Chapter 10
Me: Hey everyone. Normally, I would be very excited to post this but I am so f-ing tired and I don't have the usual energy I have. Because of this, there won't be a author's note at the end. Also, I have something I need to say.
Recently, I have come to a revelation that I am focusing more on posting and making the readers happy but... it's taken the fun out of writing. I feel more stress to post and it's been wearing me down. For this reason, I have decided to focus on one or two stories at a time. I'll most likely focus on one since it's just easier for me but that is the decision I will stand by. Since this was my first story, I will be focusing on this one first. This may be a bit off topic but it's almost the one year anniversary of when this story was first posted. I feel slightly nostalgic. Back on topic, I will be focusing on this story and giving it my full attention from here on out and because of that, I will end up posting more chapters of this story every week.
I'm sorry for all the ranting but I needed to say that. Anyways, thanks for all the support and I hope you enjoy as always!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does but I do own the OCs.
Warning: Mention of suicide and self harm
"Natsumi has been really quiet today hasn't she?" Maria asked Taichi and Mei.
The three of them had grown really close, becoming a little family even though Maria suspected a romance between Taichi and Mei, which was vehemently denied.
The two in question nodded and Mei answered in a hushed whisper, "Today's the anniversary of that day, remember?"
Maria's face melted into a frown which was copied by her companions. They didn't know why, but or some reason, Natsumi always got sad on one particular day of the year. They figured that it related to her breakdown when they first met her. They didn't push her but they were very curious about it.
"Just try to act normal okay? She wouldn't us to treat her any differently than any other day just because it's that day," Maria asked.
The others nodded and silence fell among the trio, as they got lost in their memories.
After Natsumi's breakdown, the rest of the trip was spent in silence, the trio not knowing how to react. Maria was a little shaken by the events, not knowing how to deal with a breakdown. The others were silent too, and Maria suspected they thought the same as her.
Natsumi finally broke the silence with a whisper, "Please don't tell anyone."
The three glanced at each other in surprise, not expecting such a response until finally Maria nodded along with the other three.
"Can you tell us what happened?" Maria asked hesitantly.
Natsumi shook her head and replied in the same, broken whisper, "It's too painful to think about and I haven't quite got over it enough to tell other people."
The three quickly dropped the subject and continued with a little small talk as they arrived at their destination. The three stared at the building in awe. It was a five story building, not yet complete but almost there, painted with red, black and other colors and a red dragon symbol in the middle. Natsumi and Lila turned to the three, smiling with pride and happiness.
"Welcome to the Dragon Heart's guildhall," Natsumi stated proudly.
The three exchanged glances again before looking back at the building.
"Dragon Heart's guildhall?" Mei asked slowly.
Natsumi rubbed the back of her head sheepishly before replying, "I wanted to start guild but I wanted to recruit you guys before anyone else."
The three gave Natsumi bewildered looks as Taichi asked, "Why us though?"
"I wanted the first people to be unique. Different from the regular guild members .I saw you guys on my travels and asked around and when me and Lila decided to start up a guild, we agreed to have you guys as the first members," Natsumi replied honestly.
Mei crossed her arms and asked, "Why should we join?"
Natsumi retorted, "Why not? All of you have individual goals and being in a guild will help you accomplish them faster. No one will really question your motives unless they are suspicious. In the end though, it's up to you."
There was silence once again for a few moments before Maria said, "I'm in."
Mei and Taichi soon followed saying, "I'm also in."
Natsumi's grin widened and said, "Then welcome to Dragon Heart."
Lila sighed as she walked out of Natsumi's hotel room. They had comforted each other for a while and Natsumi eventually fell asleep. Lila moved her to her bed and tucked her in before sneaking out of the room.
Hisui got up from where she was sitting and worriedly asked, "Is she okay?"
After the reunion with Hisui yesterday, she often visited Lila and Natsumi to hang out with them. Hisui knew the significance of this day. Back when they first met, she had noticed scars on Natsumi's wrists. Curious, she had asked and Natsumi ended up having a breakdown. Lila eventually told her that they were form when she slit her wrists. When Natsumi had recovered, they told her the whole story. She was furious at Fairy Tail but reined in her anger and promised to not tell anyone.
She had become a trusted consultant and when Lila couldn't be there for Natsumi's breakdowns, Hisui was there to calm her. It had become a system where they took turns comforting Natsumi when she broke down or had nightmares. She was closer to Lila and calmed down quicker with her but only Lila and Natsumi coud calm her during one if her breakdowns.
"She's fine. She fell asleep so I put her on her bed," Lila replied.
Hisui breathed a sigh of relief, responding, "That's good. It's always a lot worst this time of year."
Lila nodded but her thoughts were elsewhere. She had observed Hisui's behaviour around Natsumi for the last few years and they were consistent with each other. She tended to be a lot more caring with Natsumi and she was closer to her than she was to Lila. She would smile and laugh more around Natsumi and sometimes she got these random smiles on her face out of nowhere.
"Hey Hisui," she said, drawing her companion's attention.
"Yeah?" she responded.
"Are you in love with Natsumi?" the question came out before Lila even thought about it fully.
To Hisui, the world around her froze as the question was uttered. She had denied it for so long but hearing the question out loud just destroyed any thoughts of denying it.
Hisui sighed deeply, replying in a low voice, "Yeah, I am."
Lila ran a hand through her hair and said, "I thought as much."
The women stood in silence before Lila sighed, "I honestly can't blame you."
Hisui's attention snapped to her and asked dumbly, "What?"
"I can't blame you," Lila said, "Natsumi is the kind of person who people can easily fall in love it. But just so you know, if you hurt her, I'll will not hesitate to torture you, kill you, revive you, and then torture and kill you again."
Hisui paled slightly and replied meekly, "Yes."
The women stood in silence again before Hisui said softly, "I feel like I have no chance."
Lila replied, "Maybe, maybe not. But Natsumi will make the final decision." "Is Natsumi in love with anyone?" Hisui asked hesitantly.
"I don't know. I know she used to be in a relationship but it's been over for seven years now. You still have a chance," Lila replied.
"Do you love her?" Hisui asked suddenly.
Lila just turned to the window and didn't answer.
"I can't believe we were in the Spirit World for three month!" Luke whined loudly.
Manami sighed and said, "I know! That was so stupid!"
It had been three month since they had returned from Tenrou. They had learned that they were one for seven years instead of several weeks as they had thought. The Grand Magic Games started in a week and the time they had to train was wasted. They were on their way to Crocus. The rest of the guild was already there waiting for them to arrive.
Erza sighed irritatedly and snapped at him, "We can't change the past. At least we've unlocked Second Origin so we're stronger."
Luke immediately shut up, not wanting to further anger Erza but Manami rolled her eyes. The rest of the ten minute train ride was made in silence, no one wanted to anger Erza by saying something stupid.
The train station was packed with people getting on and off their trains. They navigated the crowd,pushing their way out.
"Where are they?" an irritated voice said, sounding familiar to the team.
They turned around and saw two people with blue hair. They had changed since seven years ago but it was undoubtedly them.
"Juvia. Wendy," Manami snarled.
The people in question turned around and immediately their faces went blank, showing no emotion at all.
"Luke. Erza. Gray. Manami. I would say it was nice to see you again but then I would be lying," Juvia said coldly.
