It has been a year and a half since Lisanna's death. Since then, Mirajane has lost her fighting spirit, except when training with Ryuga, and Elfman has grown stronger and, in his words, manlier. Ryuga, however, spent about a year with them, then left for a SS-Class quest.

While he was gone, a few new recruits emerged. One such recruit was named Lucy. Lucy was sitting on a table listening to Natsu and Gray argue for what felt like the fourth time today. She was soon startled when Elfman burst through the guild doors yelling.

Elfman: "He's back! Ryuga's back!"

The guild went up in cheers. Cana was drinking heavier, Wakaba and Macao were smoking together, and Natsu and Gray were... laughing together? Lucy walked over to Mirajane, who was smiling brightly, and decided to ask her about the happening.

Lucy: "Mira, what's happening? Who's he talking about?"

Mirajane: "Ryuga's coming back! Isn't that great? Oh that's right, you've never met him."

Lucy: "Ryuga... Do you mean the Violet Demon!?"

Mirajane: "That's him, have you heard of him?"

Lucy: "Have I heard of him?! He's one of the main reasons I wanted to join Fairy Tail so bad! I heard his power can rival even the ten saints, but is he really a demon?"

Mirajane: "That's right. Unlike many think, he's a good demon. Sure he can be a little cold at times, but he's always been good to Elfman and I. He's the one that trained me too!"

Lucy: "Whoa he trained you? That's so cool!"

Mirajane: "He was away on a SS-Class quest."

Lucy: "SS-Class?"

Mirajane: "Oh that's right, no one has told you yet. Up those stairs is a different quest board for S-Class mages only. I believe his quest was to infiltrate and destroy a city of dark guilds."

Lucy: "An entire city?!? There's no way one man can do that!"

Mirajane: "Ryuga's super powerful."

The guild fell silent when a warm breeze pushed open the doors and filled the hall. Light footsteps could be heard creeping up to the doors, when out of the light came none other than Ryuga Shinsokai.

Ryuga: "It's good to be back."

Mirajane ran up to him and smiled brightly.

Mirajane: "Welcome back!"

Ryuga: "Thank you. You're looking as beautiful as ever, my Demon Queen."

Mirajane: "Oh my, you're flattery is certainly getting you somewhere. You look as handsome as you are powerful." She spoke these words through a large, pink blush.

Many of the male members sighed when they saw Mirajane acting all flirty with Ryuga, but all of them had to say that they both were destined to be with eachother. Ryuga looked past Mirajane to see Makarov and Cana drinking together.

Ryuga: "Ah Master, I've completed the quest." He walked over to the bar, many of the members following.

Makarov: "Good, how did it go?"

Ryuga: "The infiltration and eradication went smoothly, however getting there was 90% of the trouble."

Makarov: "I see, I'm glad. Will you be staying long?"

Ryuga: "I might. Is Erza here?"

Mirajane: "She is out at the moment."

Ryuga: "I see." He looked over to Cana. "Drinking heavily as always?"

Cana: "Damn shhtraight! Looking lip licking tasty as always?"

Ryuga: "I'm not sure how to respond to that." Cana stands up and wraps her arm around him.

Cana: "You're sho denshe. I'm tryin' to flirt with ya."

Ryuga: "Oh, I see. In that case, you look lovely also."

They were soon interrupted by Natsu jumping over people with his hands on fire. He ran up to Ryuga with a huge smile on his face.

Natsu: "Ryuga! Fight me today!"

Ryuga: "Another time Natsu. I'm very tired today, I'd like to take a nap or two."

Mirajane: "Before you do that. There is someone who would like to say hello."

She shoved Lucy towards him, who stumbled onto his chest. Lucy blushed and quickly backed away before bowing.

Lucy: "It's an honor to meet you! I've heard so much about you."

Ryuga: "A new recruit?"

Lucy: "That's right sir. I just joined a couple of weeks ago."

Ryuga: "I see. Well you're scent smells like one of determination and spirit. So welcome to the guild."

Lucy: "Tha-Wait scent?"

Ryuga: "Yes. I can smell emotions, if you will."

Lucy: "Oh I get it."

Ryuga: "Right, anyway I'm off to sleep."

He started walking away, but stopped when he realized something.

Mirajane: "What's wrong?"

Ryuga: "I forgot... I don't have a place to stay."

Lucy: "You can stay at my place for a few days!" She shouted while blushing madly.

Lucy's mind: "Wait why did I just say that! What's wrong with me?"

Ryuga: "Really? Are you sure that would be okay? You hardly know me."

Lucy: "We're both in Fairy Tail, that makes us family. My door is always open for family in need."

Ryuga: "You're a good person. I'll take you up on that offer then."

Lucy was in her house writing her novel, waiting for Ryuga to show up with his things. She felt a little nervous, considering she basically invited a stranger into her house for a sleep over, but she didn't think Ryuga was a bad guy. All the time she was writing, she had a small smile and blush on her face. She was soon interrupted from her reading, when a few knocks were heard on her door. She closed her book, and opened the door to find Ryuga with a couple bags standing in the doorway.

Lucy: "Got everything?"

Ryuga: "Yeah, thanks again for allowing me to sleep here."

Lucy: "It's not a problem. Natsu and Happy sometimes sleep here also; so it's not a big deal."

Ryuga: "I see. In that case, would you like me to cook us dinner?"

Lucy: "You can cook?"

Ryuga: "When you're travelling for months at a time, without a town in sight, you learn how to cook."

Lucy: "Then I'll leave it to you. You can set your bags near my bed."

Ryuga: "Will do."

He set his bags down at the edge of her bed, and started to walk towards the kitchen for ingredients.

Ryuga: "What would you like to eat?"

Lucy: "Surprise me."

Ryuga: "Do you like shrimp then?"

Lucy: "I love shrimp!"

Ryuga: "Then I will fix you my special GoldenTang Shrimp with rice."

Lucy: "Sounds delicious, I'll be in here."

Ryuga: "Okay. I'll get started."

Ryuga walked out of the kitchen, wearing a pink apron, and looked over Lucy's shoulder. He was watching her write in her novel. She didn't notice him, and kept writing with a smile on her face.

Ryuga: "You write well."

Lucy: "EEP!"

She jumped out of her seat and fell on the ground, eyes wide looking at Ryuga. He extended his hand towards her.

Ryuga: "Are you all right?"

Lucy: "Yes, you scared me. I didn't know you were there."

Ryuga: "I said that dinner was ready, but I don't think you heard me."

Lucy: "Yes, I was focused on my writing."

Ryuga: "I see. Writing a novel?"

Lucy: "Yes, but I didn't really want anyone to read it before it was done."

Ryuga: "My apologies. Dinner is ready."

They both sat down at a table and Lucy was drooling from the smell. She quickly grabbed a plate and woofed down a few pieces of shrimp. She squealed from the taste, with stars in her eyes.

Lucy: "This is really good! What did you put in it?"

Ryuga: "Honey, everything else.. is secret." He said with a wink and a finger over his mouth.

Lucy blushed and continued eating away. They both ate until they were filled. Ryuga sat up and started washing the dishes, but Lucy soon joined him.

Ryuga: "You don't have to do this. You're doing me a big enough favor by letting me sleep here."

Lucy: "Yes, but you did a huge favor by letting me taste your amazing cooking."

Ryuga: "I see, thank you for the compliment."

They quickly finished and went to Lucy's room to talk for a little. Ryuga wanted to break some of the ice and get to know this Lucy girl. Lucy also wanted to know more of the one she was about to sleep next to.

Ryuga: "So how about we tell each other a little bit about ourselves? I'll go first."

Lucy: "Please do."

Ryuga: "Well first, I'm the son of the Demon God Ziminiar. Making me a Demon God myself. I spent a few hundred years studying magic and even creating some new magic with my father. I never knew my mother, and frankly I don't even think I have a mother. My father soon sent me to the human realm to do research on human behavior and interactions. I've been here ever since. I joined Fairy Tail back when the second master was master. I've met the first master a couple times, a very wise and gentle soul. After a few years, Makarov, the current master, became master of the guild. A few things happened and I became friends with a special woman named Lisanna. However, she soon died, leaving her family in my care. I trained Mirajane and Elfman to use their powers more effectively, but I still think the emotional scar of their sister's death blocks them from unlocking their full potential. I spent a year training them, then I went on that SS-Class quest. And you know the rest."

Lucy: "Wow... So you're over a hundred years old?"

Ryuga: "Yes. How about youself? What's your story?"

Lucy: "Well.. I grew up in a rich family with my father and mother. My mother was a celestial mage, but she soon grew ill and died. My father hardly paid attention to me. So after a few years I ran away and went to Hargeon in search for more celestial keys. That's where I met Natsu and Happy. He invited me to Fairy Tail, which I gladly accepted, and we did a few quests together. I haven't been here long, but everyone's really kind and like family to me. It makes me forget about my father, and it makes me happy."

Ryuga: "I see. However, you can only run away from your past for a few seasons. You'll eventually have to face it. Will you be ready?"

Lucy: "I hope so. By the way, this is a little off-topic, but who's Erza?"

Ryuga: "A S-Class mage of Fairy Tail. Her strength is matched only by her determination, but she has a.. not so bright past. Her heart is still clouded with worry and fear. She too will have to eventually face her past, and I think it will be sooner rather than later."

Lucy: "Wow. Natsu and Gray made her out to be a monster, but you make her sound like a kind girl with a hard past."

Ryuga: "A lot of people in Fairy Tail have hard pasts. That's what makes them grow closer to each other."

Lucy: "What about you? Is your past hard?"

Ryuga: "The only thing hard about my past was loneliness. I've had it a lot better than most of those kind souls in Fairy Tail."

Lucy: "Here I was, before I met you, thinking that you were a cold demon, but you're actually really nice and care for those in Fairy Tail don't you?"

Ryuga: "Fairy Tail deserves my kindness. They're a second family to me."

Lucy: "Me too, I really love it here...." There was silence for a few minutes.

Ryuga: "Well then, shall we sleep?"

Lucy: "Yes, goodnight Ryuga."

Ryuga: "Goodnight, Lucy."