At Sabertooth Something else was brewing.
"You idiot!" An old man with with a thick beard and mustache covering half of his face, with a muscular physique and dark expression struck Sting with massive strength making him roughly pushed against the wall. Rogue ran over to him as quickly as he can. Sting held his right ear lobe feeling a little hint of pain pulsing in his ear.
Jiemma took his whip and came towards Sting "I Should beat you to death for what you did!".
Rogue exploded "stop it! Didn't he do enough?! He told you every goddamn detail of their manor! You've destroyed their home! Isn't that enough!? He did his job!"
Jiemma whipped several times Rogue making him collapse on the concrete floor. Sting hugged him at worry "rogue!". He looked at Jiemma who had a frustrated look in his eyes. "Rogue had nothing to do with this why punish him for my mistake?!" Sting shouted furiously.
"Hmph. If you had told us Lucy Heartfilia has been under their household then our job would've been easier! Now Hades has found out about our mistake! Do you think I would take this lightly you insolent fool!" Jiemma shouted and at an instant he swung his whip on Sting. "Your whore of a mother was just like you! You betray us once again!"
Sting held in the pain and covered himself and Rogue from the torturing whip. Minerva, the daughter of Jiemma entered the room seeing the situation she captured the whip unto her hands.
"Father.. That's enough.." She said confidently. Making Jiemma looking at her curious as to why she stopped him.
"I think its better if we bring these two kittens to the dungeon room.. " she said with a sly smile. Jiemma grinned and laughed evily. His daughter Minerva was a sadist, she loved torturing people, mostly to death. Her usual job was to torture their client's enemies or sometimes theirs as well.
Sting looked at her with a merciful look, but he was too tired to plead for mercy. Instead Rogue and Sting were dragged to the hall and brought to the dungeon room.
Just before Minerva left the room Jiemma called on to her. "Before you take care of them.." Minerva turned around and looked at Jiemma in an annoyed manner "I want you to take care a few of our guests first.." Jiemma grinned with a devilish look. Minerva asked "should I end them or would you like to do the negotiations?" She smiled. Jiemma stared at her which she assumed was a yes. She turned around and walked away from the room and said "well then.. See you in my play room.. Father."
Meanwhile Natsu and Lucy were walking. The streets with their disguises. As soon as Natsu saw the man following them he made a rush and quickly went into the department store to change their clothes. Natsu wore sunglasses and a dark jacket while Lucy wore a hoodie and cap to hide her blonde hair. Lucy was the main victim here and her father as well. Natsu had to protect her, well that was his plan anyway from the beginning.
Both of them arrived near the central area. They were farther than home and it would be difficult to be kidnapped in the crowd. Natsu held on to Lucy tightly making her blush. He looked around to see if anyone was following them and it looked like the coast was clear. Lucy blushed at Natsu's touch, he was gently leading her the way and preventing anyone squishing her along the crowds. She felt very secured and protected in Natsu's arms.
As they arrived at the train station Lucy asked " where are we going? Is there a station closer at the mansion?". Natsu replied "far away from sabers."
Lucy stopped in her tracks "Natsu! I won't run away. I promised we'd work together wouldn't we?!." Natsu gave her an irritated look. "Don't give me that-"
"I won't run away and abandon everyone! I don't even know where my father is?!" Lucy whispered but demanded her point.
Natsu gritted his teeth "i can't afford it!"
"Can't afford what? Is this money again?!" Natsu held her shoulders and shouted in annoyance "I can't afford to lose you!" He sighed.
Lucy stared at him with shock from his bluntness. "Natsu felt red in the face seeing the stares from his embarrassing confession." Lucy started to think that this might be the right time to confront him..
Lucy took Natsu with him to the side alley of the station. She looked at him with fierce eyes making him blush. "Natsu..why are you being this way?"
Natsu showed a questioning look "huh? What the hell are you saying?"
"I mean.. Why do you always have to be there to protect me? I don't even know why you do stuff like that to me.." She looked aside to hide her embarrassed face.
"Do what?" Natsu asked.
"K-kiss me.. Hug me.. Tell me things that mean the world to me..". Natsu went closer and placed his arm on the wall leaning his face near to Lucy's. He softly said the words.."because I love you.".
Lucy widened her eyes at shock. She looked at Natsu who showed a serious expression. Lucy was speechless, she didn't know how to respond. "Was he serious?!" Lucy thought to herself. Natsu stared to her deeply as if her soul could be seen.
She wanted to respond but she didn't know how to or what to say. Natsu quickly spoke " Is this alright?"
"What?"
"Me, liking you.."
Lucy was to embarrased to make eye contact and said "yeah.."
Natsu smiled and continued "well then that's great!" He laughed off the awkwardness of their situation. "I'm not pressuring you or anything.. I don't mind if you don't like me as much as I do to you. I really thought it would be obvious to you" He smiled.
"Natsu I-" Lucy tried to explain that Natsu was getting the wrong idea but he continued anyway.
"But then.. Now's not the time to talk about this right?" Lucy stared at him with a blank expression and nodded in agreement. Natsu smiled and said "come on let's go the tra-umph!" Lucy suddenly hugged natsu which completely shocked him "Natsu.." Lucy said gently "thank you.. For protecting me.." Her voice was sad and depressed. Natsu thought it over, due to the circumstances it would really be weird for Lucy to think about love and relationships.
Natsu looked at her with an embarrassing face "whaat.. Am I being rejected already?" He laughed and tried to change the subject.
Lucy looked at him, "I want to stay and go to fairytail.."
Natsu went back to a serious expression and said "you know its too dangerous.."
"I'm willing to take that risk to save my father.." She continued.
Natsu sighed heavily "well then.. I won't let that happen. We'll save your father whatever it takes!" Natsu gave in a thumbs up. Which made Lucy believe that there's still hope for her to find her father. She smiled, while walking out of the alley Lucy slipped her hand to Natsu's which made him look at her. She smiled which made him blush, he took the hand and kissed her fingers gently. Lucy turned red at Natsu's actions which made him mock her naiveness.
He laughed at her red hot face and snorted "idiot.."
Just as they took the bus Natsu decided they'd take another path to the Fairy Tail mansion. It was a little bit rough but it was the safest way. Natsu and Lucy had to hike in the forest path again. Away from the city, they had to hide from mafia's clearly seeing that saber was not to be trusted.
Natsu was running short from his cash and he only brought a few yens to keep them till then. Lucy on the other hand was unprepared as well since she came from a date. The clothes they were actually using were stolen.. Lucy felt ashamed but it was an emergency.
The forest was quiet and the sound of the river was coming nearby. Natsu assumed that fairy tail was close by and maybe just behind the rocks he pointed up north. Lucy was getting tired and sweat was running underneath her hoodie. She took it off and wiped her sweat off, her black tank top was a mess. Luckily she didn't reek or else she'd regret hugging Natsu.
Natsu stopped in his tracks as he smelled the gun powder coming from the North "it can't be.." He said to himself. He quickly ran and climbed up the rocky edges of the forest. Lucy panicked at Natsu's speed "natsu!"
Natsu ignored her and continued his speed, showing a worrying expression. "Natsu! Wait up! What's wrong?!"
Lucy tried to catch up and as soon as she caught Natsu she saw him with utter shock. Lucy looked at the view in front of them and it was fairy tail crumbled down. Natsu clenched his fists and whispered in irritation "damn.." His body was shaking in anger and Lucy couldn't helped but lookaround hoping for survivors. She shouted "everyone!" But no answer was heard. Lucy felt tears coming in her eyes. "Did they all..Erza.. Levy.."
"No.." Natsu said in a stern way.
"They may be underground.."
Lucy looked at him thinking how would it be possible. Natsu led them to the glasshouse garden. It was ruined and shattered glass was everywhere, the plants are almost destroyed and most pots and statues were ruined by lost bullets. Natsu looked afar and brought them at the deeper edge of the garden. There was a hidden flooring that when opened led to a way under ground. Natsu sweated and he knocked on the door, hoping for a reply. Luckily, wendy popped her little head out that made Natsu sigh in relief.
"Natsu-san!" She smiled with glee. A meow was heard from the inside of wendy's clothes. Happy's head popped out underneath her chin which made Natsu sighed in relief. She hugged Natsu tightly and her worries were no more. Natsu heard distinct voices from below calling their names.
Natsu jumped in and Lucy hesitated but she followed. Cana and gray were waiting at the bottom and Cana quickly hugged Lucy. Natsu looked at Gray "what happened.."
Gray looked at Wendy while cana gave out a disappointing expression.
"We were attacked by the sabers..it seems they had an agenda all along. The Don didn't think likely since they were new to the mafia business but it seems that these group of people work for someone.."
"Hades?" Lucy asked.
Gray shook his head "were still not sure.. Right now they're interrogating Orga.. One of the sabers."
Natsu quickly walked to the pathway at the end of the hall filled with range and anger. "I'm gonna fucking kill who ever did this to us!"
The place was high tech and an air conditioning unit filled the room. They were at a hallway with several doors aligned. At the end was another pathway leading to the right. "They're all discussing the plan right now.." Cana mentioned.
She asked "Lucy, what happened to you and Natsu..?"
"We were chased along the way and it took us sometime to find a path where no one could recognize us.. " Lucy paused a moment making Cana stop and look at at her at worry "I'm sorry we weren't here when this happened.." Cana quickly hugged Lucy "we understand.. The important thing is both of you are safe.."
Natsu came inside the room seeing a number of injured people. He saw Gray and ran to him "gray! What happened?!" Juvia held tightly on Gray's arm recalling the memory of their battle.
Gray mad a face of grievance "we were attacked from the inside. The sabers were suppose to receive Sting's luggage but instead they attempted war within the place.."
Natsu's face turned into rage, he furrowed his eyebrows and clenched looked at all the injured. He suddenly noticed Erza was missing, he looked at Gray with sweat dripping on his forehead "w-where's gramps and Erza?" He said shakingly, worried of what may have happened.
Gray didn't say a word instead hid his face and shook his head. Natsu punched the wall with all his rage making all the people inside stare at him. "The hell those bastard are gonna pay for messing with us!" Gray was about to stop him from destroying the place but Jellal and Gajeel came out from behind.
"Natsu" Jellal spoke from behind.
Lucy came in the room and covered her mouth at the shock of seeing several injured members. Levy from behind Gajeel spotted Lucy and ran towards her "Lu-chan!" Lucy hugged Levy back in a tight and securing way. "I'm so glad your safe!" Levy said jn a crackling tone almost making her blonde friend cry.
Natsu stared at Jellal who seemed to have a lot to say. "You disobeyed me Natsu. I told you to not bring her here."
"Like hell we're leaving. After all this you expect us to run a way and hide! Are you fucking kidding me Jellal?!" Natsu exclaimed.
Jella stood closer "you know she's in danger yet you brought her here."
Lucy stood up behind Natsu and spoke "I told him to go here.." Jellal stared at Lucy disappointingly waiting for her explanation.
"I didn't want to run away from something I've been fighting for." Lucy clenched her fist. "I know I am one of the sole reasons this mafia has fallen apart and yet everyone stood up and protected me." Lucy was about to cry but held her tears. "I am so grateful for everyone.. For their kindness and bravery.." She couldn't help but let a tear slide at the side of her cheeks.
"I want to help you in return.. Let me fight this war with you." She called on to everyone in the room. "I know how the mafia works and I've been studying your world for several years. Let me be part of that and help you save your Boss and members." She said courageously.
Juvia and the other people felt like the joy of pride was rushing in their veins. They felt hope coming near them. Everyone cheered at approval. Levy smiled cheerily to Gajeel and Juvia started to smother Gray. Natsu stayed at the corner staring at Lucy. He felt proud of her, being so caring of their familia.
Jellal on the other hand, went to Lucy in the crowd. He signaled her to follow her, Natsu saw this and tried to follow them but as he approached them Lucy was brought into a partition room with Jellal.
Natsu tried to open it but Mira stopped him.
"Mira?" Natsu saw her with Lisanna and Elfman.
She smiled "we're back.. And safe!"
Gray ran towards them "all right! Finally your back!"
Lisanna butted in "as soon as we heard what happened we went back to magnolia immediately. How's everyone?"
"Tired and beat down, but everyone is trying to pull themselves up!"gray replied.
Elfman looked for evergreen who was standing behind him "who do you think your looking for?" She crossed her arms and said.
Elfman hugged her tightly "oh I wouldn't be able to take it if something happened to you!"
"L-let go of me!" Evergreen tried to hide her embarrassment but she loved it when Elfman was this naive.
Mira looked at Natsu, "Natsu a moment?" She said. Natsu looked at the door then back at Mira. He sighed at confusion and followed her steps to the end of the hall.
Lucy stood there while Jellal was taking out a few papers. He instantly showed them to Lucy by placing them on the coffeetable in front of her as soon as he finished signing them.
"Lucy, I no longer require your assistance in this mission." Jellal spoke. Lucy was in shock as she got a clearer view of the papers it was a forfeit mission form.
Lucy looked at him with angry eyes "why.. What did I do?!"