Always in the dark ( NaLu ) <3

Chapter 23

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(I'm so, so, so sorry about the late update! I have some serious writers block, and on top of that, my iPad got taken away by my mom, so I couldn't update! Again, I'm so sorry, but here it is, just a few days late...) JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK! I HATE IT WHEN THERE ARE MISTAKES IN GRAMMAR (IT IRKS ME) SO DEFIANTLY TELL ME IF I MADE ANY MISTAKES AT ALL!! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR VOTES AND READS, I'M ACTUALLY SO SURPRISED THAT MY STORY GOT 9K READS, LIKE, OMG STAHP I'M GONNA BLUSH! ANYWAYS, HERE'S CHAPTER 23:

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NATSU* p.o.v.

When I awoke I was no longer in the desert, I wonder how I'd gotten here. Wherever here was. I looked around, and realized I was in and empty white room. Panic filled my heart, and I sat up as I looked around at the blank white walls. I realized I was lying on a bed, and I relaxed a little. I'm just in the guilds infirmary. The door squealed open, and Erza walked in with Lisanna and Gray.

"Where's Lucy?" I demanded angrily. But they must've gotten the wrong idea, because Erza's face softened.

"Calm down, she's safe, she's just outside." She said. I scowled.

"Take me to her, how long have I been passed out? When did I get to the guild? Is everything okay?" I asked quickly, before anybody could even hope to answer.

"Didn't Erza just tell you to calm down?! So calm down idiot!" Gray shouted.

"You've been passed out for about a day, just long enough for us to get you back here." Lisanna said, sitting at the edge of my bed. About a day? I started to stand up, it got out of bed and felt awful, but I started walking to the door anyways. Gray reached after me, but I shrugged him off and heard him scowl.

"Oi!" Gray called, but he was cut off by Erza whispering to him.

"Let him go, he wants to see her." Erza said, oh, I wanted to see her alright. I wanted to see her as much as I wanted those 5 years of my life back.

LUCY p.o.v.

Natsu came walking out of the infirmity door and scanned the guild until his eyes landed on me. He didn't look happy, but not exactly angry either. He looked... Dangerous.

"Hi." I called with a nervous smile. Natsu walked towards me and I desperately fought the urge to back away from him. He stopped inches from my face and his eyes bored into mine. I swallowed, and could feel the whole guild looking at us, but I couldn't turn away from him.

"D-do you want to go outside?" I squeaked.

"Yes." He said, nodding awkwardly. We headed out the doors and walked down a hill towards the river. I sat down on my knees but Natsu remained standing he was staring down at me, a look of disgust on his face. I didn't know what was wrong with him. I- I need to help.

"Wha-" I was cut off by my own shock. Natsu's eyes were wet, tears weren't falling down his face, not yet at least. But he wasn't the type to cry, and I knew it. He looked at me with his wet, hatred filled eyes and I knew something terrible was going to happen.

"5 years." He whispered so quiet that I barely heard him. I stood up slowly.

"Can you believe I looked for you for 5 years. I don't really think that this is a 'thank you' situation. Do you?" He asked. I quickly shook my head no. It was true, what was I going to say. 'Oh, yeah, you searched for me for 5 years, thanks, bye.' No. Obviously not.

"I-"

"Let me finish!" Natsu interrupted. "You owe me. You owe me." I nodded.

We were silent for a moment. His teeth were clenched and his hands were fists at his sides, shaking with anger. I was afraid to say anything, and for a terrible moment I couldn't breath through the tension. My eyes watered, like the weak little girl I am.

"Don't cry. You're not aloud to cry anymore." He said. I shut my mouth with a quick *clack* realizing that I was gaping up at him. Against my will, a tear filled my eye and spilled over the edge. I let out a small sob and held my breath. Natsu shook with rage. I was so confused. He looked insane.

He raised his hand high above his head, and instinctively I turned my face away. Prepared for the hard, searing hot slap that would surely leave a bruise.

"Natsu." Said a booming voice (that oddly sounded calm) from above the hill. Natsu's hand slowly dropped to his side as he heard the masters voice. His eyes lowered and for a moment he looked so frail. So broken, and lost, like he could never put the pieces of his life back together. It was as if he'd lost everything, even if he had found me.

What happened next was a blur. Natsu had fallen to his knees and seemed to be sobbing, although his eyes were now dry. I remember standing up, and walking. Walking to where? I don't remember.

"Lucy!" I vaguely heard Erza call. But I kept walking until I arrived at my old home. House. House, not home. I walked into the now open spaced backyard. I could hear kids in the house, a family. They probably had no idea what had gone on here. I barely did myself. With nowhere to go I decided to sit against a tree. With my mind still in shambles, I drifted off to sleep, leaning against the rough bark of the tree.

LUCY'S DREAM* p.o.v.

It occurred to me that maybe breathing is important.

A lot of stupid things occur to you just as you believe you are going to die. Like the fact that maybe I could've lived in the cool, icy side of the ocean, which also happened to be only a few metres away. The water was not only suffocating me, it was scalding hot now. My skin was beginning to blister, and I had to shut my eyes because they felt as though they were going to pop out of my head. Why did I decide the heat in the first place? I couldn't handle the heat. It was too harsh. Maybe I have a fatal flaw. Maybe my fatal flaw is trust, why do I trust people so easily? I'd been held in captivity by my parents, but deep down, I'd still trusted that it was in my best interest. I was wrong, I'm always wrong.

You can have a lot of thoughts just before you die. I don't want anymore thoughts, thinking often makes situations worse. You just have to feel. And with that, I blew out the last bits of my breath and watched as the bubbles of air floated up to the surface. Goodbye, Natsu.