Chapter 6
The next day at the guild everyone was talking about the fight with Natsu and Erza, they couldn't believe how powerful Natsu had become. Master Makarov was observing Natsu from the bar while he answered his friends question about the fight. 'I just don't understand how he became so much stronger in such a short time. Who or what did he run into to make him stronger?' Makarov thought. He couldn't believe his eyes when Natsu fought Erza.
"Natsu was something else wasn't he master?" Mirajane asked from behind the bar. "That he was. Too think that he some how caught up to the level of an S class mage just like that." 'I wonder if I should promote him. He is obviously stronger then most of the other guild members.' After he thought that, Makarov started feeling drowsy. "Master are you alright?" Mira asked with concern. "Aye I'm fine; it's just him."
As he said that everyone around the guild started collapsing on to the ground knocked out cold. Makarov watched the doorway waiting for him to come in. Then he saw him standing there. "Mystogan." Makarov acknowledged him. Mystogan walked to the request board then stopped and turned around, disbelief in his eyes. Natsu was still awake and drinking out of a mug. "Natsu? How are you awake?" Makarov looked over and saw him still awake. 'I don't believe it.'
"Hello Mystogan nice to see you and as to why I'm still awake is that sleeping spell wasn't strong enough to affect me." Mystogan and Makarov were speechless. The master couldn't believe it because he was fighting toe to toe against Erza yesterday and ended in a draw and she was out cold with everyone else. "Natsu how are you awake if Erza isn't? You two were fighting at the same level and she's asleep." "Oh during that fight I was only using 30% of my power." Natsu said with his trade mark grin.
"Well Natsu I am impressed even further with you." Master Makarov told him. During this exchange; Mystogan just watched silently then said "Well Natsu I do believe you have grown to be quite a successful wizard." "Thanks Mystogan, that means a lot coming from someone of your statue." "Well Master, I will be taking this job. I shall return when I finished." With that said Mystogan turned around and walked out of the guild.
As soon as the doors closed everyone woke up. "Ugh damn my head hurts now." Gray complained. "You're not the only one." Elfman said to Gray. "Master that was Mystogan wasn't it?" Levy said from the table she was sitting at. "Yes it was Levy." But to the guilds shock it wasn't the master that responded but Natsu.
"Wait you weren't knocked out Natsu?" Gray asked in complete surprise. "Damn right I wasn't." Natsu said with a grin. "Bullshit I don't believe you." Gray shot back. "Gray! Behave yourself, Natsu is telling the truth I stand by as a witness." Makarov said in a powerful tone. Once again the guild was shocked by Natsu. 'Just how far has he advanced?' Erza thought to herself.
"Well guy's I'm off to town me and Happy need to buy some more food so we don't starve at home." Natsu said while laughing. He started to leave the guild when Erza called out to him, "Hold on Natsu I'll go with you, I need to talk with you." Natsu blushed at hearing Erza wanted to go with him to talk. "Alright then lets go." He said cheerfully.
When they got to the market district of Magnolia Erza asked "What all do you need to stop for?" "Oh just basic ingredients really." Natsu replied then continued to ask "What did you want to talk about?" "Let's wait till after your shopping to talk. I'd rather be in a private area." "Alright that's fine, I guess we can talk at my house if that's fine with you." "Sounds like a plan." The scarlet haired mage replied.
An hour or so later Natsu finished buying all the food he needed for him and Happy. As they were leaving the market Natsu saw a necklace in the window of a store that was shaped like a silver strawberry and was reminded of Erza. "Hey Erza go on ahead I need to make one more stop." "Alright I shall meet you at your house then." "Happy go with Erza please." "Aye Natsu don't take to long." "I'll take the bags for you Natsu so you can do what you need to do faster." "Thanks Erza, see you at the house." Happy and Erza departed for his house and Natsu went into the store.
He grabbed the necklace and bought it from the clerk. 'I hope Erza likes this. It wasn't that cheap, but I did have some left over money and it will be a nice thing to do.' He thought as he had it wrapped by the store clerk for an extra 150 jewels only. With the necklace wrapped and paid for Natsu left the store and headed to his house.
When he arrived he yelled out "Alright guys I'm back." "Welcome back Natsu." Happy chirped while waving from inside the house. "Where's Erza at Happy?" He heard her yell from the kitchen but couldn't understand what she yelled so he went to the kitchen. "Sorry Erza I couldn't understand what you yelled so could you repeat th-" Natsu started to blush furiously when he saw Erza in his kitchen in her normal clothing and an apron on. It was one of the only times he had seen her like that.
"I yelled that I was making lunch for me and you so we could talk while having lunch together." She relied with a blush of her own. "That sounds good to me." Natsu said while trying not to look her up and down so he doesn't look like a pervert. Natsu went to wait in the living room on his couch while Erza finished cooking. 'I wonder what she wants to talk about; I hope I didn't make her mad about something.' Natsu thought frantically.
About 10 minutes later Erza came out with two plates of chicken and vegetables. "Wow Erza this looks fantastic." Natsu told her as he took his plate. After they started eating Natsu asked, "So what was it that you needed to talk about?" Erza finished chewing the bite she just took and said, "In our fight, you held back didn't you?" Natsu looked away shyly and confirmed it for her. "Why did you hold back?" "That move I used to break your armor comes with multiple draw backs that can lead to my death." Erza just stared at Natsu before slapping him across the face multiple times.
"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY? DO YOU WANT TO DIE OR SOMETHING IF YOU'RE USING A MOVE LIKE THAT?" Erza raged at Natsu. "I'm sorry Erza that was only the second time I ever had used it. I only use it in extreme scenarios. Besides with the amount of power I put into the attack was only enough to tear some muscles." "Still, promise me you will never use something like that unless it's the final resort." "I promise you." Natsu said with his head bowed.
Natsu decided now is as good as time as any to bring up the gift. He pulled it out and said, "Here Erza, my last stop at the market was actually to get you a gift." Natsu was blushing up a storm as he said that. Erza didn't know what to think, no one had just ever given her a gift before. 'I wonder why he did that.' She took the the gift from Natsu and began to unwrap it. When she saw the strawberry necklace she was speechless but in a good way. Strawberries were here favorite kind of food and anything to deal with them. "Thank you Natsu, this means a lot to me." Erza was blushing at the thought that he actually bought her the gift.
"Erza do you still want to know what Mira, Happy, and I were all talking about that day before we set off on the job?" Erza looked up at him not expecting him to ask that. When she nodded Natsu sighed and decided better late then never, since he is a dragon slayer; like dragons Natsu can only fall in love once because they become so attached to their loved one, or also known as a mate.
"Well we were talking about how I…" Natsu didn't know how to say it. "Yes Natsu? What was it?" Erza asked curiously.
"I love you…that's what we were talking about."