15| EGOSELFISH

It had been two days since Shuu brought Lucy back to the Mukami Manor, where Reiji was ready and quick enough to get Lucy set up for a blood transfusion. Luckily Yui's blood was type O, making it easy to get blood without having to steal some from a healer or steal a person, which wouldn't have gone over great with Lucy's guild. Of course Yui had been more than willing to help Lucy out, a little blood was nothing new for her in particular.

After Reiji had completed the blood transfusion, the second eldest Sakamaki brother came to learn how assiduous the young dragon slayer was by her persistent need to be the one to look over Lucy. He understood why, and realized that he was in no position to object. Not when nine mages were close to knowing the truth about them, and from what Lucy told Reiji- shit would hit the fan.

"Have you ever thought about what would happen if you did meet your guild again? What you would tell them about us?" Reiji questioned, curious to what the blonde would say.

Of course she had thought of the possibilities, they all had. Not just with Fairy Tail in general, but with the magic council and the people. The repercussions of their existence in this world and interfering with Lucy Heartfilia's life. This was a world were they were not at the top of both the food chain and beings, but learning to adapt in ways they never had to think about before nor had to.

"I don't know what I'd tell them, honestly." Lucy says, legs tucked up to her chest as she held a warm cup of tea to her lips, humming in appreciation to Reiji. "The truth? They'd go ballistic, especially if I told them what you are and the whole deal. That's a death wish."

Reiji nodded, "Protective, aren't they?"

"Very." Lucy agree wholeheartedly, setting her cup down. "They wouldn't understand. I think they still believe I can't handle my own in battle, and sure I need help time to time, but I know how to survive."

"What you've told us about yourself, makes you anything but weak." Reiji reassured, seeing the underlying meaning of her words. It was the first time he ever openly complemented anyone, let alone a human. Had it been three months ago, Reiji would had laughed if he was told he'd met his equal, but that was exactly what Lucy and this world was- his and his brother's equals.

"Maybe the truth, eventually." Lucy says softly, thinking it over. "I think they'd deserve the truth after a while, if that time ever comes. In this world, things like this don't stay a secret for however long you want, it sorta just happens. With my guild at least. We tend to get into the middle of these situations, mostly life or death."

"You have a good heart, Lucy." Reiji offered her a small smile, which she returned with her cup.

"And you make good tea, Reiji. Mind pouring me some more please?"

"Her vitals are good." Wendy tells Reiji, looking up at the man who came to check on her friend every other hour. "I was also able to heal the lingering scars on her body."

Reiji could see the question burning in Wendy's mind, how she refrained from asking and was pleased by her manners. He decided then he didn't mind young Wendy Marvell, even so if she was shy and clumsy.

"Lucy mentioned you were a healer." Reiji commented, looking over Lucy and seeing her scars were gone completely, even the faded ones. "You have quite the gift."

Wendy perked up, despite the man in front of her being dangerous. In fact, Wendy had taken the time with Erza and Gajeel to watch the men of this house for the past two days while keeping a certain dragon slayer and ice mage out and away from Lucy. The brothers were minding their business, but they did seem to care about Lucy from what Wendy could gather with them slipping in and out of her room.

"She mentioned us?" Wendy felt hope, that for a second Lucy didn't completely forget, that she still cared.

"She would tell us stories about your guild, even if it made her sad." Reiji tells Wendy.

Wendy looked down, shoulders slumping, "How sad was Lucy?"

"Sad, but she is strong. She's a survivor." Reiji confidently said, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

Wendy's shoulders slumped at the reminder that they hadn't been there when Lucy needed them, that she hadn't been there for the blonde who was there for everyone else. Even when she lost her father, Lucy's smile never faltered. No one had really asked if she was okay, not even when the smell of salt lingered on her being.

It was then Wendy truly realized that Lucy might be the strongest person she knew. Of course Erza, Natsu, Gajeel were all strong, physically. That people often thought that Lucy was a weak link, but Lucy was the exact opposite. Lucy was smart, kind, and protective. She kept them safe, even sacrificed Aquarius, but maybe the real thing Wendy finally understood was maybe they didn't know Lucy like they thought they did.

It was clear now Lucy kept her emotions to herself mostly, that she kept the secrets that held burden to herself.

"Was she happy?" Wendy asked softly, but Reiji was able to pick up on it. "When she was here with you all these months, was she truly happy?"

Reiji softly sighed, glancing at the blonde who looked peaceful on the infirmary bed. He thought of his answer carefully. Thought of the woman they first met, who resisted, then submitted, who became depressed and lost the luster in her brown eyes. Thought of the woman who protected Yui so fiercely and brought out sides of himself and his brothers they hated existed within them. How Lucy had suddenly changed too, and was not the naive girl she once was, of how she smiled and she taught them to live with humanity.

"I think she will be now." Reiji confesses, because he couldn't remember her being truly happy.

Now that Fairy Tail was back, he noticed her struggling with that sliver of depression. How keeping a secret slowly ate her inside out, but now that they were soon to know the very truth, maybe now she could be happy. To bring to worlds she lived in and make them become one, and where that took a lot of wishful thinking, Reiji knew they'd try for her.

As of out of character that was for them, they would try so the Celestial Mage would smile more brightly. They would do it so the star that once shined so brightly in the night would shine brightly once again.

A flutter in Lucy's heartbeat and the hitch in her breath caught the attentions of the young dragon slayer and vampire, causing their conversation to fall short as they watched the fluttering of Lucy's eyes. A groan escaped her chapped lips as she turned to her side away from them, slowly opening her eyes.

"Lucy? Can you hear me?" Wendy asked softly, placing a hand of the celestial mage's arm.

Lucy nodded, "Yeah, I hear you." She turned to look over at Wendy, then looked around her surroundings. "My head hurts."

Wendy nodded quickly, "You seemed to hit your head pretty hard. I was able to heal most of the concussion, but the throbbing is probably a natural response."

Lucy could only hum, not really taking in what Wendy was saying. She was trying to remember what happened, because she could recall waking up in a cell and the other woman, ands she could remember a face, but words and names were a blur.

"Oi, you can't just barge in there pinky pie!" Ayato barked out as soon as Natsu slammed the infirmary door open.

"Lucy!" He grinned, relieved to see her awake finally. He had been restless, needing to know what the hell was going on but no one would answer his questions if he asked. He continued to ignore Ayato, who was more annoying than Gray. Which surprised Natsu because that popsicle was annoying.

"Natsu." She offered as small smile, taking a glass of water Reiji had gotten her and giving him a smile of thanks.

"How are you feeling Lucy?" Reiji asked now, wanting to check her vitals but knew it was pointless since Wendy had healed her.

Lucy scratched her head, wincing lightly, "Honestly? I have a headache and I'm tired, but other than that I feel fine. Probably need to walk around soon."

"You will walk around later." Reiji agreed, with Wendy nodding her head in agreement too.

By now the room was being filled with the others, who heard the commotion of Ayato and Natsu. Gray had learned that the two, plus Laito, were annoying to no end. Weirdly enough, Juvia was able to get along with some of the men Lucy lived with, and one being Subaru Sakamaki- a man who they quickly learned had major anger issues.

Gray supposed it was because water, Juvia's magic, was a natural calming element that it just didn't bother the youngest brother of the house, and that didn't settle well with Gray. Thankfully, Juvia spent most of her time around him still.

Happy had taken a sport in calling Azusa Mukami and Kanato Sakamaki weirdos, creeps and other names in his insult book that caused the twoo to get upset. Yet the flying blue cat didn't';t fear them, finding it amusing- like he did every time he riled someone up.

Levy had spent her time with Yui, who showed the blue haired bookworm the library that Lucy always had at her disposal. Levy had been amazed how her blonde best friend basically had a bookstore to herself, more if that.

Weirdly, Kou had gotten along with Gray. The blonde male had just started talking and he didn't exactly annoy Gray, but the ice mage's guard was still up. Laito hadn't tried any advances, which surprised some of the brothers, but they dismissed it as the tension being the reason. Yuma had been in a continuous stare down with Gajeel, who's piercing red gaze tried to go through the half breed. Erza, she minded her own business, every now and then glancing at the door Shuu had disappeared behind of two days ago and hadn't come out since.

"Are you feeling well, Lucy?" Erza asked, coming up to her bed side.

"Yeah." Lucy says, not feeling like going through it and glancing at Wendy to say nothing, knowing already Reiji wouldn't. "Hit my head though, so I don't remember everything. Just bits and pieces."

Gajeel frowned, "Not even the bite mark that was in your neck? You remember that?"

"Yo, back off." Yuma warned, coming to step up next to Wendy. "She just woke up."

Gajeel glared his glare at Yuma, "You don't think I know that? Doesn't change the fact that Bunny Girl here has something she needs to tell us. The way she's fidgeting nervously right now tells me she remembers enough."

It was true, Lucy sat in her bed moving uncomfortably at the thought of their reactions to what the truth would be. How would they react? What would they think if her? Would they accept her and the brothers, or be disgusted? Lucy wasn't sure if she could bare that.

"Yeah? And that doesn't change the fact that you can't actually force her to say anything." Subaru muttered under his breath.

Subaru and Lucy, the duo that none of the brothers thought would get along but did. They didn't actively hang around one another, but it was more that they understood each other. It happened one random night that Subaru happened to be outside. He was tending the rose garden, the one place that gave him a sense of peace, and she had been laying on a bench looking up at the starry night sky with the most content face he'd seen on her facial structure.

"You know they'll throw a fit if they know you're out here." Subaru grunted out, standing over the blonde and blocking her view.

Lucy rolled her eyes in response, "For what? Being with you?" She sighed softly, gently trying to push him away slightly so she could see the sky. "Reiji knows I'm out here. I asked since it was a clear sky."

Subaru wasn't surprised, this girl was smart enough not to piss them off. She was very intellectual, something they all came to quickly learn. She was a heiress, of course she had a phenomenal education that expanded over expectations. Despite the past few months, Subaru had notice her smile lessen and her brown eyes losing their luster.

It was a reminder of his mother, before she gotten to the point she had gotten.

"You're not going to force a smile? Or even try?" Subaru raised an eyebrow at her in question.

"Did you know that the worst kind of pain is when you're smiling just to keep the tears from falling?" Lucy questioned in a soft voice. "I lived that way a long time, even within my guild because I hate making people worry. They see me smile and assume everything is alright, and never once has anyone besides my spirits asked me if I was okay. Even if it was indirect."

Subaru's eyes widen slightly, huffing and turning his head away feeling a little blush, "Stupid girl, I wasn't asking if you were okay. I couldn't care less for you're well being."

Lucy didn't care, she didn't care that he didn't care, but she felt like talking. She needed it, "I never wanted pretty dresses or money. Not like how my father wanted for me and himself. I yearned for a place to recognize me for who I was, and while Fairy Tail is my other family that's now broken, it still yearn for that."

Subaru huffed again, begrudgingly sitting at the other end of the bench Lucy laid on, "We see you for who you are, idiot. Stubborn and resilient. Those people, Fairy Tail, are bastards that don't deserve the forgiveness I already know you've given them."

"And how would you know that?" Lucy inquired curiously.

"Because that's who you are, Lucy." Subaru says, leaning back. "You're also fragile and broken right now. Yet somehow you find it in yourself to be outgoing and even trying to take Yui's spot. Even make an effort to be humane with us. Why?"

Lucy only smiled up at the stars, "Remember this. Everyone you meet fears something, loves something and has lost something. It's nice to remember that so you can understand others more."

Subaru clenched his fists and growled lowly, "And what makes you think you know me at all? You think you're that great?"

"No." Lucy answered with honesty. "I never think myself great, but I know loss when I see it in someone's eyes. I used to see it every morning in the mirror when I was five up until I was sixteen, and now more recently. I see it in your eyes that you've lost something, and no one ever deserves the misery of it."

Subaru stayed silent, as did Lucy who eventually drifted off to sleep. In turn, Subaru carried her to her room, having some newfound respect.

"She promised." Natsu cut in, his onyx eyes boring into her own brown. "Celestial mages never break their promises."

"Now isn't the time." Laito chirped. "Usagi-chan should rest."

Lucy sighed and shook her head at Laito, "No, he's right. I did promise to tell them, and there's really no avoiding it anymore."

"Lucy." Yuma sternly argues, but again earns a shake of her head.

"No." Lucy says and offers a reassuring smile. "Let me tell them, alone. I want to tell them by myself please."

"But-"

"As you wish." Reiji cut Ayato off, looking at both the Sakamaki's and Mukami's. "Let's give them some space.

Watching the vampire walk out, even with Yui in tow who offered a small smile of encouragement, it was a bit nerve racking since Lucy hadn't had someone around her. It was also the first time Lucy had been truly alone with the members of Fairy Tail, without a Sakamaki brother, or a Mukami, or even Yui. It was the first time Lucy actually felt threatened by her family, the people she was supposed to call family, causing her to feel even more conflicted as they stared her down with expecting looks.

"Juvia let it slip that when Jellal found her, he had already been tracking you and the Sakamaki brothers for a few weeks. His main concern was that they are not from Earthland." Erza spoke sternly, eyeing Lucy as if she was uncertain who's side the blond was on.

Lucy should have felt offended, but pushing all her own emotions aside, she understood where Erza was coming from. She understood the looks her guildmates gave her. Wendy and Happy watching uncertainty of how this would play out, Gray and Gajeel expressionless, Carla with sympathy, and Juvia with Levy just unsure what to think. Natsu though, her best friend looked at her like he was uncertain if he knew her, and in honest truth, none of them knew her anymore.

"About a month after the guild disbanded I found that I couldn't stay in my apartment anymore. There were too many memories, to many emotions that I didn't want to feel, so I decided to leave. I had a job lined up, an apartment, but I was hardly even there mentally. Physically, sure. Emotionally, no." Lucy started, but Erza cut in.

"What does this have to do with them?"

"Everything." Lucy said it so simply. "Please, don't interrupt my story. You want to know the truth, remind me of my oath as a Celestial Mage, then let me speak my truth."

No one said anything after, and Lucy took their silence as an agreement.

"I wanted to go and visit my parents graves, so Loke accompanied me to the old Heartfilia Estate, and that's where I met them, and their father. I was upset to see strangers around my parent's gravestones, but when I got there to confront them it was all set in stone as to what would happen. I learned the truth my father never told me, that it didn't matter that I ran away, that I joined a guild and I had been happy. It would have all been ripped away the moment that man found me." Lucy heard the door open, where Yuma and Kou stood guard as she told the truth, and saw Yui slip in to stand besides her. She wasn't surprised that they'd come back though, almost bringing a smile to her face as she spoke.

"When I was five years old, my father made a deal with the Mr. Sakamaki, that when I spent a full year with his sons, I would choose one of my liking to wed, and in return Mr. Sakamaki would fund all my father's expeditions. I recently learned that when Mr. Sakamaki went to his world, he left my father a set amount of money to last until he could come next, but father blew in and went bankrupt. Flash forward all these years, Mr. Sakamaki came to collect.

"I knew there was something off about them, didn't know they weren't from here at first but I felt their darkness and in time they tried to make me learn my place. They being Ayato and Laito. Shuu slept most times, Reiji wanted me unharmed for my status, Kananto just wanted me to bake, and Subaru says I reminded him of his mother, why- don't ask. Yet my third day with them I learned what they were after pushing the two damn red headed assholes to far, and that is that they are simply vampires."

She saw them tense at the word vampires and knew that she would have to explain even more, the whole ass story. She glanced at Yui, who offered her a smile. She knew the other girl wanted her happy and safe, but Yui deserved it so much more.

"Yui was the reason I stayed in the first place. I had planned on running until I found out I signed the contract myself, my own word binding me there, but I saw how they treated Yui less than humane. Biting her, physical and verbal abuse, and so I took it for her. I riled them up, I took the verbal abuse, the biting, and in time I came to thrive off it."

"But why Lucy?" It was Gray, whispering so low his voice cracked. "Why would you allow this? That isn't the Lucy of Fairy Tail."

"Because it distracted me. For once in my life I allowed my light to dim, to allow myself to accept I wasn't stop pretending everything would be okay suddenly. I was mad all the time, so with them the pain was something that distracted me from my grief, from sacrificing Aquarius, to Natsu leaving with just a note with Happy, to the guild disbanding and to everyone leaving.

"When I lost my mother, it was so lonely in that house. You don't understand, not entirely. When Natsu saved me back in the town of Hargeon, it was the first time I felt warmth and love and acceptance in a long time. Losing it again, I lost a part of myself."

"They hurt you, and you're going to marry one of them?" Natsu's voice was calm, to calm, and it reminded her of how he would talk to enemies that hurt her. That dangerous tone that warned to pick your words carefully.

Yet Lucy was firm in her resolve, "Shuu was there for me when no one else was. The way we met was not ideal, but he was the one to check on me during nights I cried out your name, Natsu. He was the one who listened to me when I decided I didn't want to be mad, and he was the one I woke up next to the nights I was lonely and cried myself to sleep. Not you, not anyone from Fairy Tail."

She saw Natsu frown at that, "I didn't know Lucy! You can't marry a vampire, a demon."

"Vampire and demons, two different things." Lucy muttered, sighing. "You don't understand, that they are actually capable of humanity. They felt entitled to hurting people who aren't like them, but here in Earthland they are not invincible, and they know this. They know you could beat or possibly kill them here, and in so they've been working on blending in, being more human, and caring. They aren't evil, aren't looking to take over the world and start dark guilds, so don't go pointing fingers and accusing them. You don't know them."

It was well known that Lucy was a good judge of character, but for her to agree to an arrange marriage to some who wasn't even human? That was new, but most of the group understood Lucy had made her mind up. They just weren't on board or agreeing with this.

"Yuma? Is he really your cousin?" Levy asks, and it's the first time Lucy looked away.

"He is." Lucy says. "Born here, ended up in an other world, whole backstory on how he changed, and then back here. How he got over there in the first place, he refuses to tell me."

"Why?" Erza asks. "Why deny that information?"

"He's honoring my mother's request, so Ruki tells me. I decided to let him tell me when he's ready. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with mama and her sister." Lucy says, glancing at Yuma who's face was expressionless.

Natsu went to grab Lucy, shaking his head, "You're not staying here with whatever the hell they are, Lucy. You're going to come home to Fairy Tail, where it's safe."

Something in Lucy snapped at that as she wrenched her arm out of Natsu's grip and glared, "I will not." Her tone caused a shiver to go down Natsu's spine. "Do you think that if they wanted me dead that I would still be breathing? That I'm not safe here?"

"Obviously you're not!" Natsu growled, trying not to direct his anger on her. "Did they brainwash you and turn your brain to mush? You were nearly dead Lucy!"

"They did bring you back here for a blood transfusion." Gray chimed.

Levy grasped Lucy's hand gently, "If that's normal Lucy, then you're not safe. They'll kill you."

It was Yui who spoke up, "You're all being ignorant of what she's trying to tell you all. Let me make it clear then. If they wanted Lucy dead, she would be dead but now she's getting married to the very man who unexpectedly was there and helped her through the hardships she was left to face alone. They might not be human, but does that not mean they don't deserve a chance? That doesn't mean you have to like them ."

"Yui." Lucy whispered, her heart clenching at the usually timid girl sticking up for both her and the brothers. Meanwhile Kou and Yuma shared an impressed look that Yui had balls enough to stand up to the mages.

Gajeel wanted to say something, Mavis did he want to say something but he realized seeing Lucy gripping Yui's hand now instead if Levy's, how dependent Lucy really was on these people. That she truly believed that these men cared about her. Glancing at Natsu, the iron dragon slayer could tell that his fellow fire dragon slayer was coming to the same conclusion. Even Erza and Gray had come to that conclusion.

They would have to prove Lucy wrong and wait the vampires out until one of them slipped up. Which was bound to happen. Seeing that none of the family of her guild looked happy, Lucy's hope wavered and that fear rooted itself in place. Yet it was worse when the others besides Natsu or Gajeel didn't really say anything else.

"We'll figure this more out later, and talk more about this once we actually process it all." Erza says, looking around at the others. "For now we must relocate Dragon Cry and finish our original mission. Then decide what to do after."

Thank you like always for the support on this story! It means so much, especially since I procrastinated my assignment to finish this chapter haha. Love you all.

Also please check out my new Fairy Tail story, Dynasty.

Please review and favorite! Thank you again for the support!