Chapter 62...

As Mira shut the door to her room, Natsu took it all in. It was actually a lot bigger than he thought. She had a king-sized bed that had a dark purple quilt and white sheets, and five small pillows perfectly lined at the headboard that looked like a gate. She also had a full-body mirror to the side and multiple mannequins that had different outfits on. The floor beneath them was a smooth purple carpet that matched the decor, and the walls around them were wooden and painted white. She also had multiple dressers side by side containing numerous clothes, and jewelry on display.

"(Whistles). Mindy would kill for a room like this." Natsu had to admit he was impressed.

"Well, believe it or not, I had to knock out another wall, so this is technically two rooms in one." She explained while going over to sit at the foot of her bed.

"I will never look down on models ever again." Natsu nodded as he looked around more. "You look like you work right out of home." He examined some of the mannequins that were garbed in cocktail dresses.

"Meh, it was just a hobby I picked up when I was growing up. I used to work full time as a model, but ever since Mermaid Heel got built, I wanted a more flexible schedule, so now I can just try out new outfits here, and give them feedback. Buuut it normally ends up with me being chosen to pose for a few shots. But it's not really that bad, and the shoots only last a couple of hours, so I can just come back to Gracia all in the same day, and head out for my next job before it gets dark." She explained in detail. Natsu just listened with interest. She was a lot more easygoing when she spoke about her side gig.

"So, modeling is what you enjoy doing most?" Natsu asked curiously as he crossed his arms.

"It's...it's a hobby." She shrugged with a hesitant response. "It's fun, and I get praise for it. But, to be honest, I think maybe it was all starting to go to my head." She fell back and laid on her bed. "There was a point where I could just work for the Weekly for good, and have a consistent flow of jewels coming in, but that would mean I'd have to leave here."

"So what did you end up doing?"

"Well, obviously I wasn't gonna leave here. So I just agreed to do shoots every now and then." She raised up her legs and hoisted herself back up. "It gets annoying when you're constantly peppered by staff members who always give me the same compliments every day. Mira, try this on. Mira, you absolutely must try this one, it would look amazing on you! Mira, you would look even more stunning if you wear this! Just a few more, Mira, you're on a roll today-nnngghyyya!~ Geez, I'd like to wear a pair of earplugs when I'm on the job!" She sounded like she complained about the minor parts.

"Must be tough being so popular." Natsu snickered.

"...you're one to talk." Mira looked away with a huffy look on her face.

"Why?" Natsu picked up on her little remark.

"Uh, no reason. If anything, I'm surprised YOU aren't famous." She quickly deflected.

"Popularity ain't really a thing I need, nor want." He waved it off.

"But you're a former Wizard Saint!" Mira exclaimed.

"Unofficially." Natsu raised a finger, correcting her.

"That still gives you bragging rights!" Mira protested.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal. Plus, I don't think I should be leading by example for all wizards in Fiore." He shrugged with a troubled look.

"Not that big-Natsu, even you have times you can boast."

"Arrogance breed's overconfidence." He simply stated.

"Exactly! You need to have more confidence in yourself! Be aggressive, flashy, show your enemies they have a slim to non-existent chance of beating you!" She ordered him as she stood up and placed a hand on her hip. "That kind of guy makes girls swoon, and other men jealous."

"I'm more of a be-as-low-key-as-possible, kind of guy. Or rather, I WAS, until Ultear popped up." He groaned slightly while scratching the back of his head.

"And now?" Mira sat back down and crossed her legs.

"Now...I feel like my quiet lifestyle is currently being threatened by that woman." He crossed his arms.

"..." Mira stuck her lip out slightly and tapped her fingers on her bed as if she was debating something. "What about me?" She suddenly asked.

"You?"

"If Ultear makes your life less boring, what about me?"

"Less bori-? That stings." Felt that was uncalled for. On the contrary, his life was anything but boring. Hell, he cheated death more times than he could count. "But you?...hmm, well you're someone I definitely wouldn't want to get on the bad side of. You're not afraid to be scrappy." He put a hand to his mouth in thought.

"S-surely I come off as something other than a potential enemy, right?" She leaned forth with a troubled look.

"I didn't mean it that way, Mira! You're just a lot more...uh.." Natsu glanced away while thinking about it. "I don't know, you don't seem like you take shit from anyone."

"...guess I lack a bit of the defenselessness that makes me seem somewhat of a damsel in distress. Probably why men always piss me off when they try to act superior." She smiled sadly.

"Really?" Natsu could tell she was being serious, so he just asked.

"I get it. I never let any guy near me, unless their strong, or stronger than me. I just wanted to never be weak again. See, I was cast out by my hometown because they thought my Take-Over magic was proof I was a demon. So I left with my siblings, and we went from town to town, until Ultear found us and showed me that it was just magic. I wasn't cursed or anything like that." She reminisced. "And that's how I landed here." She kept it brief and simple.

"..." Natsu stayed silent.

"So I vowed to master my magic, and to become the strongest, to keep my siblings safe. And rip Erza to shreds the next time she calls me a cow." She clenched her fist with a fiery determination.

"..heh." Natsu closed his eyes and smiled. "You two have it out for each other a lot I noticed."

"It's cause she's sooo, strict, and stuck up! She acts like she's the smartest, and most mature, and the strongestandquick-wittedandprettiestand-OOOHHH it just pisses me off!" She flailed on her bed in a childish rage.

"Maybe she thinks the same about you." Natsu shrugged.

"WHAT?" She bucked up and stared at him as if he lost his mind.

"Now hear me out." Natsu threw his arms up. "In my experience, two people who have constantly tried to outdo one another have the utmost respect for each other. That's called a rivalry, Mira. Have you actually heard Erza say any of those things?"

"Wel-!..well, no." She wanted to say something but was ultimately defused when hearing his words. "But she never said anything positive like that to me either."

"Would you seriously say something like that to each other, after all the contests you two have had up to this point?"

"Oh, hell no. I would never hear the end of it." She shook her head quickly.

"Exactly. Those things that you say to each other may be offensive to both of you, but that spurs you on to constantly one-up each other." He explained. "Then you take a look back on it all, and compare it to the now, and if you were like that back then, you definitely would have beaten her in that instant. "

"Okay, I guess I've done that." Mira shrugged.

"But since you couldn't do that back then, you have to focus on the next time, and the next time, and the time after that. It's like a game of chess, you alwa-fuck." He facepalmed.

"What?" Mira raised an eyebrow at his sudden action.

"Nothing, I'm talking like Venigon. Man, you are right, I am boring. Here I am talking your ear off as if I know any better. You probably have had this conversation with someone already." He concluded.

"Well, yes and no." She bobbed her head. "I get what you trying to say, but, I guess hearing someone tell it to me like that...I guess I just needed to hear it, is what I'm saying."

"...Hmm." Natsu scratched his head.

"..." Mira sighed and got up as if she decided on something. "You know you're a funny one."

"Hm?" Natsu tilted his head.

"At one time you act like a cocky little shit. Other times, you're the calmest and collected person in the entire room. And other times, you seem like you tell it as it is, and times like these, you sound like you want to teach someone something." She slowly approached him and circled around him, as she talked.

"I'm adaptable." Natsu shrugged.

"And other times...Hmpf!" She shoved him from behind and he stumbled onto the bed. She then quickly mounted him and held his wrists to the bed. He was flabbergasted and blushed at her eyes that were sucking him into a trance. Also, the fact that her breasts swayed, and were nearly popping out of her top was making him feel rather heated around his face. "I feel like I can just be myself around you."

"Y-you don't say?" Natsu could feel her breathing on him as she inched closer.

"..." She groaned with a pouting face. "The number one model on the entire continent is pushing you down, and you still don't think much of me, do ya?"

"I never say said any of-"

"Then tell me." She said as she hung over him in a provocative manner. "Am I pretty?"

"Yeah. You said it yourself-"

"But what do YOU think?"

"Huh?" Natsu furrowed his eyes.

"Like, am I...I don't know..your .ty..(murmur)..." Mira suddenly got nervous and her face lit up when she realized what she was saying.

"My what?"

"...your type..." She let out a puff of smoke from her beet-red face. Now that it came down to confessing, she realized she ever had taken the initiative before.

"My..type...I've never really thought about it." Natsu lamented.

"!?" Mira suddenly was wide-eyed. "Wait, he's never thought about it?! Oh, oo! This could be a golden opportunity! I could learn the type of girl he likes if I act like I'm just curious!" A mischievous smirk was seen on her face while putting her plan into action. She got off him and rolled to the side. "Well, what type of girl do yo-"

"Sisss~!" There was s beckoning call from the door.

"Damn it! Why did you have to come in here now~?!" Mira groaned heavily. Right before a crucial moment, her little sister had to just interrupt them. "Coming!" She rolled her eyes and got up. She quickly turned to Natsu and pointed at him. "Don't think I'm letting this go, bucko. We'll pick this up some other time." She informed him.

"Sure?" Natsu wasn't quite sure what she was implying but agreed to anyway. Mira then turned around and opened the door. And at the entrance was a much younger looking girl. She had short white hair, blue eyes, with a pretty face. She was shorter and slim and was wearing a green buttoned-up shirt, and short, light blue jeans, and was wearing blue flip flops. She seemed to be in a good mood, evident by the friendly smile that was on her face.

"Hey, Lisanna. I was wondering where you were." Mira smirked and gave her younger sister a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Elfman was getting fidgety at the entrance because he thought you were upset with him. So I came in ahead." She revealed. Her face then turned into a surprised one, when she saw Natsu sitting casually at the foot of Mira's bed.

"Oh yeah, Natsu? This is my younger sister, Lisanna Strauss. This is the guy I was telling you about." She introduced the two.

"Oh, so you're the one everybody talks about! A real pleasure to meet you, Natsu Dranigon." Lisanna bowed.

"Pleasure to meet ya." Natsu greeted with a smile. "Hmm?" Natsu narrowed his eye when he saw the sisters side by side. "You know, you guys remind me of Yukino and Sorano now that I'm looking at you both." He compared.

"Yeah, we get mistaken sometimes. But it's fun because we use each other as a model for when we're buying clothes for each other." Mira explained.

"So is it true that you actually saved my sister and the rest of the Empresses?" Lisanna didn't waste any time asking.

"Uh, all I did was cut 'em loose. They saved themselves after that." Natsu thought that was a bit of a stretch.

"Heh, see? What did I tell ya? This guy takes credit for 'nuthin!" Mira slapped her sister on the back.

"I see! Thank you very much! We're lucky Ultear is on such great terms with you!" She smiled and thanked sincerely.

"Never a dull moment." He exhaled at the mention of her name.

"That's an understatement." Mira matched him.

"Mira must really trust you a great deal if she let you in here." Lisanna put her hands behind her back, as she glanced at her sister.

"W-w-well it's not like a BIG deal, I mean, I'd be perfectly fine if someone comes in my room. It's just..m-m-m-my job doesn't allow me to disclose as much personal information other than what I allow." Mira fidgeted with her fingers.

"Last time the Trimens came here, you sent Ren flying when he put one hand on your doorknob." Lisanna reminded.

"Y-y-y-you don't enter another person's room without permission!" Mira tried to clear up. "It was messy too!"

"You also said, you would kill anyone of the opposite gender that so much as even thought about taking one step in your room." She remembered as a demonic Mira appeared above them in thought.

"I could see that." Natsu nodded.

"Spur of the moment! I was having a bad day!" Mira quickly explained. "Besides, those three manwhores don't even deserve to even take one step in this building!"

"I thought I was the first?" Natsu raised his brow.

"Blue Pegasus helped us out in securing funds to build the place. So, as a form of repayment, once a year, the Trimens come down here with Mr. Ichiya, and they get to have a date with any girl here of their choosing." Lisanna explained to him.

"I can't believe Ultear did that! They always pick me! They never go for Laki, Sorano, Ikaruga, or Jenny! They always pick the same four! I wish Minerva would quit being a haughty bitch, and just suck it up with the rest of us, but she's just nowhere to be found when they get here!" Mira complained while nearly pulling her hair out. "Oh yeah, that's need to know. Don't tell anyone about that." Mira swiftly told him.

"My lips are sealed. I know Ichiya. I worked with him a couple of times. He wouldn't stop picking up every woman within a one-mile radius. At least, the ones that didn't get creeped out at the sight of him." He lamented.

"You understand my pain~!" Mira cupped his hands with tears streaming down her face. "But 'anywho, while it isn't true you're the only man who's come in here, you're the first one we acknowledged. So you can come and go as you please. " She proudly stated.

"Come, yes. Go? Well, I have to traverse whatever obstacle Ultear blocks me with before I go." He shrugged.

"Master must really enjoy your company." Lisanna giggled.

"She enjoys toying with me. She's like an opportunistic cat, waiting for the precise moment to pounce." He described their relationship as if it were a massive tease of epic proportions, while also gesturing with his hand. "See, the reason I am here is because she derives pleasure from watching me attempt to outdo one of her best. But mostly, it's just the struggle of my pure innocent heart trying not to be swept away by her." He closed his eyes and narrowed his brows in a strange fashion as the chibi versions of the two were locked in a battle of who was on top, and who wasn't. Not surprisingly, Ultear had him zero to God knows how many times.

"So...you get along quite well then." Lisanna had a bead of sweat roll down her head. "Master Ultear probably just really likes him." She deduced. "Oh yeah, we should go outside to meet Elfman. He's probably worried." She turned to Lisanna.

"Ehh? Just go drag his ass in here already." Mira didn't want to bother.

"Well, alright. I'll return in a bit then." She nodded and quickly went to go fetch the third of the siblings.

"She seems nice." Natsu complimented.

"Like a ray of a never-ending sunshine." She smiled. "My one and the only person I can be honest with without worrying about the small stuff. Little sisters are best~!" Mira fist-pumped.

"What...is that like?" Natsu hesitantly asked.

"Eh? Uhh, well, you know, sisters? That bond between siblings...where you can definitely tell when something is off. That sort of thing." She seemed to be at a near loss for words.

"Huh." Natsu looked away and faced the floor. "That's interesting. They can tell when something is wrong?" Natsu asked again out of curiosity.

"Well, it differs between people." She walked over in front of him. "But my sister could take one look at me and tell if I've got something on my mind. So I wouldn't waste my breath lying to her." She sighed.

"..." Natsu stayed silent.

"Why the sudden question?" The gothic diva thought it was a strange question to ask her.

"..meh. No reason." Natsu waved it off.

"C'mon. Spill the beans. You got me wondering." She insisted.

"Just curious. I don't have a family. I always thought I just was...I don't know how to describe it. I was just..there." He pinched his nose while thinking back. "Or maybe I did. Who knows?" He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't understand the concept of a family that well. I just look and I wonder what it felt like. That's all." He shrugged with a blank stare.

"..." Mira frowned a bit.

"..." There was an awkward silence between the two.

"..!? W-well how about Mindy?" Mira suddenly came up with something. Trying to cheer him up.

"Mindy?" Natsu perked up.

"Yeah, she's been with you since you were a kid, right? I bet she was a sister-like person when you two grew up."

"Mindy...a sister, huh?" Natsu thought about it for a moment before giving his reply. "Mmm, yeah, I suppose you could sum up our relationship like that." He bobbed his head slowly. "Meh. I guess it would be nice to have someone like that." He nodded.

"If you want one," She leaned forth with an innocent look.

"Hm?" Natsu looked up to her

"You can call me big sis, too." She suddenly blushed a little.

"...?!" Natsu blushed that innocent face, and deep cleavage she revealed to him as she leaned over him in a provocative manner.

"I wouldn't argue~." She said in a playful tone.

"I don't think I have the heart for that." He looked away and scowled.

"Heh." Mira scoffed with a victorious smirk.

"Hey! Mira!" Lisanna knocked on the door.

"Hm?" Mira ceased her teasing and went over to the door. She opened it up and found her sister there with the same warm smile she always wore. Behind her was a very burly and muscular man that looked like he could barely fit through the door. Despite his brute-like stature, and thick white hair, he was cowering behind the younger sister like he was in fear. He was wearing a blue suit with a red tie.

"Geez, Elfman. What are you doing dragging your feet? When I ask you two to show up, I wanted BOTH of you too." Mira scolded her younger brother.

"Sorry, sis. I-I-I thought you were upset because you never call me in here." He shook like a leaf.

"I'm gonna BE upset if you keep acting like I'm gonna pummel you into a red stain on the carpet." She sighed.

"Oddly specific." Natsu deadpanned. "I'm guessing you're the hot head of the three of you." Natsu smirked.

"N-no! I'm the mature one here! That just slipped out!" The demon tried to clear up.

"Casually saying you'll make mincemeat out of people is a slip of the tongue?" Natsu raised his brow.

"It's just big sis's personality. She's actually really nice once you get to know her." Lisanna assured Natsu.

"I don't need you to speak for me!" Mira growled at Lisanna.

"Huh? Who are you!?" Elfman suddenly realized that Natsu was in the room, and tensed up. "Are you another pervert who's after my big sister's stockings!?"

"Wha-?! SHUT UP ELFMAN!" Mira blushed at his sudden outburst.

"WHAAAA! A REAL MAN DOESN'T DO SUCH LOWLY THINGS!" Elfman ran past his sister and lunged at Natsu.

"Hm?" Natsu glanced at him closing the distance and instinctively held up his elbow at the Strauss brother's large fist. As it connected, Elfman flinched and backed away, His fist crumpled into a staggering grasp.

"Oh, shit! Sorry! I've just recently got out of a hairy situation, so I just reacted." Natsu got up and wanted to help Elfman with his hand.

"My-my fist-!" Elfman gasped.

"OH BROTHER DEAREST~?"

"..?!" Elfman flinched and was sweating bullets as his older sister's demonic aura overshadowed him like an insignificant bug.

"WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING MY FRIEND? HE'S NOT EVEN IN A CONDITION TO FIGHT RIGHT NOW. BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FIGHT, I CAN RIP YOUR SPINE OUT YOUR THROAT." Glowing red eyes of unrelenting destruction glared down Elfman in an overpowering display.

"Eh, your friend?" Elfman looked back up to Natsu. Natsu smiled and greeted normally.

"Nice to 'meetcha." Natsu waved. "Name's Natsu Dranigon, but you can call m-"

(WHAM)

"I am so sorry! I acted without thinking first!" Elfman's face swelled to bruised proportions. Yet he apologized profusely, as his sister was using him as her chair and growling in annoyance. Lisanna was sitting on the bed next to Natsu.

"It's fine. I'm sure you've had to deal with guys with ulterior motives around here before." Natsu said as if it were just a misunderstanding. "Is he apologizing to me, or Mira?"

"No, this meathead of a brother of mine knows better than to act this way in the building." Mira kicked her high heel boot back into his hip.

"Sounds like you had quite the problem. I didn't realize you had perverts in this town." Natsu nervously chuckled.

"Wh-no! Just, just pretend you didn't hear that." Mira said while trying to maintain face. "Man, every fuckin-Elfman, I am a big girl, and can wipe my own ass! Do you honestly think I would let a guy in here unless I trusted him!?" She scolded.

"B-but you said no living man-"

"I KNOW WHAT I SAID! LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING NOW!" She barked.

"Eeeek!" Elfman cowered in fear and dared not say a word.

"Hey, sis? Can't you just let Elfman go?" Lisanna kindly requested. "He was only trying to defend you. He would never have done that if I told him beforehand. So if you wanna be angry, be angry at me." Lisanna frowned and bowed apologetically.

"Mgh!" Mira froze and, suddenly felt guilty all of a sudden. She suddenly let out a sigh of defeat. "That's not fair, Lisanna." She took a deep breath and stood up while crossing her arm, looking at her groveling brother. "I believe you've reflected long enough."

"Yes, big sis!" Elfman stood at attention as if he was not even twitching from pain. "If I knew you were gonna be that upset-"

"Of course I'd be upset! This guy has saved my sweet ass and nearly paid with his life! And then, he gets back, and he's nearly a corpse by the time I see him! He has more than earned the right to set foot in this building, let alone my room!" Mira shouted angrily.

"So...he's the one that saved you three?" Elfman looked clueless as he pointed to Natsu.

"Yes." Mira took a deep breath before she passed out.

"The one that Master Ultear always talked about over at our house?"

"Yes." She repeated.

"Wait, the one...you were upset about last week?" He had a sudden realization as he looked at Natsu.

"Yeah. Got stabbed in the back, literally, and figuratively." Natsu stood up and showed a bandage on his back to Elfman. "But, I more or less put myself out of commission. As for how that happened..." He sat on the bed and faced Elfman, in a friendly manner. "We were just about out of there, but they took away my magic, and I was forced to fight unarmed, but I..." He frowned slightly as he remembered attack Kagura. "...Luckily Erza, Kagura, and Ikaruga were there to help me. But, I took another hit, and the next thing I know, I'm losing too much blood. So after that, I had to make a split decision. If I was gonna die there, I was at least gonna make it easier for the other three. So I released whatever magic power my body could handle, and it worked, but I still couldn't withstand the rebound of it, and I lost consciousness." He recalled in detail, right before he woke up in Mermaid Heel. "So, I'm just taking the day off." He abruptly ended.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"What?" Natsu broke the awkward silence.

"Nothing, you just...said that like it was nothing." Lisanna blinked in amazement.

"Well, that's a pretty normal day, for me anyway. But, I've survived worse." Natsu shrugged.

"...I see." Elfman stood up. "I'm sorry I attacked you like that out of nowhere." He apologized.

"It's cool. I'm used to people trying to hit me out of nowhere." He deadpanned.

Later...

Natsu spent about an hour with the Strauss siblings, getting to know them. They were wrapping up visiting, and Lisanna and Elfman were heading out.

"I'll see you tomorrow! Me and Elfman are gonna head home before it's too late." Lisanna said.

"Mm! It was great to meet you, at last, Natsu Dranigon!" Elfman smiled. "If you ever wish to spar, or need anything when you are in town, I will do my best to assist you!" Elfman promised with a fist pump.

"I'd like that." Natsu nodded. "See ya."

"G'night, Sis." Lisanna politely said.

"Night, Lisanna." Mira responded. Lisanna was about halfway out the door, but stopped and looked to her older sister.

"Hm?" Mira had a blank look.

"He's a keeper alright!" She giggled.

"Okay, night! Bye! See you tomorrow!" Mira quickly rushed up and closed the door and tried to shut her sister up at the same time.

"What did that mean?" Natsu raised a curious brow.

"Nothing! Just a-a uh, inside joke between the two of us!" Mira tried to laugh it off, but her embarrassment was plain as day. "God, she's gonna ruin it!"

"Good luck, big sis!" Lisanna shouted behind the door.

"Would you leave already!?" Mira begged.

"Huh. Nice siblings." Natsu nodded in approval. Granted Elfman was a bit of brawn for brains, but he was a nice guy. "You all seem to get along just fine."

"Yeah, but sometimes...I swear." Mira let out a sigh of relief and leaned back against the door. "In your words, never a dull moment."

"Heh." Natsu chuckled.

"...?" Mira suddenly realized they were alone again. "Isn't this like a good chance to score some points?" She cleared her throat and got up. "S-say, remember when we first fought each other we made a bet?" She suddenly gripped her arm behind her back.

"Yeah." Natsu nodded.

"Could we make another one?" She swallowed her pride and begun to ask.

"A bet? I don't know, last time you kicked my ass, who's to say you won't do it again?" Natsu sarcastically said.

"Okay, first off, it was a tie. Plus, you weren't fighting me with all you got." She pointed out. "Yeah, the more I think about it, you were taking me pretty lightly the first time around weren't you?" Mira's dominant personality suddenly surfaced.

"I...don't think so...?" Natsu could have recalled he certainly was toe-to-toe with her. "I don't know what she's talking about. Taking any of those dark magic spells would spell instant death to any ordinary person."

"Now you listen here, you cherry boy." Mira suddenly placed her foot on the bed next to him, towering over him. "I hate guys who treat a woman like shit. I also hate guys that are all talk and no bite. But what really, REALLY gets me peeved is when a guy makes light of me!" Natsu leaned back out of reflex as he sweated bullets at her invasion of his space. Her bare, milky thigh being emphasized by her dark purple skirt, nearly touching him, and large cleavage that was stretching out of her crop top as she tried to tower over him.

"What the hell?! Why did she get so aggressive all of a sudden?! And her smell...damn these dragon traits!" Natsu cursed his enhanced human senses. A sweet smell filled his nostrils from her perfume and natural odor. "You are the last person I would take lightly Mira!" He held his hands up in defense.

"Then let's make a bet." She smirked. "I guess I really can't be honest. But this is the only way I know how to talk to him." Inside she was regretting going with this approach, but she felt more comfortable talking this way. "If I win, you have to do what I say."

"That again?" Natsu groaned.

"And if you win, I'll do anything you ask." She offered.

"Anything?" Natsu repeated.

"Yeah. Anything." Mira nodded.

"...if I beat you, then..." Natsu took a moment to think about it. "...I don't know." He was drawing a blank, quite frankly confused look on his face. It wasn't really his style to demand something from someone.

"Might I make a suggestion?" She asked.

"A suggestion-?" Natsu innocently looked her in the eye.

"You know what is the hardest thing to obtain from me?" She smiled.

"Your stockings?"

"You-!" Mira had a tick mark on her head and raised her fist.

"I'm joking, I'm just joking!" Natsu eased up, feeling like he hit a nerve.

"(Sigh). Take a guess." She smiled once again.

"The hardest thing to receive from you...that's a tricky one." Natsu closed his eyes and thought hard on it. What did this woman have that she would not part with?

"Think about it. A single lady, who's regarded as the most beautiful person in Fiore. Not taken by anyone, and always quick to shove other guys away." She kept hinting.

"...you?" Natsu narrowed his eyes at Mira.

"Mm." She nodded and her smile grew wider.

"If I win...I get you?" Natsu re-phrased.

"Mmhmm." She smiled happily.

"Uhh.."

"What, am I not good enough?" She darkened her expression.

"Nononono! Nothing like that!" Natsu quickly dismissed. " It's just..." Natsu was at a loss for words. He didn't have any idea as to how he should reply. "Wait, what does that even imply?"

"Well, apart from being on good terms with me, I'll do anything you ask."

"Anything?" Natsu furrowed his eyes.

"Mm. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G~." She winked as she went down on him slowly and slipped his hand in the crevice of her tits.

"Hah!?" Natsu was shocked and embarrassed.

"Hmph, You were so enthusiastic before. I thought you would be leaping for joy right now." She reminded with a playful smirk.

"I believe the last time..." His eyes couldn't help but fall to the two funbags of hers that were gobbling up his hand. I-I believe the last time you were not so inclined for me to even so much as touch you."

"That was then, but this is now." Mira clarified. "Alright, the service ends here." She pulled out his hand and quickly stood up. "But if you agree to be my boyfriend, we can continue." She suggested. "And this time, you get the whole package." She suddenly began lifting up her dark purple top, until the bottom of her breasts were in view.

"Rrk!" He instinctively shielded his eyes form such beauty.

(Thump)

"Eh?" Mira thought she heard a strange sound on her door and looked to the source.

"(Hey, Elf-nii! You're leaning too much on the door!)"

"(But I can't hear anything-)

"Wh-whoa!" Lisanna's voice rang out as they burst in threw the door, face first. The two siblings of the Strauss's looked up with a sheepish chuckle. As if they were caught in the act.

"What the-!? Were you two listening to us the whole time?!" Mira immediately covered her top.

"D-darn it." Lisanna stuck her tongue. "I had a feeling, but I didn't know you were that assertive, sis."

"Big sis...I didn't know he was your man." Elfman drooped his head.

"Wh-you two-god dammit, what I do, and who I do it to is none of your business!" She frantically pointed at her younger sister."Shame on you two, I thought I raised you better than that!"

"We're so sorry!"

"We're sorry!" The two apologized.

"Grrr! Man, right when it was getting good." She huffed and crossed her arms. She then looked at Natsu with an annoyed look. "My offer stands. Sorry if I took it...well, little too far." She blushed.

"It's fine," Natsu assured her. "I'm... flattered you'd consider a guy like me. I'm just...(sigh)." He frowned.

"...I said my piece. Just throwing it out there." She looked away. "I know my guild master, and that stone-faced Treya are gunnin' for ya. Just...well, at least give me a proper response." She didn't look at him still. "If you're ever in the market." She swallowed. "But if I win in our next fight..." She suddenly turned to him with a devilish smile. "...you're mine, pinky." She poked his nose.

"...heh. If you're that confident, the odds might not be in my favor." He chuckled at her response. "Fine then." He got up and stretched. "If you win, I'll do anything you want." He set the condition. "But if I win..." He pointed his thumb at himself. "You have to do what I want."

"I'd have it no other way." Mira smirked. The devilish vixen felt her blood boiling at the idea of finally beating him. When the stakes were that high, she was gonna throw everything at him. "It's a promise." She held up her hand.

"Yeah." Natsu grabbed her hand and shook it. But she suddenly pulled him in and pressed her lips to his ear. "Just don't fall for me too hard, when I do win. Mm~!" She suddenly gave him a smooch on the side of his cheek. He suddenly recoiled and leaned back. His face lit up with embarrassment.

"You-! That's just playing dirty!" He grumbled.

"Sweety, when I play dirty, you gonna wish you took my offer now." She scoffed in amusement. In her state of mind, however..."Kyaaaaa~! I finally did it! Finally! Oh man, I was so nervous, I was so close to breaking face so much! Oh, Mira, you're a bad bitch! You are the QUEEN! Oh man, I can't wait! I better train extra hard!...Eeeeeeeeck~! I'm so excited! I finally will one-up you Ultear! You were in the lead before, but if I can beat this stud muffin, I win, baby, I WIN!" She bashfully jumped for joy in her head, anticipating the potential future with Natsu.

"Hey, MIRA!" Natsu clapped in her face.

"Eh!?" She suddenly realized she was zoning out.

"I'm gonna head back to my room before it gets too late." He repeated.

"Oh, uh, okay. I-I'll see you later." She cleared her throat and bid him farewell. He made his way out the door, leaving the siblings to themselves. Mira then glanced at her brother and sister. "What?"

"...Mira's gonna get a boyfriend." Lisanna cried tears of joy.

"I have no words other than...congratulations, Big sis! You truly have found a man among men!" Elfman felt happy for his older sister finally finding a guy she could trust herself too.

"...heh!" She scoffed once more with a smirk.

Natsu let out a sigh of relief as he navigated his way back to Meredy's medical office. It was pretty empty. No one was there, except him.

"This is getting out of control. First Ultear, then Treya, now Mira. Even after explaining it to them, they still like me." He pinched his nose. "And now I made a promise to be Mira's boyfriend if I lose...well, I guess I'll just go along with it for now. But I really gotta stop leading them on like this. Man, Venigon should have given me some pointers on how to deal with women. I have no idea what to do now." He was in the midst of thinking, that he failed to notice a discreet strand of hair creeping up behind him. He suddenly felt a tickle at the back of his neck and he tensed up. "EEK!" He nearly jumped from the sudden touch. He swatted the back of his neck but didn't feel anything. He whipped his head around and didn't see anything.

"..." He stayed silent and listened. "Did I have a hair stick out or something? Man, why am I so jumpy today?" He shook his head and continued. However, he suddenly heard heavy breathing. He came to a grinding halt. He listened again.

"..."

"..."

"..h.."

"...?!"

"Heh...heh...heheheheh...heeee~!" An eerie chuckle was heard.

"Okay, that is creepy as hell." Natsu looked everywhere but didn't see anything. He sweated nervously. It obviously was a woman from the tone. He then suddenly felt a tickle at his toe and he stepped back out of reflex. "What the hell?" He just darted his eyes everywhere but didn't see a damned thing.

"I..I...t...touched him...Heheh. He's scared...he he he~!" The strange voice said to themselves.

"Hey, hey, hey, that is not cool lady." He could hear her, but where she was was remained to be seen.

"What are you doing out here in the hall?" Another voice popped out of nowhere behind him, causing him to jump ten feet away.

"GYAWD! Where the fuck did you come from!?" He demanded to know this instant. "Huh? Oh, it's you." He recognized the figure as Minerva. She was wearing bright blue pajamas with her hair down.

"It's Minerva, to you fool." She crossed her arms and huffed, annoyed at her response. "I was getting ready for bed when I heard some annoyance outside my door." She explained briefly as she approached him. "What are you doing out here?" She demanded to know.

"I was on my way back to Meredy's office, when...I don't know, something keeps touching me out of nowhere." He was less concerned with the Siren of Mermaid Heel, and more concerned with the anonymous presence that was screwing with him.

"Touching you?" She raised a brow.

"Yeah, like a string, or strand of hair, or something." He compared.

"Are you sure you're not just going insane?" She huffed and rolled her eyes.

"I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid. Someone or something here has been following me for the past few hours." He said in distress.

"A strand of hair?" Minerva furrowed her brow. She then looked to her left and saw something discreetly slide under one of the doors in the hallway. "Wait, is that..?" Minerva stopped crossing her arms, and walked over to the door she saw the number on it. "..."

"You see something?" Natsu came over.

"You'll find your culprit in this room. Please keep it down. Some people are trying to rest at this hour." She groaned. She went back into her room. Natsu looked to the side of the door and saw a metal plate with the name "FLARE CORONA" on the side. He swallowed before he knocked on the door.

"Hey, is someone in here?" He asked.

"..."

No reply.

"Look, I don't mean to bug you right now, but if you're trying to get my attention, I'm all ears." He said again.

"..."

Still no reply.

"Huh. Maybe they ain't home?" He scratched the back of his head. He decided to just leave and get to his room as soon as possible. Suddenly he heard the door creak open really slow.

"...?" He turned around and was waiting for them to come out, and faced the direction of the person who opened the door.

"...uh, hello?" Natsu called out. Suddenly, a quick-moving lock of hair zipped along the floor and wrapped around his ankle and yanked him, prompting him to fall on his back, and was quickly dragged into the open door. "What the-!?" Was the last thing he said before the door closed behind him, and into the darkened room.

It was then silent.

I'm back ya'll! Sorry I haven't updated for a few months! Been busy with work, and other shit. But thankfully, it's getting calm where I'm at, and eventually back to normal. I hope you all are well and good, in your respective locations! This start of 2020 has been one thing after another, I tell ya. Virus, killer bees, and toilet paper shortage(still trying to figure that one out), like something out of a Stephen King novel I tell you. But anywho, I'm back to writing again, and hopefully won't keep you all waiting forever again! Stay healthy and happy!

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Laters!

OH, IT FEELS GOOD TO UPDATE AGAIN!