Chapter 7
Erza was shocked. She couldn't believe Natsu just said that and that other people knew before herself. "You love me?" she squeaked. "Yes Erza I love you and I have ever since I met you. It was love at first sight for me." Erza had never been happier in her life to here him say that but it hurt her so much because she couldn't return those feelings just yet. 'I feel so happy about this but how can I return those feelings when I still haven't dealt with the Jellal and everyone left behind at that place?'
"Why did you wait so long to tell me?" She asked curiously. "We dragon slayers love the same way as the dragons that raise us; we can only fall in love once and we know are love for a person the moment we see them." He said softly. "The reason I never said it sooner is I was afraid that I wouldn't be accepted. All dragon slayers are terrified of love." "Why?" "What happens if the person we love dies, or loves someone else? Or even if they don't love us? We get stuck there never to fall in love again like a regular human who can fall in and out of love.
Hearing that hurt Erza so much because she can't return his feelings. 'I want to say I love you back but I just can't yet.' Erza thought as she was on the verge of tears. 'I have to tell him the truth.'
"Natsu, hearing you say that has made me feel happier then I ever have been in my life but…" She paused not wanting to say it knowing how much pain he will be in. "I can't return your feelings yet. There's something from my past that I haven't dealt with yet and I need that taken care of before I'm ready to love again." As she said this Erza could no longer hold the tears back. She was crying like she never cried before. "I understand Erza." Natsu said sadly. "But I will wait for you forever if I have to, you are the only person I will ever love." Erza felt happy and torn at hearing him say that. She was happy because she could see that he truly loved her and torn because how much it must hurt for him now.
Natsu pulled her into a hug and said, "Erza I will always be here for you even if you can never get over your past whatever it may be. I will always wait. You are my one and perfect mate." Erza couldn't take it any more, she buried her head into his chest and cried even harder. Natsu was thankful Happy had fallen asleep so he didn't see all of this.
They stayed in this embrace for a few hours; Natsu just holding Erza as she clung to him crying. When it was sunset Erza had finally stopped crying, she had never felt so bare in her entire life; she just spent hours crying on someone's chest, something she never had done. She had never even cried in front of someone at the guild.
"Natsu it's getting late, I'm going to head back to my house. I don't want to trouble you anymore, I've already hurt you enough." She said solemnly. "Erza you never hurt me and don't think that you did. If it's of any help, I will help you get through this struggle you have. Whatever you faced in your past I will tackle it head on till you can get past it and not for me either, I will not be doing this so you can accept my feelings, I will be doing this because I don't want you to cry anymore. That hurts me the most; seeing you cry."
Erza felt like crying at his words again but stopped herself from crying because it hurts him for her to cry. "Thank you Natsu, that means a lot to me." Erza hugged him even tighter and said "I will get past this with your help, I know it." Erza got up to leave and Natsu got up with her, giving her one more hug before she left. "Thank you for being here for me Natsu." "Always will be Erza." She smiled at him saying that and walked up to him. "I truly am happy to hear how you feel." With that said she leaned forward and lightly kissed him before walking away to her house.
Natsu was in shock; he couldn't believe she just kissed him. 'So she does love me and is being held back by something.' He thought while feeling his lips missing the feeling of hers already even if he felt it only for a second or two. 'I vow to get you through this Erza. I will be here for you always and will always love you."Natsu woke up the next day in a cold sweat after having a nightmare of something that happened during his trip. 'Damn that dream again, I was hoping I'd get over that already.'
Flashback one year and seven months ago: Natsu and Happy were walking along side a forest when they heard a girl screaming. They didn't even stop to say anything and just ran in the direction of the scream. When they got to the area they heard the scream from they saw a little girl around 12 years old being attacked by bandits who were beating on her while taking her clothes of her.
"LET HER GO YOU SICK FUCKS!" Natsu yelled at them in rage. The bandits paused and looked over at Natsu when one spoke, "Get lost boy if you know what's good for you." They turned back to the girl and the bandit on the left stabbed her in the stomach while the other started raping her. Natsu went into a rage instantly, partly from being ignored, and mainly for what they were doing to her. "I SAID LET HER GO!" and charged at the bandits.
He had ignited his fists and punched the one with who stabbed the girl, breaking his jaw in the process. As soon as the punch landed; Natsu spun around kicking the other one in the temple causing him to drop the girl who was screaming in pain. Natsu lost all sense of reason when he saw that the wound in her stomach was gushing blood out and you could see her guts slightly.
Natsu turned on the guy who stabbed her and grabbed his face with his hands on fire while raising the temperature to the point that steel would melt in seconds. The bandit didn't stand a chance and didn't even get to scream before his head turned to ash. Natsu however wasn't done and to Happys' horror he started laughing. Natsu picked the corpse up and shoved a fireball into its stomach; blowing it up.
Natsu at this point was covered in blood and gore but seemingly didn't care as he turned to the other bandit who had recovered from the kick. He was staring at Natsu in fear. "Please spare me!" the bandit begged but Natsu just laughed at him and sent a condensed ball of fire to him that caused an explosion. What Natsu hadn't realized is that explosion caught the girl in it as well. She only had been hit partially but it was enough to take her arm off.
Natsu snapped out of his rage as he heard her scream in pain and saw her missing an arm now. 'Oh my god, what have I done?' Natsu thought in horror. He ran to her side igniting his hands once again and covered both injuries attempting to cauterize her wounds shut. "Come on, seal up already." Natsu said while panicking. "Where do is your village at?" He asked her. She couldn't talk through the pain and just barely managed to point to the west and he picked her up running in that direction yelling to Happy, "Hurry on ahead and see if you can find anyone to help her."
Happy flew off and started looking for the village in the direction Natsu was running. Natsu was running as fast as he could, the girl was barely hanging on to life. After five minutes of running the girl whispered "Thank you and I don't think badly of you for the accident." Natsu was crying silently for what he did to the girl and because he could feel that she was dying. "Come one just hang in there." Natsu said sternly.
Natsu reached the village about three minutes after the girl spoke and saw Happy waiting with a man and women. When he reached them the women cried, "What happened to Honoka?" Natsu said "She was attacked by bandits." The couple cried out and took Honoka from Natsu and ran to the doctor at the village.
Natsu followed behind them slowly cursing himself for what he did to that girl. 'It's my fault she's in this condition.' He thought bitterly. Natsu waited outside the building wondering what was happening; he didn't think he deserved to go inside since it was his fault she got in such a bad condition.
After about a half hour the father came out and said, "I'm Fujiko, thank you for saving Honoka. She would like to see you before she…" Fujiko couldn't finish the statement. "Please come see her." Natsu nodded and followed him inside. When Natsu saw the girl on the bed he paled. She was a sickly white color. "Thank you for your help mister." Natsu walked up to her and said, "I'm so sorry for what I did, please forgive me it's my fault you ended up like this." Natsu had tears sliding down his face as he cried silently.
"Don't say that, I already told you I don't think badly of you. Since you saved me from those bandits I was able to see my family once again." Honoka told him reassuringly. She leaned forward and hugged Natsu as best as she could. "Thank you again." Natsu hugged her back and felt her go limp in his arms. He pulled back and saw that she had died, but she died with a smile on her face for being able to thank the man that saved her. Natsu didn't see himself as a savior though; he saw himself as the killer.
Four hours later Natsu stood next to the mother and father at the center of town. Honokas' body was placed on a pile of wood ready to be burned. The father walked up to it with a torch when Natsu called out, "Please allow me to do this." Fujiko nodded backing away when Natsu walked up to the wood while igniting his hands and whispered, "Thank you for your kindness to me even though I put you here." He put his hand at the bottom the pyre (That's what they are called right?) lighting it on fire.
Natsu watched as the fire raged around the girls body and said to the parents, "I am truly sorry for your loss. If there is anything I can do for you please let me know." "You don't have to do anything, you are the one who saved her and brought her back to us when she may have never been found again." Natsu bowed and said to Happy, "Lets go Happy we have over stayed our visit here." Happy nodded and the two of them left the village continuing their journey.
End of Flashback:
Natsu still had after all this time thought as himself as her killer. He started thinking what may have happened if he hadn't lost control. "Would she still be alive today?" Natsu asked himself. Before he could think about it more Gray walked into his house yelling "Hey flame brain where are you, I've been knocking on your door for 10 minutes." Gray walked towards his room and saw Natsu sitting on his bed. "Hey you alright man? Come on get up we got a job to go on with the team." "You go on without me; I'm in no mood today"
Gray looked over Natsu and saw that his eyes had heavy bags under them and it looked as if he had been crying. "Whoa you okay man? You look like shit right now." "It's nothing Gray, just a nightmare about when I lost control." "You mean when you killed the two rapists?" Gray questioned him. Natsu just nodded and Gray asked "What happened? Happy only said some details about it." Natsu sighed and for the next 30 minutes he told Gray the full story.
"Oh damn Natsu; I had no idea that is what happened. You can sit this one out then. I'll explain to Erza and Lucy why you aren't coming." Natsu nodded and thanked him. "Stay out of trouble ice queen." "What ever torch, we'll see you when we get back." Natsu nodded and laid back down with no intention of getting up. Before Gray left he called out "Don't let Erza or anyone come over to me please. I'd rather no one bother me today." "Sure thing Natsu." With that said Gray turned around and left.
Gray headed back to the guild hoping they would understand why he wasn't coming. As he walked into the guild Erza demanded to know where Natsu was. She was worried that he hadn't show up to the guild from what she said to him last night. Gray asked for her and Lucy to follow him somewhere quiet so they had privacy.
"Do you guys remember what Happy said to us about when Natsu killed?" They both nodded and Gray continued saying, "He had a nightmare last night about what he did and he told me the full story. Happy left out some details that were rather big." "What happened?" Erza asked with concern. So for the next 20 or so minutes Gray told them everything Natsu said. When he finished both girls had their hands over their mouths staring at Gray in shock.
"I'm going to go talk to him." Erza claimed and started walking away but Gray stopped her. "He doesn't want to see anyone at the moment. He looked like he was really hurting." Erza nodded and sighed. "Alright then let's just head to Shirotsume Town so we can see what this job is about." The other two nodded and they all departed for the train hoping Natsu was ok.Erza, Gray, Lucy, and also Happy (Natsu asked Happy to go so he could think alone.) were sitting in the train on their way to the new job. The Gray and Lucy were talking about the job while Erza was thinking of Natsu. 'I hope he's okay, an experience like that would be traumatizing.' Erza sighed and looked out the window wishing he was there with them. Sure she couldn't return his feelings just yet but she had fallen in love with him just as he was in love with her.
"Hey Erza, you alright? You've been quiet the entire train ride." Gray asked her.
"I'm fine no need to worry I'm just thinking about the job." She lied. She didn't feel like telling them what she was really thinking about. She didn't know if she wanted anyone to know about Natsu's confession to her and how she couldn't accept it just yet.
"The train will be arriving in Shirotsume Town in five minutes." A voice called through the speakers.
"Well time to get ready I suppose." Lucy said with a sigh. She was enjoying the relaxing ride. After they arrived in town they started walking towards the manor they were to meet the client at. They arrived at the manor and knocked. While waiting Gray said "I hope this job goes fast, I'm actually worried about that torch head back home. DON'T TELL HIM I SAID THAT OR I WILL BEAT YOU." "Oh you will beat me will you Gray?" Erza asked with a cocked eyebrow. Gray paled and frantically shook his head no.
"Don't worry Gray were all worried about him." Lucy said. Erza simply nodded not trusting herself to speak about it. Lucy continued with, "Though I think Happy is the most worried considering his connection with Natsu." At the mention of that Happy just looked down sadly, it was true he was really worried about Natsu from how he reacted to the nightmares in the past which usually involved smashing anything he can reach.
At that moment the door was answered by a woman wearing a pink dress and asked, "How may I help you?" Erza responded, "We are Fairy Tail Wizards responding to the request sent from here."
The woman perked up and said, "Ah yes please do come in then my husband would like to speak with you directly then. The wizards followed her into a study and saw a man looking over some papers. When they walked in he looked up saying, "Oh you must be the wizards from Fairy Tail." "Yes we are sir." Erza replied to him while bowing her head. "I am Erza and these 3 are Lucy, Gray, and Happy." She said while pointing them out to him.
"Welcome to my home I am Kaby Melon." "Oh wow your name is delicious." Happy said cheerfully. "Happy shut it." Erza said threateningly. Happy jumped and flew behind Gray holding onto the back of his said saying, "She's scary."
Kaby just laughed and told them not to be worried about it. "So what is it that you need done Mr. Melon?" Erza questioned.
"I need you to infiltrate the Everlue Mansion and retrieve the book called "Daybreak" and burn it." "Very well." Was all Erza said to him. "Oh and one more thing, I've raised the reward from 200,000J to 2,000,000J." Everyone stared in shock at him not believe such an increase just to burn a book.
Kaby wished them luck on their job and walked them to the door. Once they were outside Gray commented, "That was a huge increase to the payment; I wonder why he wants it burned so badly.
"I have no idea but you're not hearing any complaints from me about it." Lucy said grinning. With that kind of reward she wouldn't have to worry about her rent for a few months. "I'm not complaining, I'm just surprised is all." Gray stated.
"Whatever the case may be it is our duty to see this job through." Erza said in a sharp tone. Now that she could focus on the job she wouldn't think of Natsu too much. "Let's go everyone."
They arrived at the mansion and hid in the tree line thinking of the best way to do this. "You know, Natsu not being here might be better for us since we have to be stealthy." Gray said. "That is true but if it comes to a big fight we may be in trouble without him." Lucy said worriedly. "Not likely with Erza here." Happy said off to the side.
"Everyone I see away we can get into the mansion unnoticed." Erza stated. "Where do you see the way in Erza?" Gray asked her. Erza pointed towards the roof that had a single window on the side they were facing.
"It looks like an attic from here." Erza told them. "Happy we'll need you to fly Lucy and Gray up there." As Erza said that she requiped to her flight armor and flew off up there as fast as she could to avoid being caught. Happy grabbed Gray and Lucy and flew off after Erza.
When they were all up top, Erza slid a sword under the window and pried it open as quietly as she could. When the window was open they slid in quietly to see they were indeed inside an attic. "Well this makes getting in unseen a lot easier since we're in an attic." Gray said while looking around the attic.
"So where do you guys think we should start looking?" Lucy asked. "Probably the library." Gray said while rolling his eyes. Lucy sighed and looked around the attic looking for the doorway down, but as she went around some boxes Happy jumped out with a skull mask on yelling, "BOO!" Lucy fell to the ground screaming and clutching above her heart and yelled "Don't scare me like that!"
Happy was rolling around laughing at her reaction until he heard in a harsh tone, "Happy do I need to beat some sense into you?" Erza said icily. Happy once again flew behind Gray in fright looking for some kind of protection. With Happy not doing any stunts like that they descended through the house, checking every corner for some resident of the house.
"Wow this guy must be really full of himself." Lucy said as they passed another statue of Duke Everlue. Her speaking out was a big mistake, that one statement was heard by one of the maids and went to find them.
The maid jumped out in front of them making them jump slightly. She was a giant of a woman who also strangely looked a lot like a gorilla. "Intruders! What do you think you are doing in my masters' mansion?" She thundered.
Hearing the giant made yell more maids came up behind them and attacked. Lucy jumped out of the way from the maids behind them while Gray turned the floor into ice so when they landed they slid right into the gorilla looking woman.
"Excellent move there Gray." Erza praised. Gray bowed at the praise thanking her. Before the maids could do anything else; Erza hit them all on the head knocking them out.
"Come let us move on before more of them show up." Erza said while looking for the library. After 10 minutes of searching and not finding anything Erza said, "Alright guys this is taking to long we need to split up and search separately. Lucy you come with me and Happy go with Gray."
After setting off in a different direction each, Gray asked Happy to fly on ahead. As Happy flew around the corner, Gray heard a clang and saw Happy slam into the wall. "Happy are you okay? Gray yelled while running to him.
As he got to Happy he heard someone laugh and turned to see two men standing not far off. One of them was holding something that looked to be a giant frying pan and Gray figured that's what hit Happy.
"We are the Vanish Brothers! We are mercenaries hired by Duke Everlue to protect his home from thieves like you.
"I don't give a rats ass about who you are." Gray said in anger. "You attacked my friend now you will pay." Gray began powering up an attack and yelled "ICE MAKE: HAMMER." A giant hammer made of ice rushed towards the two brothers who jumped out of the way. But before they could land Gray sent out a bunch of ice bolts hitting the unarmed one in the stomach and chest while the other used his frying pan to block the attack.
"Impressive boy, you actually took my younger brother out. You won't get the chance with me however."
"Yeah yeah whatever. That's something everyone thinks but you shouldn't underestimate your opponents." Gray said tauntingly while motioning for him to bring it.
Meanwhile with Erza and Lucy they had found their way to the library and were currently looking for "Daybreak". Lucy was getting frustrated at how many books they had to look through. "UGH! This is so fucking annoying." She complained while throwing random books around the room. As she was throwing the books around she had accidentally hit Erza with a book (well she's screwed, nice knowing ya Lucy).
Erza's eyes narrowed at Lucy who was paling. Erza was about to hit Lucy on the head when she noticed what book had hit her; it was "Daybreak". "You're getting lucky this time Lucy. Since you technically found the book we need I'll forgive you this one time." She said venomously. Lucy just kept apologizing nonstop hoping to avoid her wrath.
As Erza went to burn the book with her flame sword Lucy stopped her and said, "Wait let me see that book." Lucy snatched the book from Erza and looked at the authors' name. "I knew I recognized that name, please let me read it really fast." "Tch, fine just hurry up." Erza said in an annoyed tone. Lucy pulled out a pair of magic glasses to help her read faster. Just then Duke Everlue popped out of the ground with his gorilla like maid in tow. "Hand me that book now little girl and I won't have you hurt." Duke said to Lucy.
"No, there's a secret to this book and I must find out what it is." She claimed while running away yelling for Erza to buy her sometime. "Bah! Virgo you deal with the red head I'm going after that girl." "As you command my master." Duke then dug back into the ground chasing after Lucy. Erza requiped her sword and prepared to fight the maid.
Back with Gray and the remaining vanish brother, Gray was charging up an attack as the mercenary charged at him swinging his frying pan in a wide arc as if it was a battle axe. Gray ducked and rolled away jumping up yelling, "ICE MAKE: CANNON!" shooting a blast of ice at the mercenary who blocked it with his frying pan but didn't consider how strong the blast was and was smashed into the wall from the force of the hit.
Gray charged his magic power and sent another blast at the mercenary on the ground which hit dead on this time. The mercenary gasped for breath as the attack slammed into his chest and passed out from the pain.
"Tch, that guy was annoying. Better check and see how Happy is doing now." Gray said to himself. He ran over to Happy who was unconscious, so he picked him up running to find Lucy and Erza hoping they had the book by now. After a few minutes of running through the mansion he heard fighting and guessed it was Erza fighting someone and ran for the sound.
As he rounded the corner he saw Erza fighting with the gorilla maid. Gray ran to Erza so he could help her but that was unnecessary because as he got to them Erza kicked the maid in the face knocking her out. "Erza, are you alright?" Gray called to her as he ran over to her.
"Oh I'm fine Gray, she was a easy fight, what about you did you run into any trouble?" "Kinda, me and Happy ran into two mercenaries who attacked us, knocking Happy out. Though don't worry I took care of them." "Nicely done Gray, you've grown strong." Erza praised him. "Thanks Erza, but where is Lucy? "She ran off with "Daybreak" saying there was a secret to the book while I took care of this maid. We need to go find her, Duke Everlue had gone chasing after her. Erza said hurriedly.
Gray and Erza ran off in the direction Lucy ran in, both of them hoping nothing bad had happened. As they were running the felt the ground shaking from below and Gray said, "She might have ran into the basement or something." Erza nodded and ran for the stairs to get down.
When they got to the source of shaking they saw Lucy dodging attacks from Duke who was drilling through the walls and popping out at random areas. Gray looked at Erza and asked, "Of all places she could have gone she goes to the sewer?" noting the sewer pipe filled with mucky water next to them.
Lucy was getting annoyed with Duke and grabbed one of her keys and yelled, "Open Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!" A man popped out of the portal holding scissors in each hand with 6 crab legs coming out of his back. "What is it today Miss Lucy? Just a trim or a full haircut?" He asked while snipping the scissors. "I don't need any styling today! I need you to take care of that guy." Lucy said while pointing out Duke who was popping out of the walls.
Cancer jumped at Duke in a flash as he came out of the wall cutting all of his hair off as he went by and knocking him down to the ground. Duke groaned as he stood up and saw all his hair on the ground and cried out, "NO! My beautiful hair is all gone." Duke pulled a key from his pocket and yelled out, "Open Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"
The gorilla maid popped out of a portal shocking them all. "Whoa she's a celestial spirit? Lucy asked in shock. "It doesn't matter what she is, just that she's in our way of getting out of here!" Gray exclaimed while shooting ice shards at her. "He's right we're taking her down!" Erza said while charging at her with twin swords.
Both Gray's attack and Erza hit Virgo at the same time knocking her down for the count. Erza walked over to Duke Requiping to her Black Wing Armor and struck him down in a single attack to the chest. The group walked out of the mansion and as they started walking around the mansion started to collapse.
"Wow Lucy, Natsu would be proud. Going out with a bang." Happy claimed while munching on a fish. When Erza heard Happy say that she couldn't help but feel jealous. "Alright guys lets burn this book and get back to Mr. Melon." Erza said firmly. "Wait, no don't burn it yet, let's take it back to Mr. Melon. There's something about it he needs to see." Lucy said hurriedly. "Alright fine, let's go." Erza told them.
Ten minutes later the group was back at Mr. Melon's manor explaining that there was something he needed to see. Lucy pulled out the book and handed it to Mr. Melon. "Why are you handing me this book? Why have you not burned it?" Mr. Melon asked in a cold tone. "I never wanted to have anything to do with this book; I need it destroyed so my family's name can be cleared.
"Hold on Mr. Melon," Lucy said trying to calm him down, "There is something you need to know about that book."
"I don't want anything to do with that book, it ruined my father's life when he was forced to right that." Kaby proceeded to explain what happened to his father and how he died a few days after them arguing.
"Your father, Mr. Melon put a spell on that book so only you could read it. You may not have known but your father was a wizard before he became a writer, he used all his remaining strength to cast the spell on that book so you could read it." Lucy explained to him.
Kaby looked down at that book and read the title, and sure enough a magic circle appeared over the book and the title reformed its self so it spelt out "Dear Kaby" now. A bright light pierced the air and all of a sudden letters were flying all around the house rearranging them self inside the book so Kaby could see the real meaning in the book.
"Your father didn't stop writing because that book ruined his life as a writer, he stopped because he had written his master piece." Lucy explained to him. Kaby had a few tears sliding down his face as he looked at the legacy left behind for him from his dad. "Thank you father. I will always cherish this book now." Kaby said to himself.
"Well guys I guess its time we went home now." Erza said. "Also Mr. Melon we cannot accept the reward now. We didn't complete the job." Lucy looked at her in shock as did Mr. Melon. "At least let me do something for you." Mr. Melon said. "No it's quite alright, everyone lets return to Fairy Tail now. With that said Erza turned and left the house with Gray and Lucy following behind her.
"You should go home to Mr. Melon." Happy told him and walked away following after the team. "How did you know this wasn't their home Happy?" Erza asked him. "Oh that's easy, they smell like another house." Happy said while munching on fish. "Yeah maybe for you animal." Lucy said in an undertone. "Aye sir!" Happy said as they headed back to Magnolia.