~Magnolia's Number One Assassin~ (Fairy Tail)

Chapter 23: Memories

Memories

Natsu rushed forward and I lashed out. Erza and I locked hands. We both pushed each other forward. Neither one of us moved an inch. We both locked eyes and I smiled. I twisted my hand to the right, which also caused Erza's hand to twist, along with mine. She retaliated with an elbow to my stomach. I leaned back to avoid the blow. As I did so I almost lost my balance and fell. Natsu tightened his grip on my legs and saved me from falling.

I straightened and sat up. Erza and I still had our hands locked in each other's grip. "Natsu!" I cringed when Erza tried to physical throw me off. I locked my legs tighter around Natsu. The Dragon Slayer got the message and before my eyes the water began steaming. Gray's eyes widened and he began to shout out in pain.

The Ice Mage cursed and tried to freeze the water again. I let go of one Erza's hands and instead gripped Natsu's shoulder with my free one. I took a breath and slowly brought my legs up. I brought my legs to Natsu's shoulders and with Natsu's help, stood up. I stood on Natsu's shoulders shakily and faced Erza. Gray had finally been able to cool down the water around him. Erza was staring at me and trying to guess my next move.

I let out a breath and launched myself off of Natsu's shoulders. I did a small flip in the air and landed again on Natsu's shoulders, but instead of landed on my feet, I landed on my hands.

I huffed out a breath and raised myself up using the muscles in my arms. I pushed off and kicked out. My foot connected with Erza's stomach and she clawed at my foot. The force of my kick made Erza fly back. Gray stumbled back as Erza tumbled from his shoulders. With a big splash she hit the water. She would be so freaking pissed when she got out.

With a grunt I flew back to Natsu with the force and he caught me in his arms. I wasn't done yet. Natsu wrapped his arms around my stomach and threw me back. I flew to the surprised looking Gray and slammed my palm across his chest.

With an 'ack' Gray also joined his teammate in the water. I hit the water and landed on top of the defeated Gray. I took a breath and chuckled as I crossed my arms across his chest. I laid my chin down and winked down at him.

"We win."

I could hear Natsu whooping in the background as I slowly sat up. I couldn't help but laugh at the defeated look on Gray's face. The Ice Mage looked up at me as he pushed himself up on his elbows. Erza was already out of the water along with Wendy. I didn't see either Lucy or Loke.

"Ha. I let you win, I hope you realize that." Gray said with a shrug of his shoulders. I rolled my eyes and glared at him. "Sure." I drew the word out. Then Gray had a glint in his eyes. Before I could move or swim away, he grabbed me. I let out a surprised screech when I felt ice freaking cold water run down my back.

I slapped at his arms until he dropped them. I jumped up and did that little dance that everybody does when they get something cold or sticky on them. As I continued to do my little dance I started to curse Gray. He wouldn't stop laughing as he watched me dance.

Ooohhh, just you wait, Stripper, just you wait... I thought evilly. Suddenly an arm snaked around my stomach and then I was pulled up against a warm, hard chest. My back instantly warmed along with the rest of my body. Especially my face.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked Natsu as I took a deep breath to calm my rapidly beating heart. My whole being felt the rumble of his laugh. Natsu put his chin on my shoulder and smiled up at me. "I'm keeping you warm, Fey. I don't want you to catch a cold."

I looked at his burning green eyes and I found myself nodded. Like a totally idiot. "O-okay." I muttered. "You look like a complete-" Gray started with a smirk but was cut off when Natsu and I shot him glares. "I dare you to finish that sentence." I warned him. Gray sent me such a look of complete mockery that it made me narrow my eyes. "Alright, I was saying-" Natsu decked him in the jaw.

I backed away from the two boys as they continued they're fight. I looked away from them as I walked back up the beach. I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss Natsu's warmth or his embrace...
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I stood there on the beach, watching the waves crash into the shore. I raised my camera that I had just bought at the local shop not to far from the beach. It was actually supposed to be Levy's camera, you know, since she's the one who wanted the stupid thing.

But then she told me that she wanted me to have it. Something about capturing memories or whatever. But I raised up my camera and took a picture of the waves. The sun was setting and it looked beautiful. So I snapped another pic of the orangey light.

We would have to go back to the hotel soon. We were gonna go back to the Guild the next day. I had to admit, I was a little sad to be leaving. I looked down at the camera, at least I had the pictures that I had taken.

With a smile I started to look through them. One of the pictures showed Wendy and Erza building sand castles. Another showed a picture of Gray, Natsu, and Gajeel having a sand building contest. I had absolutely no idea what either boy was building or trying to build.

I had taken a picture of the three Exxeeds flying in the air in front of the setting sun. Then I had taken a picture of Lucy and Levy, who were both splashing each other in the water. And the last picture, which I was pretty proud of, was of Gajeel and Levy.

Neither Gajeel nor Levy had known that I had taken this pic. Gajeel would probably smash the camera if he knew. But I had caught them at just the right moment. They were both walking down the beach together. The sunset was directly beside them.
It looked really pretty.

"You're not in any of them."

I jumped at the sound of Natsu's voice. I looked over my shoulder to find him peering over my shoulder and looking at the pictures.

He looked like he had just gotten out of the surf. His hair was wet and I could see sparkles of water droplets in his hair. His body was now sun kissed and glistening from little drops of water. His scarf was back around his neck and his eyes were shining a beautiful green.

I blinked back into reality and looked away as he came up to my side. "How come?" He asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I just don't like being in pictures." It was true, I didn't like being in pictures. Natsu looked at me and then he took the camera out of my hand. Before I knew it he had spun me around, put his arm around my shoulders, and had turned the camera so it was now facing us.

"Smile!" Natsu said as he smiled so widely that it showed off his sharpened teeth. I found myself smiling softly while I looked at him. I was still looking at him when the flash went off. He turned the camera back around and brought it closer to us, so that we could see the end results.

The picture was beautiful.

Natsu has taken it at just the right moment.

The fiery orange glow of the sunset was right behind us. Highlighting both of our smiling faces and features. Natsu and I had been both facing the camera. While he has been looking right at it, I hadn't. Instead I was looking right at him, with a soft smile on my lips.

I looked like a idiot.

"Delete!" I yelled as I made a grab for the stupid object. Natsu laughed and held it high above his head. I tried jumping but I couldn't reach the damned thing. "Leave it alone, Fey!" Natsu laughed out as I made another attempt at getting it. "Beside," he said with a smile, "I want a copy."

I stopped in the middle of preparing for another jump to stare at him. "Y-you want...a copy?" I asked him. He tilted his head at me, "Hmm." He hummed as a 'yes'. "Come on, Fey. I came to bring you back." Natsu told me as he once again dropped his arm around my shoulders.

"It's time to get back to the hotel." I continued to stare up at him as my heart did a funny thing in my chest. Then I opened my mouth and said softly, before I could stop myself, "I want a copy too." Natsu blinked and looked down at me.

I looked back and we just looked at one another for a moment. Then, Natsu's face broke out into a warm smile, "Okay, Fey." He said as he smiled down at me. I paused and then smiled back.

"Okay, Natsu."

This has got to be one of my favorite chapters that I have ever written. It's just...so beautiful to me! *fangirls a little* XD sry, tell me what you all thought about this chapter! Arigato!