Lucy wakes up with the strange feeling that something is wrong.  She believes it must be something to do with Natsu. She does not know him that well. What could it be that troubles him?  She sighs. It is not like he wrote her back.  She has no way to help him.

      Natsu feels the guilt eat at him inside. He realizes now he should write back to Lucy. It is not her fault his mother passed away.

       Gray shakes his head.  He knows it has been a week since Natsu found out about his mother's sub coming to her illness.  He believes it is cruel for Natsu to ignore Lucy.  Goodness, you think his best friend was a total Scrooge or something. 

        "Natsu, what are you doing?"

         "Shh, Gray, do not pester me. I am busy."

        "Yes, well, I can certainly see that, but  what are you busy with then?"

          "I am writing to Lucy. It is time I gave her a response."

           "Oh, good, glad to see you came to your senses then."

         Natsu shrugs his shoulders. He has no idea what Gray meant by all this.  He is glad he took the opportunity to respond to Lucy's letter. Besides, Gray has someone to write to.  Why should not he have the same? 

           Gray snatches the note from Natsu's grasp. 

     "Such immaturity taking that like a toddler whose snack was stolen."

     Gray ignores what Natsu says, and reads the words aloud.  

          Dear Lucy, 

       Hope this finds you well.  I am sorry to take so long to respond.  My mother passed away. We were rather close, so her passing is difficult.

           Natsu removes it from Gray's hands.

         "Did not your mother ever teach you not to take things that are not yours?"             

           "Oh, good day.  Call the media, The boy has manners after all."

             "What is that suppose to mean?"

               "It means, I never knew my mother.  My father raised me all by himself. "

        Gray and Natsu bicker for a bit.  Then, the mailman arrives, so Natsu hands him the completed letter. 

          Gray smiles. He is glad that despite Natsu's grief, the guy still has not lost his goofy side.  

            Gray rips open the envelope the mail-carrier hands him.  He frowns.  Strange, he does not recall seeing this kind of paper before now.  It has blue and yellow flowers all over it.

      What happened to the usual solid blue with the lady standing next to a fountain?             

          "Natsu, I believe this is yours, buddy." 

            Gray hands the thing to Natsu.  He then opens the other item given to him. 

            This time it is the familiar background he is used to seeing.  Glad to see Juvia's hand-writing, he walks off a bit.  

                 "Lucy, I am sorry, okay,"  Natsu yells at the top of his lungs as he reads the small message from her.  He can tell she appears to be upset.  Goodness, it must be all his fault. How could he have been so insensitive?

                Gray hears Natsu's screams. He figures it must be due to whatever he read.  It could not be due to anything else. No, attacks took place in the last four days.

            Find out more in Chapter 10

           bye, bye little owlets!  

       -Summer out!