Crane Maiden {A Nalu Fan Fiction}

Chapter 6

Hey guys!  Sorry for late update *sweat drop*  Anyways I hope you enjoy it!

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3rd Person POV

It was now the following year and spring was upon them.  The sakura trees were beginning to bloom, a sign that the Rainbow Tree Festival was coming up very soon.  Now that Lucy has been staying in the same facility as Natsu, she has been noticing the tiniest details when it comes to him.  One of the many things she became to notice and quickly identify was his personality- when he was feeling down, upset, etc.  He would always avoid her and seem to not make eye contact with her.  When he felt nervous or out of place, we always had the tendency to rub the back of his neck. 

Recently, Natsu has been avoiding her- a sign that he must be feeling sad at the moment.  This has actually been going on for quite some time.  Lucy felt as though, she hadn't noticed before but was now coming to realize it, that Natsu was a little distant.  He was physically there, sure, but mentally he would be some where else.  She often found him in a daze, staring off into some unknown world of his while she was talking to him.  One morning, when Lucy woke up, she glanced down at the floor where Natsu slept.

"Natsu?" she said through a yawn, and rubbed her eyes.  Her sleepy eyes adjusted and found him to be gone.  Lucy's heart started beating faster, her palms and forehead began to become sweaty, and her eyebrows knitted together in worry.  In a panic, Lucy quickly ran to Juvia and Gray's house.

Breathless, she knocked on the door multiple times.  Then it opened to reveal a very confused, and worried Juvia. 

"Lucy?!" she exclaimed in shock and surprise.  Juvia then quickly ushered a tired Lucy inside and made her sit down at the small circular wooden table where Gray was still eating his break fast.  When Lucy sat down, he glanced up from his plate and stopped eating.  Worry etched in his face when he saw what state Lucy was currently in.  Then Juvia, after seating herself as well, piped up.

"Lucy what brings you here?"

Lucy, after having caught her breath, replied, "Have you seen Natsu?  He wasn't there when I woke up..."

Gray and Juvia shared a quick glance at each other, and nodded in what seemed to be a silent agreement.

"Lucy," Gray began a little hesitant.  "Has Natsu ever told you about his past?"

Lucy shook her head, a little interested a the subject at hand.  "Actually he never said anything about his past to me."

"Well I guess it would be okay to tell you, since you have stayed at his place for quite some time..." Gray murmured as he leaned back in his chair, arms folded.

"Natsu was always the energetic one when we were kids.  We would always chase after each other in the woods around the village.  About around his eighth birthday, his mother left him and his father.  She went down to the valley and married another man- a rich fellow.  Natsu's dad became really depressed about it, and didn't want to tell little Natsu that his own caring mother just abandoned the both of them and left.  He couldn't do that to his son.  So he told Natsu that she died," Gray sadly stated.

"That's unfair!  Natsu should of known the truth!" said Lucy, standing up and slamming her hands on the table, making it shake.  This sudden movement surprised the quiet Juvia.

"Aye," replied Gray, as Lucy settled back down.  "I thought so too.  Anyways." He coughed, "Soon after that, his father suddenly left him, leaving only a letter and a scarf that he and Natsu's mom were supposed to give him on his birthday.  In that letter, Natsu's dad told him how his mother was actually alive and living down in the valley, married to a rich man.  When his eighth birthday rolled around, him and I went down to search for his mom.  He told me everything that happened up to that point.  Since I was his best friend, of course I would help him.  Anyways, when we got there, we were looked down upon and many of the high class kids through rocks or sticks at us.  We asked around, and some of the women who felt bad for us pointed towards where they believed that Natsu's mom lived."

Unknown to Juvia or Gray, Lucy grabbed a fistful of her kimono skirt underneath the table and squeezed in frustration.  That's just cruel... Lucy thought and averted her eyes down towards the splintered wood floor, still listening to Gray's story. 

"When we got there, we saw in the front garden, Natsu's mom walking around with this other guy, both in fancy clothes.  Natsu was really happy to see his mom.  He actually ran up to her and hugged her like the world was going to end... but it gets worst from here.  The guy Natsu's mom was with asked her who this was.  To Natsu's shock, his mom said she didn't know anybody that was so filthy, poor, and ugly in her whole life.  A child hearing their own mother say that to them is like a wound that can never completely heal- a scar," Gray explained.  He then proceeded to lean on the table, elbows propped up and hands both supporting his head. 

"Well I guess those words really stuck to Natsu.  He refused to believe it and attempted to hug his mom again, but she shoved him down.  It was enough for me.  I ran towards him and dragged him away from that place back to the village.  When we got back, Natsu couldn't even move.  He just stood rooted in that spot, crying silently, staring down at the valley.  After that day, Natsu was never really the same.  He just kind of drifted apart- was kind of distant from others.  It seemed as though the only people he really trusted were Wendy- who was like a little sister to him- and I.  It took awhile but he eventually began to trust Juvia too.  But even though he trusts the three of us, he still seems distant," Gray recalled.

Then Lucy looked up, with tears in her eyes, but quickly wiped them up with her sleeves.  "Thank you for telling me this Gray.  And thanks for letting me in Juvia," Lucy stated.  "But I think it's time for me to go." 

"O- of course," Juvia stuttered, walking her to the door and eventually letting her out and closing the door behind her.  She returned to her seat at the table and turned towards Gray.

"Gray- sama....are you sure it was right to tell Lucy all of that?" Juvia quietly inquired, her voice laced with worry for her friend. 

Gray turned to her and smiled.  "Well I'm sure that pyro would have eventually told her.  It might just be me, but I think Natsu's been opening up a little more since she has come..."

"Yeah, Juvia thinks so too!" Juvia replied with a smile. 

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Yasss!!!  Accomplishment have been made!!!  Finally finished the chapter!  TBH I might go back and fix up some of the chapters cause I don't really like the build up towards this scene and future scenes!  So I will be fixing some here and there to better the plot I guess?  IDK guys I'm just going with the flow and what comes to mind.  Anyways!  Vote, comment, follow!  And I will see you guys in the next update!  Peace!~

~falling4starz