Chapter 1

edited :p

Two young boys sat alone together by the river side, aimlessly throwing rocks at a perch toad that floated down the bank. The sun was setting, leaving behind a blinding display on the rippling waters; a stark orange glow that glimmered and twinkled, like a dance. The boys however found no beauty in their surroundings as it did not reflect how they felt.

"So, this is it huh?" Nine year old Natsu began, "the day all my problems disappear," he half heartedly joked as he was referred to the raven haired boy next to him, Gray.

"Not quite," said Gray, "I'm coming back you know."

Natsu didn't respond right away but instead with all his might throw a final shot at the sitting toad and missed - in his calculations - by a half a mile.

This was it. The goodbye. And Gray knew that after Natsu's mother left him, goodbyes were always so final with Natsu. Even if was a simple 'see you later' they'd exchange after spending the day with one another. Natsu would act as if it was the last time they would ever see each other. And instead of being the overly dramatic emotional kid he usually was, Gray noticed he'd become uncharacteristically distant.

"...Yeah, I know. Well," Natsu stood and dusted off his cloths, "I guess this is goodbye then." Gray too rose to his feet, panicked as he saw Natsu trying to walk away. "Bye Gray."

"Don't do this Natsu, please, not now."

"What? You're leaving and so am I. I don't want to miss dinner. "

"I-uh... Fine."

"Fine."

"Okay."

"Sure."

"Yea-"

"Whatever!" Natsu screamed throwing a punch at Gray who fell to the ground. Gray needed no recover time before he lunged at younger boy, dragging him down with him so the two could wrestle. This was an often occurrence with the young boys, but never has the fight been so brutal and so passionate.

"Squinty eyes!" Gray managed to yell as they rolled through the prickly grass.

"Droopy eyes!" Natsu heaved out, trying to get Gray's hand off his throat.

"Hot head!"

"Pale face!"

"Sakura tree!"

"Emotionless, cold hearted bastard who thinks he can just come into my life, become my best friend, and just leave me all alone again!"

They stop fighting and fell into silence and stillness. Gray eye were wide with shock and Natsu just glared up into them trying not to get confused in the dark cobalt before regaining his senses. "Get the hell off me!" He said as he shoved the latter.

Gray had expected a fight to the death. Not emotions he thought Natsu was to dense to have.

Natsu didn't look at Gray as he dusted his clothes yet again and started to walk away, this time fighting the urge to run.

Gray panicked, and for a moment didn't know what to do. What else was there to do? A fight, Natsu's most favorite activity in the world wasn't even enough to make him stay.

Gray knew he couldn't let Natsu to leave like this. He most certainly didn't want their friendship to end like this... because whenever Natsu would think of him, it would be this goodbye, so he sure as hell was going to make it count. Luckily, Gray had watched a romantic commodity with his big sister Ultear the night before, and if there's one thing he learned; it was how to keep an emotionally charged girl to stick around and come to reason.

Although, Natsu wasn't a girl... but he figured, nothing was ever perfect right?

"Wait, Natsu."

"Dude, I'm starving. I'm not sticking around to-"

Natsu was cut short by kiss.

Gray shut him up and shocked him into staying, with a kiss.

Gray was actually kissing Natsu. And although there faces where awkwardly smashed together, and Grays hands more or less pressed Natsu's cheeks together technically forcing him to pucker his lips, and the toad probably creepily watched... they were still front of a riverbank, with a killer sunset behind them and kissing! Which was overwhelmingly cliche enough for Gray to consider this moment just like in the movies... if not better.

Gray pulled back only to meet wide amber eyes that were surprisingly more shocked than mad. Taking advantage of Natsu's processing brain, he took Natsu's hand and headed for the Fullybuster estate.

Almost the entire walk to the estate the boys held hands. Only breaking contact when someone walked by or they decided to brawl.

Every now and then one child would muster up some courage and bring the other in for a small peck on the lips or cheek. Natsu's favorite kiss though, would have to be after Gray punched him in the face and he fell to the ground. Natsu was about to get up when Gray trapped him with his body, both hands on either side of Natsu's face and was looking down with that stern serious face Natsu had come to love, before he leaned in and kissed the bruise forming on Natsu cheek.

Almost to the estate Natsu was sure his face was still red from that kiss and he wondered if it would ever go back to normal. He wondered if the friendship between him and Gray would ever go back to normal. In the end, the boy decided he didn't care about his face (just so long as Gray liked it) and he welcomed all and any changes that would bring him and Gray closer.

"Well here we are..."

"Yup, here we are..."

Awkwardly Natsu slowly slipped his hand out of Grays and grab his own arm. Gray was afraid and unaware of what this meant so again he panicked.

"Natsu!" Gray suddenly yelled startling the both of them.

"Y-yeah, what is it?"

"I um... I-I r-really like you Natsu! ... I mean," deep breath, "I like you like a boyfriend and girlfriend would."

Natsu made a face of confusion that made Gray's stomach flip. He was sure he ruined it when Natsu said, "Can we do that?"

It was Gray's turn to think before he said, "I think so.. No..Maybe?" he shook his head and smiled goofily, "who cares?"

Natsu face beamed "Okay then! I like you too!" Natsu slightly raised to his tippy toes, closed his eye, and puckered his lips awaiting another kiss from his inferred boyfriend.

Gray chuckled slightly but complied. This kiss less rushed and awkward than the others but just as sweet and meaningful.

"I'll come back for you. I promise."

"I'll be waiting!"