Chapter 6: Reunited
Whipping her head around, Lucy gazes at the green plains with trees scattered in different areas in front of her.
"Hey, don't you feel like there is something that isn't right about this place? Like something is catching up to us?" Lucy query's, showing the uneasiness in her face. Daiki bites the bottom of his lip and averts his eyes to look to the side.
"I kind of get that feeling as well. However, I'm not so sure. Make sure to be on your guard alright?" Daiki summons is his katana and grips onto the hilt of it. Eyes narrowing, Daiki listens to the surrounding area around him. Daiki, who is surveying the environment they are in, opens his eyes properly and smirks widely.
"According to my amazing analysis and deductions, there is a 87.9 percent chance that someone is following us." Daiki grins at Lucy, clearly extremely proud of his observation.
"It's to one decimal place as well…", Lucy sweat-drops at the highly developed intellectual and sighs, "Daiki that is great and all but, do you know why he is following us?"
"Not at all!" Daiki, oblivious to his useless analysis, smiles brightly at the gaping Lucy.
"…" Lucy sighs heavily and walks towards Daiki, "Come on, let's just train now and then head towards the leader. Okay?" Lucy smiles kindly at Daiki, causing him to blush lightly.
"Alright…" Daiki, agreeing to Lucy's offer, stretches his hand out to pat Lucy's head. Before Daiki could place his hand on Lucy's head, Daiki pushes her behind him and places his katana in front of him.
A blinding beam of roaring fire spirals its way towards the duo at a rapid speed. Blocking the attack, Daiki swiftly returns an attack by generating a shimmering flare of lightning at the assailant's location. The silhouette evades the strike, created by Daiki, and pounces towards the Science magic user. As fire envelops in the strangers hand, Daiki's arm engulfs in a large collection of electricity. Colliding with one another's fist, an immense gush of wind is created, causing Lucy to stumble backwards. Eyeing the assailant, Lucy's eyes widen and dilate. The salmon colored hair was too distinguished to forget about; Lucy can't believe who is currently in front of her.
"No way…" Lucy struggles to stand back up, making her stay on the floor, "Natsu? Why are you here?"
Natsu makes eye contact with Lucy and pulls his fist away from Daiki. Lucy stands up and walks slowly towards the fire dragon slayer. Daiki, who is rather confused, looks away from being slightly jealous. Grinning widely, Natsu envelops Lucy in a warm embrace.
"I finally found you again Luce!" Natsu says in an extremely chirpy tone. Lucy remains silent as she turns her head towards Daiki, who is currently averting his emerald eyes to a random location.
"So, who the hell are you?" Daiki interrupts the very one-sided display of affection by pulling the still shocked Lucy out of Natsu's arms. Growling loudly at the blue haired man, Natsu glares ferociously at Daiki. Nevertheless, Daiki remains calm and unaffected by Natsu's anger.
Natsu eyes Lucy, who is still in shock, and replies, "Natsu Dragneel, Lucy's partner. Also a member of the Guild alliance and Fairy Tail." Natsu displays his metallic-silver badge resembling a bird towards Daiki.
"Aye! I'm also Lucy's partner!" As Natsu introduces himself, Happy floats next to him. Lucy shudders at the high-pitched voice and moves her head to look at the two
"Even Happy?" Lucy mutters, causing the two men (plus exceed) to look at Lucy. Her body begins to shake slightly.
"What's the Guild Alliance?" Daiki asks, trying to distract Natsu's attention away from Lucy.
Instead of Natsu answering, Happy replies, "The Guild Alliance is a temporary pact between all guilds. All members are given a badge like Natsu's and mine to represent that we are here to help. Natsu and me are a small team that was dispatched to search the east side of Fiore. However, so far, the Guild Alliance still has no knowledge on what is happening right now." Happy sighs sadly, floating next to Daiki, while shaking his head.
"Natsu, being the persistent guy he is, wanted to find Lucy." Happy points his paw towards the slightly shaking Lucy.
"Why?" Lucy delays her sentence, "Why would you want to find me? I left you in Magnolia all by yourself…" Lucy hides herself behind Daiki, placing her arms behind her back.
"It's because you are important to me Lucy! The whole guild is worried about you. Even Sting and Rogue from Sabertooth were wondering where you were." Natsu grins at Lucy.
Gritting her teeth, Lucy walks up to Natsu and places her hands on his shoulders. "Natsu… You have to go back; you don't know what we are going to fight." Lucy attempts to drop hints for Natsu.
"What do you mean?" Natsu, not understanding Lucy, presses for more information, "I can help you defeat whatever you are going to fight. Just tell me what you are going to fight!"
Lucy's eyes start to quiver faintly, causing her to move her head downwards to look at the floor, "You don't understand Natsu! If I tell you; I would basically kill you!" Lucy screams, making Natsu even more confused and Daiki to sigh with annoyance.
"Lucy," Daiki interrupts Lucy, "I think it is alright to tell Natsu. The stories only said that if you tell anyone before the PROJECT begins, they will die. However, I think it is fine to tell them after the PROJECT begins."
Lucy makes an uneasy eye contact with Daiki and nods her head.
After an hour of explaining what PROJECT D.A.R.K is, Natsu and Happy silently look at the floor.
"And that is why this whole situation has started…" Daiki finishes his explanation, closing down his archive magic screen.
"…" Natsu gazes at Lucy with a loss of words.
"So… If we don't defeat this whole project thing, then everyone will die?" Happy asks with a wavering tone. Lucy nods her head without any words. Tears form in Happy's eyes.
"I don't want that!" Happy jumps to Natsu's chest and begins to cry.
"How about we inform everyone at the Guild Alliance headquarters and tell them to defeat the leaders?" Natsu suggests from panic.
"No use… Without me and Daiki present, then you won't even be able to kill, scratch or wound the leaders." Lucy averts her eye contact somewhere else.
"…Are you saying that you two will have to risk your lives because some stupid legend told you so?" Natsu growls, clearly showing signs of anger.
"Yep… Anyways Natsu and Happy, it has been nice reuniting with you but Daiki and I have to train before our fight. It's best if you don't endanger your life and go back to where your headquarters are." Lucy fakes her smile and drags Daiki along with her, walking away from Natsu.
After two minutes of walking, Daiki pulls his arm out of Lucy's grasp and forces her to face him.
"Why did you send him away? I know you are going to regret it." Daiki pierces his gaze into Lucy's brown eyes, brimming with tears. As soon as Daiki spots Lucy's tears, he stops his glare immediately and pulls her into a warm embrace.
"I don't want him to get involved; the last thing I want is someone dying because they want to protect me! Natsu will definitely hurt himself to protect me because that is just who he is! I also don't want you to die because of me!" Lucy cries into Daiki's shoulder, tightening their hug.
Stroking the top of Lucy's head gently with hand, Daiki places a soft kiss Lucy's forehead, "Don't worry… I won't die."
In the midst of the tense atmosphere, a very light, "He llllikes you!" could be heard. Lucy's eyes widen when she spots a very fast Natsu, running towards them.
"N…Natsu?!" Lucy screams from shock. Natsu, who is currently running at full pace, pounces onto Lucy.
"Me and Happy came on a decision to join you guys!" Natsu beams at Lucy, "Me and Happy will help you out!"
"H…huh?" Lucy stutters from utter confusion.
"Like I said! Me and Happy will help you defeat those leader things!" Natsu repeats himself.
"B…But you might die and then…" Lucy was about to continue; however Natsu interrupts her.
"I won't! Neither will you!" Noticing that he has pinned Lucy to the ground, he gets up slightly blushing, "Come on! Let's train!"
"…" Lucy, still shocked at Natsu's outburst, smiles lightly and giggles, "Alright… If you insist Natsu."
"He llllikes you!" Happy teases, causing Natsu and Lucy to blush while making Daiki slightly frustrated.
"Shut up you flying cat!" Lucy blurts from embarrassment.
"So," Natsu looks at Daiki, "What's your name?"
"Daiki Hagiwara…" Daiki looks plainly at Natsu and goes back to Lucy's side.
"What type of magic do you use?" Natsu asks, interested in Daiki's magic.
"Oh wouldn't you like to know!" Daiki sticks his tongue out at Natsu and walks away, "Come on Little girl! Let's go!"
"I told you I'm not a little girl!" Lucy hits the top of Daiki's head. Lucy smiles and turns to look back at Natsu, "Let's go Natsu! Happy!"
"Aye!"
"Sunrise…" A dark and eerie voice mutters out, "I expect you to complete the gate without any failures. Remember, if you fail to do so… There will severe punishment."
Getting onto one knee and lowering her head, the weakest link of the four leaders obediently speaks out, "Of course… Even if those pesky 'saviors' come and try to defeat me, I will kill them."
"Now… Speak one of your rules." The voice grumbles, resembling thunder.
"One shall not display any signs of weakness of fear. If broken, thou is not a leader of PROJECT D.A.R.K"
Thank you for waiting patiently! Sorry for so much talking and chatting but I needed to get all of that explanation out of the way before the real action starts!
Natsu has joined the party! However, Daiki doesn't like the idea! Lucy, on the other hand, isn't aware about the two men's feelings!
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