These Blood-Soaked Pages (Fairy Tail) [Book 1 of Reaper's Scythe]

XXIV - Decisions

A few days later
In the Fairy Tail guild's infirmary
Zeref's PoV

I sit in a chair next to Natsu's bed, clutching the Book of END. (We were able to find it mostly unharmed, but the small amount of damage did account for Natsu's unexplained injuries.) The twins are in here as well. They will likely take some time to heal, even with Wendy's healing magic.

But the real question here is Natsu. It seems that I was wrong, his memories haven't fully returned. They're still coming back, and he slips in and out of consciousness. The process seems painful, and the Sky Dragon Slayer can't seem to do anything to ease the pain.

I jolt upright at the sound of raised voices outside the infirmary door.

"How many times do I have to tell you! Master said nobody's allowed in, so that's final!" That's Erza's voice.

"That's not fair!"

"Please let us see him, Erza!"

Those voices... Happy and Lucy.

"Sorry, but it's Master's rules! Nobody but Wendy, Master, and him are allowed in there."

By 'him,' I assume Erza means me, which might mean there's someone else with the three of them.

"But can't you at least tell us how he's doing?!" That voice is vaguely familiar. Probably a member of Fairy Tail that I've met, but don't really know. Well, it seems I was right.

"There's no change in Natsu's condition. Now please!"

My attention is drawn from the commotion outside when Natsu stirs. His eyes slowly open.

"Natsu! How are you feeling?"

"Hungry." He sits up. "Ugh, my head feels weird."

"I'll go get you some food. Please don't move." I head out the door, only to (thankfully not literaly, but almost) run into Erza.

"Where are you going?" She summons a sword and points it at me. I raise my hands in a gesture of peace.

"Natsu woke up. He said he was hungry, so I'm just going to get something for him to eat."

"HE'S AWAKE?!" Right, I almost forgot about those three. Lucy, Happy, and a boy around Wendy's age are all gathered around the door. Their yell alerts the rest of the guild as well. Before long, there's a small crowd gathered.

Erza manages to disperse everyone. Only she, Makarov, Wendy, Lucy, Happy, and I are allowed in. Lucy, Happy, and Wendy are overjoyed to see him conscious again. They all crowd around him.

"Natshu!" Happy cries, flying right in to him. Natsu awkwardly pets the cat's back.

Once they're done being all emotional again, I ask- "So, Natsu. Do you remember everything now?"

Suddenly becoming more serious, he nods. "Yes. And, well... I was already thinking about-"

Happy's eyes widen. "You were THINKING?!"

"Stop acting so surprised! Yeah, I was thinking about..." He looks up at Makarov, then empty space - I'm guessing Mavis is there - and then looks away. "I was thinking about leaving for a while. Not forever, of course! You guys are my family. It's just..."

"Tartaros?" I ask.

"Yeah. Without me there, they might do something awful again."

Lucy looks at him sadly. "Natsu... are you sure? You don't have to leave. There's got to be another way!"

"Maybe, but I can't think of any."

"That's probably just because you're stupid!" Happy replies indignantly. "Maybe Lushee or the First can think of another option!"

"I'm not stupid!" Natsu yells.

"If you think this is best, I have no objections," Makarov says. At the shocked looks he gets from Lucy, Happy, and Wendy, he adds, "Just promise that you'll stay safe. And come back eventually, you hear?"

"Of course! You guys are my family, just as much as this weirdo." Meaning me. I scowl at him.

Lucy begins to retort, but the door flies open.

"Master, we have a problem!"

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Sorry for the short chapter.

The dreaded writer's block has struck.

This book is almost over and the second one is a lot easier to write...

PS. the OCs are not there for no reason they just don't have much of a purpose until book 2...