#petrischronicles

By the time the teacher left the room, an awkward silence had slowly begun to bloom.  Assuming her suspicions were accurate, Lucy takes it upon herself to break the ice.  She sticks out her hand, “Hi!  It’s nice to meet you Natsu!”  

Natsu cups the back of his neck with a slightly heated flush.  It’s not often, okay well maybe more on the rare side that he’s ever this close to a female and let alone one this pretty.  He shakes her hand, “yeah, nice to meet you too,” but quickly withdraws it.  “Shall we get started?  I assume you have better things you’d rather be doing.”

Well that was a little rude.  But Lucy ignores the snide comment, simply smiling again and nods, following Natsu to a set of tables where he’s already got some papers set up. Maybe he’s just socially graceless, she shrugs to herself and takes a seat opposite him.  

As Natsu shuffles through what looks like practice sheets, Lucy folds her arms and lays them on the table, leaning over a bit to watch.  She’s gotten used to her own body and how her boobs tend to squish up from this position, but while most guys at least glance, Natsu doesn’t even batt and eye. Weird.  Oh, well, it’s not like she wanted that to happen, frankly Lucy hated guys who thought she was one of those, ‘do anything to be popular,’girls.  “Say, I wanna thank you for helping me Natsu.  I really need to get my grade up to at least a B in this class, so the tutoring is gonna be a real help.”

“Don’t worry, and I won’t tell anyone you’re getting extra help.”

“Why would I care?”

“I assumed you have an image to keep up, being one of the popular kids and all.”  

Lucy’s eyebrow twitches, but she keeps her calm, “thanks for the concern, but no it’s not a problem if anyone knows.”

“Alright,” Natsu places a piece of paper in front of her, “let’s get started then.”  

For the first 20 minutes or so, the problems were fairly easy for Lucy, she understood them, but as they grew progressively more difficult so did Natsu’s attitude towards her.  At first, she brushed it off, reasoning in any way to justify the rude attitude.  She needed this help and if he was the best, she would try her hardest to endure some discomfort….

He runs his hand down his face with a groan, “for the third time, calorimetry is about measuring the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction because that tells you if the reaction is exothermic or endothermic.  So, that still means whether its bomb calorimetry or constant pressure calorimetry, heat flows are always measured the same way, through temperature changes. See,” he stabs at the problem listed on the paper with his finger, “E, the answer is E!”    

“Oh…. I-I’m sorry, I’ll get it the next time.”  

“Sure,” scratching out the answer and grabbing a new sheet, mumbling, “that’s what you said last time.”

The tears Lucy had been holding back burst free.  She couldn’t take it anymore.  “Look I’m sorry!  I’m trying my best here and…”

“Maybe if you put as much effort into this as you probably do with cheer, you’d get it.”

That was it.  Without another word, Lucy grabs her things, shoves it haphazardly into her backpack and runs out of the room desperately trying to wipe away the tears that cloud her vision.  He is such an asshole!  She had enough people judging her just because she did cheer, and she didn’t need the guy who was supposed to be helping her doing it too!  Cheer was a great way to get some exercise and yeah, while some of the other members were looking at it as a means of popularity, she wasn’t one of them.  He’s just like my father!

Natsu had brushed off the girl’s reaction.  Sure, he could have been nicer but what for?  He had meant what he said and maybe if she focused more on her studies she wouldn’t be struggling.  Oh well, they ran in different crowds anyways and while Professor Warren might give him hell for it, what was that old man going to do?  They needed him to win the Decathlon.  

Back at school the next day in the library, Natsu was focused on his Pokemon Go! when suddenly, another firecracker slaps him in the back of the head….  The thwomp sound that echoed in the room was loud enough to gain the librarians attention, but before Natsu could really respond or protest, said feisty girl had started to pack up his belongings.  “Levy?  What the hell?!”

“You’re coming with me!” she shoves the bag in his chest and through gritted teeth, “somewhere I can scream at you as loud as I want to!”

“I’m not…” Levy raises her book to hit him again.  “Okay, Okay!” putting up his hands in defeat.  “Just don’t hit me again!”

“No guarantees,” she grabs his shirt sleeve and drags him from the room.  Every door she passes, Levy scans it and finally, almost to the end of the hall, she finds an empty classroom and pushes Natsu inside. “Sit,” she points at the nearest desk while she closes the door to muffle her shouting from the hallway.    

“I still don’t know what your problem is,” Natsu drops his backpack next to the chair.  “Why the hell did you hit me so hard too?” he rubs at the slow forming tender spot where she’d smacked him, “it friggen hurts!”

“Well you deserve it!” Levy finally takes a stance in front of him, leaning against another desk.  “How can you be in such a good mood, knowing you made a poor girl cry yesterday?!”

“How’d you know about that?”

“Lucy is one my closest friends and she called me in tears last night!  Why the hell were you so mean to her?  I’ve never known you to be such an asshole Natsu.  I mean,” throwing her hands up, “was she rude, did she do something, say something to piss you off?  Lucy’s always been a sweet person too so what the hell happened?”

Natsu sits back in his chair, crossing his arms with a furrowed brow.  “I didn’t know she would be friends with someone like us.  I assumed she was, you know, one of those people.”

“What is that supposed to mean?!  Those people?”

“Like the popular girls, the stuck up, spoiled kids that thumb their noses at us, plus I know she’s rich.  I bet she was only getting tutoring cause they need to maintain a certain GPA to be on a team.”

Levy’s demeanor switches and if he thought she was angry before, Natsu swore steam was starting to rise from her head.  “Natsu,” she pinches the bridge of her nose in disgust, “Lucy is on the cheer team because she enjoys it, and she’s certainly not even close to what you think.” Looking back up, “for starters her English and History scores are higher than mine and yours.  Chemistry is really the only class she struggles in.  And lastly, yeah, she might come from money, but she’s one of the most down to Earth people I know!”  

Standing up and slamming a closed fist on the desk and setting Natsu into a straightened sitting position, “you hate it when others stereotype us and that’s exactly what you did to her!”  All the blood drains from the young man’s face.  But his stunned silence does not go unnoticed.  “Natsu,” Levy leans back against the other desk with a long exhale, “you need to make this right and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Alright,” he holds up his hands in defeat before slumping in his chair.  “But… W-What am I supposed to do?  I can’t, I mean I wouldn’t know what to even say besides I’m sorry.” Natsu grabs his bag from the floor and places it in his lap.  

“Well you better figure it out by tomorrow…”

“Wait!  T-Tomorrow?!”

Nodding, “tomorrow, 1 pm and don’t you dare be late, meet us at Fae’s Diner understood?”

“But…”

“Excuse me?” her eyebrow twitches.

“Never… Never mind,” he mumbles and clutches the bag tighter like a shield, “I’ll be there…”  

Around 9pm that evening, there’s a knock at Natsu’s bedroom door, just seconds before his mother is walking in with 2 cups of steaming hot chocolate.        

“Mom?” he sits up on his bed.  “What are you doing here?”

She hands a mug to him and sits on his computer chair facing him.  “Think I don’t know my son well enough?  You barely touched your dinner and for a boy that usually gets second or third helpings…” taking a sip of her drink, “something is wrong.”

“I’m fine,” looking anywhere but his mom and sipping at the chocolatey drink, “maybe I’m just coming down with a cold or something.”

“Oh, I see….  Should I make an appointment with the doctor so he can poke and prod at you?”  Placing the mug on the desk, she clasps her hands together in contemplation, “hmm, or better yet force you to drink that nasty medicine you love so much?  Yeah…. I know I still have half a bottle left…”

“I give, I give!  No gross meds!”  Natsu closes his eyes with a sigh, “I made a girl cry on Thursday and now I need to figure out how to apologize.”

“Forget the meds, you deserve a slap instead!  I didn’t raise my son to be mean to girls!”

“Please don’t,” he cringes, “Levy already cracked me a good one,” rubbing the back of his head, “it still throbs.”

“I knew I liked that girl for a reason.” Settling back in her chair and picking up her mug, “Alright son, tell me what happened.”

“It all started when Professor Warren asked me to tutor a girl…”

For the next 30 or so minutes, Natsu went through the entire story from start to finish leaving nothing for the imagination.  It was tough, admitting to all the rude comments and watching his mother’s reactions. He could tell she was deeply ashamed of how he had behaved but still she sat there not saying a word until the very end.

“… so that’s everything,” his head hung in shame, voice quieted.  “Levy was right, I judged her before getting to know her first.  Mom, I’m such an idiot,” he settles the empty mug on his bed with a groan, “she’s so pretty too,” a slight flush alighting his cheeks, “and smart.  I checked around and what Levy said about her kicking my butt in English is totally true.”

His mother could see the pain behind her son’s expression, feel the weight being shouldered through a shaky voice.  There was no reason to admonish him any more than he was already beating himself up over. Her drink now cold and long forgotten, she stands up and sits on the edge of the bed next to him, placing a reassuring hand on his knee.

“Natsu, the important thing is you realize what you did was wrong.  Yes, it took Levy knocking some sense into you, but at least you have the opportunity to fix things and start over with this Lucy girl.”  Giving his knee a gentle squeeze, “now, you say you think she’s pretty?”  She giggles and he nods lightly while the blush re-erupts upon his cheeks.  “My son’s first little crush!”

“Mom, so not funny!” He harrumphs, crossing his arms in a dramatic manner.

“I know, I know,” she chuckles, “I’m sorry forgive an old woman for her amusements.  So, do you have a picture of her?”

“Um,” looking over at his bookshelf, “yeah she should be in a yearbook.”  Natsu stands up and grabs it from the shelf, flipping through the pages as he walks back.  “Here,” he hands his mom the open book, pointing towards a photo.  “That’s her, Lucy Heartfilia.”

She looks closely at the high-quality black and white photo, noting the fresh-faced young girl indeed was pretty, despite not being in color.  “Heartfilia…. As in Heartfilia Enterprises?  Boy son, you sure know how to pick ‘um.”

“Why, what’s so special about it?  I know she’s got some money.”

“Her family was one of the wealthiest in our city, I mean Jude Heartfilia is still rich but after his wife passed away about 10 years ago, he lost some of that fortune because of all the medical expenses her illness left behind.”

“Oh man,” Natsu plops back onto his bad, “you’re telling me the girl I made cry’s mother is dead? Great, that makes me feel even worse now.”

“You said you have to meet them tomorrow, right?  That’s your chance to apologize and make it up to her.  So, what are you planning to say or do?”

“I have no idea!  Ugh, I’m not good at talking with girls…”

“Tell ya what Natsu, tomorrow morning I’ll take you to the store and we’ll go look for a small gift, flowers, or something.  Do you think you can find out what she might like, maybe stuffed animals, anything?”

“I can text Levy, she’ll probably give me some pointers.”

“That’s a start.  As for what you’ll say, just show her the same emotions you showed me tonight, about how sorry you are for hurting her like that.  If you are genuine, I’m sure she will accept your apology.  It sounds like she’s a sweet girl, so hopefully she’ll forgive you, or at least won’t be mad at you anymore.”

“Okay…  I’ll text Levy too.”

“Good,” standing up, his mom grabs the two mugs ready to leave, “get some rest, we’ll leave after breakfast.”

“Thanks mom.”

“You’re welcome Natsu.”

~~~xx~~~

He didn’t know how long he had been pacing in the alley next to Fae’s diner.  An hour or was it only 30 minutes?  Checking, rechecking the time on his phone as the minutes ticked down closer and closer to 1 pm.  Should he be early?  Right on time?  Definitely not late.  Yes, certainly that would be bad.  Natsu removes his glasses and wipes at the sweat building upon his brow, why’d it have to be so hot today?  As if his nervousness wasn’t bad enough, going in there looking like he’d just left the gym was sureto make such a wonderful impression!

The pink and white flowers he’d chosen based on Levy’s recommendation were holding up nicely despite the humidity, and the blue stuffed cat doll he’d bought, Natsu hoped Lucy would like it.  He thought it was adorable, a blue cat with these big round eyes and a silly grin…. It was so goofy, it just had to gain him some kind of smile out of the girl!  

12:50pm.          

Ten more minutes. Natsu gulps down the scant amount of saliva quickly drying up in his throat.  All morning his mother had helped him rehearse what he could say to the girl without looking like a complete and utter dork…. But dang it to hell, this is the most nervous he’s even been in his life!  Give him a battle of chemical formulas against his nemesis at Saber High any day compared to this!  Throw him off a cliff and tell him to swim, even that might be preferable.  He was ready to give his apology once coming to terms and accepting how wrong he’d been, but now it reverted back to talking to a girl and Lucy was a very pretty, intelligent one.  AHHHHHHHH!  There’s a reason Natsu’s never had a girlfriend before.

12:55pm.

A low groan slash whine leaches from his throat as he tucks the phone back in his pocket and walks to the front of the restaurant.  This was the moment of truth, suck it up Natsu!  Dig deep and just get this over with!  He grabs onto the door handle and walks on in, his gifts tucked close like a shield.

It takes his eyes a moment to scan before landing upon the blonde and blue-headed girls sitting in a booth near the back of the restaurant.  Whatever Levy was saying to her friend must have been interesting if the adorable laughter erupting from the girl was any indication.  Were Lucy’s brown eyes always that bright?  Probably would’a seen it last time if you’d made the girl laugh instead of cry.  Ouch, stabbed in the heart by his own subconscious.  Natsu’s feet carry him slowly towards the girls with stuttered advancements despite the flight mode dancing in his mind.

As he reaches within a few feet of the table, it’s Levy who first turns, and Lucy, curious as to why her friend had suddenly stopped talking, shifts in her seat….  The once beautiful shine slowly receding into a look of horror.  “What are you doing here!  I-I don’t wanna see you ever again!”

But it wasn’t Natsu, instead Levy who speaks up and places a hand on her friend’s shoulder.  “Lu, I invited him here cause he wanted to apologize. I’ve known you both for a long time, and I promise he really is sorry for acting like that, it’s not how he normally behaves.”  

“I don’t know…” Lucy crosses her arms and cringes back, “that… that really hurt.”

“Please,” a quiet male voice interjects, bringing both girls attentions to him, “I just wanna apologize, a-and if after that you never wanna see me again I promise I will stay away.”

“Lu, remember what I told you that night?  Just give him a chance please, for me?”

She honestly didn’t remember a lot from that telephone conversation because she was too upset to think clearly.  Lucy takes a moment to reflect and the only thing she could think of was an incident that happened to Natsu freshman year with another girl on the squad.  That girl was graduated now but Levy thinks it still bothers him and that’s why he treated her the way he did.  Not that it made it okay, but that at least she could understand it wasn’t just how he acted normally.

“Alright… I’ll hear him out.”

“Good,” Levy slides out of the booth, “I’ll go grab us refills, Natsu would you like something?” He shakes his head.  Motioning for him to sit, “Okay, then I’ll be back.”  

Natsu moves to take the spot opposite of Lucy but pauses and juts out the flowers and cat, “H-Here, I got these for you.”

“Oh,” she tentatively accepts, “thank you Natsu, you really didn’t need to…”

“I wanted to do something,” cupping the back of his neck, crimson rushing along his cheeks as he takes a seat and sinks into the faux leather.  “Talking with girls unless its school stuff, isn’t something… we-well the little experience I’ve had didn’t end so well and, I mean I get so nervous about what to say you know…”  Taking a large gulp of air, “I’m really, really, really sorry I behaved like a total asshole to you!  I shouldn’t have just assumed you’d be like the others…”  Natsu hangs his head and covers his face the moment he feels the tears welling up, “Mom was right, she didn’t raise a son to be mean to girls and yet look at what I did….” Little trails of liquid slipping along his cheeks, his voice quieting the longer he rambles.  “You were so nice, never made me feel like the weird geek….  Fuck I’m such an idiot that I don’t deserve being forgiven…”  

Part of her wanted to stay mad at him at least for a little longer, turn the screws so to speak.  But the longer she watched him unravel…. He’s crying….this guy is crying… in public….  Since when do guys cry in public?!   Lucy had set her gifts to the side as her own heart slowly bled for the young man.  Natsu really wasn’t such a bad guy after all in fact, his melt down made her drift back to the moments before he’d first opened his mouth in that classroom. Adorably handsome, glasses and all and now showing he has a sensitive side too...  Lucy picks up the stuffed animal to scrutinize it.  What a silly looking blue cat!  Like a character in one of her favorite fantasy novels, it was so cute!  Smiling to herself, he did well, picking this for me. Muffled light sobs tear her away from fawning over the toy and back to the situation. Her heart dropping at the sight.

With his head propped on his elbows and face buried in his hands, Natsu was too ashamed or afraidto look up and see Lucy’s reactions.  He hadn’t noticed when she’d slipped from her seat until a warm set of arms and sweet vanilla fragrance wrapped itself around and startled him.  Expecting maybe Levy had returned, he straightens out quickly, turning, only to see the beautiful blonde smiling at him.  “Lucy?”

“I forgive you Natsu.” Lucy takes his glasses off and sets them on the table, wiping away at the streaks along his cheeks, “so please stop crying and let’s start over again.”

His gleaming onyx eyes flecked with green practically danced, “D-Do you really mean it?  I mean yeah, I’d really like that!”  

“Great!” Lucy beams back. “I’m glad you apologized, cause now I got to see the real you…  and it’s really sweet.  I hope we can be friends from now on.”

“Wait, I thought you just meant tutoring, y-you actually wanna be friends with me?”

“Of course!  Why wouldn’t I wanna get to know someone like you!” Giggling,“it’s so rare to find a guy who is smart, sweet and cute.”

Natsu deadpans and if his face now matched his hair color he wouldn’t be surprised, “n-no way.”

“Well of course,” her voice coquette, looking up shyly, “that’s only if you wanna be friends.”  

~~

Sesshomaru walks over to where his wife is leaning against the frame of the archway sipping on a cup of tea.  The kids are in the living room working on their project.  He takes a place by her side and whispers, “awfully quiet huh? Everything going okay?”

She leans over, “yeah, I’m a little surprised that they could be so civil after just two weeks.” Kagura giggles, “maybe that miko bloodline she comes from still holds sway.”

“Maybe,” He places a hand on his wife’s shoulder, “but looks like you were right about her, maybe she will be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”  Smack!  Sesshomaru laughs, “or maybe not.”

“Oww,” Inuyasha rubs the spot on his arm where Kagome punched.  “You are so lucky I won’t hit a girl!”

“Tch,” she snickers, “I don’t know, seems you like being hit since you always provoke me into it.”          

“Keh!  I’m trying here, so cut me some slack.  I did what you asked and found the information didn’t I?”

“You did and I appreciate it Inuyasha, but there’s still a lot more we need to do, so I need you to stay focused.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

The bell rings, signaling the end of 3rd period.  Monday morning seemed to always be the toughest, aside from Friday.  One would think after a couple of days off students would be refreshed but it was the opposite feeling and now with the project thrown in, Kagome is even more tired than usual.  Kagome’s best friend Sango knew of her friend’s dilemma and had even offered to help but the young girl had politely declined.  Inuyasha wasn’t the easiest to work with but it was slowly getting better, the operative word being slowly, but still, Kagome was sure that things would start to even out soon and she wouldn’t be as tired.

“Mrs. Taisho wasn’t lying,” Kagome explains on the way to their next class, “Inuyasha is smart, but getting him to focus and care is the tough part.  I just don’t know why that is.”

“Rumor has it, he started acting out after his mom died.”

“Oh.  I can relate to that.  It was tough after my dad died, but I didn’t act out.”

Sango laughs, “that’s because you’re a better person.”

“I guess….  Maybe and it wasn’t just his mom right, his dad died when he was a baby…. So, I guess I should cut him a little slack.”

“The sooner you two can really get along,” Sango opens the classroom door, “the sooner you won’t be so stressed out.  Speak of the demon,” she looks over and sees Inuyasha already at his seat.  She smirks, “your lab partner is already waiting for you.”

Kagome rolls her eyes, but with a slight uplift in the corner of her lips, “so he is.  First time for everything.”

The girls take their seats, readying themselves for the science lesson.  Mrs. Taisho starts to hand out the days assignment which looks to be a fun one for once; working with chemicals.  She tells the students to gather the listed items and bring them back to their desks.  So, Kagome grabs the chemicals while Inuyasha grabs their Bunsen burner and some glass flasks along with the lighter.  Seems easy enough.  Mrs. Taisho floats around the room assisting the students who busily read the instructions for the first test.

“Okay,” Inuyasha holds the paper up, “it says you add a tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate to the water, this should create a bubbling reaction.”

Kagome grabs the bottle she thinks is correct and begins to level off a spoonful.  Inuyasha takes a whiff while he ties his hair up in a ponytail, “are you sure that’s the right one, doesn’t smell like baking powder to me.”

She shrugs her shoulders, “pretty sure, I grabbed what was in that bin.”  

But something wasn’t sitting right for the hanyo, his nose was pretty accurate and something in his gut was turning.  He watches as Kagome slowly turns the spoon over to allow the contents to fall.  It took just a millisecond, but the instant the first powder touches the water it becomes obvious to the hanyo that this definitely wasn’t baking soda. “Kagome!” he grabs her by the shoulders, turning her away like in a slow-motion scene while at the same instant a bright flash and small explosion ricochets through the room.

When Kagome opened her eyes again, she was facing away from their table and still wrapped tightly in Inuyasha’s arms.  Mrs. Taisho was asking if she was okay, but maybe it was the slight ringing in her ears or the confusion that caused her to just nod slowly while she processed what just happened.  

“Hey, Kagome are you okay?” Inuyasha’s deeper voice so close to her ear snapped her back to the present a little quicker.  “Kagome?”

“Y-Yes?”  She turns her head as far as she can to look at him, which was difficult because he was still holding onto her so securely. “What… what happened?”

Inuyasha finally lets her go, but not before seating her on a nearby chair.  He kneels down and it almost takes her aback when he starts to speak to her in a calm tone.  “Are you sure you grabbed the bottle from the bin labeled sodium bicarbonate?”  Kagome nods her head, a bit of moisture pooling at the corners of her eyes.  “Absolutely sure?”  Again, she nods her head.  “Okay because teach said that was Cesium and that’s why it exploded.”

“Ce-cesium?”  Kagome’s hands are trembling in her lap at the realization that she screwed up.  “Oh, kami,” her hands fly up to her mouth, “y-you could have, w-we could have gotten so hurt….”  The tears break free and rush down her cheeks.  She covers her face.  “I screwed up, oh kami I’m sorry, I’m sorry Inu…”

“Hey, you’re fine, I’m fine, no one got hurt,” he tries to pry her hands away and get her to look at him. “Kagome, no one’s perfect, it probably got put away wrong by the last class, you can’t beat yourself up over it.”

“But you could have been hurt badly!”

“Keh!  I’m tough.” Inuyasha smirks.  “Main thing is you’re okay.  You are okay right, at least physically, I don’t see any marks on ya.”

“Thanks to you,” Kagome slightly flushes.  “Your quick reaction is why I’m not hurt.”

Mrs. Taisho comes over to check on them again while a couple other students helps to clean up the area. “Is she okay,” she asks her brother-in-law.  He nods yes. “Kagome you still look a bit shaky, do you want to go to see the nurse?”  She shakes her head in response.  “It’s the last period and it’s best not to do any more experiments today anyways.  I’ll have Inuyasha walk you home dear.”

“Oh,” the young girl waves her hand, “I don’t wanna trouble anyone…”

“Keh!  It’s no trouble,” he stands up with a grin plastered on his face and helps Kagome to her feet.  “Grab your bag, any chance to ditch school early I’ll take it.”

~~~

“Are you ever gonna let me make it up to you?”  Kagome asks for the third time that period.  

“Ugh, give it a rest already,” he grits his teeth trying not to yell in the middle of class, “it’s been almost a week.  I told you it’s not a big deal.”

“To you maybe, but for me it is.”

Groaning, “If I say yes, will you stop bugging me about it?”

“Uh-huh,” Kagome leans in. “Anything you wanna eat, it’s my treat.”

“Okay fine.” Inuyasha scratches his head, “there’s a ramen shop between school and my house, we could go there.”

“Great!  I’ll tell miss she won’t need to drive us today!”

“Fair warning, I eat more than one bowl.”

“I know,” she teases back, “I’ve seen you eat so I brought extra cash.”

“Keh!”  Inuyasha turns back to his lesson.

He couldn’t understand what was happening between them, it was weird how in five weeks this girl had been able to get under his skin… but in a good way.  No one’s ever been able to do that before.  Not his family, not his last girlfriend, or any friends for that matter.  Inuyasha peered at Kagome through his periphery.  So easy and unassuming she sat there working on the questions for the day. He couldn’t help the glimmer of a smile licking at his corners.  ‘My saving grace, huh, I wonder if mom would have liked her too.’  He refocuses on his paper, of course she would have.  Kagome had a lot in common with his mother, a refined, almost regal nature yet feisty enough to put up with a demon.  Inuyasha chuckles in his head.  ‘Okay maybe not refined, but definitely,’ he takes one more look, ‘pure.’

The following Wednesday, Kagome catches up to Inuyasha at his locker during lunch break to share some information she found for their project.  As he looks through the papers, Kagome leans in, pointing out things here and there, jabbering about some supplies they’ll need to get for their poster display. “Or we could do a Powerpoint presentation, it’s either or.”

“I think the Powerpoint makes more sense cause we can add video’s to better illustrate what air pressure is.”

Kagome giggles and pokes at him, “look at you sounding all smart now Inuyasha, who’da thought it.”

“Ha Ha,” he flashes a fanged grin, grabbing her hand and holding it up near his chest, “lazy but smart remember, get it right.”

She giggles again, but before she can retort someone bumps into Inuyasha’s shoulder hard, causing him to take a step back and her hand to be released.  The same person grabs her around the waist and pulls her away from the hanyo.  

“Kagome, why are you getting all chummy with this stupid half-breed?  He’s so cursed that both his parents died because of him.”

“Fuck you Koga!” Inuyasha moves to take a swing, but the wolf yokai places the girl between them and he’s forced to stay his hand. He growls and narrows his eyes at the wolf, “Only a loser would use a female as a shield.”

“Tch, I don’t need her,” Koga pushes Kagome aside and squares up, “but maybe I don’t want you to touch me and spread the curse.”  Inuyasha clenches his fists at his sides.  Talking about his mom was always a sore spot and to be called cursed….  “That’s right mutt you should know your place.  A half breed like you ain’t nothing when it comes to…”

“That’s enough!!”

The two men stop and turn to see Kagome with her hands fisted and the most menacing aura surrounding her.  Human’s may not sense it, but these demons could feel the energy surging around her. Kami the girl was pissed!  She walks straight up to Koga and slaps his face so hard the entire hallway grows silent.  She moves between them, blocking Inuyasha in a protective stance.  

“How dare you say those things about him!  Just because his parents are gone doesn’t make him cursed because if it does then add me to the list!  My dad died when I was younger, you gonna say that was my fault?”  Koga is so shocked that someone, even more so a woman had slapped him that he didn’t respond for a second.  “Well?!” Kagome’s hands land on her hips, “you gonna answer me?  Am I cursed too?!”

“This…” Koga clears the shaky tone.  “This is between me and him, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, like hell it doesn’t. You think I’m gonna let some brutish wolf make fun of my friend you got another thing coming.  Now get lost!”

“Tch!”  Koga’s friends, Hakkaku and Ginta start pulling him away.  “This ain’t over!”

Kagome glares at the trio until she could no longer see them.  She was still shaking, she was so furious.  Inuyasha places a hand on her shoulder to get her attention and almost takes a strike to the jaw, ducking and catching her fist instead.  “Kami, Inu I’m sorry!”

He drops her hand, “damn, woman you are scary when you get that angry.  Remind me not to piss you off that badly.”

She flushes red, “well he just made me so angry, i-it just came out.”

“Come on,” he shut’s his locker, grabs their stuff and takes her hand, “let’s get out of this hallway. I need to report this to Sessh.”

“O-Okay.”

Half way to the principal’s office, Kagome stares at their joined hands.  She looks up at Inuyasha’s face and notices the tenseness of his jaw. Does he realize?  Her cheeks growing warm, she averts her eyes to the floor and mumbles, “Um, Inu you can let go of my hand now.”    

He lets go immediately. “Oh shit, I didn’t realize!”

“Don’t worry, I kinda figured,” she reassures him.  “But, um, I was wondering, why would he say that about you?  I mean like, is there something about demons I don’t know about?”

“No,” Inuyasha lets out an exhale, “nothing like that.  He’s always had something against me, and I don’t even know why.  But to bring up my mom like that was a low fucking blow.”

When they reach the office, Kagome goes in with Inuyasha so they can fill Sesshomaru in with all the details.  He wasn’t surprised that Koga tried to pick a fight with Inuyasha, but he was taken aback that Kagome was the one who ended it and reassured her that Koga would be pulled in for a discussion since he’d put his hands on her.  Once that was done, Sesshomaru gives them passes back to their classes.

As they are about to part ways Inuyasha stops her.  “Kagome, you know thanks for standing up for me back there and I’m sorry about your dad.”

“You don’t have to thank me Inu,” she smiles.  “I lost him when I was 7 in a car accident.  It was hard but I realized I had to move on, I think that’s what he would have wanted.”

“Yeah…”

She places a hand over his heart, “Inu if you ever wanna talk, I’ll listen.”

For a few moments, the pair stand there, face to face in front of the office.  The look on Kagome’s face, it was so sweet, so serene as her hand stayed its position upon his chest.  His breathing slows, by kami was she always this breathtakingly beautiful? “Y-yeah…” Inuyasha swallows hard, “I’ll remember that.”

“Great!” Kagome bounces on the balls of her feet, “I’ll see ya after school Inu,” waving as she skip’s away, “we can finish talking then.”

“Right!”  But his feet are glued in place.  His hand sweeps over to where he could still feel the warmth of her hand lingering…

~~~~              

“What took you so long?” Miroku leans over and whispers as Inuyasha takes his seat.  “Class is half way over already.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it, just had a run in with Koga at lunchtime.”

“I don’t see any marks on ya, he didn’t get a hit in?”

“Didn’t have a chance.”

“Whoa!” The teacher looks their way and Miroku ducks back down, but as soon as she goes back to writing on the board, he continues.  “Did you knock him out first?”

“Nah, girl stepped in between us.”

After Miroku picks up his jaw from the ground, his expression switches to a lecherous grin. “So, is she cute?”

“Keh!” Inuyasha turns away, but he couldn’t hide the slight burning in his cheeks from his friend.

“Oh ho!” Miroku pokes at this buddy, “bro you neeeed to give me details after class!”

“Will you shut up,” Inuyasha grits his teeth, “before the teacher comes over here!”

“Fine,” Miroku straightens out, “but I will find out who she is sooner or later…”

Of course, that month’s full moon had to fall on a Friday of all days.  It was common knowledge that hanyo’s like himself had a day when their demon powers waned, and the human side took back control.  But for Inuyasha, the feeling of being weaker never sat well with him.  Human frailties like disease cost his mother her life and even though it was just part of existing for them, that didn’t mean he had to like it.  You had a better chance of being struck by lightning than to see him on one of these nights and so the fact that Kagome was still going to be at his house when his turning would occur bugged him all day through classes. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to cancel their session.

Inuyasha stared out the living room window watching the sun slowly make it’s decent below the horizon. It wouldn’t be long now, he could feel the tingling in his finger tips and the fading scents around him.  He talks a dry gulp before gently tapping Kagome on the shoulder.  “I need to warn you about something, I… t-tonight is my human night so in a few minutes I’ll be turning.”

“Oh,” she turns to look at him, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, “why is that a big deal or something, like do I need to worry cause you’ll get all weird?”

He blinks at her nonchalant tone, “um no, just didn’t want you to freak out.”  He motions over his shoulder with his thumb, “I’ll be right back, I like taking a shower after I change.”

“Sure,” she smiles, “take your time.”

He was right on the dot by the time he had reached his room for the change to begin.  Hair shifting from white to black, his fingers, the claws retracting into human nails.  The oddest feelings were as his canine ears receded and human ones appeared instead. But he was used to it all, and after a minute, Inuyasha opened his eyes to the new man staring back from the full-length mirror.  He sighed, saddened by the loss of his extra senses.  It really wasn’t such a necessity in this day and age, but it was still a handy feature.  After gathering his clothing, he retreats to the bathroom for a quick shower.          

When Inuyasha returns for the project, he stops in the kitchen to grab them drinks and runs into his brother, drinking tea and reading a newspaper.  

“How are things going Inuyasha?”

“Fine.”

“Oh, just fine?  You two are getting along so much better now. You even allowed her to stay despite it being your human night,” Sesshomaru puts his paper down, “any significance?”

“That-That’s none of your business.  But for the record I just wanted to stay on track.”

“Mmhmm,” his brother snickers, “then you should get back to it then.”

“Keh!”

‘Any significance…  Damn him trying to read into this like there’s more to it…’ Inuyasha reaches the archway and notices Kagome rubbing the back of her neck and turning her head from side to side like it was stiff.  He gulps, she had put her hair up in a messy bun and her neck was just…

He puts the bottles of water down on the table in front of her.  “Your neck sore?” he asks and takes a seat next to her on the floor.

“Yeah, a little. Thanks for the water,” she smiles and looks over.  But when she realizes how different he looks, her eyes widen, “wow, I mean it’s still obviously you, but the black hair makes you look so different!  Aww, and the doggy ears are gone!  I like those ears better.”

“You do?!”

“I wanna rub them, they look so fluffy and cute!”

“Maybe one day,” he mumbles as his cheeks flush.  “If you want, I can give you a neck massage. You’ve been working really hard today and I barely did anything, it’s the least I can do.”    

“That would be really sweet!”

Inuyasha scoots behind her and shifts her between his legs.  Guess his human form came in handy tonight, he looks at his hands before placing them gingerly on her shoulders, no claws.  Kagome pulls her knees up and lowers her head, giving him all the access, he would need. Slowly he began massaging her shoulders, starting at the edges of her collar bone and working his way towards the middle.  He kneads at the muscles, searching with the pads of his finger tips for any knots or tight spots.  “Tell me if there’s anywhere that hurts the most.”

“Okay,” she breathes out. Wow, she mused inwardly, even as a human Inuyasha had some strong hands. Shouldn’t she be a little surprised that he knew how to massage a person?  Oh, like it’s hard to figure out. Kagome closes her eyes and just lets the relaxation carry her away for a spell.  This feels so nice…. Her mind drifts…. Could his touch always feel like this?  She starts to imagine his strong grip, teasing other areas of skin….  Crap! Don’t go there!  She screams at herself.  Friends just friends and this project we’re working on, nothing more!  But it might be nice for more….  Kagome groans internally, maybe the massage was a bad idea.

He didn’t need his demon senses to figure out Kagome was enjoying the massage.  A few little cringes when he touched upon a sore spot, but for the most part she just sat there stoically and every so often he earned a wispy sigh.  Ugh!  Every time she did that a shiver ran up his spine!  Inuyasha was after all a normal male and after this little episode he might need to take stock of another feature.  It had been a couple of years or maybe three since he’d been physically close to another girl.  Nothing sexual, but they had made out a few times and now sitting here with Kagome, Inuyasha was starting to miss that.  

“Feel better,” he asks 20 minutes later.

“Very much,” she blushes lightly and looks down as she fiddles with her fingers, “thank you Inuyasha.”

Now it was his turn. He averts his eyes knowing that his own cheeks had grown warmer, “no problem.”

~~~~~

They’d surpassed the mid-way mark of the semester and it was crunch time for a lot of the bigger projects for all their classes.  Kagome had spent her lunch breaks the last couple of days studying poetry since she had to write one for a class assignment.  So, as she and Inuyasha make their way towards the school exit, her stomach makes itself vocally known.  

Inuyasha laughs, “you’re starting to sound like me.  Wanna stop for food on the way to my house?  I could go for some ramen.”

“You can always go for ramen,” Kagome giggles, “but yeah that sounds good.”

As they round the corner and see the doors, Inuyasha pauses, “oh crap, it’s Miroku,” halting her advancement and pulling her back.

“Who?”  She peers around, “the guy talking to Sango?”

“Yeah,” Inuyasha looks around too.  “But he’s been bugging me ever since the Koga thing about you.”

“Why?”

“Don’t worry bout it, he’s just a perve who’s curious what you look like.”

“Eww!” She tries to step away but is held back, “but he’s bugging my friend!”

“Shh!” Inuyasha tries to cover Kagome’s mouth.  “Keep your voice down.  You know Sango can take care of herself.”

“Inu you’re being silly. And who cares if he knows what I look like, I have no interest in someone like him.”  She grabs his hand and starts to pull him, “come on, I’m staaarving!”  

He couldn’t believe he was allowing himself to be pulled along by this girl!  But there he was being led by the hand towards Miroku and Sango, who looked like she was bout two seconds away from slapping the guy. Inuyasha’s eyes pan towards the entrance, it would be so easy, just grab Kagome and run out before Miroku could get in a word.  Yet his feet kept travelling in the same direction he was being pulled.  What the hell was happening to him?

As soon as Sango sees Kagome, she slips away from Miroku and starts walking towards her and Inuyasha. Miroku is annoyed at being interrupted but when he sees the hand holding… his eyes flash and he quickly brushes past Sango to saddle up closer to Kagome.  “You sly dog Inuyasha!”  Brushing his hand along her arm, “how’d you manage to land this fox?!”

The hanyo pulls Kagome away from the lecher, but drops her hand at the same time, “it isn’t what you think,” crossing his arms, “she was just dragging me over here cause I didn’t wanna come!”

“In that case,” Miroku tries to grab for her hand, “if you’re single,” he wiggles his eye brows, “then I’m in the market.”

Kagome yanks back her hand and narrows her eyes, “weren’t you just hitting on my friend not 2 seconds ago?  As if I’d give you the time of day.”

“Oh ho, lemme guess, this is the girl isn’t Inuyasha, the one that stepped in between you and Koga? Feisty and beautiful!  But just to be clear, I’ve been trying for a year to ask Sango out, but she keeps turning me down.”  Miroku feigns a sigh, “one day she’ll say yes, and I’ll be able to give up my lecherous ways.”  

Sango rolls her eyes, “if I believed that of you, you might actually have a chance.”

“A chance?!” Miroku leaps over and kneels before Sango, grabbing her hand again.  “I would be your devoted slave, my queen,” kissing the back of her hand.  She blushes despite trying her hardest to get angry and pull away.  “A chance is all I require to prove my love for you.”

“Oh, brother,” Inuyasha snorts.  Kagome giggles.  He glares at her with a look not to encourage the idiot but that only makes her laugh harder.

Kagome calms her fit, “as amusing as this show is, I’m fricken hungry so can we get going Inu?”

Sango finally gets Miroku to let her hand go.  “Where are you guys going?”

“The Shiba Ramen place near Inuyasha’s house,” Kagome answers her friend.

Miroku chuckles, “I see he’s got you going there too now, huh?”  Turning to Sango with the best cutesy face he can muster, “my treat, if you’d be so kind to join me?”

“Oi!  Who invited you in the first place!” Inuyasha growls.

“Oh, my mistake, did you wanna be alone with Kagome?”  Miroku retorts.

“I…. Keh!”  Inuyasha snorts and turns away.  

Kagome speaks up now, “you can come only if Sango agrees to it.”

“Please,” Miroku tries even harder, “I promise to behave.”

After a minute Sango finally caves in and the group heads out.  Surprisingly, Miroku manages to control his more, naughtier behaviors and they spend the next couple of hours eating, joking around, and talking about different subjects.  It was almost perfect to Kagome, she got to spend time with her best friend Sango, the guys were trading one-upping stories about dumb shit that had them all laughing.  What a way to start off the weekend.  Sure, they’d have to spend a couple of hours working on their project tonight but going in with a happier mood should make things smoother.  

Inuyasha was so comfortable in the booth next to Kagome, it was a subconscious move when he found his arm draped over her shoulder.  His first thought was to remove it, but then again, by her slightly shifted and leaning against him, was she actually enjoying it?  Or maybe she didn’t realize she was doing it either?  To move it now would certainly draw her attention and the irrational side of his brain growled at him to do no such thing.  If she was happy, he was happy.

Things were starting to wind down and the conversation had shifted into lighter topics.  Then in the middle of a sentence, Miroku stops talking, his eyes wider, staring past them, and annoyed.  Everyone stops and follows his trail as a female voice breaks the silence.

“Inuyasha is that you?”

The hanyo turns his head as he recognizes the voice.  “Kikyo?” In a flash the warmth of his arm leaves Kagome’s shoulder, and so quickly that her hair shifts in the burst of air.  “Whoa!” he jumps out of his seat and hugs the woman.  “What are you doing here?”

“I recently moved back to town,” she hugs him back.  Stepping away again but only by a foot, Kikyo looks over to the girl who was sitting next to Inuyasha.  “New girlfriend?”

“Huh?” Inuyasha looks at Kagome who has a mortified look on her face, then back to Kikyo.  “No, she’s just my friend.”  

“Oh…”

Both Sango and Miroku sat back in shock as they watched Kagome deflate in the booth.  It was clear how oblivious Inuyasha was of his simple statement’s effects on the poor girl, but he seemed too over joyed to see his ex-girlfriend again.  As the pair stood next to the table chatting quietly and even exchanging numbers, Kagome sat devastated.  Okay fine, it’s not like he was lying, they weren’t a couple but… it still hurt.  She thought they’d been getting along so well, even to where maybe, just maybe there was a chance at something a little more but as he just blurted out, she was just a friend in his eyes.  

~~~~~~

“I’m just gonna… go pay my bill,” Kagome quietly tells Sango and Miroku before sliding out of the booth. She was careful not to make any physical contact with either Kikyo or Inuyasha who were standing almost against the table and slips away unnoticed.  

“Should we follow her,” Miroku whispers to Sango, “she looked pretty upset.”

“No,” Sango responds, “Kagome prefers to be alone if she is.  I’ll call her after we leave.”

Miroku narrows his eyes in the hanyo’s direction.  “I should just go pay for my bill too, and maybe we should all just ditch Inuyasha.” Sango blinks, for a guy who was still a total pervert, she could see how annoyed he was at his friend.  Guess Miroku has some standards, she muses to herself.  He pats her leg, “follow me.”  Sango just nods and grabs her bag ready to go.  

Clearing his throat in an exaggerated manner, “Excuse us,” Miroku’s tone is rude and annoyed. “We’re leaving.”

Kikyo moves out of the way so the pair can get out, never saying a word.  Inuyasha looks around and realizes Kagome was also gone.  “Oi, Miroku where’s Kagome?”  But Miroku flips off his friend without turning around and he and Sango simply walk over to the cash register.

“Sorry, I gotta go,” Inuyasha stammers out leaving Kikyo standing alone by the empty table.  He catches Miroku just as they are about to walk out the door and grabs his friend’s arm.  “Oi, I asked, where is Kagome?”

“Do you really care?” His friend spits back.  “Ya didn’t seem to mind ignoring her once Kikyo showed up.”  Miroku tries to pull away but Inuyasha grips tighter.

“What the fuck are you talking about?  I was just talking to an old friend, so what?”

At this point Miroku yanks harder and frees his arm, walking out the door behind Sango.  “Argh!”  What the hell is their problem?  He tosses enough money onto the cash register and storms out still snapping at their retreating figures.  “Hey! Miroku, you asshole!  Sango!  Somebody tell me what the hell is going on!”

This time it’s Sango that stops to face off with the hanyo, glaring.  “She probably went home, happy now we answered your question?!”  

“Go back to your ex, Inuyasha,” adds Miroku, “seems like you two were picking right up from where you’d left things.”

Inuyasha blinks, “what in the world would make you think that?!”

Miroku rolls his eyes, “oh, I don’t know, like how excited you were that you almost whacked Kagome in the head trying to get out of the booth.  Maybe by the way Kikyo kept touching your arm and you not pulling back, in fact you leaned in closer.  You guys trading phone numbers and your face was practically giddy about it.  Shit I was mentally preparing myself to see you two start kissing or something, probably why Kagome couldn’t take it anymore and left.”

The hanyo growls, “That is not how it happened, you’re totally exaggerating!”

“She saw it all, we saw it all, and you’re the one in denial.  Inuyasha, you didn’t even notice her leave!  I didn’t even see your ears flicker which means you were fully focused on only Kikyo.  So, don’t you tell me I’m the one exaggerating.”

“But…” Fucking hell! Was it really that bad?  “Ugh!” Inuyasha runs a hand over his face.  “I was happy to see Kikyo but there’s no way I’d ever go back with her.”

“Sure, looks like Kikyo is hoping for a second chance, and it’s not like you were turning down the advancements.”  Miroku sighed, “take it from a guy who does a lot of flirting…”

“That’s an understatement,” Inuyasha mumbles.

“… Kikyo was flirting with you and you were completely going along with it.  Am I right Sango?  That’s how it looked right?”  She nods her head.  “So, either you’re lying to us, to yourself, or if you’re telling the truth then the person that deserves the truth and an explanation is Kagome.”

Inuyasha roars and takes off, leaping away.  It’s been some time since he’d pushed his muscles like this running along walls, jumping over fences and houses.  Not knowing where she lived, he tracked the air for Kagome’s scent.  It couldn’t be too far he assumed considering she went to the school in this district.  

So, okay maybe there was a bit of lingering emotions for Kikyo, he couldn’t deny that but at the same time he knew to get back into a relationship with her would be a mistake. She wasn’t good for him and he’d come to realize that after she’d ended it 2 years ago.  Kagome, yeah, the girl was definitely imprinting on him and he was starting to crush on her, but he still wasn’t certain yet of anything. They’d really only gotten to know each other for a few weeks, and he didn’t want to make the same mistake he had made with Kikyo.

When he finally finds the house, Inuyasha groans internally.  Figures, what is it with him and picking miko chicks!  He touches down in a large old tree where he has a clear view of her window, well the one he assumes is hers based on the pink curtains and pulls out his cell phone.

Inuyasha texts Kagome, ‘we need to talk’

A few minutes later he sees her walk over to her desk and picks up her phone responding, ‘I’m fine’

Inuyasha, ‘I know you’re not’

Kagome, ‘…….’

Kagome, ‘how would you know?’

Inuyasha, ‘I can see you’

Inuyasha, ‘tree’

Kagome looks out the window just as Inuyasha hops down.

Inuyasha, ‘come outside please, let’s talk’

He sees Kagome turn away from the window as she sends a reply, ‘no’

‘fine have it your way,’ he responds and jumps through her window.

“What they hell?!” she immediately whirls around and starts hitting him.  “I don’t wanna talk, can’t you take the hint?!”

“Well we need to talk,” he grabs her wrists.  

The smaller girl doesn’t have the strength to fight off his control, but it doesn’t stop her from seething. “There’s nothing to talk about Inuyasha. I get it, I’m not your girlfriend, I have no right to be upset.  Go back to that Kikyo woman since you both seem fond of each other.  I’ll get over it.”

“Are you really that jealous of my ex?  Okay I admit I was happy to see her but there is no way I want her back so there’s nothing to be jealous of.”

Kagome rolls her eyes, “she seems to have other ideas and it’s not like you were turning her down.” As if the timing couldn’t be any worse, Inuyasha’s phone beeps with an incoming message.  Her eyes narrow, “Well, aren’t you gonna answer?”

“No.”  He sighs and let’s go of her wrists.  “Kagome,” he sits at the edge of her bed and hangs his head, “truth is I’m still not sure of what I really want.”  She takes a seat at her desk as he talks, rubbing her wrists. “I mean I know I don’t want her back, and even though I have some feelings for you, I don’t know if, I’m not sure if I’m ready to be in any relationship is what I’m trying to say.” Inuyasha makes eye contact again, “if you want me to block her I will just to make you happy.  But if you were hoping I wanted to be your boyfriend, I can’t say yes either right now.”

“I don’t know what I want either Inuyasha…..”

~~    

It was just too awkward for them to work together alone anymore but the project still needed to be completed.  They kept up a front in class and lied to Mrs. Taisho that Inuyasha was going over to Kagome’s house afterschool on Fridays.  But what was really happening is they’d split the project, Kagome would finish the paper, and Inuyasha would complete the Powerpoint portion.  The plan had been working for the past three weeks and paid off when they’d successfully stood before the class and presented their project on Wind & Air Pressure Dynamics.

Just perfect, Kagome sighs as she took her seat again.  The project was over, only a week and a half left of school when they would be graduating then it’s off to college in the Fall.  Well, it’s not like she was leaving town but who knows, she side-eyes the hanyo on her left, maybe in the Spring I’ll enroll further away.  Stop it!  She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.  Being in the middle of class really wasn’t the time to ruminate.  

After the bell rings, he watches Kagome gather her belongings and shuffle out of class along with the other students.  Inuyasha knew she was still upset, but he really didn’t know what to do about it. This whole semester had gone from bad to amazing to crash and burn like a train about to run off its tracks and the stupid part is he really was the reason for every single rollercoaster hill. Ugh!  Inuyasha drops his head onto the desk, ears flattened, with his fists clenched and claws digging into his palms.  

“Inuyasha,” Mrs. Taisho places a hand on the hanyo’s shoulder, “what’s the matter with you?”

“I fucked up big time…” he mumbles without raising his head, “again…”

“It’s about Kagome isn’t it?”  She sighs and takes a seat in one of the chairs.  “I had a feeling that something wasn’t right.  Wanna tell me what happened.”

“Not really.”

“It couldn’t hurt. Maybe there’s something I can help you with.”

Inuyasha sits up and looks at his sister-in-law Kagura for a moment, mulling over the decision. Eventually his shoulders droop along with his ears.  “Alright…”

Once he started, the words poured out.  For about 30 minutes Kagura sat in silence while Inuyasha goes over everything that happened that night at Shiba Ramen and the subsequent weeks since then.  His mind was settled on the Kikyo part, because she did try to rekindle things and he’d shot her down.  Inuyasha knew in his heart the crush he had developed on Kagome was real and true, and that the only things keeping him from making the plunge was fear itself.  He had jumped into a fast-blown relationship with Kikyo and it ended poorly, and that was certainly not what he wanted to happen again.  Kagome was clearly a step above him and destined for better things. She was graduating near the top of their class and on her way to a great university while he had no idea what the next step was going to be beyond simply getting to walk the line.  

“What good am I for someone like her, when the last thing she needs is someone that might hold her back.”

This was the first time Kagura had ever witnessed the hanyo break down.  Even after his mother passed away, while she assumed, he had shed a tear, it was never in the presence of another.  Inuyasha’s coping methods had been to clam up, grow moody, distant, and yet now….  She was taken aback by how much of an effect one girl has had on him.  As much as the two rarely saw eye to eye, she found it almost amusing how so alike he and his brother really were.  

“Never thought I’d see the day that you would actually fear something.”  She tries unsuccessfully to keep from chuckling.  “That girl has done what no one has ever been able to do and that’s break through the wall you put up all those years ago.  Are you really going to let your insecurities and fears of what could happen stop you from possibly gaining the best thing you might ever have in your life?  Come now, Inuyasha, that doesn’t sound like the hanyo I’ve come to know.”

“But I don’t know how to fix this…. How to talk to her again….”

“Just tell her, just like you told me,” she leans over and points at his heart, “from here.  Find the right moment and just do it, but don’t wait too long or she will slip through your fingers and you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

One thing was for certain, that night was the most restless night of his life.

‘Lucky to be hanyo,’ he groaned as he sat through class the next day.  Morning wasn’t so much the problem but after lunch it was becoming a semi struggle to stay awake which really sucked because he had to read a poem out loud in that class.  ‘At least I got to go second. Maybe now I can relax.’  He almost fell asleep.  

Kagome stood up for her turn and heads over to the front of the class, clutching to her paper. Inuyasha’s ears flick forward, but he keeps his eyes averted to his desk top.  He doesn’t see the slight, almost unnoticeable tremble in her fingers as she begins to speak.  

Aww, fuck.  By the end of the first line he knew this was gonna hurt.  His eyes drift shut and all he could do was die a little more inside.      

Her tone was smooth, her cadence slow as she channeled the very essence behind her poem.  It spoke of winter.  Of the fluffy white snow and how it’s beauty and elegance could mesmerize. Falling, softly, floating through the air like an angel to kiss your cheeks.  And on sunnier days, you could almost forget about the chill that winter brings when wrapped in such spellbinding charms.  But then the blizzard comes, cold and frightful. Blustery winds entrapping you behind walls that you cannot break free of, leaving you dark and alone… helpless. Praying for the snow to end its torture...                        

All of the practice she had done in front of a mirror had paid off in keeping her from breaking down in the middle of the reading.  And maybe in a way, it actually felt better getting it out.  The poem was to let go of some of the pain so she could move forward. Kagome could see the effects it was having on Inuyasha.  She couldn’t lie that a small part of her wasn’t happy to see him tormented.  But that wasn’t what she really wanted and as she sat back down and filed away her paper, the relief she had hoped for never came.    

As soon as school let out, Inuyasha tracked Kagome down.  He knew her class schedule, so it wasn’t difficult, thought it seems she had planned to make a quick exit that day.  By the time he saw her she was already walking out the front door.  He pushes through the throngs of students all making their way toward the exit.  Ugh!  He wished the ceilings were higher so he could jump!  

“Kagome!” He screamed at her fleeting back, her legs carrying her away as swiftly as it could. Damn it!  Once he was in the open, he threw out the rules against using their abilities on school property and made the leap.  One bound, two bounds, pushing his legs as hard as he could.  “Kagome!”  Oh, this woman!  He was sure she could hear him calling her!  One last jump and he lands ahead of her.  She pauses briefly and shifts course down a small alley way.  Inuyasha growls, and using a couple of walls, he manages again to get ahead of her, grabbing her arm before she could bolt again. “Woman, stop running from me!”

“Let me go Inuyasha!” She yanks at her arm, but his grip is too tight.  “If it’s about the poem…”

“It is and it isn’t,” he states matter of fact.  “But we really must talk, now.”  Sweeping Kagome out from under her legs, he picks her up, holding on tight, and takes to the sky once more.  She continues to cuss him out, but fear of falling keeps her from fighting his hold. Over rooftops and through alleys, staying out of the main thoroughfares, Inuyasha scans for an area with little to no humans around.  He wanted privacy and finally finds it in Ueno Park.    

“You better have a damn good reason to have brought me so far away from home,” she spits out as she adjusts her clothing.  Crossing her arms, “what do you want?”

“Look, I know I suck with words and I don’t know how to… argh!”  he runs his hand down his face.  “Oh, fuck it all!”  

Just as Kagome is about to respond, Inuyasha grabs her by the waist and slams his lips against hers. “Oof!” Her eyes expand and she goes stiff for a moment as her brain and body come to terms with what was happening. Even after he lets her go, she stares wide-eyed and speechless.      

“Please Kagome, I’m sorry!” he blurts out.  “I’m an idiot, I know I’m an idiot.  I was confused and I didn’t wanna hurt you.  I--I was afraid,” his ears droop and head hang’s low.  “Okay, there I said it.  I was afraid if I let you in, sooner or later you’d realize you deserved better than some lowly hanyo.”      

Kagome blinks as her shaky fingers brush against her lips and her cheeks feel like they are on fire. “I-Inuyasha, wh-why would you ever think that?”  Moisture floods her tear ducts, “you are so much better than you believe to be.” Reaching up to caress his cheek, “I saw that with my own eyes, how you grew so much over this semester.”  She smiles, “I got to see the real you come out and that’s who I fell in love with.”

“But, what if…”

“No one knows the future Inuyasha, not even the Kami’s themselves.  We just have to keep walking forward.”  She takes his hand.  “Come on,” giving it a small squeeze, “how about you start by making up for that Shiba date night with me?”

He groans, “that doesn’t mean with Sango and Miroku too, right?”

That evening as Andi and Amy hole up in their rooms with their phones or laptops, and their parents enjoy the rest of the night in the den, Azurite ventures out onto the spacious wrap around deck, propping himself atop a railing.  With his long legs easily balancing on the beam and his back against one of the pillars, he had chosen the spot because it was a clear vantage point of the nighttime lake.  Dark and ominous waters like at any moment some creature could walk out of its depths ready to strike at the unaware and yet, with the shimmering moonlit surface, instead of a creature, maybe a beautiful water goddess come to grant you any wish you desire.  A slight uptick around the corners of his mouth are the only indication when a few fond memories begin to flow through.  

Such supernatural creatures were common topics when they were little.  Nights like this one spent on the shore sleeping under the stars, trading story ideas, or dreams of heroes and villains come to life.  Just a lot of imagination packed between the Fernandez twins and the seeming link they shared was evident.  One would start a sentence and the other would finish it, an idea for a character would come to mind and the other would simply nod and agree as if they could see it too.  Like words never spoken aloud but through the spirit became secrets only they could share driving their sister crazy because it left her out of the loop.

They used to love fishing with their father, sometimes competing with each other on who could catch the biggest fish, campfire smores with their mom who made sure they didn’t burn their hands, and tag teaming scares upon their little sister.  On sunny afternoons the boys would swim out to the middle of the lake where a platform had been anchored, jumping off or sun bathing.  Hikes with the family in the surrounding forests were a treat to find bugs and other critters or make forts amongst the trees to search for dragons.  

It was quite an enjoyable childhood, but like many kids, as they got older, and their individual personalities developed, different interests and friendships pulled them in separate directions.  They were still brothers that got along for the most part, but no longer peas in the same pod.  Azurite closes his eyes, ‘and the distance is only gonna grow wider when we leave for college.’  It wasn’t that he wanted to be separated from his brother or family, but when one receives a full-ride scholarship to M.I.T, they’d be a fool to decline. Unfortunately, that meant he’d be attending school in Massachusetts clear across the country from Santa Barbara where Andesine had opted to go.

“Will you cheer up Az?” the warm hand of his brothers upon his shoulder, rouses Azurite from his reflections only to look over and see the smug smirk of his twin staring back. Andesine taps his temple, “is the distance really bothering you that much, cause ya know eventually we had to cut the cord.”

“I wasn’t thinking…” Again, Andi taps the side of his head and cocks an eyebrow.  “Okay, sure, maybe I was but that wasn’t the only thing.”

“A…” searching his pockets, he pulls out the only thing he had and holds it up with a goofy grin, “piece of gum for your thoughts?”

Even Azurite had to laugh at the silly antics of his twin, “It’s nothing,” waving his hand, “maybe I’m just nervous about being so far away from everyone.  I mean, aren’t you?”

“Mmm,” Andi tips his head, “not really, kinda excited to see all them California girls!” singing out part of the Katie Perry song.

Azurite rolls his eyes, “You are so bad!”

“And you are too good!” Andi retorts and laughs out loud, “I feel like I need to balance out this dynamic duo!”  Azurite tries to hide the amusement but fails miserably since his brother can read him. “Come on… grumpy gus,” he playfully punches Azi’s arm, “just get some sleep and maybe you’ll feel better.”

After his bother moves out of the way, Azi slides off the railing and stretches out his stiffened back. “Mom guys crash yet?”

Andesine nods, “fell asleep on the couch.  I think Amy too, cause her light was off.”  He pulls out his phone, “I don’t think you realize but you’ve been out here for several hours, see,” showing his brother the time, “it’s almost 2 am.”

Azi frowns, “I didn’t. But why are you still awake?”

“I wasn’t, just woke up when I felt something bothering you.”

“Sorry.”

“‘so’kay man, I’ll see ya upstairs.”

“Be there in a minute.” Azurite watches his brother walk back into the house and takes one more look at the lake...

To the outside world, Andesine Fernandez was the quintessential jokester who never took life seriously.  He did decently in school, had his own aspirations, tons of friends, and fashioned himself a lady’s man, though this last notion might be more in his head than reality.  But just because he lived in the realm of humor, wasn’t to say he didn’t care or pay attention, he simply preferred to live by the YOLO ‘You Only Live Once’ motto.  This stark contrast in personality from his more reticent and bookish twin, was along with their different colored hair, the most noticeable distinctions.  

A few nights later, the family sits around a small campfire in front of the house, relaxing after a long day of hiking around the forest and lake.  Amy and their mother Erza chatter about a Korean drama they both watch, and Andi is only half listening to Azurite and their dad discuss the latest MMA fight in the UFC.  Maybe Azi had a point about the distance, it wasn’t something he’d really thought about until now, probably because, well, ‘I didn’t want to, I mean, it’s only a physical thing!’  But as the dancing flames of the fire crackle and send wisps of burning embers floating into the air, Andesine’s thoughts go with them. His eyes dilate, focusing on the red-orange glow, mesmerized and sending his mind into a distant timeframe.

‘Don’t even think about it, Andi,’ his brother blocks him, ‘mom already gave you a Hershey.’

‘Ugh!  It’s so irritating that you know what I’m thinking!  When we get older, I hope this stupid twin thing stops too!’

‘I don’t really like it either, cause dealing with you is frustrating.’

But their mother had stepped into the argument, chiding her sons, ‘there will come a day when you’ll regret saying that stuff.’  Pulling them into a hug on each side of her body, ‘that special bond means you’ll always have each other to fall back on, even when you’re far apart.’

‘Why would be far apart?’ Azurite asked their mom.

‘Well…’ squeezing them tighter, ‘one day you’ll grow up, go to college, meet a girl, maybe settle down and have a family.  As much as I’ll miss my boys, I want you to be happy and independent in the future.’

‘Sounds good to me,’ Andi shrugged, ‘I can’t wait to grow up!’

She chuckled, ‘don’t worry, before you know it, you will be…’

Andesine’s brows furrow at the memory, sometimes he hated to admit when their mother was right, but damn was she ever.  A night exactly like this one, settled around a campfire, eating smores, except now they were all ten years older.  Amy only two years away from graduating high school and the boysabout to start their adult lives.  Was he really ready for it like he had bragged about?  Did he want to admit that he’ll miss his twin? He snaps out of the reflection, looking around to see if anyone had noticed it, but everyone was still engrossed in their conversations.

He stands up, dusts off his pants and kisses his mother goodnight.  “Are you okay?” she asks.

“Just tired, think I’ll shower and head to bed.”

“Alright, good night sweetie.”

“Night mom.”

He knew from experience that the best thing to do was let his brother process whatever was bothering him in his own way, so Azurite pretended not to pay attention while Andi zoned out or even when he said he was tired.  But as he watched his twin trudge into the house, he had to wonder what it was about.  A smug tugging on his lips, could Andi be just as nervous as he was about the whole separation?  Now that would be an interesting flip.

Andesine tossed and turned.

“Noooo!!!” he screamed as he raced towards his brother on legs that suddenly seemed uncooperative, reaching out and stumbling along the asphalt. The scene blurred through a tunneled vision while the sounds of screeching tires echoed in his ears.  But no matter how fast he ran, the distance remained the same.  

His brother’s head turns seconds before the impact, a tear trailing down one cheek, “I’m… sorry Andi…”

“Azzziiiiiii!!!!!”

Andesine pops up in his bed screaming out of the dream and frantically looking at the other side of the bedroom for Azurites bed.  “What the fuck?”  Because there was no bed, only an empty space where it should be.  He throws off the blankets and hops off his, wildly circling the barren floorboards.  “What the hell is going on!  Where is Azurite?!”

The door swings open and his parents rush in, “Andi, what’s wrong,” Erza asks, “what are you yelling about?”  As Jellal grabs his son’s shoulders to stop his hysterical flailing, “did you have a bad dream?”

“Where’s my brother Azurite?  Why is his bed gone?”  The poor young man is on the verge of tears.

“Azurite?” Erza questions, looking to her husband with concern, “but honey, you don’t have a brother.”

“What!!  Of course, I do, he’s my identical twin!”

“Son, you need to calm down,” prompting the young man towards his bed and sitting him down, “there’s only you and your sister, remember?”

“No, this doesn’t make any sense,” Andi shakes his head, “it felt so real, He felt so real!  W-we were so close, we could feel each other, read each other’s thoughts, I—I…” cradling his head in his hands, “but our…”

“Sweetheart it was just a dream,” Erza kneels in front of him, “we promise you, you’ve never had a brother…”

“No!” he pushes them away and scrambles to get out of the room. This was all wrong!  Why were they lying to him?  There was no way he’d just make up a brother!  Andi bolts down the hallway, stumbling a few times in an effort to reach the front door while the walls seemed to sway and fold inwards on him. He had to get out there now!

As he turns the knob and flings the front door open, a blinding light stops him in his tracks.

His eyes snap open and he sits up in bed.  ‘What the…’ turning, Andesine looks to his left and notices his brother still asleep in their darkened room.  He checks the alarm clock, 3:30am, it was all just a nightmare?  With a groan, he drops on to his back, ‘it was all just a friggen nightmare!’

The following morning, Andesine is still a bit unnerved from the dream.  It was the first time he’s ever had one so disturbing involving his brother and he couldn’t fathom what it was supposed to mean.  Was it a premonition that his brother would die from a car accident?  He’d never had one of those before, or more than likely a subconscious reaction to the whole idea of separation and distance.  No matter what it all meant, if he didn’t get a handle on these emotions, the rest of this trip would be a miserable one.

Andi finds his parents in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast, “Is it okay if I take a hike to the bluffs?”

“I don’t see why not,” Jellal puts another dish in the rack before turning to address his son, “is Azurite going with you?”

“Nah, I kinda wanted to go alone.”

Erza frowns, “That’s not really safe honey…” but when he gives her a sad, puppy expression she sighs, “just make sure you take your phone with you.”

“Thanks mom!” he hugs her then his dad and takes off out the door with a small back pack of water and of course his cell phone.  

He waves at his sister and brother who were lounging on patio chairs and heads north of their rental towards the trail leading up to a mountain peak he enjoyed.  Andi takes a deep breath, ‘Im’ma sort out whatever the hell it is that’s bugging me!’ pumping a fist into the air with a grin, ‘It’s time to go zen!’

The trail itself was moderately rated, mostly because of the final leg up a steep incline to the bluff, but it was completely worth the effort.  Twenty-five minutes later, as he broke through the tree line and made his way up the final ascent, Andi knew he had made the right decision to come here. There were a few fluffy white clouds passing by and the heat was mildly tolerable due to the higher elevation. The ground was thankfully dry since it hadn’t rained for at least a couple of weeks and the bugs seemed to be taking a day off, so he finds a flat-topped rock and sits down ready to get this load off his mind.

Why was all of this bothering him so much now when it hadn’t even crossed his mind before this trip? Sure, he had realized that picking a college thousands of miles across the country would probably make his parents sad, but it never donned on him that it would upset his brother, or himself. They would be in different states not different countries and thanks to today’s technology, distance wasn’t such a burden anymore.  Andi had friends all over the world on social media, and he was excited to finally meet a few of them when he got to California.  Besides, it’s not like he was the only one, Azurite chose a college away from their home state, granted it was because of the scholarship, but still, it was a choice that he made.

Andi closes his eyes and tilts his head back knowing he was skirting around the real issue that none of this had to do with a normal leaving the nest syndrome.  He exhales, both brothers were quite ready and capable to venture out on their own because their parents had done a phenomenal job of making sure they would be.  No, this all came down to their twin connection.  Will it feel weird when they are so far apart from each other?  Will there be some strange feeling like a part of him was missing?  It was this uneasiness that was at the heart of it all.  

‘I’m sure we’ll be fine,’ he finally concludes, ‘nothing to worry about.  I bet we’ll be too busy with college and everything to even worry.’ He was sure that he’d simply let his subconscious and imagination run a little too amok this time and it was time to reign it back in.  

“Yosh!” he stands up, stretching out in a full, arms above his head motion, twisting his midsection and legs.  “Bout time for lunch anyways!”

In a better mood now, Andi slings his backpack over one shoulder, shoves in his earbuds and cranks up his music, starting the trek down the steep zig-zag trail of loose stones and dry pine needle covered dirt.  Dense foliage made a few portions along the path harder to make out and unfortunately one of those spots was a narrow, stepped ledge, carved by the elements into a natural staircase.  Andi slowed down because he knew going down was the most dangerous part.  

Suddenly, the flapping of wings and a stirring of feathers from a startled pheasant takes Andi by surprise just as he is about to set foot on the next step.  The bird scuttles off into the forest, its squawking mixing with his scream as he slips, hands flying up, bag along with his legs going airborne like in a slow-motion scene.  His brother’s name is the last thought in his mind as his back hits the ground and head bounces-off the stony surface knocking him out cold…

Down at the lake, the family is relaxing near the water’s edge with Amy and Erza sunbathing on the shore. Azurite and Jellal dangle their legs off the short pier fishing for dinner while discussing last minute things the young man needs to secure before he leaves for college.  All in all, a relaxing sight despite the glaring midday sun. But just as Azi casts his line again, a cold breeze sweeps through, normally welcomed on such a heated day, but for him, the chill it shoots up his spine catches him off-guard and if he didn’t know better, his name had been funneled along with the wind.  

The fishing pole he holds clatters to the ground as Azurite shoots to his feet, “Something’s wrong with Andi!”

Jellal looks up bewildered, but knows not to question it, “we’d better go then!”

The two men race up the forest trail while Amy and Erza wait at the house ready to call emergency if necessary.  They had no idea what they would encounter but if Azurite was right, and Andi was too injured to have used his cell phone to call for help, they needed to be on standby. Azurite tore up the path like a man both panicked yet guided straight to where he just knew his brother would be and his father simply following, trusting his son’s instincts.  It took them 15 agonizing minutes to reach the spot.

“Andi!”  Azurite clambers up the steep grade, crawling the last couple of feet to where his brother lay prone.  Panic sweeps over his whole being, “Aw, Fuck dad there’s blood coming from his head!  Andi!” he’s about to reach out and pull his brother up but Jellal grabs his shoulder.

“Don’t move him yet, we don’t know how badly injured he is.  Check his pulse and breathing while I call your mom… and see if you can wake him up but gently.”

With his father on the phone telling their mother to call 911 and giving them directions to where they were, Azurite is using every ounce of willpower he has not to cradle his brother’s limp body in his arms.  He couldn’t believe this was happening, Andi was usually so careful whenever he went hiking but as he scans the area and notices a few stray feathers and his brothers bag lying above and off to the side, he could surmise what had happened in those last seconds.  But all that didn’t matter, whether or not Andi had been spooked or simply slipped, what was important was getting him medical attention as quickly as possible.

Azurite pats his brother’s cheek, “Andi wake up!  Please,” tapping it a few more times, “wake up Andi!”  Moisture pools and clouds his vision, tears leaking down his face in salty rivers.  “Damn it, Andi wake up!”

After ending his call, Jellal slowly lifts his sons head to check the injury and see’s that despite the blood, the wound doesn’t look very deep.  He pulls off his shirt, folds it, and tucks it under to cushion Andi’s head. “Emergency services are on their way so, all we can do is wait.  I’m going to head back down to meet them at the beginning of the trail, will you be alright here?”  The young man manages a short nod.  Jellal puts his hand on Azi’s shoulder, “It’s going to be okay son,” and with a second half nod, the man starts his descent.

Left alone, Azurite retrieves his brother’s bag, so it didn’t get left behind, sitting back down and checking his brother’s vitals every couple of minutes.  It was so frustrating not being able to do anything more, but his dad and their Eagle Scout training were clear on this, Andi was best left for the professionals to handle.  He hangs his head and while his tears had slowed, they were still like droplets of rain along a window pane, dribbling down in irregular waves.

“I swear you really are an idiot Andi, you know how dangerous it is to hike alone!  I don’t know what it was that was bothering you, but it better be a damn good reason for scaring me half to death!  Do you know how it feels, every time you do these foolish things and I have to worry about you…”  Azi lets out a long exhale, “But maybe you’ll get it now?  I hope you’ll see why I was so worried about the distance, I mean if something happened to you and we’re miles apart, I can’t come running like I did today.”  He lays down on his side next to his brother, just like they would as little kids when they were scared during a storm and takes hold of his brother’s hand, so limp and lifeless, bringing it to his chest.  “It feels like… like a sinking weight on my heart…”

“Could you be…” Andi’s voice is groggy and muffled, “anymore… melodramatic…”  He squeezes Azi’s hand back, “I ain’t dead yet.”

“I ought’a knock you back out for that!” Azi half snorts half laughs, for as frustrated with his brother as he was, it felt amazing to hear Andi’s voice again.

“I love you too bro,” he finally opens his eyes, half lidded because of the pain.  “And to answer your question, I do know how it feels.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had the most screwed up dream last night, that’s why I came out here to think…  I dreamt that I suddenly woke up and you weren’t there, mom and dad told me I had dreamt you up.  It hurt so bad like something had been ripped out of me…”  Azi looks up when he hears the sounds of footsteps approaching but is drawn back as he brother keeps talking.  “I do worry too but today I realized that it’s going to be okay.”  He squeezes his brother’s hand again and closes his eyes, grimacing through the pain, “we’ll always be brothers, and even if we’re far apart nothing will ever change the bonds we share.”  

“Just promise me you won’t do anything crazy out in California, because if I have to fly there, I really will kick your ass.”

Andi tries to chuckle but gives up when another wave of throbbing pain rushes over him, “you could try...”  

On the final night of the family vacation, Amy and their parents lounged on the porch playing a board game while the two brothers settled on a log beside the lake shore. Andesine’s head was still wrapped with gauze to protect the stitches he received, and Azurite was teasing him. “Remember,” Azi turns his gaze over to the lake, “When a full moon casts its luminous glow beckoning to any fools that dared to breach its darkened waters…”

“… a creature may arise to strike you down, or maybe a beautiful goddess will appear to grant you your desires.  Forgive me but I don’t think I qualify as a goddess.”

“You’re right, you’re more like a creature from the abyss.”

To say he was angry was like saying his battle against his brother had merely been sibling rivalry gone just a little askew, no Natsu was furious, livid, hell there wasn’t a word yet created to describe how he felt when Lucy walked into the guild hall.  He was already irritated that she had been gone on the week-long mission with Shadow Gear without him but had relented at her and Levy’s persistence that it would be a simple, no danger involved, we’re just gonna translate and catalog for the Magic Library some new materials they had received request.  

And now he stood there, heat waves flaring off his body, mid-transformation, staring at his mate with a swollen lip, black eye, and limping as she desperately tried to calm him down, begging, pleading that it really wasn’t that bad, it was no ones fault that a shelf decided to break under the weight of ancient manuscripts at the same moment she had been adding to it’s volumes.  

She was using every trick she had gained in all her years of knowing the slayer, all her skills to tame and soothe the demon back into submission and it was slowly working, first the reversal of his physical changes, then gradually his temperature began to come down.  Almost ready to take a sigh of relief that’s then it happened, of all the times to add to her dilemma now, when she had finally got Natsu to calm down!  She sneezed.  And not just one of those cute, something tickled her nose sneezes, but a loud, mucus driven, no air left in your lungs expulsions when you’re suffering from a cold.  Twice.  

He roared and surged again towards the cowering guild mates that he blamed for her condition, she pushed desperately against his frame, bracing him from moving forward, and now Gajeel and Gray had joined to hold him back.

“Please Natsu!” her tears are streaming at this point of desperation.  “It’s nothing Wendy or Porlyusica couldn’t fix…” but before she can finish the growl he emits sends chills down her spine.

“They aren’t here!”

“W-What?” she stops pushing.

“They left yesterday and won’t be back for at least a week!” tugging harder at the arms holding him, “damn it let me go you bastards!  Gajeel you know damn well if it were Levy you’d be…”

“Oh, don’t lump me into this, Salamander,” the iron slayer only tightens his hold, “Yes I’d be pissed but I got more brain cells to know this ain’t worth killing over.”

“Come on man,” Gray tries to reason with him, “Lucy will be fine, she’s tough, just some good ‘ole rest and patching up and she’ll be good to go.  Cause we ain’t letting ya go till you calm the fuck down!”

“Fuck you!”

Lucy let’s out a long, drawn out exhale to calm herself down.  The team had known Porlyusica was not home since they stopped there first, knowing this is exactly how Natsu was going to respond.  They had even checked Fairy Hills for Wendy, but she too had not been home, and they’d hoped she’d simply be at the guild; well now they know why.  Just Great.  The spirit mage knew she really wasn’t as bad as he was acting like she was, damn it she wasn’t a porcelain doll, and she understood his possessive side which had only grown worse after consummating their bond, but still…  Another exhale, she needed to get him settled down again, this was her problem, her duty, not the guilds.  

With the two men holding her mate firmly enough, Lucy cups his blazing cheeks and forces him to look at her directly.  She holds his gaze, searching, imploring, his emeralds still fiery as they melted her chocolate hues, moisture teeming again, her lips part, sweeping into a smile and voice is soft, gentle like a delicate flower petal despite the sniffles she was holding at bay.  “Natsu,” kissing his lips ever so tenderly, “My love, my mate, I need you to come back to me.  If Wendy is not here I will need your help until I feel better.  Please?”  

His head lowers and rests against her forehead as his body stills.  Oh, Mavis he was still livid, but she was right, he need to take care of his responsibilities, and Lucy was his priority not these idiots around him; he could beat them up a little later; a twitch of his lip at that last thought.  Finally, it’s his turn to exhale and relax his body.  “Alright…”

She tilts his head back up and kisses him again, “Take me home, dragon.”

~~

First things first, he leaves her next to the tub to strip while he runs a bath for his mate and gathers other necessities.  As the water fills he checks her over more closely and aside from the black eye and lip that is less swollen than it was earlier, noting bruises on her side over her ribs and likely the bones themselves where the shelf had come to land, and the ankle that was inflamed and would need to be wrapped, received as she tried but failed to get out of the way.  Another round of sneezes.  Now that was another issue.  With her energy reserves lowered, catching a cold on their way back was a new problem developing quickly and just in the half hour from when they had met up at the guild, the congestion had gotten worse, and was well on its way towards the next symptom.  

Body sore all over, all she wanted to do was unwind in a nice hot bath with her man, so after scrubbing their bodies and rinsing, he picks her up and lowers them both into the steaming waters, settling the blonde between his legs and keeping his arms around her waist, careful against her bruises.  It felt so good, her wispy sighs convey as she relaxes against his chest, all the aches and pains, the memories of that stupid mission dissolving away into the water molecules that surrounded them.  

It had only been a month since they had gone from friends to lovers and they were still adjusting to the differences.  Granted, the pair had been so close before the change that not a whole lot did, but one thing was the possessiveness, and the crazy territorial dragon he had become.  It drove her nuts, but what could she do?  She had chosen him for better or for worst and no matter what happened they’d figure it out, they always did.  

She really did hate seeing Natsu so upset, it pained her, and if she had thought for a second the job was going to be dangerous, she never would have taken it unless he would be with her.  The worst part, was he’s barely said a word to her the whole time they’d been home, brows still furrowed and frowning, she couldn’t tell if he was upset, frustrated, worried…

“Natsu, are you,” exhale, “angry with me?”

“No, why would you think that?”

“You look angry…  and you haven’t really said much since we left the guild…”

Exhale, “Luce, I’m not mad at you, it’s just,” longer exhale, “I know your injuries aren’t that bad, a-and I know that it was just an accident, but it scared me.”

She shifts just enough to see his face, now tilted downward, and bangs shielding his eyes a little; is that a tear?  “But I’m fine, baby, why would you be scared…”

He looks up; it was tears…  “yeah, this time, but what if it had been different…  People die from accidents too, and I wasn’t there…” she turns all the way around to face him as tears of her own build.  “…I can’t protect you if I’m not there.  I-I can’t lose you Lucy, do you understand that?”

“Natsu…” pressing her lips gently to his and sweeping away the tears along his cheeks, “I’m so sorry, I really wouldn’t have gone if I thought something bad would happen.”  Now they are both crying, “I promise, I’ll never go anywhere without you again, it’s breaking my heart to see you like this.”          

A small smile finally rewards Lucy as he returns her kisses and reminds himself she’s still here, in his arms where she belongs.  She smiles back, tousling her fingers through his hair a little before, sliding them along his face and neck.  He doesn’t know how this woman can be jarring and yet so soothing to his soul, how she manages to pacify the swirling emotions that is him and keep her wits about her.  Mavis, how he’d die for this woman!  His arms enfold her again, turning her to rest against his chest, and kisses the back of her head.  Yes, he still wants to beat up Shadow Gear a little just because, but they are damn lucky that this vengeful dragon slash demon can be tamed by his mate.

They stay there for quite some time, the water never getting any cooler thanks to his natural body heat, and as wrinkled as some of their extremities may get, even Lucy succumbs to the serenity of the water, lids growing heavy and drowsy.  Under different circumstances, the two of them naked in a tub would have led to a much more pleasurable experience but she needed to rest, and he wouldn’t risk adding to her bruises, chuckling in his head, ‘I can contribute new ones later.’

Natsu takes her out of the bath and gets her ready for bed before she could fully pass out and be much more difficult to handle.  He applies salves to her bruises and bandages her ribs, wraps her ankle, happy to see the discoloration over her eye and lip have lightened considerably, and lastly forces her to take some medicine for the cold he knows is going to rear its ugly head tomorrow.  Cuts, broken bones, with plenty of experience, these are things he can deal with, but colds, that’s something he’s dreading.  All his life, he’s never suffered from colds, his body seemingly immune to infections so all he can hope is to do the right things to help her through it, and it will take much more than simply digging up a tree to make her feel better.  With her safely tucked under the covers and bundled in his arms, they drift off into the night.

~~

“Ah choo!  Ugh….  Ah choo!  Ugh, I feel like shit…”

It had been two days since he’d got her home, two days of a steadily worsening cold, two friggin days of running himself blind not knowing how to deal with it, and worst of all it was just the beginning.  

As Lucy stayed dead to the world yesterday morning, Natsu had snuck out, knowing he needed to get medicine for her cold but with no idea from where and he really didn’t want to go to the guild for help.  This might sound crazy, but knowing Fairytail was like a family, his friends would have insisted on coming to the apartment to help and damn it if he did not want anyone near his woman right now.  He knew himself well enough to know, the over protective side they saw the day prior was still lingering and could kick back on at any moment.  It didn’t matter to him if he was being selfish, she wasn’t just Lucy Heartfillia, Celestial Spirit mage of Fairytail anymore, but his mate, his woman, and screw what anyone else thought!  But shit, where the hell does he get meds from??  

So, he did the only other thing he could think of, asked everyone he passed on the street.  Two people pointed him to a part of Magnolia he’d never really ventured before, back alley shops, shady was an understatement, but if they said there was an apothecary then so be it.  Low and behold, the shop existed, and Natsu bought the supplies he was told would help her.  It’ll clear her right up, she’ll feel instantly better, the owner swore on his life, back to new in no time flat.  Well hell, that was the best news a gullible and desperate man could ever hear!  

Yeah, the slayer ran back to the apartment, excited and ready to shove the remedies down her throat expecting the ‘instant’ reaction that never came, in fact, he swore by days end Lucy looked even worse.  Pissed, he flew back to the shop and destroyed it, reducing not just the apothecary but the entire building it was housed in to rubble.

Back to day 2.  Word of a half-man, half creature destroying a building in Magnolia had reached Fairytail by that morning and of course, who else could it have been?  So, in response Makarov had sent Gray and Erza to Lucy’s apartment to find out why on Earthland had Natsu rampaged the day before.  But he had refused to let them in, even with Erza threatening to break the door down along with him, just wouldn’t budge and surprisingly, she didn’t follow through with her threat.  Maybe it was the storm behind his eyes or the menacing aura that had developed around the slayer as his anger grew that made her back off.  

Either way, the one thing she wouldn’t do was leave without helping and if medicine was what he needed, then that was what they would get for them, anything to keep the dragon from racking up more bills for the guild.  It had taken a couple hours for the pair to show back up with not just medicine but food and other necessities along with instructions for Natsu to follow, Mira had even whipped up a batch of chicken soup for their dinner, promising more deliveries each day.  He was grateful for the gesture, its not like he thought his friends had bad intentions, just right now, he had to satiate his demon and said demon wanted nothing more than to hoard their mate.

~~

The medicines were helping her sleep, much to the relief of her dragon.  The care package really had been the catalyst to turn their situation around, having taken a load off his shoulders, he could focus on caring for Lucy and by the evening of day 3, her congestion was better, which meant her couching wasn’t hurting her ribs as much, the cold sweats had subsided, her fever was at a manageable temperature, and she had even held down a full bowl of soup in one sitting.  The bruising on her side was no longer an angry purple but a jaundice yellow and the marks on her eyes and lips were gone, but her ankle would take longer to fully heal, maybe another week to be on the safe side.  

“Thank you,” she whispered as Natsu carried her to the bath.  He had been so doting and loving, it was a side to her boyfriend she infrequently saw but treasured seeing how much he was willing to do for her.  She had heard the argument through the door yesterday between he and Erza, how he had destroyed a building, and while part of her wanted to chastise him for what he had done, she couldn’t help but feel more enamored by the gesture, feel special that he would face the wrath of the Titania just for her.  Besides, sick or not, a little pampering never hurt a girl and so she gave in to the rare opportunity.  

He looked down at his mate as she rested her head against his shoulder, “You don’t have to thank me Luce,” and kissed her forehead, “I like taking care of you…”

~~

“Mmmm…” she stretches her arms and back before settling amongst the sleeping body behind her, Mavis she was feeling so much better!  Natsu groaned a little at her movement and shifted his leg over to pin her from moving again earning him a chuckle.  A week of constant care must have taken a toll on the poor man but thanks to his efforts, her cold was just about gone, and her body was almost fully healed, so now it was his turn to get some much, needed rest.

She turns around in his embrace and snuggles her face into the crook of his neck, inhaling the smoky cinnamon, Mavis how she loved his scent, taking her sweet time walking her fingers along the lines of his chest, rising and falling, beneath her tips before resting above his heart.  Her heart, he had once said, his heart belonged to her as hers belonged to him, and it was a strong beat, telling a story of strength and of a love that could weather any storm, ebbing and flowing in rhythm through a life’s journey, and one now shared between them.

The brushing of her fingers along his side brings an exhale from her lover but continue ghosting their way to his hips and his abs, twirling the little curls of pink peeking from his waist.  “Luce, you should be resting…”

“It’s kinda hard in this position,” she plants a little peck to his collar bone.  

“You keep that up and something else is gonna be hard from this position.”

Lucy giggles and plants a few more kisses, “I feel a lot better Natsu, and now I’m wide awake.”

“Go back to sleep,” he tightens his hold over her, squishing her face to his chest, “as much as I’d love to play, I want you to be one hundred percent first.”

“I’m not fragile,” the pout evident in her tone, “you don’t need to keep codling me…”

He lifts her face, “I never said you were fragile, of all people Luce, I know how strong you are,” softening his expression, “but that’s still not gonna stop me from fussing over you right now.”

“Aww, fine.”

“Good, now go to sleep,” chuckling, “cause I’m tired.”  Lucy couldn’t help but laugh too.

~~

Word had been delivered via Happy that Wendy was now back from her trip and so, the next morning finds the couple heading back to Fairytail for the first time since the disastrous and explosive encounter with Shadow Gear.  Refusing to let her walk on her own, Lucy was riding piggy back on her boyfriend, shielding her face to the stares and snickers they passed along the street.  It was embarrassing for the proud mage but no amount of sweet talk nor out right beating on his back to let her down was working.  She was also worried about what will happen when they entered their guild, not so much because their friends would hold a grudge, but more so if something will provoke the slayer’s temper, and as soon as they crossed the threshold, Lucy braced for the worst.

His eyes found the blue-haired girl he was hoping for and walked straight to her table without acknowledging anyone, the priority was his mate, and nothing was getting in that way.  Members steered clear for the most part, simply watching, trying to gauge the fire slayers emotional state which didn’t seem promising at that moment.  After putting Lucy down on the bench beside the healer, he takes a place next to her.  

“Hi Wendy,” the spirit mage hugs her friend before Natsu pulls her back and takes control over the conversation.

“Wendy, could you look her over, make sure Lucy is healing up okay?  Her cold seems to be gone and the bruising over her ribs have almost faded away, but her ankle is still bothering her.”

“Sure guys,” she stands up and kneels in front of Lucy, placing her hands over Lucy’s side first.  Satisfied that the ribs were in fact okay, she then shifts over her friend’s ankle where her hands linger a little longer, Lucy can feel the heat coming off Wendy’s hands, permeating through her muscles.  After a few anxious minutes, the healer sits back down.  “Well you should be good to go.  The tendons were still a little sprained, so I took care of that, and luckily no broken bones anywhere.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Lucy hugs the little girl.  “Natsu took really good care of me too,” she smiles at her boyfriend.  Exhale, “and now I’m back to normal.”

Wendy giggles, “You did a great job Natsu, did you run into any problems?”

He runs his hand through his hair and finally smiles, “just a little…”

“Oi just a little?” Gray steps up beside his friend, “You friggin blew up the apothecary shop!”

“Hey!”  Natsu pops from his seat, “That bastard had it coming, selling me that crap medicine!”

As Gray and Natsu trade words and a few fists, Lucy fills Wendy in as to what they were arguing about.  Levy, Gajeel, and Juvia join the table in the midst of it, peppering the spirit mage with questions of how Natsu had treated her, while Erza stepped in to break up the fight.   When Natsu turned back to Lucy, the frown returned, for Jet and Droy were standing there talking to her.  “Get the hell away from her!”  Shouting and stomping his way back over, they immediately cringed and took off out of his path.

“Natsu!” Lucy screamed back, waving her hands at him, “they were apologizing, but it wasn’t their fault, so you need to stop acting like an idiot and control yourself!”

“I don’t care, they should’a taken better care of you.”  He tries to grab her flailing limbs, but she pulls out of his grasp, stands up and pushes him down onto the bench roughly.  Shock fills his orbs at the sight of his furious woman just glaring daggers at him.  Holy Mavis!  

She leans into her boyfriend, hands planted on either side of his body, and effectively boxing the slayer in.  “I appreciate how much you love me, and I can understand your dragon nature, but this mate is not going to tolerate you taking it out any of our friends!” She sighs, “Natsu,” hanging her head slightly, “this whole territorial thing, it was cute at first but,” exhale, “we need to figure out how to keep your dragon instincts in check, so you don’t end up hurting someone.”

His shoulders slump down, fuck it’s not like he wants to go beating up on anyone, he doesn’t want to lose his temper every time something remotely bad happens to his mate.  “I know…”

“Hey,” she kneels and cups his face in her hands, “I told you, we’re a team right, we’ll figure it out together, but I need you to help me too.”

He places his hands over hers, “I’m sorry Luce,” resting his forehead against hers.

She smiles, “the first step is you need to apologize to Jet and Droy.”

“But…”

“Eh,” eye brow raise, “no buts, it’s not their fault I got hurt, now go and apologize!”

“Okay, okay!” Lucy moves out of the way and watches him saunter off in search of the two men hiding somewhere in the hall.  She exhales and plops down on the bench, that had taken a lot of energy out of her.  

“You know Salamanders damn lucky to have you bunny girl.”

“Thanks, Gajeel.”

“I’m sure Natsu will get past this,” Levy looks over at her husband with a smirk, who quickly turns his head with a huff, “I mean it took Gajeel a few months to stop eyeing out every guy who even glanced in my direction.”

“I know…  It’s still early and he’s still trying to get used to the emotions, we both are.”

“But you handle him flawlessly,” Erza pats Lucy on the shoulder, “Gajeels right, you two couldn’t be any more perfect for each other.”  

When they look up from their phones they’re cheeks are varying shades of crimson.  “S-so what’d they say?” his voice cracking in embarrassment

“Um, have fun…”

“Y-yeah, same here…”

Based on their facial expressions they know that’s a lie but neither is willing to admit to it.  Turning away slightly from each other to hide the messages they fire off their replies.

Group text to Levy & Cana- ‘Really U guys! I’ll call u 2morw’

To Gray- ‘Txt u 2morw, Y coverd if go there’  

To Gajeel- ‘Won’t promise’  

To Loke- ‘Will keep in mind’  

‘XXXXXXX!!! Smooch, Smooch, Smooch. XXXX Finally!!’- Cana.  

‘Uhh, Uhhhh, Uhh, MMmmm Natsu…  yes, Yes, YES!  LMAO!!!’ –Levy.  

‘Y not go there?’ –Gray.

Group text back to Levy & Cana- ‘Seriously!!!’  

‘8--- >O  ;)-‘  -Cana.  

‘Nah Jokn, dnt push N 2 hard K’ –Levy.

To Gray- ‘u know me’ To Cana- ‘??‘

‘Insert here’ –Cana.

Her face heats up.  To Cana- ‘OMG!!’

To Levy- ‘Y?’

‘Hes a sweet <3’ –Levy.

‘Jst sad man’ –Gray.

To Levy – ‘K’

To Gray- ‘Wtvr u know y I wont…’ ‘LMAO! Grl jst b nice k, tlk 2 u in morn’ –Cana.

Sigh, “They are so crazy!”

“Hmm?” he looks up from his phone.  “Who is?”

“My friends.”  

On the rest of the drive back to her home, they do their best to keep themselves composed but Natsu’s faring a little better than she is considering her texts were more explicit.  He puts his hand on her back instead of around her waist and softly rubs it to calm her nerves.  She starts to melt into his side as it relaxes her but not in the way he intended.  A permanent blush has stained her cheeks because now his touch just makes her think even more about possible bedroom activities later that night...

When they pull into the driveway, Natsu gulps; the closest he’s ever been to the inside of a mansion was watching them on television and here he was invited to one by a beautiful billionaire.  His conscious mind throws up warning bells, hesitant if he really should have taken the girls offer.  Events were moving so quickly and it was pushing him well outside of his comfort zone, but in the heat of the moment he just couldn’t say no to her.

As they get right up to the looming structure it is quite imposing when you’re not used to such things.  He counts two maybe three floors, what may be a garden on the right side, and a multi-vehicle carport to the left.  Capricorn drops them off at the front door and Lucy leads him inside.  A maid greets them in the foyer, raising an eyebrow when she sees Lucy’s male guest.   She asks if they need anything and Natsu just says he’s thirsty, that he doesn’t want to end up with a hangover tomorrow.  “Virgo please bring us both some water in the parlor.”

Bowing, “Very well Princess.”  She turns and heads off to the kitchen but not before taking a second look at the handsome young man.

Inside a front parlor, Lucy and Natsu are sitting on one of the couches side by side after Virgo has brought them their drinks.  Nervous, Natsu hastily gulps his down and places the cup on the coffee table.  He keeps his hands on his lap, fidgeting with his fingers.  Lucy sips from her glass but her eyes are still watching him.  She can tell he’s nervous but figures it’s because of who she is.  “Are you okay?  You seem anxious,” putting her cup down.

“Huh, um just a little… I’ve never been in a mansion before.”

“Oh,” she giggles, “It’s just a roof over our heads…  Want a tour?”

“Um, sure.”

She pulls him off the couch but keeps their hands mingled.  Starting on the first floor she points out the dining room, kitchen, pantry, study, library, game room, ballroom, laundry room, and servant’s wing…  He’s overwhelmed by how big the place really is.  “I have an indoor pool and Jacuzzi out back; the girls and I use that a lot during the winter break.  The third level is an attic and storage.”  Then she takes him to the second floor.  “There are 5 other guest rooms on this level; each having their own bathrooms.”  Finally she reaches the master bedroom, “And this is my room,” she opens the door.  Up till now the situation had been benign for the most part but this; now it’s getting heated again, ‘her bedroom!’  He screams in his head.  ‘Why would she…’  “Come on,” she pulls him into the room, closing the door behind her and locking it.    

“This room has a larger bathroom, a walk in closet, and dressing area.”

Looking around the expansive chamber, “Wow, it’s like an apartment all by itself, you even have a couch in here… and… it’s really pink…”

She giggles, “Well I told you it’s my favorite color.  The rest of the house needs to appear more proper for guests but in here it’s like my sanctuary....”  her voice becomes more melodic, “… and where I can have a little privacy…”

Gulp.  Knots tighten in his stomach as she glances at her bed...  “Um, c-could I use your bathroom, I think the water is catching up to me.”

“Of course,” she points, “Right through that door.”

“T-thanks.”  He closes the door behind him and leans against it.  ‘Calm yourself man, so you’re in a girls bedroom; nothing wrong with that, it’s totally normal… Then why I am I quietly freaking out!  Cause you’ve never been in one before that’s not your sisters.  Just go with the flow, she likes you, you like her…’  Sigh.  After finishing up his business and cleaning up he lets out one more deep breath before opening the door.

She turns to look when she hears the door open and smiles.  He exhales, ‘Oh good, she’s not on the bed…’  Patting the cushion beside her he tentatively walks over to the couch and sits down.  When she places a hand on his thigh, he tenses slightly.  “Hey just relax, I’m not gonna bite ya…” Caressing his cheek, “unless you want me to…”

“Luce…” he utters as she climbs onto his lap facing him and leans in for a kiss.  Pressing his back as far as he can into the couch, “What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious…”  She purrs before locking lips with him again.  Natsu follows his primal instigations and melts right into the moment, I mean who wouldn’t?  She’s like a drug to him that once you take that hit you’re trapped by its effects.  Picking up where they left off at the club, her fingers thread through his soft spikey locks and he’s wrapped his arms around her back.  Her skin tingles at his touch.  When he curls his fingers and grip against her bare flesh she moans out and with the surge of fervency her nails lightly scrape along his scalp sending shivers along his spinal column.  His kisses turn more forceful when he bites her lower lip.  A slight gasp on her part gives his tongue the opening it was looking for to explore her warm and moist orifice; such a delight to play with a fellow explorer inside.

Trailing his kisses, lips moving along her cheek and following her jawline, he pulls her hair back.  She tugs ever so slightly on his hair as his soft lips suckle at her neck, nibbling against her collar bone and shoulder.  “Natsuu…” long throaty groans reverberate from her and travel through his body causing a stirring bulge in his jeans that presses against her own moistening sex.  Peaked her hormones kick in and drive her mind wild.  Slowly she moves her hands down along his chest heading in that direction.  When she reaches his waist her nimble fingers begin to undo the button…

“Wait, Luce stop.”   He grabs her hands, “We shouldn’t do that.”

“Why not!”  She pouts.  “Don’t you want too?”

“I um…   I-I just think that going from 1st to 4th on the first night is to soon; we s-should get to know each other more first.”

“Well then let’s get to know each other better…” She tries to work at the button again but he stops her a second time.  Incensed she climbs off his lap, “You get me all riled up and now you’re turning me down!  I can’t believe this.”  

“Luce, I’m not the kinda guy to take a girl to bed the first time I meet them.  I’m sorry”

“Get out.”

“What?  Why are you over reacting; shouldn’t it mean something that I wouldn’t take advantage of you?”

Tears are trickling down her face.  Deep down she knows what he’s saying is right but she just doesn’t want to admit it.  She’s craved, hungered for him all night, and he sure sent out the same signals!  She really felt that he could finally be ‘The One,’ and all that passion had led them here.  To be turned down now, just felt like… like a total let down.

“Just get out Natsu, please.”  The water in her eyes threatens to spill from its gates.

His heart is shattering at the sight of her tears.  He doesn’t understand why she was so upset with him.  Wouldn’t most girls be happy when a guy doesn’t exploit the situation?  Now he wonders if he was fooled into thinking he meant more to her than just another mark on her bed post.

Tears of his own collect and slowly trickle down his face.  “Luce… I’m sorry….”  

Shaking, she covers her face with her hands as the tears flow down her cheeks.  Without saying another word he walks out the front door and sits on the steps melting down.  It takes him awhile to calm himself just enough to call his cousin, praying the whole time that he’ll answer.  By this time, his own tears had become so heavy it has soaked the front of his shirt.  He had really felt like this girl could be ‘The One’ and now…

“Natsu?  Why are you calling me, shouldn’t you be…”

“Gajeel can you pick me up from Lucy’s?”  He tries to cover it up but his cousin can hear the sniffling.

Natsu can hear Levy in the background as Gajeel explains to her they need to go.  “Yeah we’re on our way.”

“Th-thanks.”

About 15 minutes later a car pulls up to the steps.  In his wait Natsu had gone back to crying so heavily his eyes are completely bloodshot and swollen.  He shambles to the back seat climbing in, laying down and curling up his legs.

“Oi, what happened?”

“Yeah Natsu, you and Lu seemed like you were having so much fun tonight.”

“Sh-she w-want-ted t-to have sex but I- I t-turned her d-down so she, she told me t-to leave.”  

“Why they hell would you…”  But Levy slaps her boyfriend’s shoulder and glares at him to shut up; she can clearly see that Natsu is already upset so yelling wasn’t the right response.

Softening her voice, “Natsu start at the beginning…  Tell me what happened.”

So he does.  Starting from the moment he heard Lucy’s voice, how he was entranced, to the dancing, and the kissing, then he tells her how he reacted when he found out who she was and started to get nervous on the way over to the house, he brings up art class, the make out session on the couch, ending with being kicked out.  “Levy, I’m j-just not the t-type to-to-to s-sleep with a girl on the first n-night.  We bare-barely know each oh-other, I-I mean hell we only l-learned each other’s last na-ames in the car!  I wanna g-get to know her bet-ter b-before making that leap… I-I just don’t, don’t under-under-stand, shouldn’t girls ap-preciate that I won’t take ad-advantage of them?!  Ugh.”  He sobs into his hands, “I really thought she could finally be, you know, the one… but now…”  He looks up at Levy, “Is she that kind of girl, did she lead me on?  I mean the way she came onto me, w-was I gonna be just another notch on her belt??!  I-I didn’t want to end up a one night st-stand.”  He shakes his head and buries his face back in his hands, “No, I don’t wanna believe she’s like that but…  Fuck!  I don’t know what to think!  She’s really messing with my head!”

Levy is absolutely stunned by what she is hearing, she’s known Lucy over half her life and she knew her friend has never acted like this before, hell she was surprised when Lucy asked Natsu to go to her home but also happy for her friend; she and Natsu would make a great couple.  Their chemistry was just mindboggling, so why would she have pushed it to this point?  Did she have ulterior motives?  Was she tired of being the only virgin in their group?  No that can’t be it. Levy shakes the thought from her mind.  As shocked as she was about Lucy’s behavior, she also believes Natsu’s story.  I mean think about it, why would a healthy male turn down a rich and beautiful woman, and be crying over it if he wasn’t telling the truth?  

“Natsu,” Levy does her best to comfort him.  “I believe you but no you wouldn’t have been just another notch in her belt because, well… she’s still a virgin.”  Natsu looks up at Levy in disbelief.  Seeing his reaction she smiles, “Lucy’s never had a real boyfriend before, she’s dated a few times but never went further than a dinner or movie.  In fact tonight was the first time I have Ever seen her react so strongly towards a guy; you must have had a profound effect on her too.”

“But, but why would she get so mad about the sex then?”

“I have no idea but I’m gonna find out.  Don’t worry okay, just calm down.  Gajeel’s gonna take you home after I go talk to Lucy real quick.”

“Thanks you guys…” he mumbles

Levy kisses her boyfriend and gets out of the car.  Virgo lets her in and tells her Lucy’s still in her bedroom.  “Is that boy okay?  He seemed really nice, and cute but left in tears.”

“Natsu, yeah don’t worry Virgo, he’ll be okay.  It’s Lucy that was being an idiot tonight.”

[Knocking]

“Lu, it’s me Levy can I come in?”  No Response.  She places her ear up against the door and can hear light sobbing.  “Lucy, I’m coming in.”  She opens the door and sees the outline of her friend curled up on the bed under the covers.

“I don’t wanna talk Levy.”  She mutters

“Well too bad cause you need to.”  Yanking back the blankets she finds Lucy still in her red dress.  The front is splotchy from the tears that fell and her hair and make-up is a mess; eyes puffy and red.  Sitting next to her Levy puts her hand on her friends arm.  “Lu, tell me your side of what happened.”

“M-my side?”

“I’ve already spoken with Natsu.  He called Gajeel in tears so we came here to pick him up.”

“I-I can’t believe he turned me down!  I wanted him s-so badly!  I-It just built up all night till I felt like if I didn’t… I, I, I don’t know what came over me...  I’ve never felt so, so intense like this over a guy!  And I thought he wanted it too…”

Levy giggles making Lucy glare at her, “Lu, that’s called love.  Since it’s the first time you’ve ever experienced it before, you’re not used to it.  But I told you, Natsu’s a really nice guy, don’t push him to hard.  He’s not gonna sleep with a girl just because; he wants it to be special.”

“But that’s the thing.  I-I think he is special; he might even be my perfect match…  Does he think I go around sleeping with just any guy?”

“Um, actually based on the way you behaved, yeah he did.”  Lucy’s eyes are screaming ‘What!’  “You came on so strong that’s what he thought, and he said he didn’t want to be a one night stand.  But I cleared that up quick when I told him you were still a virgin.”

“Oh my God you told him that!”

“Lu you don’t need to freak out because… so is he.”

“Wait are you serious?”

Levy nods, “he thought you were his dream girl too and then you kicked him out because he wouldn’t sleep with you.  Now he’s completely devastated over this.”

“Well, I, I don’t care anymore.  If he thought I was perfect too then maybe he should have just gave in.”

“Whatever girl, that’s your stubborn side talking.  You just don’t wanna admit that you made a complete ass of yourself tonight in front of a fine-ass guy.”

“Shut up!”

“Tch, just go clean yourself up cause you’re a hot mess right now, get to bed, and think about what I said.  I’ll drop by tomorrow to check on you.”

Levy stands up to leave when Lucy calls out to her, “I’m not changing my mind!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Levy waves her hand, “You’ll be fantasizing about him in your dreams tonight.”  And with that last jest she shut the bedroom door behind her.

Back in the car… “So what’d she say?”  Probes Natsu, hoping for a good answer

“To sum it up, she’s totally in love with you.  You got her so aroused tonight that she wanted you to be her first but then you turned her down so she got upset.  It’s not your fault; she can be stubborn like that since she’s kinda used to getting what she wants.”

“Sh-she’s in love… with me?!”