Natsu and Gray: Another Love Story

Chapter Ten: Returning Home

"Here you go," Lucy says, handing a blue twisted bottle to Natsu.

"Oh man! I almost forgot this thing existed!" He shouts, snatching the bottle from Lucy's hands and grunting his thanks as he downs it's contents.

"I wonder what everyone's going to think about you guys when we get back home?" Happy asks excitedly, swinging his legs over the edge of the table. Gray and Natsu give each other sheepish looks before dropping their heads.

"We haven't really decided if we want to tell everyone yet..." Gray says nervously as he looks to Natsu for support.

"We're just not ready is all." Natsu reaches over and clasps Gray's hand in his own, giving it a gently squeeze.

"Oh come on!" Lucy squeals. "Everyone will love that you two are together!"

"We're sure that they will be! But we still aren't used to the idea of being together ourselves." Gray says, giving Lucy a half smile.

Suddenly Natsu stands up and quickly pushes his way past Gray and leaves. "What was that about?" Lucy asks worriedly.

Gray shrugs as he stares at the cabin door worriedly. "Maybe I should..."

"Happy is on the case!" Happy exclaims as he zooms out of the cabin and after Natsu. Everyone waits in silence for him to return. It doesn't take long until he does. "Uhh," Happy starts, confusion on his face. "He's throwing up."

"THAT BLASTED DEALER IS A FAUD!" Lucy slams her fist down on the table cracking it in two. Erza, Gray, and Happy all jump back in fright and completely shocked at Lucy's sudden out burst. "I paid a lot of money for those!"

"It worked the first time..." Erza said as she pondered the sudden ineffectiveness of the potion.

"It's not like it usually is..." Happy adds, his voice wavering and tears pooling at the corner of his eyes.

Gray jumps up and runs out the door, unaware that he had just stripped and is currently running through the train in his underwear. "How is it different?" Erza asks Happy as she gathers Gray's clothes and folds them neatly before placing them where he was sitting.

"It's like he's sick." Happy climbs into Lucy's lap and curls up into a ball. "He can talk clearly and can even walk around for a little before feeling sick again."

Erza taps her knuckle on her chin as she ponders. "Perhaps... he's been poisoned?"

"Oh god I poisoned him!" Lucy screams.

Erza raises an eyebrow questioningly at her. "How do you presume it was you?"

"He started feeling sick soon after I gave him the potion!" Lucy reminds Erza.

"Yes, but he didn't get sick last time." Erza counters.

Lucy shakes her head, trying to find another reason. "Maybe the potions went bad?" She offers, her voice revealing how unsure she was.

"Maybe, but unlikely." The door slides open and Natsu and Gray step through.

"I'm feeling better!" Natsu announces as Happy leaps into his arms.

"You had me worried!" Lucy says as she punches Natsu in the shoulder softly. "Thought I poisoned you."

"It'll take more than poison to take me down!" Natsu laughs as he jabs a thumb at his chest.

"But we're definitely having you checked out when we get back." Gray says sternly as he leads Natsu back to his seat.

"Yes, mother." Natsu says teasingly and earning an annoyed look from Gray. "Oh, and mother dear? Put some clothes on." Natsu tosses a shocked Gray his clothes.

"Guess that explains why I got so many dirty looks!" Gray says as he motions for Natsu to turn around.

Natsu stares at Gray with astonishment. "I've already seen everything!" Gray blushes and turns away from Natsu and begins putting his clothes on. Natsu seizes the moment and slaps Gray's ass and grabs his left check, giving it a nice squeeze and getting a yelp from Gray.

"Honestly, I'm surprised people are even surprised by your stripping habit." Lucy says in a bored tone, ignoring the two as she pulls out her journal and begins writing in it. "I'm sure half of Fiore has seen your birthday suit."

"That's not the point!" Gray says as he pulls down the left side of his underwear to reveal a red hand print on his cheek. Gray rubs it and winces. "Did you have to leave a mark?"

"Had to mark my territory!" Natsu exclaims as he pulls Gray down into a kiss. Natsu quickly slaps Gray's exposed cheek again, gaining another satisfying yelp.

"Save it for the bedroom you two." Erza says smiling.