Warnings: It's on the first chapter.
Author's Section: An update at last! Sorry for taking this so long (3 months almost). I have a lot of things happened to me for the last couple of months. I've got a promotion from my job, I've found an inspiration but he broke my heart T.T, we're still friends though and I can feel that he feels something for me but don't want to entertain it. What a coward but I love him. Recently, someone new came into my life, helping me to move on and boy, I saw my Love's jealous eyes on me every time me and the new guy were together! Serves him right for breaking my heart! Okay, so I know my messed up love life is not really an excuse but I don't really know what else to say to you people. But I know you still can forgive me, yeah?
Natsu: What made you think they'll forgive you sucker flame author? This story get stuck in Fairy Limbo for 3 months! They have probably forgotten about this story now! And stop saying crappy excuses you're just a lazy ass!
Johan: What do you want me to do? Give our readers the failed draft of the story? No way! And I'm not being lazy. You know we have a couple of shoots from the last three months but something feels really off so we have go under revision. I thought I have explained to you a couple of weeks ago?
Natsu: *roll eyes*Yeah right. Like the readers will believe you.
Johan: *glare* Say another word Natsu I'm so going to ruin your love life. Everyone please don't mind us, go on with the story.
Reviewer's Section:
- theabridgedkuriboh- Agree! They're so cute. Here's the next issue of Ice Roses for you!
-Watashiwa No namae Etsuko-chan- Thanks for reviewing! Hope you'll get fired up in this chapter too.
- darkhuntressxir- Yes he finally did! Go Natsu!
- FairyWhereAreYouGoing- Here's the chapter you've been waiting for, Natsu meeting up with Gray! Go on and read it.
-AsDarknessSpreads- well I've also notice that majority of the story was written in Natsu's POV. I might consider it but I guess I'll just stick with my POV writing style: Limited Omniscient Viewpoint.
-O. Belt.O.o.O- Hey there Flamebelt! Sorry for taking so long to update. But look here's the next issue. Hopefully it's as 'marvelous' as the previous one and well I've read your stories too, old and new but I haven't got the much time to leave a review. But I will someday.
Loke? You mean you didn't know why he acts that way? *smiles* okay, thought it was already mention from the previous chapters (3 I think) but I won't tell you why until the next issue (chapter 7) is up. Stay Tuned!
-DragonsRuin- LOL! I see you're enjoying yourself reading this story. Don't worry, I'll try to do your request, just not in this chapter.
Lyon? Yeah he might but he's not the only one y'know. But it's Grayt having them so Gray would feel threaten that Natsu would be take away from him.
-Guest- Thank you! Hope you love this chapter too!
-Dattebayo Luna and Ginny- Thank you for your review! Here is the update!
-YokuMiya- Gray really is a creeper and it's hot. XD And Gray? Maybe. This chapter will answer that.
-CapnKYT- You're so lucky you don't have to wait any longer. Here is the 7th issue of Ice Roses! Enjoy!
-Edward Elric Fangirl 1212- Yeah it's a total OMG! Love chains and Triangles are my specialty. And I'll tell you that next chapter, that clash of Loke and Gray will began. And followed by that chapter, Lyon will finally enter the scene! Can't wait for that!
Special Thanks to:
MatakiKazumi, Jigoku-to-Hana, AsDarknessSpreads, fullbusteriffic, xCloudx-xStrifex, HGM1Bubbles, NinjaDragonShiroku, Otaku-TACO, chrystable, Moonlight-MidnightYaoi, , Dattebayo Luna and Ginny, yuuki878, SumerBreeze, YokuMiya, Gratsu-dragon, April Hawkeye and CapnKYT. Phew! Okay that was quite a lot of people. This story seemed to be getting more popular than I'm expecting. And that's all thanks to you guys who put it on your favorite and alert list. Also to those who have Subscribed and have put me as Favorite Author and most especially to those who leave a review thank you so much!
Disclaimer: Seriously, I really don't own it. But I wish I did.
Song Disclaimer: I don't own "When I Close My Eyes", it belongs to Julie Anne San Jose. I advised you people to listen to it coz it's so wonderful.
Ice Roses
Chapter 6: When I Close My Eyes
By: Johan Lee
Natsu scanned his reflection through the full length body mirror on his old closet with weary eyes. He made a few poses in different angles and after a moment, he grunted in dissatisfaction and disregarded the piece of clothing he was currently trying on.
The faded blue T-shirt landed on a heap of clothes already mounting on the floor. Natsu was about to reach out for the next outfit he's going to try but grasped an empty air instead.
Natsu sighed dejectedly upon realizing that the blue T-shirt was already the last article of clothing available on his closet. He had run out of choices now. The only choice left for him was, well, his gold-trimmed black vest that he wore almost every day. It's not like he disliked it. It's just; he wanted to wear something different for today. He wasn't trying to impress the Ice Popsicle either. He just wanted Gray to see him in a different outfit when he met up with him later for today.
Natsu sighed, turning to the person sitting on his bed.
"Lucy! A little help here?"
Said blonde looked up from the magazine she was currently reading and regarded him a look stating "What do you want me to do?"
Natsu gestured to the pile of junks he once used to call clothes and said, "I don't have any more clothes to wear, help me!"
Lucy just shrugged, though something glinted in her brown eyes.
"Why don't you just wear your usual clothes? It's not like Gray would mind."
Natsu just pouted at that.
"But he'd seen me in those like a hundred times already! I wanted to wear something new!"
Lucy raised an amused eyebrow. "Trying to impress someone aren't we?"
Natsu's face heat up at that. "W-what? No! It's nothing like that!"
Lucy just rolled her eyes with a stifled giggle. "Yeah sure. Whatever you say."
"Lucy!"
"Fine! Fine! I'll help you!" she stood up from his bed and went for the door, motioning for him to follow. "Let's get going then."
Gray shifted on his position on the tree he was currently lying at for the hundred times today. A scowl was present on his handsome pale face as he tried to focus on the book he was currently reading.
One hour. Only an hour to go before Natsu appeared to meet up with him.
He was excited, and a little nervous, and a little bit scared. Gray had finally decided.
He's going to tell Natsu today. Finally.
After Lucy informed him that Natsu was in search of the mysterious person that always brought ice roses on him every morning, Gray felt an overwhelming feeling fluttered on his chest. And when Lucy told him that Natsu thought it was a 'he' just made his hope soared up high in the sky.
Maybe…..
Just maybe…..
Gray closed the book he was reading with a sigh. He can't read properly with the pinkette occupying his mind. He just can't concentrate.
A gentle breeze blew over his direction after a long serene moment, making the pages of his closed book fluttered open. His hand rose to reclose the book but something caught his eyes amidst of the fluttering pages. Gray held the book and retracted the folded piece of paper inserted in between the pages.
Gray unfolded the paper and brought it closer for inspection. His eyes then lit up in recognition as he scanned the words written on it.
Gray smiled a little. He hardly remembered it, but it was a song he wrote for Natsu a few months ago. His smile then widen as he remember the tune of it.
Putting the book on his side, Gray brought his hands together; one was closed into a fist while the other was spread wide open, and then he chanted loudly.
"Ice-make:Guitar!"
Excitement and nervousness were coursing through Natsu's body as he entered the South Gate Park.
"Finally I'm here! I thought I would never make it on time." He said as he dusted non-existent dirt on his newly bought outfit.
And again for the umpteenth time of the day he tried to assured himself that Lucy's 'sense of fashion' is still the best and most reliable thing in the world. Although in reality he was a little bit unsure about Lucy's 'sense of fashion' or whatever it was, he wasn't really sure what it really means.
He was wearing a semi-body fit V-neck black shirt with dark pink trimming the neck line and the end of the sleeves. A set of thin pink stripes were also present starting on his chest part where a word "Recless" was written in bold letters, and the stripes grows bigger as it reach the bottom of the shirt. The lower part of his body was covered in simple light brown coated semi-skinny jeans secured by a dark brown colored belt with silver rectangular buckle. On his feet was a pair of boot-cut brown leather shoes that reached the middle of his lower legs. And though it's not essential for his new outfit, Natsu still insisted to put his old signature scale-patterned scarf as a finishing touch. He wouldn't feel like himself if the scarf wasn't a part of his new attire.
To get settled with these new set clothes is pretty tiring though. When he asked Lucy to help him about what he should wear, he'd never really thought that the blonde mage would practically drag him into the largest store of clothes found in Magnolia. Trying a few set of outfit is fine. But with Lucy forcing him to try almost every fucking clothes she saw which is by the way almost half the number of clothes available on that store is totally the freakiest thing so far that had ever happened to him. Personally, Natsu would rather be off fighting monsters threatening to take over Earth Land than being attacked by a nightmare of clothes.
That was the freakiest. But the scariest thing was when that "Jason" reporter from Weekly Sorcerer magazine suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started taking photos of him like tomorrow's the Dooms Day. If it wasn't for Lucy's Erza-like glower, he would have been punched the lights out of that reporter guy's face for even coming near him. He still disliked the punk's guts because every time he wrote something about him it's always about the stuffs he destroyed, the stuff he destroyed and the stuff he destroyed.
Pfft!
What a pain in the ass. Even the "Jason" guy's signature word "cool" which he frequently shouts annoyed him to no end. Taking a photo of him in a boxer is not cool, it's hot.
Anyways, the reporter guy wasn't half-bad at all in the end. In fact, he even assured Natsu that he would write something so wonderful about him in exchange for all the photos he'd taken plus the very 'sweet' interview that almost burned the idiot's pink T-shirt along with his precious camera. That's what he got for prying too much about his love life. Remember? Pry and you'll get fry? Yeah that's it.
At least, it warned the punk to not stalk him as he leave the store and meet up with Gray. It would be too embarrassing if things turned out differently and someone not from the guild (even people from the guild) witnessed it. Natsu was sure he'd never be able to face the next day's morning if it ever happened.
Finally convinced that he indeed looked good in his new clothes, Natsu quickened his pace. Excitement filled every fiber of his body as he imagined what kind of reaction he would get from the ice mage if he sees him.
Would he get a positive reaction? Hopefully.
But what if Gray found him funny in his new clothes and called him a sucker for trying to be a fashionista? Rather than getting a love life, he'd be trampled with humiliation from the one he loved instead.
Or maybe he was just being paranoid and self-conscious about nothing in particular? Man, he really needed to stop doing that.
"Oh well…if Gray laughed at me because of my clothes I'm going to kick his ass. And I'm so going to shove this ice rose in his filthy mouth."
The 'Tree of Memories' finally came into view. Natsu however didn't seemed to realize it yet as he was so busy thinking about ways how to murder Gray if he ever insulted his today's outfit.
Just exactly as he rounded a corner, a soft tune of guitar playing reached his sensitive ears, effectively cutting him out of his inner rumblings. It was a gentle melody, heartwarming yet somewhat melancholic. But what truly enthralled Natsu was the deep soothing voice that soon melded with the melody.
"Wishing on a distant star,
A glimpse of what we had.
It is you I think about,
Our memories of love.
As time goes by,
I found the reason why,
Why I'm falling deeper into you."
Natsu went speechless as he stared in awe at the owner of the voice who was sat on a large root protruding from the ground. An ice guitar was cradled in his arms as his fingers strummed skillfully against the strings. His eyes were closed as he sang, his voice blending perfectly with the melody that each note seemed to tug painfully at Natsu's heartstrings. He never knew Gray had such a talent like this within him.
"When I close my eyes,
Then I realize,
With you I wanna be.
And with open arms,
I'm waiting for the hour,
For the time that you will see.
See and feel the love,
We deserve to have,
You and I are meant to be.
When I close my eyes,
You are here with me."
Gray continued to sing, his fingers glided against the instrument like a professional guitarist. His eyes were kept closed with his raven bangs bouncing lightly from his face as the wind continued to ruffle his hair playfully. Gray hadn't notice him yet. The raven Ice-maker mage seemed to be in a different realm, a world that only he knew.
"I can't help but cry,
Dwellin' on the past.
Kisses in the night,
That never falls apart.
And all this time,
I never stop to try,
To bring back all that's left behind."
Natsu stared at Gray with longing eyes. And he wondered if he was somehow a part of the 'world' Gray had created in his mind. Natsu's chest tightened and tears formed in his eyes as he watched the pained expression on Gray's handsome face as he sang.
"When I close my eyes,
Then I realize,
With you I wanna be.
And with open arms,
I'm waiting for the hour,
For the time that you will see.
See and feel the love,
We deserve to have,
You and I are meant to be.
When I close my eyes,
You are here with me."
Memories of the past flashed behind Natsu's eyes as he listened further into the song. His first meeting with Gray, their first fight, their first mission together, even the first time Gray had called him by his name with worry-filled voice, he remember them all. Every single memory he shared with the raven, he remembered them all.
"It's hard for me to face
The truth and not the lies.
I beg you to believe,
That I love you all my life."
Natsu stared at the ice rose he brought with him and then gazed back at Gray. The ice mage had been his rival and best friend ever since he became a mage of Fairy Tail. And ever since, Gray had been the only person who always manage to get on his nerves at the slightest bit if things. But somehow, Gray was also the only person who had managed to make his way through Natsu's foolish heart.
"When I close my eyes,
Then I realize,
With you I wanna be.
And with open arms,
I'm waiting for the hour,
For the time that you will see.
See and feel the love,
We deserve to have,
You and I are meant to be.
When I close my eyes,
You are here with me."
Natsu closed his eyes as he mustered up all the courage he needed. Although he still couldn't quite grasp the idea of Gray being his secret admirer, he knew by heart that it was Gray, because he wanted it to be Gray and no one else. It's just got to be him.
"When I close my eyes,
You are here with me."
Gray ended the song with a few gentle strokes on his ice guitar. Slowly, as the song faded into the background, the raven-haired teen opened his steel-blue eyes and Natsu took it was the cue to finally approach the ice mage.
"That was such a-"
"GRAY-SAMA!"
And just like that, Natsu's unfinished speech went unheard as a certain blue-haired water mage jumped out of a big bush and rushed beside the startled ice-maker.
"Gray-sama! Juvia didn't know you were such a good singer! Did Gray-sama write that song? Juvia wants to hear it again! Please Gray-sama! Sing that song again!"
Natsu's eyebrow twitched inwardly as he stared at the blunette. He was already used at Juvia's antics when it comes to showing her undying affection to Gray. He wasn't in the slightest bit bothered about it before. But as he watched her practically clung at the raven like it was for dear life and almost merged her whole body against Gray, Natsu would be lying if he claimed the scene didn't affect him at all. He felt extremely irritated to the point that though it was very rude, he almost wished that Gray would just shove her away, tell her that he would never ever like her and that he already had someone he loved which is him.
However, none of his evil thoughts happened, because instead of shoving her away, Gray just put his arms around her waist and pulled her a little bit more closer to him, nodding his head as he complied to her request which is singing the song again…..for her.
Natsu felt something slipped out of his hand as he watched the world shattered before him.
Why were they acting like acting that? Are they…..what he thought they are? A couple? But what about Gray being his secret admirer? What happened to that? Is it all a wishful thinking, an illusion he assumed to be real?
No.
No! No! No! No! No! No! It can't be!
How could have he been such a fool? Believing Gray cared for him that way. How stupid of him! He shouldn't have listened to Lucy! He shouldn't have come here! He must…..leave…..now…..
Natsu took a step backward and-
CRSSHK!
His whole body went still as he felt something broke under the weight of his foot. Glancing down below, Natsu gasped in horror as he learned that it was his precious ice rose he had stepped into.
No.
Gray shifted his ice guitar on his lap, preparing himself to sing again, although a little reluctant since it was a song he wrote for Natsu. He wanted the pinkette to be the first one to hear it but-
CRSSHK!
A sound like a glass just broke made Gray looked up and his breath get caught in his throat when his eyes met the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen in his life.
Almost.
Almost if it wasn't for the wounded look that creature was having on his handsome face.
"N-Natsu!"
The said boy gazed up and met his own. Gray froze as he stared at Natsu's pain-filled forest eyes, glistening with unshed tears.
"Natsu!" he called again, putting his instrument away to stand up only to be stop by a hand seized on his arm. The fire mage looked away, hiding his eyes with his sakura-colored bangs.
"I-I'm sorry." He whispered. "I didn't mean to disturb you two. I-I'll just talk to you some other day, Gray. I…..I need to go."
Natsu paused for a moment then spun on his heels and run.
"Wait, Natsu don't go!"
Gray look down at Juvia. "I'm sorry Juvia but I-"
"Go ahead." She murmured, cutting him off.
Gray stared at the water mage in surprise and Juvia just gave a sad smile back.
"Juvia knows that you love Natsu-san."
That surprised Gray even more.
"What? H-how?"
She just shook her head.
"Juvia just know. Juvia watch you every morning leaving ice roses on Natsu-san's house. You must love him that much. Juvia wished to be love by Gray-sama like that. But Juvia can't force herself to Gray-sama anymore. Now please go and chase after Natsu-san."
Gray smiled at that. "Thank you Juvia."
Walking towards the spot where Natsu stood a while ago, Gray crouched down and retrieved the ice rose, or rather, what was left of it. It must have been what Natsu wanted to ask him back in the guild.
If he was his ice rose secret admirer.
Gray rose from his feet and with determined eyes; he sprinted off to chase after the one he love.
"Natsu."
To be continued….
Author's Section: And the chapter ends here! i hope this made up with the lateness of my update. I can't promise for the 7th chapter to be out soon but I'll work on it as always and you'll just be surprised one day it's already up. Thank You so much for reading, hopefully you enjoyed the chapter. As always, do leave a review, comments, suggestions, questions and criticism , I'll appreciate it if you make it a little bit longer. That's all bye!
Advertisement: I have a new Gratsu story titled "Something So Special", The prologue is already up in the Archieve a week or so ago. I'll probably start working on it since I'm done working on Ice Roses Sixth Chapter. If you haven't came across it yet please check it out!
-Dark Sorcerer of Fire-