Chapter 51...

Everyone was busy, and not stopping anytime soon. As Kagura made sure the last of the houses were emptied, she went to check on Eugene. She got to his steps and opened the door to his home. First thing she saw was a small pile of papers, and Eugene writing quickly on a large piece of parchment paper. He sighed deeply and brushed his red hair out of his eyes. He wiped his glasses, and re-centered them on his face.

"How are you doing Eugene?" She kindly asked, making her way over to him.

"Well, I find myself a bit at odds with my enthusiasm, and fear of death. I'm happy to work on these types of things, but...not for the wrong reasons." Eugene smiled slightly.

"How is your wound? Can I get you anything?" Kagura offered.

"Oh, my leg is just bum at the moment. I am in no need of concern." He kindly refused.

"You work very efficiently." Kagura noted with praise, seeing a good portion of the paper he was working on nearly complete.

"Perhaps pressure is a supporting factor." Eugene chuckled slightly.

"Or Kes, and your unborn." Kagura smiled.

"..yes." He smiled warmly at the thought. "Your friend Natsu..." He suddenly brought up.

"Yes?" Kagura responded.

"I apologize if I had any rude comments said to him. He...seemed like the type of person who understood this situation best." He noted, recalling their conversation the other day.

"I understand why you are skeptical, but he's very experienced with these kinds of things. " Kagura assured him.

"Well, you have my full cooperation, if you vouch for him, he must be very trust worthy." Eugene nodded. "I knew it the moment I looked into his eyes...he lost something similar, didn't he?" He asked. "That's why he laid out the options. I'm guessing he was also left with a similar choice."

"...he...doesn't talk much about his past, but there were...occasions he mentioned how unfortunate he was." Kagura shrugged slightly, and frowned. "But to be perfectly honest, I don't know the whole story, so, forgive me if I don't say anymore than this." She apologized.

"I see. What else can you tell me about him?" He had additional questions.

"He's very serious when it calls for it, but, also has a caring side to him. Master teases him non-stop, so it sparks playful conflict a lot, whenever he visits the guild." Kagura thought about it. "Despite all that, he still helps out, and rarely accepts gratitude. But he's also VERY reckless...and in his words, crazy." She smiled laughed softly.

"You seem to know quite a bit about him." Eugune noticed.

"(Ahem). Of course these are just my opinions, and how I view him. If you wish to know more about him, it would be best to ask him yourself. I don't know a whole lot about, and I don't ask as much." She swiftly answered.

"Why don't you?" Eugene asked as he went back to scribbling down on a note pad.

"I...well..." Kagura wasn't quite sure herself why she didn't ask him the most obvious questions. Did she want to know more? Yes. But only when he felt comfortable about it. They hit it off pretty good, and she assumed by know that this question was bound to pop up soon. But she hesitated...

"I can see it bothers you, so I will not press further." Eugene figured he must have hit a nerve. "Reminds me, of Kes and me...we only started having a relationship after I worked up the nerve to talk to her. We learned so much from each other. One thing led to another, and before we were already vowing to love each other till the end." He smiled. "It's not my business, but, if it troubles you, just ask him. I'm sure he's just waiting for someone to talk to." He shrugged.

"...mm. Thanks Eugene." Kagura nodded.

"Looks like they're back? Is that miss Erza and Ikaruga I see out there?" He looked out the window and saw the three entering. Kagura decided to go out and greet them.

"Excuse me."


"Erza. Ikaruga. It's good to see you." Kagura smiled. With more of them there, it increased their odds.

"Greetings miss Kagura." Ikaruga bowed respectively. "Is there somewhere we can sit? Natsu Dranigon has suffered a small injury when we met up." She explained.

"What happened?" Kagura asked with concern.

"I came across a little troop on the way back. They suicide-bombed me." Natsu gritted his teeth slightly while making a pained expression.

"I see. Come over here, there's a spot we can talk." She directed them at a bench. Natsu sat on a stump slowly and Ikaruga supported him till he was comfortable. She stood behind him and was checking the side of his shoulder. As the four of them got comfortable, they began discussing how to move forward.

"So I have the gist of what happened. This enemy is not to be taken lightly. " Erza started. "What was her name again?" Erza asked Natsu.

"Orchid." Natsu answered.

"What do you know so far about what's going on here?" Ikaruga ask Kagura, as she began slowly massaging Natsu's shoulders. His body was tensed up so much, he was still feeling extremely tense, that he twitched at the touch of her hands.

"From what we can make sense of, she needs a type of blueprint for a power source they are making. And if the village doesn't meet the deadline for it, she'll probably kill them all." Kagura explained as best she could. "Also, she seems to be a sly tactician. She went so far to make sure we saw what she was doing. Almost as if she was testing us." She recalled Natsu's observations into account. As Ikaruga was massaging, she noticed that he seemed to be slowly bobbing his head, like he was trying to stay awake.

"By the way, what happened to the ambush that Natsu ran into?" Kagura asked.

"They're out cold in the forest. We had them tied up." Erza explained simply. "I'll question them shortly. Perhaps they can be reasoned with."

"I doubt it." Natsu suddenly said.

"What makes you say that?" Kagura asked with an inquisitive expression.

"That wasn't a simple ambush. They were targeting me." Natsu exhaled. "I think...that was an assassination attempt, with expendable soldiers." Natsu came to a conclusion. Erza and Kagura were wide eyed.

"But...that's just ridicules! What's the point of sacrificing themselves needlessly?! Didn't they come here to claim magic? There is no need for them to die for it!" Kagura just shook her head in disappointment.

"...regardless of their methods, no matter what, we are still faced with the issue of Trojan village's safety. We still have one more day before this...Orchid woman returns. What measures we take, must be decided soon." Ikaruga voiced.

"Eugene wants me or Kagura to move everyone out in case Orchid doesn't live up to her end of the deal. Leaving only one of us here with him to trigger a bomb he made under the village. But that's only last resort...at least I hope. I think he intends to use it." Natsu assumed. "But with you two here, it might even the odds." Natsu pointed out.

"So how should we do this?" Erza asked them all.

"..." Kagura looked at Natsu, then Ikaruga. Ikaruga shrugged.

"Natsu? I'm sorry if we rely on you for input, but any suggestions on how we should proceed would be invaluable. If you can't, that's fine." Erza knew Natsu was a lot better at reading the situation and formulating a plan, but his actions got them out of trouble, time and time again, she had seen him as a lot better leader when they were together..

"...(Sigh). Okay um..." Natsu decided to speak up. Normally whenever they were in this type of situation, he was usually the deciding factor. "...okay here's what we'll do. The three of you will escort the villagers out. I'll stay behind with Eugene. They know you three better than me, so they'll follow your lead a lot easier."

"Are you saying they don't trust you?" Ikaruga interjected.

"I'm saying they trust you, and won't hesitate to follow your orders. I'm the outsider here. I've only met Eugene and Kes, you guys know everyone here, so that'll put them more at ease. Any objections?" Natsu asked them.

"At least leave one of us here to help you." Kagura voiced with concern.

"I'll be fine. I can escape here with Eugene if things get hairy." Natsu assured them. "I know what I'm up against now, so I can fight them with a clear conscious. Besides, you won't be too far away." Natsu clapped his hands together and his map formed in his hands. He placed it on the ground in front of them. He then re-quipped his sword and pointed it at their location. "Kagura and I got here through the main road, then we took a right and cut through the Red Woods. There was a clearing out here, and a hill. Have them set up camp here at the top, at the edge of the forest. That's only about two miles from here. That way you can use the forest as a fall back, or if they come at you in the opposite direction, at least you'll have the high ground." Natsu explained while tapping the map. "Of course, this is all under the assumption that we can resolve this tomorrow." Natsu had to point out as he held his sword close. "Either way, this place is compromised. They gotta move towards Crocus or Hargon just to be safe. After this whole exchange gets taken care of, escort them straight to this harbor. The ships come and go from the harbor to Hargon everyday, so as soon as you get them there, you can come back."

"I see. It's a good plan. But what if we run into those giant metal dragons?"

"I thought about that. What was your first encounter like?" Natsu asked.

"It took Mira's magic head on. It repelled almost all of Erza's elemental weapons. However, we only engaged it for about five minutes before Knightwalker took us by surprise." Kagura explained.

"Right...well you don't have my power at your disposal this time, so just aim for the joints. If Treya can cut through one, so can you."

"I thought you said Dragon Slayer Magic was probably the only thing that damaged it?"Erza raised an eyebrow.

"Probably most effective. The armor is too thick for any direct attack, and normal spells are useless, it'll just take the brunt of it and brush it off." Natsu shook his head.

"What about it's weapons?" Ikaruga asked. "Surely they do not have as much defense as it's outside armor?"

"That might do it. If you get close enough." Natsu nodded.

"Very well. We will leave just before dark." Erza nodded. "At first light, we'll proceed towards this port."

"Alright. I'm gonna go let Eugene know what's going on." Natsu stood up and began making his way toward's Eugene's house. When he left, the three stood there and continued talking.

"Is he going to be alright?" Kagura asked.

"He looked to be fatigued." Ikaruga noted. "When was the last time he rested?" She asked.

"I could have sworn he slept-" Kagura began to say, but Ikaruga cut her off.

"No, I misspoke. He doesn't look to be at full strength, is what I meant." She clarified.

"..." Kagura was silent.

"I think...he was trying to hide it. He's always running himself to the limit. Never stopping. Perhaps I was asking him too much." Erza placed her hand on her chin.

"It was not wrong to ask him an opinion. He understands the situation best, despite his first time being here, and working with little info." Ikaruga calmed her. "However, I agree leaving him here alone is not the best idea. I think one of us should stay behind just in case." Ikaruga said after sitting on the stump.

"Who then?" Kagura asked.

"I believe...Erza would be a logical choice." Ikaruga said.

"Me?" Erza repeated.

"You've fought this enemy before, so your experience would prove valuable." Ikaruga pointed out. She scratched the back of her head and looked toward Kagura. She seemed to be sporting a...slightly, disappointing look. It was hard to tell, because normally Kagura always kept a stoic expression, but she had known Kagura long enough to know when she disapproved. "Then again...Kagura has also faced them before, so I believe you two should decide." Ikaruga got up and went towards Eugene's house, leaving the two there.

"I could do it, Kagura. Either way, we'll all meet up afterwards. " Erza said with a smile.

"...Mm." Kagura nodded.

"Kagura?"

"What?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No. You're a lot more stronger than I am. You'd be a lot more helpful than me." Kagura shook her head.

"I...don't consider myself stronger than you. I-if you want, I could-"

"Erza?" She suddenly said.

"What is it?" Erza asked in a more gentle tone.

"I..." She said hesitantly.

"What's the matter? Is it something I did-"

"No...it's just..."

"Please, tell me." Erza pleaded. It sounded pretty serious.

"I...like...him." She blushed slightly.

"..."

"..."

"...huh?" Erza was suddenly surprised at her sudden response.

"Natsu...I like him."

"I-I know. I like him too."

"I know..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..o-oh.."

"Yeah..."

"...I-I see."


Eugene's house...

"Oh that's great! With more help, this will be a lot less stressful." Eugene said with a sigh of relief. Natsu had got done telling them what they planned to do.

"With any luck, you'll be halfway to Hargon by the end of tomorrow." Natsu said dully, as he leaned back against the wall.

"Yeah...hopefully." Eugene smiled.

"Pardon me." Ikaruga entered shortly after.

"Ah, miss Ikaruga, what a pleasant surpris-urgh.." Eugene forgot he was injured and tried to get up to greet her.

"Please don't stress it much, mister Eugene. The time for hospitality can wait till this whole ordeal has been dealt with." Ikaruga urged him to sit down. "I came to ask, is there a room with a bed that I could borrow?" She asked kindly, admiring the many flower pots that Kes had placed neatly around the room.

"Of course. You can use any of the houses, since no one is using them right now." He nodded.

"Perfect. Natsu Dranigon? Would you accompany me for something important?" She asked him.

"..uh, sure?" Natsu raised his eyebrow. "Erza and Kagura are at that house behind this one." He let Eugene know.

"We'll be in the one across from this one." Ikaruga told him before the two left. Eugene sighed once more, and went back to work.


"What a nice house." Ikaruga noted while the two entered and looked around the big room. Just like all the other houses, it was a log home. There was a beam that was in the center of the room, and dressers, tables, and a couple chairs. It looked abandoned though. Save for the usual pot of plants, this house was stripped of everything that would tell them anything about the people that lived there.

"Looks new. They polished down a lot of the logs." Natsu noted while looking around even closely. "So what did you need?"

"What 'I' need?" Ikaruga smiled while keeping her back to him. "No, no, no, this isn't about what I need. It's about what YOU, need." She smiled as she searched for the bedroom. She peeked inside one room, and found what she was looking for. "Please, follow me." She said right before disappearing into the room.

"...why do I think of a trap when she said that? Normally I get this feeling right before Ultear is about to pounce." Natsu nervously swallowed. He then cringed slightly from the wound on his shoulder as touched it while approaching the room. As he looked, he saw Ikaruga sitting on one side of the bed. She had propped her long sword against the wall.

"Lie down please. I wish to take a better look at your wound." She patted the mattress. For some reason, the bed looked very enticing, because he was really worn out. He sat down on the opposite side. Then sat on top of the bed. He had his bandaged shoulder facing her.

"...well?"

"I did say lie down." She repeated.

"You need me to lie down to look at my shoulder?"

"On your back to be precise." She held her finger up in correction.

"...alright." Natsu was now a little cautious all of a sudden. Normally this is where things began to take an unexpected turn. But, he had never had to deal with Ikaruga before. Her amused smile had hidden intent. Following her instructions, he laid down and was facing up towards the ceiling. He turned and saw her bending over and looking at his shoulder. She moved a lock of bright pink hair from her face, and slowly lifted his arm to examine the tender flesh. It wasn't very deep, but she decided to wrap it with a fresh bandage. She reached into her sash, and pulled out a small roll of cloth. She began slowly wrapping it, while Natsu just watched her do it. As soon as she finished, she sat up straight and looked at him softly.

"Do not worry Natsu Dranigon. I have no hidden motive for this. I merely am concerned about your well being at the moment." She explained in a gentle tone.

"I'm fine." He said normally.

"I do not think that is the case." She said as she turned away and placed her arms into her sleeves. "Your skin is clammy. You're sensitive to touch, and your eyes have a weary look in them." She told him.

"...what are you-"

"Please listen to me." She interrupted him. "It's alright. Your fatigue is catching up with you. You returned from a close brush with death, and just last week, you narrowly escaped a prison camp with a deep injury. Your posture...is not the same as what I saw when you first entered Mermaid Heel." She said to him as he made a sound of surprise. "If anything happened to you, my comrades and master would be heart broken, deeply." She turned and her smile was gone and an empty frown took it's place. "So do not think me of someone who you must keep face for."

"...that's...quite a perception you arrived at." Natsu said and just looked back at the ceiling.

"Am I wrong?"

"...no. " Natsu admitted.

"Do not sound so regretful. My guild asks much of you, simply because you are a reliable ally. You've done much for the empresses, and my master. I believe she feels more alive when you always step through that entrance." She pointed out while slowly smiling. "...without her...I would have not been a part of this world any longer." She felt the black choker on her neck. Recalling that day when she first met her. "You must know the real reason...why they all died." She ominously said.

"...the old man told me his niece was strong. When I returned...all their wounds were caused by just one weapon..." Natsu turned to her sword propped against the wall.

"I would have thought that I was going to depart this world after that...but before my blade could enter my throat, a young woman with long raven hair had grabbed it, stopping me. She did not care of the cuts that she received, but she instead had quietly embraced me from behind. I did not know this woman, and she did not know me. But that moment, I froze. I did not care if it was an enemy, I had done what had been done. If death was the one embracing me, I would welcome it. I let go, preparing for the inevitable. But it wasn't death...it was life." She smiled sadly. "I remember her words everyday."

"..." Natsu blinked and listened.

"She said...Come with me. I'll take care of you." Ikaruga said simply.

"...hm." Natsu could only say.

"She and you are the only ones who know. As time went on, I got along with the others rather splendidly. Seeing this, Ultear made me the second one in charge. I did not see how I could be given the honor, a mere guild member. I realized now that it shows how much she trusts me. I thought, if she could do that, despite knowing I was a murderer...I wanted to see how far this person could go in a world like this. If she could place faith in me, I realized that even in a wretched world like mine, there was still a chance for me to start over." She concluded.

"It sounds like you're trying to tell me something." Natsu observed.

"...you are what makes my master smile more often. So, I must do best to keep her smiling." She said while turning to him and locking eyes. "Please don't overexert yourself. It pains to watch." She smiled softly.

"...I know my limits." Natsu said with a serious look. "I get the feeling this new enemy will be a deciding factor in my quest for vengeance. And if I do die, at least I'll have an excuse to Venigon as to why I couldn't kill that dragon." Natsu shrugged with a defeated look. Suddenly Ikaruga was now towering over him. She still had a smile, but had him trapped in place with her hands on both sides of him.

"Giving into defeat before the battle even begins? I was told you were a lot more enthusiastic, the stronger the foe?" She said.

"I just like a good challenge." He deadpanned.

"Fufufu, of course." Ikaruga chuckled. "Tell me. If Ultear were to offer her self to you freely, would you accept her?" She randomly asked.

"Is there a time where she isn't?" Natsu said with a slightly annoyed look.

"You should just accept. I personally can say, master would not hesitate to partake of you." She assured with humor in her voice.

"I'm pretty sure she makes that known every time." Natsu answered dully again.

"If you know, why don't you?"

"...I'm not sure I should." Natsu turned away with a frown.

"Why?" She simply asked.

"It's complicated." He said.

"Only a fool thinks of simple matters as complicated. You do not look like a fool, so what are you hiding?" She asked.

"I..." Natsu figured he could say. "I'm hunting something." He began. "A dragon that killed mine. I was training for years to become a dragon slayer, specifically to kill it."

"Go on." Ikaruga urged.

"After my first encounter with it, it nearly killed me. Venigon had to bail me out, and it cost him his life. He gave me a forbidden Dragon Slayer Spell that I could use to kill it for sure. But in exchange, it could kill me." He finished. "So the reason I don't get involved that much with others, is because I don't want to make them heartbroken. I've gone through that feeling so many times in my life...I don't want to feel it anymore. When I find the dragon..that's where it ends." He concluded with a sigh. "I know Ultear likes me, Ikaruga. But I don't want to...I...don't deserve it."

"I know what you mean." She got off him and sat cross legged on the bed. "I can only imagine what you've been through to say such words. You think people wouldn't understand you, and you're afraid to give into happiness, out of fear of it being taken from you again." She rubbed his arm gently. "But, if you simply reject it, then for certain, you will never have it." She warned.

"What makes you think I want happiness?"

"Is that not the point of living?" She tilted her head slightly.

"...you know? I've never really thought about it." Natsu looked out the window.

"What do you want Natsu Dranigon?"

"Huh?"

"What. Do. You. Want?" She slowly asked.

"What I want?...sleep."

"Eh?" Ikaruga was a bit surprised.

"Sleep." Natsu looked back at her. "I want to just sleep without feeling the need to look over my shoulder. I want to sleep without thinking about when I'm going to die...I want to sleep, knowing I don't have to fear losing another day of what could have been what I wanted it to be. I want to sleep knowing that tomorrow I'll wake up and go back to sleep. I..."

"...?"

"I want to sleep and never wake up." He felt a slight sting in his eye. "Because if that were to happen, I wouldn't be left with nothing...I just want...sleep." He sniffled slightly. He just watched outside as the villagers were getting ready to move out. "I'd rather have one day of that, than a whole life wishing for it."

"Then sleep." Ikaruga said simply.

"...?"

"Sleep knowing, that you can leave things to us today. You've done enough, it is time for us to be relied on. We know what to do, you just collect yourself for when the hour approaches." Ikaruga closed her eyes and began getting off the bed. She grabbed her blade, and placed it inside her sleeve. "Beside's, as a fellow student of the New Moon School, I would hate to be the last one left." She remarked as she came over to his side of the bed. She pulled up a pillow-padded rocking chair and sat comfortably on it. "Rest, and I will keep things under control. Let the blissful slumber embrace your mind and body. " She said as she looked him in the eyes once more.

"But-"

"I will be right by your side if anything note worthy comes up." She assured him once more and leaned back.

"...just...if..anything comes up...if...any...Zzzz..." Natsu felt his eyes grow very heavy, and he slowly passed out on the bed. Ikaruga smiled and reached under the bed. It was a small incense jar she placed specifically to hasten sleep.

"...I must say, Ultear. You sure are caring to the point of amusement, and deviousness..."


Flashback...

"Alright, lets begin heading towards their position, if we leave now, we may arrive there as early as tomorrow." Erza said to her long, pink haired, companion.

"Mm. We shall be there to assist in time." She nodded with a smile.

(Huuummm...)

"Hm?" Ikaruga's eyes slightly narrowed. Her choker was vibrating slightly. Erza was already moving ahead of her, so she took the chance to place her fingers on her choker. As she did, a tiny rune shined on the side, and a voice entered her head. "Master?"

"Ikaruga, do you still carry that incense for when I got those cases of insomnia?" Ultear's voice asked in her mind.

"Always. There's a spare I had young Meredy carry in case you-"

"No, not for me. Listen...Meredy's diagnosis of Natsu was...a bit concerning."

"Concerning? In what way?"

"Listen...it's nothing life threatening, I'll show you when you return, but I need you to do me a favor when you get there.."

"I'm listening."

"I need you to put Natsu to sleep."

"What for?" Ikaruga raised an eye brow.

"I don't think he's had a goodnight's sleep in a looong, time."

"What makes you say that?"

"I slept with him the other night."

"Fufufu. At last you claim him."

"...nothing happened.

"...oh."

"Th-that's not important. I just...and I know it's selfish of me to ask, and, you can say no-"

"You want me to keep an eye on his health?"

"..."

"But of course, Master! If anything, I was concerned about when he fainted from the poison in his body."

"..thank you."

"You know, you did not have to contact me privately for this."

"This is a request from me to you, NOT, those other two."

"Ohhh, hmhmhmhm~. So the noble knight, and rabbit queen are still in play."

"We agreed on no one ups with one way calls, but there is nothing wrong with using you."

"...have I ever told you of your affinity to a malevolent woman?"

"If you can't win fair and square, no harm in it. Just, do what you can to make him comfortable."

"Why, master. Are you telling me to join in on the fun~?"

"I would just like a...ally for certain reasons."

"We ARE still talking about his well being, and not his chastity?"

"I am insulted you'd think I would go to such lengths to make him mine."

"I'm pretty sure this is at it's lengthiest, so far." Ikaruga just kept a straight smile while sweat dropping.

"With the three of you there, i'm sure you'll be fine. Just, try to go easy on Natsu. He seemed a little more...tired."

"Mm. Just leave this task with me."

"Thank you again, Ikaruga."

"You really care about this one, don't you?"

"...yes."

"Then, I must put in extra effort. Goodbye master."

"Stay safe..."


Flashback end...

Ikaruga took the incense and placed it in her sash. She slowly got up and placed the covers over him and casually made her way out the door. As she went to go tell her friends, she was smiling in thought.

"...I will keep you safe. For master, and everyone...Natsu Dranigon...my fellow disciple."


Sorry about the wait on this one, I forgot my idea for this chapter, but I remembered after I started typing away, lol. So, The poll is now closed for my idea of a Treya Duella origin story, and gee, I didn't think she'd get that much love! Heck, I keep getting asked what anime or manga she's from, and I'm just like:...how do I even break it to these guys and gals? lol. So, I'm gonna start thinking about how to set that up. SOON, I hope, I still got my other stories to worry about, but since it's an OC, I won't be pressed for time to get that one up. Alright, enough yammering!

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Laters!