This freakin chapter is nearly 3x the length of the first one, but I couldn't figure out where to cut it off...
Anyway, this is sort of the end of the 'prologue' section.
Chapter 2:
Gray looked around the Fairy Tail guild hall from his spot at the bar and sighed.
"Is everything okay, Gray-sama?" Juvia inquired, sitting next to him.
He grunted in response. "Yeah. I just don't think I can get used to this quiet. Who am I supposed to fight with?" The guild wasn't exactly quiet, it never was. Various members bickered or yelled conversations. Cana was loudly laughing at something. But there were some key ingredients that were missing. It had been two months since Lucy had disappeared and Natsu had run off after her. He hadn't expected them to be gone for this long. He'd expected Natsu to find Lucy and drag her back within a week. And Makarov hadn't let anyone go after them.
Gray sighed again, then turned back to talk to Juvia.
"I'm bored. Want to go on a job?" He raised an eyebrow as the Water Girl squealed and fainted in response.
Three months to the day since their disappearance. Gray mentally marked this fact before turning back to his meal. It was mid morning and the reasonably quiet guild was functioning as normal. There was a bit of quiet bickering, and some chatter, but with less than half the members present at this time of day, it felt empty. Not that Gray minded. He was sitting at a table with Erza, Wendy and Juvia, quietly discussing which job they should do and when they should leave. However, when the discussion stopped as Gray cut off halfway through a sentence to stare at a sight he thought he'd never see again. The girls turned to follow his gaze, and gasped. Standing in the entrance to Fairy Tail was a pink-haired Dragon Slayer; Natsu.
He walked down the centre of the hall, towards the bar.
Erza responded first. "Natsu!" She yelled. "Where the hell have you been?"
Natsu looked at her, seemingly in a daze. But his eyes refocused and he gave a small smile at them. "Yo."
Gray rose. "Don't 'yo' us, flame-brain. Where were you? Where's Lucy? Did you find her? Why haven't you come back until now?"
Natsu chuckled, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. "Yeah, found her quickly. But it's a bit complex from there." His smile fell into a small frown. "Where's Gramps? I need to talk to him."
"Natsu." Apparently Mira, having sighted the returning wizard, had run to get the guild's Master, who was now standing on one end of the bar. "Come. Talk to me."
Natsu shot another quick smile at his friends before walking over and sitting on a stool in front of the old man.
Gray looked on as Makarov and Natsu talked to each other in low voices. They were quiet enough that even Wendy, with her Dragon Slayer hearing, couldn't pick up what was being discussed. It seemed the Master was asking a few questions, but Natsu was doing most of the talking. And they obviously didn't want anyone else to hear. Gray twitched in annoyance. The guy disappears without an explanation, shows up out of nowhere and still won't tell them what's going on.
Finally, it seemed like the conversation was over. Gray was still expecting Lucy to walk in at any moment. Natsu had found her, so where was she. Was she hurt? No, Natsu wouldn't be so calm if she were. He was interrupted by his thoughts by Wendy's voice.
"Natsu, are you leaving again?"
Gray jumped "What? Seriously? You're not staying?"
Natsu shook his head. "Sorry. Lucy can't come back yet and I need to stay with her. I just came back to tell Gramps what was going on. I'll probably be back again in about half a year."
Erza cleared her throat and Gray looked at her to see a very un-Erza look on her face; nervousness. "Natsu… Why can't Lucy come back? Will you tell us what is happening?"
Natsu shook his head in response. "Can't. Not yet. Don't have time." He looked at the small group for a second before letting loose his infamous grin. "We won't stay away forever, I promise. Even if it takes a few years, we'll come back."
The grin stayed on his face as his turned back towards the door, waving back at them without turning back. "See you!"
The four guilds wizards stared at the door that their friend has disappeared through for the second time, disbelieving.
Gray entered the guild and approached the bar where Erza was pacing back and forth while Juvia watched.
"What's up with her?" He questioned as he got to them.
Erza answered before Juvia. "He's late!"
"Who?"
"Natsu! He said he'd be back in half a year. It's 2 days more than 6 months, so he's late."
Wow, had it been 6 months already? Gray thought back to the last time they'd seen the hothead.
"Erza, he said 'about'. Natsu's never been on time in his life. It's no reason to freak-" He cut off as Erza swung to glare at him, her piercing eyes giving him a familiar sense of fear. "Nevermind."
It was late evening, most of the guild was in eating dinner and drinking after a hard day of work. Or a hard day of drinking, in Cana's case. Master Makarov was on the bar, as usual, watching Erza with amusement. Gray could see Wendy sitting with Levy, Gajeel and the two remaining Exceeds. Happy had gone with Natsu, but they hadn't seen him last time either. Erza was right, Natsu had said he'd be back around this time, but there hadn't been an exact date set. Gray figured it was better to just relax and wait. Natsu would show when he wanted.
Suddenly Gray noticed the silence. The entire guild had stopped and was staring at a figure who had just entered. Natsu.
He looked odd in normal clothes; dark baggy jeans, black combat boots, and an orange t-shirt under a red jacket. But there was no mistaking who it was with his spiky, pink hair and slanted, dark eyes. Gray realised that nearly no-one in the guild had seen him the last time he'd shown up, and was seeing the missing, legendary Salamander for the first time in over 9 months. And he'd just casually sauntered in like no time had passed.
Gray was more distracted by the fact that he looked stressed.
"Yo, again." He waved in the direction of Gray and Erza.
Erza stormed up to him. "You're late, Natsu! It's two days more than 'half a year'!"
Natsu flinched. "Aye. Sorry Erza."
"Welcome back, Natsu." Makarov looked unsurprised. "What do you need?"
Natsu stepped back slightly from Erza and headed towards the Guild Master. His eyes flicked over the room as he walked towards the old man.
"Hey, Wendy! I need to ask you a favour."
The small Sky Dragon Slayer jumped and scrambled to join Natsu and Makarov as they moved to a far corner of the hall to talk in private.
Again. Gray thought. We're not getting any information again. He scowled. The silence had been broken as the guild dissolved into chatter, though it was still quiet and mostly consisted of speculation.
After a short, seemingly urgent, back and forth between the three in the corner, Natsu leaned back with a smile, ruffling Wendy's hair. The girl looked excited and nervous at the same time. Both Dragon Slayers turned away from Makarov and headed back down the guild.
Gray hailed Natsu before he got too far away. "Not staying again, Hothead?"
"Not yet, Ice Princess" Natsu laughed.
"When you back next?"
Natsu thought for a moment. "Hm… 4 weeks."
"To the day?"
"Yeah, otherwise Erza will kill me."
"Are you bringing Lucy then?"
"Dunno. Up to her. I really have to leave now. See you 'round."
He resumed his exit, Wendy falling into step next to him.
"Charle!" Wendy called. "We're going with Natsu for a bit. Come on."
Juvia looked at Gray once they'd left. She'd spent the whole encounter just watching. Lucy was her friend (especially since she was no longer a love-rival) and she was a bit worried about why Natsu was taking the girl who wielded healing magic with him.
"Gray-sama, why is Wendy going? Do you think Lucy needs healing?"
"I don't know, Juvia. I think if Lucy was that hurt, Natsu wouldn't be here without her. But I hope we see her soon."
Wendy returned to Fairy Tail three days later, but neither her nor Charle would spill any information on where they'd been or why Lucy was still nowhere to be seen. She was hounded mercilessly for information before Mira finally stepped in, rescuing the poor bluenette who was becoming increasingly frantic in an effort to keep her secret. Eventually the guild members gave up, figuring they would eventually learn the truth.
Exactly four weeks later, Natsu returned, as promised. It was late afternoon when he stumbled in the door. Gray was sitting with Erza. Wendy, Gajeel and Juvia had gone on a job together, and Cana had left with Elfman and Lisanna. In short, there was nearly none of their usual friends to pass time with. He and Erza and only come back from a job earlier that day that they'd been on for a week. Erza had insisted that they return today as Natsu was scheduled to come back. Gray was surprised that he was actually on time. Even more surprising was that he walked over to them and slumped in on the chair next to the scarlet-haired Requip Wizard.
"Well done, Natsu! You're on time." Erza praised him.
Gray was less kind. "You look like shit." Brutal honesty. Natsu's pink hair was flatter than usual, his movements less graceful, and his face looked drawn.
Natsu scowled back at him. "I haven't slept properly in 3 weeks. You'd look like shit too."
Mira wandered over with a flaming mug. "You look like you need a drink, Natsu." She smiled as she handed it to him. He sent her a grateful smile as he accepted it. "I'll let Master know you're here."
"Thanks Mira."
"So, why are you not sleeping?" Erza asked as Mra walked away.
This caused Natsu to break out in a wide grin. "Can't tell you." He said as he winked at them.
"Seriously? Still?" Gray was irritated again. He really wanted to know what all the secrecy was about. Why wasn't he trusted with this information?
Natsu just nodded. "Still. Sorry."
Gray snorted. "Fine. How's Lucy? She still doesn't want to see us?"
Natsu frowned slightly. "Of course she wants to see you. But something has come up and she can't travel far right now." He looked at their worried faced. "Don't worry, she's fine. I wouldn't be here if she was in any danger at all. You know that."
The other two wizards relaxed. "That's good to hear." Erza smiled.
"Natsu!" It seemed Makarov had arrived. "Come! Tell me!" He looked excited.
Natsu's huge grin returned. He whipped back his drink before jumping up and going to talk to him.
Gray sighed. They weren't going to find anything out anytime soon.
The secret conversation didn't last long and Natsu started to leave again. For the first time in this situation, Makarov called after him.
"Natsu. Are you sure you're not going to stay the night? You could do with some sleep."
"Nah. Can't leave them for long."
"You won't sleep on the train."
"Eugh. Don't remind me. Sorry, Gramps, I want to go back as soon as I can."
He waved at Erza and Gray again as he suddenly ran out of the guild.
They both looked at Makarov as he sighed, then spoke.
"I don't think we'll see either of them for a few years now. Don't hold your breath."
