A/N: Hey there once again! Sorry I haven't updated in so long! First off, HAPPY 2012 EVERYONE! :D Please forgive me for the lateness of this chapter, my laptop has been infected with a virus pretty much wiping out my documents thank goodness I was organised enough to make a few backups on my external HDD :3 Anyway, here it is!

- Chapter 9 -

Lucy hated awkward silences and right now there was such an oppressive atmosphere around her, Gray and Hibiki that it was suffocating her too.

"Hey guys, i-it's kind of getting dark shall we go stay at the local inn?"

"Great idea! It'll be at least half a day's travel from here to Blue Pegasus, let's stay at 'Eden Palms' I hear that they're located right next to the beach," Hibiki informed Lucy and Gray, although with Gray's sullen attitude it was more for Lucy's information.

"Cool! What do you think Gray?" Lucy attempted for the zillionth time to thaw Gray's iciness.

"Suit yourselves," and without another word he headed towards the inn.

"Gee, what's into him all of a sudden?" Lucy pouted, frowning.

"It's no good to frown my lovely, those wrinkles will be born prematurely at this rate," Hibiki teased brushing the Celestial mage's forehead gently.

"I can't help but worry… maybe the enchantment had other side effects?"

"Ah you're thinking about that. There shouldn't be, Ichiya-sama is very good with his perfumes. Let's catch up with Gray before he totally disappears shall we, princess?"

…

Never has Gray felt such torrents of emotion flooding his senses so uncontrollably, not since the night Ul died. Lucy and Hibiki. Lucy and Hibiki. Lucy… and that Blue Pegasus bastard! What the hell is so good about him anyway besides the fact that he's aesthetically pleasing? The ice mage clenched and unclenched his fists, they itched to punch the tree trunks nearby into smithereens; they all resembled the pretty-boy's laughing look. Shit. Damn. Gray's hands fell limp. He felt helpless, drained of hope. I leave for a mere few seconds and this happens… Is there really no hope? He knew he was being stupid. He shook his head fervently trying to straighten out his thoughts. That's right, I touched Lucy perhaps this is the enchantment at work. Of course it is. And suddenly Gray Fullbuster livened up. Damn, I've been so wrapped up in my own patheticness that I'm seeing the bigger picture. The corner of the ice mage's lips curled upwards. Even if they are going out, there's nothing stopping them breaking up. I just need to prove to Lucy that I'm better than the Blue Pegasus idiot. I definitely have the upper hand considering I'm in Fairy Tail and that I'm on Lucy's team. If he's going to playing it cool, then he's fighting a losing battle. In higher spirits, Gray slowed his pace and waited for Lucy and the totally innocent Hibiki to catch up.

…

"Oh yeah, you really think a Fairy Tail mage can't hold his liquor? Tsch, you underestimate me pseudo-nerd!" Gray brashly slammed his glass at an innocently smiling Hibiki at the hotel bar.

"I never said that but it definitely will be fun, what do you say 5 rounds before Lucy comes back?" Gray's icy spirit ignited at the mention of the Celestial mage.

"Bring it," for the sake of love, I shall win him!

…

Gray's throat burned but that was the least of his cares.

"Oi, das dotally chea'ing Hibiki! Ya can' make da woom spin rike dat. PENALTY!" the half naked ice mage yelled rocking backwards and forwards.

"What an active imagination you have, Gray! By the way we're only on the second round," Hibiki said cheerfully sipping on his gin and tonic. The ice mage shot him a piercing glare.

"Rucy will tell ya dat I'm wight. ALWAYS wight!" Gray drunkenly descended a limp but strong arm on Hibiki's shoulders, dragging the Blue Pegasus mage towards him, "I'm a pwetty good detedive too!"

"I-Is that so, Gray?" Hibiki smiled uncomfortably trying not to breathe in Gray's drunken breath.

The Fairy Tail mage sneered, "o'course I am! No secwets can fool my gaze! So, what base ya at now?"

Hibiki blinked blankly, "huh?"

"Oh come ooooon! As a man-whore surely ya know wat bashis are?" Gray threw Hibiki a mocking look.

"Indeed I do but I'm not sure what you're referring to Gray-"

"Pah come off it!" Hibiki nursed his sore ribs as Gray elbowed him roughly, "so is Rucy a good kisher?"

"Excuse me?"

"Ish awright, ya can tell me!" Gray aimed for another attack this time for the solar plexus but with his world lurching around so violently he hit thin air instead.

Hibiki winced as Gray toppled off the high stool and crumpled to the floor. Scrambling to his knees, the ice mage stared angrily at the stool he wasn't sitting on anymore.

"As a ferrow Fairy Tail mage, I COMMAND YA TO SHPEAK!" Gray viciously pointed an accusing finger at the stool. Feeling the eyes of the customers around them, Hibiki quickly slipped off his seat to pick up the drunken mage.

"G-Gray, that's a stool!"

"Get owf me, RET ME AT THE SLUT!" Gray lurched up onto his feet to find himself staggering backwards out of Hibiki reach.

"Gray watch out!" but Hibiki could only watch as the ice mage crashed backwards into a bewildered and confused-looking Lucy.

"Picking a fight eh? BRING IT! Ice make: Rance!" but only a poof of cold ice emitted from the palms of Gray's hands from Gray's spell casting failure, "damn it, he'sh stopped my magic fwom working…"

"Gray, are you OK?"

The raging ice mage turned sluggishly at the sound. Such a pretty voice! Sounds like Lucy. Gray shook his head clumsily. Ah crap, everyone sounds like Lucy now.

"Gray… you're squishing me!" Lucy yelled and pushed Gray's weight off her. The ice mage rolled a few times before the bar stool stopped him. Hibiki rushed to help Lucy up onto her feet.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, except we have a drunken mage who has a temper that rivals Natsu's and magic power that rivals Erza's," Lucy said glumly rubbing her sore arms, "and a weight that rivals Elfman's!"

Hibiki stared, his expression darkening.

"He fell on you," Lucy looked at the Blue Pegasus mage as if he's lost his mind too.

"Yeah…"

"So he touched you?"

"Hibiki, are you sure you haven't hit your he-," but the realisation hit. Both mages' eyes flew to the crumpled Gray who was still on the floor muttering incoherently.

"I think… it's a good time to back out of here slowly?" Hibiki said in a strangled voice. Lucy swallowed. Up till now, the other male mages that touched her hadn't exactly been gentle in fact their tempers were amplified.

Too late. They watched with a sinking feeling as Gray unsteadily pulled himself into sitting position his eyes were shadowed by his messy hair.

"G-Gray?" Hibiki asked nervously. A suffocating silence stretched out.

"Lucy, leave me to handle this," Hibiki whispered, not taking his gaze off the ice mage.

"But you're no match for him!" Lucy hissed back only to receive a small smile.

"That kind of hurts! But we can't let him near you while he's under the enchantment too."

"It's too dangerous; it's only going to get worse as time progresses! Besides I can't play hide and seek with Gray until I get to your guild!"

"Naturally assuming I'd lose… don't worry I can put up a good-"

"No! I won't let you fight Gray alone!" Lucy gripped Hibiki's shoulder until he turned and his eyes connected with hers. He chuckled, oh Lucy… so determined and faithful as ever.

"Even though it's my fault that dragged you into the predicament, you're still willing to help. As always you're so-"

"QUIT ACTING ALL LOVEY-DOVEY!" Lucy and Hibiki froze and robotically returned their attention to the ice mage.

"Why… why… WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE HIM?" Gray raged.

"Gray? What are you talking-" Lucy began but was cut off. We are so screwed.

"After everything that's happened, all the things we've been through," Gray's voice shook, "… WHY IS IT ME THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM?"

"I just. I just… want to be close to you, Lucy."

Lucy and Hibiki stared because Gray Fullbuster was sobbing.

Doh, Graaaaaaay~ Crying drunk & helpless romanticist :P Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Shaari