Chapter 3

Where are you?

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~Lucy's POV~

The shelter of his warmth felt so nice. Natsu laid beside me on my bed. He somehow, was sleeping soundly. He barely even snored. I was against his bare chest, and I had never been so pleased to feel his bare skin against mine. The moonlight of the night shone through the window, giving me enough light to see his face. I stared at him for what seemed like forever. I laid my head to his tan chest, and slowly fell asleep while listening to his heartbeat.

And then I woke up.

There was no Natsu in my bed, he left my house yesterday. I still didn't get why he left. He said he would help me. He said he would stay with me. I asked him not to go...but he did...

Why did he go!?

I don't know. I guess I'll have to go ask him!

I slowly got up from my bed, and got ready to head to the guild.

~At the guild~

I walked in the doors, and everyone looked at me. The whole guild came to a complete stop, as I walked towards the bar.

"Hey, Mira.." I said. While still looking at my guild mates, who were still staring at me.

"Hello, Lucy! Did you have a nice night?" She asked with a smile on her face, as she tended the bar.

"Sorta.." I said, and plopped down on a stool.

"Did you enjoy Natsu?" She asked, a blush creeped on her face.

"What!?" I asked. Then I remembered that everyone had seen him chase me. Even though he was falsely accused with being my boyfriend... Mira still had high hopes for us.

"You know what I mean." She said, and poked my shoulder.

"O-Oh... Well... No. I didn't." I said, and slowly stood up.

"Huh? What's wrong, Lucy? Did Natsu do something?" Mira said, and looked at me with a worried face.

"W-Well..." I started.

"T-That doesn't matter now! Please... Can you tell me where Natsu is?" I said, demanding her to answer.

"You mean he's not with you?" She said. I became as worried as she was, until a certain member tapped my shoulder.

I gasped, and turned around.

"Lucy, come with me." he said.

"H-Happy.. Where's Natsu?" I said. Looking at the flying cat now in front of me.

(Haha, you all thought it was Natsu... :))

"There's no time for that Lucy, just please come. Natsu needs you." He said, and he started flying towards the door.

I had no choice but to follow him. I felt nervous. Especially since, the guild remained quiet. I only heard a few faint whispers as I left the guild.

Happy flew, as fast as he could, and I ran behind him.

He was flying as fast as he could all through the town. We were finally reaching the city limits.

"Natsu's over here!" He said, as he took a sharp turn in the woods.

Happy stopped at a small clearing, and in the center I saw a passed out Natsu lying on the burnt grass beneath him.

He had burnt everything within twenty feet of himself. What the fuck did he do!?

I raced over the ashes, and knelt beside him.

(I'm changing Natsu's outfit to his one-sleeved shirt. BTW.)

His clothes were tattered. All that remained was his scarf, and his baggy pants that were burnt at the ends.

I lifted his head only my knees, and stoke his cheek. "Natsu.." I said.

he shifted in his sleep, and suddenly opened his eyes.

~Natsu's POV~

The first thing I saw was Lucy. Her dark brown eyes blinked at me with kindness. How had Lucy gotten here!? I suddenly glanced at happy, who is flying behind her. That damn cat...

This was my secret place. Happy must have guided her here.

"Are you ok, Natsu?" she asked. I could sense the panic in her voice. I slowly sat up, and looked around to see the damage I had done.

"Shit." I mumbled. I scratched to back of my head, and looked down at the ashes below me.

"What did you do, Natsu!?" She said, and met my gaze.

"I had a meltdown." I admitted.

"A-A meltdown!?" She said puzzled.

"Yeah... I got mad..." I said.

"Mad?" She asked.

"Well... yeah. I got mad." I said, and stood up.

She quickly stood up after me.

"Okay, well... are you done with your temper-tantrum?" She said, and she glanced at the circle of ash that surrounded us.

I nodded, and looked at her.

She suddenly slapped me.

I stumbled backwards, and held my left cheek.

"Why the hell-" I started, but she cut me off.

"Why the hell did you leave me!?" She yelled, and I looked at her. I straightened my posture, and walked towards her.

"If I told you, do you promise not to laugh?" I asked, and looked at her eyes. I glared at her, focusing on her pupils, so she would stare at only me.

"Y-Yes." She said, and her eyes still focused on mine.

"Happy, do you mind going?" I asked, as I broke Lucy's gaze to look up at my flying friend.

"You Liiiiike her." He said. He started to giggle as he flew off.

I leaned close to Lucy, so she would hear my quiet voice. I slowly put my lips close to her ear.

"I didn't want to have sex with my best friend." I said. I felt myself tense, and we both blushed.

What I told her was only partly true... Yes... I did get mad... And yes, it was me I got mad at but... I had forgotten the words I told her. I forgot that I promised myself I would stay with her... I was even more mad at myself that... That I secretly wanted to claim her... But that's why I left. I didn't want my instincts ruling my mind... Not about this. I didn't want to do that to my best friend...

"Then why did you keep saying for me to show you?" She asked. She looked at my face as I backed away.

"W-Well.. I didn't mean it like that." I said. I rubbed my hand against my forehead, and chuckled.

"Well... Neither did I. I just needed proof." She said nervously.

"It still haunts me." She continued, and stared at the ground with a frown.

"W-Why!?" I asked, becoming surprised that it was still hurting her.

"Well... You never left in my dreams. You were always there. And... You..." She said.

'Please don't tell me she's talking about the kissing again!?' I said to myself.

"What?" I asked.

"Yousaidyoulovedme." She said super fast. She held her eyes shut, and hugged herself. She must have been hiding the embarassment.

Now that she mentions it... I don't think I have ever told her that... nevermind..

"It drives me insane." She said, and looked at me.

"It kills me to see you in my dream world, and then see you here. They both feel so real. I need to know which one is real!" She said. I pulled her against me. Embracing my best friend in my arms felt perfect.

"Help me Natsu. I can't keep fighting my feelings... for you." She sobbed into my chest.

I felt her salty tears race down the creases of my abs. I hated it when she cried.

Now i'm sorta regretting that I left her last night...

"You're so weird, Lucy." I said.

"Huh?" She said. She sniffled, and looked up at my grinning face.

"You should always know this is the real world. Because... In this world... My love for you isn't fake." I said, and smiled.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, and pulled me in for a kiss.

Really? What's with this kissing thing?

I didn't realize it, but my hands slipped down to her waist as she continued to kiss me.

My hands slipped more snug around her, pulling her closer to my body.

What the fuck is this? I'm actually enjoying this? I swear, this is not me... right? Must be that damn instinct again...

She gasped at the sudden closeness of us, and without knowledge my tongue slipped into her mouth.

This was totally not me...

As the kiss deepened, I could feel her grip the ends of my hair.

My fingers fiddled with the bottom of her halter top.

Was I seriously trying to take her clothes off?

Her hands slipped down to my chest. Her light hands, right under my scarf.

After a minute with having a battle of the tongues, I pushed her away.

I panted hard, and my head turned to my shoulder.

I looked up, and she seemed confused.

"I-I can't.." I said, trying to manage through my panting.

She stood there. Frozen in my grasp, and her eyes were wide.

"What's wrong?" She asked. I could feel her muscles tense in my hands.

I decided that I couldn't have my instinct pushing me towards her. I would have to do it willingly... It just felt wrong to listen to what my body wanted, and not my mind.

"I already told you." I said. I was too embarrassed to actually say it...

"Yeah, and I told you I didn't want to go that far, either." She admitted.

~Lucy's POV~

I just wanted proof that he was real. Nothing more. It didn't have to go too far, but he had to do something I didn't expect him to do.

He still held me at a distance, and I stood there... Waiting for him to reply.

He took his hands off of me, and collapsed on the ground.

Flames surrounded him, and I started to back away. I ran off of the ash circle, and stood by a non-burnt tree.

I could see him in the distance. He slowly stood back up, and the flames continued to form around him. The ashes awoke, and swirled around the giant ball of fire he was consumed in.

The vortex of ashes looked like a tornado, as it reached high in the sky.

I could hear him scream. "Luccccyyyyy!" He yelled.

Was he in pain?

"Natsu!" I yelled back. I guess this was his temper-tantrum.

The ashes and fire ripped, and roared. I could still hear him scream.

After a few more minutes the flames died down.

I could see him in the exact position as before.

I raced towards him. Was he ok!? I need to find out. I need to be with him.

His back was faced towards me, but I didn't care. I swiftly ran past the small ambers that dwindled in the ashes, and sped towards Natsu.

"Natsu!" I yelled. He turned around, and not a moment too soon I jumped in his arms.

"Woah, Lucy.." He said. I could feel him wrap his now weakened arms around me.

"So that was your tantrum?" I asked.

"Yeah." He replied. I put my head against his chest, and watched ash fall from the sky. It was like snow. It was beautiful.

We stood there for a few moments. He was so warm. I closed my eyes, and listened to his steady breathing. His heart pounded.

"Why?" I asked. I forced my head off his chest, so I could look at him.

He sighed. "I was fighting myself." He said.

"Yourself?"

"yeah... I didn't want to be a mindless freak while kissing you." He admitted.

I giggled. He forced my head back onto his chest, and he tightened his grip around me.

"Don't go." I said. I was half asleep now. I would be perfectly happy to rest in his arms.

"Never." He said.

We stood there... Embracing each other. It felt perfect. I closed my eyes, and I felt myself go limp in his arms.

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