NOTE: Do you think I'm speeding up the story pace? Hehehe. HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS! Thanks a lot for the reviews. I know, I know… it's depressing… But I hope to cheer you up in this chapter… I'm afraid it might take me another week to update this story, but I will promise to upload the next chapter next Saturday or Sunday… And forgive me if you find errors. I won't reason out this time ehe! Always, always grateful to my first story reviewers: Emil C, Bareerah123, CreateElements, hinata3487, Moonie1824, iLucyGray, IloveCelestialIce. Love you all!


Chapter 12: WAKE UP, GRAY!

With Gray…

Meanwhile, inside Gray's house, he can clearly hear Lucy's pleads and yells, it was very painful for him to ignore this. Especially when she yelled the three magical words he was impatiently dying to hear since he had proposed to her… Well, maybe even before that. But all he knew was he wanted to hear that from Lucy.

He didn't really went out for a mission, he just asked Master Makarov to tell Lucy that he'll be away for a quest. That's why he can't help but wonder why Lucy was persistently calling out for him, what did Gramps tell her anyway? He was grateful that Lucy didn't think of breaking into the house, though. He knew he won't have the strength to disregard her any longer if they come off face to face.

It was too painful to keep the little act, as painful as if a beast was sitting on his chest pressing down with all his might and squeezing the very life from him with the cruel hand around his throat. Not to mention how he caught a glance of Lucy's lion spirit, Loke comforting her supposed to be bride in front of his own home. And with his heart aching, came a heavy darkness that was slithering into his nose and throat filling his lungs, making it so he couldn't breathe, couldn't move or even speak. He felt his life being sucked out from his body.

He couldn't even get to grab the girl he deeply loves away from a total womanizer. For all he knows, Loke was taking advantage of the situation, but he shrugged the thought off of him.

That was plainly foolish of him to look at Loke so lowly. But he was glad… he was somehow glad it wasn't Natsu who was there to comfort her… He was glad that she was so persistent to explain herself to him… He was glad that she isn't giving up. He was hoping that Lucy wasn't just yelling she loves him because she wanted the wedding to commence and save their selves from embarrassment, he was hoping that that's what she really feels. Yet, these stupid tears just won't stop. He hit the wall over and over. The ice mage won't stop until the tears stop from falling.


At the guild…

"Lucy was doing that every day. Lucky Gray!" Loke stated in disappointment, glancing at Lucy who was narrating everything to Cana and Levy with a help of a little alcohol, he was still keeping look at her though, she might burst out crying any moment. But he was somehow happy that Lucy could confide her feeling to somebody else this time. What she had been up to recently was really disturbing, and he was pleased his master was a strong girl after all.

Erza shook her head appearing confused, "And Gray was ignoring her?" she rolled her fist to ball. "This is frustrating…"

"I can't believe it either… I, of all people, knew Gray is better than this." Loke grumbled. "We have to do something…"

"In deed." Mira intervened, appearing out of nowhere, cupping her chin while nodding, as if she just processed a great idea.

"I have to beat the hell out of Gray!" Erza stood up, releasing a dark aura.

Loke shivered, "E-Erza… Calm down…" he freaked out, waving his hands frantically in front of his chest, backing away.

Erza stopped for a moment glanced towards Lucy, "Any idea, Mira?" she turned her gaze to the white-haired barmaid.

"Hmmm, then maybe, forcing him won't hurt?" she said with a hint of worry on her tone. "But he could have done something by himself…"

Erza's face lit up, "Tell me your plan… I'm good at getting things my way through force."

Mira drew out an evil smile as she leans towards the ex-quip mage closer and whispered something to her ear. "That'll do, I guess." Erza pulled herself away from Mira and nod stiffly. "I'll go talk to the others."

Loke stared at the two mages in suspicion as Erza went to the other guild members, followed by Mira who was wiping a glass cheerfully.


NATSU'S POV

Where did that pervert run off to? Happy was trailing me behind, I was running the whole day looking for Gray. I wasn't pleased with what I saw Lucy was doing.

"Natsuuuu. Let's tell Erza or Master..." Happy suggested, worriedly.

"We have to find Gray, Happy…" I protested, "He must pay for hurting Lucy! How could he do this to our Lucy? Even if he doesn't love her anymore, she's still his nakama?"

"Natsu…" was all Happy could say. He knew what I was saying was right. "Let's break in his house, then…"

"Why didn't you suggest that earlier? We were spying on Lucy in front of that stripper's house…" I stopped on my tracks as I scratched my head innocently.

Happy grimaced, "I did tell you, then you just ran off."

I grinned, "Oh, did you? I'm sorry." I took a deep breath and started running towards Gray's house, "Come on, Happy."

"Aye!" he shouted.


HAPPY'S POV

Aye! I feel sorry for Lucy, as we fled towards Gray's house, I was getting the feeling that this might just make things worst with Natsu acting impulsively on his own again. What if we screw things up more? Lucy will probably kill us, not to mention Erza double killing us. I lost almost half of my life to Erza's wrath, I don't want to lose more with her and Lucy's joint forces.

As usual, we didn't use the door, we sneaked in through the window, and what we found upon climbing up surprised us. Across the room, Gray was facing the metal wall punching it over and over with his fist, taking his guilt and resentment out on the wall. Blood streaming down from his knuckles soaking both hands and the wall, with every blow, his mouth released a strained sound that seemed more like dissatisfaction than an acknowledgement of pain. He was focusing intently that he didn't even noticed our presence. I glanced towards Natsu, he was furiously staring at him. I knew for a moment I had to back away from the two as a big fight is threatening to emerge, but I have to do something with Gray. He's hurting himself.

I flew towards Gray and wrapped my little paws to his neck, as I try to forcibly pull him away from the wall. I could hear his sobs. He was crying.

"GRAY!" I heard Natsu spoke. Gray didn't move an inch. I couldn't see his face, the room was so dark and the air roaming around was so gloomy. "Happy, go get Lucy now!"

I nodded in response as I pull my body away from the low spirited Gray, I took a glance at Natsu and I saw him clenching his fist and gritting his teeth, he was definitely enraged. The ice mage had somehow reacted at the mention of Lucy's name. I quickly flew out of the window and headed to the guild.


GRAY'S POV

"Don't! Happy…" I called out weakly, my voice hoarse and husky, I tried to reach my hand into the air, but everything was just too blurry. I felt Happy's presence disappear inside the room. "Natsu… Stop Happy!"

"Why would I, punk? Lucy must see you in this pathetic state… Perfect time for revenge, isn't it?" I heard Natsu spoke out, faking the cheerful tone. Of course I could tell if it's the real thing or not, we grew up together.

"Oi, beat me up… Kill me if you please… for hurting Lucy" I said, with voice as cold as my ice. I wasn't moving at all, I don't have the strength to do so, not getting a sleep for three or four consecutive days was already hard enough, plus not being able to eat too. I would agree I look so pathetic in this state.

I heard Natsu's footsteps as he walked near me, I could feel the awkwardness filling the room, yet I stayed where I was. He grabbed the collar of my shirt as he picked my body up into the air, just then, he charged me an intense blow in my stomach. He let go of me, I fell down on my knees and hands, I deserved it. I know. I violently coughed blood, I can feel his penetrating stare at me. "You disappoint me!" he paused for a moment, "Stop running away, Gray! You always try to run away by wishing to die. Are you that weak?" he uttered in disappointment.

I didn't feel the need to answer his comment, in which I felt more like a challenge, everything was already tough on me. My mental and emotional state was unstable. I can't even think straight. "Why do… you even… care flame head?" I said, in between my coughs.

"You already managed to hurt Lucy… and you will cause her more pain by doing this… I don't want her to suffer in whatever means to any further extent. I had… upset her more than enough already." Natsu sat down, his voice had gotten serious. "Don't be a coward, Gray!" he hissed.

"Shut up…" I panted, slowly recovering from the intense blow I just received from him. I laid my body down and stared at the ceiling. "She doesn't… belong to me… from the very beginning."

"Tch." He twitched in annoyance, "What the hell's with that? Of course she doesn't… But what's important is the present, idiot!"

I slowly turned my head to look at him, "I know… but she still loves you."

He returned my gaze, his eyes fiercely staring at me, "She used to, yes. If only I could bring back the past, if only I could re do everything that had happened two years ago… I wish I could." He sniffed. What's with us boys getting fond of crying this days? "Now, when I look back in the past, Lucy was always the reason for everything… We stop our petty fights because we enjoyed making fun of Lucy… or because she was acting weird… or because we both felt she was in danger… or because she was pissed off and we wanted to piss her off more… It was always because of her… Our battles that only Erza had the power to stop through beating us up. I…" he looked down, hiding his face with his damped bangs. "I… really hate apologizing, Gray… What I did was wrong… Don't make me say more, hearing her say… she loves… you is enough."

'Hearing her say she loves you is enough…' I felt this statement wash me over with boiling water as words got stuck on my throat, leaving me speechless, my eyes widened in disbelief. I hardly knew what to say. My mind went blank. I stared back at the ceiling and felt my stomach grumble. I don't know what to feel, I wanted to jump in delight, because the words were coming from Natsu himself, but could this be true? I know Natsu would never lie… But what if Lucy only just said that because she really doesn't want to cancel our wedding? She's too selfless. There were just to many 'what if's I was in the blink of confusion again. I heard her choose Natsu, I swear! But Lucy isn't a liar too. But she's open to compromises? SHIT. I can't think straight.

I snapped out of my chaotic thoughts as Natsu started to speak again. "I hate it that she didn't choose me… What's so good about you anyway? You're an exhibitionist that looks like an ice cream that tastes gross..." I heard him let out a heavy sigh, "But I guess there's nothing more I can do, but wait… until the next life… I'll make sure I'll win her over again…" he pumped his fist to the air.

I pulled myself up and turned my gaze to him, "You wish, squinty eyes!"

He quickly released flames to cover his body, perhaps to hide his tears, "I'll make it happen, droopy eyes!"

Just before I could stand upright to charge back, the door went flying towards us, making us fly and bounce on my room's wall. I guess it's time to bid goodbye to my good old wall, thank you for being sturdy all through this time despite me being tough on you, but having both Erza and Natsu around will surely be harsh… You won't make it another day. I stroked my temples and tried to pull my body up, but it's of no use. I don't have the energy to even speak.

"What the hell was that for?" I heard Natsu growled in fume as he stand up and kick the door that hit us away.

"GRAY! NATSU!" That voice, it was Erza's. I shivered in fright, why the hell is she here?

"Gray..." I heard someone called my name softly, I couldn't be mistaken, that was unquestionably Lucy's voice. I heard her footsteps nearing towards me in hesitation. And not before long, she was looking down on me standing right before me.

My eyes were slowly fixing on her as I swallowed twice before choking out, "Lu–Lucy…" she examined my body as I lay before her, it was a pathetic sight. My hands were bleeding unstoppable.

"So, this was the Gray behind the strong and cold mask he wore the past few days just to get rid of me?" Lucy proclaimed with her voice in deep worry. She sat down before me and took my bleeding fist, I felt tears sting my eyes, I'm getting used to crying nowadays, I don't know but I could smell alcohol around Lucy, has she been drinking? All I knew was I was trying to refuse to cry in front of her. I don't want to look more pitiable, I'm a man and true men don't cry in front of the girl of their dream. She opened my bag and took out a small kit, "What have you done this time?" she said, trying to gasp the extent of the situation. She then glanced at Natsu who was staring at us, "Was it you, Natsu?"

Natsu shook his head vehemently, as he waived his hand hysterically. "I did not!" he let down his tensed shoulder and looked down, "O-Only one punch?" he huffed. By this time, I didn't notice Erza had gotten near and was already pulling the poor crying Natsu away. "E-Erza… I-I was just getting Gray back t-to his senses! L-Lucy, h-help me! Let me live…" he was bawling in panic.

"You always cause trouble!" I heard Erza babble in anger as they exited my house. They just destroyed my home, shit!

I took my gaze back to Lucy and found myself desperately trying to avoid her eyes. My hand was still shaking slightly as she brought it to her lap. She began to clean my wound saying, "Both of you never fails to always worry me…" Her nimble fingers trailed over my arm as she used a smooth clothe to wipe off the excess blood on my hand. She squirted an amount of antiseptic spray on the wounds that caught her eye, It stung every time and I knew she's aware of this because I couldn't hide my flinches. She quickly covered the wounds with a cool ointment and wrapped it in bandages. I wasn't talking, my eyes were shut close. Maybe she thought I was sleeping. I felt her eyes stared at my seemingly sleeping features and man, I felt so peaceful at the thought of her watching me fall asleep. That's when I heard her speak, "I missed you… Gray. And I won't just let you go like that." Heh. But I couldn't move an inch. I couldn't even find the strength to open my eyes and respond. Everything was just so exhausting, but I never felt happier hearing this from Lucy herself. For the first moment in my life, I knew Lucy is mine…

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