Crane Maiden {A Nalu Fan Fiction}

Chapter 9

Start writing your story

Hey guys!  So I'm sorry for a late-ish update.  I just finished finals week for summer week and it was kind of stressful!  Also, I'm going to start making edits to this book format wise cause mine is sorta inconsistent.  Anyways here's the chapter!~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3rd POV

A couple of days have passed since Natsu's emotional roller coaster scene.  Ever since that day, Natsu had been more open and honest towards Lucy.  The cherry blossoms were in bloom and the petals littered the ground.  The sun was high above their heads as the pair walked down the stone path.

"Hey, Lucy," Natsu said staring up at the pink petals floating through the air.  

"Hm?" Lucy responded, looking towards him.

"There's a Spring Festival in celebration of the cherry blossoms blooming.  Do you want to go tonight?" he asked still staring above.

"Of course!" Lucy exclaimed in excitement.  "I can't wait!  My very first festival..." she stated and began to skip ahead.  Then she turned around and smiled one of her brightest smiles.  "Hurry up Natsu!  We got to get ready!"

Natsu let out a chuckle of amusement. "Ok!" He returned the smile.

TIME SKIP

Since Natsu didn't have a kimono, Lucy had to go over to Juvia and Gray's place to borrow one of Juvia's.  The pair agreed to meet near the food booths.

Natsu stood, leaning against a stone wall, waiting for Lucy to come.  He was wearing a grey yukata with black flame like designs.  There were lit paper lanterns strung together hanging above, emitting a warm glow.  The aroma of all the food was strong and could make anyone who took a sniff's mouth to water.  There were the sounds of the people walking by, or running, and either the sounds of cheers when someone won a game or disappointment when they lost.  Natsu's sensitive ears caught parts of passerby's conversations as they walked by.

"That boy never comes to these festivals..."

"Not since his mother and father left him..."

The list went on.  Annoyed, Natsu thought, Seriously.  You all know I can hear you...

"Natsu!" someone yelled through the crowd.

Natsu looked about him and noticed the blonde running towards him in a light pink yukata with elegant dark pink rose designs on her collar.  Her long blonde hair was tied in a bun.  

"Sorry I'm late!" she huffed with hands on her knees.  "Juvia wouldn't let me go cause she wanted everything to be perfect."

"It's ok," Natsu replied and began walking around with Lucy trailing after him.  

"Oh let's try those!" Lucy exclaimed, snapping her fingers to get Natsu's attention.  Natsu turned around to see that she was pointing at a booth that sold candied apples.  The apples were a deep red and caramelized so that they seem to shine.  Sighing, Natsu followed an energetic Lucy to the booth. 

"Let's see...one candied apple please for the girl here," Natsu said as he handed the man running the booth some money.  The man handed Lucy the apple and said, "Thank you very much!  Enjoy the festival!"

Lucy took a bite of the apple.  "Mm!  This apple is delicious!  The crunchy texture and the sweetness is perfect!" Her eyes sparkled.  "Hey Natsu why didn't you get one?" she inquired looking up at him.  

"I'm not into these festivals or sweets," he stated shrugging his shoulders.

"Here!" Lucy said.  

Natsu looked down to see that Lucy was pointing the candy apple towards him.

"You can have a bite of mine!  Just try it!" she said smiling.

"You really are weird," he said as he averted his eyes and took a bite out of the apple she previously took a bite out of.  A blush was clear on his cheeks as he, still looking away, said, "Yeah.  It's good."  

"See?  Told you so!" Lucy exclaimed still smiling.

Natsu smiled back, and for the rest of the night the two were having a time of their lives, eating different food, and playing games.  Natsu even won Lucy a cute snowman looking mask  However, according to the person running the booth, it was a dog.  Natsu just shrugged it off.

"Let's play the fish game!" running toward the booth.  

"H- hey!  Lucy wait!" Natsu replied, flustered.  He had to carry all the prizes they won, and the pile was dangerouslt cloe to collapsing as he followed her.

"I can't seem to get this right!" Lucy wailed as Natsu came next to her and placed their winnings on the ground.

"Let my try," Natsu said.  In one sweeping motion, Natsu was able to get a fish.  

"Eh?!"  Lucy exclaimed.

"We have a winner!" the booth person yelled as he rang a bell.  He quickly bagged the fish Natsu caught in a see through plastic bag.  The fish was, strangely, blue scaled with a hint of green when it was in the light. 

"Here," Natsu said as he gave the bag to Lucy.  

"Thanks, Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed, smiling her radiant smile.

"No prob--" Natsu was then interrupted by the loud booming sound of fireworks.

Everybody started to go towards the blazing colors that appeared in the sky.

Lucy's eyes lit up.  She and Natsu headed towards the back of the crowd.  Everybody in the crowd cheered every time a burst of color lit up the night.

Lucy stared up in amazement, with her mouth gaped open slightly and was pulled into a smile.

Natsu stared down at the girl next to him.  He hasn't had this much fun in his whole life.  Not since his mom left him.  Not since his dad died.  Not since all but a few of his friends left him.... Not since he decided to close himself off from everybody and put up an impenetrable wall of defense that nobody could break through... until now.  Lucy has changed him for the better and he was grateful for that.  His bangs shadowed his eyes.

He slowly grabbed the mask that laid on top of Lucy's head and pulled it down over her face.

"Eh?  Natsu?" Lucy questioned turning towards him, voice slightly muffled.  "I can't really see the fireworks through the ma--" Then she was interrupted....

Because Natsu had kissed her...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys!  I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I guess see you in the next chapter!  Peace out!~

~falling4starz