Here's Chapter 3. After constantly being asked by my friend why he hasn't had a mention here it is. And now it's gone :p Anyway's this fanfic is for everyone that enjoys Black Clover and also ship Vanessa and Finral together as much as we do. Hope you all enjoy.
"Where the hell do these damn bandits keep coming from?" Yami growled as the Bulls were once again dragged into a fight with rogue Wizards, "I know we're in enemy territory, but this has got to be strange even for the Diamond Kingdom"
He had just dispatched the last one and the enemy had once again retreated. As the Black Bull's caught their breath, they knew it wouldn't be the last time they would face them.
"Do you think their after us personally?" Asta pondered out loud, "After all, we have completed quite a few bounty's"
"Yeah, but there was no mention of any of them being in a gang like this. Even so it's strange. You can't tell me we're the only travellers in this land for them to attack!" Vanessa huffed as she bid Rouge, her cat familiar, goodbye so she could recharge her powers.
"It could just be a coincidence" Finral added unconvinced, "Maybe they don't know we're the same people as before"
"Don't be stupid!" Yami berated him, "They've faced us enough times to know what we look like!"
"It was just a suggestion!" Finral inwardly sulked.
"No this is definitely personal. It's like their after something" Yami continued, "Maybe they know about the money we're getting from each bounty"
"Well next time let's capture one and question them" Zora suggested.
"Yeah looks like that's the plan" Yami finished before throwing the cigarette he was smoking away and heading back to the hideout.
The others followed behind until it was only Luck, Magna, Zora and Noelle left outside. It was Zora's task to set traps every time the hideout stopped for the night. It was because of these the Black Bulls were able to pick up on the Bandits arrival earlier. Henry had suggested a move once the hideout had been found, but Yami quickly shut him down saying, the bandits would not be back tonight so there was no need to worry. Noelle had been tasked to help Zora find prime locations for these traps.
"On the up side I bet you can't wait for another fight, right Luck?" Magna elbowed his friend with a grin on his face as they slowly headed home.
"Yeah I guess" Luck answered. Though he wore his usual smile on his face, his eyes were distant.
"Thought you would have sounded a bit more enthusiastic about it" Magna remarked, "You normally love the prospect of a fight"
Luck just shrugged and carried on walking leaving his friend speechless and confused. Thinking that he must be imagining things, Magna spoke again.
"Speaking of fights. Do you want a little sparring match before everyone turns in for the night?"
"No thanks"
This sent alarm bell's through Magna's whole body. Everyone who knew Luck, knew he would never turn down an opportunity to fight. Maybe Luck was just joking around, maybe if Magna asked again, the answer would definitely be a yes.
"Hey Luck, buddy? Come on let's train. You love a good fight now stop joking around"
"I said no" Luck declined again, this time with a more angry tinge to his voice.
Magna stood still in shock as he watched his friend disappear through the hideouts door. What could have possibly happened for him to turn down a chance to have a fight. Was he feeling a bit under the weather? Magna seriously hoped that was the case. For as long as he had known Luck, he had never seen him sick before. So maybe this was one of his ways of showing it. As he stood pondering the possibility, Noelle and Zora appeared at his side.
"Hey Match stick, what are you stood here ruining the landscape for?" Zora taunted.
"Huh? Oh just thinking" Magna answered and then realising what had been said, "What you mean ruining the landscape? Your the one with that hideous mask!"
"Just hiding my dashingly good looks otherwise they'd be no female's left for even you"
A flame ball appeared in Magna's hand as he got ready to throw it in Zora's face. Noelle took that as a sign for her to intervene, so she placed herself between them.
"Come on guys it's getting late and we need to conserve our energy in case of another attack!"
"Yeah I guess your right" Magna agreed as the fireball vanished.
"Yeah we'll save it for another time then" Zora grinned.
"What were you thinking about so seriously anyways?" Noelle asked curiously.
"It's Luck" Magna admitted, "He turned down the opportunity of a fight"
Noelle gasped loudly and even the stony faced Zora looked shocked.
"Is he ill?"
"I wondered that, but I don't think so"
"Did you ask him if he felt alright?" Noelle pushed.
"No, but he honestly looked fine. He even got angry when I asked him to fight me a second time" Magna explained, "I can't help but think it's something to do with Rachel and that damn coffee he drank"
"Whoa whoa whoa, Rachel showed up?" Zora cut in, "And none of you thought to tell anyone?"
"We didn't want to worry anyone" Noelle answered quietly.
"Especially if it really did turn out to be nothing" Magna added, "If we saw her again we were going to tell you all. Maybe not Vanessa and Finral though, unless it was serious"
"Well if that's the case, why are you so worried about a coffee?"
That was when Magna and Noelle took it upon themselves to explain what had happened back in the village three days ago. Right up to them leaving and the satisfied look she had on her face as they vanished from view.
"So Luck willingly drank something from someone that's basically the enemy and now he's acting strange?" Zora asked once they had finished.
"Yep, but he felt fine and seemed fine after. So I didn't think to much of it" Magna finished.
"Geeze he's an idiot" Zora sighed, "Well for now it might be a good idea to keep Rachel's appearance quiet from Finral and Vanessa, but if she show's up again, we're definitely telling them. As for Luck, maybe try asking Asta to whack him with his Sword. If it is anything sinister, that should sort it"
"Yeah let's do that" Noelle agreed, "We probably should have done that anyways, just in case"
"Probably" Zora rolled his eyes.
"I'll go and find Asta!" Noelle offered before running into the hideout to find him.
"I'll go grab Luck then" Magna spoke nervously. He was a little afraid of how his friend would react if he spoke to him again.
"I'll come with" Zora offered, "If he knows we have something figured out, he might put up a fight"
With that they went off in search of the lightning mage. It didn't take long to find him though, as he was sat by the bar next to Vanessa as she playfully tried to get him and Finral to drink some wine. As Magna and Zora approached she tried to rope them into drinking with her instead.
"Hey, do you guy's want some of this wine? It's really yummy" she offered with a slur, "These two are boring and won't drink with me"
"Last time I drank with you, I was hung over for three days" Finral protested, "And yes before you say it, if that makes me a light weight then so be it. At least compared to you that is"
"Aww my little Finral is getting angry" Vanessa teased him whilst combing her fingers through his hair, "Come on guys, I promise I won't make you drink more then you can handle"
"We're going to have to refuse that very kind offer" Zora answered sarcastically, "Luck, follow us. We need to talk"
"What about?" Luck asked perplexed.
"It's private. Just come on"
Noelle arrived at that moment dragging a confused Asta behind her. Seeing Zora and Magna working on getting Luck to follow them, she pushed Asta outside before anyone could see them.
"Right so as soon as Luck get's here, just hit him with that sword that cancels out magic ok? Before he even get's chance to ask what's happening" she verified.
"Ok" Asta answered determinedly, "But if he want's to fight me after, your taking the bullet"
"But then you'll miss out on a free training session"
"I prefer push ups and sit ups"
"Oh get ready! Here they come" Noelle hushed him.
Zora and Magna approached them with a smiling Luck in tow.
"What's this all about gu..." Luck began to ask before being smacked a bit to hard in the arm with Asta's sword. This sent him flying into Magna who in turn was sent hurtling to the floor.
"What did you do it so hard for?!" Noelle shouted in shock.
"I panicked!" Asta shouted back still panicking, "Oh man I'm in for it now!"
Luck got back up onto his feet causing Asta to flinch. But instead of raring for a fight, he simply continued to smile.
"Good one" he said with a giggle before turning and walking back towards the hideout.
"Can I at least check your arm over?" Noelle shouted after him.
"No it's fine!" he shouted back.
"What the hell just happened?" Asta asked as relief flooded through him, "Where's the fight?"
"Good question..." Noelle trailed.
Zora grabbed Magna, who was still on the floor, a d pulled him to his feet by the scruff of his neck.
"You ok match stick?" he asked.
"Yeah I'm good" Magna dusted himself off, "I know the whole catching him by surprise thing was the whole point, but that seemed far to easy "
"Exactly what I was thinking" Zora agreed.
"Well he obviously isn't under some spell or what ever. The sword would have broke it. He must just be having a bad day" Noelle spoke.
"Let's give it a few days and see what he's like. We might have to get Yami involved" Zora added.
"Yeah ok" Magna also agreed reluctantly. He really just wanted his crazy friend back as soon as possible. He hoped what ever had gotten into him would pass quickly.
Having had no leads on a Demon threat recently, Yami had given all the Black Bulls, minus Zora and Gauche, the day off. The exception was they weren't allowed to travel back to the clover Kingdom and they were not allowed to go looking for trouble. Yami had recruited his team of two to go looking for any information they may find on recent Demon activity. Though they would have liked a day off as well, there was no saying no to the Captain. They would have to wait till they got back.
"You ready to go Finral?" Vanessa asked cheerfully as she placed her hat on her head.
"Yep all ready" he answered just as happy. He was finally getting some quality time with his girlfriend.
"Where are you going?" Noelle asked as she watched her friend with slight jealousy.
"Oh just to that little seaside town we passed through a few days back" Vanessa answered.
"I see" Noelle sighed. She sat with her chin resting on her hand and elbow on the table, a bored expression on her face. Spying Asta walking into the room on his way to a training session, her eyes followed him longingly.
"You know, why don't you and Asta come with?" Vanessa winked at the white haired girl.
"What? No! Why would I want to do that? Besides, we'd only get in the way of your date" Noelle squeaked at the suggestion.
"Just admit you like him. It'd make it easier on yourself" Vanessa laughed, "Hey Asta! Do you want to come with us?"
Asta looked around to see who had shouted him. Seeing a waving Vanessa, a laughing Finral, and a bright red Noelle, he headed over to the group.
"What's up with you Noelle? Are you sick?" Asta asked as he stepped closer to her to test her temperature with his hand.
"No I'm fine!" She screeched as she shoved him away.
"Hey what did I do?" Asta asked a little hurt.
"You two crack me up" Vanessa laughed loudly, "Are you coming or not?"
An idea suddenly struck Noelle and she grabbed Asta before he knew what was happening.
"We're coming!" she answered.
"Ok..." Finral and Vanessa answered shocked at her reaction.
"Right, well let's go" Finral opened the portal and Asta was pulled through before he had time to protest.
Arriving in town, Vanessa ushered Noelle away from Asta and Finral.
"What's suddenly made you change your mind?" she whispered just loud enough for Noelle to hear.
"Well I haven't really" Noelle shrugged.
"But you've just dragged the poor boy hear against his will" Vanessa looked confused.
"Erm... I just thought we could spend some time together as friends. Not a date" Was Noelle's excuse.
"Whatever you say girl" Vanessa laughed with a wink.
Walking back over to the waiting boys, Vanessa took Finral's hand.
"Let's go cutie" she coaxed with a smile.
"What about Asta and Noelle? Are they not coming?" Finral asked.
"Nope this is our date. Plus their basically having a date of their own" Vanessa giggled as they walked away.
"Hey erm... Noelle? Why have you brought me here?" Asta asked confused, "I was supposed to be training"
"Because dummy, we need to make sure Rachel doesn't make an appearance" Noelle explained, "So we need to follow them two, to make sure she isn't"
"Right so we're stalking a stalker?"
"It' not stalking, more like protecting" Noelle finished before slowly walking in the direction the two love birds had went in.
"Well I guess we never do normal" Asta spoke quietly to himself before following her.
"So where are we going first?" Vanessa asked Finral excitedly as they walked through the busy streets of the seaside town hand in hand.
"Is there no mystery in this relationship anymore?" Finral joked.
"You don't know do you?" Vanessa asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No not a clue" Finral laughed, "This place is still new to me so I don't really know what it has to offer. I just remember you saying you wanted to visit here again and that's all that matters"
"Well that just means we get to discover it together"
"And if it's completely lacking, at least we can be bored together"
"As long as I'm with you, I'll never be bored" Vanessa whispered as she linked her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked.
"Now I just feel bad for saying it" Finral smiled sheepishly.
"I'm obviously more comfortable with just your company then"
"Hey that's not fair, I love your company. To be honest, I don't think we get enough alone time" Finral sulked.
"Aw I was just teasing. But that's nice to know" Vanessa squeezed his hand in appreciation.
They arrived at the sea front where people were relaxing, swimming or playing on the beach. Vanessa took her boots off and proceeded to walk bare foot onto the sand.
"Come on Finral, join me!" she looked back at him happily.
"I don't think we're dressed appropriately for the beach" he protested.
"Just take your boots off and walk with me" she persisted.
Finral obliged and before long they were wading ankle deep in the ocean as they walked along the shallows. Neither spoke for awhile, just enjoyed the atmosphere and fresh air. Vanessa basked in the feeling of the cold water brushing over her feet with little knowledge that Finral was watching her. The glee on her face and the breeze blowing through her pink hair, she was beautiful and he wondered how the hell he had ever gotten so lucky. What Finral didn't know however, was how Vanessa felt proud to be walking beside him. He may have been blind to the women that constantly swooned over him as he walked by, or maybe he just pretended not to notice. Either way Vanessa had and yet she was the one that had won his heart. It may have been shaky grounds to get to where they were now, but they were here none the less.
"What are you staring at me with that smile for?" Vanessa questioned as she finally noticed his gaze.
"Huh? Oh nothing, don't worry about it" he defended bashfully.
Vanessa grinned and before he had time to react, she playfully kicked up sea water at him. He stood in shock as salty water dripped from his hair and face, the nasty taste causing him to pull an unsavoury face. Vanessa laughed loudly at the sight as she wondered a little further away in case of retaliation.
"What a pretty face you have" she teased between laughs.
Before she could fully recover, Finral grabbed her and kissed her deeply making sure his tongue entered her mouth. Pulling away satisfied, he admired his handiwork. Vanessa was now sputtering and pulling at her own tongue, as the salty taste had now been passed to her also.
"That was mean!" she wailed as she desperately tried to rid herself of the salty taste.
"Nothing you can't wash down with booze later" Finral laughed, "Until then you'll just have to deal with it"
Vanessa wasn't done. She took one good kick of the water and Finral was soaked.
"So that's how you want to play it?" He asked playfully as he stood dripping.
"Maybe" she replied mischievously.
Finral took that as his cue to kick a wave of water at her. Though she tried to evade she still ended up wet. And that was how they became the biggest kid's on the beach with a splash fight.
Noelle watched from the beach where she was sat in conspicuously in a shaded area feeling envious. She glanced at Asta who was silently building a sand castle and wondered if they would be like their two friends were right now if they were in a relationship. Vanessa and Finral's laughter travelled over to them and it made Noelle long for what might be if she just had the guts to admit how she felt.
"Hey Noelle?" Asta spoke as he finished building a moat for his castle, "How long are we going to watch them for?"
"For as long as it takes"
"Ok, but can we at least go get some food? I'm starving"
Noelle watched blissfully as Finral playfully wrestled a laughing Vanessa into the water and sighed.
"Yeah you go. I'll wait here in case anything changes"
"Right" Asta shot up finally finding purpose, "I'll be right back!"
She was a little disappointed as she watched him run off without asking if she wanted anything. However that soon changed when he turned back and actually asked. Feeling that familiar pang in her chest she gave her order and he left. Going back to watching the other two, she wondered how they were going to carry on with their date soaking wet.
"Hey Noelle, what are you doing?"
A loud voice made her spin around to find the source. Stood looking amused at her, was Luck.
"What the heck are you doing here?" she gasped as she caught her breath.
"I got here earlier. I had something to do and Magna kept harassing me. So I killed two birds with one stone and asked Finral to send me here" Luck explained.
"It's normally you harassing people" Noelle stated finding it odd, "Why here specifically?"
"They have good sea food" Luck laughed.
"Ok..." Noelle trailed a little taken aback.
"Hey there's Vanessa and Finral now!" Luck shouted spotting his friends, "Hey! Vanessa! Finral! We're over here..."
Before Luck could finish trying to get the others attention, Noelle covered his mouth with her hand. Checking to see if they had heard and seeing they hadn't, Noelle sighed in relief.
"Why so secretive?" Luck asked with a giggle, "Oh are they not supposed to know your following them?"
"You already know we're supposed to be keeping an eye out for that woman Rachel. And if we don't want Vanessa and Finral finding out about her, this is necessary" Noelle explained.
"Oh I get ya" Luck agreed with a quieter voice, "Look Asta's here. Hey Asta!"
"Oh hey Luck, what are you doing here?" he asked confused.
"Well now I'm stalking Vanessa and Finral with you"
"It's not stalking, it's protecting" Noelle protested.
Asta handed Noelle some fried squid. Biting into his own, he continued.
"I hate to break it to you. But they both went through a portal a minute ago"
"What?" Noelle screeched as she searched the beach for any sign of her friends. Seeing they were indeed gone, she panicked, "How are we supposed to get home now?"
"Relax I'm sure they'll be back. They know we're here after all"
"Yeah, Finral said he'd pick me up once his date was finished and to meet him at the Blue Crab Tavern, where ever that is..." Luck trailed.
"Well let's go find it and wait!" Noelle suggested before setting off in search. She was scared in case they forgot to pick them up or they arrived before they did and something bad happened.
It didn't take to long to find the tavern, it was one of the closest to the beach. Finral and Vanessa had shown back up not to long after the first three had arrived. Once they had met back up with them, it was explained the couple had gone to change clothes before deciding to come back to eat and drink.
As it drew closer to the end of the night Vanessa was slowly but surely getting drunker and drunker whilst the others watched on in horror and awe. Unexpectedly a strange woman approached the group and boldly put her arm around Finral's shoulder before kissing him on the cheek.
"Hey there handsome, I enjoyed our meet up the other night. Fancy it again tonight?" she purred loudly enough for everyone at the table to hear.
"Wh...what? Who are you?" Finral stuttered.
"Hey hands off bitch!" Vanessa growled loudly as she stood up ready for a fight. Rouge suddenly appearing out of thin air and hissing at her.
"Oh looks like someone's been a naughty boy and not been honest about relationships" the woman giggled unfazed by Vanessa's threatening demeanour.
"I think you have me confused with someone else" Finral stated as he removed himself from under her arm.
"Aww don't be like that Finral" the woman grinned.
"How do you know my name?" Finral asked confused.
"We had such a good time, how could I not. Now why don't you break up with this skank, and stay with me?" the strange woman asked bravely.
Before anyone could react the woman was flung sideways as Vanessa's hand connected with her cheek. Noelle was suddenly in between the two women praying she wasn't about to be hit by accident for getting in the way. Asta tried with all of his might to hold the struggling Vanessa back. Luck just stood watching, an amused but slightly menacing smile on his face not trying to intervene at all. Finral, though he knew he shouldn't but couldn't help himself, got the woman to her feet and suggested she should leave before the pink haired witch could do something much worse.
"Ok I'll leave for now. But you know where to find me when you want to upgrade" the woman scorned and hurried out clasping her cheek as Vanessa managed to elbow Asta's nose.
"Ow!" he wailed, as he was caught off guard. A trickle of blood escaping his nostril.
"You all need to leave now!" the Tavern owner demanded as he approached them, "Your all barred"
Leaving the Tavern, Vanessa was not happy. She stormed ahead of the group cursing loudly. The other's watched on with dismay as she turned on Finral.
"Who the hell was she?" she shouted at him.
"The hell if I know" he tried to defend himself, "Some crazy Lady by the looks of it"
"Well she obviously knew you!"
"I swear I don't know who she is"
"Quick enough to help her to her feet though!"
"If I hadn't, you'd have probably killed her"
"So what if I had?"
"I don't want to lose you because of some stupid misunderstanding. You know I love you and would never do anything like that to you"
Vanessa didn't answer. She huffed and growled a little in frustration before scooping up Rouge and walking ahead again. Finral chased after her and the others could see them having a quiet but still heated, conversation
"Do you guys think this has something to do with Rachel?" Noelle asked quietly.
"I don't know" Asta answered truthfully, dabbing at his nose, "But if it is, she's gunna pay for my nose. It might be a good idea now to tell them we saw her"
"But we can't be sure it was her" Noelle reasoned, "For all we know, Finral might actually be guilty"
"Finral is not that kind of guy" Asta rebuked.
"Either way. We can't say anything until we know for sure"
Luck said nothing as he watched the two upfront argue. It wasn't nice watching a relationship begin to break down, but if doubt were that easily placed. Was it really a strong one to begin with?
Well that's chapter 3 done and dusted. I really hoped you enjoyed it as much so the others. It took me awhile to figure out the tone I wanted and I hope it paid off Haha. Anyways feel free to review, forgive any mistakes and stay tuned for chapter 4.