"Lucy!" he called from somewhere in her massive room. "I'm back!"

She shivered as she sat on her lounge chair in the middle of her balcony, her lush garden surrounding her. It wasn't cold out, far from it in fact. It was only mid morning, the sun barely halfway into the sky yet the heat was already becoming unbearable.

She tried to reason that was why she wore what she did, clad in this scantily concealing outfit found it the dredges of her closet. Colored in a deep red her skirt fell to the floor with two very large slits that ran the length of her legs. The small panel of fabric that covered her front barely concealed her naked mound beneath, being she had no underwear to speak of. The wider panel of fabric covered her ass.

The belt holding it all together was ornately decorated with flat golden discs that fell into a triangle formation that further helped to hide her nakedness beneath. The discs clinked and chimed with every step she made, reflecting light as she moved about. Her top was a matching bra, made of similar sheer fabric. Thin straps held it up, pushing her already ample breasts out. More flattened discs covered the fabric.

Sighing she tried to relax further into her chair. Tucked under the shade of her over head trellis, flowering plants hanging from the overhead creating sweetly scented shade she could hide in to escape the heat. Walls of bushes, planters and pots filled with bright flowers decorated every square inch, creating paths and walkways for her to weave through when the heat was tolerable enough to walk in.

When the shade didn't work she even had a shallow pool to lay in, fed by a constant stream of cool spring water.

Even though the heat was unbearable she couldn't find the energy to get and walk over to the pool. Couldn't find the strength to do much more than lay about her lavish rooms.

The sounds of the fountain behind her were suppose to help to calm her nerves whenever the world pressed in, whenever she felt hollow and useless like today. Plus the mist it created alleviated the heat of the sun shining down from the bright blue sky.

She knew better though. Years of growing up in a rich household had taught her to see past the illusions others created of themselves. Overly painted faces for example to hide the wrinkles and the age of the real person beneath. Someone wearing too much perfume in an attempt to cover the true stink of their personality beneath. Fancy clothes to distract the mind from the lack of beauty or a rather boring disposition.

Maybe all that training had been why she had been able to break the illusion spell cast beyond the railings of her oasis, allowing her to see her home for what it really was.

The sight of the bony landscape with its jutting peaks and grotesque spiny protrusions. Even up here in her tower the view was hard to ignore and she felt stupid for not having realized it sooner.

If she laid back and stared out at the sky, she could almost forget it existed, almost forget where she was. She assumed that was why the spell had been placed their in the first place. To help her forget, or maybe to make her forget. Either way she wished she could put it back.

"Lucy!" he called again, his voice filled with the need to see her as she listened to his approaching footsteps.

She shivered again, her eyes staring blankly out into the vast expanse of sky, watching puffy billowing clouds sail by. Quietly she steeled herself, ready for the heartbreak that followed his presence. No one had told her how hard this would be, how difficult it would be. She had made a promise though, vowed to stay with him no matter what.

"There you are. Don't worry me like that Luce." he laughed as he made his way to her through the maze of flowers and shrubs.

She could see him approach out of the corner of her eye but she refused to turn and watch. He placed something on the table next to her, another gift wrapped in bright paper to make up for being gone for so long, though it had only been a few days this time.

"I brought you your favorite chocolate this time." his voice was filled with boyish laughter and excitement. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long. Maybe next time you could come with me!"

She bit her lip, closing her eyes as she prayed to Mavis. "Did you destroy the town?"

Silence filled the space between them as she waited for his response.

"What kind of question is that? Most people just say thank you when they get a gift, weirdo." he laughed.

She didn't respond, just screwed her eyes shut tight as she forced back the tears threatening to leak down her face. The burn behind her eyes was something she was familiar with, she was becoming a professional at shutting them off though today it seemed rather difficult.

"Luce, what's wrong?" He took a step, filling her vision as he crouched down in front of her chair.

The tears blurred her vision as she opened her eyes, gazing down upon him where he crouched in front of her.

"Natsu." his name left her lips like a broken plea for help and she had to bite her tongue to stifle the sob that threatened to escape after it.

Her eyes wondered over him taking in his appearance. He had a few more scraps than the last time she had seen him before he left. His pink hair was still a shaggy mass of spikes, his tan skin still only partially covered with black swirling tattoos, though most of it was covered by his white pants and partially tattered black coat. The grin on his face the same boyish one that use to make her heart skip and leap into her throat.

His eyes were the last thing she looked at. Red irises where their use to be green. And the horns to, curling up from the top of his head all shiny and black as the light glinted off them from the sun.

The first few tears streaked down her cheeks, leaving hot trails in their wake. She hadn't even realized that she had started to cry. Natsu sighed.

No she thought, his name is END.

"Luce, don't cry. Please" he reached out with his hand to cup her face but she flinched away.

"Don't." her voice was quiet and watery.

He scowled at her, hand still hanging in the air between them. "Why not?"

He reached out to touch her again but she swatted his hand away. She got up, standing on the other side of the chair before rounding it to avoid him as she made a dash inside her living space.

Her outfit chimed with every step she made.

"Why can't I touch you!" he demanded as he followed after her.

She started walking for her bedroom. No it's not my bedroom. It's my cell!

"Lucy!" his voice was angry now.

"Go away!" she shouted as she made it past the pillars and the billowing curtains that separated her living quarters from the garden.

She stormed past the rows of bookshelves with the hundreds of untouched books he had brought her on his many 'travels'. Past the piles of cushions and throw pillows, and the sitting area where a couch and chair stood around a coffee table. Not that she needed space for guests to sit at, you didn't get many guests when you lived on a floating island that moved.

Up the raised dais and past more pillars and curtains the monstrous four poster bed came into view. Her goal was her bathroom just beyond, the only place that had a door she could open and close.

Inside she could find solitude, lock herself away and lounge in her tub until her skin pruned and hunger drove her out.

She nearly made it, reaching out to grab the golden knob and dive behind it to the one sanctuary she had left.

He caught her wrists before she could do that. Spinning her around he gripped her shoulders only to have her wretch away slamming herself into the bathroom door as she faced him. Her chest was heaving and her eyes burned with more unshed tears.

He trapped her before she could think. His hands bracing himself on either side of her head, caging her with his body as he leaned his face in close.

"Stop it." he demanded.

She shook her head as she glared back. "I told you before, don't touch me!"

"I will touch you whenever I want!" he roared back. As if to prove a point he brought one hand up to cup her cheek.

She pulled back with a hiss. "Natsu would never force himself on me!"

It was his turn to pull back now, teeth bared, eyes narrowed. "I AM Natsu!"

"No you're not. You're a demon that's possessing his body. Natsu would never have hurt people before. He would have never killed someone. Master Makarov taught him that all life was sacred, that it was a heavy sin to kill. Yet you do it so effortlessly, like it's not hard to take away someone's future!"

"I have only killed one person." he ground out. She could tell she had hit a nerve, his temper already flaring up. She could see it in his eyes, the way they dilated to slits reminisce of a dragon's.

"That's one more than he ever did." She fired back.

"I am HIM!"

"No you're not!" she screamed. "You're a demon possessing him and you never had to kill him!"

"I did it to protect you!" his voice was quiet but deadly as he spoke. "You're right. I didn't have to kill him, the only person I have to kill is Zeref. I have to kill Zeref and free this world of him. That was what I was created for. I chose to kill him because of what he almost did to you!"

"He was your guild member."

He shook his head. "My guild is Fairy Tail. That thing was a demon and he would have come back for more if I hadn't killed him. Would you rather I had let him live, let him continue to walk in the shadows, waiting for you to be defenseless. Waiting for me to leave your side so he could finish what he started? "

Lucy shoved at him, pushing him away to escape from the look in his eyes. The hurt that flashed in those red irises made the lump in her throat tighten, made it harder to breath. Moments like this, when she saw little flashes of Natsu, those were when she had the hardest time believing her own words.

"Natsu would have found another way."

The demon grabbed her hands, pinning them to his chest as he ducked his head to meet her eyes.

"Lucy. I AM Natsu! Please you have to believe me. I didn't want to kill. I had to. I didn't like it, but I had to protect you. That thing would have you..." his voice trailed off as he fought with some inner turmoil, the emotions flashing across his face making him as readable as a book. "I couldn't let him hurt you. I don't know what I would do without you!"

His voice was still angry, but it was the undertone of sorrow, or desperation that made it harder to turn away.

"They aren't your family anymore. You aren't apart of Fairy Tail anymore. You're the guild master of Tartarus."

It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than him.

His free hand came up, hovering in her line of sight before finally cupping her cheek.

"The town is still tact."

"What?"

"The town, where I got your present from. I didn't touch it. I promise."

"Why?" she asked, her eyes wide as she lifted her head to look at him.

"Because I didn't want you sad. Because I promised you I was still the same Natsu. It's hard, there is something inside me that hunger for it, craves it. Destruction and death, watching chaos unfold around me. Seeing people die..." his voice trailed off as his face filled with fear then in a flash it was gone, replaced with hope. "But with you here I can suppress it."

His thumb brushed across her cheek, wiping away a fallen tear she hadn't know still lingered on her cheek.

"Please stop crying." he whispered.

Slowly he slid his hand down her face until his finger caught her chin, turning it up as he leaned down to kiss her. He was gentle at first, a soft brush of his lips across hers. Once, twice, then a third pass. Each time he became firmer, his mouth hungry, begging to take over hers. She could feel it in the way he held back, the way his hand shook as if he was scared to let go.

Her eyes fluttered shut as he finally deepened the kiss, his mouth moving slowly, as if he was afraid she could shatter. Her heart beat was erratic, filling her ears with the sound of rushing blood as her mouth began to respond.

She jumped at the first tentative brush of his tongue against her bottom lip. Her mouth parted of its own accord, letting his tongue slid into the wet heat behind her lips. She sighed, relaxing against him, her hands fisting in his shirt as he pulled her closer. She could feel the pull of desire in her limbs. A heavy aching feeling that slowly worked over her body, making her skin tingle and her legs shake.

Suddenly she pulled back. She shook her head, stepping away when his hand released its hold on her.

"You're not Natsu." she whispered, a reminder to herself more than him. "You're not him."

END sighed, his patience wearing thin. Crossing his arms over his chest he pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, letting out a frustrated sound.

"If I've told you once I've told you a thousand time. I am Natsu! I'm just complete, that's all that's changed. I have all my memories back from before Igneel took me in. I have my power back to. I remember who I am, Luce. How is that bad?"

"You've killed people."

"I grow tired of repeating myself. I had my reasons for killing that bastard and I don't regret it for a second!"

"You use to kill people for fun, back before Igneel defeated you." she jabbed a finger in his chest as she took a step from him, slowly back away as she tried to put on a brave face. "You almost killed Gray."

"Almost. Besides that ice princess started it! He wouldn't have had to suffer if he had just left you alone. Now come here." his voice was hard and full of anger as he pointed to the ground before him.

Lucy shook her head. "No."

"Lucy." he warned, a growl vibrating deep in his chest.

She backed up, her legs hitting the side of her mattress stopping her progress.

He laughed, a low throaty chuckle that made her body shiver, but not from revulsion. She hated herself for it

"Why do you deny it? I know you want me." he said, tapping the end of his nose as he looked at her with something akin to predatory hunger in his eyes. "Or did you forget I have inhuman abilities like enhanced smell?"

She shook her head, her face flushing with embarrassment. "The heat must be getting to you. I would never want you. Natsu is my friend."

"Just a friend? Is that what you do for just a friend, brave infiltrating a dark guild all by yourself, just for a friend?" END laughed, his head thrown back as he mocked her.

"Yes, because in Fairy Tail we look out for each other. That's what guilds are for what guilds are suppose to be about. Friend bonding together, becoming family, looking out for each other."

END spread his arms out wide, gesturing to the room. "Funny, I don't recall any of these other friends of mine coming to my rescue. Just you."

"I didn't tell anyone, I came alone for a reason."

End snorted, taking a slow menacing step towards her. "Why? Wouldn't numbers have given you a better chance of defeating me."

Lucy blinked her wit failing to give her a snappy comeback so instead she ground her teeth together, clenching her fists at her side as she glared daggers at him.

"Face it, you came here because we've been more than just friends for awhile, Luce."

"You're lying. Natsu is my best friend. I came here for him, to bring him back."

END rolled his eyes. "Why can't you just be honest Lucy? You came here because you want to be with me regardless of what form I take."

Lucy shook her head.

"Oh really? Well it's been a whole month, yet you still haven't managed to free me from myself yet. So why stay? When Gray came to save you, you didn't flee with him when you had the chance. You could have run back to Fairy Tail and formed a proper party to come back and challenge me. Not to mention you still have your gate keys yet you've never once tried to fight me. I've been around you enough, given you plenty of opportunities to attack me when my guard was down. You could have summoned one of your spirits, like that irritating lion for example. So if you don't want me why do you stay?" he paused, waiting for her reply. "Why Lucy!"

It was one of the few times words failed her. She watched apprehensively as Natsu stalked closer, his eyes flashing with a deep feral hunger that did weird things to her insides.

"I came here to save you." she finally choked out as he stopped a few feet away.

he snorted in derision. "You're not doing a very good job at it."

"What?" she asked confused as she scowled back.

He gestured to the space between them. "You won't let me touch you. I can't sleep with you. You won't talk to me. You won't even look at me! I need you Lucy, I don't need saving. I just need you to be by my side and help me! Help me keep these horrible feelings at bay!"

It was the pain in his eyes, the desperation on his face that made her cave inside. Every demon she had ever fought before, they were emotions they lacked. The ability to understand the pain they were causing, or to feel pain for what they themselves were missing. Yet here he stood before her, showing her affection and pain, sadness, loss. All things a demon shouldn't be able to feel.

Maybe he wasn't completely gone.

Still she shook her head. "I can't."

"You can't or you won't?" he challenged.

She stared at him unable to answer. He took a step closer in response.

"You want to know what I think?" he asked, giving her pause to reply. When she didn't he took another step closer, until only inches separate them. "I don't think you can't. You can, and you very much want to. You're just lying to save face, pretending you don't want me because of what it will mean."

He leaned his head down, there lips separated by a breath of space.

"Stop." her voice was shaky and wavered with her uncertainty.

Being this close to him made it harder to ignore the fluttering in her belly. The way the ache deep in her nether region intensified when she was surrounded by his smell, when she could feel his power rolling off his body in waves. "Natsu would never…..never say…...weird things like that."

END pulled back and snorted. "I am Natsu, but I'm not that shy little boy anymore. I know what I want."

"You do?" she had meant it as a challenge but it had come out sounding more like a question.

He nodded, that heart stopping grin working across his face. "You, Lucy. I've wanted you for a long time. I've just always been to scared to act, to scared I'd push you away. But I'm not scared anymore."

"You're not?" she felt ridiculous, constantly parroting back his own words. It was getting harder and harder to think with him so close though.

"Nope. You came for me, came to be by my side. Even after turning into my true form. Even after everyone turned their backs on me, calling me a monster and running in fear. You came back."

His fingers hooked in the waistband of her skirt, pulling her closer until her body was flush against his.

The fabric was sheer, letting the heat from his body past the thin barrier. Slowly his fingers pushed the belt down, exposing more of her creamy white skin with each inch. Swallowing hard she watched his hands work, marveling at how rough his skin felt compared to hers. She reached out and grabbed his forearm to steady herself when the first few hairs of her pubic mound became visible.

Her body felt heavier, the throbbing between her thighs more intense. She could feel his breath ghost across her skin and it sent fire racing down her spine.

This is wrong she thought in her head.This isn't Natsu, this is the demon END.

He sighed heavily as he pulled her belt back up. Without a word he turned on his heel and left, walking past the billowing fabric that partitioned off her sleeping area.

If this is so wrong then why do I feel so sad when he leaves? What is wrong with me. It's not him, it's not him, it's not HIM!

"Wait!" she called.

He didn't stop, didn't turn around to look. He opened the door that led to the stairs and left. Her heart dropped in her stomach with the echoing click of the door. For a few seconds she stood there, unable to move or think. If seeing him had brought her immense sadness, then why was it watching him leave hurt a thousand times worse.

Her feet began to move, stiff and numb as her brain tried to process her feelings. When her mind finally caught up to her she was rushing through the door, flinging it open wide as she chased after him down the stairs.

It felt like the stairs went on forever but then suddenly they stopped, opening up into an archway that led into a cool dark hall. She saw his form walking further away. Gasping for breath she tried to call out but her lungs burned. Instead she stumbled, falling to the floor with a loud thwack as her body hit the cold marble.

"Wait!" she gasped between breaths.

She laid there shivering on the floor as her breath finally even out. Looking up she half expected him to be racing back to her to see if she was alright. But she hadn't heard him turn around, hadn't felt his heated presence come back.

The hallway was empty.