Chapter 3

"C'mon Luce! Hurry up!" Natsu whined at Lucy whilst still dragging her along with him towards the guild. Onlookers glanced at them with smiles on their faces probably at the fact Natsu and her were still holding hands which must have given them the impression of them being together. As they neared the guild Lucy pulled her hand out of his warm grip, causing him to turn around and face her.

"What's wrong?" Natsu asked her as they came to a full stop just outside the guilds closed doors. Not wanting to explain that she was still embarrassed about the kiss that the whole guild had witnessed, and the fact Natsu still didn't acknowledge the incident as a kiss at all she simply replied,

"Nothing, I erm have something to do back at home so I will see you later Natsu". But before she could escape he quickly grabbed her hand again.

"But I don't want you to go Lucy, it's more fun when you're here" Natsu said flashing her that damn toothy grin. Again Lucy found herself blushing and mentally scolded herself again for doing so. It felt like all she was doing today was reprimanding herself. However looking at her friends pleading onyx eyes how could she not give into the the Dragon slayer? Conceding to his pleas she allowed Natsu to drag her into the guild, behind his back she puffed out her cheeks in annoyance to how easily won over she was with just a simple smile. Natsu being his usual self didn't know the meaning of subtly, and kicked the guild doors opening, alerting everyone in the guild to their arrival.

"Were back!" Natsu bellowed out to everyone. The whole guild stopped their activities and looked at the pair who had just walked in. When everyone's faces began to show smiles mixed with surprise it was then Lucy realised they were still hand in hand. Lucy quickly snatched her hand back, earning herself a confused look from Natsu who opening his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Mira's squealing as she ran over to pair.

"So I guess this makes it official!" pulling Lucy into a hug, whilst having a smug grin on her beautiful face.

"I knew you and Natsu were meant for eachother! All it took was a little kiss and look at you two! All lovey dovey!" Mira practically screamed down Lucy's ear.

"N-n-ooo wait Mira! There's nothing going on between me and Natsu!", Lucy tried to explain whilst struggling to free herself from Mira's grasp. She looked for some assistance from Natsu but he had already abandoned her for a seat at the bar already ordering his food .Stupid, hungry dragon slayer she thought to herself.

"Come on Lucy, you know you and Natsu would be a perfect couple" Mira tried to persuade Lucy, finally releasing her from the hug.

"Honestly Mira ,we are nakama ,team mates. Nothing romantic." she replied stubbornly.

"Are you sure Lucy? After all he is now officially your first kiss" Mira said winking at the blonde mage.

"Not according to him" Lucy muttered quietly before going over to join her teammate and resting her head upon the bar as she sat.

"Whut's upf Lucfyy?"

"Natsu do you really have to speak with your mouth full?" Lucy murmured , not even bothering to raise her head and look at the dragon slayer.

"Fine ,what's up?" Natsu asked again mouth clear of food.

"Nothing." she replied bluntly. Natsu raised his eyebrows, and kept silent continuing to devour his food. The question that had come to her mind itched to be voiced, but Lucy thought it would be weird for her to ask. It was only when she saw the Dragonslayer rise from his seat, and head towards the job board that she felt that she deserved to know. If he didn't class her first kiss as an actual kiss then what did he think one was? What did he think it had to do with necks? Getting up from her seat she walked over towards him and tapped his broad shoulder.

"Natsu can I ask you something?" she asked quickly avoiding eye contact with him.

"Sure Luce! Can we choose a job first though? Me and happy have ran out of food money again" he replied cheerfully.

"Actually can a job wait? I just need to know something". She felt herself blushing. She didn't know if this was some special Dragon Slayer secret, or it were rude to ask. After all he was really offensive when she and apparently everyone else had told him that had kissed her. But she wanted to know, she was at least owed this.

"Natsu what is a kiss for a dragon?". A look of surprise crossed his face.

"W-w-what ? Why do you want to know?" he stammered back. Why was he embarrassed? Very rarely had Lucy seen her team mate with a blush across his cheeks and eyes averted as he did now. Part of her wished she hadn't asked him, but her curious side won over.

"Just curious I guess". Scratching the back of his head and whilst clearly hesitating after a few moments his eyes met hers again.

"Well my dad told me...".

"Son! Come'ere!" the great crimson Dragon bellowed. A young boy with salmon hair appeared out of the trees only wearing a pair of ragged pants and a white scaled scarf.

"What? I was busy getting food !" he replied clearly irritated at being called over.

"Natsu , I have something important you must know and I need to tell you now before.." the dragon spoke solemnly.

"Before what? Training? Bath? Dinner?" the boy said with a toothy smile on his face. However with one look from his father he instantly knew there would be no teasing in this conversation, so he placed himself crossed legged in front of the dragon, looking miniscule in comparison to the beasts size.

"Now son, in time you will come to meet someone, they will be the person you would do anything for, you will protect ,comfort and love them. They will be your mate. For dragons slayers the time of realisation will be different from Dragons. For dragons we instantly know our mate once we lay our eyes on will be different for you , more gradual as you are human but with Dragon powers"

"Do you have a mate Dad"

"I did son, a long time ago" said Igneel

"What was she like?"

"Her name was Temeraire, and she was the most beautiful creature you had ever seen. Her golden scales were the colour of rich desert sand, and in the sunlight she looked as if she were made of gold. She was the fastest amongst us and in the sky she soared higher than the clouds, utterly free. She refused to hurt anyone, even humans.." Igneel trailed off looking down at his own human son.

"Where'd she go?" Natsu asked quietly.

"She was hunted by humans, there was a time when Dragons ruled the land Natsu, but the humans rose against us. She was captured, she could of escaped but it wasn't in her nature to hurt and I was too late to save her. The pain of losing your mate is unbearable. It felt like I had lost my soul, I was nothing more than a shell. Nothing held beauty for me and the only thing I held on to was revenge. I found the humans that had captured Temeraire and killed every last one of them. I'm telling you this Natsu because if you ever become so consumed in rage and grief know that it does not bring back the person you lost."

"For a long time after that I stayed away from all humans, the guilt I felt after killing them and knowing I had disappointed Temeraire was overwhelming. Until I found a little pink haired runt in the forest" he grinned down at Natsu, who also mimicked his father's own back at him.

"I would have flew straight over you if it weren't for your deafening squawking, you were tinier than the size of my smallest claw. Even when a giant,magnificat powerful beast such as myself landed next to, you wouldn't shut it! I was going to leave you there but something about your stubbornness and the fire in your eyes made me want to keep you. It was easier said than done, I had no idea what to do with a infant, I had never even been around a dragon hatchling let alone a human one. Eventually I took you to Metalicana, who I knew had taken his own human child under its wing. He told me of what a human runt needed and how to care for one without accidentally stepping on it or having it fall off when flying. Although that still nearly happened..." the dragon trialed off.

"But anyway Natsu when your feelings begin to surface you will find yourself completely obsessed. You will want to be constantly by their side , any male that comes near them you will see as a threat. They will become the centre of your world. To claim this person as your own you will kiss them, which mean marking her neck with your own teeth and magic. That mark will make the both of you linked for life and the mark will be reflect your own soul. However if you do not claim your mate as you own after marking them, your dragon instincts will soon take over and you will become overcome with rage until they are yours. Now claiming them it pretty much the same for any being, be it dragon or human. It involves the male planting his seed, if you get what erm i'm getting at. Do you understand Natsu? Natsu? Oi Natsu!".

"Look Dad I got food !" his son cheered holding a fish.

"Geez .. did he even listen? " Igneel chuckled to himself.

"So have you found her?" Lucy asked finally looking at Natsu

"Nahh, probably not, think I would know by now" , Natsu said before going back to the bar probably to get more food.

Lucy sighed to herself. Natsu still had not realised Lisanna was probably his mate, how dense could he be? They would be linked for life, once Natsu finally marked her. Feeling a pang in her chest Lucy quietly left the guild, wanting nothing more to be home and alone. It was nearing midday and Magnolia was in full bustle now, everyone eager for food, drinks and rest from the smothering heat. Lost in her thought she bumped into many people earning a few rude remarks but it wasn't until she completely went face first into someone and fell back hard on her rear that she was snapped back into reality.

"Sorry!" she said to the stranger, whilst she got to her feet.

"It's okay, don't worry bout it" a deep male voice responded clearly amused. Lucy looked up and met with a extremely handsome face of a young man. Great, Lucy thought to herself she just had to make a fool of herself in front of someone so attractive. Not wanting to linger she quickly stepped around him running of whilst calling back another apology.

When she finally reached the door of her apartment relief hummed through her, but Lucy had not realised that she had been followed. Fumbling her key into the lock a shadow loomed after her, and she instantly put her hand to her whip.

"Still can't out run me can you?" the person's voice said to her, his turquoise eyes clearly amused.

"When I came looking for you I didn't think it would be so easy, you literally just walked into me Luce" he chuckled. Lucy still bewildered at the fact the handsome stranger was in front of her, lowered her hand which rested on her whip. After a moments she finally found her voice as recognition of the person in front of her finally hit.

" Kei ?" she said.