Chapter 2: Piece of Mind

"WHOA? What the hell is this?" Makarov shouted, eyes bulging out as he studied the mess the guild has been turned into while he was away. "Are you kids, completely out of your minds?" the old man yelled on top of his lungs, while most of the guild members laughed sheepishly and some others frowned, sitting at the few undamaged tables. "My old heart can't take this…" the guild master said somewhat dramatically and clutched his chest.

"Master!" Mirajane screamed concerned, rushing to the old mage with medicine in one hand and water in the other. She knelt before Makarov and gave him the pill. Gulping it all in one moment the guild master regained his senses and shouted once again.

"WHERE'S THAT BLOCKHEAD? I swear I'm not gonna go easy on him this time!" he didn't mean that of course and everyone in the guild knew it, but they could also read between the lines that Master will REALLY punish the Fire Dragon Slayer this time, and not just with cash.

"You mean Natsu?" Gajeel asked casually, already knowing the answer. "Who knows…" the mage shrugged, "He hasn't turned up since he beat the crap out of Gray yesterday," the Iron Dragon Slayer said looking at the mentioned ice mage with the corner of his eye, smirking.

"Gajeel! That's not nice!" Levy whispered, elbowing the brunette.

"What did you say?" Makarov asked surprised. "Natsu beat Gray?" and the old man looked at the ice mage, who sat silently at one of the tables, hair covering his eyes, bandages covering his body.

"Gray-sama…" Juvia, who was sitting beside the said mage, whispered in concern, eyeing him carefully. Lucy was sitting in front of Juvia. She said nothing but her eyes also betrayed her concern.

"Ho-ho, not just that," Gajeel tried to continue, "he almost…"

"Gajeel, stop it!" Levy cut him short.

"I see…" Makarov thought to himself. "Gray, is this true?" the guild master enquired approaching the table where the ice mage sat. "Did Natsu really win?"

"Win? Weren't we talking about a mere fight? That's a rather strong word coming out of Master's mouth… What's the big deal about all this?" Lucy wondered.

"Yeah, granps… It's finally over, and I lost," Gray said slowly as if for the hundredth time comprehending the meaning of the uttered words.

Makarov sighed and scratched his brow, "I knew it… But still hoped it would turn out the other way around… Poor Gray."

"If you excuse me…" Gray said standing up and leaving the bar, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Alzack shouted from behind. "If Natsu isn't here to help us clean up the mess you two caused, it doesn't mean you can just take off like that, injury or no injury!" But Gray wasn't even paying attention to what was being said, as he strolled out of the bar. "Why you! Stop right there, Gray!" Alzack shouted once again and was already about to chase after the ice mage, when Makarov stretched out his hand causing the boy to stop.

"Let him be, Alzack," Master said firmly watching one of his most promising 'children' leave the building.

"Juvia, what's wrong?" Lucy asked the water mage who was barely holding back her tears.

"Something's very wrong with Gray-sama…" the girl said in a trembling voice. "He's been acting very weird… Yesterday when Juvia treated his wounds, Gray-sama wouldn't even look at Juvia or object to anything, even when Juvia offered to show him a new bathing suit!"

"And why would she do that?" Lucy sweatdropped. "Don't worry, Juvia!" the celestial mage tried to give her friend a reassuring smile. "Gray's gonna be just fine!" she winked at the blue-haired mage, giving her a thumbs-up.

"Hmph… I'm not quite sure about this," Makarov said in doubt, scratching his chin.

"Master!" Mirajane exclaimed indignantly. "You know what this is all about?" the entire guild fell silent eyeing the old mage with interest and anticipation. But Juvia and Lucy were the ones to perk their ears most attentively.

Makarov sighed heavily: "Yeah, I know what this is all about…" but in reality he thought "Natsu really beat Gray… unbelievable. I know he is stronger than the latter, probably could give Erza a good kick in the butt too, but still… after all these years of just fooling around and slightly giving in each time, why did Natsu win? Did he really want to?"

"A little enlightment, maybe?" Gajeel suggested in a more friendly tone this time.

But the old man just sighed again and shook his head. "Nope, I gave my word to those two that I won't tell about their little bet…"

"BET?" Juvia and Lucy simultaneously shouted.

"What did they bet for, Master?" Levy inquired.

Master started sweating all over, "Oh, dear… it did escape my mouth now, didn't it…" and in order to avoid any further questioning the old man put on a goofy smile and started waving off, attempting a quick escape. "Ha-ha… those meetings are such a pain in the ass, I'm dead tired! Mira-chan, take care of things around here for a while, will you?" and with that he was off leaving the guild members in total confusion.

Mirajane pouted. "That Master…"

"But it's really interesting what did Natsu and Gray bet for. I mean I never knew there was a bet between them… and they're my teammates and all…" Lucy said in thought. "Do you guys know anything about it?" the blonde addressed the other guild members.

Most of them bowed their heads in thought, some on the contrary raised them and looked up as if the answer were written on the ceiling, only Mirajane shook her head with no reflecting. "I don't have a clue…"

"Come to think of it I've never heard them talk about something like that when they were little kids," Macao pondered.

"Me neither," Cana confessed.

"Juvia spends a lot of time near Gray-sama," the girl blushed slightly, deliberately avoiding the verb 'to stalk', "but he never said a word about anything like that…"

"So it's not just me…" Lucy was slightly relieved by that. "But I wonder what could this be all about?"

"Well, whatever it is it's got to be very important," Levy said seriously, "I mean did you see the look on Gray's face when he left?" Juvia almost winced at the memory.

"Hey, I know!" Lucy exclaimed, definitely proud of herself. "Let's ask Erza when she comes back!"

Everyone in the guild blinked several times, surprised that they didn't think of it first.

"Way to go Lu-chan!" Levy cheered. "Erza spends almost all her free time with those two, so there's no way in the world she didn't know!"

"Yeah, and besides the three took shower together… How much closer can you possibly get?" Lucy though to herself.

"Besides, even if Natsu and Gray didn't tell her, I'm sure Master did. I mean, she does accompany him to those meetings once in a while. There's no way in hell the old geezer didn't loosen his tongue on the subject," Macao added.

"Good, it's settled then. We'll ask Erza when she comes back," Mira concluded, "And now if you don't mind," she held up a bucket and a mop with that usual sweet smile of hers, "let's continue with the cleaning, shall we?"

"NATSU! NAAATSUUU!" Happy yelled into his friend's ear, which the latter never seemed to mind. Flushed and angry the cat sat near the pink-haired mage. It was the same spot where Gray once found Erza crying, and Natsu was sitting exactly where the scarlet-haired mage had sat back then. He was staring at the soothing flow of water, throwing marbles.

"Sorry, Gray…" Natsu thought gritting his teeth, his fingers curling like claws into his palm.

"Natsu," Happy began quietly this time also staring at the surface of the water, "you came here because it's the place you made that bet?" the blue cat then looked at the Fire Dragon Slayer in concern. However no answer came. Happy got pretty pissed staring at his statue-like friend. "Oi, Natsu!" he yelled standing up again, pointing his little paw at the cause of his frustration. "Stop ignoring me like that! That's mean! And besides if you knew you'd be acting like this why did you win? Why didn't you leave it undecided like always?"

"I… I really don't know…" was the honest reply. "I'm sorry, pal," Natsu petted Happy on the head, forcing a smile. "It's just… ugh… I feel bad about Gray."

"Fell bad?"

Natsu nodded.

"But you did want to win all these years! I know you!" Happy urged.

"I did," Natsu agreed, "but my reasoning was different back then, and now it's changed…" he muttered, staring at the sky with something relatively resembling a smile on his lips.

"Really? Since when?" Happy asked surprised. He didn't notice any significant changes until now.

"Since…" the fire mage was about to say something, then changed his mind and ruffled his hair in frustration. "Argh! It's not important." The Salamander stood up, put on his usual smile and looked at Happy. "Well, I guess it's pretty dumb to worry about it. What's done is done, it'll work out somehow I suppose. So why don't we go to the guild and help with the mess? Na, Happy, what d'you think?"

"Aye!" chirped the reassured blue cat.

"Good, let's race there then! Who loses cooks dinner!" and the pink-haired fire mage was already running way ahead without waiting for his flying friend.

"Whoa? Natsu, that's not fair!" Happy followed him.

Natsu was of course the one to win the race, but Happy was pretty close to victory too. Had Natsu not rushed off so quickly, he would have had to cook dinner. Not that he didn't like it, though. It's just that the fire mage needed something to distract himself from the whole Gray-bet-thing, and the Salamander knew nothing better than exercise, thus the race and the wish to help with the guild restoration.

"Ha-ha, Happy, I won!" the boy said grinning on entering the guild. "Guess who's cooking tonight!" he teasingly poked out his tongue at his friend.

But Happy didn't listen to what his friend was saying, but rather looked wide-eyed and a little uneasy at the sight before him. On seeing Natsu the entire guild stopped working and turned towards the pink-haired mage. Their faces weren't exactly angry, but they were annoyed alright. "Natsu…" the blue cat whispered, warning his friend who wasn't looking forward but rather back over his shoulder at Happy.

"Dragneel, huh?" Gajeel smirked. "It's about time His Majesty decided to show up…"

"Gaje…"

"Hush, Levy," Wakaba said firmly, "it's time to give our hot-head some piece of mind."

"Yeah, but Gajeel is definitely the wrong person for that… He's as reckless as Natsu here!" Levy thought, but said nothing.

"Huh?" Natsu muttered. "What's up with you guys? You seem a little tense…"

"Oh, God, Natsu, please don't say anything else…" Lucy worried.

"Tense you say?" Gajeel said more than asked, standing up from his chair. "Is that all you can see?"

"Well, come to think of it…" Natsu began reflecting upon the question, scratching his chin, paying no attention to the approaching danger.

"Iron Dragon's Club!"

"Huh?" was the only thing Natsu had the time to say. But strangely no pain came.

"Say, do I always have to save your fireball ass?" Gray asked blocking Gajeel's club with his Ice-Make Shield.

"Gray…" Natsu gasped, eyeing his bandaged teammate. "I didn't know I went so hard on him… Damn." He inwardly cursed.

"Move, ice mage," Gajeel threatened.

"Both of you stop it right now!" shouted Mirajane hurrying to the place of disaster. "What do you think you're doing, Gajeel?" she yelled, fists balled. "We're almost done repairing the guild and you want to ruin it again? Ruin the work of your nakama?" the female mage scolded.

"Tch…" the Iron Dragon Slayer gave up.

"Yeah, you tell him Mira!" Natsu cheered as if nothing had happened.

Immediately Mirajane's angry eyes shot up to meet Natsu's confused ones. It was moments like this that made Mira resemble Erza very much in that demonic sort of way everybody feared so much. "You are no better, Natsu!" the white-haired mage continued her scolding. "First you cause all this mess, which is natural for you, of course! And then you don't even show up to help! Is that how you treat your friends?" she then lowered her voice. "And besides, what you did to Gray yesterday…"

"That's enough, Mira!" Gray shouted. He was annoyed by all this. Everyone was treating him like he was a sad beaten puppy, which he wasn't! In any other circumstances Gray would have just sat back and enjoyed the show, but this time he was also involved, and neither Mira, nor anyone else here knew what was going on, so basically they had no right to judge! Makarov could scold them or punish them or just give up on the whole thing… He had that right! Because he knew the deal. But Mira didn't and yet there she was, playing teacher artlessly imitating Erza. And that last part annoyed the ice mage most.

"No, it's not enough!" another female voice joined in.

"Females…" Gray grunted, "they just can't keep their thought to themselves, can they?"

"I agree with Mira-chan!" that other voice was Lucy's of course. "We're nakama, right Natsu?" she addressed the boy cautiously. "But yesterday… yesterday…" the blonde's voice began to shake, "you fought Gray as if he were an enemy!" she blurted out, tears gathering in her eyes. "Bet or no bet!" she continued crying. "What can be so important that you hurt your friend like that?"

"Lucy, guys! You're a bit overreacting!" Happy waved his hands in concern standing in front of his dear friend. "Natsu didn't intend to hurt Gray that much! He just got carried away, that's all!"

"He's getting carried away too often lately," Wakaba said coldly.

"If we all got that carried away we would have had to restore the guild from a worse wreckage than after the Phantoms!" Alzack piped in.

"What's the big deal with you all?" Gray raised his voice. "You're talking as if Natsu hasn't done anything good for the guild at all!"

"He has. But does it make up for all the losses the guild has suffered because of him?" Jet asked rhetorically.

Gray's eyes grew wide. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Have you people all gone mad?" he whispered in awe.

"Gray-sama shouldn't defend Natsu-san," Juvia cried out.

"Am I the only one around here who still remembers the meaning of the word 'nakama'?" the ice mage shouted in disbelief.

"It's ok, Gray. I heard them," was Natsu's plain reply.

"Natsu…"

"I guess I turned out to be a bad nakama after all," the boy smiled sadly.

"Natsu…" this time it was Happy.

"Happy…" Natsu's sad voice was heard, "would you please stay at Lucy's for a while until I find a new place to settle?"

"Huh? Y-you're leaving?" the cat cried in disbelief.

"What a drama queen!" Gajeel said annoyed, and earned a death glare from both Levy and Gray.

"What are you trying, torch?" Gray eyed Natsu suspiciously, only to see him… smile?

"It's no big deal, popsicle! Remember the deal? The bet is off if I leave the guild, right?"

"You wouldn't…"

Suddenly Natsu stretched out his hand, looking Gray straight in the eye.

"Let's just part as friends, ok?"

Natsu's eyes widened as Gray pushed his hand away frowning.

"Not ok, cause you're not leaving. If one of us has to leave, I'll leave!"

"Why does anybody have to leave at all?" Happy cried with teary eyes.

"Cut the act, Natsu," Wakaba said annoyed. The Salamander never acknowledged him, though.

"Well, guess we'll part like this then…" and with that the Fire Dragon Slayer started to walk off.

"Wait!" Gray cried, and then turned around to look at the other guild members. "Why are you just standing there? Why aren't you stopping him?" he demanded while Happy already tried to catch up with the pink-haired mage.

Lucy's heart just couldn't take it anymore. As much as she was mad at Natsu, as much as she didn't understand his reasoning, he still was a dear friend to her. She just couldn't watch him walk away like that!

"Natsu! Wait! I'm sorry! I didn't really mean it! Please come back!" the girl cried running out of the guild building with Gray right behind her.

It was raining heavily on the street. Happy stood outside sobbing and calling after Natsu who was already out of sight. Gray hissed and slammed his fist into a nearby tree, while Lucy covered her mouth with her hands feeling totally miserable.

"Shit!" the ice mage growled. "I'll find him!" and he was already about to set off when a small paw tugged the hem of his pants. "Happy?"

"You can't find him on your own… You'll just get lost in the rain," the flying blue cat whispered. "We have to wait till Erza comes back!"

"Erza…?" Gray's eyes widened at the mentioning of Titania's name.

Happy nodded. "I know how you feel, and I know that even after Natsu left the gild you would still consider him the winner of the bet. But it's not important now!" Happy said almost pleadingly. "Please just forget about the whole deal! At least until we bring Natsu back! Please, Gray…" and the cat sobbed once again.

"So Erza is also involved in that bet! I knew it!" Lucy thought seriously. "That Natsu… I hope he'll be fine…"

And so the three of them stood in the rain, looking at the road their mutual daredevil of a friend has probably taken, silently hoping that he'll be just fine, and that Erza will come back from her mission soon.

"She's definitely not going to like this…" was the last of Lucy's thoughts before the trio went back into the guild building.