Just wanted to say before we start today, this chapter might be an answer to some questions. Ah? Ah? Read it.

Enjoy!

Nashi stared down at her feet as the guild talked all around her. The conversation concerning what to do had moved to Laxus' office, leaving everyone else to themselves. Nashi, however, was absorbed in thought.

"Nashi, promise me. Promise me you won't fight Neptu Skylancer."

Nashi had no idea what had come over her moment he was standing up to Neptu, the next he was falling back and acting frightened. Was it something Neptu had done? She hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary...

"Nashi?" Nashi looked up to find her mother standing there holding Luke. "I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Nashi replied. "A little banged up, but I'll live."

"That's good." Her mother sat down next to her, holding Luke out towards her. Nashi smiled weakly and took the baby boy from her arms, masking him laugh.

"Hey Luke." She said.

"Where's your father?" Her mother asked. Nashi shrugged as she played with Luke.

"I don't know." She said. "He acted weird and then took off."

"Acting weird?" She asked. "What do you mean?" Nashi sighed. Maybe her mother could help her figure this out.

"Well, I'm assuming you got filled in that those Demon Hunters showed up to take Gin." Her mother nodded.

"I got a basic grasp on the situation." She said. "Go on." Nashi thought back to the situation, still confused.

"Dad got up to confront the guy." She continued, shifting Luke around in her arms. "It looked like a brawl was about to start, but then...Dad backed off." At this, her mother made a confused sound.

"He backed off?" She asked, and Nashi nodded. "Do you know why?"

"Not a clue." She replied. "All I saw was the two of them about to fight and then Neptu, the Leader of the Hunters, starting using some kind of purple fire..."

"...What?" Nashi looked up to find her mothers facial expression much more serious than a moment ago. "Purple fire?"

"Yeah." Nashi said, nodding. "He did that and all of a sudden, Dad's backing away from him. And after that, he's telling me that under no circumstances am I to fight the guy, but I don't have a clue why. I mean, he uses fire magic. We could just eat the flames and be fine, right?"

Looking over at her mother, Nashi saw it.

It was only for a brief second because she had turned to look, but her mother's eyes flashed with fear before she quickly hid it. What was going on?

"I'm sure he just didn't want to start a fight in the guild hall, sweetheart." She said, voice shaky and uncertain. "I think I should go and find him, did you see what direction he went?"

"Nope, no idea." Nashi replied. "All I know is that he stormed out."

"Alright. Can you watch Luke for a little bit?"

"I'll do my best."

"Thank you," her mother said, nodding thankfully as she got up to leave the guild. Nashi looked down at her baby brother, who stared back up at her.

"Well?" She asked. "What do you think? What the hell's going on?"

Luke just cooed happily back at her.

Gin stared at the door to the infirmary, unsure if what he planned to do was best. He knew Steph and Damien's mother Mira where inside with him and Wendy, and he knew that because he'd been directed up here to speak to them.

After the whole situation involving Neptu coming right into the guild hall after him, Gin had been thinking. About the whole thing, really. And in doing this, he came to realize that he'd caused these people so much pain, and had no even apologized for it.

And so, he'd actively searched for Damien's mother and Steph. He was slightly more scared of his father, who was in his office with others from the guild.

Taking a deep breath, Gin steeled himself and slowly opened the door. Once it was fully open, he had a view of Wendy's back as she worked on Damien, and both his mother and Steph watched with worry in their eyes. Once he walked inside, Steph looked up.

"Oh, hey Gin." She said, voice cracking. "Did you need a checkup from Wendy?"

"No...I'm okay." He replied weakly as Wendy turned to him questioningly. "I'm not her biggest concern at the moment." Gin walked a bit closer, allowing himself a look at Damien. The poor guy didn't look any better than he did before, even with how hard Wendy appeared to be working. "How is he?" He asked.

"...Pretty bad." It was Wendy who replied to him. "The holy magic has done a number on him, much more than I had anticipated. His bodies barely responding to my healing."

"Will he...Be okay?" Gin asked her. Wendy shifted in her seat.

"I hope so." She murmured.

"What did you need, Gin?" Steph asked. Gin took his turn to shift around, and he stared at his feet.

"I wanted to, uh, apologize." He said.

"For what?" Steph asked. This caused Gin to let out a harsh laugh.

"For what?" He asked. "How about bringing all of this down on you folks? For getting you all involved in my struggle and getting Damien hurt? Or maybe making it easy for the Hunters to track us back here and threaten everyone here and even the whole city? Or the fact that I didn't give myself up when they came here?"

"Gin..." Steph started.

"All I've ever done, no matter what happens, is bring people pain." Gin continued, cutting her off. "No matter what happens, me getting involved always ends in pain and suffering, until even the kind faces turn away in fear. As such, I distance myself. And even then, i end up in ass backwards situations like this where no matter what someone gets hurt and it\s all my...!"

Gin was cut off as Mira wrapped him in her arms tightly.

"Thank you." Mira whispered, hugging Gin tightly. Gin was confused. What the hell was she doing?

"W-What are you...?" Gin asked weakly. "Thank you for what?"

"For doing what you did." She replied, still gripping him tightly. "Steph told me you did everything you could to make sure the others got Damien out of the battlefield. Even fighting the man who did it to him. Thank you."

"I don't understand..." Gin hissed, clenching his fists. "I'm the reason he's in here, I made his injuries reality..."

"You put your own life on the line to make sure that he could get home safely." At this, Mira let out a sad little laugh. "Isn't that what you were chastising us for?"

"That doesn't mean..." Gin felt an odd warm feeling in his chest. "I didn't...There's no need..."

"Also, it sounded like you needed a hug." She added. "Don't worry, the kids did good getting you here as well. We won't let those men hurt you."

The mothers words made the warm feeling spread all over Gin's body, and at first it put him on edge. Why was she being so kind after Gin had her son put into a near death state?

"I don't..." Gin hissed, his eyes growing watery for the first time in a while. "You people..."

"It's not so bad being nice to people, you know." Mira told him. "I speak from experience, Gin. Bu not everyone's bad, right?"

"...I guess so." Gin managed, trying to hold himself together. He didn't know why after all he had been through, those simple words caused him to falter so badly. Perhaps after so long of being treated like a monster, being treated like a human being felt good.

Gin was brought out of his thoughts as Wendy leaned back in her seat and sighed.

"So?" Steph asked hopefully as Mira let Gin go, but the warm feeling didn't leave. Wendy stared down at Damien before she looked up at the mother and daughter.

"He's...Making it." She said. "I managed to find our biggest problem."

"Which is?" Mira asked. Wendy hovered a hand over Damien's chest, and her hand glowed. Soon after, Gin noted that the center of Damien's chest glowed white, in the shape of a blade incision. Quinn's blade.

"That's the source of our problems." She said. "I said before that Damien had what appeared to be holy magic flowing through his system, and he does. The insertion of the blade here has left heavy amounts of holy residue in Damien's system."

"So...Will he live?" Steph asked. Wendy took her sweet time reply before she looked up.

"He will if I work hard at it." She replied. "Once the holy magic's gone, he'll probably heal up quicker. He won't be fit for combat any time soon, though."

"I think that'll do him some good." Mira said, laughing weakly. Gin watched the four of them silently, feeling glad that Damien was probably going to make it. He turned at this and made for the door, but paused before he did.

"Thank you, Mira." He said. "For what you said."

"No problem." She said. Gin exited the infirmary at this, and surveyed the guild hall. While it was not rowdy and boisterous anymore, there were still many who engaged in happy conversations with others.

And all of these people were in danger because of Gin. Not because of him, but those who sought to end him.

Gin's surveying glance eventually landed on Nashi, who seemed to be playing with a bundle of blankets in her hands. Gin noted that she too seemed very happy. The woman looked up and caught Gin staring, and beckoned him to come over. He did so, and noted that it was actually a child in Nashi's arms.

"Hey." She said. "How's Damien doing?"

"He'll probably be okay." He replied quietly. "Wendy's found a way to help him."

"That's a relief." She said. Gin looked down at the happy looking baby to find it staring at him curiously.

"Uh, cute kid." Gin managed. Nashi's chuckled.

"He is, yeah." She said. Gin looked around.

"Is he, uh...?" He started, unsure of how to phrase the question.

"My little brother?" Nashi asked. "Yeah. His name's Luke"

"Oh. Okay." Gin said, dropping it quickly. "Cool."

"Mm hm." Nashi agreed. "Hey, could you hold him for a sec? My arms are killing me."

"Uh..." Before Gin could say one thing or another Nashi was thrusting the small child into Gin's arms, who swallowed and took him. He was heavier than Gin had expected, although he'd never really held a kid before. Luke started to laugh and wave his arms around at Gin, which made him crack a smile. Despite all the tensity around him, the little guy was happy.

But Luke was also in danger.

At this, Gin frowned as he stared down at the baby. He was endangering such a small and defenseless person with his presence. Could he really do such a thing.

"Okay, I can take him if you want." He heard Nashi tell him. He slowly handed Luke back over, and stared at his feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Gin replied. "Just great."

I know that it's the right thing to do. No more blood needs to be split over me. Even if the guild tries to protect me, they shouldn't have to. I'm not going to be a such a burden to these people.

Lucy had no idea where else to check for Natsu but home. As she stared up at the building, she contemplated her options. From what Nashi had told her, the situation was very dire. And anything but preferable. Lucy steeled herself and entered the house, looking around.

"Natsu?" She asked, looking around. She slowly searched the rooms of the house, before coming across the slightly ajar bedroom door. Slowly pushing it open, Lucy saw Natsu standing by their window, staring out at the city. "There you are. I was looking for you."

Natsu didn't say anything as Lucy walked up behind him.

"Nashi told me some thugs came to the guild hall." She said. "And something happened with them, didn't it?" Again, she got no response from her husband. "Natsu, cane you please talk to me? Let me help you." Again, met with silence. Lucy knew from experience losing her temper wouldn't help.

She walked closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Natsu, please." She said. "I know you think I'm dumb. You have since the day we met. But I'm not. Tell me what's going on. What's bothering you. That man? The guild. Or is it the purple fire?"

At this, Lucy noted a reaction.

Natsu went from a stone cold stare out the window to wincing.

"The fire, then?" She asked. "What's up with it? Why is it bothering you so much?" Natsu didn't day anything, and she sighed. "I know you love to keep things to yourself, but please Natsu I want t-"

"it was purple Lucy." He replied quietly, staring out the window. "His flames...They were purple."

"And?" She asked. "What does the color of his flames have to do with anything?" Natsu sighed, but remained silent a little longer.

"...Think, Lucy." He replied. "We've seen this kind of thing before, but only once." Lucy thought back to all the adventures they had had, but saw nothing that seemed relevant.

"I don't know." She said. Her response seemed to irritate Natsu.

"I'll ring the bell for you." He said, whirling on her. "Tartarus. Sun Village. The ice, Lucy. You got it yet?" Lucy felt a bit nauseous. "No? Here's a good one. Silver. Gray. And that fight between us..."

It didn't take long after that for Lucy's eyes to widen.

"Oh no..." She whispered. Natsu nodded sternly.

"There it is." He said. "You know. You know what he is."

"What do we do?"

"I don't know." Lucy stared down at her feet as a knot started to form in her stomach. This was very bad.

"I can't believe it." She whispered. "It's a lost art form, isn't it?"

"Of course it is." Natsu hissed. "But it's not lost anymore, he uses it. I felt it the second those flames erupted in his hands."

"So, that means..." Natsu laughed coldly.

"Yeah." He said. "I'm scared of Neptu Skylancer because of that fire." Lucy nodded weakly, sweat dripping down her forward.

"Fire Devil Slaying Magic." She whispered.

"And Quinn said that he told three divisions to make their way...Sir?" Neptu broke out of his trance to find Elizabeth watching him carefully from across the table. "Are you okay?"

"Hm?" He asked. "Yeah, sure. Good report."

"That's not what I said, sir." Damn it. Neptu sighed and put his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry, Lizzie." He said, "I was just thinking about everything that happened today."

"What about it, if I may ask?" Neptu slowly looked up at Elizabeth. The blonde woman was usually by Neptu's side, and she had been since the beginning. He didn't mind telling her.

"It's just..." he started. "...The Demon Lords."

"What about them?" Neptu sighed.

"There's two." he said. "We found two just out of nowhere. Unfortunately, neither of them are the one I'm after."

"It would appear not, no." Neptu sighed.

"You'd think if we found any, there'd be a chance, but he still alludes us."

"Not to sound rude, sir." Elizabeth said, brushing her hair over her ear. "But there are twelve Demon Lords. In was a one in twelve chance we find him." Neptu sighed.

"I know." He said. "Trust me, I know. It's been one in twelve since it happened." He said back in his seat. "I just wish for once, just once, the lead led us to him."

"I know it must be hard, Neptu." She said. "Chasing someone like that for so long." Neptu laughed harshly.

"Don't call him someone." He said. "That makes him sound like he's human. He's not. Just like the rest of them, he's a monster. Feeds off of mortal anger and despair like any demon."

"I know." She said softly. "And I know how much finding him means to you. But for right now, you'd best keep your eyes on that Gin boy. He's a Demon Lord as well, remember. And from what Quinn said, he isn't a pushover."

"I know." He said. "And I will. Thanks for listening."

"I have for years, no point in stopping now." She said. Neptu nodded.

"You should go to bed, Liz."

"Will you stay up all night torturing yourself over this?" She asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Maybe, maybe not." He said. "Guess we'll have to find out." Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but nodded as she turned and exited the tent. Neptu leaned back and stared up at the roof of his tent, pondering what to do.

Before long, he slowly rolled up his sleeve. There, on is arm, was a burn. He'd been burned so many years ago. Most people would have forgotten about something lime this, but that day had been burned into Neptu's mind. He'd never forget it. Ever.

After all, it was the day Drakhosz, The Lord of Pain, took damn near everything from him.

Neptu raised the burned arm and watched as purple flame danced around his fingertips. A last gift from those he'd lost that day. He sighed and lowered the arm, and went back to staring at the roof.

Even if I have to find the other eleven first, I'll find him. I have too. For everyone who lost someone that day. The Flames will see to that. They always do.

And I'm sure you guys got some answers from this one, huh? i hope you enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try to get five!