THE COMPULSORY BEACH EPISODE

"It's the middle of summer." Nuri's voice snapped her out of her trance. She looked up at him with those Sai-green eyes, sighing.

"Your point?" She asked, and then saw the scowl on his face. His arms were crossed and he was pouting, not to mention shirtless.

"It's blazing hot and we never do anything for summer." Nuri said, shaking his head, "so, we are going to the beach."

"Excuse me?" She asked, shaking her head as well.

"You heard me." He said defiantly, and it didn't suit him, "pack your things, Vani."

"I'm not going—"

"Yes, you are. Milo's already got a carriage out front, and I'm shirtless. We are going regardless of what you pack or what you say. And you're riding with Ignis, by the way!" He said, and then he disappeared. It took her a moment to regain her composure, and then she stood up.

"Guess I'm going then." She sighed, throwing open her closet, and putting some summer clothes in, watching the rest of her family outside excitedly packing things into the carriages. Even Milo looked like he was having fun. She stepped out into the harsh afternoon sun, straw hat poised on her head, and her hair in a long, straight ponytail that reached just below her breasts. She put her little bag in the back of the small carriage she and Ignis were apparently going to share, and then stepped inside. She could hear Nuri's bright laugh echo through the afternoon air, and it somehow put a smile on her face, knowing that it would please him if she went along. Dressed similarly to Nuri, Ignis Lux entered the carriage. She averted her eyes from his body for a second, fearing he'd resemble Kuro too much, but then looked back, and realised that in this light, they could practically be twins. The Academy had done him good, she thought, Ignis Lux was at least 90% muscle, and she was stuck staring at him for the rest of the drive down to the Sovereign Capital, unless they were heading to the Golden Coast.

"Where are we going anyway?" She asked, hoping he would know, because it would be so like Nuri to tell Ignis and not her.

"The City of Gold, we'll use the port there to transport to the Academy. There's a really nice beach close to it." He said with a smile, but the undertone of his voice was still very present. After everything that had happened with Kuro, she knew there was still some hostility toward her in him. Her heart clenched at the mention of the beach, and suddenly, there she was, back with Enlai as a fourteen year old, frolicking happily on the beach, while he tried to teach her new combat stances. She forced herself to look out of the window, take a deep breath, and remove the memory from her brain.

"The thought of driving with me can't be so bad, can it?" Ignis remarked, noticing the pained expression on her face.

"Sorry," she looked back at him, this time with an apologetic smile on her face, "just thinking of someone, that's all." She answered, and he bit back a retort about his brother. The rest of the drive was seemingly silent, and before they stepped into the Portal in the City, she pulled Ignis aside.

"I know we have some... bad blood between us, but let's just play nice, for Nuri? Okay?" She asked.

"Okay." He answered with a smile, "for Nuri." And then they stepped into the Portal.

The ocean was glittering in the heat, and almost packed to the brim with overheating Academy students. From across the beach, a relatively large kid darted over to the group, screaming, "Ignis!" Alfus Pepper came to a sweaty halt in front of Ignis, and he laughed.

"Hello, Alfus." He said politely, as Alfus caught his breath. Before he could speak however, a pale beauty emerged from out of the crowd, trailing frantically behind Alfus.

"Al-fus!" She bellowed, in contrast with her paleness, her voice was loud and boisterous.

"Sorry, Professor! But I saw Ignis and I had to say hello." Alfus smiled apologetically in her direction.

"I'll be damned," Mei Mainova said as she regarded Ignis Lux, "you've certainly grown up, haven't you, Mr Tenebrio?"

Ignis smiled, "nice to see you too, Professor." He said.

"I've told you so many times, it's Mei." She sighed, "but I suppose good manners can't be helped. Why don't you come sit with us, I'm sure Wisteria is dying to see you again." Avani gave him a knowing smile, and he nodded.

"Of course." He said, and followed Professor Mainova, and Alfus to the group of first year Academy students and Professor Juvia. When they arrived, Professor Juvia was busy probing at one of the students, while they squirmed uncomfortably.

"I am telling you, Terro, you will burn if you do not obey!" She bellowed at the little kid, who looked no older than fifteen, "there," she said as she finished lathering him in sunscreen, "now go, and leave me the hell alone." The student, Terro, ran flat into Avani, and immediately launched into a string of apologies, looking up at her when he was finished. The poor kid's eyes almost popped out of his sockets as the recognition seeped in.

"You're... You're... Aira...!" He screamed and Avani shook her head.

"Yes, but don't tell anyone." She said, and then walked over to Nuri, "you were so desperate to come out here anyway, so let's actually go into the ocean." She spoke too soon, because she heard a battle cry coming from little Vayu, as he dashed into the ocean at full-speed. She saw Meri following gleefully, and Milo freaking out as Vayu dived in headfirst. Ignis followed the two crazy children, engaging in their stupid fight, while Nuri shrugged, and pulled Avani with him. It felt like all of their worries disappeared while they were splashing each other nonsensically. Avani loved the carefree environment they'd literally plunged into, and treasured each time she was faced with a face full of salt water. For the first time in a very long while, she felt like a child, and not like the weight of the world was resting on her shoulders.

Their day ended with everyone falling asleep on the floor, in one big tired pile. Vayu was lying on top of Meri, drool beckoning from his mouth in a small rivulet. Avani Sai smiled fondly at the sight of her entire family curled up on the floor, and gracefully manoeuvred over them. She went to sit on the little brick wall overlooking the ocean, and the bright lights of the Magic Academy illuminating the space behind her. She felt an aura behind her, and unexpectedly saw Ignis Lux sit down next to her. They looked up at the double moon adorning the sky, and the stars strewn across it. Out of nowhere, she kissed two of her fingers, and pointed them at the sky, trying to withhold the memories being at the beach held for her. She could only think of Enlai, and how unfair his death was.

"There's a word for what you're doing right now," he said with a sardonic undertone to his voice, "sulking."

"Not exactly." She said, "I'm reminiscing."

"About?" He asked, in hope that she would tell him. Truthfully, Ignis Lux couldn't care less, however, Kuro Lux could.

"Enlai Mainova." She answered without thinking. It was pointless trying to withhold it from him, eventually Nuri would tell him.

"The Combat Arts Professor?" Ignis asked, confused.

"Yeah, he was my mentor for a while... he was like an older brother to me, before he died. We came to the beach together once when I was fourteen, and this entire trip just reminds me of the time Enlai and I were here. It doesn't help much that his younger sister showed up either." She admitted forlornly, a slight tone of annoyance audible in her voice.

"Mei?" He asked, and she nodded, "I didn't know Professor Mainova too long, he died in my second year, but I do know how to feels to miss someone."

"At least someone understands." She said with a stupid laugh. They looked at each other. His eyes looked just like Kuro's and his smile all the more gentle.

"Yeah." He said, not being able to form any other word on his tongue. She turned away from him, and the wind caught her hair, swooping it up romantically. The entire moment beckoned with clichés, and romance, but all he could think about was that they were more alike than he thought they were, and that Avani Sai wasn't as bad as she made herself out to be.

"Thanks." She said out of the blue, smiling at him again.

"No problem." He matched her smile, laughing softly.

"We should try and play nice more often." She said, with a little laugh. He nodded involuntarily.

"We should." He said as she laid her head on his shoulder, and they watched the waves crest and trough, drenched in the moonlight. Ignis let her stay like that, Ignis, not Kuro. 

[1538 WORDS]

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

just for the record, this happens before the events of Cursed Children. ALSO NOTE FOR JUDGES. ignis and kuro are not the same people!!! something happened where Ignis got "genetic memories" from kuro, and kuro was in love w Avani ok??!

(the novel is confusing but eh)

hope this suffices! :-)