16 | H O M E
Dragon Cry had been easy enough to get ahold of again with the help of the Sakamaki's and Mukami's, who actually lent the helping hand despite being openly judged by the members of Fairy Tail. It was something Lucy expected to happen, the rejection of her guild that didn't exactly understand her reasonings and justification for the brothers. Yet she's also learned she doesn't need anyone's approval, she was a grown adult capable of making her own decisions.
Both Gray and Natsu, along with Erza and Gajeel were trying to get it into her head that she had been both emotionally abused and verbally abused by the two set of vampire families, that the choice she was making wasn't rational.
Yet she never budged. They were not the ones that were there for her when she grieved. Not even when her father passed or when she lost Michelle, or even Éclair. No one had been there for the loss of her mother besides Aquarius, and Lucy lost her too. Sure the Sakamaki's were harsh, violent and somewhat abusive (more to Yui), but they weren't bad. They could put up a front, but they cared more than they let on.
People could call both Yui and herself stupid girls who were naive, but Lucy has seen their other sides. Just because her guild didn't understand them, or approve had nothing to do with Lucy's personal experience. Gajeel had tortured Team Shadow Gear, Levy, and even Lucy herself. Laxus had went against the guild to overthrow Master Makarov, but in the end they were forgiven and given another chance.
This was no different, so Lucy would only nod her head in response and tell them that she appreciated their concern but that she was fine. Which was true, she was okay. For once the ranging emotions in her chest were settled in place, and maybe that was because she had been so close to death. There was more to life than being stuck in the pass, so she decided it was time to move forward.
Lucy was sure if she gave that response again anytime soon then someone was going to try to beat some sense into her. Now that they had been living with Lucy and the brothers for about a week, nothing on their judgement had seemed to change, and she knew herself it didn't help with some of the brothers not putting any effort in.
Yui tried, even though Lucy knew the other girl wanted nothing more than Lucy herself to be whisked away from this house, she tried to get along with Fairy Tail. They took to her though, and Lucy even heard Juvia tell Yui she should join Fairy Tail.
"Reiji is making dinner." Yui says, knocking lightly as she opened Lucy's door to find the blonde looking out over the gardens. "Though he says it's a nuisance for cooking so much food for dragon slayers, I think he secretly enjoys it."
This caused Lucy to give a little laugh and nod of agreement, "You know Reiji loves cooking, it's why he keeps doing those monthly dinners that never work out. He's like a housewife, but I didn't say that."
Yui could only laughed at that, because it was true. Every single dinner was ruined, and Reiji would get flustered and be upset like a mother with badass children. Which was what the brothers seemed to like to act like.
"I didn't hear anything from you." Yui says with a grin and finger to her lips to keep the secret. "I wanted to see how you were doing today. You've hardly really been outside your room, and everyone has been worried. Shuu won't say what's wrong."
Lucy sighed, giving Yui a small smile afterwards. "I've been coming to terms with everything, trying to really think what the next step of my life will be. Shuu says that he'd go with me back to Fairy Tail, if that was what I wanted."
"Is that what you want?" Yui asks, taking the seat next to her. "To go back to Fairy Tail? They seem like good people who really care about your well being."
"They are good people." Lucy leaned her head back against the wall, looking back out the window. "I just don't want to bring more problems to the guild. They've been through so much, and with what just happened, the last thing I want is to involve anyone else in this family business."
Yui could see the worry in Lucy's brown eyes, knowing that being so close to death and whatever happened to Lucy when she was gone in that time seemed to have changed her a little more. She was more in tune, and whatever was going on behind Lucy's closed bedroom doors, only Shuu seemed to know.
"He helps me with my nightmares." Lucy tells Yui softly, admitting the truth. "Shuu comes here every night, we talk about everything and nothing. Then when I sleep, that night comes back. The cave, the woman and Kino." Lucy trailed off.
"Kino?" Yui asks, sitting straight.
"Kino Sakamaki." Lucy answered, hand going up to lightly touch the spot he had bit her. "The nightmares bring back something every time, little by little. The down side is reliving it each night, but Shuu is there to wake me up when it becomes to much."
Yui frowned, leaning forward to grab her hands, "We never hear you having nightmares. Does anyone else know?"
"No one hears because I had Aries redo my room installation with her wool to sound proof it the best she could, which she did exactly so." Lucy smiled at Yui in reassurance. "Reiji knows, Shuu and I are keeping it to ourselves. Trying to figure out what Kino wants before saying anything, because he's not a good person Yui. It's another reason I don't want to involve my guild."
"They have a right to know too, Lucy." Yui pointed out.
"They don't have to know every aspect of my life either, Yui." Lucy argued softly. "If I tell them this, they won't live their lives. They will worry about me and they don't need to be in another life and death situation."
"They worry because they love you too." Yui reminds the blonde, squeezing Lucy's hand in comfort. "I love you, and so do the Sakamaki's and Mukami's and your spirits. We don't want to see you hurt."
"And I don't want to see people who've put their lives on the line for me do it again." Lucy shook her head, knowing Yui didn't know all the life and death situations Lucy has been in. "Please keep this to yourself for now Yui. This is my choice, and I don't need anyone pushing me one direction."
Yui understood, nodding her head and backing down from saying anything else. It was perfect timing for their conversation to end since a soft knock broke their sudden silence. Lucy was quick to pull Yui in for a hug, feeling grateful for the girl who only had the best intentions.
"Don't fret over me. I'll be okay." Lucy promises, kissing Yui on the cheek and going over to her bedroom door.
On the other side of the door stood Kou, holding a few books. "Yuma said some of these your mom used to read and sent me to give them to you."
At this Yui excused herself, saying hi to Kou as she passed him on the way out. Lucy raised an eyebrow looking at the spine of the books and gave a little laugh. The books Kou was holding was a math book and a children's coloring book, causing Lucy to roll her eyes and laugh a little louder.
"Come in and close the door so you can tell me whatever it is you want to tell me." Lucy tells him, reading the other blonde like an open book. That fact didn't surprise Kou much, seeing as she was his best friend. That was his claim on her that he wouldn't let anyone have, secretly of course.
His blue eyes trailed after her as Lucy went to sit back on the window bench that looked over the gardens. Closing the door to her bed room, Kou went and took the seat next to her. Why he needed to tell her this, he wasn't sure. He just did.
"Yuma wanted me to be the one to marry you." Kou softly admitted to Lucy, "Yet we never had the connection, because the reality is I see you like my sister."
There was a moment of silence. That moment caused Kou's very human anxiety to kick in, feeling the same nerves he would have had he been human. Feelings he didn't miss feeling, but didn't mind the reminder.
"Is that because we're both blonde?" Lucy teased, nudging him with a small smile unfazed by his confession. "Even if Yuma wanted you to marry me, I could never. That day you sat with me in the library, and we talked. It was clear then you were the brother I never had- the fun one. Yuma is brooding and protective."
Kou couldn't help but grin at the acceptance Lucy was giving him. He was never one to really care for others, sure he could fake it but he had been more open minded recently because Lucy reminded him that he was once a human. He was just like them once, without the magic, and his heart was human still. He just forced himself to be cold, to survive. It was him and his brothers against the world.
Now things were changing, Kou noticed, with himself, his brothers and even the Sakamaki's. Kou believed that maybe it was Earthland itself changing them, because in this world where magic was real and people fought for those they loved, and where forgiveness was a thing- maybe they could be better.
Kou knew he wanted to be better, and plus this was where Yuma was originally born. Which was mind blowing to Kou still, and even Ruki. Over all, Kou wanted to stay in this world away from all the anger and bloodlust that came from their lives, because here he felt home. Yet he wasn't sure if that was because of this place or because of Lucy loving him and caring for him. That Lucy was the benefactor for them all.
"Don't marry Shuu if you don't love him, Lucy." Kou suddenly says, giving her a serious expression. "I know what the deal was, and that man is no good. Karlheinz is sly and manipulative, and even Yuma said it- we don't know his true intentions with you."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, frowning suddenly. First Kino and now Karlheinz?
Kou slung an arm over her shoulders, "What I mean is do what makes you happy for once, Lucy. You deserve that happiness, even if that means if it's with Shuu or another one of them, or even the pink haired idiot down stairs. From what Yuma has told me, your mother would have wanted you happy. We are here just to reassure that."
Lucy couldn't help but feel touched, nearly moved emotionally enough to cry at his last words. She didn't cry though, instead she held those tears back, lunging out of his arm around her shoulders and hugged Kou tightly. She knew that Fairy Tail loved her, cared for her happiness but no one has ever told her she had a choice
Her father took that away. Fairy Tail thought she needed protecting, and now she was being told she had the choice. Even Shuu and Reiji always told her she had a choice, as did Yuma, Ruki, and Yui. Yet it was something about Kou understanding her mother through Yuma's words, and reiterating that to her that got her. Someone understood.
"Thank you, Kou." Lucy whispered, smiling at him with a radiant smile Kou hadn't seen in a while.
He knew then that Lucy was going to be just fine, whether it be with them or with Fairy Tail. It was all up to her, and now she knew she had choices. Her life was her own, and Kou only wanted to be a part of it.
He didn't understand what was wrong with her, why she changed so much from the girl he last saw. No, he did understand but Natsu wanted to refuse to accept that reason and was looking for another one that made more sense. In his head these men were monsters who touched Lucy and harmed her, and they had no right.
Yet she allowed it, so what reasoning did he even have to go punch that stupid Shuu in the face? If he did and Lucy asked why after she was done yelling at him, and his reasoning was because he felt like it- well then she might punch him and be mad again. He couldn't risk that, because now it was the fact they needed to take her back home where she belongs.
Yui had first asked him to take Lucy away from this house, and now defended the brothers. It made Natsu wonder what had changed. Was it because Shuu was going to supposedly marry Lucy?Natsu honestly had no clue, he just knew now that woman were confusing as hell. Mad about one thing one second, and mad about another the next.
Igneel never taught him any of this stuff, and Gajeel and Gray just laughed at him when he asked. It was Levy who took pity on him and would tell him what to do, but not even Levy had a solution for this. If Lucy wanted to stay here, live her life in this country then how could they change her mind?
"Oi, pinky- you look like you're thinking too hard." Ayato sneered. "Don't hurt yourself, we don't need Lucy being upset over you again."
Something inside Natsu snapped at that, because now he had his reason to punch Ayato in that stupid smug face of his. Which he did, moving faster than Ayato registered and got a solid punch in the pureblood's face.
Ayato snarled, backing up a few steps at the sheer force of Natsu's punch. No one ever hit him, disrespecting him as such in his home and got away with it. It was not about to be accepted now. Ayato's green eyes narrowed at Natsu, lips pulled back knowing his fangs would piss the dragon slayer off more. Hell, Ayato could feel the hate from Natsu a mile away for him and his brothers.
"As much as you say you hate us for what we are, the truth is you hate us for what he did." Ayato licked his lips, knowing he was about to cross another line that would help no one. Yet he couldn't help the temptation of his next words. "You hate me because these fangs pierced through Lucy's soft neck, causing her to cry out in pain and moan at the sheer pleasure of having her blood sucked."
Levy winced at the sudden heat in the house, knowing Natsu was about to blow a fuse. Yet she frowned at Ayato's words, feeling Gajeel tense next to her. She knew that the reason Gajeel had become concerned with Lucy's wellbeing was because his dragon had claimed her as kin, the same way Wendy had as well. It happened that day he saved her from . one of the nine demons, which is what he told Levy.
"He's really going to stand there gloating about that?" Gajeel glare intensified at the red head vampire, who was now dodging Natsu's punches swiftly.
"He's egging Natsu on." Levy told Gajeel, noticing how Ayato wasn't throwing punches back, yet instead he'd teleport and say some other smart ass remarks and taunt Natsu with his one weakness that gets him each time, Lucy.
Meanwhile, Gray sighed and shook his head at the two pink haired idiots who were the most annoying people in the room. The past week had been interesting to say the least, seeing how at ease Lucy was with these men. It was weird, because she fit right in. He didn't understand it, how she could be so calm and let them hurt her. In fact, Gray didn't want to understand it because he believed he would hate the truth even more.
"Oh no, we didn't even make it to dinner." Yui sighed, knowing Reiji would be upset about a fight this early on.
"Why did she stay?" Gray asked Yui suddenly, who was a bit surprised at the question. "She says it was to protect you, but there's more to it other than the whole marriage contract shit."
Yet instead of Yui answering, Yuma did. He knew the answers to his cousin, her reasonings and who she was. All the years he was gone, and how much he'd changed the one thing that seemed to stay consistent in his life now was Lucy. She hadn't changed since she was a child, still having those big brown eyes and a heart of gold. An angel in the dark.
"She stayed because she didn't want to be lonely." Yuma tells Gray with a look of annoyance. "Really, I don't know how many times we need to repeats it to you all to get it. Lucy stayed, and sure I wasn't here at first to protect her, but when I was there have no doubt Lucy was the safest she'd ever been."
Yui nodded, backing Yuma up but also adding onto the explanation, "I think staying eased her heart ache, and like she told you before- she lost herself in darkness. Yet I think she had to lose herself a bit to find herself, and she did that with everyone in this room."
Yui then turned to look fully at Gray, "I know the first day we met I asked you to help Lucy out of this house. Then I realized something recently for myself that was probably the same for her. My family are the Sakamaki's and Mukami's. My father sent me away without looking back, and all I have is them. My point is, everyone in this room has played a role in Lucy's life that's lead her here, to this very point. Each one of us are important to her and who she is now, and we all have to accept that on both sides."
Yuma was impressed with the small petite human girl who used to run away and shake in bones with fear. Now she was having a back bone, and he knew it was because she had the same urge to protect Lucy the same way his cousin had protected her. He had respect for Yui before and it seemed to grow now.
Yet Gray knew that this girl had a point, Lucy had grown as a person. She wasn't the same person she when they left her back in Magnolia to grow themselves. She had her own demons to face, and she had in a way the no one expected. Gray understood why, did he like it? No, but he didn't have a choice anymore.
Lucy was her own person, and he knew her enough to know that she hated being controlled or told what to do. Which was exactly what they were doing to her, he realized. Whoops, no wonder why she gets upset with us.
Wendy sighed with Juvia off to the side, who sat at the table playing chest with Subaru and Azusa. Wendy and Juvia knew better than to get involved with any of the fights, because the reality was that everyone had to work out their issues. Like Subaru, who's eyebrow was twitching suddenly at the loudness of the room.
Without a word, Juvia and Wendy sat there while Subaru flipped the chest board and turned to look at the two idiots fighting while yelling their heads off. It pissed Subaru off hearing Ayato speaking about Lucy like an object, knowing damn well he was waiting for a niece or nephew from said woman. Then Natsu, who fought because he was confused on how to handle his own damn emotions.
"I got Natsu and you handle your brother?" Erza says, who tuned out to be one of the only woman besides Juvia and Lucy who had Subaru's respect.
"Sound's like a plan." Subaru muttered, stomping over and grabbing Ayato and kicking the back of his shin hard to knock him to the floor. "Shut the hell up already."
"Natsu." Erza grabbed the flaming slayer, slamming his head against the wall and holding him there. "Calm down and behave."
"What the hell is going on down here?" Lucy's voice cut through the room, causing Natsu to stop struggling and Ayato to shut up.
Lucy rose an eyebrow, Kou standing behind her with a frown having heard some of Ayato's words when they left her room to see if Reiji was done with dinner after their talk.
"He started it." Natsu blurted, and nearly everyone is face-planted the floor.
"Is that really what you're going with?" Lucy asked, sighing at the never maturing man in front of her.
"I don't get why you stay here when you can go home." Natsu stated so suddenly, it caught Lucy off guard. "You trust everyone so easily. It gets you into situations and sometimes hurt. You belong at home with the guild, our family. Not here playing family-"
"Stop." Lucy cut him off, stepping into the living room. "Stop acting like you know everything. It's not just you Natsu, but all of you. Stop. Stop telling me what's good for me, or where I should be at or going. Who's good for me and who's not. Who's family and people I care for. You are not me. You don't know my feelings, what I felt or been through. You are my friends, and family. Instead of tearing at me, try to support and understand me."
"Lucy." Levy stood, having every urge to comfort her friend who stood there with a carefully soft expression. It was sad, but she wasn't tearing up.
"I'm not asking you to accept them." Lucy stated, looking at her guild mates. "I'm not asking for your opinions or your thoughts, no. I'm asking you understand and trust me." Her hand touched her chest at this, voice cracking with emotion.
It was Erza who stepped up, bowing her head. "Forgive me, Lucy. Forgive me for not listening and not trusting you." She paused, hesitating before asking the question that had been burning on the tip of her tongue. "Do you trust these men with your life?"
"I trust them on the same level I trust the guild." Lucy softly said without hesitation. "I trust everyone in this room with my life. Fairy Tail saved my life on multiple occasions, but they saved me from myself. I was not myself even before they came into the picture. They are apart of my life now, like how you and Natsu and Gray and Wendy are. Including the guild."
Erza understood why, or had a better understanding than before. She never thought Lucy would struggle with dark emotions, and Erza was at fault like many others in the guild thinking that Lucy was the perfect person without these flaws that made them all human. These men probably hurt Lucy out of their instinctive nature, but they were also probably the reason that Lucy was alive and breathing in front of her today.
"Then I will be opened minded in accepting them, for you Lucy." Erza says, earning a smile from Lucy that she hadn't received in almost a year and a half now. A smile that Erza had missed a lot more than she knew.
"Thank you Erza." Lucy hugged her friend, feeling that now people were hearing her. Lucy then leaned to whisper into Erza's ear. "I know they seem cold and mean and aggressive, but they were raised with no love. All they knew was darkness, and they are still learning and thriving. Time is what they need, not to be provoked. Understand as well that's also why they are how they are."
Shuu then appeared, lightly placing his hand at the small of Lucy's back as he took the spot Kou had moved from. He knew he had to let Lucy deal with this, that him saying anything to defend her could add to the fire. Yet he wanted her to know he was there if she needed.
"Reiji want's everyone to know dinner is ready." Shuu announced for his brother, kissing Lucy's temple softly and heading toward's the dining room.
From the moment they all sat down at the dining table, that was big enough for everyone surprisingly, dinner had been uneventful. It was completely silent from all ends of the table, and the silence was awkward with tension. Some people on both sides accepted the situation and had decided to go with the flow, while some dismissed the idea of acceptance.
Yet it was thirteen words in one sentence that caused the silence to break in to surprise, "The best thing for Lucy would be to go back to Fairy Tail."
Hearing that caused Lucy's head to snap up in surprise as she stared at Shuu with wide eyes, who stood next to Reiji at the head of the table looking at her with eyes she never seen before. For the first time Shuu's blue eyes held a sense of understanding for her.
From a far Yuma watched his cousin suddenly beam with a radiance she had let dull out. He knew the reasoning behind it, and he was okay with it.
"The best thing for Lucy would be to go back to Fairy Tail." Shuu muttered out, laying on the sofa in Reiji's room where he, Reiji, Ruki, and Yuma gathered.
"Why the sudden change of mind?" Ruki questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"You were right." Shuu opened his eyes to look at Ruki. "Lucy and Yui are people, and maybe we should try to be better, but she deserves to be happy. To have freedom away from a contract, and if that means we all follow her where ever she goes, that's fine. As long as she's happy."
Yuma knew that Ruki had told Shuu and Reiji that the girls deserved to have a voice. To be able to live without fear or threats. That they had to be better, because the girls were the best thing they were gonna have. Yet the way Shuu spoke, Yuma noticed the emotion in his eyes. Why he just didn't express it was beyond Yuma, but he knew it was pride. All of the damn Sakamaki's had a lot of damn pride.
"You love her don't you?" Yuma asked Shuu, stepping towards the blonde.
Shuu straightened up, eyeing Yuma. "Lucy is a special girl to me. If it means I have to go with her to the ends of the world, to hell and back just to make her happy- I will. I will do my best to ensure her safety and happiness, to make her smile because she deserves that and so much more."
"It was a yes or no question, not a confession." Yuma deadpanned.
Shuu huffed, cheeks pink as he turned his head. "Yes, I love her."
Yuma knew that Layla would have been very fond of Shuu. He knew she would have looked past what he was and would have accepted Shuu the very same why Lucy had, and knew his own mother would have been the same way. It was a Heartfilia thing to be that forgiving to a fault, but as long as Lucy was happy was what mattered.
"Layla would have liked you, if she were still around." Yuma says, crossing his arms as he looked down on Shuu now. "But I'm trusting you with my cousin, Sakamaki. It's been no easy feat, but I notice how she is with you and how you're actually humane. Treat her good."
"Is that your consent?" Shuu cocked an eyebrow.
"That's my universal right as her cousin and default last manly relative to give my consent to who I deem fit." Yuma huffed out.
"Right, because that's a thing now." Shuu nodded, going along with Yuma's bad excuse for trying to be protective.
Reiji pushed his glasses, feeling a foreign feeling at getting along for once. He felt at ease, and dare he say it- home. "Then we voice that Lucy's best place to be is in her guild and hope for the best that we can join as well."
Erza watched with hope as Lucy beamed with excitement at the thought of going back to the guild, feeling warm that Lucy did want to go home. She knew Lucy wanted to, but as she watched Lucy suddenly still- well Erza knew there was a reason she stayed here.
"You're going with me right?" Lucy asked, looking at Shuu, then Kou and Yuma and the rest of them. "I can't just leave."
"If your guild will have us, then we would follow you anywhere." Yuma answered her, earning a nod.
"For Lucy's sake, and whatever the hell is going on I'm sure we can make something work out." Gray answered, giving Lucy a wink of reassurance.
Gajeel grunted knowing it didn't matter what the hell these men where, that Master Makarov was a sucker for Lucy's brown eyes and a big advocate for second chances and bettering one self. The brothers would be accepted either way.
Like a ray of sunshine, Lucy grinned and laughed, "Well let's eat and I'll ask Virgo to help us pack to go home."
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Sorry for the delay in an update, I had writer's block for this chapter and how to write it out. It's really just a long filler chapter, but I wanted to do more character interactions, and hopefully I achieved that!
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter and some more character interactions you'd like to see in the future chapters!
Also a big THANK YOU to all the support for this story! It amazes me so so much that this story is loved and seeing your comments give me inspiration and love to keep this story going. Thank you so so so much!
Please review :)