"J-Juvia.. is sorry, she w-was.."
Rain was dancing down the glass panes of the guild hall, the view of the sudden storm outside being obstructed by the streaks of raindrops.
Gajeel stood firmly against the infirmary door, protecting the unconscious girl inside.
Nobody knew what happened. One minute the skies were clear, the next, a downpour followed by an injured Juvia passing out at the guild doors.
Gray ran into the guild, his eyes falling onto the infirmary door. Though, there was one problematic obstacle. Gajeel.
"Please Gajeel, let me see her."
Although it went against everything Gajeel stood for, he knew that if anyone would help Juvia, it was Gray Fullbuster. He snarled something under his breath, but reluctantly let him go through to where she was.
Juvia was lying neatly on an infirmary bed, her hair resting over her shoulder. Although she herself looked peaceful, her injuries looked anything but. Although plastered and stitched up it couldn't be denied that something awful happened; no amount of bandages could hide it.
"Damnit..." Gray put his hand to his forehead, turning to face the wall. Why didn't she tell him she was leaving for a mission? Why didn't she ask him to come...
He turned to look at her face again.
Out of frustration he began holding his head, trying to stop himself from kicking something in the room. He felt a firm grasp on his shoulder, only to find Erza standing next to him.
"Gray, don't blame yourself, you know Juvia wouldn't want you to."
"Erza... "
Although Erza scared him when she wanted to, she had a strong reassuring gaze held in her eyes. She had a good view on these two and their relationship, helping both parties when necessary.
Mira opened the infirmary door carrying some water. She went and refilled the drip that Juvia was attached to.
Gray tilted his head, "It's just water? Doesn't she need any painkillers or anything?"
Mira shrugged and gave her signature smile, "What better way to help water than with water?"
Gray and Erza shared a look of confusion.
"I'm kidding, you know. She's been on painkillers up until now, but she told us that if anything happens, water usually helps."
Erza strode up to Mira, swinging her arm around her. "Ah! Good job Mira. Very well done."
Gray watched this odd scene, he wonders how she makes it through the day sometimes...
Gray had stayed there for hours. She still hadn't woken up yet, and Gray couldn't take much more stress. He was pacing at the foot of her bed, waiting for any sign. He was so focused on her that even when Natsu teased him for being so worried, he wasn't phased. He just threw his middle finger up, and that was that.
Gajeel hadn't budged either. Although he liked to dismiss it, he and Juvia had a strong relationship. He's known her through all of this and vice versa. Juvia made him laugh, even if it was at her, he appreciated it. Seeing her learn to be happy, it was worth joining the guild. He even met Levy from it- and everybody else in the guild, of course.
And, though he didn't want to admit it, he missed Juvia and her energy that she brought to the guild. He knew more than anyone how much she deserved that, and how starved of affection she felt before Phantom Lord disbanded.
The rain weighed heavily on her shoulders, and Gray Fullbuster managed to lift it. Though he couldn't stand the guy much, he had respect for that.
Gray stared at the floor. What happened to her? Mira didn't recall her going on a mission... there were so many questions. What did she mean when she opened the doors?
"J-Juvia.. is sorry, she w-was.."
He didn't understand. And he didn't like that he couldn't understand, not one bit.
He would've questioned it further, had he not seen her hand twitch into motion in the corner of his eye.
He scrambled to her bed, desperate to see if she was alright.
Her hands gripped the bedsheet and her eyes cautiously opened, squinting immediately from the intense light.
"Juvia!"
Juvia turned and jumped at the sudden noise, she seemed a bit dazed, which was understandable.
"Oh, right, sorry. You got injured and came here, I was just... I'm glad to see you're okay."
Her eyes met the man standing by her bed, shirtless.
She cleared her throat, but her words still came out slightly hoarse.
"Juvia.. got hurt? W-where... Where is Juvia?"
Her eyes wandered around the room, eyeing up the contents.
"The infirmary."
Her eyes narrowed on Gray's exposed chest, or rather, guildmark.
"Fairy... tail?"
Gray began to grow uneasy. "Of course, silly. Your guild? Juvia, stop joking around."
"Do you know Juvia? She isn't in your guild."
It all fell into place, as much as he didn't want it to. That's why she felt so off, so cold. He put it down to the aftermath of whatever she went through, but in reality, she lost her memories.
Gray couldn't process it.
He waited so long. He was going to tell her everything, but yet...
He looked at her closely. He had been to excited to notice it the first time, but she was different. Her posture was tense, her eyes slanted and dull.
The rain hit hard against the glass, a cold reminder of the Rainwoman sitting across from where he was standing.