Sakura
By: BritanyBreathless
A/N: My first fanfic after a very, very long Hiatus away from FFnet This will be considered my very first Fairy Tail fanfic and of course I just happen to be riding on the S.S. LaLu ship to Crackville. Hopefully this lives up to expectations and you all enjoy it!
Hana Mi was a real sight to behold in Hosenka town it was something definitely on par with the blossom viewing festival held in Magnolia. The sun had nearly set and in the growing darkness and with the last struggles of sunlight the paper lanterns and stars shined to life. Softly the Sakura petals glowed pink creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.
Lucy couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she watched the children of the town run excitedly to the nearest game or food stall. Their laughter contagious and filling the cool night air.
"Lucy you look great!" Levy greeted coming up beside her blonde best friend to watch the festivities. Levy wore a bright orange kimono with a pretty sunflower pattern and a simple gold colored obi. "You look good too Levy! A Kimono really suits you."
Lucy honestly felt a little weird in her kimono since she wasn't very used to wearing them. The pearl white kimono had little pastel pink sakura blossoms patterned on it with a shimmery pink obi. The Geta were especially strange to get used to but Levy seemed at home in the traditional clothing.
" Want to hit up one of the food stalls?"
"Sure, but I'm a little surprised. I figured you would be with Gajeel." Lucy stated slyly glancing at Levy out of the corner of her eye. Levy blushed prettily but dodged the question. "I could say the same for you and Natsu."
"Natsu is with Lisanna and Happy."
"Oh...Lucy...I'm..."
"It's okay Levy. Natsu and Lisanna had something special way before I ever came to fairy tail, it was only a matter of time for them to find each other again once she came back from Edolas."
"Lucy I really admire you. I don't think I would ever be that accepting over losing Gajeel."
"I would have had to have Natsu first to lose him Lev, he was never mine."
Levy grasped Lucy's hand holding back the tears she wanted to shed for her best friend. She knew how much the blonde loved Natsu and to see her so strong about it filled her with both admiration and sadness for the loss of her best friend's first real love. "Let's grab something to eat Lu! There's a Dango stand just over there!"
Making their way into the busy crowd they headed toward the stall Levy had pointed out when the calling of "Hey Shrimp!" stopped them both in their tracks. Looking behind them they found Gajeel walking up from behind standing a good head taller than the rest of the crowd. Lucy had to admit she felt a little envious of Levy right then. Gajeel looked down right delectable in the traditional Hakama and Hoari.
"Gajeel?" Levy questioned, "I thought you didn't want to come to the festival?"
"Oi, Bunny."
Lucy needed no more prompting. Gajeel clearly wanted to talk to Levy alone. "Levy? I think I'm going to try one of the game stalls instead. I'm not feeling very hungry so I'll just meet you guys for the fireworks okay?"
Levy nodded frowning, "If you're sure."
"Yup!" Lucy nodded enthusiastically. Before breaking away from the group. Gajeel nodded to her gratefully and Lucy waved letting the iron dragon slayer know it was no problem. Once she was a fair distance away she sighed. Who knew Hana Mi would end up being so...lonely? It wasn't even the festival really but the guild ever since after the grand magic games and Lisanna finally admitted she still had feelings for Natsu. Her whole position in the team shifted. Sure, she still did big missions with Gray and Erza occasionally but it just wasn't the same without Natsu.
Lucy looked up into the brightened night sky noticing how bright the constellations were that night. 'I know I shouldn't feel this way. I have Cana, Levy, Mira, Gray, Erza, and all the others but for some reason...I just feel...like I don't belong anymore.'
Lost in thought she didn't even realize she bumped into someone until she hit the ground. "oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" She panicked scrambling to her feet and bowing profusely "I'm really, really sorry I should have paid attention to my surroundings!"
"Blondie?"
Lucy blinked up owlishly at the figure finally getting a good look at the person she ran into. A tall imposing figure in light blue traditional clothes towered over her small frame as she lost herself in crystalline blue eyes. A rough and jagged scar running across the mans eye and cheek. "L-Laxus?"
Laxus smirked crossing his large arms across his broad chest. "Yeah, What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Enjoying a festival. What does it look like I'm doing?" Lucy snapped, shaking herself out of her trance.
"Doesn't really look like your enjoying yourself all that much if you're not paying attention."
Lucy glared, "Like you're one to talk. Where's your groupies?"
"Ditched them. They were getting on my nerves."
"Rude."
Laxus grinned, "Feisty. I like it."
Lucy rolled her eyes. While Laxus has changed and was nicer to everyone in the guild ever since the Master let him back but he was still as obnoxious to her as ever. "Ugh. If we're done here I'll be on my way."
"Hold up. It isn't safe for a girl to be on her own. Even at a festival."
"How chauvinistic of you."
It was Laxus's turn to roll his eyes. "What I'm saying is, We should hang out together. Safety in numbers."
"Say's the guy who ditched his team."
"I really only ditched Freed. Ever and Bix ran off to do their own thing awhile ago."
Lucy frowned. "Why would you do that though? He's your friend."
"He is and I love him like a brother but if you haven't noticed he kind of has a thing for me and even though I made it clear I'm not like that. Sometimes it gets a little awkward."
"What? I thought he liked Mira!?"
"He does, but he likes me too, it's called being bisexual."
"I know what it's called. I just never noticed he had a thing for you. Are you sure you're not just being egotistical?"
"Come sit at our table in the guild sometime. You'll see what I mean."
Lucy blinked in surprise. Did he just invite her to sit with him and the Rajinshuu? She doesn't remember a time ANYONE at the guilt ever sat with them. Not even Cana and Elfman and those two were dating Bixlow and Evergreen.
"You mean I get the honor to sit with the mighty Rajinshuu?" The sarcasm and disbelief was so thick it took everything in Laxus's willpower to not roll his eyes into the back of his head.
"We're not THAT anti social."
Lucy snorted, "Yeah. You kinda are. I don't think I have ever seen anyone else hang around you guys."
Without realizing it the two had ended up walking together down the crowded street talking and bantering back and forth and before they knew it they found themselves in a more secluded area on top of a hill over looking the entire festival. Soft pink petals all around them as they chatted.
"You know this is the first time we have ever talked like this." Lucy commented. "It's actually kind of nice. Despite that you're still an asshole I guess you're not that bad."
"Geez thanks blondie."
" It's a compliment."
"A lousy one."
"Ugh. You drive me nuts."
"So you never really answered my question from way before." Laxus said as he sat himself under the tree they were standing by. "Why are you by yourself?"
"Well to be honest." Lucy began sitting herself beside him and hugging her knees to her chest. "Everyone else was busy. Erza is off with Mystogen, Gray is hiding from Juvia, I was with Levy for a little while but then Gajeel wanted some alone time with her, and Natsu is with Lisanna."
"Lisanna? I thought you and the flame brain..."
"Nope." Lucy smiled sadly. "Natsu always loved Lisanna. It just took him awhile to realize that is all."
"Are you upset by that?"
"Not really. While I had feelings for him I also have had plenty of time to come to terms with it and let him go. Natsu is my best friend and I really like Lisanna. If she is what makes him happy than who am I to step in the way of that?"
Laxus was in awe. This blonde woman had her shit more together than anyone in their guild combined. He always had kind of a thing for her since day one because who wouldn't? The girl was smokin' hot but the more he saw her, the more he got to know her the more he realized just how much he liked her and it scared him. A lot.
Something inside of him had always wanted the her ever since the first day he saw her. Back then he was a brooding asshole. But now...well maybe now he could have a chance? Shaking his head he disregarded the thought quickly. He didn't want to bring her into his fucked up shit. She deserved better.
"You're pretty tough blondie."
Lucy blushed and looked away. "I'm not really. I kind of get in everyone's way. I'm not a strong powerhouse like Natsu, Gray, and Erza."
"Yeah but they're idiots." Laxus sighed, " What you lack in their brawn you more than make up for it with your brains. Trust me I've taken to watching the guild since Gramps said I would be taking over someday. You are like one of the only sane ones in the bunch. You and Wendy."
Lucy leaned to the side and nudged him with her elbow. "Thanks. That actually did make me feel a lot better."
Almost complete darkness settled in as they chatted the only light was from the stars and lit up village below where the sounds of the festival filled the air. Laying back on the cool grass her blonde locks fanning out beneath her Laxus had to admit, if only to himself she was beautiful.
"Wow. You can really see Leo up there tonight." Lucy chuckled
Laxus laying down beside her so he could get a better look frowned. All he saw was just a cluster fuck of stars. " I don't see it."
Surprised Lucy turned her head to stare at the beautiful man beside her, He was a terrifyingly strong man that she really didn't know that much about. Her few interactions with him were not much to go by when most of them that she could remember he acted like a complete asshole. But seeing him now gazing up at the stars with her, in which she considered a truly intimate thing as no one but her own mother had ever shown interest, took her breath away. Was there more to Laxus than she realized?
"You're interested in the constellations?"
Laxus shrugged. "I don't know that much about them but I definitely wouldn't mind learning."
So they laid there looking up at the night sky as Lucy pointed out the constellations they were able to view and described each one in detail. Her heart fluttering as she did so. Never has anyone listened to her about the stars. Not anyone on her team, her guild mates, or even her best friend Levy. For the first time in a long while the loneliness she was starting to become accustomed to began to drift away.
A red streak and a loud boom startled the pair into sitting up straight as an explosion of color decorated the night sky.
"It looks like the fireworks started." Lucy stated in awe not believing they lost track of so much time just hanging out. "I was suppose to meet up with Levy and the others."
"I was suppose to meet up with Freed and Ever too."
"Do you think they'll miss us?" Lucy mused.
"Nah." Replied Laxus " they'll all be to busy wrapped up in their own thing."
"Or in Levy's case Gajeel."
"Blondie. Stop. I don't need that visual."
"You need to stop calling me blondie. You're blonde too ya' know."
"Lulu then." Laxus replied.
Lucy couldn't help the smile that spread wide across her face. Only one person ever called her Lulu and she was the next closest person to her besides her own mother.
"I really like that." Leaning back her hand brushed against the lighting slayer's but instead of moving it quickly like she normally would have done she let it rest there. Pinky touching pinky as they watched the rest of the fire works in silence the only thought running through both their minds...
'Maybe...just maybe...this is the beginning to something much more.'
A/N: Not a bad start right? Hopefully the chapters get longer and you don't find the characters too OOC. Anyway if you guys could be so kind
R+R :3