For the love of Nalu

Chapter 18

Theme: Hanabi

Requested by I always smile

It was that time of year again. Time of the Hanabi Festival. Lucy couldn't contain her excitement, for this being the first year she would actually be able to go. As the girl stood in her apartment getting ready, she smiled to herself. Remembering her first year with Fairy Tail and the sweet gesture that Natsu did for her. Who would have known that he could be so sweet.

Maybe that was when she realized it, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that she loved the pink haired pyro. She heard the tales that had started during their absence. So much had changed while they were away for those seven years and it seems that it has even effected the festival. There is a saying that if you kiss the one you love under the rainbow sakura then you are destined to be together forever.

She giggled, as if that was true. But a part of her still wanted to believe. The image of a certain dragon slayer popped into her head before she shook it away. Like that would ever come true. She looked at herself in the mirror and smirked at her reflection. She was pulling out all the stops today in the hopes of catching a certain someone's attention.

Smoothing out any non-existent wrinkles in her yellow sundress, she then slipped on her matching strappy sandals before walking out the door. Her hair and dress swayed lightly in the warm breeze as she breathed in deeply.

"Hey Luce!" She turned and saw the man of her dreams running towards her. Now granted her dreams seemed to be a little crazy with him in it but she liked it that way. Without the craziness and energetic Natsu around, things would get dull quickly.

"Hey Natsu! I can't believe I finally get to go!" She gushed. She clapped her hands in front of her and her milk chocolate eyes sparkled. Natsu chuckled at his partner, it had been a long time since they have been able to truly enjoy themselves. "What do you think Natsu?"

"What do you mean?" He asked as his head tilted to the side. She blushed lightly once she realized just how cute that made him look. She gestured to her dress and that only seemed to further his confusion.

"My dress silly, does it look good?" Natsu's charcoal eyes scanned over her body and she suddenly felt very self conscious. What if he said that she looked funny?

"You look like you always do, now let's go Luce, or else we are gonna be late!" Natsu said before wrapping his warm hand around her tiny wrist and effectively dragging her down the road. She was a little upset about his words but knew that it wasn't something he was known for. But she didn't care, she just enjoyed being around him. She found it unusual that he would be worried about being late but maybe he was finally thinking for once. She laughed at her own thoughts. Natsu, thinking? Ha! Now that was funny. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing." She covered his lips as another light giggle escaped. The pinkette cocked a brow at her before shrugging and continuing to drag her towards the festival. It didn't take long for them to get there and Lucy looked on in awe. Everything was just so amazing. Everyone gathered around under the tree's on picnic blankets. All laughing and enjoying their time together.

"Lucy, Natsu, over here!" They both looked towards the direction of the voice to see Mirajane waving at them. Lucy ran over towards her and smiled. Everyone from the guild was here, each enjoying themselves and talking with one another. Natsu ran towards the food sitting in the middle of the blanket and immediately started to scarf it down.

Upon seeing this, Gray joined in until it ended up as an eating contest with the two eating anything in their path with food spraying everywhere. Most of the members close to them moved away not wanted to get covered by the flying food. Lucy stood next to Mirajane just watching the dragon slayer and his rival until she felt something nudge her arm.

"So Lucy, you hoping for a kiss tonight?" Lucy's face flushed several different shades as she began to sputter. Mirajane giggled at the blond, knowing how she truly felt for her partner.

"Yeah Lu-chan, is that why you're dressed in such a cute dress?" Levy came over after hearing Mirajane's words. The blond pouted, why was she the only one being picked on?

"Well then, what about you Levy-chan? Planning on stealing a kiss from a certain iron dragon slayer?" Levy ended up with the same look Lucy just had as both Mirajane and Lucy giggled at her. "Oh Mirajane, you're not off the hook either. Don't think we don't know about Freed."

"B-but h-how?" Mirajane's face flushed a light pink as she stared at Lucy. Lucy continued to laugh with the two girls unknowing the a certain pair of onyx eyes were on her. A chuckle came from behind them along with the strong scent of beer. Each of the girls turned to be faced with Cana who was smirking at them with Laxus at her side.

"When are you three going to grow up? Isn't it about time you guys confess? You're making my beer taste sour with all your unrequited feelings." All three of the girls began to sputter with their faces becoming crimson causing the brunette to laugh.

"It's not like that Cana!" Lucy tried to deny but Cana just turned her smirk to her.

"Oh really? Well your face says otherwise. Look, just get them alone when the sakuras light up and confess that way. I am sick of all the secretive looks and blushing and all that crap." With that, Cana and Laxus walked off joining the rest of the adults that were drinking.

"I think she's right. Maybe we have waited long enough." Mirajane stated in a low voice. Lucy bit her lip while Levy nodded. It was a scary thought, announcing your feelings without knowing that they will be returned.

"Guys, what am I going to do? How can I tell him how I feel?" Levy pouted.

"Oh please Levy, it's so obvious that Gajeel has a thing for you." Levy's cheeks burned once more and Lucy fully agreed with what Mirajane had said.

"But Mirajane, you are really good at seeing the potential couples in the guild except for when it involves you. You are so worried that Freed won't like you that you don't notice the signs that are right in front of you." Lucy stated.

"You really think he likes me?"

"Of course! You both have great guys fawning for you and don't even notice!" Lucy replied.

"What about you Lu-chan? It's clear that Natsu has a thing for you." Levy expressed. Lucy sighed as her eyes glanced towards Natsu's. She noticed him sitting there but it looked as if he was deep in thought. He wasn't paying any attention to the ice mage next to him, taunting him.

"I don't know Levy. He really is a great guy but this kind of thing just isn't him. I don't think he even knows what love is." Levy and Mirajane remained silent as they thought over Lucy's words. And to an extent they felt that she was right. Out of the three boys the girls were worried about, Natsu was the one to worry the most about simply because he has never shown much interest in a girl except as friends. "Plus, he is my best friend. I don't want to risk losing him for something like that. I would rather be around him as friends while hiding my feelings than lose him all together."

Time passed as the girls each thought over what they were going to do. Each nervous about what this night might hold for their future. Slowly the sun began to set and people began to settle down as they anticipated the rainbow tree lighting. Levy stood up and sent a nervous smile to the other girls before pulling the dark haired mage away from the group.

Lucy felt a hand on her shoulder as she turned to see Mirajane giving her an encouraging smile. Mirajane then proceeded to walk towards the runes mage and drag him off to a more private location. Lucy wished she could be as brave as them. Her fears seemed to get the best of her as she stayed rooted to the spot.

"Luce." The blonds head twirled around as her brown eyes landed on deep onyx. The pounding of her heart was so loud she knew that he could hear. The sweating of her palms seemed to increase as she looked at him. He walked forward and reached down. His large hand gripped hers and pulled her to her feet. "Come with me, there is something I want to show you."

"Oh." She smiled lightly as she realized she should have known it would be something like this. That was Natsu for you. The dragon slayer was always looking for an adventure and he just loved to drag her along. He continued to pull her through the thicket of trees until they came to a clearing. Lucy's breath hitched as she realized what she was looking at.

"Wow." The amazement in her voice made him smile. How had she never known that this place was here? A small stream flowed through the clearing, it's crystal blue water flowed gently down creating a serene feeling. The sun was steadily climbing down from the sky as the mood made it's way up. Slowly the sakura's began to light up, one after another. Their lights shimmered beautifully adding to the already gorgeous scene in front of her.

It was another year that the dragon slayer had done something so romantic for her and she wondered if he even realized it. She felt something warm wrap around her hand as her face began to turn scarlet. She couldn't stop her wildly beating heart even if she tried. Natsu was holding her hand. And during such a romantic scene. Lucy tried to calm down her irrational thinking once she realized this was Natsu. He probably had no idea what he was doing to her.

"Natsu I-" She had turned to look at her partner but stopped at the look that his eyes held. His eyes blazed with something she had never seen in them before, not once. But that look only increased the beating of her heart and suddenly made her feel like a thousand butterflies were fluttering around in her stomach. He moved closer and cupped her cheek in his hand. She could feel the calluses that lined his palm but didn't care. They just showed off all the hard work he does.

She found herself frozen, unable to move. This man made her feel things that she never realized possible before. The cheek that he held felt like it was on fire but she wouldn't dare move. It was comforting and she began to wonder if this was a dream. Their was no way that Natsu was standing here with her in such an intimate scene. His eyes closed, hiding the deep darkness that always captivated her. Once he began to move closer, she felt her own eyes closing.

Her mind was racing, wondering if she was really doing this. Was this real, was he really about to kiss her? His scorching lips connected with hers and spread like wildfire throughout her body. It felt like their lips were molded for one another as they fit perfectly. He pulled away, causing her to miss the warmth he provided.

"Now we'll be together forever." Another flutter of her heart as her cheeks reddened to a shade that she didn't think was possible.

"H-how?" Lucy found herself at a loss for words. The man she loved, loved her back.

"I don't know, to be honest. When I overheard you talking with Mirajane and Levy I guess that's when I realized what I was feeling. Never truly understood it till then."

Lucy gasped lightly before smiling at the dragon slayer. All of this happened simply because he overheard their conversation. If not, would he have ever realized just how he felt for her? It didn't matter though, she had him now and that's all she cared about.

Several feet above the two, a light giggle escaped the green eyed girl. She was too far away for them to hear but she always loved moments like this. Her long wavy blond hair swayed with the wind before she tucked a stray piece behind her ear.

"Hanabi can do unusual things to people." At that moment, the fireworks began to lit up the sky in an array of colors. Natsu and Lucy watched awestruck at their beauty, unknowing that the first guild master was watching. "I love moments like these."

A/N: Well, here is another one. This was a request from I always smile, I hope that you liked it! Total word count before authors note is 2,242. Next theme will be 'Face Down'. What do you think is going to happen?