A/N: So, first off, I didn't die or anything, I sent in my PC to get updated and my I left my laptop in Japan so it's getting mailed back to me. I apologize for dropping off the planet for 5 days but life happened and I haven't had an abundance of time to dedicate to writing fan fictions, so instead of releasing half-assed or rushed chapters I chose to forgo the schedule and finish off the last of my Uni work and other various things, like the o so glorious spring cleaning *Ugh*, anyway on with the sho-Literature!
Lisanna, Conrad and Dertega stood in the briefing room where they had received their last mission, Makarov looked them over before sighing and clicking the small button atop on the remote in his hand, the screen behind him flickered to life and Natsu stared at them, a towel wrapped around his shoulders and his hair matted against his head.
"Well as you can see, I'm not dead," The recording began simply, before he ran a hand through his hair "I probably should be, but I got a little help and made it out of that room.
The three stared at Makarov in question and he smirked "I received this minutes before you three made it back here, just listen."
Natsu paused for a moment as if in thought "Well, I didn't disappear without a few parting gifts," He smirked "Dertega, a few months ago you asked for a transfer to a non-combat unit I assume so that you could help raise your child, it took a lot of favors, but you have an analytical position for Charlie's operating team, should you choose to accept it."
Dertega practically jumped for joy, before calming himself down.
"Conrad, I read about your fathers last mission, h was reported MIA (Missing in Action) And you were denied permission to look into it, I managed to get you permission to do so, on your own time that is, it's not much but it as the best I could do."
Conrad just nodded.
"Lisanna, although you are a newbie I believe you are most suited to leading Delta, so congratulations on your promotion, kill my men and I will be sure to come back though," Natsu flashed a wide grin "I know I only have about twenty more seconds before Makarov traces this line back to me, so it was a pleasure working with all of you." He stood from his chair and saluted before the video winked out.
Lisanna stared at the screen and back to Makarov "Can he do that?"
"Technically no," Makarov admitted "But I don't see a reason to deny the Captains last wishes."
Conrad turned to Lisanna "Captain, I request a leave of absence to…Grieve." He smirked and she chuckled
"I think we could all use some RNR." Lisanna nodded.
Makarov chuckled 'Best of luck to you, Natsu."
Natsu walked down the street, he rubbed his hands together and sighed nervously, yes the Captain of Delta, the man who completed hundreds of missions, been shot, blown out windows and fought armies was nervous, why? Well he was seventeen, so legally he had to be admitted to high school, to which he was currently on his way too. He tugged at the tie around his neck and adjusted the white shirt slightly.
"Would you calm down," Theta practically scolded through an earpiece he had provided, carrying an A.I around was a surefire way to get him found out "It's school not a firing squad."
Natsu sighed "I know, I am more worried about the guys at base than this place, I mean not like I am afraid of a bunch of high schooler's."
"Well they have taken few weeks off to 'grieve' your loss they even held a fake funeral for you," Theta responded "So they seem fine."
Despite himself Natsu walked a little faster, a normal life would be nice, well he hoped it would be, hell anything will be better than getting shot at on a weekly basis.
The sound of a bottle being knocked over brought his attention to the alleyway beside him, he craned his neck around the corner and frowned before making his way down the gap, voices slowly came into his range of hearing as he neared the corner and he pressed his back against the wall and peered around the corner.
"Why don't you take responsibility?" A tall blonde man sneered at someone Natsu could not make out.
"For what?" The obvious feminine voice snapped in question.
"You're a little feisty for a terrorist!" The blonde snapped back "I heard the refinery explosion was the work of your kind."
Natsu growled as he rounded the corner "Hey, asshole!" He shouted.
The blonde stopped and turned around, he had a tattoo of a lightning bolt running over his left eye, three people stood around him, a green haired boy, another boy who wore a bandana over his hair and a brunette woman, who seemed oddly out of place and Natsu sighed.
"Why don't you just turn around and keep walking if you know what's good for your health that is." The guy in the bandana sneered.
"That attack was the work of the Black Hand," Natsu looked slightly bored as he stared at his hand "Fiery explosions are kind of their thing, how about you children get too class, wouldn't want to be late would we?" Natsu smiled at them, coupled with a glare.
"My information is never wrong." The blonde retorted in defense.
"Leave or I will break your teeth." Natsu growled flatly.
The blonde growled and charged him, Natsu turned and brought his palm down on the boys neck, forward momentum and the added force sent the boy head over heels and he slammed into the concrete with a loud slap before groaning.
Natsu rolled his eyes and leaned down close to the boys head "You know, an act of terrorism can be seen in many ways, tormenting a girl in high school could easily be considered one and I would have thought by now we would be past the one of them did it so all of them are guilty mindset, its retards like you that keep these stupid wars going, now leave before I actually hurt you." Natsu's kept his voice level and impassive, the boy groaned and got to his feet before his group ran over to him and he just rolled his eyes.
"Whatever."
Natsu pinched the bridge of his nose before walking over to the girl, he offered her his hand and pulled her back to her feet, the girl had blonde hair and brown eyes, quite a large bust size for someone in high school.
"Sorry about them." Natsu said simply.
She shook her head "It's not your fault they are retarded."
Natsu looked her over quickly, he noticed the glint of metal on her left arm and realized what they meant by her 'kind', the metal arm replaced her hand and forearm cutting off at her elbow, he could see from the outside that the mechanism in the fingers were broken, likely from one of the others stomping on it, she pulled her bag around her back and pulled a small set of screwdrivers out from her schoolbag, although one handed she couldn't do much to fix the damage.
"Here," Natsu took the small set form her and pulled the metal appendage into the light, he unscrewed the guard over the back of the hand and looked at the stringy bits of metal that made the fingers bend, one was bent out of place and was causing the others to jam, he brought the screw driver to the bent piece of metal and placing it down as a lock, he used a second driver to bend the metal back into a straight line, well at least straight enough that the hand moved as it was supposed to. "Where'd you get this, it looks almost military quality."
"When I was younger, that group of cybernetic evolutionists attacked the place where my family and I were living," The girl started to explain, as she flexed her hand by closing it into a fist "They blew up a large amount of the town and then offered the wounded, like me, pieces to put us back together or as they put it 'To join their Glorious Evolution.'" She placed the set of tools in her bag and motioned for him to follow her, he noticed her uniform was the same as his for the first time and obliged.
"A group of the new special forces showed up and captured most of that group," The girl finished "But people still treat me like the terrorist that blew up the town and not the victim of an attack."
Natsu sighed "People tend to condemn what they don't understand, don't hold it against them, they don't know better."
She chuckled "You talk like you aren't one, I'm Lucy by the way."
"I am just more knowledgeable than most," Natsu smirked back
"Natsu."
"Well, Natsu nice to meet you." Lucy responded, shaking his hand.
"Yeah, on another note, is that dumbass in the same school?" Natsu asked.
Lucy nodded.
"Of course he is," Natsu sighed "Well whatever."
"Hey, how did you know the Black Hand were the ones that attacked that refinery?" Lucy asked
"I, have a friend in the military," Natsu replied "He got deployed to rescue the crew on the thing before it went up, he told me about it, although it will be on the news later anyway so it won't stay a secret for long."
"Well lucky you I guess," Lucy chuckled "Well, Natsu I will see you around school if you are lucky, that is." She smirked at him in victory.
"Huh? Aren't we going to the same place, what your boyfriend meeting you around the next bend?" Natsu teased.
"You are disturbingly good at being a high schooler." Theta almost groaned into his earpiece "Well I am logging off for a bit, have fun at your first day of school."
Natsu realized Lucy had said something in between that and shook himself "Sorry, what?"
Lucy rolled her eyes "Are you sure you want to be seen around me on your first day? Might make making friends a little…difficult."
"I don't need a hundred friends," Natsu responded as the school gates came into view "I would rather have a small group of people I can rely on, and that can rely on me."
"Well don't say I didn't warn you." Lucy smirked
Natsu was only half listening as he admired the building in front of him, the gate led into a small lane lined either side by particularly bare Sakura trees, the large building front was covered in windows, he knew the lay out thanks to Theta but actually seeing the size of the school still made him breathe a little harder.
"You probably need to check into the office," Lucy said "Well it's down there." She pointed down the corridor as Natsu placed his bag into a locker and changed his shoes.
He nodded and waved as he walked in the direction she indicated "Hey, if we're lucky we might be in the same class."
"Yeah, yeah," She responded waving him off "Just hurry up, you don't want to be too late."
Natsu walked down the empty corridor as the first bell rang, he raised his hand and tried to focus a flame, a few small embers blinked into existence above his hand and floated there he shook his hand and they winked out as he sighed, he knocked on the door to the staff room and waited a moment before opening the door, a dark blue haired man with a large mustache above his mouth turned and stared at him for a moment, the ageing man took the paper from Natsu's hand and looked it over "Well, looks like you're in my class, so follow me there now, Mr. Dragneel huh?"
"Yes, sir." Natsu responded on reflex, the man raised an eyebrow at him.
"It's just Sensei around here kid," His teacher said as he walked past him, Natsu followed the man behind him and couldn't help but look around a bit, he almost bumped into the man when they stopped "Stay here a sec, I will call you in to introduce yourself in a moment."
Natsu nodded.
The man opened the door and stepped inside "Right, right settle down now." Was all Natsu heard before he closed the door.
Natsu stepped a little closer to the door, and listened intently "Now, some of you may have heard we are getting new transfer student today, well we are and here he is."
'That's calling me in?' Natsu thought as he opened the door, he scanned over his classmates as he entered the room, he walked over to the board wrote his name down and bowed respectfully "I'm Natsu Dragneel, nice to meet you."
The class broke into whispers and Natsu scanned over them again, spotting two familiar faces, one he wasn't so eager to talk to, the blonde boy from this morning stared at him with an almost murderous intent and Lucy gave him a quick wave.
"Just take an empty seat and we will get started." The teacher said simply, Natsu made his way down the aisles and took the seat beside Lucy, he nodded to her and she smirked at him "Glad you didn't get lost."
"Glad I didn't need to save you the second I walked in." Natsu retorted playfully.
She tossed a paper ball at him and it bounced off his head, Natsu leaned back in his chair and paid enough attention to the class to answer if he was asked about something, he had already completed high school technically, but if someone searched for him the last place they would look would be in a combat and engineering school, why would he go backwards? Well that was the plan anyway.
Around halfway through the day, Natsu was walking down a corridor when an alarm sounded, it signaled that a terrorist group was attacking, Natsu growled on his first day? Really? Lucy glanced up at the red blinking lights in the corridor "It might be a drill."
"All student's go to your designated evacuation areas, this is not a drill please try to remain as calm as possible." The PA announced.
"Or it's not a drill." Lucy sighed
"You go, I am going to make sure anyone in the classroom behind us make it out all right."
"Huh? Wait a seco-." The sound of glass breaking cut her off, Natsu looked at the small metal cylinder at his feet and he booted it down the hall way before ripping open the Janitorial closet and pulling Lucy in behind him, a loud bang rang out in the corridor, followed by the sound of footsteps, Natsu placed a finger over Lucy's lips to silence her as he opened the door and peered down after the attackers, there were two, each wearing an almost skin tight black suit with masks that came up to their noses, red scarf's flapped behind them as they ran low a katana held firmly along their forearms as they moved, they stopped at the class room door and pulled it open, Natsu heard a quickly muffled scream and they dragged a girl from the closest room, the process repeated a few times before the pair disappeared from sight "Go where you are supposed to go." Natsu said firmly.
"What about you?" Lucy whispered fiercely.
"I am going to see if they missed anybody, I will be right behind you I promise." Natsu smiled.
"Fine, but if you don't come out in ten minutes I am coming back and if you die I am going to kill you." Lucy threatened.
"I'll keep that in mind." Natsu responded as she ran down the corridor opposite to the direction the pair had gone, he knew the group the practiced the art of the Shinobi from ancient Japanese tradition and they want Japan to reclaim its independence, not exactly a bad thing until they started doing crap like this.
Natsu kept his footfalls silent as he pressed his back against the corridor wall, he peered around the corridor, the pair went into another classroom and Natsu pushed himself around the corridor as they disappeared inside, he slid to a stop silently outside the door, there was no scream from the inside, he put his fingers to the neck of the few people they had tied up that seemed unconscious, he felt a pulse and allowed a sigh of relief, the door opened and Natsu struck pushing up from his crouched position and slamming into the chin of the man that walked out of the room taking him completely by surprise, he fell heavily as his head connected with the wall, Natsu spun pulling his katana free and blocking the strike from the second, Natsu bounced forward slamming a kick into the man's knee as he buckled and lost his balance Natsu brought his heel around in an arc and slammed his heel into the back of the man's head, pushing his head into the tiled floor of the school, knocking him out.
Natsu moved quickly, tying the pair up after taking the uniform from the first, pulling the mask up over his face he pulled the students along with him, following the same path the other two had been going, it wasn't long before he came into to contact of more of the group and they had rounded up what was thought to be all the remaining students in the building.
"Hey! Joshua you have been awfully quiet." Natsu realized they were addressing him 'Well the cover lasted long enough.' He thought simply as he rushed the still unsuspecting man, slamming his elbow into his chin, the man stumbled and Natsu spun and planted his foot into the man's chest sending him into the pillar a small distance away in the atrium, Natsu pulled the mask down and held the Katana above his head, watching the remaining 8 of the group slowly circle him.
"Let the kids go and none of you will be hurt." Natsu commanded flatly.
"Awfully cocky for a one on eight!" The man shouted as they rushed at him in three, three followed behind that and the last two stayed close to the hostages.
Natsu spun the Katana and held it flush along his forearm blade pointing out, as the first three neared him, he spun slamming the blade against two of the swords that flew at him, placing his foot against the kneecap of the first he pressed harshly the with a bone crunching snap the knee broke, the man let out a scream of pain and Natsu spun around as he fell holding his arms close to his body as a sword passed on either side of him, Natsu pulled the second Katana free of the downed mans grasp and crossed them over his head, two swords locked against his and he spun on his heels sweeping the men up, he turned and somersaulted away , placing his heel into the closest masked man's face, he went up a little before landing on his back with a thud, he didn't get up as the final four rushed him, Natsu held the swords out beside him and closed his eyes taking a quick breath they snapped open, the first man attempted to run him through, Natsu pivoted kneeing him in the stomach, he dropped a sword and grabbed his arm, spinning him around and forcing his comrades to falter, Natsu booted the back of the man's leg forcing him to his knees, he placed his hand on his back and vaulted him, slamming both feet at once into the man who was still unbalanced from trying to avoid killing his ally, Natsu used him as a kick board and back flipped landing on the first man and knocking him out before rolling back and picking up the Katana he had dropped and staring at the last two, they were on either side of him and Natsu walked back slowly, watching each of them out of the corner of his eye, they rushed him, one struck low the other high, Natsu raised the Katana on his left to block the strike coming for his head, the sound of metal hitting metal rang out around the atrium, Natsu lifted his leg as the other blade scraped along the ground, Natsu locked against the high blade and forced the man back, letting a quick kick hit the man who had overextended himself and forcing him back, as the man stumbled backward Natsu rushed him, slamming the hilt of the Katana into his chin, the man went airborne Natsu caught his ankle and pulled him back down past him, slamming his elbow into his nose and forcing him into the ground, Natsu glared at the last man as he rushed towards him, Natsu dodged left and booted the man in the stomach he lurched forward and Natsu flipped the Katana in his hand and brought the hilt down into the back of his neck.
The two beside the hostages watched him, one looked like a woman the male snarled at him before lifting his weapon high, The woman held out her hand to stop him but he was not about to, Natsu rifled one of his weapons into the man's shoulder, he flew back and dropped the weapon, it clattered to the ground and the man his the wall hard, knocking the air and a small amount of blood from his mouth, the door behind Natsu broke open and a small team of officers rushed in, seeing only one masked person the yelled, the girl pulled something from her pouch and threw it at the ground, a large puff of smoke filled the room, and when it cleared only the unconscious men and students remained in the room.
Natsu pulled the mask of his head and tossed the swords as he vaulted through the open window on the west side of the school, he turned his head and spotted the red scarf a small distance from him, he forced himself to move faster rounding the corner a few streets ahead of the school turning, right and darting down the thing alleyway fence, the scarf popped into view in front of him and he dived catching the runner by surprise and pinning her to the ground, he looked down at the fiery brown eyes and realized that it wasn't a scarf it was her hair, Natsu stared down at the person, who only stared up at him in a mixture of anger confusion and what he could have sworn was awe, Natsu panted heavily, both from the fighting and the mini obstacle course he had taken to get ahead of her, the woman struggled against his hold but it was ultimately useless.
"Now, you can come with me easily or I can knock you out and drag you, which do you prefer?" Natsu managed to get out between breaths.
The girl just kept glaring at him.
"Look I really would prefer it if you walked by yourself." Natsu sighed.
The same glare, he pulled the mask down revealing the rather pretty face of the terrorist, she seemed to be chewing on something, his eyes widened and he grabbed her mouth and forced the substance out of it, the black and slightly gooey liquid landed on his hand and he wiped it on his pants, he pressed his fingers to the girls neck, the pulse was weak but still there, he growled and lifted the unconscious Shinobi onto his back.
"Christ sakes, why do they always try to kill themselves, why does it always have to be the hard way." Natsu complained as he jogged back towards his house.
A/N: How many of you thought I wouldn't bring Erza in this chapter? Hah, I got ALL of you XD! But I hoped you enjoyed this, Natsu is still one of the most dangerous dudes on the planet he doesn't need cool armor to be overpowered :P, but again hope you all enjoyed and I will see you in my next chapter! Peace!