~\Chapter 4/~
~**Maybe I'm Scared**~
\****/
"Mommy?"
Lucy looked down at her daughter who was looking back at her in confusion. "Shoyuu…" she nearly forgot about her.
"Mommy…?" Levy piped in, Lucy stiffening as she faced back to the script mage, her eyes meeting with wide ones. "Lu-chan…don't tell me…"
Levy was cut off as a familiar voice called out, freezing Lucy down to her core.
"Lucy?"
Slowly, she turned around, and saw him.
Her eyes widened when they landed on his dark, smirking face. "Is that supposed to be our daughter?"
Lucy couldn't stop trembling in fear as he neared along with his devious expression, clutching her daughter tightly as if her life depended on it. "G…go away…"
As she said that the surroundings around her turned pitch black. The guild hall, Cana, Levy, Master, Mirajane, everyone, they all disappeared leaving her in a void full of emptiness as Natsu continued to approach. And suddenly, his smirk widened.
Lucy gasped and looked down.
'Shoyuu—!'
"Looking for this?" Lucy swiftly looked up and saw her daughter in his arms, unconscious. She snapped and stood up, tears furiously running down her cheeks. Natsu sneered at her, "I'm keeping her, after all, I wouldn't want her to—"
To…
…to what?!
TELL ME!
TELL ME NOW! –
"Lucy!"
Lucy opened her eyes.
"Sho—!"
"WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?!" Carol asked furiously, shaking her back and forth the world ended up spinning. "THROWING YOURSELF LIKE THAT – ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"
"Carol-nii—!"
"Don't you 'Carol-nii' ME!" The martial artist practically had falls from his mouth from yelling at the blonde, the latter trying to hold her head in an attempt to control her dizziness. She quickly pulled back, however, when she felt her hair was wet, and suddenly she realized that her entire body was soaked up as well. Carol looked down at the blonde – still enraged – as she soaks in the current situation, until she asks what happened. The green-haired man started shouting again, "What do you mean what happened?! YOU were the crazy one! Ask YOURSELF what happened!"
"Carol-nii, I'm serious, first off where's Shoyuu?" Shoyuu…Lucy's heart banged in her chest. Carol was about to yell again, when Lucy heard the faintest sound of a snore coming from the corner of the room. It was Shoyuu, sleeping peacefully with her head against the wall. Lucy sighed in relief.
She was fine…her daughter was fine…wait.
Carol watched as Lucy suddenly stiffened, but he couldn't care less as he yelled, "Do you know how much trouble you've put us into?!", he points to himself and the little girl, who Lucy noticed was soaked wet as well, "You could've killed yourself! You know, it wouldn't have been a problem but noooo, you grew unconscious! And now look! I don't think you'd still be her—what was that?"
Lucy was mumbling something, Carol frowned. "Lushin what are you saying?"
"…can't…" He was about to repeat when she spoke up again, "I can't remember…"
He fumed, "Don't be stupid! Who in their right mind would forget pulling that kind of stunt?! Sure Lucy," The blonde cringed, Carol had been addressing her by her actual name, with sarcasm, he really must be mad at her, "Sure you'd forget. What you did? Forget it? Maybe you've actually hit your head somewhere in the bottom of that river."
"River…"
"Oh my go—LUCY!" Carol shook her shoulders again, "You really did forget?! Huh?! Did ya?! Then let me refresh your memory— YOU THREW YOURSELF INTO THE F**KING RIVER!" He breathed in, then continued, "Oh, and you know what else you did?! Huh, you know? No? Well, let me tell ya that too— YOU, OF ALL TIMES, WENT UNCONCIOUS BY THE TIME YOU FELL ON THE F**K-A*S WATER! ON A 70-FEET DEEP RIVER! FOR A SECOND THERE, I THOUGHT YOU WERE A CRAAZY BIT*H, BUT GUESS WHAT GIRL? YOU ARE!"
Carol was already panting by the time he finished. Lucy had her head down, but her hands were trembling, too much that it was as if she was failing at holding the sheets that covered her. "I'm…I'm sorry…"
The mage scoffed, "You better be, you got me scared sh*tless," he sighed and sat beside her, patting her head. "Ya know, if I haven't found you as soon as you jumped, you would have been dead by now."
"Shoyuu…" Lucy looked at him beside her, frowning, "…did…did she…?"
Carol hesitated, but that gave it away as soon as Lucy's face turned to horrified. He sighed, "Don't worry about it. She was saved too…"
"Thank goodness…but…" Lucy suddenly had that look on her face…that look where Carol was sure about being serious in, "do you think that…the reason I blacked out was because of…her?"
He didn't get it at first, but as soon as Shoyuu got noticed by the corner of his eye, he stiffened. "You mean…?"
"She tried to come…" Lucy mumbled. Her head fell into her palms, "She tried to get out…she—" She didn't have the strength to finish her sentence. The moment that happened, she jumped out of the bed she was laying down in and ran to her daughter, hugging her with all the gentleness and might she could give. The sleeping child reacted by stirring, but she didn't wake up. "You little brat…Carol-nii…"
"…yeah?"
"…she tried to call her didn't she?"
"…"
Lucy let go of her and stood up, facing towards Carol, "She jumped after me didn't she?" She walked towards him, stomping each step. "She can't swim. She couldn't save me, she couldn't do that, not without her help. And there's one more thing…you can't swim either."
The martial artist scratched his head. "Well, that much is obvious…"
"Then…who saved us?"
The two friends had a stare-off. Lucy was giving him a look that stated just enough for him to understand, Carol was merely just trying to stare her down, because he knew she wouldn't like the answer to that question.
"Do you wanna know where we are first?"
Lucy frowned.
"Where?"
"…the Fairy Tail guild."
Murmurs were being exchanged everywhere in the guild hall concerning Lucy's return.
Mirajane watched from the bar as everybody talked about how glad they were with the blonde home, sending each other smiles. Some, however, who learned about the recent incident, were giving out concerned or worried looks, and would often face towards the guest room door where they knew she was in. The barmaid sighed.
The person she least expected to be gone…
She shook her head and looked at Levy. The little script mage was pacing around, trying to remain calm even as she knew that the hair on her skin were standing on end. She couldn't stop thinking about how a certain blonde just suddenly ran out of the guild with the kid. And what that kid called her…her pace got quicker.
The white-haired beauty nudged the rugged man that was staring into space at the end of the bar. He was startled, but he didn't complain when Mirajane gestured for the bookworm. The iron-dragon slayer gave her a look, and she gave him a look back, it was him that ended up walking over to the panicked girl.
"Hey Shrimp," Levy looked up at him for a second, then went directly back to pacing. "Oi, don't ignore me,"
"Leave me alone Gajeel," The bluenette said, chewing on her nails as she continued to pace. "I don't have time for this…"
"Well, if you can find the time to waste your time walking around without a destination then you can find the time to talk to me," This time, Levy paused and made a surprised look at Gajeel. She can't help but smile a little, she knew he was forced to talk to her, but it surprised her more that he was actually trying. So he actually changed a little, not just his hair. "So? Talk. Tell me all about your woman head,"
Levy stuck her tongue out at him, "Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean my head's always full of problems," she sighed as she leaned against the wall, crossing her arms and looking down at her sandals. It became silent, and Levy could feel the pressure coming back to her.
"Ya know, your hair still looks the same…" Levy's head jerked up at the sudden sentence, "Actually, everything about you is still the same…well, you certainly haven't changed at all."
"Well, just because you changed your hair and a bit of your attitude doesn't mean I have to too," She rolled her eyes, the man chuckled.
"Pft, please don't." Levy wasn't expecting that response, and felt a little insulted and was about to point it out when he continued, "Actually, I'd rather that you stay that way. Everybody around here has changed, a lot, even me, and that ain't really nice to notice. Yer still the same as always, never changed a bit. It's like one piece of the old times we've had before stood ground since that incident happened. You know, be glad, people like you have the ability to still keep this dumb ol' place together,"
Levy wanted to smile, but she couldn't as she said, "Gajeel…that isn't true. I have changed too. In fact, I think I've changed more than anybody in this guild ever did. What's worse is that I've been isolating it, leaving it a lot more often than I should, going to places further away that didn't even have any meaning to them than just working. I've put work before my family…I've never done that before, I've changed and you're wrong. I don't have the ability to keep this guild together, if anything , I could tear it apart…I could…" She gripped her hands into fists, she didn't want to cry, not now. Not anymore, not when he's watching.
Gajeel sighed and ruffled her hair, the bluenette's eyes widening at the gesture, "Ya know, you doubt yourself too much…" He directed his eyes at her for a second, but her expression didn't change, so he continued, "You love the guild." Levy looked up at him in surprise, "Ya love Fairy Tail, and I know you, you wouldn't miss it for the world. You still return don't ya? That doesn't change anything – this is still your home, you return to your home when you miss it. Also…don't ever think that you changed just because of bunny girl…" Gajeel looked down at her, "You care for her more than anything, you've always had from the beginning and look, everybody still remembers her because of you. If it weren't for you, people would have forgotten who she even was by now. You kept Lucy connected to Fairy Tail Shrimp. So don't ya see?"
By this point, Levy had her mouth stretched into a wide grin, "Thanks Gajeel…I feel better now, so you can go get your fifty jewels."
"Look, I wouldn't have gone through all that speech crap for just fifty,"
Levy laughed.
"You idiot…" She giggled a little more, before her expression changed again, this time into concern, "Well Gajeel, you do know…I'm not the only one keeping her connected to Fairy Tail…"
Both heads simultaneously faced into the guild doors, and Gajeel sighed.
Outside the guild, leaning on a nearby tree was the young pink-haired man, watching the sky. A certain wind dragon slayer came to mind, and so did the word healing. Healing…he blew out a breath.
"Hey Natsu!" His view of the sky was blocked by a sudden shade of blue, which Natsu found odd until he realized that it was actually Happy. Natsu sat up, smiling at the cat.
"Hey buddy."
"That was mean! Leaving me back there like that. My wings wouldn't be able to keep up with you if you suddenly disappear you know?" Happy whines, flopping into Natsu's hair. He could feel the cat stirring around for a few seconds, before it asked, "Hey Natsu? Why is your hair wet?"
"Hmm…"
"Please—!"
"T-Thank you Mister!"
"W-Wait!"
He shrugs. "…who knows?"
Happy eyed him weirdly, but just shook it off as well and laid down with the young man in silence.
After a few minutes, Happy started talking again, "Hey Natsu, is it true? That Lucy's really back?" Natsu didn't answer, but Happy kept going, "I was excited about seeing her again, bit Wakaba said something about not being allowed to see her. So unfair! I wanna see Lushy too!" Happy crossed his arms and made an unhappy face, but even as he kept whining, Natsu didn't make a single sound.
Happy noticed, because after a while he asked, "Natsu? Are you okay?"
Natsu nodded, "Yeah I'm fine…"
No, he wasn't. How would he be? She killed him inside, giving him that smile. He knew that kind of smile, and it was the kind that people showed to the ones they hate. She hates him. Does she? He's not even sure anymore, and it didn't help how she just suddenly…ran off, just as they saw each other again.
Everything was not okay.
"You know, you can always talk to her." The cat poked at his shoulder. "I don't think there' anything wrong with that…"
"You wouldn't understand Happy…"
"Well, sometimes I wish I do," Natsu watched him as he flew to the ground and kicked at rocks, "Everybody's growing up and I'm still like this, like a little kid. That's probably why Carla still doesn't accept my fish,"
"Don't be like that,"
Happy looked up at Natsu, and they both shared a look.
"You're so stupid Natsu."
"…I know,"
They smiled at each other.
But the moment was short lived when a shout from inside made Natsu pale.
"Lucy's gone?!"
"Mommy…are we really going to go back?" Shoyuu asked, a bit sleepy as she held her Mother's hand. They were trying to move through crowds and find their station.
Lucy hesitated, "Yes honey, we have to, Carol-nii already gave us the tickets, it'd be a waste," She didn't know what to say next, so she left it at that.
"But Mommy—"
"Let's just go home honey."
"That was a guild right?" Lucy paused, "That was a guild, where we stayed? Fairy Tail?"
"Shoyuu, let's just go home."
"But I like it there Mommy. The people there are so kind, like Master. Did you know that pretty girl with the white hair? She gave me free milk! And the short girl with blue hair, she was really cute, I liked her. Who else…" Lucy took this opportunity to run towards their station when suddenly, "Oh yeah! Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know that mister with the pink hair?"
Lucy stopped in her tracks.
"Shoyuu dear, how do you know this mister?"
Shoyuu sent her a puzzled look. "Didn't you know Mommy? He was the one that saved us! He was so cool!" Lucy's cheeks were on the verge of turning red, but as soon as Shoyuu took something out from her duffel bag, every single part of her body froze. "Look, look! Look what he gave me!"
Lucy's face turned white.
It was his scarf.
"Mister gave it to me after he saved me from the river because I was freezing so badly, but I told him to give it to you instead, because you were shaking in your sleep." Shoyuu held the scarf in her hands, and wrapped it around Lucy's neck, surprising the blonde. "He was really weird, being so gentle when he put it on you like that and carried you to the guild. He was so kind Mommy and…I kind of feel bad for not returning that to him…"
Lucy could only stare at her daughter in shock.
Natsu…the Natsu that hurt her, and who she knew was only gonna break her again upon contact…saved her? She couldn't believe it. All his actions were lies, his words were lies, so did he just do those things because Shoyuu was there? Because she was the kid who really needed the saving?
But…for him to do that, he would have to know…
Lucy shook her head.
He can't know. There's no evidence for him to see.
She stiffened. No evidence for him to see…yet.
If she really did try to get out then he'll find about Shoyuu.
But how could she possibly solve all these things when her daughter wants to stay?
All these thoughts were swirling inside Lucy's head, that she didn't realize how her daughter wasn't in front of her anymore. It was when she looked up when she realized what was going on.
"Loke?!"
The lion spirit saluted at her. "Heyo." He was carrying Shoyuu by his shoulder, the latter giggling. He took a ring of keys from his pockets and Lucy's mouth gaped open. "My old apartment—!"
Loke grinned at her and gestured at the kid, "So…whaddya' say?"
RR:
nico2883: Ahaha…no proper meeting yet, I'm sorry, but we'll get there, in the next chapter. You'll see :)
serioushugsies: Ahaha thanks! Here you are, hope you enjoyed :3 I hope you'll keep looking forward to it even though I'm basically a loser TwT
: THANK YOU! Here it is, continued and to be continued :D
FANFIC lover: I hope this chapter didn't disappoint you, they did meet though…kinda. But I hope you'll keep reading :)
jessiecantcope: Sarcasm? I dunno…but thanks anyway :)
Mia Anime: I appreciate your help, but that's actually how I put it. It's intentional. I can't really put when it was or where, maybe when, but not where. It'll spoil almost half of the story. I'm sorry if it gets you confused, I'll try to make it in italics maybe? If that's okay with you. But thanks anyway, for your opinion and review! :D
Guest(1): THONKS :P
Niyah606: EHEHEHE :3
fanakatsuki: Yeah she does, but not in this chapter :P Sorry, but I hope you'll keep reading and thanks!
FairyTail555: HERE U GO! :)
Guest(2): Here you go, updated. Although I'm sorry if it's not what you expected…
FutureMageOtaku99: Hahahaha XD You made me laugh hehehe. Anyway, here's the update. Sorry if it's not what you expected.
Kaisling: continued :)
Sorry for the suuuuuuuper late update plus the suuuuuuuuuper stupid chapter. I might be wrong, but I was thinking that you guys were expecting something else…ahaha, sorry, Lucy's a coward :P (jk, I'm the coward…)
Anyway, please review nd thanks for reading!
-K-