As usual, I walked along the city hoping to find some.. Space for me to think. The guild has been my home, but...
And I don't think the river would help me, either. Perhaps it's only now that I realized what I could've done instead of letting her go. Could I have avoided this pain if I tried holding her hand asking to not let it go? But that would make me selfish. But I...
I rounded the corner, and I thought that wa the biggest mistake I made. Two people on the concrete bridge, but seeing just their figures, I know.
My heart pounded, head spun and blurry, my fists tightened into white. But I know I shouldn't feel this way, shit. My eyes clouded, but the same image of Jellal and Erza kissing that night stayed clear and etched inside my head.
I needed to escape. To run away but the feeling just keeps growing.
It hurts... Damnit. The pain, it was just too much.
I let my feet bring myself wherever it wants to go. I just kept my eyes shut, I just want to forget everything.. Please let me forget everything.
When I came to stop, I should've known I will still end up here. In the silence of the night, I hear the river flowing, peaceful and gleaming in the bask of moonlight. It's still the way it is. But it held too much memories and without me thinking, tears brim up in my eyes again.
Damnit. I'm crying like a girl.
"Graaaay!"
Shit. The only person that annoys me to no end with just hearing his irritating voice, I know it's that hot head.
Right, I promised.
"I told you it's not yet over yet!" he smashed his flame-covered fists straight to my face. I feel it, burning with so much anger directed to me. What should I expect anyway? I lied; I think I deserved this.
I lay on the ground, with the angry dragonslayer sending punches on my face, his eyes so cold and hateful. For the first time in my life that I ever felt like the enemy of an enraged dragonslayer. It's so much different than the way we used to fight and try to get each other's face off.
This time though, is real.
Hard, and sharp-edged bark of tree grated my back, and I try to hide a flinch as Natsu locked his elbows on my neck. My head is spinning and everything is getting numb.
Finally, he spoke in a tone that would've send another man into the depths of hell.
"W-WHY?" I can't. I choose not to answer.
"ANSWER ME!" blood escaped my lips but I try to be at my sickest, badass attitude to wipe them out. But I can never look into those eyes, glowing with fire that blinds and suffocates me.
"Do what you want. I don't have the obligation to explain a thing to you."
"BULLSHIT!" a blow landed on my gut enough to split the tree against my back, with me thrown along with it meters away.
I barely have the strength to stand up. But I already promised myself not to fight back. I've had enough, I'm tired to do anything. I just want the numbness wash over me.
Natsu, I'm sorry.
Natsu is ready to land the last blow on me, fists concentrated with the brightest flames yet and I try to bite back fear as I found no escape in my current position. I deserve this.
He stopped. I close my eyes but I feel nothing instead. Not a single scratch. All because his fists stopped at a dangerous inch between my nose.
I saw his orbs circling back to its dark, usual color. The flames that were once on his hands slowly dying out and he gritted his teeth, "Liar."
I smirk. But inside, I was dying.
"Don't you dare lie on me when your face is clearly telling the truth, Ice freak!
Tilting my head to face him head on, I replied as cold I can. "I don't know what you're talking about." The pain began to sting, agh.
"SHUT UP!" he spat angrily, sitting on the grass stained with my blood. I remain motionless, just closing my eyes hoping to ease and calm myself. But the words that he said struck a chord on me.
"Stop hiding your tears. Idiot. It's no use hiding anything from me."
That moron. I hate his guts. I hate him, and yet I don't know why he ever got to be my best friend. I hate that it was him of all people who could easily read me. I hate it, but at the same time I'm glad that it was him.
Silently, I brought my wall of ice down. It's no use hiding it anyway, I reasoned. Because behind that wall was myself shattered, and already broken beyond repair. But at least I have a friend that doesn't pretend to overlook it, but also does not make fun of it.
I'm not afraid to bare my soul in front of this guy. Maybe because he's been my best friend ever since and we had known each other so well. He can see through everything as I do to his mood swings. Only we can slap the truth in each other's face without hard feelings.
Natsu just sat there, eyes focused on the river in front of him, not looking back on my shamed form. A crying mess I was, but I just can't stop them from falling anymore. I'm tired holding back.
but even if I cried a thousand tears tonight
Would you come back to me?
And even if I walked on the water
Would you come out to sea?
Now I can't spend my life standing by
'Cause even when I miss you,
you're still not missing me,
Erza...
"...are we going to do with the spy, Kiryo?"
"What else? Kill him. My master doesn't have time for pesky flies roaming around the kingdom."Gray woke up from his dream. A distant memory. Wait..what? Why does my body feel so heavy and..
He gasped for air. The pain, where does this come from? He felt sore, he can feel blood running down his unseen wounds.
'Shit! When did I got caught?' Gray panicked.
"I like the sound of that." he heard a voice, and Gray's head feels like floating. It made him difficult to focus.
"Finish this one quickly. The majority of our forces are already nearing the borders of Fiore. Our team shall attack at dawn. I won't let anything go wrong with our plans now that we're one step closer in ruling over this filthy world."
The man answered and Gray swore he heard him smirked, "Ahh, those Fairies.. I hope they can give us a good fight unlike the earlier weak guilds.."
'What?! How come I- how long was I out?!'
Another man's voice laughed and echoed through out the room that Gray had to flinch." Pathetic aren't they? I can't believe them. And they're so proud of their magic, too! Ha!"
Kiryo only grinned and looked back to his subordinates, "Those Fairies are the last obstacle. Don't worry, as soon as we wipe them out, it will be our victory. I'll make sure to bring Fairy Tail down, especially that so called 'Titania' and her gang... Those bastards did nothing but get in my nerves, raiding off our dark guilds!"
'Hell no. I got to get back to master and tell th-" his ribs cracked up in a sickening sound.
They laughed like mad men, and it didn't help Gray's condition a bit. But the ice mage wouldn't give up just yet. He won't let anyone hurt Erza..and his nakama.
The chains on his wrist created a shuffling sound, all men turned their eyes on him.
"Bastards.." Gray seethed.
"Ho? You're awake? Did you have a nice nap?"
Gray shifted to test his knees that has been folded all this time, "-how long?" glaring at the men.
"hmm.. Dont look at me like that. If you can save yourself first, we'll talk." Kiryo snorted.
"Kiryo!" the man's hand waved it off and instead formed a sadistic grin. "Oh, you wanna try your luck the second time, wimp? Just so you know, it's already too late. Well, at least I'll let you save your dignity before we kill you."
And then, Gray saw red. Needless to say, the aftermath was bathed in blood and destruction.
A/N: I'm alive!