My Pet Dragon

Overview:

Due to certain circumstances, he ended up being her pet, but little did she know that this idiotic pet has a big secret. Now, with her long-time 'ex-crush', her persistent flirty suitor and her stupid pet around, her life won't be as simple as she thinks.

AN: This was inspired by Kimi wa Petto, since it crossed my mind that Natsu is like a dog – he's actually like a dog, he has a sharp sense of smell and sense of hearing, he eats the way he does rawr rawr rawr, he's cute and innocent but rowdy, (he's an idiotic simpleton) and he's really like a dog! XD It's my first ever Fairy Tail fic so I hope you can bear with me XD I do not own Fairy Tail, but I hope you enjoy this fic that borrowed (sucked, actually) the characters into an alternate universe ^_^

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Chapter 1: A Stray Puppy

It was raining again.

Summer was really over now.

A blond girl in her teens was taking a rather leisure walk under the pouring rain that evening. Armed only with her umbrella to defend her from any harm that she could incur from the wrath of nature, she let her mind wander.

'This weather is annoyingly nostalgic,' she thought, pouting to herself as she stared at how the droplets of rain found their way onto the ground along with their comrades who had already gone ahead into the puddles before them. She watched the droplets blend perfectly and she couldn't help but smile at how amazing the cohesive property of water is.

'It has been a year already since I came here in Magnolia to study... I guess I have blended well enough.'

A car then passed by from behind her, its headlights shining through a couple of advertisements and stores ahead. This managed to catch her attention. 'I wonder what Papa is doing right now... He's still probably in his office. I hope our business is not giving him a hard time...'

She then made a right turn at a corner and synchronously, a streak of lightning illuminated the dim street for her. Her chocolate brown eyes caught a strange image at that instant but she decided to shrug whatever it was that she perceived, thinking, 'This street sure is messy today.'

After a few seconds, the follow-up thunder roared, bursting forth with its unstoppable madness, making her shriek, lose track and stumble upon something big — so big that she was a total idiot to be a victim of — a trash can. All happened in just a blink of an eye; she was not able to do anything.

Her inner thighs clung onto the cold, rusty trash can, her arms flung on some icky stuff (whatever sort of dump they were, she wasn't very eager to know), and her face... After rubbing against something hard yet soft on the surface, her face lied motionless on the very thing. She noticed, however, that it was oddly warm as compared to the other things sticking on her body.

She knew all too well that her position was definitely embarrassing and horrendously disgusting, but out of sheer curiosity, she decided to check first what that warm thing was, before standing up to reclaim her posture and her umbrella. She propped herself up by a few inches with her palms against the slimy ground and took a glance of what was exactly in front of her.

Her jaw hung widely open in utmost surprise when she saw a half-naked lifeless body of a man on which her juicy watermelons were currently resting. "Kyaaaaaa!"

Her reflexes launched her a few feet away, to the opposite side of the narrow street, as her heart raced in an attempt to catch her breath. Her widened eyes then focused on the most bizarre thing she saw that day, her erratic breathing almost fading into nothingness as she tried to comprehend that thing.

If she were an avid fan of coffee, she could swear that she was palpitating right now. She looked around in panic, not sure of what she was searching for - the culprit? some evidence to prove that she's innocent? a CCTV camera that could possibly be on her side or make her look suspicious?

In that instant, another tandem of lightning and thunder blasted, making her jump at her seat and glance at the figure abruptly illuminated across her.

The busted light post that was closest to the body was not of any help. Good thing there was one on her side of the street which gave her a faint image of the unconscious man surrounded with trash.

Wounds were all over his body. He had bruises and cuts of various length and depth distributed along his arms and exposed torso. Even his muscled abdomen that seemed sturdy gained enough scratches and cuts. His bare feet were not spared from wounds either. His right cheek was swelling a bit, and there was blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. To top it all up, there was blood on his forehead, hiding beneath his pink bangs and some even flowing down along with the rain drops that hit them. How was she able to notice all of those?

She suddenly realized that she was crawling towards the man – her curiosity must have taken over for a second there – but she halted quickly as a mixture of fear, pity and tension engulfed her. She found herself not minding the fact that her stinking hands were covering her shaking lips as she tried to calm her mind and stop it from asking 'Is he dead?' over and over again.

It was a surprise that her mind obeyed her as it diverted her attention to noticing the familiarity of the scene in front of her.

'It was just like this...' She took another glance of left and right, her eyes not wanting to leave the terrible view in front for even a second. 'This is the same place...'

A teardrop escaped from her eye and rolled down with the rain when she finally muttered, "Plue..."

Her mind then generously gave her a flashback of everything there was to remember.

She could still visualize that very moment when she first met her old pet dog. Its small body was lying on its side, unconscious on the same spot by the wall, near a lamp post and beside the trash cans. It was a bloody mess as its white fur became pinkish with all the blood that came out from various wounds that no one would be able to locate at one glance. The nonstop rain made the poor dog look more of a hopeless case than it already was, but something inside herself forbade her from giving up.

That time, her act of touching the dog's chest to check if its heart was still beating was the key to saving a life that was almost forgotten.

As she pictured how the poor dog back then showed a little movement upon her warm touch and then tapped her arm gently with one of its shivering paws as if asking for her help, she found her body doing something on its own again.

She saw her right hand reach out for the man who was now lying a few inches away from her. Her shivering palm was straight, ready to detect even the weakest sign of life from the complete stranger that reminded her of her old pet.

The moment her palm landed on his chest, it stopped shivering as she realized that the body was indeed warm, just like what her face noticed a while ago. She found warmth under the cold rain in the weirdest spot possible – the stranger's bare chest.

Forgetting the real purpose of the her touch, she was about to draw her hand back as her face flushed a little at what she was doing, but something stopped her at the exact second that she was about to pull away. She spotted a hand weakly gripping her arm – it was the stranger's hand!

As her eyes were lighting up with hope, she tried to rack her brain for any words that would suffice as an appropriate reaction, letting out all the worry and fear she held inside. "What the hell happened to you? C-can you hear me? A-are you really alive?"

She found herself staring at the man's half-lidded eyes, waiting for any form of answer. The only response she got, though, was a faint smile from him. He was still holding her hand that was still pressed against his chest, perhaps finding the warmth from her palm comforting in the midst of the pelting rain.

It was just then when her mind was able to connect every suspicious evidence her senses have obtained. He was naked, he was grasping her hand onto his bare chest and he was smiling! What else could he be? A pervert, most likely!

She hastily pulled her hand away from him and gave him an uncertain glare. There was, apparently, a battle inside her brain – fear versus pity. This guy was obviously a complete stranger, and the fact that he was beaten up to a pulp like this could mean that he is the sort of a guy who gets into a fight and gets beaten up! How dangerous could staying this close to him be? If anyone would see her sitting beside him at the very moment, her face and name would probably be spread across the yankee world or the yakuza empire or whatever it was that this guy was involved with.

But she saw it – the moment she pulled her hand, his hand dropped lifelessly onto his chest and the small smile he managed to show turned upside down. Seeing this softened her, not to mention seeing him as frail as he currently was. She pondered about it as fast as she could, and her kind heart must have won over her feminine precautionary instincts as she started, "You're badly injured..."

She then plunged her hand into the depths of his pink hair to confirm her guess about the left side of his head. He must have felt it soothing that he pressed his head onto her hand with the little strength he had remaining, much like a dog enjoying his master's caress. But she had to pull away immediately to see if her theory was right. And yes she was indeed correct – he had a bloody wound on his head alright.

"We have to bring you to a hospital as soon as-"

"No... hospital..." were the first words from him.

"But you're bleeding, and you might end up with an internal hemorrhage or something like it!" She found herself loosing guard again, too concerned about him and forgetting the fact that someone who does not want to be hospitalized must be someone who was trying to hide from some people, probably his enemies who did this to him.

Her eyes widened madly upon realizing that his hand made its way to hers without her noticing it. He tugged it twice, but she was still processing everything that she remained off guard when his third tug turned out to be a stronger pull.

Within just a snap of a finger, her face ended up on his chest for the second time this day.

"Kyaaa! What are you doing!" Her strong-woman reflexive fists made their way forcefully onto his chest, causing him to cough aloud at the contact.

His continuous coughing -like he was chocked with what she just did- brought her back to reality. "I-I'm sorry... you suddenly pulled me so-"

He managed to flash her another handsome— err, weak smile that turned her heart into a heap of softness once more.

"Sorry... Help me... stand up..." he muttered through ragged breaths, his voice quite hoarse. His coughing or chuckling, whatever it may really be, alternated in such a weird pattern that she didn't know which one truly prevailed.

She slid her left arm behind his shoulder and propped his head from behind with her right hand. If she cared about girl-and-guy matters at this time, she would probably be blushing madly at the seemingly-embrace that she was performing on this stranger. But she knew that she was never that assertive or aggressive, and she was able to convince herself that this was just how one should carefully prop up an injured person, especially if you do not know if there are other parts of his body that would hurt with sudden actions.

She was able to help him sit up, though his facial muscles tensed upon a rush of pain. This got her really worried. "You should really go to a hospital, mister."

He shook his head, his face serious but weak.

He then struggled to lean a palm on the wall behind him and tried to stand up, which he eventually did.

She was struck for a while at how strong-willed, or stubborn rather, this person was. 'He probably has a really big reason for this.'

She stood up as well, which was just in time to catch him when he stumbled on the first step he took.

"You must have injured your foot as well," she stated with a hint of annoyance in her tone as she hung his arm over her shoulder.

It was no more of a surprise for her that she was assisting this guy and walking him to the opposite direction of where he was planning to go. She was carrying him to where she was initially headed.

She then sighed audibly and stated with enough confidence in her tone, "I don't know why you insist on not going to a hospital, but I'm telling you, I'm no ordinary girl, so don't even think about messing up with me, Mister Stranger. Got that?"

She just heard him chuckle weakly as he nodded.

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"Geez, I have never imagined myself helping a strange guy like this," she whined to herself, seeing that the guy she was carrying was nearly unconscious again but was miraculously able to walk a bit with his uninjured left foot. He seemed to be putting a great effort at this – he didn't want her to carry his full weigh, after all, he was taller than her, and more muscular at that, despite how lean his body appears to be – and she appreciated this little kindness from him, causing the small smile on her lips to remain in spite of the difficulty she was experiencing.

The rain stopped pouring, which made her look up. Her smile grew wider. 'At least the stars are making the situation lighter for me.'

Her mind wandered again as she stared ahead, a form of self-distraction so she would not be thinking about how much longer she would have to carry him.

'This guy... he's really like my Plue."

The slideshow machine in her mind turned on and showed her images of her old dog, Plue – her deceased dog, Plue.

Everything about that dog was adorable. He was cute; he does a lot of cute stuff like dancing, chasing his tail, nudging her gently and finding his way to cram in with her on her bed or on the couch, all to make her smile. That dog really seemed to understand her – not just what she says but also the things she cannot say.

When she cried out of frustration or homesickness, Plue would be licking her tears and would end up tickling her and making her giggle. When she was in a good mood, which was often the case when he was around, she would prepare a special food for him that he would chow down in just a matter of seconds. When she was sick, Plue would never leave her side. And whenever she comes home from school, Plue would be there at her apartment doorstep, waiting inside for the chance to surprise her with a kiss – or lick – and a hug which was not really a surprise any more since he used to do it everyday.

That's right, he used to...

She found him the same way she found this guy, around the same time last year. It was just about a month after she has moved into Magnolia.

It was her first time to live alone and away from home, so Plue's cuteness and comfort like that of a family member made it easier for her to adjust to the new lifestyle. She did not have to endure sleeping alone during the scary Halloween nights and eating by herself during the special holidays like Christmas and her birthday. She had someone to call her family, who was clearly more affectionate than her real family – her ever-busy father.

That was why she got so heartbroken when Plue died earlier this year. He apparently had a weak and sick heart, literally. After the symptoms showed up, he did not give her enough time to get him cured, nor enough time to take care of him some more. But it was not like he chose it that way either. Plue loved her as much as she did and she knew that.

It was Plue who gave her happiness – though short-lived – while she was away from home to study.

Well it wouldn't be happy at home either anyway, because her father was always too busy to give enough attention to her. Yes, he cared enough to give her everything that would define a princess' life. But that was not what she wanted. A simple life with him would be enough as long as they would be together through everything. She sometimes wished for some sort of a black hole to come and suck them up into a different world so they would both have to live a new, and probably, a more normal life.

But that was not the case. Being the president and owner of one of the two biggest mobile phone companies in the technologically advanced country of Fiore, of course he would be too busy. And he has been like that ever since her mom died when she was 10.

Growing a bit more mature, however, she understood that it was probably his way of preventing himself from feeling sad or frustrated over his wife's death. He had a lot of plans for them and for his whole family, but for his everything to be torn like that all of a sudden, a once caring man can mask himself with a facade of a super busy businessman so any signs of despair won't get into him.

But she cared a lot for her dad, despite all his strictness and his being so authoritative on her. She follows everything he says, believing that he knows what's better for her than she does and thinking that it would just add to his father's frustrations if she would be a defiant girl. Becoming someone whom her father can be proud of was her greatest goal, thinking it would not only make him happy but it would also be the key for her father to start giving her the right amount of attention and the kind of care that she longed for all these years.

She vowed to do well in her studies and soon help her father in managing their company. That way, she would not only be helping him, but she would also be working with him.

That was also his plan – to send her to the best school in the country, even if it would mean that she'll live separately for a few years, and then give her the position in the company that was reserved for her all this time. For her, that plan was the best one her father has ever thought of, among all the other orders that he made her reluctantly accomplish before. It was her biggest goal as of the moment – to do everything to make her father proud and happy.

With that, she learned to live on her own, insisting on not bringing any of her maids with her, thinking that this way, she would grow for the better and learn a lot more about the reality of life.

That's why she's here, in her apartment...

She did not notice that she had arrived already, along with the stranger she decided to help.

After closing the door, she hurried to lay him onto the sofa, sofly removing her arms around him, feeling just now all the tiredness that she has earned. She managed to place him there carefully, keeping in mind that no matter how possibly-dangerous this person was, he was injured in full detail right now so he must be treated as fragile.

She stood up and did some stretching after placing him down onto his temporary bed. With this, her eyes did their job observing him.

He was only in his black denim pants which fitted him perfectly - alright, that was just her being a fashion lover, that's why she noticed.

And his -how many was that?- six-pack abs? and his seemingly sculpted body were perfectly complemented by his pants, really - and that was just her being merely observant as a fashion expert for herself. She swore she would greet the person who designed those pants and even ask for his autograph when she sees him.

There was something else in him that she failed to notice until now. He was wearing a white scarf.

'How can your shirt disappear while your scarf remains around your neck?' She just shrugged at her question. 'Maybe he's just weird like that.'

She decided to grab a hair clip from the nearby drawer and in a swift move, she tied her hair into a bun with fountains of hair around it. "Alright, Lucy Heartfilia, it's time to test your first aid skills!"

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AN: I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing! :D How was it? Pleeeeeaaaassseeeee tell me *puppy eyes* ehehehe, how did you feel while reading it? what are your guesses about those three guys in the summary (the ex-crush, the suitor and the pet)? why do you think the injured guy was badly injured? what are your expectations or want-to-read-about's? :D hehe, I hope you can tell me ^_^ it would reeeeeeally make me haaaaappppyyyy if you would click the Review This Story thingy down there after reading this and tell me what you have in mind :p weeeee, thank you for reading! Happy April to all! \(^o^)/

A whale-size THANK YOU to windtamer01 (aka jeni)! ^o^ thanks for giving me those crazy comments and cool suggestions and helping me make this chapter better \(^.^)/ revising this has been challenging but fun =P