It had been quite some time since Lucy's trip to Fairy Tail and honestly she couldn't feel any more free that she did at the moment. Now that she was officially done with her old guild, the blonde girl can now just focus on herself and move on from the pain she felt. Her old bubbly personality had finally come back and she was truly back to being herself. Which made Tamaki very reassured.
He had been worried to say the least. During their ride back to Japan, the younger Suoh had said nothing and had fallen asleep without a sound. He and Yuki were worried that maybe going to the guild and the whole situation that had unfolded, made the situation worse. Lucy is his younger sister after all and even Yuki's friend. But they were proven wrong when Lucy began to go about the day more happily and free.
When Lucy, Tamaki and Yuki entered the club room after returning to Japan, the hosts, Tohru and Kyo welcomed them back. Everyone relieved to see Lucy much more relaxed. It was obvious that she had let go of everything she'd been holding back in Fairy Tail and now that it was gone, she can finally live without a weight continuously on her shoulders. Lucy was finally free.
Once all the greetings were done and everyone relaxed on several seats throughout the club room, Tamaki remembered of the souvenirs they had gotten in Crocus and Magnolia before leaving on the plane and gave each item to their respective owner. Everyone had thanked the 3 for their gifts, especially Honey since Lucy had gotten him a special type of strawberry shortcake in Magnolia made just for him.
Fairy Tail on the other hand, not including Lucy's friends, went back to their gloomy state. Levy, however, became curious of Lucy's family. Before they had ignored her, when she and Lucy were still best friends, Lucy had never mentioned of being a Suoh and had always referred to herself a Heartfilia. Levy had never heard of the surname Suoh, nor of the person named Yuzuru, so she began to search for answers.
The bluenette didn't do it for the sake of finding Lucy. She had accepted the fact that gaining Lucy's trust and forgiveness had little to no chance of success. Rather, she wanted to at least see that the family the blonde now resided with is full of good people. Levy could tell right away that Lucy had grown a very strong bond with Tamaki and she could also feel that growing bond between Lucy and Yuki as well. She wondered of Lucy's new relationships.
Team Natsu, just like the rest of the guild, had gone into a depressed state. They just couldn't believe Lucy had become the person she is now and it was all because of them. After Lucy's visit, Gray had disappeared for quite some time from the guild. He had soon realized too late that Lucy's actions were quite justified and like Levy, knew that his chances of forgiveness were now even less than the bluenette.
Erza, Natsu and Happy, on the other hand, was another matter. The requip mage, unlike Gray, hadn't fully understood why Lucy acted the way she did. Erza had thought that, though Lucy was most definitely angry, she would still be forgiven since it was Lucy's nature to forgive. Especially since Lucy had always thought Fairy Tail to be her true family. Which was clearly no longer the case.
Natsu and Happy, any person would guess, were oblivious in what they had done wrong. Every time they thought about the reasons Lucy rejected them their brains would 'hurt' and they'd realize that Lucy was always the one who did the thinking for them and explained the situation in a way that they would understand. But now Lucy's explanation before she left was just vague and distant to them.
Ultimately, Team Natsu decided to leave Lucy alone and not look for her anymore. Not until they have cooled down and that they were willing to listen to Lucy and the others if they ever encounter her again.
Lucy, Haruhi, Hikaru, Kaoru, Tohru, Yuki and Kyo were preparing to head to the Host Club since classes had just ended for the day. Lucy was the first one ready and since she wanted to get a head start on preparing the tea before the club opens, she went towards the door. "I'm gonna go first to prep the tea, alright guys?"
"Sure!" Haruhi replied as she waved to the blonde. "We'll meet you there, Lucy!"
"You remember how to get to the club now right?" Hikaru asked, who was also waiting at the door since Kaoru wasn't ready yet. "Wouldn't want the boss' younger sister getting lost now."
Both of them chuckled at the twin's words, Lucy playfully punching Hikaru on the shoulder for teasing her. "Hey, is that all I am to you?" She asked crossing her arms with a smirk. "I thought we were friends, now I'm just hurt."
Hikaru's eyes widened, a flash of worry went across his eyes until he relaxed knowing that Lucy was just joking with that sentence. He then scratched the back of his neck with a light blush creeping on his cheeks. "W-Whatever, you know what I mean." He stuttered as he refused to make eye contact.
The blonde nodded with a smile, chuckling once more and began to make her way to the club room. "Alright, I'm leaving now! Don't take too long, you guys!"
Since the club was in the abandoned music room, it was practically in a far section from the first year classrooms. Usually Tamaki and Kyoya would be the first ones to arrive, since the second years were the closest to the club room and then Honey and Mori as their class was just above the club room and the stairs were about a hallway away from the second year classrooms. But Lucy didn't mind the journey.
It's been awhile since Lucy had a moment to herself, since she wanted to be around people after feeling lonely and depressed for almost 6 months. Sure Gajeel and the others were there when she was ignored, but after she started feeling depressed, Lucy had a period in which she shut people out. In the 5 month period when they were ignored, during the 5th month Lucy spent all her time in her apartment. Thinking about quitting Fairy Tail.
She had become straight up honest with herself that month and admitted that the hope of the guild remembering her and the others had run out. She knew that she wasn't going to get better with just waiting and that the members had just fed her lies since the beginning if they were to forget her and the others that easily. And she knew better than anyone, that even if you don't talk with them... you never forget your family.
However, just as she was about to turn to the hallway that the club was in, an arm surrounded her body and another covered her mouth and nose with a cloth. Lucy grabbed her pouch as she struggled and was about to call on Loke, since the person's grip wasn't that strong, but she soon felt drowsy and realized the cloth had a scent on it. She felt herself drop her celestial keys and the world started to become dark.
"Open... gate of the..." She tried to chant before falling over and being caught by her captor.
"I guess magical beings don't have a strong resistance to these things either." She heard a voice say. "Just my luck."
About 30 minutes after, the Hitachiin twins, Haruhi, Tohru, Yuki and Kyo were approaching the Host Club. Tohru was talking with Haruhi and Yuki, Kyo walking just slightly ahead of them while Kaoru was teasing Hikaru about his interaction with Lucy prior to her leaving. Kaoru was very intrigued, as he didn't miss a second of his brother's interaction with the younger Suoh.
"Cut it out, Kaoru!" Hikaru said as he covered his face so Kaoru couldn't see his growing blush.
"I'm sorry Hikaru, you know I can't help but watch as Lucy made you completely embarrassed." He said sheepishly with a grin. "You and her have been getting close... you're not replacing me, are you!?"
Kyo couldn't help but smirk at what he was hearing from the twins as well and decided to join in on the fun. "Does Hikaru have a soft spot for Lady Lucy?" The Sohma asked with a teasing smirk.
"I could say the same for you and Tohru." Hikaru said without a moments hesitation.
"But we're talking about you, Lover Boy."
Hikaru just groaned in annoyance. "Can you guys just-! Huh?" Before he could finish his sentence, Hikaru looked down to see that he hit something with his foot.
When Kyo and Kaoru noticed Hikaru stopped, the 2 raised an eyebrow and their eyes followed Hikaru's head as he knelt down to pick up the item by his foot. "What're you doing Hikaru?" Kaoru asked.
Tohru, Haruhi and Yuki stopped their conversation to look at the 3 as well and when Hikaru turned around, his face showed concern. "What's wrong?" Haruhi asked.
"It's Lucy." Hikaru said with a serious voice. The others looked at him in confusion, until he showed them what he picked up. The pouch containing Lucy's celestial keys.
"Maybe she might've dropped them on her way here?" Tohru asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"That's highly unlikely." Yuki replied. "Lucy cares for her spirits like blood, there is no way she would drop them just by accident."
"Then why else would they be here?" Haruhi asked, the question itself sounding like it already had answer.
"Something is definitely wrong here." Hikaru added.
Kaoru and Kyo then immediately went to the club doors and slammed them open. Only Tamaki, Kyoya, Honey and Mori present within their line of sight. Hikaru soon ran in a second after while Tohru and Haruhi ran into the conference room and kitchen of the club. Honey looking at Mori with confusion as the taller male just shrugged, not knowing why the 6 were acting the way they were.
"What's up with the girls?" Tamaki asked.
"Boss, where's Lucy?" Hikaru asked with utmost urgency in his voice.
"Lucy has yet to arrive." Kyoya replied, making the 4 boys' eyes widened. "We thought she was coming to the club with the rest of you."
"Guys, she's not in the other room!" Haruhi shouted reentering the main club room.
"Not in the kitchen either!" Tohru added with worry.
"What do you mean?" Honey asked as he and Mori joined the rest of the group. "What's happened to Lucy-chan?"
"Lucy left the classroom 30 minutes before us, wanting to prepare tea before the club opens today." Yuki informed. "She should've been here by now but..."
"But?" Tamaki asked, worried for his younger sister.
Hikaru then stepped up to show the pouch of celestial keys to the rest of the hosts. "But we found her celestial keys dropped and abandoned on the ground at the end of the hallway."