Always in the dark ( NaLu ) <3

Chapter 30

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ANSWERS WHY I HAVN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER. BUT I HOPE IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND: high. school.

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ASUNA*

Asuna sat with Levi and Fairy Tail's master Makarov at a table in the guild hall. They sat in silence. Strategy was impossible now. They'd done all their research and only found enough information to know that they weren't crazy. Which was good, sort of. Now there was nothing left to do. Asuna robotically pulled the mug of tea to her lips and swallowed the scalding liquid without tasting it, slamming it back down after she did. Nobody even flinched. The whole guild seemed to be in a hushed waiting, not given up, but knowing there was nothing they could do at this moment. The mug had cracked, and the tea seeped through the opening, slowly flowing onto the wooden table. She put her head down in shame. And exhaustion. And hopelessness. Waiting was driving her mad. Kirito couldn't come for her, there was nothing he could do if a portal was still open from this world to hers, considering it was probably in a well hidden area with no means of detection. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself not to cry. Crying was for when she saw him again. Slowly looking up again at Makarov, Asuna wiped her dry eyes and stared at him, willing him to meet her gaze. Finally he gave in, looking up and into her eyes with a controlled expression. Asuna vaguely wondered if he felt the same way she did, but the thought was gone as soon as it had come.

"Why don't we go look for them?" Asuna's voice came out in a whisper, although she hadn't meant it to. She cleared her throat and asked again.

"Because they will contact us when they need us." Was what he replied simply. Asuna wanted to argue, but she was too tired. Instead she just nodded in reply. Standing up on shaky feet she began walking towards the infirmity. She had nowhere to stay, so she'd been sleeping in the guild on the infirmity beds. Levi stood as well, considerably more stable than she'd been. She glanced at him quickly before she turned into the all too white, all too sterile room. Catching a quick glimpse of him cleaning up the tea and throwing away the now useless mug. Looking away, she crawled into one of the small cots. Tucking herself under the sheets and covering her head with an extra pillow.

This time the tears did come. And her soft sobs lulled her into a deep dreamless sleep.

LUCY* p.o.v.

"Sh-shadows?" I asked slightly nervous. The voice chuckled, the shadow room suddenly illuminated by itself (although I didn't see any lights or windows), revealing a man- no, a boy- with blue hair and a strange red mark around his right eye. I looked around, Erza looked petrified.

"It's quite an interesting trick, hm?" He said. "I just adjust the amount of light that hits the shadow and it's lighter again like that." He said with a snap of his fingers. He reached down to help me up, but I got up on my own, not trusting him. He turned away from me with a frown, spotting Erza in the middle of the room on her knees. "Hello Erza." He said with a forced smile. I briefly wondered how this boy was connected to Erza, but I looked at Natsu, who's fist was still mid-air and staring at me from across the room. Gajeel, just stood up straight and crossed his arms beside him. Wendy, on the floor, crumpled into a little ball. And I knew this was not the time for more questions. This was so unnecessary. The whole guild was at stake because of me. I forced my hands to stop shaking and willed my voice to sound confident.

"I... Uhh, have come to negotiate." I said with a curt nod. The boy's eyebrows raised in surprise. He probably hadn't been expecting that. He quickly composed himself and looked me right in the eyes. I stared back, trying not to laugh. Or cry. Just look tough. I told myself.

"Okay," he replied. "Let me at least introduce myself. I'm Jellal. And you're Lucy Heartfilia." I tried not to flinch as he said my name.

"Yes. But you've known that for a while. Haven't you?"

Jellal smiled kindly and nodded. "Indeed I have. I'd like to explain some things to you before we... Negotiate." I tilted my head up to inquire him to go on. "Shall we speak in private?" Jellal asked, motioning towards a black door. I hesitated. But what would it matter if we were alone?

"Ye-"

"No." I was interrupted by Natsu. "I'll come with you." He said, and I silently thanked him. I turned towards Erza and Wendy. Erza took a deep breath and looked up at me.

"Go." She said simply. I nodded at her. "I'll take care of Wendy."

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I walked through the black doorway into a dark room. I could vaguely see the outline of chairs, a table, a-- wha--? The lights came on, confirming my confusion. At first I was totally lost. And then I just wanted to laugh. This was Jellals "evil headquarters" I covered my mouth and just barely stifled a laugh.

"What?" Asked Jellal. The room was painted pink with rainbows and unicorns on the walls. Stuffed animals sat on each of the chairs with tea cups on the table. There was a Barbie house in the corner with a small Barbie make up kit and nail polish station. And to top it all off, there were My Little Pony and Dora posters hanging off the ceiling.

"Woah!" Natsu said, and then I was confused again. "This is the coolest room I've ever seen!" He continued, finally he caught himself and shrugged. "I mean, uhh, nice place you got." Jellal chuckled.

"I'm glad you like it." My face was the image of confusion. Jellal noticed and smirked. "What do you see?" He asked.

"Rainbows. And pink. Lots of pink." I inquired. Jellal laughed, and waved his arm. Suddenly, the room became a bland concrete room with a rickety wooden desk and plastic chairs around it.

"It's not real. It shows you what you want to see." He informed. I cringed at the concrete walls.

"Change it back." I gasped out. Jellal frowned and did as I asked. That's when it struck me how... Not crazy he was. I looked at him and he just looked slightly concerned.

"Let's sit down." Jellal said. I was feeling a bit dizzy, so I graciously accepted and sat on one of the plush pink chairs. Natsu was the last to sit down, and I suddenly wanted to know what he saw. I pushed the thought from my mind and turned to Jellal, who was sitting at the end of the table. Closest to the door.

"You can have me." I said, getting straight to business. Jellal looked perplexed. "Send Levi and Asuna back. Leave Fairy Tail alone. And you can have me, I won't resist you or try to run away anymore. Just leave everyone alone."

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YOU GUYS I'M SO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED! I KNOW THIS CHAPTER IS SO LAME BUT I HOPE YOU LIKE IT AND I KNOW I DON'T DESERVE IT BUT I'VE BEEN REALLY BUSY WITH SCHOOL AND STUFF SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE LEAVE A VOTE OR COMMENT IT WOULD MEAN SO MUCH TO ME! I KNOW YOU MIGHT HATE ME NOW. BUT I STILL LOVE YOU, YOU'RE STILL MY FAVOURITE LITTLE IZUNI'S!

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Izuni