(Jason's POV)
"Sir." Felicity's voice said from the badge, "A moment?"
I was standing on the deck of the Nemesis, surrounded by the massive artillery cannons of this massive war vessel. We were in the air high above the earth, in the clouds. The air up here felt a bit thin but I was able to manage.
The rest were inside, tending to the communications. The Hargeon Battle was about to begin since Erza's group had made contact with the enemy, and they had arrived at Hargeon. Crime Sorciere were supposed to join them but I haven't heard from them.
"Yea?" I said
"Have you given it a thought of what you'll do with the child's condition?" She asked
I sighed, "I don't know, Felicity." I said, "I'm not sure of what to do."
"If I had a better alternative, I would tell you." She said
"I know." I said, "I know. But.....jeez, I'm not sure what I'm going. I don't know if it's the right call. I mean, I....."
"It's okay, sir." She said, "No pressure. So far, his vitals are fine. The medicine the doctor gave him is working and his body hasn't overheated. We have time to figure this out."
"Y-Yea..." I said
I don't know what to do. I don't want to risk anyone with having Erion turning into a dragon, we don't know if he'll control himself while in that form. I was surprised he was able to listen to me when I arrived at Magnolia when he was destroying stuff. I honestly thought I was lucky that it happened that way.
I think it's too risky to do it Felicity's way. I don't know what to do. I don't know how Dragons work.....
I do know two dragons, they might know. But Irene is the enemy and she's probably still out of commission. And the other....
Selene might know.
"Sir." Felicity said
"Yea?" I said
"We have contact with Mermaid Heel." She said, "They're requesting transport up to the Nemesis."
I raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?" I said, "Yea, let them on."
Could it be that Kagura is here? I mean, down there....
***************************************
"Kagura!" Lucy said brightly, "You're here!"
I watched as Lucy, Juvia, and Wendy greeted Kagura. She had her companions with her; Milliana, Ariana, and Beth. I wonder what happened to the other one that is usually with them.
Kagura was wearing a dark blue kimono with some black leggings, her hair was tied up in a ponytail as she had the usual hime-style bangs. She looked absolutely stunning, it was amazing. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her beauty.
"Hello, Lucy." She said with a slight smile, "It's good to see you guys."
"Yea, good to see you." Lucy said, "You're here to aid us with the fight?"
Kagura nodded, "Yes." She said, "I heard Erza has gone to Hargeon to fight the army there? I will go and assist her."
"Yes!" Milliana said, "I'll go and help Er-chan~!"
"That's nice." I said walking up to them, "You guys were on your way there? I could give you a ride, I might go there myself. Speed things up."
Kagura gave me a warm smile, "Hello, Jason." She said, "It's been....uhm....it's been a long time since we've seen each other..."
I nodded, "Yep." I said casually, "A few months, that is."
She began to fidget with her sword as she looked down awkwardly.
"Hello, Kagura." I turned to see Mavis walk up, "I thank you for assisting us in this conflict."
She was holding Erion in her arms-
Shit.
I gulped, "Uhm, Mavis." I said, "Maybe you should take Erio-"
"Who's that child?" Kagura said, "H-He looks remarkably like Erza..."
I turned to see Kagura and the others looking straight at Erion, who was looking at them back with curious eyes.
I rubbed my head, "Uhm..." I said, "The thing is...I....well..."
Kagura looked at me with a confused face, then back at Erion. She repeated this around three more times before her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh...." She said softly
Everyone went quiet as if they understood what this meant. I glanced at Mavis, she had a slightly shocked face as sweat ran down her cheek. It appears she forgot about this and may have not meant to walk up to her with my son in her arms.
Kagura wasn't an idiot. I reckon she immediately put two and two together with the way I was acting. If Erion wasn't mine, I would've casually said it, she knows me well enough.
"K-Kagura..." I said softly as I took a step, "I...."
"I need some air." She said while looking down and walking past me
I watched as she walked towards the exit that lead to the deck of the ship. I couldn't help but feel extremely guilty about this. I mean, what the hell, why wouldn't I? Kagura just saw my son, a child I had with another woman.
"J-Jason...." Mavis said, "I didn't mean to...."
"No...." I said, "It's okay, it's not your fault."
Lucy walked up to us, "I may have forgotten too...." She said while looking at Milliana and the others, "I'm sorry, guys, we didn't mean any offense."
I saw as Arania nodded, "It's fine, we understand...." She said, "L-Let's just give her some space, okay?"
Milliana then walked up to me with an angry scowl, "So it's you, huh?" She said angrily, "You were the one."
"Milliana, don't start." Arania said, "Let him be. Kagura already told us she forgave him."
"I don't care." Milliana said, "I haven't."
I sighed, "Yea...." I said walking towards the exit, "I'll talk to her."
About a minute later, I was standing behind Kagura who was at the edge of the deck, leaning on the rails of the ship, below a massive artillery cannon.
I didn't know what to say, I had no words to tell her right now. I can't imagine what she's feeling right now and I understand if she feels angry. I mean, she suffered a miscarriage, lost our child, and was in a deep depression because of it. Now, she saw the child I had with another woman, it must be heartbreaking for her.
"I....." I spoke up, "I'm sorry...."
"I haven't seen or spoken to Erza in months...." She started without looking back at me, "I-Is She...."
I walked up to her, "Oh....No....." I said, "No, Erza isn't the mother."
"Then why does he look so much like her?" She asked, "It's like a mix of you and her, Jason....."
I leaned against the rail next to her, looking down at the earth far bellow, seeing a bit of clouds between. Everything down there looked so damn tiny from up here, it was surreal to see.
I don't know what to tell Kagura, but something told me that the truth is what she deserves. Even if I don't want to tell anyone else, I owe her that much.
I sighed, "T-The mother...." I said, "It's not Erza."
"Then who?" She said seriously
"Erza's mother." I said
I felt her eyes look at me right after I said that. I could tell she was shocked to even hear these words come out of my mouth.
"What?" She said
I didn't look at her, merely looked down.
"Y-Yea....." I said closing my eyes, "Erza's mother is a member of The Spriggan 12 and she's Erion's mother, making him Erza's brother...."
"J-Jason....." She said
I opened my eyes and looked at her, she was completely shocked, her eyes widened as her mouth was slightly opened.
"Nobody but you and Mavis know, Kagura." I said, "I'll like to keep it that way until the right moment comes."
"Erza doesn't know?" She asked
"No." I said, "I have no idea how to tell her or how she'll take it...."
"You have to tell her." She said seriously
"I will." I said, "But right now, we have a War to win. I can't have her distracted."
She sighed and looked away, "I suppose so..."
I looked at her, "Are you okay?" I asked her, "Like I said.....I'm sorry that-"
"I knew something like this would happen, Jason." She said, "You, impregnating another woman. Never did I imagine it would be my close friend's mother."
I looked down, "Yea..." I said, "I think it's crazy too."
"I don't want to know how any of that even happened." She said, "I reckon it was before the Hot Springs...?"
I nodded, "Yep."
"Yea..." She said
I looked at her, "But...you're okay?" I asked
She looked at me with a smile, "I am..." She said, "I was a bit taken aback, I'm sorry. I genuinely believed that you had impregnated Erza."
"Promise you won't tell her." I said
"That's something you should tell her." She said, "Not me."
"I guess that's true..." I said
"You said his name's Erion....?" She said
I smiled, "Yea." I told her
"That's a good name." She said
"His mother chose it." I said
"Where is she now?" She asked
"I don't know." I said, "But one thing is for sure, I know she's out of commission. If she wasn't, she'll be tearing through this country to get him back. And I can't have that happen....I don't wanna lose another child.."
Kagura grabbed my hand, "Don't let it happen, then." She said, "I'm here for you."
I looked at her, she was giving me a warm smile.
Maybe she took this better than I had imagined. I guess she was right, she was taken aback at first. I really admired the way Kagura was capable of moving on from things. But losing a child is not something one can easily move on from.
I suffered that twice, not just once.
"Yea?" I said, "I appreciate it."
"Yes." She said, "After all...."
"I love you."