. Paranormal .
*Warning: dark themes ahead, don't read if you're sensitive to such things.
"Ugh, I'm so tired," Lucy moaned the next day as she was helped out of the hospital by a kindly smiling Jellal. Erza had gone to get the car they'd driven there, and Jellal had offered to keep the blonde company and make sure she didn't hurt herself while she was drugged on medication. "Kill me now. Don't make my suffering any longer, Jellal."
Jellal chuckled, gently patting her shoulder affectionately. "I'm afraid we're not ready to say goodbye yet, Lucy, bear with us a bit longer."
"I don't want to," she whined, but decided to change the conversation after that. "How's Natsu? Do you know?"
Jellal awkwardly made a sound that caught her attention instantly. She glared at him out of the corner of her eye, waiting impatiently for him to state what she'd missed. Eventually, he said with a small cough, "Apparently, and this is according to the information that we received from Levy earlier this morning, when she came to get your car, Natsu answered her phone when Gajeel called last night."
"Huh," Lucy muttered, not at all bothered. "Weird."
"He spoke to Gajeel, looking for you," Jellal continued. "He was worried."
"Oh," Lucy muttered, dark eyes going wide. "That's new. Interesting. Thank you for telling me...maybe we can get him to speak to Cobra and Cubellios. They can-"
She was cut off by a car pulling up, and Erza rolled the car's window down. "Jellal, hop in the back," she ordered, "Lucy's head makes her carsick more than usual."
"Of course," he said drily. "I was just telling her about Natsu's involvement in the phone call last night."
Erza's eyes flashed with surprise and then she said quietly, "Come on, I've got some news as well. From Cubellios and Cobra, actually. Lucy...they discovered the truth behind his death and decided to inform me so that I could tell you despite their supervisor's demands that they don't. Jellal," she added as he swung into the back seat. "They said that you needed to stop what you were doing. You were noticed."
Jellal grimaced as he slammed the door behind him. "Lovely."
"What about their discoveries?" Lucy demanded, her heart twisting as she strapped herself into the car, anxious. "Erza, what did they find?"
Erza took a deep breath. "Let's get some lunch first. You must be hungry after the hospital food. We'll have lunch out at a park or something, and I'll tell you there. It's not an easy story to tell for me, Lucy. He was my friend before his death. You must remember that."
Lucy nodded, muttering a quiet apology. The group settled down and the blonde rested her head back to close her eyes, her mind racing.
Just what had Erza found out?!
The group was silent as Erza drove out of the parking lot. She was quick in finding a place to eat at, and within the next hour, they had some burgers and fries and were climbing out of the car to go and sit at a table in a park in the middle of Magnolia. It was a quiet park, and as it was earlier in the day, barely anyone was there.
Jellal pushed his hair from his eyes as he sat beside his bride-to-be, glancing at her. "Erza?"
She'd begun to tremble, her hands nearly dropping her food as she set it down. Lucy was quiet, watching with a careful look in her eyes, recognizing that Erza was holding in information that wasn't particularly something she would probably like. And that made Lucy even more nervous, because Erza was probably one of the strongest people she knew.
Lucy didn't have much food before her, a simple milkshake and the smallest fry available. Her stomach churned at even that amount, and she made a face at the food. She wanted to shove it at one of the two before her as Jellal leaned to murmur in Erza's ear, worried about her. She shook her head, long scarlet hair whirling around her.
She took a fry and began to nibble on it before beginning to speak.
"Lucy," she said quietly, resting her elbows on the table and propping her chin in her open palm,, glancing out towards the nearby duck pond. "I knew Natsu for many years before his death. You're aware of that. When he disappeared, Gray and I fell out of touch and I left Magnolia. I didn't think I'd speak to either again, nor did I think I'd see the Strauss family again when I came back. And I made new friends, of course, such as yourself and Levy." A smile touched her lips before her gaze darkened and she sat back.
"I don't blame you for anything," she told the blonde. "But I will admit that as of now, I wish I'd never met you."
Lucy's eyes snapped wide. Hurt flashed across her face, and Erza rushed on, quick to reassure her.
"I love you, Lucy, you're like a sister to me, don't get me wrong. You've done nothing wrong and you're a friend I would never regret making. But you're the reason I looked further into Natsu's death and with what I was told… it hurts me more than ever that he's gone." She shook her head. She took a deep breath and then told both of them, "You're not to tell anyone. Natsu alone. Juvia doesn't know, Gray doesn't know, no one knows. Not anyone but us and Natsu, is that clear?"
"Yes," Lucy murmured, her teeth gnawing on her lip nervously.
"Years and years ago, Natsu's father Igneel, adopted him." She leaned forward, her eyes glittering. "Igneel was a good man and I loved him as much as anyone could. I was an orphan, and he was kind to everyone. But he somehow got pulled into some bad things, and it resulted in his disappearance. He got involved with people who were wanted by the police. The cops realized this and requested his assistance when he began to express concern about the people, and it was then that he accidentally busted a rather large drug trade that was going to happen. A few weeks later, he went missing and was never seen from again."
Lucy's eyes flashed with confusion. "But Jellal...Jellal said that Natsu was the one to-"
Erza held a hand up to cut her off. "I'm aware. Jellal got what information he could." She paused to give him a smile, and he returned it drily. "But the information that he gets is a lot different than the official records and footage."
The blonde made a sound of acceptance, recognizing this, and sat back, leaving her food untouched.
"Natsu was young when Igneel disappeared, but not too young. He came to live with me when I offered despite Ur - that's Gray's adoptive mother - offering to take him in. He was obsessed with finding Igneel, hurt by what had happened. He never took his scarf off, and I heard him crying in the night for his father sometimes."
"It was years later that - out of the blue - he disappeared, too. We looked for him - Ur got the highest officials she could, and she was in the military for a while, so she knew many - but he was never heard from again. I moved away soon after, and didn't return until after Jellal and I met in Crocus."
Erza took a deep breath, her dark eyes misted over with tears. "Yesterday...Cubellios and Cobra told me what the missing information was. And it kills me to say this. Natsu...he found out about what had happened to Igneel. Zancrow had some friends. An entire group of friends that were known for their harsh ways. They caught Igneel when he wasn't suspecting it and tortured him for weeks before finally killing him."
Lucy cupped a hand over her mouth, horrified, and Jellal simply popped a fry into his mouth, saying quietly. "The Seven Kin of Purgatory," he said wryly, "Is what they call themselves. They're fairly close to Tartaros, which is what Jackal was a part of. Both are practically cults in their own right."
"Natsu learned about it. And Natsu...he couldn't handle it. He'd always been a fan of fireworks." Erza gave a choked laugh, wiping tears from her eyes. "So he learned how to...how to make a homemade bomb. He decided that he was going to go out with a bang, not caring if it killed people or not. And luckily, it didn't - just him."
Erza stared Lucy straight in the eye.
"Lucy, there was no murder. There was no violent killing." She spoke quietly, her tone soft yet firm. "No one killed Natsu. He killed himself. Natsu committed suicide. I was looking further into it, just to make sure, and sure enough, he purchased everything necessary. I don't know if he honestly doesn't remember now. It might have been too painful...but he wasn't killed by someone else."
Lucy sat there in silence for a few minutes, comprehending this information. She pressed her lips together, and then snatched up her milkshake to give her an excuse to not speak for a few short moments.
Finally, the blonde set her milkshake back down and spoke in a shaky voice. "H-he said...he said that he felt danger whenever he thought about it…"
"That could very well be the dangerous intent he had towards himself without taking notice of the other lives that would have been involved," Jellal said softly, dark eyes sorrowful.
Lucy pressed her hand over her eyes, a soft sound leaving her lips. They watched her carefully, worried for the young woman before she finally dropped her hand and looked up. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her breath coming shakily for a moment. "I just...he regrets it. He m-misses being alive."
"I know," Erza soothed. She took a small bite of her food, shaking her head as she chewed. "But there is no more mystery to his death. So perhaps, if he learns that this is how he died, and that the ones responsible for Igneel's death are being brought to justice, he can move on."
A thought suddenly struck her.
"If Zancrow and his group were behind Igneel and ultimately Natsu's death…" Lucy's eyes narrowed warily, and she pushed a short strand of hair behind her ear. "Then what about my father?"
"Jude Heartfilia was involved with several illegal cases," Jellal agreed, "He worked with both Zancrow and Jackal."
"Ah, that." Erza tensed, her shoulders stiff as she reached for one of Jellal's fries, nibbling on it. "Apparently, Jude Heartfilia didn't have anything to do with Natsu's death, but with Igneel's. He helped with the cover up and then supplied whatever they wanted. It was something he boasted about to several people."
Lucy pressed her lips together, her face twisting into despair. "I don't know how I'm going to tell Natsu…"
"I can do it," Erza offered. "But it might be dangerous for most of us, Lucy. He doesn't ever want to hurt you again, so I think it's best that you do it. Besides, Juvia's pregnant, and I doubt Gray would want to risk-"
Lucy choked on nothing, sputtering. "Juvia's pregnant?"
"...you didn't know?" Erza looked startled.
Jellal smiled wryly and confirmed it for the poor lost woman. "Yes, Lucy, Juvia is indeed with child. She and Gray were going to go over to your place to seek some help from your perspective last night, but with your migraine, they chose to wait to tell you."
"Juvia's going to be upset with me," Erza realized with a heavy sigh.
"Juvia will understand," Jellal reassured, and then glanced over when Lucy suddenly gave a sob, her eyes filled with tears.
She buried her face in her hands, choking out between her fingers, "Oh, god, why me? I don't want to die...I'm going to miss so much." Erza's gaze softened and she reached out to gently draw Lucy in for a hug. "It's not fair. I want to see their baby...the doctors don't even know if I'll be making it to your guys' wedding-"
"Not with that mindset you won't," Erza scolded. "Think in a positive manner, Lucy."
"I can't," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm dying, Erza."
"A fact that we're very aware of," she replied fiercely, smoothing Lucy's hair back. She gave Jellal a look and he nodded, climbing to his feet to go and call Levy. She would need to know about Lucy's breakdown, so that she could tell Natsu that Lucy wasn't up for any nonsense.
Instead of Levy, however, he received a strange crackling.
"Hello?" he uttered, bewildered.
A voice he didn't recognize filled his ears, questioning, "Lucy? Is Lucy there? I want to talk to Lucy."
"Fucker wouldn't shut up about Lucy. Freaked me the hell out."
"Natsu," Jellal recognized. "This is Jellal. You shouldn't be answering Levy's phone. Where's Levy? Can you tell me? I'll let you talk to Lucy as soon as you do."
"Levy's eating. She didn't hear it ring."
"Thank you. Lucy's upset right now, Natsu, so don't do anything that'll make it worse. Okay?"
"Yeah. Let me talk to Luce."
Jellal was startled by the nickname, the way his voice filled with warmth and adoration when he spoke it, but smiled to himself and simply turned back to Erza and Lucy. "Lucy," he said cautiously, "It's for you."
Her eyes were red, filled with confusion. "What?"
He reached over Erza to gently press the phone into her fingers, and she hesitantly raised it to her ear, sniffing softly. "Hello?" she croaked, her voice muffled by her hand.
"Lucy?"
"Natsu?" Lucy groaned, giving a bitter laugh. "Did you...did you answer someone's phone for them again? I thought Juvia stopped by to tell you not to."
"I want you to come home."
"I'm coming," she sighed shakily, glancing up when Erza and Jellal began to argue under their breath. Her eyes softened as she watched Jellal roll his eyes and then touch her cheek, as if hoping that it would help coax her to do as he saw fit. "I was having l-lunch with Erza. We'll have to talk soon, okay? I'm going to take a nap when I get home though."
"...are you upset?" His voice became biting, and the crackling that accompanied it became worse, nearly violent. "You're upset. Aren't you. Who did it?"
"You did, actually, but I'll tell you why and how later." She wasn't up for it. She couldn't bring herself to tell her confused friend - the one who she felt knew her better than even Levy - how he had died just yet.
Maybe after the wedding…?
"I did?"
"Yes, but that's not important now. I'll be home soon, okay? Leave everyone alone until I get there. Bye, Natsu."
"...bye," he muttered, and then hung up.
Lucy lowered the phone, and then handed it back to Jellal, speechless. "He really truly talks on the phone now. Does he just...answer anyone's phone?"
"Levy mentioned that Gajeel had complained about a few people complaining about random phone calls," Erza mused, and Lucy sighed in exasperation and climbed to her feet, determined to get home so that she could see her worried poltergeist.
When they returned to the complex, Natsu was waiting in the parking lot, his entire body tensed and his onyx eyes glittering with impatience. The second Lucy stepped out of the car, gingerly touching her head, he was there, practically purring as he leaned into her. "Hey, Luce."
She gave him a faint smile, remembering what she'd been told earlier in the day. "Hey."
Natsu?
Suicide?
That wasn't possible. He was such a happy person...how could he have even considered something like that? He'd loved his friends, hadn't seemed unhappy despite having lost his father…
Lucy touched the scarf still wrapped around her throat, realizing that its importance had only grown.
This was the last possession he'd received from Igneel before he'd' been tortured and murdered for screwing up.
"Lucy?" Erza prodded. "We're going to be meeting up with Gray and Juvia for a meeting about the wedding. Will you be alright?"
Lucy shot her a thumbs up. "Natsu and I will go watch some shows and take a nap. Don't worry. Focus on your wedding, Erza."
"Are you sure?" she protested, but Lucy was already heading inside. Unknown to the pair that watched anxiously after her, Natsu kept up with ease, chatting with her lightly about what had happened throughout the day - all while impatiently waiting for her to tell him about whatever had upset her.
When they reached her apartment, Lucy locked the door behind her and then threw herself down onto the couch, silently recognizing the fact that killed her inside to admit.
"Natsu," she said, voice muffled by the couch cushions. "I'm going to ask if I can move in with Levy."
He stared down at her in shock, and then frowned. "Why? I can take care of you-"
"I know you can," she soothed, rolling onto her back to look up. "It's just...I need to start getting ready. Soon, I'll probably have issues getting up at all, and there's a limit on what you can do to help me." She closed her eyes, and then opened them again. "I'll still be in the building. Just not here. Natsu, I can't...I can barely see straight and I've forgotten so many words over the past few days…"
He sat beside the couch, resting his chin beside her head so that he could rest his head against hers.
"I don't want you to die, Lucy," he mumbled. "I want you to keep living."
Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat, her voice thick as she lifted a hand to caress his head with soft fingers.
"Me, too, but we don't always get what we want. Now, what do you want to watch?" she asked as Happy made an appearance and hopped onto the couch with her, purring as he rubbed his head against her hand.
"Whatever you want," he decided, closing his eyes.
He wasn't ready to say goodbye, but something told him that soon, he wouldn't get a choice.
Sorry about the wait! Finally learning about Natsu's death! Poor guy was a mess, eh? Now, for a few questions...
A reviewer, akmagerain, brought up a major question that many people are probably wondering about: how did people like Natsu and Cana become ghosts? This applies to the freaky ones, too. It's simple (in my head anyways). A violent death plus regret equals a ghost. Cana was killed in a nasty drunk driving accident and regrets that she was the one behind it and caused her father pain. Natsu blew himself up (as we learned in this chapter), and feels regret that he's not alive to be with his frirends, though we have yet to see him re-informed about the matter.
A guest asked about lemons...probably not! Sorry!
And to OwlChaser113, who asked...yes. I have many pets. Five of which are in my room as I post this.
Thanks to reviewers (BeautifulSkye213, LePengwen, AFallenAngel1221, owlcity2013, akamegerain, Aya Rose, Dragondancer81, Moon Stone Tiger Lily, SnflowerChrysalis, MehKitty, PinkFireandGoldenStars, misssbehavin, iBook Keeper, maalikdb, RunningWithTheRiptide, Guest #1, NaLu x Buckets, Sassassassin, Typhlosion8, OwlChaser113, FairyRains, YuyuiHime, LoveTheMonster, Guest #2, BrokenHeartsMend, Guest #3, Alicia Trinidad, pucksabrinadaphne, and Mechanical-Rose-Sama!) as well as those who favorited and followed!