"Do you think Natsu is alright Mira?"
Lucy was sitting at the bar in the guild house, staring down at her glass of water. Natsu had taken a job without telling anybody, even Happy. That was two weeks ago, and nobody had heard from him since. Lucy had heard whispers around the guild that he had finally found Igneel, and had abandoned the guild. Others said he had died, or that he was captured and unable to escape. None of the rumors comforted Lucy.
"I'm sure he's fine Lucy. Nastu's a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"I know, it's just that it's not like him to take a job without telling anyody, and not give any word of where he is or how he is."
There were a few people looking at Lucy with pity filling their eyes. Everybody knew that the two of them were the closest friends you could find anywhere, but everybody could see that Lucy loved her team mate more than she was willing to admit. The same went for Natsu. It was obvious to everybody, even Happy, that the two were nuts for eachother. Lucy could calm Natsu when nobody else could, and he could pull her out of her occasional depressed stated where not even Levy could get to her.
Mirajane smiled softly at Lucy, not envying the girl one bit for the pain she was going through. That was when the master jumped down from the railing above directly onto the bar in front of Lucy. He had obviously been crying, and he was gripping an letter in his hand tightly.
Lucy jumped as the master landed in front of her, a look of worry instantly coming across her face.
"Whats wrong master?"
He held up the letter with a shaking hand, not meeting her eyes. She took the letter and read it, her face turning pale as snow. She let out a sob, dropping the letter on the bar and running out before anybody could say anything to her.
Mirajane picked up the letter, reading it as the master turned his face to the rest of the members present.
"As you all know, Natsu recently took a job without informing anbody. The letter I just recieved was from the Council."
Everybody stop talking at once, knowing full well that a letter from the Council bemt something bad had happened. Behind the master, mirajane was obviously fighting off tears, the letter forgotten in her hand. The master went on.
"They have informed me that Natsu" He stopped, seeming to compose himself before he went on.
"That Natsu, is dead."
A collective gasp was heard, quickly turning to hushed murmers, most of which were about Lucy and how she must be feeling. Grey, Erza, Levy, and Happy all got up at once, running out the door to Lucys appartment.