Title: Everyone

Word Count: 1051

Rating: G

Author's Note: Watch this turns into a zombie apocalypse…. The more I write, the more terrified I become of the sort of ideas forming in my mind. All I wanted was a sweet, sweet Ango x Natsu love! But I suck at sweet.

Eventually these drabbles are gonna get so long you're going to ask me to stop writing, just you wait.

This should have been a zombie apocalypse…just sayin', fear breeds the best romance. Please beg me not to do it.

[three]

Natsu has gotten used to the new campsite, but more importantly, the routines.

The fresh and edible fruits were picked in the morning by Ango while everyone slept. He quietly wandered off to the mountainside without anyone taking notice during the afternoons and doesn't return until night.

Ryo pushed onward to the exploration of the surrounding area, understanding the possible dangers no matter how farfetched they may seem—"Better to recognize them than fall prey to them like fools later," he had said. Sometimes, Matsuri heard him when he traipsed quietly from under the interlaced branches that make up their roof and she tagged along without his consent.

Arashi used the clear mornings to enjoy the calm sea and dove beneath the surface to pick heaps of colorful stones Chimaki has since grown fond of (mostly for their pigment).

Semimaru spent his time wondering what to do with the excess fruits, presenting to the group different dishes every day. Natsu and Hotaru help however they could with everyone's endeavors.

Botan watched over them, helping when needed and offering her advice when necessary.

"…probably make a smoothie if you can mix them together!" finished Matsuri in admiration of the assorted berries.

"How're we going to make a smoothie without ice?" snapped Semimaru. "Without a blender for that matter?"

"Oh, that's right," said Matsuri in realization, looking crestfallen.

"We can still mix the berries somehow," started Botan, looking to Matsuri with a smile. "Fruit juice."

"You hear that Natsu! We can make fruit juice!"

Natsu looked over her shoulder unconsciously searching for the rest of Team Summer B. She had caught sight of Chimaki rubbing the pigment off the colorful rocks by the campfire. Botan and Hotaru were with her and Arashi had dived back into the ocean for a bit of exercise. Ryo stood by the shoreline, staring absently beyond the loom of gray clouds.

Ango was absent…again.

"Natsu?"

Natsu jolted, feeling Matsuri's hand fall on her shoulder and jerked around to face her, wide eyed. "Eh?"

Matsuri repeated something about fruit juice, but the words passed her by unheard. She nodded in the midst of her confusion, observed Semimaru's conviction to turning the extra fruits into juice with Hotaru clapping her hands excitedly. Botan glanced at them shortly, and then her gaze flashed over their heads to the sandy shoreline where she was certain Ryo was standing.

"Oh, I forgot! I'll go tell him!" stated Matsuri, running past Natsu. "Ryo-kun!"

Natsu watched her shortly, and then quickly remembered Ango. Fretfully, she lowered her gaze. "Um," she began, feeling her insides twist and tremble. "I'm going to tell Ango-kun."

Her voice was so meek she was certain Botan hadn't heard. She wondered, for a few dreadful seconds, if she had spoken at all.

"Be careful," said Botan easily.

Natsu nodded and scuttled up the makeshift path through the overabundant trees.

"Hey, Natsu! Where do you think you're going?" shouted Semimaru.

Once again, the address caught her by surprise and she twisted around, took a gulp of breath and said, at the top of her voice. "To tell Ango-kun!"

Her face felt hot, specifically her cheeks.

Semimaru made a face, but shrugged his shoulders, going back to answer a question of Hotaru's. Natsu took the moment to slink out of sight and started down the sloshy mud.

The occasional sound of whistling reached her ears and she started to wonder if there were any birds nestled somewhere in between the colorful fruits. The rustle of leaves and branches startled her occasionally until the fright was enough for her to lose her footing over the fresh mud and slip on her bum.

Natsu groaned as she struggled to lift her upper body from the grime and wrinkled her nose when an unpleasant smell reached her nostrils.

Rotten fruit? She wondered—no, hoped.

As far as everyone knew, there weren't any dangerous animals living in the forest area, but they had only dared travel so far. The fruit trees diminished the further they went and eventually, it felt as though they shouldn't dare venture any further. Truthfully speaking, as tropical and beautiful as the area was, Natsu couldn't shake the ominous feeling that swelled inside her when talk of moving onward came around. She thought it was unsafe, but maybe she was just scared of trekking on foot.

Natsu scrambled onto her feet, wiping her arms until the clump of mud fell from her clothes. She turned away from the path, too embarrassed to continue forward and let anyone see her muddied up, and started toward the campsite to struggle with the though a bit longer.

If I can get to the water, I can just wash it without anyone noticing…

She nodded firmly, hands clenched.

I'll do that.

But she could already hear Semimaru's roar of laughter in the back of her mind...discouraging her.

"Natsu?"

She turned. Ango.

"Did something happen? Are you hurt?" he asked seriously, striding to reach her.

Natsu shook her head, opening her mouth to explain. She couldn't describe the humiliation she felt.

"What happened?"

How bombarded she felt…

"I—I tripped," she managed to sputter.

"You should be more careful," he said forcefully. "You could have hit your head on a rock."

Natsu nodded slightly, eyes glued to the space between them.

"What were you doing?"

Sometimes she wished he gave her enough time to explain herself.

A sharp whistling reached her ears again; she followed the sound to her immediate right. Ango heard it too as he stood in place, completely alert.

"Did you hear that?" he asked suddenly.

A rush of wind rustled the leaves above their heads; few fell from their branches and fluttered onto the muddied path.

"Yes," she squeaked, frightened by the sudden shift in mood.

Ango looked to her again. "I heard it in the mountainside. It sounds a lot more distant here," he explained. "I think there is something up there."

Natsu froze. "W-What?"

"It could be another team."

She brightened at the thought. "Others?"

"Maybe."

"We should tell Botan-san."

Ango stared at her a bit longer. "Are you hurt?"

Natsu flushed, remembering the mud clamped to her backside. "No. I just slipped."

"You should clean up."

She nodded and quietly headed to the campsite.