~Twilight Town: Top of the Clocktower~

Roxas sits at the top looking out over the sunset as he usually does, but with Mavis sitting beside him. He would've gotten her an ice cream...if she could hold it. He just shared his instead, but even then she couldn't taste it. Natsu soon arrives and just as expected; Mavis could tell that he couldn't see her anymore. "What's up, Roxas? You never call me out like this." Roxas motions for him to come and sit down. Interestingly, he choose to sit just far enough away from Roxas that Mavis can still fit between them.

"Natsu. Do you miss your family?" Natsu was caught off guard by Roxas sudden interest in his personal life. "What do you mean?" Roxas makes eye contact. "You chose us because we would help you. Because we were convenient. But you don't hate your family, do you?" Natsu took a moment to consider the best way to answer. "No. I don't hate them. But I am angry at them. They want to move on. To forget about Gray and the others like they were nothing! I can't forgive that." Mavis becomes defensive and tries to talk to Natsu directly instead of through Roxas. "No! That's not true! We loved them and would never forget them! But we can't dwell on their passing forever." She relented as soon as she realized Natsu couldn't hear her.

But before Roxas could relay the message, Natsu scolded himself. "No. I know they would never forget Gray. But I'm still angry that they would try to move past it so quickly. Juvia and me were the only one's not willing to let go. I won't go back to them." Roxas got his next message. "...Not even Lucy?" Natsu looked and Roxas with suspicion. "What makes you think-" Roxas didn't even let him finish. "It doesn't take superhuman powers to see that you two are into each other. She came looking for you. She accepted the Darkness, accepted Xehanort...for you." Mavis was surprised to hear this, but focused on Natsu; who seemed to be frustrated. "What am I supposed to say to her?" Roxas decided to answer Natsu's question himself. "Just say you're sorry."

Natsu was appalled by the implication. "Me?! Apologize?!" Roxas stands up from the ledge and hands his ice cream to Natsu as he looks out in the distance. "Take it from me. When you lose a friend...the last thing you want to do is push your other friends away." Natsu didn't have a response to that. Roxas stepped down and started to leave. "Oh. And Natsu. I probably don't know what I'm talking about since I've never had one before, but...family is not a bond that can be BURNED off." He looks at his own shoulder where his guild mark used to be and slumped over, eating the ice cream. "...Whatever, man."

~Fiore: Fairy Tail Guild Hall~

Erza, Laxus, Cloud, Tifa and Aerith land just outside the building. Cloud and Tifa go straight inside to check for infiltrators as Laxus goes on patrol around the perimeter. Erza and Aerith head for Lumen Histoire together. "You're guild is quite impressive." Erza appreciated the compliment. "Thank you. Let's hope we can keep it in one piece for tonight. Although, with Natsu not being here, the chance of the guild being destroyed goes down considerably."

They enter the basement and find Mavis' body encased in crystal. "Is this Lumen Histoire?" Aerith touched the crystal as Erza shrugged. "It must be. Master Makarov needs to stop keeping secrets." Aerith pumps her fists in excitement. "All we have to do is protect her until we get word from Makarov or Master Yen Sid, right?" Erza looks concerned. "Aerith? Are you sure you're ready for this? This could be intense." Aerith waves off her doubt. "No worries. I can handle myself." Unconvinced; Erza prodded again. "...What exactly do you do?" Aerith started listing off her occupations. "Well, I'm chief advisor in the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee, I sell flowers, I've been working on opening my own Cafe, and even considered babysitting."

~Fiore: Bottom of the Mountain~

Juvia sneezed. As Sora showed concern. "Did you catch a cold?" She rubbed her nose. "No. Juvia just felt like someone acknowledged her fantasies for a moment. By the way; which name do you like better? Imber or Amber?" Sora tilted his head in confusion, but answered the question anyways. "Uh...Imber. Why do you ask?" Juvia started to drift off into her own world as she smiled slyly. "Mmm...No reason."

Gajeel snapped her back to reality. "Hey! Will you two quit playing house and get over here?!" Juvia briefly pondered Gajeel's suggestion before putting it to the side and rejoining the group. Gajeel filled them in on their progress with Vanitas. "We caught the bastard. Now how do we get him to spill his guts on how to get to the enemy castle? Me and Wendy are gonna do Good Cop-Bad Cop routine."

Wendy gets right up in Vanitas' face. "Tell us your secrets, Punk! You like kidnapping girls?! Try me! Go on! Just try it!" Gajeel pulls her back. "Easy! Easy! Look pal, I'm not sure how long I can keep my friend here from going ballistic on your ass. So, just tell us what we want to know and you can go home." Everyone just stares at them dumbfounded, even Vanitas. "...What?" Happy interjects. "I think you guys got the roles mixed up." Gajeel whispered back. "It's all part of the plan. They never see this coming." Wendy kicks over a rock aggressively. "You make me sick! SICK!" She spits beside him.

Mirajane speaks up. "Cut it out! You're not intimidating him. You're confusing him." Wendy breaks character and relents. "Sorry!" Vanitas addresses Juvia. "Why don't you just take them back, yourself?" She looks down dejected. "Juvia never quite figured out how to open Dark Corridors like you, Vanitas." He chuckles to himself. "Oh. Shame. You had such promise. I really thought you were gonna give me a run for my money one day. Turns out you're just another pretty face, Sweetie." Sora puts his hands on Vanitas' chest to push him to the ground. "Hey! No one calls her Sweetie except me!" Both Sora and Juvia blush profusely as Vanitas raises an eyebrow with a smug grin. Sora immediately back tracks. "I mean...uh...nevermind."

Vanitas shakes his head in disappointment. "Come on, man. Commit to it! Geez, you people are PATHETIC." Mira puts her demon hand on his head and turns it to look at her. "Let's drop the pleasantries then. You will take us to Lucy or else-" Vanitas interupts her as his smug grin doesn't fade. "Or else WHAT?! What will you do?! Cause I guarantee you it won't be HALF as bad as what Xehanort will do to me if he finds out I helped you." Mira reconsiders their tactics. Torture and threats are going to get them nowhere. So, perhaps a bargain would go over better.

"If you help us, we'll let you go..." Vanitas interupts her again. "Oh, how generous of you." She didn't let his sarcasm deter her. "...and we won't go after you again..." He's not even paying attention anymore. But she's committed to it now. "And...I'll...let you touch them...for as long as you want." She struggled to force the words out as Vanitas slowly turned his head back to her. "I'm...sorry? Did I hear that right? Because it sounded like..." Her face was bright red but also furiously scowling at him. He suddenly got very excited. Like a kid at Christmas. But he stops for a moment as his excitement fades.

"No deal." Mira was shocked that he would reject her...er...the opportunity. "W-what do you mean?! I'm suddenly not to your tastes anymore!" Now she seemed even more angry. But he refused to look at her. "I'm not stupid. A one-time passing pleasure in exchange for access to Organization's castle? Gimme a break. Your candy is sweet, Sugar. But not THAT sweet." Mira couldn't believe that NOW of all times he decides to show some self-restraint. Juvia goes past her and moves over to Vanitas.

"Ooo. You gonna offer the same, Swee- er...Juvia? Or am I getting a two-for-one special, if you know what I mean?" She leans down and whispers into his ear. Mira and Sora become nervous. Juvia pulls back as Vanitas stares at her suspiciously in silence for a moment. "Are you serious?" Juvia's expression doesn't change. "Dead serious." Vanitas considers the new offer...and looks over at Mirajane with a smile, but this time it was the first smile he gave her that didn't reek of sinister intent. "Alright Juvia. You got a deal. But you'd better hold up your end of the bargain. Or no amount 'friendship' will save you from me."

*Did you catch the reference to another story? Bonus points if you did.*