Chapter 1

"So what you're telling me is," Lucy pulled the left side of her light blonde hair up into a pigtail, "I'm going to be bait… again."

"That's right!" Happy threw his paws up in the air with a cheerful grin.

She sighed and tied a pink ribbon around the leather hair tie she used to capture the pigtail.

"Don't be so down, Lucy," Natsu said, hands folded behind his head as he leaned casually back in the wooden chair he sat in. "The guy we're after only shows up if there's a young attractive woman around."

"Yeah…" she worked on the other half of her hair.

"And since Erza's not around, you're kind of our only option," Happy added.

Lucy glared at him, "Sorry I'm not attractive enough to be your first choice."

"Hey don't worry about it Lucy!" Natsu slapped her on the shoulder, causing her to drop her ribbon. "I'll be nearby to grab the guy once he shows up! You won't even have to lift a finger! Just sit around and act like easy prey!"

Is that all I'm good for? she wondered with a frown as she retrieved her ribbon.

"Me and Natsu will hide in the wardrobe," Happy said, pointing at the decided hiding place on the other side of the room. "And then as soon as he shows his face, we'll jump out and kick his butt!"

"Yeah!" Natsu squeezed his right hand into a fist, "We'll kick his ass and make him tell us where the other girls are!"

"Let's do it Natsu!" He and Happy high-fived.

"Wait, wait, wait," Lucy held up her hands. "Weren't you paying attention to the innkeeper?" Happy and Natsu looked at her in confusion. She sighed and rubbed her left temple. "Of course you weren't…"

"There's a pervert that needs his ass whooped," Natsu said. "That's all I need to know."

"Your normal tactics won't work with this guy," she pointed to him sternly. "The innkeeper said that he uses teleportation magic. And not just that, but at the faintest hint of danger, he runs and disappears for months before reappearing again in a completely different location!"

"So?"

"So… we only have one shot," she punched her right fist into her left palm. "If you just come barreling out of that closet, hands blazing, he's going to turn tail and flee and then we'll be screwed."

"Then how should we do it?"

"You gotta be sneaky, Natsu!" Happy decided.

"You mean…" his eyes ignited and a slow grin crept across his face. He and Happy leaned close and both exclaimed,

"Like ninja!"

Natsu began wrapping his scarf around his pink hair as Lucy sighed.

"Not this again…"

"Princess."

Lucy nearly jumped out of her skin, delivering a small shriek as the woman dressed neatly in a maid's outfit appeared at her side. She lifted her right hand, iron manacle around her wrist clanging gently.

"I have returned."

Lucy clutched her bosom, "Virgo! Don't scare me like that!"

"Apologies Princess. Would you like to punish me?"

"No, I'll get over it. So how'd it go?"

Virgo hid her pout and pulled the loop of rope from where it rested tied to her hip. "I brought what you requested."

"Perfect!" Lucy took the rope with a smile.

"Princess," Virgo drew her attention again. "Big Brother told me to tell you that he doesn't approve of your plan and that he demands to be summoned at once."

"Did he now…" she shook her head, "It'll be fine. I have Natsu here after all. Thank you for bringing me this, you may go now."

"Punishm—"

Lucy sent her back to the celestial spirit world before she could finish.

"Natsu, look. This is how we're going to—" Lucy turned towards his chair, but it was empty. She glanced around the room in confusion. "Natsu?"

"Fire dragon—"

Lucy whipped her head up in the direction of his voice.

"Ceiling drop!"

Lucy screamed and dove out of the chair as Happy dropped Natsu above her head and he came plummeting down to the floor. A loud crash echoed through the room as Natsu's body destroyed the chair Lucy once sat in, sending splintered wood flying across the room. She rolled onto her back, mouth dropping open.

"Are you trying to kill me?" she squeaked, hands shaking.

Happy flew down and perched on the back of Natsu's chair. "If you want to be sneaky like ninja, Natsu, maybe you shouldn't yell out your move before you attack."

Natsu sat up, brushing splinters from his hair, "It's not the same, though."

"Will you two just listen to me for once?"

Happy and Natsu turned their attention to Lucy, who climbed unsteadily to her feet.

"What's up, Lucy?" Natsu leaned back on the heels of his hands.

She held up the rope, "This is how we are going to catch this guy."

Natsu blinked slowly. "Rope."

"Not just any rope," she grinned triumphantly. "This is rope from the celestial spirit world. It has special properties."

"Is it fireproof?" Natsu's hand ignited.

"No!" she clutched the rope to her chest. "Stay away! Don't ruin it!"

Natsu snuffed out the flame on his hand and frowned.

"This rope has nullifying magic in it," she informed them. "When it's wrapped around a mage, he can't use his magic."

"So it's like the magic of that cat girl in the Tower of Heaven?" Happy asked.

"Exactly!" Lucy smiled. "Except that this rope doesn't move on our command. If we are going to use it on our target, we have to find a way to get it around him quickly before he has the chance to escape."

"I don't get it," Natsu sighed. "Why don't I just kick the crap out of him like I usually do?"

Lucy pushed air out of her nostrils in frustration.

"Natsu doesn't understand, Lucy," Happy said. "Maybe you should explain it again."

She glared at him and then grabbed Natsu's wrist, pulling him to his feet. "Look, just sit in the wardrobe and wait. Okay? I know what to do. Just be sure not to come out until I call for you, okay?"

She dragged him across the room and opened the wardrobe.

"But that sounds really boring," Natsu whined as she stuffed him in between white shirts hanging inside.

"Just trust me, Natsu," Lucy said, grabbing Happy by the scruff of his neck as he attempted to flee. She tossed him into the wardrobe. "I know I can handle this. Now be quiet." She grabbed the doors of the wardrobe and paused. She glanced at his frowning face and added, "Like ninja," and closed the door firmly.

Lucy grinned in excitement and rushed to clean up the mess of the shattered chair. She swept the debris under the bed quickly and set up her trap. She moved the chair Natsu had been sitting in to the center of the room and looped the rope casually around the top corner of the backrest. She stepped back and admired her handiwork. The rope was neither very conspicuous nor suspicious. She rushed across the room to the vanity next to the bed and peered into the mirror. She straightened her hair and examined her teeth. She loosened the lacing on the chest of her dress, allowing light to fall on her cleavage. When she was satisfied with the intensity of her seduction, she travelled back across the room to the window on the far wall. She pushed the curtains aside, grabbed a book from the shelf beside it and then sat on the padded sill.

She flipped to a random page in the book and feigned a look of interest at the words she didn't read.

A creak sounded from the wardrobe and she held back a frown.

"She looks like she's enjoying this, doesn't she Natsu?" a whisper floated across the wooden floors.

"Sure does," Natsu's agreement chased. "What do you suppose she's thinkin'?"

Lucy held the book up to her face, hiding her mouth as she hissed, "You're the worst ninjas ever!"

They fell silent and she lowered the book again. Several minutes ticked by without incident. She was growing impatient. When was he going to show up? They had evacuated the entire inn of women. She was the only one their target could steal and yet he was nowhere to be found.

Heat touched her cheeks. Don't tell me, he's not interested? she thought sourly. Great. Not even perverted thieves wanted to touch her. She'd never get a boyfriend at this rate. Not that she was looking for one. But still, she scowled and flipped the page of her book. Am I really that undesirable?

She let out a sigh.

Of course not. Loke is always saying I'm beautiful. She frowned again. Then again, he says that to every girl.

"She's making an ugly face," a whisper broke her irritated reverie.

"Yeah, what's that about?"

"Her brilliant plan isn't working."

"Told her."

Lucy hid her mouth behind the book, "Shut up!"

Another half hour crept by.

"I spy something red."

"Is it Lucy's panties?"

"Yep!"

Lucy dropped her legs to the floor, cheeks flaming.

"Okay, my turn. I spy something black."

"Is it the lace on Lucy's bra?"

"Yeah!"

Lucy shrugged the strap of her dress over her bra.

"I spy something really sad and pathetic."

"Is it Lucy?"

A sigh, "Sure is, Natsu. Sure is."

Lucy slammed her book shut and pushed to her feet in annoyance. "Fine—" her angry shout was cut short at the appearance of the man in the center of the room. She gasped and took a step backwards. The back of her knees bumped into the padded sill and she fell onto her behind.

"Wh-who are you?" she stuttered out. But in her mind she was thinking, Yes! Finally! I knew he'd show up!

The man was dressed lightly in a black long sleeved shirt with the top three buttons undone to reveal swooping black lines on the surface of his skin beneath. His jeans fit tight to his long, muscled legs and his long silver hair was tied with a leather tie at the base of his neck.

This… is our guy? Lucy gulped. He didn't look like a criminal that snuck into women's rooms at night and spirited them away. His green, almond shaped eyes were kind. His mouth was curved into a gentle smile and Lucy couldn't help but find him quite… well, attractive. He looked less like a pervert and more like a suave carriage salesman.

"Do you work for the inn?" Lucy continued, clasping her hands nervously in her lap. "I didn't hear you knock on the door…"

The man's eyes glinted and his soft smile twisted into a dark grin. A creeping sensation slithered across the room and sent chills up Lucy's spine. A musty, oily fog prodded into her mind and she quivered.

No. This was him. It had to be. No ordinary man could have such a disgusting aura. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her knees, an uncanny sense of terror suddenly striking. She couldn't stand up. If she did, she knew she'd collapse. What was this feeling? She had never felt this way before. Not even when cowering in the shadow of Acnologia that day so long ago on Tenrou Island.

This was an unnatural fear, planted into her mind by that greasy fog. Her fingers twitched. Her keys… if she could just get to her keys and call someone… anyone…

No. She couldn't. Not now. She had a mission to complete. She had to remain calm so that she could get the ropes around him.

"E-excuse me," she couldn't keep the fear from her voice. "Who are you?"

The man stepped forward and Lucy pressed her back against the cool glass of the window.

"I'm your salvation," his voice was soft and low.

"M-my…"

"I've come to collect you," he said, drawing ever nearer. "Such a beauty… Let me wash the dirtiness from your pale skin…" He reached a hand out, grasping for her chin.

She flinched away, "W-wait."

He paused, confusion momentarily flitting across his features. "Wait…"

Lucy compiled together all of her courage, comforted by the warmth of her keys at her hip. She inhaled deeply. "You say you are my salvation?" tears touched her brown eyes. "If that's true… Then I'm so happy you are here…"

He was taken aback. Lucy pushed to her feet, knees knocking together. She inched closer to him. "I've done things. Things that I… that I regret. You said you'll wash me? Remove me of my sins, right?"

His mouth twitched up, "That's right."

She feigned a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you. How can I repay you?"

"You need only come with me—" he held his hand out to her.

"Where will you take me?"

"A safe place where we can begin your rehabilitation."

Lucy took a step towards him. He moved backwards warily.

"My rehabilitation," she pushed him back further. "To make me pure, right?"

"Yes."

"Before we go," Lucy reached her hands out and touched his chest. The connection made her skin crawl and fear bit hard and fast at the base of her neck. "Allow me just this one more sin."

They made it to the center of the room and Lucy pushed him lightly down on the wooden chair. He leaned back and stared up at her with glinting green eyes. "I will allow it," his voice was low and thick with warning. "But your boldness will not go unpunished."

Lucy hiked her skirt up high on her thighs and quickly, before she had the good sense to change her mind, straddled the man's hips.

"I will gladly risk it," she whispered breathlessly. The fear was choking, suffocating. But she forced herself to press close to his broad chest, sliding her hands slowly up from his stomach to his shoulders. "What's your name?" she asked, running her fingers lightly up the sides of his neck.

He captured her hands in his and lifted them high above her head, pulling her torso tight. His eyes wandered lazily over the hitched way her chest rose and fell at her panicked breathing.

"You'll call me Azamin," he said. He shifted her wrists in his grip so that he held both with his left hand and dropped his right to her cheek. He traced the contour of her jaw line slowly.

Lucy's eyes flickered to the rope hanging on the corner of the backrest. How was she going to get to it while he was restraining her? His grip was painfully tight. She wasn't even positive she'd be able to break from it if she tried.

Patience, she thought, turning her gaze back to his clouded eyes. If there was one thing she learned from working with Natsu these past years, it was that when you were stuck in a hopeless situation, sometimes the best thing to do was to wait for the next opportunity to present itself.

Surely one would come. And when it did, she would take full advantage of it. Because unlike Natsu, who preferred to dive headlong into any disaster with flames burning in both fists, Lucy understood the importance of the plan. She knew the value of patience, and strategy, and…

Azamin leaned forward and pressed his face into the tender skin of her throat, inhaling deeply.

Lucy screeched inwardly as creeping chills ran rampant up and down her body. No, no, no! Get his nasty greasy breath off of meeeeee!

"Fire dragon…" heat blasted Lucy's back and radiated through the room, "Wardrobe-splosion!"

Lucy shrieked as she was knocked into Azamin and they were both sent tumbling backwards over the chair and to the floor as flying debris rained down around them.

"Wah!" Lucy rolled off of Azamin and slapped at the flames licking the hem of her skirt. "Hot! Hot!"

"What the hell, Lucy?" Natsu stomped over the destruction that used to be the wardrobe. "I thought you said you could handle it!"

"I was handling it!" she shouted back to him, finally dousing the fire. "I was just about to put the nullification rope on him when you—"

"It looked more like you were putting the moves on him," Natsu grumbled.

"I had to in order to get close enough to—"

Azamin climbed to his feet, clutching the loop of rope in his right fist tightly. "It was an act," he muttered.

Lucy gulped and stared up at him. The unnatural fog of fear struck her again and moisture filled her eyes. Her heart raced and the strength left her muscles. She clamped her hands over her mouth to keep from letting out a sob.

"N-Natsu," Happy clung to Natsu's shoulder, ears pulled low over his face.

"D-don't worry about it, Buddy," Natsu said, failing to keep the shiver from his voice. His right leg buckled and he nearly stumbled to the ground but held his stance shakily. "From now on, we're doing it my way." He cracked his knuckles and pointed to Azamin. "You ready to get your ass kicked properly?"

The man ignored him and glared down at Lucy. "An act."

"Of course it was an act!" she shouted. "What makes you think anyone would willingly touch a disgusting piece of waste like you?"

A grin flashed across his features and he leaned towards her, a maniacal laugh ripping from his throat. "Perfect!" he reached for her. "Your punishment awaits!"

"DON'T TOUCH HER!" Flames shot between them. Azamin pulled his hand back, turning his attention to the pink-haired man now hurtling across the room, flaming fist cocked and ready.

"Hmph," Azamin draped the rope over his shoulder. He said, "Some other time, then," and then disappeared. Natsu punched the air where he once stood.

"Where'd that bastard go?" He whirled in a circle and then prowled through the room in search.

The fear drained from Lucy's body and she slumped back in relief. What kind of magic was that? she wondered. Fear magic. She had never heard of such a thing existing before. What a frightening ability, indeed.

"Lucy…" a weak voice came. Happy stumbled over the chair and threw himself against her chest. "I— was— so— scared!"

Lucy wrapped him up in her arms, "You were scared too, huh?"

She could feel his tiny body quivering in her grasp.

"It's alright now," she rubbed his head soothingly. "He's gone now. Natsu and I won't let anything happen to you, Happy."

Natsu finished a quick search of the hallway outside of the room and returned. "The asshole got away."

"Well what did you expect?" Lucy snapped. "I told you to wait! I was going to get the rope on him!"

He shrugged, "You were taking too long."

Lucy climbed to her feet, cradling Happy in her arms. "Whatever. Let's just get out of here. Now we're not going to get paid because of you."

Natsu laced his hands behind his head and followed her out of the room. "Oh well."