"Are you sure this is wise?"
"Questioning me, are you now? How unlike you"
"You know what I mean."
"You are fully aware that my decisions are absolute."
"What do you plan to do afterwards?"
"She is the only one who can cause the others to try and find a way to break this curse... to free themselves from me. And for that... we must keep her here."
Voices were in front of her, speaking about what seemed to be her fate. She could hear them, but she could not move. She had no energy to move. She could barely keep her consciousness alive. Where she was or how she got there was beyond her knowledge. But it was clear that something was very wrong here. She felt her arms, torso and legs were tied and restrained. There was nothing she could do.
"What is it that you want me to do?"
"I want you to-"
Aboard the private jet that Tamaki sent to Fiore, Team Natsu minus Lisanna was just an hour away from the airport and another hour away from the Suoh estate. Erza, Gray and Happy were currently still asleep from the long flight, however, Natsu was wide awake and was staring out the window. The pilot had given him a motion sickness pill out of pity a little while earlier and allowed Natsu some time to think.
Ever since the lacrima call with Lucy's other family, Natsu just couldn't believe what the older Suoh had revealed earlier. To think that he is Lucy's older brother... it made Natsu think of their last encounter and left a bad taste in his mouth. He knew the blonde was very family-oriented and loved those close to her. But knowing that Tamaki and her were siblings, it only made sense that she was protective of him and was angry that he had tried to attack him.
Natsu chuckled lowly, understanding now how alike they were. Tamaki, like Lucy, had a very powerful kick. He is the son of Lucy's biological father, who is still filthy rich, and cared for those close to him. When Makarov and Mira explained who Tamaki was and what he did at the academy, Natsu knew that he really screwed up when Lucy came to Fairy Tail. He understood that he had no right to know of their relationship after that.
Though he was quite surprised that Lucy even bothered herself with the rest of the Host Club, they must be a pretty interesting bunch considering that they host girls after class ended. Heck, the fire dragon slayer was amazed that Lucy even went to a rich kid school in the first place! She was home schooled when she still lived in the Heartfilia estate so he assumed that she wanted to give it a try.
"Are you worried for Miss. Lucy, sir?" An elder voice asked, catching Natsu off guard.
"Wha-?" He asked, turning to see the pilot from earlier.
The elder man gave a slight bow before sitting across the seat of Natsu's, crossing his legs and looking out the window to see the the rising sun. "Miss, Lucy will be alright." He simply said.
"That's easy to say." Natsu said in a gloomy voice. "But she could be in serious trouble if we don't hurry."
The man hummed in response, nodding and looking at Natsu defeated posture. Then to the sleeping figures of the others. "I've known Miss. Lucy since she was a child and she's told me all about you and the others frequently."
Natsu's eyes lit up. "She did?"
"Yes. She was quite fond of you lot. Though she complained, I knew that you held a very special place in her heart."
"Yeah well... she must not anymore."
"Natsu sir." The elder man said, making the dragon slayer make eye contact. "Even when Miss. Lucy called me to take her away from Fiore, she never spoke ill of you."
A small gasp escaped Natsu's mouth as he looked at the man in disbelief. "What? But she said..."
"Young people say a lot of things in anger or even annoyance." He explained. "Though hurt, I don't think she could ever truly find it in her heart to hate you."
Natsu took in his words and then looked down to his feet in shame. "Of course not... she's too good." He agreed. "While I... I took advantage of that and thought she would be fine like always. 'Cause that's how Luce is."
The elder man then smiled as he closed his eyes and got up from his seat. "Yes, well, Miss. Lucy is also rather stubborn as you know. But try to accept her decisions and maybe then you can regain what has been fractured."
With that, he walked back to fly the jet and left Natsu to his thoughts. "Luce... please be okay."
Morning came and the jet had finally landed in Japan. Team Natsu said farewell to the pilot as Tamaki and Kyoya were waiting for them by a limo. Natsu and Gray's jaw dropping to the ground as not only were the 2 hosts there, but a herd of weird men wearing black suits and larger guns than Alzack and Bisca owned were behind them. Erza and Happy on the other hand were relatively normal and chose to ignore the army in front of them.
The 2 greeted them and ushered the 3 mages and exceed to go inside the limo, not bothered or seemed remotely concerned for the armed men behind them. With that being said, Erza and Happy went in first while Natsu and Gray went in next, walking to the limo in a cautious manner so that they don't do something that would make the men shoot. They were quite intimidating after all since they stood like statues.
"You can relax, they were just there for protection." Tamaki suddenly said nonchalantly, noticing Gray and Natsu's tense postures.
"Was it really necessary for that many to be there?" Gray asked.
"Well, I'm not sure if you've heard but I'll explain it regardless." Kyoya said. "Lucy had already told us that your land is filled with people that possess magical abilities, so it was only a precaution."
"Precaution?" Erza asked narrowing her eyes. "For what?"
"We are a land of no magic. There is no ethernano as what Lucy called it and no one in this country possesses anything remotely like yours."
"If word got out or if someone even witnessed that people like you exist, people with a lot of money will pay others to capture and test you." Tamaki added. "They will dissect you and find answers as to why you are born with such abilities."
"Excuse me?" The scarlet haired mage asked in shock.
"This place has no magic?" Happy asked. "Like no one uses it at all?"
"Then, what about Lucy!?" Gray asked. "Do you think-?"
"No." Kyoya firmly replied. "We had thought the same, however, the culprit had carelessly or purposely left her celestial keys behind."
"So if they had been watching her for awhile, they would know that they are important to her specific type of magic." Tamaki added.
"I see." Erza said. "Then we can be rest easy knowing she won't be tested on."
When they arrived to the academy, Natsu, Gray and Happy's jaws dropped at the size and look of the school. It reminded them of Lucy's father's estate back in Fiore. There were teenagers wearing uniforms every where and the 3 fairies couldn't seem to find the end of it. They had heard the academy is normally for the rich and beautiful, however, they didn't realize just how large it was nor did they think it would be as large.
"Holy-! This place is crawling with rich people!" Natsu said flabbergasted.
"Just how much does this place cost!?" Gray asked.
"They probably have some really good fish here that I could have a whole feast!" Happy exclaimed.
"It's... beautiful..." Erza said in awe.
"Now, I hope you guys could focus at the topic at hand. Our friends are waiting for us where Lucy was taken." Tamaki said with a refreshing smile.
"As for the cost of the school, you need not worry about that." Kyoya said, pushing his glasses up as he did so. "You wouldn't be able to afford it after all."
Team Natsu looked at the male with annoyed expressions, similar to Haruhi's, and just followed the 2 second years to the club room. Classes had just ended and so a bunch of students were present in the hallways to see the president and vice president of the Host Club lead the foreigners. Though it didn't bother the 2 students, Natsu, Gray and Happy were very uncomfortable by the stares the girls would give. While Erza remained indifferent.
The female students could care less of Natsu and Happy, it was Erza and Gray that really caught their attention. Erza was not wearing her normal Heart Kreuz armor and just had her usual white blouse, skirt and boots on display. To the female students, she was an mysterious queen as she walked through the halls without paying any mind to her surroundings and kept a straight face, focusing on the topic at hand.
Gray, on the other hand, was practically getting all the girls to drool for him despite how uncomfortable he looked. The other male students sighing at the defeat of, what appeared to them to be, another host club member joining the school. For once Gray knew better than to strip like normal, having a feeling that he might either get evicted or pounced on in doing so in a school such as the academy. He had gotten enough attention from Juvia, now from these girls.
"Tama-chan!" Honey's voice resonated as the group finally arrived at their destination. "You finally made it!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Honey-senpai." Kyoya apologized.
"Natsu. Erza. Gray. Happy. This is the Host Club and Lucy's friends." Tamaki introduced, naming everyone one by one. "...Kyo and I'm sure you remember Yuki."
When the fairies turned to Yuki, their expressions went dim as his eyes kept the same dull look from when they saw him at the guild. They bowed lightly and so did he, having a slight awkward air around them. Neither knowing if they should forget or talk about what happened at the guild, since Tamaki seemed like he disregarded the whole encounter. Happy then looked around and saw the Loke was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Loke? Did he go back to the celestial world?" He softly asked.
Unfazed from Happy talking since they could tell that he was no normal cat like Carla just by the colour of his fur, the non-mages shook their heads. "He's resting inside the club room right over there." Tohru replied, gesturing to the door. "He's pretty weak and is trying to save what little strength he can since he's still running on Lucy's magic power."
"Couldn't he just use his own magic power? He does it all the time whenever he visits us back in Fiore." Erza inquired, crossing her arms in the process.
"He wants to save that up for emergencies, just in case." Kyo added.
"So Natsu, let's get down to it." Hikaru said in a serious tone. "Can you find Lucy's scent?"
The dragon slayer nodded and began to take deep breaths from where they stood. Searching for the distinct scent of his best friend so that he can track her down and hopefully bring her back safely. It was the most calming scent to him, strawberries and vanilla. Closing his eyes he circled the others, making sure to differentiate their scents and then block them away so that they won't mix with Lucy's.
Suddenly his eyes widened and he looked to the opposite hallways from the Host Club's club room. "That way! Lucy's scent went that way!" He exclaimed, the others perking up at the news. "But... there were 2 other scents that were next to hers... and I got a feeling that it belongs to the bastards who took her."
"Alright!" Kaoru shouted in excitement. "It's Friday so we can take the car and go wherever she is!"
"Happy can carry Natsu in the air so we know where to go!" Haruhi added.
"I'll go get Loke so he can come with us." Tohru said. "Naturally he would want to come along."
Erza was about to relax until she saw Natsu roll his hands into fists and could see the boy shake, his eyes hidden beneath his hair. "Natsu? What's the matter?"
"One of the scents that's next to Lucy's... the one that was also present when she was taken..." Natsu said in a low manner. "I can smell it heading to the school."
"What?" Kyoya asked as his eyes narrowed.
"Men... if we can find one of the perpetrators we can finally and absolutely locate where Lucy is." Tamaki said, as Tohru finally came out with Loke. The fairies giving a silent greeting to the lion spirit. "Natsu, you lead the the way."
"Roger!" Everyone replied.
They began to run through the halls, passing by students and teachers alike. Not minding the complaints of running in the halls. As Natsu continued to run through the hallways, following Lucy's and the perpetrator's scent, he finally came to a skidding halt when they ran out through one of the academy's back exits. A man was waiting there, wearing a white dress shirt and dark brown slacks. In his hands being a briefcase.
The dragon slayer growled under his breath, something that went unnoticed by the others. When everyone else had caught up to him and noticed what he was looking at, it was yuki, Kyo and Tohru who had instantly recognized the man first. "Shigure?" The 3 asked as the man turned around, waving at them sheepishly.
"What are you doing-" Kyo was about to ask before Natsu blocked his path from going anywhere closer.
"Natsu? What's wrong?" Yuki asked, as Shigure began to walk over to them.
"Ah Yuki! Kyo! Tohru!" The older Sohma greeted. "I had finished work early and decided to drop by to see the academy whilst getting the 3 of you."
"His scent..." The pink haired boy growled. "It's the same scent that was attached with Luce's and the other scent."
"What?" Gray asked in disbelief.
"Are you sure, Natsu?" Tohru asked.
"There's no way Natsu would mistake any one's scent!" Happy defended. "All scents are distinctly different!"
In that moment, before even Natsu, Erza or Gray could attack, Loke had dashed forward to Shigure, light surrounding his fists as his expression was completely infuriated. He grabbed Shigure's collar and raised him to stand on his tippy toes as he stared in his eyes. The others gasping at what had just transpired and the spirit's reaction time. Because of such, they let Loke handle the situation for now.
"Where's Lucy, bastard!?" Loke demanded.
"L-Lucy?" Shigure asked, stuttering. "What are you talking about!?"
"Don't lie! You know where she is and you had a hand in taking her! Now... where is she!?"
"Yuki! Kyo! What is going on here!?"
No one said anything as Natsu, Gray and Erza slowly walked towards the 2, shadows casted over their eyes. Natsu made his fist light on fire. Gray letting ice form on his. Erza requipping a sword in her hand. Surprising all the non-mages of their magic. Loke noticed this and loosened his grip on Shigure's collar, only for Erza to grab it instead and line her sword against his neck. Making the man go into panic.
"Blonde hair and brown eyes." They recited. "Where is she?"
"Okay! Okay I'll talk just let me go!" Shigure begged, however, they didn't. "Listen, I couldn't do anything! He heard them talking about her magic! How it was a means of rebellion!"
"What are you blabbering about?" Erza asked, calming down along with Natsu, Gray and Loke. The 4 fairies dropping the weapon and fists of magic to their sides. "Who's this he?"
In that moment, Yuki, Kyo and Tohru's eyes widened in that moment. "It couldn't be..." Kyo whispered, just barely loud enough for the others to hear.
"You know." Mori stated. "You know who he'd talking about."
"Akito!? Akito heard about her and what she can do because of her magic!?" Yuki asked in anger. "And you didn't bother to tell us anything!?"
"What are you all saying!?" Tamaki asked. "Who's this Akito and why would he care about Lucy's magic? He left her keys behind!"
"Yuki... Kyo... we're going to have to tell them." Tohru said.
"Tell us what, Tohru?" Haruhi asked, tilting her head as she was unable to comprehend what was going on.
"Tohru you know the rules!" Shigure protested. "You can't tell them anything about it or they'll pay the price!"
"Like you have room to talk, buddy!" Natsu shouted.
"They won't pay the price because you will not be telling Akito anything! Ya hear!?" Kyo shouted.
"I have no control over that! You know I don't!" Shigure said as sweat began to flood down his temples. "If you tell them their memory will be erased is that what you want!?"
Everyone, except Yuki, Kyo and Tohru, gasped. "Erase... our memories...?" The Hitachiin twins asked.
And in that moment, Loke's eyes widened as he felt his heart and head pound. Immense pain weighing him to the ground. He immediately fell to the pavement and tried to push the pain away, but it felt like his lungs suffocate and half of what he is, was being ripped away from him. At that same moment, the key ring that held Lucy's celestial keys, that hung on Hikaru's waist, broke into pieces as the keys fell to the ground one by one.
The lion spirit saw this as he could feel himself only use his magic power to remain where he was. It told him the one thing he knew for sure. He felt it once and he had hoped that he would never feel again.
"No..." He said, tears falling down his face. "Lucy... NO!"