Natsu and Laxus ended up falling asleep arguing. Come the next morning when Natsu awoke he discovered that Gray had not returned which worried him.
"Laxus." Natsu said shaking him awake. "Laxus wake up!"
"What?" He groaned. "I'm trying to sleep!"
"Do you know if Gray came back last night?"
"No I was too busy talking to you. Holy boy is still gone?"
"It looks like it. Let's ask around, find out if any of these natives have seen him."
"Maybe they sacrificed him to some heathen God."
"For your information." Interjected Mirajane who suddenly made an appearance. "We don't believe in human sacrifices and we worship the same God as you all."
"I seriously doubt uneducated savages like yourself understand the concept of any religion besides one the worships a heathenous pagan idol."
"Laxus shut it!" Natsu ordered. "That's no way to talk to people who have given us hospitality! Insult them again and I'll ditch you somewhere on this damnable island. Now why don't you make yourself useful and try to find Gray?"
Laxus just rolled his eyes but he complied with Natsu's order. Once he was gone, Natsu turned to Mirajane.
"I apologize for his behavior. I'll see that it doesn't continue."
"He's not very fond of my people is he?"
"Don't take it personally he's not fond of all people. But deep down, really deep down, He means well and his father really screwed him up when he was a kid so we try to be forgiving and understanding toward him."
"I see you what mean. A lot of the world's most rude and/or cruel people end up that way because of a great hurt they've suffered through."
"Yeah but believe me he could have turned out way worse if his grandfather hadn't of taken him away while he was still young. However Laxus still doesn't understand just how horrible his father was and how his grandfather basically saved him from turning into an immoral monster."
"Maybe he'll understand once enough time passes. Anyway you two mentioned looking for someone."
"Last night one of my crew members left to collect firewood but he never came back. Have you seen him? He has black hair and he doesn't wear a shirt."
"I know who you're talking about but I haven't seen him."
"Crap. If something has happened to him I don't think I'll be able to live with myself."
"Don't panic. If he left tracks I should be able to find him." She said. "I was hoping we could wait a little longer before leaving the tribe and going out into the island's jungles but it looks like we have no choice but to go now. You better back up your things. I'll send my sister to bring you some food and water so you'll be able to regain your strength."
Natsu gathered up his things and loaded the up into his satchel. He was halfway finished packing when he saw something moving around in his bag. He looked inside and pulled back the blanket that covered the moving figure. Underneath it was Happy.
"Happy! What are you doing here?" He asked. "I thought I told you to stay on the ship. Bad cat."
He only mewed at him in a cheeky way.
"It's bad enough I have to worry about keeping Laxus and Gray out of danger while we're on this island but now I have to worry about you too? I have half a mind to leave you here. In fact that's what I'll do. Get out."
But Happy stubbornly nuzzled deeper into the satchel.
"Happy you are not coming with us. You're staying right here where it's safe. I'll come back and get you later."
But the blue cat wouldn't budge.
"Now Happy I am your master I am ordering you to get out of the bag."
He still refused to move.
"Alright have it your way. If you won't come out I'll pull you out."
He reached in to grab Happy only for his pet to bite his hand. Not hard mind you or enough to draw blood but enough to pinch him a little.
"Ow! Did you just bite me?!" Happy nodded and bared his teeth, threatening to bite him again. "Why you ungrateful little furball! So this is the thanks I get for taking you in, feeding you, grooming you, and cleaning your hide of fleas?!"
Happy just stuck his tongue at him.
"Alright that's it!"
Needlessly to say when Mirajane's sister Lisanna came in with two baskets, one of fruit and one of fish she saw a most unusual sight. Natsu wrestling with a bag.
"Have I caught you at a bad time?" She asked while trying not to giggle at how silly he looked.
"Oh no this isn't what it looks like." Natsu said. "I'm not fighting with my bag."
"You're not?"
"No I'm fighting with my mangy and not to mention ungrateful cat who refuses to come out."
"Here maybe this will help."
She grabbed a little fish from the basket and dangled it over the bag. At once Happy jumped up to bite into it which allowed Lisanna to grab him and pull him out.
"There we go." She said.
"Figures." Natsu said. "I should have known fish would have drawn him out."
As Happy greedily devoured the fish he nuzzled and purred against Lisanna who proceeded to stroke him.
"He sure is sweet." She said.
"Don't be fooled. He's only acting nice now because you gave him fish. A few seconds ago he was biting me! His own master who saved his miserable life and took care of it!"
"Does he normally behave in that manner?"
"No. I don't know what's gotten into him."
"Perhaps I can tell you."
"You speak cat?"
"Not exactly. Since my people and I spend most of our lives living with nature we've gained the ability to understand the feelings of animals. This one I believe is feeling very gluttonous."
"Well I could have told you that. I mean look at how he's going at that fish. He acts as if I don't feed him."
"But he also feels great concern, worry, and fear."
"If he's so scared then why the hell did he sneak into my satchel?"
"He's not scared for himself. He's scared for you."
"Oh..." He looked at Happy as the realization finally hit him."Is that it Happy? You're scared I might not come back so you followed me to make sure that I'd be okay?"
The blue cat nodded. Natsu gently took him from Lisanna and held him in comforting manner.
"Happy I know you're worried but you know me. I'm not going to die anytime soon. In fact I'm positive I'm going to come back from this alive. But I'd have a much more insured chance of doing so if I had less friends to look after. So it would be best if you stayed here where it's safe."
He put Happy down and stood up. But his faithful friend wasn't fully convinced and he brushed up against Natsu's leg to tell him that.
"Come on Happy you know how much of handful you can be. It would be better for everyone if you didn't get in the way."
"He sure is devoted." Lisanna observed. "And so cute."
"You really think so?"
"Yes."
"In that case can you do me a favor? Can you watch him while I'm gone? You don't have to do much for him. Just feed him and stroke him a little when he gets lonely."
"Of course." She said picking Happy up. "I'll take very good care of him."
"Thank you. Don't worry he won't be any trouble. For you that is, can't say the same for myself or my crew."
Lisanna giggled.
"I'm sure we'll get along just fine and I'll be sure to give him all the fish he can eat."
"Hey I said take care of him, not spoil him." Natsu joked. "You do that and he may not come back with me when I return."
"You're so funny." She said. "I wish all the men in our tribe were like you."
"I can think of a few women who would beg to differ on that subject."
"Why? You're funny, sweet, an animal lover, and quite handsome."
She then took hold of his hand and looked at him in a way that he recognized all too well. And although he was flattered by this, his heart rightfully belonged to another woman.
"I...I'm sorry." He said taking his hand from her. "Look you're very beautiful and very nice but there's... Someone else. In fact the reason I'm on this island is because I want to rescue her.
"Oh..." Disappointment crossed her face but she smiled in an understanding way. "She must be something wonderful then. I do hope you find her."
"Me too and I'm certain someone as lovely as you will find somebody else."
"I do have somebody else. It's not love yet but I'm sure in time it will be."
"Good for you."
"Are you two bethtothed?"
"No. Not really."
"But you've told her that you love her right?"
"No. I haven't."
"Well what's stopping you?"
"Social status."
"Huh?"
"You wouldn't understand. You'd have to live in Fiore to get the idea."
"Perhaps but I believe that if you really love someone you shouldn't keep it a secret. You should tell that person how you feel otherwise you may spend your whole life regretting it."
"You make it sound so easy." He chuckled in a melancholy way. "Uh...Will you still take care of Happy for me?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
An hour later Laxus and Natsu left the tribe with Mirajane as their guide. Poor Happy wanted so desperately to follow them but he stayed behind as his master wished. The faithful feline only hoped that said master would be able to come back to him.
