Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters; they belong to the one and only Hiro Mashima.
I do own the idea for the fic though.
My candy.
(A I.-.-.I Kuroyagi I.-.-.I original fan-fiction story.)
Chapter 7: Tactics.
Embarrassing situations left behind –with Ultear and her weird thoughts-, our pink-haired passed the rest of the day with a dreadful feeling at the pit of his stomach. Not liking the thought of going back the next day and find the black-haired woman again and again, until the end of high school in 2 months, but finding it curiously worth-seeing if what she and Lucy told him was right; and since our friend got the heads-up, reassurance and advices that he needed, he was going to try and for just this once listen to his friends' words.
'What's the worst that can happen?'
Poor you, if only you knew. Natsu wasn't the brightest of his group of friends, but he knew that they were up to something, what? He knew that they wanted to help him with his crush for the president, but he just felt that receiving their help would be both, helpful and shameful to him. Like that day earlier, he discovered that Erza Scarlet had feelings for him too, and that she was a hard bone when one wanted to apologize to her… but it was worth it; now, he had some positive leads and thoughts about the subject, and he wasn't going to waste them.
But that could wait…
A little movement and he was comfortable, some clicks and his favorite song was on, and some ease of mind and he could relax himself from the tiring day that he had; on his bed, listening music, without friends bothering him or crazy presidents chasing him around the school… but he would get none of that.
*Bip! Bip!*
"Awww… what now?" He asked himself as he stopped his music player and moved through the phone's menu to see his inbox, a new message… from Levy? Curiosity killed the cat, they say, and Natsu was about to discover why; opening the message, he felt his eyes widen for the umpteenth time that day.
Want to score the president?
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 20:47
Not only did it surprise the boy what the girl was asking but how she was saying it, she never heard the worm book girl talk like that, ever; except, when she was dealing with the raven-haired guy from Phantom High. He clicked the 'reply' button and typed his answer, the feeling at the pit of his stomach growing.
Yeah, I guess so…
From: Natsu
To: Levy
XX/XX/11 20:50
He laid his cellphone on his belly; staring at the ceiling of his room with anxious eyes until he felt the object vibrating, looking at it again, he got his answer.
Follow these simple instructions
and you will be with her for the
Fantasia.
Okay, Natsu?
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 20:52
Ok, Levy, what do I do?
From: Natsu
To: Levy
XX/XX/11 20:54
Natsu wondered for a second how fast the girl could write, but shrugged it off for another moment, he needed to see what the girl wanted him to do; he opened the lid again when it vibrated and clicked to see the message, his eyes widening when he saw that it say that they were three messages and not one.
She had some serious speed for these things!
Either that or she had the messages settled-up for his predictable acceptance of her help; whatever the case, he scowled annoyed at being too predictable for the girls.
Natsu; you need to show her your
best side, and make her feel like
you're worth the time. For that
you're going to need to do some
things that you wouldn't have
done before, like helping around
the school and the council's tasks.
Helping her in special.
She likes that kind of attitude.
Yeah, Natsu, I know what you're
thinking, but with what you do
normally won't be enough.
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 20:56
You'll have to do what I tell you to
for the next month, and I promise
you that she'll be head over hells
for you. Just follow my instructions
from this day forward and you'll get
her! Okay?
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 20:57
First week: Help around in maintaining
order when she's not around. The
students won't listen to you but
if you get serious, it should be easy.
So, to work!
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 20:58
Natsu looked at the three messages with different expressions, changing from bored to surprise and uncertainty in different orders; he was about to write that he didn't need any help after all, but, the past help of his friends and acquaintances made him think twice about it. Nodding to himself, he accepted Levy's help.
Let's see how he fairs…
First week: Maintaining order.
A bunch of sophomores were bothering a group of newcomers, telling them all sort of scary things about the school to have them under their pawns and do of them what they wanted, in between them, the confirmation of the town's rumors about a pink-haired demon that could beat any guy he didn't like and of a red-haired president that could make you clean the whole school if you broke the rules.
And that's where our friend enters.
"Yeah! The pink-haired demon of Fairy High is real! He will murder you unless we keep him away!" Yelled amused one of the sophomores, not noticing the shadow looming behind him with red eyes; the newcomers took a step back at the sight and gulped down.
"That's funny, you know? I didn't kill anyone so far, except for annoying sophomores that make up stories about me…!" Turning around slowly, the older boys started to shake in fear of the person standing with a harsh glare on his face; almost pissing their pants, they apologized quickly and made a run for it, the senior not following them but softening his features to the scared-newcomers that had a double take at his softened face. "Welcome to Fairy High, guys, if you have any troubles with those assholes again, let me –or Erza, the president- know about it, okay?"
And he turned to leave with his head high, feeling content for what he did and understanding why the girl he likes enjoyed her work, oblivious to the worshipping eyes that watched his retreating back.
The end of the school period; during the last meeting of the student's council that week.
"Eh… Miss President?" One of the new delegates called for the day-dreaming president, making her jump at the voice and turn to look at the guy with serious eyes and a nod, expecting to hear what he wanted to say. "W-we have been receiving less complains from the junior students about the sophomores this week…"
Erza looked surprised at hearing that, a raised eyebrow telling the boys and girls of the room to explain what he meant; there's always trouble between the junior and sophomores of the school, so, listening that there was a fall on complaints was seriously surprising. Jellal stood up from his seat and handed her some papers with the names of those that saw the reason of such development, a proud-amused smile on his face at saying what was happening.
"These students say that one of our seniors helped them when they were being bullied by sophomores, they say that it was the 'pink-haired demon' of Fairy High and that they were grateful for his help." The president's eyes widened in surprise and shock, gasping when looking at the long list of names that filled three papers from both sides. "They say that he told them to seek for his or your help if they ever had any kind of troubles again."
And he returned to his seat, his smile not faltering when he saw his scarlet-haired friend smiling at the change of things around the school; she was starting to change her mind about the idiotic pink-haired boy of the school, and how she felt towards him was starting to grew by the second she spent thinking of him.
Second week: Keep the sophomores
at bay and help the students with the
preparations for the Fantasia Parade.
Good luck!
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 21:39
Second week: Maintaining order and helping in preparations.
"So, you need more cardboard? I think some guys from class 1-C were looking for someone to give what they spared; go and ask them!" He told cheerfully to the girls from class 2-B, smiling at their signs of gratitude before turning around to check if anyone else needed anything, someone needed to get rid of something or someone, and if someone needed help; any kind of help, that is.
"D-demon!" One of the junior students yelled at him, making him flinched at the nickname. "Some sophomores are trying to break our classroom's decorations!"
He sighed and changed his expression, turning around to face the nervous looking guy with a forced smile. "Tell me where they are and I'll take care of them…"
"O-okay! Let's go, Demon-san!" Natsu stopped the guy with a hand on his shoulder, making him look over his shoulder to see the grinning face of the pink-haired giving him a thumbs up.
"My name's Natsu, pal; now, let's go!" The boy and the students around witnessing the scene widened their eyes in surprised, shocked to see the man so full of confidence and warm to those in trouble. The boy nodded and leaded the way, taking the senior to class 1-A so he could take care of the sophomores; at the place, the guys from last time were trying to enter the classroom to destroy the work of the younger students. The pink-haired cracked his knuckles at the sight, calling the attention of the boys to him and making them cower in fear before they did a run for it; the junior students cheered for him and gave their thanks while he waved good-bye and went to look for anyone else to help.
"Thanks, Natsu-san!" The boy that took him there yelled appreciatively, making him smile embarrassedly at the attention. He was seriously starting to like this.
The end of the school period; during the last meeting of the student's council that week.
"Okay, let's start the meeting," Erza said as she entered the meeting room with a stoic face; she was already used to this, at this part of the year, they received tons of complaints from all classrooms about the problems regarding the Fantasia or the annoying sophomores that destroyed everything from the junior students. Though, when she saw that everyone was just talking cheerfully with each other, she couldn't help but be surprised; normally, they would be sweating bullets and working through papers to help the students, but they were just enjoying themselves. "What's going on here?"
"Oh, nothing, just the 'pink-haired demon' striking again." Jellal said amused, chuckling at the shocked face of the president. "He helped the students with the preparations and kept the sophomores from destroying them, he's seriously good at this; I wonder why he didn't join the council…"
"What?" She asked surprised, hearing just a chuckle from the azure-haired boy before he stood up to give the resumes of that week's work for the parade, again, there were three papers filled with names and classroom that reported their works done or their gratitude towards the senior that they now called 'Natsu-san'. "I-I can't believe this…!"
"Believe it, Natsu has being of great help so far that, many are questioning why he isn't the president." One of the delegates said, a blue-haired girl that smirk at the shocked faces of Jellal and Erza; winking at him to make him understand that there was no harm for their mutual friend in what she was saying, and that she had a plan. The azure-haired boy nodded slowly to her, making a sign for her to explain what she meant, later.
With Erza; she was fuming about what Levy told her. Students? Asking for the pink-haired idiot to be the president instead of her? What of all the things she did for them the past years? She couldn't be at all places at once, so her control of things was limited, and she expected them to understand her… but this! This!
Steeling her face to the best of her ability, she spoke to everyone inside the room, making them flinch with her harsh words. "I'll talk with him. The students' council is the one in charge here; we should be the ones being thanked for by the students, not some 'wannabe' council member student!"
Third week: Don't do anything, relax
until she comes to talk with you!
Show respect for her work and tell her
that, if she needs help, you are available
to give a hand.
I know it's confusing! Just do as I tell
you, Natsu!
From: Levy
To: Natsu
XX/XX/11 21:39
Natsu looked at the message with confused eyes, not getting what she wanted from him but nodding uncertainly at the message; the girl took the right choices for him so far and he was doing great at school. Teachers praised him for helping around, students respected him, and his friends were shocked to see him doing so many things for the school... Gray mostly. And that was the best reason to keep helping around, but if the girl wanted to stop, there was surely a good reason.
So, it wouldn't hurt to hear her out again, right?
Third week: Do nothing but what she asks of you.
'Okay, nothing for this week, I just need to act normal and wait for her to show up.' The pink-haired student thought with a small yawn, walking to his classroom tiredly while students greeted him at his every step; what he did the past weeks made him happier, the students didn't regard him as the pink-haired demon anymore, and they respected him for being like he is. He smiled to himself and continued to walk, entering his classroom without noticing that one person was standing next to the door and that he passed by her until a hand grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him to the hallways again.
"Natsu," She acknowledged coldly after releasing him against the wall, his back hitting the surface called the attention of everyone around; Erza waited for the man to stop rubbing the back of his head and look at her before talking. "What are you doing?"
'You're kidding me…' He thought with a frown, straightening his posture and leaning against the wall to talk more freely; Levy told him she was going to go and talk with him, but he didn't imagine it like this. She surely was pissed about something, what it was he didn't know, he would have to get the answer by approaching her carefully. "Helping around, why?"
"Because that's the job of the council, not yours, Natsu; why are you doing it?" She wanted reasons from him and her stern face made it clear that she wanted no excuses; he had many excuses but one truth that he could tell her… yet. So he shrugged, looking at her with his most bored face.
"Look, I know it's your job, and I respect that, but I want to help; this is my school too, I want to do something for it before going to college. Is that so bad, Erza?" Said girl narrowed her eyes at him, discerning the half-truth in his words but not asking further, preferring to scold him than having to keep on listening to his silly reasons for helping.
"Good, but that's the job of the student council; do not help unless I ask you to." She was going to retreat back to her classroom when his hand stopped her by grabbing her wrist, his pull from it turning her around to face him with determined eyes that surprised her and those around them –the others were more surprised by the bold move than the face he had-.
"If you ask me, I'll be more than glad to help." And he released his hold on her, entering his classroom without looking back or even acknowledging the looks of his classmates; he said it with his heart, having finally felt the school as a second home –besides a boring torturing chamber- and he wanted to keep on helping as he did. And if the help was asked from her, the better, he would not deny it.
Erza looked at the retreating back of the man until he was out of sight, her feet moving her in auto-pilot towards her classroom as her mind processed what happened and her feelings for the student changed even more now; he wanted to help, he respected her work and was willing to stop doing what he was doing because she ordered him to. But the most surprising, he was going to be more than glad to help if she asked him.
The end of the school period; during the last meeting of the student's council two days later.
Running from here and there, carrying stacks of papers from one member to the other, dropping some on the ground and making the place much more of a mess than what Erza remember it to be the last two weeks; that was the new sight she found inside the Council's meeting room. A picture she saw many times the past years, but that she grew unaccustomed after the past month of carefree meetings courtesy of the pink-haired demon of Fairy High and his good actions.
Picking up some of the papers on the floor, she went to sit at the head of the group of delegates, eyeing the papers on her hands to later address the ones that were in charge with those; telling them that she was going to take care of them and of those from her own classroom to ease the burden. Stopping for a moment when calling for Jellal, since he was in the same classroom as the man plaguing her thoughts now, she could ask a favor of him… one she thought that she would never make.
"Yes, Miss President?" He said innocently hiding his smirk, already knowing what she was going to ask. She let out a tired sigh and crossed her arms in front of her chest, glaring at the azure-haired man when she caught a glimpse of his lips twitching upwards.
"If you have Dragneel's number, call him, I need to talk with him now." He nodded, pulled out his cellphone and turned to return to his seat, winking at the smiling Levy when they crossed eyes. "Hey, Natsu! Busy? I need you here, now!"
The next day…
Eyeing the big building that was Fairy High and its many activity buildings were the student council members plus one pink-haired student, all of them looking at the job that they had to do and expecting their boss to explain what it was to do and who had to do it. She walked in front of the group, turning her back to the building and facing the line of delegates with a sharp stare, narrowing her eyes when she saw Natsu spacing out but shaking her head to nod at the others and explain the "battle plan".
"First and second class delegates are to help the students with the preparations, organize them and provide them with lacking materials; third class students, Jellal, Levy, Natsu and Me, will patrol through the school's hallways and keep everything under control. If there's trouble, search for any of us, today the school's gates will remain open, so troubles like the ones from last year might come again." She meant when Phantom High entered the school grounds looking for the pink-haired standing with them, causing ruckus and breaking everything that the students made for the graduation party; Natsu had the decency to bow in apology for what happened he didn't expect Gajeel and his gang to barge into the school looking for him. "Is everything clear?"
"Aye sir!"
She gave an approving nod and walked out of the way to the entrance, the council members moving to enter the school and do as told while she walked to explain one more thing to the helping hand. Pulling a band from her shirt pocket, she motioned for Natsu to raise his arm and tied it on his arm under his right shoulder; the piece of cloth showing that he was a part of the council too. "You'll go with Jellal for the first period, later with Levy and lastly with me; if you really want to help the school, this is your chance to show it."
And… she walked away with Levy close behind wishing good luck to the pink-haired student, thus, leaving Natsu with Jellal. The azure-haired man turned to smile at his friend and motioned him to move forward with a small pat on the back. "Seems like you are taking this seriously… Erza, I mean."
"Yeah, I guess so, with you guys annoying me every single day it was bound to happen." Jellal chuckled.
"Sorry about that, you looked pitiful…" Natsu shot him a glare, he backed away a little and they entered the school; seeing that Erza took the last floor and Levy the first, they continued forward to the backyard. Opening the door to find students working on different stands around the main field, setting up decorations and the lights that would be used as the parade lasted until late hours of the night. Walking aimlessly for some minutes, Jellal noticed his friend readjusting the band around his arm, loosening it a little and leaving it a little lower on his arm near his elbow; the azure-haired chuckled at that, surely the president strapped it tightly as to make a point. "Too tight?"
"Yeah, a little…" After it was done, they continued to walk, both immersed on their own thoughts as they expected something to do.
Natsu thought about the start of everything, about his freshman year and the first time he talked with the overly enthusiastic woman that was to become president. When they met, he was still in sorrow for what happened with his first crush –Lisanna- and couldn't get out of the depressed state in which he was, even when his friends and her brother and sister told him that it wasn't his fault that she passed away.
He could still remember it, as clear as the sky. It was during the last year of their middle school, they planned a travel to Crocus, the capital of the country, and they bought tickets along with Elfman and Mirajane; trouble was when Natsu and the two older brothers discovered that Lisanna got a ticket for a bus that got out earlier. They wanted to change their own to be with her and not leave her alone, but the rest were already sold out and the young girl asked them not to worry, that she promised to wait for them at the train station there. They nodded to her request and promise, telling her to look after herself while she waited for them to arrive… but it was when they arrived that they felt it, something was wrong, she was not around and she didn't answered her cellphone.
It was after two hours of frantic search that they heard that the bus where she was going had an accident, falling from a cliff to a rocky bottom where the vehicle exploded and none of the passengers survived.
Shattered, the three youngsters felt shattered at the news; Mira locked herself for a week, Elfman disappear for several days and Natsu remained an empty carcass for half a year. Blaming himself for not stopping her from going into that bus, but being brought back to his senses when his friends made him understand that there's no way for him to know what was going to happen. Fists courtesy of Gray and Jellal, some slaps from Lucy and Mira, and one last fists exchange from Elfman, and he was back to his old self… though, some pain remained inside him.
Until he met her.
Bumping into her when walking distractedly to the school building with Jellal talking about his plans of joining the student council and have good grades to enter a good college; she apologized as she was standing in the middle of the road, helping him to get up and pick up his things along with hers.
He was going to start a rant when he met eyes with her.
He stopped.
He wondered what he was seeing.
He wondered if it was just the shock from seeing someone with that hair color or just the fact that it was a girl.
And his mind went blank in the process.
Moving automatically to help him, he accepted the hand offered to him and apologized without losing sight of her eyes, picking up papers and her suitcase from the ground.
He never said more than to answer what he was asked.
Waving a hand when she went inside the school, using it to rub his sore arm when Jellal woke him from his trance…
He just… didn't know what happened… and never did wonder why that was.
Until now.
*Smack!*
"Hey!" Natsu yelled angrily, rubbing the back of his head while his partner laughed at the situation. He knew that his oblivious friend would start daydreaming after a few minutes of doing nothing, and he thought that it was going to be annoying… seems like it wasn't. Watching him change expressions at every moment Jellal supposed Natsu was remembering something, was hilarious, especially when he suspected that the lost gaze and small smile of the boy was because of his memories about the first encounter he had with the woman he was now trying to claim as his own. "What's so funny?"
"You are." And they continued to walk around the field, helping around students here and there until it was time for the pink-haired to change partner, wishing best luck to his azure-haired friend before going inside to meet up with Levy… and fortunately, something more to do regarding his last partner of the day.
Fortunately… was not possible.
The moment he caught up with her, she remained silent and ignored all of his tries to talk, even if it wasn't Scarlet-related, Levy kept her mouth shut the whole period. She knew that the boy wanted her help desperately but that was it, she couldn't help him in every turn and twist, he needed to do things himself too; plus, if Natsu got frustrated and angry, it was more likely of him to talk with Erza without fumbling his words at every sentence.
Thing that she and the others noticed that he needed to stop doing.
First times was cute and amusing, second times was annoying, third times was pitiful; and they all agreed that Natsu deserved better than to be pitied around, especially from the girl he likes.
He needed to be as before, as when Lisanna was around, when he said things without thinking and they resulted lovable and annoying all the same.
The true old Natsu, not this body with different mind that claimed to be their old friend from middle school; they saw right through his lie, he didn't return to his old-self, he just mimicked his same actions but remained his mind careful to avoid getting his heart hurt again. Otherwise, why was he faring well in school? Why did he attach his earphones to his ears when walking from school to home?
He distracted his mind with the school teachings and homework, using music to distract his mind when there was time to relax from school; he even used them when talking with his friends, only attaching one earphone and using the other ear to hear his friends' words. He had a good hearing.
He didn't recover, that was obvious, he never spoke of the matter and he couldn't bring up the name of the younger Strauss sibling without losing what little life his eyes had.
But that changed. Jellal was the first to see it. When Erza Scarlet entered the picture, Natsu was like his old self –except for the fumbling words- and he spoke and acted as he did before the accident.
And they knew exactly was needed to be done.
They all agreed to do it, for the friend that helped them so many times before.
Natsu Dragneel would be together with Erza Scarlet before the end of the year.
"Levy!" She snapped out of her thinking to the sudden call, turning around on her feet to see Natsu running up to her with a hand extended to reach her; she didn't understand first, but when her vision moved upwards and showed her the roof and the stairs that leaded to the second floor, she get it.
She walked straight to the stairs that leaded to the basement and her partner tried to warn her.
But she was so much into thinking that she didn't hear him, thinking that he was still asking for advices or something of the sort.
She closed her eyes and screamed his name, hoping that her friend would be fast enough to stop her fall.
He did, in fact, Natsu felt his blood rushing at incredible speed at the sight of a friend in trouble, moving his body at what was humanly impossible and caught her in mid fall in a tight hug; spinning in the air to get the damage the pink-haired closed his eyes and waited for the crash.
And when Levy noticed, she was on top of an unconscious Natsu, a small amount of blood surrounding his head and staining his shirt while his right arm was twist in a weird angle.
She covered her mouth with her hands.
Her eyes contracted and watered at the sight.
And she screamed again.
To be continued.
Twist!
That pretty much resumes it.
Stay tuned!
Saludos.
PS: Does anyone else feels sad because Lucy lose like that? Or thrilled because Jellal is going to fight? Or has an "I knew it" face because of Ren and Sherry? xD FT is starting to amuse me as it did before. If I forget about the pairings, that is. I'm starting to think Jellal is awesome, is that bad? xD