Chapter 2
Unknown pt2: The Fight, The Victory, and a New Start
"Hey, Lucy where is the kid?" Erza said angrily, the celestial mage sat straight up and nervously looked around. It has been 3 days since Haruka was brought into Fairy Tail, she is no longer on bedrest and is allowed to walk around the guild hall but with the threat of the two mysterious men looking for the young girl, Makarov asked her not to leave the guild hall. Haruka eventually warmed up to Erza and tended to stay close to her, but when she left for a job Lucy was put in charge of her. Haru was incredibly shy and tended to run off and hide, Erza, Lucy and Mirajane all tried to keep an eye on her but despite their efforts she would occasionally disappear.
Lucy turned around and looked at Erza "I…. Uh she was just here. Oh there she is!" Lucy pointed to a table near the back of the guild hall where Gajeel, Natsu and Wendy were sitting. Haruka was under the table peeking out at Gajeel then it was almost like she vanished then reappeared under the table behind him. "I don't know what she is up to but at least she is out of the resting room." Erza sighed.
Haru crawled out from under the table and reached up cautiously and touched the dragon slayer's hair, he immediately jumped up and turned around to see who touched him and to his surprise he found Haruka. Hardly anyone other than those who took care of her knew anything about Haruka, this so that she would have to talk to the others in the guild because she was going to be staying for a while. Haruka fell backwards in shock, her legs shook in fear but she forced herself to speak. "Y-your hair is very long…" she said softly. Gajeel stood there for a moment slightly confused than helped the young girl up to her feet, then she sat down at the same table but a few feet away from where he was.
"Oi what is your name kid?" Gajeel asked. Haruka froze for a moment then looked at him, "My name is Haru." Gajeel looked at the girl, he could hardly recognize the child Erza brought back. Over the last 3 days Haruka had been patched up, fed and given a bath. Her black hair was still messy but it was shiny and clean with a little side ponytail like how Lucy would sometimes wear but on the other side, but she still wore the same torn gray dress and dark gray scarf tied around her hips. "Uh, so Haru… you are a girl right?" Gajeel asked, since Erza wouldn't tell anyone anything about the kid some of them thought Haru was a boy, while others said it was a girl to the point where Laxus, Gajeel, Gray and Natsu put money on it.
Haru looked confused at the dragon slayer. "Yes I am a girl." her confusion grew when the black haired mage looked semi-disappointed then looked across the guild hall where Laxus sat with a smug grin. "Great now I owe that electric bastard 50 jewel." he growled as Natsu busted out laughing. "You owe him too idiot!" he growled, Natsu stopped then looked in his pocket then got up and grabbed Lucy and drug her to the job board. Haru watched them go with her head tipped to one side then she got up and ran over to the bar where Mirajane was giving Makarov a mug. "Oh hey! This must be little Haruka!" the little old man laughed. Haru nodded then hopped up on a stool. "Hey little one, are you a mage? I can sense some strong magic in you!" he smiled. Haru looked at him then shifted in her seat. Then she remembered that everyone here had magic of some type and nodded. "Yes I do but… I would rather not use it... "She said shyly then changed the subject "Hey miss Mirajane, are there any spare clothes I can change into? This dress is torn…"
"Tell ya what, how about I take you out shopping?" she smiled
Haruka's eyes went wide and for the first time she smiled "Really?"
Mira nodded. "But first I want you to try and talk to someone without hiding while I get ready to go, can you do that?" Haruka nodded then jumped down from the stool and looked around the guild hall. Then nodded to herself and walked over to a table where she saw some nice looking people sitting and talking, a pretty girl in a green dress with brown hair and glasses sat beside the guy Gajeel apparently owes 50 jewel to, then across from them sat a guy with long green hair and a man in a helmet. Ok Haruka this is it, hello my name is Haru what is your name? She said in her mind as she stopped at their table. "Hello I'm Haru, what's your name?" she said, she was so happy she managed to speak to someone without slipping up on her words but despite that her hands still shook with nervous energy.
"Aw now aren't you a cutie!" the woman smiled and adjusted her glasses, "I am Evergreen"
"Hey there kiddo, I am Bickslow" the man with the helmet said, Haru noticed right away that his guild mark was on his tongue. She felt her hand get grasped and she turned to see the green haired mage had taken her hand between his. "How do you do, I am Freed. It is very nice to meet you, Haruka". After he let go of her hand she stepped back and held her hand close to her chest. The last guy took a drink from his cup then turned to her. He had yellow hair that was all spiked up and a zig zag scar on his face. "Laxus." is the only thing he said, as he went to drink again Evergreen hit him playfully on the back and almost made him spill his drink, "Hahahaha, come on Laxus you could be a little less cold to the kid!" she turned to look at Haru but found nobody there, it is almost like she vanished. "Huh? Well that was strange."
Haruka ran over to Mira as she walked into the main room of the guild hall and they left. She held Mirajane's hand and walked close to her as they went down the sidewalk. This town was a lot bigger than Haru imagined. There were tons of people out and about with little shops and cafes all along the road. It was a lot to take in. Mira led Haruka into a little clothing shop where they met up with Lisanna. "Hey good to see you out Haru!" she smiled. "So what kind of outfit do you want?" Haru looked around, she had never been clothes shopping before and had no idea what she wanted. The sisters had her try on all sorts of cloths before she finally found something she liked. Haruka walked out of the dressing room wearing a white halter top with a solid black long sleeved vest that cut off just below her chest and a pair of short black shorts and a white belt that had a ruffled dark gray fabric on one side that hung down a little past her knees, and to tie it all together Lisanna picked out a pair of red mini boots that matched her scarf. Happy with her new outfit Haru walked happily between Mira and Lisanna back towards the guild hall, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw two familiar men standing about six feet in front of them. Oh no… they found me.
"Excuse me ladies but that kid there belongs to us." one of the men said as he took a step forward. "You have stayed here long enough Millie, it is time you came back."
Haruka growled and yelled "that is not my name anymore Kenji and you know that damn well!" Mira stepped up and got between Haru and the strange main. "You know these two haru?" Lisanna asked quietly. "Yea… I was running from them when Miss Erza found me… but I am not scared of these two asshats anymore." Haru noticed that the streets seemed to clear out, the once lively street was now almost empty.
"I do not know how you know Haruka but when we found her she was scared to death and hurt badly. She said she would sooner die than return to wherever she came from." Mira said with a look in her eye that Haru had never seen before, "but we will not be handing her over to you!"
Kinji laughed, "Ok then if you won't hand her over then I'll just have to take her!" as soon as he said that Haruka took off running down the street I have to get to the guild hall! I can't go back! Haru looked over her shoulder and found Lisanna running close behind but following them was a man with spiky shoulder length yellow hair. Crap, Kinji and now Yoma! Haru kept running but there was no way she could outrun Yoma. "Run child," the words rang in her mind "fight and run for as long as you can. Then when you can't take another step, find friends who will stand beside you and fight the demons of your past." friends? Haruka gritted her teeth then turned around and ran back at the man behind them Fairy Tale, they helped me. They did not have to but they did. They are my friends and I have to show them I can stand on my own two feet! Using the momentum from her running she swung her fist up and clipped Yoma in the jaw causing him to flip backwards. Haruka stood over him fire in her red eyes, "Hey Yoma, I am done running."
He got up to his feet and took a swing at Haru, but she jumped back then put her hand up in fists. Before he knew what hit him Haru spun around and jumped in the air then delivered a powerful jump kick to his face then landed and looked at Lisanna. "Lisanna run back to the guild and get help!" just as she said that an explosion of dust erupted from down the street, apparently Mirajane is fighting Kinji. Lisanna nodded then ran off.
"You honestly think you can win Millie? You are weak, just like your father!" Yoma yelled as he got up and took out a sword. Now haru was pissed. "Why don't ya' use your magic, you monster! Show your friends what you really are!" he yelled as he swung his sword at her but she kept dodging every swipe.
Lisanna ran into the guild hall and found Erza talking to Laxus near the bar. "Erza!" she yelled as she ran over to her then stopped to catch her breath. Concerned mages turned to see what was going on, "Erza, those men you told me about, the ones after Haru! They are still here and she and Mira are fighting them now!"
Erza and Laxus stood up, "Where are they!" she demanded. "Down town near the park." Lisanna replied. Before anything could be said Erza ran out of the guild hall and down the street followed by Laxus and Makarov.
Haru narrowly dodged every swing made by Yoma with ease. He doesn't even have magic, so why does he think he can take me down solo? Movement in the corner of her eye made her get distracted and Yoma thrusted his sword straight into Haru's upper leg. After a scream in pain she saw Erza running towards her followed by Laxus. Why did he follow her here? Her thought was cut off by another scream in pain, Yoma cut her side pretty good and she was bleeding profusely from her right side and leg. Then she was sent flying by a powerful kick and landed in a pile of trash and hit her head on the cornerstone of a shop. Her vision blurred and went black. "Huh? You say your name was Millie? Well that name isn't yours anymore, sad to say…" that voice! Haruka opined her eyes, she was back in her home town at the shrine where she was raised after her father died and mother turned her back on her. A pretty young woman with pale pink hair pulled into a high ponytail sat in front of her with a bowl of water and some cloths. "Your mother abandoned you, your town that once loved you now sees you as little more than a guard dog… your name is not yours anymore. So how about a new one?" she smiled as she used a wet cloth to clean blood and dirt from Haru's face.
"A new name?" the voice of young haru sounded followed by a sniffle.
"Yea, new life new name. Think of it as a fresh start! Also you don't look like a Millie Shiro to me. How about Haruka Kruoku?" haru felt a surge of happiness. Next thing she knew Haruka was no longer in the shrine, instead she was running away with the woman from the shrine, but she stopped. "Hinnami come on we have to keep going!" young Haruka cried as the sound of angry men grew closer. The woman kneeled down to get eye level with her, "Haru, I have to look after the shrine. Please go, and if they follow you. You must fight back! You must fight!" haru turned and ran, leaving Hinnami behind "Fight, Haru! Embrace your magic don't fight it! YOU ARE FREE NOW!"
Haruka stood up from the trash and opined her eyes to find Erza standing beside her, "you ok?"
"I am fine, thanks to Hinnami." she said as she wiped some blood from her lip. Erza looked at her, "Hinnami?" before she could say anything more Haru turned to her. "I am going to use my magic now… please don't hate me."
"Hate you? Why because you use shadow magic?" haru flinched "your magic isn't bad Haruka, your magic is what make you, you. Do not ever be afraid to use it, how would that make your teacher feel?" haru sniffled then balled up her fists. Erza could see that her mind was made up and stepped back. Haru looked up at Yoma, "I am free. You can't trap a shadow."
"What?"
Haru held her arms out in front of her then pretended like she was going to draw out a sword, she made a up swinging motion and black blades rose from the shadows on the street and hit Yoma sending him flying back. "Hahaha see! She is a monster! She moves the darkness, there is no place for people like her!"
"No, you are wrong." haru said as she ran forward and clashed her shadow blade with his sword. "A shadow can only live in the light, in the dark shadows do not exist!"
"Even so, you are a monster. You have blood on your hands! You are an outcast! With no home to return to! You have no family!" Yoma's words made an image of Haruka's mother pop into her mind as she abandoned her. Her shadow began to fade.
"Haruka!" Makarov's voice shook her back into reality, she looked over her shoulder and saw the old man. "You are not a monster, if you are an outcast then join the club; if you have no home to return to then make Fairy Tale your home; if you have no family to support you then let us become your family!" Makarov nodded then made an L with his finger and thumb and pointed up at the sky, Erza soon followed and did the same, she looked back and about 10 feet behind Yoma Mirajane was also doing the same. A tear of joy pooled in Haruka's eyes as she kicked him back and then did a backflip and got into a battle stance. I did it Hinnami, I found a place to call home. And I'll fight to keep it that way! Haruka felt happier than she had ever felt in her life, she felt like using her magic was no longer bad and that made her feel light on her feet. She smiled and hopped on one foot a few times "One. Two. Three. Then you will be down." she giggled then ran forward.
Yoma swung his sword horizontally and Haru turned around and jumped over it, "you see that master? It looks like she is dancing!" Mirajane said as she joined Erza and Makarov. Landing on her hands, Haruka then flipped onto her feet she vanished into the shadows then jumped out of nowhere and punched Yoma in the gut then jumped up and kicked his face. "That's one." she laughed as spun around like a happy child. The man got up and ran at her but his sword got kicked away when she spun around, then she stopped and punched his face and used her shadows to throw him back. "That's Two!" she laughed.
Yoma got back up but Haru just laughed. "You don't scare me anymore. All those things you have said to me mean nothing now that I know they are lies." haru snapped her fingers and blade-like shadows rose up from her own. Not willing to back down, Yoma ran forward and went to punch Haru but she leaned backwards so his fist came just over her face then once her hands touched the ground she kicked up her legs and did a flip that kicked Yoma right between the legs then sent him straight into the trash. Haru stood up and ran over to Erza and gave her a hug then looked down at Makarov, "did you really mean what you said? Will you let me join Fairy Tail?"
Makarov smiled and gave her a thumbs up, "yea, why would I lie to you?"
Yoma and Kenji left the town soon after their defeat, the boys went back to their hometown with their mission ending in failure.
That evening Haruka had gotten some much needed medical attention, with a bandage around her middle, her right leg and around her head she never felt happier as she was accepted into the guild. She took off her scarf and had the Fairy Tail insignia stamped above her chest on the left side so that the guild that took her in would always be close to her heart.
"Hey congrats on joining the guild!" Lucy smiled as she walked in with Natsu. "It's almost like you are one of us already, you nearly destroyed an entire city block!" she laughed.
"Yea but I got a little problem… I don't have anywhere to stay at night except the guild hall resting rooms… and as nice as it is to stay here, but that room gives me the creeps." Haru smiled
"How about until we find you a good place to live we'll just take turns watching you at night?" Lisanna suggested "Mira and I can take care of you tonight, you'll get to meet our brother Elfman!"
Haru smiled as she looked at the members of Fairy Tail then put her hand on her insignia then nodded.
So I have these chapters set up like a series of short stories, I will explain things in later chapters but other than that I hope you liked the story and if you have any questions or suggestions then please PM me! See you later!