Chapter 19

Me: Hello everyone! I have had a terrible two weeks. A lot has gone on in my life since I last posted and I've spent the last week and a half planning all my stories. Part of me is so proud of myself while the other feels bad for not updating as frequently. Anyways, we are in the final stretch and I am honestly both excited and bittersweet about ending this, even more so than all my other stories. This was the first story I ever posted on here so it's special. Anyways guys, I hope you enjoy as always and I'll see you next time! Bye!

PS: Also, I have no experience in the romance department. I have read books and fanfiction with romance but I have no other experience so please bae with me. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does but I do own the OCs.

"W-what?" Lila asked, taking a step back.

Everyone else looked as shocked at Lila and Natsumi sighed.

"I'm going to turn myself in," Natsumi repeated.

"You can't do that! They'll kill you!" Lila protested.

"It's better than all of you being killed!" Natsumi countered.

The two continued to argue but everyone else remained silent. They all liked Natsumi to an extent, and they knew what she was planning to do was suicide.

"Why do you care so much?" Natsumi demanded.

"Because I love you!" Lila shouted.

There was a moment of silence as everyone took in Lila's words. Even though it could have been seen as sisterly love, everyone knew it was something more. Lila was confused at first but one look at Natsumi's wide eyes made her realize what she said.

"Damn it," she cursed under her breath.

"Y-you love me?" Natsumi asked, stuttering slightly.

"This is not how I wanted to tell you," Lila muttered, confirming what she said.

There was an awkward silence as many people knew that they were intruding a private conversation. Many looked away and shuffled their feet nervously.

"We need to have this conversation elsewhere," Natsumi said, voicing their thoughts.

Lila silently nodded, and they went to one of the side rooms in the entrance of the arena.

It was Sting that broke the silence that surrounded everyone first.

"Well that was unexpected."

Natsumi gently closed the door to the room she and Lila had entered. She leaned against it and sighed. She let her arms fall to her side and tried to look at anything besides Lila.

For her part, Lila seemed pretty calm. At least on the surface. Inside, she was freaking out. Out of all the scenarios she had imagined on how she would tell Natsumi her feelings, this was not one of them.

"When did you start loving me?" Natsumi asked, deciding to break the silence that had enveloped the two.

Lila looked to the side as she replied, "I didn't know until a couple days ago but looking back, probably for several years now. It was a gradual thing as I got to know you better and grow alongside you. It was probably the 'Incident' that solidify my love for you."

Natsumi was surprised that she had loved her for so long. The 'Incident' that Lila spoke of was when people foolishly tried to attack Lila in a back alley and wanted to have a little "fun" with her. Lila was able to take most of them out, but they eventually found a way to stop her from performing magic. Lila was also exhausted from using so much of her magic. She wasn't as used to it or as powerful as she was now. Luckily, Natsumi had found her and beat the men until they either fled or unconscious.

"Oh," was all she said.

There was another silence for a moment before Lila spoke up, "I know that you may not like me back but…"

Before Lila could finish, however, Natsumi had walked towards her and pushed her lips against hers. The kiss was chaste, filled with love and relief. It only lasted for a couple seconds before Natsumi pulled back. Lila stared at Natsumii in surprise at her bold move.

Natsumi grinned at her and said, "You're an idiot if you think I wouldn't return your feelings."

Lila didn't answer her and instead, pulled her into a kiss, one that Natsumi happily returned. When they finally pulled back, they were both smiling and even though they didn't say anything, they both knew what the other felt.

I love you.

When the twenty-four hours was up, Manami felt disappointed. She had expected that Natsumi would come but it seems that she was too much of a coward to do so. She sighed and was about to order one of her lackeys to get Master Rowan when a messenger rushed in.

"Commander Manami, I have a message," he said, standing at attention.

Manami glared at him and said, "I can see that. What is it?"

The messenger gulped before shakily replying, "Na-natsumi Dragneel has turned herself in."

Manami smirked in both victory and satisfaction.

"Good. Bring her to me," she ordered.

"Yes Commander!" the messenger saluted before running away.

It was a few minutes later that the messenger reappeared, this time with Natsumi. Natsumi looked resigned as if she knew she couldn't win. Manami felt smug at that.

"Ah, Natsumi, how nice of you to join us," she mocked.

Natsumi stared up at her expressionless and asked, "What do you want?"

"Why your death of course!" she said mock cheerfully.

Natsumi glared at her, causing her smirk to become a smile.

"Look at it this way Natsumi, your little friends will receive Master Rowan;s mercy, which is more than you ever granted us," Manami said, patting Natsumi's cheek in mock comfort.

Whatever Natsumi was about to say was interrupted by an explosion.

"What was that?" Manami demanded, straightening instantly.

As if hearing her question, a messenger, different from the one that delivered Natsumi, rushed in.

"Commander Manami! We're under attack!"