Chapter 28
"Memories: Part 2"
Song: No Way Out, Phil Collins "Brother bear, I've let you down..."
"Yo, Naomi! Kashi!"
The two girls turned around to see Natsu and Happy with a mission in-hand. "We want to go on a mission, but it requires six members. Want to join us?!" The smiles on their faces were priceless. The two girls smiled at each other then back at the pink haired idiot. "Sure! Who else is coming?" Naomi asked.
"Me, Happy, you two, Erza, and Gray!"
Kashi nodded. "Sounds good to me!"
As Natsu ran off to tell Mirajane he had the requirements met to take the mission, Happy flew over to Naomi. "By the way, we're all staying at your house tonight!"
Her face lit up with confusion. "WHAT?!" With that the flying cat had left, and Naomi ran home to prepare for visitors. Kashi shook her head, and with that she headed home to pack a bag. Natsu was always inviting himself over to Naomi's house, so this wasn't any surprise.
Over the years of staying with the guild, Kashi had come to terms with the fact she might never become a dragon again. She watched as Natsu pursued every lead he found, only to find nothing every time. She never told Natsu who she was-instead became friends with him over time hoping that if she ever did turn back into a dragon, he would spare her. He was a dragon slayer, after all. She was afraid if he ever got too close to her he would remember her scent somehow, and call her out on her secret.
Night came fast, and the gang met at Naomi's house as planned. She had some snacks ready, as well as places to sleep, and had hid anything flammable. Erza was dead set on leaving at first light, so everyone got into their beds after a few words of action.
Kashi's dreams were filled with memories of being a dragon. Opening her wings, she took off from her forest home and flew out towards brother Igneel's cave. Her happy dream turned horrid as the landscape became charred and indistinguishable. Smoke filled her lungs as she spotted Igneel's cave. Upon entering the cave she saw Igneel standing there. His kind eyes seemed tired. "My…little…sister…" Igneel raised a paw to touch her, only to disintegrate within a whirlwind his own flames. His screams of pain filled the skies.
"IGNEEL!" Kashi screamed, sitting up out of bed. She was sweating, panting, and crying. She looked around quickly, and saw nobody else get up. She sighed and whispered "Thank goodness, I didn't wake anybody." She wiped the sweat and tears from her face and moved quietly into the kitchen. She sat on one of Naomi's barstools and stared blankly at the counter. A few minutes passed before a floorboard creaked behind her. She whipped her head around and saw Natsu.
"Oh, hi, Natsu…" She whispered. He nodded, and took the barstool next to hers. Natsu stayed quiet for a while before he spoke up. "You called out his name in your sleep." She looked at him in shock to see him scowling at her. She stayed silent before Natsu stood from his chair, glaring down at her. "How do you know Igneel?"
She sighed, and looked away from the angry dragon slayer. "Let's go outside, okay?" Natsu nodded, and the two of them crept outside without waking anybody. The two Fairy Tail members sat outside on Naomi's front steps. Natsu opened his mouth to demand answers again, but Kashi beat him to it.
"I didn't just know Igneel, okay?"
Natsu watched her with an unreadable expression. "So who was he to you?"
Kashi pondered if she should really tell him, and ultimately decided it was time to tell the truth. "My brother."
Natsu's heart skipped a beat, and you could almost hear his brain working. "But, how? You're not a dragon." He stated. Kashi nodded. "Sure, not anymore I'm not." Natsu scrunched his eyebrows as Kashi maintained a serious, stoic face, although tears slip down her cheeks.
"Look, I'm sorry. I should have told you, but I didn't want anyone to know."
Natsu kept quiet, focused on Kashi's every movement.
"I'm a dragon, Natsu."
Without warning he grabbed Kashi by the shoulders. She flinched, afraid of what he might say or do. "Where are the others?! Did they turn into humans, too?" She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I don't know. On July 7th, x777 I was turned into a human by some random flash of light. It wasn't until I overheard you talking about Igneel on your first day at the guild that I knew the others had disappeared."
Suddenly his anger turned to kindness as he wrapped Kashi in a tight hug. "That means you're the closest thing I have to Igneel now…" Kashi sat in the awkward embrace for a while before speaking up. "But you know, I'm not a dragon anymore. And, although I hate to say it, I've given up on finding the others."
Natsu pulled away and looked at her with sadness in his eyes. "I can never give up on Igneel! Or the others!"
Kashi nodded. "I understand. But I also believe that things happen for a reason. I haven't found my reason yet, but I'm pretty sure I know what your reason is." Natsu folded his arms and gave her a weird face. "What are you talking about?"
"I think…" Kashi started "…that you were meant to make someone very happy. Igneel was the kindest dragon I knew, and you inherited that need for happiness and love from him." Natsu looked at her with a scowl. She continued. "And you found the person who makes you the happiest- she's in this house, and you know it." Natsu looked away with a blush rising up on his cheeks. She smirked. "You really need to tell her."
Natsu groaned. "Yeah, I know. Lucy said the same thing."
The two of them sat in silence looking off into the sky. His blush stayed on his face for a few minutes while pondering how to tell that special someone how he feels. "How about I tell her during the party a few days after we get back from this mission?"
Kashi nodded. "A plan's a good place to start, bud."
