13 Reason

The surroundings slowly became silent as all three parties grew tired. The monster sensed the situation then slowly dragged its body and retreated to the river. The area was an aftermath of destruction, nothing remained of the trees around.

Damon let go of Zangestsu and walked toward Natsu as he panted heavily, he soon reached the fire dragon slayer. Natsu laid on the ground with his arms spread, he was out of magic and very tired with many bruises visible on his body.

Damon was very angry as he grabbed Natsu's collar and lifted him up to his face, "What the hell was that?! What's wrong with you?! Why did you follow me and mess up the job?"

Natsu also grabbed his collar, "You!" He suddenly found himself speechless, unable to answer Damon, or rather, he seemed to hesitate.

Damon unexpectedly let go and suddenly punched him in the face. Natsu who was dumbfounded suddenly punched him as well and the two began fighting. Since both were out of magic power, it became a fistfight.

The two continued punching each other, both too tired to try anything else, and eventually, they collapsed on the ground. They remained silent as they breathed heavily.

Damon was thinking about many things, the forefront of his thoughts was about Natsu and his strange behavior. He was puzzled and a little angry.

Natsu seemed to think of something and finally said seriously, "You are Erza's friend right?"

Damon didn't reply; he remained silent, curious.

Natsu continued, "I saw you some times at the guild but didn't pay much attention until the day you fought with Erza and left with her on a job. You must be her friend..."

Damon couldn't help but ask, "What does that have to do with anything?"

Natsu paused for a moment before he continued, "I saw you fight with her, I knew how strong you were so when I saw you take this job; I knew you couldn't handle it so I decided to tag along..."

Damon was surprised.

Natsu paused again and continued with sadness in his voice, "I... I lost someone once, a friend... I don't want Erza to lose her friend as I did. She doesn't have many of them, you know..."

Damon was shocked, he didn't know how to feel. He did not expect the current situation. He tried to sit up but winced as his side ached; He laid back down.

Natsu also remained silent.

Damon thought for a while and his life on Earth flashed before his eyes as he replied, "I see... It must have been hard, losing a friend... The friends I made long ago, are all gone, leaving me all alone... Everyone is just so far away as if they are dead to me..."

Natsu listened with a frown. Damon had lost everything and everyone on Earth when he had transmigrated, even though he usually didn't think about that but this fact was still true. He had struggled with this matter when he had nothing to distract him during the past few weeks of his new life.

He smiled, "But you know what? I realized it doesn't matter at all, what matters is the memories we make with the friends and family we have at the moment because they live with us forever. There was this line I heard before... It said, 'What is grief if not love persevering?' It made me realize that grief and sadness for those who left us show the love we have for them."

He sat up despite the pain and looked at Natsu with a faint smile, "So we should take that love and save it in our hearts, do our mourning and grieving and then move on; Not only for the sake of ourselves but also for theirs. Would your friend want you to feel sadness forever or would that friend want you to smile and be happy? Your happiness becomes theirs with the love you have in your heart."

Natsu smiled thinking of Igneel and his childhood friend that had died a few months ago...

"And if you have no friends, I can always be your friend. Isn't that what Fairy Tail is about?" Damon asked.

Natsu observed him and grinned as if he had decided on something in his heart, "Damn right it is, we are a family."

Damon smirked, "Then let's be friends from now on." He extended his hand.

Natsu sat up with newfound energy and took it firmly, "And kick that monster's ass."

Natsu's view on Damon changed entirely at that moment, he had always thought of the latter as Laxus's lackey. But the moment he shook his hand, he saw him as part of his family.

Damon also felt better and calm; The sadness of losing his life on Earth slowly disappeared from his heart, replaced by a weak and new bond he had just formed with his new friend.

He was touched by Natsu and felt a unique sense of companionship. A sense of friendship. It was just a weak budding feeling at the moment, but in time, it could become truly great like the bond between family members.

The next day, Natsu and Damon walked toward the river but this time, they were friends much to Happy's surprise, the cat had run off to get the fishes that had fallen out of the river due to the monster moving around, he had devoured a lot of fish...

Happy watched them with wide eyes and a big belly filled with fish, 'What happened here?'