Quiet Like The Snow

~I'm So Sorry...~

I stared at Natsu for a moment. Not comprehending or believing what I was seeing. I crawled on my hands and knees toward him agonizingly slowly. Not even noticeing the biting cold that nipped at my bare palms and completely ignoring the man beside me.

I only saw Natsu...

His eyes were open and staring up at nothing. His emerald eyes were now dull. Too dull. "No...No, no, no!" I screamed hoarsely. This couldn't be happening...This couldn't be happening!

I grabbed my cloak and, uncaring about the cold, ripped it off. I put my cloak over the wound and pushed. I left the dagger in, if I removed it, then there would be nothing holding back the blood. He would just bleed out more and his chance of survival would decrease greatly. I couldn't allow that.

"H-hey Natsu. Come on...wake up...Please." It was nothing more than a raspy whisper. I waited...and waited... For anything. I murmur of breath. A whisper of words. Anything.

I received nothing.

Nothing.

Natsu never moved.

He was as quiet as the snow.

Already my cloak was soaked through with blood, darkening it further. There seemed to be no end to the amount of blood that was leaving him. His face was so very pale...and his body had gone cold. His once warm skin had grown so shockingly cold. There was no heat coming off of him.
That couldn't be right. Natsu was always warm. He-he was never cold. Nothing...I lifted my head to the grey sky and screamed. I screamed. And screamed. And screamed.

I screamed as my heart broke. Then shattered. Tears ran down my face in an never ending flow. I was dying inside. I bent my head and touched my forehead with his.

"Natsu...Natsu!" I sobbed. His lifeless eyes kept staring up at nothing. With a sob I gently closed his eyes with the tips of my fingers. He would ever open them again. I would ever get to see those dazzling eyes light up with laughter ever again. A soft voice in the back of my mind still whispered that he was okay. Natsu was always okay. No matter the battle or how hopeless any situation seemed. Natsu always walked away with a triumphant smile on his face. So, this...this was the same as all the other battles. He would soon get up and walk away with that same smile. He would get up, smile at me, grab my hand, and we would keep on fighting.

He's just sleeping.
He's cold only because of the weather. This isn't his blood.
It's the enemy's blood.
He's okay...he's okay...

The voice soon vanished after another moment of just waiting for him to open up his eyes and wake up. That's when it all just finally clicked.

I would never see his beautiful smile again.

Never hear his joyous laughter ever again.

I would never hug him...hold him.

Another gut wrenching sob left me. I hugged him closer to me. Refusing to let him go. Refusing to believe...to even consider the possibility that he was gone. He can't be gone...he can't be.

"Well, this is depressing." A care free voice said from behind me.

Hands wrapped around me and I lost my grip when the bastard threw me back. I rolled across the snow and looked up once I had dug my fingers into the snow. The unidentified powerful Mage stood before me...with a cold smirk on his face.

Rage.

Boiling, hot rage entered my weakened body. I could feel my muscles tense up as my blood began to boil. My eyes narrowed into stilts as I cocked my head to the side baring my teeth at him. I clenched my teeth tightly and snarled at him. I slammed my hand into the snow and pushed myself up.

Without a care he brought up his leg and before I could block he kicked out. His leg came around and connected with my chest. I reeled back with the blow and I fell heavily on my back. I gasped and twisted to see where the Dark Wizard was.

He was right above me.

I let out a howl of rage and swung at him with my fist. He easily caught my wrist, bent down, and ripped Natsu's scarf off of my neck. My heart stopped and picked up at the sight of him holding the white cloth. My eyes narrowed and I reached out to take the scarf back.

I couldn't let this bastard have it!

Natsu...he would need it when he woke up.

The Dark Wizard smirked down at me and punched me in the side of the head. My head jerked to the side as a small gasp escaped my lips. I fell back into the snow, breathing hard.

With as much strength as I could muster, I slowly lifted my head.
My eyes already scanning the area for the man who was no longer above me. However when I spotted him I wished that he had stayed.

"NO!" I screeched. He was beside Natsu, staring down at him. "Leave him alone!" I scrambled up and took a staggering step forward.

He didn't even take his eyes off of Natsu when he slowly lifted his hand and Magic surged up. "Please." I heard him scoff. His Magic grew in the palm of his hand and then it was coming right at me.

I tried to move but I wasn't fast enough. It smacked into me and I flew back. I landed hard in the snow once again. My head smacked onto a hard pack of ice and I heard a sharp crack! When my head connected. I opened my mouth and a inhuman sound came out.

I slowly opened my eyes but my vision wouldn't focus. I could see a blurry form crouch down beside the blurry form of Natsu and then blinding white light lit up the place.

I narrowed my eyes as the white light slowly disappeared. I blinked my eyes rapidly as black dots began floating around my eyes. I could barely make out the man's figure, as he got up from his crouched position. Then the form turned, brought up his hand, and looked over his shoulder at me.

"See you soon, Fey."

With a wave of his hand he disappeared. I coughed and more blood fell. I gasped and tried to get up. I got up on my knees and slumped down holding my side.

"Natsu." I muttered. With the last of my strength I got to my feet but swayed. I took a step and almost collapsed with pain. But I clenched my teeth and slowly walked forward after I had picked myself back up.

Once I was close enough I fell and crawled the rest of the to him. I collapsed on top of him and wrapped my arms around his middle. Something warm and wet soaked my shirt in an instant.

Blood.

Another heart-wrenching sob left me. "Natsu..." I whimpered. I...never got to tell...you... A tired sob left me.

I battled to keep my eyes open. "H-help...someone...please. He's...Natsu's not...breathing." I choked out as my voice cracked on every word. My voice was barely above a whisper. My body seemed unnatural heavy. I was slowly but surely fading away. I clenched my teeth and slammed by fist into the snowy ground.

No...I would not die. Not yet, not when Natsu still needed me. With jerky movements, I slowly lifted my head, and hand. I extended my arm and called for one of my daggers. One of them came flying toward me from where it had dislodged itself from one of the fallen men's chest. I wasn't strong enough to call for both of them. I needed as much Magic Energy as I could get.

With my dagger clutched firmly in my hand, I weakly lifted myself off of Natsu's still body. I stared down at him as I put the tip of my dagger against his chest. This...this could kill me. I would be completely sucked dry of all my Magic if I did this. With my bleeding wounds, that would only only make things worse for me.

I looked at Natsu's still face as my dagger began to glow. But, I would give and do anything for him.
Die. Live. Heal. Kill.

Anything and everything, as long as he stayed with me. As the icy blue light began to glow brighter around us, I began to chant under my breath. I began to draw lightly on Natsu's chest. I slowly brought my dagger around him in a circular motion. Where my dagger touched him, there was a glowing blue line left behind. Once the circle was complete, I then gently slashed an X across the circle.

"Secret Art of the Twin Daggers: Heal!"

I could feel my Magic flowing out of me and flowing into him. Icy blue light exploded all around us and completely engulfed us from view. But I didn't close my eyes. I was afraid if I did, then Natsu would vanish, and the spell would stop. My eyes stayed glued onto his face as the icy light began to crawl over his body, then slowly up his face, and then it engulfed him fully. This time I had to shut my eyes from the sudden flare of light.

Just as soon as the light had begun, it stopped. I slowly blinked open my eyes as exhaustion crashed into me. With the last of my strength, I looked at Natsu's face. I was waiting to see him smiling. To hear him laugh. To hear him say my name. To make a sound. Any sound.

Nothing.

He
Never
Moved.

I...failed. I thought to myself numbly as I slowly began to fall forward. My cheek fell onto his chest and still I waited. I waited for the rise and fall of his chest. To hear his steady and deep breathing. To feel his warm arms wrap around me.
I...couldn't save...you...

My eyes slowly fell shut until they were open halfway.
I watched as a snowflake slowly fell from the grey sky, swayed, and then landed on the blood soaked snow...

My eyes fluttered and then closed.

I needed temporary bliss.

I needed to escape. To forget this everlasting pain.

So I emptied my mind, gripped Natsu tighter, and slipped into the welcoming darkness as the snow fell around us.

I couldn't save you...Natsu...I'm so sorry...