Blueberries and Rums

Finally an update. I bluffed much more than I thought. Must be waiting too long huh? Well sorry, I'm bluffing about the fast updates.

Flames this time are permitted. Just don't go for too long. Because this is my fault for not updating for a while. Sorry! :(

-...-

"Ah, isn't the weather cold?" Lucy's sarcasm was influencing to the others. And it was unseemingly cold around the village.

But the villagers and even the mayor did not seem to be affected with the weather insanity. "It's because we always stay in the village all year, and never once this village got hot or a bit warm. So practically, our body was adapted to this village." Said one of the villager.

"Too bad miss. You came in the bad time where the weather is at the top!" Said another villager.

"A..Achoo!" Snorted Lucy. Gray who was behind her was trying to pat her shoulder and smiled. "You should go to the inn. It's practically warmer." offered Gray.

"No .. It's okay. I just disliked cold weather—and unfortunately, my health is not in the top too.." She explained. "Anyway! Let's get going!"

As Lucy walked away further, Gray glanced at her and felt remorseful. He saw Lucy was snuggling under her a furry jacket—that was practically not enough to keep her warm.

"Hey Lucy, you should—" Before Gray could even touch her shoulder, there is someone who done that way quicker than him. Of course, it was the Salamander. "Are you sick or something Lucy?" He asked foolishly.

"I'm not! I'm just feeling cold." She simply answered. Not trying to be bold, she snuggled even more deeper inside of her jacket. She was cold after all. "Here, let me warm you."

By the means of warm you, Natsu did not try to make a flame in front of Lucy, or breathing warm air to her, but instead, he intended on hug her and made her even warmer than before. Well, because of his ridiculously body's temperature.

Also, the air around them was practically a bit warmer. Couldn't you see the Ice mage on the back was furiously mad in jealousy? He still trying to keep his cool mind, though, it was practically. Hard.

Erza who noticed everyone that was on the back were lacking. She shouted to them as she walked even further—following the mayor.

"Ah! Here are the garden of our famous blueberries. Take a look at it!" offered the short mayor in front of them. As he pointed his finger toward numerous canopies and unique garden of blueberries. Also an enourmous land with elegant wooden chair and table. It was like a set of an elegant yet romantic dinner table.

"Blueberries?" Erza asked. "Yes! These are our special type of blueberries. Specially born from our area. And we will give you tons of it just for the reward for sweeping the goblins at the forest!"

Lucy pulled away from Natsu. Feeling a bit flustered. Though, she thanked him for warming her up—in oddly way.

However, the look of the ice mage still same as ever, frowning face with annoying hums around.

"So, have you guys heard about our village's folkore?" asked the mayor as he was waiting on the wooden seat across the garden.

"No, we have not. So what's about it old man?" asked Natsu as he walked toward him.

Before the mayor explained it in a throughout story, Gray suddenly explained it in a more simpler way. "It's about the blueberries in the garden and the rums the village produced. It was once said that those were the blessing of the goddess who was in love with a magical wizard in this village. Since practically, almost everything could not be produce in this kind of weather, it was a miracle to even a blueberry grow from here."

He continued. And both Lucy and Erza already stand idly and heard Gray's explanation about the folkore.

"Because of the Goddess's love to the man. There is another romantic tale in the village—if you spend the time with your couple in this garden. And saw the Goddess's statue in the middle of the garden—shining, that means you're blessed as an everlasting couple."

Everyone there was a bit shocked to see Gray explained the folkore pretty detailed. Erza exhaled and nodded. And Lucy was practically—distracted. "Gray, how do you know about this folk tale?"

Gray's pupils are getting bigger. He rolled his eyes and tilted his head as he answered, "I—erm, search the info about it."

"Well actually young people, there is another prophec—"

"Anyway, let's go. Mayor, please lead the way."

Lucy was sure that Gray's attitude today is practically awkward. It seemed that it's not the case. It's how she felt now.

She felt that he's trying to hide something from her.

-...-

The day soon grew older. The sun almost set, although, it couldn't be seen too well since the cold fog appeared out of nowhere.

And there in the room, lied Lucy and Erza. With no Gray and Natsu around.

"So .. Lucy, what'll you do after we get our bounty present?" Asked the scarlet haired Erza as she sat on the comfortable bed.

They were back at the inn. After an hour walking around the center of the village. Natsu and Gray had gone to the forest earlier. Hunting the goblins for sure.

The blonde that was still busy unpacking things from her baggages finally noticed her friend was calling for her, and then she answered cherishedly, "I don't know, probably walking around the village and buy things from here!"

"Oh I see. Anyway, the others went to the forest entrance to find out a bit. We should be hurry and finished the job early okay?"

The Titania who was still armored by her usual metalic clothing, stood up from her seat and touched the doorknob in front of her, just before Lucy asked something that probably piqued her interest. "Hey Erza, did you think that Gray is a bit weird today?"

Erza tilted her eyebrows. "Gray? What happened with him?"

"It's just—well ... " A nervous and flustered Lucy is fun to be teased. Although, Erza is kind enough to be not like Mirajane, who would tease her everyday because of this huge development of feeling.

Erza nodded and said back, "It's okay Lucy. He is just doing his own things after all. Don't worry about it."

As Erza answered her for few seconds, and she already out from the room. Instead of Lucy. She oddly smiled and followed Erza to the forest.

-...-

After they arrived at the entrance, it was crowded with cheerfully looking villagers around. Literally they were shocked by the fact that the goblins had been killed by mere Natsu and Gray. Both alone. And as usual, they were fighting to each other—head to head. With Gray stripped once again.

"Natsu, Gray!" Shout Lucy from afar. "What are you guys doing?"

But they didn't seem to hear Lucy's shouting since the situation there pretty heated up by them, and noisy villagers hummed around.

"I defeated 29 goblins!" shout Gray aloud, as his forehead was still attach to Natsu's. His cold intense glare toward the redhead still not fade.

"HAH! I WON! I DEFEATED 31 GOBLINS!" Shout Natsu loudly. His grins was spotting for victory.

Gray exhaled in defeat. How can THAT Salamander defeated the goblins, more than him? Well, that ice mage actually can defeat even more—but there was something stuck and odd inside of his mind.

The ice mage who was pondered in defeat, went back in annoyance to the inn. And of course, he passed through Lucy and Erza who were waiting for them. With the exception, Lucy shout out to him before he went on a bit depressedly, "Gray!"

Lucy saw the muscular appearance of him, turned around to see her. Why he was pissed off so much? No, it was especially that day! He usually 'pissed off' with Natsu everytime they do a slight battle. But not this time, he really pissed off with something else.

"We need to check whether the goblins are still around or not." Shout Erza as she walked to the forest.

"No need Erza. We already checked the entire wood and no goblins seemed left." said Natsu. Crossing his hands above.

The mayor and the other villagers were shouting happily. And suddenly, Lucy grabbed Gray's wrist, as her onyx eyes stared at his dark cerulean eyes intensely, she then whispered, "What happened with you Gray?"

A bit flustered Gray was, so he said, "N..nothing. Anyway Lucy—"

But that moment of sincere was distubed by Natsu, and few others. "Oi! The mayor is thinking to make a party this night! Let's go, Lucy!"

Before Lucy said a thing, her wrist was grabbed by Natsu and brought unto the crowds. And left Gray alone again at the back.

Of course, his face reflected how flustered and jealous because of the stupid Salamander who ruined his plans.

However, he still have a big plan at the night. Yes, a big plan.

-...-

The party went out pretty merrily. The bonfire outside of the village hall was big, although quite thick fog still enveloping the area, the villagers were happy that the goblins were finally strayed away. And they could make better profit than year ago.

Their signature dishes and desserts were all over the village hall. Blueberries mousse, cakes, turkey, and many things. (Included Natsu's favorite, well fire beer and firey ball. What else. D8)

Natsu, Erza and Lucy were enjoying the party. They took out the foods that they wanted to eat. And yes, they have mild, unique and interesting tastes.

"Emm~ the blueberries mousse in the cake are so delicious!" muttered Erza in her breath. "Lucy, try this. It's so sweet and so melting."

Lucy did not pay attention to her surrounding. Instead, she was still looking for another of her nakama, that is, Gray Fullbuster. Who was not spotted anywhere.

"Errm, Erza! Save the cakes for me okay? I wanted to go somewhere first."

Before Erza could ask her where that blonde beauty was going, she already ran off. But literally, Erza already knew where was she going to.

Smirking, she still wander around the cakeland and tasting each of the blueberries mousse cake and mixed with rums. Oh man, Erza was having fun that time.

-...-

Lucy wandered with her thick furry jacket that she still used since she arrived at the village. It was so damn coldy fog that night.

But she still had efforts to search Gray. It seemed that he was avoiding her all day. And she didn't want it to happen. They're nakamas after all. It would not be ethic if nakamas suddenly had this awkward feeling all around.

Ah, Lucky Lucy as always. She found him, sitting on the wooden chair that she saw when the mayor was taking them for a tour. His head was tilted down. And he seemed to be thinking about something.

Still shivering on how cold the weather was, she walked slowly to Gray and tapped on his shoulder. "Gray? What are you doing here?" she said smiling.

The icey mage's porcelain face was now tilted up, and his coldy breath was reflected upon the air. He wasn't cold at all. His dark blue eyes were staring to Lucy's brown eyes. Seemed those eyes were talking to her—as if that he seemed to be in a big problem.

However, Lucy decided to look away from him—so she could afford herself some time before her face became as red as tomato nonetheless.

She then looked at a bottle of rum on the wooden table. The set was prepared nicely. How she wondered, was the rum prepared by himself?

All the sudden, he standed up and started to strip again. And he did strip without his knowing. Lucy just shrugged off and irking unto his jacket once more. "So, Lucy. Do you want a cup of rum?"

An odd question comes around. "Huh?"

Gray facepalmed himself mentally, he thought he was so foolish to even ask such question. Of course she was confused since he was suddenly asked something odd! "Gray, you're stripping again!" Said Lucy remembering him. Out of topic. But that was one way to skip this sincere awkwardness. At least Lucy was trying.

But Gray and his brilliant plan still down yet. "Come on Lucy. Take a seat and drink the rums. It'll practically make yourself happier." he said, in oddly way.

Okay, Lucy was getting aggravated. She ponder no more and got into a fact—that is, Gray wass being awkward that day.

"I .. Guess I'll take a sip." said Lucy.

After she took a sip of the glass full of rum, she felt—warmer. I guess it didn't make her drunk. "T..this is delicious!" she said sheepishly. "Is it?" Gray asked. And then he took a sip as well.

She nodded. Ah, how not awkward this be. That blonde thought.

"You don't want to drink it Gray?" she offered. "I .. Think I can't drink it full. I'm bad at alcohol I guess ... " she hiccupped.

Gray nodded and took the glass from Lucy and then he drank it in a full chug.

"Lucy." his sudden tone became a bit serious than before. "What do you think of me?" his question was a bit straight forward.

"... I ... I think of you as a nakama." She answered simply.

It was very unusual of Gray to act oddly like this. There were something strucked in his mind for sure. "Gray, are you feeling sick?"

"Of course not." He answered.

Lucy stared at him confusedly. "Gray .. Ermm .. Excuse me, I need to go somewhere first.."

-...-

Gray Fullbuster's plan was an utter failure. Where the plan he formed after Erza gave the pamflet to him, and the plan went on and on until they arrived at the village ...

He thought that the plan was fine. Everything went fine at the first. Lucy seemed worried about his oddly attitude. But that didn't go well after Natsu lighten up his jealousy fire inside of Gray's coldness.

Because of this feeling named as jealousy, he did something wrong on doing the plan he worked hard to plan beforehand, he couldn't shine in front of Lucy. He lost his concentration to hunt the goblins way more than that idiot flamehead.

He shrieked down, tilted his head and thought something else. But nothing came out from his mind, because Lucy left him. Not actually left him, but she pardoned herself. He could only think about a reason because she pardoned herself, that is, the awkwardness reside between them.

"Gray!" shout a voice that he knew.

That voice belong to a Stellar Mage he knew. Lucy was on her way ... And she was bringing two plates of creamy cakes of blueberries. Gray stared at her disbelieving what he saw.

"What're you doing?" he asked.

"Bringing you the cakes?" she said back.

She walked to Gray while he was still sitting on the bench, and put down the plates on the table. She sat beside of him, and stared at him. "Come on, eat the cakes. I bring it for you, you know."

He smiled.

"Thanks by the way." he tilted his head and used the fork to slice the shortcakes. The first shortcake seemed refreshing though. It was pretty much like him overall.

White cream covered the shortcake, blue blueberries were sliced down and poured down on the shortcake, and there were some icings of blue on it.

And then he munched the first slice. He went for another slice, and soon, the shortcake was now became just the cream. "God, that's delicious."

Lucy who was eating another shortcake too, was staring at him and smiled. "It is right?" she chuckeled.

After he waited for her to finish. He glanced on the Goddess's Statue. No sign of glowing things .. No sign of anything. He sighed in dissapointment. I guess I'm not destinied for Lucy after all.

"Hey Gray." she poked him. "I still didn't understand what you ask before."

He stared at her. "Which one?"

"About how I think about you."

"Oh .. That one."

"Yeah. I'm just answering out of nowhere .. Since you seemed to need the answer very much, I don't have much options except to answer it like that .. Yeah so ... "

So ... Did she mean he have this hope to gain her? Is this the chance she left for him to hope? Luck could tell. He could tell. God knew all and he found his voice to ask her that obvious question.

"Do you like me Lucy?"

-...-

Lucy Heartfilia was having a dilemma. She never thought that a nakama like Gray Fullbuster would like her. No, she thought that he liked her, but not as a love interest, but as a nakama. Just nakama.

But what could this little blond girl said to him? Sure, she liked him. As a nakama. But she herself still confused on her feeling reside within her tiny little heart.

She didn't know she love Gray or not. It's just .. Everytime she with him, she had this butterflies were flying inside of his stomach. Something was not right, her heart was pumping oddly.

Or those things were the clues of what love is? She couldn't think anything rational anymore.

Gray who was still waiting for her answer suddenly stood up and glanced at the darkened sky. And then he said, "... Forget it Lucy .. Just try to forget what I said before, okay?" he smiled.

But that smile was not a happy smile. She knew that he was smiling sadly. She was such a failure, she couldn't answer a question that Gray had wanted to know so bad ..

"Gra—"

*BOOOM*

A sound of fireworks were blew up from the side of the Goddess's Statue. Did the light mean that Gray and Lucy were meant for each other?

There was also sign of a big bonfire from the side of the statue. Practically, the villagers were having the festival from that side. But the statue was gleaming in light! So the folkore must be true!

Gray's eyes were getting wider and bigger. Did the Goddess really fulfilled his wish? This tiny wish? He then looked at the golden beauty. She with her blond hair, onyx eyes, pale porcelain skin, and a very pink lips. Everything inside of her, was tempting to make Gray's heart pumping even more.

And then her once onyx eyes that were looking at the fireworks met with his cobalt eyes. She could feel the warmthness inside of him even though he was entitled as the Ice Mage of Fairy Tail. But that didn't matter.

What matter that time was how Lucy could say this odd feeling to that Ice Mage. Before the chance gone, and she couldn't reveal her hidden feeling reside in her heart.

"Gray?"

She murmured too softly. Gray didn't hear it. And then he stared at her, trying to not be sad.

"Hahaha, yeah Lucy. I get what you mean. I'm being awkwardly odd today." he explained, "That's because .. Err .. "

"You like me, do you?"

Gray's blood was rushing to his cheek. Making that ice mage became as red as a red beet. But he turned away. He didn't want to hear her painful answer. He felt that she loved other person. Not him.

"Gra—"

"Guysss!"

Another familiar voice from the side of the statue. Dear readers, I wondered if you could guess this voice belonged to whom.

"Damnit. It's that flame idiothead again." Gray muttered.

"The main part of the festival is going to start in another minutes! Erza asked me to search for you guys to see it! You'd better come." he said. "Ah, fire ball here I come!"

"Natsuuuu don't leave me alone!" shout Happy as Natsu ran from the scene to catch the fireball he was waiting for in the festival.

Gray stared at the sitting Lucy. She was still in her black furry jacket, covered with his heavy coat to make her even warmer. Lucy then stood up. And Gray put his hands into the pockets of his baggy jeans.

"Come on, the festival is going to—"

Without any alert, Lucy was there in front of him, and kissed him straightly on his lips. The taste of her pink lips was like a paradise. It was soft, it was melting on his lips, and it made him to even do something more irrational. He kissed her back, and she hugged him.

Both of them were red as red beets, they were blushing because the fact they've never done that with anyone beforehand.

"Gray, you must be impolite to me because you didn't let me finish my words, hmm." she said. "I guess .. You know right? What my answer is?"

"Nope. I didn't know." he played joke with her. "Oh come on, that's not funny!" Lucy frowned. "It takes a lot of courage to even kiss you seconds ago you know."

He hugged her back, and he said, "Of course you dwits, I know. Do you even need to ask?" he smiled.

"Mm." she nodded. "So ... That's mean .. "

Before Lucy let another words came from her mouth, Gray already covered it with his lips, a frantic kiss from him was the second she felt that day.

The coldness breath of him in the space inside, she could feel it. She could even feel his tongue was playing with hers, pleading joy and happiness, they're struggling until they lost their saneness to have oxygen.

"Should we tell Erza and Natsu about this?" she asked while both of them were walking bad toward the festival.

"Don't tell them a thing. We will have a surprise for them in the guild later on." He smirked.

"Right!" she nodded.

Blueberries and Rums, they were not that crucial on the part they were finally be together. But they were needed on the case they were finally could be together. Ah, isn't oddly topic could make love grows?

-...-

You guys can kill me and flame me in the reviews. But anyway, I'm still going to live anyhow. I'm stucked on the updating because of my phone and lack of creativity.

And by the way, this fanfiction will be my declaration of my hiatus-ness in the site. Goodbye guys, I know you won't miss me.

- best regards, makiru