400 years

29

"Ready to stop so soon?"

"This is just a diversion for you, isn't it part of the game."

"I crush all who oppose me. The more I touch you the more I see you threaten to fall to pieces. What's strange about that?" Resting an arm on his knee, Natsu looked directly at me. There was no passion in his dark eyes, no excitement or involvement.

'I really am just a challenge.. I was the only one doubting what this relationship was turning out to be.' It was like being splashed with cold water. 'Just for pleasure?..'

I reached out to touch his cheek without thinking. Natsu stared at me, as I brushed my fingers over his face.

"What is it?"

"Your eyes are always so cold, Natsu."

Natsu gave me a questioning look. But all I could say was, "The more I learn, the more I'll never understand you."

There was a moment of silence between us. I looked into his eyes. They reminded me of a starless night sky. Natsu's hands fell away and he looked back at me. I wondered what he saw in my eyes. But as I found my reflection in the gleam of his, I thought I saw something stirring behind them. It looked as if he was going to say something

But then, the door rattled.

Natsu was alert. He turned toward the screen. 'What's that?' It was a worryingly louder than the sound of the wind.

"Heh, about time." 'Huh? About time for what?' Natsu places a swift kiss on my thigh. "I'm putting off the rest of my conquest for another night." He stood up with a smile.

"How about telling what's going-" I said as I attempted to follow him up-

The screen door split in two, falling apart with a clatter. Three men, garbed entirely in black, leaped into the room. "Prepare yourself Natsu!"

'The hell!? Was he waiting for this?' The lamp light flickered , casting a dancing glow on the walls.

The men took turns attacking Natsu, which only seemed to annoy him. Natsu suddenly drove a flaming elbow into the face of the first guy that charged at him. The man fell backwards onto the floor. The other two seemed stunned. The remaining two readied their attacks and prepared to charge again, when-

"Stop right there!" Sting and Gray came through the remains of the door. 'Grr What in the world is going on!' As the men yelled at each other I grasped that this was all a trap, in order to flush out more rebellion. Gray and sting knocked out the two still standing and disarmed them, tying them up.

"I'm sorry if we startled you, Lucy."

"I'm fine, but I do want a full explanation." I got up off the futon and approached Gray. He looked remorseful. "My apologies, for not telling you about the ruse trip to draw out Natsu's enemies." 'Gee, Thanks Gray..'

Natsu's flames sizzled out with a calm expression. He casted unfeeling eyes upon me, "you played your part well, Lucy. I congratulate you."

"Quiet, you. I want to hear the rest of the explanation!" I huffed, not wanting to hear his congratulations.

Sting continued to exclaim, that the conversation at the council about the men who tried to assassinate Natsu and had escaped, were found out to be a small group intent on keeping their identities a secret. In order to get them to reveal themselves, Natsu had volunteered us to be bait.

"Would've been nice to know that I was actually assassin bait! And I'm going out on a limb here, but your injury-"

"Not even a scratch. As I said before."

Natsu's calm expression caused me to flip, "what happened to 'I only speak the truth!?"

"That was me. I didn't believe we could trust you not to slip information to our lords enemies."

'Ouch! So much for thinking we might have became friends.'

"Forgive me, Lucy. I'll make it up to you once we've returned home." Sting patted me on the head begrudgingly, I let him. But with crossed arms and puffed cheeks.

"U-ugh."

All us turned in the direction of the sound. The assassin with the bloody nose was shaking his head, trying to wake up. 'Ouch, that looks painful.' He met my gaze and started to crawl towards me, being for forgiveness.

I looked to Natsu before looking back at the man. 'He's asking the wrong person..' at that moment I noticed the wild look in his eyes, I immediately tried to draw back. But he grabbed my ankle. But then, faster than I could see, blinded by a golden light coming from my pocket, I get a glimpse of Natsu drawing a hidden short sword.

"Don't touch her!"

'Natsu?' In that instant my eyes were covered and I was pulled back into someone's tight embrace. The mans hand fell lifeless from my ankle.