I felt Gray pushing my body. I could hear his voice but I didn't know what he was trying to say. I groaned, pulling the covers over my head. I didn't want to wake up not after our last mission. Gray had insisted that I accompany on the last mission too. It was great an all but they had forgotten about me in the train on our way back! For a whole day!

He kept pushing me and I kept groaning until I felt the end of the bed. If he pushed once more I would probably fall.

"Gray, stop!" I warned but it was already to late. He pushed me off and I landed right on my back.

I breathed in and kicked the covers off me with a low growl. "You asshole!" I cried as I blew the hair from my face. I stayed laying down on the floor.

"It's past noon and I got us a mission. We should be gone for a couple of days and it's only you and me." He said as he pulled a luggage bag from under the bed. He dropped it on the bed as I let out a low displeased humph.

After a few minutes, I finally gave in with a low sigh. "You won't forget me on the train this time, will you?" I mumbled as I got up and pulled the blanket up on the bed. He didn't respond but humph and walked out.

I pulled my hair up on a pony tail as I stared at the wall opposite me. Juvia's doll and my flower crown were hanging right on the right corner next to the door.

I got my luggage bag ready and cleaned myself up a bit. It didn't take me long to get ready but I was covered from neck to ankles in clothes. Gray had bought me a shirt with a hood on it because Miss Mira had mentioned how I looked unfeminine with a cloak. I didn't agree but I complied nonetheless.

"Akino are you ready?" Gray called from somewhere in the house.

I put on my gloves before grabbing my luggage bag, my money bag, and slipped on my shoes. "Yea!" I called back as I closed my room door behind me.

I found Gray in the living room. He had his own luggage bag. He was wearing his white coat with the blue lining over his black turtle neck shirt. He had the request in his other hand.

With a small nod we made our way out of our shared home. It was small but very comfortable.

"Do you know where we're going?" I asked as we began to walk to the train station. Just thinking back on the horrific incident bought my stomach churning. I really hate the train.

He nodded. "To Crocus. It's a few hours on train. We have to save a rich man's daughter. They asked for a female Fairy Tail mage but I thought I'd go with you." He said.

"Do Natsu, Lucy, and Erza know? We're just sorta leaving." I asked.

"Yea. I went early in the morning to Fairy Tail and told them. They're doing another mission on their own." He grunted as he turned  around and glanced at me.

I smiled softly and nodded understanding. They now trusted me enough to know that I won't run away again but there had been two other times where Gray and I went on missions by ourselves but honestly, as long as Gray was with me, I didn't mind taking a job with Natsu's team.

We saw the train station about a mile away from us. He walked on a little faster than me to get to the ticket booth before the line got longer.

"This way." Gray said pointing to hew last train cart. With much regret, I boarded the train behind Gray. We took the nearest seats we could find. My stomach was already turning just thinking about the train moving.

A loud voice boomed through the station signaling the departing time for the train. It was soon. Very soon.

I sat across from Gray with my hands clinched at my lap. I was waiting anxiously for the train to start moving. The last thing I wanted was to be surprised.

"When we get there we are going straight to Dufont Mansion. He should tell us what the kidnappers want." Gray said not exactly looking at me but out the window.

"Is it really going to be longer than a day?" I asked. Kidnappings were usually very straightforward.

Gray shrugged as he tilted his head towards me. "It shouldn't but Dufont has requested us for a few days. We should still stay to make sure that the Dufonts are safe."

I nodded pursing my lips. He did have a point and if all went well, it should take us more than a few hours to save the daughter.

Suddenly the train started to move, and almost immediately, I fell to my side with my hand on my mouth. My stomach began to churn. My head felt light and I could feel last night's food right in my throat. I hated this feeling. I couldn't think properly or even coherently. All my limbs were weakened, my senses blurred, my breathing slowed. I was at my most vulnerable.

I felt Gray's hand on my shoulder. He was patting my shoulder as if that would make it better. I turned around to face the back of the seat. He wasn't helping even a little.

After what seemed like forever, the train finally stopped and with a loud groan I fell back onto the train floor.

"Come on." Gray said as he stepped over me and grabbed my bag.

I breathed in heavily as my senses began to come back to me. My body was still weak but Gray grabbed my waist and helped me to my feet.

"You alright?" He asked.

I nodded.

We made our way out of the train cart. It didn't take me long before I got myself back together. By the time we left the train station I was back on my own two feet and it was lucky that I was. The streets of Crocus were packed with rowdy civilians. Everyone was pushing everyone out of the way.

I had been in Crocus before. It was where I met Laxus but I had forgotten how strange the people of Crocus behaved. It was like a hundred Fantasia Parades, every single day. I remember thinking that it was ridiculous how stranger they were but now that I've discovered much stranger people in Fairy Tail, the citizens of Crocus were normal. I even felt sort of in place.

Suddenly, I was pulled to the side by the hem of my shirt. It was just before a man in walking stick crossed beside me. I looked to my side at Gray who wasn't all too happy that he had he pull me out of the way.

"Pay attention." He muttered not letting go of my sleeve. I only smiled not exactly caring that I was almost ran over by a man in stilts.

We walked towards the center of town. There were stands literally on every corner. There were lots of things being sold, jewelry, food, even clothes.

We should have been in a hurry but I was a bit struck by my sudden change on perspectives that I kept pulling Gray towards anything that was remotely fantastical. Gray would grumble but not fight me. He probably thought it wouldn't be such an argument because I was going to do what I wanted anyways. Besides, we weren't very far from the Dufont's house.

Gray bought some apples and I ended up getting a small painting of Crocus for my Memory Wall. I thought it was a great painting but Gray grunted when I showed it to him.

I only rolled my eyes and we walked in silence the rest of the way.

The Dufont's mansion was humongous. It took up no less that five city blocks and was as tall as a the Cathedral in Fairy Tail, in fact it sort of looked like a Cathedral. The white walls of the tall building seem to glitter and I sort of laughed at that.

The only thing separating the Dufont's mansion from the crowds of civilians was a tall, white iron fence aligned from both sides as far as I could see. The fence was probably three times my height.

I followed Gray through the front gates. As soon as I crossed those pearly gates, I forced myself to stop becoming so impressed with everything around me. I had a mission and it didn't involve becoming enthusiastic about everything. It actually wasn't that hard.

"Fairy Tail wizards?"

I looked down to find a middle aged man half my size. He kinda looked like Gajeel but much shorter, stouter, and grumpier. Behind him were two gigantic men.

Gray and I nodded. "Are you Mr. Dufont?" Gray asked.

The pudgy man smiled widely, extending his arms out welcomingly. "Of course, come come." He moved to the side and almost simultaneously the two giant body guards moved to the sides.

A small shiver ran down my spine as I entered his giant home.

The inside was even more extravagant than the inside. The light was all natural light coming from his tall windows. It looked lively, and homey, but it didn't feel so. It was Mr. Dufont who made it so. There was something odd about him.

"Gray." I whispered leaning closely to him as we followed Mr. Dufont through his mansion.

Gray didn't answer. "Pssst. Gray!" I whispered tugging at his sleeve. I couldn't shake the odd feeling the small man was giving me.

Gray leaned down pulling his arm from my grip. "What?" He didn't growl at me but he wasn't pleased that I had called him.

"I have a strange feeling." I whispered but didn't have time to explain it when Mr. Dufont led us into his living room. There were  only three pieces of furniture in the room with paintings literally covering every inch of the wall; two sofas facing each other and a coffee table between them.

Gray and I sat on one while Mr. Dufont sat on the one across from us. A wide smile on his lips. I sat down guarded and wary of the people in front of me. Mr. Dufont didn't seem to be upset that his daughter had been kidnapped.

"Tell us about your daughter. Who kidnapped her?" Gray asked so suddenly that I jumped.

The old man broke out in what looked like a sly grin before suddenly bringing out in a deep down. His eyes even began to mist over. I clinched my fists as I perked my ears to pick up even the slightest sound. I glanced carefully at Gray and found that he was staring attentively at the pudgy man.

"It was a dark guild. Two men in dark red clothes. They had the symbol of Dark Dragons."

The Dark Dragons. I had heard of them before. In fact I had fought a couple of their members. They were widely known for kidnapping young girls to sell them. They actually weren't located very far from Crocus.

"They're actually not far from here." I glanced at Gray before turning back. "How long had it been?" I asked Mr. Dufont.

"Three days. My baby has been gone three days." He was bordering on crying hysterically

Gray and I looked at each other before turning to him. "We could go get her." Gray said as he stood up. I followed suit.

Almost immediately Mr. Dufont jumped up in joy. Every sign of distress suddenly vanished. "Oh thank you! Thank you!" He laughed.

"But we do need a picture of your daughter." I said.

"Oh right!" He smiled as he pulled out a photo from inside his jacket and gave it to me. "Her name is Akoi." He added.

I gave him a small smile and nod as I led the way out. I was the one who knew where the guild was anyway. As we left, I let the doubts of Mr. Dufont leave me. Maybe he was just a creepy old man who really loved his daughter.