A/N: Sorry for the late update, and for the fact that it's so short. I hope you enjoy, and I will try my best to upload the next chapter very soon!

Natsu walked rigidly through the office doors leading to what he assumed was his impending doom. The master is going to kill me. He thought, grimacing at the idea of his kill legacy being so bleak. The sound of a throat being cleared broke him out of his thoughts and his head snapped up to meet the taut frown of Master Hose, the principle at Phantom Lord.

"Tell me, Natsu," Hose began, the frown on his face deepening. "What exactly happened on your last mission?"

"Sir, I am ashamed to report that I, Natsu Dragneel, missed my target on my most recent mission." Natsu replied robotically. There was no emotion in his voice, for this is the attitude the students at Phantom were taught to use at all times.

"And how could you let this happen?"

"I misjudged the girl's-"

"The target, Natsu. She is just a mission, another mark on your ledger of successful kills." Hose interrupted, a dark anger crossing his features for only a second.

"Of course, Sir. I misjudged the target's abilities to react to danger. It seems that I was not thorough enough in my investigation of her skill set." Natsu explained, looking straight ahead at the bookcase instead of looking his master in the eye. It seemed this decision was a mistake.

Hose was over the desk and grabbing Natsu's face in one hand faster than the pinkette could blink. He forced Natsu to look him straight in the eyes, anger evidently swirling in a dark mass in his irises.

"You ALWAYS look at me when addressing me, especially when it is information on a FAILED MISSION." Hose yelled. His grip around Natsu's chin tightened and he had to bite his cheek to keep from crying out in pain. "Understood?"

"Yes, Sir!" Natsu replied, looking directly into Hose's eyes. The man released his grip and walked away towards the window. With his back to Natsu, the boy was able to rub his chin and hopefully ease some of the pain. I'll be blessed if I don't have bruises here tomorrow.

"Natsu, formulate a new plan of attack for this target." the master ordered.

"Yes, Sir!" Natsu replied curtly. He turned to walk away and reached for the door. As he was opening it, Hose began to speak again.

"Make sure this time, you don't miss. We got this mission from a very important client, and I'm afraid I won't be able to ensure your safety, should you fail." Hose explained, his smirk growing with every word. Natsu nodded slightly and walked quickly through the door and into the hallway. Ideas ran rampant through his mind as he wandered back to his dorm room. Just as he reached for the doorknob, something ingenious came to mind. I'm going to need to ask those idiots for help.

A knock sounded in the uneasy room and the door was opened as Gray walked in. Now, with everyone here, Natsu moved to the front near the TV to address everyone. Unfortunately, Gajeel beat him to the punch.

"Oi, Salamander, what the hell are we all doing here?" Gajeel asked, irritation clear in his voice as his arms swept outwards to emphasize the amount of people in the room.

"If you would let me talk, Iron Mouth, you would know." Natsu retorted. "I had to come up with a new plan of attack for my most recent mission do to…unseen complications."

"What kind of complications?" Gajeel asked while grinning.

"You obviously know exactly what kind of complications." The level of annoyance was clear in Natsu's voice, and yet the members in the room all burst laughter.

"Wait, wait, wait! Are you trying to tell me that you MISSED?" Gray asked in between gasping breaths.

"YES! For Zeref's sake, I'm not perfect! It was bound to happen sooner or later." Natsu addressed angrily. He waited impatiently as the boys regained their composure and allowed him to go on explaining his new plan.

"So, as I was saying before, I had to make a new plan. I have one that is guaranteed to kill her, but I am going to need your help to do it." The pinkette explained. The room was silent for a few minutes as the recruits pondered at their involvement in this seemingly flawless plan.

"I have a question, Flame Brain. Why do you need ALL of us to go through with this? It seems a little extra." Gray asked while looking at all of the students gathered in the room.

"Gajeel stands as the main fire power, his special skill being with his iron bullet machine gun." Natsu began. "Jellal is the attack distraction, his skills being with his throwing knives. Loke will use his sun blinding maneuver against the target to create an opening for me."

"Ok, but then why do you need me?" Gray wondered aloud. The other three looked expectantly to the teen in charge.

"You get a very special job, one that I think you'll find quite enjoyable," Natsu said, a glint of playfulness in his eye that could only mean danger. "You're the one who gets to shoot me."