I've discovered that the best times for writing are when my roommate is asleep and I can just sit on my bed in the dark with my keyboard's backlight on. That's some pretty solid work time.

Oh! And just in case someone could tell who the mysterious guy who returns her cat is… it's gonna get even more obvious reeeeeeally soon

Anyway, here's chapter 2. It's another 1000+ word one (actually, it's 1400. You're welcome). I hope you enjoy it.


40 minutes after her impromptu run to the store, Levy was back, puffing and dragging her purchases behind her. The hot drinks were quickly completed, and, without further incident, they settled down to their movies. As it got later and later, the girls sang along with The Bellas, screamed with the Spartans (and cheered as Erza, Mira, and Cana attempted to reenact a battle in the living room), and laughed at Robert Downey Jr and Robin Williams. As the end credits of Aladdin rolled, Cana got up and stretched, disturbing Jeel from where he had been sleeping next to her since had he reappeared just in time for 300.

"Alright, who's ready for some Cards Against Humanity!"

Everyone except Levy, who got up and wandered into the next room, looking around worriedly, cheered. Mira snorted. "Only if you aren't the dealer! You always end up with the best cards."

Cana leered at her. "Oh yeah? You jealous of how my amazing luck always gets me 'A Bigger, Blacker D-" "Guys!" yelled Levy, bursting back into the room.

Everyone turned to look at her questioningly.

"I can't find Gail anywhere!


He was tired.

His plane had been scheduled to leave at 8 in the morning, so he had forced himself out of bed at 4 to get the last bit of the stuff from his old apartment together and be at the airport with plenty of time to get through security.

Then he got detained in security for "looking suspicious."

After an eternity of being searched and having to take out his many piercing so that the TSA could xray them, he was finally released – 10 minutes before his flight, which was at the opposite end of the airport was supposed to begin boarding.

So he grabbed his bag and ran straight to his gate, arriving just in time… to be told that that the plane was having technical difficulties and was being delayed.

So he waited.

30 minutes later, they were let onto the plane. And then told to get off again because they were having more problems.

Another 30 minutes after that, the airline switched them to a different plane. They taxied out onto the runway and were about to leave… and then sat around, in the plane, on the runway for another 45 minutes for who knows what. Then the plane finally started moving – back to the gate.

An hour later, they were finally loaded back onto the first plane and were on their way to Tokyo.

Three hours late.

He really hated LAX.

So, finally, after an hour of packing, 3 hours of driving and security issues, 3 hours of delays, and 11 hours of flying, he had disembarked the plane in Tokyo.

Only to receive a call from Lily, his ride, that because of the delay the man couldn't pick him up, thanks to his arrival in the middle of a busy time for Lil's shop.

After 20 minutes of failing to grab a taxi – they all seemed terrified of him – he gave up and started walking. It was only about a 40 minute hike from the airport to Fiore (the name of the suburb that Lil had his shop) anyway. The exercise would feel good after the long plane ride.


About halfway to Fiore, he heard a cat crying and stopped. He looked for the source of the sound, confused. There didn't seem to be anything around except a… tree...

Sighing, and hoping he had just been imagining the cry, he walked over to the tree and looked up – straight at a small blue – blue? What kinda color is that for an animal? – cat, clinging to a branch and yowling at him.

Despite how much he just wanted to be on his way, it was cute, and fuzzy, and tiny – three things he had a major soft spot for. Not that he'd ever tell anyone that. No one needed to know that he loved small cute things. So he set down his stuff and climbed the tree, making soothing sounds at the cat. Poor thing was terrified. Made him wonder how it had even gotten up there if it was so scared of heights.

Once he was close enough, he reached over and plucked the cat off the branch, then leapt back down. He was about to put the cat down when he noticed a narrow black collar around the cat's neck with a tag on it. Frowning, he flipped the tag over and read it.

"Levy Mcgarden. 435 Magnolia Street, Apartment 2B. Fiore, Tokyo."

He grinned down at the cat, who had curled itself into a ball in his large hand.

"Looks like you've got yourself a ride home, kitty."

He shrugged his bag back over his shoulder, tucked the cat inside his leather jacket, and headed off towards their destination.

"Shooby do bop…"


"It's all my faaaaaault" Levy sobbed.

Erza frowned as Cana patted the blunette's back consolingly. "No it's not. We all were equally responsible for leaving the door open. You were in a rush, we should have noticed her leaving."

Levy sighed. The whole group had been searching for hours. Earlier Mirajane and Lisanna had had to leave to staff the tailor shop their family owned. Lucy and Juvia had both wanted to stay and help, but Levy told them to go to their appointments: Lucy had a meeting with her publisher about her next book, and Juvia had a date with her boyfriend for their 6 month anniversary. Now, she and Cana were designing flyers to put up while Erza called local animal shelters and vets to see if anyone had found Gail.

Levy went back to making flyers as Erza finished up another phone call. "-so please let us know if anyone brings in a small blue cat with a black collar. Thank you very much." Just as Erza hung up the phone, shaking her head, the doorbell rang. They all froze, unsure of what it could be but hoping for the best. Erza shook herself first and stood up to answer the door.

"Hello?"

"Are ya Levy McGarden?" Came a deep voice from the doorway. Curious, Levy got up and walked over to see who it was, Cana following.

"No she's my friend. Who are you?" Erza demanded. Levy swore her eyes were about to pop out of her head. Standing in her door was possibly one of the most handsome men she had ever laid eyes on. He was easily 6 feet tall, with long black hair, broad shoulders under a black leather jacket and thick gray scard, and late afternoon sunlight glancing off of metal piercings in his nose, eyebrows, and ears. He looked like he had stepped right out of a textbook description of a drool-worthy bad boy.

"I think I have somethin of hers" he said, drawing a small bundle out from inside his jacket. The moment she caught sight of the fuzzy blue ball, she launched herself forward.

"GAAAAAAAILLLLL!" she shrieked, snatching up her cat and snuggling the furball close to her, oblivious to the man staring at her in shock. As she cuddled Gail and murmured that she was so sorry, he leaned over towards Cana and whispered "Is it just me, or does that cat look exactly like her?"

Cana looked him over appraisingly, thinking about it. Suddenly a thought occurred to her and she grinned deviously. "Yep, she sure does… you're in the same boat though!" He looked at her like she was crazy, but was distracted by the small bluenette woman – the human one, not the cat – beaming at him.

"Thank you sooooo much! Where on earth did you find her?" She asked breathlessly, eyes shining.

He scratched at the back of his head, suddenly embarrassed. "Er… a ways out of town, stuck in a tree. I was heading in this direction anyway, so I just took her back with me."

Levy looked awed. "It's just like what Jeel did!" He cocked his head, a little confused, and she explained "Jeel is my other cat."

He grinned showing off sharp teeth. "Funny coincidence."

"What is?"

He shook his head. "Nothing much. Anyway, take care of her."

As he turned to leave, Levy called out "Wait! What's your name?"

He paused, looked back, and grinned.

"Gajeel. Gajeel Redfox."

Levy looked like she was about to faint.

Erza and Cana couldn't wait to tell Mira.


Hehe.

Ehehehe.

The end of this chapter was fun to write. I'm sorry if it felt a little rushed, but I really really really wanted them to meet this chapter. Oh and I just wanted Levy to drool at the eye candy when she saw him, even if that's not really totally normal. I thought it was entertaining.

Anyway, thanks to Carlmike for reviewing. I'm saving the bulk of their "fun conversation" for their second meeting (this first one was more of an introduction)… but first, she has to be teased mercilessly by her matchmaking friends in the next chapter.

Side note: That thing in the airport? That actually happened to my dad a few years ago. The texts he sent me as the wait dragged on were hilarious. Lesson: when in doubt, never fly out of a California airport (a similar thing happened to my friend who was taking a connection flight through San Diego for winter break).

PS: LAX is Los Angeles International Airport in California in the United States. Sorry if that confused anyone.

So yeah. See you next chapter.