*Ohmigosh. I'm finally back. I'm not going to be updating often anymore (obviously) because starting this semester, I have an AP class. (For those of you who don't know what that means, it means that I'm in highschool taking a college level course.) It's pretty tough and requires a buttload of reading every night. Luckily, though, WEEKEND! And I can update with no worries c: (Well actually yes worries, but shhhhhhhhhhhhh.)Gosh, where I am, we've had so many snow days. It's insane. We've gotten about a whole weekoff due to snow days. Man, I love Winter. In any case, welcome back my lovelies! If you remember me mentioning it a few chapters back, I've been searching for a unique little signoff because.. Uhm.. Because... BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT! Anyway, I am still working on that. Damn, could I get much lamer? I have a Let's Play blog on Blogspot that you can check out if you would like to c: I also have a YouTube, and- The more I talk about this, the lamer I get, so I'm just going to stop here w

[Edit] AH. I DELAYED ANOTHER MONTH. WHY. WHY. I'M SO SORRY GUYS. FORGIVE MEEEEEEEEE. PLEASE.

[edit] DID I LITERALLY JUST DELAY YET ANOTHER MONTH? I'M SO SORRY GUYS ;-; I DO NOT DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN!

Ermmmmmm, thanks for the reviews everyone, I really appreciate it! And if you ARE enjoying it, a review/favorite/follow would be very much appreciated, but I understand if you're too lazy XD Hahahaha, so, this chapter is going to be... I dunno, probably short and I've completely forgotten what I was originally planning for this arc XD But, anyway, let's hope this chapter works out ^-^ ~AsianNinjaChik*

Chapter 27

~Natsu~

"I'm taking you home." I declare as I pick Lucy up.

"Wha- WHY?" She shouts, kicking.

"You need to rest after that last mission." I use an excuse.

I really don't know why I'm bringing her home. I just kinda want to. So I do.

"But I didn't even do anything!" She complains.

"You still need rest."

I wait for her snappy comeback, but it never comes. I look down and see that her eyes are closed and that she's fallen asleep. It's still bright out, and I am tempted to drop her off at her place before going on a mission on my own. She shifts, and I shake the thought out of my mind.

After quickly glancing around to make sure the mean lady isn't here, I leap up and crawl through her window and lay her gently on her bed. As I back away, her eyes fly open.

"Natsu!"

"Huh?"

She looks around frantically, "Wh-where are we?"

I frown. Is she trying to be funny or something?, "We're at your place."

"My place?"

"Mhmm."

She slowly blinks, "Right... Uhm, sorry."

"This is why I said you needed rest." I say.

She shakes her head and smiles, "Nah, I'm fine. Really!"

Her fake smile does not escape undetected, "You don't need to fake smiling around me, ya know. After all, we're partners, right?"

She sighs and nods, "Yeah... Partners."

Why does she seem hesitant in saying that? Could it be... "Lucy, do you not like being my partner?"

She shakes her head vigorously, "OH NO! I love being your partner. In fact, it's probably one of the best things to happen to me."

I'm speechless for a moment. A warm fuzzy feeling overcomes me and I feel as though I am floating on a fluffy cloud. Hesitantly, I say, "Well, I'm glad that we are, too. Even if we're not anything more."

"Anything more?" She squeaks.

"Huh?" I frown. Why did I say that? 'Anything more?' What does that even mean?

"Uhm... Yeah... Like... we could be like Alzack and Bisca! Not that that's a bad thing. I mean, I personally wouldn't really mind."

Lucy turns a deep shade of red, "W-w-w-w-w-w- WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"

I realize that what I just said probably confused her. I don't want her thinking that I don't love her. That would be giving her mixed signals, and I remember Gajeel once mentioning that mixed signals almost made Levy hate him once. And Lucy is definitely not someone I want hating me.

"Uhm... You know... I think I'm going to head back to the guild. You stay here and rest up."

She narrows her eyes, "Oh I don't think so."

I flash her a cheesy grin and leap out her window.

"NATSU!" She shouts.

I duck into an alley and close my eyes, focusing on her. I hear her throw her covers off and mutter something to herself while charging down the stairs.

So she's coming after me, eh? I think to myself.

"NATSU, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME." She roars.

"And that's what I like about you." I say quietly.

"Natsu!"

"Catch me if you can!" I shout, leaping up on top of the nearest building's roof.

She looks up and I wave cheekily.

"Natsu! Get down from there!" She demands.

I stick my tongue out at her and run across the roofs to the guild.

When I get to the guild, she's already there, waiting for me. How she got there first, I have no clue, nor do I want to know.

She clenches her fists and glares at me, "Natsu. You better listen because I am only saying this once."

She seems mad. Why? Am I supposed to know?

"Okay, Lucy, I'm listening to every word you're about to say."

She opens her mouth to speak, but there is a roar from within the guild.

"NATSU. GRAY. COME HERE."

"This can wait. Better go talk to Makarov." She says stepping aside.

I dash into the guild hall and stand before Makarov with Gray at my side.

"What is it?" Gray asks.

"Mirajane and Laxus have gone missing!"

"MISSING?" We ask together.

He nods seriously.

"Wait... How?" Gray asks in confusion.

Makarov gives him "a look", "What do you mean how? JUST GO FIND THEM!"

I stand up straight and salut him, "On it!"

"Yeah yeah, whatever." Gray mumbles as he begins to walk out.

"OOOOh! Gray-sama! Juvia is coming! Juvia will come with you!" Juvia screams as she attacks Gray from behind, who falls with a strangled gurgle.

I slow down and listen to see if Lucy will come. At the last possible moment, as we're walking out the door, she comes running up to me.

"Natsu, wait up! I'm coming!"

"ALRIGHT!"

Gray shrugs, "Good to have ya."

I notice Juvia glare at Lucy as she laughs at Gray's comment. Frowning, I place my elbow on her shoulder and lean on her, "LET'S GO!"

Juvia grabs Gray's arms and sprints down the road, cackling the whole way. To make sure I don't get shown up, I pick Lucy up and run after them.

*In Town*

"Excuse me, Miss," Gray starts, walking up to a fruit seller, "Have you seen two Wizards recently?"

The seller taps her chin with her finger, "What do they look like?"

"Mira has really long light purple hair and she was wearing a cloak." Lucy chirps.

"And Laxus has short spikey yellow hair with spikes sticking out of his head!" Juvia says, nodding earnestly.

She shakes her head, "Nope, can't say that I've seen any one who matches that description, but if I do, I'll be sure to tell you."

It was worth a try.

Lucy smiles at her, "Thanks!"

Gray nods, "Yeah, thanks."

I sulk over to the side of a building, "HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO FIND THEM?" I shout.

But no sooner had the words left my mouth, I spot them beside a large manor.

"FOUND THEM!" Gray and I shout at the same time.

Lucy shakes her head, "Oh no.. here we go again."

"Go Gray-sama, go! Juvia is cheering for you!" Juvia cheers.

I ignore them both and butt heads with Gray, "What were you saying, Snowflake?"

"I was saying I found them, Pea Brain."

"Well, I'll beat you to them!" I taunt, charging off.

"HELL NO!" He shouts, chasing after me.

"Natsu, Gray!" Lucy shouts, already far behind us.

"I TOLD YOU I FOUND THEM FIRST, ICE PRINCESS!" I roar, screeching to a stop.

"YOU DID NOT. YOU TRIED GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, FLAME BRAIN." Gray hollers back.

That is so not true. I'm not that stupid...

Before the fighting escalates any further, Laxus steps in and bops us on the head.

I frown. Who does he think he is?

"YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?" Gray and I shout in unison.

Mira pulls Laxus away and smiles sweetly, "Do you two need something?"

"We're just here because Makarov told us to look for you two because you've been gone a while." I explain as Lucy and Juvia finally arrive.

"And Juvia came because Gray-sama was going!" She adds.

Mira glances at Laxus.

"Yeah, yeah." He say, "I assume you're here because Makarov told you to watch the two morons?" He asks Lucy.

Lucy nods, "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"It's painfully obvious." He says cockily.

What a jerk. We're not morons. I glance at Gray, At least, I'm not.

"Now that you're here, we need your help with something." Mira says.

This catches my attention, "What is it?"

"It appears the Gajeel and Levy are in this house." Laxus says.

"What's your point?" Gray asks, speaking up.

"What if they're... doing the do?" I ask curiously.

Lucy frowns, " 'The do'?"

Mira shakes her head, "No, Natsu."

Lucy still looks confused, so I decide to explain it to her.

"Ya know, the do. When the do the do."

"What's the do?!" She asks.

There are many ways to explain this... So I pick the simplest. I point one index finger up and make an 'o' shape with my other hand.

Laxus, as though sensing what I'm about to do, grabs my head and flings me against a wall, "This is not the time."

*HAI GUYS. END OF CHAPTER. YAY! FINALLY UPDATED. YAY! PROMOTION TIME! Boo...

Yeah, sorry. Promotion time! My friend and I have started a 999 SYOC, if you wanna check it out! Link is on my page~

AND THAT'S ALL THE PROMOTIONS! YAY! WOOHOO. THAT'S ALL. I FEEL QUITE SATISFIED NOW. TAH-TAH! ~AsianNinjaChik*