Story name; The Fairy's Jinchūriki
Summary; "The boy who eats fire." She murmured. Lucy/Erza pairing. Lucy is the nine tails Jinchuriki
Disclaimer; I own nothing. I write this purely for my own amusement.
A/N: 'THE CREATOR' normally I respond to reviews through messages but Your account is unreachable lol. I really appreciated your review. Never really thought of this story as underrated but I enjoy that people notice the effort I've put in. And I've got a few really good ideas for those arcs. Also, for the rest, please excuse some of my grammar mistakes, no beta :(. Don't get me wrong, I find it helpful when people point it out.
Lucy stared passively at the giant cyclone of water still trapping her team. The barrier was powerful. Hours after its creators death the damned thing still stood proudly holding it's captive even as it drew its last breaths.
A little over half an hour ago the cyclone started to wane. Either running out of a set amount of Magic or it's time being up it wouldn't be long before the tower came crushing down.
There had been a brief moment of uncertainty about what to do with the massive quantity of water. Given the sheer size of the water barrier the fall out would have ben devastating to the surrounding buildings possible even crushing the very train station it contained. It was a worrisome problem to say the least, with nearly all her reserves depleted and no real magical talent to speak of Lucy was powerless to do anything.
Thankfully that problem was taken out of her hands in the form of the ruin Knights. Arriving at the conclusion of her fight, presumable having been there the whole time, the magic councils guards had set up a containment field of their own promising to 'control the sititution'.
Having seen the poor show the councils dogs had shown before Lucy had her doubts of their ability but given the dozens upon dozens of robed warriors they appeared to at least have the confidence that they would protect the town.
Tucking the small death flute close to her chest blue eyes watched general LaHar with no small amount of distain. He was a rigid man. His very posture screamed arrogance and he had no qualms about voicing the distain he had for Fairy tail and the destruction they wrought.
From her perspective the semi-destruction of this destitute little town far out weighted the thousands of innocents that would have been lost should Zabuza succeed in his plans. It seemed pretty black and white to the blonde, what was done was out of necessity but LaHar was quite adamant how he felt the situation should have been handled. Spouting of nonsense how 'Fairy Tail would pay for this crime' or something along those lines. The general even had the nerve to demand her to hand over the death flute. Lucy had nearly lost it at that point.
She blamed the residual Demon energy still running through her veins. Halting his tirade with a single crimson look the man had relented. Lucy promptly told him 'SHE' would be the one who held on the the weapon given the man's troops recent failure it would be best if Fairy tail delivered it.
LaHar had given her quite a bit of space after that. Not that she could blame him, most had far worse reactions than that. Under the circumstances, in an exhausted state struggling to control the hurricane of emotions bubbling under the surface, all thoughts of the apenhensive council dog wasn't worth it.
Even now she could feel the snake of a man gaze burning at her back. She pointly ignored the man, as long as he stayed out of her way he was an after thought.
A slight fluttering caught her attention. Glancing up to see two broad wings standing out cericalyy on the little blue cat hurriedly coming her way.
It was at that moment Lucy realized how she must have looked. The once light coloring of her outfit was stained a dark red. Caked across her skin a layer of dried blood. Some of it not even her own, gave her a deathly appearance.
Promptly stopping the barrage of questions at the tip of Happy's lips a raised hand cutting him off.
"I'm uninjured." Even to her own ears her voice was monotone void of emotion.
"W-where's Zabuza?"
She was afraid to answer, it must have shown given the anxious expression crossing happy's face. Compelled to answer she simply muttered, "He's dead."
There was a slight gasp but happy didn't say anything. That perhaps only made it worse. Lucy hated seeing the look of shock but part of her was angry with her new friends immaturity.
Zabuza was a trained killer, one willing to sacrifice everything to achieve his goals, Lucy had to be willing to do the same to win even if that sacrifice was her own humanity.
It was an unwritten rule amongst Fairy Tail to never kill. Spread mercy and kindness even to your greatest foe, their masters words rang clear to her. Makorov was truly a great man, certainly better than her. Lucy couldn't afford that luxury.
"Go tell the others the situation is under control." She instructed as calmly as she could. There was a slight bite to her voice she couldn't filter out. Anger even just the tiniest bit was always magnified in her current demon state.
"What about you?" he asked almost afraid. It pained her to know she was the cause.
"I'm fine." She gritted out. She had to get him to leave. She didn't want the innocent little cat too see her like this. Even now the growing pit in her stomach was clinching painfully steadily increasing her agitation by the second. She wasn't even upset with Happy but herself.
"Natsu will be worried about you." She managed a bit lighter. "Need's to see his little buddy is alright hm?"
Seeing her struggle to stop the shivers running down her hands Happy had the wisdom to take his leave. Giving her a smile and a small wave the cat promised to return with the others.
Watching the blue blur fly away beanth the safety of her disheveled locks a pang of guilt ran through her. Wanting nothing other than to call out and apologize for her rude behavior she made the smart choice and stayed still. It was disconcerting to realize how upset she had become over something as mild annoyance. Such a trivial thing at that. Happy like most of Fairy Tail were kind hearted souls and like most were troubled by the deaths of others. The demon however. . .
It was sobering to know just how much her actions effected others. The harsh reality of her fate had just woken her up. What did she think? That she would join Fairy Tail and just learn to control her literal hidden demon?
How childish.
Dangerous. She had actually believed that her problems would just vanish. What a stupid and pathic fool she had been. It was enough to make her question her decision making. Was she wrong to join Fairy tail, should she leave? No, her mind answered absolute and swift. She couldn't fool herself into believing she had the courage to leave this wonderful guild. She would just have to become strong enough were she would never need THAT power again.
For a long time she waited. Watching with ever increasing disinterest at the falling barrier Lucy waited for her team. Minutes stretched for what seemed like hours taking far longer than her short fuss usually allowed. With a raging temper akin to a bipolar Dragon Lucy was not one for waiting, but for this one time she held fast remaining where she was. It didn't take long for Lucy to hear footsteps. Turning she was met with an intense looking Erza.
"Erza. . ." Scouring across the scarlet haired woman Lucy felt her eyes widen seeing her disheveled form. "Your hurt."
Once again dawning her normal armor the elegan heart Kreuz armor was worn to a startling degree. The gauntlet on her right was shattered, warped in places revealing deep gouges on her arm. The shoulder plating was in a similar condition and pointed to trying to ram into the water cyclone. Her chest plate was scratched over completely dulling the once regal shine of her armor.
Lucy was baffled. Never considering the possibility the others would try to escape she couldn't look away. Zabuza had been quite clear to Erza when he explained it was impossible to pass through. Why the hell had she tried?
Rising to inspect her injured teammate two hands on either shoulder stopped her cold.
Breath taking brown eyes were frantically searching across her body for any sign of the injury that should have been apparent. For several tense moments a painful silence enveloped them as Erza's quizzical gaze pinned her. Finally coming to a conclusion Titinia shifted her eyes over while still maintaining her grip, she noticed the sheet clad assassin.
"You killed him?" It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
Erza's head snapped back so fast it gave Lucy whiplash. "The blood?" She questioned.
She really shouldn't have been so surprised. Having already mentioned her healing capabilities it was only a logical leap. Zabuza had died of a neck wound after all. While not being internally obvious, the dark sheet covering the dead man's body, it didn't take a genius too see the more or less still dry sheet, Lucy on the other hand was covered.
"Most of it is mine." She confessed.
"I see."
Raking her brain for something to say. Anything to relinquish the awful feeling settling in her gut. She didn't regret what she had done though. Not even for a second. It was kill or be killed in a fight for innocent lives but the thought of disappointing someone like Erza was just to much to bare.
Suddenly Lucy was pulled from her thoughts quite literally as the Queen of the Fairies yanked her upright dragging her along. "Come." She instructed. As if she really had a choice. Being pulled behind like a child Lucy nearly fell taking several staggering steps to right herself.
It was startling to think this woman could still be this strong after all she had put herself through. Even with her own massive reserves the Jinchuriki would be on the brink.
Stopping abruptly in front of a knight Erza extended a hand palm out gaining the mans attention.
"Your canteen."
The mans eyes widened as he realized who he was dealing with. Growling slightly the knight quickly snatched the water container before all but thrusting it into the waiting hands of the notorious Fairy Tail Mage. You see, Erza had a nasty habit of head butting anyone that didn't immediately comply to her demands. Lucy had seen for herself the vicious cycle first hand.
The frightened man clearly had heard of Erza's famous temper. Promptly turning a one eighty the red head thanked the man with a smile. The poor knight didn't know what had just happened.
With a flash of light the left gauntlet was gone as Titinia poured water into a cloth ripped from her under shirt. Lucy was going to protest but the gentle pressure gliding across her cheek caused her voice to fail.
Allowing the action they were silent for a while.
"Was this the first person you've killed?"
Her silence was answer enough.
To her surprise Erza said nothing. Continuing in silence the older girl diligently wiped the caked blood away from her face trying and failing to remove the clumps sticking her hair together.
"It's not what you think." Lucy started. "My life, things haven't always been. . . easy. It's not like, I'm a-"
"Hey." Erza said stopping her. "You don't have to cry."
"What?"
"There's no need to explain. Zabuza was going to kill hundreds maybe thousands and by the looks of it, tried to kill you.'
"But the master?"
"He doesn't approve of needless deaths." Erza agreed. "But he too has had to make difficulte choices when the safty of others are on the line. Do not misunderstand me. You saved alot of people today, mind included and for that I'm gratful."
She couldn't be hearing this right, was Erza actually thanking her?
"And far as your past goes." And just like that, she could see the change hardening over Erza's eyes. Gone was the frail injured woman from before replaced by the stern confident woman holding her close. "I do not know what has happened in your past to make you react like that but, your not alone. Before Fairy Tail well, I know what it's like to do things just to survive."
"Erza?"
"It's nothing." The older girl quickly waved off with a small sad smile. Lucy was hurt by the look. Had she caused it? Doing the only thing she could think of, Lucy hurridly spoke up. Reaching out she grasped her shoulder pulling her back. "Thank you."
A curious look crossed Erza's face but she didn't seem bothered by the contact. "hm?"
"Thank you." Lucy said again this time firmer. "I know what it is that your trying to do and I appreciate it."
"Don't mention it. I don't know you all that well but I'd really like it if we were friends."
The happy smile on the girls face was almost painful. In the last few years she'd never given the thought of friends much merit. Despite all of her fears of once again falling into her past Lucy had still found herself with a team. Natsu and Happy had somehow looked past all her dark tendencies and offered her the one thing she truly needed.
Amazingly the three of them had managed to bond over such a short period of working together. She might even consider them family, but what she was offering her right now was different. It was different in the aspect she was no longer in desperate need of any sort of human connection. It was different because she knew the risks involved.
What Erza wanted was real friendship and that scared her. It was funny to think a demon was of afraid of something as simple as this but when you've lost so much, so many, it was no surprise she was hesitant. This wasn't something she could just jump into. There was a certain matter of trust that came with friendship that she wasn't sure she could live up too.
Meeting Erza's bold with her own hesitant smile she noticed a faint hint of vuleranabity. Erza had opened up to her about her past, something extremely personal and had even offered her friendship despite knowing some of her own nasty history.
"If you knew who I really was you might regret it Lucy." She warned.
It pained her to be this open but she deserved to know what she was getting herself into. She hated how quiet she had sounded. After promising herself to never be weak or show this side again it was all to painful.
Erza, this kind, sweet hearted albeit violent girl who just offered friendships out to strangers couldn't possibly want anything to do with her.
Peering down at her quizzically Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat. It was so easy to tell when she felt the walls come down around her emotions. Masking her face into an unreadable blank canvas she spoke.
"You say my actions are justified but you don't know the things I've done. The people I've lost, the people I've hurt… "she took a steading breathe. "I'm not a good person Erza. I-"
A thumb crossing her check brought her back from the traitorous thoughts. Seeing the glint of light reflect off Erza's hand made her realize a few stray tears had fell despite her emotional barriers. Surprise nearly floored her at the prospect. Never had she lost control when she put up those walls. It was one of the few things she was actually happy about her self imposed isolation, when she told her heart to turn to stone the organ always listened.
"Come on now. Didn't I tell you, you don't have to cry?" Erza consoled showing a tenderness that surprised her. "I already told you I wanted to be your friend,nothing is going to change that. I don't know what you've done in the past to make you think you don't deserve friends but nothing is going to change my option of you. I judge others by their actions in the here and now not the mistakes they've made. So… my offer still stands. Friends?"
"I'd love to be your friend."
A/N: so this is my favorite chapter to date :)