Natsu entered the office to find Erza and Makarov counting stacks of money while Gray stared boredly at one of the posters decorating the boss' wall. It was one of Makarov's birthday presents from another fellow gang boss, Bob from Blue Pegasus, modeling on hotrod. Cutting out major details of what the photograph contains, Natsu cleared his throat to catch the old man and the redheaded racer's attention. Closing the door, Natsu pounced behind Gray and onto the little office couch he was waiting on, making the dark haired man grunt from the tackle, shoving the other off.

"Flamebrain," Gray growled lowly as he set his foot on Natsu's back to keep him down.

Natsu scrambled on the weird-smelling floor against Gray's hold. "Ice prick, you lookin' for a fight? Not my fault ya weren't paying attention, jackass!"

"Natsu, Gray, knock it off right now and pay attention," Makarov grumbled. Passing off the stack of cash to Erza, who took it to add on to the pile before writing the number down for listing. "If you can't take things seriously, I'll leave it to the old guys to do the job instead, you hear?"

"What's up, Gramps?" Natsu asked with a cheeky smile.

"It's about the case the FBI has been talking about on and off with us for the last two years," Makarov crossed his arms. Once Gray and Natsu finally went silent and serious, the elderly man nodded with a raised brow. "Yeah, that one."

"The Acnologia case? I thought they said to terminate it here because of lack of activity," Gray's nose scrunched. "Didn't they say that Acnologia left the country and went south somewhere to go into hiding."

"Well, apparently they seem to have found something of interest that relate to Acnologia," Makarov explained before snapping his fingers. Erza, obeying his command, brought up a laptop to her lap and opened it, typing rapidly on the keyboard. "A few cities over a few weeks ago experienced a major break-in on a warehouse that was stocking packages to be sent over here, and they found traces of Acnologia all over it. They were trying to bring in drugs and weaponry without being detected."

"They found one of the stocks, but the rest got out without a trace," Erza said as she turned the laptop over to face the two men. The screen showed police photos of a giant crate broke open and spilling out packs of white substances and obvious high-tech guns. "The crate has an address to here, but no specific place. We think that there were smugglers working in the warehouse before we found out."

Natsu looked closer to the picture and could see a square stamp in the color black with neon blue scribbles, all too familiar with the pink haired man. Natsu's brown eyes hardened at the sight of the signature mark of FBI's most wanted criminal in the world - a drug lord and hardcore criminal who showed no mercy to anyone, not even his own clients. Acnologia was one of the most feared men in the gang world, he knew, and has been chased for as long as Natsu could remember.

"The big guys want us to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity during races or jobs given out until further notice," Makarov said seriously. "The next group races that Jason is planning is out of the ordinary, something about private investors putting in large sums of money and supplies to those who win. No rules has been sent out yet, but I'm guessing everyone is going to try them out; I have reason to believe that Acnologia is either looking for new people to take in or burn out the tougher enemies, so I want everyone on high alert whenever we leave the garage."

"What about Phantom Lord?" Gray asked, looking to the screen as Erza changed the police photos to different scenes of the crime and the material recovered on silver tables. "Is that going to change the plan on trying to get -?"

"Jose has made it clear that he is not selling his members, no matter how much I'm willing to offer," Makarov held up a hand to stop Gray, which he frowned deeper. "I already spoke to Levy about the situation, and she understands. Jose isn't going to keep us locked out of the bar or deny visits, but I'm sure he's going to keep an eye of his gangs more from now on; especially Juvia and Gajeel. I don't want you to anger Jose or Sol by your constant visits, Gray, so keep your time there short to once a week or so."

"But, if it's Acnologia," Natsu spoke, "wouldn't Jose be asking for your help? I thought you said everyone was afraid to cross paths with Acnologia. Why are we even participating in races, if he's funding them?"

Makarov sat back on his chair and kicked his legs up to the desk. "You guys were a bit too young for this, but yes, everyone is afraid of him. That's why they're taking part - because they don't know what's going to happen if they don't at least try. If anything, this may be for his own amusement."

"Acnologia is a race-fan himself, that's for sure," Erza said grimly before closing the laptop. "The FBI wants us to observe for now, until we can be sure that it's him. They don't want us to go looking for him, so we came up with a plan."

"Attend as many races possible and do your best to win to get their attention," Makarov said. "If it is Acnologia funding the races and trying to smuggle goods over here, we may have a chance to get a track on him for the FBI and attempt to take him out once we find out his spot or his weak points.

"It's been a long time since we've last heard of him. From anywhere," he went on. "He may have contracted something that is threatening his business or health, since he's suddenly popping up out of nowhere and wanting these races. He is getting rather old..."

"But we can catch him, right?" Natsu eagerly stood up on his feet. "We can catch him and get some crap out of him about -!"

"No, Natsu. We're going by what the big guys want us to do," the old man hardened to him.

"But -!"

"Enough, Natsu!" Makarov snapped, causing an uncomfortable silence in the small office. Heaving a sigh, Makarov sat up on his chair properly. "Erza, Gray. We're done here. Please put the money in the safe for me..."

Erza nodded silently before lifting a large stack of money to Gray, who passed by Natsu to take and open the door to leave. The redheaded woman took the rest and left without another word, closing the door to leave the elderly man and the young racer alone. The Fairy Tail boss looked to Natsu, who was staring down to the floor with a tight jaw and clenched fists.

"Natsu," Makarov spoke after a minute or two. "I know it's hard for you, but you can't go doing whatever it is you think it right. We don't know if it's actually Acnologia out there; he could be dead and rotting for all we know, or sipping a martini on a private island off the coast. I'm not trying to get your hopes up, kid."

"But it still could be him, Gramps," Natsu said stiffly through his teeth, refusing to look up to his boss' eyes. "He could know where he is, you know. Where everyoneis!"

"Your head is filled with 'what-if's, Natsu," Makarov shook his head slowly. "I understand where you're coming from, I do, but we can't go thinking of what this can do for us when it hasn't even started yet."

Glancing over to the wall, Makarov saw an old photo that was taken years ago. The familiar picture of himself and the older men and women with slightly youthful features stood with him, infront of classic cars and flags; a couple had children in their arms, holding up a pointed finger to the air with bright smiles on their faces. One kid in particular was on a tall man's shoulders, wearing a familiar white scarf that was too big for him at that age. Messy, pink hair in all directions, the bubbly face of the young Natsu on his father's shoulders made him stand out from all the rest, even though Igneel had that matching grin on his lips like his son.

"I know you miss your father, kid," Makarov said quietly, but he knew that the racer can hear him by the small sound of his sharp inhale. He could tell he was trying not to get his emotions the better of him. "I miss him, too, and the other people who went with him that day for the mission. There's not a day that goes by that makes me think how lucky I was to meet such a great man and his little brat."

Natsu finally looked up to the old man looking at the picture, a fondness expression on his wrinkled face as he kept looking at it. "Igneel and his pals were so much more like family than my own son, who dropped his own son off without another word and left without reason. I still think of Igneel as my own son, and you as my family, like everyone else here in Fairy Tail, kid."

Natsu's shoulders slouched in defeat. "Sometimes I think Gildarts, Macao and Wakaba still blame themselves for not going with him. Like they would have brought him back..."

"Gildart's wife was sick," Makarov explained simply, no sign of regret or sadness in his voice. "Macaro couldn't move his legs after that one accident for another six months and Wakaba was serving time at the station. It was none of their faults."

Natsu nodded, agreeing with him.

"I've noticed you haven't been trying to break into my room anymore, or with Laxus and Gray," Makarov pointed out before looking to the young man with a pleased grin. "I take it your doing good with Lucy as your roommate? Gray said something about she has kicked you out of the bed a few times."

Natsu blinked before shrugging. "Luce is cool," he said quietly, unsure to lock eye contact with the old man who was snickering more to himself. "I think she's getting more comfortable around here now, so that's a good sign. I think she's getting used to having me sleep walk or something, because she doesn't hit me anymore. It's weird."

"I remember how Igneel used to complain how you slept on top of him and nearly suffocate him," Makarov said fondly. "But, that goofball usually hogged the whole bed, so I wouldn't blame you for having to climb him for a spot. I'm sure Lucy isn't like that."

Natsu's face twisted before fixing the scarf on his head, hiding the slight blush on his cheekbones from the old man. "It ain't like what you're thinking, Gramps..."

"Whatever you say, boy."