A/N: Hey everyone! Here's my next update. I bet you all can't wait what's going to happen since I left you all in a cliffhanger in chapter 8. Hehehe. Well, well, don't let me stop you and I hope you will enjoy this chapter^^

The Princess and the Dragon Slayer

Chapter 9

"Oh my God Luce." I moved back and stared at her in shock as if reality just suddenly washed down upon me. "I'm so sorry Luce, I can't." I stood up and paced around.

I think Lucy opened her eyes to look at me because I happened to take a glance and she was staring at me, puzzled and confused.

"Why, Natsu? What's wrong?"

It took a while for me to answer Lucy back actually. Why wasn't I able to kiss her? She gave me the green light and that was making me jumped for joy in my heart. I just wanted to hold her and claim those lips of hers but what was holding me back? Is it because I wasn't being honest with her all this while? Or is it because she's a god damn princess!

I sighed in frustration, knowing I had to reply her although I don't know how to. "I'm sorry Luce. We just can't." I growled before kicking the tree.

"Why not?!" From the way she raised her voice, I could tell she was pissed.

"We just can't. Don't you understand?" I tried to keep my cool as I replied her back.

"No I can't." Lucy stood up as she walked towards me. "How can I understand when you're not giving me a logical explanation on why you don't want to kiss me because I sure did want you to kiss me!" Lucy was panting after shouting her whole lot of words at me without any pause.

I stopped pacing and looked down at her. So I was right that she was giving me the signal to kiss her, no mistake on that but how can I when she doesn't even know the real me and let me repeat this again, she's a princess for god sakes. I don't even know if it's okay for me to kiss her though I really wanted to.

"Tell me Natsu Dragneel!" Lucy screamed. I could hear her voice breaking as she clenched her fists to her sides.

I ruffled my hair before bringing my hand back down to my side. "Okay Lucy, you want to know?" I paused to make sure Lucy looked up at me before taking a deep breath to continue. "I feel weird nowadays. Whenever I'm with you, my heart just beat so fast and at times, it aches. Like pain aches you know. I thought it was because of something so I tried letting it go but it still didn't work." I started pacing again before I come to a stop in front of her again. "I even dread to see your face every time thinking how cute you are."

There was a still silence between us for a while and I was actually grief stricken seeing that expression that was currently implanted on Lucy's face. She looks either shocked or surprise which I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing.

"Natsu…" Lucy brought her hands up to her mouth. "You love me?"

"Love?" I paused as I stared into Lucy's eyes because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Oh so all the while I've been this confused from my emotions that I've never experienced before it's because I'm in love with Lucy?

I looked away and started laughing.

"What's so funny Natsu?"

I stopped laughing and looked back at her. "You got to be kidding me." Honestly, I don't know why I was laughing and said such comments to her. I was feeling happy but I can't and don't understand why I'm not admitting to this feelings instead.

"Natsu, why are you laughing?" Lucy asked; determination in her tone.

"Because I can't be in love with you!" I just blew. "Freak Luce, you're a freaking princess and I'm just a merely servant in your household."

"And what's wrong with that?!" Lucy shouted back.

"Like I said, you're a princess and I'm a servant." I paused before continuing. "You're supposed to be in love with a guy like Loki though I really despise his guts or better still, a prince."

And before I knew it, I got a slap across my cheek. I held my cheek that was currently stinging as I stood there stunned by the fact Lucy just slapped me. I slowly turned back to look at her, tears were trailing down her cheeks as her hand was still raised in the air.

"You're an idiot Natsu!" She shouted at me though her voice was breaking from crying as she clenched her fists to her sides. "I hate you!" With that, she turned around and ran to Plue, hopping onto her white horse and started galloping away, leaving me there.

I looked down as I clenched my fists. "I'm sorry Luce, I've not been honest with you all this while." I obviously spoke to no one and decided to light my fists. "How am I supposed to tell you that I'm a dragon slayer?"

The rain started pouring down heavily and it caused the fire around my fists to die out. I still stood in the same position as Lucy left me. I was too dumbfounded. I was godly in love with her but was too afraid to tell her the truth. How can she love a lying bastard like me? I don't even know if she loved me. She didn't even say anything about liking me either earlier!

I looked up to the sky, eyes closed as I tried to comprehend everything on hand when suddenly, I heard a faint scream. I opened my eyes when I realized the scream sounded too familiar. There was that scream again. It was Lucy.

I started sprinting off, heading off to the direction where the scream was coming from. Thank God for the good hearing senses that we dragon slayers have as well. I was running as fast as I could that my legs could take. But I needed to be faster than this. Lucy's in trouble and she needs me.

I pointed my fists backwards and lighted my fists, making them like rockets to make me propel faster. I didn't care if the rain killed my fire many times. I will just light them up as soon as it was gone. Right now, my only interest was getting to Lucy as soon as possible. The next thing I heard was Lucy's screams of letting her go and it was much louder this time and clearer. This means, she's around here.

I took a sniff as I continued to run although it was difficult from the rain but I managed to catch her smell and when I was nearing to her location, I could see that bandits caught up to her and without thinking, I just jumped right in giving a flying kick to the bandit that was in front of Lucy.

I grabbed the guy by this collar and brought him up, my eyes turning into a fierce look.

"I'll pay for what you did to Lucy." I said and with that, I punched the guy in his stomach sending him flying back. His friends were appalled by my strength but that didn't stop them from ganging up and beating the hell down on me.

Because I was only able to use physical attacks due to the wet weather and also I didn't want to showcase to Lucy yet, these guys were a bit difficult to put down but that doesn't stopped me from getting stronger and landing strong and firm punches or kicks at them. Finally all were down for the count and I was panting heavily as I stood there.

I turned around to face Lucy and I could see her smiling at me through the rain with her teary eyes. I was about to walk to her when Lucy's expression suddenly changed.

"NATSU!"

Too late. I looked down and saw blood penetrating through my shirt. I coughed and blood was spluttering out from my mouth. That just does it. I looked over my shoulders with my deadliest glare and I think that got the bandit to back away and in attempt to run away but too bad, he couldn't. I punched my knuckles together before moving them into fists to my mouth, giving him the biggest fire breath attack, barbecuing him and his bloody friends along.

After knowing they are totally fried and unable to move anymore, I reached for the dagger that was still etched to my back slowly pulling it out and throwing it to the ground.

I turned around to look at Lucy again, hoping she will be smiling at me like she did earlier but as expected, she wasn't. She stared at me wide eyed, her mouth agape a bit. I guess she's scared of me after all. I couldn't blame her. Hell, her dad wanted to get rid of us anyway.

I decided to turn around and walked away before Lucy called for me.

"Natsu wait!" I paused and looked back but only to find my vision getting blurry so I crouched down when she approached me. "You're hurt! We need to get you back to the castle fast!" Lucy shouted thinking I couldn't hear her from the rain. She tore the bottom of her dress and wrapped around my wound.

I chuckled. "It's like how we first met Luce." I tried to joke, hoping the pain will go off actually.

"Oh shut up Natsu! Please!" Lucy shouted with tears already falling down her delicate cheeks. She whistled and I believe she called for Plue. I could see Lucy was panicking as she stood up to bring Plue nearer to us.

Lucy crouched down and I took this chance to speak to her as I raised my hand to caress her cheek. "Lucy, please stop crying."

Lucy looked at me with those beautiful brown orbs of hers as she controlled herself not to cry even more. "Don't you understand the meaning of shut up Natsu?! You're going to be okay!" Lucy shouted back as she hung my arm over her shoulders and brought me to Plue. I didn't know how I managed to get on the horse because all I remembered was that and my vision just blacked out.

A/N: And that's it for this chapter folks! How was it? To be honest, I hope I made you girls squeal. Hahaha. It just made me so thrilled when I draft this story up, like I couldnt stop you know? Anyway please leave a review before you go guys thanks(: