I Dare You

Chapter Nine - Seconds Until Lost Light

"How sad. You don't love him?" The old man said taking a fist full of Gray's hair and tilting his head up. Gray gasping at the hair pulling pain.

Natsu just stared at the two and without knowing it his hand had tightened it's grip on Alekander's throat. His nails cut into his skin making blood run down his neck, staining the collar to his coat.

"Fa-"

"Natsu Dragneel I do believe you're killing my son. Release him and I'll give this heart ache back to you."

The word heart ache was true, but Natsu couldn't let him be fazed by the old man's words. Natsu lessened his grip to allow Alekander to breathe, but never let him free.

"Actually if what you say is true, then how about let my son have this bitch for himself. Since you don't love him."

"Natsu." Erza said taking his hand. He blinked and looked at her. She sighed, sadly, seeing her friend so broken and crying.

"Natsu. Gray is still in there and even though he doesn't remember us, he's still our friend. They can't have him and they will not get away with what they have done." Erza said stepping in front of Natsu. She requiped into her Japanese Cloth Armor and held a blade back by Evlen's throat and the other at Alekander's throat.

"You have three seconds to release Gray. After the three seconds are up and if I see that you haven't released him I will kill Evlen. Then I'll give you two more seconds to release him. If you haven't by then I will kill Alekander, your son. No more games and don't think even for a second that I won't kill them."

"So I have five seconds in all?"

She nodded.

"HAHAHAHA! Ah Titania I expected more from you. Two seconds is all I need." The old man slowly released Gray's hair and let him fall to the ground. Natsu stared at the broken shell of his once friend and only love. Gray, gasping, lifted his head and looked at Natsu. Tears still falling from his red eyes and down his pale cheeks. Gray grimaced as he lifted his bound hands and clawed at the air.

"Na-Natsu…" He whispered. By instinct, Natsu immediately snapped, dropping Alekander and lunged at the old man holding Gray. The man grinned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Natsu fell to the ground in front of Gray. Erza repositioned herself so her blades were still at both boys' necks. Gray was still sniffling and staring at Natsu's eyes. Natsu tore the rope from Gray's arms and hands; his hand lingered on Gray's longer than needed. He just stared at the two bruises around Gray's wrist. The bruise from the previous rope had become noticeable again. He cursed at himself as his hands traveled up Gray's hands, wrists, and up to his arms and shoulders. He gripped his shoulders and forced himself to look at his face, which still held the same hurt expression as before.

"G-Gray I'm so-"

"Natsu. I u-understand. You don't l-love me. You loved the "me" who had his mem…ories. And I understand that. I w-wish I h-had my memories. I wish I c-could remember y-you." Gray said through sobs. Natsu felt so sick that he couldn't move. Strangely enough he realized his hands had made their way to grip each side of Gray's face. Gray looked down at Natsu's hands then back to his expressionless face.

"N-Natsu?" He mumbled.

"Gray. Listen to me. I don't know what I was saying. You're still the same person I fell in love with. Memories or no memories I will always love you. We'll just have to make new memories."

"Natsu. Thank you."

Two days worth of memories before the poison kills him. He cursed at his own thoughts.

"Natsu! Are you okay?" Gray gasped, wiping the tears from Natsu's cheeks.

He nodded.

"Natsu!" Erza yelled, sensing danger.

He looked over then suddenly heard a low chuckle from behind the door.

That damn old man!

Natsu gripped the handle to the door, but it wouldn't budge. He also noticed something going through the key hole to the door. He pulled it up and…

"Ow! Natsu don't pull on that." Gray exclaimed rubbing his neck.

The rope that was tightly tied around Gray's neck was going through the key hole of the door, which meant…

"Gray! Hold still!" Natsu pinched the rope between his fingers and lit them on fire, but the rope didn't break. The rope began moving. Something was pulling it through his fingers, through the key hole, on the other side of the door. Gray gasped as he was being pulled towards the door.

"Natsu!"

Natsu took Gray's hand, but didn't pull. He didn't want to straggle him faster.

"ERZA CUT THE ROPE!" He yelled.

She looked over and saw that the old man was pulling Gray's rope through the key hole, straggling him. Erza looked down at the two boys held hostage and pointed each sword at their foreheads.

"If either of you move or even make a sound. My blade will pierce your skulls." And at that she went over and began sawing away at the rope. Nothing worked.

"What the hell is this made out of?" Natsu said, panicking.

Erza looked the rope over and there were different symbols laced around it.

"A magic spell has been carved into the rope. It's unbreakable."

"Fuck that!" Natsu gripped the rope with both hands and used all his magical energy to get as hot as he possibly could.

"AH!" Gray yelled.

"NATSU STOP!" Erza gasped pushing Natsu away from the rope.

As his fire died down, he sat up and saw that it traveled up the rope to Gray's neck, burning him. Gray was now panting and sweating.

"Can you g-get it off?" He asked, suddenly feeling tired.

"The only people I know who can read these markings are Levi and Freed. And we can't get to either of them from in here."

The chuckling increased outside as Gray was pulled closer to the door, coughing and gasping to breathe.

"N-Natsu…I c-can't breathe." Gray said, hands pulling at the rope tightening around his throat.

"WHAT DO WE DO ERZA!?" Natsu yelled his whole body heating up.

Erza was silent. She had no idea how to cut through the rope. She looked at Natsu then the door.

"Na-" Gray choked out. His head was now touching the door and the rope was still being tugged on.

"You two have only seconds before he's dead." The old man said through evil chuckling. Natsu cursed the old man and squeezed Gray's hand.

"G-Gray it's going to be okay." Natsu said, his voice shaking.

Erza stood and requiped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. She placed herself in front of the door and summoned a hundred blades.

"Erza?"

"Natsu. Cover Gray. I'm going to destroy another door."

Alekander realized what Erza was about to do and his father was on the other side of that door. She was going to kill him.

"FATHER MOVE! ERZA'S BREAKING THROUGH THE DOOR!" He wailed and earned a growl from Erza.

"I warned you." She said as she turned back towards the door. Alekander gulped.

As the final sword appeared, Gray felt the rope slack. Natsu shielded Gray from Erza's attack. Her one hundred swords stabbed through the door, demolishing it. The key hole of the door blew away in the blast, pulling Gray with it.

"Gray!" Natsu yelled, motioning Erza to stop.

As the smoke settled, Natsu saw Gray's unconscious form lying on top of the many pieces that used to make up the door. He knelt down next to Gray and put an arm underneath him, pulling him up.

"Gray? Gray!?" He said shaking the pale boy. Suddenly the rope broke, releasing Gray from its grip. Natsu glared down at the rope then noticed that the end of it was tied in a huge knot. That knot was on the other side of the key hole.

That damn old man! I'm going to kill all of them! He screamed in his head.

Gray awoke gasping for breath now that the rope was gone. He put a hand on his head; in the same spot the rock had hit him, it was bleeding again. Natsu hung his head and placed his hand on Gray's head as well. Gray looked up at Natsu, confused.

"Natsu? Are you okay?"

"I guess that's something that'll never change. You're always worried about everyone else more than yourself. Even when you're the one bleeding." Natsu let out a small laugh. This made Gray smile. Gray then wrapped his arms around Natsu and held on.

"Thank you for saving me."

Natsu was shocked by Gray's actions and words of gratitude. He knew he didn't deserve such praise. After all when has he ever saved him? He didn't save him from the rock. He didn't save him from Alekander. He didn't save him from Evlen. He didn't save him from the old man, the rope, or the damn door. He pushed Gray away and pulled him up to stand. Hands still clinging to the pale shoulders. Natsu looked at Gray's eyes. Deep. As if he was searching for something. Searching for the real Gray.

"Gray."

"Natsu?"

"I really don't deserve your "thanks" or anything from you. Honestly I wish I could go back to when you were still mine."

"Nat-"

"I wish I could go back to the end of your match and prevent you from getting hurt, but I can't. If I had only been paying more attention to what was happening I could've saved you. But I wasn't. I didn't."

"Natsu. Although I don't remember anything…I still feel like I can trust you. I feel like you can protect me and that you… loved me."

"I did. I do Gray. Erza says we'll handle this one day, but the truth is…"

Natsu heard movement by what used to by the door. Erza appeared and sadly nodded.

"Alekander said the poison is going to kill you when the tournament is over."

Gray's expression didn't change.

"How many days left?" He said quietly.

"T-two."

"I already knew I was dying. I just didn't know how many days I had. I was hoping I had longer than that." Gray said with a small, fake, smile.

"You knew!?" Natsu and Erza exclaimed. Gray nodded to both of them.

"Yes I knew. I can feel the poison inside me even now. It burns almost as bad as Natsu's flames. And there's this…" Gray unbuttoned his torn shirt and revealed a strange vein-like pattern going across his waist and chest slowly surrounding where his heart was. Natsu gasped and gently touched the unnatural pattern. His fingers ghosting over Gray's heart. Erza stared at the many bruises the covered Gray's body. She then remembered she had something else to do. She slowly turned and walked back inside the room.

"It's over." Erza said holding a heaven's blade above Evlen's chest.

"W-wait! We can help Gray!" Evlen begged, looking over at Alekander, who was frozen stiff.

"You're deal was Natsu for Gray's memories and he declined. Would you care to make a new deal? Your lives for the antidote?"

Natsu walked Gray back to the room and watched as Erza tormented the pathetic boys.

"N-Natsu are they the ones who-"

"Yes."

"Gray I know you don't remember, but don't let her kill us!" Evlen cried out.

Natsu suddenly appeared above Evlen and shoved his foot into his face.

"He may not remember, but I sure as hell do. Don't you dare speak to him again or I'll kill you before you take your next breath." Natsu lifted his foot and walked back to Gray.

"Natsu are you going to kill them?" Gray asked.

"Erza might."

"No I'm killing Evlen. We need Alekander for the antidote."

The clock in the room began to chime. It was midnight.

"Only one day left. You need me to make the antidote, but will I be able to make it in a day?" Alekander hissed. Natsu's body began to heat up, but he calmed it down so he wouldn't burn Gray.

"You feeling okay Gray?" Alekander asked. Gray looked like he was about to pass out. His eyes became alert as he fell to the ground coughing and hacking up blood. Natsu fell to the ground and held him close as he continue to spew out his bodily fluids.

"Gray! Dammit! Alekander!" Natsu screamed, a single tear falling.

"Yes Natsu Dragneel?"

"The previous deal. I'll do it. Just stop this!" Natsu pleaded. Gray gasped and frantically clung to Natsu's arm. Natsu made the mistake of looking at Gray. He looked dead. Pale white skin, blood streaming from his mouth, but his eyes looked alive and alert. Pleading.

"D-don't-" Gray could only get one word out before more blood came rushing out his throat and onto the ground, staining it.

Natsu tore Gray from his arm and stood. He pushed past Erza and made her lower her weapons. She couldn't stop him, not after seeing how much Gray was hurting. He was going to die if they didn't do something. They could always get Natsu back after this.

I hope. She begged and pleaded for her thoughts to be true. She requiped back into her usual armor and sat down next to Gray and held him back.

Natsu stood in front of Alekander, who held out his hand. Biting his lip, until he tasted blood, he grabbed Alekander's hand and pulled him to his feet. They shook hands and Alekander's grin grew with each second passed. Natsu then went over to Evlen and held his hand out. The snake gripped it as he was pulled to his feet. Natsu went to turn, but Evlen never let go of the dragon slayer's hand. He pulled Natsu into his arms and bent his arm behind his back then tilted his neck to the side. The snake licked his lips, glanced at Gray and Erza, the plunged his teeth into Natsu's neck. Biting hard.

"Ahhhh!" Natsu screamed, trying to fight the snake off. Gray pushed his body to the limit and shoved Erza off. He ran then jumped onto the snake's back.

"GET OFF HIM!" He yelled, blood streaming from his mouth. Natsu looked at him is pure shock; he was surprised he could even move in that condition. Evlen grinning and bit harder.

"Ahh!"

"Natsu!" Erza yelled and ran towards the snake, only to be stopped by the rope appearing around her neck. The rope then coiled itself around her body, like a snake. She fell to the ground and looked at Evlen. He had his hand out; as he closed his hand the rope tightened. She realized that he had made the enchanted rope.

Erza glared at the damned snake as she tried to requip into her Purgatory Armor. Alekander laughed at the continued struggle from Erza.

Natsu continued to fight the snake off with his unbound hand as Gray beat the snake from his back.

"That is quite enough. Evlen drop it." Alekander order. Evlen spit Natsu to the ground like he was a dog's chew toy. He threw an arm up over his head and grabbed Gray by his hair, prying him from his back.

"Over here Evlen." Alekander said. Evlen snickered, tossing the pale bleeding ex-mage at Alekander. Gray landed just inches from Alekander. The rich boy knelt down and gently caressed Gray's cheek.

"I'm saddened that you don't remember my face. Well we did only meet days ago."

"Don't touch him!" Natsu exclaimed clutching his bleeding neck.

"You can't command me lizard. You belong to Evlen now. I am just fulfilling my part of the deal." Alekander said, with a sincere smile. He dug into his coat pocket and brought out a vial of the same shiny blue liquid as the poison.

"Is that…?" Erza gasped out.

"Yes this is the antidote. Did you fools even think to check my pockets? A deals a deal Dragneel." Alekander said popping the lid off the vial.

"Let him drink it on his own." Natsu said trying to hide the initial threat.

"Can't do that. Hate to say it, but I'd like another kiss Fullbuster."

Gray titled his head to the side in confusion and backed away in fear. Alekander grabbed his wrist then poured the antidote into his mouth. Looking over at Natsu and winking, he smashed his lips to Gray's forcing Gray to swallow. Gray's face became blank as his eyes lost all focus. Their lips still touched long after Gray had swallowed the antidote. Alekander pushed his tongue inside Gray's mouth as his hands explored his exposed chest and waist. The vein-like pattern was slowly fading from Gray's body. Alekander gripped the back of Gray's head pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. His other hand let go of his wrist and went down to his belt.

"GET OFF HIM!" Natsu exploded into flames, no longer caring about their deal.

Alekander detached his lips from Gray's and removed his hand from his belt. He let the arm holding his head go to his lower back, letting Gray's head fall back. His expression was still blank and his eyes still held no light.

"You're already in violation of our little deal Dragneel."

"Our deal was me for his memories. You get me not him. You give him his memories and that's it. DON'T TOUCH HIM AGAIN!" Natsu said with fury filled dragon eyes.

"Fine. We'll have just you then." Alekander said, dropping Gray. Gray stayed there, looking like a lifeless expressionless doll.

"I-is that supposed to happen?" Natsu asked as he helped Alekander up.

Alekander looked down at the pale doll and nodded.

"Yes. The antidote takes longer to work than the poison. Right now it should be returning all his hidden memories."

"Hidden?"

"Yes hidden. His memories were still there just hidden from him. As I said before the poison was made by myself, but I did look into some of the magic Evlen's been learning and the spell he put on you before to trap you inside your own mind was the same spell I added to the poison. The only difference being his memories and magic would fade as the real "Gray" was trapped inside those memories. This Gray was what remained after I took away his magic and memories. The real "Gray" was always there…just trapped."

Natsu felt that sickly feeling coming on again. He lit his fist on fire, turned, and smashed it into Alekander's face. Hearing several cracks from the contact made his face twist in a smile of satisfaction. Alekander coughed and held his broken nose to his bloodied face.

"What do you t-think you're doing you idiot! I own you!"

"The deal never said anything about me not fighting you every second that you thought you own me." Natsu said poking Alekander's broken nose. He slapped his hand away and snapped his fingers. Evlen appeared behind Natsu and held his arms behind his back. Alekander wobbled to his feet and snapped his nose back into place.

"How about we take all of you for ourselves. Evlen can have you since you…burned his dick. And I'll have Gray because I really know how to make that bitch swallow."

"You can't have them!" Erza yelled, struggling to get out of the enchanted rope.

"Shut up Titania." Evlen said waving his hand, the rope wrapped around Erza's mouth and levitated, dragging Erza into a closet. Alekander placed a magical lock on the closet door then walked over to Gray. The color had returned to his skin and his eyes had closed.

"Tell me Natsu, do you ever just watch him sleep? He looks quite peaceful am I right?" Alekander said, in a joking tone. Natsu glared at him.

"Well he won't be looking so peaceful when he wakes up. Trust me." Alekander placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder and pulled him close so he could whisper in his ear.

"I'm going to destroy him in front of you all over again."

Natsu turned his head banging his forehead into Alekander's misshapen nose.

"Ah! Fucking lizard!" Alekander punched Natsu in the stomach then in his face.

"Fuck him Evlen." He ordered the snake and walked back to Gray. Natsu's face was washed over with sudden panic.

Evlen kissed the back of his neck and pulled a collar out from his back pocket. He pushed the small button, turning the collar on, and locked it around Natsu's neck. Confused, Natsu lit his fists in flame and just as he did the collar shocked his entire body and absorbed the flames.

"What the hell was that?" He asked pulling at the collar.

"This little device prevents you from using your magic. The only reason I didn't use it on Gray is that you held his hand which prevented him from using his magic. So thanks for that."

Natsu looked over at Gray. He was being held by Alekander and carried into another room.

"Gray!" Natsu called out. Evlen punched him and Natsu spun around falling to the ground.

"We're doing this a little faster this time. I assume it's your first time as well?" Evlen said straddling Natsu's back. Evlen reached underneath Natsu's waist and pulled at the strap holding his pants up.

"Stop! Get off!" Natsu said throwing his arms back to punch the violating snake.

Evlen took Natsu by his wrists and pinned them above his head as he yanked his pants down, then fumbled with his own.

"Okay this is going to hurt us both, but I really want it to hurt you. This is what you get for burning my dick you fucking flame lizard!" Evlen positioned his throbbing dick at Natsu's entrance and began to force himself in. Natsu bit his lip as he fought the urge to cry. He struggled to get his hands free, but failed. Natsu looked in the direction of the room Gray was taken too and heard screaming. He felt Evlen tense up and pause. Natsu looked back at Evlen then back towards Gray's room.

Natsu sighed and smiled as he saw his breath. The entire room suddenly felt cold…too cold. Evlen ripped Natsu's scarf from his neck and tied his arms up with it, pulled his pants up, and ran to Alekander's room. Natsu sighed a sigh of relief and rolled onto his side so he didn't have to strain his neck to look up. He laid on his side and heard Alekander and Evlen yelling.

"What the fucks going on!? Why's it so fucking cold!?" Evlen yelled at Alekander. He found Alekander on the floor and helped him up. Alekander's face was frozen as he pointed at the bed. Gray was sitting up, shirt missing, pants undone, and pissed. His body began to turn into ice as he slid off the bed. Every step he took the ground beneath him cracked from the pressure. His eyes, now covered of ice, locked onto the cowering forms in front of him.

"Alekander Cross. Evlen Trevicks. This is your punishment for threatening Fairy Tail…"

"Gray…" Natsu gasped out, happiness filled him just from hearing Gray's familiar stern voice.

"…For hurting my friends."

"GRAY!" Natsu yelled. Gray lowered his head and sighed.

"…For threatening my life, poisoning me, and daring to touch me."

Natsu nodded in approval. Gray readied his stance.

"Wait Gray! Y-you can't kill us-" Alekander held his hands out. Gray smiled, evilly, and walked closer to Alekander until he was just out of arms reach. He gripped the rich boys shoulder and crushed it in his hand. Alekander cursed and gripped at his shattered shoulder. Gray then grabbed Alekander by his jaw and brought him close.

"STOP TELLING ME I CAN'T KILL YOU! YOU'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT PRETTY QUICK THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Gray exploded in his face and let him fall.

"My father will have Fairy Tail d-disbanded." Alekander said, slowing standing.

"Just because my guild will lose it's name doesn't mean we're any less of a family." Gray put his fist to the palm of his hand. The room became as cold as a winter blizzard at the peak of the highest mountain.

"But-"

"ICE MAKE: COLD EXCALIBUR!" A large frozen sword appeared in Gray's hands as he changed his stance to charge.

"EVLEN DO SOMETHING!" Alekander yelled, but Evlen was frozen with fear…and admiration.

"That was…beautiful." Evlen whispered and slowly turned to Alekander.

"How could you not like ice mages?" Evlen whispered.

Alekander was dumbstruck and he felt like slapping Evlen across the face. Instead, he got behind Evlen and pushed him towards the frozen monster about to attack. Gray lowered his head and launched himself at the two who have tormented him for what seems like years. He roared, thrusting his blade through Evlen's body, into Alekander's, and stopped by the wall. Both gasping for breath as their lives were rightfully taken from them. Gray pulls the sword out and it vanishes, the two defeated fall to the ground in a pool of their own blood.

Alekander grabs Gray by the ankle as he walks by. He can barely breathe, let alone talk, with all his blood leaving his body.

"M-my f-father will have your pre...cious guild dis...banded and y-you will be k-killed G-Gray Full...buster..." Alekander's hand dropped from Gray's ankle and his eyes fell blank. Gray smiled as he saw the life leave the body of the one he happily killed.

"I don't give a damn what your fucking father does."

Body still made of ice, Gray walks out of the bedroom and to the closet Erza was stashed in. He destroys the door, along with the magic spell binding it, and freezes the entire rope until it began to crack.

"Gray!?" She gasped at the ice man. He smiled at her and walked out. She tore the limp rope from her body and followed Gray. She stopped when she saw the bodies of Alekander and Evlen and couldn't stop herself from smiling.

He walks out of the room and sees, a pants less, Natsu tied up with his scarf on the ground. Gray quickly runs and unties him. Finally freed, Natsu pulls his pants up, tackles Gray, and pins his frozen body to the ground. Erza smiled and walked out of the room, to give them privacy and to tell the Master all what happened. Natsu placed a hand on Gray's icy cheek and drags a finger down to his lips.

"Natsu did he-"

"No he didn't."

Gray sighed, relieved.

"What did he do-"

"Change back." Natsu said, clearly holding back. Gray nodded and slowly the ice melted around his body and as soon as his face was clear of ice, Natsu attacked his lips. Shock quickly fading, Gray pulled Natsu closer. He needed him…needed him closer. Natsu pulled up for air.

"Gray I'm so happy you're back! And you remember everything?" Natsu asked brushing the wet hair from Gray's eyes.

"I remember everything Natsu." Gray whispered brushing his hands through Natsu's pink locks. He pulled at the hair until their foreheads touched. Natsu closed his eyes and inhaled the scent that was Gray. His Gray. The same Gray he fell in love with.

"Natsu I never got to tell you, but-"

"Tell me what?" Natsu asked opening his eyes and pulling his head back to look at Gray.

"I love you too." Gray smiled. Natsu returned the smile and slowly leaned in to touch Gray's lips with his own. Natsu pulled back again and stared into Gray's eyes.

"I really lost you this time Gray. I'm sorry I couldn't stop any of it."

"Natsu stop apologizing. Believe it or not you saved me."

"I-"

A red dot appeared on the side of Natsu's head and the flash of red stung Gray's eyes. He turned and saw the father of Alekander kneeling outside the door holding a gun. Gray looked back at the red dot on Natsu's head and knew he had to move. The gun fired.

"NATSU!" Gray screamed. He pushed Natsu's body off him, sat up, and turned just in time to take the bullet in the chest. The bullet planted itself just below his heart. Just as he felt his body falling, Gray heard another shot go off, this time the gun was aiming right at him. The second bullet hit him in the shoulder right above the first shot. Gray fell back gripping at his bleeding wounds as Natsu stood in front of the old man and lit the entrance to the room on fire. He glared daggers at the old man, as if trying to stab the man with his angered gaze. Natsu wailed then inhaled until his cheeks and stomach inflated. Making sure his flames were hot enough to disintegrate a body, he roared.

"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" As the smoke and screams faded, the old man was just a pile of ash surrounding the gun.

"N-Natsu…" Gray gasped, attempting to sit up.

Natsu ran to hold Gray's body up and pulled him close. He looked over the two holes in Gray's body. The one below is heart was bleeding too much to have missed... Natsu stared blankly at the blood flowing wound.

It hit his heart. Natsu felt like he was either going to pass out or puke. He didn't know what to do for Gray...

"Gray it's o-okay. You're going to be okay. I p-promise."

Gray's entire body shook from the pain and blood loss the bullets caused. He touched the hole just below his heart and his hand was immediately covered in blood. Gray smiled sadly, he didn't want to die, but he didn't want Natsu to worry; he put his stained hand back on the bleeding hole. He pulled on Natsu's scarf, with the cleaner hand, until he had his blank eyes locked on him. He let the scarf fall and caressed Natsu's cheek with a bloody finger. Natsu took that hand in his and squeezed.

"N-Natsu..." Gray didn't know what to say to him so he said the first thing that came to mind.

"I l-love you. I don't blame y-you for any of this…so don't blame your…self. O-okay?" Gray huffed.

"Gray please don't talk. I n-need to get you help."

"It's too l-late Natsu. You know that."

Gray knew the bullet hadn't missed his heart. Even if it was only nicked, they had no way to stop the bleeding long enough to find Wendy. He couldn't even remember the last time he's seen everyone in the guild, the master, or even Lucy. Gray looked up at Natsu, he could see the tears breaching the surface of the dragon slayers eyes.

"Natsu. T-tell me you l-love me."

Natsu couldn't control the tears anymore; he let himself cry as he held the one he loved. He had to tell Gray he loved him because he knew this would be the last time.

"Please."

"I-I love you G-Gray Fullbuster. I always will."

Through countless sobs, Natsu leaned down and placed a kiss to Gray's forehead. Gray slowly blinked and smiled as his eyes lost all light. His hand became limp in Natsu's grasp. His body became cold and lifeless. Natsu hugged Gray's body close and cried his heart out. He had failed again. Natsu looked down at Gray's clouded dead eyes as he put a hand over his eyes and closed them. Eyes closed, Gray looked like he was sleeping, but Natsu knew it was a sick lie.

Natsu could still hear his voice in his head. His thanks...from earlier...when he was still breathing.

"Thank you for saving me."

As the night went on, the dragon slayer continued to cry over the body of the one he loved and lost.

"I didn't save you. I can't save you." He sobbed and kissed Gray's cold frozen lips.

(A/N) Yes that just happened and I'm tearing up. What will happen next? I have no idea. I apologize, but sadly enough this was labeled as a tragedy. I don't want to say too much because that'll ruin the mood. There's only one chapter left. Please review.