It was already seven in the evening, so the lights were on, and the room was bright; its walls were colored sky blue with white and dark blue patterns in them. Two persons were in the living room, a girl with blue hair, and a boy with black hair, sitting on their sofa and talking.

"Just don't drink too much and come home early, okay, Gray-sama?" the pale-skinned girl said to the boy beside her with a glint of eagerness in her dark blue eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, sure." answered the black-haired boy, rising from his seat. And so did the girl stand.

"Juvia can't wait for you to get back! Juvia will make it our best anniversary celebration!" Juvia said with a twirl and a clap of her hands.

"I haven't even left yet, ya know. Don't go on and be too excited; just relax, will ya? It's just our anniversary and it's gonna be the same as when we were celebrating our monthsaries." Gray said and started walking towards the door.

"It will not; later at 12 midnight would be our first anniversary. So Juvia will make it something different, something special than our previous celebrations!" she said with a pout, while following him to the door. "So go home early, okay?"

"Sure, sure." he said when he reached their door.

"Hmm, Gray-sama?" Juvia asked, standing behind him.

"Huh?" he replied, turning around to face her.

"I love you," she said, then hugged him.

"I know, I know," Gray said with a grin and hugged her back, then pulled away after some seconds, heading out of the door. "See ya, Juvia."

And that was their last conversation for the day.

Now, it's already two in the morning, and it's only now that he thought of going on his way home, to see Juvia - and probably be yelled at for being late at their planned celebration. It was raining, but he didn't care. He felt all giddy, his steps unsteady, head spinning, things doubling, for he had been drunk - very drunk.

He got carried away earlier, and enjoyed too much of his friends' company. He drank one beer, thinking it won't hurt to take one. Then two, saying two would be okay. Then three, because he'll stop after that. Then four, telling himself that he'll stop soon. Then five, just one more shot, he says. Then six. Then seven... And he loss control and loss track of his time as he drank and talked and partied with his friends.

His mind is spinning too much now, crowded with thoughts jumbled up and swirling around everywhere, too much that he can't think of what he'll be telling his girlfriend when he gets home looking like this - and this late.

She had told him not to get drunk, and to come home early, yet, he still did get drunk and is now coming home three hours late. He was supposed to be home at eleven in the evening, not two in the morning. He mumbled some curses under his breath as he walked, cursing himself for being too carried away and forgetting what he had to do. He was also supposed to buy her a gift - it's their first anniversary together, so of course he had to have a gift for her. He'd been saving some money for her gift, but now he didn't even get the time to buy her any, because of him being carried away. He loves her a lot, of course; even though he rarely shows it, and never even told her 'I love you', he does - he just doesn't want to show and tell her because he already knows for sure that Juvia does know that. And he knows she loves him a lot, too.

A part of him tells that he should not really worry about him going home drunk, late, and without a gift for her on their anniversary, because he knows that she'll understand, just like how she always does. She loves him very much; she's kind, caring, loving, and very forging when it comes to him - that's why he should not worry. Yet there's still this part of him that worries.

A part of him is worrying that he'll make her mad again - well, temporarily, because she doesn't stay mad at him for too long; but clearly, he sees disappointment and sadness in her eyes every time they have some arguments, or when he does stupid things. He doesn't want her to be sad, or mad, or disappointed, but he just can't help it - he can't help not making mistakes, and being carried away by his carelessness. He doesn't want to lose her, he wants her to be with him - forever, always. He never told her that because he thinks that she'll always be with him, anyway; so he didn't need to, and right now he doesn't have to. But what if...? No, no, don't think such thoughts. She was always with him ever since she joined their guild, and he's sure that she always will be.

Mind still spinning with thoughts, everything still spinning around, everything doubling around, he reached their house. He walked in front of two doors, trying hard to see which door is their door and which door is just an effect of him being drunk. He reached for one door's knob, and just grabbed nothing but air instead, so he tried and reached for the other knob, then twisted it to open their door.

The house was pitch black, all the lights were turned off. It took him some time before his eyes finally adjusted to the dark. 'I guess she's already sleeping...' he thought. But then, another thought struck him. 'Juvia never leaves all the lights out when she sleeps; she leaves at least one lamp on.' The thought sent a shiver to him and slightly woke him up, and snap him out from his drunk state. 'I shouldn't worry too much; I'm sure she was just too tired to turn on a lamp or something... right? Well, I can't think of any other reason.'

He reached out to switch the lights on, then looked around. Their living room seemed normal; it looked just the same as before he left her there. But still, his heart can't stop but start to beat fast, feeling that something's wrong.

He rushed in to their kitchen, turned their lights on, and found it arranged lovingly. Pink roses and petals were scattered around; and even their kitchen walls were filled with design. Their table and two chairs were covered in sky blue cloth - their favorite color, with small pink hearts as their design, and small words 'Happy Anniversary' written in them. On the table was a candle holder, gold with silver linings, and roses carved in it. The candles in it probably burnt out already, for what was left in it was it's melted pink candle body. Then there was a cake - made by Juvia. It was chocolate, with strawberries, and heart shaped, with 'Happy First Anniversary, Gray-sama~', 'I love you', '~Juvia' topped on it. Even the plates, spoons, and forks had been prepared. With his heart now beating faster, louder, with shame, embarrassment, and worry, he rushes to their room.

He turned the lights on, and looked around; even this room had been lovingly decorated. 'Juvia must've prepared really hard and put a lot of efforts for this,' he thought. Still feeling slightly giddy, he sat on their bed, to at least be able to remain steady and try to think about what might have happened to Juvia. Grabbing a pillow to lean on, a note gets revealed under. It was a piece of paper, that appears to have been crumpled too many times already, as if the writer was hesitant whether or not to leave it here, and had been recently - maybe more or less than an hour ago - wet with tears. He looked at the note and tried to read it, but he still sees a bit of doubles on the letters, so he closed his eyes for a minute to try and concentrated again. After that, he tried to read it again. It read:

Dear Gray-sama,

Happy first anniversary! Juvia wanted to greet you first, and early, at exactly twelve midnight, but you weren't home yet. Juvia's getting worried while waiting for you; Juvia hopes nothing bad happens to you, because Juvia can't really live to that if something bad happens to Gray-sama.

Well, if you found this letter, then that must mean that you got home safely. Did you like how Juvia arranged the kitchen and our room, Gray-sama? Did you like the cake and the other things that Juvia had prepared? Juvia wanted to be the one to show you these surprises and celebrate with you, but it seems that Juvia can't.

Juvia needs to go somewhere right now. It's really important; a few minutes ago, someone called Juvia that they have one of Juvia's old comrades, so Juvia needs to go to them. I'm sorry, Gray-sama, this is all Juvia can say about it; Juvia's not allowed to reveal any information about it to anyone, or else they're hurt Juvia's old nakama. Also, Juvia doesn't know when she'll be back. But, please don't worry; Juvia will be fine.

Oh, and, you know, Gray-sama? Juvia's always been wondering if you feel the same to Juvia as how Juvia feels about you. Because you've never even told Juvia 'I love you' - Juvia knows they're just simple three words, but, it's important for Juvia to hear you say that, you know? Juvia would surely be, without a doubt, the happiest girl in the world when Juvia hears you say that. Forgive Juvia about that; Juvia doesn't know what suddenly got into her that made her write it here. This was supposed to be a letter about greeting you on our anniversary, but now it's loosing its topic and turning to be something else.

Juvia does not want to start complaining about things about us or anything... Juvia is already happy with just us being together for a year now, anyway. And it's our anniversary today, so Juvia should stop saying nonsensical things.

So Juvia will stop writing now and go to where Juvia was supposed to meet the caller who has Juvia's nakama as a captive; time's running out. Please don't try to look for Juvia; or worry about Juvia. Again, sorry about this. And thank you. For everything, Gray-sama. I love you.

Forever loving you,

Juvia Lockser

His eyes started to fill with water, and he fought it back. With shaky hands, blurry vision, and a heart beating fast and loud in his ears, he rushed out to the door and out of their house, to search for Juvia.

He ran around and around, with no particular aim on where he should go. He ran aimlessly, eyes scanning here and there, ears listening there and here. He passed their neighbors houses; ran through the whole town square, looking at all the corners he could, but found no sign of Juvia. Then he searched at the park, and just when he was getting hopeless, he heard a scream far away. The scream was from the forest, just straight through the park. And he could not have mistaken it; it was Juvia's scream that he had just heard.

He ran as fast as he could; his heart pounding so fast and loud, as if it wants to rip out of his chest at that moment already, while he wonders what might happen to Juvia; and legs burning and sweat streaming from all the running.

'Get there in time, get there in time, get there in time... I hope I'm not too late, not too late... Please, please, please, please, please!' he kept repeating to himself as he ran.

...

...

...

Well, he did get there... Just in time, but too late. He got there just in time too see a cloaked figure vanish in front of his eyes. And too late because there on the ground, lies a much, much, paler Juvia - paler than her normal pale skin. Life is rapidly being drained out of her; blood is pooling all over her.

Gray's mouth dropped opened at the sight, then, he approached Juvia.

"Juvia!" he screamed.

"G...Gray... sa...ma?" Juvia muttered, her voice low and soft, and she can hardly speak with all that much blood that she's loosing.

"Don't talk, damn it! You've only loose more blood and grow weaker!" he said, his eyes filling with tears. "Who the hell did this to you?! I'll make sure he pays with his life! I'll kill him even if it's the last thing I'll do!"

"It's... okay... Ju...via's... fine." she tried to reassure him, her voice becoming lower as she speaks.

"How the hell can you say this as 'fine'?" he snaps, tears already starting to trickle down his face. "You're loosing a lot of blood, you're becoming paler and paler... and... and... I can feel your life force being drained at a rapid rate!"

"Gray... sama's... here... so... Juvia's... fine. *cough* It'll... be... okay... *cough* Don't... cry..." she forced out a weak smile. "Even... if... Juvia... *cough* dies... she'll... have... no... regrets. *cough* Because... Gray... sama... was... with... Ju...via."

"No, please don't!" he said. "Don't you dare leave me, Juvia! I love you, I love you, I love you! I don't ever want you to leave me!"

"Juvia's... the... happiest girl... *cough* in the world." she smiled, and a tear fell from her eye. "Juvia... finally... *cough* heard... Gray-sama... say... that."

"Juvia..." he mumbles.

"Please... don't... cry... *cough* any...more..." she said and did her best to lift her hand and touch his cheek. "Smile... for... Juvia... *cough* will... you?"

"You... wouldn't... want... *cough* Juvia to... remember... a... sad... *cough* Gray-sama... on her... last moments... *cough* before she... goes... would... you?"

"Don't say that kind of thing, damn it! We're always gonna stay together, right? Forever, right?" he said and held her hand with his. "You're not gonna die! You're not gonna leave! Please..."

"I'm... sorry." she shook her head, and made another weak smile. "Juvia... *cough* promises... that... she'll... *cough* always... love you... *cough* forever."

"Please... *cough* smile for Juvia... one... *cough* last... time."

He smiled, one, sad, tearful smile...

"Thank... you..." she said, her voice now almost a whisper. "Please... remember... *cough* I love you... *cough* and... I always... will... forever. *cough* No matter what."

And with her last words said, her life ended. Gray screamed and cursed and cried, mourning at his beloved.

And cut! xD

You'll find out more about Gray's reaction or grieving later when I update it~~ (gtg to sleep now since I stayed up pretty late just to finish this part ^^ )

What do you think of the story so far~? :3

Feel free to review x3