The Fairytail

Chapter Fifteen

What the Heart Craves

She sat up from the hard dusty ground, her eyes half open and her mouth slightly ajar. They remained in the same spot, the same area that Lucy's projection soul last caught their eye. Yukino's mouth began to dry up, clutching her two keys tightly. Pisces and Libra. Her magic was still drained, she could feel a low dose of the energy making little effort to flow round her body. Looking across the abandoned village, she imagined her guild master running towards her, his eyes lighting up with passion and relief. His legs straining, trying to reach her. But she blinked for a moment- that imagination disappearing in a split second.

She pouted her bottom lip, lifting her knees up to her chin and hugging herself. The exceeds were dotted around her. Lily and Happy were a few large steps away, both slouched against a rock while Frosch and Lector were to her other side, watching for any signs of danger.

Yukino's head sunk low into her knees, separating her legs slightly apart. She was desperate, wondering what had happened to her guild members. Sabretooth's family. Were they all dead? Was she the last one to survive?

Of course not, Sting is too strong. Her heart jolted. Sting.

He wasn't dead, was he?

Her mind flashed an image of his smile and her heart sank low. He was her protector, her will to fight. If he's gone, there would be no reason for her to fight back, or to live. Her face scrunched up in disbelief. Sting can't die, he's a dragon slayer. A strong one.

"Sting…where are you?" she mumbled low. "Please let me know you're ok"

Sting ran as fast as he could, sweat dripping from his forehead. He continued to push himself hard, running in the direction he thought she would be. Rogue was a stretch distance away from him now, but chased him regardless, following by a small group of Fairytail.

Gray, Gajeel, Natsu and Lucy stayed the furthest behind and in complete silence. Knowing that they were losing their family members one by one by Zeref's blood thirsty army. At first the three lads declared to attack, to get revenge but Lucy voted against it. If they did something like that now, Zeref would kill everyone else he had in his grip. Gray shuddered at the thought. Did he have Juvia? Cana and Mira. Macao and Romeo? Even the innocent Wendy?

He agreed it was reckless, especially when everyone's lives were at stake.

He turned his head slightly to Lucy, her head bowed low to the ground, watching her own footsteps as she followed Natsu and Gajeel in front. He tensed up, wondering if everything would turn back to the way it was after the war. The other guild that fought for them, were they still alive, and would they go back to being their old selves. He sighed, not fully understanding the future ahead of them. Were they all destined to die?

The thought frightened him.

The thought frightened them all.

"Sting!" Rogue shouted loud, slowly easing up on his running to a complete stop, and allowing the Fairytail group to slowly catch up with him.

"There's no way you'll catch up with him" Gajeel grumbled. "He's determined to get to her" the black haired sabretooth mage stared with a blank expression as the group made it up to him.

"I don't understand…why? You said Levy was with her. They should be ok" the confused mage questioned softly.

"It's what love does to you" Gray coughed up. "It obvious to see that he wants to be by her side, he wants to make sure she is ok, and so he can protect her" he sighed deeply. "Some of us don't get that luxury"

Lucy watched as Gray shifted softly. She placed her hand to his shoulder, beaming a reassuring smile.

"We will save them all. I'm sure of it" she whispered tearfully. Her eyes glistened by the layers of tears swarming her eyes. "We will find Juvia for you" her head turned to Gajeel. "Levy will be fine also, I can guarantee it" Gajeel looked down hopelessly, as Lucy moved to Natsu. He stayed silent, his hands flopped to his sides as she smiled wider. "And Lisanna" she whispered. The name caused Natsu to drop his shoulders and stare at his feet. Like all emotion he had at that particular moment vanished. He seemed confused, winded by the name she had said.

"Lisanna" he repeated. Lucy began to lead the way once more, feeling her heart scrunch up in pain. She tried to hold back the tears as she lead the way, keeping a distance of the men behind her. Natsu remained in place. Staring at his feet then at his hands.

"Love" he said softly. "Do I love Lisanna?" he tried to think back at the times the two youngsters had shared, but his mind would go completely blank and change to a different scenario. Different memories began to pop up, fading in and out as he slowly turned his head. His eyes focused on the girl ahead, her long blonde hair waving as she walked on.

"Lucy"

He felt his chest explode with a strange feeling. A burst of energy overpowering him.

"Lucy…Luce"

Yukino jumped with fright, catching a glimpse of Levy Mcgarden from Fairytail appear from the shadowy bush with wooden sticks.

"You're awake" she announced brightly. "I was beginning to think you went into some sort of deep sleep like in the fairy tales" the young woman suggested with a giggle. "I went out to get some bits, I'm going to make a fire"

"Oh…I see" Yukino seemed very distant as she huddled up, keeping away from Levy. "Have you seen…my guild?" she asked delicately. Levy shook her head causing Yukino to bow her head in shame. "Never mind then"

"I know Sting and Rogue are with Gajeel and Natsu though" her eyes lit up.

"THEY ARE?"

"Yes, if I recall, they shouldn't be far from here now" Levy said brightly. This instantly caused Yukino to stand up.

"Which direction?" she asked.

"Um, that way. But Yukino its best you wait for them…you're extremely weak at the moment, and you may run into trou-" Levy paused as Yukino ran in the way she pointed, letting her little legs take her as fast as she could. "Lector! Frosch, follow her!" Levy demanded in panic.

Yukino smiled wider than ever before as she ran. Sting was not far away from her like she had expected. He wasn't dead either. He was alive and heading towards her as they speak. She grinned, clenching her fists and knocking back her elbows to speed her up. Her shoes kicked up the dirt from underneath her, jumping over the huddles of rocks in her way. Till she saw something in the distance. A shine of yellow hair.

"STING!"

Her voice was so loud, that the person in front of her began to pick up the pace, holding out their hands in order to reach her.

"YUKINO!"

"STING!"

It seemed like it had been forever since they last made contact, beating their legs as hard as they can before finally she pounced into his arms. An overwhelming feeling exploded from her chest as she swung her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go. Never wanting to leave the moment they were having right now. Sting grinned, holding her close. His panting, his beating of his heart, his everything, all going at extreme speed as he squeezed her tightly.

"Yukino" he whispered. "I'm so relieved, you're safe"

"Sting" she cried into his shoulder, gripping his ripped waistcoat. "Don't ever let me leave you again"

"I promise, I won't"