See You Again
Chapter 2
Natsu and Lucy were shocked. They couldn't believe what Igneel had just said. Jude noticed the look on his daughter's face, and slowly walked towards her. This immediately snapped her out of her trance. She began to tremble, Natsu immediately noticed and pulled her into a warm embrace in hopes of calming her down.
"What do you mean by that? Natsu and Igneel are leaving Magnolia?" She sobbed.
Jude sighed; he wasn't as prepared as he hoped he would be when having to explain to them the reason behind all this.
"There are some problems within the police department that even your grandfather can't control" Jude began.
"What do you mean? Gramps is a force of nature and has kept the department in line for years"
"Hades" Jude said, and then he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"What did that asshole do?" Natsu growled. He completely ignored the angered look his father gave him for swearing.
"Hades managed to convince a judge to sign a warrant for Igneel's arrest. The charges are pretty high; this would earn him life in prison. Thankfully I caught wind of this and came straight here to warn your father." Jude answered the distressed teen.
Lucy began to cry, knowing that this is the end of her and the love of her life.
"But we are in our final year of high school, graduation is just a few weeks away, and prom…" Lucy knew that there was no point in saying these things but she couldn't help it.
Natsu tried to sooth her but he just couldn't shake the heartbroken look on his face. Both patriarchs felt tremendous amount of guilt for the pain they have caused their children. They really wished things were different. Lucy eventually pulled away from her boyfriend's embrace and ran to her bedroom. Despite slamming the door shut, her sobs could be heard throughout the entire house.
How much more heartbroken could both she and Natsu be? Natsu was hurting inside. He had to keep a strong front for the men before him, but inside, he was slowly dying. Lucy was his first friend, his best friend, completely uncaring of his family name. She was the one who always made him smile just by being next to him. He hated it when she cried and beat up any guy who was responsible. They were each other's first kiss and first love. They would also be each other's last love. She was his sun and moon, the stars in his sky.
"Dad, is there any other way? Can I stay here with Aunt Grandine and cousin Wendy? I am sorry but I just can't leave her." Natsu said, sounding desperate. Both men looked at him with pity. His voice was shaky.
"Son, you are next in line to take over the family empire. Your training in the family business is supposed to begin once we leave. I promise you that this isn't forever. You will be back," Igneel promised his son.
"Natsu, I am sure you won't be leaving for a few hours, why don't you go upstairs to comfort Lucy. She needs you right now and every moment is precious to you both" Jude said to the boy. Natsu was on the verge of tears.
"We leave at 9, you have about 4 hours. Your things will be packed by then. Go to her and say your goodbyes" Igneel encouraged his son.
Natsu didn't think twice, he ran up the stairs to his console his girlfriend.
Once he was out of hearing range, Jude closed the door to his study and turned to Igneel.
"He doesn't know, does he?" He asked.
"No, I think he was given enough bad news for one day. Once we get settled in our secret location, I will tell him. I was hoping I had a few more months before things would worse but after my last visit with Layla…" Igneel answered.
"I know, she told me when I called her to tell her the news. She had a your niece, Wendy, deliver this earlier today" Jude went over to his desk and pulled out a medical bag from under it. Igneel inspected the contents and nodded.
"Give her my thanks."
"Igneel… I am sorry for all this. I will find a way to fix this. I will fight Hades"
"It's fine Jude. This was bound to happen. Hades has been in Tartaros' pockets for some time now. Mard Greer was bound to make a move. He just doesn't know how stupid he is. Natsu is strong, stronger than me. He will come back and will exact revenge. I just hope he can still count on you and the Dreyars."
"The Dragneels will always have a home with us Igneel. Natsu is practically a son to me."
"Lucy is practically a daughter to me."
"Who would have a thought that a mafia crime boss would be best friend with MPD's Commissioner?" Both men laughed at this.
"Igneel at the end of the day, I never thought of you as a mobster. We grew up together; to me we were just to kids paying soccer in an alley in our old neighbourhood with your brother Metalicana. Remember how we would always get into fights with Acnologia" Jude reminisced.
"Ha, what a jackass!" Igneel roared in laugher.
Eventually, the laughter died and Jude patted Igneel on the shoulder.
"It's been quite the ride buddy."
"It sure has but it's not over yet!" Igneel said.
Both men walked out of the Heartfilia home and headed next door to help with the packing, while Natsu was consoling a broken hearted Lucy.
