A Dragon In A Fox's Body

Now that Jellal had been released due to some persuasion, there were officially couples in the guild; Jellal and Erza, Natsu and Lucy, Gray and Juvia, but I was torn with Rogue and Kid. No matter. I'm a freaking demon who's over 600 years old. Why would anyone even have the tiniest bit of interest in me? I've seen the world change, I've seen it at its best and worst, shrouded in light and darkness. I'm as old as the earth itself. Hell, I even remember when the first shrine in Japan was built. Tomoe doesn't remember though. He fell in love, and when she died, it broke his heart, leading him down a path to suicide. Had Mikage not interrupted and given him the gift of oblivion, I wouldn't have any family to go to, no one to care for me. No one other than Fairy Tail, but who would've brought me? I realized that a tear was streaking down my cheek as I leaned against the wall, cheek in my hand, watching the game along with the rest of the Fairy Tail team.

Gajeel stood next to me. "Hey, you alright?"

"Hm?"

"You're crying."

I pulled my hand away from my face, staring at the small teardrop in my palm. "I-I didn't even notice. Sorry, I guess I was lost in thought." I stood up, using my sleeve to dry off my eye. Since when did I get so emotional?"

Your heart has opened to those you care about, making you vulnerable.

Well, that's not good.

Aziza chuckled. No, it's not. However, love also makes you stronger in ways you would've never thought possible.

And I need to be thinking about this why?

Set and Apophis grow more powerful by the minute now that I'm closer to them. You'll need all the strength you can get. They can be both weak points and strong points. In all your years, you've been focused on protecting your brother and those you care about, putting others before yourself. It's time things changed. You need to be happy for once. Let yourself enjoy life.

Gray watched me, worried. I've been silent for too long now, too silent and too still. He and Gajeel were like my big brothers at the guild; my first few jobs were with them, and they've always been like Tomoe, protective, strong, and caring. I wouldn't be surprised if the demon that Silver killed, the magic Gray inherited, was another sibling I didn't know about. He was standing on the other side of me and tapped me on the shoulder, snapping me out of it. "I haven't seen you this quiet since you read three series in a row at the guild. You doing okay?"

I smiled. I hated lying. "I'm fine. There's just something I have to do." Just like that, I was gone.