Chapter 4: Rumors

[Gray]

Lucy stirs and I look at her. She opens her eyes and stares at me. Her gaze paralyzes me and I have to shake my head to get my mind to focus. How can I tell her something like this? It would kill her.

"Gray?" she says.

"Nani?"

"You're not telling me something. You don't look like yourself."

How does she do that? It freaks me out! "There's something I need to tell you."

She sits up and frowns. "What is it?"

I take a deep breath. "I've heard some rumors about this murderer we're going after."

She nods. "And?"

"They say that he can, maybe, read minds and…" I pause. "Kill you with the face of someone you love."

She bites her lip and clenches her fists.

"There's one more thing…"

She lowers her head and speaks in s whisper. "What is it?"

"They say that he's been using Natsu's face…"

I gently put my arms around her. She clutches my shirt and buries her head in my chest. I rub her back and hold her close. I'm not sure what I should do. I mean, what I told her could probably prevent her from keeping her head and finishing this job. Maybe we should just go back to Magnolia. If Lucy can't do this, I don't wanna force her.

"I have to face him, Gray." Lucy says.

"What?"

"If he is using Natsu's face, I have to be able to look him in the eye and not falter. I need to get over this." She looks up at me with tear-filled eyes.

I sigh and admire what she just said. I nod and kiss her. "I'll be right by your side the whole time."

She smiles and kisses me back. "Arigato. I couldn't ask for anything more."


Author's note: I know it's kinda short, but I wasn't originally planning on doing this. So I'm playing it by ear.