A/N Hello! :) This is a very critical chapter so I hope you understand why it took me so long to update. But I would still apologize. Gomenasai! *bows* As always, I would like to thank those who reviewed, followed and faved, those who PM'ed me, those who read this chapter before I publish it (Urusaii and FatalPenguins), the silent readers and those who still appreciate the story even though I myself isn't sure if it still makes sense. Gihehe. Lemme hug you guys! I love you all! :D And please pardon my grammar, this chapter isn't beta'd. :) For those who reviewed the previous chapter, please check your inbox. Guest responses are down there.
Notice: All review responses are taken down in this chapter.
Chapter 14: HEIGHTENED TENSION
At Freesia…
"Ah, so Lucy's father was vastly skilled in implanting lacrima to human bodies?" Lily repeated, still amazed at the information they had obtained. What a small world? Who would have thought that Lucy's father was connected to the dragon slayer duo?
"You dumb pet, put me down! I told you, no pets are allowed here!" the midget kept yelling, his collar stuck on Lily's large sword. "Damn it! How can a pet overpower me?" the midget cursed exasperatedly.
"Shut up, insect!" Gajeel hissed, "Your cockroach voice irritates me!"
The midget showed his fangs, "Who have a voice of a cockroach you Pin Cushion man!" he yelled in fury, emphasizing the fact that the iron mage had a lot of piercings all over his face, thus, giving him the nickname of the 'Pin Cushion Man'.
Gajeel hit him non-stop like a punching bag, barely giving the midget a chance to breathe, "Huh? Are you saying something, huh?"
"Oi, oi…" Lily warned, "Don't be rude, Gajeel."
"This is training," Gajeel steadied the dizzy midget, "Uppercut!" he landed a punch on the midget's body making it swirl around the sword. "Jab– Straight– Jab– Jab– Straight!"
Lily just scratched his head as he redirected his gaze towards the old man and young woman once again, "How did you get a hold of this information, then?"
"I'm a retired Lacrima Engineer. I supply him the lacrimas." Yun explained, trying his best to ignore the sadistic game pulled by the iron mage to his poor little butler. "Element lacrimas are rare – and so are us. Once, I asked my dear friend what the lacrimas are for – it raised suspicions to me, really. It was then that he told me about Eucliffe-san and Cheney-san."
"Now that you mentioned it, that idiot–" Gajeel was referring to Rogue, "–was totally into that old man. You know, bunny girl's dad."
Erza arched a brow as she stuffed a bite size cake on her mouth composedly, "Ah, Rogue Cheney was your former apprentice, right?" she commented calmly, "And I remember, you once worked for Lucy's father before you joined Fairy Tail."
Gajeel sat down, "Tch," he clicked his tongue and waved his hand, "I can't remember the details."
Lily smirked knowingly, he knew his partner hates to be reminded of his Phantom Lord days. He then cupped his chin with his free paw, "By chance, do you know why he implanted the Element lacrimas into the two dragon slayers?"
"Ah, that." Yun snapped his fingers, trying to remember some important points. "His exact words that time was: To prepare Earthland for the Dragon King's Festival."
"Dragon King's Festival?" Erza paused, placing the empty platter on the center table.
Yun nodded, "It was a legend foretold even before your parents were born. And you see, dragon slayers exist to slay dragons – they are the saviors of humanity against these beasts. During our younger years, when dragons are frequently seen almost anywhere, it was chaos – not to mention the existence of demons. These three races aren't made to co-exist." He clenched his teeth as memories of the old days replayed on his mind, "But the race of the dragons is the most notorious bunch. They'll wipe out a town full of humans in one day just because they're bored and hungry – leaving nothing but dusts. As a merchant and Neville's disciple, Jude was aware of this... and so, he figured, if humans can produce an artificial dragon slayer just by implanting an Element lacrima into an ordinary body, how much strength can us, humans, obtain if we implant one on a body raised by a dragon itself to be a dragon slayer?"
"I must admit that's very smart of Lucy's father…" Erza nodded stiffly, "And did you think he obtained his purpose of eradicating the dragon race with that plan?"
Gajeel's eyes widened, "Eradicating?"
With arms folded across her chest, Erza gawked at Yun intensely, "Isn't that the main objective behind it all? To eradicate the dragon's race?"
Sweat dribbled all over Yun's forehead. "A-ah…"
"Well?" Erza tapped a finger against her skin, "Hm?"
Just then, the tension inside the room arises as Gajeel grabbed Yun by his collar. "Answer the question, old man!"
Frightened, the man almost peed on his pants, "Y-yes… That was really…"
"D-don't hurt my father, p-please." Yumi cried, horrified.
"It was you, then? You people were the cause of the dragons' disappearance sev– ah fourteen years ago?" Gajeel pressed sharply as he ignored the daughter's plea, almost tempted to kick her off.
"B-but Jude paid a painful prize. W-we think h-his wife had sacrificed herself to at least save the dragon race?" Yun stammered.
"Calm down, Gajeel." Lily urged, forcing the iron mage to let go of the old man's collar.
With eyes as wide as saucers, Erza looked at Yun in shock, "S-sacrifice? Lucy's mom? Didn't she die because she's sick?" Now that the red-head mage thought of it, Lucy had never told them how her mother died.
Coughing, Yun nodded as he soothed his throat. "It was assumed that she –coughs– was against the obliteration. She kept insisting that not all dragons are sinister."
"A-and what happened to the dragons, then?" Erza stood before Gajeel, her face all serious.
Yun awkwardly averted his eyes, "I don't have any idea. Fourteen years ago, the dragons disappeared the same day Layla died. It was suspicious and I'm not an idiot. As a Lacrima Engineer who specializes in Elements, I know something significant and painful had happened just like when Neville perished. By then, Jude laid low. He focused on business alone – nothing more."
Gajeel was speechless. How did everything become this complicated? It's not that he was worried about how will the bunny girl feel when she hears the information but, "We heard Sabertooth was involved in the old man's death, too?"
"It's just rumors…" Yun retorted, "They said it was Eucliffe-san who killed him, though I doubt it. As I said, he owes Lucy-chan's father big time."
Erza was absorbed by her thoughts – during the Zentopia incident, the name of the Sabertooth guild did pop up here and there and they heeded no attention to it – but she couldn't be mistaken.
The Titania knew, Lucy was smart enough to figure out how her father died on her own – even before the Grand Magic Games started and even before she met the dragon slayer duo face to face…
If there was any truth behind the rumor, and if the one who marked her was really the one who killed her father – for sure, Lucy would stay quiet and wait for them to explain to her what really happened… because she, herself, believe that in a way, she was also part of why her father died.
Somewhere in the Kingdom of Fiore...
Natsu sneezed, snot bulging out of his nostrils.
"That's disgusting, Natsu?" Happy chimed as he munched on his fish.
Natsu instantly sniffed the snot back and gulped, "Ah, wari."
"Hm..." Happy pouted, "It's almost Lucy's mother's death anniversary, Natsu. Do you think Lucy's back by the time we get home?" the blue cat asked. "It's really quiet without her."
Natsu shrugged, staring blankly at the sky. "Yeah, that weirdo will pay for leaving us behind..." his voice was serious.
For a moment, Happy almost choked. Could it be... "You liiiiiiiiii–"
"I also want to go to Joyaaaaaa~" he whined, "How dare she go there by herself with Erza! That's unfair!" he continued, punching the air blindly.
Happy sweat dropped, he was about to tease him. Ah, he thought Natsu had finally realized that he likes Lucy... but that must be really impossible, huh? "I really think it's better that she left you behind, Natsu." The exceed turned his back as he went back into munching his fish, he now lost the will to roll his tongue – thanks to Natsu's denseness.
"Eh?" Natsu arched his brows up as he sniffed the air around him, "It smelt like~" he whiffed, tracking the direction where the scent that had caught his attention came from. "Those bastards."
The blue cat turned around and followed him behind, "What do you smell, Natsu?"
"Fairy Tail here," he pointed his index finger towards a road leading to Freesia and then spun to sniffed the air cautiously into another direction, "And Sabertooth here." He said, confusion evident on his features. "Strange, though." He scratched his head.
Happy gaped at him, "Hmm?"
"I can faintly smell Lucy, too... in that direction." He hastily pointed the direction where he said the Sabertooth was.
The cat blink, a creepy smile flashing over his lips, "Ah~ you liiiiiiiiiiiike Lucy!"
Natsu ignored the cat's comment and bounced his gaze onto the two directions, his mind apparently debating where to head on – since he had already finished his (it was successful, but a lot of damage has been done – nothing new) mission. It was either he follows the scent of the Fairy his nose had picked up or to proceed to the other direction in which he'd be able to get the chance to end his unfinished battle with the dragon slayers who killed their own dragon parents – it was definitely them, there's no doubt about it.
Hah! Of course, the answer is obvious – he would always choose battle. His comrade or comrades could wait. "Let's go, Happy. Let's follow the Sabertooth idiots. Strongest mages of Fiore, my ass. I'll make them eat their crap!"
"Eh?" Happy smiled excitedly, "Aye sir!"
With Lucy and the Sabertooth Dragon Slayers...
"Aah~ how can you do this to me? I took that mission, I said he should thank you instead of me but really, I'm interested in the reward. You should have taken at least 70,000 jewels~" Lucy whined for the umpteenth time as their group left the lodge. "I need money for my rent, you know~"
Sting couldn't even bring himself to smirk, the girl was totally unaware of the tension between him and Rogue. Damn it. "Stop whining, dorei. You're annoying." The blonde dragon slayer snapped, barely looking at her as he walked ahead.
"Ahhh~ what do I do now?" Lucy scratched her head violently. Just then, she looked back, eyes scanning the people, "Wait," she tugged Sting's furry vest lightly, "Isn't Yukino-san going back with us?"
Sting continued walking as he raised a hand, "None of your business, dorei. You talk so much, you know?" he hissed raggedly. Hah, how could a single girl – a weak one at that – strain his energy this much?
Lucy tried to stop herself from talking as they walked silently, but she couldn't help but feel disturbed. It was as if Rogue and Sting were currently in bad terms. Just then, Frosch slowed himself down and walked beside the Fairy Tail mage.
"Fairy-san?" the cute exceed in a frog costume raised a paw, his big eyes directed to her, "Uhm?"
"What is it, Frosch?" she asked, smiling warmly.
He scratched his head sheepishly, "C-can you... carry Fro?" the exceed asked anxiously, "But if you don't wan–"
"Sure." Lucy stopped on her track and carried the exceed wearing a frog costume.
Lector shook his head in distaste, "Tch~ Fro is really an idiot, you–" he was cut off by Sting's hand picking him up on his nape. The clueless exceed blinked in amusement, "W-what are you–"
"Carry him too, dorei." Sting threw Lector towards the Fairy Tail mage without warning.
"E-eh?" Lucy's eyes almost bulge out of her head as Lector almost scratched her face in panic. Damn this bastard. "Y-you okay, cat?" she asked.
With twirling eyes, Lector nodded. "T-that's the strongest mage in Fiore for ya." He managed to say in his dizzy state.
Lucy huffed exasperatedly as she carried both exceeds on her arms.
"Sting-kun is really strong, ribbit!" Frosch commented as he waved his paw.
"Y-yup!" Lector followed, still giddy.
"Hah," Sting leered proudly as he glanced at his quiet partner who heed them no attention, "I am, of course... the best!"
"Just like Rogue-kun, ribbit!" the cat clad in a frog costume continued.
Tch. Sting scowled. That just ruined everything.
Lucy walked faster with bigger steps in the attempt to catch up with the blonde man, "Uh, Sting-dono?"
Sting felt like the Fairy Tail mage was really pushing her on the edge of a cliff, he was nearly losing it. Did she really have to drive him further? "I told you not to call–"
"Call him Sting, Fairy-san. That sounds more intimate." An emotionless voice interrupted his outburst which he recognized as Rogue's.
Sting's eyes widened, Rogue heard him last night! Fuck! His face suddenly grew warm, he gritted his teeth as he glared daggers at his partner.
Lucy's eyebrow twitched as she turned to look at Rogue, "I-intimate?"
Rogue was displaying his usual poker face but there was a certain glint on his eyes. Something that Lucy was sure she had seen for the very first time. It was mocking and challenging.
The two dragon slayers halted and stared at each other intensely.
Lucy blinked, baffled, "What's with you two?"
At Fairy Tail guild...
"Sixth!" Cana shouted as she barged in to Makarov's office, "N-Natsu," she panted excessively, "H-he's catching up to Lucy!" she yelled in extreme panic.
Makarov, with his arms folded across his chest, sighed. "I know. I casted a tracking spell to Natsu."
"What should we do?" Cana asked dreadfully as she glanced at both Mira and Mavis who were already inside the room when she came in.
"I can't contact Lucy," Mira bit her lower lip in worry, "You think Natsu will go to the extent of marking Lucy just to get rid of the white dragon slayer mark?"
Cana started shuffling her cards. Once satisfied, she picked one card up.
"He won't catch up... not this time." She stated in certainty, basing it on her card. "Lucy will be heading somewhere else. Back here." She grinned excitedly.
With Lucy and company...
Lucy hesitantly tugged Sting's vest, "Uhm?"
Sting jolted, his back leaning on a tree. Apparently, due to Lucy's whining – they stopped to rest for a few moments.
He was against the idea but his pride had gotten over him again when Rogue said that Sting could go ahead and he'll take care of Lucy in his stead. Of course, knowing his true intentions – or so Sting thought – he wouldn't allow such thing to happen.
"It would be my mom's death anniversary, I was wondering if we could take a short detour towards Magno–"
"No." Sting replied, cutting her off.
Disheartened Lucy stared at the white dragon slayer, she had expected this answer. "But it's my mom's death anniversary. I've missed seven years of her death anniversary." She retorted firmly, "I promise to take care of your life, please let me go. You don't have to come with me, I promise to come back to you."
"I just said, no. Didn't I?" the blond man said monotonously without sparing her even a glance.
Lucy dropped her shoulders, "You're being unfair."
"Let's get going." Sting ordered as he stood up and stretched his arms on the air, "Lector, Frosch, Rogue." He called out as he started walking, his exceed partner following from behind.
Rogue blankly ogled the teary-eyed Lucy as she followed her marker in disappointment – it was apparent that she's feeling weaker than usual.
"Let's take the train." Rogue suddenly proposed, not moving.
This surprised everyone, making Sting pause and look back at his partner in awe, "What's gotten into you, now?" the white dragon slayer couldn't help his curiosity.
Rogue sighed, still emotionless, "I think–" he glanced at the awestruck Celestial mage, "She's still sick. You should take good care of your life, Sting. It's as you said, you know... She's weak. And if she dies, you die."
True.
And Sting couldn't argue with that.
However, he was mulling it over very carefully – what would Rogue gain if he takes care of his life?
He dragged his vision to the blond girl and that's when he figured out – of course, Rogue will gain the favor of her attention – the girl with the same life line as him.
Lucy was looking at Rogue almost lovingly – like his partner was her long lost knight in shining armor in some sort of fairy tale that lamely existed.
The white dragon slayer cringed, cursing mentally. This clearly isn't the kind of game he'd like to play.
"Right, then." Sting hissed in between his gritted teeth.
Lucy couldn't restrain the joy bubbling inside her any longer as a smile instantly grew on her face and gave Sting the same look she directed the shadow dragon slayer a while ago – she would admit, walking doesn't make her very comfortable at the moment.
And this made Sting a bit relieved. So, he wasn't totally left behind.
"Thank you, Sting-dono."
But then again, when will she ever give up on calling him that?
"I told you–"
"Ah! Sorry," she interrupted. "I mean, Sting." Lucy chimed as she hopped past him in delight.
At the train station...
But she'd still miss her mother's death anniversary again this year.
She sat quietly on the bench where Sting left the rest of his team – ordering them to wait because he would be the one to get their tickets. That was quite astonishing, really. Who would have thought the proud Sting Eucliffe would volunteer to work his sexy butt out and buy the tickets? Well, having him agree on riding the train was a bigger surprise, she must admit.
She heaved a weary sigh as she watched Lector scolding Frosch not far from the bench she was sitting.
Really, they almost looked like Happy and Charle in her eyes.
And there was Rogue, sitting beside her in a comfortable distance. They were sitting on the opposite edges – it's as if she was a carrier of some sort of contagious disease. She side glanced at him, his features were still indifferent.
He was sitting still with no cares in the world.
He noticed her looking at him, "What do you want?"
"Thank you." She stated with a small smile, voice manifesting extreme gratitude, "Sting is quite lucky to have a friend as caring as you."
Shades of red tinted his cheeks as he looked away. "He's a nakama."
"Yup," she lifted her head and stared at the orange sky and chuckled lightly, "It felt like I'm talking with another Gajeel. Except you don't call me bunny girl."
Rogue blinked.
Funny how this girl could make both him and Sting prickly by just listening at her random comments that they both knew, wasn't intended to annoy them. She wasn't mocking them and yet, she leaves their emotions in turmoil.
Rogue remained quiet. Not one of them spoke. Both of them sat in silence until Sting came back, carrying five tickets at hand.
.
.
.
Tickets of the train bound to Magnolia.
Lucy blinked, taking in the contents of the ticket Sting handed to her.
"S-Sting-dono?" she mumbled in disbelief.
The blond dragon slayer clenched his teeth in annoyance as she faced the Fairy Tail mage, "You really are annoying, dorei! How many times should I tell you not to call m–"
And once again, he was cut speechless as the blonde girl jumped onto him and hugged him in delight. "T-thank you!" she cried.
Sting froze, unsure of what to do.
He could certainly feel her warmth against his body.
And yup, she was literally crying... again.
"Tss, such a crybaby." was the only thing he said as he felt the warmth of his entire body rose up to his cheeks. He pushed her off, which Lucy didn't mind at all. She had expected that to happen – but she couldn't stop herself.
It was definitely a miracle for Sting to do something like this.
As to why, she brushed it off. She knew better than to ask – he might change his mind.
"Make sure to take good care of me, dorei. This is where your real work begins..."
.
to be continued...
A/N See, I got you tensed ne? Hihi. Oh well. I hope you liked the chapter. I'm wondering, who would you like to fight over Lucy more? It's a given that Natsu would do everything to get Lucy back... but I was thinking what to do with Rogue? Tell me what you guys think, ne? :D Ohhh, and Anon reviewers, please leave a name for me to call you. :D