"I'm in love with Natsu," Erza proudly stated with the biggest smile she could muster, a deep blush creeping across her cheeks.
Lucy couldn't help but grin at that answer, wiping away the dremainder of stray tears. "That's the answer I wanted to hear, Erza. You're who he truly belongs with, not me."
"But why push him to me?" The knight asked with a raised brow.
"Because he deserves someone who shares his same feelings," Lucy looked out to her room with no place in mind. "Someone who will love him with all of their heart, cherish every moment they spend with him. Erza, I wasn't the girl for him, but you are. I can see it in your eyes when you talk about Natsu. He's everything to you and more," a small smile appeared on her lips. "You know I'm right."
Erza rubbed her arm with a deep blush, tucking a strand of scarlet hair behind her ear. "You have me there. Just thinking about him now has me me flushed," she smiled softly, pressing her palm against her steady beating chest. "I never would've thought I would feel this way about someone like him. But... his childish personality, his drive, his passion to protect his loved ones is so endearing. I can't help but admire him. He's an inspiration to me, to all of us. He drives me to be the strongest I can be, even if he thinks I push him, he pushes me and more."
Lucy grinned softly with a nod of acknowledgment. "It's what makes Natsu him. I wouldn't change a thing about him for the world."
"Nor would I," Erza smiled softly with a small blush.
"So, what are you gonna do now Erza Scarlet?" She asked teasingly with a small giggle.
Erza stood up off the couch with a determined expression, clenching her hands tightly with a smile. "I'm gonna go see Natsu. Tell him how I feel and hope he accepts my feelings in return. He doesn't deserve to be alone like this, so I will ensure his happiness. It's time his comes first before anyone else's, including my own."
Lucy could hear the pure conviction in her words with a hint love, admiration for the dragon slayer. She couldn't help but smile as brightly as the sun, knowing Natsu was going to be in good hands. She may have not been the girl for him, but Erza could certainly take up the task of mending what she broke. As much as she hated herself for even hurting Natsu, this was for the best, for both of them. She would find the person for her, but Natsu needed someone in his life. After everything he's went through, even with his terrible past he has no memory of. "Well, I wish you luck Erza. Now go tame the dragon."
Even as embarrassing as the comment she made was. Erza gave the biggest grin she could, blushing deeply at the thought of seeing Natsu again. "Will do, I'll see you later Lucy," she offered the blond a hug, which she happily took before in a flash Erza was out the window, rushing down the streets of Magnolia.
"Take care of him Erza," Lucy whispered gently, before turning away from the window, stretching her limbs. "Man I need a shower, I stink!"
Erza went from running, to briskly walking along the streets, her eyes focused on the path ahead of her. She pulled her lacrima phone out of her pocket, calling Gray as she held the device to her ear. After a moment someone answered.
"So what did you find out?" Gray asked on the other side of the phone.
The knight let out a soft sigh. "It's as we feared. She did tell him how she felt about him. Her intentions were pure, but the damage was still done."
"Damn it... so what are we going to do? We can't let Natsu wallow in despair like this."
Erza smiled softly, "that's why I'm heading to his home. I have something important I need to tell him."
"What's that?"
"You will see, Gray. I'll talk to you soon, hopefully Natsu is with me when I do."
"Alright, I'm trusting you with this. If something happens, call me asap," Gray said in a serious tone. "Anything Erza."
"Of course, I'll talk to you soon," Erza finished, hanging up the phone as she slipped it in her blouse pocket. Her eyes faced forward with a determined glint. "I'm coming Natsu."
Inside the home of Natsu and Happy's. The salmon haired mage moved briskly through his home, gathering clothes and necessities as he stuffed them in a bag. He took one glance at a picture frame of him and Happy together, standing triumphantly on a giant monster's body. Natsu was breathing fire into the air with his fists raised in the air, Happy floating above him with a grin. A sad smile made it's way across his face, gently stroking the frame with his thumb. "I'm gonna miss you buddy," he muttered before walking away to grab a piece of paper from a pile.
With a heavy sigh he pulled out a chair from his kitchen table, taking a seat. A pencil in hand with narrowed eyes, he scribbled words down on the sheet, each word bringing more and more pain to his heart. His hands shook slightly as he gripped onto it with his other hand, steadying his uneasy breath.
"So instead of ending your life, you run away like a coward."
Natsu ignored the shadows taunts, focusing solely on moving the pencil along the paper. This was for the best of everyone. Nobody wanted him around anymore, that was clear enough for him to see. His thoughts went to Lucy, the times they shared together, their kiss... His teeth gritted together tightly with a stray tears making their way down his cheek. Every written word stabbed like a knife, but with a deep breath he finished. Setting the paper down along with the pencil. He stood up from the chair, walking out of the living room with a bag slung over his shoulder, a cloak he had draped over his body with a hood that covered his face.
He walked out of the front, gently closing the door behind him. With one last look at his home, he turned around to slowly walk away with no destination in mind. A soft glow emanated from his left shoulder, a familiar red guild mark slowly dissapearing until it was gone. "Goodbye everyone... I love you all.." Natsu choked on the words, tightening the hood around his cloak as his body slowly but shortly dissapeared into the distance, gone without a trace.
Erza saw the slayer's home in view with a bright smile. She walked up the covered wooden path, glancing around her surrounding as she made her way in front of the small cot. She stopped to look at the sign with wide eyes, the color draining from her face as she noticed a red stain on the small wooden sign. "B-blood?" She asked with a shaky breath before she slowly walked up to the door, raising her hand to knock on the door. "Natsu? Natsu, it's Erza. Please let me in."She waited outside the door for a couple of minutes. Not a groan, a shuffle, or any indication he was in there. This time, she hit the door harder frantically. "Natsu! Open the door!" She shouted in worry, but still no response. With no other choice, she lifted her foot and slammed it against the wooden door, breaking it in half. Erza rushed inside, looking all around his home frantically. "Natsu!" She called out, but still no response was given.
Fear began to tug at her heart as she ran into his room, noticing dressers had been left open with no clothes. She stepped out before freezing, glancing into the bathroom, covering her mouth in shock on what she saw. Natsu's bathroom mirror was shattered into pieces on the floor. Blood stained the white counters in crimson. "What the hell happened?! NATSU!" She screamed to the top of her lungs, frantically searching the home for any sign of him. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as her heart hammered in her chest. "Come on! Where are you?!"
Erza finally made her way to his kitchen. That's when she noticed a slip of paper on the table with a pencil resting on top of it. Slowly, she walked over, taking a hold of the paper in her hand, her eyes growing wide at the words she read, feeling her heart shatter on impact.
To anyone who finds this paper. I hope it isn't you happy... I'm leaving Magnolia, and.. Fairy Tail. I truly know I'm not wanted here anymore, Lucy made that clear. I've been nothing but a burden to most of you, especially Erza, Gray. I don't know where I'll go, but please don't try to find me. I'll only hurt you all more than I already have. This is goodbye forever. And Happy if this is you reading this, please forgive me for leaving you behind with Lisanna. Live your life the best you can buddy, I love you. Goodbye Fairy Tail.
Love Natsu.
Erza dropped the paper on the table, dropping to her knees with tears running down like water. Her heart throbbed in agony, clenching her fist tightly. "N-no... No! NO! You can't leave us Natsu, you can't leave me!" She cried out, smashing her fist into the wooden floor, releasing the floodgates as her body was racked with agonizing sobs. "N-natsu come back to me!"
Without another thought she ripped the lacrima phone out of her pocket, calling Gray. After a few rings he answered. "Yeah, what's going o-"
"NATSU IS GONE!" Erza cut him off, sobbing over the phone as she covering her mouth with her hand, clenching her eyes shut.
"Woah, woah what do you mean he's gone? Like go on a mission or?"
"I-I found a note on the table," she gasped for air in her lungs. "Dressers completely cleaned out, blood in the bathroom along with a shattered mirror.." Erza choked on her words, clutching onto her phone as her body shook.
"That idiot! What is he thinking?! Stay there, we're coming. We'll get him back Erza, count on it!"
She felt the call disconnect, her hand letting slip to fall onto the wooden floor below her. Erza stood up on shaky legs, gazing at the note, biting her lip deep enough to draw blood. "Y-you damn idiot... please..." Erza clutched onto her chest tightly with a heavy heart breaking apart at the seams. "Come back..." her eyes looked over to the picture frame of Natsu and Happy.
"Come back to me..."
So begins the dark road that Natsu has begun his travel on. I know a lot of you probably thought it was going to be a suicide note, due to the beginning of chapter 1. I have much more in store for this story, it's far from over. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one. Later :)