Now, first of all, I wanted to thank each and every single of you who spent your time reading my story. I had so much fun with you guys and thank you, thank you so much for supporting my story. And I also apologize for the long wait but as you can see, we've finally reached the final chapter :)
Thank you guys so much for making me feel that my story is a success and because of that you'll be seeing me sometime soon with another one :)
Thank you for all those kind and encouraging words you gave me. I think I even made friends here already 3 You guys are all amazing!
So, before I go, I just want to say that this chapter is for all of you guys. Consider this a gift/treat from me ;) Hope to see you all again on my next story!
Enjoy!
"Day 99 since Nashi-sama died. . ." wrote Spetto-san on her journal as she waited patiently on the dining hall with Natsu's dinner as he went into the bath "Natsu-sama isn't doing well"
"Happy and the rest of us are starting to get worried. Sometimes he wouldn't eat. . .he won't talk about anything to anyone. . .and most nights, whenever I try to check on him on his room; he wasn't there." she scribbled lightly "He's out of shape. And sometimes I think, maybe. . .he isn't even with us anymore. Like a ghost"
"I doubt that he sleeps at night. . .and I can't see him sleeping by day either. He's always working on missions and always comes home with a badly beaten body and bloodied clothes. Losing two people who means the world to him in the same reason and almost exact way. . .in worse case scenario. . .I think. . ." Spetto-san stopped and closed her journal as Natsu walked in with dripping wet hair
The old lady smiled ever so warmly at him as he sat down and looked at his scrumptious dinner.
"Happy?" he started
"I think he's already asleep Natsu-sama" she replied kindly "He waited for your return the whole day and was quite sad you didn't let him tag along. How was your mission today Natsu-sama?"
"It. . .it was. . .It didn't end the way I wished it would've" he replied quietly and started slowly on his meal
Spetto-san's heart fell.
The way he wanted it to end.
She thought hard and stared at her young pink-haired master and pictured Lucy's face.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for your husband Lucy-sama. . ." she thought sadly "He longs for you for so long now. . ."
"Excuse me young master" hurried off Spetto-san and closed the hall's doors slowly as she ran outside.
Tears shimmered on her cheeks as she opened her journal and wrote again where she left off "I think. . .he's trying to kill himself"
Meanwhile, in the dining hall, Natsu played with his food. Rolling the side dishes over one side of the plate to the other.
He just doesn't have the appetite to eat.
He stared around the room and pictured his beloved family sitting beside him.
"Hey Natsu! Eat! What are you doing?!"
"We can trade plates if you don't want yours Papa!"
Natsu smiled sadly.
"But, you said food tastes better when shared with all of us right?. . .But. . .You're not here anymore" he whispered as he stood "And I'll go anywhere if that means I'll have to see you"
He opened the door but didn't see Spetto-san outside. He sniffed and ventured around the mansion alone once more.
It's already twelve midnight. The house sounded dead. Everyone seemed to be asleep. He was grateful that Spetto-san is patient with him. . .but, that's not what he really want or needed.
He needs Lucy.
He needs Nashi.
Everyone he needed is gone.
And so was he. For Lucy and Nashi took his heart and soul with them. . .buried in the cold ground. Unseen and forever gone.
Natsu climbed up one long staircase, turned around corners and hallways and headed to the portrait hall.
He opened the door and went inside. The room was warm unlike the weather outside. . .unlike him. It was warm in a sense that there was a fire and also, because it's the place closest to how he could see his sunshine.
The floor was littered with photographs, books and pieces of parchment and had the perfect view of the Dragneel Family Portrait. Natsu lied on his stomach, picked up a quill and scribbled something on a blank sheet of paper.
"Day 99: Tomorrow is my princess's hundredth day. How are you both? Are you watching over me right now? If you are. . .I'm sorry my queen and my princess"
"I can't take care of myself as well as you did. Food doesn't taste good. Nothing smells sweet. I feel numb. And all I see are your faces. It's funny, really. How a grown up man can't even feed himself when eveything else was served for him. . ." Tiny blots started to appear on the paper and smudged the words. Natsu's hands quivered as his eyes stared but cannot see. His eyes glazed and lost; from the images of dying people he love so dearly.
"Please. . .I'm begging. Make it stop!" he whispered as he clasped two handfuls of his hair "Make it stop. . .make it stop. . . MAKE IT STOP!"
Natsu gaped his mouth open as tears flooded his face.
How long is he going to suffer like this? He tried. . .but couldn't. He couldn't get rid of the pain. Even if his bones break, his stomach empty, his eyes surrounded with dark circles, or his body run dry of blood.
Nothing. Nothing felt more painful.
"I. . .I tried so h-hard. . .but I can't" he said "I just can't live without you and Nashi anymore"
Natsu played so strong but life is just a better player than him.
If he could throw away anything in exchange for Lucy and Nashi, he'd do it. Be it the money he has, or his power or even his life.
"I'll do. . .anything. . .anything . . .just to have you back"
Natsu crawled. And desperately reached for Lucy's smiling face on the portrait and traced his hands on her lips
"Please. . .please. . ." he whispered "Please come back"
The door slowly creaked open and Natsu immediately jerked his head towards it.
"Happy"
His little fur-covered friend sobbed and flew so fast towards him and wrapped his tiny paws around his neck "I-I'm sorry if I c-can't replace Nashi or Lucy Natsu!" he bellowed as Natsu stared blankly at the shock of seeing him and the possibility that Happy himself witnessed what he had been saying "I'm sorry Natsu. But. . .b-but. . .I'm still here! A-and I'll never leave you. I'll always be with you Natsu!" Happy cried
Natsu slowly placed his hand on Happy's back and hugged him back.
"Mmmm. . .partner" he whispered
"Day 100th of Nashi-sama" Spetto-san scribbled yet again in her journal "I saw Natsu-sama get out of the mansion really early this morning with two bouquet of flowers and it's clear to me where he was going. . .and now, I wonder if. . .what could he be doing there"
Natsu stared at Nashi's grave and then to Lucy's. He gently placed the flowers he and Happy gathered on to their graves. He bent down and caressed Nashi's name "You doing well princess?" he asked "I know Mama is taking good care of you" he smiled sadly
"I've prepared something for you up in the mansion and everyone is coming. . .I've got a lot to prepare but. . .I just wanted to come see you and Mama first." Natsu said as he gently wiped off the dirt on their graves and sat down beside each of them
"I haven't eaten right since you've been gone. . ." he whispered to Nashi and leaned his head on her gravestone "I haven't slept right too"
Natsu indeed looked skinnier and weak. Inside and out.
He turned his head on Lucy's "I can't even manage to eat fire or . . .play with it the way you wanted it" he smiled as his eyes drooped.
"NATSU!" somebody called out
But it wasn't Lucy nor Nashi's voice. In fact, it sounded like a bunch of people.
Natsu tried to open his eyes and witness who had been calling out his name. But his eyelids were too heavy as he have finally found peace beside Nashi and Lucy. He wanted to say "Go away. I can finally sleep" but it felt like he couldn't find his voice. He could feel the sun's light cracking in between the mountains right in front of him. He could feel it's warmth. He squinted his eyes in an attempt to see who was coming but all he could see were their silhouettes in contrast to the beautiful sunshine.
He felt them came to a stop in front of him. He heard a gasp and utter silence
"Natsu. . ." he heard Lisanna's voice quiver and was immediately followed with a tiny stifled sob
"What have you been doing to yourself?" said Gray
"W-we should have stayed with him" he heard Mirajane's soft but trembling voice
"Get up there Natsu. Come on!" he felt Gray's footstep come nearer
"Go away Gray! Shut up!" he thought "Let me sleep here with them. . .even for a little while. I'm tired. . . I'm so tired"
But he never felt Gray touch him or even come closer to him rather, he hear an abrupt stop and Erza's uneven voice "Just. . .leave him. . ."
"But. . ."
"He looks peaceful Gray"
"That's right. . ." Natsu thought as he heaved a heavy sigh. A really heavy one. But instead of feeling uneasy from taking in a lot of air. . .he felt nice. . .and relaxed.
He could feel himself slipping away. Down. Down. Down into the dark depths of sleep; his ears began to hear inaudible noises but his friend's voices still sounded clear
"Mira-ne. . .L-look"
"H-He. . .Natsu. . .Natsuu!" screamed Mira followed by a quiet gasp and sobbing of Lisanna
"Oy! Natsu!" bellowed Gray so loudly near his ear
"Natsu! Get yourself together! HEY! NATSUUU!"
Natsu somehow knew his body is being shaken though curiously, he couldn't feel it at all.
Is this really how sleeping feels? Is it because he haven't slept well for so long he already forgot it? But, that can't be. Because, he remembered well, that Lucy always said that he had a talent for sleeping.
"NATSU!" he heard Erza scream but he could also hear the quiver and lump in her voice. And so was Gray's. . .and Mira's and Lisanna.
"Shit. Did I make Erza cry? Lucy will be so mad at me" he thought "But, how could I make her cry? I didn't do anything did I? I just wanted to sleep" he explained to himself
He's falling down. Down. Down. Down once more. He saw nothing but light though his eyes were shut tight, he feels like he's floating even when he knew he's supposed to be sitting in between Nashi and Lucy's grave and his ears heard nothing.
Down.
Down.
Down.
Then, Natsu felt at peace.
He opened his eyes to beautiful golden sunshine.
"Where am I?" he asked as he stared around "Where is this?"
He started to kind of panic when he saw from a distance their old home which looked like a combination of Lucy's rented apartment and his old one with Happy. It looked enchanting and as nice as he remembered it, mostly because Lucy designed it. He started to walk towards it. . .then, he broke into a run.
Faster and faster he went but it felt like he wasn't moving at all. The house still looked far away. But he didn't stop. . .he kept running and running and running. Until, in exhaustion, he stopped to catch his breath and slumped in front of the house's front doors. He could smell warm milk, tea being carefully brewed, fresh toast and butter and also some eggs. This is the first time ever since he lost Lucy and Nashi that he smelled something good in food.
His mouth watered. . .and only Lucy's cooking can do that.
His heart hammered so fast in his chest it felt like it's going to come out of his mouth. He gulped and beads of sweat build up on his furrowed eyebrows.
Is he dreaming?
Or he's finally going to reunite here with Lucy and Nashi?
Either way, he's happy; for if he is dreaming, that means he finally got to sleep soundly after a long time and even dream about Lucy and his princess and if not, if this is really happening and his real body is being buried now beside Lucy's and Nashi's, he wouldn't mind either. Because both are good to him in so many ways.
He inhaled once more and filled his nostrils with the sweet scent.
"Luce. . ." he smiled "Nashi. . .Y-you're in here. Just a door away" he whispered to himself
His hand quivered as he reached for the door knob, he turned it gently and entered.
But no Lucy nor Nashi can be seen. The house was empty the way he left it when he transferred to the Heartfilia mansion. But, the scents, they're all there. So vivid he could almost taste and see piles of toasts on the table and tea smoking away its heat.
"Natsu. . ." echoed Lucy's voice
"Lucy. . .Luce!. . .LUCY!" he bellowed as he turned round and round the house "Where are you?!" he continued to shout
"Natsu. . ." whispered Lucy's voice once again
"I'M HERE! LUCE!" He shouted in reply out of desperation to see where her voice is coming from. But, it sounded almost impossible because her voice was so clear and smooth it's as if she's just right beside him. . .but he just couldn't see her and neither does she in him.
Desperate, Natsu ran upstairs and banged open every single door he could come in contact with until all that's left were Nashi's and theirs. Heart hammering, he shot forward to Nashi's bedroom door and yanked it open.
Nothing.
No one.
His heart is starting to break once again. Lucy's voice still calling out his name from somewhere. Somewhere he couldn't find. Some place he couldn't see.
He went inside Nashi's room slowlyand sniffed once again.
The scents. They're all there. Definitely. He is sure.
But, how can something smell as nice as this could stay unseen?
He started to question himself. Are the smells really there or is it just him? Is he so hungry that he could smell inexistent food? Then, there's Lucy's voice. No. That could be just his imagination, after all, he always hear Lucy's voice in his mind.
Heart sinking, he started towards the door. He felt stupid. Yes. Maybe this is just a dream and sooner or later he would wake up beside his family's cold graves. How can he be so stupid?
It's just a dream.
"No it's not." said Lucy
Natsu fell back and landed on the floor. Lucy was standing right in front of their bedroom door, holding on to the knob and smiling at him. She's just a few steps away.
Lucy is just a few steps away.
"L-Lucy. . ." he gagged as he felt a huge lump on his throat. He outstretched his hand toward her.
But, Lucy just smiled, opened the door and went inside.
"W-Wait!" said Natsu as he stumbled on himself in a hurry to get up "L-Lucy!"
He ran after her immediately but the moment he stepped into their bedroom, she had gone. Natsu felt his knees wobble and landed on the floor with a thud. Tears flooded his eyes. Their was someone sleeping on their old bed.
It was him.
"Natsu. . .wake up" Lucy's voice sounded soft in his ear.
Their was a blinding flash of golden sunlight from their window and he was unable to see.
"Luce. . ." He said in desperation as he groped around "LUCYYYY!. . .LUCCCCYYYYYYYY!"
Natsu woke with a start. Beads of sweat filled his forehead, tears on his eyes and a heavy feeling on his head when he suddenly bolted upright.
"What?!" said Lucy in shock, her hair tied perfectly on her side ponytail. She was wearing the apron he made her with a clumsily stitched statement "My favorite cook" in it.
"What was that all about?" she asked him
Natsu stared around. Not believing where he is.
"Where am I?" he asked in disbelief
"Wha-? You're in our house of course! Where would you think you'll be after sleeping last n- N-NATSU!"
Natsu jumped out of bed and wrapped his arms tightly around Lucy. Tears falling from his eyes.
"Lucy. . .Lucy. . ." he whispered repeatedly as he tightened his hold around her as if making sure she really is here. . .with him. And alive.
Bewildered by her husband's actions, Lucy buried her face on him and hugged him tightly back either way. Natsu sobbed so hard it took a while before he finally let go of her and explained.
Lucy smiled afterwards and said "I was beginning to worry you're not going to wake up that's why I checked up on you. . . " she flushed and kissed him lightly which Natsu thought was the kind of warmth he need.
"I love you Lucy"
"I love you" she blushed "It was just a bad dream" she whispered on his ear as she wrapped her arms around him once again
"Mmmm." Natsu whispered and buried his face on her beautiful golden blonde hair "I thought I'd never see you again. . .I. . .I thought I've lost you forever"
Lucy wiped away his tears and touched his forehead on to his "It was just a dream Natsu." she kissed him once again "It was just a dream"
Natsu smiled and so did she.
"Now come on, I've cooked breakfast. Tea and toast"
Natsu smiled wider.
"Nashi's waiting down stairs. Now hurry up or she'll throw another tantrum at you for being late" she winked as she reached for the door knob
Natsu rushed towards her again and hugged her from behind "Let's go on another adventure again sometime my Queen" he whispered
Lucy smiled and patted his pink head "Mmmm. Because it'll always be more fun when were together right?"
Natsu wasn't able to reply for they heard a storming voice down from the kitchen "Mama! Papa! Aren't we going to eat yet?! I wanna see Mama's old house already! I wanna see my new bedroom!"
New bedroom?
Then, Natsu remembered. They're moving to a new home.
Back to the Heartfilia Konzern
Lucy giggled "Coming down princess!"
"You're finally going to move back to your old home" Natsu said
Lucy shaked her head, blushed and said:
"Our home Natsu. . .OUR home"
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( c ) imaginethestars
