Remembering all over again

Chapter 11

Natsu's PoV

Once Lucy and I returned upstairs, we talking for a bit before her went running. I heard her cursing before she did and I grew worried. "What was that about?" Gray looked around, his arm thrown around Juvia's shoulder as they sat on the bench. "I don't know, maybe we should go check on her?" Erza looked to Juvia and she nodded, both of them getting up to go to the girl's bathroom. Wendy had left a little while ago to take Happy and Carla out for the day, Romeo being her chaperon. Now, it was only me and Gray. Of course, I was uncomfortable. The new information we had leant down stairs didn't sit right with me. Why was Luce trying to figure that out? I thought, not noticing Gray staring at me suspiciously, one hand's fingers making a rhythm on the table, and the other thrown over the back of the bench. 

"Natsu, you've been quiet." He commented, pulling me out of my strained thoughts. My head jerked up, I saw him acting casually. The odd thing is, I almost felt guilty. "I have not. Maybe you're just going senile!" I spat back, making him stand up. "I'm not that much older than you!" He shouted back, making the guild look around. "Yeah right, grandpa!" I shouted and we began fighting. "Looks like everything's gone back to normal now." Macao chuckled to Wakaba. "Here comes the headaches." A grumbly and old guild master muttered as everyone laughed at our behaviour.

Suddenly, we heard a scream from the direction the girls ran in, making us stop. "She's gone!" Juvia wailed, running to the hall. "What?" Gray and my head whipped around. "She wouldn't let us in, so Erza broke the door down. All was left is this!" She pulled out a red dragon scale. "Is that a dragon thing?" Gray asked as we looked at it. "Not that I know of. Only if she goes into dragon force." I thought aloud. "Have we ever seen her in dragon force?" Erza questioned, coming back from putting the bath stall door on it's hinges. "She's too strong for that." I frowned, thinking on why there would be a red dragon scale on the bathroom floor after she disappears. "Where could she have gone? Better yet, why did she disappear?" Levy worried, coming over with Gajeel and Lily. "Let's go find her!" I cheered, excited to see her all of a sudden and ran to the door. "What's gotten into him lately." Juvia muttered, Gray pulling for her to run as they all followed me.

Running down the street, all I could smell was Lucy's. It was stronger than usual, hotter than usual. I followed it to the grocers, a very happy woman and her daughter smiling at everyone who passed. "Hello young man, what can we get you today?" The woman, a few years older than Erza, smiled at me, getting a basket from the side. "My friend came by here a while ago, I was wondering where you saw her go. She's got really blonde hair, a pink guild mark on her right hand, and dark brown eyes." I marveled at the memory of her in my head. "Oh Lucy? She's a regular costumer here. Are you one of her friends?" She asked, her daughter running over to Juvia. "Yeah, I'm her older brother, Gray. This is Natsu and Erza." Gray stepped forward, Juvia and the girl she called Yui playing around. "Oh, you must have been so happy when you found her. She was always such a kind girl before. Our best costumer. She even made a cake for Yui's birthday. Always such a sweetheart. You must be so proud." The woman smiled at the picture not far from the back, Lucy was smiling with the little girl playing with Juvia. "Yui was heartbroken when she heard the news. Prayed for her big sis to return every night." She sighed, looking at her daughter. "I'm sorry, but who are you?" I pushed in, jealous that she was so close to Luce. "I'm Asuna. My daughter Yui takes classes with Ms Lockster." She gestures to Juvia and the little girl, sitting on the ground as they played with water. "Right, she's a good mage. Dragon slayer right?" Gray remembered. Juvia and him disappear two or three times a week, doing classes for kid's in Magnolia who don't go to a guild. "Yeah. So, you were asking about Lucy?" Asuna goes back to organizing fruit as she asks. "Yes. She disappeared from the guild earlier and we're a bit worried. Did she say where she was going?" Erza stepped in, Juvia still wildly distracted by Yui. "Disappeared? That's why she was in such a rush." Asuna mentally slapped her forehead as she remembered her previous conversation. "She said that?" Gray asked. "Yes. She said she was in a rush and that she was trying out a new recipe. Does she still live with her guardian?" She asked, pulling a crate of apples from under the counter. "No. She's got her own apartment now." I told her, Gray and Erza looking a bit shocked. they must not have known. "Then I'm guessing she's gone to pay her a visit. Those two were really close, you know? The only human Porliusica likes." Asuna told us, making me a little guilty. We took away the only person she likes and left her all lone. Then put Luce in harm's way. She probably hates us. "Right, thanks Asuna. Bye." Gray quickly said by and helped Juvia off the ground, holding her hand as he walked down the street. "Go find her. She seemed a but out of it." Asuna told us and we turned to leave. 

"Natsu." I heard as someone put their hand on mine, which I was about to take off the counter. I turned my head and saw Asuna, smiling at me. "You're close with Lucy, right? And I mean close, close." She asked. I blushing a little, remembering what we read in the library. "You could say that." I mumbled, trying to hide the blushing. "Take good care of her, Natsu. She's like a daughter to me. She's special. She's been through things. Don't hurt her, or I'll send Yui out to get you." She warned, a scary smile on her face as Yui's impressive water magic skills were shown. "Good luck!" They waved as I ran to catch up with my friends.