HELLO, HELLO! Morning everyone! I didn't expect so many reviews and that too sweet and encouraging(In their own way). Yeah, a word or two for a *cough*really sweet*cough* reviewer of my story. DON'T KILL ME! MERCY! MERCY!
Dear Lazy Author whoever you're, I thank you for such a sweet review and appreciating this fic. Please, do tell me your pen name next time you review. (I'm actually hoping you to review this time again. How optimistic of me!)
Special thanks to EternalloveHitsuHina for reviewing my fic two time. You actually did log in and reviewed my story again. Now, how many times do we find such a sweet reviwer in our lives?
And a request to all of you- Please don't cry this time! It actually makes me sad too. But I can't deny that I feel kinda happy that my fic affected you guys so much. (What a sadistic!)
Good morning- wished the morning sun as its rays sneaked into the bedroom of the raven haired boy and patted his forehead. He squeezed his eyes tight and pulled up his blanket, not willing to wake up so soon. He turned around and burrowed himself deep into the covers of his soft blanket. Instinctively, his hand slid under the pillow and took out the cell phone to check if there were any messages from him. Nada! Why do I keep behaving so silly? He isn't going to reply. Never. A tiny droplet of water escaped through the corners of his dark onyx eyes. He closed his eyes. Why is it so hard to move on? You're gone and you're not returning back. I haven't heard from you since that day. I haven't seen you in quite some time. But, still I can see your face whenever I close my eyes. You're the only one I know. He remembered all the old times he spent with that hot headed boy. I can't erase these memories and no memories could ever replace the times I spent with you.
He opened his eyes and looked at the photo frame kept on the table beside his bed- it was his favorite picture. It reminded him of yet another beautiful day.
~Flashback~
"Hey Gray, I think I've caught a fish. It's big. Damn! Gray, help me! Let's pull it out!" the cerise haired boy pulled back the fishing rod.
"Hold on!"Gray ran to lend him a hand. He gripped the rod tightly."When I say three, pull it with all you've got. Okay! One, two, threeeee!"
At the count of three, they pulled it together; Natsu started winding back the line. But, the fish proved out to be overpowering. They were driven towards the edge of the wooden dock, sliding over it. "I think we're going to faaa-ll." They were pulled into the lake and-SPLASH- they were in the water.
"God, what a feisty fish!"
"It wasn't a fish. You were trying to pull the bridge's pillar, idiot." He pointed at the pillar where the cord of his fishing rod was wrapped around. "How dumb can you be?" Gray knocked him at his head.
"Hey, that wasn't my fault! You moron!" Natsu punched him back. Gray wrapped his arm around his neck and started tightening his grip. "Say it again!" A flash of light blinded their eyes.
"What?" they looked at the blonde who was taking their pictures from the dock.
"You guys look adorable!" She looked at the photo she snapped away a moment before in her digital camera. "You should frame it!"
~Flashback-End~
Those memories were etched in his mind. Remembering old memories didn't help much, but it soothed his mind and lessened the pain in his aching heart a little, somehow. Lazily, he slipped outside of his blanket and walked into the bathroom.
Gray jogged across the roads and walked inside the school building. It was a usual day. Girls were chatting about their secret crushes, guys talking about the last night wrestling match. Everyone was busy in their own world. I could have been normal like them. Laughing and breathing. But no, I had to fall in love with an idiot like him. Gray's lips stretched to form a smile. He looked at the green grasses grown over the school ground as he was crossing it to reach for his class. He stopped before the classroom and took a deep breath before opening the door, preparing himself to be swept into the room by crazy fangirls. He stepped in but to his surprise no girl came to him squeaking and screaming his name. That's a pleasant surprise. He looked around in the class. All of them were either busy in talking or studying the topic taught in the previous class. He looked around to find the blue haired girl who would go crazy just at his sight. She was nowhere to be seen. That's strange! He walked to his seat, unaware of the stares he was getting from his classmates. He sat at his seat and slumped into it, throwing his bag at the side of his desk on the floor.
"Over here, Gray!" Lucy waved her hands to the dark haired boy in the cafeteria. She was sitting with Erza. "We're here." He walked to them and sat beside the blonde. "Where's your tray? Aren't you eating anything?"
"I'm not hungry. I had plenty in the morning. Mom made her specialty today." He lied smoothly. She looked at him for a moment to catch any lie but then after a long and observant stare, she shook her head in defeat.
"So, did you sleep well yesterday?" she asked.
"Yeah. In fact, I had a dream. A wonderful dream!" He laughed but it was hollow, anyone could tell it. He wasn't lying, however. He slept everyday and dreamt… of him and Natsu… together. But, those dreams didn't let him sleep. They kept him hanging for the hope that they would come true someday.
"I don't know what's wrong with you. But, you are not yourself these days. You won't tell me if I keep you asking, I know. And so..." Erza looked at him rather affectionately, but there was something more than just affection in those eyes. "And so, I'll beat it out from you." She clenched her fists and lurched forward.
"Erza! No! It's cafeteria!" Lucy screamed but her punch had already descended at the right spot. Crash! The table broke into two pieces. Everyone in the cafeteria started running out, screaming and shouting. The red haired girl looked at the table once the dust settled down. Gray wasn't there. He ran away!
"So, that's how you want to play. Run and hide. But, you don't know me." She mumbled to herself. "I'll find you, Gray." She screamed.
Gray was running across the school ground. He stopped on hearing Erza's loud scream. I'll find you, Gray! Damn! He thought. He kicked the pebbles lying on the ground and started walking lazily. He looked up at the group of boys standing before him. He could see a shade of pink among them clearly. Natsu? He stood there in confusion and shock, but then he ran to them as fast as he could. No doubt. It's definitely him. He could recognize that color even from very far. He stopped at a few distance before them, slightly panting. Two boys were blocking his view but as they moved aside he could see the face he'd been wishing to see again for so many days and nights. Natsu! It was him. The tears clouded his vision. They were tears of joy, they were tears of happiness, they were tears of affection and they were for the one standing right before him. The other boy didn't seem to feel his presence for he was still talking to the boys around him, laughing at their jokes occasionally. Watching him so close, Gray felt the frosts over his heart melt away. He could just stand there whole day, watching him talk, smile and laugh and he would never get tired of it. Just his presence was enough to relieve the monotony of his stupid life. He was his sunshine- he was his world, he realized. How much I depend on you! It scared him. Just a thought of spending another day without him scared him to no bounds. He stood there, watching the cerise haired boy, studying and memorizing the fine details of his face.
Natsu turned around and saw him. Gray broke his gaze instantly and looked at the other side. Geez! Why couldn't I stop staring at him? I'm such a pervert. He looked back to see the other boy but he found him going back to his class with other boys. He saw me, didn't he? But then, why didn't he come to talk to me? What's the meaning of all this? May be, he didn't see me. No, but he did. I'm very much sure. What's going on? Too many thoughts erupted in his mind but none of them were leading him to any conclusion.
He ignored me. But, that just doesn't make any sense.
"Tell me, who do you like?"
"I like you."
"What?"
"Aah! Nothing! Just…"
"I think you said you like me."
"Did I?"
"You're so funny, Gray."
That last conversation they had was engraved on his memory. It was the day when his suspicion proved out to be true. He knew Gray had grown a liking for him, not just as friends but something more than he actually showed. Natsu gazed at the sky above and relaxed over the wall of the academic building. A faint smell filled the air and he opened his eyes to look at the boy who was coming in his direction, reading a book in his hands. He saw the boy's shoulders tensed momentarily as he walked past him but he kept walking, engrossed in the book.
"You are ignoring me deliberately." Natsu spoke, smiling.
"And I thought you were dimwit." You've been ignoring me the whole day, Bastard! It's a gift to be such a loud-mouth and idiot at the same time.
"Why so cold?"
"I am always." He said looking at him. "At least, you should know that."
"Is something wrong?" he asked innocently.
How could you even be so ignorant, Natsu? Everything's wrong. What you are doing with me is wrong. What you did was wrong. You left me. You didn't reply any of my messages. You made me laugh. You made me cry. You made me love you. You really made me a pathetic person. I don't feel like myself when you're not around me. And here are we. You're asking me the same question again and again. Gray considered the idea of telling him everything-what he felt about him, how his heart beat like crazy whenever those deep dark eyes looked at him like that. I should tell him everything. Shouldn't I? No. What if he stops coming to school again? I won't be able to see him again.
"Nothing!" He rejected the idea. "I'm fine as ever. How were you doing during your vacations?"
"Eh… Vacations!" he said. "It was good. Actually very good, I must tell you." He winked at him.
"Good to hear."
"Aww~ you look so sad." he looked directly into his eyes. "Were you missing me? Eh? Tell me." he wrapped his hands around him pulling him down and messing his hair playfully.
"Stop touching me, Bastard." He slapped his hands away.
"You still maintain your reputation of being a jerk." Natsu teased him. Gray gave him a long cold stare before turning round, his nose flaring. No curses, no punches, no heated replies. Natsu looked surprised at his friend's weird behavior. But then Gray wheeled round and threw a punch at him. Natsu coughed and looked up at his attacker.
"Feel it?" Gray gritted his teeth. Natsu punched him back in his belly pushing him few steps back. The dark haired boy groaned in pain but he wasn't the one to remain silent. If he couldn't tell him his feelings for that idiot, then he'd probably beat him to crap hoping to feel a little better. He jumped at his rival and punched him hard on his face making him fall on the ground. He pounced on him and clenched his fist to deliver another punch right on his face again. Natsu closed his eyes, prepared to face the impact of the strong punch that would very soon disrupt the sharp features of his face. He waited but nothing came. He looked at the boy sitting above him whose eyes were hid behind his black bangs.
"Do you hate me, Natsu?" he asked. Natsu was taken aback by his words. What's up with this random sudden question?
"I…" his words were interrupted by the dark haired boy.
"Because I do."Gray got up and looked at Natsu for a while. "I hate myself." Natsu was still lying there, looking at him with confusion-not able to say anything when he saw his cold eyes. Gray turned round and began walking, away from him.
"I hate you." Gray stopped as the other boy spoke. "I just hate the way you smile at me, the way you look at me, the way you try to act all smart ass when you help me. I hate it when we are together. I hate how you are the only thing that occupies my mind all the time. I hate you." Gray couldn't look back at him for his words were killing him inside slowly and slowly. He hates me. I knew it. But, why do I feel so hurt when he's telling me so? I prepared myself to be just friend with him but it still hurts. I guess somewhere in my heart I still believed that he'd accept me.
"I hate you. That's what I believed and that's how I wanted the things to be." Gray was surprised at the statement.
Dad left me when I was very small. The only friend I ever had in my life left me too. They all loved me but they didn't stay too long in my life, leaving me alone in this world. The only emotion I had known was sadness.
"I was living a normal life. Then, you came. You!"
"Good morning, class!" the teacher greeted. "Today, we'll meet a new student. Let him introduce himself."
"Good morning, fellas! I'm Natsu. Yeah, just Natsu." He said casually, scratching his head. "And I love to wrestle. Yeah!" he winked. Everyone started murmuring.
"Silence!" the teacher ordered. A boy came running into the class and whispered something in his ear. "Okay class, I'm going to the principal chamber. I'll be back in few minutes. Don't go on a rampage while I'm gone. And Natsu, sit at the desk behind Erza's!" said the teacher and off he trotted. Natsu looked at the whole class. He saw an empty desk near the window. He went there and slumped over his desk. A black haired boy was sitting before him. He jerked his head up and tapped on his shoulder.
"Hey Erza!" he asked. "Don't you think your name's too girly for a guy?"
"I'm not Erza, pinky." The boy replied angrily.
"Hey! Watch your words!" he said. "Don't call me pinky, insolent bastard."
"You want to fight?" he turned around and glared at him.
"Oh yeah!"
After a few minutes, when teacher walked in, he was shocked to see the class. The desks were toppled over, the board was lying on the floor and all the students were lying on the floor with a dazed expression on their faces. In the middle of the whole mess, a red haired girl was standing tall, holding two unconscious boys in her arms.
"Situation is under control, Sir." She smirked.
"I don't remember much when it all started. When did we become rivals and friends, later... but I enjoyed each moment spent with you."
I liked the way you smile at me, the way you looked at me. If I got any trouble, I knew you'd always be there for me. You were the only one in my thoughts. But, then I realized what I was doing. I started liking you.
"And that was where I was wrong." Natsu continued.
I knew you were always watching me even if you didn't know I was watching you too. I could feel your gaze on me. The air would fill up with the delicate fragrance of yours when you were anywhere around me. I could hear you breathe. I could hear you calling my name in whispers every time whenever I walked away from you.
"You were changing me. And it scared me. So, I ran away." Far. And away from you.
"I knew it was you." The white haired girl said. "Lilies of the valley- only you used to bring it for her. Even after all these years. You visited her grave today, didn't you?" The boy didn't reply. She sat down on the chair before him. He looked cold and distant. "Tell me, what's the problem?"
"Nothing, Mira!" he said in a low voice.
"I know whenever there's some confusion in your heart, you came to talk to her and she would help you out, always. But, she's gone, Natsu! She won't come back." She said calmly. Natsu looked at her, hurt by her words.
"I know that much." He said, almost on the verge of crying. "I know."
"Natsu!" She stood up and hugged him. "We all miss her. She was a nice friend and a loving sister. Everyone loved her. But whatever is troubling you, don't let it get you down. She's not with us, but I know she won't be happy if she looks at you from there. You can't hold onto past forever. She always wanted to see a smile on your face. So, stand up and embrace the life. That's her wish."
"But, later I realized my mistake. I shouldn't have run away. I hope you do understand." I'm sorry, Gray. Please, forgive me. Please.
"Is that all?" the raven haired boy asked.
"Y-Yes." Natsu was confused at his question. Gray turned back and punched him hard that caused him to fall flat on the ground.
"I can't believe you." Gray spat. "Do you really think that I'll consider such a sorry excuse of yours?" he walked closer to him until their faces were a few millimeters apart. "Know what, I'm done with you. Good bye, Natsu." He moved back and walked away.
So many things Natsu wanted to tell him. But, nothing came out of his mouth. He didn't want him to just walk away. He couldn't. These past few days made him feel how much he missed him, even more than that how much he needed him. That day, he came back running to meet him and confess his feelings to him. He knew that he loved him and he couldn't wait to see the happiness over his face when he would tell him that the feelings were mutual. It was raining hard, but nothing could stop him. He kept running till he reached the school. But he stopped there when he saw the boy standing in the rain alone at front of him. At first, he couldn't recognize that person but when he saw the color of his hair, there was no mistaking it. It was Gray. He was crying. Natsu could feel it. He could hear the boy calling his name in between his short breaths, choking back the tears. Natsu turned around and walked away, his own tears mixing with the raindrops. He suffered such feelings of guilt over being so cruel and abandoning him and it's been on his conscience ever since.
That day I saw you crying and it felt so wrong. Natsu couldn't let him go away. I'm such a horrible person and still you love me. I made you cry and suffer pain. I was selfish. I ran away because I was afraid of the pain that you would leave in my heart if you ever left me like all others did. But it was me who left you and gave you the pain that you didn't deserve. I was afraid and I'm still afraid, afraid of nothing but losing you. But, this time I won't run away. I'll stay here with you.
He saw the files of weary students marching around the ground. "Move your feet! Left, right, left! " the loudspeakers of the PA system blared across the school ground as the red haired girl spoke into the microphone she was holding in her hands.
"She's a demon!" the students murmured under their breath.
The cerise haired boy ran to the red haired captain who was guiding the parade and snatched the microphone from her hands. "Natsu!" she said in surprise. Everyone beamed with happiness and blessed him for such a kind act of getting rid of that hideous microphone from her evil clutches.
I'll try and YOU are the only reason that I'm trying.
"Hey Ice block!" His voice cracked from the loudspeakers. "I warn you. Come back or I'll have to really play it dirty." Gray didn't stop walking despite of his warning. I won't back off, not this time. Natsu thought.
"I warned you. Don't blame me later." Natsu smirked. Gray wouldn't have stopped but it was the arrogance in his voice that made him lose his cool demeanor. He clenched his fist while walking, waiting to listen what he would say and swivel round to punch him the moment the words escaped the cerise-haired boy's mouth.
Let them hear it out!
"I love you!" the words came. What? Not only Gray, but everyone in the field was astounded to hear. Gray's firm hands fell down slowly. His body looked even paler than before, his cheeks red and eyes wide opened-staring at the empty space before him. Am I hearing things? "I love you, Gray." There, he said it again making his heart beat faster.
He loves me?
Everyone stared at Gray, awaiting his reaction. Natsu was smiling gladly, proud of his confession. Gray turned around. Everybody shivered with cold as they saw the evil aura surrounding him. Gray approached to his rival who was lost in his own thoughts and grinning happily to himself. Natsu opened his eyes as he felt a frightening shadow towering in front of him.
"So?" the cerise haired boy said. "What do you say?" Bam! He gave a sharp blow to his stomach throwing him down on the ground again. He turned away, his dark bangs covering his face. Natsu was smiling while lying down on the ground. Gray walked off the school ground but there was a small hint of smile on his face that no one other than Natsu could sense.
"And I thought they were ignoring me. You didn't even spare Juvia. You're cruel."
"Well, they had to find someone else someday because you were mine since the very beginning."Natsu gave a complacent smile. "So, I just told them to bugger off. However, Juvia was difficult to deal with." He touched his lower jaw. "I thought I had it dislocated." Gray gave a soft chuckle. "What? She's a freak. You had me almost killed. Damn you and your lunatic fangirls!" Natsu pouted like a small child. Gray laughed at his friend. Natsu looked at him happily- It had been too long he had seen him laugh like that. He laughed with him. And it had been too long that he had laughed like that. It was all because of the dark haired boy that he started feeling alive again.
"Hey Natsu!" Gray said in a soft voice. Natsu looked at him. "I love you." Gray looked at him sincerely. "And thank you for everything!"
Gray noticed an evil gleam in his eyes. Natsu took a step forward. What the …? Gray stepped backward. But, Natsu moved again and strode swiftly up to him. "Stop, there!" Gray covered his face with both of his arms. "Everyone's looking." The other boy pulled him forward by his bag's strap and wrapped his arm around his neck.
"Look at your face." He said. "I scared you to death. Did you think I was going to kiss you?" He grinned smugly. Gray felt like an idiot for behaving so illogically and mentally slapped himself. But then he realized Natsu was still holding him around his shoulders, rather closely and more intimately. It felt so good to be so close to him. He looked at his lover who was holding him and smiling at him.
"I love you too." Natsu said, all of a sudden, looking back at Gray. He smiled contentedly and leaned closer to him, letting the cerise haired boy hold him.
"Will you now tell me why did you slow down that day? You wouldn't have won, I know. But, it could have been a tie."
"You won't believe me if I tell you the truth."
"Try me!"
"Well! I loved watching you run. It was just that… How should I say…Ah…Have anyone told you how sexy your ass is."
Dear Joey103, as you can see I didn't kill Natsu! Well, I could but I won't.
FYI guys, Lisanna isn't Natsu's girlfriend in my fic.
Well AznAkatsuki, I hope you won't mind if I made Natsu claim what was his instead of Gray. Dear Lazy Author, I hope now you're happy. See, I made Gray punch Natsu for his previous mindless actions. We all love Gray!
Everyone wants a happy ending, I guess. But, things like that don't happen in real life.
This is the end. And I thank you all for reading my story and I hope you do leave a review so that I can know how you guys felt. Normally, I won't whine for reviews but I do when it's a Graysu fic.
Kisses for Natsu and Gray! I just love them.
Have a beautiful day!