Fairy Tail: The Journey
Chapter 7
The next morning, the Fairy Tail guild hall looked like a battlefield after a war.
Empty mugs were scattered across the floor, broken tables leaned sideways, and several guild members were lying around completely drunk. Loud snores echoed through the hall as the sunlight streamed through the windows.
Kai stood near the entrance and looked at the scene with an amused smile.
"Looks like the party was too much for them."
He stepped carefully between the sleeping guild members before walking toward Erza.
She was resting against the wall, still half asleep from the celebration.
"Erza," Kai said softly while grabbing her hand.
She blinked a few times before standing up.
"Where are we going?"
Kai simply smiled and led her outside.
They walked behind the guild building where a calm lake reflected the golden morning sun. The air was peaceful, completely different from the chaos inside the guild hall.
Kai and Erza sat beside the lake together.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Erza looked at the water and smiled faintly.
"So… we finally joined Fairy Tail?"
Kai leaned back slightly and nodded.
"Yes, we did."
There was a quiet sense of relief in his voice.
After everything they had endured, they had finally reached this place.
Kai reached into his inventory and pulled out two swords.
The blades gleamed softly in the sunlight.
"Here."
He tossed one toward Erza.
Erza caught it easily and stared at the weapon in her hands.
It was a beautiful katana with an elegant design.
"It's beautiful," she said quietly.
Kai placed the second sword on his waist.
"That one is called Meigetsu," he explained. "Mine is Kyojitsu."
Erza examined the blade carefully.
"Channel your magic into it," Kai said calmly.
He did the same with his own sword.
The moment magic flowed through them—
Kai's blade turned a deep crimson red, glowing like burning sunlight.
Erza's blade turned snow white, shining like pale moonlight.
Then both swords suddenly disappeared.
Erza blinked in shock.
"Where did it go?"
She looked around in confusion.
"And how did it change color?"
Kai chuckled softly.
"Close your eyes."
Erza frowned slightly but obeyed.
"Now think about the sword."
Kai closed his own eyes as well.
Inside his mind he could clearly see Kyojitsu resting within him.
Those swords were similar to Zanpakutō from another world.
They would grow alongside their users and protect their souls.
Erza suddenly gasped softly.
"I can feel it…"
Her eyes opened with excitement.
"It's inside me!"
Kai nodded.
"It will grow with us."
He looked toward the lake calmly.
"The stronger we become, the stronger the swords will become too."
Erza smiled brightly.
"That's amazing."
Kai then raised his hand and gently placed it on her forehead.
Erza blinked in surprise.
"Kai?"
Inside his mind he spoke silently.
System, transfer Moon Breathing to Erza.
The system responded immediately.
{DING! Translating Moon Breathing To Erza Scarlet}
A moment later Erza's eyes widened.
Suddenly a flood of knowledge appeared in her mind.
Breathing techniques.
Sword movements.
Rhythms of combat.
Her breathing slowly changed.
The flow of Moon Breathing began circulating through her body.
Kai watched quietly before nodding.
"Good."
Erza looked at her hands in amazement.
"I can feel it… this breathing style."
Kai smiled slightly.
"Now you just need to train until you can maintain that breathing constantly."
Erza nodded firmly.
"Of course I will."
Kai casually reached over and began stroking her hair.
Erza froze.
Her face immediately turned red.
"Wh—what are you doing?!"
Kai blinked innocently.
"Stroking your hair?"
Erza's brain nearly short-circuited.
"W-why?!"
Kai shrugged casually.
"Well… they're nice."
He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Beautiful… and they're yours."
Erza's face turned even redder.
Completely flustered, she forgot to ask the many questions forming in her mind.
Like where those swords came from.
Or how Kai had just given her a breathing style.
From the second floor window of the guild, Makarov quietly watched them.
The old master smiled kindly.
"Well…"
He stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Looks like those two won't need someone to pull them out of their pain."
His eyes softened.
"As long as they're together… they'll be fine."
From that day forward, Kai and Erza began taking missions for the guild.
They trained together every day.
Kai's swordsmanship remained superior, but Erza improved rapidly with every spar.
Her growth speed was nothing short of monstrous.
Even Kai continued improving during their battles.
Because along with Youriichi's strength, he had inherited Youriichi's talent.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks turned into months.
They trained.
Completed missions.
Laughed with the guild.
And slowly grew stronger while living within the chaotic but warm family called Fairy Tail.