The Cure

Chapter 3

Natsu sat in the bathroom, his back braced against the tub as he continued to cry. His arms were bloody ribbons from his nails digging through the soft flesh. He knew Gray had left some time ago, hearing the front door open and close behind the raven headed teen had made it hurt that much more. He couldn't even say anything to me thought Natsu, feeling the anger bubble up inside of him. Natsu hugged himself tightly, feeling the anger heat him from the inside out. He stood, taking the time to gather a few things he walked out of his house and took one last look at it. He would be leaving Magnolia tonight, and never coming back. He stood back from the house, feeling a slight tingle in his hands. He took aim, and calling on his flames, he watched his house be engulfed.

Natsu walked away form everything he had built for himself. He could hear sirens as the flames grew higher, licking the night sky like they were trying to caress the stars. He never looked back, simply put one foot in front of the other, and walked away from everything he had known. He walked slowly, letting the tears continue to fall as he started a long journey. He didn't know where he would go, but anywhere would be better than here. Here, where his love was left to flounder, like a fish taken out of water. Here, where he had spent so much time taking care of Gray, to have it all thrown back in his face. Here, where his world was now burning to ash, blowing away in the wind as the night sky slowly brightened into day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next morning Gray walked into the guild, he knew something seemed off, but after last night that was to be expected. Looking around he saw Lucy, sitting in the corner. Is she crying he thought, immediately going to her side.

"What happened now? Did Loke break up with you or something?"

"Natsus house burned down last night Gray." she said looking up with tears in her eyes. Suddenly it hit her, maybe Gray had talked to Natsu last night! "Did...did you see him Gray?"

Gray flinched a little, remberign the words the pinkette had spoken to him before running off. "Uh, yeah. Some. But I swear I didn't burn his house down!" he said, looking fearful as Lucy's eyes widened.

"What did he say Gray?"

"Ummmm, nothing much really. Just that he hated me. Was he inside the house?" he asked, as soon as the words left his mouth he knew it was a stupid question. If Natsu had of been inside, he would have eaten the flames.

"No one has seen Natsu since he left yesterday other than you and me. He left my house in a hurry a few hours before the fire started."

Gray couldn't help but remember the pain in Natsus eyes. The way he had run to hide himself, like a child afraid of the dark, and the loud sobs he heard coming from the back of the house. He had left him there, crying alone. Gray didn't know what to do so he had just turned around and left. Now he couldn't help but feel this might have been his fault. He paled, turning to Lucy in shock.

"What happened between you guys Gray?" she asked seeing him turn.

"I... I ….. I think this... might...be my fault." he said, sitting down hard beside her.

"How so?"

"Well, ummm, Natsu professed his love to me last night, then ran off. I thought he was joking so I just left..." he replied quietly.

"Oh God," Lucy moaned, realizing what happened. "Gray, he wasn't joking. He told me about this yesterday. He really is in love with you, and after what he went through to get you better I can see why!" Gray looked puzzled, so Lucy began to explain what she meant

"Do you remember when you lost all of that time from being sick? You were gone forever Gray, but to you it only seemed like a day. Natsu was the one to take care of you. He watched over you the whole time, and ultimately, he was the one that brought you back to us. He literally saved your life Gray. According to him, you damned his in return, and now I can see why he would say that. We have to find him Gray, he is officially missing, and this time he didn't take a mission He just disappeared into thin air."

Gray looked like someone had killed his best friend He couldn't remember the time he was sick, so maybe Lucy was right. "Who told him how to heal me," he asked, needing more answers.

"Porlyusica." she said, as Gray jumped up and headed for the door. "GRAY! We need to find Natsu! Erza and I are setting up a team to look for him, we refuse to lose one of our own."

"Ill catch up with you guys, I need to do something first." he responded, leaving the guild and heading towards the old healers house.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gray was at a loss for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. He had talked to Poryusica, finding out that what Lucy said was true. Now he had a decision to make. The mage told him she could unlock his mind, allow him to see what he missed from when he was sick. He didn't want to, after hearing what exactly Natsu had to do to get him better, he wasn't sure he could handle it. Finally he gave a nod, he had to do this. There might be some clue about Natsu locked away in his mind.

The mage had him sit, while she made a foul smelling potion. She instructed him to return home, lay in bed, and drink the whole vial. She explained he would then fall into a deep sleep, and his dreams would be of that time, playing in fast forward, so that when he awoke he would remember every little detail of his time spent with Natsu. He grabbed his clothes, which had randomly gotten taken off, and the vial she offered, and headed for home.

Once there, he took a shower, then dressed for bed, even though it was still early in the day. He had talked to Lucy on the way home, and knew they would be leaving out sometime tomorrow, so he had to do this now. He lay back on the soft mattress, positioning his pillows like he would for sleep, and picked up the potion. He watched the pearlescent liquid swirl within the small bottle. Like oil on water it seemed to form rainbows of color every time it moved. He removed the cap, and threw his head back. Gagging at the stagnant flavor, he swallowed the thick gooey liquid, and proceeded to scream out in pain.

It felt like his head was exploding! It was like he could feel every synapse in his brain firing and moving, trying to recover the memories he had lost. It hurt like hell, and he soon passed out from the pain.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback

Gray awoke, smiling at the heat he felt against his back. He didn't really want to get up, but he really had to pee. He carefully pulled himself from the warm embrace and walked to the bathroom. After relieving himself, he slid back into bed, curling himself around the other figure. His cold hands stroked the hard muscular back, trailing down to play in the tiny dimples right above his ass. His hands wandered, tracing the Guild symbol on Natsus arm, across his chest, and finally down to the small trail of pale hair below his navel. Natsu groaned in his sleep, making Gray smile with a wicked idea.

Slowly, he inched his fingers lower, playing in the trimmed pubic hair of his lover. He lightly moved, taking care to barely brush against the semi soft member nestled between Natsus thighs. He slid back as Natsu suddenly rolled on his back, stretching a little before falling asleep again. Gray crawled down to the foot of the bed, pulling himself back up between his lovers legs. He tentatively reached out, grasping the base of Natsus dick. He leaned forward, putting the soft flesh between his lips he began to coax it to grow.

Natsu woke up to the most wonderful sensation in the world. His dick was hard as a rock, and it was buried in something hot and moist. Opening his eyes he looked down at Gray, loving how he looked with Natsus dick in his throat. Natsu threw his head back and fisted his hands in Grays hair.

"God you are so sexy Gray!" growled Natsu as he looked down at the other teen.

Gray smiled, then hummed a little, causing the pinkette to close his eyes and shiver. Gray began swirling his tongue, circling Natsus head, before taking him deep into the back of his throat. He bobbed his head a little, enjoying the sensation of his lovers large member straining his jaw. He help the base, stroking with his hand in time with his mouth.

He could feel the rigid length swelling, bringing Natsu closer to release as he took him deep again. He gave one solid suck, putting extra pressure on the tip, and felt Natsu shoot into the back of his throat. He swallowed greedily, milking the other boy for everything he was worth. Finally, Gray sat bat, licking his lips clean and looking Natsu in his lust filled eyes.

"I love you Natsu." he said, " I never want to lose you."

Natsu tried to cover the pain in his eyes by pulling Gray down for a kiss, but Gray saw the flash, and he couldn't help but wonder why he saw it.

End flashback

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day Gray showed up to the train station before anyone else. He waited, seeing Lucy first he ran to her.

"Whats wrong Gray?" she asked seeing the bags beneath his tired eyes.

"I... I saw everything Lucy. I went to Porylusica yesterday and asked her about the time I was sick. She gave me a potion, and I got my memory back. Lucy, we have to find Natsu now. I need to talk to him." Lucy looked on in shock at the sincerity in his eyes.

"OK Gray, we will find him."she said taking his hand while they waited on the others.

They searched for almost six months, never finding so much as a whisper of the dragon slayer, until they traveled to a small fishing village. According to the village elder, a terrible fire had ravaged their crops, and they couldn't extinguish it no matter how much water they put on it. Finally, a pink haired savior had come to their rescue, eating the flames and helping renew the fields.

"How long ago did he leave?" Gray asked excitedly.

"It would have been about two weeks ago."replied the elder.

"Did he say where he was going?"

"He said he had no destination, that he was just a wanderer that happened upon our small village. Gray hung his head in defeat. This had been their last hope, and they were no closer to finding Natsu. After searching the area for another few weeks, the others gave up.

"Natsu will eventually come back Gray." said Lucy as they boarded the train for home. Everyone could use a goods night sleep, Gray was far worse than the others.

They arrived back in Fairy Tail within a few days, reporting their failure and asking for time to rest. They had all run out of money, but the Guild kept up their houses, waiting for their return. The others walked to their respective houses, while Gray threw back beer after beer at a local bar. After getting extremely drunk, he left to walk home. The quiet streets wound their way around buildings, all dark with sleep, as he walked through the night. He felt so lost, until he found himself in front of what had been Natsus house.

Nothing but bricks remained, the ashes long gone, leaving behind nothing but a seemingly bare plot of land. He sat in the grass, staring into nothingness as his heart broke. Now he knew how Natsu felt. Being able to remember everything from his time being sick, all of his suppressed feelings had come surging back. They left him breathless and panting when he awoke the next morning, covered in sweat he had to immediately throw up. It had taken him hours to calm down enough to meet Lucy and the others at the train station.

Now he knew why he felt like he was always forgetting something. He couldn't believe he had forgotten the love Natsu showed him. Or the love he had developed for the dragon slayer in return. He couldn't believe Natsu had dealt with everything. He understood why he had left now, Gray didn't think he would be able to put up with this for much longer. He needed to get away. Heading home, now completely sober, he packed a bag and left a note for Lucy, then caught a late night train. He would go north, the cold would surely help him feel better. Or maybe he just wanted the icy wind to freeze his heart so he no longer felt like he was dying inside little by little.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gray had finally arrived, the icy arctic wind cut through his thin clothes as he stared across the barren white expanse in front of him. Snow swiftly tried to cover him every time he stood still, so Gray kept moving. He trudged through the knee high snow, soaking himself with the fresh slush. Finally, when he was far enough away that he couldn't see the train station anymore, he stripped bare. Standing in the ice naked was weirdly liberating. Forming his hands to make something, he practice his magic in the below freezing temperatures. He practiced for what felt like hours, until he couldn't feel his body anymore, then he began digging to make a shelter.

After he dug out a hole big enough for him and his pack, he sat down to have dinner. The cold was helping, sealing himself from the pain as he forced his body to perform in the sub zero temps. He practiced more after eating, and then laid down to get some sleep. Gray dreamed of pink hair and tender caresses. Feeling the touch of his beloved all the way to his soul. He woke up, screaming Natsus names to the cruel dark heavens, then cursing himself for being so blind. He walked out side his small shelter, looking for anything to take his mind off the pain, when he saw a lone figure in the distance.

Gray walked slowly, calling out to the stranger. He knew very few people could survive the temperatures around here, so he figured it had to be another ice mage. I could definitely use a good fight he thought, finally approaching the figure knelt down in the snow. What he saw made him collapse.

Gray first glimpsed pink hair, atop a muscular body, half buried in the snow.

"Na...Natsu?" he called out, but there was no answer. Becoming worried he quickly dug the dragon slayer from the ice and carried him to the make shift shelter. Natsu did not move the whole way. Gray carried him in, setting him down on the bed roll he had brought. He felt Natsus forehead, and realized it was ice cold. He could see a blue tinge to the pinkettes skin, and when he felt for a pulse it was barely there. Fearing the worst, Gray picked the other boy up and ran to the train station. It was the only place around with a phone and he had to call a doctor.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

AN

OK, I'm leaving you with yet another cliff hanger! Hehehe :) I want to thank everyone for reading, and for all the great reviews I have been getting! Please keep them coming as they really give me a reason to write more. I hope everyone enjoyed the little flashback in the chapter, seeing something from the past in Grays eyes. There will probably be a few more of those before the story ends.

Dreamscome TRUEEE: Thank you so much for your continued support! I originally wanted to drag the story out, but I know if you over do it, it can get boring. I'm trying to create a decent balance between the two though. I hope you liked Grays reaction, well what you have gotten to see of it so far anyways:)

Kayxs: I'm so glad you got into my story enough to cry! That really lets me know I'm doing a good job:) there should be some smiles coming soon for you so that's something to look forward to. I appreciate your compliment and I hope this chapter is up to your standards!

Strife134:Thanks for the review! I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far, and with it being one of my favorites, I promise to keep posting until I feel it has come to a conclusion. I am thinking about doing a sort of prequel to it, explaining how and why Gray was cursed. Do you think anyone would be interested in reading it? Thanks for the compliments and I hope you enjoy he rest of the story! :)

Uzukun89:Yes, they are complicated guys aren't they xD lol

As always, thank you to everyone who took the time to read this, I hope I am keeping up with your expectations! Also, thanks to all of the people following, and favoriting this! Every time I see a new one pop up, I get oh so excited! Oh, is there anyone who might be interested in doing a collaboration with me? Just a thought:)

Don't forget to R&R :)

~Skittles~