Hey everyone! I am so, so, so sorry for taking so long to update. Please don't hate me! I hope this longer-ish (3,602 words) chapter will help make up for it. Again, I'm am so sorry!

Thanks to everyone that followed, favorited, and/or reviewed!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Here's chapter 11!


By the time Lucy and I arrive to school—late, by the way—third period is almost over.

After the events this morning, I don't know how to think of Lucy. She's my friend, right? But do friends kiss friends on the nose? I wouldn't know.

Anyway, nothing besides that is different between us. We still act the same around each other, albeit we haven't talked much since then.

I sigh, feeling overwhelmed and tired by it all. It's all just too much. Dealing with Jiemma, my injuries, my emotions, and now figuring friends out. It's just too much.

But I admit I do like having friends. My world seems a little less… lonely now. I'm not alone, and that thrills me. But it's also terrifying.

It's terrifying to have someone there for you after being on your own for so long. Although, I think I can get over this fear because having a friend is better than being on my own.

"I'll see you at lunch?" Lucy asks, effectively pulling me from my thoughts.

I turn my head slightly so I can see her out of my left eye. "Sure," I agree, somewhat tentatively.

She smiles and waves as she parts ways, heading for her locker as I head to mine.

I hobble down the hallway on the crutches I'm still using. I'll have to do something for the storeowner that let me borrow them, I say to myself. Only problem is, I have no idea how to repay him.

The clack, clack of the crutches on the floor is the only sound in the empty corridor.

I suddenly grow wary; it's too eerily silent.

Nevertheless, I make it safely to my locker and deposit my things not-so-neatly inside. I toss a small bag I borrowed from Lucy over my shoulders and flinch when the binder and book inside bump against my back.

I dig into my pants pocket, smiling slightly at the sight of three crumpled one dollar bills. At least I can get something for lunch.

Turning, I wobble down the hall as the bell rings. Students begin streaming out the classrooms to either side of me, making me hurry to the side so as to not get trampled.

Just then I feel a gaze on me, like someone is watching.

Waiting.

I begin to turn my head, but a hand places itself on my shoulder, stopping the movement.

I don't dare to look up.

By now my body is trembling, and the person the hand is connected to seems to notice, for the hand relaxes itself.

I build up the nerve and glance upwards.

"It's okay," Gray Fullbuster says. "It's just me. Don't turn around; it's Sabertooth that's watching us."

I give an almost imperceptible nod to show I understand.

Slowly, he removes his hand from my shoulder, but he walks close to me. There is just enough space between us that our shoulders do not touch but his body heat warms my arm. Gray strides tall and proud next to me, a huge contrast to my small frame. Anyone that looks our way with a patronizing look is met with a deadly, protective glare from my companion.

It's as if he is daring anyone to challenge him.

And someone does.

Sting struts towards us, an obnoxious skip in his step, followed by his lackeys. He moves in, a predator stalking his prey.

Gray is too preoccupied with Orga and Rufus to notice Sting's presence. And it is then that I notice Gray is farther away from me; I can't reach him with my arm anymore.

Sting approaches, a murderous look on his face. Rogue tails behind him, looking all too pleased by something. He smirks at me, a devilish look in his crimson-red eyes. Sting's royal blue orbs are ten times worse.

I do not know what is going to happen, what Sabertooth has in store for me, but I can tell it is far from anything good. I stop moving, cowering slightly behind the crutches that I hope will provide some form of defense.

My hopes are in vain.

Sting roughly takes hold of my right crutch, removing it from my grasp. I balance on my other crutch, abruptly throwing all my weight to it and my left arm. I shut my eyes tight, not wanting to see what happens next, and wait for the inevitable blow.

But it never comes.

"What the hell're you doin'," a gravelly voice demands.

"Playing," Sting replies, a dangerous tone to his voice.

"This doesn't look like much fun to me," says a cold, rage-filled voice. It belongs to a girl.

Rogue speaks up. "Oh, but it is."

The tension increases to almost unbearable amounts. I open my eyes.

"You give him back his crutch and leave now, or else . . ." Loke trails off, leaving the threat hanging heavily in the air.

Gajeel is in front of Sting in the blink of an eye, holding him by the shirt. His eyes say more than words ever could.

Sting doesn't waver.

"You don't really think you have a chance against all of us, do you?"Erza asks, gesturing to Gajeel who still holds Sting, Loke who is prepared to strike, and Jellal, Gray, and Bacchus, the three of which hold off Orga and Rufus. Lisanna, Levy, Juvia, and Cana stand off to the side, ready to join in if the need arises.

"Tch." Sting looks at his opponents, realizing he is badly out numbered. "Fine. We'll leave."

Gajeel lets go of Sting's shirt, rips the crutch from his hand, and shoves him away. The rest of Sabertooth gather around their leader, and they walk away, cursing and glaring.

I take the crutch Gajeel silently offers me. Once I'm done readjusting, I look up.

All eyes are on me.

I shrink under their gazes before remembering that these are the people that just saved me. I should not be afraid of them. They won't hurt me. At least, I think they won't.

I meet all of their eyes. "Thank you," I say, surprising myself at how even my voice is.

They sigh simultaneously, a breath of relief.

"No problem," Gray responds, a small smile gracing his lips.

"It's what friends do," Erza adds in, her brown eyes caring. Jellal nods agreement.

Lisanna walks closer to me. "Are you okay?" she asks, concerned, her hand hovering in the air as if she wants to touch me.

"Yeah." I smile. "Thanks."

Just then my stomach growls. I laugh sheepishly.

Gajeel chuckles deeply, and Juvia giggles next to a grinning Cana.

"Come on," Levy chirps, "Lu-chan is probably waiting for us. We should head to lunch."

"Yeah," Gajeel agrees, "before we have no time to eat."

With smiles on our faces, we head to the cafeteria, talking about light topics on the way.


After we grab our lunch, we sit down at a table. Everyone says it's their usual table. It kind of makes me feel like an outsider.

I wobble over, carefully balancing my tray in my hand, and sit down next to Lucy. She waves to me in greeting, but goes back to her conversation with Levy and Lisanna about who-knows-what.

Like last time, Gray sits across from me. He eats his food with a conflicted look on his face. I think he's trying to figure what to say. Gajeel, like always, looks bored as he sips his drink next to Gray.

Loke plops down next to me, sighing loudly, and breaks the tension. "Did you guys get that physics project yet? It's horrible!"

"No," Gray replies. "Not yet."

And next thing I know, they're complaining about how horrible physics is and how they "don't want to do the damn project."

Me? I don't mind physics. I don't see why they're complaining and bitching and moaning about it; it's not that bad.

As I try my hardest to tune out the two teens' whining, Gajeel looks up from his food and glares. He doesn't just glare. No. He gives them the glare. The glare that says 'I'm so going to kick your ass if you don't shut up.'

So they do the smart thing. They shut their mouths.

And Gajeel goes back to eating as if nothing happened.

I stifle a chuckle, amazed and amused at how quickly one guy can make two chatterboxes be quiet.

Then everyone's looking at me, incredulous looks on their faces. They seem kind of shocked. But . . . why?

"Did he just . . .?" Loke starts, but trails off, unable to finish voicing his question.

Gray smiles. "I think he just did."

I look at them quizzically. What are they talking about?

"Huh?" I say intelligently.

Gray and Loke share a look, and Gajeel once again looks up from his food. He picks up his drink and takes a swig, finishing off the last of it. Setting it down, Gajeel looks at the two other guys, realizes they aren't going to say anything, and explains.

"You chuckled."

Did I? I guess I did. I can't remember the last time I chuckled; it's been so long. But why didn't I notice that I did? Shouldn't it have felt weird or something?

Looking down, I mutter, "Y-yeah, I guess I did."

"And that's a good thing!" Gray quickly says, probably sensing my conflicted thoughts or something. He laughs nervously.

Gajeel rolls his eyes and goes back to his food, and Loke looks at him helplessly.

I let a small smile form on my lips, trying to ease Gray's worries. It works; Gray sighs in relief and shoves a forkful of food in his mouth. Loke starts idle chatter again, but I sit out.

I am more interested in the girls' conversation.

"—needed something from me," Lucy is saying. "So I stayed behind and talked to him, but it wasn't anything important."

Cana raises an eyebrow. "What did Laxus want with you, though?"

Laxus? Is he the reason Lucy wasn't with everyone else when they stopped Sting?

Lucy sighs tiredly. "Let's talk about this somewhere more private later."

The girls nod, understanding something I don't. Is it something personal? Or can Lucy not say it in front of someone here?

But, moving on, this gets me thinking. If Laxus held Lucy back after class, and Sting just so happened to try to pick on me, does that mean they're connected? Was Laxus a diversion to distract Lucy—the only person to save me so far, besides Gajeel, at that time—so that Sting and his goons could beat me up?

Are the Raijinshuu and Sabertooth working together?

A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck just thinking about it. If they are, I am in a lot of danger. Separate, they both are forces to be reckoned with. But together . . . together I don't even want to imagine what they could do. It terrifies me.

Suddenly my measly lunch isn't so appetizing anymore.

I rise from my seat without a word, drawing the attention of everyone, and walk away on my crutches, my tray in my hand and my bag on my back.

On the way out of the cafeteria, I drop my lunch into the garbage. Then I head to the one place I know I am safe in: the library.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't the smartest idea to go off on my own through the deserted hallways. But I mean, come on, I just figured out the scariest thing since Jiemma adopted me, and I want some alone time.

Too bad I don't get it.

I know what you're probably thinking: it's Lucy, come to save the day again.

Well guess what. You're wrong.

It's not Lucy or even Gray that ruins my much needed thinking alone time. Oh, no. It's none other than Sting Eucliffe, in all his bastardly glory, that does.

He struts up to me and literally looks down on me.

"Well, well, well," he sneers. "Look who came back for more." He cracks his knuckles threateningly.

Don't you just love him?

I glare up at him, my eyes challenging, and hold his gaze. I don't know why I'm being so brave all of a sudden. Maybe I'm just tired of being the weak, cowardly Natsu. Who knows? Either way, it was really not smart of me to do that, for the next thing I know, I'm on the ground bent over from a punch to the gut.

Does he seriously enjoy hurting people on crutches? Gosh, what a jerk.

I cough, rub some blood from my mouth, and start to rise. However, I am knocked back down with swift kick to my chest. My breath is forced out of me, leaving me winded, and I lay on the floor, gasping for air.

Sting stands over me, his figure tall, straight, and arrogant. He gives me this . . . horrifying smile. I shudder and tremble in fear. His bloodthirsty, hungry look is too familiar, and it doesn't help that his canine teeth are slightly more pointed and sharp than normal. His eyes are so hard, so cold, that I can't help but shake in terror.

He looks too much like Jiemma.

Sting is saying something, but a ringing in my ears blocks it out. And that's when I notice it.

Somehow, in that instant, I become hyperaware of my surroundings. I can smell the cafeteria food; see everything that could possibly help me; and, somehow, I just know where everything is.

It is this that saves me from an attack that would have killed me.

And, not really knowing how, I am suddenly on my feet—without the crutches. I see everything I do, every defensive move I make, but I am not fully aware of my body moving, of my body doing what it is. I don't feel it as I duck and swivel and seemingly glide past Sting's punches and kicks, nor do I feel it when I use my own arm to block an attack.

I jump, avoiding a low kick that would have tripped me, and the next thing I know my knee is connecting with Sting's face. He falls back, a thin trail of blood leading from his nose down his chin, and groans.

Unfortunately, though, I am not very skilled in making attacks strong, seeing as I am always on the defensive side, so kneeing him didn't do much.

As he rises from his spot on the floor, I turn on my heel and make a break for it. Hey, what else can I do? It's not like I actually have a chance against him.

Surprisingly, I can still run even with the orthopedic boot on. I guess I'm pretty healed already. But I always did heal faster than normal.

I sprint down the hallway, cut a sharp corner, dodge a person or two, and almost run face-first into the library's double doors. Chancing a glance behind me, and seeing Sting steadily advancing, I push open the door and slip inside.

As quietly yet quickly as I can, I speed-walk through aisle after aisle, trying to get Sting off my trail. I turn left into the deserted reading corner and squat down behind a chair.

I try my best to muffle my heavy breathing while I await Sting's imminent arrival. My breathing has just softened enough when I see his dark shoes through a bookcase. He's being sneaky, looking everywhere, and I duck further in my hiding spot.

Sting exits the aisle and turns toward the reading corner. I hold my breath as he approaches and inspects the place. I know he will find me.

He always does.

But then a miracle happens. I watch cautiously as another pair of shoes meets Sting's. They are not the normal teenager-type shoes; they belong to the librarian.

"Is there anything I can help you with, young man?" Ms. Babasaama says.

Now, I have already met her. Ooba Babasaama is the school's librarian. She's a nice, fun lady that likes for everyone to have a good time. But when it comes to her library, she's as protective as a mother is to her child. If someone misbehaves—is too loud, breaks a book, etc.—she doesn't send them to the assistant principal or something. No, she punishes them herself. And her punishments, from what I have seen, are not pleasant ones. You never want to be on the receiving end of one.

With how many times I come to the library, I had really no choice but to tell her I come here to avoid bullies like Sabertooth and the Raijinshuu. In other words, she knows about how they bully me. I never told her any specifics, and I asked her to not make it a big deal, so she hasn't done anything about it.

But she knows about Sting, and she does not look happy to see him here.

So it's kind of fun to watch their first meeting.

"Looking for someone," Sting replies coolly.

Ms. Babasaama raises an eyebrow. "For who, might I ask?"

"A . . . friend," Sting answers vaguely, looking like he almost gagged on the last word.

It's clear to Ms. Babasaama that he is lying, and I watch with amusement as she starts to talk:

"Well, no matter your reasons, I must tell you this: it is not, under any circumstances, acceptable to run in the library and cause a commotion. Therefore, since you have done just this, you will be seeing me today for afterschool detention, where you will do as I say, when I say it, and with absolutely no complaints. You complain once and I'll make you spin!"

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention she has this . . . thing where she threatens to make people spin. I've never seen her do it, though, so I think it's just something to do with her old age (she's probably seventy years or older).

Sting just stands there, stuttering and with an exasperated and shocked look on his face. I hold back a snicker.

"But—" he starts.

"No buts," my favorite librarian interrupts. Okay, so she's the only librarian I know, but you know what I mean. "Rules are rules, and you have broken those rules." She turns around, walking away. Over her shoulder, she calls, "I'll see you at the end of the day, Mr. Eucliffe."

I continue to watch as Sting mutters and curses a string of profanities under his breath. He uses some really colorful words, too, and I can't help but think, 'You kiss your mother with that mouth?'

He stalks off, forgetting about catching me in favor of calling Ms. Babasaama some really awful words. Then he exits the library, my safe haven, and I am able to stand up and stretch. It feels good to not be under any danger.

I walk over to my friend Ooba, and when she looks up I say, "Thank you."

She smiles a granny kind of smile. "It's my pleasure, dear. Next time he tries to hurt you, you just come on right in here, and I'll personally take care of him."

"Thanks, I will." I smile along with her, knowing she means she'll give him detention again, not do anything creepy.

Just then the bell rings, and I am saying good-bye to her as I hurry out the door. I retrace my steps, find my bag and crutches off to the side, and head to my next class. But now I'm carrying the crutches, not using them. I'll have to return them later.


I avoid my friends all day, not wanting to have to explain why I suddenly left lunch today. I quickly grab my things from my locker and exit the school. Instead of going home, though, I head towards a different direction. I think it's high time I gave the crutches back to their owner.

Once I reach the little drug store, I pause just outside the door. Taking a breath, I enter, the crutches in hand. Luckily, the owner is here today.

I walk up to the counter. "Hi," I greet to get his attention.

He looks up from whatever he was doing and a flicker of recognition lights up his dark eyes. His hair is dark blue, short, and slicked back. His thin mustache moves as he begins to speak.

"Ah, hello. How may I help you?"

"Um," I start. "I'm the guy that borrowed these crutches from you a while ago," I say, holding the crutches up for him to see. "I thought I should return them."

Now he fully recognizes me.

"Yes, if you're done with them."

"Yeah." He walks around the counter, and I hand them to him. "Thanks for letting me use them."

He smiles toothily, his eyes closed due to his cheeks stretching so far. "No problem." He holds out his hand. "I'm Macao, Macao Conbolt."

I grasp his hand and shake it. "Natsu Dragneel."

Macao's eyes fly open, and his hand freezes mid-shake.

"Natsu . . . Dragneel?"

I look at him, confused and wary. "Uh, yeah. Do I know you?"

He removes his hand from mine and says, "No. But your father did."

My eyes widen so much I wonder if they're going to pop out of my head.

"What?" I ask, my mind still stuck on trying to understand that this man could possibly be a family friend.

"I knew your father, Igneel Dragneel," Macao repeats. "And he left something for you."


Can anyone guess what that 'something' is? I would love to know what you guys think it might be!

So, summer is almost here (yay!), but it's very, very busy for me, so I'll try to update during it, but if I don't, please know I HAVE NOT abandoned this fic. The same goes for my other fics. And I'll try to update My Other Half asap.

Thanks so much to everyone that has stuck with me through all my late updates! I love you all!

'Til next time!

-AlphaDemon

Review Responses (I'll respond through PM for everyone that has an account):

OKAKUREVER (guest)- Thank you! I just love NaLu! And she might . . . eventually. I'm glad you loved the chapter!

Kasumi72 (guest)- Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I'm very happy that you decided to read my story, and I'm so glad you love it! It thrills me every time I read your reviews to know your reactions, and I am amazed at the reactions I get. I honestly had no idea someone would love my story as much as you do. Thank you. I love knowing my readers' reactions, and you tell yours in such a good way that my confidence in my writing has just 'leveled up'. It makes me happy beyond words to know each chapter is your new favorite chapter, and I am excited to know what you think of future chapters. Again, thank you.