The Relic Wizard

Chapter Eight - Define 'Love'

I just don't get it... All those girls that came out of the gates... Why did they make me feel so excited... And why did one strip?!? Geez... Girls are so confusing... Ryuu thought to himself.
Ryuu had just came back from his first request and was in the pool cooling off. He could even hear Mirajane performing on the stage. Nobody else was in the pool because it was freezing. Ryuu didn't really know the concept of hot and cold so he didn't understand why nobody else was accepting his offer to join him in the pool. He didn't understand a lot of stuff. But Ryuu, not being properly taught, at least had a reason to be different. But everyone is different in there own way. Natsu and Gajeel, who Ryuu was introduced to earlier when he returned from his job, were dragonslayers... Lucy could summon celestial spirits to do work for her... Erza could change her armour from one to another in seconds... Juvia's body was made of water... Grey was an amazing ice wizard... But... What was Ryuu special for..? Using Relic magic was why he was special... He didn't realize that though... In order to realize this... He needed to do some investigation...
Well... They were really beautiful... That's for sure... I just don't realize why my chest was bursting out like that... Ryuu thought to himself.
"Ryuu? Why are you in the pool?" Lucy asked, walking over to Ryuu in her swimsuit.
"I don't know why not? I heard people like the pool... I wanna be more like other people but nobody is here..." He said.
"Oh... Maybe I can join you then..? I mean... It's sad that somebody told you people like pools when nobody is here to enjoy it with you... I was in there earlier which is why I'm still wearing my swimsuit... But I guess taking a dip at night won't hurt..." Lucy explained, then jumping into the water.
Lucy had been in the water for a long time and Ryuu was starting to get worried.
"Lucy? Oh no!" Ryuu said worryingly.
He dived under water and quickly pulled her to the top. She gasped and shivered.
"I-It's s-so c-c-cold!" She shivered.
"Oh really? Let's get out then..." Ryuu said, carrying her to the steps of the pool.
"No... I-It's fine... I can bear it..." She said, still shivering from the freezing cold water.
"No way! You look so cold! I won't allow it!" Ryuu refused.
"B-But it's my f-fault that y-you're getting out..." Lucy shivered.
"And that's fine... If you think it's too cold then we are getting out!" Ryuu said.
"Are you s-sure?" She asked, getting a sad look on her face, "C-Cause I don't want to make y-you unhappy..."
"No way..." Ryuu replied, getting out of the pool and putting her down.
He then hugged her tightly.
"You're really fragile and delicate... I don't want a beautiful girl like you to be going somewhere or doing something uncomfortable or dangerous because I need to protect you and all my other friends over my life..." Ryuu explained.
"Really? You mean it?" Lucy asked, warming up inside.
"Yes... I mean it..." Ryuu replied.
Lucy suddenly blushed and started to panic.
This is all so sudden... Does he like me? What do I do? He doesn't even know what love feels like... Does he? Lucy thought to herself.
"Um... Ryuu..?" Lucy asked.
"Yes?" Ryuu replied.
"Do you... Feel different then normal... Right now? Because... Uh... I want to know if maybe you... Love me?" Lucy asked.
"Uh... Could you... Define 'Love'?" Ryuu asked.
"It's when you feel like you want to always be with that person..." Lucy explained, "I ask because you're holding me so tightly... And... I feel..."
"Well... I do want to be with you a lot... But it's because for some reason whenever I'm around you... I feel like if something happened to you... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself..." Ryuu explained.
"R-Really?" She shivered.
"Oh no! Are you cold still? I'll get a towel!" Ryuu panicked.
"No... I'm just a bit embarrassed... Your warm arms are good enough anyways... Uh... It's just... I don't know... What to say..." Lucy explained.
"You don't need to sy anything... Just stay safe and let me protect you... Okay?" Ryuu asked.
Lucy stood silent for a while and then spoke.
"Maybe... I could say thank you... For being so sweet..." She said.
"Well I'm happy that you are thanking me... But you don't need to..." Ryuu said.
"Yeah I do... And I know just the way to do it..." Lucy said, winking at him and knocking his arms away.
Lucy grabbed Ryuu's shirt and pulled him into her lips. The kiss he had felt from her was in his mind, different from anything he had ever seen or felt. Sure, Mirajane kissed him... But it wasn't a true kiss from her directly... She was under a spell... Never had he seen people in 'love' or married couples. But what he felt wasn't half bad. He actually liked it. After a while, Lucy pulled her lips away.
"Hehehe..." Ryuu laughed awkwardly, "What was that?"
"I just gave you your first kiss... How'd it feel?" Lucy asked.
"What you just did to me... Mirajane did it too... So it wasn't my first kiss really..." Ryuu said, getting a sad look on his face.
"It WAS your first kiss because I wasn't under some perv's spell... Well... I was under YOUR spell but you aren't a perv... So..." Lucy tried to explain, "Uh... Never mind..."
After a moment of awkward silence, Ryuu spoke.
"Thank you Lucy... You made me feel what I believe is... 'Love'..." Ryuu confessed deeply.