Hey Minna! Next chapter!

Anyway, DISCLAIMER! I do NOT own Fairy Tail! All those rights go to Master Hiro Mashima! I only own the plot! Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Lyon's POV

I gave Gray a worried look as we walked to the fields. I respected Gray by leaving last night, but I wish I stayed. Maybe I would've been prepared.

They were just going through the daily protocol, assigning the cabins to their duties when I hear Gray's name called.

He gave me a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. I wanted to question him, but knowing Gray, he would tell me in time.

He dragged his feet as we walked to the barley field. I glanced over to the authority, zoning in on Angel….Damn that woman! It was my first kiss and possibly Gray's too. Learning about his sexuality a year ago made me happy to no end. I've known Gray for the majority of my life and I couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

I kept walking to the field as Gray made his way to the quadruplet, watching him, not letting him out of my sight. Again, I wondered what might've happened last night that would cause Angel to want to whip him and only him. I mean really, I was out past curfew too.

Gray reached them the same time I arrived at my post. Having a few minutes before I was to officially start, I watched as they spoke to him. Suddenly, Cobra backhanded Gray down to the ground. I had to resist the urge to go over there and punch him for hurting my Gray. I balled my fists and watched how Gray just got up like it was nothing and keep staring at the ground. He looked up at the white haired hag, turned around and got on his hands and knees into standard whipping position. Midnight then reached into his bag and pulled out a whip.

This was a new whip. It started out as one long tail then branched off into five shorter tails with little spiked balls on the tips. I knew this one was going to be more painful than any other I have even seen or experienced before. Angel took the whip, balanced it in her hand and brought it back for the first strike.

It looked and sounded painful. The first lash I flinched and looked away. I heard Gray's cry echo against my eardrum. Immediately I covered my ears in hopes of blocking the screams. I felt a warm hand rest itself on my bare shoulder. I looked behind me and I saw it was Erza, smiling sadly. I heard the lash again and Gray's agonized scream mixed in with crazed laughter. I flinched again and Erza's grip on me tightened. I put my hand on hers and gave a returned the gesture.

After the tenth lash, I thought he might've had enough. It was a different whip after all, that was no doubt painful. Opened my eyes and saw Gray trying to crawl away. I tried to yell at him but I couldn't find my voice. I tried swallowing but a lump formed in my throat, making me feel like I was choking. Cobra reached for Gray's ankle and pulled him back. He turned him around and gave him two hard punches to the face, one to the eye, the other to the nose.

I charged in pure rage to rip Cobra's arms off, my vision reddening but I was promptly tackled to the ground by Erza and then Elfman along with Laxus. I writhed around, trying to get out of their grips. How could they just stand there? Why were they holding me back? Why aren't they fighting too? I thought.

"Lyon."

I stopped struggling momentarily at the sound of Erza's voice but quickly resumed clawing the dirt. My only thought was on Gray and getting him away from the villains.

"I know you want to save him, we all do. But you can't do this, not now. You'll only cause him more pain." My struggles slowly came to a stop.

"But," she continued, "You can be here when he comes back. If you charge in there recklessly, you'll be whipped too. And then he won't have anyone to go back to when he needs you the most." Slowly, I turned my head to her. Tears streamed down her beautiful face, sadness in her dark eyes, but she kept smiling. "It's ok Lyon. We're all here. But only you can truly be there for Gray." Reluctantly, I nodded and closed my eyes, tears threatening to fall.

Twenty-five whips total was what he received. My tears pooled over and streamed down my face. The Authority walked away from Gray, not giving him a second glance.

Instead of attacking Cobra and the others, I ran over to the motionless Gray. I checked his pulse and sighed in relief that it was still there, albeit faintly. In the next instant, Wendy was by my side, ointment in her hand.

Gray's back was a bloody mess. Dust and dirt had already gathered and blood kept oozing out. Juvia went and got water and started washing his back with a dirty rag. Wendy then applied the weak ointment to his hot back.

Unfortunately, cleaning it and using the ointment wouldn't be enough, especially if we couldn't give him clean bandages. He would still get an infection from all the dirt and dust he worked in and then he would be screwed. This has happened once before. Midnight refused to call the doctor or the Master, claiming they were too busy to deal with "low lives like us." I didn't want that to happen to Gray. I held his hand, hot tears pouring down my face.

He stirred a little, eyes fluttering. He opened them slightly and looked around. He tried to get up, but I pushed him back down.

"No, you need to rest," I told him in a soothing way. I smoothed his hair down and caressed his cheek. He leaned into my touch and closed his eyes, sighing. I smiled at his face. It was almost peaceful.

He suddenly jerked up without any noticed and looked around.

"How long have I been out?" he asked frantically. He cringed from the sudden movement, but he sat up anyway, moaning.

"Just thirty minutes. You know how they give us time after a whipping. Just relax for now and let us try to stop the bleeding." I tried pushing him back down but he stubbornly refused. I sighed.

"Please Gray. There was a new whip and it got you pretty bad. Just rest for now, take up the hour, please. For me." I did my best to give him puppy eyes. It seemed to work, because he sighed and lay back down on his stomach. Wendy resumed applying the ointment. It looked a little better, but not by much.

We all sat there with him, waiting out the hour before we had to go back to work. Some started talking about random things but I ignored it all.

"It's weird," he suddenly said. I looked down to his empty, open eyes. I almost cried all over again. "I'm beginning to feel it now." I sighed and held his clammy hand. Hopefully it's starting to go away. We anticipated the shock and quickly treated him. He should be getting a little better.

Soon afterward, Midnight called us to go back to work. I helped Gray up and walked with him to his post before I went to mine.

….

I wasn't expecting the young Master to show up. Our water break was coming around and he just suddenly came strolling in. I glanced over to him, trying to read him. He looked rather attractive in his casual attire, but a scarf in the middle of June? I saw him walking over to toward Gray. When he got close, he stopped short, his mouth dropping as far as it could go. I didn't blame him. I saw Gray's back getting worse and worse as the day went by. We needed to get the ointment on him and I was anxious for the water break to be able to do so.

Midnight went over to the young Master and started talking with him. It looked like he was getting angry. But what for? I thought. I attempted to listen in on the conversation, but I was too far away. The young Master suddenly got in Midnight's face and said something. I enjoyed seeing Midnight getting all flustered. I laughed silently. Midnight actually looked scared for once. He sighed and started reaching for Gray. I tensed. What were they doing now?

Gray leaned away a bit, obviously afraid after the whipping. The young Master then went over to Gray, opened his arms and looked at him with an expression of kindness and compassion. Gray reluctantly went over to the large, black horse and struggled to get up. Midnight helped him up, took the reins and followed the young Master off the fields and towards the house.

"Get back to work!" I heard Angel shriek after they were out of sight. I watched where they disappeared a little longer before getting back to the barley.

Raise your hand if you cried a little when Gray was getting hurt.

Me: (raises hand)

Raise your hand if want Gray to get better

Me: (raises hand)

Raise your hand if you're anxious to see IF Gray will get better.

Me: (raises hand)

Soooooo comment, like. If there's anything that can be better, do tell. It'll only make the story better! And thank you all for your reviews! It really brightens my day! I'll post the next chapter VERY soon. I got ideas coming in my mind like you'll never believe! So, anyway, until next chapter! Scarlet out! Loves y'all!