"So let me get this straight Mira. You're saying that the people who knew me before won't remember me when they see me?", the blonde girl looked at the white-haired angel with wide eyes.
"Yeah, that's basically it. It would be like you didn't exist at all except that your things that you left will stay there. After all, we don't want a dead person roaming around earth right? It would cause panic you know.", Mira joked making Lucy laugh halfheartedly.
"Yeah... Dead.", she mumbled, casting her eyes down. Her chest tightened at the word. Yet, she still couldn't believe it, "I'm really dead huh…"
Feeling sad for the blonde, Mira took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"They won't remember you Lucy, but you will remember them, eventually. In every mission, you will go back to your past with that person and somehow, change their lives.", she said. The blonde looked up at her, silently asking her what she meant.
"That fragment of your memory will help you complete the mission first, so do your best okay?", she said with a smile and the blonde teen smiled back genuinely.
"But remember that you will only go back to that certain event when something similar happened to you in the present and that fragment of your memory.", she explained. Lucy her shoot a confused look, wondering what she meant.
Mira chuckled softly, "You'll understand it soon. There will also be times where people you knew before will feel a certain familiarity with you; we can't prevent that because we can alter the mind to forget but a heart so stubborn would resist; especially if that person is too dear to them.", she winked and began pushing the blonde gently towards a golden gate with intricate designs and symbols engraved on it.
"Now get ready. Today you'll go back to Earth to start your mission. Remember Lucy, 101 days, okay?", she said before opening the gate.
"One mission, one person; one person, one memory. And once you've completed the entire mission, you'll have your wish…", the white-haired angel said. The blonde angel only nodded as she thought of the person she needed to return to.
"Good luck, Lucy! Remember, Natsu Dragneel will help you okay?"
"Yes. Thank you Mira!", she shouted as she walked towards the gates.
The blonde could see light on the other side of the gate. She squinted her eyes, trying to make out what was on the other side. But with every step she took, the light only got brighter and brighter. Soon the bright light engulfed her vision, and she could only close her eyes in reflex.
Suddenly she felt herself falling freely. Wind lapped against her body but she didn't feel cold as she thought she would, as she felt warmth around her… But she couldn't see anything around her… It was almost as if… as if she was engulfed in some sort of warm light...
She felt herself giving into sleep when she felt something tickling her face. Opening her eyes, she found herself lying on grass. Groaning, she sat up while brushing her hair out of her face. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, trying to place where she was.
Looks like, she was transported into a place that looks a lot like a playground. Her eyes widened as realization hit her…
She was back on earth!
Lucy squealed in excitement as she felt like she was one step closer to seeing him again.
A creaking sound not too far away caught the blonde's attention. Turning her head towards the source, she saw a salmon-haired teen sitting on a swing. He was looking at the stars sadly, the longing in his eyes evident as his grip on the chains of the swing tightened.
Taking a deep breath, she started approaching the boy. Something told her that he was the key to fulfil her promise to him.
Before she knew it she had called out to him. Dark onyx eyes met with her brown ones.
Somehow she felt so alive… so excited and happy while looking into the eyes of the boy who will be her angel…
Natsu Dragneel…
Previously
"You just... mentioned my name. Do we... Do we know each other before, Lucy?", he said while staring wide-eyed at the blonde.
Natsu, on the other hand, was glaring sharply at the man. Lucy squeezed her arms around the pink-haired teen a little and slowly climbed down his back. Her chocolate eyes met his onyx ones for a second before she looked at the man in front of her; contemplating if she should tell the truth or not because it was bad to lie but she couldn't be endangering her mission because she needed to return to him.
"G-Gray I-"
Chapter 5 (Gray's Light)
"She's just dreaming Gray. And she had been mumbling different colors and you just happened to hear 'grey' ", Natsu intervened, and the blonde couldn't help but look at him with relief.
"Oh, sorry then. I just thought that you looked awfully familiar.", Gray said in defeat.
Lightning struck and thunder roared again. Without thinking, the blonde clung onto Natsu and squeezed her eyes shut. Seconds passed and she blushed when she realized what she did. She was about to remove her hold on him but he firmly held her waist and didn't let her go.
"We'll go ahead, Gray. Lucy doesn't really like thunder.", he said and walked past the raven-haired teen while dragging Lucy.
Gray watched after their disappearing figures before looking back at the grey clouds again, where the silent rain started to pour down.
"You're too like her, Lucy. You even have the same fear as my savior... Why can't I even remember her, dammit!" he mumbled in frustration before letting himself soak in the rain.
"Natsu." , Lucy breathed out as they reached the lockers.
"Change into this.", he shoved a red shirt into her arms. It read 'Dragneel' and it was a little big for her, but she knew it was better than her wet shirt.
"That's the changing room. Hurry up, we still have classes to attend to.", he said while pushing her towards the girl's locker room. Lucy held the shirt in her hands as she was left alone in the room. She couldn't help but feel the soft fabric against her hands and smell it's fiery scent that was so… Natsu. She blushed as she thought that she was like a pervert who was sniffing his clothes.
"Geez. You're so sweet! Thanks Natsu." , a teasing smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh shut it."
"Hey Natsu."
"What?", he replied in a bored tone.
They were walking towards Wendy's school. Grandeeney had asked them to accompany the young girl in shopping for some school materials.
"How long have you known Gray?", she asked making the salmon-haired teen stop and look at her.
"Why?"
"Well erm... uh... ju-just answer my question?", she said sheepishly. Natsu glared at her as he felt anger swirling inside him.
"Since we were kids. That's all you need to know.", he said coldly and walked ahead of her.
The fact that she didn't chase him and try to catch up like she always did, pissed him off even more.
"Natsu-nii! Oh! And Lucy-nee! Thank you for offering to help me out today.", the girl squeaked, offering a shy smile and a bow. Her voice snapped the blonde out of her trance before she hit the pink-haired boy's back.
"Hello Wendy!", Lucy said with a smile. Natsu grabbed the paper from his sister's hands and grunted as he read the list.
"Where are we going first?", he asked and walked ahead of them, Wendy following him shortly.
"To the grocery, Natsu-nii. Also Mom said you can get whatever you like in exchange for your help."
"Now we're talking.", the boy said with a smirk adorning his face.
"Mom said that you should go and get what you like too… Lucy-nee...", the bluenette trailed off as she noticed the blonde staring at a passing grey car.
Wendy tilted her head in confusion when she caught sight of a light blush that tinted the blonde's cheeks as the car passed them by.
'Grey', the blonde thought as the scene from earlier flashed in her mind.
She remembered Natsu's made up story when she mumbled Gray's name in her sleep… or should she say, while on a trip to her past. She could still remember Natsu's warmth and the feeling of him against her.
Her skin suddenly felt a little tingly at the memory and her heart swelled when she remembered Natsu, offering her a piggyback ride.
Natsu paused when he noticed the blonde's absence. Turning back around to yell at her to hurry up, he stopped himself on seeing her standing not too far away.
She was spacing out again and the tinge of pink that colored her cheeks when she saw the grey car, wasn't making him happy. Realization dawned on him as he thought that she was thinking of a certain ice-freak. He didnn't know why, but Gray was so going to get it from him.
"I think that's all-Oh! We forgot to get some milk!", Wendy's eyes widened at her forgetfulness. She turned to look at Natsu who was pushing the cart. They were already near the counter.
"You can go to the counter, Wendy! I'll get the milk.", the blonde suddenly chirped and immediately left to find the box of milk.
After scanning the area for some time, the blonde angel finally found the milk at last. Reaching out, she grabbed the box when another hand grabbed it at the same time.
"Oh sorry!", the two of them said simultaneously.
"You can have it.", they said again leading the two of them to blink at each other before they burst out laughing. The man grabbed the box and gave it to her.
"Thanks, Gray.", she said with a smile.
"No problem, Lucy. There are a lot more you know.", he chuckled, grabbing another box.
"So, is flamebrain with you?"
"Flamebrain?" Lucy asked. She felt like she heard that name before. She just couldn't pinpoint where.
"You know, Natsu; the pink-haired idiot!", Gray snorted making Lucy laugh.
"I think you guys are best friends.", she commented with a smile. Gray almost choked on air while laughing hard.
"Oh come on, you're the only one who says that!"
"Nah, I'm pretty positive that you are; maybe even brothers."
"I do NOT share the same genes with that idiot.", Gray deadpanned causing the blonde to laugh again.
"No, I mean, you even treat each other like brothers. You protect each other in a rather rash way yet you still don't want the other getting hurt in some way.", she said with a smile.
The raven-haired teen scoffed with a light blush on his cheeks, "I don't care for that idiot."
"Ah, but you do Gray, you care for him as much as you care for your other friends."
"Tch. How do you know that much anyway? For all I know, you just transferred to our school today.", he countered making the blonde smile.
"You don't need days, weeks or even years just to see that someone cares, Gray. You just need to open your eyes and feel every little gesture a person gives you. Just like how Juvia looks at you hmm?", she said with a wink and Gray just shook his head while laughing. Though there was a tinge of pink forming on his cheeks.
"I still can't believe flamebrain got somebody smart like you!", Gray said, still laughing.
"Natsu isn't that bad. He's actually nice and sweet." , she beamed causing Gray to laugh harder.
"I never believed that I'll ever hear the name Natsu together with the words 'nice' and 'sweet' in the same sentence!"
"Gray.", the blonde said softly making the ink-haired stop laughing and look at her with a serious expression.
"Do you consider yourself lucky to be alive?"
The sudden question caused the raven haired teen look at her in shock, as well as in confusion, but the sincerity and determination in her eyes prodded him to answer her honestly.
"Yes.", he said softly as looked into her eyes. His expression changed into one of determination and the blonde couldn't help but smile back on seeing the sincere yet soft smile on his face as he looked down.
"Yes Lucy… I may not have valued my life like this before… But now,", he looked up at her with a smile, "I consider myself lucky to be given the chance to live."
Brown eyes widened on hearing his words. She suddenly hugged the unsuspecting teen as tears started to prickle her eyes. She felt so happy as she heard those words from Gray and suddenly she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her heart.
Gray's eyes widened in surprise as the blonde suddenly hugged him, but softened as he hugged her back and patted her head.
A soft smile adorned his face, "You're a weird one you know."
"I know.", Lucy replied and pulled away from him.
"Take care of Natsu, alright?" he said.
"Of course, and Gray… try opening your heart a little will you?" the blonde said with a smile before leaving the area.
Gray watched after her disappearing figure. Tilting his head down, he closed his eyes with the soft smile still on his face.
"Now, I remember you… my light… my savior…"
Natsu was pissed off. No. He was way beyond that.
He waited at the counter for some time, but the blonde had not yet returned with the box of milk. Getting worried that she might have gotten lost somewhere, he went in search of the blonde angel, knowing the troublemaker she was.
But he froze at the sight of her hugging his rival. He gritted his teeth as he felt anger boiling up inside his chest. He felt like walking up to them and punching the living daylights out Gray for hugging her, but he held himself back on realizing that the blonde girl wouldn't approve of it.
He was so pissed off with her for hugging the teen; but that was just damn ironic since he was still thinking of what she would say and feel.
He ran a hand through his pink locks, feeling so frustrated about how much the girl had affected him within a short time span.
"Damn Lucy! Stop messing with me!", he muttered indignantly, his onyx eyes flashing with anger and frustration, as he glared at the marbled floor of the store.
Suddenly feeling a hand on his shoulder, he couldn't help but lash out in anger at that person.
"What?", he snapped making the person stagger back a little.
"Natsu-nii? Is… something wrong?", the timid voice asked. Natsu mentally punch himself for scaring his sister.
He let out a puff of air to calm himself before replying, "It's nothing Wendz.."
"Uhmm… Lucy-nee just came back so I thought I should let you know since you're looking for her right?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Gray was now walking back home after having finished with his grocery shopping.
He lived alone in a small house given to him by one of his relatives. It wasn't much, but he was thankful for it. He worked in a coffee shop at night to provide for himself, since he didn't want to depend on his relatives—on Ul and Ultear's relatives. They all loved him as one of their own. They even wanted to adopt him but he didn't want to bother them further.
Besides… he was scared… scared of his loved ones leaving him again.
He trudged silently along the pavement. Wind blew through his raven hair causing him to lift his head up to feel the breeze against his face. His eyes glimmered as they caught sight of the setting sun and he paused in his steps for a moment to admire the pinkish orange sky.
He closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy it all when the rustle of the bushes nearby caught his attention.
Heaving out a sigh, he continued walking with one hand in his pocket, contemplating on what to do.
Juvia was following him… again.
It's not like he didn't like the blue-haired girl, she wasn't that hard to like. But he was scared of the fact that Juvia like-no, loves him so much. So much so, that she would not hesitate to give up her life for him. And that was what he was afraid of… afraid of someone dying again for his sake.
He wasn't lying before, when he said that he considered himself lucky to be alive. He understood that Ul and Ultear have their own reasons but it still hurt so damn much whenever people leave… especially if you were the damn reason.
Gray looked at the now dark sky; the stars were slowly creeping out.
Letting out another sigh, he stopped walking… Maybe it was time to start following the blonde's advice.
"Juvia…", he called out but didn't get an answer.
"Juvia come out. I know you're there.", he stated with much more authority making the bluenette squeak and step out of the bushes.
"H-Hello G-Gray-sama... Juvia was.. Juvia was just... uhmm...", she stuttered while fingering her blue dress; trying hard to look anywhere except Gray. Gray sighed at her nervousness and scratched the back of his neck.
"Come with me, Juvia." he said and walked towards the nearest park. He sat on the bench and gestured for her to sit down next to him.
If this was any other occasion, Juvia would have sat as close as possible but she had been watching him since earlier and she saw everything.
She saw the way his eyes lit up when he talked to the blonde girl, his laughter that filled the air which was music to her ears but at the same time a stab to her heart, knowing that she couldn't make him laugh like that.
But what hurt her the most was the happiness in his eyes when the blonde hugged him and that longing look on his face when he watched her leave.
She had been watching for so long that reading the emotions that showed in his cold eyes came as easy as loving the man.
She had been looking at him for so long, waiting for him to return her gaze but now… she knew he would never look back.
She tried to hold back the tears that were about to fall out since she didn't want to look more pathetic in his eyes than she already was.
She almost jumped in her seat when the teen next to her started to talk.
"There was once this boy who kept on losing everything..."
Juvia took a peek at him and saw that he was looking up at the stars.
"His teacher gave up her life to save him. His best friend and brother—although not biologically—also left him with a heavy heart because he couldn't accept the death of their teacher.
Two years later, their teacher's daughter, who said she hated him so much, also died after saving him.
He lived alone after that; declining the offer of their relatives to take him in as he was afraid… afraid of his loved ones leaving him behind.", his voice started to quiver and Juvia had silent tears flowing out of her eyes. She already realized who the boy was and she couldn't believe that someone as strong as Gray had such a dark past.
"He hated his life. He hated himself for being the cause of their death… for being the one who was always left behind."
He took a deep breath before he continued, "Years passed. He found a new life, new friends and a new surrounding that would help him move on, only that, he never did. In every smile and laughter; a tinge of guilt would always drive him back to his past. Then came along this girl...", a soft smile played across his lips at his little memory of her.
"Her and her bright smiles that would make anyone happy; her good heart that melts away your fears. Her soft touch and encouraging words that would make you feel alive. Everything about her shines and the boy couldn't help but fall in love with her…"
.
.
"Gray.", the blonde girl said while poking his cheeks. He groaned as the new girl was bothering him again.
"Gray!" she said louder this time. He could imagine her puffing her cheeks.
"Go away, Blondie!"
"No! You still have to apologize to Natsu!", she stated making the ink-haired snap his eyes open.
"Why do I have to apologize to flamehead? It was his fault!"
"I don't care whose fault it is! Just apologize and make up or else I'll call Erza!", she said while glaring, effectively making Gray cower in fear.
"You don't have to call Erza! You're scary enough!", the ink-haired retorted making the blonde smack him hard on the head.
"You said something Gray?", she said, her glare getting more fierce.
"No ma'am!"
.
.
Gray smiled at the memory while Juvia listened intently.
"One day, the boy's friends decided to go hiking but he really didn't want to go because it was the anniversary of his teacher's death. But they were so persistent that he tagged along. While camping, he sneaked out to get some time alone but he didn't know that the girl followed him…"
.
.
"Gray, why are out here all alone?"
"Why did you follow me here?"
"I asked a question first! But... you look sad so... yeah. Here I am!"
"I wasn't. Go back to Natsu, he'll be looking for you."
"You're lying."
"Go back Blondie. Don't assume that we're friends!" he snapped. He didn't mean to be harsh but he really wanted to be alone.
"Of course we're not friends…", the blonde snorted and he just wanted to laugh at how the same words he said to the blonde stabbed him like hell.
"…We're family. And you can tell me anything Gray"
.
.
"That day was day he told somebody his story, his insecurities… his dark past. But she never judged him. She just said the words which the boy held onto… even up to this day…"
.
.
"Live Gray, live with all your might…"
.
.
He let out a shaky chuckle at the memory and looked at Juvia with a smile as he continued his story.
"It's funny how those simple words changed his life. But it must have been because she was his light… she was, and will always be…", he let out a sigh.
"Don't get me wrong though, he never confessed his love to her for he already knew that the girl had feelings for someone else. She was in love with his best friend. But he wasn't sad because of it. In fact, he was happy… happy that the girl will be his friend's new light.", he said with a smile and Juvia got the urge to hug him for she knew that there's a tinge of pain in his eyes.
But she wouldn't dare do that. He already let her in and she wasn't going to ruin it by making him uncomfortable.
After all… the girl was his light… and she… she was just his stalker.
"Juvia…", his voice laced with more vulnerability than she ever thought she would hear.
"Do you mind… if I borrow your shoulder for a bit?"
She smiled. Not forced nor faked. But a genuine smile of happiness on realising that Gray trusts her enough to show her this side of him.
"You can always lean on Juvia, Gray-sama.", she said, and she relished the feeling as she let Gray hug her.
He didn't cry but she could feel every bit of emotion in him… that she couldn't help but cry in his place…
"Don't cry you idiot. I'm the one who needs comfort remember?", the ink-haired chuckled softly, patting her head making the blue-haired girl sniff and suppress her sobs.
"B-But…G-Gray-sama isn't crying and-and J-Juvia couldn't help but want to cry in his place.", she choked out, and the man hug her tighter.
"Thank you, Juvia…"
"Natsu!"
"Natsu!"
"NATSU!", the blonde shouted leading the pink-haired boy to look angrily at her.
"What?!"
"Why are you ignoring me?" she asked, not fazed by his glare. Ever since they returned home from the grocery store, Natsu was ignoring her.
"It's none of your business.", he spat and turned to go to his room.
"It does concern me you idi—" she started to shout but stopped midway when she suddenly felt a little light-headed.
Different scenes flashed before her eyes as she felt like her head was splitting into two. She blinked her eyes rapidly trying to gain her vision back while her hands reached out and fumbled around for the doorknob of her room.
She really didn't want anybody to see her in this state. But it was late though, as Natsu had already turned around when she stopped talking; his eyes full of rage immediately dissolving into worry and panic on seeing her pained face with her hands flailing about for something.
He was about to reach out to her when she suddenly found the doorknob of her room, opening and slamming it in the process. She leaned back on the door and slid down as her hands held her head, trying to ease the pain.
She didn't pay attention to the furious knocks on her door or Natsu's voice calling out to her as her ears started ringing.
Her mind suddenly flashed with the image of a blonde girl and a figure. The girl was running desperately after the figure.
Another image flashed; a small girl together with her mother and father as she held something that looked like a doll in her arms, while smiling up at her parents…
All the visions stopped and she felt the pain in her head gradually fading away.
Sweat coated her forehead as the blonde breathed heavily. She lowered her head to look down at her shaking hands as tears freely flowed down her cheeks.
The ringing in her ears stopped as she now heard Natsu still banging against her door, calling out to her.
Taking a deep breath to calm her raging heartbeat, she ran her hand through her blonde locks as she closed her eyes to process what happened.
Only one question rang through her mind…
'What just happened?!'
Still 4 days with 97 to go
Edited-07-22-16