Chapter 7: Time with Romeo, Mirajane and Elfman

Natsu was now walking outside with Happy, Sting and Rogue when Romeo came.

"Natsu-nii" Romeo called as he went to them. Natsu stared at him before remembering him, "Your… R-Romeo right?"

"Aye"

Romeo can't help but smile wider, he did remember his name. "Y-yes Natsu-nii! I'm glad you remember my name."

"I'm familiar that's all." Natsu said. Sting and Rogue smiled to each other before turning to Romeo.

"Are you the first one?" Sting asked. Romeo nod happily, "Yeah. I'm really happy to get the first number." Natsu turn to Sting, "What's that about?"

"Oh didn't they tell you? It's about taking turns when can we have a day with you." Romeo said. Natsu turn back to him and tilt his head, "Turn?"

"Aye! Natsu since somehow you remember something after you had a talk with Gray, everyone decide to have a whole day get to remember with you. Everyone took their numbers on who will go first." Happy explained with a smile.

Natsu understood and nod, "So that's everyone's secret meeting?" Rogue gave a sigh, "I still can't understand why it has to be kept secret."

Sting gave a grin, "Well don't mind it Rogue its fine." He turn to Romeo and smiled, "Me and Rogue will be leaving, be sure not to lose him on sight."

Natsu mentally pouted, 'I'm not a child Sting'

Romeo nod, "Leave it to me Sting-nii. I have high respect with Natsu-nii, that's why I will do whatever it takes to keep Natsu-nii safe."

Sting nod and Rogue smiled. Sting wave his hand, "Well, have a nice say."

Both Sting and Rogue slowly left the three. Natsu turn to both Happy and Romeo.

Romeo gave a smile, "Shall we go Natsu-nii? There's actually a place I wanted to take you, is that okay?" Natsu nod, telling sure. Happy was just smiling for them. The three soon walked away.

As the three walked around, few people were glancing over them, like they were watching a certain person. Romeo was looking around without making his Natsu-nii noticed, he could sense the eyes that were pointing to him which he doesn't know why. Happy didn't seems to notice anything as he walk and so was Natsu who was just watching both the road and Romeo, since he's the one who's leading the way.

They soon arrive which was only the normal road and few people were just walking around and most were children playing around. Natsu looked around the place and saw what ahead was a road where it will leave to Magnolia.

Natsu kept staring at it before Romeo spoke, "Natsu-nii did you know that this place was actually where I kept waited for Tochan when I was little?"

Natsu turn to Romeo who continued to speak, "You see Natsu-nii, I was actually being bullied back then. Telling me how weak Tochan was and because of their teasing, I began to yell at my Tochan and insist him to take a job. Tochan did and went off the job. It took a week and still he haven't return. I was worried that I kept waiting here, if not here, in the guild, hoping for him to return back. I still remember I kept bugging Master about having a search rescue since I was so worried."

"R-really?" Natsu asked. Happy raised his hand, "I still remember that time. Natsu you heard about Romeo's word about how worried he was and decided to search for him even if no one told you to search for him or even it's a job. You search for Macao with me and Lucy."

"Lucy? So she's with me too." Natsu said. Happy answered, "Aye! We always take her with us since she's our teammate."

Natsu nod and turn to Romeo, "Then what happened after that?"

Romeo smiled and continued, "You, happy and Lucy-nee return back safely with Tochan. I was actually happy you able to find him and bring him home that I immediate hug him. I was so glad and… Tochan told me… that if ever those bullies bully me again, I should say that 'Did your dad defeat 19 Vulcan, huh!?' Hehe, that was the greatest day of my life."

"Vulcan? Was that kind of ape that can take over people whom he attacks?" Natsu asked. Happy was surprise, "Natsu you know about it!?"

"I read them from a book before and I really didn't understand. Yua-san was the one who explain things for me."

"Ohh, that's how it is."

"But I'm impressed your dad able to defeat 19 Vulcans Romeo." Natsu said, making Romeo grin, "Right? Still I want to become like you."

"M-Me? Why me?" Natsu asked. Romeo answered as if it was his whole reason of living, "So that someday I could fight alongside you and this time, I will protect Fairy Tail like you always did Natsu-nii. I idolize your strength and determination, you are truly amazing Natsu-nii"

"Romeo" Suddenly, a flash of voices was heard from his mind.

"You've gotten big, huh, Romeo?"

"Welcome back Natsu-nii… Everyone…"

Natsu blink for a moment before grabbing his head and sat down the ground.

"Natsu!"

"Natsu-nii! A-are you alright?" Romeo asked in worried, already looking around to find someone for help. Natsu smiled and pat his shoulder, "I'm alright R-Romeo… somehow… I heard voices…"

"Voices?" Romeo asked. Natsu explained, "It seems it was my voice… 'You've gotten big, huh, Romeo?' and next was seems to be your voice… 'Welcome back Natsu-nii, everyone' When… when did that happened?"

Romeo gave a thought, "Well let's see…"

"Ah! It's the time when we came back from Tenrojima Island!" Happy said happily. Romeo somehow remembered it and smiled, "Natsu-nii do you remember? Tenrojima, the place where the S class exam been held! Remember?"

Natsu thought for a moment before shaking his head. That made Romeo and Happy feel down.

"I-I see"

"Somehow that's disappointed."

"No, I don't think so Romeo, Happy." Natsu said as he slowly stood up and pat Romeo's head, "Even if I still don't remember, it gave me reassurance that I indeed know you and… it really assured me… so thank you."

Romeo was surprise to his words, tears falling down before hugging him. "N-Natsu-nii!" Natsu hugged back, hopping to give comfort on the boy who seems really hurt because of him.

Hidden, there's a person who was hiding, watching them for the whole time. That person was about to approach them when someone grab his shoulder and pulled him in the harsh way. The person groan before sitting up, looking on the person who done that and surprise to him, it was Sting and Rogue who were seems giving a deadly glare.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sting asked in serious and dangerous tone. Dark auras were now coming out to Rogue, "Don't think you can hurt Natsu-san within our reach."

The person was so terrified and was about to shout when a shadow took him quickly and disappeared.

They soon head back the guild and saw them there. Romeo bid his farewell and this time, it seems it was Mirajane.

"Hello Natsu! Did you have a great day?" Mirajane asked with a great smile. Natsu smiled and nod, "Thank you M-Mirajane."

"Just call me Mira Natsu, like you used to call me." Mirajane said. Natsu nod, "Okay… Mi-Mira."

Mirajane can't help but giggle. "No need to be so nervous Natsu and… oh, want to go out with me? There's actually a place I wanted to take you, is that okay Natsu?"

Natsu nod as his answer, seeing no problem at all.

Natsu and Mirajane soon went to the Cathedral in the graveyard. Mirajane brought Natsu to the empty space and really, Natsu can't understand why they were here.

"You see Natsu, this is the graveyard where my little sister, Lisanna was burred." Mira began, earning Natsu's attention. She continued, "Well as you can see, its empty because my supposed dear dead sister was actually alive. You with Lucy, Erza, Gray, Happy, Gajeel, Wendy, Carla and Lily found her from Edolas."

"Edolas?" Natsu questioned. Mirajane nod, "Well I don't really know what truly happened there. You may ask Lily and the others about that. But right now, all I know is that thanks to you, Lisanna is with us again."

Natsu stayed quiet for a while before asking, "What happened to you back then? You know… how did you ended up believing she's dead."

"W-well…" Mira was thinking how to start the story when someone spoke from behind.

"It began when we took Neechan's S-class quest and I lost control over my take over magic."

Both turn around and Mira was surprise to see Elfman came to them.

"Elfman"

When Natsu first saw him, really he was terrified and hid behind Lucy and Erza. Seeing his fear made Erza smack his head for giving such fearing approach. Natsu never mind Erza's smacking as he kept hiding but when he saw how soft he was actually is even with a big body, he able to tell himself he's fine to be approach.

"D-did I scare you N-Natsu?" Elfman asked nervously. Remembering how the lost memory Natsu saw him when he approached him really terrified him. Natsu shook his head with a smile, "N-no and I'm sorry if I got scared. I was actually nervous since many people kept approaching me and I don't know if they'll hit me or not."

Mirajane giggle, "Oh that huh well don't worry Natsu. If ever some of our guild mates done that to you we'll make sure we'll give them a lesson."

"Lesson? How?" Natsu asked, really curious. Mira seems nervous as she's thinking a way to lie and finally found one, "Y-you know, talk to them and make them understand?" In truth, they might hurt the person more than normal… it seems.

Natsu nod, not noticing the lie at all. "So… what do you mean you lost control?"

"Oh… well… it happened a long time ago and as I had said, we took an S-class quest and head on the mission. It was about taking down a certain monster and… in the middle of it…" Elfman can't help but kept pausing. Remembering that time still terrified him. Mirajane can't help but looked down, feeling same as him.

Natsu somehow understand and pain so he spoke, "No need to continue if it hurts."

Elfman shook his head, declining it. He continued "On that time, I still can't actually use the full power of my take over magic, only I can change was my arms. But when I able to fully take over with my whole body, I senses disappeared and… Neechan and Lisanna tried to help me but then… I ended up attacking Lisanna with my whole strength, making her… d-di-die like that."

Elfman ended while his hand was shaking, still angry about how he lost control over it. Mirajane continue to the story.

"After that her body disappeared. Really we thought that it was her death, until two years had passed and the incident called Edolas happened. You with the others saved us and… return Lisanna back to us. It was our happiest day of our life."

Mirajane turn to Natsu who was still listening to them. Mira smiled for him, "That's why… thanks to you and the others, I finally regain my will to use my magic again and this time, never fail protecting my family again. I will use my demonic take over, to protect everyone in Fairy Tail… and so are you too Natsu."

Natsu was surprise by this. Did he really able to do that?

"Not just that Natsu" Elfman spoke, "Thanks to you my full man has return and evolved. I finally took a will to completely control it and I did. I embraced the darkness inside me, in order to protect Neechan, Lisanna and my Nakama, Fairy Tail. Really, you're a real man Natsu, thank you."

Natsu was still in disbelief until he looked down. Slowly he spoke, "B-but… even if you thank me… I don't remember doing such thing… so there's nothing to be thanked with… right?"

Mira shook her head, "That's not true Natsu. Remember it or not it doesn't matter. As long as it is you, our Nakama and Family or any person you are, we will always be thankful to you."

Mirajane walked forward and hugged Natsu, much as his surprise. Mira didn't mind as she continued to hug him, giving warm and reassurance that she will always be by his side even if he doesn't remember. Natsu was already important to her life, if ever something happened to him, surely she will never forgive those who had hurt him.

Elfman who doesn't know the dangerous situation only feel he would always be by his side. He remembered the time when Elfman admit he had killed Lisanna to him. He really expected to be beat up and feel every pain, knowing he deserved it but instead, it was forgiveness. He still remembered his word back then before he turned around and left.

"It wasn't your fault. If Lisanna was here, she will say the same thing. That's why stand up Elfman and never blame yourself again. No one is at fault, no one."

For some reason, tears came out to his eyes. He tried to wipe it but tears continue to flow.

Natsu who can feel the warm and reassurance from Mira and friendship from Elfman, for some reason an image appeared to his mind. It wasn't clear as always but still can guess what were happening. There, He seems to be standing from afar with his friends, watching the reunion of a certain brother and sisters. The place seems to be here too, the place where they were right now and the only additional was it was raining.

Natsu felt bit dizzy, still he was happy that the story they were telling seems true and the blurred image might be about their reunion. Natsu nod with a smile, "T-thank you… Mira… Elfman… for helping me remember something even if it was still blurred."

Mira and Elfman were wide eyes in shock before turning it back with a smile.

"You're welcome Natsu" Mira said with a smile. Elfman didn't spoke but was also thankful. They were glad, somehow even if he still doesn't remember everything, they able to crack it. They just hope that… the thing that keeping him from remembering would broke, so he could remember and finally, be home not physically, but mentally and heart.

Far from the three, someone was again observing them, a stalker. Mirajane seems to already notice the stalker's presence but kept it and focus on Natsu, knowing someone was there to watch over them and indeed there were.

The stalker this time was about to turn around and left when a certain person appeared before him. It was Yukino, glaring and holding a Libra Celestial Key.

"I won't run away if I were you." Yukino said, ready to strike any time.

The stalker was terrified and turned around to run away from the other side but it seems the person who was blocking the stalker's way was more terrifying. It was Erza, known as Titania of Fairy Tail. Erza was glaring on the person, sword appeared to her hand and pointed it to the stalker's neck.

"Running away is pointless." Erza said, truly no hesitation to stab the person at all. Seeing the stalker has no place to run sat on the ground in fear. Yukino narrowed her eyes and spoke, "Will you cooperate with us and have a nice long talk?"

Sunset and again they went back the guild. Rogue and Sting was there with Lector and Frosh. Once they saw Natsu with Mira and Elfman, Sting waved his hand.

"Natsu-san welcome back!" Sting said happily. Rogue just smile and so was Frosh. Lector spoke, "Let's eat Dinner Natsu-san."

Natsu smiled and nod.

Natsu with Sting and Rogue with their exceeds ate and of course some joined them.

Makarov was happily watching them, especially Natsu when Freed came. Seeing Natsu was more focus on his surroundings, Makarov narrowed his eyes on Freed and spoke in low tone.

"How was it?"

"Same as the other guy Master." Freed said, as his magic surround them secretly, making sure no noise would come out and listen to their conversation. "He accepted a quest from a certain person and if ever he found it, they will report it to the client. I tried calling the client but nothing. It seems this person knew what we were doing."

"They are trying to hide from us huh… did this guy has any desire to hurt Natsu?" Makarov asked.

Freed nod, "The first guy that Sting and Rogue has a pocket knife hidden to his belt. It seems he was planning to hostage him so he would obey him. The other guy that Yukino and Erza brought has a magic perfume that could make any person inhale this to sleep. He actually tried it to both Yukino and Erza but failed."

Makarov hum to that, "Even if we wanted to do something about them, we can't because they were just civilians… I can't hand them over the Council, knowing we need to tell them something without any evidence at all…"

"Umm… how about Doranbolt, Master?" Freed suggest. Makarov thought for a moment before deciding he is a perfect job for this. "I'll give him a call later… Did anyone have suspicious to you?"

Freed answer, "Other than Bickslow asking me, no one Master… Also, it seems Laxus-sama knew, telling me he heard it from the girls who were telling it to Mirajane. Laxus-sama told me to give this message to you, 'He'll find something on his own after the plan is done'."

Makarov was bit shock but smiled, knowing Laxus had finally gained a soft side to his Nakama, even Natsu. "Tell him I permitted him. I knew he wanted to tell it to me on his own but it might give suspicious after all. For now, keep those two lock up and make sure none of the guild member could pass though until Doranbolt and I came."

"Understood Master." Freed said before putting down his magic and turning away. Makarov turn back to them again and smiled. Truly…

Whoever made Natsu hurt and forget his memories shall pay the biggest prize they could ever ask for.

I do not own Fairy Tail

Next chapter Jan 1

Your author was grateful for your reviews, still your author wish for a definite character you wish to pair with Natsu. Please review your favorite pair and your author will do my best to make it work. Yaoi or not is fine, no lemon allowed, even if I admit I had read many rated M.