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Twenty-First Wish:
Memory of Parting

"Then . . . how about we make a deal?"

After staring at each other as if trying to burn a hole in each's heads, Loki finally smirked as he came up with an idea.

"N-Natsu . . ." Happy called out worriedly. He knew that devil's smile was up to no good.

"What are you up to? You think you can trick me to one of your schemes again?" Natsu answered in a guarding manner. He won't let what happened with their previous deal happen again.

"Tricks? I've always been straightforward with what I wanted. What schemes? I demand what I need and been clear cut with my contracts unlike a certain thief who just wanted to use Lucy" he replied with a smile.

"Like hell I'm going to have a deal with you" Natsu clenched his fist.

"Why not? Our goals coincide isn't it? You want to get your princess. I want to get my princess. We both wanted this contract to finish and the sooner we done it, the better, right?" he said with that impish grin. "No matter how you think about it, helping each other is the best route."

Natsu glared at Loki. He could never bring his self to trust this guy's words. Of course, it's a given that this celestial is full of tricks, but . . . no matter how much he thought about it, what this man said was true. Finishing the contract was indeed mutual benefit for the both of them. That was what his rationale concluded.

But would she like the contract to finish?

He was startled at the thought. Why would I think that? Of course, the only thing that genie wanted was to fulfill her own promise. It's mutual profit for everyone . . . so why does he feel so much distress over this?

Thinking about it hard, it may be just due to his bad blood with the creep. After all, they never got along since day one.

But in order to survive in this world . . . one must learn to make use of everything . . . even if it's your worst enemy . . .

Such was the knowledge he learned after living in the darkness of the slums in his life. One must learn to fake smiles and push away one's own personal thoughts in order to live in this harsh and cruel world. People just can't have everything they wanted in life. So without further ado, he decided to go along with it. It was for the sake of everyone, anyway. He swallowed his hatred.

He sighed.

"As much as I hate to say this, it seemed that you can make the process much faster and help. I doubt that girl really knows anything about "love" and I have no clue on how to find that "guy" she was searching for" he admitted. "Since you are always stalking her, you must at least know who was this person she was searching for, right?"

They stared at each other immensely as if trying to burn down each other.

. . .

After much silence, Loki sighed. "At least we are on agreement and you are mostly correct, but I have to clarify you on something so there won't be misunderstandings. . ."

"Huh?" Natsu was surprised that this creep wouldn't want him to misunderstand the deal.

A bead of sweat ran down from Loki's temple as he pursed his lips, quite ashamed and disappointed to deliver the news.

"I also have no idea who he is. . ."

"What?"

Outside, Lucy was watching the sunrise as she balanced herself on top of a wall. Somehow, watching the orange and purple scene had filled her with melancholy. The sun, slowly appearing from the horizon, casted its light at the waters of the sea and the town, heralding a new day. . .

How beautiful. . .

Watching the scenery, she couldn't help but think this way. Yet, at the same time, she couldn't help but feel hollow inside. It was as if that there was a hole in her heart, a dark space she couldn't fathom or understand. What is this feeling?

"How come you don't know!?"

Natsu yelled indignantly. Out of everyone, he was expecting this man to have the answers they were seeking of.

Loki looked at him seriously, unfazed. "It's part of our deal" he admitted. "She doesn't remember, but she agreed to have her memory taken away if I also forget about the boy. . ."

Now, Natsu was confused. As far as he remembered, those memories were precious to her. Why would she want to throw it away? Why does she want the creep to also forget?

It was obvious that she holds those memories as treasure. It's to the point that no one can remove the memories of him deep inside her heart even if they tried. She wouldn't give those away easily.

What on earth happened?

Lucy's eyes widened as a memory flashed through her.

It was in this sea where she parted with the boy. . .

This was the place where she last saw him. . .

"I'm sorry . . . "

She remembered the warm tears filling up the hazel eyes of her younger self. She was in tears as she held on to the boy. But the boy was relentless.

"If you're sorry then you should take responsibility!"

Knowing the words that Natsu wanted to ask, Loki shrugged.

"Who knows? All I remember was the events that transpired, but the face or identity of the person was taken away" Otherwise, I might have killed that person already. "Not that it matters, it's a good thing that she doesn't remember . . . after what he did to her . . ."

His fist clenched so tightly to the point it was shaking.

"What . . . he did . . ?"

Loki glanced at him very coldly.

"I'm warning you now, don't ask. The only thing that matters is making her see him again to finish this stupid contract. That's all. She doesn't have to remember anything. So don't tell her anything unnecessary. Don't even dare mention this to her . . ."

The beautiful sunrise was something she had never seen in the Celestial world. All her life, she had been living in the darkness. Stars and worlds filled with light were only tiny dots far away from her reach.

Yet she couldn't even gaze or appreciate any of it as the memory of her parting came back to her.

"Don't do this to me! You promised me! You can't get away with this!"

A bitter smile . . . she could only show him. Should this be counted as a broken promise?

"The time I spent with you . . . are the happiest moment of my life. . . I . . . I've never thought I could see such a beautiful world with someone. . . These memories you've given me . . ."

She clutched at her heart. Even if you curse me . . . even if you hate me . . .

"They are my precious treasures. . . I will not forget you in my heart . . . even for eternity . . . that's why . . ."

Even if you hate me . . . even if you curse me . . . even if it's unfair of me to do so . . .

"Thank you . . . and . . ."

Even if the time takes everything away . . . I . . .

"Goodbye"

. . . * . . .

End of Chapter

A memory triggered! What on earth happened in Lucy's past? Why is it that Loki was so desperately wanted to hide it? It's one of the mysteries to be solved in this series.

Thank you for everyone who favorite and followed this story!

For those who reviewed, thank you! I'll try my best!