Hey!
To start off with, I am very sorry that it has taken me longer to update than usual. The weather in Britain isn't ideal, resulting in my internet being down. But I guess the weather hasn't been good pretty much anywhere recently- I hope you all are safe and well!
Anyway, to start, I have mocks next week and 6 weeks worth of photography work crammed into under a week that needs to be done... Yay! *Sarcasm* so updates will be a bit slower, I'm sorry for that :\
Next, this chapter isn't as long as the last one, as always, it is building to a bigger, more action packed chapter- and we all love those!
Enjoy :)
Chapter Six
It seems I've been running in the wrong direction
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"Book stores... You want to know where the book stores in Hargeon are?"
A rather bewildered, petite, blue haired bookworm asks the pink haired Dragon Slayer standing beside the table she is sitting at. The book she had been reading now laying open flat, besides the empty glass of orange juice she had been drinking.
When Natsu had burst into the guild, kicking open the door with a loud slam while heaving, as if he had been running a mile a minute, Levy McGarden had thought nothing of it. Dipping her head back into her thick paged book once more after looking up briefly to see who had entered the guild. Fairy Tail's resident pyromaniac was notorious for loud, door shattering entries into the guild, so his sudden appearance was not out of the ordinary.
However, said pyromaniac sprinting and almost tripping over his own two feet to get to her table as quickly as possible, before demanding to know the location of every book story in Hargeon town... Now, that is not ordinary.
Face scrunched in thought, the bookworm muses to whether the man before her has ever even read a book in his life. More times than one he has gotten both him and her best friend, Lucy, into a predicament after incorrectly reading the job description of a mission. So why he is now asking her the location of book stores is making her curious; even more so as to why he wants to know where book stores are in Hargeon.
"Yes! Why do you sound so surprised?"
"Well..."
The woman starts before trailing off, thinking of a way to word her disbelief at the fact that of all people, Natsu Dragneel wants to know about books, without offending her Nakama.
After a few minutes of silence, the young man huffs. Running his fingers through his hair frustratedly, he glances to the clock behind the bar before pulling a face close to desperation.
"Look, Levy, can you help me or not? I just thought you would be the one person most likely to know about book stores there."
"What about Lu-chan?"
At this, Natsu visibly pales, his eyes saddening as a wince becomes visible on his face. To this, Levy cocks her brow, aware of the Dragon Slayers sudden discomfort and melancholy aura, yet the reason unbeknownst to her.
Perhaps it has something to do with Lu-chan? I wonder what happened?
"Lucy... She, urm..."
"Don't worry, Natsu, I can help you."
"Really? Thank you, Levy!"
Natsu suddenly perks up, a glint of hope shining brightly in his deep, dark onyx eyes.
"Yes, now you better be listening, there are quite a few."
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Pacing impatiently outside of the Hargeon public library, Natsu runs his fingers through his pink bangs, further misplacing his already messy strands of hair. Frustration wells up within the Dragon Slayer as the sky over head darkens; an inky, dark hue invading and over throwing the light sky that once reined. The ever looming bringing to life of the lacrima lights drawing the death of his partner closer, with every pace he takes. Every breath, and maddening thought of the blond woman he longs so desperately to have found the correct location of.
The building before the man- illuminated beautifully by the setting sun dipping behind the brickwork, casting the weather worn stone in an exuberant orange glow- Natsu determined, is one of the four locations that Lucy could be at before stepping into that fateful alleyway, not long from now. Of course, the pinkette's intention is to do anything in his power to prevent that 'fateful' decision on his partners part, from ever occurring in the first place.
Grumbling curses under his breath while seething in obvious anger, Natsu stops walking circles into the pavement in front of the library and turns to look upon the iconic building. If the fact that- for a small fishing town- Hargeon was home to four book stores and a public library located on opposite sides of the town wasn't enough, the fact that the uptight librarian had practically thrown Natsu from the library upon his entry was the cherry on the metaphorical cake.
Of course, the Dragon Slayer had seen nothing wrong with kicking open the doors to the said building before bellowing Lucy's name. Running towards one of the many isles of books, knocking a fairly large pile over in the process, causing thuds and paper rain to disrupt the previously silent library. All eyes had been on the mage as the old librarian, wearing a high bun of white hair and lips pursed tightly with annoyance evident across her features, stormed from behind the front desk. The short, slightly hunched back woman had grabbed Natsu by the ear violently before he could take another step, and dragged him as he yelped to the library door. Lecturing him on the library rules and common courtesy with every step before, with a surprising amount of strength, she hauled the Dragon Slayer out of the door, causing him to tumble down the steps leading to the street.
Stupid, old library lady, throwing me out like that. She was scarier than Erza...
Ego sore from being forcefully removed from the library by a woman who looked as old as Master Markarov, Natsu decided to not try and enter the library again. Noticing the glares the puckered lipped lady would throw at him through one of the windows every time she stalked past it.
"You aren't here, are you, Lucy? You would be out by now..."
Anger still welling within him as the librarian steps out of the library, locking the door behind her before sparing a last glare to Natsu as she waddles in the direction- he can only assume- is to her home, the pink haired man feels his fists clenching.
Despite the fact that the library, a place Levy had suggested- her assumption being that Natsu would be more likely to read a book if he didn't have to pay for it- was the last place on his list of places he thought Lucy to be at, he came anyway. There is still a slim chance that this is where she had been, no matter how unlikely it seems. The Dragon Slayer had told himself upon arrival at the archaic building that he had to accept that his blond partner would most likely not be here. Yet, although the previous assumption that he had come to terms with that fact, now he is furious.
Angered by the fact that, regardless of the clue he had been given, he hasn't found Lucy.
Any moment now, when the Lacrima lights come alive, she will die.
I don't want to be here to hear the gunshot, I don't want to hear her die...
Looking to his left as the sun dips fully behind the horizon, extinguishing the orange flicks of light that had been cast upon the library, Natsu see's the figure. Standing. Lurking, in the shadows as the lights come to life. Scythe in hand and head cocked slightly to the side as they observe him becoming entombed in shadow. Wrapped in darkness until the eerie smirk on the figures pale lips dissipates from his vision. His existence in this incarnation, as well as the chance itself, is nothing more than a shadow that melts into the darkness.
Once again, sorry for the late update!
I know this isn't the best chapter, but my computer is going in for repairs and I wanted to finish this before it did
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SHOUT OUT TIME!
wisdom-of-me- That is an interesting idea, and I will admit I considered it. So maybe you will be seeing it later, and I promise if I do, it will be a tear jerker! Thank you, I hope you continue to love the story :)
TandK4ever- Here is your update and haha, I seem to be making a lot of people cry! Thank you for your support, I hoped you liked the update!
Lolibeagle- Thank you, it's nice to know my persistence pays off, that made me smile! And I loved writing that chapter! And thank you, adorable was what I was aiming for!
NyAnCaTX3- The figure is a sneaky one, and that is also a possibility, maybe, I hope you enjoyed the update :)
Llaelien- Agreed :( Thanks for the support!
SnowDragonSlayerTasha- Mine was too while I was writing! I don't usually like clichés, but romance for the win! Maybe there will be some more romance soon- thoughts? :3
To the Guest- Thank you, it's nice to know people like my writing style, but if you wouldn't mind, could you elaborate what you mean by it is not right for this story? Any constructive criticism would be good to help me get better :)
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Don't forget to review!