Yeah, its taken a while I know. But I'm getting there.
I tried for an emotional take on this chapter and hopefully its enough for you guys. I got up early in the morning to type the rest of this out :P Be grateful.
The dodgy poem near the bottom... Yeah thats my poor outtake on trying to write a poem. So I didnt copy it or anything, its my own work along with the rest of the story.
But the the FT Crew belong to Hiro Mashima, sadly.
Enjoy
Natsu stood with the others on the beach enjoying the sun's rays the morning after they had arrived in Arkane.
Levy and Wendy sat under the shade of the wide brimmed umbrella as the rest of the teenagers in their Grade swam in the waves or sunbathed on the sand.
Natsu raised his arm reflexively from beside Gajeel as a volleyball came sailing towards him, it landed in the soft sand, Elfman's voice boomed over the dunes, "Play like a man and give me a game of Volleyball!"
Levy sat up in her seat and raised her sunglasses, "Volleyball? Sounds like a good idea if we weren't down a player!" she sent a gaze to Gajeel who promptly folded his arms across his chest and snarled, "I aint playing a game with you losers, count me out of this one."
Elfman sent him a disapproving glance before looking back at the girls, both Levy and Wendy nodded to each other and got up from their seats and raced across the sand over to where Elfman now stood with Natsu.
"Alright, Me and Wendy versus Levy and Elfman" Natsu declared, picking up the ball and tossing it back to Elfman before making their way to the nets set up halfway up the beach. "Bring it on like a real man!" Elfman boomed to Natsu.
Natsu sent a devilish grin to the white haired young man as he and Wendy stood in their places to start the game, sending challenging gazes to the other team of two. "You ready?"
With a roar, Elfman threw the ball with all his might. It flew with amazing speed over the net and hurtled towards Natsu who clenched his hands together in a cup and smashed the ball back over the net.
Both Levy and Wendy stood there gaping at the competitiveness of the two males, Elfman and Natsu hitting the ball over the net with brute strength and sheer determination to win the game.
Gajeel sat under the umbrella watching the group play volleyball with a sneer on his face. As much as he had convinced himself that he didn't like these people, Levy seemed so much happier when she was around them and there wasn't much Gajeel could do, it was either hang around the Salamander and his friends or be the social recluse that nobody liked.
He looked down the beach and saw the other groups playing on the sand or in the water under the watchful eyes of the teachers, all he could hear was screaming or laughing echoing all the way along the beach
"I'm sorry Natsu!" Wendy cried in a horrified voice as she saw the ball bounce out of the net boundaries. "I let the ball get away." She scurried after it, scooping it up from the sand and looking up.
"That's okay Wendy" Natsu called, "It's only a game, it not the end of the world." He stopped speaking when Wendy paused, still looking in the direction of the dunes from where the Resort was.
"Is that…?"
Suddenly Wendy threw the ball and yelled back to the others, "Guys look," she pointed up the dune, a wide grin on her face, "Its Gray and Lucy!"
"What!?"
Wendy and Levy took off over the sand leaving Natsu and Elfman staring incredulously at the scene before them. Sure enough, Lucy stood at the top of the sand dune and waved from beside Gray who was carrying a duffel bag.
After a moment, it finally dawned on Natsu that his best friend was at Arkane. She was actually here!
He went running on behind Levy and Wendy, Elfman in tow who could have had the biggest question mark floating above his head judging by the look he had on his face. As Natsu reached the pair, Levy had thrown herself at Lucy as Wendy cried, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Lucy!"
Natsu looked back and forth between Lucy and Gray dumbfounded before Gray hoisted up the bag onto his shoulder with a chuckle, "The Doctor said I couldn't go on the School Retreat. But he didn't say I couldn't go on a relaxing holiday."
"Yeah" Lucy laughed as Levy released her, "When you rung last night Natsu, we were making our way to our room. We wanted it to be a surprise so we could come down and see the looks on all of your faces."
"I'm so happy you're both here" Wendy clapped her hands together, "We can do things together now, nobody misses out."
"Yeah well except you guys are staying in the cheap accommodation whereas we're staying in our own private room on the beach" Gray stated smugly, "When you guys have to have dinner and 'Reflection' time, I'll take Lucy out to a romantic dinner followed by a nice relaxing stretch in the spas and hot springs."
"I'm so jealous," Levy pouted, folding her arms across her chest, "If only I could get away from the stupid school and stay with you guys, I'd be so much happier." She stuck her tongue out at a smug looking Gray before Natsu thrust a warning finger to him, "You better not be thinking what I am thinking, if you so much as…even…" he dropped his hand and spat, "You're on a School Retreat here! Jeez…"
Gray put an arm around Lucy with a smirk on his face as Lucy bloomed red as the other girls giggled and Elfman looked down right embarrassed, looking away from the couple and looking back down the beach.
"There won't be any of that" Lucy chuckled embarrassedly, "We're here to spend time with our friends Gray, we discussed that. Besides… you're supposed to be sick and we came here for some 'down' time."
Natsu chuckled, ignoring the burning sliver of jealousy that resided in his chest at the sight of Lucy and Gray. They were both here, they had gone out of their way to spend time with their friends and he couldn't be more grateful.
He really couldn't ask for better friends, they were all perfect….Well, except Gajeel that was.
"So" Lucy said, scanning the beach at the sight of her schoolmates, "Where about are you guys sitting? I bought us some things to eat, we can have a picnic."
Wendy pointed down towards the Volleyball nets, "We're sitting down there" she beamed, "We were having a game before you guys turned up, I'm sure we can pick it up again especially with you guys here."
"I'm sure I can put up a good fight" Gray chortled, sending a challenging gaze to Natsu. He felt the hairs at the back of his neck prickle at the challenge and he raised his fist in anticipation, "I'm looking forward to it" he growled, "I want you to give it all you got Fullbuster."
"Calm down" Lucy laughed, slipping away from Gray and walking over to Natsu and draping her arm around his shoulder. "You treat everything as a competition Natsu; you really have to stop egging each other on."
She veered him back to the umbrellas on where they had been sitting before, letting Gray walk behind with Wendy and Elfman as Levy came running up beside the pair with a beaming smile on her face.
"Guess what Lucy" she gushed, "Natsu is even being nice to Gajeel, it's a first for that knucklehead as well, you have to be proud of him." Lucy smiled at Natsu and jiggled her arm still around his shoulders, "I'm glad for you Natsu, have you made a new friend?" she teased.
"He's not my friend," Natsu grumbled, jutting out his lower lip and looking around the beach, "I'm only being nice because you told me too Lucy and Levy is my friend as well and I didn't want to hurt her feelings."
Levy laughed aloud and Lucy only grinned back at her, "So what activities do you have planned for the rest of the day? I came here to spend time with my best friends. So hit me with all you got hey?"
"Well I want that volleyball game against Gray" Natsu spat, looking squarely at Lucy determinedly, "We can have a three on three game, I know you haven't played in a while Lucy but you're still a kick ass player."
Lucy took her arm from around him and stuck out her tongue, "I haven't played volleyball for a team for a little while now, but I can say the same about you Natsu, you completely flunked out on your Jujutsu. I was really disappointed when you quit."
"Jujutsu?" Levy questioned, her ears perking "You did that Natsu? What grade belt were you?"
Natsu only shrugged, "Meh only black belt, nothing special. It got boring and I kept beating everyone so I quit and Lucy got angry with me."
Lucy shook her head and looked to Levy, "He was a couple of steps away from getting the title 'Master,' he was almost at the stage where he could have gotten a red sheath belt, The youngest person in the Country. He was the star pupil and everybody adored him. He has a lot of trophies and awards for it; I used to take him everywhere for his Comps and even Mama cheered him on when he first started out."
Levy smiled at Natsu, "Gajeel is a black belt in Taekwondo and Karate. He might give you a run for your money Natsu. I'm surprised you quit, Gajeel works on his religiously and goes to the Dojo every week."
"I'm still a better than him" Natsu said, his eyes flaming. "I know all the versions of Jujutsu, Jiujutsu and Judo! They are all close combat Martial Arts, Gajeel is a long range fighter but if I get up close…"
Levy and Lucy only shook their heads, "I'm sorry I said anything" Lucy muttered, "Natsu, like I said before, just calm down okay. Everything is not a competition just sit back and relax would you?"
Natsu began to grumble and fell back into step with the girls and as they reached the Umbrella, Gajeel had sprawled out on the large beach seat with his arm covering his face, his mouth turned up in a forever sneer.
"Gajeel" Levy said with an awkward smile, "Lucy is here now; she came with Gray, how great is that?"
Before Gajeel could even lift his arm and gaze at Lucy, Natsu jumped in and demanded, "What grades Black Belt are you metal head?"
Then, Gajeel sat up his scarlet eyes narrowing in anticipation. "Instructor…why?" he asked suspiciously, looking Natsu up and down.
Natsu jabbed his finger to his chest, "Seventh Grade Black Belt in Jujutsu. Fight me!"
Then Gajeel looked bored, "You Judo fighters fight dirty, I'm not interested Salamander. Go fight your wobbly techniques somewhere else."
"Hey!" Natsu roared, his face looking offended at the lack of respect and admiration of his rank in his chosen Art. "I'm a Champion I have you know, you wouldn't stand a chance against me. I've thrown people even bigger than you over my shoulder with no troubles at all."
"If you're a champion who loved his Art" Gajeel growled, "Why did you quit? Somebody hurt your ego and you couldn't go back because you're so damn stubborn?" he got up from the chair and stood over Natsu with his eyes burning.
"I know who you are Salamander and I know perfectly well what your skills are. You threw everything back in your Sensei's face and left the Dojo because you refused to go to the Academies in Crocus. I would kill for an opportunity like that and you just walked away, pussyfooting around it like you usually do!"
Natsu looked utterly shocked and Lucy stared at her best friend with wide eyes. "You got a chance to go to Crocus? Natsu… why didn't you tell me, that's all you wanted to do, it was your dream. Why did you pass it up…Is that the reason why you quit?"
Natsu's face darkened and he turned away, his voice dripping with venom. "I didn't go because I wanted to stay in Magnolia with my best friend and help her through everything. Even if that meant staying with my jerkoff Foster Father and his stupid dog. I wasn't going to leave her behind."
Lucy sniffled back the start of tears before Gray appeared, his own face dark at hearing the end of the conversation and pulling Lucy close to his chest as Natsu stepped back and went to leave the group.
"I-I'm going to go for a swim" he started lamely, "I will see you guys later, I need to clear my head." With that finishing sentence, Natsu fled the scene and left his stunned friends behind and Lucy feeling worse than ever.
"He quit a couple of months before I met you" Lucy sighed leaning over the balcony and staring at the moonlit ocean. "He poured his heart and soul into learning those Arts and tried so hard. He did nothing but practise and his Teachers were so impressed at his raw talent and determination. He got his Belts so fast; he was dedicated for a full ten years."
"I guess I never heard that side of him" Gray muttered, drying his ebony hair as he walked from the bathroom, "How come I never knew about his 'Almost Master' dream. Not once did I hear of it. I didn't even know you were part of a Volleyball team."
Lucy shook her head with a smile, "It was Mama, she was the one that signed us up for it. We were only very young at that stage and this was before she even got sick. I got all the way to a Brown Belt before I quit. By that stage, everything was grim and Natsu just kept going. Mama told him to never give up and he didn't. He made her very proud."
Tears threatened to overwhelm her and she sniffled again, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "He didn't even tell me that he had been offered a place in the Dojo in Crocus. That's the ultimate Dojo to train at, when we were younger, that's all he wanted to do. So that's why I was so surprised that he gave it up."
"He gave it up for you," Gray muttered, "He really does care about you Lucy; I've never seen such a dedicated pair of friends. I'm actually jealous on how close you guys are." He stood beside Lucy on the balcony with his towel hanging from his shoulder and put his hand on top of Lucy's.
"We're best friends," Lucy muttered, "We grew up together, my Mother was his Mother and he loved her as much as I did. Then when I found out that his own Father was abusing him, I vowed to be the one to protect him but he thinks by staying here, he can protect me from all the trouble he is in."
She leant her head on Gray's shoulder and looked up at him with large, sad eyes. "Don't get jealous of us" she whispered to him reassuringly, "You're the one I love Gray, I'm just trying to help Natsu get over his demons. It's really destroyed him but I'm going to help him every step of the way."
"We all will" Gray smiled at her before kissing her forehead, "It's what friends do for each other, now stop getting upset and come to bed. We have a few big days coming up ahead of us; we're supposed to be having fun."
Lucy could only smile up at the pale looking Gray before nodding in agreement; "Okay" she said softly, "We're going to have fun."
Natsu stared at the old picture he had in his wallet, it was one of his most precious pictures that he kept with him at all times.
It was a picture of him, Lucy and Layla sitting on a park bench; right across from the Dojo he previously attended. Both he and Lucy were in their white outfits and sporting green belts, large grins plastered across both of their face.
This was back when Layla was still healthy and she used to walk them to the Dojo every Tuesday and Thursday. Back when Lucy was still part of the Dojo and Natsu's favourite sparring partner.
The picture was well loved, creased and folded and sat snugly in the safe compartment in his wallet. He couldn't bear to part with it, it was back when he was still happy, he could call Layla his Mother and see Lucy as his Sister. Everything was easy and simple.
Natsu put the photo back in its rightful spot and looked up at the sky with the stars twinkling above him. He sat cross-legged out on the small balcony while the others sat in the small bungalow.
"I hope your still watching us Layla" he whispered, "Lucy…No, both of us miss you so much. Everything changed when you left, I…" his hands reached up and he tugged his rosy hair in exasperation, "I don't know what to do with myself anymore. I'm so lost and just wandering around in circles. What can I do?"
A soft breeze tickled him and Natsu swore he felt a light touch on the top his head. He let go of his hair and looked up to see the trees swaying in the wind and the crash of waves against the shore.
From his pocket, his phone chimed alerting him that he had received a message. He pulled it out and looked at the screen to show that it was from Lucy. He unlocked his phone, opened the message, and read what had been written.
'I still can't believe that you have left our side, I can't believe on how pain we are still in once you had gone.
Words cannot express how much we both miss you; we miss your smiles, your hugs, your kisses.
Every day has been a struggle, but we pull through just for you so you can still be proud of us and for what we had achieved once you left our arms.
We have had our days we're we don't even want to get out of bed; our days were we would just both break down and cry until our souls ached.
It's been so long since you left, but we still stare at your pictures, pictures that are left in frames or the pictures we hold in our wallets in secret, where we look at them when we need you most.
We miss your voice
We miss your smile
Your eyes, so full of love and your gentle touch
Your smell where you used to hug us until our tears went away and everything was okay again.
Until we see you again, we will always love and miss you.
Layla Heartfilia
The short poem was enough for Natsu to smile at the screen, tears rolling down his face and collecting at the tip of his nose. It was as if Lucy was there with him and she was able to read his mind.
What he wouldn't give to have a Motherly figure hug him until all his dark fears went away and everything was golden and sunny again. The pain was raw, even after all these years and with Natsu having lost his real Dad and then his adopted Mother. It had left him utterly crushed.
He let the phone darken and he looked back up at the sky at the largest star and smiled. "We still think about you Layla, we both do. You were…my mother and it's still so sore, for Lucy and myself."
He let his phone drop to the wood of the balcony, "I promise I will keep protecting her" he whispered, "I'm not going to let anything happen to her, but please… if you hear me up there. Please don't let them take Gray away from her. She won't be able to cope if she lost him as well. Don't let them take him up with you."
"Is everything out there okay Natsu?"
Elfman's voice came through the silent night, making Natsu look up to see the hulking young man standing in the doorway of the bungalow.
"Y-Yeah" he muttered, wiping his tears and trying to hide it from Elfman. But the man knew better and didn't say anything about Natsu's tear stained face. "Everything's fine" Natsu muttered, turning his head back out towards the ocean.
"Well its lights out man" Elfman offered, "You might want to come inside before you catch a chill. It's going to be busy tomorrow so you will need to get your sleep."
Natsu smiled, picked up his phone before getting to his feet and walking back to the doorway. As he passed Elfman, he heard his voice come out softly, "We all wish that Lucy can stay happy, but we all know it's inevitable. Even Lucy knows that…"
"I know" Natsu whispered, "That's why we live up the time we have and when the time comes, we will all be there by Lucy's side."
