Hiroka Dragneel the Water Dragonslayer

4

It has been three months since Hiroka left for the job. I can tell that Natsu is slowly going crazy without him here. He is constantly asking someone to go find him, but Master tells him to be patient. Happy tries to cheer him up with fish, but never succeeds.

We gained many new members since he has left. Gajeel, Juvia, Wendy, and Carla have settled in Fairy Tail easily. The recent battle is still fresh in everyones mind, but everyone has gradually calmed down from it. The alliance opened many new paths for us, and I can bet Master will use it again.

Lucy, Gray, and Erza try to help Natsu by going on jobs, but I can see it isn't helping. They don't know that Natsu and Hiroka are together. Nobody knows the stress that they both have when one of them is on a job, while the other stays back.

I sighed as I watched Natsu staring into space. His eyes were unfocused, and I wondered if he was thinking about him.

"You noticed it too Mira."

I smiled at Master, who was sitting next to me. I was cleaning the glasses while watching Natsu.

"Yes. That job shouldn't have been too hard for him. It should have taken him a few weeks max, not three months."

Master sighed and I wondered what was going though his mind.

"If something happened to him, you would think that someone would have told us. Should I send Erza out to go look for him?"

I was surprised that he was this worried about Hiroka. I told him that he should do what he feels right. He sighed again and ended up surprising me again.

"I would like you and Erza to go after him. If something did happen, then you two can handle it."

I paused my cleaning and stared at him. I understood, and went to go find Erza quickly. We left shortly after getting the location of the village that Hiroka went to.

The train ride was silent except for small talk between us. Usually we would be making rude comments towards each other, but we both understood the gravity of the situation.

Hiroka was a strong fighter, and the dragon lacrima wasn't the only reason for it. The years of torture and abuse he suffered as a child forced him to become closed off. He always seemed to expect something bad to happen, and would be prepared when it did.

If something got the better of him, then they were in for some serious trouble.

I heard Erza sigh and looked over to her. She had her eyes closed, and seemed to be thinking about something.

"What's the matter?"

She opened her eyes and then stared out the window.

"I'm just worried that Natsu wont wait until we come back. He may just start running off in any direction looking for him."

I laughed and she asked what was funny.

"It's just that they are so cute together. I cant understand how nobody can tell that they are together?"

Erza nodded in agreement before the train stopped. We got off and headed to the village. A man named Samuel pointed us to the mountain that the group showed up at first.

We thanked him and started walking up.

"Something doesn't seem right here. Keep your guard up Mira."

I nodded and felt the tense atmosphere surrounding her. We were almost to the top before a thick fog surrounded us suddenly. We both dropped to the ground and passed out.

I woke up to someone shaking me. Erza came in view as I blinked slowly. I sat up with a small groan and looked around.

"Looks like we are in a cave of some sort. That man Samuel did say that people used to live in the mountain some time ago right?"

I nodded stood up carefully. Erza took a step forward, but was flung backwards. I yelled out to her before someone put a hand over my mouth. I stopped moving and looked at a man with red hair. His golden eyes stared right through me, and I shuddered at his smile.

"Looks like I have more playthings now. And from the same guild too."

I glanced at Erza, who was slowly getting up now.

"Does that mean you have our comrade named Hiroka?"

The man grinned wider before laughing.

"So that's his name. All this time I have been trying to figure it out, but he would never tell me."

I saw Erza flinch at that, and then I was pulled away from her. She tried attacking, but two others showed up and grabbed her.

We were brought to a place that had cell looking spaces, and we were shoved into one of them.

"I'll let you guys catch up."

I watched him walk away until Erza called out Hiroka's name. I turned and gasped at the sight of him.

His hair looked like it was chopped off with a knife, and he had bruises all over his body. He had shorts on and nothing else. His hands were chained above him, and blood was trailing down his wrists.

He had his eyes closed, and I could see the faint bruising around one of his eyes.

Erza went over to him and gently called out his name. He stirred slightly, and Erza called out again. His eyes shot open and looked around in a panic.

We locked eyes, and I saw his body relax. I moved closer to him as Erza yanked on the chains.

"Hey you. Everyone became worried sick when you hadn't some back after the first month."

Hiroka licked his lips slowly and winced as the chains shattered. Erza sat back and looked him over. He tilted his head to look at her, and smiled softly at her.

"What are you guys doing here?"

His voice was low and raspy, and I wondered if he had anything to eat or drink lately. Erza sighed and crossed her arms.

"We were sent to come look for you. You left three months ago, and we didn't receive any word from you. Master kept telling Natsu to wait until you came back, and he sent us to come get you."

I sighed and grabbed his hands gently. He winced before sitting up straight.

"Three months huh? Felt like a few weeks honestly. They tried so hard to break me, but you cant break something that has already been broken."

He laughed and grabbed his stomach. I asked him what happened, and he shook his head.

"I came here and looked around the village before settling down for the night. I heard people coming and got ready for a fight. Someone come from behind me and next thing I know is I'm waking up here and getting beat up."

He stopped and sighed. Erza nodded and stood up. She walked to the bars and grabbed them. They bent and eventually snapped from her strength. I helped Hiroka up, and we walked out of the cell. I looked in the others, but didn't see anyone in them.

Not alive anyway, I thought sadly.

We walked out of the cave after Erza defeated everyone there. I had to stop with Hiroka a few times because of his wounds. Erza commented on how the red headed man was nowhere to be found.

"Maybe he got scared and ran away."

I said on a hopeful tone. Erza frowned and helped me carry Hiroka down the mountain. We watched for anyone coming out of the trees, and stopped as we heard screaming.

Th village was on fire, and the people were running around in a panic. Erza told me to watch Hiroka as she went to see what happened. Hiroka groaned and had to sit. I hoped that everyone was okay, and that the man wasn't behind it.

I spoke too soon, and someone walked into our path. The man from before stood in front of us with the same grin on his face.

"You took my favorite play toy away, and so I had to get new ones."

I glared at him and waited for him to make a move. He laughed and ran towards me and revealed a large knife in his hand.

"Hope your ready to die."

I moved Hiroka behind me, and got ready to fight him.