Phoenix

Date

"So where are we going?"

Sting and Emi had begun their date the next day. The dragon slayer was dragging Emi through the crowded streets before leading her to the destination. Emi's eyes widened when she saw the royal gardens.

"Uh, there's only one thing. They said that we could have the gardens to ourselves, but you would need to take off your hood. If you don't feel comfortable we can--"

Emi whipped off her hood and ran into the gardens.

"Damn. Who knew it would be that easy."

"As long as we're the only ones here it should be fine."

She had been jumping from one flower patch to the next, smelling each one. Sting had made his way over to the fountain in the center and sat on it's ledge as he watched her with a smile.

"Sting! Look at these!"

Sting looked up and followed Emi's gaze. He raised his eyebrow to ask her to elaborate.

"They're called catmint. Aren't they beautiful?"

Sting stood up and stretched before wandered over to the woman, clearly interested in whatever drew her attention so much.

"Let me see."

Emi blushed as she recognized the memory.

"The gardens sure are beautiful," Levy stated.

Emi sidestepped while squatting and motioned for the dragon slayer to bend down and join her. He quickly did so and started to touch the catmint. He smiled and picked up a flower from the patch.

"I think it would match your hair," Sting commented.

"But my hair is white."

"Well then let's find out, shall we?"

Sting sat down on the grass in front of the patch and pulled Emi out of her squatting position. He slowly brushed her hair behind her ear before gently placing the catmint in her hair. Emi blushed at the action before looking at Sting's eyes. They slowly leaned in towards each other. Their lips almost touched before they pulled away. Sting rubbed the back of his neck before nervously laughing.

"Heh, sorry about that. Anyway, what were you saying?"

Emi had a deep red tint to her whole face as she struggled with words.

"I was, um, just saying that my hair is white."

Emi and Sting looked away from each other for a moment before Emi picked up a small catmint and placed it in Sting's hair.

"There," she beamed, "now we match."

"Boo!" Mira yelled. "You were so close!"

Everyone laughed at Mira's energy.

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"Does it always look like this?"

"Not necessarily. It can change depending on what sells."

"Who knew there was a store with everything white."

"There's actually a store like that in Crocus?"

"Not anymore," Sting explained. "They went out of business a few years ago."

"So," Emi joked, "how often do you come here?"

Sting blushed a bit before telling her that it was only sometimes. He quickly bought two white apples and handed the white haired wizard one before biting into the other.