A/N: This is my second time writing a story for the 'Jellal F. & Natsu D.' pair. I decided to write this fic after reading chapter 274. I tried to write a JellalXErza, but it doesn't work the way I wanted it. So, I was determined to write this, and I dedicate this to Karakuri Pierrot & darkhuntressxir, who really loves much this pair the way I do. This happened in between Chapter 275 & 276.
Karakuri Pierrot & darkhuntressxir, enjoy!
Genre: Friendship & Romance
Pair: Jellal F. & Natsu D.
Rating: 18+ [19+/21+/M in other regions.]
*Congratulations to myself! [For having written my 6th FanFic! (2 for the Jellal F. & Natsu D. pair {More Than Friends & First Snow, First Kiss -In-Progress-}, 1 for the Natsu D. & Gray F. pair {Etude -Complete-}, and 2 for Natsu D. & Erza S. pair {In Loving Memory & One Year Later -Complete-}!)] I'm not bragging, please! I'm just proud of what I have accomplished! =)
Summary: Snow is falling from the sky, I'm happy that you're in my life, I'm happy that I can walk down, This road by your side... And I promise you one thing
That I'll love and cherish you forever... [Title inspired from Yang YoSeob & Daniel's song 'First Snow, First Kiss'.]
Chapter 1: The Visit
The first day of the Great Magic Tournament ended with Sabertooth Guild leading with twenty points, Fairy Tail B with a point, and Fairy Tail A with zero points. Gray, Juvia, Lucy and Jellal [under the name Mystogan for Fairy Tail B] failed to lead Fairy Tail back to its glory days. Everyone was eager to bring back Fairy Tail at the top spot at the first day, but they still have to wait.
Natsu decided to follow Jellal [a.k.a MYSTOGAN] on his way home that evening. He was curious to see Jellal's house, too curious to see it. "If I am able to see it, then I'd be very happy! You just wait, Mystogan!" Natsu grinned evily mentally as he followed Jellal near the outskirts of Magnolia. They happened to pass by Erza's house, which was painted red, like her hair. Natsu sighed then freaked out as he heard Erza was singing wildly together with Lucy, Levy, Cana, Lisanna, Gajeel, Laxus, and Gray. He peered at one of the windows of her red house. His eyes widened at the unbelievable sight right now. "Are they drunk?"
"Fuck off, Gray! Get off me!" Lucy cursed at Gray who was trying to kiss her.
"Don't you love me, Lucy? It's just a kiss! A kiss!" Gray yelled at her. He's drunk. He is fucking drunk.
"G-Gajeel... I-I like you..." Levy murmured loudly, causing all of them to laugh.
"I like you too, Levy!~ Wait! I'll take it back!" Gajeel snorted back.
"Ya know, Laxus... There's something... I've been..." Erza said to Laxus, her body groggy. She was the most drunk of all of them. "I've been hiding something from you..." She traced a finger at Laxus's ear.
"I love you Erza... Ya know that?" He said groggily. "I love you too, Laxus." She started kissing Laxus, sitting on top of him. Laxus started kissing her back, cradling her face in between his hands.
"You guys are so weird when drunk! Hmph. I'd better follow Jellal... I might lost track on him..." Natsu thought. He looked back at the direction where Jellal was walking. He then frowned as Jellal was getting too far. He got up on his feet and fastened his pace. "I should keep up, or else I'll lose him." He said mentally. His mind was already confused, whether to follow him or not. He wanted to stop but something told him not to stop.
A few minutes passed, they arrived at his house. "Wow... I never thought he would have a home as big as this..." Natsu said to himself. He then realized he was a few meters away from Jellal, nearly hearing him. He hid on a big tree to cover himself, blending with the darkness around him.
"Who's there?" Jellal said, nervously, but still alert. No response.
"Who's there?" He repeated, his voice cracking. Still, no response. Jellal was already pissed. He took a deep breath and then yelled.
"Damn it! Whoever you are, come show yourself! Don't just follow me in the shadows!"
"Fuck! What should I do? What, what, what, what, what?" Natsu said to himself.
"Heh. Forcing me to use my magic against you, huh?" He grinned evily.
"Fine. I'll show myself." Natsu said flatly as he appeared in front of Jellal a.k.a Mystogan. Jellal's eyes widened in shock. "Natsu? What are you doing? You scared me like hell!"
"I-I was just... I..." Natsu stammered, his eyes looking at Jellal and on the stoned pathway interchangeably.
"You what?"
Jellal folded his arms impatiently, waiting for Natsu to answer. Few seconds had passed, Natsu still didn't answer as stubborn he was, his eyes fixed on the stone pathway of Jellal's house. Jellal stared at him sternly, his face frowning, grunting at every second he had. Natsu felt guilty this very moment, for following Jellal on his way home. He clenched his fists in anger. That anger he felt, was different from the anger he felt while fighting him in the Tower of Heaven. He felt stupid at his own actions. He looked back at Jellal, who was now slowly getting angry. "C'mon Natsu! Think! Think!" He said to himself.
"Natsu..." Jellal said, with warning in his tone.
"..." He stared at Jellal. The moment his eyes met Jellal's, there was a voice ringing inside Natsu's head saying: "C'mon tell him what you feel towards him... It will make you feel better..." The first voice said.
"No! Kiss him! You want him, right? Go ahead! Kiss him! Words are just words! They say that: Actions speak louder than words right? Do it!" The second voice told him.
"No! Don't listen to him!"
"Yes, you must listen to me!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
He was now really confused on what to say to Jellal. Jellal continued to stare at him sternly, while his two subconscious voices were still fighting. Then, Jellal placed his hands on the back of his head, smiling. "You want a tour?" He smiled.
Natsu blushed as Jellal said those words. The blue haired boy just laughed at the pink haired one. "I can read what you think, Natsu." Natsu blushed in more deeper shades of pink, beating his hair. "H-How did you..."
"How did I know it? I told ya. I can read what anyone thinks. At the moment..." He said to Natsu, slightly blushing while looking away from him to hide it: "And to be honest, you look cute when you blush. It suits you perfectly."
"Th-Thank you... Jellal..." His cheeks were burning as Jellal was saying it. He then shook his head."What am I saying? You mustn't let your emotions set in!"
"What's wrong Natsu? Are you okay?" Jellal shot him a concerned look.
"Y-Yeah, I'm okay... *achoo!* I'm r-r-really o-okay, Jellal."
"Hey. It's getting cold here outside, your cold might get worse. Come in..." Jellal said, opening the door for Natsu to enter.
"Are you sure Jellal? I-I might be... *achoo!* Alright." Natsu replied as he placed light, but small footsteps as he made his way inside Jellal's home. "*achoo!*"
Jellal chuckled. "Hurry... It might get worse... And it's getting more dark here outside."
Natsu, at that moment, he felt warmth within Jellal. He didn't expect to be this kind, very welcome to visitors. "Is this the real Jellal? I never thought that he would be this kind." He thought to himself as he sat on the sofa. "Please make yourself at home, Natsu. What do you want, green tea or milk?"
"Green tea, please. Thank... *achoo!* you..." Natsu sneezed again.
"Okay... And I'll get an extra set of clothes for you..."
"No, Jellal... No need... *achoo!*"
"You need to get changed. Just wait here, okay?" He said with a worried look.
"Okay... Thanks again."
"No problem, Natsu." He smiled as he went upstairs.
While waiting for him, Natsu wondered around Jellal's home. The living room is really big, the same goes in the kitchen. As he was wondering around the kitchen, he suddenly stopped in front of the kitchen table when he noticed a blue crystal as big as his hand was on top of it. "Is this a lacrima?"
Natsu stood silent as he was touching it. Then his eyes widened as memories of the two of them battling at the Tower of Heaven appeared before his eyes.
Grand Chariot!
Karyuu no Kagidzume!
Meteor!
Then the worst scene flashed before his eyes: Erza was standing in front of him as black swirls were trying to suck them. "Even if you use yourself as a sacrifice Erza, it's no more use! It will be soon activated, the R-System!"
Altairis!
Natsu then covered his face in frustration.
Why do they keep on returning?
I wanted to forget it already! Please!
Stop it! I want no more!
I wanted to see Erza suffer no more!
Why is it everytime I see a lacrima,
it keeps on returning?
"Natsu! I've got you~ Huh? Natsu? Where are you?" Jellal looked around the living room, he was already changed into his pajamas with blue Mickey Mouse slippers. No traces of Natsu. "Where the hell did you go Natsu?" He opened the door, but still no traces of Natsu. As he was about to close the door, he heard a cold scream.
His eyes widened. "Natsu!" He then ran towards the kitchen.
Natsu was sitting in a corner of his kitchen staring into nothingness when his eyes ran through the lacrima.
He remembered that day until now... When we battled... I should've thrown it away...
That lacrima was given to me by Meredy...
He had mistaken it as the lacrima that came from the Tower of Heaven...
He approached Natsu and bent over him. "Hey, are you okay?" Natsu slapped his hand away, glaring at him sadly.
"Why do you have that lacrima? Do you know that everytime I see a lacrima, that memory keeps on flashing back before me?"
"That lacrima... It's not the lacrima you know..."
"What? The moment I touched it... I started crying, then shaking. I remembered everything during that day. After that battle, I got physically ill. There's no way I'm going to forget that day, Jellal."
"You repressed that, right? The recollection of that memory, so shocking that your mind pushed them into the unconscious. Your remain them hidden for such long time, unless it's triggered by some current circumstance, such as the probing that occured a while ago. A repressed memory..."
"..."
"I want to be friends with you Natsu, not enemies... That's why I've decided to fill in to your group for the Great Magic Tournament. Even though I'm still a member of Crime Sorciere, I've been thinking it over and over again. However, if I have decided to join your guild, I might get in Erza's way... "
"I see..."
"I want to atone the sins that I have done before... That's the reason why I still continued on living... And if~"
"Why do you want to join our guild?" Natsu stared at him with awe.
"I find it... fun... comfortable... homey... The atmosphere in your guild just makes me relax all those tensed and negative feelings..."
"I-I don't know what to say... but... there's nothing wrong in joining our guild..."
"..." Jellal fixed his stare onto the fire mage as Natsu stood up. "I may not have asked it to you, but you have answered the question I need to hear."
The star mage continued to fix his stare on the fire mage, then realized Natsu's real purpose of visiting him. "That's why you decided to follow... no... visit me?" He griinned slyly. Natsu couldn't help but escape a small smile in his lips. "Y-Yeah... and also..."
"What?" Jellal replied, standing up.
"Where did you get that lacrima?" Natsu said, pointing at the blue crystal that was on the table. "Oh, this lacrima? Meredy gave this to me. She stumbled upon it when you're on the beach."
"I see... A simple gift?"
"Yeah... I think so..."
They both laughed at it, then went silent. The deafening silence was broken when an unusual sound was heard from Natsu's stomach. It was growling, like a hungry lion ready to pounce at its prey. "E-Eh?" Natsu scratched his head. The star mage suddenly bursted into laughter as he realized that the fire mage was hungry. "Jellal! I-It's not what you~"
"C'mon, Natsu. I know you're hungry. Just sit back and relax. It'll not take long."
"I have to..." Natsu hesitantly said, moving back and forth.
"I said sit back..." Jellal cut him, persisting to stay.
"I have..."
"I said..."
The two went on arguing on who should be followed, then exchanged fiery words that were jokes, but Natsu took it too seriously. "Why, you?" He raised his fists in the air, ready to punch him in the face when they heard Jellal's neighbor yell at them. "CAN'T YOU TWO BE QUIET? I'M TRYING TO SLEEP HERE, OKAY?"
"WHY DO YOU EVEN FUCKING CARE, HUH? SHUT UP YOU~" Natsu yelled back but he was cut when Jellal hit him in the head.
"Why did you even do that, I'm trying to!" Natsu shouted but his noises was muffled by Jellal's hand.
"Shh! That neighbor of mine is an expert spell caster. He doesn't want anyone to yell at him. He's a fox mage and he's just fourteen." Jellal said as he tried to calm Natsu who was struggling to break free from him. Natsu stopped dead when he heard the word 'fox'. Natsu gulped nervously as Jellal removed his hand away. "He's a fox mage?" The fire mage said, his voice cracking.
Jellal stared at him deeply then nodded. "He can summon Kyuubi and he can also use Lost Magic, like Pressure Cell, Dendrobium, Pendulum, Croxon, etc." The star mage added. Natsu continued to fix his gaze upon Jellal. They stared at each other as time ticks away slowly. Tension hung in the air as they stayed quiet. Suddenly, Jellal laughed. "Why are you laughing, Jellal?" Natsu asked him.
"I was just bluffing at the 'Lost Magic' part. You know it's impossible to use them, but some still use them, like Wendy's 'Troia'. But..."
"But what?"
"The 'fox mage' part... It's really true." Jellal seriously said.
"I see..." Natsu said, looking at the bowl of fruits on the kitchen table.
"Hey, why don't you have dinner with me? Since it's already eight in the evening." Jellal asked him, looking on the wall clock. Natsu smiled, he was really hungry.
"Sure. Thanks."
"It's my pleasure Natsu. Why don't you sit down while I preprare them okay?" Jellal said as he opened the fridge, looking for food to cook. He looked around looking for something. "Is it okay that I serve you salad?" He said to Natsu still looking for it. "Sure, any will do. Thanks."
"Got it! And for me... I'll have... Bacon and Egg..."
"Huh? But that's for breakfast only, ne?" Natsu asked him in confusion. "Y-Yeah... I know... but there's no more food much left..." Jellal replied scratching his head. "Hnnn... May I have a look at your fridge?" The fir mage asked him. "S-Sure..."
"Let me see... Bacon... Egg... Salad... Grilled Pork..."
"S-See? I told ya..." The star mage laughed nervously.
"Why don't we finish these and then why don't we buy so there will be enough stock of food for you?" Natsu suggested, smiling. "W-Well..." Jellal laughed, slightly blushing at the innuendo. "C'mon, you don't wanna starve yourself to death right?"
"Y-Yeah... Thanks."
"Good! Now, why don't we share part of the grilled pork?" Natsu cheered.
"Sure."
"Let's have a feast then?"
The kitchen was a complete mess, full of bits and pieces of the food they ate. Natsu gave a sated sigh as he rubbed his fingers over his exposed body; he was currently relaxed out on Jellal's couch. digesting his meal. Jellal was busy cleaning up the kitchen and washing the dishes, so Natsu decided to doze off a little, falling into a nice little dream.
"This should do it." Jellal said to himself as he wiped clean the last piece of plate and placed it on the plate rack.
He sighed, decided to have a bath. A few minutes later, he re-entered his large living room, now changed in black sleeveless shirt, black pants and black boots while wearing a blue trench coat. The outfit just fits him perfectly.
His sight immediately fell on Natsu, who fell asleep on his couch. He laughed as he heard Natsu mumble in his sleep. "Erza... Shut up.. Can't you see I'm arguing with Gray here? Don't you even intervene? Okay?" Natsu continued in his sleep.
"Natsu... Wake Up..." Jellal shook him to wake him up. Natsu was still dreaming. He shook him, a bit harder this time. Still, no response from the fire mage. He repeated the process many times. To Jellal's frustration, he did it again for the sixth time. Now really fed up, he pushed him out of the couch, landing with a loud thud, waking Natsu up. "Oww... That hurts... Jellal!" Natsu freaked out when he saw Jellal's arms folded in anger. "Why are you such hard to wake up Natsu?" Jellal frowned.
"Ahehehe... I'm sorry... I fell asleep." The fire mage scratched his head. "It's alright, at least, I wake you up. I'm already changed."
"Changed for what?" Natsu cocked his head in confusion. Jellal laughed a little. "You told me that were going to buy food for me right?"
Rubbing his eyes, Natsu then realized what he had told Jellal a while ago, while having dinner. "Oh, yeah! I'm sorry! I complete forgot that!"
"It's alright."
"Ready to go?" Natsu asked him as he stood up, stretching his arms wide in the open air. "Yeah."
They were already on the doorway when Jellal mumbled something. "Jellal? Are you saying something?"
"I-It's nothing. I just remembered something. By the way, thanks for visiting and helping me."
"No problem Jellal. I just want to help people who're close to me." Natsu blushed as he said it. Jellal chuckled back as he closed the door behind them.
"Wait! I forgot something..." Jellal said as he was to turn the doorknob. "Jellal..." Natsu said, with nervousness in his tone.
"What is it?" Jellal said without looking back. Natsu didn't respond. Jellal looked down at Natsu and said: "C'mon, tell me. I'm in a-"
He didn't get to finish. Right then, there was a flash of bright pink hair, a gust of wind, and that he was completely frozen. Snow flakes then slowly rain upon them...
(TO BE CONTINUED)
A/N: I know it was a bit rushed, and the events in the Tower of Heaven arc were not exact as what I have written here. I just wrote them of what I can remember. And... Chapter 2 is already finished! I'm going to update soon as I can. Hope you enjoy reading it! =)
'Till next time
NxE427