{LUCY'S POV}
The trip to the guild hall feels a lot longer than usual, probably because I have shorter legs. When we finally get there, my paws are aching, and I want to curl into a ball and fall asleep.

"Look out!" Levy-chan yells, pouncing on me and knocking me out of the way as someone goes barreling past us into the guild.

"Who—"

"Oi, has anyone seen Lucy?" The culprit yells.

"Natsu?" I stare up at him. Levy-chan head butts me, and motions to the open door. The three of us slip into the guild hall unnoticed. People are all looking over at Natsu in confusion.

"What do you mean, Natsu?" Mira asks.

"When I went to her apartment this morning, the door was wide open and she was gone." Natsu explains. Mira frowns, clearly worried. Gray and Gajeel walk over.

"What about Shrimp?" Gajeel asks.

"What do ya mean?" Natsu looks over.

"Shrimp was spending the night at Blondie's house." Gajeel tells him.

"Juvia too." Gray mentions.

"Oh, Gray-sama remembered!" Juvia cries happily. She prances over and does figure eights around his feet, purring.

Everyone looks down at us with stunned expressions, noticing that we're here. If I had hands, I'd facepalm.

"What are cats doing in the guild?" Natsu asks, scratching his head.

"Don't look at me." Gray replies, kneeling and petting Juvia. I sigh inwardly and go to Natsu. Once I reach him, I stand on my back legs and put my front two paws on his leg.

"What's it want?" He asks, staring at me.

"Maybe to be picked up?" Gajeel suggests. He's kneeling down to scratch Levy-chan's back, who looks quite content.

I before I can protest, Natsu shrugs and picks me up, clasping his hands around my body and lifting.

It's quite uncomfortable, so I flatten my ears a little. Noticing my discomfort, he quickly adjusts his grip, so one hand is under my belly and the other one holds me against his chest. Much better.

I purr, leaning against Natsu's warm chest. A girl could get used to this.

"What are you brats doing?" Gramps comes up from behind, carrying his staff.

"Gramps! These cats wandered into the guild. Can I keep it?" Natsu asks, pulling me closer. I'm really glad cats can't blush.

"They probably belong to someone. Just look at how well fed they are. You have to return them." Gramps tries to take Juvia from Gray, who's now holding her. Big mistake.

Juvia hisses, ears flattening to her skull, and scratches up Gramps's face. Then she claws her way out of the surprised master's arms and leaps back towards Gray.

"If Juvia is going to be a cat, Gray-sama will be the one to take care of her." She huffs, settling in Gray's arms and flicking her tail at Gramps.

"Master, I don't see any collars on them so they may be strays. If someone comes looking for them, we'll just give them back. But until then, why not? It can't hurt." Mira says.

"Yeah, Gramps!" Natsu agrees. Gray and Gajeel also throw in their support.

"Fine." Gramps concedes.

Natsu cheers. "Woo-hoo! Did ya hear that Kira? You're staying with me!"

"Kira?" I tilt my head.

Natsu grins. "Look at that! She's confused. Kira, like twinkle. It's your name now!"

Oh, right. Natsu doesn't know I'm Lucy. At least he picked a semi-decent name.

"Well then," Gray looks at Juvia. "Your fur kinda looks like rain. I'll name you Ame." Juvia purrs contently, nestled into his arms.

Levy-chan stares up at Gajeel expectantly. He studies her. "Well, you're slightly smaller than the other two. I think I'll call you Mini."

I burst out laughing. Or as near as I can get as a cat. Levy-chan bites his finger.

"Ow!" Gajeel detaches her from his hand while the others laugh at him.

"I can't get away from the height jokes even as a cat? Are you serious?" Levy-chan growls.

"Well, look on the bright side Mini. At least your crush is taking care of you." I chuckle.

"At least Gajeel might know what he's doing. Does Natsu even know how to care for a pet?" Levy-chan points out.

"He has Happy."

"Happy can fly and catch his own fish."

"Come on Kira! Let's go look for Lucy!" Natsu says before I can retort, and races off with me in his arms, in the direction of my apartment.

Once we get inside, through the window I might add, he plops me on the ground and wanders through my apartment. "Lucy! Ya here?"

"Here!" I call, them realize he can't understand me. Happy flies in through the window

"Natsu! Did Lushi come back yet?" He asks. Natsu comes into the room and shakes his head.

"How 'bout you Happy? Any luck?"

"Nope." Happy looks sad. "Where did Lushi go? I miss her."

Natsu pats his head, grinning. "It's okay, little buddy. We'll find her."

"Aye!" Happy agrees, perking up. "I'll keep looking!" His wings appear, and he flies off.

My heart throbs. I wish I could tell them that I'm right here. I pad over to Natsu and bump my head against his leg.

He bends down and scratches between my ears. "Thanks Kira. When you meet Lucy, you're gonna love her. I know I do."

I purr, not really paying attention to what he's saying. Oh yeah, right there. Scratch right there. Ahh, that's the spot.

Hmmm? Did I just miss something important?

"What's that?" Natsu stops petting me to walk over to my bed. There's a small lump under the covers.

"Luce! That you?" Natsu yells, flipping back the covers. How could that tiny lump be me you dimwit?! I know my cat body is small, but not that small! I hop on the bed and check out Natsu's find.

It's my keys. I was tired last night I must've accidentally fell asleep with them on.

Natsu frowns when he sees them. "Why would Lucy leave without her key guys?"

They're celestial spirits. I roll my eyes, sniffing my keys curiously.

"Hey, don't take take those!" Natsu shouts. He gets a strange look in his eye. "Wait, take? Kira, you're a genius! Maybe Lucy was kidnapped!"

He leaps out my window, leaving me alone and dumbstruck on my bed. What just happened? Did Natsu just say... kidnapped?!

I grab my keys in my mouth and run to the door. Damn it, Natsu shut it! I run back to my bedroom window, say my prayers, and jump out my window after Natsu.