The Demon Eyes in Fairy Tail

After a trail with the magic council master Makarov was now sitting on a bench with one of his old friends who is also a member of the magic council. "Phantom Lord being disbanded and Jose being stripped of his title as a Wizard Saint… That much I had expected. But Fairy Tail being found innocent was the last thing I imagined." Makarov said.

"You should be grateful, Macky. I spoke in your defense." An old man that was just as short as Makarov said. He had thick light-brown eyebrows and a small toothbrush mustache. He was wearing a brown long sleeve shirt with black vertical stripes and a black three-spiked hat. His name is Yajima.

"I owe you one, Yaj. You should come visit once our guild is repaired. I'll treat you to some ramen." Makarov offered his old friend.

"I'd like Fairy Ramen with twelve slices of roast pork." Yajima said.

"Twelve? That's way too many." Makarov complained.

"This was a violation of Article 4 of the Inter-Guild-Conflict Ban Treaty…" Yajima pointed out.

"Fine! You can have twenty slices! Thirty!" Makarov said.

"Twelve will do just fine." Yajima said the mood then changed into being more serious. "Macky. You can't be so reckless anymore. We're not as young as we used to be. You haven't forgotten have you?"

"Forgotten what?" Makarov asked.

"About Rob." Yajima replied.

"Rob… Rob, huh…" Makarov said now with a sad tone and expression at the memory of his dead friend.

"There was me, you and even Porlyusica. Not to mention Rob… We were all so young... We were reckless, but every day was a delight, too." Yajima said as memories of their past flushed through their minds.

"But then Rob left Fairy Tail and wound up… Erza still tells me about it sometimes. And even Itachi." Makarov said.

"Many feel that Fairy Tail is too out of control these days. Michello and Org are actually calling for it to be disbanded. If this keeps up, you will be harshly punished eventually, Macky. You won't be any good to anyone if you die. Just like with Rob. Macky. You need to retire soon. You can't keep this up for much longer." Yajima said worried about Makarov's future.

Back at the workplace for the new guild hall.

"Everyone! We're taking job requests again starting today! This reception counter is only temporary, but let's do lots and lots of work!" Mira announced to which everyone cheered and most people headed towards the request board.

"What's the deal? Everyone usually just sit around doing nothing…" Lucy said as she looked at how everyone was so worked up. And Mira chuckled at Lucy's comment. "Come to think of it, is Loke here?"

"Oh, have you finally fallen into Loke's clutches too?" Mira teased.

"It's not like that! He was the one who found my keys so I wanted to thank him." Lucy said.

"Sure, I'll tell him if I see him. Did the celestial spirits get mad at you for dropping their keys, though?" Mira questioned.

Lucy let out a nervous chuckle as the memory of the scolding form a certain blue haired mermaid water spirit came to mind. "Mad doesn't begin to describe it… My butt stings just thinking about it…"

"Oh, my…" Mira chuckled nervously.

"Want me to cool it for you?" Gray asked as his hand let out a cold energy.

"That's casual sexual harassment." Lucy replied to the ice mage.

"Lemme see your red butt, Lucy!" The little blue cat known as Happy said.

"That's unadulterated sexual harassment!" Lucy said.

Natsu then appeared with his hand covered in flames. "I wonder what look she'd give if I made it sting even more!" Natsu said with a devilish smirk.

"What are you the devil?!" Lucy shouted when Natsu was hit by a barrel that came flying out of nowhere.

"Try saying that again!" Erza's voice was heard making everyone turn their attention to her.

""Erza?"" Lucy and Gray questioned in unison when they saw her angry expression.

"Since I'm here, let me make things nice and clear. Weaklings don't belong to this guild!" The man who Erza was talking to was none other than Laxus. "Man, you guys are pathetic, letting Phantom make a mockery of you." Laxus said as he turned towards Jet and Droy. "Actually, I don't even know your names." Laxus said then turned towards Lucy. "And you, rich celestial wizard girl. You were the main culprit. It was your fault that-"

"Laxus!" Mira shouted in anger. "It's all over now. No one's playing the blame game! The master says we're not even allowed to blame you for refusing to help us!"

"Well, of course you're not! It was none of my business! Doesn't matter if I was here when it happened anyway, after all Itachi came to your rescue." Laxus said.

"Why you…" Erza said ready to punch Laxus in the face.

"All right! That's it!" Natsu charged at Laxus.

"Natsu!" Erza shouted. Natsu was about to deliver a punch when Laxus vanished in a flash of lightning and appeared behind Natsu.

"Laxus! Fight me, you heartless bastard!" Nastu shouted clenching his fist.

Laxus let out a mocking chuckle. "How do you expect to fight me if you can't even catch me? Once I inherit the guild, I'm kicking every last wimp out. And everyone who tries to stand up to me! I'm going to create the most powerful guild! The most powerful guild in history! No one will be able to mock it!" Laxus shouted when he suddenly felt a piece of sharp meatal pressed against his neck.

"Who says you will become the next master?" Itachi questioned having appeared behind Laxus without anyone noticing.

"Oh, you're a sneaky one like always." Laxus said and then vanished with his high speed and appeared behind Itachi with his arm raised covered with lightning. When Laxus brought his fist down Itachi caught it with one hand, as a small crater was made from the pressure. Laxus let out a chuckle. "Nice to see that you're as strong as ever, my rival!"

"I see that you have improved as well, but your still nowhere near my level." Itachi mocked with an emotionless expression.

"What was that?! I'm nowhere near your level huh? Well here's some facts for ya pal. You, me and Mystogan are candidates for the strongest members of our guild." Laxus said.

"We both know that were not the strongest, or have you forgotten Gildarts?" Itachi asked.

"We both know that old geezer is not coming back. So the title is between you, me and Mystogan." Laxus said.

"I think you're forgetting to add Erza on that list." Itachi pointed out.

"She may be your little sister, but you're still not related by blood. Meaning she doesn't have any of your strength." Laxus retorted and delivered a punch with his fist covered in lightning. But Itachi vanished from the spot and appeared behind Laxus.

"Your underestimating her, besides blood ties doesn't matter one bit." Itachi said.

"From what I hear, you come from a long powerful line of a group of people. Meaning you have a powerful bloodline just like me." Laxus said.

"Just because some people are lucky with who they are related to, doesn't mean that people who doesn't come form an important bloodline can become just as powerful." Itachi argued.

"Heh, think what you want but I don't see anyone like that here." Laxus said with an evil grin before vanishing in a flash of lighting.

Itachi then went over to the other at the bar counter. "Inherit? What kind of crazy talk is that?" Lucy said.

"Actually, it isn't crazy… Laxus is our master's grandson, you see." Mira revealed.

"Wha..?" Lucy questioned in shock.

"So it's very likely Laxus will be the next master when he retires." Mira explained.

"Y-You can't be serious… But I don't like the idea of someone being our master when he treats his fellow members that way…" Lucy said.

"They say that's why our master is having a hard time retiring… Although the master did offer Itachi to become the next master once, but Itachi's words were…" Mira said.

"It would be too much of a bother." Itachi said and sat down at the bar counter. "I'm not suited to be the master."

"Are you kidding. Your smart, powerful, kind and friendly your perfect." Mira argued.

"I still have no interest in becoming the next master." Itachi said. 'It doesn't matter anyway, I'm dying after all.' Itachi thought.

"That jerk!" Natsu cursed clenching his fist in anger at Laxus's behavior.

"That's enough. You'll only tire yourself out dealing with him. Anyway, what do you say? Feel up to a job?" Erza asked.

"Huh?" Natsu questioned.

"With Gray and Lucy, too of course. And onii-chan as well." Erza said.

"Huh?" Gray questioned in a little hint of fear now only in his boxers.

"Wha…?!" Lucy questioned.

"Where are your clothes, Gray?" Mira asked to which Gray looked down on himself with shock.

"It feels like we've always been together since the Eisenwald incident. Plus I have always been with onii-chan on jobs before." Erza said.

"Feels like it? She noticed only now?!" Wakaba questioned.

"It was obvious to pretty much anyone. Was she not paying any attention?" Macao questioned.

"That's Erza for you!" Cana said.

"What do you say we form an actual team? It'll be the five of us… Oh, six, counting Happy!" Erza said ignoring the comments from earlier.

This was much to Lucy's joy but suddenly she gained a little depressed expression. "But are you sure you want someone like me? "

"Not like you! We want you specifically!" Natsu said.

"Aye!" Happy agreed.

"It just wouldn't be the same without you, you know?" Natsu said with a huge grin.

"Then it's official with Itachi on the team there's no doubt. Say hello to the strongest team in Fairy Tail." Cana said.

"This is great!" Macao said.

"But is Lucy actually that though?" Wakaba questioned.

"I don't think I's stand a chance is she sicced Aquarius on me!" Alzack said.

"She's got a sharp mouth, too!" Droy said.

"She's the best in many different ways…" Jet said.

""Me, teamed with him…?!"" Natsu and Gray said in unison while staring at each other.

"Have a problem with that?" Erza questioned in a scary tone.

""No! we're ecstatic!"" Natsu and Gray replied in unison out of fear.

"I have a job already lined up! We're to defeat a magic cult secretly operating in the town of Lupinas! Let's go!" Erza said.

""Aye!"" They replied in unison.

"Let's go onii-chan!" Erza said excited to go on a job with Itachi like the old days.

"Sorry, I'll pass." Itachi turned the offer down.

"What?" Erza questioned with a depressed comical expression.

"I'm not saying I don't want to be a part of the team, but I just got back from a two-year long mission I think I should rest a little before going on a new job." Itachi said with his usual smile.

"No way, I was looking forward to it and everything." Erza said with a pout.

POKE

Itachi poked Erza's forehead. "Sorry Erza, maybe next time."

"You promise?" Erza questioned.

"I promise." Itachi said feeling a little guilty at the fact that it might not be a next time.

"Okay, onii-chan." Erza said and left with Natsu, Gray, Lucy and Happy.

"She still acts like a kid around you doesn't she?" Mira said with an amused smile.

"Yeah well I don't really mind. She and I have a lot of history." Itachi said. "What's on the menu?"

"Whatever you want cutie." Mira replied.

"Then how about one of those delicious lunch boxes you used to make for me." Itachi said making Mira blush a little.

"Um, sure I'll make one for you right away." Mira said and began to cook. Once Mira was finished. Itachi opened the box and saw eggrolls, fried chicken and rice that had the word "Welcome Back" on it. "I never said this when you first arrived but, welcome home."

Itachi smiled a little. "Yeah, I'm home."

"Oh, you guys sure are acting like a married couple already?" Wakaba teased.

"That's for sure, when were you going to tell us?" Cana teased.

"It's not like that!" Mira shouted with a small blush.

"Oh, your blushing, your blushing." Cana teased Mira even further.

"Shut up!" Mira shouted still blushing while Itachi simply ignored them.

"Thanks for the meal." Itachi thanked and began eating.

Time skip

It was the middle of the night and master Makarov was drinking some beer while sitting on the top of the construction area for the new guild hall. "Retirement, huh… The guild is being rebuilt. Perhaps it's also time to pass the title of master to the next generation… Laxus… He has deep-seated issues. And Mystogan is basically the poster boy for poor communication. And then there's Itachi, he is the perfect candidate in every single way. If only he wasn't dying of a sickness. Which would leave Erza, who's still rather young…"

"There you are, Master!" Mira's voice was heard as Makarov looked down to see the white haired barmaid. "It sounds like they did it again!"

"Huh?" Makarov questioned.

"It sounds like Erza's team destroyed half of the town their job was at!" Mira said with her usual smile but the news made Makarov pale like a ghost. "The council already demands a written apology! Huh? What's wrong, Master?"

"I can't afford to retire!" Makarov shouted into the night sky.

"Oh, my…" Mira said with a chuckle before walking away.

"It seems my little sister is being a handful." Itachi said standing behind a pillar that was behind Makarov.

"Promise me, when you begin to go on jobs with them to at least contain the destruction so that I won't have to go in an early grave." Makarov said.

"With those guys, I think it will be mostly impossible. Besides at your age at this point if you die, you would have lived a long life." Itachi said with a small chuckle.

"Unlike you." Makarov said in a sad tone.

"…."

"You're only 21 and you're already dying yet an old man like me is still alive. The world can be so unfair." Makarov said looking into the night sky.

"I actually died a 21-year-old man in my old world too." Itachi said.

"You're such a kind and gentle soul Itachi… From the moment I saw you I thought you would be the next guild master. But I guess fate has something else in mind." Makarov said clenching his fist a little in anger.

"It wouldn't have mattered anyway, I would have turned the offer down regardless of my condition." Itachi said.

"What happened to the last herb? The one you couldn't find?" Makarov asked.

"…. I went to the field where they were supposed to be, only to find the field to be burned out." Itachi replied.

"Burned out? How?" Makarov questioned.

"Believe it or not, but the locals said it was a dragon." Itachi replied as the wind blew powerfully around them and everything else got silent.

"A dragon? Did you tell Natsu about this?" Makarov questioned.

"I asked the locals what this dragon looked like. And they said it was a black winged dragon with some blue markings on it's body." Itachi replied.

"Well, at least it wasn't Natsu's dragon. But why would he burn out that field?" Makarov questioned.

"I have no idea. But apparently that flower may exist somewhere else, once I get my medicine from Porlyusica I will go out and look for it." Itachi said.

"I still think you should ask the others for help. You can't do everything on your own." Makarov reminded Itachi of his own words what he once said to a certain blond shinobi.

"Using my own words against me now, master?" Itachi questioned.

"If it will make you accept the others help, then yes." Makarov replied.

"I have help, I have you, Porlyusica, Mystogan and everyone else here at the guild to cheer me up." Itachi said.

"In a case like this my boy, I think you're going to need more help then that." Makarov argued.

"I'll work something out. For now, there's no need for the others to know." Itachi said and vanished.

"Forget about all the destruction reports. It's that boy that will worry me to death." Makarov said and looked up to the night sky before taking another sip of his beer.

Time skip

"A play? Erza, Natsu, Gray and Lucy will be in a play?" Itachi questioned sitting at the bar counter talking to Mira.

"Yes, their other job didn't go so well so I gave Lucy an easy one." Mira replied with her usual smile.

"Erza, Natsu and Gray in a play. How do you not see the problem of that?" Itachi asked.

"What do you mean?" Mira questioned.

"Erza is so nervous in front of a crowd that she will most likely forget all her lines, Gray will not be able to wear any of the costumes and end up striping in front of everyone watching, and Natsu can't go for a second without destroying anything." Itachi replied with his deadpan expression.

"Oh come on, it will be fun." Mira said with a pleading smile for Itachi to come along.

"You still have a little bit of demon in you I see." Itachi commented.

"Come on, don't you want to see your cute little sister in a play?" Mira asked.

"If I did show up and everything got destroyed she would feel so embarrassed and go on like this; I have brought shame upon you onii-chan! Or something like that and she would beg me to hit her for her stupidity." Itachi replied.

"So in other words, you're not going?" Mira questioned.

"Oh, no I'm going." Itachi replied.

A few hours later.

The theater was reduced to rubble at the end of their performance. And everything went exactly as Itachi said it would. The only thing he didn't count on was that the audience actually liked it. "Well things didn't go quite as I expected, but I was mostly right." Itachi said laying in the rubble with Mira and several others.

"Oh my…" Mira said with her usual smile and chuckle.

"Why does this keep happening?" Makarov questioned also laying in the rubble.

"Macky, hurry up and retire." Yajima said also laying in the rubble.

"Onii-chan please hit me!" Erza said popping her head out from the rubble.

"Told you." Itachi said looking at Mira whom let out a nervous laugh.

Time skip

"It's over, at this rate I won't be able to pay my rent." Lucy cried on the bar counter.

"Is it really that bad?" Mira asked.

"Natsu and Gray destroys everything in their path, and don't even get me started with Erza." Lucy cried.

"I'm sure things will work out somehow." Mira assured with a nervous smile.

"With those three things never work out the way it's suppose- EEEEPPP!" Lucy squealed when a kunai hit the counter right next to her, and it had a job request attached to it. "What the hell?! I could have been killed!" Lucy shouted.

"You want to earn money enough to pay your rent, right?" Itachi questioned now standing behind the blond celestial wizard.

"What's this?" Lucy questioned and looked at the job request attached to the kunai. "Take out a group of bandits, reward 200000 Jewels!"

"You, me, Erza, Natsu, Gray and Happy will go on this job." Itachi simply said before walking away. "Meet us by the Magnolia train station in one hour."

"Hey wait!" Lucy shouted but to no avail.

"Looks like you've been chosen for a test." Mira said with a chuckle.

"A test?" Lucy questioned.

"Itachi tends to take new members of the guild on a job to see what their capable of." Mira replied.

"Really?" Lucy questioned.

"I remember when he took me on a job, it was awesome. He was so cool." Mira said remembering the first job Itachi took her to which was an S-class job.

"He didn't destroy the town that sent the request did he?" Lucy asked hoping that Itachi wouldn't be like Erza, Natsu and Gray.

"No, but he did end up destroying a good part of the forest were that monster was." Mira replied.

"What kind of job was this?" Lucy asked.

"An S-class job." Mira replied with her usual carefree smile.

"S-class?!" Lucy questioned in shock.

An hour later: Magnolia train station

Everyone was waiting for the train to arrive despite Natsu's constant protest. Erza was showing stars in her eyes at the fact that she got to go on a job with her big brother.

On the train Natsu suffered from motion sickness as always, and Itachi was going over the plan. "Okay, the bandits lair is in a castle a few miles from the train station we will be exiting. Now we want to end this as quickly as possible, and since no one owns that castle ever since it was taken over by the bandits you're free to destroy the entire thing if you want. As for how we're going to split the reward, I suggest Lucy gets the most since you three have ruined every single job she has been on." Itachi said much to Lucy's joy.

"Hey that's not fair." Gray protested.

"Aye, no fair." Happy agreed.

"Happy isn't getting anything from the reward." Itachi said.

"What why?!" Happy asked.

"You and Natsu live together, you fish after all your meals and you don't wear clothes. In other words you don't need it." Itachi bluntly stated.

"No fair!" Happy wined.

"Do you have a problem with my onii-chan's orders?" Erza asked in a scary tone holding out a sword.

"N-No!" Happy shouted in fear.

"Good." Erza said and put her sword away.

"Now Lucy will get 50000, Gray will get 40000 same as Erza and Natsu and I will get 30000." Itachi said to which they all agreed. "By the way, Erza where do you live now?"

"Fairy Hills. I had to get a new place to live since you sold our old apartment." Erza replied.

"Well it's good that you've found a place of your own." Itachi said.

"Where do you live then?" Erza asked.

"Nowhere." Itachi replied.

"What?! You must have a place to live! I know come and live with me!" Erza said no more like demanded.

"Fairy Hills is for girls only. Besides I will find a place of my own." Itachi said turning down Erza's offer.

"Then I will come and live with you!" Erza demanded.

"No, your fine where you live now. Besides it's good for you to be more independent." Itachi again turned Erza down.

Once they arrived they walked over to the castle where the bandits were. Natsu wanted to charge in the front door but Itachi dragged him into a bush along with the others. "I wanna rampage on them, come on!" Natsu complained.

"We should sneak in and attack them quietly from the inside first before we rampage." Itachi said.

"Well Itachi's strategy is better, and that way we'll at least be done faster." Gray said not noticing a certain blue haired rain woman hiding behind a tree looking at him.

"But I wanna beat them all up!" Natsu complained.

"Oh come on Natsu, don't you want to go in stealthy like a ninja?" Itachi asked knowing what was going to happen.

"N-Ninja?" Natsu questioned with stars in his eyes.

"Yes Ninjas." Itachi said. "And what do ninjas do? They attack quietly."

"Ninja." Natsu said now with his scarf wrapped around his face like a mask.

"Aye. Ninja." Happy said standing back to back with Natsu.

"Okay then." Itachi said and looked at the castle. "We will sneak in through that window and take out anyone that gets in our way, but quietly. We don't want anyone to escape." Itachi ordered. "Lucy, Erza you will wait by the front door until you get the signal, then you will burst in and take those who are left out."

"What signal?" Lucy questioned.

"Let's just say the bandits will be wondering why three strangers and a blue cat are in there." Itachi said as he raised his hand. "Go." Itachi lowered his hand and vanished at high speed moving up the wall of the castle towards the window.

"Let's go Happy, like ninjas." Natsu said with his hands in a hand sign.

"Aye, ninjas." Happy said and lifted Natsu flying towards the window.

Gray used his ice magic to make a ladder and climbed towards the window. While Erza and Lucy went on standby at the front door.

Itachi jumped in through the window first and saw that most bandits were gathered down stairs having a party. While some of them were on the second floor having a few drinks while at the top floor there was no one. "Okay let's go." Itachi whispered to Natsu, Happy and Gray as they climbed in the window.

Shadow clone!

Itachi made ten shadow clones of himself. "You all know what to do?" Itachi asked his clones to which they all nodded and then they vanished. "Alright first we have my clones secure any escape route the bandits can take, then we charge at the group on the first floor, then Erza and Lucy will join the party." A crow then flew in from the window and landed on Itachi's shoulder. "Is everything set?" Itachi asked the crow to which it nodded. "Okay then let's go." Itachi said as he jumped down to the first floor.

"Ninja style!" Natsu shouted gaining the bandits attention.

"Let's go!" Gray jumped down as well.

"Aye!" Happy said and flew after them.

"Who the hell are you guys?!" A bandit shouted then was kicked in the face by Itachi.

The front door then busted open with a bull holding and axe. "Let's go Taurus!" Lucy said as the bull charged.

"MMMMMOOOOO! My pleasure Lucy!" Taurus charged at the bandits knocking several of them out.

"We are from Fairy Tail!" Erza shouted and charged at the group of bandits.

Fire Dragon: Roar!

Natsu breathed out a wave of flames blowing up a large area of the castle.

Ice make: Cannon!

Gray made a cannon out of ice and blasted a wave of bandits with it.

Itachi leaped in the air and threw several kunais with paper bomb tags attached to them.

Later

The whole castle had been reduced to rubble and the bandits had been captured. "In the end they destroyed the castle." Lucy said looking at the rubble.

"Just give up about not wanting them to destroy things on jobs, it's going to happen regardless. So my advice for the future pick jobs that doesn't require them to start a fight at the client's area." Itachi said as he gathered the reward money from a village leader from the village the bandits have been robing. Itachi then went over to Lucy, Natsu, Erza, Gray and Happy. "Lucy here's your part of the reward, here's yours Erza, Gray, Natsu and Happy. And this is mine." Itachi said handing out everyone's share of the reward.

"Is it okay for you to take so little compared to the rest of us?" Lucy asked.

"Don't worry, I already gained a large reward for my two yearlong mission I don't really need anything else. In fact, you guys can have my share if you want?" Itachi offered.

"No, we would feel bad if you didn't get your share of the reward. The job was your idea and it was your plan." Lucy said.

"Argh! I haven't rampaged enough!" Natsu said still wanting to fight.

"No, you've already done enough." Gray said not noticing the blue haired rain woman staring at him from behind a rock.

"No I haven't!" Natsu shouted then locked his eyes on Itachi. "Itachi! Fight me!" Natsu charged at Itachi with his fist covered in flames. Itachi turned around and punched Natsu with the back of his hand knocking the pink haired dragon slayer out.

"Huh? Isn't that Loke?" Happy questioned spotting the guilds famous playboy.

"Huh?" Loke questioned a little surprised to run into them like this. "What a coincidence!"

"You have work out here?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah. You guys too? Gah! Lucy!" Loke began to back away a little as Lucy approached him.

"Perfect timing! I wanted to thank you for finding-" Lucy said.

"Well, I got work to do! Bye!" Loke said and ran away as fast as he could.

"Wh-What was his deal?!" Lucy questioned with a sweat drop.

"What did you do to him?" Gray questioned.

"He's avoiding you like crazy." Natsu said.

"I didn't do anything!" Lucy shouted.

Itachi looked at his crow. "Go." Itachi said and the crow flew in Loke's direction.

Loke was resting under a tree, he picked up a flower that all of the sudden died out the moment he picked it up. "Problem?" Itachi's voice was heard, Loke turned to the source to spot the one person in the guild that actually rivaled his charms when it came to ladies.

"What do you want?" Loke questioned.

"Simple. I want to know what you are." Itachi replied.

"…."

"…."

"What do you mean, I'm Loke just Loke." Loke replied looking a little nervous.

"So it's only coincidence that you have similar energy signatures to celestial spirits?" Itachi questioned.

"Wh-What do you mean?" Loke questioned pretending to not knowing what Itachi was talking about.

"My eyes can see magic power as colors, and I can't help but notice that yours is similar to Lucy's celestial spirits. There's no use trying to hide it." Itachi said.

"…..Fine I'm a celestial spirit." Loke admitted.

"Then why are you here and not in the celestial spirit world?" Itachi questioned.

"I-I broke a rule, so I can't go back…" Loke said.

"So your slowly dying correct?" Itachi asked.

"Can you see that too?" Loke questioned.

"No, just a theory I had which you just confirmed." Itachi replied.

"Heh, Laxus was right, you really are a sneaky one." Loke said with a weak chuckle.

"So, let me guess the rule you broke involves your former celestial wizard, hence you're afraid of getting near Lucy." Itachi said to which Loke nodded. "I see. I just have one thing to say to you."

"…."

"Trust more in your friends." Itachi said and vanished in a pack of crows.

Meanwhile back with the others. "Well, guess we should head home!" Gray said.

"Say, since we finished our job early and all, what do you say we take it easy at a spa?!" Lucy suggested.

"Lucy!" Erza said which made Natsu, Gray and Lucy pale.

"Y-Yes?!" Lucy said out of fear.

"That's a great idea." Erza said to which the pale gang let out a sigh of relief.

Time skip: At the spa

Itachi took a nice relaxing bath in the hot springs. "This is a nice feeling."

"Incoming!" Natsu shouted.

"Aye!" Happy shouted as they both cannonballed into the water.

"And the relaxation is over." Itachi said with a deadpan expression as water spurted in his face.

"Ah, it's hot." Gray complained.

"Guess a hot spring isn't the ideal relaxation for an ice mage." Itachi said.

"Yeah, this is torture." Gray said as Natsu and Happy simply had their super fun time. "So I've been meaning to ask, what did you do for two years?"

"…..Mostly herb hunting for Porlyusica. That and some training." Itachi replied.

"Learned anything new?" Gray questioned.

"Actually yes. I've learned how to combine a few elements into making something new. Although I'm not that skilled at it yet." Itachi replied.

"Oh, can you give me a hint?" Gray asked.

"Let's just say if I combine my water style techniques with my wind style I get ice. And if I combine water with earth I get wood style." Itachi replied.

"Oh so you've learned some ice techniques. Show me." Gray said.

"I'm much better at using wood style but I guess I can show you one little thing." Itachi said as he focused his energy into his palm and formed an ice needle. "It's not much, but I don't want to destroy this place so…" Itachi said and threw the ice needle into a tree just like a kunai.

"Well at least you've gotten stronger. Do you think you're stronger then Gildarts now?" Gray asked with a smirk.

"I don't know, maybe I will test him once he get's back. Then again a hundred years is a long time." Itachi said.

"He said he would finish after three years though, and it's been three years he could be back at any moment." Gray said.

"I wonder if that's enough time." Itachi muttered as he felt a stabbing pain in his chest, but he kept his calm expression up regardless.

"Hm? Did you say something?" Gray asked.

"No, it's nothing." Itachi replied.

After the bath they went into the rooms. "Let's get started!" Natsu said holding a pillow.

"Uppa!" Happy said also holding a pillow.

"What's all the ruckus? I'm sleepy here…" Gray said.

"I agree I'm sleepy as well." Itachi said already laying in his futon.

"C'mon, man! Look! This is an inn! You gotta have a pillow beating if you're staying at an inn!" Natsu pointed out.

"You mean a pillow fight." Gray said.

"Who would be stupid enough for that." Itachi muttered.

"I've seized all the superior-quality pillows." Erza said entering the room with Lucy.

"Superior-quality…?" Lucy questioned.

"And there's my answer." Itachi muttered.

"You're goin' down, Erza!" Natsu shouted and threw a pillow.

"Sheesh." Gray said when Erza who was in front of him dodged Natsu's pillow so that it hit Gray in the face. "Dammit, Natsu!" Gray shouted then spotted a pile of pillows next to him. "Oh! Where did these pillows come from?!"

"Better question is… How did she steal mine when I was sleeping on it?" Itachi questioned spotting Juvia who was hiding behind a rock with a pillow in her arm.

Gray then threw a pillow hitting Natsu directly in the face. "You're next, Erza!" Gray threw the pillow but Erza simply caught it.

"Not bad." Erza complimented.

"All right! Maybe I should join in!" Lucy said as three pillows hit her in the face.

They kept throwing pillows at each other, then suddenly. Natsu threw a pillow at Gray who dodged it then the pillow hit Itachi in the face. Making Natsu, Gray, Happy even Erza to sweat a little as Itachi sat up with the pillow on his face. As the pillow slowly fell of his face it revealed his annoyed expression. This made Natsu, Gray, Happy even Erza to shake in fear. "Sleep, now!" Itachi ordered.

""Y-Yes!"" The four of them shouted in unison.

Time skip: Back at the guild hall

Natsu and Gray were covered in some bandages as they both stared each other down revealing a menacing vibe around them. "What's with them?" Elfman questioned.

"Apparently they got hurt during a pillow fight after work!" Mira replied in her usual smile and carefree expression.

"How can a pillow fight cause such serious injuries?" Elfman questioned.

"It wasn't the pillows." Itachi commented.

"Because that you were so worked up during the pillow fight Itachi got mad at us, and look what happened!" Gray shouted.

"You gave it your all too snow princess!" Natsu shouted back.

"Yeah! Well you threw the pillow at him!" Gray shouted back.

"I threw it at you, you dodged it!" Natsu shouted back.

"Doesn't matter because I totally won that pillow fight anyway!" Gray shouted.

"Huh?! I won you striping pervert!" Natsu shouted.

""Lucy! I won, didn't I?!"" They both turned towards the blond celestial mage.

"Shut up." Lucy said in a pissed of tone scaring Gray and Natsu.

""W-We're sorry…"" They both apologized in unison.

"Wow. I thought Erza and Itachi were the only people who could stop those two…" Mira said with surprise in her voice.

"She's a real man." Elfman commented.

"She can't be a real man if she's a girl." Itachi corrected.

"Hey! Is Loke here?!" A group of girls came up to the counter asking Mira. "Where is he?!"

"Loke is just terrible!" Another girl said.

"Who are all of you?!" One of the girls questioned.

"No, who are you?!" Another girl retorted.

"Loke! Where are you?!"

"What's going on?" Lucy questioned.

"Their girls from the town. It sounds like they each think they're Loke's girlfriend." Happy replied.

"He suddenly wanted to break up last night!"

"Urgh! I hate to admit it, but me too!"

"Same here!"

"Me too!"

"Why would he suddenly do this?!"

"I-I'm not sure…" Mira replied nervously.

"Did he suddenly find his true love?!"

"No…" Mira said but was bombarded with another question.

"Who is she?! Is she in this guild?!"

"Lucy! Help!" Mira begged for help which made the girls turn their attention towards her.

"Who's she?!" A girl questioned in anger.

"She's kind of cute." Another girl said in jealousy.

"She's got huge boobs!" Another girl said with jealousy.

"I bet she's Loke's true love…!"

"Argh! Don't dump me into such a complicated mess! Mira!" Lucy shouted and ran away.

"Now relax girls, I'm sure Loke will be here any minute, just calm down." Itachi said trying to calm them down. The girls turned their attention towards him and instantly gained hearts in their eyes.

"Hey who are you? Are you new in this guild?" One of the girls asked now that they had all surrounded Itachi.

"U-Um no. I've just been gone on a job for a while." Itachi replied beginning to feel uncomfortable.

"Oh, you must be very strong for being gone so long?" One of the girls that was hugging his arm questioned.

"Um, well yeah…" Itachi simply said.

"Hey! Want to go somewhere and have fun?" One of the girls asked.

"I'm kind of busy." Itachi said.

""Eh! Come on! Just a little fun!"" The girls all said in unison.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Um, Itachi Uchiha." Itachi replied as Mira began to look annoyed at this scene.

"Ah, what a manly name!"

"Can I call you Itachi?"

"Can I to?"

"Me to?"

"Yeah can we?" The girls asked.

"Um, um, I um." Itachi didn't know how to respond. "Later!" Itachi said as he vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Where did he go?!"

"Itachi come back!" The girls said and began to run outside to look for him.

"Their gone." Mira said as Itachi's head popped out from behind the counter.

"That was close." Itachi said with a sweat drop.

Time skip

The night had come and Itachi was in the park when suddenly the hooded figure known as Mystogan showed up. "You wanted to talk?" Mystogan asked.

"Yeah, I did." Itachi replied.

"Is this about your cure?" Mystogan questioned.

"No, I wanted to ask you about something else." Itachi replied.

"What?" Mystogan asked.

"Anima, any news on it?" Itachi asked.

"Not yet. Why do you ask?" Mystogan questioned.

"…."

"It's about her, right?" Mystogan questioned.

"Lisanna." Itachi simply said.

"I will admit it's true, the way you described what happened to her sounds like anima. But it's a good chance that it isn't." Mystogan said.

"But it's the best information we got." Itachi said.

"What do you even plan to do if I tell you were it will appear next?" Mystogan questioned.

"What else, I plan to go in there, grab Lisanna, and get out." Itachi replied.

"It's not that easy." Mystogan said.

"I never said it would be easy." Itachi said.

"Shouldn't you focus on your cure for now. Instead of going after Lisanna who could already have been killed in Edolas for all we know." Mystogan said.

"Let's face it, none of us are probably going to find the last herb. So let's face it, I'm a dead man walking. The least I could do is bring Lisanna back before I die." Itachi said and looked up into the night sky.

"You shouldn't give up just like that, there's still a good chance that we can find it." Mystogan said.

"Mystogan, in my first year of that trip, I had already gathered the herbs I have now given Porlyusica. You know what that means?" Itachi asked.

"….."

"I searched a whole year to find that last herb, and I couldn't find it. It doesn't exist anymore in this world." Itachi said. "I will use the medicine that Porlyusica is making me to buy me some time, once I find Lisanna and bring her back. I will most likely die." Itachi said as a leaf blew from the wind into his hand. "At least my final act, will be a good one." Itachi said when suddenly they heard people from their guild in the distance shouting for Loke. "Seems our guilds playboy has left the guild."

"Do you intend to look for him?" Mystogan asked.

"Nah, it's not my place, besides there's only one girl that can help him now." Itachi said with a smile as the leaf blew out from his hand. "Thanks for the talk, let me know when you learn of anima's next location."

"I will." Mystogan said as he vanished.

"Guess I should go and watch the aftermath of the show." Itachi said and vanished as well.

Itachi leaped on some trees and eventually landed on a tree branch. He looked down and saw Loke and Lucy standing on a cliff with a waterfall surrounding, in front of them was a grave that had the Blue Pegasus guild mark on it. And with the name "Karen" engraved on it. "So this is his former owners grave. He's the celestial spirit Leo the lion. So he's master died, and for some reason he acts like it's his fault and that's why he's afraid of getting close to any other celestial wizard." Itachi said to himself.

"That is the crime I committed… Once a person's life is lost, it can never be recovered. When someone dies, they're gone forever. The only way for me to atone is to disappear forever too…" Itachi could hear Loke's words to Lucy then he suddenly saw Loke fall down and beginning to look transparent.

"Loke?! Hey…!" Lucy went over to Loke's side.

"I-I guess it's here…" Loke said weakly.

"What is?!" Lucy questioned.

"The time for me to be no more…" Loke replied.

"What are you saying?!" Lucy said.

"I've been unable to return to the spirit world ever since that day…" Loke said as his hands looked like they were about to vanish.

"Y-Your hands!" Lucy said in a worried tone.

"This is basic principle of the spirit world. It's a rule… There's nothing that can be done. Karen's never left my thoughts since that day… I tried all sort of things to distract myself, but I was never able to forget. I lived each and every day waiting for this moment… The moment I cease to exist in front of Karen's grave… And now the time has finally come… But…in the very end I was able to meet a wonderful celestial wizard like you… Thank you, Lucy…" Loke said ready to embrace death.

"Wait! I will save you! Don't give up!" Lucy said.

'As things are now she's the only one who can save him' Itachi thought continuing to watch the scene.

"Take care of everyone in Fairy Tail for me…" Loke said his final wish.

"No!" Lucy hit her fist into the ground.

"Lucy…" Loke said weakly.

"I refuse to accept this! If you can just get back to the spirit world you can recover your life force in no time! I will send you back there!" Lucy declared.

"You can't… Rules are rules…" Loke said.

"But…this isn't right! You didn't kill Karen! It was just an unfortunate accident!" Lucy said and hugged Loke.

"Lucy…"

"Open, Gate of the Lion! Let Loke back into the celestial spirit world! Open…! Please! Open…" Lucy begged.

"Lucy… It's okay… Stop…" Loke begged.

"It's not okay!" Lucy argued. "I can't just ignore a friend and let him disappear before my very eyes!" Lucy said as suddenly a large amount of light energy appeared around them. "Open, Gate of the Lion!"

"Lucy! You can't use that much magic all at once!" Loke warned.

"I told you! I will save you! I will force… the celestial spirit door….open!" Lucy said.

"Stop!" Loke begged.

"Open, Gate of the Lion! Open!" Lucy shouted as more magic power was released.

"H-Her magic power…may be almost as powerful as Erza's and Mira's…" Itachi muttered watching at the release of magic power from Lucy.

"It won't open! Spirits who've caused a contract holder's death can't return to the spirit world! Stop! You're starting to assimilate with me! You'll disappear too if you don't stop now!" Loke warned as Lucy looked like she was about to disappear as well.

"You're not going to die! I won't let you! What's the point of magic if you can't use it to protect your friends?!" Lucy said.

"Stop…! Don't make my crime even worse!" Loke begged.

"How is this a crime?! If that's the rule of the spirit world, then I'm gonna change it!" Lucy shouted when suddenly a force of power pushed them away from each other. The waterfall began going upwards as a large hole opened in the sky letting out a huge light. "What is that?!" Lucy questioned.

"No, it can't be…! The Celestial Spirit King?!" Loke questioned in shock at a giant humanoid spirit clad in full set of plate armor, and he had a ridiculous long thick white mustache that honestly looked like nose hair.

"Huh?!" Lucy questioned.

"So that's the Celestial Spirit King?" Itachi questioned to himself as he remained hidden.

"What's he doing here…?!" Loke questioned in confusion.

"King? Meaning he's the most powerful of the spirits?!" Lucy questioned.

Old friend…" The Celestial Spirit King spoke. "Under our agreement with humans, taking life of a key holder is forbidden. Although it was not by direct involvement, you did commit this act, Leo the Lion. Therefore, you are not allowed to return to the celestial spirit world."

"Hold on! Don't you think that's a bit unfair?!" Lucy questioned to the spirit King.

"S-Stop Lucy!" Loke warned.

"Old friend… Human girl… That law is immutable." The Spirit King said.

"So he's here because she said she was going to change the rule?" Itachi questioned continuing to watch in hiding.

"Three years! Loke has suffered for three long years! He did it for Aries! One of his own! He had no choice!" Lucy pointed out.

"Hearing my old friend's wish pains me greatly as well…" The Spirit King said.

"Don't be stupid! He's not an old friend! He's a friend standing in front of you right now! Listen for a change, you old mustache man!" Lucy shouted making Loke pale and although they didn't see it, it made Itachi snicker a little.

"Mustache…?" The Spirit King questioned.

"L-Lucy…" Loke said.

"This was an unfortunate accident! Loke wasn't at fault! I won't accept anything but an innocent verdict! I… refuse to accept anything else!" Lucy shouted.

"That's enough, Lucy… I don't want anyone's forgiveness… I just want to atone for my crime! I just want to cease to exist!" Loke shouted as tears ran down his cheeks.

"You can't!" Lucy shouted as she let out a huge amount of magic power that even surprised the Spirit King. "You disappearing won't bring Karen back! It'll only cause even more sadness! It isn't a crime! Caring for your own isn't a crime!" Lucy shouted as all her celestial spirits appeared behind her. "If you cease to be, you'll only leave me, Aries, and everyone here with even more sorrow to bear! That… won't atone for anything!" Lucy said as her spirits vanished and she passed out.

"Lucy!" Loke said.

Lucy then struggled to get back up. "All my friends who showed themselves just now feel the same way…" Lucy said.

"Friends…?" Loke questioned.

"If you're a spirit, then you understand how Loke and Aries feel too!" Lucy said to the spirit King.

"Lucy! You're being to reckless! Are you trying to make the same mistake Karen did?!" Loke questioned.

"If you will go to such lengths to say this, then perhaps it is the law that is wrong. Leo, you committed this crime for Aries, one of your brethren… And you, old friend who tried to save Leo… Out of consideration for that beautiful bond, I hereby make an exception for this incident and grant you, Leo, return passage to the celestial spirit world." The Celestial Spirit King granted.

"You're not bad after all, old mustache man!" Lucy said with a smile which The Spirit King returned.

"You are exonerated. Be grateful for the guidance of the stars." The Celestial Spirit King said and began to vanish.

"Please wait… I…!" Loke begged.

"If you still wish to atone for what you have done, then I order you to live your life serving your friend. She is that valuable of a friend to have. Protect her with your life!" The Celestial Spirit King said as the hole in the sky vanished and the waterfall began flowing down once more.

"There you have it!" Lucy said.

"Lucy." Loke said as tears ran down his face.

"Yeah…" Lucy grabbed Loke's hand.

"Thank you… Lucy…" Loke vanished back into the spirit world and now Lucy had gained a new golden key.

"Guess that's that." Itachi said and began walking back to the guild. "Just like I thought, only a celestial wizard can save a celestial spirit." Itachi said. After some walking Itachi arrived back into the town and was now outside of the guildhall, where Mira, Natsu anf Gray were gathered.

"Itachi, Loke's gone have you seen him?" Mira asked.

"Yeah, he's with Lucy. He's fine." Itachi replied and walked in to the construction area of the new guildhall. "They will be here any moment now, so let's go inside and wait."

Later on when Lucy arrived back Loke came out from the Celestial Spirit world.

"A celestial spirit?!" Natsu questioned in shock.

"You are?!" Gray questioned.

"yep. That's right." Loke replied.

"Ah, so that's why everything felt off when we switched places before!" Natsu said as he inspected Loke.

"Yep!" Loke said.

"I had no idea at all…" Gray said.

"But how come you're not a cow, or a horse or anything?" Natsu questioned.

"You know Virgo. She has a human form too. Loke replied as an image of a maid with short pink hair and blue eyes came to mind.

"No, she can turn into a gorilla too." Natsu said.

"Oh, yeah, you're right." Loke said.

"Loke is a lion spirit." Lucy explained.

"Lion?!" Natsu questioned.

"A grown up cat!" Happy said.

"That's right!" Loke said.

"No, it isn't!" Lucy corrected.

"So cool." Happy said now on Loke's shoulder.

"But are you in good enough shape to be here?" Gray questioned.

"I'm not in tip-top shape yet, but I wanted to come say hello. Plus, I couldn't wait to see Lucy again." Loke said as Lucy gained a small blush.

"In loooooove!" Happy teased.

"Don't talk like that!" Lucy said in an annoyed tone.

"Now then, let's discuss our future together!" Loke said carrying Lucy out in bridal style despite her struggling.

"Hey! Let me down!" Lucy shouted.

"She's so lucky. I wish I had a celestial spirit too!" Natsu said.

"What kind?" Happy questioned.

"A dragon of course! I could try out my dragon slayer magic on it!" Natsu replied.

"You don't call celestial spirits to test your strength on them!" Lucy scolded having escaped Loke's arms.

"You're right. They're for talking about love-" Loke now had his arm wrapped around Lucy's shoulder.

"You should go now. You're not in full health yet, remember?" Lucy reminded.

"Just a minute." Loke brought out five tickets and gave them to Lucy.

"What are these?" Lucy questioned.

"Tickets to a resort hotel. You did so much for me, so…" Loke said.

"The beach!" Lucy said in excitement.

"Oh!" Natsu said holding his ticket.

"Fish!" Happy cheered.

"I've never stayed… in such an expensive hotel!" Gray said holding his ticket.

"A vacation might not be a bad idea." Itachi said holding his ticket.

"I gave one to Erza too. Go enjoy yourselves." Loke said.

"All of you! What are you loitering for?! Do you want to be left behind?!" Erza asked having already packed and even wearing her beach outfit, which consisted of a blue Hawaiian shirt, a light blue straw hat, hot pants, and a floating ring.

""Talk about fast!"" Gary and Lucy shouted in unison.

"All right! Let's go! I'm ready to go right now!" Natsu said.

"Same here!" Happy said.

"You idiots! I need to pack first!" Gray said.

"Lucy. The fact that I committed a crime hasn't changed, but you've given me the courage to move forward. I'm a member of Fairy Tail, but I'm your celestial spirit, first and foremost. You're my owner. I'll be there for you whenever you're in trouble. You can rely on me to be your knight in shining armor." Loke said.

"I'm not your owner. I'm your friend!" Lucy corrected.

"Yeah! I'm glad to be working with you, Lucy!" Loke said and vanished into the spirit world.

"I'm glad to be working with you too, Loke!" Lucy said.

"We're about to leave, Lucy." Erza informed.

"You know, Erza. If I ever caused one of us to get hurt or lose their life, I think I would suffer like Loke did too. But there's nothing to worry about, is there? If we all work together, we can overcome any though situation, can't we?" Lucy said.

"That's well said." Erza said with a smile.

"C'mon, already! Let's get going!" Natsu said.

"Aye, sir!" Happy agreed.

"We're gonna have so much fun a day or two won't be enough!" Gray said.

"All right. It was kind of Loke to do this. Let's have lots of fun!" Erza said.

""Aye, sir!"" They cheered.

Itachi stood in the corner with a handkerchief in his hand as he brought it up to his face. *Cough! *Cough! Itachi coughed into the handkerchief and when he looked at it, he saw stains of blood. "Let's go onii-chan!" Erza said gaining Itachi's attention.

"Yeah, coming." Itachi said as he threw the handkerchief in the garbage can.