Chapter 12: Back Home, or what's left of it

And as I expected, the ruins of home stayed untouched, but before we found them, Onii-chan wanted to go off for a visit, and so here the Natsu team was lost searching for the remaining's of the Kurosaki clan.

"Man, it's been too many years," I shielded my eyes from the beaming rays erupting from the sun. "I can't remember if we go left of right."

"Who told you to lead the way?" Tetsuya laughed at my confusion. "The princess can't read maps for one thing."

"It's left," Onii-chan concluded. "I'm sure it is."

The desert was barren and far too dry. Water wasn't to be found, nor food, however we prepared more than enough to last a month. The gust blew a handful of sand over to the south, just the on to the right of where we stood.

"Follow the wind," I instructed. "It'll be sure to lead us there."

"Trust the girl who made us lost," Carla complained. "Following the wind isn't a plan."

"We can only listen to her and Natsu," Wendy chimed in. "They might not remember it well, but I'm sure we'll get there!"

"We have no choice," Erza declared.

"You've said crazier things that worked before," Tetsuya shrugged. "Let's go then."

Gray was quiet the entire time we were here. I can't read his emotions to tell why, but for now I'll ignore it. I have war to handle and my idiotic brother. Without any more discussion needed, we headed the direction of the wind blowing.

"I see something," Happy pointed over at a sand stone building in what seemed as miles in front of us. It was the first thing he said other than complaining about the weather and wanting some fish to eat.

"Oh, that's the STD," I slipped on my glasses after wiping the sand out. "It's rather broken up."

"STD?" Erza asked to clarify. "What would that be?"

"The STD!" Onii-chan jumped in excitement. "Let's eat in there."

"Not much of a good idea, onii-chan," I protested calmly. "The STD is falling apart. If my memory serves me correct, the building that is the safest of all would be the WSC."

"Is it the Water Service Center?" Wendy asked in delight.

"No, it's the-"I began.

"Warner Sucker Corner!" Happy interrupted me in joy.

"No it's not a Warner Sucker fish corner or a water center," I flicked their foreheads, waiting for their response. "It's the West Side Castle."

"Then the STD is the Serpae Tetra Drop by!" Happy concluded. Happy was too excited for fish, and it'll disappoint him when he finds out there's no fish in a radius of over ten miles. What was a drop by in the first place? "Let's go there!"

"The STD is the Southern Tower Defense," Onii-chan corrected Happy, making Happy sulk.

"Even if there was any center, it'd be destroyed by now," Lucy informed. "The war was on a large scale, but private to everyone up until now."

"Correct," I praised Lucy. "There should be about only ten rooms left in the WSC. The rest is all ruins."

I could see Onii-chan was trying to hide his sadness. He was the one training so hard to be a passionate and caring ruler, yet the village by now was lifeless and in rumbles. We reached the STD in time and headed upwards on it by the stairs. It was dangerous and risky of course to do this, but Onii-chan really wanted it. There he'd burst into tears, I'm certain.

"Here's the view of what's left," I gazed down into the ruins.

The tension rose beyond anything as we all stood above the battlefield of the war. It was just too devastating to see or even imagine. Once there was a strong community filled of hatred, lies, and no meaning. Although it was like this, there were small gaps of love and passion. A boy poked his finger into that gap and made it as wide as possible. That boy was onii-chan. The shield we broken down completely by Hiro, and so even if there was a hole in the shield, it was useless.

Not much was said once we walked out of the STD. They following my path onto each building crumbled to the ground of not. Finally, in the middle of the entire place, was castle, sturdy, but old. The dust was cleared, and the night began.

"Whew, I'm starving!" Lucy gobbled the main dish tonight, turkey.

I lit up some sticks for onii-chan to eat. The power wasn't running obviously, and we stuck to lighting up with candles. I wolfed my dish down, yet as I did, I couldn't help but to stare at Gray. He still hasn't spoken once, nor word or sound. I ignored it at first, but now it was worrying me.

"Pick a room," I ordered to all of them. "There's enough rooms for one person each."

Erza held the candle securely and followed Onii-chan like us all. He searched and found a hall full of rooms still good to go. This area was undamaged after all of these years; how odd. It seemed to be preserved for a reason, as if someone cleaned off these rooms every year. It was dusty, but still in perfect shape. This arose more worry in me.

"Isn't this place a little too nice?" I muttered.

"You're worrying too much," Happy laughed it off. "It probably is just in good shape."

"Yeah," I ducked my head slightly in caution. "I guess."

Without a word, Gray slid his arm over my shoulder. I glanced over startled and lost my pacing of steps. It was comforting, but I didn't want to get too spoiled. It was such a cozy spot to be in, but we disconnected once we reach the first room.

"It's a mummy!" Happy flew around the bandaged human.

"Mummy!?" Wendy shrieked. "What's that doing here?"

"It's looks fresh," Erza observed the body. "We aren't the first ones to come back."

"Don't," I grabbed onto Tetsuya's hand before he could get near. "It's not what you think it is."

"The Black Hand Ritual..." Onii-chan got up close to the body. "It's Sunako. We- they destroyed it."

"No, they didn't," I shook my head. "Sunako wasn't killed. Hiro did his best to protect her, so she remains here. I never mentioned it in my storytelling of my life, but she's still alive."

"That explains the clean hall and room," Erza examined the body. "Hiro has been coming here."

"He seeks me now," I stated. "He would want to kill me, because I could kill Sunako for revenge."

"It's no surprise," Carla uttered. "He might as well be hunting you down right at this moment."

"Oh what shall we do now, Aoi?" I eyed him. "Don't think by having no scent you won't be seen."

"Clever as always Darkness," Aoi walked in. "Just a messenger. It is to best of best of to not include of 'tis relations of past of 'tis for of to be of present. (It's best to not include our past relationship for this for now.) "

Note: The last sentence Aoi said is the extremely formal language I made for this story

"Aoi at age 21 with teleportation magic and no scent oddly enough; currently getting paid off with delivery and messenger jobs," Tetsuya noted. "Seen as an intelligent and threat. That is all the rest of what you need to know." Lucy nodded silently to follow with a cautious Ezra, perhaps suspicious of Aoi.

"To Kuro Sakura and Prince Tetsuya: Please come by three days from now for another meeting. The topic is on The Black Hand and The South War. We are meeting on the usual time and place. Bringing along Natsu is required. Natsu may leave as we discuss the South War."

"I'll be taking my leave. Maybe you might enjoy my presence in the room, Darkness."

"We should go after breakfast tomorrow," I said right after Aoi vanished. "Let's leave Sunako alone for now and sleep in the other rooms."

There was no protest afterwards and we all got in our rooms, but I had to clear up the confusion of Aoi calling me Darkness as my nickname. It was quite cozy laying in a soft bed like that. I laid there and pulled up my blanket high to ease the cold. At night, it was almost like winter! There my thoughts circled in my head. The first thing to pop up was Gray. He never made a single sound, but he put his arm around me. I pondered why. I finally decided to sneak up to his room, but the sounds of creaking began. Was someone sneaking around?

Is it Erza or Gray? They both have similar scents. That gave off a little jealousy. My scent wasn't like Gray's or Onii-chan's. Lucky Erza had nearly the same, although her scent is strong like Gray's so even ice and her armor can't shred a difference between their scents. Erza's scent was slightly stronger, but that's all to it that's different. I laid there covered in blankets, pretending to be asleep as I wondered if it was Erza or Gray and why would they be getting up in the first place. Gray was acting strange, so it's a high possibility, but what if Erza had a crush on Gray? I shook those thoughts away as soon as they appeared.

Then there was Tetsuya who had woman always around him. He's a playboy, but isn't exactly a bad one. He flirts allot, but avoids doing it to my friends, because I'll punch him. Tetsuya is really nice and can laugh off so many things. He understands me and I well... I fell in love with him. Who do I love though? Tetsuya or Gray? I can't say I love one more than the other. I came to a conclusion of what my thoughts lead me to. I would sneak in Gray's room and try to ask him what was wrong today. Before I could finish my conclusion, Gray was in my room. He came before I could.

"Sakura, are you awake?" he asked quietly. Without needing to hear my response, he was hugging me.

My heart was beating faster than it has ever. Can he hear my heart beat? I hope he can't. I don't want him to know how much I already fell in love with him.

"Gray," I softly whispered. "Why were you so quiet today?"

"I- I couldn't stand that you were so close to that guy!"

"Onii-chan?"

"Him too."

"Then it was Tetsuya? You were jealous of Tetsuya."

"I don't know myself."

I sat up and looked over at the window. The moon was shining over us in the darkness. Gray released his embrace and sat on my bed. It was only a quick glance over to his side, but soon it became a long gaze. I wasn't sure what to do. I had relationships before that never worked out, but this wasn't even a relationship like that, yet I could stare in his deep blue eyes as if we were the only ones alive. Everything else was ignored. I didn't even realize I was ignoring it. Until Tetsuya's scent was so close, I realized and quickly shifted my head over to the doorway. Gray did the same. There stood Tetsuya. He was standing right there at the doorway looking over at us.

Chpater 13: Speak, or Die

Gray POV

"I thought I heard something," Tetsuya began. "It was just you three. What're you doing?"

"Sakura~" Natsu mumbled in his sleep. "Food. More food."

Bastard, I forgot that Natsu was here. Why did Tetsuya have to show up now?!

Tetsuya POV

I wonder what they were doing. Gray and Sakura together? No, they aren't dating. Or are they? No, Sakura prefers... wait she does like cool guys. Would Gray count as one? He strips constantly, if that's what cool guys are to her. Natsu is just sleeping there. He wasn't involved in this. So Gray came over to Sakura. He didn't talk at all yesterday. He looked somewhat pissed off staring at her and me. Sakura fell in love with him. She would have start playing card games, if they were only friends. She was staring at him for a period of time yesterday. Gray was jealous of us, so he stayed silent and tried to not make the problem any bigger by speaking up. Huh?

Did she not notice me walking down, until now? Sakura was startled at the moment she saw my way. Love took her guard down. I can't understand love the way she does. Loving someone passionately is too far off for me. I'm fine living with my flings and girlfriends. Kisses and hugs don't mean anything. Making out is just making out. What's the big deal out of it? Maybe, someday, her love will strike at me. No. I quietly held in my laugh from that one thought. It was nearly too funny to contain. Her type of love is never coming to me. As the prince, I'm sure of it. Never will I fall in 'love' like Aoi did and Sakura.

Sakura POV

"We-"I started off.

"I'll let you love birds have some fun," Tetsuya interrupted walking off waving in a small whisper. "Don't overdo it."

"We won't!" I blushed. The aching in my heart increased.

Tetsuya rejected me without even having me confess. My heart feels uneasy. Who do I love? Tetsuya or Gray, or maybe I've been trying to trick myself into saying I love them, so I don't have to think about Aoi? It's all too confusing. Love really is complex. I've had many past relationships. None gone too well. How did I feel about anyone?

Gray excused himself back to his room, and I was left alone with Onii-chan. I wondered what would've happened if I never found Onii-chan. If Hiro didn't exist? Everything would be different then. I stared at Onii-chan. I don't know for how long, but I did. He slept soundly. Somehow, it went from staring at Onii-chan to hugging him tightly to sleep.

I yawned waking up. Onii-chan was there as I hugged him on the bed, but so was everyone else.

"How the hell?" I jumped up.

"Morning," Wendy waved.

"You've woke up," Tetsuya glanced over. "Your brother woke up, but you were hugging so tightly that he started making lots of noises and yelling for help. He couldn't breathe or get out."

"We all tried to get Natsu out of your grip," Lucy sighed. "But you were too strong."

"Gray told us to let you be and fell asleep. Erza also fell asleep after playing cards from waiting for you," Carla pointed at Erza on the floor with Gray in the opposite side of the room. "No matter what we did you wouldn't wake up."

"Is Natsu still alive?" Happy asked.

"You were talking in your sleep too," Lucy added on. "Saying Onii-chan this and that."

"Shut up!" I flushed in embarrassment.

"Natsu's dead," Happy causally poked Natsu in the face. Happy began making weird and funny faces on Onii-chan by pulling Onii-chan's cheeks and eyes.

"Ah," I released Natsu who really did look dead. "We should get going soon."

"Brother Complexity girl, you have said in your sleep, 'Onii-chan, let's take a shower together.'" Tetsuya mocked me. "What do you have to say about that?"

"Let's get going!" I punched Tetsuya angry and walked off dragging Onii-chan.

As I dragged Onii-chan he woke up, but Erza got hit by him. She elbowed Onii-chan startled and he gave out a great yelp. His soul was leaking out, but I shoved it back in his body. Onii-chan isn't ever escaping from me. No, I'm not a Yandere. That came out wrong. I have a small, little, tiny brother complex, but that's all there is to it. There's nothing more to it. 'Kay maybe I really do have a somewhat large brother complex, but hey, it's all because Onii-chan is too loveable. It's not all my fault.

Aoi peeked out. He waved and gave me over a cheeky smile that would win over many woman. He was cute, I'd say, but going out with him once was enough of a lesson for me.

"There has been a murder," Aoi recited the message. "Come with Aoi to the National Council Flore Branch. This is an urgent issue."

"More drama," I sighed. "Gather them, Happy."

"Aye sir!" He flew off.

And then we ended up at the National Council Flore Branch. Usually we used the Capital Crocus area to take place our meetings, yet when things actually start to getting real, we gotta go to the Branch. Over there, we can't joke around, party, or speak informally. Now the actual war begins. Only Natsu, Tetsuya, and I were allowed in. They wouldn't even let Happy get through the doors of the branch, until Aoi, Tetsuya, and I all stepped in. I had to warn Natsu to speak the way we were trained as children in that area.

(A/N: I'll be putting the informal translation of what they say)

"Please let's begin of 'tis," Hayato [Bosco's Representative] started. "The MMS [Minstrel, Midi, and Sin] may to be seem as to gone off on the action in of killing the leader of the DJE [Desierto, Joya, and Enca] force is what of most believe. (Lots of people think that the MMS killed the leader of the DJE force.)"

"However it may be seen as one another suspect (It might be someone else who killed the leader.)," Hisui continued on. "We shall head to of it the scene to analyze what of it has occurred on so. (We'll go to the scene to look over it.)"

"May I request of my company to be within of 'tis? (May my friends join in on this, please?)", I bowed. "It may be of valuable for of new ideas to await. (They might prove themselves useful in helping us.)"

"Granted," Tetsuya decided. "Of objections needed on so forth? (Does anyone object?)"

"None of it seems to be of. (Nope)," King Moriyama declared after the silence lasting three minutes. One of the rules is that after a person asks for something, the rest have three minutes to protest. If they don't, then it's fine to do whatever they asked of. Everyone just sits there without a word, counting down the three minutes.

The meeting was quick. It always lasts long, or really short. There's really no balance in there. Whenever it drags on long, then everyone is protesting one thing or another. If it's short, then we all want to get it over with and go on. Truly, I don't see the point of holding on these traditions and rules in the place, but I don't have a say in that at all. It's want the public wants. We have to please them one way or another. Letting them choose to keep the traditions to be kept every year is one of them. That time of the year, everyone in the world votes on the traditions in their county that they would like to keep. In a month, it'll be that time of the year. Flore always holds on to this one horrible tradition of the rules in the National Council Flore Branch. I don't see exactly why myself, nor does Hisui. She likes formal things, but to a certain extent. The rules are too strict, but the population of Flore and Earthland prefers it. Most wouldn't understand a word of this.

In that meeting Onii-chan didn't speak, which was smart for his part. He doesn't know some of the rules in the meeting, so he would mess up if we were to speak. This type of formality is used throughout Earthland. It's only for the higher class and nobles. In countries like Midi, any normal person would get whipped for using it. It was the same for the Kurosaki clan. Wait, why didn't Onii-chan talk? If would benefit him, but does he ever think about that? Onii-chan wouldn't do something like that. He'd speak his mind or pick a fight with King Moriyama. Onii-chan was quiet ever since we got in the meeting room. I swung my blade to the edge of his neck in an instant.

"Speak," I ordered. "Or die."