Kai blinked at Cana, genuinely confused for a moment as he studied her expression. She stood there with her arms folded beneath her chest, a bottle tucked against her hip, and a surprisingly serious look in her eyes—serious enough that even he couldn't brush it off entirely.
"…You want to come with me on the mission?" Kai asked, pointing a thumb at himself as if making sure she wasn't referring to someone behind him.
Cana nodded once. Firm. "Yeah. So do you mind if I do?"
Kai's response was immediate.
"Absolutely yes, my cute brownie."
Cana's eyebrow twitched. Hard.
Kai continued, "Why do you want to come with me? Especially when I don't remember you having literally any interest in ancient ruins. Unless there's a booze fountain hidden inside one of them, which—actually—would explain a lot about you."
Cana looked down slightly, her lashes lowering. It wasn't embarrassment—it was something closer to hesitation, maybe even… vulnerability. She rarely showed that side.
"Well… it's not the mission," she admitted softly, fingers tightening around her bottle. "I actually have something I want to talk to you about."
Kai stared at her for a long second.
Then smirked.
"Oh, could it be that brownie has fallen for my charm and now secretly wants to take my body for all that teasing."
Cana choked on her own breath, startled. Her cheeks tinted pink for a moment before she exhaled sharply and laughed.
"J—just shut it!" she sputtered, waving her bottle threateningly at him. "Can I come or not?"
Kai looked at her long enough that she actually started fidgeting under his gaze.
Then he sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Tag along. Not like I haven't had to take care of you before."
Cana opened her mouth—likely to argue—only for Kai to already turn away, muttering something off-handed as he walked out of the guild.
Realizing she'd lose him if she didn't hurry, Cana quickly grabbed another bottle from the nearby table—earning a shout from the poker-faced bartender who was used to her thefts—and dashed out after him.
"Kai! Wait up!" she called, running forward with surprising energy for someone who practically lived on alcohol.
Kai didn't stop walking, didn't even look back, but his hand lifted in a lazy wave as Cana jogged until she finally fell into step beside him.
As the two left Fairy Tail's doors, Mira stood behind the bar, wiping a glass as she watched them go. Her smile was soft, warm, a little wistful.
"Take care of each other… Cana, Kai."
Neither answered with words—only a simultaneous wave from behind as they disappeared down Magnolia's street.
Mira's smile faltered a little as she sighed. "Still… he could've rested before leaving."
Elsewhere in the guild, Team Natsu had taken over a table near the window, plates and mugs scattered around as usual. But Erza wasn't eating—she was staring in the direction Kai had just exited, eyes narrowed in thought.
Lucy noticed immediately. "Erza? Is it… okay for him to go on another mission so soon? Shouldn't he rest after all the council stuff, lullaby and fighting you all?"
Erza shook her head slowly. "Kai has always been drawn to artifacts and discoveries. For him, a mission involving ancient ruins isn't taxing—it's a form of rest, that's how some people operate."
Gray stretched his arms behind his head, nodding. "Yeah, that guy doesn't stay put anyway. He's always leaving for some mission or another. Doesn't even need a reason."
Happy smirks leaning down to her, "Lucy's in loveee."
Lucy's face turned red as she grabbed the cat and shut off his mouth, "Stop saying that stupid cat." She sighs thankful that not everyone heard it and looked down at her lap. "I suppose someone like him would be adventurous but… in just a few days, I got so used to him being around us even though I couldn't see him half the time, It feels weird knowing he won't actually be around now."
Natsu and Gray stopped mid-argument at that, glancing at her.
Then Lucy felt two hands pat her shoulders—one warm, one cold.
"Lucy," Erza said gently, "they're merely leaving for a mission. They'll return in a week or so."
Lucy nodded slowly.
Before she could respond, Natsu—who had been quietly eating for once—froze.
Then stood up so violently his chair slid across the floor.
"WAIT!" Natsu yelled, eyes wide. "I didn't get my fight with him! Or with Erza! And he already left?!"
"Oi kai you liar bastard get back here ."
His outrage echoed through the guild.
Lucy slapped her forehead. "Natsu, he's gone. He can't hear you."
Happy floated above her head, tail swishing. "Aye! And even if he did, he would ignore you, Natsu."
Natsu's flames burst to life instantly. "Why you little—!"
Happy added, "Besides, you can fight Erza."
That was a mistake.
A big one.
Natsu immediately turned toward Erza, fire now roaring around him like a volcano about to burst. "YEAH! Erza! You said we'd fight! Come on! Now is the perfect time!"
The entire guild collectively leaned back, clearing space around the soon-to-be battleground.
Erza slowly set her fork down.
Rose to her feet.
Dusting off her armor with calm composure before looking Natsu dead in the eyes.
"I did say that," she replied. "And I keep my word."
Natsu grinned like a child who'd been handed a birthday cake and a box of dynamite.
Gray stared at them. "Here we go again…"
Lucy clutched her head. "We're going to need repairs—again."
Happy munched a fish. "Aye."
The two titans stepped outside into the open floor of the guild.
Erza's armor shimmered—her magic humming as she prepared to requip.
Natsu cracked his knuckles, feet pounding against the ground with excitement.
Chaos was imminent.
The guild braced.
Loke hid behind a pillar.
Levy put up a magical shield around her books.
Macao and Wakaba placed bets.
Mira smiled sweetly—already reaching for the repair request forms.
The yard behind Fairy Tail was already rumbling with excitement.
The dirt ground, marked with scars from years of reckless spars and magical outbursts, had become the unofficial arena—an open stage where the guild's most ridiculous, destructive, and enthusiastic battles were held. And today was no different.
Members crowded around the edges, some sitting on barrels, some perched on the fence, others climbing over each other just to get a better view.
Macao and Wakaba stood at the front, a money pouch already dangling from Wakaba's hand.
"Place your bets!" Macao shouted, voice cracking slightly. "Five-to-one odds on Erza wiping the floor with Natsu!"
Wakaba nodded sagely. "Yup. Cana's gonna be pissed she's missing this… she'd clean out half the guild."
They shared a mournful sigh for her lost opportunity before returning to collecting bets.
In the center of the yard, Natsu cracked his knuckles with the eagerness of a man about to dive headfirst into a volcano.
"Erza!" he yelled, flames licking off his shoulders. "You better give it your all! 'Cause I'm ALL FIRED UP NOW!"
Erza faced him with a calm intensity that sent shivers through the gallery of spectators. Her lips curled faintly—just faintly—into a smile as she spoke.
"I will give it my all."
Her voice was steady.
Resolute.
She raised a hand.
"Requip."
Light burst around her in a whirlwind of heat and magic. Crimson sparks danced through the air as armor plates shifted, clinking into place. The glow faded—revealing her in the Flame Empress Armor.
Even the heat-resistant wizards winced.
"Oh man, Natsu's done for," Max muttered.
"No kidding," Nab said, wiping sweat from his forehead even though the fight hadn't started yet. "She's taking this seriously."
"He's got this ," Romeo whispered, eyes wide.
Inside the guild, Mira leaned against the counter with a peaceful smile. "Good luck, Natsu."
Lucy looks at Mira with a sweatdrop because she was cheering for him even though she wasn't betting on him but rather against him.
Natsu, however, only grinned harder.
"Heh. That's what I wanted." He slammed his fists together. "LET'S GO!"
Meanwhile, across Magnolia, the atmosphere was very different.
Cana trudged through the crowded marketplace, dragging her feet dramatically as she followed Kai, who was currently buried under an avalanche of bags, bundles, and containers—all somehow disappearing into his endless pouch the moment he touched them.
The pair had been walking in and out of shops nonstop.
Twenty minutes.
At least ten different stores.
And more items than Cana could name if someone paid her to.
Kai was currently discussing some rare metal alloys with an elderly shopkeeper, going on about conductivity ratios, rune stability, and magical resonance. Cana's head tilted back as she chugged the last of her bottle.
"Oi, Kai," she groaned, wiping her mouth. "Are we going on a mission or shopping for your entire extended family?"
Kai didn't even look at her.
He held up a finger without turning. "Shh, little one. Let the adults talk."
Cana's eyebrow twitched. "Little one? I'm older than you!"
"Only physically," Kai muttered. "Mentally and emotionally, I am the one who will need more than half of this stuff to save your beautiful ass from inevitable disaster."
Cana stared at him.
Then sighed.
"…I walked into that one, but at least i made you admit I am beautiful."
"I never said you weren't beautiful brownie ". Kai says still checking over the equipments he bought.
Cana felt a faint blush cover her cheeks at the genuine compliment ,as she looks away not interrupting and waiting for him to finish his work.
At last, Kai finished his conversation, paid the old man, and shoved another batch of supplies into his endlessly bottomless pouch.
Cana squinted at it as if it were mocking her.
"No matter how many times I see that thing," she said, "I still can't understand how big it is on the inside."
Kai paused.
He opened his mouth.
Cana's hand shot up immediately. "And don't you dare tell me something weird like it's as big as my thirst for alcohol."
Kai shrugged, almost disappointed he couldn't.
"I already told you, Brownie," he said, using the nickname Cana hated and secretly liked. "If you don't want weird answers, don't ask me questions I don't know the answers to."
Cana let out a laugh—genuine, amused, a little lightened by the familiar banter.
Soon enough they reached Magnolia Station. The ticket clerk gave them a nod as they walked past, and Kai flicked him a tiny metal coin that whirred mid-air and then disappeared in a puff of purple sparks.
"Was that necessary?" Cana asked.
"Yes," Kai said, taking his seat on the train. "It's called generosity."
"It's called bribery."
"Semantics."
Cana dropped into the seat beside him. The train lurched forward, beginning the quiet, rhythmic journey east.
They sat in companionable silence for a moment.
Then Cana leaned her head back with a sigh.
"So… where are we going exactly?"
Kai already having closed his eyes and drifted to sleep reached into his pocket, pulled out the folded job flyer, and handed it to her without looking.
Cana took it, unfolding it carefully. Her eyes narrowed as she read aloud:
"The Runecrypt of Kaldors, located two days east of Balsam Village. Objective: Retrieve the research notes of the archaeological team sent there and clean up the area for safe exploration. …Reward: 800,000 Jewels."
Cana whistled.
"That's a lot."
Kai still trying to fall asleep mutter , leaning slightly back in his seat.
"It's because it's dangerous," he replied simply. "Really dangerous, trust me you don't wanna go there without preparation."
Cana's fingers paused on the edge of the flyer.
"…Kai?"
"Mm?"
She looked at him, brown eyes steady.
"I still want to go."