*two years later*
{LUKA'S POV}
With the murderer behind bars for life—he would've received capitol punishment, but Sylvie and I disrupted the court proceedings to save his life, in typical Fairy Tail fashion—the streets of Magnolia are bustling with activity again.

In fact, there are more tourists than ever before. People want to visit the city where the most prolific serial killer in recent history roamed.

I haven't actually been back to Magnolia since that day, until now. The Rune Knights all bowed and sincerely apologized to me, but I wanted to take a vacation after all that happened. No one protested.

I was planning to go alone, but Sylvie followed me. I honestly enjoyed her company.

Together, we visited a bunch of graves around Fiore: 486 of them, to be precise. Some were clean and had fresh flowers, while others were so overgrown or dirty that we could barely read the names. The latter have no one left to visit them, so we cleaned their graves and promised to return someday. Sylvie listened to the story behind each gravestone intently.

Then we left flowers on all of their graves after paying our respects.

It was an odd feeling... but cathartic.

This is a new chapter in the story of my life, now that I've finally made a bit of peace with my past. My chest doesn't feel so heavy whenever I see the brand over my heart in the mirror.

I have a set goal now too: not to let anyone else die in front of me. I want to save at least as many lives as I've taken from this world. That is my repentance.

It's as if a giant knot in my throat has loosened; I didn't realize how badly I was struggling to breathe because of said knot until it wasn't there anymore. I really was a ticking time bomb.

In that sense, I'm grateful for the serial killer. He forced me to diffuse the bomb of negative emotions within me before it grew out of control.

Seeing their faces again—even just talking openly about their deaths with Sylvie—has helped to decrease the weight of guilt on my chest. However, it will always be there, just like the grim reaper's brand.

We walk the familiar streets of Magnolia together. It's funny how nostalgic I feel. I only lived in Magnolia for a year, and yet it's the closest thing to home I know. Mum is here. Fairy Tail is here too.

"Guess who's back!" Sylvie calls in a sing-song voice, as she throws open the double doors to the Fairy Tail guild hall and waltzes inside.

Our guildmates mob us immediately, welcoming us home. There are a lot of happy greetings all around. Mum pulls both of us in for a giant hug, which I gladly lean into. Of course we kept in touch, but it's been far too long since I last saw her.

Sylvie and I barely manage to extricate ourselves from the crowd after a few hours.

"Geez, they're such worrywarts!" Sylvie complains, all in good fun. She proceeds to stick her tongue out at Gray, who's by far the worst offender. "We lived, didn't we?! Well, we're completely out of jewel though. Luka, you up for a couple easy jobs around town so we can afford a hotel room tonight?"

"Ah, I didn't tell you, did I?" I realize belatedly.

"Tell me what?" Sylvie's eyebrows shoot up. She narrows her eyes, watching me suspiciously.

I scratch my cheek, looking away. This is probably going to cause an uproar. Even Mum doesn't know about the letters we've been exchanging, even though we started writing to each other right after I left.

"Luka." Sylvie deadpans.

"Well, um, I've actually already got plans to go on a job... with my dad."

Sylvie's eyes widen and she beams at me. Activity in the guild hall ceases as people stare at me. I've never openly acknowledged Natsu as my dad before. I always referred to him as Natsu or my sperm donor.

Mum gasps in delight and looks up at Natsu, who was standing next to her the whole time.

He supported me while Sylvie and I were on the run, and I think we both saw different sides of each other. After opening up a little bit in letters, we realized that we aren't so different after all. Just like I've never had a dad before, he's never had a son before. We still don't know how to act around each other.

It's not perfect. In fact, it's pretty damn awkward most of the time. But we're trying. That's gotta count for something, right?

"You ready then, son?" Natsu asks, standing up and holding out the job request paper. It's S-class.

I snatch the paper away, smirking. "Born ready."

"Oh." Sylvie looks down at her feet. "Okay. Bye."

I stare at her. She's clearly pouting. We've been together every day for the past two years. She's probably a little hurt that I would leave her behind at the first available opportunity.

I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Perhaps there's something I can give her?

Ah, I know. Perhaps I can play into Sylvie's... eccentricities a little. It's been a while since I've given her such a reward.

I lean in and whisper something into Sylvie's ear.

She flushes bright red. I spoke softly, but it seems that I underestimated how good dragon slayer hearing is. Natsu coughs loudly, Gajeel spits out his drink, and Laxus quickly covers Nova's ears.

"I don't like those reactions. What on Earthland did Luka just say to my daughter?!" Gray demands to know. I sincerely hope he never learns the truth.

Sylvie's legs give out and she falls to her knees. I snort, amused by all of their responses.

"Let's go." I tell Natsu.

"Right." I can tell by the twitching corners of his mouth that he's trying not to smile.

Sylvie struggles to stand and grabs me by the collar, spluttering, "Y-You can't just say THAT and walk away! It's cruel and unusual punishment!"

"Bye Sylv. I'll be back in a few days." I wave over my shoulder, speed-walking out the doors.

"Wait a goddamn minute! Luka Dragneel!" Sylvie and Gray yell simultaneously.

"Run!" Natsu shouts. He's grinning now. We make a break for it, racing each other through the streets of Magnolia and laughing all the while.

THE END