Story name; The Fairy's Jinchuriki.
Summary: "The boy who eats fire." She murmured. Eventual Lucy/Erza paring. Lucy is the nine tails Jinchuriki.
Disclaimer; I own nothing. This is a nonprofit work of FanFiction.
"Ice senbon!"
Gray Fullbuster hissed in pain as three needle like ice pikes cut into his left shoulder. It hurt like a sonofabitch but more importantly he noticed the sudden numbing feeling spreading. His left arm had suddenly gone limp from the elbow down.
Glancing down at the wound Gray was surprised to find very little blood. The wound hadn't been deep either, just a sharp stab then nothing. It was in such a spot, expertly placed in exactly the same distance apart. There was no hitting veins just the pinpoint muscle groups that controlled movement.
So the kid had that great of aim did he? It was unsettling to experience. The fear of helplessness that threatened to take hold. The thought this kid had so casually rendered his magic useless frightening to say the least.
It brought up a very interesting question. So up until now he had been simply holding back? Gray didn't think so. So far Haku's actions weren't that of someone in control. If this kid had been capable of so effortlessly defeating him then why wait so long? Why go through the trouble of fighting a drawn out battle where he was clearly at the disadvantage.
Plus, the kid had pulled out his trump card from the very start. The fact that this Ice prison was still active was very telling.
So no, Haku wasn't that skilled. For another reason entirely he had used this crippling move. Still working his arm little by little, Gray thought he might be starting to feel something when from all around a low voice addressed.
"It's over Ice Mage. You've lost."
Gray just resisted a snort, instead raising a curious brow. What the hell was he playing at?
"I have been analyzing your technique." Haku continued. "Your an Ice make Mage. Difficult to deal with and hard to fully comprehend. The skill you use your magic is commendable. But unfortunately I have figured out your weakness."
"Which is?" He challenged.
"Your arms." The kid declared, his voice seemingly coming from every direction within his Ice shield. Gray had to admit, it was a nice touch.
"Having fought against you for an extended period I realize the one fatal flow to your magic. While being able to utilize a wide variety of different techniques your still reliant on your hands to mold.
"Without you are weak. Your creations do not hold the same power or even stability to hold out very long with only a single hand. I'm afraid this is where we must end this."
Ahhh. So that was it then? By crippling one of his arms Haku hoped to stop him from being able to continue. He actually thought a member of Fairy Tail would give up? A very good plan, but it all seemed to boil down to the same question. "Why now?"
It was understandable, maybe even likely that Haku was waiting for his moment. Like the kid said, while he was focusing on Haku's abilities and weakness surely his enemy was doing the same. Then why did it all seem so rehearsed?
A part of himself didn't believe a word Haku was saying. Honestly, it didn't even seem like Haku wanted to use this paralyzing technique in the first place. Which brought up the obvious, why?
Haku was just standing there. Gray realized it with a sudden clarity. The entire time, through Gray's whole brain storm the kid hadn't once taken advantage.
He was bluffing.
Looking back and forth around the area, Gray scoffed. "So that's it then? Got to admit, you almost had me for a second." With a quick wave of his hand, the ice within his shoulder cracked then resided.
"You didn't want to use that did you? You knew the whole time, or at least thought it wouldn't have any effect. After all, ice can't harm an Ice mage can it?
"While it might hurt others, it can't stop me. Not when I know what to look for anyways."
"I was worried you'd notice. My strikes so far have failed to do anything to you. Normally a single blow is enough to freeze my opponents very nerves system, rendering them immobile. It matters not either way, you won't be able to counter all my strikes-"
"That's not it." Gray interrupted. "The truth is your the one who's finished isn't it? You thought I wouldn't notice but I did. The amount of time you can stay up in your little ice world is decreasing. Your slipping.
"It's why you went for this hail marry. I hadn't notice you use your other Ice abilities because I couldn't feel them but you've trying from the start right?
"It's okay." Gray started. "You don't have to answer. I know it's true enough. You don't even have to come down from your prison, it'll come crashing down soon enough."
Haku twisted his head in question. "What do you mean Ice mage? By your powers very nature you aren't capable of destroying all of my Ice at once. Even if you create enough Ice to strike them all you simply lack the power needed. Make magic isn't known for it's raw strength."
Gray smirked. The corner of his lips turning up in a rare show of amusement. It was a smug little gesture that screamed 'I know something that you don't'.
"Who said I was going to use my own magic?" Even behind that mask of his, Gray could practically feel the other Ice users eyes widen. "You see, I figured there was another reason why you didn't want to use your Ice on me
"It escaped me at first. I thought, even if your attacks were less effective it still made more sense to use it then nothing at all. Then it hit me, your ice is strange, bending to your will at an unheard of pace but it's still Ice.
"Ice that can be used, controlled, even copied by another Mage. I know there is plenty I'm still not familiar with but I think I've worked out enough."
"Y-your bluffing!" Haku started. The monotone voice from before slipping past the carefully controlled facade showing the child underneath. "Even if your telling the truth, how do you know I won't do the same? I could steal your Ice as well."
Gray shook his head. "Take it from someone with experience kid. When you bluff, you gotta sell it. With all your heart you have to give it your all. Otherwise? It just falls flat."
With that Gray stood in a pose. Arms lifting high above his head, both arms spread out wide.
"By my estimation you've used up an awful lot of energy too keep that Ice dome up. You don't have anything left over to counter or even remotely stop my own strikes. But I'll give you one last chance. Give up. Now."
"I cannot." Haku replied. "My life is meaningless. My only goal is to protect Zabuza-San."
"We'll see about that." A firm line filtered over Gray's lips. A scowl pulling back showing teeth. The words he'd just heard angering him beyond what Haku could know. He wasn't about to let this kid do what he was thinking. Even if he had to hurt him, Gray wouldn't let a child die for that monster.
"Ice make, hailstorm!"
Dipping further into his stance Gray allowed his eyes to slide shut. Feeling out with his senses, the dark haired teen felt his magic swirl around him noticeable chilling the air. He could feel ice beginning to form around him. Under his feet, rising up into the air and outward. He felt beyond. Beyond what was within his imitate grasp, reaching up and away.
Gripping with a subtle motion of his hand, he grabbed hold to the many floating Ice structures. Then with a twist of his wrist, a crack. Swiping out in a quick arch the Ice dome broke, shattering into hundreds of thousands tiny pieces of ice. Gray felt power the likes he'd never experienced before. It was like the ice was calling to him. Deep down inside a part of his very soul an actually hunger to devour his element.
Despite the impressive display, and the strange knew feeling, Gray knew it was little more than aa show. In truth, whole the scene appeared to be a giant hurricane of Icy death, it actually wouldn't do much. This attack lacked any magical power that his own creation would have.
He wouldn't be able to hold this very long either. Already Gray could feel his tentative control slipping. Haku's remaining magic lacing the ice fighting his own tooth and nail for dominance.
Gray wasn't concerned though. This had been his intention after all. The true objective was only to do away with Haku's defense. With a move of his hand, Gray did exactly that. Ice rained hell down across the station corridor.
Just as expected, a white blur raced across Gray's vision. Just out of reach of the sharp pikes of ice. The few managing to get close enough to do any harm were quickly deflected with a loud pang of ice on ice. Back and forth Haku jumped, leaping in and out of range.
Foresight apparently wasn't one of Haku's many talents, the kid barely paying any attention to anything other than the giant wave of ice casing after him. Either willfully ignoring or just forgetting, the assassin wasn't watching Gray himself.
With a simple Ice make sword, it was just a matter of intercepting the far faster Ice user.
Sword slashing out he struck Haku clear across the temple. Cracks resounded across the mask before shattering completely.
With perhaps more force than necessary, Haku's small form fell back from the blow. Gray felt his eyes widen in surprise, his mouth even gaping at what greeted him.
Spilling out of a loose hair tie flowed a curtain of blue hair. It was long and elegant in quality that actually reflected off the light gleaming. It made him wander how he'd missed it before.
"Your a girl?" He found himself asking.
Peering up at him with passive brown orbs was a young face. With delicate features, fair skin and now that Gray looked for it peeked out a decidedly feminine figure.
"What does it matter?" Haku asked. Her tone was pointedly devoid of emotion. "Just kill me."
Raising his blade Gray slashed down, the ice construct smacking the ground with a thud. Haku having clinched her eyes shut despite the tough talk peeked an eye open to look up confused.
"Sorry." He said kneeling down beside her. "I don't know what kind of game your playing at or why you feel the need to sacrifice yourself for this person of yours but I won't be apart of it."
"W-what? But I'm your enemy? I tried to kill you."
Gray scoffed at that. "You wouldn't be the first and I imagine you won't be the last either. I'm not above hitting a kid if it means to save lives but I refuse to kill you over something so stupid."
"Stupid?" She questioned sputtering. "You call my love stupid-"
"Shut up!" He screamed. "No one wants their loved ones to sacrifice themselves for them. You have no idea the pain it causes to have to live with guilt like that. Hate to break it to you but that isn't love."
With a sigh and a far off look in his dark eyes Gray continued. "You should want to live. Fight for your precious people and become strong. Strong enough that you can save them the pain of ever losing you. Your way is selfish."
The Ice make mage could see that his words partially hit home. There was a glint of something wet in the kids eye but she did a good job hiding it behind facade. She looked far off as well. It was a look he knew all too well. Lose. She was struggling with something. There was pain and helplessness playing behind her eyes. It was so familiar Gray nearly thought he was looking at a younger version of himself.
"What will you do now Fairy Tail Mage?" Haku finally spoke up. It caused Gray to sigh. He hadn't really thought his words would do much. "You say you will not slay me but that does not change the fact we are enemies."
"Your right. We are enemies, which is why I have to do this."
There was a hint of fear and resignation in her young face. It brought up a sick bile in Gray heart. He didn't know what this girl had gone through but she was truly ready to die for a monster like Zabuza the bloody mist. There really wasn't a choice now.
Smacking the handle into the girls face Haku fell with a thud.
Rubbing at his hair Gray let out a small groan. He had over done it with that last bit. Enemy or not the Ice user was still a kid. "It couldn't be helped." He said resigning to his duty. "Cant have someone like you running around."
That Ice ability had been brutal. If not for his Ice make, and the subsequent resistance it gave, he would have been in real trouble.
"Good thing Erza thought to bring extra of those."
Shuffling through his discarded clothes Gray found what he was looking for. Pulling out a cylinder shape object his fingers found a loose strain giving it a tug. A thin black wire extended.
"Well," He told the unconscious, now tied up, Haku. "Let's go find the others." Heaving the assassin over his shoulder Gray set off. Maybe he couldn't help this kid but that didn't mean he wouldn't try. After all, if the master could help him there was a chance he could help her as well.
The Fairy's Jinchuriki
The first thoughts that entered Lucy's blurry mind was comfort.
Head snuggling against a soft material the blonde took notice of the hard feel of muscle. She was in/on someones lap, she realized. This would have alerted her but strangely enough Lucy was content, safe even in the lap of this person. The feeling while odd only increased when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her shoulders Gauntlet arms.
"Erza?"
Blinking away the remnants of a deep sleep the image of the fiery red head slowly started to come into focus. Her scarlet hair was cascading on either side of the woman's angelic face. There was a smile gracing her features. It brought a smile to the blonde, her blue eyes peering up at the woman just a breath away.
They were close. So close Lucy could feel the heat of the older Mages breath licking across her cheek. It brought up the memory of earlier, wrapped protectively within Titina's arms. They had been close then as well, close to intimate the way Erza had held her...
Lucy's cheeks grew hot at the memory. A deep shade of scarlet, resembling Erza's hair; an apt comparison. Suddenly becoming anxious, the smile once radiating across Lucy's pale features shrunk, shifting to a frown. Unable to hold the other woman's gaze blue eyes turned away, finding the ground suddenly very interesting.
Without much of a thought an armored hand reached out stroking the side of her cheek blonde hair safely tucked behind an ear. The cold sensation sending a jolt through Lucy's spine.
"Is something the matter?" Erza questioned.
"Fine." Lucy squeaked, eyes turning back up. "Really."
Erza hum'd in response and with a flash her gauntlet was gone, her hand lingering lightly against Lucy's cheek. "Are you sure? You are rather warm."
Normally such contact, someone asking questions, it never ended well. But with the genuine care shining in Erza's deep brown orbs words failed the blonde. Dumbly she moved her head up and down against the palm.
"And the power you used to heal yourself, it didn't hurt you?"
Even then, with the mention of IT Lucy didn't flinch. Erza's posture didn't have the usual stance when speaking of the demon. There was no fear. No burning resentment. Just a tilt of her head.
They were so close, so achingly close that all it would take was to reach out and take those pursed lips...
With more force than perhaps necessary Lucy bolted upright. Being so close, the red head hovering just inches over top Lucy very nearly smacked foreheads with Titina.
Ignoring the fresh splash of red painfully attached to her cheeks the blonde tried to look anywhere but into the confused brown orbs peering into the side of her skull. In that moment Lucy noticed the lack of a few boys in the small train compartment.
"Erza," Lucy began with a glance around. "Where are-"
Lucy trailed off as she could practically feel the older mages scowl next to her at the mention of the rest of their team. Forgeting at least momentarily about their previous moment with Erza Lucy tilted her head back to look at her companion.
Just as expected, a grim line formed over the scarlet beauty as brown eyes sent a glare out into space.
"Are they alright?" Lucy ventured tentatively. Of course she believed Natsu and the others had survived the battle but it wasn't a stretch by any imagination to suggest that Erza might have done something with the trio. Erza tended to go to go to extremes when aggravated and that happened quite frequently with those three.
"You didn't maim them I hope?"
Lucy grimaced as the joke fell flat, coming out more a question then anything but her voice shook Erza out of her admittedly frightening thoughts she was traveling.
"They are fine." She stated stiffly. "Mostly." With a quirk of a blonde brow Erza continued. "I told them to behave. They were starting to disrupt your sleep."
Lucy grinned despite herself. So Erza kicked them out for HER sake? The thought was surprisingly appealing. That Titina Erza was worried about her, that she cared so much that she slept well that she had picked her comfort over her own teammates. It made her practically beaming in response.
"You didn't have to do that." She found herself say. The modest words contrasting with her teeth breaking through in a smile.
With a single look Lucy could tell Erza saw through her. The older mage frown slipping away into nothing replaced by a smile of her own. It was such a sweet thing, delicate even as it replaced Erza's intimating look transforming her in the radiant woman Lucy had just started to know.
"Hey," The woman spoke softly. The palm of her hand cupping lightly against Lucy's cheek once again, thumb brushing across. "I thought I already told you. You don't have to cry anymore."
Lucy blinked. A chuckle escaping at the realization that she WAS infact crying. She hadn't noticed. "Sorry. I'm just so happy"
Erza returning smile was breath taking. "That's alright then."
Erza didn't ask why Lucy was so happy and for that she was thankful. To be honest, she couldn't quite understand herself. It was such a simple action. All Erza really did was make sure that Lucy slept soundly but for some reason the foreign action seemed to sement something in her mind. Erza Scarlet cared about her.
Before, in the heat of the moment Lucy might have believed Erza's words of friendship but here, now... To have the woman show her in her own violent strange way that she actually cared for her made it real.
Somewhere on a far less important note the blonde realized Erza Scarlet was still holding onto her cheek. She had yet to let go, nor was she giving way indication that she was going to.
Well, it wasn't like Lucy was complaining. Normally one to avoid others, especially physical contact she found herself leaning into the comfortable touch. Her piercing blue irises locked on Erza's deep brown orbs. Lucy felt drawn, the look in Erza gaze alluring, the way she was holding . . . intimate.
After a tense moment brown eyes drifted off breaking the contact.
"We should go check on the others."
It was soft spoken. Barely heard despite the two being so close. It took several seconds for Lucy to even register that Erza had spoken and several more for what had just happened to sink in. What she had very nearly tried to do.
Was she about to kiss Erza Scarlet?
This thought sent a shock through her system like electricity. What. The. Hell.
She felt like running. It was her natural instinct. A basic one built by her younger self. Time and time again Lucy the Demon handled her problems always the same old ways. It was just . . . Now, looking at quite possibly the most gorgeous woman in Fiora Lucy didn't feel her base response applied.
Lucy couldn't run from this. Not now. Not after all she'd put into Fairy Tail. After pouring her very heart and soul in this lot Lucy knew she would stick with this wild, insane guild, for better or worse.
In the long moments Lucy was lost in thought, it occurred to the blonde that Erza hadn't pulled away yet. Her eyes were off, a tender expression showing across as her fingers loosely trailed across Lucy's cheek.
She was transfixed. Lucy couldn't deny it, she could only barely hide the fact that she was blatantly staring. What was this? The odd uncomfortable feeling fixing within her gut. It was hard to tell if it was good or not. Having very little to no interaction off and on again for as long as she could remember, Lucy hadn't exactly had enough experience to know what was real or not.
Did she have a crush on Erza? Surely not. They had only just met after all. That would be insane right? But... the evidence seemed to point to that direction. Was that normal? To develop an infatuation with another after such a short time?
Too many questions. Not enough answers. How could she began to answer such a thing? Until recently Lucy had basically been a nomad. She didn't understand these types of situations only having second hand knowledge. What did she even know of Erza?
She had always had a sort of admiration for the woman. Of course, this was Titana fucking Erza. Having read fairly extensively about her incredible career Lucy had been awestruck. It was just so hard to believe that THE Erza had befriended her so easily, so effortlessly, and without asking for anything in return. Why had this woman, someone who was beloved and fantasied by so many trying so hard to help her when logic screamed otherwise.
Lucy wasn't exactly the type that inspired friendships. She was crass, rude, and often times down right mean. Those few instances when a person didn't immediately recognize who or what she was were quickly off put by her difficult behavior.
It was difficult to be this brutally honest with herself. To really lay out all her faults and self doubts instead of simply running away. Do as she always did, hide behind a thick layer of sarcasm and mean remarks. Lucy had never thought she'd have friends. Not really. Sure, she'd dreamt of it. But that was just in a far off world. In reality Lucy was a killer. She wasn't ACTUALLY a demon as she claimed but she was close. Unstable enough of the time to be considered a very real threat to those around her. Even then, after tuning her control (mostly) Lucy had done so many terrible, terrible things. Horrible, haunous crimes without the Demons influence.
Natsu had been a fluke. Just an ignorant boy that didn't look too close at the underneath. It was almost frightening how quick he and Happy had taken to her. They never considered her a threat, not once asking about her dark past.
Fairy Tail had been the same. The beautiful group of misfits accepting her wholeheartedly. Lucy couldn't believe it. Might still be in denial if she was completely truthful. She had thought that her short experience with real ACTUAL friends would soon come to a crashing end.
'Still might.' She reminded herself with a harsh truth.
What would they do? If faced with the harsh reality of her world, what would Fairy Tail do? What would Erza think? Or Natsu? Even Cana and Happy? Could Lucy really look them in the eye and explain the horrific acts she'd committed?
More than likely not. She would do as she always did. Lie. It was almost second nature by now. Just a way to deal, the blondes deep dark pit of denial that she could actually have this life.
'Although,' She thought, her pale hand coming up to wrap around Erza's. She couldn't help but feel hope for the future. Maybe it was naive, stupid more like it but Lucy couldn't give up on the last human connection she had.
Gazing at the obviously deep in thought Erza, Lucy was a little unsure how to continue. There were so many things she wanted to say. Questions she wanted to ask. In the end she found she couldn't quite put it to words. This situation was beyond her. There was just to much. What this was, what it meant, or the big one, what did it mean to Erza?
Giving the hand beneath her own a gentle squeeze, Lucy brought Erza out of her thoughts.
"Come on," She urged softly. Pulling the older woman along toward the ground Lucy could tell there was something she desperately wanted to say but decided not to press. It wouldn't be fair to push Erza when Lucy herself was unsure of what was happening either.
They managed only a few steps, Erza trailing just behind with Lucy guiding before the red head stopped her.
"Oh, and Lucy."
Lost in deep thought Lucy barely registered Erza's voice calling her, the light tug on her palm pulling back just hard enough for her to face Erza but soft enough so it didn't jostle her still recovering body.
Before Lucy could blink she was enveloped by Erza's strong grasp, her arms wrapping around her form. Her voice was low, heavy against Lucy's ear. "Don't ever apologize for being happy. Do you understand?"
And Lucy nodded dumbly. It was starting to become a regular occurrence with this woman.
"Good." Erza said suddenly taking the lead and walking through the trains compartment, their hands never leaving one another.
A/n: So we finally reached over 50k words! I wonder if anyone can guess what I plan with Haku. It should be pretty obvious now. So yeah...review/follow/favorite. Do it! Do it now!