Chapter 7

The days that followed were a blur to Lucy. The majority of her time was spent with Kei as she showed him around her various favourite places in Magnolia. She kept away from the guild, not wanting to face the pitied and questioning looks from her guildmates. After the outburst from Natsu she remembered the strained silence of the guild. It wasn't until Levy pulled her aside into the back of the guild to dry her tears did the guild return awkwardly to their activities. Levy had remained silent, keeping Lucy's hand in her own until Kei had appeared asking if Lucy would go with him for something to eat, clearly wanting to take her away from the atmosphere. That was the routine she had kept for the past five days. Kei was a welcome distraction, and his presence did bring her happiness. But when the day ended and Lucy stood alone in her apartment the illusion fell away and she couldn't help but think of the one person she didn't want to, Natsu. She hadn't seen or heard from him at all, nor Happy. After the incident she was almost positive she would find him lounging on her bed when she got home ready to apologise but when she returned to a empty dark room the tears ran down her face again. Never had Natsu looked at her with such disdain, like he truly thought she was bringing danger to their guildmates. No one understood the logic or reasoning behind Natsu's accusations because there were none. Kei was no threat and everyone could see that, but the hatred that had seethed through Natsu's words made it seem like he truly did think Kei was there to hurt someone, and that it would all be Lucy's fault if he did. Finding herself again stood alone in her empty dark apartment with nothing but her negative thoughts plaguing her Lucy decided she was in much need of some relaxation, and with not wanting to trek all the way to the communal hot springs she opted for her own smaller tub. With a sigh she strode to the bathroom and turned the taps feeling grateful for the instant hot water that had costed her an extra twenty thousand jewels a month but in the end she deemed it a worthy price for times such as these. Looking around for a scented oil to pour into the water and picking up two different ones to decide between Lucy caught herself reminiscing about the time she became invisible from one of the concoctions she had found in the bathroom. With Natsu clearly avoiding her she felt the same despair as when the whole guild had forgotten her existence. It was only her teammate that could. Only when magic had wiped her clear from everyone's minds did he still recall her. Dwelling on these thoughts she felt lump in her throat and tears straining to escape her eyes. Practically throwing herself into the bath and splashing water in her wash to erase any evidence of tears Lucy heard a muffled scrape against her window. Logic told her it must just be a bird or a tree branch, but as a mage caution overran her instincts and gently easing herself out of the water to grab a towel she moved next to the window. Silently easing the latch upwards and mentally counting down from three she pushed the window open hoping that if there were anyone on the other side it would smash into their face and send them tumbling down to the ground below. However the window swung open without meeting any interference. Quickly poking out her head as far as Lucy could she peered into the brisk night and searched the pavement below which was empty. A cool wind wrapped around her thinly clad body and remembering she was only in a towel Lucy quickly shut the window and approached the inviting steamy water she had stupidly left beforehand. She had barely got one foot in when there was a knock at her front door. Groaning audibly Lucy stomped out of the bathroom and yanked open the door. Kei stood before her with a friendly smile upon his face which quickly turned into a blush as he took in Lucy's appearance.

"Ah sorry were you busy?" he asked whilst avoiding his eyes from her and scratching the back of his head in an awkward manner. Feeling her own face heat up in embarrassment she drew her towel more screuley to her body.

"No it's fine, what did you want?"

"I ran into Mira and she asked me to give you this" he relied handing her a folded up pamphlet. Trying to keep one hand on her towel so as not to expose herself Lucy somehow managed to unfold the paper and read through the advertisement before her that described a newly opened hot springs beside the sea. It seemed ironic that her own hot bath was interrupted for this invitation. At the bottom Lucy recognised Mira's handwriting that declared Lucy had no choice and she would face Mira's wrath if she declined and that she would be accompanied by the rest of the team, all of them. Obviously Mira meant Natsu and that this was her attempt for them to reconcile. In all honestly Lucy needed a break, and this hot springs sounded too perfect. But the problem was Natsu. Either he just wouldn't go at all meaning her whole time spent at the springs would be her questioning his behaviour over and over again as she had the past few days. Or he would go and she would have to face him. For all she knew he could blow up again and throw more hurtful accusations her way and Lucy didn't know if she could bear anymore of it. Frustration welled up inside her and against her will angry hot tears fell down her face.

"Luce?" Kei asked reaching out for her in clear concern at her sudden emotions.

"You can come in if you want I just need to get changed" she replied before she quickly turned on her heel to escape. But as tears clouded her vision she caught her foot on a upturned corner of her rug and tumbled down but not before Kei's strong grip enveloped her. After a few moments the pair both still stood in silence. Lucy's face felt as if it were in flames as Kei's hand curved around her now bare stomach. Miraculously her towel had only fallen part way but on the other hand her entire chest was now exposed. Kei exhaled a deep breath that caressed its way down Lucy's back. His grip around her waist tightened and she heard him very audibly swallow.

"Luce" he murmured against her neck as he trailed his nose against the curve of it. Shivering against his touch Lucy abruptly stepped out of his grasp pulling her towel up as she did. Turning to face him she saw that his own face was as red as her's probably was but his eyes held a hint of pain in them as she took another step back averting her eyes.

"Lucy i'm sorry, I didn't mean.."

"I'm sorry Kei" she cut him off " I was surprised, it was just an accident".

He took a step forward with his own long stride closing the distance easily. He raised his hand to caress the side of her face, brushing a loose strand of wet hair behind her ear. His eyes bore into hers with sudden intensity which in turn made her avert her own in embarrassment but still he kept her face in his palm.

"It still meant something to me, you mean something to me. I've dreamed of holding you but I would never force you. I would never hurt you, you mean everything to me".

She gasped at little at his declaration and finally looked at him again and met his stunning turquoise eyes that she had always found so beautiful. He let his hand fall to his side, the heated look from him gone and back was his gentle and familiar smile which she could not resist at her and Lucy felt her own mouth turn up at the corners in return. Bending his head down to whisper in her ear he quickly said, "Plus when you do want me to touch you I would rather you be fully dressed so I can savour undressing each part of you".

He quickly kissed the top of Lucy's head and turned on his heel exiting the apartment with a smug grin on his face. Lucy stood fixed on the same spot utterly flabbergasted by Kei's statement. In that moment as his broad back disappeared through her front door she realised the little boy she knew had grown into a man, someone who had just professed that he desired her. Lucy would be lying to herself if she said the wasn't a physical attraction to Kei but she that didn't mean that her feelings for him were romantic. She could say the same about Gray, that he was attractive but that he would any ever be her friend and teammate.

But still she felt like her cheeks were on fire, and after what felt like an eternity of standing still like an idiot in her towel she decided to return to her bath which was sure to be cool by now which in itself was a very appealing idea with how hot she was feeling.

Against all inner mental arguing and logic Natsu had found himself at the one place he had been trying to stay away from. Now standing beneath the window he knew Lucy was on the other side of was agonizing. It was a miracle in itself that he had managed to go days staying away from her and the guild. Resigning himself to the forest that surrounded his and Happy's cottage Natsu had spent the majority of his time staring into nothingness or burning tree's into cinders when his frustration hit it's peak. Over and over again Lucy's expression would plague his mind. Her tears that had been caused by his words felt like they had tainted him. The was no logic behind his outburst at her, at the time his anger overtook any rationality he possessed, it was a complete blur to even remember it now.

Lucy's shadow crossed the window and Natsu felt his body tense in response. This was the closest he had been to her in days. An overwhelming need to just climb up through the window and hold her coursed through his being. He took an involuntary step forward and mentally scolded himself for doing so. He was probably the last person she would want to see but he had to see her. Natsu concluded that just peeking through the window was a good compromise. Nimbly ascending the lower windowsill and silently grabbing onto the one above Natsu hoisted himself up, nimbly balancing on the thin ledge. She stood before him and he felt like he had taken a breath after holding it for what seemed like years. Instinctively his eyes roamed her form, checking for any signs of injury. He didn't really know why he did it just that he felt like he should. Her eyes were furrowed in concentration as she stared down at the bottles of liquid she had in her hands. Suddenly her face contorted into what looked like pain but Natsu saw the glistening at the corners of her eyes, she was crying. It took all his might to not yank open the window and cross the small space to envelop her but before he could Lucy angrily began yanking off her clothing. Natsu froze, knowing he should probably look away even considering he had seen Lucy's naked body plenty of times but at the moment he felt like the biggest pervert sneaking on her windowsill watching her undress. However she quickly submerged herself beneath the murky water and Natsu feeling a mixture of disappointment and relief decided it was time for him to leave. Lowering himself of the windowsill however proved a little more difficult and as his belt scraped across the window as he turned he heard the water ripple beyond the window as Lucy got out of the water. Jumping down he quickly ran around the side of her apartment building and waited.

The window he had been sat behind just mere seconds ago creaked open and Natsu ever so slightly peered his head around. Lucy's head shot out in an almost comical way and deciding he had indulged himself enough tonight Natsu ran back to the cottage, notably more cheerful than when he had left it earlier.