Story name; Jinchūriki
Summary; "The boy who eats fire." She murmured. Lucy/Erza pairing. Lucy is the nine tails Jinchuriki
Disclaimer; I own nothing. I write this purely for my own amusement.
A/N; Future Lucy/Erza pairing. Expect characters not just from Fairy/Naruto but all over the anime universe. Join me on my journey to destroy anything and everything cannon, BREAK DOWN THE WALLS! Well, read and tell me what you thought. Further warning down at the bottom btw.
Self-consciously pulling at the brim of her hood a young girl walked the streets of a lively town. Careful to keep as much distance from herself and the crowd of people assembled as possible, a frown played at her lips.
Twin crystal blue eyes narrowed swiftly darting to the right noticing a stray lock of blonde that had come undone from it's double braid. A sigh of resignation escaped thin pink lips, as not for the first time today her annoyance with her hair becoming evident.
On a normal occasion, the blonde Mage would simply cut the uneven main of hair back behind her ears. As is, the bleached blonde quality of her golden hair was far too recognizable, only serving to stand in the way. Lately however, a sense of compliance had taken hold. Allowing her hair the chance to grow past her chin the pesky foliage had even reached the broadness of her shoulders.
She had hardly given her self-grooming a second thought being as there were far more distinguishable features than her hair to worry about.
She had told herself that it was nothing more than a simple act of neglect, not caring how she looked. That was a lie. She knew it was because someone had noticed her. They had complimented her hair, calling it beautiful. It was rare she got compliments.
She shook off that thought. Not bothering to spend the time to redo her hair the offending locks of gold simply tucked neatly back, resting comfortable on her ear.
The electricity of the crowd was obvious, people happily chatting about, throwing around words of 'Salamander' and 'Fairy Tail'. Even on the outskirts of a thinly populated city, tales of the infamous Fairy Tail Mage burned hot. A man so powerful he was impervious to the very elements itself. The rumors pointed that he could even consume fire.
Part of her wandered how much truth there was to the man behind the myth. Having recently become a rather 'hot' topic it wasn't inconceivable that the man known as Salamander was a huge embellishment being nothing more than an average Mage. Even to her ears the stories concerning him seemed ludicrous.
"The boy who eats fire." She murmured.
Clutching tightly at her sole copy of this month's edition of 'Sorcerer weekly' a sense of determination settled over her. She had come a long way; it would be a waste to back out now.
Quickening her pace, her small stride drove her forward into the mass of bodies. With a hastened quickness about her, she waved back and forth, in and out of traffic.
The nimble girl was barely noticed gliding gracefully through the crowd, just another body in the sea of excited onlookers.
There were very few instances when actual gratitude could be expressed to her unnatural abilities. At this moment, silently slipping unnoticed like a ghost through masses could be counted as one of those times.
For a very long time she had been like this.
Her body's physical attributes pushing the limits of human control.
Increased speed, heightened senses, psychical strength comparable to the mightiest of Mages. It was all thanks to the Demon residing within her soul.
From what she could tell it wasn't Magic in nature nor was 'She' (or Lucy as she recently had started calling herself) technically a Magician. Having never performed a single spell she wandered if she was even capable.
There had been a time that she might have been capable but that was long since passed. Magic was just beyond her now. It was there, all around her, she could feel it but not interact. The force within her contradicting any Magic she tried. The energy within, the demon, she corrected mentally, rejecting and causing all types of Magic to fail.
It was an unfair trade-off. Long ago, in a time nearly forgotten to her now, she had loved Magic. Seeing the wondrous things Mages could do, a younger version of herself had dreamed of becoming one of them. Joining a guild to one day become a powerful even respected Wizard was what she truly desired.
She had all but given up on that dream now. The golden keys hanging uselessly around her belt a testament to that.
Reaching the center of the commotion 'Lucy' could practically hear her heart hammering in her chest. Pushing through the last bit of resistance standing in her path there was an odor assaulting her senses. Her noise scrunched up in barely hidden disgust, eyebrows knitting together in mild curiosity.
Standing in the center of a massive circle of people, a dark haired man wearing an extravagant cape was throwing pink fire from his fingertips, playing up to the people's amusement. A collection of 'Ohhhs' and 'Ahhhhs' sounded through the people around her as the flames danced to the man's will.
Watching the flames flow through the air, Lucy was mesmerized. The gentle sway of fire was pulling her in. The slight heat licking across her features almost primordial in its seduction.
"Marvelous isn't?"
Being caught off guard it took a great deal of self-control to psychically restrain herself from acting out against the low voice in her ear. Glancing over, the fire Mage was standing before her, a strange glint dancing behind his eyes.
The foul odor she had sensed before was now twice as strong with his close proximity. The stinging of her nostrils actually painful to a startling degree. As if being hit by a truck Lucy was floured with an unfamiliar sensation.
Her eyes glazed over, her mouth going agape.
With a sudden start she realized what was happening. No sooner had she figured it out the feeling assaulting her body stopped. Her eyes whipped open, body going rigid in righteous fury as she turned to face the wizard.
"A love charm?"
Surprise filtered across the man's face before he schooled his features back into a convincing smirk. "Ah, so you are a Wizard as well? That is unexpected." Coming closer his hand glossed over her jacket stopping just at the hood. Tugging at her hood his smirk turned full smile as he released one of her blonde locks from their prison.
It took a great deal to restrain herself at the unwanted contact.
His eyes raked over her body till it reached her hands still clutching her magazine. "So you're interested in Fairy Tail is it?" He asked her, changing his tactics. "Well you're in luck. Considering your talking to the very famous Salamander,"
Her eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Are you propositioning me Salamander?"
"Oh heavens no." He gushed laughing lightly. "It's simply a treat to meet such an… aspiring young wizard."
"Is that what the love charm is for then? To meet young wizards?"
He waved off her question with an ease she almost found it convincing. "We have to weed out the unworthy somehow don't we?"
She didn't answer. Frustration already starting to build. She had come so far for this? This man was nothing but a fraud. A criminal at that, if her suspensions were correct.
Seeing her turn away the fire Mage tried one last time stepping in front of her before she could walk off.
"You are a Celestial Wizard I take it? Not many of them going around. I could get you into Fairy Tail if that is what you desire?" He asked her this time taking a new approach, his last bid.
"You want me to join Fairy Tail?" She asked slowly.
His eyes lit up at her curiosity. "Oh yes." He purred, urging her to take the bait. "My ship is just off the coast waiting at the docks. We are preparing for a voyage back to Magnolia as we speak. Fairy Tail."
"Are you offering me a ride on your…boat?" She asked lowly, dangerously. The 'Salamander' took it as sultry.
"Yes. I am." He spoke clearly, all pretenses gone. "Come by later tonight, we leave at sun rise."
And with that, he left. Turning back to his adoring fans the man was as cheerful as ever.
"Oh don't worry." She mumbled pulling her hood back. "I'll be there."
Behind the hidden darkness of her cloak no one noticed the once startling blue eyes of the blonde shift and darken into a crimson red.
TFJ
(Natsu)
Rushing with a quickened pace, a pink haired teen was bulling his way through a crowded street clutching at his oversized pack.
"Come on Happy!" He urged.
Glancing over his shoulder, a blue cat was floating just behind. Turning back to the growing crowd Natsu blasted through the lines of people with a happy shout.
"Igneel it's me! Oh, Who the hell are you?"
Standing before him was a wizard dressed with spiky hair, a weird cape and spouting out pink fire that smelled odd to the Dragon Slayer.
"W-what?" The man questioned. His stance stiffened a moment before his chin turned up. His eyes looked down to the pink haired teen in a posture that screamed arrogance. "I'm Salamander. Who the hell are you?"
Both Happy and Natsu looked to one another, sharing a meaningful look they nodded in silent agreement. He wasn't a Dragon.
When voicing the thought he received a dubious look from the fire Mage. Then crowd erupted in laughter. Scowling Natsu just resisted the urge to, well, do what he usually did when angry, spit fire and fight.
The image of a certain scowling red head stilled his temper.
Chuckling lightly along with the crowd 'Salamander' waved a hand quieting the mob. "Now now, let's not upset the boy. He was merely confused. My namesake is rather confusing."
He smiled what many thought was a charming smile, putting up an extravagant show for the crowd. That is, until he saw Natsu bored expression.
The fire Mage frowned at Natsu's lack of response. His lips turned up, he even opened his mouth to speak but sputtered when he noticed the boy was already walking away.
"Hey, I was talking to you ingrate!"
"Don't care." Natsu replied.
He didn't even bother when he was verbally swarmed by a horde of girls. Natsu just kept walking. His eyes did wander up watching the 'Salamander' fly off riding a wave of flames into the distance. Natsu glared until he was out of sight.
"Damnit," He sighed once they were away from the spectacle. "I swear I'm going to kill that lying bastard when we get to Fairy Tail. Oh Salamander is here Natsu. Phsft." He spit out his tongue. "Salamander my a-"
Suddenly Natsu slammed into something, something hard. Bulling backwards the pink haired teen was unceremoniously planted on his rear. Blinking his surprised eyes looked up to see a bewildered blonde staring down at him.
"Hey! Watch it!" The girl screeched.
Natsu's eyes lit up at the sound of her voice. It was low, lower than normal. Almost taking on a double tent.
Regret flashed across the girls face before she quickly lowered to check on him. She removed her hood to show a surprising beautiful face. Blonde hair that nearly rivaled the sun in intensity spilled out around her neck. He felt his cheeks burn, eyes darting away at the generous chest revealed at her now open coat. The most distinctive feature however were the three marks on the girls cheek. Almost resembling whisker marks. . . Weird.
"I'm sorry." She whispered almost too low for him to hear. Her eyes looked away, not quite meeting his own. "I didn't mean to…"
A red glint caught his eye, but as he looked he was only met with concerned blue. A startling shade of blue actually, crystalline.
With a laugh, Natsu waved her off. His hand coming to rest comfortable at the nape of his neck. "No need to apologize. I was the one to bump into you. Besides me and Happy are a lot tougher than we look!"
Laughing away her concerns, Natsu shook away all his confusion, blaming it on the fall he just took. For a brief moment there he thought her eyes had been red. There was an unusual awkward silence as the girl was watching them warily. That was until she spoke. "Does that cat have wings?" She asked, pointing up at the floating feline.
"AYE!"
"What the-?" She squealed jumping back. "HE CAN TALK?"
"Yeah. Of course." Natsu said, scratching his head confused. "He's a Mage too after all."
"You say that as if it's normal." She muttered trailing off. That only confused the young dragon slayer. Growing up in Fairy Tail he had always taken for granted his feline companion's ability to speak. Everyone else in the guild all knew this, accepting it as fact. Now that he took a moment to think it over, not having grown up with the magic cat, it might have seemed odd. In Fairy Tail they mostly just went with the flow.
"Well anyways Happy and me were just about to head into town to get some food. Wanna join?"
She hesitated.
"Our treat!" happy offered.
Natsu narrowed his eyes at the blue cat. "Your treat?"
"You really want to eat with me?" She asked.
Natsu took note of the hint of anxious vulnerability in the soft voice. "Come on," He encouraged with a smile. "Least we could do." Floating across his shoulder, Happy gave an affirmative nod. "Aye."
"Yes. She answered after a moment. "I would love to go with you."
Tfj
(Lucy)
"Okay. Okay. Let me get his straight. Your friend, the one you were looking for, is a dragon?"
"Yeah!"
". . ."
And you just thought a giant fire breathing Dragon was stampeding through town?" She teased.
"Well yeah!" Natsu enthused with a wave of his hands. An impressive feat considering how he was currently engulfing enough food to feed a small army. "When you say it like that." Happy muttered catching Lucy's tone but his pink haired friend didn't even bat an eye.
"A friend said a Salamander was here. Well former friend. . . I swear when I see him . . ." Again, all while eating. Lucy actually paused her questions to stare, the little cat shrugging sheepishly at his partner. Lucy could only blink.
"And by Salamander, you took it to mean this Igneel was here?"
"That salamander creep was a fraud." Natsu grumbled.
"Yeah, I figured that much out."
"Then what were you doing then? Trying to get his autograph too?" Happy inquired.
"No, I was…looking for someone too." She told them. "Well I was looking to ask a question."
"Huh?" Their heads snapped up at her sullen tone. She debated on how much she should tell them, they had been nice to her after all, and they deserved honesty. "I was wanting to join Fairy Tail. It's actually been a dream of mine."
She didn't know why she was telling them all this. She knew she shouldn't get close. These two strangers didn't deserve her problems.
"Why did you want to join the Fairy Tail guild?" Natsu asked quietly.
She couldn't tell the truth. These kind, foolish strangers couldn't possible understand. She wouldn't burden them with her problems.
"You seem like a nice person Natsu. You too Happy…I don't want you to hate me."
"Why would we hate you Lucy?"
She didn't answer. There was no need.
She had a date after all. Rising, Lucy placed her share of the dinner money next to her empty plate despite their protests. "You asked why I want to join Fairy Tail?" She spoke over her shoulder. "I want friends. Family. Someone to accept me. That's why." She took a step. "It's time to meet Salamander."
"Wait, what? You're going to meet that guy?"
"It could be dangerous Lucy."
Oh she planned on that. But keeping that thought to herself she smiled a true radiant smile gracing her lips at their concern. It had been so long since someone had cared about her well-being.
"What's wrong Lucy?" Happy asked.
It was only then she realized she was crying. Wiping at her tear stained cheeks, Lucy laughed away their concern. It was truly a wander to have met them.
"Sorry. I'm just happy. Goodbye Natsu. Goodbye Happy."
"Hey Lucy we're friends. Believe it."
She halted at a wooden table in one corner of the small restaurant, unprepared for the pink haired teen's voice. Turning back, Lucy noticed Natsu press a hand in her direction.
She eyed the strange boy a moment, his eyes they were so full of kindness and compassion she could barely meet his gaze. With a little fidgeting, Lucy extended her own arm to meet Natsu's outstretched one.
"Sure Natsu, we're friends."
TFJ
(Lucy)
Staring down the burning reemits of her home, a burning laughter was edging at Lucy's subconscious. 'They're all dead.' She thought. Her friends, family, no one had survived; they were all dead.
'Just let me out!' the voice screamed. It was begging at this point, ripping and tearing at the forefront of her mind. It was just telling her what it thought she wanted to hear, Lucy realized but couldn't deny it was right. 'She' was right she corrected herself grudgingly. As much as she wanted to believe that the Demon inside her soul was nothing more than a leech that she could steal power from when necessary; it just wasn't true. The demon was a part of her. The demon was the deepest darkest part of her soul that she wished wasn't there. The part of her that enjoyed the violence, the killing, the suffering and damnit did she want to let her loose.
Lucy could feel something running down the brim of her nose. It was only then did she realize her hand had made its way to her face and was currently digging into her brow with enough force to draw blood. It was a copping mechanism fashioned and developed at an early age. It helped fight the demons more…violent impulses. Sometimes a little pain helps, she thought grimly.
"Can't speak darling?" Bora asked amused. His voice bringing her back from the brink. Lost in a memory her head tilted to the side, blonde locks hanging over her eyes as she peered up at the criminal. "Don't worry darling, just drink in the perfume and it'll be over before you know it."
'Oh yes,' her mind shot back into place. She had boarded the criminal, now identified as Bora by a helpful crew member, boat. What she had found had nearly sent her over the edge and straight into the abyss. Into a maddening rage that would have promised a swift and agonizing death for all those near.
On the boat were woman. Dozens of them, all unconscious, drugged.
"You're the worst type of wizard." It was low, so low in fact the fake salamander had to strain to hear it.
Looking at the man Lucy was met with her own look. Mirrored in the reflection of his eyes she could see why a frown was playing at his lips. Gone were the blue iris's passed down by her mother, being replaced with something much more sinister. Red.
The laughing was almost unbearable now. It was begging, pleading to be released and this time Lucy was more than willing to abide the renewing blood lust. Black was slowly encompassing the lines of her peripherals. 'Just for a second.' It conceded. 'He is nothing to us!' Sensing perhaps that victory was near the voice was screaming with a renewed vigor. She couldn't remember the last time the Demon had fought like this. Maybe if she just lost control for just a second . . .
"What's that?" He asked amused.
"I know what you're doing." Her voice took an edge to it that sent a noticeable shiver down the criminal's spine. "Sleeping spell. It won't work on me. Someone like you, you use magic against the weak. You don't deserve your talent."
"Don't be like that." He chuckled, not yet realizing his position. "It wouldn't do to upset the men now. It is a long trip back to Bosco after all."
That was the final straw. She saw his death unfold before her.
Just as a clawed hand went for the kill something stopped her. Or rather the slight red blot in the sky alerted her something was wrong. Watching with increasing curiosity the little red blur was actually coming toward them.
"N-Natsu?" She questioned.
Following her gaze the criminal before her looked up in confusion before realization struck. "Shit! Brace for impact!" And on command, the ship exploded with activity. Crew members, salamander included seemed to forget Lucy even existed as they ran about trying to escape the incoming destruction.
Lucy herself watched the scene with a faint amusement. She intended to see this vile ship to the end. It wasn't like she was endanger of dying.
A light grasp on her shoulder had her looking up. She just barely restrained the urge to rip off the intruding appendage.
She strangled the impulse seeing blue. A little cat was lifting her up into the sky.
"Happy. . ." She sighed.
"Aye!" He chirped.
TFJ
(Natsu)
"Huh?" The Dragon Slayer wandered aloud. "Guess I over did it a bit." Natsu added examining the wrecked ship.
Blasting into the slaver ship Natsu hadn't exactly thought his plan through. In theory, Happy and himself had thought it up simply enough. Natsu would jump in and fight, while Happy pulled Lucy to safety. They had forgotten one critical detail, Natsu's motion sickness.
The moment his feet touched down the boy was a swaying, barfing mess. Luckily for him though, as usual Natsu did what he usually did, he burned things. With the combined force of his landing and the flames he produced the ship was damaged pretty bad, sending it off course and thankfully to shore.
Some, namely his own guild mates, would have said he got off lucky but he liked to think his 'careful' planning had something to do with his success. Well, he amended, most of it was luck, he could admit that, but he did choice to strike before the boat decided to set sail. It was much closer to shore and didn't exactly have far to drift before hitting land. He at least deserved credit for that. Right?
He decided then and there to tell the story with the ship still being docked. Yep, sounded much better there.
With a paled expression, the pink haired teen watched quite a few woman run from the ship he had just manhandled. He winched at the obvious. He also decided to tell the others he hadn't forgotten about the teens kidnapped.
"You idiot!" A voice screamed.
Glancing over Natsu noticed the fire wizard picking himself up. The dragon slayer narrowed his gaze. He was the guy.
"Hey you."
"What?"
"You're the guy who's been saying he's from Fairy Tail."
"So what if I was?" He questioned dusting himself off.
Natsu grinned at that. He had been hoping he would say something like that. Taking a stance actual fire burned hot in the Fairy Tail Mages eyes. The air around him began to stir. Rising at a drastic pace the temperature caused the very ground to quake.
"Look close." Natsu instructed. Tossing aside his coat the dark jacket flapped across blowing into the wind. The conscious members of Bora's crew all noticed his guild symbol stamped across his shoulder. "Because you're about to see what a real Fairy Tail mage really looks like."
"Wait, you don't mean-"
Natsu didn't wait for him to finish. Clasping both hands together a red magic circle formed. Taking in a massive gulp of air his magic power sky-rocketed. "Wait," Bora gasped. "Let's talk about this!"
"Fire Dragons, Roar!"
TFJ
Shielding the small cat close to her chest Lucy had to close her eyes at the titanic battle happening nearby. Flames flew from both sides, the shore a burning inferno.
"Boy doesn't know how to take it easy does he?"
"That's Natsu." Happy laughed.
Making her way over to the cataclysmic event happening Lucy had wanted to help but Happy was quite certain that he didn't need her help. Mentioning the boy's magic and his apparent resistance to fire magic the blonde haired girl had relented.
It didn't take long for her to find the pink haired boy. Rising out of a blazing inferno a cheeky grin was spreading across his face. She couldn't help but return the look, his mood infectious. You would think he hadn't engaged in an all out fight, destroying half a port in the process.
"So you're a wizard?" She questioned.
Raising an arm up he scratched at the back of his neck laughing lightly. "Did I not mention that?"
An eyebrow rose at his lapse of memory. "No." She dead panned. "And a Fairy Tail Mage?"
Giving her a tooth filled grin he showed the mark across his shoulder proudly. "Believe it."
"Hmm." Was he for real? Her eyes turned back to the barely conscious Bora. "Mind if I have a few words with Casanova over there?"
"Eh, sure."
Turning away from the confused boy she made sure she was well out of ear shot as she kneeled down to the fire wizard's level.
Picking the man up ever so gently Lucy cradled her hand around his cheek. Pulling him close so only the two of them could hear she leaned in whispering lightly. "You have no idea how lucky you are." She told him.
His eyes widened at the voice. The sound was contorted and sounded far too sinister for the small girl he had just seen. The demon inside was disrupting her voice patterns adding its own taint to it but there was something else there. It was her killer intent.
For a brief moment the downed man looked like he was going to speak. Or perhaps throw up. She didn't wait to find out. "Listen well, if we meet again Natsu won't be there to save you."
Her grip closed around his features earning a small wince of pain. "Death will be a blessing for what I have planned. I will pill the skin off your dying body. Grind your bones to sand. You will beg for death. Do we understand each other? You will never harm another young girl again."
He nodded dumbly. She smirked, a tooth, fang filled grin. "Good." Clapping his cheek lightly Bora fell with a heap releasing a relieved puff of air.
"Don't act so happy." She snorted. "All that commotion you caused. The rune Knights are already well on their way. They'll be here in a few minutes. In fact, I can see them now. Oh. And are they pissed." She laughed at his defeated groan.
"Hey Lucy." She turned to the voice all thoughts of the beaten wizard gone.
Standing behind her the dragon slayer had a strange gleam in his eye, a smile playing.
"Hm?"
"You said you wanted to join Fairy Tail right?"
If possible her eyes would have fallen out.
"Well," he continued not at all bothered by her response, the beaming smile never wavering. "Let's go!"
A/N; So just so we're all on the same page, this story isn't all sunshine and rainbows that is the Fairy Tail universe and at times Naruto verse is. The real Fairy Tail universe is frightening,(Naruto obviously scary) and this story will deal with some hard issues at times. Mental health, death, and some heavy violence. Lucy will be strong but not op. Lucy won't be a Mary Sue but she is messed up and not her cannon counterpart. If that's what you were expecting, don't say I didn't give you any warning lol. But if your cup of tea is a kick ass protagonist with highly flexible morals then this is the fic for you.
Btw, pm me with the more obvious grammar mistakes. I'm currently going through and fixing bits and pieces to make the story flow better.
Love-RRR.