It had been raining all night. The morning sun sparkled the dew on the leaves of oak trees. Next to the sound of raindrops tapping on soil, the tweeting of birds that perched on wet branches muffled in the dark interior of Natsu's home.
Speaking of Natsu, he didn't get a wink of sleep for the last twelve hours. Nor did he blink once and the dark circles under his bloodshot eyes were testament of that. He didn't so much as glance away from the same window that now rayed in slits of rising sunlight. Not even the stench of his own urine that he unwittingly peed a moment ago fazed him as it stained his crotch and dripped down the hammock that he stiffly lied on.
Happy in the meantime snored on soundly while Natsu continued clutching him tight to his sweaty chest like a terrorized child would to a stuffed animal. His stock-still gaze didn't budge until something rang and vibrated and glowed in the pocket of his baggy white pants. The Fairy Tail battle theme chimed instantly after as ringtone and he reluctantly reached in and steadily clenched his iPhone out. He gulped and gasped and shoved his nails to his chattering teeth upon seeing the dreaded name flashing before his enlarged eyes. The one name that he hadn't wished to see, nor deal with anytime soon. Natsu panicked off the hammock, thudding beneath with Happy. The latter groaned and lazily sat up and pawed his groggy eyes as he faced Natsu.
"Natsu. What time is it?"
Happy frowned when Natsu paced briskly around. The latter drew heavy breaths.
"What's gotten into you, Natsu?"
This time Natsu clenched a handful of his own hair.
"Crap! It's her!"
He stopped by Happy and shoved his phone to his face, chewing on his nails.
"It's Erza! What should I do?! What's worse is she wants t'do a FaceTime! A freakin' FaceTime!"
Happy merely tilted his head.
"What's that, Natsu? I couldn't hear you over the sound of shitting myself."
Continuing to pace around, Natsu fell on his back and barrel-rolled over and over as he continued chewing his nails.
"She doesn't like bein' kept waiting, too! Meanin' the more I dilly-dally even fer a second longer, the more I get t'piss her off! But at the same time I don't have the freakin' stomach t'answer! I'm at a real conundrum here, Happy! Again, what should I do?!"
"Aye. I have an idea."
Natsu leapt on his fours to eagerly face Happy.
"What?! Fer real?! I'm all ears fer anythin'!"
Happy lowered his gaze, darkening his visage. His ears drooped as he sighed and he glared Natsu in the eyes.
"There's no other way, Natsu, but to answer. We're going to have to beg, bow, do whatever it takes for her to forget all this ever happened."
Natsu palmed his face and groaned.
"Please, Happy! Anythin' but that!"
"You know it's true, Natsu. The sooner we do this, the faster we get it over with. I'm pretty sure the others involved have already done their part. There's really no reason for us to be an exception now, is there?" Happy stood up and pawed Natsu's shoulder. "It's okay, Natsu. I'm here with you. We'll press the button together and do what we have to do."
Natsu stopped fidgeting.
"Together. Yer so right, Happy. Then here goes nothin', 'cause I'm answerin'! I'm fired up!"
They went on their fours, the screen hovering a breath away from their glowing faces. Happy without further ado commenced the countdown.
"Aye, sir! On the count of three! Three!"
Natsu's trembling finger along with Happy's shuddering paw hovered closer to the green call button flashing at the bottom left of the screen.
"Two!"
They winced aside just as they were a literal inch from touching it.
"One!"
Beeps stuttered. Natsu and Happy cracked open an eye.
"Crud! The session timed out!" said Natsu.
"I'm pretty sure she'll call again. You know how stubborn she can get," said Happy. Speak of the devil, it was only a matter of time before the phone had rung again. Natsu puffed a breath.
"Okay! Fer real this time! Ye ready, Happy?! Ready t'freakin' do this?!"
"Aye! Three! Two!"
"One!" said Natsu. He fingered the screen, and cracked open his eye to find that the call failed once more. Happy face-pawed, sighing.
"Natsu. You pressed the decline button, dummy."
Natsu slammed down his fist.
"Damn! Surely she'll call again! But damn! I bet she's pissed more than ever!" He ran his fingers through his hair out of growing anxiety. "Oh this can't be good! Can't be good at all!"
"Let's try to look at the buttons this time, Natsu," said Happy. The phone rang again. Natsu exhaled stiflingly and slapped his own cheek.
"Okay! OKAY! Fer really real this time! Ready?! Three! Two! ONE!"
On the screen streamed a live feed of Erza sitting on a chair with her elbows rested on a table and her chin tucked on her interlaced fingers. The camera on her side of her phone faced her, showing her dressed in her frilly white sleeveless upper garment. Sunlight doused her and the background of her five rooms chocked full of armors. Without delay, Natsu and Happy bowed their heads many times as they bawled their hearts out, utterly begging for mercy with their hands clasped over their heads like priests begging the gods for exoneration. Starting with Natsu.
"FORGIVE ME, MISS ERZA! PUNISH ME HOWEVER YE LIKE! WHIP ME T'DEATH! CHOKE ME IN A LEGLOCK! HELL, STEP ON MY BALLS AS LONG AS YE LIKE! I DON'T GIVE A CARE IN THE WORLD! I'LL BE YER SLAVE FER AN ENTIRE MONTH AND DO WHATEVER YE TELL ME T'DO! WHAT ARE YER ORDERS, MISS ERZA?!"
Happy immediately filled in after.
"I WON'T EAT FISH FOR A MONTH! YOU CAN HAVE MILLIANNA 'PLAY' WITH ME HOWEVER LONG SHE LIKES! WE'LL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK TO APPEASE YOU! ALL WE ASK IS FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS, MISS ERZA!"
Erza snickered. The audio on her side was partially muffled.
So dramatic, the both of you. What's there to forgive when you've done absolutely nothing that warrants said forgiveness? Am I missing something?
Natsu and Happy stopped wailing and bowing. They looked straight at her like they couldn't believe their ears.
"M-Miss Erza?!" said Natsu.
What's with the formalities, too? Drop the 'Miss'. It's odd of you to address me as such. We're friends. Remember?
Happy's eyes quivered, his paw trembling by his mouth.
"Y-You're not m-mad at us?"
Mad? Why would I ever be? You're not making any sense here.
"But we." Natsu snickered disbelievingly. "We literally destroyed yer–"
Oh, that? Surely you've heard of the phrase 'let bygones be bygones'. What's more to it than that? It's just a cake. A cake no more or less that I can bake again whenever I wish. Whenever I choose to. So this is what you, Natsu, and Happy have been perturbed about? Over a lousy cake? You two really do seem to have a habit of fretting over virtually nothing.
Bewildered expressions exchanged between Happy and Natsu.
"Erza. I. I just." Natsu snickered again, clutching his head. "I really dunno what t'tell ye."
Then don't. Rather listen. Natsu. Do you remember the place in the woods where you and Gildarts would often fish together?
"A-As clear as daylight."
I've been thinking about setting up a fishing trip to get over some. Misunderstandings, you see. Wendy, Lily, Gajeel, and Gray will be there too just to let you know. It's certainly not my intent to belittle the others, but the trip would hardly feel complete without you there, Natsu. You too, Happy. You'll come along. Right?
"A-Aye, ma'am. We'll be sure to be there in a jiffy." Happy awkwardly elbowed Natsu's shoulder. "Right, Natsu?"
"Y-Yeah. We'll be there."
Thank you so much. You have no idea. But this means the world to me. From the bottom of my heart.
Natsu scratched his head, grinning awkwardly.
"Sh-Shucks, Erza." He snickered weakly. "Now what are friends fer ye know?"
Be there at ten. I'll be waiting. Eagerly. If there happens to be any spare time left in the end, we could always think about giving Master and the rest a hand in repairing the guild. You could always come early. I'll be there for a while. And don't worry about bringing your own rod since I got you and the others settled on that.
"I'm mighty grateful fer that. But ye sure ye don't want some alone time, sis? Ye know. Take this a step back slower t'let it all simmer?"
Thanks for your concern. But I'm fine. Really. Though I could use some company. It's not too much to ask of you. Or is it?
"It's the least we could do. Ye can certainly count on us bein' there. See ye there then, Erza."
See you.
The call ended and the boys couldn't hold it in much longer. They rid of their concerned facades, rejoicing like no tomorrow. Angelic wings flapped on Happy and he glided in circles. No less joyful was Natsu whose present experience was akin to falling sky-high off a cliff only to find out that it was all but a fleeting nightmare. He breathed fire towards the ceiling and drummed his chest.
"HELL YEAH! I'M FIRED THE HELL UP!"
Their celebration was so disruptive that the birds perched on their home fluttered away. Natsu and Happy did a high five, a low five, and bumped chest as they hopped incessantly and as the former screamed on.
"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT! DIDJA HEAR THAT, HAPPY?! DIDJA HEAR WHAT SHE JUS' FREAKIN' SAID?!"
"Aye, sir! 'Let bygones be bygones'!"
Natsu pinched Happy's paw and the latter twirled on his tiptoes like a ballerina.
"'IT'S JUS' A CAKE! A CAKE NO MORE OR LESS!'"
"'That I can bake again whenever I wish!'"
Natsu grabbed both of Happy's paws. They jigged on to heart's content.
"'WHENEVER I CHOOSE TO!'"
"'Over a lousy cake?!'"
"'FRETTIN' OVER NOTHIN'!'" Natsu stretched out his arms. "WE DONE IT, HAPPY! WE FREAKIN' DID IT!"
Happy pounced for him.
"We did it, Natsu!"
They embraced and spun many times and continued wheezing and laughing. Said wheeze turned more whiny and they cried out their welling eyes. Were they tears of joy? Most certainly. Of trauma? Most definitely.
"I thought we were goners." Natsu snivelled. "Thought she was literally gonna screw us sideways. Couldn't even catch a wink a sleep last night."
Saliva stranded out his mouth as he wailed on. Happy patted his shoulder.
"It's okay, Natsu. You know I'm always here for you. Just let it all out."
Natsu's stomach growled, prompting him to stop weeping for now.
"On a second note, I can eat the world right now. Aw, man. I'm hungry as all hell."
Happy rubbed his groaning white belly.
"Aye, sir."
Natsu's phone rang again, tilting on the floor. Natsu squatted.
"Ah! It's Gray!" said Happy. Natsu fingered the speaker on.
"Yo. Ye got the message from Erza?"
Yes, sir. Thought I was in for a real ass-whooping of the century. Turns out it's a formal invitation. Gray heard Natsu snivelling. Wait. Are you crying?
"What?! H-Hell nah I ain't cryin'!" Natsu blinked, glancing elsewhere. "I ain't got time fer that! I'm a grown ass man now!" He snivelled again as he swiped his tears and his snot. "Whatcha take me fer?!"
Right. You and Happy wanna catch some grubs at 8-Island? Gajeel and Lily thought about stopping there first before we head over to Erza's little fishing party she's got going over there. The bill's on me since I'm feeling a little generous today. A little too generous, if you ask me.
"Can't say no t'that! We'll be there! Double time!" Natsu frowned. "Hey. But what about Wendy? She comin' with Carla?"
They're already headed there with Erza since they're staying at Fairy Hills together and all. Looks like they'll have their own little picnic. If you guys on the other hand are coming, then that's great. See you there then. Peace.
The call beeped. Natsu leapt on his feet.
"A'right, Happy!" He pointed at Happy. "Let's get a move on, soldier! Pronto!"
"Aye, sir!"
They moved on to preparations. Going stark-naked, Natsu rushed for the showers, got a quick rinse with soap and water, and grabbed a towel to dry himself and wrapped it around his waist. He stretched a grin by the sink to thoroughly brush his teeth as he looked himself in the mirror. Elsewhere, Happy hummed a skittish tune while he headed over to the refrigerator and packed raw fish on top of the green burlap that he tied to his back. He skipped over to a handled mirror which he found scattered on the floor and used it to groom himself by salivating his paw and brushing his head and ears with it. All prepared, Happy faced Natsu.
"Ready whenever you are, Natsu!"
Spitting excess toothpaste, Natsu gargled water and spat and gargled Listerine after and spat. He rushed over for the drawer and flung out shirts after pants which some blanketed over Happy. Finally he found the same sleeveless black vest and the same baggy white pants all fresh and untouched since the day he'd bought them. Natsu put them on, the sandals, and wrapped Igneel's scarf around his neck as final touch.
"Happy, get the mirror here a sec wouldja?"
Happy flew over and hovered the mirror by Natsu who gave his scarf a firm tug as he faced his own reflection. The latter made genuine effort to comb every wavy patch of his pink hair.
"Aye. Looking good, boss."
Natsu sniffed his own arm.
"Think I smell okay?"
Taking a whiff, Happy gave a thumbs up.
"Men. Ichiya would approve. Though you can never be too sure about the pits. Catch."
A deodorant stick flung for Natsu. He caught it and applied it on his armpits.
"Me, Natsu?"
Natsu tossed aside the deodorant and sniffed.
"Fishy. Jus' the way I like it."
The 8-Island restaurant was among the more bustling businesses at Hargeon Town. In the two-storied building, most tables were seated by hungry and gregarious diners. Busy waiters and waitresses patrolled the aisles with hot plates. The bell on the main entrance chimed as the door swung open and in came Natsu and Happy. They gazed around and spotted at the far corner a familiar presence raising his hand.
"Yo. Salamander."
Natsu and Happy headed to Gajeel who sat by the sunlight-flooding window with his arm slumped on the cushioned seat. There Happy raised his paw at Lily sitting by him.
"Hey, Lily!"
"Yo, Happy."
Natsu bumped fists with Gray who was dressed in his collared white coat and proceeded to do the same with Gajeel and Lily.
"What's up, guys?"
"What's up is you're not looking too tacky today," said Gray. Natsu scratched his head, humbling a grin.
"Jeez. What gave away?"
"One. Your hair doesn't look all that scruffy for once," said Gray.
"Two. I know new clothes when I see one. Can smell 'em, too. Geehee," said Gajeel. Gray snickered.
"Just to let you know, Natsu, we're not going on a date. It's a fishing–"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Natsu seated across them. "Wouldja guys hop off my dick already? Didja order yet?"
"The breakfast course for the both of us. Yours being thrice the portion as per usual. A fruit bowl of skin-intact kiwis for our pal Lily. A raw catch-of-the-day salmon for Happy," said Gray. Happy went ecstatic as he hopped on the seat by Natsu.
"Aye, sir! Thanks, Gray!" Happy faced Gajeel. "But what about you, Gajeel? Aren't you eating as well?"
Gajeel pinched out a screw from the right breast pocket of his black vest.
"Already had my fill on the way. Geehee."
It twirled in his mouth. He gnawed on it for a while before gulping it down. Serving them was an attractive blond and blue-eyed waitress with a tray full of iced fizzy beverages. She placed the cups in front of them as she grinned brightly.
"Here are your drinks! Your orders will be here shortly!" She tipped her fingers. "I was wondering, could I take a picture with y'all?! Not only am I a big fan of Fairy Tail, but my sons also are huge fans after seeing you going at it at Crocus!"
"Sure. Why not?" said Gray. Preparing her phone, the waitress hunched by him and fixated the camera overhead. Gajeel balled a fist by his cheek, sporting a light smile. Lily stood and folded his arms. Happy summoned his wings and went in the air, pawing his hip while fisting up the other and smiled affably. A devilish grin stretched on Natsu as he fisted his flaming palm. Gray gestured a rock-on with an ice-cool smile of his own and at that moment the waitress shoved her cheek on his much to him being taken aback. She snapped the shot twice and they all broke poses. A pair of iced Fairy Tail emblems were crafted out of thin air by Gray who handed them to her.
"Souvenirs for your boys."
She gasped, cupping her mouth.
"Oh my gosh! They're so gonna love this! Thank you so, so much, Mister Gray!" She shut her eyes and puckered. "Mmmmmmmmmmmmwah!"
Catching Gray off guard yet again was her long smooch to his cheek. She happily accepted the emblems and skipped her way back to the kitchen. Under Happy's paw creased a cheeky grin.
"I'm gonna tell Juvia that you liiiiiked it."
"Don't you dare, Happy!" said Gray. There was no need for Happy to do so. Speak of the devil, Juvia was just outside hiding by distant brushes which barely covered her lofty hat and her lidless eyes. Yes. Her killer eyes. The look on her was as venomous as the gloomy violet aura wreathing her head and shoulders. She saw everything much to her seething frustration and with a pen scribbled hastily on her diary like a dogged journalist on a mission. Except what she was writing could hardly be considered journalism.
ROMANTIC RIVAL NUMBER THREE-HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY-FIVE. BLOND WAITRESS AT 8-ISLAND. HOW DARE SHE GO CHEEK-TO-CHEEK WITH MY BELOVED. HOW DARE SHE KISS HIM. HOW DARE SHE FORCE HIM TO SCULPTURE THOSE EMBLEMS FOR HER AGAINST HIS WILL. HOW DARE SHE SO MUCH AS TALK TO HIM, LOOK HIM IN THE EYES, AND DEFILE THE SAME PRECIOUS AIR AS HIS. HIGH PRIORITY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. JUST WHAT IS IT WITH BLONDES? FIRST, LUCY. NOW THIS. WILL JENNY REALLIGHT FROM BLUE PEGASUS BE NEXT? JUVIA SENSES A PATTERN. JUVIA MUST KEEP A MORE VIGILANT LOOKOUT.
Her presence could be felt by Gray. He gazed around.
Juvin!
Juvia ducked under cover while Gray contemplated the tingling sensation. He was unsettled to say the least.
Why do I get the sense I'm being stalked by a certain someone that's madly in love with me?
Meanwhile, Natsu slurped up his beverage until ice cubes clinked in his cup. He sighed refreshingly and struck a conversation.
"Was a helluva night. Eh, boys?"
"Yeah. I think that's lightly putting it, but yeah. It's a night to remember. For sure," said Gray.
"It could be our last," said Gajeel. Natsu frowned.
"Whatcha sayin'?"
"That the night before could be our last. There somethin' wrong with what I said?"
Before Natsu could respond, Yajima, the elderly owner of the restaurant, stopped by the gang to personally greet them himself. He was in his usual chef attire and his hands entwined on his back. His modest smile stretched the wrinkles by his eyes.
"It's always an honor to have Fairy Tail patrons dining at our restaurant. Much more when it's visited by Gray Fullbuster and the notorious Dragon Slayers themselves. Truly, gentlemen, your presence couldn't have us more humbled."
Natsu greeted him back.
"Yo, Mister Yajima! What brings ye here?! If anything, we're the ones that oughta be humbled!"
"We've been preparing a special course upon news of your arrival. Hopefully, you'll find them to your liking. I'd also like to mention that they're all on the house."
A line of chefs emerged from the kitchen with plates of food. Their abrupt presence stunned Natsu and others and the plates were gently placed on the table until there was a meagre margin of space left on the crowded table. The chefs lifted the steel lid covers and out rose savoury-scented smoke. In front of Happy lied a raw hundred-pound king salmon. By Lily towered over him a mega-sized kiwi fruit that was as tall as Wendy without the skin removed just as he requested. A premier medium-rare steak flanked by kaleidoscopic concentric patterns of sautéed mushrooms, cream spinach, and various purees smoked in front of Gray.
As for Natsu, a sea of all-you-can-eat treats from oozing whole chickens, sizzling tomahawk steaks, garlic-pureed aglio olio linguine, a bubbling hotpot with several plates of raw thin beef slices, five mega-sized pizzas of distinct assortments of toppings from sliced sausages to roasted vegetables to savoury cheese, butter and pepper-roasted giant lobsters, steaming hand-made dumplings with rich meat broth in them stacked on top of the other in wooden containers, rolled crepes with sliced strawberries and whipped cream and scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and hamburgers with fat-dripping bacon slices and cheese oozing on triple-stacked beef patties and crispy wedges and crinkle-cut fries and curly onion rings flanking them, bowls of fried rice cooked in catch-of-the-day seafoods of octopus and cod and white crab meat, long roasted skewers of Brazilian barbecue, skinned giant shrimps.
Fat dripped off bratwurst sausages hooked on a rack, and speaking of fat the choicest of fatty meat sliced to strips on several platters were lathered in it all over, crispy-backed salted pork squealed from heat, more fat dripped out of burritos next to oozing cheese, grilled octopus, croissants filled with cream cheese and slices of smoked salmon, gravy-slathered lamb shanks and mashed potatoes, white rice slathered in smoking spicy Japanese curry, platters of parma ham with cheese of all kinds, bowls of umami-packed ramen and in it homemade noodles and half-a-dozen soft-boiled eggs and concentric circles of sliced pork, and a bunch more. Natsu's gaze went haywire like an angered swarm of bees since he didn't even know where to start or what to do or so much as what to say before he was forced to come up with something out his gaped mouth.
"Golly!" He clenched his head, huffing disbelievingly. "Now this is what I like t'call a freakin' service!"
To say the least, Lily was bewildered of Natsu's and Happy's insatiable appetites.
"You two." He sweat-dropped as he shivered. "You two are going to eat all that?"
It was needless to say that Happy's eyes squiggled at the salmon and the salmon only of all foods served. Like Natsu, he had a napkin tied to his neck and the fork and knife raised at the ready by his salivating mouth.
"Aye, sir! Thank you for the food!"
Gray snickered.
"Mister Yajima. I don't know what to say other than that you really shouldn't have."
"Why, Mister Fullbuster, it's the least I could do for you, Mister Dragneel, Mister Happy, Miss Heartfilia, Miss Scarlet, and others for having assisted this restaurant at its most dire times. Fairy Tail is like brother and sister to us. Do enjoy, sonnies. I hope you do visit more often."
"Will do, Mister Yajima! Ye can count on us any day at anytime!" said Natsu.
"Now that's a last meal if I ever saw one, Salamander. Geehee," said Gajeel.
"Y'all fancyin' a magic trick? Oh I gotcha jus' covered," said Natsu. He chomped away a pair of drumsticks to heart's content. He slurped up the ramen and spaghetti like a man out in a blazing desert quenching his thirst at a clearwater pond. He gulped down the meat and burgers in no more than two to three bites each. He pinched the plates and put them on top of his bottomless mouth to down the fries and just about everything else at a moment's notice. He pinched up the bowls of fried rice and scooped them down his throat until they went stark empty with not a grain in sight. Emptied plates wobbled, bones and shells clacked, and in no time he chowed them all down like Charybdis when Gray wasn't even done with a fourth of his plate. When Lily barely nibbled his kiwi. It turned out Happy ate just as fast as there only remained bones on what was once an enormous salmon. Slumping on his back, Natsu triumphantly gestured rock-ons and rubbed his bloated belly.
"Ta-da! How's that fer." His guttural burp caught attention from most diners. "How's that fer a magic trick?!"
"Ye sure can fit a whole lotta grubs in there, Salamander," said Gajeel.
"Oh, yeah! I'm fired!" Flames and smoke bellowing out Natsu stunned the diners into gasping. "I'm fired up!"
Happy rubbed his own bulging belly, looking half-dazed.
"A-Aye, sir."
"Heavens. You both ought to take it slower. It can't be good for your gastrointestinal health to eat that fast and in such excess quantities at that, too," said Lily. Natsu snickered as he picked his teeth with a thin pointy chicken bone.
"Since when were ye my doctor?"
Gray swept aside his dish once he was done with his. He cleared his throat and rested his chin on his interwoven fingers, looking intently at Natsu.
"There's something we discussed while on your way here, Natsu. Think it'd be in your best interest to listen."
Natsu tossed the bone to the emptied hotpot. Remaining in his slumped position, he rested his head on his hands and plates and cups and all wobbled and clattered when he tossed his feet on the table. He was all ears.
"Yeah? What abouts?"
Gray and Gajeel exchanged a glance before the former resumed.
"We think that Erza isn't like what you think she is at the moment. Allegedly."
Natsu frowned.
"Hell's that supposed t'mean? And sorry but what's the last word again? Allergies?"
"That Erza's far from forgiveness. Surely ye know that much. Right, Salamander?" said Gajeel.
Natsu puckered, squinting. He squinted some more to process what he was just told only to wave it off with a swipe of his hand.
"Man, get out with that crap wouldja? Not only is scrappy scarin' the livin' jeepers outta me as we speak ever since me and Happy got here, but you, Gray, are startin' t'get on my freakin' nerves as well."
"How do ye know what we're sayin' ain't true? Ye prophetic or what?" said Gajeel.
"Right back at cha with that bull-crap. Are ye?"
"I ain't. But I know so."
"Prove it then."
"Last night's all the proof ye need. Ye smelled that stench off her didn'cha? Felt that aura crawlin' yer skin and chillin' yer spine after? Never felt somethin' like that since that thing at that island was damn near blowin' us sky-high to smithereens. Yer a Dragon Slayer, and ye tellin' me ye dunno this? Think she really booked it a night after what we'd done? Jus' like that?" The camera steadily zoomed in on Gajeel. "No, Salamander. Ye know she won't rest. 'Least not yet. Ye know deep in ye that she's still out there lookin' fer blood to slake her bottomless thirst on. That yers ain't no exception. That yer in this jus' as much as the rest a us here are."
Chuckling, Natsu pinched his brows.
"Yer just." He rolled his eyes when he caught his breath. "Yer jus' bein' so un-freakin'-believable right now that I dunno where t'even start with all that jibber-jabber yer yappin' at me."
Gray hunched closer to Natsu.
"Well you better get believing real fast because that's just the tip of the iceberg. Think about it, Natsu. Why exactly a fishing party of all things? Doesn't something about that seem queer and out-of-the-bluish to you? Now I see Gildarts or Macao or Wakaba or hell you or Master himself asking us out. But Erza? Of all people? And why a fishing party at an isolated place that's miles off from civilization? You'd think she'd invite us to sightsee some generic armor number nine-thousand-and-ninety-nine that she's hoarded in her dorm. Or force us into one of those shitty theatrical plays just so she could absolutely fumble her lines despite her having recited them thousands of times. Or she'd have us visit a mall so she could buy herself those wacky superhero costumes to LARP herself into Fairy Woman or Wonder Woman or God-Knows-What-Else Woman. I need you in the game, Natsu." He tapped his own temple. "Think, man. Think."
As Happy drooped his ears and looked concerned, Natsu stubbornly snickered and threw his hands overhead.
"Like, I dunno. Maybe she wants t'try somethin' new fer a change. That ever happen t'cross yer damn mind? And ye know she fancies her picnics. So where's the harm in havin' one out in the woods? All this shit yer throwin' at me don't mean a damn thing." Natsu got a good look at Gray, Gajeel, and Lily and clenched his temples like he went dumbstruck. "Holy shit. Wait." He huffed. "You guys are serious?! Un-fuckin'-real, I tell ye!"
Lily pinched his chin and squinted towards the ceiling as he reminisced something.
"In their defense, Natsu, Gajeel told me of an incident. One that I wasn't personally there for since I was still a Royal Army Captain in Edolas. He told me that Erza left a third of the guild a bloody mess of broken jaws, shattered ribs, and dislocated shoulders and limbs just because Gray gave her a nudge that made her drop a slice of her strawberry cake."
Happy raised his paw, enthusiastically interjecting.
"Ah! Don't forget to mention the part with Elfman getting a Sweet Chin Music to the jaw Heart Break Kid-style once he ended up stomping the cake after! She sent him flying through the roof and landed him a hospital bill that'd part Lucy's soul from her body faster than the speed of light!"
Lily nodded approvingly.
"Yes, Happy. Indeed. That, and I needn't mention the other incident amid the Grand Magic Games when she chased down Gray and Salamander with her sword drawn out when your fish unwittingly happened to flatten her strawberry cake." He glared intently at Natsu. "Salamander. I trust you get the point of me reminding you of these. Because if she's capable of wreaking such havoc over a slice, it really makes me think how farther she'll go down the rabbit hole over one that she not only personally baked herself, but also one that she supposedly took an entire month to crafting it to fruition."
Natsu snickered, rolling his eyes. But Lily insisted his utmost attention.
"You must listen to me. Over my entire years served in the Royal Army, I'd see cakes come and go in banquets hosted by the king himself. And I'd never seen one baked to such height and grandeur. To such perfection." His downcast gaze trembled. "It's as if the spirit of Voldemort himself possessed her and driven her to imbue parts of her own soul and humanity as ingredients." He clenched his head as he shivered more violently. "And to think we've utterly destroyed it. Her horcrux. Salamander. Happy. Heed my words! You mustn't go! At the very least not now of all days!"
Having had heard enough, Natsu sat up, wiped his mouth, and huffed.
"Hell, ye guys have more than enough conspiracy content fer a clickbait podcast on YouTube. We jus' 'bout finished?" His finger and thumb pinched together. "'Cause fer yer information, I'm this damned close t'leavin', ye see."
"Woah now. What's the rush, Salamander? Jus' one more thing. Whatcha see when ye done the video call with her?" said Gajeel. Natsu couldn't help but snicker again.
"Now what's that supposed t'mean?"
"Jus' answer the damn question wouldja? I'm askin' whatcha saw when ye done the call with her."
"Erza. Duh. That a rhetorical question?"
Gajeel smirked.
"Ye didn't see her face at all didja? Geehee."
"I did see her goddamn face! Where's all this crap leadin' t'anyways?! Shit's borderline ridiculous! 'Geehee' my fiery flaming ass!"
Noticing Natsu was losing his cool, Gray sighed, pinched his brows, and attempted to simmer him down.
"Natsu, please. Lis–"
Natsu slammed his fists on the table, toppling over a couple plates that shattered beneath.
"No! Matter a fact, I'm done listenin'! Screw this!" He stood from his seat, clenching his head. "This is crazy! If ye ain't comin', scrappy, then that's all fine with me since that's on ye and that's yer own damn loss." He beckoned at Happy who was taken aback by the abrupt altercation. "Come on, Happy! Let's mosey! Last we wanna do's keep Erza waitin'!"
"A-Aye, sir." Happy hopped off the table, went by Natsu, and waved goodbye to the rest. "Thanks for the food, guys."
When they were halfway to the door, Gajeel wasn't planning on letting Natsu off the hook just yet.
"Know where I look at the most?"
Natsu snickered, rolling his eyes. He reluctantly half-turned his head to find Gajeel smirking back.
"When I get the itch that someone's not playin' a full deck a cards?"
Natsu turned the rest of his body.
"Yeah? What would that be?"
Gajeel pointed at his own eyes.
"The eyes. The eyes, ye see, don't lie. So let me clarify the question a lil' fer ya. Didja see her eyes?"
Just when Natsu attempted to retort, his mouth hung there when he came to sudden realization. The realization that he didn't recall seeing the either of Erza's eyes since strands of her hair got in the way. Instead of coming to reason, bitter frustration got the best of him and boiled his head. He snatched off his napkin that he'd forgotten to remove off his neck and furiously tossed it by his feet. Stomping his right foot front, he went on a tirade with his fist by his chest.
"Keep baitin' me with retarded questions! 'Cause I'm sure that'll work jus' fine fer the hundredth fuckin' time, ye fuckin' moron!"
Parents cupped the ears of their unnerved children. Speaking of children, a few bawled due to Natsu's intensity and some families wordlessly left the premise as they didn't want to get caught in a potential crossfire. The bell on the door rattled on their quiet way out. But Gajeel was nowhere near as heated as Natsu. He merely kept up his smirk.
"I'll take that as a no. Geehee."
Natsu tossed up his arms.
"Yo, Gray! What's the hold up, man?! Ye comin' or not?!"
All Gray could do was shrug back as he couldn't come up with a decision at the moment. Natsu to say the least was beyond disappointed of how things turned out in the end at what was supposed to be a wholesome breakfast reunion. Sighing out his nose, Natsu shook his head and waved him off, and him and Happy continued making their way to the exit until Gajeel intruded again.
"Don't come beggin' on yer knees when the truth sets ye free, Salamander."
Natsu scowled back with gritted teeth, pointing back a sharp finger.
"Yer lucky we're even at Yajima's place! 'CAUSE BES' BELIEVE I'D LEAVE THAT SMIRK BLOODY ON THE FLOOR IF IT WAS ANYWHERE ELSE!"
Happy tugged the hem of Natsu's pants like a worried child would to a furious parent.
"Let's go, Natsu. You're drawing a lot of attention."
Reluctantly, Natsu complied and he strutted for the door. Though not before unleashing the rest of his pent anger at the speechless diners that had been staring ever since Natsu unwittingly broke the plates.
"THE FUCK ARE Y'ALL LOOKIN' AT?!"
The diners didn't want any part of it and faced elsewhere aside occasional glances behind his back and murmured on like they're at a library. The bell on the door violently jingled once Natsu shoved it aside and him and Happy left the place for good. It took a moment for the chatters in the restaurant to rekindle. Next to stand was Gray who thoroughly wiped his mouth with cloth.
"Leave him be. Ye know fixin' that kinda stupid's beyond any savin'," said Gajeel.
"Someone's gotta watch that stubborn retard's back."
"There won't be any 'back' t'look out fer, dummy. Sally made his choice, and he can kiss his ass goodbye fer all I know. Yers too if ye go anywhere near that godforsaken place. Might wanna back off while ye still can 'cause you'd be doin' yerself a favor ye won't ever regret."
Gray hardly heeded him. He sprinted for the exit while taking care to evade waiters and waitresses in his way. Gajeel snickered once Gray stormed out.
"Buncha fuckin' idiots."
"Do you think Wendy's okay?" said Lily.
"She ain't nothin' but a kid. Erza can get batshit crazy. But she'll let her off with a slap on the wrist at most."
"What would being 'slapped on the wrist' entail in Wendy's case?"
"Beats me. Haven't thought a that that far. Now I know Wendy ain't fond a sour things, so Erza would probably use that t'advantage somehow. It's what I'd do if I was her at least. But it's far from what we'll be goin' through. She got a whole 'nother thing planned fer us big boys. That is, should she catch us first. Geehee."
"Geehee."
Thunder boomed from afar, humbling the smirk off of Lily. Shivering, he cupped his ears.
"Thunder. Gods, I hate thunder."
Gajeel looked out the window to see dark clouds brooding over a distant forest.
"Storm's fast brewin'. That ain't Laxus' conjury."
As vicious lightning struck his face white, Gajeel glanced at Natsu and Happy briskly heading over to the shadowed treelines.
"Don't say I didn't warn ye, Salamander. Don't say I didn't."
He pulled out his smartphone, hovering it by his ear.
"Who are you calling?" said Lily.
"Jus' givin' my ol' Phantom comrade a heads up."