Getting to know everyone

It was an average day in Magnolia sunny like it is most of the time. Nightken was just finishing up filling out all of the forms sent to Fairy Tail by the Magic Council about their usual complaints. "If the council wants to complain on how we do things then they can complain all they want." He said to himself in the guild master's office before walking into the guildhall. Stretching from being cramped in that office for a while he went down stairs and chat with the guild members since he hasn't done much on getting to know the members of the guild.

Naziel sat back against the wall as he saw Nightken walking down the steps, he cocked an eyebrow as he wondered what was going on? He was curious about the events within Fairy Tail, after all it was his home and he cared for it deeply, more so than he did anything else. He got to his feet running his hands through his jet black hair and heading up to the bar; " Two beers if you please..." He spoke in his soft voice as he looked over his shoulder at the guild and all who sat inside the great hall.

"Here you go!" The smiling girl handed him two beers as he smiled happily back picking them both up and taking a hearty glug from one. He let out a happy sigh as he walked over towards the descending Nightken; "Hey... You probably need one of these." He grinned as he held the beer above him towards the descending Mage. "So what's going on? I can read it on your face..." He narrowed his eyes for a moment as he waited for some words, just anything that may put his mind at ease. He knew full well that he wasn't there very much but he was a B - Rank Mage of Fairy Tail even though he knew his time was coming to an end.

Manayus sat at one of the tables with a few girls surrounding him once more. None of them seemed to be from the guild, instead they were all there to see Manayus. He had a calm look on his face however as he spoke to each of them in turn, preventing fights from breaking out amongst the girls. He would flirt with each of them, assuring them that none of them were more beautiful than the other and that he loved being in each of their presences evenly. Whenever Knightken walked out of the guildmasters office however he raised an eyebrow. To be honest, he had never met the leader of Fairy Tail yet, having been given his tattoo by one of the higher ranking members. It would be interesting to see what kind of person led the guild.

He excused himself from the girls presences, offering them each a rose before he parted, standing to finally move away from the girls as they left the guild for the time being. He looked between the two men talking and stayed silnt for the time being, it seemed the two knew each other, so maybe he was right in assuming this man was the elusive guild leader.

Conrad sat quietly in the corner of the room drinking with himself, with his feet on the table and with a kicked back demeanor. The table filled with mugs some empty and others full, "Hey Nightken wanna drink with me." He blurted out over the crowd of the room after finishing off the mug in his hand. " Another worthy foe vanquished." said slamming his mug on the table and grabbing another one.

Chloe had been very sleepy the past evening as she was recently out with her sister. She had work to do at the hall, although in the middle of that, she fell fast asleep very fast. She slept pretty quietly on the seat next to Manaysus and his harem, being clearly very sleepy. She eventually suddenly got up and started walking around in only her underwear, thinking she was at her home, "Fell asleep in my clothes again... stupid chloe" she said as she walked shakily clearly very tired and drunk before eventually falling flat on her face, landing on the floor.

Nightken was instantly greeted by several people before he noticed someone falling in their underwear? He was able to catch her putting his duster around her to cover her up he noticed it was Chloe and decided to take her to the guild master's office and put her in the bed there. Walking back downstairs he accepted the mug that Naziel offered him. The small group of people went over to the table Conrad was sitting at and started having drinks along with enjoying the usual atmosphere of the guild. "It is good to relax every now and again especially with all the paperwork the council has sent over." He explained before drinking his beer.

How did everyone take Chikane's disappearance so lightly?... Did no one in the guildhall even even notice she was gone?... Did they even know how strong of a master she was in the first place? Noriko C. Hitsugaya didn't believe in holding your hands through situations, She always preferred to tear your whole arm off instead if it meant making you stronger than you were before. Rita and the Half demon had gotten somewhat close during her first examination, that job they ran off on and the simple everyday interactions... 

Occasionally, Rita would think about that dream she had...The one where Chikane drug her out on an island in the middle of nowhere to take her exam... and when The mage finally made it through the forests of Shadow Island and to her destination --Chikane was already dead, standing before her as a ghost.

Rita felt as if the spirit standing before her in that Nightmare, the soul of her previous master, was haunting her. There were days where Rita would swear she saw Master Noriko standing there out of the corner of her eye Rita would occasionally feel the shadow of her cloaked body ascending over her... and every time that office door creaked open... 

Creeeeakkkk

...Even more disappointment tore into her. It was Nightken Blackwing whom had taken Chikane's place.

 The lower most half of her face buried in crossed arms, Rita laid slumped down against a table in the darkest corner of the hall. She stared as The Lightning mage descended the steps into the guild hall. Her sapphire irises seemed to gleam menacingly from the darkness, piercing the new Guild master with every negative emotion in her body. Her eyes narrowed even more darkly as guild members approached him and called for Nightken's attention one by one.

Rita kept silent, Heero was right… she wasn't really her usual, happier, self.  Her gaze moved over Him and away as if she couldn't bear to look directly at him.  She didn't have the most attentive body language, still slumped over the table, but she was listening to what he had to say regardless.  When he began to speak… She quickly caught three words she wasn't expecting to hear, ever:
 
 
Wait-- So Rita was right when she felt that Chikane may have died…  But that was only an idea that a worrying mind fed her right? ---No. It was all real, Heero was talking to her like it was in the past, like she knew about Chikane before he brought it up… Chikane was gone, and no one told Rita...  
 
Rita didn't want to believe it; she had tried to keep her hopes up, telling herself that Noriko would be back… But in that moment, she felt the remnant of that hope snap like a twig. The sound of its crack echoed inside of her, Sapphire pools widening with terror.
 
 How come no one had told her?  Why had she been lied to… Rita was told that Chikane was away. Not --dead.  Why didn't anyone bother to tell her the truth?  Was it because she was still a kid to them?!  Or… did they know how badly she would take this news... Yeah, Probably that…
 
Now that Heero brought it up…She probably would get one heck of a scolding if Chikane saw her like this…  Noriko never liked negative behavior in her guildhall. This, Rita was sure of... ---But right now Rita had to process this; Noriko Hitsugaya was dead. The dead never came back…
 
The girl’s body tensed up, her shoulders stiffening.  Rita had begun to compare Chikane to her older sister… and even began to see Chikane as her own older sister figure. All Because she showed some of the characteristics that Isoko once had… Master Noriko had come off to Rita as the tough, dedicated, and smart, type… Just like her.  Rita never thought she would be forced to endure this type of pain again…The pain of losing a sister. Rita thought back to that nightmare... Had she gotten another sister killed, again powerless to do anything to stop it...
 
A grimace twisted Rita’s features…  With one swift movement, the mage pushed herself up from the table and onto her feet, chair tipping over behind her as she stood. Keeping her gaze with Heero, She allowed it to hit the floor with a bash. The noise seemed to silence the guildhall, many now had their attention now on her and Heero.  It was quiet… The only sound that could be heard now was the rain pouring outside. This, and the quiet whispering of other mages in the background. Short in comparison to the dragon slayer, In front of him Rita stood, her legs quivering beneath her.  A moment passed, and then another, and Rita, saw that her hands were so tightly clenched that her knuckles stood out white and hard like the bones in a fish’s spine.
 
“Missing and dead are two completely different things.” Rita said, and wondered if she sounded as bitter as she felt.  She lowered her head, locks of her hair sifting in with the gesture, casting a shadow over her features. “N-No one told me…” she murmured, the tremor in her hands increasing. “That… Chikane was dead…” She echoed quietly.  Little by little the mage felt her composure, the mask that hid the weaker, gentle, girl inside, begin to……crack
 
A flash of white lightning lit up the sky outside, followed by a roar of thunder. The mage raised her head and turned back to Heero, revealing to him, a very hurt expression. Tears which Rita struggled to force back welled at the corner of her eyes, which, were narrowed with a certain bitterness and fury.  The Shadow gritted her teeth, reaching up and snagging Heero by the collar of his shirt firmly. “Who is responsible, who killed her?!  How did this happen?! When did you find out?!?!  W-Why did no one tell me… Am I the last one to find out?!”  She cried, demanding all kinds of answers from him.  This hurt… God, it hurt. The pain was worse than any physical injury she’d ever gotten inflicted on her…  She kept reminding herself… Chikane wasn't ever coming back, imagining how The half-demon may have died and how gruesome of a fate she could have met...  The thought made Rita feel faint... She felt, defeated.
 
Her chest rose and fell quickly showing that the girl was having a hard time finding breath, overwhelmed by the news. Gradually, her grip on Heero ceased. “And… why didn't you say anything to me before dissapearing for who knows how long?... W-What the hell would I do if I lost you too, you goddamn idiot.” Rita whispered, embarrassingly sweeping away a tear with the side of her hand, hoping to catch it before anyone noticed.

 
 
 
 
 

Jay walked into the guild hall. As it was only her second visit and she didn't know anyone, she went and sat down at a table by herself. She sighed. "If anyone wants to get to know me, they'll come up," she muttered to herself.