Okay, I'm going to apologize again for missing, two days? I think it's been two days . . . I'm not really sure (clearly). I'm going to move this on a little faster than I originally planned just because I don't have a lot of reviews or favorites or follows, so I feel (optimistically) like I need to go back to the drawing board before I work on something new. I still have a couple more chapters, though. Enjoy!

Mira poured the man she now knew as Hatsuharu a light drink, hoping it would calm his nerves a little. His hands were shaking and hadn't stopped since Wendy had taken Lucy from him. Not that he knew her as Lucy, which broke her heart. Here was a nice young man who obviously cared for Lucy and she couldn't even open her heart.

"So, you're Mirajane Strauss? I've heard about you. Noticed you've been back on missions again, according to the magazines, that is."

"Yeah, I started taking missions a while back. I decided that it was time for me to take some action instead of hiding behind the bar. Do you read a lot?"

"Your guild is a very interesting guild, and I like hearing about your latest adventures."

Natsu almost laughed. He was making conversation with Mira like he was a complete stranger. A sobering thought was that he practically WAS a stranger now. He was not the same wild boy Mira had known. Now, he was a quiet, broken man. Mira didn't seem to have changed much aside from a slight aging in her eyes.

"I'm glad our fame reaches so far. I'd like to thank you for returning Kleah to us. She's not the lone traveling mage she says she is, although she certainly is alone most of the time."

The more Mira studied this man, the more she was convinced she had met him before. There was something about that gaze that stirred many memories, but he appeared in none of them. She would find out, though. She gestured at his drink, and he took his gloves off.

"Sorry about the gloves. It's generally better if I leave them on, but they sure are slippery."

She could tell he was making a vain attempt at humor, but his statement intrigued her greatly.

"Why is it better?"

"I'm cursed."

Mira cursed her lack of tact and blatant curiosity. Curses were sensitive; Lucy had taught them that when she refused to acknowledge hers and rarely referred to it or used the abilities of her eye.

"I am so sorry."

"Please, don't be. Where I come from, it's not a secret and it doesn't need to be here. See, every time someone touches my bare skin, they end up burned. That's what all this clothing is about, even though I'm a blacksmith. I can't risk having someone forget or not know and end up hurt. I would never forgive myself for hurting them. Fire is a great tool, but sometimes it can be a very evil magic."

"It all depends on how it's used, Haru. I had a friend who taught all of us that; you two would have been friends. You've probably heard of him as well. Natsu Dragneel?"

Natsu tried not to let his mouth tell her that he was Natsu very hard. Instead, he settled for a simple nod.

"Oh, yes, I've heard of the legendary Salamander of Fairy Tail. He disappeared on that train years ago, though, didn't he? I heard his partner died, too. Wasn't her name Lucy?"

Mira chuckled lightly, and decided that no matter how insistent Lucy was on keeping her identity a secret, this was not the man she was going to keep it a secret from. Mira had a hunch that this man before her was not who he said he was either, whether deliberately or accidentally, she didn't know. However, if this was who she thought it was, he did not deserve to think that Lucy was dead.

"Well, I suppose the correct answer to your question as to Natsu's partner's identity would be the following: her name IS Lucy."

Natsu had to put his drink down at that one, his heart not daring to interpret Mira's answer. She wasn't implying . . . was she? He finally looked her in the eyes, and Mira knew her hunch had been correct. That look of complete dedication regarding Lucy could belong to no one but Natsu Dragneel. The physical changes had deterred her identification, but not those eyes, no matter what color. Blue or black, they still cared for his blonde partner. Mira felt tears prick the corners of her eyes, finding herself barely able to hold the emotion she felt at beholding her friend. She reached across the bar and crushed him in a hug, mindful of his skin. It took a minute for him to relax and hug her back.

"Mira, I think you figured it out, didn't you? I should've known I could never fool Fairy Tail, but I had to try. Things are bigger now than they ever were, and I've put you in danger by coming here. Please don't tell Wendy or Lucy, wherever she is."

The stupid dense dragon slayer. He really hadn't understood her. She snapped out of it, slapping him lightly on the cheek. He just stared, confused, at her now-amused face.

"Natsu, were you ever in love with Lucy?"

His face turned the color of a tomato. He stuttered, unable to answer her question with words. Mira didn't need words; his actions were good enough.

"I'll take that as a yes. Well, how about I tell you you're still in love with Lucy, and you just returned her to the guild after her six year absence spent looking for your body? Stupid Natsu. Lucy is Kleah!"

His drink hit the floor. Mira sighed; she had another glass to clean up.

Wendy finished healing Lucy, putting a bandage across her eyes to keep her from touching them. The witch, or at least she assumed, had actually managed to damage both of her eyes this time, but Lucy would not die. She almost jumped out of her skin when the door slammed open, revealing the man who had brought Lucy in. Now that he was closer and less panicked, she could properly smell him, and boy did she get a shock. Wendy fell off her stool, so surprised she forgot to keep her balance.

"Wendy! Are you okay? I'd help you up, but I can't."

She rolled onto her feet, staring at the man she thought was Haru with HUGE eyes.

"NATSU?!"

He grinned the grin only Natsu could do, and she fainted. Natsu ran back outside, got his gloves, and lifted Wendy onto another infirmary bed. Grabbing a chair, he sat next to Lucy's bed, nearly crying with happiness. Maybe things COULD turn around for the better this time around. He just couldn't wait until Gray got here. Maybe all he would need was a punch to confirm his identity. For the first time in six years, he slept well, and as Mira gave him a blanket, she could feel the heat he used to emanate straining at the curse. She snorted. If that stupid witch though she could curse NATSU DRAGNEEL and get away with it, she had another thing coming from him and Fairy Tail.

Alright, the secret's out! Personally, I can't wait to write the guild's reaction. I think I'm gonna have Mira do a little underhand work so it's even more interesting. I anticipate another 3 chapters, which means I'm going to be starting a plot for another story soon. Let me know if you have ideas or prompts, and I'll let you know when I'm posting. Remember, I would like reviews very much! Please and thank you!