The Problem Child (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Wishful

{CINDY'S POV}
I watch as Natalie, no, Nadia breaks down and her former guild mates try to comfort her. Her gate keys are burning a hole in my pocket. I wonder once again if I should reveal her identity.

No. That might ruin this touching moment. Besides, I remember back to how Rio, Anya, and I stayed up late last night discussing things after Nadia went to bed, the real reason why we woke up after her.

*flashback to the night before*
All three of us stare at the three silver gate keys, unsure of what to do.

"Do you think Nat—err, Nadia wants her identity to be revealed tomorrow?" Anya asks.

"I dunno. I mean, she practically asked Cindy. Tomorrow is the perfect opportunity." Rio muses. I continue to stay silent, staring at Nadia's keys.

"You're right." Anya agrees.

"I don't want to." I mutter.

"What?!" Anya cries in shock, then we gasp and cover her mouth with our hands. Thankfully, Nadia doesn't wake up in the other room.

"She could've returned to Fairy Tail six years ago, but she didn't. She came to Castillia Town instead. Have you ever thought that maybe Nadia didn't want to be found?" I explain.

"So what are you gonna do?" Rio asks.

"If she's in trouble and needs her keys, I'll give them to her. Other than that, I respect her decision to not go back."

I have a more selfish reason that I don't share. I don't want my best friend to leave.
*flashback ends*

Nadia must've had a good reason. I keep telling myself that. But it's a convenient excuse and I know it. Just by watching them, I can tell that Nadia will rejoin Fairy Tail in a heartbeat. They'll welcome her back with open arms.

Nadia's eyes meet mine.

I'm sorry Nadia. Am I a bad friend for wanting you to stay with me in Castillia Town?

{NADIA'S POV}
I'm a dense idiot. One guess which parent I got that trait from. I had no good reason for leaving, and I caused so much pain to all those around me who love me. How could I be so stupid?

Fairy Tail wanted me back this whole time.

I glance at Cindy, tempted to ask for my keys and reveal myself. But something about her conflicted expression makes me hesitate. Maybe it's best if I stay Natalie for a while longer.

{REIKI'S POV}
I can't stop looking at this strange black-haired girl. She looks distraught, and she keeps crying. What reason could she have to cry when we all talked about Nadia? She did say she met Nadia once. What happened between them?

One thing's for certain. I'm gonna avenge Nadia. And if protecting Natalie brings Akuhei Tanaka to me, I'll do what I must.

Of course, that's easier said than done.

I have to stop her from running away for the third time today. We've been in town making finishing preparations for the Fantasia parade, and Natalie refuses to stay put.

I pin her to the ground. "Stop running."

Her eyes flash daggers, while her face turns bright red. I don't think she likes me very much. She keeps yelling at me like she did when I first arrived, then blushing and getting all flustered. Her night-and-day attitude is as predictable as the weather, but I definitely bother her.

"Make me." She snaps.

I sigh, standing and requiping a sword. I place the tip against her throat, making her freeze.

"Cheater." Natalie glowers. I put away my sword then offer her a hand. She takes it and I pull her up.

When I set her on her feet, she loses her footing and stumbles. I keep a tight hold of her wrist, making sure she doesn't fall. This girl and Nadia would get along. They're both really clumsy. Remembering only brings the pain back.

I sense something.

Natalie must sense it too, because she stiffens. She has pretty good reflexes for someone who can't use magic and isn't trained to fight. I requip my sword, and she balls her hands into fists.

The same guy from earlier jumps out of the shadow of a nearby building, and I do mean straight out. His chain-sickle lashes out, trying to get around me to Natalie. Not happening.

I parry the blade, sending it flying back to him in a shower of sparks. He reaches out and catches it, then immediately throws it back. I push Natalie to the side before jumping back myself. The blade embeds itself in the ground between us.

Natalie runs up to it, grabbing onto the chain before he can pull it back. "Get him!"

She doesn't have to tell me twice. While the guy plays tug-o-war for his weapon, I run up to him and knock him out quickly with the hilt of my sword. His hold on the chain goes slack, and Natalie shrieks as her weight is used against her and she tumbles back.

I make sure the enemy is unconscious before leaping in front of Natalie. I cross my arms and scold, "What were you thinking, grabbing on to the chain like that? You're an idiot!"

Natalie laughs sheepishly and scratches the back of her head. "It worked, didn't it?"

Natalie makes the same stupid, boneheaded, impulsive decisions that Nadia used to make when we went on missions together. The kind that got her in trouble. The kind I inevitably had to save her from. My heart throbs.

"I could've handled that guy easily. If you die, I have no way of getting to Akuhei Tanaka!" Nadia's killer. Irritated, I grab the unconscious guy by his hair, intent to drag him back to the guild hall.

"Akuhei Tanaka! Akuhei Tanaka! That's all I ever hear about from you. Is that all I am to you? A ticket to that man?"

"Yes. You are just a means to an end." Akuhei Tanaka's end, specifically. I'll happily get life in prison for first degree murder if it's that guy.

Tears well up in Natalie's eyes when she hears my response. She spins around and storms away. I feel a little bit bad. It's not Natalie's fault she reminds me too much of Nadia.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Where are you going?" I jog to catch up to her.

"The Fairy Tail guild hall." Natalie yells without turning around. Her voice cracks, and now I really feel like a douchebag.

"Isn't this your first time in Magnolia? Do you know way there?"

"I'll manage."

Natalie speeds up. I match her pace, even with my extra baggage.

I stop her with a hand on her wrist, and spin her to face me. "I lost someone I care about to Akuhei Tanaka. I'm going to make him pay for that. Which means, you're stuck with me."

I see Natalie's face go beet red before she turns away. Using her hand to shield her face from my sight, Natalie speed walks forward.

I try to warn her, only to watch as she falls straight into the canal. Then I hear her gasp, and the splashing of water.

"Natalie?" I run forward, frowning, only to look in the canal and not see her anywhere. "Hey Natalie! This isn't funny! Where are you?"

She's gone.

{NADIA'S POV}
I'm screwed. Royally screwed. The color magic wore off when I fell in the canal the second time.

My hair reverted to it's natural pink, so I ran off without thinking. What am I gonna do now?