In the morning after the incident...

Lucas laid on his parents' bed, still a little pale.

He was sound asleep while Lucy was sitting on a chair at the bedside next to him.

"He'll be fine," Wendy started,

"I gave him a general medicine that I recently formulated. It counteracts the effects of several kinds of poisons. Don't worry, this medication is safe."

She was speaking to Natsu. His eyes not leaving the view of Lucas and Lucy in front of him.

After the previous night's event, Wendy had given the heir treatment as quickly as possible. A fact about her was that she was as good as five skilled doctors combined into one.

Wendy was the Family's ace, a very useful member for being a 'child genius'. She even had her own laboratory back at Fernandes estate.

At such a young age, she had the capability of performing operations on curable illnesses. She even saved Lucy's life once before. For this, she earned the Don's trust.

"How did you know it was poison?" Zeref asked, he was in the room as well.

"To be honest, I didn't," she answered truthfully,

"But since my medicine worked, I can surely say that it was poison indeed. Besides, judging by Lucas' background, he doesn't have any health problems. So I made a conclusion that whatever he ate, it had poison in it. The question is, where did the poison come from?...and who did it?"

Zeref slowly nodded in understanding.

"The last thing he ate last night was the cake. The one Lisanna made," he said.

"Has it been disposed? I need someone to get me a sample. I have to take it back to the lab and run tests on it."

"No need," Zeref guaranteed, "It's all taken care of, Laxus had it kept. He will hand it to you as soon as possible."

Wendy nodded, she left the room not long after that.

Sensing that he should leave as well, the older Dragneel spoke before excusing himself,

"Brother..." he started.

But Natsu didn't avert his eyes away from the bed where Lucas was.

"I will see if Rufus Lore has found anything suspicious going on in China."

Just as he expected, Natsu had no reaction at whatever he just said. He slightly bent his head down before leaving.

Now that they left, there was silence in the room again.

Natsu could hear Lucy's quiet sniffs. She had been awake all night, watching over their son. Even after fainting due to stress. Actually, everyone in the compound was wide awake. Each armed as if expecting an enemy to take advantage of the Family's dilemma.

"Lucy..." he started.

There was no response.

"You need to rest. I'll take care of our boy."

Still nothing.

Seconds already passed by and there was still silence, mixed with sniffles and light breathing of a sleeping child.

Looking at the scene...it was unbelievable for him. He never would have thought he would see them in such a weak and vulnerable state.

He was the Father of the strongest Mafia.

And yet, he still felt...

Useless.

He turned to leave and headed towards the door.

His hand gripped the knob harder than it should.

Before he could open it, a soft and tired voice rang into his ears,

"Natsu," Lucy started,

"Dont blame yourself."

She was still staring at the boy as she said these words.

And Natsu's lips pressed together even more as he opened the door and left, closing it with a low thud.

.

.

Laxus immediately turned to Natsu as soon as his figure exited the room.

It wasn't just him, Gray and the others were there with him, too. They were guarding the Master's chamber just like how the others were stationed in different locations in the compound.

In short, the entire territory was heavily guarded.

"Where is she?" The Don had his attention at Laxus, his voice blank just as the look on his face.

Understanding that the question was pertaining to the youngest Strauss, Laxus answered with no delay,

"Lisanna is locked up in one of the rooms just like you instructed."

Not having the energy to talk, Natsu started to leave. He wanted to be alone.

"W-wait," Elfman called out to him.

He stopped, though he didn't spare time to look at Elfman.

"Natsu...Th-thank you...f-for giving my little sister a chance."

There was no reply from him. 

Natsu just continued to walk away with neither a single word nor a nod of his head.

.

.

"Has Rufus sent word yet? Is there a report?" Zeref asked Rogue, his brows obviously curving in a concerned manner.

They were discussing about how their spy was doing in the suspected enemy's lair. 

"No...Not yet," Rogue shook his head, " but he has successfully infiltrated into the Chinese family as a 'butler'."

The older Dragneel sighed at this.

"Good. We must solve this matter immediately, Lisanna's life depends on it," he added.

Just then, he saw Natsu walk to the direction of his office, and he was carrying a dark aura around him.

Ever since the incident, Natsu had been quiet. A little too quiet. This worried Zeref.

"Excuse me," he said as he excused himself and followed his brother.

.

.

The office door made a low sound as it closed.

Natsu stared at nothing in particular.

The room was soundless.

Every furniture was intact and in their rightful places.

Finally, a place where he can be alone.

Alone to release the anger he'd been holding very long.

His once blank face and hollow eyes finally gained an emotion.

An emotion described as one with wrath-filled onyx orbs, white gritting teeth, and puckered brows fixed in a deep dark scowl.

"AAAARH!!!"

He shouted as he grabbed the telephone on his desk table and threw it mercilessly at the bricked wall, shattering it into pieces.

"YOU FUCKING USELESS SON OF A-! GAAH!!" He exclaimed, gripping the edge of the table with his bare hands and flipping it over with the use of his strength.

The expensive wood-made heavy material gained scratches and broken edges as it hit the floor. Papers and documents that were placed on it now scattered on the floor.

But that was far from enough for him.

"YOU FOOL!!!"

He single-handedly got a hold of the black leather chair and threw it across the room.

It landed on the glass table near the couches,

Breaking the table into large and tiny pieces of crystals.

But the chair,

The very chair he sat on as the Head of the house,

had no damage in it at all.

This angered him.

The picture of it made his blood boil. The fact that it broke and brought damage on everything around it while remaining intact and unscathed at the same time...it angered him. Why?

Because it reminded him of himself.

His footsteps were heavy as he walked towards it with fury in his eyes.

"PIECE OF-," he started angrily as he trampled the chair with his foot, "EVEN WITH ALL THE FUCKING POWER YOU HAVE!!! YOU! MISERABLE! PIECE! OF! SHIT!"

With every shout that got out of his mouth, the force of his foot grew more and more as he continued to murder the chair.

"YOU ARE STILL AS USELESS AS A FLY!!!"

"Natsu!"

A voice called out to him as he gave the chair a last blow. Even after all that, only scratches could be seen on the leather. It was still as majestic as it always looked.

Natsu straightened up.

As his face turned to the door, at the person standing by it, the look on his face said 'Now is not the time to interfere with me'.

It was Zeref.

And yes, he knew it wasn't a good time.

Even before he decided to open up the office's door, he knew it was a bad idea. Considering the loud sounds of furniture breaking and his brother cursing inside.

Zeref looked around the place with shocked eyes. It looked like a hurricane happened.

"Get out, Zeref," he spoke simply.

The older one could just sigh out of worry.

" I know you are very upset, brother. But-"

"Upset?" Natsu started in a low voice, "UPSET?"

And instantly, Zeref regretted his poor choice of words.

"HE IS MY SON! MY SON!" now he was raising his voice again, "THE WORD 'UPSET' DOESN'T EVEN FUCKING CUT IT!"

"Brother, please. I understand-"

"NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," Natsu emphasized on the word 'don't',

"HE IS NOT YOUR CHILD. YOUR CHILD WASN'T THE ONE SUFFERING! YOU DON'T KNOW THE PAIN HE WENT THROUGH! HE ISN'T YOUR BOY! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND?!"

Zeref's brows twitched.

"HE'S MY NEPHEW, NATSU!" now his voice was louder, "I may not be his father but I love him, too!"

"I TOLD YOU TO GET THE HELL OUT!!" Natsu angrily trudged towards him and gripped his shirt collar. He was going to punch Zeref. His fist was ready for it.

"Stop."

But a new presence came into the room.

They both knew who it was even before turning to see.

Natsu's grip loosened and his hands fell to his sides, he did not look at her.

The older one faced Lucy, knowing it was his cue to leave them, he gave her a slight nod and went straight to the door, closing it after him.

Now it was just Him and Her.

Lucy studied him. The state of rage he was in and the damage around him was something very uncommon. She has never seen him break this much before. Which means the anger he held, it could no longer be contained.

She slowly walked towards him, carefully avoiding the broken sharps on the floor and papers that possibly contained important information.

Her hands travelled to his cheeks, making him turn to look at her.

Natsu's scowl was gone, and his eyes had hurt in them.

Seeing him vulnerable is something she will never get used to.

Lucy gave him a soft smile. Although there was still pain in it, there was relief as well.

"Lucy... I-"

"Shh...," she silenced him before he could speak,

"I need you to stay strong for me, for us, Natsu."

He looked deeply into her eyes as he listened. With those words, the hurt in his own orbs faded, it was as if he was gaining his strength back.

Natsu's hands held her wrists, then slowly he held her hands securely with his firm ones.

"Lucas is alright now. He is safe," she continued, "That's what matters."

Moments passed by and all they did was look into each other's eyes, like it's the only thing important.

And then he spoke.

"I'm not going to stop," his voice was back to being calm.

Calm with power.

Lucy rested her forehead in his chest, closing her eyes as well.

"I'm not telling you to," she whispered.

Of course, someone still has to pay. The Family will stop at nothing until the toll is paid.