Chapter 14: Worries from Home

The fifth master downed the last of his drink. Letting out a contented sigh, he set the mug down on the counter he was seated upon. He looked back up at Mira who was currently briefing him on Fairy Tail's monthly financial report. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Juvia walk over to them, she stood off to the side and anxiously waited for them to finish their conversion.

He put a hand up, signaling Mira to stop for a moment, then turned to look at the young woman.

"No, my dear, I haven't received any word on Gray." He answered her, knowing he question before she even asked it; it was the same one she asked practically every day.

Juvia's face fell. She thanked him, then stalked off, her shoulders slumped.

"I'm sure Gray's doing fine, Juvia." Lucy said as the water mage sat down in between her and Wendy. Happy and Carla were both sitting on the table in front of them.

"It's pointless to worry." Happy said before taking in a mouthful of his fish, "Natsu, said-mph!"

The blue cat nearly chocked dinner as Carla gave him a hard slap to the head.

"Don't talk with your mouth full." she complained.

Happy forcefully swallowed down his food, then looked at Carla apologetically.

"Sorry." he said, bowing his head.

"Oh!" Juvia suddenly explained, brightening up as an idea came to her.

"Carla-san, can't you use your clairvoyance to see if Gray-sama is doing all right?" she asked, clapping her hands together and giving the white cat a pleading look.

"I'm afraid Gray is too far away for me to that." she explained, "You could ask Cana, she might be able to get a reading on him with her magic."

The water mage immediately stood up and rushed over to where the card mage was sitting with her legs wrapped around a barrel of wine.

"Cana-san?"

"Juvia, what's up?" Cana asked, waving her hand in greeting. Her cheeks were slightly pink from the alcohol.

"Juvia was wondering if Cana-san was able to use her magic to see if Gray-sama was doing all right."

"Well, sure." she replied with a shrug, "I can't make any promises but I can check. Maybe the cards will tell me something.

She pushed her barrel away and reached into her fluffy purse. Pulling out a stack of cards she set them on the table.

Dong... Dong... Dong.

All conversation ceased as magnolia's bell tower sounded out through the clear sky. A minute later and the ground began to shake. Cheering went up throughout the hall; they all knew what that meant.

"So the old man finally made it back." Cana said with a grin. She picked up the cards and put the back into her purse.

"Wait, Cana-san," Juvia tried to stop her, "What about Gray-sama?"

The card mage gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Juvia. We'll have to do it later since I know Gildarts is going to attack me as soon as he steps through that door."

"Oh, okay." she said, her gaze shifted down to the floor and she turned away.

"Happy, where are you going?" Lucy asked when she noticed the blue cat summoning his wings.

"I'm going to go tell Natsu that Gildarts is back." he grinned at her over his shoulder as he flew out the door.

Happy found his fire-breathing companion in front of their house. As he flew closer he noticed that his friend was stretching out his muscles and looked rather perplexed as he did so.

"Natsu!" he called out as he landed a few feet away.

He didn't answer or give any indication that he had heard him.

He sighed, "You know, just because you're thinking, doesn't mean you can just ignore me."

Natsu stopped his movements, then plopped down next to Happy. He crossed his legs and stared down at them, still puzzled.

"So, what are you thinking about?" Happy asked, then leaned back and patiently waited for the other's answer.

After a solid minute Natsu finally spoke.

"I think there's something wrong with me." he said, his voice was lower than normal.

"Eh?" Happy jumped into his lap and reached a paw up to touch his forehead, "You seem just as warm as usual. What makes you think there's something wrong?"

"Well..." Natsu began, leaning back on his elbows to look up at the sky, "I just feel... lighter somehow. My body feels less strained and more relaxed, and I can't find any aches or sore spots anywhere."

Happy stared at him like he had just grown a second head. "Natsu, you know those aren't symptoms for sickness right?"

"Eh? But I've always pain somewhere on me. I must be loosing sensation in my nerves or something. I should go see Wendy and-OW! Happy why'd you do that?" Natsu yelled as he clutched at the large scratch across his arm.

"You feel pain now, right?" the cat asked with narrowed eyes.

"Yeah, 'cuz you scratched me."

"Then there's nothing wrong with you."

Natsu dropped the indignant look on his face and stared at his friend in confusion.

"Well then why-"

"Because you haven't been in any fights recently." Happy answered before he could finish the question.

Natsu's face lit up with realization, then his lips turned downward into a frown. He sighed and lay down on his back. He closed his eyes and reached a hand up to stroke the cat's blue fur. Happy purred and lay down on his belly, enjoying the warmth of his hands.

"You're an idiot, Natsu."

"I know." he muttered, "It just felt so odd."

"Maybe you just need a good brawl, then you'll probably feel better."

"I don't really feel like fighting right now."

This statement caused Happy to sit up in surprise. Natsu didn't feel like fighting? Sure, he hadn't gotten into that many brawls recently, but he figured that was just because his usually sparing partner was gone. The cat looked down at his friend sadly. Then he remembered why had had come there in the first place and immediately perked up.

"I know what will cheer you up." he said gleefully.

"What?" Natsu opened one eye to look at him.

"Gildarts is back in town."

"Oh?" Natsu exclaimed as he sat up and grinned. Then he stood up and began running back towards town.

"Natsu, wait up." Happy yelled after him.

"How's my little girl been doing. I think you've grown taller haven't you?"

"I haven't grown an inch. Stop saying creepy stuff and put me down."

"But I haven't seen you in so long."

"Can't we just sit down and have a normal talk over a beer like normal people?"

Gildarts sighed but, his smile never faded as he set his huffy daughter down.

"As you wish princes."

"Don't call me that."

"Hey, Mira, a couple of your best drinks for me and the princess."

Cana growled, but smiled inwardly as she sat down opposite her father.

"So how have things been?"

"The usual."

"Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"

Her face fell as the obvious came to mind. She shifted awkwardly in her seat, pondering how best to tell him.

"I something wrong Cana?" Gildarts immediately switched into protective father mode as he saw the distress play out on his daughter's face.

Cana was quiet for a few minutes, then she softly spoke. "Gray told me to tell you goodbye."

"Gray? Why would Gray need to say goodbye?"

Cana sighed, then looked Gildarts in the eye. "Gray left the guild."

What followed was a lengthy explanation of the events following up to Gray's departure. It wasn't very satisfying, even after Lucy and Erza came over to try and help explain, they couldn't get the man to understand why Gray left. Most of it was due to the fact that they themselves didn't really understand why Gray left.

"I think I told Master more than he told us." Erza said, "You could try talking to him, but I'm not sure if you'll get anything out of him."

Gildarts sighed, "Where is the master?"
"I think he went home." Mira called out from behind the counter.

"I see. I'll talk to him later then."

He looked at the three girls in front of him and shook his head. "You seem really okay with in just up and leaving without a good explanation."

"He was very determined and said that this was something he needed to do." Erza said.

"Is he planning on coming back."

"I think..." Lucy struggled to find the right words to say, "I think he was planning on coming back if everything went well... but he didn't seem very optimistic about it."

"Of course he's coming back."

They all jumped at Natsu's loud voice and turned around to see the their pink-haired friend grinning at them.

"Hey, Natsu, how have you been." Gildarts asked as he grinned back.

"I've been good."

There was a long pause as Gildarts started at the boy expectantly, finally he spoke.

"Aren't you going to challenge me?"

Natsu laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sure, later, right now I don't really feel like fighting."

The man cocked his head at this. "What are you sick or something?"

"No, I'm fine. I just came over to say hi."

Gildarts crossed his arms over his chest. "Okay, either you really matured since I was gone or there's something wrong with you, and I'm going to bet it's the latter."

"I'm fine, really." Natsu insisted. "You want me to prove it, fine, let's go right now. You and me."

"Natsu." Gildarts sighed, "If something is wrong then just tell us. Is there any reason you should keep this from your friends."

"I told you I'm fine." he said with a huff and turned away, "If you're not going to fight me than I'm to find some dinner and go to bed. It's getting late."

"You're not going to go raid my pantry are you?" Lucy asked with one eyebrow raised.

No answer.

"Natsu!" she yelled and stormed off after him.

"He's just mopey because Gray's gone." Erza said with a sigh.

"Yeah, I figured that." Gildarts replied. He chuckled and a small smile spread across his face. "He's still too stubborn to admit that he misses him.

Having been kicked out of Lucy's soft and comfy bed, Natsu and Happy were forced to sleep on her sofa that night. At least he tried to get some sleep. He must have shifted around a hundred different times, trying to find a comfortable enough position so he could relax enough and get some shut eye.

"Natsu?"

He groaned as he heard Happy's voice whisper into his ear.

"Natsu?"

"What?"

"Do you think Gray's doing all right?"

"Of course he is. I told you there's no need to worry. Gray will be back before we know it, and when he does, I'll beat the snot out of him, then we'll drag him back to the guild to celebrate."

Happy was quiet for a few seconds, then he whispered into his ear again.

"Do you think he'll be them when he gets back?"

"Of course he will. Gray's never going to change. Why do you keep asking dumb questions when you should be asleep.

"I can't."

"Why not?" he asked in exasperation.

"Because I can't stop thinking about Gray and whenever I think about him, my tummy starts to hurt."

Natsu turned his head to look at his friend and was shocked to see tears brimming in the cat's big eyes. He sat up and pulled him into a hug. He let the cat cry softly into his chest as he stared blankly off into the dark.

"Natsu."

He whipped his head around to see the outline of Lucy's frame as she shuffled over to them.

"Sorry. Did we wake you up?" he asked.

"No, I couldn't sleep." she went over and sat down on the couch next to him.

"What's wrong with Happy." she asked, hearing the soft crying coming from the furry ball.

Natsu shook his head, "He'll be alright."

Lucy nodded, then turned her head to stare down at the floor.

"Are you okay?"

She sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest. "I just can't shake the feeling that something bad's happening to Gray right now." she murmured.

"Oh," Natsu stared blankly at her then looked down at Happy who had stopped crying and had fallen asleep.

"Are you sure we should just wait here for him to come back? What if he needs our help?"

Natsu leaned over and wrapped and arm around the girl's shoulders. He could feel her body shake slightly as he touched her.

"If he thought that we could help him then he would of brought us along. Gray's not someone who'd leave his friends behind without a good reason for it."

"I still can't help but worry." she said.

"It'll be all right. Gray will come back I guarantee it."

"Hmm" she hummed, leaning against his side.

They stayed like that for a long while. Slowly their eyelids began to droop closed. Not long after that they were asleep.

They were pulled awake by the sound of metal banging against Lucy's door.

"That sounds like Erza's knock." Happy muttered as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"What's she doing here so early?" Lucy wondered as she sat up. Then she gasped in horror as she realized that she had been lying on top of Natsu. How that had happened, she had no idea.

"AAA!" she screamed and tumbled off the sofa.

"Lucy, why you gotta yell into my ear like that?" Natsu growled in irritation.

"It's just Lucy being her usual crazy self." Happy explained as he got up to answer the door.

Before he could reach it, however it was flung open and Erza's commanding voice filled the room.

"Natsu, Lucy, Happy: Get up, get dressed, get packed, and get out here. And no dilly dallying.

"Aye!" Natsu yelled in a panic and immediately set to work on fulfilling the scarlet-haired woman's wishes.

Lucy quickly followed suit and they were soon standing outside her apartment with Erza staring at them in dead seriousness. Lucy noted the cart full of suitcases and guessed that they would be heading off somewhere.

"So, where are we going?" she asked.

"To go help Gray, of course." she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Did you not feel the call?"

"Uh," Natsu cocked his head to the side, "What call."

"The one last night, I couldn't sleep it was so strong." Erza gritted her teeth and held a clenched fist up to her face as she spoke, "Gray must truly be in need of help, and in his darkest hour the bond of friendship that we share with him alerted us to his plight. Now we must act, for it is are duty as his comrades to rush to his side and fight together."

"Okay," Happy flew over and landed on Erza's shoulder, "I did feel really worried about Gray last night, but are you sure that that was the bond of friendship calling out to us?"

"Do you have a better explanation?" Erza asked, dropping her hand down.

Happy just stared at the blankly, then shrugged his shoulders.

"Whether it's friendship bonds or whatever, I think Erza's right; we should go see if Gray needs our help." Lucy cut in.

"Then let us be off."

Erza grabbed the handle of her card and began to pull it away when she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Natsu. The boy was just standing there with his head down and was staring blankly at the ground.

"Come on, Natsu, We know you're just as worried about him as we are." she said.

He shook his head. He didn't say anything but silently started to follow her.

They arrived at the train station ten minutes before the first train morning train departed. Natsu stared up at the train engine for a long moment.

"Guys, I don't think we should go."

"What?" Erza yelled and stalked over to him. She grabbed his shoulder harshly and spun him around so she could look into his eyes. "Why?" she asked, letting her cold stare bore into him.

He didn't even flinch at the rough treatment and met her serious gaze with one to match it. "I think we should trust Gray." he said, his tone lower than normal.

"Aren't you worried about him?" Lucy asked as she took a cautious step forward.

"Of course I'm worried." Natsu suddenly yelled, startling Erza so much that she filched and took a small step back.

His head fell and Lucy noticed his shoulders shake slightly. "The idea that he might not come back terrifies me."

Her heart clenched as he felt his voice crack.

"I want to run after him and drag him back here, but I also want to be able to trust him."

"But we can't just-" Lucy started to say, but froze when Natsu looked up and glared at her.

"He left Lucy. He quit the guild. He left his family. That's how much he doesn't want anyone to follow him. If he had to go far just to..." his voice faltered and turned away.

Silence engulfed them as they stood there, frozen, waiting for the next person to speak.

"Oh good, I was worried I was going to have to chase a train down."

They all flinched in surprise and whipped their heads around to see Gildarts running up to them.

"What are you doing here?" Happy asked.

"I came here to stop you. Levi told me about Erza's plan to run off after Gray."

They all looked at him in confusion.

"Why would you want to stop us?" Erza asked.

Gildarts sighed. "Erza, Natsu, Happy, Lucy," he gave each of them a hard stare as he said each of their names, "I spoke with the master last night and he told me the details of why Gray had to leave along."

They stared at him in dead silence, waiting for him to continue.

"While I don't know everything, from what I was told I can say for certain that Gray made the right choice in what he did and that it would be detrimental to his mission if anyone of you were to follow after him."

"But he needs our help." Erza cut in, "I know he does."
Gildarts put a hand up to stop her.

"You don't need to worry. I'm headed to Isvan right now to check up on him."

All four of them blinked in surprise.

"You are?" Natsu asked.

Gildarts nodded. "Master asked me to go. I can't explain it right now but according to him I'm the best person to send.

"Well," Lucy sighed with relief, "If there's anyone that can help him out and bring him home it's you."

The man chuckled, then reached up to rub the blond's hair. Just then the call sounded for people to start boarding the train.

"Well, I'd better be going. I'll send word on how Gray's doing as soon as I can."

They all felt relieved as they waved goodbye. And yet none of them could shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to their friend.