Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, but I do own the OC's.

Magic

Chapter 8

It was at least a month before Gray set eyes on Natsu again.

After leaving his place that day, Natsu raced back to Fairy Tail, his mind in such a jumble - a feeling he wasn't used to, and it irritated him. His fists clenched the whole journey back to the guild. Again, what was Gray thinking? The frost mage had to have had some sort of remnants of the fog magic in his system. That was the only explanation.

As soon as he returned to the guild, he made a beeline for the job board. If that fog magic fogged his friend's mind into thinking that he could do those things, then probably Natsu just had to disappear for awhile. He figured taking a job would be the best way to stay away from Gray so the he could cool his head, literally and figuratively speaking. Maybe, with Natsu out of sight, Gray could focus his pent up sex urges on someone else. Then, by the time Natsu returned, Gray would be back to his usual self, and they could go back to being the way they were before.

Scanning the job board, Natsu looked for one that would possibly take the longest time. As he felt a weight on shoulder, he picked one that looked perfect. Happy wrapped his arms around Natsu's head as he read the description out loud.

"'Bodyguards wanted'," the cat read. "'Need able-bodied mages to follow important persons around during convention.' Are you sure, Natsu?"

"It's the only thing up here that's guaranteed to last at least a week," Natsu replied as he took the flier to the bar. Mirajane glanced at the flier, and up at Natsu.

"Are you sure you want this one?" she asked.

Natsu pounded his fist on the bartop. "Of course I am! Why does everyone keep asking me that? What? I can't accept a job for myself? Being someone's bodyguard sounds beneficial! I can finally use my powers for the forces of good. Can I have the job or not?" His voice raised louder and louder with each question.

The guild fell silent and every head turned to watch him. It wasn't uncommon for Natsu to have an outburst...but have an angry outburst at Mirajane? That was downright stupid, and he didn't seem to notice.

That is until he took a deep breath and was able to actually see who he was talking to. His face fell as he noticed Mirajane visibly shaking, her eyes downcast. He couldn't tell if she was crying, or laughing...or worse. He held up his hands in defense, hoping that he didn't do serious damage and was going to seriously regret what just happened.

"Listen, Mirajane, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

She snapped her head up, making Natsu jump and take cover behind the nearest bar stool. There was laughter erupting behind him, and he glanced up to see Mirajane smiling down at him. His anger rose again, but he knew to keep it check. The embarrassment from the laughter of the guild behind him, and the mixed feelings he's been exposed to from Gray have his mind in more jumbles than he's ever felt.

"I'll send a message over the lacrima letting them know you're coming, Natsu-kun," Mirajane said as Natsu pulled himself up. "Are Lucy and Gray going as well?"

"Ah, no. Just me."

"And me!" Happy squeaked.

For once, Natsu didn't know if he wanted his little buddy with him while he dealt the dilemma in his mind, but he couldn't refuse Happy anything. Besides, maybe having Happy around would dull the confusion, make Natsu concentrate on something other than Gray.

OOooOO

Natsu arrived at the famous Hosenka, which, after much thought, he still couldn't understand why these people needed to hold a convention at a spa town. And then, after his thinking, decided he didn't really care either way; anything to get him out of Magnolia, and away from Gray for awhile.

As he walked through the town, looking for the hotel he was going to be staying at, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty at his sudden departure, and his need to be away. He hadn't felt that way before, and it confused him almost as much as Gray did.

No, Gray was still under the effects of the magic, he reminded himself, and it was probably best that they stayed away from each other.

Happy sat up from his perch on Natsu's shoulder and pointed at a flamboyantly decorated hotel. There was a huge lion's head, decorated in gold, that towered over the entrance. The building itself rose only three stories, but he could tell from where he was standing that the foundation of the building itself rivaled that of the Fairy Tail guild hall.

Needless to say, it was huge.

"Is this the place?" the boy asked his cat companion.

The cat looked down at the little paper he was holding with the address marked on it, written in Mirajane's flowing cursive.

"Looks like it," the cat squeaked.

Natsu hoisted his pack higher and tighter on his shoulders, and started climbing the gilded stairs. He thought for a moment about the cost of the hotel, using so much gold for the decoration, but he shrugged it off, knowing that he could care either way, as long as the job was easy, and he didn't think about Gray.

He approached the front desk, which was long and also gold. The man behind the desk glanced up at the pair, a small look of disgust on his features. The boy was dirty, from head to toe, and the furry thing on his shoulder looked like someone beat it with a stick, rolled it through the mud, and dipped in a toilet.

Needless to say, Natsu refused to use any sort of moving transportation, and they had walked the entire way. He knew he smelled and probably had dirt engraved in his cells, but the man behind the counter could've at least pretended that he was happy to have a customer.

"May I help you, ah, sir?" the man enquired, giving Natsu a dirty look as the boy took the paper from Happy and placed it on the exquisitely clean countertop.

"Yeah, I'm looking for John Apple." Natsu had to read from the paper, having not memorized the name of the person he was to be guarding. Despite the look a pure hatred coming from the man, Natsu gave him a toothy smile. "My name is Natsu, and I came here on a job request for him."

Giving Natsu and Happy another disgusted once over, the man nodded and pushed a button by the book he was writing in.

"Mr. Apple will be expecting you shortly," the man answered, folding his hands and laying them on his book. He gave Natsu a strained smile. "Might I suggest cleaning up before you're sent to him? We have top of the line baths, both private and public, with salts to ease your tired body after traveling from so far."

Natsu smiled wider. "That sounds amazing!" he exclaimed, placing both hands on the counter. Dirt caked off his hands and dusted the man's area. "Where do I go for that?"

The man nodded, indicating to a person behind Natsu, who turned around, and, after having a finger waved at him, followed the newcomer, another employee who looked almost a disgusted at the man behind the counter.

oooOOOooo

Natsu sauntered through the hallway, going towards the room he had been directed to. He was in really high spirits after his amazing bath, and he felt good about this job. It had finally dawned on him that the chances of him actually being able to fight anyone were slim to none. Sure, being a bodyguard to someone did mean willing to fight to protect them, but, really, what were the odds of someone actually wanting to start a fight with his charge?

Well, he had to find out exactly who his charge was, and why he needed a bodyguard in the first place; Happy had made that point to him. The flier didn't really go into any specifics, but there had to be a reason that he was needed.

He found himself standing in front of the room he needed, and knocked on the door.

John Apple, Natsu mused. What sort of man was he? Obviously a weirdo, considering his name. And he had to be rich. He at least knew that from the flier. Maybe he was mixed in some sort of conspiracy that always seems to follow rich people around...Like, he knew some sort of dark secret that could plunge his rival into ruin. Or he was the only known person who knew of an object that could either help or destroy the earthland? Natsu began getting excited as so many possible scenarios filled his mind. What if, by being the man's body guard, he was entrusted with secrets, and was thrown into a battle that could save humanity?

Natsu felt his fists warm up at the thought of being apart of some epic battle, fighting alongside the forces of good, to wipe the forces of evil.

The door opened slightly, bringing Natsu back to reality - but he still had a huge grin on his face.

"Can I help you?" the man on the other side whispered. Natsu blinked at him for a moment, not being able to really see who was on the other side, but he raised his fist.

"I'm Natsu!" he exclaimed. "Your partner in the fight against evil!"

The man's eyes widened. He threw the door open, just enough, to grab Natsu by the edge of his yutaka, and pulled the boy in, slamming the door shut behind them. The man proceeded to set many locks into place on his door. From what Natsu could see, only being able to see his back, was the man was thin, pale, and maybe just a head taller than Natsu. When the man turned around, the boy sucked in his breath. The man was handsome, he'd give him that, but he had a sort feminine quality that just didn't seem right. He wore a white button up shirt, the long sleeves folded back up past his elbows. His black pants hung loosely on his hips, barely kept up by a black belt, which didn't really seem to be doing its job.

The man's blue eyes flared at him, his short black hair mussed on his forehead. The man clenched his fists, but stayed put.

"Are you stupid or something?" he asked.

Natsu blinked at him. "What?"

"Are you trying to call attention to yourself? What would I have done if someone saw you? Oh, God, I can't imagine." He ran his hands through his hair, and took a deep breath. Natsu was a little confused, but let the man finish. Had he said anything more, he was afraid the other man would try to hit him...Not that that was so terrible, but Natsu would hate to be sent home early because he beat his charge to a pulp.

John took a deep breath and straightened himself. "Well, either way, you're finally here. I was beginning to worry that my money was going to waste." He studied Natsu for a minute, which, for some reason, made the boy really uncomfortable. The man was just sizing up his new bodyguard. Yeah, that's it. He just wants to make sure he can be trusted to protect him.

After a few uncomfortable moments, John smiled, and moved passed Natsu, walking further into the room. Natsu followed, still unsure if it was okay for him talk yet. He was led to a small table in the corner, where food had been set out. John looked back and chuckled softly at the look Natsu gave the food.

"You haven't eaten?" he asked the boy. "Go ahead. I was saving it for your arrival anyway." He sat on one of the plush chairs on the side of the table, crossing a leg over his knee, which made Natsu think of a woman. What was this man?

Without a second thought, Natsu took the invitation and sat on the opposite side of the table as John, and started eating. He shovelled meat into his mouth, all the while keeping his eyes on his charge. The man across the table sat there with a small smile on his lips, watching the boy closely.

When their eyes met, Natsu felt himself choke on a bone. He inwardly cursed himself for not paying attention to what he was eating (not at all willing to admit that the man across the table had eyes that were strangely familiar...at least for a second), and he accepted the glass of water John pushed toward him.

"So, let me get one thing straight," John started. "While you are here, you are not tell anyone who you are, or where you're from. That sort of leaves out the part about being undercover, doesn't it?"

Natsu blinked. "Undercover? I thought I was just your bodyguard?"

"You are, but no one is supposed to know that." John leaned back in his chair.

"If this is supposed to be a secret, then why post the job offer in such a public place? Why not find a more subtle way to hire someone?" Natsu wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He wasn't one for table manners, and he wasn't going to start just because he was in the presence of some rich guy.

John shrugged. "I posted the job, but not the specifics."

Natsu's belly ran a little cold. He wasn't sure about this job all of a sudden. Why did he have to keep such a secret? The smile this man was giving him was sly, and he didn't trust it at all.

"So what am I supposed to do, then?"

As John's smiled widened, Natsu immediately regretted asking.

"You're going to pretend to be my lover."

Hello, again! I decided that, after two long, grueling years of hiatus, that I'd come back to my projects! I have been steadily following Fairy Tail, and I decided to relive some memories and starting reading fanfiction again. As soon as I remembered my account, I read over the stories that I had, and decided to continue this one. I'm still contemplating 'I Kissed a Girl" and I might be working on another one here, shortly, but this is the main one that I wanted to get back to.

Now, as you can guess, these next few chapters will be following Natsu and how he's coping with his blossoming feelings for Gray. I had originally meant to skip this whole segment, and get right on to the nitty-gritty, but I felt this was just more fun.

Well, since this is the end of this chapter, I just wanted to thank everyone who has reviewed/followed/faved over these passed years, begging me to continue this story. Unfortunately I had a lot on my plate: going back to school, getting a job, now my kids are in school...I felt myself draining, and unable to come up with anything to further the story. Well, I have a few more chapters planned out, so I know I'm going to get those out before life shoves something else in my face and I have to go on another hiatus. Fear not, though, I will have Natsu and Gray together by the time that happens, so help me, God! Without further ado, please review/follow/favorite, and I might be more inspired to get these chapters up sooner. Much love!