400 years

40

"Huh?"

"It was his quick thinking that really made it work. He made you regurgitate the toxin."

"I see."

Fragments slowly rolled in. Him holding me. The desperate look in his onyx orbs..

"I've never seen our lord as up set as when you passed out."

"Explain?"

Wendy started to fidget with her hands as she spoke. "He didn't cry or anything.. but uh-."

Suddenly, Wendy nervously stopped, as the door to my room slid open.

"M-my lord!"

With that Wendy bowed and left the room in a haste. 'What was she going to say?'

"How ya feeling?"

"I'm, alright."

With an easy gait, he entered the room and sat down beside me.

"Thank you, for saving me again."

"Don't thank me."

Natsu's voice was slightly hoarse, but he sounded calm. The room fell silent, that's when I noticed the uneasy feeling setting in. 'It was so noisy earlier, why is it-!'

As I casted a look at Natsu's face. Putting my hands on his shoulders, I drew him closer. There I noticed something gleaming in the moonlight. 'Whats-!?'

"What?"

"I-is that blood?"

"Hm, seems I've missed a spot."

He brushed the drop away, though it left a light red smudge.

"Were you hurt-."

"It isn't my blood."

'Y-you didint!?! Did you?' A cold sweat ran down my spine. I couldn't hold in the question, so I asked him what he been doing up til now. Where he filled me in about the manor owner being the culprit. And instead of saying it right out he called it obvious. Natsu then shrugged unemotionally.

'The flashes of the yelling and horrified screams then.. they must've been..'

"How is killing obvious?"

"You think I'd really let anyone get away with such a low blow? Besides, I'd turn the whole continent into ash for you."

"That's not a good enough- 'Wait!' What?"

If this had been a normal conversation, his comment about me probably would've made me blush. However, the ice replacing the blood in my veins was more recognizable at the moment.

"Lucy, are you alright, your pale. Is it the poison?"

"I'm fine. But I don't understand, you spared the men that revolted against you!" I shouted as I stood up.

"There's a difference between those who's recently joined, and those who have served for generations."

Natsu said those words like a mantra. They faded away into the night before he spoke again.

"You have to lance a festering wound or else disease will eat away at you within."

His eyes narrowed in what I thought might have been sadness. But they returned to normal quickly. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't think of nothing else to say. Thinking about our past conversations, an unspoken emotion burned in my chest.

Natsu values life. He makes the decision to kill, even when knowing what he's doing is horrible. It's not that he thinks it's right, but he thinks it's what has to be done..

At this moment Natsu stands, peering at me, and frowning. "Are you sure your over the poison?"

All I could do was shake my head, as Natsu slowly reached a hand out to me.

"Lucy." Natsu whispered my name, as he touched my face as if I was a glass figurine. With the same fingers that had wiped the blood off his cheek.

"D-don't-."

It was all I could squeak out as I turned and ran. The different times weighed on my shoulders, my heart ached, and I still couldn't get use to all the blood shed. 'Could any of the workers been innocent?'

But we were at war and even in the future innocent lives are always lost. Though the clarity between worlds and truth laid before me..

I touched my finger tips to the place Natsu's hand had been just moments ago, 'When he caresses me with hands soaked in blood, can I still enjoy that touch? I must be an idiot to want to stay at his side.. for the greater good of the future or not.'

Finally I exited the manor, it was still heavily dark, and with no signs of morning on its edge. The moon hung low in the southern sky. Stars glimmered brightly against the clear night canvas.

Wanting to be alone, I walked out of town, taking a path through the forest...