A/N: Alright guys, so I'm sure you noticed the rating. This chapter was NOT easy to write, and it's super dark. Like waaayy dark. I actually had trouble sleeping last night because of it. Read at own risk. Unfortunately, it makes sense to their story location etc...
Part 2: I've noticed through my time of browsing other fanfictions, some authors bribe their readers. Like for instance you give so and so reviews you get a faster update. I want you guys to review because you want too, not because you feel inclined too. You won't hear me requesting for them anymore as well. Also I have a LOT of ghost viewers out there like 1075 or something like that? So shout out to my ghosts who click on the story! Trust me I'm a ghoster too LOL I was since high school up until recently. Just got out of midterm for Japanese 1! So lets pray I pass that. On another note, I have another story going around in my head so keep an eye out for it. I'm not sure if I'll start that after I finish TLDE or before. It depends on how strong the story nags at me.
Now onward to chapter 9!
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail owns me, not the other way around.
Chapter 9- Scents Tell Tales
Something wasn't right. He knew it. Despite all the leather crowding up sinuses, he got a whiff of…something weird. He was unable to pick it up beforehand due to his team's stench (before they bathed) and the village smothered out anything distinctive; because all the huts were draped in different hides in kept and unkempt conditions.
Now he was separated from the village surrounded by soldiers' day in and day out, when the wind picked up the smell of an odd combination of scents. What he thought was weird was, of course he would pick up different smells, everyone has a different scent. He didn't think anything of it yesterday.
They were on day two though…General Scillio came to greet them just outside the dining tent; in a giant military encampment away from the other huts with animal hides, for breakfast. The tent was made of an old thick leather tarp with wooden tables, a dirt flooring and oak benches, supported by sturdy green wooden poles like a tepee; with a double flap for an entrance. The place was a little smaller than the first floor to a mansion.
He smelled it clearly then, it was a very distinct concoction of perfumes, oils and lotions mingled together in a heavy mixture. This put his mind in such a conundrum that he almost tore his own hair out. What made him so unnerved was all of them, soldiers included, smelled exactly like General Scillio.
"I DON'T GET IT! Why do they all smell the same?! Wendy I think my nose is broken. Fix it…"
"I think…I know what you're talking about, all this leather is making me stuffy."
Natsu and Wendy decided to take a walk away from everyone for a while because all the different scents overwhelmed both of them.
Scratching the back of his head fussed to his little dragon kin. "Ahhh great… Your nose is stuffed up and mine is broken."
She clutched Charlie close to her chest while they walked and gazed at Natsu inquisitively. "What exactly are you smelling?"
"The exact same scent on everyone in the military. What I really don't get is their army is bigger than the village put together by at least over 20. Which doesn't make any sense, to the smell OR their numbers. " His mind exhausted itself as he awkwardly stomped about trying to cause a fight with air. "UUUGGGGGRRRRR I HATE PUZZLES!"
Wendy just gave him a glance of sympathy. "I see your confusion."
Recovering from the tantrum addressed their counterparts in hopes of any insight he could get. Hell if they told him he was smelling unicorns he would be happy. "Did you two pick up anything bizarre?"
"All this leather is making me sick…" Happy flopped on top of mottled pink hair from the excessive wind.
A fuzzy white head peered up at Wendy, comfortable and safe within her arms. "I cannot say any different. I definitely can say I won't be sorry to leave this stop."
Natsu got quiet after a while drifting back to last night with Lucy. His heart, he remembered, burned unusually. Hearing her cry in that way felt like Acnologia himself gutted him. He never experienced something quite like that sensation. It was different from when his dad died, it was worse than when he thought Lisanna had passed. What made it more unbearable was he didn't want to know the reason behind those tears, because he had a hunch it was his fault. He woke up with her laying on top of his torso and resisted a very tempting urge that caught him off guard. When he saw the celestial mage all intertwined with him, all he wanted to do was roll her over and…
"..tsu…"
"…Natsu…"
"NATSU!"
His head jolted up as Happy fell off. "Huh?"
"I've been calling you for a bit, you okay?"
"Yeah. What is it?"
She pointed to the field grounds factually. "We're back at camp."
Natsu, Wendy, Happy and Charle groaned in unison at the thought of stepping foot into their new found, temporary leather hellhole.
:*:
A fairly tall broad frame, chiseled to perfection with a couple of scars paced about alone in their quarters. The others left to go eat lunch while he stood there contemplative, determined to figure out the mystery of the militia.
It was weird. Natsu started to smell the soldiers with every chance he got no matter if he was with the team or not, and when he came close to the general, took extra special care to subtly breathe in extra deep. He was finally able to pick up something that he was unable too before.
The faint smell of soybean oil, almond oil, lavender oil, jojoba oil, flaxseed oil with a sickly sweet under layer of lily lotion. The only way he could explain it was that each had a different scent code. His nose definitely became more acute over the past three years.
He felt of course he would smell oils and lotions, it helps people from being God awful stinky sometimes. Though he noticed the General's lotions and oils smelled more expensive. Out of pure curiosity he stopped and smelled everything in their hut. The leather here didn't smell like that. It smelled like normal animal hide.
Pacing more, got agitated. "What am I missing here…"
His pink head had a pensive expression as he placed his right hand over his chin and mouth hating to think so damn much, but he just needed to figure it out.
:*:
All day she noticed Natsu acting odd. Thinking it was just herself questioned if the others noticed. They had. He was smelling the guards and General Scillio while keeping a quiet demeanor. Other times he made it very obvious. Like for instance, they were walking back when the fire mage suddenly started to be extremely complimentary to different foot soldiers' on how awesome they smelled (with a giant intake of breath) and went with them for a drink just as if they were long lost pals.
Lucy decided against exploring with the others, and opted for a chance to speak with fire incarnate alone.
Natsu decided he had enough pacing and leaned back on one arm while the other was propped up over his knee as he enjoyed the feel of their bedding.
Crossing arms over her chest while resting weight on her right leg, began the fated interrogation. "All right, what's up?"
Glancing in the direction of the woman, looked away while having a perturbed attitude. 'Did she notice?' "Nothing. Why."
"Don't give me that, we've all noticed you smelling everything in sight."
Shit, they did notice. "It's nothing to be concerned with. I don't even know the answer yet. So trust me, that I trust you, to trust me."
There he went in his circles again. Popping her left hip out and placed both hands on her hips, decided she was not up for his bullshit. "Just tell me what's going on and why you're smelling everything."
Natsu's head snapped in the blonde's direction, aggravated with himself and this weird ass predicament. "Damn it Lucy, I said to not worry about it."
The air became tense. "Fine be that way." Storming out, left him to his devices.
That was not how he wanted it to go, moving from his comfortable spot stormed out after her. "Wait…Luce I-"
He saw it. The soldiers were carrying one of their men who had died on a mission. However a huge wave of the oils and lotion General Scillio carried on him, thwacked into his nose almost causing Natsu to double over from nausea. Deciding to bother them a bit cracked his knuckles, ready to find out what the fuck is up with this place.
Lucy, in having heard her name from his lips, turned to see the man walking towards a bunch of soldiers carrying a dead guy. The field was wide and open with the village a bit further north west of where the military camp was located. However it was not so far she still couldn't see it. The soldiers seemed to be coming from the village gate and had been walking for some time already when Natsu inquired of their activities.
Despite the strange combination of smells, picked up on Lucy's own scent not far from him. Placing his weight to the right leg, kept a very relaxed atmosphere while he crossed his arms leaning over to get a better view. "What happened to him?"
The soldiers looked at each other hesitantly. "Stupid bor got im, fella was daft n'ough to take ii head on. Got em self skeward."
Breathing in deep, sighed as if he could actually feel their plight, the nauseating concoction had been in a weird canister, shaped like a human praying with no discernable features and empty eyes. "Damn boar, am I right?" The wind aided the investigation by picking up early decay and what he guessed was the remnants of the man's original scent (of pine, dirt and clay) unmasked from the leather armor. The dead man was naked too, not covered by any armor, just a leather blanket so old it lost its color
He realized then what was so peculiar. It was the leather armor that smelled like all those oils and hint of lotion.
The six gentlemen carrying their dead, laughed abashedly. One agreed with the pink haired man. "Aye, tis rite yew are. Damn bor and daft fool they both be!" Holding up the enormous brindle colored boar, proclaimed proudly showing where the tusks met their comrade's gullet. "Tho we got dinnar ta nite!"
Natsu chuckled with them. "Looks good for a meal! See ya round guys." He waved them off and hurriedly went towards Lucy whispering in her ear as he turned her around. He took her wrists in his hands and pushed her to walk forward with her back against his torso.
"Wha-?"
"Just keep moving, I think I almost cracked it."
Selfishly enjoying his touch, leaned into him. "I still have no idea what you've been on about."
That didn't go unnoticed and he tightened his grip to press her closer to his body. "What did I say about trusting me?"
A huge case of butterflies ran around in her stomach, taken off guard at his actions. "If you say so?" Lucy was beyond confused at this point.
:*:
It was after dinner when twilight touched the wheat fields in every direction with an unparalleled glow of fading out oranges, reds, pinks and purples trading in for dark blues, indigo, greys and hues of deep blacks. As the night moved forward, the crescent moon complimented stars that littered the sky where galaxies intermingled with every constellation possible, revealing galactic shades similar to a scattered rainbow turned into dust; then stretched out like a ribbon weaving around each flicker. The temperature kept dropping till it finally reached no higher than fifty degrees. Much to their surprise with gasps of adoration and elation, as an asteroid shower graced through the milky-way.
You could find Team Natsu out laying down, or sitting up enjoying the view. One of the few benefits of travel had been the sights to each location and how the atmosphere worked against or with the terrain. They could all agree though, Windsor Valley must have been the most beautiful they have ever seen.
Comfortable silence encased all of them, there was no need for words or problems just them cozied up next to one another keeping warm. Nobody dared to even ask for Natsu's fire in fear of losing their perfect view. At this point they managed to get all of their things back from this strange village so they were able to wear their normal clothes all mended up, better than when it was bought in the first place.
They couldn't have been happier. However if it could even be possible the temperature dropped further than it was, so everyone decided to get back to their hut.
:*:
Much to his chagrin he found himself sleeping next to Lucy once more. It wasn't that he didn't like it. Just the opposite, however he found himself struggling with all his might against all of these recent impulses. Though some he just couldn't fight back, for instance earlier today when he instinctively pressed her closer.
Which is how he ended up spooning with her, again.
Laying on her side turned towards him half asleep not suspecting Natsu to cuddle with her again so soon. Yeah he did it all the time when at her apartment, but lately its felt… different. The way he touched her, she noticed drowsily, no longer felt like he was touching her out of a simple desire to cuddle a friend. "Hmm…Natsu?"
He shushed her while lifting their quilt to settle in. "Go back to sleep." His deep voice was soft and low enough for only her to hear.
Smiling at him made a tired comment that would never have been made while awake; so it was mumbled and almost intelligible. "It…it's" yawn "It's k, I…I like feeling you against…" yawn "me…" sleep overtook her instantly afterwards.
Natsu understood it, and pulled her closer melding alongside the blonde's figure. If that was the case, he would sleep next to her every night, other impulses be damned. Knowing full well she wasn't aware, responded. "I like feeling ya too Luce..." Along with this village's mystery he was close to figuring out why he suddenly had these desires. For now, till things were clear, he settled on simply laying with her every night.
:*:
There was a squelching noise a bit a ways from their tent, sometimes it sucked having sharp hearing. Wendy was already awake when Natsu's eyes flicked open. Much to his displeasure, he had to untangle himself from the sleeping woman in his arms. He soundlessly mouthed to their youngest while using his arm to sit up. "You heard that right?"
A nod from her head of long blue messy hair from sleep, had been her reply.
Placing an index finger to his lips, held a hand out for Wendy to stand her ground in case anything happened. Stepping towards their entrance heard the squelching noise again. The night air bit his nose as if it was snowing, he had to blink a few times to make sure it really wasn't.
Following the noise saw shadows move against one of the huts that had been in the outskirts of the encampment. It was heavily guarded, he noted that General Scillio's enormous frame had indeed been one of the occupants. There were two other shadows in the hut as Natsu's head stealthily peaked around to see what was going on careful not to be spotted.
There were two men, taking turns raising a body and seemingly stripping the skin off it, and the sound of each disgusting rip reverberated into the dragon's ears as the smells of those oils and lotion flooded his nose sickeningly.
He threw up silently, then ran back to their quarters.
:*:
Wendy saw the look on his face and tilted her head in concern.
"Everyone up, now."
Natsu began to grab their things and push everyone in their sleepy state right side up.
Gray rubbed his eyes exasperatingly. "What the hell is your problem?"
Busying himself with packing exclaimed. "No time to explain, I'll tell you when we get far, far faaaaar away from here." He was never one to run, in this case he felt it was better tactically to get the hell out of dodge for all their sakes and their skins. It's not like they couldn't take on an entire army. Hell in the war they fought against all odds, however he didn't want to even stay and attempt a fight at the moment, the sheer revulsion took the fight out of him and made a face that showed it. "Let's just hope they didn't realize I saw…"
Charle, Wendy and Happy looked at each other nervously. Wendy held her nose as a strong whiff came downwind from where Natsu had just come from. "That…that's horrid…"
His dragon eyes went wide as pupils narrowed instructing his kin. "Wendy don't breathe it in, don't think about it. We're supposed to leave around now anyway."
Shaking her shoulders, attempted to wake his personal conundrum. "Lucy…Lucy get up."
"Natsu, wha…?"
"No time, let's get moving."
"Natsu if you don't tell us what's going on this instant with your nonsense, I will personally end you…" Erza was not a morning person, she definitely didn't want to be disturbed from a pleasant dream she was having, only to be thrust right up with the rude awakening assisted by the cold.
His first instinct was to back down, but the memory of what he recently witnessed pushed any knee jerk reaction to the fiery woman away. "Sorry Erza we have to leave. I'll tell you all everything later, but not here."
This had the red head's attention, Natsu was standing his ground against her. This only happens when things were serious. "Alright we'll pack and head out."
:*:
They acted as natural as possible, nobody made a twitch or a sound that could determine they possibly knew something that they shouldn't. That didn't keep the sensation of walking on needles with their bare feet away. Each guard they passed waved at them knowing that the team kept up with their bargain and let them pass quietly.
Till they got through to the other side, nearly home free.
"Old ii rite tha." General Scillio walked up towards them and leaned over, much like a father would scolding his children. "Ye leavin wit out sayin goo bai laddies?"
The team released a breath and smiled as they each gave him there farewells. Natsu stood back while keeping a hard stare on the man, suddenly feeling extremely protective of one individual who decided to speak to the General herself. His broad frame walked over and placed a hand on her lower back as she stood in front of Scillio.
"Thank you for your kindness sir."
"Aww tis arite lil blonde lassy. Stay safe." He grinned his biggest grin for her, in return he heard the sleepiest laugh imaginable which made him quietly chuckle. That's when General Scillio noticed the look in the dragon's eyes, and realized that Natsu knew. Shaking his head no, nodded over to the pass that would get them to the ruins. He was going to let them leave, the village greeted them just in time to give the others the promised provisions so they could do just that.
Natsu still had his hand on Lucy's lower back, feeling her relax into his touch. He tilted his head towards her and gave a no nonsense expression. "Lucy…lets go."
With that they left.
A/N: I HAVE A COUPLE OF REVIEWS! You guys rock sox so much :D Oh and I already have chapter 10 written. However I'm not posting it just yet till I have chapter 11 done. I generally write these two at a time. Though when I originally posted the story I posted I think the first five chapters in the same day and they've been edited since. So if you want to go back and see what's changed you are more than welcome.
MThereze: I'm so happy you enjoyed the last chapter and felt like you were going on a journey with them. I finally got the rust out so this story has been smooth sailing since. LOL
Glass Dragon's Rose: I know we started a conversation, I thought my last one sent but I'm now not so certain. I'm more than happy to respond, I've noticed throughout the years fanfiction brings others together in the most unexpected ways, because stories about characters we can relate too have touched us in some positive way. I know it has for me many times with different Inuyasha stories and other fanfictions I've read. So kudos to a fellow spirit touched by other's stories. *fist bump*
