Ch. 6- Benizakura

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs are mine

Lucy gaped in horror as she stared down at the raging rapids down below where Natsu, Lisanna, and Happy disappeared. She waited for any sign of life- for the three of them to pop out of the water and take in a breath of air. However, the longer she watched and the longer she waited, the heavier that feeling of dread felt in the pit of her stomach.

Gray stood beside Lucy with a hand on her shoulder, clenching his teeth as he also watched for any sign of Natsu, Lisanna, and Happy, but there was still no sign of either of them. Haru had her mouth covered, as did Wendy, who whimpered as her pupils shrunk to pinpoint size. As for Erza, she stood there gaping in horror, a shuddering gasp escaping her throat. However, her shock soon turned into fury as she clenched her fists tightly before she turned to face the monster responsible…

…but it was gone. The fox had fled not long after the group had arrived.

"Dammit!" Gray cursed as he realized that the beast had escaped.

"Don't worry, we can track it down later," Erza said. "Right now, our priority is to find Natsu, Happy, and Lisanna."

"You don't think that they-" Wendy started.

"No," Lucy interrupted as she stood up, doing everything she could to fight down her tears. "There's no way that Natsu is dead… and for that matter, neither are Lisanna and Happy."

"She is right about that," Carla agreed as she flew to Wendy's side. "Natsu's either too stubborn or too foolish to die such a death like that… and for that matter, Happy's practically as invincible as he is."

"And knowing Flamehead, he probably did his best to keep Lisanna safe," Gray added.

"I hope so," Wendy said, worriedly.

"Maybe it'd be easier if we split up," Haru suggested as she hopped up on Blue Fang's back. "Lucy and I will take Blue Fang to go look for Natsu, Lisanna, and Happy."

"Then Gray, Carla, and Wendy will go with me as we go find the monster," Erza added.

"Actually, there's something you guys should know," Haru said as she fixed Erza with a hard stare. "Just before Natsu was snatched up by that fox, I saw something: it was wounded."

"Wounded?" Gray asked.

"Yeah," Haru answered. "I don't think that was the monster we were supposed to be looking for."

"Perhaps," Erza said, "but it doesn't explain why it was after Natsu in particular."

"That's a good point," Lucy added. "It seemed hellbent on attacking him."

"We'll worry about it, later," Gray said. "Let's just hurry and find that fox… and Natsu, too."

With that, the group split off with Haru, Lucy, and Blue Fang going down the river while Erza, Gray, Wendy, and Carla headed off in the opposite direction. However, as they left, Carla suddenly froze as her eyes went wide. In her mind's eye, several images flashed before her: there was Lucy and Lisanna, facing down a gigantic shadow. There was Natsu reaching out with a look of panic on his face as the shadow lunged forward with jaws agape, revealing sharp fangs. It was unclear who it lunged at… but all Carla could see was the sight of red splashing through the air.

"What in the world…?!" the white Exceed whispered.

"Carla!" Wendy called, noticing her friend had fallen behind. "Come on! What are you waiting for?"

"R-right! I'm coming!" Carla added… but even now, uneasiness settled in her heart.

'What was that?' she thought.

XXX

Meanwhile, somewhere deep in the forest, as the raging rapids turned into a calm, flowing stream, someone hummed a little tuneless song as they sat on the bank, holding a fishing pole: a little brown furry creature with a leaf on top of his head and a large, purple bag tied around his neck. He yawned, showing his tiny fangs as he held the fishing pole in his paws, waiting for something to take the bait. So far, though, no luck.

"Boy… the fish sure seem quiet today-poko," said the little raccoon dog. "Not even a nibble. I hope Beni and I will have enough food for the winter-poko."

Just as it seemed that he was getting ready to give up and call it a day, something finally caught on his line, causing him to gasp as he grabbed a tight hold of his pole.

"Oh! I caught something-poko!" he exclaimed as he began to pull, only to almost get yanked into the water. "Whoa! It's really big-poko!" With a groan, he pulled on his fishing pole as hard as he could. "Urrgh… almost…!"

Suddenly, there was a splash, and the little raccoon dog gasped as he saw that he had indeed hooked something. Three somethings, in fact… but they were not fish.

"AAAAAAAAH!" the little raccoon dog screamed as he scampered. "BENI! BENI, COME QUICK-POKO!"

XXX

"Natsu~!" Haru called as she, Lucy, and Blue Fang reached the bottom of the waterfall, but they still found no sign of Natsu, Lisanna, or Happy. "Lisanna! Happy!"

"I still don't see them," Lucy said as she scanned the area. Even Blue Fang whimpered anxiously, prompting Haru to gently scratch his neck in reassurance.

"I'm sure Natsu's okay," she said. "He's survived way worse, you know."

"I know," Lucy replied. "It's just… I can't help being worried, especially when it comes to Natsu. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's just as much my friend as everyone else in Fairy Tail, but-"

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Lucy," Haru said. "I know how close you and Natsu are. We all do."

Lucy's eyes softened and a tender smile creased her lips, causing Haru to smile back at her.

"Lucy, do you mind if I ask you something?" Haru asked. "Is Natsu just… a friend to you?"

"Huh?" Lucy muttered as she blinked in surprise. "W-where's this coming from?"

"Just tell me," Haru answered. "What is my brother to you? You keep calling him a friend… but I think there's more to it, don't you?"

Lucy felt her cheeks turn warm as she lightly scratched her finger against one, trying to think of what to say.

"Well… if I have to be honest," she said, "when I'm with Natsu… I feel happy. I mean, I'm happy to just be in Fairy Tail, but with him, it's like every day is an adventure. I mean, yeah, he can be reckless and he tends to be a little destructive but… he's also fun and he makes me feel like no matter how bad things look, everything will turn out okay." She smiled fondly as several memories appeared in her head of just her and Natsu together, fighting, running from various perils, and even just hanging out at her apartment together. "I… I like having him around."

"Well, while that is nice," Haru began, "that doesn't really answer my question, Lucy." She fixed the Celestial Spirit Wizard with a serious stare. "I'm asking you… how do you feel about my brother?"

"How do I… feel? About Natsu?" Lucy asked with widening eyes.

Ba-bump… ba-bump… ba-bump…

Her heart started pounding again, prompting her to place her hand over her chest.

"Well… I, uh…" she muttered.

"You know what, Lucy?" Haru asked. "Why don't you tell me when this job is over, okay? The answer will come to you, I'm sure. Don't force it."

Lucy quietly sighed in relief before she smiled and nodded at her friend, and with that, Blue Fang took off running into the forest with the two girls on his back.

However, little did they realize that as they left… a pair of glowing red eyes were leering at them through the darkness of the bamboo trees. It growled deeply before it slunk away into the shadows, quietly following them.

XXX

The first thing he could smell through the darkness was the scent of bamboo grass and old soot. Also, he could detect just a tiny hint of mold. He could also hear the sound of creaking wood as the wind blew softly. He groaned as his eyes slowly opened, his vision blurry as his senses began to return. Even then, though, the room was still a bit dark. It must have been later than he thought.

He attempted to sit up, only to wince a bit as he looked down at his chest, which was wrapped up all the way to his shoulder, and there was even some padding on the shoulder to keep it from bleeding more. No wonder he felt so stiff… not to mention hungry. His stomach gurgled, causing him to groan as he placed a hand over it. After that fight with that fox, it was no wonder he was so hungry.

Just then, he heard the sound of a sliding door open, and as he looked up, he saw the same little raccoon dog from before, carrying a wooden basin full of water and a clean rag. As he entered, he gasped as he noticed Natsu sitting up on the futon.

"Oh! You're awake-poko!" the little creature exclaimed. "How are you feeling?"

"Uh…" Natsu muttered as he stared at the furry animal.

"Um… are you okay-poko?" the raccoon dog asked.

Natsu's eyes widened… and his stomach growled ravenously and drool began to escape from his lips, the raccoon dog suddenly froze in fear.

"Uh… uh-oh…!" he squeaked.

"Food…!" Natsu droned as saliva began to fall in a cascade, pooling on the floor as he slowly stood up with his eyes glowing, and as he took a step forward, the raccoon dog whimpered as he took two steps back with every hair on his body standing on end.

"AAAAAH!" he screamed before he took off running on all fours with Natsu in hot pursuit (no pun intended). "HELP ME-POKO!"

"COME BACK HERE!" Natsu yelled as he chased after him, running all through the house as he tried to grab the little talking animal, drooling like a mad dog.

There was the sound of clattering pots and crashing dishes as Natsu continued to chase the little animal around every room until finally, they reached a larger room with a hearth. That's when Natsu finally got his hands on the raccoon dog, who yelped in fright as he was hoisted off the floor.

"Gotcha!" the Salamander exclaimed in triumph.

"No! No! Let me go-poko!" cried the raccoon dog.

"Hehehe! It's roast raccoon dog for dinner!" Natsu said with a crazed, hungry grin.

"Natsu?!"

As Natsu turned around, he saw Lisanna enter the room with Happy floating beside her, the latter holding Natsu's folded vest in his paws.

"What are you doing?!" Lisanna questioned.

"Yeah, are you crazy?!" asked Happy.

"Oh, hey, guys!" Natsu greeted. "Look what we're gonna have for dinner!"

"BENI!" the raccoon dog screamed. "BENI, HELP ME-POKO! DON'T LET HIM EAT ME-POKO!"

"Beni?" Natsu repeated. "Who's Beni-"

"NATSU, LOOK OUT!" Lisanna cried in warning, just as something whizzed through the air and sliced off a small part of Natsu's hair before it stabbed into the wall behind him. The Fire Dragon Slayer froze as he looked to his left and saw his horrified eyes staring back at him from the blade of a katana.

"Put Poko down!"

Natsu, Lisanna, and Happy all looked up to see a man with brown skin enter the room, wearing a maroon yukata with mauve hakama pants and matching obi, where Natsu could see the empty scabbard of the sword that had been thrown at him. The man's face was wrinkled and he had silvery hair that was tied back in a topknot. His narrowed, deep red eyes were fixed on the young Dragon Slayer as he scowled deeply. It was hard to tell, but Natsu could also make out a scar underneath the yukata, and the man had his left arm tucked inside as if he was using it as some sort of sling.

As Natsu got a good look at him, he tensed a bit and his eyes went wide as this familiar scent came to his nose.

The scent of mountain air and smoke.

'…Dad…?'

"Hey, boy!" the old man snapped. "Didn't you hear me?! I said to put Poko down!"

"Uh! S-sorry!" Natsu gasped as he finally put Poko down on the floor, prompting the little raccoon dog to run over to the old man and hide behind him.

"Are you all right, Poko?" the man asked him.

"Mm-hmm," Poko nodded. "I'm okay, Beni-poko."

"Now look here," the old man said as he wrenched his sword free from the wall and glared at Natsu. "If you ever try to eat Poko again, you'll be eating my steel, got that?!"

"I'm so sorry about Natsu, sir," Lisanna said. "Sometimes, he lets his stomach think for him."

"Aye," Happy nodded.

"If you want food," the old man began, "just wait a little while longer and I'll have dinner ready soon."

"Who are you anyway, old-timer?" asked Natsu.

"I'm the man that saved your life is who," the man answered as he sheathed his katana. "The name's Benizakura."

Review, please!

And to the person who keeps asking for Wano, I am trying my best.