The Side Where No Stars Shine

His Request

Natsu's POV

I looked to Lucy.

Her hard expression showed everything she was thinking.

I knew she was planning on handling this all by herself.

I wasn't going to let that happen.

Last time she did, she was corrupted.

Last time she did, we almost lost her.

Last time she did, I was afraid I'd never get to tell her what I've wanted to say for so long.

I needed to tell her that she wasn't alone in this.

It was obvious she didn't realize that, baring all the weight on her own shoulders... taking care of everything all by herself.

"Luce..." I said.

She didn't seem to hear me.

"Lucy." I called once more, a bit louder.

She turned to me.

"Natsu, I made a promise to Lior. Don't worry, I'm going to end all of this." She said determinedly.

She turned away.

"Lucy!" I called out again.

Her brown eyes looked back at me.

"Natsu, I'm sorry. We can talk later... I'm just... I'm a bit preoccupied."

Preoccupied?

I knew the situation we were in, but...

We were teammates.

"Stop with that already!" I yell angrily.

Many of my guild mates looked to me.

Lucy was shocked.

"W-what do you mean?" She asks me.

Of course.

She was absolutely clueless of what she was doing.

"Stop acting like you have to handle this entire thing all by yourself! We're all right behind you! We're not useless, Lucy!"

She was surprised by my outburst.

I put my hands on her shoulders.

"You don't have to go through this alone..." I tell her.

"N-Natsu..."

She had tears in her eyes.

I hunch over in front of her, tears beginning to develop in my eyes too.

"I... I don't want you to be corrupted again..."

Tears fall down my face.

"Luce, we can't lose you again..."

I thought back to all that time her lifeless figure sat in the corner of the guild, her lifeless eyes staring down the wall.

"I-I don't want to go through that again, so please..."

She wraps her arms around me.

"Natsu... I understand."

We break off our hug.

She looks at me with a smile.

"Let's do this... as a family... as Fairy Tail."

A tear streams down her face.

I nod, smiling back.

"Let's go."

I apologize for my absence.

I haven't had as much time to write since exams started up.

I took a three hour long science exam today... kill me btw.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Gotta go study some more...