((Thank you to TenraiTsukiyomi for two more awesome reviews! And my user name for DeviantArt is StrawberryNinja15, the URL to my profile was awkward, despite all ofmy efforts…so yeah, there's my DA name. :D
Anyway, please enjoy this next chapter, and please review! I liek reviews. :3))
Chapter 4: Burning
Zeref and Yuuki ambled along the forest path, looking for a source of water; Yuuki had decided that Zeref was obviously not very dangerous at the current time, and needed help surviving more than anything else; she couldn't live with herself if she just let a harmless person be left on their own to possibly die; but if the time came, and Zeref became a dangerous man once more, she would immediately warn the magic council, or failing that, use Iced Shell. Although she did wonder what that would do; whether it would keep him frozen with her for the rest of time, or just slow him down…or even nothing at all. Using Iced Shell would be a huge sacrifice on her behalf, but she hoped it wouldn't be one she'd make in vain.
"Oh, I found some water, Yuuki" Zeref said, pointing out the small lake. Yuuki grinned.
"Brilliant, I'm thirsty as hell!" she said, running over to lake, and gulping down water like there was no tomorrow. From behind her, Zeref watched in awe; how could someone drink water that fast? Remembering his own thirst, he decided to join her, taking small sips from water he gathered in his hand.
"You're not gonna get much like that; you've got to just dunk your whole head in, that way you get much more, much quicker; therefore quenching your thirst in a non-graceful, yet successful manor" she told him, her face soaked, and most of her hair dripping. Zeref sweat dropped.
"Hmm…while we're here I think I'm gonna have a lil' swim, care to join me?" she asked, stripping off her clothes. Zeref literally squeaked.
"WHY ARE YOU STRIPPING?!" Zeref yelled, his face going bright red as he covered his eyes. Yuuki laughed.
"Sorry, me and Natsu went swimming a lot when we went on missions together" she giggled. Zeref heard a splash, and got sprayed with some water, as Yuuki jumped into the lake. Zeref looked to see Yuuki submerge from the water.
"Aah, it's nice in here; you should join me, Zeref!"
"….Do all ice wizards strip?" Zeref asked, casting a look at the pile of clothes next to him.
"Yep, pretty much!"
Without hesitation, Yuuki sprinted off in the direction of the East Magnolia forest; their underground rebel base wasn't far from the forest, but Yuuki wished it was closer.
Just what the FUCK does Zeref think he's doing?! Was the thought roaming around Yuuki's mind, as she headed for the destination; as she grew closer, she could see the orange glow emanating from the flames of the forest. She could hear the others behind her; calling her name – but she wouldn't stop. Even as they caught up to her, and Jellal grabbed her arm to stop her as they begged her not to go in there, she just yelled at Erza to explain, before wrenching her arm from Jellal's grip, and heading into the burning forest.
"Erza? What's this all about?" Gray asked, as Yuuki disappeared into the inferno.
"I have to go after her!" Natsu roared, about to run after her, but Erza stopped him.
"We need to put out the flames first; Natsu, you eat as much as you can, Gray, Lyon, you freeze the the flames, Juvia, you use your magic to put out the fire, and anyone else that can help put out the flames, please do so!" Erza ordered over the roar of the flames. They followed her orders, putting the flames out with immense speed; as they used Happy, Carla and Pantherlily to fly above the forest – except for Juvia, who just turned into a water body, and used that to stay up high, from the clearing, Totomaru controlled the fire; keeping it from spreading further. They all then went back to Erza, confirming most of the fire had been put out; Yuuki still hadn't returned.
"Erza, what's going on?" Gray asked seriously.
"Porlyusica's house is in there" Erza told them. "Porlyusica is looking after Yuuki's son, because Yuuki didn't want him to get caught up in the rebel army"
"Yuuki has a son?!" Natsu roared in disbelief.
"Yes"
"Isn't she a little young for kids?" Wakaba raised an eyebrow.
"Who's the father?" Macao asked.
"That's not my place to say" Erza told them. "The only reason she hasn't told you all this yet, is because she wasn't ready to tell you; and she was afraid of your reactions, so please don't judge her for not telling you all about this herself"
They all nodded.
Just then, two figures emerged from the forest; Porlyusica, who was mostly unharmed, save for a few minor scratches and burns, and Yuuki who was bleeding from multiple burns on her legs, and arms, and one on her cheek; was holding a small baby. Wendy ran up to the two, ready for healing, but the two of them just waved her off.
"My injuries are only minor, I will be ok" Porlyusica told the young girl.
"I don't care about my injuries, they aren't that bad" Yuuki coughed, limping slightly. Natsu came and supported her.
"N-Natsu?" she coughed.
"I don't care that you have a baby with someone, I still love you, and even if you didn't feel the same way, I'll protect you both with my life" Natsu growled determinedly. Yuuki's eyes widened, and filled with tears she didn't bother hiding. Natsu smiled at her.
"Yuuki, hold your head high; you're a member of Fairy Tail, you should share your tears and pain with the rest of us, we will always be here to support you, no matter what" Makarov told her in that serious tone he uses for those sorts of situations. Yuuki then started wailing, as she clutched her child to her chest, and Natsu held her waist; the rest of Fairy Tail shared her tears, and in the distance, so did Zeref, as he understood his grave mistake; he had nearly killed his own son, again.
Back in her room, Yuuki was accompanied by her baby Ryfar, Erza, Jellal, Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Carla and Wendy. Yuuki held her baby close, afraid to let him go. Erza and Jellal sat stood by Natsu and Lucy, who watched Wendy heal Yuuki's wounds, whilst Happy and Carla floated by Yuuki's bed.
"So…Zeref's your baby's father?" Lucy asked Yuuki, still a bit shocked by the whole thing. Yuuki had told her army that Zeref was Ryfar's father; something they had already guessed.
"Yeah, it's a long story" Yuuki sighed.
"We understand, you love Zeref…and you can't help who you fall in love with" Erza said.
"That's not it…I don't love Zeref anymore, I did until he went on a rampage and tried to kill Ryfar and me, and I will absolutely not have anybody hurt my son, and my love for him died even further when the Ultimate Magic World was created, and even further tonight, I hate Zeref with every part of me" she hissed venomously, although somewhere deep down, she still cared for Zeref, despite her deep hatred of him.
"Why did Zeref try to kill you both that other time?" Happy asked.
"I don't know, he suddenly just got really angry, and tried to kill us, but I got away before he could do us any harm, he might be strong, but he's not all that fast" Yuuki told them.
"It's good you got away, Zeref killed Zancrow, a member of Grimoire Heart, in an instant because he was angry…and Zeref's anger is very scary…I can't imagine what that must have felt like" Lucy sympathised. Yuuki nodded. Wendy began to bandage Yuuki's wounds.
"You'll have to keep the wounds bandaged up for a while, and make sure to change the bandages every hour. Your burns are quite serious, so they might scar, especially the one on your thigh, just take it easy for a few days, ok?" Wendy told Yuuki.
"Will do" Yuuki smiled. "Thank you, Wendy"
Wendy smiled. "Is Ryfar hurt at all?"
"No, he's fine, thank you for asking" Yuuki smiled.
"He's so cute!" Wendy giggled, looking at the small baby, who gurgled in response. Yuuki chuckled. Natsu smiled, thankful that Ryfar was ok, and that Yuuki had her son back, and was happy.
"He's like a tiny ball of happiness!" Happy laughed, flying around the room. Yuuki laughed.
"I think the expression's bundle, but whatever you say, Happy" she grinned. Lucy, Natsu, Wendy, Erza, Jellal, Happy and even Carla chuckled.
"Anyway, I'd like to talk to Yuuki in private, if you all don't mind?" Natsu asked the group loitering in Yuuki's room. They nodded, and left the room. Natsu sat on the bed, next to Yuuki, who leaned her head on Natsu's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Natsu" she sighed.
"What for?" Natsu asked.
"Well I can't just imagine you're ok with me being the mother to Zeref's baby…"
"Well, I've got to say it stung a lot, to find that out, and I now further dislike Zeref, but you're still Yuuki, and I still love you, nothing can change that" Natsu told Yuuki, putting his arm around her shoulders, and stroking her hair. Yuuki remembered she did that to Zeref whenever he was down, which was a lot, then shook the memory out of her head, and focused on Natsu.
"Thank you for understanding…but Natsu, you deserve better than me, you deserve someone who's not likely to break your heart…someone like Lucy, or Wendy, not me…" Yuuki told him.
"I don't want anyone else, I just want you, and I'm not afraid to tell the world I love you, Yuuki Frost, and I know you feel the same way, I can see it in your eyes…but I can and will wait until you're ready to tell me that; until then…I'll leave you to your thoughts" Natsu said, getting up, and kissing Yuuki's forehead, before leaving the room.
Yuuki sighed, she was so confused at the moment; she had lingering feelings for the father of her child, whom she hated with a burning passion, and she also had strong feelings for the Dragon Slayer she grew up with. In her mind, the choice between the two was clear…but in her heart…she just didn't know. And if there was something she had always been told, it was to follow your heart.
/TBC/
((EMOTIONAL CHAPTER. SO MANY FEELS. I hope you all liked this very heartfelt chapter, and I will update soon! Please review!))