Chapter 7: A Night Under The Stars

Previously….

"Natsu…office….broken….injured…angry…Help him!"

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind as I tried to hold the limp Mirajane Strauss.

"Levy help me a bit!"

The wide-eyed levy suddenly broke out of shock and ran towards me. In the meantime Erza and Juvia too had come outside wondering what took us so long. Both of them hurriedly ran up and helped support the unconscious Mirajane.

"What is happening here?" Juvia asked utterly shocked.

"Erza can you please lend me your car keys?" I asked

Erza nodded and threw me the car keys from her Jeans pocket.

"Now listen, all three of you take care of Mirajane for me. Tend to her and let her sleep. I'll have to go urgently right now. I'll be back by tomorrow. And lastly

…sorry" I said looking down a bit.

"Sorry for what?" levy asked giving me a small smile.

"Yeah what for? This is what friends are for. To help each other in problems." Juvia said with concern in her eyes.

I smiled widely and ran toward the car. I faintly heard Erza say in a sweet voice,

"Stay safe"

I held up my right hand and bended my wrist indicating how much grateful I was to them. I could feel their smiles on my back. They were there when I needed them. They were what I'd call …nakama.

Break….

I started the engine in a hurry and ran the car out levy's courtyard. I was actually driving at a very high speed but I didn't care. All that mattered to me right now was reaching Natsu. I kept pressing the horn as I quickly avoided every car. I was overtaking every single car I saw. I just didn't care how fast I was or the fact that I was actually scared of very high speed because my mind was fixated on Natsu.

When I finally reached the office, I parked the car fast and ran into the building. I kept pressing the lift button but soon realized that the elevator wasn't functioning. I growled in anger and ran up the stairs.

'17 floors to go Lucy' I told myself as I ran.

Nothing mattered right now. Nothing could stop me! The only thing that remained in my mind was Natsu. The worry was killing me. What happened to him? What if….

And the questions frightened me.

Break….

A man stood looking out the plain glass wall. He stood overlooking the blinking bright lights of the city. He ran a hand through his pink hair and sighed. Blood dripped from his hand as it fell on his silky pink locks. A tear made his way down from his onyx colored eyes. But he decided that it would be his last tear.

He removed the glass shreds from his hand one by one with his good hand. He looked out through the window. It hurt, the glass but he didn't care. He didn't flinch once as he continued removing all the pieces.

The only thing that hovered in his mind was,

Lucy.

Break….

'10 more floors to go!' I thought as I continued running up the stairs. I hadn't stopped once. My breath was becoming heavier and I was already feeling tired. But I can't stop.

Break….

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" a terrorizing scream left Natsu's mouth. The scream was so loud, so terrifying that it could be heard all around the building. It was not of the pain in his hand but the pain he felt in his heart.

Break….

The scream! Was that …Natsu? Oh no!

The pain he feels, I can feel it too. Tears fell down my eyes as I fastened my pace. I looked around and I heard the familiar beep of the elevator. It was working again! At least one of them is.

Thanking the gods that lay in heaven I pressed the button of the elevator. A few seconds later it arrived and I barged in panting hard. I pressed the 17th floor option and the elevator flew upward.

It didn't take much time to reach since I had already climbed 13 floors. But I used that time in the elevator to brace myself for the upcoming events and calm down.

The stairs had got me hard. It had taken up a lot of my energy.

Break….

Natsu tilted his head as he heard the sound of the elevator reach his floor. Anger filled his eyes. Whoever it was, had just invited their own death.

Break….

I reached! Finally for god's sake! Damn but it took so much of my time too!

I tried to run to his office but I couldn't. My legs were worn out. I was tired. I could hardly walk anymore. Maybe if I sat…..

No! I have to keep going! For Natsu! For Mira's sake! For the company! I have to do this!

I slowly walked my way taking the support of the walls to the only room with a light on, Natsu's office.

Break….

Natsu braced himself as the steps grew nearer and nearer. Whoever it was, wasn't going to live another day.

He'd make sure of that.

Break….

I'm almost at the door now.

It's time to put this madness to an end. I've had enough of this! This crying, this worrying, it's just not me! Where'd the party girl in me go? I used to be strong, kind, party was my thing. I was single and proud! After Sting, I became so weak; I don't even recognize myself anymore! Not anymore.

I stood up and left the support of the wall. I am ready! Let's just say that I finally snapped. I swear sometimes worrying can kill…..

I want to be the best fashion designer in the present time. And I'm gonna get it!

I sighed. But I have to stop this first. Natsu…

I stood strong and tall, Thinking of the independent and happy me.

But the worry didn't completely go. Things had changed me….for good.

I stepped inside the room. My eyes scanned the room…..

I gasped almost immediately. The scene before me was horrible. Honestly, I think maybe worrying for Natsu can't be stopped. Natsu…

Sometimes he's so sweet and sometimes he's a jerk. I like the sweet part of him and I don't really mind the annoying part of him either. But I don't know this part of him. I have never seen this part of him and I'm glad.

Right now, he looks like he's a…monster.

Looking at him alone scares me. The way he looks at me like now, those eyes…..it's like you can actually see the anger in them, and it feels like he can tear my body to shreds just by looking. His right arm is bleeding like hell. As much as I want to go there and bandage his wounds, I'll doubt he'll let me. There are cuts and bruises everywhere on his body and I can't help but flinch while my eyes move over them. But what scares me the most is the look on his face.

His pained expression, it sends shockwaves through my whole body. Tears edge their way into my eyes again. The way he looks, it's like he's …..Holding back? My eyes grew wide. Those tears in my eyes finally broke out and ran down my cheeks.

I took a step forward holding out my hand. He didn't make a move. I dropped my hand and moved forward slowly, scared that any moment he'll unfreeze and chop my head off.

Shit. I've got to get those kinds of thoughts out of my head.

Soon I was close enough, nearly a centimeter away from him. He looked at me, still holding back. I looked up at him and we locked eyes. I slowly extended my hand to his left hand and intertwined my fingers with his rough ones.

There was so much of tension in the air that maybe even a scissor could cut through it. And it hit me like a rock, the realization. Suddenly I felt guilt wash over me. It was as if now that I felt that I caused this, maybe it is me that turned him into a …..Monster.

"Please stop this" those were the only words that left my mouth and I'm pretty sure there was a lot of pain in it.

The next minute I'm in his arms and he's carrying me in bridal style. I don't gasp, I don't cry, I don't protest. He carries me out the office building refusing to make eye contact anymore. But I just keep looking at him like someday he'll forgive me.

He places me in his car softly. I can't stop looking at him as he moves to the other side of the car and sits beside me. I don't know what came over me but I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

The sound of the ignition starting snapped me out of my trance. I looked down realizing what I was doing. Though an unmistakable blush hung on my cheeks.

I kept fiddling with my hands throughout the ride, too embarrassed to say a word. Plus he was still looking straight. He didn't look at me once. And somewhere I felt bad, horrible even.

I felt horrible because somehow I was disappointed in myself, angry even. I created a monster in someone who was so kind to me till now. He's always been so cheerful about our broken relation, trying to fix in all the pieces of my heart. He's always cared about me till now like how much this marriage would affect me. And me? I've been so selfish all this time only caring about myself. He even said he liked me for god's sake!

And all this time I hurt him, even when in the car I mistook him and his intentions. I mistook his actions for Sting's actions!

The car stopped and I looked at him, my eyes glossy from the tears that I was holding back. He got out of the car and opened the passenger's door for me. He offered me a hand and I gladly accepted. He looked at me his eyes shining and glossy like mine. I stood out of the car and realized where we were.

We were near a cliff, a place really pretty and lovely, something unlike anything I have ever seen. There was some green grass near the edge (lots of it). The stars were shining brightly in the night sky. It was like the perfect scenario, better than my mind can ever imagine. I gasped at the beauty of the place.

Unknowingly Natsu was looking at me with a content smile on his face. I looked at him and gave him a smile that very well said, 'thank you'.

His eyes…they looked so peaceful and happy all of a sudden.

We walked over to the grassy area near the very end. He then faced me and looked at me, silently saying,

"I'm Sorry."

His voice, it was filled with so much emotions, so much truth, so much love that I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

Slowly and steadily my tears fell down and he gently pushed them away with his thumb.

I felt so guilty right now, I just jumped at him putting my arms around his neck and I buried my face in his chest.

"I'm sorry it's my fault! I should've trusted you all along! It's not your fault you're his brother. I just over reacted! I'm so sorry! Please I'm so sorry! Don't leave me!" I cried on his chest, my want for independence and all that shit gone because I knew I was wrong for ever thinking that.

He was surprised at first when I suddenly jumped into his arms but he calmed soon. A small smile etched his features as he looked above at the stars. He put his arms around me returning the hug warmly.

I wish we could've stayed like that forever but when something suddenly caught my attention, I moved away.

"Your wound! We need to get you to the hospital!" I said in sudden realization.

"It's okay Luce. Look the bleeding stopped a while ago." He said showing me his hand.

And sure enough his hand wasn't bleeding anymore.

"But…" I started.

"No buts Luce. I'm fine. Why don't we look at the stars for a while? That's what I brought you here for!" he said.

"Okay fine but only for a few minutes, k?" I said putting my hands on my hip.

He chuckled and nodded. I smiled.

So we lay there, our backs on the grass for the next half an hour looking at the stars together. I pointed out the constellations I knew of. He listened intently giving me a wide smile at the end of every explanation. But I'm sure he already knew everything I was talking about, I'm sure of it. In the end we kept looking at each other, a comfortable silence between us.

Just then I realized that we'd been there for a lot of time. And even though the bleeding had stopped, his wound still needed help.

So I got up and dusted the grass off my skirt saying,

"Come on it's time to go. Your wound needs help"

He got up saying in a very childish tone,

"Aw Luce can't we stay here for some time more?"

I just chuckled and said,

"No Natsu, it's time to go—"I was going to say home but as I was about to walk, my leg suddenly slipped.

My consciousness was pulling away slowly.

The wind rustled strongly. My hair flew in every direction as the ground beneath me lost its connection with my feet.

I slowly slipped way and into the swallowing depths of darkness.

I could hear Natsu screaming. But I couldn't do anything to stop it. It pained me. I wanted to scream too.

All that tiredness that was there before was slowly catching up as it was pulling me into unconsciousness.

I held out my hand trying to catch Natsu and go back. But I could hardly see.

Slowly, slowly my vision was blurring till I was buried in complete darkness.

Slowly, I was fading away as I fell from the cliff into unconsciousness….

Okay guys! This is where I stop for this chapter! How much time has it been since I last updated? Two weeks maybe? But I got caught up in studies. Seriously I am so sorry guys!

So I wrote this extra long chapter for you guys! I really enjoyed writing this chapter.

So, leave me a review, ne?