Through the Darkness 3

Found

Dead leaves crunch under his bare feet as he walks forward through the deserted village. A frown comes on to his face. This place was one thriving with life the last time he came across it. Not it was a barren wasteland. No life whatsoever. A sigh escapes his lips as he looks up toward the sky. This was the result of manslaughter and he knew it. It was painful to know what they were doing and not being able to stop it. He was just one person after all. If he were to be considered a person.

He advances forward through the village, checking for any source of love it there were one. So far, nothing, so he continued on. As he walked his nice picked up the scent of the dead and blood. It was a familiar scent he encountered from many years ago and soon he was introduced to the battlefield that took place. Many people lie motionless on the dead grass, the sight bringing up memories. He looks at all the villagers and wizards of the council. Nothing.

Then he caught a whiff of something in the air. Salt and another scent not too far away from him. He follows the smell and soon began to hear soft sniffles and choked sobs, confirming his suspicions that it was indeed ahead a person. He makes it past the dead trees and what was left of them and stops at the figure he sees curled up and sobbing. The poor was crying his heart out while clutching his head between his knees. There was no doubt that he was probably traumatized at the events before. Whetter he was a wizard or not, but the other could tell he was because of the dark clothes the others were wearing. He sniffs again, he was pretty sure he smelled this scent before, he'd seen so many people in the world that he might've forgotten some. If he remembered one them this person must've been a person he was close with in the past.

He makes his presence known by stepping from behind the tree he was at. The person stiffens before his head shot up, red eyes glowing. Tears continued to run down his cheeks as he stares at the person in front of him. The person was wearing a brown cloak, the hood covering the head and most of his face. He could tell that this was no ordinary person. This person was a wizard, he could feel it. Was he going to try and kill him, maybe the council sent him to bring back Zeref since he was the only left in this god forsaken place.

However the person stopped a few feet ahead of him. Zeref slowly put his hands up in defense. He didn't want to hurt him, he killed so many people in one day. It was starting to slowly sink in as well, making him feel so guilty at taking lives of the innocent.

The person bends down to his level and stares at his face. Zeref could see their eyes now. They were so bright, maybe it was the shadow of the hood that gave them that affect. The pupiless eyes seemed to look him over and the raven haired boy crawled backward, pressing his back against the tree to get away from the person. The man shifts before golden eyes went wide.

Lips part to whisper his name, "Ze..ref…?"

He flinches as his name leaves the other and the cloaked man stood up and advanced toward him. Zeref became more alert and pressed himself more into the tree.

"Zeref?" He asks again and this time the raven did let out a response as the other bent down in front of him. He lets out a whimper as the person's hand extended toward him. He shakes as the hand takes his shaking one in his own.

"Zeref… It is Menho. Remember?"

Zeref continues to stare in fear as the other touched him, causing the other to make a small, sad smile. Even though he was sure he'd seen those eyes from somewhere it didn't matter. He needed to get as far away from anything living. He couldn't control his power, so even if this person was who he was it wouldn't matter because Zeref could end him in a matter of seconds. The other says nothing and slowly grabs his other hand into his own. By now Zeref was shaking madly, breath hitched in his throat and the pounding in his head started. He tries to move away from the other himself but the blonde keeps a firm grip on his wrists.

Golden eyes sadden as he looks at the boy he met so long ago. It has been awhile really, but he didn't understand how or why he was here. Did they really take and on him and forced him into this bloody battle? This once innocent child now has blood on his hands because of them. He didn't like that at all. The result was now in front of him. Shaking and crying. His ears picks up the faint noise of voices and he can sense a group of magical energies not too far away. He looks back at the raven haired boy, he didn't deserve to go back there no one does. Especially someone as fragile as him. So he let's go of one of the others wrist and pressed his palm on the others forehead. He mutters foreign words and the other jolts before falling limp in his arms. He looks down at the other before picking him up. His arms under the others knees and back. The voices from before were becoming more loud and clear in the distance and he was beginning to smell multiple scents. He disappears through the forest, carrying the boy with him.

Black eyes opened and narrowed at the harsh sunlight peaking through the leaves. Zeref looks around, not yet having the strength to actually get up. He keeps to laying on his side. He sees his in a forest, not the barren one from before. This one was green, it had a vast about of trees and grass as well. He blinks slowly to refocus his vision. He sees something red at the corner of his eye. He turns his head slowly to see a small stack of fruit. Apples to be exact. He blinks, it's been a long time since he's last seen food, he saw no need for it. Yet here they were as if someone left them there. He finally sits up, feeling stiff everywhere. A shift of movement happens to his left and his head snaps in that direction. A figure walks through the trees and stops beside him. A smile comes across his face as he looked Zeref over. "Yay! You're awake!" Menho exclaims happily. Zeref flinched at the tone, seeing this the other bent down in front of him. Zeref stares at the other and Menho stares back before shifting side to side, as if not knowing what to say.

"Do you remember Menho?" He asks, tilting his head to the side. Zeref continues to look at the other. The name was familiar to him, he hasn't heard it in a long time of course. The more he thought about it the more he was able to regain some images. He does remember a little. One was of him, Natsu and Menho in a lake. It was a foggy memory, but he remembers, so he nods his head slowly. Menho's face breaks into a large grin and he claps his hands together in excitement. He beams at Zeref and the other realizes he looks exactly the same as he remembers. Messy blonde hair tied with a bandana and the same golden eyes with the shark like grin. Menho then grabs one of the stacked apples and holds it out toward the other. Zeref leans back a bit, staring at the fruit. He hasn't eaten anything in god knows how long, so he looked at the apples as if it were a foreign object. Menho's grin softens into a smile. "You should eat. Zeref is pale and skinny." To prove his point the blonde pokes his forearm and Zeref flinches a bit. Menho either ignored it or didn't notice it as he holds the apple out to the raven once again. Zeref takes the apple and nibbles on it. Menho let's out a hum in content and stands up stretching.

This happened yesterday and now the two were wondering the forest. Menho would be a few steps in front of Zeref, leading the way. The raven didn't know where they were going in particular, he just kept to himself most of the way. The blonde comes to a stop before sniffing the air. Before Zeref could question him Menho took off his cloak and wrapped it around the others shoulders. "There are people coming. They will recognized the clothes Zeref wears." He says in a hushed tone. Zeref looks down at his dark clothing, remembering it was the clothing only the wizards were wearing. He doesn't say anything just nods. They continue walking and a few moments later Zeref can see a group of people passing by. Menho sniffs once again before scrunching his nose up. Whatever the group was carrying with them smelled. Zeref could smell it as well as the group came closer and to a stop when they saw them. Menho stays in front of the other and greets the people.

"You two aren't wizards are you?" The man in the front asks. Zeref recognized the voice, it was the voice of the old, or maybe someone similar to him. Menho shakes his head no. "We are just passing by." He says. The man manages to peek over the blonde's shoulder to stare at Zeref. Instantly Zeref's gaze met the ground. "Okay then…"

Menho smiles and bows before tugging on the sleeve of the cloak on the other. He leads him away before stopping a good distance. He then sniffs again before turning his head east. "There is a village over there. If they are nice they can probably give us food and clothes." He informs and Zeref paled at the idea. Being in a village with many people was way out of his comfort zone, him being in isolation for as long as he remembers. Not to mention the fact that he couldn't control the type of magic ingrained into him.

He was brought out of his thoughts when a set out hands covered his eyes and he was greeted with darkness. He freezes completely at the contact. A frown comes across the blonde's face as he keeps his hands over the others eyes. "Please stop thinking about it." He says quietly and moves his hands. Zeref stares at the boy only to see the frown was now replaced with a small smile.

Warmth
"Zeref is not going to eat?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. He looks at the raven sitting on the other side of the fire. They didn't stay in the village. Instead Menho went to get food and some clothes for Zeref. Here they were now, it was nighttime and Menho nibbles on the piece of meat he just cooked not too long ago. Zeref shakes his head. He doesn't get hungry, he doesn't need to eat. However, it seems that the blonde wasn't having it. Menho grabs a stick with some meat on it and plants himself right next to the other with a determined stare. "Zeref must eat so he won't shrivel up and be blown away!" He exclaimed and held the meat to the others mouth. Seeing avoiding it wouldn't work, the raven takes a bite.

He honestly hasn't eaten food in a long time, so he didn't know what to expect. One thing he did get from it was that it was warm. Menho watches as the other takes the stick and begins to nibble on what was left. He smiles and chuckles at the other.

Yes, it was definitely warm.

Dark

Menho knew that Zeref was unstable, He knew that the council took him and his little brother away a long time ago, to the point where he forgot when. He knew the raven was probably traumatized as well, that's why he never brought up the subject. He didn't ask why the other was there crying the other day, he didn't ask why the other wanted to avoid people- anything living- as much as possible. He also didn't ask why the other was so silent, because he knew the kind of pain the other went through with being tortured and having so many things forced into your head, only to go and take it out on innocent people. So he doesn't question Zeref's actions at all.

He walks through the dark forest that was lighted by the moon. Zeref fell asleep an hour or two ago so the blonde decided to be up and about, not wandering too far from their campsite. He stops when he feels a shift in the air and a strong scent, it was Zeref's. He heads back to see the other in a crouching position, head between his knees and crying. Menho could feel the flood of dark energy radiating off of the other. It was tremendous, but that didn't matter now. Thinking that it would be better to actually distance themselves from the nearby village, Menho picks the other up in his arms and takes off into the forest.

Zeref began to mumble in his arms and tries to push the other away. He didn't want the only person he had left die. He didn't want anyone to die!

But it was too late.

When the death wave pulsed out of him Menho dropped like a rock, making Zeref fall as well. Zeref scrambles up to check on the other, already knowing the fate of him. A painful silence rang through the night air and Zeref began to shake uncontrollably now. Tears blurred his vision and his hands went to his head again. A cry leaves him as he sobs over the other.

"...Oi…." A quiet voice says and Zeref felt a hand tap his wet cheek. A choked sob escaped him as he looks at the blonde. Menho has a small smile on his face and he forces out a laugh. "M-Menho…?" Menho laughs dryly again, sitting up slowly and turning to look at the other. "It.. takes Menho to almost die for Zeref to speak?" He asks, slightly swaying from side to side. Zeref stares wide eyed at him, how did he survive that? He has killed so many people with that one attack, yet here Menho was, laughing at him and patting his head. "Zeref should speak more often." He comments, completely unfazed by the situation. The raven continues to stare at him in shock, tears still rolling down his cheeks. "How…?" Menho looks off to the side, smile not faltering at all. "It takes more than that to take down Menho, Zeref." He whispers before shakingly standing up. He holds his hand out to the other. When Zeref didn't respond he lets out a sigh and bends back down.

A thought came to Zeref, of Menho can withstand his magic like that, then that meant..

Arms wrapped around Zeref's shoulders as the blonde hugs him and rests his head on his shoulder. Zeref somewhat relaxes in the hold of the other. Menho then mumbles something and Zeref falls asleep.

Hello Minna! Thank you for the reviews.

So my friend asked me what type of wizard Menho is, so Imma let you guys answer that in the comments if you want to. Whoever answers right gets a virtual cookie. So yea, I drop a few hints here and there,

This is also my first Zeref fanfic. Am I getting his personality right? I feel he's a bit out of character at times.. Yea.. :( Please R&R!