Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Sorry for the waiting :/

Hope you like it :3

–-

Chapter 21 – Death

''Lucy's missing now for over a week, Judo. We should start with the search.'' The two adults were lying in the bed, just being woken up from the sun.

''We talked this through already. The police will believe us.''

''I know. But we have to be careful. They saw them together in Atlanta. And if that didn't look like what we're gonna tell them then we have a problem.''

''I don't think they will question that.'' The fax machine made a noise, showing that a new file was being send. Groaning, Miranda fell back onto the pillow.

''A new task?''

Judo stood up and took the paper in his hand. It was a picture. But not just any picture. Lucy was on there at some harbor, smashing the car tool into a man's head.

Since Judo didn't answer Miranda she also stood up and looked at the file. They both didn't know these men. That meant that someone else was after the two teens or they had been attacked, either way it would be bad for Judo because Lucy would be out of his reach then.

''What is the meaning of this?''

''I don't know. But we should really go to the police now.''

–-o.O.o-

At the police office in Tupelo they waited for half an hour. They drove into a bigger city since the police in Oakland consisted of four officers.

When they entered the room a little man greeted them. He gently shook their hands and mentioned them to sit down.

''So, Mr. Heartfilia. You called because you wanted to start a seek for your daughter, was that right?''

Judo nodded and played a bit of innocent father. ''Yes, we first thought that she just took off a few days... Maybe because of the pressure at school. But she never picked up when we called her and we had no idea where she went...''

''Since when is she missing?''

''13 days now.''

The police officer looked at the two people in front of him.

''And you only come now?''

''She was with a friend... We thought she was just spending time with him...''

''So it's a man?''

Both nodded and Miranda grabbed Judo's hand to emphasize that she was 'scared'.

''Do you know his name?''

''No.''

''So you let your daughter stay with a young man and don't even know who he is?''

Miranda started to get nervous. They didn't plan to be asked so many questions but they had no idea who the boy was who was with Lucy.

''We just didn't want to cling around her like to worried parents.''

Sighing, the police officers handed them a paper. He knew this was just another family drama but it was his job to make sure that they would find the girl.

''Fill in this file and hand it to the lady at the reception. We will look what we can do.''

The two nodded, thanked the man and left.

–-o.O.o-

Judo and Miranda were back in the car and drove back to Oakland.

''So... Where did the picture come from?''

''It was from the company. You know they're watching all the security cameras at the airports, harbors and train station.''
''And where was Lucy on that picture?''

''At one little harbor in Virginia. It's just a docking station for fisher boats.''

''I thought they were driving to Louisiana?''

''Seemed like Nora helped them and lied.''

Miranda fell back against the seat and took a closer look at the picture.

''She's hitting the man pretty hard, I guess.''

''Someone else is after them... That could be a problem. If the police sees the tape they will find them.''

''Then we should find them first.''

''Yeah, I already called Tony. He should take care of that.''

''Okay.''

–-o.O.o-

They say a single shot can end a life if you aim for the right spot. That would be either the heart or the head. Natsu never thought that it would end up that way but he heard the noise when the trigger was pulled.

His world turned black for a moment. He wasn't thinking about anything, only that it was pretty miserable to die like that. He still felt the pain in his arm. He wanted it to stop.

He heard something fall into the water. Wondering why he actually still could hear and feel he opened his eyes.

The man who threatened him with the weapon was gone. When he looked to the left he saw the still swaying water, being moved from something what just fell in. The color red was spreading through a spot in the water. Not caring about that further, Natsu followed the line back up to the railing where the shot probably came from.

He forgot all the pain he felt and even the fear he had one moment ago when he thought he would die. The pain she probably felt right now was so much greater than his.

And he felt with her, knowing from only looking at her horrified expression and the way her whole body was shaking that she was broken. And he wouldn't be able to do anything right now.

Fast, he stumbled up the stairs, ignoring the growing pain in his arm when he couldn't stand it any longer seeing her above there, alone.

He was beside her, taking her shaking body into his arms when she just let him see her like that. Natsu gently took the gun out of her hand and threw it in the water. Lucy was already clinging to his shirt when her tears were just falling without stopping.

He tried to do something, anything but he knew that nothing he would say would make her feel better. She killed someone, and if she didn't do it then she would have seen how he was being killed. Both two things which were to much for her to take.

There was nothing what could take that burden away from her now. She wasn't able to make up for it or to undo it.

''Lucy...''

''I'm so sorry, Natsu!'' She snuggled closer to his shoulder, trying not to squeeze his arm. Natsu was confused by her apology. Why would she apologize to him for saving him? But she was to overwhelmed with her emotions that moment. Her horrified expression made Natsu shiver slightly. He never saw her like that.

''He would have... shot you! I just...'' Her voice grew louder and her shaking got stronger.

''I... I killed someone...'' She pulled away from Natsu and started shaking him with the last of her strength. ''I killed someone!'' Her voice sounded foreign and to Natsu it seemed that she still had the picture in front of her eyes, how she just shot right trough the man's head.

''Lucy...''

''Forgive me.'' Her whisper wasn't that audible but Natsu heard it. He had enough. He was well aware that this wasn't easy for her but he hated seeing her like that. He gently pulled her away and titled her chin so she looked into his eyes.

''You've done nothing wrong.''

At that Lucy tensed up and gripped his shoulder more. ''How can you say that?! Natsu, I killed this man! I shot him! He is dead! I can't undo it! What if he had a family? What if he was married and his wife and children are waiting for him to come back and eat dinner with them?! What if...'' Her mind snapped to the bitter fact that she not only killed someone but probably destroyed the life of a whole family. She looked away from Natsu when she couldn't stand his intense gaze anymore which was just saying that it was okay what she did and that he was here for her. Lucy bit her lip, looking further down to the ground. ''How can you say I did nothing wrong?!''

''Lucy he was a bad person. If you didn't kill him he would have killed me.''

''That doesn't change the fact that I killed a person!'' Lucy started to foist her hands and slam them against Natsu's chest.

''I ended a life... Just like that! I just killed him, Natsu! I didn't even think about something when I pulled the trigger! I just... I just shot!''

The girl slammed her little fists a bit longer against his body until he had enough and wrapped his hands around her foists. He pulled her forward and kissed her. Lucy completely startled at that. Why would he kiss her at a time like that? Just to calm her down? Because if that was his intention it was working.

Lucy slowly closed her eyes and responded to the kiss when she leaned more against him searching for his support. Natsu wanted to wrap his arms around her but stopped when he felt the pain in his arm.

Lucy felt him flinch slightly and pulled away when she remembered that he got shot in his arm. Worry again taking the better of her.

''We have to go to a hospital.''

''You know we can't, right?''

Lucy knew that. The description from Atlanta could have already reached other states. They broke in the library and hurt public guards, it was only natural that they were being chased. She looked around, trying to find something to wrap around his arm.

When she saw nothing she ripped the bottom of her top apart. Natsu first startled when she walked up to his side but then she started to wrap the piece of cloth around his wound.

It was still bleeding and that little piece of Lucy's top wouldn't help. She didn't even know if the bullet just streaked him or if it got through completely or if it was still inside. But from his pained expression she assumed that it didn't just streak him.

Lucy was still shaking when she tried to find a solution for their problem.

''I'll drive you to a hospital.''

''Lucy you can't.''

''But if I don't then it will get worse than this!''

She stumbled a bit when Natsu wrapped his other arm around her to steady her.

''That's not what I meant.'' Lucy tried to focus on his eyes but she felt her eyelids getting heavy and her knees quivering.

''I won't let you drive in the state that you're in right now.''

After that she lost consciousness, collapsing in Natsu's arms. The shock must have been really to much for her and the long time they had been under water before must have really hit her.

Natsu half dragged, half carried her to the car from the two men and slowly sat her down on the passenger seat.

When he walked to the back of the car to close the tailgate he saw the other man lying on the ground. He bent down to check his pulse. There was non. Cursing, Natsu stood up again and closed the tailgate, then he entered the car and drove out of the city.

–-o.O.o-

The four teens sat around the little table in Levy's house, disbelieve in their eyes. On the table stood a little radio. Levy had heard something in the daybreak news that day, which she firstly couldn't believe, secondly didn't want to believe and thirdly needed to tell the others.

Now they were sitting around the radio like little children who waited for the football news of their favorite team.

But that wasn't the case. At 12 am the news began and the four started to lean over the table, trying to get closer to the radio, like it would bring them closer to the news. It had been about all different things like Obama's holidays or the crisis in the Ukraine. To the end of the news they got to the topic they wanted to hear.

Then the woman started to speak: ''In the morning a female jogger found a dead body at the port in Virginia. The man was hit with a metal like tool which caused him direct death. After the police arrived they found blood drops from another person. It seemed that there had been a fight. After more investigations they found another dead body in the water near the port. The man had been killed with one shot right through the head. Until now details are unknown but the tapes from the security cameras show two teenagers, a boy and a girl. The girl supposedly killed the man with the metal tool. Since no security camera captured the scene at the port itself it is hard to say what exactly happened.

For now the police says that the two teenagers are most likely the two who broke into the Atlanta-Fulton public library three days ago since the description matches them. The identity of the young man is unknown but what the police can say with a high probability is that the girl is Lucy Heartfilia. Her father reported her as missing this morning. The police goes out from the point that the young man kidnapped Lucy and forces her to do such cruel things. The two of them are still being searched, the police asks for help, if someone might know or saw something they should call immediately. Further details follow in the local noon news.''

And then a new song started. Still the four said no word. There was silence in the little room Levy called her living room. Only the song from the radio filled the cold and also sad mood in the room. After some time Gray started.

''I... don't believe that.''

Erza turned to Levy. ''You think that the boy is Natsu, right?''

As a response, Levy only nodded. She didn't want to believe that. Natsu kidnapped Lucy? Lucy killed someone? They escaped from here of what reason ever?

That all just didn't make sense. She didn't want to believe it. But why should the police make up such a story?

''I think part of it is true.'' Gajeels voice sounded also a bit confused.

''What do you mean?''

Sighing, Gajeel stood up and sat down on Levy's bed.

''If you see it like that... Natsu and Lucy are both missing. And Natsu's car isn't here, so-''

''Natsu didn't kidnap Lucy if you mean that!'' Gray was furious. He saw it in Natsu's eyes when they were talking, he deeply cared for Lucy. There was just no way he would harm her.

''That's for example the part I don't believe. I wanted to say that he probably ran away from here...''

''But from what?'' Erza was also concerned. She also knew that it was unlikely that Natsu would do those things to Lucy. But they had no other explanation for all of this.

''I think it has got something to do with her father.'' All three looked at Levy when she almost only whispered it.

''What makes you think so?''

''Well... Lucy wrote me the morning she 'disappeared' that her father attended her to another school... If that's true... Why would her father report her as missing. The only explanation is that she ran away because of that matter or there is something else...''

''That makes sense.'' They all agreed that they found it unrealistic that Natsu really kidnapped her.

But they also agreed that Natsu and Lucy stuck very deep in something they just couldn't get out of.

And then Erza tried to call Natsu again.

–-o.O.o-

The vibration of his phone pissed him of more in just one way. Lucy was still unconscious and driving with his arm wounded like that wasn't the easiest thing in the world.

Annoyed, he fumbled around in his pocket and glanced at the phone. Erza...

Oh, how Natsu hated this right now. She called him at least a hundred times until now and he couldn't get himself to answer even one of her calls.

But it had been a long time now since he took Lucy and ran away, he totally understood that she might be worried.

Sighing, he picked up and tried to answer as normal as possible. ''Hi.''

There was silence at the other end of the line. And then he received his answer.

''HI?! Are you serious?!''

He could clearly filter out the disappointment in her voice but at the same time there was concern.

''Yeah, hi. What's up?''

''Natsu! Where are you?! You know how serious this has become?''

At that he tensed up. Did she know something? Maybe the police talked with them because someone found out that it was Natsu who was with Lucy and since Erza was a friend of Natsu...

''Why? What happened?''

''We just listened to the radio.''

''Gray?!''

''Yeah, hi buddy.'' Natsu heard something that sounded like a punch. Then Erza continued.

''Anyway... They said on the radio that you kidnapped Lucy and that you killed someone...'' Natsu gripped his phone tighter at that. They sat up something like that? How far would Lucy's father go to get her back?

''That's a lie.'' His voice was so calm that he heard Erza gasp slightly at his statement.

''That's what we thought... But why are you running away? And from what?''

Natsu sighed. Of course she wanted to know, and she had a right to know that was for sure. She was his best friend and also a kind of sister to Natsu. But he couldn't. The less they all knew the better it would be for them.

''I... I can't tell you.'' Again, there was silence. A long silence. It freaked Natsu out.

''Erza?'' He almost sound desperate. He heard a slight snicker.

''I guess it's dangerous to talk with you right now... Will you promise us that you come back someday?''

Natsu closed his eyes for a second. He had no idea how all of this would end and he wished nothing more than coming back, together with Lucy... But he couldn't promise that. He hated it to promise something he might not be able to keep.

''I'll try.''

Natsu hung up and opened the window. He threw his phone out and closed it again. If they were already on the radio they had to do something, fast.

It was to dangerous to stay anywhere longer than a day. And they couldn't call anyone anymore.

But the first thing Natsu would take care of was his arm.

He would drive to a little hospital in Maryland if he was sure that it was safe.

He looked at Lucy, surprised that she was awake.

''How are they?'' He wasn't surprised that she knew who he had been talking to. His lip twitched up slightly, then he directed his gaze back to the street.

''They're concerned.''

Lucy nodded and her look changed to Natsu's arm. ''And how are you?''

''Fine.''

''You're lying.''

Natsu smiled a bit and grabbed her hand, closing his around hers, surprising her slightly. ''Did something happen?''

His look hardened again and he squeezed her hand slightly.

''Seems like I kidnapped you.''

''What?!''

''Erza told me they said on the radio that I supposedly kidnapped you.''

Lucy sighed and looked back out of the window.

''That's ridiculous.''

''Oh, I know that.''

A comfortable silence fell between them. Lucy seemed to feel at least a bit better. He saw her shedding a few silent tears but he didn't want to take it in for now. It seemed that most of the times it only made matters worse when he tried to make her feel better.

So he only ran his thump over the back of her hand, showing her that he would be with her and to that a little smile crept onto her face.

–-

Sooooo... Seems like some of you knew what I was up to ^_^

Am I so obvious? xD

A thing which really pissed me off today were a few messages I received.

I apologize if my English isn't perfect, I know my profile shows that I'm from the UK but that's only because I don't want everyone to know where I'm from. And I won't tell you. But I can tell you that I'm still learning English so it's natural for me to do mistakes.

I have to be honest, I often write the chapters late in the evening where I am not so concentrated anymore. And I also don't read through the chapter again when I finish it, so I'm sorry for spelling, grammar or structure mistakes.

If anyone has got a problem with my writing style or that I do mistakes, don't read my story! -_-

That's all I can say, because I actually write the stories because I love to write and not to check my grammar all over again. I really try to do not so many mistakes but sometimes that just happens. And if someone tells me that he or she can't read my story because it's grammar is so awfully wrong than please go ahead and don't read it. I pretty much do not care!

But anyway, I thank all who enjoy reading my story and supporting it so much :3

Thanks;*