Hiding In Plain Sight

Chapter Twenty-Two

(Late) Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Sorry this chapter was late. We just got past a COVID scare so I've been kind of busy dealing with that. Stay safe out there, this virus really isn't a joke. At the same time, it's so weird how much it's changed our lives. Like, I wouldn't even be writing this story if it weren't for the quarantine.  Idk. Just something I've been thinking about lately. But anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Nashi didn't expect to be back home so soon, and especially not with company.

She eyed the newly-redesigned "Wetria Village" sign, the uptown district of Acalypha. It was built on the land that used to be owned by the Heartfilia's but now held many residential homes, which Loke was currently explaining to the rest of the group.

"So once we pass through here, it's only a short walk until we reach the estate," he finished.

"More walking!?" Malika groaned. "Just how big is this place?"

"Last time we were here, it took us half an hour to reach it by running. You should be grateful that they added a new train station here, otherwise it'd take even longer," Gray said.

Nashi was young when she had first moved into Acalypha, but she remembered the walk from that station to the mansion vividly. The Heartfilia land was big, and Lucy had walked the entire hour and a half with her dozing daughter on her back. A few years after that, Nashi had mentioned in passing how cumbersome the walk was, and there was a new station under construction just one month later.

The memory made Nashi's throat close up. Her hand tightened around her backpack strap, but her invasive thoughts were interrupted by a loud smack on her shoulder.

"Are you tired from all the walking?" Natsu asked. "Just hold on for a little while longer. We'll go in, get the info, get Lucy, and go home! Piece'a cake, right?"

Nashi blinked, unable to speak. He thought she was upset from fatigue, but he didn't know just how much she needed that comfort right now.

Natsu grinned and walked toward the town. "Alright, what are we waiting for!? Let's go!" he yelled a bit too loudly.

The noise from him plus the group of eleven (Team Natsu was an obvious choice to pick for who should go to the Heartfilia Mansion, and Nashi's team was chosen also because they were Acalypha's most recent visitors.) that followed Natsu inside the town brought the attention of the townspeople. Wetria didn't get newcomers often, so a crowd of intimidating strangers was bound to get stopped at some point.

"Excuse me! Please wait for just a moment!" a voice called out. Nashi froze at its familiarity. Luckily, she was at the tail end of the group, so she ducked into an alley and hid behind a dumpster.

As she thought, Acalypha's police chief was running behind them to catch up to the strangers. Nashi had met him multiple times before as the daughter of Hikari Jurener, who he thought lived in the estate. If he saw her with them now, her identity was sure to be exposed.

Actually, it's a good thing I managed to get away from everyone else, Nashi realized. I can get a headstart on hiding everything at home.

She waited until the chief had finally reached Natsu and the others before dashing for home.

***

Natsu turned at the calling. A man was running toward them in a hurry.

"Is something wrong?" Erza asked when he caught up to them. Natsu knew she knew how to deal with problems like this effortlessly.