Lucy [Flashback]

Verum [Truth] - III

"I promise, on my pride as a celestial wizard."

It was 8:30 pm and I sat on my bed reminiscing the days when my mom was alive. She and my dad would treat me like a princess for the whole day. They always took time out of their busy schedules for me. One time they even bought me a doll, in which I named Michelle. Being an only child and all, I treated her like a sister. But when my mom suddenly died of illness, things drastically changed. Michelle was nowhere to be found and my dad completely changed urging me to give my all and put what was best for the Shinken family first. He barely speaks to me, and only seems happy talking about matters of the Shinken family, rather than his own. Of course things can't go back to the way they used to be, which hurts the most. But worrying won't bring back the dead or the happiness I used to feel.

It was 8:54 pm now as I made my way down the corridors to head to the main sakura tree. Before leaving, I made sure to take the mirror with me. I thought I might need it. It was pretty dark for this time of night. The moon's light was just what I needed. The moon was full and irresistible. For some reason, it just sucked me in. I couldn't look straight forward, I just stared at it. I could stare at it forever. I was so engrossed in thought that I bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry-" When I looked up, it was my dad. This was awkward. He just stared at me and didn't say anything. What was he thinking? Was he staring at the mirror, or the key around my neck? I became anxious. He just sighed and walked around me. He said nothing. You'd think he'd say something to me, being my birthday and all. But why should I care anyway. I hated my birthday anyway, right?

I ran towards the main sakura tree. I stood there and looked around. It was already 9. Who invites someone somewhere and doesn't even show up on time? I waited.

"Hey" a voice said. I looked around. Where was that coming from? "Up here." Sounded like Natsu so, I decided to climb up. When I got up Natsu was smiling. "Yo!"

"Yo Natsu-san!" I felt sad for some reason, but I didn't want that to show.

"No one can see us here. The sakura tree is in full bloom and the full moons light makes the tree glow a little. It's like we're surround by a vibrant light." That sounded a bit suspicious. Natsu's faced turned sad but serious. "You've probably heard this before, but I've always felt like leaving this house. I don't feel like I belong here. But now my feelings have changed." That was relief. He finally came to his senses. "Now, I want you to come along. We need to get out of here it's not safe." After he said this, I remembered the dream I had where he was running from something, but I didn't know what. He was saying how he needed to tell her and get out, because it wasn't safe. Things were getting a bit interesting now.

"Natsu, I don't understand what you're trying to do, why would you want us to leave?" I asked

"Because they know." He said. It got quiet.

"What do you mean? I don't understand anything you're saying. Who's they?" I asked frantically.

"I want to try something. Do you have the mirror I gave you?" he asked.

"Yeah, here." I handed it to him. He arranged it so that the moon's light reflected in it. It was extremely bright.

"Look into it, I want to see something." I looked at myself in the mirror. Nothing happened.

"Natsu, what's the point of-"

"Just keep looking." He urged. This time, something changed. Everything except for my hair looked the same. It was shining so brightly, as if it were golden. What was going on? My hair was no longer its usual blonde, it was a shimmering gold, literally.

"Natsu this is really freaking me out." I was a little scared of what was going on. He put the mirror down.

"I heard my parents talking and they know about us. Our magic and all." He confessed. My eyes became wide. How was that possible, this was making no sense. How did his parents play into all of this?

"But what did the mirror have to do with this?" I asked.

"I don't even know myself. I thought that maybe if natural light reflected on it, I could see it for myself. Your hair, I mean." He said.

"What exactly is going on? I wish you'd just tell me outright." I pleaded. He sighed.

"My parents know about the whole magic situation. To make things worse, they plan on harnessing your power for some "project", what it is, I don't know, but I can't say it's good." He paused. "All I'm saying is that we need to get out of here. There's danger here, I can smell it. You have to trust me."

"I do trust you, I really do. But we can't just leave." I did want to leave but if I did, what would I do? "Even if we did, it'd be suspicious if we both left at the same time. Where do you even plan on going?"

He smiled. "I'm heading west, I picked up Igneel's scent."

"Igneel? You mean the dragon? Natsu that's crazy! Everyone knows that all of the dragons disappeared years ago. Don't tell me that's why you're leaving?" I asked.

"I have to. Igneel's my real dad. I just have to find him no matter what. I'll leave first and head west. I might even join one of those guilds." He laughed. "But promise me that if you do leave, you'll head west, so we can see each other again." He said. He seemed really sad that I couldn't come with him. In order to seal our deal, he held out his pinky.

"I promise, on my pride as a celestial wizard." I interlocked my pinky with his and we kissed our thumbs, to seal the deal. It was a promise. "But how will I know when you left?" I asked. He smiled a wide smile.

"I don't need to say that, you'll know." He laughed. "Well let's get out of here, it's getting late, people might start getting worried if we don't return soon." He said. What he said was ironic because, if people worried about you not returning soon, I wondered how they acted when you didn't return at all. He jumped out of the tree. When he got on the ground, he out stretched his arms wide open. "Jump, I'll catch you." I turned red. Isn't this what they did in all those romance movies? I jumped right into his arms and he caught me. "Wasn't so bad, was it?" I nodded, unable to speak. "Well I guess I'll take you back now."

"Do you plan on carrying me there, like this?" I asked, my head started feeling hot.

"Well it is you birthday, you should relax a little. Don't worry you're not heavy." He broke out laughing after this. I turned beet red at his comment. We began to walk. Something didn't feel right though.

"What if Igneel's not there?" I asked.

"I'll keep looking for him. And by the time I find that out, you'll be with me so we can do that together." He smiled. This made my face even more red. I buried my face in his chest. After some time, we were in front of my room. "We're here." He set me down. I was hoping we would get here faster, because something was telling me that we weren't alone.

"Thanks for today, Natsu. I appreciate it." I hugged him tightly. "Thanks a lot." I still felt uneasy. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." He looked unsure. "Good night Lu-chan." Then he went away into the night. Birthdays weren't so bad after all, when you spent it with someone you like. It would've been even better if I didn't have this eerie feeling.

Natsu [Flashback]

"I didn't know how fast I was going, but I didn't care."

I shouldn't have lied. To be honest, I was extremely uneasy. Igneel's scent was getting stronger with every breath I took. I'm scared that if I wait too long, I won't be able to find him again. But I didn't want to leave so suddenly, but I had no choice. I rushed to the main house, and entered my room. The light in my parents' room was off, so I knew the coast was clear. All I needed was my scarf that I got from Igneel. My parents never let me wear it, saying it was "unrefined", but screw that. I grabbed it, and left, the house, and approached the gate. I wanted to tell Lucy,but if I waited, his scent may wander. I took two steps out of the gate, and stopped. Leaving the premises would be a first for me. I took more steps until steps turned to a slow jog, and then into a run. I didn't know how fast I was going, but I didn't care. I was on my way to see Igneel. See you soon Lucy.

Lucy [Flashback]

"Something didn't feel right."

Something didn't feel right. I hope nothing happened to Natsu. Maybe it had something to do with that feeling I had earlier. This wasn't good.

Arigato, minna! Thanks so much for you support nakamas, hope you've all been doing well? Hehe, my job and school work make writing difficult (*-m-)but it's thanks to you guys that I can do so ^^. You guys are amazing, thanks so much, haha (I have a thank you fetish...) So please, as always, write a review for me, it would help so much if you did. Tao is over and out!