The price of a life

He looked at his own feel with shock. He was mentioned in every single page of her diary. It seemed impossible… but it might've been the best logic. Was he her most important thing?

He shook his head. It was impossible. Between them… there was an unspoken and unwritten declaration of war. Ever since they were born. He could easily believe that the first thing they screamed when they were babies were ''Attention, this is war!''. So why… why was it that deep inside the both of their hearts something was bonding them? Why were they somehow differently connected to each other? Something else, something aside hate.

He laughed easily. Thinking about it… they were just the same. She was wrong. He never hated her.

''Witch… ''

''My name is Lollipop.''

''…Lollipop. I am not sure… But I think I found her most important thing.''

She grinned. She was hiding something, but he couldn't tell what.

''Are you sure you want to tell me?''

''I must tell you so you could do your magic, right?''

She raised her shoulders.

''It's your choice. So then, tell me.''

''I think… I think it might be… me. B-But I'm not sure!''

She grinned even wider.

''Very well.''

Suddenly, Lucy's body rose up in the air. Her head fell back, like nothing was holding her in that area. She was surrounded by a calming light.

''Step forward.'' Lollipop said.

He hesitated, but then did as he was told. He felt the warmth of the light.

''What should I do?'' he asked facing the witch who was really enjoying herself. She grinned even wider, if possible. At first, she didn't say anything.

''True love kiss.''

She was really enjoying herself; especially now, when she was Natsu's face turn pale. He stared at her with his big, onyx eyes. Seeing the confusion on his expression, she decided to help him a little.

''Yes. I want you to kiss her.''

Well, they were in the Fairy Tale world. When he eventually found his words, he spoke heavily.

''B-But… it's…t-true love… k-kiss…Um… uh…we… don't l-love each o… other…''

''You don't indeed. But this seems to be the only solution, right?''

''But… how c-could it work if-''

''You never know unless you try, right?''

He glared at her as if it was only her fault.

''You're crazy if you think I'd kiss her.''

Her smile disappeared slowly.

''It's true that I got a little emotional, back there, but there's no way I'm prepared to kiss her, got it?''

''Why are you telling me this? It's you who has to find out the right way and I am here just to help you.''

Outside, the sky was slowly getting brighter. Natsu flinched as he just noticed this. Lollipop saw his expression change and she grinned.

''Oopsie… '' she said ''Looks like you're running out of time.''

''I thought you stopped the time! But anyway, isn't there any other way? And besides, I told you I'm not sure. I mean… it could be her mother, or who knows? Maybe the diary itself!''

She raised her shoulders in an-all-the-same manner.

''As you said, who knows?''

He looked at her hesitantly. He was sweating nervously.

''Damn it!''

He looked at Lucy, squeezing the diary in his hand. With small, unsecure steps, he approached her. He gritted his teeth as he set the pink notebook on her chest. He had the intention to try both of the possibilities. One of them had to work out. Or, at least, he hoped it would.

His fingers glided on the back of her head, slowly raising it to his level. He stared at her face a little scared.

He remembered the day when they were sucked into the portal. He had taken her by her chin and told her grinning that he could steal her first kiss right in that moment. He could easily recall how scared she seemed. She was fighting for this first kiss. It was something important for her. And he didn't know why… but he cared. He cared that he was going to ruin everything she had dreamed. Everyone dreams about their first kiss. He gulped.

He shut his eyes and got closer to her face. Finally, he kissed her on her cheek.

After all, who said true love kiss had to be on lips?

He remained a few seconds in that position. Her skin was cold. He could feel the morning sun rays shining shyly upon them. Was it too late? Or had it been useless?

He heard a soft and sweet groan. He raised his head and looked at the witch. The witch was smiling -after all, she couldn't trick him to kiss her on her lips, it seems like he found out. She didn't look like the one who groaned. While his chest was echoing the rushed beats of his heart, he slowly returned his look to Lucy. The girl had her lips partly opened and she was softly struggling her eyelashes in order to open her eyes. It had worked!

In that moment, he felt so happy he would've threw himself in a hug, but he managed to control himself. He backed up and lent her enough room to wake up for good. Lollipop's magic was vanishing and her body was slowly landing. The witch came herself with a blanket in her hands and placed it on the girl's chest to cover her nudity. Lucy opened her eyes for good and looked around the room. She was trying to get sober. Natsu was smiling happily and he was glad every time he saw her chest rise up and go down as she was breathing. She was alive…

''Lucy…'' he whispered.

The girl looked in his direction, her eyes obviously dizzy. But when she recognized him, they widened with surprise. Why was he so happy to see her?

She tried to raise up, but she couldn't and almost fell back, when Natsu rushed and caught her, helping her stand. She was literally shocked by his actions. She fixed him with her eyes and tried to remember what happened.'

''Are you ok?'' he asked her smiling.

She nodded slowly. All her moves were slow, actually.

''What happened?'' she whispered, but she was already starting to remember.

''You saved my life.'' his smiled disappeared and his eyes fixed the floor. ''Thank you. Now I did my best to save yours.''

He kept shifting uneasily. All his muscles have been flexed ever since that arrow struck (I am so sorry, I just realized the past for 'to strike' is struck, but up until now I kept writing stroke!) her. He kept sweating ;he looked again in her eyes and let his needs lead him. His big and muscled arms caught her in a hug as he rested his head on her shoulder. For the first time in ages, his body relaxed. He breathed in her scent so glad to have her back.

''You have no idea how glad I am you are all right!''

She was shocked and speechless. Natsu… Natsu… actually cared for her! He had been worried for her! She didn't know how to feel. But then, she realized something.

''H-How did you manage to bring me back to life…?'' she said in a whisper.

He let her go and smiled as he pointed to Lollipop. The Lucy looked at her. The witch waved friendly, but Lucy's face was getting even paler than it was now.''

''You have to be careful with your back, sweetheart. That arrow broke your bones and I don't think you are prepared to make sudden moves for now. Watch how you eat and make sure you drink enough water, all right?'' Lollipop advised the girl like an experienced doctor.

Lucy didn't reply. Her face was so white and scared and her eyes so big, it started to worry Natsu.

''What's wrong?'' he asked her.

She turned her eyes toward him. She looked in his eyes like she was begging them.

''Please don't tell me you asked for her help.'' She whispered.

He looked confused.

''I did. She was the one who helped you get back to your life. She saved you.''

''Natsu! She's a witch!'' she tried to convince him.

''So what? Didn't you say she called for you saying she could bring us back?''

''But I never trusted her! Don't you know you should never trust a witch?''

''Why wouldn't you trust her?''

She stared at him with many emotions mixed in her eyes: worry, anger, suffering, sadness.

''Witches never do something for free.''

Natsu frowned. He looked at Lollipop, who probably overheard their little conversation. She was smiling and looking exactly in his eyes while she licked her red lollipop. The same tricky look as the one she had when she asked him if he was sure he wanted to tell her what Lucy's most important thing was. Was it true? Had he been tricked?

''No need to look confused, Natsu, dear.'' the witch said. ''The girl's right. I never do anything for free.''

He froze. The mood completely changed. Lollipop was obviously not friendly anymore and while Lucy was scared, he was worried.

''So it's pay time.'' she grinned. ''Don't say id didn't warn you.''

''Warn?''

''I asked you if you were sure you want to tell me. What her most important this was. Remember?''

He was more and more worried.

''It is a witch's duty not to tell the customer about the consequences before her magic is completed. The customer is, obviously, partly blinded by the terror and desperate need for help in that moment. He asks the witch what could help the dying person ( or dead person ) and the witch says she needs to do a bunch of spells.''

Lollipop started wandering in the room.

''Eventually, the customer finds the dying person's most important thing and uses it in the process of waking up the dead. After this process, the witch is ready to tell the customer the price.''

The witch was seriously enjoying herself. She was exactly like a playfully, but evil kitty.

''And do you know what that price is?''

She stopped in front of Natsu, her face inches apart from his. She grinned.

''The most important thing itself.''

His heart skipped a couple of beats.

''But… then… everything runs out to be…''

''…Worthless. You're right.'' she finished the sentence. ''But only for the revived person.''

Her grin suddenly vanished and she looked disappointed.

''But in our case things turn out to be a little more complicated. We don't know what her most important thing is. You, or the diary.''

Ah. She was right. Lucy looked confused. She didn't understand what Lollipop was talking about.

''And all that's left is to ask the revived person.''

They both turned their looks to Lucy at the same time. Lollipop, somehow patient and Natsu confused, scared, worried and… desperate.

''I... I don't understand…'' Lucy said with much uneasiness.

''Let me tell you this much. We reached the conclusion your most important thing is wither your diary, either this guy here.'' the witch said calmly pointing to Natsu. ''So please tell us with one is your most important thing.''

It took the girl quite a while to understand what Lollipop was talking about. When she eventually did, she blushed furiously.

''O-Of course it's my diary! Every normal girl knows her diary is her most important thing! She writes her life and secrets in there! How blind can you be not to see this?'' she screamed offended.

Natsu didn't really have any reaction, but deep inside, he was a little disappointed. Lollipop was more that disappointed.

''Whaaaaaat?'' she said sadly. ''Awww, that's so baaaad! I thought I would finally get to keep a hot guy!''

Natsu blushed while Lollipop got attached to his arm, starting to cry.

''I've been alone for too much! I want to keep him!'' she cried.

She hugged him tight, pressing her body against his and making him blush even harder. She looked at his face with her huge, teary and begging eyes.

''Please say you'll stay with me! Pleeaaasee!''

He had to admit, it wasn't such a bad offer (especially considering her breathtaking looks), but he must've been crazy if he decided to remain in this world. He smiled uneasily/

''S-Sorry…''

The witch started crying even harder.

Natsu sincerely thanked Lollipop for her services, he apologized because he couldn't make her happy and excused himself and Lucy. Then… they left as fast as they could (at least for a while until she calmed down). Crazy witch!

''Wait!''

Before exiting the cottage, they stopped.

''Lucy, dear, you don't want to go out like that, now do you?'' Lollipop smiled kindly. ''Let me give you a nice dress, all right?''

For a second, Lucy looked at her gratefully, but then flinched and sweated.

''Hold on, aren't you going to ask for something instead?''

Lollipop grinned, but then said softly:

''No. It's ok. For once, I am going to hand it for free.''

Lucy smiled.

''But still, that handsome guy over there could at least give me a kiss.''

….Aaaand her smiled disappeared. Lollipop started laughing.

''Just joking. Come over here.''

She thrust her hand toward Lucy. The girl approached the witch. Lollipop put her hand on the back of Lucy's head and pulled her face into hers, striking her lips against the girl's in a… kiss. Lucy widened her eyes, Natsu chocked and Lollipop smiled under the kiss, enjoying herself along with the amusing mood. Lucy's body started to shine and the blanket fell on the ground. Instead of the ripped dress she had, a beautiful, gothic black dress appeared on her. It was too short in Lucy's opinion, but just perfect in Natsu's opinion. A pair of long black boots appeared on her feet. They reached her knees, but were comfortable. Also, a long black cloak (hey, too much black!) covered her naked shoulders and kept her warm. Everything had happened in a few seconds. The witch finally released Lucy, who was trying to catch her breath with shock. On her cheeks was a light shade of red. Lollipop licked her lips then started laughing hardly, holding her tummy. She seemed like she enjoyed everything.

''Wha- Wha- What in the world d-did-'' Lucy said staring at the witch with her eyes widened.

''This is one of the ways I do my magic.'' She winked and jumped back on the edge of the table, allowing her panties to be in full view.

Great. Lucy just had her first kiss with a girl!

Natsu didn't really know how to react. He giggled and sweatdropped at the same time. He cared so much not to steal Lucy's first kiss and Lollipop just did it without hesitation.

''Ah! That's right! Natsu, don't you need a sword?''

''F-For what?''

''What do you mean for what? Aren't you going on an adventure?''

''H-Huh?''

''Don't you 'huh' me! get advantage of falling into this world and go in an adventure!''

She raised her fist in the air, feeling the spirit of adventures in her blood.

''What are you talking about? We just want to get home, in our own world!''

''Aw, come on! Have some fun! Relax! You don't want to go back to school, do you?''

Lucy frowned and was about to protest, but Natsu thought about it smiling. He opened him mouth to agree as Lollipop approached him, but he didn't have time to say anything. She pulled her lower at her own level by his collar and, catching his mouth opened, she kissed him in a French kiss.

Nobody had time to be shocked. The last thing they both saw was Lollipop grinning and licking her lips.

After that, they found themselves in a cave surrounded by pitch black in that dazzling wonderful morning. For the next few minutes, they didn't say or moved anything. Natsu could still feel his heart race because of the sweet kiss, but because of the silence, he calmed down fast. He tried to hear any sound of Lucy. Was she also there?

''Lucy?''

''Yeah.'' she answered.

Natsu looked around, but couldn't see anything, so he just spaced out like a blind man.

''Cave?'' he asked.

''Yeah.'' she answered again.

He heard her try to get up, but she fell back with a loud 'thud' and 'oww!'. He thrust his hand above him and realized he could easily touch the ceiling while sitting down.

''Where in the world did that witch send us?''

''Somewhere in this world.'' she answered sarcastically.

''Yeah, good to know'' he replied sarcastically. ''I wonder how narrow this place is.''

Pretty narrow; is he thrust both his arms in his sides, he could tough the walls.

''Where are you?'' he heard Lucy's voice echoing from his back.

''In front of you.''

She walked forward, but she was getting further away from him.

''No, wait. I'm on the other side. I'm behind you.''

She turned around cautiously and, with careful steps and touching the ground with her hands all the time, she eventually approached him. He suddenly felt her hand on his back. They both sighed.

''Let's not lose each other, all right?'' she said.

''That would be pretty smart.''

''So where are we going? Forward of back?''

''I don't know. But, for now, let's go forward to see what happens.''

''You mean die of hunger… thirst? Something like that?''

''Please. I'm not in the mood.''

She didn't say anything anymore.

''Grab my cloth and let's go.'' he said.

She did as he said and they started advancing. After a few meters, Natsu suddenly stopped. Lucy bumped in his butt.

''What's wrong?'' she said patting her nose.

''Something's in front.''

''What do you mean?''

''I feel… wind. I think there might be a way out!''

She didn't say anything, then schlepped beside him, over passing him while he wasn't moving.

''Hey! I thought it was wise not to lose each other!''

''Then hurry up!''

After a while, she said:

''Hey, is it just me or is this thing getting narrower?''

''I don't know, it might be just you.''

''But I get the feelin-WAAAAAHHH!''

He flinched as he heard her slip and suddenly she got further with an amazing speed.

''Hey! Are you all ri-GWAAAAAAHH!''

He then realized the ground was suddenly going down like a slide and he couldn't stop himself from falling. He tried, but it was too slippery. They continued screaming, and with a loud 'thud', Lucy suddenly stopped. She screamed harder, this time with pain. Her back wasn't completely healed yet. Natsu realized he was going to stop in something like she did, but he didn't have time to stop. With another loud 'thud', he bumped into Lucy and they both found themselves in a very narrow place where they could barely move. Groaning and moaning, they tried to get back on a normal position, but they couldn't because of each other. All that was heard later was:

''Ouch, wait. Let me move my hand.''

''OWw! Watch it! Get your leg off my stomach, Natsu!''

''I can't move! If only you moved y-''

''OWW! Why'd you hit my head?!''

''I'm sorry! I can't see anything, remember?''

She suddenly blushed.

''WATCH WHERE YOU'RE TOUCHING!''

''Ah, that was your butt?''

''HEY! What are you doing?! I said watch where you're touching!''

He also blushed feeling more than he had to. Suddenly, neither of them said anything anymore. Lucy felt his hot breath on her forehead, really close. That meant… they were momentary on a really weird position.

''C-Can't we go any further?'' Lucy broke the silence with her whisper. Even from her voice you could tell she was blushing madly.

''I can try, but it's gonna hurt you.''

''It's…ok. Try it.''

First of all, he tried to free his left hand and to see if he could feel anything forward. He froze. Yes. A thick, wet wall.

They were blocked. And in a reeeaaaaally embarrassing position.

Well, that's it for now! I hope I wasn't too perverted, but I thought it would be funny… hehehe…he. . .

Anyway. Thank you very much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Please review, I'd really appreciate!