Story Title: All Our Children Dreams
Rating: T
Owned characters: Hotaru. (Mine forever)
Pairings: NatsuXGray
Warnings: SHounen Ai/Yaoi, language.
Author Note:
Great Lord. I apologize to you like a crazy writer would apologize. I have been ignoring this story for long, NOT because I care-less about it. Guys, many of you are asking me if I will continue the story and stuff, and I want to say that I do-NOT write a story to be discontinued. I might delete something if I wasn't sure, but If the readers are taking interest in this story, why would I discontinue?! Please, don't pull that bomb on my again. It's just that I update each of my stories when the mood is in it's presence, otherwise, I will write total-crap. (That If I don't already do that.)
About this chapter: I've got this newest chapter to be beta-ed by my recent lovely beta reader. I am so so so sorry for the horrible mistakes in the previous chapters. It was an EYE BURNER, and I don't know how you guys tolerated reading it like that. I would've killed myself, and-I-AM-killing myself, because now I am the reader and the writer. Sorry you guys, I hope you would forgive me. AND I hope you have a free-mistakes-good-time-fanfic.
Ok, sorry for being so late. And thanks for all of those who motivated me to write this next chapter.
This FanFic is just for entertainment. I don't own Fairy tail whatsoever.
... Chapter starts...
Young eight-years-old Lucy sat in the middle of the living room of Natsu's house. She was curled around herself in a chair, with a minor scratch under her left eye, a bruise turning to a blue color on her right arm, and her blonde strands of silky hair were tousled in many different directions. The once clean sleeveless orange dress on her had blotches of dirt and some torn edges, and overall, her face was hot, puffy red, rendered with the wet tears that kept rolling down violently.
Igneel's heart clenched at the girl's sobbing broken voice. His crimson eyes showed disappointment. Although he taught the girl how to stand up and fight for herself, she couldn't do much in front of her attacker and it pained him. In his eyes, Lucy was nothing but sweet, and he didn't know why anyone in their right state of the mind would hurt her at all.
He kneeled down in front of her and caressed her wet cheeks with his big hands, trying to get her to stop crying so heatedly.
"Lucy, I told you big girls don't cry like that…"
He kissed her red puffed cheek and before he could pull away, she wrapped her very small arms around his neck with bloodshot broken honey eyes. "Igneel-san!" She sobbed, "I can't… I-can't…"
Layla, Hotaru and Ur watched silently while Natsu and Gray had a vague look in their eyes. Jude went out long ago to the school's principle to solve this Erza-(shitty)-Scarlet issue because it was-and-is getting on all of the very intimate neighbors nerves. This time Lucy was beaten up by Erza, pretty bad, and the father won't wait until his baby girl dies in her hands too. They all decided that this has got to stop at some point.
Gray watched the blond girl intently, then looked up to his mother who shrugged. "Don't look at me, I tried talking to your principal and nothing happened."
Gray huffed. "Mommy, Lu is going to die if Erza sees her again!"
"Yeah? What do you want me to do? To kill Erza first?"
"…" Gray looked down, then got out of Natsu's house, storming to his own one.
Ur growled while following the uncharacteristically pissed off Gray. "Hey brat! What is this all about? It's nothing new that one of you gets punched into a pulp by Erza. What's the big deal?"
Gray sat on the couch and shot a small glare at his mother. He wrapped his arms around his bent knees and sulked.
"Mommy, I-I… hate this."
Ur snorted as she rubbed her dark purple hair, obviously irritated. "No one likes being bullied kiddo."
"No… it's not that." He looked up to her and she sat next to him. "Alright, then tell me what it is that you hate."
He looked at her with sad dim-blue eyes and sighed. "We are going t-to move… I—don't want to move. 'Tsu and Lu will be all alone in front of Erza… what if Lu dies?"
Ur blinked then huffed a laugh. "Boy, she is not going to die. Nobody is killing anyone, alright. As far as I know, her father is half-way from expelling that girl from your school."
Gray shook his head. "Mommy, Erza is not only in school. She can get to Lu when she's playing with 'Tsu outside… I… I am scared."
"Hmm… what do you suggest we do then?" She felt so stupid asking that from the damaged party.
That Erza girl has been on the hunt for the three kids since they were—well, six years old, and nothing has stopped her whatever after almost three years now. Most of the fights happen outside the school when the kids are playing, and so, their visits to the principal was very useless. He claimed that whatever happens outside his school's boundaries does not interest him and he made his point with his so arrogant attitude that made the parents want to squeeze his neck someday.
They tried to communicate with Erza's parents, but for some absurd reason, the school refused to give them any details about the little girl's life which added fuel to the anger. Ur, more than any of the parents, had the powerful motive to kill that Erza kid because almost ninety percent of the time, she picks on Gray and however Ur wanted to believe that Erza was just in love with her kid, and that she is showing it the wrong way… sometimes, it's just too much. And okay, maybe Erza isn't in love with her kid at all.
Gray looked down, not knowing how to answer the previous question. Ur sighed afterwards then carried him on her shoulder, earning a yelp from the small child. "M-Mommy?!"
"Come on brat, it's time for you to take a bath. You are dirty too." She smirked as she heard the stutters of words and the huge blush coloring the boy's cheeks. "Ultear is asleep, so I guess it's me and you and that cold water in the tub."
"I—I can take my baths alone!"
"No, I don't trust you. Last time I let you take one alone, your hair smelled like sheep."
"But Mommy-"
"But my butt, we are going to take the bath together. Or do you have a problem with it?"
Gray's fingers toyed with each other as the blush was getting heavier. "I… I like it, but… my friends in school say it's not manly."
Ur laughed while grabbing a change of cloth for herself and her son. "Tell them, mommy says that you don't know jack shit about it. They will shut up, I promise."
Gray giggled and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck with the blush still in its place.
"I l-love you, mommy."
She raised her hands up to her shoulders and patted the small boy's black locks. "I love you too. So don't ever think of abandoning me in the bathtub until you are married. Wait-who am I kidding, you will never get married. Oh good for me."
Gray blinked then raised a confused eyebrow. "Why am I not g-getting married?"
Ur shrugged. "Because mommy doesn't want you to. Then you will leave me all alone."
"I will never l-leave you, mommy. Ultear will be with you too."
"You say that now, and let's take a look at you after twenty years, I will be lucky if you still called me mommy."
Gray laughed. "Mommy… you are weird. But, I don't know if I will be married or not."
Ur got him off her shoulder in the bathroom and turned the water on. "I will not let you get married, you can forget about it. I mean, it's not like you have someone special except for your friends."
Gray shrugged and took off his dark-blue long sleeve shirt.
"Wait… I will allow marriage only if it's from Lucy or Natsu. That way, you'll never get away from my sight, HA I like my evil mind." She mumbled to herself while the black haired boy stood with a fierce blush dusting his cheeks.
"… C-Can… I marry 'Tsu?!"
She laughed choking on her breath. "No shit, that's why I said you are not going to get married."
"Mommy's mean!" He pouted then sat in the bathtub, being used to cold baths with his mother who was already stripping, and joining the boy.
"Yes, I am. Now turn around, I have to wash your back."
Gray stayed up some good portion of the night thinking about what he could do for Lucy and Natsu if he was ever going to leave this neighborhood.
The next day, he couldn't think of a better solution than the one he was about to do.
He thought of something else, but he couldn't find any other solution. So he walked until he was on the sidelines with the small stream of water—where he knew that this was Erza's spot. The area was so beautiful, but he and his friends never tried to go there because of Erza always sat there almost doing nothing, and they were all scared that she would eventually notice them and beat them up. Erza was strong. Very strong.
It was a beautiful sunset and Gray's small shoulders shivered a bit from the slightly cold breeze while the bridge on top of the stream seemed busy with pedestrians and life. His blue eyes looked down to find Erza sitting down on the grass and looking into the water like it has done something wrong. As usual, Erza was terrifying and ALWAYS angry, Gray couldn't get inside that head of hers and it scared him.
Erza always picked on him the most (between Natsu and Lucy because there were more unfortunate kids than he is). He didn't know the reason, but it always both scared and pissed him off that he can't get back at her. He couldn't defend himself or his friends from her at all.
He tried to snap out of it, and with a determined look, he was able to get closer to the girl (A five meter radius, that's something).
She noticed him immediately and looked to the side with the corner of her narrowed angry eyes.
Crap…
"… What are you doing here?" Erza shot him a look, and he still questioned his decision because of it, but after a while, he tried to calm down and do the only thing that MIGHT stop Erza from hurting his friends.
"Erza… can we... t-talk?" He stuttered, then cursed himself for being so frightened of her.
"No. We can't and you know that."
He looked dejected, however, he continued. "I… I will be going away with my mom to another c-city… soon… and I want to ask you to stop hurting Lu and 'Tsu. They d-didn't do anything wrong to you."
Her eyes narrowed more. "Excuse me?"
"I-I am serious! Stop hurting them! They didn't do anything wrong! Why are you so angry all the time?!"
She stood up and her hands turned into fists. "Do you want to die? Why should I tell you anything? When you run away with your mother from me, I will do whatever I want, like I used to do. And Lucy will suffer more."
Gray looked at her. She was unbelievable, why would she hurt Lucy? Lucy was kind. Lucy wasn't so mean like her.
"I want to ask you something…" He paused, then exhaled, "Whatever you want to do to Lu and 'Tsu… I want you to do it now to me… all of your anger… just give it to me."
Her eyes looked a little bit shocked and her tall red hair that looked like blood swayed with the wind.
"Why… are you doing that? They are both pathetic. They don't deserve to live."
"YOU ARE NOT THE ONE WHO DESCIDES THAT!" Gray blurted out, for the first time, with immense anger. "They are my friends! All of that pointless anger, j-just give it to me. Give it to me and leave them alone—and leave yourself alone! Whatever you are angry about, just forget about it and get rid of it now Erza! Do it now!"
"Oh… so are you concerned about me now?!" She glared.
"I d-don't say that I am! But if it will make you leave my f-friends alone, then I will take everything your fists throw at me! Do it now!"
Erza stomped her way towards him and grabbed his shirt, irritated. "I don't need an invitation. I will."
He shivered from her cold voice, and attempted to form a coherent sentence. "Then… you will not hurt them again, right?"
"I will think about it."
Gray knew that this was the closest thing from a promise. And that he did his best in protecting his friends.
"What the hell has happened to you?"
Ur stood in the middle of her apartment, Gray in front of her. She thought about taking him to the hospital to check his legs because that limp was screaming bad news.
His lips were busted, knees bleeding and dirt covered his clothes, not to mention his sandwiched face.
"I… fell."
"Fell? You think you can lie to me?"
Gray's blue-bruised eyes teared up and whispered something not understandable. "Talk now Gray, or I might take down your other leg. You know you can't lie to me."
"Mommy…"
"Don't dare to think that I will forgive you. Now tell me what happened or else."
The boy's chest rose up and down from the choked sobs, then looked at his mother and immediately, she knew that he gave up.
"Mommy, she was going to hurt them. I couldn't let that happen."
"What? Wait a minute. I don't understand. Tell me what happened!"
After listening to her child's story, the woman was pulling her dark purple hair in frustration.
"ARE YOU AN IDIOT?! SHE COULD'VE MADE YOU A RETARD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE BRAT!"
Gray's tears came down like waterfalls and the woman was still angry, however, she understood the tremendous courage that Gray had to possess in order to protect his two closest childhood friends. She knew that Gray is a child who had to take some decision that he saw appropriate, but it wasn't and—isn't.
"Gray. Come here." She opened her arms, and the boy hesitantly approached her until she wrapped both of her arms around his hurt little body, and carried him on her lap. "Listen. Not everything is solved this way. What you did was… brave and—well with good intentions, but that's not the way. That girl has to learn how to respect others, otherwise she will not survive in this world. You might be small now, but when you grow old, you will know that I am speaking with some certain logic. Jude was on his way to the school's principle, and they were going to take action. NOT you."
He nodded slowly with tears still staining his face. "Honey, I love you. You are the only thing in this world that keeps me going and I don't want to see you like that again. Not for Natsu, not for Lucy, and not even for me. Alright?"
"Sorry… mommy, I am sorry. Please don't be mad."
"I am mad. Now, you want me to go complain about this girl-"
"NO! I… I think we made a deal. I… think she will not bother us again."
"THINK? How do you know that she is not going to beat you up again like every other time?"
"I want t-to give her a chance. I think we should give her a chance, and mommy, if she did anything again, then you can go, but please not now. Please."
She narrowed her eyes at him and he got scared from the glare-and still was able to get red in the face-so she finally let it go.
"Get your shoes on. We are going to the hospital."
"Mommy…"
"What?"
"Please don't tell 'Tsu…"
"… Whatever. Kids these days, they are so complicated—hurry up brat!"
He nodded and limped to his shoes, following his mother who grumbled all the way to the car.
Ur told everyone that Gray 'fell' from the stairs because, hell, if they knew that Erza did all the damage, they would've posted a bounty on the girl's head in random streets. The three families were having their usual dinner together on Saturday night. Natsu kept giving Gray the concerned look because of his bruises and limping leg, as well as Lucy who worried much about the boy and took it upon herself to feed him, making Layla giggle a little bit. She wondered if her daughter will remain feeling responsible exclusively about Gray until he's mature enough.
Probably…?
After dinner, the adults were discussing something not quite understandable for the kids who were talking together too in the garden. And It was when Gray brought it up. Finally.
"Lu, 'Tsu… I—there is something that I want to tell you both." The blue-eyed boy said feeling a bit anxious.
Both of the kids looked at each other and sat down on the grass listening to him.
"Umm. Sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but… mommy and I are going away soon."
Lucy's eyes widened a bit. "Wh-what do you mean, Gray?"
"Mommy's work is in another town. We are going to go there for a while, so… I won't be coming to school here next year."
"What?! No! No way! Don't leave!" Natsu stood up quickly alarmed, on his face a look of horror. "Tell Ur-san to stay!"
"I-I can't. She said that we will come back… only I don't know when. I-I am sorry 'Tsu."
"Then I will go talk to her! I don't want you to leave!"
" 'Tsu wait!"
Natsu ran inside the house, spotting Ur talking with Layla and Hotaru happily. He clenched his small fists, and climbed one of the stools to speak with Ur.
"Ur-san! Is it true that you are taking 'Ray away?"
Immediately, Igneel and Jude stopped talking, as well as the other two moms while Ur stood, a little bit dumbfounded at the small boy's sudden question.
"Yes honey… but I will be coming back with him soon-"
"No I don't want that!"
At this point, Gray and Lucy were inside the house. Lucy had some teary eyes, while Gray looked sadly to the ground. Igneel gave the kids a look of sympathy and silently communicated with his eyes with his wife and the adults who knew about this already for some time.
"Natsu, baby, I know this isn't easy, but I promise that I will get him back to you. It's only for a little bit."
"I don't like this. I don't want this! I don't want 'Ray to go! Why do you have to leave?"
Ur patted his pink hair gently and he almost flinched away from her touch because of anger. "Because I have some work to do-"
Natsu jumped off the stool and gave her an angry-hurt face. "I DON'T CARE! I DON'T WANT GRAY TO LEAVE!"
… And he stormed upstairs to his room.
"Well that was smooth." Jude mocked. "Lucy, don't cry."
Lucy looked at her dad and some tears went down. "I don't want Gray to go too, daddy." She hugged the boy who stood, wrecked to see the reaction his best friend gave earlier. He knew Natsu would be mad. He knew it. He wished that he could see the magical smile again, soon.
Igneel was sitting and watching some TV later that night. Ur had taken Gray home to sleep, Jude and Lyla took Lucy too to get some rest, while Hotaru was showering to call it a night as well. Igneel was not really paying any attention to TV, but was too tired to flip the channels so he just kept gouging his eyes with the horrible current TV show.
Some time later, he heard some rustling on the wooden stairs, and looked there to find Natsu with a bitter look on his face.
The pink haired boy's eyes looked red and puffy and overall—miserable. Igneel almost groaned. Gray's moving issue is a very traumatizing event, and he didn't have an idea about what-the-fuck-he-would do to cheer up the little squirt.
"Daddy…"
Igneel tousled his night black hair with one hand, then adjusted himself on the couch. "Come here, Natsu."
The boy walked slowly and climbed the couch, his father instantly taking him on his lap and wrapping his arms around him.
"Hey you, where did you get that bite?"
Natsu was wearing gray shorts and a red sleeveless shirt, his shoulders exposed where his father saw the small reddish spot. "Mmm?" Natsu looked lazily to his arm and sighed. "I don't know. It keeps itching…"
Igneel laughed and kissed the spot long enough for Natsu to have a red face. "Daddy… stop, it's f-fine."
"I know. My kiss healed it."
"No it didn't."
"Really? Should I kiss it again?"
"N-No…" Natsu blushed while his father tightened his hold on the small boy's waist pulling him closer to him from behind as the boy nestled in his lap.
"Na-chan is mad?"
"Daddy…" It was a little dark, but Igneel managed to catch the sight of the glistening tears. "I don't want Gray to go."
Igneel wiped the boy's tears with his hands hugged him close. "I know Natsu. He doesn't want to go too, but he has to. Ur's work is there."
"Daddy." The eight years old boy held his father's hand on his face and gave a begging look, "Can you please talk to Ur-san about it? Maybe she will stay if you did! She didn't want to listen to me!"
"No, Natsu. Ur always listens to you, remember? Doesn't she always buy your favorite toys? Make your favorite food? Read your favorite books while Hotaru is cooking? Let you have Gray on the weekends? You think she is happy about taking Gray away from you?"
Natsu cried.
"No, she is not happy. She has to work. And you heard her. She will come back. You just have to wait." Igneel kissed Natsu's nose, "And when you screamed at her like that... It was wrong, right?"
"…" Natsu nodded, still crying in agony.
"You have to go apologize, ok? Or I will be mad. Do you want me to be mad?"
"No…"
"Good boy. Daddy loves a good boy."
"Daddy…"
"Hmm?"
"C-Can you sleep with me tonight? I don't want to sleep alone…"
Igneel kissed Natsu's ear and smiled. "Of course I can, Natsu. But I have one condition."
"Wh-what?"
"Stop crying. You are making me sad."
"I… will try."
Igneel kissed the crown of his son's head and squeezed him close in a hug, while continuing the earlier TV show. The boy seemed comfortable enough in his father's chest and arms. Igneel's strong arms around him made him feel that he was secure. Tears were there, but somehow lesser than before, however, the sadness didn't disappear. Igneel kept brushing the little bare shoulder with his finger tips, sending small flocks of butterflies in Natsu's stomach who adored and loved his dad. When Natsu is mad or upset, his father's small touches of affection or the 'Iconic Igneel' ear kisses are the best remedy.
This time though, the effect is slightly less with all the sadness clouding his little, yet big heart.
After days of neglect and pure agony, Natsu could face Gray again. Only this time, when he visited the boy's home, he and his mom and sister were packing boxes and organizing things for the temporary move out. Natsu didn't know why, but it hurt so much.
"Natsu!" Gray left what was in his hands and hurried to hug the pink haired boy who weakly returned the hug with some tears threatening to escape his olive green eyes.
"Hello…"
"Are you… alright?" Gray looked at Natsu who changed his sad expression, fast. "Fine."
"I… I am sorry 'Tsu…"
Natsu slowly broke the small hug and walked towards Ur who was sitting on the floor, organizing some magazines and newspapers that she read on a daily basis and never got the heart to throw away.
"Ur-san…" Natsu looked at the lady who faked the angry/hurt expression just for the sake of making the little kiddo feel guilty. "I am sorry. I was wrong and rude. Can you please forgive me?"
Silence dominated the room, while Gray kept looking at his friend's back, feeling that he is the one that caused all that mess. Ur stared at the pink haired boy for a while, then she removed all the magazines from her lap and huffed.
"Get over here brat."
"…" He did as he was told and Ur hugged him deeply. "Natsu, you don't have to apologize to me. I am the one who is sorry baby." She kissed his forehead and he almost cried while staying in her lap, face buried into her warm chest.
"This isn't easy for anyone, Natsu. Gray knew about the moving about two months ago, but he couldn't bring himself to tell you because he could tell that you'd be sad." She wiped the pink haired child's tears with a scowl on her face. "I wasn't able to tell your mom or my friends too. But Na-chan, things don't have to be so difficult for us."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
She pointed to Gray to come and sit with them, and the younger did as he was asked. "I know how much you two care about each other. You boys are the only reason I was able to make great friends, so I won't take it away from you, Na-chan…" Ur scowled again, "Stop crying. Now listen to me carefully, ok?"
"Ok…" Natsu sniffed, still not able to stop crying, and Gray was tired from seeing his friend in pain.
"I am going with Gray far away, I know. But you two can still talk to each other from your computers or phones, don't you do that even when you already are seeing each other?"
"Yeah." Gray nodded.
"See Na-chan? It's not hard. You will be able to communicate easily. And if I have a little bit of free time, we might come and visit sometime. I am not promising anything, but you know, we might be able to do that, so… what do you think? You will live, right?"
The boy swallowed back a sob, then tried to talk with his uneven breaths, "I know… that I can still talk to him, but… we won't be going fishing together, and who will play with me and Lucy? Who will sleep with me on weekends? Computers can't do that!" The boy realized that he snapped, and his head looked down, ashamed, "I am… sorry."
"Honey, I told you it's not easy, but you are so strong, Natsu. You will get through. Please, if it's not for me, then do it for Gray. I promise, the next time we come back, I will never take him away from you again."
Natsu wiped his tears with his shirt's sleeve and sniffed several times as he forced himself to stop weeping even though his heart ached so much. He couldn't smile yet, but he calmed down a bit when he saw Gray's concerned blue-eyes and felt his hand being squeezed between the other's delicate warm ones.
"I am sorry, Natsu." The blue-eyed boy whispered, "I will try to come back as soon as mommy finishes work. I will be back, I promise. Please don't cry."
Ur almost grunted in irony. From the minute Gray was born, he was nothing but a nuisance. He cried day and night. He acted like he has been the worst creation since the invention of alarm clocks, then he got older, and he still bawled his eyes out if he got hurt, even if it was trivial. Regardless of all that, he sat next to Natsu, giving him comfort, telling him not to cry, trying with his best efforts to soothe his friend's pain. It was a big change to observe.
'Maybe he is not going to be that weepy brat after all…'
"Alright. Na-chan, take Gray to sleep with you today."
"Thank you, Ur-san."
"Don't thank me baby. Have fun, and tell mom to hurry here because I need help."
"Okay. 'Ray, let's go."
Gray didn't feel the normal warmth in Natsu's voice. It was… unexpectedly empty and… sad, but his mom gave him a reassuring look to keep following his best friend home.
Luggage was ready, boxes were closed, the house was deserted, check, check and check.
Ur was extremely nervous. Everything was going too fast. The movers were so very much pissing her off at the moment because she was already up to her neck while talking with the finance manager in Hokkaido's new branch. Bastards, they couldn't even wait until she takes that fucking plane with her two-In the moment-wrecked kids.
"Ma'am, where do you want me to put this sofa?"
She excused herself on the phone with the (already irritated manager because basically this was the fifth interruption to the debriefing process) and glared at the worker who immediately sweat dropped at the malicious look she was giving him. "Above. My. Ass. WHY THE HELL DO YOU THINK I CALLED YOU HERE?! SO THAT YOU COULD ASK ME QUESTIONS AND MAKE MY LIFE MORE MISERABLE?! FUCK OFF DUDE! I AM TRYING TO HAVE A DECENT PHONE CALL!"
Damn. It was so annoying.
Hotaru and Igneel were already helping with the numerous boxes while Layla took care of all the kids, and Jude was watching the workers in case someone screwed up and broke something while trying to move the boxes out at the same time. The situation was so stressful that Hotaru shouted at one of the workers and her DEAR husband, claiming that they all were goats walking in human forms because they kept stepping on her abused foot—countless times.
"DAMMIT IGNEEL! I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL NEVER COOK YOU ORANGE CHICKEN AGAIN!"
"WHAT?! That's so mean! I told you I didn't mean it!"
"THAT DOESN'T HELP THE FACT THAT YOU BROKE MY FUCKING LEG!"
"Both of you, stop arguing and help! Ur doesn't have much time!" Jude tried to calm them down.
"Oh yeah?!" Hotaru mocked, her pink head hidden behind a HUGE moving box. "INSTEAD OF BOSSING US AROUND AND PLAYING THE INCREDIBLES WITH YOUR PHONE YOU COULD BE A LITTLE HELP YOURSELF!"
"Did she just-" Jude's eyes were on fire.
"Hotaru, calm down-" Igneel sweat dropped.
"Ma'am, where can I-" A worker approached Hotaru with two bicycles, apparently, they were Ultear and Gray's.
"Seriously? WHO THE FUCK HIRED THOSE MORONS WITH THE DUMBEST QUESTIONS ON EARTH?!" Hotaru exploded, putting the box down and fuming at the innocent man who decided that his dignity was important. First the evil purple-haired woman who was bossy and busy with the phone, and now this pink haired demon. He dropped the bicycles, and glared back at Hotaru.
"I quit!" He shouted.
"You better! You all are useless! WE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HELPING YOUR ASSES!"
"Bitches please! It's not our fault that you all summoned us on such a short notice! We are humans with rights you bitch!"
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU CALL ME?!"
"Yes, what the hell did you call my wife?!"
"BITCH. You got a problem blood eyes?!"
"THAT'S IT!"
Both sides, the workers, and the residents, attacked each other's throats, and in that far little corner, a lady and a group of school kids were naively passing by, witnessing the big scandal in the neighborhood.
"Sensei, what are those people doing?" A little boy asked.
"Don't look, don't listen, don't stop walking! Those people are bad, keep walking children!"
"You DARE to call me a bitch?! How about I rip your arm off your body?!"
Hotaru was unleashing her not-so-feminine powers, on the man who cried because his cheek was rubbing against the pavement, and his arm was twisted behind his back. "I am sowwwyyyy…" and unmanly tears were filling up the random pit nearby.
Ur's phone fell from her hand at the sight of complete chaos, while the three best friends, Gray, Natsu, and Lucy hugged each other because all of their parents looked like angry monsters with ugly colored language, and they didn't appreciate the change. Layla was shaking her head in disbelief and wanted to call policemen to restore peace to the scene.
"SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!"
Everything stopped. Everybody noticed a negative aura and thought that maybe, just MAYBE, they could listen to that heavenly voice of wisdom.
Ur's eyes glared coldly at all the involved party, making them feel as if they were in the North pole, and Hotaru eventually stopped strangling the man with her legs, getting off and rubbing dust away from her short sleeveless white summer dress—Which was already getting a shade of brown.
"Listen to me all of you. If I wanted to turn my computer on and watch daily mind fuck dot com, I would've done that long time ago. BUT I don't want to. I am someone who manages three FUCKING companies all around the country, so I am sure as hell, that this moving-out-dilemma is going to go as planned, am I right?"
"Why are you looking at me?!" Hotaru objected while grabbing the big box to resume the moving.
"Because your voice is so high I am getting a chronic headache disease. So shut up and move along bitch."
The worker who called Hotaru that from before, laughed, hard, rolling on the ground, so Ur picked up her high heels and threw it on his forehead. "Move it asshole."
Hotaru felt humiliated even when the man is down on the ground with a freaking concussion. She pouted and almost cursed Ur if it wasn't for those scary eyes. It wasn't her fault that everything was moving so fast. The workers were idiots, her husband was an idiot, her friends were IDIOTS.
Stupid moving out with stupid people.
"HOTARU LOOK OUT!"
Hotaru stopped in her tracks and looked up to see a giant box falling from the truck. Suddenly time stopped, and her heart pumped hard and fast. Her mind went blank and she didn't know why everyone was screaming so loud and she couldn't get out one breath.
Strong arms were wrapped around her slim waist and she found herself under an enormous weight, but thankfully, not the weight of that box-on-her-freaking-head.
"Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?!"
She looked up to find the man who called her "Bitch" from earlier with a pale face.
And eyes were shimmering, flowers were growing, butterflies were flying, heck, Romeo and Juliet was starting when-
"Fuck off away from my wife."
-When Igneel almost choked the dreamy man who thought that this was the start of a beautiful love story. Igneel had the most terrifying red eyes he'd ever seen. So he ran away.
"Hotaru are you ok?" Igneel asked, a bit angry, but mostly concerned.
She nodded and stood up being supported by her husband who led her to the front stairs of the house with Natsu and the other kids.
"Stay here and leave the rest to me. You've helped enough." His voice was stern, not negotiable.
"Hey, I am fine. Just almost got killed by one of Ur's boxes and got hit on by a stupid low rank worker. I still can help."
"No, you-"
"Please let me do this. Please, I promise I won't shout again."
The man sighed. And wordlessly nodded to Ur who was still talking on the phone.
"Worst day to move out."
"Alright, everything is set. You gotta go now." Jude stood behind the moving car where the six workers stood waiting for the woman's orders.
Ur stood next to the car that was going to take her to the airport and nodded to Jude.
"Go ahead, we will be following you there. Right behind you." Igneel took his car keys out and Gray immediately hurried to stand next to Natsu and Lucy.
"I will be going with Igneel-san and Natsu."
"And I will be going with Ur and Layla." Hotaru commented.
Layla and Jude nodded. Igneel, Jude and the kids were in one car, whereas Ur, her daughter, Hotaru and Layla were in the other one.
The trip to the airport was officially mute. No one said anything, but Natsu barely was able to squeeze Gray's hand back as he looked at the scenery outside the window. Everything was so intimidating. He had never gone to an airport. He'd only seen them in cartoons and TV shows.
When they arrived there, they went inside and done all the procedures and the kids were staring at the airport in complete awe. Lucy kept bouncing with the other kids while looking at the high opened structure with the skylight roof and after some time, the joy of seeing some new BIG place with an incredible amount of crowd got replaced with the fear of Gray going away. After the luggage weight procedure was done (In Ur's point of view, they were complete dicks with her because of excess weight), the families got aligned in two rows. The first row had Ur and her kids, and the second was all the rest.
"Ok." Ur breathed, trying her best to sound composed, "This is it. This is as far as you crazy people can go. Guess I will be shopping in the hub alone, huh?"
Hotaru's blue eyes watered along with Layla while standing next to their husbands and kids.
"Guys, I just want you to know that… This is not goodbye. I am going to screw up your lives again, so let's keep in touch, and I will be seeing you hopefully soon."
The guys nodded while the girls hugged Ur tightly. Gray hugged Lucy warmly, and then looked at Natsu whose tears were free on his red cheeks. For the sake of his best friend, Gray strongly held back his own tears and embraced Natsu firmly. The adults and kids stopped talking, and stood still, all words lost at the sight of the two best friends facing the first and worst bump in both of their lives. Separation was the worst among fighting, arguing, and whatever comes next.
From birth until then, they didn't have to face separation. They were practically one, and to be apart… it was not easy and full of heartbreak.
The sobbing sound belonged to Natsu who held Gray tight, not wanting to let go, until his mother kissed his cheek and parted him from Gray as she carried him and hugged him to her chest.
"You better take Gray now or Natsu will never let go." Hotaru wiped her own eyes from tears and Ur nodded taking Gray's and Ultear's hand, guiding them inside the airport. Away from their friends, away from their home.
O.o.O Nine Years Later O.o.O
The airport's second terminal was practically buzzing as well as almost all the other terminals. At terminal three, The cheerful sounds of the holiday-ers who came looking for an opportunity to relax and enjoy time was more than loud, as well as the busy business men talking in their phones, giving strict orders to their partners or even families. Security checks, passport checks, and baggage reclaim were clustered in a very random way.
Genuine smiles were planted on the staff's faces while people showed them their passports for the last procedure for baggage reclaim and other services the airport provided, with the sun giving enough generous rays of light on the steel and glass structure.
In the middle of all hustle and noise, a tall purple haired woman stood with her bag held tightly around her arm. She was taking a deep breath of the city's scent that greeted her and exhaled.
It has been a freaking long time. Even though it was practically the same country, the different cities gave different scents and atmosphere.
She stretched and there wasn't a single person that cared as everyone was busy with their baggage and procedures.
"Man, this is so refreshing." She twisted her neck to the left and the right, trying to loosen up her body and soul.
Familiar echo of approaching footsteps caught her attention so she casually looked to the back to catch a glimpse of the young man standing behind her.
He was dressed in dark green cargo pants with brown leather belt, a checkered button down blue shirt rolled to the elbows, and brown sandals. A backpack was loosely on his shoulders as he stood looking into his phone. A loose gray and black bracelet was around his right wrist.
He was taller than her with a small portion, almost a meter and seventy six centimeters. His sharp blue eyes hidden behind brown sunglasses. He had a very well built body, described by, definitely, muscular and strong, judging from the frame under the shirt and nearly exposed chest where a necklace swayed holding a silver cross-shaped pendant. His black hair was spiked in different directions, completing the young man's prominent features aside from the cold/scowling blank face.
She couldn't tell what the boy felt because the sunglasses and composure was shielding his emotions very well. Nonetheless, the woman smiled and walked slowly towards him.
"Finished talking with your sister?"
The young man nodded with his head quietly and slipped his hands into his pants' pockets, walking forwards. He looked to the skylight from the opened roof and his eyebrows frizzled from the rays.
"Welcome back home brat." She chuckled while walking towards him.
He kept his gaze fixed above him on the roof and after a while, his head tilted to the woman's side. Only with an extreme focus and effort, you could see a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
... Chapter Ends…..
Another Note:
Well. Each one of you have to admit, that I made it clear who appeared in the last page of this chapter. It's so obvious, so if anyone asked, I won't answer out of total arrogance (Yes I can be a Jerk/bitch/asshole/etc.)
And again, if you want the next chapter to be up soon, you know what you got to do, I am an author with demands and my demands are expensive. I know you do KNOW. So I also won't say it out loud.
I would like to thank the (Kicks-in-the-asses) in your reviews, they were super helpful.
Love,
Flame-belt
To all my reviewers:
Bellatrix Trickster
"plz finish…"
Thank you for your concern about this story, but as you can see, I will do my best in trying to update more often. So sorry for the delay darling.
donotinquire
"Hi, Araide-san... I feel down... really miserable. You are evil. I hope it worths it, because it has been a cruel move.
Okay, I know, I am perhaps a little too much dramatic, but you get the idea.
Right, having said this, I beg you, please, end this story before any other thing. All your other stories are magnificent, but this one is cuteness itself, it is adorable, but you, dark acolyte of angst, you had to make Ur move.
And when you alternate between such cuteness, happiness, and stuff; and such a sad event, the result is 20 readers having committed suicide, 20 more with
permanent brain injuries, and the remaining, sulking.
So, please, make it worth it, have the issue fixed, and make us love life again."
Ok. So basically, tiger, when I read this, I was very… very motivated to write the next chapter because you described your full depression so I had to make it better. I know it's not all that better in this chapter, but I thank you so much for the kick in the ass. Well, I don't like angst myself, but somehow it seemed fitting for this story. I am not saying that It will be like that forever, I am just saying that sometimes, drama is required to make you want to read the next page of this… thing.
I am not promising that you will love life after reading this. Because this story is… like my other stories. Complicated. So if you read this chapter and you are a little bit happy, then it's enough for me. Thanks.
See you next chapter.
Gratsu-dragon
"Is it still going? (Please say it is) I need More stories *_*"
Yes dear it is still going. Sorry for the delay, I hope you are satisfied now. I loved your comment, thanks dear. Happy reading~
dreamshadow14
"This the best story I ever read! Please update ASAP!"
Thank you so much for such… excitement for reading this story. Oh dear, I am flattered so much, but I don't think that this story is the best. In fact it had several mistakes at the beginning so-not-that-good, but thank youuuu. I like a keen reader, and you are one my friend. I just hope you like reading this until the very end. Sorry for the delay, and enjoy.
Peanut61654
"Awe I just love this story :D Can't wait for the next chapter :3 3"
Thank you so much for such kind words. I am glad you enjoy reading this, and I would like to apologize if there were any mistakes or anything. Also sorry for the delay, and thank you so so so much for adding this to your community of GrayXNatsu stories. It's such an honor, I can't thank you enough.
Hope you enjoy reading this. And please, by all means, if you had any questions or any further concerns, you can always share your opinion here.
BlackAndWhiteRoseWolf
"Aw! I love how sweet they are to each other! Too bad they're moving...Please update soon!"
Awwww sorry for delaying this, gosh I feel so bad. Honey, thank you so much for the sweet review. I hope this chapter was not disappointing or anything. Have a happy read.
EclipseKuran
"Where is the rest I need the rest!"
Hello dear. Thank you so much for reading this. I have noticed this review a long time ago, and I still feel bad for the delay. The thing is, I really have terrible mood swings. I just update according to my messed up mood. So forgive me, and by all means, enjoy reading this.
EllieGymGirl2
"Sorry but I just started reading this story and now I'm reviewing :P. This story is awesome and I don't know why I haven't started reading it sooner. But WHAT did you say about giving away your account or whatever? Ehhhh!? Please don't :("
Princess!
Hehe, well I am not giving my account away or anything. I just wanted to know if someone could adopt my stories, but it was just an innocent question. I would hate it if someone took my babies away from me. So don't worry and just enjoy reading this.
Cristel
"Gray & Natsu want to protect each other... they are so sweet. But Erza is still mean..
Just a little question about the future Gray x Natsu? Who will be the uke? (I know I'm curious)"
Well hello. Thank you so much for the lovely review. And well, gosh, I don't know. I don't want to answer your question because it's part of the story's plot. Tell you what, if you couldn't figure out from this chapter, then you can ask me again, no problem, and I will answer you right away. And sorry for keeping you in suspense. It is kinda what I do.
*Hugs!* Enjoy.
Rewinsan
"I bet that in the future, teenage erza will be their bestfriend :D
poor gray... I wanna hug his small body T.T"
Hehe, hello again. Sorry for taking so long in updating this.
Erza, Erza, Erza. She's so crazy, but I like her. Everybody likes Erza. And we shall see how it ends. And in the meantimes, thank you so much for reading this.
NezYu
"I felt so bad for Gray... he didn't want to make Natsu sad...I love this story so much! There are so many cute parts!"
Haha, thanks! Well, the point of this story is to be cute at first since they were babies and so on, so that means I am doing a decent job. Thanks for the adorable review. And here you go, sorry it took me so long. Enjoy reading dear.
Kayxs
"Lol Erzas the bully xD that's perfect haha but I do hope they will become friends…"
Well… we shall wait and see what happens with Erza, right?
Haha, you! Stop wasting your sleeping time on reading my stories and get some sleep! I don't want to be the reason you failed in your practical life! (Although, secretly, it makes me happy, hehe) Thank you so much for following my stories, and I hope you liked this chapter.
TheOneGirlYouDontKnow
"Poor natsu...great job so far I really love this story…"
Thank you very much. I appreciate your time that was consumed in this story, and I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Also,feel free to ask anything if you have any questions.
darkhuntressxir
"its sad, seeing gray like that... GO LUCY!"
Haha, so sowwwwy, but I had to do that to him and then to Natsu some more because apparently, I am an evil author. I live for this stuff, so don't be surprised from anything I might throw at you next chapters :)
Always thanks for the review, love.
AsDarknessSpreads
"*hugs you back* *kicks you in the butt* why? don't tell me how tell me y?"?! you are not supposes to torture cute little adorable eight-year-olds! mark my words! you are only, ONLY allowed to torture gray. BecauseApparentlyIHaveThisWeirdSadisticSideWhichLu resMeTotortureMyFavouriteCharacter! hope you don't know how to read English and weren't able to reason the last sentence!"
Seriously, I was laughing non-stop at this. You kicked me after you hugged me? What should I do to you now? KILL YOU?!
Alright so sorry to torture Gray, but I can't help it. I always do that to my characters. And many more. This story is seriously going to be full of heartbreak *Evil laugh!*
See you next chapter? *Hugs*
extremebookworm
"lskdjfldskjf its so refreshing to read something so innocent again :DDDD THANKS FOR UPDATINGGGG and omg i love how the adults interact as well... so unlike the chaotic Fairy Tail we've all come to know and love xD LOVE ITTT PLEASE UPDATE SOON 3"
Thank you so very much for this lovely review. I am so sorry. I know that you like this story so much, and yet I don't update it very often. I hope you can forgive me, but the truth is, I have many ideas in my mind, and like, updating stories depends on my mood. So one time I am into updating one story and not the other, but it doesn't mean that I care less. It's just that… when I want to update one, I will.
That's so confusing I know, but I hope you liked this chapter. And I hope you forgive me for the delay.
happybluebirde
"oww... this story is so cute... I like all your stories... please update all... and complete magnolias shounen ai"
Thanks honey. Well I updated some of them, and I definitely completed Magnolia's Shounen AI so thanks for your enthusiasm, and I wish this chapter was good enough. Thank you so much for the kind comment, and if you have anything you wish to ask for, then I am all ears.