"Husband?" Natsu looked from Loke to Lucy, his brain trying to comprehend what he just heard. It had only been three months. There was no way that Lucy could have met this person and married him in that short amount of time. He knew Lucy. This Loke guy had to be forcing her to go along with this. "I don't know who the hell you are, but you're lying." He grabbed Loke's collar and shoved him against the wall once more. "I'll give you one more chance to tell me the truth willingly, before I beat it out of you. Who are you and what have you done to Lucy?"

"How many screws are loose in that head of yours? I haven't done anything to her," Loke glared back at Natsu as he gripped his wrists. "Lucy, run and call the cops."

"Natsu, please stop." He felt Lucy place her hand on his shoulder. Her touch instantly made his shoulders drop. Some of the tension in his body eased out of him, but Natsu didn't let go of his hold on Loke. "Just listen to me. I'll explain everything."

"It's alright, Lucy. I see what's going on here. I won't let anyone force you into a life you don't want." Natsu didn't take his gaze away from Loke, his grip tightening on his shirt collar.

"But Loke's not forcing me to do anything. Natsu, let him go." Lucy stepped around and stood by Loke's side. "Believe me, he's not an enemy." Her eyes found his and Natsu frowned when he saw Lucy's eyes were pleading for him to understand. Understand what though?

"He's not an enemy? Lucy, what are you saying?" His stomach was twisting in knots, making him feel sick. It was like his body already knew what his mind was trying not to comprehend. "This guy… you can't really be married to him?"

"I'm not married to Loke," Lucy started to say.

So this guy is lying! But why does Lucy—

"Yet." He heard her finish. It felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the room when Lucy placed her left hand on his and he saw the sparkling diamond on her finger. "Loke is my fiancé."

Natsu dropped his hands from Loke's collar and took a step back from them. It felt like someone was stabbing his guts with a hot iron poker, while slowly pricking his heart with thousands of ice picks. His stomach rolled as his mind replayed that word over and over again like a broken record. He searched Lucy's gaze, trying to find some secret message hidden in her eyes, telling him that this was all a ruse. Lucy opened her mouth, like she was going to say something more, but decided against it as she looked away from him.

F-fiancé? Natsu's mind stumbled over the word as he failed to make sense of everything. Lucy and this guy? He eyed the man who was about the same height as Gray with hazel colored eyes and spiky orange hair, dressed in a white button up shirt and grey slacks. There were rings on each of his fingers, except his left ring finger. She wants to marry him...no this can't be right...because...it's Lucy...she's...they're….fiancé...no...she couldn't want...there's something I'm missing. Think, Natsu! Think! Lucy said he's not forcing her but what if he is and she just doesn't realize it! That has to be it. Brainwashing.

The moment he thought the word the panic inside of him dissipated. Three months was plenty of time to brainwash someone, especially if the person doing the brainwashing was an expert. When Natsu left, he felt confident that he had trained Lucy well enough to withstand physical threats—although he wasn't comfortable with leaving her alone to defend herself at all. He never thought to teach her how to protect her mind.

Lucy was a CEO of a publishing company. Why would anyone want to brainwash her? The only answer he could come up with was to get at him. Gold Pistol had identified Lucy as his weakness and he had been right. For the first time, Natsu had a vulnerability. Just because Gold Pistol and even the Sub-Zero Emperor were out of the running, it didn't mean someone else in the Underworld hadn't been watching.

Air filled Natsu's lungs as he recovered from the shock, his heart thawing and his stomach settling. For a moment, he almost got sucked up into the lie.

Keep it together.

Natsu scolded himself as he narrowed his eyes, focusing on the threat before him. While he had been off doing a certain organization's bidding, an enemy had slithered in and taken full advantage of his absence. This man—Loke—how is he connected to the mafia? What faction is he from? Natsu wanted nothing more than to knock this guy out and take Lucy far away from him, but he had to be careful. If he made a move against him now, there's no telling what subliminal triggers Loke had placed in her mind. One wrong move and Lucy's mental state could collapse. Natsu had to control himself and handle this situation delicately.

Loke straightened his rumbled shirt again, his glare shifting into a smug grin which flared Natsu's anger. The man draped an arm around Lucy in a possessive manner, pulling her close. "Now for the last time, tell me who the hell you are before I call the cops."

"Loke, there's no need for that." Lucy looked up at him. "Natsu is my friend. He's the one I told you about, remember?"

"Him?" Loke looked at Natsu shocked. "I thought you said he was an artist? I wasn't expecting him to be so…"

"Intimidating," Natsu offered, eyeing all the points of physical contact this man was making with Lucy.

"Beastly," Loke deadpanned.

"You're thinking about Gray. He's still in Italy with Juvia," Lucy clarified. "I met Natsu at Levy and Gajeel's wedding. Remember how I told you I had a bit of trouble this summer? Well, Natsu is the one who helped me through it."

"Oh, I see. So you're the one who helped Lucy when she got lost in Italy," Loke realized. Lucy gave Natsu a sheepish grin, and Natsu couldn't help but smirk. Even with the brainwashing, Lucy was hiding her experience with the Underworld. Which meant, there were holes in Loke's control, areas Natsu could slip in and collapse the narrative Loke had conjured up in Lucy's mind. But he couldn't do this alone. Natsu had been trained to overcome mental threats; however, he knew very little on how to deconstruct one in someone else. He needed help.

Ring. Ring.

Loke pulled out a cellphone from his pocket and glanced at the number. Natsu caught the second his eyes darkened before he smiled down at Lucy. "It's work," Loke explained as he excused himself from the room, not before throwing a look in Natsu's direction which seemed to say: Don't you dare do anything while I'm gone.

Natsu rolled his eyes as Loke left the room. If Lucy's mind wasn't at stake, he would have already done something. It wasn't the man's unvoiced threats that kept Natsu from acting on his first instinct.

"Natsu," Lucy spoke softly, her voice cutting into his thoughts of visualizing Loke as a punching bag. The next thing he knew, she was throwing herself into his arms, holding him tightly. "You kept your promise." Her voice shook with emotion as she held him even tighter.

"You know me," he said, returning her embrace. "I always keep my promises." Natsu felt her chuckle against him and the sound rang through him. This was how Natsu had envisioned his reunion with Lucy.

She broke their embrace, suddenly. His smile flipped to a frown when he saw Lucy look over her shoulder in the direction Loke had gone as if she had just done something she should feel guilty of.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about any of this sooner. I had planned to tell you everything when you got back. I'll explain everything still. The truth about me. About my past. About Loke…I didn't expect—I never thought he would return though. And then with everything else…A lot has happened since you've been gone." Natsu noticed how she fidgeted with her engagement ring as she spoke. He wondered what kind of story Loke had created making Lucy believe it as the truth. There were so many questions he wanted to ask her, so many things he wanted to say, but all of them would have to wait until they were truly alone.

The quiet in the room filled the space between them. He took a step toward her, wanting to reach out and hold her once more. "Lucy—"

"Lucy," Loke called out at the same time, emerging from the other room. "Sorry dear, I have to go to work. Something came up that needs my attention." He snaked his hand around Lucy's waist, standing beside her once more.

"I hope it's nothing too serious," she frowned with concern.

"No, nothing serious at all. A particular client is wanting me to personally oversee her order. I'll be gone for a few hours, but…" he trailed off, his brow furrowing.

"What is it, Loke?"

"I don't feel comfortable leaving you here alone with him." His answer made Lucy laugh lightly, but the comment only made Natsu bristle with anger. The glare Loke was giving him just added more fuel.

"What the hell are you getting at?" Natsu asked between gritted teeth.

"Like I said, I don't feel comfortable leaving my fiancée alone with you."

The word was like a punch in the gut for Natsu. It seemed Loke had picked up on his displeasure for the word and was using it like some sort of weapon against him. He fought back the grimace but narrowed his eyes at Loke.

"Don't be silly Loke," Lucy chided lightly.

"Am I? First, he breaks in here."

"I have a key," Natsu held it up, swirling it on his middle finger by the keychain he kept it on. Lucy gave him a disapproving look, but Natsu just shrugged.

"Wait, why does he have a key to your apartment? I don't even have a—nevermind that now." Loke's phone beeped, alerting him to several new text messages. He glanced down at them, before shoving the phone into his pocket. "The point is, Lucy, he's dangerous."

"She knows that already." Natsu closed the distance between him and Loke, glaring at the man who dared use such an underhanded method like brainwashing someone he held dear in order to get to him. "But only to people who give me a reason to be."

"You see," Lucy's voice cut through the tension. "There's nothing to worry about. I trust Natsu, so you should trust me when I say there's nothing to worry about. You do trust me, don't you?"

Loke sighed. "You know I do. It's just, with all that we've been through, I'm wary around new people."

With all that they've been through? How far does this facade go? Natsu thought.

"Well that's one thing you both have in common," Lucy laughed as she walked Loke to the door. "You two will be good friends in no time. I'm sure of it."

Doubt that.

The two men looked at one another and their mutual glare indicated their thoughts echoed.

"Well I'll see you tonight then," Loke put on his coat and opened the door. He took a step outside before turning around and kissing Lucy. Natsu stood there, trying to comprehend the feeling he felt while watching the two embrace. It hurt in a way no physical wound had ever made him feel. He had to look away, but even that couldn't stop the pain.

"Bye, Loke," Lucy softly called after him.

Natsu looked back, the door shutting out Loke's smirking face. His fingers ached from balling them into fists. He needed to wake Lucy up from her brainwashing, and fast.

"Let's go sit in the living room. I'll make tea, and then," Lucy took a deep breath. "I'll tell you everything, Natsu."

The mugs of tea Lucy had prepared sat on the coffee table, cold and untouched. Natsu stared blankly into his mug, his mind going over everything Lucy had revealed to him. A false marriage. Her father's death. The loss of her company. All of it was just too staggering to imagine being true. He knew that brainwashing someone required using elements of the truth and spinning them to the brainwasher's advantage. With such an elaborate story, Natsu needed to figure out what was real and what was fiction before even attempting to dismantle everything.

Natsu had heard of Jude Diamant before. The shipping company he created was one of the largest and most profitable in the world. It easily made him a billionaire, but his fortune also came from other lucrative endeavors. Lucy didn't elaborate on her father's death or how she felt that he was gone. From the synopsis of her childhood, he got the picture that her father wasn't a warm and doting parent. She spoke like she was just repeating facts when she mentioned him.

Natsu didn't really keep up with the news. His focus was directed to the things that were kept out of the spotlight. He kept tabs on certain figures, but Jude Diamant never seemed more to him than a shrewd businessman. Was Lucy really his daughter? She wouldn't have been able to lead such a quiet life as this if that was the case. But what if her father had hid her away for that reason, to allow Lucy to live a life away from the public eye? Or was she really Jude Diamant's daughter and someone discovered this and is now after Lucy for her fortune? Or was it a ruse to throw Natsu off and they were really after him? There were too many questions and not enough answers.

The real puzzling part was the connection Loke had with Lucy's past. Some of the details actually seemed viable. This troubled Natsu. If even he was questioning himself, then it was going to be more difficult than he thought to break this brainwashing. Had this Loke guy been planning this longer than three months? If so, then how did the man know that Lucy and Natsu would ever meet or what Lucy would grow to mean to him? There was no way any person could have guessed that. Natsu was shocked himself when he realized how quickly Lucy became such an important person to him. He kept his distance from people for a reason. Was this really the work of the mafia?

And then there was the matter of Lucy losing her company, Urano Metria. Isolating Lucy from her company would definitely put her in a vulnerable position. Natsu knew how much Lucy's company meant to her and having it stolen from her would create an opportunity for someone like Loke to slip in and take advantage of that. It killed Natsu hearing Lucy describe the downfall of her company. She kept getting choked up and had to pause several times in order to collect herself. The fact that Lucy had to go through something like that and he hadn't been here to help her, ate at him. But he was here now.

"So that's everything. About me and my past and all that's happened while you were away." Lucy hugged the pillow she had been holding tighter. "I'm sure you have questions, and I'll answer anything truthfully."

"Just one." He looked at her seriously.

"One?" Natsu heard the surprise in her voice and he held back a smirk. "I was expecting more. Levy had hundreds it seemed."

Just like I thought. I have to talk to Levy soon.

Natsu stood and turned to Lucy. She looked fine, despite everything she's been through. Her hair was a little longer and there was still a sadness to her eyes. He sighed, shaking his head.

"What is it?" Lucy squirmed a bit, looking up at him anxiously. "I understand if you're angry or if—"

"Are you hungry?"

"Huh?"

"I'm starving. I haven't had a decent meal in months it seems. Let's go to Etherion and order one of everything."

"Wait, that's it?"

"You're right. Make it two orders."

"But Natsu," Lucy shook her head, confused. "After everything I've told you, you have nothing to ask me? Nothing to say?"

"Whatever secrets you have, whoever you were in the past. It doesn't change anything for me."

Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes, but she smiled brightly at him. "Nat...su."

There were so many things running through Natsu's head, so many uncertainties and questions he didn't have the answers to, but no matter what, there's one thing that would never change for him. He shrugged.

"To me, Lucy is Lucy. Always."

Lucy reached out and took his hand, squeezing it lightly. "You always know just what to say," she said quietly before letting his hand go. She stood up and headed to her bedroom. "I just need a few minutes to freshen up. Then we'll get two of everything," Lucy called over her shoulder before closing her bedroom door behind her.

Natsu didn't waste a second. He slipped into the second bedroom, the room he had been using before he left, and went to the second bookshelf. He scanned the shelves until he found what he was looking for. He plucked the book from the spot, rearranging the other books so the gap wasn't noticeable. Natsu returned to the living room and stuffed the book into his black duffle bag, just as Lucy came out of her room.

"Ready to go?" Lucy asked. Natsu grabbed his bag and nodded.

"Yeah, let's go."

"Oh wait," Lucy paused, halfway out of the car. They had just finished lunch and Natsu was dropping her off at her apartment. He didn't want to say goodbye, especially since he knew that Loke guy would be returning later, but there were things he needed to do. Natsu watched as she rummaged through her purse before pulling out a small envelope. "I know it's last minute, but I didn't have an address to mail this to you and I didn't know if you would even be back in time or if you would even want to come."

"What is it?" Natsu looked at the envelope, not liking it all.

"It's an invitation to the engagement party tomorrow night."

"Oh." The food is in his stomach turned sour as he took the envelope from her. They had managed to get through lunch without talking about Loke or the fact that Lucy was getting married. The pair had reverted to the time before he had left. Lucy told him how she still kept up with her training, even finding a new person at the gym to spar with. Supposedly, the new partner even taught her a few new moves. Natsu, normally against training Lucy, was eager to start her training sessions again. It was an excuse to be alone with Lucy and also, to figure out more about the complexities of her brainwashing. It was time he needed to work out how best to help her. After such a pleasant lunch, Natsu almost forgot that anything was amiss at all. Now, reality came rushing back to him.

"I know you just got back and the last thing you want to do is go to—"

"I'll be there." Natsu looked at the invitation and then at Lucy. "I promise."

Lucy smiled and exited the car. Before Richard could close the door, she turned around. "I'll see you tomorrow then." She hesitated for a moment, a silent struggle going on her mind before she continued. "I really am glad you're back Natsu. I missed you." Natsu didn't have time to respond. Lucy was already bounding up the stairs to her building in a hurry to escape the cold, so he just watched her go.

He opened the envelope when she was out of sight, feeling nauseous. Introducing the Future Mr. and Mrs. Loke Regulus… The invitation held the details of the engagement party but included a picture of Loke and Lucy together. His heart did a painful lurch to the back of his ribcage and Natsu had to look away.

"Where to, sir?" Richard asked when he returned to the driver's seat.

"We're going to see him."

"Welcome to Cat's Cradle! My name is Boots and I'll be your Purrista this afternoon. How may I help you have the purrrrfect day?"

Natsu blinked at the man in front of him, eyeing the cat ears and cat mittens he wore. After a quick stop at his apartment, Natsu had his driver drop him off at a cat cafe located in Greenwich Village. Cats roamed the cafe, curled themselves up on customers laps and on the tops of tables, sunbathed in the front store windows, and raced one another around the room.

The white and blue walls of the cafe were decorated with pictures of cats and the menu located above the counter were filled with cat puns like 'catpuccino' and 'Get your pawfee from the purrista.' Natsu liked cats, but this was a little much. He groaned inwardly as he slid a gold coin across the counter.

"I'll have the white cat special."

"Purrrfect selection," Boots beamed.

Boots continued to smile as he took the coin and reached under the counter, pressing the button Natsu knew was located there. A moment later, a muscular man, also wearing cat ears, came around the corner. He crossed his arms and looked Natsu up and down, no doubt assessing him for any threats. The man jerked his head for Natsu to follow him. They stopped in front of a section of the wall that was covered in cat pictures. The muscular man pressed one and the wall opened up, revealing steps that descended into a lower level. Before Natsu could venture further, the man put a giant hand on his shoulder, halting him. Natsu gave the man a sharp look, but he just handed him a pair of blue cat ears.

"I'm good," Natsu shook off the man's hand and once again made for the stairs, but the man stopped him again.

"House rules," the man's gruff voice demanded.

There were many reasons why Natsu hated coming here, but he was in a bind. He needed information and fast. This wasn't time to be making things even more difficult than they need be. Natsu eyed the cat ears before snatching them out the man's hand. Shoving them on his head, Natsu made his way down the stairs, muttering curses on every step.

The Cat's Cradle was a cafe, but its true function was to act as a front for a far darker operation that ran beneath it: The Blue Rabbit. This was a den for those who operated in the Underworld to come and meet on neutral ground. Neutral ground in the Underworld meant all grudges and wars were immediately dissolved upon entry. No one was allowed to spill blood. Breaking this cardinal rule was akin to a death sentence for anyone foolish enough to do so. A lot of Natsu's customers chose neutral grounds within the Underworld like this one to exchange the items they had requested of him with his payment. The rule created a wonderland for wolves and other unseelie individuals to lounge about and do business without the fear of death—a rare luxury in this world.

The Blue Rabbit was a darkened lounge, lit up with dark blue accent lights that bled over the white leather sofas and sheer drapes that made up most of the room. A bar took up half of one wall, where cat eared bartenders mixed drinks for the wolves who mingled there. A stage had been constructed at the far end of the room, where another employee played smooth jazz songs. The air grew tense the moment Natsu descended the stairs. Eyes around the room tracked his movements as Natsu made his way to the bar. A quick scan showed that there wasn't anyone noteworthy among the other cat ear wearing visitors today, so Natsu ignored them.

"Whiskey, straight," he ordered, taking a seat at the bar. It was the middle of the day and he rarely drank, but after the shock of information he had received upon his return, Natsu needed something dark and strong to burn the sickness from his throat.

The bartender delivered his drink and Natsu tossed it back. The whiskey seared his throat and he reveled in the way it felt going down. It calmed down his stomach that still persisted in twisting itself in a knot. He tapped two fingers on the counter and the bartender poured him another. He tossed the second one back too.

"Meeeeeeennnooowww," a voice called behind him. "Look what the cat dragged in straight from the depths of hell itself."

Natsu contemplated ordering a third drink, but he couldn't get carried away. He needed to focus. Turning around, Natsu leaned back on the stool, his arms and back resting on the counter behind him.

"Nichiya," he greeted the man in front of him with a glare.

Nichiya was the owner of the Cat's Cradle and the one behind the operations of the Blue Rabbit. He was the younger brother of Ichiya, deciding to follow his older brother into the thrills of the Underworld. The physical similarities between the two brothers were uncanny. They could have been twins, except Nichiya's taste in fashion was even more eccentric than his brother's. He wore yellow cat ears, a bright purple suit, and gold glitter nail polish on his nails, which were all filed to an extreme point. Another point of difference between the brothers was their choice of occupation. Where Ichiya gathered and bottled information to sell within the Underworld, Nichiya furthered that by also selling more tangible assets. He still possessed skills in gathering information, but lacked the finesse his older brother possessed in that department.

"Oh, I do love how you say my name, Salamander." Nichiya wiggled his short body as he hugged himself. "Especially while wearing such cute accessories."

"I should have known you would come up with some crazy shit like this." Natsu flicked his cats ears in disgust.

"You don't like the new house rules? Mennnnowwww. I think it makes these wolves look like cute pups."

"House rules my ass," he scoffed. "We both know you're just exploiting your power."

"I would never," Nichiya gave Natsu a knowing grin. "Come. Let's talk elsewhere and then you can tell me what brings such an impressive figure like yourself to my wonderland."

Nichiya led Natsu away from the lingering eyes and tilted ears to a private room in the back. The room was large, but the moment Natsu walked through the door, he felt the walls were closing in on him. Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but Hello Kitty. Nichiya had an obsession for the mascot that went beyond anything Natsu had ever seen. He had been in this room before on a few other occasions and it seemed the collection had grown significantly since then. It was borderline insanity.

Taking a seat on the white couch, Nichiya patted a spot next to him for Natsu to follow. Sighing inwardly, Natsu sat down, trying not to pay attention to the plushed pillows that all bore Hello Kitty's face.

"I know you haven't come here just to see my lovely face," Nichiya crossed his ankles and rested his entwined fingers on his knee. "What services will you be requiring from me? It's always delightful fulfilling your particular fancies."

Reaching into his jacket pocket, Natsu handed over the engagement invitation with the photo of Lucy and Loke. "I need everything you have on the guy pictured there. Fast. He goes by the name of Loke Regulus, but I'm sure that's an alias. I want a tracker put on him. I need to know everything he does, who he sees, and what they talk about. I know his front is a jewelry designer," a fact Lucy had mentioned on their way to Etherion, "but I'm not buying that. I need proof of his connection to the Underworld and who his Boss is. I'll also need to know their dealings with you and other—"

"Oh, meeennnoooww." Nichiya pawed the photo, his eyes roaming over the image and taking everything in. "Quite a request coming from you Salamander. Are you sure you don't want to know what new toys are coming on the market? There's a particular toy I think—"

"No," Natsu cut him off, already tired with dealing with this man. "This is a rush order. Use whatever method you have to, but I want to know everything about this person within the next 24 hours."

Nichiya eyed Natsu suspiciously. "You're asking for a lot of confidential information, Salamander. Meennnoow. I have my reputation to consider." He looked at his nails, inspecting the points. "My brother would be better off handling this request. Although, you and I both know that Ichiya won't give up certain information even for you. It goes against the very few rules we dealers have."

"I know all of that. Ichiya has lines even he won't cross, but you on the other hand," Natsu's eyes gleamed with approval. "You like to bend whatever moral compass you think you possess in this world. I don't need Ichiya's flowers, I need your alley cats."

He could see his words sparked an interest within Nichiya. There was nothing more exciting to Nichiya than being able to do something his older brother couldn't. However, there was still hesitation in the man's gaze. Before the man could think of a reason to turn down Natsu's request, Natsu played his ace.

"I think this would be more convincing." Natsu placed the small figurine he had collected from his apartment earlier on the small coffee table. It was a Hello Kitty figurine made entirely of precious gems. There were only a few made in order to celebrate the mascot's 25th anniversary. However, what made this particular figurine different than the other's was the color of the bow. All of the anniversary figures had pink bows formed from pink diamonds. The one Natsu presented, sported a blue bow made of sapphires and blue diamonds. It was one of a kind.

"Is that…" Nichiya sucked in a breath, his eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets. He reached for it, but Natsu snatched it from the table before he could grab it. "Meeeennnnnnoooooww! I'll do the job!"

"I see," Natsu tossed the figurine between his hands. Nichiya tracked it with his eyes. "There's more to the request though."

"Meennnow. Meeennnow. Meeennnoow! Whatever you want, I'll do it Salamander."

Natsu looked at the picture Nichiya clutched in his hands, seeing Lucy and Loke smiling at one another. "The girl," he said slowly, hating what he was about to say. "I need you to find everything you can on her and have one of your cats track her as well."

It was late when Natsu finally entered his darkened apartment. He didn't bother turning on the lights as he made his way to his bedroom, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it over the couch as he went. Natsu collapsed on his bed, feeling exhausted. How did everything turn out like this? Lucy was in danger again because of him. He had broken his promise to her and she didn't even know it. His phone peeped and Natsu retrieved it from his pocket.

It was an update from one of Nichiya's alley cats. He had been receiving them after he had left The Blue Rabbit. Opening the text, Natsu read the message.

Both birds asleep. Same location.

Natsu had to restrain himself from breaking his phone. He had asked for this, but it still hurt to know Lucy was currently asleep in the arms of an enemy. He shoved his phone back in his pocket and reached for the book on his nightstand. It was the book he had taken—borrowed from Lucy's place earlier.

"Hide the Stars," Natsu read the titled aloud. There was something about this book that had seemed odd when Lucy had first showed it to him. He had remembered it after Lucy had revealed her past to him. He didn't know what was truth and what wasn't, but he felt this book could help sort things out—at least until Nichiya's cats delivered what he needed. Flipping to the first page, Natsu tried to silence his mind and let Lucy's words fill the quiet,

An unloved girl fell in love one night and that was when the stars returned...