A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of update but it's a long weekend here in SG due to CNY. How was chapter 9? Was it thrilling and exciting? So Natsu right... Hahahaha. Anyway I left you guys at a cliffhanger so here you go, enjoy(:

The Princess and the Dragon Slayer

Chapter 10

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.

What a dream… It all seemed too familiar though. I decided to open my eyes but to no success as the sudden light made my eyes squinted. It suddenly seemed I wasn't used to the light. After being able to take it in for a while, I opened my eyes and was staring right at the ceiling of my room.

Strange, I usually don't wake up by myself. Before pursuing my thoughts further, I wanted to get up but failed to. Argh, why does my stomach hurt? I slowly got up, not fully to a sitting position though as I got my elbows to support my weight as it rested on the bed. I brought my hand to the place where I felt the pain coming from and it was bandaged up.

Then suddenly everything just came pouring down on me. No wonder that dream seem too familiar because that dream that I just had, actually happened. It wasn't a dream at all. It was a memory as I believe my brain was reminiscing about last night events when I was out with... Lucy!

I frantically scanned around my room to find Lucy when I realized she happened to be nowhere in the room. I was about to get up and go find her though clearly, I was no position to but I didn't care. I couldn't care less about all the pain that will be soaring through my body more than seeing Lucy's face right now, seeing whether she's okay.

I decided to pull the blanket off from me but again, I failed to. I tugged the blanket and it seemed something heavy was putting weight on it so I traced the cause for it and only to be surprised, it was Lucy! She was sleeping peacefully on the side of my bed.

Okay technically, she was sitting on the floor as she rested her head on my bed. Her arms placed over each other, using them as a pillow. I couldn't help but to break a smile, seeing she was alright just made my worries disappear and happy too.

I turned to my other side to take a look at the view outside through the window, and realized that the sun was already up. Wait, what time was it? Damn! I got to get ready for work. I quickly tried to get up but paused when the pain soared through again. I ignored it but slowly got up from bed and carefully, hoping I wouldn't budge Lucy up.

I searched around my room to find the top of my uniform thrown on the chair at the side. I picked it up only to realize there were blood stains on it. I decided to forgo it and take another new shirt hanging in the cupboard. I was carefully taking it out from the hanger when I heard Lucy calling for me.

"Natsu?"

I turned around and saw she was up, rubbing her eyes as she looked at me.

"Hey Luce." I decided to greet her as I continue to wear my shirt.

"What are you doing?"

I paused and looked at her, leaving my shirt unbutton. "I'm getting ready for work."

Lucy stood up and I could see her face was already creeping up to a blush. "Exactly my point, you're hurt Natsu. You need to rest."

Silence overtook the atmosphere. I wiped a palm over my face before speaking. "Let's just act like this never happen okay?"

"How can I Natsu?" Luce went around the bed as she stood like one arms length away from me now. "You saved me from those bandits even though it was my own stupidity and because of that, you could have died!" Lucy exclaimed as she tried to control her tears from falling.

"But I didn't alright?" I said before looking away and placing my hand behind my head. "So stop worrying already."

"Why about you Natsu?" What? I looked at her and she was now looking determined. "Why don't you stop worrying as well?"

I was seriously confused. "About what Luce? I don't get what you're trying to say."

"About what I saw last night!" She shouted. She closed her mouth before opening it again. "You're a dragon slayer right?"

She said it very softly but I could hear it since of my sensitive hearing. Everything just seemed to suddenly stop at that moment. Right… I was totally trying to avoid that whole conversation with Lucy, hoping she will forget what she saw last night so hearing it from her actually mouth, it came to a shock to me. I looked at her wide eyes before looking down as I clenched my fists at the side.

"Natsu, you can hear me right?" Lucy continued speaking. "I'm well aware that's one of your special traits." I was really speechless. I didn't know how to respond her back now. To be honest, I was really scared.

Suddenly, she let out a big sigh before walking towards me so that right now, she was standing right in front of me.

"Natsu, why did you keep this away from me?" Lucy said it in a much calmer voice right now. "Were you that worried I will expose you?"

I was clenching my fists even tighter, even though it was impossible to. She was right, I was damn worried she will expose me and not only that; I was even more worried that I won't be able to see her anymore.

"Natsu, please."

"Yes Luce!" I suddenly blew. "I was damn worried you will expose me because your father wants us to be dead!" I decided to face her as I continue my confession. "Do you know every day we live in fear, hoping that we won't get caught and hang to our deaths?"

I could see the look of sympathy in Lucy's eyes but I decided to just press on. "Hell Luce! We're also human beings but we were gifted to save mankind. Don't the citizens of this kingdom realize this? Have we done any harm to them yet?" I slumped down until I was kneeling in front of her.

"That was why I was running away from that time Luce. I was running away from your father's guards. I think I would be dead if I didn't found you at the woods that time. And I started to have a life which you gave me. I didn't want you to hate me because I was finally feeling happy. You made me so warm inside which I didn't want the feeling to go away ever. I was more afraid of losing you than losing my life."

I felt my eyes getting watery. Damn, this is so no cool at all. I looked down as I didn't want Lucy to see how weak I was. The next thing I realize was I felt warm and comforting hands, encircled my body. I looked up and was shocked to come face to face with Lucy's shoulders now.

"It's alright Natsu. Just let it go." Lucy said as she cooed and rub her hands on my back.

It was so comforting that I didn't hesitate to let my tears rolled down my cheeks as I cried out loud. All the pain that I've kept over the years was released. It was so painful. It hurts so much more than the cut on my stomach. My cries weren't only for agony but they were for love too. I was so touched by Lucy's warmth and act that I couldn't bear it even.

Why did I keep this from her all this while? I should have trusted my instincts and told her the truth but that was all not necessary now. The fact is now she knows and she accepted me for who I am. Who am I kidding? I was in love with her for god sakes.

After what it seemed like eternity, I stopped crying and my cries turned to sobs and now I was just sniffing my snot.

"Damn, that was terribly embarrassing." I said as I placed the palm of my hand on my forehead.

Lucy broke the hug and looked at me. "But well, do you feel better now?" Lucy said and I couldn't help but to look at her. She was just giving me those smiles of her. Her smiles that always made me happy and MORE warm inside.

"Yeah…" I said as I scratched the back of my head and silence overtook again before Lucy decided to break it.

"So…. Natsu? Are you going to show me your power ever again? I just think you guys are so cool!" Lucy smiled widely as she asked me.

"What? You find us cool?"

"Totally! I know dragon slayers are not evil but I don't understand why my dad can't accept that fact."

I couldn't help but to chuckle when she commented my species. She was like a kid, requesting for a story to be told before she goes to bed. I stopped laughing when I realized a pout was showing on her face now.

"Alright, alright. I will." I said before ruffling her hair. "But not here."

"Then where? Obviously I'm not going to let you go out in the woods again like this." She said and pointed to my stomach while blushing. I looked down, realizing she was pointing to my injury and I guess seeing my chest was just making her embarrassed.

"I have a place."

A/N: And that's it for this chapter people! How is it? Love it, like it, hate it? Do let me know how you find this chapter or even the story by leaving a review please. I realized that this story ain't that popular like Love Starts in the Opposite Direction. Abit discouraging but don't worry, I'll give my best still as I wont give up to my fellow readers^^