Hi there! Thanks for the new follow and favourite. This chapter focus more Natsu and Lucy and also on how the story will go to the climax.
Disclaimer: This story belongs to Hiro Mashima
Warning: Lots of mistakes.
After Sting, Rouge, Frosh and Lector left, Natsu and Lucy walk together to the guild. Natsu could not help himself feeling worried about Lucy who still walking with her stick.
"Urmm, Lucy.. Don't you feel tired walking like that? Want me to help you?"
"Nope I'm fine."
"No you don't." Natsu squatting down, offering his back to her. "Here, ride my back."
Lucy blushes. "What are you doing Natsu? Get up. This is embarrassing okay."
"I count until three. If you don't, I'll carry you bridal style while running all around the town." Natsu replies with playful tone.
"F-fine." Lucy gives Natsu her stick and rides his back. 'Natsu's back feels so…. Warm….' Lucy thought.
"Is my back that comfortable Lucy? You don't say a word at all. Is it amaze you that much?!" Natsu says while grinning widely.
"W-what?! W-what are you talking about?!" Lucy shuttered.
"HAHAHAHA.. Got you Lucy! You're really weird you know, I was just joking okay." Natsu laugh.
"Are you toying with me Natsu? Wanna taste my kick? It has been a while since last I kick you for barging into my house!" Lucy protested.
"HAHAHA… sorry, sorry.. I'm glad you're back to your own self. You look a bit gloomy yesterday."
'You notice? Wow, I'm impressed. The densest dragon slayer could actually notice little thing as my gloominess.' Lucy thought silently.
"Lucy?" Natsu turn his head slightly.
"A-ah yeah. Sorry. I just feel a little bit tired yesterday. Anyway, thanks for asking."
Natsu knows something is not right but he also know that pushing her when she don't want to talk about it won't do any good. "So, how is your mission?" Natsu changed the topic.
Lucy's face brightens. Her mood immediately changed. She tells him everything about Mida and how she spends her time with their friend in Sabertooth. Hearing about how much Lucy spend a nice day with his new rival really pissed him but interrupting Lucy's wonderful story will only asking for a beating. He gives all his attention to Lucy's story and responds to each little thing she said. He did not realize that he was smiling all the way to the guild.
"Hei Natsu. Can you put me down now? We're in front of the guild. You don't plan to carry me into the guild right?."
"You know what Lucy? That's the plan!" Natsu shows his goofy grin that melts Lucy's heart until she could not utter a single word to protest.
Natsu bring Lucy into the guild and of course everyone in the guild teasing them about young love, pity Gray, love birds and some others comment that makes Lucy's face turn as red as tomato. Natsu just nodded his head, satisfy with all the comment. Natsu put Lucy at her usual stool at the bar and he sits beside her, ready to order some breakfast.
"Looks like you guys have some improvement~~" Said Mira in a sing-sang tone.
"Oh Mira-san.. Not again.." Lucy put her head on the table. "Natsu, could you please clear this misunderstanding? Tell them you're just helping me out?!" Lucy defended herself.
Before Natsu could answer, two stool flying knocking his head. A vain popped on his head, clearly annoyed with the sudden hit. He looks around to see anyone suspicious only to find Laxus and Gray grinning at him and lifting their eyebrow. His face tells Natsu that 'I did it. Why?'
"Laxus! Gray!" Natsu rushes to them and the usual brawls starts again.
Lucy sighed. "At least the stop talking about me and Natsu."
"Are you sure you want them to stop Lucy?" Mira teased.
"Mira-san…" Lucy whined.
"Hehe.. But Lucy, I thought Gray will be the only one who will start the brawl. I wonder why Laxus did join them. Usually he never starts or involve in any brawl in the guild. I think he might like you. Oh my.. Love triangle! It is so exciting!" Mira feels so excited and starts to dream about Lucy's future and how she will end up with.
"Mira-san… There's no way he would like me. Okay…okay.. just drop this topic first. Is master here?"
"Yes, master is in the office with Erza. He did say that he wanted to see you about your previous mission. Anyway, I 'll continue this topic when Levy and Cana comes. " Mira answered.
"Yea.. Thanks Mira-san. I think I should see him now."
In Master Makarov's office.
"Erza, why don't you bring Natsu together with you?" Makarov questioned.
"I'm sorry but I think Natsu should not know about this yet." Erza answered.
"About what?"
Erza told master Makarov about everything that happened during the mission and of course the note left for her. To Erza's surprise, Makarov did not show any shocked expression and just nodded calmly.
"Master, what do you think we should do? Lucy is our priority. We need to protect her at all cost." Erza urges.
"I know all this Erza. From what Sting and Rouge told me this morning, I know this is not a simple battle. I'm afraid, this battle is as huge and dangerous as we battle Phantom Lord or even more dangerous than what we can imagine. I still can't figure out what should I decide or do." Makarov feels really bad.
"Can I give some suggestion?" Lucy opens the office's door and smiles. "I'm sorry to interrupt. I don't mean to be rude but I know you guys are talking about me right?"
"Lucy?!" Makarov seems surprise but invited her in. "So, you do know about everything." Makarov sighed. "I thought I wanted to keep this secret from you."
Lucy closed the door. "There is no need to keep it as a secret from me as the man who wanted to revive Zeref has met me directly master. This is scary but having me is not his only objective. He kills to improve his magic and I'm sure he releases me so that you guys will protect me." Lucy explained.
"Of course we would Lucy. You're part of us!" Erza interrupt.
"No! This time, don't protect me…." Before she could finish her word Erza grab her shoulders, shaking her body and look into her eyes.
"What are you thinking Lucy?! Don't you ever think I will let you alone?!"
"I have found a way to stop him. With that, he can't hurt any of us or even killing other innocent people." Lucy claimed.
"How?!" Makarov and Erza said in unison.
"Kick me out of Fairy Tail."
Time skip.
After Wendy cast her spell, she takes Lucy's stick.
"Lucy-san, can you stand up and try walking without the stick?" Wendy instructed.
Lucy stands up and starts walking slowly and carefully.
"Yeay! I don't feel pain at all. Looks like your healing magic improving very well. Your training with Porlyusica really paid off." Lucy cheered.
"You flatter me too much Lucy-san. This is the only thing I can do after leaving you alone for the previous mission. You need to be careful and not pushing yourself too much."
"Don't worry about it Wendy. Sure thing. I'll be careful."
At that time, Natsu walk towards Lucy and Wendy.
"Yo guys, how is it going?"
"Hi Natsu, I'm all better now. Hmm… wanna go to the park Natsu? I heard the flowers bloom at night and it's almost midnight. I'm sure it is going to be really beautiful.
Natsu shows his goofy grin. "I'm just going to ask you the same thing. No need to say anything then. Let's go!"
And so, the two of them walk together at the park, enjoying the time they spend without any disturbance. They sit near the river enjoying the colourful tree.
"Natsu! Look! It is too beautiful! The Hanami festival is going to be happen soon right? I'm surprise that only this tree already blooms!"
"Yes, they are beautiful." Natsu answered while looking at her face.
"How did you guys stop fighting this morning?"
"When we were fighting, Erza came with her cakes. Accidently, we bump onto her and her cakes fall on the ground tragically. Only Gray and I were punished badly while Laxus running away as fast as lightning! Then, after we have been punished, I asked Mira about you but she said you meet master regarding your mission. If I follow my feeling, I wanted to follow you but I wanted to respect you and your first mission." Natsu explain while chuckling, embarrass by his words.
"Congrats Natsu! I'm surprise that you can control your temper!" Lucy claps her hands.
"I-I'm not that hot tempered Lucy!" Natsu pouted.
"AHAHA, yeah.. You're not THAT hot tempered. So, how about your mission?" Lucy questioned.
"Nothing interesting. It was bored without you Lucy." Natsu confessed.
Lucy's cheek turns red. She trailed her eyes to something else to avoid the awkwardness and see a pot near a house.
"Hei Natsu, remember the time you put a tree in a giant pot?"
"Of course! I was punished by master and I don't want to remember the scariness. But that is not as scary as catching you from the sky!"
"Is catching me that scary?"
"YES IT IS! Image, what happen is I can't catch you? It has been two times you fall from the sky okay. First is Phantom Lord and second incident with Zentopia. Don't forget the time we fight with Kain. He almost crushes your head?! My heart almost stops at that time." Natsu tell her with passion.
"Is that so? You know Natsu, I don't feel scared at all almost all the time I face danger. It's all because I believe in you. I know you will protect me. So, if the time comes for me to protect you, can you believe in me?"
"No, I don't want you to protect me. I can protect myself. No matter what happen, I'll be the one who will protect you."
"Let's make an agreement. We will protect each other no matter what happen. Can we?" Lucy suggested.
"No, I will protect you." Natsu said firmly.
"You don't believe in me?" Lucy tilted her head, facing Natsu with teary eyes.
"I-It's not that okay. I just care for you and can't let you protect me. What if anything happen to you? I can't forgive myself!"
"Why?!"
"I care for you. You're my friend. My best friend!"
"I see." Lucy stands up and walks a few steps before facing Natsu. "But Natsu, a friend must protect each other." Lucy explained.
"I know. It's not like you've never protected me. You do protect me all the time we face problem. Like when we're fighting Oracion Seis. You protected me when we fall in the waterfall. Then, you give me strength and take care of my precious gift from Igneel. You almost fall when you tried to catch my muffler after we fight Grimoire Heart right?"
"H-how did you know?" Lucy asked in confusion.
"Wendy told me. If she is not there to catch you, you might fall and hurt at that time."
"Hmmmm…..From what you're saying. This proof that I can protect you."
"Hmmmm….." Natsu could not form a word to argue.
"Answer this one last thing. Can you believe me Natsu?"
"I…." Before Natsu could answer, Loke appeared.
"Hi guys, sorry to interrupt but I have something important to tell Lucy." Says Loke.
"I'm sorry Natsu but I have to go back home now. Thanks for today. It is wonderful to chat with you.
"W-wait a minute. I wanted to stay at your house Lucy." Natsu begged.
"Sorry. Not today. I've something to discuss with Loke. In addition, Happy might worry about you. You better go home today Natsu." Lucy's tone is serious and she really meant what she says.
'Looks like she really needs some space I guess.' Natsu thought.
Natsu sighed. "Alright. But I'll see you tomorrow in the guild? Let's pick some job. It is your turn to pick." Natsu grinned.
"It is a promise. See you tomorrow!"
…
At Lucy's house.
"So how is it going Loke?"
"Looks like what you guess might have some basis to be trusted. Crux told me that Akira smells like blood because he practice forbidden magic. He himself has died few years ago but he take over this innocent people's body and changes it to his previous face and form. He can live as long as he sucks other people's magic and life force. He needs celestial wizard body as a medium to have Zeref power but at the same time, he also needs supply for his magic because his body is not real. The scary thing is, once he lock you to be the victim and suck your magic, you can't be saved." Loke explained.
"As I thought. Looks like a plan has to be made and executed Loke."
"Won't you feel hurt Lucy? What if it fails? And if it is a success, will the guild member accept you back?" Loke ask in worry.
"Loke, you have been in the guild longer than I do. You should know them more. I won't feel hurt as I know my spirit and a few people are right beside me. It won't fail and it'll be a success. I know they trust me and if they don't I will make them trust me back." Lucy answered with confidence.
Loke hugs Lucy. "Yes, everything will be just fine. You're right; we will always believe and be with you no matter what happen."
End of this chapter. Do drop some review and suggestion. Thanks again..
Have a nice day! (^^)(v)