The night after Natsu and Irene shared their moment of passion, the weight of it all continued to press heavily on Natsu's shoulders. The guild was no longer a place of warmth and belonging—it felt foreign, distant, like the flames that once gave him comfort had turned cold.

He hadn't seen Erza since their confrontation. The thought of her expression, her words, replayed in his mind like a haunting echo. But what was worse, deep inside, was the undeniable pull he felt toward Irene. That kiss, that fire—it was real, and it shook him to his core. It wasn't just attraction; it was something deeper, something primal that refused to let go.

Natsu sat alone on the roof of the guild once again, the stars flickering above him as he wrestled with his thoughts. He hadn't told anyone about the kiss. He couldn't. How could he explain what was happening between him and Irene? How could he make anyone understand that, somehow, despite everything, he was falling for her?

A sudden gust of wind swept over the roof, and before he could react, Erza landed beside him, her crimson hair blowing softly in the breeze. Her presence immediately made Natsu tense.

"Natsu," she said, her voice cold but controlled, "we need to talk."

He didn't respond at first, not knowing what to say. Part of him wanted to apologize, to try and explain, but the other part—the part that was connected to Irene—couldn't let go of what had happened.

Erza sat down beside him, her armor clinking softly as she crossed her arms. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.

Finally, Erza broke the silence. "You kissed her, didn't you?"

Natsu flinched, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't expected her to know—he hadn't expected her to ask so bluntly. "Erza, I—"

She cut him off, her voice sharp but controlled. "Don't lie to me, Natsu. I can see it in your eyes. You kissed her."

Natsu's breath hitched, and his flames flickered weakly around his hands. "Yeah," he admitted softly, his voice filled with guilt. "I did."

Erza's eyes closed for a moment, as if she were trying to gather her thoughts, to keep her emotions from spilling over. When she opened them again, they were filled with pain but also resolve. "Why?"

Natsu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. It just... happened. There's something about her, something that I can't explain. It's like the dragon inside me is drawn to her. I can't control it."

Erza's jaw tightened, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "You can't control it? Natsu, this isn't just some passing attraction. She's my mother. She's the woman who tried to kill me."

"I know that, Erza!" Natsu snapped, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "You think I don't know that? I don't want to hurt you, but this... whatever this is between me and Irene, it's real."

Erza's eyes flashed with anger, her hands gripping her knees tightly. "Real? Natsu, this isn't about you anymore. This is about the guild. This is about us. You can't just let yourself be swept away by some... by some connection you feel with her."

Natsu's flames roared to life around him as his emotions boiled over. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't feel torn apart right now? I didn't ask for this, Erza! I didn't ask for any of this!"

Erza stood up, her fists clenched, her own anger rising to meet his. "Then make a choice, Natsu. Because if you keep going down this path, you're going to lose everything. The guild, our friendship—everything. I can't stand by and watch you fall for someone like her."

Natsu stared up at her, his heart pounding in his chest. "Erza, it's not that simple."

Her eyes, filled with both pain and fury, bore into his. "Yes, it is. You either fight for us, or you let her win. Because if you keep going down this road, Natsu... there's no coming back."

Natsu's flames sputtered out as he looked away, his heart heavy with the weight of her words. He knew she was right, but every time he thought about Irene, that pull—that deep, primal connection—flared up again, stronger than before.

"I don't want to lose you, Erza," Natsu whispered, his voice cracking. "But I can't ignore what I feel."

Erza's gaze softened slightly, but the hurt in her eyes was still raw. "Then you've already made your choice."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Natsu alone on the roof, staring after her as his heart twisted in his chest.


The next morning...

Natsu woke early, his body still aching from the emotional turmoil of the night before. He hadn't been able to sleep, his mind a swirling mess of confusion, guilt, and desire. The guild was quiet when he entered, the usual lively atmosphere dampened by the tension hanging in the air.

Mirajane was behind the bar as always, but even she seemed subdued, her smile forced. "Morning, Natsu," she said quietly.

"Hey, Mira," Natsu muttered, barely meeting her eyes as he sat down.

For a few minutes, they sat in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. Finally, Mirajane spoke, her voice soft but filled with concern. "How's Erza?"

Natsu sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not good. She... she told me I have to make a choice."

Mirajane nodded slowly, her gaze thoughtful. "And have you?"

Natsu's heart clenched at the question. "I don't know. I don't want to lose Erza, or the guild, but Irene... there's something there, something I can't ignore."

Mirajane watched him carefully, her expression unreadable. "Natsu, you need to be honest with yourself. If you really feel something for Irene, you have to understand the consequences. This isn't just about you anymore."

"I know," Natsu said softly, his voice heavy with guilt. "But how am I supposed to choose?"

Before Mirajane could respond, the doors to the guild burst open, and Irene stepped inside, her presence commanding as ever. The room immediately fell silent as every eye turned toward her.

Natsu's heart raced as Irene's gaze landed on him, her eyes filled with that familiar intensity. She didn't say a word, but her presence alone spoke volumes.

Erza, who had been watching from the shadows, stepped forward, her armor gleaming in the morning light. "What are you doing here, Irene?"

Irene smiled softly, her eyes never leaving Natsu. "I've come to collect what belongs to me."

Erza's hand tightened on the hilt of her sword. "Natsu doesn't belong to you."

Irene's smile widened. "Perhaps not yet. But he will."

The tension in the room was electric, the air thick with anticipation as the two women faced off, their gazes locked in a silent battle. Natsu stood frozen between them, his heart pounding in his chest as he realized that the time for making a choice had finally come.

The air inside the guild hall crackled with magic, the tension almost unbearable as Irene and Erza stood face to face. It was as though the entire guild held its breath, watching with wide eyes, knowing that whatever was about to happen next could tear everything apart.

Natsu's heart pounded in his chest as he stood between them, caught in the center of the storm. His mind raced, trying to find a way to diffuse the situation, but the magnetic pull he felt toward Irene was almost overpowering. She stood there, confident, eyes blazing with that same intensity that had ignited something deep inside him. But then there was Erza—fierce, loyal, and someone he never thought he'd have to hurt. The pain in her eyes was almost too much to bear.

"Natsu," Erza said, her voice low but filled with an unshakable resolve. "You need to end this. Now."

Irene, unfazed, smiled knowingly as she took a step closer, her presence filling the room with an oppressive power. "Natsu," she purred softly, her voice like honey, "you and I both know there's no denying the bond we share. Dragons are drawn to one another. It's in our nature."

Erza's grip on her sword tightened, the pain in her eyes barely concealed beneath her steel demeanor. "Don't let her manipulate you, Natsu. You know who she is. You know what she's done."

Natsu's head was spinning, his chest tightening as his flames flickered weakly around his hands. He knew they were both right in their own way, but how could he choose? His connection with Irene was something he couldn't explain—something primal, powerful, and undeniable. But the thought of turning his back on Erza, on everything they'd been through together, made his heart ache.

"I... I don't know what to do," Natsu muttered, his voice cracking as he looked between them.

Erza's eyes softened for a brief moment, the hurt in her gaze breaking through her tough exterior. "Natsu," she whispered, stepping forward, "you don't have to choose her. You've always had us—the guild, me. We've fought together, lived together... don't let her take that away from you."

Irene's eyes gleamed, her smirk widening as she took another step forward, her voice silky and alluring. "She doesn't understand, Natsu. The fire you feel inside—the desire, the power—it's something only I can give you. You and I are alike, bound by dragon blood. You can feel it, can't you?"

Natsu clenched his fists, his flames flaring more violently now as the intensity of the moment threatened to consume him. He could feel both of them pulling at him—Erza with her loyalty and fierce love, and Irene with her dark allure and the undeniable bond they shared.

"I can't do this," Natsu whispered, his voice almost breaking. "I can't hurt you, Erza... but Irene..."

Erza's breath hitched, her heart clearly breaking as she stepped closer, her voice trembling with both anger and desperation. "Irene isn't who you think she is, Natsu. She doesn't care about you—she's using you. You're stronger than this... we're stronger than this. We've always been."

Irene's smile faded slightly, and for the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed her face. "I'm not using him," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "What we share is real, Erza. You may not understand it, but it's there."

Erza shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You don't get to speak about real love, Irene. You've never understood what it means to care about someone."

The silence that followed was thick with tension, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Irene's expression hardened, her eyes locking onto Erza's with an almost predatory gleam. "I understand more than you think."

And before anyone could react, Irene closed the gap between her and Natsu, pulling him toward her with a strength that sent shockwaves through the guild. Her lips crashed into his, fierce and claiming, a kiss that burned with both desire and dominance. The flames around Natsu surged, the dragon within him roaring to life as their magic intertwined, creating a blaze that consumed the space around them.

Natsu's body responded instinctively, his arms wrapping around Irene as their fire flared together, the heat between them intense and overwhelming. For a moment, he was lost in it—lost in the power, the passion, the connection that seemed to set his soul on fire.

But then, in the midst of the flames, Natsu's mind cleared for just a moment—just long enough for him to remember Erza.

Erza, who stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock and pain. The woman who had fought beside him, trusted him, cared for him. The woman who had just watched him kiss the person she hated most in the world—her mother.

Natsu's heart twisted painfully as he pulled away from Irene, the flames around them sputtering out as reality crashed back down on him. He turned toward Erza, his breath coming in ragged gasps, guilt clawing at him like a beast.

"Erza, I—"

But before he could finish, Erza took a step back, her face pale and her eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall.

"I see," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I see where your heart truly lies."

Natsu's heart clenched as he took a step toward her, his hand reaching out. "No, it's not like that! I didn't mean to—"

But Erza held up her hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Don't," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "You made your choice."

Without another word, Erza turned and walked out of the guild, her footsteps heavy and slow, as though each step was harder than the last. Natsu watched her go, his chest tight with a pain he couldn't describe. He had hurt her—he had hurt one of the most important people in his life, and there was no way to take it back.

Irene stood beside him, her eyes watching Erza's retreating form with a mixture of amusement and something else—something deeper, more complicated. She reached out and touched Natsu's arm gently, her voice soft. "You've made the right choice."

Natsu pulled his arm away from her touch, his flames flickering weakly around him as his mind swirled with confusion and regret. "I don't know what I've done," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Irene's smile softened, her eyes gleaming with both desire and understanding. "You've followed your instincts, Natsu. You've embraced who you truly are. And in time, you'll see that this is where you belong—with me."

But even as Irene's words wrapped around him, Natsu couldn't shake the image of Erza walking away—of the pain in her eyes, the hurt he had caused. And in that moment, despite the fire that still burned between him and Irene, Natsu wondered if he had made the biggest mistake of his life.