This was the day. After thinking so much about it, this was it. After all it made sense to him. Walking the path of his life what else was there? He saw it all in this life.
It was now one year that it became routine. He went and bought the same bouquet of roses. 4 white and 4 red like the blood. He greeted the shop's owner. A middle aged women. She had some long blonde hair and a beautiful smile that came naturally.
"How are you today Natsu? The same?" when did it became the same? Dit it really became a routine ? He wanted to keep it special after all!
"Good thanks" a typical reflexive response, he didn't even need to think about it. "Yes the same please , and how are you ? Has something interesting happened lately?" Did he really wanted to know? Why not, after all in this year he had learned to know the lady.
"Everything its fine. Thanks for asking anyway, well nothing really important but... he finally asked me out, thanks to your advices. You are the best! To think that a 17 year boy could help such a nice lady like me. " she said enthusiastically and winked at the end. He smiled at her and really, he was happy for her. She deserved it, no one deserved to be alone for a long time after all.
"Say, Natsu would you like to have lunch with me, my treat to thank you. That's a good sushi restaurant I'd like to go." she was excited and he liked her company, even though they had an age gap , they always seemed to keep good company to each other. But today was not the day unfortunately and maybe... any other day.
"I would love that Ms. Anna but unfortunately today I'm really busy. But just remember be yourself at your date and you have nothing to worry about. I think he already loves you." He gave her his favorite grin which was Natsu's signature. Everyone who saw it seemed to be entranced by it. It was a special gift he had.
The lady seemed a bit disappointed but knew the guy wouldn't change his mind so she didn't insisted.
"Okay Natsu anytime you want to speak to someone you know where to find me. You taught me no one needs to be alone, so do the same for yourself. Don't be alone anymore. I see in your eyes." yes she was right after all, he had tons of friends. Some of them he liked to call 'family' but he was alone nonetheless. It wasn't really his choice anymore. He had a promise to keep.
"Don't worry Ms. Anna I decided that today I'm going to meet my friends at Fairy Tail pub, so that's why I need to speed up. I'll see you soon." with that he payed and waved her.
"Natsu be safe and thank you again." She said to him waving back. He smiled at her one last time.
He proceeded through the white cobblestone marble. His head down, deep in thoughts. In his mind there were questions unanswered. Will there be time for it? Walking for about 3 minutes he arrived in front of the black double gate. The same gate which divided the livings from the dead. After passing it , he saw the same panorama he saw for the past year. His friend was 10 rows up and 5 in the left. Nothing special. Non recognizable from the other gravestones at all. Here she was just a name.
He didn't really know the reason he came here. After all what difference made speaking to her here or anywhere else. Was she really listening after all? Why did he care at all , she was not here anymore. He approached her gravestone where flowers of other times were standing before her. Dying slowly. They were from one week before. He took them and replaced with the fresh ones from the shop. One of the red roses dropped on the floor. He didn't seem to notice. Tears were already gathering in his eyes, blurring his vision. Was it possible to cry for so long and for the same thing? He was strong after all but now he wasn't sure anymore.
"Hey Lissana! I've come back again. I brought your favorite flowers yet again but this time you won't smile " as the tears were flowing down he smiled.
"I remember the first time I gave them to you. You smiled so big. We were 10 and you hugged me so tightly I was barely able to breathe. You were always so physical and now..." he winced at the thought but wasn't about to say it. He didn't want to bring bad memories again he was here to cheer up.
"Everyone misses you, even after a year Fairy Tail isn't the same. The once parties we made every Friday doesn't exists anymore. It's strange that there are more people trying to cheer me up then your sister and brother. Even them tries but of course I push them back. Nothing is wrong I say to them." he was smiling yet again but it was such a sad one. "I decided Lissana. Today is the day. After all it's a special day for me , you know. I'll go to Fairy Tail to meet my friends. I haven't gone for such a long time, maybe a month or so. I kept my promise you know. I helped everyone like I said I would after you know... you were gone. So maybe I'm free now, maybe it's time to meet again" he knew if she were here she would give him the strongest slap in his life. But she wasn't so no one could stop him. His life , his choice right? The noise from two gravestones in his right cut him off his the thoughts.
There she was yet again. Crying and mourning. She was standing in front of a statue which greatly resembled her. He wasn't 100 percent sure but he thought it was her mother. Long beautiful blonde hair. Warm brown eyes. Her form, he thought was that of a greek god. He didn't know her name nor di he know who she was. They never spoke. They would always find each other in the same place, every Saturday. It was almost a ritual now. At first they really ignored each other keeping themselves to their personal mournings which was to much from other reality distractions( at least in his case). After some time they started to recognize each other presence. It was really her who gave him the first of their smiles. So from them on they greeted each other with a smile or with a wave but never a single word. He was content of course. He didn't needed another problem in his life, another promise to keep. Not anymore. But she was crying today and he knew something was wrong. She never cried. He cried sometimes but she never did. He was looking at her. She had a very depressing look. It didn't suited her. ' Fuck ! ' he was thinking. Do I really need to do something. No Natsu as long as you don't know her you don't need to do anything. You don't need to help someone you don't know and today was not the day. He turned his head to the other side and was a bit disappointed knowing the he wouldn't give her one last greeting but he had to leave.
He was about to leave and taking his first step he noticed something. Yep! There was a red rose under his right foot. It was un damaged by some miracle. He took it in his hand and for some reason his eyes went to the picture of a white hair girl smiling at him. Yep Lissana was speaking to him and he knew exactly what she was saying. She needn't to have a voice for him to understand her. With one look he knew what she was saying. 'You aren't like this Natsu, you help people, you protect friends' she was saying this and he was listening to her.
Bowing his head he moved to the other direction. Advancing he decided to rest at least two meters behind her. She needed space after all and privacy, but he wouldn't leave her alone. She didn't seem to notice him so uncaring of the world around her she continued mourning on her own pace. After some time she seem to stop crying and raised her head from looking down. She was about to leave. He placed one hand over her shoulder and she shrieked a little not expecting the contact. He looked at her and she looked at him. She seemed a bit surprised and... was it nervousness he could see? He tended his hand with the red rose and said.
"For her!" he was pointing at the grave behind her. For one moment she looked back and had this confused look but then she seemed to understand. Smiling at him she took the rose from his hand with as little contact as possible with his hand and said.
"Thanks !" With the rose in her hand , she pressed the flower on her lips , inhaling the beautiful fragrance which seemed to calm her down. Then she placed the flower on the gravestone delicately. He decided it was a good time to leave when she spoke again.
" My name is Lucy " she was still facing the gravestone. 'Fuck' he inwardly cursed. He didn't have a choice. He had to give his name.
"I'm Natsu." He said his voice really flat emotionless.
"Why did you do that Natsu. You came here every Saturday but you never talked to me so why this time?" Her voice was still a bit shaking from her crying.
"You needed it" he said his voice now gentle and soft, almost a whisper. She turned around , her mouth a little open and she was looking at him with those non believing eyes. "You were crying. I never let anyone cry near me" he grinned and for the first time she gave him a real smile which turned into a laughter and the sound of it remained him of chirping bird in spring. Just one word. Amazing!
"Thank you" she said again and this time was a sincere one. One of those with a deeper meaning. She wasn't thanking him for the gesture but for something more. He took her hand and squeezed it. She was shocked by the gesture and her face was a little red. Was she really nervous... had she ever touched another man? It was that his first thought about her reaction. He release her hand but she was still looking down where he had touched her. Maybe it was true, the world was full of strange people after all. He was about to leave but yet again her voice stopped him.
"Is this ... I mean helping... is this what ... friends do?" No! For fuck sake he didn't need anymore of these crap. Why was she asking him that he coul never lie about this.
"Yes ... I mean of course friends help each other" as she was looking at him suddenly she was looking down and with a nervous voice asked.
"So... does it mean I can be your... friend?" She said the word friend with soch hopefulness it could bring the dead alive again. It was then that he knew for certainly that he was consider her first friend. She must be so freaking lonely to be in her 16-17 and not having friends! He didn't had the heart to refuse , so yet this was another mission for him. Another promise to keep, another person to protect and hopefully it wouldn't take too long. Grinning he said.
"From now on you can count me as your true friend" she looked at him in awe and for some reason her eyes became watery. She nodded and smiled at him.
"I am glad you are my friend Natsu. I would do my best to be a good friend for you as well" she said optimistically.
"Then do you wanna grab something to eat. I hate the atmosphere here . It is like its dead." He replied smiling a little. She giggled softly and nodded. With that, he took her wrist and without saying a word started running with Lucy gasping and almost stumbling but once again gaining control and started running after him laughing loudly. She was having the time of her life and he knew that. What will bring the future for him and his newfound friend?
Could she save him or would this be his last promise?
Author Note
So this story will be something special filled with emotions. A good romance. If you like it and I have a good response from you guys I will keep this up. This was almost a preview of what I'm thinking about.
The other story I have it's my primary one so I will update this a bit more slowly like in two or three days. Today was my birthday so I couldn't write another chapter for Discovering Love story. Tomorrow I promise at least 2 chapters. Have a nice day guys and enjoy life!
