Natsu POV

As I followed the scent of his down to his hideout on Akane Beach, Erza, Grey and Happy followed me. At the speed we were going though, it should only take us no more than a couple of minutes at most. Erza and Grey looked down-right pissed off and were running like ultra-angry super mad bats outta the mid-depths of hell, as Happy was flying at max speed with the look of a crazed and feral feline. I, on the other hand, was stampeding to the hideout like an ultra-angry super mad fire dragon from the rock-bottom depths of hell and more-than-most-likely looked like I was gonna bring the phrase "Karma's A Bitch" to whole different level. One that no-one would ever like to know.

Once I could see the hideout, I motioned for Erza and Grey to keep a hold of Happy and to follow me silently and obediently. Normally, if this were any other situation, Erza would roll her eyes and tell me to follow her silently. And Grey would pick a fight with me, saying that I wouldn't even be able to lead a horse to a tub of water only 5 feet away. Happy would probably be playing on my Lucy's last nerve by calling her 'weird'. Since it isn't a different situation, and since I am 'matured and lethal', they just did as I said. Good.

I sniffed around, finding that bastard's scent, and followed it to an entry. There were only 2 guards out front, but I took them out silently and quickly. The guys just watched me work, silently and stunned. Usually, I can't do anything without using my dragon-slayer magic and cause so much damage that it would have been a miracle if I didn't even hurt myself. That changed, though, when I had asked my Lucy to get Loke to teach me how to fight a year ago. I had to learn how to fight and use my strength and not magic for a mission, so Loke trained me until I was ready for it. Sadly, someone took it whilst I was training with Loke so I didn't get to do it. I was bummed for a week. Suddenly, I am now glad that it turned out to not be a complete waste.

I gestured for Erza and Grey – he was holding Happy so that Happy didn't make any noise – to follow me, as I was going through the entrance. I still followed my nose to find either the bastard, or my Lucy, as I took out any other guards swiftly and silently. Suddenly I stopped at the end of a corridor, looking left and right a couple times. That caused Erza to crash into me, and Grey & Happy to crash into her. I got up out of the dog pile that we'd formed, and sniffed.

"What is it, flame-brain?" Grey asked me.

"Lucy.. my Lucy and that bastard's scents go in opposite directions. My Lucy's goes left, while that bastard's goes right. Damn it.. who to go after.." I muttered, concentrating hard. I was torn. I wanted to be the one to save Lucy, but I also wanted to be the one to teach that bastard a lesson. What to do..

"Go, Natsu. Grey and I will take care of him," Erza icily hissed, glaring at the right hall. "And you go and save Lucy. Don't worry, we shall let you finish him off once we all evacuate the hideout. We shall meet on the hill just outside Magnolia. Ok?" She turned back to me, her facial expression softening even though her voice was still as icy as before.

I nodded. "Don't you dare die on me, got that? That means you, too, Grey." I told them.

Grey looked taken-aback for a second. He quickly recovered though. "You too, Natsu." He said.

I smiled. For now, we had a truce. I could tell, because for once, we didn't call each other names. "Happy stays with you guys. Believe it or not, he can be one tough and able comrade in-arms. Besides, I can handle myself. You too know that, you saw not too long ago." I grinned. They smiled and nodded. Happy looked at me solemnly and tapped on Grey's hand – which was covering his mouth – so that he could talk.

"Be careful, regardless. Ok, Natsu?" Happy looked like he was trying to not cry.

"I will. You will look after Erza, Grey and yourself, right?" I smiled gently at Happy. Happy flew out of Grey's grasp and crashed into my chest, hugging me as he cried.

"Aye, sir!" he cried out, nuzzling his face in mine. I rolled my eyes, but petted Happy's head anyway.

"Hey, it'll be fine Happy. Now, go, and bring that bastard to me alive so that I can show him how much pain he has made all of us at Fairy Tail feel, by taking our Lucy!" I grinned at Happy. Happy nodded, wiping his tears, and flew off. Erza and Grey were in tow. I watched as they ran, and nodded once, before heading off to get my Lucy.

I went through a plethora of guards and hallways, before I finally reached a door that Lucy's scent ended behind. I put my hand of the doorknob and gulped. I hoped that she would at least be happy to see someone come and save her, regardless of if it was me. Hell, I hoped that she would still be happy that it was me that came to rescue her. I opened the door slowly, and entered the room. I the only thing I saw was an empty bed. Damn it! I was about to turn and leave, when I was suddenly pinned to the ground. I was facing the ceiling, but I closed my eyes because my back hurt. Damn, whoever pinned me seriously knew how to hurt a guy – and that was just pinning me down so that I didn't move!

"Don't you move. I swear, I will kill yo – Natsu?" The voice was shaky, and shocked when it said my name. I opened my eyes and saw a shocked and pale Lucy on top of me. Normally, I would've made a smart-ass remark, but I didn't – I couldn't under these circumstances.

"Lucy.. are you alright? Did that bastard do anything to you? If he has, then I swear to – Lucy?" At first I was concerned, then pissed, and now I was down-right dumbfounded. My Lucy was crying – although that was no shocker – and hugging me close to her, therefore releasing me from being pinned – but that was a shocker.

I sat us upright, her grip on me not lessening one bit, and rocked her back and forth in a soothing motion – I also rubbed small circles on her back with my hands. I was still shocked enough that even though I was calming down my Lucy, my eyes were still wide and my mouth hanging open slightly. I got a grip on myself and looked at her sadly, as I realised that she may not just be crying over her being kidnapped.

"Lucy.." I breathed her name. I felt her stiffen. I sighed, maybe she realised what she was doing – clinging to me while crying.

"Natsu.." she said my name, hesitantly, and I fought back a shiver of pleasure. I loved it when she said my name, no matter what state she was in. "why are you here?" she continued to ask me. My stomach twisted. Did she still hate me? Of course she did, you nutter. But.. Did she not want me to save her? My heart clenched tight, at the thought of the latter possibility.

"I am here.. because I have come to rescue you.." I told her, my bangs covering my eyes. I couldn't look at her in the eye, not if she didn't want me here. I would not blame her, but it would still hurt to look at her if she said it. "I.. Lucy, when I found out that you were gone.." My voice broke on the last word.

"I.. God, Lucy, I lost it. Big time. I blamed myself for not being there for you. I blamed myself for not being your Nakama anymore.. I blamed myself for all of it. Ask, Erza or Grey. Hell, even ask Gramps! Anyone in the guild, actually. I broke down right in the middle of Fairy Tail, and when I say broke down – I mean, I was crying. I was beating the hell out of the floorboards and howling flames. I was down on my hands and knees, wondering why it had to be you that had to be kidnapped. I felt like someone had just taken away all of my strength – I couldn't even move my head around. I was so mad at myself, and the guys that took you. I couldn't think straight for a while. I saw even Gajeel about to cry. Gajeel, Lucy. The metal-head was about to cry. Hell, when I somehow found what strength I had left, I saw Erza and Grey – both crying and looking at me in fear. I was in pain, Luce, I thought that I had lost you." I clutched Lucy to me, I was starting to cry from remembering my pain.

"I was so scared. I thought that if I had never stopped being your Nakama, then none of this would've happened.. I still think that.. I still think that I am to blame for not protecting you, when I should have. It's all my fault. Believe me when I say that I never wanted to stop being friends with you, Lucy. I was fighting with myself everyday – forcing myself to stay away. And what good did that do? None. I would take on as many missions that Gramps would allow me, and I would cry on the way home from every one of them because being at Fairy Tail would mean seeing you.. My 'lost Nakama'.

"Truth be told, I only stopped being your Nakama because I was scared. I was scared because.. because I was starting to fall for my Nakama and I didn't figure out why I was noticing you in different ways until today.. until I went to your house after becoming determined to bring you back home. I originally was going there just to sniff out the bastard who took you's scent, but I ended up getting caught up in yours first. I couldn't help myself, I laid on your bed and breathed in your scent. I reminisced on our fun memories together when one memory stuck out most, and that memory made me realise why I had been scared. Why I was in so much pain when you.. when you were taken from Fairy Tail.. from me.. I realised that.." I looked up at Lucy, tears running down my face like a broken faucet. She looked like she was both shocked and about to cry.

"I realised that I am in love with you, Lucy. As soon as I figured that out myself, I felt like my world suddenly got a bit brighter. It's like I finally figured out what had laid in my heart, waiting to be found. I found it and, honestly, I don't want to lose it. I don't want to lose you. Not again." I cried into Lucy's hair. "Please.. don't make me lose you again. I can't take it if I do.. not after almost thinking that you were probably far, far away in some filthy dungeon and being treated badly. Just the thought of that makes me.. it makes me sick to my stomach. It makes me afraid. It makes me think that, if that had been the case now, then I wouldn't be here right now, holding you and telling you everything. I would be a mess – crying, not sleeping, not eating.. I would be both physically and mentally drained. The only reason why I am here now, why I hadn't thought about you being so far away, is because I saw a ransom note – you being the hostage. It told us to be at Hargeon Harbour in a week.. that meant that you couldn't have been that far away. Do you realise how much money that bastard demanded for you? 200,000,000 jewel. So naturally, team Natsu came to kick that bastard's ass! Erza, Grey and Happy are probably facing off with him right now. They promised me that I would be able to finish him off, so they will meet us on Magnolia's border with bastard, alive." I muttered, my voice going back to the calm, yet lethally dangerous, edge.

I had a few thoughts about what ways to finish him off, but then I shook myself out of it. Lucy came first right now. He came later.

"Anyway, come on. We need to get outta here, Lucy." I stood us both up. Lucy looked like she wanted to say something, but I stopped her. "Not now, wait until after we are out of here. Then tell me what you want to tell me." I told her. She just nodded her head.

I grabbed Lucy's hand, my face heating up at that, and took off to follow my own scent – knowing that it would lead us to the outside.

I was stopped a few feet away from the exit, however, because I suddenly found that – said exit – was blocked from the exit by guards. This would be slightly difficult, but I would manage. There was 13 of them. I should be done with them shortly.

I shifted so that Lucy was behind me, blocking her from them.

"Stay here, Luce, I will be done with them shortly." I said, looking over my shoulder and smiling at her. Lucy looked shocked, before her eyes glazed over briefly – as if remembering something – and then shook herself out of her daze and nodded, showing me a small smile.

"Alright.." I said. I knew what I was going to say next, I was going to say something that I hadn't said for a long time.

"Now, I'm all revved up!" And with that, I lunged towards the guards.