Gray was a little concerned about his unusually large appetite at lunch today. He normally didn't eat that much. Was he just feeling extra hungry today or was something wrong?
"You really ate that much?" Natsu said when Gray told him about his meal later that day."
"Yeah it was so weird. I've never eaten so much food in my life. You think I'm getting sick or something?"
"Last I checked people don't really eat that much when they get sick because they'll just up truck all that food. Besides I eat that way all the time and I'm fine."
"Yeah? Give your cholesterol fifteen years."
"Look it's probably just your tiger D.N.A giving you a bigger appetite. You've always ate like bird, ever since we were kids and now that's not enough for your mutant side. It needs a little more protein. Nothing to worry about I'm sure."
"I guess you're right. I didn't really think anything wrong, I was just humoring Juvia. When she saw me eat like that I guess she was worried I was starving myself or something."
"Oh so Juvia went to lunch with you?"
"Yeah. So?"
"So you went on a date with her."
"No. I did not. She came up to me to tell me some big news, I was already on my way to lunch, and I invited her to come with me. That's not a date."
"But you wanted it to be a date right?" Natsu grinned.
"Shut up."
"You like her. I know you do."
"Shut up Natsu."
"So if you like her what's holding you back? I know what's keeping me from Lucy, it's the fact that she doesn't like me in that way. I mean she likes a part of me that way but let's face it that part of me can't have anything with her. But Juvia on the other hand is pretty much over the moon for you. The real you. So uh why not jump at the opportunity."
"Number one she's the sister of my boss so if we were to ever break up I'd most likely get fired. Number two liking her would mean that one of my aunt's blind dates was finally successful and that would boost her ego to a point that would drive me insane. And number three, the big reason she's just a friend to me."
"Oh please!" Natsu scoffed. "You were slack jawed the minute you first saw her."
"So were you."
"Yeah but that was because I couldn't believe someone who looked like her was related to Gajeel."
"So was I."
"No you weren't."
"Yes I was."
"No you weren't."
"Yes I was."
"Then why do you take pictures of her?"
"For Ur's sake. She likes Juvia, she didn't get to see her model for that charity event and she wanted some momentos of when she performed at that play."
"Sure." Natsu said sarcastically. "Well what about when you spied on her date with Lyon?"
"I told you! I wasn't jealous. I was making sure that she was safe because I suspected Lyon to be a murderous lunatic. Thankfully he was proved to not be one."
"So now that you know for a fact that he's not dangerous villain, it wouldn't bother you if he started dating her again?"
"First of all they only had one date but yes, if they had a relationship it wouldn't bother me in the least."
"That's good then because I heard he's pursuing her again."
"Oh really? Where did you hear that?"
"Lucy told me. She heard it from Juvia. Apparently he really likes her."
"Interesting to hear. Too bad that during their last date I heard her say that she wasn't ready to be seeing anyone."
"She wasn't at first but according to Lucy, she's having second thoughts. In fact during my last conversation with her she told me that Juvia was probably going to accept another date with him."
"That's fine. Juvia can date whoever she wants."
"Yeah she can though it's funny that out of all the men who could have been interested in her, it had to be your roommate. That doesn't upset you at all?"
"If you're trying to make me jealous, you're wasting your time. I don't stoop to that."
"Right and why would you be jealous? He's only rich, sophisticated, handsome in other words everything you're not."
Gray's hand on the counter top clenched a little and he started to drag it across the surface.
"Is there a point to this?"
"Yeah. My point is she won't wait around forever. She wants you but you keep putting her at a distance while Lyon is just all set and ready to sweep her off her feet. If things don't change who do you think will be the better option?"
"What is this? A soap opera? You make it sound like she has deeper feelings for me."
"Maybe that's because she does." Natsu said. "Gray I've seen the way she looks at you. It's the way I've been looking at Lucy since high school. It's the same story, you have that one person who you love so much and you're just waiting for them to notice how you feel."
"Love? Now wait a minute who said anything about love?"
"Alright maybe it's not that deep but it's more than just a crush or an attraction. She really likes you."
"I can't help it if I don't return her feelings."
"You do return her feelings. You're just in denial because you still want Lucy but I've noticed that recently you're not as focused on her as you were before Juvia came along. In fact I'm almost certain that you like Juvia way more than you ever liked Lucy."
"That's not true."
"Yes it is."
"You don't know what- Ahh!" Suddenly Gray felt a sharp and incredible amount of pain shoot up into his entire body. It made him feel like his insides were burning, it was so bad the collapsed to the floor, clutching his waist.
"Gray what's wrong?" Natsu asked.
"I...I don't know...Ahh! It hurts! It hurts!"
"Hold on! I'll call Erza!"
One would think that it would be best to call an ambulance in a situation like this but with their D.N.A being so out of the ordinary, they couldn't risk any other doctors finding out about their alter egos. Erza was pretty much the only medic they trusted. Natsu phoned her and she hurried over there as quick as she could. By the time she had arrived the pain had stopped but nevertheless she examined his body.
"Have you eaten anything unusual?" She asked checking his vision.
"No." He answered.
"Drink anything odd?"
"No."
"Are you on any drugs? Be honest?"
"No."
"What did the pain feel like exactly?" She said now checking his ears.
"I don't know how to describe it. All I know is that it hurt everywhere. At first I thought I was having a heart attack but the pain was felt everywhere even in my brain."
"Let's check your heart beat."
She pulled a stethoscope from her bag and he took off his shirt so she could check his heartbeat. First she checked it by placing the end of the medical tool to his chest. His heart beat sounded completely normal and healthy. But when she checked his back she saw all the scratches and cuts on it from when he intercepted the break in at the chemical plant.
"Gray how did your back get cut up like this?" She asked.
"I fell on some broken glass during my night shift."
"Did you clean them properly? They look infected." She then pulled out a magnifying glass to get a better look at the wounds. She was looking for any sign of an infection but she found none. However she did find something concerning. There were small strands of hair growing out of the cuts. "What in the world?"
"What? What is it?" Gray asked.
"There's hair growing on your back."
"There is? Huh? I thought I would be at least middle aged when that started happening."
"No not that way. The hair is growing from your injuries."
"Really? Let me see." Natsu grabbed the magnifying glass and took a look for himself. "Alright that's weird. Hey doc what's going on?"
"I wish I knew." Erza said. "Natsu hand me my medical scissors and a small container. Gray hold perfectly still."
Natsu gave her the scissors which she used to carefully cut a few strands. She then sealed them in the container.
"You appear to be healthy but I'm not sure about those hairs. I'm going to run a few tests on them and see if there's any connection between them and this sudden pain you're feeling." She said. "I call you as soon as I get the results. In the meantime Gray keep me updated on any change."
"I will." He assured her. "I'm going to be okay right? This is just a fluke right?"
"I can't say right now but I'm hoping it is."
Gray put his hand to his back and felt for the hairs. He could find almost at least one strand growing out of his scratches and cuts but found none on the unbroken part of his skin. Just what in hell was happening to him?