A/N: HEY! Wassup my dear readers. Back again mwuahaha. You can't shove me away lol. But please, accept me as a fellow writer and friend :)

Woohoo! Off to another arc and girl. Guess who? It's Erza Scarlet! Yes it's her turn whether you like it or not.

NaZa Time! Give it up for NatsuxErza, as this was a ranking third shipping on my personal opinion. Now that sums up my three favorite pairings. :)

And time to create my own name for the OC shipping to Natsu.

- NaSa = Natsu x Sara

- NaRai = Natsu x Mirai

Don't forget them :) And support them in the future. I'm still working on the image for Mirai which would be posted on a side-story I'm creating for her after this story. Look forward to it :)

And of course, I won't leave other girls since this just the start of everything. And Mira finally recognizes her feelings and joined the fight. Hurrah! Fight! We're on the roll ya?

To be honest, business is booming haha thanks to you- (grabs a gun*) BANG* (Silence*) (Revives*)
There goes my idiotic life, welcome to my second life. I'm more mature. Hope we get along. . . .again :)

Anyway, here's chapter 11. Hope ya like it :)

Disclaimer: For the love of Igneel, I would never own FT and its characters ever. Come on...I just own my OCs :)


- A Knight's Invitation -

It was a normal life in Fairy Tail... Actually, it's not, after one big major change that happened in the last few days. The guild was still in its usual wild side as both mages have their respective arguments and reasons for fighting one another. But this day was never a normal one that they had originally expected as Mirajane and Erza have undergone into another argument near the bar counter. Unfortunately, it involved a particular someone who was meekly quiet all about it together with the rest. I mean, who would even dare to interrupt the two well-known "Demons" of Fairy Tail. It would be an utter sudden death for anyone who tried to intervene between them.

"I have to ask you again, stop pampering Natsu too much. He's not a baby Mira." Erza glared angrily at the barmaid who was keeping a calm expression despite the intimidating glare from the scarlet knight. She had no fear on her.

"Ara ara, it's like you're acting as her mother Erza-san.." She spoke calmly but everyone could see the devilish smile behind her face.

"It is my responsibility. I should be the one who would take care of him-" She was cut short as Mirajane spoke once again.

"Only at jobs. It's my turn to look after him when he's not on a job right Natsu?" She looked happily towards the dragonslayer who's at the center of the two S-Class mages, looking very sweaty and nervous.

"I-I, Uhh.. I-I don't what to say..." He quickly cowered. Despite being in her most gentle side towards him, Natsu wasn't able to keep himself comfortable at the tense atmosphere between them.

"It's okay Natsu. I'll cook you another food..." She softly spoke in her voice and gently traced her finger towards his chin to which he blushed at the intimate exhange.

Erza forcefully swatted her finger away in irritation.

"Stop spoiling him!" She shouted angrily but Mirajane had enough as her gentle smile finally disappeared and instantly replaced it with a cold, intimidating glare at the scarlet knight.

"Why do you always keep on interrupting me whenever I get a chance?" She had enough. It's like the same as before when they were kids.

"I'm not interrupting you, I'm only just preventing you from toying him too much..."

"That's not even making any sense. What are you trying do here Erza-san?"

"I'm not up to anything... I'm just trying to keep Natsu on a right path.."

"Are you telling me that I'm poisoning his mind?"

"That's right."

Before the heated conversation could escalate any further, Natsu manages to get himself away from the two S-class mages and retreated back to his friends who were sitting in a corner, watching in amusement and horror at the same time.

"Natsu..." Sara whispered as she saw the fire dragonslayer coming over to them. Natsu smiled in relief as he came over to them and sat beside the wind dragonslayer.

"That was close... I thought I was gonna die from it..." Natsu spoke peacefully for the first time as he slumped his arms wide and rested on the table. Apparently, most of the guild members were watching at the two arguing S-Class mages without the knowledge of their reason of why it had started. They didn't want to know but with every argument they heard from them, it's probably related something to Natsu.

"Are you alright Natsu-san.." Wendy asked worriedly over the dragonslayer.

"I'm fine. I just got tired everytime Mira and Erza fight." He nonchalantly spoke, unaware that he was the very sole reason of their every argument.

"Aye! It's like old times right Natsu?" Happy cheered as he watched the two females mages, entering another heated debate with each other.

"Mira-san was really like that before?" Wendy could only ask in wonder since she never found the gentle barmaid to be rebellious and possessive at her actions and seeing her like that for the first time, jumbled her point of view.

"Aye... She was like scary and she's the only one who could make Erza angry." The blue Exceed beamed.

"Sounds like a female version of Natsu and Gray to me..." Charle spoke at the thought.

"But still I'm quite surprised that Mira was starting share her other side more often... She was still the same peaceful Mira back then when I've gone to Crocus. Did something happen while I'm gone?" Lucy asked the others who only gave a reluctant reply at the celestial mage. They want to tell her and Gray about it but their secret must remain within themselves only.

"Well... you see.. It's kinda complicated..." Wendy spoke halfheartedly as she kept glancing to the side.

"Is that so? How about you Gray?" Lucy proceeded to ask her ice mage companion who was shrugging his shoulders, seemingly lost in thought. It also came as a surprise for her to see Gray to be able retain his clothes for more than an hour. Any time below that scale would always result him panicking over his clothes as he unknowingly stripped his clothes for no goddamn reason. Some say it's a work of an almighty "Stripping God" or just a habit he got from his late teacher.

Lucy frowned in thought as she saw him, completely occupied by his thoughts. His eyes gazed over the table without shifting it.

"Gray?"

...

...

The ice mage was able to snap back from his thoughts and took the attention of his friend. Just as Gray finally spoke to her, his clothes had suddenly disappeared in just a blink of a second, rendering him topless.

"O-Oh yeah. What is it?"

Lucy cursed herself inwardly for being such an idiot to expect things. She expected too soon about that freaky habit of his. It never changed. She had to begun her suspicions about his clothes though. Do they disappear whenever Gray starts a conversation?

"Before I ask anything, please find your clothes first!"

Gray simply shook his head and returned back to his gaze and close his eyes.

"Sorry..." He spoke in a monotone voice which prompted Lucy to look at him worriedly. Natsu and the others managed to noticed his unusual behavior.

"Hey Gray. You alright?" Natsu asked worriedly despite him being his rival.

"I'm fine... I'm just thinking about something..." He spoke in an unexciting tone which clearly shows that something's wrong with him today. After returning from a mission with Juvia, he started to change. He felt distant and dispirited around the guild. It's like he was deeply thinking about something.

It was then, Gray stood up from his seat and looked at his teammates with a blank look.

"I gotta go guys..."

"Where to?" Lucy asked.

"On a job..."

"Do you want company? At least, let Natsu come along with you.."

"Like hell, I would come along with that stripper..." The pinkette scoffed at the suggestion.

"Thanks, but I'd rather be alone. I'll see ya guys tomorrow." Gray spoke and left without saying much of a word between them. That statement alone was enough for them to notice that something's bothering him. Even Natsu was beginning to worry over his rival. Just what happened to him?

"That's pretty unusual for him to act like that..." Lucy spoke out in concern as she looked back to the rest of her teammates.

"I wonder what happened to Gray-san." Wendy spoke in worry.

"How about you Natsu? Do you know anything? " Sara questioned her fellow dragonslayer beside her.

"How should I know? He was like out for three days with Juvia on a mission and hadn't spoke since."

"Don't be like that. I know you're very worried too." Sara reasoned, getting Natsu to shrug his shoulders in thought. It's true he wanted to know what's happening on that stripper's head. It's not like he was trying to help out of pity for him, he just wanted to know what was the cause of the problem and get it over with. Even though they're rivals, he wanted to help him as he was part of the family.

...

...

"Well I guess, I'm kinda worried too. It's not like him at all..." Natsu frowned.

"We could ask him about it when he gets back..." Wendy spoke.

"Oh by the way, How's your trip in Crocus Lucy-san?" Sara asked curiously as she does not completely know about the celestial spirit mage's doing in her time back at the Capital. Lucy simply fell her head into the wooden table in depression.

"I failed..." She blankly spoke, having to remember the events what happened at Crocus.

"...My books didn't sold enough.. And my appeal betrayed me..."

"Rrriigghhtt..." Sara and Wendy drawled, not knowing what to react at her at the moment. It's better to keep it to herself too.

"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!"

"Take Over: Satan Soul!"

Two familiar voices reverberated through the halls of the guild which prompted them to turn around in horror of the sight. Erza and Mirajane were actually butting heads together, very much like Natsu and Gray. What's worse is that they donned their magics, seemingly ready for a battle.

"Now you really done it. Erza-san..." Mirajane growled that sent every member of the guild a collective shiver of fright. And among those two, Sara and Wendy were already clinging to each other like two scared cats. Of course, they were the first ones who witnessed her scary voice firsthand. Happy was hiding behind Natsu, seemingly scared at the sight too.

"You know what? I honestly don't like you Mirajane."

"Oh what a coincidence, I happen to hate you too. You always get yourself in my way when I try to approach Natsu."

"Because I don't like you around him..." With that reason, Mirajane smirked. So that's why she was so upset whenever she tried inching herself close to Natsu.

"Hoh, is the mighty Titania afraid of losing?"

"What losing?" Erza asked irritably at the Take Over mage.

"You know what I'm talking about... You're afraid of losing Na-" Mirajane was cut short as Erza suddenly summoned swords around her vicinity, pointed at the demon barmaid.

"Uuuooo! Shut up! (Urasai!)" Erza frantically shouted in embarrassment as her face suddenly match that of her hair color and instantly drew the swords towards Mirajane.

The demon barmaid smirked as she hit the spot. She backed away and skillfully dodged the swords coming towards her, thereby missing their marks.

Everyone could've watch in amusement and enjoy about how a battle between two of their strongest female mages would turn out but. . . . They should be more worried about the swords coming in every directions, threatening to impale them any time. They widen their eyes large enough to nearly fall our of their sockets at the deadly swords coming towards them. They're dead, they're all fucking dead.

"Holy Shit! Run! Erza and Mira are at it!"

"Watch the swords!"

"Ahh! The guild's falling apart. Somebody help!"

"Master! Stop them!" A distressed voice of a random guild member pleaded to the master to stop but in vain as they all saw their master, completely drunk from his booze.

"That's the spirit! (Hic*) Rain more...(Hic*)... swords on me Erza!" He hooted in his drunken stupor.

"MASTER! ! !"

Natsu and the others could only hide from their tables as the deadly rain of swords pierced everything around them.

"Hiiieeee! ! !" Sara shrieked in panic as a sword pierced the table, almost reaching just a few inches from her face. And in an instant, she comically fell unconscious from extreme shock which made Natsu widen his eyes in panic over the wind dragonslayer.

"Oi! Sara. Wake up!" He shouted desperately as he held her limp body in his arms.

"At this rate, we're gonna get stabbed too." Lucy called out in panic as a mixture of swords and dark magic enveloped the area.

"Natsu do something!" Happy shouted beside his partner with a terrified look.

"What the hell am I suppose to do?"

"Talk some sense to them... At this rate, the guild will collapse...Don't worry, Erza and Mira will listen to you... I guarantee it."

"Ah fuck! Alright, alright." He reluctantly accepted the plea as he gently laid down the passed out blonde-dragonslayer and began to make his way towards raging female duo. Coming near them seems to be the biggest mistake of his life. And what's more, can they really listen to him quietly without having to suffer anything physical or verbal? This is turning out to be some quite of a suicidal path for him. He would never dared to interrupt those two and he would rather sit back and watch as those two battle it out even with the risk of being impaled by a sword.

To be honest, watching two strongest female mages of Fairy Tail would be a very interesting spectacle for him. He really never seen them fight seriously so some part of him wanted to see how it will all turn out.

But he had seen enough, the guild is torn and the floors are all broken from the downpour of swords and the pillars supporting the 2nd floor aren't that sturdy anymore. And their damned Master isn't taking any measurable actions to stop it. He might have to remind himself not to give him any more booze.

The intensity of the two females' auras were overwhelming as they were engaged in a power struggle with both faces determined to defeat each other. He doesn't how it actually turn out into some kind of duel. One time, they were just arguing and now, they were already at each other's throats. Needless to say, it was a sight to see but you couldn't ignore the shiver creeping onto your spine every time they grit their teeth in anger.

They're so much scarier than two Erzas back at Edolas.

"Armored bitch!"

"Demon wench!"

"Ms. Goody Two Shoes!"

"Shameless demon!"

"Well, I don't mind about being called like that as long it's Natsu..." She smirked.

"Pervert!"

Insults between females sounded through Natsu's ears as he wished he didn't hear anything all about that but his heightened ears didn't let him do so. Curse these dragon ears of his. There are some things in this world, not worth listening for.

Mirajane and Erza broke away from their clash as they began to charge up their respective spells against each other with latter requipping into her Lightning Empress Armor and accumulated mass amounts of lightning magic in her spear to match up the dark magic of Mirajane.

"This is the end Erza! !"

"Same goes to you Mira! !"

Natsu noticed their little fight is starting get out of hand. If this continues, the guild will be blown to who-knows-what's-left-of-it. He started sprinting between them as he raised his hands on both sides, seemingly to make them stop, shocking the two female mages.

"WAIT A MINUTE THERE! DON'T DO IT HERE!" He shouted.

"(Baka!) Idiot! Get out of the way!" Mirajane and Erza shouted in panic as they tried to redirect their magic trajectory away from the fire dragonslayer but they were too late. A large stream of dark magic and lightning wave suddenly blasted from their weapons as Natsu stood there witnessing two deadly elemental attacks closing on him in a fast pace.

"Eh?"

'Oh crap... Well.. shit... I'm done for.' He paled as he knew this was going to happen to him if he'd intervene. He could guess that this is what really happens when you tried to break a fight between two demons. All that's left is to entrust his life to Igneel. There's nothing much he can do about his situation.

'I swear that when I come out here alive, I'll never interrupt their battle ever again.'

What happened after that, resulted an explosion of both dark and lightning that enveloped the unfortunate dragonslayer who happen to be in the middle of it. Happy and Lucy shook their heads in a comical way as their faces wore a sympathetic look at the sight before them.

"Rest in Peace Natsu... You lived well."


At Fairy Tail's medical room... Nighttime (5 hours later...)

Natsu didn't know if he was already dead. He felt like he had been spending himself wandering through the blackness of the world around him. There was nothing to see as he could only see the thickness of the darkness around him. How long is he going to sleep? He hoped that he really doesn't die from that attack. He can't die yet, not until he found Igneel and punch those Council guys out of frustration.

Slowly his vision started to see a faint glimmer of light shining its way infront of him.

He slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at a bright lacrima-powered light above the ceiling of an unknown room. His eyes shifted sideways to look at the surroundings and saw multiple white sheets of beds laid from his side and some across him. He's never been inside a medical room since he is being healed constantly by Wendy when he suffers an injury and rested by his house so it's kind of a new place for him. His memories about the fight are blurred and groggy. He could not remember how he came here.

He cringed in pain as he felt his body shot up jolts of pain as he made a slight twitch from his previous position. Shit, since when did he had this kind of injury? He was currently covered with a blanket and he could see he has some bandages strapped onto his cheeks and some from his arms.

"You're awake." A soft, gentle voice spoke beside him, prompting him to shift his head and saw Mirajane sitting patiently beside him with a sleeping Happy cuddling her arms.

"M-Mira?" He murmured but she quickly shushed him as he pointed a finger on the other side of his bed.

His eyes slightly widen in surprise upon seeing Erza resting peacefully with her arms crossed beside him, supporting her head atop of it. Her scarlet hair cascaded down from her back and her bangs slightly covered her face as she rested her head sideways.

"Erza..." He muttered.

"We've been waiting for you to wake up. How're you feeling?" She asked worriedly while keep a silent tone to avoid, waking up the scarlet knight.

"I'm quite fine but I'm aching all over. What happened?"

"You tried to dissuade us from fighting but we accidentally shot our magics against you."

Upon hearing that, his memories slowly came back to him. Oh yeah, he was right between them trying to stop their fight. Unfortunately, he was caught up in their final attack. On the bright side, they probably stopped since they're no longer fighting now.

But still, being hit by not one but two final spells of two strongest mages is actually an achievement. I mean, he survived those deadly attacks just now and he could assume that he has a chance against them. That's kinda awesome for him though he had to stop moving a lot, his body is in the state of painfulness that he had to endure for now.

"Well that sucks... What happened after that?"

"The guild fights stopped. We had to get you to the Medical room as soon as possible. Even with Wendy and Sara's healing magic, you still suffered more injuries."

Natsu wanted to take back his word earlier. Nope, he's not gonna make their spells as some sort of measuring scale.

"Is it really that serious?"

"Everyone's worried sick Natsu." Mirajane was starting to cry as some tears are threatening to flow out from her eyes. Natsu noticed how much his family worry over him. He should really stop taking this the funny way. His injuries seemed like it was no joke either.

"Hey don't cry. I'm alright now."

"We were so worried because you didn't wake up and I thought I-"

"Please don't. I hate seeing you cry. I hate seeing my friends cry okay? Please smile for me... It's not your fault nor Erza's. It was an accident, I don't really care." Natsu spoke firmly stopping her as he looked at her worriedly.

"B-But if not for Sara and Wendy then you-"

"How many times do I have to tell you that it was accident? Idiot... (Baka...)" Natsu smiled as he reached out a light bop to her head, making her widen in surprise.

"Natsu..."

"No one's to blame okay? It's alright now. I don't even care what happened back there. So don't blame yourself. I'll be okay after a few days, I'm a dragonslayer. I heal faster than any human." He stated proudly of his magic which somehow made her to chuckle at his prideful self.

"Fufufu, that's so much like you Natsu." Mirajane smiled, having her tears to seemingly stop flowing as she found herself entertained by him.

The two talked for a moment about each other as Natsu felt slightly better from his injuries after talking with her. But their conversation had to end as Mirajane stood up from her seat beside him and held Happy in her arms.

"I have to go back to Lisanna and Elfman. I'll take Happy as well. I'll make sure I'll take care of him for the night. So just rest easy okay? If you want to go home, have Erza accompany you okay?"

"Okay... Thanks Mira...and also for taking care of Happy. I appreciate it." He smiled, getting the barmaid to blush before looking back at him warmly.

"No problem. . . . .Well then I'll be off. Get well soon Natsu.."

"Sure thanks." He went back to cover himself to cover himself with his blanket. Suddenly, he felt a soft kiss planted on his cheeks as Mirajane silently went back to him and leaned on her kiss on him.

Natsu widen his eyes in surprise, having to let his guard down once again at that sudden attack from the barmaid. He was about to turn around until Mirajane whispered to his ear.

"That's my second time... Next time won't be the same place..." She smirked getting Natsu blush at her smooth yet intoxicating voice. She leaned back and smiled at him.

"Goodnight Natsu." And with that she quickly made her way out of the guild and went home with Happy.

Meanwhile, Natsu was left dumbstruck and worried at the same time. He was caught off guard again and failed to raise his alarm against the barmaid. Man, she had too many ways on how to make him lower his guard. Doing things like that unexpectedly to him could bring him unwanted attention. And what's more, he was extremely worried about the last part of her sentence.

'What did she mean by that?' Whatever it is, he knew he wouldn't be safe if he let himself get carried away. He had to watch Mirajane more often if he's going to survive this ordeal.

He set aside his thoughts about the white-haired barmaid as he went to look over the sleeping scarlet knight. Her faint breathing is heard by his ears and he could see her peaceful face dozing away with her dreams and she seems so...innocent and beautiful. It's like her scary and stern facade was never really a thing when she's like this. It's a whole different Erza in his eyes. He gotta admit though, she kinda looks like an angel when she sleeps like this-

'NO! Don't be deceived Natsu. She might be an angel on the outside but she's a demon by heart. Don't forget the times she pummeled you to the very inch of your life! Focus Natsu... Focus...' He slapped his thoughts in shame as he tried to take off his scary depictions of the scarlet knight but after all what happened in the past few days involving girls around him, he had suffered unexpected and unlucky outcomes and probably misunderstandings in his account.

Mirajane is trying every move she can take to catch him off guard do something unexpectedly, Sara and Wendy are like twin sisters and would really pinch both sides of his cheeks whenever he says something great to another person especially a girl. He had to worry for the latter though. He never really thought Wendy would be the one who would get herself so worked up over anything. And now, Erza would use every bits of her power to knock him out when he did something to make her uncomfortable. And for some reason, he had a problem with Mirai though he can't quite point out the reason behind it.

...Girls are so troublesome... No wonder why Igneel never talked about it. Did he have a bad experience with other female dragons before he met him?

He had to shove away his thoughts about girls as he saw the scarlet knight slightly shifted in her sleep. He smiled as he slightly moved his hands to fix her bangs to reveal her face more clearly to him.

He was slightly surprised as he saw Erza smiled while doing it but it ended up costing him. The scarlet eyes slightly open her eyes, seemingly awake which shocked him. She looked at him in wonder while he paled in the process. He knew Erza never liked being caressed while asleep and he had done it in a wrong time.

To his surprise, Erza took hold of his hand and placed it on her cheek affectionately.

"So warm..." She muttered.

"Eh?"

...

...

That simple word alone somehow got her attention as her mind finally came back to her. She was half-asleep.

"Natsu?"

"G-Good evening Erza. Can I have my hand back now?" Natsu reluctantly asked.

Erza was slightly confused at the question but she had to look around her arms and saw she was actually holding his hand and greatly blushed as she had it onto her cheeks.

"WaAaaaH! I'm sorry." She frantically shouted as she let go of her grasp on his hand and panicked before the fire dragonslayer.

"Nah it's alright."

"No. I'm the one who's at fault here. If you may, you can hit me for my rude actions." Erza bowed her head seemingly, wanting some punishment for her actions.

"Alright..." Came a reply from the dragonslayer.

Erza was prepared for anything as she closed her eyes from the incoming punishment but she felt nothing. Instead, she felt a small and gentle hand-chop from her head as the pinkette simply gave a gentle hit on her part.

"That's for being so persistent. I told you it's alright."

It took only for her to realize as she suddenly blushed at the gentle touch of her head. She turned herself away from the pinkette since her face was starting to turn beet red.

'Calm down Erza. Calm down. It's only a hand-chop. Why are you so getting worked up over it?'

She quickly calmed her thoughts as she glanced back at him.

"How're you feeling Natsu?" She asked, having herself slightly disturbed over the bandages strapped on his cheeks.

"I'm alright now." He tried to sound okay but his pain gave away his claim.

"You shouldn't overdo yourself. Just rest okay?"

"Okay..."

Their conversation ended as both mages don't have anything to say to each other. Silence flooded the atmosphere as the lack of conversation between them continued. Erza knew she had to talk about something so she had to take the initiative.

"Natsu. About what happened ealier, I-"

"Don't say it." She stopped halfway as Natsu cut her off with a serious expression.

"I don't blame anyone what happened. It's an accident so it's okay. Don't feel bad about it." He laid down on his bed and shifted sideways, facing his back on her.

"How're your injuries?"

"Still sore but I'll live. You're not going home?" He asked curiously.

"I'll accompany you for tonight after all what we've done to you..."

"You can't just stand there waiting for me to sleep. You can sleep on the next bed."

"Nope I insist."

Natsu didn't speak any further. Instead, he just went back to face his side. Tch, what a persistent woman. Well, same thing could be said about him since he doesn't stop helping his friends even though they find it irritating and annoying. But in the end, they appreciated it since it came out as a good result to their problem when he's involved. He shifted himself again as he found his bed quite hard for him to rest. If there's some place where he could sleep peacefully in times like this, it would be Lucy's bed or his hammock back home.

"I'm going home..." He spoke, getting the scarlet mage's attention.

"Let me help..." She stood up and went beside him.

"Nah, it's fine. I can do it." He denied her offer as he sat up from his bed and tried to stand slowly. He stood up straight before giving a deep breathe before putting his next foot on the floor. In an instant, his legs felt wobbly as the strength of his legs suddenly vanished and felt limp.

He widen his eyes in surprise at the sudden change of his strength and closed his eyes, hoping for an impact to the floor with his head but no such contact came. Instead, he was grabbed by the scarlet knight by his shoulders who managed to get hold of him before falling.

"Don't be stubborn. Come on, I'll take you home." Erza spoke softly, unknowingly earning a slight blush from the fire dragonslayer.

..Weird..

The two slowly make their way towards the door and opened it. Apparently, they were on the second floor of the guild. Something where S-Class quests are found and those people who haven't achieved their S-Class status are forbidden to enter but in his case, was exceptional since only wounded mages are permitted to enter the second floor, specifically at the medical room only. No wonder why Erza and Mirajane are the first ones he saw after his awakening. He didn't know about his Exceed but it seems he's permitted to come since they're partners.

The guild below was already empty and the lights below were the only ones shining at the bar counter. Everything else is shrouded in darkness. The tables and chairs are back to their usual places. The floor's fixed almost instantly apart from what he had remembered earlier as it was like a torn battleground due to a certain two female mages fighting off one another. He might have to ask Gramps tomorrow of how he fixed the place in such a short time.

"Everyone went home..." Erza explained.

"I know... I wanna go home too."

Erza nodded as she proceeded to help the fire dragonslayer as they slowly took their steps carefully one at a time on the stairs. It took a few minutes for them to get down to the ground floor as they were just about the empty bar counter.

"Thanks Erza..." Natsu suddenly spoke out of appreciation to the scarlet knight who turned to him in surprise.

"For what?"

"For helping me... I'd really needed it."

Erza understood and nodded contently as she motioned herself with Natsu as they once again began to walk by the door slowly.

"You can thank me later..."

The two opened the guild doors as it made a loud creaking sound as the two departed from the empty guild and into the dark streets of Magnolia itself.

The town was utterly quiet as there are no more people roaming around the dark town. Lacrima-powered streetlights shown on every corners of the streets, showing clear paths to every places of the town. Erza and Natsu continued their way to the street as his arms are wrapped around the scarlet knight's neck for support. They took careful steps one at a time to make Natsu comfortable with their walk. His body has not fully recovered ever since taking a full hit from their powerful spells.

Erza cursed herself for being so careless around her surroundings. She was supposed to look after him, not cause him trouble. Yet, she only gave him more trouble but the fire dragonslayer keeps on letting go of her mistake so easily like he didn't even took a careful look at what they did to him.

You could say that Natsu takes the pain all for himself if it meant saving their happiness. He would take that risk alone to make the smiles on their faces to last longer.

'Live for my sake Erza... Smile for my sake Erza... Don't ever throw away your happiness...'

His words of encouragement that kept her heart strong for these past few years, returned back to her as she began to contemplate about the fire dragonslayer beside her who was looking innocently above the sky. For some reason, she felt a warm feeling creeping into her heart whenever she's close to him.

"The sky is clear tonight... It's my first time seeing it. What's those tiny twinkling things out there again?" He asked curiously at the redhead who chuckled on her account which is completely unusual for her to do, though Natsu doesn't notice that change as he was preoccupied about the question.

"Those are called stars..."

"Stars huh? Oh I remember! How could I forget?"

"I'm not actually surprised that you've forgotten about it... You're still an idiot." Natsu just groaned at the common insult.

"Is that how you guys think about me?"

"Of course."

"You're all mean. I wish Igneel would show up now..." Again, the scarlet knight chuckled despite it being uncommon from her strong figure before him.

They continued on their journey again as silence enveloped the atmosphere between them but it's not much awkward for the two of them. They just don't have anything else to talk about each other. More like because they rarely speak so casually to each other which something that Erza regretted because she's been busy about the S-Class jobs. She would've tagged him along with him on her quests but the feeling of being separated from the team is something she should consider first for his sake. Natsu depends so much on his friends and fight together with them.

If one member is missing, it would've make the dragonslayer to become dispirited.

"So what are you and Mira arguing about?" Natsu suddenly spoke, catching the redhead off guard.

"A-Ah that... W-Well, it's about-" She had to stop though, she doesn't want to tell that it was him, they were arguing about earlier.

"Hmm?" Natsu tilted his head in confusion as he found her reply quite disconnected from one word after another.

"Well it's just that Mira's been more like her old self you know what I mean..."

"Yeah... Is her old personality is what makes you angry?"

"Sometimes..." She spoke. It was then Natsu chuckled at her answer, getting herself to be slightly confused.

"That's just like you from before when you and Mira used to fight one another." Erza slightly twitched her brow in irritation. She never really liked the fact of mentioning their fight years back because it serves as a shameful taste in her current self. She was easily provoked by the demon barmaid and would lose her temper whenever she mentions her stuffs infront of everyone. Like they said, Mirajane is the only one who could make Erza draw her sword when it comes to arguing.

"Well, you and Gray never changed since you were kids." She huffed.

"I don't get what you mean?"

"Fufufu, you really are an idiot Natsu." Erza chuckled, making him tilt his head in confusion.

"But I guess, at least it's good thing for us that the old Mira is back."

"How is it a good thing for us? You should at least take a look at your current self."

"Ah, come on, the more pain, the more better."

"Are you a masochist by any chance?" Erza deadpanned. She would really never think of him as a type of person who enjoys pain.

"What's a masoshit?" He asked incorrectly.

A bop to his head soon followed.


Natsu and Happy's house... Nighttime... (A few minutes later..)..

"Home..." Natsu cried in full joy as he saw his house before him. Oh how he missed this house. He was always sleeping onto Lucy's apartment or sometimes at the guild because he really doesn't have anything to do inside it. He only returns here to post every memorable item that reminded him of his every quests that gave him significance of that part. Something to be worth reminiscing his memories in those times with his friends.

They paced a few more feet towards the house with a neat doormat, shaped like a fish that read "Welcome." on it. The walls of the house is currently overrun by moss and plants that sprouted in its sides. The red-tile roof supporting the house above wasn't safe either as it was covered in lush green plants that grows out from the top.

"It's been a long time since I stopped by your house Natsu." Erza spoke.

"Y-Yeah. Me too, I think it's kinda messy inside since I haven't been coming back too often."

"I can clean it up for you."

"Really? I don't wanna burden you Erza or anything..." Natsu asked worriedly.

"Don't worry about it Natsu. I'm taking care of you until tomorrow so let me do the work okay... I can't have you overexerting too much." Erza smiled, giving off some slight tinges of pink from her cheeks at the statement.

"Okay... At least, let me stand up on my own." Natsu proposed, getting the scarlet knight to nod in response. She let go of Natsu's arm as he found himself able to stand up straight without her help. Dragonslayers sure has some high-speed regeneration abilities. Needless to say, she was quite surprised. For him to be able to recover somehow from two deadly attacks in a swift amount of time was a great sign for her. At least, she doesn't have to worry about his injuries.

"Wait for me outside. I'll clean this up okay?"

"Sure..."

Erza smiled at the dragonslayer who gave a toothy grin in response. She proceeded by the door and opened it. But what she saw inside made her jaw drop to the ground hard.

The interior of his house was surprisingly clean. The floor was neatly swept as there's no trace of any speck of dust around it. The dishes are all clean at the sink, seemingly done recently. His hammock was placed perfectly from the small round pillar to the wall, his lifting items are placed in a small crate, a sofa was placed just below the window and a large, round mat is placed at the hall.

Erza could only gape in surprise at the sight. It was then she saw a small note stuck on the pillar where his hammock's connected to and plucked it off. She looked to the contents on the small note and could only scoff at the piece of paper.


= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = LOVE = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Sorry barging in without permission. I just

wanted to make sure you're comfortable when

you get back home. I already cleaned the dishes and

left a set of clothes for you at the shelf. Have a good sleep

Natsu.

- Love Mirajane -

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = LOVE = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


Erza clenched the paper in anger as her head is on the brink of blowing over due to the steaming rage accumulating in her mind. Her reddish aura was already prominent as it glows from her body in rage. What's more irritating is the heart shape sticking out from its outlines.

'That damn woman! ! !'

She screamed inside her thoughts at the white-haired barmaid.

"Erza, you done ye-woOOaAAH!?" Natsu came inside without asking to see what happened but was cut short after witnessing his room, unexpectedly clean in an instant. The scarlet knight looked back at him with a nervous look as she quickly hid the note behind her ironclad hands as she tried to make a straight face over the dragonslayer.

"Natsu!"

"Wait a minute Erza, you cleaned whole place?" He asked curiously as he saw her seemingly standing at the center of the hall. He didn't notice the sweating face of the redhead as she nervously tried to come up with an answer to his question.

"I-I-I, W-Well... T-The thing is..."

The scarlet knight felt herself being pulled by two opposite sides of her consciousness. One consisting of a good one while the other, a bad one.

*Good Erza* = Tell him the truth, he will trust you more if you're honest with each other...

*Bad Erza* = No! Lie to him. Tell him how good of a housewife you are... That barmaid doesn't stand a chance.

*Good Erza* = Good will come to those who are honest and noble. Stay on the right path...

*Bad Erza* = Ah, come on. Screw nobility! One day you're gonna do those 'things' with him. Plus, you have to be faster before that barmaid stole his innocence.

*Good Erza* = That's going too far! Don't listen to her...

*Bad Erza* = Think about all about the things you could do with him alone. That would be romantic and ecchi at the same time is it?

*Good Erza* = Stop corrupting her...

*Bad Erza* = I can do whatever the fuck I want, Goody Two Shoes!

*Good Erza* = Why you-

Unfortunately her conscious sides didn't bring much help to her as they have undergone into a catfight leaving the topic at hand. Instead, they only left her with a great shade color of red on her face after all what her bad side had told her earlier. Her lewd thoughts together with the dragonslayer began to show up in her minds uncontrollably.

Feeling under the heat as they both unbuttoned their clothes and pressed each other's bodies before emanating a seductive yet satisfied moan that resounded the halls of his house.

Iyaan~

'NOOOOOO! ! ! ! !'

(Slaps Face*)

Erza took a hard and painful slap to herself as her minds are overwhelming her sanity. Too close, very too close. Her mind isn't setting up straight at the moment.

Natsu sweatdropped as he watched his scarlet companion hurting herself in the process. What's wrong with her? He could see her face heating up in deep red as she couldn't keep a straight gaze towards him due to her thoughts attacking her noble side.

"E-Erza?"

At that moment, the scarlet knight was able to snap back from her thoughts while keeping her flustered face towards him

"Y-Yes Natsu!" She answered in attention without any hint of stern or authority in it. It's like she's just a normal girl with a broken thought.

"Sooo. . . .Did you clean the house?"

Erza was too much overwhelmed by her thoughts earlier as she was pressed again with the most controversial question tonight. She just wished the night should've gone sooner. Her face was sweating nervously as she was forced to choose a decision.

...

...

...

Natsu looked at her worriedly as he heard a lack of answer from her for some quite time now. Just as he was about to ask again, Erza finally answered.

"Y-Yes..."

"Cool! Thanks Erza."

Natsu cheered happily as he went inside with her and smiled warmly at her that made her blush even more.

"I'll go prepare some dinner. You can wait at the table okay?" He spoke.

"O-Okay..." Came a very shy reply which somehow made Natsu tilt his head in confusion but he was occupied at the thought of cooking so he easily shoved it off from his mind and proceeded at the kitchen, leaving the light-headed redhead at the hall.

*Bad Erza* = See, what did I told you? It takes some underhanded tactics to win a man. Haha-guuhagh-

*Good Erza* = Shut up... I'm disappointed in you Erza. Where's your sense of justice in this?

*Bad Erza* = Ah, blow over. This is just the start Erza. Next is, wear something skimpy or even stripped down naked in front him, let him indulge your delicious body, he cannot resist-guuhhaaugh

*Good Erza* = Stop it you slut!

Curse these perverted thought of hers. Even her good side doesn't stand a chance against her bad side. She felt like she was talking to herself now as she felt pity for her good side. Temptations are hard to overcome even for her especially at the matter involving Natsu. As a matter of fact, her two conscious sides are turning quite to be a comedic exhange rather than giving her any advice. Well, she did received some advice, a very bad and perverted advice.

'I'm sorry my good side...'

It took a couple of minutes for Natsu to finish cooking as he came out from his kitchen with two plates on his hands. The aroma of the food stimulated her nose as she smelled a perfectly grilled meat. Natsu placed the plate before her while placing his on the other side of the table.

"Sorry, I don't have any ingredients in the kitchen so I had to cook some meat instead."

"I-It's nothing Natsu. There's nothing more I can ask from you. I accept."

"Oh, I'm glad..."

Natsu smiled as he begun to dig into his own food. Erza soon followed as she took small bits of meat and put it in her mouth, chewing carefully to enjoy every taste of it. The dinner between the two continued as Erza kept stealing quick glances on the pinkette who was peacefully enjoying his own food. For some reason, she couldn't just take her eyes off from him. Her cheeks are starting to return its pink color while her heart had started its wild pounding that could be mistaken by a heart attack if she was consulted to a healer.

The fire dragonslayer somehow noticed her gazing at him for some quite some time now so he turned his attention away from his food and looked at her curiously.

"Is something wrong Erza?"

The scarlet knight however, jolted from her seat as she looked sideways with her flustered face hidden from him.

"N-Nothing." Natsu tilted his head in confusion at her sudden action. He was too dense to realize even the slightest things so he had just to ignore it and went back to his seat and resume his eating process. Again, Erza slowly made a short glimpse of him. And for Natsu, he sensed the same vibe again of being watched but he needs to concentrate on his food first.

The two finished their foods as Natsu and Erza placed their plates at the sink. Natsu had begun to wash the plates they used in courtesy for (Mirajane's) Erza's hardwork on cleaning his house. He doesn't want to tire her after doing all this. As he was washing a plate, Erza scooted over to his side with an apron.

"Let me help..."

"Uhh. O-Okay..." He reluctantly accepted before handing out the magic-embedded soap to her as he finished his plate and was about to rinse it with water.

They never talked as the sound of the faucet pouring out water to the sink and the clinking sound of plates resounded through the silent house. It was then Erza had to break the silent atmosphere between them and spoke to initiate their conversation.

"I never took you to be good in washing dishes..." Erza remarked, seeing the uncommon action of the pinkette beside her.

"Well, I just kinda learn it from observing Mira for all these years but I rarely do it because I just practice everyday."

"What for?"

"Well, I aimed to become stronger to protect my comrades and my friends precious to me..." He paused.

Erza should've expected that answer but for some reason she was surprised by it like she was the first one to hear such answers from the fire dragonslayer.

"... And of course, to defeat you too."

"Eh?"

"I wanted to have duel with you Erza when I get stronger enough." He smiled warmly back at the scarlet knight who stopped her doing as she looked at him in wonder.

That's right. He always trains himself to fight her someday and recognize him as a fellow opponent. He strives to become stronger and surpass her. That's just who he is. And that part of him makes her to feel safe whenever she's around him. His bright and fiery attitude that he displays in every fight gives the others a sense of respect since Natsu recognizes them as his equal enemies. That alone was enough for her to notice him as a very important existence in her life. She doesn't know why but she just had to urge to become closer to him.

Unaware for the scarlet knight, Natsu was already looking at her worriedly.

"Umm. Erza? Is there's something wrong with my face?"

"N-Nothing..." She quickly turned her gaze away from him and went back to the dish.

"You're acting really strange today Erza..." He spoke.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, how to put it... You sound like, you're acting like a pretty cute girl or something like that.." He poked his head, trying to seep every possible word he can describe of the redhead tonight. His oblivious nature however, prevented him from noticing a deep shade of crimson red from the cheeks of the scarlet knight who suddenly blushed at the compliment.

He called her cute and pretty. Yes, she is fluttered but she had to control her emotions from threatening to flow out. Emotions are like huge dams, waiting to come out without her knowledge and came rushing to her mind in one sweep that ended her flustered depending what kind of emotion she was holding.

"Oh now that I think about it, I kinda recalled what I read at Lucy's book the other day."

Erza was cut off from her train of thought as she listened to the dragonslayer.

"What is it?"

"I think, I read one from her romantic-thingy books that a girl who always helps around a boy's house means something..."

"What does it mean?"

"Well something called 'acting like a housewife' or something like that.."

Upon saying that, Erza's face rose up as she took a step back while shaky pointing finger at him.

"W-W-W-What are y-you saying? I-I'm not acting like a housewife!"

"Hey calm down. It's just a thought.." His words however went unheard from the scarlet knight who blushing madly and kept muttering under her breath.

"I'm not a housewife...I'm not a housewife...I'm not a housewife..."

"Erza?"

"I'M NOT A HOUSEWIFE! ! ! !" Erza shouted in defiance as she tried summoning multiple swords around her and Natsu knew that he will not last if he didn't manage to calm her down.

"OI! ! CALM DOWN! YOU'RE GONNA DESTROY MY HOUSE!"


A few minutes later...

Natsu and Erza went over the sofa as it was getting late. After the whole predicament, they managed to calm down especially for the flustered redhead.

They presently talked about something with each other and later spent themselves happily conversing to each other. They laughed and recalled some of their memories together and the battles they have faced together. For them, it felt peaceful to be able to talk to each other once again. Natsu's fear on the scarlet knight slightly disappeared since he saw her mysterious behavior throughout the night. He didn't know why but she looks more friendly and open to him more often and would even chuckle with him which he finds it shocking after witnessing it for the first time.

She was Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail, one of the strongest mages in their guild and she had just chuckled infront of him...

"Well I might as well get going..." Erza finally spoke as she had finished her part in taking care of him.

"It's getting late... You can sleep here.."

The scarlet knight stopped by the door, before hearing the request from the fire dragonslayer.

"Is it okay for you?" Erza turned back on him.

"I don't mind..." He smiled...

"W-Well I guess I could stay..." She reluctantly replied but on the inside she was overjoyed that he offered her to stay the night.

Natsu went back to the kitchen to grab something while Erza had changed to her red-striped pajamas from her Requip Magic as she held unto a soft, plushy red heart pillow on her arms. She also took out a small mattress from her inventory and placed it at the hall beside the sofa for her make-shift bed. Normally, she would've thought it as some sleep-over but with a boy, it's a whole different matter.

Before, she doesn't mind sleeping with Natsu or Gray but now she felt nervous sleeping in the former's house.

Natsu returned back before gaping his eyes seeing Erza in her night clothing. What's more important is that she's holding a heart-shaped pillow on her arms.

"What?" She asked suspiciously.

"N-Nothing..."

Natsu joined in as he began to sit on the sofa, catching Erza's attention.

"Where are you sleeping?" The scarlet knight asked curiously.

"Here..." Natsu pointed the sofa.

"Eh?"

"Well, I can't sleep well on the hammock because it feels uncomfortable. So I'll sleep here instead. Plus, I don't want to bother you on your sleep."

Erza was silent as she watched the fire dragonslayer motioned over the blanket from the hammock toward the sofa and took some small pillows for his head to sleep. Then something came back from her mind which she wished that it never resurfaced.

*Bad Erza* = This is your chance. Attack him on his slee-

She slapped her cheeks to remove the unwanted thought shown before her mind before lying down to her mattress. Natsu once again, sweatdropped at the redhead as he saw her slap herself for the second time.

'Something's wrong with this woman...' He blankly spoke.

After arranging their beds, Natsu sat on the sofa, looking at the her.

"Do you want the lights out?

She didn't speak but gave a light nod which Natsu took as a yes to his question. He stood up from his sofa and proceeded over the lights and turned it off, darkening the room. Erza faced herself sideways as she heard the footsteps of the dragonslayer making his way back to his sofa and laid down on it and began to doze off to sleep.

Erza then soon slowly stirred from her position and began to look at the sofa where the dragonslayer was sleeping. The moonlight illuminated from the window, making her to be able to see the pinkette from the sofa. Then suddenly, a cold feeling crept over to her spine, giving her the shivers. That's strange, even though she was covered in her own blanket, she felt a bone-chilling feeling creeping to her for the second time. She bit her lip at her situation as she gazed at Natsu in wonder. Even though they were just a feet away, she felt it like they're were miles apart.

"N-Natsu..." She tried to speak, not knowing whether if he's still awake or not.

"C-Can you sleep next to me?" She spoke in a distressful tone while keeping a blushing face due to such an embarrassing question.

...

...

...

There was no response but suddenly she saw him slowly getting up from his sofa and slowly fell down to her mattress beside her.

"Thank you..." She muttered.

"You're cold..." He mumbled silently as he felt her body. He proceeded to hug her and wrapped his arms around her before slightly raising his temperature to release off heat from his body that warmed the shivering scarlet mage.

"...Is this okay?"

"Uuuun, thank you Natsu..." She quietly muttered as she felt her body back to normal but with a little warm embrace from the fire dragonslayer.

She happily dug her head towards Natsu's chest which she found it warm and comfortable as her drowsiness began to overwhelm her senses and sleep peacefully in his arms. Natsu also smiled in content as he felt himself dozing off to sleep. The two mages finally slept as the moonlight continued to shine its way throughout the window. The night continued as night sky slowly rotates towards the new daylight and for the first time, Erza felt oddly tranquil from the warm embrace of her dragonslayer.


A/N: Bwuah! There you have it guys. They slept in peace. But of course, the arc isn't over yet for our favorite scarlet knight as she will still make her appearance on the next chapter.

So rejoice NaZa fans... We're still not yet done.. There's more moments to share with our lovable dragonslayer and our scarlet knight in the next chapter. Look forward to it :)

Still don't know about the chapter since this is also my first time taking on NaZa moments on this story and to be honest, I quite enjoyed creating one. If I had the time, I could make some one-shots regarding NaMi and NaZa in the future too. :)

So what do you think guys? Did you like the chapter so far? Leave a fav. or even follow the story to keep yourselves updated. And of course, your thoughts on the chapter, leave a review guys. It's common courtesy and it serves as a motivation for me to write more :)

And so we're off to Chapter 12. See ya guys next time. :)

- wiErD SpeCtrumz blacking out... ...