Natsu watched Rissa run away from the house. And him through narrowed gold eyes. What's she up too? He wondered curiously as she disappeared before he stepped away from the window and started chewing on his lower lip as he mentally debated with himself on if he should follow her or not.

He had explained that she wasn't a prisoner and that she could come and go as she pleased as long as it was within reason.

Yet he couldn't help but wonder what she was up too. And worry that whatever it was may be dangerous. He supposed he could follow her descreetly at a distance, if nothing else he could simply make sure that she didn't come to harm while appeasing his curiosity. But the second he thought of doing that, he shook his head and walked over to the couch and sat down and tried to make himself comfortable.

Spying on her meant that he didn't trust her. Which meant that there was little hope for a romantic relationship to form. He had already bound himself to her, he'd simply have to get over his fears and misgivings and trust that she'd come back to him.

And though he logically had made his choice to sit and wait...he couldn't help having his mind work him into a tizzy. God by the time she came back he would be so curious and anxious that he'd develop a nervous tick and wouldn't be able to sit still.

Maybe following her wouldn't be such a bad idea. Especially if she didn't know. Dumbass. You're going to muck things up before they even get good. His mind chidded him as he started to get up to do exactly that, then stopped himself and sat back down.

Oh goddamn it. He was going to drive himself nuts while Rissa was gone for her walk, wasn't he? He sighed and ran a hand through his pink hair and made a frustrated sound in the back of his throat as he squirmed around until he had his body wedged at an uncomfortable angle. Yes that's it. Cripple yourself with back and neck pain to keep from chasing after your mate. His dragon side chortled in amusement before he mentally added.

Yeah, yeah. I'm pathetic. Tell me something I don't already know.

(***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************)

Rissa ducked into the first magic shop she came across and flattened her back against one of the displays and peeked over the shelf and out of the window to see if Natsu had followed her. Her paranoia showing just for an instant before the shop keeper behind the counter cleared his throat, drawing her attention to him.

"Can I help you with something young lady?"

Rissa was quiet for a moment then nodded and asked for an eye color change potion or spell and nearly died on the spot when the man asked her which color she wanted and almost buried her in several bottles and spell scrolls while explaining to her how they worked.

She made quick work of getting the colors that she wanted and paid the man and quickly ran out with her perchase then found another store and after a little bit of a hassel got several different colored hair dye's one of which was scarlet red, and another was black then walked around for about an hour or two before making her way back to Natsu's house.

And just stood there outside anxiously shifting from foot to foot before slipping around to the back of the house and entering through the bedroom window and quickly (perhaps a little too quickly since she tripped and made a sound) before she managed to pick herself up and locked herself in the bathroom.

A split second later she heard Natsu coming to investigate the sound she'd made in the room. His footsteps paused outside of the bathroom and he made a semi loud humming sound. "Wow, I've had fools slip in seeking to steal treasure before. But I've never had an person lock themselves in my bathroom without touching anything before."

He sounded serious. Yet at the same time oddly cheerful.

His tone was making her envision having the door kicked down and something unspeakable happening to her. Which was why she found herself moving over to the door before Natsu's voice cut through her almost panicked thoughts. "I know it's you Rissa. I can smell your scent all over the room and even through the door. I was just teasing you."

She banged on the door with her hand and he cackled like a mad man. "You jerky dragon! You nearly scared me out of my wits!" Natsu's laughter died down to a chuckle as he rested his back against the door and said under his breath.

"If I had scared you out of your wits then how did you manage to articulate enough words to yell at me?"

She must have heard him because she smacked the door again and growled at him. "What did you just say?"

"Nothing." Natsu said innocently before asking. "So why did you come through the window instead of the front door?" Rissa was quiet and he could vaguely make out the sound of a bag rustling and glass clinking together.

"I have something that I need to do."

Natsu was quiet as he cocked his head to the side. Something to do? What could she have to do- He flushed and awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well, don't let me keep you." He said, embarrassed as he walked away from the door and left the room a second before Rissa shrieked in embarrassment/outrage.

"It's not like that!"