33Welcome to the next chapter, and Happy Halloween everyone! I had originally planned to do a mini Halloween chapter, just for fun, but decided against it. I hope you don't mind!
Before this chapter starts, I'd like to take a moment to address a question asked in a recent review; left by Almighty Izuku. But before that - I have some important news to share.
This chapter is sponsored by Raid: Shadow Legends!
Just Kidding. Is that meme dead? Probably, I don't know.
Due to an upcoming vacation I'll be taking, there will be a small hiatus where I will not be writing - as I want to just relax and enjoy myself, while I'm out of state from where I usually live. With that being said, this will be the last chapter until November 14th or 15th. Thank you all for your understanding, which I appreciate a lot.
Now to answer Almighty Izuku's question! As for whether or not more girls will appear in Mermaid Heel - the short answer is yes. The long answer would be how I have intentions of introducing more female characters, both in and out of the Mermaid Heel guild, but am currently trying to stagger the introduction. Like I've said before, this is my first ever story - and something I quickly come to realize is that I'm not very good at handling dialogue in large group settings. This current arc is going to be my first real stomping grounds for group dynamic and such, so I'm still in trial and error phases.
I don't know when I'll start introducing more female characters, but if I had to guess, I'd wager it won't be till after the end of this first major arc. At least, I won't dive deep into many new characters, until after this arc; there's still the possibility I introduce someone briefly, and set up their respective subplot, like I've done with Yukino.
With that being said - onto the story!
"Dialogue"
"Thoughts"
Magic
Mermaid Heel Guild Hall Exterior.
Kagura followed behind Erza, uncertain as to what the redhead will have to talk about. "From her tone… I hope you're okay, Onee-sama." Kagura thought to herself, as the two women walked in silence. They were towards the side of the guild now, a spot they often frequented together - due to the particularly cozy feel of the small natural flower bed, and the surprising privacy that was offered in this particular spot.
"Is everything okay, Onee-sama?" Kagura finally asked, her voice gentle, similar to one a mother would use with their tired child.
"Why do you trust him?" Erza asked, her voice filled with confusion, as well as being sharp and jagged, like her words were tiny daggers.
"What.. what do you mean, Onee-sama-?" Kagura asked, having been taken aback by the redhead's words.
"Why are you so… open, with Natsu?" Erza's voice was growing more erratic, the sound of metal clinking against metal being audible, as the woman's armored arms seemed to shake, with a growing fervor.
Kagura's initial surprise soon vanished, as she discovered the subject of Erza's inquiries. "Onee-sama.. Erza.. Natsu has been nothing but kind to the guild, and it's members. We have no reason to distrust him… why do you hold such irrational fear of him?" Kagura asked, her words no longer gentle, but equal bits as serious as Kagura's.
"You don't know that!" Erza snapped, as she finally turned around, to look at Kagura. The redhead's face was reddened and flustered, her brown eyes seemingly moistened, as if she was ready to cry; but behind her eyes was nothing but seeming and apparent anger.
"How can you be so sure? How do you know he's not… he's not using you!? Using us?!" Erza continued, her emotions bubbling higher and higher, like a container about to spill over.
"Using us…? For what? What would he be using us for, Erza's?!" Kagura retaliated, her own emotions boiling over as well - an unfortunate effect of their levels of closeness. Whenever Kagura and Erza fought, which was a very rare thing to happen in general - their arguments tended to be heated, more so than either of the mages liked to admit.
"How is Natsu using us, Erza!?" Kagura reiterated once again, keeping pressure on the redhead as a result. "If anything - aren't we using him..?" Kagura suddenly asked, her voice dropping down to a much quieter and gentle tone.
Erza simply snorted, that same look of borderline heartbreak and distress etched onto her face. "Tch. And how is that, Kagura?" She asked, her tone pointed.
Kagura looked towards the ground for a minute, a sigh escaping her lips as she did. "Look, Erza.. I don't want to fight. Natsu - he… he's done a lot to help out the guild, and you know it." Kagura said, rather lamely. "He's aided Mira and myself in combat - and has been nothing but kind to our mages. He's taken Wendy as his student - and puts up with Master Ultear's… whatever it is that she forced him to do." Kagura finished, with an involuntary shudder.
Erza felt her hand tightening into a fist, the sound of metal creaking being heard, as she listened to Kagura's words. She felt her insides boiling, as anger and resentment crept its way towards the surface of her being - threatening to spill out. Though after an eerie silence overtook the two mages, Erza would finally open her mouth to speak again, only uttering a single word as she did. "Why?"
Kagura was suddenly taken aback by Erza's rebuttal - or lack thereof. "why?" The purple-haired mage mimicked, not having expected that to be what Erza chose to say.
"Why?" Erza reinforced, her tone a steely cold. "Why does Ultear rely on him? Why did he get sent alongside you to help Mira? Why?" Eeza asked.
Kagura didn't know what to say to all of this, her mind too preoccupied with trying to keep calm and preventing the fight from turning into something any more serious.
"He'll betray us Kagura. They always do." Erza muttered, her voice laced with venom, her face flushed and eyes moist - tears threatening to spill out all the while.
"Why… why do you think that, Erza? Why do you think Natsu will… no, he won't. Natsu wouldn't betray us. He's not like -" Kagura started her own retaliation, but soon found herself cut off by a screaming Erza.
"Not like what!? Not like what, Kagura!? Cause let me tell you - he will betray us! It's only a matter of time, but he will!" Erza exclaimed, that seething anger boiling up further and further. It was like a lit fuse was sizzling inside of Erza, and every second it burned brighter and brighter, getting closer to detonation.
Kagura found her body moving faster than her mind, as she took two long steps towards the redheaded swordswomen, getting face to face with her 'older sister' as she listened to her go on and on. "And what makes you so sure of that!?" Kagura replied, with just as much volume and strength to her voice.
"Because JELLA DID!" Erza shouted back, as she was face to face with Kagura.
Suddenly, the flood gates let loose. Kagura's eyes widened in shock, and the first thing she noticed was the tears, which streamed from Erza's left eye in a downpour. Secondly, was the look on Erza's face. Rather than anger, like it had been, it was replaced by a look of sadness and loss; a look of despair.
"Onee-sama.." Kagura softly muttered, her own anger having vanished in an instant, as she gently reached out a hand.
Erza didn't respond directly to Kagura, and instead continued speaking on her own. "That's how I know he'll betray us, Kagura… cause Jellal did." Erza muttered out between quiet sobs, her eyes seeming to have gone dull, due to the topic at hand now.
"Onee-sama… just cause Jellal did.. did what he did - doesn't mean Natsu will.." the purple-haired mage muttered gently, as she placed her gloved hand on the knight's armored shoulder, in as comforting and reassuring way as she could.
Erza didn't respond to Kagura, she instead crumpled into the woman's arms, sobbing as she buried her face into her 'younger sisters' chest, seeking whatever comfort she could.
Kagura did her best to provide that comfort - holding her fellow Swordswomen comfortingly, with her own solemn look on her face. "So that's why you're so standoffish with Natsu, Erza… he reminds you of Jellal.." Kagura thought to herself, as she quietly embraced her sobbing sister.
With a soft clink, Natsu would gently and quietly close the Infirmary window - having opened it to try and hear what Erza and Kagura were arguing about; of which he was successful. With a sigh, Natsu started walking back over towards the chair he was sitting in prior, taking extra caution to remain quiet as he did so, not wanting to forcefully wake Mira with any excess noise.
Sitting down, Natsu began to rub the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger, a trying to wrap his head around the situation.
"So.. Erza thinks i'll.. betray the guild.. because some guy named Jellal did?" Natsu muttered to himself, confusedly.
He wasn't fully sure what to think, truth be told. He only just now found out Erza didn't like him, right before his fight with Mira - yet he didn't realize it was to such an extreme. He could've handled and accepted that fact, if it weren't for the reasoning why - that's what kept Natsu so confused.
"Who's Jellal..? Why does she think I'm gonna do the same things he did…?" Natsu muttered to himself, deep in thought - unsure of how to feel.
Before Natsu could ponder any second, he felt his right ear twitch - as he heard the sound of footsteps, approaching the Infirmary door. Not long later, the telltale sign of the doorknob turning was heard in the Infirmary, as Natsu watched to see who it was.
Much to the dragonslayer's surprise, he caught sight of a head of light-blue, silverish hair - as well as the feathery tips of an elegant cloak, recognizing Yukino almost instantly.
"Oh. What are you doing here, Yukino?" Natsu asked, his eyes blinking in surprise for a moment.
Shutting the door quietly behind her, the mage gave Natsu a courteous bow, with a smile on her face. "I've come to see Mira, is all." She said, as she walked towards Natsu, pulling up another chair next to his, and subsequently next to Mira's bed.
Natsu nodded in understanding, his eyes darting over to the sleeping woman I question, as if to reaffirm she was still okay, before flicking back to the new arrival.
"That makes sense. Are.. you two close?" Natsu asked, a little awkwardly.
"Not particularly." Yukino said, with a small smile. "We take comfort in one another's company, occasionally - but nothing more." Yukino said, though her smile faltered for a moment - being replaced by a somewhat sad frown. "She looks quite a lot like my older sister… and, from what she had told me, I look quite alike with her younger sister." Yukino muttered softly, her right hand absentmindedly fiddling with the button of her cloak.
Natsu listened to Yukino, understanding immediately what she had said. "Yep. She's definitely Sorano's sister." Natsu thought. Though he looked back towards Mira's face, staring at her for a few moments. "I… don't exactly see the resemblance." He thought, as a mental picture of Sorano appeared in his mind. "No, wait… I can see it. Mira just have a different vibe than Sorano." Natsu rationalized. Taking another look at Yukino, he mentally compared her and Mira's younger sister - before letting out a small laugh.
Hearing the dragonslayer's laugh, Yukino looked over to Natsu, with s confused look. "What's so funny?" She asked, with a small title of her head.
"Nothing, nothing. I just realized Mira's right, for once. You do look a lot like Lisanna." Natsu said casually, as he continued to examine Yukino for a second.
"Oh." Yukino replied simply, her mouth forming an O- shape - before her eyes widened, a bit. "Wait wait wait - you know Lisanna?!" She exclaimed in surprise, as the weight of Natsu's words hit her.
Natsu would promptly shush the lady, holding a finger to his lips while pointing to the still unconscious Mira. "Shhhh. She's exhausted - let her rest." Natsu teased, earning an embarrassed blush from the woman sitting next to him. "Though yes, I've met Lisanna. One of the more normal people at Fairy Tail, honestly." Natsu said, shuddering at the thought of the guild.
"So you've been to Fairy Tail too, then?" Yukino asked, curiously. "I've always wondered… what's it like?" She questioned.
"Loud. Hectic, too. But very loud." Natsu deadpanned, as he held his ears, which started to ring due to the memory alone.
Yukino sweatdropped at this, a small crooked smile on her face, unsure of what to say to Natsu's blatant response.
"...but people there have heart. They're crazy, and annoying sometimes - but they've got heart, and care. Their master, Makarov, wanted me to join the guild even - hah." Nastu said, with a seemingly fond smile, as he began to recollect about his brief stint with the guild.
Yukino nodded her head along, laying close attention to Natsu's words. "Why didn't you? Join Fairy Tail - that is." She asked, with a curious tilt of the head.
"That's… complicated." Natsu responded, truthfully. His fond smile was replaced, as he now had an almost wistful look on his face, as he seemed to just sort of stare off into the distance. "It was a complicated part of my life, truth be told. I had just lost two very close friends, not long before.. and I didn't want to put myself through that again. I can't have another friends death in my conscious." Natsu responded, truthfully.
Yukino's eyes widened in silent understanding, before she nodded her head - not a word leaving her lips. Though she soon noticed the dragonslayers firm grip, and how his hands squeezed shut in balled fist, and shook with barely restrained emotion. Tentatively reaching outwards, Yukino would wrap the both of her hands around Natsu's right fist, and simple hold it; soothingly rubbing her thumbs in small circles, along the pink-haired man's fist. Natsu's head shot up a bit, as he wasn't expecting the physical contact - being caught off guard. Though before he can say or do anything, Yukino simply gives him a reassuring look, with a gentle shushing sound.
"My older sister used to do this for me, whenever I was upset." Yukino said gently, her thumbs still gliding over Natsu's calloused hands. "It always helped me calm down… though I guess I'm a little biased - I love sharing physical embraces with those close to me, after all." Yukino giggled, a small smile on her face.
Natsu stared at Yukino for a moment, before a small smile suddenly spread across his face. "Yeah… physical contact isn't so bad." Natsu thought to himself.
It would only take a few moments until Yukino let go of Natsu's hand - before Natsu himself even noticed that his hand was no longer tense and shaking. Yukino's smile grew much larger, and more pronounced - as she beamed at the dragonslayer. "There you go - right as rain!" She said, with a giggle.
"Yeah- thanks." Natsu responded, as he moved his hand back to his lap, awkwardly. He'd turn his attention back towards Mira, watching her slumbering face for a moment, before a sigh left his lips. "She is gonna be out all night.." he bemoaned.
Yukino nodded her head in agreement, seeing no sign of the woman waking up anytime soon. "Mhm. I'm not too surprised, though. You gave her quite the whooping!" Yukino said, with a smile. "That's… three for three now, right?" She asked.
Natsu just let out a laugh, enjoying Yukino's optimism and seemingly carefree attitude. "Hah, yeah. Though Mira wasn't any slouch - if she was better at pacing herself, she'd probably have given me a hell of a time. More so than she already did." Natsu responded.
Yukino nodded her head along, seemingly agreeing with Natsu right off the bat. Though as she did so, she sat there and began to think for a moment. "Hold up… how come Natsu is even here? Why is he waiting for Mira to wake up? Are they.. oh my God are they dating!?" Yukino thought, her inner gossiper going crazy. "No, wait, that doesn't make sense… Millianna just told me how he and Ultear were on a date… but he knows Mira's sister! OMG OMG OMG!" It took all of Yukino's willpower to stop herself from squealing, at the bit of juicy gossip she thought she had discovered. "So, Natsu…" she started off, trepidation in her voice.
"Hmm? What's up Yukino?" Natsu replied, curiously.
"I can't believe I'm asking this.. but I need to know!" Yukino thought, as she tried to calm her nerves. "So.. is it true you and Ultear are dating!?" She nervously burst out, not able to hold back her question any longer.
Natsu just stared at Yukino for a moment, his expression blank and his head tilted to the side. After what felt like an eternity, though was really only a few awkward seconds, he'd finally feel the weight of Yukino's words sinking into him - a look of horror spreading across his face.
Yukino studied Natsu's expression intently, more so than she has most things in her life. So when she saw a look of abject horror spreading across the dragonslayer's face, her eyes widened in genuine surprise - not having expected him to be so terrified at their secret being undone. "Oh my God… they are dating!? That.. it makes so much sense! But I just…" Yukino was suddenly pulled forth from her own thoughts, as she watched Natsu begin to violently shake his head no.
"Woah woah woah! I don't know who told you that, but they're dead wrong!" Natsu stated, his voice adamant, yet somewhat embarrassed, as he began to wave his hands around frantically.
Yukino suddenly felt herself stop, her mind coming to a standstill at Natsu's denial. "Oh.. You're not!? Man, I was so sure! You got all scared when I asked, and everything!" Yukino said with a playful pout. "If you're not secretly dating… why did you get scared when I asked?" Yukino questioned, with a quizzical and skeptical expression on her face.
"Welllll…" Natsu pondered off, images of Ultear popping up in his mind, as he did. "I feel like she would so use this to mess with me, if she knew about the rumors." Natsu finally responded, with a sheepish smile.
Yukino laughed at this, taking amusement at Natsu's own embarrassment - something she found oddly weird, as well. "He's such a powerful mage… it's hard imagining him embarrassed - but I guess it happens quite frequently?" Yukino pondered curiously, for only a moment, before speaking up again. "You and master Ultear… what type of relationship do you two have, if it's not dating?" She asked with genuine curiosity.
Natsu seemed to go deep into thought for a minute, as he was asked that one by Yukino. Though he'd eventually sigh, letting his head fall in defeat, as he did so. "Maaaan… I don't know. She just teases me… a lot." Natsu said, as he pulled his head back up. "Makes my life a living hell, I swear." He grumbled, though with a playful hint to his voice.
Yukino nodded her head in understanding, filing the information away for later. "Trust me, we've all noticed that one." She giggled.
Natsu snickered, looking away as he did so; though he had his own faint smile, at the same time. "Yeah, she's not subtle about it… hey, how exactly did that rumor start?" Natsu asked, as he looked back towards Yukino.
"Oh! Well.. Millianna - I don't know if you know her - but she's a mage here. She said she saw you being hugged from behind by Ultear, outside of a jewelry shop? I think that's what she said…" Yukino said, scratching her cheek with an awkward giggle.
Natsu shook his head in disbelief, with a sigh escaping his lips. "Man, I didn't even consent to that hug - she popped up outta nowhere." Natsu grumbled, as he covered the lower part of his face with his scarf.
Yukino would laugh out loud at that, finding Natsu's behavior endearingly cute. "You're quite something, Natsu." She said, softly.
Natsu perked up a little bit at Yukino's words, pulling the scarf back down as he gave the woman a curious look. "Oh yeah? And how's that?" He'd ask the woman.
"Well, just think of it like those… most men would KILL to have Ultear fawn over them… but you treat it like it's annoying or bothersome!" Yukino said, with a giggle. Though suddenly her eyes went wide and a hand covered her mouth, as if she was struck by a revelation. "Wait a minute… Natsu - are you attracted to other me-" Yukino started speaking, only to be cut off by a blushing Natsu.
"ANYWAYS." He said abruptly, his cheeks red, as he hid his face in his scarf once again out of embarrassment. "No, that is not the case." The pink-haired man stated, matter of fact like. "I.. simply don't think my life is stable enough for that type of connection with people." Natsu finally said, his voice undertaking a surprisingly sad tone.
Yukino originally was holding back a laugh - but that quickly turned into a small frown, as the dragonslayer got so serious so quickly. Though before she had time to say anything, the sound of the Infirmary door opening would echo throughout the room, catching the light blue haired mage off guard. Turning around, Yukino noticed the woman in question, Ultear, sticking her head into the room; a wide smile on her face, as she noticed Natsu.
"Oh there you are, Natsuuu~!" Ultear chirped, as she practically skipped over to the dragonslayer, without wasting a moment. "I was looking all over for you!" She exclaimed, as she got right up next to the man in question.
Natsu coughed into his hand in surprise, not having expected Ultear to appear - though he was a bit thankful for the timing. "Y-yeah? And what for..?" Natsu asked, with a bit of trepidation.
"I need your help with something - urgent!" Ultear chirped, her face still a happy grin, making both Natsu and Yukino wonder just how urgent it really was. Ultear then turned to Yukino, giving her a kind smile. "Ah, Yukino - you'll watch over dear Mira for me, won't you?" She asked, happily.
Yukino was caught off guard by this entire encounter, as she just stared with a bewildered expression. "Uh… yeah- I can do that." She said, with a tiny, almost awkward, giggle.
"Perfect! You're the best!" Ultear chirped once more, before grabbing Natsu by the hand. Without wasting any time, she immediately began to drag the dragonslayer out of the room, much to his annoyance.
"Hey, Ultear.. don't I get a say in this!?" He growled in annoyance, only to be met with a laugh from the black haired woman, as she forced him out of the Infirmary, shutting the door behind them.
Yukino just looked at the closed door for a second, her head a mess of confusion. "um… what just happened…?" She muttered to no one in particular, as she continued to stare at the door.
Sorry this chapter isn't as long as they have been! I was originally making a silly Halloween One-Shot chapter, but decided against it last minute, after not liking what was written. As always, thank you all for your continued support, it means the world to me!