"So please Lucy…" Please don't Gray… Please don't make this any harder for me… Gray loosened his grip and looked me in the eye. His eyes were filled with so much emotion. His hand slowly reached out to my face and brought it closer… I could feel his breath on my lips.

"Stay with me." I felt something soft on my lips. Gray… I'm so sorry… I don't want to leave you…

I didn't push him away; both of us stayed that way. But… Fate can't be changed

I can't freaking believe myself! I just k-kissed Luce?! But, it was on that spur of moment. The feeling of losing someone who is important settled in me and I was unsure of how to react to it. What did Lucy mean by 'if I left this world'? Is there something that she is hiding from me?

We part from each other as we gasp for breath. I stared into Luce's brown orbs as she looked away. Why…

"Luce…" I pulled her back into an embrace. I held her gingerly in my arms, yet refusing to let go,

"You're hiding something from me." I felt her body tensed up. So, she is hiding something. I looked straight in her face before giving her a smile,

"It's alright Luce. I'm ready to listen to it whenever you are ready to tell me," her eyes started to brim with tears, "but, never forget this…" I placed my forehead onto hers.

"I have always and will forever love you. No matter what happens, nothing can change how I feel about you." I felt her arms tightened around my waist and before long, she started to sob loudly.\

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" I stroked her hair softly as she cried her heart out.

"It's alright Luce… I'm here…" I whispered soothing words as she continued to brawl her eyes out. A few minutes later, she finally got a hold of herself. We took a seat on a nearby bench as Luce started to talk.

"You see, Gray…" Luce locked her gaze onto the ground, "I'm already dead…"

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.

HUHHHHHHH?! My face twisted in sheer confusion, "Then, h-how on E-earth are y-you – b-but how – wha-" All I could respond was stammer. Luce let out a weak chuckle.

"Surprised huh? Of course, no one on earth wouldn't stay calm if someone says that…" She had a forlorn expression, twisted with sadness and loneliness…

"Do you recall the time you found me at the park on that rainy day?" How could I ever forget that day? That was the day I met you. "Well, my real body was long gone by then…" She took out a folded piece of paper from her pocket. It was an article from the Fiore Times. She handed me the cut-out article. I quickly scanned through the paper and my eyes stopped on those shocking words.

"A body of a blonde girl was found under the debris of the burned house. She was immediately sent to the hospital but unfortunately announced as dead a few hours later…" I subconsciously read out loud. What the heck… So, what she's saying is the truth…

"I was also shocked when I found that article, but I just didn't want you to find out… So I kept that cut that article out and threw away the rest. But, because of that article, I remembered everything." Silence filled the air before I broke it,

"Hey Luce… Is there a reason you didn't want me to find out?" Lucy fidgeted on the spot uncomfortably as her face began to flush.

"T-that's because…" I waited for her answer in anticipation…

.

.

"I didn't want you to throw me out…"

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I can't hold it in anymore… Before I knew it, I burst out laughing.

"D-don't laugh, baka…" Lucy averted her eyes to the other side.

"Sorry Luce, I didn't expect you to answer like that."

"What I meant is I didn't want to leave you…" My heart leapt up to my throat. I looked at Lucy as Lucy looked back with her face beet red.

"I know it's already too late to change anything… but let me say this…" Lucy took a deep breath before looking back at me with a smile,

"I love you too, Gray."

"I love you too, Gray." I finally managed to it. I finally confessed to Gray. I felt as if a heavy weight has been lifted up from my heart. On the other hand, Gray gaped at me in shock. As if his spirit has left him.

"Oi! What's up with that lousy reaction?!" I yelled in frustration.

"How should I know?! You can't ask a person that question so casually?!" He retorted back. Both of us looked at each other, before laughing our heads off. Gosh… What happened to the tension just now?

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it, huh?" Gray stood up from the bench as he stretched.

"Eh?"

"Since we can't change fate, let's spent the rest of your time to the fullest, shall we?" He flashed me a cheeky grin and I felt something warm ran down my cheeks. Gray started panicking as I wiped my tears.

"Baka, it's just tears of happiness," I smiled at him, "you should be honored!" He's right… I can't mope around stupidly. I should live my life to the fullest while I still can!

"I'll text Mira that we'll be back in the morning." Gray suggested as he fished out his mobile phone from his pocket and began texting right away. When he was done, he looked at me.

"What?" I looked back at him with puzzlement.

"Where do you wanna go at this point of time?" Gray pointed at the clock tower, which stated 5 minutes passed 11 pm. Goodness, I didn't know it was already this late!

"Hmm… Maybe a ramen shop? I'm hungry."

"Sure, there's one nearby. Why don't we have a supper there?"

"Alright! Let's go!" I pumped my fist into the air in triumph, earning a laugh from Gray.

~Meanwhile~

"HEY GUYS! JUST RECEIVED A TEXT FROM GRAY!" Mira yelled at the top of her voice. Everyone, including the boys, rushed into where Mira was.

"What does it say?" Jellal asked, with a toothbrush in his mouth.

"C'mon sis! I'm dying to know here!" Lisanna whined as she rolled around in the pillows on the floor.

"It says 'We won't be back till morning. Don't worry; I won't do anything to Luce-"

"That's what a pervert would say!" Loke protested which resulted in receiving a knock in the head from Erza. Everyone sweatdropped as Loke moped in a dark corner.

"Mira, please continue." Erza stated (more like a demand)

"As I was saying… 'I won't do anything to Luce. She wants to wander for the night. See ya guys in the morning!' and that's how he ended."

"Well, can't be helped. Let them have fun, I'm sure they'll become an item by morning." Lisanna stood up and walked back into the girls' room.

"KYAAA! I want to plan their marriage! I wonder how their kids would look like…" Mira gave a fangirl squeal, earning sweatdrops from the rest.

"Ahhh~! That was delicious!" Luce cheered as she walked out of the store.

"My money is flying away…" I groaned in grimace as I shed chibi tears. Luce saw my expression and laughed. Well, at least she's having a good time… I smiled it off as I asked her again,

"So, where to head to next?" Before she could reply, I cut her off, "no more ramen shop please! That was the twelfth ramen shop we went!"

"EH?! I want to try that last ramen shop in town!" Lucy pouted, "Sighhhhh, can't be helped ne? Hmm… Let's head to the beach next!"

"The beach?! It's like so far from where we are!" I exclaimed, but it seemed like there ain't any effect on her though.

"C'mon Gray~! Hurry up!" Luce ran ahead of me and called out to me.

"It's still 5.30 am in the morning, idiot!" I retorted back as I chased after her. She just laughed it off as she continued to run ahead.

"Phew… That was some good exercise!" Luce smiled, without breaking a sweat throughout the way.

"Please… We have been running for one and half hours… How can you even manage that?" I slumped down on the sandy beach, gasping for breath.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm a spirit for Mavis' sake," Luce gave me a smile as she took a seat beside me. Then, she lifted my head up.

"Hey, what do you think you are doin-" then placed it on her lap. I looked at her in surprise. She just smiled brightly at me.

"Reward for keeping up with me," and before I could even reply, her lips were on mine. It was very short yet sweet.

"Damn… You know how to make me flabbergasted." I chuckled.

"That's the result for loving you," Luce stick out her tongue playfully before giving me her bright smile again, "you can rest for now, I'll wake you up when the sun rises."

"Oh? So you came all this way, just to watch the sunrise?" I shot her an amused look.

"I heard from my dad that watching sunrise from here is truly the most beautiful thing he had ever shared with my mom. So I thought I would want to visit here with you, you know, before I leave this world." Reality struck back. That's right… She's going today… I want to stay awake, but fatigue got the best of me. Luce was smiling at me… but something wet dropped onto my cheek.

Tears? Lucy kept her smile and mouthed some words before I was pulled into a deep slumber.

~...~

"Hey Gray, wake up." An familiar voice called out as he nudged me awake. Wait… He? I opened my eyes, to find myself face-to-face with Natsu.

"Natsu? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that, ice brain? You are sleeping at the beach at 7 in the morning. What kind of idiot would do that?"

"Huh?! Did you just called me an idiot?! I wouldn't never expect it to come from an idiot himself!"

"It takes one to know one." Natsu retorted. So he's admitting that he is an idiot.

"Anyway, flame head, have you seen Luce around?" I looked around for her, but she seemed to be nowhere in sight.

"Are you okay, ice brain? I think the heat got into you or something." Natsu shot me a weird look.

"Do you always have to pick a fight with me? Anyway, where's Luce?"

"That's why I'm saying. How did you know Lucy?" Huh? Is he acting dumb?

"Not funny Natsu. Answer my question before I get pissed off."

"No, I'm totally serious, I haven't seen her for years," what… you just saw her a few days ago… "the last time I saw her would be the graduation ceremony during high school. Man, it brings back so many memories…"

Has everyone forgotten about Lucy?! I immediately took out my phone and started dialing for Mira's number.

"Hi Gray! When are you going to get your things out of the café? Erza seems pretty mad and she just might kill you if you don't come and get them soon." A cheery voice answered from the other end of the line. No doubt, that's Mira.

"Hey Mira, did Luce come by the café?"

"Huh? What are you talking about Gray?"

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Everyone has forgotten about her…

"Nothing, I'll come get my things right away." I hung up the phone and gave Natsu a tap on the shoulder before walking to the café.

This just can't be true. She wouldn't leave without a goodbye at least. I grabbed my stuffs and walked towards my house. Why… Why would she leave just like that?

On my doorstep, there was a white envelope with 'To my beloved' written in cursive letters on it. My heart started to pound. There's only one person that I know who would write like that. I dropped all my things and tore the envelope open. A letter was indeed in there.

"Dear Gray,

I'm so sorry for leaving you like this. I wasn't expecting it to be this early either. You must be really frustrated right now. Haha… It seems like no one actually remembers the seven days I was with them. Mostly you, of course. Those days were certainly the best in my life. Well… I am already dead so it wouldn't count as in my life huh? It was really a joy meeting you. In fact, I am really glad that I was given another week to live as a normal human. I'm still not sure of why I was given those days but I am really thankful that I was. If not for that fire, that rainy day, I would never have met you. Maybe fate wants us to meet each other? Haha. Then again, it was fate that pulls us apart now. Just because I'm not there in person, you stop your life. No way in hell! You are going to continue living as per normal!"

The letter didn't end there. But I was already at my limit. Tears were already streaming down uncontrollably.

"Those 7 days are the most memorable ones I have ever experienced! It's not the experience that made them memorable. It was spending them with you that made it special. I am glad you are here with me throughout the week. I love you.

Lots of love,

Lucy"

"You idiot… I love you too…" I clenched the letter in my hands as I continued to sob silently to myself.

Me too… I am glad you are here with me. Even if we are apart in this life, the next life, I will find you again and fall in love with you all over again… Dammit, Lucy, I really love you.

Erm... Hi everyone? Really really sorry for the late update! I wish I could apologize more but it's futile, isn't it? *sulks at a dark corner* I was wondering if you guys want an epilogue for this story. If you guys want it, just leave a comment! :) As for the 'My Class Trip Crush', there seems to be some error uploading it. I'm really thankful that you guys are so patient for this chapter to come out! Due to my extreme laziness (sumimasen...), I can't guarantee all of you the weekly updates. This is the last chapter unfortunately, but I really want to try out an epilogue too *sweatdrops*

Side track: The new airing for Fairy Tail ain't that bad either! Masayume Chasing is still stuck in my head. Hehe. Anyway, Ja Ne minna-san~! *fairy tail sign*