Chapter 10

It was now morning, the sun had started rising over a distant mountain, as it shined a ray of light through out the forest. Natsu was stirring in his sleep, as he felt the warmth of the sun on him and...something else?

"Huh? is it morning already? But, why do I feel so..heavy?" He slowly opened his eye and the first thing he saw was red hair, he slowly looked up and there was Flare, currently sleeping peacefully on top of him. He then realized Flare was laying on him, as his eye shot open. He then felt his face get hot, as he blushed at the position they were in.

"Wha..what the hell is going on here!? When did she fall asleep on me?An-and "They're" touching me." Natsu felt Flare's chest pressed against his, as he blushed even redder. He then shook his head trying to focus, as he tried to wake her up..

"H-hey, Flare? It's time to get up." Flare was moaning sleepily, as she heard Natsu's voice.

"H..huh? Cherry hair?" She slowly looked up until her and Natsu's eyes met. She then realized the position they were in, as she quickly blushed. They stared at each other for a moment, before they're faces were matching color.

"Ah, s-sorry." Flare was the first one to break the silence.

"Oh, d-don't uh, worry about it, rather, why did you fall asleep on top of me?" He stuttered as he asked her.

"Y-you were shaking a lot in your sleep, so, I... tried to calm you down, but you grabbed me and wouldn't let go." She said as she sat up, while holding her hand over her mouth."Did I...do something wrong?" She asked with a little depression in her voice.

"N-no, it's not your fault, it's mine. I should have noticed it." Natsu said trying to reassure her.

"Anyway we should, uh..." Natsu said while trying to get up.

"Oh! Sorry!" Flare said as she quickly got off Natsu. Natsu then sat up, as he then scooted his back to the tree, as he looked around.

"Well, I guess we better get moving, Erza will kill me if I don't get back." Natsu yawned, as he got up and started stretching.

"What about you Flare? You heading someplace?" He asked as he looked at the red head.

"Uh,um...n-no." She said as she shyly shook her head."Actually, I was told by my village that I should go out and see the world, but I got lost." She said as she frowned."I thought the people from before would help me, but they were just trying to..." She then grabbed her arms, as she was recalling a bad memory. Natsu then noticed she was trembling a little. He then walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders, she then looked up, and into his onyx green eye, as he smiled.

"Don't worry Flare, as long as I'm here, I won't let ANYONE hurt you, kay?" He then flashed his toothy grin, she then felt tears coming out her eyes. Natsu noticed this and he immediately took his hands off her, and began waving his hands as he tried to calm her down.

"A-AH, sorry! I didn't mean to make you sad, I just wanted to..." Flare then shook her head and said.

"No it's not that, I'm happy...your the first person who has been nice to me since I started traveling." She then looked up and smiled a little. Natsu watched as the sun lit up behind her as she was now happy, he then smiled.

"Hehe, well I'm happy to have met you too." Natsu said as smiled and blushed a little.

"C..we...ds" She mumbled as she fiddled with her fingers. Natsu didn't quite hear her.

"Say what?" He asked as he leaned closer.

"C..can we b-be fr...friends?" She asked. She closed her eyes as she waited for his reply. She then felt a hand brushing through her hair as she opened her eyes to see Natsu petting her on the head smiling.

"Mm! I'd be happy to be your friend." She then felt her heart skip a beat as she looked at Natsu. She then felt more comfortable now, as she smiled at Natsu.

"Th-thank you." She said happily.

"Mm!..Oh yeah, you can probably take off the wrapping on your leg." He said pointing to it.

"Huh? But it just stopped bleeding." Flare said confused.

"Here let me show you." Natsu then got down on one knee and slowly unwrapped the wound. Flare's eyes widened as she looked at her leg. The wound was gone.

"Huh? B-but how..?"

"It's an effect from my flames." He explained." Normally, they would leave a scar or burn mark. But, I used a special kind of healing flame called "Heaven's Fire". At first, it burns on contact, but gradually it restores whatever I touch to the way it was before." Flare nodded and looked at her now healed leg.

"But.."

Flare then looked at Natsu." I never expected you to heal THAT fast. Normally it would take a week at least for a normal person, you healed in the exact amount of time I normally do." Natsu was thinking, he had never encountered anyone who had healed that fast from his magic.

"She couldn't be a...Hey Flare." Natsu asked. "Are you a...Dragon Slayer?" Flare looked a little confused.

"N-no, whats that?" she asked.

"It's someone who is trained in the way of Anti-Dragon magic. Normally your taught directly by a dragon, but I've heard that some people had dragon lacrima implanted into them to get Dragon Slayer magic." He explained.

"No, I haven't been trained, or had lacrima implanted into me, I got my magic from our village protector." She said. Natsu was now more curious, as he closed his eye and began thinking.

"Hm, well if she's not a dragon slayer, maybe that guardian is a...No, that wouldn't make sense...Ah, it doesn't matter, it's not like me to dwell on these things." Natsu then nodded, deciding to focus on the now.

"Well, I'm gonna be heading back to Magnolia, what about you Flare? You have anywhere you plan to go?" He asked the red head.

"Um..could I travel with you? I don't know much about the world, other then stories." She said as she nervously fidgeted.

"Sure! I would be happy to show you the world, I'ts kinda boring traveling by myself anyway, so another person would make it a lot more fun." He said as he grinned. Flare then smiled, as she was now happy that she met Natsu, she would be able to face the outside world now, now that Natsu was with her.

"Alright, next stop, Magnolia!" Natsu proclaimed as he and Flare began walking towards the rising sun.

Magnolia, Fairy Tail

"Hey master, when do you think that Natsu will be back?" Lisanna asked, as she was wiping down the bar, with Makarov sitting there taking sips from his mug.

"Hmmm, I'm not quite sure, he said he would meet us when we got back to the guild, but ever since we got here we hadn't heard anything." Makarov, Erza, and her team got back before Natsu did, and they were waiting at the guild hall ever since then, waiting for they're pink haired companion.

"Geez, whats taking Pinky so long? I wanted fight him as soon as we got here." Gray said in a bored tone.

"Maybe he got lost in the forest or something. It was pretty dark when we ran. Lucy said sitting at the same table.

"You might be right Lucy, but Natsu is very resilient, i'm sure he'll be back soon." Erza said sitting next to her and Gray. She had looked forward to seeing him again for some reason. They were all waiting for him, as they sat and waited. The doors suddenly opened, the 3 then got up,and were expecting Natsu to come through those doors.

"YOU KEPT ME WAITING YOU PINK HAIRED CYCLOPS!" Gray was all ready to pound some sense into Natsu as he was inches away from punching the person. But, then suddenly, Gray was sent flying backwards and into a wall as he looked knocked out already. Everyone looked at the door and they're eyes were wide open, as they recognized the person who sent Gray into the wall.

"Hhhuh!? Who the hell you calling a cyclops Gray? You sure got balls, attacking me as soon as I get back."

"I-is that who I think it is?" A random guild mate said.

"Oh shit, if she and Erza are here.."

Erza narrowed her eyes at the person, as she gripped her sword.

"Mira."

"Heh, guess who's back, Ginger head!"

Magnolia, Town Square...

"Ahhh, finally!" Natsu lifted his hand in the air as he stretched. He and Flare had just got into the middle of town, as they stopped to catch a break.

"So, this is what town looks like." Flare stared in awe, as she never had been to a town full of so many people. Natsu watched in amusement, as he watched Flare stare at every thing like a little kid.

"She wasn't kidding, she must have never been in a place like this." Flare then looked at a stand where a man was selling some ice cream. She watched as the kids were begging they're parents for one. She started wondering if it taste good, should she go and get one? But she doesn't have any money. She then frowned. Natsu then noticed this and smiled.

"Hey, wait here."

"H-huh?" Flare watched as Natsu walked over to the stand and bought two ice cream cones, he then came back and handed one to Flare. She looked at Natsu, then the ice cream. "Go ahead, that ice creams not gonna eat itself." He said, Flare looked at the ice cream a little confused as she looked over it.

"Flare, could it be that you haven't had ice cream before?"

"No, t-this is my first time." She said.

"Really? Ok, in that case I'll show you. Lick it like this." He said as he demonstrated for her.

"L-like this?" She asked, she began licking it, then started sucking on the top and then licked it again. She failed to notice a group of men watching her, as they watched her erotically eat the ice cream. Natsu noticed this and sent a terrifying glare in they're direction, causing them to immediately stop, and run away. After a few minutes, Flare had managed to finish the cone, as Natsu stood there making sure no perverted eyes were watching her.

"That was...good, very good." She said as she smiled.

"Yeah, it's good to eat one during hot weather." He said as he put his hand on his head and looked at the sun.

"Is they're anything else you want to try?" He asked her. She then looked around, and spotted a jewel store. She pointed to it, Natsu then nodded, and off they went.

Three hours later...

Natsu and Flare had visited almost all the stores in Magnolia, as they walked down the street. Flare had a great time as she happily walked with Natsu.

"AHHhhh, I'm beat. I guess I better head back to the guild to let them know I'm back." Natsu said as he thought out loud.

"Um, who are the people your talking about?" Flare asked.

"Ah, I guess you could call them my friends. We split up right before I found you, so they're probably back by now." He said recalling. "Ah, I almost forgot," Natsu said as he stopped. He then held out a red bracelet to Flare. She then looked, as her eyes widened.

"You were looking at this when we were in that jewelry shop earlier. So..uh, well I figured you'd like it as something to commemorate your first time shopping." He said as he scratched his head while looking to the side. Flare felt a surge of happiness, as she walked up and hugged Natsu as he made a sound of surprise.

"F-Flare?" He asked.

"Thank you." She said. Natsu then rubbed the top of her head, awkwardly smiling.

"Heheh." He nervously chuckled. His eye then opened as he heard a explosion. He let go of Flare as he turned around to see the source of the commotion.

"What the hell was that?" He said looking over towards a smoking building."Wait, isn't that the guild hall? Why is it smoking, is someone fighting?"

"N-Natsu..?" Flare asked a bit concerned.

"Ah, um, listen. You know that hotel we passed by?" Flare nodded.

"Go there, and order a room, this should be enough." He then re-quiped a few jewels, as he handed it to her.

"B-but what about you?" She asked, as Natsu ran towards the sounds.

"I'll check on you later, right now I gotta go see whats happening at the guild." And with that he ran off. Flare then looked at the bracelet in her hand and held it to her chest, as she watched Natsu run past everyone towards the guild hall.

"Please, hurry back...Natsu."

Fairy Tail...

"Ginger Head!"

"Demon Woman!"

Erza was currently in a clash with a silver haired girl, who wore a revealing gothic like outfit. As they fought, many of the guild members were taking cover behind overturned tables, as they watched in fear of the two mighty women.

"When are they gonna stop?!" Gray said, he had came back to his senses as he remembered that the person he attacked, was not Natsu, but. . . .

"Mirajane Strauss!?" Lucy said peeking over the bar with Lisanna.

"Yeah, she's the one I was telling you about, my sister." Lisanna said as she ducked to avoid a plate flying towards them.

"No way, she's nothing like I've seen in Sorcerer's weekly!"

"That's, a little different..." Lisanna said chuckling a little.

"Heh, your slow as ever, did you get weaker in the one week I was gone?!" Mira said as she smirked as she was wrestling with Erza."

" Nonsense! Your the one who's going to get they're butt kicked!" Erza replied.

"Oh brother, they've been at it for 3 hours now."Makarov said sitting on the railing of the second floor. "I'd guess I better-" He was cut off, when the guild doors were suddenly opened and in came Natsu.

"I saw the smoke, what in the world is goi-"

"IDIOT! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Gray shouted from his table, as he tried to warn the pinkette.

"Huh? What the hell are you blabb-" Natsu was now in between Erza and Mira, as they charged at each other, unaware of Natsu in the middle of they're fight.

"Your finished you bitch!" Mira said as she charged forward.

"Bring it on, you silver haired freak!" Erza said as she lounged with her sword drawn.

"Natsu look out!" Lucy shouted.

"Oh, shit!" Natsu mentally cursed as they closed in on him. The two collided with Natsu, as a dust cloud kicked up, no one could see the result of the match, or poor Natsu. They waited for the dust cloud to disperse. When it did, it revealed Natsu in between Erza and Mira, blocking both of they're attacks, his sword was drawn, as he blocked Erza's sword with it, and the scabbard in his other hand blocking a transformed demon arm from Mira. All the spectators were shocked. Not only did he stop Erza, but Mira too.

"Huh? Where'd you come from?" Mira asked, confused.

"Natsu?" Erza said, wide-eyed at the fire mage's sudden appearance.

"Get..the..." Natsu felt like he was going to be crushed by the two women if they didn't stop pressing on him. He then had tick marks on his head as he gritted his teeth."..HELL OFF ME YOU IDIOTS!" He then made a spinning motion, as he knocked the two back away from him as they slid back. Natsu then fell to one knee, as he felt like he was out of breath.

"Son of a bitch, I thought I was gonna be killed!"He panted as he slowly got up.

"Natsu, are you ok? I didn't see you..when did you get back?" Erza then put her sword away, as she ran up to the pink haired.

"J-just...give me a minute. I think my life flashed before my eye's there for a bit.." Natsu said as he held a hand up to Erza.

"Hey," Natsu looked up, and saw Mira as she walked up to them.

"That was pretty good, normally no can stop my punches. What's yur' name?" She asked as she folded her arms.

"Natsu. I'm a temporary member here." He said as he got up and sheathed his sword, it then disappeared.

"Natsu huh? Your not too shabby. To be able to stop me and Ginger, you must be a pretty good fighter. So, your the one I heard about from master. So, what do you think of Fairy Tail?" Natsu then shrugged.

"I'ts pretty interesting, never a dull moment, even when you walk in." He then groaned at the last part. "Ah, sorry about that, I was about to land the finishing blow, but you came up out of no where. I've never seen anyone use re-quip faster then Erza." She noted, as she remembered the last few seconds before the two attacks hit.

"I guess it was the motivation of two strong pretty women about to pummel\eviscerate me." He chuckled while scratching the back of his head. Mira then blushed a little as she made a noise of surprise. Erza also was a little red from Nastu's comment, but she did well to hide it.

"I've only been coming here for a few days, but I think everyone here is pretty nice." He said as he smiled, he then looked around."Why are they hiding?" He wondered.

"Heh, your a pretty straight forward guy, aren't ya?" She said smiling a little."Tell you what, I think I'll give you a personal tour of Magnolia." She said, as she grabbed his arm and began heading towards doors. They were almost out, before Natsu felt his other arm tugged back, Erza was holding on to him." Wait Mira, as senior member of this guild, I'm more qualified for this, you should go rest since you just got back." She said as she tugged him back.

"What are you talking about you red head? I feel fine, and what are you talking about your more qualified? We're the same rank, so i'm just as qualified as you are!" Mira said as she tugged him back.

"Huh? You mean your an S-class mage too?" Natsu asked as he looked a little surprised.

"Yep! I'm the strongest of the two of us, don't let red trick you." She said as she grinned at Erza. Now Erza was pissed.

"That's a lie and you know it! Natsu, me and her are perfectly even. Although, I have come closer to beating her." She said as she made a smile at Mira, which seemed to really make her mad.

"Shut up! I'm clearly stronger, and prettier then you in more ways then one!" She said as she jerked Natsu over to her.

" Really? I don't see you walking around with a boyfriend!" Erza fired back as she jerked him back. Natsu felt like his arms were gonna be ripped off.

"Where's YOURS!? Oh yeah, that's right, you can't get a guy to talk to you for more then 5 seconds cause you scare them away waving your sword around like a lunatic!"

"Take that back, Demon!"

"Make me, Armor freak!"

The two continued to argue as they forgot about Natsu, who was being forced to one side or the other as they continued to fire insults at each other. Lucy and Gray were watching them, they wanted to help Natsu, but it would mean certain death if they got in between the two girls.

"Those two...that guy is gonna get pulled apart at this rate." Gray said. Natsu was done being treated like a rag doll as he shouted,

"WILL YOU TWO STOP IT?! YOUR CUTTING OFF THE CIRCULATION!" They then realized Natsu's arms were looking a bit streached as they then let go.

"How about this? You BOTH show me around, and no one gets injured in the process, can you two do that?" Mirajane scoffed, and Erza nodded.

"Good, lets go. "I am so gonna die if I meet anymore strong woman." he thought.

They then left as they both we're holding on to each side of Natsu glaring at each other. Natsu then let out a sigh, he just got done shopping, now he has to go on a tour for the sake of his life. Everyone came out from there make shift cover, as they stood up and put the table's back up. The master just watched as the events unfolded before him, he sighed as he looked at the doors.

"Oh, Natsu. You are one lady killer." He chuckled, as he thought.

Hey, I had some extra time on my hands, so enjoy!