DOUBT
-Fairy Tail FanFic
-NaLu
Chapter 9: The Guilty Natsu
Natsu's POV
"Hey Flame brain! Are you just going to sulk in there forgetting that Lucy is nowhere to be found?"
An irritated Gray shouted on me. He had just arrived here on the guild maybe after searching. Erza ond Juvia following his lead with dark expressions lingering on their faces as they marched towards the guild bars. I ignore Gray's bickering and continued drinking. Yes. I've been drinking ever since me and block head arrived in the guild last midnight. I might have drank barrels of sake that even our almighty drinker Cana can't stand wishing that all the drinking can make me drunk but then, alcohol might not even sink in my brain because the thoughts that I wanted to forget still hunt my mind. Gray continued his squabbling.
"And all you're doing is drinking to your heart's content? Have your little brain forgotten whose fault…"
"Gray!" Erza interrupted. But still, the message didn't stop midair and still reached my already weakened heart. It might have been pierced by thousands of needles because it hurts furiously. I took another glass of sake, trying to ease the pain but still her image still playing on loop in my mind.
Her image last night while she's on her knees sobbing like there's no tomorrow… Her, running barefoot away from me… Her scent mixed with salt vanishing on my nose… Her smile fading… replaced with agony. I can't help but to close my eyes wishing that the thoughts might vanish. Wishing that as I opened my eyes once again, her image smiling at me and running towards me calling me to do some job will appear in front of my eyes. I cannot help but to close my eyes longer, for I know that as I opened my eyes once again, there will be no Lucy on my side. Unseen tears flowed from my eyes as I opened it once again and taking another shot convinced that alcohol won't even make me forget.
If only I was faster. I said as memories started to overcome my foggy recollection.
*FLASHBACK 1
I was back to back with the stripping pervert Gray facing a huge army of bandits surrounding us. I cursed knowing that it is not the time for us to be facing them given the fact that my precious partner had run off somewhere.
"Hi kid!" said the ugly bandit that I had met earlier. Judging from his looks, I perceived that he must be the leader of the platoon. He's a bald, fat, ugly guy who wears something that only wrestlers wear and some high heeled boots. It's an ugly sight that my eyes could have burned. His face is kinda distorted and the scowl on his face might have been already permanent.
"Yo!" I said with a smirk and teasing them. My fists were already balling and fire was erupting from each. Gray was already in his ice make pose and was waiting for my cue.
After a few seconds, a fourth of the crowd was already laying on the ground as I roared at them and Gray followed with his lances. Mr. Ugly whose mind must have just processed ordered the remaining bandits to attack us.
-End of Flashback 1-
I knocked one of the bottles in the table with my hands and it accidentally broke into pieces. That's when I realized that Gray, together with Erza and Juvia, has already proceeded to gramps office at the end of the guild bar and a certain white-haired mage was staring with concerned expression at me. I looked away and grabbed another bottle of sake on the table but as I poured it on my glass, I realized that it was already empty. I cursed under my breath and throw the bottle away from me causing it to shatter into pieces.
"Uhhm Natsu… "Lisanna began to say but then a loud 'BANG' interrupted her. It was Gray almost wrecking the office door open.
"What was that about?!" an angry Gray whose face painted with frown and now red hot from rage shouted.
"Gray! Just calm down!" Erza replied with annoyance. She looked much troubled than Gray.
"That old man's not being reasonable! How can he just order us to stop the search and wait here?" Gray bellowed making the whole guild hear every word he said. "She might be in trouble… No! She IS in trouble! How can we just sit here and do nothing?" Gray was now hysterical. He was now definitely making scene and I can't help but look at him with my now sappy eyes. Just then, he looked at me and our eyes just locked. His anger must have raised a thousand fold for his nerves began to pop. Then he smirked.
"And here's the culprit, relaxing in the guild taking his sweet time drinking while our Lucy's could be dying this time!"
"Gray that's enough!" Lisanna shouted with fury. Her voice could have rivaled Mira's in demon form. Even Gray who looked demon-like right now had taken a small step backward. When he recovered from shock he smirked again widely.
"Oh Natsu! Don't tell me you've got yourself a girlfriend at a time like this?"
"SHUT IT UP!" I yelled at him. Well you can say that yell could be an understatement because next thing I saw was a figure of Gray sitting on the ground looking definitely stunned. I practically roared at him. "TCH!" was the only sound that came out my mouth as I run outside kicking the guild door open making it flew a hundred feet away. Anger, loads of resentment overcomes me. But then, guilt was the number one emotion that was tearing inside my heart. Yes! It is my fault! Everything is my fault!
*FLASHBACK 2
It took us half an hour to make everyone face the grounds. The boss and the idiot whom I just encountered earlier in a small hut a while ago were revealed to be a mage. Man! They sure are tough! The boss was a takeover mage who has numerous transformations. Gray faced the idiot who was revealed as a Doll play mage just like Sherry. Pretty lame for a guy but he uses it to much extent and he has greater amount of magic that made him even stronger that Lyon's underling.
As soon as we knocked them out and are about to leave, another bandit who seemed like he had just arrived in the location shouted.
"Small Boss, Big Boss said he had just caught a wealthy fish! HEY! What happened to you all?"
"Ice make: PRISON! " In a split second, the remaining bandit was now caged in an ice jail.
"Who did you just caught?!" I asked shouting making the poor bandit cower in fear.
"I-I don't know sir. I w-was just asked to deliver the message from Big Boss to S-Small Boss" was his reply while stuttering.
"Who's this Big Boss?" asked Gray who looked more collected that I seemed.
"I-I don't know his name. Everyone just call his Big Boss." He replied quickly.
"Bring me to him or I'll kill you!" I said as flames started to engulf my firmly closed fists and the unfortunate bandit tremble with the sight. He then led us to where his big boss is while his hands were tightly tied with rope and we trailed from behind. Faint smell of my partner began to stir the air.
Lucy! I'm coming!
But then, as we reached our destination, no big boss or Lucy appeared in front of our eyes. The place was deserted. Gray glared on the now sitting on the ground bandit hiding his scared face while I sniffed the air thinking what the familiar smell he was capturing was. Metallic smell filled with Lucy's vanilla… I looked around to search when fear enveloped me as something glint from the dark. My eyes widened as I found myself running towards it. LUCY'S KEYS!
-End of Flashback 2-
If only I didn't go to see her. If only I was a little more sensitive. If only… just only…
I felt something warm from my back and realized that someone was hugging me from behind. I tried to struggle and remove the arms wrapped around me but the more I scuffle the tighter it became. Her smell revealed who the embracer was.
"Lisanna, Let go!" I said in a serious tone. But then, the salty smell and the soft sobs erupted from her.
"You don't have to blame yourself Natsu!" She said in between of sobs. My eyes widened and my heart aches once more. I let go of her hug and faced her looking straight into her eyes while holding both of her shoulders. I know pain was etched on my face as I uttered the words that were foreign to me.
"How can I? How can I Lisanna? It's my fault that the most important person in my life is missing right now!" Shock swamped my face as I realized the meaning of the words I gust spoken. Lisanna was just as shock. She was speechless and was just staring at me. I let go of her and looked away. Then I realized Mira standing behind her.
"It took you so long to realize it Natsu." Were the words that came out from her mouth with smile curving her lips. After a long silence I said.
"Yeah, too long… And now it's too late." I finally realized this feeling that always hid inside my heart. I thought it was just normal for best friends but then Lucy is not just my best friend. She's not even here anymore.
"Well perhaps not. Lucy's father sent an urgent request to master. The letter provided enough information and master approved it. He wants to see you right now." Words like day light engulfed my already fading hope making it shine once more. My heart, already empty is now filled with determination. I'll be there Lucy! Just wait for me and I promise, I'll never, EVER let you go again.
I thanked Mira and Lisanna as I hurriedly run back to Fairy Tail determined to kick someone's ass who tried to interfere with me. I didn't notice a white haired teen sobbing while her elder sister comforts her. All I cared about is to bring back Lucy in my arms and mutter the words in her ear.
Lucy, I love you.
-End of Chapter 9-
Thank you for reading. Please leave some reviews if you can. And thanks to all who have put this story on their favorite list and followed this. Special thanks to those who reviewed. this must be the 2nd to the last chapter. thank you again for reading.. (pls. take a peek on my other story if you are interested. I plan to continue it after I finished this one. thankyou! :D)
-yon chan~
