Carnelia

Natsu sighes when he hears her response.

"Fool..."

A sad expression goes across his face but only for a second.

"Tch..."

The blade shoots back into his sleeve and he turns around and jumps on the wall.
Then he uses the windows and balconey's to make his way to the roof.
When he reaches the roof he quickly looks down at the people below him.

Tsukiko's eyebrow raises with a confused expression when she see's his sad expression but sighs when it is gone the next second and she closes her eyes waiting for him to hit her with the knife. But she opens her right eye again when she hears his blade go back, and she looks up at him confused to see him jump up onto the building where the guards quickly run to her.

"T-Tsukiko-sama.... thank goodness your safe...."

The guard breathes with a serious expression before Tsukiko looks up to the rooftop to look at Natsu and a warm smile goes across her face while the other guard looks up with a growl.

"We have to go after him...."

He says angerly but Tsukiko looks back to the guard and shakes her head.

"No.... leave him be..."

Tsukiko says in a calm tone while she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. The guards look at her confused when she starts to walk to the entry of the ally way.

"B-But you highness.... he could have-"

She looks at him with a serious expression and sighs as if she knew what he was going to say.

"Yes... "could have"... but he didn't.... therefore.... no crime has been committed.... and I won't let you arrest him on that charge.... now if you please... I am sure my... "step" mother would love to hear what I have gotten into today..."

Tsukiko says while the guards look at her dumbfounded but sighs before bowing and they start leading her toward the castle.

"As you wish...."

He says sounding a little offended but quickly leads her safely through the crowd and they disappear through the castle gates while the crowd soon disperse once they saw Tsukiko was out of harms way.

Natsu looks down at Tsukiko with a calm expression before he turns around and dissappears out of their sight.
Then he jumps down off the roof and lands on a balconey.

"There's only one way to find that guy now."

He whispers when he jumps on the railling and then jumps to the building across him and grabs one of the stones so that he can climb up.

"Where did she go?"

Natsu thought when he climbs on the same building until he reaches the top and looks around while he puts the hood back on.

Tsukiko walks with the guards until the entrance to the castle but the guards stop along with her when they see Takako who smirks when she see's Tsukiko and she crosses her arms.

"A nice escort from the city guards I see.... I wonder what troubles the little fox has gotten into now..."

She says with a raised eyebrow but Tsukiko does not answer knowing that no matter what she said, would not make a difference but one guard clears his throat.

"Tsukiko-sama was being assaulted by a man in the plaza.... he almost took her life your majesty..."

The guard explains but Takako just glared at him but shrugs.

"Does that really matter? that "man" would not have touched her if she never left the castle like a good girl... am I right?"

She asks with a raised eyebrow but the guard looks at her dumbfounded and looks at the ground with a wary expression and she smirks again.

"As I thought.... but gee do I wonder what my husband would think of this matter.... his dear eldest daughter of his first wife tried to leave for her hate of him.... maybe he will finally give up on you and the wench that had given birth to you...."

Takako says with a snicker but Tsukiko's eyes flared up in anger.

"Do not speak of my mother as such...."

She whispers but Takako raises her eyebrow at the objection and she cups her ear.

"What was that? I did not hear you."

Takako says as if mocking her and Tsukiko clenches her fists.

"I said do not speak of my mother as such!"

She yells at her where Takako's eyes narrow as if insulted and she walks up to her and smacks her across the face.

"How dare you, you little brat.... I will not tolerate you talking back to me.... hmph.... your mother is a wench and she always will be.... she seduced my husband for his riches and once she found out she could not have any she left... your the only thing that is left so just die already.... then my husband's heart will finally break away from that hore...."

Takako says with a snicker but Tsukiko still clenches her fists and she slowly gritts her teeth.

"Stop it... do not speak ill of my mother!"

She yells once more before Takako slaps her once more in the same spot.

"That's it.... I'm tired of looking at you, you piece of filth..."

Takako growls while glaring at her and she looks at the guards with the same glare.

"Escort her too her room.... make sure the door and the grounds below her balcony are heavily guarded... I do not want her to leave again..."

She whispers as if in a threat and they suddenly salute.

"Y-Yes your majesty!"

They say almost in unison before grabbing Tsukiko whose eyes are covered by her bangs as if hiding the pained expression and tears that were tearing up her eyes and looks down at her in empathy.

"We are sorry Tsukiko-sama...."

One guard mouthes before they lead her down the hallway and up the stairs to the third floor and they lead her down several hallways before stopping in front of door with butterfly and fairy-like patterns on the rims of the door and they open the door and pushes her into the room softly, quickly closing it behind her and she hears the click of the lock and the guards quickly walk away murmuring to themselves wondering if they had done the right thing by bringing her back and she collapses in front of her door quickly curling herself into a ball before sobbing quietly into the dress while two guards quickly surround the door to her room and five more patrol around the garden under her balcony.

Natsu looks around and a smirk goes across his face.

"Of course..at the castle."

He thought when he looks around and sees the castle.

"Heh."

Natsu jumps from buildings to buildings until he's close to the castle.
Then he climbs down on the ground and when he lands he slowly walks to the entrance of the castle.

"Princess!!!"

He yells as hard as he can hoping that the guards will show up.

Tsukiko continues to sob softly into the dress not hearing Natsu calling but the guards in the garden look around confused when they hear the call and they immediately leave their posts and they immediately run over to the entrance while more guards come from the inside of the castle and they surround him (15 guys) but they look at Natsu and some of them chuckle.

"Well lookie here.... it's just some kid.... maybe he's one of the little buddies Tsuki-sama made in her trip to the city..."

One says with a chuckle before making a shooing motion with his hand.

"You should get out of here kid... we're here for a threat not for kids..."

a angry expression goes across Natsu's face.

"K-Kid?
Heh...

He throws three throwing knives at three guards aiming for their neck.

"Your all dead."

Natsu grabs the guard that was soothing his hand and pulls him to him.
At the same time the blade shoots out his sleeve and he stabs the guard in his stomach before he kicks him away to the other guards.

The guards eyes widen at what he does and one out of the three guards he aims the knives at dodges it, but the knives go straight through the other two's necks and they slump to the ground grasping for air but suddenly stops in a few seconds, the guard he pulled to him does the same. But the other's step back in shock.

"What the hell is this guy...?"

One whispers but they keep their stance.

"We can't let him get any further.... we need to protect the royal family!"

another shouts as he tries to slash Natsu.

Natsu smirks and dodges the blade while he takes out his dagger.
Then he stabs the guard in his back with the blade that's coming out his sleeve.
He quickly takes it out and turns to another guard and kicks him in his groin before he stabs him with his dagger.

"Heh."

Then he takes a couple of steps back to create some distance.

"Bring it on."

He says in a serious tone before he yells again.

"Princess!!!"

Takako steps into the entry hall when she hears his call to see the strewn bodies over the floor while the rest of the guards fall over in pain with blood spilling allover the floor and she sighs.

"You killed fifteen of the guards just for my husband's child? hmph... he rooms on the third floor.... her door is decorated with butterflies.... and fairy's..."

She says with a sigh while her nose crinkles.

"Just don't kill anyone else in this castle... I don't need anymore bloodshed in this castle... my husband will have a heart attack..."

Takako says with a sigh before ripping an amulet off her neck and tosses it down to him.

"If any of the other guards give you a problem show them this..."

Natsu looks up at Takako with a serious expression when he catches the amulet.

"Hmph.."

He walks into the castle and goes down the hallway holding the amulet.

"Princess!!"
"That was...heh...weird that she lets me in the castle.
This...might be a trap."

Natsu thought with a serious expression.

Takako smirks when he see's him disappear down the hallway and she flicks her hair.

"If he's what it will take to get that filth out of the way.... then let it be so..."

She whispers with a smirk before walking the way she came. But Tsukiko sobs softly into the dress once more and she stands up, a little shaky in the knee's but she sits down on the stool in front of her desk and she slumps down on the stool as a blueish purple bruise starts to appear on her cheek where Takako slapped her and she lays her arms on the desk and she puts her forehead against them and closes her eyes while more tears end up falling down her cheek.

"Mom.... why did you go...?"

Tsukiko whispers confused where she bites her lip hard to stop herself from crying again.

Natsu walks up the stairs and goes further down another hallway.

"Princess!
Where are you!"

He puts the dagger back on his back and the blade shoots back in his sleeve.

"I need to talk to you!
I won't hurt you i promise..."

Natsu yells as loud as he could and he stops so that he could hear her response coming from any room.

Tsukiko's eyes widen when she hears Natsu's call but it sounded distant and she lifts her head with a confused expression before hearing the same call but a little bit closer and she bites her lip worriedly wondering if she should trust thoughes words. But she walks to the door, careful that she won't fall and she tries to open the door, but it's locked and she bangs on the door which surprise the guards and they turn to eachother confused, wondering if they should go in and the other nods.

"guess we should check on her..."

He whispers before taking a roll of key's from his belt and unlocks the door before opening it when Tsukiko steps back.

"Is there something wrong Tsukiko-sama?"

Natsu looks around and sees the guards further ahead.
He walks to them while still holding the amulet.

"Hey!
Where's the princess?"

He asks in a serious tone showing a cold expression before he looks at the door and sees her then he pushes the guards away and takes the key out the lock before he steps into her room and closes the door behind him before he locks it.

"Ah..there you are...
Come on let's go."

Natsu said in a serious tone.

Tsukiko's eyes widen at what he says but she looks confused.

"What are you talking about?"

She asks before eyeing his arm worriedly watching out for the blade and she takes a step back in caution while the guards bang on the door.

"Princess!"

One shouts through the door and Tsukiko looks up at Natsu forgetting to wipe the remaining tears away.

Natsu looks down at her with a serious expression.

"Tell me.
Where is Magus."

He says in a serious tone while he takes a few steps to her.

"Just tell me!"

Natsu yells in a serious tone but he raises his eyebrow when he sees the tears.

"Hmmm?"

Tsukiko's heart sinks when she hears what he says and she feels like she's going to collapse again, but she holds onto the bed's post to keep her balance and she shakes her head with a pained expression.

"I already told you.... I'm not going to tell you anything...."

She says sounding angered and she shakes her head again.

"No I won't! definitely since it's his life your after.... even if it's like this.... I will protect the lives of my citizens..."

Tsukiko says while the tears slip down her cheek and she gasps when she realises they are there and she quickly wipes them away with her arm.

Natsu grabs her shoulder and he pushes her onto the bed with him.

"You don't understand he's someone that has to die!"

He yells in anger while the blade shoots out his sleeve but he looks down at her with a cold expression but a sad expression goes across his face again when he remembers what happend and he jumps off the bed before the blade shoots back into his sleeve.

"Tch...nevermind then.
I'll search him myself."

Natsu said while he pulls the hood down.

Tsukiko's eyes widen when he grabs her shoulder and she closes her eyes tightly when he pushes her onto the bed , but she opens her right eye halfway after a few seconds and she blushes slightly at the sudden closeness but she see's the blade and she calms a bit and closes her eye again.

"Just kill me..."

She thought before she takes a deep breath. But her eyes open again when she feels his weight off of her and she sits up with a confused expression but she looks down with a pained expression.

"Why....? What sin could someone possibly do to send a man to end his life....?"

Tsukiko asks looking away sadly not wanting to look at his face while she unbuttons her own cloak and lets it drop around her.

"Is that mans sin really worth his life?"

Natsu nods with a serious expression.

"Yes it is.
Just...tell me...i'm not planning to kill a princess."

He says in a serious tone.

"I'll only tell you..that this man destroyed my life.
That's why..i have to kill him."

Natsu says when he looks at the door but turns his attention to her again.

Tsukiko shakes her head at what he says and keeps her head to the floor.

"I could care less about losing my own life... I would never trade my own life's for anothers.... and I ca not believe you would go after a man and ruin the lives of his family and all who knew him.... how could I let you do that...?"

She says sounding a little angered but she hugs herself around the waist while the guards continue to bang at the door.

"So just go... I'm not going to share anything with you... so it would just be better to kill me and take me out of my misery.... unless you want me to suffer in this world beside you...."

Tsukiko says sarcastically while she tries to stand up.

Natsu looks at her with a confused expression at what she says.

"Your misery?
You live in a perfect fairy tale world."

He takes a few steps to her and puts the hood back on.

"Have you ever felt that something has ruined your life?
If you did..then if there was a chance to take back your life.
Would you take it?
I would..and i did."

Natsu walks opens the door that leads to the balconey.

"And...that way i became a assass-
Ugh...why am i actually telling this to someone like you."

He says with a shrug and closes his eyes but opens them when he opens the door.

Tsukiko chuckles at what he says and she pokes the bruise that was blooming onto her cheek and she winces in pain.

"Perfect fairytale life huh....? heh... I wish I had that kind of life... then I would give you "his" information... But since it isn't so perfect.... I know that the lives of the innocent are something precious..."

She whispers with a warm smile but her eyes widen at what he says but she keeps her warm smile and she turns her head to him.

"No... I would never be able to do that...I may miss my mother... but I would never wish her the fate I have of being chained here in this world..."

Tsukiko says with a chuckle before looking at the wall in front of her.

"Wouldn't it be smart to kill me...? "I know too much" don't I?" it's not like anyone here would miss me... you'll be getting rid of some filth in this world..."

Natsu hears everything she says and he turns to her.

"You should leave this place if you want to end your misery.
I don't know what your talking about but leaving the place that hurts you the most...is a smart move.
Now..wishing that you were dead isn't."

He said in a serious tone and shakes his head.

"The assassin's rule is to not kill the innocent.
Though..i don't listen to that rule."

Natsu said with a smirk but he looks down in thought.

"You should leave this place.
Trust me."