Not who you use to be.

By:LemonSherbert

Chapter 1: Don't forget me...

I do not own Fairy tail or any of these characters, they are the work of Hiro Mashima anyway, enjoy and don't forget to review.

Her little legs ran up the cobble stone path, her heart was beating so fast she was worried she'd have a heart attack. The sun glinted on her hazel eyes, causing them to shine gold and her blue hair fell in short waves that bounced on her small shoulders. She didn't even know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away, she had to run as fast as her tiny twelve year old legs could take her. Before she could take another step there was a yell and she screamed as someone crashed into her side, making her roll onto the grass beside the path and she struggled to get free from the iron grip.

"I win, I win!" He yelled as he let her go and she scrambled up, huffing as she dusted of her peach dress, glaring at the little boy who had so easily taken her down.

"That's not fair, you're bigger and faster than me!" She squeaked and he cackled as he got up, standing over half a foot taller than her. His red eyes glowed like rubies in the light and his black hair fell at his shoulders in messy spikes, he looked like such a delinquent as her mother called him.

"No, you're just slow... if ya' wanna' beat me then you'll have to get better..." he smirked and she stomped her little foot, it wasn't fair. "Don't pout... you look like a child" he said and she raised her brow.

"I am a child and so are you... I'm not going to play if you won't play a fair game!" She snapped in annoyance and he chuckled, ruffling her light blue hair as he walked past her.

"I got to get going anyway... my parents would have finished packing now..." he said and she lowered her head, she couldn't believe he was leaving her. It brought tears to her eyes as she thought of all the years they had spent together, he was her best friend. Without a word she ran to him, wrapping her tiny arms around his chest and he stopped walking. "What are you doing?" He asked awkwardly as she sniffled into his back.

"You promise you won't forget me right?" She asked in a small, sad voice and there was a long silence as he let out a deep sigh. He turned, wrapping his own arms around her tightly and she bit back the tears, feeling the lump deep in her throat and her heart felt like it was snapping.

"Why would I forget you... you're my best friend?" He asked and she shrugged, she just couldn't shake the feeling that once he was gone he'd never look back.

"Because that's what people do, they leave and forget things..." she answered though it was muffled in his chest and he gently patted her back before pulling her back so he could look her in the eyes.

"I promise I won't forget you... here, why don't we make a pact?" He asked taking out a small knife, making her jump a little and he laughed. "It's my dads, I stole it when he hit... never mind..." he explained and she nodded feeling a deep sadness for him because she knew what he wanted to say. She knew his family life was never great and no body gave him the time to speak until she became his friend.

"O-okay... how do we do it...?" She questioned and he put the sharp blade against his palm slowly dragging it along his skin until a thin line of thick blood and he hissed a little before he motioned for her to give him her hand. In truth, she was scared but she knew pacts were better than just promises and she put her small, smooth hand in his. She braced herself as he place the blade on her skin and pressed down, her breath came out short as he cut her hand. It hurt at first but slowly turned into a small throbbing as she stared at her bleeding hand and he slowly held her hand up to hers. Their cuts melding and there was a slight sting as he pressed his palm to hers and entwined their fingers, looking her in the eye.

"Levy McGarden... with this pact I promise that I, Gajeel red fox, will never ever forget you!" He proclaimed proudly and she giggled at the conviction in his voice.

"And I, Levy McGarden, promise that I will never forget you, Gajeel Redfox!" She grinned, mimicking him and he gave her a cheeky smile as he pulled her into a hug that was almost crushing her. Levy felt him fiddle with her hair and she pulled back just as he slid her peach ribbon from her head, making her bangs fall into her small face. "Hey!" She squeaked as he used the knife and cut it in half.

"I'll get you like twenty when I come back..." he stated and her eyes lit up... he'd come back, the thought just made her giddy with excitement. She watching him wrap one half around his own hand and then took her hand gently in his as he tied it over the cut. "Come on short stuff, lets get going..." he said, taking the hand that wasn't cut and slowly pulling her towards their streets as she smiled at their interlocked fingers.

"I'll miss you Gajeel..." she said and he let out small chuckle as he kept walking, looking back at her for a moment.

"Not as much as I'll miss my little book worm..." he said and she rolled her eyes, he always teased her about the fact she always had her head in a book. Levy playfully barged into his side and he laughed as he looked down at her with a look she'd never thought him capable of most days. It was so gentle and sincere, like the way you'd look at someone you loved more than all the stars in the sky. "I will miss you, you know that... you're the only one that made me feel like I was more than just... well this" he said motioning to himself and she smiled.

"I'll miss you too... you've helped me a lot, showed me that I'm not just a little shy kid who gets pushed around... remember that time you tried to beat up Laxus for almost hitting me?" She asked and he let out a bitter laugh.

"Yeah... then he punched me in the face and shoved me in a bush... you were the only one that helped me and sat picking leaves out of my hair..." he smiled and she snickered as she thought back to seeing his legs wiggling in a bush. "What about when we were nine and you told the teacher off for telling me I wouldn't amount to anything because I was always getting into trouble?" Gajeel questioned and she looked up at the sky that matched the colour of her hair.

"Yeah... I got held behind class for calling him incompetent and a bully..." she sighed, remembering the teachers mortified face because she knew such a big word and exactly what it meant. A long and comfortable silence fell over the two as they walked, Levy stared up at the sky, watched how the grass moved beside them, taking in every small detail she could about that day so she could look back and never feel like anything was missing. It was almost like she wanted to relive the memory when he was gone, she hated the fact he was leaving, he was her protector, her knight in shining armour. For some reason, the walk to their streets was quicker than she expected and before she knew it, they were at the fork in the road where they'd have to say goodbye. They stared at each other for a long while as she memorized the colour of his eyes, the frown on his face, each bruise and scar that was on his skin.

Gajeel... he was memorizing every inch of her face from the way her lips moved as she tried to say something but couldn't form the words. He watched how her hazel eyes shone gold and glittered in the sun like precious gems, how her hair moved in the wind, gently brushing her shoulders and face. He'd never in a million years have thought he'd have to leave the only good thing he'd ever encountered, he sure as hell never thought she'd be sad that he was leaving but evidentially, she was mortified. Gajeel knew he'd miss her, he'd miss her like the you'd miss your heart, it was like she was his life line, she'd kept him safe and stopped him doing reckless things more times than he could count.

"W-well... I guess this is goodbye..." Levy said slowly, not knowing how she should say it, she wanted to hold on to him and not let him go but she knew it was no use.

"Yeah... I guess... so, I'll um... go..." he answered, scratching his neck and she bit her lip as he turned to walk away but she quickly grabbed his hand. Gajeel turned to see what was wrong but before he could even say anything she reached up, tip toeing as far as she could and dragging him down by the front of his shirt. His heart skipped almost a million beats as her lips touched his gently and his ruby eyes grew wide in shock. That... she was kissing him?! Gajeel closed his eyes and slowly relaxed, bending down a little to kiss her back and she pulled away, enveloping him in a hug.

"Goodbye, Gajeel... stay out of trouble... for me, please..." she whispered in his ears and he nodded against her shoulder. They pulled away and she gave him one last big and bright smile, she didn't want it to be sad, she didn't want his last moment with her to be filled with tears.

"See ya' Levy... and... d-don't fall in love with anyone... one day I'll come back and we'll get married... I promise!" He yelled as he turned and ran off, embarrassed and shy, his cheeks burning like a fire as he felt the sting in his eyes.

"I won't I promise!" Levy shouted back at the top of her lungs... she couldn't really believe that he had basically confessed to her but she didn't mind because she felt butterflies when ever he was around. Slowly, she turned and walked down her own street, her fingers gently touching her lips as she replayed the kiss over and over... that was right, one day they'd meet again and she'd be waiting for him...