Author's Section: A shorter chapter but filled with events to thicken the plot even more! But before everyone continue with the story, I would like to let you all know that starting from now, Loke will be address as Leo since in this story, he has the appearance of Leo as a Celestial Spirit and not Loke as a mage of Fairy Tail (minus the lion ears of course). I'm sorry for the change I made and I know it's kinda too late for changes like this but trust me, it's for the best. Previous chapters will be edited as soon as possible. The scenes won't change don't worry, just Loke's name being replaced with 'Leo'.
The summary of this story is also changed!
Reviewer's & Special Thanks Section are on the bottom page. If you left a review last chapter, you can find my reply to you in that section.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does. I'm only borrowing the characters for the sole purpose of entertainment.
Summary: A peaceful walk with friends became disastrous when Natsu encountered a raven-haired delinquent in town. After losing a fight and have his first kiss got stolen, Natsu's life was never the same anymore. Questions arise. Secrets unfold. Feelings blossom. And he's determined to uncover the truth. Truth that has been laid dormant for so long. But it will resurface once again.
Chapter Dedicated To: FairyDragneel
"The Red Rose On My Window"
Chapter 5: Foreign Shivers
By: Johan Winterfrost
Early morning in Isvan was practically like living in heaven due to the thick layer of fog covering the entire town. With a shiver, I stepped outside the spacious veranda of our old house, my scarf looped securely around my neck.
Even though my body was already coated with a thick jacket and a cotton shirt underneath, I could still feel the coldness seeping through like invisible vines crawling up my skin. I released a quivering sigh and watched the mist my breath created as though I have just smoked a cigarette.
"It's really cold here in Isvan." a voice said from behind, making me jumped a little. Before I could even spin around to face him however, both his arms have already slipped past my waist, pulling me closer.
"L-Leo.."
"And it hasn't snowed yet," he continued, resting his chin on my shoulder. "Are you still cold?"
I kept my gaze ahead, silently convincing myself that the redness in my face was due to the cold and nothing else. Admittedly, Leo's closeness did help lessen the cold I'm feeling and though I have tried to resist it at first, my body still succumbed to the warmth in the end.
Leo grasped my exposed hands into his and I noticed he was wearing brown mittens made of wool.
"Your hands are freezing. Why aren't you wearing a mitten?"
"I forgot to bring one."
To my surprise, Leo removed his mittens and shoved it in my hands. "Put them on."
"B-but what about you?"
He only squeezed me tighter in his embrace. "It's okay. I'm not cold anyway. Not at all."
We stood there for quite some time, relishing the thick fog that covered the whole town, sharing each other's warmth. As much as I tried to deny it, the bond between Leo and I are starting to change, evolving into something more deep. The thought of it scared me to be honest, but a small voice at the back of my head was trying to convince me it's not that bad at all.
Although I've known Leo as the touchy-feely sort of guy, there's no doubt he had become more adhesive towards me these past few weeks, especially after the phone-snatching incident. Lucy had mentioned how worried Leo was when they found me leaned up in a wall all beat up and almost losing consciousness back then. The following day, he was in our house acting like my personal nurse attending to my every need since I have difficulty in moving around. My father actually took advantage of it since he's got work to do and entrusted my well-being in my best friend's care. Even after I healed, Leo continued taking care of me.
I was pulled out of my reverie when the front door of our old house creaked open and Lucy stepped out, followed by Aries and Wendy who were both dressed in thick jackets.
A knowing smirk instantly spread out of Lucy's face the moment her gaze landed on us. I immediately ripped Leo's arms around me and stepped away, my cheeks inflamed in embarrassment.
"Oops! Sorry! Are we interrupting something?"
"N-no! A-absolutely not!"
Lucy walked up to me and started nudging my ribs, her annoying smirk never leaving her face. "So what were you two doing eh?"
"N-nothing!" I shoved her away from me, stuttering as I tried to come up with an excuse.
"We're just warming each other up." Leo said in a low voice, his cheeks also had a tint of red in them. My own blush only darkened its shade with what he said.
"Eh~" Lucy only laughed, hooking her arms in Leo's neck and mine, trapping us both in a headlock. "You know I wouldn't be so surprise anymore if next time I catch you, you're both naked in bed warming each other up."
"Keep you delusions to yourself witch." I said, disentangling myself from her grasp.
"Who you calling a witch you sneaky little bastard?!"
I stuck my tongue out at her, barely missing her hand trying to catch me. The empty neighborhood was soon filled with our laughter as Lucy and I began a Tom & Jerry chase. Wendy and Aries were both sat in the steps in front of our old house watching us with amused smile on their faces. Leo could only sigh in defeat as he was forced to act like a lamp post Lucy and I can circle around.
When Dad finally stepped outside and witnessed our craziness, he face-palmed. The dumbfounded look on his face was really priceless.
"I thought Wendy was the only kid I brought here. Guess I'm mistaken." he said, looking at us like we were bunch of kindergartens. "Enough of that you two! We still have a flower shop to visit before going to the cemetery."
Our journey to the town center was peaceful and quiet. Unlike the town of Magnolia filled with bustling people every day, Isvan is the exact opposite. It wasn't totally deserted, but you wouldn't see a lot of people strolling around the street. It must be the town's cold weather that everyone preferred staying inside their homes than spending their day outside. The only considerably crowded place in Isvan is the shopping mall found in the middle of the town which will be our first stop to buy some flowers and scented candles.
For a fancy flower shop, Warrod's Garden is simply breathtaking. We discovered that it's not just a store selling flowers, but a huge greenhouse plantation with advance facilities. They sell variety of flowers fresh from the roots and you can also buy potted plants.
Igneel bought a bouquet of white roses while the girls choose to buy a combination of white roses, tulips and irises and have them arranged in a basket. Leo and I picked a two feet tall Gardenia in a pot with good numbers of buds and fully-opened flowers decorating the entire plant.
After paying for the flowers and purchasing some scented candles (and snacks), we are finally off to Isvan Cemetery. We all have resolved on walking after Leo's driver called saying he was still in a car wash station, much to my delight. It wasn't that far from the shopping mall anyway and could be reached through feet in less than twenty-five minutes.
The girls began to indulge themselves in their 'Girl's Talk' while Leo and I walked side by side. Dad was ahead of us, leading the way in complete silence.
We passed by a small park on the way, and I was stopped to watch the empty playground in mild curiosity. One could tell that the recreational facilities have been unused for ages base on the reddish brown color of rust already coating them. A single tug on the swing shackles might dislodge it from its hinges. The most troubling sight I found however was the slide with a massive dent on its side lying uselessly on the ground. It's as though something have hit it hard enough to uproot it from where it used to stand. Perhaps, an accident happened here before, which explained why no one was using it anymore.
"Natsu!"
I was brought out of my wandering mind at the shout of my father, and I noticed how far they have gone away from me already. Giving the abandoned place a last glance, I quickly apologized and jogged to catch up with them.
"Sorry! I just kinda… spaced out back there."
"Idiot! Don't space out while walking or you'll get run over by a car." Lucy scolded, smacking me lightly on the shoulder.
"Hey! I said I'm sorry!"
"Let's just get going already." Dad said and resumed on walking.
Readjusting the scarf on my neck, I trotted beside my father's side. "Dad. Can we go to that park later before we go home?"
He halted for a moment to stare at me with a frown then answered, "No."
"Why not?" I pouted.
"What are you? A kid?"
"No, but I wanna!"
"No Natsu." he said in a firm voice, walking ahead of me. "You are forbidden to go to that park."
My jaw dropped in disbelief and I stared at his back. What the…? Is he serious? I was about to question him when a black gate finally came to our view, on top of it was a large sign written in white bold letters.
Isvan Cemetery.
As we neared the said gate, a man who seemed to be in his early 50's emerged from the inside, glancing around like a guard searching for a possible threat lurking around. His aging eyes squinted a little upon seeing us and I was almost convinced he was an undercover agent disguising himself like a janitor.
"Igneel? Is that you?"
My brows shoot up in surprise at the mention of my father's name. So this old man knew my Dad huh? I watched in anticipation as my father greeted him with a laugh.
"The one and only, Macao."
They shook hands, patted each other's shoulder in a short hug, shook hands again and then laughed like total fools. I would have snorted at them indignantly if it wasn't for the old man's gaze that landed on me, making me squirm uncomfortably.
"Pink hair..?" He mumbled, taking a few steps towards me. "Could it be… Natsu Dragneel?"
My lips parted open in surprise.
"Y-you know me?"
Macao only chuckled, ruffling my hair. "Of course I do know you. Don't you remember me, Young Officer?"
I was at loss of words, unsure how to respond to the simple yet very tricky question. Do I know him? Have I met him before? I silently searched for the name 'Macao' inside my head, trying to recall the times I have met some of my father's colleagues but nothing came. I was only rewarded with a headache.
"Don't get so worked up about it kid." Macao laughed, ruffling my hair again. "It's okay if you can't remember. That's perfectly natural for someone who's got–"
"Macao–"
He was abruptly cut off by the hand that landed rather heavily on his shoulder. Macao visibly flinched and went stiff, his face contorted in shock and I was sure I saw fear flashed in his dark irises.
"I-Igneel–"
"Dad?"
I stared bemusedly at my father whose grip on Macao's shoulder noticeably tightened. The look on his face could only be described as… panicked.
"Y-yeah?"
"Is everything okay?"
He must have noticed my gaze on his hand clawing Macao's shoulder and he immediately withdraw, shoving it inside the pocket of his leather jacket.
"O-of course! Everything is okay. Nothing's wrong ah–ah! I think we should hurry or else the flowers we bought for your mother would wither. Come on!"
Relief washed over Macao's face and a shaky sigh escaped his lips. "I-I should get going then. Sorry if I delayed you from your visit." Macao gave my father a quick glance which was answered with a small nod. Dad then turned to march into the cemetery.
"Say hi to your mother for me." Macao said, smiling.
I bowed at him. "I will."
He ruffled my hair one last time before he left, rather hastily.
Igneel walked in a rather fast pace he almost bumped into another person who just emerged from the cemetery. He didn't even bother to look back and apologize or see if we were following his lead. I looked back to find the others sharing the same dumbfounded expression as mine.
Awkward.
Shrugging, we figured it's best to follow my father before we lost sight of him. As we entered the cemetery, my eyes trailed to the person whom Dad almost bumped into. It was a guy wearing a lime-green hooded jacket. I contemplated whether I should apologize in my father's place but as we came across each other, I was unable to say anything.
His face was concealed with a black face mask that screamed more as a fashion statement in my own opinion than of those being worn because of some contagious disease.
He walked past us, hands shoved in his jeans pockets not even bothering to give us a single glance, as if we were just trash unworthy of his attention. He has a laid back posture and an air of arrogance was wreathing his tall figure.
Forget about apologizing. This guy's a total douche.
Unable to resist the urge to cast a glare at the stranger, I whipped my head back, only to have my heart almost leaped out of my throat in utter shock..
He was looking at me, with eyes that sent shivers down my spine.
I abruptly turned my gaze away and proceeded in walking. I could still feel his eyes on the back of my neck, where goosebumps have begun to grow. I quickened my pace and unconsciously reached out for Leo's hand. I received a surprised questioning look from the orange-haired teen, but I only squeezed his hand in response.
That was seriously creepy.
What crept me out even more was that, I've seen those eyes before. But I don't know where.
Leo squeezed my hand back. "Is everything okay Natsu?" he asked as we turned left, the sight of my father's back finally came into view. Only then I was able to release a relieved sigh.
"Yeah... Everything's fine."
As we neared my mother's grave, I noticed that my father has someone with him I don't recognize, yet again. I thought I wouldn't be so surprise anymore if this person knew who I am but, as a head with hair the color of snow turned towards me, a boyish smile spreading across his handsome features, I found myself rendered speechless.
Is it just the moment or am I really seeing a Prince Charming out of a fairy tale's book?
I watched in a dazed trance as white strands of hair swayed in the winter breeze in slow motion. It's as though time have come to a stop and everything around froze except from him. Before I even knew it, he was standing in front of me, onyx eyes fixated on my own pale green ones.
"After how many years, I've finally come to see you again… Nael."
Waitwaitwait! What?!
To be Continued…
Author's Section: And a white-haired Prince Charming appeared calling him Nael. Oh my gosh who could it be?! Who is he and what is his role in Natsu's life?! And Igneel… what in the world are you hiding from us..? We will find that out in the upcoming chapters!
Reviewer's Section:
-FairyDragneel- Okay so I dedicated this chapter to you because you did guessed right about Loke/Leo's role in this story. Natsu's encounter with Gray was actually the first trigger, and Leo is essentially needed to put more fuel to that slowly evolving desire and who knows? XD But no, please don't feel too assured about this story being Gratsu . Always consider Leo as a 'big threat'. Only hell knows what tricks I might do to this story. LOL. Ayways, thank you for the continued support. Expect more revelations to come.
-darkhuntressxir- That's a question YET to be answered, dear.
-cristallina- ahaha! No it's not a bad thing I guess. In fact, I think I'm gonna give you higher dose of TRROMW. Don't worry, I won't turn you over to a mental institute. I'm not gonna lose a good reader like you XD
-Zane Takeshi- Thank you so much for your review. You really make me happy. I'm glad somebody out there loved my craziness. LOL. Expect more revealing scenes in the future and I'm sure you'll love this story even more.
-Kori no Koibito- LOL! No need for any prayer in Facebook, I'm updating now. Haha!
-Ryuu91- gihi~ I'm so loving your reaction to this story. Yes Loke/Leo and Natsu can be cute together too. Trust me to make that possible. And yes there are more questions revealed and to be revealed in the future chapters. Expect more of it. The answers will be scattered throughout every chapters you have to really pay attention or you'll miss it. Well about Gray's connection to their trip to Isvan? I think I will let the story speak about that
-123Toby- Love triangles are my specialty so expect more about it hehe. Thank you for the love Toby.
-Prusyah- Magical? Uhm haha I couldn't really tell. I think I'm gonna let you discover that for yourself ;)
-Secret Companion- Maybe they did know each other.. or maybe not. It's still a mystery for now hihi.. Stay tuned to find out more xD
Special Thanks To: Zane Takeshi, lilybean10, YoursTruly11, Prusyah, LunarMay, purpleirishkittycat, Tigress the tinyest, PokemonKeybladeAlchemistXIII and pilar. urrutia. 169 for the author and story favorite/ subscription. Thanks guys! Till next chapter :)
The Sorcerer Of Winter, Johan Winterfrost (05-02-2016)