Chapter Two: X7233

Beep Beep Beep

Lucy woke to the sound of her alarm and stretched her arms up in the rising sun rays travelling through her curtains.

"'Uwah it's such a nice day outside!' Lucy threw her legs off the bed and stood, walking towards her bathroom before abruptly falling to the ground.

'Ow! What the hell!' She looked around to what it was she must have tripped over.

'Hey Luce, you could have woken me up nicely instead of kickin' me!' Natsu sat up rubbing his abdomen where she presumed, she must have tripped over.

'I didn't kick you! What the hell are you doing here! This is my house!' she stood placing both hands against her hips.

'Aye, sir! But your house is so much warmer than ours!' Happy appeared from the end of Lucy's bed wrapped in one of her blankets.

'Geez! Get out both of you! I have to get dressed and get to the guild! I need to get a job! No thanks to you Natsu I've already spent all the earnings from our last one!'

Natsu chuckled, 'Yeah but it was fun wasn't it! Not my fault I wrecked their cathedral! Shouldn't have gotten in my way!'

'You're unbelievable Natsu.' Lucy rubbed her forehead in annoyance before turning and heading towards her bathroom to shower. 'I'll meet you guys at the guildhall, you better not be here once I've finished showering!'

She could her groaning and shuffling coming from the previous room once inside the shower before the resounding click from her front door. 'Geez they're so annoying, always turning up here without an invitation'.

Lucy knew she couldn't stay annoyed at them for long though. She quite enjoyed their company in the mornings.

Once showered and dressed for the day, Lucy pulled her hair into her signature side-ponytail before heading to the guild for the day.

As she walked alongside the canal on her way to her guildhall, she couldn't help but notice most of the pedestrians looking at their lacrimas with concern on their faces. She heard the faint whispers between themselves mentioning Onibus Town.

'Onibus Town…Isn't that the town the master mentioned to us the other day? I wonder if something else has happened there?'

As she entered the guildhall, she headed over to a table closest to the bar where Gray, Juvia and Cana were sat deep in conversation.

'Hey guys! Is something happening? Everyone seems so tense outside.' The look of concern on their faces answered her question then and there.

'It seems the virus outbreak at Onibus Town has escalated. The Magic Council have issued a statement that all travel to it shouldn't be advised now. Even essential travel.' Cana played around with the top of her beer bottle. Seemingly not her first of the morning.

'It doesn't look good. The virus is getting worse, and they still don't know what's causing it.' Gray crossed his arms in frustration.

'Juvia is concerned about Lisanna and Laki. They travelled there last week to carry out a job before this happened. It seems we are having trouble getting in touch with them' Juvia fiddled with the hem of her dress nervously at the statement.

'No way! We have to do something! Could a wizard have something to do with this?' Lucy slammed her hands on the table in exasperation.

'We can't do anything about its Lucy.' Mirajane walked towards the group with a kind smile on her face. 'Natsu said the same thing this morning when he arrived. The Master is forbidding any of us to go to Onibus currently.'

'Eh! But what about Lisanna and Laki! We don't even know what this virus is yet! They could be in danger!' Gray stood directing his frustration at Mirajane.

'I understand you are frustrated Gray. But don't you think Mirajane is just as worried. Lisanna is her sister!' Cara defended Mirajane leaving Gray to sit back and slouch in annoyance.

'Thank you, Cana. From what we know so far, the virus depletes magic and causes flu-like symptoms. So far, I am unaware of the extent of this yet, but once Lisanna gets into contact with me I'll be sure to tell everyone.' Mirajane smiled at the group, but her face showed concern.

'Gray-Sama perhaps if we took a job, it would ease our minds' the ice mage nodded in her direction, recognising her attempt at easing the atmosphere.