The room around them burst in laughter. Their voices blurred into a chorus of pleasant sound. Natsu had stood up on the table, careful over plates and cups. By request he had been reenacting his fight with Sting and Rogue from the grand magic games. His scarf sat snuggly in Lucy's lap as she leaned into her palm and laughed. She sat at the table, pink stained across her lips and fingertips, like everyone else in the room. Lucy watched Natsu position himself in different attack poses.

"I told them," he continued. He lowered his voice, his eyes burning with enthusiasm. "I can see through all of your little habits, your attack timing, your posture, your defense." The table erupted in cheers. The grin on his face infectious as she observed it spread through the room. Lucy found herself stroking the scarf between two fingers as he recalled his encounter. He had tossed the top half of his yukata so it hung at his waist. His chiseled torso was bare before the table. Her eyes travelled across his skin. His story and the chatter bounced around the table, becoming white noise.

It was Lady Nakahara who had suggested the performance. Natsu could do no other than oblige their host. The table had insisted, and Lucy knew how cocky he could be at times. She was surprised by some of the behavior that they had witnessed when she discovered that no alcohol was being served for the festivities. She could even feel her head lighten as the night drew on. Lucy was full from dessert, and it was a wonder the kitchen didn't run out of food with the way Natsu ate. She wondered then, as his muscles gleam from the warm bright lights above him, where he even put it all.

Lucy remembered asking him once. They had trained together in the spring. The air was crisp and the docks of Magnolia rang with the catch of the season. They had been together all day training, since he had begged her to join Happy and him. She had always refused. She wanted nothing to do with his freak training regimen. It was when Natsu was doing pullups on a tall sturdy tree branch that the question crossed her mind. They had just finished their run, and he had tossed his scarf around his forehead, his vest lay on the ground beneath his feet. She had sat in the grass to cool down and listened to her partner. He had been going on about a duel with Erza, but Lucy heard none of it. She couldn't take her eyes off of the rise and fall of his chest. Her eyes trailed the shadows and curves of his flat stomach, along his jaw line, and swept across his open mouth. His pointed canines peeked out just below his upper lip, and she could see them clearer when he bit at the lower one. That was when she asked him, unaware that she had cut him off mid-sentence. He stopped his pullups and hung from the branch by his hands, his knuckles white from the weight.

"You eat more than anyone else I know. Where does it even go?"

"It's all that dragon fire," he laughed and swung his legs beneath him, rocking back and forth on the branch. He found enough momentum to let go and land in front of his partner. He had attempted to stand up but found himself falling forward. They both yelped when he caught his weight on his palms. His nose pressed against hers. Lucy opened her eyes slowly to find him only inches from her mouth. They sat together for a few breaths in silence. The spring sang around them, just a glimpse of the coming summer heat. She had realized then she wouldn't have minded if he had bent down a little farther. Of course nothing like that happened. She didn't think it would have happened anyway, even if Happy hadn't showed up to distract them.

Lucy's brown eyes looked up past thick lashes at her partner, his reenactment still received a lot of attention. Some of the circular windows were open now, allowing the evening air in, it carried with it the soft sounds of music from another building. It was as though the festival was bursting through the walls and seams of the lavished home. Lucy's mind continued on its twisted trail of thoughts she had been careful to lock away. She thought of Fairy Tail as family from the beginning, Natsu remaining a large part of that family. For all she cared they could stay friends forever. But sometimes, somewhere pushed to the far reaches of her mind, the thought crept in. They could be more.

"Hey Lucy, come be Sting really quick!" his voice rang out, urging the thought back into the shadows where it waited.

"What? No way," she refused. Natsu's face fell as he studied his best friend. It was just like her to refuse one of his requests. He wanted her help, but mostly he wanted her closer. It was a feeling he knew well, although never this strongly. Her eyes had not left him since his skit began, and he was fully aware of it. He had walked across the long table, crouched down in front of her, to extend a hand.

"Come on Lucy," he said, "it's no fun without you." His smile was reassuring and comfortable to her. Lucy sat up to take his hand cautiously. Natsu pulled her to her feet and helped her up on the table. There she stood in front of everyone with her hand cupped in his palm. It was then all the white noise surfaced to the forefront of her mind. The gazes appeared to be everywhere, some had watched their full exchange and now clapped for more, and others were busy in their own conversations.

Natsu took Lucy by the shoulders and moved her back a few steps where some servants had cleared the table for them. He pulled his scarf from her hands and wrapped it around her neck. He watched her hand pull the fabric closer to her, covering her mouth and nose. If he listened closely he could hear her inhale. If he took a second to catch it he could see her cheeks warm. Usually he would have been confused by her bold behavior, but it thrilled him to see her half lidded eyes upturned from his scarf. A heat spread through his stomach and wrapped around the fast pace of his pulse. It wasn't until he heard Hitoshi clear his throat from behind him that he remembered where they were. Natsu slid his hand from Lucy's. "Try to come at me swinging," he whispered to her and took a step back. She opened her mouth to protest, but she knew she had agreed to do whatever he said by getting up from her seat. "So," he continued for the room, "my favorite part was the beginning of the fight when I caught one of Sting's dragon punches."

He focused his attention on Lucy and her incoming attack. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. It would take some concentration to do so, since his senses didn't seem as sharp as usual. Natsu watched her square her shoulders and form fists at her side. It was only a moment, a fraction of a second he was distracted as she raised her hands up. Lucy's gaze had been so intense, so ready to strike him. It was that intensity that always took his breath away. Even though he had forced her to join him she still jumped right in with him, into all his adventures. His best friend was beautiful. Her cheeks flushed and lips stained. He watched a spark in her eyes. Lucy wouldn't disappoint him with some puny punch.

And Natsu was correct, for her knuckles collided with his cheek. A loud grunt escaped his throat before he could hold back, or block her attack. His feet stumbled beneath him. He almost landed right in an older gentleman's lap. His back hit the wooden table and shook everything on top. Lady Nakahara was on her feet immediately giving orders to her servants. The room grew still, the atmosphere shifting to alarm.

"I'm okay, I'm okay," Natsu began to reassure them. A free hand waved into the air for the men to stand down. His other hand clasped to his battered cheek. Lucy stood above him, her fist floating in midair where it had collided with his face. Her eyes were wide, eyeing the empty space where Natsu once stood. It wasn't until he burst into laughter that she looked down at him. The room watched him laugh and point up at Lucy's stunned face. Some of the guests looked to one another with concern. Whispers of a possible concussion travelled down the table.

"Someone, help him up," Lady Nakahara insisted. Realization struck Lucy as she eyed the welt forming beneath his fingertips. She was at his side quickly and pulled his hand away. She leaned in closely to see the redness spreading up his cheek.

"Lucy?" Natsu lay still beneath her. She was close enough that he could pick up the soft scent of her skin. He could hear her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. It was odd how the sound echoed through his ears, so aware of her closeness.

"Are you an idiot?" she asked.

"What?" he said, his eyes narrowed up at her, "You were the one who hit me!"

"Shall I call for a physician?" Lady Nakahara asked from where she stood at the head of the table. The two were startled by her sharp voice, an authority in her eyes. She was like another person. Lucy could see why she was so admired by the people in her care. When it mattered, she could see such a woman taking on great responsibility.

"I'm fine," Natsu assured.

Lucy moved to the side and helped him sit up. "Thank you for your hospitality Lady Nakahara, but I think he'll be fine. This knuckle head has had worse bruises from me," She said. Natsu nodded along and allowed her to steer him toward the edge of the table. "I think we'll turn in after all of that." Lucy thanked the room and bowed politely to their host. Lady Nakahara sat down and watched them make their way out of the room, a smirk crossed her lips and a shimmer caught her eye.

"Are you sure it is okay?" Hitoshi whispered beside her.

"Let them be," she ordered.

"You could have moved!" Lucy lectured to Natsu as they exited the larger building.

"You were so fast!" he complained. Natsu applied soft pressure to his cheek, wincing when it stung. Lucy eyed his expression. The guilt she felt continued to grow.

"I'll see if they have ice in our room," she said. The estate, with its light atmosphere and sparkling lights, felt less peaceful than when they had first arrived. It only reminded her that they weren't home. Their guild felt far away—the air colder on the bare paths. The noises from the main building dying away as they neared their quarters. They continued through the halls in silence. Natsu pulling open the door to their room. "Uh, is there any lights in here?" Lucy groped around the room for a light switch.

"Nothing over here," Natsu called from the other side.

"Where are you?" she asked moving toward his voice. The panic from her lack of sight rose in her throat. "I can't see a damn thing in here." Her fingers grasped warm fabric as her eyes were bombarded by light. The smell of fresh flowers and fruit filled the air.

"There," Natsu said, "no more dark." He had slid open the paper doors to the private porch. The moon outside was bright enough to light the room. The crimson glow from the lights around the building bounced across the once hidden furniture. It was just as they had left it. The bowl of strawberries lay on the table, the floral art shrouded in shadow. Natsu looked down at Lucy's hand, clutched tightly to his yukata sleeve. "You okay?" he asked.

"Better now," she admitted. She took her hand away from his sleeve, and glanced up at the moon. It loomed above them, as though she could reach up and touch it. "It's like the moon is really close to us. Like we're in the sky." Natsu watched her face, her features soft and distracted by the moon in the distance.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"You're not even looking."

"Sure I am."

"Natsu, I can see you aren't looking at the sky," Lucy objected. He looked different to her then. Maybe, she thought, it was his yukata. Maybe it was the rose tinted light against his cherry colored hair. There was something different, like a dream in the sky. "Natsu?"

"But I am," he replied. He wasn't sure what made him do it. Natsu was always known for his impulsive behavior when he was serious about something. Usually he was riding into battle for his guild, but this was different. It wasn't a sense of justice he was searching for. He leaned in, taking the hand that had released his sleeve. He pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers. He was prepared to release her hand when she kicked him. He was ready for her to yell loudly about what a pervert he was. But Natsu wasn't ready for Lucy to kiss back. His other arm slid around her waist to pull her closer. Her scent mingled with the breeze from outside the open door. A soft exhale escaped her when Natsu urged her lips to part with his. Their kiss was demanding, taking more and more of each other in.

Lucy never knew how hot his breath was until they kissed, his tongue a blaze in her mouth. She was not worried, as she thought she would be. No more were the thoughts of breaking up a friendship. She wanted more of this. One hand pressed against the back of his neck, pulling him closer. She felt his fingers pull his scarf from around her neck, her bag of keys slipping to the floor. Her hips pressed against his, and his hand spread against her back. Her skin sang for the warmth it felt through her yukata. His lips released her, tracking kisses to her cheek, down her jaw to the dip of her neck. Lucy let out a sigh. His tongue swirled against the skin that called for more. His hand let go of hers and lazily found the wrap at the front of her yukata, tugging at it to release her. She felt the fabric drop to the floor, his hand dipping in. She shivered at the heat of his palm spread flat against her stomach. Natsu's hand took her hips, brushing against her lace underwear. His fingers tangled in the band before releasing them. His mouth found hers again, taking in her breath when his fingers traced her thigh. She groaned into his mouth at the tightness she felt between them. Her heart pounded in her ears.

Natsu led her to the soft mat of the floor. The fabric around her fell open. He let one finger make small circles against her thighs. His other hand dipped into the cup of her bra. Lucy shuddered against his mouth. He let his thumb graze her nipple, feeling it peak beneath him. Her hands moved to explore him. Her fingers trailed down his chest to his sides. He groaned as she dug her fingertips, and dragged them down to his hips. Natsu moved his hand up from her thigh, and pulled again at her waistband. His fingers barely dipped into the fabric. Lucy let out another sigh before Natsu stilled.

"Why did you stop?" she asked. His gaze was fixed to the far wall. "Hey, Natsu," she continued. His eyes instead widened, his frame turned toward the open screen door. He stood up so his body was placed between hers and the open sliding doors.

"Lucy, don't move," he insisted. Lucy wrapped the open fabric around her exposed body, but did not move from the floor. Instead her gaze travelled along the shadows of the room. She could hear Natsu above her as he scented the air.

"Come out," he said to the darkness, "I know you're there." Natsu sniffed the air again, but caught no scent over the stronger smell of fruit. His senses had yet to return to normal. He knew he had heard something on the porch. He recalled stepping outside when they had first arrived in the room, at the creak of a certain floor board. It was faint, and even then he questioned whether someone was really there.

It was faster than he could see. The slight form bounded across the wall. He called for Lucy to stay down as he moved to face the intruder. It was Lucy's brown eyes he met instead, held up to stand by the open paper doors. How the figure had seized her so fast, and took her without a sound, was beyond him. A small blade was pressed to her throat. Natsu let out a soft curse, noticing her slender hand grabbing for something at her hip that wasn't there. The swelling panic built in her eyes. He knew then she didn't have her keys. He couldn't make out the person behind her. The light from the moon darkened their face. Natsu could feel the flames licking across his knuckles. He lunged forward with as much agility as he could muster. Instead of the soft feeling of flesh beneath his clenched fingers, he only felt air. They were alone again. Lucy stumbled forward, away from the porch, her hand clutched to her neck.

"What the hell was that?" Natsu said.

"Someone was trying to kill us," Lucy replied, "We have to tell Lady Nakahara immediately." She stepped past him and bent over to take the wrap for her yukata.

"Lucy, wait. What if she was behind this?"

"Why would she be behind an assassination attempt?"

"Why not? This whole mission has been strange from the start!"

"There are a lot of guests here, Natsu. It could have been anyone," Lucy said. She tied her yukata back together, not deterring from her path to speak to the lady of the residence.

"Lucy, listen to me. If that woman wasn't behind all of this then who? For all we know that person just now could have been her henchman."

"Henchman? What year are we in?"

"I knew Hitoshi was bad news since I met him."

"Hitoshi? He was flirtatious but not murderous. Besides, he had plenty of moments that he could have hurt us. Why wouldn't he have tried then? They wouldn't just wine and dine us just to kill us."

"Wine," Natsu said, "Lucy, the strawberries." He grabbed her shoulders, looking her in the eye. "You can't tell me this whole thing doesn't sound fishy to you? Ever since we started eating those strawberries my senses haven't been right. I couldn't smell them at all. I'm surprised I heard them, I have been bombarded with sound all night." Lucy didn't reply. She had to admit that the whole thing sounded convincing coming from Natsu, who she trusted with her life. Plus, she couldn't ignore the way she had been feeling after eating the fruit.

"What about motive?" she asked. Natsu let his arms drop. He hadn't thought about motive. Instead, his thoughts were fixed to the idea that someone almost killed Lucy. "Exactly," she said to his silence.

"We have to leave," he stated.

"And leave all these people around an assassin? That's dangerous."

"For who? They were after us after all."

"What if we aren't their only target?" The whole thing was starting to make Lucy's head spin. She never thought something like this would happen. Not only was there someone on the property ready to murder them, but now they had to figure out who it was. Natsu picked up his scarf and wrapped it around his neck. He let his index finger slide inside it and tug. Lucy watched his fingers fidget the way he always did. She felt the warmth on her face, recalling where those fingers had almost been. "Natsu, we have to find out who's out to kill us, and why."