu are at it again."
The group turned to see Natsu throwing a punch at Gray, who dodged and retaliated with an ice fist.
Mira sighed but smiled. "They never change, do they?"
Lucy groaned. "Seriously, do they even realize how much property damage they cause?"
Erza took another bite of her cake and spoke matter-of-factly, "As long as they don't damage my cake, I don't see a problem."
Mira laughed. "Priorities, Erza?"
"Of course," Erza said without hesitation.
Kinana giggled. "Still, it's nice to see how lively the guild always is."
Lucy smiled despite herself. "Yeah… Even if it's a headache sometimes, I wouldn't trade this place for anything."
Mira placed a fresh drink in front of Lucy. "Well, until you get your next job, this one's on the house."
Lucy gasped, eyes sparkling. "Mira, you're the best!"
But before the laughter could continue, Mira suddenly froze. Her body stiffened, her smile vanishing as a cold sweat formed on her forehead. Her breathing became rapid and uneven.
"...No..." Mira whispered, barely audible.
Erza immediately noticed. "Mira? What's wrong?"
Mira grabbed her head as if trying to block out a deafening sound. Her expression twisted in pain. "The voices… they're screaming at me…"
Lucy's eyes widened. "Voices? What voices?"
Mira's breathing grew even more ragged, her hands trembling. "The demons… the ones I've used with my magic… they're terrified. They're all screaming at me to run… run as far as possible…"
The guild had gone silent. Even Gray and Natsu had stopped fighting, sensing something was wrong.
Master Makarov immediately approached, his usually cheerful expression replaced with deep concern. "Mira! What's happening? Are you alright?"
Mira took deep breaths, trying to steady herself, but her eyes were filled with fear. "Master… they kept repeating one name… over and over… Sparda."
At the mention of the name, a strange pressure seemed to fill the air. Some of the more sensitive mages shuddered.
"Sparda?" Erza repeated, frowning. "Who is that?"
"I don't know..." Mira admitted, still shaken. "But… the demons inside me… they're more terrified than I've ever felt before. They're screaming that if I don't run, we will all die."
Lucy's face paled. "T-That bad?"
Natsu, despite the tension, clenched his fists. "Whoever they are, if they're coming here, we'll just have to take 'em down!"
Gray nodded, though his usual confidence was laced with unease. "Still, if Mira's demons are scared, then this isn't just some regular enemy."
Makarov stroked his beard, deep in thought. "I've heard that name before… but where?"
The guild remained silent, the lively atmosphere from earlier completely gone. A feeling of unease settled over them as the doors of the guild swung open.
A lone figure stepped in.
Rudra.
Everyone turned to look at him as he slowly approached the bar. His steps were calm, deliberate, yet something about his presence made the air feel heavy.
He walked up to Kinana, completely ignoring the stares he was receiving, and spoke in a steady voice. "Kinana, can you give me some food?"
Kinana blinked in surprise before nodding. "Oh, Rudra! Welcome back! Give me a moment."
But before she could move, an eerie silence filled the guild.
The Fairy Tail members who had returned after Tenrou Island began whispering among themselves.
"Rudra? She called him Rudra, Ice Brain," Natsu said.
"I heard what she called him, Flame Freak," Gray replied.
Meanwhile, Mira's condition worsened. Her headache intensified, and she clutched her head tighter. The voices were no longer screaming.
They were chanting.
Sparda… Sparda… Sparda…
Over and over again.
Her breathing turned shallow as a sharp pain shot through her skull.
Levy rushed over, worried. "Mira! Hang in there! What's happening?"
Gajeel crossed his arms, watching Rudra closely. "Tch. I don't like this guy. There's somethin' off about him."
Lisana clutched Elfman's arm. "Elfman, what should we do? Mira looks really bad!"
Elfman's fists clenched. "If he's making my sister suffer, then he ain't a man!"
Carla and Happy fluttered near Wendy. "Wendy, can you do something?" Carla asked urgently.
Wendy nodded, quickly preparing a healing spell. "I'll try, but this isn't a normal wound!"
Lucy grabbed Mira's shoulders, panicked. "Mira! Hey! What's wrong?"
Mira's gaze shifted to Rudra as he scanned the guild hall, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. Then, for the briefest of moments, his gaze met hers.
Mira froze. Her breath hitched. The voices in her head—whispers of doubt, of longing, of something she couldn't quite name—grew deafening.
Then, just as quickly, Rudra turned away, his focus shifting to Kinana as she placed a plate of food in front of him.
Silence.
The voices inside Mira's mind vanished, leaving an aching void in their place. She gasped, her breath uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
The entire guild remained motionless, the weight of unspoken questions thick in the air.
Erza's hand hovered near her sword. "Mira, are you okay?"
Mira swallowed hard, forcing a weak nod. "I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rudra, still eating, finally looked up. His eyes flicked toward Mira again—briefly, unreadable—before he returned to his meal as if nothing had happened.
But something had happened.
And everyone in the guild could feel it.