"Back again?"

Kira smiled at the worker in front of her. "I come here every day when I'm not on a job," she said. "I love this place more than my bathroom at home."

"It must be great to be a Fairy Tail wizard," she sighed, pointing at Kira's exposed mark. As she was wearing a crop top, her stomach and guild mark were visible. "Considering how often you come here, you must be rich."

Kira forced a smile before walking out of the bathhouse. Three days had passed, and she was bored. She had gone to the library sometimes, but there were only so many books she could read. On the upside, however, she had yet to run into Brandon. 

"Hey, Kira! Is that you?"

Kira felt her heart sink as she heard a guy's voice from behind her. She had spoken way too soon.

"Brandon?" she turned around and saw him, Gray, Lucy, Erza, Natsu, and Happy standing together.

"Are you coming from the bathhouse?" Erza asked.

Kira narrowed her eyes at her. "So what if I am?" she asked. "I thought I'd try it out." For about the hundredth time, she added silently.

Erza looked like she wanted to say something, but ended up not saying anything. Kira took this as her cue to leave, but Brandon spoke up.

"Um, Kira? Can we talk for a while? Alone?"

The woman froze in her spot. She wasn't one hundred percent sure of what he wanted to talk about, but she felt she wouldn't have much to benefit from it. However, she had already lost some of her reputation when she begged to Master, so Kira decided to accept. After all, she could use her magic to defend herself in the worst possible circumstances.

"Five minutes," she sighed.

Brandon grinned. "Great!" He turned to the others. "I'll catch up with you guys soon. Go on without me, first."

The "strongest team" nodded before walking off. Before Kira could stop him, Brandon slid his arm over her shoulder and began forcing her away to a quiet, yet wide, area, far away to keep others from listening in. Once alone, Brandon shoved Kira against the wall roughly, causing her to fall.

"'Five minutes,'" Brandon mocked, staring down at her. "You've changed."

Kira stood up, trying not to show how afraid she was. "Of course I have," she replied confidently. "I've gotten stronger, too."

Brandon nodded. "Oh, yes. You couldn't create a tornado two years ago, could you?"

"Well, I can make more than just a tornado now," Kira said. "Care to find out?" Surprisingly, Kira felt herself getting less afraid by the second.

"No," Brandon said. "But I do want to find out when you plan on leaving Fairy Tail."

Kira laughed. "If any of us are leaving Fairy Tail, it's going to be you," she spat. 

"Oh really? All the members of the guild had much to say about you." He sighed, cocking his head. "And there weren't a lot of good things, either. If they had to vote, they'd kick you out in a heartbeat."

She clenched her fists tightly together. "I'm not submissive eighteen year old Kira Toth anymore," she said. "That girl went missing a long time ago."

"You can easily find misplaced items," Brandon said, raising his sleeves.

Kira glanced at his exposed arms, which showed a flash of blue.

Brandon smirked, tilting his arm so that his Fairy Tail mark was exposed to Kira. "Looks nice, don't you think?" he asked. "I think it's a step above yours," he said, nodding to Kira's stomach. When she didn't say anything, he began stepping closer towards her as she stepped back until her entire back was pushed against the wall. "Um, I think five minutes passed already," she said with less bravado in her voice.

Brandon ignored her, leaning his head closer towards her instead. Kira clenched her teeth tightly as her green eyes found herself only a few inches away from Brandon's light blue ones.

"By the end of this week," he said slowly, "you are going to quit the guild."

Kira swallowed nervously. "And what am I supposed to do for money?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "At least let me find a job, first."

"Go back home. There are plenty of job opportunities there. Not as many guilds as there are in Fiore, but there are still a few decent ones."

"Then why are you here?" Kira countered. "Why didn't you stay at Jiara? Why did you decide to come here? To Fiore? To Magnolia? To Fairy Tail?"

Suddenly, Brandon slapped her across the face. It was different than when she and Erza had fought a few days ago; Brandon brought back too many memories. Memories she didn't want to relive ever again.

"I knew I was going too easy on you," Brandon laughed. "Look at you now. One hit and you're not daring to breathe. Just like old times."

No. Kira wasn't going to back down. She had been too afraid to do anything, but she wasn't afraid anymore. She was probably stronger than Brandon if she used magic. Before she could raise her hands, however, Brandon made his own flames appear.

"You're not planning on using magic on me, are you?" he asked. "Because your magic might be more stronger, but I know mine is faster." He held the flames closer towards her exposed skin. Kira immediately tensed, remembering the past. 

"Ah," Brandon said, grinning. "You must remember what it feels like. Care to feel it again?" Kira found it hard to breathe although she didn't dare to move. As if she were eighteen again, she just stood there, bracing herself for the pain. Before he could move it any closer, though, someone's voice stopped him.

"Brandon? Sorry to bother you, but are you almost done? You said five minutes, but it's been about fifteen now. We might miss the train."

Brandon and Kira whipped their heads around to see Erza holding a watch up. When did she get here? How much did she hear? Did she see anything?

"Um, sorry," Brandon said, stepping away from Kira. "When did you get here?"

"Just now." Erza frowned. "Why do you have your fire out?"

"Oh, I was just showing her my magic also improved after two years," he lied calmly. He glanced over at Kira, who had started to calm down, and winked. "You felt how much stronger I got, right?"

Kira forced a smile when she saw Erza staring at her intently. "Of course," she said brightly. "But you know I got stronger too, right?"

Brandon returned the smiled. "Of course I do." His eyes had turned dark. "But you know I'm stronger, right?"

Kira smiled wider. "I don't think so."

Before Brandon could reply, Erza interrupted him. "Um, really sorry guys, could you seriously do this later? We're going to miss the train."

Brandon just flashed his eyes dangerously at Kira before turning back, his eyes already softened. "Right. Sorry. Let's go."

Kira stood there quietly as she watched Brandon and Erza's backs become smaller and smaller. She dropped to the ground as soon as they were completely gone from view. What should she do? Kira knew Brandon was capable of many things, but she couldn't leave when she was so financially unstable. She clenched her fists tightly against her thighs in frustration.

So, I was going to end it here, but it's a lot shorter than the previous chapters, so I'm going to add a bit more.

Erza's POV:

"I wonder what's taking Brandon so long," Lucy said, glancing at her watch. "It's a good thing we decided to get a head start, because five minutes passed a long time ago."

Natsu leaned against the wall. "I wonder what he and Kira are talking about," he said out loud as Happy sat on his head.

Gray smirked. "Who said they're just talking?"

Erza immediately slapped his head. All their talking was interfering with her thinking. Ever since Brandon showed up, Kira seemed different.

Erza knew Kira wasn't the type to join, let alone start, fights in the guild, yet she had done so without thinking. She had also chosen to be suspended from Fairy Tail, rather than pay for the damages she had caused. Why would she do that? Perhaps she should go check on Brandon and Kira.

"You guys get on the train first," Erza said, looking up. She thought Gray and Natsu had their faces pressed against each other for a second, but they were now hugging, so she casted that thought aside. "I'll go get Brandon and bring him back."

Gray stepped away from Natsu. "I'll come with you, Erza," he said.

Erza shook her head. "It's alright, I'll go alone. Just help Lucy and Happy knock Natsu out before getting him on the train."

He grinned wickedly, and Erza knew that was that. She turned off to the direction they had come from.

Four minutes later, Erza finally found the pair. Both of them looked angry, and Erza was walking over to try and separate them when she saw Brandon slap Kira across her cheek. Stunned, Erza quickly ran behind the wall to hide, partly in case they saw her, and also because she was slightly wary of what Kira would do.

Thus, she was very shocked when she saw Kira leaning against the wall with an uncomfortable expression on her face. If Erza wasn't shocked before, she most definitely was now. Kira seemed like the type of person who wouldn't let anyone get away with doing anything to her, but she was now just standing there, and -- and was about to get burned.

Erza debated with herself as to whether she should butt in or not, but quickly made up her mind when she saw Kira's face.

"Brandon? Sorry to bother you, but are you almost done? You said five minutes, but it's been about fifteen now. We might miss the train." She made her presence known, holding her watch up at the same time. Erza couldn't help but mentally sigh in relief when she saw that Kira looked fine.

"Um, sorry," Brandon said, stepping away from Kira. "When did you get here?"

"Just now." Erza lied. She then frowned, trying to look confused. "Why do you have your fire out?"

"Oh, I was just showing her my magic also improved after two years," he lied calmly."You felt how much stronger I got, right?" he asked Kira, turning away so Erza couldn't see his face.

Erza stared at Kira intently. Her smile looked forced, and her voice sounded way too cheerful. As they conversed, Erza could feel the tension in their words, although she didn't say anything. However, she knew had to speak up when she saw Kira's eyes.

"Um, really sorry guys, could you seriously do this later? We're going to miss the train," Erza said. This wasn't a lie; there was about eight minutes left.

Brandon turned back, smiling softly. "Right. Sorry. Let's go." Erza forced another smile in return as they quickly walked to the train station.

Erza didn't know why Kira acted the way she did, but she would make sure to figure it out, whether Kira liked it or not.

A/N:

Earlier, Jiara is the name of the kingdom Kira and Brandon are from. I made it up and it is completely coincidental if it's the name of an actual place or person or whatever. Anyways, I thought I'd give some of Erza's pov, to show I don't think she's a bitch and we all know how smart she is, amirite?

Next chapter is This Brings Back Memories, Doesn't It?