The Pain of Memories

Chapter 4.. Continuance

< Gray's PoV >

My best friend collapsed onto the bed after screaming loud enough to burst my eardrums. Natsu roared in anger, Happy cried, Loke looked like he was being tortured, and Erza looked helpless. My heart beat slower than usual. How could this happen? And who was in her head that was feeding these thoughts to her?

"DAMN IT!" I yelled, frustrated beyond belief.

"Why did she have to go and try to fight him?" Natsu asked himself.

"Because she was trying to protect you," Loke said. Natsu's face scrunched up in pain. "And can you guess why?"

Natsu looked shocked for a second until realization dawned on him. That guy was even denser than I thought. It's pretty obvious that Lucy likes him. It's pretty obvious that he likes her. Why couldn't he have realized it sooner?

Lucy's teeth started chattering, so the fire breathing idiot climbed further up the bed and sat beside her, laying his arm over her shoulder. A second later, Lucy was snuggled into Natsu's side.

"There's nothing we can do now but try to convince her that we are her friends and try to fix the damage Umidjon created," Erza said. Everyone in the room nodded resolutely, albeit with doubt.

Natsu and I took turns for the rest of the day heating her up when she got cold and cooling her down when she got hot. Right now, it was the only thing we could do. Loke went back to the spirit world to search for ways to help. Erza sat by Lucy's side all day, whispering to her how important she was and how much we need her.

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< Lucy's PoV >

"Hello, darling," Umidjon purred. I shot up in my bed, jostling Natsu. Light shone in dimly through the window in the infirmary, exposing the dark silhouette of the dark mage standing across the room from me. Natsu's only acknowledgement of my sudden movement was him turning over in his sleep, taking his arm off my stomach (his ARM WAS ON MY STOMACH!!).

"I thought Loke beat you!" I gasped.

"I cannot be defeated by someone like him. No, the only one that can defeat me is you. You hold the power, but can you bear to destroy me? You know, somewhere in yourself, that I speak the truth. You understand that you are unwanted and unloved. The second you can say, with one hundred percent confidence, that I am wrong in everything I have told you, then I shall be gone forever."

"Thanks for telling me how to beat you!" I cheered. "Umidjon, you are WRONG. I have friends that like me!"

And... nothing happened. Umidjon still stood in front of me.

"I told you. Unless you truly feel it, deep in your heart, your words are meaningless. And as time goes by, every moment you are asleep is a moment when I can access your memories and twist them."

"How long could this possible go on?" I whispered to myself.

"Oh, it lasts. I don't work to defeat my opponents. I work to kill them. The sadness I bring forward is enough to drive even the strongest person mad. I have never lost."

"IS THIS SOME KIND OF GAME TO YOU?" I yelled. Natsu sat up beside me.

"Lucy? What's going on?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Umidjon! He's right---," I pointed towards the wall that was occupied only a second before, but he was gone. Natsu looked at me with pity and anger in his eyes.

"It was just a dream, Luce. It's alright. He can't hurt you while I'm here," he said, pulling me back down on the bed. "It's alright. Everything is alright," he murmured.

"He's sick of you."

I shook my head. Umidjon said he haunts his victims in their sleep, so maybe if I just stay awake, I'll be fine. I was tired, but the fear of what I might see when I close my eyes kept me up. Nothing was worth that pain, not even the warmth of Natsu spread out against my side.

Did he know I liked him? Why else would he be doing this? Does he like me back?

He feels guilty.

Guilty... Yeah, that had to be it. Otherwise, he would never act like this. Natsu feels guilty because I got hurt during the fight with Umidjon...

Or maybe he's doing it because he's my friend....

The two sides of my brain battled, as I stared up at the ceiling and kept my eyes open for the remainder of the night.

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As soon as I heard people out in the guild hall, I carefully untangled myself from Natsu's arms and walked outside. I was in some weird outfit that I've never seen before. Virgo probably brought it over from the spirit world.

Mirajane was the first person I saw, so I walked over to the bar and sat on the stool I always sat on.

"Lucy!" she exclaimed. Mirajane dropped the pan she was carrying and reached across the counter to hug me. "Are you alright? We were all so worried!"

"I've been better," I admitted.

Mirajane hates you. This is her way of saying that you should get over this already. You are putting everyone out.

I shook my head in annoyance. This voice was getting on my nerves. Mira looked at me worriedly.

"Is there anything I can get you?" she asked, picking up the platter she was holding a minute ago.

"No, thanks. I think I'm just going to go home and change, but I'll be back soon. Will you let Natsu know when he gets up?" I asked.

"Of course! But don't you think you should wait for him to wake up, so he can go with you? It might not be safe for you to be alone!"

"What's the worst that could happen?" I called over my shoulder. I was only stopped a few times on my way out the door. Most people haven't shown up yet, so it was easier to leave. Cana stopped me and gave me a small hug. She said she was glad I was up and feeling better. Jet clapped me on the back as I walked past.

It's an act.

Shut up, I thought to the stupid voice. These people are my friends... I think....

The walk home was relatively quiet. I called out Plue to keep me company. He called out a few times and jumped beside me as I walked. I stepped up onto the edge of the river, just like as I always did, and continued to my apartment from there.

"Please be careful, Lucy!" a man in the boat called. I waved in response. I've walked this way countless times before, and I haven't fallen in once.

I unlocked the door to my apartment and stepped in. It felt good to be home. I hummed to myself quietly as I changed out of the horrific thing from the spirit world- I needed to talk to Virgo about the things she brings for me- and took a nice, long bath. After I changed into my normal outfit, I grabbed my keys and was about to head out when I froze. Umidjon was perched on the edge of my kitchen counter, biting into an apple.

"You thought you could get rid of me by simply staying awake? Good luck with that. You will fall asleep, and right at the moment you don't want to," he threatened, and then vanished into thin air.