Jeez, you guys! You're so amazing, it's incomprehensible! Really, now. I've exceeded a hundred reviews on USHA! WHOA! And it's all you guys, so I'm really, really happy that I have you. You made that happen!

This chapter is dedicated to five people who caught a mistake that I missed. I accidentally left a paragraph that was meant to be entirely taken out in the last chapter; it was the original version and I had redone it, only leaving that part so that aphrodite931 (wonderful beta!) could see the changes I had made. So, to the five who pointed it out before I had corrected it, thank you so much! They know who they are, but I'll tell the rest of you; lovely ShiningStellar, AkumaNoKiseki, Fairytale Perception, mortalhelix, and an anonymous reviewer who left the name Just A Reviewer. You guys are such lifesavers! That was an embarrassing thing to have happen, and I'm so glad you caught it!

Anyway, I tried to make this chapter longer to make up for that colossal mistake, and just because I feel like I owe all of you guys something since updates will take me longer from here on out due to schoolwork...but for reasons listed at the end, I think it's just normal sized. So, the eighth installment of USHA is here at your disposal; read at your own risk! ^^

The tears fell unbidden after my encounter with Gray. No matter how hard I'd tried to stop them, they coursed down my cheeks, so I just did what I could to ensure that no sound escaped. I wouldn't want my nakama hearing someone crying, because they were kind hearted and would want to know the reasons; reasons I couldn't tell them, for my own selfish reasons. So after those run-ins with Gray, Erza, and Happy, I kept myself confined to my room in an attempt to calm down and work my Layla personality more firmly into place. I tried to assemble my thoughts together in an orderly manner, to recall all that I had revealed in my conversations with the three I'd encountered within the last several hours. For such a relatively short amount of time, I was sure I'd given far too much information about myself to them. They knew the new me even more than Harrah ever had, and I had stayed in the flat above her café for a little over a year.

Lucy, you're such a fool, I berated myself. But now I had my resolve, to leave once more if I let too many personal facts leave my lips. I'd be damned if I broke that resolution, even if keeping it hurt more than anything I'd ever faced before.

Just thinking about it caused me a sharp pain, but I would go through with it. It didn't matter how much my heart cried out for Erza, or Gray, or Happy, or of course how it screamed for Natsu, nor did how much I need them matter. It was all inconsequential now; keeping my true identity a secret from those searching for me was my highest priority right now, and if leaving them behind yet again was the only thing that kept them from finding me out, then it would have to be done with all haste. But for now, I'd still trail them as closely as I could without their knowledge. I would still follow them to be sure that they didn't get themselves killed for my sake because that would hurt far worse. It would rip my heart more easily than leaving them behind ever could, or at least rival that pain.

For a moment, I listened closely to the sounds outside of my cabin, but when I could detect no approaching footsteps, I slid my right glove off to stare at the Fairy Tail marking that still resided there. I smiled softly at the memories that the symbol, emblazoned in pink, brought back to me, then quickly wiped my face of the expression and returned the glove.

I didn't just get rid of that reminder and I had several reasons. Firstly, I had never wanted to leave Fairy Tail-it was the guild of my dreams, after all, and turned out to be just so much more than I could have ever imagined it to be. And second, I wanted it to invoke memories whenever I looked, which it did, and serve as a reminder of the days I'd spent there and those I'd met. But the last of my top three reasons could very well have been the most important.

If I died before working up the courage to go back, to tell my nakama that my real name was Lucy Heartfilia, the pink figure would serve as an easy way of identification. If kindred spirits were to find me after I had passed, and saw that marking, perhaps they would ensure the safe transportation of my body back home, to Fairy Tail, where I could be laid to rest perhaps beside fallen members of years past. And Fairy Tail really was my home, because, as cheesy as it was, my heart resided within all of them rather than within my own chest. The guild was the only thing that could have ever made Magnolia a home to me. Without that building, all the raucous fights and rambunctious mages, the city would have been just a town I passed through, a pointless visit to a worthless place in my unenlightened eyes. And so I was so irrevocably thankful for my days among all those people, and all that they had taught me about life and about living, about how your family among the members was the one thing worth living that life for but also just as worth risking it for, so thankful.

I sighed and sat on my bed, staring at the palm of my gloved hand.

"Mama," I said softly, so softly that the sound didn't even rise above a whisper, "Mama, I'm sorry I haven't been writing to you. It's hard to find the time, but if you were here I could talk to you all the time. And it would be useful now, because your help would be the perfect cure right about now. Everything's getting so confusing and ever since my talk with Harrah back in Reason, I've been lost. I don't' know what's right or what's wrong in this situation! Should I let them know, Mama? Or should I just leave them be, spending their time looking for me in vain?"

I laughed dryly, stretching my hands out and falling back on my bed. The voice that came out was softer than Natsu could make out, even with his enhanced hearing, a fact that had been proven during my time at Fairy Tail. The low tone was already causing a slight scratchiness in my throat, but I chose to keep talking.

"I'm pretty sure I know what the right answer should be but I just can't bring myself to go with it. Aren't I such a coward, Mama? But I guess it doesn't really matter, or it won't for a whole lot longer. I'll be with you again soon, and we can talk about all of this. You can lecture me for making the wrong decisions here. Mama," I sighed again, the simple rushing of breath out seeming amplified tenfold compared to just how quietly I'd been talking. "Mama, I love you. I miss you, but I'll see you soon. I'm almost glad…"

The sad smile that graced my lips briefly was one I wiped just as quickly as it had come. And even if I was going to say more to my mother, the footsteps that had become perceptible out in the hallway would have been quite enough to silence me. The knock started, not at my door but a few down, and I heard, "Miss Scarlet and company, lunch is prepared. We apologize for the delay."

"We will be there momentarily," Erza's voice said, in a tone that left no room for argument.

The informant continued, stopping at the one room in between that of the Fairy Tail mages and mine and called for a Mr. Swarovski. I couldn't hear the man's answer over the sounds of the Fairy Tail mages, or at least Erza and Gray and probably Happy, too, almost stomping down the hall. The footsteps receded in the direction from which the man bringing news of lunch had come.

When the man reached my door, I told him a lame excuse for not going, but it was rational, so that was good. I claimed that I was feeling unwell and that I would just remain behind in my room. He then asked if I would need anything, and I chose to take on the rudest side of Layla for my reply.

"I just need to rest," I said forcefully, frowning and placing emphasis on the last of the words.

"O-Okay," he answered, turning meek and trying to make himself as small as possible while nodding politely before retreating from the room as quickly as he could without bolting. At least he closed the door behind him, so I was pleased. Besides, I was more than content to munch on some of the food that Harrah had packed for me, lathering a slice of her home baked bread with a good amount of the honey that the kindly woman had packed with it. Afterwards, to continue with the calming routine of mine, I picked up my novel and buried myself in it.

It was suppertime before I emerged from my room, and it was only for the briefest time; to make use of the only bathroom that was on the ship and to snag something from the supper laid out by the crew so I didn't so quickly demolish the supply from Harrah. And then I retreated back to my cabin, eating alone, reading a little more, and then falling into a restless sleep.

It was about two in the afternoon, and I looked around frantically, fighting back the surging that fought to break free of the barriers I currently was imposing upon it. It was hard, so much harder than it had ever been before, so I knew it wouldn't feel too good when I let it loose. But before I could even allow myself to succumb to the attacks, I had to make a break for the forest. I had to run deep into the forest in just a short span of time, where not even Natsu's hearing would catch my screams as the Magical Overflow ravaged my form.

There was no sign of the three Fairy Tail mages or Happy out back, behind the café, so I kicked my pace up to a wild sprint. I fairly flew, as though Hades himself was on my heels again, occasional shocks going up my arms or legs visibly, breaking free of my constraints. How I'd learned to suppress the explosions, even the minutest bit, I didn't know, but it was something that had come in handy a few times when I was busy as the feeling struck me. I could postpone the inevitable until I just couldn't bear it anymore and had to bolt into the forest.

Finally, after about five minutes of running non-stop, stabbing and scraping my arms and legs and cheeks and snagging my clothes an branches and bushes and undergrowth, I deemed myself far enough away and before even pausing to really catch my breath, I released the pent-up energy. It pretty much did explode around me, with a lot more force than my last attack had, and a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream escaped my lips. The force of the Magical Overflow this time stripped the trees around me of their bark, brought me to my knees, and started to create a crater around me. Dirt, sticks, leaves, rocks; all flew in a maelstrom around me, cutting me just as easily as the magic energy itself did.

My eyes squeezed closed, I curled in on myself, digging my fingers into my hair and clutching my head so tightly it almost hurt. Almost. Everything else was too overwhelming for me to really even notice the pain of my own fingernails biting into my scalp, or to notice that my wig was losing strands of black hair.

The attack was my longest by far, rendering me hoarse by the time it was over, leaving me gasping, almost weeping, in the crater I was laying in. I had to use my breathing exercise, struggling to bring calm to myself in order to pick myself back up. It took fifteen minutes to gather strength enough to stand, and I stumbled immediately upon gaining my feet. I reached out, catching hold of a bare tree branch that was partially splintered, and I winced. But this? It was nothing compared to the aching of my body. My clothes hung in tatters, barely covering me where it was decent to be covered. I stood anyway and began to stumblingly make my way back to the village, where I slipped in the café's back door, caught a glance of Harrah's which was filled with shock and pity and the desire to help, but I weakly waved her toward the front room and used the kitchen's steps up to my room so that I wouldn't catch attention of whoever was in the restaurant. Especially if one of them would be Erza.

I hurried to rub my magic salve onto my wounds and drank a herbal concoction to bring my voice back before donning fresh clothes and tossing the others and then taking a few minutes to get my strength back. And then I returned to the café portion of the building to help Harrah.

It was that night I learned that Team Natsu was leaving the next day.

I woke, frowning at the dream that was merely a memory of my most recent attack, the day before yesterday. They tended to be about five days apart up until this point, and the others had merely been three. I hoped it was enough time to get off the boat, and if not I would run and jump off of the vessel even if it would make Aquarius attempt to come out. But the possibility of an attack was unlikely for now so I wouldn't dwell on it.

Looking at a clock, I saw that it was still the middle of the night, so I rolled over and went back to sleep, dreamless this time.

When I woke for the second time, it was an hour before we were due to make port in the largest harbor town in all of northern Fiore. I was able to make myself somewhat presentable, even if it didn't matter as much as it used to; if I went back to Fairy Tail, I'd probably revert to caring more about how I looked. The way things were, I doubted I'd be going back unless I was in a casket or a body bag, as dreary as that outlook was. But it was the truth, or so I hoped fervently.

I read some more of my novel after my very short morning ritual of getting ready, waiting for the knock at my door that would tell me we were nearing shore. And, as usual, that tapping of wood came when the book is getting the most interesting, so it was with regret that I shoved the book into my single suitcase and carried it with me to the door. I felt the need to glance around the room, so as I reached the door, nodding to the crewmember (who was different from the one I frightened yesterday, I noted), I turned and cast a quick glance around the cabin. I spied nothing of mine and promptly turned and left it and my crewmember guide behind.

At the other end of the deck, I spotted the group of Fairy Tail mages, with the pink haired one dangling over the side and looking rather green in the face. I was proud of myself when I managed to keep my lips from even twitching into a grin. I would allow few slipups from here on out and one way of slipping up would be to let that small sign of a smile show.

I averted my gaze from the group of four (Happy was on Gray's head, watching Natsu with big, frowning eyes) and turned my eyes toward the town we were nearing. From then on, I wouldn't let myself glance back at my former nakama, not until we were all off the boat. There was a bookstore in town that I wanted to visit, since last time I'd been there had been a good year and a half ago, and it had seemed like a really good store. It had even had some rare books, which is why I found it easy to focus on thinking about the bookshop rather than my friends. Although the group of four was always on my mind, I could, just barely, keep myself from casting longing looks in their direction.

Miraculously, the last five minutes on the vessel passed with no mishaps, and I was the first one bolting down the ramp to the docks, making myself melt into the bustling crowds as quickly as it was possible to disappear. I heard a shout of "Layla!" from somewhere behind me, but I acted as if I had heard nothing, dodging deeper into the throngs. I rounded a corner into the city proper and paused only briefly to shake the strange feeling I got from ignoring Erza's call before I continued up the street I'd turned onto. A few glances told me I was actually near the store I had liked on my last visit, and so I adjusted my feet so I was walking toward it. I turned right on one street and walked about four buildings down before turning left. It was the last building on the end of this short street, on the far curve of the cul-de-sac. It was an awesome and fairly old three story house, the third floor of which was home to the owners. The bottom two floors were for all of their vast stock for sale, and I could easily say I loved it.

The bell rang as I stepped inside the well-lit entry room. At a desk by the door sat a girl who looked about seventeen, and I recognized her as the girl who'd been there the last time I'd visited the shop.

"Welcome!" she beamed at me, then looked closely, and then said, "Hey, you're that girl from like, almost two years ago! Aren't you? The one who paid a hundred thousand jewel for the rare first edition of…I forget the book, actually. But it is you, right? L…L…Ugh! I can't remember your name!"

How does she remember me? I found myself wandering, looking at the girl. I hadn't caused a ruckus, or done really anything to attract attention at that point in time. I'd come in, found the book I wanted, and flinched at the price tag. It was actually 107,364 J for that book, but it was a first edition of a classic that was fast becoming impossible to find. I couldn't pass it up. So I'd pulled out my wallet and the then fourteen year old girl and gaped as I sat the money in front of her.

"What?" I asked the person staring at me. She was around fourteen, if my guess was on the money. "Do I have something on my face?"

I wanted her to stop that look, because it was kind of creepy. Her bright eyes trailed down to the book, then back up, and she asked, "A-are you sure you want this? It's more than Dad pays for our house!"

"Are you supposed to try to talk paying customers out of making a purchase?" I asked her, pretending to put my wallet back. I was trying out a persona that I called 'Layla Heart'. Layla, in my mind, was a badass delinquent chick who was practically unapproachable. If I succeeded in making people think I was like that, then wouldn't I be safe from discovery? I had to admit, though, that acting like a bad person really did hurt. I felt like I was tearing myself apart, virtue by virtue.

"No, no, no, no, no!" she placed emphasis on the last no. "I didn't mean-don't let me stop you! I was just…uh, stating my opinion! I wouldn't be able to afford something like that…so, yeah. B-by all means, buy it, Miss…?"

"Layla," I said shortly, dropping the money on the counter and picking up the book. "Remember it or forget it, doesn't really matter to me, anyway."

With those words, I walked out of the door.

Between that visit to the store and this one, I had changed my look numerous times. At that time, I'd also been sporting a black wig, although it was a little longer than my current do and was in a more outlandish style, with green and purple streaks. After that, I'd gone to a brunette wig in a punk style that just didn't get my delinquent desire across well enough. When that didn't work, I tried white-blonde with pink and red streaks, and I liked that one more, but then I got the drug addicts after me, so I ditched that look. From there, I went to six or seven different styles, but then reverted to the black punk wig, this time shorter than before, and donned the attitude and style of Layla and stayed with it.

But damn it, I thought. She'd actually recognized me.

"Is it important?" I tried to look bored and unconcerned. I'd acted pretty uninterested last time I'd visited the shop, but I hadn't been able to resist stopping by. One of my favorite books had come from this shop, way back when I was with my nakama still. In fact, I hadn't even bought it here. It had been bought for me.

"Luce," Natsu whined, trailing behind me. "Where are you going? We should go back home! I'm bored and our job's over! Luce!"

"There's a really nice bookstore around here," I said, my excitement leaking out. If excitement had been a tangible thing, like a liquid substance, it would have been oozing from every orifice of my body. "It's the third best in the entire kingdom! I would be a fool if I didn't visit it at least once, and since we're here, why not?"

My gaze suddenly darkened then, and I rounded on the pink haired guy behind me.

"W-what is it, Luce…?" Natsu shrank back at the Erza-esque glare that I was directing at him. His magical prowess had just reminded me that fire and paper were not a good combination, and I thought I would give him a sound warning.

"If you so much as even think about starting a fire while we're in that store, you will rue the day you were born," I hissed darkly, leaning closer and pulling him with his scarf. "I swear if I see so much as a spark come from your mouth, your fingers, or any part of your body, I will drag you outside and you will stay there until I'm done, do you understand? And I promise you that I won't go on any jobs with you for three months if you screw this up! Wait, never mind that-I'll tell Erza! Or maybe you can just stay out here and wait for me, to eliminate any chances of you being an idiot and burning the whole place down."

"No! I'm coming!" Natsu cried, trying to loosen my grip on his scarf. "I understand! No fire! N-not Erza! Luce, c-can't breathe-"

I let him go quickly, angry for letting my emotions get away from me like that. I tugged his scarf for him, loosening it (because it had tightened when I'd grabbed the end to pull him closer for my threat) so that it didn't constrict his windpipes so badly. I felt guilty, but hey; maybe this way he'll take my warning seriously. He seems to understand lessons that involve the infliction of physical pain.

A nearly exasperated sigh escaped my lips, and I haphazardly threw my hands up. I don't know whether I was more irritated with the pink haired guy or with myself. Looking down at him, at the pitiable lump he made on the ground, I couldn't really help myself.

"C'mon, flame boy," I said, reaching out a hand. He looked up and blinked innocently, like a child, but grasped my outstretched hand anyway. I helped him to his feet and, almost apologetically, smoothed out the wrinkles of his scarf that my grip had caused. An apology rose to my lips, but on pausing to think about it, I realized that it just didn't need to be said. Natsu could read me like I read books, so he must already know I was sorry for it. There was just this bond between the two of us that rendered verbal admissions of remorse completely inconsequential. So I retracted my hands and turned my back on the dragon-slayer. A few steps later, I turned and looked at him, asking (in a much nicer tone than I would have used a few minutes earlier), "Are you coming?"

He coughed once, but turned an expression with a raised eyebrow on me and said, "Are you all right, Luce? Weirdo."

I sighed and stopped freaking out about it. Obviously he was already back to normal, so I needn't have been so worried about accidentally almost choking him. Even if I did still feel bad about it.

"Whatever," I said in defeat, waving my hand dismissively in the air, "let's just go in. And remember what I said, or you'll regret it!"

I heard him gulp, and both he and the so far silent Happy said, "Aye!"

I felt like Erza for a moment, and was pleased that I could get them to be as frightened as Erza could. Perhaps it was a bit demented to be pleased of that fact, but I was. After all, how many people can affect Natsu Dragneel, Salamander, like the Titania can? Or affect Gray the same, for that matter. It was kind of…okay, really awesome! Maybe if I could scare the guys as much as she did, I could get as strong as her?

…Okay, that one was wishful thinking. But to be even half as strong as her would be cool, too.

The bell above the door chimed as I pushed it open, and a wide grin spread across my face. A girl of about thirteen sat behind a counter, and grinned.

"Welcome! Is there anything I can help with, or are you just here to look around?"

"I…we'll just look around for a while…" I said, awestruck as I roamed farther into the book strewn building. Natsu and Happy trailed behind, not fully appreciating the tomes as I was, not understanding how enthralled I could be by all the tales that were all around me. The two remained silent, however, as I browsed leisurely through the magnificent collection available for the purchaser to own.

A half an hour had passed and I meandered up the stairs, with the two still following silently behind. I glanced occasionally at them, even in my ink and paper induced high, to ensure that they were keeping their word and not starting any fires.

What do I find on the second level, though, but a collection of stories written by mages for mages? I was instantly in love. I turned and gushed facts to Natsu that he probably didn't understand, but I couldn't help it. I pointed out the section of novels by Kemu Zaleon, A.K.A. Zekua Melon, and told him all about the books I'd read by him and how amazing they were. I also mentioned that it was the guy whose son had made us go to Duke Everlue's mansion all that time ago. Then I pointed out the autobiography of another mage and explained all about him and what he'd done, and how I found his particular branch of magic interesting. And then I found the folk tales, rewritten for the enjoyment of mages. All the princess stories, with even more magic involved than usual! It was a fairytale lover's dream. I told Natsu as much as I fingered the binding of a book I'd wanted for a while. It was an anthology most of the best princess stories that had been written by mages. Levy had told me all about it. I desperately wanted a copy of my own but was too proud to ask Levy to borrow her copy. After looking at the price however, I cut off my gushing to Natsu and pulled my hand away.

"Well, let's get going," I said softly, and turned to leave the shop, smiling at the preteen clerk as I stepped out. I was at the other side of the cul-de-sac before I started to turn to tell Natsu that he didn't have to be quiet anymore. I couldn't even turn around before I heard him call out.

"Hey, Luce, wait!"

I looked to see him just exiting the store, and at first the worst came to mind; had he caught something on fire at the last possible minute? But the thought was dashed when no flames licked around the wood and the young clerk didn't come running out, screaming. It didn't take long for Natsu to reach me, hardly breathing heavily from his exertion.

"What took you so long?" I asked, seriously confused. "You were right behind me a minute ago."

"H-here," he said, an uncharacteristic hitch in his voice as he avoided looking at me. He held out a paper package with a stamp from the bookstore on it, and my eyes widened.

"You bought something?" I asked incredulously. "What for?"

"W-what for? Didn't I just say, 'here'?" he flailed like I had done earlier. "It's for you!"

I blinked once, twice, then felt my face heat up and I asked, just to reiterate, "You bought a book for me?"

"Yes!" he said, throwing his hands up as Happy flew over with a fish-where did he get that?-and agreed with his traditional,

"Aye!"

Noticing the light pink on his cheeks, I giggled and threw my arms around the dragon-slayer in gratitude, thanking him. I hadn't even looked at what book it was yet, but it was sure to be one of my favorites since Natsu of all people had been the one to buy it. And whenever something had him involved, I found that something extremely hard to dislike. The book was probably uncomfortable on the back of his neck and head, where it was clutched because of my hug, but he could deal with it for a few seconds. I couldn't help but let my arms linger around him a few moments longer than was necessary.

"L-Luce!" he protested weakly.

"Thank you," I said, letting him go and smiling at him, a little bit shyly. I felt like a grade school kid again, but for some reason the thought didn't bother me. I stepped back from Natsu a little bit and held the book to my chest, looking away. "Anyway, let's go home now, 'kay?"

"Y-yeah."

"Aye!" said Happy, before I heard him say in a softer voice to Natsu, "She li~kes you!"

I didn't even have the heart to deny the statement, and settled for pretending that I hadn't even heard it. I heard Natsu say something, but he had the sense to say it in a more quiet tone, and I was almost sad I couldn't hear.

Later that same night, back in my apartment, I sat staring at the book that lay in the midst of the brown paper wrappings in awe. It was the one I'd wanted for a long time, with the princess stories, the one that was a higher price than I could bring myself to pay. It was as much as my apartment's rent was, and even exceeding that price, so I had forced myself to be practical and bypass the tome. Yet here it lay, bought and paid for by Natsu of all people, and I thought I was about to cry.

"Hey, Luce!"

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, I recalled and I looked up as he jumped in through the window, sitting cross-legged on my bed, the book between us.

"Whatcha up to?"

I looked up at him and probably shocked him or scared him from the tears in my eyes, if the look on his face was anything to judge by. But I smiled at him, and he relaxed a little, though he remained confused. I hadn't moved an inch when he'd arrived, but now I lunged forward and clasped him tightly around the waist, my cheek pressed up against his warm chest.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I repeated almost like a mantra, squeezing him tighter each time I said the words. His arms reached around me to hug me back after a while, and it was a good five minutes or so before I realized that I was practically in his lap and got embarrassed at the position. I leapt back and apologized profusely, but he just scratched the back of his neck and dismissed it, cheeks oddly pink...again.

It was the next week that we went on that fateful mission and the next month I found out I was fated to die.

You want the good news or the bad news first? I'll go ahead and give you the good news; this chapter was originally a lot longer than usual!

The bad news? (Not that it's really, really bad or anything). The bad news is; The original version of this chapter was longer, but it was suggested that I split it into two. I hope to have the second part up by Wednesday, but I want to make a few tweaks first. Haha.

So, thanks for reading, and I hope it tides you over for a while xD

R&R because two days ago was my 18th birthday? Pretty pweeeeese?