/your p.o.v./

We were all back in Magnolia after what happened. I went to the guild hall everyday, but Freed was never there. I was starting to worry. Today however Laxus was gone to, and I was hoping that he'd he able to pull Freed out of whatever kind of slump he's in. Please help him Laxus.

/Freed's p.o.v./

There was a knock at my door, and I went to open it. Laxus stood there in his usual 'I don't give a crap' way, but something about him seemed different.

"Hey Laxus, come on in." I said in a small voice. I looked down to hide my bloodshot eyes, and stepped aside to let him In. I hadn't slept since the mission, or ate or really done anything except wallow in my sorrows. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I'm doing here? It's been three days, and no one's seen or heard anything from you." Laxus replied. "Why didn't you come back to the guild?"

"You know why..." I whispered so quietly I don't know if he even heard it.

"Freed..." Laxus sighed. "I don't blame you for what happened. No one does, and we're all worried."

"I blame myself for what happened!" I yelled not meaning to raise my voice.

"It wasn't your fault." Laxus pushed.

"Laxus I remember everything. The demon may have taken over, but I was still trapped inside." I looked down feeling ashamed of myself. "I almost killed you."

/flashback in Laxus' p.o.v./

"Damn it Where did they take Freed?" I crossed my arms as I wondered the streets looking for him.

Suddenly there was an explosion to my right. I heard screaming and rushed toward the now burning building. A family was caught under a large piece of debris desperately trying to lift it. I helped them and they managed to get out.

"What happened?" I asked them.

"A monster attacked!" The little girl cried.

"Monster? Get somewhere safe." I ordered them and the mother took her children away. "What monster?"

The ground shook again and there was another explosion. I rushed toward it. There was a demon destroying buildings left and right, but not just any demon I recognized this one. "No way... Freed?!"

The demonic Freed turned toward me. He wasn't in his normal demon form. His eyes were pure darkness, and he seemed to have lost all sense of humanity. Just like the first time we met.

"Freed what happened? Why are you doing this?" I asked, but he didn't answer.

"There's no use he isn't Freed anymore." The same hooded figure from before appeared next to me.

"Who are you?" I asked angrily.

"Oh Laxus Laxus haven't you figured it out yet?" The figure shook his head. He then removed his hood.

"Deumus." Laxus replied in anger.

"That's right. It has been a while. You and Freed were both still young boys when we first met." Deumus laughed menacingly. "I have to say I did miss my Freed."

"Miss him? Yeah right you made his life a living hell. You cursed him to turn into that." I gestured over to freed. "You cursed him to be a monster."

"And then you came along and ruined it!" He shouted back angrily. "and once you found out about his true human nature you couldn't kill him. Your so called bond cured him, and you took him away to that guild. All my work was lost. Imagine my surprise when the only one of my test subjects that survived walked into the trap my idiot new master laid out. I had to take the opportunity to get him back, and now that I'm so much stronger there's no way you can save him."

"You're insane!" I snapped.

He chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment. Now I'd love to stay and chat but you two have some catching up to do." He disappeared.

"Freed snap out of it." I said calmingly. "It's Laxus I'm your friend remember?"

It was no use he attacked me, and I dodged it quickly. Damn I can't hurt Feed. Even if I wanted to fight I can't this thing on my arm blocks my magic. I continued to dodge his endless attacks. I can't keep this up. Freed disappeared. Where did he go? He quickly appeared right in front of me, and I had no time to prepare. He stabbed his claws into my stomach. "Ugh." I yelled in pain. He twisted his hand, making the wound more severe, before ripping his hand out. "Freed..." I muttered weakly. "Don't blame yourself.... Uhg... I know this isn't you." I fell to the ground and the last thing I saw was him fly off before blackness surrounded me.

/end of flashback back to Freed's p.o.v./

"I almost killed you... My closest friend." I clenched my fists feeling my nails dig into my skin, but I didn't care. There were tears streaming down my face that I was desperately trying to hold back. I had turned my back so he couldn't see me being so pathetic.

"But you didn't I'm perfectly fine." Laxus assured me.

"Yes, but if Wendy hadn't come in time you might have-" I couldn't finish the sentence, because a sob threatened to come out. And it would have been my fault. my voice became shaky. "Just please leave."

"Freed you can't keep doing th-" Laxus started before I cut him off.

"Just go!" I yelled a little more harshly then I wanted to, but I didn't care I was hurting and I didn't want him to see me like this. I looked at him in the corner of my eye.

He seemed taken aback for a minute, but then sighed. "Fine." He walked toward the door. "Just know if you decide you're ready to talk I'm here for you." He left.

When the door closed behind him I finally let it all out. I fell to the ground and cried. "I'm... sorry Laxus. I'm so sorry..." I chocked our in between sobs. If I turned into that monster it's bound to happen again. I'll only put them all in danger of I'm around them. "Everyone would be better off if I just died..."

-&-

/your p.o.v./

I was walking the streets of magnolia toward Freed's house. Mira had given me his address. I'm worried about him. Laxus said he talked to him earlier, but had no luck. I know that everyone is saying to just give him time, but I can't just sit around. With everything he's done for me I have to at least try to help him. I got to his house and knocked on the door.

It opened revealing a very sad looking Freed.

"Laxus I told you-" his eyes widened slightly when he saw it was me. "(Y/n)? What are you doing here?"

"I was worried." I replied with a smile. "Can I come in? It's kinda cold out here."

"Oh um yes, how rude of me." he replied and stepped aside.

I walked in, and he closed the door behind me.

"You said you were worried?" Freed asked.

"Yes about you." I replied with a frown. "You haven't been around lately."

"I know I'm sorry, but I'm fine." He averted his gaze from mine, and gave a pathetic little smile.

"Don't lie to me Freed." I said sternly. "I know you aren't fine."

He widened his eyes seeming surprised that I saw through him. Then he frowned and looked down. "You're right."

"Then what's wrong?" I asked. "If you are feeling guilty you shouldn't. It wasn't your fault."

"(Y/n) don't you start with this too." He rolled his eyes seeming to get annoyed. "No matter how you, Laxus, or anyone else try to justify it, it was my fault, and it can happen again. I'm a danger to everyone."

"You can't seriously believe that." I said in disbelief.

"Well I do." He looked down sadly. "You can't change my thinking. I know, and everyone else knows that I'm to blame.

"Freed!" I snapped getting annoyed. "Stop saying that! This was not your fault! It's that wicked man who cursed you's fault. You don't blame me for the things I did under my dad's control do you?"

"No of course not." He replied seeming surprised by my sudden out burst.

"So why should you be any different?" I asked.

"Well I..." He said, but couldn't find an answer.

"Huh did I just leave the great Freed Justine speechless? It's a miracle." I said teasingly.

He gave a small laugh. "You're a miracle. It still doesn't change the fact that I could end up hurting someone again." He took a step back "I should just stay away no matter how much it pains me. If I died I wouldn't put anyone in danger." He looked down and I saw a few tears escape his eyes.

I stepped toward him and took his hand in mine, using my spare hand to wipe away his tears. "Freed if you leave then that pain would be worse than death itself, and I'm not the only one who feels that way. Do you want to hurt your friends like that?"

"No." He replied. "I'll go back tomorrow thank you (y/n)"

"Good, and I'm happy to help." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

When I pulled away his face was a dark red colour.

"Uh?" I felt my face burn. "Sorry I don't know why I did that." I let go of his hand, turned around, and started to walk away. Why did I do that? It just came so naturally.

Freed suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. He cupped my burning red cheek and pressed his lips against mine.

I widened my eyes in surprise. Is this really happening. My eyes soon fluttered shut, and I kissed him back. It was a short kiss, and when we pulled away I was in a daze. I brought my fingers to my lips. They felt like they were tingling.

/Freed's p.o.v./

I pulled away after our short kiss. (Y/n) touched her lips. Her face was flushed, as her eyes were the size of the moon. "(Y/n) are you ok?" I chuckled.

"That was my first kiss." She whispered quietly.

"Really? Oops I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you do something you didn't want to do." I said getting flustered.

She giggled. "It was amazing!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "You are so cute."

She blushed again. "So are you. I mean hot, I mean handsome! I mean you know what I mean..." She said nervously.

I pulled her into a hug and smiled. "Thanks for helping me (y/n)."

"Your welcome." She smiled.

Hey guys hope you liked the new chapter. I know it's been a while I'M SORRY *sad face*, but I had writers block, and I couldn't think of what to write. I'm sorry if the part is badly written, and you didn't like it. I think this book will end soon. What do you think? Anyway as always vote and comment, bye!
                                   -Hannah😋