The Problem Child (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Hateful

{NADIA'S POV}
Well, this is awkward. Why'd I go and blurt out Akuhei Tanaka's name like that? After my guild mates are sure the man with the chain-sickle is gone, Aunt Mira brings my classmates out from behind the bar while everyone else crowds me.

"What was that about?"

"How do you know Akuhei Tanaka?"

"Why is he after you?"

Dozens of questions fly around, making my head spin. Cindy, Rio, and Anya thankfully run crowd control, forming a semicircle around me so I can have a little personal space.

Then everyone parts and quiet descends as Gramps is walking towards me in his white wizard saints coat. That's how I know he's serious.

"Master Makarov?" I whisper, sitting sheepishly in my seat with my head ducked.

"Raise your head, child." I oblige to his command, looking up to stare him in the eye. "Akuhei Tanaka killed one of our own. Fairy Tail has not stopped hunting him since, and any information you could give us would help."

I reach up to finger the broken star barrette that I always have in my hair, only to remember that I left it in the hotel room this morning, worried that someone might recognize it.

To cover my blunder, I tuck some black hair behind my ears. The color magic is barely holding on.

"Sure." I nod wearily. Everyone leans forward in anticipation. Out of the sea of faces, I spot Luke, Layla, and even Nashi wearing hopeful expressions. Luna is standing next to them, and she's grown. Mom, Dad, and Reiki are in the front row, waiting with bated breath. I think this is the first time I've heard the guild hall this quiet.

"Lets start with where Akuhei Tanaka is now, and how you know him." Gramps speaks.

"He's here, in Magnolia. I just saw him yesterday." I respond truthfully. There are several gasps among the crowd, and some people even run out of the guild hall, presumably to search for him.

"And?" Gramps prompts.

"As for how I know him, well..." I trail off.

"Did you meet Nadia?" Dad blurts out. I recoil like I've been shot.

Mom smacks Dad upside the head. I duck my head, staring in horror as my teardrops hit the floor. Way to go, Nadia, you started crying. How are you gonna get out of this one? But hearing Dad say my name after all these years is too much.

"Once." I lie. "I met her before she went into that warehouse. But all I saw was a big klutz."

I bite my lip nervously.

"Ha!" Nashi laughs bitterly. "Her clumsiness was so annoying and a serious safety hazard."

"Oh." I wince. I knew it. They—

"But she was my little sister." Nashi continues. "Sure, I have a long list of reasons how she annoyed me. She was way too honest, too trusting, and always cheery. But that's what made her so special. I hate how the last time I saw her, I acted like an idiot. I wish every day that I could see her one last time and at least apologize for being a butthead."

"Nadia was a great big sis!" Luna squeals, jumping up and down. "When I learned that I can use fire and celestial spirit magic just like her, I started practicing all her old spells!"

"She always broke things, but she would try her hardest to make them right again." This time it's Aunt Mira. "I remember when she broke my favorite dish, and spent the entire night gluing all the pieces back together. Of course, it didn't look even close to the original, but I still treasure it."

Everyone in the guild takes a turn saying what that thought about and how much I meant to them. Reiki takes a whole ten minutes.

My body shakes violently as tears stream down my face. I can't believe they cared so much. I thought I didn't matter to them!

"She's still part of the glue that holds all of us together." Gramps finishes. I bring my hands up to cover my mouth. My face is a snotty, teary mess.

"I'm sorry!" I cry. "All that, and I couldn't even—" come back. Back home.

How could I have ever thought they hated me? Nashi praised me for my honesty, but I kept avoiding the truth and blamed it on them.

The one who really hated me the most was myself.

"Natalie, we made a mistake six years ago. Fairy Tail is not going to make the same mistake now. Starting today, we'll protect you like we couldn't protect Nadia." Gramps states, pounding his staff on the floor. The guild cheers.

Dad slams a flaming fist into his palm. He looks downright evil, and I'm glad we're on the same side. "When Akuhei Tanaka shows his dirty face, we'll make him pay, Fairy Tail style!"
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Sorry for the short update. Trust me, things will be picking up soon. And there will even be a few battle scenes! 😉