Searching for Wendy wasn't exactly easy for the group. For one thing they didn't know the town of Magnolia very well due to never being in it that much or having no memory of it if they did. Then there was the fact that there were crowds of people walking all over the place and keeping them from getting good glance of where Wendy could be.
"Man that kid is fast." Natsu said as he searched with Lucy. "She was literally gone in no time."
"I hope she's okay." Lucy said. "Towns like these can be very dangerous.. What if she gets herself into some trouble?"
"She's a smart girl Luce. I'm sure she'll be alright until we find her." He assured her. "Hey while we have some time alone, can I ask you something?"
"No I will not sleep with you so you can remember how it feels to do it when you're alive." She answered in annoyance.
"Not that." He said. "It's about what you said to Gray and Juvia earlier."
"What?"
"Do you really think they're getting attached to Wendy? I mean she's a good kid and we all like her but do you really think it's that deep?"
"I can't say for sure but I think that might be where those two are headed."
"What makes you say that?"
"I read about it in the deceased handbook. Sometimes when ghosts and ghouls can communicate with living mortals they'll get emotionally attached to one or more of them. And judging by Gray and Juvia's recent actions I think they're developing a parental love for Wendy and I think she may reciprocate their feelings."
"Why?"
"Well think about it. Gray and Juvia died young meaning they were denied many opportunities in life which included having a child and starting a family. Then of course there's also maternal and paternal instincts which I have seen in both of them. But I think what really does it is the fact that Wendy's parents despite loving her very much, don't always have time for her. They work a lot and they keep things from her so she seeks comfort in us. Especially Juvia and Gray."
"Well how come they got attached and we didn't?"
"I don't know know. Sometimes it happens for certain ghouls and ghosts and sometimes it doesn't."
"Or maybe we did get attached and we just don't realize it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well we don't act like her parents like they do but that doesn't necessarily mean we're not emotionally attached to her. Yeah Gray and Juvia are willing to do anything to help or protect Wendy but wouldn't we do the same? And is it really so bad if we did get attached?"
"Yes because we're dead and she's not. Do you know what that means? It means one day we'll have to move on while she stays here on earth until she dies. In other words this would lead to extreme heartbreak."
"Doesn't sound any less heartbreaking than her losing a living relative to death."
"Even so, we're not her family Natsu."
"Who says?"
"How about genetics?"
"Blood never meant anything to me."
"Well that's you. Wendy has a family of her own. She can't just replace her parents with us."
"Who said anything about the four of us replacing her parents? Becoming a part of a family doesn't automatically mean that someone already in that family is getting replaced. It just means we all care for each other in the same way."
"Excuse me but I thought you were against this thing."
"I was against Gray and Juvia acting like her parents, not caring about her and is there really anything wrong with us wanting a family? We're dead. We don't have a family anymore. We don't even remember our families."
"You have your father and your brother."
"But we're not close. Lucy I understand why you think it's a bad idea for us to get attached but what else can we do? We're dead but we're not in heaven yet. We're stuck in a world that we're completely invisible to and we have very few things that make us happy. You expect us to just spend all eternity in misery? To never try to find any kind of joy again? To tell you the truth Lucy I think Wendy is pretty much the only thing that makes us happy. Before she came along all we did was just sit around and watch other people's lives go by."
"Oh please. You were happy before we met her. Whenever you were miserable you just visited the Radiant Cemetery and hooked up with one of those dead prostitutes."
"I will admit I did go to that place in desperation to feel something but it didn't really do it for me and I...I have a confession to make."
"What?"
"I haven't really... Nevermind."
"What?"
"Nevermind. You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway. Let's just get back to trying to find Wendy."
"Alright. Do you think she might have gone into a store or something?"
"Maybe. Let's take a look in one of them."
They walked into the closest store they could find and searched around for Wendy but she was no where to be seen. They decided to ask the woman at the cashier if she might know where Wendy was. The woman was in her late thirties to early forties, she was attractive but at the same time she was also repelling and at the moment she was smoking a cigarette while looking greatly annoyed. However she appeared somewhat pleased when she saw the two of them approaching her.
"Excuse me." Lucy said to her. "But would you mind if we asked you some questions?"
"Don't mind at all." She replied before flashing a flirty smile at Natsu. "As long as this tall drink of water is doing the asking. What's your name handsome?"
"Uhhh..." Natsu gulped feeling uncomfortable. "Natsu."
"Never heard a name like that before, are you from Europe?"
"I don't think so. Anyway have you seen a little girl come by here?"
"Why? Is she your daughter?"
"No."
"Oh no kids huh? And I don't see a wedding ring on that finger on your so I'm guessing you're probably single."
She started to run her fingers up his arm, he pulled it away in a creeped out manner.
"Uh I hate to be rude but you didn't answer our question." Lucy said getting irritated. "Have you seen a little girl with indigo hair and brown eyes anywhere?"
"No I haven't. Now move aside blondie. I'd like to get better acquainted with chiseled jaw over here." She said with a lecherous look in her eye. "So good looking, are you rather shy on dates or do you like to go straight to third base?"
"Oh...Well I...I...Listen I'm very flattered." Natsu said nervously. "And slightly disturbed but I don't think it would be wise for the two of us to get acquainted in that way."
"Oh come on."
"Hey are you deaf? He said no." Lucy snipped. "Now back off black eyes."
"My eyes aren't black."
"Keep flirting with him and they'll get there."
"Is that a threat?"
"No it's a promise and you should know that I never break a promise."
"Please, as if I could be intimidated by the likes of you."
She was just about to run her fingers all over Natsu when Lucy slapped her hard on her butt.
"Oh you did not just hit me there." The woman said.
"Yes I did and your mouth is next if you lay so much as one finger on him again."
"You wanna go you blonde bimbo?"
"Bring it you tobacco tramp."
She lunged for Lucy but that cashier underestimated her opponent's reflex and combat skills. Very soon the two of them were wrestling each other in a nasty cat fight. Slapping each other and pulling each other's hair with Natsu as their only witness at the moment.
"Holy crap, this is so hot." Natsu said getting excited. "I wish Gray was here to see this."
He grabbed a nearby chair, sat on it, and enjoyed the show for as long as he could while internally praising God for giving him this spectacle.