Starbeams

Chapter one:

It has been a month since Lucy and Fairy Tail completed the clock mission. During that time, they did their normal jobs. It was very fun to be together during that month. This is the start of a new month, and this is the month where some relationships would change, especially Lucy and Natsu. Feelings that were hidden at first will be revealed.

"Oi, Lucy!" Natsu Dragneel waved towards Lucy Heartfilla, who was staring at the jobs board. Happy flew happily to Lucy.

"Ah, you guys." Lucy said, startled. "I know we just finished a mission yesterday…b-but we got to get these jobs finished." Natsu followed Lucy's gaze. There are millions of jobs waiting to be taken.

"I guess you're right…" Natsu smiled. Lucy stared at Natsu, and then looked down. Happy looked at Lucy, then Natsu, and then Lucy.

"W-what's up, Natsu?" Lucy asked, walking towards Natsu. Natsu was about to open his mouth when Gray Fullbuster came rushing to Lucy.

"Luce! I found a job, wanna try it out?" Gray said, putting his arms around Lucy's shoulders. It has been a week since he confessed to Lucy, yet Lucy still didn't come up with an answer.

"Er, who is this 'Luce' person?" Lucy said, though she knows who he was talking to. Gray laughed. Lucy took the paper from Gray and read it.

"Hmm, it does seem like it's worth it. Now that Natsu and Gray are an S-mage, I think we can pull it off." Lucy said, and looked at Natsu. "Take a look." She handed the paper to Happy, who gave it to Natsu. Natsu looked unhappy for a moment, but took the job anyway.

"What are you guys looking at? Is it a new job?" Erza Scarlet came over and snatched the paper from Natsu. "Wow, 2,000,000? That's a lot of money. But this job is hard too. 'Defeat the evil demon in the Cave of Dawn.' That's not a lot of information either, who knows how strong it is?"

"It's gonna be a piece of cake if I'm there, right, Lucy?" Natsu said, looking at Lucy, expecting a 'yes'.

"Ah... Erza, do you want to join us?" Lucy offered, not really answering Natsu. Happy patted Natsu's head in sympathy.

"I guess." Erza replied. "Now then, I better get packed." Lucy nodded. She looked back at Gray, who was teasing Natsu. Lucy smiled a bit, and inhaled.

"So, uh, Gray?" Lucy said suddenly quiet and blushing. "I-I'd like to give you my…answer to your…confession." Natsu suddenly stopped moving, so did Happy. Gray slowly walked toward Lucy.

"What…is your answer, Lucy?" Gray was suddenly serious. He closed up on her to hear her sudden small shaky voice.

"Yes…I'll be y-your girlfriend." Lucy said, blushing more. Gray laughed and hugged Lucy tight around the neck.

"Man, I almost died! That pressure, I've never felt it before!" Gray said, smiling. "Ha, Natsu! I got my darling before you! How are ya feeling now? Jealous~?" Natsu stared at Lucy then at Gray, and looked down a moment.

"Congratulations for being girlfriend and boyfriend! Gray, if I can't beat you in finding a girl, I'll be first to marry!" Natsu laughed his old mocking laugh. Happy laughed too, but it was a little forced.

"I'm very happy!" Lucy said, tears of happiness forming in her eyes. "I-I wasn't sure I liked Gray…I took a long time in realizing it. I'm really a mess, I can't tell between nakama and a crush. Even now…I…" Gray stopped laughing.

"What do you mean, 'Even now'?" Gray asked with a questioning eye. "Lucy, do you love me as a guy, or a nakama?'

"I-I think I love you as a guy, Gray. Therefore I agreed. If I didn't, why would I? I'm not that stupid! Hey, since Erza is packing, we should too, right?" Lucy blushed, laughing. Natsu got up and left without a word. Lucy look at Natsu walk out. "Ah, but the way, Natsu seems to be kind of down this week."

"Heh, I bet that brat is jealous. Let him sulk, let's pack." Gray said, smirking. Lucy nodded and walked out with Gray. Happy looked at Lucy. "She doesn't get it, does she? Well, I guess Natsu doesn't either." Happy thought. "Maybe I should talk to him…?"

Happy found Natsu by a gigantic tree, leaning against it. Happy sighed, "I knew he wasn't happy to have Lucy taken away. Just hurry up and realize!"

"Ah, Happy, is that you?" Natsu said, looking at Happy. "Oh, don't sneak up on me!"

"Natsu, you are a great person despite of your foul mouth. You are a really great nakama, I love you a lot…as a nakama." Happy said sitting beside Natsu. "Everyone knows that."

"Hey, who said I had a foul mouth?" Natsu said, not getting what Happy is trying to say.

"But because we are so close, I can sense your unhappiness, Natsu." Happy put his hand (Paw? .) on Natsu's arm. "Why are you not happy?"

"Oh, you know? Well, as expected from Happy." Natsu laughed a little, and then stopped. "I was pissed ever since Gray confessed to Lucy that day, in front of the whole guild too. I mean, how dare he confess to someone before I do? Dammit, I can't believe he got a girlfriend before me!" Natsu snapped at the Gray in his mind.

"Oh, are you sure that's the only reason you're upset?" Happy said, sighing. "Are you absolutely sure that Lucy has nothing to do with anything?

"Of course she does!" Natsu said eyes wide as if Happy didn't know something.

"Oh? So, what did I miss out on?" Happy purred. "Lead me in on it! Come on Natsu. You always tell me everything!" Natsu stared at Happy once more.

"What are you talking about, Happy? If only Lucy hadn't said yes, I wouldn't have lost. I got super damn nervous when she couldn't come up with an answer. I thought she liked him…and she does." Natsu said, looking up at the sky. "That brat thinks I'm stupid. All this time, we've always tied every match."

"Oh…is that why you think Lucy is involved? Oh, Natsu, I usually don't like to say this but…what the hell are you thinking, partner? You sometimes are just so stupid." Happy said, patting Natsu on the shoulder. "Oh well, don't take what I said to heart, it's just that I'm super annoyed."

"Don't think you can get away after you said that to me, doggie. I'm not in the mood right now, but once I recover, I'll definitely punish you." Natsu said as Happy flew away to pack for Natsu.

"Ah, so everyone is ready?" Erza asked, pulling a truck-load of luggage after her. "Alright, let's go."

"Uh…do we have to go by train?" Natsu asked, sweating. "Is it that far away?"

"Yes it is. Wendy couldn't cast a spell on you because she's on a job, so deal with it." Erza replied. She glanced at Lucy and Gray. Gray was fooling around with Lucy, twirling her hair and kissing her cheeks, while Lucy blushed and tried to shove him away. "And you guys! Save the flirting for later!"

"Roger, Erza-san!" Lucy said, smiling. "Shall we get going Gray?"

"Of course, my dear Luce-chan. You shouldn't stand there too, Natsu! Unless…you are too scared because of your motion sickness." Gray retorted.

"Don't look down on me, bitch! You think I'll lose to such little thing?" Natsu shouted, flustered and got on the train.

"I wonder what kind of 'devil' lives in this…Cave of Dawn." Lucy said, holding up the paper. "You guys are all S-rank, except me. I feel somehow left behind. I feel kind of scared…"