Chapter 16

"That idiot Natsu," Lisanna muttered as she continued to walk stealthily behind the rose bushes in the garden just outside the party venue, "It is his fault that our group got separated." she muttered, disappointed.

"Who could that be?" a startled voice surprised the wizard from her thoughts. Someone noticed her despite the use of her magic to transform in her cat-take over.

Lisanna covered her mouth in shock. She didn't even think for one second that someone can discover her despite her attempts. Well, except wizards herself. Good wizards to be precise.

She stopped her actions. She refused doing anything that can cause any more noise. Lisanna won't risk being caught. Especially if this guy is a powerful wizard.

"Show yourself!" the unknown guy's voice commanded. Lisanna still didn't move. The white-haired wizard refused to show herself. The mission would be considered failed if they are discovered.

Then, she thought of an idea.

"Nyaaa~" she tried to imitate the cat's sound, hoping that if the person who discovered her heard the sound, he will more or less ignore her.

"A cat?" Lisanna heard the man talking. She congratulated herself for being an effective cat.

"Nyaaaa~" the take-over wizard continued to meow until she heard the footsteps of the said man go further away. She peeked just on a tiny slit from the bushes to check the man. He is wearing a rather elegant tuxedo. The blonde locks of the guy looked silky, almost shining under the moonlight. This guy isn't bad looking either. She can tell that this person is indeed noble even if she's only seeing the back of the guy who is now walking away.

She almost muttered, "Go, stupid." when she heard the very same voice of the person who discovered her.

"Hey, you're not a cat....Well, sort of?"

To say that Lisanna wasn't shocked is an understatement.

She almost stumbled onto the rose bushes. Luckily, she regained her balance almost instantly that she only grazed her left hand with the rose thorns.

"I'm sorry! Did I startle you?" the stranger's blue eyes looked concern as she attempted to help Lisanna who only recoiled, not wanting any physical contact from this stranger.

"Why are you here?" the guy asked Lisanna who is still alert with him.

"Umm. There's a shortcut there." the guys said, innocently pointing to the place where he sneaked in. "Well, who are you?" the white-haired girl returned the question, making the guy furrow his eyebrows in confusion.

"Aren't you supposed to answer my question first?" he asked again, earning a glare from the take-over wizard.

"Okay. I won't tell you my name and you don't have to tell yours. Now, can you please leave me?" Lisanna crossed her arms in irritation.

"But I know you." the strange guy, smiled at Lisanna.

"You know me?" the wizard, shocked and all asked if she heard his statement correctly.

"You're Lisanna Strauss, a Fairy Tail mage." he started, "My name is Vincent Cashmere... in case you're wondering."

------

"Lucy." the masked man told Lucy as they finally halted near the fountain at the back of the mansion.

The cold sea-breeze greeted them and Lucy trembled by the chill. She embraced herself in the hopes of diminishing the slight numbness from the cold.

Lucy looked at the stranger as she heard his familiar voice. She knew it's Natsu. But why would he be here? she thought.

None of them are speaking and the silence made her remember the last time they are together. Lucy's heart ached. There was never a closure for her feelings. There was never a clarification.

Natsu removed his mask.

"I---" that was the first time that Lucy saw Natsu that flustered. Sure, she saw him blushing before but it was nothing compared to the redness that crept on Natsu's cheeks. Natsu grabbed onto Lucy's shoulders.

"Yes?" Lucy asked the dragon slayer.

"I---" Natsu started looking at her, "I---I JUST CAN'T DO THIS, HAPPY!" embarrassed, he turned his eyes away from hers. Natsu's cheeks turned to an even darker shade of red.

"What?! Natsuuuu!" Happy, who was just actually hiding behind the fountain, revealed himself.

"I just can't say it!" the salamander proclaimed to the exceed while flailing his hands in exasperation and embarrassment.

"W-What is it that you're telling me, Natsu?" caught up in the confusion, the celestial spirit wizard asked Natsu.

"Natsu just wanted to tell that he likesssss you!" Happy announced teasingly, earning surprised stares from the two wizards before Natsu kicked his loyal friend into the skies.

"NATSUUUUUUUUU!" the exceed can only yell his apologies to the sky.

Now, the same blush appeared on Lucy. Did Natsu really like her? She can't say. There are two possible things. It's either Happy said the truth, or did it just to tease them.

Lucy can't even look at Natsu in the eye now. She's far too embarrassed to even notice the hurtling black ball of compressed magic flying towards her.

Within that short second, Natsu sensed everything and just as before Lucy would be hit, he carried her in his arms away from the danger.

xxxxxA/N: Sorry again for the slow updates, I know I promised and all to update this weekly, but I can't keep up because of my hectic schedules. I only have 2 weeks now of vacation and I am back at the university again studying my ass off. 〒_〒 Till then, I'll try to update and finish this, since I am having problems compressing my drafts into 4 more chapters to finish this. Actually, I have the choice of making it 25 chapters, but let's see what will happen.

Thank you for reading this! And as always, leave reviews. I appreciate them more. ＼（○＾ω＾○）／

-almelyn