So, this is basically, what do you call it? Yeah, it is a filler chapter. Nothing much. Just building up of the storyline is what you will get. So, yeah. Hope I don't get chased around by ppl holding pitch forks and torches. *frantically looks around for skrtgrl13*

Thank you for the lovely reviews minna! And follows and favourites too!

Guest review responses:

Cristel: Here's the update!

So, yeah. On with the story!

Disclaimer: me no own.

Chapter 6: The Book

"Lu-chan!" Levy frantically searched around for her, holding a newspaper, early in the morning. the guild hall was nearly empty. Cana could be found sitting in the corner, well, drinking. Elfman and Lisanna were checking out the mission board. Gajeel was snoring in the corner with Pantherlily. Some were still passed out. Others had left for missions.

Lucy, current sitting with Natsu, Erza, Wendy, Mira, Master and the cats, looked around. As she spotted her, she waved her towards the table. "What is it Levy chan?"

"Remember the mission you went to? The Mystique Mansion one?" this got the interest of the whole group. "What is it, Levy? What about the mission?"

"Read this!" she handed her the paper. "Another casualty in the haunted city of Emzorde. The-" as Lucy read it, her eyes widened.

"Guys, remember we tried to find him that day, but he was suddenly missing? We even asked Jean and got to know he went missing around midnight? And we informed the Emzorde security before leaving? He has been found."

"What?"

"Yeah... this paper says so. But it says... Will Neville is dead."

"W-what? But how?"

"It doesn't say anything about that. It just says that... judging from his forensic reports, he had been dead for a long time... almost... a year."

Gray was still in the infirmary, lying on his back, looking at the ceiling as the time passed by. He couldn't sleep that night. Well, how could he, after the horrifying experience? All he did was act like being asleep and kept thinking.

He could hear the rambunctious bunch downstairs, screaming something about Will and death and year. Who cares about the old man anyway?

'You should...' said a low voice in his head, giving him the chills.

And now he had a portable source of diplomacy at the subconscious level.

'What do you mean?'

*low chuckle*. 'Oh, how fun I had. That old man was so weak it was laughable.'

'Why are you...? N-no way... don't tell me...'

'Yes, dear Gray. I saw you that day replacing the papers. And from the looks of it, you just figured it out what has happened. And if you still want to confirm...'

"How is that possible? We saw him, he himself... and... but... gah!" said an utterly perplexed Natsu. "Even the smell was of an alive living being!"

"Yeah" said Lucy. "Even Jean-luc said... he said his father had been acting peculiar, since his visit to the... the Mystique Mansion. W-what would that mean?"

"Maybe..." said Erza. "Remember Natsu said Jean-luc didn't smell like his father even if he looked like him?"

"What are you implying?"

"Is it... is it possible that he was also possessed?"

'You got it right Gray. Will Neville had been possessed since a year.'

"Possessed?" asked Levy. "What do you mean?"

"Actually, Levy chan..." Lucy explained everything about it to her – the mansion, the deadline and Gray's experience."

"And you are telling this to me now?" Levy practically shouted as she ran off to the library. "Lu-chan! Come with me."

The girls ran off, leaving the others dumbfounded. Suddenly, the door opened, revealing the Raijin Tribe.

"Oh, it was such a stupid mission. All I had to do was turn those guys into rocks." Evergreen said.

"I think we just overestimated the burglars, seeing the prize money." Freed said.

"Welcome back everyone!" Mira said as she handed them drinks. "Freed, Can we talk to yo-"

"Gray-san is awake!" Wendy said as she rushed down.

"Found it!" said Levy as she and Lucy rushed back.

"What happened to Gray?" Freed asked.

"Come with us Freed" said Mira as they all rushed upstairs, "we will explain there."

"I have a feeling he wanted to be alone." Erza said as they entered an empty infirmary, with windows open. "Natsu," she said in her commanding voice, "go search for him."

"What? Why me! I will no-" *death glare from Erza* "not leave him alone. Gray! I am coming!" and with that he, too, jumped down the window.

"So, Levy," Erza said as she turned to her, "what is this book about?"

"It is the book I got from the library for mira-san. I got it to know more about the mansion. Figures it was written by Drake Emzorde."

"W-wait a minute. Drake Emzorde, as in the greatest rune master? You totally need to fill me in here."

"Well actually blah blah blah" said Mira. [AN: Do you want me to actually fill half the page writing everything all over again? Do tell. I will edit it then]

"But where does he- no way..." said Freed. "So he actually managed to did the unattainable... Give me that book." He took it from Levy and examined it. And soon enough he had his fancy sword out and was engaged into unravelling the runes, emitting bright purple light. Meanwhile, Lucy looked around. Her gaze fell on a note on the bedside table.

"Hmm... It demands for his real name" said Freed.

"I guess that problem is solved," said Lucy. "Gray says 'Will-Possessed, Drake Wolcott, 3 days, Don't follow me.' I think we just disobeyed him." Lucy said.

Freed managed to unlock the book. "We just got exactly what we needed," he said.

"There you are, Droopy eyes."

"..." Gray was sitting under a tree and tried his best to ignore Natsu.

"Of all places, you got this riverbank to hide in?"

"..."

"Speak up, Gray!"

"Why are you here?"

"Erza sent me," Natsu said as he sat beside Gray on the riverbank. "You disobey her, you die."

"Yeah. Now get lost."

"I cannot, without taking you along with me. So, yeah. I stay till you stay."

"..." Natsu couldn't see he face.

"What happened?"

"Go away, Natsu." His voice was low.

"Not till you tell me." Natsu tried again.

"I said go away."

"Spill it out."

"I said GO AWAY NATSU!" and with that he pushed him away and tried to make a run for it, but Natsu tackled him to the ground. Gray's hands were pinned on his side before he could trigger his ice magic.

"Oh, for Mavis' sake, Natsu, Leave me alone!"

"Gray! Do you see me as your nakama or not?"

That stopped him from struggling under the hold of Natsu. And now that he stopped, Natsu could see him properly. His skin was paler than usual. He looked Tired. He had bags under his eyes and, since when had his eyes been this dark?

"... It was my house." Gray said as Natsu got off him. "Everything was dark. I could hear him from my room. And then... then there were mirrors. My reflection... It-it was me, but then it changed... my body, my face... my eyes. The eyes... they creep me out Natsu," his voice became hushed. "It was as if he was Imitating... no, as if I was his... reflection. Why me?"

'...Cuz you are special... my dear boy...'

His eyes widened. "What happened, Gray?" asked Natsu. But that was only heard by deaf ears.

'...you passed the test, you got to be the one. And slayer blood was too foreign...'

"Please stop..."

'...this face, this body...'

"Make it stop."

'and most of all... this power...'

"Natsu!"

"-ray! Gray! Oi, snap out of it!" Gray snapped his eyes open. He realised he was covering his ears, lying on the ground.

"Are you alright? Your smell changed... what happened?"

"I can hear him in my head... Natsu" he sounded as if he was on his breaking point.

"Shh... don't worry now Gray. We will get rid of it, him whatever. Levy... Levy has got books. Freed is back too. Don't worry Gray."

Slayer blood was too foreign... This meant if it wasn't him, it would have been the man in front of him... This meant he tried to get Natsu first. It could have been Natsu who would have been possessed.

So as Natsu continued to try to comfort him, he managed to calm himself down, thinking that at least this all meant saving Natsu from all this.

"I didn't think we would find these boys at the same riverbank where they fight." Erza said as she and Lucy saw the two rivals sleeping peacefully under the tree, Gray being held by Natsu.

"And we had to search the whole Magnolia for them." Lucy said. "Freed took a lot of time trying to figure it all out that we didn't realise it was this late. No wonder they are sleeping. It's almost midnight."

"Let's take them back to the guild. We may find a solution tomorrow." Erza said.

"Hey Natsu, wake up. Gray."

"..."

"Boys?"

"What happened, Lucy?"

"They are not waking up Erza..."

"What?"

They sat down and came to their level.

"Together."

As they opened their eyes, the only thing they could see was... Green.

Boo!

So, all nakamanship fans here. Did you like the boys' friendship?

And also my dear fellow yaoi fangirls, did you enjoy the mini fluff? Can I actually write fluff then?

To all the dear readers, hope you enjoyed it! Please R&R, F&F!

DJ