Here's the next chapter, folks. Woohoo, an actual weekly chapter. I quickly wanna mention Warriorzgiom for making me aware of a simple fact that I had completely lost sight of. Tsk, way to go me. So, my thanks to that fella. Now, this chapter's gonna try to get a good mood going as well as bring as bring an event along. Although, it won't be showcased as much as you might hope for. Still, hope you'll enjoy!
Without waking Maggie or Reah, I climbed to Natsu's room. Luckily, there were no people out this early in the morning. Seeing someone climb a house might get us some unwanted attention. But all that mattered now was making sure Natsu and I weren't seen. If the guild knows we left with these people, they'd be much more concerned. Afer all, we don't know what awaits us. I knock on his window. Natsu's snoozing loudly, I fear that alone might give us away. I sweatdrop at the thought and conjure a spectre inside the room to get him up. I must say, regardless of our current situation, I have to crack a smile when I see him tumbling out of his bed. Fortunately, Loki and Toal didn't wake up. I'd prefer to keep them out of this, it makes moving easier. Especially considering they don't have enhanced senses, like us. We'll meet up with them when we're sure it's safe.
I see Natsu's confused face pop up from the other end of his bed. Once again, I knock on the window while my spectre points at me with an angry expression. While opening it, he proceeds to greet me.
"Hey there, I didn't know you liked doing morning exercises as well. Why'd you wake me up, do you want to do them together?" As adorable as it is, I am fighting really hard against the urge to facepalm. I think these people are already having an influence on him.
"Just smell." I instruct, keeping it short and simple. He asks no questions, knowing that something's up. With closed eyes, he sniffs the air. After lowering his nose and opening his eyes again, his expression has grown serious.
"Laxus." Following my example, he jumps down to the streets through the window. I'm happy to see he hasn't gone completely braindead. I let out a small chuckle.
"So, we just avoid them and try to meet up with the others?" I nod in confirmation.
"Well, then I have an idea on what to do..." Without any additional information, Natsu guides me past the village's boundaries. Not being in town might be a good idea, but what could he have in mind?
"I heard it before we left the forest. I think you might not have, because I'm sure you would've wanted to check it out." Now he's confusing me. Check what out?
"What're you talking about?" My question is answered as soon as I asked it. Natsu pushes a layer of leaves aside to reveal a flowing river with a small waterfall.
"The water is coming from that mountain. I heard from the villagers that a water wyvern lives at the top."
"Do you believe that?" I must say, I'm not one to believe someone's words until I've seen it.
"It's fun to think so." I should've guessed.
"So, wanna hop in?" EH?!
"What? Relax in some water? What if they apss by and see us?" I completely freak out, what is Natsu thinking? We're supposed to be hiding, not bathing in nature.
"They have business in town. We can't go very far because of the others, and staying inside is too risky. Only right next to town remains. There's no point in worrying about it if their purposes are unknown to us. We don't know if their business is inside town or further away. I'm just trying to go for the best alternative here, because we simply don't know." I grunt before collecting my thoughts. It's true that he does have a point. But I still can't agree with just slacking off while we're in this kinda situation.
"Fine then, have it your way." Then again, it's pointless to resist him. Besides, I kind of do want to hop in. Especially in that steamy pond right there. Now that I think about it, why is it so hot? What's around here warming it?
"Natsu, are those geysers?" I point at the origins of the smoke clouds.
"Oh, yeah. This place used to be a volcano. The wyvern's the reason it became inactive. But, again, that's just what I heart from the locals." He shows a grin as he once again brings up the topic of the local's stories. Maybe he's just doing that to toy with me. In fact, I think he does most thing just to toy with me.
"So, it's very hot beneath the surface. I'm sure we can sense it if we try." He crouches and places his hand on the ground. For no good reason, I copy him. I feel a power surging from beneath the thick layer of earth and rocks.
"You know, it feels... Alive." I whisper, almost unconsciously.
"Of course, to us it does. After all, it's heat. That's pretty much our life down there." When he puts it like that, it makes me feel so unusual, so inhuman.
"Doesn't saying that make you feel odd?" He seems to be confused, until his expression changes to the one of understanding.
"No, of course it doesn't. I know what you're thinking, but let me tell you something. What we are doesn't matter, it's about who we are. I can think of you as a weirdass spirit, or I can think of you as Violet. My Violet. The Violet that I adore and would protect to the best of my abilities." ...I didn't think he was gonna say something like that. I avert my gaze, attempting to not let him see my blush. Yet he holds my cheeks and forces me to look him in the eyes.
"Because, even though I'm some kind of Dragon Slayer, I'm just a regular person. I consider women pretty, but I consider only one beautiful. And all the people that see someone as beautiful have something in common. It's that they are in love." I open my eyes wide at the final statement. My chest is feeling hot and I could've sworn I felt my heart jump up my throat just now. If him saying that makes me feel this way, what does that mean? Is it... I think it is sort of comfortable, does that make it a good thing? Do I want more of this? What am I even thinking about? Without realizing it, Natsu had moved closer and closer to me. I end up receiving even more shock when our lips touch again. The feeling I had just now is amplified tenfold. Is this what that love is that he just mentioned? ...Whatever it is, I know I want more of it. I think while pushing my own lips against his. I close my eyes to further increase the enjoyment I get.
Time passes by slowly, and it feels like this moment could last forever. Every second, I sense even the slightest shift in the force that comes from either side. In the beginning, it had been Natsu pushing from the start, but I've slowly been gaining ground and, most of all, desire. Eventually, I have pushed Natsu on the ground and am on top of him. We finally part, and I look him in the eyes as I try to speak of how I feel.
"Natsu, I don't know what kind of feeling it is that you're giving me, but I know I want more of it." It's the only thing I can say, because it's the only thing I can say for sure. I don't know anything about any of this. After all, this is my first time experiencing anything of the sort.
"I'd like to believe that feeling is love, but that is for you to decide." Again, I blush slightly at the thought. Me? Am I really in love? I really can't say for sure. What does love even mean? I don't think it's as simple as just appreciating someone, is it?
"Well, let's calm down and get wet." The way he said it totally catches me off guard, until I see what he means.
"And, what do you suppose I do? Strip? You'd like that, wouldn't you?" I give him an accusing stare.
"I'm not denying anything, but I think underwear would be fine. We can dry it later anyways." He's averting his gaze while shrugging, as if he's not even ashamed but just stating a simple fact.
And so, we drop a layer of clothing and bathe in the relaxing hot water. At first, I felt a little self-conscious, but I loosened up over time. I must admit, it actually is really relaxing. I gaze at the clear blue sky. I suddenly feel skin contact on my right arm. Natsu has been shifting closer to me.
"What're you doing?" I ask bluntly.
"Enjoying myself." I-Is he TRYING to embarass me? As i am wondering, he forcefully pulls me closer. It's as if he's being really gentle and tender while also being very clumsy and dense at the same time. But I've grown accustomed to him putting on an act whenever it would affect me somehow. So, I rest my head on his arm. Now it seems I'm getting a reaction out of him. I hear him gulp as soon as I made the gesture. Wait... Now that I think about it, he's getting a pretty good angle. As panicky as it gets, I jump away from him while shouting all kinds of accusations. Most of them involved pervert. I look at him from the bushes while drying my clothing. His hair is now dripping wet. We tried to keep our head and shoulders out of the water, but I sort of messed that up for him. Hmpf, I don't feel bad. Then again, it wasn't his fault, was it? Pff, I'm sure he liked it.
"Well, so much for relaxation, I suppose." He sounds slightly disappointed as he raised himself from the pool. The water on his body evaporated into steam while he walks over to me.
"Sorry, it wasn't intentional. Can you at least forgive me, knowing that?" He halts next to me. It sounds like he's sincerely apologizing, but that's probably what he wants me to think.
"I guess I'll have to." I grunt, trying to cover my feeling of guilt.
"Great, though I must tell you something. What if the others meet up with Laxus and tell him all about us?" Phew, good thing I at least thought of that.
"Don't worry, I left a note explaining our situation."
"Oh, and you probably didn't tell them anything about where we might be?" Well, Natsu's to blame for this one, really.
"I didn't know where we were going. I just said we'd be out of sight, they might figure that's just out of town." It's true that that seems like the logical approach. We might hear them screaming our names from the village's gates at one point.
"I suppose you're right, I wonder how long it'll ta-"
"NAAAAATSUUUU! VIIIIIIOLEEEEEET!" Welp, that didn't take very long.
"WE'RE HERE!" Erm, Natsu? I think he doesn't realize that we're still rather exposed.
"I believe it'd be best if we hurry and get dressed, our current dressup might cause confusion.
"Finally, we've been looking all over for the bo-" Loki approaches us and is met with two heads glaring at him from a bush. He stares at us, then at the water, then back at us. He seems to have gotten the message, because he quickly turns around.
"So, we didn't mention you guys when we met up with that Laxus fellar. He's here for a job, and should stay inside the village until something happens. We were thinking of sticking around for a day, but that might be a little inconvenient right now." He explains what happened and what he knows to us.
"So, he's here for that water wyvern that's said to live up there?" I point at the top of the mountain close to us. Is that really his job? What would be wrong with it? You know, if it exists in the first place.
"I think that's what he said, but I don't know anything else." Meanwhile, we walk from behind our cover and I tap him on his shoulder. He turns and continues the conversation while we walk towards the village gate.
"Let's try to see if we can meet up with the others in silence and talk then." Natsu and I both nod. Seems like things have grown serious again after such a relaxing morning. Although, even then, there was a tiny bit of tension. I think back on the moment and sneak a peek at Natsu himself. The cause of all my agony and joy, pretty much.
Later, we find ourselves lurking over the street in which our inn is situated.
"Can you sense him?" I hear Natsu asks me.
"It appears clear to me."
"Alright, let's hope and pray." We walk side by side towards the front door. We peek inside to make sure they weren't there and enter.
"Ah, you two, and Loki as well. Tthe good folks said you wern't ther tis mornin'. They went lookin' fer ya." Crap, so they're not here.
"Do you have any idea where they might've gone?"
"I herd 'em say sumthin' about waitin' 'round the lil' market place we got if they couldn't find ya." I bow to him.
"Thank you for the information, we'll be leaving." The part that scares me the most about all this is that a single fuck up would give us big trouble, and we had no control over the situation. As we turn around the corner, the sight over the market place is not what I'd hoped for. Laxus and the Raijinshuu talking to the Outlanders. Natsu grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me behind cover. Standing behind the curtain of a small souvenir stand, we peek to confirm what we saw. They are indeed conversing with one another.
"I'll go and try to get them somewhere out of sight." We nod and watch him approach the group. However he, and everybody on the marketplace, is halted by a screech that pierces my eardrums. I look up to see the cause of this sound, and all my suspicions about the rumor vanished in the blink of an eye...
So, more private moments as well as a jump into the Lion's den, except that it's a wyvern. I hope I didn't displease too much, but it's what I got for you right now. 'Til next time!