Lucy and I walked quietly as we entered the camp . She walked in front of me , looking out . I heard some footsteps and pulled her back towards me . The guards walked past us . I heaved a sigh of relief . Lucy was silent . I looked at her , and realised how close she was to me . I was literally back hugging her , my hands around her and holding her hands . I released her . " Sorry , I was just .. " She nodded her head . That was when I noticed her extremely red face . She was looking at the ground .

" Natsu ? "

I turned and looked behind me . " Kei . " He frowned and took a step towards me . He asked ," Where were you ? Everyone's looking for you . And you're with a witch ? Why aren't you killing her ? " I took a step back , using my hand to block Lucy . For a strange reason , I felt defensive towards Kei . I stayed silent . He continued ," Why aren't you saying anything ? Don't tell me .. Have you betrayed us ? Your father , who hates witches the most in this world ? " I felt fury in his sentence . He was getting serious . Dead serious . I glanced at Lucy first before looking into his eyes once again . He said ," You traitor ! "

He drew out his sword and slashed it at me . I pushed Lucy away and avoided his attacks . I was about to take out my melee when he suddenly diverted his attacks towards Lucy . I panicked . I knew Lucy was able to dodge that and cast ' Evanesco ' but at that moment of time , there was nothing on my mind . I only had one thing on my mind .

To save Lucy from being stabbed .

I ran over to her as fast as I could . As I stood in front of her , I felt a very sharp pain in my abdomen . After feeling that pain , everything was black . I couldn't see anything .

Was I dead ? Was this the end ?

" Natsu ! Wake up ! DON'T DIE ! "

I could see a blurred vision of Lucy crying .

Don't cry , Lucy ...

I couldn't see anything . Everything was pitch black . I was lying on the grass , just like I did when I got slashed . I slowly got up . Just about a mile afar , I could see a view of myself and Lucy .

I was on the ground and I was bleeding . Blood was all around , and it was on Lucy's hands . She was crying . She was healing me when the guards took her away . She tried to get away from them but they chained her legs and dragged her away . The chains were hurting her , and I felt sad . She kept crying and crying . I followed where the guards took her , leaving myself behind . The guards were torturing her , telling her to speak up . She just kept crying . Then my dad came in the room , with his sword . He activated Light and put it above his head . He slashed it through .. her neck .

I forced myself to wake up . I gained consciousness . Lucy was crying and was trying to heal me . I heard the Brothers' footsteps . They were coming closer . I tried to get up . Lucy pushed me down and said ," No , you can't get up . I need to heal you right now .. ! " I tried getting up again , my stomach giving me pain . I groaned . I took a glance at Lucy , and wiped her tears away . I said ," They are coming . We need to go . " I barely managed to stand , Lucy helped support me .

Who's coming ?

The Brothers . They are coming to get you and .. they'll- .. nothing .

They'll what ?

I'll tell you everything later . Let's get out first .

Okay .

Lucy chanted some words , and we teleported into the woods . I sat down beside the tree and leaned on it . I said ," At least we bought them some time . " Lucy sat down beside me and started hitting me . She said ," You idiot ! I could've .. I could've .. " She broke into tears again . I managed a smile and wiped her tears . " Don't cry , Lucy .. " She breathed in and put her hands on my injury . She said ," Novo . " I felt my wounds stitch up flesh by flesh . It felt good , but I felt Lucy lose her witchcraft power rapidly . Like she was giving me her energy to save me . I put my hand on hers , frowning . She said ," It's okay . I'm fine . We still have to kill the rebel . Our interruption should have .. delayed her interrogation time . " As she spoke , her voice got weaker and weaker by the second . I said ," Give me energy . " She looked at me and said ," What ? "

Just do it .

Why ?

Do as I say , Lucy .

She held my hand and closed her eyes . I know she was losing energy fast , but I'd rather do the killing than the her in this state do the killing . I felt energy flowing into me . It was not that much , but it was enough . Then , she fainted . I'd hate to leave her behind right here right now , but I had to . I fused the energy she gave me and the energy I had , I felt like I could fly . I ran forward , towards the camp . It was just a few seconds , and I'd already reach there . I took out my melee , ready to fight . I tried not to kill the guards , instead I injured them slightly . As I went in the prison , there were five Brothers in there . I said ," Either get out of my way or be injured . " One of them ran towards me . I did not know what I was doing . I used my melee and slashed his neck , killing him instantly . I killed each and every one that wanted to attack me . And lastly , I killed the rebel mercilessly . After killing , I ran back to Lucy . Lucy was there , on the ground unconscious . I carried her to my favourite spot . I put her down gently so she leaned on the tree . Then , my senses came back to me . I frowned and hit myself , knowing I had killed five Brothers . It was a crime , and I'd get punished heavily . I should be known as a fugitive now . I sighed to myself and sat down . I leaned on a tree and looked at Lucy . It was like all of my hatred towards Lucy had disappeared . I didn't feel any hatred towards her . It was strange . It will be fine after she releases me . I'll hate her again . I thought . I closed my eyes and slept .

" Natsu . Wake up , sleepy head . It's night already . "

Lucy's sweet and caring voice woke me up . I sat up , half asleep . I felt breath on my face , I opened my eyes . I was really close to Lucy , to the point I felt her breath on my face . I blushed , and stood up . I coughed a few times . Lucy was still sitting , her face as red as an apple . I offered a hand , but she stood up by herself . She said ," W-we're late . " She started to walk . I said ," Now we're even . "

" About what ? " She asked .

" Well , you shielded for me yesterday , so I shielded for you just now . So now we're even . " I replied .

" Seriously ? " She let out a laugh .

Just then , I noticed her legs wobble . I caught her before she could fall down . I asked ," You okay ? " She nodded her head , frowning and looking pale . She said ," I'm fine . I'm just a little dizzy . I'll be fine . " She tried to regain her stability but failed at it . I caught her again and said ," You won't be fine , Lucy . I'll carry you . " I carried her the Princess way , since she is one and I won't hurt my back . I said ," Get some sleep . " She scoffed at me and said ," We just slept , Natsu . Have you forgotten ? You're such a forgetful person . " We walked for quite a while . Somehow , I knew the way to go to the portal to Somet . I took a glance at Lucy , she was awake . I was about to tell her off when Gray appeared out of nowhere . He asked ," What happened ? Your energy's drained , what did you do ? I'll carry her instead , Natsu ." I explained as I let Lucy down ," Things happened and I was sort of the cause of it . I was too immature , but yeah , the mission was a success . " Gray said as he carried her ," I see . But how'd Lucy lose most of her energy ? " Lucy fell asleep on his back , and it kind of annoyed me . I said ," Well , healing me and .. and .. I .. I don't know .. But Kei .. had collapsed .. " Gray said ," What ? What are you saying ? Kei collapsed and Lucy was healing you . But healing doesn't take up a lot of energy .. Unless .. "

What ? Unless what ?

Unless she'd cast a powerful spell on him . And that spell ..

Which is ?

A spell enough to give her a little more energy after healing would be .. Intransico , but that's a teleportation spell . Did she teleport ?

Yeah , she did .

As I thought , her energy limitation had increased . But that would be .. the last thing that takes up her energy is Judinsco . That's a really dangerous spell though .

Judinsco ... ?

And if she did cast that spell , the opponent is likely to be dead . But for Kei , I wouldn't know .

I looked at him , shocked . He said ," Believe or not , it's true . " Just then , we reached the tree . Gray walked to the tree beside it and said ," Mechanic door , open . " A light shine through a little hole and Gray put his crest right in the middle of the light . Strings of leaves fell down from the tree , but the startings were intact with the tree . Gray walked through it , and I followed . It was Lucy's room . I figured that the doorway led to Lucy's room because we showed it our crest . Gray put her down on her bed before walking to her wardrobe . I asked ," What are you doing ? " He answered ," Taking her sleeping gown , so she can sleep more comfortably . And also so that she can regain back her energy fast . " He took out her sleeping gown and started stripping her . I turned around and said ," W-w-what are you doing ? " He replied ," Helping her change . Why ? You scared ? Or have you not seen her naked before ? " I turned around to look at Gray . I said ," I did ." Gray sighed and looked at me . He said ," Help , then . Don't be such a kid . " I went over to help him .

After we had changed clothes for Lucy , I sat down beside her while Gray transferred some energy to her . She was originally sweating but as her energy was refilled , she had a peaceful face . After transferring some energy into Lucy , Gray said ," I'm tired . Watch her , Natsu . I'm gonna sleep . Wake me up if she gets a fever . " I said ," Fever ?! " Gray replied as he sat down on one corner ," Yeah , she gets a fever if she regains too much energy . That happens when she is too exposed to heat . Yeah , she's weird . " He closed his eyes . I looked at Lucy . Her hair was covering her face , so I helped her push it behind her ears . Once again , I saw her bare and sleeping face . I couldn't help but smile to myself . Just then , I noticed tears falling down her face . I carefully wiped her tears away , making sure not to wake her up . As I wiped her tears , she murmured some words .

" Don't .. die .. Natsu .. "

I held her hand and said ," I won't , not until I get revenge on you . " For some reason , her face looked relieved . These two days I'd been with her , my hatred seems to have disappeared . Why ? I wondered . I stroked her head and whispered ," Why do I not feel hatred towards you anymore , Lucy ? Why ... ? " I sat on the ground and closed my eyes as I leaned on her bed . As I fell asleep , I heard a voice inside my head .

You haven't heard the whole truth about my death , Natsu . And I am partly to blame .