*a week later*
{LUCY'S POV}
Three days ago, Levy-chan, Juvia, and I were officially declared missing. Natsu goes through Magnolia calling my name every day. Bisca, Alzack, and a few other trackers have widened the search area, going out to all the other towns and cities. The master sent out a notice to the guilds as well.

I feel awful.

I'm sitting right here in the guild hall as all my friends run around Fiore frantically searching for me. I've caused them so much worry, yet I can't do anything but act as an emotional support animal.

We thought this cat curse would fade given time, but so far nothing. Levy-chan speculates that there must be some kind of condition, something like a key we need to break to spell. When Gajeel isn't dragging her around to look for his Shrimp, she paws around the guild library looking for clues.

I sigh, then stand and stretch. Might as well get some air. I'll go crazy if I stay here feeling useless. Juvia and Levy-chan are out with their respective humans right now so I have no one to talk to. And besides, maybe the key to becoming human again isn't in books but outside.

I jump down from the table and pad softly to the guild doors. I'm debating how I'm going to open them when they open for me. Bisca and Alzack trudge in with dejected expressions, and I slip past them and out of the guild hall.

I walk around a little, sticking to the edge of the canal. After a few minutes, I realize that I'm being watched. Someone's stare bores twin holes in my flank. I shudder and break into a run.

Whoever it is follows me. My acute cat hearing picks up the sound of rushed footsteps beating in rhythm with mine. I risk a glance over my shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of my stalker.

A mother with two kids. An older couple. A jogger in a black trench coat. A group of students laughing and joking around...

Wait. Who jogs in a black trench coat? The jogger has a longer stride than me, and the space between us steadily disappears. I pour on speed, managing to create some distance.

Once I think that I've lost him, I sprint across the street, surprising a lady who's walking her dog. It barks excitedly and pulls it's owner after me.

"Eeek!" I yelp as it's teeth snap dangerously close to my tail. Were dogs always so big and scary?

I duck into an small alleyway and skid to a halt. My stamina is spent and my tail is puffed up. In fact, all of my fur is standing on end, so I probably look like a ginger porcupine.

I'm breathing so heavily, I don't hear the person behind me until two large gloved hands squeeze around my midsection.

I howl, unsheathing my claws and swiping at the man, but he holds me far away from his body. Biting his hands also proves fruitless. His gloves are made of leather, so my teeth can't pierce through them.

"What a feisty beast!" The man marvels, and I can see his eyes glittering excitedly behind his sunglasses. "You'll make a fine sacrifice!"

Sacrifice? I don't like the sound of that. I yowl and wriggle, continuing to scratch and bite, until he's forced to drop me.

With the exit blocked, I have no choice but to run deeper into the alley. The man doesn't bother to follow me as quickly, and soon I see why.

"A dead end!" I curse, spinning to face my pursuer. He smirks, approaching leisurely because he knows that he's won. A cat carrier appears out of thin air.

"Here, kitty kitty." His hand reaches out. I press myself as close to the wall as I can, hissing and lashing my tail angrily.

Should I summon a spirit? Somehow I feel it's not a good idea to let this guy see me using magic. He'd be all that more desperate to catch me.

"Kira!" A voice from above shouts. Both me and my catnapper look up. Natsu is standing on the roof of the building to the right, eyes alight with fury.

"What do you think you're doing—" Natsu jumps off the roof and lands in front of me protectively. His body glows like a nightlight as waves of heat roll off of him. The man backs up rapidly, flop sweating. "—to my cat?"

One fire dragon's iron fist later, the man is a shooting star in the distance. I hear a splash as he face plants in the canal.

"You got what you deserve, you cat burglar!" I meow triumphantly, doing figure eights around Natsu's legs and purring. "Oh Natsu, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He kneels and scoops me up in his arms. "Don't worry Kira. I've already lost Lucy. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you too."

I relax in his arms, dead tired. My eyes grow heavy as he takes me back to the guild hall, rocking me lightly back and forth in his arms.

{JUVIA'S POV}
Juvia wants to be human again, obviously, but she would like to stay a cat just a little bit longer.

As Ame, Juvia can be with Gray-sama whenever she wants! At the guild hall, at his house, when he eats, when he sleeps. When he showers.

"Juvia, are you okay?" Levy-san asks, licking her paw to turn the page of the spell book she's browsing. "You're drooling."

Oh dear. Juvia must quickly wipe the drool from her face! But before Juvia can respond, her beloved Gray-sama calls for her.

"Ame? Where are you?"

"Coming!" Juvia calls and prances over. Gray-sama picks her up and scratches under her chin. "What are we doing, Gray-sama?"

"Let's go look around for Juvia." He speaks almost like he is answering Juvia's question.

"Of course, Gray-sama!" Juvia is very happy that Gray-sama cares for her enough to go out everyday and look. She didn't realize he cared for her wellbeing that much.

Perhaps Juvia's love is not unrequited? Gray-sama! Juvia loves you!