400 years

43

Thinking that I would be alone, I sighed heavily.. "We're at a serious disadvantage."

"True. So, Lucy, of the late Anna Heartfilia. Will you be ready?"

"Huh!? Happy- Loke!?"

Turning to look behind me, I'm met with a floating Happy and Loke, who is holding my keys.

"Shall we help protect?"

"Of course we'll fight-!"

"Hold it right there, Larcade!"

The resounding cry made the three of us turn and look back towards the battle. This voice belonging to Sting, along side Erza and Gray. Their army had August and Larcade's men trapped between them and Natsu's.

~•~

The battle was later decided in Natsu's favor, August and his men were rounded up and imprisoned just outside of town.

On the other hand, I had helped as many of our injured until Wendy and a few others insisted I'd go rest. Even then, morning still hadn't come.

Laying awake, 'Sleep or not.. tonight has gone on long enough..' As if a flicker of a candle, my mind went to the memory of earlier. Our trip here, the sunset, his warmth, and how we haven't really gotten a chance for a real conversation since then.

Unconsciously I rose from my futon. 'I need to see him..' however, as I reached for my door, someone opened it first.

"Lu-."

"Natsu, Listen-!"

I'd planned on starting the conversation, but his form standing in the door way took away my words. I stopped and stared. Natsu's expression was tight.

"Your alright?" He drew in a sharp breath.

"Y-Yeah, I'm-!"

Natsu stepped forward, cutting me off. He wrapped his arms around me, and drew me into a tight embrace.

'W-what's gotten into him!?'

Laying his head in the crook of my shoulder, "What were you thinking? I'd thought for sure the poison would take your life. But then you run away.."

My heart leaped in my chest to his warm breath and his closeness. "I definitely didn't expect it to lead to a night raid.. I'm sorry."

He slowly lifted his head up, eyes meeting my gaze. Cupping my cheeks in his strong hands, were he brushed his fingers over them as if to reassure himself that I was still alive.

Looking at me, his face twisted in pain. "I don't get it.." a faint red tint colored his cheeks. "Why do I feel this way? Maybe I'm sick?"

Watching this, an emotion I couldn't name welled up  inside of me, too hot to be comfortable. My chest grew tight as I remembered the tenseness in which he spoke with earlier.

At first my words wouldn't come out, when I finally could find my voice.. it was but a whisper. "I-I was thoughtless.. can we forget this night ever happened?"

"No."

"Why-?!"

Natsu surprised me as he lifted me up and carried me over to the futon. At first my eyes widened, but then I squeezed them shut. Embracing myself for a fall. But it never came. Instead, he laid me gently down as I felt his weight press against me. When I opened my eyes back up, he was cupping my face and leaned in close.

"You abandoned our game of Go. By default, you lose."

Compared to Natsu's normal playful tone when it came to our game, there was now an edge in his deep voice.

"Uh, is that really important at this moment?"

"Yes, because there's something of yours I need to claim."

"And that is?"

We looked into each other's eyes, and I was enraptured. I reached for him. Making a sound, he parted the bottom of my kimono to the belt. I gasped lightly to the heat coming off his body, feeling it on my bare skin. His eyes for once hid nothing.

For once they weren't cold, nor peaceful like normally when we were alone. Passion burned in his eyes. Those beautiful eyes threatened to melt me then and there.

"I claim this."

I shivered at the feeling of his strong hand on my cool flesh. His hand slide up my side, the belt of my kimono fell open, and I was conscious of the touch of his slightly rough fingertips.

As his hand found my my breast, my heart was thundering. Reverberating hard under him. I trembled with force of it.

I panted and my lips parted, as I let myself be engulfed in his eyes.

"Lucy." His low voice rumbled. Luckily I could hear it over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. A slow intense burn began inside me.

Natsu's hand had stopped, right there, above my left breast. My heartbeat seemed to echo back to me against his hand.

"As of tonight, your heart belongs to me."

"My heart?"

With his hand pressed against my heart, I stared at him. He looked back intently.

"Your not allowed to die. I won't allow it."

'This is what he so desperately wants from me?' "Your asking me to live?"

"Yes."

"Even though you've killed so many? You want me to live-?"

"...Yes."

I raised my own hands to his cheeks, with a raised brow. 'Why?'

As if he heard my thoughts, in a low voice. Natsu whispered. "I have no reason why.. I just need this. I can't rest without it."

"Ok."