The Bet Chapter 7: Reunion, a fairy tail fanfic

Chapter 7: Reunion

Natsu frowned and looked a bit uneasy. Something inside him deeply protested against displaying respect in this particular kind of way. It seemed as though all the guild members including Shikari were in great awe of their master. Kiken… was it? Natsu couldn't care to remember. There was something deeply controversial about the man, who resembled Laxus a bit: he had big, almost huge childish-looking eyes, filled with angelic care and sincerity, yet he had this pointed nose and sharp chin which made him look rather cunning. Inwardly the Salamander wondered whether Shikari has noticed that, and opted for the negative answer. 'Something's not right about this guy… I just know it…' but if the pink-haired dragon slayer still had had any doubts as to Kiken's personality, they all vanished when the master approached him with a broad genuine, or so it seemed, smile on his face and stretched out his hand in greeting. 'This guy smells… rotten.'

"Nice to meet you Natsu-san," the blonde spoke with his hand still in place.

The Fire Dragon Slayer just stood there eyeing the man suspiciously. He never actually considered the notions of being rude or not, his alert system was screaming like crazy inside of him, and that's no time to think about politeness. The next second Natsu could have and probably would have done or said something inappropriate and stupid, but Shikari pulled on the leg of his pants with a pout on her lips that instantly changed into a sort of questioningly-pleading stare. That made Natsu snap out of his tensed state and shake the offered hand.

"Erm… nice to meet you too, erm…" Natsu wasn't sure about the man's name, but Shikari helped him out, whispering 'Kiken-sama', and the tension faded.

"Have you showed our guest around the guild yet, Shikari?" the blonde asked smiling politely, which made the girl's check color.

"W-Well, n-no, I…" she stuttered fumbling with the hem of her T-shirt.

Natsu didn't like where and how this conversation was going, so he decided to end it as quick as possible, and at least make the guild master go to attend to whatever business he had, so that the other guild members would snap out of their hypnotized state and stand straight already!

"Shikari here was just starting to show me around," the Salamander put his hand on the girl's shoulder to steady her nervous shivering. "She began with your portrait over there," and the boy motioned to the said object.

"Oh, I see," he Kiken nodded with a smile, "still I suppose there are still more important things to show to our famous guest, aren't there, Shikari?"

"H-hai, Kiken-sama! I will show Natsu-san around!" was the devoted answer.

"Good," the master answered and Natsu noticed this pointed look, this sharp and vicious glance of the man in front to f him and felt this rotten smell again, though this time it came not only from the entire body of the blonde man, but seemed to be centered somewhere to his right side. Natsu looked to where his senses were telling him, but couldn't see anything particular because the black cape was covering both sides of the man's posture as it hung loosely around him. "I'll arrange a feast to be prepared to honour such an import guest in the meantime, so you should take your time, Shikari. I'll sent for both of you when the time comes," was the only thing he said before casually strolling to the upper floor without ever minding to excuse himself or something. And it was right then when Kiken went up the stairs, that his cape billowed slightly behind him and Natsu caught sight of something long and glittering at his right side, exactly where the rotten smell from before seemed to be concentrated in.

'That thing… is evil.' The pink-haired Dragon Slayer thought with a serious expression on his face, before Shikari grabbed his hand and dragged the boy outside.

A surge of uncontrollable laughter emerged from Kiken's mouth as he entered his small study on the second floor. His eyes grew wide while the pupils shrunk and the azure colour of his iris dangerously darkened. He couldn't believe his luck! The Salamander, the infamous Dragon Slayer of Fairy Tail shows up in the middle of nowhere where he tried to hide his so-called guild, while sucking out their magical powers.

"This is wonderful! Just wonderful!" he cried, stretching out his hands as if gripping the entire world. "Now with the weakling Iyashii out of the way thanks to Erza, the Titania, and thanks to the powers I shall obtain from the Salamander I will finally be able to get rid of Cho and hold all three containers in my very arms!" he burst out laughing triumphantly again. "I wonder," the blonde mused aloud while approaching yet another, but this time smaller portrait of himself and taking it down, "had the mighty Titania figured out that Iyashii had already been worn out by another battle," Kiken opened a secret door behind the portrait revealing a long silver container and smiled, "with me?" and in that brief moment his face changed, and that cunning, malicious smile on his thin lips and the way he stroke the metal surface of the silver container would have made anyone's blood freeze right in their veins. "I've got to send Cho an invitation to today's 'party' and kill two birds with one spell," he chucked this time, trying to calm himself down before the big event.

"Hey-hey, Shakari! Hold it, will ya!" Natsu yelled trying to steady himself while the little girl literally dragged him after herself. "What's the hurry anyway? Shikari! Ouch!" the Fire Dragon Slayer exclaimed, when Shikari suddenly stopped, which made the boy trip and fall, hitting his nose.

The green-haired girl stood with a pout on her lips and looked Natsu straight in the eyes. Her pout changed with a frown and her stare was serious, as serious as those pretty brown eyes could show, which again reminded Natsu of…

"Tch," the fire-mage grunted and turned away from the little girl, avoiding eye contact.

She misinterpreted his actions, growing even angrier and stomped towards him, hands balled in little furious fists. "Natsu-san, you may be the best magician in the world! You may be the strongest Dragon Slayer there is! You may be the funniest guy I've ever met! But I cannot allow you to show disrespect to Kiken-sama like you just did!" she finally sobbed.

"Huh?" Natsu looked confused. He never meant to offend or hurt anyone's feelings, especially Shikari's, since she was so friendly, and funny, and looked so much like… The boy's eyes softened and he offered his new friend an apologetic look. "Sorry, if I did anything wrong. I just don't know what wrong did I do?" he questioned, scratching the back of his head.

"You forgot his name, twice! And you didn't bow when Kiken-sama arrived!" noticing signs of protest beginning to surge from Natsu's aura, Shikari hurried to explain herself. "It's not what you think! It's not like we're slaves or something! It's just… Kiken-sama… he…" her cheeks reddened and she looked at her feet again, "he did so much for me… For us! I mean for us! For the whole guild I mean!" she tried to correct herself and hide her feelings, which have been already betrayed by her words. Natsu didn't like what he saw. There was something very very wrong with the seemingly kind and caring guild master. Moreover he smelled rotten. And Shikari was relying on him, trusting him… and so were the rest. He just had to figure this out!

"Ne, Shikari, how 'bout you tell me about this Kiken-sama you're so fond of, while showing me, say… the training ground, maybe?" he smiled at the green-haired girl, while standing up.

Her face lit up immediately as if already forgetting all her offence from earlier.

'Her mood changes instantly! First she's angry and then in the next second she's cheerful. And those brown eyes…' Natsu swallowed looking at Shikari who was telling him something to which he didn't listen.

"I kind of miss those eyes…" Natsu didn't notice saying it out loud.

"Huh?" Shikari stopped and looked at her new pink-haired friend in surprise blinking several times. "You miss eyes?" she asked for clearance.

Natsu just laughed sheepishly trying to change the subject, but failed miserably. This girl was persistent.

"If you don't tell me whose eyes you miss, I won't tell you about Kiken-sama!" the little water-mage crossed her arms and nodded twice as if agreeing with her own resolve, which made Natsu sweatdrop.

'Are all women really that stubborn?' he mused for a brief moment, but then returned to the present. He wondered if he should tell Shukari about Erza or not. Was this blonde Kiken guy really worth it? And then he looked at the little female mage before him and the thought of her being deceived by some old, well not really, but still, male mage made the pink-haired mage make up his mind. He'll help the girl before him. He'll figure this out. But first…

"There's not much to tell actually," Natsu said casually sitting down on a nearby log, no sheepish laughter, no avoiding the subject, no changing it either. Shikari looked at him with curiosity but said nothing as if afraid of ruining the spell of Natsu being serious, and you'll have to admit she was right about that, for such enlightment moments were rare for the boy, especially when he was not involved in some serious battle, where the lives of his friends were at stake. So she just sat silently next to him and listened attentively to whatever he had to say, while he looked somewhere to the horizon with his eyes slightly dulled. "There is one person… a girl… and well… I kind of started to realize that I miss her," he paused and received a sympathetic look from Shikari, afterwards he continued, "The reason that I miss her even more now s that," he looked at Shikari and smiled sadly, "your eyes are just like hers."

"Really?" Shikari gasped and blushed a little.

"Aa," Natsu nodded.

"She…" the green-haired girl decided to try the waters on this topic, "she must be really beautiful if you like her…" the girl studied the pink-haired boy's reaction attentively and was satisfied with a small smile.

"Aa, she is," he nodded and then remembered her and Gray together. Talking. They were just talking. That's it. But before that Erza was waiting… she was waiting for him. And they went to the inn together.

"Natsu-san?" Shikari asked concerned.

"Huh?" he blinked at her, no sign of the previous Natsu whatsoever. "Oh, my zoning out! That's Ok. I'm ok, don't worry!" he laughed and grinned at the girl again, who gave him a weak smile in return, still worrying about her friend. "Your turn now!" the Salamander demanded. "Tell me about this Kiken master of yours!"

And while showing the Fire Dragon Slayer of Fairy Tail the meager training grounds of Purple Lotus, Shikari told him her story. She was an orphan and never really knew her parents. Until she was ten she lived with an old couple who couldn't have kids and adopter her for that reason, but they soon died and the girl was all alone, until one day Kiken found her and took her to travel with him. It appeared later that he was a mage and a master of Purple Lotus and kindly allowed her to join.

"I always knew I had magical powers, but I could never really use them before I met Kiken-sama," the girl confessed. "He taught me everything I know, and made me love who I am."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Shikari hid her face, "the old people I lived with were very nice and all that… But they said… they said that all mages are monsters… They said that they only cause pain and destruction, so I never used magic in front of them and was ashamed of who I am…" she finished quietly.

Natsu was already about to say something to comfort the saddened girl, when suddenly they heard a cry of pain from afar.

"Oh, no! It's Shuho!" Shikari panicked and rushed to her injured comrade with Natsu on toe.

"Shikari!" the black-haired man whispered, "Save yourself! Run! You have to… run! Shikari…"

The girl's eyes grew wide and filled with tears as she looked at the man in her arms. He had already lost his consciousness and looked dreadfully worn out. His few injuries constituted only a couple of bruises, but it seemed as though he was sucked out from the inside. And this sight of her comrade turned into a bag of bones made Shikari tremble all over.

"W-who c-could have d-done such a thing?" she cried out stuttering, as tears started to run down her pretty face. And suddenly a firm hand grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it.

"Let's go and find out," was Natsu's firm reply. And when Shikari looked up at the Salamander she saw the mage everyone feared so much. His eyes were burning, his free hand was turned into a clenched fist, his teeth were gritted.

'He is truly the Salamander of Fairy Tail!' the water-mage thought in awe, before they took off towards the Purple Lotus Guild.

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"Erza!" Gray yelled concerned when his female teammate fell to the ground, wincing and clutching her abdomen in pain. "What the hell were you thinking driving yourself to this state! Why were you even running! Answer me, Erza!"

But the scarlet-haired mage just breathed in heavy short breaths and refused either to answer or to open her eyes.

"What's the use of me having stolen Porlyusica's healing potion for you if you don't even take it!" the ice-mage demanded holding the woman he loved in his arms and watching her suffer.

"You think she's going to forgive you for that!" Erza snapped irritated. "Do you really think that Master will cover you back for doing something so stupid and reckless? And even if he is, do you think that will help?" she spat, trying to stand up, but falling into Gray's arms again.

The boy's eyes grew wide. "It can't be…" he whispered. "Erza, you… you didn't take it, because you knew? You knew it all along and didn't take it, so that I won't get into trouble for stealing it?" the ice-mages heart took a hopeful leap. 'What if she feels the same about me? She cares so much, ten maybe…'

"It will be of no use if you get punished because of me. No one is worth punishing because of me!" Erza said firmly, this time succeeding to stand up on her own shaky legs, with Gray supporting her.

'Guess I was daydreaming there…' was the ice-mage's sad thought as he watched Erza's head suddenly snap into a different direction from where they were running to. Her eyes grew wide and she looked very worried. "Erza, what's…?"

"Over there!" she yelled, pointing to where she was looking. "We've got to go there!"

"But Erza, the old man said that Natsu went this way," was Gray's confused reply.

"It's Natsu…" the scarlet-haired mage whispered as if mishearing her teammate. "Natsu's there!" and with that she rushed to where her senses were telling her, forgetting about the mission, forgetting about her pain, forgetting about… Gray. She ran as fast a she could, never feeling the stitches of her wound start to separate, the only memory was fixed in her brain:

"A friend told me once," and Natsu's smiling and then teary face flashed before her eyes, "you don't die for your friends…you live for them!"

'Hang on, Natsu!'

"What the hell happened here?" Natsu yelled with eyes bulging out, as he eyed the hall of the Purple Lotus guild. It looked like a zombie graveyard. The guild members were like ghouls, looking just like the man he and Shikari saw in the woods earlier, some looked even worse. Natsu heard the said green-haired mage shriek and turned around only to see that a corpse-like human being was beating in throes in front of her lying on the ground and drooling all over. "Shikari, get over here! Stay near me! You hear?" the Fire dragon Slayer grabbed the girl's hand and pulled the crying shocked water-mage closer to him, noticing that she was trembling all over. He gritted his teeth and growled. "Who did this! Show yourself!"

A thin, unpleasant female laugh was heard from above the stairs. "So you didn't lie about this! It really is Natsu Dragneel, the Salamander of Fairy Tail! Such a treat! Such a treat!" she exclaimed jumping down to meet her opponent, her long silver hair almost shining in the shadows and her light-blue eyes cold as ice.

Natsu was already about to respond when Shikari suddenly stopped trembling and stood in front of him boldly stretching her arms in front of the said mage to protect him. "I won't let you hurt, Natsu-san! You won't come near him, you villain!"

The silver-haired woman laughed again, her voice echoing in the ruins of the guild hall. But Natsu didn't notice it. The sight of Shikari with her thin arms stretched out in order to protect him, though she was scared, reminded him of…

"Erza, what are you doing? Move!"

"Don't be afraid! I will protect you!"

"What did you do to Kiken-sama, you witch?" Shikari shouted angrily with new tears gathering in her brown eyes.

The female gave another laugh. "Do to him? What did I do to him? Ha-ha-ha! You poor silly child!" she grinned. "Kiken-sama, would you be so kind to show yourself now? I believe there is no point in hiding any longer."

Shikari's eyes grew wide, her mouth, her hands and her heart dropped. "It can't be…"

A blonde man with sapphire eyes, clad in a black cape emerged from the darkness on a black cloud. He wasn't smiling, but his eyes were cold and the thunders in his black cloud threw shadows that made his face look sinister and vile.

"It can't be…" Shikari repeated clawing at her hair out of despair, her knees trembling, eyes fixated on the changed personality of her dear guild master. "You… you're not Kiken-sama!" she cried in disbelief and gave out a loud sob.

"You," the blonde mage growled threateningly, "are of no use to me anymore."

Kiken stretched out his arms in the direction of the defenseless girl, who trusted him with her entire life, spread his pointed fingers and said: "Seven Wheels Absorption Technique!" and seven white claws swiftly pulled towards Shikari. The girl could only manage to cover her face in defense, when she felt like being lifted up.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

"Tch, how annoying!" the silver-haired mage grunted. "Steel-Make Spider Web!" and before he knew it, Natsu got caught in the trap, managing only to push Shikari out of it in time.

"You should have kept her right where she was, stupid Dragon Slayer," Kiken said maliciously while Cho laughed again in the background.

Natsu growled and tried to break free of the steel cage he got himself caught into, but noticed that with every move he made the steel strings were only getting tighter around him, prohibiting him from moving at all. "Shikari, watch out!" he yelled on top of his lungs as Kiken slowly approached the said girl, who was paralyzed with fear.

"This is the end, Shikari," he stated plainly, floating mere inches away from his victim. "I must say that your power was extremely tasty and extremely enormous! It took me the whole year to suck it little by little from you."

"Shikari! Run! Run for it! RUN! Shit!" Natsu struggled to break free. "Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" he shouted in an attempt to melt the cage, and it started working.

"Why?" Shikari asked her former master almost pleadingly.

"Good bye, Shikari. Seven Wheels Absorption Technique!"

"SHIKARI!"

She was literally melting before his eyes. Seven white claws pierced her delicate body and started sucking out all of the life that was within her. Shikari grew thinner and thinner, and by the time Natsu was able to completely break free from the steel cage, the white claws had already disappeared and Shiraki fell to the ground as if in slow motion, her body but a feather.

Reaching out, the pink-haired Dragon Slayer caught the girl. "Hang in there, Shikari! Hang in there!" but no answer came. Though the girl's brown eyes were open they were empty and showed completely no emotion. This sight made very cell of his body burn and ache with anger. His thoughts disappeared somewhere and only pure rage replaced them. "She trusted you with her life…" he whispered standing up, after placing Shikari on the ground. "And you betrayed her."

"Steel-Make Lance!" Cho ordered and sharp lances flew at Natsu, which he easily dodged.

"Seven Wheels Net!" Kiken commanded, but Natsu wasn't that stupid to fall into the same trap again.

"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" and the flames cut the white net in mid flight. "Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!" he aimed straight at Kiken, when Cho swiftly appeared from behind and before Natsu's fist could connect with Kiken's jaw…

"Steel-Make Dagger!"

"Ice-Make Shield!" and the dagger only connected with ice and couldn't pierce through it.

"Trinity Shot!" Erza's blades pierced Cho from behind pinning her to the wall.

"Erza? Gray?" Natsu exclaimed.

"Covering your fiery ass as always! Now beat the guy already!"

"Here I go!" and Natsu landed a heavy punch on Kiken's jaw and sent him flying straight across the hall.

After the noise from the loud cracking ceased and the dust from the wreckage settled, Natsu turned around only to see… Erza in her Heaven Wheel Armour, shining in the light from the guild entrance! And Gray…

"The hell were you doing running away from the guild, huh, torch!" the ice-mage demanded stepping closer to his rival, who was already about to respond when…

"Natsu!" a firm female voice was heard as Erza made her way towards the Dragon Slayer.

"Erza…" he muttered somewhat apologetically, seeing her knitted eyebrows and the serious expression on her face.

"Don't even try to defend yourself, Natsu Dragneel!" she approached him and then smiled putting a hand on his shoulder. "You're coming home with us. Everyone misses you," and Natsu's heart quickened when she said: "I've missed you."

The world seemed to stop turning. Everything seemed to cease to exist. There was only him looking at her. And she was smiling. Smiling at him. Admitting she had missed him.

"So touching, Titania," a hard blow landed on Erza's neck and she flew across the room, landing against the wall.

"ERZA!" Natsu yelled outraged and looked back at Kiken. The white pointed fingers that hit Erza were now moving back to their master, who was standing up, whipping his lips from blood.

"I'll take care of her!" Gray tried to reassure his friend, but suddenly understood that he couldn't move. "What the…?" the ice-mage looked down only to see his feet stuck in something that looked like tar, but in reality wasn't.

"Titania's swords sure are good to melt," Cho said standing straight with no swords binding her anymore.

"Did you really think…" Kiken chuckled, "did you really think you could beat ME?" he yelled. "Beat me when I have THIS?" and he held out a silver container and human voices were heard to reach from that vessel.

"Kiken-sama, isn't it too early…?" Cho asked in awe.

"Shut up and know your place!" he demanded, and the woman bit her lip.

"You know," Natsu growled, "I will enjoy beating the crap out of a scum like you, who treats even women like garbage!" and the fire Dragon Slayer launched another attack on his enemy. "Fire Dragon's Claw!"

"Seven Wheels Absorption Technique!" and the white fingers did their job jet again, they completely absorbed Natsu's flames. "White Light: Thunder Storm!" and hundreds of lightings were directed straight into the fire-mages body.

'Someone's screaming. Someone is screaming very loud. He's in pain. I know that voice!' Erza tried to open her eyes and could only open them a little, but it was wide enough to see Natsu screaming in a flow of white light and Gray defending himself with ice-make shield from the ferocious attacks of the silver-haired female. For a brief moment Erza wondered why he wouldn't move and launch a counterthrust, but then noticed that his legs were covered with something up to the knees. But the female's attention shifted back to Natsu who was lying on the ground, smoke covering his body. 'Natsu!' The weapon mistress tried to stand up, but stopped immediately and winced at the sudden newly discovered pain in her abdomen. The last punch that sent her connecting with the wall was probably the last straw for her wound and it got open again. Erza felt fresh blood emerge from the cut with every move she attempted to make. Still, she never gave up and continued to struggle her way up.

"Natsu, you ok? Natsu!"

"You opponent is in front of you, Fullbuster!" Cho yelled. "Don't get distracted. Or else… Steel-Make: Hammer!" she yelled again and everything went black in Gray's eyes.

"Erza's really scary…" a small pink-haired boy mused seriously.

"You don't know the first thing about her, torch!" another small boy with dark-blue eyes huffed.

"Yes I do!" the pink-haired one demanded. "The first thing about Erza is that she's scary!"

"Nope, you're wrong!" the black-haired boy yelled and caused his opponent to look quizzically at him and then smile mischievously.

"You LI-IKE her!" he purred.

"N-no, I don't!"

"You like Erza! Oh my God!"

"You're wrong! You're wrong!"

"Erza…" Natsu whispered opening his eyes, as the memory slowly started to fade.

"Die, Dragneel, and give your powers to me!" Kiken whispered, as white claws made their way towards the Dragon Slayer.

"Erza…"

"I'll protect you, Natsu!" he remembered her say, and was already about to jump to his feet when a flash of red appeared before his eyes and he saw Erza with outstretched arms again… before him… with greedy fingers eating away her magical powers and her life… and blood… there was a trace of blood from where she came.

"Erza…" Natsu whispered in disbelief.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you!" she said in a hoarse voice and in that moment something inside his head snapped.

Standing up, Natsu commanded: "Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!" and separated Kiken and his greedy claws from Erza and managed to catch her as she fell.

"I'm glad… you're ok…" she whispered before losing consciousness.

"You hurt Erza… you hurt Shikari… you betrayed your guild. From where I come from you get your ass kicked for that!" and with that the Salamander started launching numerous attacks at both Cho and Kiken.

"Impossible!" Cho yelled.

"He can't be that strong!" Kiken shouted, opening his container, when…

"This is the end, bastard!" and with that said with her very last effort Erza cut the container in two making all the energy flow away from it back to its respective owners.

"NO!" Kiken shouted. "The work of my life! Of my entire life! YOU RUINED IT!" he snatched out her sword and aimed at the Titania.

'I guess this is the end… I'm glad I had a chance to see Natsu again…' and she closed her eyes anticipating the end. Erza felt warm droplets of blood on her face, but no pain came. The girl opened her eyes and gasped. Facing her and backing Kiken was Natsu Dragneel with a sword piercing him right through the middle. Blood was dripping from the blade and from the corner of his smiling lips as he said:

"Don't worry, Erza. I'll protect you…"

He fell forward and crying out his name with tears streaming down her face, Erza caught him and stroke his cheek while her tears washed away the blood on his handsome face. She never even noticed that the guild members returned to normal and led by an extremely powerful water-mage which Erza never cared to look at defeated the remains of "The Three Siblings", tied them up and started asking questions. She just sat there and looked at him…

"Please, don't die!" she whispered crying. "Don't you dare to die on my arms, Natsu!" and then it hit her. Erza took out the green flask and with no hesitation whatsoever poured it all into Natsu's mouth. "Drink it! Drink it, come on!" and she hugged him sobbing against his chest. "Please just live… Live, Natsu!" she shouted to his chest and suddenly heard a 'thump'. The scarlet-haired girl gasped and tired to raise her head in order to look Natsu in the face, but she felt his right hand press her lightly to him. Then his left hand did the same.

"Erza…" he whispered against her hair, "… I will live as long as you want me to. Because that's what we do in Fairy Tail – we live for each other. And I have chosen to live for you."

It was then that Natsu let Erza look him in the eyes and see that he wasn't joking. Content that he was ok, she let the fatigue and blood loss get the best of her and faded into nothingness with a smile on her lips. The only thing she saw was Natsu's wide eyes, his worried and shocked face, and the only thing she didn't see was Gray's defeated look.

Finally it happened! Sorry for the long waiting! Hope this met your expectations, if not I'm really sorry… This is how I saw things in my head, though. So read and review! I sure hope to be done with the (probably) last chapter of this fic sooner then it took me to write this one. Anyway, hope you enjoy and correct my mistakes =)