Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
July 9, x787.
"finally, we're back home." Alfonzo said as he stepped out of the elevator after parking the Escalade in the garage under the mansion. "Ugh... It feels like forever since I slept in my own bed. I really just wanna dive in and not wake up for the next three months."
"Yeah, I can see that." Elicia replied as she hugged Alfonzo's left arm. "I mean, you've been going pretty much nonstop ever since we left back in January. I think you deserve a break."
"*Sigh* Unfortunately, that's not possible." Alfonzo said. "There's still so much to do. I mean, we need to hire that squad of maids, and that needs to happen before you have the baby. I have research to do on some of the goodies I took from Danzo's base, not to mention Shisui's eye and Shin's arm, I have to help prepare for the Fantasia Parade, and most importantly, I have to get things ready for Sun and Erza's wedding."
"Yeah, you've really got a lot on your plate, huh?" Elicia said, not realizing just how busy Alfonzo would be until he mentioned everything that was going on in his life. "Still, you need some time to rest, too."
As she reached that point, Elicia, who had been walking through the mansion with Alfonzo while Ikaruga followed them, took Alfonzo's luggage from him and handed it to Ikaruga, who accepted it diligently before stepping away to put it away.
Then, once Ikaruga left to put away Alfonzo and Elicia's luggage, Elicia pulled Alfonzo along to the living room. Wasting no time, she sat down on a couch. A moment later, she pulled Alfonzo down to sit next to her. Then, she forced him to lay his head on her lap before she started combing her fingers through his hair and brushing her fingers against his scalp, the way he often does to her.
"Even if it's just for today, let yourself rest, Fonzie." Elicia said in a soothing tone.
Knowing Elicia was right about him, Alfonzo allowed all the tension to leave his muscles. Then, he just enjoyed the feeling of Elicia's fingertips brushing against his scalp. And although he did not fall asleep, for the first time in a while, he found himself truly relaxed.
"Thanks, Lici." Alfonzo said with his eyes closed. Then, he turned his head to the side and kissed Elicia's belly over her clothes before he spoke quietly. "Your mommy is the best."
Hearing that, Elicia smiled brightly as she continued running her fingers between Alfonzo's dreads. And like that, the two enjoyed their time together in comfortable silence. Even when the other girls returned home, none of them had the heart to disturb their tranquility... For a while at least.
Eventually, the girls got hungry. And considering the fact that they had not had Alfonzo's cooking in almost half a year, they were impatient to get their fix. So, Alfonzo was eventually forced to get up and cook for all the mansion's residents.
July 10, x787.
The next day, everyone living in the mansion, other than Alfonzo, Elicia, and Ikaruga, went to the guild hall for training. Meanwhile, Elicia stayed at home to continue working on the Fall Collection for the Taylor Shop. Alfonzo, on the other hand, went into the forest east of Magnolia to see Porlyusica.
*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*
Eventually, Alfonzo reached Porlyusica's tree house. And when he did, he knocked politely. Not long after that, the door was pulled open with force. And when it was, Porlyusica, with her ever present scowl, was revealed.
"Oh, you're back." Porlyusica said, clearly surprised to see Alfonzo standing in her doorway. "Well, what do you want? I'm a busy woman."
'Sure you are.' Alfonzo thought to himself. 'AS busy as someone who never leaves their house can---.'
Before Alfonzo could finish his thought, he was forced to stop when Porlyusica's trusty broom materialized in her hand. Instead, Alfonzo reached into the pouch hanging on his hip and pulled out a small bottle with a red eye floating in it, hoping to divert Porlyusica's attention away from hitting him with the broom.
Inside the bottle Alfonzo was holding, the Sharingan he plucked out of Danzo's head floated. Although he gave most of the Sharingan to Sasuke, he did keep a few for himself. Namely, all the ones he plucked out of Danzo, with an emphasis on the one with the Kotoamatsukami. Alfonzo did not trust anyone enough to let it fall into anyone else's hands. So, he never planned to give it to Sasuke in the first place.
As for showing it to Porlyusica, there's no better person Alfonzo could think of to help him research it. And with her medical expertise and his proficiency with sigils, they just might find a way to give the power of the Sharingan to someone without a transplant.
Seeing the eye floating in the bottle, Porlyusica's eyes immediately zeroed in on it.
"What is that eye?" Porlyusica asked, unable to disguise her interest. "And where did you get it from?"
"This is what is called a Sharingan." Alfonzo replied. "As for where I got it... Well, I ripped it out this old mother fucker's head after he tried to kidnap Lici and use her as a hostage to make me an obedient puppet."
Hearing that, Porlyusica glanced away from the eye in the bottle for a moment, glaring at Alfonzo for his use of such colorful language. However, she did not reprimand him. She, like everyone else in the guild, is aware of the bond Alfonzo and Elicia share. So, she could understand his choice of words and the actions he took to get the eye.
"However, the guy I took it from..." Alfonzo added, having calmed down after receiving Porlyusica's glare. "... stole it from a member of the Village Hidden in the Leaves' Uchiha clan before having the rest of the clan wiped out."
"Things like that are why I hate humans." Porlyusica said in an angry tone while shaking her head. "Anyway, what do you want me to do with this eye? Did you want me to implant it in your head?"
"Nope." Alfonzo replied. "from what I know, if not used by an Uchiha, these Sharingan use up too much magic power. On top of that, they can't be turned off."
"Then, what do you want?" Porlyusica asked, her tone making it clear that she was getting irritated. "Hurry up and spit it out. I don't have all day."
With that, Alfonzo let know Porlyusica what he wanted to do with the eye, which was to find a way to give someone the base abilities of the Sharingan. He didn't think it was worth it to try for the Mangekyō. Especially with its draw backs.
After hearing what Alfonzo wanted, Porlyusica, faster than Alfonz's eyes could follow, snatched the bottle out of his hand.
"I'll contact you after I've finished researching this eye." Porlyusica said as she prepared to slam the door in Alfonzo's face.
*Bang!*
However, before the door could close, Alfonzo slipped his foot between the door and the frame. And when she noticed that the door was not closed, Porlyusica's broom once again appeared in her hand. Then, she raised it to hit Alfonzo.
"Hold on, hold on!" Alfonzo shouted as he raised his hands to defend himself from the descending broom. "I've got more than just the eye to show you."
As soon as Alfonzo's words fell, Porlyusica's broom stopped only an inch away from Alfonzo's crossed arms. Then, before Porlyusica could rethink hitting him, Alfonzo once again reached into his bag. This time, however, he pulled out a case. And when he opened the case, what was revealed was Danzo's severed arm.
However, instead of an arm made of flesh and blood, the arm seemed to be made out of wood.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Porlyusica asked, sounding rather irritated.
"Wait, let me explain!" Alfonzo exclaimed before Porlyusica could start swinging her broom again. "This arm used to belong to the guy I was talking about earlier. And although it looks like a piece of wood right now, it used to be a fully flesh and blood arm... Even if it had rings all over it like the cross section of a tree."
Once again, Porlyusica's interest was piqued. So, Alfonzo continued his explanation.
"Apparently, it was made from the DNA of the village's first leader, Hashirama Senju." Alfonzo continued as he reached into the bag once again and pulled out a stack of research notes. "And for some reason, if successfully implanted, the cells of this Hashirama Senju can help control the magic power drain of those eyes, among other things. Here, it should all be in here.'
As Alfonzo reached out his hand to pass over Danzo's research on the Sharingan and Hashirama cells, Porlyusica snatched away the case and the notes, once again faster than Alfonzo could follow with his eyes.
"If that's everything, you can leave now." Porlyusica said, the annoyance in her tone much more evident at this point. "I'll contact you when I have results. Now leave.'
This time, instead of trying to stop the door when Porlyusica slammed it, Alfonzo chose to leap backwards.
*Bang!* *Bang!*
And that turned out to be the right decision. Somehow, in the short time the door took to slam shut, Porlyusica managed to swing her broom through the gap and retrieve it before the door closed.
"*Sigh* I love that old woman to death…" Alfonzo muttered while blankly staring at the closed door of the tree house. "But I could seriously do without that damn broom."
A moment later, Alfonzo shook his head. Then, he turned around and started returning to the town. Though, he could not decide if he would go to the guild hall and join the others in training or head back home to spend time with Elicia.
Eventually, he decided to head to the guild. However, he would not be joining the rest of the guild in training. Instead, he decided to do something he had not done in years, ever since the guild's point system was put into place. Today, Alfonzo decided he would take a shift in the kitchen.
Before heading to the guild, however, he decided he would head back home first to pick up Elicia. With her being pregnant, he was certain she would not take it well if he took a shift in the guilds kitchen and did not tell her. Especially with her increased food consumption thanks to the pregnancy.
So, he did exactly that. Meaning, after he arrived at the house, he told Elicia what he was planning. Then, he waited for her to get ready to go out, which did not take long. Elicia always managed to move at superhuman speeds when his cooking was involved, after all.
And after Elicia was ready, she, Alfonzo, and Ikaruga hopped into the S 600 and made their way to the guild hall.
Eventually, Alfonzo parked in the guild's underground parking garage. Then, after getting out of the magic vehicle, the trio made their way into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor, Alfonzo and Elicia chatting all the while.
"So, what made you wanna take a shift in the kitchen, Fonzie?" Elicia asked curiously while leaning her back against Alfonzo's chest.
"Honestly, it's because I missed all those barbarians while we were gone." Alfonzo replied with a smile. "Although most of them annoy the fuck out of me most of the time, I still love them."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Elicia said with a smile of her own. "The whole time we were gone, even the time when we were at Quatro Cerberus, it just didn't feel right. I mean, the brawls that always happen have really grown on me over the years."
"Yeah, without seeing people throwing punches and getting thrown all over the place, it feels like something is missing from my day." Alfonzo added with a chuckle. "When they call our guild a bunch of ruffians, they really aren't exaggerating. But you know what? I wouldn't trade any of those ruffians for the world."
In response, Elicia's smile widened as she leaned into Alfonzo even more. Even Ikaruga, seeing how happy the two were, could not help but smile happily as well. She even considered joining Fairy Tail, as well. It's not like she would not be able to serve Elicia if she were a member of the guild, after all.
That happy atmosphere lasted until the elevator doors opened. However, it was broken completely by the angry shout of a young woman.
"I've had enough! I'm tired of you two getting in the way! Who I date is my decision. And the two of you have no right to keep getting in between us!"
That voice was quite familiar to the trio in the elevator. Especially to Alfonzo and Elicia, who had heard it for over ten years by now. However, the tone it spoke in was completely foreign to them.
"Oh shit, it sounds like Levy is pissed." Alfonzo muttered as he gently nudged Elicia through the elevator doors.
When the trio eventually stepped out of the elevator, the first floor of the guild hall was quiet. Though, there weren't very many people there, since most of them were on the higher floors training. However, there were a few. Mainly, the older members of the guild, who trained at different times from the current generation.
However, everyone who was on the first floor was currently staring at a group of four, Jet, Droy, Levy, and Gajeel. And Levy was currently standing in front of Gajeel with an angry expression on her face while confronting Jet and Droy.
"But why does it have to be him?" Jet shouted back while pointing at Gajeel, who only stood with his arms crossed with an impassive expression on his face.
"Seriously, he's always so rude and combative." Droy added while also pointing at Gajeel angrily. "What do you see in him? How is he better than either of us."
"Because he doesn't treat me like a damsel in distress whenever we go on quests together." Levy said while glaring at her childhood friends. "He trusts me to handle myself. He treats me like a wizard, an equal. But the two of you, despite the fact that I'm an S-Class wizard, think that I need your protection. ON top of that, he's not so jealous that every time I so much as greet another male, he has to insert himself into the conversation, trying to keep me from speaking."
To that, Jet and Droy had nothing to say. They know how much Levy hates being coddled when they take quests together. In fact, she had told them as much while they were hospitalized after the first time they fought Gajeel. Unfortunately, old habits die hard.
Seeing Jet and Droy lower their heads after her outburst, Levy calmed down significantly. Then, she continued in a much gentler tone.
"Look, guys, I love you two. You're like family to me." Levy said. "But we're not kids anymore. I can protect myself. And I have the right to decide who I give my heart to. I know the two of you love me as more than a member of your family. But I'm sorry, I just don't see you that way. So, please, instead of trying to sabotage my love life, I ask that you just be happy for me."
Hearing Levy's heartfelt words, Jet and Droy could do nothing but exhale a sigh. Then, in unison, they raised their heads.
"Sorry Levy." Jet and Droy said in unison.
"It's just hard to see you with someone else when we've liked you for so long." Droy said.
"Yeah, and it's even harder when we see you with someone who beat us up so bad." Jet added. "But if you're truly happy, then I'll give you two my blessing."
"*Sigh* Me, too." Droy said. Then, he turned his attention towards Gajeel. "But if you ever hurt her, no matter what it takes, I'll make you pay."
"Hmph! You don't have to worry about that." Gajeel said in a solemn tone. "I like seeing her smile too much for that."
That statement caused Levy to blush. It's not often that Gajeel is so blunt with his affection, after all.
"I'll hold you to that." Jet said in just as solemn a tone. "Still, I really wanna punch you in the face right now."
"Hmph! You're welcome to try." Gajeel said, his solemn expression turning into a battle thirsty grin. "But I punch back, you know."
Hearing that, Levy could only shake her head. Then, she walked from between the three men and headed towards the table she and the others usually sit at. Meanwhile, Jet and Droy exchanged glances. Then, they both rushed Gajeel with their fists reeled back.
Naturally, shortly after the fight between the three started, one of them was knocked into a table where some other members were sitting. As a result, the fight between the three turned into a brawl that involved almost everyone on the first floor.
Meanwhile, Alfonzo, Elicia, and Ikaruga had been watching the entire event from in front of the elevator doors. And as soon as the brawl started, they could not help but smile brightly.
"*Sigh* There's no place like home." Alfonzo and Elicia said in unison while smiling happily.