Hello, people. Nightlingbolt here. Welcome back to more "Knight Seeks Dragon."
I'll be honest, I have a hearing at the employment agency I've been going to for the last six years to determine whether I can keep going there, and that's taking up most of my mind today. Not that I'd be thrilled if they took me back, but... they're really my only option in terms of finding a job, so I kind of have to try.
Still, I figured I'd at least try to get this chapter out today so I could at least let you guys know what the deal is. Chances are, I'm going to be depressed for the next day or two, since God only knows what kind of BS they have on me, and considering the fact that my mother is going to be my advocate for the hearing, I know I'm going to get an earful once this is all over. Doesn't make it any easier. Whatever.
I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, Hiro Mashima does.
The next morning at the guild, Erza kept a watchful eye for Natsu. She had already determined that she would spend as much of the day as she could with him in the hopes of finding out some clue of how he felt about her.
Cana took a seat next to Erza. She signaled Mirajane for a drink, causing both S-Class mages to shake their heads. "Don't you think it's a little early for a drink?" asked Erza.
"You kidding me? It's already 9:30 AM," Cana pointed out. "I'm losing daylight here!" No sooner had she said that than Mirajane came over with a mug of beer, which Cana downed without a second thought.
"Say, Mirajane," said Erza. "Where is Lisanna this morning? I mean, isn't she usually here at the same time you are?"
Mirajane puckered her lips, as if she had tasted something sour. "Lisanna said she had a date last night and probably wouldn't be home this morning," she said.
"I imagine Elfman was livid," chuckled Erza.
"Couldn't calm him down if I tried," said Mirajane. "Even Sitri couldn't get him to behave."
Erza gaped at her rival. "He defied Sitri?" she asked.
"Straight-up defiance," confirmed the Demon. "I told him it was probably just Natsu, but he wouldn't listen!"
Erza made a sort of gargling sound, which Mirajane unfortunately noticed. "Erza! Are you okay?" she asked with obvious concern.
Erza could feel the blush on her cheeks. Damn it, now Mirajane was bound to put the pieces together! "Oh! Yes, I'm fine!" she declared. "I... must have swallowed a bug or something."
"Don't you just hate that?" said Cana, supporting Erza's story.
"Hmmm... Well, if it's not serious..." said Mirajane unassuredly.
Suddenly, Cana spotted something out of the corner of her eye. "Mira, I just remembered that Laxus wanted to talk to you about something!" she said.
Mirajane raised her brow. "Laxus wanted to talk to me?" she asked "What about?"
"I dunno, top-secret S-Class mage stuff that he couldn't tell me about!" said Cana, looking at the guild entrance nervously. "Just go!" she hissed.
"Waaah! O-okay!" said Mirajane nervously. She then went off to find the lightning mage.
Erza, for her part, looked confused. "What was that about?" she asked. In response, Cana pointed at the guild entrance. Erza looked over, and she saw, of all things, Bixlow wrapping his arm around Lisanna, his babies fluttering around them.
Erza blinked. "It's Bixlow and Lisanna," she said. "So?"
"So, I'm the one who hooked 'em up," said Cana proudly.
If it were possible, Erza's jaw would have hit the floor. "You mean... they're together?" she asked in obvious disbelief.
"Not so loud!" demanded Cana harshly. "Why do you think I distracted Mira?"
"But... I... Why? How? When?" Erza found herself grasping for words.
"Why? Well, it started as a sort of pet project to divert Lisanna's attention away from Natsu so Lucy could have a clean shot – until you told me, that is," said Cana. "How? Well, Mira keeps sneaking peeks at Fried, and Elfman and Evergreen have been spending more time with each other, so I just took the next logical step and settled on Bixlow. As for the when, they've been dating in secret for at least a month now."
"...Cana..."
"Erza?"
"...You are magnificent," said Erza in awe.
"I know, right?" replied Cana with a smirk, though it was obvious she was surprised to hear Erza say so.
"Erza!" both girls heard someone call. They looked and saw that it was Natsu, frantically looking around for the Titania.
"Now's your chance, Erza!" whispered Cana.
"I don't know, Cana," said Erza unsurely. "He probably just wants to fight me." She sighed. "I suppose that's all I really am to him... a rival to surpass, and nothing more."
"Erza!"
Erza yelped as Natsu suddenly snuck up behind her. "Natsu! Don't DO that!" she yelled.
"Sorry!" exclaimed Natsu, flinching at Erza's oncoming wrath. Fortunately for him, all she did was sigh. "What do you want, Natsu?" she asked.
"I need you to spy on Lucy with me," said Natsu.
Erza quirked a brow. "Spy on Lucy? You don't mean to peep on her, do you Natsu?" asked Erza dangerously.
Natsu flinched again. "N-no, ma'am," he said.
Erza reprimanded herself. "Idiot! This is why Natsu hasn't made any sort of move on you yet! You scare him, and we don't want that!"
"Then why are we spying on Lucy?" asked Erza.
"Because she's been avoiding missions lately," said Natsu. "I pointed out her rent, but she told me she wasn't worried about it this month. Suspicious?" Natsu punched his palm. "I think so."
"Calm down, Natsu," said Erza. "I'm certain Lucy has a good reason for avoiding missions with you."
"She better!" said Natsu. "I wanna get back to bashing bandits already!"
Erza smiled. There was the passion she loved about Natsu. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to take a mission ourselves, won't we?" she said.
"Erza, you know just how to fire me up!" said Natsu. "Screw Lucy! If she doesn't wanna go on missions with me anymore, she's missing out on great fights!"
"Well, if you wouldn't destroy everything in sight, maybe Lucy would be more willing to work with you," said Cana. "How many times have you guys cost her her rent money?"
"We do have somewhat of a problem with self-control," Erza admitted. "Even so, I wouldn't change us for the world."
"You know what, Erza? I wouldn't either!" said Natsu with a smile that reminded Erza of the sun.
Cana looked around. "Hey, where's Happy?" she asked.
Natsu blinked. "I dunno," he replied. "He was with me when we left for the guild." His expression turned to one of panic. "Erza, we gotta find Happy!" he shouted.
Erza hit Natsu on the head. "Relax," she ordered. "Happy's very resourceful, and anyway, Magnolia is a safe enough neighborhood."
That seemed to brighten Natsu's spirits. "You're right, Erza!" he said. "Happy's a Fairy Tail mage! He can handle himself if he needs to!"
"Oh yes, because a flying cat is so fearsome," drawled Cana.
"That's not helping," growled Natsu.
"Natsu! Erza!" a high-pitched voice squealed. The trio looked up to see Happy flying in, an excited expression on his face.
"Happy!" exclaimed Natsu. "What's up, buddy?"
"More importantly, why did you abandon Natsu?" asked Erza.
"Isn't that more or less what Natsu asked?" Cana pointed out.
"I'm sorry, Natsu!" said Happy. "We passed the fish stand and I went to look and I saw this really big fish and I wanted to buy it, but you were already gone, so I went to Lucy's house to ask her for money, and... and..."
"And what?" prompted Natsu.
"I saw Gray leaving!" said Happy. "I asked him what he was doing at Lucy's, and he blushed and told me to get lost!"
Everyone was silent for a few moments. Finally, Natsu spoke. "I'm still not getting it, buddy," he said.
"They liiike each other, Natsu," said Happy. "I think they diiid it."
For a moment, Erza felt her heart stop.
Oooh! Cliffhanger!
This was originally supposed to involve Natsu and Erza spying on Lucy, but well, the story pretty much evolved from that. Because of it, the next chapter might end up being the last, unless I can BS another chapter out of it. I'm too nervous to work on it now, so we'll see when we see. Until then, peace and love from Nightlingbolt.