Hehe, we got some relatively mixed responses to that last chapter :) We hope that you can all enjoy this one.
AsDarknessSpreads : We've already replied to this review :)
Otakulover4evr : You're very welcome, and we're really happy that you're enjoying it. And Gratsu is Mewsugarpudd's otp whilst Midco is Kisshufan4ever's.
Dragonlover89 : Yep they definitely have more of a brotherly bond. But it's always fun to write something a little shocking. And we know that Erza was taken down quite quickly, but she still felt incredibly guilty about wronging Gray, so she held back and got distracted at a fatal moment.
.oO : Possessive Natsu is always fun. And you'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Disclaimer : Yeah, we still don't own Fairy Tail. We can't fathom why.
Natsu and Cobra lunged forwards, attacks at the ready, when the two mages disappeared, bathed in the purple glow of Midnight's magic.
Coming to an abrupt halt, the two mages surveyed their surroundings looking for the others.
"Keep an eye out, they could be anywhere." Cobra ordered.
Natsu's caught a glimpse of a shining light that was similar to Gray's magic circle, and his eyes locked onto that area.
That's why he was shocked to have Gray in front of him in an instant, an icy fist forcing the air out of his lungs.
Cobra had been assaulted in a similar way.
"Midnight can create illusions!" He gasped, and Midnight's mocking voice rang out.
"Don't ruin all of my surprises Cobra." The demon slayers shimmered into existence and Natsu sent a bolt of flames towards them.
The space around the two rippled and distorted, and a fist once again forced its way into Natsu's gut.
He coughed and wiped his mouth as the sound of the demon slayer's laughter echoed off of the destroyed buildings.
"Damn!" He cursed. How was he meant to figure out what as an illusion and what was real.
Cobra was facing a similar struggle, futilely attempting to reach his friend's thoughts. Nothing but static greeted him.
Both dragon slayers were alarmed to notice that a thin layer of frost was creeping over their frozen friends.
So far, Gray had refrained from using his ice magic during this fight, and Natsu realised with horror that if Gray managed to freeze any part of his body then it would remain frozen. His flame wouldn't melt the ice, and he would be severely incapacitated.
"Boo." Natsu jumped as an icy breath drifted over his neck. He leapt away from Gray whose black eyes were dancing with amusement.
Ice slowly crept along the floor between them, and Natsu backed away.
His back collided with someone else, and he span round, coming face to face with Midnight.
He swung his fist out, flames swirling around his fingers.
It connected, almost knocking the other mage over.
But Midnight suddenly morphed into Cobra, not before Cobra had retaliated with a kick to the chin.
They stared at each other for a moment, and they both clenched their fists when they realised that they had once again fell for an illusion.
"What are we going to do?" Cobra's tone was frustrated. Natsu could sympathise.
A fist was suddenly launched at his face, and Natsu caught it instinctively. Gray's eyes widened as Natsu grasped his arm.
"Natsu..." His voice was quiet, but it was unmistakeably Gray's true voice.
Natsu's face crumpled into a relieved smile, but then he was punched to the ground harshly and a foot was grinding into his back.
Gray laughed demonically.
"Is that what you want me to sound like? Poor little Gray needing big strong Natsu to rescue him." Natsu felt a furious wave of fire bubbling in his stomach, and he span around swiftly, grabbing Gray's foot.
The other teen raised an eyebrow sardonically, and Natsu had to pull his fingers back to avoid a severe case of frostbite.
Natsu rose slowly, and Gray stayed in front of him, barely concealing his dark amusement.
And then Natsu was crashing their lips together.
He didn't know why he was kissing his friend, but the burning fury in his gut was telling him that this is what he should be doing, that Gray should know that his place was beside Natsu.
Gray kicked him away, eyes wide, but Natsu still felt a smirk grow on his face.
"Didn't expect that, did you, you bastard."
Midnight's affronted face appeared before Natsu, and his mouth opened slightly as if he was about to lecture Natsu for defiling Gray, but then Cobra grabbed his collar.
"Maybe this will snap you out of it." He muttered, before his lips connected with Midnight's. His mind made a brief connection, and he could have cried with relief.
Then, it was as if the reality around them shattered, revealing both Midnight and Gray standing far away from them, both lightly touching their lips, despite the fact that the kiss had apparently been fake. Cobra realised that the connection with Midnight's mind had come from further away, it wasn't from right in front of him.
The demon slayers' eyes were shocked as they gazed over at Cobra and Natsu.
"Natsu..."
"Cobra..."
Realisation sparked on both of their faces. Their demon marks gradually receded, and they were replaced by faint dustings of red.
An awkward silence descended on the group as they all tried to digest what had just happened.
The spirits obviously realised that that plan had failed and that the demon slayers were not going to destroy their friends, and they chose that moment to attack.
They all diverted their attention into battling the spirits, and Natsu was relieved to notice the frost disappearing from the others' bodies.
The tension still hung over them even as they fought.
Now that the heat of the moment had passed, Natsu was utterly bewildered, and a little ashamed of kissing Gray.
Had he taken advantage of the ice mage?
They were currently back to back, fighting a seemingly overwhelming number of spirits.
They worked in tandem with the Oracion Seis duo, slashing down ghosts left and right.
But occasionally, Gray would flinch, seemingly recognising a face.
Natsu's heart ached for his friend, this entire situation was horrible.
And then the spirits were gone, and they were left panting.
"Was that it?" Cobra asked, and Gray shook his head.
"That was only a sample, the demon only sent a small force of spirits as he didn't expect any resistance." Suddenly, Erza groaned and Natsu raced over to help her up. Lucy and Happy also showed signs of waking.
"What happened?" Lucy inquired. Erza looked humiliated, but relief was also visible when she noticed Gray and Midnight's normal appearances.
All of the slayers bushed furiously as they remembered the kisses that never actually occurred.
"Cobra and Natsu managed to snap us out of it."
"How?" Lucy looked suspicious.
"Does it really matter? Midnight and Gray are okay now, so we can all go and fight the demon. Hopefully we can end this soon." Just as Cobra said this, a strange glowing light filled the city.
When they had blinked the effects of the light away, a normal looking city was revealed.
Normal, that is, if you ignored the pale, washed out inhabitants.
Gray's face was grave.
"A ghost city to house a ghost army."
"What does it mean?" Lucy's voice was scared. Midnight's gaze was serious.
"It means that the demon has gained more power."
"Why are the ghosts ignoring us if they're under the control of the demon's control?" Erza asked as she observed the spectral figures carrying out menial tasks despite the various wounds that adorned their bodies.
"They obviously aren't strong enough spirits of resentment or people that will affect us massively. The demon doesn't want to waste all of his power on a mass attack if he doesn't have to, the ghostly city is probably just a precaution. He'll be using the spirits that will upset us the most first, and if they fail then he'll probably use a mass attack." They all agreed that this sounded logical, but then they realise that they needed a plan as well.
"Does anyone have any idea where the demon actually is?" Gray and Midnight looked at each other solemnly, before shaking their heads.
"We had a brief feeling that he is underground, but we don't know for certain where he is under the city. And we don't know how to reach him either.
"And you won't get to him either." An ominous voice declared.
All of the mages whirled around to face two women and a child of around four.
Gray and Midnight both gasped.
Gray's eyes were distant whereas Midnight just stared at them in disbelief.
"Jun, Kyoko..." Everyone started at Gray's words, weren't they the names that he had cried out while they were resting in that house?
"You...you..."Midnight's tone was confused as he stared at the small, dark haired child.
"Hello, nii san." The child smiled, blood streaming from a wound on his tiny head.
Sorry the chapters so short, and for another cliffhanger. We'll see you next time.