Minna!

I DEEPLY AND SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR BEING SOOOOO LATE IN UPDATING!

Please smack me in the head coz I know I deserve it. Waaaaaaaaah!

I was so busy and writer's block attacked again and.. you know, same excuses and stuff. But really, I really wanted to update this fic. I'm so sorrryyyy!

This is a little filler I suppose. (Could you call that a filler? When it's nearly ending? Haha! I guess not.)

I would like to thank Isadora Li for this beta'd chapter! You're such a great help to me! Thank youuuuuu~~~! ^_^ (Iiiiiiii! I feel ecstatic while typing this. Hehe.)

shadowrallen – Since I can't PM you, I'll just post my reply here. Kei got his mind controlling technique when he and Renge are reading in the library of the old man who 'adopted' them. I explained that in Chapter 8: Revelations and Realizations though I didn't elaborate. Hihi. Renge thought he was just reading for entertainment but she doesn't know that Kei was already studying advanced magic that time, unlike her who was just reading history books. Yep, Kei was smart enough to use the library for his own good. I'll try to explain that in the last chapter.. so stay tuned for it. Hehe. For now, I hope I answered your question. If not, don't hesitate to ask. I'll try to answer it as best I can. XD

Oh by the way!

This chapter is dedicated to Joy-chan! I promised her a surprise (I already told her about this so, this is not considered a surprise, right? But STILL!) and here it is!

I don't know if I screwed up here or what. All I know is that my hand seems to just type and well.. this is the outcome. I hope you still like this though, folks!

And.. I just remembered.

Paging Senbei x Cup Ramen? I haven't heard from you in ages! Gorsh, how are you now? Haha! XD

Oi, Joy-chaa~n!

…..

Wala lang.. Haha!

Anyways, I don't know when did this fic turned into a drama.. but. Hey, who gives? Hah, I'm spinning out of control. Please forgive me again!

And again, THANK YOU to those who reviewed, read silently, alerted, favorited' the story! (even the author. Hihi! XD)

I'm so glad guys! You are all such amazing bunch of creatures! XD

So here it is.. the tenth installment of Possessed (Haaah, I missed writing this fic. )!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail! T_T

Chapter 10: Helping the Idiot

"Let me see her!"

Gray eyed the pink-haired dragon slayer behind a tree, his arms crossed over his bare chest and brows furrowed in slight annoyance. Natsu is yelling in front of Porlyusica's hut with Lisanna holding him back, struggling so hard to move the screaming Salamander away from the now dangerously irritated healer.

It was already a week after the incident. Lucy's captor was already in jail together with the girl named Renge. After the fight, Kei, if he remembered the name right, asked for forgiveness when he regained consciousness and begged them to help him set things right. He was sincerely sorry for what he's done and was really eager to compensate for the damage. Gray bitterly thought that wouldn't change anything, especially now that Lucy is in grave danger. However, everything resulted in a much lesser violence, which includes sending that bastard and his woman to jail. That made Gray tore his hair out of frustration. He just wanted to beat the hell out of that guy, but bearing the insignia of Fairy Tail across his chest doesn't allow him to do that. He also knew that logically, beating him to pulp won't do anything to make Lucy's condition improve but.. well, he just can't help but be angry with her captor.

The frustration, guilt, and fear that his blonde friend is now struggling for her life, are now building on him and he can't even think straight. He's a man of reason, he knows that. And he's logical, too. That's what sets him apart from that idiot of a dragon slayer who was now running a rampage in front of the healer's hut.

Lucy is inside Porlyusica's hut being tended by the healer. Wendy had apologized to them for not bringing her back to full-consciousness after the fight with Kei. However, Gray was the first to thank Wendy for the first aid and the excellent job she's done with his own wounds. His wound still stings form time to time but at least, it's not as painful and as deadly as it was before Wendy tended to it.

As to Lucy, Wendy told them she is in a critical state. When she first tried to revive her, she was shocked to feel Lucy almost lifeless. It was as if her soul was pouring out from her body, she said. Gray was horrified upon learning it and couldn't control himself, screaming his head off at Natsu for cutting the strings that was connected at Lucy that time. Natsu, however, defended himself by saying that it was the only way he could see to save Lucy. Gray, nevertheless, despite Natsu's stubborn and defiant response, sensed Natsu's own fear and guilt of what his actions had done pressing on him.

"Natsu, please calm down!" Lisanna said still trying to pull the struggling Natsu who upon hearing Lisanna scold him, stopped himself and glared hard at the door. Gray fights the strong urge to step out of his hiding spot and punch Natsu straight on the face for being such a terrible idiot. How can Porlyusica concentrate on healing Lucy when everyday of his life, Natsu would be there to bug the poor healer? It is not unknown to all of them that the old woman hates human for unknown reasons and her trying to revive Lucy is one heck of a miracle, and is something to be deeply grateful for. His rival however does not see any of this and selfishly whined about how he wanted to see Lucy.

"But I want to see Lucy!" Natsu whined like a kid saying exactly what Gray is thinking he would say. He knows him well enough to know that he'd say and act like that. Gray watched as Lisanna's fragile features softened and wondered if she still feels the same way when they were still kids. She and Natsu were childhood sweethearts and childhood is something one would find hard to forget. If indeed Lisanna still loves Natsu beyond friends, Gray thought, then she's not alone being a heartbroken mage. Yes, he knows Natsu loves Lucy even though he himself doesn't realize it. If it's not love that compelled Natsu to unconsciously proclaimed that Lucy as his,then Gray doesn't know what else to call that. He admit, he was a little irritated with that. Fine, omit the 'little'. He was irritated and is still irritated with that. Who is he to call her his? But when he saw their interaction during the fight, Gray knew he has lost the war. It's not usual for him to give up that easily because he's Gray Fullbuster and Gray Fullbuster has a lot of determination right on his sleeve. And he's a Fairy Tail mage, too, that's a plus. But that time, it was the very first time he instantly thought of giving up. Giving her up.

I just want her to be happy.

"In time, Natsu," Lisanna smiled at him. "For now let's just wait in the guild for Lucy. I know Porlyusica will do everything she can to save her. And I believe that Lucy is a strong girl, so she can do this. We just have to trust them, okay?"

Nice going, Gray thought as he watch Natsu hung his head and nod and silently obliged to be stirred by Lisanna in the opposite direction, heading away from the forest and into the guild.

As Natsu and Lisanna disappeared from Gray's view, he turned towards the hut to see an elderly woman with pink hair tied in a tight bun behind her head glaring at him. Crap, he's been found out!

"Uh, I'm going!" Gray screeched.

"Wait."

Looking obviously shocked and apprehensive, Gray turned back to her and squeaked, "What is it?" Even with old age, she's still as terrifying as Erza. He wondered how scary she was when she was still young, and then immediately dismissed the thought away cringing.

"You're planning to just let her go?"

Gray looked at her incredulously. How did she know?

"I'm not stupid, boy. I can feel your emotions."

But what does it have to do with her? And he thought she dislike humans, then why meddle now?

Porlyusica sighed. "I guess you're different form that rowdy boy. Come."

This came as a surprise for Gray. Porlyusica, the famed human-hater is inviting him to her house? And when she was dying to shoo Natsu and Lisanna away, too. Would he take this as a good omen or what?

"Are you going to just stand there or I'll just happily lock this door?"

Gray was quick enough to jolt tout of his senses and jumped towards the hut and let himself enter. The space is not that big but it was neither cramped. Just enough for the inhabitant, a visitor and a girl lying on the bed.

Lucy.

"H-How is she?" Gray stuttered asking the older woman who settled herself in front of a table across the bed. She was busying herself with making ointments and herbal medicines as she pounded and cleaned some leaves.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" She answered nonchalantly.

"Huh?"

"G-Gray?"

The said man spun around in shock to see the very familiar pair of brown eyes looking at him. He was probably leaving his mouth open that Lucy giggled at him and gave him that warm smile of hers. "You're awake?"

"Just yesterday," Lucy replied and tried to stand up but when Porlyusica gave her a warning glare, she shrunk back to her bed.

"But why didn't you tell us?" Gray asked her, then turned to Porlyusica, "And Natsu was here, too. He wants to see her. We all want to see her!"

"And I thought you're different from that pink-haired dolt," Porlyusica glared at him. "I didn't announce yet because I know you'll crush her with your affectionate.. interaction, hug, or whatever you call that. And she's still too weak to face all of you. She still can't handle stress."

"Then why..?"

To avoid any questions, Porlyusica stood up from her seat and grabbed her coat, "I'm out of my herbs. I'm off to find some. I want you here to look for her when I'm still gone. Don't—I repeat—don't let anyone enter even if it's that dimwit Makarov."

And with a swift motion, probably her strong repulsion against humans as her driving force, Porlyusica went out of her hut and set off towards the woods leaving Lucy and Gray alone.

"So how are you?" Gray started as he pulled a seat beside the bed and looked at her, taking in all her features that he'd missed for so long.

"I guess I'm fine. Thanks to Porlyusica."

"That's good to hear. You know we're worried about you, Lucy," Gray said. I'm worried about you. "Flamehead's been edgy these past few days without you around."

Lucy laughed a small laugh. "I miss you all, too. Oh how I love to stand up here right now and hug all of you! I wish I can see all of you right now."

He just gave her a warm smile that he could muster. Then he said, "Do you remember what happened?"

"Hmm.. a little. Oh so what happened to my.. kidnappers?"

Gray filled her in a little about Renge and Kei going in jail and how they wish to change. He could see that she was sincerely happy about it and it made him admire her more. Her forgiving and kind nature radiates more than her physical beauty.

"What happened to his little sister is so.. depressing."

"But I bet they're trying to move on now. And that Kei has already accepted what happened."

"That's good to hear."

A moment of silence. Then…

"I wish I could also see Natsu now."

Gray looked up to see her blushing. She probably slipped her tongue. He watched as she frantically tried to hide her blush.

"And Erza, too! As well as Happy and Levy-chan," Lucy tried to compensate.

The other teen however, smiled mischievously to her. "Quit the façade, Lucy. I know you miss Natsu so much."

"O-Of course! Well, because he's..my bestfriend and all."

"Uh-huh."

Lucy raised her brows. "You don't believe me?"

"I didn't say that."

"You clearly don't," Lucy sighed. "Well, I guess since you're also a very close and precious friend, I guess it wouldn't hurt telling you."

Oh, but it would hurt me, Gray thought to himself. "What is it? That you love Natsu more than friends?"

"WHAT? Love? No, not as strong as that!" Lucy shrieked defensively and winced in pain as she felt the intensity of her shock. Her body still can't handle stress, Porlyusica's right.

"Fine, just relax! Geez, Lucy, you're hurting yourself."

"I didn't mean it," Lucy pouted. "But I'm telling you, it's not that strong! I just want to make it clear. A little crush is all.."

It's Gray's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"What? I'm telling the truth!"

"Fine, fine. Just don't overstrain yourself," Gray huffed leaning back on the chair and crossing his arms over his chest. Luckily, his clothes are still present and Lucy wondered what miracle had happened that Gray seemed to control his stripping habit.

"Just don't tell anyone about it, okay?" Lucy warned him.

"Hm…"

"What do you mean 'Hm'? You have to keep this as a secret!"

"Okay, okay, fine. Sheesh, you're too hot-headed for your own good."

"Good. Tch, I feel tired already. But I want to talk to you more, too," she whined. Then Lucy's eyes felt heavy and she yawned involuntarily.

Gray just chuckled at her as she closed her eyes. "Sleep tight, Lucy. Rest well."

"Okay," Lucy murmured and she fell asleep.

"I promise I'll help you, Lucy. I promise."

It was now five days after that talk with Lucy, and Gray was positive of what he wants to do right now. He has his resolve. Lucy is a special friend and he'll be always there for her whenever she needs him. Yet he decided not to tell her about what he truly feels. He knows Lucy. With her kind nature, she would be worried sick and worse, she'd try to reciprocate his feelings out of kindness or pity. And he doesn't want that.

Now Lucy is currently sitting on her usual spot on the bar and is happily sipping her drink and talking animatedly to Mirajane. Then he approached her and ordered shave ice from Mirajane. The silver-haired barmaid just smiled at them and went off to fetch Gray's order.

"I see you still haven't told Mirajane," Gray smirked at her and gave her the knowing look after he slipped on one of the stools beside her.

"Wh-What?" Lucy almost choked on her drink. "You idiot, sh-shut up!" She hissed at him getting red all over. "I told you not to talk about it!"

"Oh? As far as I can remember, you haven't told me that. You said that I shouldn't tell anybody."

"Exactly!"

"They are different."

"They're exactly the same!"

"Nah, I don't think so."

"They-"

"Heya, Lucy!"

Gray looked amused at how Lucy felt obviously embarrassed at how Natsu suddenly and nonchalantly swung his arm over her shoulder and bringing his face dangerously close to hers. The girl struggled under his firm hold and Gray just have to cross his arms in front of his bare chest and looked at them.

"Get off of me, Natsu!" Lucy shrieked effectively pushing the said dragon slayer away from her and glared like she could murder him at that instant. The redness on her cheeks however betrays what she intends to show to the idiot.

"Oi, oi, Natsu," Gray said, "Lucy has just recovered. Don't get her sick all over again."

Lucy just shot him a grateful smile while Gray just maintained his lazy demeanor. He has to make his eyes look like he doesn't have any reaction when she smiles.

"Heh! And who are you, her doctor?" Natsu scowled and still tried to get close to Lucy who in turn was pushing him away complaining about him violating her personal space.

"I told you, you're straining her," Gray said.

Natsu just frowned at him.

Stupid dolt, Gray rolled his eyes. He knew Natsu wants to be with Lucy as much time as possible but the dolt seemed to be taking his time and Gray is getting impatient. He knew Lucy is getting troubled and confused by Natsu's actions and to end that confusion, he wants Natsu to explain himself to her already. Why are they not noticing it yet? Two dense morons and it's agonizing to look at.

If Natsu's not making a move, then he will…

"I think you should go home, Lucy," Gray offered and gently pulled the girl from her seat trying to get her out of the guild and go straight to her apartment.

"No!" Natsu disagreed and pulled Lucy who shrieked by the sudden action. "She's staying right here!"

"She needs rest, Natsu," he continued as if uninterested at Natsu's whining. He knows he's about to give in.

Natsu pulled Lucy aside as he stared at Gray, "Then she'll rest here, Pervert."

"You're not letting her with what you're doing, Ash Brain."

Lucy suddenly cleared her throat, clearly irritated. "I'm still here, you know."

"C'mon, Lucy, I'll take you home" Gray insisted.

"I said no! She's staying right here with me!"

At that, Lucy blushed some more and looked away suddenly finding the stools on the bar interesting.

"And why is that? Give me reasons why she shouldn't come with me?"

"Because you're a pervert!"

"Say that again, Fire Breath?"

"You're a pervert, Popsicle!"

"Enough!" Lucy grimaced at them. Then she sighed. "You know what, this is getting out of hand."

"Lucy, you are staying with me," Natsu said his voice firm and he grabbed her wrist firmly holding her in place.

"And why would I?"

"B-Because.." Natsu stuttered losing concentration, "I have to tell you something important."

"Excuses," Gray muttered purposely and earned a deadly glare from the now-red faced Natsu.

"What is it?" Lucy asked intrigued.

"Not in front of this Ice pole!" Natsu whined and after a moment of thought, he grunted and pulled Lucy as they marched away, headed to the guild's door and disappeared behind it.

"Ara," Mirajane suddenly said as Gray watched the direction from where her two friends disappeared. "Where are those two going?"

Gray just shrugged for a response acting as if he doesn't care at all. He tried to put his hand inside the pocket of his pants and was disturbed that his hands are hanging in air where his pockets are supposed to be. "What the—My clothes!"

"You're not wearing them since you entered the guild, Gray," Mirajane reminded him.

"Crap! I gotta go!" He said as he walked briskly towards the guild's doors trying to remember where his darn clothes went to. He did not saw the sad smile that formed on the barmaid's lips as he headed for the door and disappeared behind it just like Natsu and Lucy.

If Natsu's not making a move, then he will…

… for Natsu and Lucy.

WAAAAH!

So? Did I screw big time? *Sigh*

Please, please, I'm dying to know what you think. T_T

And yes, this is a NaLu fic. I'm sorry if it seems to lack NaLu fluffiness. I was just beginning (practicing) to write fluffy moments when I started with this fic, so.. But I'm gonna make it up to you. The next chapter would definitely be NaLu moments! Yess, momentSSSS!

So, with that saying..

Arigatou, minna! XD