Erza enter the guild with a sigh. Still worried about Natsu, she decided to check on the pinkette. Greet some of her comrades who arrive early to the guild, she walk towards the infirmary, only to be greeted by an upset Lucy. The mage was still hid her face to her knees

"Lucy?" The celestial mage look up, her eyes are still red. She rub her eyes
"What is it, Erza?"
"Are... Are you okay?"
"I don't know..."
"Is Natsu awake?"
"He did... But... We uh... Have a small fight..." Concern about her friend, Erza kneel beside her and place her armored hand on Lucy's shoulder
"I thought you and Natsu never fight each other... What happened?"
"Erza, I don't know if we're too late..."
"What do you mean?"
"You remember what Porlusyica-san said yesterday, right?" Titania nod
"About the depression?"
"His eyes..." Tears begin to form in Lucy's eyes, "His eyes had loss the color"

•••°°°•••

Natsu Dragneel. Everyone know him as the one of the strongest Fairy Tail mage and peoples started to call him as 'Salamander'. He is the most careless, selfless, brave and badass mage of Fairy Tail. He never easily give up on his fight. The fire breathing pyro is unstoppable, no one will escape his wrath if he's in blind rage. He hate people who talk bad about his beloved guild and comrades, especially the people who used Fairy Tail's name for bad propose. His never ending energy made people think that there's no way Natsu would have a break down. He would never have depression. All his guildmates, think that the pyro is too dense. Too childish to be mature.

But... The truth is, Natsu is mature then them. He just bare the sadness. He doesn't want make everyone worry for him. He want them to be happy. He doesn't want people to lose their love ones, like he did. He would sacrifice everything he had, if it's cost for his friends's happiness. Hold or bare a bit of sadness or pain wouldn't hurt right?

That's what he thought first. Slowly, without everyone notice, he begin to drown. He almost arrive at his limits. There's no one noticed his invisible hand, try to reach out people who would let him hold their hand. He still waiting for someone to save him from continue to drown. He slowly begin to lose hope of getting help. He knew he was not brave enough like people thought. He was scared. The ocean he drowned in was too dark, like there's no light of hope. He just float there, staring to nothing less. There's no way people would help him, if he didn't scream for help. But, a silent scream always escape his mouth everytime he ask for help. No one heard. No one noticed.

He tried to killed himself once cause he thought that the world didn't need him anymore. But he never thought someone would stop him and it surprised him. Someone just stopped him. And the person was Gray. The ice mage had stop him from commit suicide. Though, after the incident, Gray seems to act like nothing happened. It had make him drown even further. He thought that someone had finally realized, but he was wrong. No one care for him. No one love him. Everything in this world is a lie and fake.

There's no use of him in this world anymore. But, in second thought. He need to keep on living. Who will protect Fairy Tail if he's gone? Who will protect his friends? Even though he had drown deeper into the ocean of pain and emotion, he still need to live for his friends sake. Like Erza had said to him;

"You don't die for your friends, you live for them"

Those words always ringing in his mind. Sure that he still need keep on living, his friends love him... But, he still felt empty inside. He still feel lonely even if he's surrounded by people he loved. To him, it wasn't the love he craved. It's something different. The love he craved, isn't from people he knew, his future mate, friends...

But he wish to be loved by his own brother, even though he once a threat to the world.

•••°°°•••

"So, Makarov-san. We will go to the demon's place by this afternoon" Tanjirou smile
"Hm, are you sure you can do this job? Like I said yesterday, this demon is highly very dangerous. No demon slayer in our country can kill it" Makarov sigh as he look at the young teen
"Don't worry. Me, Inosuke, Nezuko and Zenitsu will slay this demon. We had face this kind of demon in our place too"
"You're so optimistic. I like it" The old man grin
"Thank you. I think the reason why the other demon slayer in your country couldn't slay this demon maybe because they didn't use the special type sword"
"Special type sword?" Tanjirou nod and show Makarov his nichirin blade
"The nichirin blade is a special blades used by and made specifically for the Demon Slayer Corps to slay demons. They are forged from a unique ore that constantly absorbs sunlight, one of the only major weaknesses of demons"

"Hm, it's really an amazing sword. But as you see. You said that the demons that will be slay if the users use this blade to kill them... Will be slayed right? And also, these demons can't stay under the sunlight"
"Yes"
"But, I was informed this demon... Was fighting the demon slayers under the sunlight"

Tanjirou's eyes widen. Zenitsu look at him. Inosuke just... You know... He was impressed to see a magic lacrima in Makarov's office so he didn't pay attention at all, same goes to Nezuko.

"What are we going to do, Tanjirou?"
"We still need to slay this demon. It still dangerous for the people around the area. Besides, even if the demon can stay under the sun, our swords still can slay it"
"I guess you're right... I don't want to go..." He mumbled the last part.

Makarov smile. As he about to say something to them, someone knock the door.
"Come in" Erza slowly open the door and enter the office, along with Lucy.
"Sorry if we're interrupt. But it's really important"
"It's okay, my child. So what's the problem?" Erza and Lucy share look before look back at the old geezer
"It's about Natsu"

•••°°°•••

Gray sigh.

He still can't forgive himself when he almost killed Natsu with his demon slayer magic. He look at his hand before look at the sky and narrowed his eyes.

"Oi, flame sensor!!"

Gray sighed in annoyance. He just had to search for the pinkette due to Erza's order or else she would beat him up. He rubbed his back head as he still looked around the town for the cherry blossom hair dragon slayer. Fed up searching for him at the town, Gray went to the east forest. He walked around while shouted Natsu's name.

"Damnit! Where the hell is he?!"

"Gray?" He started with a sudden voice coming from above. He looked up and saw Natsu sat on one of the branch.
"What are you doing up there?"
"Uh... Wait... Why would I tell you about it?! It's none of your business, ice king" Natsu crossed his arms and looked away angrily. A vein mark appeared at Gray's head.
"Anyway why are you here? This place is my territory, people like you don't deserve to set foot here" Tried to contain his anger towards the pinkette, Gray took a deep breath and looked at him with arms crossed
"Erza asked me to search for you"
"Oh really?"
"Of course, idiot! You are still injured and Happy is worried sick about you!" Natsu frowned before sighed

"I guess... I'm really make everyone worry"
"Yes you are, dragon heat" Natsu jumped down from the branch without argue back to Gray. The ice mage looked at Natsu weird.
"Don't give me that look. I don't have any mood to fight. Just leave me alone and told both Happy and Erza that I just want some alone time without anyone worry about me" Gray noticed something sparkle at Natsu's cheek but the pinkette quickly wiped it away with his hand before walked away from Gray. But being Gray, he followed Natsu.

Unlucky for Gray, he suddenly got a punched from Natsu.
"What the hell?!"
"Why did you follow me, bastard?!"
"Is it wrong for me to be concerned about you?! What's your problem, Natsu?! You keep on avoiding everyone. Don't you think I didn't notice! I had studied you everyday--"
"Wait! Wait! You stalked me?!"
"Yes and that's not the point!! You keep on avoiding us and you even less fight than usual. You aren't like this before, Natsu... Especially after the black wizard's death"
"Don't you dare say his horrible name that people gave him. He had a proper name"
"I don't know what happened to you after his death. You're somehow changed, Nats. You're not like the Natsu I know"

Natsu's bangs covered his eyes. Then, a small dark chuckled escaped Natsu's throat, "Sure. Keep on saying those fake 'I'm worried about you' words. Please, I hate when people said those fake words. It will never help me. I'm already drowned Gray. Sayonara"

Somehow, Gray had failed to noticed the cliff behind Natsu. The pinkette took a step back, intended to jumped off the cliff. Gray's eyes widened as he quickly grabbed Natsu's wrist.

"Aho..." He mumbled under his breath. He gritted his teeth as he pulled Natsu up.
"Your time isn't come yet so don't easily give up, BASTARD!!!!!" He knew Natsu wasn't going to replied as the pinkette was unconscious. He successfully pulled Natsu up, but... He tripped. Gray rolled down with Natsu in his hands. After some few rolls, Gray was now on top of Natsu. He stared at Natsu's peaceful face for quite some time. He cupped Natsu's cheek.

"Don't you dare die on me"

Gray sigh again. If he ain't followed Natsu that time, the pinkette wouldn't be here. He still owe Natsu a big time. He need to find a way to bring the old Natsu back.

"Don't worry, Natsu... I swear, I will not let you drown further. I promise. With or without the guild's help"

•••°°°•••

"What do you mean?"

Erza sigh. "Natsu need serious help about his mentality states"
"You mean?"
"His depression"
"Hm, do you know what cause of it?"

The two mages share looks. Makarov stare at the duo, waiting for an answer. Tanjirou thought about it,

"Maybe it's about his brother..." He mumbled. Zenitsu glance at him
"Are you sure, Tanjirou?"
"It must be" Tanjirou clear his throat, catching the Fairy Tail mages attention, "Uh, may I have the permission to see Natsu?"
"Huh?" Erza and Lucy look at him. Makarov smile, "You're really have good manners, boy. So I gave you my permission"
"Thank you, Makarov-san" He turn to Nezuko, "Come on, we need to see Natsu"

Nezuko's eyes lit up and nod. Tanjirou look at his two other friends, "Inosuke, Zenitsu. Let's go"
"We're going to kill the demon already?!!!"
"Nope, Inosuke. We're going to see Natsu first than, look for the demon"
"Tch"
"Come on, Inosuke. I'm sure Natsu want to see you"
"Whatever. But if I see Mitsu cry again, I swear I will kill whoever make him cry" Inosuke grip his blades and glare at the two mages. Lucy shriek and hid behind Erza. The scarlet knight roll her eyes

"Let's just go" Zenitsu walk out the office
"RACE YOU TO KATSU!!!" Inosuke laugh and ran pass Zenitsu
"Wait for me, Inosuke!!!" Tanjirou run and Nezuko follow suit. Erza, Lucy and Zenitsu just stare at the three
"Geez, what's wrong with that boar person?" Zenitsu glance at the two beautiful mages
"I don't know, Erza... He seems really... I don't know... Energetic maybe?" Zenitsu slowly move his eyes to Lucy's big chest. His face turn red
"He reminded me of the old Natsu" Erza close her eyes and smile sadly. Lucy chuckle
"He sure did" Then a loud thud heard by the two. They both look at Lucy's side. Only to see Zenitsu passed out, with red eyes and bloody nose
"Uh..."

•••°°°•••

"Lemme open the door!!!"

Tanjirou move aside from the door. Inosuke stand not so far from the infirmary's door, intend to break the door. They can't open the door cause Natsu had lock the door from inside. Inosuke huff before he ran to the door. The first try, they failed. But being Inosuke, he try again. At least about four times, the door finally tear apart. When Inosuke already inside the infirmary. He see something like green vine everywhere in the room and it try to get the unconscious Natsu out of the window.

"ZATSU!!!!" Inosuke launch himself. He grip his blades tightly, "STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!" He cut the vines that hold Natsu. The pinkette fall to the floor and the remaining vines, went back to it's owner that immediately ran away
"COME BACK HERE LOSER!!!!"
"INOSUKE!!" The boar head turn from the window
"Hantirou" Tanjirou run towards him while Nezuko immediately kneel down beside Natsu
"What is that?"
"I don't know. But it's look like the demon we've been searching for. Also, we're lucky that, these green thingy don't have enough time to take Hatsu away" Tanjirou glance outside the window. He narrow his eyes

"What happened here?" They turn and look at Porlusyica
"Porlusyica-san"
"Did anyone hurt?"
"No"
"Thank goodness. Explain me what happened to the guild's infirmary"
"The demon is here" Porlusyica's eyes widen
"What?"
"It seems the demon fail to take Natsu away. Well, thanks to Inosuke" The pink hair healer rush to Natsu's side and check his body's temperature with her magic. Tanjirou look at her, "How's Natsu?"
"Well, he's just pass out and luckily the demon didn't poisoned him" She sigh in relief, "If the demon poison him, I don't know if I can find the cure for the poison since I never heard of this different type of demon"

"I see..."
"Either way, we need to tell Makarov and the others about this situation. I can feel that, right now Natsu is in great danger"

•••°°°•••

Well, well, well

Natsu: Oh how I hate you for making me like that. Especially when Ice Block call me Nats, ew

Gratsu: Aw, come on, Natsu...

Gray: What the hell you're making some illegal boys lov--

Gratsu: It's not illegal!!! щ(゜ロ゜щ)

Worrying about I didn't put Nalu moment instead of their small fight? 😂 well, the Nalu moment don't arrive yet. So just wait for the next chapter~