Chapter 51.6- And so the Dragons Danced

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His whole body hurt. That was the first thing he noticed the second he woke up. He felt his ribs ache with each breath he took. There was a tightness in his throat as well. The explosion must have hit him hard he realised. Especially because he could feel a bed beneath him. How long had he been out for. It hurt to open his eyes but he did so either way. When he did, he was met with the sight of a woman. She was in her late twenties or early thirties, he reckoned. And she was definitely the source of the soothing sensation he felt across his lower half.

“Ho-how lo—“ he struggled to get the words out.

“Hold on. Your throat is still in quite a state. Just sit tight, General” She said, and tapped him on the forehead.

He didn’t come to until what felt like much later. It had to be, because his whole body felt much better. And now, when he opened his eyes, there wasn’t a woman there, but a very familiar man.

“Nat-Natsu?” It still hurt to speak, but it was a different kind of pain.

“Toji? You’re up? His friend was at his side in a matter of seconds and practically shoving water down his throat. He drank slowly as he ran his eyes down his friend’s body. He looked good. Not a scratch on him.

“What happened?”

“A fool” Natsu replied instantly. There it was. That quiet rage that made him the best killer the world would ever see.

“More detail than that” He said with a chuckle. A chuckle that made his ribs tingle in a manner that was far from pleasant.

“The barrels had blasting jelly in them. I’m surprised none of us noticed the smell to be honest. But the fool set off a chain reaction with one of them and blew an entire street sky high. An attempt to kill me that ” He said.

“Did you get him?” Natsu smiled, a savage, brutal thing.

“Of course. He was stupid enough to come and try to confirm his kill. He wielded a rope dart with more competence than most but it availed him little. I enjoyed the feeling of his blood running down my arm” He said.

“And casualties?”

“You and I are the only ones who survived” He said.

“You and I? Your Grandfather?” Natsu just shook his head, eyes cold.

“I’m sorry”

“You didn’t do this.”

“Of course, I didn’t. But I’m still sorry”

“Just get better and come help us. Maki, Toph, and I are doing the best we can, but we need you” He said.

“I’ll be there. And Zhufu?” If he couldn’t reach his friend in this pain, then he had to rely on someone who could.

“What about her?”

“Have you finally been to see her?” Natsu sighed and ran a hand through his hair. So no, then.

“Surely you don’t blame her for what happened” He asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“It’s yourself you blame then” He said, seeing in his friend’s eyes that he was right.

“I should never have let her go”

“And what could a newly commissioned Captain have done to stop it? Stop being silly, Natsu. Go talk to the girl” he admonished.

Natsu sighed. Then he sighed again, before turning and leaving. Hopefully to Zhufu’s rooms.

He, in turn, began to think. Two assassination attempts in close proximity. There had to be something there to explain it. Some common thread. Both the would-be assassins were dead, yes, but he had a name for one of them at least. Baki. He just had to dig into it.