Hi guys! Here's a new chapter of this story. I hope all of you will find this interesting. Please comment and vote.

I dedicate this chapter to joana31z. Please enjoy reading!

♥LucyAshleyHeartfilia♥

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“Umm…Natsu-san?”, Maya nervously called.

“What is it, kid?”, Natsu asked.

“Is it okay if I hold your hand?”, Maya asked awkwardly. Natsu eyed her with surprise before he offered her his hand.

“Sure thing”

“Thank you”, Maya took it gladly and she swayed her hand with him as they walk.

“So, any clue where we’ll be heading off to?”, Natsu asked.

“Hmmm, I think we have to go there!”, Maya pointed to a mountain ahead of them.

“Okay. Don’t let go of my hand alright?”, Natsu noticed that he’s actually concerned about this girl.

“Okay!”, she smiled brightly. Looking at the child beside him, he can’t help but smile as well.

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“So Naru and Yuki went out again?”, the Master asked.

“Yes Master, I’m so sorry, you know him, we can’t stop him if it’s about his sister”, Eru said.

“Those kids are really troublesome. It’s alright, let them go”, the Master said. “Freed?”, he called.

“What is it?”, Freed entered; he is now on his forties.

“Can you keep an eye on those brats?”, the Master asked.

“Yes. And about Laxus?”, Fried asked.

“He’s still on a mission”, he replied.

“Alright”, he was about to get out when he remembered something. “Before I forgot, Cana asked if you’re going tonight”

“Of course, it’s not often for her to ask this old man”, he said.

“GILDARTS!”, a kid with dark blue hair rushed over to his side.

“Spiel! I told you not to run to the second floor! Call him Master”, Freed scolded.

“It’s alright Freed”, Gildarts said. He crouched over to look at the boy. “What is it Spiel?”, he patted his head. The said boy was about to cry.

“Ne…Neon took my book”, he confessed.

“Really? That’s a bad thing right?”, Gildarts asked soothingly. Spiel nodded at him. “Don’t cry, men shouldn’t cry in front of others. You’re a man right?”, the boy wiped his tears away and nodded at him determinedly. “Now, why don’t you tell him not to take something away without permission? Don’t fight with him alright? Ask him politely. If he doesn’t return it to you then just let him have it for a while, I’m sure he’ll return it to you soon”, he patted his head again. “Now, how about you sit on this old man’s shoulders?”, he lifted Spiel up to cheer him up.

“Yay! I’m so tall!”, Spiel was laughing in an instant.

“Aren’t you?”, Gildarts played with him. Freed smiled at the sight he was witnessing as he closes the doors.

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“Naru, wait up”, Yuki said.

“Could you walk a little faster? I really need to find my sister as soon as possible”, Naru said.

“Come on man, I know you’re worried but your sister will be alright. She’s not brave enough to run away too far”, Naru looked at him angrily. “Alright, maybe I’m wrong with that, but I’m sure she’s not so stupid to go off on her own this far”, Yuki said.

“What did you call her?”, Naru angrily asked him.

“Let’s just think for a second alright? She could be somewhere near. She can’t be that far”

“She’s not stupid. I know her all my life. She’s been asking me to look for Mom and Dad with her but I ignored her wishes. If it’s her, I’m sure she’ll overcome her fears”, Naru looked at the ground. “I can’t afford to lose her”

“I know she’s important to you”

“She’s precious to me. I promised Mom I’ll protect her with my life”, Naru determinedly said. “She’s far already, let’s go faster!”

“What? Why is your family full of hot-headed people?”

“Aren’t yours the same?”

“Maybe that’s why we’ve been together ever since”

“Stop whining. I didn’t asked you to come with me anyway, you can go back”

“That’s harsh of you! I told you I’m worried about her as well”

“Then don’t complain”

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“Hey kid, you’ve been quiet for a while now”, Natsu noticed. Maya was staggering a little. “Are you tired?”, the girl ignored his question and just stared relentlessly on the road. Her cheeks were fuming red and her breathing seems a little ragged. “Hey”, he stopped and crouched over to check on her. He placed his forehead on hers and felt that it was hotter than the usual temperature. “You’re hot!”

“Na….Natsu-san”, Maya closed her eyes and fainted in his arms.

“He-HEY!”, Natsu embraced her protectively.

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“Are you having a fever again?”, a woman’s soothing voice echoed. She can feel someone caressing her forehead as she sleeps. “Don’t worry, Mama is with you”

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When Maya opened her eyes, it’s already dark outside. She noticed her surroundings. She’s in a house with a bonfire set on the very center. A damp cloth was placed on her forehead.

“I’m…where….”, she held the cloth tightly. It was raining hard outside. She remembered her dream. Her eyes started to water. The door opened so suddenly and there, she saw Natsu, holding some fruits and some firewood.

“Oh, you’re awake. How’re you feeling?”, Natsu smiled at her and sets the firewood and the fruits beside her. He placed his forehead on hers to check. “It’s not over yet, you’re still warm. Here, eat this”, he gave her an apple.

Maya looked at him with surprise. She thought Natsu would leave her already. She noticed Natsu was topless; his upper shirt was draped over her and was now on her lap.

“Umm….this….”, she gave him his vest back.

“It’s good we found some abandoned house nearby. We can rest until you recover”, Natsu said as he places firewood over the fire.

“Umm…thank you for taking care of me”, she blushed.

“It’s alright. I don’t really know anything about these stuffs. I just remembered my partner used to do this to herself when she has a cold”, Natsu grinned.

“Your partner?”, Maya asked.

“Yeah, I told you, we’re a team, we’re friends. She’s a Fairy Tail wizard too, she has some cool magic!”

“Where is that person now?”

“Well, we got separated. I’m sort of looking for her as well”

“Is that so? I’m sorry if I dragged you with me. You should look for your partner too. I’ll be alright…”

“No. If I leave you alone like this, I’ll be troubled. As a fellow Fairy Tail wizard, we’re friends already. I told you I’ll help you find your Mom and Dad. Until I finish it I’ll never leave you”, Natsu seriously said to her. “And besides; even if I leave you alone and found my partner, I’m sure she’ll get angry with me. She will yell at me saying: ‘How can you leave a little girl alone like that!’ or ‘What kind of man are you?’”, he smiled just by imagining Lucy scolding him like that.

“Besides, I’m sure she’ll be just fine”

“Haha, she sounds funny”, Maya laughed.

“You bet! She’s crazy! I just love to tease her and see her funny expressions”, Natsu showed her some of Lucy’s expressions when he teases her.

“I like to meet her someday”, Maya laughed.

“Sure. When we find your parents, I’ll make sure you’ll meet her. I’m sure you’re going to get along with her”, Natsu laughed.

“It must be nice….to have a partner like that”, Maya smiled.

“You have a partner too right? Hm..Nago?”

“Haha, it’s Naru….Naru might be worried about me by now. I’m sure he’s looking for me. I’ll get scolded for sure”

“I guess that how he just proves how much he loves you”, Natsu grinned teasingly. “You llliiikkkee each other”, he rolled his tongue, imitating Happy.

“Yeah”, she just grinned. “We love each other more than just liking though”

“You never did tell me, who’s your Mom anyway?”, Natsu asked.

Maya looked at him with surprise. After thinking for a moment, she said:

“Lisanna”

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“Hey Naru, let’s camp, its night already and it’s pouring hard”, Yuki said.

“Alright. We’ll have to leave early tomorrow”, Naru replied. “I just hope you’re alright”

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The next morning……

“Are you better now?”, Natsu asked.

“Yes! Thank you for everything!”, Maya bowed at him.

“Let’s go?”, Natsu offered his hand again.

“Yes!”, Maya took it and walked.

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“Where are we going now?”, Yuki asked.

“Yuki, we have to hurry”, Naru gripped some grass from the ground and crumpled it.

“Why?”

“My sister…..she’s not alone……”

“Good, then we shouldn’t worry about…”

“A stranger is with her”, Naru finished.

“What?!”, Yuki looked at him worriedly.

“Let’s go”