DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail; not its characters, the settings or anything—Hiro Mashima-sensei does. The only thing I do own is the plot of this story. Either ways, please respect our works.

WRITER'S BLOCK: I don't even know why I'm still writing on the writer's block!

-CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: MEANWHILE-
"I could ask her the same question!" Lucy said loudly. "What is she doing in your house?"

Lucy had just finished lighting the last candle when someone knocked on the door—that someone being Natsu, her boyfriend. With a nervous sigh, she straightened herself, tucked the hair that was out of place behind her ear, cleared her throat and walked towards the door.

"Luce, it's Natsu…" the flame mage said from behind the door.

"Yes, I'm well aware of that." Lucy replied in a laugh-like manner. Then, after opening the door, Lucy greeted, "Hi."

"Hey, Luce." Natsu greeted back, surprised upon seeing how she looked. He looked at Lucy slowly from head to foot. Her red dress and red shoes; her hair neatly pulled up to a bun. Then, after taking everything in, he smiled. "You're very pretty, Lucy."

Blushing, Lucy replied. "Thanks. Come on in…"

Natsu went in and saw what Lucy had done to the place: the whole room turned into a date-perfect place with a great ambiance. The dining table, in particular, which was usually a circular wooden table, was now covered with white cloth. On it were two plates, spoons, forks, knives, wine glasses and candles. At the center of the table was a pot of beautifully-arranged flowers.

"Awwe, man." Natsu said apologetically.

"Happy monthsary!" Lucy greeted, taking Natsu's arm and putting her head on his shoulder.

"You shouldn't have done this…" he said in the same tone.

Lucy felt that Natsu was very apologetic for forgetting so she hugged him by the waist and laid her head on his chest.

"You don't have to be so sorry, Natsu…" she started, then looked up at him. "I just wanted to do something for you. I don't really mind if you forgot."

"What?" Natsu said, perplexed. He, then, broke Lucy's hug and looked down at her while holding her by both arms gently. "But I didn't forget our monthsary this time."

"You didn't?" Lucy asked, as surprised as she could be. "Then—"

"The reason I'm so apologetic—" Natsu started "was because I didn't want you to waste any effort."

"Waste any effort? Why would I waste them?"

"Because…" he said, but didn't continue. Instead, he pulled something from his pocket and said, "You know what? I'll just show you."

He tied the thing from his pocket, a huge handkerchief, around Lucy's eyes, blindfolding her.

Pleasantly surprised, Lucy started to grope in the darkness she was in.

"What are you doing, Natsu?" she asked, grabbing Natsu's supportive arm and tried hard not to smile so widely. Never has Natsu tried to surprise her like this since the first time he had confessed.

"You'll know soon enough…" Natsu said in a sing-song voice.

Lucy adjusted her sight from being blindfolded. Who knows where her boyfriend had taken her? After she could see properly, Lucy couldn't believe what she was seeing: they were at the town square where she and Natsu had first met. The town square was surrounded by torches lighted gently, giving the place a bright orange color. At the center, there was a circular table set up professionally with the candle, the wine in the ice bucket—everything just like in a five-star restaurant.

Lucy was so surprised, she could only say "Ha!" while fighting back tears.

"Well?" Natsu said, putting his hands on her shoulders from behind. "Impressed?"

"Very." Lucy said, still smiling. "Where did—where did you get the money for this?"

She turned around to face him, then continued, "And how did you exclusively get this square? Is this even legal?"

"Don't worry. This is as legal as it could be. Mira helped with this one." Natsu explained. "May I?"

Natsu bowed low and held out one hand to Lucy which she took with her heart racing.

"Gladly."

Natsu led Lucy to the table where they sat down together. What surprised Lucy even more was that there was already food on the table.

"How did this get here? This wasn't here before!" she said, surprised.

"Do you believe in magic?" Natsu said as if they weren't mages, which made Lucy chuckle. "So, happy monthsary, Luce."

Lucy could feel her ears burn. How could this guy make my name so special? For this, I forgive you for being an immature brat.

"H-happy monthsary…"

"Well, go on. Eat up." Natsu said, giving Lucy a big slice of steak. "I cooked that one. First time, too, so if you don't agree with the taste—"

"I'll eat it." Lucy said gently, looking gently at Natsu. And I was ordering take-out, too.

She sliced the steak and took a small, feminine bite.

"Oh, wow. Is this really your first time cooking?" she said surprised. The steak's taste filled her whole mouth: it was sweet and sour and there was a strong aftertaste. It wouldn't compare to the ones Mira would make but for an amateur cook, Natsu's done quite a good job!

"Yeah, it is. Is it good?" he asked, in disbelief.

"Here." Lucy said, offering him a bite, too.

"Hey, yeah. I really could cook." He commented. "Well, go on and continue eating."

Lucy, however, did not take another bite. She was just looking at Natsu as he devoured the food in front of him. I don't even know why I find you attractive. To a normal girl, a loud, overly-complaining, gluttonous and weird guy like Natsu would never be found smart. He didn't show any sign of being intellectual and when he walks, he slouches. His fashion statement was weird, then again—almost everyone's was. Natsu was, however, very good-looking, but his attitude was just a bit babyish. As if everything was just a game for him. Maybe it was because he's hard-working and put gave his friends a very important role? After all, Natsu had put his life on the line for his friends countless times. Or maybe it was because the saying, "Opposites attract" held true. Whatever it was, it's making Lucy very flattered at that time.

"Whout?" Natsu asked, even though his mouth was still very full, noticing that Lucy had been staring the whole while. "Whout?"

"Nothing. Let me just stare at you." She gently said.

"Shtop shtaring, Lusche!" he said, food coming out of his mouth.

"Ew…" Lucy said, in between chuckles. "Here."

Lucy got a napkin and wiped the sauce all over Natsu's mouth.

"Seriously, the moment you start talking and eating and destroying things, you're handsome face isn't as handsome anymore." She commented.

"But that's why you chose me, right?" Natsu said, smiling. "Because the moment I start talking and eating and destroying things, I attract you."

"Ew!" Lucy jokingly said. "Narcissist Natsu!"

"Hey!" he said, smiling. "But really, Luce. Thank you."

"For what?" she said, still a bit busy wiping the stubborn sauce on his cheek.

"For this chance." Then, he took Lucy's hand that was wiping his face and held onto it tightly. "My second chance."

Lucy's heart flipped for a split second. "Everyone deserves a second chance, Natsu."

"Oh, by the way, make a wish." Natsu said, excited.

"What?" she asked, withdrawing her hand from his gentle grip.

"Make a wish and blow out this candle." He pointed to the red candle on the table.

"It's not my birthday." Lucy giggled. "Why?"

"This candle is special. It was a bonus reward from the last mission I went to. When you wish with all your heart in front of its flame and blow it, the smoke carries you wish to the gods and it's granted—or at least, that's what the old lady who gave it to me said." He said in a very lengthy explanation.

"You really believe in that stuff?" Lucy asked, sceptical.

"No." he replied plainly. "But it's not like you have nothing to lose, right?"

Natsu smiled at her so honestly that her heart melted slightly.

"Okay." Lucy said.

Breathing in deeply, Lucy thought of what to wish for. There's a lot of things, really. For one thing, she wanted to wish to become financially stable. She was running out of money and she will have to pay the month's rent again. Or she could wish to be able to use the full extent of her magic; that way, she'd be stronger and not have to be protected—that way, she would protect.

A lot of things were on her mind but then she saw Natsu's earnestly smiling face. That was when she knew what she wanted at that moment.

"I wish for everyday to be like this. To spend every day happily with the people I love." At this, she looked at Natsu.

"Luce." He said softly and Lucy smiled at him.

Breathing in deeply, Lucy prepared to blow out the candle but Mira's voice came from out of nowhere.

"Natsu! Natsu, help!" she cried.

Both of them turned quickly to the direction from which her voice was coming.

"Mira!" Lucy exclaimed, looking at Mira's bewildered face. She didn't know why but somehow, she felt both disturbed and relieved that Mira came with such a face; disturbed, because it meant that something bad happened and relieved, because she didn't blow out the candle.

"What's wrong, Mira?" Natsu asked at the silver-haired maiden now panting in front of them. "Something happened?"

"Natsu…" she started, trying to catch her breath. "Natsu, it's Lisanna."

"Why, what happened to Lisanna?" Natsu said in a worried tone.

"She left." Mira said. Then, she began sobbing. "Lisanna ran away and left."

"What?" the two chorused.

"Please help me find her. My brother is still on a mission and I don't know who to ask help from." Mira explained.

"Okay." Natsu agreed.

"I'm sorry, Lucy." Mira said, pertaining to their date.

"Don't worry about it." Lucy assured her. "Why do you think she left anyway?"

Mira hesitated at first but said after a while, "She's been very lonely since Natsu broke up with her. She didn't have the same smile and joy she's always had. She would lock herself up in her room and refuse to eat. Things got worse after you two returned to Magnolia. She hasn't returned since yesterday night. I thought she would return but—"

"Oh, my…" Lucy said, falling a bit guilty.

"Well, for now let's find her." Natsu suggested authoritatively.

"Why don't we split up?" Lucy raised.

"Good idea." Natsu said. "Luce, I'll go with Mira first. Can you start ahead of us?"

"Sure." Lucy said. "Be careful."

Natsu nodded then, after kissing Lucy on the forehead, left with Mirajane.

Upon being left behind, Lucy thought of the best and fastest way to go from place to place to find a person. Virgo? Loki? Then, it hit her. Lucy took off her heels, tore her dress to enable her to run faster, then ran out of the square, leaving the candle on the table.

Why does this path have to be so rocky anyway? Lucy thought as she ran in a dark but familiar path somewhere in the outskirts of town. The pebbles hurt her foot, left some cuts on it, but she didn't mind. Even if she stole Natsu from her, Lisanna was her friend and she wanted to find her as much as Mira did.

Somewhere not so far away, Lucy found a small house, its windows emitting a bright orange light from the lit fireplace inside. She hastened her pace even though it hurt her in the process.

If there was one way to find someone quickly, it would be on a fast motorcycle. And if there was anyone in Magnolia she knew could ride a motorcycle really fast, it was Gray.

"Gray!" she said, pounding on his door. "Gray, open up!"

Lucy was bending down to wear her heels again because the ground was not only cold but also dirty when the door opened.

"Gray, you have to help. Lisanna is—"

"Lucy?" the girl Lisanna said. "What are you doing here?"

"Li-Lisanna?" Lucy asked.

"Lucy?" Gray said, coming from behind Lisanna.

For some reason, Lucy felt heavy inside her chest. Why was Lisanna there? With Gray? And why was Gray topless? Even though Gray had always been topless, the thought didn't occur to Lucy. However, the burning feeling inside her, the same feeling she felt when Natsu broke up with her, only a lot less suffocating, ignited. What in the world could they have been doing in there?

"Lucy, what are you doing here?" Asked a confused Gray, staring at Lucy's ragged look.

"I could ask her the same question!" Lucy said loudly. "What is she doing in your house?"

Tsk, tsk, tsk… Love, why you so complicated?

R&R much appreciated…!