Chapter 56...

Nighttime was now present, and everyone had got off the streets and were comfortably tucked in bed by this hour. Well, mostly. We find our familiar pinkette sitting at his table going over his old map. A frowned look upon his face was present as he examined the parchment with his eye half-open. As weariness set in, he was collecting his thoughts on the day he had. He couldn't really say it was a good one. Ikaruga coming out of nowhere to join Fairy Tail. Having to confront his friends about his past sins. And having to act as a wedge between Ikaruga and Treya so they wouldn't stab each other in the back.

He just looked at a familiar spot on the map that he was very familiar with, which prompted him to think back to when he was in the aforementioned area.


Flashback...

Sitting at a wooden table we find a younger Natsu, and another individual present among him. The two were sitting across from each other in a secluded corner of the bar they were at.

"Hey, Komodo?" Natsu asked while staring at his food with a blank expression.

"Mm?" A much older man looked up with his eyes closed. He had a short, brown beard and grizzled features on his face with a cracked scar creeping down the side of his cheek. He looked to be in his forties and was wearing a grey, long-sleeved shirt, and black pants. He had black strapped boots on that went up past his shin. He was quite muscular as well. His brown hair also was brushed back.

"Do you ever have trouble sleeping at night?" Natsu asked him curiously.

"...depends." His voice was deep and gruff. "...are you having trouble sleeping?"

"I just can't get all their faces out of my head." Natsu gripped his forehead as if he were weary. "I thought it would get easier. But I get this weird burning feeling inside me. I can't help but...feel angry every time I do it."

"After what they did?" Komodo tilted his head. "You're angry at them for it."

"No. At myself." Natsu frowned. "I don't know why I feel this way."

"..do you want to stop?"

"...I can't. If I stop now...everything would have been for nothing." Natsu gripped his hair and tugged it out of frustration. "How many more people do I need to kill for this to stop?" He sighed deeply.

"I don't think it's supposed to stop." Komodo thought for a moment before answering. "Offing someone ain't exactly something to be proud of."

"But it's so easy to kill someone. So why can't I calm down?" Natsu looked to him for an answer.

"Because you knew it was wrong." Komodo shrugged.

"Regret..killing those monsters?" Natsu was confused.

"What you are feeling is natural. You can see it as a good thing." Komodo nodded.

"How do you figure?"

"Well, that's what sets the difference between you, and a blood-crazed lunatic. That feeling you have? It is perfectly normal. If you didn't have it, you're well on your way to becoming like them." Komodo explained.

"I will never be like them! Never." Natsu raised his voice slightly.

"I never said that." Komodo just blandly stared at Natsu. "Killing's a rough business. Hard to tell whose side you're on nowadays. Especially since they outlawed kill-requests. Bounty hunting is getting more difficult these days, being that unless they're alive, it's unacceptable." He looked out the darkened window across the street.

"Are you saying what I'm doing is wrong?" Natsu frowned again.

"I'm saying that revenge is your own personal justice. It's not like 'justice' enforced nowadays. Even ones close to you may not see it that way." He looked at Natsu with a serious look. "Which is why you have to shoulder that burden, and not share it with anyone. Because that whole 'moral high ground' is just a platform, good people kick you off of. Because a bad person is just like rotten fruit. It ruins the whole basket."

"...I can't tell anyone?" Natsu asked once more with sadness.

"You can protect people, or kill them. But you can't do both."

"Why?"

"Because that is what draws the line between good and evil. Your actions define you. There is no grey area for most people. You're either with them or against them. If you ever heard a story about how a conflict left a heartwarming feeling in everyone, in the end, it is the biggest lie ever told. At least, that's what I believe. It's easier to paint the villain and the hero that way. But I guess the toughest question you gotta ask yourself is...what side do you think you're on right now? Are you a good person who does evil? Or are you a bad person who tries to do the right thing?"


Flashback over...

"I don't even know whose side I'm on." Natsu laid back as he recalled the old memory. He stared at the ceiling while lost in thought. His head just filled with the current events of the day made him frustrated. Particularly with his friends in Fairy Tail. Even after explaining himself, he expected there to be some disagreement with his methods, but it was like he was painted as the bad guy.

"It's not like I wanted to say those things to them...I was just trying to..." Natsu pinched his nose and clenched his teeth in anger and sadness. He didn't really expect much from Wendy or Lucy, because they just happen to be caught in the crossfire. But Gray and Erza...he thought they would give him some acknowledgment for the way he employed his methods. But the looks they gave him were just like he was distasteful because of the things he did. He was used to it.

But it didn't make it any less painful.

(knock, knock)

"..?" Natsu turned to see who was knocking on his door at this hour. He walked up and cracked it open, and was surprised to see Callan standing outside. "What do you want?" Natsu opened the door wider.

"Have you seen Treya?" He asked.

"No? I've been in here all night." Natsu shrugged.

"Well, she sent me out to go grab something and said she'd be waiting in the lobby."

"Is it that bottle?" Natsu noticed a wine bottle in his hands.

"Yeah. Blue Moon? Whatever the heck this is." He shrugged.

"Isn't that like a lover's item? I thought only couples bought this." Natsu took the bottle and examined it. He popped the cork and gave it a whiff. "Oof. That's strong." Natsu resealed it.

"Shit, that's gnarly." Callan covered his nose as well.

"Why the hell would she order wine?" Natsu wondered.

"I don't know, I was almost asleep before she kept pounding on my door." He groaned. "You give it to her, I'm bushed." He began walking off.

"What? Why do I have to-"

"Night, Dranigon~." Callan yawned as he made his way down the hall.

"What. An. Ass." Natsu shook his head. "For crying out loud, where the hell could she have-hm?" He then turned around and was shocked to see the said person sitting in his chair. As...if..she..was there...the whole time.

"Hello, Natsu Dranigon." She was cross-legged while sitting elegantly, in a provocative manner. He then came to a realization and saw Callan leaving a trail of dust around the corner. Now it was clear what had taken place.

"You backstabbing sunuva-" Natsu narrowed his eye in annoyance with a tick mark.

"SORRY, BUDDY!" Callan shouted back.

"Oh no, you're gonna BE sorry! When I catch you I'm gonna-" Natsu was about to give chase.

"Why don't you shut the door? It would be a waste to not partake of a fine product." Treya suggested. "Besides, it's not as if we'll get drunk off of one bottle. How nice of him to set the mood."

"So you did put Frosty up to this. Just how weak-willed is that motherfucker?" Natsu let out a deep groan.

"I just ask nicely." Treya simply said. "Plus, he supports my endeavor."

"Yeah, what was that again?" Natsu sarcastically asked as he put the bottle between them after pulling up another chair. He then shut the window she most likely slipped in from when he was busy chatting with the traitorous swine.

"Having a sexual relationship with you." She plainly proposed.

"Why does it have to be sexual?" Natsu propped his hand on his chin.

"Because ever since your blood has entered my body, I've had temptations whenever I think about you."

"Uh-huh." Natsu furrowed his eye.

"The horny kind."

"Hmm."

"The feeling of being filled up."

"I see." Natsu nodded.

"Making love in a most heated fashion."

"Makes sense."

"To make you cum in-"

"Treya, this is sarcasm coming out of my mouth right now." Natsu quickly pointed out.

"...oh." Treya simply leaned back after realizing.

"How can one be so...?" Natsu just could not believe her. Surely he dropped enough hints to make it obvious."Is my blood still making you this way?" He asked curiously.

"It's just an instinct. However, I admit I see you in a different light compared to when we met." Treya took the bottle and took a swift drink from it. She then scooted it over to Natsu.

"Yeah?" Natsu took the bottle and gave it a similar sip.

"..." Treya was not showing it on her face but she was happy he partook of the same bottle. She eyed the spout of the bottle their lips shared. Natsu placed it between them.

"What did you think of me at the time?" Natsu eyed her.

"Another contract." She honestly said. "But your dragon slayer abilities certainly made me curious."

"I didn't even think you were one either." Natsu shrugged. "let alone a Lost one."

"Perhaps we were meant to find each other" Treya suggested.

"You talking about the list?" Natsu raised his brow.

"...yes. The list." She looked away slightly.

"Makes you wonder what our dragons were thinking-"

"I forgot about it." She said under her breath.

"Huh?" Natsu stopped talking and listened.

"Nothing. I agree that passing on their power to us is one that I would not have considered to be part of a much grander design. But...I don't understand why I was not told. I knew there were others, but Ravalla never even hinted in all our time together that we were to take on another dragon. Not one, or even two, but five Lost Dragon Slayers to kill one dragon? It seems to be a threat to the whole world."

"I was gonna say overkill, but would we all be enough?" Natsu wondered as he gazed out the window. "I'm already hunting one dragon. Another one? I never even considered it."

"Tell me, about Venigon." She asked as she took another sip. "What did he impart on to you to want to keep on living after your village was burned to the ground?"

"You heard that?"

"I couldn't help but listen in." She shrugged.

"He said if I wanna die, then I have to at least have a reason." He scoffed in amusement. "So, I guess you could say it wasn't so much as a reason to live on, but just find something to die for."

"...?" Treya raised her brow.

"(Snickers). That's the same look I gave him. He spoke in very complicated and subtle ways. Almost like he was hoping I'd pick up on what he was saying. Training of the mind, he said. Hearing what is said, and what it meant could mean the difference in how the flow of a conversation went."

"You always seem to have a way with words. " Treya noticed.

"It just rubbed off on me. Though in truth I thought it was nonsense he spoke half the time. Never exactly was the sharpest tool in the shed if you get what I mean."

"If you allow inspecting of your 'tool' than I could tell you." She offered.

"Drink, you weirdo." Natsu plugged her mouth with the bottle. She slowly grabbed onto it and swallowed. "I don't think I've ever had a reason to keep on going, apart from hunting Vallith. Maybe it would have been different if I didn't run into Venigon. Maybe if Shy didn't-my friend, hadn't given up, maybe I could have run away with her, and I'd be doing something else. Maybe I'd be one of these guys in Fairy Tail. Having a family that constantly bickers and cries and shares happy moments, maybe I would have found that." He rested his arms on the table, and he looked at the moonlight shining brightly over the guild hall through the window.

Funny how even despite how dark it was outside, that even now the light was still shining down on Makarov's guild. "But no. No, I'm not looking to leave everything to chance in the hope that the guy who stabbed me in the back suddenly says some sugar-coated nonsense, that gets him a free pass." He sighed deeply while remembering Jellal with a bitter feeling. "I guess, 'redemption' is just determined by forgetting your past sins, and having people that believe you've changed." He slowly scratched the table with his nail. "Or I'm just crazy. In fact, I know I am, if I said all that crap with a straight face." He sounded a bit depressed about it, and he just stared boringly at the table. He wasn't just sad but angered the more he thought about how everyone just acted like he was the odd one out of all of them.

It was for their sake, but to them, it seemed like he was in the wrong. Treya noticed his change in demeanor and took pity him.

"..." Treya offered the wine bottle to him.

"...thanks." He softly nodded and partook of another swig.

"Do you see me as evil?" Treya tilted her head.

"Yes. You snuck into my room and schemed with Callan, trying to get me drunk, and do unspeakable things to me." He blatantly said.

"My goodness, it was like you were present for the whole conversation." Treya praised with a nod of acknowledgment.

"Yeah, well you aren't that hard to figure out." Natsu faked a smile.

"You're the first person to say that." Treya took a look inside the bottle and realized it was nearly empty. "Everyone else just sees a killing machine without emotion. Apparently, I have no clear goals, and that killing folk is all I've ever done and wanted since the day I was born."

"Nobody has ever stopped to talk to you, or hit on you?" Natsu thought that was unbelievable. A woman of Treya's stature was like an attention magnet.

"No one alive, anyway." Treya tilted her head slightly while looking at him with a stoic look.

"..." Natsu just blinked.

"That was sarcasm coming out of my mouth."

"..." Natsu just scoffed softly while shaking his head with a smile. Treya's expression softened slightly, and she cracked a smile, which she rarely did.

"I said it before." She leaned forth on the table and rested her hand on his arm in a comforting way, and looked him dead in the eye. "If there was a world where you didn't have to fear bad things happening, it is a fantasy. Save such drivel for when you are in the afterlife." She suggested. "You live the way you want. You decide what's right, and what's wrong. Not by what others say or tell you to do." She firmly told. "That seems to fit you more...I think." She shrugged as she handed him the bottle.

"..." Natsu took it and raised it. "I take that back. You're a little more complicated than I thought." He smiled at her sincerity. "You know, I think I like you, a little bit more now." He said before taking a drink and giving the last bit to her.

"Would you like to take this to your bedroom?" She eagerly suggested.

"Aaaand there it is." Natsu's head went limp from her remark he knew was coming. He gave her so much as an inch, she took a mile.

"It's just...this stuff is a bit stronger than I...thought." She felt a little tipsy while trying to keep her head level.

"You ain't much of a drinker are y-"

"So much to the point my restraint might not be enough." She crawled on to the table and leaned over him. She reached to his chin with a finger and propped it up to her.

"...oh, crap." Natsu just looked at her in horror as a lust-filled look was in her eyes. "I uh..."

"Tell me. If I were to force myself on you right now, what would you do?" She asked with a curious look.

"Well, my first instinct is to jump out this window." He pointed away from them.

"Runaway? Do I not warrant at least a few minutes of intercourse? Are you not curious, about what my body looks like beneath these clothes?" She undid the knot of her sash with one hand, exposing her belly and toned figure.

"I can..imagine you'd be a total knockout." Natsu leaned a bit back from her invading his personal space.

"You don't need to imagine. Just give the word." She blinked and inched closer.

"T-Treya, I will...stop it! I'm warning you! I-I will scream!" Natsu could feel her backing him in a corner. "Did I just seriously say that?! Is this like a reverse rape situation!?" Natsu wanted to punch himself for such a pathetic display, but it was clear she was the one coming on to him in a dominant role.

"Why does he not give in?" Wondering with frustration, the green-haired woman made a slightly furrowed expression. "Every target that I seduced always caves after this. This is the first time a man has blocked my advances to this point." Treya felt like maybe she was not doing it right, but during her whole career, no man on Earth-Land could resist her charm, even if he tried to. The setting was perfect. A little alcohol, a conversation that they could only speak to each other about, the defenselessness of her posture, and teasing her appearance in a flirty way that would make him bury his face into her chest. It was all perfectly set up to take this to the next level.

So why!?

"If you were to sleep with me, it won't change anything." She suddenly tried a different approach. "Besides, you sleep with other women, don't you?" She asked.

"Huh? Who told you that?" Natsu stopped blushing and was now curious who started that.

"Isn't Flare Corona one of your mates?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Wha-no! Flare is just...well it's complicated. She's just had no one to rely on her whole life, and she's...extremely shy." He tried to explain.

"But she'll let you near her?"

"Look, she was being chased, and she got hurt and then I helped her out. But she's doing better now, I'm just looking out for her."

"So did you sleep with one another, or not?" Treya insisted on knowing.

"No! Nothing happened! She just didn't want to be alone that night, so I told her it was okay." Natsu assured her. "You probably smelled her on me because she tends to wrap her hair around everything when she sleeps."

"Wrapped around your cock?" Treya scoffed.

"...okay, now my instincts are telling me to throw YOU out the window." He was now annoyed at her cheap shot.

"..." Treya backed off a little and then sat upon the table with a confused look. "Then, may I propose an alternative?"

"Alternative?" Natsu sat up normally.

"If we can share the same bed for one night, and nothing happens, I will drop the matter for now." She bargained.

"...what?" Natsu blinked.

"Unless you are saving yourself for someone." She looked to him blankly.

"...not really, no." He said normally as he scratched his chin.

"Well here are your choices." She scooted around with her legs spread in front of him. "We sleep together, and nothing happens. We sleep together, and something does happen."

"Is there a third option?" He narrowed his brow in annoyance.

"Deflowered, then devoured. Right here, right now." She suggested as she towered over him.

"You really need to try being considerate of other people." He groaned in defeat. Even if he did chase her off, she'd just keep persisting, and he wouldn't get any sleep. "Fine, we'll sleep together. But I'm not in the mood for it, I've had a long day." He got up and went towards the bedroom. He opened the door to his room and kicked off his sandals. He sat on the bed and just fell back into the embrace of the mattress. "Sleeping with other women...I'm not that kinda person. I don't need anything unnecessary to think about." He sighed once more while thinking about it. Atop of dealing with the crap he was subjugated to, he just didn't see any point, nor interest in dealing with the horny dragon slayer.

It was just a rough day, and he wished it would end already.

"Shall I turn off the light?" Treya appeared at the door. Natsu glanced downward and was wide-eyed. She was wearing nothing but her robe, and her dark green hair was let down. He didn't have any words to describe how perfect her body looked. Her long slender legs now bare up to her thighs, and chest, free of the purple cloth fastened to it revealed her large breasts probably as big as Erza's. She tied the sash around her waist, giving little to no imagination from her belly to her neck. She looked way different now that he had a better eye on her. She was very tranquil and inviting from the air about her. Almost like a gentle maiden that would rest you on her lap and lull you to sleep.

Before stabbing you in the jugular afterward.

"...I'll take that as a yes." She said as she clicked the light off and the room went pitch-black. Moonlight pierced in through the window, and slowly revealed her from the leg up. Natsu turned away immediately and blushed.

"Th-th-that's not fair. She looked so beautiful. Hard to believe that pervert from a few moments ago was her!" He was not prepared for that sudden transformation. She certainly lived up to the 'Jewel" part in her name, because she looked 'hella expensive.

"It has been a while since I last shared a bed with someone. Forgive me if I move around in my sleep." She walked over and laid on her side, facing Natsu's back.

"Yeah sure, whatever you say." Natsu quickly answered. Treya eyed him and just blinked with no reaction. It was quiet for a bit before she spoke up again.

"Could you turn this way?"

"What happens if I do?" Natsu asked with his guard up.

"You say that like there are things I can't do to you in this position." She deadpanned.

"Was that a threat?"

"Just a dirty one."

"...fine." Natsu sighed and turned around the two came eye to eye. The two just maintained their staring contest. Natsu was blushing clear as day, but Treya oddly enough was more focused on his face. She scanned around it, till her eyes fell on his eyepatch with a silver cross on it.

"Can I remove your eye patch?" She asked curiously.

"Sure." Natsu didn't see the harm in it. She reached up to his face, and gently pulled up the patch to see his eye still closed. He slowly opened it, and his eye was still there, but a slight cut could be seen across it, and the color was long gone. It was as empty as hers.

"My vision was never as great as a child. But Ravalla helped me see when she gave me the ability to use magic." She recalled the story of her first encounter with her loving dragon. The first time I saw her, she was so beautiful. While she was in human form, I could not begin to comprehend the unparalleled looks of her. If dragons considered that to be the most elegant of beauty, then did our standards really differ?" She began gently caressing around his eye. "The moment my eyes truly opened, a boundless world surrounded me. The first time I've seen the horizon. The deep valleys of Earth-Land. The colors and flashes of lights and fireworks. I was grateful, and would remain faithful to her till the day I die." She made her pale grey eyes light up in a pinkish color. "But...now that she is God knows where I am left with but a purpose."

"Purpose?" Natsu repeated curiously.

"...to find that which fills the emptiness." She cupped his cheek in her hand. "The only thing I can truly let my vulnerability be seen by." She whispered as she had a longing gaze in his. "I want a mate, Natsu Dranigon. I want...you." She frowned slightly.

"..." Natsu was taken aback by her words. There was more beneath the surface to this dragon slayer assassin than what met the eye. She was wandering the world with nothing but no ambition and aimless purpose, not too different than him.

"I see why you reject my advances now." She took her hand off his eye and removed the eye patch altogether. "You say that it is because you want to spare the suffering and grief to someone important to you. But I see it now."

"..."

"You're sparing yourself, really."

"...!?" Natsu widened his eye. "How does she..?!" Natsu was shocked she hit the mark. It was like she could read his mind.

"You know loss, you understand it. More than you should have. You refuse to let anyone in, but it is because you do not want to let them out." She rested her hand on top of his. "I offer you a simple deal, Natsu Dranigon. I will let you into my heart if you allow me into yours." She offered.

"...I.." Natsu wasn't quite sure how to respond to that.

"You don't need to explain yourself." She quickly told him. Her gentle voice carried into his ear like an angelic comfort. "I am patient. If you do not want to be lured into another false sense of comfort, that's fine. Do not see it as hurting another. You have as much right to have comfort, just as you said I have. It doesn't need to be love between us. Just two lonely souls seeking comfort." She laid it out for him as best she could. She wasn't seeking an opportunity to take advantage of him this time but having an honest conversation.

"Treya, I-" Natsu frowned and wanted to answer sincerely, but suddenly Treya pulled him into a hug of sorts. She rested her chin on top of his head and slowly rubbed his head.

"As I said. Don't explain. Just let everything that happened today, be but a thing of the past. And look forward to what tomorrow brings." She whispered sweetly to him. "Just...close your eyes, and let yourself respond to what you think is right." She then felt his hand clutch hers. She was surprised but took it and the two shut their eyes and rested in each other's presence.

"Thank you..." Natsu thanked her.

"No...thank you." She hugged him tighter to her chest and the two were soon fast asleep.


Darkness...

Natsu finding himself once again in the endless void of his mind, floated idly in mid-air while looking around. He eventually spotted a campfire below him that was crackling and snapping sending echoes throughout the abyss. He floated downward till he felt his feet firmly planted on dirt that was shown by the light of the flame. He then spotted his familiar yet mysterious cohort Natsa who was just sitting there gazing down at the flame. She glanced upward and greeted him.

"Hey, partner."

"Hey, Natsa." Natsu greeted similarly.

"Nice little fire you got here." She beckoned with a nod.

"My fire?" He was a little confused.

"Every once in a while you have this lovely little flame pop up here. It really brings some sense of life to this dull, void you always seem to only have." She threw a stick in the campfire while looking back down at it.

"Once in a while?" He was curious about what she meant by that.

"Well...it just goes out and all that's left is...well, nothing." She shrugged.

"..." Natsu peered deeper into the fire and began to make out familiar faces in it. Everyone from his village to his guildmates. He widened his eyes as the flame began to fade. He then frowned.

"You gonna feed it?" She asked with a stoic.

"Feed it?" Natsu asked in a confused state.

"You know, all fires go out when their's nothing left to burn. I mean, look at it around here." She said while raising her hand and showed the empty black around him. "I can't find anything in this black." She scoffed. "It's too dark to find anything."

"..." Natsu stayed silent, knowing what she meant.

"You know, if you kept the flame alive, it'll get bigger, and maybe we can find more things to give it to make it grow." She suggested. "Maybe you'll find something else as well when it gets bright enough. Something you're hoping is still here." She ominously put.

"...what's the point if it just eventually goes out again?" He asked with a hollow look.

"Fires only go out because you let them fade, or you just put them out." She then stood up. The flame was no more than a torchlight now. "This flame, partner, doesn't it feel good?" She asked him. He peered down and stuck his hand in it. And his hand harmlessly passed through it. But the warm, and calming nature made him feel a bit more at peace. He took his hand back and a little of the flame was in his hand. He saw the first time he met Mindy. He saw the time he spent with her. He saw Shy, and the time he spent with her. He then saw many of his friends in Fairy Tail and the time he spent with them. Then Treya, who was doing her usual shenanigans, trying to get him to submit to her. It then was blown out by an unseen breeze. He lowered his hand and slowly looked back down at the flame.

"So, what are you gonna do? It's gonna go out at this rate." She said and walked over to him.

"..."

"Watch it go out, or put it out of its misery. Unless..." She suddenly revealed a third option. "You can keep it alive." She handed him a bundle of sticks that were sitting near the fire.

"..." Natsu hesitated while staring at the flame. He then saw Treya sleeping next to his body peacefully. He then saw his own self sleeping calmly when he was with her. He then narrowed his eye after making a decision.


Morning...

The sun slowly crept over the mountain shining over Magnolia. The morning was upon the town, and everyone began to open up their windows and shops. Natsu's eyes opened up slowly. It was still a bit dark at the end of town he was in. It was probably around 6 or so, but it was still a little light outside. He slowly turned to Treya who also started to wake up, but still kept her eyes shut.

"Are you awake?" She asked.

"...yeah." He answered back and looked back at the ceiling.

"Nothing happened." She said while slowly opened her eyes.

"...no."

"Hm. A shame. I'll try again next time." She stretched a little before getting to a more comfortable position in bed. She kept his arm held. And noticed a troubled look on his face. She'd seen the look before when he was deep in thought. "Mm. I'll try harder next time." She said to him while throwing her arm over him. "If you would be so inclined to let me have my way with you, I would be satisfied."

"I let you sleep in here because I was drunk and not thinking straight. Don't get ahead of yourself." Natsu turned to her with a blank look.

"While the booze had a hand in last night's chat, I would not go so far as to say my efforts did not bear fruit." She turned to her side and her front was bare enough to be seen. "You seemed very frustrated."

"Was it that obvious?" Natsu replied similarly.

"You are the one leading us to find the last two Lost Dragon Slayers. Although I hoped to fuck you blind last night-"

"..." Natsu just stayed silent and furrowed his brow.

"I mainly was trying to take your mind off of the things you were dealing with yesterday." She revealed which prompted a surprised look on Natsu's face. "You should not have to worry about whether you are a good person or not. Whether you started out this way or not, it does not change the fact you are who you are, because of the decisions you made up to this point." She grabbed his arm in a comforting fashion and looked him deep in his eye. "You're here, I'm here. And that is all that matters."

"...thanks..Treya. It's nice to see you placing yourself in my shoes." Natsu hesitantly thanked her. Granted it was odd that she was that considerate, given her behavior as of late, but it was a refreshing change of pace from her talk of making love with every sentence that involved him.

"You want to thank me? Place yourself in mine, and then I'll consider us even."

"..."

"..."

The two were silent for a moment while locked in a staring contest.

"..."

"..we are still talking about SHOES, right?" Natsu deadpanned.

"Of course. Whatever else could I be referring to?" Treya responded in kind.

"..." Natsu eyed her with doubt.

"That was sarcasm." She said.

"I was gonna say-"

"I want you inside me."

"How did I not see that one coming?" Natsu rolled his eye and began to get up. He sat up and swung his feet over the mattress and stretched out, having the tiredness leave his body.

"It will be quite a journey. How you will fend me off, is something I look forward to." She said as she locked her arm around his neck and propped herself over his shoulder. She pressed her boobs on his back, giving him a feeling of their actual size, prompting him to blush.

"Mmgh." Natsu tried his best to not break face with her.

"I'm bound to you beyond contract now, Natsu." She said his name so casually which made him shocked. "You will not need to worry about burdening everything. I will be at your back at all times." She whispered sweetly to him. Natsu glanced over to her and was flabbergasted again by the warm smile she had, along with her pink eyes that finally showed some spark of emotion.

"..." Natsu felt thumping in his heart by just how much prettier she looked when she actually smiled. It instinctively made him snap his neck away with embarrassment. "Sweet mother-this woman is just oozing pheromones! That's gotta be a dragon trait for females...right?! RIGHT?!"

"Hm?" Treya glanced downward below Natsu.

"Finally awake, eh?" She began patting his crotch.

"Stop it." Natsu grabbed her arm and beckoned her to cease her teasing.


Later...

Natsu and his entourage were all ready and doing final checks of their belongings before they departed Magnolia, and begin heading to Mero Serene's last known location. Natsu was talking with Callan as they waited for the girls to finish checking their gear.

"I'm actually surprised, pal. She said that she had planned to restrain you and then just straight up fuck your brains out." Callan crossed his arms while listening to what Natsu had to say.

"No, she was very insistent, but I honestly think maybe she's just waiting till I give her the green light." He said with a scoff. "Either way, I don't think I will be safe if she catches me by myself."

"Just go for it, man. You might as well just mate her already. She's hot for you in ways you couldn't even imagine." Frostbite insisted.

"And exactly what was the price to have you help her out?" Natsu suddenly narrowed his eye at him.

"She said that she would give me no trouble for the rest of the trip." He blatantly revealed.

"..."

"So as you can see, my hands were tied." Frostbite threw his arms up in defense.

"It's not enough I gotta deal with Ikaruga and Treya, but if you sell me out again, I'm drowning you in the first source of water we find. " Natsu threatened.

"I believe we are all set." Ikaruga came up to them with Treya and Flare in tow. Each of them with their respective packs. "Though, I am a bit curious if this whole trip is going to be worth it."

"What do you mean?" Treya's tone was that of annoyance.

"Well, while I do have faith in your intelligence gathering, it might be out of date. What do we do if Mero Serene is no longer in the area?" She asked Natsu, while ignoring the hostile gaze of her comrade.

"Well if she is in the area, We can at least look for traces. Even if she's already left, she had to have left some clue of where she went next. There's a small outpost there with an inn that's owned by the army. Normally if people are looking to stay the night, that's where they all go." Natsu figured.

"Oh good. I worried we'd be sleeping on the ground for the duration of this endeavor." Ikaruga let out a sigh of relief.

"Feel free to sleep six feet under it." Treya uttered, but loud enough for Ikaruga to hear.

"Perhaps you would prefer a shallow grave." Ikaruga hissed sweetly, as the two went at it again.

"C'mon, you two, we haven't even left town." Natsu groaned loudly before getting between them and pushing them away from each other. He walked past them and straight to Flare who was clutching her bag that was slung over her shoulders. She just felt like she was shrinking away when the two began to pick a fight.

"You all ready?" Natsu smiled as he greeted her.

"Y-yes! I-I am ready to go!" She nodded.

"Good. I hope I'm not making you do something you don't want to. I just can't stand these two." He shifted his eye to his side as the killing intent leaked out from both of their party members.

"I am happy to help! I-I was wondering when you were going to ask me to help again anyway..." She shied away and her voice got quiet.

"You're part of my team! Of course, I'd want you to come along."

"R-really? That's..great. Very...great." She blushed and smiled at his compliments.

"My, my, so you can be a gentleman towards women. Is it the bashful ones that do it for you?" Ikaruga poked her head out from one side over his shoulder.

"Hmm, perhaps a little innocence goes a long way." Treya poked out the other side.

"..." Natsu just rolled his eye at their remarks. "Alright, is everyone ready?" He decided it was about time to head out and gave one last check.

"I'm ready." Callan nodded.

"I'm set." Ikaruga lowered her head.

"I'm ready as well." Treya said.

"I-I'm ready." Flare quickly nodded.

"Alright, let's head out." Natsu smiled and began heading toward the train station with his entourage in tow. But the smile suddenly disappeared when he found their path blocked by Gray and Erza. They stood there as if they were expecting them. "Gray? Erza?" He voiced.

"..." Gray stood there in silence.

"..." Erza also was silent.

"...you all go ahead. I'll catch up in a sec." Natsu told them with a stern gaze trained on Gray.

"I will go when you go." Treya insisted on staying.

"Do not dally long. The train leaves in but a short while." Ikaruga proceeded onward with Callan and Flare in tow. Erza locked eyes with Ikaruga and a distrustful look was seen on Erza's face of the pink-haired woman. "Try not to miss me for too long, miss Erza." She teased.

"I think I will manage." Erza sarcastically put. As soon as the three went on ahead, it was just Erza, Gray, Treya, and Natsu. An uneasy atmosphere filled the air around them.

"And what do you two want?" Natsu simply asked.


Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Read/Review/Rate!

Laters!