So this is a rewrite of my first story ever written, 'Fading Natsu'. You can read it, or you can leave it be (unless you've already read it), but I hope you like this version! And I hope it's better than the first time around.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

-FT—FT—FT-

I welcomed disappearing from this world. I welcomed relief from the pain I was constantly in. The pain that nobody ever noticed, not even once. Happy didn't notice. Erza didn't notice. Lucy didn't notice. Gajeel didn't notice. Nobody did. They never noticed how gloomy I was, despite getting into fights every ten minutes. They never saw how I was slowly fading, falling into nothing.

I almost couldn't stand it anymore. The way they pretended as though everything was alright. Sometimes I would pray that they would notice how much I'd changed, and sometimes I prayed that they would never notice, because I didn't want them to worry about me.

And they never noticed. I wasn't sure how to feel about that, but I did know one thing: I was breaking from the inside out. Is there anyone who can save me?

What I didn't know at the time, was that there was one person that could save me, one flicker of hope in my heart that had the potential to become a raging fire.

-FT—FT—FT-

Gray's POV

Natsu was pissing me off. For a month now he'd been gloomy and depressed, despite the fact that he was constantly getting into fights with everyone. Whenever he wasn't fighting, he was sitting at the bar with a glum expression on his face and a drink in his hand.

I wasn't just pissed, but worried as well. I wanted to know what was wrong with Natsu, yet he wouldn't even hold a complete conversation with anyone, not even Happy, who'd given up awhile before. After Natsu had been sitting there for about an hour with a gloomy expression on his face, I finally decided to do something about it.

I couldn't see Natsu's eyes, but I knew they would be lost in thought.

I stood up from where I was sitting and walked over to Natsu, biting back my anger. I stood in front of him and said, "Natsu, what's been up with you lately? You've been acting weird." Anger leaked into my voice.

When I got no response, my anger peaked. Either he wasn't listening to me, or he was just ignoring me. It didn't matter to me either way. I thought for a second, then decided on what I was going to do. I kicked Natsu hard in the side, sending him into the opposite wall. I was hoping that it would get Natsu angry, or just give me a reaction, but what I saw shocked me.

Natsu was looking at me with wide eyes, unshed tears glistening in them. "Natsu . . .?" I asked quietly. The room was silent. Fear and embarrassment flickered in his eyes. He was up and running before I could say anything else. I grabbed his wrist before he could get away, but instead of keeping my grip his glove slipped off, and he was gone.

I frowned, thinking. 'Since when did Natsu wear gloves?' I asked myself, but filed that away in my mind and ran after the dragon slayer. Erza, Lucy, and Happy followed after me.

Natsu's POV

I was lost deep in thought, worrying about what would happen if they ever found out about my fading and how they would react. Would they be angry with me for hiding it? Would they be a comforting family? Or would they abandon me like Igneel did? Would they just walk away from me, and pretend I never existed?

I didn't realize that I had tears in my eyes as I thought about this, nor did I hear when Gray was talking to me. I was only brought back to reality when I felt pain explode in my side and I was thrown across the room through a wall.

I looked up to see Gray. He had a stunned expression, and only then did I realize I had tears in my eyes when my vision began to blur. Embarrassment and fear rushed through my veins. I jumped up and tried to run past, but Gray caught my wrist. I jerked it out of his grip and felt the glove on my hand slip off, but ignored it and kept running.

It only took a few moments to hear footsteps pounding on the ground behind me and calls of my name being yelled. I pushed myself to run faster, to get away from them. I couldn't look them in the eye. I knew they would be disappointed in me, knew they would hate how weak I was.

So I ran as hard and as far as I could, not stopping even when I reached the forest. I heard Erza talking to Gray, telling him to leave me be, but he continued running after me. He was only one left chasing me. I eventually tripped over a root and went tumbling to the ground.

Gray came to a stop behind me. I made sure the gloveless hand was out of his line of sight and looked at the ground. "Why did you run, Natsu? No. What's been up with you lately? Why've you been acting so strange? You've been worrying all of us-"

I laughed bitterly. "Yeah right," I said. "You guys hardly even noticed how much I've changed. If you had, you would've said something instead of ignoring it." Even I was surprised at how empty my voice was.

When Gray didn't say anything I looked up. He was furious, disbelief and anger clear on his face.

"What kind of an idiot are you?!" he exploded. I flinched at the loudness of his voice. "You really think that we don't care about you?! I thought you were at least smarter than that! Don't you realize how worried we've been, how worried we've been about you?! We thought you needed space, so we didn't bring it up, but that's obviously not the case. I guess I have to say it straight to your face. We love you, all of us, and we're worried about you. Even I am."

I was stunned. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, unable to form a coherent sentence. " . . . You . . . love me?" I asked quietly, staring up at the ice mage. "I thought you hated me."

Gray's eyes widened, probably at the realization at what he said. "Oops," he muttered. "Of course I don't hate you. It may seem like that, but you're my nakama. I've loved you since I met you."

I looked down at the ground and gave a small smile. "I need some time to think. Would you mind leaving me alone for a while?"

Gray looked hesitant. "Just . . . make sure you come back," he said with a soft tone. I nodded, still not looking at him.

-FT—FT—FT-

And that's chapter one of my rewrite. I hope you liked it! Follow, favorite, review, and PM me with requests. I'm willing to change details of this story, and even the plotline somewhat if you ask me to, so throw any ideas or constructive criticism at me that you may have. You can even flame if you like.

Until next time . . .

~O'Malley out!