Ch. 11 - Anger

!WARNING! Triggering Content Below. Skip first Section if affected!

—Rimoro Village—

Sakimo's tears had gone dry. She had cried one too many in the past two years since Lucy had left permanently. Sandra was constantly using her as a punching bag. And now, Sakimo had reached her breaking point, her end.

She was done.

She brought the knife across her already scarred arm, just a little deeper and just a little lower, and a searing pain engulfed her arm. But she couldn't scream.

She stumbled out into the village, drops of blood forming constellations on the dirt pathway.

Even if she was going to die, she needed to see him one more time.

Her beloved brother.

Her lovestruck brother, who's cloudy eyes had cleared when the sunshine stumbled into his life. He was so in love, he couldn't let go of her, even when she left. Even if the lightning was back. He said he let the clouds come back, but it was painfully obvious he wanted - needed - the sunshine back.

Sakimo coughed as she saw her vision blur, and her legs collapsed. Her body fell to the dusty ground. She made out a tall figure, Rimo, sprinting toward her, screaming out the words of agony that she couldn't. A cloth was hastily bundled around her open wrist and she felt more people surround her, some standing in shock, and some standing in horror. She felt his once-loving arms wrap around her and cradle her head, screaming out in anger.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her. Her. The one who had caused all this pain. The one who had brainwashed her brother and pushed him away from joy. Pushed him away from Lucy.

She wanted to tell Lucy that she was sorry; she couldn't stay strong. She had tried to take the easy way out.

"I'm sorry," she choked out, her unused voice hoarse like sandpaper as she forced out the sounds with her broken vocal chords. Sakimo saw her vision blacken. The last thing she saw before her eyes fell closed was her brother. His eyes, for once, were neither cloudy nor clear.

They were heartbroken.

—

Lucy smiled and pulled off her hood, revealing the blonde hair Natsu had ached to see again for three years. She swept off her cloak dramatically.

"Actually," she said, "I go by Licia now."

Natsu stared at Lucy. She looked much more mature, with black rimming her eyes. Her blonde hair was cut even shorter then Natsu's, but she still looked feminine, even if she wasn't the girly-girl that was afraid to fight three years ago. Even her style had altered; instead of short skirts and ribbons, she wore a studded leather jacket and black jeans. Natsu slowly took this new Lucy in, little by little.

Lucy didn't expect what was going to happen next. Lucy expected a tight hug, some happy sobbing, but no. Something else happened.

First, silence. All you could hear were the crackling of the buildings afire in the background.

Then, Natsu looked up, fire lit up his eyes. Literally. "You go by Licia now?"

Lucy's smile faltered. "H-huh?" She took a step forward.

Natsu's gaze was frighteningly serious. "Three years. Not one letter, not one message, not even a freaking chapter 11 for Levy?!" Gray and Erza were taken aback.

Lucy blinked. She had visualized this moment much more different then what was happening now. "I was… I was kind of busy…" She stuttered.

She glanced at Lupa and jerked her head away. Lupa nodded uncertainly under her black hood and whistled. Emerald leapt through the flames and the 17 women loaded up on his back. Lupa gave her a look before receiving a nod from the blonde mage, and Emerald sped away.

Natsu clenched his fists. "I see that," he spat. "With your new guild, apparently."

Lucy felt an unfamiliar sting in the back of her eyes. She blinked violently. "Things got kind of confusing."

Natsu laughed bitterly. "Yeah, so confusing you couldn't even say goodbye." Natsu shook his head, getting up from the ground. His body was covered with a multitude of bruises, yet his eyes were wild.

Lucy frowned. "What?" She asked, dumbfounded.

Natsu scowled. "I thought we were partners. I thought we were best friends," Natsu scoffed. "I guess not," he muttered.

Lucy froze in her spot as his harsh words hung in the air. Gray decided that this was the time to interrupt Natsu's atypical behaviour.

"Oi, Natsu," he said cautiously. "Calm down, the only thing that matters is that she's back, right? Stop being such an idiot."

Lucy gave him a grateful look and Gray smiled back. But apparently, Natsu didn't feel the same way.

Natsu looked at Gray with such a glare that it literally burned holes through his shirt. Gray opened his mouth to argue but decided not to test an angry Natsu's ability to set things on fire. Erza, however, had different ideas.

"Nats-" She was interrupted by Gray's hand slapping on top of her mouth. Luckily, Natsu was too focused on Lucy to notice.

"There's no point trying to argue with him. Erza, we gotta go," Gray commanded. "Natsu has a reason for being stupid right now. I'll tell you in a second."

Erza stared at Gray for a second and then huffed. She gave Lucy a quick wave and a smile before marching away. Gray and Happy ran after her, leaving the pair alone in the trashed town square.

Lucy stepped forward. "Natsu, please, I didn't mean to hurt you," she cried.

"Do you know how badly I wanted to chase after you?" Natsu screamed. "I would wake up in the middle of the night and tie myself to my house so I wouldn't run after you!" Natsu sighed. "But I didn't."

Lucy exhaled sharply. "Why didn't you?" She asked quietly.

"Because you said not to."

Lucy was speechless.

"And you know what?" Natsu exclaimed. "I was okay with it, for a while. I was fine with you leaving to train. I pushed through a couple months, expecting you to be back any moment. But you didn't come back." Natsu ran a hand through his hair. "I waited for you for three years. Three years. Did you even miss me at all?"

Lucy's mouth fell open. "I did. I missed you. I thought about you everyday. Every night I had nightmares. Every night I would think about the life I left behind. I wanted to go home every single day," she cried, "But I couldn't. I was afraid I wasn't strong enough. I was afraid you wouldn't accept me back," Lucy confessed.

"It's Fairy Tail, Lucy. We would accept anyone back," he stated angrily.

"If you accept anyone back, why are you acting like this?" Lucy shot back.

"Because I love you!" He shouted. "And why did you even leave in the first place? You were already perfect to me!"

Lucy faltered at this newfound information. "Uh, " Lucy said stupidly.

Natsu, being, well, Natsu, didn't even notice what had slipped out during his outburst. "And you even betrayed Fairy Tail! You betrayed your home by joining another guild! Not just any guild, a Dark Guild! What the hell, Lucy?"

Lucy smiled weakly, Natsu's previous words echoing in her head. "So… Did I betray Fairy Tail, or did I betray you?" She murmured.

Natsu paused as he let her words sink in.

"You betrayed me," he replied quietly. There was a moment of silence as Natsu's anger died down. He stared at Lucy again. He didn't see the strong, confident woman he had been fighting with earlier. Instead he saw someone vulnerable and small, someone with feelings. Someone who he had hurt. And Natsu hated himself for hurting the girl he loved.

"I'm… I'm sorry." he blurted. "This was so pointless… I - I just don't know how to approach you again…"

Lucy smiled, relieved. "Yeah, I got the idea," she replied jokingly.

He took a few steps closer, his face softening and the flames in his eyes dying out. "Listen, Luce, I gotta tell you something," he said. His voice was no longer harsh and sharp, but soft and quiet.

"I know. And before you say anything," Lucy said hurriedly. "I'm so, so sorry. I thought that if I contacted you guys it would influence me to go back and I didn't mean to betray you when I joined the other guild. It's just that it was hard to say no and they looked so sad and i promise we wont destroy any cities near here and - eh?"

Natsu was moving forward, bending down slightly. He placed his hand on her head and pressed his forehead to hers.

Something about this felt slightly nostalgic.

He hesitantly gazed into her chocolate eyes before whispering, "Oh, what the hell."

He leaned in slowly.

And Lucy didn't dodge.

—Meanwhile—

Erza was tapping her foot impatiently. "So? What is this so called reason?" She demanded.

Gray sighed. "Do you not know how Natsu feels about Lucy?"

Erza rolled her eyes. "Of course I know. Everyone knows. He just doesn't know. But then shouldn't he be happy?" She crossed her arms at the absurdity of the whole situation.

"Yeah," Gray muttered. "That dumb ass is just confused, I think."

Happy pased around worriedly. "Actually, he knows." Gray looked down at the blue cat surprisingly.

"Eh? Actually?" Erza and Gray asked simultaneously. Happy nodded.

"He told me earlier," Happy replied. "He's probably just confused about how to approach her after his newfound feelings."

Gray scoffed. "What an idiot."

Erza shot him a glare. "I could say the same thing about you."

Gray's grin froze on his face. "What are you sayin'?" He said accusingly.

"Oh, come on now. Don't tell me you don't feel the same way about Juvia as she does for you," Erza chided. Gray frowned.

"H-hey, this was supposed to be about Natsu," Gray stammered.

Erza chuckled. "Don't you think you should give her a straight answer?"

Gray stiffened. "W-well, I could say the same thing about you about Jellal," he shot back victoriously.

Erza, however, handled the situations quite well.

She grabbed his neck and pinned him against the wall. "What was that?" She asked sweetly. Happy stifled some giggles.

Gray was about to attempt to answer when, thankfully, their conversation was interrupted by… Natsu?

"Natsu!" Happy exclaimed, hugging the Dragon Slayer tightly.

Natsu's face was strange. No, not strange… Impassive and emotionless. No, not that either. Gray searched Natsu's eyes hard. Natsu tried hard to look like a brick wall, but Gray spotted a flicker of… bashfulness? 'Uh, okay then,' Gray thought.

Happy was still clinging tightly onto the Dragon Slayer. His eyes opened wide and suddenly he spoke. "Tell me you didn't kill her," he whispered, looking at the mage.

"Not exactly," he replied, the corners of his lips twitching. "Uh, let's just go home now. She said she won't destroy anything near here anymore, so we're done here."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Gray exploded.

Erza heard a whistle. "What…?" She said to herself. She glanced at Gray and they both rushed out to the square.

The ran out just in time to see Lucy speed away on her… wait, was that a giant panther? Erza squinted at Lucy's disappearing figure. She nudged Gray.

Gray stomped his foot childishly. "Yeah, I know, she's gone again and we didn't get to say goodbye again and-"

"Idiot," she said exasperatedly. "Loo- oh, wait, she's gone. Wow, that thing was fast." Gray squinted at the dimly lit city.

"Yeah, I know, she's gone. So what?" He said irritably.

Erza sighed. "You didn't see, did you."

Gray frowned. "See what? I didn't see nothin'."

Erza grinned. "She was smiling."

—

The ended up walking back to the previously attacked city, Minno, much to Erza and Gray's distaste. Still, they figured they could worm the truth out of Natsu better if he wasn't busy throwing up.

"Come on, Natsu, tell us what happened," Happy whined.

"Yeah, stop being a mindless goon and tell us what happened," Gray prodded.

Natsu had given up his facade of being an emotionless brick wall long ago, and was now walking casually with his arms crossed behind his head, staring dreamily up into the sky. A ridiculous grin was plastered on his face.

"Natsuuuuuuu!" Happy complained loudly.

Gray took off his shirt and shoved it in Natsu's face. "Look at these holes! You owe me an answer," Gray shouted in Natsu's ear.

"It's not like you ever wear it anyway," Natsu replied.

Gray huffed, unable, for once, to think of a comeback.

Happy pouted. "Natsu! I'm your best friend! You gotta tell me! It's in the rules!"

Natsu just smiled even wider.

Gray suddenly had a great idea. "Erza, go punch some sense into him, get him to tell us what happened."

Erza shook her head, smiling. "No, I know what happened."

Gray stopped walking. "What the hell! And you didn't tell us?"

Happy overheard and flew beside Gray. "Yeah, tell us!" Happy said eagerly.

Erza sighed. "How can you not know?"

Gray grunted in frustration. "Know what!?"

Erza rolled her eyes. "You guys are so dense. Obviously, she's in love with him too."

—I wanted to end it here but it's too short so LINE BREAK hehe—

Sakimo's eyes fluttered open. Where was she? She heard a rustle to her left. She slowly turned her head to her left. Sitting on a stump was her brother, head buried in his hands.

She coughed. Rimo looked up suddenly, relief clear in his eyes. "Oh, my god, you're alright," he exclaimed, breathing out. He reached forward and hugged her tightly. "Rest, because you lost a lot of blood," he instructed.

She nodded.

"So, now what I know you're alright," he murmured, "Why the hell did you do that!?" He screamed. Sakimo's eyes widened in fear. "And what the hell is up with those scars all over your arm!?"

Sakimo's eyes looked down to study her arm. It was wrapped heavily in bandages.

"Is it because Sandra is back?!" He shouted. Sakimo sunk into her pillow. Rimo raising his voice was an extreme rarity.

Rimo sighed and sat back down. He rubbed his head and ran his hands through his hair. "Look, I know you don't like her, but she tries okay? She tries. It would help if you gave in some effort too." His voice was sincere. He believed her? Oh, dear. This would not work out.

More then anything, Sakimo wanted to tell him the truth. Sudden realization hit her like a train. Right before she blacked out, she spoke. For the first time in, well, a long time, she spoke. She could tell him the truth, and there wasn't a paper that Sandra could find. She could use her voice.

She coughed again, desperately trying to speak. But for some reason, she couldn't. What had Sandra done to her while she was asleep? Not one word. Not even a sound.

So all she could do was nod her head.

A/N:

I don't own FT.

How was this chapter? A lotta character development, if ya know what I mean. ;) Review!

And vote on the poll! I may write an alternate ending so I need feedback. And don't take that the wrong way, this story isn't ending anytime soon!

-jo