Bonds ~Fairy Tail

Risks

Well guys, I finally got over my writers block, and I know what to do so I hope you enjoy the next chapter on Bonds.

Q/A- Well I did get one question, 'Is Natsu dead?'

So, the answer to this question is a simple no. Just sickly.

Ch. 4 Risks...

"Why didn't you do something before Kiritan injected Natsu with the thorn!?", Erza, outraged, slammed her fist down on the desk, the normal respect that always seemed to follow Erza around when addressing the Master was gone, she was simply too outraged to remain calm.

"I couldn't! He already had Natsu, if you recall me saying, I couldn't have made it in time! All it would have done was possibly get Natsu killed." It was rare for the master to shout at any of his children without having a hint of mockery in it, which only add fuel to the seriousness of what was happening.

"He isn't invincible! He can die you know!" the master sighed, " You weren't there, you do not have any power in voice on this matter, if you were there then it might not have..." the master sounded completely defeated, causing Erza to flinch as a sudden gush of guilt hit her. She hadn't thought at all about what the master must have been feeling right now.

"I-I'm sorry...but we have to find him...he was...he was suffering inside, and we...his closest friends, couldn't even hear his suffered cries..." a tear fell down Erza's one good eye, leaving a small track along her cheek. Erza stared at the ground, thinking, remembering all the times her, Gray, and Natsu fought, and laughed. Another tear ran down her cheek, she swiped it away angrily.

"We can't risk going after him. We have to believe that the people who took him needed him, so they have to keep him alive. But if we go after him they might not kill him but torture him."

Just before Lucy could add in something, Levy opened the master's office door and hurried in, giving off a worrisome vibe to the already uneasy mages.

"Master, I think I found something important!" Master had already, before Erza and the others got back, asked Levy to research the guild and the powder.

"Calm yourself. Now what is it?"

Levy took in a deep breathe, "First I researched the guild, they are called Kuro Oni because the master supposedly owns the heart of black demon. This guild is also known for their wizards, all of which belong to various different gulids, and were considered very strong. It has been proven that they we're all reported missing, which led people to the conclusion that this guild is recruiting wizards with exceptional powers. They attack small villages and towns that are secluded from others. Recorded from one of the villagers that was a victim of their wrath, the villager asked one of the wizards why they we're doing this and he replied, 'Guys gotta eat right?'", Levy read, not looking up from the small piece of notebook paper she had wrote this all on.

"You think that's what they plan to do with Natsu." Gray concluded from where he stood with Lucy on te other side of the room.

"That would never happen!" exclaimed Lucy. She had been mostly quiet since the master had explained what had happened, but her opinions, being kept in for so long, finally broke through the dam that had been keeping them back, "Think about what you're saying! Natsu would never betray Fairy Tail!"

"But Lucy....he-" Makarov started, but was quickly cut off by Lucy. "You should have more faith in Natsu!" Lucy clenched her fists at her sides. Erza sent her a glare that could have killed a baby buffalo, Lucy met it head on.

"I agree, but..." Levy stared at the book in her hand.

"But what?" asked Gray.

Levy gulped, "Well the powder, Oni Kona, is a very old magic powder created by Zeref. It was made to have a master, so it wouldn't have worked without instructions from someone. So it is controlled, in this case more than likely by the guild master. The master of the powder can control what memories are taken, Zeref supposedly designed it for torture, so it is considerably painful. The pain is amplified by by the slowness of brain waves, which can only happen when the victim is asleep, so that means when the victim is asleep then the powder works faster and harder on the brain."

"That would explain why Natsu refused to sleep..."

"Wait! Doesn't that also mean that the master of the guild could take Natsu's memory of Fairy Tail specifically?!" Lucy eyes widening as she worked it out in her head.

"Yes, but why didn't he take the memories of us first?" wondered Gray.

"Probably so we wouldn't notice until the last few days before they took him that he was infected." interjected Erza.

Makarov nodded. "But, there is more," added Levy. "They can replace the memories with new ones made by the master of the powder!"

Erza's bangs covered her eyes, shading the viscous glare from view, "We have to go after him."

"Erza, we can't...he could be killed."

"The Natsu I know would rather die than be controlled into hurting innocent people!" Erza growled, looking up to reveal one eye, looking wild.

The wizard saint thought about this, "Fine, Erza. You win."

Erza didn't feel accomplished, she wanted to save Natsu, but she didn't want him killed, no matter what she just said.

"Okay, Erza, you will be in charge of who and when the searches happen." The master walked out his door and stood at the railing looking down at the quiet guild. The tension was as thick as butter in the air, all of the awaiting mages knew something important was to be decided by their leader's next words.

"Everyone, we will be conducting search parties to search for Natsu." he announced.

"But master, Natsu could be killed!" Lisanna shrieked. Breaking the silence of the already on edge guild.

The master then quoted Erza's earlier words, "The Natsu I know would rather die than be controlled into hurting innocent people."

Okay, so there it is so far... will not be long before next chapter.

Please, review! All make me smile, also reviews = one smiling unicorn!

Also questions! I want them! So please if no review then please give me one of your question, but nothing like 'What will happen next?' I can't answer that.