The rest of the car ride was quiet, but it wasn't out of awkwardness. The man driving couldn't help but take a glance at the golden blonde beauty sitting inside his car and in his passenger seat, beside him. Her beauty was nothing he had ever seen before. To him, Lucy seems another worldly young woman, whose radiance outshines others.
Ichinose has been seduced by women who failed only because they wanted what he has, yet none of them were interested in him, like actually who he is or what kind of person he is. He only focused on his work and did not pay attention to any of this, as it only gives a big migraine and a problem if there's a misunderstanding. However, the day when he went to the gym to work out, he was met by a magnificent, enchanting, and curvy young woman, who held great posture and strength, showcasing her abilities on the punching bag. Just watching her move around him impressed me.
However, Ichinose noticed that there's a solemn and melancholy aura in her figure. He could see that she is deeply hurt, and her eyes were neither seeing the present nor the future but she's reminiscing the past.
"Here we are." he pulled up to a parking lot, it was an open area, and there was no one around. Getting out of the car, Ichinose pulled out a blanket, and they walked up a hill, meeting the top where Lucy was in immediate awe.
"Sugoi..." – she whispered, eyes widening, looking at the colorful sea of stars.
"So beautiful."
Ichinose placed down the blanket and looked up at the girl admiring how her skin shined under the moonlight gracefully, to him, she looks like the Goddess of the Moon and Stars. The way her hair flowed behind her like a small stream, flowing gently, an angel has graced him with peacefulness and ambiguity. He doubted if the girl in front of him, Lucy, the warm light in front of his eyes truly exists.
"Totally..."
"Sadly, I won't be able to stay for long... (sitting beside him on the blanket) ...I have school tomorrow and we are preparing for a school event."
"It's only 7:36 pm right now, we can leave whenever you want to... (He lay down, getting comfortable) ...so, you should tell me about the stars, if you love it so much."
Lucy immediately sparkled telling him about the 88 constellations impressing the man once again. She was able to identify some of the constellations in the sky of Cancer, Scorpio, and Gemini, they ended up exchanging info about each other deciding this place will be their meet up spot at night since they were busy people.
"Hey, I know I may sound crazy, but do you believe in another world, like an alternate universe?" – he suddenly questioned, looking up at the start, not noticing the way the girl beside him froze then flinched on the spot, acting nervously.
"Ever since I was a kid, I have always believed in other places where there are other people than us here on earth."
"Wouldn't you be scared of them?" – Lucy asked nervously as she brought her knees to her chest, hugging them, trying to hide.
"What's there to be scared of... (making her eyes widen in surprise) ... there are good and bad people anywhere in the world or dimension, humans will always be humans. Besides, living beings are all the same, no matter what shape, species, race, or color they have, we are all the same breathing and living beings, who eat, drink, love, hate, destroy, and create. I believe whoever is out there are good people, even though I am still cautious, because of my job. My parents thought I was paranoid because of all the stories I read, but it is something I can believe in."
"What would you do if you met one?" – Lucy looked down, meeting his gaze.
"Honestly, I'd be shocked at first, but I'll get to know the person, probably, knowing my childish self, I would be asking multiple questions before they can answer. I'll bombard them will a lot of questions that they won't know how to answer." – he laughs amusingly, imagining it.
"I read a story about a legend on people having magical powers, I thought of it interesting as to how the person wrote it. The way the author spoke was as if they met one, giving him the right to call them monsters that can kill all human beings." – she listened with sad glistening on her eyes.
"I don't take humans as monsters, but creatures can say otherwise."
He showed her his left forearm, and her eyes widened to find a misted shadow tattoo dragon wrapped around it, baring its fangs, showing how ferocious its red eyes glow like it's alive, staring at her.
"Dragons are my favorite creatures because of how strong and fierce they can be, especially when they are protecting their family and friends, or how loyal and faithful they can be to their mate. I have yet to see one, and I believe they exist just living somewhere safe and peaceful for them, where humans can't disturb their life of blissfulness."
"Would you accept these people or creatures into your realm?" – Lucy could not help but ask the question dreading to let loose, it's been dying to come out since the topic started.
"I will if they don't cause harm to the people living here, then it's fine, I'll even befriend them," – he replied without hesitation.
'But would you accept me if I told you I am from the dragon realm...' Lucy frowned before pulling up her hood, shaking her out of her negative thoughts.
"I see, if you are, then I will too."
"Alright, I'll drop you off at home, it's starting to get cold, and I don't want you to get sick for school tomorrow." – he chuckles, getting up and placing a jacket on the short shivering blonde, seeing Lucy is getting cold from staying outside far too long. It was a simple, large leather jacket that she put on. Embarrassed, she thanked him as they got to the car and then drove away from their stargazing spot. They had a pleasant time on the ride getting to know one another about their common interest. Meeting at the Asahina home, Lucy got out, grabbing her bag in the process, then she bent down to the open window of Ichinose.
"Arigatou for dropping me off... (She beamed just as realization caught her) ...oh wait your jacket..."
"You can hold onto it, for now, I'm free this whole week, you can return it whenever you want to."
"By the way, Ichinose, what do you have as a job?" – Lucy tilted her head innocently, not having spoken about his employment before; he mentioned it earlier, but because of their topic, she had internally forgotten to ask about it. She got more confused when she saw Ichinose smirking with a mischievous glint appears on his eyes that made her breath hitch at how handsome he was at that moment.
"I am currently the top General of our government's army, now get inside since the temperature is dropping now that it's in the middle of the night already. Have a nice night and sweet dreams, Lucy. I'll see you soon." – he chuckles at her surprised expression as the car drives away, the girl who remained frozen finally breaks out of her shock, teleporting into the living room, scaring some people in the process. Since most of them were sound asleep, she quietly paces back and forth as the news takes over her again.
"Welcome back home." – Ukyo smiled.
"How was the gym, Angel-chan? Whose jacket is that? It is awfully big on you?" – Kaname scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, remembering that Lucy didn't have the jacket before leaving the house.
"I can't believe I acted like he was nothing but another human being... (they heard the girl mutter to herself before replying to him) ...I went stargazing with..."
"Hey, princess, how was your spectacular date with the number one General of Japan?" – Loke stepped out of his gate, grinning, making their jaws drop with widening and bulging eyes.
"You knew who he was and didn't tell me beforehand?!" – Lucy started shaking him back and forth in the hysteria of the shocking news she just received.
"W...Wait, what is Loke-san talking about?" – Masaomi's smile twitched in irritation as she stopped shaking the lion, sending him a mental note to tell her what she found out about the Fairy Tail later.
"I went stargazing with Ichinose Akagi." – watching their eyes blow open and the repetitive number of questions asked she started explaining everything from the very start. Feeling suddenly exhausted and lightheaded she decided to go to bed and put aside the borrowed clothes from Ichinose.
"I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly, Happy." – Lucy brought Happy close to her as he slept peacefully, mumbling about fish dishes.
"The words still haunt me from the past, but I am going to push past it, as long as you are by my side then I will be fine, I'll return to my old self, the happy go lucky Lucy."
~Morning~
Lucy woke up groggily, not feeling that well, her head was pounding, and her surroundings seemed way too hot than usual. She sits holding her pounding head, groaning in pain, as she stands up and then walks towards the bathroom wanting to take a hot and relaxing bath, waking up Happy in the process. Lucy is sniffling and coughing, feeling haziness take over her sense of sight every time she moves around. Happy notices his partner's discomfort early in the morning. He convinces Lucy to just rest for the day as she caught a cold.
"I still have to say good morning to everyone." – she whispered walking into the elevator with Happy transformed into his human form helping her to walk and stand properly for Lucy not to fall.
"Lushiee, you need to take care of yourself more than ever." – he sighed heavily as they walked out hearing the others were talking but many were gone for work.
"Are you okay, Lucy." – Ukyo stands beside her helping Lucy to sit down on a seat in the dining room as he holds out his hand touching her forehead, checking her temperature which is hotter than usual.
"You are burning up."
"Stay home today, Lu-chan we will handle the festival today, you don't have to worry about anything just rest and relax." – little Ema smiled assuring her.
"That's right, Lucy." – Julie hopped on the table in front of her
"Happy, and I will take care of you today."
"Get better, onee-chan." – Wataru looks at Lucy with worry circling his childish eyes.
"I will." – smiling softly at the boy, who continued getting ready for school, so he won't be late.
"It'll be tough to leave you here by yourself since you are not using how our world works yet, and Happy and Julie won't be enough to take care of a grown young woman that's having a bad fever."