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CHAPTER 6: JUST THE BEGINNING

Rogue's POV

The red-haired woman and the ice mage followed quickly behind Natsu, effectively pushing me out into the hallway. Natsu, hands ablaze with fire, grabbed me by the throat and slammed me up against the wall. I could feel his flames burning my skin. I didn't want to hurt any of them; they were worried about Lucy. I could understand their reaction, but I was beginning to get irritated. I could still hear Lucy screaming my name. I just wanted to check on her, and they were determined to prevent me. "Let me go...she's calling for me" I choked out. This seemed to infuriate Natsu further, and he retaliated by smashing my head against the wall behind me over and over again.

Suddenly, I saw a burst of light, and there stood one of Lucy's spirits, his face wracked with worry. "What ...where's Lucy?" The lion spirit asked. "She's in that room, still asleep."I heard Erza respond, gritting her teeth, "This bastard attacked her." Loke put his hand on Natsu's arm and shook his head, "Natsu stop,he wasn't the one that did this." He looked down sadly, tears falling from his eyes, "I...I couldn't save her." "What?"Natsu whipped around to see Loke open the door to Lucy's room and walk in. The pink haired man looked back at me and lowered his hands from my throat. I didn't spare him another glance before rushing back into Lucy's room. Loke was trying to calm her down, but it seemed he was only making things worse, her shrieking louder than before. I walked to the side of her bed, my throat closing up at the sight of her. She looked so much worse now that some time had passed. Her doctor flew through the door as I leaned down and gently touched her head. She stiffened up until I spoke softly to her, "I'm here Lucy. You're safe." She whimpered again but instantly began calming down, her body edging toward my voice. I stood back up as my hand slowly stroked her hair. I glanced around to see confusion and shock on everyone's faces. Everyone that is, but the doctor; I had already spoken with him at the nurses desk. Dr. Jerstin, seeing that things were once again peaceful, gave us all a warning look and said, "Fifteen more minutes." Securing a nod from each of us, he left the room.

"Why is it that your voice calms her?" Erza asked me. I kept my voice low, "That is what I was trying to tell you. I'm the one who brought her here." Natsu stared at me, "You found Lucy after the attack?" I looked away from them and corrected, "No, I found her during the attack." Natsu shot forward, getting louder "You saw who did this to her? Where is he?" Lucy began to twitch and mewl softly again. I shushed her, rubbing her head gently until she quieted; then I turned to glare at Natsu, "Keep your voice down. You're scaring her." The three Fairy Tail mages gave me another baffled look, and I sighed. "When I came across Lucy, the bastard was punching her in the face. He was hitting her so hard it was smashing the back of her head into the brick wall behind her, all screaming at her. So you can't get loud; it obviously frightens her" I explained. Loke growled deep in his throat, "That sick bastard's name is Tatankan Gnaskiyan." We turned to him in unison, Gray asking "What happened Loke?" Loke spoke bitterly, his face torn "There's a lot I don't know. I don't know why she was out there. I don't know how he managed to take Lucy's keys away from her. All I know is that Virgo and I were able to use our own power to come out. We fought him but he kept summoning these massive animals to attack us. It was like he had limitless power, and destroying the creatures did nothing to diminish his magical power."

I nodded my head, "Yes, when I took out the wolf he summoned, it appeared to become a wisp of power and he somehow reabsorbed it. I knocked him out before he could summon anything else. I was lucky that he only had time to summone the one." Loke stared at the floor, sadly before replying, "We weren't so fortunate. He surprised us with the first one, taking out Virgo. Then he sent two more. Lucy and I each took one, but as I finished mine off, he summoned a scorpion behind me. I don't know what happened after I fell and told her to run." I could see he was torn up with guilt and pain at what Lucy had gone through. "You did all you could to help your master. You should feel no guilt." His hands clenched as he looked at me fiercely, "She is more than my master. She means more to me than anything in all the universe, and I failed her. She nearly gave her life to save me and when she needed me most, I could do nothing to protect her." His eyes filled with tears and he turned away. I could easily see he spoke the truth; apparently Lucy's spirits loved her just as much as the stories I'd heard had suggested.

Gray looked sadly away from his friend and began speaking to me again, "I still don't understand why she freaks out when we talk to her or touch her, but not you. We're her friends; she barely knows you." I shrugged inelegantly as Erza answered for me, "Her mind isn't completely engaged yet; she's running on instinct. I'd imagine that all she is aware of right now is that his is the voice that saved her." She touched my arm and I saw her eyes fill with tears of gratitude. "Thank you Rogue. Thank you for bringing her back to us" she whispered. I looked around the room and saw the same tearful emotion in the eyes of the other three. I was reminded once again of the difference between our two guilds. They cherished each and every guild mate. I was oddly humbled to have been able to return Lucy, who was obviously very precious to them. I nodded and said somewhat awkwardly, "I am glad I was able to get her help in time."

I looked back down at Lucy, and told them "There are things you should probably know..." They all stared at me, waiting. "There is a possibility that she was...I don't know if she was...look, when I found her, she was naked." They all gasped, immediately understanding the implications. I continued, "There is more. I didn't know what it was at the time, but after you mentioned the attacker's name...I hate to say this, but he carved it into her leg." Their faces were bathed in tears as they watched the blonde on the bed. I really didn't want to continue, but knew I had to give them the last bit, "You also need to know, when I went back to search for Lucy's keys, Tatankan, as you called him, was gone." Their startled gazes flew up to my face. Natsu sputtered, "You left him alive?" I narrowed my eyes at the perpetual hot head and replied, "I had every intention of killing him on the spot, but Lucy's condition was worsening. So, yes I left him there; her life was more important to me than his death." The impulsive fool was steadily getting on my nerves. I turned my head away from him, and once again gazed at Lucy, "My point was that Lucy is still not completely safe. I don't know if he will be searching for her, but I don't believe we should take the chance. It is of utmost importance that we track him down. Until he is found, we cannot be assured of her safety, and someone will need to be with her at all times."

Eyes blazing, Natsu growled, "I'll be staying with Lucy tonight. That fucker's not getting anywhere near her." I nodded my head and said, "That will be good as I have to leave for now. I was on a mission when all this started and I need to turn it over to my partner. I should be back in the morning to begin hunting Lucy's attacker." Natsu's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Why? Why do you care so much? Why would you help us?" I snorted "I'm not helping you. I'm helping her." I pointed to Lucy's still form on the bed. "But why?" he demanded. Erza murmured, "Natsu, stop it." "No Erza, I wanna know why he helped Luce. It doesn't make sense. He's a Saber. They don't like us." he grumbled. I stared Natsu down and answered, barely restraining my anger, "You know, you have already attacked me without cause and you now question my reasons for assisting your friend. I would not normally feel the need to answer to you, however I will explain myself simply because I refuse to do anything to make this harder on Lucy than it already is. I'm here because she wants me here. I'm here because I told her I would be here." Gray stepped between us, "Natsu, back off. He saved Lucy's life. Just stop."

I ignored them as I turned back to Lucy. I leaned over her bed and whispered "I'll be back soon Lucy." She began fidgeting on her bed, softly whimpering. I brushed her hair back from her face as I spoke again, "It's okay. You're not alone. I will be back, I promise." I didn't know why it felt so necessary to comfort her. I didn't know why it seemed so important for her to trust me to return. Since when did this small blonde woman command such strong emotions from me? I wasn't one to care this much for other people. Something about the apparent comfort she found in my voice touched something deep inside me. How long had it been since anyone had really needed me? Had anyone ever called for me with such urgency? There was just something inside me saying, Go with it; so for once in my life, I was going to listen to it.

As I turned to go, Erza and Gray were just finishing up their goodbyes and I followed them to the door. Loke and Natsu had pulled some chairs to the other side of the room so they could talk without disturbing Lucy. Apparently Loke had decided to stay for a while with Natsu. I could see that he couldn't bring himself to abandon his master in such a fragile state. I could definitely relate. I took one last look at the battered mage before steeping through and closing the door quietly behind me.

A/N: I find myself really enjoying Rogue's POV. He just seems to have so much to say, so much to feel. Anyway, this is my Happy New Year to all of you cause you guys are the best. Next chapter we go to Fairy Tail.