Hi Readers! I know that this story is going downhill. But nevertheless, I want to finish writing this tale and I hope you will enjoy it through the end. The story is coming on close. The past has been opened. The story is closing it ends, but still have more to write.

Chapter 20

Natsu was currently hidden inside a bag, curling tight as she tried to be quiet as much as possible. She stayed tight-lipped, as she felt the bag moving around while being carried by Gray. Groaning at times, when she felt the young lad carried her carelessly as he ran in a hurry towards his school.

"Barely safe" she heard Gray's muffled voice after a loud bang.

"Gray? What's that?" she heard a familiar voice called out, but got ignored based on the words she heard in a second.

"I'll show it to you later. The class will be starting anyway"

"Fine." Lucy pouted, as she headed back to her table.

Later indeed, their teacher came after a minute with a loud yawn. Walking towards his desk in front of the class, he placed the attendance book on the table and started doing roll calls, without hearing his students' response. His class just stared at the older man already accustomed to their morning routine with their assigned homeroom teacher.

Hours had passed when the bell had already rung, the youngest of their teachers by the name Max Alors was already near the door as soon as the bell rang.

Gray kneeled at his bag on the floor and opened it slightly to peek inside. The smile that had formed on his lips was instantly gone when Lucy had gasped loudly behind him. In turn, the raven-haired man twitched from her voice, and immediately closed the bag and continued to hide it behind his back. Upon realizing who it was, he sighed in annoyance and scolded his friend from surprising him.

Lucy apologized and leaned over to her friend's ear. "Why is she here?" she asked with concern, wondering if Natsu has been selfish again. Gray shook his head and picked up the bag carefully in his arms. He then exited the classroom, after telling her his plans.

Lucy nodded his reason, agreeing that they might be able to ask for help with the principle regarding the transfer student.

It has already been weeks, after the incident where Natsu was almost taken away again. After the lady in black uniform had left suddenly, the next day and the day after. Hikaru hasn't been going to class. They did ask their teacher about it, but the teacher did not disclose any information about the sudden disappearance of the transfer student.

Heading towards the rooftop, Lucy decided to join him for lunch. Juvia, who was heading towards the cafeteria, had seen the two walking up the stairs leading to the rooftop. Angry with jealousy at the blond-haired woman, The rain user had made a detour, and followed them behind.

"Mind if I join you?" Juvia asked them, while glaring daggers at the shivering blond.

Lucy nodded her head repeatedly, after feeling the killing intent from her friend's eyes. Gray decided to ignore and sat at the floor, he then opened his eyes, and Natsu speedily popped out from the bag.

"Finally nice fresh air" she cheered loudly, earning a smack on her head.

"Be quiet or people might hear you"

The doll just rolled her eyes at him and greeted the two ladies in front of her. Looking at their lunchbox, she can't help but giggle at the loud demanding stomach.

"Natsu, don't tell me, you forced Gray again to bring you here?"

Natsu glared and denied being forceful, she then claimed that it was Gray's idea to help her.

"Not really. You did ask me first and I just agreed to it" The raven-haired man dismissed, after eating his lunch.

The doll earned a scolding from her friends, while she glared at the young man. Annoyed, she pouted and started to pick up a fight from the young lad. Almost an hour had passed when they finally filled their stomach with their meal, packing their empty lunch boxes, they decided to head back to their classroom since it won't be long till the bell will ring again.

Natsu had returned back inside the bag, snoring after being full. Gray had picked up his bag again, after making sure the doll was secured inside. They then left the rooftop, feeling grateful that no one had decided to have their lunch there during their break.

Hours passed, and Gray was starting to doze from his chair when he suddenly heard a loud groan coming from his bag. Wakaba, who was currently their teacher for the hour, had turned to the class to find the students' face turned towards a baffled Gray sitting awkwardly from his seat.

"Gray, don't tell me you fell asleep?" The brown-haired teacher asked, looking amused by what he just heard.

Gray shook his head in response and grabbed for his bag, and excused himself. Wakaba just tilted his head to the side, now confused but shrugged it off as he continued with his class.

The raven harried lad was running down the hallway while holding the bag tightly on his chest. While earning some scolding from teachers passing by. Gray shouted an apology in response but continued to run towards the toilet. Once he was inside, he locked the cubicle and opened the door to glare at an entertained looking doll, while trying to hold her laughter.

"You damn slanted eyes, didn't I tell you to behave?"

Natsu grinned without a care in his situation. "But I got bored. How many classes do you have left?"

Gray sighs in defeat and looks at his watch. "Just wait for three more hours, and will go later to meet that person, okay?"

With a pout on her lips, she went back to his bag looking dejected. "Come on. You want to find the whereabouts of the transfer student right? so bear with it, and three hours will pass in a jiffy" The doll nodded her head in turn, and rolled her eyes. "Whatever. you're so boring" she called out and sat back inside the bag while plopping a candy to her mouth.

The raven-haired man sweat dropped from her response but held himself from trying to pick a fight with her. Closing the bag halfway. He picked her up and went back to his classroom.

Unfortunately, Natsu had fallen asleep after an hour of doing nothing inside the bag, Gray was relieved though when he noticed how silent she was for the remaining hours of his classes. Two hours had passed, their final subject was already done. Stretching his muscle from sitting all day and unable to leave his table, as he got worried that Natsu might be up to something. Luckily, nothing happened.

"Gray. Are you going?" he heard Lucy asking him. He nodded his head in response and picked up his bags. Once he got out, he was curious about why Lucy had followed him on the way.

"Well, I want to help Natsu too, and I'm curious about this transfer student as well". Nodding his head, he just allowed her to follow him, not later though, Juvia had greeted them with Mirajane and Lisanna behind her, planning to visit the principal as well.

The raven-haired male chose not to care, as he allowed them to come as well. Once they reached the door, Gray knocked and was then asked to enter. Slowly opening the door, they went inside and were greeted by their short height principle.

"How can I help you?" the old man asked, after putting some papers to his table. Makarov averted his eyes to the student by his door, and his eyes widened from his visitors, looking happy.

"Oh, Mirajane and Lisanna. How have you been?"

The two white-haired ladies bowed their heads to the man they treated like a father. Returning the gestures with a smile, they were immediately asked to sit down together with the other three.

Gray was confused at the sisters how they knew the old man, but it was soon explained to him that he's the director of the orphanage house that they used to stay before the siblings left from his care.

"Oh, no wonder you act friendly with the principal whenever I see you talking to him" Juvia chimed in, understanding the closeness with the Straus and the Principal.

"Then, just want to make sure. You know anyone by the name 'Natsu Dragneel', right?" Gray hoped, holding on to the bag on his lap.

Makarov froze from his seat, with eyes wide, he asked the young man if he knew about her whereabouts. Gray nodded his head in response and placed the bag on the coffee table. The principal watches the young man place the heavy looking bag on the table and observe him zipping the bag open. He then wondered what the young man was about to show to him. But was shocked with surprise evident in his eyes after seeing a familiar face in a toddler life-sized doll.

Natsu yawned from the bag and raised her hands to stretch her muscles. Standing up from the bag, she turned towards Gray and asked about the principal. Gray just pointed out where they currently are. The pink-haired doll turned her head and immediately formed a smile on her lips, after seeing the old man after many months.

"Oh, Old man. It's been a while" she cheered, walking in haste towards the older man and jumped to his table.

Makarov stared in disbelief, as he watched a little Natsu on his table talking happily to him. Tears started to gather in his eyes, for seeing the cheery child that he's been looking for months, looking good and healthy despite being so small. Mirajane stood up from the couch and handed the old man the tissue. Makarov took a piece and wiped his eyes. He heard the doll teased him, but didn't pay any attention, as he was happy and overwhelmed to know that she was safe.

Without words coming out, he placed his palms under her armpit and wrapped her in a hug. Natsu was confused but nevertheless returned the gesture. It wasn't a minute later when she was placed back on his desk and was immediately smack on her head.

"Natsu, you idiot! Where have you been? What have you got yourself into? Didn't I tell you not to talk to strangers? Now, look at you. You're so tiny. Tiny than me"

The pink-haired doll felt the pain in her head. Placing her palms on her head, she glared at the older man and retorted back. "Shut up old man. It's not my fault, I was just on my way home when this lady cursed me. Blame it on her"

After hearing her say 'Cursed by a lady'. His eyes widened and realized something. He then placed a hand in between his brows and hoped that it wasn't the case. The Sakurai Family has been well known for curses and dark magic. He was aware of them being able to turn bodies into something else, but years had passed they decided to seal that particular spell ever since one of their family members had abused her power, and slowly started to lost her mental stability due to placing curses to anyone she hates and soon ended her own life without a thought.

Pressing her lips, he asked if Natsu knew who the lady was. The doll nodded her head aggressively, "I know her, and Gray told me that she's in this school. I want to talk to her, have her this curse undone"

Makarov felt the anger and impatience in her eyes, he sighed and drank his water before speaking up.

"She's currently not here Natsu"

"What do you mean?"

"That girl hasn't been coming to class for weeks already"

"But why?"

"I don't have any idea as well. I just suddenly received a call from her aunt weeks ago, that her niece hasn't been home in a while. They are currently trying to find her, but unfortunately no news from the missing girl yet"

Natsu stilled on the ground, starting to lose hope in her eyes after hearing the disappearance of the witch. But it wasn't long when she turned to Gray, "Then let's go and find her" She suggested with excitement in her eyes. "With my nose, I can smell her scent if I have something that I can pick up her scent from" She then turned back to the principal, "Hey old man. Do you have some things that she used to have?" she asked dumbly while tilting her head to the side.

Makarov started to laugh from her question, while others chuckled from her proposal. Natsu tilted her head to the side and asked them what was wrong.

"Come on Natsu, it's not that easy to find the leads of the transfer student" Gray sighed.

"That's right Natsu. Don't worry though I can ask Gajeel to help me with that" It was Juvia who chimed in, earning the Principal's attention.

"You know Gajeel?" Makarov asked curiously. The blue-haired lady nodded her head in response, stating that they have been friends since they were babies.

"I see. I see. How is he now?" The old man asked curiously, smiling from hearing her friend's name.

"He's doing good, I heard that he's been working with someone lately"

"That's good. Though if you contact him. please tell him to contact me as well" he smiled warmly at the student. Juvia just nodded her head in confusion and wondered if they knew each other. She was about to ask him that, but opted not to, after hearing the doll currently having another argument with the raven-haired lad. Mirajane laughed on the couch, while her sister was grinning happily at the sight.

"I'm glad that you haven't changed Natsu" The old man smiled and patted the dolls head, Natsu then felt herself grinning and placed her tiny hands on the sides of his hand still on her head.

Makarov cleared his throat and took his hand back, he then shuffled around his cabinet as he spoke to the student. "Unfortunately I don't have any of her possessions. But I know someone who can help you. Also, this someone has been looking for you"

Natsu perked up and waited for the old man while he was writing something on a piece of paper. She then watched him place his pen back down to the table and smiled at the doll while handing her a piece of paper. "Also, your Uncle has been looking for you Natsu"

Natsu's eyes widened from his statement, turning to the old man she asked where her Uncle was.

"I am not certain about his current location, but if you will contact this person's number on the paper. She might be able to give you some leads about the transfer student and your Uncle."

Natsu smiled and looked at the number on the paper, turning her attention to Gray; she immediately demanded him to make the call.

"Though I am not exactly sure why that person is looking for you. I only got a word that once I see you, I must give you her number to call"

The pink-haired doll nodded her head, excited on talking with this person the old man spoke of.

More than half an hour had already passed when they were talking about their past and about her Uncle, it wasn't long when Elfman intruded while asking the principal about his siblings, only to be surprised to find them talking with him.

"Big Sis, Lisanna. I've been looking for you" The buff lad called out. Mirajane smiled and stood up from the couch.

"Then, I think it's about time we head home" The others agreed as they bowed at the older man and bade him farewell. Gray opened the bag for Natsu to hide in, after making sure she was sitting comfortably he closed the bag.

"Oh, before that Gray. Please do keep me updated about Natsu"

Gray nodded his head and bowed again before closing the door.

Lisanna stood in front of Gray and asked if she could speak with Natsu. The lad allowed the older student and opened the bag for her to peek inside. Natsu averted her gaze towards the lady in front of her and smiled. Lisanna returned her smile and grabbed for the doll, and wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm so glad you finally remembered us Natsu"

Natsu felt a tingling feeling inside her and wrapped her arms back around her friend.

"I'm sorry for making you worry Lisanna" Natsu muttered back while averting her eyes to the older sister, looking happy and teary-eyed.

"Indeed, Natsu. You made us worry when you suddenly went missing a year ago, that's not very manly you know""

The doll chuckled at his words, stating that she's not a guy.

"But no need to worry this time. We'll make sure that you will be within our reach as long as you stay by Gray's side, okay?" Mirajane stated, earning a flushed Gray.

"Of course. Gray loves me a lot, he won't leave me alone" came a statement from a very proud Natsu.

It was already night time when Natsu had persisted in making Gray do the call. Sighing in defeat, the young lad took out his phone and dialed the number on his. After three rings, they could hear a soft voice speaking on the other line.

"Hello, I apologize for disturbing your time. But I got your phone number from Principal Makarov" Gray said over the phone, sounding unsure for some reason.

"Oh? Is that so? May I ask why?"

Natsu stood near the phone, and spoke confidently, "My name is Natsu Dragneel, and he said to give you a call"

There was silence over the other line and later heard a gasp, they could hear uncertain in the voice when they asked. "Are you really Natsu?"

The doll replied with a 'yes' with a bit of annoyance in her tone for having to clarify her identity.

"Then may I ask what's the name of your sibling?" The other line asks, making the two listeners wonder what they meant. Natsu looked at the phone confused and tilted her head to the side. She let out a groan as if she was thinking, then spoke up. "Wait, I don't have a brother. I only have Igneel" she responded after a few seconds.

The other line went silent and chuckled later on. "Looks like you are Natsu. Do you mind if we meet each other by the weekend?" she asked.

The doll enthusiastically agreed and asked when they could meet. But the other line cut her off, and asked something else, "By the way Natsu, who was that person I spoke with earlier?"

"That was Gray" the doll turned to her companion and gestured for him to speak.

"Gray, if you don't mind. Please come with Natsu when you come to visit"

The young lad agreed and asked for what time they will meet, but the other line just said not to worry as they will have someone pick them up by ten on a Sunday morning. They ended the call a few minutes later and went back to their room.

They were busy talking about the date and the time when they failed to notice Ul entering the living room.

"Are you going out on a date?" she teased, earning a flushing Gray as he went back to his room. Natsu stayed on the couch and shook her head to her response.

"Too bad!" Ul said, sounding disappointed.

0o0o0

"It's alright. She said they will be coming here on Sunday. Though are you sure that you shouldn't see her yet?" she asked her husband through a video call.

The man on the other end remained silent, weighing his options as he gave it a thought, but decided not to. "It's okay. A time will come when I can meet her. Also, I am waiting for him to return. It would be good if we can be completed again."

"If that's what you want. I'll just send you regards to her then when she arrives." she smiled towards him, earning a nod. Her husband was about to end the call, but she called his attention again.

"I just spoke with Makarov just now" she pressed her lips, "and it seems like. Natsu got herself on the same predicament as your parents and unfortunately, she got cursed"

He froze from her words and asked what she meant. "I do have a hunch that this is related to what happened to your parents"

"I see, then the sooner the better"

"Yup, so please come home. The twins already missed you a lot"

The man smiled from the screen and chuckled. "I know, tell them I'm sorry and I'll be home soon"

The young mother just sighed and nodded her head, he waved her hand towards him and ended the call.

A black-haired man sighed tiredly, as he stared at the picture of his parents with his sister. Picking up his phone, he sent a mail to his Uncle about Natsu.

0o0o0

TBC

Laters,

-B27