Chapter III

-LATER THAT TORTUROUS DAY-

Natsu's POV

I am never going to go back to that hell on earth again. No way am I am going to... I can't even think about it.

As we entered Gray's house, I suddenly remembered the box in my vest pocket.

"Gray?"

"Yeah?"

"I brought that necklace."

"Really?"

"You thought it was pretty right?"

Gray smiled, the smile reaching his black eyes. That was a pretty and rare sight.

I smiled back.

"Lisanna's birthday is in 2 weeks, I thought I would get her this as a present. I think it is nice and you think it is pretty. She is going on a mission on the day of her birthday, so I am going to surprise her tonight!"

My smile grew bigger, but I thought I caught Gray's smile flicker.

"That's great. I would go too, but I don't have a present."

"It's okay, I'll give her your wishes and tell her you wanted her to have this too."

"Alright, thanks!"

Gray smiled again.

I smiled back and left the house.

Well, that felt weird. Oh well, Lisanna's birthday! I can spend the night with her.

Why did I not feel satisfied? It is probably from all the puking.

Gray's POV

I shook my head. What was I thinking? Did I actually think Natsu was going to give that to me?

For my birthday?

Which is today...

Did I really?

It is a pretty good sign to stop.

Natsu does not love me. He is not supposed to. Stop trying to think he loves you.

But it really hurts.

I walked into my bedroom and opened up the little wooden box and unlocked it with my ice key.

The box was filled with mini ice sculptures to mark significant dates in my life. The ice in the box was very special, the colour would change according to my mood and it could never be melted. I was the only one that was able to shape the ice, and possibly melt it. Not that I ever tried or will. It was a gift from Ur.

Right now, the colour of the ice was black, but see through. It was completely black when Ur died, and no light was reflected from the ice for a couple of months.

One of the largest ice sculpture is an ice figurine of Natsu, the longer I looked at the ice sculpture, the darker the colour was getting.

I refused to let it go back to the colour of Ur's death.

I tried, like 1000 times I have before, to destroy Natsu.

To destroy the feeling I have towards Natsu.

A feeling that I have never felt towards anyone else. Or ever will.

And like the 1000 times I have tried, I failed again.

I heard footsteps and I quickly closed and hid the box, wiping all emotions off my face.

"Oh, Gray!~~" a sweet woman's voice suddenly appeared. "It is your birthday today, why didn't you celebrate?"

The already drunk women stumbled into my room.

"Hey, Erza, get a hold…" Oh whatever, "give me some of that."

"Oh, our little Gray is drinking? That's a new. I only have fire wine." Juvia popped out of nowhere.

Oh the irony.

"Give me all you got."

- SEVERAL HOURS LATER -

"You okay Gray? You seem, a bit, unstable."

"Nooo, I am fine… What are you talking about? Let's drink some more! I am not done yet!"

"Well, happy birthday!" The person talking to me didn't sound very convinced, but why do I care? Who the heck was he?

I feel my eyes blur and darkness closes in.

It was odd but I think I felt wetness on the side of my face.

Natsu.

You said you'd never forget.

To Be Continued.