I crouched in the underbrush outside the thieves' compound. Natsu was somewhere inside. If I wanted him I would have to go inside the makeshift guild hall, but there was no way to see where he was without moving from my hiding spot, something I wasn't yet ready to do.

I felt the fear from the thief I took down was pumping through my veins. My head. It was so loud. I had to focus. How could I get into the building without risk of being seen?

My plan had been to kill Natsu just as he finished up the last of the thieves but I had gotten to my mask I lot later than I'd intended, so for all I knew there were none left. If we weren't distracted...then I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pull this off.

I felt my bole body start to itch. My breath was hot inside the mask. The fear still pounded inside me. "Control," I whispered, "Control."

It was too late. I began hyperventilating. My plan was ruined. Should I ditch it? Kill Natsu another day? But I'd already gotten this far, and Takashi had demanded results. But what could I do?

Before I could decide, Natsu and happy emerged from the building, Natsu felt triumphant. He must had won the fight. I was out of time. Once he stepped back on to the road his emotions changed, we was concussed, quickly being replaced with worry.

"Vi?" he yelled.

I didn't answer, but I got an idea.

"Violet?!"

I used my silver toung to throw my voice, making the sound come from a few yards away from me. "Natsu!" I yelled, "Help!"

Natsu tensed, he was worried now, worried for me. I tried not to think about it. It was that worry that would get him killed.

"Violet!" Natsu ran towards the spot where my voice was sounding. "Where are you?"

"I'm over here!" Natsu ran past the bush where I was really hiding, calling my name in vain.

I moved my voice to a nearby bush, a few feet to the left of where Natsu was standing. "I'm right here." I said. Natsu turned to the bush, unknowingly putting his back towards me.

Careful not to make a single sound, I crawled out of my hiding place and behind Natsu, dagger ready.

I waited until I was right behind Natsu before standing up. He was taller than me, but when I stood on tiptoe, I had a good shot at the base of his neck. I raised the knife above my head with both hands, and took a deep breath, knowing that by the time I exhaled, he would be gone.

But the second I looked up, and I saw a flash of blue near the building. Happy's eyes widened when he saw me. My stomach dropped. In my fear, I had forgotten about him.

"Natsu! Watch out!" Happy called.

Before I could react, Natsu turned on the dime, jumping away from danger. I fell back, fearing any blows, but none came. Not yet.

This was the worst possible scenario. In all cases, I wanted to avoid an all out fight. It would take a miracle for me to win against Natsu like this. And maybe even more than that.

"Who are you?" Natsu asked. His usual friendliness was gone. This was a side of him that I hadn't seen before. This would be unpredictable. Things just kept getting worse.

"Where is Violet?" Natsu asked.

Even though I knew my fate was tied, I made a last attempt. I used my magic to distort my voice, making it sound like a man's.

"The girl is no longer here." I said.

Natsu's face distorted into something I had never seen before. "If you did anything to hurt her, I swear I'll-"

"She has not been harmed." I said. I sensed him relax, thought his face didn't show the change. "We are friends," I assured him, "Return to your guild." if I could get him to drop his guard I might have a shot.

"I'm not going back without her." Natsu said, "Now tell me where she is or I'll beat it out of you."

I shivered. This was it. I was done for.

"Not gonna answer huh?" Natsu asked, "Then I guess it's on to plan B."

He charged at me, but I was ready, I side stepped just as he barreled past, then ran in the opposite direction. I needed a plan.

I was slightly faster than him, and he didn't know who I was. Those were my only advantages. I knew he was much stronger than me. If it came down to brute force I was screwed for sure. I couldn't let it come to that.

"Running away are we?" Natsu called. He let out a roar, lighting several trees beside me a light. But I was unscathed. I gripped my danger tighter. If this was going to go well, I had to be all in.

I sprinted at Natsu and ducked under his right arm, determined to get behind him, but he turned, always keeping me in view.

He threw a few punches, but they were too powerful to be fast, luckily none of them landed. Once I got the hang of dodging, I began to hum under my breath. It was a lullaby that I had learned long ago, in another life. But it was slowing Natsu down. He was getting sleepy.

In return I got more fear. But this was not the frantic type that I had received from the thug. No. this was a simmering fear of lost. It was the fear Natsu felt for Violet. For me. Oh god...

I lost concentration, and a punch landed in my stomach, sending me flying into a tree. I felt the air leave my lungs as my back made contact with the wood, but I had no time to lick my wounds, Natsu's next attack was on its way.

Another fire dragon roar came for me, but this time I didn't have time to give it a wide enough birth. The flames hit one of my outstretched arms. I felt blisters rise and pop, but I resisted the urge to scream. I cradled my arm and staggered back. Natsu just watched me.

"Where is Violet?" he asked.

"She's not here." I said.

Happy appeared next to Natsu. "He's not lying," he said, "I flew all around. There's no one. Only him."

The two continued talking in hushed voices, but I couldn't make out the words. Natsu never once took his eyes off me. I guess even the Salamander isn't that stupid.

I realized then how problematic it would be if Happy decided to carry Natsu. I couldn't let him have control of the sky. And also, if I did somehow manage to kill Natsu, Happy would fly off to the guild and ruin my cover story. I had to get rid of him. And soon. But how?

I looked around on the ground, searching for anything I could use. The knocked out bodies of the thieves guild where still strewn around the road, many of them with weapons still intact.

I scanned thought for something, anything that would give me the upper hand. Then I saw it. Strapped to the waste of one of the thugs was a smoke bomb. I couldn't believe my luck, the only problem was that it was a couple yards ahead of me, about halfway between Natsu and I. this was going to be tricky.

I took a small step forward, keeping my eyes on Natsu. He saw me move, but did nothing. Just stood there, still listening to Happy.

I took a bigger step. This time Natsu turned to fully face me. Happy stopped talking. We stared each other down, but he didn't move to attack me. Another step. Still nothing. A few more. I was halfway to the bomb. Natsu was still staring at me. One more step.

"What are you playing at?" Natsu asked.

I took another step.

"Answer me." Natsu growled.

"I don't know what you mean." I said, my voice still distorted.

Natsu started at me. He was ready to pounce. I had to move fast. I sprinted forward and made a dive for the bomb, just narrowly missing another gust of fire. Before Natsu could recover I pulled the pin, and the world was enveloped in a dark grey cloud. But I knew that I still wasn't safe. Natsu's keen sense of smell would lead him to me if I wasn't quick. My grip tightened on my knife as I stood up and closed my eyes. Natsu wasn't the only one that could sense people without sight. I searched for the energy around me. There were only two that were awake. One was angry, full of adrenaline. The other was slightly scared, but trusting. That was Happy. That was my target.

I moved towards Happy, weary of Natsu's movements as well. When I thought I was within a few feet of the little cat I opened my eyes. I could see him through the smoke. His back was turned to me. Perfect.

My grip tightened on my dagger as I stepped forward and wrapped my other hand around Happy's neck. Immediately his aura changed. He lost control of his magic in his panic, and his wings disappeared.

I turned and ran in the opposite direction of Natsu, but I had only barely made it out of the smoke when Happy cried out.

"Natsu!" He called, "he's over here, he got me!"

I cursed under my breath.

"I'm coming!" Natsu yelled, he was angrier than ever. I held my dagger close to Happy's neck, assurance that Natsu wouldn't attack as soon as he saw us.

The smoke cleared as fire punched thought it. I wondered why Natsu hadn't done that in the first place. Perhaps he'd thought he had the advantage, but he had been sorely mistaken.

Natsu came barreling toward me, but when he saw happy he stopped dead in his tracks. I smirked beneath my mask, but Happy's squirming body reminded me of what I was about to do. I felt sick.

"Natsu," Happy cried, "he's scared."

At first I didn't know what he was talking about. But then I looked down at my hand. There was a tear in one of my gloves. My bare flesh was touching Happy's soft fur. My heart sank. He could read me.

"He's scared," Happy repeated.

Natsu stared at me, but I couldn't get read on him, I sensed gears turning, his thinking drowning everything else out. "Why is he scared Happy?" he asked.

"I don't know." Happy said, "he just is."

I wanted to throw up.

Natsu took a step forward. I took one back instinctively. He raised an eyebrow. What was I doing? I had the upper hand here. I had a hostage. I took a step forward, holding Happy out in front of me. "I'm warning you…."

Natsu took another step forward. It reminded me of my journey to the smoke bomb. I scanned the ground, making sure Natsu didn't have the same idea. But there was nothing there. And Natsu wasn't looking down. He was looking right at me. Another step.

I swallowed. "I'll do it!" I yelled, moving my knife closer to Happy's neck.

Natsu took another step forward.

"I would stay back if I were you!" I warned.

Natsu didn't move.

"I said get back!"

Nothing.

"Get back!" I yelled.

Natsu took another step forward, "If you were going to do it," he said, "You would have done it by now."

My hands began to shake. "You don't know that." I said.

"I do actually."

"No." I said. "No!"

Natsu stepped forward again, but I hardly noticed. I had to kill Happy. I had to.

"You don't want to kill for no reason." Natsu said, "That's why you're scared."

"I have a reason." I shaped.

Natsu raised an eyebrow.

"No witnesses." I whispered. Every assassin knew that rule. "No witnesses."

"No witnesses to what?" Natsu asked.

"The death of Natsu Dragneel." I said, that's what I was here for. To kill him to do the job. I had to. For August. It was them or us.

Natsu wasn't afraid of me. He took another step. "Why are you wearing a mask then?" he asked. "If there's not gonna be any witnesses, why do you need to hide?"

Tremors rolled up my body. Was he right? It didn't matter. Natsu was only trying to get me to drop Happy, then the battle would continue. And I would lose. I looked down at Happy's still squirming body. Killing him now would be a mistake. Natsu would surely lose it.

But I had to get rid of him. I lowered my knife.

"See," Natsu said, "You don't want to do this."

"You're wrong." I flipped the knife in my hand and brought the hilt down on Happy's head, knocking him out cold. I threw his limp body over my shoulder and ran at Natsu.

I was able to make a few hits before Natsu came to his senses, but when I went in with my dagger, he grabbed my wrist, stopping the blade inches from his face. I wasted no time before throwing a punch under his jaw, sending him staggering backwards.

I knew Natsu was getting ready for an attack, so I ran past him, getting out of the way. But he recovered faster than I'd anticipated…

"Fire dragon iron fist!"

his blow hit my stomach like a freight train, sending my flying. I tried to control my fall with my good arm, but I was not as practiced with my left hand. I landed with a sticking crack. A whimper escaped me as I hit the ground. It was definitely broken.

"Your voice…" Natsu said.

My heart stopped. He must have heard me cry out.

"What about it." I asked, distortion back on.

Natsu blinked. I hoped he was too dumb to connect the dots.

"Where is Violet?" he asked.

"Gone." I panicked. He was about to find out. I had to do something. I jumped to my feet and ran at Natsu again. He blocked my attacks but didn't deliver any of his own.

My movements became more desperate, ever punch sent waves of pain up my arms, and all for nothing. But still he didn't attack me.

I charged at him again, expecting another block, but this time he sidestepped, and my own momentum made me fall, and all I got was a face full of dirt.

"Natsu?" the voice came from a few yards away, where I'd thrown happy. Was he awake already?

"Happy!" Natsu ran to his friend's side, ignoring me for a moment. I struggled to sit up and asses my injuries. Now would be a good time to run. But if Natsu knew it was me...where would I go? I had no way to get back to August without going to the guildhall, and then I would be dead for sure. I looked down at my left arm. My sleeve had been torn to ribbons, exposing my guild mark thought the chunks of stringy fabric. I stared at it; the emblem of the guild I hated. The guild I was now at the mercy of. How it had come to this?

I looked back at Natsu and happy. They where both staring at me. No one moved. Natsu's turned to Happy, but kept his eyes on me. "Go back to the guild." I heard him say. "Tell Gramps what happened. Don't let August leave till I get there. Got it?"

Happy nodded and summoned his wings. I watched him go, unable to stop it. I had officially failed. Now all I could do was try and get away.

Natsu sauntered towards me. It was obvious he no longer wanted to fight. I struggled to stand up as he came, shrinking away from him and deeper into the forest.

"I'm not going to hurt you." he said.

I continued to step back.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

I was too distracted to try and read him. I was sure he would know that. It had to be a lie.

I turned and ran as fast as I could. I knew that in my state, Natsu could easily overtake me. But I hoped he wouldn't. I hoped he would just let me go, leave me alone to die. But of course I wasn't that lucky.

I heard footsteps behind me. I heard him calling "stop."

I didn't listen. I didn't dare turn around. I sensed him getting closer, and tried to quicken my pace, but there was only so much my body could take. It was starting to give out already.

Natsu passed me with ease, and then came to a stop a few feet in front of me. It really was over. Everything I had worked for. Everything August had worked for. It was all about to come crashing down.

I stopped running and allowed myself to fall to my knees. They hit the hard ground with a thud, the force went through my entire body, and I let out an involuntary cry as the tremors reached my broken left arm.

Natsu was by my side in an instant, crouching in front of me. instinctively, I leaned back, trying to get away, but his hands same down on my shoulders holding me in place.

"Don't move." he warned.

I said nothing. This was the end. I braced myself for a final attack. A blow to the head perhaps, that seemed painless.

Natsu's hands disappeared, but I was traped all the same. I closed my eyes, waiting for death. But instead I felt fingers pulling at the strings behind my head, and slowly the heat of my mask came away. Now he knew without a doubt.

"Violet?"