OH MY GOD. KILL ME. I AM SO SORRY. I HAVEN'T UPDATED FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. KILL ME, PLEASE, KILL ME!
MiraJane's eyebrows creased as she folded her arms. "That boy has problems, I tell you! Telling everyone off like that."
Gray clenched his fists, staring down at his feet. "It's been two years since we've had a fight."
Juvia consoled him silently, resting her head on his shoulder.
Macao rubbed the back of his head, his mustache twitching with unease. "And to think how much Natsu has changed. . ." His eyes flitted to Romeo, who was sitting on the wooden steps, his face buried into his arms. He sighed mournfully.
Levy pressed her lips into a thin line. "It's not his fault." She spread her arms out for emphasis. "Lucy's death impacted all of us. It just hurt Natsu the most." She spoke in defense for the fire dragon slayer.
At that moment, the guild doors creaked open, Lisanna Strauss's head poking out. She contemplated the room, sensing the dark mood in the room.
"H-Happy Birthday," Elfman said weakly.
"Lisanna. . ." Erza stepped forward, keeping a straight face.
"Yes, Erza?" The shape-shifter's voice trembled when she addressed the Titania.
"He's not here." Erza said, her voice ringing through the guild, loud and clear.
Lisanna's lips pursed, processing what she said. It finally hit her and she whispered, "W-What?" Lisanna held a hand to her mouth, trying to contain the tears that could spill at any moment.
And on her birthday too. . . . Erza gripped her fist tightly as Lisanna began to sob softly.
Happy flew through Magnolia, his eyes scanning the stores and shops. He scratched his ears, perplexed. "Where's Natsu. . . " He grumbled to himself. He had been sent out to look for him when Natsu still hadn't come to help out with the party.
"Why me?" He had whined, dropping on his knees in front of Mira. "I want to give Carla my fish!" He had held out the fish that the butcher had given to him for free. It was the biggest fish he had ever gotten, and he was anticipated to give it to his lover. It was wrapped in a large pink bow, that flopped when Happy had lifted it.
Mira bent down, a sad smile on her face. "I know how you feel, Happy. But, without Natsu, we can't finish up the decorations. Could you please look for him?"
Happy sighed. He liked Carla. . . but his fire dragon slayer companion came first. "Alright. . " He had sprouted wings and flown out of the guild.
And here he was now, searching for him. "Mou. . ." Happy whimpered, floating in midair. His paws were drooped as he stayed in one place. He was beginning to lose hope. And Lisanna's party could start any moment now.
He flew down an alleyway, his eyes flitting around. The walls were covered with multi-colored graffiti, and Happy could feel himself tense up. He wasn't supposed to be here, was he? He fixated his gaze forward, expecting the corridor to end sometime.
It kept going, and it took all of the blue feline's willpower to keep flying through. And he could've sworn that he heard whispers. The voices increased in volume, making Happy fly faster.
He squeezed his eyes shut, flying with all his might, wishing the voices would disappear.
"A flying cat?" Happy stiffened and whirled around at the sound of a gruff voice. The whispers faded into nothing.
A man was leaning against the front of a large dumpster, which emitted all sorts of terrible odors. He wore a black tuxedo, with its color clearly faded. He wore a hat on his head to match, which drooped to the left, covering his right eye.
He did not wear shoes, as far as Happy could tell, and the cat wrinkled his nose in disgust. He held a cigarette in between his charred fingers, and smoke was relinquished from his mouth. "How interesting. I didn't think magicians were capable of making things sprout wings."
"I'm a mage myself." Happy spat at the man, not able to contain his irritation. "I was born with wings!"
"Oh, really?" The man muttered in amusement, only increasing Happy's indignation. He brought the cigar to his mouth.
Happy stared at him, debating on whether or not he should claw his eyes out of their sockets. Hmm, maybe he knows where Natsu is. . . . The chagrin drained from his body. He sheathed his wings, and they disappeared in a blink. He walked over to the man, who was blowing out the smoke.
"Have you seen my friend?" The blue exceed asked softly, his paws swinging at his sides.
The beggar grunted. He stayed silent for a while, still inhaling the smoke from the cigar, and released it from his chapped lips. Happy was about to give up and abandon him, when he finally spoke, "Pink-hair?"
"Yes," Happy said eagerly. "Has he been around here?"
The beggar cocked his head to one side, his eyebrows furrowing. "Yes. Yes he has. He went down the alley a couple minutes ago, before you arrived." He lifted a finger to indicate the corridor that apparently went even further into darkness.
The blue cat groaned, and hung his head. "I don't want to go down there." He mumbled, sweat-dropping at the thought.
The man in the tuxedo snorted, bringing the cigar to his lips once more. "And why not?"
"Because, it's scary!" Happy whined, covering his ears with his paws. "And I heard weird voices on the way here. . "
The beggar stiffened, in the middle of exhaling the fumes. Happy frowned. He clearly knew something. Not wanting to waste any more time, the exceed clenched his teeth, and his wings appeared on his back. He ascended into the air, and turned around and waved at the beggar. "Thanks for the help, mister," He called, the distance increasing between them.
The beggar simply stood there, a fixed stare on the exceed.
Happy couldn't shake of the feeling that a strange aura came from the man. It wasn't bad. It was just. . . strange. Oh well, I guess I got to keep going. He sighed, and willed his wings to go faster as he picked up speed.
I'M GOING TO STOP WRITING IN CAPS. More chapters coming up, I promise.