Natsu laughed haughtily noticing that he had been staring.
"Nothing, nothing. You just look very pretty today."
Her face flushed lightly, "Thank you Natsu, I appreciate you loaning me your scarf. I still remember your promise."
Once again, she watched the jovial, reckless Natsu transform into a complete stranger. "You know I was serious, right?" He was sincere and deliberative, but at the same time, he wore a small smile in the corner of his lips.
She nodded, "Of course, you wouldn't lie to me, would you?"
He broke into laughter, "Yes and no, I guess."
His answer lifted her eyebrow.
"Both? Please, explain."
"I would never lie to you—" his laughter ended with a genuine smile, "but I could never tell you something that would hurt you."
He pulled away from their locked gazes, searching deep into the blue skies and thin steely clouds passing above. He closed his eyes as a breeze brushed his face and swept Erza's scarlet hair into a dance. She guided his face down to hers with one gentle hand before pulling him into an embrace. He could hear her slow heartbeat increase in tempo resting his face against her chest. Pulling away, her eyes were elsewhere but her face was the same shade of red as his.
"I apologize…"
He flashed his toothy grin, "Don't be. They hurt a lot less without the armor."
She smiled with him, "I don't need my armor when I have this." She said looking down into his scarf. Oddly enough, it didn't reek of charcoal or fire but a scent that she could only describe as 'Natsu.'
The door she entered through slammed agape as Lucy and Gray appeared on the scene.
"Oh, there you guys are!" Lucy called as she ran over to the couple. "You really did get let out early, huh?"
Natsu snapped at Erza, "YEAH! I told you to stay in there for two weeks!"
She smiled at him but before she could reply Gray stepped forward.
"And what was your problem the other day?!"
"I don't know what you are talking about," Natsu hissed now head to head with him.
"You're such a hot headed idiot!"
"Better than a nudist!"
Gray panicked as he realized he was in his boxers once again. I'm getting this down at record time already… Gray thought to himself
"Looking for a fight, lizard boy?" Gray snapped.
"If I were, I would challenge Erza, not you!" Natsu refuted.
Lucy shook her head, "They're at it again… Now we'll never know…"
She sighed sadly before realizing Erza had not broken up the fight she so regularly enforced. Erza hasn't even moved since we came, she looks happy though.
"Are you alright, Erza?"
"I'm fine, just tired." She replied sheepishly.
Natsu backed off, dropping Gray to the floor, and crouched down to her, "Need me to carry you?" He grinned at her as she laughed and shook her head.
"That won't be necessary." She pulled herself up with the help of the railing, wincing slightly.
"You seem like you're still in pain." Lucy chimed.
"I'm fine, really."
"Then I hope you don't mind me tagging along just to make sure today."
Erza nodded, "It's fine, I'd enjoy your company."
Gray leaned into Lucy's ear, "Have fun with her all alone."
A chill ran up Lucy's spine as she giggled nervously.
"Well," Natsu yawned, "I've got to go guys." Natsu spun around throwing his hands behind his head, his carefree appearance he so commonly wore.
"Already?" Gray questioned.
"I've got some business to deal with." He waved one hand turning the corner and leaving down the stairs.
Erza watched him go before deciding, "We'll go see the other Guild members and see what's the plan for today."
Natsu had left the town in search of his friend that disappeared on him yesterday.
"Man, where is Happy?" Natsu sat upon a large boulder, tapping his foot impatiently, in the middle of a dense jungle. "I haven't seen him since I met Lino..." Natsu lowered himself down his seat and began into the direction of a well creature-populated area. "I guess I'll be training without him today…"
From a distance, a figure in a purple cloak followed closely behind him.
Erza, Gray, and Lucy entered the main hall of the guild through the staircase and made their way to the dining hall. There awaited the beautiful Mirajane, ecstatic to see her friends smiling.
"Hiya guys, how're you doing today?" Mirajane eloquent voice almost sung to them.
"Good morning Mirajane, we're doing fine. Is there anything to do today?" Erza replied smiling to her old friend.
"Makarov suggested before he left that those without missions should help unpack and sort our equipment. Since we improved our home we haven't had the chance to finish unloading and there is quite a lot of work."
She paused to catch her breath, "Care to help?"
The three nodded and followed her into the backroom, there lying a large fortress of never ending wooden crates; each as tall as Gray.
Lucy sighed, "Well we better get started guys..."
Gray grinned at the girls, "Last one to finish buys lunch." The trio dove straight into the maze creating havoc and chaos of miscellaneous gadgets and materials.
A few hours had passed and they found themselves resting in the corner of the room, sweaty and exhausted.
"I didn't think there'd be so much to unpack." Lucy heaved a stack of books before collapsing to her knees. She coughed from the dust and wiped the sweat from her eyes.
Erza rested against one of the crates panting equally to her friends. Gray grunted in agreement from his comfortable prostrated position.
"We're not even close to being finished," Gray moaned.
They only managed to clear a fifth of the room in the time elapsed.
"This is impossible…" Gray put his face back into the floorboards.
Suddenly, the door upon the staircase swung open, crashing wildly and echoing in the long corridor. Mirajane entered shaken up and covered in dark cinders.
"Natsu's attacking Magnolia!" She cried before running back through the doorway.
