Chapter 4
When Natsu woke up the next morning, he was feeling excited with his plans for the day. Today was the day he would finally ask Mirajane out on a date, and since Gildarts isn't Magnolia, his success was almost assured.
Pulling back his red dragon bed sheets, yes, he has a bed. He laid up, stretching his arms out wide, relieving the kinks in his back and neck. Looking around his room, it was kind of a mess. There are dirty clothes strewn around the room. Candy wrappers surrounding his bed, and a thin layer of dust on his precious memory wall. His ceilings were white, his walls a dark maroon, and his floors a nice engineered oak.
"Looks like I should clean up a little bit, who knows what's gonna happen tonight!" Natsu exclaimed giddily. Mirajane is a beautiful young woman, can you blame him?
Still in his boxers and... a maid apron? What the... He started to clean up his room, with a garbage bag in hand, and with his laundry basket, carried his laundry, walking by the kitchen, he dropped the basket and gazed in shock. Happy was laying down on the counter passed out, surrounded by a mountain of boxes, wrappers and half eaten food.
Not wanting to get off track, Natsu continues down the hall, towards his laundry lacrima, and starts the cycle (A/N sorry if this is inaccurate). Heading back to the kitchen to clean his friend's mess, he pulls out a broom and dustpan, and once again starts cleaning.
"Natsu?" Happy wearily asked, as he was slowly waking up from his gorging-induced nap.
*Sigh* "You need to learn control Happy..." Natsu said.
"Aye," Happy replied, feeling sick. No wonder though, 37 fish and 8 jars of sardines can't be good for anyone, let alone a small blue cat with wings.
"Let's get you to bed Happy, you should sleep this off." Natsu picked Happy up, cradling him in his arms like a newborn baby. It's times like this that remind Natsu of Lisanna, how she constantly declared Happy was their "son", and how they were a family. Memories like these make Natsu feel melancholy, consider what could have happened, how Mira and Elfman would be happier, and how he wouldn't be alone. Sighing once again, he starts walking Happy to his room. Originally Natsu and Happy wanted to share a room, thinking that it would only make their friendship stronger. However both Gildarts and Laxus threw that idea out the door, because they knew Natsu would grow up, and let me tell yah, there is something you do NOT want your best friend to walk in on. Opening the door, he walked past the fish tank, over to Happy's hammock, and gently lays him down. Pulling the blanket up, to cover Happy in a comfortable manner, he looks around and sighed. Now for someone like Happy who loves eating fish, having a fish tank is real, REALLY weird, but Happy insisted that when they caught extra fish they could put them in the tank so they were "fresher" to eat on a later day... Happy also isn't the brightest talking cat with wings...
Remembering how much he had to pay Reedus to paint Happy's walls with fishes and coral on the wall, almost as if you were underwater, swimming with fishes. Looking at the fishing rack, with their hats and tackle boxes, and their fishing rods, bringing back memories of when they would go fishing with Laxus or Gildarts. 'It been a few years a nice I last saw my old man, I hope he's doin' alright'. Turning around to exit Happy's room, he almost tripped over the little green bag.
Chuckling a little, he stepped over it and exits the room, intending to go to the washing lacrima to freshen up before he gets dressed. Taking his apron off, he steps into the washing lacrima. Seconds later a pair of boxers come flying out of the lacrima, as steam filled the room.
At the guild- Mirajane POV
"Mira~ Come and give me some sugar." Wakaba Mine flirts, his pipe hanging out of his mouth, with his brown hair still defying gravity, wearing that green flower patterned shirt and crimson pants. He was, of course, sitting at the bar with his drinking buddies, Cana Alberona and Macao Conbolt.
Cana had her dark brown hair cascading down her back, and some draped over her shoulders. She was wearing her usual blue bikini top with garnet red pants held with a pink belt. She is Fairy Tails resident lush.
Macao had his dark navy blue hair slicked back, wearing a necklace with a large S pendant, a black t-shirt with a white overcoat. With brown slacks and a white belt. He is married and has a boy by the name of Romeo, who is forbidden to... just kidding.
"I'll be right there!" Mira shouted from the back, and out walks Millgana Mine. Grabbing a sugar packet, she slowly waddles over to the bar, dodging a flying chair, she stops in front of a gaping Wakaba, giving him the sugar packet with a wink, she heads to the back to get to work on a certain someone's strawberry cheesecake. Grabbing Graham crackers for a crust she gets to work.
"Rejected!" Macao chortled, laughing at his best friends misfortune with women. Mira just laughed, proud of her "prank". Cana of course just kept drinking from her 7th barrel of the day...
Natsu PoV
Walking alone is weird, the silence is unbearable. And moments like these allow Natsu to truly think, as well as he can anyway. As he walked down the busy street, watching the magic mobiles zoom by and horns honking.
Dressed in a white button up and black slacks, Natsu is walking to the flower shop, so he can ask Mira out properly, 'she is a woman and deserves to be treated like one' Natsu thought, proud of himself for going about asking her out the right way. Opening the door to the flower shop, the bell rang as he walked in, he was overwhelmed by the smell of flowers and starts coughing profusely. He suddenly stops coughing upon the realization 'I don't know what type of flowers she likes!'. Looking around he sees flowers of different colors and types, all organized along the walls in planters and holders, the floor is a nice mahogany, and light lacrimas hung from the ceiling.
"Hello, Welcome to Fauna's flowers, how may I help you today?" A young woman greeted him as she was walking to the counter, she was wearing a straw hat with her ginger hair tied back in a messy ponytail. A green apron with clippers and a yellow sundress covered her slim body.
"Err, I would like to buy some flowers?" Natsu asked sheepishly, not knowing what type of flowers to buy.
"Well, you're in the right place! This is my mom's shop, my name is Blossom." She cheerily replied, "what type of flowers are you looking for?" She asked.
"Yeah, about that. I don't know what her favorite flowers are." Natsu sighed, his plans of asking her out already going wrong 'maybe she might know what type to buy?' Natsu thought hopefully.
"Ooh! You came to the right place. Is this a first date? I would hope you would know her favorite flowers otherwise." Blossom glared at him, 'if he forgot he favorite flowers, he doesn't deserve her' she thought resolutely. Growing up with her mom, flowers are important in life, and every different one has a different meaning.
"I haven't asked her yet," Natsu replied with a grin on his face, beginning to like the quirky girl.
"Oh how romantic!" She squealed with her hands clasped and a giddy smile on her face. "Would you like some help?" She asks with a megawatt grin on her face.
'Oh thank Mavis' "Yes, please! I have been trying to ask her out for years, and my dad keeps interrupting every time! But now tha-"
He was interrupted by a snort. Legit.
"You're rambling. What's her name? What is she like?" Blossom asks.
"Her name's Mirajane, and she's one of The most Beautiful women I have ever met, with pure white hair, and an angelic smile. Sh-"
"You mean Mirajane Strauss?!" Blossom shouts, caught off guard at the fact he's talking about the pin-up model.
"Aye, sir! I mean mam!" Natsu cheered.
"I know just the bouquet for her! But it's gonna cost ya~" Blossom singsonged.
And for once in his abnormal life, Natsu was dead serious.
"She's my best friend, and I really, really like her. Whatever the price, I'll pay it, because she is more than worth it" Natsu replied seriously.
Blossom just smiled, knowing that if he really meant it, she would say yes before he even asked. She walked to the back, looking for one of their signature bouquets.
Natsu watched blossom walk out of the back, with a bouquet comprising of white roses, tulips and lilies.
"That's perfect! Thank you so much!" He was so excited he tackled her with a hug, luckily she had placed the bouquet on the counter seconds before.
"Calm down!" She laughed.
"I'm so sorry!" Natsu scrambled off of her, and hastily bowed repeatedly.
"It's alright! Calm down, I forgive you! On one condition." She smiled oh so evilly, it scared Natsu more than Erza. ERZA!
"Uhm, what is this condition", by this point Natsu was deathly pale, and sweating buckets.
"You tell me how the date goes of course!" By this point, Blossom was giggling at the expression on his face.
"I can do that!" Natsu said proudly.
"Great!" She replied, "that will be 750 jewels"
Natsu fainted.
-At the guild-
Lucy had just walked through the door and excited smile on her pretty face. She was more than excited on what adventures this new day would bring. Walking over to the bar, she sat on a stool patiently waiting for something to happen.
"Good morning Lu-chan!" A certain petite bluenette happily greeted.
"Good morning Levy-chan! Did you sleep well?" Lucy asked politely, pondering asking Levy to go on a quest with the illustrious team shadow gear.
"It was ok" Levy replied, sitting beside Lucy at the bar, calling for Mira to order an omelet.
"I'll have it done in a few minutes Levy, is that ok with you?" Mira queried.
"That would be splendid!" Levy said, unaware that the rest of her team was spying on her, Jet and Droy.
Jet has orange hair tied back in a ponytail, and a Brown and white striped top hat upon his head. He wears a purple button up and a brown fur lined overcoat with black harem pants, his real name is Sasuke, but he changed to Jet, because of his high-speed magic, which makes him the fastest person in fairy tail.
Droy has his black hair gelled up into an alien antenna and is wearing an ivory white long sleeve with a brass cross guard, with forest green black perpendicularly striped pants. His brass cross guard is called "live coal" and it contains all of his seeds for his plant magic.
-CRASH- the guilds doors burst open.
"Where's Natsu? I still need payback for stealing our quest yesterday!" A certain stripper shouted arrogantly. Walking through the now wide open doors, in walks Gray Fullbuster, a master of ice, but not his shirt. He is wearing a pair of boxers, and a silver pendant around his neck. His arrogant smirk on his face, as he looked around the guild hall for the 'Fail-Slayer' (A/N sorry).
"Speaking of Natsu, Gray is right, Where is he? I need to apologize for yesterday." Lucy said, concern overwhelming her entire being, ashamed of not living to the standards her mother gave her. To be the better person, to think before acting, 'it's killing me inside, he was nothing but kind to me, and yet I turned on him the first chance I got'. Tearing up a little Lucy looked to Levy, who was patiently waiting for her omelet.
"Lu-chan, are you ok?" Levy asked, concern filling her at the sight of Lucy's unshed tears.
"I made a mistake Levy-chan." Lucy sighed.
"What happened Lu-chan?" Levy implored, hoping to help her new best friend resolve her problems.
"Levy, your omelet is ready!" Mira cheered, proud to be able to help her friends.
"Thanks, Mira-san!" Levy replied gleefully, dutifully paying for her meal, and taking a bite out of her food. She moaned, pleased by the pleasant taste.
"Mira?" Lucy hesitantly asked, knowing how close Natsu and she were.
"Is there something wrong Lucy?" Mira asked, having already heard what Lucy said to Levy, but she still wanted her to say it again. Demon Mirajane is still alive and kicking folks!
"I need to apologize to Natsu, but he isn't here, did he leave for a job already?" Lucy determinedly asked, still depressed about her rash actions in ending her contract with Aquarius.
"Lu-chan, why in the name of Mavis do you have to apologize to Natsu of all people?" Levy asked in shock, not knowing why anyone would want to apologize to him. On the other hand, Lucy was down right shocked. Levy was one of the nicest people she had ever met! And by no means would she think Natsu could do something to make someone this nice, hate him. 'Why are people so quick to think the worst of Natsu?' Lucy pondered...
Looking around the guild hall, Lucy was right, Natsu, nor Happy were anywhere to be seen. Vijeeter was dancing in the corner with a wide grin on his face, Nab was standing at the request board, still looking for the perfect job. Makarov was sitting at the bar, quietly drinking his beer with a drunken smile on his face. Elfman was still out on a job. Bisca was at a table, contently feeding Sunny, her pet mouse, some peanut butter, and crackers, while Alzack stared at her with hearts in his eyes. Jet and Droy were sitting across from each other, sending not so discreet glances at levy, and Cana had now moved to a bench to lie down, after her 19th barrel she declared it was time for a nap. Other members like Erza, Elfman and Mickey Chickentiger were out in jobs.
"I don't know Lucy, I really don't know," Mira said, she was really hoping to see her crash this morning.
"Hey, Lucy" Gray shouted rudely "Why do you have to apologize for the flame brain anyways?!"
"Because we accused him of stealing the glory when we tried to steal his job!" Lucy vehemently replied, beginning to notice how a family orientated guild was shunning Natsu, and not understanding why...
"That flame brain waited for us to wear Lullaby down, only to take the final attack for the glory!" Gray shouted angrily, annoyed at being overlooked and ignored because of Natsu, not having heard him try to tell the crowd that they deserve praise too.
"Gray, Lucy is right, Natsu came to me yesterday asking me to take care of Happy, because he had a dangerous mission of dismantling a dark guild, and he didn't want Happy to be caught in the crossfire" Mira stated, defending her crush. 'Why does everyone hate Natsu? He's a nice, caring, eccentric, fun man. How could someone like that have so many haters?' Mira thought with a frown on her angelic face.
"Bullshit! Stop defending him beca-!"
"Gray" Makarov interrupted " I gave Natsu the quest, directly from the council mind you, last night."
"Still doesn't prove that the hot head didn't steal the glory on purpose." Gray retorted, determined the fire mage was at fault. "However, I would agree that Natsu stole all the attention, meaning to or otherwise, he should still apologize. And since there was a reward, it should be split between all of you." Makarov finished, annoyed at his brats ignorance.
"How much?" Lucy asked awestruck 'Maybe I can buy some cute new clothes!' Lucy internally squealed.
"Well the quest was originally fourteen million jewels," Makarov stated, rubbing his chin " but two million jewels had to go to repairs, so it's twelve million jewels to split between the six of you," Makarov said with a grin, proud of his math.
"I just got TWO MILLION JEWELS?!" Lucy hysterically shouted. 'I'm rich! I'm rich!' Lucy gleefully chanted jumping up and down. Makarov had passed out with a bloody nose, due to seeing Lucy's bountiful bust bouncing up and down in her tight pink tank top, and her brown skirt flying up, daring red lace panties being seen by all who cared to look.
"I could care less about jewels master!" Gray said. Turning around, Gray saw Makarov passed out surrounded in a small pool of blood, oh well...
"Master?!" Gray frantically asked the elderly man.
"He's alright Gray, he's just a perv," Mira said with a frown on her face.
"I can't believe Gramps thinks a few jewels will make up for the glory hogging ass hole". Gray muttered, more annoyed than anything.
Happy figured now would be the best time to interject with his own two cents.
"Actually I asked Natsu to end the fight, I was bored and hungry, I'm sorry, do you forgive me?" Interjected the sad dense blue cat with white wings.
"It's okay Happy, you have nothing to be sorry for, it's not like you meant for that to happen, right?" Lucy assured, not liking to see the usually happy cat so sad.
"Aye," Happy muttered.
"Mira, can I have some fish?" Happy's eyes just sparkled in delight.
"Coming right up!" Mira giggled. As Mira started walking to the back, Lucy started talking to Happy.
"Hey Happy" Lucy questioned, "do you know where Natsu is? I need to say sorry about yesterday."
"I don't know Luigi, I woke up and Natsu wasn't home." Happy replied, patiently waiting with his legs crossed for his fish.
"Damn cat! My name is LUCY, not Luigi!" Lucy comically whined.
"Lucy, Luigi, same difference" happy replied nonchalantly without interest, losing his patience for the best food on the face of the planet, in his little mind anyway.
"That's it!" Lucy angrily announced, jumping up she started to chase Happy around the guild. "Get back here you mangy cat!"
"Miraa~!" Happy whined, "help me~"
"Well, maybe you shouldn't make fun of our new guild mate then?" Mira rejected his quest, finding it amusing to watch every guy in the guild, stare at Lucy's voluptuous body, and ignore their conversations in favor of watching her chase the annoying blue cat.
"Waah! Help me! The fat blonde is going to kill me~" Happy moans, flying for his life.
"That's it cat! Open gate of the golden archer, Sagittarius"
"Neigh! Good day, my lady! How may I be of service to you today?" Sagittarius cheerfully greeted. Sagittarius is a masterful archer, in a horse suit...
"Sagittarius! I need you to down that flying cat!" Lucy points with a smug smile on her pretty face.
The master archer complies with his lady's wish and draws an arrow from his quiver.
"Max Speed! Happy shouted in fright, he ends up ramming into Gray, who flies into Nab, who punches him into Cana, starting a guild wide brawl. But nobody noticed a small blue cat, dragging himself away, covered in scratches and smudges covering his small form.
-Natsu PoV-
After Natsu woke up, and hesitantly handed over 750 jewels to Blossom 'it's worth it,' he chanted 'it's for her'. He made his way out of the store with flowers in hand.
Walking down the street his insecurities attacked his person, beginning to doubt his success. 'She's a famous model, who probably knows other models, what chance do I have?' he thinks sourly. 'No! I have to stay confident.' Natsu thinks resolutely, however, he still mentally prepared himself for rejection.
After a few minutes of walking, he finally arrived at the guild hall, the place he met his family, also the place he intends to make like him, even if he dies trying. He could already hear the sounds of furniture being broken and smell the alcohol in the air
"Well, here we go," Natsu sighed, kicking the doors open with his usual vigor and a bright smile on his face, which quickly diminished with all the hateful stares pointed at him. 'I can do this, I CAN DO THIS'. Natsu walked over to the bar, with the flowers behinds his back.
"Hey, flame brain! It was nice before you got here!" Gray laughed. Gray quickly took notice of the bouquet of flowers in his hands, as did many other guild mates, including Macao, Wakaba, Cana, Makarov, Lucy, and Team Shadow Gear. It seemed that Erza had gone on another S class request, apparently feeling inadequate after seeing Natsu's display of strength in demolishing Lullaby. And Mickey was off on a messenger request, that was given by the council.
Ya know, usually, when a guy has flowers and is looking for a chick, you would think it would click that he wants to ask her out. Some how or other, none of the male members made this connection, they only thought he pissed Mira or Erza off and was trying to make amends.
Natsu ignored him, as he reached the bar he sat down on a bar stool and patiently waited for Mira to leave the kitchen. He was too stuck in his own head to hear Grays taunts, or Lucy's attempts to apologize. He sat for the next five minutes, tapping his feet in nervousness.
"Fuck it" Natsu muttered, he was about to stand up and walk to the kitchen when his name was called.
"Natsu?" Lucy implored hesitantly. She was standing right behind him and was trying to get his attention ever since he sat down at the bar. 'And here I thought dragon slayers had better senses than a normal human's' Lucy thought curiously, 'I wonder who the flowers are for though...' Lucy pondered.
"Hey Luce, can you give me a few though? There's something I gotta do" Natsu told her, walking to the kitchen, right when he opened the door...
~CRASH~
Something had fallen from the sky, hitting the bell on the roof, ignoring the sound, and the rush of people running outside to see what happened, Natsu kept on going until he heard HIM, the last person he never, ever wanted to see that day. 'No! I'll never be able to ask her out now!' Natsu thought sadly.
"Natsu! Hey, Natsu! It's your dad!". Gildarts, waving his arms around like a maniac, with a familiar grin on his handsome face.
Natsu just sighed, lowering his arms and turning around to see his father, only to hear a gasp in shock.
He quickly turned around once again, only to see Mirajane in all her glory, standing there with her hands covering her pretty little mouth.
"Natsu..." Mira muttered, "Are those for me?" She queried, hopeful beyond belief, 'he had white flowers and was entering the kitchen. There's no one else that could be fore, right?'.
"Yes, they are Mirajane, would you like to g-" he was promptly tackled by his surrogate father.
"Natsu it is not cool to ignore you father! Apologize!" Gildarts shouted while squeezing Natsu like he was a teddy bear.
"Um, Gildarts, Natsu is turning blue..." Mira said, trying to help her crush out of this man's arms. 'And if I play my cards right" Mira thought 'right into mine!'.
Mira's assistance was for naught, as soon as Gildarts let go of Natsu, he fell to the ground in a heap of limbs and hair. Surprisingly, the flowers were still intact...
Let's just say Natsu was not too happy when he woke up, the flowers were missing, his clothes were dirty and wrinkled, and with his dad now here, he couldn't even try to ask Mira out again, not today at least. He was laying down on a guild bench, sitting up he notices Mira and Gildarts talking at the bar, Gray running around looking for his clothes. Wakaba and Macao were trying their luck at a drinking contest against Cana, knowing how much she had drunk earlier that day, they had hoped they could win. Happy was nowhere to be seen, nor were team shadow gear, or Lucy in the guild. 'Didn't she want to talk to me?' Natsu ponders, giving up on thinking, he has a bone to pick with a certain someone. Walking over to the bar he says,
"Gildarts I swear to Mavis! If you weren't my father..." Natsu threatened none too gently.
"Lighten up son! I haven't seen you in months and this is how you treat me?" Gildarts says with a comically sad expression on his face.
Natsu just grumbled, disappointed with yet another failed attempt to ask Mira out. So he sat at the bar, only for Gildarts to throw an arm over his shoulder, and pull him closer, almost knocking Natsu's stool over...
"So how has my only child been while I was gone?" Gildarts questions with a proud smile on his face, wanting to hear tales of his son's bravery and strength.
"About as good as always," Natsu dryly replies "taking butts and kicking names!" Natsu shouts, not realizing he messed up the saying.
"Stop lying flame brain! The only butt you've ever touched is your own!" Gray taunted. "And how the hell do you take name's?!" Unsurprisingly, Gray is about just as bright as Natsu...
Mira chooses now to interrupt.
"And who's butt's have you been taking?" Mira eerily asks, making Natsu turn deathly pale. Gildarts is just watching with a proud smile on his face, having had noticed the flash of jealousy that flew across Mirajane's face, 'Man, when will my knuckle head of a son ask her out?' Gildarts thought ironically. Apparently, he never realized he always interrupted Natsu when he tries to ask her out.
"I mea-n-t ki-cki-n-g bu-t-ts an-nd ta-kin-ng n-am-es" Natsu barely stutters out, his voice progressively getting softer as he finished the sentence.
"That's what I thought!" Mira said with an angelic smile on her face. Natsu let's out a sigh of relief, he had been building magic power up for "Fire Steps" just in case he had to bail out of there fast! 'thank Mavis' Natsu thought.
And Gildarts just kept laughing.
Meanwhile, Cana had literally drunk Wakaba and Macao under the table, causing them to fall asleep together in a comical, compromising, position. With their arms wrapped around each other and their legs intertwined, they almost looked like a poster couple for the gay parade. But sadly even this comedic scene could not bring Cana out of the dumps. 'Why does it hurt so much?!' she thought despondently,
"He's barely even talked to me, and yet watching him shower Natsu with praise and affection, makes me want to cry." tears were willing up in her eyes, trying to keep them controlled she threw back more alcohol, because kids... Alcohol makes EVERYTHING better.
"Why does he not even realize I exist" She muttered, the tears now starting to fall.
And finally, something clicked for Natsu. 'Why is she jealous of me because of Gildarts?' He thought, having over heard her muttering in despair. 'Come on Natsu. Think Natsu! THINK!' He thought to himself, trying to understand why Cana would want to be at least noticed by Gildarts. He was so deep in thought he never heard Grays taunts, felt Gildarts hugs, nor saw Mira's hand waving in front of his face. He took a deep breath, trying to think. And another breath. Then he had an idea. Gildarts almost thought he smelled something burning, almost, then he just realized Natsu was trying to think and laughed.
~Light Bulb~
"Hey Mira, what do you know about Cana?" Natsu asked, thinking himself a genius, while on the other hand, Mira was fuming.
"And why are you asking me?!" Mira glared, not liking her crush asking about another busty, hot girl. She was fuming 'I am a bloody model for Mavis' sake! Why is Natsu interested in her?!'
Natsu gulped in fear, and started shaking, he may like her, but she is the scariest woman he has ever had the pleasure and misfortune of meeting.
"No reason!" Natsu yelled in fear, his hands in the air like she was pointing a gun at his face...
"Good! Mira turned around and started attending the needy guild members. Natsu, on the other hand, had decided to give thinking a break, and talk to his father.
"So dad! How was your mission?" Natsu inquired, 'I mean, Dad is always gone for a long time! he must have the best luck in missions! Getting to slay cool monsters and stuff!' he thought.
"Well it's a funny story," Gildarts admitted with a guilty smile on his face. "On my way to the job, I ended up getting drunk off my ass in a bar, and then... I woke up on the other side of Fiore naked and gear-less, surrounded by passed-out monsters wearing makeup..." Gildarts replied Natsu on the other hand, just sighed.
"Sounds about right!" Natsu smirked.
"Hey!" Gildarts shouted indignantly, "Treat your awesome father with the respect he deserves!" he posed with his fists on his waist.
"So, none?" Natsu innocently asked. Some on lookers felt jealous, seeing the obvious father-son relation ship between the two, some even felt amused. But nobody felt more jealous or hurt than Cana. 'I can't take it anymore! Gildarts already has the child he always wanted, why would he ever want me' she thought, her heart had finally broken in two, she stormed out of the guild hall, hoping not to return until AFTER Gildarts left. And maybe, just maybe, never to return at all.
Natsu didn't even hear Gildarts screaming rant, he just locked eyes with Mira across the rowdy guild, both having had noticed Cana's distressed expression before she stormed out, and he even had a pretty good idea why she was upset 'I have to get to the bottom of this, they may hate me, envy me, but to me they are still my uncles, sisters, and brothers' Natsu thought with an unnoticed tear rolling down his face. Asking Mira the unasked question, she nodded her head, giving him all the encouragement he needed.
He whispered "Fire Steps", and disappearing in a flash, he was off, hoping to catch up with Cana before she got hurt.
Everyone in the guild looked on in shock, especially Gildarts. Here he was, trying to spend some quality time with his precious little boy, only for him to up and disappear in a flash of fire and smoke. It's not like he didn't know how Natsu disappeared, he just didn't know why his favorite and "only" child would leave him...
"Hey Mira..." he asked, "Is Natsu okay? did I do something wrong? did I..." he was rambling non-stop by now, not understanding why the boy who used to look up at him would leave him for something else.
Mira just nodded with a fake smile on her face, her plump lips thin and white, 'What is going on?' she thought... As she was going around, tending the guild mates, she kicks something and almost falls over. Looking down, she sees Cana's card bag, sprawled all over the ground, and gasps in worry.
-Cana's PoV-
While running down the street, let's just say Cana was in a little bit of turmoil, or, well, a helluva lot of turmoil! 'I hate Natsu, he stole my father away. Now I'll never be able to tell Gildarts that I'm his daughter because he already has the perfect child he's always wanted!' Cana thought. She broke through crowds, and some people even fell over. She was running like the wind, almost like she was getting chased. But in truth the only thing that was chasing her, was guilt. Here she was, blaming Natsu for finally having a family when she didn't have the guts to fix her own. She was aimless, she wasn't going anywhere, the only thing that mattered is where she wasn't. She didn't slow down or stop running until she fell down into a hole, and sprained her ankle. Oh, did I forget to mention she hit her head on a rock and passed out? Oops.
-Natsu's PoV-
Natsu had gone to fairy hills, and every tavern in town, and couldn't find her AT ALL! Now you're probably wondering why he didn't use his nose? Well, Cana had the overwhelming scent of alcohol and paper. So, paper is made of trees, taverns are made of trees, you probably get where I'm going with this. Anyways he was pretty pissed. The day had gone terribly!
"First I cleaned my house because I wanted to ask Mira out. Then I get roped into spending 750 jewels on a bloody bouquet of flowers. And in the end, Gildarts got in the way, AGAIN!" Natsu grumbled, walking through the forest because he thought he saw brown hair. I know, Great lead...
"I swear, the next time Gildarts stops me from asking Mira out, WILL BE THE LAST!" Natsu shouted, scaring the birds away. He kept on walking but didn't seem to notice the hole in front of him, Oh well...
-Crash-
Well, somehow, Natsu managed not to land flat on his face. Good for him.
"Dammit, this is just a bad day in general" Natsu said. "Fire ste-..." he heard breathing. Looking around, he realizes maybe today isn't that bad. He had found Cana. Noticing the gash on her head (it was a sharp rock okay?!) He re-quips a first aid kit, and gets to work, slowly cleaning and bandaging the cut, he took off his overcoat, and balled it up and put it under her head. 'I probably shouldn't move her, she could have a concussion, or she could have hurt her neck. (A/N I know he could move her, but Natsu may be smarter than canon, but that still doesn't mean he's smart). Using fire steps, he quickly leaves the hole to collect some fire wood to keep Cana warm.
-1 hour time skip-
-Cana's PoV-
Cana woke up, feeling heat dance across her face. As she groggily woke up, the first thing she notices was a mind numbing headache. Reaching up to rub her temple, she was shocked to feel a bandage on her head. Her eyes flew open in shock, and then she finally realized where she was. I can't blame her, it's hard to think with a headache. Anyways, she heard the campfire crackling, and the leaves rustling.
"How's your head?" An unknown voice asked from behind her. It made her freak out, only a little bit. Trying to turn around, only to see a flash of pink as the unknown person knelt in front of her, and she instantly felt annoyed. 'I'm not sure whether I should be annoyed that he followed me, or grateful he did' Cana thought, completely forgetting that Gildarts was in Magnolia. Trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her head, it made the answer too easy.
"Like shit" Cana groaned. She tried to sit up but was kept down by the gentle hands of the man she Hated. The man who replaced her, who was the child Gildarts never had, and the reason she was never able to confess to her father. Yep, because she totally would have been able to tell him otherwise...
"Why did you follow me?!" She angrily asked, not understanding why someone would leave someone they loved to follow someone who hated them.
"You looked sad." Natsu simply replied, not understanding why she was mad that he was helping her. 'Did I do the bandage wrong?' Natsu curiously ponders... 'Nah, Mira taught me how to properly bandage myself and others' Natsu concluded.
Cana on the other hand just gaped. 'Why did he cares enough to follow someone who treated him less than the ground beneath her feet, simply because they looked sad. Wait, that's a bloody good question...'
"Why do you care?!" Cana screamed.
"Ow! Natsu moaned, "Ears!" Of course, Cana is too distressed and hurting to care, and I don't mean her head.
"Why do you care? You followed me here, only because I was sad? Instead of asking Mira out? What are you!" Cana replied a bit softer, knowing that if she wants to answer, he needs to be able to hear her. Still, doesn't mean it wasn't painful, but, she tried.
"I have always been told that if your family is in pain, you put them before yourself," Natsu replied wisely. Thanks, Makarov.
"I'm part of your family?" Cana whispered emotionally. She has never been kind to him, and yet she's his family?
"Everyone in Fairy Tail is my Nakama, even if they don't see me the same way. Because Fairy Tail is my family." Natsu replied just as softly. It hurt though, the fact the people he loved, didn't love him, but that just gave him the strength to keep going, to prove them wrong.
And she suddenly felt disgusted in herself. She has been nothing but mean and rude to this man, and yet, he cares about her, He's helping her. Her eyes tear up a bit, thus causing Natsu to freak out, only a little bit.
"Oh no! Is the fire too bright? Is my jacket too rough? Should I shut up? Is-" Natsu rambled off, to where nobody really knows. Hell, I don't.
"Shut up sounds like a great idea," Cana replied. Her head hurt worse than her first hangover. But it wasn't even why she was upset. She had blamed Natsu for everything. And he still cared for her.
Natsu had enough of the "Cana and Gildarts mystery," and decided that he wanted to know, right now.
"Cana, how does Gildarts fit into all of this?" Natsu curiously asked. The tears were falling freely, and the sobs were coming by the dozen. Stunned, Natsu stood like a statue of a Greek God, but in a less than fortunate pose, Gaping like a fish out of water, he was stunned, he never knew she was this sad. He is truly an idiot.
Doing what he KNEW Mira would have told him, he prostrated and hugged her. His coat was wet with fresh tears, and all he could smell is salt. But he knew she needed this. An hour went by, then another, until she stopped crying. Throwing caution to the wind, he asks his last question of the night.
"Cana, what does Gildarts mean to you?" He asked gently. Having spent all of her tears, she had a few options, She could tell him, lie, or not at all. Going with the ladder, she told the first person, ever, about who her father was.
"Gildarts... Gildarts is my father." And on she went, describing how her mother, Cornelia, couldn't deal with the worry and pain of being married to a famous S-Class mage, and Ace of Fairy tail, so she left him and didn't even know she had his child growing inside her. How her mother died from sickness, and how her mother's last words were of her father. And why she joined fairy tail. And all Natsu could feel is guilt. His happiness had destroyed someone else so much, they drank and cried every night from tears. He had just assumed salt was part of her natural scent. But for him, some things started to make sense. He assumed that since Cana and Gildarts both drank alcohol, that is why they smelled alike. But of course Natsu was never a thinker, so he never investigated it. And Natsu could only cry with his, well, new sister? Well, she certainly doesn't think so!
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." was his mantra, his tears were his art, and his guilt was his burden.
Cana had fallen asleep crying that night, and Natsu picked her up. Using Fire Dragon's Rocket, Natsu expelled a powerful stream of golden flames from the sole of his feet, just like a rocket, propelling himself into the sky. This was an attack that Gildarts, had suggested he make for possible air battles. He originally wanted to make fire wings, but this costs a significant amount less of magic. He started walking, heading to the guild hall. By the time he got her to the guild only Mira was there, cleaning the bar for the morning. Natsu had made a beeline to Mira, wanting to make sure Cana's head was okay.
"Mira! Hey, Mira, where should I put Cana? Should I take her to Fairy hills?" Natsu said, Mira hadn't heard him enter the guild at all, so to look up and see Natsu carrying Cana Princess style, her clothes were scuffed and a faintly bloody red bandage on her forehead.
Mira gasped. "What happened to her?" She panicked. Rushing over, and telling Natsu to put her in the Infirmary. Once he got there Mira pulled back some sheets and Natsu laid the woman in his arms down. Pulling the blankets up, Mira removed the bandage on the girls head, to clean the wound and redress it. He watched Mira clean the gash with alcohol, and redress it in a companionable silence.
When Mira was done, she silently gestured Natsu out of the Infirmary, to the main hall. Where she got back to cleaning the guild and was grateful for Natsu's help, who burned the trash and swept up the ashes. Then Mira remembered what might have happened earlier today.
"You know, I saved those flowers for you," Mira mentioned casually, while she was cleaning a glass. Natsu, on the other hand, dropped the broom in shock. He was gaping like a fish, and stuttering like a child learning to speak. It was comical, and Mira giggled at his reaction. 'He will probably avoid the topic now,' she sighed. 'fortune favor's the bold, right?'.
"Hey Natsu, those flowers, were they for me?" She timidly asks. Natsu blushed like molten steel, steam and all... And he just nodded. That was all Mira wanted, she squealed with tears in her eyes, and jumped over the bar in a flash of silver, only to appear again, hugging him to her bountiful bosom, happy beyond belief that Natsu had bought her flowers. Natsu on the other end was trying to stray from impure thoughts, Mira's goddess like body was pressed into his. Her perfect round breasts pressed into his face, and he slim waist pressed into his abs. He could die right now, and he would have died a happy man.
Mira of course, wanted Natsu to say the words, because she is a dignified woman, and deserves to be asked out properly. Holding him at arm's length, she told him just that.
"You're going have to say the words you know," Mira said, with a devilishly hot smirk on her face. And Natsu tried once, twice, and on his thrice attempt, he took a deep breath, looked her in the eyes, and said "Mira, you've always been there for me, will you go out with me?". Mira's reply, of course, was a big ol' smooch right on his lips. And he finally passed out, tired of the long day.
I will remove the girls who have made it into the harem, and I will keep the poll open for 1 last week.
(These are the chicks who are in the harem currently)
1 Erza Scarlet.
2 Sayla.
3 Irene B.
4 Ultear Milkovich.
5 Brandish Myu
6 Dimaria Yestia
7 Hisui E Fiore
8 Wendy Marvell
9 Julia Loxar
10 Lisanna Strauss
11 Meredy
12 Sherry Blendy (my pick.)
13 Ikaruga Ryu
14 Kagura Mikazuchi
And of course, these next 4 women will be in the harem.
Mirajane Strauss
Cana Alberona
Lucy Heartfillia
Ur Milkovich
And Onto the reviews.
Guest (chapter 3) I will add a vote to Wendy so that your vote gets counted. Lucy has to be in, which I will explain later. But please do try to get an account, because if u review before you can check for any polls, and can't vote. that would suck.