CHAPTER 1 (fixed) : An Expected Meeting

An outdoor and wide place with few rocks and trees, and short grass. A savanna-like place. It's a bright day. The sky was clear and the air was fresh. There were no animals and other humans around this woman...

Kagura Mikazuchi was walking alone with Archenemy in her left hand. There was something that really bugged her that made her decide to take this mission. Although everybody in Mermaid Heel didn't think it's a good idea to take it, even for a mage on her level, she still persisted in. She knew this mission was one of the hardest missions that had been requested in the mage world. Since anyone might have encountered an international criminal group of the shinobi world called Akatsuki where every member had diabolical abilities as the rumors said. Hence, it's called an impossible mission.

*FLASHBACK... this is what happened one week ago in Mermaid Heel's headquarters.*

"So, you are taking this mission, Kagura?" Risley asked Kagura. Kagura replied "Yes. That criminal group of the shinobi world has something to do with undiscovered slavery practices in both mage world and shinobi world. They also built collaborations with some dark guilds."

"Rumor has it that they are aiming for dragon slayers and books of Zeref." Beth spoke up.

"It's strongly possible that they do." Kagura replied "Akatsuki is aiming for something to build power that affects the whole world, something supernatural, special, and strong. They already did that before they came into the mage world. Of course dragon slayers and books of Zeref really attract them."

"I don't think this is a good idea," said Arania "neither does everybody else. We are just fourth best guild while Akatsuki is an international criminal group that has bothered the entire shinobi world along with its nations and villages. All missions from the authorities of the shinobi world are impossible missions, even for S-class mages."

"And the fact that S-class mages are encouraged to be involved by the requesters, shows how dangerous these missions can be." said Miliana. Agreeing with Miliana and Arania, Beth also informed that the payments were very high yet so far only few mages had been interested.

The topic seemed off when Miliana brought up Natsu saying he could have been interested in dangerous missions requested from the shinobi world. Arania responded by saying he was the one who popularized the "I am fired up!"catchphrase and the catchphrase had been popular across Fiore since the victory of Fairy Tail.

"Ah, talking about Fairy Tail... " Beth spoke up, the topic reminded her of something "didn't Erza Scarlet also receive a mission from the authorities of the shinobi world?"

"She did." Kagura answered "And she finished her mission alone. She encountered an opponent. She won but she nearly died." hearing that, Beth was surprised "Erza, in that condition?"

"It was three weeks ago." said Miliana "I was in a great shock. I cried all days. But her condition is better now."

"I never heard about that before. I though she finished her mission at ease." said Beth. Arania then said its because she was in her long-term mission in a far place. That's why she didn't know what happened to Erza during her mission. Miliana then told her that Fairy Tail's master, Makarov, told them not to reveal this to public because he didn't want to cause more shock over the mage world since Erza was one of the strongest female mages.

Kagura then explained that Erza wasn't weak or something. The shinobi world was different than the mage world so opponents from there would likely to be more unpredictable compared to opponents from the mage world. She also told everyone that regardless what happened to Erza, she had actually made a great accomplishment. She's the first mage who finished a mission from the authorities of the shinobi world. "That is amazing. Erza is amazing" Kagura praised her stepsister.

"Erza is extremely strong yet ended up badly injured..." Risley expressed her shock, although she acknowledged Erza's superiority in strength.

"That is why any mission from the authorities of the shinobi world is considered an impossible mission. It is so hard, even Erza almost died." said Arania.

"So hard that even the authorities of the shinobi world would ask help from the mage world and offer very expensive rewards." said Miliana. Beth then said "So hard that even Risley doesn't dare say "don't underestimate Kagura" this time..."

"I always have faith in Kagura." Risley defended her faith in her comrade "That's why although I don't think it's a good idea, her assertion makes me believe her intuition is sharper than mine."

"Actually my mission is different than Erza's." Kagura explained "So we can't be sure if it's easier or harder. Erza told me she was requested to protect an isolated area. While in this mission, I am requested to take back billions of jewels that were stolen by Akatsuki from rich men and were kept in some place far from here. And that place might be guarded by one or two members of that criminal group."

Silent for few seconds...

"I have decided." Kagura continued her words "I am taking this mission. I want to fight evil. I want to discover things. I myself don't know much about the shinobi world. But I have heard that shinobi also possess special abilities like we do. They call theirs jutsu. While we call ours magic. They use something called 'chakra', the life energy in their bodies, as "fuel" to utilize jutsu, just like our magic power. Both mages and shinobi are basically humans with special abilities. Maybe it won't make much difference."

*NOW WE GO BACK TO MAIN PLOT... the savanna-like place where Kagura was walking alone.*

Kagura sensed that someone or something was following her. As she looked up, she saw something with a pair of wings flying in the sky above. Her intuition sensed danger. And suddenly an explosion hit her place. She hopped and landed safely on the ground. She was not affected by the explosion. She looked up to see who or what had caused that explosion.

Appearing in the scene, Deidara in his Akatsuki cloak and wearing a utility belt with two bags. He was standing on an artificial clay dragon flying in the sky. The clay dragon's size was equal to a real dragon. It then landed and he jumped down to the ground. He smiled evilly as he looked at Kagura. They were staring at each other. The distance between them was not too far.

"A dragon?... no. That's an artificial dragon." Kagura talked to herself inside her own head.

"You are not bad at answering my greeting, S-class swordman mage." said Deidara.

Kagura then told him "You are a member of Akatsuki. According to info I got, your group stole billions of jewels from rich men and kept them in some place somewhere around here."

"We didn't steal the jewels. We robbed the rich men. Hmmm..."

"Where is your partner?"

"You only see one person here, mage of fourth best guild."

Silent for a moment... Kagura and Deidara kept staring at each other.

"Heh, what a coincidence. But I must say our meeting is an expected meeting." Deidara broke the silence.

"What are you trying to say?" Kagura replied.

"Your name is Kagura Mikazuchi. You are from females only guild named Mermaid Heel... you were a weak person who became far stronger despite her poor life thanks to her hatred toward someone, but then her ideals turned 180 degrees after she experienced a hard day that almost sent her and her friend to death.

"You know about me?"

"I can see why you took your mission. I know your past. Abductions on children in your hometown, your broken heart when you knew you won't meet your brother Simon, your hatred toward Jellal... all the painful things in your past made you fall into darkness. You fought for a certain goal - avenging. But then you learned from some people to continue life by protecting and nursing others, and make your hard experience a lesson to understand their pain. Your darkness turned into light. That is why you took your mission. You really want to fight evil and discover truth. You hope by doing this, you will bring peace and happiness... although it endangers your life. Hmmm..."

Silent for a moment... Kagura's face showed no expression although in her mind, she was a little bit surprised.

Deidara continued his words "You could be an opponent I would fight to death. Because I love killing someone strong who is fulfilling their big dreams especially with such ideals. Our meeting is like a fateful day, although I don't believe in fate. Hmmm..."

"Although you are from the shinobi world, you know well about many things in the mage world, S-class 'flying bomber' shinobi Deidara."

"So my real name and my terror stories have already reached mage world's mass media. But... haha I never consider myself flying bomber."

"People in the mage world actually still don't know much about you and I didn't know why you are called flying bomber. But by seeing the way you came over and greeted me, now I see it all makes sense."

"Then you must have seen my ultimate art. This is something that has impressed the whole shinobi world. And it will soon impress the whole mage world too. I may introduce it to you first, unless you are too weak to resist it. Hmmm..."

"You are aiming for dragon slayers and books of Zeref, aren't you?"

"Well, it seems that you know about us more than I expected. But this will be your regret because I won't let you go. Our battle is really expected, especially since you are not a shinobi. Now I have an opportunity to defeat another artist from a different background of art."

"I never claimed myself to be an artist. And I am not interested in everything you say about art."

"A shinobi uses chakra to utilize jutsu. A mage uses magic power to utilize magic. To determine which art is better in battle, they have to start a duel."

"What I am looking for is not an answer for that question. I don't even care about that. Whoever gets in my way during my mission will face the scariest thing in their life, regardless who they are."

"The real scariest thing lies on my creations. I will show you my ultimate art that will rock the entire mage world."

Deidara revealed his palms in front of Kagura, showing that he had mouths in each of the palms. He then hopped onto his clay dragon and showed a threatening smile to her. They were staring at each other. They were about to fight!

To Be Continued...


NOTE FROM AUTHOR
Actually this chapter was originally written in Simple Present Tense and its format was chat/script. But to avoid breaking a rule, I converted it into novel style. I had no problem converting Simple Present Tense into Simple Past Tense since its not so much difficult, and stories are told in Simple Past Tense. But changing this chapter's format was really tiring.