Leaving to become stronger

Part Twenty

Natsu looked all over Magnolia for the celestial mage.

She's nowhere to be found, apparently.

He's been looking for her for hours.

Her dimmed scent's not helping, either.

He walked towards the guild and drank his fire whiskey.

'Where could she be?' he questioned himself and, like Kami-sama heard his plea, his foot dragged him towards a different direction.

"Happy, I think I know where Lucy is!" Natsu informed and told Happy where he was going since he would like to stay with Charles for a while.

'She should be there. I just know it.' He thought, running towards a hill that's overviewing the entire Magnolia.

Panting heavily, his eyes caught sight of a beautiful golden hair flowing wildly along with the wind.

A stunning blonde's sitting on the soft grass, watching over Magnolia.

"You came." Lucy muttered, lowly, never averting her eyes from the view.

"Y-Yeah..." he exhaled, not even realizing that he was holding his breath for a long time.

"Come and sit beside me, Natsu." She offered, smiling softly.

He nodded and sat beside her, now captivated at the breathtaking view.

"Natsu, do you remember what happened eight years ago?" she asked, not looking at him.

"Are you referring to... that time when I left the guild?" he asked, carefully, and she nodded.

"That time... Tartaros..." she trailed off and the dragon slayer looked at her with her distant eyes.

"Where is this going, Lucy?" Natsu asked and she looked at him, dead in the eyes, then sighed.

"Natsu..." she stated, slightly hesitating.

He reached for her hand to encourage her and she gave him a small smile.

"Around that time... Aquarius was gone..." she stated, expressionless, taking the dragon slayer aback.

"What do you mean... gone? Wasn't celestial spirits... immortal or something?" Natsu questioned and she looked far away.

"Yeah... She had to go... so that we could save everyone in the guild." She stated, chuckling humorlessly, and he was getting worried.

"Was this around the time... I left?" He asked, sweating like a pig.

She didn't say anything.

"Lucy..." Natsu called and she stood up, without a word, about to walk away.

Natsu stood up and held her by her wrist to stop her from walking away.

"Let go, Natsu... I thought I could do it... I can't-" she whimpered, looking at the ground, biting her inner cheek.

"I didn't know! Why didn't you tell me? Didn't you trust me?" he exclaimed and he felt her shake under his hold, trying to keep her emotions from going berserk.

"Let go." She warned, her tone was stern.

"I won't! Never again!" Natsu gripped, not backing down.

"Natsu!" she roared, this time struggling to get out of his grip.

"Lucy!" Natsu bellowed and she stopped and a tear managed to slip from her eye.

"You left me..." She whispered, softly, while tears continued to freely fall.