Begin~


Natsu's P.o.V

"Stop, I said I'm fine!" I heard a voice sound out nearby and stopped in front of the pub trying to find the voice.

"Stop fighting and come with me," a voice said, 'a man' I thought as I singled out the conversation, his voice slightly laced with anger.

"Please, let me go," a girl whimpered in pain, my fist clenched, and I made my way to the entrance.

"No~," the man slurred before he started to drag her, making it halfway before I blocked him.

"Let her go," I said loud enough to be heard over the loud racket and making everyone in the bar go silent as the man stopped.

"Move kid," he responded back "before ya get hurt."

"Not until you let her go," I said once again, irritation and annoyance flowing through me when he called me kid.

"Well," the man said irritated and tugged the girl in front of him letting me get a better look at her and I gritted my teeth at her scared expression 'disgusting bastard' "I didn't let her go, what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to make you," I replied, looking him strait in the eyes.

"Hahahahaha," the man laughed out loud before saying "yeah right, come on then, kid."

'He must be really drunk, piece of cake then,' I thought as I walked over slowly, cracking my knuckles, before standing right in front of the perverted drunk. The man barely had any time to react before my fist connected with his face, making him loosen his grip on the girl, before I kicked him in the stomach sending him flying across the room, hitting the back wall of the bar. 'Yup, piece of cake' I looked down at her with concern before flashing her a toothy grin once I was sure she was alright.

"T-thank you," she said loud enough for me to hear, still probably shocked at what just happened.

"Your welcome," I replied nonchalantly with the same toothy grin.

"Please let me repay you by letting you accompany me," she suggested as she pointed towards her table and before I could think much of my actions, I hugged her.

"Thank you so much!" I exclaimed excitedly, before I realized what I just did and backed away from her, a blush of embarrassment spread across my face "oh...um, sorry, I'm just really hungry and I didn't have enough money left so I'm just really grateful."

"N-no problem," she squeaked out, a blush forming on her cheeks.

"What's your name?" I asked, with curiousity taking control, my embarrassment forgotten.

"Lucy, Lucy He- just Lucy," she replied and looked like she was scolding herself for almost telling me something.

"Oh, my names Natsu, Natsu Dragneel," I said with a grin.

We made our way to the table and sat down, Happy made himself comfortable on my head again and a boy with black hair came to ask what we wanted to eat. He had a scar on the side of his face that went from the bottom of his right ear to the tip of his mouth, and green eyes. His features looked slightly familiar but I didn't know from where so I shook the feeling away.

I ordered a lot and had to stop myself from asking for fire when I remembered that I was supposed to keep that fact hidden until I reached the Fire Kingdom but I don't know why. Lucy had ordered a drink of water earlier, I noticed, so she didn't order anything else. The boy nodded, after I finished my order, before leaving and repeating the order to the man at the bar. I turned to Lucy, who was looking around warily, making me confused for a bit before I realized it was because of that man from earlier.

"Hey," I called trying to distract her from thinking like that and it seemed to have worked since she looked at me curiously "Why are you covering your hair?"

"Oh um, well I just decided to cover it," she explained lamely but also nervously, putting her hands to her head and it was almost like she was making sure the hood was still there before sighing in relief quietly but I was still able to hear it.

"Okay," I say suspiously but decided to leave it alone for now since I have some secrets, too.

"So, Natsu, what made you stand up for me, a stranger?" she asked and I paused unsure of what to say.

Why did I help her? I looked at her to find her staring at me, curiousity danced in her beautiful brown eyes, 'wait beautiful?!'. I turned my head to the side and looked around for awhile trying to make my slowly appearing blush disappear.

"Oh... well I guess I didn't want to leave a young lady to the hands of a perverted old man," I answered honestly as I turned back to look at her using some of the manners my father had drilled into my head, almost literally, I shivered as chills ran down my back from the memories.

"Oh," she replied and opened her mouth once more but before she could speak the boy from earlier came back with my food, setting it down in front of me before I immediately dug into the deliciously cooked food.

"So where do you come from?" She asked fiddling with her cup of water.

"I came from a village on the outskirts of the Sun Kingdom and right now I'm traveling," I replied, after I swallowed my food, partially lying, what I said about traveling was true though "what about you?"

"Well I'm not sure, I don't really have a specific destination, I'm just traveling for now I guess," she replied unsure. I thought for a while before coming to a conclusion that may end up being trouble in the end but it's worth it.

"Well since you don't know where you're going, why don't you come with me and my buddy Happy?" I asked and pointed at Happy, who decided it was time to eat and was munching on a fish that magically appeared, don't ask me, I don't know either.

I was a little hopeful because years of traveling with only myself and a cat, sorry Happy, as a companion does get boring, except for when you meet new people along the way.

"Well I don't know," she looked unsure and I could see she was trying to see if she could trust me and I didn't blame her, I mean a guy did just try to kidnap her but I felt like it was something more than that or maybe I'm wrong.

"You don't have to, I was just saying since you don't know where to go and all, you could join me," I explain quickly so she doesn't think she needs to come or anything "if you want, you could think about it and meet me at the entrance to the forest before nightfall."

"Okay… I'll think about it," she said after a while of contemplating.

"Great," I said grinning and went back to eating my food before it gets any colder.

"Alright," she answered smiling a little and we started talking about the random things from our past. I told her about some of my adventures and the people I met and she told me about her good memories with her mother. I finished my food and started to get up.

"I guess I'll get going," I said as I grab my bag and place it on my shoulders. I turned around and grinned "I'll be at the entrance of the forest waiting if you accept to join me and Happy."

"Okay" she smiled, I returned it before I turned around and made my way out of there.

Lucy's P.o.V~

As I watched him leave, I thought about what he offered. Could I really leave this village? The place where I was born and where my mother was buried? Then I realize something, this village is just a reminder that my father can find me easily here, if he's even looking for me right now. So I made up my mind, I will journey with this stranger, who I know a little more about, until the time is right for me to go on my own.

I got up from my table, leaving a few gold coins to pay for the meal, before heading to the back and unlocked the door to the room I was going to stay at. Grabbing my pack and closing the door behind me as I headed to the front and handed the key to the boy that had been taking orders previously.

Once I stepped out of the pub, I made my way down the dirt roads and watched people shuffle on past, the small town still crowded. I weaved my way through trying not to bump into the others passing by me going the opposite direction. I headed to one of my favorite shops in town, if I was going to travel I might as well buy extra clothes and a few old books from a worn down book store, and some food. By the time I was done getting everything I needed for the journey it was already almost nightfall and I started down the path to the exit of the town.

Walking through the village felt different somehow, like if this was the first time I saw it and the last time but I guess that's natural seeing as I was never really allowed to explore the village much and now I'm leaving and I don't know how long I'll be gone. Up ahead I see the exit, the forest ten feet away, so I stop and turn gazing at everything for the last time, at least for now. I see the children laughing and their parents watching over them with smiles on there faces before I look at the manor glowing under the sun's rays.

She smiled sadly one last time before turning towards the exit and the forest that has her escape or her doom. Walking out of the village, she spotted his hair before she actually saw him and like if he sensed her presence or something, he turned around with a big grin. On his head sat the blue cat, Happy, that probably decided to take a nap on Natsu's cherry blossom colored locks.

"So you decided to join Happy and me," he exclaimed excitedly "awesome!"

"Yes, I thought 'why not go on a journey could be fun' so here I am," I explained.

"Yay! Now it's going to be twice as fun with you around," he cheered.

I blushed and looked away embarrassed by the comment. When a had appeared in front of me.

"Come on Lucy, let's go on a journey," he said enthusiastically, his hand waiting in front of him and I smiled for the first time in a long time.

"Yeah!"


I'M DONE WITH THIS CHAPTER, FINALLY!0

Yay! Hope you enjoyed, sorry for the OOCness!

Done!

じゃ-