Chapter 9
Natsu
"ugh, damn… I feel like I was hit by the old man" I groaned as I woke up. I raised my hand to put in my hair when I felt something hard. Wait... my horns are back? I guess I couldn't maintain the form any longer huh? I thought to myself as I kept my hand on the rough surface.
"I see you woke up son" I turned to my left to see my dad in his dragon form. He always felt more contourable like that. Just as I moved my back, I could feel just how painful that was, even my BUTT hurts!
"gah" I yelped at the sharp pain that shot up my back. "you shouldn't move too much, ya know" the old man said as he laid down, his huge body is slumped on the ground "you used up all your magic power, son. Your body's recovering, and don't forget that this shapeshifting spell I taught you is still new for you. Your body isn't used to this kinda stuff" I let his words soaked in as I listened to him, I guess I DID overdo it.
My tail, horns, and wings are back and I'm having this terrible headache, Igneel explained that those were some of the side effects seeing as everyone respond differently to this magic.
I sat crisscrossed and ate some of the fish Igneel gave me. while eating, Igneel started talking again "Lucy saw you shapeshifting yesterday, she tried to help you but couldn't... she was terrified" I stopped talking, hearing what he said
"she saw?! Is she ok? She isn't afraid of me now, right?" I started blabbering out questions, the food is long forgotten.
"easy boy, she's fine. She's just a little shook off. We said we'll meet today after she got some rest"
"What time is it? When will she come?"
"it's now 10 AM, I assume shell come when school is over"
"and when will that be?"
"hmmm" Igneel pondered, thinking to himself "I guess she'll be done by 4 PM so get so damn rest, brat"
"I have to wait until 4?! It's too longggg and who did you call brat you old geezer?" I asked, jumping up and getting ready to fight the old man, but I forgot something important.
Very very important. My body still hurts. Damn it.
I crumpled to the ground in pain "see brat? Listen to your father and rest already" I heard the old man said but I was too focused on the pain to respond to him.
"the young kids today just don't know how to be calm" Igneel sighed "get some food Natsu, or you'll starve cause I'm not going to leave you any leftovers" he said as he resumed to eat the food in front of him.
I didn't question him, seeing as most of the food was already gone, I started to eat "damn it, old man, save some for me! Quit being such a pig!"
LUCY
RING, RING, RING, RING, RING, RI-
I smacked my alarm clock, groaning as I didn't want to get out of my nice and warm bed.
"princess, are you up? You need to get up if you want to get ready for school calmly" I heard Virgo's muffled voice through the door. She was right… it's a school day and I don't want to get ready in no time.
"I'm up" I said in a rough morning voice, "very well princess" I heard as I got out of bad. I didn't hear Virgo say anything else as I strolled to my dresser.
"is it time for my punishment?" I facepalmed as I heard her say that, jeez what's up with her and punishments? "no Virgo" I sighed.
As I got my uniform out of my dresser I went to the shower and took a quick shower. I felt like death, I couldn't sleep well at night because of my worry for Natsu's wellbeing. I'm still feeling guilty for his pain even if Igneel tried to assure me that everything is ok.
As I finished, I stepped out of the bath. I grabbed the nearby towel and dried myself, still thinking of the events from yesterday. I wore my school uniform and fixed my hair. Once I was pleased with my looks, I stepped out of the bathroom and sat on the bad, I put on my shoes, took my school bag and went downstairs to the dining room.
"good morning Lucy, how did you sleep?" my dad asked me, biting his toast and jam as he scanned me, seeing that I was alright.
I shrugged at the question "I didn't sleep too well but it's not something to worry about" I answered.
I sat next to him, my breakfast is already in front of me, I stared at the plate. I could see my dad's worry stare from my peripheral vision; he didn't like it when I was upset.
"don't worry dad, it's nothing! I'm just not hungry right now" I tried to calm him down. I looked at the time, the clock showed it was 7:40 AM so I packed some of the toasts for lunch and got up.
I kissed my father goodbye and walked out of the door.
I walked down the road, thinking of the events of yesterday. I feel so bad… Natsu suffered from the most horrible pain and it's all because of me and my selfish desires, wanting him with my friends. What was I thinking? I had to think of the consequences.
I kept thinking to myself and was so occupied that I didn't notice I was already near the school. I entered the gates as I saw Levy waves at me, Erza, Gray, and Juvia by her side.
"lu-chan! Ohayo!" she called my way, I waved her back and returned the smile "Ohayo, Levy-Chan!" I got closer to the group of friends.
"good morning Lucy" "love rival" "god morning Lucy, did you sleep well?" they all bombed me with greetings, I barely had time to answer.
"Ohayo, Minna!" I greeted, avoiding Erza's question. I didn't feel like talking about last night.
Levy eyed me a little as if scanning me to see if everything's ok, I avoided her look and kept walking forward. As we entered the school, we walked down the corridor. It was swarmed with kids, each of them hurries to his or her class before the bell rings or is walking calmly, not bothering to get stressed on this kind of thing. I guess I was thinking again and didn't notice my surroundings because I was shaken back to reality by Levy calling my name. before I could answer her the bell rang.
DING DONG DANG DONG*
My eyes widened at the sound, I realized I was late to my first class. "sorry levy-Chan! I have to run or I'll be late" I said as I ran away "ok lu-chan but we're meeting at lunch" Levy yelled as I ran farther and farther from her.
Lucky for me I was just in time for class. I sat in my place and waited for the lesson to start.
Just as the teacher came in and started to talk, I dozed off. Going to my happy dreamland.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't fell asleep during class, I just felt myself sinking into the state of non-stop thinking again.
I couldn't shake off this feeling of guilt I kept having, I sighed at that.
Before I knew it, class was over. Those were 2 hours straight meaning that now we had a break so I packed my things and went to my friends and mine's usual place to sit during breaks.
When I got to the table, I saw that Levy already out there. I walked towards her and sat across from her. "ok Lu-chan, what's wrong? You've been quiet all morning"
"nothing's wrong Levy-Chan, I'm fine"
"no you're not, everyone can see that! Tell me what's wrong Lu... we're all worried about you"
"what do you mean?"
"Why do you think Erza, Gray and Juvia aren't here? They wanted you to have space to sort out whatever you've been thinking about since morning"
I looked down at Levy's words, I couldn't believe I made my friends worry like that! What kind of a friend am I?
"lu... tell me, what's wrong?"
I took a deep breath "I's about Natsu…"
levy's eyes widened at Natsu's name "what did he do to you?"
"it's not like that levy-Chan" I tried to say but Levy was too focused on the possibility that Natsu was to blame that she didn't hear me.
"- and I swear to mother god that if he lay a finger on you, he won't live to see tomorrow's sunrise-" levy kept on babbling, not paying attention to me. She was so absorbed in her little world, I decided to give up on talking to her and just sat quietly. I didn't feel like eating so I pulled out one of the books I was reading.
Before either of us noticed, the bell rand once more, indicating break was over.
I got up and turned to Levy "Levy-Chan, I'm heading back to class. I'll see you at lunch ok?" I didn't wait for an answer as I dashed off from there. As I got to class, I sat in my desk and immediately sunk in my thoughts.
-Time skip: end of school day-
I walked home in silence as I thought about today. Erza, Gray, Juvia and Levy are really worried about me but I can't help it, I just feel so guilty about Natsu's condition.
in lunch break, I sat with everyone at the table. Levy kept talking about beating up Natsu in casa he did something to me, Erza got heated because of these talks and threatened to "teach him a lesson" whatever does that mean.
I sweat-dropped at what was said and tried to calm them down but for nothing. Gray was the only one to take it easy, he said that if I ever need him – I can always talk to him.
I'm grateful for their worry but I need to talk with Natsu if I want to feel better, I need to see he's ok.
I shake my head, trying to get rid of all the thoughts that were occupying it the whole day. I sighed; I need to keep walking if I want to get home fast.
after about 5 minutes of me walking I got home. I entered the mansion and greeted everyone; I quickly go upstairs to put my bag in my room.
After I was done, I ran downstairs, my dad's probably in his study, working.
as I got to the forest, I took a deep breath you've got this Lucy! He'll be fine I said to myself. I started walking, my head is still occupied with the many many thoughts of Natsu's wellbeing but I kept on walking.
Soon, I heard bickering and smiled to myself "damn its old man! Can't you save some food for your injured so?" my smile slipped ta that.
"grow a pair and go get yourself some food, you got enough rest"
"GRRRR FIGHT ME!"
By the time Natsu challenged Igneel I was already in clear view.
I held back tears as I saw Natsu's looks, he had bandages all over the place and his dragon-like appearance was back.
I guess I stared too long because next thing I know, Natsu was right in front of me, waving his hands "yo Luce! Are ya ok?"
"umm yes, sorry…, how are you feeling?"
"it hurts all over the place!"
"that bad?" my heart clenched at the answer, I didn't want him to be hurt!
"you have no idea he he" he gave me that grin of his but I looked away, refusing to accept his kindness.
"my head's killing me, it pounded all morning and my back hurts too but I guess that's what I get for pulling off something like that" he sounded so care free, how can he not be angry with me? Why isn't he yelling at me?!
"Luce? Why are ya so quiet? And what's with that face?"
"n-nothing"
"what's wrong? Talk to me"
that's when the façade that I kept all day vanished, I couldn't hide a thing from him and I broke down.
I fell to my knees, my hands shielding my eyes as tears fell, tears that I couldn't stop. "w-what's wrong Luce? D-don't cry!"
"I'm sorry Natsu! You're hurting because of me! I did that to you!"
"what are you talking about?"
"you had to do this shapeshifting thing because of me! It's my fault!"
"it's not your fault Luce" Natsu kneeled to my level, a caring look in his eyes "I did it because I wanted to, If you need to blame someone you need to blame me"
I shook my head, refusing to accept his words "b-but-"
"no buts" he shook his head "its not your fault so don't dwell in the past, key?" again, that damn grin that melt my heart
Ba-dam, Ba-dam
I took a deep breath, calming myself down. I stood up and dusted my jeans, I looked up to meet Natsu's eyes and smiled "are you sure?"
"of course I am"
"ok, I'll get it off my mind" I said.
For the rest of my stay with Natsu I tried not to think about his injuries and whenever he saw I spaced out he'll call me and distract me again.
It's been 2 hours since I talked with Natsu about his health and I started to get tired. "I think I'll go; I'm getting tired and need some rest" I said. "ok child, have a goodnight and we'll see you tomorrow?"
"yep" I smiled his way.
"I'll walk you home Luce"
"ok" I flashed him a smile and waved one last time to Igneel.
we walked in silence, the only sound is the rustle of the trees and bushes.
when we got to the end of the forest Natsu turned to me "here ya go Luce" he smiled "be safe and remember what we talked about ok?" I nodded "don't worry Natsu"
"good" he smiled at me.
Ba-dam
"goodnight Luce" he leaned forward and hugged me. My eyes widened at the gesture, he never hugged me before!
I circled my arms around him and sighed at the contact "goodnight Natsu"
We pulled apart and I waved him goodbye. As I entered the mansion my heartbeat sky rocked and I ran to my room to take a bath.
? p.o. v
As I got to the Heartfilia mansion I saw a figure walk out of the forest. I didn't think anything of that at first but then I saw a second figure following.
I froze
It has wings
The second figure hugged the first and I realized it was Lucy with something else.
Wait
Pink hair? It's Natsu? What the hell is he?!
