Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy.

-Tim Hansel

The growth of his laughter lasted till he ran out of breath- as well as balance and collapsed onto Lucy. Natsu's body covered hers, their faces merely inches apart. His laughter came to a halt.

Unveiling Memories

Initiate

Stepping one foot directly a head of the other, Lucy strolled along the curb of the river channel. Although the Stellar Princess was careful not to lose her balance, fatigues were getting to her. Needless to say; the ruckus from the guild drained her battery.

Lethargic, she nearly asked Natsu to piggyback her home. Indubitably, she didn't. Lucy had too much pride; she didn't want him thinking she was weak. At least not anymore than she already is, and for other reasons; like how she didn't want Natsu hearing the pounding sound her heart made whenever he got too close.

'I don't understand... what's wrong with me?'

Referring to her heart, she felt it pulse as she glanced sideways at her the fire mage.

'Settle down.'

THUMP

Flashback

'Why now?" Lucy complained, "At a time like this!" She squirmed struggling to untie her self. 'My own weapon,' she moped, 'used against me... damn it all!'

"Wahaha! Somebody help me!" She cried. With her whip tied securely around her body, she squirmed and struggled frantically on the guild floor.

'This is embarrassing... I must look ridiculous!'

"AHAHAHAHAHA!" Natsu laughed hysterically.

Impeccable timing as always Natsu.

"Lucy! You look like a dying worm! No- more like a fish outta water!"

'Well that confirms that...'

"FISH!" The flying blue cat added for good measure.

"Sigh… You guys are hopeless... JUST HELP ME UP!" The blonde fish whined.

"Aye!" Happy was just flying his way over to her, when he was suddenly tackled by another cat.

"Charlie!" Happy exclaimed in shock.

"We're in the midst of battle male-cat; don't let your guard down!" Charlie lectured.

Happy was just about to protest, but then he realized that Charlie was still on top of him. Being a smooth and sly cat that he is, Happy quickly took advantage of the situation.

"Ahhh I see, is that so?" The look of 'wonder' appeared on his face. "I had no idea... Charlie, since I'm no good at fighting why you don't share a few pointers?"

The female feline began to consider, they nodded in agreement "First of all, you need to..." Charlie began. Happy didn't hear a word she said. The accessories she wore pinched his fur and her claws dug into his skin, but he didn't complain. I mean... what's to complain about? For Happy was still pinned down under his feisty yet stern little kitty.

Meanwhile, Natsu laughed relentlessly at the situation before him (as he always does in any given situation). He bent down to help his favourite celestial mage. "How'd ya end up like that anyway?"

Before answering, Lucy blushed, "I tripped." She pouted quietly.

If you think this fire breathing human laughed hard, guess again.

"You devil! Don't make fun of me! I had so much confidence…" She made an attempt to kick him, but it only made her look ridiculously helpless.

This only made him laugh harder. Never mistake to second guess this being from another planet, Lucy irked while she vaguely wondered if it could get any worse.

The growth of his laughter lasted till he ran out of breath- as well as balance and collapsed onto Lucy. Natsu's body covered hers, their faces merely inches apart. His laughter came to a halt. Meeting her soft hazel eyes, he felt the living, bursting energy inside his turn into passionate tenderness; a feeling in which both mages couldnt understand. As Lucy's eyes met his, she saw a flash surprise, adoration, confusion then denial. The heat emitting from each others' bodies collided against one another, turning their insides upside down.

Natsu was quick to get back on his feet; he brought his arm to his cheeks, hiding the redness that spread across his face.

"Uh-y- you alright Luce?"

End of Flashback

Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump

'Settle down you noisy organ!' Lucy couldn't understand why heart races whenever he got too close In fact, she didn't even understand why she does the things she does, and says the things she says whenever he's around.

"Lucy?"

"..."

"Lucy!"

"W-What?"

She turned from her thoughts and faced the boy wearing the scaled patterned scarf.

"Fish..." The blue feline murmured as he hovered in between them, it would seem he's sleep... flying?

"Haaa... Charlie..." And it would seem his dreams were equally unreachable.

"You alright? You've been in daze since we left the guild" His dark eyes weren't looking at her, only ahead, though his eyes clearly showed his concern.

Curiosity, as well hurt clenched her 'noisy organ'. 'He never once looked at me since that incident,' she sighed.

'I don't understand you. Well, what am I supposed to? When I can't even understand myself.'

She banished every confusing thought and emotion that ran through her mind, 'Best not meddle with these damned emotions.'

Lucy had been aware of the new found feelings she had been slowly developing towards her Nakama. However, whenever they became too deep and confusing, she instantly brushed them off.

She was fond of her friend. Her friend was an important team mate. Her Nakama was strong, kind hearted and she worked past his weird taste of fashion, and his loud personality; her friend was quite handsome.

'It's only natural to be so fond of a good friend like Natsu.'

She turned to the direction he was facing and stiffly held her head up high. 'My best friend, yes... friends... only friends'

Natsu

"I'm fine..." She finally replied wearily. "Just tired is all..."

From the corner of his eye, he spotted her smile, but it was not her warm and bright smile he was so used to. It was her sad and lonely, forced smile. He'd been seeing those frequently. Natsu frowned, he didn't like that smile. It's not only the smile that he disliked, it's also the feeling it gave him after.

He preferred seeing that warm and sunny smile that brightened his day.

They seemed to pay no attention to Happy, both lost deep in thought.

Natsu's thoughts drifted off to the incident with Lucy in the guild. The way her breath tickled his neck,... the hot moist of her breathing leaving burning marks on his neck...her scent... that oh-so sweet delicious aroma that he has become so accustomed to. Her eyes, those big brown chocolate eyes that twinkled up at him; he was often secretly mesmerized by them.

'Why is that? What are these warm Happys fluttering inside my stomach? It cant be that can it?

Natsu shook his head violently. 'Lucy is a special friend, a very special Nakama. I wouldn't replace that for anything in the world.' He risked one more side glance at Lucy, startled to find her not beside him anymore.

He must've stopped because when he looked ahead, Lucy was getting farther and farther away from him. "Hold up!"

A sheer shot of fear suddenly pierced his heart. Painful memories flashed through his eyes, his father disappearing, Lissana, and now his eyes adjusted to Lucy. She turned from him as she walked away

'Lucy, Dont... leave, please..'

"Natsu? What's wrong?" She turned around, a worried look etched on her face.

The warm glow of the sun set softened the delicate features of her face, creating a warm image of an angel offering his hand to him

"Were almost home don't wo-" She suddenly stumbled back, her warm eyes turned icy cold in an instant. As if someone had ripped the soft, warm tones in her eyes; revealing a gaping black hole. She tumbled back to crash down into the icy waters of the channel.

His eyes widen in dismay, as he sprinted to her rescue.

Lucy

'It's a good thing were almost home.' Lucy looked up ahead; the ivory brick road was enlightened by the setting sun.

Lucy sighed once again as she continued walking, her hands spread out in order to keep her balance.

'I could use a nice warm and relaxing bath.' At least she had nice view to look at! The setting sun was quite a beautiful thing to witness; you never get tired of seeing it.

She stopped and began to franticly look around; suddenly worried. "Natsu? What's wrong?"

She turned around to find him distressed; she'd never seen him like this before. What could be bothering him? Maybe he was hungry? Hesitantly, she reached her hand toward him, "Were almost home don't wo-"

Suddenly, a screeching cry pained her mind. That vision was back again. She could see it clearly mow... A woman, covered in blood, in the midst of a raging fire, deafening screams of agony resounded in the background. The blood, was the only sight she saw, screams, that deafening screech was all she heard.

Lucy couldn't see or hear her dear Nakama running towards her, "LUCY!"

She couldn't hear his desperate cry as he reached for her hand. She couldn't feel his tight and warm embrace as they plummeted down the icy cold waters.

Yes the sun set was mesmerizing; we can watch it hours and hours…

However, no matter how hard we beg or pray for it to stay like that, calm, heavenly, peaceful and most of all breathtakingly beautiful-. All good things must come to an end.

Because after every sun set, comes the dark void of our lonely night.

So dark, that we cannot see, so dark that we are blinded. So dark that we get lost; we are lost in the mind's eye, blinded to what our hearts are screaming for us to do.

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