I was in the kitchen with my head under the faucet. I can't believe I almost gave Natsu something that tasted to bad. I actually rushed to wash out the taste from my mouth, it was that bad. When I think about it, I have never successfully cooked something since I was a kid. It's just not something that I am good at. No I am sure that with effort-. My thoughts were interrupted when Natsu called my name. I looked over to see him standing in the door way.

"I'm sorry for asking you to do something so troublesome." He said with a solemn face as he walked in. "You should have gave me the rice ball you made earlier, I would have ate it." He said as he stood next to me. "No, I could never give you something that tasted that bad." I said. "But," Natsu started but I cut him off. "It's okay, I want to do it." I said as he turned to me with a surprised look on his face. I rose my fist in front of me, to show him how determined I was.

"I have to fulfill my end of the deal. After all, I lost." I said and his face then looked upset. I started to wonder if I said something make him upset, but I continued anyway. "I will make you a delicious bento. Fair and square." I said, pumping my fist. "Is that so? In that case then I wont say anything else. Please do your best. Miss rank two." He said with that smirk returning to his face. "Don't call me miss rank two!" I said firmly but I didn't shout this time.

He walked out and I was left wondering why he came here in the first place. I turned back to the pots and rolled up my sleeves. "Alright, let's get started then!" I said pumped.

~With Natsu~

I was walking back when I suddenly had a flashback.

I was in elementary school. The teacher had just announced that it was time for lunch and all the kids brought out their bento's that were made by their mothers. They were all talking about all the handmade treats that they had from them when my name was called by the butler. I turned to see a table set up a few feet away with my food on it and only one chair. It was always lonely to eat like this. All the kids were in awe at the food that was placed in front of me. They were saying about how lucky I was. I just glanced over to a boy that was holding a rice ball in his hands.

Those kids never realized how lucky they were. I would much rather a homemade rice ball instead of a fancy meal cooked by a hired chef. There is no love involved in the making of that food, unlike the kids that had their mothers make it full of the love they had for the children. I was now laying down in a grassy field starring up at the clouds.

~Back with Lucy~

I was starring at the pot in front of me. Why does the rice keep losing it's shape? What am I doing wrong? Am I using too much force? In that case then I have to find stronger rice. I ran to the library and immediately started to do research on it. I was sitting at the table and looking through a book. I jumped out of my seat throwing my hand into the air. "That's it! I will get this rice!" I said happy with the work I have done so far. I was back in the kitchen using this new rice and I was putting the same pressure I was doing for the other rice but this time it kept it's shape.

"Well, that's some strong rice!" I said as I continued. I put the rice into the rice cooker and put on the timer. "This is going to be perfect this time!" I said excitedly.

~At the greenhouse~

Natsu was staring at the clock waiting patiently for Lucy to finish. Mira was handing out food and tea to everyone but Natsu. Gray was doing the usual and slurped down the food sloppily and immediately asked for more and Erza stood up and threw the teapot at him. Gajeel had his cat with him once more and was feeding him when he looked over at Natsu. Then we heard his stomach growl.

We all sweat dropped and got up and walked a few feet away to whisper. "He is really hungry." Gray said. "I hope he will be okay." Mira said. "Yeah Lucy sure is taking her sweet time." Gajeel said which Levy smacked him on the back of the head for saying. "I'll just go and check on her." Mira said as she walked away. But as Mira was approaching the door to the kitchen she suddenly heard an explosion. She rushed inside to see black smoke everywhere. She could only see Lucy's legs because she was kneeling down on the floor. "Are you okay Lucy?" Mira asked running over towards her.

"Yup, just fine." Lucy said and when she turned to look at Mira, her face was black and her hair was a mess. "Sorry but I messed up again and in the process, I messed up the kitchen." Lucy said. "Don't worry about that." Mira said as Lucy stood up. She suddenly pumped her fists. "Alright next!" She said walking over to the stove once again. After some time passed, Lucy had countless plates full of failed rice balls. Mira was standing a few feet away watching her trying so hard.

"Do you want me to show you how to clean the rice?" She asked but Lucy kept going. "That would be meaningless. I lost in the contest so I need to do it fair and square." She said still washing the rice. "But right now really isn't the time to be saying that." Mira said glancing over at all the failed attempts. "No way, it would be like admitting defeat if you show me how to do it." Lucy said as hard headed as ever. Gray then walked in, and took a look around. "Still at it aye?" He asked sarcastically. "Of course." was Lucy's response. "You know, for Natsu, I don't think he cares as long as it's handmade." Gray said and that got Lucy's attention. She stopped messing with the rice and turned to look at Gray.

"Are you saying that he isn't using the command just to get me to make a bento because I'm not good at it?" She asked a little surprised as Gray shook his head. "No, I doubt it. In his home, both his parents work. So he has never had a homemade bento before." Gray said grabbing one of her rice cannon balls. "Now that I think about it, that is true." Mira said looking at the floor. "He has probably never ate something that was made just for him made with love." Gray said and that got Lucy thinking.

Lucy then thought back to when Natsu was willing to eat it even though it fell on the ground. She started to feel really bad. So he did really want to eat it, she thought to herself. She then turned to Mira and clapped her hands in front of her like she was begging. "Please Mira, show me how to make it." She said desperately. "I want to make the perfect rice ball for Natsu!" She declared and Mira smiled at her.

Little did they know that just outside the window, they had two girls spying on them. "I thought that we should check on things since it's taking so long." Meredy said. "Yeah but it seems she is not making it for Jellal-sama." Ultear said. "Unforgivable!" Meredy shouted and Ultear shushed her hoping the people inside didn't hear her. "I thought that you didn't want Jellal-sama and Lucy together?" Ultear asked confused with what she just said. "I don't but I think Jellal has a crush on her so if it makes him happy, then I'll be happy." She said and Ultear nodded.

~Back at the greenhouse~

Everyone was sitting around when they heard the door open. "It's done!" Lucy shouted. And everyone turned to look towards her. Natsu's face instantly brightened. "It's done Natsu." She said walking towards him. "How long were you planning on making me wait?" He asked joking around with her. Everyone but Lucy noticed the huge smile that appeared across Natsu's face. She sat the rice balls down on the table and unwrapped them. Everyone was shocked to see that they actually looked really good. "She really gave it her all." Mira said smiling at Natsu. "Wow, you can actually tell what it is this time." Gajeel said while laughing which earned him another smack from Levy.

"You can really do anything that you put your mind to." Erza said while nodded in approval. Lucy started to shift on her feet becoming really nervous as she waited for Natsu to try it. "Well then I will start-" Natsu was saying as he reached towards the rice balls but suddenly someone reached forward and grabbed them from him. They all turned to look to see Meredy standing there. "These are for Jellal-sama. But I should try it to make sure you not trying to poison him." She said as she bit into it shocking everyone.

The rice balls then dropped from Meredy's hands as her face turned blue. Natsu stood with fire surrounding him in the form of his aura. He was cracking his knuckles and his eyes were in a shadow. All you could see was a red glint coming from them. Meredy noticed this and she started to scream and ran out of the greenhouse. Lucy bent down to pick up the rice balls. She was putting them back into the wrap. You could feel the sadness radiating off her. All her hard work just went down the drain. Natsu then turned to her. "Lucy," He said softly. She turned around and put on a fake smile. "Sorry about that Natsu, I almost made you eat something disgusting again." She said but you could see it in her eyes the disappointment she was feeling.

Natsu then started to walk towards her. "I'm really sorry" She said standing up. "I'd still like to eat this." Natsu said as he grabbed it out of Lucy's hands. The smile had returned to his face and Lucy was shocked. "Let's start over, I'm going to give these to you then you hand them back just like when you first did it." Natsu said placing the food in her hands. She nodded still a little surprised.

Natsu took a step back and held out his hands. "I gratefully accept!" He said with a big smile plastered on his face. "N-Natsu" Lucy said watching as he reached forward and grabbed the rice ball off the wrapper and started to eat it, a slight blush crept up to her cheeks. "Meredy was an idiot. These are delicious." He while taking another bite. He smiled at Lucy as the blushed deepened on her face. "You really think so?" She asked watching him eat. "Yup" He said while licking his fingers. He had just finished them and balled up the wrapper.

Natsu thanked her, and her face beamed with happiness. She was really happy that she was able to make him happy. The butterflies returned once more but they were a little bit stronger this time. After that his aura suddenly changed. "And now I have to end the president's life along with the girl who dared to bite into my rice ball then drop it." He said while walking away and cracking his knuckles. "Oi, don't say something like that." Lucy said following him. Everyone else stood where they were. "So scary." They said in unison. Lucy then had a thought come to mind as she turned around to face everyone. "Oh that's right, next time I'll make some for everyone!" She exclaimed happily. All at once everyone started throwing out excuses to avoid eating her food. With so many people talking at once you couldn't understand what they were saying. Lucy just laughed as she watched her friends, looking like idiots.

~To be continued~