A/N: Sup guys. wiErD here and might I remind you guys that this will not update continuously as it has been in the past few days because I got lucky to have my freetime on weekends. And thanks to the meeting with the professors, I got a lot of time writing this in one go so here you go. I was hoping to get this by the end of the arc but let's see how this will turn out.
Hope ya like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own FT and HSDxD respectively. All goes to their respective owners/authors of these wonderful stories.
- Taken -
It was already midnight and the three had finally made their way towards their home as Asia stared oddly at the residence in curiosity as if this was the first time she's seeing another person's house since she's been living her life in the church until her untimely excommunication for committing a grave sin. If not for Natsu and the others, she would still be in the hands of the fallen angels, doing their ill acts towards other people.
Right now, she would take refuge inside the two's house in order to be secured from the fallen angels. Although, she was glad to have accepted the proposal, she still haven't sank all the things she needed process inside her mind.
Issei being a devil, Natsu being a human yet still working with the devil and their friends are all devils! What's even more strange is that they're different from what the church or the people view the devils are. They act like much normal humans despite their statuses and it surprised her to no end, seeing that there are devils who are not as evil as they should be.
..
..
After a long explanation of excuses to their parents, Asia was given the chance to stay at their house for the time being. Aside from the situation, they seemed to accept her freely since she was a beautiful girl to begin with and their parents would gladly accept anything beautiful if given the chance to explain.
And since she came here for help, they might as well accept her and give as much comfort they could offer for her temporary stay. Another few minutes of introducing each other, Natsu and other two simply went upstairs with Issei leading Asia to her room while he, on the other hand held onto the luggage before settling it down inside her room and turned towards the blonde-haired girl.
"Well, here's your luggage. If you need any help, you can ask either me or Issei..." Natsu offered.
"T-Thank you very much, Natsu-san."
"Don't sweat it... Then I'll be heading back to my room... Although it's temporary, I hope we get along with each other.
"Same here." Asia bowed in respect until the pinkette lifted his head and glanced back to his room and finally closed it. Today has been more hectic and he had fallen unconscious for the first time which means that he probably used his body to its limits. But something tells him that his body was starting to change in every moment he unleashed his power.
Turning himself over to a mirror on his table, Natsu tried to take a good look on himself. Ever since the appearance of these devils and supernatural things, he never got the time to reflect himself every once in the awhile and this is the very first time he had used a mirror in a long time. Judging from the looks, his eyes got even more sharper, seeing that his orbs are turning quite predatory, seemingly to enhance his eyesight. And not only that, he was left in a confounded surprise to find that he got multiple canines growing from the back of his teeth.
It is as if he was turning into some sort of a monster.
Great... Not only his life gets weirder but his body also gets the same condition. Slowly putting down the mirror, Natsu crashed into his bed and faced the dark ceiling with a troubled expression.
Silence seemed to overcome the atmosphere as the night progresses to the morning. The pinkette stayed widely awake during those times and have been getting a lot of things inside his mind. The devils, fallen angels, church, exorcist, all of it. As it drags on, it keeps confusing him in many different ways. He always wondered about how he came to be before he was raised here.
The longing feeling of finding about his past is becoming more clear as his memories have started to remember bits of it. Although, he can't be sure about it, he believed that there's a reason of why he can't remember all of it. Something must be preventing him to do so. He wanted to find out who and why.
His train of thought was soon interrupted as a knock came from his door, prompting him to lift his head towards it before standing up and opened it, only to reveal Asia wanting to see him.
"Asia? Why are you still awake?"
"C-Can I talk to you a bit, Natsu-san...?" She meekly asked in which confused him for a moment before slowly moving aside to let her pass through the room and finally closed the door behind them.
The blonde-haired girl simply wandered for a moment to take a brief look on his room with curiosity as Natsu remained standing at the door for a couple of seconds, watching her from afar. It was then, she glanced to him with a slightly flustered face.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to... umm... look at your room..." She spoke doubtfully.
"It's fine... I'm sure, it's your first time entering into a different person's room..." He guessed before making his way over to a chair to sit as Asia settled over to his bed, unsure of what to say first to him.
"... So what do you want to talk about?"
"I-I wanted to thank you for everything so far... ... You protected me, fought for me and cared for my well-being... I-It's my first time a person would actually go such lengths to help a person like me." She solemnly explained as her face immediately turned somber for some reason in which he noticed.
"Ah, about that? It's fine really... No need to thank me, Asia... I did what I could to save a friend... After all, our friendship at our first meeting was no joke... Issei and I really wanted to be friends with you even though you're on a different side." There was a reassuring tone on his voice in which Asia lowered her head in embarrassment before trying to ask him another topic.
"Is it true that you're still a human?" She asked curiously.
"Well, yeah..."
"Why didn't you become a devil like Issei-san... I-I mean, you two are brothers."
"Well technically, we're brothers but he's not real brother... I was just adopted by his parents when I was a kid." He revealed. Asia could only come up with a gasp as she looked at the pinkette who then turned his attention towards the window and gazed to the night sky.
"... I never knew my parents nor I do have memories of them for a long time. Mom and Dad just found me at the door covered in wounds and been abandoned. The only thing that reminded me of my past was the name I got and this scarf that I had with in my entire life. I tried searching for answers of why was I left there on the outside, with nothing to remember. I wanted to ask about why they left me here."
"Natsu-san..."
"... But you know, it's thanks to them that I'm able to meet people like mom and dad who took me in even though I was alone. I'm also thankful to have Issei as my brother since he had helped me open up to others at that time..." He paused.
"...I'm not saying that I like being abandoned and all. I just felt happy to be under these circumstances of meeting great people like them, even to you." A small smile crept its way unto his lips as he somehow attained a peace of mind. Just by remembering all the good things his new family had done for him makes him feel a lot better. Asia could only observe him for a moment and was quite envious to see him freely expressing his thoughts.
She was quite the opposite as she had trouble on expressing her thoughts to everyone and had been left to say nothing on every matter she was involved with. Living under the opinions of others simply made her shy to even respond to others clearly.
The two were silent for a moment as the noise of the winds blew inside, giving both of them a chill though the pinkette could barely feel anything colder because of his power.
"You know, it might be better if you would stay with us." A sudden suggestion came from Natsu as he looked at the blonde-haired girl in anticipation.
"Eh?"
"Well, I didn't mean to suggest it right away. I'm just saying that it would be fun if you become part of our family..." A sheepish reply came to the pinkette, stifling a dry laugh while looking away at her gaze.
"F-Family?" She stuttered.
"Is something wrong?" Natsu asked worriedly.
Of course, the nun was just surprised since a suggestion like that never crossed her mind. She never really expected herself to live and become part of someone else's family since she too, never experienced it-
It was then a distant memory came back to her as she simply made a sad smile after remembering it. Looking straight at his black onyx eyes, Asia felt rather safe in revealing her own past to him, seeing that they are somehow related.
"You know, right after I was born, my parents abandoned me in front of a small church in Europe and someone found me crying there in front of the door..." She made a bitter smile as her gaze continued to dart through the cold floor. Natsu could feel the pain voicing out as she speaks more about her past...
"... Then when I was eight, I received this power from God and had been able to heal those people who are in need... Though after that, I was taken away from my home and been sent to another huge church where I would cure the sick from all over the world with my prayers... I was so happy at that time because I was able to help people." She smiled warmly after gazing back to the pinkette in relief.
"I see... I guess, you were loved by many." Natsu returned his own smile to her in which she nodded before continuing.
"But all of that changed after what I did on that night... ... One day, I met an injured boy but unfortunately, he was someone that I shouldn't have healed."
"What do you mean, shouldn't?" Asia hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to share it to him.
"That boy... was a devil." Natsu could only widen his eyes in surprise after hearing her reply. "To us, members of the church, healing a devil is considered a heresy."
"T-Then, the reason why you were banished is because-"
"Yes, I healed him... But it was out of sincerity. Devil or not, I just can't help anyone dying right in front of me when they needed my help the most. However, when everyone knew of what I had done, they shunned me and banished me from my home and had been running away since." She admitted until silence took over the room as Natsu wasn't able to respond to anything that he can come up with to comfort her.
..
..
It was then, Asia turned to look at him once again in the eye.
"Do you think that healing him was a bad decision?"
"I can't say that healing him was either good or bad... you know." He spoke. The blonde-haired girl could only frown in thought but not before long, Natsu continued.
"... But when you feel that what you've done so far was your desire to help people, then helping that boy is no different from the ones you helped in the past... Demon or not, what matters most is your heart... Our feelings are the ones that gives us the right decisions... Follow it and your actions will justify the good within it." He smiled towards her in content as a small tear came out from her eyes, slowly streaking down to her cheek as she looked at the pinkette in wonder.
..
..
Of course, Natsu wasn't expecting the girl to cry so instead, he panicked for real. He never expected that she would cry from his reply... He didn't say anything weird now, right?
"A-Ah... S-Sorry! I'm sorry-"
"N-No, it's alright... It's just that- there's never been anyone who would say something like that... ... I-I was so happy."
"T-Then, I didn't make you cry?" He literally asked. Asia shook her head sideways as she tried to wipe her tears away with her hand, much to his relief. For a second there, he must've done something wrong to make her cry like that.
Girls are so hard to read...
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Y-Yes... Thank you, Natsu-san."
"No problem... ... Whatever happens, we'll protect you...alright?" He reassured her.
"Okay..."
After a few more minutes, the two had finally finished their conversation as Asia stood once again in front of his door with Natsu standing on the other side.
"Thank you for everything, Natsu-san... I'll surely treasure this moment inside my heart." She bowed before him in which he simply scratched his head sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it... I'm glad I could help."
"Then, good night to you, Natsu-san."
"Sure... Good night, Asia..." And with that, she finally returned to her room and Natsu felt that she would be more better to handle herself from now on. As long as she had friends right by her side, then there's nothing for her to worry about.
After a moment, he returned to his room and decided to sleep.
The next day...
It was already Saturday and the day is as still as bright as ever since the sun had been shining way too much to the world and the heat was becoming quite unbearable at this time of the day as Natsu, Issei and Asia walked along the sidewalks with latter wearing her dark teal nun clothing though without the use of her veil to cover her from the heat.
Ever since Asia had stayed over to their house for the time being, their parents were all on about providing her with all the things she needed to live normally. Unfortunately for Asia, she left her luggage back on the abandoned church where most of her clothes are and had been forced to wear the same clothing for today. Of course, Natsu and Issei's parents were not gonna let this things slide off that easily.
Without giving them the time to explain for themselves, Natsu and Issei were handed with the errand of buying Asia's clothes. At first, the girl was against it since she cannot freely accept their parents' generosity but they seemed persistent and had no choice but go along with it. And Natsu was beginning to get pissed off, seeing his parents getting all that easy towards their newcomer and even not even considering their sons' opinions to this.
Well whatever, at least it's beneficial to Asia since she would living with them from now on.
"U-Umm... is it really okay to do something like this for me?" Asia soon started their conversation.
"Well, since it our parents' request, we can't do anything but go along with it..." Issei trailed off in thought.
"Even so, I think this is a bit too much..."
"It runs in the family..." Natsu smiled.
"That I agree..." Issei soon followed.
"By the way, have you informed Buchou that we're heading late to the club?"
"No... But I think she would understand once we head there... Right now, let's buy Asia some clothes." Issei suggested.
..
..
Another few minutes of walking alongside each other, all three of them managed to get to the townsquare and it is usually full of people walking in all directions towards their own separate destinations, it was Asia's first time to see this many people. Aside from the people she had been healing back when she was on the Church, this number of people is nothing compared to that. The two could see the excitement written on her face as she gazed over to the busy town.
"A-Amazing..." She exclaimed in surprise.
"So what should we buy first... I can always count for food later but Asia comes first...I don't know anything about girl's clothes so I'll have you decide on that, Issei." Natsu turned to his brother who gaped afterwards after realizing something important just now.
"Wha- You mean- we're going to a clothes store?"
"What else would you think? Anyways, I think we should split up for a moment... I'll try to find us some store to eat for lunch while you accompany Asia to buy her some clothes... Is that okay?" Natsu suggested though not before long, Issei instantly agreed to his decision and Asia slowly agreeing to it in the process.
"Then we'll meet up in the fountain... Don't take too long, Natsu..." Issei reminded.
"Yeah..." After deciding their roles for today, Natsu went on his way alone while the two simply went on to the clothes store. Although he didn't like the fact of having his brother to tag along with a girl to a clothes store, he believes that Issei is not the kind of person who would go that far and he has restrains where the boundary between his actions should remain. Plus, he had known him for too long and he has the same sincere attitude of protecting those who are important to him.
Smiling at the thought, he continued on his way to the other part of the town. He went passed many people of different age and ethnicity as he walked blindly to whatever place he wanted to stumble into.
Eventually, he found a good restaurant and couldn't help but feel excited as he ran into it with haste in order to take a good look at it. There was a variety of meat servings and he failed to keep his own drool flashing out from his mouth as he looked at the menu with insatiable hunger. Fortunately, he remembered about his two companions and decided to head back in order to meet with them.
As the day continued, he decided to take a break for a moment and sat on a bench at the side of the street to rest.
..
..
A moment of relaxing himself from the busy day, he stared oddly towards the sea of people before him, watching them cross between him as the day continued. Just by remembering the matter about devils and other supernatural beings, his eyes narrowed in seriousness as he turned over to the table to think for a moment.
"Things are changing..." He muttered. His peaceful days are over and he will be experiencing a lot of mishaps and other situations involving with supernatural beings. Well, he did swear to Rias that he would fight for his brother's sake. However, that was not the whole reason to it. He also wanted to find out about his past. If the existence of devils and angels are true, then this would eventually help him discover about his forgotten past.
He can finally find out why he was abandoned and can't remember all of it. There has to be reason and he knew it. The images about the mysterious creature that kept appearing in his dreams are proof of that. He needed to find out why and seeking help from this people like Rias will definitely lead him back to where he was.
It didn't take long for him to eventually realize of his mistake in leaving his two companions behind and decided to run back to where they were supposed to meet.
By the time he reached there, both Asia and Issei were waiting for me though with the latter seemingly pissed since he had them waiting for him for quite some time now. He seemed to carry some paper bags, probably from the clothes they bought for Asia.
"Where have you been? We've been waiting for you!" Issei smacked his brother's head in irritation.
"Sorry... I got lost track on time..." He lied. It was not long before until Asia stood between, hoping to dissuade their argument against each other.
"Please, don't fight... It's wrong for brothers to be fighting against each other." She pleaded which somehow got the two to sigh in response. Not one of them would ever try to disobey her pleas since she was too innocent and kindhearted nature.
The two eventually settled down but left with a discreet scowls on their faces as they continued to proceed to the store and decided to eat there. With Natsu being on behind the two, he smiled inwardly as he watched Asia becoming more friendly with him and Issei as time goes by.
Seeing a devil and a nun conversing freely to each other without being weighed down by their faction's rules is refreshing. He couldn't care less about them. Rules never apply to him and he would gladly break them for the sake of his friends.
A sudden tight clench on his fists soon followed as Natsu's determination became more strong as ever.
'I will definitely protect everyone...'
...
...
...
As they were eating, Natsu and Issei were surprised to see that Asia never really had a meal such as a hamburger in her entire life, seeing that she doesn't know how to eat them properly. With instinct, Issei drew the first lesson and started to open the wrap over the hamburger as her eyes followed to his hands until he finally placed them on both sides of the burger.
"This is how you eat it, Asia." Was his reply to her before opening his mouth wide and bit off a chuck of food to his mouth and started chewing it. Asia did the same but with little bite and a well-mannered way of eating it slowly, unlike from the brownette.
"Hoh, I think this is how you eat it." Natsu made his turn as well as he unwrapped the burger and simply ate it wholly and chewed on it in an instant, much to the two's dismay and shock.
Even so, the three could only laugh at each other as Asia felt extremely at peace, talking with the two of them. Their bashfulness and energy is what makes the whole atmosphere around them quite calm and warm. It was the first time she'd ever felt something like this. After all, the two males in front of her were her first friends who opened up to her even having a bad history.
She believed that may God has finally fulfilled her dreams of having friends for the first time. It may not be the one that she always imagined inside her mind but this one is undeniably more better than what she thought back then.
..
..
With the day turning in for the afternoon, the three decided to settle down first to a stone bench near the fountain in order to take a break for a moment from their share of having fun. Issei was sitting beside Asia while Natsu was standing in front of them, gazing over to the fountain in deep thought while constantly throwing small pebbles upon it to kill time.
It was quite an unexpected turn since they were never attacked by the fallen angels despite them exposing themselves during the day. But even thought they were to be attacked, Issei can call out Rias and the others if something ever happens to them. Speaking of who, they totally forgot that they had a meeting at the old school building this day and they spent most of their time shopping around with Asia.
"Today was a very memorable day..." Asia said with a smile.
"Did you have fun?" Natsu asked.
"Yes... It was fun hanging around with you, Natsu-san, Issei-san."
"Well, I'm glad we could help out... But we're not done yet... With those fallen angels around, all of us are not safe yet." Issei said with a frown as Asia also went along with it while Natsu turned back on his attention to his two friends before slowly standing up and went towards them with reassurance.
"Don't worry... I'm sure Buchou is probably thinking a way to solve this problem for you, Asia... ... We're right behind you."
.
.
"D-Do you... ... ... Do you think that... ... it would be okay if I... ... become a devil?" A sudden question from her, caught the two's attention as Natsu turned to her with a disbelieving look. Of course, he would be since it's his first time hearing something like this though Issei seemed to more aware of it than him.
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Last night, Rias-san asked me about joining their peerage as a proposal because the fallen angels will dispose me if I ever tried to return with them... She explained that I would be still targeted by other people just for the Sacred Gear I possess... ...And even if the problem was resolved, I still can't return to the Church because I was branded as a heretic..."
"... So in either way, you'll still be abandoned? Is that right?" Natsu asked in which Asia meekly nodded.
Before they could even continue, Natsu soon saw a single black feather falling right in front of them until both of them finally felt a strange presence looming over to them as their eyes widened in shock, seeing Raynare coming into view above before landing safely to the ground in a fair distance away from the three. Issei and Natsu backed up together as the former called out his Sacred Gear while the latter called out to his flames, guarding Asia from behind.
"I never expected that a sister like you would be associating with the devils, Asia-chan... Just how low have you become?" Raynare began to speak which only made the two to easily snap in anger but retained their composure against the fallen angel.
"Raynare! What the hell did you come here for?!" Natsu demanded.
"Oh nothing personal really... I just wanted to visit the two boys that I failed to kill the other day... well at least one of you that is..." Her violet eyes soon darted over to the pinkette with malicious intent as Natsu raised the intensity of his flames once more.
"You're not taking Asia from us... ... We will protect her from at all costs!" Issei declared but Raynare could only laugh at their angry retorts as she carelessly floats around in front of them.
"Fufu... I'm quite surprised that you had your Sacred Gear on... Makes sense that I should've killed you that day... After all, you were a threat to us but things have changed..."
"What are you talking about?" He demanded.
"I think we found something more suitable for extraction... ... " She turned to Natsu with anticipation. "Natsu-kun... if you decided to come along with me, then I'll spare your friends."
"Heh, as if I would listen to the likes of you! Don't forget you're outnumbered!" Natsu rebutted.
"Is that so? Maybe I should remind you that you two are just beginners and had no experience with real battle against beings like us." She stated.
"We've been through thick and thin against your other friends... What makes you think that we're not experienced yet?!"
"Well, it would be like this-" Without warning, she disappeared out of sight as she disappeared into a silver blur, causing the two to search blindly through their surroundings while keeping their guard up.
However, their eyes soon darted over to Asia who was being pointed by a spear of light near her neck as the two were left surprised at her speed. It was then, the two realized that they let down their guard against her and didn't expect to take Asia as hostage.
"Asia!-"
"Not another step... Move one foot and she dies." She threatened as she slowly leaned her spear closer to her neck as Natsu and Issei were left helpless to do something at the situation as they can't move freely together with their powers.
"You bastard! Let her go-!" Issei shouted in anger.
"Of course, I would let her... but not until you hand over Natsu-kun first then I'll probably change my mind and return her back for you..." She suggested.
"And what makes you think that we would believe you?!" Natsu glared towards her.
"Because it's the only option you have here... ... Don't you want her to become free? She's been forced to follow orders even back at the Church until now... Are you going to forsake her just for your own safety?"
"..."
"..."
Silence seemed to overcome the atmosphere as the two were left no choice but to revert back to their own forms, seeing that they really had no chance in saving Asia except in listening to her demands. Before they could speak once more, Asia turned to look at the two with teary eyes as she looked at them with worry but at the same time, with a smile.
"Natsu-san, Issei-san... That's enough... ... I won't let myself to be a burden for the two of you... That's why- ... ... ... ... live on." She cried silently.
Issei could only grit his teeth in frustration. Their situation is turning for the worse and calling Buchou and the others here would be a bad idea, probably ending Asia's life too in the process. But before he could even act on his own, he was stopped as Natsu raised his hand beside him until he looked at the fallen angel with a determined look.
"I'll go... in return, you'll give back Asia and spare my friends..." He spoke.
"Natsu, what are you doin-"
"Issei, I'm leaving Asia to you..." Without even giving him the time to react, Natsu raised his hands to surrender before walking towards her side, much to the two's shock and disbelief. Raynare could only smirk evilly as Natsu finally approached before her.
"You got what you want... Now, let Asia go..." He spoke.
"Of course, a deal is a deal after all..." And with that, she placed cuffed his hands with magic-sealing properties which resulted to Natsu's loss of power before turning her attention towards Asia and shoved her away in which Issei caught just in time before she could even hit on the pavement. Without warning, she then proceeded to knock the pinkette out through the back of his head, losing his consciousness as his body fell limp in her arms before wings sprouted out from her back and ascended to the sky and began to disappear in sight.
Issei and Asia helplessly watched them being swallowed in the sky as both of them were left distraught and extremely worried of their friend's safety.
'Natsu...'
A/N: And stop! YEAH! Natsu is kidnapped FTW! No, wait seriously, he was kidnapped and that leaves our remaining characters to formulate a plan to save him before all is too late. Well, we can all find out on the next chapter which will be the last chapter for this arc before moving up to Riser. Seriously, I think most will be expecting that so I'll have to rush things a bit if you're getting impatient.
Now, there's the talk about Asia, I was thinking about her being the sister type for the two... And thus, placing her to the middle of the harem line. But as I get further into the story, she will eventually get pulled in as well. :3
Sorry for not updating in a day because I decided to refresh my brain for awhile and started reading the Volume 14 of the LN and it turns out... a lot is revealed, including Evil Dragons... Now that's something I would definitely write about with a mix of Igneel in between lol. Now that would be a fun read. Well, I do hope to get there as well. As of now, I'm starting 15 so I'll returning to my reading soon.
As always, thanks for you support on this story. To those, wanting my other stories to be published, please wait a bit further. I promise to get back at them as soon as I can.
Leave a review and tell me what you think. If you like the story so far, give it a fav, and follow :)
That's all for now guys, I'll see you on the next chapter.!
- wiErD SpeCtrumz blacking out... ... ...
