Chapter 6: Moment with Gray
Somewhere in the narrowed dark street, Gajeel and Rogue were looking around the place thoughtfully, same for Lily with Frosh.
"Found anything?" Gajeel asked the two. Rogue turned to him and shook his head, "Nothing here" Lily answered, "We searched everywhere and also no traces were found Gajeel."
Gajeel thought for a moment and spoke, "We can't even find the scent, looks like this place was not the usual meet up." Rogue nodded, "It seems that way"
Both groan in annoyance.
"So what should we do now?" Rogue asked. Gajeel thought for a moment before answering, "The usual plan. I'll go to the capital and see what I can find. You should go back and do what you really must do."
Rogue thought for a moment before nodding, "If ever you got something, tell it as soon as possible."
Gajeel grin, "I'll say the same to you."
Rogue smiled, "Yeah" He turn to Frosh and spoke, "Let's return back Frosh."
Frosh just nod and both Rogue and Frosh walked away. Lily turn to Gajeel who was staring at them before to his partner exceed. Both grin before turning away, heading to the other side and walked away.
Home in Natsu's house sunrise, Natsu's blink before looking around. Slowly he had remembered they had finally arrived to the place which they call his home. Thinking about the people back in the place they called guild, it somehow made him shiver. He sense something stiff on his tummy, seeing the culprit, it was Happy, sleeping soundly as he mumble something which it's impossible to hear.
Natsu stared the blue cat for a while as he sleep and thought about him.
'An exceed and name Happy, just like Frosh and Lector, he is my seems partner exceed huh… They told me it was me who named him and still…' Natsu became sad for some reason, 'Was this really my home? Why don't I seem to remember?'
Startled when you heard a loud snoring, looking on the person, it was just Sting, still sleeping with Lector on his side. Natsu can't help but chuckle mentally, seeing Sting sleep like a kid whose mouth was wide open and still snoring loudly.
He turned back to Happy beside him and decided to slowly pull him out of his gap and sat up. Natsu slowly stood up from his bed and decide to walk away from the bed. He went to the kitchen and saw nothing, everything were empty.
'Do I really live here?' Natsu can't help but thought about it, 'Or was it because I had gone too long that H-Happy stayed to other's home.'
Seeing there's nothing to do, he decides to look for his clothes. He saw it really strange, he has many but everything was only one style. He took one and lifts it up. It was black with yellow lines in the end, long sleeve on the left and no sleeve to the right.
He sighs as he put it down and took one of his clothes from his bag instead. He looked around, still can't help but think of why this house has no bathroom. Does he take a bath outside? If so where?
So many things that confuse him as he just ended up changing his clothes and slowly went out the house, making sure he won't alert them he had left.
He turned around to see the sky and he can feel the cold breeze and the sun is almost up. He took a deep breath, liking the fresh air of the early morning. He took this chance to look around. The backyards were fine and seems almost neat the forest. There's even a board in front that says 'Natsu&Happy's Home'. He can't help but smile to it, somehow nostalgic at the same time, foreign.
Natsu looked around before deciding to head off, hoping there are shops that were now opening for their business. As he goes, he can see few people were just up and doing their morning route line. He can't help but be happy about the new environment he was seeing since it was his first time here… in his current state. Still, Natsu still feel wary to people who almost made a contact with him which he tries his best to avoid them.
As Natsu walked around, a hand suddenly touch his shoulder, making him jump from where he was standing. He immediately turn around and shock to see the person in front of him. Black hair and wearing white jacket with no shirt inside, has a mark on the chest and wearing black pants. It was Gray, wide in shock as well on how he just jump from his contact.
Gray tried to reach him again but Natsu step back. That's when Gray noticed how terrified he was. Remembering his situation and the explanation from the guild master, he can't help but feel smacking his head from forgetting such important thing.
He scratch his head and tried to make up things as soon as possible, "S-Sorry about that Natsu, I-I just wanted to say good morning and ask you what are you doing here in this early morning."
Natsu didn't answer or even move. Gray observe him and saw Natsu was studying him, must be thinking if he could be trusted or not.
"C-come on Natsu, it's me, Gray. Have you forgotten already Flame-Ah N-Natsu?"
Natsu seems remember the person named Gray yesterday and finally calm down his nervousness.
"P-please don't do it again." Natsu said weakly. Gray was surprise, did he just say 'please'?
Seeing his shock made him feel uneasy, still asked, "S-something wrong?"
"Huh" That made him return back to reality. "A-ahh sorry… just that… I never heard you say 'please' to me before. You usually punch me or start an argument." Gray can't help but say it honestly.
Natsu can't help but wonder, who was he before he lost his memories? Just what kind of person he is to other people?
"I-in any case we should get back to business." Gray said, not wanting to make things even more awkward. "Why are you here? Where's Sting or Happy?"
"H-home and still sleeping." Natsu answered. This made Gray's eyes widen, "Are you saying you're alone?"
Natsu nod, "I want to cook something for breakfast and I saw the kitchen was empty and the house is strange because the rooms was truly incomplete and there's too many foreign things that I don't even know where it came from, so I decide to have a walk and buy something to eat."
"Natsu walking alone is dangerous!" Gray said in almost high tone, making Natsu flinch and be scared. Seeing that forced himself to calm down and spoke, "A-ah… s-sorry. Just that you have amnesia and I hate to say it but… You're my Nakama, I'm worried that's all."
"O-oh…" Realizing that somehow made him guilty, "S-sorry. I don't really want to disturb their sleep so I decide to walk out alone."
Gray really can't help but want someone to strongly punch him so that he could return back to reality. He understands that he has no memories about his past but still he can't swallow the fact he's acting like this. HE FEELS SO WEAK!
Gray gave a sigh before scratching his head, "W-whatever… just don't repeat it again." Natsu nodded. 'Someone wake me up from this nightmare!' Gray can't help but scream it mentally. He cleared his throat before asking, "Tell me, other than me, did someone approach you? Did you feel someone's watching you?" Natsu thought for a moment before shaking his head, much as Gray's relief. "Good… Shall I accompany you?"
"Eh?"
"You don't remember the place right? I'm sure you will just wonder around until you find the market place. I can guide you there. Is that okay to you Natsu?"
Natsu nod and smiled, "T-thanks… G-Gray."
Gray can't help but smile, "Still adjusting from remembering our names?"
Natsu smiled in embarrassment and nod, "To tell the truth, I'm still adjusting myself from getting used from my name too. I really wonder why my name was Natsu."
Gray chuckle before starting to walk ahead and Natsu followed beside him. "Can't get used to your name? Do you happen to hate it?"
"N-no, I was just wondering why that's my name. From what Yua-san told me, it means summer. Does that mean I was born somewhere in summer?"
"Yua-san? Was that the person who took care of you?"
Natsu nod, "She's also the one who thought me many things. She's kind but sometimes mysterious but nothing dangerous."
Gray hum for that. This gave him a time to talk about the person who took care of him.
"Natsu can you tell me something about her?"
Natsu thought for a while before answering, "She's a doctor I guess since she's the one who seems to know about medical things and the one who took care of me. She was also very smart and sometimes goes off alone and when she came back, she always gives me information about myself. She's really working hard to make me remember my past and she always protect me from those unknown attackers back then. Since then she's with me, until the quest she had sent arrives and I'm sure you know the rest."
Gray nodded and asked more, "Did she done to you anything weird? Not that I'm suspicious or thinking anything bad about her. Just curious."
Natsu thought for a while before answering, "Other than her disappearance there's nothing."
"Hmm… do you know why?" Gray asked as he pressed further. Natsu shook his head, "I don't know, I tried to ask but she never answer."
Gray gave a thought about this. To tell the truth, he was bit suspicious about the person who took care of Natsu. On the side he's grateful she's there for him but still he can't help but think she had only done that to do something bad about him. The attack they had experience might be one of her calculation to manipulate his trust so easily, since he has no memories. Because of that incident she had gain his full trust and making him without knowing she's already doing her past as experimenting him… much as he doesn't want to think about that kind of scenario.
"G-Gray… Gray!"
Gray's thought halted and turn to Natsu who seems worried. "Ah… S-sorry I just lost from my thought… What were you saying again?"
Natsu blink twice before answering, "We arrive… I guess"
Gray looked around and it seems they indeed arrived the market place. Gray sighs before smiling to Natsu. "Shall we head on then?"
Natsu nod as his response. Both walked to it.
'Ahh… this gonna be a long day… me and Flamebrain.' Gray thought as he walked on the road and glance to Natsu who has a bit fear from his eyes. Gray can't help but grip his hand and mentally glare, not liking for him to sense it and much more see it. Gray doesn't like it at all, the Natsu Dragneel he knew and acknowledge the most as his rival… truly… disappeared.
Somewhere, Sting, Lector and Happy seems to be in panic as they all kept running, searching for Natsu. They were shouting his name, Happy even flew around just to search for him.
"Natsu-san! Natsu-san! Where are you!?" Sting shouted as he look around, searching the pink haired dragon slayer. Lector was just beside him, shouting as well, "Natsu-san! Natsu-san!"
"Natsu!" Happy shouted as he flew around the place, still looking for his best friend.
"Sting!"
Sting turned around and saw Rogue running, heading to him. "W-what happened?"
"R-Rogue I-I need your help. I stayed to Natsu-san's home for whole day and I'm very sure he was there beside me and sleep with him and when I woke up he's no longer there. I didn't smell anyone other than us so think he went out on his own. Now we can't find him!"
This made Rogue shock before becoming serious, "We should hurry and find Natsu-san."
"Y-yeah!"
On the other hand, Natsu and Gray went to shopping as they brought some foods and so more. Natsu somehow enjoy Gray's company for some reason even thought he wasn't talkative. For him, they had done something like this before.
They had brought many and they were now carrying it, now they decide they rest in the center plaza and were now eating a hot takoyaki.
Natsu blew them a few times before eating them. He must say it's good. He turned to Gray who was silently eating his Takoyaki. Natsu thought for a moment before beginning the conversation.
"Gray… can you tell me about myself honestly?" Natsu asked. Gray turn to him, "Didn't everyone in the guild told them already about you?"
"But everyone has a different point of view about me right? I want to know yours." Natsu reasoned.
Thinking about it, Gray didn't get a chance to talk to him. He thought for a second before answering him.
"Well you are sometimes an airhead and the only thing in your mind was fighting." Gray began, "You shout around about fighting you, running on your own, energetic and you never get tired at all."
"So in other words I'm a troublemaker." Natsu said.
Gray can't help but chuckle, "How the heck did you learn that word?"
"When I was bored Yua-san gave me some books that might help me ease my boredom. I tried to read some but some makes me sleep while some makes me want to read more."
"Haha, reading is not even one of your vocabularies Natsu."
"I thought the same thing when I began reading."
"I see"
Natsu nod before looking down, "So that only means almost everyone hate me… right?"
"It's opposite Natsu." Gray said, making Natsu look to him. He continued, "Because of your cheerfulness, your energy and desire of battle, you made the guild lively. Let me tell you, the guild was truly like dead when you're not around."
"R-really? Those that mean that… you see me as you're…"
"Light… and hope Natsu" Gray admitted. "You may still not remember but there's a time I was about to use this magic that could end my life. The one who stop me was you and you are the one who gave me a reason why I should never use this magic as long as I live."
'Did I?' Natsu thought about it until a blur memory flash to his mind. It was hazy but it was somewhere within the deep cave and he was staring at the white pillar thing that was about to break and behind him is someone he knew. Natsu felt little dizzy, 'Wha-what was that image?'
"Natsu are you alright?" Gray asked, seeing he almost drop his takoyaki and thankfully he caught it. Natsu looked to him and nod, "L-little dizzy that's all."
"I think it's best to return back and rest." Gray said as he put Natsu's Takoyaki on the side and swallowed all the remaining of his Takoyaki. Quickly finishing it and stood up. "I'll take everything, you should take your Takoyaki and eat it as we walk home."
"E-eh? But wasn't that much for you?" Natsu asked. Gray just smile, "Don't worry, I'm strong than you think. They're all fine to me."
Natsu blink for a while before standing up but it seems he loses his balance and Gray helped him.
"H-hoy are you really alright?" Gray asked, now really worried.
Natsu didn't answer as another image was showing his mind. It seems it was night and in mid mountain. He with a fire in his fist, someone who's shirtless and a girl with red hair wearing armor were fighting against a large enemy. The image was not cleat at all.
'Wha-what was that? Memories? Was that me fighting?' Natsu asked in thought as his eyes was getting heavier.
"Natsu!" Gray called in panic.
"Natsu-san!"
"Natsu!"
Gray turn to the people who were calling for Natsu and those were Rogue, Sting, Lector and Happy. Gray immediately called them to help Natsu whose now already lost consciousness.
Soon, Natsu woke up and saw himself on the bed.
"Natsu your awake" Natsu turn to the person and it was Lucy who seems truly relief. Yukino is with her. "Natsu-sama are you alright? Do you feel anything weird?"
Natsu slowly stood up and both Lucy and Yukino assist him up. Natsu smiled to them and shook his head.
"I'm fine… just… what happened?" Natsu asked.
"You suddenly get dizzy and lose consciousness." Lucy told. Yukino followed, "Gray-sama was with you and thankfully Sting-san, Rogue-san, Lector-san, and Happy-san came looking all over for you."
Natsu remember the conversation he had with Gray and hold his forehead, "Now that I think about it… he was telling me things that… image showed to my mind."
"Image?" Lucy asked. Natsu nod, "The first was within the cave I guess since its dark. In front of me was a white kind pillar that seems to be broken and someone was just behind me. The other one was about me I guess with fire in both hand, the same boy from the last and a girl wearing armor and holding a sword was fighting against some kind of creepy monster."
"Are you talking about the Deliora who was frozen from the magic called Ice Shell Magic and the Demon Lullaby?" Lucy asked.
"Deliora? Lulluby?" Natsu asked. Lucy explained to him, "We fought against them, well more like you guys since I didn't done anything. The person with you was Gray. He told me that it was you who stopped him from using Ice Shell to defeat Deliora who was actually already long time dead."
"Deliora… and this Lullaby?" Natsu asked. Lucy answered, "We fought and again more like you guys against one of the demons that Zeref have created just to save the masters of every guilds. You fought against him before you had encounter Deliora and… you fought against him with Gray and Erza. Natsu do you happened to remember those times?"
Natsu thought for a while before shaking his head, "I only saw blurred images, other than that there's nothing."
"But you know, at least some of your memories were starting to show up Natsu-sama." Yukino said in relief. "Maybe if you learn more things about your past, you will remember something again."
Lucy smiled brighter to that, "You got the point there Yukino. Natsu do you want to hear?" Lucy's eyes soften and spoke, "How you rescued me from the first time we met and lead me here to my dream guild, Fairy Tail?"
Natsu stared at him, wanting to hear it.
Later, Yukino went out the room and immediately Sting and Rogue went to her.
"How was he?" Rogue asked. Yukino smiled and told them what truly happened. After hearing them, both can't help but smile.
"I-is that so… thank goodness." Sting said in very relief tone. Rogue nod to that, "So his talk with Gray had crack something to his mind. Looks like we had made some progress about his lost memories."
Yukino nod, truly agreeing, "We have a great start."
"Shall we tell this to the others?" Sting said with a grin. Both nod, agreeing.
Lunch time and Wendy, Happy, Carla, Sting and Yukino came in the room and gave a food to Natsu.
Natsu gave a smile, "There's no need and beside I'm fine already."
"Well there's actually an important meeting outside and Mira-san told me to bring this to you." Wendy said as she gave the tray of food to her. It was bread, soup, hot chocolate and sliced apple.
"Thank you" Natsu said as he took the tray of food. He turned back to them, "Meeting?" Natsu questioned.
"Don't worry Natsu-san it's nothing dangerous." Sting said with a grin. Yukino spoke, "They were just planning something that could help you that's all."
"Then why won't they let me participate?" Natsu asked. Carla was the one who answered, "They wanted to surprise you."
"Aye" Happy said.
Natsu stared at the exceeds before turning to Wendy. "W-Wendy right?"
"Y-yes Natsu-san!" Wendy said really happily, since Natsu remembered her name. Natsu gave his question, "Are you alright being a guild member? I mean you're a child… right?"
"Child?" Wendy questioned. Carla can't help but giggle, "Don't worry Natsu, even if she looked like a child, she's actually a Dragon Slayer like you."
"Dragon Slayer? Oh like Sting and Rogue right?" Natsu questioned. Sting nod with a grin, "That's right. She had become strong and has a great healing magic."
Wendy can't help but blush, "I-I'm a Sky Dragon Slayer. I may look like a child and weak but actually I'm getting stronger… s-since I wanted to be more like you Natsu-san?"
That shock Natsu, "M-me?"
Wendy nod, "Your strong and never accept defeat so easily, always stood up without turning back and always the one who protect everyone no matter what it takes. I idolize you and… I really see you as my model… since I wanted to become stronger so that someday, it would be me who will protect everyone." Wendy gave her smile, "I really wanted to be like you Natsu-san."
Natsu blink in shock, truly speechless. Carla was smiling and so was Happy. Yukino and Sting were smiling for Wendy, happy to hear her confession of determination.
Somehow because of the silence made her blush really hard that she hid from the corner. "S-sorry it was so embarrassing please forget about it!"
Carla sigh, "Wendy you were so cool just now and look at you, don't make us laugh."
"B-but it was embarrassing Carla" Wendy said, not wanting to face anyone.
Yukino giggle, "What are you talking about Wendy-sama? It was a great speech was really great, I was truly drawn into it."
"Yukino is right Wendy, you're really great." Sting said with a grin. "Now that I think about it, you serve as my inspiration as well Natsu-san."
Natsu turn to Sting. He continued, "When I heard your name, I was truly trilled and really I idolize you, that's why I swore to become stronger and once I do, I will meet you and fight you. I'm sure I already told that to you right?"
Natsu was truly speechless. Just how did he become so awesome to everyone? Just what did he do to make them look up to him? As far as he remember, they told him he was actually a someone who do things without thinking, declaring a fight and troublemaker as they say… still they did say he was a cheerful person and really smiled a lot. He doesn't see anything special about them at all.
Carla who seems can guess what he was thinking smiled and spoke, "Don't worry" Natsu turn to her. "You may still not understand what we were talking about but surely once you remember, you will understand everything. After all, to all of us even everyone won't admit it, you are Fairy Tail's Fire of Hope, Salamander."
"Carla is right Natsu. We will make sure we will find a way to return back all your memories. For now you just have to believe on us… right?" Happy said.
Natsu really can't believe this. He smiled and nod, "T-Thank you everyone… and… I'm sorry if ever I hurt any of your feelings. I mean, I sense it though your eyes. You were all trying to stay strong for me. That's why…I'm… I'm sorry for not remembering any of you… same to you too Sting."
"N-Natsu-san" Sting was shock. So did he make him notice?
"N-not just you Sting. Looks like even Gray was same… please tell him I'm sorry too." Natsu continued as he looked down, truly guilty.
"Natsu-sama"
"Natsu-san"
"Natsu"
"Hmm"
In this very moment, they decide to comfort the down comrade who still blaming himself, why did he forget such beautiful people around him? Just what truly happened that made him forget?
And…
What truly happened to him that made his mind shout, telling him to forget everything?
I do not own Fairy Tail
Next chapter Dec. 31
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Actually there's a bit problem I been having and your author need your help. Your author was thinking if I should give a romance part in this story and if I do, your author has no idea whom should I pair up with Natsu. Kindly give me suggestion?
Anyone you would like for Natsu and your author also don't mind about male paring or as you say Yaoi. Male or Female, who will it be? Please review your answer/votes and let me remind you, your author can't make lemon. Thank you.
Natsu x ?