THREE

"If I lose myself tonight, it'll be by your side. If I lose myself tonight, it'll be you and I."
– If I lose Myself, OneRepublic

Gray's breaths came in shallow pants, despite his fatigue his jumped, narrowly missing E.N.D.'s attack. I've lost him, Natsu's gone; Gray produced an ice-sword from mid-air to block another attack. This time jabbing forward, managing to cut a deep gash in E.N.D.'s left shoulder, but how do I get him back.

E.N.D. let out a hiss of pain as the ice sliced through his left shoulder; in return he slammed his elbow into Gray's stomach. Using this window of opportunity he shot a bolt of fire in his direction. A satisfied smirk twitched at E.N.D.'s lips as Gray let out an agonised scream. His attack had hit his target.

Gray stumbled back, clutching at his now scorched and bleeding left side, "please Natsu, stop! This isn't you! You need to remember. We fought together not with each other. Not like this anyway!"

"Well this is me now! Get used to it!" E.N.D. sneered.

"No! I won't." Gray replied stubbornly, "please Natsu. Remember! If not for me, then for Lucy, for Erza." But I care about you too much to let you keep going like this.

"What does that matter? Natsu is dead."

"NO!" Gray yelled, "I care for you too much for that to be true! I know you can hear me Flame-Brain! So wake–" punch, "up!" Gray punched again and watched as E.N.D. stumbled back looking shocked. For a split second Gray noticed something in those dark, empty eyes, it was only for a moment, but he saw light. "Natsu…?" Gray whispered.

"Gray?" Natsu's voice sounded scared.

"Thank god!" Gray took a step forward, but as quickly as the light had appeared it flickered out and Gray watched in horror as a cruel smirk twisted Natsu's lips.

E.N.D. rolled his neck to the side, "sorry about that. I'm back." With that, E.N.D. sent a blazing attack at Gray with just the flick of a wrist. His flames were tainted with darkness, a shadow which had threaded itself throughout the layers.

The attack hit Gray hard, right over where the spot where he'd been hit before. He couldn't help the scream of pain that was torn from his lips. That was dirty play…well, he is a demon after all. Gray's scream turned to a yell as he used his pain to run at Natsu producing a multitude of arrow heads which flew straight at the pink haired demon. Some managed to pierce the flesh, but most shattered. Gray followed this with another punch, "hear me! Natsu!"

"That won't work," E.N.D. chuckled darkly, "Natsu is gone."

"No! Natsu you bastard! Get your idiot ass out here!" Gray yelled, "Damnit! I'll tell you how I feel if I have to! I'll remind you of all those times I saved your life or you saved mine! I care, I always have, I just didn't realise until it was too late! We fought together, hell, we fought each other, but if this is going to be our last fight, you may as well show up!" Gray ignored E.N.D.'s harsh laughter, "I'll bring you back! Hear me, Natsu. HEAR ME!" Please.

There was a moment's silence. Gray didn't even dare breathe. Then suddenly a pulse of pure magic energy radiated out from where E.N.D. stood. His eyes widened in panic as he felt Natsu pushing through. Oh, no you don't! Clinging on to what power he had left, E.N.D. took one last shot at Gray as the Ice Devil Slayer charged forward, a jagged piece of ice extended from his right hand.

Gray had waited only a moment, a hesitation which cost him, but as he saw the fearful, pleading look in Natsu's eyes as he took hold. Gray knew what he needed to do. With a scream of pain he bolted forward, creating a jagged dagger of ice on the end of his right hand. He felt as his weapon hit its target, the flesh gave way to the daggers point as if it were nothing, but Gray felt every shiver of pain as he sank his fist deep into Natsu's chest.

Natsu had pulled E.N.D. back long enough to give Gray a window, he did this though he trusted Gray didn't really need it. Natsu just wanted to feel it himself. That confirmation of death. Death to both him and the demon E.N.D..

As Natsu sank to the ground he felt strong arms around him, guiding him gently to the ground. He tried to speak, but all he managed was a gurgling cough. He looked up into Gray's pale face, taking in his lips, his nose, his eyes. I never really noticed, him, the real him. I wish I had.

"We were always fighting, Natsu…" Gray whispered, "but I never thought our last fight would end like this…" The pain in his side was worsening but Gray ignored it, Natsu was close to gone, he can't know.

"Yeah…me dying in your arms," Natsu chuckled, a chocking cough followed soon after, "like anyone saw that coming."

"Don't smile idiot, you're dying." Gray held back a sob as he looked up to see the guild standing on the outskirts of the clearing their attacks had made. So many faces, so many friends. Most had tears streaming down their cheeks. Lucy had her hands over her mouth and was sobbing into Loke's shoulder, while Erza stood resolute, her cheeks were damp, but she seemed to refuse to accept the scene before her.

"Hey, Snowflake." Natsu coughed.

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For killing E.N.D.. You've helped me to die as Natsu." A shaking hand reached up to cup Gray's cheek before slowly falling back with a thud, the effort too much to sustain. "So thank you, Gray."

"Of course," Gray managed a weak smile, he could feel himself losing more blood from the wound in his side, his vision blurred slightly as his head spun, stay awake, he can't know…

A small sigh left Natsu's mouth as his eyes slid shut. A ghost of a smile left on his lips.

I loud sob shook Gray to the core as he clung desperately to Natsu's unmoving body. Natsu's head lolled back, his hair resting in the large splatters of blood surrounding them. As Gray took a last shuddering breath he lifted Natsu's face to his own and pressed a light kiss to his forehead. I kept my promise, "Natsu."