Disclaimer: I don't own fairytail.
CHAPTER 1
Lost and Found
Natsu Dragneel hated everything about airplanes.
He hated the crowded place, and the single chair, and the strangers all around him. He hated the unwanted voices of stewardess reminding him the things he already knew, and the stranger that steals the sit beside the window, and the absence of a decent table. He hated the damn place because it reminded him of his wife a lot. And with all his heart, he knew he hated Gray Fullbuster-Dragneel since it was his fault he was riding a public airplane in the first place instead using his private ones.
He typed at his laptop as though demons were lurking somewhere behind him.
You: Yo, slanty eyes, are you sure this is a good idea? Am I safe enough here?
Gray Fullbuster: Chill, squinty eyes. You were using Elfman's name. Mirajane arrange it herself. No one will know that you're there. Unless you took that cap and glasses off which I wouldn't recommend. Someone might try to assassinate you if they know it was you.
You: Very relieving. Thanks.
Gray Fullbuster: You're welcome.
You: I told you I hate this idea, right?
Gray Fullbuster: Every single freaking day I believe. BTW, have you taken your anti-motion sickness medicine?
You: Is this concern I hear?
Gray Fullbuster: Yes, concern for the poor stranger seating beside you.
You: Why do I tolerate you again?
Gray Fullbuster: Because i'm one hell of an employee. ;) BTW, be sure to ace that meeting, idiot. Or I'll beat your ass.
You: I would ace it, of course. No need to hear that from you. And like you could beat me, asshole.
Gray Fullbuster: I can actually. It helps that you're a bitch in moving vehicles.
You: HA-HA. Hilarious.
The plane took off and Natsu slam his laptop shut. At least he wasn't wearing the usual irritating corporate attire and that's something.
At the age of thirty, Natsu Dragneel made FT Corporation successful as it can be. FT Corporation is a Japanese automotive manufacturer headquartered in Aichi, Japan. In March, the multinational corporation consisted of 338,875 employees worldwide and, as of November, is the eleventh-largest company in the world by revenue. FT was the largest automobile manufacturer ahead of the Sabertooth Group and General Blue Pegasus Motors. He inherited the company at the age of twenty-four and was working hard since then. The company grew within a year because of his efforts and hard work. He managed to exceed beyond expectation and the company reported the production of its 200-millionth vehicle. FT is the world's first automobile manufacturer to produce more than 10 million vehicles per year. It did so according to OICA, and according to company data, as of July, FT was the largest listed company in Japan by market capitalization.
Despite of his father's disagreement, he married a stewardess at the age of twenty-seven. Lucy Heartfilia was everything he wanted. She was very beautiful, with her pretty face, and long golden hair that hung to her waist. She was tall and thin and shapely with creamy white skin but it was more than outside appearances. She was the kind of person you could talk with late at night; who could tell a joke without shame, who would laugh at your jokes, and would be totally honest with you. She was the type of person who has a lot to say and has these deep brown eyes that can see through you. She was Natsu's special friend, and his special person. She understands his eccentricity and she was the best friend he never had. Words aren't enough how much he love Lucy and he knows she feel the same way.
A predicament began when Lucy married Natsu. She was forced to give up her career because Natsu's father insisted she has no more means to work. She should just stay at home and assist Natsu on his work. Without a protest, Lucy silently agreed although she wasn't too happy about it. Natsu knows Lucy's career were important for her, that she dreamt of achieving more for herself, so he suggested writing novels. Fortunately, Lucy quickly fallen in love with writing and also found out she was great at it. Natsu was happy that she found her bliss and everything is well again.
Even though his father was still opposed with his relationship with Lucy, Natsu never let him say anything bad towards his wife. Though finally, after a celebration for a successful negotiation with another sponsor, Natsu drank wine with his father, and then the unspoken words between them were uttered.
"That Heartfilia girl, she would break your heart," His father warned. Jellal swallowed another shot of wine as he stared at his son through his glass. "She was a gold digger through and through. Trust me, the moment she found another treasure she'll leave you."
Natsu paid the warning off his mind. He trust Lucy and she would never betray him.
A year later Lucy announced she was pregnant. Natsu was ecstatic and they both cried in happiness. He whispered he loved her endlessly that night and he kissed her with passion, running his smooth hand over her flesh. Their lips touched, and parted, and touched again and he seemed to be devouring her with kisses. It was a long happy night, and they were still entangled in each other's bodies when they awoke in the morning.
"I love you." He whispered as he kissed her forehead. It's their usual mantra of greeting.
"I love you a hundred times." She giggled as she answered, playing their usual game.
"I love you a thousand times more." He kissed her cheek.
"I love you a million times more." She kissed his chin.
"I love you a billion times more." He kissed the tip of her nose. She smiled.
"I love you forever." He kissed her lips and let himself drown in her. They both have stupid grins in their faces as they pulled away and uttered in unison.
"Remember."
In that moment, with Lucy in his arms, he began dreaming of buying a new house that would be suitable for children. He dreamt of having more than one child and he knows Lucy wouldn't disagree. The house would have a big lawn, so they can play and run on it. The lawn would have an enormous Sakura tree beside it. He would buy the kids bikes and they would live at a quiet yet homey neighborhood. Everyone would know each other there and his family would hand out Lucy's home-baked cookies to every neighbor just for the sake of sharing.
His happiness ended with a phone call.
His mother called and asked him if Lucy was with him. He told her she was supposed to be at the house, waiting for him. Erza told him their family doctor just called and informed her that Lucy just got an abortion.
Natsu's heart missed a dozen of beats and then when it started again he drive towards the Doctor's hospital. He reaches the place seething with rage. He yelled and demanded at the doctor if he was saying the truth and when he did confirm that Lucy did really have an abortion, he trashed the place. They were liars! Lucy would never kill their child!
He went straight towards his mansion next. Erza greeted him. He walked past her and searches every room, screaming Lucy's name. Erza Dragneel followed his son as he went berserk. She was worried at him.
When he finally calm down in exhaustion, Erza told him everything.
Apparently, his father is right. Lucy is a gold digger.
She took an abortion and killed their child because the kid would only get in the way of her success.
She demands Natsu's father for money, promising she would stay away from him. She needed it to finance her dreams.
She flies off to study in abroad.
She did all this without telling him anything. Not even leaving a single letter.
The next twelve months were an agony that still made him cry when he thought of it. He searched for her anywhere. He abandoned conferences, meetings and presentations just to search for her. He can forgive her. He already did. He loved her so much that he can never be really angry at her. They would repent and start again. Everything would be alright. His father took his place for the time being because he was being unproductive. Natsu was trying to find Lucy and he can't think of doing anything else. He began to disregard his physical needs. He forgot eating. He can't sleep. He didn't bother to shower. The search was ruining him but he can't think of giving up. When he found her, he would ask her to come back to him, he would beg even, just for her to come back. They can fix everything, he thought. It's never too late for them.
Though apparently Lucy thought it was.
For some strange reason he couldn't trace her. He was pushing himself harder and harder on trying to find information. He tried so hard and his friends and relatives tried to stop him from his foolishness but he didn't take their help.
Then one night, like so many nights before, he couldn't sleep, but unlike so many nights before this day is different. It was the day of his grandfather's death anniversary and he forgot to visit the cemetery. The guilt and hysteria came, so hard and sudden, and his heart felt as though it might beat its way out of his chest. He tried to relax but he couldn't.
The beating became so rapid and strong that he couldn't breathe. The combination of starving himself and loosing sleep and stress and depression, caused him to nearly have a heart attack. He was so scared and he knew he needed help. He called Gray and his step-brother rushed him to the hospital.
Gray screamed at him all night that day. "Get back on track with reality already! She was not coming back!"
The glare of the light on the ceiling became blurry on Natsu's vision. Why does it seem like everyone he loves leave him so suddenly? It's so hard to forget. Even after a year, he can still hear it, their voices as they greet each other their own version of good morning, good night, hello and goodbye. It was all the same.
"I love you."
"I love you a hundred times."
"I love you a thousand times more."
"I love you a million times more."
"I love you a billion times more."
"I love you forever."
"Remember."
Finally the tears ran slowly down his cheeks. "Lucy wouldn't come back . . . isn't she?" The words drifted away, spoken so softly, Gray could barely hear them.
For the first time in many years, Gray couldn't think of something to retort to his step-brother. So he only sat beside his bed with a companionable silence, letting Natsu cried his heart out as he finally faces the truth.
Lucy was not coming back to him.
Natsu threw himself into the Business-world with a vengeance. He worked day and night to catch up, and sometimes even slept at the couch of his office, as the corporation continues to soar, and become known all over the business-world. He let his work become his daily passion.
He never remarried although his father insisted he should; even just for the sake of the company. He wouldn't like to feel that feeling again, the feeling of loosing something so important to you. He became distant and professional. He trusted Gray with his life. He trusted no one else not even himself.
Now, he was on his way to New York to convince another corporation to merge their connection and build partnership with each other and hopefully, signed contracts at the end of the day.
This trip would take exactly fourteen hours and one minute. This assumes an average flight speed for a commercial airliner of 500 mph, which is equivalent to 805 km/h or 434 knots. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. The exact time may vary depending on wind speeds.
Natsu was bored out of his mind.
"Can't this plane get any faster?" He muttered under his breath in disgust. He taps his foot at the floor impatiently. Damn Gray for referring him to the slowest plane he knows.
He can hear wheels wheeling behind him. Oh great, here comes the stewardess waitress. Natsu thought in relief. I thought she would never show up.
He raises his hand without glancing behind. "One, Cappuccino here."
"Coming right up!" The stewardess answers. Oddly, the voice is familiar in some way. Natsu did pay it no mind though. He was used to it. Apparently, every stewardess sounded like her and that's why he hadn't had any stewardess on his private plane. They were pissing him off.
He can hear the wheels again and this time the cart stopped beside his seat.
"Here's your Cappuccino, sir."
With the politeness Erza drilled in him, he automatically looks up and smiles at her. He was about to thank her when he saw her face and his smile slowly vanishes.
In front of him stood; the woman he's been looking for in an entire year, the woman who killed their child, the woman who took money from his parents, the woman who broke his heart, and the woman he loved so much. It was his long lost wife.
It was Lucy.
A/N: Your reviews would mean so so SO much to me. :)
