Chapter 11

The next day came upon them, and the Tenrou group-plus Rokem and Sting-are getting ready to leave to Marie and Aki's home.

"It doesn't feel right, to go without Natsu..." Levy voices, to which Gajeel messes up her hair to comfort her and out of hidden jealousy.

"Don't worry. I bet he'll burst in while we're there." Sting reassures her and he leads the group to the small house. Stopping at the door he knocks four times before stepping back, hands clenched in his pockets. The door slowly creaks open to show a small, old woman who smiles up at the group, but the smile falters slightly after a moment.

"Oh, Sting-kun. Natsu-kun isn't with you, is he?" He shakes his head. "I'll say those council people are making him work to hard. Well, come in, she's waiting." They obey, and follow her up the stairs, they become more and more nervous at each creak the stair makes, as if it were a warning. Sting seemed to be the only one slightly content, but Rokem was a close second to emitting that kind of mood.

Once they get there Marie opens the door and beckons them inside, leaving them to go in on their own. At first no one moves, but then the voice they heard yesterday speaks up from inside.

"Well, come in now. I don't bite." Makarov goes in first, and as everyone else does they see a look of disappointment flash across her face. They all get a clear look at Aki. All around the room lay medical supplies. Medicine on the wardrobe, a black wheelchair beside the pure-white bed. But mainly fresh herbs lie all around the room, ranging from colors of green to deep violets. The strong smell of medicine hits them as they pass through the door frame, tempting them to walk back out. But they fight against that urge.

The woman in the sheets is much to thin, with a tube in her arm injecting... something. Paper-thin skin that shows blue veins coursing beneath it. She's propped up on a white pillow, an identical blanket covering her lower half.

"Oh come, tell me your names." She gives them a sweet smile that reaches her hazel eyes.

"Well, I'm Makarov, but I'm sure he called me gramps if he talked of me at all." He speaks, walking to her bedside.

"Oh yes, I've heard stories about you." She scans the crowd with narrow eyes. "I wonder if I'll be able to put name to faces by Natsu's descriptions." She puts a narrow finger on her chin in deep thought. "Mind getting in a single-file circle around the bed?" They obey and she opens her eyes wide. "You must be Gray." She points at the raven-haired teen.

"How'd you know?"

"He said you have a face that 'irritates him to no end'." A titch appears on his forehead at the quoted words,"And that you're a habitually stripper." That's when he realizes his clothes are missing.

"Shit!" He bursts from the room, looking for his missing garments. Juvia hot on his tail with hearts in her eyes at the sight of Gray.

"...And that girl's Juvia?" Every sweatdrops at the scene, and nods in response. She looks around with a small smile as the crowd follows her every move with their eyes. "You must be the Rajinshuu, right?" She points at Laxus and the three beside him, then pointing to each as she says their names she begins;"Evergreen, Bickslow, Freed and Laxus."

"Well, glad to know he didn't forget us." Evergreen adjusts her glasses, poking her nose in the air.

"I've mainly heard stories about your lightning mage leader; Laxus."

"Not too many good things, I suppose." Laxus begins tapping his foot, not wanting all eyes on him at the moment.

"Ah, well, I've heard you made up for most of them." She smiles up at him, hazel eyes sparkling with forgiveness."And no doubt he let you back into the guild." She says, eyeing his guild mark. Then turns her head to a small, blue-haired girl beside a larger man with metal piercings all over his body. Crossing his arms in front of his chest as she stares at the two who stand side by side.

"Nice to meet you." Levy slightly bows and Gajeel grunts in recognition.

"You must be Levy and Gajeel." Aki slightly laughs at the two, remembering how the older, mature Natsu described them. With a bright smile Levy nods at this while Gajeel raises his eyebrow. Turning her gaze she sees the next 'group' of people, all with white hair.

"Nice to meet you, Aki." The girl with the shorter hair smiles and Aki gives a small grin. So this is Lisanna...

"Well, you must be the Strauss family; Mirajane, Elfman and Lisanna."

"A real MAN can figure that out!"

"Elfman, she isn't a man." Mirajane says with a smile, but the dark aura around her warns him not to make that mistake again, and he cowers below his sisters sinister grin.

"And you must be Wendy." She smiles at the small girl that stands at the end of her bed, beside a young boy with emerald eyes.

"Y-yes." Wendy gives a small bow,"N-nice to meet you." Aki turns to the boy beside her, but before she can ask his name she sees four, small cats sitting at the end of her bed. A blue one, a white one, a black one, and a red one.

"Are you exceeds!?" Aki jumps, her smile widening at the sight of them.

"Hai!" The blue cat jumps up, happiness radiating off of him.

"You must be Carla, Pantherlilly, Lector... and you must be Happy." Joy erupts from her core and fills Aki up instantly as she finally sees the cat Natsu had cared so deeply for. The cat Natsu loved like a son, the cat Natsu cried the loss of as he did for everyone else in the room. I can't believe I'm finally meeting these people!

"I-I'm Rokem." The boy squeaks,"I'm new, so you probably don't know anything about me." She beams down at him and motions him to her bedside, which he obliges to.

"Well, I hope we can become better friends, Rokem. Know that you're always welcome to come over." She chuckles for a moment before continuing with a smile,"Funny how I never told Natsu that yet he invites himself in whenever he wants nowadays."

"Hello, I'm-"

"No! I need to figure it out myself." Aki interrupts the mage who looks down in shame, having forgotten this small fact.

"I'm sorry, please hit me." The scarlet mage bows and everyone sweatdrops at this. Once the initial shock passes Aki gives and awkward chuckle.

"You must be Erza, or the more famed name; Titania." Erza straightens up and nods at this. "And then you must be Lucy," the blonde mage nods,"Natsu spoke about you a lot." This gets the celestial mages attention. I mean, sure they had many adventures together, but so did many others in the room.

Looking up she sees the brown-haired girl wearing a blue bikini top, speaking with the much larger man who stands beside her, comically crying for her to accept him into her life as a father figure.

"And you're Cana and Gildarts?" Cana side glances at the bed-ridden woman and nods, before depressing Gildarts with a stern 'no'. Leaving the two be the woman turns to the third blonde mage in the room, one whom she's already acquainted with. "Sting-kun..."

"Aki-san." He gives a nod of the head, and an awkward silence hangs in the air as they stare into each others eyes. With a smile and a motion of a finger she tells him to bend down to her, of course he obeys.

Grabbing on of his ears a twitch appears on her forehead, and cold sweat encases Stings body. Everyone stares at the scene in complete shock, not knowing what to say. The woman who was so kind earlier turned into a semi-demon. The men thought they had finally found a 'normal' girl, but this one's as demonic as the next.

"I hear you're causing a lot of trouble for Natsu." Everyone can see that her smile is a mask for the demon inside, and understand why Natsu was more afraid of her than of the demon he went to face.

"A-ahh, well Natsu-san said it was okay-"

"He has enough to do nowadays, he's just a pushover when it comes to you guys." She releases the fearful boy with a sigh and shakes her head. "Somehow you guys get him more money than the destruction you dish out. Plus he's a weasel when it comes to taking care of the guilds costs. You get away this time, but next time I won't be so lenient. Got it?" Sting gives a sharp nod in understanding, afraid of what may happen if he doesn't agree.

As they finish their small... 'conversation', if you can call it that, they hear three sharp, quick taps on the door downstairs. Listening intently as the door creaks open they hear the old woman gasp and later chuckle.

"They're upstairs, but you better apologize to Aki for what you did."

"...I know." At the voice Aki suddenly lightens up, and a smile unlike the ones they had seen her welcomed them with shows. Creaking up the stairs, everyone can tell the steps are much too heavy as he thuds up the stairs and through the hallway. He peaks into the doorway, the pink hair showing out above the crowd for Aki to see.

"Well?" Aki raises her brow, and if she were standing it seems she'd be tapping her foot at him. Bowing his head down with a sigh he looks back up at her with a half smile before stepping in front of the doorway. Everyone's taken aback while Aki just raises both brows in surprise, and Rokem jumps in complete fear.

Propping the item on his right and resting on his shoulder is a large-very large-spike. But on closer inspection it looks like a quill with a yellow stripe in the middle and a thin one on the top, the rest black. It's Natsus height plus some, and as thick as his head.

"Wha-That's from Zagnois!" Rokem shouts, jumping up and down in shock, fear, and joy.

"Did you...kill it?" Gray stands, mouth agape at the sheer size of the... thing.

"What do you think, ice princess?" He says, slightly leaning on the item he had brought to the house.

"About how big was it?" Aki asks, and Natsu sees the thirst in her eyes to touch it. Picking it up he rests it on a shoulder and supports it with his hands. Walking into the room, everyone clears a path, not wanting to get hit by what he carries. Setting the base of the object beside the bed, he leans it in slightly for her to touch it, but holds it so it doesn't fall on her.

"This is a small, base quill. The town kept a few larger ones. Its size rivaled the one that attacked Magnolia."

Nodding, she runs a hand along the surface and analyzes its attributes. Feeling spikes that go up to the tip when running her hand down to the base, but is smooth when running up to the tip. After feeling along its surface she leans back on the pillow, a signal to Natsu to put the quill down. He sets it down as softly as possible, still making a loud 'thud' resound through the room.

"How heavy is it?" Gajeel asks, walking over to the object.

"Why don't you check it out?" The used-to-be-larger man lumbers towards the object and Natsu turns his attention to the bed-ridden woman beside him. She stubbornly crosses her arms and turns her head away from him.

"You're late." She looks at him out of the corner of her eye, and everyone can see through the bags under her eyes and her thin and frailness, that she was once a beautiful woman, and could've been even prettier if she wasn't struck with an illness.

"Well, I'm here now. The council is very strict, and they always pull the 'it's the least you could do to repay us for the guilds damages, blah blah blah'..." A slight smirk spreads across her face, one Natsu can't see.

"You'll have to make it up to me." She sees him raise his eyebrows at this, before dropping his head and sighing.

"...Fine." At this she jumps in joy and turns to face him.

"Goodie! Cause I'm gonna heal your wounds from your battle!" Natsu leans back a bit, putting his hands up in defense.

"Whoa, whoa. Hey now-"

"Is your word so cheap?" This gets him and he places his hands on his hips. "One of the only things I can do in here is learn about herbs and stuff, and you're my test subject!"

"Wha-"

"Cause you're the only one who comes here that ever needs healing. I mean, even Sting isn't dumb enough to come here after a battle without healing."

"How do you-"

"I'm not dumb, Natsu. I know you. You brought a piece of the demon here, you would normally drop it off at the guild when you went there. And if you went there then you would've been healed." She rolls her eyes at his expression. "I know your magic types. I've seen your illusions enough times. Now come off it, and did you get cursed."

"...Nope! Curse-free from this battle!" He gives a smile at the hard-won achievement, but he goes no further as Aki reaches for her herb kit. Everyone just watches as the two seem to forget they're even there, and their hearts are being warmed and broken by the scene.

"D-damn, Salamander!" Gajeel gasps, and the pinkette turns around to see the dragon slayer with his arms wrapped around the quill. "This things heavy! How'd you carry this here?"

"I guess I'm just stronger than you." He flashes a grin which gets on the others nerves.

"Let me see that." Gray walks to it and wraps his arms around it as Gajeel backs away from it. "Hurragh!" He puffs his cheeks out and his face goes red as he lifts it off the ground about an inch.

"Oh, come on ice princess. I thought you were gonna beat me in a duel."

"S-shut up!" Gray spits at him before getting in the pinkettes grinning face.

"Oh? What're you gonna do about it?" Grays face reddens in anger and he gabs a finger in the guild masters chest. Missing the slight flinch of pain that jolts through the mans body.

"7 years isn't nearly enough time for you to become strong enough to beat me." Through his anger he can't see the pain Natsu tries to hide as he digs a finger into the pinkettes chest.

"Gray, let me advise you to get your hand off his chest." The cold, strong, stern voice speaks. Everyone turns in shock to the speaker, and Gray is taken from his gaze as he stares at the host. Reluctantly he backs away from the provoker, and sees the sighs of relief the now older man releases.

Turning to look at Aki he sees her flash him a devious smile once her cold one passes over. And, raising his hands, he gives in.

"You caught me, you caught me." He turns his body to her and drops his arms with a small smile. "I did come here right after my battle. I admit it. Happy?" She raises her brows with a smile.

"I already knew that. But yes, I am happy you admitted it." Looking between the two, the Tenrou group gets lost at their words-excluding Makarov who raises his brows at the information. "Now, release you small 'illusion'."

Putting a hand on the back of his head he gives a small chuckle, and Makarov moves away from the bedside chair for Natsu to sit at-which he obliges to. Putting both hands on his knees and tilting his head down he begins to incite a spell. A light shines around him from a circle on the ground, which slightly blinds everyone.

When they open their eyes everyone is taken aback by the sight. Natsu was no longer sitting there the same as he was just a second ago. His chest has a large gash across it, with a smaller one that starts half-way down his chest and continues. And that's the worst of it, but that doesn't mean the rest is okay.

Small scratches litter his body, and his hair is partially stained red with his blood. One of the more shocking changes is that on his right arm he has a black lightning-patterned tattoo going up to his collar bone. Small bandages here and there.

And that's when it hits them, he's not wearing a shirt. They see a large scarred slash across his chest beside the newer wound. It's the one they had seen the tip of on his neck when he's not wearing his scarf. On the top of his shoulder-normally hidden by his shirt-is the beginning of a three-clawed scratch, that's scarred from the high shoulder down to his abdomen. And the middle of each scratch has a frosty-blue line, that every member stares at.

"Well, your illusions are getting better. But you can't get passed me when you're wincing at every movement."

"It's not my fault you have sharp eyes." He goes to cross his arms but looks down to see the fresh gash and changes his mind.

"Well, Gray definitely helped me." It took a moment for everyone to realize what she means and Gray feels guilt form in his stomach. But looking back into Natsus' eyes everyone can see they're not as pain filled as they should be. Rather, he seems content.

"NATTTSSSSUUUUU!" Happy flies to him with tears in his eyes, hugging his face with his tiny paws. Natsu eases him off with a warm smile and sets his 'son' on the bed.

"It's okay, buddy. I'm fine. I healed up a bit before coming here, it's not life-threatening." He wipes away the cats tears as they finally stop flowing.

"What's with the tattoo?" Laxus-of course he's the one to ask-speaks up. Looking at his arm he contemplates before answering.

"Well, I uh, maybe ate a bit to much of its lightning magic. And this is the end result." Everyone just stares at him as he continues,"But now I can use its magic with this hand."

"And those scars?" Lucy brings up after a big breath to calm her nerves. Looking around he can see everyone unnerved by the battle wounds and sighing he leans back on the chair-only to wince and add to their worries. After getting as comfortable as possible he leans his head back and looks at the cream-colored ceiling.

"From Zeref's Demon Lords." Everyone stares at him wanting a 'better' answer, and he gives a heavy sigh. "This one-" he traces the one slash across his chest that healed over years ago,"was from Vespire. This is his cursed-strike. This one-" he traces the claw-mark across his chest with three fingers,"was from Lumonie's talon."

"What are the curses?" Makarov butts in, but Aki is quick to interrupt.

"Well, I know how eager you are to know all about the seven years away, but healing him should be the priority." Makarov nods in approval and Aki grounds down a few leaves together in a bowl. "This is gonna sting." She speaks as she gets the cream-like creation on her fingers.

"'Kay." Natsu prepares himself, and Aki begins to rub the cream on the large gash. Holding back the wince of pain he squeezes his eyes shut. Sting, yeah right. My body's on fire!

After an agonizing long time for Natsu, she finishes placing the magic cream over his large wounds. Then, turning back to her box she pulls out a violet, cup-shaped flower and takes pollen from it. Then she pats the yellow powder on the mossy green cream, and suddenly it changes to a teal hue.

"Hold this." She gives him a small white container to hold for her as she puts everything back, and he opens it to see an ugly shade of yellow-pink that makes him scrunch up his nose.

"This smells disgusting."

"And you need it, now give it back." She reaches her hand out to him and he gives the container to her. She gets a clump of the item in her hand and raises her brow at him.

"What?"

"Your hand." Natsu's face pales and he shakes his head and hands.

"I don't need it, I'm fine." She rolls her eyes with a small smile.

"So you fought the beast, by yourself, without using your left hand." He doesn't respond and she takes his left hand by the wrist, which still manages to make him wince.

"I wonder..." Mira begins to think aloud as Aki begins to take the glove off as gently as possible, to not hurt the younger man.

"Wonder what, Mira-san?" Wendy looks up at the white-haired take-over mage who stares intently at the hand slowly being revealed.

"I wonder what it looks like."

And as the glove is finally taken off a gasp floats through the room as everyone sees the limb that was the first to see a Demon Lords wrath.

Authors Note: Yeah, well, with an event like that it ain't gonna be pretty. I maybe made Aki a bit to lively, but it's her personality. Thanks for reviewing! Seriously, you're all just so kind and helpful, I'm surprised by the sheer amount of reviews. Sorry for waiting until Sunday night, I didn't get my computer til them-it was at my dads and I was at my moms. Til next time, see ya!