Gray
Icy wind sent shivers up her spine. Lucy hugged herself as she trekked along with her companions. She still felt cold despite the thick coat she wore. The three of them had almost reached the end of the trail that wound through the pass of snow-capped mountains. Winter was closing in and the weather showed its change of mood in its breath. The trees had shed their leaves and turned into skeletal specters. In a month's time, this trail would be impassible, clogged with snow.
The wind tugged at Lucy's gold curls. Happy had buried himself in Natsu's scarf. The Dragonslayer's steps were sure. The temperature wasn't cold enough to batter through his tough body. Thinking of that, Lucy remembered how he had walked through a snowstorm when they had their first adventure together, searching for Romeo's father, Macau. He dressed the same as he did now, with the thick dragon-scaled like scarf looking somewhat strange alongside the sleeveless jacket he wore.
Lucy sighed. Her thought drifted back to the present. "I'm happy you only managed to destroy a mansion this time, else the money we warn is never enough to cover for the damages you cause."
"What does it matter?" Natsu said with a huge grin. "We got the job done."
"And we destroyed the government's office too," Happy cut in.
"The government's office?" Lucy said, her eyes widening as she numbly repeated Happy's words.
"Aye!"
"Not aye!" she howled. They had chased the culprit into a random building and she had not the time to check her surrounding. She cocked her head with a dazed look on her face, not that she could have stopped Natsu in time anyway. That guy, with an intensely childish look, was bent on taking revenge for being outsmarted by the culprit over a puzzle.
Lucy checked herself, suddenly realising someone was missing. She turned around. Gray had fallen behind.
"What's up Gray?"
The ice mage did not reply. Deep in thought, he halted his steps, his gaze on something down below. Lucy's gaze followed his. A lone house sat at the foot of the mountain.
Gray abruptly moved, walking past Natsu and taking the lead.
"Hey, I'm not gonna lose to you!" Natsu called, true to his competitive nature, and quickened his pace.
"Wait up you two!" Lucy shouted, hurrying after them.
It was a run-down house. In its derelict state, one sneeze seemed to be enough to break its brittle-looking timber apart. Gray stood in front of the house, staring at it with a faraway look in his eyes.
"Oh, what's this?" Natsu said, oblivious to Gray's unusual behaviour. He walked up to the door and pushed it open. Surprisingly, the door did not break at his touch. It squeaked open on rusty hinges.
The flame mage gave a loud sneeze. Lucy peered in at the doorway. She held her nose at the stale air. Thick dust covered the furniture in the house. Though it appeared no one had lived here for a long time, she could tell from the positioning of things that its owner had left in a hurry. Eating utensils piled up in the kitchen sink. A few books lay strewn on the table and benches. A dust covered coat was draped over a chair.
"What's this?" she said in a small voice.
A quiet voice answered her. "Ur's house."
"Huh?"
Gray stood beside her, facing the doorway.
"Ur's………."
"From the time when she left with Leon to search for me."
His face was calm, but she sensed the underlying sadness and regret in his demeanor.
"So this is the house you used to live in," Natsu said, trying to dust off the white coating one of the chairs.
The chair fell apart into crumbled wood.
Natsu jumped back. He swiveled his head around to look at Gray.
"I… I didn't do anything. I was just –"
"Natsu," Lucy wailed.
But the expected fight did not occur.
"You two head back to the guild. I want to say here a bit," Gray said, still calm. He cast his gaze around the room.
"O-Oi," Natsu responded with a furrow between his eyes. "Lucy, let's go." He was keen to get out with Gray relenting. He stole through the door and grabbed Lucy's hand.
"Hey…" she protested, unsure of the sudden turn of event. She turned her head around as Natsu pulled her away, and saw Gray's back, a lone back that appeared to melt into the picture of frozen time.
"Gray…"
One year had passed.
"Gray…"
One year since Gray's disappearance.
OOC: This is my first Fairy Tail fanfic. Many old and some new characters will come into play. If you haven't read passed Chapter 163 and don't want to be spoiled, don't read this story.
I'm writing this story out of my passion for Fairy Tail. I hope it'll be an enjoyable journey for both me and you readers. Reviews are welcome.
As the old saying goes: Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. :D
