Hey peeps :P

So, I am doing some late night writing tonight (late night meaning not that late at all really... But oh well). I have another deadline tomorrow, joy, explaining WHY I am doing 'late night' writing, I was actually working this evening. I had so much paint on my fingers...

Anyways, we are back to Lucy's point of view for now, so I hope you enjoy it. Sorry if the chapter isn't as great as the last ones, I just needed to write, but I wasn't quite sure how to write this section. Oh, also, no lyrics to the song for this section. There aren't many to choose from, and I have some idea's for some of the remaining ones, so I made this one up... Yay?

Enjoy it anyway though :)

Chapter Six-

Can only fall asleep to a thought of you

Opening my eyes, the world around me is nothing more than a blur; colours and shapes merged into one. I am vaguely aware of pain, which plagues my body as I lay still. That pain intensifies as I move my arms from what I think is my side in an attempt to sit up. I can't quite place where my limbs are in comparison to my torso, as if they aren't really a part of my body. Moaning loudly, I stop moving, waiting for the stinging that had suddenly hit me to slowly ebb away until it is finally bearable.

"Shit..." I mutter to myself, blinking several times in an attempt to clear my vision. I have no idea where I am or why my body feels this beaten, no recognition of what had landed me in this situation. "What happened?"

"You were attacked."

A quiet voice answers. To this, I freeze. My question had been aimed more to myself than anyone, in fact, I was unaware anyone else was around me until this moment. Gulping, I note some characteristics about the voice. It had defiantly belonged to a male, the voice was too deep to not have been. It sounded slightly rough as well, clipped short, as if the person wasn't much of a talker. For some reason, I vaguely recognize it, however, the voice does not belong to anyone I remember knowing. It is more of a memory, a voice I had heard in passing or over a radio more than one I heard in person; facing and speaking to the person directly.

Gulping, I turn my head to the side, my vision now slightly better. It takes a minute for my eyes to focus on who had uttered the words to me. As my vision clears, I am met with the form of a young looking man sitting crossed legged on the floor about a meter or two from where I am laying.

I know you...

A voice in my head speaks slowly. Narrowing my eyes, I observe the man who seems to be focusing on a far off object, his gaze averted from me. He looks harmless, however, that doesn't mean he wont hurt me. Keeping my muscles tensed, I stare at the man.

At first glance, I can tell the basics. He is slim man with rather messy black hair which reaches just below his jawline. Some of his untamed locks are obscuring most of his forehead and right eye, others sticking up from all angles in a somewhat childlike manor. Skin as pale as the paper I write my novel on and a straight, emotionless face. After a moment more of staring and studying the man, it finally dawns on me.

That's... He's... He's from Sabertooth, one of the Dragon Slayers!

Suddenly, a feeling of fear begins to pool in the pit of my stomach. Ignoring the excruciating pain and numbness in my limbs, making my movements sluggish, I push myself up with a moan. Shutting my eyes tightly, I try to kick my feet out, pushing myself further away from the man in front of me. Frantically, I begin to reach for my keys, fumbling with my pouch. The knowledge that in this state I wont be able to summon a spirit that would match the power I know him to possess is prominent in my mind, however, that doesn't mean I am going down without a fight.

"Get away from me, now! I have done nothing wrong to you!"

"I know." His words catch me off guard for a moment, my hands stilling from fumbling with my key pouch. He is still looking away from me out into the distance, seemingly unfazed by my sudden movements and threat of my keys making an appearance. My breathing is heavy, and I can feel my heart beating quickly. All of a sudden, it stops beating all together as the Sabertooth mage quickly turns his head to stare at me.

As fear pools in the pit of my stomach, I begin to panic again. My search for a suitable keys becoming more frantic. My heart is beating so quickly I can feel my pulse throbbing in my temple, my palms becoming sweaty making it harder to hold my keys. While in search for Loke or Taurus, I have not noticed that the Shadow Dragon Slayer has gotten to his feet, until his shadow is looming over me. "I have no intention of hurting you."

"Then why are you here?!"

I spit, finally finding the golden key to the lion. Raising my head and arm quickly so both the key and my line of sight are pointing directly at the mans chest, praying that I will have the strength to call upon Loke, I am stopped from shouting my words as the Dragon Slayers fill the air.

"Why harm someone I saved? I was merely keeping an eye on you while you were unconscious."

Freezing in the position I am in, I stop and think. I can hear my heart beat in my ears like a drum. Had a member of Sabertooth saved me? The odd darkness that engulfed the ice mage could possibly have been from the Shadow Dragon before me, in fact, it would make sense in a way. I have never seen magic like that before, only from the man who has allegedly saved me.

It had to be him. But why? Our guilds are rivals. I don't even remember his name... It could be a ruse! Maybe when I put this key down, he'll kill me? But why save my life, just to watch me die... It makes no sense...

Looking at the man standing over me, I gulp, raising my chin up slightly. I have made up my mind, Lowering my key, I slip it back into it's place in the pouch, effectively, leaving myself defenceless. My whip is out of reach and now keys away. I am far to beaten up to even attempt a fist fight.

The darkly dressed Shadow Dragon Slayer stares down at me for a few moments, as if deep in thought, before extending his hand out to me. A little bewildered, I raise my own hand to meet his. His grip is tight and warm, in a swift motion I am on my feet right before him. He's stature rather intimidating, and the close proximity of our bodies unnerving. This man could literally kill me any moment, but I still stand tall.

"Thank you."

I say, looking up at him. I find myself staring into his eyes, which are a deep crimson with snake like slits for pupils. For a moment, the thought that they look similar to Gajeel's springs to mind, but not totally the same. This mans eyes seem to be deeper? Definitely different, as if something is there in them. For some reason, I find myself thinking that these orbs before me are rather nice.

Then I force the thought from my head, laughing at the absurdity of actually loosing precious thinking time on this mans eyes. Time I could be thinking about... Natsu...

I had been saved, but it was't by my Dragon Slayer.

Frowning, I step away from the man before me, waiting for his reply. His words are once more short and clipped.

"It's okay."

.

The bed I am laying on is heavenly soft, as if a thousand feathers are beneath me. I'm sure on any other day, I wouldn't be this lost in loving a mattress, but today, today after being beaten and bruised, I could't have wished for anything else.

After he had helped me up, I had pushed past the Sabertooth Mage to the two I had taken out earlier. The memory of my mission slowly came back to me. Although, upon only finding two of the three men, and remembering the Shadow Dragon Slayers part in saving me, I turned to him.

"Where is the other one?"

"Dead."

"Dead?!" I exclaim, mouth open and eyes wide. A dreadful feeling takes me over as I stare at the darkly dressed man before me.

"There wasn't another way."

He had lowered his head at this point almost, as if too ashamed to meet my eye.

After I had stood gob-smacked for a moment or two, I regained my composure trying to now figure out a way to transport the remaining criminals back to the town hall. Once again, the Sabertooth mage offered to help, carrying one of the men as I half dragged the other. And once again, I questioned the mans motives. Questioned what he was after and what he gained from helping me. In honesty, I didn't really know.

When we had reached the town hall and I had called for the mayor, I turned to thank the Shadow Drgaon Slayer once more, regardless of his guild, he had saved my life, apparently. But when I looked at where he had been standing moments before, he was gone, leaving me baffled. That is, until the mayor had appeared, leaving me no time to think about his whereabouts.

The rest of the events had been blurred and full of praise and exclamations of joy and thanks. As well as a rather poor explanation for the ice mage being missing, involving him 'using so much magic power, it had killed him'. The mayor seemed to buy my story, even if I didn't.

Eventually, I found myself here. Laying on a bed in a hotel room compliments of my mission, in new clothes as my old ones had been all but ruined during my fighting. The sky outside dark, the moon hanging in the sky. Keys safely by my side and a velvet bag sitting on my bed side cabinet filled with my payment. 160,000 Jewels, or two months rent and a few books to me.

Sighing, I close my eyes, humming to myself as I breath out. I can feel the bones in my back clicking, sending soft tingles up my spine. My body relax as I begin to drift off to sleep, and I find I am unable to keep my eyes open. In the back of my mind, the memory of the Sabertooth mage springs back into my tired mind.

What did you want, why did you help me? Why did you save me, even?

I frown, my eyes still closed as I ponder the question, before deciding that a nicer thought would be better to fall asleep to, even if it will make my heart ache and tears wet my eyes. So I think of Natsu and his smile.

Maybe, just maybe, I will see you tomorrow, Natsu...