Chapter 7: suspicious

Who could have guessed that with the first friends I'll get enemies? I didn't mean to make ones, but some people got really suspicious of me. It was not only my victory against Juvia. I was mysterious in my own way especially with the secrets I brought coming to the guild.

And that was true. I still kept plenty of secrets from them. Well, I couldn't call some of them a secrets, because I didn't hide it, but, for example, I haven't introduced myself as a Lettercard either. Juvia together with Gajeel couldn't get it how my parents could disagree with magic power having people. Of course, if it was only a hate to Fairy Tail, it'd make some sense, because guilds had rivals and some even feared of them therefore kept some hate too.

But the fact that my parents didn't accept all wizardry side of this world was a bit strange. Yes, of course it was. Every family had wizards in their relatives and everyone who desire for it are able to become ones. People who didn't have enough magic ask the wizard guilds for help but they've never heard someone would hate the wizards.

So I really had to deal with Gajeel and Juvia not accepting me. Of course, there were also Lily and Levy, but she was a positive one in their group.

It wasn't wery surprising when I was followed by Juvia, Lily and Gajeel all my way home every evening since I defeated Juvia. She kept the most anger on me and wanted to expose anything I hid. Romantic rival, was all she saw in me and hoped that the reveal will make Gray dislike me again. But I didn't even intend to steal him. I didn't put much of an effort to make it up with her either. I actually didn't have ideas how, but a bit latter I sure will.

One of the days I was heading home and as usual was followed by the trio. Maybe Gajeel would drag Levy into this more if she wasn't pregnant for the seventh month, but it was enough to have those three around. It even seemed they didn't bother to hide or be under a disguise to be honest. How pathetic. And annoying. And most of all - creepy. What kind of guild stalks their own comrades?

But never mind that. If everything will go well, they'll get tired of it and let me go. Hopefully. However, it wasn't meant to happen. Instead of having a calm and usual evening I got straight to hell. My parents were already waiting at home being furious with something. I didn't even get a chance to process what was going on and get hold of their minds to get needed information when my father grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen. There was already put the meet hammer. I needed a second to understand what he was about to do, but I didn't have time to run or pull away.

I tightly bit my lip and tried to keep my yell. My eyes shut close and knees couldn't stand straight anymore. I felt how the iron hit my left hand knuckles. Unfortunately, it wasn't only tears, but also a hopeless little yelp I couldn't keep in my throat. And my instinct was to pull my hand on my chest and try to suffer the pain. And my father let me do this. He released my hand.

"Why?" I weeped through my teeth.

"Are you really asking my why? You should tell me what you're doing. Firstly, you find friends in that shameless guild, then you are always absent at home and finally I was followed by one of yours hell knows why! Neda, do you even know what are you doing?" father yelled at me.

"Y-you w-w-were f-fo-followed?" I stuttered feeling my whole body was shaking. It wasn't all the pain, but shock. I knew the night will be sleepless after such hit.

"Oh, so you pretend you don't know?" He asked and rose the hammer again. "Maybe this wasn't enough?"

"No!" I went pale. "I'm telling the truth! I don't know anything!" I freaked out. How I didn't get the information from Gajeel's mind he followed my dad? Because it was obvious from my dad's ones it was him.

I also knew that the three of them just saw what happened. Since I was followed myself, they must have seen the whole accident and I was pretty sure Gajeel was even able to hear everything himself. And because of him, I was the one being punished.

"So tell me, is this everything you've got to say, or is there something we should know?" father glared at me still holding the meet hammer in his hands. He had an idea I had powers in me or tried to practice magic, but I couldn't tell him. If I did, I'm not sure if there'll be only the hammer breaking my fingers.

Of course, don't think they treat me like this all the time. I barely ever get punished and to be honest my sister was suffering more than me, because I always managed to behave the way they wanted me to. Sometimes I was doing mistakes too, so I was punished as well. But every time was different. Once I had to sleep naked in the basement, sometimes had to knee on the groats for a few hours or get hit with the belt. And believe me, it's not better than the whip, but this is only a few punishments from all they ever thought of.

I haven't gotten any punishment since I got home after Fairy Tail battle with Alvarez army and Acnologia. So if I count correctly, it was almost one and half a year after those events or seventeen months and two weeks. I almost forgot how this even tasted like.

I shook my head. "I don't know what I'm supposed to tell. You already know I'm a bit more sociable and try to spend the time with friends. That's all," I said with my voice cracking.

"I hope it's all..." he said in a low voice. "You know this all is for our families sake, don't you?"

"Of course. I wouldn't do anything to destroy the pride of our name," I whispered.

"And you do know we love you, right?" he asked again. I nod. "So you'd tell us if you used magic, wouldn't you?"

"I'd never," I lied. "This'd be the same as betraying my ancestors."

Father nod and let me leave. In a moment I got back to my room and carefully looked at my left hand. It was filled with blue, purple and red dots. It looked horrible, but at least bones weren't broken. I quickly hid all the view to my room, so nobody could see what I was doing. I got a short shower this only made me feel worse and waited until my parents goes to sleep. I forced them fall asleep faster and after that was able to go back to the kitchen and wrap the bandages around my hand. Also, I made myself some breakfast, so I could avoid the ones with my family. It was berter to not have a contact with them for a day after such things.

The other day wasn't much better. The work seemed to last forever and the hand wasn't helping. I even wore gloves, so this wouldn't be seen that clearly and even though it was still obvious something was with my hand, nobody dared to ask. And there wasn't much to ask, honestly. If they did, I'd just say that was an accident. Nothing else.

So this is exactly what I told to my comrades when I got to the guild. They were much more different from the citizens and weren't afraid to ask what was wrong with my hand, but I had my little lie story made up for that. An simple reckless moment which ended up unlucky.

But Gajeel and Lily decided to not keep himself quiet this time. The moment I told my silly excuse the Iron Dragon Slayer punched the table getting everyone's attention. He glared at me not wanting me to lie any further and I just begged he wouldn't say anything.

"How long are you going to lie? You yourself decided to join, so you should know people treat you like a family here, but all you do is use us for your own sake. Wouldn't it be good to finally return the favor with at least not lying?" Lily spoke for Gajeel who was barely holding himself.

"Lying about what?" Carla quickly got intrigued. Well she was suspicious from the very beginning, but kept herself quiet. She knew nobody'd listen to her anyway, therefore this got her attention even more.

"Is there anything you lied to us?" Wendy asked with her sweet voice.

I went pale. This wasn't going to end well.

"Stop it, guys! How long are you going to suspect newbies? First, Touka, now Neda-chan!" Levy yelled. "Alright, Touka-chan ended up with a possession of the White Mage, but Neda-chan didn't even intend to join the guild before Natsu brought her here himself."

"Levy-chan is right. Besides, we all have our own secrets, so I don't think this is big of a deal unless it has something to do with us," Lucy agreed.

"But this really has something to do with us. Neda-san wasn't injured because of an accident," Lily talked. I opened my mouth wanting to ask him to shut up, but understood it was too late for this. "Her father punished her. Because he knows she's hanging out here and is friendly to us."

Everyone were quiet for a moment. They all stared at me while I was turning paler and paler. I was screwed.

"This is insane..." Lisana whispered.

"What kind of person would hurt his child for having friends...?" Carla didn't get it.

"So they do know you're a member now?" Happy asked.

I shook my head. "No. They think I just have a few friends from there. That's all," I said.

"Then what'd they do for being a member? Or knowing you're a wizard..?" Lucy asked.

"I-I'm sorry. I just didn't want to bother you with this," I said putting my palm on injured hand on my chest. "I joined the guild knowing the possible consequences. Sooner or latter it'd have happened anyway," I knew I was also defending Gajeel for how he influenced this, but I hoped this'll help to earn his trust. If I told everyone that Gajeel actually stalked not only me, but also my father who got angry with this and laid out the anger on me, I was sure Gajeel wouldn't tolerate me around even more.

"But why so much hate to us? Is it forbidden to have any wizards in your family?" Levy finally asked. She tried her best to understand the situation. To see it from my point of view.

I sighed. Maybe it was better if they knew it. Sooner or latter they'd know anyway. Besides, I'm one of them now and I didn't want to be there based of lies. I lie too much in my daily life anyway.

"Tell them who you really are," Gajeel said.

I took a deep breath. Yeah, I really have to tell them. I had to when I joined their guild, but didn't and this led me to that scandal in the middle of the guild hall.

"It's all because I'm a Lettercard," I finally split out. "And you probably already know about them and their policy," I looked downwards. I couldn't look in their eyes.

"A Lettercard... So you mean you're not just their employee?" Lucy asked remembering the name.

Levy seemed to know that too. "Lettercards didn't have any wizards in their family for centuries but are as respectful as the royal family itself. Even without magic they managed to get so much power over practically everything. Though they mainly run the delivery system, without Lettercard influence the communication and production of every sort of goods would be complicated and therefore plenty of businesses would go bankrupt," she explained. "On dear... And you're the first one to break the rules..." Levy shivered. "If they didn't accept this... They'd be even powerful enough to close Fairy Tail for good!"

Everyone gasped. "What? Really? How?"

"It's true," I said still looking to the ground. "They could. People obey us. Nobody'd dare to say no."

"Whatever," Natsu cut me. "Even if they were the most important in the world we won't let them get rid of us. And we'll protect Neda, because she's one of us now. She's part of our family doesn't matter what her name is and what her enemies are. Her enemies are our enemies and we'll destroy them all even if it's her family we're fighting against!" Natsu wrapped his hand around my shoulders. Another one rising in the air. "Right?"

"Aye sir!" Happy jumped rising his fist.

"Yeah," Lucy agreed nodding.

"YEAH!" Everyone else yelled some of them so determined to show how passioned they were they also rose their fists. I looked at them confused. I've never seen such determination and people usually rivaling each other unifying for the same goal. And for what? For the one who keeps secrets from them. For a person they practically didn't know. But they already called me a part of their family. A family I could never imagine I'd have. So maybe it was right to tell the truth. Otherwise would I understand the importance of family? Would I know I wasn't alone anymore? I smiled. Even if I lost the name of Lettercard by actually using magic, I was in a part of another one. A better one.

Ahh, I love that this chapter has so cheerful ending! To be honest, I could probably say, this is the chapter I begin one of the huge arcs of this story in which Neda and the others will go against Lettercards (but I won't spoil what'll happen). Since this arc is really long, there'll be lots of little ones during this story, which will be in a way or other related to the main one. And answering to XenoLucifer's comment I could say, this arc will surely have lemons.

Also, don't be mad I mentioned Touka after I said I won't. i just thought it fit the context, but at the same time I barely spoiled anything. but I'll try not to do such things often except with ships, but I think it's pretty clear who'll be with who, lol.

Anyway, thanks for reading and let's make more reviews!