A/N: Well lovely loyal followers of mine. Let me just tell you, the last chapter got the most reviews of anything I've ever written. And I'd just like to say, THANK YOU ALL. :D But seriously, you guys's reviews are the reason this story is still alive. I can't thank you enough for you encouragement. In fact, this next chapter is for the best fan I think. GlimmeringTopHat, I think you're the most interesting, encouraging, and enthusiastic of my followers. And I think that this chapter should be dedicated to you, it was your brilliant idea. I just took it and ran with it, hope you like it. :D
Disclaimer: I, the purple haired girl the defult, do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters in it. Really, they are owned by the very creative, Hiro Mashima. But, let me tell you, if I did own it... Lucy and Natsu would have gotten hitched in the Tenrou Island Arc. XD
Ch.9 He can't take a hint!
It was a few days after Natsu's date with Lucy, the two were constantly together. From the time they got up and out of their dorms, to the time Natsu would drop her at her door at night. But, today was different. Today, Lucy was with Levy, doing what girls do best. The short solid script mage was dragging the blonde celestial mage through the campus towards the gates. "Lu! You promised that today we would go shopping..! come on.. Please?" Levy all but begged. Lucy looked from the front door of the main building where Gajeel and Natsu were standing. Gajeel had a scary imitation of a smile, which made Lucy's blood run cold. Where Natsu was the exact opposite. Although she knew he was sad that he couldn't be at her side the whole time, he had a smile on his face as well. Lucy noticed how his smile, even though he felt sad, was genuine. He was happy that she could spend some time with her roommate.
Looking back to her best friend, Lucy nodded her head to her. "Okay, let's go." With a few final waves, the two females left the grounds of Fairy Tail, leaving their men behind to fend for themselves.
When the girls were out of sight, Gajeel turned to Natsu and shook his head. "Relax Dragneel. Bunny girl is gonna be fine, she's with Levy." The pink haired teen looked up to his frenemy and nodded once more. "Yeah, I know.. But this whole relationship thing is new to me.. How do you do it with Levy..? I mean, she's smaller and more defenseless than Luce."
Instead of taking that comment as a bad thing, Gajeel shrugged his shoulders and sighed, "well.. I just trust in her abilities. She's a great mage. Plus, her words can hurt more than a punch. I mean, have you felt what her fire spell can do? Well, it probably wouldn't effect you.. But, I've seen it do some damage." Natsu nodded to Gajeel's confidence and shrugged letting out a sigh of his own. "I just hope Luce is that confident in herself. I mean, I know she's good. Not that I've seen her actually do something.. But, the longue is a good result of her celestial spirits' work."
The two males turned and walked back into the building, deciding to go to the nearest training ground and test who was stronger in their dragon skills.
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Lucy and Levy were in town for the whole day. When the two came back, their arms were filled with bags. They were giggling about something that happened earlier in the day when they passed the gaurds at the gate. They sighed tiredly when they finally made it back to the main building that held the dorms. Levy took one of Lucy's hands and pulled her through the door and off to their room to set their bags down before heading off for dinner.
When they got done settling their bags, Levy stayed behind to put her new purchases away. "Levy, I'm just gonna leave my stuff in the bags for now. Maybe I'll find Natsu and go for a walk in the gardens, I mean, we just ate a few hours ago.." The bluenette turned to look at her friend and nodded her head, one of her hands going down to pet her stomach. "Yeah, I know. I'm still full too. Okay, if he comes up before you find him, I'll tell him your looking for him. But, if you see Gajeel, tell him to come up here." She gave her blonde friend a wink, which made Lucy giggle and nod her head. "So naughty Levy. I wondered why we went into that lingerie store.."
Turning to the door, Lucy walked over and opened it, walking out after one more wave. Stepping into the hall, she looked around before going to the stairs. Hmm.. Where is everyone? She walked down the last few stairs and noticed no one was in the foyer, so she walked the few minutes to the lounge. It seemed almost everyone was there.. Erza, Gray and Juvia, Happy, Droy and Jet, Cana, Elfman, Lisanna, even Wendy. But it seemed, even though, everyone was there.. Natsu and Gajeel were missing.
With a slight frown crossing her lips, Lucy walked over to Gray who was sitting on one of the many couches, his arm over Juvia's shoulders. She reached out and tapped the ice maker mage on the shoulder lightly until he looked over to her. "Oh, hey there Lucy. How have you been? You've been attatched at Natsu's hip for the past few days." He let a chuckle escape his mouth as he took in her appearence. She currently had on a black tank top with a gold key, that looked like it had The Canis Minor on it, and a plain denim mini skirt on.
Lucy stuck her tongue out at his playful comment, but then pulled it back. "Gray, have you seen Natsu lately? I've been with Levy at the mall all day.. I can't find Natsu and she wants me to tell Gajeel she's back." Tapping his chin lightly, he looked over to Juvia and gave a questioning gaze. "Juvia, didn't Gajeel ask you if you felt like sparring today? I know Natsu asked me.. But I told him I didn't feel like it."
The water mage looked from Gray over to Lucy and gave her a soft smile, "Juvia thinks they are at the training field. You can ask Erza where it is. She knows all about it, in fact, she may take you to it if you ask her." Lucy smiled back at the two, nodding her head before giving a quick wave of thanks. Walking a few feet from the two, she looked around the lounge to find Erza Scarlette, the famous Titania. It wasn't too hard to find her, she was the only one who had a head of blood red hair and not to mention.. She always had armor on. Lucy walked over to where the woman was sitting and catiously sat across from her. "Uh..Uhm, Erza?"
Said woman looked up from her piece of strawberry cake and raised an eyebrow to Lucy. "Yesh?" Lucy had to bite back her giggle at the woman who spoke with a bite of cake in her mouth. "Can you tell me how to get to the training field from here?" Erza finished chewing her cake and looked at Lucy with a skeptical look. "You're not the type of mage who needs the training field. Are you looking to train you magic, or are you trying to find someone?" Lucy shook her head to the first part of the question, "oh no, I don't need to train.. I'm just looking for Natsu and Gajeel.. Gray and Juvia said they were off to the training fields when they last saw them.. So, what do you say.. Can you tell me?"
The requip mage gave the girl a friendly smile, nodding her head. "Of course. When you ask like that, how can I say no?" Lucy smiled brighter as she listened to Erza tell her how to get to the field. When the red head was finsihed explaining, Lucy stood up and waved her good-bye to the older woman before leaving the lounge.
She took the doors out to the gardens that she and Natsu had shared their first date in. Looking around, she was too happy remembering that night, that she didn't see or hear anyone following her through the doors. Lucy looked for the path that Erza had spoken of. "It was supposed to be on the left, right? ..Or was it the right..?" Looking from the left to the right, Lucy made fists with her hands and groaned, "darn! I never remember directions very well.. I should have wrote them down..!"
At the end of her exclamation, someone cleared their throat behind her. Lucy turned slowly, but she didn't see anyone. This made her eyebrows furrow. Hm.. Maybe it was my imagination.. But just as she was making to turn back and decide which way to go, someone stepped out of the shadows. Her eyes widened slightly when blond spikey hair came into view. The moonlight glinted off spike headphones, making her frown. "Laxus..?"
The tall figure chuckled softly as it came closer. "Hey there Blondie. I couldn't help but over hear that your lost. Where are you looking to go?" He looked down at the smaller blonde female, his eyes starting to cloud as he took in her attire. Her short skirt showing him her long creamy, silky legs. Laxus bit back the urge to lick his lips as he brought his gaze from her legs up to her chest that seemed to be poured into her shirt. The semi-low cut of the tank showing her cleavage to him, and his vantage point making it all the better a view.
Lucy bit her lip softly, noticing his looks and stepped back a step. "I'm just looking for Natsu, I'm sure I will find him soon. I don't need any help, Laxus." The man's eyes finally made it to her face. He took notice of the sliver of fear and uncertainty in her eyes, it only made him smile. "You sure? I think I can help you for a small price." Laxus took a step closer to her, making her take a second step back, her fear increasing just a little more.
"Laxus, really, I don't need help. Erza already explained how to get to Natsu. I can do it by myself.. So you can leave now." Laxus let another chuckle escape his mouth as he took a second step closer to her. He noticed that soon, she would probably run from him. Which would send her into the maze. The thought made him want to yell out his good luck. "I'm just saying, you look lost Blondie. And I can help you, I just want to be rewarded for my good deed." Lucy shook her head and looked over her shoulder to see where she could go from there to get away from him. There were bushes of flowers on each side of her, no more paths. The ones she was trying to decide on, being the last ones. The only way to go was back into the maze. Crap, I don't know this maze yet.. I'm sure he does.. But, maybe I can stall..! Yes, I'll have to.
Turning her back on him, she ran into the maze. For a minute, Laxus just stood there at the entrance. "Might as well give her a head start. It's not like I don't know this maze like the back of my hand." He chuckled more as he looked up at the sky. "Lucy! I'm hoooome!" With that, he entered the maze, walking through one of the lanes, waiting and listening. "Come on Blondie..! It'll be fun. Just let me help you!"
As he spoke to her, Lucy was hastily walking through another lane. His voice was close, but not too close. She slowed her walk down and contemplated her situation in her head. He's a dragon slayer.. Just like Natsu and Gajeel.. But, he's not like them.. He doesn't have the same abilities. That thought alone made her hopeful of escape, if not the possibility of waiting it out until he got bored or someone came looking. Oh Natsu.. Come soon, please..!
"Oh, Luuuuucy! I can hear your shoes, lovely!" Her eyes widened at his words. Slowly, she stopped walking and took her shoes off her feet. Keeping them in her hands, she walked through the dirt and leaf covered ground. Gulping, she thanked whatever god there was that the leaves on the ground were still green and not crunching under her feet. Sweat started to accumulate on her forehead, worry setting in as she turned another corner. She could hear his chuckles in the distance, but she still didn't know where in the maze she was, nor where he was. Shaking her head, she pushed her fear and worry out of her mind. No, I can do this. I can get away. I will get away. I have to..!
Coming to another corner, Lucy peeked around it and let a small sigh come from her lips. He's not around this corner. I must be lucky..
"Blondddddie! Where are you babe? I can't hear you anymore. Did you find your way out, or are you just a lot smarter than I gave you credit for?" His voice sounded like it was across the maze, but it was coming closer. It wouldn't be long if she wasn't careful. Closing her eyes for a moment, she calmed herself and left the spot she was at and slowly, quietly walked into another row. Unbeknownst to her, Leo was listening carefully to the whole chase from the Spirit World. But, being that he didn't want to give up his master's position, he stayed in the other realm thinking of a way to help her.
She felt like screaming to him to leave her alone, but she knew better than that. It would make her effort useless, it would give her location up too quickly.
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Natsu and Gajeel were laying on the grassy plane that they have ventured to. The large training field having several different areas with different terrain. The two were currently resting in the softest of the terrains. Natsu looked over to the equally tired Gajeel and smiled. "Well buddy, I have to say.. You're good. But, I'm better." Gajeel let an exhausted chuckle leave his mouth as he shook his head and got up from the ground slowly. "I think I have to disagree with that last part, Dragneel. But, you are good as well."
The two frenemies smiled up/down at the other before Gajeel decided to take his leave to the showers before heading back to the Lounge. "I'll see ya later, Dragneel." Laying on the ground, he nodded his head, waving the iron dragon off. "Yeah, yeah. Have fun." Within a few minutes, Gajeel was passing the edge of the field and heading out to the bulding not too much farther, where the showers were located in the locker rooms.
With a sigh, Natsu looked up at the sky, only to be interrupted by a soft poof. Before he could investigate the sound, a head with dark glasses and short, spiky orange hair looked down at him. "Natsu. I have come to inform you that my Lucy is in danger. I could not make my pressence known, for the opponent is much to intellegent in the fact that he knows the maze more than I and Lucy. That is where you come in-"
Leo was cut off my Natsu jumping to his feet, suddenly his exhaustion gone. He looked to the spirit, his face a mask of calm seriousness. But inside, his emotions were burning like the flame of his Lightning Flame Dragon's Brilliant Flame attack, engulfing everything except a small sliver of conscienceness. "Where?" Was all the anger would let come from his lips. Leo almost flinched at the tone of the pink haired teen's voice, but that wouldn't help him either way, so he told him. "The maze, in the gardens."
Without even blinking, Natsu was taking off. His speed like a flash in the night. Looking at the almost non-existant glint that was Natsu, Leo poofed back into the Spirit world to listen in on his master.
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Lucy was doing a good job of staying far from Laxus. She looked up at the sky, not sure if she had been hiding, stalling for time, for 5 minutes or 10. But, she knew that she was getting tired from the worry. Natsu.. Where are you..? She decided that she was probably a safe distance from the tall, muscular blonde man and it was most likely safe to have a short break. Careful not to make any noise, she sat on the ground and leaned slowly back into a hedge. Lucy let out a soft, tired sigh but never let her eyes close for more than a split second.
Trying to see if she could hear his heavy footfalls, she shook her head at the effort. It was useless, the damp dirt was doing to job of silencing their footsteps from each other. And the night's cool air was mixed with the smell of sweet flowers, disguising his cologne. She wanted to scream. Scream out her fear, tiredness and want of Natsu. But, she knew she couldn't.
It was when that knowledge crossed her mind that she saw the glint of silver in the distance. Lucy's body went still. Shock made her heart stop beating for a moment, made her body feel like lead. He was closer than she thought. Oh no! Knowing that if she made any sudden movements she was done for, Lucy slowly placed her shoes on the ground before letting her hands press against the same ground and silently push her up onto one knee. When she couldn't see the glint of the moonlight off his headphones, Lucy got to her feet and ran.
But it wasn't in the right direction, for she came face to chest with rock solid pectorals. Looking up with blank eyes, clearly showing her fear and worry to him. Laxus looked down at her with a smile that reached his unusual orange eyes. "Well well, what do we have here? Finally give up and want my help, Blondie?" When she didn't answer him, Laxus just took her answer to be affirmative. "That's a good girl." He let his hands grip the upper part of her arms and push her against one of the hedges. He lowered his head to hers and pressed his lips against hers, with a hard, bruising force that made her groan in pain.
With her groan, came the opportunity to thrust his tongue into her mouth. When Lucy felt his tongue slip into her mouth, she widened her eyes, blinking them only once before she took the chance to stop him. Even if it was momentarily. In the seconds after his tongue entered her mouth, Lucy used her teeth to bite down on it. It only took a few seconds for Laxus to feel the pain of her teeth biting down on the organ, for him to push away from her. The blonde man screamed his distaste for the rude bite, but instead of striking her, his hands went to his mouth to see if she had caused any damage.
Lucy took the opportunity to get out from between his body and the bush and ran to what she hoped would be the safety of the maze. She didn't get very far when she was pulled back and shoved back against the hedge roughly. "That wasn't very nice, Blondie. You almost made me bleed. Don't try that again or it'll be the last time you use those teeth."
She gasped at his threat, but didn't say anything. The fear in her eyes turning to unbridled anger as one of his hands latched onto her left breast. Roughly fondling the flesh through the thin fabric of the shirt, Lucy bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. But, the intensity of his gaze coupled with the rough hands made it the worst experience she had ever felt. No! I don't want this to happen! She closed her eyes tightly, a single tear falling from her eye.
Within a few seconds of his first fondle, Laxus had ripped her tank top from top to bottom down the front, exposing a strapless pink bra. "Nice taste, Blondie. But, I think it may need to come off.." Chuckling softly, he smiled only brighter when he noticed the clasp was in the front, making it that much easier for him. Laxus let his hand reach between her breasts and quickly unclasp the little plastic piece. After that simple movement, the fabric went slack as her breasts were freed from the bra. "L..Laxus.. Don't do this.. I'll forgive you.. If you just.. Just stop now..!"
Lucy opened her now tear filled brown eyes looking at his orange ones. "Please, Laxus!" The blonde man didn't went to respond though, because a foot came to connect with his face. In his place was the shadowed silhouette of Natsu. The moonlight caught a small bit of his hair, but his face was obsurred in darkness as he bent it low. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Lucy, her shirt torn. She was now crying freely, her hands going to cover her chest from sight. Turning his glance back to the man who was quickly standing up, the smaller of the two took his sweaty shirt off and offered it to Lucy. "Sorry it's sweaty.. But it should do. Put it on."
Lucy took it from him and nodded her head to him, falling to her butt on the ground. With her legs folded and laying on the ground, Lucy slipped on the shirt and was thankful that it wasn't a tank top, but a full on t-shirt. She looked up at her boyfriend as he stalked over to the taller man. Natsu.. Be careful.. She watched as Natsu's fists started to burn with a fire that looked hotter than she had seen it before. Of course, she had only seen it once over the past few days. He and Gray had been playing around, and Natsu had let it look like he was angry, that was the first time she had really seen his fire.
Speaking softly, almost unable to be heard in his anger, Natsu said, "Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist." Natsu rapidly punched Laxus in the face and chest, each hit connecting, causing a fiery explosion each and every time. Whe he was satisied after the first few hits, Natsu spoke just as quietly as before, "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade." Once again, the attack hit it's mark. Laxus wasn't expecting the rapid sucession of attacks, so naturally, he wasn't expecting to see the scales that had appeared with Natsu's intense anger. When Natsu's hits stopped, a flame shaped as a sword came straight towards Laxus. The attack burned some of the hedges closest to the blonde as he fell back, burned thoroughly.
From his spot on the ground, Laxus looked up at the younger dragon slayer and frowned, "where... where did you come from..? She was mine!" As he made his exclamation, he tried to stand, but was not able to. "Damn you, Dragneel." Natsu looked down at the man he had just attacked so fiercely. "Don't you DARE touch her again! I should finish you, right here and now.."
But, as Natsu let his words trail off, the sound of someone breathing hard came into ear shot. It was distinctly female, but who? Lucy turned her eyes from the furious man standing above the severely burned would-be-rapist, to see one of the more friendlier of the female students she had met at Fairy Tail. Cana stood, surprisingly not drunk, a few feet from Lucy. She was breathing hard, which made Lucy suspect that she had been running. "...Cana..?"
The brunette looked over to the tired looking blonde who was wearing Natsu's large white shirt over her own. The length of the shirt covered most of the mini skirt she had been wearing. Cana gave the girl a sympathetic frown and ran to her first. "Oh, Lucy! What.. Oh my! I'm sorry I didn't come sooner..! I.. I don't know what I would have done.. But, I'm.. I'm sorry.." She pulled the younger girl into a hug and bit her bottom lip when she turned her gaze over to Natsu.
She gulped as she took in the sight in front of her. Laxus on the ground, burns clearly from Natsu who was seemingly calming down slowly. Though his scales were still very clearly visable. "Cana. How did you know to come?" Natsu spoke, not taking his burning cole black eyes from Laxus's still form. "I.. I sensed something.. And then, I consulted the cards.." Letting go of Lucy, she stood up once more and walked over to Natsu, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Only then did the pink haired dragon let his eyes off the prone, burned body in front of him. "Natsu.. Take Lucy. She's scared shitless and she needs you right now. Don't worry, I'll take care of Laxus. He won't come after you, you've given him some burns that will make him think twice." Turning her attention from the young dragon to the older, she let go of Natsu's shoulder. The younger of the men turned and walked over to his girlfriend and picked her up in his arms. She was so small in his grasp. He noticed her shoes a few feet from where she had been sitting, her socks looked like they had been dragged through the mud. The sight only made him angier, but the hands that came to gently cup his cheeks calmed him almost instantly. His eyes darted to Lucy's pale face that he could just barely make out in the light of the moon.
Without a word, Natsu carried her, only stopping to pick up the discarded shoes before leaving quickly.
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After Natsu left with Lucy, Cana looked down at Laxus, for the first time actually looking at the burns. They were pretty bad, but nothing that would kill him. Lowering her head so that he couldn't see her eyes, Cana spoke, "what were you thinking..? You FOOL!" The man on the floor looked up at the brunette he had known for the past 10 years. He had never heard her, not once, call him a fool. "C-Cana..?" The girl shook her head, dropping to her knees beside his legs. "You're an idiot, you know that..?"
Laxus continued to give her a curious look as he tried to figure out what she was getting at. "I've been here for 10 years, Laxus.. 10 years, and you haven't noticed.. What am I supposed to say..?" Pushing himself into a sitting position, Laxus reached out and touched her shoulder. "Cana.. What are you talking about..?"
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, but they didn't fall. "Laxus.. I love you..!" His face went blank at her exclamation, like a deer in the head lights. He just sat there, looking at her with his blank expression, trying to comprehend. But, the poor man didn't get to say anything when she was pushing her body against his own burned one, her lips pressing against his own. It only took a few moments for Cana to pull back and look at him. His eyes were clearing, focusing on her. "I love you Laxus Dreyar."
A/N: How was that!? :D Unsuspected turn of events, right? :)
RxR? I'll give you cookies! :D Okay, that was a lie. But! I can give another chapter! XD