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

XXV - Guild

Sorry for the long wait. Of course writer's block struck on the last chapter...

Lucy's PoV

It's been a day since they arrived. The group of people turned out to be the remnants of the dark guild Tartaros, led here by Rakheid. They don't mean any harm, this time, but I can't help but worry. Not for anyone's safety, but about Natsu's decision.

I think he's seriously considering leaving Fairy Tail.

Whenever I ask him, he says he needs to think more, or says he's busy. So I have no idea what's going on until he approaches me at the guild that evening.

"Hey... Luce..." Natsu approaches the table where I am sitting and reading a book (though I couldn't really concentrate on it anyway.) "I've been thinking, and... I'm going to leave with Tartaros, at least for a little while."

I close my book and look up at him sadly. "Okay. Just please... promise to come back?"

Natsu looks startled. "I thought you'd be more against it. Happy, Wendy, and Erza kept saying I shouldn't go."

"Don't get me wrong, I'd like it if you stayed with Fairy Tail, but they're also your guild, aren't they? I get it. You need to make sure they don't hurt anyone else." I look down to try and hide the sadness that must be visible in my eyes. Not that that idiot would be likely to notice anyway.

"Okay. I promise I'll come back, as soon as I can." He scratches his head awkwardly. "I want you to know this isn't goodbye, it's more like... see you later? So, yeah. See you later."

"See... see you later." My voice trembles a bit.

He leaves the guild hall, and I don't see him again.

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Zeref's PoV

I can tell Natsu doesn't want to leave his friends, but he seems to be... bound by a sense of duty, perhaps? It's unusual for him, but I will support my little brother in any way I possibly can.

Rakheid and I are waiting with the Tartaros guild on a hill outside Magnolia, as it wouldn't do for any of the Tartaros demons to risk recognition.

A group of people walk up the hill. It's Natsu, in his Etherious form, followed by the mostly recovered Nen and Nauro, in their humanoid forms. Once he reaches the top, he looks at me, and I nod slightly.

He turns to address the nine assembled demons of Tartaros. "I'd say it's been a while, but it hasn't, really." Natsu scratches his head awkwardly. "I assume Zeref-nii has filled you in on the situation with my powers and memories having been sealed."

The Tartaros demons bow respectfully before him. "Yes, Master," Mard Geer replies. "May I say, it is wonderful to see you restored to your former self."

"Um... thanks?" Natsu clears his throat before continuing. "Anyway, after having thought it over for some time, I have decided to leave Fairy Tail for some time. However, I am still an ally of the light guilds." He pauses to let that sink in.

Oh, if you're wondering why Natsu is speaking so much more formally than normal, the two of us had predetermined what he would say the day before. I insisted after learning his original plan was to 'just wing it.'

"Therefore, from today onwards, Tartaros shall renounce the name of dark guild and instead become an independent guild."

The declaration is met with some murmuring, but a glare from Mard Geer silences the other demons. "As our master wishes. Seeing as our goal as a dark guild was to revive you, we no longer have a purpose."

"Then our guild is now Tartaros, the independent guild. As for our goal... to atone for the sins we have committed against humanity!"

I think I'm the only one who notices the fact that Natsu's eyes are watering, as if he is trying not to cry.

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End of Book One