Chapter 2

Two days later and the reconstruction for the Fairytail guild and the rest of Magnolia was going strong. There was just one problem…

"Naaatsuuu!" Happy called as he flew around everyone who was working hard to rebuild the guild. "Has anyone seen Natsu?" the blue cat asked Gajeel who was lifting a large wooden beam.

"No, I haven't seen that idiot around. You don't know where he is?" the dragon slayer wondered, as a few other guild members gathered around.

"I haven't seen him since the battle! I'm really worried about him!" the blue exceed exclaimed, eyes watering. "Has anyone seen him?"

Gray was working nearby, listening in to the conversation but not adding to it. He was feeling bad for turning Natsu down, wondering if he was being truthful about this mate thing. Maybe he should ask one of the other dragon slayers about it. With that decided he walked over to where Wendy was busy picking up rubble and moving it out of the way. Before he could chicken out, he took a deep breath and began. "Hey Wendy…"

Wendy paused what she was doing, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Yes Gray-san? Can I help you with something?"

"I hope so… yesterday Natsu told me I was his mate. I was pissed because he said he's known since we were kids that I was his mate, but I was wondering if you could tell me more about it." the ice mage explained, hoping to get some answers. "Is it true that dragon slayers have mates or whatever?" He asked, hoping Natsu hadn't been pulling his leg, because then he'd look like an idiot.

Wendy smiled. "Of course it's true. I'm glad he finally told you. But I'm surprised he let you out of his sight so soon after the claiming." the younger girl said thoughtfully.

"Claiming?" Gray asked. "He hasn't claimed me. I told him that I didn't want to be with him after the battle a couple of days ago." Gray admitted, removing his shirt and tossing it on the ground, not even aware of what he was doing.

"You WHAT?!" Wendy exclaimed. "Why would you tell him that? Any dragon slayer can tell you love him, just by your scent!"

Gray, feeling a little foolish because apparently every dragon slayer he'd ever met knew how he felt. It wasn't even a secret, everyone probably knew by now. "Because he kept it a secret our entire lives! Why would he lie to me like that!"

Suddenly Gajeel spoke up. With his advanced hearing, he heard the entire conversation. "I'm sure that idiot had his reasons, but it doesn't matter now. If you rejected him two days ago he probably doesn't have much time left. If a dragon's mate rejects them, the dragon will die from the heart break."

"No Naatsuu! I don't want him to die! Gray, please you've got to help him! Don't you love him Gray?" Happy cried, clinging to Gray's bare arm.

Gray felt sick. Of course he loved that flame brain bastard. And he was going to give him a chance after the town got rebuilt, he didn't want him to die! He had to find Natsu before time ran out!

"Gajeel, can you smell Natsu? I've got to find him!" Gray begged, trying not to go into hysterics. Gajeel inhaled deeply through his nose.

"He's in the forest, next to the river." Gajeel said. "But I would hurry if I were you. He doesn't smell good at all."

Gray took off, running as fast as he could. Happy went to follow him, but Wendy stopped him. "If Natsu is able to claim him, you won't want to be there when it happens."

"Hahaha yeah, you definitely don't want to be there while they're getting it on. Levy and I were at it the entire day when I claimed her." Gajeel bragged. "I feel sorry for that stripper though. Men don't lubricate naturally like women do. It's gonna hurt like hell. That's only if that flame idiot tops. Who knows, he may be a carrier."

Wendy blushed, hoping Natsu wouldn't be too rough with Gray, or the other way around as they watched the ice mage run to the forest. "Good luck Gray-san."