Erza paced around her temporary home with a worried expression on her face "That's the second time he has saved me from men like them."

"That's just how he is," Karite said in a shrugged-off manner "And besides have a little faith in the boy he beat a hundred men on his own and Erigor is a mere two star Academy Hunter he has no chance."

"two star?" Erza stopped curiosity getting the better of her.

"Yes, there are Nine hundred Hunter's currently in service, thirty of which are Freelance like Natsu…A hunter is giving a star rating based on their abilities and how dangerous they are…There are only two Hunter's in the entire continent that have the a four star rating, One is Natsu although he cares almost nothing for it he is also the only freelance hunter to ever gain a ranking higher than three, the other is an Academy Hunter and Natsu's only even Rival, I forget his name…Some kind of shade…Gray, yes that's his name anyway Gray is faster than Natsu but lack's power, Natsu's prowess comes from his incredible balance of speed and power, his ability to switch combat form's is unrivaled and he has a sharp enough mind to master many weapon style's, Gray is a bit more of a staunch traditionalist when it comes to his weapon fighting techniques although the rumors going around say he has adapted into his own style of sword fighting with a heavily modified Katana, that is about as much as I know about him." Karite explained flatly.

Erza took the barrage of information and felt a sense of relief "But with his injuries."

"I have no doubt he will be fine, that painkiller was effective the only problem will be when it wears off." Karite replied

Natsu dragged his unresponsive body along slowly, the painkiller had long since worn off, the gash on his leg had reopened as well as the larger gash on his side, he also felt a massive pain whenever he breathed meaning a rib was broken, 'probably from Erigor's kick.' He thought simply, his mind was in a haze of pain everything seemed sort of out of reach like he was watching someone else drag themselves through the street's of the village. To make matters worse a heavy rain began to fall freezing him to the core as he finally arrived at the home he had been staying at the last few days, he hit the door with his new-found traveling stick and waited, he heard the soft thud of someone running to the door and it flew open, his body finally gave out and he toppled through the doorway.

Erza heard the knock and she ran to the door, she pulled it quickly and the bloodied and paled body that stared back at her made her freeze, she had barely enough time to say a word before he fell with a heavy thud onto the ground in front of her, she stared down at the figure eyes wide with shock, slowly as his blood began to seep out into a pool around him.

"Snap out of it and tend to his wounds girl!" Karite voice snapped sharply, pulling her from her trance.

She bent down and dragged him onto the table, he grabbed the shirt and pulled it from his body, revealing the dark red bandages covering his side and a angry purple and black bruise across his side, she used a small knife to cut away the bandages, pulling a needle and thread as well as fresh bandages from the remaining supplies Uru had left for her, she set to work re-stitching his chest, when he had finished she rewrapped it and turned to his leg, the wound had turn open more and she wasn't sure just bandages were enough.

"He is going to freeze to death before you can save him woman!" Karite snapped, and she focused on his face and chest, his entire body was shivering, pulling his cloak from around her shoulder she started slightly as the cold nipped at her body, she pressed the fact that she was naked out of her mind and draped it over him, turning back to his leg she ripped away the clothing and pushed the skin together slightly, she heard Natsu groan in pain, but she continued her work. She pressed the needle through his flesh and pulled it tightly slowly sealing the gap. Sweat beaded on her forehead from concentration, she placed a hand on his forehead after the wound had closed 'He isn't getting warmer.' She thought worriedly as she began to pull him upstairs, she finally got him into the bed and she wrapped blankets around him, she placed a hand on his head again, she knew there was no way just a few blankets would warm him fast enough, with his bloodless staying cold was dangerous she lifted the blanket's and sliding beside him, she grabbed his head and pulled it against her.

"You better hope he lives." Karite warned as she removed the gauntlet from her hand and placed him on the bedside.

"All I can do is hope," She answered him as she began stroking the back of Natsu's head, before leaning in to say something in his ear "You aren't allowed to die, you hear me in there, I won't allow you to die for saving me."

Natsu teetered on the edge of consciousness, he felt a warmth against him and he clutched at it desperately before he heard sound again 'You aren't allowed to die." The words bounced around in his skull and he forced his eyes open, she gazed directly as pale flesh, he blinked a few times "Am I dead?" He asked aloud a little confused.

He heard a gasp and pulled his head back slightly to look up and the eyes of the woman he had worked so hard to save, he gave her a weak smile "Thank you." He said hoarsely, realizing the dryness of his own throat he swallowed hard.

She looked at him as tears welled up in her eyes "I am sorry, because of me you ended up in worse shape than before!"

She felt a small weight on her head and she opened her eyes and looked up at the man who had protected her on multiple occasion, she expected to see something other than the warm smile he held, she looked up at his face and a smile spread across her own.

"My injuries are my own and I am going to be fine," Natsu never let the smile leave his face, he fought with ever muscle in his body to keep himself propped up above her "It is not your fault I tore open my injures, it is not your fault I got the injuries."

He inhaled slowly "And if it weren't for you I would be dead right now, I would have given up out in the cold and succumbed to blood loss and cold and I would have died."

Erza looked up at him in surprise.

"You are the only reason I have to keep on going," Natsu confessed, before plopping down beside her physically unable to keep himself upright any longer "From now on where you go I go." He said firmly as the darkness enclosed his mind and he drifted back into a dreamless sleep.

Erza turned her head slowly to look up at the now sleeping face of Natsu, the man had saved her life, kept her from being raped twice and now he had admitted to having deeper feelings for her. She felt a warmth in her stomach and she pushed up being careful of his injuries laid her head down his chest, she listened to the thud of his heart and smiled as she closed her eyes allowing the sound to lull her to sleep.

A/N: All right short chapter, but more a filler kind using it as a little set-up for bigger things! Hope you all enjoy this one!