18 Chapter 18// Beach Episode Part 2

"H..hey, hasn't Aki come out yet? He's taking way too l..long..gg" Natsu whined while clutching to a floating ring, trying his best not to throw up.

Gray looked up from the sunbed, his sunglass-covered eyes motioned toward the sky, "You're right, it has been quite a while."

"I'll go check out on him," Gray slowly sat up. Just as his feet stood firmly against the hot sand grains, he swiftly and expertly took off his shirt in one move.

"Hell no! I will–muffh..", Natsu immediately covered his mouth, his face turning green.

Natsu VS One tiny wave

Winner – The wave

"Natsuuuu, are you okay?", Happy flew above Natsu's head. Natsu, looking at Happy flying circle above his head like a bee flying around a flower, his motion sickness got worse.

"Ahhhh! Natsu! Hang in there!!"

"Hahahaha, you kids sure have a ton of energy!", Makrov burped while waving the wine bottle.

Lucy sweatdropped while looking at Happy trying to give Natsu mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"Muahhhhh~"                  "W..wait!!! Happy! Don't–"

"Bahahaha"

"hahahaha"

"Pfftt"

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Gray arrived in front of the changing room and knocked three times, "Aki? Are you in there?"

A moment later, a shuffling sound was heard inside of the room, "Gray? Wait a min, I'll be out in a second."

Gray cooly put his hand in his pocket, "No worries."

"Sorry, sorry, I had too many options, so I don't know which one to choose," Aki sheepishly spoke and opened the door. Behind him was a neat and tidy room. No trace of life can be found.

Gray looked stupefyingly at Aki. There, in front of him was Aki, who was bathed in the glory of war. His unhealthy pale skin was filled with medals from the past. Even more so, the blooming scar on top of his heart. Gray had the sudden illusion that the vines are moving and withering on top of Aki's fragile skin, effectively trapping Aki's heart within its hands.

Gray suddenly panicked. His heartbeat was a lot louder than normal today. He hopes Aki won't hear it. But it couldn't be said to be his fault.

Aki was showered under the warm sunlight and his white hair was naturally merging with the sun's golden halo. He was standing in front of the sun as if it should be. It was as if he was the dear child of the sun.

Aki was wearing an open shirt which made his lethal yet beautiful scars more prominent. More so, the shirt was fully black, so it made his delicate features stand out more. The obsidian shirt has only one simple pattern. It was a lone dragon weaved by golden threads. This simplistic design made it so that the dragon was majestically soaring across Aki's body.

It is as if Aki was the ruler favored above by heaven and the earth. His mole under the eye was especially eye-catching. Aki's lips were obviously curved and combined with his anhydrous features, he looked like the God of Kindness yet the mole seems to spell indifferent and apathetic.

It was as if Aki was an aloof tyrant that ruled his country with compassion and violence.

Even if Aki were to be a dictator tainted with blood on his hands, Gray didn't mind bending his knees and offering his heart on a silver platter for Aki to feast on.

Aki was an intelligent man, Gray knew that. He knew that. But sometimes, the smartest are the dumbest.

Gray really doesn't mind dying for him. He also doesn't mind Aki choosing another person over him. He really doesn't mind if Aki truly loves that person.

What he does mind is that this death called timebomb separates Aki from others. Aki deserved to be under the sunlight, his eyes glinting with joy, air filled with laughter, and every second of his day filled with happiness. Not somewhere in the dark corner alone, coughing his heart out.

This is why the guild members ultimately decided to transfer him to logistics. The room was originally vacant, the master just decorates it for shit and giggles. They didn't have logistics or administration from the start. For heaven's sake, they were Fairy Tail members. They weren't bound by numbers. If something does arise, then they will think of something at that time.

The sole purpose is just to let Aki take it easy. They should have known better. Aki was a perfectionist. He brings out 120% of whatever he does.

They build a perfect glasshouse for the lone flower that couldn't bloom anymore. Even after the gardeners lost faith in said flower, even if no one was watching, every day, after the sun comes up, the flower bravely faces the sunlight, never lowering its head.

Never giving up, the flower continues to look straight. Soon after, the gardeners began noticing this flower, which become increasingly beautiful under sunlight, again. They soon developed a possessive desire against this flower. They wanted to pluck this flower from the glasshouse and plant it in their garden, for their eyes only.

Flowers withered in time.

Some gardeners begged the flower to stop gazing at the sun. It was taking out the time from its already limit-time. But the flower, pretending it can't hear their pleas, their gazes, stubbornly stared at the sun. 

For its beautiful ending was to diminish and withered alone in the glasshouse with an audience of none.

Aki always think death was the answer. But he didn't think so.

My silly Aki, Do you think I'll let go of you that easily?