I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters

Warning: Lemon

Chapter 6

Not What You Were Expecting

"I'm seeing it but I'm still having a hard time believing it," Lucy Heartfilia muttered lowly, the busty teen's brown eyes glued to her open bathroom.

"You're not the only one Lucy; I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it as well," Fairy Tail's Titania, Erza Scarlet, commented as she too stared into her teammates bathroom, a ghost of a smile present on her beautiful features.

"You know I can hear you guys right?" The target of their gazes, Natsu Dragneel, shot them an aggravated glare, not at all appreciating how they ogled him as if he was an animal in a zoo. The pink haired fire mage was currently in the middle of buttoning up his black and red flannel shirt. To complete the outfit he wore a pair of tight black jeans, which he had tucked into his boots. Hanging around his shoulders was a black tie and underneath his shirt, wrapped around his waist, was his father's scarf. Appearances rarely mattered to Natsu, but even he had to admit that he looked good for his evening out with his girlfriend. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard right: Natsu Dragneel going on a date.

"I still say he forced her into it. How else cold flame brain possibly get someone like her to…?" Before Gray could finish his statement, a fist courtesy of Natsu connected with his jaw that sent him hurdling into the wall behind him. The force of the impact was great enough to leave a body outline with a series of cracks spreading out in every direction. So accustomed to her teammates acts of physical violence towards one another that usually ended with the wanton destruction of something (or everything) in their general area, Lucy didn't even flinch at the damage done to her apartment. Rather than stress herself out over the damage done, the blonde simply took to planning out which job on the request board would pay for the repairs as well as practice the inevitable speech she would give to tell her landlady explaining how her wall now had a body print on it.

Standing on his feet in his signature pose, the Ice-Make wizard readied himself to retaliate but came to an immediate pause when he felt the temperature in the room fluctuate from scorching hot to bone chillingly cold.

"Gray…"Erza, who situated herself on Lucy's bed, crossed her arms and switched one leg to the other in impatience. Wearing a glare that seemed to peer into one's very soul, she made no move to hinder his next action but spoke with such volume and authority that it was evident that if he were continue, pain and suffering would befall him. Gray did not have to be a genius to know that she was glaring a hole in the side of his head; he could practically feel her eyes boring into his skull.

On the other end of the room, Natsu growled at his rival in contempt. He had wanted to continue his assault and pound the callous ice mage into the floorboards but he found himself stymied by his fellow, and favorite, dragon slayer. "Thanks Wendy," he said with a warm smile brining a blush to spread over the young Sky Maiden's cheeks.

"It's no problem at all. You wouldn't want to look dirty for Yukino-san," she reminded him, flashing him her own charming smile which soothe him of his earlier anger.

"Hehehe, good point." Gently ruffling her hair, he stepped back into the bathroom. For a brief period, he thought about styling his hair differently but decided it was fine as is, remembering a comment Yukino had made about his hair was one of things she liked about him. Shifting focus, he tried his hand at tying his tie but quickly grew frustrated at how hard it was.

After watching her partner fail his fourth attempt and nearly sear the tie out of anger, Lucy took it upon herself to help him. The years of watching her mother do the task for her father paid off as she effortlessly tied the tie in the time it took him to blink. Sighing in relief, Natsu smiled down at her. "Thanks Luce, the thing was a nightmare."

"Mmm hmmm, just make sure you behave yourself tonight and that you treat Yukino like a princess. Don't give me a reason to kick your ass. Got it?" To drive her point across she pulled on his tie with enough force to bring him down to her eye level, nearly choking him in the process. A lone bead of sweat trickled down Natsu's nape. Spending so much time around Erza and Mirajane prompted Lucy to develop her own glare, one that easily matched those possessed by the two most fearsome females in Fairy Tail, if not all of Fiore. Acknowledging how far she had come in the battle against Tartaros and how dedicated she was to the promises she made, either they be to someone else or herself, Natsu didn't have a doubt in his mind that she would follow through with her threat. Keeping that in mind, Natsu swallowed the growing lump in his throat before slowly nodding in understanding.

"Gotcha."

"Good, now get outta here before you miss your train. Tell Yukino I said 'Hi!'." Heading for the door, Natsu looked back and smiled when he saw Lucy, Erza, Wendy, Carla and Happy all smiling and giving nods of encouragement. Even Gray smiled and wished him luck in the form of a thumbs up but that would quickly morph into a sneer and his middle finger respectively. Scowling, Natsu mentally cursed the ice mage before taking off in a sprint towards the train station.

It would take less than half an hour before Natsu arrived at the station and boarded the train. As much as he abhorred riding the mechanical terror, and as much as he wished his body hadn't built up an immunity to Wendy's Troia, Natsu would put up with it all if it meant that he could see Yukino's angelic smile. He just hoped for both of their sakes that he could keep control of his gastric system long after the train departed; otherwise, their first date would end even before it began.

"Sometimes I hate you Igneel…"

"I…I don't know. It looks fine but…Oh I just can't decide!" Standing in front of a vanity mirror modeling a tasteful teal sundress was the calling card of Sabertooth, Yukino Agria. The normally composed wizard of the Zodiac was currently beside herself on what to wear on her first date with Natsu Dragneel. She knew he cared little about her outward appearance but she wanted to make an impression on him. "Minerva-sama, what do you think? Does this look good to you?" Frowning she requested an outside opinion. Granted the dress made her look cute, it wasn't quite what she was aiming for.

Hearing the younger female's question brought the former guild master's daughter close to the tipping point. If she were made to comment for the umpteenth on an outfit that in her opinion was acceptable, Minerva was certain she would start pulling out her hair than use her magic to transport herself to a far out place in order to keep herself from inflicting bodily harm on the silver haired Celestial Mage. When she had agreed to help Yukino prepare for her date with Natsu Dragneel, words she thought she would never live to hear spoken, she didn't anticipate having to go through several mind-numbing hours having to listen to the girl's incessant whining. Since returning to the former number one guild in Fiore, Yukino had become cool-headed and confident, a drastic change from the girl that just a few months ago was forced to prostrate herself in front of her peers and then promptly excommunicated after losing only once in the Grand Magic Games. Going on that Minerva thought the day would go on without a hitch, but she soon found out how wrong she was. The ox-tailed woman liked the kind and soft-spoken Yukino. Since her return to Sabertooth after the ordeal with Tartaros was resolved, the two had struck up a budding friendship; a friendship that the old Minerva would have scoffed at in disdain and labeled as weak and pitiful. In the months that followed, the two had become close friends thanks in part to Minerva changing her approach to life. But even with everything that they had been through together and the older woman's overall change for the better, Minerva's patience for all things menial was still short, especially when it came to watching her guild mate stress herself out over something as simple as choosing clothes.

'It's time I put an end to this,' the Territory Mage thought determinedly.

While Minerva busied herself, Yukino stood in front of her mirror, swinging her hips back and forth and performing different poses. She really liked the dress she wore and didn't want to give up on just yet. Sadly, though, it too was discarded, joining the rest of its fallen companions that failed to reach her expectations. Standing in her satin bra and panties, Yukino turned around to face Minerva, remembering that she never answered her question. Expecting to see her still sitting on her bed with her strained smile, Yukino instead found the female rummaging through her closet.

"Ah, Minerva-sama?" she asked timidly.

"One minute Yukino," Minerva called out, rifling through the large assortment of clothing. 'Got to admit she has some good taste. Some of these I wouldn't mind borrowing from her. I don't know why she's running herself ragged like this, she looks good in just about anything. Not as good as me, but still…' she thought with a smirk. Finding what she was looking for, her lips spread to form a broad grin. 'Yes, this will do just nicely.'

From an outside perspective, Yukino Agria seemed like a very sweet girl possessing an innocent and somewhat naïve demeanor. One would be right seeing that anything topic that bordered on a sexual nature usually had the woman blushing more shades of red than one would think was possible. However, in the cruelest form of irony, despite Yukino's agitated stance on anything sexual, the girl was one of the most revealing females in the guild. Short skirts, low cut tops, mini dresses…the list goes on. It was no secret that she had no qualms with wearing outfits that accentuated her voluptuous figure, drawing the attention of every hot-blooded male around her. Whether it was by conscious decision or not, it didn't change the fact that even though Yukino was one of the purest souls in the guild, she was also the most sinfully attractive member in the eyes of the opposite sex. And it seemed that she didn't even know it.

'Well, its time to test that,' Minerva thought conspiratorially.

Sauntering out of the closet, the raven-haired beauty held out an outfit that Yukino recognized all too well. Minerva was careful on choosing an outfit that ventured out beyond the woman's comfort zone to draw out her sex appeal but not so much to make her uncomfortable. The goal was to catch the eye of the Salamander, a person so oblivious that if the sun were to blow up he wouldn't even notice until the following day. Here is to hoping that the shorthaired bombshell could do that impossible.

"Minerva-sama, isn't that…"

"The perfect outfit. Yeah I know." She finished proudly. "Just try it on! I promise you, if you wear this, he'll be eating out of the palm of your hand. Or maybe you'd prefer he'd place his mouth somewhere else perhaps," she lightheartedly teased. It took considerable effort for Minerva not to break out into hysterics at seeing the one other Celestial Mage in existence blush a scarlet red and mutter out unintelligible gibberish. It wasn't until the flustered female forcibly threw her out into the hallway of her apartment complex and swiped the clothes from her hand that Minerva finally gave in to her bouts of laughter. Clutching her one hand over her stomach, she used the other to stay balanced against the wall.

"That's not funny, Minerva-san! That's not funny at all!" Yukino didn't know how to feel. Embarrassed? Frustrated? A mixture of both along with countless other emotions.

"I'm sorry Yukino, but if you were in my shoes and you saw your expression just now, you'd know how funny this is!" Minerva continued to laugh, not at all caring about the looks she was receiving from people walking past her in the hallway.

Pouting, Yukino chose to ignore her friend's guffaws and return her focus on getting dressed. When she finally finished, a smile filled with nostalgia graced itself on her lips. Standing in front of her full-length mirror, her eyes roamed her body from top to bottom, finding solace in her outfit. She wore the same white blouse and skirt during the Grand Magic Games. The only thing missing was her long feathered cloak, the temperature outside much too hot for its use. Without the offending garment, much more of her skin could be seen including her shoulders, her long toned legs and, most noticeable of all, her ample and substantial cleavage.

"It's simple enough for a date I guess. And it shows more skin then what I'm used to without my cloak, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it." 'I hope Natsu-san does as well.'

Choosing to forgo her thigh high boots, she slipped her feet into a pair of stylish heels with a strap, and then finished the outfit off with a blue choker as opposed to her white one. Fixing her treasured blue flower ornament in her hair, she grabbed a small blue jacket and her purse. Satisfied with her appearance and with high hopes, she went for the door. Curious as to where her laughing friend had gone, Yukino poked her head out into the hallway and sighed in relief when she didn't see any sign of Minerva. Assuming the older female had grown tired and left for the guild, Yukino exited her apartment with a smile and a bounce in her step. Once she descended the final step of her apartment complex and walked out onto the sidewalk, Yukino nearly fell over when she saw not only the missing Minerva but also the rest of her guild mates standing outside, each person wearing a smile.

"M-m-mina?!"

"We came to see you off! Knock him dead Yukino!" Lector encouraged, his small fist thrust in the air.

"Bye-bye Yukino!" said the absent-minded Frosch.

"You look ravishing as always Yukino-san," Rufus bowed with his hat in hand.

"A straight knock out," Orga agreed.

"Have a great time with Natsu-san," Sting smiled shakily, keeping back his growing frustrations of his idol practically laying claim to both Celestial Spirit Mages.

Yukino opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a stoic faced Rogue.

"If he tries anything with you that you don't like or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, let us know. Sting and I will gladly teach him how to respect a mage of Sabertooth," Rogue commented seriously, his red eyes glaring into her own brown ones. The intensity of his gaze caused a bead of sweat to drop down Yukino's temple out of anxiety.

Feeling a sharp elbow jab into his side forced Rogue to turn his attention to a smirking Minerva. "Please, this is Salamander we're talking about. Do you really think that he of all people would force Yukino into something she wasn't comfortable doing? And as if you two could do anything to him in the first place. Must I remind you of how he effortlessly beat you two in the Games; while you were in Dragon Force I might add?" Having their defeat by the hands of one man thrown in their face brought a dark cloud of depression to settle over the Twin Dragons' heads.

Despite his courteous nature and tendency to avoid conflict, Rufus found the opportunity to rub salt in old wounds too great to pass up. Besides, what kind of a person would he be if he didn't take a shot at his friend's expense every once in a while. A bad friend, that's what.

"As a matter of fact, I do have memory of that fight. It was quite an exhilarating spectacle if I do recall. Embarrassing, though, but entertaining nonetheless."

The weight of shame on Sting and Rogue's shoulders seemed to have doubled if not tripled. If Rufus of all people was taking shots at them, they must have really fouled up.

Seeing her dear friends in such a melancholy state with the others laughing around them, the lone exception being their loyal feline companions brought out Yukino's compassionate nature. The need to care for them until they felt better was strong but she realized that if she didn't leave right now, she would miss her train and her date. Sting and Rogue were grown and could handle themselves perfectly fine. It was all right to leave them to suffer for just one day right. That didn't make her a bad person. Right?

"Thank you all for coming and saying such sweet things, really, but I must go. And please stop being mean to Sting-sama and Rogue-sama!" she called out, already running down the street and waving at him in goodbye. Waving in return, the others smiled warmly. It touched their hearts to see Yukino in such high spirits and full of confidence after what the guild had put her through not too long ago. They couldn't help but snicker at the thought that maybe her rambunctious boyfriend played some part in all of it. They wouldn't have to ponder on those thoughts for too long, though, when the atmosphere around them became saturated with magical power. Slowly turning their heads, they all swallowed a collective gulp. Standing before them, cloaked in their respective element of light and darkness was Sting and Rogue, both mages having activated their Dragon Force. The bloodlust that filled their visions brought Rufus, Orga and even Minerva to shrink in on themselves. They ought to have known that it was never a good idea to anger a dragon, let alone two.

Once she arrived at the train station Yukino bought her ticket and stood at the platform, anxiously awaiting her date. Her head swiveled from left to right in the hopes of spotting her overzealous boyfriend among the crowd of people. Her eyes scanned for any sign of him but to her immense disappointment, she found no sign of him. No pink hair; no loud yelling; no smoke or cries of indignation emanating from an area having suffered collateral damage. Nothing at all to indicate that he had arrived. When several minutes passed, Yukino held a sinking feeling in her stomach as well as in her heart.

"Maybe he missed his train?" she muttered under breathe, trying her best to sound hopeful. Inwardly, however, she was a on the precipice of tears as thoughts of Natsu possibly changing his mind and other equally heartbreaking scenarios ran rampant in her head. Feeling put out, Yukino closed her eyes and lowered her head, not wanting anyone to see her in such a state. When she opened them, what she saw surprised her more than anything for instead of seeing her feet along with the cold and depressing gray of the concrete, three pink roses filled her vision instead. Trailing the appendage to its owner, who was wearing red and black flannel that fitted them perfectly, Yukino felt a smile spread across her pretty face and blood quickly rush to her cheeks. The tears that had threatened to fall dried away almost instantly once her orbs caught sight of the blinding smile only the man she adored could pull off.

"Sorry I'm late. I got here half an hour ago and was waiting for you but I suddenly remembered something Loke said. Something about giving a girl flowers on a date, so I went to buy some but the guy selling them only had pink, white and yellow left. Then the guy began telling me about each rose and what it stood for or whatever and before I knew it, it was almost time for the train to leave, so I just went with my gut." Scratching the back of his hand, he looked at her with hopeful eyes. "I wanted to get you some blue ones because, well, you know…" He gestured to the blue flower in her hair. "…but, I hope you're fine with pink."

Yukino tentatively reached out and took the flowers, gently cradling them in her hands, almost as if she was terrified that they would break apart at the slightest touch. Never before had she received such a gift. Although she rarely went out, Yukino did go out on dates but never had any of her suitors given her flowers. All the flowers she ever owned had been bought with her own money. So being on the receiving end for a change brought a warm feeling to spread over Yukino's body making her smile, knowing that she was falling even deeper for the son of Igneel. Touched by his generosity Yukino stood on the tips of her toes and planted a chaste kiss on his lips. A pair of scarlet blushes adorned the couple's cheeks after she reluctantly separated.

"I love pink. Thank you," she smiled, her voice soft and gentle like cotton.

"Uh…well uh…y-you're welcome. So *cough* are y-you, uh, are you ready to go," Natsu stuttered, his vision shifting from to the beauty in front of him then to whatever was behind her and back again.

"Ufufu, yes I'm ready to go. But first…" Stepping back, Yukino held her hands behind her back, careful not to damage her flowers, and gave Natsu an expectant look. "…how do I look?" Yukino didn't want to sound insecure but she couldn't help but ask of his opinion on her state of dress. It was low to fish for compliments but at the moment she needed some approval. More importantly, it had to be from him. Receiving only silence as a response, worry began to set in. Curiosity eating at her she opened her mouth to speak but he beat her to it.

"Isn't that what you wore during the Grand Magic Games?" he asked, dark eyes peering at her body starting from the ground to the top her mop of silver hair.

A surprised gasps escaped the buxom young woman. 'He remembers?' Finally processing his words, she nodded in confirmation.

"Hehe I thought so. You look as good as you did back then. It really suits you, especially without that long furry thing around you," the fire dragon slayer confessed, bashfully turning his head away towards the end, hoping she did not see the color forming on his cheeks, also to prevent his eyes from wandering south and away from Yukino's face. 'Do all Celestial Mages like showing off their boobs?'

Despite her boyfriend's struggle with his conscious about whether he could trust himself to look at her without sneaking a peak at her perky assets, Yukino was on cloud nine. She had assumed that he hadn't paid her any attention during the Games except for the one time she fought and their meeting in the streets of Crocus after her conversation with Lucy regarding her keys to the Zodiac. Happy tears pricked the corners of her eyes as her heart filled with emotion knowing that she was not the only one glancing from a distant, he too was looking her way. Cradling the small batch of his roses close to her ample bosom, she took a quick sniff, a smile as sweet as sugar gracing her lips. Grasping his hand, effectively pulling him from his less than innocent thoughts, Yukino showed him coy smile while leading him onto the train, keeping enough distance between them to let him to see the alluring sway of her curvy hips as she walked.

"Thank you. Now I'm ready, come on." Flashing a grin, Natsu stroked his thumb on the back of her hand and boarded the train, following her into their cabin. To his credit, he was able to retain his motor skills and cognitive processing up until he felt the sudden shift of the train, the mechanical marvel departing from the station. Fortunately, for him, he had a girlfriend that doubled as an angel both in beauty and in generosity. Lumbering towards her, he flopped himself onto her lap, a long pleasurable groan leaving his lips the second he felt her firm thighs beneath his cranium and her small fingers raking through his mess of 'salmon' colored hair.

"Sorry about this," he weakly apologized, gulping down a potentially devastating upchuck of what he had for breakfast this morning. Lucy and Erza had beat it into him, one figuratively the other literally, about why it was never acceptable to vomit on a girl's cute clothes.

"Its fine Sting-sama and Rogue-sama act the same way, so I'm used to dealing with motion sickness." Yukino felt Natsu violently fidget in her lap causing her whole body to stir. "B-But, I-I don't do this for them. I promise." Feeling his body relax, she could not help but giggle at how childish he could be at times. Sometimes she would wonder if her friends were onto something whenever they asked what exactly she saw in the man to have her fall for him as she did. She dismissed those thoughts as quickly as they came, however, because Yukino knew exactly why she had fallen hard. It wasn't the big things that drew her to him but rather the small things and those made the biggest impact. Her reasons were her own and nobody would change them.

'I'm just grateful that he returned my feelings in the end. If he hadn't…' She shook her head, derailing her mind from traveling down such a negative train of thought. Lowering her head, she smiled demurely at seeing the napping male in her lap, her brown eyes shimmering with raw emotion. 'I can't believe it's been over two weeks since we got together. I have to thank Mirajane-sama for her help.'

*Flashback*

The Fairy Tail guild had faced many enemies in the past century of its founding but none came close to the formidable might of Tartaros, a guild solely operated by the demonic beings brought into existence by the black wizard, Zeref. The Nine Demons delivered a level of suffering and carnage that had yet to be witnessed in the history of Fiore, their power displayed in terrifying fashion as a single member from within their ranks single handedly destroyed the Magic Council by murdering a vast majority of its figures in an afternoon. Refusing to accept such maliciousness to go undeterred, Fairy Tail resolved to stop the guild, the injuries done to its own in the form of Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe only fueling their righteous fury. However, things would not go nearly as smoothly as they would have hoped. Some of their strongest members had been absconded with back to demons' floating fortress in the sky, leaving those on the ground to worry, adding on to the increasing frustration each person felt as Tartaros seemed to be one step ahead of them every step of the way. Just when they all thought they would have a fighting chance after the brilliant Levy located the demons' headquarters, their own guild was destroyed in the process by their own, a mage stricken with guilt but also determination. Surely, this enemy was their polar opposite on the universal spectrum. Tartaros was as evil as they were cunning and manipulative. However, that did not mean that Fairy Tail stood no chance of winning.

Taking advantage of Tartaros's overconfidence in itself, the Fairies launched a full frontal assault, courtesy of their three courageous Exceeds. Much to the demons' shock, the fight was not only on the outside but also on the inside as Natsu, Erza and the Strauss sisters each escaped from their bondage, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake inside the giant cube. Although the tides of war had shifted to an equal playing field, each member of Fairy Tail found himself or herself subjected to some form of suffering. Either it be torture of the physical or psychological level, it made no difference, the pain was all the same. The memories of a time one chooses never to relive let alone recollect. Once again losing a loved one, once thought to be gone long ago; or personally having a hand in their demise of a close friend. The pain was all too real, but they pushed on regardless for this was a battle they could not afford to lose as the future of the continent of Fiore rested on the guild's shoulders. Their best efforts were matched effortlessly and at times, it would seem that the unwavering determination and belief in each other's strength that stood as the cornerstone of Fairy Tail would not be enough to overpower the monstrously powerful and malign Tartaros. And if things couldn't possibly become more grievous, the creature that had caused the massive amounts of pain for seven long years appeared on the battlefield, raining death and destruction in its wake as if it were second nature.

The overall morale, which had been on a meteoric rise since the invasion, had now cratered. Despair and desperation swept through each member of Fairy Tail. Even with the aid of Sabertooth's twin dragons, they still stood no chance against the awesome power possessed by an actual dragon. Even the Nine Demons themselves had to feel an inkling of fear when the dragon of the apocalypse arrived for reasons unknown to them.

However, mercy would shine upon the mages of Fairy Tail when the most unlikely of allies sprung forth from the woodwork. The aid given to them in the form of Sting and Rogue held some along with a transformed Minerva (both physically and mentally) helped to a degree. But to combat a beast such as Acnologia the only being to stand even a fraction of a chance to survive would be the former rulers of Ishgar: the dragons themselves. The mighty beast of yore fought valiantly with several laying waste to the thousands of Face bombs across the country and Igneel, the Fire Dragon King, confronting the black winged terror.

In the wend, Tartaros was defeated, Face was destroyed, Acnologia retreated after suffering severe wound, the resurrection of Zeref's ultimate creation, E.N.D., had been thwarted and magic in Fiore was free to reign. In the aftermath that followed, with the guild being destroyed yet again and the emotional toll the battle had on the minds of those who fought, many decisions were left to be made in regards to Fairy Tail. To the guild that had nearly lost everything, one thing for certain had to happen…

"Party time!"

"Go out and be merry my children! Leave the past behind and embrace what comes tomorrow! Today is the start of a new era in Fairy Tail!" The resounding splash that came soon after was received with thunderous cheers and applause, an obvious sign that Fairy Tail was having another one of its infamous parties, this one not even close to hitting its apex.

Lazily floating on the water, letting his diminutive body become a slave to the push and pull of the waves, Master Makarov was grinning like a loon. Nearly a month had passed since the war with Tartaros and the dragon's disappearance. Immediately after the smoke of the battel settled, he noticed the effects the confrontation had on the minds and hearts of his children. He had fully intended to shut the guild down for reason he couldn't yet reveal, but instead he decided to keep its doors open, his children having broken through the cold façade he erected not just for them but also for himself. It would have been the hardest decision he had ever made in his life if he closed Fairy Tail. However, thankfully, the mages he considered his children reminded him that the guild wasn't only a building, but it was a home.

After the reconstruction of the guild was completed, Makarov offered an invitation to Sabertooth to join them for a celebratory party, as show of gratitude for their part in helping them fight the demons of Zeref. Let's just say that Sting could not find a single reason to decline the tempting offer. Upon entering the guild, the Sabertooth mages lost themselves to the maniacal whirlwind of destruction and frivolity that made Fairy Tail infamous. A battle royal raged inside the guild, Sting and Rogue using the opportunity to avenge their loss at the Grand Magic Games, something Natsu and Gajeel welcomed wholeheartedly. As for Yukino and Minerva, the two took to lounging near the pool, the shy celestial wizard accompanied by Lucy, Levy and the Strauss sisters, and the Territory mage enjoying a drink at the bar with the likes of Erza and Evergreen.

"So Yukino, I've always wanted to ask you something." The cheerful bookworm known as Levy McGarden wore an impish smile, her chocolate brown eyes holding pure mischief that brought a cold chill to run down the spine of her target.

"W-what is it Levy-sama?" Yukino responded nervously. She along with Lucy, Levy and Mirajane sat in lawn chairs arranged alongside the pool's edge with the exception of Lisanna who waded in the pool. All were dressed scantily in revealing bikinis that accentuated their heavenly bodies.

"Well~, I was just wondering something. You and Sting are really close, am I right?" The bluenette questioned, throwing her short legs over the side of her chair and leaning in close, the act of which caused Yukino to back away in her seat and nearly drop her tropical drink.

"Y-yes, you can say that," the buxom woman timidly responded, her whole body shaking in the confine of her blue bikini.

"I'm only bringing it up because he seemed really adamant about having you join Sabertooth again, and you two remind me of another dragon slayer, celestial mage duo that I know." Levy's mischievous orbs panned over to the sunbathing female on the other side of Yukino. Sitting up, her large breasts jiggling with her movement, Lucy slowly turned her head and fixed her best friend with a challenging glare.

"What are you getting at Levy?" the aspiring novelist asked, her tone possessing an obvious degree of warning.

"Oooh, I would like to know as well," Mirajane added, wrapping her arms around her legs and pulling them flush against her ample chest all the while rocking anxiously in her seat.

"Me too." Much like her older sister, Lisanna was a sucker for any piece of juicy gossip.

"What I'm getting at is…are you guys an item?" The reaction the four girls received wasn't anything they were expecting. As timid and soft-spoken Yukino was, the exasperated sigh that came from her plus the annoyed glare she shot Levy and the others was something they had not anticipated. Had she picked up more of their traits when they were together than they initially realized? Were they truly a bad influence?

On the opposite end of the pool, Wendy sneezed, the result being her drink falling from her grasp and a lecture at the hands of Carla.

Finishing off the contents of her fruity beverage, Yukino spoke.

"We're just friends and that is as far as it goes. I like Sting-sama but only as friend and nothing more. We are strictly platonic. Nothing is going on between us and nothing ever will. Does that answer your question?" The others physically trembled under her icy stare, Mirajane included. The way she worded her answer in addition to the evident amount of displeasure in her tone made it seem as if this wasn't the first time she had been asked this question. Obviously, the topic of Yukino and Sting's relationship status was one that easily got under her skin. Blushing, Levy felt shameful and embarrassed for bringing up the subject.

"S-sorry I brought it up Yukino. I didn't mean anything by it, it's just that…"

"We look so well together." The deadpanned expression on Yukino's face had Levy feeling even lower.

"I take it this isn't your first time hearing this," Lisanna pointed out, the look-alike climbing out of the pool, water droplets cascading off toned, nubile body. Taking a seat in an open chair, she accepted a towel from her older sister who was listening intently to the conversation.

"More times than you know," sighed Yukino.

"You're not alone sister," Lucy interjected. Meeting her gaze, Yukino could see that Lucy knew exactly what she was going through. To have to put up with the constant teasing from her guild mates along with the endless questions and accusations that fell from the mouths of their fans and/or Sorcerer Weekly. In that moment, the two shared a laugh, finding solace in the knowledge that they weren't suffering alone.

Once she calmed down, Yukino continued.

"Like I said before, Sting-sama and I are only friends. The same goes for Rogue-sama as well," Yukino affirmed the moment she saw Levy's mouth open up midway through her statement. The Script Mage was about to change the topic, seeing as all of her ships had all sunk in one fell swoop, but thought against it when she saw Yukino play with the end of her straw with a small smile and pink tinted cheeks. She wasn't the only one to notice either. "However, I am willing to admit that there is a dragon slayer that I have grown fond of," Yukino confessed.

To say Lucy, Levy, Lisanna and Mirajane were thrown for a loop would be putting it mildly. As excited as the group of girls were to discover that Yukino had a crush, the identity of the mystery man was still up for debate and each candidate seemed less likely as the list went down. Eliminating Sting and Rogue from contention, the first person that came to mind was Gajeel but it couldn't be him seeing how the iron dragon slayer and Yukino never formerly met. The same principle applied to Laxus and Cobra, the latter being automatically disqualified because as far as any of them knew, neither he nor Yukino knew the other existed. Wendy was much too young and was a female at that leaving the only candidate left to be Natsu Dragneel. But it couldn't possibly be him, right? Right?

"Oh my God, you like Natsu!" Too shocked by the newfound revelation to realize her folly, Levy yelled out. Her words caught the attention of almost everyone around them. Yukino buried her face in her palms, too embarrassed to utter a word and too afraid to meet the inquisitive and more than amused expressions of her peers.

"Levy!" Lucy scolded her best friend but it held little authority behind it thanks in part to the blush on her face and giggles she failed to keep at bay.

"Sorry, sorry! It just slipped out!" the petite bluenette defended.

"It's fine Levy-san. There's no need for you to apologize." Levy wanted to believe her but since Yukino's face was still hidden in her palms, refusing to look at anyone let alone her, it was proving quite difficult.

"So it's true then," Lucy asked. Refusing to look up, Yukino nodded in confirmation eliciting a squeal from Mirajane that nearly drove the other's deaf.

"I knew it! Well sort of. I always figured that Natsu had stolen the heart of a celestial spirit mage." Her vibrant blue eyes darted to Lucy who turned away to hide her oncoming blush. "I just expected said mage to be more domestic." 'And blonde.' "But this is still amazing. So when do you plan on telling him Yukino?"

"I think the question that needs to be asked is if she's going to tell him." Every girl except Yukino, whose face burned a brighter shade of red after recognizing who it was, turned her attention to the owner of the voice. Sporting her trademark haughty smirk and modeling a sexy dark blue sling bikini was Minerva Orland. Standing beside the ace of Sabertooth was the Queen of the Fairies herself looking equally ravishing in her own sexy black two-piece.

"Why wouldn't she tell him?" This question was on everybody's mind.

"To put it simply, she's too nervous. Not to mention inexperienced," Minerva laughed.

"I do have experience! I've been on dates before," Yukino defended, her anger and courage rising.

Raising a polka dot like eyebrow Minerva passed on. "Oh I believe you, but when was your last date? What is the furthest point you've ever reached on a date? Have you ever taken him back to your place? Have you ever kissed your date? Held hands? Matter of fact, have you ever been kissed?" Yukino's silence and radiant blush was all the answer Minerva needed. "Exactly my point. if you want to get anywhere with Salamander, you need to be more assertive. For someone like you, you need to make him want you."

"I agree with Minerva. Natsu is one of the most observant members of the guild when it comes to others, but on matters regarding himself he's oblivious. You cannot beat around the bush with him. A straightforward approach is needed if you wish to pursue a r-r-relationship with him," Erza proclaimed drawing looks of confusion at her stuttering towards the end.

"Erza's right. Oh, you can cook him something before you tell him. Everyone knows the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Lucy said, tossing in her own two cents.

"But that may not be enough. This is Natsu we're talking about," Lisanna informed the shorter female.

"That's why I say you should make him pursue you. Make him confess to you, not the other way around." Minerva stood by her proposal.

"You're all wrong! Yukino just needs to show some backbone. Just walk up to him and-"

"What, head butt him!"

"I'm sorry Levy, can you repeat that."

"Wait a minute you guys, Yukino just wants to confess to Natsu, not marry him," Lucy interjected only to be ignored by the group who was now in a heated debate about whose idea was best. Watching the ordeal take place had Yukino feeling flustered and terrified. 'If I had known that they would react in such a way, I wouldn't have said anything.' Despite her attempts, Lucy couldn't sooth the situation into a more peaceful atmosphere; rather she too was swept up into the argument.

Seeing it was up to her to nullify their anger, Yukino stood up to speak but felt herself be swiftly pulled away from the now hostile females. She would cringe when she saw an ignorant Max take a blow to the stomach, courtesy of Erza, and fall into the pool, the sand mage sinking like a stone.

Pulling her head forward, Yukino's vision was filled with the sight of flowing white hair. Her anxiety was quelled almost instantly because there was only one other person besides her sister who had hair like that. Finally stopping behind the shed where the guild kept its pool equipment, Mirajane and Yukino each breathed a sigh of relief. For the younger woman it was quite the surprise to her that Mirajane had been the one to pull her away after listening to Lucy and Levy, the two describing the beautiful barmaid/model as the biggest gossiper and matchmaker in the guild. She had assumed that the woman before her would be amongst the arguing females, if not its epicenter, not her savior. Though shocking it might be, Yukino, for the moment, was very grateful for the save.

"Thank you Mirajane-sama. I'm sorry I caused all of this," Yukino meekly apologized, bowing at the same time.

"There's nothing for you to apologize for."

"But everyone…"

"Needs to mind their own business. It's fine if they want to give advice, but it's up to you if you choose to accept it. They were wrong in trying to force you to do something that you aren't completely comfortable doing. If you want to confess to Natsu, it's your choice. If not, that's fine as well. You'll figure it out on your own time; don't let others bully you into it. Ok?" Mira smiled, her words striking a cord in Yukino.

"B-But, I-I do…I do want to confess to Natsu-san," she mumbled. In order to keep Mirajane from seeing her face resemble a neon sign, Yukino kept her head hung low. "But, Minerva-sama was right. I don't have any experience with something like this and I am nervous. Whenever he's around, it feels like my mouth is stuffed with cotton and I can't speak. And even if I did have the courage to tell him, I doubt he'd feel the same towards me."

Mirajane frowned at seeing her sister's doppelganger look so sullen. Since meeting the younger mage, Mirajane had felt a strange need to protect her. Whether her protective nature over the girl stemmed from the fact that she resembled her little sister or because at the time she was a person in need of some well needed comforting and a shoulder to cry on, Mirajane didn't care. As far as she knew, Yukino was someone that she would drop whatever she was doing to come to the aid of.

"Yukino you need to give yourself more credit. You're beautiful, smart, caring…feel free to stop me at any time." Yukino giggled finding her flattering pleasing. "A lot of guys would be lucky to have someone like you and many others who would kill to be in Natsu's shoes. And who's to say he rejects you? Natsu might just be surprise you with his answer."

Yukino's feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt slowly melted away with each word coming out of Mirajane's mouth. For months, she had assumed that Natsu would turn away her confession, that being the reason of her hesitation to act, but in the span of less than five minutes Mirajane had opened her eyes to the possibility that she was too stubborn and pitiful to realize.

"Mirajane-san…thank you…I really needed to hear that." Wiping away a few stray emotional tears, Yukino felt her body move. Realization soon hit her when she felt a pair of slender arms wrapped around her back and a soft pressure on her boobs.

"Anytime Yukino. Remember, you deserve to be happy too. Don't let your fears keep you from something you want."

"Hmmm." Yukino could only hum in reply, too comfortable in the hug as it reminded her of a mother's love.

"Yo, are you guys ok?" The two beauties quickly detached from one another and turned to the voice, both reacting differently when they saw who it was. For Mirajane she gave a small smile and blushed, her blue eyes shimmering with playfulness causing the individual to look at her with an eyebrow raised in confusion. For Yukino, the world stopped. When they turned their head to greet her, she felt her heart nearly jump out of her chest the moment her gaze met their onyx colored eyes. The thousand-watt smile they wore had Yukino's knees buckle under her weight but thankfully, she was able to stay leveled by leaning against the door of shed. Mira's amused giggle brought her a desperate look to keep her mouth shut.

"We're fine Natsu, thanks for asking though," Mira smiled at him, the dragon slayer crossing his hands over his chest. "What brings you back here?"

"No problem. Oh, I came to get Happy's water wings. You sure you're ok Yukino. Your face is really red. Wait right here, I'll get Wendy." Pivoting on his foot, Natsu was ready to retrieve the preteen.

"No!" Startled, Natsu turned back around. He looked to Mirajane for answer only to have her shake her head and point back to the scarlet faced Sabertooth mage. "I-I mean I'm fine. Sorry I yelled."

"Nah, don't worry about. But if you don't feel well, let her know ok. Don't want you getting sick on us, huh."

"Th-thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

"Hehehe cool."

"So, Natsu, you said you were getting Happy's water wings right?" Mira asked.

"Huh, oh yeah, little guy can't swim without them. Imagine that, he can float in the air but sinks like a stone in water," he laughed. Even Yukino found it to be humorous, her harmonious laughs causing a small but noticeable blush to appear on Natsu's face. Though Yukino was too busy giggling to see it, Mirajane did. Letting an impish smirk spread across her lips, she devised a plan to help the shy mage reach her goal.

"Well, isn't that something. Yukino came here looking for water wings too. For cute little Frosch. I would show her where they are but since you're here why don't you do it," Mira said. Eyes widening to the size of dinner plates, Yukino looked to Mira with an expression filled with hurt and betrayal. To her great fortune, Natsu hadn't noticed.

"Yeah sure thing!"

"Thanks, Natsu. You know with you being so nice, it's a wonder a girl hasn't scooped you up yet. Well, the day isn't over yet, so there's still hope." Mirajane ignored the pleading gaze Yukino was sending her way.

"Uh, thanks I guess?" he said, failing to connect the dots Mirajane had strewn out. Passing it off as one of Mirajane's weird quirks, Natsu made his way to the shed. When he walked past Yukino, he flashed he a dazzling smile that brought a bright blush to color her pretty face. When Natsu turned his back, Mirajane hurried behind Yukino.

"Remember, don't be afraid. He won't bite." Yukino wanted to protest, to say that she wasn't mentally ready, but before she could speak her mind, she was shoved through the open door, courtesy of Natsu holding it open for her.

"I'll see you guys back at the pool. Don't take too long now," the beautiful model sang, her voice dripping with amusement. Watching the door close, Mirajane left, content with how things turned out. However, having some insurance was never a bad thing to have.

"How long does she think we'll be in here? She can be weird like Lucy. Well, the water wings are over here Yukino. Huh, Yukino?"

Like a statue in a fine art museum, Yukino stood completely still with her back facing Natsu. Her eyes were glazed over and out of focus as she stared down at her sandal clad feet but at the same time, she wasn't. Her lips were moving but whatever she was saying was too low for him to hear. Confused, Natsu called out to her but received only more incomprehensible muttering. Determined, Natsu walked over to her and reached out to touch her shoulder in order to grab her attention. However, when he did, she turned around, and the result that followed was one neither of them anticipated.

'Wh-what do I say? Do I confess to him now or do I work up to that? What if he already likes someone? What if he's already dating someone?' These were the thoughts that were bouncing around inside of Yukino's mind. She was an absolute nervous wreck. Though she was grateful that Mirajane was nice enough to help her in her endeavors towards love, she wished the Take-Over mage would have given her more of a heads up. Some time to plan what to do and say would have sufficed, but instead she was thrust into the lion's den without warning. Inwardly, Yukino had to laugh at the irony of her cowardice. Here she was a mage who would without fear or hesitation do battle with beings possessing unimaginable and even terrifying powers; be it other powerful mages, dragons, or even her own celestial spirits. However, when it came to talking to her crush, any courage she had fell apart at the seams.

'Remember, you deserve to be happy too. Don't let your fears keep you from something you want.'

The wise words of Mirajane echoed in her mind and with it came a rush of determination. There was no reason to feel scared. Although she didn't know him as well as the others, from what she had discerned from their time fighting together in the labyrinth underneath the capital city Crocus, Yukino knew that Natsu wasn't the type of person to rudely reject someone. Well, not on purpose he would. As kind as he was, it was a safe bet that he would turn her down as quickly, and awkwardly, as possible in an attempt to save her feelings. It was that trait, along with many others, that attracted her to him.

'Mirajane-sama was right. There's no need for me to be afraid. I just need to look him in the eyes and tell him how I feel. Even if he doesn't reciprocate my feelings, I know he'll never truly reject me.' Full of conviction, Yukino spun around on her heel, ready to spill her guts. However, whatever grit she was able to drudge up disappeared when Natsu, who had reached out to her, accidently pulled the top of her bikini to the side, her unrestricted boob now covered by the rough and calloused palm of his hand and not the triangular clothe.

Both mages eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and each wore a blush so bright they could easily be mistaken for traffic lights. Too stunned to move, Yukino simply stared down at the large hand groping one of her most private and sensitive areas. In Natsu's case, only one thought crossed his mind.

'Soft.' He didn't know what egged him to do it but he gave an experimental squeeze, a growing fascination towards the pliable mass of flesh. His interest piqued when he felt something small and hard poke into hand but he wouldn't get the time to savor it when a foot slammed into his stomach, jettisoning him into the wall. Dazed and confused, it took Natsu a few seconds to get back on his feet. Taking in deep breathes to refill his lungs and gently massaging the bruise that was surely growing on his abdomen, he looked up and what he saw made him feel more ashamed than any time in his life.

Crouched into a ball with her arms crossed protectively over her chest, Yukino struggled to keep the tears at bay. To her it was as if the universe was doing whatever it could to make her look like a fool and feel low about herself. All she wanted to do was express her inner feelings and, if a little luck, obtain a boyfriend in the process. Was that too much to ask?

While she shook in anxiety, her right breast now hidden beneath her top but missing the warmth of his hand, Yukino failed to notice Natsu walking towards her. It wasn't until she heard a soft thump that she looked up to find him on his knees, bowing with his head touching the ground less than a foot away from her knees.

"I'm sorry!" The volume of his voice startled her. "I didn't mean to touch you there! I really didn't. You were spacing out and…I'm sorry. I can understand it if you hate me."

Staring at him, Yukino didn't know what to feel. Rogue had done the same thing to her some weeks back, and though she was flustered then as she was now, the feelings coursing through her body were plentiful. She knew there was no perversion behind his actions. It was simply an accident, so there was no need for her to be angry. Quite the contrary actually because instead off frustration, the emotion Yukino felt was something much stronger and yet on the opposite end of the spectrum. It was love.

"Natsu-san…you don't have to apologize, I know it was an accident. Besides…if it's you…I don't mind."

"Eh?" Natsu heard her, but he refused to believe the words that just left her mouth. Whenever the same incident happened with any of his other female guild mates, most notably Lucy or Erza, the dragon slayer most often then naught found himself on the receiving end of a brutal beating, and on just by the hands of a lone female. Oh no, sometimes it was a coordinated team effort. Therefore, to hear the words 'I don't mind' come out of the mouth of a woman he had assaulted was something he did not see coming. Neither was the demure expression she wore on her face that brought Natsu's cheeks to develop a pink tint.

"I said…I don't mind since it's you. I know you didn't mean anything by it, right?" She looked at him expecting an answer.

"Y-Yeah, an accident. Hehe," he chuckled. Though it was the truth, he couldn't sound convincing to save his life. For whatever reason, his body felt hot. His heart was beating faster than usual, his body felt sweaty, his mouth was dry and for the life of him, he couldn't shake the memory of how great her breasts felt in the palm of his hand. The memory had him subconsciously flex his fingers, groping at nothing but the air; however, he could still feel the soft malleable texture of her skin against his.

"Natsu-san…can I ask you a question…"

"It felt awesome!" Gaping at his outburst, Natsu turned his attention to the flood, finding the wood grain surprisingly interesting. It wasn't until he heard the sounds of harmonious giggling that he dared to look up.

"Ufufu, I'm glad to hear that," Yukino smiled.

"Sorry, I just…"

"It's fine. I'm not mad, Natsu-san. Rather…" Yukino sat beside him and leaned her head onto his shoulder, surprising both Natsu and herself at her boldness, but she would venture on. "Natsu-san…have you…ever been in love?"

Natsu peered down at the crown of her head for a split second, confusion written on his face. He wasn't at all uncomfortable with her closeness but he still chose the view of his sandal clad feet before speaking.

"Well, I love everybody. Igneel, Happy, Lucy, Erza, Mira…I sort of like Gray, more like tolerate I guess. I also like…"

"No, no. What you feel for them is indeed love, but that's not what I meant. Have you ever wanted to be with someone…romantically?"

"You mean, like, kissing and handing holds?" asked Natsu.

"Mmhmm."

"Oh, then no." The bluntness of his answer caused Yukino's mood to drop considerably making her next move all the more nerve wracking. "But, there is someone that's been on my mind recently. Can't really explain it, but she's all I've been able to think about since the whole Tartaros thing."

"Oh, do I know her?" Yukino questioned.

"Hahaha you do, pretty well actually."

"Is she pretty?"

"Yep."

"Is she a Celestial Wizard?"

"Right again." Gaining a clear image in her mind, Yukino knew who the mystery girl was: Lucy. It only made sense; the two were members of the same guild and were partners no less. Lucy had told her that Natsu was the one responsible for her even being in Fairy Tail and her motivation for wanting to be a better wizard, his knack for protecting others and drive to grow stronger being something she admired, Yukino as well. Although she was happy for her good friend, it didn't keep her heart from shattering in her chest.

"I see. Well, I'm sure you and Lucy-sama will be very happy together." Certain she had her answer, Yukino moved away from him, already missing his comforting heat, but a hand wrapping around her wrist made her stop.

"I never said it was Lucy…"

"Eh? B-But, you said she was a Celestial Wizard. She's the only one in your guild who uses that kind of magic."

"True, but she's not the only Celestial Wizard in the world. There are still more out there. I actually met one a few months back. I was kind of a jerk to her at first because she was a member of a guild that made fun of Fairy Tail. You remember Sabertooth right. Yeah, so I went to apologize to her, to tell her I was wrong in how I acted towards her. After I did, she started crying and boy was I scared. She told me how she was down on her luck after she was excommunicated from her guild. I told her that what happened to her had nothing to do with me, but that didn't stop me from kicking the asses of those in her guild because I knew, somebody like her, as sweet and kind and thoughtful as she was, didn't deserve that kind of treatment." Turning his head, Natsu met the tearful gaze of Yukino. Using his thumb, he wiped away both streaks of tears that fell down her flawless face. "I like you Yukino. I really do. Hell, I'm still kicking myself for not fighting to have you join Fairy Tail."

"Wh-Why didn't you?" she choked out, physically restraining herself from crying tears of joy.

"Because I wanted you to choose. Remember, you told me joining Sabertooth was your dream. If you wanted to go back, that was your decision. Aren't you happy there?" he asked.

"Yes. Very much so since Sting-sama became the master," she shyly smiled.

"Yeah, that's still sinking in for me. I mean…him! He's the master? I would have thought Rogue, hell even Minerva. I'm not saying he's a bad choice but…come on!"

"Natsu-sama, are you jealous of Sting?" Yukino teased, pressing her side against his body.

"What! No! Jealous of what? I could become guild master if I wanted to; I just have a lot on my plate." His attempts to save face failed miserably. Falling into a fit of giggles, Yukino fell against the dragon slayer who smirked at seeing her in better spirits. Natsu was far from a trained physician but he felt that laughter was always the best medicine.

"So Yukino let me ask you something. Do you, uh…do you like anyone?" The feeling of her fingers lacing together with his brought color to appear on Natsu's cheeks. When she leant her head onto his shoulder, his heartbeat rocked his entire body, the vibrations of the organ actually visible through his chest if one trained their eyes enough.

"As a matter of fact I do."

"Oh…do I know him."

"Yes, pretty well actually. He's strong, determined and courageous. He's very sweet in his own way. He can come off a little gruff at times, but that plays to his roguish charm. He can be a little thickheaded, and though it can be annoying at times, I find it to be cute."

"Dude sounds like quite a guy," Natsu grumbled irritably, the image of Sting popping up in his mind eliciting a growl from the heated mage.

"He's also quite handsome. Not too many people can pull off pink hair but like most things he does, he's able to do the impossible. Its things like that that make him amazing and why I fell for him not that long ago," she ended.

The scathing image of Sting's pompous mug dissipated when Natsu heard the words 'pink'. He was the only mage he knew that had salmon colored hair (which was the correct term to describe his hair color). Slowing rotating his head, he stared into the deep brown orbs that shimmered with a plethora of strong emotions that were too many for Natsu to count.

Yukino smiled lovingly when she felt his larger hand settle on top of her smaller one. Without breaking eye contact, she interlaced their fingers, elation filling her chest at how right it felt for her hand to be in his, their fingers acting as puzzle pieces and after so long finally coming together to form a complete and perfect picture of love.

"I think I might know somebody with 'salmon' hair…" Pulling his hand from her grip, he wrapped his arm around her curve of her waist and lifted her into his lap, chuckling in amusement at her yelp and the pink color on her cheeks and ears. "And he'd be very interested in going out with you. Question is do you feel the same."

Peering down at him with a tender gaze, Yukino cupped his face between her hands and placed a chaste kiss on his lips, shocking the overly forward fire mage.

"Does that answer your question," she teased, resting her forehead against his, the newly formed couples' eyes gazing lovingly at each other.

"Sorta, though I might need more to convince me." His playful smirk enticed Yukino, forcing her hand to unleash a flurry of butterfly kisses to his face leaving no area of skin untouched by her lips. That is not to say that Natsu didn't do the same. Being a man of action and refusing to sit on the sidelines for any length of time, Natsu busied himself with planting kiss upon kiss on his girlfriend's neck, his pride and enthusiasm increasing with each moan that slipped out of the silver haired beauty's mouth. When he reached the apex of her cleavage, his hot lips laying a tender kiss where her heaving mounds began, Yukino's head snapped back and let out a moan of rapture. A smirk that rivaled the devil's himself, Natsu focused on his newfound favorite spot.

Any guilty feelings from earlier about groping her chest melted away when he heard Yukino's moans of ecstasy when laid kiss upon kiss on her heaving chest. He would plant a wet kiss on one breast, the suction of his mouth pulling her soft skin upward and leaving a mark when he released it before moving on to its twin, repeating the same actions that left Yukino quivering in her seat on his lap.

As his face traveled lower, Natsu met the barrier that was her bikini top. The light blue garment was cute to look at before, but now it was the bane of his existence. Although, as much as he wanted to burn the clothe into oblivion, he needed the say so from its owner, whom he refused to put in a situation that embarrassed her…any more than the one they were in now.

"Can I…" he asked, his dark eyes oozing with impatience and lust.

Tittering at his respect to her body, Yukino reached behind her back, unraveling the thin strands from their knot before pulling the strap over her head that kept her top in place. When she did, her arms immediately went to cover herself but Natsu's hands kept them at bay.

"Why?" It was a simple question but the answer was more than complex.

"B-Because it's embarrassing." Ok, maybe not.

"But it's just us here. Just you…" He placed a kiss on her lips. "Me…" He placed another in the middle of her cleavage. "And nobody else." Lowering his head a few inches down, Natsu placed his mouth over his girlfriend's hardened peak, his burning tongue teasing her pert nipple with his free hand fondling its twin with gusto. Falling deeper into the pleasure his mouth and skillful hands were giving her, Yukino bit onto her forefinger to keep herself from screaming in jubilation. Raising her hand, she wrapped it around his neck, burying the rose haired in her tender valley.

"Ah…ah…Natsu-san." His name rolling off her tongue was music to the dragon slayer's ears. Flitting his eyes up to look at her he smirked, one of her nipples captured between his teeth and the other between his thumb and forefinger, pulling the small nub of flesh up only to let it go and letting gravity do its job on her bouncing bosom.

"You're really sensitive here aren't ya? I wonder where else you're sensitive." Reluctantly he removed his hand from her left breast only to move it further south down her toned, flat stomach. Coming to her bikini bottoms, Natsu's impatience won out over his courteousness as his fingers slipped between the thin blue clothe. Gliding down her bald mound, Natsu's rough fingers encountered something small and hard. Whatever it was it felt like a button and if Natsu knew anything in this world it was that buttons always lead to something. Curious, he gave it a slight pinch, the result being one he didn't anticipate as Yukino shook in his lap like a leaf in the wind, her pupils small and staring into nothing, her mouth open and giving way to nothing but a silent scream. Letting her ride out her orgasm, Natsu couldn't help but to stare at Yukino, her beauty consuming him. It wasn't just her appearance that drew him to her but her personality. In many aspects, she was similar to Lucy and Lisanna, the two females he considered the closest to him in his life besides the scarlet haired swordswoman. Like them, she was insanely kind, considerate, humble and just plain…perfect. But even though Yukino exhibited similar traits to his two friends, she also had her own style; one that Natsu felt was refreshing. Unlike Lucy, she was even-tempered and not prone to screeching at the top of her lungs whenever she was embarrassed or angry. Not to mention if he used her sex appeal, he was all but certain that it would work. In regards to the youngest Strauss sibling, he liked Lisanna's playfulness, that side of her being a barrel of laughs more times than he can count, at times she could get on his nerves. He didn't know Yukino well enough to peg her as a stick in the mud, but he did find her maturity towards all things surprisingly calming.

When she reached the end of her orgasm, Yukino fell back only to be pulled forward by a strong embrace. His scent of burned cinnamon assaulted her nose and with each whiff, she felt her senses coming back to her. 'Comforting…like a fireplace.'

"You ok, Yukino?" The object of her affections asked quietly not to startle her after just experiencing the most epic ride of her young life. Placing her hands on his chest, she pushed off and smiled sultrily, inwardly cheering at being able to produce a bright pink color on his tanned cheeks.

"I'm more than ok. Now…" With strength he didn't know she possessed, Yukino shoved him until his back hit the ground. Resting his elbows underneath him, Natsu's eyes bulged out of his skull after Yukino in pulled his trunks off with little to no effort behind it. The pillar of flesh resting between his legs had Yukino licking her lips, her own bottoms becoming even more soaked than before as her fluids leaked out her burning core. Watching the way her brown orbs roamed over his cock, Natsu didn't know whether to feel proud at his endowment or fearful of what she might do to it.

"So big…" Yukino so eloquently pointed out. Her small hand reached out to grab his erected member, her expression becoming a mix of one-third shock and two-thirds lust when she discovered that her fingers could not fit around the whole of it. "Oh my…"

Casting him a half lidded look that caused the hair on the back of Natsu's neck to stand on end, as well as the piece of meat in her grasp, Yukino lowered her head and gave an experimental lick to his head. The taste wasn't necessarily a good one, but it wasn't bad either. Being the selfless person she was, Yukino was adamant to make him feel as good as he made her feel; the fact that she was eager to experience what the protagonists in her romance novels went through also played a part.

Steeling her nerves, Yukino took the head of his cock into her mouth, its size nearly forcing her jaw to break apart but she pushed on, inserting him until he hit the back of her throat. For Natsu, the feeling of her moist mouth plus the heat it held inside was mind numbing. When his tip hit the small channel of her throat, it took everything he had to keep himself from releasing then and there. His teeth ground against each other and his fingers dug into the floor so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. Feeling her mouth slowly move up his rod until only his tip was left between her pouty lips, Natsu assumed she had reconsidered, but that thought was debunked almost immediately when she sunk back down. Finding her rhythm and speed, Yukino serviced Natsu's knob with the skill of a porn star, something that rose suspicion within the panting pink haired male regarding the supposedly pure maiden but at the current moment in time, he couldn't give two shits as to where she learned it, he was just happy she did.

'I think I'm losing feeling in my legs.' The soft touch of her fingers on his shaft combined with her agile tongue and the feel of her mouth were bringing Natsu dangerously close to release. Up and down her hand moved, the light grip around his shaft pumping not only it but his arousal to new and unimagined heights. Mischievous intent overtaking her, Yukino used her tongue to play with his slit, the sensitivity of it making Natsu hiss in ecstasy.

Giving one final suck, Yukino's efforts were rewarded with rope upon rope of his seed shooting down her throat. The amount was too much for her to take in so she backed off, an audible and sexy pop was heard when his dick detached from her lips. What she forgot was that he was still coming as his viscous white fluid shot out onto her face, coating her cheeks, forehead and the end of her nose. She stifled a giggle when she saw him lay back in exhaustion, his breathing heavy and ragged. Sliding down her cheeks was his cum and Yukino took a dollop of the white liquid and put it in her mouth, the taste oddly satisfying to her palate.

"Ha…ha….ha, that was awesome, but now…it's time to get down to business," Natsu said gruffly, his graveling voice sending a shiver down Yukino's spine making her coral pink nipples hard and her womanhood quiver with excitement.

In a flash Natsu was on her, pinning her beneath him, his larger frame dominating her small feminine one. Casting him a sexy smile, Yukino batted her long lashes and spoke.

"Someone's eager."

"Babe, you have no idea." Lighting a flame on the end of his finger, Natsu moved to burn the ends of bottoms off, but stopped when she grabbed his hand, his eyes flicking over to hers to see a look of frustration on her features.

"Oh no, take them off properly. If you burn them, I won't be able to go outside because I'll have nothing to wear," she informed him in an authoritative tone.

Groaning in exasperation, Natsu did as he was told, silently piecing together that Yukino sounded a lot like the girls from his guild. 'They're a horrible influence.'

Gliding them down her legs that seemed to go on for miles, Natsu plucked the blue bikini bottom off her foot and chucked it across the room, shrugging his shoulders in indifference when he saw the irritated look Yukino wore.

"What, you can still wear them. They're not burnt so no harm done."

Rolling her eyes, Yukino simply gestured for him to come to her with her finger, the dragon slayer complying with her demand. Resting one hand on the side of her head, he took hold of his member and aligned it with her entrance, the heat from her core burning his tip and the scent that wafted from it was quickly becoming Natsu's new favorite thing…well second behind her boobs.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his tone dripping with concern for the female underneath him.

Wrapping her arms around his neck and taking in a few quick breathes, Yukino braced herself for the pain that was sure to come, but felt solace in knowing that he was with her and it was he who was coming inside her.

"Yes, I'm ready," she told him with eyes shimmering with both fear and happiness.

"I'll be gentle. I heard this is supposed to hurt." Sliding the tip of his penis across her drenched slit to lubricate it, Natsu slowly pushed through her labia and into her womanhood before coming across a barrier. Before Yukino could tell him to push on, he slammed his lips onto hers in a fierce and passionate kiss and using that as a distraction, he sheathed himself inside her, tearing through her hymen in one fell swoop. The pain that surged throughout the celestial mage's body was unparalleled. The only thing keeping her from screaming out in agony was her boyfriend's lips, whom she was grateful to after coming up with such a clever way to silence her, though that didn't take away from the pain resonating between her legs. Eyes closed, Yukino fought back the tears but when she felt the pad of a thumb wipe them away, she opened them again to see Natsu staring down at her with a hurt expression.

"Sorry…I…I didn't know it was going to hurt like that. If you want we can stop right here." He tried to sound positive in an effort to assure her that everything was fine, but Yukino could hear the disappointment in his voice. As painful as sex was, Yukino found it to be just as exhilarating as her novels made it out to be. The pain she felt gradually lessened, replaced by the feelings of euphoria. Refusing to stop when before the fun actually started, Yukino rolled her hips, moaning in delight at how heavenly it felt when Natsu's member scraped against her inner walls. The shaking of her hips brought Natsu to look at her, his mind coming to a silent revelation.

"I didn't know that Natsu Dragneel was a person to quick when things get a little rough. I appreciate your concern for me, but this pain is nothing because I have you hear to take it away and replace it with something wonderful. Now, please…" Tightening her hold around his neck, she brought him down to within inches of her face, their lips meeting in the middle. "…don't keep me waiting any longer, Natsu."

Nodding his head, Natsu pulled back his pelvis until only the tip remained in her depths then with a heavy heave he bottomed out in her moist cavern, pounding against the entrance of her womb. As she did with his mouth on his cock, it didn't take long for Natsu to find his rhythm and Yukino's sweet spot. Like a man violent marauder he plundered her most sacred place with reckless abandon, each thrust bringing forth a deluge of her high-pitched screams and squeals of delirium. Her kind and gentle hands betrayed their nature by carving deep scratches into his back but rather than complain about the pain Natsu fought through it, his thrust becoming more vigorous and powerful with each new mark she created.

It was hard for him to fathom, the normally calm yet timid girl he had met not that long ago, now a thrashing and howling being filled with carnal desires laid out beneath him. Natsu would have pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming but the tight yet divine feeling of her walls around his dick and the taste of her ruby red lips on his was enough for him to know that this wasn't a dream, that this was indeed reality and she was indeed his. And he would make her realize that if it was the last thing he did.

Flipping her onto her stomach, the nubile female squealing in astonishment, Natsu proceeded to ravage her from behind. Snaking his arms up her taut stomach he grabbed a handful of her bountiful bosom, his fingers twisting and teasing her hardened pink buds, the tiny nubs that capped her mouthwatering tits becoming so hard they were painful and a sensation that Yukino found herself reveling in. His hands, his dick, his slightly chapped lips laying countless wet kisses up and down her back and neck, all of it was overwhelming for her virgin senses but she loved it nonetheless. Too bad like all things, they must end.

"N-N-Nah! Natsu-san! I-I-I feel s-something! I-I think I'm gonna pee! Ah…ah…AAAAH!" Impaling her on his manhood with a mighty thrust of his hips, Yukion came…hard. Her last orgasm of him fingering her was mild compared to the earth shattering orgasm his dick was supplying her with. Her walls convulsed violently around his penis as if milking his organ for everything it was worth. The knot she felt in her stomach quickly unwound itself giving way to a torrent of fluids spraying out from between her legs, drenching not only her thighs but also Natsu's and the floor beneath them. Her body, so overcome with the pleasures of the flesh and the sheer exhaustion of the deed, turned limp and she fell forward. Luckily for her, instead of face planting on the floor of the shed, the impact of which would have left a nasty bruise, Natsu scooped her into his arms.

Slowly sliding out of her channel, a groan of frustration and disappointment escaping him, Natsu cradled Yukino in his arms, the young woman so spent that she fell asleep. Peering down at her face, her features dripping with sweat though he was no better, he wiped away the stray strands of hair that covered her eyes. 'She really is beautiful.'

It wouldn't take too long for Yukino to awaken as her eyes lethargically opened, her brown irises meeting the watchful and loving gaze of her boyfriend.

"Have a nice nap, sleeping beauty," he teased. Too tired to comment, Yukino simply snuggled up against his body using his chest as her pillow. Natsu knew how tired she was, he himself finding it hard to keep his eyes opened. Though he was crestfallen for not being able to reach his well-deserved climax, he was content with making Yukino feel good.

'I guess nice guys do finish last.' He chuckled at his joke, finding it to be more accurate than intended.

"Natsu-san…"

Hearing his name being spoken, he looked down at the nude form of his girlfriend, her eyes staring up at him.

"Yeah…"

"You know, it's customary for a couple to go out on a date before having sex."

"Hehehe, that may be, but you should have thought about that before dating a mage form Fairy Tail. We're not normal like everybody else," he said while puffing out his chest and raising his chin in pride.

"Ufufu, believe me, I've noticed."

Feeling something hard and hot press into her thigh, Yukino licked her lips. Catching her second wind, she peeled herself away from his hold and pushed him down onto the floor. Straddling his waist, she rested her soaking cunt on top of his erection relishing in the feel of his hard cock parting her lower lips apart, a steady stream of her fluids flowing onto and coating his cock. Natsu smiled at her new brazen attitude, though deep down he preferred her regular shy self. It was cuter.

"I see someone's ready for round two," Natsu said, his eyes and tone full of amusement.

"And many more to come."

"We've been gone for a long time and I'm pretty sure Happy is out there looking for me. Are you ok with us getting caught?" he asked, testing resolve. The trepidation he saw in her eyes quickly disappeared before lust and adoration took over.

"Let's not worry about that now." Standing on her knees, her hot pussy hovering over his cock, Yukino aligned herself for impalement. Before she took the plunged, Natsu grabbed her supple hips, his rough hands drawing her attention.

"You want to go on a date after this, you know, when you have free time?" he asked.

"Now's kind of the wrong time to ask that don't you think."

"Better late than never," he grinned. Giggling at his tendency to do the most random and unsuspecting things, Yukino leaned down to kiss her boyfriend at the same time descending her pussy down his long stem.

It wouldn't be until it was almost time for Sabertooth to leave that Natsu and Yukino emerged from the pool shed. When their friend's asked questions regarding their whereabouts, both coolly played it off; in Yukino's case she switched the subject to Sting and Rogue fighting Natsu and Gajeel; with Natsu, he redirected the issue by starting a brawl. But even though they were able to keep most ignorant to their deeds, they couldn't keep it a secret from a select group of females.

"So you think they're together?" a certain bookworm queried.

"I sort of doubt it this. I mean Natsu is pretty dense," one shorthaired female pointed out.

"What do you think Mira, you're pretty observant about these things, right?" the lone blonde bombshell inquired, all three females' eyes panning over to the beautiful barmaid. The smile she wore gave nothing away but they could tell by the look in her big blue eyes that she knew something they didn't.

"It's possible…" she said vaguely. Her simple answer brought the others to beg about what she knew but she would give nothing away. All she knew was that Natsu's back seemed to be sporting a fresh set of wounds and Yukino's attempt at hiding her limp was a good effort. But not good enough.

The train to Crocus had arrived and departed, our young couple traversing through the capital city without a care in the world. Hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, they seemed like any loving pair of teenagers at the cusp of adulthood. With her leaning into his shoulder, Yukino sighed in delight.

"So, where do you wanna go first Yukino?"

She lifted her head to look at him with cheeks painted a rosy hue. Seeing his soft smile, one he only gave to those closest to him, Yukino felt her heart hammer away in her chest. Looking around, she saw store that caught her eye before looking back to him. Letting a coy smile grace her beautiful features, she quickened her pace to where she was in front of him, her two hands pulling the dragon slayer forward whose smile never dropped. She didn't have to say a word for him to understand; her smile, which brighten up his day more than entering through the doors of Fairy Tail itself, spoke louder and with more emotion than any amount of words possibly could.

'I can't wait for tonight.'

[A/N: Sorry for such a late update. Once again, college has been kicking my ass and with the numerous projects, papers and tests I've had to deal with I had a hard time finding time to write. The writer's block that I've been suffering through with this chapter along with working on my other stories hasn't help me either. I apologize to those who have gone weeks expecting this chapter to be updated but if it's any consolation, I wanted to make this chapter one that the reader would enjoy. If some think that Yukino's attitude was off, I wanted to make her more confident in herself. I know on the website they say she's confident in herself but it also says that she's sensitive. Using that, I thought it would be good to exploit that sensitivity when it comes to do wanting a relationship. Once she crossed that border, she would return to her usual self with just a little added boldness for good lemony measure. I hope that I got the rest of the characters down.

For my next chapters, the women will either be Chelia, Cosmo or possibly the conclusion chapters for Millianna and Jenny.

One last thing…holy shit it's been a year since I've started writing! I can't believe it. Truthfully, I only got on this site because I felt I could write better stories than the ones I've seen and I wanted to write stories that no one has read before with different plots other than ones that recycle the same plot and direction. Little did I know that I would have this type of hype for my stories with people literally demanding for more. I can't tell you all how much that means to me that you enjoy what I write. Thanks to all of you, I have the resolve to keep writing when at times I've legitimately thought about stopping and passing these stories onto someone else. Once again, I thank you.

Now that all the mushy crap is out of the way, I implore you to read, review, favorite and/or follow not only this story but the others I have written. Sorry to say but I'm not taking story requests because I have yet to follow through on one that I desperately need to complete. I want to thank my beta readers for their feedback and I hope you enjoy this chapter of Slaying by the Dozens. Blaccdragon out!]