The Pain of Memories

Chapter 6.. Dreaming

< Natsu's PoV >

"Lucy's been acting really weird lately," I said to Happy as we walked to her house. We've been staying there all week, but she doesn't seem to mind.

"Aye," he replied.

There was obviously something wrong with her. I don't understand why she won't tell me. Ok, maybe it would be awkward telling me about it if it's some kind of girly thing. But she hasn't talked to Erza or Levy either! I know, I've asked. I want her to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted. Maybe if I tell her how much I like her, she'll realize that she can tell me anything...

There was a big crowd gathered around in front of Lucy's apartment. I didn't think anything of it at first, until I saw that mermaid spirit in the river. I pushed my way past all of the people clustered along the side of the river, seeing Juvia standing at its center. My heart nearly stopped at the sight.

A soaked Lucy was lying on the ground. Juvia was using her magic to pull the water out of her lungs. I crouched beside my beautiful partner and lifted her head onto my lap.

"Lucy?" I whispered. Her face was contorted in pain, and she squirmed in my arms.

"The stupid girl fell into the water and almost died," Aquarius said, shocked. No matter how much Aquarius always got angry with Lucy, she wanted her master to live.

"Juvia was walking by, and saw a man appear in front of Lucy. After Aquarius pulled her out of the water, Juvia tried to help!" Juvia said.

"Lucy, wake up!" Happy cried. A long gash stretched from her temple to her chin.

"Juvia, will you go back to the guild and tell everyone what happened? And ask Wendy to come as soon as possible? I'm going to take Lucy home," I said. Juvia nodded and ran through the crowd back to Fairy Tail. Aquarius went back to the spirit world and the crowd around us slowly dispersed.

"Luce?" I asked, shaking her gently. "Lucy!" Her eyes shot open and she screamed a blood- curdling scream. She thrashed around on the ground in agony. There was nothing Happy or I could do but wince at the hits she unintentionally landed on us and hold her.

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< Lucy's PoV >

"I," –punch- "hate," –punch- "you," –punch-. Natsu was hitting me me in the face with his full force. He blew fire at my arms. Happy bit my leg. The boy that I loved with all my heart was slowly killing me. Just as I thought I was going to pass out, somebody yelled my name.

"Lucy, wake up!"

"Luce?"

"Lucy!"

Natsu gave me one last fiery punch before I forced my eyes open and screamed. Natsu was leaning over me, about to punch me again, and Happy was floating above him.

"Shhh, it's ok," Natsu cooed. I shook in his arms, trying to get away from him.

"Please don't hit me, please don't hit me," I sobbed. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Lucy, I would never hit you," he whispered. He continued to hold me while I sobbed. After some time, I collapsed into him. I twisted his shirt in my fingers until my hands hurt, and I soaked his shoulder in tears. In return, Natsu stroked my hair softly , trying to calm me down. I looked past him and noticed we were in my apartment. I was sprawled across his lap as he sat on the edge of my bed. When I had calmed down, gen gently coaxed me into sitting up as he grabbed a wet washcloth from the bedside table and dabbed tenderly at the cut I felt making my head pound. He explained that Wendy was away on a mission, but that she was supposed to return home in the evening and could heal me better then.

He's getting tired of having to take care of you.

"I'm sorry I'm such a burden," I said hoarsely. Natsu's hand froze at my temple and anger filled his eyes. Happy sat

"Shut up, Umidjon," Natsu said darkly. Happy remained silent as he sat in my lap.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Had Natsu seen Umidjon the second before I fell into the river?

"My Lucy would never say those kinds of things. She would say she was sorry for falling, and then slap me for coming in to her apartment and eating all her food. Every single night, she would huff about how me and Happy should go back to our own house, but she'd secretly love that we stayed with her." My eyes grew wide at the accurate description of my actions. Natsu truly did know me better than anyone else. "Do you know how I know all of that?" he asked.

"I shook my head with tears in my eyes.

"Because I love Lucy. Not this Lucy, the one that doubts herself and her friends, but the Lucy that's always been there for me. The one that cares for everyone back at Fairy Tail. The one that would do anything to protect us. And the one that loves me back!" He was almost panting by the end of his speech. My faced was a thousand shades of red as I took in the confession he had spit at me. I looked down and gently pulled the washcloth he had been strangling in his hand, setting it on the table. I replaced it's vacant position with my own hand, looking Natsu in the eye. I heard the voice of Umidjon in my head denying everything that was just said, but the burning flame in my mind that brought me relief at times silenced him. Natsu loved me. I leaned forward into his arms and hugged the boy in front of me. He returned the gesture, holding tightly as to not lose me to whatever invisible force was tearing my mind apart.

"I told you so!" Happy yelled, joining our hug. "I told you you liked each other!" Natsu dropped his chin on the top of my head.

"I love you Lucy," he whispered.

"I love you too."

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Later that night, as Natsu and I laid in my bed, I explained to him why I hadn't been sleeping. He scoffed at my statement that Umidjon was much stronger than either of us had realized. "If your dreams are that scary, then dream about me. If we dream about each other, then nothing bad can go wrong!"

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"I'm sorry everyone for making you worry so much about me. The past week has been very strange. I know you all deserve an explanation, but I don't totally understand all of the facts myself. I've avoided sleep and hoped that the nightmares would go away, but Umidjon hasn't been beaten yet and he keeps popping up to scare me," I explained to the wizards of Fairy Tail who were gathered in front of me.

"I thought Loke beat him," Gray called above the chatter. I nodded.

"He did in combat, but Umidjon was able to slip away. His magic is also still having an effect on me. He said the only way to be cured is to say with 100% surety that everything he says in my mind is wrong."

"Then why don't you just say it?" Droy asked.

"It's not as easy as that," Makarov stepped in. He was seated on the bar next to me. "Imagine this magic as if there's a seed that is planted in your head. As it grows, its roots extend to every available space, including memories of the past. Old memories may be distorted now compared to how they actually happened."

Everyone was silent for a minute. Nobody knew what to say.

"Then we're just going to have to help!" Erza said. "We'll make it so you know without a doubt that Umidjon is wrong!"

"I promise, you won't ever doubt any of your decisions again!" Mira promised with a warm smile.

"Thank you guys," I said, from the bottom of my heart. Maybe this wouldn't be as impossible as I thought.