Chapter 45
Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD or Fairy Tail they are property of Ichiei Ishibumi and Hiro Masima respectively.
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-With Natsu-
Natsu kept his steady gaze on Rias for a moment more before she gave him a nod and stood up.
"Okay, please help her out," Rias said before she took a last look at the closed door and walked off to join the rest of the ORC group downstairs. After Rias left Natsu turned back to the door and let out a sigh.
"Koneko, I'm going to come in," Natsu said as he tried to open the door but quickly found out that it was locked.
"Go away, I don't want to see you," Koneko shouted. Natsu could hear the hurt in her voice and it brought a saddened expression to his face, knowing that he was the one that hurt her. Heating his hand Natsu started melting the doorknob.
"Koneko," Natsu called out once he opened the door thanks to the lock being melted. He was met with a dark room, shattered glass near the door and, thanks to his enhanced vision, Koneko sitting on the bed with her knees pulled up to her chest, head buried in her knees while she clutched her legs with both arms.
Koneko lifted her head up once she heard Natsu's voice more clearly than she should have through a closed door. When her puffy red eyes landed on him tears once again started to form in her eyes. Koneko grabbed the closest thing to her, which happened to be a pillow, and threw it at the Dragon.
"Koneko, I know why you are so upset, but please allow me to explain," Natsu said as he easily caught the pillow and slowly made his way to the bed.
"Just go away, no need to waste your time on a failure like me," Koneko said lowering her voice for the last part, the self-resentment in her voice almost made Natsu flinch.
"Koneko, I know you saw me with Kuroka today, I won't deny it but the reason…" Natsu started before Koneko interrupted him.
"You were with her because she is better than I am, you don't care about me anymore since you got a better Nekoshou who can actually use her powers," Koneko interrupted Natsu as she spun around with a tear-stained face and tried to glare at Natsu but failed due to her sobbing.
"You're wrong about that Koneko…" Natsu started to say in a calm voice but once again Koneko interrupted him.
"Stop lying, I know you will just throw me away, just like my sister," Koneko sobbed, her voice growing quieter at the last part as she started to slam her fists on his chest as tears continued to stream from her eyes.
"Koneko," Natsu said with an authoritative voice as he wrapped his arms around the small girl, engulfing her in a hug. When Natsu said her name in that tone, Koneko froze up for a moment that allowed Natsu to stop her from slamming her fists into him.
"Koneko, I will never throw you away. You are a Nekoshou, a rare species and while I know where your power lies, there are still a few things that I don't know about how to help you draw that power out yourself. The story you know of your sister is only one side of the coin, but that is her tale to tell. What I was doing with her was mostly me trying to understand all there is to a Nekoshou's power and where it lies as well as how to draw it out," Natsu softly said in a kind and soothing voice while he tightened the hug he had Koneko in.
Koneko tightened up when she heard why Natsu was with her sister. She wasn't sure if she believed him, but his tone of voice didn't suggest him lying, with her head against his chest, she could hear his calm and rhythmic heartbeat and not an increased heart rate that you would expect from someone that is lying.
"I really care about you Koneko and knowing that I was the cause of you locking yourself in your room hurts, but that pales in comparison to the disappointment I feel in myself for making you feel like you are worthless or that I would discard you because I found someone with more experience or power," Natsu said while looking down at the white hair of the crying girl in his arms.
Upon hearing the last part, Koneko suddenly stiffened and her sobs stopped.
'H-He cares about me? He doesn't see me as a failure?' Koneko thought. She moved her teary eyes up towards the man she secretly admired with a hopeful expression. A speck of light penetrating the darkness she found herself in.
"Yes, Koneko, You are very precious to me and you can't be replaced. I would have asked you if I could mark you as one of my mates already if you were of age, unfortunately, you still have a bit of development to do with regards to your magical power and this kind of development can only come with time," Natsu answered her unasked question before continuing with a warm smile as he gently pushed her head into his chest.
Koneko's worries started to melt away and a joy she wasn't expecting was filling her heart.
'I am one of his mates,' Koneko thought to herself as she started to lose herself in the warmth Natsu gave off. She unconsciously started to snuggle into him as the fatigue from the stressful day was beginning to catch up to her.
The two enjoyed the silence, Koneko beginning to submit to her fatigue in Natsu's warm embrace while Natsu felt relief flooding over him since Koneko seemed to have calmed down and she didn't seem to think of herself as worthless anymore.
Natsu could hear cheerful laughter coming from below and seeing that Koneko was falling asleep he started to move so that he could let her sleep.
"No," a soft panicked voice sounded from below him. Natsu looked down to see Koneko clutching to his shirt. A soft smile spread across Natsu's face.
"Don't worry, I'll be right here, now and whenever you need me," Natsu softly whispered as he gently placed his hand on her head and stroked her hair as he settled back down on the bed.
"Thank you," Koneko whispered out and if Natsu didn't have enhanced hearing he would have missed it. A smile formed on her face as made herself comfortable on Natsu's chest. Natsu moved an arm around her small frame ad held her secure as he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Even though the Dragon King couldn't see it, a light blush came to Koneko's cheeks and with a happy smile on her face, the Nekoshou girl fell asleep in the warm embrace of the Dragon.
-In the living room-
After Wendy talked with Rias about Koneko, she made her way to the living room where most of the ORC members were sitting around the table. Xenovia and Asia were busy talking to Irina, Gasper had an uneasy expression while shifting closer to Kiba and Issei while Akeno and Rossweisse were also having a conversation.
"Hello Irina, I hope you made yourself comfortable here," Wendy greeted the guest of honour.
"Thanks, Wendy, you guys are really didn't have to go so far to prepare this party for me," Irina returned the greeting.
"It is the polite thing to do when such a monumental occasion occurs," Grayfia said as she entered with the last of the food for the party.
"Indeed, you youngsters banded together and discarded the deep rift the older generation forged between the factions and demonstrated the power we can archive as one by stopping that pissy god's rampage. I hope this will show those who still don't approve that we can reach much greater heights together than we will ever reach alone," Azazel made his presence known as he nursed a glass of brandy.
"Well when you put it like that, nearly dying sounds almost worth it," Issei said which got a chuckle from the group.
"Not quite worth it though," Kiba added with his chuckle.
"You showed great strength when you faced Loki and managed to defeat him, all the factions are proud of what you accomplished," Grayfia said as she sent a proud gaze at Wendy.
"Wait you were there?" Issei asked surprised.
"We were there to watch the fight and interfere when needed, and Natsu only stepped in when a fatal error was about to be made," Grayfia said in a dismissive tone.
"So you could have helped us?" Issei asked.
"We could have aided in the fight, but Natsu said not to for his own reasons," Grayfia answered, her tone changed to one that told Issei to drop the subject.
"I'm not sure what his reasons were, but I can imagine it had something in a similar direction as the leaders of the Three Factions," Azazel added his thoughts.
"Whatever the reason, I am glad he came when he did," Rias made her presence known as she entered the room.
"Rias, did you manage to get through to Koneko?" Wendy asked her adoptive sister.
"No, she wouldn't respond or anything but Natsu said he would handle it, he said something about it being his responsibility," Rias replied with a slightly confused expression at the last part.
"Why would that be his responsibility?" Wendy asked.
"I have no idea, but I believe he will be able to get through to her and help her cheer up," Rias replied.
"Anyway, why don't we get back to the party?" Xenovia suggested. Her suggestion was received with the agreement of the rest of the people in the room and the party started up again with conversation drifting to brighter subjects.
"Grayfia, do you know why Natsu said it was his responsibility to cheer Koneko up?" Wendy asked the silver-haired devil.
"I do, but you don't have to worry about it Wendy and I can't say why, at least not until one of them reveals it sorry," Grayfia apologized to the worried girl.
"That's fine, but it isn't something bad right?" Wendy asked, worried for her friend who was seemingly hurting pretty bad.
"I promise it's nothing bad. Now, do you want to help me clear some of the plates, or do you want to join in on some of the activities?" Grayfia answered and hugged Wendy before asking her question as she saw most of the food was already eaten and the group had moved on to playing some games.
"I think it would be rude if I left the party, but I also want to help," Wendy replied with a more cheerful voice.
"Go have some fun, I'll be fine," Grayfia replied with a soft smile.
The party lasted to the late hours of the night before Grayfia insisted that everyone returns home to get enough sleep so that they won't be slacking at school tomorrow.
-Koneko's room-
As the sun shone through the window and cast its rays on the sleeping Nekoshou, she started to stir. She snuggled in deeper into her warm pillow. She ignored the fact that it wasn't as soft as she expected it to be because of the comforting warmth it radiated.
"Sorry Koneko but you will have to get up," a soft masculine voice sounded from above her.
"No, this pillow is so nice and warm," Koneko said as she hugged her 'pillow' and snuggled her head further into it, not registering that she wasn't alone.
"While I don't mind staying here, I doubt Grayfia will have the same opinion," the voice said with a chuckle. Something about the mention of the Strongest Queen's name sent a shiver down Koneko's spine. Then she suddenly sat up with a startled expression as she looked up at the grinning Natsu.
"N-Na-Natsu?" Koneko stuttered out as a deep red blush covered her face. Memories of the previous night started flooding into her brain.
"Glad to see you're feeling better," Natsu said with a kind smile as he petted Koneko on the head, an action that didn't help Koneko's blush.
"Uhm, Natsu, did you mean the things you said yesterday?" Koneko asked in a shy tone.
"Of course Koneko, everything I said was the truth," Natsu replied with a smile as he pulled Koneko into a gentle hug.
"Even the part about me being one of your mates?" Koneko asked, her cheeks reddening and her tone was so soft for the question that Natsu would have missed it if it wasn't for his enhanced hearing.
"Yes, especially that part," Natsu said with a chuckle before bending down and placing a gentle kiss on Koneko's head, which in turn reddened her blushing cheeks even more though you would have believed it to be impossible.
"Now we both need to prepare for the day and sadly time isn't standing still," Natsu said after a few more minutes.
Reluctantly Koneko released Natsu from her grasp and the two got out of bed, Koneko heading for her closet while Natsu moved towards the door.
"If you ever want a training partner, just ask," Natsu said before he left the room. Koneko stood still for a moment with a shocked expression before a genuine smile spread across her face.
'I really am stupid for forgetting that I could just ask him,' Koneko thought with an amused huff, remembering her face plant on the train back from the Underworld.
When Natsu made it back to his room he had two cups of coffee in his hands. As he pushed the door open he saw his beautiful Alpha mate sitting in the bed while staring out of the window.
"How did things go?" Grayfia asked as she turned to look at Natsu.
"Quite well," Natsu replied as he made it to the bed and handed Grayfia one of the mugs.
"Thank you," Grayfia accepted the mug and took a sip of the warm liquid before a smile spread across her face at the wonderful drink.
"I assume I have another one to manage?" Grayfia asked, referring to her role as the Alpha.
"Not just yet, she still needs to mature into her magic, but it won't be long," Natsu replied as he sat down on the bed. Grayfia immediately leaned back into his chest and felt his warmth spread throughout her body. The two lovers shared an extended moment of just enjoying each other's company before Grayfia broke the comfortable silence.
"You are aware of Wendy's birthday coming up soon?" Grayfia asked.
"Yes, and this will be the first one I will be part of," Natsu mused.
"Any idea of what you are going to get her, she looks up to you quite a lot you know?" Grayfia asked.
"I have been thinking about that and…" Natsu began.
I am so sorry for the long wait. Sorry for disappearing for a while but I can promise you I'm not abandoning any of my stories, just needed the time to focus more on my varsity work. Anyway, uploads might not be weekly for the foreseeable future but they will be coming every now and then. So Wendy's birthday will be an event that I will have some Natsu and Wendy moments in since I have been neglecting that relationship in these past few chapters. Let me know your thought with a review and I will see you all next time.