So, my inspiration for this is sad. A boy in my town, whom I knew of but did not know personally, died after roughly a month of hospitalization after a severe motorcycle accident. I've been reading the posts that his loved ones are writing in honor of him and I've been really choked up. I can't imagine how they must be feeling right now. I'm sorry.
Disclaimer: You're lucky I don't own Fairy Tail.
The crisp winter breeze blew softly throughout Magnolia, its icy chill stinging the faces of its victims as it wound within the air. Warm breath struck the cold air in a wisp of transparent ivory, disappearing moments later as the energy was stolen away. The trees were nearly barren, a few dead leaves hanging precariously on tree branches. The wind threatened to peel them away. Fresh snow laid like a rug on the frozen ground from that morning.
Most people were inside, enjoying a warm fire and the presence of their loved ones. It was Sunday, after all. One woman snuggled deeper into her scarf, pulling the source of warmth up over her small nose as she walked the familiar path to the cemetery. She was wearing plenty of layers, but that couldn't keep the cold from biting at her exposed cheeks and forehead and stinging her glossy brown eyes. It was truly a frigid day. There had never been a colder winter.
She neared the large wrought iron gates of Kardia Cathedral's burial grounds, immediately spotting the headstone she was looking for. Each of the stones were coated in fresh snow, save for the large stone in the center of the small graveyard which held a flame that would not go out. There wasn't a time she had visited this stone that its flame hadn't been lit. Not a morsel of snow had fallen on the grave. There was a small journal that had been left on the grave which had never been there before. She stared at it, perplexed.
The woman knelt down, hesitantly reaching for the bound paper book before she paused. Is this a violation of privacy? The thought was fleeting, and soon replaced by another. Surely if it were important, it wouldn't be left out in the snow. She gingerly plucked the journal from where it had been left leaning against the slab of stone that jutted from the ground. She fumbled with opening the cover page, thanks to the gloves that lined her fingers and palms.
Once the cover was pulled away from the pages inside, her eyes were free to roam over the words that were written there. She stared, heartbeat quickening, at the story that spilled out before her. This wasn't something she was prepared for. She felt guilty for reading it now, but she couldn't bring herself to stop this major invasion of privacy.
DAY 1
Natsu,
I know you're going to think this is silly, and probably call
me weird, but I couldn't get the idea out of my head. I don't
ever want to forget the adventures that we have together or
how far we've come in these past few years, so I'm going to
write to you everyday for a year so that we can always read
and remember it. I got the idea from writing to mama everyday.
Today we went fishing and Happy caught the
biggest fish. Imagine that! You were jealous because you
want to win at everything, always. We were both proud
of Happy in the end. We agreed to take a job tomorrow
so that I can pay for my rent. My landlady still gives me
dirty looks every now and again. I thought we were
friends now! Anyways, thank you for always helping me
out when I need it. And thank you for NOT breaking into my house today!
-Lucy
She felt her chest tighten painfully as she read the words. She skimmed through a few pages before she stopped again.
DAY 50
Natsu,
We came home from another job today. I was so proud that
you didn't burn down the client's house that I even made you
and Happy dinner! Next time we'll work on not destroying
the city. Everyone at the guild was so happy to see us, it really
makes me feel loved. You and Gray have been arguing less
and less lately. It seems like you've really become good friends!
Personally, I think it's kind of cute that you're both growing up.
The guild hall really appreciates it too!
-Lucy
DAY 78
Natsu,
You got hurt today again. We were up against another dark
guild and we got separated. I managed to hold my own against
a few of them, but the odds were really stacked against you.
In the end you won, of course, but you were pretty badly injured.
We got to Wendy in time to heal you, thank Mavis. I hate seeing
you like that. It really scares me, Natsu. You mean a lot to me.
Seeing you get hurt like that always pains me, even though
you get hurt a lot. You always just give me that goofy smile and
tell me you'll be alright, but that doesn't make it any easier.
Even though I always know you'll be okay, I can't help but worry.
I care about you. Thank you for always being so strong.
-Lucy.
DAY 104
Natsu,
I don't know how to describe today. It was one of the happiest
days of my life. You make me so happy! I can't write much
more or else you'll see me and it'll ruin the surprise. You're almost done
in the shower now.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 136
Natsu,
Today you left to train. I wanted to go with you but you said
it was something you had to do alone. I could tell you didn't
like telling me that. Happy didn't like it too much either. He's
going to be staying at my apartment until you get back next
week. He's already mopey without you here, even with grilled
fish. I can't say I'm in much better shape. I miss you already,
hurry back home.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 143
Natsu,
You were supposed to come home today. Happy and I miss
you a lot. I hope you're not stuck on the train again. Happy
has been crying for a couple of hours now, he just went to
the kitchen a few minutes ago to get something to eat.
I hope you get back soon. I'm worried about you.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 150
Natsu,
Where are you?
Love, Lucy.
There were tears on the page, making the ink bleed out into a circle. Her throat was closing up, tears pricking at her eyes and threatening to spill. Her chest ached painfully. She clutched it with a hand, feeling as if her heart might try to rip out of her chest. Every wound was fresh again. Every memory was at the forefront of her mind.
DAY 155
Natsu,
They called off the search today. It was the first search I
hadn't attended since they began, per request of Mira
that I get some rest. I couldn't believe it when you first
came in. It felt like someone ripped my heart in
two. I couldn't do much more than stare for a few long,
agonizing minutes. I'll never forget what transpired today
for as long as I live. This memory is so far engraved in my
mind that I'll carry it with me to my grave.
I heard the guild doors burst open, and for a moment my
heart soared. The search parties weren't supposed to be
back until dark. My heart was then shot out of the sky and
sent spiraling downward to the ground. I was at first confused
at why Sting was visiting Fairy Tail, until I saw you. You were
hanging in his arms. I'd never seen you in that position
before. Your body was limp, your unmistakable head of rosy
hair hanging towards the floor. Your eyes were open. Dull. Grey. Lifeless.
I felt my blood run cold. Colder than anything I'd ever felt.
There was ice in my veins, refusing to pump blood through
my body so that I could continue to live, breath, move,
do anything. Sting's head was bowed, but there were tears
falling from his chin and landing on your stomach. It was
then that I noticed you were missing an arm.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It seemed the rest of the
guild was as petrified as I, for there was a deafening silence.
I don't remember when I started crying, but I haven't stopped.
It felt so wrong. I still don't want to believe it. I've seen you
bounce back from the impossible so many times. You're so
strong. You're not supposed to die, dammit.
You're not supposed to die. You can't be dead.
You were so pale. Oh god, you were so pale. I could see parts of
your bone, raw tendons and muscles hanging from your shoulder
in a grotesque display of the wrong that had been done unto you.
Dried blood soaked most of your body, like you were forced to
lie there on the ground and slowly bleed out. Around your lost
limb seemed to be the tell-tale markings of very large teeth.
I want to erase that vision of you, so abused and hollow, from
my brain completely. You're the strongest person I know,
something like that doesn't do right by you.
I stroked your cheek. Your skin was so cold. I couldn't stop
myself from staring into your eyes. I kept imagining that spark
lighting in your eyes. I kept imagining you smiling at me and
telling me, "Don't worry about me, Luce." I keep imagining you
coming in through my window and asking me why I'm sobbing
so hard I can't breathe. I see you everywhere I look. You're
everywhere, Natsu. How can you be everywhere but here?
How can you be gone? How?
You know, it snowed today. It's still summer, but it snowed
today. When you left the world, you took every ounce of its
warmth with you. The flames that warmed my heart have
disappeared. I'm so cold without you here, Natsu. I'm so,
so cold. I can't stop shaking. I want to see you. All I want is to see you.
Please Natsu, you're the strongest person I know.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 156
Natsu,
Your funeral was today. I haven't stopped crying since everything
happened. I haven't slept, haven't eaten. I can't do anything
except for sit and cry. Everyone is in shock. It feels so surreal;
it shouldn't be real. I don't want to believe it. I just can't believe
I'll never see your smile again. I'll never hear your laugh again.
I'll never be able to tell you I love you, how much I really, truly
love you. I'll never be able to thank you for everything you've
done for me. You showed me a new life. You brought me to
Fairy Tail; you brought me a home and a family.
How could I ever thank you enough for that?
You had so much heart, so much passion for what you
believed in. You didn't deserve this. I don't understand it.
Is life really just this cruel? Do all good things have to come
to this dreadful, screeching halt of an end?
I didn't get to tell you goodbye before.
So goodbye, Natsu.
Goodbye.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 200
Natsu,
I miss you so much. It's been almost two months but everything
hurts just as much as it did when you left. Nothing is the same
anymore. Happy and I haven't been to the guild in a long time.
It's too painful. Everywhere I look, you're there. Waving, smiling,
laughing. I'm thinking about moving out of the apartment. Some
of the things here still smell like you. Your clothes are still here,
right where you left them. I don't have the heart to move them.
Happy sleeps on them at night, if he sleeps at all.
You are loved, Natsu, and you are missed. More than you'll
ever know. More than I'll ever be able to tell you.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 250
Natsu,
I moved into a new apartment. Happy likes it. There's even
a couch in the bedroom that he can sleep on. Little by little
we started going back to the guild. Everything is back to normal,
but different. I guess it's hard to explain. I've been taking jobs
with Erza, Happy, and Gray. You wouldn't believe some of the losers
we've been hired to take out. We hardly had to lift a finger
before they ran screaming. It really reminds me of you.
I still see you when I'm sitting on the train. The image of
you getting sick and laying in my lap is something that I'll
always see. We miss you a lot, we all do. I'd give anything to
have you back. I'd give anything to see you smile and tell
me everything is going to work out just fine.
But things are slowly getting better. I finally feel like I
can eat without getting sick again, and I can sleep without
so many nightmares. I'll always look to you for strength.
Love, Lucy.
DAY 365
Natsu,
I can't believe it's been a year since I started writing to you.
It feels like yesterday I was running my fingers through your
hair, pretending I didn't feel anything more than friendship
for you. It feels like yesterday we were raising hell, running
around through towns and wreaking havoc. Well, you were
wreaking havoc. I was trying to keep you from destroying
everything. It feels like yesterday I finally heard you say you
loved me, and I called you an idiot and told you the same.
I still can't believe you're really gone. It hurts so bad to
remember, no matter how hard I try to look to you for comfort
and keep your memory as a reminder of the fact that there
are good people. No matter how hard I try, I still want you back.
I want to hug you and tell you everything I was still afraid
to say before you left. I was to go back and tell you not to
leave for training. I want to have more adventures with you.
I hope you're smiling down on me even if I can't see it.
I'm going to keep writing to you everyday, just like I write to
mama. This year, Happy is going to write to you too. I know
how much you must miss him.
Love, Lucy.
She could feel the tears rolling down her face, warming her skin beneath their touch. Her shoulders were shaking as she closed the book and set it back down on Natsu's grave, feeling her throat tighten almost to the point of closing up. She fought in vain to choke back her sobs, rubbing away the tears with her cloth gloves. The fabric felt rough against the raw skin beneath her eyes, but she paid it no mind. Her heart was broken all over again.
She had seen everything transpire; the 'accident', the funeral, Lucy and Happy's sudden disappearance from the guild. She had watched it all happen, her heart breaking more and more with each passing event. And now it was like she had relived it all, like Lucy's writings had ripped her chest open and poured her heart out into her lap.
"C'mon Shrimp." The gruff voice startled her, causing her to peek over her shoulder with swollen, red eyes. At the sight of him she merely cried harder, causing him to frown. He walked over and helped her to her feet, pulling her face into his midsection with one arm to let her cry there. "You gonna be okay."
She nodded into his jacket, her hands twisting into the fabric as she clung to him. Levy pried her face away to look up at him. "Lucy wrote to him everyday." She sobbed weakly, shoving her face back into his stomach. "She wrote to him every single day."
Gajeel stroked Levy's hair, her cerulean locks cold as ice in their current weather. He looked down to the headstone where the eternal flame burned. His crimson gaze was soft as he glanced up into the sky, flakes of snow beginning to fall around them once again. "It hasn't stopped snowing since you left, Salamander." He muttered aloud, gripping Levy tighter as he did so. "Did you take all the heat with you?"
Okay, I made myself cry whilst writing this. If I didn't make you cry, well, I failed at my job. Jeez, this was brutal. I'm kinda sorry.
