Chapter 11 Kiss of Betrayal

No matter how much I try to erase my memories with him…I just couldn't…

I flipped over and over on my bed mindlessly. I realized that I just couldn't forget him. He's been a part of my life and without him…I would be nothing. But what would I do? I don't want him to just keep on hoping that I'll come back to him. That kind of feeling hurts. For you to keep your hopes up and then find out that you're doing it for nothing. It sucks.

I just wanna be alone right now. Well, I am alone but those noises from the next room make me feel like going crazy! I put my ear to the wall and listened to the conversation of a drunken man and his wife. 'Why do you have to go home drunk all the time?' I heard the woman say. The man replied, 'Why do you always have to keep on complaining?' I took my ear off the wall. I hope that when I grow up, I won't be like them if I ever have a husband. I just wanna think! I just wanna go to some place that's nice and quiet…some place that I could think without any noise and distractions…Of course! The old mansion! The place where Gray taught me how to play…Ugh! I don't wanna go there! That place reminds me of him…but that's the only place I know that's nice and quiet…might as well go there.

I stood up and got my sling bag and ran out of my apartment. I ran across the street and made my way to the old mansion. I was away from the busy streets and into the deserted ones. The leaves rustled beneath my feet as I ran over them. The cool wind pushed my hair back covering my face. I kept on running as I tried to take all the hair of my face. When I finally did, I realized that I was already there. The old mansion was there right in font of me. It looked so creepy with its old structure but still looks quite beautiful.

I took one huge step for the front porch. For a moment, I hesitated. I remembered that I would be remembering Gray there but I just needed to think right now. I pushed all my negative thoughts aside as I went in the old mansion. The place was really dusty as usual. I dusted it off and took a seat on the sofa. Wow…the sofa is still in tact. I put my elbows on my knees and rested my face on my hands. I just wanted to think. Think about all the painful and memories I had. Think about the hardships I had to endure for my friends and family. Think about all the lies I've made. Think about everything…

*Flashback*

My foster father was there in his lab. He was working on his latest experiment. His latest experiment was replacing damaged body parts. His dad was a logger. He cut trees in the forest most of the time. When he was little, his drunkard of a dad accidentally chopped his arm off thinking it was a tree. How stupid. Ever since, my foster dad longed to have a new whole arm again. That was why he was so busy working on his latest experiment. But this experiment of his was very different form his other experiments. This one was very risky. One wrong calculation could mean a very strange transformation or worse, death.

I carefully placed a cup of coffee on his study table. I was very careful when going around his lab because I might trip on something and accidentally send his experiments flying. Actually, this was my first time in his lab. He never lets me in. He only sent me because he needed a cup of coffee because he was getting sleepy.

My foster father was now mixing two strange liquids together. He carefully tilted a beaker filled with dark blue liquid into the beaker with green liquid. He used his right hand to hold the beaker with the dark blue liquid while he used a mechanical arm to hold the other. As he was still busy pouring the liquids over, I stared at his calculations. Then I noticed something strange. The color of the liquid he was supposed to pour into the green liquid wasn't supposed to be dark blue. It was supposed to be an even darker shade of blue. Something near to black. The color was clearly indicated in his calculations. I guess he was confused between the two colors because they look so the same. I had to warn him immediately. It could mean his death or if he was lucky, a transformation.

"Dad," I called. But he didn't hear me. I tried calling him again but he still didn't hear me or he was doing it on purpose.

"Dad!" I shouted.

"What, daughter? I am still very busy right now. This is your father's biggest experiment and he can't go wrong with this one," he said without taking his eyes off the two beakers.

"But dad," I said, "the liquid you're pouring to the next one isn't correct."

"Nonsense, daughter," he said. "I have gone through my calculations again and again and I can assure you that this is very correct."

Before he finished his sentence, he was already done pouring the liquids over. "Now," he said, "time to grow a new arm." He put the beaker close to his mouth. He held his breath and drank the liquid.

"No!" I shouted as I ran towards him. I tried to knock the beaker off his hand but he kept it out of my reach.

Soon, he finished drinking it. "After an hour, I'll be having a new grown arm," he said, "but it tastes quite bitter. I've calculated the results and it's supposed to taste a little sour."

"I told you, Dad! That's not the right one!"

"Be quiet, Akane! Who's the expert here?"

I put my head down and kept quiet. We were just standing there for a few minutes waiting for his "new arm." Then suddenly, my dad screamed with pain. "Dad!" I shouted as I ran towards him. But he kept shoving me away. "Get away from me, Akane!" he said as he pushed me roughly. "Run…" That word echoed in my head. But I didn't want to leave so I just kept some distance between us. Soon, my dad was screaming like crazy. He swept all the beakers and test tubes and all the other materials off the table. Glass shattered to the floor. Liquids spilled. Suddenly, all the screaming and violent actions stopped. My dad was quiet now. I took a long look at his face to see any change but I didn't move from where I was.

He still looked the same but there was something a little evil. Then, he grinned an evil grin. I knew something was up. I took a step back and ran for the door. I managed to get outside but I don't know where to run. My dad cooped me in his house for a long time and he never let me out. Soon, he caught up with me. He pulled me by my hair as I tried to kick him.

I kept on screaming but no one lived close to us so nobody heard. He held me close to his face and smiled a huge evil smile just like the one he gave me in the lab.

"You're going to do as I say, you understand?" he asked with a raised voice.

I nodded as I tried to get his fingers off my hair. Then, he let go of me. I fell to the floor with a loud thud. I felt like crying but I didn't want to do it in front of him. Soon, he left for the lab. I was all alone now. I wanted to run away but I knew he would kill me so I stayed.

A few days passed and I found out what really happened to my dad. He was very lucky. His body suffered tremendous pain but he didn't die. Instead, he just transformed. He transformed to an evil man driven by the desire to kill all wizards and mages that exist in this world. I don't know why he wanted to do such a thing. But I do know that he hated wizards and mages ever since. I also don't know the reason as to why he hates them.

One day, he called me from his study. I ran as fast as I could to his study. He has been treating me the same way even before he drank that wrong formula. He didn't abuse me or anything. All he did was boss me around and orders me to buy some stuff needed for his lab. I arrived in his study. I held my breath as I opened the door.

"Yes, Father?" I asked with a polite tone. My father was facing the window with his back to me. I could see the smoke coming from his cigarette. Then, I noticed my palms were sweaty. They were always like that whenever I'm around my father. It's because I'm scared of whatever he shall order me to do next and what he'll do to me.

"I have a very important task for you to do," he said. "It is my legacy to you and you must accomplish it whatever the circumstances."

I gulped and wiped sweat off my forehead. "What is it, Father?"

"You must kill every wizard and mage that exists in this world."

Immediately, my body tensed. I could practically hear my heart thumping very loudly. Kill…Kill… the word echoed in my head.

"B-but why, Father? They've never done anything wrong to you!"

"Never done anything wrong to me?! Do you really think so, my daughter?" he said with his voice a little raised. He was obviously a little mad. "They killed my sister!"

Killed his sister…Why would they do such a thing? I refused to believe my father and so I protested. "They would never do such a thing!"

He turned his chair around and faced me. "Do you really believe that wizards and mages are all good? Well, they are not. My sister was a mage, too. In fact, all of my siblings inherited some magical powers from my parents but not me. My sister was a well-respected mage with skills that were amazing. But other mages in her guild were jealous of her and so they killed her."

I couldn't believe what I've just heard. I didn't want to believe it yet my father's tone and emotions clearly proved his statement true. I couldn't speak and so I kept quiet.

"And that is why I need you to avenge her. I am much too weak to kill them for I have no such magical powers but I know you have the capability to do so…" he said, "…for I know you are a mage, too."

My eyes widened and my palms were sweating more. "How did you know?"

"I am your father, Akane. And eventhough you are not my real daughter I know how you move and what you're abilities are."

I gulped. "But I-I won't do it!"

"And why not?"

"Be-because I don't want innocent people to die!"

"But they are not innocent people, my daughter. They killed my sister. Remember that."

"But not all of them are bad! I know some who aren't!"

"Oh? Like your friend Natsu? He left you to rot in the forest where I found you!" he said. "You owe me a lot, Akane. Because if I haven't seen you in that forest and brought you up as my daughter, you have most probably died."

I put my head down. Everything my father said is true. I owe him a lot. And my friend did left me…

"So do you accept?"

"I…I…don't…"

"I know you don't want them to die but you must avenge my sister for me. And if you don't…I'll kill you're so-called friend that you cherish so much," he said with a smirk.

"You know where he is?"

"Of course I do. This world is small and it's easy to find a fire-breather like him."

I hesitated. I knew that either way someone would die. I'll say yes but I'll make sure that no one dies. "Ok, Father. I accept."

My father smirked. "Good, daughter. I'm proud of you."

I manage to smile but deep inside I felt a very grave feeling that I can't quite understand. Then, he handed me a list.

"This is a list of all the guilds in Magnolia. Kill every mage and wizard in it. Do you understand?"

I nodded. "But what if 'I' get killed?"

He didn't reply. His face was completely expressionless. It was like he didn't care if I die. Of course he didn't. He's a mad man with no emotions.

"You'll start with this guild. This guild is very famous and has very skilled mages and wizards," he said as he pointed at the top of the list. His finger was set on "No. 1: Fairy Tail." And so I set out for Fairy Tail…

*End of Flashback*

Suddenly, I sensed someone walking towards the old mansion. My whole body tensed. I quickly ran into one of the rooms and shut the door. Good thing the floor didn't creak. Then, I sensed that someone opened the front door. I immediately scanned the room. To my surprise, I was in the music room. I honestly didn't want to be in there because memories of Gray still lurk in this room's shadows but I had no choice. I quickly walked towards the drum set. I crouched and hid behind it. Suddenly, the music room's door creaked open. I tried to find out who it was. It was…Gray. It had to be him. I sensed him take a seat in front of the piano and played a sweet yet sad melody. I closed my eyes and listened carefully to the tune he was playing. It was beautiful. I also sensed that he was really sad. Maybe because of what I did to him earlier. I leaned to the drum set so I can hear better but then the drum set got pushed away because of my weight. And so my cover was blown. I saw Gray staring at me then to the drum set and back to me again. He was totally confused.

"Akane?" he asked. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"Uhmm…" I tried to look for the right words. "I sorta' went here so I can have some alone time and try to think but then you suddenly arrived." I was so embarrassed. My cheeks were flushed red. I looked at him but kept my gaze away from his eyes.

"Oh…I came here for the same reason too but I didn't know you were here also," he said keeping his eyes fixed on the piano. I tried to reply but I didn't know what to say. And I guess he was feeling the same. We were both really quiet. I thought about something to talk about. Something that doesn't remind the both of us about the emotional scar we left at each other. Then, I remember the melody he played a while ago.

"That was a really nice melody you played back there," I said.

"Yeah, thanks. I play a melody that matches with what I feel. It makes me feel better." He turned to me and smiled. And for the first time I stared into his eyes. His eyes were filled with sadness despite his charming smile.

I wanted to talk to him about what happened earlier. I wanted to tell him that I'm really sorry. I just wanted to talk because if playing the piano is what makes him feel better, talking is mine.

"Gray…about what happened earlier…"

"What about what happened earlier?"

I wanted to tell him I'm sorry. I gulped and began to talk. "Uhmm…thanks for the necklace you gave me." Okay, so I chickened out.

"You're welcome."

Then, we kept quiet again. I wanted to do something that would cheer us up first before I talk. So I stood up and sat beside him.

"Teach me more about playing the piano, Gray-sama!" I said and made the best pleading face I could ever make. He was taken aback but said yes nevertheless. He taught me how to play that melody he played earlier. I usually got it wrong because it's been such a long time since I haven't played a piano and I wasn't really an expert. So Gray held my hands and guided me along. It would have been a really sweet moment…if we were a couple that is.

"You've finally got the hang of it, Akane!" Gray exclaimed smiling.

"You really think so?" I asked as I stared at him with my cute face.

"Yeah," he said as he blushed and turned away.

"Uhmm…Gray?" I asked.

He turned to face me. "Yeah, Akane?"

"Uhmm…I just want you to know that I'm…"

"You're really sorry about what happened earlier?"

"Yeah…how did you know that that's what I was going to say?"

"I don't know…I just know I guess…" he said as he fixed his gaze on the floor. "But you know what, Akane? It's alright…"

"Really? So…you forgive me?"

He nodded. I immediately felt glad.

"Thank you, Gray," I said.

"Thank you too, Akane," he said.

"For what?"

"For everything."

I didn't reply. I honestly don't know what to say. Then, he suddenly put his hand at the back of my head and pulled me in for a kiss. I honestly couldn't escape that. I didn't even know that he was going to do that.

Our lips touched. I closed my eyes and kissed him back. I kissed back. The kiss lasted a bit long. It was so sweet and tasty. I had to admit that Gray is a good kisser. But I knew this was wrong—kissing someone eventhough you've already got a boyfriend. So I broke it off.

"Why did you do that, Gray?!" I asked wiping my mouth.

"But I love you, Akane!" he said. "And I'm not going to let you go that easily…"

"But me and Natsu are sorta' in a relationship now…" I said staring at the floor. "It's not right for you to be kissing someone who's already got a boyfriend."

"What?! You and that pink-haired idiot are together?"

"Yeah…"

"I can't believe you'd be in a relationship with someone like him…"

"Yeah, but still, it's soooo not right for you to do that…"

"Yeah, but you liked it!"

"No, I did not!"

"But you kissed me back!"

My body stiffened. I can say that I didn't like it but I really could not deny the fact that I kissed back. Why did I kiss back?!

"Admit it, Akane. You still like me despite your relationship with Natsu."

"Alright, I still like you! You happy now?"

Then, I sensed someone leaving the mansion. It seems like he or she was watching us kiss and listening to our conversation then left.

I immediately ran outside. Luckily, Gray didn't stop me. Well, whoever that was wasn't there anymore now. I scanned the place and tried to find out whoever was spying on us. When I find out who's been spying on us I'll…Oh my god…It's Natsu.

Natsu has been spying on us. Natsu saw us kiss. What have I done? I tried to locate him. Luckily, he isn't quite far yet. I ran as fast as I could to where he was. Soon, I caught up with him. He looked really…hurt. This is all my fault. I haven't even found Sora yet and another problem piles up? Oh geez…

"Natsu!" I called as I approached him.

"Get away!" he shouted.

"Natsu, come on!" I said as I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" he said as he pushed my hand away roughly.

"Oww!" I said as I pulled my hand back and massaged it.

"Sorry…" he said as he stared at the ground.

"Natsu, can we please talk?" I asked him politely.

"Okay, we'll talk. Let's talk about how you and Gray kissed, how you said you still like him, and how you betrayed me," he said then walked away.

"I didn't kiss him on purpose!" I said as I tried to catch up with him again.

"Yeah, you didn't. He did. But you kissed back!"

I immediately kept quiet. I didn't know what else to say. He saw what I did eventhough I don't know why I did it.

Then, he abruptly turned and faced me. "Why did you suddenly keep quiet? Wasn't everything I said true?"

"Alright, it's true! I kissed him back, I still like him, but I didn't betray you! That's why I broke the kiss off…"

"Yeah, you broke it off after you two made out…"

"But I love you more, Natsu! And that's why I try to forget him but I just couldn't and it just happened that he was in the mansion too."

"You know what, Akane? I really want to believe you right now but it still hurts. Just leave me alone."

"Alright, fine! I'll leave…and I'll never come back!" I shouted. Then, I ran away. I ran away and didn't look back. I ran until I reached the lake that leads to the forest. I leaned on a tree and cried. It hurts that Natsu doesn't believe me…but I know I made a mistake too…Maybe I'll just have to leave until the emotional scars in my heart and on Natsu's and Gray's heal.

I sighed and cried. Suddenly, a mysterious voice came out of nowhere.

"Akane…"

"Who…who's there?" I asked looking around.

"Akane…" the voice said again. "…I like what you're doing—gaining the trust of Fairy Tail and its members then betraying them in the end…but what you did just then looked like you weren't pretending."

"Father…Of course, it's all part of my plan."

"Yes, and I approve of it. As you know, I give you the freedom to do as you wish but do this little plan of mine to make it a little more…intriguing."

"What is it, Father?"

"Make sure that the news of your death spreads."

"The news of my death?"

"Yes…make sure that some people think that you're dead…then the news of your death will eventually reached Fairy Tail…Then, leave for a few years so that they would think that you're really dead then come back—just in time to finish them all off."

"But…where would I go to?"

"That is up to you, my daughter…and remember that if you do not do as I wish, I will not only kill your beloved Natsu, I would also kill all your friends that seem so dear to you…"

Then, the mysterious voice vanishes and Akane is alone again. Natsu…I'm so sorry…

*Author's Note*

Well, I've decided not to put the previews of the next chapter here. (Gomenasai?)It's because I wanted the next chapters to have a little…suspense. (^_^) Sorry if this chapter is a bit short just like the other ones. (Some chapters are really meant to be short.)Oh well, I hope you all liked this chapter. This chapter is so full of…drama. It usually goes around the love story of the pairings in this story and how the hardships in their relationship make them stronger or weaker. The next few chapters will finally reveal the decisions that Akane and the other characters make…and if they are the right ones… Thank you for continuing to support me and to those who made me their favourite author and those who followed me! And also, please review of what you think of this chapter! Arigatou again!

-rock-glamour-animeroxx211(the author who writes insanely cool stories/chapters..LOL!)