I want to thank iMary7 for reminding me that I have my fics to continue..haha I somehow forgot I have this fic. :P

I would also like to thank those that read, reviewed, followed, put this story on their list of favourites and for subscribing and putting me on list of favourite authors (even if I'm not a great author). Angel-chan wa minna o daisuki~!

Again, English is my second language and I'm not that good of a writer so I beg for forgiveness if there are wrong spellings or grammar…thank you.

Genre: Drama, Family, Friendship, Romance, some Humor, Hurt/Comfort.

Main Pairing: GrayXLucy

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its Characters. I am NOT Hiro Mashima!


CHAPTER 31: Missing


The day goes by fast. It was lunch time and everyone is gathered in their own circle of friends, eating their food happily.

After her talk with Laxus, Lucy held a soft smile gracing her already beautiful face, accentuating it more. It didn't occur to her mind that her issue with Laxus would be resolved. It eased her mind greatly but knowing that their brother-sister relationship wouldn't return to the way it was before, she suddenly felt a bit down.

Though, she kept urging herself that she'll be alright remembering that he'll still be there watching over her, even on the side-lines. But now that she think about it, who's the 'he' that Laxus mentioned.

Lucy shook her head, shrugging the thought off her mind and kept herself occupied with the scene in front of her. She laughed at Natsu that had been bugging Gray out of his wits saying that Gray isn't the type of guy to be concerned with others— that is, after hearing from someone that Gray was eavesdropping Lucy and Laxus' conversation. The latter, obviously irritated, retorted back— calling the other out-of-this-world names that, of course, the other wouldn't let pass and that started their everyday fight.

But it did made Lucy a bit— scratch that— VERY happy.

She did told herself that she would rather forget about Gray and just live her life to the fullest than poking herself on his business and make her life wretched, but hearing something like Gray caring for her lifted her spirit up.

Lucy shook her head once again and noticed a stain on her shorts. She probably didn't notice that she spilt some of the food she's eating while laughing at her friends' antics.

"Guys, I'm just gonna change clothes. I stained my shorts." She said, excusing herself to her team's cabin. No one replied as expected. Everyone busied themselves in laughing and watching the duo get beaten by the one and only 'Titania'.

Lucy giggled at the sight and stood up, placing her plate of food on the log that served as her seat and silently leaves the area. She strode towards the cabin and as she got there, her breath hitched as she heard muffled cries that confused and scared her at the same time.

Her eyes widen and her heart began pacing in an abnormal speed. Why in the world would creepy things happen to her a day after she got pranked by Natsu?

Lucy gulped the lump on her throat as she place one of her shaking hands on the knob. She twisted it slowly not letting it to disturb whatever is inside.

Why isn't she running? Why is she doing this? What the heck is she trying to prove?

God, help me! She prayed inwardly as she peek one eye inside.

Darkness welcomed her, the light seeping through the folds of the curtains and the crack on the door outlined everything inside. The sobs became louder as Lucy decided to scan the room with her eyes. It widened once again when silhouettes of a girl, burying her face on the bed as she cried, caught her line of sight.

Wait a minute. Lucy thought as recognition dawned to her.

"Wendy?"

The girl flinched and lifted her head. Brown orbs glittering with tears gazes upon her and Lucy hurriedly stood up to approach the small figure— what she feels earlier was replaced with pure apprehension.

Wendy, upon seeing her roommate, cried even more and hugged Lucy as she got to her. The latter hugged her back and straightened the girl's dishevelled hair while rubbing her back to bring comfort and sooth her exhausted body.

"What's the matter?" Lucy asked, looking at the azure-haired girl's face that never seized crying.

Wendy only cried louder that Lucy was afraid that everyone would hear them. It took another moment for Wendy to finally calm herself a little and whispered out her reply. "Ch-Charles…"

Lucy's brows knitted together. "What are you…?"

"Charles…she's…" Wendy broke the hug and looked at Lucy, making the latter see how her eyes looked red and fluffy from crying too much. "She's gone…"

Lucy's body stiffened, he mouth slowly gaping at the said words. "Wha-what do you mean she's gone?"

Wendy let go and wiped her face only to be tainted with another bout of tears flowing freely from her eyes every time she rubbed them clean. "I-I went out to eat lunch with everyone and told her I-I'd come back and will feed her then." She explained, sobs muffling her words. "But when I came back with her food, she's gone." Wendy wailed the last word, not believing that her pet and best friend isn't by her side.

"I-I tried to find her, inside, outside and I even tried looking by the forest, but I can't find her." She continued.

Lucy, feeling queasy at the acquired knowledge, brought her right hand on her face and tried to even out her breathing. It helped a lot since it calmed her and straighten up her mind.

"At this point, we should get ourselves together." Lucy said, placing her hands on Wendy's shoulders. With a new found resolution, Lucy sighed and determinedly looked at the smaller girl. "Go and tell your brother. I'll try and look a little deeper within the woods."

"B-but—"

Before Wendy could say anything else, Lucy sped off out their cabin and into the woods behind their lodge, forgetting why she was there in the first place. The azure haired girl wiped her tears off and sniffed before walking out as well towards where her brother is.

Little did they know, a figure went on and followed Lucy's tracks.

..ooOoo..

Lucy panted as she searched every nooks and cranny, up and down, right and left, but no trace of her. She called the cat's name every now and then, even though she knew it would not reply.

Looking down, she began looking for footprints but nothing came to view. She's beginning to lose hope. How in the world would she find a missing cat?

"Where could she be?" she asks herself.

She walked deeper and deeper through the woods, feeling a little queasy remembering what happened last night. Lucy is beyond thankful that the sun is still there to keep her company. But she needed to look for the cat faster because dusk will soon be arriving and she doesn't want to be alone in the woods during the night.

Walking gradually, Lucy caught something red on her peripheral vision. She turned immediately and beamed.

Yes! She rejoiced mentally as she approached a tree that holds a red ribbon on one of its branches.

"This is Charles ribbon. She could be here somewh—"

Before Lucy could finish her sentence, she felt something on her back and before she could turn to see what it is, she was pushed.

Shock was what she felt first before it occurs to her that she's falling.

Where?

She didn't get the answer she needed when she heard a loud piercing cry that snapped her off her trance as instincts kick in. She's falling. As if a cat, Lucy's claws come out and did whatever it takes to hold on to something.

It hurts. She felt as if her nails are coming off her fingers and it hurts so much. What's worse is she couldn't grab on anything.

When she noticed that she's still falling, all she could think about is roll. Yes, that might lessen the pain.

It felt forever until she felt her stop. Another cry was heard, and this time she realized that she was the one screaming. She was suffering from something painful in her head. She shot her eyes upwards as she saw a shadow glaring at her before everything went black.

..ooOoo..

"Charles!"

Yelled the council members in search for Wendy's lost , upon hearing the terrible news from his sister, sought the help of the council members and they gladly gave him their positive response.

It was almost sundown but none of them have seen Charles.

"Are you sure she's not at your lodging?" Mira asked, pertaining to Wendy's missing cat. Wendy shook her head and was about to cry once again.

She was asked with that question a lot and it made her think that she wouldn't see Charles again. Natsu was at her side, supporting her as they look for Charles.

"I shouldn't have told you to bring her along. This could have not happen if I…— I'm sorry, Wen…" Natsu muttered wistfully.

Wendy shook her head. "Is Happy alright?"

Natsu nodded and gazes at her with an apologetic look on his face. His sister smiled, though it did not reach her eyes, but she was glad that her brother's cat is fine. She couldn't bear it something bad happened to Happy as well.

"Hey! Someone found the cat!" someone yelled suddenly.

Wendy and Natsu snapped their heads at the voice's direction and sped off to the lodgings, Mira and the others came following after.

.

.

.

A white cat was seen being petted on the lap of a raven haired girl. Wendy immediately recognized her best friend and came rushing forwards. She knelt and took the cat from the girl and hugged it carefully not to hurt it in the process.

The azure haired girl cried and thanked the girl who supposedly Charles' savior before it finally dawn to her that the girl was one of her team-mate.

"Thank you so much, Alice!"

Loke, who had just arrived, scrunched his face up when he saw who found the cat and immediately asked where she found it. Alice, feeling the hatred emitted by the strawberry haired guy, gulp as if found guilty of a crime and answered pensively.

"At the back of our cabin―"

"I've searched that place up and did not see any trace of her." Loke countered instantly.

Alice stiffened but stood her ground. "Maybe you were on the other side when I went there and accidentally saw the cat when you didn't."

"It doesn't matter. The important thing is that Charles is here." Natsu intervened, feeling the tension building between the two.

"Anyways, I'm tired from all the searching. I'm going to bed. Please excuse me." Alice stood up and scurried inside their cabin, shutting the door with force.

Loke knitted his brows more, noticing that she's acting a little peculiar from the way they talk before, until he heard Levy.

"Have you guys seen Lu-chan?"

Everyone present creased their foreheads and looked around, realizing that Lucy is indeed not around. Upon hearing the question, even if the ecstasy of having her cat around got the best of her, Wendy turned and noticed that Lucy still hasn't come back.

"What? But she went ahead of everyone. How come she's still not here?" she said looking at Levy, uneasiness brewing over her face, "I hope she's okay."

"She, what?" Lisanna echoed, clasping her hands in front of her chest, "Oh my. We need to find her but where could she be?"

"It seems the weather isn't on our side today either." Erza said, gazing at the large dark clouds hovering the incoming dusk, "We should hurry and find her…fast."

Right then, two figures sped off and went inside the forest once again, this time with the resolution of finding one certain blonde.

"Well, if you want to do that, we better follow them." Natsu said, pointing smugly at his two best friends, "But, I think one of them will find her, so―ack!"

Erza pulled Natsu's ear, knowing what he will say next. "WE will all look for her. Got that?"

"A-aye, sir." He said, rubbing his throbbing ear.

..ooOoo..

He was running before he knew it.

He can't even remember the moment when he started running. Is it after he heard Levy? Or after realizing she was nowhere in sight? Was it after he heard Wendy said she went searching ahead of everybody and yet she's still hasn't gone back? Or the fact that it's almost dusk and worse, about to rain? Or even worse, it might end up as a thunderstorm.

But one thing is for sure, he was worried. Wait, maybe that's why he's running? He was afraid that something bad happened to her.

That clumsy and troublesome girl. He thought, looking right to left then back, hoping that he would spot her, crying if he may add.

"LUCY!" he called, but she won't respond.

"LUCY!" he yelled again, hoping that she would hear him.

He ran more, searched the ground and trees for any clues, not really caring of the accumulating clouds above and the now chilly air of the coming night.

Darn! Hasn't anyone found her yet?

Hearing them calling for her in the distance answered his question. And it sucks. He shouldn't lose hope, hope that somehow she's alright, but after looking for her for hours and not yet seeing her is just fucking frustrating.

"DAMN IT, LUCY! WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?!"

Silence answered him once again. He stopped on his tracks, panting.

Gray gritted his teeth and formed his hands into balls of fists.

He promised to protect her, even before Laxus told him so, and he will protect her not just because he promised but because he wanted to. He felt the need to protect her and he will do just that.

But he failed just before trying. He unintentionally gave up when Loke confronted him. He unwillingly surrendered not thinking of what was to come. Not thinking that this could happen.

He failed her.

This is partly his freakin' fault. So he can't really blame her clumsiness, her poor sense of direction, and her 'helping-others-without-thinking-of-herself' syndrome. He smiled. How could she make him worry, frustrated, apprehended, and smile all at the same time?

Where are you, Lucy?

Gray's eyes widen, his smile gradually vanishing from his face as an old memory came rushing through his mind.

No way… it can't be!

Turning, he once again ran, but this time with a one certain place in mind— a place he would never forget.

Please, let her be alright.

He prayed and curses after stumbling over a root in hurry, desperately trying to get there as fast as he can. Gray prayed she wasn't there. If she is, he hoped nothing bad happened.

.

.

.

But nothing always goes as what you expect.

.

.

.

Gray's eyes widen, his heart stopping at the sight in front of him.

"LUCY!"

..ooOoo..


Yea, I'm very sorry. ,

See? Mwahahahah means Lucy had an "accident" and Gray went looking for her. XD I'm so mean! But what will happen next? Where are they exactly? GOSH~! You guys don't know how excited I am for the next chapter! XD

Can you guys guess what will happen? *eyes wiggling teasingly*

I know it's been 18283483 years since I last updated but I have my reasons…not really. But I just got addicted to Asian dramas, mainly Japanese and Korean, and spent most of my time watching on dramacrazy. And I have my proposal to defend this May. And I've yet to finish it (A lot of revisions are needed).

So, I apologize for my super-duper late update, and yet another cliff-hanger. If that's how call it. hehehe *scratches head awkwardly*

Anyways, I haven't started writing the next chapter for 3 wishes and what are words is still 90% done (I don't know why I can't finish it, still…after so long.. -_-) and yet I have a looooooooot of one-shots written out of inspiration. Hahahaha! But I won't post it until I could probably say it's ready for publishing. :D

I want to give my deepest appreciation to everyone that reviewed and PMed me: fairytaillover416, Umi Ryuuzaki Fullbuster, Lost Canvas, Mirajane S and Erza S, Serena Fallenheart, 1fairytaillover, From Red To Violet, WolfieANNE, pikaqueen, serendipitylong, Le' CarolinnaXannej421, Taeminie, anja, Guest (2/14/13), XxWhiteKeysxX, mary flora, MademoiselleRED, Anonymous (3/2/13), secret (3/17/13), Silverstein71, ThePriestessoftheNight, Guest (4/15/13), vampirempress, andiMary7.

anja: hey, okay pa naman ako, hihi, salamat sa pag aalala! Naiiyak tuloy ako. T-T

MademoiselleRED: you will see her soon... , I don't like Amanda either. Hihiihi

Anonymous (3/2/13): I'm very glad you liked it,, thank you for your support. :D

secret (3/17/13): hihi, I'm twenTEEN years old.. :P I'm trying so hard para bumata! XD but seriously, I'm 20. :)

iMary7: seriously, thank you for reminding me that I have this story on hold. , hihiih

So there you go! Thanks for reading! *waves*

Ja'ne