Meanwhile poor Natsu was exhausted. For two weeks had been handling all the crime in town by himself to ensure Gray wouldn't become stressed and he was able to handle it but that didn't mean he wouldn't get so tired that he could almost drop to the floor.

"Aw man the things I do for my friends." Natsu said having just stopped the 50th robbery this month and now finally having a chance to change back into his regular clothes. "I wonder how much longer until Erza has that cure for Gray."

He was just about to finally go back to his dorm room when his ears caught hold of a news story about another crime. Apparently there was a new vigilante in town, one who was brutal with criminals. He was some who would shoot first and ask questions later.

"His name is Erik Cobra." The reporter on the TV display at a window shop said. "So far he has brutalized at least ten criminals and is believed to have killed four in previous states that he resided in. There is no evidence that supports the possible murders but be advised, avoid this individual if he is seen and call the police."

"Oh great." He huffed. "Well who needs sleep anyway."

At that moment his phone rang and he answered it.

"Talk to me...Oh hey Gray how are you?"

"Natsu I'm getting worse." He heard him say on the other line.

"What do you mean? How worse?"

"My eyes won't change back, more hair is growing on me, and my mind...My mind is having these urges and I...Natsu I...I fee like I'm losing myself."

"Alright calm down. Remember what Erza said, stressing out will only make it worse. Where are you?"

"Right now I'm in the park but I'm going over to Erza's apartment. I couldn't stay at my dorm room. Aunt Ur got suspicious and she decided to come over."

"Okay I'll meet you there. In the meantime do whatever you can to stay calm and avoid drawing attention to yourself."

"That maybe a little difficult. I'm in a costume right now."

"Is that wise?"

"I don't want Ur or Juvia to see me and start asking questions. I think it's better not to draw their attention rather than strangers."

"Well in that case I hope you know what you're doing. I'll see you at Erza's."

Natsu hung up and quickly hurried to Erza's apartment. The sound of Gray's voice on the phone made him very worried. Gray's voice was shaking, he sounded really afraid. Like he was ready to lose it. He prayed that Erza would be able to fix him soon because judging by Gray's tone he didn't have much time left.

Speaking of which, Gray was in fact scared out of his mind. He knew how important it was for him to stay calm but every time his brain got a flash of those urges, those thoughts, it made him become more terrified. What exactly would happen to him once his mind was gone? Would he start behaving like an actual tiger? Did that mean he would attack his friends and his family? Would he actually harm Ur? Natsu? Lucy? Juvia? Would anyone be safe from him?

Suddenly his fearful thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a woman screaming. He looked over to see two dirty men chasing after a young woman who was fleeing for her life.

"Get away!" She cried. "I don't have any money! Just leave me alone!"

"We don't want your money!" One of her attackers said.

They chased her down and seized hold of her. One of them held her down while the other pulled out a switchblade.

"Help!" She screamed desperately. "Someone please help me!"

Now stopping those men would no doubt raise Gray's stress levels but in that moment he didn't think about that. All he could think about was someone needed help and he was right there seeing the whole thing. He had to stop it. Stress or not.

"Get off of her!"

It was almost animal like how he pounced on the man holding down the woman clawing at his face and throwing him into a nearby tree with sudden strength that was unlike any other. The poor woman ran as soon as she was loose and the man with the switchblade tried to get away but Gray caught him by his arm, jerking back and he was about to knock him out when the other guy grabbed him into a head lock.

"Nice try Blue Tiger." The one with the switch blade said. "But we don't go down easily."

"I think maybe we should teach him a lesson about what happens when you get involved in other people's business." The one holding Gray smirked.

He started choking Gray while the other proceeded to wipe the blade of his knife, contemplating where he would cut the poor young man.

"Stop!" Gray choked. "Please! I can't breathe!"

"You know you're not as tough as we thought. You were real easy to get from behind. Now let's see should start with the face or maybe go a little lower?"

As Gray struggled to catch his breath he felt his mind start flashing more than ever and now going dark. His stress level was high off the chart, he felt pain, everywhere, survival mode was setting in, and then...

It finally happened.

"What the hell?"

The thug dropped his switch blade and his partner released Gray upon hearing the man let out an agonizing wail which quickly changed into an inhumane roar. Next they watched his body change and his shape shift, fur was growing all around him, it tore off some of his clothes, a tail appeared, his face morphed into something more feline like. More predatory like. His human senses now silent and under the control of animal instincts.

"Holy crap!"

The thugs tried to escape but it was too late. They were now at the mercy of the monstrosity Gray had become.

...

"Miss Milkovich?" Juvia called while knocking on the door. "Miss Milkovich are you home? It's Juvia! I'd really like to talk to you."

A few hours after her last conversation with Gray, Juvia decided to check up on him. First she called him but he didn't pick up so she made her way over to his aunt's house since he told her that he would be there tonight.

When Ur answered the door Juvia noticed that her face was very pale and drenched in sweat. Indicating that she was sick with worry which was never a good sign.

"Juvia what...What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I'm sorry to bother you ma'am but is Gray here?"

"No. I haven't seen him all day."

"You haven't?"

"No."

"But he told me that he was coming over here tonight."

"He told me that he had to do something for work."

"Gajeel didn't mention him in coming in today. In fact he hasn't been to work in weeks."

"So he did lie to me! I knew it!" Ur deduced fearfully. "Something's wrong! I can feel it!"

"Please don't panic Miss Milkovich." Juvia said concerned. "Just tell me what happened the last time you talked to him."

"I called him earlier on the phone but he sounded so strange. I went over to his dorm room to see him but he wasn't there. I came back here hoping he might come by and explain. Or at the very least call here."

"Have you noticed anything different about his behavior? Have you seen any changes in him?"

"No. Honestly I haven't seen him for two weeks."

"Two weeks without seeing you? That's not like him at all."

"Oh Juvia I'm so frightened. What if he's in some horrible trouble? Or worse?" Ur shivered as her mind was filled with dreadful idea of what could have befallen her nephew. "Oh my poor sweet boy."

"You mustn't think like that." Juvia said gently.

"I have to go to the police. Ask them to put a search out for him."

"I'll go with you and I'll ask Gajeel to help. With his connection to the news he should be able to get the word out very quickly."

"Thank you dear but you don't have to."

"If anything is wrong I have to know. I care for Gray so much. If he's been harmed I don't know what I'd do."

"That makes two of us dear." Ur grabbed a picture frame of off her coffee table which contained a photo graph of an eight year old Gray. She clutched the frame close to her chest and fought back the urge to cry. "My parents abandoned me, my daughter's gone, my sister's gone, Gray is all I have. If I lose him I'll-"

"I know." Juvia said hugging her in comforting manner. "I know."