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Beastly Possession	By : Rhov Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail Views: 26740 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima. I make no money, I just do this for my own pleasure.

Chapter List
- 5
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Disclaimer: Rhov doesn't like facing the fact that she'll never own Fairy Tail. Thus she continues to plot and scheme how to win over Hiro Mashima's otaku horde through fanfiction.

Chapter 6

Facing Facts

When Lucy finally woke up, she felt weak and dizzy. She glanced at the cast around her right wrist, and that was when she noticed Gray sitting by her side. She grinned when she saw him, and he smiled warmly back at her. She realized she was still in the hospital. Her stomach hurt, her arm was immobile, but most of her wounds were almost healed thanks to Wendy's magic.

"How are ya?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant although his throat clenched with emotion.

"I suppose okay," she sighed. "The thing that attacked me, did they … did they find it yet?" she asked in jolting words and a worried expression.

Gray frowned and shook his head. He had been so close, too! "It's been a week since the first death. Two others were attacked the night you were brought in, and another was killed a couple days later. Two nights ago, I stumbled upon a victim soon enough to rescue him. He was a lot worse off than you, and the doctor's still aren't sure if he'll make a full recovery, but he's alive for now. Yesterday, a man was attacked a block from your house, but he lived. The inspectors say he must have put up a huge fight. They have a little evidence now. He managed to rip part of the demon's wing. I'm not sure if they can figure out what it is with just a little thing like that, but I for one want to know at least what we're dealing with so I know how to kill it. Gajeel, Wendy, and Natsu are apparently tracking it down."

Lucy leaned back. Her head was still woozy and her stomach felt sick. She wanted to forget the whole experience, just shove the memory away. "How's Fairy Tail?"

Gray looked confused for a moment. Her attacker was still on the loose, and she wanted to know about the guild? "We're … okay. Shaken, obviously. Erza has been keeping in touch with the investigation teams. Gajeel and Natsu…"

"No," she interrupted quickly. "How … How's Happy? Is he still giving Charle fish?"

Gray raised an eyebrow. What sort of question was that? Then he saw the terror in her eyes. He knew running away from something bad was not how a person should deal with a problem, but for now, just until she stabilized … "He tried to give her a fish yesterday. She turned it down, of course."

Lucy finally smiled. Although Gray loved to see her looking happy, for some reason this was even more painful than if she had simply started to cry.

"Wendy went on a mission with Romeo. It was just to help entertain children in an orphanage, but Mira is of course making it seem like this is their first date."

Lucy laughed at that. "That's Mira for you! What else? What have you and Natsu been up to?"

"Oh, not much."

He did not want to tell her that he had spent every day by her bedside waiting for the moment she woke up, and Natsu was running around like an insane maniac insisting he was going to defeat this murdering beast, despite no one being any closer to figuring out what it was. He saw Lucy waiting for information, something to take her mind off the memories.

"Oh, hey!" he recalled, trying hard to make it sound interesting. "Cana got a haircut. Not really short or anything. She said she sort of wished you could have brought Cancer out to do her hair, though. I guess it's uneven. I can't tell the difference," he shrugged.

She tittered. "Of course not. You're a guy." Her forced smile faltered. "Gray, I … thanks, first of all," she muttered. "You understand me better than anyone."

He looked down sadly. "I know what it's like to hurt so bad you want to forget it all."

"Exactly," she admitted. "But now I … I need to ask something. Maybe it's weird, and I definitely don't want you to take this the wrong way. I'd ask any guy, but you happen to be here, so don't think this is anything more than just a general question to a friend."

"O- … kay?" he said hesitantly.

"Purely as a guy," she began, but Lucy blushed, "a girl who isn't … you know … a girl who has experienced something, even if it wasn't everything…"

"Lucy!" he said quickly, hoping to interrupt her.

"Is a girl like me still appealing?" she rushed out. Immediately, Lucy bit her lip in shame for asking.

Gray got up, sat on the bed beside her, and pulled her into a hug. He felt a slight stiffening, and a second later he wondered if maybe this sort of contact was something Lucy was not ready for yet. However, an instant later she relaxed and hugged him back.

"Lucy," he whispered, "the beast did terrible things to you, but you can still wear white on your wedding day, right? Even if it had done worse, no one would think any less of you. Speaking as a guy and also as your friend, I can tell you this: what matters is not what a girl has or hasn't done, but what's in her heart. If she has already been kissed, if she has already been touched, or even if she has slept around, for a guy who truly loves her, none of that should matter. Any guy who feels otherwise is a jackass and doesn't deserve you. So long as your heart doesn't go dark because of this, people will love you the same as before." Gray looked aside. He wanted to tell her more, to assure her that he would love her the same, but he knew that was not something she needed to hear at the moment.

"Thanks, Gray," she whispered, and slowly she pulled back to wipe her eyes. "I need some time alone. Can you go tell Erza and Natsu that I want to go on a mission as soon as I'm released?"

"You should rest," he warned.

"I've been sleeping for a week. What I need now is rent money and to return to normal life. And to get out of Magnolia for a while."

"I see," he muttered, guessing it made sense that she needed a change of scenery. "Sure, I'll tell them. I'll be back later this afternoon, okay?"

"Sure, thanks, Gray."

She kept a smile until he was out of the room, then her whole body deflated in weariness. Trying to pretend in front of him was too hard. Right now, she needed to clear something up, something she knew was probably a huge problem for one of her closest friends. She found her Spirit Keys and pulled one forward. She looked at the golden design for a moment, traced it with her thumb, and finally built up the courage to use it.

"Open the Gate of the Lion! Leo!"

Loke appeared and instantly threw his arms around her. She had half-expected precisely this sort of desperate greeting.

"Lucy," he said with a shiver in his voice. "All of us were worried."

"I'm fine, Loke." Hesitantly, she began, "About that night…"

"I'm so sorry," he cried out, squeezing her so tight she felt like her eyes might pop out of her head. "I sensed something was wrong, but I wasn't sure. By the time I sensed just how much danger you were in, I heard you scream for me."

"I'm sorry, Loke," she whispered.

He pulled back in shock. Why in the world was she apologizing? He remembered she had apologized that night, too. He began to protest, but she spoke over him.

"I should have called for you first. I shouted for Natsu and Gray, but I should have known they couldn't hear me. You're the only one who can be by my side no matter where I am. For whatever reason, I didn't think about calling you. I guess I still think of you as a friend first and as a Celestial Spirit second."

He touched her cheek tenderly and ran his fingers down to her chin, then tilted her head up to meet his eyes. "If I had stayed with you like you asked, you never would have come to harm."

"Silly Lion," she chuckled, blushing at his flirtatious tone. "I was drunk and asking you to have sex with me." She scoffed wryly. "Ironic, isn't it? I wanted you to eat me up that night and instead…"

Before she could even finish, Loke shut her up with a desperate kiss. It was greedy of him, but he could not hear her talking like that. Luckily, Lucy hummed happily at the feeling. When Loke pulled back, she looked in a daze.

"I know this is bad timing," he began. No, it was the worst timing! But still, he had to say it. "You might have been drunk when you asked me, but believe me, Lucy, I wanted to … very much! I still do, too. I love you," he declared. "I know you're not ready for that, but whenever you are—no matter how long you need to heal from this experience—when you feel you're ready for that, I'll be here. I can wait as long as you need, and my feelings will never change. My love for you is as constant as the stars themselves."

She tried to smile at his sincerity. On one hand, this was precisely what had worried her: after being assaulted like that, would a man still want her? At least Gray and Loke did. She wondered what Natsu thought. She might ask him as well one day. At least when she had asked Gray, he refrained from saying more than necessary. Loke, of course, had no sense of when something was bad timing for a woman.

"Thanks," she said uncomfortably. "I'll … consider that."

"Take your time," he smiled, looking satisfied that at least he had told her. Whether she used that confession to return his feelings, or even if it simply helped her heal a little bit so she could find a man, any man, and find love one day, it was all fine with him. He simply needed to tell her so she knew that she was still a lovely woman and very desirable. He could see in her eyes that this was something she had been doubting, and he never wanted her to feel that she was anything less than stellar!

"I should rest," she said in excuse.

"Of course." He knew she was seeking an escape, but it was fine. She needed to sort things out still, and Loke was willing to do whatever it took to help her heal, even leaving her alone. "Call on me anytime. I promise I won't go on any vacations or dates."

"Gee, thanks," she grumbled. "What sort of idiot confesses his love to a girl but then has to assure her he won't date other women? Jerk!"

He chuckled, fully aware that what he said would anger her a little. To show her he was only joking, he leaned forward to kiss her again, but she held up her hand to block him. He kissed her fingers instead. "Before I go, I just want to say that I'm really glad you look so gorgeous."

"Get out, you flirt," she laughed. Still, her cheeks felt hot from his compliment. How had he known she also worried that her bruises made her look ugly?

"This bruise in particular." He touched the side of her neck where the hickey he gave her was barely visible.

She remembered that moment, shrieked, slapped his hand away, but had to laugh that he could always make her feel better, no matter what. Loke chuckled smugly and faded away. The smile he left her with lingered for some time. He might be a playboy, but right then she needed to feel wanted. Loke was the perfect medicine.

The drinking and normal brawling within the Fairy Tail guild was momentarily interrupted by the doors slamming open, glaring light shining through, and four imposing shadows silhouetted in the sunlight.

"They're back!" Alzack smiled.

"Laxus," Cana cheered. "Come drink with me."

The blond mage ignored her and marched in with the Thunder God Tribe following behind him.

"It's been a while, Laxus," Makarov smiled, sipping something that left a foamy mustache over his snowy whiskers.

"We stopped on the way back to help some priests at a temple," he said in a low grumble. "Some dark guild was cursing the river they used in their ceremonies. They couldn't afford to hire a magic guild, so we did it for lodging and food. I got a neat statue out of the deal, too." He tossed a bronze figurine of some hideous deity over to Makarov. "Otherwise, not a lot of fun."

Makarov chuckled that his grandson could have a kind heart as well. "We've had quite a disaster here in Magnolia. You'll probably hear about it sooner or later."

"Wait up," Laxus said, lifting his hand to silence the Master and raising his nose into the air. "What the hell is that horrible smell?"

"Ah well, you know, as you get older your digestion isn't as good and…"

"Not you, you smelly old geezer," Laxus snapped. "It's … a weird smell. Annoying, really."

Makarov's brow drew down low. "You smell it here?"

"Honestly, I've been smelling it all through town. I don't use a Dragon Slayer's olfactory sense too often, but this is really strong. You've gotta be able to smell this."

"No," Makarov frowned. "No, I can't. But I know others who can."

Three days later, Lucy was released from the hospital, healed except for her broken arm. Gray and Erza were there to see her out and walk her home.

"Any more attacks?" she asked, surreptitiously glancing down every alleyway and dark corner.

Erza scowled. "One last night, a child, but she was only bitten. Apparently when she cried, the beast ran away. I don't understand how this creature can be so brutal to adults but flees from a child."

"A conscience?" Gray wondered.

They did not speak about it more. Lucy felt like it had been years since she was back home, and it was good to see the familiar building. She entered and saw Wendy, Levy, and Mirajane already there.

"Oh! You're early," Wendy cried out.

Lucy laughed and felt like crying. The three were in the middle of cleaning her home. "You guys!"

"It was dusty, and some of your food spoiled," Mirajane explained. "We replaced the vegetables that went bad."

"You didn't have to," she said, blushing with happiness.

"We wanted to!" Levy cheered. She ran up and hugged Lucy. "Fairy Tail takes care of each other."

Lucy walked around, reacquainting herself. "I suppose I should make tea for everyone."

"Already did," Mirajane grinned, and she hurried into the kitchen.

Lucy ate a light lunch and drank tea with her friends. She was laughing, and things almost felt normal again.

"Where's Natsu and Happy?" she asked. "I've hardly seen him all week. I'm not even sure if he visited me in the hospital."

The others glanced around at each other, silently asking what they should tell her.

"He's been gone most of the time," Mirajane answered.

Wendy pouted cutely. "Happy seems to be upset at him, so he's staying with me. Actually, he's been drooling over Charle most of the time and muttering about how sleeping under the same roof as her is sort of like being married."

That made Lucy titter. "Well, Natsu can be crazy sometimes. He's protective, though. That's what I like about him."

"Oh?" Mirajane smiled, leaning in mischievously. "What you like about him?"

Lucy blushed suddenly. "Not like that!" she shouted.

Gray's eyes narrowed. "Don't tease her."

Mirajane looked even more sly. "Personally, I think Gray is even more protective over you than Natsu. He's been at the hospital every day, he helped us clean your apartment, he walked you home, he…"

"Hey!" Gray snapped, but he could not stop the heat from rising into his cheeks.

The others laughed, and they carefully sidestepped the issue by pouring more tea. Eventually Levy had to go, Mirajane needed to return to the guild hall, and Wendy began yawning so she left. Erza and Gray lingered, and they kept looking to one another. They were waiting for something that they knew would be hard on their friend.

Lucy decided to at least change for bed. She went into the bathroom to brush her teeth, but when she walked to the bedroom she froze in the doorway. That cued Erza and Gray. They knew this moment was going to be a challenge. Lucy had to return to the place where the attack happened, sleep in the same bed where she was hurt so badly, and face the memories of that moment.

Erza requipped into pajamas and put an arm around Lucy's shoulder. "I'm too tired. Gray wants the couch, so is it okay if I share your bed?"

Lucy looked at that bed. The girls had cleaned it up, of course. They had to buy a new mattress, and Lucy realized the blankets were not her old ones. Likely they were ruined, stained permanently since the inspectors did not allow anyone to remove items for a few days. It was not really the same bed other than the framework, but she could still picture the scene. She even looked to the dark window, terrified that she might see glowing eyes.

"Y-yeah," she whispered. "You can take the left side."

Erza crawled into bed while Lucy changed her clothes, then slowly got under the covers. She was thankful Erza was there, although it made her feel like a foolish child wanting to sleep with her mommy because she had a bad dream.

If only it had been just a dream!

Why can't it be only a nightmare? Why can't I simply wake up?

"Erza," she whispered in the darkness. "Can I … ? God, this sounds stupid," she grumbled.

Knowingly, Erza pulled Lucy into her arms. "Of course you can. Friends are there for one another."

"Thanks," she sighed. Being held against the nightmares and fears truly helped, and soon Lucy fell fast asleep.

The next day, Lucy went with Erza and Gray to Fairy Tail. As soon as they entered, Happy flew straight into Lucy's chest, almost knocking her backward.

"I was so worried you were gonna die!" he sobbed.

She smiled awkwardly as she stroked his head. "I'm fine, but thanks for worrying."

"Lucy!" A pink blur slammed into her, and this time she really was thrown backwards until she landed on her back with Natsu on top of her. Feeling his weight made her blush.

"Natsu, can you … get off of me?" she said bashfully.

Instead, he squeezed her so tight she could barely breathe. "I'm so sorry, Lucy. I'm gonna protect you from now on, I swear. I won't let anything hurt you."

"Breathe … need … air!" she choked. "Wounds … hurt."

Gray yanked the Dragon Slayer off by his scarf. "She had her gut slashed open, her arm broken, and her boob almost bitten off, and you go tackling her. Idiot! Can't you see that you're the one hurting her?"

Instead of an instant retaliation and challenge to fight, Natsu pulled away with a hurt expression. He looked down as Lucy rubbed out her smashed chest with her good hand. Silently, Natsu turned away and stalked off to the request board.

"Wow, what's wrong with him?" Lucy asked, seeing the drastic change in her friend.

Happy, who managed to get sandwiched between the Celestial Spirit mage and the Dragon Slayer, was rubbing out his head. "Natsu's been like that since you got hurt. He blames himself, and he's been moody and scary. I don't think he's sleeping well, either. He's always waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares, leaves to walk outside, and doesn't come back until almost morning. He hardly eats, doesn't joke around anymore, and he gets cranky a lot. Really cranky. It's too hard to live with him. That's why I've been with Charle. She's so cute! She has the most adorable snore when she sleeps," he said dreamily.

Gray watched Natsu and sighed with a frown. Although he liked that Natsu was not always demanding a fight, he almost missed his rival's old personality. "He said something about how he should have been able to hear you. It isn't as if his hearing is like that Cobra guy. There's no way he could have heard you from his house. Still, he seems to think he should have known by instinct."

Happy smirked. "He llllllllllikes you!"

"Not that again," she sighed.

Natsu leaped back over to them, and his usual perky smile returned. "I found the perfect mission. Look at this!" He thrust the paper to Lucy.

She took it and read the job aloud. "Infiltrate a rich manor to retrieve a stolen goblet. Person must be able to blend in with nobility during an ambassadorial party. The party cannot be crashed or political tensions may mean war. The goblet must be retrieved without damage. Reward: 2,000,000 Jewels!" Lucy's eyes lit up. "Split between the four of us, this'll cover my rent for seven months. Sweet! I could do some shopping and maybe take a vacation and…" Her eyes shined like stars at the possibilities.

Natsu beamed to see that she liked it. "And Lucy, you're perfect for fitting in with those snooty aristocrats since you were raised in the Heartfilia Konzern."

"I might have a couple gowns that would be appropriate for an ambassadorial party," she decided. "Oh, but my arm." She looked down at the cast.

Wendy perked up. "I have enough magic recharged where I could heal the bone, although you shouldn't do anything strenuous with it for another week after healing."

"Really? Thank you so much," she cried out and hugged the little girl. "All right, let's do it!"

"Yosh!" Natsu cheered, and he hurried over to Mirajane to get approval.

Erza looked a little concerned. "Lucy, you just got out of the hospital yesterday. Are you sure you're up to a mission?"

"Absolutely!" she nodded as she held her arm out for Wendy to heal. "And it'll be fun going to a party. I haven't been to a gala in years. It might be just what I need to cheer me up."

"Very well," Erza nodded. "I should pack. We'll leave in the morning."

"Tonight!" Lucy shouted, but she drew back a little as she realized her voice sounded desperate. "Can … can we leave before tonight?"

Erza saw the fear in Lucy's eyes. So, this was the main reason she wanted a mission so soon! Lucy was still scared to be in the room where she had been attacked. "Very well, I'll check the train schedules and get tickets for a night train."

"Thanks," Lucy said with a sigh.

End of Chapter 6
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Beastly Possession