So… I apologize….Again…It's like an eternity. But I'm here now, so here's the latest chapter. This is a secret chapter title revealed at the end so please continue reading.

Chapter 24

He wasn't wearing those runes anymore. But his feet and hands were chained with hard cold metal. He had deep dark lines under his eyes but that didn't stop him from flashing a smile to the blonde as she entered the room.

Lucy gave a solemn nod to Erza while the red-head gazed blankly at the pink haired man before firmly shutting the metal door.

The blonde stared at the restrained man. There was a silver plate with briskets, slices of fruit and a roll of bread, untouched, beside him while the room glowed with scriptures. Then she examined his features. Unlike her Natsu, he had a little bit longer and shaggier hair, with the tips in a reddish color. There was small, thin scar on the side of his right cheek. In addition, his eyes were the color of deep carat gold and the corners were more refined. She stared at his neck where there should've been a scar but dreadfully, there wasn't. This guy may not been the same Natsu she been looking for.

"Are you just going to continue staring at me?" He asked, with the smile never leaving his lips.

Lucy flinched backward, her hands hesitantly on the wall behind her, with the doorknob pressed behind her back. His voice was the same. It was the same lips that whispered: I love you.

"You were looking for me" The blonde muttered which sounded as a question, after a while, she took a brave step forward. She placed her hand on her keys protectively like a reflex. Hiro raised an arch pink eyebrow, then he shrugged and readjusted himself. He flexed his left arm, crinkling his new gray clothing. Some locks of his shaggy hair dangled to the side. Lucy realized that she was observing his movements to see if he was to do anything, Natsu-like. Why can't she just given up?

"I just wanted to ask you something" The man muttered, before his eyes narrowing at her, his gold eyes gleamed with unknown mischief. Lucy glanced back nervously at the door, in a silent plea for assistance.

"You do know, there is people listening to our conversation right at this moment" Lucy told the man, she held up a small device that similarly resembles a bird, from her pocket. She felt her sweat trickle from the side of her face as she rubbed the metal ring that held onto her celestial keys. But the man laid to his side, while pushing his uneaten breakfast toward the wall, another trait that was different from Natsu.

"Like I care if they hear us" He said, as he gave a bored look to her. "They can just go to Hell" Hiro raised his voice, loudly at the end. The blonde can a "thump" from outside the room. Someone was clearly pissed from Hiro's words. The pink haired man gave a simple grin and chuckles as he heard the noise. He then lays his head to the side.

Lucy frowned at him, subconsciously, at his child-like behavior. She didn't know why she felt an eerie sense of calamity despite the horrible person who laid before her. "Why do you have fun at people's distress?" She asked bitterly, a little angry at the pink haired man for making fun of her nakama.

"Because I feel like it, Lucy Heartfilia" The man replied, with a harsh tone at the sound of her name, he turned his back to her. "You have a problem with my own terms of fun?"

Lucy felt strangely angry. She stormed over to him and rolled him around until he faced her. The sounds of Hiro's chains clanked together as the man's eyes widened for the first time. He stared up at her face, shocked, as she glared at him.

"First of all, when you want to talk to someone, you face them and look at them in the eye. Second, didn't you call me in here to talk?! What did you want to ask me? And lastly, don't you dare make fun of my friends!" She said to him. She ignored the sounds of giggling and howls of guffaws coming from the bird microphone device, and focused only on the rude man whose gold eyes stared wondrously back at her. For the first time in Hiro's life, someone had caught him in surprise.

Before he knew it, his mouth opened. "…Aye"

Then Lucy retorted back. Even the sounds of laughter were cut short from the microphone. Lucy backed up until her palms were against the wall, as she stared shockingly at Hiro. Her brown eyes flashed a particular person in Hiro's place and saying that exact word.

Aye.

"…What did you just say?" Lucy whispered. Hiro frowned, his eyebrows scrunched up together in thought. He wondered why, people made a big fuss over a simple word.

"What do you mean, Lucy Heartfilia?" The man asked, his voice shifted back to sudden coldness. The blonde turned to the door, as if someone was behind it and was wondering the same thing. She had heard it. She knew she did. She felt her spirits lift for the first time in days.

Hiro, however, cursed himself for "surrendering". He had never given in to anyone before, nonetheless a girl! He clenched his hands, this place had almost made him go insane. All of their kindness and gentle words wanted to make him puke. But he felt one small inner part of him, strike with pain. He had never experienced such care since the day he was born. His extreme thinking was making his chains rattle. If only he could get out from these runes… then he would leave this torture house immediately.

"Lucy Heartfilia. You asked and wondered why I called you in here" Hiro called to the shaken up girl. He tried to mask his wavering voice with pure insistence. Fortunately, the girl bought it. Lucy stared over to him, startled. Her brown eyes trembled with anticipation and remorse. Why did she look like that?

"Well, come back tomorrow and I'll tell you" He muttered in a low volume, focusing his gold eyes to the blonde celestial mage. "And call off those pesky listeners" He adds, while glaring at the metal door as if someone was standing behind it. On cue, the red-haired demon, Erza, opened the door and entered. Her long red hair fluttered slightly as the woman closed the door, shut. Her eyes were emotionless but firm.

"Oh, I didn't know you were listening Titania" Hiro mumbled but a thin smile escaping his mouth. The red-haired woman didn't even listened. She immediately got right into the topic.

"Why shouldn't we listen in to your conversation?" The woman asked as her voice was hollow like a noise echoing in an empty well. Lucy stared sadly at the red-head, knowing very well how she felt.

"Because I don't trust you all" The man casually answers and gives her a toothy grin, making the woman shudder. "But Lucy Heartfilia is interesting" He adds and points to the blonde, without his gaze leaving the red-haired woman. His shackles made loud clanks as he dropped his arm. "I only want to talk to her" He mutters before his sweet smile leaves his face.

Erza bites her lip, clearly in deep thought, before shifting her eyes to Lucy. All she saw was a girl who looked quite shocked and a little bit hopeful. The woman was quite worried for the blonde. She knew, Lucy was grieving over their loss over Natsu and still had the belief that Hiro may be their deceased nakama. But she didn't want the girl to be in more suffering if Hiro didn't turn out to be who everyone thinks he is. Erza sighs, before giving a hard glare to the chained man.

"I agree to your terms… But if you hurt Lucy in any way…Say anything that will make her suffer in any way, I will not hesitate to pierce my sword through your heart"

Hiro smiles. He felt the corners of his mouth stretch across his cheeks.

"I wouldn't have it either way" His escape was coming soon.

Natsu's POV.

What the hell is happening? There was an imposter… At least I think he's an imposter… No, No, NO. HE IS DEFINITELY AN IMPOSTER. He is posing as me but is in incognito as a man name Hiro. He looked nothing like me though. Obviously, I am way better-looking as him. Wait. WHAT AM I SAYING?! I SHOULDN'T BE SAYING THESE THINGS DURING A TIME LIKE THIS!

I grimaced as I floated mid-air. I just realized I could do this. Being a ghost does have its privileges. I pinched some of my longer pink hair. It has been eight months now. And it's getting closer to nine… I wonder how much has changed since I passed away… Princess came out of the door, with a sadden look on her face. What did the bastard to her? Immediately, all of my priorities are turned toward her. My invisible self rushed to stand in front of her.

Her brown eyes, twinkled with tears and her blonde hair was tucked in by her ear. She was wearing her heart crux brand clothing and her keys were strapped tightly to her side. Her peaceful expression was the only reason why I felt so happy. I didn't want anything to take away her smile. I gave her a faint grin despite her not seeing it. She is simply beautiful.

'Princess' I whispered, sadly, as I cupped the side of her face and stroke it. I ignored the fact that my hand went through her face. Then a few seconds later, Erza walks out and her reaction was different. She was more mad than depressed. I jumped back, my feet barely touching the ground.

"Lucy, please continue your breakfast" Erza mumbles quietly. The blonde princess looks at her, shyly. "Would you be okay Erza, alone by yourself?"

The red-head nodded before, gently touching the nape of her neck. She winced as she felt the deep purple bruise. I could feel her pain. The area where Hiro had smacked her during the fight two days ago. The man can even damage the iron woman's body with one hit. If I could use my magic, I knew flames would be sprouting everywhere in my hair now.

"I'm fine… Besides someone else requested to see our captive" Erza replies. But I flinched. I noticed one thing about the girl's words. Erza had never mentioned Hiro by his name or any other way. Just "Captive" or "Prisoner". I was never good at realizing these things but being dead, had helped me analyze things better. But it's not like, I like being dead. But still…I feel a sudden urge to punch myself. I know that my death was the cause of everyone's despair and sorrow.

My thoughts were interrupted when the blonde princess shifted in movement. The girl nodded, warily and starts to walk off. I floated in midair and made a motion to follow but before I left the dark hallway, I catch one final glimpse of Erza. My eyes widened as I saw the red-haired woman's arms wrapped around herself, tightly, and her head tipped toward the ground, believing that no one could see her. But without her knowing, I can see her body shivering uncontrollably. Before I knew it… she was crying.

The Erza I know, shouldn't be crying. Heck, not even shed a tear! She should beat people up. Telling people to shut up. Eating strawberry cheesecake with a silly grin on her prominent features. And be the strong and awesome Erza Scarlett! …

That man was responsible.

That's when I knew… that I would never forgive that man. The name of that horrible man, Hiro, is now my enemy.

Hiro's POV.

I sneezed out of nowhere. I wiped my nose and then I slumped my head onto the cold hard ground. I stared at the ceiling, at the many runes that floated everywhere. I stared at them until I turned them into different types of animals using my imagination. That one over there, is a monkey. The one to the left is a narwhal (Trust me, you don't want to know how I got to that conclusion). Yep. That's how BORED I AM!

I groaned and tapped the ground a couple of times, before making it into a tune. But then, I got aggravated after a while so I smashed my fist into the ground. But as always, the floor repaired itself after every attempt. Great. Just great.

Someone knocked the metal door, twice, like almost in politeness. Great, now these guys are making fun of me. My head snapped right up, with my spiky, messy pink hair jumbled up in every direction.

"Come in!" I said back with mocking innocence. How stupid can these guys get? I expected the red-haired chick to come back since she visits 3x each day, so I fell back to the ground. But instead of black boots and armored knee-pads, I saw brown sandals and two gray pegs that resembled crutches. My eyes glazed upward, lazily at the new visitor. I keep getting surprises each day.

"Yo" I said before sitting upright again. I started to tip to the right since from the force of my sudden sitting position. "What can I do for you, new visitor?" I asked, I clapped my hands together, making my silver chains clink in a rhythm.

This guy had blonde spiky hair and grayish blue eyes. His mouth was in a deep thin line. He had deep bags underneath his hues and he was sickly pale. I could tell his voice was shaky. I raised an eyebrow at the eerie silence. I still assume that he's still angry at me.

"…I just wanted to see how you were doing" he replies.

I held back a laugh. I stared at him with sarcasm written over my gold eyes. "I live under surveillance 24/7. With people coming to interrogate me every fucking second when I really fucking want to leave. SO DO YOU THINK I'M DOING FINE?!"

My sudden boast hadn't even fazed this guy. What do these guys call him? His name? Sting, I believe. He was a dragon slayer. I remembered the strong scent of his blood that used to be a tally mark on my cheek, until it wore away. For some reason, I felt my sudden urge of dragon's blood, lessen. But I stared at the dragon slayer as he stared at me with those sorrowful blue eyes.

"Hiro-san. Please cut out those curses when you speak. I can hear you in the infirmary" 'Sting' simply states. I stare at him, confused. He was like an annoying next door neighbor who complains about your music is too loud or something. And what's with the honorific?! This man didn't even like me! But he sort of reminds me of someone I knew…

Instead of answering, my mouth opens and speaks on its own. "You resemble my friend, Zancrow"

Sting was taken back. "In general terms, did you just stated…that I'm like your friend?"

I smacked myself, mentally. Why did I just burst that aloud?! I brushed my shaggy pink/reddish hair to the side in slight embarrassment. "I have this weird…friend…who talks and acts like you…"

I caught a gleam of happiness in the boy's blue eyes. But that only lasted for a second. But it seemed like he admired me or something. Or maybe he used to admire this so-called- Natsu…

That name again. It's getting pretty annoying to hear the same things again. "Tell me, Sting. Who was this Natsu guy?" I asked abruptly while in result, I see the blonde haired man retort back, his pale complexion turned another shade lighter. But my gold eyes stared him down. "He seems like an well-liked man. I suppose he was your previous guild master? Or someone famous perhaps, judging by the great remarks I've heard about him"

"…No, he was just a normal fire magician" Sting answers slowly. I eyed him as if he was kidding. But written all over the boy's face, was the truth. I was shocked at his answer. He was serious. He was FUCKING completely SERIOUS!

"He was just a guy…?" I asked, slowly, wording everything out.

"Mhm"

"…No special powers or anything?"

"Well, he does have a unique type dragon blood"

"But does that help your guild in any way possible?!"

"Uh, no. It only benefits himself. Natsu-san was quite selfish"

"… So basically, in another way, you're telling me that he was just a normal wizard who can get beat up by Titania, right?"

"Not 'can'. 'Does'. He gets beat up every day"

"…"

Are you fucking serious?

"AND HERE I THOUGHT, HE WAS SOMEONE SPECIAL! HE WAS BASICALLY NOTHING! YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF EVERYTHING!"

Sting suddenly glares at me. Despite his sickly composition and destroyed insides, courtesy by me, he still managed to looked pissed. "Even though, he was just like us, he had something that no one had. And that's the power of FEELINGS. For that reason, HE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NAKAMA WE COULD EVER HAVE!"

I stare at him, observing him with my slightly shocked gold eyes. But still, the power of feelings? What kind of power was that? But by examining Sting's fierce expression, I knew this Natsu was more special than I think.

"Alright. I got it. He's important" I replied, holding my shackled hands in peace, and almost immediately, the blonde calmed himself down. I stared at him a little more. How strange these fairies were. But this is how strong their bond was. One slight insult about their 'nakama', they will be ready to beat you to the pulp. I remember Lucy Heartfilia was doing the same.

"don't you dare make fun of my friends!"

…This was definitely a strange guild. Fairy Tail.

I disliked this place.(A/N sudden transition!) I sat cross- legged and looked at the ugly piece of metal, tightly gripping onto my wrists. I can see my dry blood underneath those chained hands. I knew that Sting guy was watching me sit quietly and when I snapped my head upward to meet his gaze. I saw him twitch and his eyes flashed with familiarity. I gritted my teeth quietly.

"Can you please leave me alone for a bit" I muttered in a low whisper, after looking away. The blonde didn't respond but he rose from his sitting position and made his way out the door. I can hear the door click as it unlocked and the door opening.

"I don't know what I feel toward you, Hiro-san" The blonde admits before leaving. "But…You have gotten kinder" He mutters. Then he closed my door but the sound of it sealing, echoed in my ears, along with Sting's words. I stared wide open at my hands. I chuckle nervously in disbelief. I haven't gotten kinder. This place isn't changing me. Nothing isn't going to take away my sins and nothing ever will. I swear.

No one can change me.

Normal POV.

The next day…

She knocked the door quietly while carrying the silver tray filled with food. Lucy felt her heart clenched up when the man's voice called her in. She nodded to Freed who was applying a new set of runes onto the door. Then she opened the door, hesitantly.

"I was afraid that you weren't going to come, Lucy Heartfilia" He said as he sat upright. He looked better than yesterday. He didn't have the dark lines underneath his gold hues anymore but the dinner he had the night before, was in the corner and was eaten slightly. He had only been here for four days now.

"I wouldn't want to disappoint you" The blonde said with the same sarcastic tone, before shutting the door. The man sighed deeply as he saw more food in the girl's hands but he folded his arms to his lap.

The girl placed the tray in front of the pink haired man. After, she sat directly across from him and motioned him to eat. Instead, he brought up his chains and examined his shackles.

"What do you want to ask me?"

The pink haired man inched an eyebrow before answering. "Answer me this, how do you Fairies know my master?" Hiro asked, he pushed the tray to the side with the other dishes.

The blonde shifted uncomfortably. She had the sudden horrible memory of an evil man who slaughtered her family. She can feel herself tremble. "It's a long story-" Her voice paused once she saw the pink haired man's lowered gaze. She sighed after a long period of silence and then she began to explain everything.

She didn't know if Hiro was listening intently but she felt as he did. But after she finished, the pink haired man was deathly silent. The girl coughed slightly to get the man's attention. She didn't even want to think of the horrible childhood past she had. She told Hiro everything. Her mother, Jose, Natsu, that fated day, everything... "Since I answered your question, you have to answer some of mine"

The man grunted uncomfortably. "I guess I saw that coming" He sat up straight and his eyes gleamed from the faint green light coming from the runes. Lucy then realized that he didn't ask anything about her long story. Surprisingly, she felt grateful for this merciless man.

"What is your magic?" She asked. Almost immediately, she felt his expression darken. His shaggy pink/red hair dangled to conceal part of his golden orbs.

"…I don't have any magic"

Somehow, Lucy knew that he was telling the truth.

"I owe Master Hades my life. I was left alone in the forests when I was 3. During around that time, Master Hades found me. He didn't give up on me when everyone else had magical power. For that, I wanted to prove myself worthy enough to serve him…That's why I forced myself with the same training with the other people in my group. I made myself stronger, by enhancing my stamina, strength, mobility and durability even though I don't have a single bit of magical power in me" The man's voice was low. The blonde princess noticed some loneliness in his voice. "Master Hades doesn't pick favorites. But it is my job to exceed his expectations of me"

"What a sad way to live a childhood" Lucy muttered. The pink haired man looked at her with a shocked expression in his gold eyes.

"You wouldn't understand. Master Hades is a father that I wished I had. I have no regrets in helping my master" The man's voice suddenly rose higher in volume. "Despite the rough training, my closest friends were there to support me. And even though sometimes, they are annoying as hell, I would kill anyone who hurts them" Immediately, his gold predator eyes dilated into slits and glared at the blonde, menacingly. Lucy gulped and nodded. This man was indeed scary.

"I understand" Lucy mumbles which made the man's arms un-tense. "I'm sorry for my outburst…"Hiro mutters after a while. "It's just that…I'm not used to explaining things to people…"

Lucy was confused. "Then why are you telling me this?"

"Like I told you before. I trust you, Lucy Heartfilia"

Lucy felt her chest stung with an unknown pain. His eyes looked sincere for the first time since she met him. Lucy felt a source of happiness build up in her stomach for some reason. She felt glad that this man trusts her. Then her mind stopped. Why did she care about what Hiro thinks of her?

"It's getting late" The blonde princess states abruptly. "I should be going"

The pink haired man nods after a while. He grabs the already-cold piece of bread and takes a large bite from it. He picks up the warm broth and sipped it as the blonde princess packs up the extra trays from the corner. She walked to the door and opens it.

"See you tomorrow Lucy Heartfilia?" He calls out, in between bites of meat.

The girl pauses in the doorway.

"Sure"

Lucy's POV.

3 days later…

"Are you dozing off, Lu-chan?"

I snapped my head up. I looked to the worried blue haired girl with the orange bandana. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Levy-chan, I'm really am" I smiled to her. The girl's brown eyes flashed with unfamiliar thinking. But then Levy-chan's face lit up in a bright smile. She gestured to my journal that contained my new work but most of the pages were blank.

"So did you think of anything new for your book?" She asked.

I shook my head. She noticed my down expression and she rubbed my shoulder repeatedly. I picked up my feather writing tool and twirled it in my fingers. I couldn't stop thinking about Hiro. I talked to him each day. He would sometimes murmur some memories of his childhood and I would quietly listened. The more he described of his past, the more I realized that he was drifting away from my Natsu. He is not Natsu…I stayed unconsciously quiet.

"What did he do to you?!"

My head snapped up to the voice. Gray smacked his hand onto the wooden table, making my ink bottle splash to the side a little. I saw Levy-chan fold her arms and glanced at me shyly.

"What do you mean, Gray?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, with his frown still intact. "You can't lie to me or Levy or anyone. We know you Lucy. We know you are hiding something. So please…tell us, what is going on with you" he begged. I turned to Levy-chan and I saw her have the same look on her features like Gray. I gulped and chuckled to myself, lightly and halfheartedly.

"Nothing gets past you, Gray" I mumbled, with my lips forming into an emotionless smile. "I guess you're right… I think I'm kind of depressed" I gripped my pen hold tightly by its handle and began to write in one blank page of my journal. "All I can think about is Hiro and every word he said to me. And every second, I keep on wondering why do I keep thinking about him and why does he remind me so much about Natsu. His voice, his appearance, everything about him!" I scribbled the words down harshly onto the thick paper. "I wonder why the world is against me. Why does everyone want me to suffer?!" I felt my tears drip from my cheeks and splatter onto my printed letters. "Every fricking second, I feel my heart is going to explode from thinking about this! My chest hurts so much…" I slammed my feather pen onto the table. I turned to them suddenly, with some tears spilling from my trembling brown eyes. "You tell me. What is going on?! Why am I feeling toward him?!"

Eyes were staring at me now. I know they heard every single word. Gray's hair covered his eyes. Levy-chan's brown eyes rimmed with her own tears. A new hand gripped my shoulder and made me turn toward them. I saw a blonde hair man who stared at me with sorrowful eyes. His accompanies are behind him, with the same sad, worried expression.

"You love him, Lucy… You love Hiro-san"

End of chapter 24

The title of this chapter is called… "I love the prisoner"

Tada! The new chapter is finished. I hope you guys enjoyed this and please wait for the new chapter.

Chapter 25: Turning Point