So Far Yet So Close [Fairy Tail Fanfiction]

Breaking Up

"Urg..." Cana groaned.

"What's wrong Cana-chan?" Levy inquired in concern.

"That Lucy wouldn't tell me no matter what..."

"? Tell you what?" Levy was lost.

"I swear! She's hiding something!" Cana suddenly shot back up, earning a scared face from Levy.

And at the other end of the bus, Lucy sat exhausted with a concerned Wendy (Natsu's cousin) who took out her medication bag in hopes of finding something to soothe the blonde's pain.

"Are you okay?" Wendy asked in her usual innocent voice.

"Yeah... Cana was just very persistent that's all..."

"Lack of sleep?"

"Yeah."

Wendy took out sleeping pills for the blonde and after the said girl gladly accepted it, she made her way to Romeo. Looking at the little girl's retreating figure, Lucy couldn't help but think, Ah~ young love. Just then, she caught Natsu staring at her from the corner of her eyes and when they made eye contact, the two inevitably blushed and looked away. Unbeknownst to them, someone saw their reactions and was quite disturbed by it.

It had been a week since the beach outing and Natsu and Lisanna had not went on a date since. Deciding it was a little weird since Lisanna is usually the one who invites him on a date, Natsu called the girl.

"Hey, is everything alright?" The boy started.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah. Everything's okay." Lisanna reassured.

Finding her distracted self weird, Natsu pressed, "You sure?"

"Yeah!" Lisanna resumed her usual chirpy tone.

Reluctantly, Natsu dropped the case.

"By the way, it's been so long since we hanged, wanna go somewhere tomorrow?"

"No- Natsu Dragneel is the one inviting me to a date?" Lisanna gasped dramatically and Natsu rolled his eyes in amusement.

"Well, if you don't want to I can always-" Natsu teased.

"Where to?" Lisanna cut in.

"Ha ha! Yeah, how 'bout the usual cafe?" Natsu suggested.

"Okay." Lisanna replied with obvious joy in her voice.

Clasping his phone, Natsu looked across his room and at his door where at the other side of the corridor was Lucy's room. Things went awkward since that night and Natsu couldn't help but feel hopeful but at the same time guilty. Opening his phone again, he dialled a number.

"Hey, can we meet up now?"

"So, you feel hopeful since there is a possibility that Lucy likes you too but you feel guilty since you're already dating Lisanna?" A gruffy voice sounded.

"Yeah... and I don't know what to do about it..." Natsu affirmed hesitantly.

"Simple. Break up with Lisanna." Gildarts answered with no hesitation.

"Say what?!" Natsu exclaimed so loudly, everyone in the current cafe they were in looked at their direction. Calming down, he continued, "I can't possibly hurt her like that! Plus, it's not even confirmed that Lucy might like me!"

"Look boy, you can't expect to remain clean anymore. This isn't about Lucy anymore. It's about being honest to yourself. If you don't like that girl, don't date her. Dating should only take place when both parties have mutual feelings, and obviously, that isn't the case here. So basically, you have already started off on the wrong footing and now, you're bound to have to break the news to her." Gildarts explained with unusual seriousness.

Listening closely, Natsu only felt his heart sink further.

"Is there... no other way?" He tried his luck.

"No." Gildart's voice remained serious and firm as he see the boy's frown dig deeper into his skin. "Well, at least you've learnt from this experience that love can't be forced." Gildarts continued with a more lighthearted tone.

Without easing the frown, Natsu smiled ironically and replied, "Yeah..."

"Hey! Natsu! Over here!" Lisanna called out to the clueless pinkette who was scanning the cafe for his girlfriend.

"Hey." Natsu smiled weakly as he waved back.

Noticing something was wrong with his attitude, Lisanna returned the smile.

After their meal, the couple started strolling down the pavement to digest the food they had in-took in the past hour.

"So... what do we do today? Arcade? Amusement park?" Lisanna asked as she danced ahead of Natsu.

"Arcade." Natsu replied quickly and calmly with sadness tinting his eyes.

Catching his gaze, Lisanna quickly looked away and pretended that she didn't see it.

"Okay."

At the arcade, Natsu suggested to take a purikura which Lisanna quietly agreed to. Through the atmosphere, the two silently understood what this purikura meant. This was going to be their last date.

"Okay, you write your message on this picture while I write mine on this one. Then, we'll exchange it." Lisanna explained with forced cheerfulness while Natsu nodded silently.

When they were done, they exchanged photos and promised each other to only read it when they're home and alone.

"Okay! I'm exhausted now! Let's call it a day!" Lisanna exclaimed while stretching which caused her to garner some attention from the surrounding people.

"Already? We only took a photo. Isn't there more that you wanna-" Before he could complete his sentence, Lisanna kissed Natsu to shut him up.

With a surprised look, Natsu stared at the girl with shock.

"It's okay already. This is enough." Lisanna confirm as she cupped Natsu's head in her hands and brought his forehead to touch hers. Then, jokingly, she added on, "Keep me any longer and I might get the wrong idea."

Painfully, Natsu apologised, "Sorr-"

"Don't apologise! I did not regret dating you at all. I wish to cherish every moment I spent with you as a couple. You weren't the best boyfriend, but you were the best friend I could ever have." Lisanna explained with an enlightened smile.

Smiling apologetically, Natsu replied, "Thank you."

With that, the two parted.

As Lisanna walked back, tears started welling up in her eyes but they just wouldn't fall.

Don't cry. No crying. You knew this was coming since then. She told herself repeatedly as she recalled how Lucy and Natsu made eye contact on the bus and the pink that tainted their faces soon after that.

Just then, the purikura fell out of her pocket and she picked it up to see the messy handwritten decoration on it that was beside a wide smiling Natsu with his fingers pushing the side of his lips up his face.

Don't cry. You look better smiling ^^.

With that, Lisanna broke down and started her all out crying session while desperately trying to smile.

On the other hand, Natsu made it home safe but with guilt filled in his heart. Lucy was coming down when he stepped into the house but Natsu didn't notice her at all and brushed pass her. Slightly hurt, she took refuge in the kitchen by offering her services to Igneel.

Natsu fell on his bed and took out the purikura that Lisanna gave him and the message on it (Though filled with good intensions) only made him feel more guilty.

I hope everything goes well between you and Lucy! Love, Lisanna.

Putting the purikura on the table, Natsu entered deep thought.

Did I do the right thing?

That night, the trio entered sleep with broken hearts in one way or another.