8: key to my heart.
At the table right next to the window, Natsu, Lucy, Levy, and Gajeel were seated. Levy and Gajeel were across from each other. Lucy and Natsu were across from each other. Levy and Lucy sat at the same side while Gajeel and Natsu sat at the other side. Nobody was saying anything and the silence was suffocating.
Eventually, Levy was the one who broke the silence. "So, we all have a bunch of questions that we want to ask. I guess I'll be the one to ask them. Gajeel, you said that you and Natsu are gods?"
"He was the god of fire but everyone called him the god of war. He was annoying back then but when it came to the art of war, he was pretty damn good," Gajeel said.
"Your compliment was appreciated," Natsu told him.
Gajeel glared at him. "That wasn't a compliment, dumbass." He glanced at Levy before speaking. "I'm the god of the earth. You'd think I do things with plants and shit but my power don't really work that way. I specifically use iron and other metals that make up the earth and shit."
"I see," Levy said, processing this new information.
"Centuries ago, there were these dragons that used certain humans as their vessels and in return, those humans became gods and were able to use the dragons' powers. Those humans also stop aging so they are stuck at the age they were chosen. Igneel chose Natsu so Natsu has Igneel in him. Metalicana chose me so I have Metalicana in me. The dragon gods can eat their respective element. Natsu can eat fire and I can eat iron. What else do I gotta say?" Gajeel explained.
"This one lady named Irene Belserion was the woman who forged the dragons in us. Then she just up and left to join the Spriggan 12. So, she's a guardian now," Natsu added.
"And some dragons learned how to take human form, joining us dragon gods," Gajeel added.
"Yep, so I think that's everything," Natsu said.
"Okay. Next question. Natsu, I heard you became a demon so you could free me. Is that...true?" Lucy carefully asked.
Natsu, who was on the window side, looked outside. Without facing Lucy, he nodded.
Guilt rushed through Lucy's body. "How?"
The boys didn't say anything.
"You guys have to answer her. She deserves the right to know," Levy told them.
"Natsu should be the one to tell her. I only know the shit that I be hearing about back in the heavenly realm. He was the one who became END so he's the one who knows what really went down," Gajeel answered.
"All I know is that Natsu made a deal with Zeref that I can come back if he stays in the Book of END. But, Dimaria, one of the Spriggan 12, hinted that there was more to the story," Lucy said.
"How I became END isn't even important," Natsu said, still looking out the window.
"Yes it is," Lucy told him.
Gajeel sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "I don't know how exactly he became END, but like I said earlier, I've heard of the shit he's done back in the heavenly realm."
"What did you hear?" Lucy asked him.
"Gajeel," Natsu hissed, glaring at Gajeel.
Gajeel shrugged at Lucy. "Sorry, blondie."
Lucy was feeling frustrated. "At first you're saying that I should get my memories back then suddenly you change your mind. Okay, I mean, you made a good point as to why I shouldn't get my memories but I still want them back. Now you're not telling me how you became END and what you did as END? I'm the reason why you're END in the first place. Don't I deserve to know?"
"Yeah, you guys are being unfair," Levy chimed in.
"And don't give me that 'it's for your own good' bullshit," Lucy said.
"Lucy, some things are better left unsaid," Natsu said.
"Natsu, I thought you knew me very well since we were a thing at one point. If you knew me, then you should know that I like to know the truth, even if it's painful," Lucy said.
Natsu reached across the table and held Lucy's hands. "Trust me on this."
Lucy slid her hands out of his. "I don't think I can."
They sat in silence for a while again. And once again, it was Levy who broke the silence.
"Well, this double date I had planned didn't really go according to plan. Kinda disappointing," she said.
"I don't wanna stay here with pinkie. Can we go now?" Gajeel asked.
"I have a lot of questions to ask you too," Levy hissed at him.
Gajeel groaned in annoyance. "Are your for real!?"
Lucy stood up and held her jacket in her arms. "Thank you for having me," she said as she bowed. Then, she left the restaurant.
"Lulu seems mad. I'm gonna check on her," Levy said, running after Lucy.
Natsu and Gajeel were left alone with each other.
"Why won't you tell blondie what happened? I don't see the problem," Gajeel asked Natsu.
"Cuz I did some things that shouldn't have been done. Things that I can't take back. Did you know that there was a time that I forgot that I was doing all that to bring her back? I actually enjoyed doing those things," Natsu said, looking down at his hands.
Gajeel rolled his eyes. "Of course you did. You're a fire and pain eating freak."
"Still. It's not right. How can I tell her what I did, especially when there's a part of me who doesn't feel sorry for the shit that went down?" Natsu asked.
Gajeel put his hands in his pockets and glanced out the window. Levy and Lucy were talking. "Changing the topic, Zeref knows that you're out, correct?"
"Yeah and he's sent the Spriggan 12 to get Lucy. The whole frozen Galuna Island thing was caused by one of them but I put her in her place," Natsu answered.
"I don't think you should be leaving blondie alone. Once day, she's here. The next day, she might be in the Underworld," Gajeel said.
"I want to be with her at all times but I know she won't like that," Natsu said.
"But you don't want history to repeat itself. You know, her being taken when you're not there. If they're smart, they'd take advantage of the fact that you're not always with her," Gajeel said.
Natsu glared at Gajeel in annoyance. "It's not going to happen. I won't let it happen. Not again."
Gajeel put his hands up as if he was a criminal. "You do you."
"I sent one of them back all beaten up with a message to Zeref. In a way, I guess I declared war. I'm just doing as much as I can to move the attention away from Lucy and move it towards me," Natsu said.
"You're dumb for that," Gajeel said.
"So you're telling me you wouldn't do the same thing for Levy?" Natsu asked.
Gajeel blinked. "The fuck are you tal-"
"I know you. You've never been interested in a girl before. You've never even given them so much as a look," Natsu told him with a sly smile.
"Go burn in hell or something!" Gajeel yelled.
Natsu laughed. "But I'm serious though. You should take Levy to the heavenly realm as fast as you can so she can latch onto your life force and live for as long as you live."
"I don't need a guy like you to go bossing me around. I don't need anyone to boss me around," Gajeel said.
"You'll help me take down the Spriggan 12 though, right?" Natsu asked.
Gajeelm smirked. "It's a dumb idea. But, sounds interesting. Sure, I'll help, but I'll do it anonymously. Unlike you, I'm still a god and I still have to deal with the heavenly realm's politics."
Natsu smiled. "The politics is the only thing from the heavenly realm I did not miss."
"Salamander," Gajeel said, holding his hand out.
"Black Steel Gajeel," Natsu said, also holding his hand out.
The both of them did their personal handshake.
The taxi stopped Lucy and Levy in front of Fairy Hills.
"Sorry that this double date made things worse between you and Natsu," Levy said.
"It's fine," Lucy said with a sigh. "I was just expecting things to be so simple. You know, that Natsu was always some demon, I met him and softened him, he got locked in the Book of END cuz he's a demon, and I set him free."
Levy opened the front doors of Fairy Hills and they entered the place. "Well, life isn't so easy. That's why it's called life. I heard somewhere that people think Mavis Vermillion is upset that her life ended when she was in her teens so she purposely gave people hard lives, especially the people who got to live longer than her."
"That explains a lot," Lucy said as they took of their shoes at the front.
The rest of the girls were watching a movie together in the living room.
"Hey guys! How was the date!?" Cana cried.
Juvia shushed her. "We're in the middle of a movie!"
Lisanna chuckled. "She's so into this movie!"
"Oh yeah. Erza's still at work so we're watching a different movie. When she gets back, we'll watch the movie she wanted to watch," Mirajane said.
"What movie is this?" Levy asked, walking over to the living room.
"I'm gonna take a nice long bath," Lucy told them, entering her room.
She had completely stripped and had covered herself in a towel. When she entered the bathroom, however, she was met with a surprise.
She opened her mouth to scream but the effectiveness of her scream was significantly lessened as she found herself getting smaller and smaller. I'm shrinking!?
The surprise that was in the bathroom was sitting in the tub filled with bubbles. Sporting green hair in a bob, she casually picked the shrunken Lucy and put her to sit on her knee that was bent and out of the tub. "Brandish μ, if you were wondering."
"How did you get in here? This place is highly secured!" Lucy cried.
"I shrunk myself and let myself in. Duh," Brandish answered.
Lucy glared at her. "Are you one of the Spriggan 12?"
Brandish suddenly grabbed Lucy and threw her into the bath water. She held her down with her hand to the bottom of the tub. Lucy found herself struggling to breathe underwater.
No! I can't go to the Underworld! I really can't afford to go! Lucy thought as she started to black out.
Just in time, Brandish took Lucy out of the water and placed her in a small basket filled with shampoo and lotion that was sitting on the floor. "That's what I would have done if I was here to take you to the Underworld. But, I'm not. It's such a bore."
Lucy was coughing like crazy. So she is one of them! But she says she's not here to take me. So why's she sitting in my bathtub!?
"You're trying to get all the Zodiac keys, correct?" Brandish asked.
Lucy sat up. "Why do you want to know?"
"I'm only trying to help, but if you don't want it, it's whatever," Brandish said with a shrug.
"Fine. I am trying to get all the keys. Why?"
"I know where the others are located but they all have owners. Wanna know who they are?" Brandish asked.
Lucy nodded. "Yeah, and don't lie to me."
"The Pisces and Libra keys belong to Secretary Yukino Agria. The Gemini and Scorpio keys belong to Angel of the Oracion Seis. The Capricorn key belongs to Zoldeo, a gangster from the Grimoire Heart gang. The Leo and Aries keys belong to supermodel Karen Lilica," Brandish listed off.
Lucy let the names sink in. I've heard of Yukino Agria. She works at that video game software company Sabretooth. Angel is from the Oracion Seis...an Oracion Seis member can use Celestial magic!? That's unexpected. Zoldeo...he used to work for my family and he was supposed to give me the Capricorn key. I've been meaning to confront him about that. Then Karen Lilica...is Loke's current girlfriend...
She frowned. I don't want to face her. But I'm gonna have to...
She looked up at Brandish. "Why are you helping me when your orders are to take me to the Underworld?"
Brandish rested her arms on the tub as she leaned and looked at Lucy. He rested her chin on her arms. "It sounds so easy. Get all 12 Zodiac keys and you'll be able to open the gate of the spirit realm. As the opener of the gate, you'll be able to communicate with any spirit you want. But if this was so easy, then how come it's never been done before? I want to find out why and you're going to show me why. Your kind of like a...test dummy?"
"I'm your test dummy?" Lucy asked, unimpressed. "But you do make a good point. I guess I'm curious as to why it's never been successful as well."
"Exactly," Brandish said, snapping her fingers. Lucy was returned to her normal size. The basket she was originally in had all of its contents emptied out and was hanging on Lucy's foot.
With a sigh, Lucy took the basket off her foot. When she looked at the tub, she noticed that Brandish wasn't in it anymore.
"Where did she go?" Lucy wondered out loud, dipping her foot into the water. She was disappointed to find that the water was cold.
Later on, Lucy was searching through her drawers for a new pair of pajamas when she heard her phone ring. She searched everywhere until she found her phone sitting under her pillow. When she checked the caller ID, she saw that it was Erza.
"Erza? You done with work yet?"
"Nope. I have to work overtime."
"A crime?"
"Yep, and it was done by the Oracion Seis."
"Again?" Lucy asked, putting her phone on speaker and getting dressed. The Oracion Seis has attacked again, which means the perfect opportunity for Lucy to get a good news story.
"Yeah. Ugg, and this means more work for me. You know, me being a detective and all? Now I have to figure out who was the pussy who decided to order a murder group to kill someone instead of doing it themselves!"
"Erza, I think it's better this way."
"Is it? Is it really?"
Lucy thought about it as she tied her hair into her signature ponytail.
"Anyways, based on the aura coming out of the woman who was murdered, there was some sort of summoning magic casted on or around her."
"I've recently found out Angel, one of the members, is a Celestial wizard so the summoning magic must be Celestial magic."
"Really? That's a huge coincidence. When I was looking around this woman's house, I saw that she was a Celestial wizard too."
"Who's the woman that was murdered?"
"Karen Lilica, that supermodel that was signed with Blue Pegasus."
Lucy dropped her phone.
"Lucy? You okay?"
Lucy quickly picked up the phone. "Sorry. My fingers slipped so I dropped my phone."
"Yeah...so Karen's dead. How are you feeling?"
Lucy walked out of her room. "Check to see if there are two golden keys laying around her place. Specifically keys with the Leo and Aries zodiac signs. I need those keys."
"You're still coming here though, right?"
"No. I'm seeing Loke."
"Why?"
"I'm gonna tell him that Karen is dead."
"Lucy, don't go to his place. You don't owe him shit so why should you burden yourself and break the news?"
Lucy had put on her high heels and was walking outside at this point. "I just feel like it's right. It's what I should do."
"Or, you're still attached to Loke and you've finally found a perfect excuse to visit him."
"Lies," Lucy simply said as she flagged down a taxi.
The taxi took her to the apartment complex Loke lived in. When she was out of the taxi, she looked up at the complex. "Time to go to the top floor."
Each step she took, she grew more nervous than last time. By the time she rang Loke's doorbell, she was ready to go back home. However, just when she was starting to leave, the door opened, revealing a shirtless Loke. "Lucy?"
"Loke," Lucy said.
The two of them just stood there for a while.
"Um, can I come in?" Lucy asked, breaking the silence.
"Sure," Loke said, moving out of the way.
When she entered his apartment, she started to get memories of them dating.
When they were together, Lucy had a habit of trying out all sorts of recipes for baking sweets so they'd bake together.
Loke often did her makeup the wrong way and they would make fun of it.
As soon as she was done with work, she would go straight to his place.
Loke used to give the best kisses that could honestly make anyone's legs turn to jelly.
Lucy missed those things and so much more. Unfortunately, everything came to an end when she came back to Fairy Hills to pick something up on the way to an interview.
When Lucy entered Fairy Hills, the place was empty. They must be at work, she thought as she slid her high heels off.
When she put her hand on the doorknob of her bedroom, she heard music coming from behind the doors. This is a nice song and all, but I don't remember putting it to play, she thought, opening the door. Then she gasped.
From her front door to her bed, there was a trail of clothes. Lisanna and Loke were on he bed and Lisanna had quickly sat up, pushing Loke off of her. She grabbed the blankets and covered herself with it.
"The fuck is this bullshit?" Lucy asked in a low voice.
Lisanna was the one who spoke. "I'm sorry! I didn't realize that we were in your room! I was in the moment, and everything was happening so fast!"
"Why're you fucking my boyfriend?" Lucy demanded.
"This guy's...your boyfriend...!?" Lisanna asked, her eyes watering.
Lucy wanted to cry herself but she forced her tears down and coldly glared at Lisanna and Loke. "Loke, the guy I'm supposed to call boyfriend. Let me get things straight. So, you knew that I live here and you knew that Lisanna is both my friend and my housemate. She's the closest thing I have to a little sister too. You knew that we were close. But, you still had the audacity to sleep with her. I don't care about who started what. It's the fact that you went through it even though you knew who she was to me."
Lisanna was balling her eyes out. "Lucy! I'm sorry! I didn't know! I didn't mean to do this!"
"Loke. Let's break up," Lucy said.
"What!? Why!? Because of me!? I'm sorry! Please don't break up! I'm not a homewrecker!" Lisanna sobbed.
"Once a cheater, always a cheater. Why should we continue to be together?" Lucy asked.
"Been wanting to break up with you for a while anyway so this works out for me," Loke said as he casually got out of bed.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, hiding the look of hurt that had crossed on her face the second Loke said those words.
"I found a hotter babe who models on magazine covers instead of writes magazine articles. And, she's not afraid to flaunt how rich she is. Ever heard of Karen Lilica?" Loke asked as he put his clothes on.
"So you're breaking up with me cuz you found some other bitch?" Lucy asked.
"Yep," Loke answered.
Lucy clenched her fists at her sides. "Fine. Go date whoever you want. I don't care anymore."
"Greatly appreciated," Loke said, looking into the full body mirror to see if his suit was on right.
When he was out of the room, Lucy went after him and stopped him. "Before you go, were you cheating on me behind my back the whole time?"
"Yeah. Didn't you know?" Loke asked before walking out the door.
Lucy remembered breaking down into tears the minute he left. She changed her schedule and her routes so she wouldn't risk bumping into Loke. She was so ready to forget about him, yet she was unable to. Karen Lilica, being a supermodel who was supposed to get her own reality TV show soon, is everywhere and that would only cause her to think about Loke. She didn't want to continue to have feelings for him but unfortunately, she does. And those feelings she still has for him are the reason why she's sitting on the sofa in his living room with him.
"What is it that you came all the way here just to tell me?" Loke asked, sitting in the armchair that was about a foot away from the sofa Lucy was sitting in.
"Karen Lilica is dead. She was killed by the Oracion Seis," Lucy answered, looking down at her lap. "I felt that it would be right if I told you."
She heard something that sounded like a laugh from Loke. Quickly, she looked up and faced Loke. There he was, laughing like a maniac. "It worked...! It worked! Hahahahahahaha!"
"What worked?" Lucy asked, tensing up.
Loke calmed down but he still wore a joyful expression on his face. "I was the one who sent the Oracion Seis to kill her."
Lucy gasped. "What!? But why!?"
"Didn't you know? She deserves it, to be honest," Loke answered, shrugging
"She's a living human being, just like you!" Lucy cried.
Loke narrowed his eyes at Lucy. "Who said I was human?"
Lucy faltered. "You're not?"
"I'm Leo the Lion, the leader of the Zodiacs. I'm a Zodiac spirit sitting right in front of you, a Celestial wizard," Loke answered, gesturing to himself.
Lucy's eyes grew wide. "No way...you were a spirit this whole time...?"
"The only way for me to survive in this form in the human realm is if I'm with a Celestial wizard and latch onto their life force. Why do you think I dated you?" Loke asked.
"You dated me because you liked me back...right?" Lucy asked.
"It's called acting, little bitch. I was getting tired of seeing your face everyday so I left you for Karen," Loke answered before standing up. "Such a shame, really. I would have kept her around if she didn't do what she did to me and Aries."
"What did she do?" Lucy slowly asked.
Loke started to slowly make his way behind Lucy as if he were a lion stalking his prey. "Oh, you know, she used us spirits as science experiments. That's it. The experiments were painful as fuck, I'll admit, and I even wanted to kill her myself. But, she's my master; I'm incapable of doing that. Celestial law. So, what better way to get rid of that witch than to call upon the Oracion Seis?"
He dragged his fingers along the sofa as he moved closer. "Angel was the member they sent. The way she killed Karen was honestly beautiful. Damn, I wish I took a video of it! Just talking about it isn't enough! In exchange, whoever calls upon the Oracion Seis to do their killing for them must give something to the members, correct? So, I gave Angel Aries' key. The moment I did, that's when I came to the realization."
He was behind Lucy at this point. He put his lips to Lucy's ear and started to whisper in them. "All Celestial wizards are the same. All they really care about is collecting keys and forcing spirits to do their dirty work for them. They never ask if the spirit wants to even have a master-servant pact in the first place. It's their way or no way."
"You're wrong! Not all Celestial wizards are like that!" Lucy cried.
"Think about it. You're collecting all 12 Zodiac keys, correct?" Loke asked, playing with the collar of her shirt.
"What about it?" Lucy asked.
"And why are you doing it?" Loke asked.
"So I can talk to my mom one last time," Lucy answered.
"Did the other spirits personally tell you that they are willing to put their energy, possibly life force on the line just so you could talk to your dead mommy?" Loke asked.
"Really!? How was I supposed to know that it was costly to a spirit!?" Lucy asked.
"Because you've never asked, just like all the rest of those so-called Celestial wizards who claim they're different from the others. And it's not like you're trying get to know us. You're forcing us to do what you want against our wills. So, I guess that makes you a bad person. You don't have the right to judge me," Loke answered.
Is that why none of the spirits would come whenever I try to open their gates? I've always thought it was because I'm weak, but maybe they're purposely not coming by free will. And Loke does have a point. He always makes good points. I'm a bad person. Maybe I'm just as bad as Karen. Maybe even worse. Why am I still doing this? Lucy thought, hanging her head down in guilt.
She felt Loke wrap his fingers tightly around her neck and started squeezing. "You see, I won't let you have my key. You understand my reason, right?"
Lucy's feet shuffled from under her as she was choked. She dug her long, acrylic nails into Loke's arms, hoping it would get him to let go. Tears were running down her face. This was the second time she was nearly killed.
But, maybe I should just accept death. I'm not supposed to be alive, after all. I'm supposed to be in the Underworld so Loke killing me works out.
She stopped struggling and let her ex boyfriend strangle her.
Random Fact: Did y'all notice that I updated two chapters in one day last time?
Wassup!? It's ya gurl sugarsugarrush!
So, like I said a few chapters ago, I'll be taking a 3 week break but I'll definitely be back with more chapters, more NaLu moments, and more badass Natsu moments. This chapter was actually supposed to be the last one I'll release before the break but I decided to change my mind. The next chapter is the last one before the break. After the break, ima post a lot of chapters!
I hope I won't lose any of y'all during the 3-week break! Don't forget to PM me or leave me a review!
Edited: 05/11/21
