A week continued as it did that day, Gray was silent, and was barely eating or drinking anything, just enough to survive. Everyone was worried, sure, but Lyon was constantly pacing, as if he was waiting for something to happen. All the eyes that had laid on them were either full of pity or confusion as to what to do.
To the Ice Mage, It felt as if his soul was slowly being sucked out of him. What was he waiting for ? The sweet release of death ? But he promised himself-them that he wouldn't die just yet. He knew he couldn't just sit and grieve, as much as he wanted to, he had enough of that already in his lifetime. Gray was sick of it. The guilt in his stomach made him feel like he was about to throw his guts up uncontrollably, almost like a monster inside of him was crawling about.
He could hear their voices, loud and clear. Were they... haunting him ? If so that was nothing new, the nightmares of his past were still there after all. Or maybe he was just going insane, who knew ?
Lyon's eyes were carefully placed on his back, watching him to see if he did anything, He knew they would arrive in Hargeon soon and people and unwanted attention would be questioning a mentally unhealthy Gray. How was he meant to avoid that ? The disappearance of Fairy Tail's top members reached headlines very quickly, with them being assumed dead, only to find out that one of them was still alive ? Not even Gray could handle that...
Looking out the window, Lyon could see the port in the distance, he could honestly use some time off the ship. His mind couldn't stop thinking abut the crying he heard. He knew Gray was suffering badly on the inside, Lyon wanted to help him but how ? How could he help his suffering surrogate brother ? Right now, He just wanted a sign... and it wasn't like one would pop out of thin air..
Gray was always the one to lose everything, From his parents, to Ur, To his guild. Why always him ? What did he do to deserve it ?
He could hear people rushing about on top of the deck as they prepared to dock in at the port, doing their best to prepare to dock in from what everyone would think as a fruitless search, but only this time they had actually managed to bring one back. Gray tensed up slightly when he felt the ship bump slightly against the stone of the port. He didn't mind boats, it was just the feeling of seeing the rest of his guild, except those who were on Tenrou Island with him. He feared what he was going to have to tell them about what had happened.
Lyon had left the cabin a few second prior to the docking and watched everyone unload their spare supplies. Everyone was quick at it, but nothing could ease the tension of Fairy Tail only having one of it's members back. Not even the others bodies. The Ice Mage felt Jura tap his shoulder and looked at him sternly.
"You should probably get Gray and explain to them what happened." Jura said, looking over on to the platoon at the group of Fairy Tail members who always stood, waiting for any news on their lost members. There was a kid with them, he always came. Lyon thought the kid's name was Romeo and had a fascination with Natsu, the dragon slayer... Not that Lyon could blame him, As he once had a similar fascination with Ur before she had died.
Walking towards them slowly, despite what Jura had said, it was probably best that Gray wasn't here. Lyon looked toward one of the eldest members, Macao, if he recalled correctly. He had taken over Fairy Tail after their Master and the others had disappeared. Macao made eye contact with Lyon as he approached and looked down on the platoon.
"It's okay, you don't need to say anything... We know you haven't found them..." Lyon opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by Romeo's voice.
"Gray !" Immediately everyone's heads shot up at the ship and saw Gray standing there, like a deer in the headlights, too afraid to approach his guild-mates any further. Lyon stepped aside to allow Fairy Tail a better look at their friend, who they had assumed was dead.
"Well I'll be !" Macao grinned and ran towards Gray with the other members in tow. As they approached the Ice mage, Gray took a step back. They stopped afraid to go any further out of fear of maybe overwhelming their guild-mate.
His heart was beating fast, his head was spinning, he couldn't breathe. Or even face them. Was he cursed ? Was that why everyone he loved got killed. 'Nobody should come near me.'
'Nobody should ever become close to me.'
'Nobody... Nobody... Nobody should ever love me, touch me, care about me, stay away, you'll die...' His thoughts became fast thinking, unaware he was speaking out loud.
"Gray..." Lyon's voice said, full of worry for his brother's well-being. Had his mind collapsed ? Did the grief become too much for Gray ? Taking a few steps towards him, Gray suddenly bolted past him and into the busy streets of the port. "Gray !" Lyon shouted after him, immediately following him in pursuit.
Gray's legs just kept running, not daring to look back, no matter how much his lungs protested, he didn't stop. He couldn't think straight. Was he even able to do so anymore ? His mind had given up on him, and eventually after what seemed like an eternity, his legs did to. He collapsed in alleyway, breathing air through his sore, exhausted lungs.
The shaking did not stop, it only kept going as the cage that was his mind continued torturing him.
"Everyone... I'm so sorry..." A whisper from his broken and damaged mind and heart said. "You didn't deserve it..." Sobbing broke from his throat, it went against Gray's natural instinct to not to cry. Every cell in his body wanted it to stop. But there was not point now.
There was nothing left.
There wasn't much point to anything, the shell that had started to crack thanks to the guild that he had called family for so long was back and stronger then ever. They were gone, no denying it, no loophole to suggest otherwise. They were gone. Nothing could change that.
His mind couldn't help but wonder to the dragon, the one that had killed them, what had happened to it ? It's probably disappeared, that's what any kind of logic Gray had left said. His thoughts abruptly stopped when he could hear the faint call of his name in the distance. Automatically, he stood up and ran in the other direction to get away, he needed space.
"Please... Just let me have a little bit of time..." His hoarse voice said.
Lyon's anxiety and worry levels were shooting through the roof. What if Gray had done something stupid ? What if he was- No, He couldn't afford to think like that. That was the start of loosing hope. After going through what Lyon did the past few weeks, there was no way it was going to happen again. 'Gray's stronger then that, pull yourself together !' The Ice Mage thought trying to be faster in his search for the raven haired boy.
Now was not the time for regrets, he knew that well. But Lyon couldn't hide the fact that he regretted to spending more time with his sibling of sorts. He had blamed him for Ur's death and abandoned him immediately without saying goodbye. 'I guess I wasn't the best older brother...' He thought. When they were younger, when Ur had first taken in Gray, Lyon had assumed the role of senior/older brother. Their Master had laughed at that. Even if he had disliked him at first, Lyon was grateful to have someone near his age around that he could have as a friend, rather then a teacher-student relationship.
Shaking his head, Lyon looked ahead, suddenly stopping when he saw it. The memorial that had been created for the Fairy Tail members that were on Tenrou Island. There was paintings done by Reedus, a Fairy Tail member, lined up with their names underneath. Gray's was still there. They would have to take it down later and pay their respects. No doubt Gray would cry, but something told him that he would be different instead.
Lyon, now walking at a slower pace, looked around. He wasn't here so where was he ? 'If I were Gray... Where would I go..?' It was useless to him, thinking in that way, because if Gray was as upset as he was back at the ship, then there was no possible way Lyon would know where he would be.
'Where would Gray even feel safe in this situation ? He... Wait. Safe ! The Sea ! I'm an idiot !' Lyon knew Gray would seek out a place he could feel safe and be himself. No doubt, in Lyon's mind he would go to Ur. Well, at least he hoped he was right.
Running over to the small beach Hargeon had, looking down the shoreline, he found him sitting at the edge of the sea.