Lucy's legs finally gave out.
The fight, the fear, the screams—it all sank into her at once as she and Happy sat in the middle of the ruined clearing, chests still rising and falling too fast. The wasteland stretched around them like a scar carved across the forest, but somehow… somehow, she felt calmer now.
Because Kai was still standing.
Or… well sitting.
He crouched a few feet away, rummaging through that ridiculous pouch of his. The same pouch that he pulled weapons, bombs, smoke pellets, ropes, tools, and—apparently—**medical supplies** from. Lucy watched as he pulled out a roll of bandages, a small jar of antiseptic salve, and a handful of other little tools she didn't even recognize.
Happy, exhausted from flying, curled on her lap .
Lucy stroked his head absently as her eyes stayed locked on Kai.
He worked silently, wrapping his forearm,torso,tightening the cloth with practiced efficiency, not even wincing despite the gashes along his skin. There was something… strange about watching him now. When she'd first met him, he'd seemed like a walking headache—an obnoxious, blunt, sarcastic menace that somehow acted like he knew everything.
Then a few hours ago? She'd thought he was rude, but reliable.
And now?
Now she didn't know what to think.
He had burned, slammed, and fought Erigor like a demon… then shielded her and Happy without hesitation. He joked. He mocked. He threatened. He terrified. He protected. He confused her at every step.
And he looked… really cool doing it.
Lucy caught herself staring. Hard.
And then blinked rapidly when she realized she was doing exactly that—just staring at him like some kind of awe-struck fangirl.
Her thoughts derailed further when Kai reached into his pouch again and…
Pulled out a handful of snacks.
Snacks.
As in chips. Candy bars. A juice carton. Even a pack of cookies.
Lucy's eyes widened. "What—what is with that pouch or whatever it is?! How many things do you even carry in there?!"
She stood up out of pure disbelief, Happy dangling from her arms like a plush toy.
Kai didn't even look up. "Told you already, blondie. It's not a pouch. It's a magic tool I made so I could carry my tinkerer's craft and well supplies. Sorta like Red's requip but, y'know, cooler i think."
He casually held out a juice carton to her.
Lucy stared at it… then at him… then at the wasteland around them… then at the juice carton again.
"...You're seriously drinking juice right now?"
Kai shrugged. "You want it or not?"
She sighed and took it, plopping down beside him. Happy slid off her lap and lay sprawled on the grass like a deflated balloon.
Lucy watched Kai wrap his ribs, then his shoulder.
"Can't you just heal yourself with some kind of magic spell?" she asked, sipping the juice.
Kai paused mid-wrap, then slowly turned his head with a deadpan expression.
"How many magics do you think I know, blondie? I am only 17 and already use two different types ,one of which is a rare lost magic."
"I—I didn't mean it like that! I just thought—since you're strong—you might have something like a healing spell. And my name is Lucy, not blondie."
Kai chomped into a cookie.
"Who said I don't have healing spell?"
Lucy froze. Happy peeked up, ears twitching.
"W-Wait. You… do but you just said you don't?" Lucy asks him confused.
"I said i don't have healing magic but i do have a spell that can patch me up." Kai tells her sipping the juice he had pulled out .
Lucy leaned toward him. "Then why not use it!? And it's Lucy—"
Kai clicked his tongue. "It's not a minor spell, blondie—"
"LUCY!"
"—it's special. I can only use it once."
Lucy blinked.
Once…?
Something clicked in her head. A memory from the guild. The groans. The complaints. The insults. The rolled eyes whenever kai said I will do it eventually.
"Wait." Lucy leaned closer. "Is that the **'I'll do it eventually'** spell everyone hates?"
Kai's grin spread instantly.
"You got it."
She stared at him like he'd told her gravity was optional.
"So… what does it actually do?"
Kai munched another snack.
"Wouldn't you like to know. ?"
She deadpanned. "I'm just asking."
He shrugged. "Well, it's not a secret or anything. It's a special spell i have that lets me delay any task to later. Meaning it will automatically get done at some point during the day. No matter what, of course with limitations and unknown timing or method."
Lucy's eyes went comically wide.
"That… is insanely powerful."
Kai stuffed another cookie into his mouth. "It's useful. Sometimes. Mostly annoying because when sometimes I sit to shit it may activate and make me do some task i delayed."
Lucy felt disgusted and horrified "Why did you tell me that?.'
"Cause you asked blondie."Kai stares at her deadpan.
Lucy finally sat with him while he finished bandaging himself. She didn't rush him. She didn't nag. She didn't panic. Strangely… she felt calmer sitting next to him than she had at any moment since she left Magnolia despite his quirks.
He tied the final knot, tossed the empty bandage roll into the pouch, and stood.
Lucy also nods,"Should we chase Eisenwald?."
" The idiot can't have gotten far. I broke his spine—he'll be crawling like a worm once his magic runs out."
Lucy winced. "That's… really harsh."
"He wet his pants," Kai reminded her casually. "Honestly deserved it. Want more juice?"
The sudden offer made her blink, but she was starting to get used to his… style. So she held out her hand politely and he placed another juice box in it without even looking.
She opened her mouth to ask more about the cursed spell when—
**The ground trembled.**
A deep rumble shook the earth beneath their feet.
Lucy and Kai both snapped their heads toward the noise.
A magic vehicle was barreling down the hill at unsafe, almost suicidal speed—smoke trailing behind it, tires screaming, engine whining like it was begging for mercy. It bounced on rocks, nearly flipped twice, and came skidding into view.
On the front—
A flash of crimson hair.
Lucy exhaled in raw relief.
"Erza! And the others!"
Happy flapped weakly. "Aye… we're saved…", before slumping down again due to relief.
Kai hummed, unimpressed, and lay back down like someone who had zero intention of moving until he finished his fifth snack.
Lucy sighed, half amused, half exasperated.
And the storm behind them finally broke.
The magic vehicle tore across the dirt path, kicking up a trail of dust as Erza leaned forward over the handlebars, eyes locked on the two figures waving from the clearing. The moment she recognized Lucy beside a toppled tree, she snapped the brakes and jumped off, armor ringing sharply as she landed.
Gray followed right after—dragging a half-conscious, sea-green Natsu by the collar like a wet rag.
Lucy exhaled in relief. "Erza! Gray! Natsu!"
But Erza was no longer listening.
Her eyes had already landed on the boy lying behind Lucy, leaning back against a root like he had simply dozed off after lunch. Kai's torso was wrapped in fresh, messy bandages—stained red in several places—and his eyes were shut.
Erza's breath hitched.
She rushed forward so fast the dirt kicked up behind her.
"K-Kai! Are you—" Her hand shook as she reached for him, voice cracking in a way none of them had ever heard. "I told you to be careful… why do you never listen?"
Gray, suddenly pale with worry, knelt beside her. Even Natsu snapped awake as Lucy shook him, and he forced himself to stand, wobbling.
"What happened…?" he muttered, staring at Kai with wide, dark eyes.
Lucy hugged Happy to her chest, bewildered. "Kai was awake just a minute ago…"
Then—
Kai's eyes snapped open.
"BOO."
Erza and Gray jumped back so violently they nearly fell on their backs. Lucy's jaw dropped. Happy squeaked.
Kai burst into laughter, pointing accusingly at Erza's face.
"Oh shit man look at you all , i can't believe you actually thought something happened to me , even you blondie did you think I died and you red, Aww, Actual tears? Didn't know you cared that much."
Erza's face went from ghost-white to fire-red. For a heartbeat she looked like she really had been about to cry—then she snapped.
"KAI!"
Gray joined in: "Are you trying to give us a heart attack?!"
Kai only snorted and reached casually into his pouch for another snack, like this was all a mild inconvenience.
Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. *Fairy Tail really can't be normal…*
When Erza finally let go of Kai's throat after she saw his injuries again and calmed down, she looked across the ruined terrain—gouges of wind magic carved deep into the earth, shredded stone, uprooted trees.
"What happened here?" she asked quietly.
Kai shrugged, already munching. "We found the real Eisenwald mages. Had a fight with Erigor and his lackey."
"That doesn't tell me *anything,* Kai!" Erza snapped. "And did you say the real one? The mage with the Lullaby? Where—"
Lucy stepped forward before he could dodge again.
"We caught the mage with lullaby," she said, voice shaking. "Kai defeated him… but before we could take the Lullaby, Erigor appeared. Kai fought both of them, and because of my mistake, the Shadow using mage broke free and attacked us from behind. Kai protected us, and he got badly hurt. And then Erigor escaped and I—I wasn't any help. I'm so sorry, everyone…"
Natsu, Gray, and Erza stared at her. Even Natsu's color returned slightly.
"It's okay, Lucy," Erza said gently. "Don't blame yourself."
Kai raised a hand lazily. "Hey—stop forgiving her for me. Hear that, Blondie? You owe me one."
Lucy puffed her cheeks. "My name is Lucy!"
Gray stepped forward, fists clenched. "We won't let those guys get away."
"Yeah!" Natsu growled. "They messed with our guild!"
Kai muttered under his breath, "Wow, no respect for my opinion."
Natsu turned stiffly before seeing happy asleep beside kai , he rushes toward Happy, panic suddenly returning. "Happy! What happened?! Are you okay?!"
Happy blinked groggily awake. "Aye… just sleepy…", natsu pulled him into a tight hug causing the blue cat to cry in panic of losing oxygen.
Kai stretched, looking wholly unimpressed. "Not to ruin the group moment, but… did you find anything, Red?"
Erza straightened. "We were tricked as well. Eisenwald wasn't planning anything in Onibas. Their main force moved toward Oshibana—the Lullaby may be used there."
Kai nodded slowly. "Hm. Doesn't make sense to switch targets but whatever. Shouldn't you get moving? Even half-dead, they could crawl."
They all nodded immediately.
"Right! Let's go!"
Lucy and Happy turned—only to see Kai not moving.
"Kai? Come on!"
Kai waved lazily from his spot under the tree. "Nah. I'm sitting this one out."
Erza blinked. "…Are you not feeling well?"
Kai stared up at her blandly. "Define 'fine.' If you mean 'Can I move and fight?'—yes. If you mean 'Do I want to?'—absolutely not. I've done more today than in an entire week. I tracked them, beat them half-dead, saved Blondie twice. You just need to wrap up the leftovers."
Natsu pumped a fist. "Yeah! We got this, Erza! Let's go!"
Lucy sighed. "Maybe I should stay with Kai—"
"No," Kai said immediately. "Take her. And the cat. I'm not babysitting again. I'm leaving."
Lucy sputtered. "I'm not helpless!"
Kai raised a brow. "Then why were you hiding behind me when Erigor showed up?"
Lucy choked on air. "…That was—!!"
Erza looked at Kai quietly for a moment. Something about this felt off—he'd fought so fiercely, taken the brunt of every attack… and now he wanted no part of the final confrontation even though he hadn't gotten anything out of it?
But she also knew Kai. He hated extra effort. And he really was injured.
She exhaled. "Fine. Rest. We'll handle it."
They climbed into the vehicle. The engine roared to life.
"Wait!" Natsu leaned out the window. "I forgot to ask Kai for another one of those anti-motion sickness things!"
Kai lifted a lazy hand. "Bite your tongue off. Pain might distract you."
"WHAT KIND OF ADVICE IS THAT?!" Natsu screamed as the vehicle sped away.
The group's laughter faded into the distance.
Kai watched them go with a small smile.
"…Finally. Peace."
He exhaled, rolled onto his back beneath the uprooted tree, and reached into his pouch.
A dark flute slid into his hand—three skulls carved into the top, empty sockets seeming to watch him.
The Lullaby.
He twirled it, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Let's see what you're made of."
He had swapped it with a stick when pretending to take it from Kageyama. No reason to tell Erza—they'd never let him experiment on it.
So he had sent them on their mission to chase Eisenwald ,those guys needed to be stopped anyways and fairy tail would need destruction to blow off the steam.
Besides Eisenwald was a snake without fangs now that he had taken lullaby so everything was fine and now.
Now Kai had plans.
Very tinkerer mage like plans regarding this flute made by zeref's living magic using rituals and materials centuries ago.