The stillness of the night was broken only by the sound of Lucy's quiet sobs. The weight of her secret had grown too heavy, and Natsu's words had finally shattered her resolve.
Natsu, sensing her turmoil, gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes filled with concern. ["Lucy,"] he whispered, ["what did the Celestial King say to you?"]
Lucy hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she couldn't tell him the full truth, not yet. But the guilt was eating away at her, and she couldn't keep it all inside. ["He… he just wanted to see me,"] she began, her voice shaky. ["He warned me to be careful, that's all."]
Natsu frowned, unconvinced. ["Luce, you can tell me anything. We've faced so much together, and nothing's too big for us to handle."]
Those words, meant to comfort, only deepened Lucy's despair. The thought of putting Natsu in danger, of dragging him into the darkness she was facing, was too much to bear. The tears she had been holding back burst forth as she buried her face in her hands.
["Natsu, everything is wrong,"] she sobbed. ["Everyone's in danger because of me. I'm so scared… I don't know what to do."]
Without a second thought, Natsu wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she cried. ["You're not a threat, Lucy,"] he said, his voice firm yet gentle. ["I'll protect you, no matter what. Even if the whole world turns against you, I'll be there."]
Lucy's tears flowed even harder at his words. She could feel the sincerity in his voice, but it only made her fears more real. ["Why?"] she choked out, looking up at him through tear-filled eyes. ["Why would you risk everything for me?"]
Natsu gazed deeply into her eyes, his expression serious and full of emotion. ["Because I promised you,"] he said softly. ["Before we left for the 100 Years Quest, I promised we'd always be together. And I meant that promise, Lucy. You're special to me."]
Lucy's heart skipped a beat. She had always known Natsu cared for her, but the intensity in his eyes was something new. ["Special? Why?"] she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Natsu's face flushed with embarrassment, but he didn't look away. ["Because I love you,"] he confessed, his voice trembling with sincerity. ["Not just as a friend, but as a woman. You mean more to me than anything else."]
Lucy's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. ["But… but what about Lisanna?"] she asked, her voice shaking.
Natsu shook his head, his expression earnest. ["Lisanna is family,"] he explained. ["I love her, but it's different. What I feel for you… it's something I didn't understand until you were hurt by Dimaria Yesta, and I turned into E.N.D. I was so scared of losing you that I couldn't think straight. That's when I realized how much you mean to me."]
Before Lucy could respond, Natsu took her hands in his, pulling her close. His lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss that spoke more than words ever could. Lucy hesitated for a moment, but then her feelings for him surged to the surface, and she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him back with all the love and longing she had kept hidden for so long.
The kiss felt like it lasted an eternity, yet when they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Natsu's eyes searched hers, full of hope and vulnerability. ["Do you believe me now?"] he asked softly.
Lucy nodded, her heart racing. ["I do."] she whispered, her voice barely audible. The warmth of Natsu's embrace and the sincerity in his words had soothed the fears that had been consuming her.
Natsu smiled, relief washing over him. ["I'll stay with you tonight,"] he said gently, brushing a tear from her cheek. ["I'll make sure you feel safe."]
Lucy leaned into his touch, feeling a sense of peace for the first time in days. But even as she took comfort in his arms, a dark resolve began to form in her mind. She knew what she had to do.
As they settled into bed, Natsu held her close, his warmth enveloping her. But Lucy's thoughts were elsewhere. She stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing with the decision she had made. She loved Natsu more than anything, and the thought of leaving him tore her apart. But she knew that staying with him, staying with Fairy Tail, would only put them all in greater danger.
As she lay in Natsu's arms, she whispered softly to herself,
("Natsu, I love you so much that I can't imagine being apart from you. But because of me, you, Happy, and everyone else in the guild will be in danger. I can't let that happen… I won't.")
Natsu, half-asleep, murmured something in response, but Lucy knew he hadn't heard her. She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks as she resolved to face the coming threat on her own. She would leave in the morning, distancing herself from those she loved, even if it meant making them hate her. The thought of Natsu hating her shattered her heart, but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
("This nigh--,") she thought, ("this night with you, Natsu, is magical. I'll hold onto this memory for the rest of my life.")
As sleep finally claimed her, Lucy knew that in the morning, she would have to say goodbye to the life she loved, to the people she cherished, and to the man she adored. It was the hardest decision she had ever made, but it was the only way to protect them all.