Hiya guys. Ya I know I haven't updated in a while now and I'm really sorry but I swear it's not my fault. Plus I really was blank. Didn't have a clue how to go about in this chapter. well I did have a few ideas but they weren't the right one. Hopefully you all will be satisfied with this one.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. Too bad though - Would have been tons of NaLu fluffs here and there..

Here it goes..

Chapter 9

Gray and Erza had already reached the station and were waiting for the rest of the team to join them.

"Yo Erza."

"Yes Gray?"

"Do you think Flame brain's bothered bout Lucy and Zeake?"

"He does seem a little edgy when he's around her."

"Do you think he's finally realized his feelings for her?"

"Cant's say bout Natsu but well maybe he has. We never can tell about him"

"This trip's gonna be interesting. Wonder who's it gonna be in the end- The idiot and Lucy or Lucy and Zeake."

"Ya I guess that would be an interesting thing to find out."

"wouldn't it be fun to spy and mess around with them?"

"Now Gray. Relationships are very fragile. Someone always gets hurt."

"But it wont be the two of us right?" Gray smiled and looked at her.

"Gray." Erza gave him a stern looking expression meaning he should forget about it.

"Fine. How bout just some few pranks here and there. Nothing too serious." Gray looked hopeful.

"Maybe." Erza simply said and looked away. Gray knew that she too was a little interested in the idea.

"K.. Hey I think I see Lucy and Zeake coming."

"Come on Zeake. Hurry up. we're almost late. You don't wanna deal with an angry Erza. Trust me." Lucy and Zeake were on their way to the station and they were getting pretty late.

"I know I know. Even just a normal Erza is terrifying." Zeake slightly shivered remembering the look Erza gave him when they told her that they were officially a couple.

"Hehe.. Well there I think I see her and Gray over there." Lucy pointed her finger towards the station.

The two of them finally reached the station and were greeted by the other two mages.

"I can see that Natsu hasn't reached. I wonder what's keeping him." Lucy said.

"He better be here soon. The train's almost gonna be here." Erza had that 'if he isn't here on time he's dead' expression written all over her face.

Well luckily for the fire dragon slayor, he made it just in time, escaping Erza's wrath.

"What took you so long squinty eyes?"

"Shut it droopy! Mind your own business. I had my reasons. I'm here aren't I?"

"Whatever freak."

Lucy came between them before they started one of there famous fights again and said, "Ah. The train's here. Why don't we all get settled inside."

Erza nodded and soon everybody got into the train.

"Awwwwwww"

"Pathetic." Gray insulted Natsu because of his inability to ride anything.

Zeake couldn't help but question "Is he always like this?" Of course Zeake hadn't seen Natsu in a train or anything that moves so he didn't know.

Lucy gave a laugh and answered "Yup.. Even the great Salamander is weak when it comes down to rides. He's got a serious case of motion sickness."

Lucy was sitting in between Zeake and Natsu with Natsu at the window side of course. And Gray and Erza were sitted across her. Then Gray had an idea and softly whispered something into Erza's ear without anybody noticing.

"Ahem Lucy. Natsu doesn't look so good. Maybe you should lay him down on your lap. That always eases him a little."

"Huh? Realy Erza.. I think he's perfectly find."

"Awwwwwww." Nastu gave another groan.

"Well maybe not. Fine. Hey Natsu you could lay on my lap if you want?"

No sooner had she said that and the said boy already had his head planted on her lap.

"That was fast.." Lucy commented on Natsu's quick reaction.

After a while Natsu had on his face the most peaceful expression that was just so adorable. He was enjoying this. As soon as he got in the sweet scent that he loved so much he knew that he was gonna be perfectly fine throughout the rest of the journey.

"He seems better already. You must be some kind of medicine for him Luce." Gray teased the blonde.

"What are you talking about Gray.. He would have been the same way with Erza or anybody else."

"Naaa... I've known him all my life and I've never seen that look on his face when he's with anybody else." Gray said while pointing at Natsu.

"oh whatever.."

"Lucy? If you're tired you can lay your head on my shoulder?" Zeake asked with much concern as she looked a bit tired.

"Oh thanks I was feeling kind of sleepy."

The rest of the journey was quite normal. Well as normal as it could be with Gray stripping along the way and Erza almost shoving one of her swords into his mouth for his indecency.

Natsu and Zeake kept exchanging glances with one another. When Zeake put his arm around Lucy to make her more comfortable while she rested her head on his shoulder, Natsu would take Lucy's arm and hold on to it. They kept looking at each other.

Gray and Erza were keeping themselves occupied looking at the two of them. They would look at each other and plant a knowing smile on their faces.

"So where were we suppose to go?" Gray asked.

"It says here that we should go to the mayor of the town. So I guess we go to him." Lucy said.

The five of them headed off to the mayor's office situated In the heart of Fikara Town. Happy was not with them as the blue cat had gone on a mission with Wendy and Charle.

After a ten minute walk they finally got to the Mayor's office and soon went in after they showed their marks. Of course Zeake didn't have one but they let him in too since the four Fairy Tail mages said he was with them.

"Ah! You're finally here. Please make yourself comfortable." The mayor of the town was a short and stout man about maybe mid fifties. He seemed like a good man.

"Yes sir. We are the Fairy Tail mages that have come. This book? May we know more about it?" Erza came right to the point.

"Yes the book. In the request we did not say the importance of obtaining back this book. It is of utmost importance that we get back this book as soon as possible."

"Why?" Lucy questioned.

"This book contains ancient spells that deal with black magic. That is why we kept it in the museum so that it may never be used. If it gets in the hands of any dark mage. I don't really wanna find out what would happen?"

"I see. Well it's pretty serious." Erza nodded in understanding and kept a firm finger on her vhin while thinking about the situation carefully.

"That is why it is a necessity that we get back this book soon." The mayor continued.

"Okay. Do you have any idea who or where this book could have been taken?" Lucy asked him.

"Hmm. Well we actually had a recent encounter with a few suspicious mages that came to this town not so long ago. They looked as if they weren't up to no good." The mayor tried recollecting.

"Can you tell us more about them." Gray said.

"All of them wore this long hooded coats and walked around town. There were some complaints about them harassing a few townfolks."

"They do sound like they would steal some thing." Zeake added.

"And the people who compliant said that they only asked them about where they could find the museum. I think we haven't seen or heard of them ever since the book got stolen. Perhaps they were the ones that stole the book."

"You think?" Lucy was being sarcastic.

"Well now that you know you can start off from tomorrow. It's already late today. I already made preparations for all of you since I was told of your coming. Please make yourselves comfortable at the Grand Prix Hotel. My secretary has arranged a guide to take you there. Do you need help with the luggage."

"No we can take our own luggage. Thank you very much for your kindness sir."Erza bowed and all five of them headed out the door.

They were greeted by the guide as they had been told and walked the streets of Fakira towards their hotel. When they reached the hotel they were quite surprised by its size since the town seemed old fashioned and a little too simple for such a grand hotel.

"Didn't expect this?" Gray looked around the lobby.

"Neither did I." Natsu nodded in agreement.

"None of us did." Lucy also said examining the interior design.

"Well there is a saying 'expect the unexpected' right? So let's go check out our rooms." Zeake slung an arm over his girl friend's shoulders. Lucy blushed and smiled at him.

Natsu looked at them and balled up his fists. Then he quickly thought of something. He ran over to Lucy, pulled her away from Zeake's grip and headed towards the check in counter like he usually does as he knew everybody would just think of it as a usual basis.

"Come on Lucy! I wanna see our rooms~ Let's go there fast! you're such a slow poke."

"Hey! Slow down would ya. We gotta wait for the rest." Lucy struggled against his firm grip but she knew it was of no use.

"But i wanna beat Gray in seeing our rooms first. Don't you wanna help me win Luce. Sheesh I thought you were my best friend." He looked at her as if she had betrayed him or something. My he was a great actor.

"Fine fine Natsu. No need to act like a baby and make this into a big issue."

"Great!" He grinned at her. They reached the counter and Natsu said "Hey Mister! we're the mages from Fairy Tail. Can you take us to our rooms?"

"Of course sir." He snapped his finger and a bell boy arrived and ushered them to move upstairs. The others were right behind them.

A few moments later they had all settled down in their rooms. One room for the three guys and the room across was for the girls.

"Hey Zeake. How's it been with Lucy?" Gray questioned the green haired mage. He hadn't actually acquainted with him properly and so this seemed like a good time.

"Good. we've gone on a couple of dates. I really like her."

"I can see that. You two were pretty close huh?"

"Close would be an understatement. we were inseparable." He rubbed the back of his head and slight blush took over his cheeks.

"Well me and Lucy are inseparable as well." Natsu joined the conversation and folded his arms across his chest.

"Ya but you're just a best friend. And Zeake is the boy friend. So he gets dibs. HA HA! You're such a loser Flame brain." Gray mocked him.

"Why you good for nothing stripper! At least I've dated a girl in my life. You've never been on a date before." Natsu retorted back.

"Gray really hasn't had a girl friend? Seriously?" Zeake looked a bit shocked.

"Well it's not like I can't get one. I mean there are lots of girls who'd wanna date me-"

"Like Juvia~ The stalker" Natsu teased him.

"Well ya. But I'm just not interested in her." Gray leaned back on his bed.

"Huh? Really? Cause I honestly thought you liked her." Natsu asked him.

"Now what makes you think that? See when I find the perfect girl I'll ask her out."

"That's pretty deep." Zeake said.

"Anyway. Enough about me. I kinda feel like there's something going on between you two. Care to share it with me." Gray looked at both the mages in front of him.

"Well we kinda have a deal." Natsu started.

"A deal?"

"Ya. It concerns Lucy." Zeake joined.

"What about Lucy?"

"Well. It turns out we both like her a lot. So we're gonna see who can win over her heart." Natsu looked away blushing. He never said he liked anybody to Gray before.

"I see. I figured that out actually."

"That's not surprising. You seem smarter than a 'certain' person." Zeake smirked at Gray who just smiled too.

"I don't what you two are smiling about but I know that I don't like it." Natsu looked at them.

"Can I join you guys?" Gray asked them.

"What do you mean by that ice brain?"

"Well It seems interesting to know who'd she choose. Might as well give it a shot." Gray shrugged.

"I thought you weren't interested in stuff like this." Zeake was a bit shocked by this and looking at Natsu's face he could see that he was too.

"Yeah!" Natsu agreed with Zeake.

"Well Lucy's different you know. She's not like other girls."

"Ya she isn't." Both Natsu and Zeake saw pictures of her in their heads.

"Boys~" Gray tried getting back their attention.

"Right! You can't join in this deal you stripping bastard! If you cared about her why didn't you do anything about it sooner?"

"Well I didn't cause Since you brought her to Fairy Tail and all. And you were her best friend so I thought you'd be with her. So I didn't do anything about it then but now.. Well things are a lot different now. And I wouldn't have interfered if Zeake and Lucy were going out. But since you have this deal going why don't I try my luck. All's fair in love and war right?"

"I guess." both Natsu and Zeake looked at the floor.

*Poof* "Is there a deal going on that concerns with my princess Lucy? Why wasn't I informed about this?" Loki suddenly appeared.

"The Hell! What are you doing here?" Natsu bursted out of rage. He was mad enough that Gray had entered the competition. So many people were trying to steal his Lucy away.

"I'm here to protect my Lucy from you guys." Loki fixed his glasses.

"She needs protection from you more than from us. You're just a big flirt." Gray said.

"I'm the boy friend around here. Don't make things more complicated." Zeake stood up. It was getting a bit jumbled up.

"Whatever. Whoever wins this deal better not hurt Lucy. I'll skin that person alive I swear on my life." And with that the Lion spirit disappeared.

"Okay. so now it's Me, Zeake and the stripper." Natsu said it out loud so that it was settled. "I'm not letting you guys take her away from me. Lucy's mine and always will be." Natsu announced.

"Well. She's mine too and I'm gonna give it my all before I hand her over to the likes of both of you." Zeake raised his arms in triumph.

"You guys are all so lame. I've been so easy on you guys and let you guys take her but no more Mr nice guy. I'm gonna make Lucy mine." Gray proudly said.

After a few seconds of silence Gray said "Aren't we suppose to be discussing about the mission?"

"OH right!" Then all three of them put their heads together and thought about tomorrow's plan.

"Lucy?"

"Yes Erza?"

"How are you and Zeake?"

"Oh everything's perfect."

"And what about with Natsu?"

"Great I guess."

"Do you still like Natsu?"

"W-w-w-what!"

"Everybody knew about it Luce. well everybody except that moron."

"It was that obvious huh?"

"Sure was."

"Well I've loved him ever since he brought me to Fairy Tail. I know I still care about him."

"What would you do if he loved you too?"

"Well that's not ever gonna happen?"

"What makes you so sure bout this?"

"A few days back he told me that he really liked this one girl."

"Did he tell you who it was?"

"No. But by the was he looked when he was talking about her it was sure to see that he loved her. He was glowing."

"What if that girl he talked about was you?"

"Hey Erza let's not talk about this right now. Let's just concentrate on the mission for now kay?"

"Sure Lucy. Good night."

"Good night Erza. But one thing's for sure."

"What's that Lucy?"

"No matter who that idiot loves I'll always be ready to protect him with my life and with everything I've got. o matter what." with that she slept with a huge smile on her face.

Erza looked at her and thought about what she said. She knew that Lucy still loved the pink haired dragon slayer and she hoped that everything would turn out alright in the end, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep herself.

"pssss. Natsu wake up."

"aaaaa what the hell! Why are you waking me up in the middle of the night you darn stripper?" Natsu groaned.

"Shut up would ya. about earlier-"

"If you're thinking that I'm gonna back out and hand over Lucy to you then you're thinking wrong Ice brain."

"Would you listen to me already. I don't think of Lucy in that way. She's more of a little sister."

"Then why did you tell all those stuff."

"I just felt like messing with you guys."

"You sick bastard."

"I'd definitely win anyway. I'm way sexier than the both of you combined."

"Whatever. Why'd you wake me up again?"

"I thought you'd need some help in wooing Lucy."

"I'll be fine."

"Really? Cause you know nothing about girls."

Natsu thought about it and realized that he really didn't know how to woo a girl. "Fine."

"That's like a good dog."

"Shut up you damn exhibitionist."

"That's all I needed to say. You can sleep again." Then Gray went over to his bed and laid down to sleep.

"Thanks Gray. I mean it." Natsu mumbled out.

"Don't mention it. Just sleep already." Then both the wizards slept and awaited for morning to come.

There. I hope that's good enough for now. I'm sorry for such a late update. It took like forever. I'm really sorry. My exam,s are coming so I'm a little out of time to write this story. But after the exams I'll have lots of time (I hope) so maybe I can finish it then. Again I'm really sorry. Please tell me your thoughts on this chapter.