Lucy, Happy, Gray, and Erza were all at the Master's office door, having already knocked. A faint voice gave the four of them permission to enter, and they trickled in slowly until they stood before Makarov. "What can I do for you?" he asked with a smile as he looked up and swept his gaze over the four of them.
"Well, Master, we were wondering if you knew where Natsu goes when he leaves the guild. We keep asking him, and keep getting excuses," Erza responded as she took charge of the conversation.
Immediately Makarov's smile fell. "I was hoping that you knew," the old guild master sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't know either, and like you, I ask and receive excuses." The three mages and lone cat in front of him shared identical expressions of disbelief though Makarov ignored them and continued. "I really would like to know where he goes and if he's in danger when he does go on these little escapades." He paused a moment before surveying the four with mild interest. "I've been thinking about this for a while, and I have a request to make of you."
"Anything," Erza said swiftly.
"If you had known, I wouldn't ask, but I want you to follow him, when he leaves tomorrow."
"It's feasible, but won't Natsu recognize our scents, what with his nose and all?" Gray chimed in as he crossed his arms.
"I actually had Levy come up with a solution to that little issue," he replied as he reached into a drawer of his desk and produced vials of purple liquid that waved like velvet in the glass. "This will temporarily erase your scents so that Natsu can't catch your scent should you be downwind of him." The somewhat complete team nodded as they took the vials from Makarov, Lucy pocketing the fourth one for Happy. "Whatever you do, don't make yourself known once you begin to follow him." The team nodded again. "He leaves tomorrow. You start then," the Guild Master stated in dismissal as they four walked out of the office.
Lucy wasn't particularly happy about the fact that she had to tail her teammate and closest friend, but she was rather curious. And when they asked, his excuses ranged from 'I went looking for Igneel' to 'I went on a solo mission.' Which, while the first one was logical, the other was complete garbage, because if he had gone on a solo mission, he would have taken Happy with him.
They went on about their day normally, keeping Natsu oblivious to the fact that they were hiding anything from him, though Lucy could tell that Happy had a hard time keeping this particular secret from his best friend.
Soon though, the day passed and many retired for the night, save Makarov, who sat in his room, upright in bed as he stared at the glint of the moon like fragmented crystals on shards of a broken mirror that danced across his window. 'Oh, Natsu, if only you knew how worried I've grown to be,' he thought gravely. A verse of literature came to his mind then, from a cemetery of long forgotten books kept buried in the back of his mind. 'A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.'
•
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•
The next day, Happy and the rest who had visited Makarov the day before sat 'round a table, mentally preparing themselves to the task of following their mutual friend after he came out of Makarov's office. He was asking permission to leave, and once again, Makarov was going to grant it, feigning that he believed whatever excuse was given this time around.
Soon, Natsu came out with his pack slung over his shoulder waving at his friends as he passed. "See you guys next week," he called before disappearing into the bright light of the sun that stood beyond the guild doors.
Pulling out the vials, they each took one and drank it before giving them to Mirajane for disposal. Following Natsu out of the guild they were surprised to see him head to the train station as, like all Dragon Slayers, he was prone to motion sickness, and it was really exacerbated by trains, though no one could figure out why.
